New Ely folk school is 'digital detox camp'
A new school offering courses on traditional northern crafts and skills is launching in Ely this weekend.
The Ely Folk School will offer nearly fifty day-long and half-day classes this summer. Courses will range from canoe repair to cheese making to Voyageur sash weaving.
Board member Paul Schurke, who runs Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge in Ely, says folk schools are a growing phenomenon. Dozens now operate nationally, including North House Folk School in Grand Marais and the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina. The concept was imported over a century ago from Scandinavian countries where folk schools have a long history.
"We kind of consider this one to be digital detox camp for folks who have been too tied into cell phones and other electronics and really want to get back to their roots and do something with their hands and make stuff," said Schurke.
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The school is housed in the former "Fisherman's Headquarters" building in downtown Ely. It's one of seven buildings purchased recently by Misouri based developer John Ott.
His son Tanner Ott, also a board member of the folk school, said they have offered the building to the school rent-free for the first year. "It's part of a greater effort to revitalize the downtown in Ely," he said.
The school has raised $15,000 in donations to help launch the school. But eventually organizers anticipate that tuition will cover the majority of costs.
Tuition for this summer's courses average about $50. Luckily "folk schools don't need a lot of cash," Schurke said. The organization has set a budget of $50,000 this year, which is scheduled to grow to $100,000 by 2020.