October is often dark and rainy, as Father Winter drifts in on dark clouds. Waves lap the shores in a varying rhythm, depending on the strength of the breeze. Coveys of California quail scamper away into the rabbitbrush. A dark-eyed junco flies from the cottonwood to feast on the seeds of the buckwheat. We button up our coats as the rain drips off the leaves of the cottonwood. I pull on my gloves, and we follow Guthrie, sniffing the ground for messages, undaunted by the sudden change in Mother Earth’s weather. Nature says, “Prepare for winter.”
#writeout #writeout25
Pause and Sense, Niobrara National Scenic River prompt: Pause and sense for five minutes: What is nature telling you?
“Write Out is a free two-week celebration that will run October 12-26, 2025 where we step outside the doors of our classrooms, homes, and workplaces to write and create. Everyone is invited—educators, students, families, and friends—and encouraged to explore neighborhoods, parks, and other outdoor spaces. The goal is to be inspired by the world around us and to connect and learn through place-based writing and sharing.”National Writing Project WriteOut
This year’s Choice Board of outdoor activities and writing suggestions is filled with ideas for what to write about outside, in whatever space you find. You can download a Choice Board PDF with QR codes to share with others. The project also provides a wonderful guide for writing outdoors: Writing Outside the Classroom– A Guide to Getting Started.