This is Chautauqua. Community events for the whole family hosted in Syracuse Indiana and Lake Wawasee.

connect. renew. discover. learn.

The ChautauquaWawasee is dedicated to the exploration of the best in human values and the enrichment of life through a program of events focused on Art, Education, Faith, and Recreation. Our goal to to provide unique programs that enrich the individual, families and community.

Art


We celebrate, encourage and study the arts and believe they are integral to all of learning. Learn More

Education


A cornerstone principal of Chautauqua is the belief in consistence self-improvement through lifelong learning. Learn More

Faith


At Chautauqua, religious faith is perceived, interpreted and experienced as central to the understanding and expression of our social and cultural values. Learn More

Recreation


We believe the recreation experience and a healthy lifestyle are essential to the Chautauqua experience and fuller life overall. Learn More

Our goal is to “raise the bar” continually by improving the quality of programs, authors, and presenters.  Your support enables us to grow and carry out our mission of providing valuable programs related to education, arts, faith and recreation.  Our vision is for Chautauqua-Wawasee to be cited as one reason a business and/or people choose to move and live in Syracuse, Kosciusko County, and Indiana.  We promise to use all gifts wisely and responsibly toward this vision.

We are a non-profit corporation 501-(c)(3).  Consult with your tax advisor.  Donations may be tax-deductible.

Mail Donations to:

Oakwood Foundation Inc. 

Chautauqua-Wawasee
702 E. Lake View Rd
Syracuse, IN 46567

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recent news & articles

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

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 […]

Then and Now

Local historian Ann Garceau will narrate a Historical Cruise of Lake Wawasee aboard the SS Lillypad II Chautauqua-Wawasee is repeating last year’s successful “Lake Wawasee, Then & Now” presentation by local historian Ann Garceau of the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum. As Ann shares interesting stories about historic structures that stood around the lake, you will be […]

event calendar

We have exciting plans for our third annual Family Fun Film Festival on August 5th, 2023. The Festival will showcase personal phone videos of people enjoying themselves while biking, boating, having fun on the water, or even just at home with their loved ones. Last year’s popular submissions included videos of pets having fun too, […]

Chautauqua Wawasee regularly teams with the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum to provide programs focused on local (Syracuse-area) history, typically related to archaeology, Native American artifacts, and people. Feedback Forms are provided at these events so we can receive feedback on program quality, speaker quality, etc. including requests for desired future programs. Our most frequent request is […]

Dominique Rousseau: 1st Permanent White Resident of Kosciusko County Lynn Brown’s novel Furs and Fevers is based on Rousseau’s life from 1825-1840. Why did a president of an international fur trade company make his home in Kosciusko County? What business obstacles did he overcome? Besides a reading of Chapter One to give you the feel […]

  • 574-377-7543

  • 702 E. Lake View Rd, Syracuse, IN 46567