Festival of Ideas
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Festival of Ideas
A Colorado Classical Symposium
About
At Festival of Ideas, speakers from a variety of disciplines, including mathematics, literature, philosophy, science, art, music, and history aim to give participants a taste of what true leisure feels like: a gateway to the good life--a life in pursuit of beauty, truth, goodness, and perfection. These presentations are intended to inspire great conversations filled with wonder, passion, and discovery.
Registration for the 2023 Festival of Ideas is now closed. Please check back regularly for updates on next year's event.
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Liberty Common High School
2745 Minnesota Drive
Fort Collins, Colorado
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Keynote
This year we welcome Mr. Jim Weiss as our keynote speaker. Weiss is a world-renowned author and professional storyteller who has been bringing joy to listeners of all ages for over 30 years. Our teachers laude his collaborations with the Core Knowledge Foundation, and he has amassed an anthology of recordings to enrich any listener for a lifetime. His stories range from retellings of classical myths and tales such as Aesop’s Tortoise and Hare to illuminations of history where you may find yourself time-traveling to meet the likes of Ancient Egyptians, Madam Curie, Michelangelo, or so many more. Come to Festival of Ideas and allow Weiss to transport you to his world of wonder.
Schedule
| 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM | Welcome and Student Performance |
| 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Keynote Address |
| 11:05 AM – 12:05 PM | Session I |
| 12:05 PM – 12:50 PM | Complimentary Lunch |
| 12:55 PM – 1:55 PM | Session II |
| 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Session III / Educator Roundtable |
Educator Roundtable
At our symposium, we offer educators a place for guided reflection and rich philosophical conversation. This session will take place during Session III from 2:00–3:00PM. In honor of Keynote Jim Weiss, this year’s roundtable discussion will center around storytelling in the classroom. Our own master storyteller, Mr. Jared Dybzinski, will moderate the discussion. For over a decade, Dybzinski has used stories, not only to teach content in his literature classes, but to inspire goodness and a quest for truth and beauty in the hearts of our staff and students. We encourage teachers and school leaders to attend for what we promise will be an enlightening experience.
Support Festival of Ideas
Festival of Ideas is an enriching and inspiring day, worthy of everyone's support. In an effort to keep it free to the school community as well as other Colorado classical schools, please consider a donation to help defray the costs of such a beautiful event. Our goal is to raise $13,000 in order to make this year's event shine brightly in northern Colorado.
Speaker Application
We accept applications for professionals to speak at our symposium. We are seeking educators or school leaders from fellow classical schools or professionals who are experts in their field. Presentations should stem from traditional academic subject areas.
Contact Organizers
For inquires about Festival of Ideas, email event organizers at festivalofideas@libertycommon.org.