Dark Skies Story Starter: A Night Under the Stars
Photo Credit: Kelsey Kleiner
Across the PA Wilds, there are pockets of night where the sky feels bigger, quieter, and more generous with its stars. In 2008, Cherry Springs State Park became the world’s second certified International Dark Sky Park. It’s a destination people prepare for — red-filtered flashlights packed, headlights dimmed, eyes slowly adjusting — all with a goal of seeing what often goes unnoticed.
Back in December, I shared a preview of a new idea — using my drawings created for the PA Wilds Collaborative Series greeting cards as a starting point for storytelling, reflection, and imagination. Today, I’m officially beginning that series with one of the six defining landscapes of the PA Wilds: Dark Skies — where wonder begins the moment you look up.
Drawing Inspiration for the Story Prompt
Prompt Excerpt
...As the sun dipped behind the pines and night claimed the landscape, the breeze turned cool and gentle. The first stars blinked into existence, tiny and fierce against the deepening blue. In that hush — no street lights, no horns — the sky began its slow, dazzling reveal…
Will YOUR story take you on a journey into the stars? Involve creatures of the night? Shooting stars and wishes? Alien abduction?
The Sky is the Limit
This Story Starter is designed to be an open door. The downloadable PDF includes the full prompt along with a set of open-ended companion questions inspired by the image — questions meant to spark personal stories, shared conversations, or quiet moments of reflection.
This Dark Skies piece marks the first official release in Tell Me a Wilds Story — a six-week series of story building inspired by the images of the PA Wilds Collaborative Series Postcard | Greeting Card Sets. Check back throughout January as new places and images join the collection weekly.
Tag your stories with #PAWildsStories — To share your tale and inspire imagination bringing the PA Wilds Collaborative Series to life.
Cherry Springs State Park, part of the PA Wilds region, is internationally recognized for its dark skies and stargazing opportunities. Learn more here.