I Wonder
From WriteOut’s Choice Board of outdoor activities and writing suggestions, I chose to write observations, memories, and I wonder statements from the activity by Xochitl Bentley, Northridge Writing Project: I Wonder 1-3
My Response:
A ripple in the waves near the shore of Banks Lake reminds me of summer walks and our black dog rushing through the tules to lap up the water after a run through the bunchgrass.
Or in winter when he realized the puddles of ice in the dirt road would melt into water when he was thirsty after a long walk and run through the area. He was so excited he ran across the ice, learning to hop from grassy area to grassy area between the frozen puddles, running in circles through the tall bunch grass and slipping to a stop over the ice.
I paused to listen for the marsh wrens and red-winged blackbirds that sang here each summer evening. I looked up to the sky for a soaring eagle or red-tailed hawk. I turned around to search the cliffs for the ravens that soared over the nearby highway. I heard nothing but the soft whoosh of waves in the gentle wind. It was a silent time.
I wonder where the eagle roosts now up in Northrup Canyon. I wonder when the blackbirds left, missing their soft whistle. I wonder if the marsh wrens would build their nest in the same tules next year. I wonder how long this tall cottonwood has stood as beacon to stop and pause on busy days, taking time to let the dog run, splash, and play.
Guthrie on the Ice:
Learn With WRITEOUT
“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.