Overview:
North House Folk School is a dynamic, educational nonprofit committed to teaching traditional northern crafts while fostering lifelong learning. Our mission is to enrich lives and build community by teaching traditional northern crafts in a student-centered learning environment that inspires the hands, the heart, and the mind. The school’s offerings emphasize hands-on learning and includes courses ranging from timber framing to northern ecology, birch bark weaving to artisan bread baking.
The North House campus is located in northeastern Minnesota on the shore of Lake Superior and with six classroom buildings including a teaching kitchen, blacksmith shop, woodworking shop, and several multipurpose spaces, a school store, intern and instructor housing, and a 50’ gaff-rigged schooner. During a typical year, over 160 artisans and crafts-people are featured as instructors.
Internship Program Vision:
North House Folk School’s internship program is dedicated to advancing the future of traditional craft by engaging participants in the world of craft education. The internship program focuses on giving participants a breadth of experiences to equip them in their development as effective educators, craft artisans, and non-profit administrators. Interns develop traditional craft skills through coursework and practice in a range of core craft areas. Education and non-profit administration skills are developed through work on classroom coordination, administrative support, public engagement and observing and practicing teaching skills. It is North House’s goal to support internship participants in their discovery and exploration of the worlds of craft and folk education, setting the stage for their continued professional development as artisans, educators, and non-profit administrators into the future.
Note that 2020 was a year unlike any other with the pandemic’s effects on our operations and programs. The vision we lay out for the 2021 program below has been adjusted to fit our hopes for what will be possible in 2021, but please know that the description below is subject to change. Some things may become less possible and things not included here may become possible!
Openings:
There are four internship positions available for 2021. We anticipate the program will run April 14th to Nov 21st 2021, duration 7+ months, four positions available. Five vacation days available depending on the program schedule. Four days of professional development or field time available as part of slojd project.
Duties:
The ideals of teamwork, dedication, responsibility, efficiency and creativity are central to the success of the organization. The internship work schedule and time commitments are divided among various roles, each of which is directly connected to the daily affairs and realization of our mission. Tasks could include but are not limited to the following:
Education and Public Engagement: 40-50%
Operations Support: 20-30%
Traditional Craft Immersion: 20-30%
Position Requirements/Essential Functions:
Position requires an ability to lift and carry 50 pounds for short periods of time, move around easily on the deck of a moving sailboat, utilize hand and power tools, walk up and down stairs, climb ladders, work occasionally immersed in dust and flour, and stand upright for a number of hours every day. Interns have the opportunity to sail aboard North House’s schooner Hjordis and thus are required to participate in a Coast Guard mandated drug testing program. Initial drug tests are administered at the start of the sailing season and random testing is done throughout the season. All applicants must be 21 years of age or older.
Ideal Qualifications:
North House is seeking organized and enthusiastic individuals with a passion for traditional craft and experiential education. Previous experience leading small group & experiential learning programs, managing classroom & administrative projects, engaging & learning traditional northern crafts, and speaking with the general public are all essential. Interns are expected to maintain high standards, take ownership and pride in their responsibilities and show self-initiative in enhancing their skills.
Applicants should have:
Compensation and Benefits:
$550/month paid living stipend, $2000 course credit for tuition/materials for selected courses you take as a student and when possible for materials fees in some of the courses you serve as classroom host, and up to $500 for Slojd Project expenses. Housing in harbor-side, timber-framed, solar-hot-water heated intern loft with three other interns (shared living space, private bedrooms). Includes utilities and internet. As North House is unable to sponsor work visas, all applicants must already have the legal ability to work in the United States.
Overview:
North House Folk School is a dynamic, educational nonprofit committed to teaching traditional northern crafts while fostering lifelong learning. Our mission is to enrich lives and build community by teaching traditional…
Compensation and Benefits:
$550/month paid living stipend, $2000 course credit for tuition/materials for selected courses you take as a student and when possible for materials fees in some of the courses you serve as classroom host, and up to $500 for Slojd Project expenses. Housing in harbor-side, timber-framed, solar-hot-water heated intern loft with three other interns (shared living space, private bedrooms). Includes utilities and internet. As North House is unable to sponsor work visas, all applicants must already have the legal ability to work in the United States.
Compensation and Benefits:
$550/month paid living stipend, $2000 course credit for tuition/materials for selected courses you take as a student and when possible for materials fees…
All application information and instructions are available on our website here: https://northhouse.org/get-involved/internship
All application information and instructions are available on our website here: https://northhouse.org/get-involved/internship