Writing in Nature

Writing in Nature

Hike Overview Continued

*Members Only Course: Becoming a member grants you access to all NEW Glacier Institute Field Courses for free, and gives you 50% off all legacy Glacier Institute Field Courses. Thank you for supporting outdoor education!

June 14 at 8 a.m.

Instructor: Dr. Claudia Cassidy-Bennett

Embark on a transformative journey with our nature-inspired journaling course, designed to connect mind, body, and spirit while cultivating creativity and enhancing writing skills. As we explore the outdoors, you’ll engage all five senses to awaken memories, stir emotions, and uncover hidden stories waiting to be written. Through guided exercises and mindful reflection, you’ll tap into your personal experiences and use nature’s energy to inspire self-expression. This course is tailored to meet you where you are—whether you’re a seasoned writer or a complete beginner—fostering your creative process and supporting your individual goals. No prior journaling experience is needed, just the desire to discover the joy of writing in nature’s embrace.

Meeting Place: Glacier Institute Field Camp

Itinerary: (subject to change due to trail closures and weather) After a brief introduction at Field Camp, and a few short journaling prompts, we will travel to a location nearby. On the hike, we will cover several journaling prompts that will help awaken all our senses and connect with the natural world through our words. We will return to Field Camp and the course will conclude by 4 p.m.

Food: Please bring a trail lunch, plenty of water, hot drink, and snacks for the day.

Park Entrance Fees: Participants are responsible for purchasing their park entry passes prior to the course. These can be purchased online at: https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74280.

Academic Credit: Please see our ‘2025 Academic Credit’ link on our website to learn about OPI credits for our courses.

Equipment: You will receive a Field Camp gear list once you register. Most importantly are comfortable hiking shoes, at least 1-2 liter water bottle, backpack, rain gear, hat, sunscreen and warm layers. Gaiters may be useful as we walk through damp grasses. A magnifying glass or hand lens will be highly recommended to observe orchid species.

Physical Requirements: Easy. We will be taking a short 2 – 3 mile hike with minimal elevation change in order to get to our writing locations.

Recommended Reading:

● “The Wild Writer: A Guide to Writing in the Natural World” by Zainab Zardari
● “Nature Writing: The Tradition in English” by Robert Finch and John Elder
● “The Sense of Wonder” by Rachel Carson