In the peaceful, rolling hills of Central Minnesota, there’s a place where tradition, craftsmanship, and community come together—Avon Hills Folk School. This hidden gem is more than just a school; it’s a space where people of all ages and backgrounds gather to slow down, learn, and reconnect with skills and traditions from generations past. Each course at Avon Hills Folk School embodies the spirit of learning by doing, rediscovering the joy of creating with one’s own hands, and building connections with others and nature.

The Origins and Mission of Folk Schools

The concept of folk schools has deep roots, dating back to the 1800s in Denmark. The schools were inspired by the writings of Danish philosopher N. F. S. Grundtvig, who was passionate about creating an education accessible and relevant to everyone. According to Chris Schellinger, the Executive Director of Avon Hills Folk School, Grundtvig’s ideas sprang from a concern over the changes wrought by the Industrial Revolution. As craftsmanship and small trades were overtaken by industry, traditional skills and the close-knit communities that supported them began to fade.

Chris explains, “Grundtvig believed that, with the coming of the Industrial Revolution, it would be the end of community based on mutual dependence in a positive way. And he was right. Within a generation or two, all the candlemakers, sausage makers, shoemakers, all these crafts started to disappear. And the community that sprung up around that.”

Today, Avon Hills Folk School is part of a renewed movement to preserve these crafts and revive the connections they foster. “What we’ve experienced during the Technological Revolution, I would suggest, is at least as threatening to community as the Industrial Revolution was,” Chris notes. “We now have the ability to become completely disconnected from each other. That’s contributed to lack of interconnectedness, lack of access to nature. In addition to all the traditional practices and skills. Creating things. We don’t do that anymore. We use these incredible tools that we have called hands and fingers to really just punch keys. So, we think now more than ever, more than Grundtvig’s days during the Industrial Revolution, that there’s a reason for Folk Schools.”

Craft and Tradition: Courses for Every Interest

Avon Hills Folk School offers a wide range of courses designed for adults who want to explore traditional skills, crafts, and art forms. The school emphasizes hands-on learning and covers everything from foraging and beekeeping to timber framing and leatherworking.

“We have adult and youth programming, and so traditional practices might be: foraging and beekeeping. Craft could be masonry and timber framing. And art, of course. Many different aspects of art. It could be leatherworking, which is also a craft. It could be weaving; we have Ukranian Eggs. Lot of examples. If you think of the application of traditional practices, craft, and art, it’s very broad and very deep,” says Chris.

Here are some upcoming courses that invite participants to step into the world of heritage crafts and skills:

Glass Mosaic Ornaments – November 23, 2024

Get ready to craft and celebrate the holiday season with a personalized touch. This festive workshop, led by mosaic artist Laura Ruprecht, teaches participants how to create dazzling holiday ornaments using a mix of precut glass gems, mirrors, and other colorful materials. Each participant will design a unique 3″ sphere ornament to bring home, complete with a grouting kit to finish the piece. Perfect for beginners, this class is a joyful way to embrace creativity and holiday spirit.

Traditional Ojibwa Style Snowshoes – December 6-8, 2024

In this comprehensive three-day course, participants will learn how to assemble and lace their own set of traditional Ojibwa snowshoes, known for their efficiency in both wooded and open areas. Led by a skilled instructor, students will work with pre-steamed, locally sourced ash frames, exploring each step of the process—from selecting and steaming ash to lacing and finishing the snowshoes. The course also covers the historical significance of these snowshoes within Ojibwa culture, providing a deep, hands-on connection to traditional craftsmanship.

Beginner Soapmaking – February 16, 2025

For those interested in traditional household crafts, this soapmaking class introduces students to the basics of cold-process soap making. Participants will learn about essential ingredients, safety procedures, and the science behind soap production. The class demonstrates how combining sodium hydroxide (lye) with fats and oils creates a natural soap that cleans and softens skin. This course brings a bit of history into the modern world, showing students how to make soap like their great-grandparents might have.

Twined Jean Rugs – February 22 and March 22, 2025

This two-session workshop allows participants to make a sturdy, long-lasting rug from recycled jeans. In the first session, students will learn how to warp a frame loom and begin weaving using a technique called twining, which involves twisting strips of fabric around a third strand to create a durable rug. Participants will continue weaving at home and then return in the second session to complete and remove their rug from the loom. This eco-friendly, hands-on approach is an excellent introduction to weaving and the art of repurposing materials.

Pysanky Eggs – March 29, 2025

This workshop brings students into the traditional world of Pysanky—the intricate art of Ukrainian wax-resist egg decorating. Instructors Carol Lane, Katie Cross, Blaine Cross, and Sarah Peterson guide participants through the basics of Pysanky, including using a kystka (a tool with a small metal funnel) to create intricate designs in wax. Participants will learn about the history of this art form, which dates back thousands of years, and take home both their completed eggs and tools to continue creating more. This craft is perfect for Easter or any occasion and offers a creative way to celebrate spring.

TimberNook: A Nature Program for Kids

While Avon Hills Folk School has a rich program for adults, it also offers an exciting offering for children through its TimberNook program. TimberNook immerses kids in nature through hands-on activities encouraging curiosity, exploration, and creativity. Children play, build, and engage in the outdoors, with activities like fort-building, nature walks, and imaginative play stations that help them connect with nature.

TimberNook is much more than a nature camp—it’s designed to foster child development in an outdoor setting, promoting physical, emotional, and cognitive growth. By engaging with nature directly, children learn skills like problem-solving, cooperation, and self-confidence, all while having fun.

A Journey Through Traditional Black Ash Basket Weaving

One of the most distinctive workshops Avon Hills Folk School offers is the Black Ash Handbag Weaving Workshop led by April Stone, an Ojibwe Black Ash basket maker from the Bad River Reservation in northern Wisconsin. April, who has been working with black ash since 1998, harvests and processes all her raw materials by hand from the ceded territories in north Wisconsin.

April’s teaching style and dedication to her craft make this workshop especially memorable. Each year, people come from far and wide to participate in this unique experience, including a group from Detroit, Michigan, who traveled to Avon Hills Folk School specifically for April’s class. “Being here is more than just taking a class—it’s an experience that stays with you,” shared one participant.

Throughout the workshop, April shares her weaving expertise and the deeper cultural significance of the craft, passing down traditions that are integral to Ojibwe heritage. With each weave, she brings history and tradition to life. It’s these hands-on experiences that make Avon Hills Folk School such a special place.

A Place for Connection, Creativity, and Rediscovery

Avon Hills Folk School’s courses are as much about community as they are about skill-building. Students come not only to learn but to connect with others who share their passion for traditional crafts. Each class fosters camaraderie and mutual support as participants learn and create together.

As Chris reflects, “We think now more than ever, in this era of technology and isolation, there’s a reason for folk schools. It’s about reconnecting to each other, to our past, and to the skills we once relied on.”

Avon Hills Folk School stands as a testament to the belief that tradition and community are essential to well-being and that learning through hands-on experience is as enriching as it is empowering. Whether you’re an experienced artisan or a curious beginner, Avon Hills Folk School offers a place to create, learn, and carry forward the heritage of craftsmanship.

Plan Your Visit

For more information on courses, workshops, and TimberNook programs for kids, visit the Avon Hills Folk School’s website. This fall and beyond, take the opportunity to explore a new skill, meet like-minded individuals, and step into a world where history and creativity come together in Central Minnesota.