Chautauqua Wawasee celebrates 130 years of the Oakwood Park tradition.

Chautauqua Wawasee celebrates 130 years of the Oakwood Park tradition.

For the past 12 years, Chautauqua Wawasee has offered life-enriching programs while continuing the 130-year Oakwood Park tradition. In 1893, Oakwood Park became a permanent camp meeting ground when purchased by the Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Church, succeeded by the Evangelical United Brethren Church and later the United Methodist Church. James S. Hook, the author of Oakwood’s First Century 1893-1993, said that the history of Oakwood Park is about “lives changed, lives enriched, vows made, relationships developed, dreams encouraged, hopes renewed, prayers said and the spiritual experienced.”

With the philanthropic commitment of Howard Brembeck, in 1993 the Oakwood Foundation received Oakwood Park’s hotel and other properties. The Foundation continued Oakwood Park’s long tradition as a recreational, cultural, and spiritual retreat center. Falling upon difficult financial times, the Foundation was placed into receivership from which the hotel and other properties were sold. During this time, the Oakwood Park tradition began its third life with the creation of Chautauqua Wawasee.

Lake Wawasee resident Ann Strong Wade was familiar with the Chautauqua Institution in New York, which also started as a Methodist church camp in 1874 and has its own traditions based upon four pillars (arts, education, religion, and recreation). At this time, Ann envisioned the possibility of having a Chautauqua-like organization in Syracuse and founded Chautauqua Wawasee. After three years of planning with the support of the receiver, Ann’s vision became a reality in 2011, with 14 events held over two weekends. In 2014, Chautauqua Wawasee was merged with the Oakwood Foundation as an independent non-profit organization. Ann has served on the organization’s board of directors since then.

Ann Strong Wade

Over the past 12 years, Chautauqua Wawasee has hosted or participated in over 120 programs. Events are based upon the four Chautauqua pillars with a mission to help make Syracuse and the region a great place to visit, live, work and raise a family. Chautauqua Wawasee adds new programs every year, reviews participant’s feedback, and maintains favorite past events including core programs such as the Oakwood Fine Art Festival, Patriotic Speaker series and Patriotic Pops concert, local history series, and Old-Fashioned Christmas.

The following is a list of all events over the past 12 years:

2011:
7/1 Children’s choir, balloon glow
7/2 Balloon race, flotilla run, Wawasee Days speaker, Ft. Wayne Philharmonic
7/3 Worship service, community picnic, Reimagining America program
7/16 Wawasee Days speaker, music performance
7/17 Worship service, Reimagining America program, campfire/sing along

2012:
7/19 Artistic evenings – Larry Rudolech
7/21 Hobby shop for children
7/21 The Ground Up – Jack Elam
7/22 Neighbors in our World series, Quaker religion – Jim McAdams
7/26 Artistic evenings – Douglas Grant
7/28 Hobby shop for children
7/28 Show N Tell
7/29 Neighbors in our World series, Amish faith – Susan Miller

2013:
7/21 Grassroots peacemaking in the Middle East from a Christian perspective-John Lapp
7/28 Muslim-Christian dialogue – Amir J. Tamir Rasheed & Dr. Terry Anderson, facilitated by Dr. L Michael Spath
8/4 How people of different faiths can work together for the common good – Dr. Kent Millard

2014:
5/30 Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Experience
6/28 Art Blast
6/28 Ft. Wayne Philharmonic Patriotic Pops Concert
7/4 Flotilla Road Race
7/7-7/11 Chautauqua Week
7/7 Past, present & preservation adventure, two-piano recital with dynamic duo Marianne Tobias and Anita Cast.
7/8 Peace pole project, Creative Fish, finding peace while searching for God – Rev. John Denson, Lunch & lecture with Ron Manahan, Knitting 101, Jazz performance with Kevin Piekarski & Dave Latchaw.
7/9 Building for tomorrow – George Srour, lunch & lecture – Dr. Welling Hall, Felted Flowers with Michelle, Sons of Bill outdoor concert
7/10 Peace pole project, Creative Fish (part 2), Is peace possible – R. Scott Appleby, Lunch & lecture Jim Brennaman, needle fleeting with Michelle, The Schmidts & First Love performance
7/11 Interfaith lecture, the religious scientific dialogue: how to debate ideas, Frank Levinson, Nate Bosch, Brian Murphy, Past, Present & preservation adventure Lillypad cruise – part 2
7/11-13 Paint Out
7/12 Tour Des Lakes Cycling
7/26 Hope Floats – Cardboard Boat Regatta
9/6 Oakwood Fine Arts Festival
10/11 OAKtoberfest

2015:
4/23 The promise and peril of human enhancement: will technology put an end to disability?
5/22 Josh Kaufman in concert
6/16 Learn what motivates and gives you meaning: the power of archetypes
7/5 Ft. Wayne Philharmonic concert
7/11 Tour des Lakes Cycling Adventure

7/23 Chautauqua on the Lawn: Multicultural musical experience with saxophonist George Wolfe & pianist James Helton
8/15 Holly Combs: Don’t label me!
9/12 Oakwood Fine Arts Festival
10/3 OAKtoberfest
10/11-13 Finding spiritual gold in the second half of life with Kaye Lindauer

2016:
4/15 Purdue Varsity Glee Club performance
5/27 Wine, Cheese & Chocolate experience
6/28 Ft. Wayne Philharmonic concert
7/4 Flotilla Road Race
7/9 Tour des Lakes
8/27 Oakwood Fine Arts Festival

2017:
4/10-15 RemedyLive schooled tour
5/15-20 Family series week
6/2 Wine, Cheese & Chocolate experience
6/5-8 Teen Comedy Improv camp
7/2 Ft. Wayne Philharmonic pops concert
7/4 Flotilla road race
7/6-7 iPhone photography seminar
8/26 Oakwood Fine Arts Festival
10/13 Purdue Varsity Glee Club
10/15 Lillypad Fall Color Tour
10/15-19 Chautauqua week
11/7 1 st Annual Chautauqua celebration

2018:
4/16 Bruised reeds & smoldering wicks – Chris Haughee
6/27 Ft. Wayne Philharmonic Patriotic concert
6/30 Oakwood SummerFest
7/13-15 Plein air painting
8/24 Art festival – wine reception
8/25 Oakwood fine arts festival
9/7-9 1 st annual Wawasee jazz party
10/1 Celebrate Chautauqua banquet
10/19 Funny & Alone – Bobby Bones
10/20 You’re not alone – Becky Savage

2019:
1/25 Winter Carnival Dance.
1/25-6 Winter Carnival

3/15 Zumba Party Oakwood Banquet Hall
3/15 Preventing Loss -Drug Prevention Program to Four High Schools convocations.
5/23 LillyPad Wawasee Cruise.
6/22 Oakwood Fine Arts Festival
6/15 Patriotic Pops Concert
9/5 Algonquin inhabitants of Indiana’s Forest – Joe Krom
9/6 Prehistory of northeast Indiana and the Midwest – Steve Hart
9/7 J.P. Dolan Native American Collection – Jamie Clemons, Ann Garceau, Jeff Mesaros
10/15 LillyPad Fall Color Tour
11/15 Being Mortal book discussion – Atul Gawande
11/30 Old-fashioned Christmas

2020:
1/24 The Book of Joy book discussion
2/8 Gardening in the face of a changing climate
2/20 Chair yoga for seniors
6/28 Patriotic pops concert (canceled due to covid)
7/30 Enhanced fitness for seniors with Parkview Y (canceled)
7/31 Historical “Then and Now” Lake Wawasee cruise
8/15 Oakwood fine arts festival
8/26 Mapping Indiana’s suffrage history
8/29 Woman’s suffrage centennial ice cream social
9/3 Elm bark canoe construction
9/4 Native American artifacts (weapons, tools & more)
9/5 Legends, lore & legacies of Northeast Indians
9/5 Hoosier suffragists who raised a ruckus
10/10 Lake Wawasee “Did you know?” fall cruise
10/23 Purdue Varsity Glee Club (canceled)
10/27 Fall prevention with Parkview Health (canceled)
11/28 Old Fashioned Christmas (canceled)

2021:
4/24 Gardening in the face of a changing climate – John Edgerton
5/1 WACF’s earth day
5/20 Historical Lake Wawasee cruise
5/30 Taps across the water
6/12 Oakwood Wawasee fine arts festival
6/27 Chautauqua patriot’s day: Abraham Lincoln talk
6/27 Chautauqua patriot’s day: Ft. Wayne Philharmonic pops concert
7/15 Lake fun
8/7 Chautauqua lakes film festival
9/2 Native American history of Northern Indiana
9/3 Kosciusko County: Paleo to Potawatomi
9/4 Native American history

10/6 Resurrection Peacemaking: Are we bold enough? – Cliff Kindy
10/7 “Then & Now” Lake Wawasee historical cruise
11/27 Old-fashioned Christmas

2022:
4/22 Purdue Varsity Glee Club
4/30 WACF earth day
5/19 Lake Wawasee “points of interest” historical cruise
5/29 Taps across the water as dusk
6/26 Patriot’s Day talk-Thomas Jefferson
6/26 Patriot’s Day pops concert – Ft. Wayne Philharmonic
8/6 Family fun film festival
9/1 Using maps to unlock the past
9/2 Reenacting Richard Stone’s journal
9/3 Northern Indiana history
9/27-29 Chautauqua trails annual meeting
9/28 Kindy workshop
9/29 Lake Wawasee “Then & Now” historical cruise
11/26 Old-fashioned Christmas

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Five Things You Should Know About Chautauqua-Wawasee – An interview from The Mail-Journal with Mark Knecht

Five Things You Should Know About Chautauqua-Wawasee

The Mail-Journal recently sat down with Mark Knecht, the President of Chautauqua-Wawasee, to talk about their organization and future plans.

Mail-Journal: What do you want readers to know about Chautauqua?

Knecht: Well, a lot of people don’t know who we are and what we do, so that would be a good place to start.

Mail-Journal: Ok, let’s start with that.

Knecht: Our primary goal is to help make Syracuse and the region a great place to visit, work, live and raise a family. We try to do this by offering unique programs consistent with the four Chautauqua pillars: Arts, Education, Faith and Recreation.

Mail-Journal: That’s a very broad scope. How do you decide on programming with the pillars?

Knecht: Yes, it is very broad. So, we try to pick specific voids no one else is providing. For example, we have a Patriotic Speaker series around July 4. We brought an Abe Lincoln re-enactor one year, Thomas Jefferson this year and next year it will be Abagail Adams and Martha Washington. We’re excited!

Mail-Journal: Does Chautauqua-Wawasee do this all on its own?

Knecht: No. our goal is always to partner with another organization or two or sometimes more. As an example, for our Old Fashioned Christmas program, we team with the Town of Syracuse, the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce, the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum, Syracuse Rotary Club, Boy Scouts, Oakwood Resort and Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation. It’s a huge effort led by Kip Schumm. Nearly 1,000 people attended in 2021. It’s always best to work as a team.

Mail-Journal: That makes sense. Looking back on 2022, what are you particularly proud of?

Knecht: Oh, that’s a tough one. The Fine Arts Festival is very successful. But I’d say I heard more comments about “Taps Across the Water at Dusk” program than any other program. We still have some areas on the three lakes where people have come out to listen, and couldn’t hear it. We’ve got to work on that again next year…The wind is a big factor affecting how far sound travels.

Mail-Journal: What kind of programs do you have in the Faith Pillar?

Knecht: This year Cliff Kindy is conducting a workshop around the question “what if Christians were as passionate about peace as warfighters are about war”. Cliff is an amazing person who lives his faith. He’s traveled to dangerous trouble spots around the world with Christian Peacekeeper Teams and will share some of his stories and experiences on September 28 as part of the National Chautauqua Conference meetings.

Mail-Journal: What’s that all about?

Knecht: We will be hosting the National Conference of North American Chautauqua organizations at the end of September. Chautauqua-Wawasee is one of 19 independent Chautauqua organizations. We all get together once a year to share ideas and learn from each other. This is the first time the National Conference is being held here in Syracuse.

Mail-Journal: How does Chautauqua-Wawasee function, since most of its programs are free to attend?

Knecht: 95% of the work is done by volunteers…Chautauqua’s and the partners we team with. We want as many people as possible to have access to our programs, so making them free to attend works best. Our funding comes from the Howard and Myra Brembeck Foundation, Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Harkless Foundation, Lilly Foundation and from donations received during our annual fundraising campaign.

Mail-Journal: How do people learn about the programs and events you offer?

Knecht: We publish an e-newsletter called “Five Things You Should Know” …five times a year. It’s a quick read. Our website, chautauquawawasee.org is always up-to-date, and we regularly post on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

 

Thank you to The Mail-Journal for allowing us to post this article. 

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Syracuse Food Pantry’s “Support a Family” program

Because there has been a surge in need, the Syracuse Food Pantry is reemphasizing its “Support a Family” program.  They serve about 100 families from Turkey Creek township per month.  Families get about 1 week’s supply of food, cleaning supplies, and dry goods per visit and are only allowed to visit once per month.  The Food Pantry stocks primarily non-perishable food, but also has 5 residential freezers and 2 refrigerators for perishable food.  They also collect clothing.

The food bank is located in the basement of Grace Lutheran Church on Main Street, next to the Library.  Hours are Monday and Tuesday 9-12pm and 1-4:15pm and Wednesday 9-12pm.  Contact Arlene Glover at syracusefoodpantry@gmail.com or (574) 457-5450 with any questions.

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Local History 3-Programs Series a Success

Local History 3-Programs Series a Success

Chautauqua-Wawasee and Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum joined together to offer three programs exploring local history for the period from the 1750s to the 1850s. The programs were in support of Archaeology Month. All programs were free to attend.

The first program, held Thursday evening at the Syracuse Community Center, featured Kosciusko County Surveyor, Mike Kissinger, who shared his knowledge and history of how Thomas Jefferson initiated the public land survey system in 1780, and how Indiana land was mapped and surveyed northward from the Ohio River. Surveyors reached the Wabash River by the mid-1820s with Indian Land remaining north of there. The 1826 Treaty of Mississinewa resulted in the Miami and Potawatomi Tribes ceding land north of the Wabash River to the United States. The treaty also established several Indian reservations, including Papakeechie’s Reserve in our area. Surveying continued around these reserves. Mike’s presentation included old surveyors’ journals and maps that show the location of natural landmarks, original lake names, Indian trails, and “forgotten” schools. The presentation was to an overflow audience of 55 regional people. Mike indicated that copies of all of the historical maps used are available in the Kosciusko County Surveyor’s Office or the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum. After the program concluded, many visited with the presenter asking questions and sharing their own personal knowledge of interesting local lakes area history.

Friday evening’s program was presented by Jim Hossler who read and shared information from Richard Stone’s Journal from the period 1827 to 1842. In April 1827, Richard Stone and his family arrived after nearly a month-long (winter) journey from Philadelphia and settled near the junction of what is now U.S. 33 and SR 5. He and his family set up a tavern for travelers and traders to stop along their way from Fort Wayne and Goshen. Jim relayed that the mail carrier took three weeks for the round trip between Goshen and Fort Wayne…talk about slow mail! Jim shared stories about that period including one about
Thanksgiving; it was typically celebrated as four days, not just one. He recounted Interactions with local native Americans as well. The presentation was followed with a vibrant question and answer session. Approximately 49 people attended Saturday’s weather was perfect for the outdoor program held at Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation enabling a record turnout. Pictures below illustrate some of the six different exhibits and activities which included:

  •  Joe Zdziebko, dressed as a 1750s French Marine, held an audience spellbound with stories of weapons, furs, maps and old sayings that are still used today.
  • Michelle Edington and Alex Valentine (who filled in for Jim Bickel) were on hand examining old artifacts the public brought seeking identification and how they were used.
  • Dan Lima, portraying a captain in the French militia, seated on the ground surrounded by historical artifacts, told many stories including how the cultural differences between native Americans who were hunters, and white settlers who were farmers, created communication issues and conflict.
  • Mike Hudson, dressed as a pioneer settler, relayed information about pioneer life in 1825-1850.
  • The always popular Jeff Mesaros was on hand demonstrating his flintknapping skills and technique.

Another popular activity was Museum Director Jamie Clemons who demonstrated a tool called “atlatl” which uses leverage to achieve greater velocity in dart or spear-throwing. Many attendees tried their hands using the tool to throw spears.

Indiana Archaeology Month programs presented by Chautauqua-Wawasee and the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum covering various aspects of Northeastern Indiana’s history were well received.

Program suggestions from those in attendance were appreciated, and planning is underway for next
year’s Labor Day event, August 31 – September 2, 2023.

Mike Kissinger presenting an old map.

 

Joe Zdziebko, dressed as French Marine, discussing a pipe used for smoking.

 

Jim Hossler discussing early settler, Richard Stone’s journal.

 

Jamie Clemons demonstrating the Atlatl tool.

 

Group picture of attendees on Thursday, 9/1, at SCC.

 

Dan Lima discussing the history of local customs and language.

 

Alex Valentine examining artifacts brought by Scott and Grant Reed of Warsaw; Michelle Edington looks
on.

 

***Photo credit to Walt Maxon***

 

 

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We’re Hosting the Annual Meeting of all North American Chautauquas.

The Chautauqua movement began in the 1870s. Teddy Roosevelt hailed it as “the most American thing in America.”

On September 27-30, we will host the annual gathering of the 19 North American Chautauqua organizations at the Oakwood Resort. During the meetings, the Chautauqua organizations report on their activities and share common experiences.

See More

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Chautauqua Wawasee second annual Family Fun Film Festival

The second annual Chautauqua Family Fun Film Festival, held at Pickwick Theater on August 6th , included more than 50 video clips and a few still photos. Ellie Johnston won the “Fun with Animals” award for her video showing her paddle board adventures with her dog. Sydney Lamb’s winning “Fun with Water”
video showed Sydney and her daughter sharing her daughter’s first wave board ride. Mia Wellington won the award for “Fun with Friends” doing an excellent impression of a mermaid.

Click HERE to see the complete 2022 Festival video!

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Taps Across the Water at Dusk
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Taps Across the Water at Dusk (Location details included)

Taps Across the Water at Dusk

Chautauqua-Wawasee and Syracuse American Legion Post #223 are collaborating for a Memorial Day tribute to honor veterans and those who have died in the performance of their duties while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Both solo and echo renditions of Taps will be audible depending on your location. Participating musicians include members of our community and surrounding areas, including veterans, community bands, high schools, educators, and professionals.

On Sunday, May 29, at 9:09 pm, Taps will be played simultaneously by buglers strategically placed on Wawasee, Syracuse Lake, and Papakeechie Lake. Taps will be audible on all three lakes. We are requesting one minute of silence starting at 9:08 prior to the performance.  Participating musicians include members of our community and surrounding areas, including veterans, community bands, high schools, educators, and professionals. The musical director is Dr. Matt Murdock, an educator who resides in North Webster.

 

What: Memorial Day Tribute

When: May 29, 9:08pm – 9:09pm

Where: Your pier, pontoon, the shore at public areas, Lakeside Park, Oakwood Resort lawn

See www.ChautauquaWawasee.org or Facebook or call 574-377-7543

Locations for this event are as follows-

Syracuse locations: pier 442, Syracuse public pier, pier 58

Papakeechie: water spill outlet

Wawasee locations: piers# 35, 58, 95, 123, 142, 143-J120, 153, 198, 304, 345, 435, 484, 559, 599, 640, 676, 694, 731,754, 795. 

You may also hear the event outdoor at the Channel Marker, Frog, Oakwood, the main channel bridge by the Channel Marker, and the public boat launch.

 

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Accepting Submissions
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Now Accepting Submissions for the Chautauqua Family Fun Film Festival!

Chautauqua-Wawasee’s second annual Fun Film Festival is set for August 6 at Syracuse’s Pickwick Theater.  The Film Festival will feature personal phone videos of family fun on the water, biking, boating, pets, skating…anything fun or funny. The videos are uploaded by you to a dropbox for editing, adding captions, trimming, and judging.  There will be prizes for categories such as Best Pet Video, Best Tubing Video, and others.  So, add to the fun by uploading your phone videos via the link at the bottom of this page.  Please record in landscape format if you wish to participate.

What:  Film Festival (Your Phone Videos)

When:  August 6, 10:00-11:00am  

Where:  Pickwick Theater, Syracuse

Tickets:  All Free

See www.ChautauquaWawasee.org or follow us on Facebook or call 574-377-7543

 

Please submit videos HERE.

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The Brand New Chautauqua Wawasee E-Newsletter is HERE!

We promise not to inundate your inbox – only five issues per year and only five “Things You Should Know” in each issue, making it a quick read. 

Click HERE to be redirected to our subscription page. 

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