NJEF- Observe First How do we teach Nature Journaling? There is no standard. It’s all trial and error, adapted to each group, each region, each student. How do we figure out these techniques, these skills? We talk, we discuss, we share as educators and help each other reach our students and better engage them with nature. Date of original video: …

The Nature Journal Educators Forum:A discussion on perfectionism and Self care. Connect with the Community:👉 Learn more about Nature Stewardship through Science, Education, and Art.🔔 Subscribe for more videos on nature journaling and environmental education!

Have you always told yourself you can’t draw but wondered “What if? Are you new to drawing and looking for a place to start? Let’s do this together. Let’s dive in and do this! All ages and experience levels are welcome. Bring Your Journal and favorite drawing materials. Taking notes while you watch and participate will help you remember the new techniques and incorporate them into your journaling.

A detailed, durable, full color, fold-out guide to help you learn, recognize, and appreciate the species that live in the San Francisco Bay Area’s creeks, rivers, and ponds.

Join Getty Ellis and me on the The World We Want podcast with the North American Association for Environmental Education. June 17, 2026 What does it mean to truly notice the world around us? For naturalist, educator, and nature journaler John Muir Laws—known to many simply as Jack—careful observation is more than a skill. It's a way of building curiosity, deepening understanding, and strengthening our connection to the natural world.

John Muir Laws demonstrates how to paint clouds using gouache, watercolor, and toned paper. (Class session from 20 April 2023) How to make your own gouache palette:

Join us for a rich discussion to inspire your nature journaling and own poetry practice. Class session from 4 Jan. 2024. Join John Muir Laws and Bradley Hoge as we examine his process for creating rich poems that incorporate nature, science, and personal experiences. Bradley Earle Hoge’s 2nd book of poetry: N = R* fp x ne x fl x fi x fc x L…

John Muir Laws interviews Nancy Overton, an artist who makes incredible paper mache birds to inspire and increase awareness and care for the natural world. (Class session recording from 7 September 2023) Nancy shares step-by-step photos of how she makes a bird: tools and materials, collecting reference photos, making a silhouette drawing, making wire silhouettes, putting the silhouettes together and filling in the frame, covering the frame with strips of newspaper, covering the bird in colored papers, and applying the eyes. See how she breathes form and life into her birds! Check out Nancy's website!

John Muir Laws joins Vicky Earle to talk about community and exploring naturehoods! (Class session 7 December 2023) Nature sketchbook journaling is a powerful tool to connect with community on many levels. When we use our sketchbooks to connect with the world around us, we become part of the inspirational, worldwide community of nature journalers. Our sketchbooks also allow us to share our passion with others closer to home – family, friends, neighbors, students, even strangers passing by.

Join Dan Imhoff and me on an episode of the Full Espression Podcast. In this eppisode, host Dan Imhoff sits down with naturalist, artist, educator, and lifelong journaler John Muir Laws for a conversation about attention, creativity, and the transformative power of keeping a journal. They explore journaling as more than a record of experience, but as an essential tool for observation, reflection, and deeper engagement with the world.

Join Billie Jo Reid and me as we explore the foundations of Nature Journaling and share our experiences from our recent Nature Journaling adventure in the Galapagos Islands.

John Muir Laws shares his recent underwater adventures in the Sea of Cortez with the Nature Journal Educators Forum. Kate Righter shares her experiences snorkeling in Hawai'i and important takeaways to keep your participants safe. (Class recording from 30 Apr. 2025) June 9th is Coral Triangle Day! Ask your friends who snorkel about the importance and states of coral in the world's oceans, and look for ways to contribute in your daily life to the conservation of these important ecosystems.

Join Mandy Teernstra and John Muir Laws as we explore how to nature journal underwater, with simple and easily accessible equipment! This will change the way you snorkel forever. (Class recording 10 April 2025) Mandy Teernstra lives in the Netherlands. She has been diving for more than 30 years, including in caves and wrecks. She now nature journals while she snorkels!

“Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”  —Mary Oliver Join me and the Aldo Leopold Foundation for an exciting discussion on how to start your own nature journal, phenology, and the neuroscience behind journaling—plus, live demonstrations! For or author and naturalist John Muir Laws, attention is love. When constant headlines, advertisements, and social media posts leave us in a digital daze, the simple practice of nature journaling can help us reclaim our attention and refocus on the incredible world around us.

Naturalist David Lukas has created a series of 10-minute videos, holding a camera on a natural phenomenon so that nature journalists can observe, sketch, and journal. These videos give you the time to make careful observations. Unlike a still photograph, you can see the movement of wind and hear the natural soundscape around you. Practice using your words, pictures, and numbers to record your "I notice," "I wonder, "and "It" reminds me of" observations and thoughts.

Join John Muir Laws, Nature Journal South Africa (NJSA), and Dr. Katta Ludynia, Research Manager at SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) to learn about African Penguins and how to use our nature journals as tools for artivism for their conservation. Oh yes, there are penguins in Africa, now. But they are one step away from effective extinction in the wild – predicted by 2035 – if nothing is done to improve their situation!

Learn how to draw birds with a few fast lines that capture the feeling and behavior of a live bird. Got a minute? Sketch a bird! Join me and the Wild Wonder Foundation for a fun class on quick bird sketching where I share my best tips and tricks learned through my 40 years of teaching and illustrating. This class is a great opportunity for you to learn how to draw birds and drawing birds is a great way to study them and learn about them.

John Muir Laws and the Nature Journal Educator's Forum talk to Josée Bergeron, author of "Beyond the Front Door: Embracing Nature for a Happier and Healthier Family". Calling families to return to nature, Josée offers simple solutions for how to increase outdoor time and, as a result, overall mental health. Forum session of 28 January 2026. The founder of Backwoods Mama, Josée Bergeron is a freelance writer, photographer, and influencer dedicated to helping parents get outdoors.

April is National Poetry Month in the United States! Let's get out our words and connect with nature! “I love being in the room with just-born poems!” ~Emilie Lygren, 13 Nov. 2025 Join John Muir Laws and poet/author Emilie Lygren for a discussion of her new book of poetry. Let’s learn about her process and how to incorporate some of those ideas into our own nature journaling.

Join John Muir Laws and Heidi Perryman as we explore beaver conservation, why beavers are important parts of ecosystems and how to draw these amazing creatures. (Class recording 15 May 2025) Heidi Perryman, Ph.D., is a child psychologist who became an accidental beaver advocate when beavers moved into her hometown in 2006. She served on the beaver subcommittee to help the city decide how to respond, then started the organization “Worth A Dam” to coordinate solutions and educate others about their value in the watershed.

I had a wonderful conversation with Rachel Woodham. We explored the intersection of play, journaling, and learning. I think you will enjoy it. You can find the conversation here.

Are you truly hearing what the world is telling you? Join John Muir Laws, with a broad range of educators, as he reflects on, how to make yourself a better listener. Co-hosted with Star. Date of origional video: 2025 In this session, we explore: ✅ Practical techniques to improve your listening skills. ✅ How deep listening enhances our connection to nature and others.

Join us for an inspiring session from John Muir Laws as we follow Outdoor Educator Billie Jo Reid on her journey, founder of Pine & Ponder Outdoors. Date of origional video: September 24th, 2025 In this video, Billie Jo reflects on her lifelong connection to nature, from her early days growing up in Canada to her extensive career in outdoor and environmental education.

(Class recording from 3 July 2024) This week, the Nature Journal Educator's Forum welcomes Dr. Stephanie Dole, the Beetle Lady, for a conversation about leading insect investigations as educators. When we're doing insect investigations with kids, how do we ensure the safety of both the insects and the participants? What are some good beginning investigations we can do? What are some ideas for how to help kids who might have insect fears?

How do we move beyond a standard lecture and create a vibrant, interactive community around a book? In this Nature Journal Educator Forum, Jack and the community "pick brains" to establish best practices for starting and sustaining an online book club. Whether you’re a naturalist, an educator, or a lifelong learner, these strategies help ensure every voice is heard and every chapter sparks a new observation.

I am so excited and grateful that you will be joining us! Thank you for your support and participation. This will be an incredible experience and opportunity to learn together.

What would happen if you drew one bird each day for a year? Join John Muir Laws in conversation with nature journaler and conservation leader Anne Chadwick as she wraps up a full year of drawing a bird a day. Why set a goal like this? Lessons learned? Progress made? How can this help build community and advance conservation? What’s next?

Join John Muir Laws and Jack Revie as we explore the process of carving birds and how to think about birds three dimensionally. This process will improve your ability to draw birds from any angle. You may wish to bring some sculpy, or modeling clay to help you construct your own birds. (Class date: 21 Nov 2024).

Join Jack and Dan as we explore Forest Bathing and Nature Journaling. (Class recording from 19 Feb. 2025) We have co-led a program in Yosemite National Park and are particularly excited by how synergistic Forest Bathing and Nature Journaling are! Both offer pathways to mindfulness and connection to place and self. Both practices invite us to slow down, to use our senses, and to truly engage, with the natural world.

Nasal turbinates, masseter muscles, zygomatic arches, sagittal crests, infraorbital foramina, AND sciuromorphs - oh my! Join John Muir Laws in this fun deep dive into reading skulls and what they can tell us about the animals they come from. Class recording from 18 April 2024. Cool link from the online Smithsonian Museum:

A class from the past! On 30 April 2021, John Muir Laws asked the Nature Journal Educators Forum for feedback on the resources inserts that later went into his blank sketchbooks, which hundreds of nature journalers now use and enjoy. You can find John Muir Laws's blank sketchbooks for sale here:

"Slow down to the speed of wonder." ~ John Muir Laws Join Lynn Borton and me in this episode of the "Choose to be Curious" Podcast. This is an episode about nature journaling, but Jack would be the first to say: it isn't about the journal, it's about the journey. John has developed interdisciplinary programs that combine art with science and train us to observe the world with rigor and joy -- strengthening our capacity to be intentionally curious. Listen to the podcast now.

I use the "I notice, I wonder, it reminds me of" prompt everywhere. Why is it so powerful? How and why does it transform the way you see and think? I was invited to join the Here We Are project to reflect on being present in this wild and precious life. I hope you enjoy this audio deep dive into INIWIRMO! What is the thought behind these three prompts? Listen now

The Dyslexic Advantage is an inspiring new documentary that challenges stereotypes and reveals some of the strengths of the dyslexic mind. The film explores how dyslexic thinking powers creativity, innovation, exploration, and human achievement. I am one of the dyslecics featured in the movie. Here is the preview and a link to learn more and watch the full movie.

Howdy, friends, it's been a while! Want to see what John Muir Laws aka Jack was up to during his travels this past summer? Watch part 1 here, as Jack takes us through his journal from his summer vacation, including to Hog Island. Jack adds in some post-hoc (post-hawk?) composition work and Ebbinghaus-ing as he goes. Class recording from 14 August 2025.

August 14th is World Lizard Day! Let's celebrate lizards!!! From structure to scale details, how do we draw lizards? They have so much personality! Now the author and illustrator of a wonderful new guide to California Herps joins us to share his tips! (Class recording from 12/12/2024) Jackson Shedd is a herpetologist, author, scientific illustrator, independent researcher, nature journalist, and wildlife photographer with a passion for biodiversity.

Learn to keep a nature journal with your family in this workshop with the Children in Nature Network!

John Muir Laws works across vast political and socio-cultural divides to bring the joy of nature journaling to audiences around the world. In his journey, which took him from roaming the Sierra Nevadas to sparking an artistic movement, he demonstrates that the best way to succeed in difficult climate discussions is to find common ground with the simple things, like the birds and bees in our own backyards, that connect us.

I recently enjoyed a conversation with George Cassidy Payne about nature journaling and a little about my thoughts about living this life. He framed the article around maculinity which is an interesting perspecive. I hope you find it interesting. Read the Article Here

Nature journaling offers numerous benefits, including enhanced observational skills, improved mental and emotional well-being, and a deeper connection to the natural world. It can also boost cognitive functions like critical thinking and creativity. Additionally, nature journaling can reduce stress and anxiety, and foster a sense of awe and wonder. Join me and the Children and Nature Network for a two-hour hands-on class where he shares his best tips and tricks for nature journaling learned through his 40 years of teaching and illustrating.

I hope you enjoy this discussion about nature journaling and life on the Curious Careers Podcast where curiosity leads to fascinating career discoveries! Hosted by an inquisitive 10-year-old, this unique show delves into the world of various professions through the eyes of a child. Curious Careers offers a fresh and youthful perspective on the working world. Listen to the Podcast

I am excited to share a week of nature and cultural exploration in Tuscany! The course begins with a group dinner on Sunday, July 20th. We then explore, learn, and journal together all day from July 21st – July 25th, closing with a group breakfast on Saturday, July 26th Learn how to become more confident when painting on location in a stunning setting…

When you draw any object, start with the general shape and work your way progressively toward the details. Said another way, add the detail last (and don't overdo it). In these two demonstrations, note how we start with a light, loose, fast, framework (drawn in blue to represent the work you would do with a non-photo blue pencil), and work into slower and more precise lines as the drawing develops.

Join me as I visit the University of Oklahoma Jeannie Rainbolt College of Education to discuss journaling and science.

Drawing Latitude and Longitude lines on a sphere is an amazing way to doodle your way to three-dimensional confidence. Famousandfaded created this wonderful tool to help you see the lines and use them as a reference. This is an interactive model. You can enlarge it to fill the full screen. Then use your mouse to rotate the globe. Notice how the latitude and longitude change their shapes as you do so.

Join me and Sara Bellis of the Get Out Get Arty (GOGA) podcast. We had a lively discussion about being small, beauty, learning, attention, growth, curiosity, play, community and so much more.

July 21 – July 25  Join me for this Nature Journaling Adventure I am so excited to share a week of nature and cultural exploration in Tuscany_ with you. Learn how to become more confident when painting on location. Learn how to create sketches with minimal materials – Be guided by me step-by-step by following demos. Have plenty of time to ask questions and receive one-on-one feedback.

This special event was co-hosted by Wild Wonder Foundation, Feather River Land Trust, and Heyday Books. I gave this talk in November 2024 at the new beautiful Sierra Valley Nature Center in Beckwourth, California, to celebrate the publication of The Laws Field Guide to Sierra Birds. Featuring all new illustrations of more than 200 species, this updated guide is great for novice and advanced birders alike, and it makes a wonderful gift for the bird lovers in your life.

Follow the route of John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts in the Gulf of California, 85 years ago with this restored historic vessel. Iwill be adding nature journaling to the itinerary of this incredible trip. Please join us if you are able. It will be a grand adventure and the funds raised will support marine education for underserved students. In 1940, driven by curiosity and a hunger for experience, John Steinbeck and biologist Ed Ricketts traveled to the Gulf of California on board the sardine boat the