MISSION
The CAL Forum helps young men grow in character, achievement and leadership. Our seminars provide the intellectual foundation needed for a flourishing life, and our mentoring sessions help your son to apply this knowledge to his own life. Specifically, the CAL Forum aims to help your son: become great friends with his family, neighbors, colleagues, and God; prepare for college and professional life; acquire the virtues and outlook that he'll eventually need as a husband and father; and give back to community and country.
Freshmen and Sophomores
Each seminar involves a talk by a successful professional on their industry. Each seminar will also include a talk on a virtue.
SEP 19 - Father & Son Session
OCT 17 - Setting Goals for the Future
NOV 21 - The Importance of Friendship
DEC 19 - Living with Authority
JAN 16 - Self-Discipline
FEB 20 - Fortitude
MAR 20 - Humility
APR 17 - Sincerity
MAY 15 - Reading is Essential
Note: 8th graders are invited to attend the
searchforman.com program.
Juniors and Seniors
These seminars present students with a college-like experience. The seminars involve reading and discussion.
SEP 19 - Father & Son Session
OCT 17 - The Death of Socrates: When Politics and Philosophy Clash
NOV 21 - Plato's Republic: What is the Ideal Form of Government
DEC 19 - Aristotle: What is the Purpose of Government?
JAN 16 - Machiavelli's Prince: The Gangster's Manual to Politics
FEB 20 - Hobbes' Leviathan: If Life is "Nasty, Brutish, and Short," What is Government For?
MAR 20 - Is American an Exceptional Nation?
APR 17 - The Constitution: Wise Statement of Political Philosophy? Or Old Irrelevant Document?
MAY 15 - The Problem of Pluralism: What is the Role of Government in a Religiously Diverse Society?
MONTHLY SEMINAR SCHEDULE
11:00 am
12:00 pm
1:15
2:00
Mentoring available
Seminars begin
Lunch
End; mentoring available
FATHER & SON SESSION
In order to help both fathers and sons to understand the vision and logistics of the CAL Forum, and to meet the mentors, fathers are requested to join their son for the first seminar on September 19th from 10 AM to 3 PM.
If the dad is not available on this date, you may alternatively request that your son's mentor reach out to schedule an in person visit.
MENTORING
Each student is assigned a mentor who will meet individually with him at the monthly sessions. The mentor will help the student make practical goals based on the material presented in the seminars. Mentoring sessions typically last 45 minutes and will take place at Garber House, or when meeting in-person is not feasible, by phone.
APPLICATION AND FEES
To apply for the CAL Forum, please fill out an application. A phone interview may be required. The seminar fee is $200 ($175 if application is submitted by September 1st). Click the 'Pay Now' button to pay online. Checks should be made payable to “Berkland Foundation” and sent to Berkland Foundation, 1827 Oxford St., #1, Berkeley, CA , 94709. The CAL Forum is open to high school men who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership abilities.
CAL FORUM STAFF
Mark Gibson, MBA, Program Director, Berkland Foundation
Douglas Tatz, Policy Analyst, UC Berkeley
James Herrick, PE, Civil Engineer, Corollo Engineers
Nathan Tang, PhD Candidate, Chemistry, UC Berkeley
Alex Rosenberger, UC Berkeley Class of 2029
The Study of philosophy is not that we may know what men have thought,
but what the truth of things is.
- St. Thomas Aquinas