What is Nature Journaling?
A nature journal is a place to record your observations, questions, connections, and understanding in a notebook.
Unlike a written journal, nature journaling uses pictures, symbols and numbers, in addition to words.
A nature journal is a place to focus your attention, and a way to learn to see and understand nature. This practice also enhances your observations, curiosity, gratitude, reverence, joy and awe. It helps you open your sense of curiosity, thinking, and memory.
As an artist, nature journaling has deepened my understanding of nature, helping me to see and observe connections of time, place, and habitat, deepening my artistic practice and appreciation of nature. If you want to improve your artistic skills, your naturalist skills, or your phenology skills connected to nature, why not give nature journaling a try?
Who Should Learn?
Just as each of us are unique, so is our nature journal. You do not need to be an artist or a naturalist to begin. There is no right or wrong way to journal. However, picking up a journal can feeling daunting and intimidating. Luckily, there’s a class for that! In these classes, you will learn skills in observation and drawing along with various ways to approach your nature journaling practice.
If you are curious and love nature or want to learn and observe the world around you, this is the place to start. As an artist, I approach nature journaling from the perspective of an artist, gardener, birder, and nature lover. Whether you are a teacher, naturalist, phenologist, gardener, parent, student, or simply interested in exploring the idea of nature journaling, these classes will help you dive deeper into your journaling practice.
Learn to Nature Journal
These four classes will get you started on your path to nature journaling. I will walk you through the process of observing, looking, questioning, and thinking. More than creating pretty pictures, our journals will guide our curiosity and be a record of our experience.
Introduction to Nature Journaling – Saturday, June 15th – 9 am 11:30 am
Learn to Draw and Observe Birds – Saturday, July 13th – 9 am -11:30 am
Learn to Draw Flowers & Vegetation – Saturday, August 10th – 9 am -11:30 am
Learn to Draw Trees – Saturday, September 21st – 9 am -11:30 am
Where
Classes will take place at the Forest History Center in Grand Rapids, MN.
The Forest History Center is located along the Mississippi River and has over five miles of trails including a bog, forest, and meadows with abundant wildlife and flora. We will begin in the Visitor’s Center classroom and then go outside to practice our skills
Location: 2609 County Road 76, Grand Rapids, MN
Introduction to Nature Journaling
Saturday, June 15, 2024 9 am -11:30 am Forest History Center While it is easy to focus on making pretty pictures, we will focus on bringing curiosity to our experience of nature. No drawing or painting skills are required, simply a desire and interest to learn. Materials: Please bring a notebook (unlined sketchbook), pencil, eraser,…
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Nature Journaling – Birds
How do we do we draw birds when they are always on the move? Learn the key characteristics, behaviors, and what to watch for as we practice, observe, and learn about these fluttering, flying creatures. Saturday, July 13th, 9 am -11:30 am Forest History Center, Grand Rapids, MN While it is easy to focus on making…
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Nature Journaling – Flowers
Experience the magic of flowers, whether you are curious about the flowers in your garden or learning about native wildflowers. We will explore the formation of plant, bud, stem, petals, and reproduction as we draw and seek to understand the inviting colors and textures of plants. Saturday, August 10th, 9 am -11:30 am Forest History…
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Nature Journaling – Trees
Enjoy the beautiful fall color and learn to draw and understand the differences between trees. Saturday, September 21st, 9 am -11:30 am Forest History Center, Grand Rapids, MN While it is easy to focus on making pretty pictures, we will focus on bringing curiosity to our experience of nature. No drawing or painting skills are…
Register by June 5th for all four nature journaling classes and received a $25 discount.