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Melinda and Nature journaling in the news!

Read an article about nature journaling here.

We may see the forest on our work commute, or a deer on the side of the road, but do we really SEE the natural world?

What kind of hedge is growing at your home or nearest neighbor’s?
Is the largest tree on your block deciduous or evergreen?
What month do the daffodils in your neighbor’s yard bloom?
How many crows were on that tree you saw this morning?

Learn how to slow down, get more comfortable with being outside, and develop a keener sense of awareness in nature.

What can Nature time do for you?

Recharges your inner “batteries” -leaves you feeling replenished
Restores calmness and being centered so you are more resilient during times of stress
Improves your sense of well-being and uplifts your mood
Gives you a sense of perspective when you are feeling overwhelmed
Reduces effects of stress: reduce heart rate and blood pressure
Improves memory, concentration and productivity
Boosts your creativity

Offerings:

Nature Journaling:

Keeping a nature journal opens our eyes to unseen beauty.

We make careful observations, and record them on the page.

Suddenly, we begin seeing, sensing, hearing and smelling more of the natural world.

Learn how you can keep a nature journal to deepen your nature connection, observational, naturalist and drawing skills, and spark a sense of wonder and curiosity.

Online and in-person Courses and workshops:

Spark your Curiosity: introduction to nature journaling
Spark your Bird Love
Be a better birder with nature jouranling
Bookbinding: Make your own nature journal
Into the Heart of Nature Retreat

Monterey Bay Nature Journal Club

Sunday Virtual Nature Journal Club

Melinda lead the Monterey Bay Nature Journal Club. We meet in person and online.

See the calendar for dates.

Nature Journaling: Upcoming events

Private mentoring

Are you stuck on a plateau in your nature journaling? Looking for a spark of inspiration?

Are you an educator using nature journaling in your class, and want to strengthen your practice?

Are you new to nature journaling and want one-on-one mentoring to get you going and enjoying nearby nature?

Contact Melinda at sparkinNature at gmail.com

Guided Nature Walks

Experience your nearby nature with new intention so that you can begin to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. With this approach you’ll start to see the world differently, as if a window opened up allowing you to see another perspective. Nature walks and birding walks.

Nature-inspired crafts and creativity Workshops:

Use nature to nurture your creative expression. Creativity reduces feelings of stress, and helps to develop your intuitive sense and inner guidance.

Nature Connection

Deepen your awareness in nature with guided exercises, and learn how to quickly and easily get a dose of nature in a busy, technology-driven world to bring calm, peace and balance to your life.

Slow Birding: Spark your joy of birds

Join Melinda for a morning of wandering in nature to appreciate birds. Learn how to see more birds, hear more birds, how to record easy notes in your journal to increase your knowledge and enjoyment of birds. The focus is on slowing down and enjoying nature and birds, rather than quickly trying to name and check birds off a list. Good for new and experienced bird watchers. We will learn new ways to make bird watching more easeful, and enjoyable!

Professional Development, Teacher Trainings, Workshops

Bring a nature journaling experience to your work, school or event. Online, and in-person.

Melinda simplifies the practice of nature journaling to calm the inner critic, while developing skills of awareness, wonder and curiosity through sketching and writing. This practice is grounding, bringing you into deeper connection to nature, restore joy and peace.

Contact Melinda for details.

Private & Small Groups:

Tide pool and Rocky Shore exploration

Learn from an expert marine biologist and naturalist all about tide pool life, the animals and organisms that live there, and go out on guided expeditions to local tide pools and rocky beaches. You’ll never see the tide pools the same way after experiencing this series.

Marine Birds

Monterey Bay is rich with a diversity of marine birds. Learn from a marine bird ecologist about the variety of birds that live or migrate to Monterey Bay. Learn how to identify them, field identification tips, and take a peek into their habits.

About Melinda:

Melinda Nakagawa is a biologist, naturalist, and educator with a passion and skill for connecting people to nature. She founded Spark in Nature to guide participants to cultivate a deeper relationship with the natural world, slowing down to nature’s pace and seeing rather than just looking at the world.

With an approach that bridges nature, art, and heart, she welcomes all people regardless of their skill level or background. Through her gentle guidance, hundreds of participants have awakened their spark of curiosity, sense of wonder, and connection to the natural world.

Melinda has partnered with local institutions such as the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium and Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History to lead educator trainings on nature journaling. She leads the Monterey Bay Nature Journal Club’s free online Sunday sessions.

She has an M.S. degree in Marine Science, and has also worked as a naturalist guide, floral designer, and wildlife rehabilitator. For the past two decades Melinda has kept nature journals and continues to learn more from nature with each journal she fills.