About Us

The Adirondack Folk School (AFS) is a non-profit organization, unique for its focus on preserving and sharing the history and culture of our legendary region through teaching the arts, crafts and traditions of the Adirondacks. Made up of local artisans, crafts people, and volunteers, we offer non-competitive education focusing on the student. Located in Lake Luzerne, NY with and our annex in Lake George, we are situated in the southern Adirondack Park, a State park of over six-million acres of “forever wild” protected land. The beauty and natural abundance of this environment influenced the skilled artisans that created the pack basket, twig furniture, birch bark containers, the Adirondack chair, the guide boat, and the Adirondack lean-to. These are the home furnishings, boats, and decor still found in cabins, lodges, and homes today throughout the region which have helped create the unique “Adirondack Style”. Today, our region hosts these and numerous other creative forms of expression.

Our instructors from around the country share their knowledge and skills, and inspire you with their enthusiasm. Our year-round classes range from half-day sessions to multi-week courses. We offer subjects as diverse as Adirondack chair building, twig and rustic furniture, caning, paddle making, birch bark basketry, fly tying, weaving, connecting people with nature, organic gardening, fiber arts, soap making, boat building, ceramic arts, blacksmithing (with some courses conforming to ABANA‘s international curricula), and more. During these classes you will explore your creativity through hands-on learning. In addition to our hands-on classes, Adirondack storytellers and musicians share the cultural heritage of the Adirondacks through demonstrations, special programs, and our fireside evening gatherings.

AFS is supported by tuition, memberships, donations, and grants. We invite you to experience the joy of hands-on-learning, and take home an heirloom-quality craft or skill to remind you of the Adirondacks — or enjoy the benefits of becoming a member — and discover why AFS was recently chosen as one of “25 Inspiring Folk Schools Rooted in Community and Traditional Know-How” by Best Choice Schools.