Family Nature Journal

I have a little nature journal I keep tucked away, jotting down the things we see and little notes about our adventures and stuffing in feathers, dried flowers or other interesting things we find. There are a few sketches and lots of little reminders of where to find the wild strawberries in June, the raspberries in July and the blackberries in August. It always warms my heart to look back through it and see the nature adventures we have shared.

A few times last year I tried to introduce Reece to nature journaling without success. There would be some interest at first, but it didn't stick. I talked to a few people about when their children started nature journaling and it seems I may have been trying a little too early with Reece, compared to others. So I let it go in hopes that maybe his interest in it will pick up in another year or two.

But then I saw this in December, and I was inspired to create our very own family nature journal. I took some time one cold December afternoon and got to work. I was so pleased with how it turned out and even more pleased when Reece took a look through it and expressed his excitement. He has already asked me to write down our backyard birds in the bird section, including the wonderful gold finch which has recently returned to the backyard.

Each month has two blank pages for us to record whatever it is we find in nature, as well as little notes about where we have been and the things we liked about our adventure. The back section is for nature sightings. There is a section for birds, wildflowers, trees and shrubs, animals and tracks, minerals, rocks and shells, water creatures, moss, lichen and fungi, insects and bugs, around the garden and other sightings. Storing it all away in a three ring binder means we can add in sketches, things we find, and whatever else we think fits.

I have to admit this journal has me pretty excited as well and I am really looking forward to sharing this experience with Reece. I have a feeling it is going to be a really good year for nature adventures and we will have the perfect place to record it all.