John Muir Laws on Ordering the Affections Through Nature Journaling

Classical Education

About the Guest
John (Jack) Muir Laws is a principal leader and innovator of the worldwide nature journaling movement. Jack is a scientist, educator, and author, who helps people forge a deeper and more personal connection with nature through keeping illustrated nature journals and understanding science. His work intersects science, art, and mindfulness. Trained as a wildlife biologist and an associate of the California Academy of Sciences, he observes the world with rigorous attention. He looks for mysteries, plays with ideas, and seeks connections in all he sees. Attention, observation, curiosity, and creative thinking are not gifts, but skills that grow with training and deliberate practice. As an educator and author, Jack teaches techniques and supports routines that develop these skills to make them a part of everyday life.

He is the founder and president of the Wild Wonder Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging nature connection and conservation through attention, curiosity, art, science, and community. Laws is the founder and host of the Nature Journal Club, a family-friendly, intergenerational community that connects with nature through art and field journaling.
He has recieved numerous and prestigous rewards in environmental educaiton. He has written and illustrated books about art and natural history including The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling (2016), The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds (2012), Sierra Birds: a Hiker’s Guide (2004), The Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada (2007), and The Laws Pocket Guide Set to the San Francisco Bay Area (2009). He is a regular contributor to Bay Nature magazine with his “Naturalists Notebook” column. He is the primary author and editor of the curriculum: Opening the World through Nature Journaling. This free teaching guide is kid-tested and teacher-approved and integrates science, language arts, and visual arts through keeping a nature journal. He is the founder and host of the Bay Area Nature Journal Club, monthly free nature sketching workshops, field trips, and events, connecting people with nature through art.

Visit his website for many FREE resources: https://johnmuirlaws.com/

Show Notes

Learn how to create a spirit of inquiry! Learn how to order your affactions towards the good and the true! Join Adrienne and John Muir Laws to learn the secrets behind keeping good nature journals and why it is perhaps one of the most important practices for a good and beautiful education. Hear their stories reflecting on personal experiences in the great outdoors, and their passion to help students order their affections towards things that are good and true.

Topics Discussed include:

• Why nature journals?
• Ordering the affections towards the good and true
• Growth Mindset and helping students grow towards their full capacity
• Practical ideas for getting started
• How to assess nature journals (what to do and what NOT to do)
• Resources to help with nature study

Resources Mentioned

• John Muir Laws YouTube Channel (lots of FREE resources)
• Nature Journal Connection (free educational videos for teachers-- not students-- to help create lessons)
• Nature Journal Educators Forum (FREE online meetings. See his calendar for event links to the meetings)
• Wild Wonder Foundation
• How To Teach Nature Journaling (Free download by John Muir Laws)

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• What type of education is best, and what type of education might I or my child pursue in the future?

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Credits:

Sound Engineer: Andrew Helsel

Logo Art: Anastasiya CF

Music: Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 Violins in B flat major, RV529 : Lana Trotovsek, violin Sreten Krstic, violin with Chamber Orchestra of Slovenian Philharmonic

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