So you want to share the wonderful world of Nature Journaling with others, but might be feeling a bit overwhelmed about where to begin. And you are not alone. [ If you are interested in learning more about the practice of nature journaling – check out my post series by clicking “Nature Journaling” in the menu above ]

Much like the feelings you may have had the first time that you began your own nature journaling page, it can feel intimidating about where to begin. When I taught my first nature journal class or even my more recent club meetings, I still feel in awe of the options that exist. So to my fellow Nature Journal teachers, this post is a set of suggestions and resources to guide and encourage you.

Wild Wonder(ful)

There is no way I could write this post without first acknowledging the work on the Wild Wonder Foundation community in supporting nature journaling for all. This community has provided countless resources to support those who want to bring nature journaling to their community. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Resources Page: if you need a one-stop spot for where to begin, this is it. You can find almost anything you need here – from descriptions, video classes, tools to share, and so much more!
• Quick Start to Nature Journaling Zine: looking for an easy resource to share with your students, including tips you can teach from? Check this out! Designed by Kate Rutter, this printable pocket zine makes Nature Journaling more accessible.
• Wonderland: This online community is a new space to connect with other nature journalers and those who lead/teach about it. There are even sub-groups for those who are exploring nature journaling in new ways. Similar in some ways to the Nature Journal Club group on Facebook, you’ll likely find your people here.
• Nature Journal Educator’s Forum: a weekly online Zoom meet-up for nature journal educator’s of all levels. Meets at 12PM Pacific Time. It is led by Jack (see below) and his co-hosts Yvea Moore and Billie Jo Reid. This has been a well of inspiration for me in my journey as an educator.
• If you really want to jump in the deep end… Wild Wonder also offers a Nature Journal Educator Program that will give you the skills, tools, and confidence to start sharing nature journaling. This involves a series of view-at-your-pace pre-recorded classes, a one-day intensive course on Zoom, and a 6+month stewardship project. I recently finished mine and will likely follow up about the experience in a future post.

If you don’t know Jack, you probably should…

John Muir Laws (more commonly known as Jack) is an author and icon in the nature journal community. But even more, he is incredibly kind-hearted and humble. If you connect with the Wild Wonder community, you will quickly encounter him and his contributions. He offers a number of free classes on a variety of topics – from how to draw categories of plants and animals, to landscapes, to how to share nature journaling with others.

It also bears mentioning that he LITERALLY wrote the book on How to Teach Nature Journaling (with Emilie Lygren) – which you can purchase in print or digital directly from his site. This book has so many great tips from where to begin to exercises you can do with your group (or try yourself when stuck in a nature journal slump). His site also has a lot of great tools and recommendations – one of my favorites being the Naturalist Back Sheet.

Selecting a Site

One of the first things you need if you are going to teach nature journaling is a place you are going to do it. Sometimes an opportunity may present itself suddenly or you may have to do some work to set it up (I’ve been in both situations). If you are looking for suggestions, here are a few to consider:

• Working with a Non-Profit: If you already volunteer with a non-profit, this can be a great place to start. Nature Journaling can be a great way to connect people with their local ecosystems and practice care at the same time. These could be environmental organizations, conservation groups, or a specific community.
• Libraries: Does your local library offer classes for community members? Is there a green space nearby? Connecting with existing learning organizations can be an easy place to begin.
• Parks and Recreation Departments: Spending time in parks is a fantastic way to learn about who makes their home in our backyards, how the seasons change and shape the area around us, and the role that humans play in shaping these environments. Some Parks and Rec departments look for community members who are willing to teach short classes, especially during the summer or school breaks.
• Schools: This might be a trickier unless you are already employed by a school, but after school clubs can be an easy way to help teach young people about the plants and animals around them. Partnering with a school garden program could also allow you to teach (and learn) in these settings. My nature journal club often focuses heavily in our garden because there is always something new. It can also be fun to hear the wonderings and what captures the attention of students.

Getting Lost in the Details…

Once you have chosen a site, it is important to decide on some other key details, while others can (and likely will) change. And I recommend having a place to write down notes, especially if you plan to lead multiple outings. Some of the questions I have found myself asking include:

• When will we meet? Is this a one day class for a few hours? Or a regular meeting over weeks or months?
• Which site have I selected? One you choose a specific site, it is always a good idea to visit it with your nature journal at least once to get a sense for what is out there – but always be ready for an unexpected surprise out in the field!
• What conditions could we expect there? If you are journaling on a trail or near a wetland, it may mean being prepared a bit of mud or rain and making sure attendees are dressed for the conditions. Paved trails are more accessible, but may mean competing for space with runners or cyclists suddenly passing as you try to journal (not the easiest way to do a sit spot). It is also important to think of any safety considerations and never hurts to add a basic first aid kit with a few bandages to your teaching kit.
• How many people can attend? This will depend both on the site and your own comfort level. I typically prefer not to go above 10 people at a time, but have taught a class of 30.

Tools of the Trade

Supplies… this is another factor that can vary widely depending on where you are, what conditions you might encounter, and how much money you have available. I always recommend sending a list of supplies in advance, but making sure you have some available.

Basic Kit: To nature journal, all you need is something to write on and something to write with. I have led activities with copy paper and Ticonderoga pencil before and it works just as well as fancier materials. If you use loose paper, I recommend clipboards if possible to keep it from flying away.

Intermediate Kit: A bound nature journal, a pencil, and a pen can help you get a lot of extra pencil miles without a large price tag. This is what I often recommend attendees bring, though they can always bring more with them.

Bells and Whistles: For the nature journal club at my school, I decided to go all-in. I wanted students to be able to explore different media to capture their noticings and wonderings. The kit I gave them included: a mixed media journal, a set of pencils, an eraser, a Micron pen, a lanyard with a square viewfinder and measuring card/magnifier, a large binder clip, a water brush, and a basic 6 color watercolor set. All of these could be zipped up in a plastic reusable bag so they could carry it with them. I would also bring colored pencils to meetings, so those were available as well. Were I to do it again, I would probably opt for the intermediate kit instead, but have some of the other tools available. Due to the rainy weather, I also invested in some foldable foam cushions that students could use to sit on the ground, which came in handy a few times. You can see some of my specific gear recommendations here.

A Starting Place…

Once you have figured out the basics of who, when, and where (you already knew why!), it’s time to figure out the what! This was the part that initially left me feeling like one of those cartoon characters with swirling eyes as I tried to wrap my brain around it. But after a few classes, I realized some key truths:

You don’t have to cover it all – It felt important to start with this because when I first taught nature journaling I wanted to cover ALL the basics…from what is nature journaling, to INIWIRMO, to opening exercises, to more advanced strategies… I was feeling the pressure of the lesson plan! (I blame my classroom educator background) But once I got out there I realized that was a) way too much information in b) way too little time which would likely c) shut down my learners (which is not the goal). So here’s where I went instead with it…

Start With An Opening Activity – knowing your audience helps with this, but it also be helpful to choose something that any nature journaler could do. I always would recommend taking some time to take a deep breath and take in where you are. Grounding yourself to this place in this moment. Nature journaling can help us be more present if we use this time intentionally. Beyond that, the resources mentioned above contain tons of suggestions for this, but my favorites are –

1. Blind Contour: draw a tree or a leaf and keep your pencil nice and loose. The goal is to not look at your drawing as you make it, which can be very challenging. But this warm up helps loosen up the muscles, while helping us pay closer attention to shape rather than getting caught up in the details.
2. Tracing a leaf (or shadow): Another activity that can be an easy start is to find a leaf, branch, flower (don’t pick them!) and trace the shape of the object or the shadow it makes on your paper. This again helps us get a feeling about where the edges are and how certain parts compare.
3. 1 min, 5 min, 10 min...: The times don’t need to be exactly those, but having your students observe something and see what they can capture in a set amount of time is another fun way to stretch those creativity muscles.

Tip At A Time – do not… I repeat DO NOT tell them everything there is to know about nature journaling. If you are able to meet multiple times, focus on a “Tip of the Week” which allows attendees to learn about and try something new in their journals. If you are leading a one-day class, offer a couple tips up front (I recommend INIWIRMO and Words, Pictures, Numbers), then give them time to explore. You can always add on more focused tips later.

Let Exploration Be Your Guide – Nature Journaling is at its heart about curiosity and connection, with a hint of curiosity thrown in. No two nature journal outings will ever be the same. If you regularly visit your own nature nook or sit spot, you will quickly learn this from your own experience (if you haven’t already).

Sharing is Caring (and Learning Too) – Take the time to check in with your fellow journalers. This could be during the open exploration time or at the end of that meeting – or even both. Nature Journaling brings people in for lots of different reasons and we can learn even more from each other. I always find that my fellow journalers notice things that I would have otherwise completely missed out on. Or they approach a particular subject or question in unexpected ways. Being a Nature Journal teacher means being open to learning from our students. I would not be the nature journaler I am today without my community.

A Couple Closing Reminders

First, be gentle with yourself. Teaching and leading others in activities is itself a learning experience. Much like how nature journaling is not about pretty pictures, teaching nature journaling is not about having the perfect class. Progress takes time and practice – as with anything. Second, it never hurts to have a back-up plan. Sometimes, things come up and being prepared for the possibilities is always a good idea. Third, the first time you put a pencil to paper and added words, pictures, and numbers and then did so again, you became a nature journaler… and the first time you share your love of nature journaling with others in your community, you become a nature journal educator. Even if it is only one person… or five. And don’t forget to take a deep breath and remember – you’ve got this ♥️.

Happy Exploring (and Educating)!
Kirsten, the NW Naturalist