Sunday, January 12 | 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Björklunden
Björklunden and the Conservatory are pleased to invite you to an afternoon of outstanding music with Lawrence University Professor Ann Ellsworth and her Brass studio students in Vail Hall.
Category: Björklunden
Björklunden applications open for Winter and Spring Terms
Each weekend during the academic year, groups gather at Björklunden to explore and reflect on ideas, artistic expressions, and community issues. Topics are wide-ranging, and students have the opportunity for intensive inquiry and discussion with faculty members and among themselves in an informal, intimate setting.
The application window to spend a weekend at Björklunden during Winter & Spring Terms is open October 3-31.
Björklunden summer student positions open!
To apply, email a resume and short statement of interest to Kim Eckstein (kim.a.eckstein@lawrence.edu).
Each summer, Lawrence offers a program of seminars at Björklunden that brings alumni and the general public to the lodge for lifelong learning opportunities, and students are employed to assist with this program.
Student summer workers at Björklunden have the opportunity to work in an intellectually and naturally stimulating environment. Students learn and apply new skills and develop more fully skills that they bring to the position while enjoying summer at the beautiful Björklunden lodge with room and board included.
- Duties: Summer staff assists in all aspects of operation at Björklunden, incuding housekeeping, bussing tables, and assisting with facilities, grounds, and maintenance.
- Hours: Students work 40 hours per week for an hourly rate of $11.
- Students should be able to report to work by noon Sunday, June 9 and stay through Saturday, August 31. There may be opportunities to arrive early or work beyond August 31.
- Accommodations and meals are provided.
Summer Learning at Björklunden
We hope you’ll join us for one (or more!) of our Björklunden seminars. Lawrence faculty, staff, and students receive a half-price discount on all Björklunden seminars!
View the full lineup on the Lawrence website.
Zoom Seminars
Is Evil really Banal? Hannah Arendt and the Question of Genocide
Date(s): (ONLINE) Thursdays, April 4 – May 2, 2-3:30 pm
Instructor(s): Paul Cohen
Description: The current war in the Middle East has raised anew the urgent question of genocide. But what does the word “genocide” mean? When did it first appear, historically? This seminar will address these questions through a close reading of Hannah Arendt’s brilliant and controversial book, Eichmann in Jerusalem.
The Birth of Fascism
Date(s): (ONLINE) Thursdays, May 9 – June 6, 2-3:30 pm
Instructor: Paul Cohen
Description: There has been a lot of talk about fascism recently, but there is little clarity about what fascism actually means and where it came from historically. This seminar will explore fascism’s historical origins in Mussolini’s Italy and Hitler’s Germany.
Is Civilization Good for Us: Nietzsche, Freud, and their Discontents
Date(s): (ONLINE) Thursdays, July 18 – Aug.15, 2-3:30 pm
Instructor: Paul Cohen
Description: This seminar will focus on how two of the greatest thinkers of the modern age, Friedrich Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud, addressed the question of what constitutes a ‘civilized’ or ‘civil’ society.
In-Person Seminars
Democracy Book Club
Date(s): June 9 – 14
Instructor(s): Bronwyn Mauldin
Description: Over five days we will read and discuss five key works of literature, engaging in deep discussions exploring what we can learn from them to improve civic participation in the life of our communities today.
Forests through Time
Date(s): June 9 – 14
Instructor(s): Relena Ribbons
Description: Together, we will learn about the history of the forests at Bjorklunden (including where all those birch trees are!), and how these forests have changed over recent human time scales.
The Mindful Brain
Date(s): June 16-21
Instructor(s): Lori M. Hilt, PhD (’97)
Description: This seminar will explore how mindfulness has been secularized and utilized in such settings as schools, workplaces, hospitals, as well as in daily life. Additionally, we will explore neuroscience research on how mindfulness changes the brain. *Limited housing available in the lodge. Please contact us at bjorkseminars@lawrence.edu or 920-839-2216 to inquire about resident options. Commuter and auditor still available.
Chemistry of Art
Date(s): June 23-28
Instructor(s): Allison Fleshman
Description: In this seminar, we will explore the fascinating chemistry of paintings, learn the chemical reasons dyes bond to textiles, reflect on the importance of light in the experience of art, and explore the chemistry of glass and stained glass.
*$15 materials fee
Relief Printing: Creation and Repetition
Date(s): June 23-28
Instructor(s): Brady Nichols (’92)
Description: This seminar allows participants to discover and dive into the art of relief printing, utilizing the beauty of Bjorklunden while investigating their imaginations.
Energy, Technology and the Environment
Date(s): June 23-28
Instructor(s): Graham Sazama
Description: This seminar examines the fundamental chemistry and physics behind conventional and emerging energy technologies, with a hands-on component to further explore their design and function.
Russia and Ukraine: From Partners to Enemies
Date(s): July 14-19
Instructor(s): Tim Crain
Description: The seminar will explore the historic relationship between Russia and Ukraine, the future of the two countries engaged in conflict, and why the area is of such vital interest to the EU, NATO, and the United States.
Shakespeare in Love: Romeo and Juliet, 1594-2024
Date(s): July 14-19
Instructor(s): Garth Bond
Description: In conjunction with the Door Shakespeare production of Romeo and Juliet, this seminar will explore Shakespeare’s iconic depiction of tragic love, a story that has become synonymous with modern conceptions of romantic love around the world.
This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land: How Maps Shape the World
Date(s): July 14-19
Instructor(s): Arnold F. Shober
Description: We often think about maps as representing some tangible reality — but what if maps actually create it? We’ll start by looking at the difference between “location” and “place,” and how maps are a political tool as much as an aid to hiking Door County.
From Sutton Hoo to Bayeux: Anglo-Saxon England in 10 Amazing Works
Date(s): July 14-19
Instructor(s): Danielle Joyner, Katie Keene
Description: This class explores the medieval worlds of Anglo-Saxon England (c. 600-1066) by focusing on extraordinary works of art and cultural monuments. Course held in Bjorklunden’s studio.
Hitler’s War: The Battle for Democracy, 1939-1945
Date(s): July 21-26
Instructor(s): Jerald Podair, Jon Greenwald
Description: On September 1, 1939, emboldened by an alliance of convenience with the Soviet Union and contemptuous of the resolve of Western democracies, Adolf Hitler ordered his troops to invade Poland — thus began the Second World War.
Water Cycle: A journey around the science and policy of Earth’s most precious molecule
Date(s): July 21-26
Instructor(s): Peter S. Levi (‘01), Titus Seilheimer (‘00)
Description: In our seminar, we will explore the science and policy of this mighty molecule and how water availability, conservation, policy, and perception varies across communities, states, and countries.
Fact or Fiction: Images of Schools and Adolescents in Hollywood Films
Date(s): July 21-26
Instructor(s): Stewart Purkey
Description: In this course we’ll watch and talk about contemporary movies, exploring the various ways in which a range of modern Hollywood films (and the occasional foreign film) have influenced, even shaped, Americans’ perceptions of schools, the kids who attend them, and the teachers who work in them.
Resident and Commuter options are no longer available for this week; Auditor options only. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please call 920-839-2216.
The Campaign Nobody Wanted
Date(s): July 28 – Aug. 2
Instructor(s): Terry Moran (’82)
Description: As of this writing, the 2024 presidential election looks to be a rerun of 2020. Biden v Trump. And polls show most Americans react the same way to this choice: Ugh.
A Tour of the History of Russian Film
Date(s): July 28 – August 2
Instructor(s): Peter Thomas
Description: We will spend the week watching and discussing some of the best films made in the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and the post-Soviet sphere.
The Door Four: Theater Seminar
Date(s): July 28 – Aug. 2
Instructor(s): Dan Klarer
Description: An exploration of Door County theaters with local theater artist Dan Klarer. Seminar participants will take trips to four local theaters to watch and then discuss the shows.
Resident and Commuter options are no longer available for this week; Auditor options only. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please call 920-839-2216.
The Palestinians, Israelis, and the United States: Past, Present and Future
Date(s): Aug. 4-9
Instructor(s): Tim Crain
Description: The seminar will review the historic conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, as well as how the United States became involved in the dispute, and the future prospects for peace.
Pragmatism: America’s First (and Only!) Philosophy
Date(s): Aug. 4-9
Instructor(s): Terry Goode
Description: We will explore pragmatisms roots in 17th and 18th century European philosophy, and examine the basic theories of pragmatism, explaining how it answers in new and important ways the primary questions of philosophy in epistemology, ontology, logic, ethics and aesthetics.
A Sky Full of Planets: Exploring the Night Sky and Our Solar System
Date(s): Aug. 4-9
Instructor(s): Megan Pickett
Description: In this course we will explore the history of our exploration of the night, particularly our home in the cosmos: our own solar system. You’ll learn about the discoveries of the latest missions, our plans for the future, and the nature of the more than 10,000 other solar systems now known to exist.
Where do we come from? Where do we go? And Everything in Between: Mythology Across Time and Across the Universe
Date(s): Aug. 11-16
Instructor(s): Nikolas O. Hoel (‘99)
Description: Across the planet, people came up with stories to help them explain earthly phenomena, including, and perhaps, most importantly death. This seminar will be an opportunity to explore mythology as it has existed in many places and amongst many individuals.
Watercolor: The Expressive Medium
Date(s): Aug. 11-17
Instructor(s): Helen Klebesadel
Description: Participants will be a part of a creative community that invites them to experiment with a wide range of traditional and non-traditional watercolor techniques and learn to create strong individualized artistic statements.
*Seminar is currently full, waitlist only. To be added to the waitlist, call 920-839-2216 or email bjorkseminars@lawrence.edu.
Be Present in Nature and Discover What Nature Has to Present You
Date(s): Aug. 25-30
Instructor(s): Jane Burress
Description: Leave the busy world behind and spend each morning immersed in nature. Join Burress, a certified forest and nature guide, for forest bathing sessions. Each session ends with local refreshments and conversation. By connecting with our senses, our imagination is awakened.
Fun with Fungi: Wild Mushrooms and their Relatives
Date(s): Aug. 25-30
Instructor(s): Charlotte Lukes
Description: This week we will learn mainly about the many types of wild mushrooms in the county. Several PowerPoint color slide programs will be presented about the variety of mushrooms as well as ferns, lichens, mosses, clubmosses and liverworts.
Faith Builds a Chapel: The Legacy of Winifred C. Boynton
Date(s): Aug. 25-30
Instructor(s): Marjorie Graham
Description: The Norwegian “stavkirke” chapel is the icon of Björklunden, and sits like a jewel at the edge of the forest, facing the shore of Lake Michigan. This seminar will provide an in-depth study of the chapel’s creation, carvings and murals, as well as the Viking myths, Biblical passages and personal stories behind them.
A Conversation: The Cultural and Economic Impact of the Arts for Door County
Tuesday, April 30 | 6:30-8 p.m.
Door County Economic Development Corporation | 185 E Walnut St | Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
Meet members of the Peninsula Arts & Humanities Alliance (PAHA) for a round table conversation moderated by Julie Gilbert, President and CEO of Destination Door County. This is a rare opportunity for community members to listen to leaders of our arts organizations share the specifics of the recent report on “The Economic Impact of the Arts for Door County” in 2023. The panel will share, in conversation, the cultural and economic importance of the arts in our lives.
Panel members are:
- Mona Christensen, Executive Director, Birch Creek Music Performance Center
- Al DeGenova, Executive Director, Write On, Door County
- Adam Erickson, Executive Director, Peninsula School of Art
- Allyson Fleck, Executive Director, Assistant Artistic Director, Midsummer’s Music Ltd
- Julie Gilbert, President and CEO, Destination Door County
- Brian Kelsey, Managing Director, Peninsula Players Theater
- Thomas W. McKenzie, Director of Björklunden.
This discussion is free and open to everyone. Light refreshments will be served.
Applications open for Fall Term weekends at Björklunden
Björklunden applications are open through April 26 for Fall Term.
The weekends provide a distinctive and highly memorable integrative experience. Each weekend during the academic year, groups gather to explore and reflect on ideas, artistic expressions, and community issues. Topics are wide-ranging, and students have the opportunity for intensive inquiry and discussion with faculty members and among themselves in an informal, intimate setting.
LU Alternative Spring Break at Björklunden
You can now sign up for the Alternative Spring Break to Björklunden, March 18-22!
We will depart from Lawrence’s campus on Monday, March 18 at 9:30 a.m. We will return to Lawrence on Friday, March 22 by 12 p.m.
The deadline to sign up and pay is March 1, 2024, but space is limited, and priority will be given to students that first sign up and pay their deposit (payment information and instructions below).
If you are interested in attending but the fee would present a barrier, or paying the fee before March 1 presents a challenge, please contact Second Year Dean Juan Arguello at juan.arguello@lawrence.edu.
What will you do during the alternative spring break?
We have a week full of stewardship and sustainability service projects to give back while also learning and feeling connected to the great outdoors! While you will have plenty of time and opportunities for fun and relaxation, both at Björklunden and in neighboring towns, this alternative spring break focuses on service to help preserve the natural beauty of Door County and make it better than when we arrived!
Below is a list of some of the activities that you we have planned:
- Kick-off event with Door County’s Poet Laureates Tom Davis and Ethel Mortenson.
- Explore the Björklunden grounds with guided tours to learn more about all of the unique trails, sustainability projects, and hidden gems!
- Support the design and creation of a new trail at Björklunden!
- Optional evening events including bonfires, game nights, crafts, and other theme nights.
- Visit a Wisconsin state park or nature preserve to take in the natural beauty while working on land stewardship projects.
- Experience unparalleled star gazing at a dark sky park (weather permitting).
- Enjoy a group outing to the beautiful village of Sister Bay for an evening of food and fun!
Payment instructions
Once you sign up, go to Voyager to pay your $75 deposit. Fee waivers are available (If you need a fee waiver, please contact Juan Arguello juan.arguello@lawrence.edu). The deposit is non-refundable and will be used to pay for the costs of the trip. Please see below for more information about how to pay the deposit.
- Go to Voyager
- Select Student Services
- Select Student Account.
- From there the “button” for paying the deposit is located in your overview page (circled in the image below).
- Click the button and follow the prompts to make the payment.
- Follow the prompts provided to make and complete the payment.
Apply to be a Björklunden Student Weekend Assistant
Looking for a job this school year? Consider working at beautiful Björklunden!
Weekend staff generally work between 14-16 hours per weekend.
Tasks include:
- Assisting with onsite aspects of the LU Student Weekend Programs
- Preparing and serving food
- Washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen
- Performing housekeeping tasks (e.g. vacuuming, mopping, cleaning restrooms)
- Performing other duties as assigned
Perks:
- Your own room in a big house on the lake
- Nature all around
- Good food
- Downtime between shifts for homework, napping, hiking, and visiting
Qualifications:
- Must understand and appreciate the value of a liberal arts education
- Knowledge of housekeeping and food preparation duties and standards helpful, but not necessary
- Experience in food service industry helpful, but not necessary
- Must stay on-site at Björklunden in housing provided by Lawrence University
- Must travel to and from Björklunden via transportation provided by Lawrence University.
Skills acquired
In this position, student employees learn to:
- Work with others
- Follow directions
- Be flexible
- Have a basic knowledge of food preparation and the food industry
Apply in Handshake or email Kim Eckstein at kim.a.eckstein@lawrence.edu. We’d love to have you join the team!
Guided hikes at Björklunden
Join us for guided hikes at Björklunden led by Master Naturalist Jane Whitney!
You can meet on the Björklunden Lodge lakeview deck on the following dates at 1:15 p.m.
- June 26
- July 17
- July 24
- July 31
- August 7
- August 14
- August 28
- September 11
- September 18
- September 15
The 1.5 hour hike covers the geology, plants, and birds of the property and includes a walk to the solar field and wind turbine, key features in the Net Zero Björklunden Initiative. The trail is easy with a couple of moderate inclines and is about 1 mile long.
These tours get you acquainted with the property so you will feel comfortable taking your own hikes. Hikers can obtain trail maps inside the entryways to the lodge.
Beginning in September, Jane will also include a tour of the Boynton Chapel at the end of the hike. Prior to that time, Boynton Chapel is open to the public on Mondays & Tuesdays 1-4 p.m.
Festival of Nature with Björklunden
The Festival of Nature continues as Björklunden. Come hike Björklunden’s trails and experience the Boynton Chapel with Jane Whitney.
- Friday, June 9 | 9-11:30 a.m.
- Friday, June 16 | 9-11:30 a.m.
A mile of shoreline, ancient ledges, coniferous forest, a stave church—Björklunden has it all! We’ll hike along the water’s edge, explore the ledge formed 4,500 years ago by Lake Nippising, visit a wind turbine, and finish with a 30-minute tour of Boynton Chapel, a stave church built right on the property.
Suitable for ages 16+.
