Nature Journaling Series: in the details
One of my goals this year is to get out and nature journal more. It is starting to get a little warmer outside. Soon plants will start to bloom. It is a perfect time to nature journal. Getting outside and exploring is such a big part of homeschooling for some. Nature journaling is a great addition to this activity for several reasons.
When we stop long enough to focus on one object in our adventure, we are forced to be observant and really get to know the object. When we draw what we see, it locks in that memory even clearer. Then, later when we flip through our nature journals, we are triggered with the memory of that day and what we learned or observed. If you jot down a few notes to go along with it, that strengthens your connection to that moment. It is such a great way to connect with nature and remember what you observe.
This month, I will share four different ways to tackle nature journaling. This week, I want to talk about focusing on details. What is one object that you are drawn to? Take a break from your hike or exploration to sit and draw that one object. Make a note about it. It could be what drew you to it, or what you notice about it. If you take a look at the “Antler Village” pages in my journal above, you will also notice I jotted down a couple of quotes from my kiddo. When I look back a this now (several years later), I didn’t even remember those things until I read it which added to my memory of that day. Nature journaling is for all ages. I think you will enjoy it too. So join your kiddos in a nature journaling break on your next outdoor adventure.
This is best experienced outside, in the moment, but I have been known to take pictures while I’m out. Then, I’ll nature journal when I get home. I usually do this when I am with a group of people who are just there for the hike, and they are not prepared for me to stop and draw. It may be best to organize a separate hike with nature journaling as part of the plan when you can. Really, you don’t even have to go on a hike. As you can see in one of the pictures above, I journaled about the small herb garden in my backyard. If you can’t find the energy to go on a hike, what can you find in your yard that is interesting?
Supplies • I use a small art journal or sketchbook, a pen with ink that is NOT water soluble, and a travel-size watercolor kit. They also make water brushes that hold water in the handle of the brush so you don’t have to tote around a cup of water. You could also just markers or colored pencils if you don’t want to mess with paint in the middle of the woods.
