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.

Important Notes:

• 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. 

Instructors

• Dr. Kathryn Neurnberger 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.

Guest Scientist

• Dr. Emily Schilling, Itasca Station Associate Director.

See Writing in the Wild course website for more information.

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 staying over the weekend will need to choose the Itasca weekend fee when registering for Writing the Wild.

Throughout history, explorers recorded their natural history observations and travel adventures in notebooks. This tradition continues in the present day practice of nature journaling. Hone your own powers of observation in this course as you explore natural spaces. Learn the basics of nature journaling, then head out to the field to capture what you see and experience on the page. No art background or expensive supplies needed — only a desire to explore the intersection of imagination and observation.

Important Notes:

• 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. 

Instructor

• Dr. Jennifer Powers is a tropical forest ecologist who uses art as an avenue to observe nature closely and capture details about the plants and animals she encounters in the field. Learn more about Dr. Powers' nature journaling.

Guest Naturalists

• Dr. Emily Schilling, Itasca Station Associate Director
• Connie Cox, Lead Naturalist, Itasca State Park

See Drawn to Nature course website for more information and schedule.

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 extra fees when registering for Writing the Wild.

Dual-enrolled participants must select the corresponding “Itasca weekend”  fee when registering for Writing the Wild and must also register separately for Drawn to Nature.

Blending scientific principles with practical techniques, this course will deepen your understanding of the science behind each cast. Students will explore the interconnected world of fish behavior, aquatic food webs and ecosystems, and the physics of fly fishing. You will leave with enhanced technical skills, a broader understanding of freshwater ecosystems, and a deeper connection to the underwater world of the fish that you catch. All registered students will receive a copy of Fly Fishing Minnesota as part of the course.

Important Notes: 

• To comfortably engage in this course, participants must be comfortable putting on and walking in waders, climbing up stream banks, and walking for a distance of at least 0.5 miles without needing to sit and rest.
• Optional field trips require the ability to enter/exit a canoe from shore, to sit in a canoe for an extended period, and to paddle a canoe.
• Please be aware that during extended field trips, bathroom facilities will not be easily accessible. Participants should be prepared to use natural surroundings. We will ensure appropriate guidance on how to do this discreetly and respectfully for everyone involved. Restroom breaks will be scheduled during transit to/from field sites.
• 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. 

Instructor

• Carl Haensel is a fly fishing guide, biologist, conservationist, photographer, educator and author. He teaches post-secondary courses on ecology, biology and geology for teachers and educators and is passionate about outdoor education. Carl is the author of two books about fishing in Minnesota: Fly Fishing Minnesota and Minnesota Fly Fishing Maps. 
• Jade Thomason has a degree in conservation biology and is an editor, artist and writer. Her background is in forest ecology and entomology, and she has been a long-time collaborator with Minnesota Trout Unlimited. 

See the Science of Fly Fishing course website for more information and schedule.