During school vacation week, Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association will offer a Nature Journal Workshop at the Sheepscot General, 98 Townhouse Road in Whitefield on Tuesday, Feb. 17 from 3-5 pm.  A snow date is scheduled for the following day, Feb. 18.

As part of SVCA’s Art & Nature year, we will be introducing this fun family activity as a way of further appreciating the natural world around us. Keeping a nature journal is a great way to stay connected to the natural world through a combination of art, writing and science.

And keeping a field journal develops and reinforces the most important science process skills — observation, questioning and documentation.  Recording the seasons, the coming and goings of birds and other animals, keeping track of weather (like how much snow fell during the last snow storm), watching the leaves change color or the buds burst are just some examples of fun things to keep track of in a nature journal.

You don’t have to be an artist or a writer to have fun observing the natural world. Also, during school vacation week on April 22, we’ll have an outdoor Nature Journaling Walk at the Bass Falls Preserve in Alna. You can bring the journal you made, or bring one you already have!

This workshop is designed for all ages and families are encouraged to join in the fun together. We’ll spend a bit of time talking about the benefits of nature journaling, playing some drawing and observation games, and then making journals to be taken home.  Supplies for making a journal will be provided, but if you have favorite drawing utensils, please bring them along.

Children 7 and under should be accompanied by an adult or older sibling. Registration is required through the SVCA (svca@sheepscot.org or 207-586-5616) and numbers are limited. Please sign up by February 10 to help us plan supplies.

For more information, call the office at 207-586-5616, visit our website at www.sheepscot.org or like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/sheepscot.