Nature Journaling program returns to Salinas high schools

This spring the Community Journal Project returned in-person to local high schools! We matched three science illustration mentors with five classes of high school students at North Salinas and Everett Alvarez High Schools. The art mentors taught lessons blending ecology, history, creative writing, and nature journaling to 142 students.

Each student was gifted a journal and a watercolor kit so that they could continue their exploration of nature journaling outside of the classroom. Many thanks to the Monterey Peninsula Foundation for funding this program!

Thanks to the wonderful art mentors, Kristen Burroughs, Jess Soriano, and Tina Somers for their inspiring, creative, and compelling teaching! We are so grateful to work with such talented artists and teachers.

We received lots of positive feedback from students, teachers, and art mentors alike. Students reported that “I liked that we were able to express our creativity science-wise” and “I liked that we were provided journals and watercolors that we can take for our future.” One student wrote on their final survey, “One thing I liked was the drawing and illustration lesson. One thing I didn’t like is that I can’t do this every day.” One of the classroom teachers said, “This is the best class of the whole term!” We can’t wait to bring the Community Journal Project to more classrooms in the future! 

Interested in working as an art mentor or bringing the Community Journal Project to your classroom or afterschool program? Reach out via our contact form! We can’t wait to hear from you!