CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Seeking nature and place-based stories for
Campfire Stories: Tales from America’s National Parks -Volume 3

Applications open until August 31, 2026.

Campfire Stories Collection

Campfire Stories is a collection of books featuring stories from America’s national parks, trails, and beloved natural spaces. Editors Dave and Ilyssa carefully find, commission and curate stories that capture the essence of each park and reignite our imagination about the wild.

Each anthology features a diverse range of commissioned and existing stories written by the people who know and love them best—including essays, poetry, prose, songs, and ballads—and are found in the libraries, archives, and communities surrounding our beloved national parks. The book series also highlights voices typically underrepresented in the outdoors, including LGBTQ+, BIPOC and Indigenous writers and storytellers.

Volume 3 will be the next and final anthology in the national park series. But don’t worry—we’ll continue to highlight beloved regions and public lands through our beloved region series!

Collectively, the Campfire Stories book series and storytelling card decks have sold over 250,000 copies from the shelves of national park stores, bookshops, boutique gift stores, and major retailers like REI, LL Bean, Anthropologie, Terrain, and Parks Project.

What We’re
Looking For

We’re seeking new and existing nature-focused stories that convey an authentic sense of place through a wide range of story formats, including: essays, short stories, poetry, prose, songs, ballads and more.

Stories should capture the essence of the region, highlighting the region’s distinctive natural features, flora, fauna, community, and history. For more information, see the Story Criteria below.

ALL ARE WELCOME

While all writers are considered and encouraged to apply, we specifically seek to include emerging writers, as well as individuals underrepresented in the outdoors, including writers who are part of the following communities:

• Black, Indigenous & People of Color (BIPOC)

• LGBTQ+

• Persons with disabilities

Story Submissions

OPTION 1

Submit an existing story.

We’re looking for submissions of existing stories to be republished in this anthology. This can include any previously published or unpublished work. Stories must be based on first-hand experience(s) in the outlined national parks for Volume 3 and adhere to the criteria outlined below.

TIMELINE

Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis until August 31, 2026.

Selected writers will be notified no later than October 1, 2026 and paid a one-time permissions fee of $150.

OPTION 2

Create a new story.

We’re looking to commission new stories based on first-hand experience(s) in the outlined national parks for Volume 3.

To be considered, we ask that you:

• Submit (3) writing samples that best capture your writing style and most closely align with the story criteria (listed below). These writing samples do not need to be stories about the region and will not be used beyond our review process.

• Submit a one paragraph summary of your connection to the region, any subject(s) you’re most excited or suited to write about, and why.

TIMELINE
Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis until August 31, 2026.

Selected commissioned writers will be notified no later than October 1, 2026 and paid a one-time usage fee of $300 upon completion of work. First drafts will be due by February 28, 2027 and final drafts due by May 31, 2027.

OPTION 3

Apply for a travel stipend
& create a new story.

Recognizing the financial barriers that make some national parks inaccessible, we’re providing a modest $600 travel stipend for (6) emerging writers to travel to one of the outlined national parks and write a piece for Volume 3.

To be considered, we ask that you:

• Submit (3) writing samples that best capture your writing style and most closely align with the story criteria (listed below). These writing samples do not need to be stories about the region and will not be used beyond our review process.

• Submit a 1-2 paragraph summary about where you’d like to visit, any connection(s) you may have to the region, and any subject(s) you’re most excited or suited to write about.

• Describe how a stipend would support your work. Please share anything about your situation that would help us understand how a travel stipend would support your ability to complete this project—e.g. geographic distance, financial barriers, or other access considerations.

TIMELINE
Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis until August 31, 2026.

Selected travel stipend recipients will be notified no later than September 13, 2026 and receive a one-time $600 stipend upon completion of work. Recipients will be expected to travel by April 2027. First drafts will be due by May 31, 2027 and final drafts due by June 30, 2027.

Story Criteria

All submitting writers must have a lived, first-hand experience in one of the featured national parks. Submitted stories should draw from the writer's own experiences and learned insights from their time there.

We strongly encourage submissions from those who identify as: an emerging writer, Black, indigenous, person of color (BIPOC) or LGBTQ+, or a person with a disability.

Stories should not exceed 2,000 words and should…

• Capture the essence of this region.
  Whether incorporating regional history or sharing more about what the writer sees and experiences (i.e. plants, animals, landscape, community), each story should help readers gain a deeper understanding of the region and share its natural essence.

• Spark the reader’s imagination.
  We are looking for adventure stories, myths and legends, descriptive and colorful recountings of place, survival stories, and more! Stories should capture the magic and aura of the given region, and transport readers there through strength of storytelling and imagination.

• Engage readers and listeners.
  It is a campfire story after all! We are looking for stories with strong reader hooks, such as clear narrative arc, a surprise element, engaging tone, or a tense climax, as well as stories for which the structure, language, rhythm, and flow are conducive to being read aloud around the fire.

• Span all forms of written storytelling.
  Similar to the other volumes, we plan to feature a broad range of storytelling formats, including: essays, short stories, poems, songs, ballads, legends, folklore, and more. While the details about the region must be authentic (i.e. history, fact & figures, physical features), we will consider writings that use fiction as a way to capture the essence of the region.

• Follow Leave No Trace principles and/or local guidelines.
  For the protection of each outdoor region and enjoyment for all people, it’s important to follow Leave No Trace principles and all local rules or guidance. While the stories don’t need to specifically capture such rules, it’s important they don’t stray from them. For example, we will not include stories about feeding bears, going off trail where it’s not permitted, or swimming in a restricted area.

For more information and/or questions,
please contact us at:

hello[at]campfirestoriesbook.com

NOTE: Writers should not contact Mountaineers Books with inquiries regarding this project.