Vashon Wilderness Program will host its 12th Annual Storytelling Festival on Saturday, January 26 at 12pm the Vashon Theater on Vashon Island. This free, family-friendly event is “for the community, by the community” and will feature nature-based stories - personal, mythic, and ancestral - told by VWP’s seasoned staff and audience members alike.
“At a time when there is so much divisive energy in our nation, sharing stories is a powerful and joyful way to unite and heal communities,” shares VWP’s Executive Director Stacey Hinden. Each year hundreds of people of all ages from Vashon and beyond gather at the Storytelling Festival.
Storytelling is a core routine at VWP’s nature-immersion programs. Their staff practice oral traditions to inspire the children and instill valuable lessons in wilderness survival, naturalist skills, and community building. VWP students also practice sharing their own stories, both to help deepen their learning journey and to discover their authentic voice.
Audience members of all ages are invited to participate in a number of ways: bring a prepared 5-minute story and share the stage with VWP’s seasoned staff; spin a tale in the One-Minute Story-thon; or join the fun, interactive group storytelling improv games.
The Storytelling Festival is best suited for ages 4 and older. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to purchase snacks, and sign up for a tellers’ spot.
VWP (a 501c3 non-profit) provides nature immersion programs for people for all ages from Vashon and surrounding Puget Sound communities. To date, VWP has helped nearly 4,000 children, teens, adults and families connect deeply with themselves, each other, and nature through their transformative Coyote Mentoring programs, camps, workshops, and trainings.
For more information, visit: VashonWildernessProgram.org
