Jill Olesker has been a storyteller and  educator as well as a gatherer of oral histories for over 35 years. Originally from NYC she has lived in the Hudson Valley for many years now. She works in schools, nature centers, botanical gardens, libraries, Forests and beside Rivers. She performs at many diverse community events.She has been in love with Rivers, Streams, and other waterways since she was a young child. Out of this grew  one of her present projects- The Water Stories Project. She is collaborating with various people and groups through storytelling and oral history to nurture the reciprocal relationship we have with Waterways. Some of these groups include Arm of the Sea Puppet Theater and hopefully in the near future with organizations along the Erie Canal.  She is looking forward to a continued collaboration on this project with her storyteller friend Maysoun Bouga during the World Storytelling Festival in Marrakech. Jill  is passionate about  helping people interact with and connect to nature and their imaginations through the arts and the ancient traditions of storytelling.