River Writing Adventures

River Writing and Sculpting Journeys for Women

Create Yourself Anew!!

The river has taken hold of me as I watch it move through still canyons. In the sound of the waters, I hear the river saying: Live life, while you can, don't hold back…

It is my desire to help make these river journeys fulfilling and life-changing events. We will be co-creators in this journey, each bringing unique gifts and perspectives to the group. Beginning such a journey requires faith-in ourselves, each other, and the river.

We will be not only sojourners of the river, but explorers of our own inner landscapes, in both playful and poignant ways. I'll be sharing the symbolic stories and moments of synchronicity that have helped me to uncover the beauty and mystery in my own life, and helping you to explore these moments in your lives. Together, we will explore the heart of creativity, the heart of the canyons, and perhaps even the heart of our own desires.

(Feel free to contact Page at page@pagelambert.com or (303) 842-7360, with questions on either of these trips, or if you would like to receive a complete trip itinerary. These trips book quickly thanks to the wonderful endorsement by O magazine.)

Rafting the Colorado or Canoeing the Green - Two Great Trips this Year!

September 3-7, 2008 (orientation and no-host dinner Tuesday, September 2nd)

5-DAY WESTWATER CANYON RAFTING TRIP

Enjoy 5 days/ 4 nights on the famous Colorado River through a canyon deemed a favorite of National Geographic.

Featuring Special Santa Clara Pueblo Guest Artists Roxanne Swentzell and Rose Simpson ! !

This special trip will explore writing and sculpting as complementary forms of creative expression. Whether journaling or writing professionally, an established artist or just beginning, the natural world unleashes powerful creative energy. Page, Roxanne, and Rose will help the women explore the realm of writing and sculpting, using river clay and materials gathered from the landscape. Because the women who participate in these trips have diversified backgrounds, each brings unique gifts to the group. Some are experienced writers and artists, many are not. Some have rafted before, many have not. But all share the desire for a creative adventure in the wilderness with other women. We've purposely selected this later trip date in order to synchronize the slower pace of the creative journey with the river's more relaxed rhythm.

Women rediscover an important part of themselves in the natural world. We move and inspire each other in uniquely feminine ways.

Where? Warm and sunny southern Utah. This scenic 5-day, 4-night rafting trip through Westwater Canyon on the majestic Colorado River begins and ends in Moab, Utah. Isolated from modern civilization, the red cliff walls tower 2000 feet overhead, touching that flawless Western blue sky. Here the famous Colorado River flows freely, undammed and untamed.

Outfitter: The trip is led by the West's premier outfitter Sheri Griffith Expeditions out of Moab, Utah. All the comforts are included and the Sheri Griffith Expeditions women guides are some of the best in the world: fun, talented, professional and inspiring.

When? Orientation and no-host dinner with Page, Roxanne, and Rose, Tuesday, September 2. On the river Wednesday, September 3-7, 2008.

Who? Joining Page this year are two special guests: esteemed Santa Clara Pueblo sculptor Roxanne Swentzell and her daughter - artist, writer and singer Rose Simpson. Roxanne's sculptures demonstrate an astounding universality, speaking to people of all cultures. Already nationally acclaimed, she is quickly gaining world-wide recognition. Her daughter, award-winning Rose Simpson (a recent graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe), is a rising star in the literary, visual, and performing arts world.

To learn more about both Roxanne and Rose, go to: www.roxanneswentzell.net, www.swentzell.com, and www.rosebsimpson.com. To view the American Indian College Fund video "Hope on the Rez" featuring Rose, go to: www.collegefund.org.

Cost: $1,299.00. Trip includes SGE's professional (not to mention "awesome") women guides, sleeping tents, cushy Paco pads, and sleeping bags, all meals on the river (with abundant fresh foods, snacks, cold beverages, and Dutch-oven desserts), and guided hikes. Page will provide water resistant journals and pouches. Under Roxanne's and Rose's guidance, we'll gather our sculpting materials from the gifts brought to us by the river and canyon!

"Any workshop or retreat with Page is an amazing experience. Her river trips and retreats are life-changing, combining much laughter and perhaps a few tears as you plumb your depths to write things you never thought you could. She brings out the best in you, and teaches you not only how-to, but can-do. I highly recommend Page's retreats." - Phyllis Dugan, past president of Wyoming Writers

HOW DO WE SPEND OUR DAYS? Campsites on beautiful beaches along the riverbank are remote so we carry with us all the comforts we'll need for our stay in the natural world. Every camp is pristine with only a few footprints of birds, animals or other travelers who pass this way. The first three days are spent floating on calm water, giving us time to explore the creative world of writing and working with clay. Free-flowing writing facilitation is relaxed but instructive, with time to write as the rafts float between canyon walls. Beginning with breakfast, seminar material is also presented at the river's edge and continues throughout the day, ending with readings under the stars. Spontaneous discussions on fiction, creative nonfiction, memoir, poetry, and sculpting will unfold as questions bubble to the surface.

No previous writing, sculpting, or rafting experience required.

We are planning a "lay-over" camp where we will stay in the same place for two nights. We'll stop and hike to scenic lookouts and through secret canyons. As we approach the rapids, we'll be ready and eager for some whitewater adventure. Writing facilitation will unfold as we write and sculpt our way down the river, using river clay and nature's raw sculpting materials to form our unique, individual works of art. This will be a creative adventure! Rose is a beautiful singer too, so we might even sing our way down the river!

"The River Canyon touched my hidden spirit. It awakened my inner being, my joy for life…" - LeAnn Sharp, Texas

For more trip details: Phone Sheri Griffith Expeditions (800) 332-2439, or go to http://www.griffithexp.com/trips/women-only-colorado-river-6days.htm, or email page@pagelambert.com. Or phone Page at (303) 842-7360.

Download PDF "Create Yourself Anew" flyer
Download PDF "2008 SGE River Trip Itinerary"

"We experienced awe, love, amazement, thankfulness, laughter (in abundance), personal growth that exceeded anything I could have imagined. We literally and figuratively climbed mountains, swam rivers, conquered fears, wrote our hearts out." - Pat Branch, British Columbia

September 24-28, 2008

Back by popular demand!

5-DAY "WRITING FROM THE RIVER'S EDGE" CANOE TRIP (in partnership with The Women's Wilderness Institute)

Where? Beautiful Labyrinth Canyon on the Green River in Utah. This 5-day, 4-night canoe trip, outfitted by The Women's Wilderness Institute, begins and ends in Grand Junction, Colorado. This 5-day canoe trip is a gentle, no-whitewater trip.

When? September 24-28, 2008 (orientation Tuesday evening, 9/23)

Cost: $850.00. This course includes an introduction to canoe travel, water safety and basic camping techniques. All levels of writing experience welcome, and no previous canoeing or outdoor experience required. Retreat includes equipment, wonderful meals, writing facilitation, and private one-on-one sessions about your writing with Page.

Who? Since 1998, The Women's Wilderness Institute has offered wilderness experiences for women and teen girls in the Rocky Mountains and deserts of the southwest. Page has been facilitating river writing journeys in the West since 1997.

How do we spend our Days? Drawing inspiration from the dramatic Labyrinth Canyon of Utah's Green River, Page will weave creative writing instruction (fiction, nonfiction, and poetry) into the free-flowing nature of each day as we journey down the river together. Each day will include time to journal, share, and have meaningful dialogue about the craft of writing, the nature of the artist, and nature as inspiration. Page will provide water resistant journals and pouches for safe keeping, workshop handouts, river readings, and more!

For Questions about Canoeing: The Women's Wilderness Institute, (303) 938-9191, www.womenswilderness.org. or email Heather at heather@womenswilderness.org. More trip information: http://www.womenswilderness.org/womens_programs/creative_courses.html.