The Festival Year of Stories:
Tree and Forest Storytelling Course for Young Storytellers - ONE SPOT REMAINING!
Meet the Festival Year Teachers!
Lidia, Joia, and Becky are certified in Restorative Storytelling™ and have years of experience working with children.
Introducing Lidia Scotto di Vetta
Lidia Scotto di Vetta has been helping children and families connect with the magic of nature since 2019. Through play, mindfulness, and storytelling, she creates spaces to belong, connect, and learn naturally. A Forest School leader with certifications in Restorative Storytelling and Therapeutic Nature Play, she is also the author of Growing with Nature. Find more about her work at bigscrubnatureplay.com.
Introducing Joia Wood
Joia Wood is a creative mindfulness facilitator and coach, celebrated vocalist, multi-faceted artist, and educator with over 30 years of experience working with children and families. Her approach is trauma-informed and spectrum-celebratory, and she delights in fostering creativity, connection, and learning through mindfulness, music, nature, and the arts. Joia currently resides in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and offers mindful, playful practices for all ages through improvisational sound, movement, and story. Learn more about Joia here.
Introducing Becky Taylor
Becky Taylor is a therapist, educator, and founder of a homeschool coop in San Antonio Texas. She is currently working on her masters in education and is certified in Restorative Storytelling.
What your 6 - 9 year old storyteller will learn every week:
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Storytelling Skills: Our youngest storytellers will learn and practice some key tools of Restorative Storytelling including nonverbal communication, vocality, and story-listening (how to read the room and listen with presence.)
- The Natural World: In developing characters based on the natural world, we will learn about trees and other plants common in a forest. We will explore what we learn through imagination and dialogue.
- World Festivals: There are trees and forests circling the globe and festivals that celebrate and honor the changes that take place throughout the year.
- How to Pay Attention: There are many different ways to pay attention: focused, peripherally, somatically and noticing subtle changes. These are often overlooked in most teaching environments, but celebrated here!
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Collaboration: We learn that trees are always a part of a forest, and a forest needs every single tree. Above ground we seem to be individuals, while under the surface we are entangled. We use storytelling to explore this reality.
- Dialogue: Conversations and interactions are nuanced skills that bring confidence, attunement, and conscientiousness.
Live Interactive Storytelling!
Each week, the storytellers meet live via zoom to tell each other stories and learn precious attention and listening skills as the foundation of effective storytelling.
Full Curriculum
Each participant has access to the Tree and Forest storytelling curriculum complete with short video lessons, downloadable practice sheets and bonus courses and handbooks.
Join a Storytelling Community
Members of this course will be invited to regular storytelling events (virtual and live) where they can tell collaborative stories and meet other people their age who love stories!
Shay G.
Freespinners has been such a wonderful opportunity for my 8-year old son to build confidence sharing, imagining and being silly with a group of peers while supported by David and Meredith, who are so attentive and joyful.
Heather Y.
My oldest son has grown up with David and Meredith. A writer at heart, he has thrived in this environment evolving his storytelling and character development skills along with leadership, encouragement, and problem solving. The maturity that R has shown in the subtle exploration and development of the characters in his stories--from a very young age--has consistently stunned me.
Rick L.
Aditya has been nothing but consistently enthusiastic about attending your program. It may be the only educational/social program that he has an unwavering appetite for over the years.
Jen S.
Freespinners has been a true highlight in my daughters week for the past two years. The teachers are simply the best. She learns so much and has such a magical experience with them. They bring out so much creativity and joy in the kids, it's a blast for my daughter and just as much fun for me when I hear her telling stories. It has been beautiful to watch her confidence grow as well and they have such a wonderful peer group. This is a must have class for us now in our weekly rhythm and will continue to be for as long as it's offered!
Amanda G.
Nurturing, collaborative, and FUN! My teen has found wonderful friendships and is full of joy and enthusiasm after each session. They have expanded in creativity and courage as a writer and as a human in the greater world. Teen Council is a significant and invaluable part of my teen’s life. As a parent, I couldn’t be more grateful.
Amy B.
Even though Fenn is quieter than some students in your classes, he has done wonderfully in expanding his speaking, spontaneous processing and storytelling abilities. Most importantly, he feels safe and connected to your community of lively, storytelling students and adults. You two are magical mentors :) We look forward to him further stretching himself and growing in your classes :)
Jessica
Our daughter Caroline has been part of the Teen Council at Story Steps Education for the past 2 years. She started programs with David and Meredith during the spring of 2020 and has been blessed to be a part of this community of learners and explorers ever since. From pirate to podcaster and everything in between, Caroline has enjoyed the magic that David and Meredith continue to create in their small group online settings. The confidence, creativity and communication skills that they have helped to foster will last her a lifetime.
How are the Storytelling skills and tools taught?
But my child doesn't like to write, can they participate?
How are these courses different than other online courses?
You can learn the tools as well!
Restorative Storytelling Certification is what you've been seeking: learn custom storytelling strategies, become a master of reading the room, and transform your family and community through telling stories.
Learn more about Certification