Earth Day: Connecting with Nature Through Writing and Art (with Michel) - ONLINE
Climate change affects us all, and climate policy dialogues are increasingly in the media spotlight. In this single-session workshop, we will reflect on our relationship with nature through discussion and writing prompts; consider the impact of our current actions on future generations; and each student will compose their own pledge to be a steward of the environment. From our earliest experiences of observing and interacting with nature, to trying to keep nature immersion as a regular practice in a busy adult life, we will explore our memories, attitudes, and hopes for the natural environment. If you are working on a larger writing project, this class will help you to write embodied, visceral prose that comes from an authentic place. Participants will be invited to craft a poster featuring words and art related to their current and projected future beliefs and attitudes about climate, plants, and animals, with a mind for sharing with others our love of Earth and our role in conservation. This is a multidisciplinary and multi-media workshop that integrates meditation and, if possible for everyone, a break to walk outside and contact your nearest natural space. Materials needed include notebook, pen, a posterboard, and colors, stickers, or pictures you may wish to collage with. Come prepared to relax, write, craft, and make lasting friendships. This workshop is open to all levels. Limited to 12 creatives (visual artists welcome too!)
WHEN: 3 Hours: Saturday, April 22 (1 - 4pm EST)
WHERE: Online, via Zoom video conference
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
MICHELLE LEVY is a book editor and published writer. She is also a Certified Environmental Educator, and did a 90-day wilderness survival course in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Peru. Originally from Chicago, she lived in Latin America for two years and Manhattan most of her life. She took part in the Orion Magazine Environmental Writers Workshop at Omega Institute. Now she lives in the forest in the Catskills, with her two daughters, two cats, and a colony of stick bugs. Her essays have appeared in Hippocampus Magazine, Humans and Nature, GoNOMAD, and more. Learn more about her at michellesydneylevy.com.
WORKSHOP GOALS
- Explore how memories shape attitudes, regarding our relationship with nature
- Principles can be applied to other topics.
- Engage all of the senses in writing prose.
- Write persuasively about a currently politically charged topic: climate change.
- Use the language of advocacy in your writing.
- Formulate a call to action.
- Stretch the imagination to create a visual accompaniment to the written work.
RECEIVING THE ZOOM LINK: For one-day workshops, we send out the link to attend the Zoom session 1 - 2 days before the event, via email. For multi-week workshops, you should receive info and the link about a week before the first meeting. Please mark your calendars and look for our emails. If you don't see the email in your inbox on the day before the event (or a few days before, in the case of multi-week workshops), please check your spam and junk mail folders (and search all folders) for an email from joy@pioneervalleywriters.org. We have found that very often our emails end up in those folders. This is based on your own email settings, and you can prevent this by adding our email as a contact.
ONLINE SESSIONS happen remotely, via Zoom video conference. All you need is a laptop, computer, or phone with functioning audio and a webcam. Those who RSVP receive directions and a link to "join" the session via email (please see above note about receiving the Zoom link). All online instructors will log on to the video conference 10 minutes before the start of the session, to help anyone with technical issues, so please plan to log on early if you'd like assistance! We'll do everything in our power to help you get comfortable with this new format, though when the session begins, we will not be able to assist with technical difficulties.
REFUND & CREDIT POLICIES AT PVWW
If you withdraw from a workshop ten days or more before the start of the class: You'll receive full credit toward another workshop OR a full refund. If you withdraw from a workshop nine days before the start of the class up until 48 hours before: You'll receive a refund minus 20%. If you withdraw from a workshop less than 48 hours before the start of a class or after the class has begun: We are not able to offer you credit toward another class or any refund, unless in the case of a medical emergency, or if we are able to fill your spot. If you are absent on the day of your workshop or miss it for any reason, we are unable to offer any kind of refund. If we have to cancel a class for any reason, you will receive a full refund, or if you choose, credit in the amount of your payment, to be used for any future PVWW class. Anyone who does not specify whether they would like a refund or a credit for a cancelled class will automatically be refunded. Please contact Joy (joy@pioneervalleywriters.org) for all matters concerning credit and refunds.