Events for Youth

Families found plenty to do during Kansas Chautauqua.

Under the Kid-Tauqua tent each evening, children tried on replica clothing items from the Kansas Territorial period, tested their skills with period games like ball and cup, made one-of-a-kind Chautauqua coloring books, and participated in other fun activities.

Workshops led by the Chautauquans were held each afternoon and those in the youth camp performed as historical characters under the big tent!

A sample schedule of the youth events follows:

Junction City

FRIDAY, June 4 (All events in Heritage Park.)
10-10:30 AM . . . Kid-Tauqua
Stick horse races & Horseshoes for 3-6 yr olds.
1-2 PM . . . Folktales of African Peoples in America
Children's Workshop with Charles Pace (during the evening programs Pace portrays Frederick Douglass, former slave and national abolitionist leader). Charles will share folktales with participants, focusing on those of African peoples in America. Why are folktales important? What can they teach us? Geared for school-aged children.
2-5 PM . . . Youth Chautauqua Camp
During this 5-day camp, young people will have the opportunity to become historians, researchers, scriptwriters, and actors. Intended for children grades 5-8, participants will have a chance to become a figure from that most dramatic time in Kansas history, the Bleeding Kansas era. They will research an individual's life and times, write and learn some fascinating stories (what happened in Grasshopper Falls? Who stole the ballot boxes? What was a Jayhawker?), create costumes, and perform under the big Chautauqua tent. Registration required. The Youth Chautauqua Camp is taught by Ann Birney and Joyce Thierer, co-owners of Ride Into History. Dorothy Bramlage Public Library.
4:30-5 PM . . . Kid-Tauqua
Story Time for families & children.
5-6:45 PM . . . Kid-Tauqua Tent Activities
Intended for families with children of all ages. Under a chautauqua tent, families will have a chance to learn about Native Americans in Kansas, create a Chautauqua coloring book, play territorial games such as cup and ball and hoop and stick, and try on period costumes.
7:30 PM . . . Tent program featuring Frederick Douglass.

SATURDAY, June 5 (All events in Heritage Park.)
10-10:45 AM . . . Kid-Tauqua
Prairie Animals by Milford Nature Center.
11 AM-Noon . . . Important Places and Faces
Children's Workshop with Dave Dickerson (during the evening programs Dickerson portrays David Atchison, U.S. Senator from Missouri who supported the extension of slavery). Using maps, participants will explore where in Kansas and Missouri the "border war" took place. What did the surrounding areas look like? How long would it take for a Missourian on horseback to get to Kansas. Children will also examine the lives of Andrew H. Reeder, James H. Lane, David Rice Atchison, and Charles A. Hamelton. Geared for school-aged children.
1-2 PM . . . Growing Up in the Territory
Children's Workshop with Fred Krebs (during the evening programs Krebs portrays Stephen A. Douglas, U.S. Senator from Illinois who sponsored the Kansas-Nebraska Act). Discover what it was like to be a child in Kansas 150 years ago. Did you go to school? What kinds of chores did you do? What did you eat? What did your house look like? Geared for school-aged children.
2-5 PM . . . Youth Chautauqua Camp, Day #2
During this 5-day camp, young people will have the opportunity to become historians, researchers, scriptwriters, and actors. Registration required.
4:30-5 PM . . . Kid-Tauqua
Folk songs by Bryan McBride.
5-6:45 PM . . . Kid-Tauqua Tent Activities
Intended for families with children of all ages. Under a smaller chautauqua tent, families will have a chance to learn about Native Americans in Kansas, create a Chautauqua coloring book, play territorial games such as cup and ball and hoop and stick, and try on period costumes.
7:30 PM . . . Tent program featuring Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas.

SUNDAY, June 6 (All events in Heritage Park.)
1-2 PM . . . Tall Tales of Territorial Times
Children's Workshop with Fred Krebs (during the evening programs Krebs portrays Stephen A. Douglas, U.S. Senator from Illinois who sponsored the Kansas-Nebraska Act). Examine the stories, truth and fiction, that made Kansas such a hot-topic of conversation during the "Bleeding Kansas" era. Geared for school-aged children.
2-5 PM . . . Youth Chautauqua Camp, Day #3
During this 5-day camp, young people will have the opportunity to become historians, researchers, scriptwriters, and actors. Registration required.
4:30-5 PM . . . Kid-Tauqua
Prairie Costume Pageant & Contest for pre-school to 5th grade.
5-6:45 PM . . . Kid-Tauqua Tent Activities
Intended for families with children of all ages. Under a smaller chautauqua tent, families will have a chance to learn about Native Americans in Kansas, create a Chautauqua coloring book, play territorial games such as cup and ball and hoop and stick, and try on period costumes.
7:30 PM . . . Tent program featuring Clarina Nichols.

MONDAY, June 7 (All events in Heritage Park.)
10-10:30 AM . . . Kid-Tauqua
Story time for families and children.
1-2 PM . . . All Aboard the Undergrouund Railroad
Children's Workshop with Diane Eickhoff (during the evening programs Eickhoff portrays Clarina Nichols, abolitionist and champion of women's suffrage and temperance). Find out about the role of the Underground Railroad in Kansas. How did it work? Why was it called a railroad? Geared for school-aged children.
2-5 PM . . . Youth Chautauqua Camp, Day #4
During this 5-day camp, young people will have the opportunity to become historians, researchers, scriptwriters, and actors. Registration required.
4:30-5 PM . . . Kid-Tauqua
Craft project for elementary students (K-5).
5-6:45 PM . . . Kid-Tauqua Tent Activities
Intended for families with children of all ages. Under a smaller chautauqua tent, families will have a chance to learn about Native Americans in Kansas, create a Chautauqua coloring book, play territorial games like cup and ball, yo-yos, and hoop and stick, and try on period costumes.
7:30 PM . . . Tent program featuring David Atchison.

TUESDAY, June 8 (All events in Heritage Park.)
10-10:30 AM . . . Kid-Tauqua
Prairie Games for elementary students (K-5).
1-2 PM . . . Dear Mr. President
Children's Workshop with Richard Johnson (during the evening programs Johnson portrays Abraham Lincoln, 16th President who toured Kansas as a candidate). Hear letters written to Abraham Lincoln regarding his campaign and his presidency. Were any written by children? What would you have written to President Lincoln? Geared for school-aged children.
2-5 PM . . . Youth Chautauqua Camp, Day #5
During this 5-day camp, young people will have the opportunity to become historians, researchers, scriptwriters, and actors. Registration required.
5-7 PM . . . Youth Chautauqua Camp presentations under the Big Tent
Participants in the camp will give 3-5 minute presentations as their historical character. Audience members will have a chance to see and hear local historical figures come to life.
5-6:45 PM . . . Kid-Tauqua Tent Activities
Intended for families with children of all ages. Under a smaller chautauqua tent, families will have a chance to learn about Native Americans in Kansas, create a Chautauqua coloring book, play territorial games like cup and ball, yo-yos, and hoop and stick, and try on period costumes.
7:30 PM . . . Tent program featuring John Brown.

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