Driftless Folk School
What is this all about?
When the glaciers bypassed southwestern Wisconsin and the adjacent areas of Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois during the ice ages, they left intact a unique landscape of ridges and coulees, a geological island in the midst of the vast Midwestern plains. Due to the absence of the gravel, boulders, and other glacial “drift” typically left behind in the path of receding ice sheets, this area is known to geologists as the “Driftless Region.” Today, the unique character of this area’s geology and landscape is matched by the character of its culture. Narrow ridges and valleys have impeded the growth of industrial agriculture in this region, opening the way for the development of organic and sustainable farming practices, for the growth of several thriving Amish communities, and for an influx of many people seeking a simpler life in harmony with the land.
At the Driftless Folk School we aim to make the skills and knowledge necessary for such a life more widely available to the people of the Driftless Region and beyond. We are rooted in Vernon County, between the Mississippi and the Kickapoo Rivers at the heart of the Driftless Region. Join us to explore traditional and contemporary strategies for sustainable living, to experience the beauty of the region through the arts and natural history, and to participate in an ongoing dialogue on meaningful issues and ideas in the classroom, in the garden, or over the dinner table.
Learn More About Folk Schools | Building Community in the Driftless Region
Mission of the Driftless Folk School
The mission of the Driftless Folk School is to support healthy, sustainable communities and personal development by providing creative and meaningful educational opportunities and inspiring lifelong learning for individuals and families.
Goals
We strive to accomplish our mission by offering experiences in agriculture, natural history, arts and crafts, and traditions of rural Wisconsin and other cultures. This includes offering:
- practical guidance for farmsteading practices and land stewardship,
- family activities, children’s workshops and childcare,
- traditional and contemporary skills that have proven to be sustainable,
- a context for dialogue and exploration of issues meaningful to human life,
- a noncompetitive and supportive learning environment.
What's New at Driftless Folk School
Music and Dance at the Driftless Folk School
By Summer Deal-Schulz
The Driftless Folk School was founded with the shared vision of creating art, skill, knowledge, culture, and community in our rural area, for us all to share. The latest expansion to this goal is the creation of the Music and Dance Program. If you, or anyone you know, has an interest in singing, playing music, or dancing, check out our list of classes in the 2009 Spring/Summer Course Catalogue .
Shape-note, or Sacred Harp singing, can be enjoyed by anyone—music to be read and sung by “the folk.” It is beautiful and uncomplicated, and a wonderful form of simplistic fellowship. The ability to call a dance is a cherished skill for holding community dances. In our dance caller’s workshop, we are offering a unique opportunity to learn the skill of directing a dance using common moves such as promenades, California twirls, and swings. Are you seeking entertainment the way it was before television and computer screens? Join us at our Old-Time Social Dancing class. You’ll learn traditional dances that have been past on through generations. Learn the techniques of gliding and “giving weight”, and enjoy the sounds of live music. Also in the category of dance is clogging, a folk dance still common in the Appalachians today. Clogging is an energetic dance that uses your feet to add rhythm to music. Do you play a little music, but haven’t joined a jam, or just want to play more music with others? This class was created for you. Learn etiquette, technique, and tunes while playing in a group. The style of music will be Old-Time, an infectious sound created when the Irish/Scottish fiddle met up with the banjo, an instrument native to Africa, brought to the States with slavery. Come experience American fusion!
There is one thing all these classes have in common. They are pure forms of entertainment, done with other people. We are excited to be offering these classes in our rural area, and invite all to come and enjoy.
To speak with the Music and Dance Coordinator about suggestions for classes or instructors, or for questions and comments, please contact Summer Deal-Schulz at (888) 587-6540 or email the Registrar .
Driftless Folk School Community Dances
Contras, Squares, and Waltzes
Thursday, September 3, 2009, 7:00pm
LaFarge Community Center
202 N State St, LaFarge, WI
Caller: TBA
Music by Lawful Contraband
$5/person, $7/family
Spring/Summer 2009 Catalogue Is Here!
The Spring/Summer 2009 Driftless Folk School Catalogue of Classes is available now. Check out course descriptions , course schedules , and instructor bios here on the Web.
Or download the catalogue here.
Or call or email the Registrar to get one with full graphics in the mail.
Catalogue Updates: The date of the Herbal Salves Workshop has been changed from April 4 to May 2 and the dates of the Old-Time Country Music Course will now be May 23, June 27, and July 18.
