Journaling:


Keeping a journal is a great way to strengthen our observational skills and tune into what is going on around us and within us. We will be focusing on nature journaling here but this routine can just as easily be used for personal introspection.

In this post we will share some of the benefits of journaling, how to keep a nature journal, instructions for making a nature journal as well as suggestions for what to put in your journal.

Nature journaling connects the language parts of the brain to sensory experiences and helps train the mind to pay attention thus sharpening our observational skills. It also allows space to exercise our imaginations and critical thinking skills needed to explain what we are observing. Incorporating personal expression in our journaling brings us closer to our environment and builds deeper connections to what we observe. Daily journaling can really enhance our ability to notice what is going on around us and makes us stronger learners. This will benefit us as students, parents, and naturalists.

How to:

Step one is to get equipped: find or make a journal, get a pencil, and coloring utensils, if you want to color. There are a lot of creative ways to make a journal. You can find a directions to our favorite journal here and a video of the process here or look around online for other ideas. You can also use a notebook, sketchpad, or stack of paper stapled together, it does not have to be fancy.

Next choose a time and a place to sit and make your journal entry. All good nature journal entries start off with a heading which includes the date, the season, the time of day, and a note about the weather. This simple action begins to prepare us for settling down and looking around. After you have added your heading take note of what is happening around you and add it to your journal. Writing or drawing or both are perfectly acceptable. Make this journal your own and add to the pages whatever comes to you. A journal is a personal expression, and you may choose to share it or keep it private.

Younger children and those just coming to this type of activity might find it helpful to have a prompt or something to focus on. If your child is not yet writing, have them dictate their observations to you or encourage them to draw. It is OKAY if a journal entry is messy. The more creative freedom the journal owner has the greater the likelihood this will become a sought after activity. Who knows, but maybe these musings from your backyard will make their way onto bookstore shelves someday.

Many of the activities we will be sharing will make great prompts of journal entries. Here are some fun ideas you can try now:

  • Answer these three prompts about what you are observing: I notice… I wonder… It reminds me of… Answer these out loud to yourself or others as well as writing it down and it will help you remember the details and make connections to what you are observing.
    • Note: We have noticed in doing this activity in camp that there seems to be an age-related block to the “it reminds me of” prompt. For some young children, that sort of question is too abstract. For children under age 7, we recommend modeling the answer instead of expecting them to be able to give an answer.
  • Create names for things (pretend you are seeing something for the first time and do not know what it was called, what would you name it)?
  • Think of creative words to describe something, don’t be afraid to be silly.
  • Write the letters of the alphabet in a list and find something that starts with each letter.
  • Interview a plant, tree, animal, or insect. What would they say to you?
  • Draw or describe something and challenge someone to find it.
  • Find a scavenger hunt online or make your own.

Follow us on Facebook for daily nature activities that you can easily turn into a journal entry. Happy journaling.

We will end each of our blogs with some words of gratitude. This activity can also be a great entry in your journals.

Gratitude
We are grateful for:
The shining sun which warms the earth.
The sound of trickling water in a creek.
The whoooing of the owl outside my bedroom window.
The brightness of a full moon at night.
And
For all of you who allow us to share our love of nature with you and your children.