h/t to Science Media Centre of Canada’s September 2, 2025 science notice for this notice about an exciting immersive writing programme. It’s pricey but you may find it worthwhile. Here’s a video (embedded on spiritbear.com) featuring a clip from the Great Bear Rainforest IMAX Film courtesy of Spirit Bear Lodge and filmmaker Ian McAllister,

The programme for writers in the Great Bear Rainforest was developed by Lesley Evans Ogden, Canadian science journalist. From her eponymous website, Note: I have reorganized the order of the information on the website,

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Is this workshop for me?

This is an experience designed for: 

·       new or established writers interested in publishing science and nature writing in magazines, newspapers, blogs or a book

·       museum staff wanting to improve science communication

·       professors wanting to improve public engagement

·       travel writers looking to expand potential markets into eco and nature writing

·       hobbyists writing for the pure joy of writing

Whether you’re a hobbyist, aspiring writer, journalist, travel writer, museum curator, public information officer, blogger or scientist, you will find your days at comfortable and welcoming Great Bear Lodge thought-provoking, enlightening and inspirational. Participants will deepen their connection to nature while exploring how to share that connection with others through narrative non-fiction writing.

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Your coach [emphasis mine] in this spectacular wild environment will be internationally acclaimed science journalist, author and workshop leader Lesley Evans Ogden [emphasis mine]. Lesley’s nature writing, photography and documentary work have been published and broadcast by top outlets for science and nature communication, including the New York Times, CBC, BBC, Scientific American, New Scientist, Science, National Geographic, The Atlantic, Smithsonian, Nature, and many others.

An award-winning writer and teacher, Lesley has previously led and spoken at highly regarded workshops for universities, colleges and organizations including the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Mount Allison University, the National Association of Science Writers (US), COMPASS, and the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada.

Your writing opportunities will be drawn from fresh field observations and individual passion projects. Nature Writing in the Great Bear Rain Forest will be a unique opportunity to learn from small group and individualized coaching and mentorship.

We will spend time daily in remote and beautiful Smith Inlet, using observations made in this exceptional natural environment to generate new writing. Each day at the lodge will include morning and evening wildlife tours by boat, accompanied by afternoon and evening writing sessions for coaching, focused instruction and feedback..

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What’s included in your 4-day workshop experience

• Daily morning and evening wildlife tours with wildlife guides and writing coach
• Small group sessions that include reading and supportive feedback for works in progress
• Independent writing time
• Group and instructor feedback on written work in progress
• Two hours of in-person individualized writing coaching from Lesley
• Final reading by participants to each other and lodge staff
• Session on pitching and publishing
• One hour of post-workshop online mentoring with Lesley

This unique experience is an ecotour and writing workshop rolled into one, designed to be flexible to a range of participant needs and levels of experience.

At the end of this short course, you will come away with new skills and a new network — a supportive team of fellow nature writers.

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Dates:  May 31 – June 4, 2026

Level:  All Levels

Cost: $5000 CDN per participant

What does the cost include?

• Two boat-based nature viewing sessions per day, including possible sightings of grizzly bears, bald eagles, seals, and whales, accompanied by lodge wildlife guides and Lesley.
• Accommodation for 3 nights in a private room at the Great Bear Lodge with ensuite shower
• Wilderness-gourmet meals including wine, beer and a selection of beverages
• Interpretive discussion and welcome orientation for wildlife viewing
• Daily group and individually-tailored nature writing instruction in the field and at the lodge to work fresh nature observations into polished prose
• Individually tailored coaching and feedback
• Pitching and publishing skills
• Post-workshop mentorship and networking
• Return seaplane flight from Port Hardy to Great Bear Lodge
• Binoculars, rain gear and rubber boots, if required
• Final night at the Kwa’lilas Hotel in Port Hardy (group dinner at participant expense)
• Workshop tuition, including one hour follow up mentorship session online after completion

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Preliminary Schedule

Day 1: Arrival by wilderness float plane late afternoon (departure from Port Hardy scheduled for 3pm), settle in, evening field trip, dinner, drinks and introductory session

Day 2: Yoga/aerobics on the dock (optional), breakfast, morning boat expedition, lunch, group writing instruction, individual writing time, dinner, evening safari, group readings of work in progress with drinks & dessert

Day 3: Yoga/aerobics on the dock (optional), breakfast, morning boat expedition, lunch, group writing instruction, individual writing time, one-on-one coaching sessions with Lesley, dinner and readings, evening expedition, individual writing time.

Day 4: Breakfast, morning expedition, pitching and publishing session, lunch, readings, wrap up, departure by float plane, dinner and wrap up at Kwa’lilas Hotel in Port Hardy.

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Availability:

9 SPACES AVAILABLE

(Maximum group size 9)

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Sign up

Questions?

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This seems to be a ‘first come, first served’ situation rather than a competitive one. One last comment, May 31 – June 4, 2025 is a five day* period. You may want to check Ogden’s eponymous website to find whatever I missed.

*ETA September 3, 2025 at 4:15 pm PT: Lesley Ogden Evans very kindly confirmed that day 5 is a travel day.