May NJ Club Update

Hi everyone! Starting now, I am planning on recording what activities we do in each meet. I will only be able to write a short summary, but I hope it will provide a record of our experiences, inspire more members to join, and help other Nature Journaling Club leaders plan their club meets.

Here is the update for May 3rd, 2025:

1) Welcome and Icebreaker

• Ice breaker question: "What does nature journaling mean to you?"

• I also reminded everyone that I will make sure to end by 12:30 pm.

2) Walk to spot

• During the walk, we were silent and focused on listening to the sound of the wind

• We stopped near the What3Words location "amount.turns.sustaining", at the trail crossing

3) Main Activity: Meet a Tree

• This activity is from Sharing Nature With Children by Joseph Cornell.

• I split the group into two and formed pairs with one person from each group.

• As one group (the "Blind") observed a Banana Slug, I explained to the "Guide" group what their roles were.

• Once the Guides knew their job, we got into pairs. The Blinds were blindfolded.

• Each pair went ambling in an indirect, off-trail route lead by the Guide.

• At the end of their little walk, the Guide led the Blind to a particular tree. The Guide guided the Blind's hand to touch to tree. Meanwhile, the Guide asked questions like "How does your tree's bark feel?", "What holes do you feel?", "How does your tree smell?" while the Blind thought about these questions silently.

• After the Blinds have spent a while connecting with their tree, the Guides led them back to the original spot, again using an indirect route.

• Once at the original spot, the blindfolds were taken off

• After a short reflection where the Blinds verbally answered questions like, "Do you feel connected to your tree?" or "What special characteristic does your tree have?", then I surprised everyone by asking the Blinds to try and find their tree, now with their eyes uncovered (guides following behind, possibly giving hints if needed).

• After the Blinds have found their trees and explored them with eyes open, everyone returned back to the original spot.

• We now had a longer reflection and discussion. Many interesting and philosophical points were talked about! However, some of the younger members were getting bored so I needed to transition into the next activity.

4) Nature Journaling Session

• Now, I told everyone we were going to have a journaling session.

• I asked everyone to meet back by 12:15 (by then I think it was around 11:45?).

• I asked anyone who wanted guidance to stay behind with me so I could provide them with a prompt (I have index cards with nature journaling prompts on them). If they still don't know what to do, I had some other inspiring materials to provide (like sample journal entries, interesting natural objects, and quotes).

5) Wrap

• At 12:15, we met back and stood in a circle.

• Everyone who wanted to share could share, and anyone who did not want to share did not need to.

• I always go first to be an example. I emphasize what observations I made and what details I added in my notebook. I also mention that the end result in the notebook is not what matters - only the experience.

• Next, we continue aroudn the circle letting everyone share for a minute or two.

• After sharing, we packed up our stuff and I thanked everyone for coming. I also ask everyone to search for any trash we may have left behind.

6) We walked back toward the trailhead and were there by 12:30, as promised.