The new year is upon us, and for many, it couldn’t come soon enough. 2020 was a challenging to say the least. The Coronavirus pandemic brought fear, isolation and uncertainty to our lives in ways we couldn’t have imagined, and contentious civil and political events have further strained the fabric of our society. We are all feeling a bit exhausted and shaken by the year we’ve just experienced. However, 2020 also saw historic visitation to America’s public lands. From coast to coast, in parks and forests across our country, Americans found escape, solace and respite from the difficult realities this year brought.
In many cultures, winter is a time for reflection, introspection and storytelling. Even though many of us are still missing the people and places we might normally enjoy this time of year, there is still so much to reflect on and be grateful for, especially our public lands! That’s why your friends at Montana Discovery Foundation and the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest are inviting you to participate in our Winter Writing Contest! This year we are asking people to reflect on how their relationship with public lands have made a positive impact on their lives during this challenging time.
How to Enter:
Prompt: How have public lands provided meaning, inspiration or hope in difficult times?
Instructions: Tell us a story from the past year about how your life has been positively impacted by time spent on public lands or how the experiences of the past year have given you a new appreciation for these special places. We are looking for reflective, creative stories with local connections to Montana public lands. It should be no longer than 500 words and in whatever narrative style you are most comfortable expressing yourself. Please include your name, where you live, what category you are entering, and a picture (photo or artwork) that relates to your story. If you are entering in the Youth category, you MUST also include the name, email and phone number for a parent or legal guardian for consideration. When you have finished your masterpiece, submit* your final draft to MontanaDiscoveryFoundation@gmail.com under the subject header “Winter Writing Contest” before the submission deadline.
*By submitting, you are giving the HLC and Montana Discovery Foundation permission to promote, share, and reference your story publicly and in various media (print publications, online, social media etc.).
Deadline: Monday, March 22 at 5:00 p.m. MST
Categories: We will judge winners in 2 Categories:
Youth: Under 18
Adult: 18 and Up
Awards: Winners will be announced Friday April 2. Winning entries will receive a weekend getaway stay at the Cummings Cabin near Lincoln, MT in July sponsored by the Montana Discovery Foundation. Winners are responsible for their own transportation, food, equipment/supplies, etc. while staying at the cabin Youth winners must be accompanied by their parent(s) or guardian(s) in order to stay at the cabin. Selected entries will also be featured on Montana Discovery Foundation’s website.
We can’t wait to see all the creativity our public lands have inspired.
Happy New Year, and happy writing!