Nature Journaling Ideas for Beginners

When I first started nature journaling, I honestly had no idea what I was doing. I just knew I wanted to connect more with the outdoors, and I hoped a sketchbook might help. Over time, I figured out that having a few simple nature journaling ideas in my back pocket made a huge difference—especially when I was feeling stuck or unsure of what to draw or write. If you're just starting out, this post is for you.

Nature journaling doesn't need to be perfect or artistic. It's about observation, curiosity, and documenting what you see, feel, or wonder. Some days I only write a few words. Other times I get lost drawing a single leaf. The key is finding a rhythm that works for you and building it into your life in a way that feels joyful, not forced.

If you're just getting started, I'd recommend reading through my Nature Journaling Basics guide first, then come back here for inspiration. Below are some of my favorite beginner-friendly nature journaling ideas to keep things fresh and fun.

Key Points

• Pick a theme for your walk. Whether it's textures, colors, or sounds, having a small focus helps keep you from getting overwhelmed.
• Use prompts to guide your observations. I like to pull from this list of nature journaling prompts when I feel stuck.
• Give yourself permission to be messy. Your journal is for you—not for Instagram. It's okay if it looks rough or unfinished.

Nature Journaling Ideas to Spark Your Curiosity

In the beginning, the hardest part is often just figuring out what to put on the page. Here are a few nature journaling ideas I come back to again and again—each one designed to help you slow down, notice more, and enjoy the process.

Draw a plant in three stages

One of my favorite ways to observe change is by sketching a plant in bud, bloom, and decay. I usually pick something close to home, like a flower in the yard or even a weed in a sidewalk crack. You don’t have to draw all three stages at once—come back to the same plant over a few days or weeks. I’ve learned a lot about patience this way, and it’s fascinating to see the tiny shifts you’d otherwise miss.

Record the sounds around you

When I feel uninspired visually, I just listen. I jot down sounds in the margin of my page: a distant plane, the buzz of a bee, or the rustle of leaves. Sometimes I even draw little symbols or doodles to represent the sounds—a kind of sound map. This helps me tune into the moment, especially when I’m in a new environment or trying to settle my attention.

Map your walk

If I go on a short walk, I like to sketch a simple map afterward showing where I went and what I noticed. I’ll mark things like “bird perched here” or “patch of wildflowers.” It doesn’t have to be geographically correct. It’s just a fun way to remember the experience and track what caught my attention.

Zoom in

Sometimes the best discoveries come from looking closely at one tiny thing. I’ll find a leaf, feather, or shell and draw it larger than life. The goal isn’t realism, just attentiveness. Try counting the lines or shading the texture. It’s meditative and often leads to questions you can research later.

Weather tracker

On days when I don’t have time to journal much, I just sketch the sky. I keep a page for the week and draw a small box or circle for each day’s weather—clouds, sun, wind, color of the sky, whatever stands out. It’s low pressure but keeps the habit going.

Texture rubbings

This one’s great when I don’t feel like drawing. I’ll put a leaf or bark under my paper and rub over it with a pencil or crayon. It creates a pattern that I sometimes label or draw around. It's playful and gets me noticing textures in a new way.

Capture moving shadows

Pick a time of day and observe the way shadows stretch and shift. I like to draw the same scene at three points: morning, noon, and late afternoon. You could also trace the same leaf shadow on your page every 30 minutes to see how it moves. This exercise always makes me feel more grounded in time.

Observe weather changes

Choose a single object—like a tree or rock—and draw it during different types of weather: sunny, cloudy, rainy, foggy. I’ve found this helps me notice color shifts and atmosphere more clearly. It’s also a good reminder that the same place can feel totally different with a small change in conditions.

Draw with your non-dominant hand

This sounds silly, but it’s one of the best tricks for getting out of a perfectionist mindset. When I draw with my left hand, I can’t control the lines well, which actually frees me up to look more closely. It’s not about making a pretty page—it’s about seeing with fresh eyes.

Watch and record animal behavior

Sometimes I’ll sit quietly and just watch one animal—usually a bird or insect. I note what it’s doing, how it moves, what it interacts with. A page might include small gesture drawings, arrows, and little notes like “paused here” or “flew off suddenly.” Even five minutes of this can reveal a whole world of activity.

Make seasonal comparison pages

I have a few spots I revisit throughout the year to draw the same tree or view in different seasons. I like placing all four sketches on the same page or spread, labeling each with the date. It’s a powerful reminder of nature’s cycles, especially if you don’t feel like anything’s changing.

Collect natural color swatches

Match the colors you see outside with your watercolor or colored pencil set. I make little boxes or swatches and write what they belong to: “fern,” “sky before storm,” “lichen on rock.” It’s a great way to train your eye and build a personal color reference.

Use your journal as a field guide

When I’m feeling more structured, I’ll label things like I’m making my own field guide. I include the common name, any scientific name I can find, notes about habitat or behavior, and the date and location. It makes me feel like a backyard scientist.

Write nature-inspired stories or poems

Not every journal entry has to be observational. Sometimes I use what I see as a jumping-off point for a short story, poem, or even just a metaphor. A bent tree might become a character. A breeze might carry a message. It’s a way to stay creative even on slow days.

Describe with fresh eyes

Pretend you’re seeing the place for the first time. What would you notice? What would you describe to someone who’s never been here? I often do this when I visit a familiar park and want to break out of autopilot.

Try blind contour drawings

This is a warm-up I love: pick something to draw, place your pen on the page, and look only at the object—not at your paper—while you draw. It feels awkward, but the results are charming and honest. Great for loosening up and staying present.

Revisit a sit spot daily

Choose one place—your porch, a park bench, a tree in your yard—and visit it every day for a week. I take five to ten minutes just observing and noting what’s different. Some days the change is subtle, like a new sound. Other times, everything feels transformed.

For more structured activities like these, check out my page on Nature Journaling Activities.

How to Keep Going When You’re Just Starting Out

Nature journaling is like any habit: it takes time to feel natural. I’ve found that lowering the pressure and finding joy in the small stuff really helps. You don’t need to go far—some of my best pages came from just sitting on my porch.

Make it easy to grab your supplies

I keep a nature journaling bag packed and ready to go. It took me a few tries to figure out what I actually use, but now I keep it super simple: a small sketchbook, two pens I love, a pencil, and a mini watercolor set. I also throw in a kneaded eraser and a binder clip to hold pages down if it's windy. Having it all prepped means I’m way more likely to follow through when I have a spontaneous urge to head outside—even if it’s just for 10 minutes.

Try a guided experience

When I was starting out, it really helped to see how other people approached their journals. I’ve hosted nature journaling workshops in the wild and creative excursions, and I always learn something new from the group. Whether it’s how someone lays out their page or a new way of observing, being around other journalers can be a huge confidence boost.

Make it your own

There’s no single way to do this, and that’s the beauty of it. Some days I sketch birds, other days I write half a page about how the air smells before a storm. I love combining watercolor with pencil and ink—it gives the pages a loose, expressive feeling. Watercolor nature journaling is one of my go-to methods when I want to slow down and really absorb what I’m seeing. Don't feel pressured to stick to any one format. Let your interests and energy guide what ends up on the page.

You can see more real-life examples on my Nature Journaling Examples page.

Where to Go for Inspiration

You don't need to live near a forest or national park to be a nature journaler. Some of my favorite journaling has happened in backyards, parking lots, and city parks. It's all about looking closely.

If you're planning a trip, check out:

• [Nature Journaling in Australia – My reflections and sketching sessions from different parts of Australia, including how I approached unfamiliar landscapes and wildlife.
• International Nature Journaling Week – A global event filled with prompts and community inspiration; I share what I learned from participating.
• Nature Journaling Adventure – A behind-the-scenes look at how I planned and recorded an extended trip focused entirely on journaling wild spaces.

And if you're teaching others, especially kids, here's a guide on How to Teach Nature Journaling.

Bonus Nature Journaling Insights

If you’re building a consistent journaling habit, these resources have helped me deepen my practice in different ways.

Nature Journaling for Adults dives into journaling as a meditative, enriching habit you can build into everyday life—even with a busy schedule.

The Field Guide to Nature Journaling is something I return to when I need a reset or want a more structured approach for field observations. When I’m in the mood to focus on plants, I focus on nature journaling plants, documenting leaves, flowers, and botanical details with curiosity and care.

Also learn about the benefits of Nature Journaling to remind yourself why this habit matters and how it supports your creativity and mental health.