Interesting Educational or Creative Retreats/Workshops?

July 3, 2023 3:45 PM

A few years ago I took a week-long bread baking workshop at the John C. Campbell Folk School. It was a wonderful experience and I'm wondering if any of you have done something similar at a place you'd recommend? It doesn't have to be cooking-related, although that would be fun. Art and craft type things for beginners would be nice, but I'm pretty open to anything! I'm located in Southern CA but I'd be willing to travel in the US or internationally.

I like making/building things, working on projects with other people, delicious foods, and group activities.
City or country environments are both nice, but I'm more of a "pleasant walk" than a "vigorous hike" type of person.
Dancing or singing yes, sports no.
Not interested in spirituality or religion, but I can tolerate a minor amount of hippie stuff.
I can handle fairly bare-bones accommodation (e.g. at the folk school I stayed in a pleasant but simple room with like 8 other people with a bathroom down the hall). I would be going by myself, so a friendly atmosphere is key.

posted by exceptinsects to Travel & Transportation (10 answers total)

If your musical styles for singing and/or dancing could include old time, folk, bluegrass, or Celtic, you might enjoy a week at the Swannonoa Gathering at Warren Wilson College
posted by hydropsyche at 4:28 PM on July 3, 2023

I love the Folk School! My mom treats me to a week of "art camp" every year.

Here are a few similar places, with multiple day classes and residential options (I'm more familiar with places on the east coast):

Snow Farm (western Massachusetts near Northampton, very similar vibe to the Folk School)
Peters Valley School (New Jersey)
Arrowmont (Gatlinburg, TN)
Haystack Mountain (rural Maine, I haven't been but apparently the campus can be a bit of a challenge physically)
Touchstone Center for Crafts (Pennsylvania)
North Bennett Street School (Boston, classes are usually 2 days and no housing)

Also, today I learned about Vacation with an Artist, which is a one-on-one or small group studio experience (2-4 days) in the artist's home community.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 4:40 PM on July 3, 2023

I toured the Penland School of Craft in Penland, NC and it seemed fantastic with a wide range of programs and levels.
posted by victoriab at 5:38 PM on July 3, 2023

Sitka Center for Art & Ecology (Oregon coast) has a few multi-day workshops, like this oil pastel one or this ink drawing one. There isn't any on-site lodging, though they do give recommendations.
posted by spamandkimchi at 6:14 PM on July 3, 2023

King Arthur Flour others baking school.
posted by knile at 6:49 PM on July 3, 2023

There is also the North House Folk School in Grand Marais in upper upper Minnesota.

And some folks are starting up another folk school in Corvallis, Oregon - Tarweed Folk School.

I do not know why but AskMe will not let me make links. Sorry!
posted by janell at 6:59 PM on July 3, 2023

I took a week long intro to ballet workshop in Philadelphia and loved it. It did not come with housing but a couple students traveled in from out of town. It was high quality instruction in a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and the students were a great mix of adults.
posted by sepviva at 7:30 PM on July 3, 2023

I think you might love the Art Adventure retreat at Shake Rag Alley in Wisconsin. Their single workshops are fantastic also, but don’t have as many group activities.
posted by picopebbles at 3:45 AM on July 4, 2023

Never done it, but Ox-Bow sounds interesting.
posted by Bron at 6:27 AM on July 4, 2023

Idyllwild Arts is an arts high school up in the beautiful shady mountains of Idyllwild and has a pretty cool summer adult academy when all the kiddos are home for summer vacation. You can stay in the dorms on campus, or there is a very cute little town nearby.
posted by bluesky78987 at 6:56 AM on July 4, 2023