Nature Journaling With Kids II: Let’s Sketch!
Nature Journaling can be a bit of a daunting proposition, especially if you think you can’t draw yourself. As we all know, your kids will mimic what you do. Grab your own nature journal and sketch along with them! Here’s what I want you to remember as you begin this journey. First – nature journaling is not about creating a pretty or perfectly accurate picture. Second – drawing skills will improve with continued practice.
(This is Part II of Nature Journaling with Kids — click here for Part I)
Where to Nature Journal With Your Kids
This one is kind of a no-brainer. Kids are naturally curious. Any place there is nature, your kids can find something to explore in their journal. Honestly, the best nature connections generally come from exploring your immediate surroundings.
- Get them excited to begin a new adventure – try going to a new-to-you park not far from home for a first outing.
- Sketching in your own yard can be a fun adventure. Although they see their own yard every day, you’ll be surprised at how different it looks to you once you begin to sketch elements you find in it.
- Discover the nature that resides inside your home! Yep, it’s there too!
- Check the produce drawer in your refrigerator. Pull out an apple. Sketch it whole. Notice how most of them are not one solid color. Is there a stem? Cut the apple open horizontally. Draw the insides. Cut one vertically. How is it different? Draw it.
- Do you have any houseplants? Draw them. Cut flowers in a vase?
- What about pets? Have them draw the dog, the cat, the hamster, the goldfish.
- Is there a spider crawling up the wall? Have them draw it before you take it outside!
- Get in the habit of packing your nature journaling supplies when you take trips. Nature is everywhere!
- A trip to the zoo or the aquarium is a good way to study and sketch non-native animals up close.
Leading Your Kids on a Nature Journaling Adventure
Get kids in the ‘mood’ to become explorers! I bought a set like the one below for both of my grandkids — they loved it! They would often get all geared up on their own and head out to the backyard.
If you’re just starting out with a nature journal, make it easy on yourself! Let it be just a spontaneous thing. Grab a pencil and some paper. Head out to your backyard or a nearby park. Ask your kids to draw whatever catches their interest; a bug, a tree, a flower, etc. You won’t be hovering over their drawings, as you’ll be making your own, right? This is a big deal — kids mimic what they see.
Now ask them questions. Do not comment on the artwork — nature journaling isn’t about the art! Ask them what they noticed about their subject. What colors did they notice? Do they know the name of it? (What kind of bug, flower, etc.) Let them lead the discussion. Have them tell you why they chose to draw what they did. What do they like about it? What do they wonder about the object? Let them color their drawings when you return home. Congratulations! You just made your first nature journal entries!
For specific recommendations on supplies, check out My Favorite Supplies page.
Next Steps in Nature Journaling with Your Kids
Make a habit of carrying your nature journals with you when you travel or even when you’re running errands. Nature can be found everywhere. You might spot a dandelion in a sidewalk crack, a hawk skimming over the water as you’re driving, or an interesting spider crawling on the dashboard of your car!
We all get too busy and it can be hard to find extra time for activities — think outside the box. Cut a length of string or yarn; no more than 5 or 6 feet long. Have your kids sit in your yard. They can only sketch what is within the reach of their string! You’ll be amazed at what you can find even in that tiny space! This exercise will help them build observational skills as they become hyper-focused on finding interesting things within their space.
Nature Journaling is Both Art and Science
If you want to take your journaling to the next level, get in the habit of looking up scientific information on your subjects. You can often do this on the spot using field guides specific to the area where you live. Or get your phone out and google it!
Use your nature journal to ask questions. Is this bird native to our area, or is it just passing through as it migrates? Is this flower an annual or perennial? What insects are attracted to this particular plant?
I am a big fan of John Muir Laws, who teaches nature journaling with kids and adults. He advocates asking yourself 3 things on each of your journal pages: I notice, I wonder, It reminds me of, . . Observing closely enough to complete these 3 statements, forces you to look very closely and to engage your brain!
Nature has a way of pulling you in. The more time you spend observing and journaling, the more you’ll want to. Nature journaling forces you to observe plants and animals up close and personal. You begin to connect, to realise that you are a part of it all. You fall in love. And most importantly, you naturally begin to protect what you love.
Don’t forget to grab your FREE copy of my Quick-Start Guide to Nature Journaling from the Freebie Library.
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Nature Journaling With Kids Part I
Nature journaling with kids doesn’t have to be intimidating! Even if you ‘can’t draw’ yourself and you don’t know a lot about plants or birds, you can take your kids on a nature journaling adventure!
Supplies for Nature Journaling With Kids
Really all you need to get started is a piece of paper and a pencil or pen. However, with just a few inexpensive supplies, you can help your kids get really excited about getting out there and journaling.
- Small sketchbook – Choosing a sketchbook can be confusing! Your kids will go through a lot of paper quickly, so do yourself a favor here. There is no need to buy an expensive one. Look for a spiral-bound book that is a comfortable size for your child, as they will often hold it and stand while sketching. If they will be using anything other than a pencil or pen, you’ll want to find one filled with multi-media paper. This means it can handle markers and watercolor paints.
- Drawing utensils:
- A graphite pencil for doing a quick sketch. A regular #2 school-pencil is perfectly fine. A mechanical pencil is a great option here – no need to carry a sharpener. An artist quality drawing pencil from the art supply store will run a little over $1 in the U.S.
- For a slightly older child who is into drawing and sketching you might want to add a fine-line waterproof marker or pen. These are great for outlining a drawing before adding watercolors or markers. They’re also nice for adding final tiny details after the color.
- Watercolor paints are a great addition to a nature journaling set for kids. What kid doesn’t love water and paint?! A kid’s set from the big box store is sufficient. Capturing the color of the flowers, the bird, or the insect they’ve just drawn is an important part of the process. Hint: keep this as a special nature journaling supply — it’ll give the kids another reason to get really excited about getting out there!
- Markers come in so many colors and sizes! Your child may prefer to use markers rather than paint. (You may prefer markers, as they’re a bit less messy!) Again, no need to break the bank here. An inexpensive set is fine. If your child can handle the thinner markers, choose those as they can add more detail than with the larger ones.
As far as the journaling itself goes, that’s really all you need to have lots of great nature adventures throughout the year. If you’re in the U.S., back to school time is the best time to grab some of these items. You can often grab paint, pens, pencils, and markers for under $1.
Outdoor Gear for Nature Journaling With Kids
Depending upon where you plan to go nature journaling, there are a few things besides drawing supplies that you’ll need to consider. It goes without saying that you need to check the weather forecast ahead of time and dress accordingly. If your kids are uncomfortable, they won’t be inclined to spend much time sketching.
Get kids in the ‘mood’ to become explorers! I bought a set like the ones below for both of my grandkids — they loved it! They would often get all geared up on their own and head out to the backyard.
If you’re going to be out in a wooded area, a meadow, or prairie:
- Hair ties and/or hats to keep their hair (and sun) out of their face.
- You will want to consider long pants (even in hot weather!). You may at times have to dodge fallen branches or weeds hanging over the trail. Long pants can protect from scratches and they also help deter insect bites.
- Speaking of insect bites – insect repellent should be in your nature journaling bag! I make my own, so I control the ingredients! Find the recipe below.
- Covered toe shoes with a good grippy sole. Keeps the toes protected from protruding branches and rocks and will give your kids traction for walking on multiple surfaces.
- A small backpack or bag for carrying their supplies. Carrying their own things gives them a sense of being more grown-up and part of the process. It also helps teach them responsibility.
- Last but certainly not least – a water bottle! If you’re anything like me and my crew, you’ll often end up staying longer than you thought. Always have water handy, no matter what the weather. You can get dehydrated even in cold weather. (If your kids are carrying watercolor paints, you’ll also want water for that.)
Make your own safe & effective insect repellent - Spray bottle
- Fill ¾ full with ½ witch hazel & ½ water
- Add 20 – 50 drops (depending on size of bottle) of any 2 or more of these essential oils:
- Lavender
- Lemongrass
- Eucalyptus
- Tea tree
- Peppermint
- Clove
*Never put undiluted essential oils directly on your skin.
Sketching in Urban & Suburban Areas
It’s not always necessary to get out to the woods or an exotic natural location. There is plenty of nature study to be found closer to home. In the city, notice dandelions growing through the cracks in the sidewalk; or take a stroll to the nearest park. You’ll undoubtedly discover squirrels, birds, insects, and plenty of interesting trees and plants.
If you’re walking through your suburban neighborhood, you’ll find all kinds of different flowers, bushes, and trees along with squirrels and birds.
Even though you probably won’t need as much gear in the city, you’ll still probably want sturdy walking shoes, insect repellant, and water bottles.
If you’d like a bit of help learning the basics to get you started, grab your FREE copy of my ‘Quick-Start Guide to Nature Journaling’ from the Freebie Library.
Continue reading Nature Journaling with Kids Part II: Let’s Sketch!
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Nature Scavenger Hunt With Kids
The following is a ‘guest post’ by Elizabeth Kreider, my daughter and the other half of Wandering Leaves Studio. Although we don’t often hear her voice on the blog, she is behind the scenes doing the work that makes it all come together!
Your typical nature scavenger hunt simply doesn’t work! If you’ve ever tried one with your kids, you know that there’s lots of running, yelling, and competition. I believe there is a better way to do a scavenger hunt.
Nature Scavenger Hunt vs. Competitive Race
Do a quick search on Pinterest and you’ll find dozens of printable nature scavenger hunt pages for kids. Trust me, I’ve looked at most of them. I’ve also made a few of my own. The typical pages are comprised of images to find and cross off. I tried this with my children and found that the lovely nature walk turned into a hyper-focused hunt/competition to check those items off as quickly as possible. This was not my goal. What I really wanted was to help them to see beyond what they normally would on a nature walk.
Here’s a throwback of my kids after a typical scavenger hunt. (ages 3 & 4) Can you tell by the glare who “won”? Yeah… I didn’t want to recreate this! Rofl!
I propose a different kind of nature scavenger hunt; one that will take more than one adventurous day to complete. Most of the things on this list can be done as a group — making it a cooperation rather than a competition.
This list (with adult participation) is suitable for children ages 3-10.
A Word on Teachable Moments
Children are naturally inquisitive. Any parent learns this early on in their child’s development. (You know,.. because your ears are bleeding from the 10,000 questions a day!) So basically, a “Teachable Moment” happens when you let go of your parental expectations and allow space for that natural inquisitiveness.
For example, say you are helping your little one with the first task on the scavenger hunt, finding rocks and building a rock tower; but your little one is more interested in throwing rocks in the creek than building a tower. Sound Familiar?
Instead of getting frustrated and forcing the original project (resulting in no fun for either of you) what if you decide to participate, throw rocks with them, and ask questions like:
- What happens to the water when you throw a rock into it?
- How many rings can you count?
- Does the sound it makes change when you throw the rock higher?
- Do big rocks and little rocks make a different sound?
- Why do you think that is?
Okay parents, see the difference? Now I’m not suggesting that you let your child run around like a little untamed mini-Tarzan doing whatever he/she wants. However, taking advantage of a situation like the example above, can change the way a child views nature in a beautiful way. Eventually, they start asking those kinds of questions themselves; and for me, when my kids do, I usually learn something I didn’t know. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat in the car after a walk and looked up the answers to their questions I couldn’t answer.
Did you know that some fireflies live underground for the first two years of their life?
Yeah… Neither did I!
Now, go have a magical adventure with your child! There’s so much to discover (even in your own backyard!)
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Field-Bag for Nature Journaling
Backpack vs. field-bag; here’s why I think the field-bag is a big win over a backpack if you’re on a nature journaling adventure.
Wait, What is a Field-Bag?
Technically, any bag that you carry your work or hobby-related items in, is a field bag. That means that a plastic bag from the grocery could be your field-bag. (I actually used that idea for the grandkids on a spur of the moment trip. It works, though it doesn’t last for more than one trip!) That means that your backpack could be called a field bag if you’re out hiking and nature sketching. And that is a perfectly acceptable bag for toting your hiking supplies and your nature journaling supplies all in one convenient spot, leaving you hands free to explore and draw.
Why a Cross-Body Bag is Better
For a long time, I simply tossed all my supplies into my backpack and took off for the nearest trail. It worked pretty well and I didn’t have to purchase another bag. If that’s what you have, by all means use it! However, I found myself more and more often, frustrated with my backpack solution. Every time I wanted to snap a quick photo or stop and do a quick sketch, I had to take my backpack all the way off and root around trying to find the supplies I wanted. It can be disruptive and take enough time that your subject flies, walks, or runs away!
A much better solution is a cross-body bag. If you wear your bag at hip level, on the side of your drawing hand, you’ll have quick access to your sketchbook. It works kind of like a holster, but for your sketchbook! Gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘quick-draw’!
Not everyone has the desire to make their own bag! A great option is a waterproof laptop bag. Most have plenty of pockets for your supplies, an adjustable over the shoulder strap, and are a great size for most sketchbooks. They come in all price ranges.
What to Carry in Your Field-Bag
Ultimately the choice is up to you, of course; but here are the things that I find essential to carry in my field-bag:
Make sure to visit My Favorite Supplies page for links to my specific favorites!
- My favorite sketchbook — This is a very personal choice and one you’ll need to make depending upon what types of tools you prefer to sketch with. I have settled on a spiral-bound pad of 98 lb. mixed media paper. There is just enough tooth to the paper to hold on to my media of choice — graphite — with very little smearing. It’s also thick enough to take a light watercolor wash so that I can capture accurate colors in the field.
- A mechanical graphite pencil — I prefer a mechanical pencil in the field — no need to worry about stopping to sharpen a pencil in the middle of sketching! I always have a container of graphite refills also.
- A small, portable watercolor set — I have a 12 color half-pan set. That’s more than enough colors for me to mix whatever I need.
- A water brush — This is a watercolor brush that holds water in the brush handle. I prefer a small round brush.
- An old bar-mop towel (or old tube sock) for cleaning out the waterbrush.
- Colored pencils — I carry a non-photo blue for quick, light under-sketches and a white or cream that I use under watercolors to keep lighter areas light. (ie: white or light colored veining in a leaf.) I also carry a small pencil sharpener for these.
- A permanent ink pen — I carry an 02 or an 03 size pen for detail. Permanent ink allows me to draw both under and over watercolors without smearing.
- Insect Repellent — OK, so this is not technically a sketching supply, . . . or is it? I keep a small spray bottle of DIY insect repellent in my kit also. It’s tough to sketch when you’re being eaten alive!
There are tons of insect repellent recipes out there, but here’s a quick run-down on my recipe for safe DIY insect repellent: start with a small spray bottle. Fill it about 3/4 full with 1 part water and 1 part witch hazel. Add in a TOTAL of 20 – 30 drops of at least 2 of these essential oils: lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, and tea tree. Shake well before spritzing, and apply as needed. **Disclaimer — ALWAYS do your own research on essential oils. Although usually safe, occasionally people are allergic to certain oils and a few can cause sensitivities in pets and children.
What Type of Bag?
The tools and supplies you carry with you when journaling will dictate what type of field-bag you need. I hunted around for a couple of months and couldn’t quite find one that fit the bill for me; well, at least one within my budget! So I scouted around on Pinterest looking at patterns for messenger bags and cross-body bags and every other type of bag you can imagine. OK, I admit it, I’m a Pinterest junkie! I felt like Goldilocks. One was too big, the next one too small. One didn’t have any pockets. Another required a zipper — to hard to get quick access. I was ready to give up. I figured I was just being too picky.
Then one day as I was wandering through clothing racks at my local thrift store, I got an idea! I bought a pair of men’s cargo pants with tons of pockets! Then, I created the bag and the flap out of the pocket areas and used a plain part of the leg for the back of the bag. I pieced together random scraps of the pants for the strap. Then I lined the whole thing with fabric I had left over from another project. An old laptop bag (also purchased at the thrift store years ago) supplied the buckles and hardware. Voila! A custom-made field bag that I created for about $5.00 U.S.!
Me cheesing with my NEW custom made bag! (I may be a little too excited about this) Now, making your own bag may not be your thing. I get it! There are tons of great field-bags and messenger bags available out there. There is one for every budget. The point? Find something that works for you — and get busy exploring and sketching!
If you’d like to have a go at making your own field bag, the instructions and YouTube tutorial can be found HERE.
New to nature journaling? Check out ‘Keeping A Nature Journal’ on the blog. Also grab a FREE copy of my Quick Start Guide to Nature Journaling from the Freebie Library.
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