Storytelling 2026

Come and explore the wonderful world of storytelling and the power of imagination with Tim Van Egmond and Laura Packer, your experienced and encouraging facilitators.

Over the course of four workshops, participants will learn to develop a story from image or idea to tellable tale, practice and hone techniques to make the telling vivid and dynamic, and gain insight into how to connect with and engage listeners. They will come away with a deepened understanding of their own relationship with storytelling as an art and a practice, and greater confidence when crafting and telling stories.

Here’s what you can expect while you’re here. You will arrive on Friday and get settled in your lodgings. We will meet Friday after dinner and get started. On Saturday, you’ll have two morning workshops between breakfast and lunch, followed by the afternoon off to rest, explore, write, and relax. Tim and Laura will be available if you have any questions or need storytelling help. After dinner, we will gather around the fire, where Laura and Tim will share stories, and you can enjoy the nighttime beauty of Pyramid Lake. On Sunday, we will meet after brunch where you can share a story and celebrate your fellow storytellers. We will close with a brief workshop, just before lunch.

This workshop is appropriate for everyone, from those who have never shared a story to those who have told on professional stages. You don’t have to bring a story to tell, but if you would like to and need a little help, here are some suggestions on where to look for tellable tales:

• For traditional folk tales, browse through the 398.2 section of your library or go to https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/folktexts.html
• If you want to tell a personal story, check out the prompts at https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/blog/30-creative-writing-prompts-for-memoir-or-non-fiction
• For some information about storytelling and some additional story ideas, visit https://www.naturalleaders.com/storytelling.html.