by MaryAnne Block
During the Dec. 1 JoeTown Winter Walk, children and adults eagerly entered a room at the Bad Habit Brewing Co. where the kids immediately gravitated toward a table stacked with colorful wonders.
It was an event led by Avon Hills Folk School.
On the table, the children saw magic markers, beads, evergreen branches, pine cones, ribbons, stamps, card stock and more. The kids soon happily became busy creating fun craft projects: gifts for others, an object of holiday greeting or seasonal decorations for the home. As they worked away like Santa’s elves, the room filled with happy conversations.
Each child or group of them was accompanied by an adult or two, who watched their children use their creative talents. Soon every table was surrounded by children participating. Mostly it was just the children eagerly involved with their craft-making. But some adults tried some hands-on creativity of their own. One woman said she is not creative, yet her lovely evergreen swag was on display when she finished her project. Many other projects were on display or taken home as gifts and memories.
Tom Wicks of Avon volunteers at the Avon Hills Folk School located a few miles south of Avon. He explained it was the school itself, not the home-schooled students, that was host of the Winter Walk event in St. Joseph. Homeschooling focuses on young people in grades K-12 whereas the folk school offers arts and crafts for people of all ages. There are now more than 300 folk schools in the United States today.
The concept of folk schools started in Denmark in the 1800s. Folk schools give people a chance to create with their hands. That used to be a necessity for farm families. But nowadays, with more people in cities and towns, being able to create from start to finish is a lost art for many.
The Avon Hills Folk School is located on 64 acres a few miles south of Avon and is owned by Chris Schellinger. The land has been in the family since 1969. It features rolling hills, wetlands, forests and Spunk Creek running through the property.
In 2017, Avon Hills Folk School started a “TimberNook” camp for children. They offer three children’s day camps each summer. One short day camp is for children ages 18-36 months (with an accompanying parent); a second camp is for children 4-7; and a third session for those who are 7-12. The adult-to-child ratio is usually about one adult to eight children. Adults can always see and hear to monitor.
The TimberNook camps offer self-directed time in nature. Each camp has a particular story to read, such as “The Three Little Pigs.” The children are then free to build or play or explore. A pile of limbs and twigs, a bunch of bricks, a pile of straw might be available for those who want to build a home for the three little pigs. Some children might want to build forts or have a sword fight with pool noodle swords. Other children might head to the gently flowing creek to play to their hearts’ content.
“This four to six hours in nature allows the youth to be creative,” Wicks said. “They communicate face to face, to problem solve, to even do conflict resolution should that arise. We tell everyone that we follow two rules. The first rule is to be kind to yourself, to friends and to nature. The second rule is each child must always be able to see an adult.
“We do not use a ‘helicopter’ philosophy,” Wicks continued, “where an adult hovers and then drops in to ‘fix it’ whenever a child has a question or problem. We use more of a ‘hummingbird’ approach, where adults are aware but allow the children to come to their own healthy resolution. If an adult does need to say something, often times it’s as simple as asking whether that is being kind, and the children will reach their own healthy solution. We just come in briefly to redirect if necessary, then back out and let the children continue.”
This particular folk school also offers adult summer camps to construct items. Since no kits are available, people learn to start at literally the beginning of every creative process. Take, for example, the black ash back-pack ash baskets. Those attending must create their own wood strips and handles for the framing of the baskets. For a timber-frame building, adults learn how to make beams from their own trees.
Various artists lead and guide adults in the sessions, including timber-frame building, collecting maple syrup, building black ash back-pack baskets, drum-making, ceramics, paper-making, candle-dipping, pottery, leather work, wood-scroll carving, stained glass and mosaics, plus a host of other offerings.
Summer programs, cost and contact information can be found on the school’s website at avonhillsfolkschool.com.
The Newsleaders will do a follow-up story on Avon Hills Folk School sometime this summer.
Siblings Emma and Ryan Michaelson of St. Joseph proudly display their Christmas swag at the Avon Hills Folk School crafting event. At right is heir grandmother, Pat Michaelson. The event was part of the Dec. 1 JoeTown Winter Walk in St. Joseph.
Reagan Gruber of Avon gets a hand from her mother, Kristin, while making her decorative Christmas creation. The event took place as part of the Dec. 1 St. Joseph Winter Walk in downtown St. Joseph.
Pride shows in the bright smile of Adalyn Gregory of St. Cloud as she shows off the holiday decoration she made during the Dec. 1 JoeTown Winter Walk evening in St. Joseph. She attended the crafting event with her aunt, Ashton Schleicher of St. Cloud.
Siblings Aviona (left) and Ronan Gregory of St. Cloud concentrate on creating their own special garlands at the Avon Hills Folk School event held at Bad Habit Brewing Company. The crafting event was part of the Dec. 1 JoeTown Winter Walk in St. Joseph.
