Following the Governor’s recommendations, we have been closed to the public. Betty Firth, our Program Coordinator, has been working from home primarily, writing grants to fund new programs and support existing ones. We’ll keep in touch with you regarding plans to reopen. We are developing ideas for how to stay connected in a meaningful way. […]
Archive | News

Canoe Flotilla to Lac La Croix Pow Wow
Ely Folk School Canoe Flotilla Attends Ojibwe Pow Wow The Ely Folk School’s efforts to build bridges with our local native communities gained traction last weekend with our second canoe flotilla across the Boundary Waters to Ontario’s Lac La Croix Village. Nine EFS enthusiasts in four canoes enjoyed the three-day trip to share in the […]
Celebration & Challenge
Happy Birthday to Us! Our Ely Folk School is entering our 5th Season! Please join us for our Celebration and our Challenge. Our Celebration: Join us for our special event 3-5pm Sunday, June 9, and share highlights of our first half decade, updates on new classes, lots of yummy cakes (& other treats) Our Challenge: We’ve […]
BBCP Youth & Family Day
Wednesday, August 15, 2018 Everyone is welcome to join us for some or all of this free event (the forecast looks great – sunny and 70!). We are excited that participants will include: Kids and families from Wild Within (Ely’s adventure day care program) Youth and families from Ely Community Resource Tribal youth from the Bois […]
EFS Membership Drive 2018
As we enter our fourth year of classes, we’re proud of how the Ely Folk School is “building community by providing learning experiences that celebrate the wilderness heritage, art, history, culture, and craft of northern Minnesota.” 120 classes and events are set for the summer with more being planned. From woodworking to knitting, soap making […]
Ely Folk School featured in “Craft Industry Alliance” Magazine
The Craft Industry Alliance magazine was kind enough to send us the article as a PDF. Click below to read. Ely Folk School_ A Craft School Based on a Retro Philosophy, Reinvented for Today – Craft Industry Alliance
Canoe Country Traditions
The second weekend in August brings Canoe Country Traditions, a three-day celebration of classes featuring the importance of canoes in our region’s history as well as traditional crafts such as caning, carving and cooking. Canoes have been a primary form of transport throughout the region’s history. You can even participate in helping to build […]

Free Paddle & Picnic Event Thur July 27
Last summer’s Ely Folk School canoe flotilla to the Lac La Croix pow wow was a huge hit! This summer EFS is one of many programs associated with Ely’s participation in a “This Land is Our Land” event hosted by Northern Tier Scout Base on Moose Lake. Coast-to-coast events that evening will celebrate America’s public […]
What’s Up at the Ely Folk School?
By Molly Olson Well, folks it has been quite a year! I recall last winter reading about the new folk school that was just being organized in January 2015 in Ely. At this time I was living in Prairie Farm, WI and just thinking about moving to Ely, MN. My husband and I were dreaming […]
Fall 2015 Newsletter
Here is the first newsletter published about the Ely Folk School in fall of 2015. Fall 2015 EFS Newsletter