Courses
The organising team is making every effort to provide a range of courses for all ages. Below is a brief overview of each course to help you decide which one you’d like to take part in.
Find your course
Use the links below to jump straight to the section most relevant to you.
Age group courses
Under 5s
Children’s Classes, aged 4-10
Junior Youth, aged 11-14
Youth Course, 15-18
Adult courses
Course 1 — Many Voices, One Vision: The Art of Bahá’í Consultation
Course 2 — Studying the Bahá’í Writings
Course 3 — The Fire of Love - A Deep Dive into the Tablet of Ahmad
Course 4 — Marriage: A Fortress for Well-Being
Course 5 — Trustees of Nature - Growing Local Action
Course 6 — Living With Technological Disruption: Bahá’í Guidance, Dilemmas, Opportunities and Futures
Course 7 — Study of 31 December 2025 Message
Course 8 — Betterment of the World
Course 9 — Education, Work, Wealth and Service
Day Visitor Courses
Thursday 13th August — The Bahá’ís: Politics, Conflict and Peace
Friday 14th August — Global Collaboration? The United Nations, Other International Institutions and International Law
Saturday 15th August — Generating Joy
Under 5’s
A room will be allocated to parents and their children for parent-led activities. This room will be close to where the children’s classes are taking place, and there will be easy access to toilets.
Families using this room will be asked to bring for everyone’s use: toys, books, and anything else they think might be useful for the children’s comfort. This space will be mainly a parent-led facility, where the parents, or at least one parent, must be present with their child/children at all times.
If you come as a couple with your children, you may wish to choose to share childcare and you will have access to one-day stand-alone courses, for the duration of the school.
Children’s Classes
This year, the School will offer classes for children between the ages of 4 and 10, divided into smaller age brackets.
The teaching team is planning an inspiring programme for each age group that will take them on a voyage of discovery, using games, storytelling, singing, drama, music, creative making plus plenty of conversation time!
The aim is through love and encouragement to take them on a journey of learning and finding their confidence and voice to enable them to grow into thoughtful, helpful, knowledgeable and skilful young people with a love of service to others.
Junior Youth
The junior youth courses are for those between the ages of 11–14.
The coordinator and their experienced team of animators are planning an interactive and creative programme that will engage, inspire and cultivate enthusiasm within the participants.
There will be plenty of time for games, conversations and deep thinking, as well as challenging activities fostering creativity and collaboration!
The aim, this year, is to inspire every participant to return home with renewed energy, – having gained insights, built genuine friendships and feeling motivated to be of service in a variety of ways in their home communities.
Youth
This course is designed to be of special interest to those between 15 and 18 years.
How can the United Nations Unite Nations?
Through discussion, presentation from UN staff and others, group study of Baha'i writings, art and music, the youth session will explore the state of the world, role of United Nations, governments, charities/NGOs, Individuals and Baha'is in a range of poor and rich countries around the world. Everyone's input counts.
Adult Courses
We are delighted to offer participants of the North and Central Summer School the following brilliant and enriching courses. Many thanks in advance to all the facilitators and presenters for their commitment and preparation of these courses which are the foundation of the Summer School.
Course 1
Many Voices, One Vision: The Art of Bahá’í Consultation
With Fiona Young
This course will help participants discover how collective wisdom emerges through listening, humility and unity. We will explore both the spiritual and practical foundations of Bahá’í consultation where listening, detachment and unity will bring ideas and vision to life. While exploring specific Bahá’í texts on consultation, the course is suitable for Bahá’ís and friends of the faith as the skill set will be put into the context of our daily lives.
Participants will have the opportunity to review the skills that transform conversation and discussion into shared insight and united action. We will examine the process and structure that can be utilised to facilitate effective and collaborative discourse and undertake some role plays to put the skill set into practice.
We will compare the Bahá’í administrative approach with traditional methods of decision making and explore how Bahá’u’lláh’s vision for collaborative and inclusive decision making is now featuring heavily in recommended approaches for governance and conflict resolution.
We will also examine how utilising Bahá’í consultative methodology within the family setting enables us to practice the skill set on a daily basis and teach it to our children and young people so that it becomes second nature.
The style of delivery:
I will use a mixed approach to the sessions:
- Discussion of participants’ experiences of consultation and what they would like to get from the course
- Use the Bahá’í writings on the importance of consultation as the foundation of each session
- Look at what characteristics we are encouraged to look for when electing members of our administrative bodies
- Explore Spiritual Qualities/ Virtues as a backbone for Soft Skill development.
- Looking at skill set applied to effective consultation (in mediation and conflict resolution) – we will also look at methods used by hostage negotiators (Chris Voss) and play some interactive games using this methodology!
- Role play we will look at Ruhiyyih Khanum’s play “A Spiritual Assembly’s Growing Pains”
- Creating mind maps and some art work to help the participants remember the approach and process and teach it to others.
Background and experience:
I grew up in a Bahá’í family where I was exposed to Bahá’í consultation from a young age, in both my attendance at the feast, observation of my parents’ involvement in the Bahá’í administrative order, attending Bahá’í conventions and gaining a deeper understanding as a youth and young Bahá’í serving on various institutions.
In my professional life, studying law I saw more traditional methods of discourse and discussion and ultimately decision making being applied. My Bahá’í experience and knowledge led me to seek an alternative method in my professional life resulting in my qualification and training as a mediator. I am passionate about bringing into main stream behaviours (workplaces, educational facilities and family settings) the core principles of Bahá’í consultation which is to combine, experience, enthusiasm, diversity of views and backgrounds to create united and cohesive decision making processes. For the past 10 years I have witnessed first-hand the unifying and soothing effect of consultation in conflict settings and am excited about spending time exploring this topic with the participants at summer school.
About me:
I lived in Gibraltar for 18 years where I worked closely with Public Authorities and Private sector employers teaching peaceful conflict resolution methodology. I now live in Portugal, I am married to Peter and have two teenage children Dylan and Shadi. When not involved in Bahá’í core activities I enjoy walking, singing and watching movies!
Course 2
Studying the Bahá’í Writings
With Bill Jenkins
By the end of the course participants will have developed a plan for the study of the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu'l-Bahá over the next year, suited to their circumstances. The course will include an overview of all the books of English translations of the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh (12 books) and the Writings and talks of Abdu'l-Bahá (9 books), to enable participants to make an informed choice of what they will read or study. It will also explore our relationship to the Writings and how we find a pattern of study that works with the busy schedule of our lives.
The style of delivery:
The course will be a mix of presentations on the different books of Writings and small group work. The group work will involve both exploring representative portions of different texts, to help participants choose if that is what they would want to study, and reflecting on approaches to study and how regular reading and study can become part of the pattern of our lives.
About me:
Bill is a house-husband from Swansea with no special qualifications. He has written a plain language book for non-academic people on the study of Bahá’í Writings, which will be published by George Ronald later this year.
Course 3
The Fire of Love – A Deep Dive into the Tablet of Ahmad
With Corous Mohtadi
In this course, we journey back to the "Land of Mystery" (Adrianople) to explore the story surrounding the revelation of the Tablet of Ahmad. More than just a prayer for protection, this Tablet serves as a potent reminder of the Covenant and a roadmap for spiritual resilience. We will examine the historical urgency of the Adrianople period—a time of intense testing—and draw parallels to our own time as we navigate the opening years of the Nine Year Plan.
Key Themes & Connections
Our study will focus on three primary pillars:
- The Verities of the Faith: We will explore the Tablet’s "essential verities," connecting them to the Writings of the Báb and Baha’u’llah’s Book of Certitude.
- The Power of the Word: We will analyze the transformative, "creative nature" of the Word of God and how it acts as the primary engine for personal and collective change.
- Society Building & The Nine Year Plan: How does the "steadfastness" exemplified in this Tablet translate into the outward-looking orientation required by the current Plan? We will discuss how the spiritual insights gained from this Tablet can fuel our efforts in social action, public discourse, and the vibrant life of our clusters.
Methodology: From Study to Action
This will not be a passive lecture series. Through collaborative group study, interactive workshops, and creative arts, we will strive for a shared understanding that transcends the intellectual. Our goal is to see how the spiritual potency of this Tablet empowers us to contribute to the society-building powers of the Faith, turning mystical insights into "simple, practical steps" in our daily lives and service.
About me:
With a deep-seated passion for the Baha’i Writings, the facilitator has spent years exploring the Kitáb-i-Íqán (Book of Certitude) and the Significance of Baha’i Administration with summer school participants. His approach is focused on "teasing out" deeper meanings through the collective wisdom of the group. He believes that the most profound spiritual truths are those that can be lived out in the street, the neighborhood, and the community.
Course 4
Marriage: A Fortress for Well-Being
With Shirin and Danny
The Bahá’í community views the family unit as the nucleus of society - a space where spiritual qualities and capacities essential for personal growth and the betterment of the world are nurtured. Habits and behaviours cultivated within the family extend into the workplace, community, and society. Thus building healthy, unified marriages - described in the Bahá’í writings as a "fortress for well-being" - plays a vital role in fostering unity in the world.
This course is rooted in the Bahá’í writings, and draws on the 19 March 2025 message from the House of Justice on marriage and family life, but also draws on insights from social science research. It is designed for individuals and couples seeking to deepen their understanding and develop practical skills for building strong marriages. Diverse perspectives are welcome to enrich the learning experience.
Through interactive discussions and creative activities, participants will explore the following topics:
- Reconceptualizing marriage and family life
- Building equality between the sexes
- Navigating tests and difficulties
- The power of consultation: listening to understand, speaking to find truth
- Expressing love and kindness through deeds and words
- Cultivating a life of service
The course is led by a married couple who, for the past two decades, have worked professionally and within their communities to foster meaningful dialogue on marriage and family life. With extensive experience facilitating workshops, they bring insight, warmth, and a commitment to learning and reflection.
Course 5
Trustees of Nature - Growing Local Action
With Shashi and Crawford Prentice
The course aims to provide participants with an interactive and creative experience that will help to build their capacities for carrying out environmental activities in their own communities.
The course will review and explore some key concepts from the BIC Statement One Planet One Habitation in 2022 to deepen understanding of the Bahá’í perspective on our relationship with the natural world. Participants will also take part in a role play exercise that explores an environmental problem from different perspectives, conduct reportage for a summer school “bulletin” that explores community environment activities and participate in games with environmental themes. The intention is that the review of relevant Bahá’í guidance together with some practical experiences will stimulate participants to include more environmental-themed activities in their four core activities, with young people and other groups.
About us:
Both Shashi and Crawford Prentice have worked professionally in natural resource management and conservation for over 30 years.
Course 6
Living With Technological Disruption: Bahá'í Guidance, Dilemmas, Opportunities and Futures
With Ismael Valesco
Technological changes, discourses and questions are increasingly impacting our daily lives, our conversations, our communities and world order. How does technological change impact our community building, discourses and social action efforts here and now? How do Bahá'í texts help us understand the nature, possibilities and risks of the technologies around us? How can they equip us to navigate the practical dilemmas they create, and bring wisdom and unity to the conversations they engender? How do the Bahá'í writings inform our vision of the future and how does that vision guide our course?
It will be participatory, textual and consultative, including presentation, participatory/creative group activities, small group text study and discussion and group presentations.
About me:
Over the past 30+ years I've systematically pursued, simultaneously and against the norm, professional excellence as a software engineer and responsible technologist (including 15 years in AI, first symbolic, then agentic, then generative, and now agentic once more); as an environmental researcher and policy influencer; and as a social action and policy practitioner from the grassroots to the globe. Even though pursuing these multiple careers as one journey of impact meant moving slower up the status ladder of each, it still felt necessary and true to both, my full self and my conviction that we need to understand the world from multiple angles if we are to find solutions to our global problems.
Course 7
Study of 31 December 2025 Message
With Steven Cleasby and Fariba Oak
We will explore the current series of Bahá’í Plans, with particular attention to the Nine Year Plan, its aims, features, and direction.
The session will review the first four years of the Plan, looking at what has been learned, what has shifted, and what has been achieved so far. We will also consider the guidance expected at Riḍván, together with insights emerging from the global institutional meetings now taking place.
Looking ahead to the next five years, we will reflect on the vision for the second phase of the Plan and help friends think practically about what this may mean in their own communities.
Particular attention will be given to the role of the arts, social media, and film as ways of sharing experience, building connection, and supporting community life.
Course 8
Betterment of the World (BoTW)
With Ian Holland
This dynamic course will acquaint participants with insights and learning from Bahá’í communities around the world in how they are applying Bahá’í principles through social action to solve challenges at the local level. Participants will reflect on the learning generated for application in their own communities. Following a brief introduction to BoTW and the application of spiritual principles, the course covers humanity’s movement toward collective maturity; oneness and justice; coherence between spiritual and material development; universal participation, capacity building, organic growth and learning as a mode of operation. Using short video clips from ‘Frontiers of Learning’ and ‘An Expansive Prospect’ we drop in (virtually!) on communities in South & North America, Africa, Asia and Europe to assess progress.
Style of Delivery:
Using the BoTW publication as the basis (available on site at the Bahá’í bookshop for a nominal fee), structured sessions engage participants in a mixture of small group study and collective plenary reflection and learning. We have video materials to gain insights into how various communities are applying this social action framework to the unique challenges of their own contexts. The course encourages collaboration in learning, universal participation, and occasional artistic expression. We join the group as individuals and leave as a family.
About me:
Your tutor is passionate about development. After a second career with the United Nations in multiple countries, he is the founder and Co-Director of One World Development Associates, a Bahá’í inspired organisation that continues to provide consultancy services to the United Nations.
Course 9
Education, work, wealth & service
Representatives from the Board of Huquq’u’lláh
Bahá’ís are asked to distinguish themselves by their spiritual qualities, not by their wealth, and their endeavour to acquire a craft, trade, or profession to support themselves and their families.
Join us for an engaging, interactive course exploring the Bahá’í teachings on education, work, wealth and service.
Through discussion, art, stories, and reflection, we will examine together how to lead a coherent life that blends professional success, ethical prosperity, and a meaningful contribution to society.
This course is for you if you are considering how:
- to balance material success with service and spiritual purpose
- to fulfil the goals of life through educational and career choices
- everyday life can be an act of worship
- to re-evaluate what wealth really means
- to think about the meaning of success
Come ready to reflect, learn, and be inspired!
The course is offered by the Institution of Huquq’u’lláh.
Day Course - Thursday 13th August
The Bahá’ís: politics, conflict and peace
With Deyhim Foroughi
We shall be defining our views on the themes in this topic by discussing concepts such as ..”.. Bahá’ís belong to God’s party..they are the agents of His Divine polity..” ..how do we define Divine polity..?
How should we understand and explain the “..two processes at work..”?
“..refrain from associating themselves with schemes and programs of parties and factions..”
Is there a Bahá’í peace program..?
We shall make reference to messages of the Universal House of Justice, the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi.
Day Course (flexible) - Friday 14th August
Global collaboration? The United Nations, other international institutions and international law
With Wendi Momen
This course gives an overview of the development of the current international framework for international collaboration, and considers where it is today and where it might go. Reference will be made to Bahá'í texts to enhance our understanding of the evolution of such institutions and law: 'Abdu'l-Bahá, The Secret of Divine Civilization, Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, Letters of the Universal House of Justice and statements of the Bahá'í International Community. It is not necessary to have studied these in advance. All materials will be provided. It would be useful if those attending could pose some questions they might like to see discussed.
About:
Wendi is a free-lance editor and publisher, working primarily with George Ronald, Publisher. She is also a soroptimist, company member of UN Women UK, chair of the governing Board of ebbf (a business ethics network), treasurer of the executive board of the Bedford Council of Faiths, trustee of the Ashworth Charitable Trust, a member of the Court of Governors of London School of Economics, a magistrate, a trustee of Widows' Rights International, a trustee of NAWO (National Alliance of Women's Organisations) and a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom.
Day Course - Saturday 15th August
Generating Joy
with Karen O’Donoghue
In this course we will be looking at some quotations from Ruhi Book One and other sources on Joy, using a format that is joyful and inclusive.
