Erin Bentley explains Kaleidoscope Science, a project that combines science outreach with printmaking. She describes how participants use color, art, history, culture, and science to build a layered understanding of native plants, especially the Wyoming paintbrush.

Jace Cobb reflects on fieldwork that has taken him across the United States, from butterflies and forest species to birds and sage-grouse. At BioBlitz, he finds new wonder in lichens and the tiny forms of life humans often overlook. He also describes Wyoming as more diverse than many outsiders imagine.

Gretchen describes BioBlitz as a place where curiosity feels welcome and contagious. After attending a previous BioBlitz near Park County, she was inspired enough to make the long drive to Pinedale despite uncertain weather. For her, BioBlitz reveals Wyoming’s diverse habitats.

Local business woman Lori Kirk tells the story of how Cowgirl Yarn came to be a central feature in downtown Laramie. She reflects over the “Godshot” or serendipity of how an escaped pet and a chance conversation changed her life. 

Rhys describes coming to BioBlitz as a kind of summer camp for a “frustrated biologist” with an English degree. They reflect on nature as a centering place away from the noise of Denver and remember a childhood horse camp experience that became one of their fondest memories outdoors. 

Shauna Bruckner reflects on growing up in Wyoming and wanting to create more hands-on, outdoor-based learning opportunities across the state. She describes BioBlitz as a model for family nature camps that could bring children, parents, educators, donors, and community partners together.

Jennie Lawrence reflects on a lifelong habit of nature journaling that began when she was a child watching deer herds in Colorado. After a painful classroom experience pushed her away from drawing, a science-and-art workshop helped her return to it decades later. For Jennie, nature journaling, BioBlitz, and Wyoming itself all invite people to slow down, look closely.

Carissa reflects on coming to BioBlitz as a Denver science teacher who loves nature and wants to bring more community science into her classroom. She describes Wyoming as more biodiverse and awe-inspiring than many people realize. Through projects like Celebrate Urban Birds, she helps students observe their own city ecosystems.

After discovering a discarded copy of The Last Garage Sale at a Campbell County Public Library book sale, Morgan embarked on a remarkable search for its author. What began as curiosity grew into an unexpected correspondence that connected two generations.

Jennie Lawrence describes what drew her to the Wyoming Naturalist Program and the many opportunities it offers for hands-on conservation work. She shares her work with endangered Wyoming toads, volunteering at the herbarium, and the commitment required to become a certified naturalist.

After losing her beloved dog, Oso, in a tragic accident, Catherine transformed her grief into a community mission. Through years of fundraising, advocacy, and determination, she helped create Gillette's Oh-So Fun Dog Park—a lasting tribute that provides a safe place for pets and their owners to gather.

Mike Kennedy remembers building a successful advertising career in New York while feeling another part of himself return through an old farmhouse in the Catskill Mountains. As he repaired the house, learned new trades, and spent weekends in the woods, the “farm boy” in him began to reemerge. A hunting invitation from a neighbor became a turning point.

Mike Kennedy remembers the decision to leave a successful advertising career and move his family from Connecticut to Jackson, Wyoming. For him, the move was about choosing time over money and building a life around the things he wanted to do.

Trish Kerner reflects on her new role with Audubon Rockies and the Conservation Ranching Program. She describes how birds create a natural connection between conservation work, ranching communities, and people’s personal stories about the land.

Gretchen remembers seeing a loon on Yellowstone Lake in 1990 and carrying that memory with her for decades. Years later, a chance phone post led her to a nearby reservoir, where she finally saw loons again at sunrise.

Kurt reflects on becoming a Wyoming naturalist after a career in biology and environmental law. He explains citizen science as a way for ordinary people to help collect data, support research, and deepen public care for nature.

Heather Rodriguez, the Rockpile Museum Educator, highlights new projects at the museum; a new Wyoming Hall of Fame and a public art installation with rocky beginnings.

Heather Rodriguez, the Rockpile Museum Educator, never expected to run a sheepherders festival, but after joining the museum three years ago she used a neighboring state’s celebration as inspiration and grew the event from two wagons to lambs and ewes, bagpipes and Basque heritage.

Heather, the festival director, walks through the line-up of sheep wagons at the Sheepherders Festival, each one unique like a fingerprint.

Heather made a Derby-style hat for the Sheepherders Festival decorated with trees representing Wyoming’s arborglyphs, carvings that sheepherders left on aspens over decades.

Bob, a fourth-generation Wyoming rancher, explains why he runs cattle and sheep together on the same land making it more productive and healthier for the pasture than either species could do alone. He closes with a nod to Wyoming’s character and environment.

A summer road trip to a Hozier concert in Casper becomes an opportunity to see Wyoming from a fresh perspective. Avery reflects on friendship, cultural differences, and the quiet beauty of Wyoming's open highways, revealing how ordinary experiences can deepen one's appreciation for home.

After years of grief following the loss of her first husband, Jenny never imagined that attending a library meeting would introduce her to the man who would become her husband. Their story is a reminder that hope and love can appear in the most unexpected moments.

What started as a routine lunch delivery across a bridge at Gillette College quickly turned into an unforgettable adventure when Wyoming's fierce wind sent a food-filled clamshell into Donkey Creek. Within moments, a flock of hungry geese turned the accident into an all-out feast.

Through personal memories and family stories, Lindee explores the hidden history scattered across Wyoming's prairie. Abandoned bridges, empty swimming pools, old cemeteries, and remnants of oil boom towns remind her that communities once thrived where only traces remain today.

Dorothy recounts a lifelong pen-pal friendship that began through family connections in Scotland and stretched across Wyoming and New Zealand. After decades of exchanging letters across oceans, she finally met her penpal in person.

Dorothy reflects on her family's journey from Scotland to Wyoming and the sheep ranching legacy that has endured across four generations. Through stories of immigration, hard work, and family resilience, she traces how one grandfather's search for a better life shaped generations to come.

Although Doug moved to Wyoming later in life, he had been establishing deep connections to its people, rivers, and wild places for many decades.

After growing up in Wyoming, Madison and her husband imagined their lives taking them to other parts of the US. Living in other states was a source of joyful learning and community building. Along the way, however, they faced a painful loss, which led them to reflect over where they might find the peace of belonging.

Jim talks about how Wyoming AIDS Walk started Drag Queen Bingo, which has since grown into an annual fundraising event for Wyoming AIDS Assistance.

Jim talks about the very first Wyoming AIDS Walk, and how it began as a student organization that quickly grew into a larger community effort that partnered with Wyoming non-profits.

Judy Johnson’s whole life has been involved with alcohol. She recounts her long journey to sobriety and eventually becoming a licensed substance abuse and mental health counselor. 

Lori and Mike share their experience moving to Cheyenne with their sons during the pandemic in this short story.

Martha reflects on a lifetime of reinventing herself through different careers, embracing setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than failure. Her journey ultimately leads her to create a welcoming space where women are encouraged to be authentic and recognize their own worth.

Explore Gwynn’s office, decorated with trinkets, knick-knacks, and gifts that she has collected during her long tenure at the University of Wyoming.

Lotfi reflects on moving from crowded Algiers to small university towns in North Dakota and Wyoming. He talks about the shock of cold weather, loneliness, and wind, but also how Laramie helped him discover nature, community, and a calmer pace of life.

Nikki speaks about navigating the dual realities of community and struggle, feeling supported yet unheard, connected yet overwhelmed.

Nancy discusses moving from Doha, Qatar to Laramie, WY, and the profound impact the landscape, people, and stories have had on her. The impact of these earth-shattering mountains compelled Nancy to spend time elevating the stories of everyday people in this often-overlooked state.

In this conversation with the Re-Storying the West team, Randy and Tammie discuss the two fires in Rock River history: the fire at the “monkey farm” roadside attraction, and a fire at the Racher’s Supply.

Allison shares a story of her close relationship with her mother, describing how her mom's steady support and wisdom have helped her manage anxiety and navigate life's challenges.

Allen discusses his work in community development, restorative justice, and faith-based outreach in Wyoming, where small towns compel interaction across differences.

Levi shares his experience with mental health struggles, and his connections with others that have shaped who he is today.

Jim explains how some of the board members of Wyoming AIDS Walk had to take over being drag queens for Drag Queen Bingo, and the continued legacy of their drag mother, Bob Hooker, who passed away in 2018.

Dr. Michelle Aldrich reflects on Wyoming’s unique sense of community, where connections run deep and strangers often turn out to be neighbors.

Allison shares a heartfelt story about her grandmother's resilience, empathy, and ability to build community across political divides.

Sheila Newlin discusses fulfilling her lifelong dream of joining the Peace Corps. She and her husband, Doug, served in Papua New Guinea in 2000 after their three children were out of the house.

Gordon shares a story of building his family's home during the stock market crash in 2007. He describes how important it was to him that he built this home for his family and how it has shaped his family.

In this story, Miss Edith talks about her recently published memoir, tracing her life from Germany to California to Wyoming. She reflects over books that help her think more deeply about Wyoming as a complicated place. Conversations about history and community are important yet can be challenging to have.

Reflecting over his experiences with HIV and AIDS activism in Wyoming, Jim explains why Wyoming AIDS Walk was such a necessary and important fundraiser.

Trixie is a Storyteller who brings her past experiences into her current life and holds space for her children through the traditions of her past.

Jamie reflects on how "common ground" often demands compromise from marginalized people.

Misty shares how Wyoming has meant a series of chances and new beginnings in her life.

Amy talks about her journey as a future educator, emphasizing the importance of creating inclusive and intentional classroom spaces that foster genuine connection and common ground.

After retiring from the U.S. Air Force, Debra settled in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where a chance discovery in a library sparked a journey into her Hawaiian heritage.

Allison shares her deep-rooted connection to Crimson Dawn and Casper Mountain, where childhood weekends, magical moments in foggy meadows, and community rituals shaped her identity.

In this vivid continuation of their story, Jan and Dave Martin share tales of wildlife encounters, wood-heated winters, and deep community roots on Casper Mountain.

Apprentice storyteller for Crimson Dawn, Grace C, shares what it means to be a modern Wyomingite.

Sharon tells the stories behind five troll dolls from her collection. She and her sister have a long-running joke that Sharon does not seek out trolls, but instead they find their way to her.

Margarita was attending the 2024 Shepard Symposium on Social Justice at the University of Wyoming. We asked participants to sit with us and share their stories and reflections regarding that theme of the conference, “common ground.”

Katie reflects on growing up in Rock Springs, Wyoming—a town often labeled "rough around the edges"—and unpacks how narratives of place are shaped by class, connection, and personal history.

John reflects upon leaving Texas where he and his wife have deep family roots and the process of making a life in Wyoming.

Gloria shares stories of her grandparents, Margaret Shanstrom Essert and Bill Essert, who moved to Wyoming and started the school at Yoder.

Edward Galavotti recounts the moving effort to honor Vernon J. Baker—a Black WWII hero born in Cheyenne—with a bronze statue unveiled 80 years after his battlefield heroism.

Jim delves into his love for outdoor sports, activities he participates in that make him feel at home in Casper, an area that he says rivals Yellowstone in its natural beauty.

Indiana-native, Ellie, shares her love and passion for running and her joy of being a coach in the Buffalo and Sheridan community, where she runs with her team on mountain tops.

Anthony talks about his experience of being a young gay man in Wyoming and growing up in a small conservative town.

William Bowling reflects on a life shaped by music, beginning with childhood performances alongside his concert violinist father in Colorado.

Michelle Hansen tells the story of her homestead in Centennial, WY, a property in her family since the 1800's and where she currently resides.

Ben talks about his experience of growing into a love for Wyoming’s wild places.

Anna and Feline are cycling the TransAmerica Trail from Virginia to Oregon, exploring landscapes, communities, and hot springs along the way.

Kimberly Moore shares how a spontaneous suggestion from her daughter led their family of seven to relocate from Georgia to rural Wyoming.

After Jenny's daughter told her she was queer Jenny struggled because she was afraid of how her daughter might be judged in a rural community as well as how she might be judged as a single mother.

Challenge coins are a symbol of service, achievement, and camaraderie. For Josh, his challenge coins also tell a story.

Grace was a freshman in college in the Midwest when she visited her roommate in Colorado. It was winter break and her friend insisted they visit a charming town in Wyoming. 

Allison shares how a post-eclipse conversation on Crimson Dawn Mountain—with a gifted painted rock and an invitation to return—sparked her unexpected journey home to Wyoming.

Nikki speaks about navigating the dual realities of community and struggle, feeling supported yet unheard, connected yet overwhelmed.

Miss Edith lived for some time in Cheyenne before moving to Saratoga, where a chance encounter over a lawnmower led to new relationships. She describes living amid beautiful surroundings as she finds news spaces of community.

Bill reflects on a time when he and a friend played a prank in high school. In Martin, South Dakota, Bill and a friend put donkeys in the school one night to get them to poop everywhere.

Dana is a Laramie native. Keepsakes in her office remind her of family and travel adventures. Here, she tells the story of going to Hawai‘i and new things she learned along the way. 

Ron shares the unlikely path that led him from a spontaneous middle-school parade to becoming a long-time orchestra teacher in Wyoming.

After spending much of her career in service to the country, Kathryn returned to Wyoming and ran an ice cream shop in Ten Sleep. Now retired and living in Buffalo, she actively participates in craft fairs and farmers markets.

Margaret shares the ways in which not being able to hear well has affected her life. She describes how this creates feelings of isolation as well as a stronger sense of self-reliance and resilience.

In his story, David shares some insight into his time growing up in Worland, Wyoming, in the late 1940s to the mid-1960s. David discusses how he and his family faced prejudice during this time because they were Mexican-American.

Lorraine talks about her journey from a fast-paced life as a visiting nurse in Manhattan to rural Wyoming, where she rebuilt her identity after the loss of her husband. Reflecting on professional erasure, the high cost of healthcare, and her eventual creation of a nurse aide training program in local high schools.

Karen Hostetler, the owner and founder of Mountain Meadow Wool mill in Buffalo, shares her enduring love of Wyoming’s open spaces and wool. Fom an Australian spinning wheel, to bales of dirty wool trecked across the Canadian border, and ultimately a full circle moment.

Ezra at 18 years old has connected with a group of friends that Ezra believes will last a lifetime. Throughout the friend group meeting and growing closer, lessons about what true friendship beginnings look like can be seen through Ezra's story.

Hannah is a freshman at the University of Wyoming. She reflects on her time in Doha, Qatar, where she spent six years of her childhood due to her parents work at a university there. Hannah feels that these years were foundational to who she has become.

Cheyenne shares the memory of her husband’s great-great-grandmother Mae Grub, and the importance of womens work at the stage stops during the Johnson County Cattle War.

This is a raucous tale of two women who form an incredible bond while attending a sheep shearing school.

At 75, Lorraine reflects on 42 years of life built in Wyoming through activism, caregiving, and fierce independence. She finds belonging in a wide range of ways, from singing at the Newman Center to providing foot care to her interest in politics.

Ann Weber reminds us that home is wherever there is family. In this story, she shares a series of photos gifted to her by her children that has become an important keepsake.

Gloria shares the story of how her grandparents met, married, and built a life together.

Clint Reed shares a story of how offering a kind gesture led to a chain of gifts going around to people he knows. The story he tells his son unfolds a new web of understanding for both of them.

Susie Lape speaks about her days hunting for dinosaur bones and packing a picnic lunch and the spirited legacy of her grandparents.

Cheryl, granddaughter of famed sheriff Norbert E. Tuck, describes an experience she had with her sister that motivated her to never try drugs.

Maddisun tells Hannah stories about her grandmother, “Motha,” who has lived a very full life, inclusive of coming to Wyoming from Boston, running away to Alaska, coming back to Wyoming, and being active in the community.

Randy and Tammie discuss the Emerson family’s arrival in Rock River, and the women who discovered water and made their homestead possible.

Jamie welcomes us into her home to share a story about how one nervous Thanksgiving dinner turned into a thriving international family in Laramie. Led by faith, love, and a desire to welcome strangers, a small gathering of ten students has grown into a thriving community representing more than 45 countries.

Janet shares fond memories of her years foster parenting, a house full of children, and the joy of always helping people.

Nichole remembers a heart-racing encounter with the most fearsome beast on the mountain, the mighty moose, and why it is so important to respect the power of nature.

Dave Martin recounts a frigid ski trip where a broken car window, a failed heater, and a hotel room without heat turned the journey into a frozen adventure.

Bob shares a rich family history woven through Cheyenne’s early days, including Danish and Scottish ancestry, pioneering physicians, and deep civic contributions.

Cheyenne shares how her daughter Ellie has been going up to run a cow camp since she was in the womb. Now, at age nine, she’s a smart and reliable ranch hand who will do just what she’s told…and loves it.

This is a story about art and literature sowing the seeds of love between two beautiful, young college kids. The only problem is they lived in an overcrowded sorority/hippie compound on campus, and privacy was really hard to come by. But somehow they made it work.

As a fifth generation Wyomingite, Don shares the origin of his family’s sheep outfitting ties to Wyoming, and his excitement for his grandchildren to be the seventh generation.

Zcherina is from Cheyenne, Wyoming, but her family’s Filipino heritage is a huge part of her identity and who she has become over the years.

Mitch and Steven reminisce about playing music together for over forty years, and share the history of the beloved Buffalo community steel pan band and the poet laureate that founded it.

Cheryl fondly recalls her affection for Shetland ponies and the story of how her grandparents' own pony became the first Cowboy Joe at the University of Wyoming.

Dave and Jan Martin recount their multi-generational connection to Casper Mountain, starting with Dave’s grandmother’s arrival in 1929.

Dyann Durst has performed as the Lavender Witch at the Crimson Dawn storytelling event since 1996. She shares how she ended up in this popular role and how it connects her to a community that spans across generations.

Tawyna recalls the Wyoming of her childhood: a place where she was able to explore the Bighorn Mountain range freely, as long as she could see the family camper.

Art, and Coming Home: A view looking up at towering pine trees reaching toward a pale sky. Sunlight filters through the branches, illuminating textures of bark and needles.

Sarah’s great grandfather was a lapidary and a rock hound. She shares memories of agates, geodes, crystals and the special energy at her family’s home place in the Bighorn Basin.

Beth Venn discusses the value of using the Neltje Center for the process of creation rather than showcasing finished projects.

Mitch first started herding sheep in 1971 in Star Valley. Here, he shares some sheepherding anecdotes from tending and herding in the high country- you just gotta go.

Lorraine strives to live by her faith, enacting hospitality as her ministry and opening her home to young women in need. In this story, she reflects over her work providing refuge to others.

Janet recounts leaving California to live, and raise her children, in Red Lodge Montana. She has fond memories of her children's freedom, going on adventures, and dreaming.

Michele recalls how she became the head caretaker of Neal Forsling’s cabin at Crimson Dawn.

Rebecca recounts the story of one magical Mid-Summer’s Eve Celebration at Crimson Dawn in 1951. It is an origin story of sorts that includes lucky wishes and mud puddles.