John C Campbell Folk School
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By Caitlin Wire
The North Carolina Folk School allows active seniors to enjoy the breathtaking mountains while engaging in lifelong learning in craft-related areas.
Tucked away in the picturesque western mountains of North Carolina lies the John C. Campbell Folk School, a 300-acre facility that provides teens, adults and active seniors with wonderful opportunities to hone skills in areas such as gardening, musicianship, writing, and photography. The school is the perfect destination for those with an eye (or an ear) for artistic activities that stimulate the senses and also bring forth an understanding of folk and Celtic culture. The organization simultaneously allows its participants to create bonds with other students as they engage in lifelong learning.
The idea of establishing a folk school was conceived by John C. Campbell and his wife, Olive Dame Campbell, in the early 1900’s. The couple shared the hope that cultural education could help spread an appreciation for the lifestyle of rural peoples living in the Appalachian Mountains. After John Campbell’s death in 1919, Olive Dame Campbell and friend Marguerite Butler studied folk schools in Europe, determined to open one in the United States. In 1925, their dream became a reality, and the John C. Campbell Folk School was born.
From broom-making to calligraphy to storytelling, every craft offered at the Folk School provides its students with a unique, friendly, and noncompetitive environment to learn and grow in. Each class series is generally one week long, and those enrolled are encouraged to attend community dances and a weekly concert series that features both national and regional acts performing a wide range of wonderful music. In addition, the campus is filled with nature trails that provide wonderful opportunities for visitors to enjoy the view.
To register for classes at the John C. Campbell Folk School, visit www.folkschool.org and browse through the available courses. Tuition rates vary depending on the course length and the course itself.
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