101 Journal Prompts For Nature Journaling

Nature journaling is a great way to connect with nature and write about your experiences. Here are 101 journal prompts for nature journaling that will help you get started.

Top five nature journaling books.

1. The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling – John Muir Laws
2. Keeping a Nature Journal – Clare Walker Leslie
3. How to Teach Nature Journaling – John Muir Laws
4. How Thinking Is Written – Lawrence Hall
5. The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs – Tristan Gooley

101 journal prompts for nature journaling

1. What is your favorite weather condition?
2. Describe a time when you felt at peace with nature.
3. How does nature make you feel?
4. What is your favorite thing to do outdoors?
5. What specific tree do you love?
6. Describe an animal encounter you’ve had in nature.
7. What is your least favorite thing to do outdoors and why?
8. Describe a fun activity you enjoy doing in the natural world.
9. What is the most beautiful tree you’ve ever seen?
10. A time you felt connected to nature?
11. What is your #1 season of day to be in nature, and why?
12. Describe the sounds of nature that you find most soothing.
13. A time you felt small in the presence of nature.
14. What are your favorite flowers, and why?
15. What colors do you see in the world?
16. Describe a time you felt energized by nature.
17. What type of fun activity do you like to explore with your family and other kids?
18. A time you felt grateful for nature.
19. What are the most beautiful flowers you’ve ever seen?
20. A time you felt inspired by nature.
21. Describe a place in nature that makes you feel calm.
22. What is your favorite type of landscape, and why?
23. A time you felt adventurous.
24. What is the most beautiful sunset or sunrise you’ve seen?
25. First thing you notice or hear when you go to the beach or mountains?
26. A time you felt connected to an animal in nature.
27. What is your favorite type of water feature?
28. A time you felt creative.
29. Describe the smells of nature that you find most refreshing.
30. What is your favorite bird, and why?
31. What ideas can you generate from nature?
32. What is your favorite type of weather to experience in nature?
33. Describe a time you felt content in nature.
34. A time you felt at home in nature.
35. What is the most unique natural feature you’ve ever seen?
36. A time you felt free with other kids?
37. What is your favorite type of light, and why?
38. Describe a time you felt relaxed.
39. A time you felt inspired to protect the environment.
40. What is your favorite type of nature-based exercise, and why?
41. Write a short story about a camping trip you had with other students.
42. Describe a time you felt like you were part of nature.
43. What is your favorite type of rock formation, and why?
44. A time you felt rejuvenated by nature.
45. Lists of birds, insects, leaves, or flowers you have observed.
46. When you felt like you were in a fairy tale setting in nature.
47. Describe when you felt like you found inner peace in nature.
48. What is your favorite type of outdoor gear, and why?
49. When you felt like you were in a different dimension in nature.
50. What are the most beautiful forest pictures you’ve ever seen?
51. When you felt like you were in a spiritual place in nature.
52. Describe your favorite type of nature art.
53. Imagine you are sitting on the forest floor, what can you feel?
54. A time you felt like you were in a different period in nature.
55. Do you like the sound of birds?
56. Do you think you can still experience nature while living in a city?
57. Do you like the sound of kids playing when sitting in a local park?
58. Imagine you are sitting on the forest floor, using your other senses than sight, what can you hear and smell?
59. A time you felt like you were in a hidden place in nature.
60. What is the most beautiful waterfall you’ve ever seen?
61. Describe when you felt like you were in a secret place in nature.
62. Did you like drawing scenery as a child?
63. What was your favorite art activity as a kid?
64. What is your favorite type of animal sound, and why?
65. Write about a time you had a wonderful nature experience on a trip with other students.
66. Did you have nature journals as a child filled with scenery drawings and animal stories?
67. What is the most beautiful beach you’ve ever seen?
68. Did you ever made an art project for school?
69. Describe a field trip you had with other students.
70. What is your favorite type of natural phenomenon, and why?
71. Have you ever been to a summer camp with other students?
72. What is the most beautiful mountain you’ve ever seen?
73. Did you ever record your observations and ideas by drawing or writing as a child?
74. What is your favorite type of feature if the natural world?
75. What was your least favorite outdoor game you played with other kids?
76. Did you have art journals as a kid?
77. What is the most fascinating natural structure you’ve ever seen?
78. Write about a time you felt like you were in a peaceful place in nature.
79. What is your favorite type of natural element, and why?
80. What is the first thing you notice or observe when you go outside?
81. What is your favorite science subject as a student?
82. What is the most beautiful river you’ve ever seen?
83. What fun activities you did do with other kids/students on school trips?
84. What is your favorite type of environment, and why?
85. What was your favorite thing to do in nature with other kids?
86. Favorite natural objects you have collected as a child.
87. What is the most exciting rock formation you’ve ever seen?
88. The favorite beach you want to visit with your family?
89. Favorite camping area you like to go to with your family?
90. Describe when you felt like you were in a healing place in nature.
91. Does changing seasons encourage your mood?
92. What is the most beautiful lake you’ve ever seen?
93. What outdoor games did you play with other kids?
94. What do you think is a whole new way of experiencing different seasons?
95. Do you feel easily adapted to nature?
96. Record or draw what you see, hear, and smell right now.
97. What is the most fascinating thing you’ve ever seen?
98. Describe your favorite personal experience of nature.
99. What is your favorite type of wonder and why?
100. Draw your favorite tree or flower.
101. What is your favorite way to observe nature?

What are some benefits of nature journaling?

• Nature journaling is essential because it allows individuals to record their observation skills about the world, and encourages both adults and young kids of all ages to practice, focus, and show their love for nature in words and drawing.

• It is a healthy activity like observing flowers that make an excellent focus for a journal entry.
• Nature journaling is a helpful practice for students and kids who love science, research, and language arts, and enjoy drawing while connecting to the world.

• Teachers should encourage and create fun activities for students to record journal and practice their words and ideas. Students should have their dedicated nature journal.

• Field journals are helpful for students who love science, they can make journal entries by observing nature. Nature journaling has also been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression and to improve observational skills.

• By identifying and appreciating the things they enjoy in nature, individuals can reflect and journal their experiences of awe and wonder and remember things in nature that they are grateful for.

• Keeping a nature journal is a fun way to get connected with the world and appreciate its beauty. Writing prompts, art projects, and outdoor activities can be great ways to inspire kids and students alike.

• When you keep your nature journal, it can be a fun way to observe and document the natural world.
• You can learn about the plants, animals, and weather conditions around you.

• Using a field journal for nature study can also help you gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty of nature and understand the complexity of the natural world.

What is nature journaling?

Nature journaling is the practice of recording in a journal what you observe, feel, and experience while engaging with nature. It can be done through writing, drawing, or photography.

Writing a nature journal allows you to capture your discoveries, document seasonal changes, create an inventory of local wildlife and plants, note animal behavior, and record other observations that can help deepen your understanding and appreciation of nature.

Nature journaling is also an excellent way to share your experiences with others and become more connected with the natural world.

How do I start nature journaling?

Starting nature journaling is a great way to improve your observation skills and explore your local environment.

To begin, find a comfortable place outdoors and take some time to observe the plants, animals, and other features of the environment around you.

You can use field guides or apps to help identify species. Once you have observed the environment, start writing down your observations in a journal.

You can use sketches, drawings, and photographs to further document the environment. The goal is to capture details that you may not have noticed before.

What should I write about nature?

When you’re nature journaling, your entries should focus on what you see, hear, smell, and experience.

For example,

• You can record the date and time of your observations, describe the environment, document any plants and animals you see, and make notes of how the environment looks, smells, and feels.

• You can also make note of any sounds you hear or changes in the environment over time.
• You can write about a secret forest, leaf falling, an animal rescue you were involved in, a desert Island you visited, a summer thunderstorm, your favorite season, or different shapes of trees and other plants.

• Using sensory details, raw field sketching, and colored drawings makes your entries more vivid, engaging, and meaningful.
• Write about how trees began to tremble as the wind blew and how it felt to be close to a waterfall.

• Journal about a bird feeder you made and how the birds responded to it.
• Write about the life cycle of a butterfly or the different types of flowers you encountered.
• Make a sound map of the area and record which animals are found in different parts of the environment.

You can also use any of the 101 nature journal prompts provided above to get started.

What is a nature journal entry?

According to John Muir laws, a nature journal entry is “a written and/or illustrated record of experiences in nature.”

Nature journals can include creative entries such as descriptive writing, sketches, photographs, or artwork.

What are good journal topics?

Henry David Thoreau defines good journal topics as “those that express the spirit of nature.”

Journaling can help you develop an understanding and appreciation of nature, so try to choose topics that focus on the natural world.

How do you write a nature diary?

Here are the steps to writing a nature diary:

• Find a comfortable spot in nature and take time to observe the environment.
• Take notes on the plants, animals, and other features of your environment.

• Use field guides or apps to help you identify species.
• Start writing down your observations in your journal pages.

• Use a nature journaling prompt if you get stuck.
• Use sketches, drawings, and photographs to document the environment further.

• Incorporate sensory details into your writing and use creative techniques such as raw field sketching or colored drawings.
• Reflect on what you observe and draw connections between your observations and the natural world.
• Share your journal with others to deepen your understanding and appreciation of nature.

Bottom line:

Nature is a source of wonder, beauty, and inspiration that sustains all life on Earth. From discovering nature and nature observations; textures smell, and tastes to the complex and mysterious ecosystems that support it, nature provides endless opportunities for explorations, observations, and reflection.

Nature journaling practices can be powerful yet simple techniques for deepening our connection to the world, improving our observational skills, and reducing stress.

By engaging with the world around us more intentionally through journal writing, we can cultivate a greater appreciation for the beauty and complexity of nature and a deeper understanding of our place within it.

Overall, keeping journals can be a great way to document and reflect on the beauty of nature all around us. Nature journal prompts can help you get started, but ultimately it’s up to you to decide how deep and meaningful your entries will be