Chautauqua Insitution offers the chance to explore new ideas, music, art and more, in a beautiful natural setting on Chautauqua Lake in upstate NY. You can participate in as much or as little as you wish. Most meals will be provided and enjoyed with our group, but then you are free to explore and attend the lectures and programs that most interest you. Take an art class, visit a gallery show, sit in on a theatrical reading, row a boat or take a hike.
Week 5 Theme ...
Our Greatest Challenges (That We Can Actually Do Something About)
The challenges facing our world and our country are many in number and significant in degree, but we are not powerless. Just as there are countless concerns before us, so too are there countless ways to address them. From the top-down policies of elected leaders to grassroots community measures, some of America’s greatest problems require a “yes/and” approach of big and small actions. In this week, we will be guided by experts and nonpartisan polling to determine what our greatest challenges are, what we can agree upon, and what we can do about it.
Itinerary for July 21–July 27, 2024*
Click on the double arrows to expand the details for each day.
Day 1: Sunday, July 21
- Afternoon (after 3 p.m. ET): Arrive and Check-in at Athenaeum Hotel
- Evening: Group Dinner and Orientation for Week in Heirloom Dining Room
Day 2: Monday, July 22
- Morning:
- Buffet Breakfast in the Heirloom Dining Room (served daily between 7:30–9:00 a.m.).
- Exclusive Eckerd College Group Grounds Tour
- Private morning program with Dr. Peter Wenz
- Chautauqua Lecture Series featuring Thomas Chatterton Williams
- 12:30–1:30 p.m.: Lunch in the Heirloom Dining Room
- Afternoon:
- Interfaith Lecture Series, Najeeba Syeed
- Free time to explore the grounds, visit a gallery, attend a reading, or take a swim in the lake
- Evening:
Day 3: Tuesday, July 23
- Morning:
- Buffet Breakfast in the Heirloom Dining Room (served daily between 7:30–9:00 a.m.).
- Private morning program with Dr. Peter Wenz
- Chautauqua Lecture Series featuring Margaret Sullivan
- Lunch on Your Own
- Afternoon:
- Interfaith Lecture Series
- Exclusive Eckerd group activity
- Free time to explore grounds and activities
- Evening:
Day 4: Wednesday, July 24
- Morning:
- Buffet Breakfast in the Heirloom Dining Room (served daily between 7:30–9:00 a.m.).
- Private morning program with Dr. Peter Wenz
- Chautauqua Lecture Series featuring Bill McKibben and Frank Sesno
- Late Morning: Depart by bus for afternoon excursion in Jamestown, New York. Box lunch on the bus
- Afternoon: Private tour at the National Comedy Center/Lucy Desi Museum
- Evening:
- Special Group dinner at 6 p.m., home of Dr. Mary Khoush
- Special performance by the Chautauqua Opera Company. Presenting Hansel and Gretel
Day 5: Thursday, July 25
- Morning:
- Buffet Breakfast in the Heirloom Dining Room (served daily between 7:30–9:00 a.m.).
- Private morning program with Dr. Peter Wenz
- Chautauqua Lecture Series featuring Chico Tillmon
- Lunch on Your Own
- Afternoon:
- Evening:
Day 6: Friday, July 26
- Morning:
- Buffet Breakfast in the Heirloom Dining Room (served daily between 7:30–9:00 a.m.).
- Private morning program with Dr. Peter Wenz
- Chautauqua Lecture Series featuring Timothy P. Carney
- 12:30–1:30 p.m.: Group lunch in Heirloom Dining Room
- Afternoon:
- Evening:
- Group dinner at 6 p.m. in the Heirloom Restaurant
- Special performance by Boyz II Men
Day 7: Saturday, July 27
- Morning:
- Buffet Breakfast in the Heirloom Dining Room (served daily between 7:30–9:00 a.m.).
- Bus to Buffalo-Niagara International Airport departs by 9 a.m.
* Itinerary subject to change.
Registration includes the following:
- Full-access gate pass for daily lectures and evening entertainment
- 6 nights accommodations at the historic Athenaeum Hotel
- Group bus transportation to/from Buffalo-Niagara International Airport
- Full, daily delicious breakfast spread (6 days), 5 lunches, 5 dinners
- An off-site excursion to Jamestown, New York, with a private visit to the incredible National Comedy Center and the Lucy and Desi Museum (this was top highlight from last year's trip!)
- A special lecturer, Dr. Peter Wenz, assigned exclusively assigned to our group to facilitate additional discussions
- So much more!!
Note: Airfare is not included.
Ground transportation will be provided from Buffalo-Niagara (BUF) airport for those who wish to use it. The bus departure times are not yet set, but one bus will depart the airport sometime between 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. ET and a second option will be available—leaving later in the afternoon (between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m.)
Refund Policy
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Please note that the refund policy for travel is different from the regular OLLI course cancellation and refund policy. Refund requests must be made in writing by emailing Judy Tilton, Study Travel Manager, at tiltonjd@eckerd.edu.
Requests received:
- 90 days or more before departure date — 100% refund
- 60 days before departure date — 50% refund
- 45 days before departure date — 25% refund
- <45 days before departure date — 0% refund
No refund will be issued for the following:
- If a participant fails to make their flight.
- If a participant leaves the program early.
All registrations canceled less than 90 days prior to departure will be assessed a $100 administrative fee.
If you have questions about the program, please contact Judy Tilton, Study Travel Manager, tiltonjd@eckerd.edu or 727.864.8290