A Northwoods-Inspired Poetry and Prose Course
August 3 - August 7, 2026
Enrollment Capacity: 20 students
Immerse yourself in nature and reflect on how it has intersected with your life and shaped your perspective. Then, translate those insights into new poems or a nonfiction essay, using information about the creatures around you to inform your work. 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.
We will be reading, talking, and walking around the area. Participants must be comfortable walking on uneven surfaces and trails and must be able to walk at least 0.5 miles without needing to sit and rest.
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.
Guest scientist
Dr. Emily Schilling, Itasca Station Associate Director
Course modules include:
- From the Specimen Collection to the Field: Exercises in Seeing
- Invertebrate Inspirations: Sampling invertebrates from Lake Itasca
- Thinking Like a Scientist: A guided nature walk focusing on birds, bugs and the art of asking a good question
- Creative Research and Itasca’s Resources: Specimen Collections, Longitudinal Studies, and How to Think Like an Animal
- Ideas for Creative Revision
- A one-on-one meeting with the instructors about your work
Tentative 2026 Program Schedule
Monday, August 3
- 3 p.m. - Check-in (Biome Center - building 75)
- 4-6 p.m. - Station orientation and course welcome (Lakeside Laboratory - building 44 upper)
- 6-7 p.m. - Dinner (Dining hall)
- 7-9 p.m. - Guided walk and time to pick and explore your "sit spot" (Lakeside Laboratory - building 44 upper)
Tuesday, August 4
- 7-8 a.m. - Breakfast (Dining Hall)
- 8-10 a.m. - Sit spot time - Writing prompts and readings will be provided in the dining hall after breakfast
- 10-10:30 a.m. - Coffee/snack break (Dining Hall)
- 10:30 a.m.-noon - From the Specimen Collection to the Field: Exercises in Seeing (Biome Center)
- Noon-1 p.m. - Lunch (Dining Hall)
- 1-5 p.m. - Invertebrate Inspirations: During this session, we’ll collect invertebrate samples from the lake just outside our classroom door and explore the insect specimen collections held at the station. Led by Emily Schilling (Lakeside Laboratory - building 44 upper)
- 6-7 p.m. - Dinner (Dining Hall)
- Suggested evening activity: Walk to the Headwaters
Wednesday, August 5
- 7-8 a.m. - Breakfast (Dining Hall)
- 8-10 a.m. - Sit spot time - Writing prompts and readings will be provided in the dining hall after breakfast
- 10-10:30 a.m. - Coffee/snack break (Dining Hall)
- 10:30 a.m.-noon - Thinking Like a Scientist: A guided nature walk focusing on birds, bugs, and the art of asking a good question (Lakeside Laboratory - building 44 upper)
- Noon-1 p.m. - Lunch (Dining Hall)
- 1-5 p.m. - Creative Research and Itasca’s Resources: Specimen Collections, Longitudinal Studies, and How to Think Like an Animal (Lakeside Laboratory - building 44 upper)
- 6-7 p.m. - Dinner (Dining Hall)
- Suggested evening activity: Kayak or canoe on Lake Itasca
Thursday, August 6
- 7-8 a.m. - Breakfast (Dining Hall)
- 8-10 a.m. - Sit spot time - Writing prompts and readings will be provided in the dining hall after breakfast
- 10-10:30 a.m. - Coffee/snack break (Dining Hall)
- 10:30 a.m.-noon - Ideas for Creative Revision: Bring a work-in-progress you'd like to revise and receive feedback on (Lakeside Laboratory - building 44 upper)
- Noon-1 p.m. - Lunch (Dining Hall)
- 1-5 p.m. - One-on-one conferences with Kate and Marlene (Lakeside Laboratory - building 44 upper)
- 6-7 p.m. - Dinner (Dining Hall)
- 7-9 p.m. - State Park Ice Cream Social and Open Mic — Students have the opportunity to read something inspired by Itasca, either a piece you've written or something you love (3 minutes or less). This event will be open to the general public and co-hosted by the state park lead naturalists at the Lake Itasca Amphitheater.
Friday, August 7
- 7-8 a.m. - Breakfast (Dining Hall)
- 8-9 a.m. - Say goodbye to your sit spot
- 10 a.m. - Checkout
2026 Program Cost
Program cost is inclusive of tuition, meals and lodging.
See the Science of Craft home page for details on dining and lodging.
Participants will choose from the following enrollment options:
- $875 - Faculty cabin lodging
- $755 - Bunkhouse lodging
- $1,225 - Faculty cabin lodging with weekend stay (available only to participants dual-enrolled in Drawn to Nature)
- $1,015 - Bunkhouse lodging with weekend stay (available only to participants dual-enrolled in Drawn to Nature)
Dual Enrollment Information
Participants enrolling in both Drawn to Nature and Writing the Wild may remain at the station continuously over the weekend between the two courses. During this two-day break, they are free to explore Itasca State Park and the surrounding area. To cover the cost of lodging and dining for this additional time, dual-enrolled participants will pay an extra $350 (faculty cabin) or $260 (bunkhouse).
Dual-enrolled participants must select the corresponding “weekend” lodging option when registering for Writing the Wild and must also register separately for Drawn to Nature.
Please reach out to [email protected] with questions about dual enrollment.
Mobility, Accessibility, and Field Preparedness
Itasca Station is working hard to break down barriers to field participation. As we work to make progress, the station is committed to identifying barriers to access, and communicating accessible aspects of our programs/facilities to help individuals identify whether they can safely participate. Those with mobility concerns should reach out to station staff ([email protected]) before registering.
To comfortably engage in this course, participants must be comfortable walking on uneven surfaces and trails and must be able to walk at least 0.5 mile without needing to sit and rest.
Station dining, housing and classroom buildings are spread across our 10 acre campus in Itasca State Park (see station map). Participants should be prepared for substantial daily walking. Parking is limited to designated areas; therefore, all travel between cabins, classrooms, and the dining hall is done on foot. This routine movement typically adds up to nearly a mile of walking per day, in addition to any walking required for course activities.
This course is part of our Science of Craft program. Check out the program homepage for details about our cancellation policy, meals, lodging, a general packing list, and recreational opportunities available during the course.
Questions? Reach out to us at [email protected]