Björklunden Seminars
2021 Bjorklunden Seminars Announcement
It is most likely no surprise to anyone that COVID-19 continues to affect the Bjorklunden seminar program. Due to all of the uncertainty that still exists concerning when life will return to some normalcy, we are holding off on announcing the 2021 seminars. There are a number of classes already tentatively scheduled but until we know what we can safely offer we are going to hold off on making any announcements. The majority of the 2020 seminars will be available in 2021. We hope to be able to announce the lineup online in late winter or early spring. It is possible we might offer a couple of shorter Zoom classes this spring just to provide a reminder of the types of enriching learning opportunities that will be coming your way later in the year. Stay tuned for future announcements!
2020 Bjorklunden Seminars Announcement
We have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Björklunden Fall seminars through October 23.
This has not been an easy decision, but it was the best one for our community given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We so love welcoming each of you to our beautiful Björklunden and will miss seeing you, but the safety and health of you, our seminar participants, as well as seminar leaders, Björklunden staff and student workers is our chief concern.
We hope that everyone is staying healthy, safe, and optimistic during these trying times - and appreciate your patience and understanding about this year's seminar program. As always, we look forward to seeing you at Björklunden as soon as that becomes possible.
Our deepest thanks,
Mark Breseman '78
Executive Director
Alex Baldschun
Assistant Director
A Vacation with a Focus
Lawrence University's Northern Campus
Door County, Wisconsin
If you're in search of a unique adventure that combines relaxation with education, Björklunden has just what you're looking for. The Björklunden seminar program provides an opportunity for you to spend a week at the lodge attending an engaging and thought-provoking class in the mornings while giving you ample time to explore beautiful Door County in the afternoons. We like to call it a "vacation with a focus"—and hope you'll consider joining us this summer or fall to experience it for yourself!
Registration is now open for summer seminars! Unless otherwise noted on this web page, registration for seminars remains open until the day before each seminar begins. The seminars are conducted at the pristine 441-acre Björklunden estate on the shore of Lake Michigan outside Baileys Harbor in Door County.
Participants can attend seminars either as residents, staying at the distinctly Scandinavian Björklunden lodge, or as commuters. All seminars include meals prepared by Björklunden's own resident chef and each seminar begins with Sunday evening dinner. Classes meet weekday mornings and some evenings with remaining free time available to explore Door County's many cultural and recreational opportunities or for simple relaxation at Björklunden's mile-long, Lake Michigan shoreline and wooded walking trails.
Seminar Registration
Seminar participants choose only one seminar for each week of attendance. Class sizes are limited. Early registration will help ensure participants get into the seminar they prefer.
Click on the title of each seminar for additional information and to register online! Alumni with login information may login to register. If you do not have login information, click Register Now.
Seminar Listing by Date
June 14 to June 19
- Listen to the Birds / Don Quintenz
- Wildlife Photography: Turning Passion into Productivity / John Van Den Brandt
June 21 to June 26
- Two Irishmen, Two Novels, Two Portraits / Robert Spoo '79
July 5 to July 11
- Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camp / Bob DeRosa
July 12 to July 17
- Give My Regards to Broadway - The American Musical / Dale Duesing '67
- The Great Patriotic War: World War II Through Soviet Eyes / Victoria Kononova
July 17 to July 19
- Family Weekend/Grandparent-Grandchild Weekend / David Stokes
July 19 to July 24
- African America in Slavery and Freedom: How our Racial Past Informs our Present / Susan Pappas '69
- African America in Slavery and Freedom: How our Racial Past Informs our Present / Joe Patterson '69
- African America in Slavery and Freedom: How our Racial Past Informs our Present / Jerald Podair
- Poignant, Prosaic, and Possibly Pointless: The Stories of Anton Chekhov / Peter Thomas
- Richard M. Nixon: The Triumph and Tragedy of an American Politician / Tim Crain
July 26 to July 31
- Stitches in Time: The Genius of Medieval Embroideries and Tapestries / Jane Tibbetts Schulenburg '65
- The Stars: Mansions Built by Nature’s Hand / Megan Pickett
- Water Cycle: A Journey Around the Science and Policy of Earth’s Most Precious Resource / Peter Levi '01 and Titus Seilheimer '00
August 2 to August 7
- The 2020 Verdict / Terry Moran '82
- The American Civil War in Historical Perspective / James Cornelius '81
August 9 to August 14
- Is Belief in God Rational? / Terry Goode
- The Fall of Rome: From Caesar to King and From Jupiter to Jesus in 500 Years / Nikolas Hoel '99
August 16 to August 22
- Creative Photography / Philip Krejcarek
- Family Ties - The Case of King David / Bill Urbrock
- Watercolor: The Expressive Medium / Helen Klebesadel
August 30 to September 4
- Flirting with Disaster: Turning Personal Obsession into Memoir / David McGlynn
- The Original Book Club: Literary Legacies of Medieval Women / Catherine Keene and Danielle Joyner
- What Happens Next?: The Importance of the Strong Storyline in Classic Hollywood Films / Jack Rhodes
September 13 to September 18
- Which Way to the White House? Presidential Campaign Parades from 1896 to 2020 / Charlie Schudson and Steve Bruemmer
- Wildflowers, Birds, and Mushrooms / Don Quintenz
- Wildflowers, Birds, and Mushrooms / Charlotte Lukes
- Writing Poetry in Forms / Marilyn L. Taylor
September 27 to October 2
- A Brief History of Creatures that Rule the Earth (Hint: They’re not humans) / David Hines '76
- Anatomy of a Murder Trial / Steve Licata '75
- Hollywood Votes: Images from the World of Politics in Films of the Classic Era / Jack Rhodes
October 4 to October 9
- SPQR: The Senate and the Roman People / Daniel Taylor '63
- The 2020 Elections: What Next for American Foreign Policy? / Christopher Murray '75
- Watercolor: A Fresh Start / Helen Klebesadel
October 11 to October 16
- The Weimar Republic: Grandeur and Disaster / Jon Greenwald
October 18 to October 23
- World Religions in the Contemporary World / Brian Smith
Seminar Listing by Instructor
Bill Urbrock
Bob DeRosa
Brian Smith
Catherine Keene and Danielle Joyner
Charlie Schudson and Steve Bruemmer
Charlotte Lukes
Christopher Murray '75
Dale Duesing '67
Daniel Taylor '63
David Stokes
Don Quintenz
Helen Klebesadel
Jack Rhodes
James Cornelius '81
Jane Tibbetts Schulenburg '65
John Van Den Brandt
Jon Greenwald
Marilyn L. Taylor
Megan Pickett
Peter Levi '01 and Titus Seilheimer '00
Philip Krejcarek
Robert Spoo '79
Steve Licata '75
Terry Goode
Terry Moran '82
Victoria Kononova
Seminar Listing by Topic
Art & Art History
- Watercolor: A Fresh Start / Helen Klebesadel
- Watercolor: The Expressive Medium / Helen Klebesadel
Earth Science
- Water Cycle: A Journey Around the Science and Policy of Earth’s Most Precious Resource / Peter Levi '01 and Titus Seilheimer '00
Family
- Family Weekend/Grandparent-Grandchild Weekend / David Stokes
History
- A Brief History of Creatures that Rule the Earth (Hint: They’re not humans) / David Hines '76
- African America in Slavery and Freedom: How our Racial Past Informs our Present / Susan Pappas '69, Joe Patterson '69, Jerald Podair
- Family Ties - The Case of King David / Bill Urbrock
- SPQR: The Senate and the Roman People / Daniel Taylor '63
- Stitches in Time: The Genius of Medieval Embroideries and Tapestries / Jane Tibbetts Schulenburg '65
- The American Civil War in Historical Perspective / James Cornelius '81
- The Fall of Rome: From Caesar to King and From Jupiter to Jesus in 500 Years / Nikolas Hoel '99
- The Original Book Club: Literary Legacies of Medieval Women / Catherine Keene and Danielle Joyner
- World Religions in the Contemporary World / Brian Smith
Jazz
- Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camp / Bob DeRosa
Law & Politics
- Anatomy of a Murder Trial / Steve Licata '75
- The 2020 Elections: What Next for American Foreign Policy? / Christopher Murray '75
- The 2020 Verdict / Terry Moran '82
- Which Way to the White House? Presidential Campaign Parades from 1896 to 2020 / Charlie Schudson and Steve Bruemmer
Literature
- The Great Patriotic War: World War II Through Soviet Eyes / Victoria Kononova
- The Original Book Club: Literary Legacies of Medieval Women / Catherine Keene and Danielle Joyner
- Two Irishmen, Two Novels, Two Portraits / Robert Spoo '79
Music
- Give My Regards to Broadway - The American Musical / Dale Duesing '67
Nature & Earth
- Listen to the Birds / Don Quintenz
- Wildflowers, Birds, and Mushrooms / Don Quintenz, Charlotte Lukes
Philosophy & Theology
- Is Belief in God Rational? / Terry Goode
Photography
- Creative Photography / Philip Krejcarek
- Wildlife Photography: Turning Passion into Productivity / John Van Den Brandt
Poetry & Writing
- Writing Poetry in Forms / Marilyn L. Taylor
Politics & History
- Poignant, Prosaic, and Possibly Pointless: The Stories of Anton Chekhov / Peter Thomas
- Richard M. Nixon: The Triumph and Tragedy of an American Politician / Tim Crain
- The Weimar Republic: Grandeur and Disaster / Jon Greenwald
Religion
- Family Ties - The Case of King David / Bill Urbrock
- World Religions in the Contemporary World / Brian Smith
Science
- A Brief History of Creatures that Rule the Earth (Hint: They’re not humans) / David Hines '76
- The Stars: Mansions Built by Nature’s Hand / Megan Pickett
Television & Film
Writing and Literature
- Flirting with Disaster: Turning Personal Obsession into Memoir / David McGlynn