The Nature Connection: A Great Starting Point Review

There are a handful of nature journaling books that really stick with you, and The Nature Connection by Clare Walker Leslie is one of them. I picked it up during a stretch when I was spending more time outside sketching and trying to build a deeper relationship with the natural world.

Even though it’s written as an outdoor workbook for kids and families, it turned out to be surprisingly useful for me as an adult solo nature journaler. It’s approachable, sensory, and genuinely inspiring—especially if you’re someone who learns best by doing.

Whether you’re already keeping a nature journal, or just getting curious about the idea, The Nature Connection gives you a low-pressure, month-by-month approach to building a habit of outdoor observation. It’s filled with sketching ideas, journaling prompts, and ways to reconnect with the cycles of the seasons—even if you live in an urban area.

You’ll find this title and others like it in my curated list of nature journaling books.

The Nature Connection: A Guided, Hands-On Approach

The strength of The Nature Connection is in how it blends structure with freedom. It’s not a dense manual or a curriculum with strict outcomes. It’s a series of invitations. Clare Walker Leslie encourages you to go outside, notice, ask questions, and record what you see in a way that’s creative but grounded. The workbook is divided by months, and each section gives you a handful of seasonal facts, drawing and writing prompts, and ideas for engaging with nature using all five senses.

Even though the book is designed for kids, I found the tone clear and welcoming without being condescending. It reminded me that nature journaling doesn’t have to be perfect, academic, or even beautiful—it just has to be honest and present. That alone was enough to help me reframe some of the pressure I was putting on myself with more technical sketching.

Key Points

• Ideal for beginner or intermediate nature journalers looking for structure without pressure.
• Monthly structure helps you develop a seasonal rhythm and notice subtle changes in your environment.
• Great complement to more detailed guides like The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling, especially if you want to loosen up and be more playful with your observations.

Why I Bought It (and What I Was Looking For)

I bought The Nature Connection because I was in a bit of a creative slump. I wanted to get outside more, but I didn’t want to carry a heavy book or follow a rigid drawing course. I just needed something to prompt me to look a little more closely and give me permission to doodle and jot notes without judgment.

I’ve already been deep into drawing animals and sketching nature, so I wasn’t looking for a how-to-draw book. What I wanted was something that felt more like a companion—a guide to walk alongside me and nudge me when I got stuck. This book is filled that role better than I expected.

For example, I’d go on a walk and instead of just sketching whatever caught my eye, I’d use one of the book’s prompts—like tracking the weather for a few days in a row or comparing leaf shapes from different trees. That shift in mindset helped me develop more observational patience, which honestly had been missing from my sketching practice.

What I Like Most About The Nature Connection

There’s something quietly powerful about a book that asks you to notice what the clouds are doing. Or to sit down and really listen to the sounds in your neighborhood for five minutes. These aren’t big, dramatic nature encounters—but they build a habit of attention that naturally carries over into drawing, writing, and even how I move through the world.

Here are a few things I especially liked:

• Seasonal structure: Each month has its own section, so I didn’t feel overwhelmed. I just flipped to the current month and picked one or two activities. Some were quick (like sketching a feather I found) and others were more open-ended (like writing a nature poem or creating a nature map of my walk).
• Prompts that go beyond drawing: A lot of nature journaling books focus primarily on sketching, but this one includes writing prompts, sensory activities, and even ideas like tracking moon phases or mapping out your favorite tree’s life cycle.
• Simple line illustrations: The book includes Clare Walker Leslie’s own sketches, which are simple, clean, and totally doable. I often tried copying them as a warm-up in my own sketchbook—an idea I also recommend in drawing nature.

How I Adapt It for Solo Adult Journaling

Because the book is technically written for kids and classrooms, I adapted quite a few of the prompts to suit my solo journaling practice. For instance:

• When a prompt says “collect three leaves and describe them,” I turn it into a mini study in my sketchbook, drawing each leaf and adding notes about color, texture, and where I found it.
• If a writing prompt says “ask your friend what their favorite season is,” I turn it inward and reflect on how I’ve experienced seasonal change in different places I’ve lived.
• Some prompts involve building things (like a weather station or a nature treasure map). I simplify them—maybe just sketch a weather log over a week, or create a visual map in my journal of where I walked.

These adaptations work really well when paired with other resources I’ve written about, like nature journaling prompts or journaling ideas. If you’re the kind of person who likes guided creativity with lots of room to make it your own, this book offers that balance.

What Could Be Better (Especially for Adults)

There are a few things to keep in mind if you’re considering this as an adult journaler. First, it is a consumable workbook—you’re meant to write directly in it. That didn’t suit me, since I already have a sketchbook and like keeping everything in one place. I used it more like a flip-through prompt book.

Second, the seasonal focus is clearly written for a northeastern U.S. climate. I live in Southern California, where summer doesn’t mean thunderstorms and winter doesn’t mean snow. That said, I found most of the prompts flexible enough to modify. And for more climate-specific journaling ideas, refer to my post on nature journaling in Australia, which offers tips for adapting activities when local seasons don’t line up with traditional ones.

How It Fits With Other Nature Journaling Books

I’ve tried just about every nature journaling book out there, from the technical to the poetic. Here’s where The Nature Connection fits on that spectrum:

• Compared to The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds or The Art of Field Sketching, this book is way more approachable and less intimidating.
• Compared to Drawn to Nature or The Curious Nature Guide, it’s more structured and activity-focused.
• It pairs well with Nature Journaling for Adults if you’re looking to deepen your practice over time.

If you’re just getting started, it’s worth browsing my complete nature journaling basics guide. It breaks down what to bring, how to start, and includes simple exercises to get you going.

My Favorite Ways to Use This Book

Here’s how I’ve built this book into my own routine:

• Morning walks: I’ll bring my nature journaling bag, flip to a page at random, and do whatever prompt feels manageable. Sometimes it’s as quick as sketching a rock or noting three sounds I hear.
• Weekend sketch sessions: I treat it like a creative workbook. On Saturdays, I’ll set aside an hour to work through one full prompt, maybe combining it with watercolor nature journaling.
• Creative ruts: When I feel disconnected or stuck, I’ll use the book as a kind of nature-focused reset. The low-stakes tone makes it easier to re-engage without judgment.

It’s also become one of my go-to suggestions when people ask how to get started with nature journaling. I’ve even used it as part of my nature journaling workshops in the wild, just to get people thinking differently about how they relate to their surroundings.

Final Thoughts

The Nature Connection surprised me. I bought it expecting a kid-focused workbook, but what I found was a tool for anyone—at any age—who wants to rebuild a relationship with the natural world through observation, curiosity, and creative reflection. It doesn’t assume you’re an artist. It doesn’t ask you to be a scientist. It just invites you to pay attention. That alone makes it worth keeping in your kit.

To dive deeper, check out more articles on benefits of nature journaling, journaling activities, or creative nature journaling excursions.