Summer Fishtrap 2008 - Evaluation Letter
July 29, 2008
Dear Summer 2008 Fishtrappers,
Thank you all for a great Summer Fishtrap and for your very helpful feedback! This year, we watched Fishtrap turn into a full-fledged adult with its 21st annual Summer Fishtrap Workshops and Gathering and our brand new director, Rick Bombaci. We had a wonderful time talking with many of you at meals, the lake, the pub, and in town about your lives, your families, your writing, and your thoughts on Fishtrap. So far, ninety-one of you have returned evaluation forms and more continue trickling in via snail mail and email. We love hearing from you; it helps us, the Fishtrap staff, to get a better perspective on what is working well and what can be improved for future years.
This year, participants resoundingly loved their workshop leaders and felt that they generated a comfortable, encouraging environment with constructive dialogues about writing. The workshop spaces were generally adequate; we’ll reserve the spaces you liked and get some roomier spaces for the ones that were too tight. We saw a few new undertakings at this Summer Fishtrap: the year-long novel writing workshop with Jane Vandenburgh kicked off well, and we’ll see several completed manuscripts next summer at Fishtrap. Also, the kid’s workshop was a big hit. One commented: “Great to have the kids around—keeps the grownups in check!” You loved the kids’ presence and were wowed by their readings. We plan to do another children’s workshop next year.
The bus was a new project this year, with Rich as driver and tour guide extraordinaire. Riders loved the bus and the side expeditions along the way. We did take a serious financial cut to have the bus available, however, and we’ll need a larger group next year to make it economically viable. One participant quoted Ken Kesey: “You’re either on the bus or off the bus.” Count on a Portland bus for Winter Fishtrap 2009.
Accommodations (food and lodging): overall, people loved the food and raved about the increased vegetarian, gluten-free, and wheat-free options. The salads, veggies, and the breakfast oatmeal were popular. We will try to increase alternative options to better fit specialized diets next year. Many thanks to the wonderful kitchen staff at Wallowa Lake Camp for the delicious meals. For those that stayed on site, there was little complaint about the cabins, yurts, and tenting spots. People especially loved the yurts: private bathrooms, beautiful design, a domed skylight to watch the stars, and the occasional deer residing below. Next year, we will offer private yurts, since many of you indicated a preference for privacy. Wallowa Lake Camp is currently building more yurts on site.
This year, we did manage to get extra tables and surge protectors for more writing spaces around camp. Please let us know if these work spaces are more satisfactory for peaceful writing and ruminating. We dropped the ball on providing enough office supplies, though. Next year, we’ll be sure to include staplers and the like around these stations.
Registration: the lottery process for Summer Fishtrap Workshops is under review. We’re hammering out the most open acceptance policy we can. We most sincerely apologize for the late refund checks, and next year we’ll be sure to improve our maps of lodgings, workshop cabins, and hiking trails.
The workshops went on famously. Almost everyone gave glowing reviews of the excellence, insight, and direction of the workshop leaders. One participant commented: “Anita is wonderfully intuitive, Peter hysterically funny, both brilliant and caring teachers. They were a great team.” Robin Cody said: “I forgot the difference between teaching and learning.” You also commented on the quality of your peers; they were inspiring and supportive during the workshops. The songwriting workshop and bookbinding class were great successes each. We will surely be offering a songwriting workshop and another book arts workshop with Roberta Lavadour (in a more appropriate space) next summer.
Many of you said that this year’s open mics were the best so far. We love having the open mics and we’ll try to add even more slots in the future. Also, we’ll figure out a fairer process for open mic sign-ups. Thank you all for respecting our four-minute time limit for the readings.
The Gathering was amazing. We heard longer readings by the faculty that blew our minds and inspired our pens. The discussions provided an opportunity to foster ideas and communication, and the clear weather allowed for some great hikes and swimming in Wallowa Lake. Marv and Rindy Ross packed the house for their Saturday night concert with a breathtaking show. Sunday morning brunch was complemented with a wonderful joint discussion led by Tom Spanbauer and Jane Vandenburgh, which left us inspired to write and sad to leave.
There were a few items you thought needed to be addressed. Many of you said that you preferred The Gathering to start on Friday instead of Thursday. We will re-consider the overlap, while still allowing for you out-of-towners to make it worth the distance. Also, we have received comments for years on the selection process of the Fellows. With an increasing number of applicants every year, we may revise the application process for future Fellows. More updates soon.
In all, people had a wonderful time during the workshops and The Gathering. We certainly did! And the bear even left his paw-print of approval.
Thank you Fishtrappers, you are all incredible.
Cheers,
Katrina and the rest of the Fishtrap staff
PARTICIPANT’S THOUGHTS ON SUMMER FISHTRAP 2008
“Peter Sears must be commended on his tireless accessibility and mentoring outside the workshop—always helping people with questions, work to show, etc. You see him at meals, before and after readings, he attends every event—it’s just amazing—always ready with advice, words of wisdom, and that wonderful humor. He is an absolute gem.”
“Marv Ross is a beautiful man and a great teacher. Very well organized and prepared, supportive, respectful, a recognizer of the ‘teachable moment.’”
“Luis is a gift. I wrote with a freedom that I’ve seldom experienced.”
“Luis has a wonderful ability to simultaneously control the direction of the group and let go…at once rigorous and liberating.”
“[Peter Chilson] is a gifted teacher and his collegiality (attending all open mics and sitting with students) was appreciated and applauded.”
“Overall, a very satisfactory Fishtrap. My writing improved; my relationships with co-participants solidified; my enjoyment of space, food, and setting simply amplified once more.”
“[Brenda was] enlightening, loving, compassionate, incredibly educational. Moved me along in my writing tremendously.”
“The bookbinding workshop was superb! Roberta was beautifully prepared and very gracious about working in a challenging work environment.”
“[Jane’s] workshop was very relaxing and put my mind at ease for the long road ahead.”
“Robin was a generous, spontaneous, and discerning listener.”
“Nowhere have I felt so welcome as at Fishtrap, nowhere have I ever done the amount of work, come away with the sheer number of poems, as I did this time. Paulann Petersen’s workshop was phenomenal. Out of her generosity and her skillful facilitation, I saw (in me and others) incredible writing transformations, huge leaps in the quality of writing that could otherwise take years to achieve. I felt freed and encouraged to write as much as I wanted and in whatever shape I wanted.”