Have you ever wanted to learn more about the birds visiting your backyard, the flowers growing along your neighborhood sidewalk, or the tiny creatures hiding beneath a leaf?
Starting a nature journal is a wonderful way to turn that curiosity into an adventure!
You don't need to be an artist, own fancy supplies, or know the names of every plant and animal. All you need is a little curiosity, something to write or draw with, and a willingness to look closer at the world around you.
Your nature journal can become a collection of discoveries, questions, sketches, and memories that help you appreciate the natural world in a whole new way.
Ready to begin? Let's explore five easy ways to start your own nature journal!
1. Gather a Few Simple Supplies
The good news is that you don't need much to get started. A basic notebook and a pencil are more than enough.
Here are a few supplies you might enjoy using:
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A notebook: Choose something small enough to carry on a walk or keep near your favorite window.
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Pencils or pens: Use them to sketch, write observations, and record questions.
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Colored pencils or crayons: Add color to your drawings if you'd like.
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A ruler: Useful for measuring leaves, flowers, or other things you observe.
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A camera or phone: Take photographs of things you'd like to remember or research later.
You can also use a digital document or notes app if that's more convenient for you.
Don't worry about making your journal look perfect. You can decorate the cover, add stickers, or leave it completely plain. What matters most is that you enjoy using it.
And remember, you don't need to buy anything before you begin. Use what you already have!
2. Choose Something That Sparks Your Curiosity
Now comes the fun part: deciding what to observe. You might think you need to visit a forest or nature reserve to find something interesting, but nature is all around us. Your backyard, a balcony, a neighborhood park, or even a windowsill can provide plenty of inspiration.
Not sure where to begin? Try observing one of these:
Plants and flowers: What shape are the leaves? Are there any buds, flowers, or seeds? Do you notice insects visiting the plant?
Birds: What colors do you see? How does the bird move? Is it searching for food, singing, or interacting with another bird?
Insects: How many legs can you observe? Is the insect crawling, flying, or collecting something? What is it doing?
Weather and clouds: What does the sky look like today? Are the clouds changing shape? How does the air feel?
Trees: What does the bark look like? Are there fallen leaves beneath the branches? Can you spot any signs of wildlife?
Choose something that catches your attention and spend a few minutes observing it. You don't have to know what it is before you begin. In fact, not knowing can make the experience even more exciting!
3. Observe, Draw, and Write What You Notice
Once you've chosen your subject, take a moment to look carefully. Instead of immediately searching for its name online, see what you can discover on your own first.
What colors, shapes, textures, or movements stand out? What is happening around your subject? What makes it interesting to you? Then record your observations in whatever way feels comfortable.
Try the three-step observation method
Look: Spend a minute or two observing without rushing. Notice the details you might usually overlook.
Record: Write a few words, make a quick sketch, or take a photograph. You can include the date, time, weather, and location.
Wonder: Write down a question about what you observed. You can research the answer later or return another day to see what you discover.
For example, imagine you've spotted a Northern Cardinal in your garden.
Your journal entry might look something like this:
Date: October 24
Observation: A bright red bird with a small crest perched on a tree branch. It was chipping. Then a second bird appeared, this one had red tints in it's feathers but it was mostly brown/tan colored. It was also chipping in response.
My question: Were these birds finding a place to nest in the tree?
Something I learned: Northern Cardinals chip at each other to signal where they are while foraging.
See how simple that is? You have recorded an observation, asked a question, and learned something new, all from watching a bird in your backyard.
And if you want to draw the cardinal, don't worry about getting every feather right. A simple outline with a few details is enough to capture what you noticed. Your journal is a record of your discoveries, not an art competition!
4. Ask Questions and Follow Your Curiosity
One of the most exciting parts of nature journaling is that every observation can lead to another discovery.
You might notice that bees visit some flowers more often than others. Perhaps you wonder why a particular bird keeps returning to the same tree. Or maybe you find a leaf with an unusual pattern and want to know what caused it.
Write your questions down!
You can use a field guide, a trusted nature website, or a library book to look for answers. You can also ask a knowledgeable adult, teacher, or nature enthusiast for help.
Just remember to distinguish between what you observed and what you've learned through research. Both are valuable, and keeping them separate helps you understand how your discoveries develop.
Here are a few questions to inspire your next journal entry:
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What do I notice about this plant or animal?
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What might it be doing, and what evidence do I see?
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What does it need to survive?
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How does it interact with its surroundings?
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What would I like to learn about it?
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What new detail did I discover today?
You don't need to answer every question immediately. Sometimes, leaving a question unanswered gives you a reason to return and explore further.
5. Revisit Your Favorite Places
Nature is always changing, which makes returning to the same place one of the most rewarding parts of keeping a journal. Choose a tree, garden, or small outdoor space and visit it regularly. You might return every week or simply whenever you have a little free time.
Record what you notice each time.
Are there new flowers? Have the leaves changed color? Are different birds visiting? Has the weather affected the plants around you?
Over time, your journal will reveal patterns and changes that might be difficult to notice from one day to the next. You may even become familiar with individual plants or learn which birds tend to visit at certain times of the year.
If you're journaling with children, this can be especially exciting. They can watch a seedling grow, observe the stages of a plant's life, or keep a record of the different insects visiting a flower.
Just be patient. Some changes happen quickly, while others take weeks or months to become noticeable. The adventure is in paying attention.
A Five-Minute Nature Journaling Challenge
Ready to put your new skills into practice?
Here's a simple challenge you can try today, whether you're journaling alone, with your children, or with a friend.
Your mission: Find one little wonder in nature and spend five minutes getting to know it.
You can choose a plant, a bird, an insect, a cloud, or anything else that catches your attention. Observe it without disturbing it, then use the prompts below to record your discovery.
Your nature journal page
Date and location: Where are you, and when are you observing?
My discovery: What caught my attention?
Three things I noticed:
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What does it look like?
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What is it doing, or what details stand out?
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What is happening around it?
My sketch: Draw what you see. Simple shapes are perfectly fine!
I wonder... Write one question that comes to mind.
One thing I learned: Record something new you discovered, even if it's simply a detail you hadn't noticed before.
My favorite part: What did you enjoy most about this experience?
That's it! You've completed your first nature journal entry. You don't need to fill an entire page or discover something extraordinary. Even a few words and a little sketch can become a meaningful record of your time spent observing nature. And who knows? Your five-minute challenge might inspire you to keep exploring.
Nature Journaling Is for Everyone
One of the loveliest things about nature journaling is that there is no single way to do it.
Children can fill their pages with colorful drawings and questions. Adults might prefer detailed observations or quiet reflections. Artists may enjoy experimenting with different drawing techniques, while others might record everything through words and photographs.
You can journal in a garden, on a walk, at a park, or beside a window. Some days, you might fill an entire page. Other days, you may write only one sentence. Both count.
The purpose isn't to create a perfect journal or learn everything about nature. It's to make time for curiosity, notice the details around you, and develop a deeper appreciation for the living world.
And if you miss a day or even a few weeks, that's okay too. Your journal will be there whenever you're ready to begin again.
Every Little Wonder Is Worth Discovering
Nature has a way of surprising us when we take the time to look closer. A familiar bird might reveal a behavior you've never noticed. A tiny flower could inspire a dozen questions. A tree you've walked past for years might become a favorite place to observe the changing seasons.
Nature journaling gives you a way to capture these moments and turn them into your own little collection of discoveries.
At Dewdrops Mail Club, that's the spirit behind Daisy's adventures. Daisy explores new places, discovers fascinating plants and animals, and shares what she learns through illustrated mail, fun facts, and creative activities.
We hope her adventures inspire you to look around your own little corner of the world and discover something wonderful, too.
You don't need to travel far, know all the answers, or be an expert. Just start with one question, one observation, and one small moment of curiosity. Because the world is full of little wonders, and every discovery is an opportunity to connect with nature.
What will you discover today?
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