This course is now closed for bookings
Be inspired by nature and bring nature’s power to life on your page.
During this course you will be introduced to nature writing and learn some basic practices and techniques, allowing you to develop as a writer, as you take inspiration from nature and hone your craft. You will create your own pieces including poetry and share them with other learners. This course, brimming with practical tasks is equally suitable for budding naturalists and people who enjoy writing.
Level descriptors can be found on the following webpage: Eco-Skills Framework and Course Level Descriptors
This is a 4-week course covering 4 topics, for which you will complete a variety of online resources and activities. Each topic is then concluded with an interactive Zoom workshop to complement the content.
More details of dates and time commitments can be found below.
Aspiring nature writers are taken through a series of exciting workshops to hone their craft, sketching out the beauty of nature with the written word in the following topics:
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- Introduction to the Craft of Nature Writing
- Nature and Wildlife Writing
- People, Place and Landscape
- Nature Poetry
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
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- Understand the craft of nature writing, study some examples, and learn and practice different styles of writing.
- Identify the variety of environments and seasons and practice writing from the perspective of a specific species.
- Explore landscape importance, access, and relationships through a variety of creative writing tasks.
- Understand the different styles of poetry and practice their own work through various tasks, including creating a haiku.
- Share this knowledge with friends, family, and fellow volunteers.
This is a training course from the FSC Eco-Skills, including online course materials, expert tuition, and a flexible learning style. After attending this course, you may like to progress your learning about nature writing with further relevant FSC courses or branch out into other areas of environmental art. The FSC offers both online and in-person courses, so you can choose the learning style that suits you best.
Please note that bookings will close at 9 am on Wednesday 3rd November to allow for all participants to be enrolled to the online platform – booking will not be taken after this time.
Each individual needs to place their own order to ensure we can sign you up to the learning platform and give you access to resources.
If you are aged 18-25, you are eligible for a £50 discount thanks to the Generation Green project, click here to find out more.
Tutor: Emma McKenzie
Emma McKenzie is a writer and artist based in York, UK. Emma has a special interest in nature-based writing and has been running ecotherapy based courses over the last five years. She uses writing skills to connect people to the natural world for wellbeing purposes.
The webinars will take place on the following dates at 6:00 pm (BST):
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- Friday 12th November at 6:00 - 6:45 pm
- Friday 19th November at 6:00 - 6:45 pm
- Friday 26th November at 6:00 - 6:45 pm
- Friday 3rd December at 6:00 - 6:45 pm
Please note - webinars will be recorded and uploaded to the virtual learning platform for learners unable to attend.
Example Timetable
Week 1: Introduction to the Craft of Nature Writing
Self-study material: 05/11/2021
Week 1 Live Webinar: 12/11/2021 at 6:00 pm
Week 2: Nature and Wildlife Writing
Self-study material available: 12/11/2021
Week 2 Live Webinar: 19/11/2021 at 6:00 pm
Week 3: People, Place and Landscape
Self-study material available: 19/11/2021
Week 3 Live webinar: 26/11/2021 at 6:00 pm
Week 4: Nature Poetry
Self-study material available: 26/11/2021
Week 4 Live webinar: 03/12/2021 at 6:00 pm
The final deadline to complete any outstanding activities and self-study components is 17/12/2021.
Time commitment: This course will require approximately 2 - 3 hours of your time each week. This includes covering course materials on our Moodle learning platform and the zoom session
What's Included
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Expert Tuition
The course has been carefully created to help you constantly build on your knowledge as the course progresses. With content crafted to the online Moodle Platform and bespoke to the FSC.
The course includes:
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- 45-minute interactive weekly Zoom workshops to connect with the tutor and other participants.
- Expert tuition for which the FSC is renowned.
- Exercises to work on independently in advance of each Zoom workshop.
Once registered, you will follow well-illustrated, user-friendly ’books’ to pick up knowledge. Quizzes and skill-checks will give you instant feedback on your learning. Forums give students the chance to interact with each other as well as a place to share work. Unique to the FSC, there are also Mindful Moments: a chance to stop, step away from your screen and interact with nature and enjoy a personal moment.
You can rest assured that the absolute best content from an expert in environmental education will be at your fingertips. In choosing an FSC course, you will be joining thousands of people who learn with us each year.
Bursaries and Subsidies
If you are aged 18-25, you are eligible for a £50 discount thanks to the Generation Green project, click here to find out more.
Before You Attend
Once you sign up you’ll get an email 48 hours ahead of the online course opening with details of how to access our easy-to-use platform, Moodle.
Webinars are via zoom, so you won’t need any new software to attend.
Please note that bookings will close on Wednesday 3rd November at 9 am to allow for all participants to be enrolled to the online platform.
Sorry this course has ended