JSU’s Morrison represents Alabama at National Storytelling Conference

 

Renee Morrison, coordinator of JSU’s Field Schools, arrives in Gatlinburg, Tenn., for the National Storytelling Conference (courtesy photo)

The southeast region of the National Storytelling Network had their top state representatives from Alabama Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee tell stories during the National Conference “Making Connections” last weekend (August 7 -9) in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

JSU Field Schools’ Renee Morrison was chosen to represent Alabama and received a standing ovation for her humorous tale, “My Life as a Black and Tan Coonhound.”  Morrison also utilized the opportunity to promote JSU’s new Canyon Center to the hundreds in attendance.

 Among the Field School events on tap for the remainder of 2008 are:

 

August

Family Fairy Tale Weekend - DeSoto State Park (August 15 - 16)

JSU Field Schools and DeSoto State Park will offer fun activities Friday night, all day Saturday and Saturday night for families. Join JSU Field Schools’ Renee Morrison (author of Calico Ghosts and Calico Fairies) for Campfire Talks Friday (Scary, Hairy & Sometimes Merry Fairy Tales of Little River) and learn about the Fairy House Technique of Teaching Nature Observation on Saturday night. Register for the Fairy Hunt & Fairy Houses Workshop on Saturday.

 

 

Campfire Talk: Fairy Tales of Little River Canyon

 

Underneath a mossy rock deep in a secret cave somewhere in the canyon a magical book was discovered (and published as Calico Fairies) by storyteller Renee Morrison…Scary, Hairy & Sometimes Merry Fairy Tales of Little River.

Date:   Friday, August 15, 2008
Time:    7:00 pm - 8:00 pm FREE

Location: DeSoto State Park Nature Center

 

 

Fairy Houses & Looking for the Good Folk (Fine Tuning Nature Observation Skills) 

                                                                                                      

 Renee Morrison has been making fairy houses with her sons for sixteen years. She reports that occasionally the fairies do visit and leave tokens of their appreciation. She’ll also lead a short “hobbity” hike through an enchanted forest to identify places where fairies like to play, live and observe us. 

                                                                                      

Date:               Saturday, August 16, 2008                                                                                                  

Where:            DeSoto State Park Pavilion (near playground)
Time:               3:00 pm – 5:00 pm                                                                                                                    

Fee:                 $2 per person to cover supplies; pre-registration required

 

 

Campfire Talk: Alabama Fairy Houses (Teaching Nature Observation to Children)

 

Date:     Saturday, August 16, 2008
Time:     7:00 pm - 8:00 pm FREE

Location: DeSoto State Park Nature Center

 

October

Storytelling Weekend & Workshop at Cheaha State Park (October 17-18)

 

Join Alabama storytellers Nina Reeves and Renee Morrison for a weekend of storytelling fun, spooky story shivers, and a “how to” workshop to learn practical techniques for telling your own stories.

Dates:             October 17 - 18, 2008 Friday Night Ghost Telling (Family Friendly) at 6:00 pm;

Saturday Workshops at 10:00 am- 11:00 am and 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm;   

Storytelling Concert at 6:00 pm Saturday Night.

Where:             Cheaha State Park; Bald Rock Retreat Lodge
Fee:                 $25 adult; $15 child (ages 8 – 18; not recommended for children under 8 years of age); does not include lodging or meals; pre-registration required. For lodging information: call 1-800-ALA-PARK; visit www.cheahastpark.com

 

 

Lost Arts Series: Calico Ghost Stories (October 30)

 

Join JSU Field Schools’ Renee Morrison for a cozy camp fire, s’mores and storytelling certain to put shivers up your spine!

 

Date:               October 30, 2008

Time:               6:30 – 8:00 pm

Where:            Historic McClellan

Fee & Information: Contact Ann Spicer with Continuing Education at 800-634-7199 or 256-782-5983

 

 

Family Weekend DeSoto State Park (October 31 – November 1)

JSU Field Schools and DeSoto State Park will offer fun activities Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night for families who want to learn about nature together. Join JSU Field Schools naturalist and storyteller Renee Morrison (author of Calico Ghosts and Calico Fairies) for fun Campfire Talks on Friday night (Ghosts in the Valley) and Saturday night (My Life as a Hound Dog). Join us for the family storytelling hike on Saturday. For lodging information, visit  www.desotostatepark.com

 

Campfire Talk: Ghosts on the Mountain

Spooky stories guaranteed to put shivers up your spine! Learn about Alabama’s finest spooks, legends and folklore from JSU Field Schools’ Renee Morrison (author of Calico Ghosts).

Date:               Friday, October 31, 2008
Time:                6:00 pm -7:00 pm

Location:         DeSoto State Park Campfire – FREE

 

 

November

Storytelling Hike

Join Renee Morrison for this easy artsy stroll.

 

Date:                Saturday, November 1, 2008
Where:            DeSoto State Park trails (Meet at Nature Center)
Time:                10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Fee:                  No fee (Part of DeSoto State Park Family Weekend)

 

 

 

Campfire Talk: My Life as a Hound Dog

Storytelling and knee-slapping humor as JSU Field Schools’ Renee Morrison tells true stories about growing up on her Granddad’s dairy farm in Choccolocco, Alabama (aka Calico, AL).

Date:                 Saturday, November 1, 2008
Time:                6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Location:         DeSoto State Park Campfire – FREE

 

 

 

International TELLABRATION!! Storytelling in the Canyon

 

The International Tellebration is a worldwide event devoted to storytelling. This grass-roots movement is endorsed by the National Storytelling Network. Join Renee Morrison and other local storytellers for this fun event.

 

Date:               Saturday, November 22, 2008
Where:            JSU’s Little River Canyon Center
Time:               1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Fee:                 No fee

 

Visit  www.tellabration.org  for more info.

 

 

December

Christmas Tea for the Animals and Me     

                                                                                               

A tea party for children and critters! Join storytelling naturalist Renee Morrison for an enchanted holiday workshop…enjoy holiday snacks, meet a few live animals AND learn to feed winter wildlife in your own back yard. Each child will make their own winter bird feeding wreath.  

                                                                                                            

Date:                Saturday, December 13, 2008
Where:            Jacksonville State University Martin Hall Room 250 (2nd Floor)
Time:               12:00 pm – 1:15 pm
Fee:                 $2.50 per child (must be accompanied by an adult); pre-registration required

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