E.4 How to Start a Nature Study

Discover the #1 tool for nature study, overcome obstacles, and get started in part 2 of a 3-part nature study series. Learn how to Nature study beyond the Journal in part 3 and Why Nature study in part 1. Below are the links (some are affiliate) from the episode Books mentioned in the podcast: Outliers by Malcom Gladwell Handbook of Nature Study by Ann Botsford Comstock John Muir Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling by John Muir Laws Other Resources Mentioned: Rediscovering the Forgotten Benefits of Drawing Article by Jennifer Landon Mentioned in the first part of the podcast. Option #1 for Nature journals if you like a blank page: Multimedia Sketch Pad (or any like this for a blank note pad- found at most stores) Option #2 for Nature Journal if you like a little more structure to your open-ended journaling: Complete Nature Journal or Basic Nature Journal (A great place to start with little ones.) Option #3 if you’d like a guided journal to tell you what to look for and how to record it: The Nature Connection: An outdoor workbook for kids, families, and classrooms Writing tools: A pencil is all you need but if you decide to watercolor instead I’d recommend starting with two quality brushes : #10 Round Brush and #6 Round Brush one other tip I picked up from John Muir Laws that I love is using a non-photo blue pencil for your underdrawing because it is easy to erase, doesn’t show like lead pencils and doesn’t interact with the watercolor or colored pencils. Hiking trail app: AllTrails Outline of Episode: 1. You don’t need to be an artist to keep a nature journal 2. You can acquire skill through training and practice 3. Drawing isn’t the only way to keep a nature journal 4. Overcoming little attention spans 5. Overcoming “I’m too old for this” 6. Overcoming perfectionism 7. Overcoming “I’d rather do than write” 8. Overcoming “I’m not an artist- I’m a mathematician” 9. Getting Started- Materials 10. Get outside 11. Think like a scientist 12. Record observations 13. Digg deeper 14. Let them wonder Full Transcript available at hatchingcuriosity.com