Session Description

This session introduces young explorers (Grades K–5) to simple nature journaling techniques to observe and record the beauty of the garden and its pollinators. No drawing experience needed—just curiosity and a love of nature!

Step into the Bee Haven garden and let imagination lead the way. Children will explore bees, butterflies, and plants up close, capturing what they see through drawings, words, and creative observations. Along the way, they’ll learn how to slow down, look closely, and notice the small details that make the garden come alive.

Activities are fun, hands-on, and designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and a deeper connection to the natural world. There’s no pressure to make “perfect” drawings—this is about exploring, discovering, and expressing what they see.

Children will leave with their own journal pages filled with the colors, shapes, and tiny wonders of Bee Haven.

Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult.

The Instructor

Lorie Topinka — Naturalist, Watercolorist, & Science Educator

Lorie’s love of nature journaling grew out of her years at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, where curiosity and careful observation were part of everyday life. It was there she first picked up a sketchbook in the field, and never stopped. She later taught Sketching for the Science Classroom and Nature Journaling, sharing the practice with educators and curious minds alike. Today, Lorie focuses on watercolor painting. Her latest work, Chickens of the 5th Street Community Garden and the Rat Wars—“a children’s book for adults”—blends whimsical illustrations with warmhearted storytelling. It offers a glimpse into how she sees and interprets the natural world.

Registration

Price: $25
Reserve your spot by emailing [email protected]