Insight Outside: A Contemplative Nature Writing Weekend
August 3 & 4, 8am-5pm
Back by popular demand and extended to a full weekend!
Revitalize your connection to the wilderness and your writing through this immersive weekend of nature writing and contemplative practices in the gorgeous landscape of McCarthy, Alaska. Together we'll deepen our writing practice as we turn our attention to the ordinary and extraordinary aspects of wild nature and human nature. We’ll be nourished by the unique forests, rivers, and mountains of Wrangell-St Elias National Park for inspiration, humility, and connection with ourselves and the more-than-human world. Facilitator, Michelle Latvala, will guide us in writing practices, nature practices, and embodied contemplative practices in order to write more deeply from the landscape and from ourselves.
Michelle Latvala
put down roots in our McCarthy-Kennecott valley in 2003, although her Finnish ancestors shared the same circumpolar boreal forest in their genes for centuries. She is a nature-based facilitator, leader, poet, and wildcrafter who creatively guides groups in wildlands experiences, insight meditation, and contemplative writing. Michelle served as Executive Director of Spirit Rock Meditation Center, facilitates Conversational Leadership programs, and her poems are regularly featured in print, podcast, and video—most recently in the journal Kerning: A Space for Words, on the End-of-the-Road Podcast, and in Irene Young’s poetry video series.
This weekend retreat will include writing prompts and nature-based teachings, guided contemplative practices to increase your sensitivity to observation, and a mixture of silent periods, writing sessions, mindful walking, and group interactions. You will have a chance to share your writing and dialogue in small groups, be invited to share your writing in the community word jam at the end of our workshop, and spend time in the splendid Kennecott Glacier watershed within the Wrangell-St Elias National Park & Preserve. Weather is highly variable and the weekend schedule will adjust to fit the conditions.
Schedule:
SUNDAY AUG 4:
8am - Coffee & Tea/Writing
9am - Breakfast
10am - Morning Session Onsite
12pm - Lunch
1pm - Outdoor Session in the Field
5pm - Dinner
6:30pm - Word Jam at the Wrangell Mountains Center (Bring your writings, poetry, etc to share in an intimate and encouraging community space during WMC’s open mic night)
SATURDAY AUG 3:
8am - Welcome, Coffee & Tea/Writing
9am - Breakfast
10am - Morning Session Onsite
12pm - Lunch
1pm - Outdoor Session in the Field
5pm - Dinner
Evening - Enjoy the town of McCarthy
Details:
Group Size: Max 15 (kept small based on nature of the workshop)
Hearty vegetarian meals served on the WMC campus (9am, 12pm, 5pm)
Michelle will provide a mixture of indoor and outdoor time, as well as walking and writing time. On each day, depending on weather and group, we may walk 1-4 miles over uneven terrain around McCarthy (trails, rocks, etc) to do some contemplative writing in the field.
Registration Fee: This weekend workshop is offered at $350. Register before May 15 for the Early Bird rate of $300
Overnight accommodations are not included. We recommend participants arrive by Friday evening at the latest and depart Monday morning at the earliest in order to fully immerse themselves in the weekend workshop.
Please take a look at these accommodation options in the area:
Cabins:
Tiny Cabins by Tamara (AirBnB)
Kennicott River Lodge and Cabins
Camping:
Register Here
What To Bring / Frequently Asked Questions:
o Warm layers to be outside in changeable weather all day (in the case of extreme weather, we will base indoors)
o Comfortable boots to be moving around on foot all day (generally level or gently rolling terrain, with many areas of uneven footing, within a reasonable radius of McCarthy)
o Drinking water and snacks
o Writing notebook/pen/pencil
o Backpack for hands-free walking
o Optional sitting pad or lightweight portable chair if you prefer something to perching directly on the rocks/stumps
Testimonials
2023 Participants:
“The workshop was amazing. I felt very changed and enlightened afterward. Wonderfully timed and designed perfectly - it was a lovely experience!”
“Michelle was incredible, nothing but praise for her brilliance.”
“She is knowledgeable, facile with groups, and designed the workshop and we could not ask for more!”
“Level energy and radiant joy.”
Photos by Michelle Latvala, Michelle McAffee, Sabrina Simon and Dave Sarbell