The Learning Council
Our Mission: Enriching community through education, art, advocacy, food, agriculture and wellness for all. Sign Up for Our NewsletterSupport Us!
Help Us Complete the Essential Renovations of The Hearth​!
The priority renovations at The Hearth include commercial kitchen & bathrooms!
The commercial kitchen will be home to the TLC Kitchen Crew, which provides weekly locally sourced meals to the community by donation. It will also be used as a “teaching” kitchen for classes on cooking local/cultural/ethnic foods, herbal and wildcrafted preparations, etc.
Vision
The Learning Council is an educational hub for the North Fork Valley, connecting learners and educators to meet specific needs and empower personal growth. The outcomes of our programs encourage learners to give back to the community through service. Responding to the needs of our community we offer a variety of classes and learning opportunities for all ages and skill levels, continually broadening our course selection.
Diversity Statement
We believe in lifelong learning and education as a resource for everyone. We are committed to inclusion across race, gender, age, religion, identity, and experience.
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Upcoming Events
Movement as Medicine
Feb 5 – Come and move with us in the Movement As Medicine – Experiential Dance Practice. Facilitated by Arlyn Alderdice.
Parzival Workshop
Feb 17-19 – Parzival is an archetypal biography weaving the earthly experience with spiritual striving , all encapsulated in the search for one’s higher self.
Vegetable Pests, Predators and Pollinators
Feb 28 – In the Vegetable Pests, Predators and Pollinators session, learn which insects interact with your vegetables on your farm and garden.
Seed Swap
Mar 5 – Come on out and join us for our annual Seed Swap. Get ready for the growing season and learn from our local seed saving experts.
Planting for the Year
Apr 27 – Lance Swigart will lead a workshop on Planting for the Year. Learn about the timing of plantings for the year.
Kids Dance Class
Thursdays, Jan 12-Feb 16 – Join Rose Costello for Kids Dance Class. Skills learned include musicality, somatic expression, spacial awareness, hip-hop basics and more.
Evoke
Jan 17, Feb 21 – Evoke: meditation and movement with Solea Anani. Embodied Movement is a simple yet profound practice of moving meditation.
North Fork Mentoring Project
The North Fork Mentoring Project involves adventure, arts, service, and project-based rite of passage programs for boys, age 8-17.
West African Drum and Dance
Mar 19, Apr 16, May 21 – Etienne Tolno from Guinea will be leading West African Drum and Dance classes. He has been studying West African music since his early teens and drumming professionally with various companies in Guinea since his early twenties.
Arbol Winter Market
Tuesdays, Nov 1-Apr 18 – The Arbol Winter Market will occur on designated Tuesdays from November 1 through Apr 18 – held at The Hearth in Paonia.
Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Gathering
The Learning Council will be a Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Gathering each month to discuss CSHE and how to share factual information.
Harvest for Health Monday Lunch
Harvest for Health Monday Lunch is prepared by Chrys Bailey, family and friends. 2nd and 4th Monday of each month. Pick-up – Trading Post.
Senior Yoga
Wednesdays – Senior Yoga with Katy Goldsberry is a gentle therapeutic class for all bodies and abilities – at The Hearth.
Life Drawing
The Learning Council transforms the Hearth every Wednesday night into an open studio. Artists of all skill levels are welcome to practice life drawing.
Featured Activity
Community Lunch
Our cooking class utilizes local organic foods, to turn students on to the vitality, nutrition and flavor of our local bounty, while supporting local farms. The class prepares a community meal ($10 suggested donation or 1 hour of work in the kitchen).
We offer weekly meals attracting more community members each time, as well as, people from neighboring communities. We serve a minimum of 50 people each week lunch. This class teaches practical skills, service, and has a mentoring system where students will share their knowledge with each other while working together on a dish.