Nature Journaling

As with someone we care about, on occasion we need to escape the day-to-day and spend a little quality time together. Nature journaling is a lovely way to slow down and give the natural world our full attention — to sit close, look a little longer, and let it surprise us. Like a good conversation, it builds calm focus, sharpens memory, and sparks creativity, deepening a bond that grows richer with time. In a nature journaling session  we'll record what we notice — through drawings, diagrams, words, and numbers — and try a few fun exercises together. We'll cover the basics and explore from there. No previous experience or special skills necessary.

Terry Smith artist, teacher, cofounder of the Pollinator Posse, and Rutgers Environmental Steward,  has journaled everywhere from her own backyard to far-flung destinations since taking part in the earliest Nature Journaling events with recognized expert John Muir Laws. She loves sharing the sense of calm, wonder and discovery that unfolds through the practice — no matter what ends up on the page.