Nature Journaling Workshop

Nature Journaling Workshop

Hike Overview Continued

Instructor: Hillary Parker

Nature Journaling is a wonderful way to connect to the great outdoors while expressing your artistic side! Join master naturalist and international award-winning botanical watercolor artist, Hillary Parker, for this fun and engaging course that encourages you to become more present and connected to your surroundings as you discover, identify, reflect, respond, and record your thoughts, feelings and observations freely in creative ways. Students will learn basic skills in observation, journaling, drawing and watercolor techniques, while focusing on all aspects of nature and will be working outdoors throughout various locations in Glacier National Park. No previous art experience is necessary, just bring your love of nature and creative curiosity! All professional grade art supplies will be provided for use for the duration of this course, and you will receive a beautiful Moleskin watercolor journal at the beginning of the course for you to work in each day and to keep. Light-moderate hiking on trails and working on location outdoors will take place each day. ALL art supplies are provided for during the duration of this course. 

Meeting Place: Glacier Institute Field Camp

Itinerary: (subject to change due to trail closures and weather) 

Day 1: Field Camp in the morning & Trail hike to locations in afternoon

We will meet at Field Camp at 8 a.m. for coffee and introductions. Please plan to be there by 7:45am at the latest. We will begin the course in the classroom studio in the morning to go over materials (provided for the duration of the course) and different types of journaling, sketching and painting techniques and to discuss how to work on location. Next, we will load up the Glacier Institute van and plan to visit multiple locations throughout Glacier National Park for the rest of the day. Please plan to bring your own lunch today and we will eat on the van ride up to our first trail. We will return to Field Camp by 4pm for breaktime before dinner at 6:00pm. Often on hot days, students bring a bathing suit and head to a nearby creek for a refreshing swim! After dinner the studio is open from 7:00pm-9:00pm for independent work on journal entries from field notes taken during the day.

Day 2: Trail hike to locations in morning & Field Camp in afternoon

Breakfast will be served at 7 am and we will depart in the van promptly at 8am to take advantage of the cool morning weather! We will spend the morning hiking and nature journaling at various locations and will have lunch (provided) in the van on our drive back to field camp. The remainder of the afternoon will be spent working in the studio finishing up our sketches and paintings. At 3:15pm we will stop and do a review, with a fun and informal opportunity to share your nature journal entries with each other, before returning all art supply kits and reference materials. We will end the course at 4pm.

Notes: ALL art supplies are provided for during the duration of this course. A lightweight backpack is recommended to carry art supplies, water, hat, sunscreen and lunch. A portable chair to sit on while working on location is also highly recommended.

Food: The following meals are included: Dinner on Day 1 through lunch on Day 2. 

Accommodations: One night of lodging is included with the course fee. Our student cabins are basic, hostel-style cabins with 5 single beds, bedside lights, and electrical outlets.  Students should be prepared to share a cabin with up to 4 other people, cabins are separated by gender. Couples may be paired up in the event there is ample space. We provide a bottom sheet for your bed as well as a pillow and pillow case, but please bring a warm sleeping bag.  Be sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp for night trips to the bathroom.

Park Entrance Fees: Participants are responsible for purchasing their park entry passes prior to the course. These can be purchased online at:  https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74280.

Physical Requirements: Moderate difficulty. Hiking distance covers less than five miles. 

Recommended Reading: 

• The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling by John Muir Laws
• Wildflowers of Glacier National Park by Shannon Kimball and Peter Lesica
• Plants of the Rocky Mountains by Kershaw, MacKinnon and Pojar