ENTERPRISE — The March edition of Fishtrap Fireside features three generations of Wallowa County writers in celebration of Women’s History Month: Kathleen “Kat” Johnson, Randi Movich and Sarah Petrillo.

The gathering takes place on Friday, March 1, 7 p.m. at Fishtrap, 107 W. Main St., and online at fishtrap.org. Admission is free, although donations are welcome.

Fishtrap Fireside is a monthly reading series celebrating diverse voices from local writers and storytellers.

“I always look forward to the March Women’s History Month Fireside readings,” said Fishtrap’s Mike Midlo. “We get to hear stories from three generations of women who offer different life experiences, insights and perspectives.”

Light snacks are provided and drinks are available for purchase. March’s Fishtrap Fireside is sponsored by The Nature Conservancy.

Featured readers

Kathleen “Kat” Johnson was born and raised in Colorado. After earning her B.S. in English she taught fourth grade for a time but quit to become a stay-at-home mom and follow her first husband as his career took them to New Jersey, California, Georgia and Massachusetts before choosing to make Oregon home.

Johnson has been a substitute teacher, library aide, scout leader, EMT and companion to cats, dogs, ducks, goats and horses. In her 30s, she began a new career as a registered nurse starting in critical care but eventually specializing in geriatrics, geriatric psychiatry and dementia care.

After more than 30 years, finding herself happily retired but not so happily widowed she decided to begin a new chapter of her life by joining her daughter, (Fishtrap Executive Director Shannon McNerney) in Wallowa County. She said she is grateful for the kindness of the community and awestruck by the majesty of the landscape. Also, thanks to Fishtrap, she is rediscovering the joy of diving in and playing with words.

Raised in the wilds of the San Fernando Valley, Randi Movich could not wait to leave the neighborhood for ocean swims, camping, backpacking and skiing. That wanderlust brought her to a life of work and discovery in Marseille, France, a Peace Corps assignment in West Africa, six months in Central and South America, graduate school in Idaho, a stint in Eugene working at the Western Environmental Law Center, back to Guinea for two years working with traditional healers and midwives, Ashland, Oregon, and finally to Wallowa County.

In almost 10 years as a nurse, Movich’s main writing assignment is documenting chart notes but after attending Fishtrap’s Outpost on the Snake River program she rediscovered her desire to write and wander again.

From a young age, Sarah Petrillo was groomed to be an outdoor educator. She spent the summers of her youth frolicking around the Wallowa Lake United Methodist campground while her mom ran family camps. Soon, her mom put her in charge of campfires, games and taste-testing desserts in the camp kitchen. While at camp, she attended Fishtrap youth workshops, which inspired some of her first creative writing.

At 19, she followed her love of the outdoors and became a river guide at Winding Waters River Expeditions. While on the river, she spent countless nights listening to guides tell tales of whitewater and adventure, and eventually began telling some of her own. She now works as an Experiential Education Program Coordinator at the University of Puget Sound, where she leads college students on outdoor adventures. On a given day, you can find her kayaking, skiing, or hiking around her home base in Snoqualmie, Washington.