“Stories are everywhere, if we know how to look.” 

–How to Teach Nature Journaling

Join the Workshop

What are the words you need to hear? Someone else probably needs to hear them too. Join guest Ashley Ballou-Bonnema, my singing teacher and founder of Breathe Bravely, to write a letter based on the book The Ripple of Words which I (Rebecca) am a part of! This book is about Cystic Fibrosis, but here we will do a nature-focused version of the activity.

“There are moments in life in which we feel completely lost at sea, floating amidst a world in which we feel will never understand. We become lost within ourselves, a deafening silence echoing throughout an isolation shared between individuals who live beneath a weight placed upon every breath.

But, we have also experienced those moments in which leave us beautifully breathless – words leaving us speechless as they descend unexpectedly upon our hearts just as if they’ve been written for us in that exact moment. They’re the words our eyes have needed to see and that our heart has needed to hear.

Those words ripple across our lives and remind us that we are not alone, that we are stronger than we could ever imagine, and that someone across the sea understands and believes in the person we are.

 

The Ripple of Words is a collection of letters written by the sINgSPIRE Virtual Choir and members of the cystic fibrosis community. The mission of this compilation is so that others living not only with cystic fibrosis but enduring other isolating obstacles in their lives might feel the ripple of life-changing words – leaving each person embraced not only within a wave of belonging but a sea of strength rooted in authentic empathy.”

Watch the Virtual Choir project, “Holding Our Breath,” which was created in conjunction with this book. You might see someone familiar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOy73452f58

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In nature journaling, we use a mixture of words, pictures, and numbers. Join us for this weekly workshop where we focus on WORDS. We’ll explore writing for different purposes: writing to observe, to think, to imagine, and to communicate. 

Writing mechanics (spelling/grammar/etc.) are not important here, so don’t worry if that aspect of writing isn’t your strength. This workshop is about using words to unlock our creativity and our connection to nature. How can we use writing to blend our scientific curiosity with our experiences and emotions? How are we a part of the stories we observe? 

We’ll examine the work of well-known nature writers and conservationists to get inspiration, but this is all about finding YOUR voice and what’s true for you. 

Each workshop will feature an interactive activity and an opportunity to share your writing.  

All ages and skill levels are welcome. 

Donate

The program is free, but if you can afford to contribute I would appreciate your support. This allows me to continue to provide free and low-cost programs for the nature journal community. If not, please pass it on by doing a kind act in your community!

Suggested donation: $15 Donate Here

Your instructor: Rebecca Rolnick

Rebecca is passionate about helping to conserve biodiversity and connect people to nature.

To those ends, she graduated from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry with a B.S. in Conservation Biology and a minor in Environmental Writing & Rhetoric. She was recently featured as Volunteer of the Month in her town for her work leading the “Young Naturalists” program of the CNY Izaak Walton League.

Rebecca currently teaches environmental education and nature journaling on Outschool and through her business, Forest School-to-You. Contact Rebecca here. 

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