for children ages 7-14
Notebooks are an essential part of a scientist’s toolkit. Explorers look, listen, and record what they find. Journaling in nature builds a sense of place, critical thinking skills, and connection to nature.
In this hands-on class, focused exercises each month mix pictures, words, and numbers with active exploration in different areas of the Arboretum. Students work alongside teachers and volunteers through guided activities to develop a regular nature journaling practice for life.
Each series builds foundational skills accessible to those with and without nature journaling experience. All supplies, including journals, are provided for use during class, and students are welcome to bring their favorite supplies.
schedule & pricing
Three Mondays a month, January-May
10:30 am – 11:30 am
$45 member / $60 nonmember (per month)*
*Family Tree Membership or above required for Member pricing.
Arboretum Member registration for Spring 2026 classes opens Thursday, December 4 Nonmember registration opens Thursday, December 11. Become a Family Tree Member or above to access early registration and receive the Member rate.
Upcoming Classes
The Art of Inquiry
January 5, 12, 26
Our intro to inquiry begins this month as we go out to observe with a question in mind. We will make observations and ponder the mysteries of nature.
Connections
February 2, 9, 23
Connection is a reoccurring theme in nature. The longer you observe something, the more connections you will find. We will journal about the connections we see and even discover connections to our own memories.
Images
March 2, 16, 23
Drawing and visual thinking will be the focus this month. Nature is full of patterns and proportions. Observing these blueprints allows us to better capture the images we observe in the pages of our journals.
Data
April 6, 13, 20
Drawing Maps and recording field notes is a skill any naturalist should have. We will learn about ways to quantify our observations this month, taking time to make sense of the data we collect. A variety of interesting tools exist to help us explore nature in unique ways and we will experiment with several this month.
Stories
May 4, 11, 18
When we observe nature, we often find stories unfolding right in front of us. Using the tools and skills we’ve accumulated over the semester, we will go out searching for stories this month and share them with our classmates.
Additional Information
Class will be held in various locations outdoors rain or shine. Please dress for the weather and use sunscreen, insect repellant, and sun hats as appropriate. Each student should bring a full, refillable water bottle for time on the trails during class.
We will meet in the Nature Center in Classroom G (Grapevine) to sign in and depart for various locations each week. If you arrive after 10:45 am, please sign in at the Front Desk and ask where to bring your student that day.
If your child will be attending monthly Home School classes on the same date as The Art of Nature Journaling, please pick up your child promptly at the end of class and return at 1:00 pm. Childcare and supervision will not be provided between the two classes.
Accessibility
This program is open to all abilities. The indoor portion will be held in the Nature Center. Please contact us if your student requires assistance accessing the content or outdoor location of activities.