Alabama Folk School at Camp McDowell
Private
The Alabama Folk School, founded in 2007 at Camp McDowell's 1,140-acre campus near Nauvoo, teaches traditional folk arts and homesteading skills — banjo, fiddle, sacred harp singing, dancing, storytelling, blacksmithing, quilting, cooking and canning — in workshops of two to four days. Most offerings are adult immersion classes; the youth-relevant program is Family Folk Camp, open to all ages but recommended for rising 5th through 12th graders attending with an adult guardian 25 or older, who pick a major in art, music or farming and join camp activities like hiking, canoeing and pool time.
The practical details
We list only what the camp itself publishes, and programs change — dates, prices, ages and availability can all move after we check. Confirm the details on the camp’s own website and contact Alabama Folk School at Camp McDowell directly before you register or pay. Last checked August 2026.
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Google Reviews
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★★★★★Jessie Lackey-Slaton10/10 would recommend to spend every day of life here if possible 🎉💜
★★★★★David HarzmanSpent a weekend at McDowell with the Alabama Folk School during their 2024 Creative Retreat. The hospitality and campus of McDowell has a Disneyland-like energy to it, kept up by the persistent joy of the staff, campers and architecture. The folk school sits within this place and the symbiosis I witnessed felt utopic. During the creative retreat, I had access to a large art studio which had several tools (bring your own supplies) like sewing machines, throwing wheels, large work surfaces, temperature controlled space. There were a couple of led discussions with a licensed professional counselor, Kelly Towe. Her main work is in trauma recovery, grief processing and relationship care. These discussions were intimate opportunities to contemplate grief and its process. It felt great to open up and be in a shared space of vulnerability. There was yoga offered in the evening, the instructor was amazing and taught a 1 hr restorative session both nights. Exactly what I needed and I felt great energy from the class. Again, I can't say enough about the accommodations. McDowell truly is a magical place and I am so grateful to have engaged with the Alabama Folk School.
★★★★★Crystal_576For 19 years it's been a tradition for our most intelligent students to go on this trip and coming back for a 3rd time I can say that it's one of the best places ever ❤️
★★★★★Kensley DavisSo much for and a cute cat that I love and miss so much
★★★★★Tim TalleyHad a great time, super friendly staff!