PXL_20230617_161054013.PORTRAIT.ORIGINAL~3.jpg

Building community by providing learning experiences that celebrate the wilderness heritage, art, history, culture, and craft of the people of northern Minnesota.

Ceramics

CLASSES

Community

EVENTS

Fiber Arts

CLASSES

CLICK TO VIEW AND REGISTER FOR CLASSES

Folk Arts

CLASSES

Metalworking

CLASSES

Nourishment

CLASSES

Music, Voice
& Page

CLASSES & EVENTS

Northwoods
Skills & Crafting

CLASSES

Youth & Family

Private Classes & Event Space Rental

INQUIRE NOW ▶

ELY FOLK SCHOOL IS AVAILABLE FOR

Volunteer ▶

Educational
Framework ▶

Donate ▶

The Ely Folk School
Birch Bark Canoe Project

From the Blog

The Magic in Being Creative

by John Kopp, originally published in April 2022 Creativity doesn’t come from a piece of us but from the whole of us. I find myself...

Who Can Afford a Class? Sliding Scale Pricing and Access to Folk Education at EFS

The Ely Folk School commits to creating programs and opportunities that are welcoming to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances....

Cranberry Picking

It seems to have been a personal, informal mission of sorts in the last couple years to become more intimately acquainted with the...

@elyfolkschool on Instagram

Non-Competitive, Intergenerational, Learning for Life

..

Find a class today. www.elyfolkschool.org

Boundary Waters Connect & the Ely Folk School are hosting a free community movie night. Join us in viewing a documentary film at Ely's Historic State Theater about the important of club and organization involvement. We'll facilitate a discussion for those who'd like to engage following the film.

Join or Die is a film about why you should join a club. In this feature documentary, follow the half-century story of America's civic unraveling through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking "Bowling Alone" research into America's decades-long decline in community connections could hold the answers to our democracy's present crisis.

Last weekend's Meal Prepping Brunch... with Mimosas! class proved that meal prepping nourishing meals to freeze for later doesn't have to be intimidating, difficult, or boring!

Instructor Valerie Jedlicki led a full class through preparing three take and bake brunch meals. We hope that those meals will be shared with loved ones the next time there's simply not enough time to cook!

Ely's Dark Sky Festival is this weekend! Join us in celebrating our incredible dark night skies. The Ely Folk School is proud to be offering a myriad of aurora and astral themed photography and painting classes. You can also join us for other classes this weekend, like making your own sauna hat or making your own pair of fire tongs. Both saunas and bonfires are great activities on a beautiful starry night!

View our upcoming event calendar here. https://www.elyfolkschool.org/classes

Join us the first Monday of every month for game night! Meet new friends and connect with old ones in a casual and fun environment. Bring a snack or a game--all experience levels welcome. Our next Game Night is this Monday, January 6th at 6:30pm. See you there!

One of our intentions at the Ely Folk School for this new year is to invest intentionally in HOW we're growing our community and how we can strengthen new and old connections alike.

If your resolutions also include community care, we encourage you to join us next Wednesday, January 8th at 5:30 pm for a Community Conversation about Restorative Justice.

When someone’s actions harm you, what do you need? What about when your actions cause harm – what do you need then? The philosophy and lifeway sometimes referred to as restorative justice helps individuals and communities address those questions and figure out what to do about the answers. As part of the Minnesota Department of Corrections Restorative Justice Program, people whose actions have caused severe harm can participate in an apology letter process that requires accountability, remorse, amends, empathy, change, and other practices that a lot of people say they need when they cause or experience harm. DOC Apology Letter Bank co-coordinator Chris Godsey will share some restorative justice and apology basics, answer questions, and do his best to foster dialogue that risks keeping folks too late.

https://elyfolkschool.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/elyfolkschool/event.jsp?event=14446&

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the school,
Crafts were packed up, no misplaced equipment or tool;
Class flyers were hung by the window with care,
In hopes that Elyites would walk by and stare;
Sewing machines in their boxes and stained glass in its place;
Students all in their beds, peaceful looks on their face;
The kitchen wiped down, ceramics studio clear;
All winded down from their month of good cheer;
With a turn of a key, the place is locked up tight...
So here at the Folk School, we can wish you goodnight!

Merry Christmas!

Are you looking for a class to awaken your creativity and spur your imagination? Well look no further than local writer and poet Dy Korda's online class "The Poet's Way". This four session series of 2-hour classes starting Saturday, December 28th and running through Saturday, January 18th is perfect for folks who want to practice writing in an accessible and supportive environment. Register now by visiting elyfolkschool.org/classes

Our final pre-Christmas class is happening Saturday, December 21st at 9am with instructor Lacey Squire! Potica making involves stretching out long sheets of sweet pastry dough before rolling up into a beautiful spiral. Although this class is full, we so appreciate the art of how to make Slovenian Walnut Potica and celebrating the holidays in traditional fashion.

We're coming down to the wire on Christmas gift purchasing! This is your reminder to stop by to pick up goodies from the mercantile or gift certificates (good for the mercantile or classes.)

The Ely Folk School will be open from 9am-5pm Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, December 18th, 19th, and 20th and then Saturday, December 21st from 9am-1pm. After that our shopfront will be closed for the week for Christmas (although we'll be available via email at info@elyfolkschool.org as needed.)

Good luck with your final stocking stuffers!

Get into the holiday spirit with our cookie decorating and cookie exchange happening this Thursday, December 19th!

Our regular Makers Morning will be dedicated to frosting EFS sugar cookies from 9:30am-12:30pm this week so they're ready to roll for the exchange. Come by anytime to put your personal spin on these classic Christmas cookie shapes 🎄🔔⭐️

Come back, and bring your own family favorite cookies, from 4-6pm. We'll provide the paper plates and plastic wrap so you can take home a beautifully diverse spread.

We're looking forward to seeing (and tasting...) all the different shapes and styles.

Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy the 2024 Ely Folk School Winter Bonfire with us! Special thanks to our sponsors Piragis, Ely Liquor, Zup's, and Wintergreen for helping keep us warm and entertained. Big thanks also to our volunteers as well, who helped dedicate their time and energy to bringing this community together. We feel fortunate to live in Ely with you all! Visit elyfolkschool.org/support to help us cover the cost of the event, and to help us reach our end of the year fundraising goals.

The Ely Folk School has gift certificates available for sale, and they make a perfect holiday gift for friends and family. The great news about our gift certificates is that they can be applied to our mercantile (perfect for material purchases that can sit under a tree or in a stocking) or towards classes (if your gift recipient is more of the "experiences" based enjoyer!) Stop by and grab a gift certificate in person or email us at info@elyfolkschool.org for a digital copy.

It's almost time for our biannual bonfire gathering! We love our winter bonfires in particular because it brings together the biggest, coziest energy to kick off the long dark season. Join us this weekend for apple hand pies, mulled wine and hot chocolate, a hot tent, and dog sled rides. We're looking forward to seeing you and all of our neighbors there! ❄❤☃

Join local Elyite Joe Weise for some early season ice fishing on Friday, December 13th! Whether you are a seasoned pro looking to refine your technique or a fair weather caster who is interested in breaking in to the wonderful world of winter fishing, this class is worth checking out. Register by following the link in our bio to see our current classes and events.

We've got a lot of classes coming up this week--you're sure to find something you'll enjoy:

On Wednesday, December 11th Jess Edburg is teaching a Norwegian Lefse class (a delicious potato flatbread!) from 5-8pm.

Join Joe Weise on Friday, December 13th from 1-4pm for an ice fishing outing to try and catch some local Northern Pike--regardless of your experience this is sure to be a fun adventure!

And finally from 10am-2pm on Sunday, December 15th, Sue Larson will be repeating her "Herbal Winter Wellness" class, where you'll walk away with some elderberry syrup and fire cider to boost your immune system and keep the winter blues far away.

Click here to see these classes and register now!
https://www.elyfolkschool.org/classes

Join us for tomorrow's Ceramics Studio Open House (Sunday, December 8th from 4-7pm) to check our facilities for pottery. Maybe you just finished a ceramics class at Minnesota North and are looking for a place to keep working on your projects, or you recently moved to town and are curious to check out our space. Maybe you've never tried pottery before but have always been on the hunt for the perfectly shaped coffee cup... or maybe you want to support your friend who is a member!

Whatever your comfort level with ceramics, we encourage you to come by and see what we've got going on in the back of the Folk School. All attendees are eligible to win an original piece by Studio Coordinator Wade Pharr as a door prize. Stop by any time between 4 and 7pm to enjoy a glass of wine and get your hands on some clay!

Our Holiday Arts Market is upcoming this weekend, Friday, December 6th from 4-7pm! Before you enjoy all the crafts and music and wintery delights, we thought we'd highlight some of the talented vendors (and their goods!) who will be selling at this year's market. See you there!

Kelly and Alex Cramer specialize in woodburning and woodworking creations that are hand-crafted. They use a variety of artistry skills to create one-of-a kind pieces. From the incorporation of intricate pyrography and watercolor designs to functional and stylish woodwork, they aim to showcase the beauty and versatility of wood. They believe in the power of handcrafted items to add warmth, character, and a touch of personality to any space. Every piece of wood has its own character, something they strive to highlight from natural beauty through their designs.

Keiko Williams creates Matsushima Rocks: MATSU (Pine) - SHIMA (Island) - is her mother's family name. This special region on the coast of Japan has several hundred rocky islands with pine trees growing on them. The "art" of rock wrapping is based on ancient Japanese basket weaving techniques. The rocks have been harvested in the Ely area and along the shores of the Great Lakes. Rocks are wrapped in cane, leather or macrame cord and incorporate willow sticks, driftwood, stone and rock beads, copper and other metals. Each piece is created with love, right here in Ely, Minnesota!

Ozzie has been a lifelong maker, working with various materials over the years. Most recently he has been exploring sewing, especially outdoor gear. He will have thwart bags, bike bottle holders, and mittens available at the Holiday Market, they all make great gifts!

We're excited to announce that photographs we commissioned from local photographer (and MN Capitol Building exhibitor!) John Ratzloff, have been designed into a book of postcards. This limited run of 24-card books are full of moments of creativity, and culture - all occurring within EFS programming. These photographs capture the care and connection - to land, to each other, and to craft - inherent in all Ely Folk School programming.

Every person who gives a year-end donation of $75 or more will receive one of these limited postcard books. It is our hope that each postcard will remind you of the potential each of us hold in our hands to shape creative and caring lives. They would make a wonderful gift to your favorite Ely enthusiast - a present that promotes local artists, the Ely Folk School, and warm memories of Ely in all seasons.

https://www.elyfolkschool.org/support

Have you participated in instructor Peta Barrett's snowshoe lacing class before?
You might remember from your session that this style of snowshoe needs an urethane dip to stay resilient over time. Peta is offering hand dipping for snowshoes December 5th through the 8th (regardless of whether your snowshoes were made with us at the Folk School!) There are options for single refresher dips and triple dips for laced but never urethaned Ojibwe snowshoes. Contact her at petabarrettinely@gmail.com for more information!

It's Small Business Saturday! Stop by the Ely Folk School today between now and 5pm and support your local artists and craftspeople who sell on consignment in our mercantile. With everything from photography prints to beaded earrings, forged letter openers to brooms, and chip carving pieces to jewelry, there's something handmade with care for everyone. We also have gift certificates available, good for use in our mercantile OR for classes!

Winter is upon us, so we're appreciative of instructor Sue Larson's herbal concoctions that help boost your immune system. Sue has two "Herbal Winter Wellness" classes coming up in December (one on Friday the 6th and one on Sunday the 15th) with a focus on elderberry syrup and fire cider. Stay healthy and have fun mixing whipping up these herbal defenders! Get registered by visiting our website at elyfolkschool.org/classes.

Thank you to everyone who came out and joined us at our Thanksgiving potlucks today--what a warm and cozy day of community, joy, and gratitude. We are very fortunate to live and work here with you all.

We're looking forward to seeing you all at one of our Thanksgiving potlucks tomorrow! Because of last year's popularity, this year we have TWO meals to celebrate, one at 11AM and one at 4PM (it'll help us spread the love... and stay within fire code 😉) Bring a dish that's meaningful or traditional to you, or just show up and be in community with your Ely neighbors! We so appreciate being able to gather together. Please RSVP by visiting the link in our bio. See you soon!

The holidays are rapidly approaching and if you're interested in sending Christmas letters out to friends and family, we highly recommend taking the class "Design a Christmas Card" with instructor Cecilia Rolando coming up the afternoon of Thursday, December 5th. Not only is Cecilia a creative guru, with talents in painting, sketching, jewelry making, collaging, and more... She she is an excellent teacher and guide, so be prepared to leave with a card you can be proud of!

Thank you for supporting the Ely Folk School during Give to the Max! We raised nearly $12,000 to support our community educational programming!

We didn't quite reach our goal, but there is still time to donate before the end of the year, take a class, or attend a Community Event. We hope to create with you soon!

Today is Give to the Max Day!

The Ely Folk School strives to create welcoming events that encourage learning, meeting new people, and personal growth. We are proud of what we have accomplished this year and are eager to jump into next year with your support.

We NEED to hit our goal of $15,000 raised - can you help?

Thank you!

www.givemn.org/organization/ElyFolkSchool
www.elyfolkschool.org/Support

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Follow us on Instagram

@elyfolkschool

Private Classes & Event Space Rental

From the Blog

The Magic in Being Creative

Who Can Afford a Class? Sliding Scale Pricing and Access to Folk Education at EFS

Cranberry Picking

​

Ely Folk School Newsletter