Name _______________________________ 

Sit-Spots 
Developed by Lenora Davis, 2020. University of Oregon Environmental Leadership Program.  
Adapted from Young, Jon, Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature. OWLLink Media, 2016. 

 
In this activity, we will do a sit-spot, where we get up close and personal with the earth, closely observing and 
documenting the nature nearby, wherever you are! This is an opportunity to learn how to slow down and be 
attentive to small details that signify relationships in the complex ecosystems where we live.  

Materials 
This worksheet. You can also bring extra paper in case you want more room to write and draw! 

If you do not have the worksheet printed, you can transfer the questions onto another sheet of paper or into a 
notebook before starting the activity.  

A pencil, colored pencils (optional). 

A hard surface to write on (like a notebook). 

Instructions 
1. F​ ind a spot that you can sit outside​, if you have a yard, or anywhere else you can be safe and comfortable.  

Try sitting right on the ground to get to know the earth beneath you. Make sure you are​ free from distractions​ like 
food, music, other people, or technology.  

2. After you’ve found your spot, ​take about 10 minutes to sit and quietly and carefully observe nature around you​ before 
you start writing or drawing. Use all of your senses!  

3. After about 10 minutes, grab your paper and pencil and begin by f​ illing out the heading​ with descriptive 
information about your sit spot that day.  

4. Spend a​ nother 10-15 minutes​ (or more!) in your sit-spot d​ ocumenting your experience​ through w ​ ritten word and 
visual arts​. You can draw or write about things you s​ mell/hear/feel/see​, you can write a p​ oem​, you can s​ ketch​ plants, 
insects, whatever is around you!  

It’s ok if you are not confident in your art, poetry, or writing skills! The goal is to capture what you are experiencing, 
so include descriptive details when possible!  

5. Make sure to write about t​ hings you notice and also ask questions​! “A good scientist should be able to ask many 
more questions than they can answer” (CNPS).  

Here are some prompts to guide your sit-spot experience:  

I notice…. I wonder… This reminds me of…  I hear… I smell… I see… I feel… 

 

Space for drawing:  

 
 
Eco-Challenge!  
We challenge you to ​continue visiting your sit-spot!​ Visiting your sit-spot regularly can help you be in touch with 
the m
​ agic of nature right where you live.​ It can be magical to visit the same spot every day, week, or month, and see 
how the habitat changes depending on the season, time of day, weather, or over time.  

It can be fun to share what you saw in your sit-spot with others too! You might have some great stories!  

Example of sit-spot journal  

Lenora Davis. Environmental Leadership Program, 2020.  

References 
California Native Plant Society: Nature Journaling Curriculum 
Lynch, Kathryn, Sit Spot & Field Journal Assignment. 2020 
Young, Jon, Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature. OWLLink Media, 2016.