September 27, 2001
MUSEUM OFFERS WRITING INTERNSHIPS 

The Cable Natural History Museum is seeking applicants for a year-long writing internship program. The program, called New Voices for Nature, provides paid internships for up to 12 citizens to develop and practice journalism and creative nonfiction writing skills in the subject areas of natural history and the environment. Applications are due by November 16, 2001.

The internship program will begin in January 2002. Interns will meet as a group up to twice each month to discuss issues, practice writing skills, critique one another’s written work, and seek publication for their writing. Interns will be paid a stipend of $1500. The program also will bring a series of regionally and nationally known writers to northwest Wisconsin to work with interns, give public readings at area libraries, and participate in broadcast interview programs.

New Voices for Nature will be coordinated by Cable Natural History Museum Assistant Director Laurence Wiland. He has 15 years' teaching and writing experience, and has worked as a high school and college instructor, a free-lance writer, and a newspaper and magazine journalist.

"The trend toward consolidated ownership of popular media outlets has meant that fewer new voices are reaching the public," Wiland said. "This program is designed to help new writers develop the knowledge and skills needed to contribute their ideas and concerns about the natural world to a more diverse public dialogue about these topics.

"When people think of environmental stewardship, they might first think of activities like habitat restoration or resource conservation," he said. "However, written and spoken words also provide powerful tools through which environmental stewardship can be practiced."

The internship program is funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the federal agency that lends support to the nation’s museums and libraries. The Cable Natural History Museum was among 15 museums and libraries around the nation recently awarded a total of more than $3.6 million for projects that will help libraries and museums work together to enhance their service to the public and help strengthen communities.

New Voices for Nature is a collaborative effort involving the Museum, the Drummond Public Library, Forest Lodge Library, Hayward Carnegie Library, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College Library and WOJB-FM.

Professional writing experience is not required of applicants, but a commitment to learning and writing is essential. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have access to dependable transportation. To apply or learn more about the program, contact Laurence Wiland at (715) 798-3890 or e-mail lwiland@cablemuseum.org.