WHAT IS A NATURE JOURNAL?
A nature journal is a sketch book that allows you to collect your observations of nature in one place. It allows the best of both worlds to merge by combining art and writing. Together, these elements create a more descriptive depiction of your studies. Keeping a nature journal allows you to better define a chronological interpretation of your experiences as well as document your life in a way that a photo alone can never achieve.

A nature journal can be used to do independent studies, observations that occur in nature, plantings and vacations. It’s a great way to become more familiar with the natural sciences while having fun. Journals can be a great project for families to work on together. It allows children to learn while expressing themselves creatively. Whatever you choose to do, it should be a reflection of you.

THE HISTORY OF NATURE JOURNALS
Scientists have always used journals to record their observations. Leonardo DaVinci, Charles Darwin and Lewis and Clark are just a few examples of individuals who have used journals to document their observations
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HOW TO GET STARTED
It all begins with going for a walk. For the best experience, I would recommend a local natural area. The more natural, the more likely you’ll find something interesting. Other good places include areas around ponds, lakes or streams, parks or even the ocean. You can even explore your own backyard!

WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT
Write about anything that inspires or interests you. Make notes on the place you are visiting and why. Other details should be included such as the date, the time, the season, and the weather.

THE TOOLS YOU’LL NEED
A Journaling book, or loose papers of the same size that you can bind together and make your own journal. For preservation purposes, I suggest acid free paper. The medium of your choice, watercolor, colored pencils, or even pastels. You’ll also need pens and regular #2 pencils to sketch with. You can draft your studies and then go back over with pens and/or media. A camera can help you preserve things that won’t hold still for your studies, like critters. A field guide is also helpful in identifying what you find.