A program to help young men grow in
character, achievement and leadership.
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 students apply this knowledge to their own lives. Through these seminars, students come to understand the reasons for Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian views about God, man, and morality; are enabled to explain these reasons to others; and are empowered to reason correctly about important contemporary issues.
Freshmen and Sophomores
Each seminar involves a lecture-style class and an interactive activity. Classes will cover "big picture" topics and virtues.
SEP 17 - Setting Goals for the Future
OCT 15 - Humility
NOV 19 - The Importance of Friendship
DEC 17 - Self-Discipline
JAN 14 - Staying Focused
FEB 25 - Fortitude
MAR 18 - Living with Authority
APR 15 - Sincerity
MAY 20 - You Are What You Read
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 17 - The Death of Socrates: When Politics and Philosophy Clash
OCT 15 - Plato’s Republic: What is the Ideal Form of Government?
NOV 19 - Aristotle: What is the Purpose of Government?
DEC 17 - Machiavelli’s Prince: The Gangster’s Manual to Politics
JAN 14 - Hobbes’ Leviathan: If Life is “Nasty, Brutish and Short,” What is Government For?
FEB 25 - Locke, Liberalism & The Natural Law Foundations of America
MAR 18 - Is America an Exceptional Nation?
APR 15 - The Constitution: Wise Statement of Political Philosophy? Or Old Irrelevant Document?
MAY 20 - The Problem of Pluralism: What is the Role of Government in a Religiously Diverse Society?
SCHEDULE
1:00 PM - Seminar
2:30 PM - Study & mentoring
3:45 PM - Break/Snack
4:00 PM - Conclude
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 August 21, 2022). 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, IT Manager, Accenture
Francis Adams, J.D. Candidate, University of California, Hastings College of the Law
Doug Tatz, B.S., University Administrator, UC Berkeley
The Study of philosophy is not that we may know what men have thought,
but what the truth of things is.
- St. Thomas Aquinas