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Friends oF red rock canyon 21
By Margie Klein
torytelling is important in many aspects Sunday” series. The target audience will be
of life. Whether in the oral or written tra- younger children, but I would like to invite
Sdition, it is one way that culture is passed anyone who has an interest in the art of story-
on from generation to generation. Stories are telling. I will be live-telling a story, usually a
used to convey history, but they can also illus- legend or pourquois
trate lessons and values. Motivational speakers tale, then read a pic- ourquoi story,
tell a story to inspire people; performers tell ture storybook about P also known as an origin story,
a pourquoi tale or an etiological
stories to entertain; even business people use the plants, animals or tale, is a fictional narrative that
stories to demonstrate successes and failures. other natural features explains why something is the way
Story is a vital part of the human experience. of Red Rock Canyon. it is for example why a snake has
no legs, or why a tiger has stripes.
Storytime will be fol- Many legends and folk tales
Can storytelling be extended to the envi- lowed by a show-and- are pourquoi stories.
ronment around us? The answer is yes, abso- tell display of the story
lutely, as the human species is part and parcel topic, and then an activity that will let the kids
of its environment. In fact, when it comes to get some hands-on time with the subject, usu-
relating a sense of place to people, stories are ally arts and crafts.
one of the best ways to do it. We have to know
what happens in the landscape, as well as how No matter how we tell the stories, we need
and why, in order to understand our place in it. to get them out there to the public. Stories
Place gives us a context for our existence. help develop a stronger appreciation for our
environment, leading to a desire to protect and
So what are the stories of Red Rock Can- preserve sites like our national parks and con-
yon? The location, climate, all the elements, servation areas. With everyone’s help, we are
flora and fauna and the people that have been ensuring the future of Red Rock Canyon.
here are all interwoven parts. As interpreters,
we may tell individual parts of the complete Welcome to new contributor Margie Klein!
story, one story at a time. Each of us may Margie has been a freelance writer
specialize in a certain topic; but together — for over 25 years and a nature-lover
friends, volunteers and naturalists — all help all her life. With degrees in agricul-
paint the picture of this fascinating place ture and natural resources, she has
30-plus years’ experience in these
called Red Rock Canyon. We tell and retell the fields, including parks, forestry, and
stories in publications like the Rock, media wildlife. Certified in environmental
outlets, guidebooks, artist series, talks, table- education and interpretation, she
top presentations, brochures and hikes. is also a student of nature writing,
storytelling and ecotherapy. When
not serving as one of the interpretive naturalists for
On the first Sunday of each month, I RRCIA, Margie spends time in her yard and garden and
will be hosting an environmental “Storytime with her grandson, who is a naturalist-in-training.
Spring 2016
