To wrap up Once Upon a Time at Camp Sparkler, Todd Loyd, an early childhood educator and the host of the Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast, shares his thoughts on the power of stories AND shares one of his favorite stories that he share with his preschool students: "Stone Soup." It's a European folktale about the power of community. 

Stay after the story to hear the full "Once Upon a Time" song, composed and performed by Benjamin Weiner. 

Camp Sparkler is a free, mobile summer learning program produced by Sparkler Learning for families who have children from birth through age 5. In July and August, 2023, participants are taking imaginary journey around the world to hear eight weeks of stories from around the world. 

Thank you to Todd, Benjamin, and Dana Stewart, Sparkler's education director, who hosts this stories series and produced Camp Sparkler!

Learn more at PlaySparkler.org/CampSparkler23

"In the Beginning" is a Filipino folktale told by a Filipino-American teacher, actor, and storyteller, Zoë Laiz. Zoë tells the story as part of "Once Upon a Time at Camp Sparkler." 

"In the Beginning" is a creation story from the Philippines. It helps to explain how the earth and humans came to be. 

Camp Sparkler is a free, mobile summer learning program produced by Sparkler Learning for families who have children from birth through age 5. In July and August, 2023, participants will take an imaginary journey around the world to hear eight weeks of stories from around the world. 

Thank you to Benjamin Weiner, who wrote and performed the song "Once Upon a Time" for Camp Sparkler. Thank you to Dana Stewart, the host of this series and director of education at Sparkler. 

Learn more at PlaySparkler.org/CampSparkler23

Kwasuka sukela (once upon a time), a lazy hunter sat under a tree watching a herd of springbok graze in a nearby field...

"Why the Cheetah’s Cheeks are Stained with Tears" is a Zulu story with an important lesson about a mother's love, the importance of hard work, and the consequences of being lazy. The story is told by Phumzile Thembelihle Ndlovu, a South African storyteller who is part of the Zulu ethnic group, as part of "Once Upon a Time at Camp Sparkler."

Camp Sparkler is a free, mobile summer learning program produced by Sparkler Learning for families who have children from birth through age 5. In July and August, 2023, participants will take an imaginary journey around the world to hear eight weeks of stories from around the world. 

Thank you to Benjamin Weiner, who wrote and performed the song "Once Upon a Time" for Camp Sparkler. Thank you to Dana Stewart, the host of this series and director of education at Sparkler. 

Learn more and find parent and educator resources at PlaySparkler.org/CampSparkler23.