Sketch a Spring Flower

Grab pencils, crayons, gel pens - whatever your favorite tools may be - and let your inner artist bloom. Nature journaling invites us to slow down and truly notice the world around us, whether we’re sketching a flower, tracing the veins of a leaf, or jotting down observations about the weather. The focus is not on creating a perfect drawing, but on the process of looking closely and engaging with our surroundings. This practice naturally supports mindfulness and reflection, encouraging stillness in both body and mind while deepening our connection to the natural world.

For children, nature journaling offers an especially rich learning experience. Drawing, writing, and coloring strengthen fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination while also supporting early literacy through labeling, storytelling, and descriptive language. It provides a creative outlet for self-expression and emotional processing, giving children time and space to work independently at their own pace. Over time, nature journaling can help build observation skills, patience, and curiosity which lay the groundwork for scientific thinking, creativity, and a lifelong appreciation for the natural world.

Having fun with this activity? Try these ideas:

• Print a local list of wildflowers, like this Wenatchee Foothills Wildflower pamphlet, and find as many as you can throughout the week. Document your finds by drawing them in your nature book with your pamphlet as a reference.

• Use watercolors to paint the flowers you see. Mix colors to make the hues you need!

• Make a collaborative sketch by handing the paper back and forth every couple minutes to continue work.

We’d love to see what you’re up to this Spring Break. Tag us @mountain_sprouts or #MSCCSpringBreakChallenge to share photos with us on social media.