The UC Davis Bee Haven is sponsoring two nature journaling classes billed as “Relaxed Mornings Among the Bees and Blooms.”
A beginners’ session for teens and adults is set for Saturday, May 2, and a session for young explorers (kindergarten age through fifth grade) will take place Sunday, May 3. Both will be led by naturalist, watercolorist and science educator Lorie Topinka of Davis, former assistant director of education at the California Academy of Sciences (CAS), San Francisco.
Samantha Murray, education and garden coordinator of the garden, said the sessions “invite you to slow down, look closely, and capture what you find, through sketches, notes, and your own creative observations. Step into the Bee Haven garden and let curiosity be your guide.”
“You’ll learn simple nature journaling techniques as you wander among pollinators and plants,” Murray said, adding “There’s no pressure to make ‘good art’ — nature journaling is about presence and noticing, not perfection. Leave with your own journal pages filled with the sights, textures, and tiny wonders of Bee Haven and a new way of seeing the world just outside your door.”
The Haven, located on Bee Biology Road, west of the UC Davis campus, and installed by the Department of Entomology and Nematology (ENT) in the fall of 2009, thrives with more than 200 native plants and displays of multiple art projects, the work of ENT classes taught by UC Davis Distinguished Professor Emerita Diane Ullman. She is the director emerita and co-founder of the UC Davis Art-Science Fusion Program.
Topinka says mature journaling is “about curiosity, noticing details, and enjoying time outside. She traces her love of nature journaling to the years she spent at CAS, where “curiosity and careful observation were part of everyday life.” It was there that she picked up a sketchbook in the field and “never stopped.” She went on to teach “Sketching for the Science Classroom” and “Nature Journaling” to educators as well as the general public.
Topinka is the author of “Chickens of the 5th Street Community Garden and the Rat Wars, A Children’s Book for Adults,” described as “filled with her whimsical illustrations and warmhearted storytelling and how she sees the world.”
The classes:
Adult/Teen Session
‘Nature Journaling for Beginners’ (Teens and Adults Welcome)
Date: Saturday, May 2
Price: $25
Time: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Details: This session will introduce beginners to simple journaling techniques to observe and record the beauty of the garden and pollinators. No drawing experience is needed. “Participants are encouraged to bring their own supplies–blank journals/art journals / writing/ coloring utensils to draw in, if possible, although we’ll have some extra materials available if needed,” said Murray. Reservations are underway at beehaven@ucdavis.edu.
Kids’ Session
Young Explorers: Kids’ Nature Journaling (Grades K–5)
Date: Sunday, May 3
Price: $25
Time: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Details: Young explorers will create journal pages inspired by the garden as they observe bees, butterflies, and plants. This class is described “as a fun and hands-on activities that encourage curiosity, creativity, and connection to the natural world.” Each child must be accompanied by an adult. Materials will be provided. Registration is underway at beehaven@ucdavis.edu.
The UC Davis Bee Haven is directed by bee scientist Elina Niño, professor of apiculture, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and a member of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology. She is the founder and director of the UC Master Beekeeper Program. The garden, located next to the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, is open from dawn to dusk. Admission is free.