Nature Journaling

Nature journaling is your path into exploration of the natural world around you, and into your personal connection with it. How you use your journal is entirely up to you. You can be as involved as your interest.

You won’t find the world journaling in the dictionary. It is a word we created as an action form of the noun journal. Simply put, nature journaling is the regular recording of observations, perceptions and feelings about the natural world around you.

Go find a piece of paper; it doesn’t matter what type or size. Find any pencil, marker, or drawing tool. Now gather up your eyes, take a deep breath, and ask yourself: “What is happening outdoors, this particular season, this time of day, and in this particular place where I live?”

Draw a cloud, a bird flying by, a tree branch, ivy vines on a building wall, a potted plant, or a garden flower. Don’t judge your drawing. You are not an artist yet. You are a scientist, simply recording what you see, in this moment in time.

Be very quiet, be very still. Slow your breathing and think only “bud,” “plant,” “bird.” After one minute or less, no more, write what you drew and go on to the next sighting, keeping it relevant to season, time of day, and place.

You have begun nature journaling.

Some people prefer to record in written prose or poetry, some do it through drawing or painting, others with photographs or tape recordings, and still others through musical notation. Others like to incorporate the writings and thoughts of others to stimulate their own journaling. Many people use all or a combination of these techniques.

People have entered lists of birds seen at certain hours. Some count insects in a square yard of field and record their findings. Others keep moon-phase and weather charts. You can write poems, draw poems, or carefully diagram and draw a dead gull you’ve come upon on the beach.

The journal is yours to use as you wish.

Read more: Nature, Nature & Wildlife

Adapted from Keeping a Nature Journal, by Clare Walker Leslie & Charles E. Roth. Copyright (c)2000 by Clare Walker Leslie and Charles E. Roth. Reprinted by permission of Storey Communications.
Adapted from Keeping a Nature Journal, by Clare Walker Leslie & Charles E. Roth.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

KS G.

4:56AM PST on Dec 13, 2010

Thanks for the article.

send a green star

Past Member .

8:10AM PST on Dec 12, 2010

gosh, I have done it since my tender age when I learned to write!

Amber K.

1:22AM PDT on May 12, 2010

Great idea! Thanks.

Valerie P.

7:41PM PDT on Mar 17, 2008

At Annie's suggestion, I have begun to make paper. I have been wondering what I shall do with it. Now I know. What a wonderful, peaceful idea!

Sanjukta D.

10:54PM PDT on Mar 10, 2008

worth tryin!awesome idea!

Sarah L.

11:28AM PST on Feb 15, 2008

My husband and I do something similar, we make events as we notice them (ie: the first sighted Robin, when we noticed the first tiny flowers bloomed) and all this is written on the calendar. I just might splurge on a sketch diary and give this style a shot!

Missy R.

11:08AM PST on Feb 15, 2008

It does seem to help. My great Grandmother, always started her "diary" with the weather and her feelings of the day, then went on to what she wanted to write. I loved going through her journals, and now do the same. Maybe someday my grandchildren will also enjoy the reading of not only my thoughts, but the way the day was of my thoughts.

12:14PM PDT on Aug 8, 2007

Yes! i had the same idea for my organization. i was going to have each member get a notebook and keep a journal of all the labs and activities we do. i love this idea!

Samantha S.

10:02PM PDT on Jun 10, 2007

I love this idea! I'm for sure going to try it!