Thanks to instructor Erik Simula, birchbark canoe building has been a ‘flagship’ of the Ely Folk School since we launched in spring 2015. Erik facilitated a team of EFS volunteers and students who crafted our first canoe, a 14-footer, literally from the ground up: first by gathering spruce root, pitch, cedar and birchbark in the […]
Author Archive | EFS
Family Classes: Beaver Hat Story
Now is a good time to think about setting up a class with friends or family for a reunion in the coming months. Students have really enjoyed sharing time and learning with friends and relatives, and we can custom design a class for you! Just read this story below for a little inspiration! I was […]
Favorite Memory at EFS
We tried something new this month and offered a free EFS t-shirt to one lucky winner. To enter we asked social media followers who took a class or attended an event at Ely Folk School to leave a comment and tell us what their favorite memory was. As we plan for the busy summer months […]
February Class Update
Greetings from up North, Outdoor temperatures have been record setting and we’ve had to reschedule some of the outdoor classes previously planned during the Ely Winterfestival. An updated class list for February and a few March classes are listed below. Make sure to read the registration deadline in order to receive your materials […]
February Newsletter
Greetings, The Fest will look different this time, as have most events through this past year. I am eager to see the amazing artistry that will come from snow sculptors this weekend, although there will be fewer than in past years. Many people are getting out on sleds and dogs are running all over our lakes […]
Welcoming Growth
Written by: Stephanie Hibdon I have always enjoyed being out in nature and the outdoors. I am a Missouri native and have long enjoyed the natural resources the beautiful state provided. However, when my partner, Paul, introduced me to Minnesota, it was virtually love at first sight. The natural beauty, abundant waterways, and fishing opportunities […]
New Year 2021
Greetings to all of you as we bring 2020 to a close, perhaps with a sigh of relief and hope that 2021 will be less chaotic. All of us here at the Ely Folk School, our staff, board, and volunteers, are grateful for the support from students, donors, grantor organizations, and Covid relief funds that […]
Ice Tribe
Written by: Alexia Springer As the year ends, it’s important to take some time to reflect. The full Moon coincides perfectly with the last few days of our calendar year, adding to the benefits this reflection process gives us. Going into 2020 some of my goals included developing friendships, getting involved in the community, and […]
Give to the Max 2020
Your Ely Folk School is resilient! With a little help from our friends like you during these challenging times, we’ll remain so! Thanks for your Give to the Max gift. Click here to give. We’ve pivoted to zoom classes (very popular!) and safe socially-distanced small-group onsite classes, including our new ceramics program. Plus safe […]
Fall Classes
Greetings, everybody, We are enjoying a long, lovely, very colorful fall here in Ely (as you can see by our photography instructor Ken Hupila’s gorgeous shot above) and I hope that your days are as colorful and enjoyable. More classes will be added as we go along, so watch for those on our Facebook page or website. […]
