Welcome to the 2026
Summer of Stories
Enrich Your Summer Through Deeper Connections to
Yourself, Your Stories and Your Surroundings
This summer, I want to invite you into a different relationship with place, experience, meaning, and story.
Summer has a different rhythm.
There is often a little more room to wander, to notice, to reflect, and to follow ideas that don't always fit into the rest of the year.
I wanted to invite you to join me on a journey to explore how place, nature, culture, history, intersect with memory, meaning, and story in our lives.
We'll look at how a deeper sense of place develops, how stories emerge from our experiences, and how paying closer attention can enrich both our personal and professional lives.
Throughout the summer, I'll be sharing stories, observations, reflections, and invitations through Field Notes, social media, and a series of experiences designed to help you explore these ideas more deeply.
Whether you're a writer, educator, interpreter, creative professional, or simply someone who wants to spend more time with the places and stories that matter, this summer is for you.
My hope is that by the end of the season you'll see places, stories, and experiences a little differently—and discover new possibilities within your own.
You might arrive with a question you've been wanting to explore.
You might have a story, project, or creative idea you've been meaning to spend time with.
Or you may simply feel drawn to pay closer attention to a place that matters to you.
Wherever you're starting from, you're welcome here.
Ways To Join In
Follow Along
Join the conversation through my newsletter and social posts throughout the summer as I share stories, observations, questions, and reflections about place, meaning, and story.
Get the newsletter →
July 7- August 26 • Online
In the Write PLACE | Weekly Summer Group Writing Sessions Online
Purchase a 6 session punch card & come when it works for you.
Start anytime after July 7. Card expires August 26th.
Tuesday Evening Sessions | 7:00 to 8:00 pm (ET)
July 7, 14, 21, 28, and August 4, 11, 18, 25
Wednesday Mid-Day Sessions 12:00 to 1:00 pm (ET)
July 8, 15, 22, 29 and August 5, 12, 19, 26
Buy a 6-session punch card →
JULY: The Sense of Place Deep Dive
July 16–17 • Online
A two-day immersive experience exploring how deeper relationships with place can become sources of stories, meaning, insight, and creative work. Experience an arc of practices to gain a deeper relationship with a meaningful place.
Learn More About the Deep Dive →
AUGUST: The Sense of Place Story Intensive
August 20 • Online
A full-day retreat for developing a story that matters to you. Bring a story, idea, memory, or experience and work with it through a series of sense of place practices designed to help you move from inspiration into form.
FAQ’s About the Summer of Stories
What is Summer of Stories about?
Summer of Stories is a series of invitations to explore the connections between place, story, meaning, and creativity.
Through experiences, reflections, and guided explorations, we'll examine how paying closer attention to the places and experiences that matter can lead to deeper understanding, richer stories, new ideas, and meaningful discoveries.
What is a sense of place?
In this approach, sense of place is not simply a location or setting. It is not only a feeling we have about a place.It is a meaning-making process that develops through the integration of knowledge, experience, reflection, and connection.
As we explore what we know about a place, what we have experienced there, and what it comes to mean to us, a deeper sense of place begins to take shape.
What is a sense of place story?
A sense of place story begins with a connection and grows from the memories, observations, experiences, and insights that emerge from our relationship with a place. It is more than a story about a place or what happened.
It is a story about what an experience came to mean.
These stories can become writing, interpretation, teaching, creative work, community storytelling, conversation, or personal reflection.
Do I need to be a writer?
Not at all. While writers often find this work valuable, Summer of Stories is for anyone interested in exploring place, memory, meaning, and story. You don't need a writing project to participate. You only need curiosity and a willingness to pay attention to what place connections can reveal.
Is this personal or professional?
Both. Some people come to this work through writing, interpretation, education, conservation, community engagement, or creative practice. Others come because they want a deeper relationship with the places and experiences that have shaped their lives.The approach works in both settings because it begins with the same source: meaningful relationships with place.
How do the June, July, and August experiences fit together?
The summer is designed as a progression of experiences, but you don’t need to attend the prior months to participate in an offer.
June: A different way of seeing.
July: A deeper way of knowing
August: A meaningful way of expressing.
You're welcome to come for any part of the journey—or simply follow along through the newsletter and seasonal invitations.