�������ý��Ƶ’s northern campus, Björklunden vid Sjön, is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 annual awards, recognizing extraordinary service, stewardship, and creative achievement. The honorees will be celebrated during a special ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, as part of the inaugural Boynton Festival at Björklunden.

These awards represent the university’s highest recognition of individuals whose contributions have profoundly advanced the mission, character, and legacy of Björklunden.

The 2026 Richard Warch Outstanding Service to Björklunden Award will be presented to Barb and Fran Michaels. Named in honor of former �������ý��Ƶ President Richard Warch, the award recognizes individuals whose dedication, generosity, and sustained commitment have made a lasting impact on Björklunden. Through their stewardship of the grounds, support of the chapel, and vision for preserving and enhancing the beauty of �������ý��Ƶ’s northern campus, the Michaelses have helped strengthen and sustain some of Björklunden’s most cherished features for future generations.

The 2026 Winifred Boynton Creative Spirit Award will be presented to James T. Berkenstock. The award honors individuals whose creativity, artistic leadership, and commitment to cultural enrichment embody the spirit of Björklunden founder Winifred Boynton. Berkenstock is being recognized for decades of artistic excellence and visionary leadership in the arts. As the founding artistic director of Midsummer’s Music, he has played a transformative role in shaping the cultural landscape of Door County and expanding access to world-class chamber music throughout the region.

The Door County community and Friends of Björklunden are invited to attend the Boynton Festival and the awards celebration and reception, which will take place from 2–4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22, in Vail Hall at Björklunden vid Sjön.

For more information about the Boynton Festival and award celebration, visit lawrence.edu/articles/boynton-festival or contact bjorkseminar@lawrence.edu.

Join us for a one-of-a-kind day inspired by Björklunden’s renowned seminar experience—where curiosity leads and everyone has a place in the conversation. Events are free; lunch options available for a fee. Picnics welcome. BYO blanket or lawn chair for the concert.

The Boynton Festival celebrates what makes Björklunden extraordinary: a sanctuary built around ideas. Throughout the day, you’ll explore new subjects, connect with others, and enjoy music, art, food, and the natural beauty of Door County.

Hosted by the Friends of Björklunden, this immersive festival welcomes alumni, friends, families, and first-time visitors alike.

Choose your own adventure.

Join us for part of the day or stay for the full celebration. Please note that space in select sessions is limited, so register early.

Boynton Festival​: Schedule for the Day​

​

8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Registration & Directions  South Entry ​​

8:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m. Welcome, coffee & treats  Great Room deck 

9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.  Mini-Seminars  see details below​

12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Lunch  Chapel Lawn & in Great Room ​

12:00 p.m.-1:15 p.m. Music: The Water Street Hot Shots Chapel Lawn

1:15 p.m.-1:45 p.m. ​Chapel dedication  Boynton Chapel ​

2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Program and Awards  Vail Hall ​

1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Mini-Seminar: Hike  Great Room deck ​

2:00 pm Art Auction – bidding closes  South Foyer      ​

3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Celebration Toast & Cookies  Great Room ​

3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Art Auction pick-up 2nd floor ​ Multi-purpose room​

5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Door Shakespeare presents The Importance of Being Earnest Björklunden Garden 

Boynton Festival Mini-Seminar Schedule

9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.

The Science of Coffee with Alison Fleshman

Location: Björklunden Lodge, Lakeside Seminar Room

So how much science is in that perfect cup of morning joe? Join me as we explore how we get from bean to brew through water chemistry, grind size, and how roasting/steeping/temperature and your barista really do play a role in that wonderful final cup. So grab a cup of coffee and let’s dive into the science of that glorious morning elixir.  

PRESENTER BIO:  I am a physical chemist at �������ý��Ƶ who loves sharing my passion for physics, chemistry, and math with my students. I teach courses including Quantum Chemistry & Spectroscopy and Thermodynamics & Reaction Kinetics, and my research explores ion motion in ionic liquids to better understand and design materials for advanced batteries. I also study pigments in medieval manuscripts using non-destructive spectroscopy, bring that work into my Chemistry of Art course, and enjoy brewing beer, practicing yoga, and playing cello in my spare time.

9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.

Faith Builds a Chapel Revisited with Sue Pappas ’69

Location: Boynton Chapel.

Winifred Boynton’s stunningly illustrated book is subtitled “The Story of an Adventure in Craftsmanship” and it chronicles the origin, development and fulfillment of her vision for a personal chapel. She describes the nine years of learning, faith and labor involved, and serves as a detailed guide to her choices of religious imagery in the carvings and frescoes. This mini-seminar will introduce you to Winifred’s book and a deeper experience of her chapel.

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

An Ecological Adventure Through Björklunden’s Conservation Easement Lands with Drew Reinke, Jane Whitney, and Paige Witek 

This guided hike is offered with the Door County Land Trust. Sturdy shoes, a hat and long pants are recommended. Bring sunscreen, bug spray and water.

Location: Meet in Björklunden Lodge Great Room

Discover the natural beauty of Björklunden on a hike along the scenic shores of Lake Michigan. As we explore the wooded trails and shoreline of the �������ý��Ƶ campus, participants will learn about the area’s diverse forests, unique ecosystems, and fascinating geological history. The hike will also highlight how a conservation easement with the Door County Land Trust is helping protect the property’s natural character and ecological integrity for generations to come. Join us for an inspiring outdoor experience that blends conservation, exploration, and education to celebrate the enduring beauty of Door County.

HIKE GUIDE BIO: Drew is the Senior Conservation Easement Manager for the Door County Land Trust. Drew works with private landowners to acquire new conservation easement properties and steward existing properties. A Wisconsin native, Drew spent 7 years working in the Pacific Northwest, 5 years at the Inland Northwest Land Trust in Spokane, WA. He holds a Master of Natural Resources degree from the University of Idaho, a Natural Resource Management degree from UW-Stevens Point and a Master Fly Fishing Certification from his golden retriever friend.  

HIKE GUIDE BIO: Jane grew up on the coast of Massachusetts, went to college on the prairies of Iowa, raised a family and worked as a librarian among the Baraboo Bluffs, and became a self-taught naturalist on the shore of Lake Michigan. Jane has been providing Land Trust and Björklunden nature tours for many years.

HIKE GUIDE BIO:  Paige joined the Door County Land Trust as Community Conservation Specialist in 2023.  She has a strong passion for environmental education and connecting people to nature and serves to engage the community and recruit volunteers in protecting the peninsula’s land and water through ecological stewardship, education, and research.  Paige grew up in Green Bay and graduated from UW – Madison with a Bachelor of Science in zoology and a certificate in environmental studies. Before joining the Land Trust, Paige spent five years in Missouri working as an education and outreach coordinator.

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

The Poetry of Steel: Violence, Verse, and Verisimilitude in Shakespearean Performance with Ryan Schabach and Lexi Praxl

Presented with Door Shakespeare

Location: Boynton Garden – Door Shakespeare Performance Area

This lecture-demonstration explores how Shakespeare’s verse drives moments of staged conflict and how actors and directors translate language into physical action. Through live performance and practical demonstration, participants will examine how rhythm and text generate violence, how staged combat creates the illusion of danger while ensuring safety, and how weapons shape character and story.

PRESENTER BIO: Ryan is a theatre artist and educator whose work spans performance, directing, design, fight choreography, videography, and teaching, with a focus on movement-based storytelling and ensemble creation. A longtime company member with Door Shakespeare, Ryan’s work includes collaborations with Milwaukee Rep, the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Next Act Theatre, Forward Theatre Company, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, First Stage, 6th Street Playhouse, and Third Avenue PlayWorks, among others.

PRESENTER BIO:  Lexi is a theatre artist and administrator from northwest Indiana. She completed her theatre education at �������ý��Ƶ and recently earned a Master’s in Translation Studies from Durham University. Her work includes box office positions with Door Shakespeare and the Assembly Rooms Theatre, as well as serving as a theatre critic at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and performing at Shakespeare’s Globe. Lexi brings additional expertise in stage combat through her training as a competitive fencer.

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

The Faithful Beauty of the Stars with Associate Professor of Physics Megan Pickett

On a clear, moonless summer sky at Björklunden, you can see more than a thousand stars.  These stars—and the planets and the Moon and the Milky Way—have carried the stories of every human who has lived underneath them.  In this workshop, we will explore the constellations that have brought meaning to the night sky, and the wondrous astronomical gems hidden in them that tell us about our own cosmic origins.

Location: Björklunden Lodge, Vail Hall

PRESENTER BIO:  Megan is an astrophysicist and Physics professor at �������ý��Ƶ. She joined the university in 2006, making history as the first woman to earn tenure in the physics department. Known for her passionate and engaging teaching style, Pickett was recognized with the �������ý��Ƶ Excellence in Teaching Award in 2023. She has taught the popular Science of Superheroes course and regularly redesigns introductory physics curriculums to be more accessible. Her primary research focuses on the formation of solar systems, the origins of the universe, and galaxy formation. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Cornell University and her Ph.D. in Astrophysics from Indiana University. 

10:00 a.m. – 11:50 p.m.

Nature Remix: Art & the Boreal Forest with Jill Newman

This is a 110 minute seminar designed for ages 7 and up and may be attended by children with an adult, independent young participants, or adults attending on their own.

Location: Björklunden Lodge, North Seminar Room 

Explore Björklunden lakeside boreal forest through deep looking, conversation, and a scavenger hunt designed to sharpen observation and curiosity about the natural world. Participants will then create mixed-media landscapes inspired by the expedition using both traditional art materials and recycled objects. Together, we will create imaginative celebrations of nature while exploring ways artists can reduce material waste and care for the environment. 

PRESENTER BIO:  Jill is an artist educator with nearly 30 years of teaching experience spanning preschool through graduate school, including collegiate teaching and community-based arts teaching through organizations such as PenArt. Her work engages painting, drawing, collage, and interdisciplinary environmental arts programming. Across all of her work she is guided by a belief in curiosity, collaboration, and the transformative power of the arts.

11:00 a.m. – 11:50 p.m.

How Land Trusts are Protecting Door County’s Landscapes for Future Generations with Emily Wood

Offered with the Door County Land Trust.

Location: Björklunden Lodge, Vail Hall

Door County, Wisconsin is home to some of the Midwest’s most unique shorelines, forests, wetlands, and wildlife habitats, making land conservation essential to preserving the region’s natural beauty and ecological health. Learn about conservation and how land trusts like the Door County Land Trust play a vital role by permanently protecting natural areas, restoring habitats, and partnering with communities and landowners to conserve open space. Through education, stewardship, and conservation easements—such as the one established by �������ý��Ƶ on the Björklunden campus—these efforts help preserve the character, environmental sustainability, and natural heritage that make Door County such a treasured destination. 

PRESENTER BIO: Emily is the Executive Director of the Door County Land Trust, where she leads the protection and stewardship of more than 10,000 acres of critical habitat.  She holds a degree in Wildlife Biology from Ball State University and has extensive experience in conservation leadership and environmental policy. In 2025, she was recognized as a Lake Michigan Champion of Conservation by the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership.

11:00 a.m. – 11:50 p.m.

A Tour of the Most Enduring Beer Styles with Bobby Fleshman

Offered with McFleshman’s Brewing Co. Appleton, Wisconsin

Location: Björklunden Lodge, Lakeside Seminar Room

Beer evolved from our ancestors’ practice of fermenting sugars wherever they could find them as hunter-gatherers.  Eventually they cultivated grasses, which in turn were used to make beer and bread.   A fascinating arc of over 10,000 years led to our modern society and communal spaces such as the Irish pub and German beer garden.  We will walk through some of the most loved beer styles together and learn how the water, climate, and traditions led to their long term adoption.

PRESENTER BIO:  Bobby holds a PhD in Astrophysics, and worked as a NASA researcher on the Cassini mission to Saturn. He has since shifted industries and, with his wife, Allison McCoy, opened McFleshman’s Brewing Co. (Appleton, WI) in 2018. McFleshman’s places great emphasis on the community created by the classic pubs and beer gardens.

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

An Ecological Adventure Through Björklunden’s Conservation Easement Lands with Drew Reinke, Jane Whitney, and Paige Witek 

This guided hike is offered with the Door County Land Trust. Sturdy shoes, a hat and long pants are recommended. Bring sunscreen, bug spray and water.

Location: Meet in Björklunden Lodge Great Room

Discover the natural beauty of Björklunden on a hike along the scenic shores of Lake Michigan. As we explore the wooded trails and shoreline of the �������ý��Ƶ campus, participants will learn about the area’s diverse forests, unique ecosystems, and fascinating geological history. The hike will also highlight how a conservation easement with the Door County Land Trust is helping protect the property’s natural character and ecological integrity for generations to come. Join us for an inspiring outdoor experience that blends conservation, exploration, and education to celebrate the enduring beauty of Door County.

HIKE GUIDE BIO: Drew is the Senior Conservation Easement Manager for the Door County Land Trust. Drew works with private landowners to acquire new conservation easement properties and steward existing properties. A Wisconsin native, Drew spent 7 years working in the Pacific Northwest, 5 years at the Inland Northwest Land Trust in Spokane, WA. He holds a Master of Natural Resources degree from the University of Idaho, a Natural Resource Management degree from UW-Stevens Point and a Master Fly Fishing Certification from his golden retriever friend.  

HIKE GUIDE BIO: Jane grew up on the coast of Massachusetts, went to college on the prairies of Iowa, raised a family and worked as a librarian among the Baraboo Bluffs, and became a self-taught naturalist on the shore of Lake Michigan. Jane has been providing Land Trust and Björklunden nature tours for many years.

HIKE GUIDE BIO:  Paige joined the Door County Land Trust as Community Conservation Specialist in 2023.  She has a strong passion for environmental education and connecting people to nature and serves to engage the community and recruit volunteers in protecting the peninsula’s land and water through ecological stewardship, education, and research.  Paige grew up in Green Bay and graduated from UW – Madison with a Bachelor of Science in zoology and a certificate in environmental studies. Before joining the Land Trust, Paige spent five years in Missouri working as an education and outreach coordinator.

The Richard Warch Outstanding Service Award honors Richard Warch who served as the fourteenth president of �������ý��Ƶ from 1979 to 2004.�� During his tenure, Björklunden expanded and flourished as the location for the long-standing Björklunden Seminars, as well as the groundbreaking Student Weekend Seminar Program that continues to engage �������ý��Ƶ faculty and students in various rigorous academic pursuits.�� Nominees should embody the active commitment to Björklunden as demonstrated by Rik Warch.

The Winifred Boynton Creative Spirit Award pays tribute to Winifred Boynton who created the beautiful and historic Björklunden Chapel through imagination, spirit, and tenacity.�� She chose to share the chapel with the world as a place “far removed from confusion and aggression.”  The award recognizes a living individual or couple who, through imagination. spirit, and tenacity has created something of significant impact and enduring value to Door County – whether through the realm of the arts, science and technology, natural world, or civic engagement.

Does someone come to your mind?�� Individuals familiar with Björklunden and Door County are asked to submit nominations for either or both of these awards.�� Fill out this for either or both awards by Thursday, March 26, 2026.�� If you need a hard copy of the nomination form, please contact Cheryl Kopecky (ckopecky2@me.com).

Preserving the sanctuary 

Björklunden vid Sjön (Swedish for Birch Grove by the Lake) was purchased in 1928 by Winifred and her first husband, Carleton Vail, as a summertime family retreat. Following Carleton’s death, Winifred spent time in Norway and wanted to bring a bit of it home.

After Winifred remarried, work began on building a chapel on the property modeled on a medieval stave church she had visited in Lillehammer, Norway. From 1939 to 1947, Winifred and her second husband, Donald Boynton, painstakingly added many beautiful details to the chapel, including 41 handpainted frescoes and its memorable carved wood altar, baptismal font, and other furnishings—a story she recounts in her book, Faith Builds a Chapel: The Story of an Adventure in Craftsmanship.��

Donald and Winifred Boynton bequeathed the property to �������ý��Ƶ in 1963 with the vision of preserving the site as a “sanctuary for all” and a place for peace and contemplation. They retained tenancy of the property during their lifetime.

After the Boyntons passed away �������ý��Ƶ began its stewardship of the property in 1975; seminar programming began in 1980. However, an August 1993 electrical fire that gutted the original home led LU leaders to reevaluate their use the property.��

�������ý��Ƶ’s president at that time, Richard Warch, recognized that Björklunden was a “once in an institution’s history gift” and that it needed to be incorporated into the full academic life of the university.��

In the aftermath of the fire, construction of a beautiful 37,000-square-foot lodge with guest rooms and dining and meeting spaces transformed Björklunden into the learning destination it is today.

Nourishing mind and spirit 

Björklunden offers �������ý��Ƶ students space to retreat and focus. On weekends throughout the academic year, nearly 1,500 students have opportunities to join mentors and peers in group retreats focused on an aspect of their academic interests, athletic pursuits, or student life experiences.��

Additionally, Björklunden seminar program provides a vacation with a purpose for the general public, offering an array of three- and five-day learning opportunities for its public summer season, ranging from the arts and movies to history and science. Online seminars are also available on selected topics.��

As the founder of the program, Joe Hopfensperger, wrote: “Here people join together to share the human experience … to nourish mind and spirit.”

A living learning laboratory

Looking to the future, Björklunden has launched its net zero initiative with the creation of wind and solar energy infrastructure and research into the carbon sequestration of the vast forest of the property.��

This remarkable endeavor offers unique learning opportunities for �������ý��Ƶ students while also helping to ensure Björklunden’s future by reducing energy costs and making positive contributions to the natural environment through carbon recapture.��

Today, 390 acres of the property are protected under a permanent conservation easement with the Door County Land Trust.

50 years and beyond

Since 1975, the north campus has grown to be an essential part of the �������ý��Ƶ experience, a destination for lifelong learners, and a blessing to the broader local community through music, theatre, performance, and other public events.��

�������ý��Ƶ half of Björklunden’s annual budget comes from seminar program fees and one quarter comes from donations to support �������ý��Ƶ student retreats and to maintain the grounds and buildings.��

To participate in maintaining this �������ý��Ƶ treasure, please consider making a gift. Anyone who donates and/or volunteers becomes a . Those giving $500 or more are Boynton Society-level donors, which allows them early registration for the seminar program.

4:00-5:30 PM – ����ö������ܲԻ���’�� Vail Hall – FREE CONCERT

The inaugural Door County Jazz Festival presents the “Luedtke, López, and Fernandez Guitar Trio” (sponsored by the �������ý��Ƶ Conservatory of Music). The Luedtke, López and Fernandez Guitar Trio features Cooper Luedke on bass, Josué Ríos López on guitar and Quintin Fernandez on drums. All three study at the �������ý��Ƶ Conservatory of Music, which is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding. No RSVP or tickets are required for the Jazz Festival performance.

5:00-6:30 PM food truck

Dine between the Jazz Festival and Door Shakespeare at the SAVOR Barbeque & Taphouse food truck, providing mouth watering barbeque in a beautiful lakeside setting. 

6:00-7:00 PM   – FREE EVENT

Gathering with friends, family, and theater patrons prior to the show for a lively and interactive discussion. These events help us get closer to the theatrical traditions, techniques, and themes of the shows in the 2025 summer season. Prior to the evening’s production of Great Expectations, join a conversation with playwright Gale Childs Daly who adapted Dicken’s novel for the stage. In order to prepare for your visit, registration is required. Please call 920.854.7111 or email info@doorshakespeare.com.

7:30 PM Presents Great Expectations

Door Shakespeare celebrates their 30-year anniversary performing in the historic Boynton Garden with the presentation of Charles Dickens’s , adapted for the stage by Gale Childs Daly. A life changing encounter launches Pip’s journey in Great Expectations, where he finds love, forgiveness, and redemption. For those who attend the Jazz Festival concert, a 50% discount will be offered for your performance. Inquire at the box office, call 920.854.7111, or email info@doorshakespeare.com for further information.

Detailed information:

More �������ý��Ƶ the Door County Jazz Festival Musicians:

Cooper Luedtke is a student at �������ý��Ƶ, working towards a Bachelor of Music degree with majors in Double Bass Performance and Music Education. His studies include performing, composing, and analyzing various musical styles alongside talented collaborators and respected instructors, while also learning to give back the quality education he has received through teaching. He has studied with Andrew Anderson, Mark Urness, José Encarnación, Patty Darling, and Bill Carrothers. Cooper is inspired by the rich history of the musical traditions he studies, as well as by the communities and individuals that have stewarded and developed these traditions, and seeks to spread joy and curiosity through performing and advocating for the value of the fine arts in education.

Josué Ríos López is a Mexican American musician from Dallas, Texas and a graduate from �������ý��Ƶ with a Bachelor of Musical Arts with a cognate in creative writing. During his time at �������ý��Ƶ he participated in various academic ensembles under Patty Darling, Jean Carlos, Jose Encarnación, Bill Carrothers, Matt Turner, and Steve Peplin. In 2023, he won a DownBeat Award for his work with the �������ý��Ƶ Jazz Band directed by Jose Encarnacion. Josue has been an integral part of the student-lead musical community participating in over a dozen successful on-campus acts over the last four years. While at �������ý��Ƶ, he got to study and perform various styles of music including Jazz, Rock, RnB, Salsa, Mariachi, and Contemporary Improvisation. For the past two years he has been working at the Appleton Music Academy as a private instructor in guitar and piano and will continue to teach there for the following year. Over the last year Josue has recorded various projects with bands and artists like Noir, Lyle’s Tree, Roach, Miranda Lile, and his own work under the name Red Teddy. 

Quintin Wade Fernandez is a drummer, producer, and mixing engineer whose work flows across jazz, indie, R&B, and folk. Based between Appleton and the Menominee Reservation in Wisconsin, his musical journey began before memory—rooted in a deep love for rhythm and a calling to serve the music, the listeners, and the collaborators who bring it to life. At 22, Quintin holds a dynamic career that spans national and international touring, his path has taken him from concert halls and castles to living rooms and cultural institutions, including recent work with the Smithsonian. His recordings reflect a wide-ranging versatility, having contributed to projects in genres from jazz to post-hardcore to pocket based music, always with the same attention to feel, texture, and honesty. Whether behind the drum kit, at the mixing board, or helping artists find their voice in the studio, Quintin approaches each project with care, curiosity, and respect for the art of listening.

More �������ý��Ƶ Gale Fury Childs Daly:

Gale Fury Childs Daly is a playwright, director, teacher, text coach, and actor, and is the author of Door Shakespeare’s production of Great Expectations. A graduate of the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (now DePaul University), Daly has worked at the Goodman Theatre, the Alley Theatre, the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival, the Great River Shakespeare Festival, and the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, among others. Join Ms. Daly this evening for a conversation about her adaptation of Great Expectations.

Great Expectations Synopsis:

Pip, a young orphan living in the marshlands of Kent, is raised by his stern sister and her kind-hearted husband Joe, the village blacksmith. Life is simple and predictable—until one day, in the quiet of the churchyard, Pip is confronted by a terrifying escaped convict. Though the incident fades into his past, Pip’s secret act of helping the man lingers in his life for years to come.

Not long after this encounter, Pip is summoned to the decaying estate of the wealthy and reclusive Miss Havisham. At Satis House, he meets Miss Havisham’s beautiful but distant adopted daughter, Estella, and his desire for something more is ignited. Pip grows increasingly ashamed of his humble background and hopes to become a gentleman. 

Years later, when a mysterious benefactor offers Pip the opportunity to move to London to receive an education, he believes his grand future is finally unfolding. With the guidance of the formidable lawyer Mr. Jaggers, his accountant, Mr. Wopsle, tutor Matthew Pocket, and the steady friendship of Pocket’s son Herbert, Pip enters a world of refinement far greater than he ever expected. 

But as he rises in society, Pip discovers that his success is built on uneasy ground. The truth about his benefactor forces Pip to reckon with the assumptions, ambitions, and affections that have guided his path. When Pip’s social standing is threatened because of his benefactor’s past, he leans on Herbert and Mr. Wopsle to help secure his benefactor’s safety and his own. As secrets unravel, Pip confronts the complex web of identities, loyalties, and betrayals that bind him to Estella, Miss Havisham, and a past he can no longer ignore. 

Told through the lens of Pip’s memory, Great Expectations is a richly woven tale of aspiration and ultimately redemption. Dickens asks us to consider: what truly defines a life well lived?

Pencils scratch, heads nod with enlightened looks, conversations flare, and friendships rekindle in the seminar rooms at the majestic Björklunden lodge. Our 2025 season at this sanctuary of peace and contemplation kicked off appropriately with Tim Crain’s From Conflict to Peace: Northern Ireland, Great Britain, and Ireland, Past and Present providing a powerful example of how peace can be won out of seemingly intractable conflict. Relena Ribbons’ Adventures in Forests in Time took nature enthusiasts and advocates into the woods to peer beyond the present, into the past, and toward possible futures for these beloved and verdant environments. Nikolas Hoel’s Saints and Sinners in the Middle Ages made the medieval past relatable by surfacing complex moral questions that vex people then and now.��

Satisfy your passion for learning and book your vacation with purpose today at !