Supporters of the annual Kansas Storytelling Festival in Downs want to encourage and mentor young storytellers.

“Live storytelling is the art that is so refreshingly personal in a technology-heavy culture, ” contends one of last year’s attendees.

A new student workshop, #mystory, will be introduced this Saturday, January 11,  at the Downs Depot.

“#mystory a workshop for students, middle school through high school,” explains festival coordinator Glennys Doane in a news release.

The pilot session will be taught by Joyce Slater, a professional storyteller from Kansas City who has appeared at the annual Kansas Storytelling Festival and has extensive experience working with young storytellers through schools and libraries.

Students can expect to learn how to develop stories from a favorite memory, a toy, a person, or experience, as well as understand and practice the skills of delivering a story to an audience. The individuality of each story and making a connection with an audience are tools that will be pursued.

“This outreach is natural extension of continuing the storytelling tradition from one generation to another,” says Doane.

The public is invited to the evening performance of stories beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Depot, following the afternoon workshop which starts at 1:00 p.m.

Contact [email protected] or Glennys Doane at 785.545.5105 for details or registration for Saturday’s event.