A Northwoods-inspired Poetry and Prose Course
August 1-4, 2024
Immerse yourself in nature and reflect on how it has intersected with your life and shaped your perspective. Then, translate those insights into poetry and prose. Experiential learning and activities designed to draw out insights will help you on your creative journey. This unique course will provide you with room to create and inspiration to keep you motivated long after this foray to the northwoods.
Instructors
Dr. Kathryn Nuernberger is an essayist and poet who writes about the history of science and ideas, renegade women, plant medicines, and witches.
Dr. Marlene Zuk is an internationally recognized leader in the study of evolution and behavior. She has written a number of highly successful books for a general audience on sexual selection and evolution.
Marlene and Kate met several years ago over a joint love of writing about nature, and have taught creative writing together from their different but complementary perspectives. They also share an interest in locating katydids by their songs and reading poetry about figs.
Course modules include:
- Writing in the Field: A guided nature walk focusing on plant stories
- Writing Processes for Science Writers
- Writing in the Field: A guided nature walk focusing on birds, bugs and other creatures
- Make It Weirder: Ideas for creative revision
Program schedule
Thursday, August 1
- 3pm: Check in
- 4-6pm: Station orientation and course welcome
- 6-7pm: Dinner
- 7-9pm: Guided walk and time to pick and explore your "sit spot."
- 9-10pm: Optional group campfire or recreational time
Friday, August 2
- 7-8am: Breakfast
- 8-10am: Sit spot time, writing prompts and readings will be provided.
- 10-10:30am: Coffee/snack break
- 10:30am-12pm: Writing in the Field: A guided nature walk focusing on plant stories, led by Kate Nuernberger
- Noon-1pm: Lunch
- 1-5pm: Writing Processes for Science Writers, led by Marlene Zuk
- 6-7pm: Dinner
- 7-9pm: Optional group campfire or recreational time
Saturday, August 3
- 7-8am: Breakfast
- 8-10am: Sit spot time, writing prompts and readings will be provided.
- 10:00-10:30am: coffee/snack break
- 10:30am-12pm: Writing in the Field: A guided nature walk focusing on birds, bugs and other creatures, led by Marlene Zuk
- Noon-1pm: Lunch
- 1-5pm: Make It Weirder: Ideas for creative revision, led by Kate Nuernberger. Bring a work-in-progress you'd like to revise and receive feedback on.
- 6-7pm: Dinner
- 7-9pm: State Park Open Mic (Read something inspired by Itasca you've written or loved reading to share, 3 minutes or less.)
Sunday, August 4
- 10am: Brunch
- 11am: Depart