Welcome back nature journalers! Sometimes when we nature journal, we can find ourselves stuck on where to begin. With so many wonderful things to explore, I can relate to this…so having some prompts to help us get started can be helpful to keep in our back pocket. And like many other educators, I love a good mnemonic to help me remember. Note: a variation of this post originally appeared on my art blog for Fernheart Designs.

INIWIRMO

This first prompt is from the work of John Muir Laws and is very popular in the nature journal community. INIWIRMO – I Notice…I Wonder…It Reminds Me Of… can be an incredibly helpful tool for getting something down on the page.

I Notice…
What caught your attention? Starting with observations and capturing them with words, numbers, and sketches is an easy place to start. Look closely at what is around you – from the big picture to the small details. When we notice, we are more present.

I Wonder…
Asking questions is a natural next step in exploring the world around us. What is it? How did it get there? Questions often lead to more questions – don’t be afraid to not have all the answers.

It Reminds Me Of…
Seek out connections with what you have seen, experienced, learned about. Not only does it make your journal richer, but it helps us remember more about what we have encountered.

AEIOU

This prompt can act as another way to recall where we can seek inspiration for nature journaling.

A – Amazing
You are outside and encounter something that takes your breath away. Those moments that a picture will never quite do justice. Using a nature journal entry to reflect on these moments can allow us to capture what we have seen, along with how it makes us feel, something an image alone can never fully do.

E – Ephemeral
Here today…. one of the beautiful things about the world around us is that it is constantly changing. And the more time we spend in these places, the more subtle changes we are able to notice – from a new plant to a tree that has been taken down by a beaver.

I – Imperfect
Nature journaling is about more than just a pretty picture…like nature itself. When something is different, we can record observations about it in our journal – along with the wonderings that follow. I have noticed variations in color and love to seek out patterns in where different forms appear, while wondering what has caused these changes.

O – Ordinary
When we are more present, we learn to better appreciate the inhabitants of the ecosystems around us. From landscapes and rock formations to the small mosses and lichens that grow from trunks and branches. Our nature journal provides a space to record the beauty we find in the everyday.

U – Unexpected
Sometimes, life surprises us. What better place to capture these moments than in the pages of our nature journal pages. Sometimes it is finding a plant or animal in a place we wouldn’t normally, while other times it is something completely new (like a new entry for one’s life list as a birder). 1 word of caution about unexpected things: when we see something cool, it can be fun to want to share this experience with others. It is important to use caution with this, as sometimes a rare bird sighting like an owl may lead to harassment (intentional or otherwise) that negatively affects the well-being of sensitive species.

What’s next?

The next time you are lost in where to start on your page, start a timer and try a prompt. Find something intriguing and follow your curiosity. Soon you will have a new entry and maybe an experience your otherwise might not have. If you would like a resource to help remind you of these prompts and other helpful tools for nature journaling out in the world, check out my Resources page.

Happy Exploring!
Kirsten, the NW Naturalist