Nature Journaling
Nature journaling is the practice of sketching and writing outside with the goal of learning about nature. Nature journaling is a powerful tool for learning about plants and animals, a great way to document your discoveries in nature, a mindful practice for connecting to nature, and just a great way to spend time outside. We incorporate nature journaling as much as we can into our education programs, from using it as a reflection tool at the end of field trips to introducing to our high school Nature Club to ending every day of summer camp with some nature journaling time.
Co-Director Eleanor Harris is a passionate nature journaler and she runs quarterly nature journaling meetups here at the Clifton Institute to help people develop their nature journaling skills and meet other nature journalers in the area. These meetups are meant for everyone, whether you have been nature journaling for years or have never nature journaled before but want to try it out. You can find upcoming nature journaling meetups on our calendar here. You can also filter our calendar for nature journaling events.
Eleanor periodically emails a list of interested nature journalers to just spend an afternoon exploring the property together. Email Eleanor to be added to that list.
You can also email Eleanor any time you just want some encouragement to get out and nature journal, advice about how to journal, suggestions for seasonal topics, or anything else that would be helpful!
If you’re looking for inspiration, you can find some of Eleanor’s nature journaling pages in the gallery below, as well as on our Instagram page and on her personal Instagram page.
Our favorite book about nature journaling is John Muir Laws’ The Laws Guide to Nature Journaling and Drawing.
John Muir Laws also has an incredible amount of resources, included recorded classes and workshops, on his website. One of our favorite series there is the Nature Journal Connection, a 40 video series working through the basics of how to nature journal up. It’s designed for children, but we find ourselves returning to it again and again as adult nature journalers.
Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie is another great book about nature journaling
Nature Explorer’s Sketchbook by Jean Mackay is a nice option for younger nature journalers.
The Nature Journal Club on Facebook is a great source of inspiration and community.