What is
Nature Journaling?
Nature Journaling is the creative practice of recording thoughts and observations of the natural world using a combination of words, pictures and numbers.
It all begins with stepping outside with paper, a pen or a pencil, and an open mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don’t think I can draw or write, or know very much about nature or science?
Be brave and join us anyway! No one is grading you or judging you. You learn by trying, and we’re happy to teach you some tricks to get you started. The goal of journaling is to practice writing, drawing, measuring, observing, and recording, without worrying about the end product.
You also don’t need to worry about being able to identify species, that’s a skill that comes with time and familiarity. You can observe a bird just fine without knowing what kind it is!
The most important thing is to be curious and kind — to others, to yourself, and to the world around you.
What’s a normal workshop or meet-up involve?
The day will include a mix of prompts, independent journaling time, and (optional) group sharing.
Every gathering is flexible, and based on the experiences and situations of the day and the interests of the group. Ultimately, the land is the best teacher, and remaining open to what can be learned in the moment is the most important lesson.
What supplies do I need?
You don’t need to buy expensive supplies, but having dedicated items for journaling will make it easier and more special each time you go.
Basically, you need to be prepared for the weather, and you need a journal and something to write with. If you’d like more detailed recommendations, read the section below.
Journaling Supplies: Suggestions
Basic Outdoors Gear
Weather appropriate clothing
Hat/Sunscreen
Bug spray
Water bottle
Bag or backpack to hold supplies
Something to sit on: (optional) Can be as simple as a small towel or blanket, but a foldable, lightweight chair or stool is great, or something waterproof like a foam camping pad works. Or you can wear sturdy pants/long shorts and sit on the ground!
Binoculars: (optional) Especially useful for bird watching and butterflies. The Pentax Papilio are my favorite.
Journal / Sketchbook / Notebook
Hardbound is easiest, so you can write and draw in it while standing up, but any kind will work, especially if you’re just getting started. Unlined, blank pages are preferred, but if all you have is a spiral notebook or composition notebook, don’t let that stop you! Use what you have and make the most of it.
Note: If you want to use watercolors in your work, you will need to choose a journal designed to be used with wet media. Both Canson and Strathmore make mixed media sketchbooks that are great and affordable.
Remember: The best sketchbook is the one you will actually use! Choose a size and price that works for you.
Personally, I love the Laws Sketchbook. It’s a great size, durable, has both white and toned paper, and best yet, it has a mini nature journal instruction book in the back. You can buy it here: https://johnmuirlaws.com/product/the-laws-sketchbook-for-nature-journaling/
Pencils
Regular HB school pencils work great. A white polymer eraser or a grey kneaded art eraser is very helpful to fully erase any pencil marks, as the pink eraser on the back of most pencils tends to leave streaks. I prefer mechanical pencils, but everyone is different. Many people enjoy using the Prismacolor erasable non-photo blue pencil to sketch out a page, because graphite pencils can smudge.
Permanent Pen
Ball-point pens or sharpies are affordable options. Microns (or similar art pens) provide a darker line with less bleed, but can be more expensive. Pens with a brush tip allow you to vary the line width as you draw, but they’re harder to write with.
Colors (optional)
Bring whatever media you prefer – colored pencils, markers, watercolors or crayons. It can be fun to switch it up, and try different combinations of tools.
Watercolors (also optional)
This is only an option if your journal has mixed media or watercolor paper. It is very frustrating to use watercolors on thin, cheap paper. I also highly recommend using a waterbrush, because it’s so hard to juggle a brush and a water cup in the field. A small variety of basic colors is all that’s needed, too many can be overwhelming. Make sure to also bring a small rag to clean off your brush between colors. If you cut off the foot from an old crew sock, you can pull the ankle part over your wrist so it doesn’t blow away while you’re working.
Journaling Prompts To Get You Started
I NOTICE… I WONDER… IT REMINDS ME OF…
I notice: We can use all of our senses to notice the world around us. Sight, hearing, touch, smell, and even taste (when safe). We can document these observations in our journals using sketches, colors, diagrams, labels, notes, poems, stories, graphs, and more. We can also pay attention to our own inner experience, our emotions, and stay connected to the present moment.
I wonder: Being curious means accepting that we don’t know everything, and embracing the fact that there’s always so much more to learn and discover. Asking questions is one of the ways to train our curiosity and create a deeper connection with the places where we nature journal.
It reminds me of…: We can connect our present moment with past experiences and memories, things we’ve learned, and stories we’ve been told. We can build connections based on shapes, colors, and patterns, and movement. Doing this can be playful and creative, but also help us see and remember things we might have missed otherwise.
Learn more about nature journaling at the Wild Wonder Foundation website.