A little nonsense now and then
is relished by the wisest men
- Roald Dahl -
This school holidays, escape to Olvar Wood, where there's always time for elevenses, and a bit of storytelling. Over three days, you will be encouraged to use your own rich imagination to develop a unique magical world, a host of heroes and crenulous creatures, and set off on an amazing adventure.
December 16: WORLDBUILDING
Build mountains and castles, bogs and battlements, plot the paths of shining rivers and the progress of travelling forests. During the worldbuilding workshop, you'll learn how to develop a rich and believable world, how to describe your world so that your readers really believe in its mountains and stones, its feathers and furrowed fields. You'll draw maps and chart the path of history in ruined fortresses and haunted caves, drowned valleys and thousand-year-old forests.
December 17: CREATURES & HEROES
In the creatures and heroes workshop, you'll learn how to populate with oafs and ogres, princes and poppets, soldiers and selkies. Together, we'll build whole civilisations with histories, folklore, songs and special foods, habits of mind and language, special skills and terrible secrets. We'll use our imaginations to develop the most terrible and the most brave, the most cruel and the most kind heroes and heroines for your adventure.
December 18: ADVENTURES
Once upon a time, the old stories all begin, but what happens next? In this workshop, we'll put your beasts and behemoths into action on the wide, strange plains of your own imaginary world. Find out how stories are built: how heroes struggle and fall, how villains, too, have their stories to tell. How to create thrills and suspense, beauty and terror.
what's included?
Elevenses: a fabulous smackerel of something, with something equally squibulous to drink.
Lunch: Tasty (but healthy) organic lunch, fruit and a little sweetie for those who've been good and creative.
All workshop materials, including paper and pencils and pens and pretties, mats and chairs to sit on, and music to listen to. You'll have to provide your own imagination, sunhat, and sunblock.
Each day includes storytelling sessions, drawing and art-based activities, groupwork and quiet writing and imagining time.
CLICK HERE to download an information sheet and booking form.
Who
And they're designed for you, if you're fabulous and friendly, and between 6 and 12 years old.
The workshops are taught by nike bourke, an author who has won awards for her novels and children's books. You can find out more about nike, and read an extract from her next book, here ...
What
Three days of creativity workshops where you get to learn from an experienced author all about how to build your own world, people it with all kinds of magical creatures, and send them off to have fabulous adventures.
You can take one workshop, or all three to really open up your imagination.
WHEN
The workshops take place during the December school holidays - in time for you to write a fabulous story-gift for christmas. Each day-long workshop runs from 9:00am until 3:30pm
16 December: Worldbuilding
17 December: Creatures and Heroes
18 December: Adventures
Where
Olvar Wood is in a secret location in the sunshine coast hinterland, about 20 minutes from maroochydore. Once you're booked in, and we're sure you're not an ogre, we'll send you a map so you can find your way.
Bookings
To reserve a place, simply print out the booking form and either post it in, or email it to us at:
(You, or your parent or guardian, can also email us with any questions about the workshops)
Cost
The workshops cost $60.00 per day, or $150.00 for all three.
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Perilous Adventures in Olvar Wood. Queensland, Australia