Fieldwork
Institute participants will explore sites in Northern California that will illuminate the intersections between literature, environmental challenges, and the lived realities of climate change.
San Francisco’s Presidio
“The Presidio is a national park site in San Francisco. Here you’ll find everything you’d expect from a national park, and many surprises!” Play and explore in the Presidio after your immersive experience at The San Francisco Wave Organ. Take a photo with the Golden Gate Bridge beckoning in the distance and visit the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center to learn more about the history of this iconic bridge. Then, explore the beach, Torpedo Warf at Crissy Field, bird watch, and experience visitor exhibits and outdoor art installations. Take a hike on the Batteries to Bluffs trail (pictured) or enjoy a picnic before returning to Sonoma State.
The San Francisco Wave Organ
Experience Art from the Ashes, an immersive performance amongst the ruins at the end of a jetty. “The Wave Organ is a wave-activated acoustic sculpture located on a jetty in the San Francisco Bay… The installation includes 25 organ pipes made of PVC and concrete located at various elevations within the site, allowing for the rise and fall of the tides. Sound is created by the impact of waves against the pipe ends and the subsequent movement of the water in and out of the pipes.” Read more on the Wave Organ.
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
Step into the world of Parable by journeying into the dark peace of the towering redwoods, where the protagonist passes after skirting the Bay Area. Our learning begins with eco-futurisms and a Literacy Unbound experience among the lush ferns. “The serene, majestic beauty of this Grove is a living reminder of the magnificent primeval redwood forest that covered much of this area before logging operations began during the 19th century. Armstrong Redwoods preserves stately and magnificent Sequoia sempervirens, commonly known as the coast redwood.” Read more on Armstrong Woods.
Goat Rock Beach
Stopover at Goat Rock Beach, at the mouth of the Russian River, which is known for its dramatic coastal views and the iconic Goat Rock formation. The beach is home to harbor seals and a variety of bird species, offering opportunities to connect with the natural world. Its rugged beauty and dynamic landscape make it a meaningful site for reflection and exploration. What better place than the edge of the continent to imagine possible futures?
Read more on Goat Rock Beach.
Guerneville (Stump Town) and Russian River
Lunch in Guerneville, an inclusive and charming town on the Russian River. You would never know by the tree-covered mountains surrounding Guerneville that it was once dubbed “Stumptown”: “Guerneville is built adjacent to the Russian River. Redwoods grew in the riverbed with such vigor that just a few centuries ago, the valley had the greatest biomass density on the planet, according to local lore… Except for a large stand of ancient trees preserved in the Fife Creek watershed, now the centerpiece of Armstrong Woods Park, many of the trees were logged in the late 19th century and the early 20th century, giving rise to the first English name for the place – "Stumptown." Read more on Guerneville.
Sonoma Developmental Center
Our time together culminates at The Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC), a nationally recognized institution in the heart of Sonoma Valley. This now-abandoned site will be part of a writing marathon related to post-apocalyptic storytelling and world-building with the literary faculty. The SDC is the perfect place to begin a more hopeful future story from seeds planted from the ruins of dystopian literature. The SDC has a complex and storied history. Spanning 945 acres, it includes a large historic campus, agricultural lands, and vast ecological and open space resources. For over 120 years, the SDC provided services to persons with developmental disabilities. Read more on the Sonoma Developmental Center.
Solar Punk Farms
But before you leave us, you’ll visit Solar Punk Farms, a living manifesto for alternative futures! Solar Punk Farms is a regenerative farm and land stewardship project nestled in the Redwoods, dedicated to restoring a once-degraded plot of land. With a food forest in progress, a native wildflower meadow taking shape, and 7 acres of stunning redwood forest, we offer diverse environments to explore and interact with.
Read more on Solar Punk Farms.