LEARN: Public Programs

Olana's Wagon House Education Center is in its fifth season.

The state-of-the-art Education Center is home to public programs that promote The Olana Partnership mission: "To inspire the public by preserving and interpreting Olana, Frederic Church's artistic masterpiece." Ongoing programs, classes for all ages, workshops, lectures, special events, meetings, children's summer programs, performances and exhibitions all take place in this amazing space whose large glass windows overlook the Olana landscape. We offer "drop-in" programs as well as formal programming to encourage new visitors as well as the community to come back to Olana again and again. Programs are mostly free and are offered to students pre-school to adult, ranging from landscape painting for beginners to an advanced lecture on landscape architecture in a contemporary world.

Public programming at the education center attracts a diverse skill-set and multi-generational audience who are inspired to interpret Olana in many innovative new ways. In the education center's second year, there have been over 250 programs and over 1,800 participants. A sampling of new programs that have already called the education center home: Olana On the Move Backpacks, Art in the Barn, River School (summer dramatic arts program), From Garden to Table, Senior Visual Arts Workshop, En Plein Air Creative Writing Workshop, Architecture for Kids, Music at the Farm, Making A River, First Friday Afterschool Classes, Herbal Plants in the Landscape, Garden Walk, Teen Oil Painting Workshop and Intensive Landscape Painting Workshop.

The Education Center is located right after the lake with a parking lot adjacent to the barn.

Ongoing Family Programs (April-December)

Olana on the Move Backpacks 
Museum Shop 
Thursdays-Sundays 12-4pm
Families
Borrow a backpack and explore the Olana landscape! Backpacks contain carriage drive maps and self-guided activities to enrich family visits. Two themed backpacks available: 'Exploration Today: Discover Olana' and 'View it Like an Artist'. Take your sketches home, or donate them to our ongoing public exhibit in the Wagon House Education Center. Please be prepared to leave a photo ID until backpack is returned. Free. 

Olana's Summer Arts Programs- Now offered 2 weeks

Monday, July 8-Friday, July 12 | 9am-3pm
Panorama: Week 1-Maine Camping Theme
Wagon House Education Center/Farm Complex
Ages 6-12
$180/child one week (includes individual membership with registration)
$320/child two week package (includes dual membership with registration)
*Current members please inquire about available discount.
Join the summer adventure at Olana that will explore Church's time at his camp on Millinocket Lake, Maine.During this unique, multi-disciplinary educational experience children will gain an in-depth understanding of Church's Persian-inspired home and surrounding artist designed landscape, Olana, his artwork, and participate in many of the activities that Church did during his time in Maine.The week will include sketching, painting, basket weaving, fishing, making shelters in the landscape, singing camp songs, and learning outdoor survival skills.The program includes a tour of Frederic Church's home, and will culminate in a student led presentation at the end of the week.Registration forms can be found on Olana's website.  Registration forms can be found by clicking here. Register by June 21.  Contact Sarah Hasbrook Education Coordinator, at (518) 828-1872 or e-mail shasbrook@olana.org for more information.


Monday, July 22-Friday, July 26 | 9am-3pm
Panorama: Week 2-International Arts
Wagon House Education Center
Ages Ages 6-12
$180/child one week (includes individual membership with registration)
$320/child two week package (includes individual membership with registration)
*Current members please inquire about available discounts.
*Current members please inquire about available discount.
Frederic Church's life was filled with international travel and exploration.Discover the cultures of five unique places that Frederic Church traveled throughout his lifetime.Explore Church's artwork from these countries, work with chefs to make culinary dishes, engage in music and dance from around the world, and work with artists to create hand-crafted art items that exemplify the splendor of the specific country.The program includes a tour of Frederic Church's home, and a student led presentation at the end of the week which will include an international culinary spread for families and friends. Registration forms can be found by clicking here.  Register by June 21. Contact Sarah Hasbrook Education Coordinator, at (518) 828-1872 or e-mail shasbrook@olana.org for more information.

Additional programs and their descriptions can be found on our calendar.
Contact Sarah Hasbrook or Shelly Ley, Education Coordinators, for more information on any of our programs or to register at: shasbrook@olana.org or sley@olana.org (518) 828-1872. Most of the Wagon House Education Center programs are free; any programs requiring a fee includes a discounted fee for members of The Olana Partnership. Please note that there is a grounds fee of $5 per car to enter the Olana State Historic Site on weekends and Monday holidays April-October. This fee is waived if you are a member of The Olana Partnership. Public programs are made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would like to know more about how you can support our educational programming or become a member to receive discounts on programming, please visit our Give section.

We look forward to having you join us at a Wagon House Education Center program to learn about, and be inspired by, Olana. 
 
Feedback from participants:

Absolutely great Visual Arts Workshop-fun-educational-had it all! Thanks.

Olana On the Move Backpacks were phenomenal, unique and exceptional.   We had a wonderful day here and we'll come back again and again. It's a really nice thing to do on the weekend with your family.

Art in the Barn was fun, entertaining, thoughtful, healthful and engaging.  My daughter enjoyed all the age appropriate activities. We were invited to participate when we came to Olana for a visit.  We felt very welcome and enjoyed dancing and finger painting. It was wonderful!  We love this beautiful space.  You made us feel comfortable and relaxed.  Thank you.

Wagon House Education Center History

Upon completion of Cosy Cottage – the Church family's first home – in the fall of 2005, The Olana Partnership began planning for the next phase of its comprehensive plan – the restoration of Olana's historic farm complex. Work began in the summer of 2007 on the farm complex, including the re-creation of the wagon house, with a project budget of $1.6 million. The new education center significantly enhances "the Olana experience" for the thousands of children who visit each year — many from underserved populations — through their ability to participate in art classes, lectures and other educational and culturally enriching activities. The education center is a year-round space to encourage place-based education and contemporary interpretation.

Its history continues with you – hope to see you at a program soon!