Tuesday–Friday, evening events take place at
Wallowa Lake Lodge and are open to the public FREE of charge.
Tickets for Saturday night’s Keynote by Ellen Waterston finale
are $15/person ($12.50 for Fishtrappers. Virtual option available.)
Download the Summer Fishtrap Program.
Volunteer at Summer Fishtrap!
Monday, June 22
4:00-6:00pm – Early Check-in and Welcome Reception
Check in and meet your fellow Summer Fishtrap writers before your workshops begin.
Tuesday, June 23
7:00–9:00am – Breakfast
7:30am – Check-in opens in the Lodge lobby
9:00am–12:00pm – Morning Writing Workshops * Meet your instructor at Wallowa Lake Lodge
12:00–2:00pm – Lunch
1:30pm – Panel Discussion – Written in Land: Our American Story + Place: Karen Auvinen, Laura Pritchett, and Ana Maria Spagna discuss how writing has helped them connect to a shared story of land.
3:00–4:00pm – Time to write and explore the Wallowas
4:00–5:00pm – Open Mic Readings
5:00–7:00pm – Social Hour and Dinner
7:30pm – Summer Fishtrap Opening Night: Fishtrap Program Director Mike Midlo officially welcomes you to Summer Fishtrap as he hosts this opening night event, featuring an opening address from Executive Director Shannon McNerney, and a featured reading from faculty member Ellen Waterston. Author signing to follow in the Lodge lobby.
7:30pm – Opening Night: Welcome by Mike Midlo, Shannon McNerney, reading by Ellen Waterston
Followed by author book signing
Wednesday, June 24
7:00am – Greet the Day with Craig Childs
Join Craig at Wallowa Lake Marina to witness the sun crest over the east moraine.
7:00–9:00am – Breakfast
9:00am–12:00pm – Morning Writing Workshops
12:00–2:00pm – Lunch Break
1:30pm – Craft Talk with Tim Z. Hernandez
In theme with “Our American Story,” Tim Hernandez offers a special preview of his upcoming documentary All They Will Call You, based on his books, All They Will Call You and They Call You Back. Following the screening, Tim will give a short talk on creating the documentary and the challenges of going from book to film. Q&A to follow.
3:00–4:00pm – Tree Walk with Dr. David Mildrexler
Discover the important function the old trees surrounding Wallowa Lake play in the environment with David Mildrexler, Systems Ecologist with Eastern Oregon Legacy Lands and Wallowology Natural History Science Center. This walk takes place on the back lawn of Wallowa Lake Lodge. Wear comfortable shoes, sun protection, and bring water.
4:00–5:00pm – Open Mic Readings
5:00–7:00pm – Social Hour and Dinner
7:30pm – Faculty Readings: Tim Z. Hernandez, Laura Pritchett, and Ana Maria Spagna.
Author signing to follow in the Lodge lobby.
7:30pm – Faculty Readings: Tim Z. Hernandez, Laura Pritchett, and Ana Maria Spagna
Followed by author book signing.
Thursday, June 25
7:00am – Bird walk with Chip Blake
Meet at Wallowa Lake Lodge. This walk takes place on paths in Wallowa Lake State Park (may include sections of uneven ground). Wear sturdy shoes and bring your binoculars.
7:00–9:00am – Breakfast
9:00am–12:00pm – Morning Writing Workshops
12:00–2:00pm – Lunch Break
1:30pm – 2025–26 Yearlong Writers Workshop Readings
Hear and celebrate some of the work Karen Auvinen’s 2025-26 Yearlong cohort created over the past year.
3:00–4:00pm – Time time to write and explore the Wallowas
4:00–5:00pm – Open Mic Readings
5:00–7:00pm – Social Hour and Dinner
7:30pm – Faculty Readings: Chip Blake, Beth Piatote, and Kim Stafford
Author signing to follow in the Lodge lobby.
7:30pm – Faculty Readings: Chip Blake, Beth Piatote, and Kim Stafford
Followed by author book signing
Friday, June 26
7:00am – Greet the Day with Craig Childs
Join Craig at Wallowa Lake Marina to witness the sun crest over the east moraine.
7:00–9:00am – Breakfast
9:00am–12:00pm – Morning Writing Workshops
12:00–2:00pm – Lunch Break
1:30pm – Panel Discussion: Our American Story
Moderated by Shannon McNerney, with Tim Z. Hernandez, Beth Piatote, Ana Maria Spagna, and Kim Stafford. Q&A to follow.
3:00–4:00pm – Time to write and explore the Wallowas
4:00–5:00pm – Open Mic Readings
5:00–7:00pm – Social Hour and Dinner
7:30pm – Faculty Readings: Karen Auvinen, Perrin Kerns, and Craig Childs
Author signing to follow in the Lodge lobby.
7:30pm – Faculty Readings: Karen Auvinen, Perrin Kerns, and Craig Childs
Followed by author book signing.
Saturday, June 27
7:00am – Greet the Day with Craig Childs
Join Craig at Wallowa Lake Marina to witness the sun crest over the east moraine.
7:00–9:00am – Breakfast
9:00am–12:00pm – Morning Writing Workshops
12:00–2:00pm – Lunch Break
1:30–3:00pm – A Craft Talk: Writing and Politics
“Make the Personal Political” with Perrin Kerns and “Speak Poetry to Power” with Kim Stfford. What can a writer do to address a big political mess? What’s the place for stories, essays, and poems in a turbulent historical landscape? Both writers will share texts and give prompts for writing in di cult political times.
3:00–4:00pm – Time to write and explore the Wallowas
4:00–5:00pm – Open Mic Readings
5:00–7:00pm – Social Hour and Dinner
7:30pm – 2026 Fishtrap Fellows Reading: Indira Khera and Sam Olson, Keynote Address with Ellen Waterston
7:30pm – 2026 Fishtrap Fellows Reading: Indira Khera and Sam Olson, Keynote Address with Ellen Waterston
Sunday, June 28
7:00am – Greet the Day with Craig Childs
Join Craig at Wallowa Lake Marina to witness the sun crest over the east moraine.
7:00–9:00am – Breakfast
8:30am – Let’s Talk: Listening Session with Fishtrap Executive Director, Shannon McNerney.
10:00–11:00am – Readings from graduating students from Eastern Oregon University’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.
11:00am – Farewells
