The Great Connections Summer Seminar 2026: Reason and Love
About this Event
The Great Connections Summer Seminar 2026: Reason and Love
July 25 to August 1, 2026, at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Are you ready for a week that sharpens your thinking and clarifies your purpose? Join young minds ages 16 to 24 for a week of intellectual adventure, real conversation, and personal growth. This year we explore the theme Reason and Love through the great books and the great questions.
The seminar is called The Great Connections because it connects great ideas across disciplines, connects you with others through real discussion, and connects your own purpose to a practical path in life.
What you'll do
You'll discuss great writing and ideas in small groups, the kind of discussion that grows your reasoning power and your teamwork. You'll dig into seminal texts spanning philosophy, ethics, and political theory, from Aristotle and Kant to Rand, Tocqueville, and contemporary thinkers. You'll get the readings and instructions in advance, so you arrive ready for a rich conversation.
It goes well beyond reading. You'll visit notable museums and landmarks, join discussions with experts, and take part in collaborative workshops, including improv, that make the week fun and build real connection.
Who it's for
The seminar welcomes everyone ages 16 to 24: teens thinking about college and life, young adults seeking career clarity, and anyone eager to explore great authors and ideas. Students who consistently use our discussion method have been measured to raise their cognitive skills by 20 to 85 percent.
The week, day by day
A taste of the 2026 schedule (subject to change):
- Sat Jul 25: Arrival and check-in, seminar introduction and first discussion, group dinner with Chicago pizza, and an evening seminar, What is love?
- Sun Jul 26: Principles of discussion, Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics on love, a Chicago history and architecture walk with a scavenger hunt, and Kant's Lectures on Ethics.
- Mon Jul 27: Logical fallacies, Adler's How to Read a Book, a guest speaker, and improv games.
- Tue Jul 28: The Writing Connection workshop, Rand's Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, and a screening of Cyrano de Bergerac.
- Wed Jul 29: Hans Jonas on the phenomenon of life, Enright on the psychology of introspection, free time at the beach, and a Cyrano discussion.
- Thu Jul 30: Ortega y Gasset on the role of choice in love, Tocqueville's Democracy in America, a sculpture workshop, and Koestler's Act of Creation.
- Fri Jul 31: Love, marriage, and economics, Mises on the anti-capitalistic mentality, love poetry, and a live improv comedy show.
- Sat Aug 1: Reflection on the whole week, evaluations, and a closing ceremony, dinner, and party. Departure at 5:00 PM.
Seminar fees
Tuition and lodging: $900
That covers all seminar programming for 7 or more days, a dorm room on campus for 8 nights, and both the opening and closing dinners. It is an incredible value made possible by our generous sponsors.
Scholarships: a limited number are available, covering tuition and some room and board. If you do not receive a scholarship, your fee may depend on when you apply. To be considered, submit your application and note that you would like to apply for a scholarship. Questions about cost or scholarships? Email Marsha at [email protected].
Where you'll be
The seminar takes place at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and students stay in dorms on campus for the full week.
Chicago is one of the most dynamic cities in the world: rich in architecture, business, and the arts, with reasonable living costs and easy travel by plane, train, bus, or car. Enjoy 29 miles of lakefront beaches and parks, a legendary music scene, and the birthplace of improv comedy, from Second City to the NeoFuturists.
Your guide
The seminar was founded by Marsha Familaro Enright, president of Reliance College and author of Teaching Freedom: Education for a Free Society. With a B.A. in Biology from Northwestern and an M.A. in Psychology from The New School, she founded and ran Council Oak Montessori School for 27 years before creating The Great Connections. She brings decades of expertise in psychology, philosophy, and education to every discussion.
What past students say
Hear from students who have lived the Great Connections experience.
Ready to join?
Register here to begin. We will send you the link to complete your application, and you can note on it if you would like to be considered for a scholarship. We can't wait to meet you in Chicago.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
