Art drives Chautauqua in ways other communities and organizations only dream of, and early Sunday evening, the Institution thanked those who help make the full range of artistic and programmatic offerings found on the grounds possible.
The children, wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, ran to meet their family as they gathered on the lawn in front of the Children’s School.
Throughout week one of Children’s School the 4th of July is the center of attention. Children learn about the traditions…
BRIA GRANVILLE | Staff Photographer Kit Trapasso has been the director of the Children’s School since 1984. He said his…
A school-wide Teddy Bear Picnic helped wrap up the last week of Children’s School as Chautauqua’s season comes to a quiet close. Although the morning rain and overcast skies made for the first indoor “campfire” in years, the kids still celebrated with as much sunny enthusiasm.
It’s a Wednesday, and librarian Lynn Moschel is reading to Group 1 at Children’s School. She holds up a book called Bats at the Library, rotating it around for the 6-year-olds in the front row on their knees, some pointing at the illustrations, all matching her cheer.
Sitting criss-cross in the middle of the teepee, Chautauqua Children’s School teacher John Denton debriefs the audience on the upcoming egg-hatching operation it is about to endure. Kneeled down like a gargoyle, Denton looks over to the trolls-in-training, the students, and his fellow teachers to deliver the news.
It’s been 12 years since the Children’s School debuted its annual “Troll Play,” in honor of Chautauqua’s birthday and to raise money for Old First Night.
Before the 3-year-old members of Children’s School marched out to perform traditional folk songs for their parents, they sat restlessly listening to a story read by their counselor.
While the grown-up population of Chautauqua will be delving into the issues of the American West, the Children’s School will be exploring their own version of America’s frontier, but with a little more rodeo.
The Chautauquan Daily 