One of the goals of the Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild is to inform the public and teachers on the use of story in education. To that end, we host the Pennsylvania Youth Storytelling Showcase, an annual competition of young storytellers. Students who compete may also enter into the pool of candidates for the National Youth Storytelling Showcase. These are all wonderful experiences for students and their families to get involved with the art of storytelling.
One of the long time promoters of youth storytelling in the valley is Karen Maurer. Karen mentored both myself and my daughter when we first stuck our toes in the waters of storytelling. Though now retired, she served as the Youth Services Librarian at the Parkland Community Library for many years. Out of the Parkland library she ran the Storytellers’ Circle, an intergenerational storytelling club—that is parents and their children telling stories—and later the Black Rose Storytelling Troupe, made up of teen tellers. Both Karen and I are involved with the Pennsylvania Youth Storytelling Showcase.
I have for you a story told by Karen Maurer called White Wave, followed by a story from my daughter, Emily, who Karen coached, and won her division at the National Youth Storytelling Showcase back to 2003. Her story The Frog Garden is her own creation.
We will start with Karen Maurer.
That was Emily Kiernan and before her, Karen Maurer. The Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild holds its Storytelling Circle at Godfrey Daniels at 7 East 4th Street in Bethlehem on the second Wednesdays of the month at 7:30 pm (except the month of August). Come and listen to stories or try out a story yourself. We are a friendly audience and the event is free.
It is time for you to get involved with storytelling. You can always visit lvstorytellers.org and we will try to keep you inform of local events. Until then, have fun and keep a story in your heart.
(Original air date: August 2013)