Chautauqua Institution Youth & Family Programs
Chautauqua Institution, 4731 W Lake Rd, Chautauqua, NY 14722
About
Chautauqua Institution Youth & Family Programs include pre-school, day camp, sports instruction, informal youth centers, enrichment classes, entertainment, reading, and experiences in the arts. Youth can take part in Beginner Optimist Sailing, 420 Sailing, Intermediate Sailing, Saturday morning races, junior golf camps and clinics, and group tennis instruction. The Youth Activities Center (YAC) operates as a drop-in center for kids with a snack bar, televisions, games, table tennis and pool tables, and a food service that is open Noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with evening “YACtivities” Monday through Thursday starting at 5 p.m.
• Ages: 2–17 years old
• Schedule: Youth Activities Center food service open Monday–Friday Noon–5 p.m., with evening YACtivities Monday–Thursday starting at 5 p.m.
• Price: The Youth Activities Center snack bar has daily lunch specials at “kid” prices.
Chautauqua’s programs for youth present a diversity of activity in varied and historic settings, from pre-school to day camp, from sports instruction to informal youth centers, from enrichment classes to entertainment, and from reading to experiences in the arts. These programs are part of a not-for-profit organization that is dependent upon gifts to fulfill its mission, and gate tickets and other revenue cover only a portion of the cost of the Chautauqua experience. The Chautauqua Sailing Department presents a summer-long curriculum of sailing courses for youth ages 8 and up, the Chautauqua Golf Club offers junior golf camps and clinics for ages 4–17, and the Chautauqua Tennis Center offers group instruction for ages 4–18 with racquets available to borrow at no charge during junior tennis programs.
The Chautauqua Children’s School was built in 1921, with additions in 1926, 1947 and 1969, and a full renovation and expansion in 1994, and Group One began in 1997. Chautauqua Children’s School pioneered the concept of nursery school education, and Boys’ and Girls’ Club is considered the oldest day camp in the United States. Chautauqua Institution was operating at least as of 2022, as indicated by the © 2022 notice.
Education Wednesdays give Chautauqua County students, faculty, administration and staff free admission every Wednesday of the season. Historian and author David McCullough said, “There is no place like it. No resort. No spa. Not anywhere else in the country, or anywhere in the world.” Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns said, “Things are different here. You feel it the moment you pass through the gates. Here, we have a glimmer, an active, muscular, American utopia, here in this place, inquisitive, ecumenical, feeding mind and body and spirit.”
Last updated February 6, 2026.
• Ages: 2–17 years old
• Schedule: Youth Activities Center food service open Monday–Friday Noon–5 p.m., with evening YACtivities Monday–Thursday starting at 5 p.m.
• Price: The Youth Activities Center snack bar has daily lunch specials at “kid” prices.
Chautauqua’s programs for youth present a diversity of activity in varied and historic settings, from pre-school to day camp, from sports instruction to informal youth centers, from enrichment classes to entertainment, and from reading to experiences in the arts. These programs are part of a not-for-profit organization that is dependent upon gifts to fulfill its mission, and gate tickets and other revenue cover only a portion of the cost of the Chautauqua experience. The Chautauqua Sailing Department presents a summer-long curriculum of sailing courses for youth ages 8 and up, the Chautauqua Golf Club offers junior golf camps and clinics for ages 4–17, and the Chautauqua Tennis Center offers group instruction for ages 4–18 with racquets available to borrow at no charge during junior tennis programs.
The Chautauqua Children’s School was built in 1921, with additions in 1926, 1947 and 1969, and a full renovation and expansion in 1994, and Group One began in 1997. Chautauqua Children’s School pioneered the concept of nursery school education, and Boys’ and Girls’ Club is considered the oldest day camp in the United States. Chautauqua Institution was operating at least as of 2022, as indicated by the © 2022 notice.
Education Wednesdays give Chautauqua County students, faculty, administration and staff free admission every Wednesday of the season. Historian and author David McCullough said, “There is no place like it. No resort. No spa. Not anywhere else in the country, or anywhere in the world.” Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns said, “Things are different here. You feel it the moment you pass through the gates. Here, we have a glimmer, an active, muscular, American utopia, here in this place, inquisitive, ecumenical, feeding mind and body and spirit.”
Last updated February 6, 2026.
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