Nature Journaling Workshops
Are you looking for an opportunity to participate in artistic and creative activities while being out in nature? If so, then join us on the 1st Wednesday and 4th Saturday of every month from 10 to 11 a.m. for a new nature journaling program. The program will run from February to June. During each class, participants will complete activities focused on a theme related to some aspect of nature. Class activities will involve both writing and drawing. Free journaling time will also be incorporated into the class. No prior experience is required. The instructor will provide all necessary materials, but you may bring other materials to assist you with outdoor exploration such as field guides, binoculars, and magnifying glasses. Attend classes at your discretion based on personal interest. You are not required to attend every session. Class themes, dates, and locations are given below.
Pre-registration is now strongly suggested for all sessions held after February 22. Those who pre-register will receive reminders and updates via email. Please use the link above to register for any class or all classes.
In the case of rain, snow, or temperatures below 40 degrees, the workshops will be held indoors at T3C’s headquarters located at 13 Thomas B Landers Road. Otherwise, classes will take place outdoors on T3C conservation land. If we are outside, please consider bringing your own chair, mat, or blanket to sit on.
Please send any inquires about the program to Grace Vachon at [email protected]
You can also call or text Grace at 603-923-7788.
Schedule of Topics:
Session 1: Sat, Feb 22: Mindfulness in Nature. "Mindfulness" means being in the present moment. In this first session, we will complete a contour line drawing and mindfulness scavenger hunt activity to help you become more in-tuned to your surroundings.
Location: Andrew’s Grove. Meet at the Bartolomei trailhead. The address is 667 Sandwich Road.
Session 2: Wed, March 5: Writing about Nature. Writing is an important tool for observing and describing nature. We will utilize a variety of writing styles (ex. poem, short story) to describe the nature around us. You will also complete a "word drawing."
Location: Two Ponds Conservation Area. We will meet in the Atria Woodbriar parking lot. The address is 389 Gifford Street.
Session 3: Sat, March 22: Human Impacts. Human activities are having devasting impacts on the natural environment. We will complete an inventory of Breivogel Ponds where you will look for evidence of human activity. You will also create a drawing of your "ideal world."
Location: Breivogel Ponds. Meet in the parking area located at 590 Blacksmith Shop Road.
Session 4: Wed, April 2: Seasonal Change. Seasonal change is happening all around us. We will look for and document examples of seasonal change at Andrew's Grove and Bartolomei. You will also challenge yourself to write poems about the seasonal change you are observing.
Location: Andrew’s Grove/Bartolomei. Meet in the parking area located at 667 Sandwich Road.
Session 5: Sat, April 26: Exploring Scale. Nature can be viewed at many different scales, whether you are zooming in to look at an object up close or zooming out to look at an entire landscape. We will draw an object at three different scales. We will also compare how an object looks under a magnifying glass to how it looks to our naked eye.
Location: River Bend Conservation Area. Meet in the parking area located at 682 Sandwich Road.
Session 6: Wed, May 7: Animal Tracks, Signs, and Behavior. Although they may be skittish, animal life is all around us. We will explore the Coonamessett Greenway to look for signs of animal life. You will also observe and document animal behavior.
Location: Gateway to the Greenway (Lower Coonamessett). Meet in the parking area located at 100 John Parker Road.
Session 7: Sat, May 24: Art in Nature. Combining art with nature is fun! We will complete two nature art projects. The first is a leaf rubbing and the second is a shadow drawing.
Location: Two Ponds Conservation Area. Meet in the Atria Woodbriar parking lot located at 389 Gifford Street.
Session 8: Wed, June 4: The Soundscape. The "soundscape" is the collection of noises we hear all around us, which includes both human and non-human noise. We will create a soundscape map and go on "soundscape walks."
Location: Teaticket Park. Park and meet at 205 Teaticket Highway.
Session 9: Sat, June 28: Biodiversity. We will discuss the concept of a "bioblitz" and then conduct mini "bioblitzes" to identify as many species as we can within a half an hour time frame. You will be encouraged to use field guides as well as apps like iNaturalist to assist you with identification.
Location: Peterson Farm. Meet in the parking area located at 119 Woods Hole Road off of McCallum Drive.