Marci Sheehy/Submitted

Elementary Wallowa Elementary students recently welcomed The Story Box, brought to the county by storyteller Kathy Hunter of rural Wallowa.

Pioneered by storyteller Kevin Cordi in 1995, the Story Box has traveled to China, Poland, Argentina, India, Brazil, Japan, Australia, Alaska and all over the United States.  The Box stays in one community, sponsored by a Story Keeper – in this case Hunter – who applies for it for one month.  The stories inside are shared with the community, and new ones added to it before it is sent on. 

After a visit in Florida the box was decorated with flamingos and palm trees when it arrived in Wallowa County. Now Wallowa first graders have refurbished the Box – before it leaves for its next destination, Ohio – with local photos from old calendars donated by the Wallowa Valley Photo Club.

At an assembly Thursday, Feb 21, Hunter told an original story about how the Story Box came to be.  Then a trumpet fanfare heralded its entrance to the hall. The principal and elementary teachers read stories to be included in the box, and students filed by with their contributions.

Jennifer Gibb’s first grade class added a Wallowa County ABC book, Lisa Lindsey’s third graders contributed stories about the Wallowa Lake monster, and Mary Ann Burrows donated articles on history from the Wallowa History Center.

Stories written by the Wallowa children and recordings included in the box will be heard on Fishtrap Storytime on KWVR radio at 7 p.m. Wednesday nights during March.

“The Story Box is a tremendous opportunity to share the gift of story and our culture throughout the world,” says Hunter.

For more information about The Story Box Project visit (www.kevincordi.com).