Free Online Nature Study Class

Ages ago – back before the calamitous year of 2013 – I had begun work on a coyote monitoring project to track and record the movements of our local coyotes. Although I didn’t get far in my initial endeavor (2013 happened), I’ve started working on this project again and will be blogging my observations and data over the next several months.

Relatedly, I’ve been mulling over the idea of an online class that guides participants through 6 – 8 classes of nature study/observations in their own backyards (or other self-chosen spots). Taking folks through my process of observing nature in this monitoring project would be a great way to start my class.

So, here’s the Plan: I will blog (starting with this article) through the steps that I would take a class through when leading an extended nature study program. In each post I will share some of my related experiences with my own project along with suggested activities, materials and resources. The materials and resources are only a recommendation – this program can be accomplished with what you have hanging around your house or office; no investment required. Most of the field guides I recommend can be found in your local library.

I’ll keep the posts collected with a link on the sidebar so folks can read through these and do the exercises at the end of each article at any time. Eventually this will work its way into a more formal online class offering, but until then, it will be available for free on my website as each article gets published.

Who is this program for? Someone who enjoys watching nature in any setting and wants to learn to look deeper. Ultimately, it is a tool to get people started on their own with nature study, regardless of past experience or knowledge. I hope that these classes and activities will be a springboard for further exploration and discovery – wherever in the world people live.

So let’s get started!

(Very) Tentative class outline:

Lesson 1 – Where Are You? (below)

Lesson 2 – Mapping Where You Are

Lesson 3 – Journaling, Data Collection and Nature Art – Chronicling Your Time in Nature

Lesson 4 – Identifying What You See: Resources & Ideas to Get You Started

Lesson 5 – Tracking

Lesson 6 – Birding

Lesson 7 – Insect Study

Lesson 8 – Final Observations and a Send-Off

Lesson 1 – Where Are You?

Studying nature can be done in any location and in any setting – you don’t even have to leave your house if you have a window that looks out onto a tree, garden, yard, or other natural space, although I do encourage you to do your regular observations outdoors, if possible. Over the course of this program we will use one spot to go to for our observations. It can be as small or large a natural setting as you have easy access to. In fact, that’s the most important point – your spot has to be easily accessible to you. The more challenging your location – no matter how beautiful – the harder it will be to find time to get there.

So your first task is to find your “sit spot”, your place in nature where you will spend time observing, recording and creating as we go along. Once you’ve settled on your spot, spend some time getting to know it. Go at different times of day to see what the light is like. Are there any critters – large or small – that are regularly nearby? What’s around you, and how does it affect the natural space? Start taking very basic notes about what you see, hear, smell and feel. Don’t worry about identifying what’s there; that can come later if or when you’re interested, just make note of it for now. I don’t put much emphasis on species identification when I teach – I want people to really get to know an organism or ecosystem for its characteristics, and not its name. But I understand (and share) the desire to know something’s name. It’s how we are taught from an early age to identify with the world around us.

I found my sit-spot years ago while exploring the woods adjacent to our house. It’s a 5 minute walk from our back door, located in a hemlock/deciduous stand. There is an ephemeral stream that runs in front, and there was a porcupine den there some years back (which is why I stopped using this spot – they’re gone now).  Here’s a picture facing the stream:

The base of the hemlock tree on the left edge of the photo is where I park myself. Although this small patch of woods is surrounded by busy roads and neighborhoods, I still feel secluded – like I’ve stumbled on some secrete place that no one’s ever noticed.

Where will your sit spot be? Do you already have a favorite place to observe the outdoors? Tell us about it in the comments – even if you’re not joining us for later lessons, I love to hear about the places people connect with nature.