From The Desk of the Director . . .

You Are Here Because You Are a Friend

On Seminars, Purpose, and the Slow Joy of Northern Wisconsin

Let us begin by acknowledging the quietly remarkable fact that you—dear reader, curious learner, or semi-committed inbox-scanner—are most likely a Friend of Björklunden. Which, in plain terms, means you have given your time, or your money, or possibly (and heroically) both, in service to Lawrence University’s beloved North Campus on the shores of Lake Michigan. You have supported a place that is vast and verdant, real and rooted, and earnestly human. And in this age of hungry algorithms and psychic overstimulation, that is no small thing.¹

If you have not yet become either of these—a Björklunden volunteer and/or donor—we offer you a warm welcome to get to know us and invite you to enjoy the stories of the Friends of Björklunden newsletter lovingly crafted by our volunteers. We also invite you to deepen your involvement and become a Friend whenever and however it makes sense for you. Thank you for your interest.

Now, as spring gently escorts winter off the peninsula, we find ourselves at the cusp of what might be termed the “Registration Encouragement Phase” of the 2025–26 Björklunden Seminar Season. This is the moment where we gently, lovingly, with a minimum of capital letters and maximum sincerity, nudge you to do two things:

1. Sign up for a seminar if you haven’t.

     2. If you already have, tell someone else. 

Maybe someone who doesn't yet know that vacationing with a purpose is a thing. Maybe someone who thinks “lifelong learning” is a tagline and not a lifestyle. Maybe someone who could use a week where the internet is optional and you can go forest bathing or learn the unseen secrets of these majestic woods.²

This year’s seminar lineup—running from June through October—has dozens of opportunities to dive into topics across the liberal arts spectrum and beyond. There are courses on linguistics and ecology. On true crime and poetry. On computational thinking, the music of counterculture, and politics. There’s painting, chemistry, listening like a radio host, and history.

In short: if you have a brain and a heart, there’s something here to inspire you.

And what is Björklunden, really, if not a beautiful spot that serves as a gentle corrective to the cultural condition of always doing and never being? Of scrolling instead of reading, of multitasking instead of paying attention. Here, time dilates, conversations deepen, friendships blossom, and spirit renews. You may end up wondering along the water with someone you just met and discover they once played bassoon and also read the same obscure essay on the philosophy of walking that you love.

So. If you have not already done so: visit lawrence.edu/bjorkseminars. Fish around. Make a plan. Invite someone. Hook your week. Pack a journal. Prepare to reencounter your own curiosity.

Because to be a Friend of Björklunden is not just to donate. It is to engage. To show up. To say, in effect: this matters. This strange, wonderful fusion of nature and thought and community matters.

And here’s the real secret: the more people you share it with, the better it gets.

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  ¹ Seriously, thank you. Björklunden’s existence is sustained and stewarded by people like you.
  2 Check out weekly offerings like a hike offered by Jane Whitney on Björklunden’s geologic history, flora and fauna, or a tree-lined stroll with certified nature therapist Jane Burress to absorb the forest’s healing properties. Each of them also offerings a seminar for deeper exploration on these topics.