Work study sessions for 2026 will be added to the website on August 12th and they will begin to be reviewed September 2nd.

If you’d like to be on the waitlist for any of the sessions that are full, please email Alex Blust at ablust@northhouse.org.

• Participants must be at least 18 years old
• No craft experience necessary
• Interest in connecting with the North House community
• A willingness to do outdoor, physical and messy work like taking out trash, cleaning toilets and moving heavy objects.
• Good interpersonal skills - you’ll be living in shared housing, engaging with passersby, students and North House staff regularly
• The ability to arrive on time, and commit to the session
• Facility maintenance and upkeep skills are a bonus - painting, deep cleaning, organizing, landscaping, building and fixing things
• Compliance with our Community Standards, Non-Discrimination Policy, and Campus Guidelines

An hour of work is roughly equivalent to an hour of class! For each hour of work, Work Study earns an hour of tuition credit worth $13.86 per hour. The tuition rate for courses varies, but this hourly rate reflects the average tuition rate of $111/day; some courses may cost more and require a student to log more hours of work to fully cover the tuition.

Tuition credit:

• can cover Tuition
• can cover Hjørdis rides
• is transferable to other people
• is good only for one year from the date of issue (this means that you must register for a class within one year of the credit being issued. The class can take place after that year, you just must be registered before the credit expires)
• does NOT cover materials fees
• does NOT cover items in the store
• can NOT be used in combination with other discounts (local, intergenerational, etc.)

There are two options for taking a class using your work study earnings:

1) participants take a class during their work study session while they are here.

• Work study participants can use a max of 4 class days (so either a 3 or 4 day class or two 2 day classes). Five course days can be used with approval from the Work Study Coordinator. Not all classes can fit into the work study schedule. Work study credit can be applied towards tuition, not materials fees. Payment of the materials fee is required upon registration.

2) participants will work for a two week session and come back to take a class at a later date using the credit that was earned

• Work Study participants looking to use tuition credit must register in person or by phone. Payment of the materials fee is required upon registration. Tuition Credit will be applied at the time of registration; if a tuition balance remains, it is due at the time of class start.
• A few longer and higher cost classes like Build Your Own Timberframe and Sail Training Trips have a combined tuition & materials fee. If you're interested in applying work study to the tuition portion of one of these classes, reach out to discuss if this could work and what portion of the total could be paid for using work study credit.

We really rely on our work study volunteers, and have committed to paying for their housing. If a work study is no longer to make it to the session for any reason please let us know as soon as possible so that we can fill the spot!

North House’s general course cancellation policy also applies to tuition credit. If North House must cancel a course, students will receive a full refund of tuition credit or payments made for that course. Students who cancel their enrollment more than 21 days prior to the first day of the course will receive a refund of their tuition credit less a $100 cancellation fee to cover administrative costs. In recognition of the time and energy instructors invest in preparing for courses, students who cancel their enrollment 21 days or less prior to the first day of the course are not eligible for a refund.

The workload and work really varies seasonally and based on weather. Extended session participants should come willing and capable of completing a wide range of projects. The days will usually start with morning rounds and making coffee for classes. After that there will be a variety of tasks like: setting up classrooms, sweeping floors, washing windows, moving tables, cleaning bathrooms, mowing lawns, restocking first aid kits, sanitizing coffee pots, watering gardens, digging holes, shoveling snow, helping with the pizza bake and more! Sometimes tasks end at 2pm, sometimes at 5pm. Generally the only evening work is on Fridays in the summer; work studies help with the weekly pizza bake potluck. Overall, expect to earn 24 to 32 hours of work study credit per week. Communicate with the Classroom Manager to figure out when it would fit in the schedule to take time off. Work study participants will have time to explore the town, local events and the wilderness around Grand Marais. If work study applicants have one or two minor conflicting commitments, let us know ahead of time and usually we can work around it.

However, this is a 'full time' commitment. Work study participants cannot work remotely for another job and try to fit in a couple of work study hours around their regular work schedule. However, the inverse could be true! Work study participants can spend the majority of their day working for North House and then take calls or emails for another job when the work study duties have wrapped up for the day.

Some work study sessions overlap with special events and thematic weeks. If you're looking for a social, busy experience, sign up for a session that coincides with an event.

Each session allows for at least two participants, so if you have a friend that would like to be involved, have them apply with you. Indicate on the application if you’ll need one room or two.

No, food is not provided, work study participants need to plan to bring or buy their own food. There are three grocery stores in town (The Co-op, Johnson's, and Gene's IGA) and several restaurants. Sometimes prices are a dollar or two more here than other areas of the state, you're welcome to bring food if this is a concern.

All lodging options will come with a basic cooking set up like a fridge, small stove, a smattering of pots and pans.

North House’s intent is to provide a space that is basic, welcoming and easy to access. Work study participants stay on or near campus. The housing has private rooms, a shared kitchen and shared bathroom. Most rooms have single beds, a few rooms have two twin beds, and some are ADA accessible. If you’re selected to participate in the work study program, please discuss your housing needs with the work study coordinator before your arrival!

North House does not provide sheets, pillows, towels or other linens, make sure to pack what you need.

Some Work Study participants elect to provide their own accommodations during their stay, including nearby Forest Service campgrounds, other area lodging establishments, or other creative solutions. Feel free to do so if this would better meet your needs.

• Clothing that you can move in and get dirty. We recommend bringing shoes that you're comfortable walking and working in and layered clothing; the weather can be unpredictable! Some tasks will be inside and others will be outside, bring clothing that can work for either.
• Bedding and towels. Our housing options all include a mattress, but not linens.
• Earplugs if you are sound sensitive
• Food. This can also be purchased at grocery stores in town.
• Sunscreen & bug protection (summer only)
• Books, journal, craft materials, bathing suit (for swimming or sauna) skis, hiking boots and things you might want to use during your downtime