Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ

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µþÂáö°ù°ì±ô³Ü²Ô»å±ð²Ô vid Sjön, Swedish for "Birch Grove by the Lake," is a 425-acre estate on the Lake Michigan shore just south of Baileys Harbor in picturesque Door County. A place of great beauty and serenity, the property includes meadows, woods, and more than a mile of unspoiled waterfront.

µþÂáö°ù°ì±ô³Ü²Ô»å±ð²Ô was bequeathed to Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ in 1963 by Donald and Winifred Boynton of Highland Park, Illinois. The Boyntons made the gift with the understanding that µþÂáö°ù°ì±ô³Ü²Ô»å±ð²Ô would be preserved in a way that would ensure its legacy as a place of peace and contemplation. Winifred Boynton captured the enduring spirit of µþÂáö°ù°ì±ô³Ü²Ô»å±ð²Ô when she said of her beloved summer home: "Far removed from confusion and aggression, it offers a sanctuary for all."

Since 1980, Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ has sponsored a series of adult continuing-education seminars at µþÂáö°ù°ì±ô³Ü²Ô»å±ð²Ô, interrupted only by a 1993 fire that destroyed the estate's main lodge. In 1996, construction was completed on a new and larger facility, and the µþÂáö°ù°ì±ô³Ü²Ô»å±ð²Ô Seminars resumed. The magnificent lodge and idyllic setting create a peaceful learning environment. Seminars address topics in the arts, music, religion, history, drama, nature, and more. Seminar participants may enjoy a relaxing week's stay at the lodge or are welcome to commute from the area.

Throughout the academic year, groups of Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ students and faculty come to µþÂáö°ù°ì±ô³Ü²Ô»å±ð²Ô for weekend seminars and retreats. Each student at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ has the opportunity to attend a student seminar at µþÂáö°ù°ì±ô³Ü²Ô»å±ð²Ô at least once during their studies. Student seminars provide the opportunity to explore exciting themes and issues and the time and the environment in which to embrace those ideas and their consequences. The magic of a µþÂáö°ù°ì±ô³Ü²Ô»å±ð²Ô weekend is in the connection between thought and reflection. Making that connection fulfills one ideal of a liberal education.

The two-story µþÂáö°ù°ì±ô³Ü²Ô»å±ð²Ô lodge is a magnificent 37,000 square-foot structure containing a great room, muti-purpose and seminar rooms, dining room and kitchen, as well as 22 guest rooms. The lodge accommodates a wide variety of seminars, meetings, conferences, receptions, family gatherings, musical programs, and other special events and is available for use throughout the year. In addition to the main building, the µþÂáö°ù°ì±ô³Ü²Ô»å±ð²Ô estate also includes a small wooden chapel built in a late 12-century Norwegian stave church (stavkirke) style, handcrafted by the Boyntons between 1939 and 1947.