Hi Folk School community!

My name is Iz, and I’m the Organizational Development Fellow at The Folk School. I’m originally from Fairbanks, and recently moved back in September through the Alaska Fellows Program (applications are open for next year’s cohort!). My main project has been switching the Folk School over to new digital systems that can keep up with our growing needs, so we can continue to offer more classes for you all! After months of research and planning, I am so excited to announce that we are launching a new class registration system in the coming days. 

You may have noticed that a few of our April/May classes now have a registration link that takes you to a website called Sawyer, our new activities registration platform. Later this month, we will be replacing our current calendar with Sawyer’s calendar, which will be embedded so you can search and browse right from our website. Please read the following information we’ve prepared about how to use the new system, so you’ll be ready to roll with these exciting updates! 

We decided to partner with Sawyer because it fills all our top priority needs, including easier class management for instructors, better student experience, and improved efficiency for staff, eliminating many cumbersome workarounds that have become unmanageable! While no system is a perfect fit for the quirky needs of The Folk School, we are excited about Sawyer’s potential to integrate well with our community and adapt with us over time. Plus, it came recommended by other folk schools! 

This change is huge for us! We are working hard to make the transition as smooth as possible, but change is a challenge, and we’re all new to Sawyer. Check out the FAQs below, and if you have any questions or feedback about the rollout, please reach out to us. 

Thanks for all your support in this process. 

Iz

 

Frequently asked questions:

Where do I learn more about how Sawyer works?

If you want to learn more, you can find resources on Sawyer’s website, including articles about creating and managing an account.  

 

How do I make an account, and can I register without one?

When you click the register button on a class for the first time, it will prompt you to enter a username and password for a new account. You can follow these instructions to verify your account. You will not be able to register without an account. 

You will fill out age and contact information for each student you are registering, whether for yourself or another person. Sawyer will remember this information within your account, so you won’t need to retype it every time you register for a class! Learn more about Sawyer’s privacy policy here.

 

After I created my account, I got a verification email from Sawyer that doesn’t mention The Folk School – what is this?

When you create your account, Sawyer will email you directly to verify your account. The email won’t include our name, but it’s connected to the account you created on our class page. Once you verify your account, you’ll be able to update your information and see any classes you registered for on your Sawyer calendar. 

 

When I click on the Sawyer link, I am only seeing memberships. Where are the classes?

If you’re looking at a membership page, all you have to do is click on the “Activity Schedule” tab in the top left corner. 

 

How do I register a youth and adult co-learning pair for the same class?

After you click the “Register” button, click the drop-down menu under “Who is attending?” and you will see a list of student profiles associated with your account. Click the check boxes next to the names of both the adult and youth attending the class. Click the plus sign next to “Add participant” if you’d like to add a student who you have not registered before in Sawyer. Then click “Add to cart.”

Participants you register for a class will be associated with your account going forward. 

 

Will The Folk School still use a sliding scale for class tuition? 

Yes! We will keep using our sliding scale policy, which you will see in the form of a discount code for Extra Support, or add-ons for True Cost and Pay-It-Forward. The base price you will see on the class listing is the Community Supported tier. 

 

How do I access The Folk School’s Extra Support sliding scale tier when I register for a class?

Use coupon code extra-support-2026 at checkout.

 

How do I pay with cash, check, or redeem Folk Bucks with the new system?

You can still pay by cash, check or Folk Bucks. Please call us at 907-415-8586 or email us at registrar@folk.school for help with registration if you want to use any of these payment methods. 

 

Why am I being charged a Sawyer Booking Fee?

This small non-refundable fee goes directly to the Sawyer platform to support their company’s operating costs. The amount is dependent on the size of your order, but will never exceed $3.99.

 

As an instructor, do I need to make an account? Where is my class roster?

Yes! The instructor portal allows you to see your upcoming schedule, rosters, message students, and more. If you have trouble accessing your account we can send you a PDF of your class roster.