Summer Spark Week—Ignite your curiosity.
June 3–6, 2024
Butler University’s Lifelong Learning Collaborative proudly presents Summer Spark Week, a custom educational experience for adult learners. Join us on Butler’s vibrant campus for the full experience from June 3–6 (or select specific days) and choose from over 40 workshops, lectures, and behind-the-scenes experiences that spark your interest.
Summer Spark Week ignites your passion for learning, offering a “bite-size” college encounter with no tests, no grades—just pure exploration, engagement, and fun. Seize this opportunity to learn from Butler’s renowned faculty and staff, delve into exciting topics of your choosing, and connect with like-minded individuals in the welcoming atmosphere of the Butler community. Top off your experience by attending additional arts and social events. Summer Spark Week goes beyond traditional summer classes—it’s a celebration of curiosity and the joy of lifelong learning.
Choose your educational adventure.
Attend all four days for the full Summer Spark Week experience, or select specific days at a discounted cost.
Start your morning right with feel-good wellness activities, including yoga, meditation, and ecotherapy. Then, dive into the engaging morning and afternoon learning sessions of your choosing, participate in the daily featured session, and join discussion groups to connect with like-minded peers. Conclude your day with optional social events and enjoy Butler’s campus.
Our course offerings, listed by category.
Science and Technology:
- An Aging Brain on Music: Neuroscience behind Music and the Brain
- Forensic Science (in Real Life!)
- The Science of Happiness
- A Tisket, a Tasket, A Whole Lot of Plastic: Hidden Microplastics in Everyday Life
- Woodland Plant Walk and Identification
Business and Communication:
- Marketing Magic: Behind-the-Scenes of the Live Mascot Program
- After a Stroke: The Science and Support of Language Disorders
- The Art of Courageous Conversations: Strategies for Peaceful Communication
Current Events, Politics, and History:
- Hinkle Magic: The Famous Fieldhouse and Hoosier History
- Seeking Truth Online (Even in an Election Year)
- Cryptography and Secret Codes
- Hip Hop History and Culture
- A Blessing, Not a Burden: My Parents’ Remarkable Holocaust Story and My Fight to Keep Their Legacy Alive
Creative and Performing Arts:
- Making Friends with Your Sewing Machine
- Behind the Scenes: The Costume Shop
- Say Cheese: Using your iPhone to Take Stunning Photos
- Films of Pedro Almodóvar: Class and Film Viewing
- Duke, Bird and Miles: Jazz Appreciation 101
- Music Playlist Building: An Rx for Health
- 20 for $200 – Decor to Food: Host a Party with Minimal Budget and Maximum Impact
Health and Well-Being
- Positively Pickleball (Beginning and Intermediate Levels)
- Can you Live Past 100? Blue Zones and the Mediterranean Lifestyle
- Plants that Heal: Learning from the Apothecary Garden
- Meal Planning Mindset with Bon Appetit
Full Week: $600 per participant
Select Specific Days: $160 per participant
What is included?
- Summer Spark Week Swag
- All learning sessions (over 40 options to choose from!)
- Wellness events every morning
- Lunch and snacks
- Conversational Interest Groups
- Evening social events will be optional for additional costs
Butler alumni get 10% off!
Contact bllc@butler.edu for group discounts.
Participants may choose to stay on campus, find accommodations at a nearby Butler partner hotel, or commute daily.
Staying on Campus: Interested in staying on campus in a state-of-the-art Fairview House residence hall? Fairview is pod style, meaning that 4 individual rooms share a living room space and kitchenette. Bathrooms are shared by two people. There is also space for larger groups to stay together. Cost is $105 per night. Find information about amenities here.
Butler Hotel Partners: When you call to make reservations, please identify yourself as a member of the Butler family and ask for the Butler rate.
Marriott in Carmel
Book your corporate rate for Butler University
Residence Inn in Indianapolis and Carmel
SpringHill Suites in Indianapolis and Carmel
Book your corporate rate for Butler University
Select Your Schedule
Click the dropdown menus below to view what courses are offered throughout each day. You’ll be able to select the days you want to attend when registering if you can’t join us for the full week.
Optional Wellness Activity: 7:30–8:30 AM
- Ecotherapy Trail and Meditation Amy Arnold
Welcome Activities and Goals of Spark Week: 9:30–10:45 AM
- Registration 9:30-10:00
- Opening Activities 10:00-10:45
Mid-Morning Session: 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM
- Beginning Pickleball – Dr. Lisa Farley
- Music Playlist Building: An Rx for Health – Dr. Tim Brimmer
- Meal Planning Mindset with Bon Appetit – Precious Nwokeleme,
Lunch and Social Opportunities: 12:15–1:30 PM
Afternoon Session1: 1:45–3:00 PM
- Forensic Science (in Real Life)! Famous Cases that Forwarded the Field of Forensics Dr. Ken Eilert
- A Tisket, a Tasket, A Whole Lot of Plastic: Hidden Microplastics in Everyday Life – Dr. Shelley Etnier
Afternoon Session 2: 3:15–4:30 PM
- Woodland Plant Walk and Identification – Marcia Moore
- Cryptography and Secret Codes – Dr. Jon Sorenson
- Duke, Bird, and Miles: Jazz Appreciation 101 – Dr. Matthew Pivec
Optional Evening Social Event: 4:30–5:30 PM Outdoor Jazz and Refreshments (on campus)
Optional Morning Activity: 7:30–8:30 AM
- Yoga
Featured Speaker and Book Signing: 9:30–10:45 AM
Alex Kor and Graham Honaker A Blessing Not a Burden: My Parents Remarkable Holocaust Story and My Fight to Keep Their Legacy Alive
Mid-Morning Session: 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM
- Behind the Scenes with Blue IV: Marketing and History Behind the Live Mascot Program – Evan Krauss and Blue IV
- Making Friends with your Sewing Machine in the Costume Shop – Kathleen Egan
Lunch and Social Opportunities: 12:15–1:30 PM
Afternoon Session 1: 1:45–3:00 PM
- After a Stroke: The Science and Support of Language Disorders – Dr. Mary Gospel
- Seeking Truth online (Even in an Election Year) – Jenni Burke
- 20 for $200 – Decor to Food: Host a Party with Minimal Budget and Maximum Impact: Brian Jefvert, Bon Appetit Catering
Afternoon Session 2: 3:15–4:30 PM
- Forensic Science (in Real Life): Body Fluid Identification and Blood Spatter – Dr. Ken Eilert
- Say Cheese – Using your iPhone to take great photos – Instructor TBD
Optional Evening Social Event: 4:40–6:00 PM
Films of Pedro Almodóvar: Class and Film Viewing – Dr. Terri Carney
Optional Morning Wellness Activity: 7:30–8:30 AM
- Canal Walk (Starting at Holcomb Gardens)
Morning Session: 9:30 AM–10:45 AM
- Making Friends with Your Sewing Machine, Part 2 – Kathleen Egan
- The Science of Happiness – Dr. Brandie Oliver
- Session TBA
Featured Session: 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM
Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH, Richard M. Fairbanks Professor of Aging Research – Learnings from Building the Clinical Aging Brain Care
Lunch and Group Photo: 12:15 AM–1:30 PM
Afternoon Session: 1 1:45–3:00 PM
- Forensics (in Real Life)! Interpreting a DNA Profile – Dr. Ken Eilert
- Behind the Scenes: The Costume Shop – Kathleen Egan
Afternoon Session 2: 3:15–4:00 PM
- Cryptography: Alice in Wonderland and the Public Key – Dr. Jon Sorenson
- Plants that Heal: Learning from the Apothecary Garden – Dr. Ken Eilert
Optional free Italian wine tasting and education to follow: 4:30–5:30 PM.
Optional Morning Wellness Activity: 7:30–8:30 AM
- Water Walking in the Lazy River
Morning Session 1: 9:30–10:45 AM
- Making Friends with Your Sewing Machine, Part 3 – Kathleen Egan
- The Art of Courageous Conversations: Strategies for Peaceful Communication –Dr. Shelly Furuness
- Session TBA
Morning Session 2: 11:00 AM–12:15 PM
- Beginning Pickleball – Dr. Lisa Farley
- Hip Hop History and Culture – Dr. Manon Voice
Lunch and Social Opportunities: 12:15–1:30 PM
Afternoon Session 1: 1:45–3:00 PM
- Forensic Science (in Real Life): Forensic Pattern Matching: Fingerprints and More –Dr. Ken Eilert
- Hinkle Magic: The Famous Fieldhouse and Hoosier History – Mike Freeman and Sally Wirthwein
Featured Closing Session: Dr. Jane Gervasio – Live to 100 and Beyond with a Blue Zones Lifestyle
Questions? Email bllc@butler.edu.