Beecycles Nature Writing Camp

The next Nature Writing Camp will take place fall 2021 in southern Utah, exact date and location TBD. We will be based at a local campground with pit toilets and running water. Participation is FREE for those aged 18-21 and $50 for those over 21.

Please click the link below to sign up or to register your interest in future dates!

WEEKEND Nature writing workshops for all levels of writer and adventurer (FREE FOR THOSE AGED 18-21!)

WHAT: For a limited time, I am offering nature writing workshops held in wilderness locations throughout the desert southwest. I will plan the trip, coordinate the participants and lead writing exercises designed to help you take your nature writing to the next level. You just need to come ready with an open mind and willing feet. An average trip might involve 3-8 miles of hiking over 2 weekend days, with two nights of camping near the cars. Please fill out the application form linked below to express your interest and comfort level with hiking distance.

WHO: The experience is open to anyone aged 18 and over who is interested in writing about nature or the environment. Previous writing experience is encouraged but not required. Previous adventure experience may be required depending on the trip. Participants will be grouped on trips according to age and adventure experience. You are required to bring all of your own camping equipment, food, and writing materials. A suggested packing list will be provided.

COST: Participation for those aged 18-21 is completely FREE. (Must be at least 18 to participate.) Those older than 21 are asked to pay $50 for the whole weekend to cover campground fees and keep the program going — still the cheapest writing workshop or outdoor adventure around!

WHERE: Trips will take place throughout southern Utah and northern Arizona. You must provide your own transportation to and from the starting location.

WHEN: I plan to offer trips about every other month, depending on interest. Please fill out the form below to register your interest and receive information on upcoming trips.

WHY: I am a journalist employed by Report for America, which is a national program that places journalists in areas where additional news coverage is needed. As part of this program, we are commissioned to come up with a service project that contributes something to youth in the local community (hence the trip being free for those 18-21). Often these projects involve teaching writing or journalism skills. Given that I will be surrounded by incredible natural landscapes, I wanted my project to also help connect folks to the amazing local surroundings and abundant inspiration in nature.

BRING: Click here for a sample packing list to see if you have the right gear!

About me

As an ecologist and environmental journalist, my life is all about nature and writing. I received a master’s degree from Utah State University in 2016 and a PhD from the University of Florida in 2019. My research focused on understanding wild bee ecology and biodiversity. Since graduating, I have shifted my energies to journalism.

My writing about nature and the environment has been published in National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Orion Magazine, Discover Magazine, New Scientist Magazine, The Times-Picayune newspaper and more. I am currently employed as an environment reporter at The Spectrum newspaper in St. George, Utah.

Even before I was a scientist or a journalist, I was a backpacker. I grew up backpacking in Colorado and have led backpacking trips in Colorado, Utah, California, Wyoming and Georgia (on the Appalachian Trail). I love nothing more than sharing my love of camping and nature.

I am trained in both wilderness medicine and backcountry navigation. I am a certified Wilderness First Responder (WFR), which is an 80-hour training program on emergency medicine administered in a wilderness setting. I have also completed a college course on orienteering, using maps to navigate rugged terrain. I have many years of experience finding my way safely in the wilderness.

Example TRIP schedule:

• Friday: Work a normal day, then leave to meet at the campground whenever works for you.

• Friday evening: Meet at the campsite sometime during the evening. Eat dinner beforehand. Set up camp and get to know each other and our writing goals.

• Saturday morning: Breakfast (on your own), followed by a short writing exercise and group readings. Then pack up and hit the hiking trail, drawing inspiration from the fauna, flora and landscapes along the way. (Hiking mileage may be between 3-6 miles each day depending on the trip and group.)

• Saturday noon: Stop mid-hike for lunch and another short writing exercise. Have your notebooks handy!

• Saturday afternoon: Return to camp. Short break for personal time, then convene for a writing prompt followed by solo writing time immersed in nature.

• Saturday evening: Optional sharing of written work so far for feedback from the group. Eat dinner (bring your own food and cooking equipment). One more writing exercise before dark, followed by readings around the campfire (if allowed) of our favorite written works.

• Sunday morning: Breakfast (on your own), followed by a writing prompt and time to work on your writing solo while taking in the natural environment mixed in with time for individual consultations on your writing projects if you so desire.

• Sunday noon: Come back together after solo writing time and share what our experiences have been. Are you stuck on a particular passage or unsure how to end your story? Get feedback from the group to get unstuck. Enjoy listening to each other’s nature-inspired work and reflecting on your own. Optional short discussion about how to get published.

• Sunday afternoon: Share any final works or thoughts. Exchange contact information, if desired, to stay in touch with your new writing group. Drive home individually. Be home by dark, ready to start the next week.