4-H is the largest out-of-school youth program in the United States and the only nationwide youth organization administered through land grant universities. In Oregon, 4-H is affiliated with Oregon State University. 4-H Youth Development is a program of the Oregon State University Extension Service that serves nearly 25,000 youths across the state.
In addition to the paid faculty and staff who provide leadership to 4-H, more than 5,000 adult and teen volunteers offer their time and talents to
Oregon 4-H. In 2023, the 4-H Marion County Outdoor Explorers program faced challenges such as transportation barriers, lack of funding and staff shortages.
In response, Kelly Noack, 4-H Youth Development outreach coordinator in Marion County, created an innovated 4-H program called “Nature Journaling for All Ages” to address these challenges by providing a hands-on, low-barrier entry point for all families, regardless of their background or experience with nature. This monthly program offers guided journaling sessions that help participants observe, reflect and engage deeply with the world around them while exploring a different location each month.
As families engage in nature journaling, they develop a stronger sense of connection to their local parks and become more likely to visit them on their own.
Youths and families are encouraged to explore their surroundings once a month with curiosity, using sketching, writing, and sensory observation as tools for self-expression. Additional Marion County 4-H Faculty and staff have recently joined the team, such as Laura Primm and Alix Brant. Together, they partner with outdoor and environmental education professionals who guide participants in walks and outdoor and environmental education professionals guide participants in walks, plant and bird identification, scavenger hunts, site history and more. The program also includes a focus on social-emotional learning, an essential component of youth development.
As a result, the Nature Journaling Program has proven to be a successful outreach initiative that can be easily replicated to meet the needs of each community and staff resources. The ongoing participation of families, particularly as they return month after month, indicates that nature journaling is becoming a staple in their lives — a positive, consistent practice that nurtures both individual well-being and family cohesion.
Families became more familiar with the diverse natural spaces in their own county. As families engage in nature journaling, they develop a stronger sense of connection to their local parks and become more likely to visit them on their own, fostering lifelong habits of outdoor recreation, environmental stewardship, and mental well-being.
By engaging in nature journaling, participants learn to manage their emotions, practice mindfulness, and improve their self-awareness. Over 180 participants of all ages engaged in outdoor exploration with their families in the first year.
