20 Easy Nature Journaling Activities

A few years ago, I started nature journaling as a way to slow down. At first, it was just a sketchbook and some curiosity, but it turned into a core part of how I process the world around me. Over time, I discovered that simple, mindful nature journaling activities can completely transform a walk through the woods, a moment in the backyard, or even a quiet morning by a window.

If you're looking to start or deepen your own practice, these nature journaling activities are grounded in firsthand experience. Whether you're solo, with kids, or teaching a group, you'll find ideas that work in all seasons and all settings. This isn’t about being perfect or even “good at drawing.” It’s about noticing, reflecting, and connecting. The more you do it, the more your confidence grows.

For a bigger picture overview, you might also want to check out my guide to nature journaling, where I break down how to start, what supplies I use, and how to keep it sustainable.

Key Points

• Start small and specific. Focusing on one plant, one sound, or one moment is more powerful than trying to capture everything. A single leaf or bird can teach you more than you think.
• Build a ritual around it. Repeating your activities (like a weekly tree sketch) helps track growth, seasons, and your own mindset. Ritual brings comfort and consistency.
• Don’t be afraid to write. You don’t need to fill your journal with drawings. Notes, thoughts, and questions are just as important—sometimes more.

Nature Journaling Activities to Try

All of these nature journaling activities are ones I’ve used or shared in workshops. Some are simple and take 5 minutes. Others can be expanded into a full afternoon practice. Adapt them to fit your energy, environment, and attention span. If you're teaching a class, you might also like this post on how to teach nature journaling.

Sit Spot Sketching

Find one place—a tree, a park bench, a backyard corner—and return to it regularly. Sketch what changes (or doesn’t). Use dates and notes to see how the space evolves. It’s a way to slow down and build a relationship with one piece of land.

Sound Mapping

Sit still, close your eyes for 1–2 minutes, and listen. Draw a map of where each sound is coming from: wind through branches, bird calls, far-off traffic, water trickling. Label the direction, intensity, and feeling each sound brings up.

Leaf Collection and Observation

Collect five different leaves (or photograph them if you're in a protected area). Sketch their shapes, trace the veins, feel the textures, and note where they came from. Try identifying the plant using a field guide or app, or describe it in your own words.

Cloud Watching Diary

Look up. Every day for a week, draw or describe the sky at the same time. Are the clouds thin, heavy, moving fast, or still? Note colors, moods, and patterns. Over time, you'll develop a personal sense for weather shifts.

One-Inch Frame Focus

Draw a one-inch square on your journal page or use a cardboard cutout as a frame. Place it on the ground or against a tree and draw just what you see inside it. It’s a fun way to zoom in and discover small ecosystems you might miss otherwise.

Weather Tracker

Design a small chart or calendar to record daily weather with sketches, symbols, or short notes. Record temperature, wind, clouds, and precipitation. Over time, this becomes a beautiful visual archive of seasonal shifts.

Color Swatch Walk

Bring your colored pencils or a small watercolor set. As you walk, pick out colors that catch your eye—the yellow of a weed, the rust of a fallen leaf, the gray-blue of distant hills. Match those colors on your page in swatches. It’s a great way to build a color vocabulary. This goes well with my watercolor nature journaling guide.

Phenology Wheel

Draw a large circle divided into 12 segments (like a pie chart). Each segment represents a month. In each one, record seasonal observations: what plants bloom, what birds arrive, what weather patterns occur. Over time, this becomes a personal seasonal field guide.

Five Senses Entry

Pick one moment—standing by a tree, sitting on a rock—and write about what you see, hear, smell, touch, and taste (only if safe). This builds sensory awareness and depth.

Nature Poetry Prompt

Let yourself write a quick poem. Don’t worry about it being good. Try a haiku, free verse, or even a rhyming couplet about something you’ve observed. You might be surprised how writing shifts your attention.

Wildlife Behavior Notes

Choose one animal to observe: a bird, a squirrel, a bee. Watch it for 5–10 minutes and jot down what it does. Try to guess its motivations and patterns without interrupting.

Draw a Journey Map

Instead of sketching a view, draw a map of your path: where you started, what you saw, where you paused. Add labels, symbols, or sketches of key sights along the way. This is great after hikes or nature walks.

Compare Two Similar Plants

Sketch and label two plants that seem alike. Compare leaf shape, color, height, and where they grow. Write down what differences you notice. This sharpens your ability to observe detail and categorize. For more on this, see nature journaling plants.

Rainy Day Reflections

You don’t have to skip journaling on wet days. Sit on a covered porch, in your car, or near a window. Draw how the light changes, how rain sounds, how surfaces shimmer. Note how you feel. Rain transforms the world—document that.

Microjournal Your Backyard

Take a 1-yard square of ground and look closely. What plants grow there? What insects crawl through? What textures do you see? Use drawings and notes. This is a great one for discovering hidden beauty in small spaces.

Natural Object Still Life

Find an object that speaks to you—a feather, shell, interesting rock. Bring it home and draw it from multiple angles. Write notes about where and when you found it. You can even add it to your journal if it’s small and flat.

Questions-Only Page

Challenge yourself to spend one journaling session asking questions only: What is this plant? Why are the leaves curling? Where do these ants go? Resist the urge to answer. Curiosity drives learning.

Track an Insect

Pick a bug and follow it. Watch what it does, where it goes, what it avoids. Sketch a map of its journey and note behaviors. It sounds silly but is surprisingly fascinating.

Nature Collage Page

Combine writing, sketches, and actual natural elements (like a pressed flower or mud smudge) into one page. You can even tape in a leaf or rub dirt across your page as background color.

Gratitude Entry

End your session by reflecting on one thing in nature you feel thankful for. Write it down or draw it. This habit can transform your mindset over time.

For even more inspiration, I keep a running list of nature journaling prompts you can bookmark and return to anytime.

Want to Go Deeper in Nature Journaling?

Nature journaling doesn’t have to be solitary or static. Some of the biggest breakthroughs in my own practice have come from being around other nature journalers. I’ve found creative growth and renewed motivation through participating in International Nature Journaling Week, leading workshops in the wild, and organizing creative excursions. When you're out there with others who are observing the same space in their own unique ways, it shifts your perspective. You pick up new techniques, new ways of seeing, and a real sense of encouragement.

If you're just starting out and feeling unsure where to begin, you might want to check out nature journaling basics. It breaks down what tools you need, how to structure a session, and ways to build the habit gently. I also recommend reading about the benefits of nature journaling, especially if you need a nudge or a reminder of why it matters.

And if you're curious about how to make journaling in the field more enjoyable, I've put together a detailed list of what's in my nature journaling bag—from pens and paints to the little things that make a long day outside more comfortable. Packing well can be the difference between a session you cut short and one you get lost in.