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

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 […]

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 […]

The following is a list of the maps used in a presentation by Kosciusko County Surveyor, Mike Kissinger, at the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum on September 1, 2022. These maps and more are available as digital files (pdf, jpeg, or png) or printed copies and may be obtained by contacting Amy Hurd at the Kosciusko County […]

event calendar

Wanted: Old Home Movies from Syracuse-Wawasee for the “Syracuse/Wawasee Walk Down Memory Lane” project. Lights, camera, action! Chautauqua-Wawasee and the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum are teaming up for a blockbuster multi-year project to collect and preserve pre-1975 ephemeral films and home movies of the Syracuse and Wawasee area. The project, titled “Syracuse/Wawasee Walk Down Memory Lane”, […]

Introduction to Plein Air Workshop.  This 3-day workshop will focus on how to create a great landscape. Each day, we will have morning and afternoon demonstrations followed by personal painting time with plenty of one-on-one coaching.  This 3-day workshop will focus on how to create a great landscape. Each day, we will have morning and […]

Taps Across the Water The annual tribute of Taps Across the Water is set for Sunday, May 26 for Lake Webster, Lake Wawasee, Syracuse, and Papakeechie Lakes. This event honors United States military personnel who died serving in the U.S. Armed Services. Trumpet players are distributed across the lakes and perform an Echo Cascading Rendition […]

  • 574-377-7543

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