Wondering what to do with a Nature Journal? Learn the basics and start recording observations in your own yard and neighborhood. There are countless discoveries to be made!

WHERE
 Anywhere outdoors — or indoors with materials collected from outside or when reflecting on outdoor experiences and observations.

MATERIALS
 – A notebook (preferably with blank pages) or clipboard and stapled together blank paper
– pencil/pen and/or other drawing/painting supplies

TIME
 5 minutes to 1 hour (5-15 minutes several days a week is great!)

WHO
Kids and preferably their adults as well!

WHAT
 A nature journal is a place for using drawings and words to record observations you make when you’re outside. 

HOW
Use nature journals to keep track of stuff when outdoors — your experiences, what you notice, what these things remind you of, questions you have, and how all this makes you feel… noticing your feelings is an important observation too! Be sure to date each entry so you can flip through to look for patterns throughout the days, weeks, months, and even years.

EXTENSIONS 
– While the above instructions are for recording free-form observations, there are countless structured activities that use nature journals as an important tool. Check out some of our favorites: Make a Sound Map, Draw Together, Watch it Grow, and Tiny Adventures.

– FREE activity guide: Opening The World Through Nature Journaling (Integrating Art, Science, and Language Arts) by John Muir Laws. This link has all sorts of great resources for teaching Nature Journaling.