If you are looking for ongoing opportunities for personal enrichment and intellectual growth, you’ll find them here.  Lawrence’s alumni-focused experiences encompass everything from Björklunden seminars, webinars, international travel, and much more.

At Lawrence, our professors challenge students to think--and live--beyond their comfort zones, and they continue to provide opportunities for Lawrentians to grow, even after graduation.  Alumni regularly choose to participate in experiences that spark their sense of wanderlust, like this recent trip to Ghana coordinated by Professor Claudena Skran.

If you're looking for experiences closer to home, Björklunden seminars continue to promote liberal arts thinking in an environment that has given countless students and guests the chance to root into a more natural environment while letting their thoughts grow in myriad ways.

Plus, after over a year of curating online content designed specifically for Lawrentians during the COVID-19 pandemic, we've built a library of talks that are sure to inspire you.  With these resources, college is always in session.  

A Lawrence alumni group pose for a photo at St. Andrews in Northern Scotland.

From Northern Scotland to Paris and beyond: Lawrence’s alumni trips span the globe

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This year, we're again offering opportunities for alumni and friends to explore the globe with us.  Read on to learn about the trips that we've planned.

 

Exploring South Africa, Victoria Falls & Botswana alumni trip

Exploring South Africa, Victoria Falls & Botswana

July 26 – August 9, 2024

Get ready for an unparalleled journey through the cultural diversity and abundant wildlife of southern Africa. Seek out the “Big 5” on 8 different safaris. Get a taste of South African culture at local wineries. Witness the natural beauty of Victoria Falls and learn about its people during a township visit and home-hosted lunch. Greet African elephants and spend time learning about them. Search for animals along the winding Chobe River. Epic scenery and winding coastlines come together in an incredible adventure. For more information, visit this link.

 

Learn more about this trip by watching a recording of the zoom webinar.

Paris alumni trip

Parisian Odyssey

September 16-27, 2024

Paris is an evocative canvas where art, history, and gastronomy blend seamlessly through time's tapestry in the city of lights where destinies intertwine.

Discover Paris's esteemed Louvre and Orsay Museums, along with Opera Garnier and the whimsical world of the Musée des Arts Forains. Explore the living masterpiece chateaux and gardens in and around Paris and the vineyards of Champagne. Step back into history with a French revolutionary enigma and Paris's intriguing subterranean sewers. Along with the ancient thoroughfares and iconic neighborhoods of St Germain, the Latin Quarter, Montmartre, and the Marais, where each cobblestone tells tales of the past. Dine in classic French bistros restaurants and enjoy the best gastronomy France offers and excellent wines. Attend a culinary demo and hands-on cookery class at the prominent Le Cordon Bleu Paris Institute. Meet other Lawrence Alumni living in Paris and enjoy your free time exploring and shopping. For more information, visit this link.

Professor Eilene Hoft-March, a French literature and language scholar, will accompany the tour.

Now SOLD OUT – Please join the waitlist on the website.

Learn more about this trip by watching a recording of the zoom webinar.

 

Patagonia: Edge of the World

December 3-16, 2024

Snowcapped mountains towering in the distance. Vibrant teal waters lapping against the shore. Glaciers carving their way through the valleys. This is Patagonia – a rugged wonderland of nature nestled along Argentina and Chile. For more information, visit this link.

Learn more about this trip by watching a recording of the zoom webinar.

Alumni Trips Cotswolds

Enchanted Cotswolds: A Journey Through Time and Gardens

June 2-10, 2025

This tour invites travelers to immerse themselves in the timeless beauty and rich history of the Cotswolds. From the opulent gardens of Malverleys to the enchanting villages like Lacock and Castle Combe, each day unfolds a new chapter of discovery. Delight in visits to historic manor houses, such as Sudeley Castle, and renowned gardens like Hidcote Manor, crafted by the visionary Lawrence Johnston. This is a small group tour offering attendees the opportunity to get beyond the typical tour and see gardens on a more intimate level. This tour will be led by Kimberly Olson Peterson ‘82 who has spent years studying gardens in England. Click here for more information.

Register for the trip here.

Alumni Trip Sicily

Sicily & Its Islands

August 31-September 12, 2025

Explore Sicily – an island paradise nestled amongst the deep blue waves of the Mediterranean. Sample specialties in Palermo’s colorful food market. Taste award-winning olive oil and learn about the Slow Food movement at a local farm. Explore Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples (UNESCO) with a guide. Enjoy two nights on the Isle of Salina and visit a traditional caper farm. Spend three nights in Taormina, perched above the Ionian Sea. See Mount Etna from a different perspective on an off-road excursion. Discover how ancient traditions blend into modern society as you travel along Sicily and two of its beloved isles. For more information, visit this link.

Danielle B. Joyner, Associate Professor of Art History, will accompany the tour.

Alumni Trips Finland

The Northern Lights of Finland

March 19-30, 2026

Hunt for the elusive northern lights and discover fascinating Finland, “Daughter of the Baltic.” Come to know Finnish culture and history on a tour of Helsinki with a local expert. Savor the local cuisine in Helsinki’s restaurants. Experience rugged Lapland during a 3-night stay in the north of Finland. Overnight surrounded by wilderness in a glass igloo and a Finnish log cabin. Embark on a reindeer safari with a local herder. Mush your way to breakfast in a Finnish sleigh, and lead your own dog sled team. One dynamic experience follows another on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure through Finland. Registration information is coming soon.

Professor Claudena Skran, Edwin & Ruth West Professor of Economics and Social Science and Professor of Government, will accompany the tour.

Watch the Brighter Together! webinars

In 2022, President Carter delivered a series of webinars designed as conversations with key campus leaders and focused on our institutional priorities.  Recordings of these webinars are available on our YouTube channel.