Children playing on a playground

Group One

Group One is designed for children who are 6 years old or will enter first grade in the fall. It serves as a transition between Children’s School and Boys’ and Girls’ Club. The morning program (9 a.m.–12 p.m.) is similar to Children’s School and located at Sheldon Hall of Education. The afternoon program (2–4 p.m.) takes place at Boys’ and Girls’ Club.

Lunch Bunch is an add-on service for campers registered for Group One and Boys’ and Girls’ Club Groups 2-6 to provide supervision during the 12-2 p.m. program break of our day camps. Lunch Bunch takes place at Boys’ and Girls’ Club, Group One campers will take the school bus with a counselor to Lunch Bunch. All campers need to bring a packed lunch or families can order a lunch at the Youth Activities Center.

Lunch Bunch registration is $25 per week per child.

children’s camps in nys brochure

Contact Information

Alyssa Porter
Director of Youth and Family Programs
716.357.6489
aporter@chq.org

Stephanie Dawson
Group One Coordinator
716.640.6678 (Summer only)
groupone@chq.org

Email me Youth and Family Activities Information


How to Enroll

1. Pay Enrollment Fee: A child is not enrolled until payment is received and all registration forms are completed or updated in CampDoc.

Payment options: Online at tickets.chq.org, in person at the Main Gate Welcome Center Ticket Office during posted business hours or by calling the Ticket Office at 716-357-6250.

Youth programming is a popular Chautauqua tradition, and group sizes may be limited. We recommend paying the enrollment fee and completing all forms at least one week prior to your child’s arrival. 

We may be able to accommodate week of registrations on a case-by-case basis. Please visit the Main Gate Welcome Center Ticket Office OR call 716-357-6250, before 3 p.m. (EDT) the Friday before your child’s attendance. 

During the summer, beginning on Monday morning at 10 a.m. EDT, you can inquire about registration in person at Boys’ and Girls’ Club, Group One, and Children’s School or by calling the respective program at their office*:

Boys’ and Girls’ Club: 716-357-6295
Children’s School: 716-357-6278
Group One: 716-640-6678

*Please note that these numbers are only monitored during the summer session when programs are in session. 

Children’s School, Group One and Boys’ and Girls’ Club operate Weeks One to Eight. During Week Nine, families can register for youth classes, explore the recreation offerings and participate in pop-up programs with Play CHQ.

2. Complete the Youth and Family Programs information forms

Following the enrollment purchase, a link to complete camper information forms will be sent to the provided parent/guardian email address from Chautauqua Institution via CampDoc.  

If you already have a CampDoc account associated with the provided email address, you can use your current login credentials to review and complete the required forms after completing an enrollment purchase.  

Please remember that a child is not enrolled until all camper information forms have been completed. This includes all required health and immunization information. 

Covid-19 Protocols

Program

Transportation

Staffing

Special Information

FAQs

Program

Program hours are: 

Monday–Friday     9 a.m.–12 p.m. & 2–4 p.m. 

Group One is designed for children who are 6 years old or will enter first grade in the fall. It serves as a transition between Children’s School and Boys’ and Girls’ Club.  

This special full-day program (9 a.m.–noon and 2–4 p.m.) is held Monday–Friday and uses the Sheldon Hall of Education facilities in the morning and the Boys’ and Girls’ Club facilities in the afternoon.

The program includes active play, arts activities, swimming instruction and waterfront activities, nature programs, and special events. Children remain with the same teachers/counselors throughout the day.

Chautauqua Institution will communicate with registrants regarding COVID-19 protocols for Youth and Family Programs prior to the Summer Assembly. The protocols will be developed according to industry best practices, the most recent data and applicable regulations, and subject to change throughout the summer if and when those factors change.

Transportation

For the morning session from 9 a.m.–12 p.m., families with Children enrolled in Group One may follow the Children’s School Transportation guidelines:

Children enrolled in the Children’s School may ride the special bus to and from the school. Please take your child to Children’s School on the first day of attendance to receive specific bus stop information. If you are walking with your child, please be especially careful near the school and the areas designated for bus pick-up and drop-off.

If driving your child (from outside the grounds), you must enter via the Turner Gate, turn right on to Palestine, then make a left and park along Hedding. You may leave your car there briefly while you walk your child to the school. For the safety of our children, do not drive directly to the school or park in any area other than Hedding Avenue.

Bus Schedule

(NOTE: The below schedule time is morning pick up time | location | afternoon drop off time.)

South Bus
8:30 a.m. | Farmers Market | n/a
8:32 a.m. | Lincoln Park | 12:11 p.m.
8:35 a.m. | Cookman & Massey | 12:13 p.m.
8:38 a.m. | Overlook | 12:16 p.m.
8:41 a.m. | Hall of Christ | 12:19 p.m.
8:42 a.m. | Heinz Beach | 12:22 p.m.
8:46 a.m. | S. Lake and Cookman | 12:23 p.m.
8:47 a.m. | Sports Club | 12:25 p.m.
8:50 a.m. | Colonnade | 12:27 p.m.
8:57 a.m. | School | n/a

North Bus
n/a | Palestine and Scott | 12:06 p.m.
8:35 a.m. | Main Gate | 12:08 p.m.
8:36 a.m. | Library | 12:13 p.m.
8:40 a.m. | Miller Park | 12:19 p.m.
8:42 a.m. | Gleason | 12:20 p.m.
8:45 a.m. | McClintock & N. Lake | 12:21 p.m.
8:46 a.m. | Evergreen & Pratt | 12:24 p.m.
8:48 a.m. | North Shore Condo | 12:26 p.m.
8:50 a.m. | Pines | 12:27 p.m.
8:53 a.m. | Dance Studio | 12:28 p.m.
8:55 a.m. | School | n/a

For the afternoon session from 2–4 p.m., families with Children enrolled in Group One may follow the Boys’ and Girls’ Club Transportation guidelines:

Young people enrolled in the Boys’ and Girls’ Club may make whatever arrangements are most appropriate for their age and family dynamic. They may walk, ride a bicycle with a parent, sibling, babysitter or on their own, or utilize the public bus/tram system that travels the Chautauqua grounds 8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily.

If you are driving your child to Club (from outside the grounds), you must enter via the Bryant Gate. Special arrangements have been made to open the Bryant Gate for Club and Group One participants only and following a schedule tied to Club’s hours of operation. The gate will be open daily 8:45–9:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m., 1:45–2:15 p.m., and 3:45–4:15 p.m.

Drive straight down Bryant to the foot of the hill adjacent to the tennis courts. Youth may be dropped off at that location, and vehicles can exit by returning directly to the Bryant Gate.

If families need to accompany their child (e.g. on the first day of attendance), they may park their car temporarily at the turn-around area at the foot of Bryant. Vehicle traffic and parking are not permitted in any other areas at Boys’ and Girls’ Club.

Staffing

Group One is led by Stephanie Dawson who joined the youth and family programs leadership team in 2021 in this new position after working as a Group One teacher for many summers. Each classroom has a head teacher and assistant teachers. The staff work as a team and share classroom and camp responsibilities to create an enriching, positive atmosphere. At Boys’ and Girls’ Club, Group One staff is joined by activity specialists including certified waterfront counselors for swimming or other lakefront activities and music, nature, and arts and crafts counselors. 

Special Information

  1. Your child should bring a large shirt to use as a smock.
  2. Include your child’s name on all personal items brought to Group One.
  3. Have your child wear or bring gym shoes each day (no open-toed shoes). Water shoes are also recommended for the afternoon waterfront activities.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Do any of the staff babysit during the season? 

A list of babysitters from the grounds and surrounding community is compiled by the Education Department. This list may or may not include Group One staff. Please email aporter@chq.org to request a copy of the babysitting list.

Does my child need a bathing suit?

Children should bring a bathing suit and towel for the afternoon sessions. Swimming (instructional and/or free swim) and other waterfront activities will be offered during the afternoon sessions with the certified waterfront staff at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club. It is also highly recommended that children where water shoes for all waterfront activities.

What happens if it rains while Group One is at Club? 

When at Club, each group has a rain schedule in addition to their regular daily schedule. A variety of indoor activities are provided according to this schedule. 

What regulations or guidelines impact the operation of Group One? 

Group One operates under a day camp permit granted by the New York State Department of Health. Counselor-to-camper ratios, waterfront staff certifications, safety and emergency plans, water quality, and available medical staff support are all requirements of the permit-granting procedure. 

May I register my child for single days or half days? 

Registration for Group One may only be completed for full week sessions. Prorating, partial refunds, or other discounts for less than one week attendance will not be processed.