That 20^th-century idea that a picture is worth 1,000 words has become accepted as something of a gospel truth in our image-saturated, digitally-driven, 21^st-century world. But pictures and words are not the same thing. The act of reading opens pathways in the mind that aren’t available otherwise. The act of writing doubles as an act of thinking. Show a beautiful picture of a tree and the brain registers a beautiful picture of a tree. Show 1,000 words on that same tree and the experience will be markedly different. Writing or reading about something presents an opportunity for a deeper and more fundamentally human experience.

This class is a full day of nature, and a full day of writing. Dave will present on reading and writing – on the craft; on the physiology. We’ll discuss what makes good nature writing good. In a world full of digital media that’s designed to distract us, we’ll discuss strategies on how to maintain the focus needed for quality reading and writing. We’ll walk the North Branch trails and observe nature, and we’ll write and share based on these experiences. Maybe the goal is a finished piece of writing that can be polished and published. Or maybe the goal is more spiritual: writing as an act of attention designed to deepen one’s connection to the natural world.

Late afternoon will allow for folks to have some solo writing time, then we’ll convene again for a group dinner followed by an optional sharing one another’s work.