Sunday, August 23, 9-10:30am

St. Johnsbury Town Forest

Instructor: Sonia Scherr

FREE - donations welcome

Haiku is a form of poetry that originated in Japan and today inspires poems from many cultures. Before venturing out in the St. Johnsbury Town Forest, join 560 Railroad Community Artist Sonia Scherr at the pavilion to read a variety of haiku and discuss the characteristics they have in common. We will then walk a roughly mile-long portion of the trail network, gathering images that we will use to write our own haiku when we return to the pavilion. There will be time to share our poetry-in-progress and offer constructive feedback. This activity is offered free of charge, thanks to generous support fr; om an anonymous donor; donations are gratefully accepted to support future 560 Railroad Community Artists.

Advance registration required. 

Sonia Scherr writes fiction and nonfiction and enjoys creating opportunities for people to connect with their community through the arts. Now an educator at the nonprofit Egan Maritime Institute on Nantucket, she previously worked as community coordinator at central Vermont’s Cabot School to expand out\-of\-classroom learning. She has a background in journalism and communications and has published short stories in literary journals, including Gargoyle Magazine, Jabberwock Review, Blue Earth Review and poemmemoirstory. Having grown up in Norwich and lived in the Northeast Kingdom, she is excited to work with the St. Johnsbury community as a 560 Railroad Street Community Artist.

Sunday, August 23, 9-10:30am

St. Johnsbury Town Forest

Instructor: Sonia Scherr

FREE - donations welcome

Haiku is a form of poetry that originated in Japan and today inspires poems from many cultures. Before venturing out in the St. Johnsbury Town Forest, join 560 Railroad Community Artist Sonia Scherr at the pavilion to read a variety of haiku and discuss the characteristics they have in common. We will then walk a roughly mile-long portion of the trail network, gathering images that we will use to write our own haiku when we return to the pavilion. There will be time to share our poetry-in-progress and offer constructive feedback. This activity is offered free of charge, thanks to generous support fr; om an anonymous donor; donations are gratefully accepted to support future 560 Railroad Community Artists.

Advance registration required. 

Sonia Scherr writes fiction and nonfiction and enjoys creating opportunities for people to connect with their community through the arts. Now an educator at the nonprofit Egan Maritime Institute on Nantucket, she previously worked as community coordinator at central Vermont’s Cabot School to expand out\-of\-classroom learning. She has a background in journalism and communications and has published short stories in literary journals, including Gargoyle Magazine, Jabberwock Review, Blue Earth Review and poemmemoirstory. Having grown up in Norwich and lived in the Northeast Kingdom, she is excited to work with the St. Johnsbury community as a 560 Railroad Street Community Artist.

EPIC Music will begin on Monday, September 14 and end on Thursday, May 27, with a summer camp the last week in June. The 2026-27 EPIC Music faculty includes Jason Bergman, Artistic Director; Roy MacNeil; and Krista Licata.

EPIC Music accepts students aged 8 and up, whether they attend public or private school or are homeschooled. All beginning students learn to play violin, and may select another instrument (viola, cello, or bass) after a year of participation.

EPIC Music is offered Monday through Thursday afternoons. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are devoted to group lessons by instrument and/or by level of experience. Full string ensemble meets on Thursday afternoons. Students are invited to perform with the Northeast Kingdom Community Orchestra twice a year, with a rehearsal on Saturday and concert on Sunday. In addition, we hope to offer special programming occasionally on Saturday mornings at York Street Meeting House in Lyndonville, and will invite family members and other local strings students and their families to join us.

Students must be able to commit to at least two days each week for the full year (September through end of May); we highly advise selecting Thursday as one of the days, as that is the day we meet as a full ensemble.

In keeping with El Sistema’s commitment to equity and access, we provide instruments at no charge and highly subsidize the cost of participation for each child. If the registration fee is a barrier to participation, please contact us at 802-748-2600 ext. 109 to discuss financial assistance.

Class fee: $225/first student, 40% off for each additional student

We are committed to offering high quality arts experiences for all students, regardless of ability to pay. If you need financial assistance, please contact Anne Campbell at 802-748-2600 ext 109 to learn about scholarships.

Please complete and submit registration no later than September 8, and space is limited, so spots are available on a first come, first served basis.

2026-27 Schedule

Mondays at St. Johnsbury School (2:45-4:30pm) - Large and small ensembles (we will start at 3pm, after having a snack. We offer flexibility to students from other schools who may not be able to arrive by 3pm.)

Tuesdays at Union Baptist Church (3:30-5:00pm): Large and small ensembles. Students are permitted to arrive as early as 3pm.

Wednesdays at St. Johnsbury School (2:45-4:30pm) - Large and small ensembles (we will start at 3, after having a snack. We offer flexibility to students from other schools who may not be able to arrive by 3pm.)

Thursdays at Union Baptist Church (3:30-5:00pm): Full string ensemble rehearsal and small groups.Students are permitted to arrive as early as 3pm.

Saturdays and Sundays, September 19, 20, 26 and 27, 1-5pm

Catamount Arts Center

Instructor: Emma Gerry

In this 4 session class, students will be introduced to weaving techniques on various looms (floor, inkle, and tapestry) and will plan a project to weave. Projects will include scarves, bands, and tapestries. Over four days, students will learn basic weaving terminology, how to throw a shuttle, advance a loom, warp a project, and finish webbing off the loom. Please bring a notebook and pencil for planning warps.

Class fee: $160 (10% discount for Catamount Arts members), materials included. Please contact Anne at 802-748-2600 ext 109 to inquire about financial assistance. 

Emma Gerry of Littleton, NH learned to weave in 2020, then went on to work for Thistle Hill Weavers and Eaton Hill Textiles, among others. She loves fabric and thread in all forms, and delights in recreating historic trims and fringes in new and colorful ways. She now teaches weaving to share her love for this historic craft.

Saturdays and Sundays, September 19, 20, 26 and 27, 1-5pm

Catamount Arts Center

Instructor: Emma Gerry

In this 4 session class, students will be introduced to weaving techniques on various looms (floor, inkle, and tapestry) and will plan a project to weave. Projects will include scarves, bands, and tapestries. Over four days, students will learn basic weaving terminology, how to throw a shuttle, advance a loom, warp a project, and finish webbing off the loom. Please bring a notebook and pencil for planning warps.

Class fee: $144 (10% discount for Catamount Arts members), materials included. Please contact Anne at 802-748-2600 ext 109 to inquire about financial assistance. 

Emma Gerry of Littleton, NH learned to weave in 2020, then went on to work for Thistle Hill Weavers and Eaton Hill Textiles, among others. She loves fabric and thread in all forms, and delights in recreating historic trims and fringes in new and colorful ways. She now teaches weaving to share her love for this historic craft.

Saturday, September 19, 10-11:30am 

Instructor: Lori Lee 

Participants will learn the importance of reframing a victim story with meaning and purpose through sharing and writing about personal experiences. Writers may wish to explore stories they are considering submitting for Umbrella’s Stories of Recovery and Resilience community storytelling event on October 2. 

Clas Fee: FREE; donations gratefully accepted.
Advance registration required.

After 25 years of traveling the state of Utah and enjoying and sharing the natural beauty of the trails and outdoor adventures in guidebooks and magazines, Lori now focuses on the personal narrative. 

She was the host and producer of the Love Your Story podcast, a podcast that ran for eight years and was dedicated to sharing candid interviews and conversations about living our best life stories on purpose. Lori pulled no punches in capturing interviews that shine a light on how we make it through the hard stuff – stress, anxiety, suicide, eating disorders, rape, the death of children, abuse, divorce and the real stuff we have to deal with. But, she also shared interviews with Olympians and incredible athletes, life coaches, therapists, and people who are changing the world. 

She is a published poet, has won awards for her essays, and has a MS in Folklore--her research focusing on the structure and function of personal narrative. She is the author of six books and over 100 magazine and newspaper articles, including her latest, L.I.F.E. – Living Intentional and Fearless Every Day. Her self-help memoir,  The Messy, Divine Business of Becoming is due out in 2028.

Sunday, Sept. 20, 1-2:30pm

Instructor: Lori Lee 

In this writing workshop, 560 Railroad Community Artist Lori Lee will lead participants in creating a lifetime story map that is emotionally accurate rather than geographically accurate in order to discover stories they want to tell. 

Class fee: $15 (10% discount for Catamount Arts members)

After 25 years of traveling the state of Utah and enjoying and sharing the natural beauty of the trails and outdoor adventures in guidebooks and magazines, Lori now focuses on the personal narrative. 

She was the host and producer of the Love Your Story podcast, a podcast that ran for eight years and was dedicated to sharing candid interviews and conversations about living our best life stories on purpose. Lori pulled no punches in capturing interviews that shine a light on how we make it through the hard stuff – stress, anxiety, suicide, eating disorders, rape, the death of children, abuse, divorce and the real stuff we have to deal with. But, she also shared interviews with Olympians and incredible athletes, life coaches, therapists, and people who are changing the world. 

She is a published poet, has won awards for her essays, and has a MS in Folklore--her research focusing on the structure and function of personal narrative. She is the author of six books and over 100 magazine and newspaper articles, including her latest, L.I.F.E. – Living Intentional and Fearless Every Day. Her self-help memoir,  The Messy, Divine Business of Becoming is due out in 2028.

Thursday, Sept. 24, 6pm 

Instructor: Lori Lee 

Poetry is often generated by memories that haunt us, or memories that pull on our hearts, memories that are too precious not to be recorded - poetry is most often created out of emotion. Join us in this poetry workshop as we explore free verse and narrative poetry. Students are encouraged to bring a photo they want to capture in poetry.

Class fee: FREE; donations gratefully accepted.

Advance registration required.

After 25 years of traveling the state of Utah and enjoying and sharing the natural beauty of the trails and outdoor adventures in guidebooks and magazines, Lori now focuses on the personal narrative. 

She was the host and producer of the Love Your Story podcast, a podcast that ran for eight years and was dedicated to sharing candid interviews and conversations about living our best life stories on purpose. Lori pulled no punches in capturing interviews that shine a light on how we make it through the hard stuff – stress, anxiety, suicide, eating disorders, rape, the death of children, abuse, divorce and the real stuff we have to deal with. But, she also shared interviews with Olympians and incredible athletes, life coaches, therapists, and people who are changing the world. 

She is a published poet, has won awards for her essays, and has a MS in Folklore--her research focusing on the structure and function of personal narrative. She is the author of six books and over 100 magazine and newspaper articles, including her latest, L.I.F.E. – Living Intentional and Fearless Every Day. Her self-help memoir,  The Messy, Divine Business of Becoming is due out in 2028.