Now, It's Your Turn
We're re-imagining Classified advertising for the modern outdoor era.
Personals | Classifieds | Events Calendar | Revelry | Young & Wild | Community Aid
Howdy folks,
We’ve been working hard in the background, getting everything lined up for the first print issue of The Westrn. Yesterday, we went through an incredible lineup of pitches from two dozen bonafide writers, and it was the most fun we’ve had yet as an editorial team.
But the fun is just beginning. Starting today, we’re opening the floodgates and welcoming contributions to the Community Board section of the newspaper. This is the place in our quarterly rag for connecting, celebrating, supporting, and platforming.
We want to see things like:
Young & Wild: A fifth-grader shares his budding passion for cowboy poetry
Personal: A hunt-curious gal looks for whitetail hunting mentors in the Midwest
Classified: A gear repair nerd offering his services fixing zippers, leaky waders, and broken fly rods
Revelry: A dad so stoked on his daughter’s first deer that he surprises her with a photo and a writeup on our Revelry page
Personal: A mountaineering septuagenarian on the lookout for a bookish and active life pardner <3
We know our community wants to replace swiping and scrolling with turning pages. They want to find IRL opportunities for human connection in ink and paper across shared spreads. So check out the options below. All ads, event listings, and individual issues are 50% off until Valentine’s Day. Use the code “FIRST50” with this link. Multiple entries are welcome, and we’ll feature favorites in The Roundup each month.
This is our true “Grand Opening.” The newspaper is the outcome of a shared effort, one our amazing community of readers has supported since the beginning. As always, we’re grateful you’re here!
Below you’ll find a few examples of Community Board contributions for you to chomp on. You can always find these details on the Community Board page on our website.
Hope you enjoy them —
Nicole, Katie, and Kestrel
How It Works
We charge a small fee for some Community Board submissions (personal ads, classified ads, event listings, and Revelry) to cover print space, materials, and to help us pay freelancers a fair market rate. Other submissions (Young & Wild and Community Aid) are free. It’s up to you to be creative and dig in!
For personal ads, classified ads, event listings, and Revelry submissions: Follow the first link to pay for your submission in our online store. Then, follow the second link to submit your ad in the corresponding online form. If your submission includes a photo, make sure it’s high-enough resolution to print well. Most smartphone photos should work, but we’ll let you know if it doesn’t fly.
For Young & Wild and Community Aid submissions: Follow the corresponding instructions and email us your submissions.
For all Community Board submissions: We will confirm your ad with you by March 20th. A copy of the paper is included with every submission, so send us your mailing address and you’ll receive your copy 5-10 days after our posted ship date.
BONUS: We’ll highlight a few of our favorite Community Board posts in our monthly online newsletter, The Roundup, so tune in.
All entries are subject to light proofreading for readability and errors.
Personal Ads
Shoot your shot! Find love. Grow your packout roster. Discover new adventure buddies, mentors, and friends. Connect on an individual level with like-minded outdoorsy folks.
And y’all, keep it PG-rated. Kids read this paper. Mind your manners.
Word count: 100 words max, including contact information of choice. We recommend an email address.
Photos: Optional.
Cost: $25
Step 1: Purchase a personal ad here.
Step 2: Submit a personal ad here.
Example: Personal Ad
Seeking: a fishing buddy or two for a llama pack trip in Yellowstone! I drew a lottery tag for a specific site and my friends dropped out. The trip runs from August 6-10, includes the use of four llamas, and starts in the Lamar Valley. I’m an experienced angler with moderate backpacking experience; you should be proficient in both. Trip will be under $400 per person not including travel. Reach out by July 25 at llamafishing@gmail.com. (77 words.)
Classified Ads
Welcome to our community market! Sell used gear. Promote a side hustle or a Kickstarter campaign. Advertise your guiding services or online class. Platform your blog, podcast, or Substack.
Word count: 50 words max, including contact information of choice. We recommend an email address.
Photos? Optional.
Cost: $25
Step 1: Purchase a classified ad here.
Step 2: Submit a classified ad here.
Example: Classified Ad
For sale: 18 y/o sorrel john mule. Mojo is a boot-scootin’, broke-as-they-come mountain man, ready to tackle any hunt you throw at him. Saddle broke, pack broke, pony broke, this good fella will lead you into the apocalypse without batting an eye. $10k obo. Contact Jenny, 867-5309. (49 words.)
Events Calendar
Boost turnout for your fundraiser, class, meetup, volunteer day, festival, or show.
Word count: Event title, date and time, location, and additional 30 words max.
Photos? Optional. We’ll include a few favorite photos in each Events section.
Cost: $50
Step 1: Purchase an event listing here.
Step 2: Submit an event listing here.
Example: Event Listing
May 1: Conservation Club Tea Party, 4:00 p.m., Some Bar in Sometown, Montana. Join the Conservation Club for an afternoon of Throat Coat brewed strong and chatter about the latest policy dramas and volunteer opportunities. (22 words.)
Revelry
Whether you’re bagging peaks, notching tags, or celebrating an outdoorsy first, send us a photo and a brief story. Revelry is also a space to celebrate others. Did your kid bag her first deer? Did a friend finish his first ultramarathon? Surprise them with a photo and a message. If you want to celebrate it, we want to share it.
Word count: 100 words max. First names and last initials required, full names also accepted.
Photos? Optional.
Cost: $25
Step 1: Purchase Revelry here.
Step 2: Submit Revelry here.
Example: Revelry
My dear friend Elise Y., you have been the most kick-ass hunting bud for SIX years now, and getting to be your hunting partner when you took your first bull elk was the highlight of my season. You took the ethical shot, at the right time, and I’ll never forget it. Congratulations, you deserve it. Looking forward to next season, when we hopefully fill elk tags with bows in hand on public land! The dream!
xoxo, NKQ (74 words.)
Young & Wild
Bugling bulls in colored pencil? Bighorn sheep in finger paints? Articles and poems? Yes please! If you’re raising the next great outdoor writer, artist, or photographer, The Westrn wants to platform their work. We’re big fans of the littlest among us, and we believe their voices and talents matter as much as the big voices in the room.
Word count: 500 words max. Include first name, last initial, and age of creator.
Photos? Photography/artwork optional.
Cost: Free! Rally your kiddos.
How to submit: Send your Youth entries directly to editor@thewestrn.com with YOUTH in the headline of the email. We’ll send kids their own copy of the paper, on the house.
Example: Young & Wild
Community Aid
Let The Westrn connect you with a caring outdoor community. We define “community aid” in a few ways:
Nonprofits seeking volunteers
Disaster relief efforts
Scholarship opportunities
Free outdoor educational resources
Donor drives in the outdoor space
Any submissions soliciting cash directly will be disregarded, although we will platform GoFundMe campaigns.
Word count: 100 words max.
Photos? Optional.
Cost: Free.
How to submit: Send your Community Aid entries directly to editor@thewestrn.com with AID in the headline of the email.
Want to submit something but unsure if it fits? Shoot us an email at editor@thewestrn.com.
SO PUMPED FOR THIS! If anyone has other ideas for the board, comment away <3
Thats so cool! How did you land on the name Revelry for the story type?