Page 11 - spring the rock 2017_Neat

Friends oF red rock canyon 11

Nature’s Connection

Nature Journaling By Margie Klein

pring means the desert, a pencil might work better than a pen
Sit’s time to get that could dry up or even melt.
outside, and while
you’re out…why Nature journaling is also a great activity for kids.
not take a notebook They can make their own journal from scrap paper
with you? Observers and yarn, decorating it with artistic renditions
of nature have been of the world they see. Sometimes this becomes
scribbling their obser- an arts and crafts project in itself, as they fill the
vations for at least 500 years. If you want to be a pages with leaves and feathers. For adults, there
practiced nature observer, you need a journal to jot are many ready-made journals, emphasizing nature
those observations down. discovery on the cover and pages with illustrations
and guiding prompts.
Nature journaling is at the root of nature study,
nature artwork, nature writing and scientific data The best
gathering. It’s necessary for naturalists. How did practice is to
the more famous naturalists like Thoreau and Em- use your nature
erson become such great writers of natural history? journal often.
They wrote many entries in their journals, then Take it along on
honed their writing to take the form of narratives. all outdoor travel
They all tell the stories of nature. expeditions. It’ll
be great to look
A nature journal is similar to a diary, but it’s a back at it and
place where we write down what happens in na- spark memories.
ture. You can take one with you on hikes or picnics Nature journals
– any outdoor activity – to record your observa- are not just for
tions. What plants did you see? What animals did posterity, but
you hear? You can even make drawings. Com- can also inspire
pare the things you’ve seen with what you saw a others to learn.
month ago. With practice, journaling can help you Some folks like to read the original journals of
explore how things work in the natural world. Sci- naturalists because they relate the exact impression
entists determine trends in the populations of flora the naturalist gained at the moment of seeing their
and fauna by documenting seasonal occurrences subject. Also, they’re a fun item to have around
noted over time. the house, enticing visitors to peek into their world
and ponder a moment.
Not many tools are needed for this activity —
just some sheets of paper and a writing utensil. If this has piqued your interest and you’d like
Weathered nature observers will choose paper and to try your hand at it, I’ll be offering a couple of
pen that stand up to inclement weather. “Rite in classes on nature journaling and nature writing in
the Rain” products are just one example. When I the spring. Hope to see you there.
was studying forestry in Wisconsin, we needed pa-
per that was water- and snow-resistant and mark- Find out more about the journaling classes at
ers that bled true in freezing temperatures. Here in www.redrockcanyonlv.org

Spring 2017