OREM — Freddy Woods of Provo has some advice for kids starting middle school.

• Be over 4 feet, 7 inches tall so you can reach your locker.

• Know the teachers so you can get the good ones and avoid the lame ones.

• Understand cutting in line and slipping into class late without being noticed.

Woods, 13, speaks from painful and humorous experience as he relates what he learned in the 7th grade in his story "Middle School 101" for the 17th annual Timpanogos Storytelling Festival.

Fourteen-year-old Shae Hunsaker from Orem tells the story of "Dirt Boy," a boy who spent his time avoiding a bath and eventually fell asleep in the belly button of a giant.

Woods and Hunsaker are two of 20 youth storytellers who share the stage with 10 national adult storytellers at the Provo Canyon event.

Others include Alex Bowcutt, Aubrey, Marley, Caden and Boston Watts, Julia Hess, Trent Howard, Emily and Matthew Taylor, Jackson Purser, Sarah Johnston, Chandler Merkley, Cameron Leavitt, Nate Robinson, Jaxson Dayton, Devri Wootton, Jakob Ambuehl and Mallory Moon.

They're part of an event that started in Alan and Karen Ashton's Orem back yard and has expanded to include audience members of up to 30,000 from all over the nation.

This year, those who come and bring a friend will get one of 200 goodie bags containing water, treats and a fleece blanket.

"We've had wonderful word-of-mouth success, so we wanted to focus our efforts on rewarding those who bring someone new to the festival," said Radene Hatfield, publicity spokeswoman for the festival.

Visitors to the festival can choose to attend all three days, a single day or the evening events: Bedtime Stories at the canyon park, My Favorite Stories and Laughin' Night at the SCERA Shell, 699 S. State, Orem.

In addition to the storytelling, there will be musicians and entertainers who perform during lunch and breaks.

There also will be food available and storyteller CDs and books for sale.

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If you go . . .

What: 17th annual Timpanogos Storytelling Festival

Where: Mount Timpanogos Park (Provo Canyon)

When: Aug. 31-Sept. 2

Cost: $40 full event, adult; $20 single day/$15 child

Phone: 229-7436

Web: www.timpfest.org

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E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com