Ignite Imaginations
Build Literacy Skills
Strengthen Communities
About Us
In 2001, Sandra Pendergraff, Head of Children’s and Teen Services for the Longmont Library, created Longmont Library Spellbinders. That partnership continued for almost twenty years, and the local Spellbinders group grew and thrived. In 2021, as Spellbinders’ parent organization reorganized and the Library reassessed its priorities, local leaders saw a need to become a more independent entity. In April 2021, Longmont Library Spellbinders became St. Vrain Valley Storytellers, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, still dedicated to bringing the art and joy of oral storytelling to students in St. Vrain Valley Schools.
We love not only stories but also celebrating. Our monthly meetings are fun-filled events, developed by our creative Program Committee. The meetings give us an opportunity to share stories, get to know each other better and and learn new things.
For more about our activities, see this information sheet.
To meet one of our storytellers and to hear a sampling of our stories, please visit this YouTube channel: Wynn Montgomery (POP tales).
St. Vrain Valley Storytellers’ Mission
St. Vrain Valley Storytellers promotes learning and discovery to make sense of self and the world for pre-school to fifth grade students in the St Vrain Valley School District. Through the art of oral storytelling, our trained volunteers share their love of stories and the wisdom, knowledge, and enjoyment they impart.
Our Values
- We value the art of oral storytelling.
- We value stories that demonstrate empathy and character and build understanding of diversity and inclusion.
- We continually improve our individual storytelling skills.
- We are grateful for the cooperation of teachers and staff with whom we work.
- We believe that every child has the capacity to respond to the power of words and stories.
- We believe that inter-generational connections made during storytelling benefit everyone involved.
- We respect each other and work collaboratively with other organizations to support Spellbinders and our community.
To learn more about St. Vrain Valley Storytellers, please click on this video.
Upcoming Volunteer Trainings
St. Vrain Valley Storytellers serves students in St. Vrain Valley Elementary Schools in Longmont, Lyons, Niwot, Frederick, Firestone, Dacono, Erie and Mead.
Our next training sessions will be held from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18, Friday, February 22, Tuesday, February 25 & Friday, February 28, 2025
Location: Intercambio, 1715 Iron Horse Dr, Unit 130, Longmont, CO 80501
These sessions consist of 12 hours of classroom training (four days of three hours each). Participation in ALL four classes is required for certification. Classroom training is followed by “shadowing” one of our experienced storytellers. Read this flyer for more details.
Training content is standardized; however, other training requirements may differ among Spellbinder organizations.
Our Monthly Meetings
We meet on the first Monday of each month during the school year (except for September when we meet on the last Monday in August to avoid a conflict with Labor Day). Our monthly meetings are held at Central Presbyterian Church, 402 Kimbark St, Longmont from 2-4. The August meeting is often at someone’s home. Board meetings and trainings are held at Intercambio (1715 Iron Horse Dr STE 130, Longmont, CO 80501).
The tentative schedule for the 2024-25 school year is:
- August 26, Garden Meeting
- October 7
- November 4
- December 2
- January 6
- February 3
- March 3
- April 7
- May 5
Our Newsletter
Newsletters for the two current service years (July 2022 through June 2024) are posted here. For access to earlier newsletters, please contact the Web Content Manager.
Contact Us
St. Vrain Valley Storytellers is an independent 501 3(c) nonprofit. We serve St. Vrain Valley schools and a few senior care facilities in Longmont.
Board President: Marianne Balin at mbalinhome@gmail.com
Monthly Meeting Location:
Central Presbyterian Church, 402 Kimbark St., Longmont
Meet Our Board of Directors
Board members L-R: Janet Beardsley, Laura Meyers (Past President), John Shetter (Treasurer), Laurel Miller (Vice President), Mary Baskett, Jeff Mayer (Secretary), Marianne Balin (President), Corlin Ambler
SVVS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
This group’s meetings are open to all members. and results are shared at monthly membership meetings and via the monthly newsletter. The Board sets and manages the annual budget and coordinates the efforts of the Program Committee and the Fund-Raising Team.
Meet Our Trainers
Our four Certified Spellbinders Trainers from diverse backgrounds (e.g. adult educator and workshop leader/facilitator). They sometimes train as a team and often act as guest tellers when not training.
If you or someone you know is interested in signing up for our Volunteer Training, please contact Marianne Balin at mbalinhome@gmail.com. Our trainers strive to help each new volunteer find and refine their unique voice and to give them the resources and the confidence needed to wow their young listeners.
The SVVS Training Team
Our Members
Our Impact
St. Vrain Valley Storytellers Volunteers ignite imaginations, build literacy skills, and strengthen our communities. During school year 2023-2024 our impact each month was: