Spring Ozark Folk School Scheduled – Indulge your creative self with a craft class at Ozark Folk School
Mountain View – Connect with the artisan inside yourself in the creative space of the Ozark Folk Center State Park in beautiful Mountain View, Arkansas. While craft classes are taught year-around, we dedicate a special week for the creative focus of Spring Ozark Folk School. Held this year from March 15 – 19, 2021, choose from more than 20 craft classes taught by master crafts people with decades of experience. Classes include Blacksmithing, Pottery, Soap Making, Herbal Remedies, Leatherwork, Letterpress Printing; Stained Glass; and more.
These classes in traditional and contemporary crafts are for students 16 and up. Registration is available now. Visit the web site at OzarkFolkCenter.com and click on the Events tab for a complete list of classes, registration deadlines and class fees, or call 870-269-3854 for more information or to register over the phone.
“Part of our mission at the park is to perpetuate the tradition of folk crafts by passing on our techniques and knowledge from one person to another. Our classes offer you a chance to explore your chosen craft hands-on, from a skilled crafts person and teacher,” said Jeanette Larson, Craft Director at the Ozark Folk Center State Park.
Classes are limited in size from one to four students per class to make sure every person has the time, attention, and space to learn in their own style. Currently, face coverings are required, social distancing will be maintained, and sanitizer is available in every class.
The Cabins at Dry Creek, located in the park, just down the hill from the craft workshops, offer special rates on rooms for Ozark Folk School students staying more than three days. Check out the rooms on the web site OzarkFolkCenter.com under the Stay & Eat tab. Book your stay when you call to register for your class to get the discount or by calling the Cabins office directly at 800-264-3655.
The mission of Ozark Folk Center State Park is to perpetuate, present and promote the Ozark way of life in an educational and enjoyable manner; through craft demonstrations, musical programs, the Heritage Herb Garden, workshops and other special events.
Cathy Drew is a lifelong resident of the region that she loves to promote. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late ’60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit.
Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). The agency handled marketing for the regional association, where she and her co-workers produced an annual tabloid publication. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000.
After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. Over the years, Drew has helped the organization meet new marketing goals, such as in- and out-of-state marketing, assuring that all 100,000 copies of their magazines are distributed each year.
In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. The tournament continues to grow each year, allowing the organization to expand its co-op program and helping each county have dedicated promotion. Drew stays busy at Ozark Gateway as the ad sales manager, magazine editor, day-to-day office operations, trade show representative, and magazine distribution representative, all while ensuring that the region is represented all over Arkansas and southern Missouri.
Drew was featured in several local and statewide publications over the years, as well as the 1997 cover of the Ozark Gateway Region tabloid, along with her then 4-year-old son, Jon. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow.
She also has served as an Independence County election commissioner for several years. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training.
Drew serves on the Arkansas Travel Council Board of Directors, is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs’ current publicity chair.
In March of 2018, Drew was honored with induction into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame for her many years of dedicated service to the tourism industry.