The Clearing Folk School
Phone
(920) 854-4088
Physical Address
12171 Garrett Bay Road
Ellison Bay, WI 54210
Mailing Address
12171 Garrett Bay Road
Ellison Bay, WI 54210
About The Clearing Folk School
The Clearing is a not-for-profit folk school founded by renowned landscape architect and conservationist Jens Jensen in 1935. The Clearing offers a wide variety of classes in the arts, humanities and natural sciences, ranging from one-day workshops to week-long resident classes on The Clearing’s historic campus. A new interpretive display in the visitor center tells the story of Jensen and The Clearing.
According to Jensen, “Instruction at The Clearing is non-competitive – there are no credits, no grades, no degrees, no pitting of one student against another.” This method of teaching is what the Danes called “The Living Word.” Discussion, conversation, nature study and hands-on work are emphasized, rather than learning just in the classroom, through reading and writing. The folk school experience at The Clearing is a unique combination of learning, history, tradition, social interaction and quiet reflection.
Today, The Clearing offers classes in natural sciences, fine arts, skilled crafts and humanities. These programs fulfill Jens Jensen’s dream of a year-round folk school in a natural setting.
Jens Jensen.
