StoryTelling Camp in Canada  2023

StoryTelling Camp 2023 Itinerary (as of Nov.24,2022)
Aug.1 ~ Aug.15 （参加者と相談し期間は微調整可能）　

Aug.1 (Day 1) Arrival  

カルガリー空港までは個人で手配して飛んで来て下さい。（フライトについて、入国手続きについてのアドバイス可能です。）
空港でMachiko and Robertが待ってます。
EcoCabinまで！ 空港から40分、途中のすご〜い景色を楽しみに！

Aug.2 (Day 2) Acclimatizing

• Discuss these observations, with key questions:

  • What did you observe?

  • Why do you think this area became this way?

Key Critical Thinking Skills: Observing your surroundings, looking for patterns, asking questions.

午後にはStoryについての授業もゆったり開始
Storytelling:

• Discuss why we have stories.

  • where they originated

  • how they evolved

• Read a monomyth story.

• Begin to plan your own monomyth

• Introduce students to the “story” of life on the prairie:

Aug.3 (Day3) Story Elements

Introduce the main elements of a story
Creative storytelling through cloud watching
Monomyth story continued
Who lives on the prairie?
Critical Thinking Skills in Practice

Aug.4  (Day 4) Story Flow (The “Mountain” Story)

Introduce the traditional flow of a story
Writing Exercises
Activities: Read a mountain story together, Visit a buffalo ranch
Key Critical Thinking Skills in Practice: Imagine the life at a buffalo ranch, and ask questions to the ranch owner.

Aug.5  (Day 5) Geological Story – The Rocky Mountains:

Students learn the “story” of the Rockies in preparation for the next-day visit:

Storytelling Activities:

• Learn important techniques to tell good stories.

• Read a humorous story together.

• Write your mountain story.

• Begin to write your monomyth story.

Activities:

• Pronunciation practice

  • Introduce some of the variances in pronunciation throughout Canada

Key Critical Thinking Skills: Define terms. How do you define a mountain?

Aug.6  (Day 6) The Rocky Mountains

Daytrip: Visit the Rockies, expanding on our knowledge of the formation of Rockies and the life that inhabits it.


Aug.7  (Day 7) Free Day

Students enjoy the nature around the cabin.
Continue to write your stories if you would like.
Take a trip to a local venue if students need some extra stimulation.

Aug.8  (Day 8) History – Paleontology – The Ancient Story

The dinosaur “story”:

• Read stories of the dinosaur history of the area.

• Learn why Alberta is one of the best dinosaur spots in the world.

• Learn about some types of dinosaurs that once lived here.

• Learn about the badlands, an interesting geographical formation.

This will help prepare for the visit to the Royal Tyrrell Museum to view dinosaur fossils and the badlands, and to learn the story of the dinosaurs.

Applying Critical Thinking Skills: Gathering information – how to find appropriate online sources.

Activities: Write part one of your monomyth story, A typical Canadian activity; depending on interest

Aug.9  (Day 9) Drumheller

Visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum to learn more about the story of the dinosaurs.
Visit the badlands to learn the unique geological “story” of this area.

Aug.10  (Day 10) The Story of Civilization

When you live in a cabin with few people around, it makes you think about how humans ordinarily live in cities surrounded by others.

Learn about the history of cities.
Applying Critical Thinking Skills: Defining terms. How do we define cities? What is a civilization? How do we define the fall of a civilization?

Aug.11  (Day 11) Assessing Claims

Applying Critical Thinking:
Writing Activities:

Aug.12  (Day 12) A Visit to “Civilization”

Visit Calgary, the largest city in Alberta and second largest in Western Canada:

• Observe how people live in a city with a latitude of 51º north

• Shop for souvenirs
  

Aug.13  (Day 13) Windup

Finish any incomplete stories.
Wander the nature near the EcoCabin.
Do activities that were missed due to weather or other interests.
Repeat popular activities.
Reflect on the trip.
A big celebratory bonfire at night.

Aug.15  (Day 14) Return

カルガリー空港から帰国の途に

Notes:

The above dates may change depending on weather and local conditions (traffic, wildlife, highway conditions, etc.). We may change some activities to meet the interests of the students and local realities; for instance, we may attend a pop-up local market or event if one arises (Canadians can be quite spontaneous, and these local events can be both charming and educational). However, we will attempt to do all of the scheduled activities during the stay.

Writing stories of your own may seem daunting, but our Canada Club students are capable. The camp members from last year all wrote three creative, entertaining short stories – and one of the students is still in junior high school.