Ely Folk School

06/05/2026

It’s our 11th Birthday weekend! 𝗪𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 - 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.

We’re proud of all that we’ve worked together to build over the last eleven years… We know it takes investments of time, resources, and capital by many people to make it to where we are now.

Already in the first five months of 2026, the Ely Folk School has:

• Welcomed 816 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 into classes ranging from blacksmithing camping tools to mending worn clothes
• Joined hands with 730 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 at Ely Folk School Community Events (perhaps we saw you at Lacey’s Favorite Things Party or at a Community Sing?)
• Worked with 70 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 to offer and plan classes for the first 8 months of 2026

𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴! Your financial support is what makes it possible for our staff to work with the talented local community and pull off EFS programs that leave your curiosity piqued and your social cup filled.

Please, 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶n honor of our anniversary! We hope you’ll also consider 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 with a friend this summer or 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱! There are infinite ways to be involved and we look forward to seeing you soon.

(P.S. Our Birthday Potluck is tonight, June 5th, 5-7th and our Community Dance is tomorrow, June 6th, 7-9:30 at Ethel’s Acres. Hope to see you there!)

06/04/2026

We’re having a Birthday Sale! 🎈🎈

Take 25% off anything in our Mercantile Friday and Saturday (June 5th & 6th).

We have a wide variety of unique, handmade items from EFS instructors and EFS apparel! Stop on by to check out what we have on your way to our other birthday celebrations. ☺️

(Tonight (Thursday) we’re paddling our birch bark canoe at Semer’s Beach Park; Friday we’re hosting a Birthday Potluck; and Saturday we’re dancing at Ethel’s Acres!)

06/04/2026

We'll be open late tonight as part of the new Night Owl Thursdays!!
Come see us and the other cool businesses in our town!
(And then stop by Semer's Beach between 5-7 to paddle our Birch Bark Canoe!)

🌙 Meet Ely Folk School!
Woods, crafts, and skills rooted in the northwoods - Ely Folk School is one of those places that makes this town genuinely special.

They're joining us for Night Owl Thursdays and we are so here for it.
Stop in this Thursday June 4, 5–8 PM!
Ely Folk School

06/03/2026

Rebecca Pauly teaches American Sign Language classes in our Humanities Program Area! She first was introduced to EFS through attending some of our community board game nights. In addition to instructing here, she works in special education at the elementary school, is involved with the North American Bear Center, supports families with high-needs children through babysitting, and loves to go outside in her free time, whether that’s playing ultimate frisbee or feeding birds.

When asked what EFS meant to her, Rebecca said that it “is an intentional space in the art of fostering community in a world where that art has often been lost or forgotten.”

“Deafness and hearing impairments are unfortunately often overlooked. Those who live with that invisible disability, myself included, often struggle to be included especially in loud bustling gatherings. Knowing that the Ely Folk School is all about bringing our community together, I decided to help be a stepping stone to welcoming, including, and communicating with those individuals. It's a whole lot easier to include those people if ASL is more commonly practiced within our community. The more who know it, the more likely it'll be used; The more likely it's used, the more likely it'll help others feel included; and that's my goal "

Rebecca is instructing a number of ASL classes this summer! Join her to learn some ASL basics and help create a more inclusive community across hearing differences!
June 16th, June 30th, July 7th, July 21st, August 4th, and August 18th.

▪️▪️▪️

The Ely Folk School is a communal connective tissue - many of Ely’s movers and shakers offer programming here. Pop into EFS any day and you’re likely to meet our amazing staff team - Rachael, Brett, Anna, and Lucy - but it’s rare that they’re alone! 👯

The Ely Folk School’s impact is made stronger by the involvement of deeply dedicated and caring individuals working on behalf of yes, EFS but also many of your other favorite places in town! See how all our work is interwoven in this new series: Who You’ll Meet at EFS!

👋 We hope you feel encouraged to stop in and say hi when you’re next wandering Sheridan Street.

06/01/2026

This Saturday, June 6th! Learn how to make Slovenian Walnut Potica with Lacey Squier.

In the early 1900’s the mining industry of the Minnesota Iron Range drew a multitude of immigrants each bringing their own cultural traditions. This area continues to be rich with these traditions, one of which is Slovenian Walnut Potica.

Lacey Squier, our current potica instructor learned how to make this ye**ty, sweet bread from Mary Louise Icenhour. Mary Louise is a second generation Slovenian, and born and raised Elyite, who was given the recipe and knowledge from her mother.

These potica classes are a great example of the layers of learning an Ely Folk School class can offer: not only are you learning a tangible skill, but you also have the opportunity to engage with the cultural history of the Minnesota Northwoods and Iron Range and be a part of the folk tradition of sharing knowledge across generations.

Slovenian Walnut Potica with Lacey Squier, Saturday, June 6th, 9am-1pm.

05/31/2026

Canoes and various watercraft are making their way through town, garden planting and yard work are filling the sunny weekends, and the foot traffic downtown is steadily growing. Hello Summer!

June at the Ely Folk School includes:

🎈 Celebrate our 11𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆 June 4-6th. Come paddle, eat, and dance with us!

🧒 We have two Creative Kids classes: 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 (𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 7-12) on June 6th and 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗮𝗽 (𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 10+) on June 18th.

🥤 Learn about Dorothy Molter and make your own root beer! Our summertime partnership with the Dorothy Molter Museum is back and our 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗿: 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 classes take place most Fridays throughout the summer

🔡EFS will soon have a letterpress machine of our own! Come learn how to set your own message and print it as a postcard in 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗔𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 on June 11th.

🐻Join artist Sam Zimmerman to explore the intersection of Ojibwe storytelling and painting with his two session class: 𝗢𝗷𝗶𝗯𝘄𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗔𝗿𝘁: 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀, June 19th-20th.

💫And more! Classes subject to change. Please check our website or call for the most up to date class schedule. Registering early helps instructors prepare class plans and materials.

05/30/2026

DJ Floyd is one of our regular Maker’s Morning attendees, steadfast volunteers, and an instructor with the Ely Folk School. She came up to visit Ely and immediately knew it was “home.” Stopping by for a Maker’s Morning was one of the first things she did on her visit to Ely! After that visit, DJ quickly relocated her life from Texas to here.

In addition to seeing DJ most Thursdays here at EFS, DJ is a part of the Heart of the Woods Quilt Guild and the Ely Fiber Arts Guild and you may have seen DJ at their booth during the weekly Farmer’s Markets, and the Blueberry Arts Festival. DJ runs the Mill Quilts & Cosplay with Isaac Hall. You’ll know them from their booth filled with Critters, anthropomorphic animals dressed to the nines! (In addition to seeing them in person, they have a website: themillqc.com if you want to check them out!) 🐹🦊🐰

DJ and Isaac created The Mill as a place to create a community that welcomes everyone and embraces quilting, cosplay, craft sewing, costuming, and any other kind of fabric-based creating. They love to learn new crafts and share their knowledge - DJ is always sharing the newest craft she’s working on, whether informally at a Maker’s Morning or through teaching a class.

DJ shared that she defines community as “people getting together to learn from each other and to share the joy of doing things together and that the Ely Folk School is a place that promotes community by providing a place and classes where that can happen. The Ely Folk School is a place to make new friends.”

▪️▪️▪️

The Ely Folk School is a communal connective tissue - many of Ely’s movers and shakers offer programming here. Pop into EFS any day and you’re likely to meet our amazing staff team - Rachael, Brett, Anna, and Lucy - but it’s rare that they’re alone! 👯

The Ely Folk School’s impact is made stronger by the involvement of deeply dedicated and caring individuals working on behalf of yes, EFS but also many of your other favorite places in town! See how all our work is interwoven in this new series: Who You’ll Meet at EFS!

👋 We hope you feel encouraged to stop in and say hi when you’re next wandering Sheridan Street.

05/29/2026

TONIGHT

Want to know more about how our youth programs work and who runs them?

Stop by the Ely Folk School for our Creative Kids Open House today (Friday, May 29th) from 4 to 6pm!

Meet Jen Toddie, EFS Youth & Family Program Coordinator, and some of the Creative Kids instructors who will be there to answer your questions.

We'll have some chalk and paper marking fun (markers, pencils, crayons) for kids to explore while the grown-ups learn about our Creative Kids classes and The Chickadee Club.

Enjoy this meet and greet, have a small snack, and enjoy the campfire.

05/28/2026

At our upcoming community barn dance, dancers and musicians with different backgrounds, styles, and experiences will come together to create something larger than themselves. It happens everyday here. 💫

Whether you’re here for fiber arts, ceramics, the humanities, or just to be around neighbors; EFS invites people to come together to learn from one another, exchange stories, and discover new passions. Inspiration lingers and continues to build.

Your donation helps make this possible.

It supports accessible programming, strengthens our network of artists and instructors, and creates welcoming spaces where everyone — regardless of age or experience — can reconnect with people, craft, place, and self.

This Spring Fundraiser is timed to conclude with our 11th Anniversary Weekend (next week!). 🎈🎈

Please consider making a donation today to help keep curiosity, craft, and community thriving at the Ely Folk School.

05/27/2026

Save the date for our 11th Birthday Celebrations June 4-6th!

We know it's important to celebrate. So, we're using our own birthday as an excuse to celebrate the Ely Folk School, our instructors, and YOU! Join us June 4th, 5th, and 6th for a joyous weekend of paddling, dancing, and eating.

Thursday, June 4th: Wiigwaasi-Jiimaan (Birch Bark Canoe) Community Paddle, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Friday, June 5th: Ely Folk School Birthday Potluck Friday 5-7pm

Saturday, June 6th: Old Time Strings Jam Session, 4-5pm (at the Ely Folk School) & Community Barn Dance 7-9:30pm (at Ethel’s Acres, 2231 Robich Rd)