Jan Wellik

The mission of my Wild Gift Project, a literary arts program called Eco Expressions, is to provide outdoor exploration and nature writing for youth in the United States. Eco Expressions cultivates self-discovery and outdoor appreciation to illustrate the healing powers of writing and nature.

Since its 2004 founding in San Diego, California, Eco Expressions has directly impacted nearly 500 youth, and indirectly impacted thousands through the training of educators. Eco Expressions served an average of 150 youth per year in San Diego, from 2004-2008; and served 3 schools in Blaine County, Idaho in 2006-2007.

I continue to train educators around the U.S. to implement nature writing activities with their K-12 Science and English classrooms. The writing activities I created were developed into a curriculum book - Nature Writing Field Guide for Teachers, published in 2007.

Hundreds of K-12 teachers, environmental educators, and therapists from Oregon, New Mexico, Colorado, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and California have incorporated the Eco Expressions curriculum into their programs. I am a presenter at national education conferences each year, including the North American Association for Environmental Education, National Science Teacher Association, Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education and National Poetry Therapy Association.

Currently, I am teaching Environmental Studies and Environmental Writing at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and English courses focused on Environmental Literature at Viterbo University. I am a doctoral student at Hamline University, and as part of my EdD dissertation will study environmental education evaluation.

My goal is to establish an environmental writing institute and retreat center that offers nature writing, environmental journalism and writing residences.