How to Nature Journal in the Rain!

Do you want to learn how to nature journal in the rain? Before you answer that question let’s looks at some special tools and tips to help your nature journaling in wet weather and storms. This video is an extreme example and may not be your cup of tea. Nevertheless, getting comfortable in less than ideal conditions will make you a stronger nature journaler. Either that or you could just watch this show to laugh at me getting soaked!

Why the heck should I nature journal in the rain?

Let’s start with why. Because I can already see the funny look you are making. You’d rather sit inside where it is warm and dry, snuggled up with your cat and some nice earl gray tea. Yeah, well me too. But, I guarantee that your cup of tea will taste even better if you venture out to nature journal in the rain for even 15 minutes. If you never go out while it is raining you will be missing out on a lot of nature. I discovered underground rivers and gopher hole artesian fountains! What will you learn?

How to nature journal in the rain in 9 steps

1. First of all, you should adapt your expectations. Before you even go nature journaling in the rain you need to think about this. As usual, I recommend focusing on inputs not outputs. If your expectation is to create a beautiful work of art you may be disappointed and give up. Instead, your goal should be something like “to get out there and spend 30 minutes nature journaling.”
2. Get your proper rain gear on. Whatever to keep you comfortable. An umbrella works great to draw under.
3. Next, get your water resistant nature journaling supplies ready. (see below for supplies I recommend).
4. Quickly identify your first subject. I chose the water coming out of the gopher holes. You can always change your focus if you notice something else exciting!
5. Try to get all three nature journaling languages in: words, pictures, and numbers. Words in particular could be a fast and descriptive way to capture some of your experience.
6. Stop before you are done. Don’t push yourself too hard.
7. Reward yourself with a cup of hot chocolate.
8. Take your journal out and make sure it can dry.
9. Finish off your pages or transfer information to your main journal from the safety of your studio.

Pro Tips for Nature Journaling in the Rain

1. Keep one hand clean and dry or have a way to wipe it off. A rag in your pocket could be a good idea.
2. Strive for a fault tolerant style. Fault tolerance is the ability of a system or design to achieve its basic goal even when many small things go wrong.
3. Know when to go easy on yourself and when to push yourself.
4. Develop a visual vocabulary and your own symbols to capture information quickly.
5. Wear wool or other materials that insulate when wet.
6. Pencil usually works better in my opinion than waterproof pens.
7. Act like a kid. It is scientifically proven to improve your thinking 🙂
8. Don’t put any supplies down on the ground.
9. Use a small journal with fewer pages to reduce the risk of the worst case scenario (For example, if you are carrying a journal with a 40 beautifully filled pages that you are attached to. And you take that journal out on a rainy day and somehow all those historic pages get damaged beyond repair.)
10. Drink hot chocolate and eat cookies when you are done.

Supplies for Nature Journaling in the Rain

I made this list to help you find supplies that work the best for you. These companies are not sponsoring me in any way but these are affiliate links so I get a small percentage if you shop using these links. First of all, I recommend a small water resistant journal. For example, this one by Rite in the Rain. I have tried several waterproof pens but my favorite is actually the prismacolor ebony pencil. It is more fault tolerant than the pens. Click here to buy the pencils. If you are really into ball point pens and must go with the ink option then check out this one by the same company that makes the water resistant journals.

Best hot cocoa for nature journaling in the rain

I like to mix reishi, chaga, lions mane or other mushroom powders into my hot chocolate when I am nature journaling in the rain to give my brain and immune system a boost. I don’t know if they are scientifically proven but it motivates me to nature journal more and that is what I am focused on.

Are you just getting started with nature journaling?

Check out this post: How to get started with nature journaling

Don’t Forget!

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