Attention - Curiosity - Wonder

Lichen Rock. Photo by Claudia L’Amoreaux 2024

I’m a member of the Children & Nature Network (visit and subscribe here). This week, of the multitude of posts and videos I read, viewed, considered, ranging from AI in EDU to politics, “Falling in love with nature through journaling” written by Fiona Clare Gillogly is the one I’d most like to share with you.

Here’s an excerpt:

Nature journaling is an amazing way to connect with the natural world. I find that when I journal, I lose track of time and get swept up in whatever it is that I am drawing and wondering about. I focus for much longer when I am journaling because I have to look again and again while I’m drawing. Keeping a nature journal helps me remember more of what I see in nature and it is a lot of fun. 

The post is rich with pages from her journals and a photo of Fiona resting her chin on a huge stack of her journals. My favorite journal page that she shares is titled “Fiona’s journal from Point Reyes National Seashore.” Just above it, she writes:

…research shows that the act of getting curious helps pull me into a state of heightened awareness and focus, priming me to notice and learn more. I will often start with really simple questions. I have noticed that when I begin with simple questions, and keep asking questions, I find my way to more interesting and complex questions. In that moment, I don’t worry about finding the answers to all of my questions because the act of getting curious and asking questions takes my brain to a place it wouldn’t have gone had I answered every one as I asked them. (If I stopped to look up every answer, I would also ask a lot fewer questions.) For some of my questions, I will look up the answers later or ask someone about it, but often, those answers lead to more questions. Building the skill of curiosity and being comfortable with asking questions—on my journal pages and in my life—is one of the most powerful tools I have developed from nature journaling. [Claudia’s emphasis]

In the post, Fiona describes her relationship with her mentor, John Muir Laws. The tag line on John’s website is: Nature Stewardship Through Science, Education, and Art, followed by these three keywords: Attention - Curiosity - Wonder. I have one of his many books, The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds. You can meet John yourself here (it’s 6 minutes—give it the time):

“The journal is not about the picture. It’s about paying deeper attention.”

—John Muirs Law

Check out his educator resources, including his weekly live educator forum. From his site: “Grab your lunch and join me every Wednesday at noon (12:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time) for a one-hour online discussion with educators around the world. Each week we tackle a different topic and can respond to issues or questions from participants. See the schedule for details and links to join any of the meetings.” 

I’ve mentioned that I am working on a book of my poetry, written over quite a few years. In revisiting Fiona’s post, I realize my poetry writing is a form of “nature journaling,” sensitizing my noticing. And so is my photography. And of course, so is this writing practice I’ve named The Interconnect.

Where does this noticing and deeper attention come alive for you? Let me know. I’m opening comments on this post. Or just hit reply and say hello.

Thanks for reading. Be well. And please consider sharing this post with family, friends, teachers, and/or colleagues who might appreciate it.