River Writing: A Creativity & Conservation Be Well Workshop

Join our Be Well Workshop centered around natural observation and creative writing for conservation led by Great Salt Lake facing activist & poet Nan Seymour alongside Maple Grove Founder Jordan Menzel.  We are also excited to welcome Lisa Bickmore, Utah's Poet Laureate 2022 as our closing speaker. Since the beginning of our community and restoration journey, the written word has played an important role in helping us process and express what we witness and learn while tending to this inspiring landscape. Nature, and certainly water, have a power to unlock our childlike observation and enrich our connection to all around us. If explored and expressed, this connection is a powerful tool to move, inspire, and unlock our potential to celebrate and preserve the ecosystems we depend on. 

In this writing workshop, we aim to explore the relationship between observation, expression, and action! Whether you consider yourself a writer, a poet, an artist, or simply a nature lover who wants to safely cultivate a relationship to writing, humans of all skills, experiences, and perspectives are welcome. 

About River Writing:

River Writing is an opportunity to witness and be witnessed, a community-based writing practice, and a bit of a courage class. We keep our pens moving on the page as we write together with abandon, with no intention of making it good. In this workshop we will spend time noticing the world around us and recording specific details. Those practices will help us bear witness to place. Participants who would like to read their work will be invited to do so without preface or apology. We will listen to each other without offering praise or criticism. You don’t need to identify as a writer to participate. You are more than qualified when you find just enough courage to pick up a pen.

Our particular witness has never been more needed in the world. Our details matter. River Writing is a vessel for growing connection, compassion, and possibility.

Space is limited and ticket options include day-of only and one or two-night packages. Lunch, snacks, and dinner provided on September 28th. 

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Saturday September 28th- Workshop Day 9am  - 9pm

• 9am - Arrival & soak
• 10am - Welcome circle + Intro
• 11am - River Writing Intro
• 12:30pm - Lunch + Share
• 1:45pm - River Writing Deep Dive
• 3pm - Forest Bathing Writing Walk 
• 4pm -Collective Poetry
• 5-7pm - Soak + Conversations
• 7-8:30pm - Dinner, Author Panel with Lisa Bickmore, Q&A

Optional One and Two Night Packages

Explore ticket options for day-of and nightly package tickets. 

About the Facilitator:

Nan Seymour created River Writing in order to foster voice and authentic connection. Everyone is welcome in her circles. This community-held writing practice was designed for anyone willing to pick up a pen. A recent PBS documentary highlights River Writing as a method of repair for what is broken in our relationship with the natural world.

Her debut poetry collection, prayers not meant for heaven, was published by Toad Hall Editions in the summer of 2021. Nan's story lake woman leaving, a modern myth, was awarded the 2022 Alfred Lambourne prize by Friends of Great Salt Lake. In the summer of 2023, Nan was chosen by Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall for a Mayor’s Artist Award.

What to bring:

Reusable water bottle, swimsuit, towel, warm clothes, journal + pens, comfy clothes

Optional:

Blanket, gloves, hat, water shoes, preferred snacks