Bjorklunden Seminars: Stimulating the Mind While Pampering the Body

BAILEYS HARBOR, WIS. -- Shelly Underhill says a trip to Door County's Bjorklunden had been on her "things-to-do list" for so long it almost had become a permanent fixture.

But Underhill and the rest of her Elm Grove family -- husband Roy, daughter Elyse and son Wyatt -- were finally able to scratch that item off their list last summer when they trekked to Wisconsin's "thumb" and participated in Bjorklunden's "family week" seminar. Like many other first-time visitors, the Underhills quickly fell under the spell of Bjorklunden's many charms and already have made plans for a return visit this summer.

"We had talked about going to Bjorklunden for years, but we didn't want to leave the kids behind," said Shelly Underhill. "The family week seminar was a perfect opportunity for all of us to spend the week together. They actually had two different courses within that seminar, so the boys went to the claymation one and my daughter and I took the nature course. It was a great, care-free week. You could learn something in a very fun and relaxed atmosphere."

Family Week, which features equal dollops of story-telling, song singing and hands-on nature experiences, all culminating in a "Big Nature Show" presentation at the end of the week by the seminar participants, is but one of 23 week-long non-credit seminars scheduled this year at Bjorklunden, a 425-acre estate on the shore of Lake Michigan just south of Baileys Harbor. The estate is owned and maintained by Lawrence University in Appleton, which sponsors the annual summer program. This summer's seminar schedule begins June 3.

For the Underhills, Bjorklunden proved to be the best of both worlds.

"It's like a resort in the sense everything is taken care of for you," said Shelly Underhill. "You have the educational aspects and the mental stimulation, but you can also set your own pace. There's so much natural beauty at Bjorklunden, it's very easy to get away and just be by yourself. There's lots of interesting people to meet, but if you want to, you can take a five-minute walk and be totally alone, too."

Taught by an outstanding array of qualified instructors, the Bjorklunden seminars feature an eclectic mix of classes that run the gamut from the origins of American democracy and Far Eastern religions to the American Civil War and watercolor painting.

"We like to think of the Bjorklunden seminars as a 'vacation with a focus,'" explains Mark Breseman, director of Bjorklunden. "We offer opportunities for people who are interested in life-long learning in a relaxed and naturally beautiful setting. Our goal is to stimulate the mind while pampering the body."

New this year is a special course designed specifically for children of seminar particpants. "The Magic of Theatre - Children's Workshop" will be held the week of July 8-13 in conjunction with two adult seminars. Taught by Liz Thomas, the director of the Open Door Children's Theatre, the course will combine creative writing, games, mime and improvisation to create an original theatre piece based on popular children's book.

Lawrence University has conducted a summer seminar series at Bjorklunden Vid Sjon -- Norwegian for "Birch Forest by the Water" -- since 1980. During the week, seminar participants reside in a modern 17,000-square foot "lodge" that retains the estates's distinct Norwegian heritage. Seminar participants can also can attend as commuters if they prefer not to stay at the lodge.

Seminar classes usually meet each weekday morning and some evenings, with remaining free time open to exploration of Door County's many cultural and recreational opportunities or simple relaxation at Bjorklunden's meadows, woods and mile-long, unspoiled Lake Michigan shoreline. All seminars include meals prepared by Bjorklunden's own resident chef.

For complete course descriptions, fees and registration dates, call 920/839-2216 or write: Bjorklunden Seminars, P.O. Box 10, Baileys Harbor, WI 54202 or send email to mark.d.breseman@lawrence.edu.

2001 BJORKLUNDEN DATES/SEMINARS

June 3-9
American Origins
Robert Berner, professor emeritus of English, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

June 10-15
Birds of Door County From Shore to Shore
Roy and Charlotte Lukes, naturalists, explorers and educators

Outdoor Drawing, Discovering a Sense of Place
Arthur Thrall, professor emeritus of art, Lawrence University

June 17-23
Faith Builds an Opera
Dale Duesing, Grammy Award-winning lyric baritone

June 24-29
The Making of Medieval Illuminated Initials
Michael Orr, associate professor of art history, Lawrence University

The American Civil War: What Might Have Been
Jerald E. Podair, assistant professor of history, Lawrence University

July 8-13
Popular Music 1960-1990: Mirrors of Our Times
Steve Landfried, educator and radio talk show host

Woods in the Morning, Wine in the Afternoon
Nicholas Maravolo, professor of biology, Lawrence University

The Magic of Theatre-Children's Workshop
(a special offering for children of seminar participants)
Liz Thomas, educator

July 15-20
Nature on Stage (Family/Grandchild-Grandparent Week)
David Stokes and Frederick Luft, educators and naturalists

July 29-August 4
Watercolor: The Expressive Medium
Helen R. Klebesadel, independent artist and the director of the Women's Studies Consortium of the University of Wisconsin System

Rocks of the Earth's Crust
Allan Schneider, professor emeritus of geology, University of Wisconsin-Parkside

August 5-11
Great Thinkers of Far Eastern Religions
Dirck Vorenkamp, assistant professor of religious studies, Lawrence University

Picturing the Peninsula: An Introduction to the Art, Artists and Galleries of Door County (Split Week)
James Auer, art critic at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

August 12-18
Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camp
Fred Sturm and Jim Doser, Eastman School of Music

August 19-24
The Meaning of Miracles
Jay Brickman, rabbi emeritus, Congregation Sinai, Milwaukee

Russian Culture Through Music
Rebecca Epstein Matveyev, assistant professor of Russian, Lawrence University

August 26-31
Aesop's Fables
Daniel J. Taylor, Hiram A. Jones Professor of Classics, Lawrence University

The Global Environment
Jeff Clark, assistant professor of geology, Lawrence University and Claudena Skran, associate professor of government, Lawrence University

September 16-21 (Elderhostel)
Art in Door County
David Wagner, wildlife art historian

September 23-28 (Elderhostel)
Nature Connections
David Stokes, naturalist, educator and entertainer

September 30-October 5
Play Better Bridge
Norma Hammerberg, American Contract Bridge League-certified instructor

Reflections on Theatre
Joe Hopfensperger, professor emeritus of theatre and drama, Lawrence University

October 7-12
The Fall Wonders of Door County
Don Quintez, director of education/land management, Schlitz Audubon Center, Milwaukee

Comparative Mythology of Northern Europe
Douglas "Dag" Rossman, storyteller and author

October 21-26 (Elderhostel)
Natural Wonders of Door County
Paul Regnier, administrator/chief naturalist, The Ridges Sanctuary, Baileys Harbor

December 7-9
Weekend Seminar
Snowshoe Weaving
Mark Breseman, director of Bjorklunden