Where are workshops hosted?

Workshops can be hosted at a place of the facilitator’s choosing. Some prefer to host in their home, while others choose a public location, such as a park or library. SFS also has a standing relationship with a church in Bridgewater that has both indoor and outdoor space available for hosting workshops. Facilitators can specify their preferred location on the facilitator form that they submit.

What do workshops typically cost? Do I have to charge for them?

The workshop's cost depends on the facilitator's preference. You do not have to charge for workshops. Some workshops are free, some are low cost, and others are up to $50 per person. Facilitators should consider the compensation they wish to receive for their time and expertise, coupled with how accessible they would like their workshop to be to the community.

For workshops that facilitators are offering to the public for free, we do ask that a nominal fee be charged per participant as a donation to the folk school. We are 100% volunteer-run, and all donations go directly back into the community through operational and scholarship support.

How much does the folk school take from the participant fee?

Facilitators determine the participant fee. SFS collects 20% from total participant fees to cover liability insurance and costs of administration. The remaining 80% is paid to facilitators. We ask that facilitators consider this administrative fee when setting registration fees.

Will the folk school buy the materials needed for the workshop?

By default, facilitators purchase all materials needed for the workshop. Feel free to post on the SFS Facebook group if your workshop requires materials that you would like members of our community to consider donating (e.g. scrap fabric for a sewing workshop or knives and cutting boards to borrow for a cooking workshop).

How do you advertise the workshops?

Workshops are advertised on our website, Facebook page, Facebook group, and email list. We’ve also recently created an Instagram page where workshops will be advertised in the future.

How “expert” do I need to be to lead a workshop?

We have had facilitators with academic degrees in their subject, and facilitators who are completely self-taught and still learning. Facilitators should be seasoned enough to field questions from participants, but the level of experience required to run a workshop depends on the subject matter. Safety is our #1 priority, but we want to cultivate a community spirit in which everyone has something to share. Please be up front about your level of experience, and we can adjust the workshop description and participant fee accordingly.

Am I liable if someone gets hurt at a workshop?

The folk school does have liability insurance, which covers our facilitators and participants. Facilitators are, however, expected to plan and facilitate their workshops with safety as a top priority and communicate any safety concerns about the activity or venue to us in advance.

Will someone from the folk school attend the workshop?

A folk school board member does often attend workshops. They may attend primarily to take photos, or they may just be interested in learning!

What if nobody signs up for the workshop?

If there have been few to no registrations by one week before the workshop, someone will reach out to discuss cancelling or rescheduling.

What social distancing measures can I request for the workshop?

Facilitators determine the social distancing measures that they want for their workshop. We will support your preference and promote the workshop with those measures made clear to the public.

What if I get sick or need to cancel at the last minute?

If you realize you may need to cancel for illness or any other reason, please let us know as early as possible so we can discuss alternate dates and prepare messages to attendees about refunds or rescheduling. We ask that facilitators with new, active symptoms of a contagious illness reschedule their workshop.

Is smoking/alcohol allowed during SFS workshops?

No. Smoking, alcohol, and recreational drugs are prohibited during workshops.

Can I offer a workshop that’s only for adults?

Absolutely! Workshops should be classified as either for adults or for caregivers and children.