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A look into the journey
Twelve youth joined for our first Leadership in Storytelling cohort.
Read through their journey below.
The First Gathering
January
What happened
A group of young storytellers came together for the first time, building trust through play, shared curiosity, and orientation into the program.
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These students were selected for the Leadership in Storytelling (LiS) program earlier that month through interviews, and now gathered in person at the Mycelium Youth Network office.
The group plays a storytelling game: dice with images are rolled & stories are improvised based on what is seen
Key Learnings
Storytelling begins with trust, presence, and community.
Forming community intentionally means agreeing to shared guidelines and norms.
What happened
Students bonded as a group during our field site visits to the MLK Jr. Regional Shoreline and Eden Landing Ecological Reserve.
We planted native species at Eden Landing with Save the Bay, observed differences in the salt ponds, and journaled while murmurations of birds flew overhead.
Our discussions connected ecology, history, and storytelling.
The cohort went to Eden Landing Ecological Reserve to plant native species, such as Western Goldenrod and Marsh Gumplant, with Save the Bay.
Students write reflections in their journals at Eden Landing: “What does having a healthy Bay look like to you?”
Spotlight Moments
Lyra tries pickleweed at Eden Landing. It is a native plant that grows in the wetlands of the Bay Area, and it provides the main habitat for the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse, a species endemic to the area. It tastes salty, sour, and tangy!
Key Learnings
The purpose of Ecological Reserves
The history of development in the places visited
Wetlands Learned of the importance of wetlands, through understanding their ecological functions. Studied ongoing threats, especially as sea level rise, pollutants, and other issues are growing concerns in the Bay Area.
Storytelling through games Learning to express ourselves, practice socio-emotional skills, and work together towards unique goals.
Understanding native vs. non-native vs. invasive species.
Story structures and worldbuilding The importance of stories to collective memory, and radical imagination, which is the ability to envision the world not as it is, but how it could be.
Xavier takes a closer look at some shells he found on the boardwalk nearby Arrowhead Marsh, a critically important wetland tract within the MLK Jr. Regional Shoreline. The tract provides habitat for the endangered and endemic Ridgway’s Rail and Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse and serves as a stop on the Pacific Flyway.
Where Land and Story Meet
February
What happened
Youth combined restoration work, somatic practices, and storytelling exercises. that explored memory, imagination, and collective care.
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Key Learnings
The importance of storytelling to collective memory, imagination and lore, history keeping and archives
The many ways that invasive species arrive to new places, and how they do not have a choice in their movement- they simply grow where they are able to
Collaborative narration through roleplay games.
How plants spread their seeds, how seed is collected in the field (by Save the Bay), and the steps between the seeds being collected to when they can be transplanted at restoration sites.
Collective care and Memory
March
What happened
Students designed characters, narratives, and place-based quests while drawing from folklore, myths they felt connected to, and ecological knowledge.
They began planning the Community Day of Action and participated in restoration efforts at the same place in which they imagined a magical story.
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Key Learnings
Learned to create place-based stories Youth mapped out parts of the narrative to different areas of the shoreline. The landscape was integrated into and essential to the plot.
Learned to plan and prepare for an event. We worked backwards from the date of June 28th to plan and produce the Community Day of Action. Youth were thoughtful in their ideas about ways to promote the event, and who the target audience would be.
Deeper learning about plants and positive interdependencies - Which native plants are medicinal and how have they adapted to live in the wetlands - Different properties and adaptations of native plants - How they have been used by people in the past to treat wounds, heal ailments, and provide sustenance.
Building Our Story
April
What happened
Youth collaborated to refine, playtest, and prepare storytelling activities for the culmination of the program (Community Day of Action), while continuing restoration efforts at the MLK Jr. Regional Shoreline.
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Key Learnings
How to transplant plants
Strong stories are built through collaboration, iteration, and intention.
Becoming Co-Creators
May
What happened
Youth led an immersive, community-wide day of storytelling and restoration, guiding participants through imaginative quests.
Want to immerse yourself in the world the students built?
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​​Click here to experience the Community Day of Action yourself!
Key Learnings
When stories are shared, they can mobilize community and inspire action.