North House Folk School | Grand Marais

North House Folk School in Grand Marais, Minnesota, is a distinctive educational and cultural institution situated on the scenic shore of Lake Superior. Known for preserving and passing down traditional northern craft skills, it operates on a model inspired by the Scandinavian "folkehøgskole" tradition-emphasizing experiential, non-competitive learning in a community-focused setting.

Founding and Philosophy

Established in 1997 by a group of local visionaries, North House was born out of a desire to celebrate and preserve northern craft traditions-many of which were vanishing from modern life. They secured use of two U.S. Forest Service buildings on the Grand Marais Harbor and began offering hands-on classes with the goal of building skills, community, and cultural appreciation.

The school’s educational philosophy is based on several key principles:

Learning for its own sake – there are no grades or degrees.

Hands-on craftsmanship – students learn by doing, not just watching.

Connection to place – many crafts use local materials and are rooted in the heritage of the North Shore.

Community-building – people of all ages and backgrounds come together through shared learning.

Courses and Curriculum

North House offers over 400 courses annually, serving more than 3,000 students. Classes range from half-day introductions to week-long intensives. They are led by skilled craftspeople from around the world and cover a wide range of traditional disciplines, including:

Timber framing – A cornerstone of North House, with classes building structures like cabins or saunas.

Boatbuilding – Students may build cedar-strip kayaks, traditional Inuit qajaqs, or Scandinavian-style boats.

Blacksmithing – Forging tools, decorative items, and hardware using traditional coal forges.

Woodworking – Carving, furniture-making, spoon carving, and more.

Fiber arts – Felting, weaving, spinning, knitting, and natural dyeing.

Basketry and greenwood crafts – Using birch bark, willow, and other local materials.

Foodways – Wood-fired bread baking, fermentation, Scandinavian cooking, and wild harvesting.

Northern ecology & culture – Lectures and workshops on natural history, storytelling, and traditional knowledge.

Each course focuses on craftsmanship, but also reflects a deeper cultural and environmental awareness.

Campus and Facilities

North House occupies a rustic waterfront campus along the Grand Marais harbor. It includes:

Historic log buildings repurposed as classrooms and studios.

Modern artisan spaces including a timber-frame workshop, blacksmith forge, fiber studio, and bakery.

The Yellow Building – a new welcome center completed as part of the school’s major expansion in 2023, featuring new classrooms and gathering spaces.

The Hjørdis, a 50-foot schooner used for public sailing excursions and maritime classes.

School Store, offering tools, books, handmade goods, and craft materials.

The harbor setting is not just scenic-it’s integral to the school’s identity, providing inspiration and a connection to the landscape.

Events and Community Programs

North House offers a range of public events and seasonal gatherings that bring the broader community into its orbit:

Winterer’s Gathering (November): Celebrating winter culture, gear swaps, films, and workshops.

Wooden Boat Show & Summer Solstice Festival (June): Boat launches, maritime demos, and storytelling.

Unplugged (September): A music and craft festival that includes a folk concert series, auctions, and community meals.

Family Weekend: Hands-on classes for children and adults to learn side-by-side.

Visitors are welcome to drop in year-round, with public sailing tours, live craft demos, open studios, and weekend mini-courses frequently offered.

Financial Accessibility

North House is committed to accessibility through several support programs:

Scholarships – Offered to students based on need, background, or career goals in craft.

Work-Study – Participants help maintain the campus in exchange for tuition credit.

Local Discounts – Cook County residents receive tuition reductions.

Internships – Intensive seasonal programs for young adults interested in teaching, craft, and sustainability.

These initiatives are part of the school's mission to keep craft education open to all, regardless of income or experience.

Cultural Impact and Sustainability

North House is not just a place to learn-it’s part of a wider movement to revalue handcraft, sustainable living, and heritage skills in modern society. Crafts taught here often use regional materials, emphasize zero-waste methods, and encourage resilience in both individuals and communities.

The school also partners with indigenous educators and international craftspeople, enriching its programs with diverse cultural voices while promoting respectful dialogue and knowledge-sharing.

Why It’s Special

Deep connection to the North Shore’s natural beauty and traditions.

High-quality instruction in traditional crafts that are hard to find elsewhere.

Welcoming, multigenerational community of learners.

A unique place to unplug and reconnect with manual skills, creativity, and nature.

Whether you're learning to carve a spoon, forge iron, build a boat, bake bread, or weave birch bark, North House Folk School offers an immersive, meaningful experience rooted in the values of tradition, craftsmanship, and community.