I can remember the many places I played outside while growing up in The Netherlands and Belgium. I played in the park across from my grandmothers house, and behind the bushes in her backyard where the compost pile was. I played near the irrigation ditch (sloot) at my great uncles farm, in the fields, behind the barns and in the attics of the barns where I discovered, amongst other things, a litter of newborn kittens. I played in stretches of wild along fields and ditches and empty lots.
The fun I had outside probably stimulated my curiosity about the world around me and I enjoyed my science classes in Secondary school. I loved drawing and painting watercolor paintings too. I studied Chemistry at the university of Oregon and did not do a lot of drawing then. Next thing you know I am in graduate school in Biochemistry and I forgot to get outside. Drawing and painting seemed like they were not useful ways of investing my time (I realize that this is debatable) but I found joy in creating the diagrams and figures for my articles and the presentations by myself and others in the lab.
My personal balance and love of Nature has been renewed because I started Nature journaling as a way to incorporate art and science. I sketch and occasionally I take classes in Botanical Art or field journaling or something creative that strikes my fancy. Staying creative became particularly important once I had two little kids and I got sucked into the daily grind of providing snacks and coop schools. I still hope to consider myself a scientific illustrator someday.
I volunteered to teach Nature journaling in my daughters first grade class two years ago. I was hooked as fast as the kids were. I love opening up their eyes to the world out there even if it is just the bit of nature in their school yard. I am still teaching and have found numerous organizations that are trying to encourage kids into the outdoors. I am hoping to do the same with this blog, but mostly this blog is an excuse for me to get outside, into a park, when I should be doing laundry or groceries.
