A student in a distance education course, as part of a midterm project, set out to build a Web site that had written communication as its main focus. The Web site, "The Global Campfire," was modeled on the old Appalachian tradition of the "Story Tree," where a storyteller begins a story and allows group members to add to it. Gifted seventh and eighth graders at a rural Indiana school participated, although no suitable submissions were received until the Web site developer explained the purpose of the story tree in person. Extensions of this project into other content areas can provide students a forum for discussion and the motivation to improve their reading and writing abilities. The Web site was subsequently adapted for incorporation into the ERIC Clearinghouse on Reading, English and Communication's "Parents and Children Together Online" magazine. Contributions were received from children all over the United States and all over the world. Plans include the adddition of new storylines and multiple storylines. (The introductory screen of the Global Campfire Web site and an example of one of the story trees are attached.) (RS)