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Step into the wardrobe and journey through Narnia with scholar and storyteller Brenton Dickieson, author of the acclaimed A Pilgrim in Narnia blog. This ongoing series invites readers to explore The Chronicles of Narnia one book at a time in a relaxed, discussion-based setting. Each module offers a space to read closely, reflect deeply, and engage in thoughtful conversation about Lewis’s rich storytelling—its literary beauty, spiritual resonance, and enduring cultural impact. Together, we’ll follow familiar paths and discover new insights, asking how these beloved stories continue to speak to readers today. Whether you are new to Narnia or returning once more, this series welcomes you to walk with wonder, ask meaningful questions, and journey ever deeper into Lewis’s imaginative world. Future installments will continue the voyage as interest grows—so come along and see where the path leads next. [show less]

Return to Narnia with Brenton Dickieson as we continue our journey through C.S. Lewis’s beloved world. In this discussion-based module, we’ll read Prince Caspian, a story of restoration, memory, and the long-awaited return of true kingship. Together, we’ll explore what it means to rediscover a lost world—both outwardly and inwardly—as the Pevensies are called back to Narnia in a time of need. Along the way, we’ll reflect on themes of faith, courage, and renewal, considering how Lewis weaves deeper meaning into this tale of adventure and awakening. Whether you are continuing from Part 1 or joining us anew, come ready to read closely, share insights, and journey deeper into Narnia. [show less]

Set sail for the eastern seas of Narnia with Brenton Dickieson as our journey continues. In this discussion-rich module, we’ll read The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, a story of exploration, transformation, and the search for the utter East. As we travel from island to island, we’ll encounter dragons, dreams, and deep questions about identity, desire, and grace. Together, we’ll reflect on the personal and spiritual journeys of the characters, and consider how Lewis invites readers into their own voyage of discovery. Whether you are following the series or embarking for the first time, join us as we journey further into the wonder and mystery of Narnia. [show less]

Step into the most wondrous and unconventional corners of William Shakespeare’s imagination, where shipwrecks, enchanted forests, lost heirs, and improbable reunions unfold with dreamlike intensity. Shakespeare’s Epic Fairy Tales gathers the playwright’s late romances and collaborations into a single sweeping journey—one that moves fluidly between tragedy and comedy, history and fantasy, the natural and the supernatural. Across these modules, we encounter stories shaped by medieval lore, Renaissance experimentation, and a fascination with the boundary between art and magic. Storms scatter families across distant shores; disguises and mistaken identities conceal and reveal the truth; time itself bends to allow for repentance, reconciliation, and wonder. Whether set in ancient kingdoms, pastoral landscapes, or imagined realms, these plays share a deep concern with loss and recovery, the testing of love, and the possibility of renewal. From seafaring adventures and courtly intrigues to strange stagecraft and collaborative reinventions, this series explores how Shakespeare and his contemporaries reimagined the fairy tale for the early modern stage. Future modules will continue to expand this tapestry, including encounters with enchanted islands, powerful sorcerers, and the transformative force of storytelling itself. Designed as a flexible, non-sequential series, Shakespeare’s Epic Fairy Tales invites participants to explore these rich and often overlooked works in any order—tracing the threads that connect them while discovering the singular magic of each. [show less]

Did you grow up hearing a beloved poem? Have you ever wanted to recite a cherished fragment of a story? This is a workshop for those who wish to honor the stories and poems they love by committing them to memory. You choose the text in the language of your choice—be it a series of poems in English, a story, or a favorite passage in a language you’re studying—and join a group of like-minded folks on a journey to memorize and learn to recite the literature that they cherish. Whether you share the recitation with us in class or challenge yourself to make a recording you can be proud of, the goal remains: To take the literature we love from the page and learn to carry it in the heart. [show less]

The John Newbery Medal is given by the Association for Library Service to Children to the author of "the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children"; an annual award, it has been given from 1922 to the present. Winners must have been written by an American citizen or resident and its first publication must be in English. Read Newbery Medal award winners and discuss with Sparrow and your fellow SPACE students: what do these stories reveal about their times and what is timeless about them? Where does this work fall in the old discussion about whether children's literature should provide education or delight? What cultural values and developmental landmarks does the work deliver to readers? Each month we will read two different works and gently travel through time with Stories. [show less]

Are you planning to travel to Japan and would like to communicate and get by? This crash course is designed for the traveler who wants to interact with the locals. Learn to order with confidence at restaurants, buy at a konbini , and ask for directions without pulling out your phone. With guest speaker, Dr. Robert Steed, we will also also explore etiquette and cultural aspects, one phrase at a time. Get ready for a wonderful adventure! *Note: some familiarity with kana is is recommended when traveling in Japan, but is not required for this module. Class outline: Session 1: Greeting someone, saying thank you, expressing where you’re from, Kana practice. Session 2: Counting objects, days of the week, months, recognizing Kanji Session 3: Buying things, at the konbini, recognizing Kanji Session 4: Getting around, recognizing Kanji Session 5: Ordering Food Session 6: Arriving at a hotel and discovering the surroundings, recognizing Kanji Session 7: Emergencies and asking for help, recognizing Kanji Session 8: Putting it all together [show less]

This introduction to family history (a.k.a. genealogy) is designed to give students the tools they need to begin researching their family lines, discovering family stories, and learning how to work with the documents, photographs, and artifacts that preserve family history. In this first module, we will focus on the fundamentals of getting started with family history research. Topics will include how to begin tracing family lines, how to find and evaluate useful sources, and how to keep clear research notes and records. Students will learn practical strategies for tracking down information about their ancestors—both in the United States and internationally—and will gain tools and confidence to continue their research beyond the course. If there is interest from the group, future modules could build on this foundation in a variety of ways. These might include workshop-style sessions where students bring their research questions and discoveries for collaborative exploration; guidance on sharing family history through family trees, narratives, books, or blogs; and practical approaches to preserving family documents, photographs, and heirlooms through digitization, cataloging, and archival-safe storage. These follow-up modules would grow organically from the interests and questions of the group. [show less]

Why do fairy tales captivate us across cultures and centuries? What transforms a simple tale into something that lingers in the imagination for a lifetime? J.R.R. Tolkien grappled with such questions in his landmark essay "On Fairy-stories", and his answers revolutionized how we understand fantasy literature. This course invites you to explore the intellectual and imaginative foundations beneath The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as we dive into one of Tolkien's most important works of literary theory. Far from a dry academic treatise, "On Fairy-stories" is a passionate defence of imagination itself, as Tolkien champions fantasy as a serious genre for adults that offers "recovery, escape, and consolation," allowing us to see our own world with fresh wonder. Tolkien challenges us to reconsider what we dismiss as mere children's entertainment and recognize fairy stories as a sophisticated art form that speaks to our deepest human needs. In this course, we will discuss all of these ideas, alongside why Tolkien believed that creating imaginary worlds is a fundamentally human act, one that echoes the divine act of creation itself. Through our reading of "On Fairy-stories", we will discover new ways of appreciating not just Tolkien's own fiction, but the entire tradition of imaginative storytelling. Come ready to think deeply, share insights, and rediscover the power of stories that begin “once upon a time.” [show less]