TELLABRATION!™

with National Youth Storytelling

Saturday, Nov 16 at 3:00PM MST

LEARN MORE

Welcome to

National Youth
Storytelling

To empower the nation’s youth through storytelling

Audrey

Cohen

Claire

Elsie

Keren

Mattox & Kamden

Rebekah

Madeline

Saniyah

Our Mission:

Strengthen Storytelling by promoting and teaching the art of story among young tellers

What’s happening in 2024

Get ready for an exciting adventure like no other. This year, our storytellers are in for an unforgettable experience. With some amazing updates in store, we’re thrilled to bring you even more moments of inspiration, connection, and growth.

Storytellers will participate in two Showcases, learn about the art of storytelling, participate in public humanities discussions, and record their stories with The Apple Seed radio and podcast. Storytellers will attend studio recordings for adult tellers Donald Davis and Diane Ferlatte. Tour local sites and eat yummy food from some of our sponsors. Share some bonding time at the Museum of Natural Curiosity. All before sharing their stories at Timpanogos Storytelling Festival.

Join us in person or jump on virtually for one of our Facebook Live Showcase events. Please help us thank our sponsors.

Storytellers 2024

Capri Botkin

Capri Botkin

Utah

Elsie Parkinson

Elsie Parkinson

Virginia

Chase Carroll

Chase Carroll

Utah

Hannah Joy Cutrera

Hannah Joy Cutrera

Utah

Mckinley Brinkerhoff

Mckinley Brinkerhoff

Utah

Claire Burnham

Claire Burnham

Utah

Hannah Lancto

Hannah Lancto

Texas

Rebekah Garcia

Rebekah Garcia

Texas

Cohen Botkin

Cohen Botkin

Utah

Lynlee Whimpey

Lynlee Whimpey

Utah

Learn More

We appreciate our
Sponsors!

These individuals & organizations provide financial donations, goods and services to make youth storytelling come alive!

Lehi City Library
BYU Humanities Center
Orem Library
Highland City Library
Timpanogos Storytelling Festival
Brook & Debi Richan
Karen Ashton
The Apple Seed
Story Crossroads
Chick-fil-A
PizzaPieCafe
Sig-Pro

This program has received funding from Utah Humanities (UH). UH empowers Utahns to improve their communities through active engagement in the humanities.

Capri Botkin

Capri, the youngest of four siblings, hails from a family of storytellers. Inspired by her three older brothers’ tales, she steps into the spotlight this year as a National Youth Storyteller. Beyond storytelling, Capri enjoys a variety of hobbies, including softball, skiing, and shopping. When she’s not on the field or hitting the slopes, you can find her spending time with friends, engaging in board games with her brothers, or caring for her pet snake, Ramen.

Chase Carroll

Chase is eleven years old and will be a sixth grader at Freedom Elementary this year. He has participated in the storytelling festival at his school for four years. He loves all sports, including football, basketball, tennis and wake surfing. Chase has a good sense of humor and he especially loves teasing his three sisters and older brother. He also has a kind and compassionate heart and is a big animal lover—you can always find him hugging his dog, “Maverick.”  Chase was chosen to be Hans in his school play “Frozen” last year. He also participated in student council. He is excited about participating in this years’ National Storytelling Festival!

Claire Burnham

Claire is ecstatic to return to the Storytelling Festival for her third year. She loves improv, acting, writing, and all other methods of telling stories.

Cohen Botkin

Cohen resides in Lehi, Utah and is an adventurous outdoorsman who enjoys hiking, snow skiing, and exploring nature. A resourceful kid, Cohen often sees the hidden value in ordinary items, creatively repurposing them in unconventional ways. Known for his vivid imagination and engaging storytelling, Cohen is celebrating his fifth year as a National Youth Storyteller. 

Elsie Parkinson

Elsie loves stories. She reads them, listens to them, rewrites them, invents them, makes them up before bedtime for little siblings. She appears to have accepted there are other things in life, and thus swims, plays cello, and occasionally holds non-storytelling conversations with others. But in reality, it may all just be part of her sourcing of new stories. Her inspiration comes from Anne of Green Gables, Frodo Baggins, Harry Potter, Wilbur the Pig, and the storytellers she has met at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival. The best part of listening to Elsie tell a story is the magical moment when she remembers that she has an audience and her infectious delight extends to everyone in the room.

Hannah Joy Cutrera

Hannah Joy is a sixth grade homeschool student from Utah. She has enjoyed taking storytelling classes and attend the Timpanogos Storytelling festival for the last several years. Hannah Joy is a born entertainer who loves storytelling, theatre, dance, and public speaking. She also enjoys reading and sewing.

Hannah Lancto

Hannah is a children’s author and passionate storyteller, marking her second year as a National Youth Storyteller. An aspiring stage actress and avid fan of Broadway, Hannah infuses her vibrant and lively energy with her captivating stories. Her dedication to storytelling and performing arts continues to enchant and inspire folks of all ages wherever she goes. 

Lynlee Whimpey

Lynlee started storytelling at the age of six. She is a passionate storyteller who loves to write her own stories. Lynlee also enjoys reading, theater, singing, volleyball, and playing games with family. Lynlee is excited for this opportunity to be a part of the National Youth Storytelling Festival.

Mckinley Brinkerhoff

Mckinley is a 12 year old from Pleasant Grove, Utah. She has six brothers – three older and three younger. She plays flag football, basketball and runs track. She also plays the piano and sings. She likes art, reading, and writing. She loves telling stories and has been competing in school storytelling competitions since kindergarten. She’s excited to be able to share one of her favorite stories.

Rebekah Garcia

Rebekah has been storytelling since she was 9 years old. She was taught at the Zula B Wylie Youthtellers program by Toni Simmons and Traphene Hickman, with support from everyone from the library. Rebekah has shared stories in many different festivals and programs. She loves to express herself through the storytelling art form. Rebekah hopes to impact the world by leaving a piece of herself in everything she does.