A contribution to the 14th Biennial Conference on University of Education in Natural Resources, hosted in March 2022 by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's School of Natural Resources and College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Michael Brunson, Kansas State University. Content is the property of the authors under the Creative Commons agreement.
Sketching your surroundings: Nature journals as a learning tool
The benefits of nature, or field, journaling are numerous. They can force the individual to slow down and take in their surroundings as well as help nurture a more meaningful connection to those surroundings. They can be utilized for scientific observation in addition to finding mindfulness and connecting to one's senses. Nature journals can also be easily applied to a variety of class learning objectives and help connect class content to personal experience. Furthermore, research has shown that nature journaling can enhance students' ecological literacy and environmental awareness. This presentation highlights personal experiences with, and offers helpful tips in, incorporating field journals in an undergraduate natural history course. Artistic talent is not a prerequisite; nature journaling is for everyone!