Chautauqua returns with nature series, disaster films, & educational programs

The Pennsylvania Chautauqua has announced its summer programs for 2025, continuing a Mount Gretna tradition that began in 1892.

The series is open to the public and funded entirely by donation.

The Chautauqua movement began in the mid-1800s, a press release explained, with the goal of lectures and other adult education programs to rural communities. The selection of summer programs is based on the four pillars of the Chautauqua movement: arts, education, recreation, and religion. An all-volunteer committee coordinates the planning of summer programming, meeting annually from November through March, with members seeking out lectures, exhibits, concerts, news articles, and books as inspiration for program topics.

Read More: Pennsylvania’s 133-year-old Chautauqua brings the movement’s ‘four pillars’

“Just within Mount Gretna, we have any number of talented people who willingly share their stories and expertise with us,” Sue Hostetter, chair of the PA Chautauqua Summer Programs Committee, said in the release. “In addition, we are fortunate to have relationships with excellent colleges within a 20-mile radius of us.”

This year, summer programming includes a Nature Week Series highlighted by Doug Tallamy. Tallamy will give two talks on Tuesday, July 22, on two of his books: “Homegrown National Park” and “How Can I Help.” The other talks during the week include “Good Bugs Bad Bugs” with Dr. Chris Riley, “Critters & Creatures” with Patrick Miller, “Rachel Carson: Silent Spring” with Colleen Webster, and “Soldier’s Field Meadow: A Community Ecological Restoration Project” with Elyse Jurgen.

The Pennsylvania Chautauqua again is collaborating with Gretna Music. This summer they will provide dance classes as well as programs for children, such as the Gretna Music 4Kids with Telegraph Quartet where local musicians will show how their string instruments work.

Also new this summer is the Conversation Cafe for a Day. This day-long event on Saturday, July 12, includes discussion and viewing of two documentaries – one on organic regenerative farming titled “Common Ground: Saving the Planet One Acre at a Time,” and another on the state of the fourth estate called “Stripped for Parts.” Lunch will be provided by Chef on the Go and the event will be closed out with a family-owned vineyard’s story followed by a wine tasting.

The summer film series will follow the theme of disaster. Each Wednesday in July the following 1970s films will be screened: “The Poseidon Adventure,” “Airport,” “The Towering Inferno,” and “Earthquake.”

On Saturday, Aug. 9, the Chautauqua will host a “City as Text” event, a nationally recognized program that will use Mount Gretna to intentionally explore the architecture, history, geography, and culture of the local area. This exploration will examine the differences among the communities in the Chautauqua, Camp Meeting, Kauffman Heights, Timber Hill, Stoberdale, Conewago Hill, and other areas of Mount Gretna. Register online.

Learn about Labyrinths on Friday, June 20, will provide participants with the history and context necessary for a labyrinth walk on Saturday, June 21.

Worship services this summer will follow the theme of “Awe & Wonder.” On Sunday, July 6, Rabbi Sam Yolen from the Keshner Israel Congregation will lead a worship service. On Sunday, July 13, the service will be led by Rev. Amy Shorner-Johnson, chaplain at Elizabethtown College. On Sunday, July 27, there will be a nondenominational jazz worship service presented by Gretna Music.

The religion discussion series will meet weekly on Thursdays to discuss “Mortality and Meaning.” This six-part series, led by Dr. Randall Zachman and Dr. Lee Barrett, will explore distinct ways religion and philosophy have sought to guide queries on both journey and destination.

On Thursday, June 12, there will be a Marbury v. Madison lecture in the Hall of Philosophy. Dr. Bob Frick will present the legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court first declared an act of Congress unconstitutional, thus establishing the doctrine of judicial review. On Friday, June 13, the “Brain Science & the Criminal Mind” lecture, hosted by Dr. Joel Eigen, Franklin & Marshall professor of sociology emeritus, will consider how receptive the courts have been to the increasingly assertive testimony based on biology and the brain in regard to criminal responsibility.

On Tuesday, June 17, Rosanne Sietins, long-time ambassador for The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, will give a talk on “Elephants: The Big Story.” On Thursday, June 26, there will be a lecture on the “History of Recorded Sound” with Shawn Patrick and Nick Sieber. Records will be played from the turn of the 20th century to 1930. On Friday, June 27, the “History of FDA” lecture will be led by LVC professor Liz Sterner, who will speak on the USA’s food/medicine pre-FDA and how the FDA developed and take a closer look at the strengths and weaknesses of the FDA today.

On Thursday, July 3, the Hall of Philosophy will host “The Other Mrs. Roosevelt: First Lady Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt & Quentin, Pennsylvania,” with Jean-Paul Benowitz, taking a closer look at the wife of Theodore Roosevelt. On Thursday, July 10, Yasmin Brown, local resident and Whole Health social worker, will discuss “Coping for Stress Management,” looking at the meaning of stress, how it impacts people both mentally and physically, and proactive ways to increase one’s resistance to stress. On Friday, July 11, Bruce E. Mowday, award-winning author and newspaper reporter, will examine the life of Marquis Lafayette.

On Thursday, July 17, Mount Gretna will have its inaugural History Slam featuring Jean-Paul Benowitz. On Saturday, July 19, Jeff Grimshaw will focus on surviving and thriving in an uncertain world with his “Agile/Anti-Fragility” talk. On Friday, Aug. 8, Andrew Owen will lead a talk on “The Matrix: The Science Behind the Fiction.”

Many of the programs do not require advanced registration; however, some classes do have size limits, deadlines, and fees to cover the costs of materials. All summer programs can be found at pachautauqua.info or mtgretna.org. Click on “Summer Programs” for more details. For questions, please call the Visitor’s Center at 717-200-1187 or email pachautauqua@gmail.com.