Introduction to Nature Journaling
I’d like to introduce you to Nature Journaling. Are you feeling a bit disconnected? Life moving too fast? Do you feel anxious and stressed? Both spending time in nature and drawing can help you to slow down, decrease your stress levels, and even lower your blood pressure! Bonus — it’s FUN!
Me? I have always had a passion for nature and drawing. Nature Journaling was the perfect solution for enjoying both at once. I’m so excited to share this with you. Keeping a nature journal can be an amazing adventure!
Are you ready?
What is a Nature Journal Anyway?
The simplest answer: it’s an individual’s exploration of the nature around them. This exploration can be expressed in several ways:
- Drawings — this part goes without saying. It’s what most of us think of when we think about a nature journal. I know — you’ve been looking at other people’s nature journal pages online and you’re intimidated. Me too! Honestly, though, it’s social media folks! People only put the best of the best online — including artists! I promise that you CAN learn to draw the things you find intriguing in nature!
- Writing– can take many forms
- Metadata — Put the date, time, a quick note about the weather. That’s called ‘metadata’ and it’s science! This allows you to keep a running record from year to year about weather patterns as well as the plants and animals you encounter.
- Scientific names — you’ll learn these along the way as you become curious about flora and fauna you encounter
- Random thoughts — just like any other journal or diary
- Poetry — many people are inspired to write in verse to add to their pages
It’s your journal! Pick and choose what you want to include in yours. It will probably change over time. Experiment! Most of all — don’t forget to have FUN with it!
What Do I Need to Get Started?
Since this is an introduction to Nature Journaling, we aren’t going to get too technical. Personally, I like to keep things simple anyway. Think about where you’ll be journaling. Are you a hiker? Will you likely hike a few miles? Or are you more likely to park close to your chosen spot?
Make sure to grab your FREE copy of my Quick Start Guide to Nature Journaling from the Freebie Library.
Both are valid options, but may influence what tools you choose. I tend to be a hiker most of the time, so I like to travel light. A heavy pack full of lots of supplies is not something I would choose.
- Art supplies — choose your favorite media whether it’s pencils or paint, but carry only what you need. While it’s cool in the studio to have every color of paint, in the field it’s not practical. That bird that you’re trying to sketch won’t sit still long enough for you to rattle through your bag looking for the perfect color!
- Sketchbook — Choose one that’s small enough to carry with you. Pay attention to the type of paper. You’ll want heavier paper — perhaps mixed media if you plan to use watercolors. If you’re going to use mostly pencil, any sketchbook will do. I like to see beginners start with the least expensive option available. The reason? It’s best to not have to worry about wasting expensive paper! The more drawings you do, the better you’ll get!
- Clothing — this should go without saying, but make sure you’re dressed for the weather! Layers are best whether it’s the height of summer or the middle of winter.
That’s all you need to get started! And I’m willing to bet that you already have most of this at home without needing to go out and purchase a bunch of expensive supplies.
Take a look at my personal favorite supplies to get you started!
Your First Nature Journal: Getting and Staying Motivated
An introduction to nature journaling wouldn’t be complete without a motivational section! If you’re like most of us, me included, you’re going to start off strong. After a little time passes, you’ll lose the motivation that comes with the ‘newness’ of things. Here are a few tips to keep you going.
- Start small — habits are easier to maintain if you start with small commitments. Even 5 minutes a day of drawing will increase your proficiency! Create lasting habits — check out this video on Mini-Habits to get you started. Sketch while you have your morning coffee, or on your lunch hour. You can find nature everywhere! (Even in your kitchen! Sketch an apple, a pepper, or your houseplant.)
- Stay close to home. As appealing as it is, there’s no need to travel to distant, exotic lands to find interesting things to add to your nature journal. Your own backyard has plenty of journaling opportunities!
- Learn to adopt a growth mindset rather than a fixed one. Check out what Carol Dweck has to say about this in her TED talk on YouTube.
Nature Journaling is accessible to anyone! The supplies are inexpensive and easy to acquire. And one last tidbit of motivation. You’ve heard that it takes 10,000 hours to get good at something, right? Wrong! That number has been misquoted on site after site. It takes 10,000 hours to become a musical virtuoso or an Olympic class athlete. For the rest of us, studies show that it takes only 20 hours to get reasonably good at something new! How awesome is that?! You can do 20 hours — that’s easy, right?
What are you waiting for? Get busy and get those 20 hours!
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Nature Journaling: Leaves 5 Ways
Nature journaling leaves doesn’t have to be a daunting prospect! Let’s take a quick look at 5 different ways to include leaves in your journal!
Sketching Leaves in Your Nature Journal
Of course, for most nature journalers, sketching will be the the ‘go-to’ method for adding leaves to the nature journal. If you’ve been following me at all, you know that I firmly believe that anyone can learn to draw! But, I digress. Here’s a simple way to sketch a leaf:
Take a look at the overall shape. As in, would it fit better in a square, a rectangle, or perhaps an oval? Giving your leaf this type of boundary will help you with proportion.
Next take a minute to study the veins in your leaf. Is there one predominant vein? This one usually runs down the middle of the leaf from the stem to the tip. This is the best place to begin your sketch.
Most leaves are pretty symmetrical. I usually begin at the leaf tip and sketch lightly — alternating down each side until I get to the stem. Are your proportions off? This is the time to adjust.
Notice whether your leaf has smooth or toothed edges. Add that detail.
Lastly, add in any heavy veins as they appear. Add color and shading as you like.
Tracing
Here’s a ‘no-brainer’ way for nature journaling leaves!
If your sketchbook is large enough and your leaf small enough, you can simply trace your leaf. Wait, does this count as nature journaling? Of course! Nature journaling is not just about creating pretty art!
Simply trace the outline of your leaf into your journal. Add in the veins. Add a bit of shading and color. Voila! You’ve added a leaf to your nature journal!
Leaf Rubbing
This is an old tried and true method. For this to work, you’ll need to work with paper that is thin enough to feel the veins in the leaf. If you can’t feel them with your fingers through the paper, you won’t be able to capture them with a rubbing.
You also need a leaf that has pronounced enough veins to capture them.
Place your leaf, vein side up, under your paper. Use the side of a crayon or pencil and scribble over the surface until the image appears! This is a great option for kids to nature journal with leaves!
Printing Leaves with Paint for Kids Nature Journal
This is another popular option for kids. Simply paint the backside of the leaf with
watercolor or acrylic paint. Place wet paint side down on the paper and press. Voila!
Take your time and have fun with this one. Choose several leaves and using different
colors of paint, layer them on your page.
Want even more tips on Nature Journaling with Kids? Check out Nature Journaling with Kids: Part I (supplies), Nature Journaling with Kids: Part II – Let’s Sketch!, and Nature Scavenger Hunt.
Washi Tape
The simplest method of all is to simply use washi tape and tape the actual leaf into your journal.
The drawbacks? The leaf will eventually dry out and crumble. There are, however, several methods of preserving leaves. My favorite method is to iron them between sheets of waxed paper. The heat transfers the wax to the leaf and preserves it fairly well. While the wax does help preserve the leaf, it is still very delicate — handle it gently! Use washi tape to attach it to the page.
I believe it’s time for us to begin looking at nature journals a little differently. It’s time to think outside the box. Although sketching is my preferred method of working in my nature journal, not everyone wants to sketch. We all, however, really need that connection to nature. Journaling in any form forces us to lean in, to look a little bit closer, live in the moment, and make that all important connection to the nature that we, as humans, are very much a part of.
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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 Discovery in Your Own Backyard
Nature discovery is such a natural thing to do in the summer. I remember those days as a kid — summer stretched out before me. Endless days of warmth with nothing to do! Is there anything better? I spent every waking minute outside in those days. We didn’t have air conditioning, so there was no reason to stay inside. Cooling off meant a kiddie pool in the backyard or eating a popsicle under the big shade tree.
Endless Nature Discovery in Your Backyard
Lest you think this is a post about ‘the good-old days’, we’re just here to borrow a few ideas from the past that still work today to help us discover nature all around us. I spent most of my summer barefoot. My grandkids are doing the same today. Barefoot means that you can feel the grass between your toes. Stand still for a moment, you may feel an ant crawl across your ankle. Sit down in the grass and watch the anthill.
Lots of discovery is possible just from going barefoot for a little while. Step it up a notch. Allow yourself an hour — put it in your schedule if necessary — to just ‘be’ outside. Sit on the ground. Use all 5 senses to connect with the nature within your little space.
- What can you see?
- Is there only grass?
- Are there weeds, flowers, vegetables nearby?
- What about ‘critters’ — birds, insects, family pet?
- Lay back and watch the clouds.
- Close your eyes. What do you hear? Train your ears to pick only one sound out of the chaos.
- Birds calling?
- How many different bird calls can you hear?
- Are they ‘chillin’ or are there calls of alarm?
- Dogs barking?
- Insects buzzing?
- Birds calling?
- Can you smell anything?
- Flowering plants?
- Herbs?
- Dog poo? (yes, that’s part of nature too!)
- What can you touch?
- What does the grass underneath feel like? Spiky, soft, cool, damp?
- Is there a breeze?
- Can you feel the sun beating down on your back?
- Is there anything edible? (Be super cautious here — never taste anything unless you are absolutely sure it’s edible and you know it hasn’t been sprayed with anything toxic)
- Think ahead and bring a snack outside with you.
Nature Discovery Through Journaling
There are so many ways to journal. Find something that works for you. I like to sketch. It helps me to notice things about plants and birds that I’m drawing, that I never would have noticed. You have to look very closely and for an extended amount of time to really sketch something.
Maybe you are more drawn to words; storytelling, or poetry perhaps. I was scrolling on Instagram the other day and discovered a woman who writes a haiku on every nature journal sketch. Brilliant! She’s doing her own thing. You do you. Whatever helps you connect to the nature around you!
Your Extended Backyard
While there is plenty to stay occupied in your literal backyard, there’s no need to be too stuck in one spot. Make time in your schedule to check out parks and public areas near your home. You’ll find even more ways to make those local nature connections.
The more time you spend in local nature, the more you’ll fall in love with her! That’s just the way it works. We invest ourselves and our time into something/someone, which makes us care more for them. We learn their personalities, their good points and bad, their quirks and their personalities. Our love grows deeper.
My Grandchildren & I at a park just 20 minutes from home. Nature Discovery: A Few More Tips
- No need to travel to exotic locations — there’s so much to discover right where you live. We see locally every day, but we don’t really ‘see’ it. It becomes nothing more than background noise.
- Ie: I did not know until this past February that orchids are the largest plant group on Earth and grow in every climate! Huh, I had orchids in my backyard and didn’t realize it! On spring walks, I am looking with a different ‘eye’ due to this discovery.
- This spring we’ve had more rain than we ever have. Result? More plants, more insects, more birds. I’ve seen a couple of birds I’ve never seen here before!
- There are 4 seasons and 365 days to discover — you won’t get bored and you will never run out of things to explore!
- Try different times of day (and night). You might be surprised.
- Try the ‘string trick’ — you can only journal what’s in your designated circle. Start with a 5-foot string.
- Ask questions
- Do research
- Discover apps and websites that help
- Take art journaling classes
- Take drawing classes
- Try MeetUp or Facebook to find a group local to you — or start one!
- Do ‘themed’ walks in your area
- Mushrooms
- Spring flowers
- Birding outings (there are birding groups EVERYwhere!)
- Winter walks
I know how difficult it can be to find the funds and/or the time to get out to ‘exotic’ locations. We aren’t all fortunate enough to be able to take those special trips. Please don’t let that stop you! Look with ‘new eyes’ at all the wonderful nature around you and fall in love with the world in your very own backyard.
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- What can you see?
Connecting With Nature: Without the Journal
‘Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike.’ ~ John Muir
Connecting with nature, without the journal — dare I say it? As much as I love journaling, sketching what I see, and connecting with nature via close observation; there are times when the journal can get in the way.
Much like having our phones constantly in our faces, technology always at the ready, there are times when the sketchbook becomes the reason for being out in nature. The sketchbook can become a wall of sorts that we hide behind. We sketch, we observe, but we’re never quite aware that we are actually a part of what is happening around us.
Here is a short account of what happened to me when I was too hot and tired to sketch, and just sat.
A spur of the moment Nature Journaling trip that ended with me spending 30 minutes that felt like only 5 ~ #inthemoment
A Hot Saturday in June
It was blazingly hot out on a recent Saturday; temperatures in the 90s, but the sun was out! Woohoo! After a week and a half of rain and the wettest spring on record here where I live, I decided to brave the heat for a much needed hike through the woods. I made the short drive to my favorite nearby park.
There were only a few other souls out and about, willing to brave the heat. I could hear myself think. I could hear the birds singing, and the water trickling in the creek — bliss! There is a very specific smell on hot days in the summer — damp and wet in the darkest areas of old growth forest; sunny and dry with a hint of green and grassy in the meadow.
Connecting with Nature Requires Learning to Tune-In
It always takes me a while to ‘tune in’ to the nature around me. Honestly, my mind was busy cataloging; ‘I need to add that bird to my list, I wonder what species of dragonfly that is, look at that interesting fungus on the fallen log, I should sketch that.‘ While there is nothing inherently wrong with any of this, I think what I really craved was simply a quiet connection.
After taking a short lunch break and re-hydrating, I thought I’d stay longer and hike another trail at this park, albeit a shorter one. As I knew that the bullfrog pond was not far into this trail; I continued on. But the heat started wearing on me, so I decided to sit on a bench in the shade at the pond. A school of bluegill, ever watchful for any movement that might indicate an easy snack, saw me sit; and congregated at the edge of the little boardwalk nearby.
At the Pond
Every time a slight breeze happened to drop a leaf into the water, there was a flurry of activity from the fish. We began to get into a little rhythm as we rested there together in the shade. I could sense their presence and their movements without watching so intently. After a few minutes of sitting quietly, the dragonflies determined that I was not a threat and began to skim the pond. Of course, every time they touched the water the bluegill hurried to capture them; once even jumping out of the water! Who knew little bluegill could jump?
Connecting With Nature– Becoming One
I almost gave up on the bullfrogs, assuming they were napping in the shade of the reeds, hoping to wait out the worst of the heat. I was wrong. They were simply waiting for the surety of safety as well, and began their loud, hoarse croaking from the far side of the pond. I sat there without agenda and was simply in the moment. I had a real sense that I had become a part of this idyllic little scene. Closing my eyes, listening; I became a part of that little pond ecosystem, if only for a little while.
This is the moment of connection with nature. This is a moment of magic and reverence.
Nature Journaling After the Experience
Journal page completed at home with picture references. OK, so I did end up with a journal page. My experience at the pond that day was so magical, I wanted to put it down on paper so that I could remember more clearly what it felt like. Once home, I grabbed my journal and wrote about my day, followed by sketching from photos to help enhance the memory. This is not ‘cheating’. There is nothing wrong with using photo references. This is your nature journal. This is your experience.
Oh and, . . . the act of telling you my story is another way to cement the experience into memory — simply journal about it with words!
While this article has focused on using other means to capture our nature experiences, I do believe that sketching can be a very valuable way to record our adventures. Think you can’t draw? I believe that anyone with a desire to draw can learn! It’s easier than you think to get started.
For even more help, check out our blog post on Overcoming Your Fear of the Sketchbook!
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Hiking and a Nature Journal: A Perfect Match
Hiking and nature journaling are my favorite pass-times. I made an impromptu decision to try and squeeze in a quick hike today in between rain storms. We have had an amazing amount of rain this spring and I was itching to get a bit of nature. I’ve decided to share my little ½ mile, 1 hour long hiking experience with you to share with you how much you can witness if you just slow down a bit and look!
Hiking: Only a Few Feet From the Parking Lot
I watched an American Goldfinch perched on a tiny little branch at the top of a small bush. It called back and forth for about a minute. Meanwhile, I’m hiking down this steep hill into a planted prairie meadow. From up here, the view is breathtaking.
Just a few steps into the meadow, there is a patch of Queen Anne’s Lace. I stop to get a good look. I want to add these to my Nature Journal later. I get closer to snap a picture. There is a cool bug on the fully opened flower — bonus!
Can You Nature Journal Birdsong?
In the background, I’m hearing one of my favorite birds calling — a red-winged blackbird. I always thought their call sounded a bit like an old-fashioned telephone ringing. There are about 10 of them swooping back and forth across the meadow. They are much too quick and skittish for me to catch a photo with my phone, but I enjoy their presence.
To my right is the usually calm creek that runs alongside the trail. Today I heard it roaring from the top of the hill. We’ve had massive amounts of rain this spring. This normally quiet little creek is a powerful, muddy, rushing river today!
As I walk the trail alongside this creek, I see dragonflies and damselflies flitting back and forth. It’s so difficult to catch them sitting still long enough to get a good picture. (I must get my actual camera out here soon!) I take a short side-trail through the woods to get a good up-close look at the swollen creek. As I head back, I spot a damselfly. I slow down and get my phone camera ready. OMG! I got it this time! I’m not sure what species this is, but I now have a decent shot of it on my phone. I’ll sketch it later and see what species it is. So excited!
Damsel fly modeling for me! Look Closely: Native Wildflowers Ahead
As I walk on, I’m enjoying the native wildflower show all around me. Close to the ground are the delicate pink flowers of vetch. Rising up on tall stems, bursting with buds ready to open, I see hundreds of purple milkweed (aka: swamp milkweed). There are bumble bees flitting back and forth over these. I’m so happy to see so many of these this year. Their super-power is being a nursery plant for Monarch butterfly caterpillars. I can’t wait to see those!
Vetch 
Purple Milkweed + Bee
Hiking Reveals Critters as Well as Flowers
Just a few feet up ahead I hear a loud plonk! I know that a black walnut has fallen from the tree. I know exactly where this tree is, as I gathered nuts off the ground last fall from this particular tree. Yum! I pick up the nut and notice that the stem has been chewed. My mind wanders and I picture a squirrel sitting high up in the tree, trying to time the falling projectile to my walking speed. (I’m not really sure why a cartoon scenario is playing in my head — but I go with it.)
Squirrel Grenade- aka Black Walnut I’ve barely taken a few steps from the walnut tree when I spot 2 small brown rabbits resting on the trail up ahead. They appear to be adolescents. I take slow, quiet steps — I want to see how close they’ll let me come. They hop ahead a few feet, but stay on the trail. We repeat this sequence a couple more times before they hop off into the tall grass.
As the rabbits hop away, my eye is drawn to the small pine tree beside the trail. The sun (we haven’t seen much of that lately!) is shining on raindrops still sitting on the needles. It’s so beautiful! I snap a photo. I may want to sketch that later. (I’m not ‘live’ drawing on this trip as it’s threatening rain again and I don’t want to ruin my sketchbook.)
Eye-Popping Color
I round a corner and encounter a large patch of bright orange milkweed on both sides of the path. Wow! Its color makes such a visual impact in this sea of green dotted with soft pinks and lavenders. There are multiple bumble bees on every plant!
At this point, I’m about ¼ mile into the ½ mile trail that I’m hiking today. My boots are soaked. I’m truly in the moment. It’s hard not to be when you’re in a place like this.
Turning another corner, is that a wild rose? As I get closer, I see it’s a blackberry bramble! Itsy bitsy fruits are just beginning to form. I’ll keep my eye on those as they get larger. Maybe the birds won’t mind sharing a berry or two.
Good thing they’re water proof! 
Blackberry Brambles
Across the path from the blackberries, there are a few conifers; one a fir with large cones. As I step closer, I can see the sap dripping from them. I snap a picture — this will eventually go into my nature journal. Spotting a wildflower that I can’t identify, I snap a photo, so I can look it up later.
Too Much Coffee! (Is That a Thing?)
I still have a bit to go on my trail, including back up the steep hill to my car. Sadly, I speed up my pace and probably miss even more cool things, ‘cause — coffee! I didn’t expect to go hiking today due to the rain, so I had lots and lots of coffee! And now I have to pee! Well, it was an amazing hike. I feel like a new person! I’m over-the-top excited about all that I discovered in this impromptu hike that was only ½ mile and about an hour long in a nearby park in the city limits!
As I really wanted to process the hike and this peaceful mood, I stopped at another little park nearby (baseball fields and picnic tables) to use their porta-potty. I got out my sketching materials and sat down at a table under a shelter; figuring that I could sit and sketch even if it started to rain again. The ball-fields were too wet to play. The park was deserted. Alone in the quiet, I was able to relive my adventure while I sketched.
Hiking and Nature Journaling: To Learn and To Remember
I sketched for another hour and a half. I still have a few sketches to add to these pages. Looking back on the hike as I was drawing, I felt this big rush of gratitude for all that Mother Nature decided to show me today, as well as an overwhelming sense of connection — something we could all use more of. I thought about all that I would have missed if I’d been in a bigger hurry; if my hike had been about exercise rather than discovery, . . .
Oh yeah, remember that cool bug I spotted on the Queen Anne’s Lace? Turns out it was a species of lightning bug that I had never seen before! How cool is that? I see a night trip to the park in the near future!
Want more nature journaling? Follow Lisa’s Instagram page! I post hiking and nature journaling daily over there. You may also enjoy this post on Keeping a Nature Journal.
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Nature Journaling: More Than Sketching
Does the idea of sketching in a nature journal fill you with anxiety? What comes to mind when you hear the term ‘nature journaling’? For most of us, a nature journal brings thoughts of perfectly sketched or painted landscapes of beautiful mountain vistas with perfect birds and flowers spread through its pages, right?
However, drawing, painting, and sketching are just one way to record your interactions with nature in your journal. Let’s take a closer look behind the scenes of nature journaling!
Why Keep A Nature Journal?
While there are probably as many reasons as there are people keeping journals, here are just a few of the more compelling reasons to make nature journaling a regular part of your life:
- Sketching practice — many people using nature journaling to improve their drawing and sketching skills
- Identifying species — keeping a journal can help you learn to identify wildflowers, fungus, trees, birds, . . . you name it.
- Observational skills — looking at something long enough to record details of the way it looks, how it smells, or what it sounds like has the side-effect of sharpening your skills of observation
- Deepening your connection to nature — This, for me, is the very best reason to keep a nature journal!
The Role of Sketching and Painting in Nature Journaling
Even though there are many more ways to interact with your journal, sketching certainly has its place. I urge you, even if you think you can’t draw, to take a stab at sketching in your nature journal from time to time. The practice of looking at something long enough to try and draw it — to capture its details, forces you to notice things that you otherwise would have overlooked.
For example: I was recently sitting on a bench sketching a landscape. A tiny, fluffy, tan seed landed on my shirt. I have seen these and similar seeds floating around, all my life. They are ordinary because they are so plentiful; but since I had my journal and pencil in hand, I decided to sketch the little seed. As I looked closely enough to draw it, I noticed this tiny little hook-like projection at the bottom. Huh, I’d never notice that before! It makes perfect sense — this seed flies around and ‘hooks’ itself onto another plant, a bird, a dog, . . . and spreads this plant far away from its parent.
What plant did this tiny seed come from, I wondered? I made that notation in my journal next to the seed and finished drawing the landscape. I intended to do some research about the little seed at some point. Then one evening I was watching a rerun of NCIS and there was the seed! It stuck in my mind because of the sketch, and I learned that it was the seed from a sycamore tree.
The moral of this long story: when we draw things we are unfamiliar with and write about them, they stick in our brains. The more we learn about nature, the more in love we become with her!
Nature Journaling: Beyond the Sketch
Don’t want to, or can’t draw? Or perhaps, you just aren’t in the mood to sketch. No worries! Words can be a powerful way of nature journaling and making those important connections. Sketching tends to keep us locked into a visual connection as well as a scientific, observational mode; so we may miss other important things going on around us.
Take out your journal — close your eyes for a few moments. Use your other senses! What can you hear? Birdsong? Can you describe that song with words or letters? Is it melodic, trilling, harsh? Now open your eyes. Can you spot the bird that is making the sound? Try to identify the bird.
Repeat the same exercise using your other senses. What can you smell? Turn a rock or piece of bark around in your hands. What does it feel like? If you are certain about the identification of a plant — taste it.
Record all of your findings in your nature journal. Write a poem, . . . or a song. Here’s a great exercise — how would you describe a particular bird or plant to a blind person? They still have 4 senses! It’s not as easy as it sounds — give it a shot!
Play around with your journal. Have fun. Make nature journaling your ‘happy place’. Go beyond the scientific observation. Feel the nature all around you. Get to know her on multiple levels! All of these fun exercises will absolutely deepen your connection to nature and with yourself.
Helpful Resources
Need a little help identifying what you find in the field? There are tons of available resources out there. Check your local library for guides on identifying everything from mushrooms, wildflowers, birds, mammals, trees, . . .
In the field, Cornell University has a plethora of free resources on birding. Try their eBird and Merlin apps on your phone to help you identify birds and their songs in the field. eBird lets you track birds that you’ve spotted and in turn helps track bird migrations and bird counts. Find eBird here. Find eBird and Merlin apps at your app store.
Make sure to check out this post for a list of supplies and also the mental health benefits of nature journaling.
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Keeping A Nature Journal
Keeping a nature journal is a practice that can be as diverse as the journaler! If you do an internet search on nature journaling, you’re going to find, almost exclusively, articles and how-to’s devoted to homeschoolers using nature journals for science. While that is a very worthwhile endeavor, there is much more to keeping a nature journal than as a ‘science class’! And it’s certainly not just for the kids.
Nobody sees a flower, really — it is so small — we haven’t time, and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.
Gerogia O’KeeffeReasons To Keep A Nature Journal
Many of the reasons for keeping a journal of your nature adventures overlap with reasons to just be out in nature, such as:
- Mental health
- According to recent studies, time in nature can decrease depression by up to 70%.
- Boosts serotonin and decreases cortisol levels
- Allows you to process thoughts
- Can be a form of meditation
- Deeper connection to nature
- Forces you to focus on details
- Slows you down
- Teaches you to ‘see’ your surroundings
- Causes you to be in the here and now
In addition to the mental health benefits, keeping a nature journal can help deepen your connection to nature! Taking the time to sketch, photograph, or interact with nature (through things like leaf rubbings and collecting) forces your mind to focus on the here and now, and on the details that give you that deeper connection. You notice details that otherwise you might miss. Journaling gives you the opportunity to discover the ‘awe’ of natural things and phenomena. Personally, I’m always up for more awe and amazement in my life!
How to Keep A Nature Journal
Good news! There is no one right way to keep a nature journal. If you’re like most people, when we think of a journal, we picture beautiful, accurate drawings accompanied by scientific journaling. Those journals do exist, but the simple fact is most people don’t share their journals — they’re personal. They are filled with one person’s private thoughts and experiences. There is no need to worry about your drawing skills or writing expertise.
Here are just a few ideas for you to use in your own journal:
- Pencil sketches
- Watercolor drawings
- Words only — maybe you just want to capture with words what you are feeling as you observe a bird, sit by a babbling brook, or wonder why that cloud formation looks like an ice cream cone (For writing inspiration, find a list of nature writers in this article from the Sierra Club on nature journaling.)
- Objects
- Rubbings of leaves or bark
- Taping flat items to pages
- Pocket pages to hold not so flat items
- Photos — If photography is more your style, your journal can certainly be more like a scrapbook.
Tools & Supplies
The last thing you want when you’re out on a hike enjoying the nature around you, is a huge heavy backpack full of art supplies! Luckily, that’s not necessary. All you really need are a few basic supplies. I tend to carry just a smallish notebook and a mechanical pencil. Always having my phone handy for a quick snapshot so that I can remember colors for later is a big help.
Here are a few simple supplies you may want depending upon how you keep your nature journal:
- Notebook of some type — for me — smallish and easy to transport
- Sketching tools
- Pencil (mechanical — no need for sharpener)
- Watercolors – a very small, dry set
- Waterbrush – no need to carry water — this is a brush with a hollow handle filled with water — you can refill from a stream or your water bottle if you need to
- Graphite stick or charcoal for rubbings
- Baggies for collecting items — flat(ish) things like leaves can be taped right into your journal. A flower can be pressed and added in. You may want to include small pockets in your journal for collecting these items.
- Camera (phone camera)
Skills
More great news! You do not need any specific skills to get started.
- To begin, you need only to develop your skills of observation!
- Add in over time:
- Ability to sit quietly so you may observe/sketch skittish wildlife you may encounter
- A few basic drawing or photography skills are nice to have
- Walking with ‘soft eyes’ vs. ‘hard eyes’. Soft eyes means that you are just walking without any particular purpose or intent in mind. If you are focused and actively hunting for something, you will miss other subtle things along the way. In other words, soft eyes is relaxing and you’ll often stumble upon something amazing and awe-inspiring for your nature journal!
There really are as many ways to keep a nature journal as there are people who keep them. What’s your journaling style? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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- Mental health
