New Old Time Chautauqua

"This was an amazing experience. We sent a boy to sea and a young man came back. Chautauqua gave him a love of the sea, a strong sense of place and a memory he will carry with him for the rest of his life. I can't imagine a better experience for a young person. Chautauqua is a precious resource in our community!!!"

Katherine Baril, guardian of a youth who participated, and Director, WSU Jefferson County

"The town will be celebrating this event for years to come! What a wonderful gift to our community and all of the people you have touched over the years."

Clyde Monma, South Whidbey Commons (Langley, WA)

"Aqua Chautauqua lifted us out of the summer doldrums and made everybody feel like kids again!"

Audience member

Aqua Chautauqua Thanks

Rarely does a community come together to celebrate with such enthusiasm and joy as we experienced in Langley on the last day of July, 2008. During intermission at the evening performance of The Flying Karamazov Brothers hosting New Old Time Chautauqua, one could see many people with big smiles, talking with friends and neighbors and enjoying our Northwest unseasonable rain. That afternoon, as chronicled by the South Whidbey Record, we experienced chances to juggle, walk on stilts, make quilts, build worm bins for the school's community garden (courtesy of Langley Neighbor-to-Neighbor Action Grant), hula hoop, play a didgeridoo and more. The community potluck that followed warmed us up for a night of family entertainment that was enjoyed thoroughly by all who managed to get a ticket to the sold out performance.

This benefit performance of the non-profit Chautauqua group, while building community good will, helped raise funds for South Whidbey Commons/Island Coffeehouse & Books and South Whidbey Tilth. An event like this deserves our appreciation to the performers in Aqua Chautauqua and to all those, too many to mention here, who helped make it happen. A special thanks, however, is due to the many people in our community whose hard work over the last few months made this a truly exceptional and fun experience for all who participated.

Marc Wilson, President of South Whidbey Tilth, and
Sue Haworth, Chair of South Whidbey Commons
(Langley, WA)

A voyage on the Salish Sea
Of fellowship and community
Of song, story and trapeze waves, porpoises and fair breeze
On vessels of wood, glass and steel
The lessons and joys of life "come real"

Andrew Gale (Youth Program Manager)
Wayne Chimenti (Instructor & Skipper)
Kaci Cronkhite (Managing Director)
Puget Sound Explorers (Youth Education Program, Northwest Maritime Center & Wooden Boat Foundation