UPDATE: FEB/MARCH SESSION IS SOLD OUT

APRIL/MAY SESSION DATES OPEN FOR REGISTRATION

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When we think about traditional “nature writing,” poems and essays about getting lost in “pristine wilderness” and survival stories of (mostly White) rugged adventurers may come to mind. In this course, we’ll use nature writing from Black, Indigenous, Immigrant, Queer and other writers of color to explore how we can write about nature and the outdoors in ways that also considers issues like ancestry, colonization, racial justice, migration trauma, sexuality, and more.

In our time together, students will learn from the work of authors like Audre Lorde, Kiese Laymon, Natalie Diaz, Kim Tallbear, Joy Harjo, Robin Kimmerer, and many others to help expand their idea of what nature and outdoor writing can look like. We’ll use this work as inspiration and an entry way for creating and eventually sharing our own nature and outdoor writing with the group.

This class will be meet on Zoom, and will be capped at fifteen participants.

Dates:

Tuesdays, 5-7pm PST, February 22rd-March 29th SOLD OUT

Tuesdays, 5-7pm PST, April 19th - May 24th

Cost: $300

***For people of color with financial need, please contact the instructor for 50% off and 25% discounts: contact@amandaemachado.com***

Testimonials from last year’s participants:

“I loved everything: the start of each class, the grounding exercise and connection to land, the community agreements, the music she played during writing prompts, the prompts themselves, and that we didn't feel pressured to share. This allowed for more genuine/raw writing to emerge.”

“Amanda was a stellar teacher. She was super prepared for each class, but also provided an open space that people felt comfortable in. The way she crafted the class and the readings was super informative and inspiring.”

“The readings were wonderful; I appreciated the ground rules and creation of safe space by the teacher and participants; the overall approach and theme was unique and powerful.”

About the instructor:

Amanda E. Machado (she/they) is a queer Latine writer and facilitator whose work explores how race, gender, sexuality, and power affect the way we travel and explore the outdoors. Her work has been published in The Atlantic, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Slate, Harper’s Bazaar, NBC News, Vox, and many others. In addition to her essay writing, she also facilitates workshops on anti-oppression and inclusive storytelling for organizations around the world including REI, Patagonia, HipCamp, Kampgrounds of America (KOA), University of California Berkeley, and many others. Amanda has a degree in English Literature and Nonfiction Writing from Brown University. After spending nearly a third of her twenties abroad, she is currently creating home in Oakland, California. You can learn more about her work on her website: www.amandaemachado.com.