Outside Voices: Writing Inspired by Nature

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Outside Voices: Writing Inspired by Nature
outdoor table and chairs with typewriter and journal under a tree

Class Date:

Tuesdays and Thursdays, August 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27

Class Time:

4 P.M. - 5 P.M.

Class Size:

10-12 students

Age Group:

7th-12th Graders

Location:

TBD

In this three-week, six-session summer class, writers will explore the natural world as both inspiration and subject. Through guided nature excursions and interactive writing sessions, students will learn how to turn what they see, hear, and feel into vivid stories, personal narratives, and more.

We’ll step into forests, aside wetlands, and along shorelines paying close attention to the small details that often spark the biggest ideas. Then, we’ll bring those experiences back to the page through fun, creative exercises designed to build confidence, imagination, and storytelling skills.

Along the way, students will:

  • Practice observing like a writer (and an explorer!)

  • Learn how to transform real-life moments into compelling scenes

  • Experiment with different forms, from short stories to creative nonfiction

  • Share their work in a supportive, encouraging environment

Whether you love being outdoors, enjoy storytelling, or are just curious about writing, this class is a chance to connect creativity with the world around you—and discover that inspiration is everywhere.

Come ready to explore, imagine, and write.

About:

Chris Loud

Chris Loud is a writer and producer with extensive experience across television, film, and documentary storytelling. In the narrative feature world, he helped produce Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake), an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, as well as Quicksand, a multi-award-winning independent film. He also wrote and produced the short film Listen (Official Selection IFFCA) and served as associate producer on the short film Created Sleep Transmissions (Audience Award Winner TCFF).

In television, Chris has written and produced for travel series including Third Coast, Coolest Places on Earth, State to State, and Great Escapes, along with the true crime series Forensic Justice.

In addition to his screen work, Chris writes and produces short films with The Boardman Review, where he also serves as executive editor of the print publication. He also contributes as a freelance regional reporter for The New York Times.

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