In the fall of 2024, Kate Felton had an idea: What if poetry and the natural world converged?
As the owner of Eau Claire Outdoors, Kate has long had an interest in encouraging people of the Chippewa Valley to enjoy the outdoors. But she realized, too, that “enjoying the outdoors” was hardly limited to the traditional “outdoorsy” activities. In addition to paddling, biking, climbing and camping, why not add a little poetry into the mix?
“I'm not a very religious person, but I feel most connected to my spirituality when I'm in nature,” Kate says. “Nature is art, in my eyes. So how natural I thought it was to bring art to nature and vice versa.”
She contacted Guild member and poet Elan Mccalum, and together, the pair hosted the first Poetry Hike at the Town of Union Conservancy on September 28. Poets Max Garland, Amy Fleury, and Elan took their positions in the woods and read to the dozens of poetry and nature lovers in attendance.
“I started Eau Claire Outdoors to help people explore the edges of their comfort zones, to try new things, to engage with nature more deeply than they ever have,” Kate explains. And poetry seemed the perfect fit to accomplish all of these goals.
“ “And there were so many people who came! And on top of that, the weather was absolutely gorgeous for late September. It was a spectacular hike.””
“And there were so many people who came!” Elan says. “And on top of that, the weather was absolutely gorgeous for late September. It was a spectacular hike.”
In addition to trying out a new form of literary event in a new space, Elan and Kate were committed to another experiment, too: goodwill donations to pay the poets.
“I read an article years ago in the Leader-Telegram that seemed to shore up this idea that creatives can't help themselves with creating the art that nourishes and sustains our communities, so they'll do it even if making a living is hard. Which is true in a lot of ways and instances,” Elan says. “But what I feel was the limitation of that article was that creatives--writers, poets, musicians, artists--should be able to make the art that nourishes and sustains our communities and make a living. I wanted to ensure that whoever agreed to read would be given something to respect their time and craft, and that asking our community to help provide some of that money would bring a greater consciousness of, "Oh, yeah, it makes sense that the poets should get paid.”
And then came the twist: not only did the attendees give generously (over $300), but the poets declined payment and donated the money to the Guild.
“It's an amazing feeling to belong to a community that not only supports the arts,” Elan says, “but to belong to a creative community that supports other creatives.”
The proceeds from the Poetry Hike will provide one all-expenses-paid scholarship for the next three 12-Hour Retreats.
The next Poetry Hike will take place on May 18 at 6PM at the Town of Union Conservancy and feature poets Elan Mccallum, José Alvergue, David Greschner and Jessi Peterson. Free will donations for this event can be made online or day-of and will divided among the readers. Register here!