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Summer Program

WEEK-LONG RESIDENTIAL CLASSES FROM MAY – OCTOBER
The Summer Program, which runs from May through October, is The Clearing’s oldest and the one that most closely resembles Jensen’s original folk school vision. The mainstay of the Summer Program is week-long classes, with 25 to 35 students and instructors living at The Clearing, eating family-style meals and renewing their spirit through close contact with the native landscape. The Clearing experience is made up of many special components. The classes, sense of community, forests, meadows, water, sunsets, home-cooked meals, traditions and history all blend to create a wonderful place to learn, relax, reflect and make new friends.

2026 Summer Program
Registration Dates Announced

-- GENERAL REGISTRATION --
General Registration Start Date #1: February 26, 2026
Registration for classes held between May 3 and August 1 begins February 26, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. Central Time.

General Registration Start Date #2: February 27, 2026
Registration for classes held between August 2 and November 6 begins February 27, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. Central Time.

On General Registration Start Dates #1 and #2 (see above), an individual may register for him/herself and one other person.

-- LIFE MEMBER REGISTRATION --
Life Member Registration Start Date: February 24, 2026
Friends of The Clearing Life Members may register for all Summer Program classes beginning on February 24, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. Central Time.

On the Life Member Registration Start Date (see above), a Friend of The Clearing Life Member may register for him/herself and one other person who is also a life member.

2026 Summer Program Calendar

-click on class tiles below for complete class descriptions-

JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember

20262027202820292030

WEEK5 31may(may 31)6:00 pm06jun(jun 6)9:00 amHandspinning Alchemy #19Deb Jones

FULL - Join the waitlist!WEEK5 31may(may 31)6:01 pm06jun(jun 6)9:00 amThe Writer's Workshop: The Poetry Workshop #20Albert DeGenova

WEEK5 31may(may 31)6:02 pm06jun(jun 6)9:00 amThe Writer's Workshop: Poetry in Prose #21Albert DeGenova

FULL - Join the waitlist!WEEK5 31may(may 31)6:03 pm06jun(jun 6)9:00 amOff the Beaten Path in Spring: Exploring Door County's Wild Places, Birds, Wildflowers and More #22Paul Regnier

WEEK5 31may(may 31)6:04 pm06jun(jun 6)9:00 amPersonal Retreat #23

FULL - Join the waitlist!WEEK5 07jun(jun 7)6:00 pm13(jun 13)9:00 amSummertime Watercolor at the Clearing #24Kari Anderson

FULL - Join the waitlist!WEEK6 07jun(jun 7)6:01 pm13(jun 13)9:00 amWriting Your LIfe: Memoir and Personal Essay #25Margaret Hawkins

FULL - Join the waitlist!WEEK6 07jun(jun 7)6:02 pm13(jun 13)9:00 amBeginning Glass Fusing #26Nance Tucker

WEEK6 07jun(jun 7)6:03 pm13(jun 13)9:00 amWoven Rag Purses #27JoEl Levy Logiudice

WEEK6 07jun(jun 7)6:04 pm13(jun 13)9:00 amPersonal Retreat #28

WEEK7 14jun(jun 14)6:00 pm20(jun 20)9:00 amDrawing Nature with Colored Pencil #29Kimberly Mullarkey

FULL - Join the waitlist!WEEK7 14jun(jun 14)6:01 pm20(jun 20)9:00 amStained glass #30Jill Wicke

WEEK7 14jun(jun 14)6:02 pm20(jun 20)9:00 amThe Joy of Weaving: Open Studio for Newer Weavers #31Geke de Vries

WEEK7 14jun(jun 14)6:03 pm20(jun 20)9:00 amPersonal Retreat #32

WEEK8 21jun(jun 21)6:00 pm27(jun 27)9:00 amBeginning and Intermediate Pastel #33Sandra Place

FULL - Join the waitlist!WEEK8 21jun(jun 21)6:01 pm27(jun 27)9:00 amFine Woodworking: Build Custom Furniture or A Small Table #34Curt Wessel & Gene Kenny

FULL - Join the waitlist!WEEK8 21jun(jun 21)6:02 pm27(jun 27)9:00 amAn Introduction to Creating Copper Floral Forms #35Brad Nichols

WEEK8 21jun(jun 21)6:03 pm27(jun 27)9:00 amPersonal Retreat #36

FULL - Join the waitlist!WEEK9 28jun(jun 28)6:00 pm04jul(jul 4)9:00 amPaper Arts : Marbling, Bookbinding & Paper Cartonnage #37Nancy Akerly

WEEK9 28jun(jun 28)6:01 pm04jul(jul 4)9:00 amIntro to Quilting #38Kate LeRoy

FULL - Join the waitlist!WEEK9 28jun(jun 28)6:02 pm04jul(jul 4)9:00 amBasket and Gourd Workshop #39Denise Arzberger & Annelies Gebert

FULL - Join the waitlist!WEEK9 28jun(jun 28)6:03 pm04jul(jul 4)9:00 amPrinting with Nature and More #40Barbara Manger

WEEK9 28jun(jun 28)6:04 pm04jul(jul 4)9:00 amPersonal Retreat #41