Some while back, beginning about 2002, Sandra and Dennis Cooper began dreaming and scheming about starting a non-profit business for the purpose of teaching arts, crafts, music, and basic living skills to people who have a desire to learn.

Fast-forward to 2017 when Co-opportunities, Incorporated was founded and the dream of a Folk School was begun. A lot has happened in a short period of time.

In addition to offering classes and workshops through the “Bee Tree Folk School”, Co-Opportunities, Inc. received nine amazing collections of artifacts from the estate of Roderick Emerson Simpson which led to the search for an appropriate home for these artifacts.

Historic Pythian Castle

The search for a home led to a long term lease of the historic Pythian Castle located at 30 East Idaho, in Weiser, Idaho’ which will serve as our main office, museum space for the Simpson-Vassar Collections.

In addition the Castle also houses our “teaching kitchen” for the Bee Tree Filk School which serves the needs of the community for cooking, baking, and food preservation classes and workshops. We also offer the use of our large freeze dryer, with commercial oil-free pump for community members throughout the region.

The ground floor of the “Castle” was in need of major renovation and repair which we undertook beginning in August of 2018. After renovations were complete and artifacts were being put on display, it became obvious that we needed more space to serve our mission.

We now have two ADA restrooms, offices, and display space built and are in the process of final trim work and painting.

We purchased another historic structure, two buildings west of the Pythian Castle, which we call “The Bee Hive”. Our extensive library, another kitchen, musical instruments, lots of space for events and classes, and a community recording studio!