For the third consecutive year, Glenville State University is partnering with the West Virginia Storytelling Guild to present a week-long youth storytelling camp this summer. The “Come Spin a Tale” camp will be held from Monday, July 22, 2024 to Friday, July 26, 2024 and is open to incoming 9th-12th grade students, as well as new high school graduates.
Numerous workshops will be held throughout the week as part of the camp and will include storytellers James Froemel, Mike Perry, Judi Tarowski, and more. This year’s co-director is Glenville State University’s Library Director and Archivist, Jason Gum. He will also hold a workshop on understanding the vast amount of primary resources available throughout the state and beyond. These resources can be used for research into related topics and help students develop their own stories or familiarize themselves with long-lost stories from our past.
Overall, the campers will be given instruction in establishing stories and developing characters, getting and keeping an audience’s attention, drawing from personal narratives, developing improvisational skills, using body language and inflection, telling tall tales, and more. Tuition for the camp is $100 and includes all meals and lodging.
“One of the goals of the West Virginia Storytelling Guild has always been to keep storytelling in the mountains a part of our folk culture,” said Jo Ann Dadisman of the West Virginia Storytelling Guild. She also serves as the camp’s co-director.
“While this is my first year as co-director of the activity, I am happy to see this camp happen for its third consecutive year on Glenville State’s campus,” said Gum.
The event is limited to 15 participants, so early registration is recommended by visiting www.glenville.edu/StorytellingCamp.
For more information about the camp, contact the Robert F. Kidd Library at (304) 462-6161.
