Building Conservation

Dear Friends,

As you know, The Clearing has focused on many specific projects over the last number of years through our mid-year Pass the Hat campaigns, and you have generously responded to these initiatives. Most recently, the flagstone paths have been re-laid and mortared and are now complete due to your support. Last year, the Interpretative Trail was the focus which we continue to work on. We have the art completed, the trail has been expanded and the layout finalized with quarry-wash laid by our volunteers. The next step we look forward to is finalizing the signage and stanchion styles, which we plan to work on this fall and winter.

This year in 2024, we are focusing on the idea of “spiffing” up the iconic buildings of The Clearing. As you know, The Clearing was founded in 1935 by Jens Jensen and 2025 will be its 90th Anniversary. What better way to honor the continuing legacy of Jensen’s vision than to re-invigorate these iconic buildings? Specifically, the Lodge and central campus area as well as the Jensen Center. We have already started some of the projects associated with these ideas in anticipation of the 90th anniversary year and are weather-dependent. We hope you may want to assist in these projects by considering a contribution toward the work we think is important to safeguarding the structural integrity of these buildings, some of which are on the National and State Historic Registers. The plan is not to update in any way, which may compromise our historic designations, but rather to clean and repair them to get them back to a state similar to either when Jensen first built the structures (such as the Lodge, 1942), or when a building was new (the Jensen Center, 1997).

These aren’t the most exciting of projects (except for some of us Clearing geeks), but my mind goes to the caretaker role we play preserving the extraordinary heritage of this special place, and what it will mean going forward for so many, just as it has meant so much for so many before us. The landscapes are looking lovely, the classes are doing well, The Clearing community continues to be a great supporter, and we hope you find a bit of excitement in continuing the legacy of Jens Jensen’s “greatest work”.

Other items may come to our attention as we unveil areas, so if there is any “extra” funding received, we will put it to very good use with the same mindset – how best to serve Jensen’s legacy and the structural integrity of these iconic buildings. We would appreciate your support for our stewardship of The Clearing into the future and safeguarding our extraordinary heritage.

Thank you for considering donating!

Tammy Musiel
Executive Director