Observation, Curiosity, Creative Thinking: Pencil Miles in Nature Journaling

UTAR Department of Student Affairs (DSA) of Sungai Long Campus organised the “Nature Journaling and Drawing Programme on Campus Series 1” at Sungai Long Campus on 22 July and 29 July 2023, and 5 August and 19 August 2023. The programme aimed to introduce nature journaling to students and staff.

The programme kickstarted with an introduction to nature journaling, which included its skills, benefits, challenges, and kits by DSA staff Mr Chow Keng Fatt. Next, the participants, consisting of both students and staff, were introduced to two topics; namely, “Focused attention” and “Process over product” as they learned to slow down and make discoveries with words, pictures, and numbers. Mr Chow explained that all these skills are learnable by everyone with regular practice. In addition, participants were taught metadata, the data behind data that provides context and background for the journal pages. The data includes date, time, location, GPS location, air temperature, weather, and speed of wind, all of which can be found on smartphones. Participants then began their journaling session at the entrance of the South Lobby, KA Block.

Mr Chow said, “Journaling deepens one’s observation, thinking, and memory with words, pictures, and numbers which in turn allows one to think differently and eventually create a more complete record of what they see. This activity helped us to form stronger memories and improved our observational skills. When we draw, we have to look at the least familiar parts of the subject; paying careful attention to structures and shapes and thus, allowing us to notice biologically significant details and features that we could easily miss in a written account alone. Using numbers also helps us to make different kinds of observations that will reveal significant patterns. This process of quantifying observations will lead us to questions we wouldn’t have thought of asking.”

Moving on, the next three classes focused on the visual recording of observations such as, “I notice”, “I wonder” and “It reminds me of”. The participants were brought to SL2 Public Park and KA Block North Lobby entrance as part of the outdoor session. They were amazed by the trees and plants they saw and expressed their thoughts in their journals. The participants were given the choice to either use Mandarin or English for the journaling activity. Nature journaling does not pursue pretty pictures; hence participants were able to experience the whole process without fear of being judged. Furthermore, the session saw participants recalling their childhood memories and sharing them with others.

Mr Chow said, “We hope they were inspired to be a desirous observer of wildness and hence, encouraging them to safeguard our biodiversity. With regular and deliberate practices, they will be able to develop their sense of place through learning the skills of scientific, creative, critical, and analytical thinking.”

The nature journaling and drawing programme ended with a simple gathering at Burger King. It was simple yet enjoyable for all the participants.

Nature journaling is a practice of drawing or writing in response to nature. It helps one to connect closely with nature. This practice is said to calm one’s mind and increase their attention to details as well as appreciation of beauty. It also helps one to recognise different animals and plant species, besides understanding where and how they live. Nature journaling allows people to capture moments by helping them recall observations that would otherwise be forgotten.

Mr Chow conducting the class

Participants doing their observation at KA Block

Mr Chow and participants at SL2 Park

A participant recording her observation

Participants sharing their journal entries

A participant’s journal entry

Positive thought shared by a participant

An unfinished journal entry by a participant