SHARING THE FIRE FAMILY TRACK INFORMATION
March 29-30, 2025
In-person at The Queensbury Hotel
Glens Falls, New York
Due to popular demand, we are offering a Family Track with the 2025 Sharing the Fire (STF) Conference. This will give kids and their trusted adults the opportunity to learn about storytelling together.
The Family Track is intended for children (ages 8+), teens, and adults to learn the Art of storytelling together. All children must be accompanied by an adult responsible for their care and well-being.
This weekend-long event includes:
- Saturday morning storytelling performance featuring both adults and kids at the Crandall Public Library
- Three workshops:
- When Animals Talk, We Should Listen presented by Bowen Lee
- There's a Story Here! Finding and Sharing Hometown Tales (And Why They Matter) presented by Linda Schuyler Ford
- The Joy of Poem-Telling presented by Marni & Maria Gillard
- Maker space/visual stories
- Story swap
- Optional story coaching provided by Children at the Well’s story coaches
- Microphone & stage presence mini-workshop presented by Simon Brooks
- Sunday afternoon Family Olio storytelling performance featuring both adults and kids
- Time to enjoy Glens Falls, the hotel pool (if you’re staying at the hotel), and area restaurants with your family
Liability Waiver
Any children who are attending the Family Track must have their parent/legal guardian fill out our liability waiver before coming to the Queensbury Hotel.
Needs-based Pricing
Choose the level that makes the most sense for your family. NEST Members get an additional $50 off total registration. Login to the website before registering to receive the discount.
- Fairy Godmother (Generous Level): $295 for parent & first child, $45 for each additional person in the family.
- Royals (Standard Level): $195 for parent & first child, $45 for each additional person in the family.
- Pixies (Low-Income Level): $95 for parent & first child, $45 for each additional person in the family.
Meals
To keep the Family Track affordable, there are no meals included. However, there are several restaurants within walking distance of the hotel, and two on-site restaurants. You are also welcome to bring a bagged lunch from home or visit one of several quality restaurants near-by. A list of restaurants will be included in the Family Track program when checking in.
COVID Policy
For everyone’s protection, we will be continuing to have a COVID Policy. We require all participants of the in-person Sharing the Fire Conference to take a COVID-19 test within 48 hours prior to their arrival at Sharing the Fire and to stay home if they test positive or experience cold-like symptoms. NEST is strongly encouraging all participants to have up-to-date COVID vaccinations prior to attending the conference. Read the full Covid Policy. You will be asked to indicate agreement to follow this policy as part of registration.
Hotel Information
Registration does not include hotel fees. Please see our Hotel Information Page to learn more about the venue. Availability at the hotel is limited, but you may still be able to book a room. There are other local lodging options as well.
Make this a Fun & Educational Trip
Glens Falls offers an array of fun and educational activities. Here are just some of the options we have found within walking distance of The Q:
- World Awareness Children’s Museum - Geared toward ages 4-11 (8 minute walk) https://worldchildrensmuseum.org/
- Shirt factory - Classes, Indie Shops, Skilled Professionals, Artists & more (11 minute walk) https://shirtfactorygf.com/
- Chapman Museum - Local history museum w/activities for kids (10 minute walk) http://www.chapmanmuseum.org/
- Hyde Collection - Art museum and historic house (14 minute walk) - https://www.hydecollection.org/
- Crandall Library and FolkLife Center - Large library, where we will start the Family Track on Saturday morning (2 minute walk) https://www.crandalllibrary.org
- Ridge St. Playground (4 minute walk) Map
Teens ages 16+
may enroll in either the family track or the adult conference at the student rate. Note that the minimum age to check into a room at The Queensbury Hotel is 21 years. Hotel guests under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Student Rates for the full conference apply to anyone currently enrolled in high school or higher education. Present a current school ID at registration. Homeschool families, present your Intent to Homeschool Form.
Family Track Details
Learn more about individual workshops, performances, and opportunities below.
Schedule

Detailed Schedule Descriptions
Saturday, March 29
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Sharing the Fire: Stories of Adventure, Mystery, and General Silliness for the Whole Family
Presented in partnership with the Crandall Public Library
Performance Location: Crandall Library, 251 Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY

Performers:
With performances for groups large or small, of all age ranges, Jackson Gillman incorporates song, story, comedy, dance, mime and sign language into his own intimate style of theatre. Jackson has been Teller-in-Residence at the ISC four times, featured 4x at the national festival as well as many others throughout the country. "I know Jackson's work intimately, better than anyone else in fact, and sometimes I just have to say - it stinks!... it's phenomenal! But hey, what do I know?" - Jackson Gillman, the Stand-Up Chameleon's worst and best critic

For Tammy Hall, stories hold ancient and proverbial wisdom, that stories travel far, even from generation to generation. A native of Clarksville, Tennessee, Tammy has called Brooklyn home for many years. She has performed venues in the Greater New York area including The Military Academy at West Point, The Apollo Theater, Symphony Space, The Brooklyn of Academy of Music, Macy’s, Rockefeller Plaza. She tells stories in libraries, schools, museums, cultural festivals and block parties, too!

Children at the Well
The mission of Children at the Well is to increase capacity for intercultural understanding, build diverse community connections and grow compassionate leaders through the art of storytelling. In the Children at the Well program, young people from many different traditions learn the art of storytelling together. They explore the riches of their heritage and share them with each other. They choose or create stories to tell that they feel a deep connection to. As they become proficient storytellers, they’re given opportunities to present to audiences of all sizes.
10:45 AM - 12:15 PM
Workshop
When Animals Talk We Should Listen

You know it is a folk tale when animals in the story talk, and you also know that what they have to say is going to teach a lesson. Listen and learn from the animals in traditional tales from many cultures, and explore how animals might see things. Learn different versions of an animal from many traditions. Practice telling some talking animal stories, and act out their point of view. Maybe you’ll change your mind about what you think about animals, about the world, and about yourself.
Bowen Lee is a storyteller, educator and environmentalist who believes stories can be transformative. She merges these passions together to provide a deep, memorable experience for self-reflection. Bowen conducts workshops and performs live and virtually with national, international, and regional programs.
12:15 AM - 1:30 PM
Lunch Break
Enjoy one of the many local restaurants with your family, or bring a bagged lunch.
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Workshop
There’s a Story Here!: Finding and Sharing Hometown Tales (And Why They Matter)

Sure, everyone has heard of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. But, dig a little deeper, and you'll find every city, town, and hamlet has folk history, urban legends, and bizarre events that locals talk about in hushed tones on a late night front porch. These snippets can make the best stories!
In this interactive workshop, participants will explore both how to research and craft local history stories, and why they are so meaningful. Expect a lively, fun, interactive 90 minutes. Bring your notebook, and any kernels of regional folklore you'd like to play with. This will spark some ideas for sure!
Linda Schuyler Ford grew up in Sleepy Hollow, NY, wandering the Headless Horseman's haunts, and listening to old tales from her German and British grandparents. Linda presents story-based retreats for people experiencing grief (Five Smooth Stones), and for men, women and teens grappling with significant life changes (Dance With Both Hands Free). She has led storytelling workshops for the American Society on Aging, the Florida Council on Aging, AARP, and the University of Oregon. She performs at libraries, museums and festivals along the East Coast. Stories build connections. No matter the genre, or audience demographic, that phenomenon is her passion.
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Maker Space/Visual Stories/Story Coaching
The Maker Space will be filled with Arts & Crafts materials to use to create visual stories. Feel free to bring some art materials to add to the mix!
We will also have Story Coaches from Children at the Well available to work with Family Track participants on specific stories. Sign up for a coaching time when you arrive at the conference.
4:15 PM - 5:00PM
Story Swap & Snack: Strut Your Stuff
Come share your story, or just listen! Participants are welcome to perform or share stories you have been working on. You can tell the story behind something you made in the Maker Space, share something developed in a workshop, or bring your own story. Bring a quiet snack for your family members.
Facilitated by Carmen Ross of Children at the Well.
Sunday, March 30
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Your Choice - Workshop or Fringe Performances
Workshop
The Joy of Poem Telling
Families with children and poetry and story lovers of every age will act out poems and get to know more about popular poets. The joy of my poem-telling workshop will draw them in. It's not just the experience of learning new poems; it's the excitement of hearing the poems come alive as tellers young and old see the world in new ways, thanks to the unique visions of established and brand-new poets. Some poems are touching, some funny, all are worth a closer look.

Marni Gillard discovered storytelling as a Niskayuna middle-school teacher. Her book, Storytelling, Storyteacher (Stenhouse publishers, available on Amazon) helps teachers and parents understand how valuable tale-telling and poem-telling are for students of all ages finding their voice. Marni's double CD, "Without a Splash, Diving Into Childhood Memories" shows how important life stories are for listeners and tellers as well. Reach Marni at marnigillard@earthlink.net or leave a message at 518-312-6095.

Maria Gillard is a natural and talented singer, songwriter, and music educator from the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. She is best known as a folk musician but dabbles in jazz, bluegrass and swing genres. She teaches music at Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua, NY and has been performing since the mid-1980’s. In the early 90’s she teamed up with her sister, Marni Gillard, performing “Sisters in Song and Story”, in which they performed songs and stories of family, friends and personal history. This year at Sharing the Fire, you may catch a glimpse of this repertoire in The Poem Telling workshop.
Fringe Performances
Give Voice to Our Ancestors
Barbara Aliprantis and Thelma Thomas share family stories and folktales that remind us of the wise lessons therein and the value of passing them on for the sake of humankind and other forms of life.

Barbara Aliprantis is a bilingual teller with English and ASL. She is an ethnographic kaleidoscope of world folktales.

Thelma Thomas is a bilingual (English/Spanish) performer with an extensive repertoire of stories from around the globe.
Stories that Roar!
Stories that Roar celebrates the story of the Lion and embraces the hero in all of us!

Dr. Linda Humes is currently a doctoral Lecturer in the Africana Studies Department at John Jay College in New York City. She is the Chair of the education committee for the National Association of Black storytellers Association and performs and conducts workshops nationally and internationally.
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Maker Space/Visual Stories/Story Coaching
The Maker Space will be filled with Arts & Crafts materials to use to create visual stories. Feel free to bring some art materials to add to the mix!
We will also have Story Coaches from Children at the Well available to work with Family Track participants on specific stories. Sign up for a coaching time when you arrive at the conference.
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Lunch Break
Enjoy one of the many local restaurants with your family, or bring a bagged lunch.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Your Choice - Mini Workshop or Maker Space
Mini Workshop
Microphone Skills & Stage Presence

When you are ready to step on stage, there is a lot to think about that has nothing to do with your story! Our voices all sound different coming through a microphone, and we need to know how to use them properly without blowing out our audiences' ear drums. We will begin by learning how a microphone works and then get a chance to practice speaking into one. Finally, we will practice projecting confidence (even if you are really scared) by learning some basic stage presence techniques. This workshop is for anyone looking to take the next step and tell their stories from the stage.
Award-winning British storyteller Simon Brooks has been entrancing audiences for 20 years. His tales, both live (in-person or virtual) and his award-winning recordings, contain everything from humour to pathos, all with a wink and smile. He invites all to investigate & to become fascinated with Story as he drops you into tales so vividly you would think you were somewhere else. Simon has performed at hundreds of schools, colleges, libraries, and festivals including the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN, Teller in Residence at the ISC, and the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival in Utah, amongst others. Find him at SimonBrooksStoryteller.com (Diamondscree.com).
2:00 PM - 2:20 PM
Break
Stretch, run, or grab a snack before settling in for the final performance of the weekend.
2:30 PM
Family Olio: Spinning Tales for Fun
Performers:
Michelle Carlo will tell "Spanish on Sunday, Part 1"
Mike Perry will tell “Billy the Baker” and “The Red Balloon”
Lee-Ellen Marvin will tell “The Three Spinners”
Youth Tellers from Children at the Well will surprise us with their stories!

Michele Carlo is a writer, storyteller (and sometime actor) who has told stories across the U.S., including the Clearwater Arts & Music Festival, the Hans Christian Andersen series in Central Park and the MOTH Mainstage in New York; the STF and NSN story conferences; the RISK! and Story Collider live shows and podcasts; on NPR (WNYC radio and NPR); and the WGBH-PBS series “Stories from the Stage.” Michele is also the author of the NYC-set memoir “Fish Out of Agua” and has contributed to several literary anthologies. Follow her on Instagram: @michele_asshell, and for bookings and more info: www.michelecarlo.com
Mike Perry emcees, teaches and tells mostly original tales throughout Western Pennsylvania including appearances at Pittsburgh’s Tellabration, The Ellwood City Storytelling Festival, Beaver Tales and his one man show, "Saving Face, Memoir of a Circus Clown.' His stories and style draw from a unique and varied resume, that has taken him from teaching elementary school to educational entertainment, from the Census Bureau to circus clown, and from maintenance man to major motion pictures. Mike is fond of saying, “When life is a circus, why run away to the real world?” He’s taught storytelling at: The University of Pittsburgh, and Carlow University: to teachers at: The Allegheny Intermediate Unit, and to lifelong learners at: The University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon’s OSHER programs. Available for festival, library, school and community events.
Lee-Ellen Marvin has explored storytelling as a performer, audio producer, educator, folklorist, and community advocate since 1977. She has told and taught storytelling to thousands in schools, colleges, and community centers with stories based on contemporary events, personal experience, literature, history, and traditional folklore. Her newest project for children is “Stories of a Dog Named Bear” available on BandCamp.com, and her original, non-competitive game, Story Shifters, is available at TheGameCrafter.com. Lee-Ellen lives in EcoVillage at Ithaca, New York. Learn more at www.storytellerleeellen.com
The mission of Children at the Well is to increase capacity for intercultural understanding, build diverse community connections and grow compassionate leaders through the art of storytelling. In the Children at the Well program, young people from many different traditions learn the art of storytelling together. They explore the riches of their heritage and share them with each other. They choose or create stories to tell that they feel a deep connection to. As they become proficient storytellers, they’re given opportunities to present to audiences of all sizes.