Writing in Place

with Travis Wingard, PSU Extension Educator

Wednesday July 23, 2025  – 9am to Noon

Join us for a three-hour journaling workshop to explore writing about place as a living character. Through loosely guided prompts and quiet observation, we'll experiment with representing in words the details and dynamics in a natural landscape. ChicoryLane’s paths, wetlands, ‘sit spots,’ wooded hillside, hilltop, and open fields offer abundant possibilities.

Writing is a personal practice. Though the voice is your own, the techniques we will explore can develop its strength and clarity. Reflection, discovery, idea generation, and composition are the focus. The workshop leader, Travis Wingard, will offer techniques to deepen observation and create content-rich communication about place.

The workshop will begin with discussion and guided exercise. Participants will then choose a location at ChicoryLane from which to practice observing, engaging, and exercising skills learned. There will be time at the end for sharing (optional), Q & A, and review. Tools: Bring your preferred writing medium, tablets, recording devices, etc.

Photo Credits: top image: Bill Rathfon, above montage: ChicoryLane Collection

Instructor: Travis Wingard is a PSU Extension Educator and Master Watershed Stewardship Coordinator. He writes manuals, flyers, and varied publications focused on watersheds and land use in collaboration with program partners to recruit and train new volunteers, host programs, and facilitate outreach. Before joining Extension, as a high school English teacher of creative writing, factory worker, and outdoor skills educator, he blogged from backpacking experiences of Pennsylvania places.

This is a free event held rain or shine. Restroom and parking onsite.

2025 Events at a Glance

• Ecological Enhancement with John Smith, James Lesher, Sam Stoltzfus - August 9
• Black Walnut Natural Dyeing with Cathryn Pugh, PSU Extension Educator - August 16
• Fall Bird Walk with Joe Gyekis - September 13
• Fall Open Day with various guides - October 18

See detail here, including event times and descriptions

ChicoryLane is an ecological reserve near Spring Mills protected by a Conservation Easement held by Clearwater Conservancy. Its 68 acres are actively managed for conservation.

The landscape is natural and scenic. It includes wetlands and meadows, streams, remnant and successional forests, and a grassland. This diversity of habitats is especially inviting to birds and butterflies. A system of mowed trails makes most of the property accessible to walkers.

• If you wish to visit ChicoryLane, email us a request including the time, date, and number in your group
• Archived issues of this Newsletter are available online
• ChicoryLane communications are managed by Lauren Smith