Chautauquas popped up all over the United States toward the end of the nineteenth century, and served as adult educational communities where people could learn by listening to speakers and attending educational programs.
The Pennsylvania Chautauqua is located in Mt. Gretna and has been in operation for over 125 years.
The mission of the Pennsylvania Chautauqua is “advancement of literary, scientific, intellectual, physical and social welfare, and the promotion of cultural and religious activities, recreation and entertainment.”
The programs scheduled for this summer at the Chautauqua will cover all of that and more.
Here are some of this summer’s highlights. See the entire list of 2019 summer events here. (To get involved, donate, or learn more about the Pennsylvania Chautauqua, visit their website.)
June 14 – Feathered Hunters: Hawks & Owls
Part of the Chautauqua’s Friday night series, Naturalist Jack Hubley will be offering an up close and personal experience with birds of prey.
July 11 – Theme And Variation: Musical Notes By A Neurologist
Renowned neurologist Dr. Carl Ellenberger will breakdown why certain types of music are appealing to listeners and how playing music can provide benefits and exercise the brain.
June 28 – Living in Space
Jim O’Leary, Senior Scientist from the Maryland Science Center discusses the early NASA and Soviet space programs, the effects that living in space have on the human body, and includes a video tour of the International Space Center.
July 13 – Chautauqua University For a Day
University for a Day will offer those in attendance the chance to listen to a series of lectures on an array of different topics.
Author Michael Long will discuss Jackie Robinson and how his faith helped as he made his way into Major League Baseball in “Jackie Robinson: A Spiritual Journey.”
“Refugees – A World Wide Crisis Development” will be presented by development and communication director for Church World Service Lancaster, Stephanie Gromek, and cover the growing worldwide humanitarian crisis.
Dr. Marlene Arnold’s “Conestoga: The Untold Story of The Founding of America” delves into the characters and events that took place in Lancaster and south-eastern Pennsylvania during the eighteenth century.
And finally, Kevin Pry will offer a look at the history of comedy in literature and performance in “Comedy, Satire, and Farce.”
Tickets for the day will cost $50 and include lunch and a wine and cheese tasting session after the event.
August 27 – Cheese Making with Caputo Brothers
All summer long, the Chautauqua will be offering craft classes. The series wraps up with a crash course in cheese making with Spring Grove’s Caputo Brothers Creamery. Registration is $15 and must be done by August 20.
