HelloFirst name / friend,
 
The clouds rolled in over Battleship Lake after a sunny morning of hiking through the meadows and forest of Strathcona Provincial Park. I sat at the giant picnic table overlooking the lake to create in my nature journal.  By this point, I'd already seen a bear, observed a sweet little Downey woodpecker, had mindful moments at the rushing creeks, and eaten lunch in a clearing alone (while thinking about the cougar sighting signs I'd seen 😳)
 
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Our family spends a lot of time in this park, skiing in the winter and hiking and camping in the summer. My memories are layered through the seasons. I wasn't quite ready for a swim yet this season. I enjoyed my journaling and then had a long chat with some other hikers, before I returned to the trailhead where I did a sketch of Mt Albert Edward. 
 
I added a few more details to the page when I got home by using my photos as references.
 

 
NATURE JOURNALing PAGE ideas
 
What you include in your journal page is entirely up to you. Lots of details, quick sketches, colours or black in white, lists, paragraphs of writing, poems - unlimited options! To avoid overwhelm, just pick a few, or do a little at each rest break instead of one sitting.
  • date and location - you can even add latitude/longitude
  • weather notes
  • a  list of wildlife I saw or heard
  • drawings or paintings of the landscape - little vignettes
  • drawings of details like berries, flowers, leaves or insects
  • thoughts about my day - how I'm feeling, who I'm with
  • colour stories - a record of colours in a particular object
  • haiku poems
  • memories from previous visits to the same location
  • gesture sketches - quick sketches to capture moving things or fast impressions of things when I don't want to stop long to sketch
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the supplies i take journaling
 
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  • a very old Winsor & Newton paint set
  • a new supply - a small towel perfectly tucked into the lid made for easy brush wiping
  • a Robert Bateman sketchbook - these are designed for drawing, not painting but I can get away with light washes. I like the Pentallic spiral bound book as it has better paper, but it's a heavier book to carry
  • Staedtler water brush #949
  • permanent pens ex. Faber-Castell Pitt pens in F or S or Sakura Micron pens (01) - I like permanent so they won't bleed when I paint
  • not shown: a waterproof pouch for my sketchbook, pencil and eraser (though I like the commitment of a pen)
 
 
This day was just what I needed as a reset for my body and soul. I hope that it inspires you to try out nature journaling. It doesn't have to be scientific or perfectly accurate. You don't need mountains, you can journal in your yard or a borrowed garden. 
 
What matters is that you carve out a peaceful time to sit and really be with your surroundings.
 
 Notice the details. Notice the way you feel when you observe with all your senses.
 
 
 
Happy journaling
-Nicole

Would you like to join an inspiring and encouraging community where you can learn watercolour, art journaling and mindfulness practices? Hop onto the waitlist for the Calm Waters Collective and I'll let you know when the doors open up for new members.
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