Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference, September 2024
September 18, 2024
by Becky Givens, Class of Spring 2024
In September I had the opportunity to be a session moderator for the 2024 Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference. I helped monitor the chat and Q&A for presenters along with break out rooms for attendees. What does a nature journaling conference have to do with our Master Naturalist mission? I’m glad you asked! First let me say what it is not. Nature journaling is not about creating an artistic masterpiece; I am not an artist! As for what it is: a skill you can use to journal your adventures in nature. In a nutshell:
Nature journaling builds creativity, curiosity, observation, and critical thinking skills.
Nature journaling nurtures a connection to nature and the outdoors.
Nature journaling invites children and adults alike to slow down, pay attention, and experience awe and wonder.
About the conference:
Founded in 2019, this annual international nature journaling conference — the largest event of its kind — is attended by journalers from around the world. Each year, we feature leading educators and innovators in nature journaling, visual thinking, science, art, nature connection, and conservation. This event gathers people who are passionate about nature, art, science, curiosity, and wonder to share ideas, learn from each other, support each other, inspire each other, and have fun together in nature’s beauty.
This year’s online conference had more than 1,000 people attending 30 sessions over 5 days. It consisted of classes, panels, and talks, with more than 30 teachers, journalers, writers, artists, authors, and conservationists from around the world. Here are a few of the presenters: Fernando Gomez Baptista (National Geographic artist), Tony Foster (artist/explorer), John Muir Laws (Wild Wonder founder), Amy Tan (author), Derrick Z. Jackson (journalist, author, photographer), Stephen W. Kress (Project Puffin). Sessions included painting and drawing, arranging page layouts for journaling, reading and writing nature poetry, conservation stories, and a daily lunchtime gathering for attendees to meet, share, and talk.
This conference is put together by the Wild Wonder Foundation, which is dedicated to encouraging nature connection and conservation through attention, curiosity, art, science, and community. John “Jack” Muir Laws is the president, co-founder, and creative director. Jack is an award-winning naturalist, artist, scientist, and educator who has dedicated nearly four decades of his life to connecting people to nature through art and science. Jack’s passion is to help people fall in love with the natural world, so that they will want to care for it. This passion comes across in every Wild Wonder event I have attended. This was my first conference, and I am so glad I got to be a part of it. I plan to volunteer and attend again next year!
If you want to learn more about Wild Wonder and nature journaling visit https://www.wildwonder.org/
