Washington State Parks

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News Release 11-039

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
1111 Israel Road S.W., P.O. Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650, (360) 902-8500
Don Hoch, Director

Cama Beach State Park plays host to Appalachian storytelling programs

OLYMPIA – Jul. 15, 2011 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Folk Arts in the Parks Program invites the public to Storytelling with Jill Johnson at Cama Beach State Park, 1880 S.W. Camano Drive, Camano Island.

Local storyteller, Jill Johnson, performs two versions of the program “Playparty” at 1 and 7:30 p.m. July 23, featuring traditional Appalachian stories. The 1 p.m. program is tailored for children, while the evening program is appropriate for all ages and is presented around a campfire. Through songs, games, folk toys and stories, Johnson shares traditional tales from the Appalachia people, who first introduced her to the art of storytelling. All are welcome to the free storytelling programs. The Discover Pass is not required for those attending these programs.

Johnson is a former teacher, trainer and international program consultant for organizations like the Peace Corps, CARE, Save the Children and the United Nations Development Program. Well known for her one-woman show, “Little, but OH My!” about the first woman to skipper a ferry boat in the Puget Sound, Johnson was chosen for the Humanities Washington Inquiring Mind program and won honors in the national Storytelling World competition. In addition to her global storytelling and acting experiences, Johnson holds a Masters in Theater and teaches storytelling workshops across the country and the world.

Storytelling with Jill Johnson is part of a broader series of events celebrating Washington’s diverse cultures and presented by the Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program. The program is a partnership between the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Washington State Arts Commission and Northwest Heritage Resources with funding provided by National Endowment for the Arts and Washington State Arts Commission program grants, with additional funding from the Washington State Parks Foundation. For a full schedule of Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program events, visit www.parks.wa.gov/events.

The event is accessible to persons with disabilities. If special accommodations are required in order to attend, please call (360) 902-8526. Those who are hearing- or speech-impaired may call the Washington Telecommunications Relay Service at (800) 833-6388. Requests must be made in advance.

Cama Beach State Park is a 433-acre historic fishing resort with more than 6,000 feet of rocky beach. The park provides sweeping views of Saratoga Passage, Whidbey Island and the Olympic Mountain Range. The area now known as Cama Beach State Park was used for centuries by Native Americans for fishing and hunting. It was later developed into a fishing resort, popular with families for more than 50 years.

The Commission manages a diverse system of more than 100 state parks and recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation. The 98-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013. Washington State Parks is now on Twitter at WaStatePks_NEWS and YouTube at WashingtonStateParks.



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