Classes

River Valley Yoga Festival is multi-day, outdoor event featuring yoga, meditation, forest bathing, sound healing, wisdom talks and more. Located in the heart of the beautiful St. Croix Valley, you are destined to find peace, tranquility and activities that ignite your soul.

The Farm.
Imagine yourself on a historic farm surrounded by 80 acres of wildflowers, ancient pines and majestic trees. The air is cool. The sun is warm. The prairie is at its golden best. It is a gorgeous fall day in the River Valley and you are here. In a place where you can rest and recharge with other like-minded souls. A place where you can nourish your mind, your body and your spirit.

The Festival.
Over the course of four days, attendees will gather to enjoy a variety of classes, workshops and outings hosted at The Farm. Wholesome, locally grown organic food will be available for purchase on-site, and a Vendor Market will offer unique items curated to delight yoga students of all ages. When not attending a class or workshop, attendees can enjoy a stroll on one of several paths, lounge by the pond or simply sit and enjoy the day beneath a giant oak tree.

* TICKETS are PRE-SALE ONLY *

Visit website for full schedule & to learn more.

Ignite your style with a DIY Hat Burning and Decorating Workshop! Transform one of our stylish hats with a personalized burning technique. Choose your hat color and dive into the creative process, opting between stencil or freehand methods, all under the guidance of our expert instructors. Then, top it off with embellishments. Your DIY experience starts at $69 with additional upgrades available in the workshop. Embellishments are offered at a variety of prices.

Learn how to shape and decorate fall-themed items using barbed needles, wool, and wool felt. Once the items are done, participants string them together to make a garland.

Needlefelting is an easy and fun craft for all ages. Youth ages 7+ years old may take the class with a registered adult. (Each child ages 7-17 must have a registered adult so there’s 1:1 assistance for youth.)

Registration information will be posted in Spring 2024.

(Note: this is a demonstration/lecture class. There is no hands-on baking or cooking.)

A local beekeeper also will be at the class to show a demonstration hive so participants can see honeybees up close, and taste samples of honey that are from different hives and locations.

After the class, participants are encouraged to explore the museum’s restored prairie and wetland, and see the variety of plants that support pollinators at Gammelgården.

Join us for this fun and cozy DIY workshop!

Featuring our Embellished Canvas Pillows, in this workshops you can create a canvas home decor item utilizing a variety of tools and techniques, as well as our in-house collection of paints while guided by our crafty instructors.

Your 2 hour DIY experience starts at $59.

Join us for this fall-filled DIY workshop!

Create a collection of Chunky Knit Pumpkins utilizing our exclusive selection of yarn from Lion Brand Yarn.
Our crafty instructors will guide you step-by-step!

Your 2 hour DIY experience starts at $59 for three (3) pumpkins.
Additional add-ons available in the workshop.

Feel free to bring a personal item to start to embroider on, as time permits.
*Items available to purchase in class.

Non-stretchy material recommended and suggested items to bring include:
a crewneck sweatshirt  |  a lightweight denim jacket  |  a linen tea towel  |  a thin canvas tote or pouch

ASL interpretation is available for this event!
Chris Tzikas brings his extensive experience and expertise in Krav Maga to this dynamic workshop, ensuring participants learn from a seasoned professional.
Join Us For:
•Expert-Led Demonstrations Learn from seasoned self-defense instructors with real-world experience in handling dangerous situations.
•Hands-On Practice Sessions Engage in practical exercises that will prepare you to effectively respond to knife attacks.
•Discussion on Awareness and Avoidance Understanding the psychology of attackers and how to avoid confrontations.
• Realistic Self-Defense Scenarios Engage in realistic drills that simulate actual knife attack scenarios, helping you prepare for the unexpected.
Enroll Now – Limited Spaces Available!

Carrie’s goal is to help you discover your unique painting style. Within the class and process, students will learn the Ojibwe words of the plants and flowers in the still-life arrangement as well as any medicinal uses of the plants. Don’t miss this beautiful opportunity to learn from Carrie!

Your instructor will provide the following materials:

Canvas
Paint
Brushes

Students are asked to bring:

Kindness, an open mind, and a desire to have fun with paint.
As your class is scheduled over a lunch hour, we highly recommend you bring a lunch or click here to learn about local eating opportunities in the area.

Skill Level
No experience required.

Age Requirement
Students between the ages of 10 and 16 may attend, but the student must attend with a parent or guardian.

Location Details
Marine Mills Folk School
550 Pine St., Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047

NOTE:  Be aware we may cancel class if a minimum number of registrations is not reached. We work to balance teachers’ need to plan for a class with students’ busy schedules — not an easy task. Please register as early as possible!

If interested, you can find our cancellation policy here.

We offer an exclusive selection of yarn from our private label with Lion Brand Yarn.

Your 3 hour DIY experience starts at $69 with our chunky knit pillow and $99 for our standard Chunky Knit Blanket (approx. 40"x50" throw). We invite you to bring your favorite food or drink to fuel your creativity.

Feel free to bring a personal item to start to embroider on, as time permits.
*Items available to purchase in class.

Non-stretchy material recommended and suggested items to bring include:
a crewneck sweatshirt  |  a lightweight denim jacket  |  a linen tea towel  |  a thin canvas tote or pouch

Coptic Stitch Trash Journaling is one of my favorite projects to put trash to use. Think scrapbooking with actual scraps. We will take junk mail, envelopes, clear plastic envelopes, cardboard, expired calendars, sheets of watercolor scrap paper, brown paper envelopes, reused staples, receipts, bits of twine and sew them together as a base for our journals. Then we will add personal touches, pretty Japanese paper, stickers, poetry, little photos, paint, natural items, words and experiences and meaningful moments. It is so fun and relaxing and students will be able to keep adding to it at home.

In this class students will bring their memories, special stickers, special (or not so special) papers, etc and learn to Coptic Bind a journal. They will learn creative techniques to jam pack a journal with interest and memories. Students go home with a journal to fill with their junk, trash, and treasured memories.

Students are asked to bring:

Required: glue stick, scissors, pencil, ruler
Optional: junk paper, envelopes, photos, postcards, vintage photos, paper doilies, pretty paper, stickers, flat and meaningful items that can be glued, sewn or stapled into a journal.
As your class is scheduled over a lunch hour, we highly recommend you bring a lunch or click here to learn about local eating opportunities.

Skill Level
No experience required.

Age Requirement
Students ages 18 and older are welcome to attend this class.

Location Details
Marine Mills Folk School
550 Pine St., Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047

NOTE: Be aware we may cancel class if a minimum number of registrations is not reached. We work to balance teachers’ need to plan for a class with students’ busy schedules — not an easy task. Please register as early as possible!

If interested, you can find our cancellation policy here.

Join Wild Rivers Conservancy, Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center, and Bird City Stillwater/SSMN.Org for a walking tour highlighting local bird species and bird-friendly land stewardship practices. This tour will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of land stewardship practices in a variety of habitats and demonstrate their significance in supporting native bird species.

During this tour, we will be visiting the Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center to learn about native bird species and hear more about restoration initiatives undertaken on the property. Staff will be answering audience questions and providing tips on how to keep your land healthy and bird-friendly.

Get inspired by the fiber arts trend that’s always in style: Crocheted Granny Squares!

Cara Corey will teach you basic crocheting skills needed to create a Granny Square. Once you learn the pattern, see where your creativity takes you. All are welcome – no crocheting experience is necessary.

Class fee $50, supply fee $15

Details and registration information will be posted in Spring 2024.

Join us for this scent-sational DIY workshop!

Create one-of-a-kind candle scents for your home or as the perfect hand-crafted gift.
Enjoy our classic candle style as well as options to upgrade and add-on during your visit.
[The more you pour, the more you save!]

Your DIY experience starts at $59 for two (2) candles or $79 for three (3) candles
with additional upgrades available in the workshop.

Craft and create with your library community--all skill levels welcome. Bring your own work in progress and join your neighbors in an afternoon of creating and chatting. Please only bring/use non-toxic supplies and materials. Don’t have a project going already? We will have materials available for you to make something fun!

Program is offered at 3 PM on:

Friday, September 13

Friday, October 11

Friday, November 1

Friday, December 20

Registration is required.

Our annual 4-H Open House is a great way to learn all about what Washington County 4-H has to offer! This well-established youth program brings together young people in grades Kindergarten through 13th (one year past high school) to pursue their passions and interests in a supportive community.

Join us on Friday, October 11th from 5-7pm at the Washington County Fairgrounds to meet the different 4-H clubs in our area and see what kinds of activities we offer: performing arts, animal science, STEM, dog training, community service projects, and much much more! We will have fun hands-on activities, animal guests, and delicious treats for everyone!

If you would like more information on the event or how to enroll in 4-H, please visit our website at z.umn.edu/washco4h or email [email protected].

Feel free to bring a personal item to start to embroider on, as time permits.
*Items available to purchase in class.

Non-stretchy material recommended and suggested items to bring include:
a crewneck sweatshirt  |  a lightweight denim jacket  |  a linen tea towel  |  a thin canvas tote or pouch

These can be used as a child’s toy or toy for a cat. It’s a great way to use those colorful bits of yarn in your stash.

Archival evidence from museums in Sweden indicates that the craft started around the early 1800s. Singlade bollar have been found in southern Sweden, Denmark, and northern Germany. The craft is likely to have been spread throughout the region via the Baltic Sea trade route.

Kate Sterner learned this handicraft from her Danish grandfather and has created a website dedicated to preserving and furthering this craft. Join Kate and have fun keeping a tradition alive.

Skill level: Beginner.

Student Age: 16 years and over.

Supplies needed: Scissors, a sharp, large-eye, 3-inch darning needle (or purchase one from Kate for $1), and worsted weight, 4-ply wool yarn in as many colors as you want. Kate also will have plenty of colors of yarn from her own stash to use in class.

Note: Students should not expect to complete the project in this time. However, Kate will teach students what they need to complete their Singlade Balls at home. (Normally a ball takes about 6-8 hours to make.)

Class Size: Limited to 4 students.

Cancellation Policy: Up to 3 weeks before the event – 50% refund. Under 3 weeks before the event, no refunds.

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Kate Sterner’s Danish grandfather taught her how to make singlade balls (singlade bollar) when she was 10 or 11 years old. He learned from his mother while he was a boy in Denmark and enjoyed passing the craft down to the next generation. Though several of her cousins learned the craft from their grandfather, Kate is the one who kept making singlade balls throughout the years, teaching others who found the balls intriguing.

SWEDISH PRONUNCIATION

Singlade, pronounced:  sing’ la deh. Singlade is a Swedish word that has a couple of meanings. The base of the verb is “singla,” meaning to toss or fling. However, in this case, the verb describes the embroidery technique used to stitch these balls. So, you “singla” a ball.

Your 3 hour DIY experience starts at $79 or $99 with additional upgrades available.

This is a week long workshop running daily Monday through Friday October 14 - 18, 2024.  Each day runs from 9am to 5pm.

All supplies and instructions are included to complete icon of the Holy Cloth of Christ

The methods used explores the technique as well as spiritual symbolism of iconography.

Cost for the week including supplies is $375.