Environmental Writing

The Environmental Writing focus offers students the opportunity to develop their writing skills and interests in ways that promote and demonstrate environmental concerns, awareness, and sensitivities. The culminating project for the Writing focus can be a thesis, professional paper, or portfolio. The diversity of thesis project possibilities (see Thesis/Portfolio Summary tab at top of page) mirrors, on a Program scale, the great range in what is often called Nature Writing, Environmental Writing, or the Writing of Place in the wider culture.

Students are encouraged to conceive of their Writing focus thesis project as either a book in progress, a prototype for a book, a series of related non-fiction creative works with individual publication possibilities, and/or a thorough book proposal, including sample chapters or excerpts.  Environmental Writing thesis work should be original, compelling, and impassioned; grounded in knowledge of the tradition and field; informed and critical as to the issues it raises; and written to publication standards.

Environmental Writing Institute

The Environmental Writing Institute (EWI) is a workshop led by a nationally known environmental writer each fall and attended by a combination of second-year Environmental Studies student writers with other writers, teachers, and students from around the country. Prospective graduate students are encouraged to apply to EWI to learn more about the Program and western Montana. Previous EWI instructors have included David James Duncan, Richard Manning, Rick Bass, Elizabeth Grossman, Alison Hawthorne Deming, Sharman Apt Russell, Janisse Ray, Kim Todd, Phil Condon, John Elder, Robert Michael Pyle, and many others.

Camas: The Nature of the West, Environmental Literary Magazine

Founded by Environmental Studies graduate students at the University of Montana in 1992, Camas is a biannual environmental literary magazine produced by students in the Environmental Studies program. Two editors are chosen each year to publish two issues of the magazine in an effort to encourage a dialogue on environmental and cultural issues in the West; celebrate the people who work, study, write, and live here; and provide an opportunity for students and emerging writers to publish their work alongside established environmental authors.

Wild Mercy Reading Series

This reading series features nature and environmental writing by environmental studies graduate students, Environmental Studies Visiting Writers, and alumni. The series runs every Thursday evening for two months in the spring, and features two writers each evening. 

Prairie Songs

This community reading event held in downtown Missoula is coordinated by Camas editors and features prominent area writers, along with live music. Past readers include David James Duncan, Janisse Ray, Tami Haaland, Sheryl Noethe, Annick Smith, Phil Condon, Josh Slotnick, Bryce Andrews, Amy Ratto Parks, and Melissa Mylchreest.