Information, Policies & Logistics

Peters Valley School of Craft is firmly committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity. This will remain one of our most critical goals, ensuring the school supports all students, with no bias in regard to age, color, disability, gender identification, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, economic status, or veteran status.

We are excited to welcome students back to our campus for in-person learning! Please review our COVID-19 policies for updated information on the changes being made throughout our campus.

COVID-19 Policies

A Typical Workshop Day

Workshops run from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm each day.

Registration/check-in takes place between 8:15 and 8:45 am at the office on the first day of the workshop.
Lunch is served from 12:15pm - 1:15pm each day at the Peters Valley Dining Hall. Outdoor dining areas will be available.
Clean up begins at about 3:00pm on the last day of the workshop and everyone is asked to participate. Workshops end at 5:00pm.
Studios are closed during dinner hours but generally open up from about 7pm -10pm for optional studio time. This varies by workshop/studio.

Lodging & Meals

General Policies

Unacceptable Behavior: Peters Valley maintains a very respectful environment and reserves the right to dismiss any student without refund for behavior that is contrary to the following guidelines or otherwise disruptive to the community learning and living experience. Unsolicited sexual advances will be seen as grounds for immediate dismissal. Peters Valley may refuse admission to anyone with a past history of unacceptable behavior.
Drugs & Alcohol: Alcohol is not permitted in the studios while students are working. The legal drinking age in NJ is 21 and underage drinking will not be tolerated. The use of drugs at Peters Valley is strictly prohibited; this includes marijuana as we are on federal land.
Quite Time Policy: To ensure a pleasant experience for all students, Peters Valley has a policy for quiet time in both the studios and housing. Quiet time begins in housing at 11:00pm each night. Each studio has it's own policy on how late students can work at night, so please be sure to check with your specific studio head. If the studio is open, you may work after 11:00pm, but not with any noisy equipment (e.g. the power hammer in blacksmithing). Your cooperation is appreciated.
National Park Service Rules & Regulations: Because Peters Valley is within the Delaware Water Gap Nat'l Recreation Area, there are certain rules you need to abide by:
- There is no smoking allowed in any of the Peters Valley Buildings
- No alcohol is allowed in any of the studios while students are working
- Speed limits (especially on Thunder Mountain Road) will be enforced
- Please be aware and respectful of all wildlife and plants. You are not allowed to pick any flowers, leaves, plants, etc. (dead or alive)

Cancellation Policy

The goal of our cancellation policy is to be fair and flexible for our workshop participants. When making your plans, please consider the following: Planning for your arrival means purchasing supplies, making a commitment to the instructor, and in the case of a full class, holding a spot that someone else could potentially take. As we re-open our campus, it will help us immensely if students avoid cancelling at the last minute except in the case of illness or similar emergency.

With the exception of a $50 cancellation fee and the $30 annual registration fee, all fees are refundable if notice is given up to 14 days prior to the start of the workshop.
If a cancellation is made less than 14 days prior to the start of the workshop, there is no refund, however a credit will be issued (less the cancellation and registration fee) for another class, during the 2021 or 2022 season.
No refunds or credits will be given if a student withdraws for any reason other than COVID-19, after a workshop begins.
Peters Valley is not responsible for non-refundable or prepaid travel arrangements. Before making travel arrangements, we highly recommend calling us at 973-948-5200 to make sure your workshop will run.

Anyone with a positive diagnosis, symptoms, or exposure to COVID-19 within two weeks of the start of a workshop must let us know immediately. We will cancel your registration and process your credit.

While at Peters Valley, any student receiving a positive diagnosis, experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or living with anyone receiving a positive diagnosis or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, will be asked to withdraw immediately. The amount of missed class time will be pro-rated as credit towards a future class during the 2021 or 2022 season. A pro-rated credit will be applied for tuition, lodging and meals; there is no credit or refund for studio/materials fee.

If a workshop is cancelled by Peters Valley at any time, students will have the following options:

Receive a full cash refund for all fees.
Receive a full tuition credit towards a workshop in 2021, 2022 or 2023. This credit is also transferable and may be used by another person.
Make a contribution to Peters Valley, of fees paid. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent of the law.

More Info

The campus is quite spread out, with some of the studios being about 2 miles from the dorms & dining hall.

Be sure to look at the student material list for your workshop, which is located within the online description. You will be responsible for bringing those supplies with you. Peters Valley is in a very rural area, there are no supply stores or convenience stores nearby. When in doubt, pack it!

Our Campus

Meals & Lodging

Accessibility

Workshops

What to Bring

We’re glad you will be joining us at Peters Valley! We are located in a rural and wooded area. The weather here can be very cool at night during the spring, and hot and humid during the day in summer. Supplies and tools to bring for your particular workshop are included in the materials list, which is listed online in the workshop description.

The following are general items to bring if you're staying on campus:

A portable fan is suggested (though most rooms have a box fan) if you are staying in the dorms as there is no air conditioning.

Essentials:

Your own twin sheets (unless you are notified otherwise), blankets and towels (bath towels, washcloth, etc.)
Your own pillow
Toiletries (soap, shampoo, etc.)
Flashlight with batteries; there are no streetlights here
Insect repellent (there are a lot of ticks here!) and anti-itch
Sturdy shoes; comfortable clothes for both warm & cool weather
Reusable water bottle to refill from coolers provided
Rain gear
Aspirin, painkillers, antihistamines and/or your prescription medications (there are no drugstores nearby)

Optional:

Bathrobe
Sunscreen
Swimsuit (we are very close to the Delaware River)
Cell Phone. Each house and studio has a phone but no long distance service.
Laptop
Camera

The Peters Valley Gallery offers handmade soaps & lotions as well as rain ponchos, insect repellant, bottled water and some sundries for your convenience.

FAQ

How soon do I need to register for a workshop?

We strongly encourage participants to register at least one month prior to the date. Supplies need to be acquired and instructor travel needs to be planned which can determine whether or not a workshop will run at that time. Registration is generally open until the workshop fills or the date it runs if seats remain open and the minimum enrollment has been met, but this varies greatly class by class. Some workshops fill within days of registration being open.

Are there waiting lists for workshops that are full?

Is there financial aid or scholarships available for tuition?

What are the workshop times?

Are the studios open at night?

Do I need to have a car on campus?

The Blacksmithing, Ceramics, Printmaking and Photography studios are within walking distance of the dorms, dining hall, office and gallery (Valley Central). The Fibers, Weaving, Fine Metals, Glass, and Woodworking studios are located about 2 miles from Valley Central. Students are encouraged to carpool, and if you will not have a car on campus you will be responsible for finding a ride with someone who is housed in your dorm or that you meet up with at the dining hall.

Is there a supply store on campus?

No. Our gallery carries some emergency items such as aspirin, bug repellent, and toothbrushes but no workshop supplies. A link to the list of materials you will need to bring in addition to what is provided by the instructor and/or studio is located within the workshop description. Peters Valley is located in a very rural area, so please make sure you have everything you need before you get here.

Can I get credit for the workshops?

Peters Valley is not an accredited institution so college credit is not available. Peters Valley is a registered provider with the NJ State Board of Education so NJ teachers can earn required continuing education credits. PA teachers can submit their hours as independent study for possible education credits (Act 48) but due to changes with the PA Board of Education we are no longer able to offer Act 48. We are happy to discuss your particular continuing credit needs. Certificates of Completion are available to anyone for all workshops if requested.