By Ella Selden, SCA Interpretive Ranger
Nature journaling is the perfect way to practice your observation and appreciation skills!
Nature journaling involves making and recording observations you find outside. Journaling helps the observer slow down and look for details in the world around them. Throughout history, humans have taken time to create art of their surroundings. For example, petroglyphs are images carved in stone. Pictured below, the Abenaki people created a petroglyph depicting what Rich Holschuh of the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs believes to be a whirlpool (a native bird species in the northeast), a vortex of water that draws objects in. Within the whirlpool, there appears to be five thunderbirds, a person, a dog or wolf, and several eels or snakes. Although we do not know if there was a whirlpool when the petroglyph was carved, it is a reflection of the world interpreted through the observer’s eyes.
Observation and expression are the main goals of nature journaling. It offers an outlet of creativity while being scientific. Journaling helps us figure out what is happening in our surroundings and learn to appreciate the little things. When stopping to draw the lines in a red maple leaf, you may simply observe the patterns in the leaf, then you may begin to appreciate the different aspects and roles of the leaf. That leaf collects the sunlight that fuels the tree, and when the leaves fall off, they provide nutrients for the soil that has endless positive effects on the ecosystem. Nature journaling reminds us to appreciate the structures and roles of the world around us while making connections and conclusions about questions we have. Let’s learn how to start one!
Steps for starting a nature journal:
1. Have a journal; this can be a notepad, spiral, sketch book, anything!
2. Go out in nature; big or small, any space with natural features is a great place to start.
There are many different ways to approach nature journaling! It can be as simple as doodling what you see, or as complex as drawing anatomically correct diagrams.
Inspiration is everywhere
Nature journaling starts with an observation you find intriguing. For example, on a hike I did at Bear Brook State Park, I found my first moose track! Being from Texas, this was very exciting for me. I took a quick picture and when I got back home I sketched what the track had looked like. I decided to add other observations I made on the hike to recount the experience.
Make it your own!
This is your nature journal! Be as creative as your heart desires. Creativity in journaling further connects us to our environment. I love the connective power of music, and I often find myself relating my outdoor experiences to songs. On each page of my nature journal, I include a song that I listened to on my hike or felt related to my observations and experiences.
Some prefer to make physical observations like the temperature, weather, and time in their journal. These elements can give more context to your observation. You can also record the behavior of wildlife you see or the changes you observe as the seasons develop. Making these observations help us appreciate the little details and wonders of the world around us.
A note on collecting specimens…
Specimens can be collected to add to your journal if done properly. Only take one specimen to respect the gift the earth has allowed you, and ensure they are taken care of. Never take the last of something. Leaves, flowers, insects, feathers, and anything else organic will need to be fully dried to avoid mold. They can be preserved in clear tape, laminating paper, or contact paper. If you are wanting to capture what you see, but do not want to take anything, take pictures and add them to your journal!
Getting connected
Nature is in us and all around us, so don’t fret if you are not close to any parks or “natural spaces.” Backyards and city parks are the perfect place to observe everyday life. Even the sparsely planted trees in shopping center parking lots can host beauty deserving of artistic attention.
Nature journaling is just as much a reflection of the outside world as it is a reflection of the observer’s personality. These drawings and reflections are for you. The point of nature journaling is not perfection, but observation and reflection, so don’t worry about your drawings being perfect.
Nature journaling can be as simple or as complex as you like it to be. It is an excellent creative outlet and is a time honored tradition of observing and appreciating the world around you. If you are interested in learning more about nature journaling, I suggest checking out the resources below!
References
Leslie, C. W. (2005). Drawn to Nature: Through the Journals of Clare Walker Leslie.
Leslie, C. W. (2021). Keeping a Nature Journal.
Smith-Mastaler, B. (2019, October 14). ‘There’s A Bigger Story:’ Recently Discovered Petroglyphs Bring Indigenous Narrative to Surface. Vermont Public. https://www.vermontpublic.org/vpr-news/2019-10-14/theres-a-bigger-story-recently-rediscovered-petroglyphs-bring-indigenous-narrative-to-surface.
