A Year of Professional Development Through Nature Journaling

This past school year, I had the incredible opportunity to work with a Kindergarten to Grade 6 school in the English school board in Quebec on a year-long professional development journey focused on Nature Journaling.

What made this experience particularly exciting was that it involved the entire school community. From administration to classroom teachers and students, everyone was committed to exploring how nature journaling could become a meaningful part of teaching and learning.

Starting with a Vision

Before the school year began, I met virtually with the administration team to discuss their goals and hopes for the year. Together, we developed a plan that included professional development days, classroom visits, and ongoing virtual support meetings. By scheduling dates in advance and establishing clear goals, we created a roadmap that would support both educators and students throughout the year.

Introducing Nature Journaling

In October, I visited the school on a professional development day to facilitate a full-day Nature Journaling workshop for all staff.

Using Nature Journaling for well-being and mindfulness.

The day focused on introducing educators to what nature journaling is and exploring how it can be used as a cross-curricular learning tool. We discussed how nature journaling goes far beyond science and outdoor education, supporting literacy, mathematics, art, social studies, inquiry-based learning, and social-emotional development.

The workshop combined presentations with practical, hands-on experiences. Teachers had the opportunity to participate in journaling activities themselves, allowing them to experience the process as learners before bringing it into their own classrooms.

One of my favourite parts of the day was the collaborative brainstorming session. Educators worked together to identify opportunities for incorporating nature journaling into their existing curriculum and classroom routines. The creativity and enthusiasm in the room made it clear that nature journaling had the potential to become much more than an occasional activity.

Working Alongside Students and Teachers

Later that month, I returned to the school for two additional days.

The first day was spent working directly with students. I introduced nature journaling to classes throughout the school while simultaneously mod

Students using Nature Journaling as a tool to compare various holidays around the world

eling strategies and techniques for the teaching staff. This approach allowed educators to observe how nature journaling could be introduced and facilitated with students of different ages and abilities.

The following day was another professional development day. This time, I facilitated Project WET Canada's Foundations of Water Education and Water in Earth Systems workshops. These sessions provided educators with additional environmental education resources and hands-on learning opportunities that complemented the nature journaling work already underway.

After these sessions, the staff were equipped with a variety of new tools and strategies to begin implementing in their classrooms.

Supporting Growth Throughout the Year

Students in their local forest Nature Jouranling.

Professional development is most effective when it includes ongoing support, reflection, and opportunities for feedback. Throughout the year, I met virtually with the administration team and lead teacher in January, February, and April.

These meetings allowed us to discuss successes, challenges, and any barriers staff were encountering. The lead teacher shared presentations highlighting student work and classroom experiences, providing valuable insight into how nature journaling was being used throughout the school.

These conversations created opportunities to celebrate growth, provide feedback, and generate new ideas. We discussed ways to deepen student inquiry, strengthen curriculum connections, and address any concerns educators were experiencing.

Bringing It All Together

In May, I returned to the school for two final days.

The first day was dedicated to collaborative planning with the teaching staff. Together, we designed nature journaling activities that aligned with classroom goals and curriculum expectations.

The following day, teachers facilitated the activities with their students while I provided in-class support, coaching, and encouragement. It was incredibly rewarding to see educators confidently leading experiences that only months earlier had been entirely new to them.

Using nature journals to transform observations and wonderings into project plans.

Reflections on a Year of Learning

What stood out most throughout this project was the willingness of both staff and administration to embrace a new approach to teaching and learning. Their creativity, flexibility, and commitment to student engagement were evident at every stage of the journey.

Throughout the year, educators shared that students were highly engaged during nature journaling activities. They also observed growth in students' observation skills, sense of wonder, curiosity, and literacy development. Students became more comfortable asking questions, making detailed observations, and communicating their thinking through words, pictures, and numbers.

For me, one of the greatest joys was witnessing how nature journaling became a tool for learning across the curriculum rather than simply another activity to add to an already full schedule.

Working with an entire school community over the course of a year was an incredibly rewarding experience. Watching educators grow in confidence, seeing students develop their observation and inquiry skills, and supporting a shared vision for learning made this project truly special.

Thank you to the administration, staff, and students for welcoming me into your community. It was an absolute pleasure to learn alongside you, and I look forward to seeing how your nature journaling journey continues to evolve in the years ahead.