A Season of Colour, Curiosity, and Firsts: My First Fall of In-School Nature Journaling Programs

This fall marked my very first season running in-school Nature Journaling programs— and what an incredible beginning it has been! With the unusually warm start to October, students and I had the joy of stepping into a season bursting with colour and life. From brilliant red maple leaves to sunlit pine cones and late-autumn wildflowers, nature offered the perfect backdrop for launching these workshops.

Over the past couple of months, I’ve had the privilege of working with hundreds of students as they explored leaves, pine cones, flowers, berries, seeds, and countless other natural treasures. Their curiosity, creativity, and willingness to dive into journaling made every session feel magical. Watching students discover something new—then sketch it, describe it, wonder about it—reminded me exactly why I started this work.

A standout experience this season was spending a full professional development day with educators in Quyon, QC, followed by a full day working with their students. Guiding teachers through Nature Journaling practices and then watching them support their learners the very next day was incredibly rewarding. Seeing the shared language of I Notice, I Wonder, It Reminds Me Of in action brought everything full circle.

One of my absolute favourite moments from this fall? Seeing students running around with their journals at recess—holding them open, comparing pages, excitedly sharing their observations, connections, and wonders. Watching them choose to journal outside of workshop time was the clearest sign that this practice had truly resonated.

As my first fall season of in-school programs comes to a close, I’m overflowing with gratitude—for every teacher who invited me into their classroom, every student who welcomed me into their learning, and every beautiful moment spent outside exploring together.

Here’s to an unforgettable first fall… and to all the seasons of wonder still ahead

Check out some of the students incredible work below!