West Virginia Executive...

THE SNOWSHOE INSTITUTE:

THE FIRST TIME’S A CHARM

Back in 1997, Charleston’s Sally Love had an epiphany up in New York. She was attending the renowned Chautauqua Institution and, as she enjoyed various lectures and events, she kept thinking, “Why can’t West Virginia have something like this?” Why, indeed!

After almost three years of serious planning, the first annual Snowshoe Institute will take place August 1-4. With Dr. Love serving as president and chairman, as well as enlisting the help of many others, the Snowshoe Institute is shaping up to become a highlight on the West Virginia cultural calendar for all ages and interests. That’s great for West Virginia tourism business and so much more.

“West Virginia has long been known to visitors for its wild and wonderful outdoor activities, like whitewater rafting, skiing, and more,” says Alisa Bailey, the state’s commissioner of tourism. “The Snowshoe Institute will put West Virginia on the cultural map for tourists as well, thanks to the wealth of educational and cultural assets in the state.”

This wealth is immediately apparent when one reviews the plethora of possibilities at the first Snowshoe Institute. “A considerable amount of planning has gone into the event in order to make the first year attractive for people to attend,” says Dr. Love, who holds degrees from both Marshall University and West Virginia University, two of the Institute’s major supporters. With a board of directors, planning board, and board of advisors that’s a virtual ‘Who’s Who’ of West Virginia arts, music, science, history, and education, they’ve certainly made the program more than attractive for potential participants.

A PACKED PROGRAM

The Snowshoe Institute program has a model that’s more than 125 years old. The Chautauqua Institution was founded in 1874 as an educational experiment in out-of-school vacation learning. It has grown into one of the most successful educational programs in the world. About 7,500 participants are in residence on any day during the current nine-week season and more than 142,000 typically attend scheduled public events. An average of 8,000 students enroll annually in the Chautauqua Summer Schools, which offer courses in art, music, dance, theater, writing, and a wide variety of special interests.

Though obviously on a smaller scale, the first year’s program of the Snowshoe Institute will feature a similar variety. Officials from WVU, Marshall, the West Virginia Humanities Council, and many organizations have contributed to making this cornucopia of culture a reality. Snowshoe Institute guests will be invited to experience varied fine arts workshops, ‘Living History’ events, nature hikes and seminars, science presentations, author readings and lectures, many varied performances, wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, children’s programs, and so much more (see sidebar outlining the schedule).

““The Program Board has been working extremely hard to bring together a diverse, challenging, informative, and entertaining program for the inaugural Snowshoe Institute,” says Don Van Horn, dean of the College of Fine Arts at Marshall University, who is also serving on the Board of Directors and chairing the Program Board. “We are accomplishing this because the board is made up of some of the most creative minds and energetic people in the arts, sciences, and humanities in the state. Because this will be the first of what is hoped to be many years of the Snowshoe Institute, we see it largely as an experiment. It is an experiment we think can be successful and one that can bring benefits to the people of West Virginia and the surrounding states.”

Dr. Ron Wilkinson, a recently retired physician in Charleston and board of advisors member, says, “I’m incredibly excited about the Snowshoe Institute’s program. I’ve lived in West Virginia most of my life and think it’s great for the state. I’ve been delighted to help with a worthwhile program that combines arts, humanities, recreation, and more up in the mountains. Dr. Love has pulled together an unbelievable program and group of people.” Wilkinson, who chaired the board of advisors, was active in fundraising and legislative support.

But the program isn’t just for adults like Love and Wilkinson. Kids and kids at heart are more than welcome. “The Snowshoe Institute offers great resources and opportunities to those participants valuing an arts education,” says Julia Murin Lee of the West Virginia Department of Education. “One of the most outstanding of those educational opportunities is the ‘KARMA’ session,” continues Murin Lee, who is on the Program Board for the event.

“The KARMA (Kids Art/Reading/Music Activities) program will help children to explore music in literature through improvisation, child-centered art, creative dramatics, puppetry, and music appreciation,” she says. “With interrelated activities, the session’s participants can discover their imaginative possibilities and bring them to life with singing, storytelling, book making, puppetry, and performing drama. It is a wonderful integration of the arts.” Children attending the Snowshoe Institute will be exposed to professors, students, and a university atmosphere in general, making them potential students themselves.

HEADING UP THE MOUNTAIN

Of course, Snowshoe Mountain is a happy host of the namesake event and recipient of the tourism dollars. “We wanted to provide an invigorating environment for the engagement with significant social, political, and intellectual issues,” says Bill Hungate, Snowshoe Mountain’s vice president of marketing and sales and member of the Institute’s board of directors. “We see the Snowshoe Institute as a great addition to our extensive offerings of events, activities, and festivals.”

Snowshoe Mountain is located in Pocahontas County and year-round events at the resort have become a major economic draw for the region. “The Snowshoe Institute will highlight the unique culture of West Virginia and become a showcase for local and state artisans and educators,” says Gail Lowry, executive director of Pocahontas County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We plan to grow the Institute into an event that will evolve into one of West Virginia’s most prestigious events.” That means Pocahontas County will continue to evolve into a cultural destination that matches its outdoors opportunities.

“The Snowshoe Institute presents a wide variety of cultural, entertainment, educational, and artistic activities that should attract a great number of participants,” Hungate continues. “It will enhance our year-round image that we have been developing. The Institute eventually will develop into a multi-week offering that will greatly enhance our midweek summer patronage, as well as boosting our weekend visitation, often anchored by major events such as West Virginia Symphony, Wine and Jazz Festival, Blues and Blue Festivals, and many more such events held most weekends throughout the summer.”

Snowshoe certainly provides an ideal venue that could handle future success and expansion of the event. “The resort’s lodging base of more than 1,500 condominiums and hotel rooms provides lodging for more than 9,000 people,” says Hungate. “The resort’s conference facilities also provide seminar space for lectures and workshops if outdoor venues are challenged by weather.”

Snowshoe’s conference facilities are better than ever, thanks to the addition of Allegheny Springs. Just open in June, Allegheny Springs offers more than 6,000 square feet of luxury conference and function space.

The facility’s state-of-the-art meeting rooms are named for four of the eight rivers that originate in Pocahontas County--The Williams, Tygart, Greenbrier and Elk. Along with the conference facilities, other Allegheny Springs highlights include: front desk and concierge service; gated or valet parking; private thermal pool, with heated deck; private hot tubs; spa services; a full-service restaurant; high-speed Internet access; a hearth room overlooking the courtyard; and a romantic outdoor fire pit.

As one of the first major events at Allegheny Springs, these rooms and more will be bustling with Snowshoe Institute activities come August. Bruce Pittet, Snowshoe Mountain’s vice president and general manager says, “We feel we offer the perfect setting for such an event--blending culture and beautiful surroundings can be a difficult task but we handle both sides of the equation here at Snowshoe Mountain.”

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

That such an event is taking place at all is a tribute to the willingness of those in education, business, and elsewhere to work together for a larger cause. The board of directors has overseen the entire event, while the board of advisors has focused on fund raising and the program board has headed scheduling efforts. The first annual Snowshoe Institute is already successful, in the sense that culture, cooperation, and more have all been enhanced by the process of putting it all together. “I am happy to see this collaborative effort involving both Marshall University and West Virginia University,” says Murin Lee of the state’s Department of Education.

Marshall’s Van Horn says, “I see the Institute as an opportunity to share with others the best and brightest faculty and students I have the privilege of working with every day. I think it is fair to say I speak as well for my colleagues from Marshall and West Virginia University who serve with me on the Board of Directors and on the Program Board.

“We each have talented faculty and gifted students who will be a part of the Institute,” continues Van Horn. “One of the most exciting aspects of all of this for me is the opportunity the Institute represents for those folks to interact with other artists, performers, and scholars not associated with Marshall and, in some cases, respected individuals who are not associated with higher education at all.”

The major collaboration of two of the state’s major universities, as well as other organizations, has played a huge part in the program’s variety. Dr. Love says, “This offers a unique opportunity for alumni to strengthen ties to their universities and education in general. It’s much better than a typical tailgate party!”

As a sign that this is true, WVU alumnus and native West Virginian Deb Green has been active in recruiting alumni to the event. She says an email to more than 14,000 WVU alumni drew a huge amount of interest from California to Maine. Now based in Chicago, Green joined the board of advisors and is defininitely planning on attending the event with many other out-of-staters. With these educational, cultural, and business assets, it’s no wonder that the first time already appears to be a charm for the Snowhoe Institute.

SIDEBAR POSSIBILITY #1

SNOWSHOE INSTITUTE

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

August 1 - August 4

*Morning meditation and yoga daily

*Writing, watercolor, and photography workshops

*’Living History’ events, where historical figures come to life

*Nature hikes and seminars

*Many children’s programs

*’Reflections on Science’ presentations

*Author readings and lectures

*Collecting prints and arts

*A wide range of performances

*Wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, and creative cuisine

SIDEBAR POSSIBILITY #2

BOOKING INFORMATION

For further information, visit www.snowshoeinstitute.org or www.snowshoemtn.com. To book packages, call (877) 441-4FUN.