Introducing: Beyond Sea Level Education!

It's been some time since we added to these pages, and Beyond Sea Level blog has gotten dusty from disuse.  That is about to change as we begin a spring-cleaning frenzy which will revive our writing efforts.  Meantime, we've kept busy with a variety of teaching endeavors while also continuing to plan additional outreach efforts. 

In fact, with great pleasure, we introduce Beyond Sea Level Education!

Please check out the opportunity to join us for our first discussion group on leadership and problem-solving.  Everyone is welcome and there is no charge. You can read about it on the BSL Education Blog above.

Sincerely,
Callae & Dale

Ochre Star

Impressed by its tenacity, I watched as murky waves lapped repeatedly up and over its rough orange skin.  Imagining it to be the brightly-colored, yet impassive female, next to the striking purple male, I wondered if it smelled the salty, sun baked rot of seaweed permeating my nostrils.  Did its belly gurgle as mine did now - gastric juices flowing in anticipation of shellfish for dinner?  Would its arms mimic my greedy, butter soaked fingers as they pried open fresh crustaceans full of tangy nectar?  Would it gorge itself, as I regularly do, then sit back and allow the day to wash over it, with indifference?  -DT

BSL's Summer Writing Workshops!

The Education Arm of Beyond Sea Level is kicking it up a notch this summer in Washington State's South Puget Sound with an awesome writer's workshop geared toward high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates.

We'll be meeting at the beautiful Tacoma Nature Center, and you can bet some of our writing inspiration will come from exploring outdoors!  Check out the Tacoma Nature Center website for pictures of this cool facility and its diverse hiking trails.  (Note, our writing workshops are not associated with the Nature Center's existing programming).

These four writing workshops will cover the topics of narrative, description, dialogue, and the value of abstract language.  Sessions build on one another, but will also stand alone so particpants can attend as many as they want.

During these sessions students will hone their writing skills as they exercise their creative writing muscles, venture outside for inspiration, and get feedback from an experienced writer as well as other emerging writers.  High school juniors and seniors will learn skills to help craft their college application essays.  Recent graduates will get a head start on a commonly assigned first-year college composition essay – the personal narrative. Some participants may even be inspired to work on that short story or novel they’ve been thinking about!  

We're excited to get started and look forward to meeting our summer writers!

Are you a high school junior, senior, or recent graduate who is interested in attending one or more of these workshops?  Contact education@beyondsealevel.com to for more information and to register.  

New Year, New Adventures

We've just returned from a backpacking trip to Shi Shi Beach in Olympic National Park with my nephews where we came upon a very young sea otter pup. It seemed a fitting way to bring in the new year. Most otter pups don't survive their first winter, much less their first year. Face-to-face with the constant struggle to survive we were reminded of how well off we are - friends, family, all of the basic necessities, and a few luxuries as well. Hope for 2011 filled the air. Setbacks would occur. Triumphs would be lost in the bustle of modern life. But poignant reminders of who we are, what we value, and why we surround ourselves with people like you will be ever-present..if only we take the time to look.

Best wishes to you and yours this New Year. May it be filled with hope, joy, and magical moments of unanticipated wonder.

Sea Otter pup at Shi Shi Beach crying for mom.

Updates and News Flashes

Despite not actively blogging lately, Beyond Sea Level (BSL) has been quietly active. It's about time we bring that energy back to the blog! We'll begin with some updates and news flashes.

Updates:
Dale has fully recovered from January's week-long stay in the hospital following an emergency appendectomy. All that remains of the ordeal is a 3-inch scar across his lower abdomen, and the distasteful memory of an unfortunate experience with lime-green hospital jello.

We have settled in the Seattle area, and are excited for Beyond Sea Level to grow from sea level itself.

Speaking of growing...

BSL in the Press!
Check our our recent cover article in OutThere Monthly (OTM)!

Based out of Spokane, WA, OTM is a fun, high-energy, information-rich publication highlighting recreational opportunities in the Inland Northwest. Our article offers three weekend, or week-long backpacking experiences along the PNT.

Download a PDF version of OTM's current issue to read "Hiking and Camping on the Pacific Northwest Trail". Even better, if you live in the Inland Northwest, pick up a hard copy and support OTM!



BSL at REI!
If you're local to the Puget Sound area, join us for a presentation of our Pacific Northwest Trail experience at the REI Seattle Flagship store! We'll be presenting a talk entitled, "Gaining Perspective Along the Pacific Northwest Trail" on Thursday, May 27th at 7pm. Click the link above to get a description of the talk.

Things are moving forward in exciting and refreshing ways here at BSL. We're eager to share with you more of our perspectives from Beyond Sea Level. Keep checking back!

Callae and Dale