Moose started 2001 by a handful of Maine Storytelling Enthusiasts to spread the power of story and support those dedicateto the performing art of Stord ytelling. Members range from enthusiastic listeners to seasoned international performers

Mike Harris has spent years collecting anecdotes and humorous stories drawn from his own personal experiences. For more than a decade, he has traveled across New England and Eastern Canada telling them to anyone who will listen. As he relates the trials and tribulations of growing up, you will laugh, smile, and even wipe away a sentimental tear as Mike shares the humor and heart found in everyday situations and mundane occurrences. His stories include:

• A touching look back at his daughter's high school graduation

• A look forward and back on the occasion of his 50th birthday

• The perils and pitfalls of communication between parents and their children and much more...

This will be Vernon’s second Season at the Golden Raven

Legends of larger than life heroes, Folk Lore both traditional and Urban, Drawing on voice characters, audience participation, laughter and drama, this Story teller provides an experience that will entertain and enlighten listeners of all ages. Stories can share the messages of diversity, hope and healing to audiences that may touch you for a lifetime.
Vernon grew up in Bar Harbor Maine where his love of stories began. As a parent raising his daughter Shanna in Orland he refined his tales at many a campfire. He is now an Airfield Electrician for the Portland International Jetport so he can support his Story Telling habit and is living in Westbrook Maine with his wife Bobbie and their pet Daisy. He has been an Air Force medic, cook, custodian, mental health worker, electrician, volunteer firefighter, E.M.T. and a lifetime member of Girl Scouts. It is through all of these memories that Vernon draws on for his tales. He has learned that every day a new journey begins and a new experience unfolds. That is why he shall always remain a Learnin’ Vernon!

The Cox Brothers Family Camp show will be performing at the Golden Raven Storytelling Circle in Union Maine this Summer.

Vernon and Gray perform stories skits and songs during a campfire experience where "Strangers are treated like family and Families are encouraged to act a little strange."

Gray and Vernon Cox have performed their show at YMCA camps, for the Belfast Lion s Club, Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, The Bucks Mills Rod and Gun Club, Patten Pond Camp resort, Shady Oaks Campground, and performed on Thursday nights at the Mount Desert Narrows Camping Resort in Bar Harbor Maine for 9 seasons.

Gray has 20+ years experience as an entertainer using music story and activities to entertain all ages.
Gray is a Professor for the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor Maine and has been the featured speaker on thr subject of conflict resolution at events and conferences across the USA and is the Author of The Ways of Peace: A Philosophy of Peace as Action.

Vernon has over 20+ years experience as a Storyteller which began in Libraries and around Scout Camp fires. As a lifetime Member of GSUSA he has served as an adult volunteer co-leader of a troop, facilitated low ropes challenge courses, and has developed and performed in special camp related events. Vernon works for the Portland International Jet Port in Portland Maine and also has a solo Story telling career as Learnin Vernon teller of Legends, Lore, and a Whole Lot More!

This will be their second appearance at the Golden Raven so we really hope surrounding campers of all ages will come and enjoy this old time campfire duo.
If local campers help get the word out these talented brothers might just return next season.

From New England to New Zealand, and many places in between, Michael’s been telling stories and singing songs since 1977. A native Mainer of French-Canadian descent, and sometimes called ‘the storyteller of the underdog’, he tells folk and original stories and sings a variety of songs, traditional and otherwise , in English and French. Featured at many storytelling events – including hundreds of schools and libraries, the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, the International Storytelling Colloquium in Paris, the "Long Night of Storytelling" festival in Austria, the Glistening Waters Festival in New Zealand, the Sperrins Festival in Northern Ireland, the Scealta Shamhna Festival in Dublin, the Multicultural Storytelling Festival in Eugene, Oregon, the Festival de la Francophonie in Poland, and the Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival in Ireland– he’s a 1999 recipient of the National Storytelling Network's Circle of Excellence Award. He’s also led many storytelling, story-writing, and performance workshops, and is acclaimed for his teaching abilities and his knack for creating a supportive workshop environment.

Debra Ballou, a professional storyteller since 1995, appears for the first time at The Golden Raven on Saturday evening; June 16, 2007 at 8:00 PM. Debra shares stories with audiences of all ages in libraries, nature centers, schools, coffee houses, camps for children, teacher workshops, university Elderhostel programs, and other special events. She has performed on “The Talking Stick” radio show at Colby Sawyer College in New London, NH and “Live” on Portsmouth Community Radio station in Portsmouth, NH as part of the “The Flying Trunk” storytelling program and on “Writers and Musicians in the Round”.

Some other venues include Tellabrations in Portsmouth, NH; Claremont Storytelling Festival, Claremont, NH; The Screening Room, Newburyport, MA; Brother Blue’s Open Mic Night, Cambridge, MA; and Conference on the Arts, Star Island/Isles of Shoals, Rye, NH. Debra performs as a featured teller each year for The Corner House Inn in Center Sandwich, NH. For the past three years Strawbery Banke Museum requested her to share stories with their audiences for their Ghosts on the Banks and Candle Light Stroll programs. A member of LANES (League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling) since 1998, she served on the Board of Directors for three years and as President for one.

As a young girl Debra Ballou spent weekends on her grandparents’ farm listening to the stories her grandmother told. This New Hampshire native now tells stories to audiences involving the natural and cultural history of the world. Some stories include musical instruments, singing, or audience participation.

Debra has twenty years of experience educating people from various age groups about environmental topics. She has a B.A. in biology and M.S. in Environmental Studies. Her talents have led her to teach for the University of New Hampshire Sea Grant Marine Docent Program, Seacoast Science Center, Massabesic Audubon Center, Workshop in the Woods, and Great Bay Discovery Center. She encourages others to explore the natural world and its influence on their cultural heritage. As a naturalist and an educator she uses her storytelling and her great love of science together for all to enjoy.

This will be their second appearance at the Golden Raven so we really hope surrounding campers of all ages will come and enjoy this old time campfire duo.
If local campers help get the word out these talented brothers might just return next season.

As storyteller, writer, and performer (SAG), Kirk remains committed to storytelling as a healing and expressive art. His stories emerge from his life experiences and are shared openly and with great care and respect for those gathered with him, whether it be larger stage or healing story circles. A war trauma survivor himself, he is patient and gentle, reflecting both his courage and compassion, kindness and understanding. In that spirit, his is a quiet and supportive human presence, a reminder that we each matter, that the darkest of past shadows might yet be transformed, once again, into life, renewal, even hope.

Testimonials:

"Kirk's is the gentle voice from out the wilderness calling us home to ourselves."
- - Jay O'Callahan

A storyteller who has worked all over the USA, Europe and in West Africa, Claire is a mother, teacher, and physician. She ran an art gallery in Africa, sending her artists and their art to Europe and America, has written for UNESCO in Paris, and was a professor at Yale University, University of Ibadan, and the University of London in West Africa. She presents a pharmacopoeia of stories which entertain, amuse and inform. You designate any subject and she will present a well-rounded program. Dr. B is also a dancer and musician who uses music, costumes, and slides where appropriate.

Doria has a bachelor's degree in Comparative Literature and Anthropology from Oberlin College, and a Masters in Celtic Languages and Literatures from Harvard University Extension School. Recently, she was a featured teller at the 2006 Three Apples Storytelling Festival in Bedford, MA. More importantly, she loves to tell stories, and have been reading and telling them to children for a couple years now around the greater Boston/Cambridge area, primarily in schools and bookstores. Most of the stories she tells are from the Folk and Mythic traditions of world cultures such as that of the Ashanti, China, Scandinavia, Native North America, Ireland, Japan, France and others.

Come and see Jim LaChapelle the Storyteller. He's been telling stories for over a dozen years to young and old alike. Stories are meant to be told and this guy can sure tell them and tell them he does. Jim specializes in folk and fairy tales from around the world. Journey with Jim from East Asia, to the Philippines, Africa, and back to North America. Jim tells tales appropriate from age 2 (The Name of the Tree) through to adulthood (The Heartless Giant) and will tailor his program to the needs of his audience.

Ken Galipeau, a storyteller for over 13 years, is a collector of stories, songs and poems that touch our hearts and funny bone. He has performed in schools, libraries, church, storytelling festival, parties, etc. He has been the featured storyteller at numerous Tellabrations in NJ including Crosswicks, Jersey Shore and Morristown. He has presented a storytelling program at the NJ Storytelling Festival for the last 11 Years. Ken is also a favorite festival, coffeehouse and concert performer. Ken performs for people of all ages and accompanies himself on guitar, drum, and piano and sings a cappella.