Folk Schools model an educational approach that places relationship, culture, and personal + community empowerment at the center of learning and life!

Folk Schools Are a Place To Learn…

To put it simply, a folk school is a place where people can LEARN new skills. But, not in the traditional sense — here, you will learn hands-on life skills, skills that have been passed on through generation to generation, skills that might have gotten a bit lost in the midst of this modern world. Additionally, there are no grades and there is no competition. Here, you learn for the sake of learning, growing, and expanding your skills and knowledge! Classes are open to all people, no matter their age, class, race, gender, etc!

Folk Schools Are a Place Full of History…

The folk school story has its roots in 19th century Denmark with Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig. Grundtvig believed that the classical education of the time created a rift between life and learning. He wanted education to instill a pride in national culture and a love of learning that would be lifelong. Grundtvig encouraged placing our human identity at the core of education: “to be a human being is to accept and take pride in one’s community connection and cultural identity.”

"Schools for Life" as Grundtvig called them were to assist people in understanding their own identity and to strengthen and empower communities. Grundtvig did not actually found any schools; his philosophy was first put into practice by Christen Kold, and many others to follow!

“Individual identity cannot be separated from community, and the wholeness of the individual happens in the connection with community.”

~ Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig

Folk Schools Are a Place to Reconnect…

Reconnect with yourself, your community, and with nature. Disconnect from the modern world and technology. A reconnect to reset…

Folk schools connect and build a myriad of community resources, and they capitalize on networking and collaboration at its finest!

According to Folk School Alliance, Folk schools around the United States:

Offer a local, place-conscious educational experience. Build on local strengths and support the local economy.
Build appreciation of local culture and agriculture. Encourage a recovery of local voice, empowerment and cultural memory.
Build collaborations among diverse community groups and organizations.
Emphasize, dialogue, conversation, and relationships.
Offer the expression of an alternative educational paradigm, one that is collaborative, noncompetitive, experiential, and holistic.
Offer enrichment as well as core programming for public, private, and homeschools.
Provide a context for diverse groups to come together for shared learning.

Folk Schools Are a place to become self-sufficient and empowered!

To give you the skills and abilities to feel capable as an individual and within a community! Real education begins with the communication of a sense of personal mission and purpose, and the belief that everyone has the ability to acquire the skills and knowledge to accomplish that mission.