Write Like a Naturalist

"Cat and Lavender through Window," Image curtesy of the Amy Lynn Hess

Many of the activities I suggest in my Write Outside text are the types of activities that might appeal to a naturalist, which might leave a student wondering what a naturalist is or what a person who engages in naturalism really does. To be honest, I never considered what a naturalist does or what naturalism entails before writing my book, so when these terms were presented to me, it made me very curious, as well.

Can you define naturalism?

The definition of naturalism I found that I most appreciate is from The Environmental Science Web page, which defines naturalism as “the study of the natural world as a whole and the study of each species within its environment(s), as well as how species interact with each other.” I especially like the phrase "as a whole" because it reminds me of the interconnectedness I feel when I am physically engaged in nature-based activities.

What do naturalists do?

The examples that best helped me understand the type of work professional naturalists do are located within natural history museums and are fun to explore. The types of exhibits that appear in a natural history museum have often been studied or curated by naturalists, from the dinosaur skeletons assembled by paleontologists, to the tiny shells collected by oceanic biologists, and from the planetary solar system exhibits created by planetary scientists, to the diagrams drawn by biologists of how trees communicate through fungi in the soil.

In addition to the scientists who study space, marine life, dinosaurs, and fungi, professions related to naturalists and naturalism also include geologists, botanists, wildlife biologists, park rangers, environmental scientists, civil engineers, etymologists, natural resource managers, botanical or wildlife illustrators or photographers, ecopoets, and ecotourism guides.

Do you know any naturalists?

There have been many famous naturalists throughout history, and there are even contemporary naturalists you can take classes with today. The following are just a few examples of the many famous naturalists who have made significant contributions to the understanding of the natural world. Although each is known as a naturalist, each also has a distinct profession and unique professional accomplishments.

• Charles Darwin: Darwin was an English naturalist who is best known for his theory of evolution by natural selection. He is also known for his extensive research and documentation of the flora and fauna of South America and the Galapagos Islands. Many contemporary works refer to Darwin, and to understand his work is to better understand several contemporary ideologies.
• John Muir Laws: According to Laws’s Web site, “He is a naturalist, artist, and educator who has dedicated his work to connecting people to nature through art and science. From an early age, his parents instilled in him a deep love and respect for nature. Over the years, that love has grown into a commitment to stewardship and a passion to share the delight of exploring nature with others.” He has also posted some excellent resources and YouTube videos to help new naturalists get started with nature journaling.
• John James Audubon: Audubon was an American ornithologist and naturalist who is best known for his detailed illustrations and descriptions of North American birds. He also contributed to our understanding of North American mammals and their behavior.
• Alexander von Humboldt: Humboldt was a German naturalist and explorer who is known for his extensive travels throughout South America and other parts of the world. He is credited with laying the foundation for modern biogeography and ecology.
• Greta Thunberg: Thunberg is a young climate change activist who is well known for a speech she delivered to the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit entitled How Dare You?
• Rachel Carson: Carson was an American marine biologist and conservationist who is best known for her book Silent Spring, which warned of the dangers of pesticide use and helped to launch the modern environmental movement.
• David Attenborough: Attenborough, who has one of my favorite voices, is a British naturalist and broadcaster who is known for his documentaries on wildlife and the natural world. He has also written several books on natural history and conservation.

Although each of these listed examples is known as a naturalist, each also has a distinct profession and unique professional accomplishments.

What are some projects for new naturalists?

After satisfying my own curiosity, I certainly recognize how I can potentially lean into the inclusion of naturalism and projects for new naturalists in my next few posts and in my next edition of Write Outside, especially when it comes to nature journaling. Although it’s main intent as a text is to help students learn to be better writers, the focus on writing like a naturalist would only help to better define the course aims.

Want to read the 2nd edition of Write Outside? Check out Write Outside on the Kendall Hunt Web site.