Campfire: Storytelling Fellows Program

What does a Campfire Fellow do?

Fellows are guided on a journey of self-discovery and self-authorship, learning to hold space and serve others through storytelling. Fellows have the opportunity to:

Be trained in storytelling, group facilitation, and public speaking

Our Fellows receive training in the art and act of storytelling, finding their authentic voice as public speakers, sharing personal stories with confidence, facilitating audience discovery and insights, and creating meaningful connections through the power of storytelling.

Host their own Campfire, a live storytelling event

Campfires are one-hour events where audiences are guided through narratives and reflections by a single Fellow who shares their wisdom through story. Campfires are a warm and inviting place where all are welcome, the exact kind of place where great stories are heard. See what a Campfire looks like here.

Join a team of Fellows

A Campfire Fellow can’t do this work alone. We build cohorts of Fellows, so they can work alongside interesting and passionate people going through the same experience. Cohort members are there for support and to serve as sounding boards for each other.

What does a Fellow share?

Fellows use a community voted question to guide their storytelling work.

Campfire Fellows create three potential questions for the community to vote on. The top question becomes what we call our “Season Question,” which becomes the focus of that Season’s stories.

Fellows will share stories and wisdom about what they’ve discovered through the Season Question: Each Season is led by two Fellows who use the Season Question to discover their answers through reflection, discussion – and yes, storytelling. One of the main ways they share and engage the community is through their individual Campfires. Season Questions help Fellows open up to the process of self-discovery and let go of the notion that they have to share specific, predetermined stories from their lives. Instead, they are able to uncover wisdom they want to share and bring it to life through captivating stories.

Some of our past season questions: What does it take to be seen? How do you find your place in the world? How are we shaped by things left unsaid? How do we move beyond the labels people give us?

Since 2016 there have been 18 Fellows, 12 seasons and 31 Campfires

Applications for the Fellows Program are now closed

Remind me when applications re-open

Nominate

Meet past fellows

Storyteller Library

Why become a fellow?

Become a Fellow because, based on what past Fellows have told us, it’s an experience unlike any other. You will learn important skills and have the opportunity to contribute something good and personal back into the world. As a Fellow, you’ll:

Develop tangible public speaking, storytelling, and group facilitation skills
Gain the confidence and capacity to leverage stories, creating space for important and sometimes tough conversations
Experience personal enrichment and self-discovery through reflecting on your own wisdom and answering the season question
Share your story in front of a live audience, witnessing its transformative power at your Campfire

Enhance your ability to listen deeply and ask impactful questions
Build meaningful relationships within your cohort
Share your story with far-away loved ones through a Campfire Storytelling podcast episode
Receive high-quality headshots and photos from your Campfire
Leave with a $599 stipend

Program Details

?Campfire’s Commitments to our Fellows

As an organization, we give everything we’ve got to our Fellows. We commit to:

Provide free support, training, individual coaching, and resources to help Fellows develop and share their story
Lead through our values of support, grace, agency, and accessibility, and adjust to Fellows’ needs as a learner as those arise
Produce a public event worthy of each Fellow’s story and celebrate them throughout their experience

?What Campfire is looking for in a Fellow

We expect that Fellows will:

Come into this experience with an open mind
Commit to self-discovery and be willing to let go of the idea of telling certain, specific stories from their lives
Communicate proactively and respectfully with their cohort, the Campfire team, and the larger Campfire community
Contribute their time and energy to the Campfire Fellows program by:
- Attending all sessions of scheduled classes (see 2024 Program Timeline for details). Please do your best to be on time and present for class. If you are going to be late or miss class, please inform the facilitator
- Attending and participating fully in your own rehearsal and Campfire, and attending and participating in your co-fellows’ rehearsals and Campfires as much as possible
- Meeting assigned deadlines. Fellows will have to complete work outside of in person meetings in prep and support of their Campfire
- Informing Campfire staff and faculty the need for an extension on any deadlines as soon as they are aware of said need
- Informing Campfire staff and faculty of any date/time conflicts as soon as they are aware of said conflict. Fellows should only miss 2 classes during their time in the program if at all possible
- Responding promptly (within 48 hours) to any questions asked by Campfire team members (as possible)
Show compassion, kindness, and presence
Live in alignment with Campfire’s values
Grow comfortable serving as a model for others over the course of their time with us
Take pride in their involvement with Campfire and be willing to share what they’ve learned and invite others into the discussion
Support Campfire’s development and growth
Work as a team and provide support to their cohort
Advocate for themselves and others, asking for what they need from the Campfire team in order to succeed
Understand they will be featured on Campfire’s platforms

If you are thinking of nominating someone for the Fellows program, here are some questions that might help:

Who do you know that is a deep thinker or is good at holding meaningful conversations?
Who do you know that isn’t afraid to share parts of themselves–both their joys and their struggles–with you and/or others?
Who in your community is known as a gatherer or connector?
Who should be known in our region but you are surprised that they aren’t?

From our storytelling famIly

I wanted to let you know I was so moved by each story. They did an awesome job. I was really impressed with how much they shared within a small window of time. Inspired.

Campfire Event Attendee