Ohio Chautauqua in Worthington
Daytime Programs
Wednesday, June 18 - Sunday, June 22, 2003
Each day during Ohio Chautauqua, the visiting scholars will present behind-the-scenes programs for youth and adults. These programs are workshops presented by the scholars; they are NOT in-character, living history performances. Youth programs are intended for audiences approximately age 8 and above, except as noted. The adult programs are meant to appeal to audiences from teenagers through senior citizens, though all ages are welcome.
YOUTH PROGRAMS at the Old Worthington Library
Thursday, June 19th, 2:00 p.m.
Gene Worthington - Colonial Games
Children of Colonial times may not have had the technology we do today, but they found many different ways to entertain and amuse themselves. Many of the games popular in Colonial times are still well known, such as tag, hopscotch, and hide-and-seek. But many of their favorite games are not familiar to us today. In this exciting program, Gene will teach some of these traditional colonial games. Participants will learn to play some familiar games as well as those not so well known. This workshop is appropriate for children aged 7 and up.
Friday, June 20th, 2:00 p.m.
Karen Vuranch - Storytelling Techniques
Using a traditional folk story, this program demonstrates the steps in developing a story to tell. Topics include the use of gesture, voice, and body. Through a series of interactive exercises, participants gain the ability to perform traditional storytelling.
Saturday, June 21st, 10:30 a.m.
Hank Fincken - Presenting Living History
Hank begins the program by explaining the importance of living history. He invites participants to help him "become" Appleseed (selecting costume pieces, applying makeup, etc.) while discussing the importance of body language and voice in making a character come to life. Hank does a few minutes of Johnny Appleseed and encourages audience participation and questions. Hank and the youths then perform some creative dramatic games that explore how we communicate who we are and the mood we are in through our bodies.
YOUTH PROGRAMS at the Northwest Library
Wednesday, June 18th, 2:00 p.m.
Debra Conner - In the Spirit of Lewis and Clark
Margaret Blennerhassett, like her contemporaries Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, saw the Ohio frontier as an exotic and wondrous place. We’ll set out, as explorers, to capture the details of our own environment, through descriptive writing and sketching. Please bring a pencil, a sketchbook or journal with unlined pages, or some unlined paper attached to a clipboard.
Saturday, June 21st, 2:00 p.m.
Dan Cutler - What Would You Be in the 18th Century?
This program allows young people to understand history in a unique way. Program participants will explore history by comparing common activities of today to those of the past. Dan will provide an historic perspective to issues that are important to today’s youths-schooling, clothing styles, communications, and leisure activities. In addition to gaining a greater appreciation for what they have, participants will better understand the relevance of history. Audience members will also enjoy experiencing Dan’s wonderful collection of frontier artifacts.
ADULT PROGRAMS at the Griswold Center
Wednesday, June 18th, 12:30 p.m.
Gene Worthington - The Life and Times of a Colonial Peddler
Peddlers in Colonial days were not only important for the items they supplied to frontier settlers, but were a vital source of news and information. Traveling throughout the American Colonies, peddlers brought reports of major incidents from the cities in the East, mail or messages from family, and even gossip and chitchat between settlements. The items they carried for sale or barter were valuable because they could not be made by the settlers themselves and provided a sense of something familiar from home. In this workshop, Gene Worthington will take on the persona of a Colonial Peddler and will display and demonstrate the goods found in a typical peddler’s pack. Dressed in period clothing, Worthington will discuss the political and social issues of the day, and audiences will be able ask him about his life as a peddler in Early America.
Thursday, June 19th, 12:30 p.m.
Debra Conner - The Poetry of Place
Margaret Blennerhassett’s poetry spoke longingly about her Ohio Valley home. In this workshop, we’ll examine her poetry and the poetry of two Pulitzer prize-winning Ohio poets, James Wright (1927-1980) and Mary Oliver (1935- ). Participants are invited to bring a favorite poem by these, or any other, poet.
Friday, June 20th, 12:30 p.m.
Hank Fincken - Johnny Appleseed-The Man and The Myth
Hank talks about his career and how he began the one-man theatre business as Johnny Appleseed. He asks attendees to tell local stories they have heard about Johnny and/or their impressions of what he must have been like based on stories, movies, and books. Participants compare these interpretations to Hank’s own, emphasizing historical references that either back up or refute what the audience might expect from his portrayal. Everyone will try to determine what is fact and what is myth that passes as fact.
Saturday, June 21st, 12:30 p.m.
Karen Vuranch - The American Frontier: Myth vs. Reality
Historical events are often viewed through rose-colored glasses. This program looks at the realities of frontier life and how those realities are contrary to the myths of the frontier. Among the issues explored will be the conflict between Native Americans and white settlers, women's roles, and the reality of a grueling existence on the frontier. The group begins by discussing several contemporary events and how public opinion shapes and defines the events. The discussion then moves to issues of the American frontier and how differently we view issues and events through time.
Sunday, June 22nd, 12:30 p.m.
Dan Cutler - Family Reenacting on a Shoestring
In this program, Dan shares information about how families with a limited budget can explore the exciting possibilities of historic reenacting. Dan will show how to use what you already have as you begin your journey through time. The program will feature stories from Dan's extensive experiences with living history, along with information about additional reenacting and living history resources.
Click here for the Complete Daily Schedule
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For more information, please call 614-543-0299.
