Swanton Academy

What is Swanton Academy? A weekend of neighbors teaching neighbors made possible with funds from The Vermont Humanities Council, The New Hampshire Humanities Council, and The Smithsonian Museum. This is the first of several weekends dedicated to community knowledge sharing and will lead up to The Museum on Main Street visiting museum installation on display at the library from mid-September to mid-October. For more information about Museum on Main Street, click here.

More Swanton Academy dates: June 26- 27, August 14-16, November 13-15. Interested in sharing a skill at the next Swanton Academy weekend? CLICK HERE

9 AM- 12 PM Repair Cafe

Vermonters have long subscribed to a “waste not, want not” mentality. Let’s get social with it! Attend this repair cafe pop-up to learn new skills and help keep stuff out of the waste stream. Repair cafés are free events where community members team up with experts to fix their own possessions. Bring one defunct or damaged item with you. Expect to stay with your item as you watch and learn. (Example items: clocks, blenders, bikes, lamps, pants, benches, baskets, vases, knives, toasters, mugs, radios)

10:30 Cheese making (for families), no need to register

Join Miss Virginia in the children’s room to learn about how cheese is made and have a try at making some for yourself! Miss Virginia will bring cheese-making to life through stories, costumes, and hands-on experience! For ages 3+

10:30 Make a nature journal with Mr.K! (Link to register)

Join local nature extraordinaire, Kurt Valenta, to learn how and why to make a nature journal to take with you on your next adventure! For ages 6+

1 PM Opening of the Upcycled Art Show

Kick off another fun art show at the library with refreshments and incredible art! For all ages.

2:30 Sourdough Bread (link to register)

Join Barb as you learn all you need to know to make sourdough bread. All participants will receive a starter and a few tools to make their sourdough journey great! For ages 18+

2:30 Clothes Mending (link to register)

Holy cow! Holy mackerel! Holey… pants? Join seamstress Lizzie Seiple for a crash course on visible mending techniques, from the swirly stitches of sashiko to peekaboo patches. Bring one textile with you that needs a little TLC. Sewing supplies will be provided, though you’re welcome to bring any fabric scraps or thread you’d like to use. Sponsored by Swanton Arts Council and NWSWD. For ages 18+

5:30 Genealogy (Link To Register)

Have you ever wondered about the people you come from? Join Suzie to learn the basics to get you started on your genealogy journey! All participants must bring their own device to do research on. For ages 18+

5:30 Beekeeping and local honey tasting (no registration needed)

Join local bee expert Bianca for a lesson on small-scale honey farming, a honey tasting, and also how to help bees if you don’t want to keep them!

5:30 Composting (no registration needed)

Join NWSWD’s Mikhala Kaseweter for an intro to composting class. We will review popular backyard composting setups (e.g., bins, tumblers), then dip our toes into soil science and microbiology to help us understand why composting works. This fundamentals workshop is designed for beginners, but seasoned composters are also welcome to attend and ask questions. Note: It will be indoors, so it won’t be very dirty or very hands-on. For all ages