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.

2025 Summer Program
Registration Dates Announced

-- GENERAL REGISTRATION --
General Registration Start Date #1: February 25, 2025
Registration for classes held between April 27 and August 2 begins February 25, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. Central Time.

General Registration Start Date #2: February 27, 2025
Registration for classes held between August 3 and November 1 begins February 27, 2025 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 20, 2025
Friends of The Clearing Life Members may register for all Summer Program classes beginning on February 20, 2025 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.

2025 Summer Program Calendar PREVIEW

Below is a PREVIEW of the 2025 Summer Program. Class titles & dates subject to change. Final schedule & full class details coming soon.

MonthCurrent Month

January February March April May June July August September October November December

WEEK1 :: Class #1 27apr(apr 27)6:01 pm03may(may 3)9:00 amHave Another Cookie - Making Quilts with CurvesJudy Hasheider

27apr(apr 27)6:02 pm03may(may 3)9:00 amBand WeavingJoan Sheridan

27apr(apr 27)6:03 pm03may(may 3)9:00 amBeginning BlacksmithingJames Viste

27apr(apr 27)6:04 pm03may(may 3)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

04may(may 4)6:05 pm10(may 10)9:00 amSpring into Watercolor LandscapesKari Anderson

04may(may 4)6:06 pm10(may 10)9:00 amHand Embroidery with Vintage and Repurposed FabricsLaurel Izard

04may(may 4)6:07 pm10(may 10)9:00 amWood CarvingGreg Wirtz

04may(may 4)6:08 pm10(may 10)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

11may(may 11)6:09 pm17(may 17)9:00 amSpring Birds of Northern Woods and WatersGerry and Maureen Janz

11may(may 11)6:10 pm17(may 17)9:00 amSpring Photography on Your iPhoneKaren Alesch

11may(may 11)6:11 pm17(may 17)9:00 amWoodturning Made EasyRob Nelson

11may(may 11)6:12 pm17(may 17)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

18may(may 18)6:13 pm24(may 24)9:00 amWatercolor ExcitementEd Fenendael

18may(may 18)6:14 pm24(may 24)9:00 amWriting From Your Life: Memoir and Personal EssayMargaret Hawkins

18may(may 18)6:15 pm24(may 24)9:00 amCopper Enameling and BeyondJulie Lukosaitis

18may(may 18)6:16 pm24(may 24)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

25may(may 25)6:17 pm31(may 31)9:00 amIllustrated Nature JournalCynthia Quinn

25may(may 25)6:18 pm31(may 31)9:00 amPoetry Camp: Your Next BookRobin Chapman

25may(may 25)6:19 pm31(may 31)9:00 amRe-use, Re-cycle, Re-imagine a Clothing PieceKipp Inglis

25may(may 25)6:20 pm31(may 31)9:00 amFrom Kiln to Forge: Making a Glass Tile and Forged Display StandNance Tucker and James Viste

25may(may 25)6:21 pm31(may 31)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

MonthCurrent Month

January February March April May June July August September October November December

01jun6:22 pm07(jun 7)9:00 amSpinning: Playing with PlyingDeb Jones

01jun6:23 pm07(jun 7)9:00 amPhotoshop Elements for Scrapbooking, Framing, and CompetitionBill Brown and Gary Taylor

01jun6:24 pm07(jun 7)9:00 amUnleash Your Story: Uncovering Themes & Threads Of Your Unique LifeHeather 'Byrd'

01jun6:25 pm07(jun 7)9:00 amExploring Door County's Wild Places, Birds, Wildflowers and MorePaul Regnier

01jun6:26 pm07(jun 7)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

08jun(jun 8)6:27 pm14(jun 14)9:00 amThe Way of the BrushSeth Taylor

08jun(jun 8)6:28 pm14(jun 14)9:00 amYou Are Here: Poetry of Nature and the Nature of SelfMarty McConnell

08jun(jun 8)6:29 pm14(jun 14)9:00 amWeaving Baskets & Creating Decorative GourdsDenise Arzberger and Annelies Gebert

08jun(jun 8)6:30 pm14(jun 14)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

15jun(jun 15)6:31 pm21(jun 21)9:00 amTwo-Dimensional Design FundamentalsKay Brathol-Hostvet

15jun(jun 15)6:32 pm21(jun 21)9:00 amFine Woodworking: Build Custom Furniture or a Small TableCurt Wessel and Gene Kenny

15jun(jun 15)6:33 pm21(jun 21)9:00 amDrawing Nature OutdoorsBarbara Manager

15jun(jun 15)6:34 pm21(jun 21)9:00 amA Week On the Edge - KnifesmithingJeremiah Backhaus

15jun(jun 15)6:35 pm21(jun 21)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

22jun(jun 22)6:36 pm28(jun 28)9:00 amDrawing Nature in Colored PencilKimberly Mullarkey

22jun(jun 22)6:37 pm28(jun 28)9:00 amWith Thy Needle: Working with Wool and Slow StitchingJudy Hasheider

22jun(jun 22)6:38 pm28(jun 28)9:00 amThe Joy of Weaving: Open Studio for Newer WeaversGeke de Vries

22jun(jun 22)6:39 pm28(jun 28)9:00 amSteel SculptureBrad Nichols

22jun(jun 22)6:40 pm28(jun 28)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

29jun(jun 29)6:41 pm05jul(jul 5)9:00 amBeginning & Intermediate PastelSandra Place

29jun(jun 29)6:42 pm05jul(jul 5)9:00 amMaking Glass Beads and Blowing Glass OrnamentsJulie Lukosaitis

29jun(jun 29)6:43 pm05jul(jul 5)9:00 amPaper Arts: Marbling, Bookbinding, and Paper CartonnageNancy Akerly

29jun(jun 29)6:44 pm05jul(jul 5)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

MonthCurrent Month

January February March April May June July August September October November December

29jun(jun 29)6:41 pm05jul(jul 5)9:00 amBeginning & Intermediate PastelSandra Place

29jun(jun 29)6:42 pm05jul(jul 5)9:00 amMaking Glass Beads and Blowing Glass OrnamentsJulie Lukosaitis

29jun(jun 29)6:43 pm05jul(jul 5)9:00 amPaper Arts: Marbling, Bookbinding, and Paper CartonnageNancy Akerly

29jun(jun 29)6:44 pm05jul(jul 5)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

06jul(jul 6)6:01 pm12(jul 12)9:00 amSoft Pastel Landscape AdventureKay Brathol-Hostvet

06jul(jul 6)6:02 pm12(jul 12)9:00 amPlant-Based Fiber DyeingKipp Inglis

06jul(jul 6)6:03 pm12(jul 12)9:00 amFire combo: Glass and SteelJulie Lukosaitis and James Viste

06jul(jul 6)6:04 pm12(jul 12)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

06jul(jul 6)6:05 pm12(jul 12)9:00 amChamber Music for StringsKatherine Decker & Taylor Giorgio

13jul(jul 13)6:01 pm19(jul 19)9:00 amLandscape Design Inspired by Nature and MusicDarrel Morrison

13jul(jul 13)6:02 pm19(jul 19)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

20jul(jul 20)6:01 pm26(jul 26)9:00 amRecorder At The ClearingPat Badger

20jul(jul 20)6:02 pm26(jul 26)9:00 amWeave a Basket and Forge the HandleDenise Arzberger & James Viste

20jul(jul 20)6:03 pm26(jul 26)9:00 amHike, Bike and Paddle Door CountyBob Bultman and Kelly King

20jul(jul 20)6:04 pm26(jul 26)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

27jul(jul 27)6:01 pm02aug(aug 2)9:00 amWater, Waves, Skies and Beaches in Watercolor or GraphiteLee Mothes

27jul(jul 27)6:02 pm02aug(aug 2)9:00 amCrochet From the Basics to MoreLori Carlson

27jul(jul 27)6:03 pm02aug(aug 2)9:00 amI Forged a Knife and I Know How to Use It!Jeremiah Backhaus and Erik Rinkleff

27jul(jul 27)6:04 pm02aug(aug 2)9:00 amStained Glass CreationsJill Wicke

27jul(jul 27)6:05 pm02aug(aug 2)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

MonthCurrent Month

January February March April May June July August September October November December

27jul(jul 27)6:01 pm02aug(aug 2)9:00 amWater, Waves, Skies and Beaches in Watercolor or GraphiteLee Mothes

27jul(jul 27)6:02 pm02aug(aug 2)9:00 amCrochet From the Basics to MoreLori Carlson

27jul(jul 27)6:03 pm02aug(aug 2)9:00 amI Forged a Knife and I Know How to Use It!Jeremiah Backhaus and Erik Rinkleff

27jul(jul 27)6:04 pm02aug(aug 2)9:00 amStained Glass CreationsJill Wicke

27jul(jul 27)6:05 pm02aug(aug 2)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

03aug(aug 3)6:01 pm09(aug 9)9:00 amPlein Air with PastelsJohn Ribble

03aug(aug 3)6:02 pm09(aug 9)9:00 amThe Writers Workshop: Making Flash Connections, Short Form into LongAlbert DeGenova

03aug(aug 3)6:03 pm09(aug 9)9:00 amThe Writers Workshop: Making Flash Connections, Short Form into LongAlbert DeGenova

03aug(aug 3)6:04 pm09(aug 9)9:00 amIncredible Indigo and Fabric Patterning with ShiboriKippian Inglis

03aug(aug 3)6:05 pm09(aug 9)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

10aug(aug 10)6:01 pm16(aug 16)9:00 amThe Art Quilt - Open StudioWendy Butler Berns

10aug(aug 10)6:02 pm16(aug 16)9:00 amCultivating Mindfulness: Growing a Life-long PracticeBeth Coleman

10aug(aug 10)6:03 pm16(aug 16)9:00 amBeginning Glass FusingNance Tucker

10aug(aug 10)6:04 pm16(aug 16)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

17aug(aug 17)6:01 pm23(aug 23)9:00 amFoundational WatercolorDawn Flores

17aug(aug 17)6:02 pm23(aug 23)9:00 amJames by Percival EverettJeff Doane

17aug(aug 17)6:03 pm23(aug 23)9:00 amThe Joy of Weaving: Open Studio RetreatGeke de Vries

17aug(aug 17)6:04 pm23(aug 23)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

24aug(aug 24)6:01 pm30(aug 30)9:00 amCompelling Landscapes with WatercolorGary Hanks

24aug(aug 24)6:02 pm30(aug 30)9:00 amTaming Varigated Yarns: Planned Pooling & Assigned Pooling for KnittingRobin Geller

24aug(aug 24)6:03 pm30(aug 30)9:00 amMoku-hanga: An Introduction to Japanese PrintmakingAlfred Stark

24aug(aug 24)6:04 pm30(aug 30)9:00 amForge and Foundry Combo - Introduction to Forging and Bronze CastingJames Viste

24aug(aug 24)6:05 pm30(aug 30)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

MonthCurrent Month

January February March April May June July August September October November December

07sep(sep 7)6:01 pm13(sep 13)9:00 amFundamentals of DrawingJohn Ribble

07sep(sep 7)6:02 pm13(sep 13)9:00 amHand Embroidery with Vintage and Repurposed FabricsLaurel Izard

07sep(sep 7)6:03 pm13(sep 13)9:00 amRepurposing T-shirts into Woven Table RunnersJoEl Logiudice

07sep(sep 7)6:04 pm13(sep 13)9:00 amHand Caning - 7- Step Method with Caning needlesLynn Nulicek

07sep(sep 7)6:05 pm13(sep 13)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

14sep(sep 14)6:01 pm20(sep 20)9:00 amPaper Cartonnage ExplorationNancy Akerly

14sep(sep 14)6:02 pm20(sep 20)9:00 amTouch the Earth: Connect with NatureDebbie Gille

14sep(sep 14)6:03 pm20(sep 20)9:00 amRug HookingDEETTA BEEBE

14sep(sep 14)6:04 pm20(sep 20)9:00 amCarving Using the Flat-Plane TechniqueErik Rinkleff

14sep(sep 14)6:05 pm20(sep 20)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

21sep(sep 21)6:01 pm27(sep 27)9:00 amHave Another Cookie - Making Quilts with CurvesJudy Hasheider

21sep(sep 21)6:02 pm27(sep 27)9:00 amCreative RechargeSharon Nesbit-Davis

21sep(sep 21)6:03 pm27(sep 27)9:00 amAxe MakingJeremiah Backhaus

21sep(sep 21)6:04 pm27(sep 27)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

28sep(sep 28)6:01 pm04oct(oct 4)9:00 amPainting the Four Seasons with FabricSusan Hoffmann

28sep(sep 28)6:02 pm04oct(oct 4)9:00 amWomen Writers RetreatSharon Nesbit-Davis

28sep(sep 28)6:03 pm04oct(oct 4)9:00 amWood CarvingGreg Wirtz

28sep(sep 28)6:04 pm04oct(oct 4)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

MonthCurrent Month

January February March April May June July August September October November December

28sep(sep 28)6:01 pm04oct(oct 4)9:00 amPainting the Four Seasons with FabricSusan Hoffmann

28sep(sep 28)6:02 pm04oct(oct 4)9:00 amWomen Writers RetreatSharon Nesbit-Davis

28sep(sep 28)6:03 pm04oct(oct 4)9:00 amWood CarvingGreg Wirtz

28sep(sep 28)6:04 pm04oct(oct 4)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

05oct(oct 5)6:01 pm11(oct 11)9:00 amOil Painting - Create Painterly ImpressionsFrankie Johnson

05oct(oct 5)6:02 pm11(oct 11)9:00 amOff The Beaten Path: Exploring Door County's Natural TreasuresTerrie Cooper & Mike Schneider

05oct(oct 5)6:03 pm11(oct 11)9:00 amThe Art of Nature and Outdoor PhotographyHank Erdmann

05oct(oct 5)6:04 pm11(oct 11)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

12oct(oct 12)6:01 pm18(oct 18)9:00 amPainting Nature in WatercolorChris Sommerfelt

12oct(oct 12)6:02 pm18(oct 18)9:00 amKnitters Choice: Norwegian Mittens or Open KnittingJoan Sheridan

12oct(oct 12)6:03 pm18(oct 18)9:00 amOpen Studio for WoodworkersCurt Wessel

12oct(oct 12)6:04 pm18(oct 18)9:00 amPersonal Retreat

19oct(oct 19)6:01 pm25(oct 25)9:00 amTraditional Quilting Open StudioKathy Swanson

19oct(oct 19)6:02 pm25(oct 25)9:00 amWoodturning GiftsRob Nelson

19oct(oct 19)6:03 pm25(oct 25)9:00 amNatural History and Geology of Door CountyRoger Kuhns

19oct(oct 19)6:04 pm25(oct 25)9:00 amPersonal Retreat