Sometimes, simple things can have a big impact. Here at the RMSC Cumming Nature Center, we are big proponents of nature journaling: a simple, regular practice that focuses attention and cultivates awareness of the natural world. In a nature journal, you might record the daily weather, or make seasonal observations by noting the date a specific plant buds out or when you first spot a species of bird in spring. You can also use your journal just to jot down your own thoughts about the natural world.
Nature journaling can happen outdoors or from your kitchen window. Your journal can take any form that suits you, be it writing, sketching, scrapbooking, pondering or poetry. No matter the medium you choose, just tracking the date and place of your practice is a form of activism. Keeping a nature journal is an act of love and compassion for nature. It can be beneficial for your own wellbeing and a means of collecting data to benefit numerous citizen science projects like Project Feederwatch (feederwatch.org), The Great Backyard Bird Count (birdcount.org) or Audubon’s Climate Watch (audubon.org).
More than a quaint old-fashioned hobby, a nature journal is a door to discovery, a window to understanding the world around you and a habit that gleans a wealth of important information about our changing world – information we need now more than ever.
Enjoy these snippets from the nature journals of the staff at the RMSC Cumming Nature Center, and pay attention to these natural happenings in the weeks to come.
