Renaissance Years Road Test Retreat
June 8-10, 2025 in Gloucester, MA
When fully implemented in the future, Renaissance Years will offer people who lead or leave intense careers an opportunity to expand their intellectual and cultural horizons and personal social circle through a structured, multi-year collegial experience, combining intellectual stimulation and productivity, a trusted social circle, and impact and purpose-driven activities.
In a nutshell, Renaissance Years is the liberal arts college experience, re-imagined for adults. It will be there for people to experience over many years, their Renaissance Years.
On the path to fulfilling this vision, a multi-generational, diverse cohort of accomplished, curious and caring people from across most Renaissance fields will test-drive Renaissance Years through participation in an experimental model of the program: the Renaissance Years retreat in Gloucester MA.
Visit the sign up page to enroll.
The retreat will run as a Renaissance Program with sessions delivered mostly by fellow participants, supplemented by social and cultural experiences, including a soiree focused on the arts in a unique local venue. In addition, dedicated time will be taken to shape the future of the Renaissance Years concept. The retreat will include multiple sessions on topics that might include AI advances, Art, Food, Innovation in Biotech, energy and sustainability, human behavior and more.
The evening programs on June 8 and 9 will be hosted by two local participants in their homes, allowing us to experience the beauty and hospitality for which Cape Ann is renowned. The second night, a soiree of the arts, will be hosted at the former home of Henry Lee Higginson, Founder and benefactor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, designed uniquely to host our music program.
As a participant in the program, you are invited to contribute to the program by teaching or curating an experience based on your own expertise or interests. Lessons can be in any format (e.g., TED-like talk, music performance, hands-on workshop, guided tour in nature or a local museum, case study, etc). We will work with each person to plan their session and allocate appropriate time.
To give participants the freedom to show up as they wish, attendees’ identities and biosketches will not be shared in advance.
About the Retreat:
Dates/Time: June 8 starting 12PM - June 10 ending 3PM
Location: Beauport Hotel in coastal Gloucester, Massachusetts, one hour drive north of Boston.
Accommodation: Hotel rooms have been secured with a rate of $298 per night (plus tax). Since online booking is not available for groups, participants need to call the hotel directly to book their rooms with this group rate. Please call (978) 282-0008 and mention that you are attending the Renaissance Years retreat.
Transportation: Participants are responsible for their own transportation. Car-pooling will be explored for those interested.
Other Costs: Meals and meeting costs will be finalized as we get closer, but we don’t expect the costs to exceed $750 per person. Participants will be asked to pay this fee on your own, but we don’t want cost to prevent participation and will have some stipends available. Please let us know if you would be interested in attending as a sponsored guest or contribute to sponsoring a guest.