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Free Skool

Free Skool is an initiative began taking place in the garden beginning in June 2018. It often consists of mini-lectures, workshops or facilitated/guided activities. Free Skool initiative is an attempt to disrupt hierarchies, encourage snacking, provide anyone with an opportunity to experience and experiment with course facilitation, and to position people as "experts" in their fields. These spaces aim to be intentionally anti-hierarchical, anti-oppressive and question the role of educational institutions in teaching and learning. We hope to open McGill space outside of the campus community and encourage anyone to participate. Learners of all ages welcome!

This summer the Free Skool will again be hosting events in the Faculty of Education's community garden on McGill campus (https://www.mcgill.ca/garden/). The garden is located just down from Des Pins/Pine between Peel and McTavish (between the Coach House and the Duggan House: map).

Some of the lovely up-coming events:

Bi-weekly

Cross Stitch for Revolution - Join Jayne M. and friends for some cross stitch tutorials coupled with conversations about anti-hierarchical and anti-oppressive ways of engaging with the world. Thursdays from 1:30-3:30 on July 18th, August 1st and 15th.

Sharing Favourite Poems - Join Aron and friends for some evenings of sharing favourite poems. If you have a favourite poem, bring it along. If not, there will be plenty of poetry books there to read from. Or, just come and listen! Mondays from 7-9 pm on July 22nd, August 5th, and 19th.

Jamming - Join Vanessa G., her ukulele, and friends for some afternoon jamming. If you have an instrument, bring it along! If not, we'll have a few on hand, or feel free to just use your hands. Thursdays from 3-5 on July 25th, August 8th and 22nd.

Pre-Loved Project (PLOP) - Join Rebeca E. and friends for a screening of True Cost, a documentary about Fast Fashion (July 30th from 3-5 in the McGill Art Hive at the back of the library at 3700 McTavish) followed by the Pre-Loved Fabric Dyeing workshop that will be in the garden along with Jayne's Cross Stitch session on August 15th from 1:30-3:30, and culminating in the Pre-Loved Market along with Vanessa's Jamming session on August 22nd from 3-5. More details to come but if you have pre-loved clothes, textiles, or household goods that you're ready to part with, hold onto them for the market, or let Rebeca know (rebeca.esquivel [at] mail.mcgill.ca). For more info: https://rebecaesquivel.wixsite.com/prelovedproject

One-offs

Gluten-Free Fun - Join Kate on Monday, July 29th from 3:30-5:30pm: Finding good gluten-free foods getting you down? From types of cooking flour to the best noodles for different sauces, come learn to have fun with food restrictions! Snack and recipes provided, BYO experiences and complicated diets!

Language Learning - Wednesday, July 31st at 1:30 pm: Come join in for an interactive workshop on learning languages! In the workshop, you will learn some tips to learn new languages and learn the language of the future, Mandarin.

If you would like to suggest possible topics, sign-up to (co)facilitate a class or workshop, ask questions, or take part in the planning process, please check out our shared workspace.

Possible topics could include: