Summer Camp: The Upside-Down Tree

Summary

Podcast Summary: Circle Round – “Summer Camp: The Upside-Down Tree”

Podcast: Circle Round by WBUR
Host: Rebecca Sheir ("Camp Counselor" Erica Henningson opens)
Date: July 7, 2026
Episode Length: ~22 minutes
Main Theme: Learning to manage anger and understanding the value in things (and people) that may seem less desirable at first glance, through the African folktale of how the baobab tree became the "upside-down tree."

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Episode Overview

This episode adapts a classic African folktale explaining the origins of the baobab tree’s unique appearance. Through playful storytelling and lively dialogue, it explores themes of anger, choices, and seeing hidden value. Using animal characters and a mythic narrator, listeners are invited to reflect on healthy ways to handle frustration—especially during summer's heat and the "grumpy" feelings it can bring.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Introduction to the Theme (00:02–00:55)

• Host’s Setup: Erica Henningson sets the summer camp scene, noting how heat can make tempers flare.
• Episode Preview: “In today’s episode, we’ll hear all about someone who goes a little too far when they get angry and learns to regret it.” – Erica Henningson (00:19)
• Main Message: “What matters is what we do with our angry feelings so they don’t get out of control.” – Rebecca Sheir (00:55)

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2. The Folktale Begins: Creation and Promise of Trees (01:55–05:48)

• Background on the Baobab: Rebecca describes its unusual, root-like branches, which earned it the nickname “upside-down tree.”
• Introduction of the Great Spirit: Embodies a wise, creative force, shaping nature and animals.
• Great Spirit’s Announcement: Introduces a gathering for all animals (“Elephant, Giraffe, Eagle, Monkey, Hyena…”) to choose and plant new trees (03:43–05:26).
• Notable Quote:
  “They will give you food for your bellies. They'll offer shade on a sunny day. And for some of you, they'll even become your homes.” – Great Spirit (05:26)

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3. Hyena’s Reputation and Absence (04:23–05:11)

• The narrator notes Hyena’s absence and history of laziness and meanness.
• Other animals are not surprised that Hyena doesn't heed the call.

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4. Tree Selection Ceremony (09:18–11:22)

• Each Animal Chooses:
  • Elephant: Picks the acacia tree (“I believe you'll find its leaves to be quite delectable, and its wide canopy will protect you from the sun.” – Great Spirit, 09:58–10:18)
  • Giraffe: Chooses fever tree
  • Eagle: Bush willow (“With its strong branches and large leaves, the Bush willow will be the perfect tree for you to nest in.” – 10:54–11:03)
  • Monkey: Fig tree for both food and fun.
• Others select trees such as marula and jackalberry.
• Key moment: Each animal is told to “plant it with pride and treat it with love and care.” – Great Spirit (10:18, 11:30)

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5. Hyena’s Entrance & Discontent (11:41–13:46)

• Late Arrival: Hyena storms in, feeling left out (“Are you having a party? Why wasn’t I invited?” – Hyena, 11:45)
• Comic Relief & Tension: “I decided to go to bed early. I had a feeling it would be a real snooze fest anyway, so I might as well hit the sack.” – Hyena (12:18)
• Realization: Only one strange-looking sapling remains—the baobab.
• Hyena’s Disappointment: “Oh, come on. You gotta be kidding me. That’s the only tree left? Great Spirit say it isn’t so.” – Hyena (13:36)

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6. The “Upside-Down” Prank (13:53–14:18)

• Hyena’s Anger & Actions: Sneering, she grabs the sapling with her teeth, flings it through the air, and causes it to land upside-down, roots up.
• Notable Quote:
  “Hyena lowered her furry head, then took off running toward the last sapling… she whipped her head to the side… the young tree went flying… its branches hit the ground first… which meant the twisted, gnarled roots were sticking up in the air.” – Narrator (14:18)

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7. Message & Transformation (14:18–15:56)

• Great Spirit’s Magic: Despite Hyena’s prank, the Great Spirit blesses the tree.
• The “upside-down” baobab becomes one of the most precious trees, vital to both animals and people (food, shade, shelter, materials, medicine).
• Lesson: Hyena may have tried to ruin it, but “she didn’t get the last laugh. Because all this time later, we now know that the laughter was on her.” – Narrator (15:56)

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8. Reflection & Activity Challenge (15:56–17:02)

• Discussion Prompt: “When Hyena got angry, she found a pretty extreme way to let it out. So next time you get angry, what are some helpful ways you can deal with your feelings?”
• Suggested Strategies: Doing jumping jacks, using play-dough, drawing feelings, listening to calming music, talking with loved ones.
• Notable Quote:
  “Remember, anger is natural. It’s normal. Just so long as we don’t allow our anger to turn things upside down.” – Rebecca Sheir (17:00)

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Anger:
  “Sometimes it can even be useful, since our anger can tell us when things aren’t fair or right. What matters is what we do with our angry feelings so they don’t get out of control.” – Rebecca Sheir (00:55)

• Introducing the Baobab:
  “When they lose their leaves and they look like a wild mass of roots sticking up into the air, as if someone had actually planted the tree upside down.” – Rebecca Sheir (02:51)

• Hyena’s Disdain:
  “Trees, huh? Okay, in that case, I’m thinking I’ll plant the best one then. The most beautiful, elegant and graceful. Just like me.” – Hyena (12:45)

• Hyena’s Tantrum:
  “Then fine. Okay. I’ll plant the tree. Watch this.” – Hyena (14:09)

• The Moral:
  “While Hyena may have laughed at the little upside down tree, she didn’t get the last laugh. Because all this time later, we now know that the laughter was on her.” – Narrator (15:56)

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Episode Conclusion & Listener Engagement (17:02–End)

• Activity Invitation: Kids are encouraged to brainstorm healthy anger-management strategies with a grown-up.
• Cultural Enrichment: The featured instrument is the Ngoni—a West African stringed instrument.
• Coloring Pages & Further Exploration: Listeners invited to color a baobab drawing and check out the Circle Round website for more creative activities.
• Listener Voices: Young fans call in to share their favorite Circle Round stories, promoting inclusivity and ongoing engagement.

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Highlights & Memorable Moments

• Hyena’s comic but poignantly misguided tantrum and the surprising magical blessing of her “mistake.”
• The transformation of a perceived ‘mistake’ (an upside-down tree) into a community treasure.
• Inclusive activity at the end connecting the folktale’s lesson to everyday life.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:02 – Episode/Theme Introduction
• 01:55 – Folktale begins; Baobab description
• 05:26 – Great Spirit explains trees’ purpose
• 09:18 – Tree selection ceremony begins
• 11:41 – Hyena arrives late
• 13:53 – Hyena’s outburst and “planting”
• 15:56 – The lesson/moral and transformation of the baobab
• 17:02 – Activity invitation for dealing with anger
• 19:49 – Listener stories and favorites

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Tone & Language Notes

• Warm, encouraging, fun and participatory storytelling.
• Direct questions for children: “What do you think will happen…?” and invitations to reflect.

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Summary

“Summer Camp: The Upside-Down Tree” delivers a playful, music-rich adaptation of an African folktale to illustrate how unchecked anger can lead to regrettable actions, but surprises and value can emerge from unexpected places. Listeners are left with a gentle, actionable reminder that anger is normal—but with help and creativity, it doesn’t have to flip things upside down.

Transcript

[A]

Hi there, listeners. We're so glad to have you back for Circle Round Summer Camp. I'm your camp counselor, Erica Henningson. All throughout summer, we have selected some of our most beloved stories about life outside and amongst the trees. Now, this time of year, it can get a little hot outside, and one thing I know is when we get a little too hot, we can also get a bit grumpy. In today's episode, we'll hear all about someone who goes a little too far when they get angry and learns to regret it. So let's circle around, everyone, for the Upside Down Tree.

[B]

WBUR Podcast, Boston.

[C]

Have you ever gotten angry? It's natural to feel angry. Sometimes it can even be useful, since our anger can tell us when things aren't fair or right. What matters is what we do with our angry feelings so they don't get out of control. In today's story, we'll meet an animal who lets her anger get so out of control, she turns things upside down. REBECCA I'm Rebecca Scheer, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time. Today, our story is called the Upside Down Tree. Versions of this tale come from parts of Africa. Some really great people came together to bring you our story, including Alonzo Bowden. Public radio fans, you'll recognize Alonzo as a regular panelist on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, the weekly NPR News quiz. He's also been the grand Prize winner on NBC's Last Comic Standing and has his own comedy special, heavy Lightweight. So circle around, everyone, for the Upside Down Tree. The tree known as the baobab can be very old. Some baobabs have been around for over 1000 years. The Baobab tree can also be very tall, often stretching higher than two telephone poles end on end. And its hollow trunk can be so wide around you could cram dozens of people inside. But one of the most interesting things about the baobab are its branches. They're all twisted and gnarled, so when they lose their leaves and they look like a wild mass of roots sticking up into the air, as if someone had actually planted the tree upside down. So it's no surprise that the baobab is sometimes called the upside down tree. As for how the baobab came to be this way, well, legend says that it began at the beginning, when the Great Spirit first created the world.

[D]

And on this world I shall create land, like mountains, plains and deserts. I shall create water, like rivers, lakes and oceans. And I shall create animals, all sorts of creatures who will make this New World, their home.

[C]

Once all the animals had come into being, the Great Spirit invited them to assemble. Sunset meeting on the tropical grassland known as the savanna.

[D]

Greetings, my children. I have news to share. But first I want to make sure all the animals are present. Elephant.

[C]

Here.

[D]

Giraffe. Present.

[B]

Eagle, at your service.

[D]

Monkey.

[B]

That's me.

[C]

As the Great Spirit went down the list, all the animals dutifully chimed in. All that is but one.

[D]

Hyena. Hyena. Where is that bushy tailed creature? I thought I delivered the message to everyone.

[C]

The other animals exchanged a look. They knew full well that the Great Spirit did deliver the message to everyone. But they weren't surprised to see that Hyena didn't heed the call. Because Hyena had a notorious reputation for being lazy. And not just lazy, but mean. She spent most of her time laughing at the other animals while loafing and lounging in her den. Which is probably what she was doing right now. The Great Spirit waited another moment, then decided to move on.

[D]

Well, children, the sun will soon set, so I'll make this quick. I invited you all here to tell you about my newest creation. To add to this vast land. I call them trees.

[C]

Trees?

[D]

That's right, elephant. They will grow from the earth and provide you with marvelous things. What kinds of things, Great Spirit? Well, Giraffe, they'll give you food for your bellies. They'll offer shade on a sunny day. And for some of you, they'll even become your homes.

[E]

You mean we can live in them?

[D]

Absolutely, Eagle. You can make a burrow in the hollows of their trunks or build nests in their branches.

[B]

What about playing, Great Spirit? Can we play in the trees too?

[D]

Of course, monkey. You'll have endless hours of fun. Climbing and swinging from branch to branch. But before any of that can happen, the trees must be planted. And you will do the planting first thing tomorrow at sunrise. Meet me right here. I will be waiting with all the different kinds of trees that will grow on the savanna. One by one, you will choose your tree, then find a place to plant it. Does that sound good? It sounds wonderful, Great Spirit.

[B]

Amazing.

[C]

We can hardly wait to pick our

[B]

trees and plant them in the earth.

[D]

Splendid. Now go home and get some sleep, my children. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow. And then? Then let the planting begin.

[C]

What do you think will happen when the animals plant their trees? And will they all show up? Or will a certain someone be missing? We'll find out after a quick break.

[F]

Hey, parents. It's Ben Brock Johnson from the WBUR podcasts Team Circle Round is supported by DoorDash.

[B]

DoorDash.

[F]

DoorDash is for those parent moments when the plan falls apart. And as a parent of twins, I can relate. I have a lot on my plate. You know what I often don't have on my plate? Dinner. Or the groceries with which to make said dinner. Sometimes a swimsuit will go missing. Even though I thought we had, like, four of those groceries. Retail dinner supplies. Doordash can help with all of these things. When Doordash brings the goods right to our door, dad gets a little more time for himself and a little more time for a good bedtime story. When life gets crazy, DoorDash brings some order to it. Order now,

[G]

100 years from now in a land far, far away. Hang on. It's not so far away at all, actually. Hey, Circle Round families. We're here to share a new listening experience from wbur, the Midnight Rebellion. It's a climate podcast adventure for kids 8 and up. Time traveling, problem solving, laughs, and danger is here. Follow the feed to listen. Oh, and bring your goggles and boots. That's the Midnight Rebellion in your feed or wherever you get podcasts.

[C]

Welcome back to circle round. I'm rebecca shear. Today our story is called the upside down tree. Before the break, the Great Spirit asked the animals to meet at sunrise so they could each pick a tree, then plant it. And as dawn crept over the horizon, lighting up the sky with swirling reds, oranges, and pinks, the Great Spirit watched with joy as every animal after animal assembled on the savanna.

[D]

Good morning, my children. You will notice that the trees I brought are still young and small. They're what we call saplings. So one by one, I want you to line up and choose which sapling you would like to plant.

[C]

The animals went about arranging themselves in a single file. Leading the charge was Elephant.

[D]

Elephant, looks like you get the first choice. Which tree will you pick?

[B]

Hmm.

[D]

I'll plant that one over there, Great Spirit.

[C]

Elephant extended his trunk toward a sapling with a leafy crown shaped like an umbrella.

[D]

Excellent choice, Elephant. Excellent. That one is an acacia tree. I believe you'll find its leaves to be quite delectable, and its wide canopy will protect you from the sun. Plant it with pride and treat it with love and care. I will, Great Spirit. Thank you.

[C]

Next up was Giraffe.

[D]

Giraffe. Which tree do you pick?

[C]

Giraffe glanced around, then cocked his gangly neck toward a sapling with yellow bark.

[D]

I like that one, Great Spirit. Ah, the fever tree. When it gets bigger, it will sprout brown pods that are so very tasty. Nutritious, too. Splendid choice, Giraffe. Thank you, Great Spirit.

[C]

Eagle was next. She chose the sapling known as the bush willow.

[D]

Well chosen, Eagle. With its strong branches and large leaves, the Bush Bush willow will be the perfect tree for you to nest in.

[E]

Thank you, Great Spirit.

[C]

Behind Eagle was Monkey, who selected the

[D]

fig tree you will love. Nibbling on its sweet fruits, Monkey. And playing in its leafy branches.

[B]

Thank you, Great Spirit.

[C]

On and on it went, with each animal choosing their sapling.

[D]

The marula tree, the butterfly tree, the

[C]

jackalberry, and going off to plant it in the earth.

[D]

Plant it with pride and treat it with love and care.

[C]

Eventually, all the animals had selected their trees and begun to plant well all the other animals.

[B]

What's going on here?

[C]

But one.

[B]

Are you having a party? Why wasn't I invited?

[C]

Everyone froze and stared at. You guessed it, Hyena. Her dark eyes were blazing and her bushy tail hung low.

[D]

Um, for your information, Hyena, we are not having a party.

[B]

We are planting trees, like we discussed at last night's meeting. Didn't you get the Great Spirit's message? Message? About a meeting? Oh, right. I got the message. But I decided to go to bed early. I had a feeling it would be

[D]

a real snooze fest anyway, so I

[B]

might as well hit the sack. What did I miss, Great Spirit?

[D]

Well, Hyena, I told everyone about the new trees I've created and how you all get to plant your own tree in the earth.

[B]

Trees, huh? Okay, in that case, I'm thinking I'll plant the best one then. The most beautiful, elegant and graceful. Just like me.

[C]

As Hyena collapsed in hysterics, the other animals exchanged an uneasy glance.

[D]

Um, Hyena, here's the thing. We already planted the trees.

[E]

You arrived so late today.

[B]

There's only one tree left.

[C]

The animals gestured toward an unusual little sapling with a plump trunk and twisted, gnarled roots. Just one look, and Hyena knew it was not the elegant and graceful tree she'd been expecting.

[B]

Oh, come on. You gotta be kidding me. That's the only tree left. Great Spirit say it isn't so.

[D]

It is so, Hyena, and it's all yours. So go ahead. Plant the tree.

[C]

Hyena stared at the Great Spirit. Then she stared at the sapling. Then her lips curled into a sneer.

[B]

So you want me to plant the tree, do you?

[F]

Huh?

[B]

Then fine. Okay. I'll plant the tree. Watch this.

[C]

Hyena lowered her furry head, then took off running toward the last sapling. She stuck out her muzzle and clamped her teeth around the tree's trunk. Then, with every ounce of strength she had and every bit of spite, she whipped her head to the side, and as she did, she snapped open her jaw. So the young tree went flying from her mouth and rocketed toward the sky. The sapling flipped and tumbled through the air, and when it hit the ground, the other animals could hardly believe their eyes. Because when the tree landed, its branches hit the ground first and sank down into the earth, which meant the twisted, gnarled roots were sticking up in the air. So with the branches at the bottom and the roots at the top, the tree was upside down. Hyena let out a laugh, then bolted off across the savanna, pleased with her rambunctious prick. But once she was gone, the Great Spirit did something Hyena never expected. The Supreme Creator took that little upside down tree and touched it with magic. And ever since, the baobab tree has been one of the most precious on the savanna. Animals have relied on the baobab for food, shade, and a place to live. People have used its bark to make rope and baskets. They've used its roots and leaves to whip up medicines. They've even taken shelter inside the hollow trunk on the hottest and sunniest of days. So while Hyena may have laughed at the little upside down tree, she didn't get the last laugh. Because all this time later, we now know that the laughter was on her. Now it's your turn. When Hyena got angry, she found a pretty extreme way to let it out. So next time you get angry, what are some helpful ways you can deal with your feelings? Check in with a grown up and make a list of strategies. Maybe you'll do jumping jacks or squish up some play doh clay. Perhaps you'll write all your feelings down or draw a picture of them, then crumple up the paper and toss it away. Maybe you'll listen to a calming song or story, or you'll talk about your feelings with someone you love after you make your list. Remember, anger is natural. It's normal. Just so long as we don't allow our anger to turn things upside down. This week's episode, the Upside Down Tree, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear. It was edited by Sophie Kodner. Our original music and sounds design is by Eric Shyamalanis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn. Sabina has drawn a black and white picture for all of our circle round stories and you can print them out and color them in Grown Ups. Visit our website WBUR.org CircleRound and click click on coloring pages. Special thanks to this week's actors Theodore Chin, Joe Hernandez, Erika Rose, Alexia Trainor, Chris Tucci and Alonzo Bowden. Comedian Alonzo Bowden is a regular panelist on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, the weekly NPR News quiz. He's been the grand Prize winner on NBC's Last Comic Standing and you grown ups can check out his comedy special Heavy Lightweight on Amazon. And kids, you can check out Alonzo's other Circle Round episode, the Mountain Guardian. Just visit WBUR.org CircleRound and click on Archive. And while you're at WBUR.org CircleRound you can support our public radio podcast by joining the Circle Round Club. To show our thanks, we'll send you a welcome box with our new Circle Round Club swag, plus weekly activity emails, monthly newsletters and early access to Circle Round events both live and virtual. You can also get ad free episodes, bite sized bedtime stories, music, education videos, even a personalized birthday message from me. Visit wbur.org circleround and click circle Round Club. Our featured instrument this week was the Ngoni. You can learn more about this stringed instrument from West Africa and see a photo of Eric Shimalonis playing one on our website. Once more, that's WBUR.org grown ups. If you enjoy Circle Round, please leave us a five star review on your favorite podcast app. It really does help. We also invite you to tell your friends about the show and talk about us on social media. Our handle on Facebook and Instagram is @circleround podcast. Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station. I'm Rebecca Shear. Thanks for circling Round with us. Now that you've made it to the end of this Circle Round episode, we want to know what's your favorite Circle Round story. Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best. Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too.

[E]

Hi, my name is Sophia. I live in Montreal. My favorite Circle Round story is One Wish. My favorite part is when Talia says that was my one wish. Hi, my name is Lydia and I'm from Montreal and my favorite Circle Ran story is the Sorcerer's Offer and my favorite part is when he asks the questions. My name is Jasper, I'm from Ruth Rhine, North Carolina and my favorite Circle Round story is the Lion's Whisker and my favorite part is when they get the Whisker from a line and I'm four and a half. My name is Frankie, I live in Pittsburgh and I'm calling from Michigan. My favorite circle round Toby is the lion's Whisker. I like to play Lincoln River 9 the Line Whisker. My name is Emma and I live in San Mateo, California and my family. My favorite story is the most beautiful fruit of all and my favorite part is when the bear pulls off the rabbit's tail. My name is Yara, I live in Oakland, California. My favorite circle round story is the Golden Eagle. My favorite part is when her friend makes the frailty and then she gets better. I am Rufus and I I live in Pennsylvania. I like look alike falls and the Basilisk because both of them turn into stone.

[C]

I love you Becca Shear did someone mention a story you've missed? Not to worry grown ups. You can find all of our circle round stories plus links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages and oh so much more on our website WBUR.org CircleRound.