Stories from the Land

Stories form the foundation of our daily lives and dreams.  They help us discover our place in the world as we create our life story.  They teach us what it is to be human.

Stories also teach us about the place we call home, as they prepare us to leave it.  They map the contours of struggle, the triumph of the human spirit and the timeless connection of people to land and to each other.

Stories matter.

Story-telling is a transformative art.  Good storytelling pierces the heart, opening it to possibility.  Through story-telling… and story-listening… emotion flows like water, eroding and revealing the bones of truth.

Stories are fundamental to teaching and learning.  All great teachers are great storytellers; all great storytellers are great story-listeners.  Storytelling builds community, revealing common ground, moving the community to action.  In community, anything is possible. 

She kept asking if the stories were true.  I kept asking her if it mattered.  We finally gave up.  She was looking for a place to stand and I wanted a place to fly.          — Brian Andreas

In many cultures, the return of winter signaled the return of storytelling.  This winter, Monarch Teacher Network is launching a series of evening storytelling sessions:   Stories from the Land:  Places to Fly, Places to Stand. 

Each 2-hour session brings together a small group of  educators, parents, grandparents and other adults who want to learn about the art of personal and environmental storytelling.   Participants will share a short personal or traditional story.

Participants receive:

  • Opportunities to hear, tell and share stories
  • Basic instruction in storytelling arts
  • Storytelling resources
  • Professional development credits (teachers)

In November 2012, we completed the following storytelling sessions:

Hunterdon County – Delaware Twp School, Sergeantsville, NJ

Atlantic County – Edwin Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Oceanville, NJ

Gloucester County – EIRC at Rowan Univ Tech Park, Mullica Hill, NJ

Mercer County – Maurice Hawk School, West Windsor, NJ

We are in the process of conducting the following sessions for February 2013:

   *   Fri  Feb 15: Atlantic County – Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, 800 Great Creek Rd, Oceanville, NJ
*   Tues  Feb 19:  Hunterdon County – Delaware Twp School, 501 Rosemont Ringoes Rd, Sergeantsville, NJ
*   Wed  Feb 20:  Mercer County – Maurice Hawk School, 303 Clarksville Rd, Princeton Jct, NJ
*   Thurs  Feb 21:  Salem County – Appel Farm Arts and Music Center, 457 Shirley Rd, Elmer, NJ
___ Mon  Feb 25:  Union County – Allen Roberts Elementary School, 80 Jones Dr, New Providence, NJ
___ Tues  Feb 26:  Gloucester County – EIRC at Rowan Univ Tech Park, 107 Gilbreth Parkway, Mullica Hill, NJ
___ Wed  Feb 27:   Morris County – Riverview Elementary School, 33 St Marys Pl, Denville, NJ
___ Thurs  Feb 28:  Burlington County – Alice Paul Institute, 128 Hooton Rd, Mount Laurel, NJ
___ Thurs  Mar 14:  Warren County – Washington Memorial Elem School, 300 W Stewart St, Washington, NJ           

Click here for the registration form:   Places to Stand flier- FEBRUARY 2013

There is no cost to attend a session, but space is limited.  To register please send an email with your name, email, phone number, address, and your  business or school to bhayes@eirc.org.

Your registration will be confirmed by email.  Teachers, parents, naturalists and other adults can participate.