‘Slowing down and paying attention’: HCT nature journaling class offers timeless beauty and reflection

We live in a world that seems to move at the speed of light, propelled by irksome cell phones, to-do lists and the churn of the news cycle. But nature offers us a way to hit the brakes and savor the balm of beauty.

And nature journaling is a great way to guide this restorative and refreshing journey.

“Nature journaling is about slowing down and paying attention,” said Bernadette Waystack, leader of Harwich Conservation Trust’s (HCT) first-ever “Intro to Nature Journaling” program at the Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve. “Through attention, we build relationships with others, and with place. And we can definitely use more of that in our lives these days.”

Waystack, a noted artist and teacher, is an artist in residence at the 204 Cultural Municipal Arts Building in Harwich, where she maintains a working studio space. She said the recent rewilding effort at the Preserve piqued her interest in nature journaling.

‘Use whatever feels comfortable’

Inspired by the success of HCT’s Cold Brook Eco-Restoration Project, which added a half-mile All Persons Trail and restored 44 acres of wetland and a mile of stream habitat, Waystack took training courses with the Wild Wonder Foundation, a leading proponent of nature journaling that is dedicated to encouraging nature connection and conservation through attention, curiosity, art, science, and community.

It was so much fun that she decided to share the joy of nature journaling with others. And right away, Waystack set our minds at ease: we didn’t have to be expert artists, writers or naturalists. In fact, there are no wrong answers with nature journaling. Carving out the time and showing up is already a big win!

“With nature journaling, you go out in nature and you have a journal–that’s it,” said Waystack. “There are three languages: words, pictures, and numbers. You can use whatever feels comfortable for you.”

Your assignment is to collect and record nature observations, questions, connections and explanations in a notebook. And it’s fun to work on skills that you don’t practice very often.

Into the wild (with a notebook)

“I’m trying to push myself to use numbers a bit more, just because I know it’s good for me,” said Waystack. “Your brain starts working in a different way when you try to challenge it to do something that’s not in your comfort zone.”

There are also three key prompts to help nature journalists get going: “I notice”, “I wonder”, and “it reminds me of.” These phrases fire up imaginations and get the notebooks cooking.

Waystack then released us into the wild wonders of the Cold Brook Preserve. Well-placed and comfy HCT benches sure came in handy! We all got to work, and Waystack circulated along the All Persons Trail, offering tips and support.

It was wonderfully liberating to have the time and space to reflect and slow things down. “Nature journaling is the kind of thing that you say, ‘oh, that’s a good thing to do,’ but it’s hard to find the time,” said program participant Judy Poirier. “Then, this kind of experience — taking this kind of course — actually carves out the time for that. I think probably the most important thing is that you see things in a deliberate way that you don’t normally see.”

Sure, there were challenges–like how do you draw a swan when it keeps moving? But the good spirits and camaraderie of the group, combined with the natural splendor of Cold Brook and Waystack’s gentle help, made it feel like we could do anything. We were a fabulous team of notebook heroes, taking the slow road to a new kind of resonant experience.

“It really does make me stop and notice things that I wouldn’t normally notice,” said participant Andrea Belford. “And I felt the gentle breeze this morning. I wondered a few things, like, why aren’t the ospreys nesting on that beautiful pole?  And where are the otters? I would love to see the otters. And mostly, this place reminds me of Alice in Wonderland, because it’s just a wonder to walk around here.”

Nutritious stuff indeed! The program was such a smash that HCT will be scheduling more nature journaling classes in the coming months, so stay tuned. In the meantime, sharpen up a few colored pencils, grab a notebook and try nature journaling for yourself! 

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