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New York

The Chautauqua Experience in Summer

Program No. 20581RJ

Founded in 1874, the Chautauqua Institution is a celebration of art, history and culture. Join us for classes, lectures and performances, all in a uniquely American lakeside village.

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Itinerary

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Duration

7 days

6 nights

What's Included

15 meals ( 6B, 3L, 6D )

15 expert-led lectures

5 performances

An experienced Group Leader

6 nights of accommodations

Taxes and customary gratuity

Road Scholar Assurance Plan

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Day

Registration, Reception, Welcome Dinner, Orientation

Location: Chautauqua, NY

Meals: D

Stay: Athenaeum Hotel

Activity Note

Hotel check-in and program registration from 3:00 - 5:00 PM. Upon arrival, visit the Hotel reception desk for your room assignment. Then proceed to the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff and pick up your welcome packet. This includes an up-to-date schedule, reflecting any last-minute changes, as well as other important information. If your arrival is delayed, please ask for your packet when you check in.

Afternoon:

The Group Leader will greet you and give you your Road Scholar information packet, including a detailed itinerary for the week. At 5:00 PM, a welcome reception will be held on the hotel veranda (weather permitting), including complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks, and canapes. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet your fellow participants, and share stories of Road Scholar adventures past!

Dinner:

6:45 PM in the Heirloom Restaurant we will eat together at the tables that are reserved for Road Scholar. Everyone who would like to do so is welcome to attend the Sacred Song Service in the Amphitheater at 8:00 p.m., a beloved aspect of each Sunday during the Chautauqua season. The ecumenical service features the Chautauqua Choir, accompanied by the Massey Memorial Organ with its 5,640 pipes, performing a broad range of sacred music. The congregation is invited to join in singing the hymns, and the service lasts about an hour. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Evening:

Orientation 6 PM in the hotel parlor. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Each full day of the program, we will have a Road Scholar exclusive lecture from 9:00-10:30 a.m. followed by a public lecture for the entire Chautauqua community in the Amphitheater — adjacent to the hotel — from 10:45 a.m. until Noon. There will be a choice of lectures and activities in the afternoons and an entertainment event in the evenings. Each program date will have a different theme and Road Scholar lecturer. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Day

Road Scholar Class, Public Lecture, Electives, Performance

Location: Chautauqua, NY

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Athenaeum Hotel

Activity Note

This weeks theme is " The Future of Human Rights"

Breakfast:

In the hotel dining room, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as pancakes, waffles, eggs and omelettes, breakfast meats, fruits, yogurts, cereals, breads, pastries.

Morning:

Road Scholar Class: 9:00-10:30 AM. We’ll meet in the Hotel Parlor with our Road Scholar instructor in residence, Ori Soltes. Public Lecture: 10:45 AM - Noon in the Amphitheater, directly adjacent to the Hotel. Today's speaker is Kate D. Levin, Lead, Bloomberg Arts Program.

Lunch:

In the Hotel dining room from Noon - 1:30 PM, choose what you like from the luncheon buffet, and discuss the morning lectures with your fellow participants at the Road Scholar reserved tables.

Afternoon:

2:00 PM Interfaith Lecture series in the Hall of Philosophy, sponsored by the Chautauqua Department of Religion Or, you can choose from a variety of lectures, classes, and recreational activities, like the 4:00 PM Monday chamber music series in Lenna Hall. Today's concert is the wind quintet Imani Woods. Guided bus tours on the history of Chautauqua Institution are available. You might also like to explore the Chautauqua campus, see what’s on at an art gallery, curl up with a book, or simply relax.

Dinner:

Dinner will be served in the Heirloom Restaurant at the Athenaeum Hotel, beginning at 5:45 PM.

Evening:

8:15 PM - Join us in the Amphitheater for this evening's entertainment; An Evening Piano Recital with Alexander Gavrylyuk.

Day

Road Scholar Class, Public Lecture, Electives, Performance

Location: Chautauqua, NY

Meals: B,D

Stay: Athenaeum Hotel

Breakfast:

Hotel buffet.

Morning:

Road Scholar Class: 9:00-10:30 AM. We’ll meet in the Hotel Parlor with our Road Scholar instructor in residence. Public Lecture: 10:45 a.m.–Noon in the Amphitheater, directly adjacent to the Hotel.

Lunch:

Lunch will be on your own today, to enjoy one of the different food options available on the Chautauqua grounds. Your Group Leader can assist you with suggestions!

Afternoon:

At 2:00 PM, the Interfaith Lecture series occurs in the Hall of Philosophy, sponsored by the Chautauqua Department of Religion. Today's speaker is Omid Safi, Professor of Islamic Studies, Duke University. Or, you can choose from a variety of lectures, classes, and recreational activities. Historic bus tours of Chautauqua are also available.

Dinner:

Hotel buffet in the Heirloom Restaurant.

Evening:

8:15 PM - Join us in the Amphitheater for this evening's entertainment:

Day

Road Scholar Class, Public Lecture, Electives, Performance

Location: Chautauqua, NY

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Athenaeum Hotel

Breakfast:

Hotel buffet.

Morning:

Road Scholar Class: 9:00-10:30 AM. We’ll meet in the Hotel Parlor with our Road Scholar instructor in residence,. Public Lecture: 10:45 AM - Noon in the Amphitheater.

Lunch:

In the Hotel dining room from Noon - 1:30 PM, choose what you like from the luncheon buffet, and discuss the morning lectures with your fellow participants at the Road Scholar reserved tables.

Afternoon:

At 2:00 PM, the Interfaith Lecture series occurs in the Hall of Philosophy, sponsored by the Chautauqua Department of Religion. Today's speaker is Chenxing Han, a Buddhist chaplain and national speaker. Or, you can choose from a variety of lectures, classes, and recreational activities. Historic bus overviews of Chautauqua are available.

Dinner:

Hotel buffet in the Heirloom Restaurant.

Evening:

8:15 PM - Join us in the Amphitheater for this evening's entertainment, the Malpaso Dance Company.

Day

Road Scholar Class, Public Lecture, Electives, Performance

Location: Chautauqua, NY

Meals: B,D

Stay: Athenaeum Hotel

Breakfast:

Hotel buffet.

Morning:

Road Scholar Class: 9:00-10:30 AM. We’ll meet in the Hotel Parlor with our Road Scholar instructor in residence. Public Lecture: 10:45 AM - Noon in the Amphitheater, directly adjacent to the Hotel.

Lunch:

Lunch will be on your own today, to enjoy one of the different food options available on the Chautauqua grounds. Your Group Leader can assist you with suggestions!

Afternoon:

At 2:00 PM, the Interfaith Lecture series occurs in the Hall of Philosophy, sponsored by the Chautauqua Department of Religion. CLSC presentation 3:30 p.m. Or, you can choose from a variety of lectures, classes, and recreational activities. Historic bus overviews of Chautauqua are available.

Dinner:

Dinner will be served in the Heirloom Restaurant at the Athenaeum Hotel, beginning at 5:45 PM.

Evening:

8:15 PM - Join us in the Amphitheater for this evening's entertainment.

Day

Road Scholar Class, Public Lecture, Electives, Performance

Location: Chautauqua, NY

Meals: B,L,D

Stay: Athenaeum Hotel

Breakfast:

Hotel buffet.

Morning:

Road Scholar Class: 9:00-10:30 AM. We’ll meet in the Hotel Parlor with our Road Scholar instructor in residence. Public Lecture: 10:45 AM - Noon in the Amphitheater, directly adjacent to the Hotel.

Lunch:

In the Hotel dining room from Noon - 1:30 PM, choose what you like from the luncheon buffet, and discuss the morning lectures with your fellow participants at the Road Scholar reserved tables.

Afternoon:

At 2:00 PM, the Interfaith Lecture series occurs in the Hall of Philosophy, sponsored by the Chautauqua Department of Religion. Or, you can choose from a variety of lectures, classes, and recreational activities. At 5:00 PM, a closing reception will be held on the hotel veranda (weather permitting), including complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks, canapes, and aperitifs. This will be an excellent opportunity to gather with your fellow participants, and discuss all of the ideas presented to you at Chautauqua this week!

Dinner:

Hotel buffet in the Heirloom Restaurant.

Evening:

8:15 PM - Join us in the Amphitheater for this evening's entertainment:

Day

Program Concludes

Location: Chautauqua, NY

Meals: B

Activity Note

Hotel check out is by 10:00 a.m.

Breakfast:

Hotel buffet. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!

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Please Note: This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.

Jul 6 - Jul 12, 2025 Itinerary Differences: This week's Chautauqua Lecture Series theme is "Art in Action: Building Community Through the Arts" The interfaith lecture is "Contemplation: Meditation, Prayer and Silence"

The Chautauqua Experience in Summer

Enroll with Confidence

Protecting the Environment

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