Children at the Well
Connecting tomorrow’s leaders through storytelling
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Young people from many different traditions learn the art of storytelling and choose or create stories to tell that they feel a deep connection to, whether it relates to their cultural heritage, to causes they are most concerned with, or to their own lives. This independent program meets weekly for several months, culminating in a story performance and opportunities to tell stories at events throughout the year.
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Children at the Well participants form a community of acceptance and support, and learn to become confident and fearless in front of an audience. Story coaches guide them with positivity and warmth. Participants make new friends, gain confidence and poise, and find their voice.​
More about the program
What we offer
Our program provides high quality education in the art of storytelling. Being part of Children at the Well is a great opportunity to improve your public speaking, be creative, and meet other cool kids from the Capital Region.
When & Where
We’ll be meeting on Wednesdays from 5 to 7pm, from January 8th to early April. Our meeting place for the Wednesday group will be the Hindu Cultural Center, 450 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12211 **PLEASE NOTE This year, there will be a second group meeting on Mondays via Zoom, from 6 to 7:30pm.
Who
Young people ages 11 to 16, from the Capital Region. **PLEASE NOTE The Monday Zoom group will be for children aged 8 to 10
Cost
There is no cost to families. Children at the Well is a community supported program.
​For more info, please contact Program Coordinator Paula Weiss at paula@withourvoice.org.
Meet the instructor
Stephanie Ward
Story Coach and Teaching Artist
Stephanie Ward is a theatre teaching artist who believes everyone deserves a spotlight moment (even folks who identify as shy!) She has been a story coach with Children at the Well for several years. With a knack for turning imagination into action, she's brought stories to life all over the country at various Renaissance Festivals, Hill City Ice Queen Princess Parties and through educational programs at Proctors. Whether working with energetic school-aged performers or professional adults, Stephanie creates a fun, fearless space where creativity takes center stage, mistakes are part of the magic, and everyone leaves a little more confident than they came in.
FAQs
Do I need prior storytelling or theater experience to join?
No. You must be willing to participate, learn, practice your story and be open to meeting and working with people your age who may be different from you.
How old are the kids in Children at the Well?
Participants’ ages generally range from 11 years old to 17. The older kids may have been in the program in prior years and if so, are happy to help newcomers!
What goes on at a typical Children at the Well meeting?
The story coaches lead an initial check-in with everyone, explain the plan for the day, and launch into activities like whole group learning or acting exercises. The group may then break up into smaller groups or pairs for workshopping. There’s a break for snacks in the middle, and then people regroup for discussion and/or rehearsals. There is always a time for quiet activities like journaling or storyboarding.
What if the pandemic becomes an issue again?
In 2022 Children at the Well met mostly on Zoom and it worked out well. If needed we will do that again for safety, but we’ve been meeting in person since then.
Thank you to our former Children at the Well Story Coaches!
Marni Gillard
Mary Murphy
Nancy Marie Payne
Irene Ferrell
Micki Groper
Danielle Charlestin
Claire Nolan
​Ayah Osman
Allison Lerman-Gluck
Varun Mondaiyka
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