2010 ECO/Environmental Storytellers Retreat (Summary)

The 3rd annual Eco/Environmental Storytellers Retreat was held April 9-11 in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Previous retreats were held in other states.

Eric Wolf, with assistance from Jonatha Wright, organized the event, held in the Vale Community in Yellow Springs. Those who arrived on Friday enjoyed a pot luck dinner with residents of the Vale community. On Saturday evening, a fund-raising concert performed on the Antioch College Campus by many of the retreat participants raised funds to benefit the Tecumseh Land Trust.

Workshop sessions and discussion topics were determined in advance through e-mail conversations with those attending. Sessions included:

• “Guided Inquiry” led by Kevin Cordi, who chose coal mining as the topic for this activity. We each selected 4-5 documents scattered over the floor, then wrote a question prompted by each. Kevin facilitated an unscripted role-playing discussion based on the questions. Roles included mine owner, engineer, widow of a miner, surviving miners and others. A good technique to prompt in-depth exploration of a topic.
• Environmental Theater for Kids — Eric Wolf. Eric writes scenarios wherein campers become characters, perhaps even animals. These are set in places like Africa, a meadow, and a local community with a polluted pond. The focus is on a conflict/crisis that affects humans and/or the natural world. As many as three scenarios are taking place at one time, (all in the same habitat). The discussion that follows provides additional insights and evaluates students’ understanding and increased knowledge.
• A discussion of the need for stories with a positive outcome, (vs. tales of environmental disasters), both in folk-tales and in true stories was led by Fran Stallings of Oklahoma. Having observed a feeling of hopelessness about the earth’s plight, especially among teens, She suggested using stories, including true “ECO-Hero” stories, to promote hopefulness and provide examples of actionable projects.
• A discussion of National Park Residencies and the obligation to create a useful product for the park ws led by Sally Crandall (who will be resident at Homestead National Monument in Nebraska later this year)
• Creating a themed program — start to finish, led by Joyce Geary, Jonatha and Harold Wright and Janelle Reardon. We divided into three groups, each group creating a program on one of the TOPICS: Air, Fire, and Water. A guiding THEME for each (a sentence describing the desired take-away message of the program) was developed by the group. Each group presented the theme, an outline of the program and stories to be included, telling one or two stories from the program.

There were opportunities for “hat stories” (storyteller’s name drawn out of hat), nature hikes in the nearby parks (a deep gorge and beautiful glen), and quiet time in a serene natural setting.

Day of Friday, April 9 2010

(Times listed are approximate and may be adjusted when more accurate information is available)

Please have someone else report on the following two events -- I was not present.
1 p.m. – Tree Walk with George Beri, Land Manager, the Glen
3:30 p.m. – Flower Walk in the North Glen

6:30 p.m. – Pot Luck on the Vale Commons
Registered attendees are invited to meet the Vale community members
Our excellent dinner, including contributions from the travelers, featured delicious, healthful vegetarian and vegan choices provided by residents of the Vale community. In addition to the bonfire area, there is a large community garden that inspired some discussion of the advantages of locally grown fresh produce.

8 p.m. – Hanging around the Vale Commons Campfire telling stories (Moved to the Yurt)
Because the night was cool, we moved into the yurt for storytelling. The spacious yurt was home to most of the retreat activities, providing the warmth of a wood fire, an excellent hardwood floor appropriate for all kinds of movement activities, comfortable rugs underfoot that could be moved as needed. There was an assortment of cushions and blankets available for those who preferred floor sitting, or who may have forgotten to bring a chair. Colored lights and symbolic banners brightened the perimeter, along with an assortment of objects for inspiration and reflection.
Names were put into a hat of those willing to share stories. One by one, the tellers’ names were drawn and the stories told.
(WHO, WHICH Stories?) Anybody remember – please email Eric Wolf ericwolf2@yahoo.com

Quick Note of Progresses

On Frday the Walks were specacular and fun.  We have anice group of people here for the weekend.  We had a great potluck with the Vale community and a story swap circle afterwards in the Yurt due to cold.

Report on the Food

Potluck Planned for Friday Night at 6:30 PM - you can bring a traditional cooked meal if you live close by - here is a list of items that are good for far away folks or folks with busy lives...

Make cookies or brownies a few days before or buy cookies...
Drop by Tom's market on your way through Yellow Springs and Buy two bags of washed salad greens (in the back of the store) - bring a nice bowl from home.
Bring a gallon of apple cider or apple juice -
Buy a large container of humus and a bag of corn chips to go with it - bring a nice bowl from home.
Do Not Buy - Soda, Wine or Beer - thanks.

Saturday Morning - Breakfast on your own...

Saturday Lunch Provided by Current Cuisine 8 Veggie Sandwiches and Ha Ha Pizza with three large pies.

Saturday Dinner provided by the Sunrise Cafe (Pot of Chili) and the Underdog Cafe (Two loaves multigrain Bread.)

Sunday Morning Breakfast and Lunch are not provided.

Updated Schedule as of April 2nd

Friday the 9th of April

1:00 PM - Tree Walk with George Beri the Land Manager of the Glen.

3:30 PM - Flower Walk in the North Glen.

6:30 PM Pot Luck on the Vale Commons.

Registered Attendees are invited to meet the Vale community Members.

8:00 PM – Hanging Around the Vale Commons Camp Fire telling stories.

Saturday the 10th of April

8:30 Am – Half hour opening ceremony.

9:00 AM – Acceptance of schedule.

9:15 AM - Hat Story

9:20 AM - Lisa Homes - Performance of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

10:00 AM - Eric Wolf Report on Living Theater Education.

10:30 AM - Break

10:45 AM - Hat Story

10:50 AM - Fran Stallings - A Discussion on healing ecology through storytelling

Noon - Lunch Sponsored - with a walk to the Garden.

1:25 PM - Hat Story

1:30 PM - Kevin Cordi - Ensemble Storytelling

2:30 PM -  Break.

2:45 PM - Hat Story

2:50 PM - Janelle Reardon, Jonatha & Harold Wright (Water) and Joyce Geary - 

We break in to 3 separate groups for an hour to create themed programs from scratch then each team has 20 minutes to present a portion and concepts or their program.

5:00 PM - Dinner Break in town or maybe pizza together. 

(Still Looking for a Sponsor.  How about you?)

7 PM Tecumseh Land Trust Fund Raiser.

10 PM Another Fire in front of Brother Wolf's house for the dedicated.

Sunday the 11th of April

9:30 AM - Two Hat Stories

9:45 AM - Sally Crandall - Building a National Park Storytelling Program.

10:30 AM - Hat Story

10:35 AM - Talking Stick Circle - (As time Allows)

11:45 AM Short Ending Ceremony.

This is a draft schedule and may change without notice...

Wild Walks Planned for April 9th.

Meeting Locations to be distributed by email to registered attendees.  Bring your Hiking shoes...

1:30 PM - Tree Walk with George Beri the Land Manager of the Glen.
4:00 PM - Flower Walk with Bill Felker Writer of Poor Will's Almanac.

6:30 PM Pot Luck on the Vale Commons - Registered Attendees are invited to meet the Vale community Members.

Draft Schedule - Jan 1st

Friday the 9th of April

Day - Secrets of the Glen.

Evening – Hanging Around the Camp Fire in the Vale telling stories

Saturday the 10th of April

8:30 Am – Half hour opening ceremony.

9:00 AM – Acceptance of schedule

9:30 AM - Lisa Homes - Performance of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

10:45 AM - Fran Stallings - A Discussion on healing ecology through storytelling

Lunch Sponsored

1:30 PM - Eric Wolf Report on Living Theater Education

2:00 PM - Jonatha & Harold Wright Report and Discussion on stories and there use in Water Education.

2:45 PM - Janelle Reardon We create three themed programs from scratch.

3:30 PM - Break.

3:45 PM - Talking Stick Circle - (1 round)

Dinner Break in town or maybe pizza together. (Still Looking for a Sponsor.)

7 PM Tecumseh Land Trust Fund Raiser.

10 PM Another Fire in front of my house.

Sunday the 11th of April

9:30 AM - Mylinda Butterworth Books as Tools Eco-Fiction books

10:00 AM - Jenn Romaniszak Leads a discussion on the responsibility of storytellers.

11:30 AM Short Ending Ceremony.

This is a draft schedule and may change without notice...