What’s a Folk School?

Essentially, a folk school is a school that provides skill-based learning of traditional crafts. It is a place where you can learn a variety of hands-on skills such as blacksmithing, woodworking, metalsmithing, broom making, leather work, boat & paddle making, ceramics and textiles. The focus is on creating and teaching, not evaluation.

In a smartphone world of instant technology results, many find themselves longing for classic skills and more reflective pastimes of days gone by. Folk schools offer a learning for learning’s sake educational experience and encourage lifelong learning.

The folk school tradition traces its origins back to Scandinavian countries, with NFS Grundtvig of Denmark coining the term ‘schools for life’ as part of his educational vision for strengthening and empowering communities.

Folk schools focus on an unplugged, deliberate approach, with an emphasis on intergenerational learning that is fun, collaborative and restorative. The mission? To enrich lives, build community and inspire the hands, the heart and the mind.

Regards,

Steve Butler

Founder/Director
The Mill River Folk School