The fun of Nature Journaling – why we all need to do it.
So… why am I telling you about Nature Journaling?
Because somewhere along the way, we became permanently attached to our devices. Not all bad, of course—but in the process, we drifted away from nature. Life sped up. More to do, more places to be, more accounts to follow.
We’ve forgotten how to slow down. To stop. To actually notice things – like the smell of the air after rain or the tiny details hiding in plain sight. Nature journaling gently pulls us back into that connection, reminding us of the quiet magic that’s been here all along (no Wi-Fi required).
The best part? Nature journaling is for everyone.
You don’t need to be a writer, an artist, or a scientist. You just need curiosity. It’s simply about documenting what you experience in nature and creating memories you can return to again and again.
Nature journaling is a personal relationship built through observation. It can happen anywhere – on a city sidewalk, at the beach, or deep in the forest. It’s the practice of slowing down, stopping, listening, and really looking. As you record what you notice, you become the explorer, the scientist, and the lifelong student (sometimes all at once).
As John Muir Laws puts it beautifully:
“The goal of nature journaling is not to create a portfolio of pretty pictures, but to develop a tool to help you see, wonder, and remember your experiences.
All you need is a pen/pencil, a notebook and your curiosity.
And, just like that, you’re journaling—no notifications, no filters, just you and the world outside.
Ria Kotze