We’re thrilled to offer our third annual Summer Fiber Arts Camp this June and July!
Registration is now CLOSED
Please put your name on the wait list as cancellations may arise.
Thank you!
As always, a $25 registration fee is all that is required, however this year we are offering an additional sliding scale tuition payment ($0-$300 per session) for families who are able to contribute a bit more.
WHO CAN REGISTER?
Age requirement: Camp enrollment is limited to youth ages 10–17*
*Our projects and tools are designed for older youth; younger children are likely to feel frustrated because the activities aren’t age-appropriate.
Siblings: Siblings are welcome to attend, but they must enroll in separate sessions (one sibling per week) Please fill out the form twice.
To balance welcoming both new and returning families, we’re trying this registration policy this year:
Register for ONE session by May 21. Want additional weeks? Select them on the form for each session, and we’ll email you between May 21–29 to complete registration (as space allows, details below).
Interested in SPONSORING camp to help keep it affordable for more families - this year and for years to come?
Click the button below to visit our sponsorship page:
Summer Camp 2026
NEW CLASSES
Rigid Heddle Weaving with Michelle San Buenaventura & Sabina Lovato. SESSIONS 1 & 2 - Learn the basics of weaving on a rigid heddle loom while exploring northern New Mexico’s weaving traditions. Students will create a striped rug inspired by classic Rio Grande motifs to take home.
Floor Loom Weaving with Pando Speer. SESSIONS 3 & 4 - Weave on multi-harness floor loom! In this class students will make art pieces, small decorative table runners, or both if there is time! Students will learn the fast and fun way to weave on a multi-harness floor loom. Each student will design and create a small project to take home by the last day of class. This is an exploratory class that will move at the desired pace of each student.
Macramé with Julia Topete. SESSIONS 2 & 3 - Students will learn the fundamentals of macramé while creating their own handmade plant hanger to take home. The class introduces five essential knots, including the lark’s head, gathering knot, square knot, spiral knot, and a loose square knot used to form a basket. Participants will build skills step-by-step, gaining confidence in pattern-making, tension, and design. This hands-on experience offers a relaxing and creative environment while connecting students to the art of fiber work. By the end of the class, each student will leave with a functional and beautiful macramé plant hanger.
Spinning Threads with Jamie Fahey. SESSIONS 1 & 4 - All levels will spin and dye, exploring the workings of fibers from sheep to loom. Spinning fibers on a spindle is an ancient magical practice that has survived the test of time. There are many layers to be explored in this old skill that help to develop the growing minds and souls of humans. Its healing practice reveals a powerful connection to something very old and ancient.
Felting & Fiber Processing with Carol Nieukirk. SESSION 3 - We will wash some freshly shorn sheep fleece and show you how to make usable fiber for some wet felt projects - flat felt, bags, vessels, jewelry or even a hat - and using dry felting needles to create animal sculptures or flowers or whatever your imagination desires.
Sewing & Paint it on Fabric with Robbie Berg. SESSION 2 - Learn basic sewing and fabric painting skills. Create a fun hand painted pillow.
Screenprinting with Gel Lister. SESSION 4 - Students will learn the basics of screenprinting, including designing a project, coating a screen, and printing on fabric and clothes.
Camp Teachers, Youth Interns, & Staff
New Teachers for 2026
MACRAME - Julia Topete is an artist, community organizer, and educator based in Northern New Mexico. She is the founder of Northern New Mexico Outreach, a creative space rooted in art, healing, and community transformation. She serves as a Youth Education Coordinator at EVFAC, leading weaving programs and teaching in schools, where she supports young people in developing creative skills and cultural connection. Her work also centers Circus arts and stilt walking as a tool for empowerment, guiding youth to build confidence, resilience, and self-expression through movement and storytelling.
RIGID HEDDLE WEAVING - Michelle San Buenaventura has been working in EVFAC’s retail shop since 2023 and completed the Chimayó Weaving Apprenticeship in 2024. She also currently teaches in EVFAC’s year-round youth and community programs, as well as the Walk in & Weave program.
DYEING & SPINNING - Jamie Fahey of Winnow and Weave is a mother, teacher, weaver, shepherdess, herbalist, seed saver and tender of many living threads of life. Much of my adult life I have shared and taught through the lens of rebuilding, creating, and nourishing relationships with the natural world. For 5 years I developed and taught a program for a Waldorf school. For over 20 years I have taught homeschool groups and private classes. My passion, love, and reverence for the living world is an ever immense growing hope that we as humans will strive to maintain and keep alive those ways of living that thrive and pulse with the natural rhythms of Life. With this I offer these seeds of story, fiber, and relationship to sprout in the souls of our youth.
RIGID HEDDLE WEAVING - Sabina Lovato - My name is Sabina Lovato I am 39 years old. I went to high school in a small town named Gallina NM, we were the Coronado Leopards. I have been weaving for 3 years, since I was given an apprenticeship opportunity with Emily Trujillo through EVFAC, and I am currently a production weaver in Chimayó. My interest for weaving came from my mother who was a weaver for many years. I am looking forward to learning how to teach this precious knowledge of weaving to our future generations!!
2024, 2025, 2026
FLOOR LOOM WEAVING - Pando Speer (She/her) of The Warp Zone is a Weaver, designer, and fiber artist. She has been weaving professionally for the past 13 years, and learned to weave at EVFAC. Pando has worked with the Española Valley Fiber Arts Center for nearly a decade. She lives and works out of her hand made earthship home and studio in Abiquiu, NM.
2025, 2026
FELTING & FIBER PROCESSING - Carol Nieukirk has been a fiber artist for over 30 years. She is a felt artist making quality felt yardage, rugs, saddle blankets and art pieces. She is also a weaver, spinner, sewer and general fiber fiend. She has served on the EVFAC Board and has been a member since 2008.
SEWING & PAINT IT ON FABRIC - Robbie Berg creates both Fiber and Wood art from her studio in Ojo Caliente. She has been an instructor for 30 years. Robbie thoroughly enjoys teaching for the Española Valley Fiber Arts Center.
2024
NATURAL DYEING - Rebekah Frances Cantor is a bilingual (English/Spanish) educator specializing in place based education and the ecological arts. She holds a BA in Art History and a Masters in Education. She brings over 20 years of teaching experience serving pre-schoolers to adults. She is passionate about facilitating creative connections between her students, the arts, and the natural world. She listens deeply and incorporates a variety of teaching modalities to engage with and meet students' needs. Her work is inspired by traditional ecological knowledge and she is committed to engaging in respectful regenerative relationships.
SCREENPRINTING - Gel Lister is an interdisciplinary artist and writer engaged in performance, installation, printmaking, graphic design and the esoteric arts. They have experience working as a teaching artist through Creative Growth Art Center as well as the El Rito Elementary Art Program.
2024, 2026
KNITTING & SPINNING - Ruby Johnson is a knitter, spinner, and Shepherd from the Pacific Northwest. They have been a knitter since they were eight, and have a passion for holistic fiber arts. Using the wool from their three Shetland sheep Ruby takes fiber through the entire process. From cleaning, prepping, and spinning; to knitting and wearing the garment. Ruby views spinning and knitting as a way to reconnect to yourself, and the earth. In a world where time is money they’re crafting is a place of peace. A place to slow down, let go of perfection, and simply create. In Ruby’s classes, students will learn the basics of knitting or spinning. Learning how to knit or spin when one is young is a skill that can carry throughout the rest of one's life. Ruby not only teaches knitting and spinning as skills but also as a practice in patience, focus, and mindfulness.
COLLABORATIVE INTERNS, NORTHERN YOUTH PROJECT
Hannah Martinez (left) and Kiana Fugate joined the program through Abiquiú-based Northern Youth Project’s summer internship. This program, designed for high school students and young adults, offers valuable leadership training through partnerships with community organizations. Along with participating in NYP’s program based on growing healthy food and utilizing sustainable land practices; with us, they also engaged in a variety of art practices as well as in assisting teachers in various activities.
WEAVING IN SCHOOLS - Coming Soon!
SUMMER CAMP 2025 - Coming Soon!
Summer Camp 2024
Weaving with Amanda Speer & Dain Daller - Students were guided through the full process of weaving on a four harness floor loom. Each student designed scarves and rugs to weave; and learned how to read a pattern, dress a loom and of course - weave!
photos by Janeen Singer
Natural Dyeing with Frances Cantor - Immersed in the world of natural dyes, students explored using locally foraged plants, kitchen scraps, eco-printing, and traditional recipes to create vibrant colors and experimented with dyeing a variety of fabrics.
photos by Janeen Singer
Screenprinting with Gel Lister - Students learned the basics of screenprinting, including designing a project, coating a screen, and printing on fabric and clothes.
photos by Gel Lister
Knitting & Spinning with Ruby Johnson - Students learned to spin yarn on a bottom whorl drop spindle. Using their spun yarn and other varieties, they acquired a basic understanding of knitting by practicing different stitches and combining them to make different fabrics and forms.
photos by Janeen Singer
Mission Statement
YOUTH FIBER STUDIO
Youth Fiber Studio (YFS) empowers middle and high school students in the Española Valley and surrounding communities through hands-on fiber arts education. Through summer camp and partnerships with schools and community organizations, we teach traditional and contemporary fiber crafts to help sustain northern New Mexico’s rich fiber traditions while cultivating focused, confident, connected young makers. In a structured learning environment where community is intentionally built and culture and identity are valued and explored, students strengthen planning and problem-solving skills, practice mindful collaboration, and grow patience, emotional regulation, confidence and connection.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR - Kim Zitzow (they / she) is an interdisciplinary artist and weaver with more than 15 years of experience as a teaching artist. As the current Director of EVFAC, Kim focuses on developing community-led youth education partnerships and collaborative initiatives grounded in the cultural and ecological landscape of northern New Mexico. Their work bridges traditional practices and contemporary perspectives, helping ensure weaving and other land-based crafts remain relevant, accessible, and vibrant for future generations.
Contact: director@evfac.org
Thank You
to our sponsors, partners & private donors
Youth Fiber Studio programs are offered at very little or no cost to families thanks to your support.
