HIGHLIGHTS from 2006 Season COMING . . .

Great Plains Chautauqua

The Great Plains Chautauqua is a revival of the traveling tent chautauquas that entertained and educated Kansans during the first decades of the 20th century.

Today people gather each evening on the plains of Kansas under the blue-and-white chautauqua tent to visit with scholars portraying famous Americans from history.

Daily workshops for adults and special events for children are held throughout the community during Chautauqua week. All Chautauqua events are free!

From Sea to Shining Sea:
American Expansion and Cultural Change, 1790-1850

Each evening will feature a first-person historical characterization of William Clark, Sacagawea, or York of the Lewis and Clark expedition, America's richest man John Jacob Astor, or the great Shawnee leader Tecumseh, all hosted by America's first lady Dolley Madison.

Special Events for Youth

See the fun for young people in photos from Chautauqua 2005!

Families will find plenty to do this June during Great Plains Chautauqua. Under the Kid-Tauqua tent each evening from 6-7:30 PM, children can try on replica clothing items from the time period, test their skills with period games, make a one-of-a-kind Chautauqua coloring book, and participate in other fun activities.

Youth Chautauqua Camp: During this 5-day camp (2-5 PM daily), young people will have the opportunity to become historians, researchers, scriptwriters, and performers. Intended for grades 5-8, participants will have a chance to become a figure from early Kansas history. They will research an individual's life and times, create costumes, and perform under the big Chautauqua tent on Tuesday evening. Registration required (local youth coordinator contact info and local registration forms will be available Spring 2006). The Youth Chautauqua Camp is taught by Ann Birney and Joyce Thierer, co-directors of Ride into History.

Kid-Tauqua and the Youth Chautauqua Camp are sponsored by KHC with funding provided in part by the Kansas Health Foundation, Wichita, Kansas. The Kansas Health Foundation is a philanthropic organization whose mission is to improve the health of all Kansans.

For youth activities in a specific community, see complete schedules below when available. All youth activities are free!

2006

SEDAN • June 16-20, 2006

June 15 Tent raising
June 16-20 Evening tent presentations featuring historical characters
June 16-20 Daytime programs for adults & special events for youth & children

Click here for schedule of events in Sedan. See you there!

McPHERSON • June 23-27, 2006

June 22 Tent raising
June 23-27 Evening tent presentations featuring historical characters
June 23-27 Daytime programs for adults & special events for youth & children

Click here for schedule of events in McPherson. See you there!

2005

Visit the GPC 2005 photo gallery to see June 2005 events in Manhattan and Liberal. And see the fun for young people in photos from Chautauqua 2005!

2004

Visit the GPC 2004 photo gallery to see June 2004 events in Dodge City and Winfield.

TOP