Mission

The Mission of The Clearing is to provide diverse educational experiences in the folk school tradition, in a setting of quiet forests, meadows and water. The Clearing is a place where adults who share an interest in nature, arts or humanities can learn, reflect and wonder.

This is in keeping with the goals of Jens Jensen, founder of The Clearing, who loved it as a special place where one could feel kinship with the earth and reassess one's life.

Location

Located near the tip of Wisconsin's Door Peninsula, The Clearing is situated on the Niagara Escarpment, a limestone cliff that rises out of Lake Michigan's Green Bay and defines the western edge of Door County. The Clearing's physical assets -- beautiful views of the water and the setting sun, historic stone and log buildings and hiking trails that wind through the property's 130 acres of forest and meadow - combine to create one of Door County's great cultural and natural treasures.
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Maps & Directions

Ellison Bay Map & Driving Directions:
The Clearing is located in a peaceful part of Door County just north of Ellison Bay Wisconsin. We're considered "Off the Beaten Path" and as a first time visitor, The Clearing can be difficult to find. But don't be discouraged. Click on the map to the right for a detailed local map of the area and for wonderful driving directions from our friends at Google Maps.

Clearing Trail Map:
The Clearing is 128 acres of beautiful meadows, forests and lakefront. Several miles of walking trails wind through the property connecting the historic buildings, breathtaking vistas and peaceful woods. The Clearing's trail map identifies the property's main buildings and landscape features and includes the roads and trails that connect them. This helpful map will allow you to fully explore this intreging landscape and might just keep you from getting lost! (Some trails, especially along the bluff, are rugged and should be used with care.)

Campus Map:
The Clearing's central campus is the hub of activity during the summer. The Main Lodge is centrally located and contains the dining room, library and kitchen. Several historic stone and log buildings surround the Main Lodge and serve as living quarters for students. Classrooms are located a short walk through the woods just to the north and to the south of central campus.
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The Folk School Tradition

According to Jens Jensen, "Instruction at The Clearing is non-competitive - there are no credits, no grades, no degrees, no pitting of one student against another." This method of teaching is what the Danes called "The Living Word." Discussion, conversation, nature study and hands-on work are emphasized, rather than learning just in the classroom, through reading and writing. The folk school experience at The Clearing is a unique combination of learning, history, tradition, social interaction and quiet reflection.
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Programs

The Clearing offers a wide range of classes, including painting, writing, quilting, birding, wood carving, poetry, rustic furniture making, photography, poetry, fine wood-working, music, weaving, philosophy, stained glass, metal work, nature study and paper arts. All Clearing classes are taught in a relaxed, informal style.

The Summer Program, which runs from May through October, is The Clearing's oldest and the one that most closely resembles Jensen's original folk school vision. The mainstay of the Summer Program is week-long classes, with 25 to 35 students and instructors living at The Clearing, eating family-style meals and renewing their spirit through close contact with the native landscape. The Clearing experience is made up of many special components. The classes, sense of community, forests, meadows, water, sunsets, home-cooked meals, traditions and history all blend to create a wonderful place to learn, relax, reflect and make new friends.

The Workshop Program includes one and two-day workshops from June through mid- November. These workshops appeal to a broad audience by providing shorter length classes during the Summer Program season for those who cannot come for an entire week or who want a "taste" of what The Clearing is like before deciding to take a week-long class.

The Winter Program offers over 100 day-classes in January and February. In addition to offering an impressive selection of classes, the Winter Program represents something unique and wonderful about Door County, an amazing group of volunteer instructors who generously share their time, along with their considerable talent, for the benefit of the community. So bring on the snow and the cold. Now over 650 strong, you won't meet a more friendly or hardier group of people than Clearing students in Winter!
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History

The Clearing was founded in 1935 by Jens Jensen, a Danish-born landscape architect. Many consider him to be the most important American landscape architect and The Clearing his "great work."

Before founding The Clearing, Jensen achieved international recognition for designing many of Chicago's parks and the private estates of Armour, Florsheim, Ford and many other American industrialists. He was a driving force in establishing the Illinois State Parks system and the Cook County Forest Preserves. He also founded the Friends of Our Native Landscape, an organization that was instrumental in preserving important natural areas throughout the Midwest.

Jensen began acquiring the property that would become The Clearing in 1919 for use as a summer vacation home. Then, in 1935, at age 75, after retiring from his Chicago business, he achieved his longtime dream of establishing The Clearing. Foreseeing the effects of the automobile and the vast development of cities, Jensen founded The Clearing as a place where city people could renew their contact with the "soil" as a basis for life values. Today, many people come to The Clearing for this same sense of renewal and to be able to better manage the stresses and strains of everyday life in a complex and fast-paced world.

Jensen believed that environments have a profound effect on people and that an understanding of one's own regional ecology and culture is fundamental to all "clear" thinking. These precepts continue to guide the programs at The Clearing. Classes involve direct experience with nature, creative expression, thoughtful study and contemplation.

Mertha Fulkerson After Jensen's death in 1951, his long time associate, Mertha Fulkerson, sought financial support from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau to help continue to develop Jensen's ideas. For 35 years, the Farm Bureau, along with the Friends of The Clearing, provided support for The Clearing's continuing development. In 1988, the Friends of The Clearing, with the approval of the Farm Bureau, completed a successful fund raising campaign that allowed The Clearing to become an independent, non-profit corporation.

Today, The Clearing offers classes in natural sciences, fine arts, skilled crafts and humanities. These programs fulfill Jens Jensen's dream of a year-round folk school in a natural setting.
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Jens Jensen

Jens Jensen Jens Jensen, renowned Danish-American landscape architect and conservationist, founded The Clearing in 1935 when he was 75 years old. Influenced by the folk schools of his native Denmark, Jensen envisioned The Clearing as "school of the soil" where people could develop sound values for their lives and professions.

Before starting The Clearing, Jens Jensen achieved international recognition for his public parks - especially those in Chicago and Racine, Wisconsin - and for landscaping the private estates of Armour, Florsheim, Ford and many others. He was a driving force in establishing the Illinois State Parks system and the Cook County Forest Preserves. He also founded Friends of Our Native Landscape, effective in preserving important natural areas throughout the Midwest. In Door County, Wisconsin, Jensen helped establish The Ridges Sanctuary and many county and town parks.

Jensen died on October 1, 1951, seventeen days after his 91st birthday.

For Further reading, see Jens Jensen, Maker of Natural Parks and Gardens, Robert E. Grese; Siftings, Jens Jensen; The Jens Jensen I Knew, Sid Telfer, Sr.

A 55-minute documentary video providing a compelling look at Jens Jensens extraordinary career is available from The Clearing bookstore.
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Board of Directors

Staff Close Ups

Michael Schneider

Executive Director

Mike has been at The Clearing for ten years and still feels like the new guy! When asked about his job description, he says "Anyone who works for a non-profit organization has the same job description: Do what needs to be done!" This may sound too open-ended, but it suits Mike well. He enjoys the wide variety of work his job requires, which includes program planning, facility management, teaching and writing, in addition to the day-to-do tasks associated with running a non-profit organization. Along with his wife, Cindy, and two teenage children, Katherine and Jeffrey, he lives near Ellison Bay, where he spends as much time as he can gardening, watching birds, reading and planning the next house or garden project on the list.

Erik Rinkleff

Assistant Director

Erik first came to The Clearing in 1993 as an Iowa State landscape architecture student. His love of the outdoors, council fires and smores led him back to this land of oatmeal in 1997 for a three to four month summer job. That was 12 years ago and the rest, as they say, is history. And oh what an interesting history it has been. Erik's work at The Clearing takes him inside and out. A quick peek at Erik's day might find him designing a catalog, teaching a wood carving class, cutting firewood, updating the website, leading a hike, changing a light bulb or sketching the next landscape related project. Whether he's behind the computer, at the table saw or out on the trail, Erik enjoys the infinite creative currents running through The Clearing and the many people it calls to. When not at The Clearing, Erik can be found wood carving in the gallery he and his sweetheart own or at home with said sweetheart, their adorable two-year old daughter and two slobber producing canines.

Tammy Musiel

Program Director

Tammy grew up in Racine, WI and Door County is now home. As with all new jobs, many new people, traditions and projects have kept life interesting since being hired in 2008. To be able to come to work in this beautiful place with the creative spirit that permeates it, and have a small role in its operation is a lucky position to be in.

Kathy Swanson

Registrar

No one knows The Clearing as well as Kathy. She grew up at The Clearing (with her dad and mom, Don & Louise Buchholz, Resident Managers from 1976-1999). Can you imagine having The Clearing's 128 as your very own backyard! Kathy never ventured too far from Door County and returned to work here in 1993. If you call The Clearing, you will not find a more kind or more informative person than Kathy. When not registering students, Kathy can be found out on the water in her kayak with her paddling buddy and husband Mike. And on land, she is closely followed by her two doggies, Jack and Rusty.

Melinda Schaufer

Receptionist

Born in Ogden, Iowa, Melinda Schaufer has traveled a long, winding road -- teaching 7th & 8th grade English in Elgin IL, owning a shop in Door County for 3 years, marrying and moving to DC in 1980 and finding wonderful jobs along the way. In 2001, Melinda found her way to The Clearing, where her life has taken a decidedly new turn-seeing a monarch chrysalis open for the 1st time, watching fantastic luna moths and meeting wonderful people learning and growing at this folk school in the woods. All these life lessons and fabulous people continue to add unique dimensions to Melinda's life. Occasionally, challenges with copy machines and coping with this new technical world pop up, but they always pale in comparison to her 2 sweetest joys, grandsons Cooper and Xavier. Melinda lives with her husband Bruce up north - on Bluebird Trail
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Our summer staff escaped before we could get the skinny on them, but don't worry. We'll track them down and share a bit about them soon. Until then, here they are!

Barb Vondras | Kitchen Manager and Head Cook
John Kenneavy | Supper Cook
Don Gaddes | Buildings and Grounds
Gail Jacobs | Kitchen and Housekeeping
Pat Lee | Kitchen and Housekeeping
Diane Linden | Kitchen and Housekeeping
Rita Maiworm | Kitchen and Housekeeping
Katherine Schneider | Kitchen and Housekeeping
Jeffrey Schneider | Kitchen and Housekeeping
Anne St Henry | Kitchen and Housekeeping
Peter Vanderhoof | Kitchen and Housekeeping
Gerry Voll | Buildings and Grounds
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