Whether it is tucked into my suitcase for a trip to Hawaii, packed in the car for a weekend road trip, or tossed into a backpack for a hike or camping trip, along it comes. I’m not religious about journaling; when I find the time or the inspiration, I open to a fresh page and record what I observe. Mostly, this happens during vacations or adventures when my eyes feel fresh and nature provides a bounty of wonders. Sometimes, though, I journal the common, everyday stuff, perhaps while watching birds at a feeder or wandering through a neighborhood park.

My hard-backed nature journal is a record of both the common and uncommon, the everyday and the extraordinary. It is a reminder of exotic trips as much as a depository of the small wonders found here and there when I slow down long enough to truly look.

I have been nature journaling since college. Before that, I kept childhood diaries which later evolved into naval-gazing teenage journals. As an adult, I stopped writing regularly about my daily ongoings and instead began crafting essays, articles, and stories. My creative nature journals are different than what came before. A nature journal isn’t a diary. It isn’t a polished piece of writing or a perfect work of art. And it isn’t about me. It is a collage of writing, observations, data, sketches, and collected artifacts about the natural world and my wanderings through it. My nature journal is rough and mismatched–a collage. It is a place to play with journaling techniques (like gesture sketches, event maps, scientific illustration, and color hunts). Most importantly, it is a tool for stillness that forces my eyes and ears open to what is going on around me: the twit of a songbird, the color of the lichen, the ongoings of a colony of black ants, or the treasures discovered from a morning beach walk.

Moclips is a tiny seaside town on Washington’s coast. Town? Maybe not. Just a collection of vacation rentals, a beaten down motel, a restaurant, and a mercantile. The first time my husband and I rented a cabin at the Moonstone Beach Motel, the buildings were painted bright orange. On a return trip in 2006, everything but the clam cleaning shack had been coated in sky blue paint. From Cabin #8, a few steps along a path spilled us onto the beach. The boom and growl of the Pacific Ocean. Sea mist, sea foam, seaweed, and seagulls. This page from an old nature journal records a few highlights from a long weekend spent wandering this strip of Pacific coast. It is an eclectic collection of sketches, notes, wonderings, and questions, and features a squiggle of glued-down beach sand.

Moclips, WA 2006. Copyright Kristen Clapper Bergsman.

I’ve taught workshops on creative nature journaling to teachers, students, and families and enjoy sharing a variety of techniques and games that spark inspiration. Creative nature journaling captivates Kindergarteners as much as it does adults. Opening to a blank page in a journal is an invitation to watch, listen, participate, and play, regardless of age. My hope is to craft future blog posts on nature journaling, providing information on the value of nature journaling both in and out of educational settings, sharing activities for kids and adults, and providing a peek into pages of my nature journals.

Today is the first day of the last month of 2011, the year which marks our 10th anniversary. With our anniversary this year came many new changes and a spreading of wings: Our lovely new website which better communicates what we do and how we support our clients. A beautiful new office space in Greenwood which allows for us to host client meetings. A part-time Administrative/Project Assistant, the multi-talented Joanna, who joined our staff last summer.

Please check back to this blog regularly for company updates, information about local science education happenings, and for a peek into the pages of our nature journal.

A contest for high school, community college and undergraduate university students in Washington state to advance solutions, awareness and innovation in global health. Choose a project that develops a global health solution or engages and motivates communities in support of global health. Build a team of students and get creative with your ideas using technology, social media, the arts, education and more. Win prizes and recognition as part of the Next Fifty Celebration in 2012. Initial two-page proposals are due December 15, 2011

Website: http://globalhealthnexus.org/competition/

Contact: Vicki Orrico vicki@globalhealthnexus.org

Are you interested in learning more about the intersection of information technology and biological research? Would you like to engage your high school students with an authentic genetic research project that uses the same bioinformatics resources used by scientists? NWABR is excited to announce a new bioinformatics professional development opportunity and curriculum, Bio-ITEST.

When: August 2-13, 2010.

Where: Shoreline Community College, Shoreline WA, and the EdLab Group, Lynnwood, WA.

Who: High school teachers, particularly those with advanced biology or biotechnology courses. Prior bioinformatics experience is not required.

What: Using Bioinformatics: Genetic Research is a two-week professional development experience for teachers. Teachers will receive training in the use of bioinformatics tools to analyze DNA sequences, perform multiple sequence alignments and explore protein structure. Teachers will also have the opportunity to participate in a research study of the program and to provide critical feedback on lesson drafts.Teachers will receive: $900 stipend (an additional $100 will be provided upon completion of the field test of Bio-ITEST lessons), clock hours free of charge, and the opportunity to purchase credits through Seattle University.

Applications open March 1 and are due April 1, 2010. For more information, visit the project website.

Biotechnology Program Workshop

Shoreline Community College is proud to announce its 5th Annual Amgen Bruce Wallace Biotechnology Program Workshop for High School Teachers in the Greater Seattle area. The Amgen-Bruce Wallace Biotechnology Lab Program is an educational outreach program that provides equipment, curriculum assistance and supplies to high schools and colleges. The program not only provides a thoroughly tested and robust curriculum, but also provides a full suite of transportable, research-grade equipment and supplies to allow teachers to conduct advanced and contemporary activities within their high school classroom.

Dates: August 19th, 20th, 21st 2010

Cost: Free. Clock hours will be available

Location: Shoreline Community College

Contact: Adrienne Houck at ahouck@shoreline.edu to register for the program.