Ashokan stories
- News, Uncategorized
Honored and Inspired: Ashokan at the Imagination Gala
Honored and Inspired: Ashokan at the Imagination Gala We’re honored! Earlier this month, the Ashokan Center received the Community Partnership Award at the Imagination Gala – High Rollers on the Hudson, hosted by our amazing friends at MyKingstonKids. We’re proud
- News
June Wrap-Up: A Month of Mission-Driven Moments at Ashokan
As summer settles over the Catskills, we’re reflecting on a truly meaningful month at the Ashokan Center. June brought together education, music, environmental leadership, and wildlife conservation—all rooted in our mission to build community through shared experiences in nature, history,
- News
Ashokan Through Peter’s Eyes: “The Real World”
For longtime Ashokan friend and supporter Peter Yarensky, his first visit to Northern Week in 1991 changed everything. At first, he was skeptical—would music and dance camps feel cliquish or intimidating? But what he found at Ashokan was something completely
- News
Thank You for an Incredible Hudson Valley Gives 2025
We’re filled with gratitude as we reflect on the amazing outpouring of support during this year’s Hudson Valley Gives campaign. Thanks to 179 generous donors, we not only reached our goal—we surpassed it. Matching Gifts Doubled the Impact A generous
- News, Uncategorized
A Wedding Weekend Rooted in Love and Nature: Sarah & Eddy at Ashokan
When Sarah and Eddy began searching for a wedding venue, they weren’t just looking for a place—they were looking for a community. “You’re looking for a wedding space that’s not just a space to have a wedding, but a community
- News
Valley Stream 24 Sixth-Grade Students Explore the Ashokan Center
Sixth-grade students from all three schools in the Valley Stream 24 School District recently embarked on an enriching educational journey to the Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, New York, where they experienced a dynamic integration of science, history, and nature. “Throughout
- News
Our New Office and Health Center is Near Completion at Ashokan!
We’re excited to share a major milestone in the growth of the Ashokan Center: our new office building—with a dedicated health center—is nearly complete! Thanks to the support of our donors, board members, and the leadership of Jay and Molly,
- News
Fresh, Local, and Right at Ashokan: Seed Song Farm CSA Returns for 2025!
We’re thrilled to announce the return of Seed Song Farm’s CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) pickups at the Ashokan Center! Starting Tuesday, June 10, 2025, you can enjoy 23 weeks of chemical-free, hyper-fresh, locally grown vegetables—right here in Olivebridge. Whether you’re
- News
Strumming in Harmony: Highlights from Ashokan Ukulele Weekend 2025
Strumming Through the Trees: Highlights from Ashokan Ukulele Weekend 2025“There’s something very special about Ashokan…” – Ben Hassenger This year’s Ashokan Ukulele Weekend was a joyful, music-filled escape into the heart of the Catskills! From May 23–26, 2025, ukulele lovers
- News
Celebrating Culture, Community & Music at Día de las Familias 2025
Come back this summer for an even deeper dive into Ariles Son Jarocho Camp! This past Sunday, May 11, families from across the Hudson Valley gathered at the Ashokan Center to celebrate Día de las Familias 2025—a free, bilingual music
- Music, News
Clog Blog Vol.1 – New This Year: Expanded Percussive Dance Offerings at Southern Week
Sharon Leahy has dedicated her life to traditional music and dance. She has performed around the world with her percussive dance company, Rhythm in Shoes, and has been teaching clogging basics—along with the highly anticipated team clogging routine—at Ashokan’s annual
- History, Music, News
The Rich Tapestry of Folk Music in Woodstock, NY: A Journey Through Time
Nestled in the heart of the Catskills, Woodstock, New York, is globally synonymous with peace, love, and music. While the 1969 Woodstock Festival famously happened 60 miles away in Bethel, the spirit and essence of the Woodstock name embody a
- Nature, News
Experiencing the Magic of Winter Bird Calls at Ashokan
Winter at the Ashokan Center is a time of quiet beauty. The landscape, blanketed in snow, feels serene and still. But if you listen closely, you’ll notice the calls of hardy resident birds—chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers—echoing through the woods. With
- Music, News
Dancing to a Sharper Mind: How Movement Boosts Cognitive Function
For years, people have appreciated dancing for its physical, social, and emotional benefits. But did you know that dancing can also enhance cognitive abilities? Studies are showing that engaging in regular dance could sharpen the mind, improve memory, and even
- Nature, News
Nature’s Music: The Melodic Calls of the Black-Capped Chickadee
Birdsong has always been a source of inspiration for musicians, composers, and nature lovers alike, but few birds make their music as harmoniously predictable as the black-capped chickadee. This familiar little bird isn’t just chirping to fill the silence —
- News
Celebrate Ukrainian Culture on September 22
Ukrainian Community Day is a new event and celebration of Ukrainian culture at the Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY. The event, on Sunday, September 22, 2024, will feature a diverse lineup of Ukrainian music including The Ukrainian Village Voices, singer
- History, Nature, News
The Three Sisters Garden with Del Orloske
Growing a Three Sisters garden (corn, pole beans, squash) is a form of companion planting practiced by the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) who lived in the northern part of New York. Many tribes throughout North America did and still do this as
- Music, News
Week-long Western & swing learning festival deep in the Hudson Valley woods
Swing into summer with Jay Ungar & Molly Mason at a vibrant week-long event filled with swing, Western-swing, classic country, and Tejano Conjunto music and dancing at the Ashokan Center. This friendly and fun learning vacation offers a variety of
- Music, News
Andes Central School students debut original songs
Jun. 12—Elementary school students at Andes Central School debuted original songs about nature during the school’s last Spirit Meet of the year Wednesday, June 12. Laurie McIntosh, who’s known as Story Laurie, led students on a two-week long songwriting workshop,
- News
August 23–25: The Summer Hoot returns with eclectic lineup of roots music, dancing, and nature activities for the whole family
Now in its twelfth year, the Summer Hoot music festival will be held Friday, August 23 through Sunday, August 25, 2024. Produced and hosted by folk-roots musicians Ruth Ungar Merenda and Mike Merenda of The Mammals (also known as Mike
- Nature, News
Valley Stream 24 Takes An Exciting Field Trip to the Ashokan Center
Students from all three schools in the Valley Stream 24 School District recently embarked on an interactive outdoor education experience at the Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, New York. “Visiting the Ashokan Center is a wonderful and memorable experience for all
- Music, News
GUEST POST: Scottish fiddle immersion experience at the Ashokan Center
This post is by the great Austin Scelzo after his experience at Ashokan’s 2024 Scottish String Fling Weekend. My heart is full after returning from a wonderful Scottish fiddle immersion experience at the Ashokan Center. Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas
- Music, News
Q&A with Interpreter of Black Folk Music, Jake Blount
We recently got to chat with Jake Blount on how his musical journey brought him to Ashokan’s Old Time Rollick year-after-year. Jake Blount (pronounced: blunt) is an award-winning interpreter of Black folk music based in Providence, RI. Let’s start on
- History, Music, News
Son Jarocho Camp Will Be First Of Its Kind in the US
It’s a learning opportunity, a music-loving opportunity, a sharing of culture and community: It’s the Ashokan Center’s Ariles Son Jarocho Camp. Patterned after Luna Negra, a well-known annual gathering for son jarocho musicians in Veracruz, Mexico, this camp will be
- History, News
Pardon our Progress: Our Homestead is being restored.
Ashokan’s Homestead, a two-story dovetail log home built in the 1970’s, was found in disrepair when the Ashokan Center, Inc. took over the site’s programs and stewardship in 2008. A new phase of restoration work on the Homstead began in
- Nature, News
3rd Youth Empowerment & Sustainability Summit
From February 21 – 23, the Ashokan Center held its 3rd Youth Empowerment & Sustainability Summit (YESS!). Students from grades 6 – 12 assembled from the Hudson Valley, Adirondacks, New York City, Massachusetts, and Connecticut for this immersive, three-day event.
- Music, News
Enhance Your Music Practice with Strum Machine App
Do you use a metronome or backing tracks while practicing? Strum Machine (https://strummachine.com/app) came as a recommended practice tool from Hilary Hawke (teacher from 2023’s Banjo Weekend!). The full version is not free, but Ashokan Farewell happens to be one
- News
Ashokan Receives Grant from New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA)
The Ashokan Center has received a grant totaling $49,500 per year for two-years from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the nonprofit arts and culture sector. Through New York State’s continued investment in arts and
- Nature, News
YESS! Alumni Recognized for Environmental Work
Congrats to Bennett Elementary School students and instructional coach, Karen Hadley, for being recognized for their work in reducing the use of plastic and removing it from the waste stream! You may remember these students and their presentation from YESS!