I read the title "3 Ways to Keep a Naturalist's Notebook" and felt that buzz of inspiration. But, reading the post, it was just about other people's projects, people long gone and famous for their other writing. It wasn't what I was hoping for. I wanted something, fresh, something on the scale of in my own backyard versus famous places and perfect settings. So, what was there to do but collect my own ideas for a backyard naturalist, like myself.

First of all, if you don't have a backyard, there is a whole world out there. Take a look at a local public place like a church, cemetery, park, or get creative. Being a naturalist isn't just about walking around in a forested area. Studying urban areas is important too. Even if you walk on paved ground instead of grass, nature can be found. Not even just outdoors!

Make notes about what you see. Including illustrations. Don't try creating masterpieces with your drawings. They can just add to your words as you find more to be curious about, or make note of. If you make a digital notebook you can add digital photos. Later you can look into a magnifying glass and fancier equipment. But, the main thing is to see what you discover while its still out there to be seen. Technology and more equipment can be distracting and time consuming. To start with at least, stick to a pencil and notebook for quick notes.

What can you find in your immediate, local ecosystem? Learn to identify different plants growing in your backyard. What types of grass are in your lawn? What are the "weeds" you see? Watch for animals in your yard, not just birds. What do they find to eat and how do they eat? Do they interact or avoid each other? Add details like the location, season, the weather, time of day, colours, texture, how they move (or blow in the wind), so many details you can think to add once you get started.

Consider all your senses when making observations and notes: sight, sound, smell, hearing and touch. Include your sixth sense, your feelings, too. Avoid touching poisonous plants. Try not to disturb animals and plants in general. That doesn't mean you can't touch things around you, just learn to understand them without endangering or upsetting them. You don't want to harm life while studying life - be responsible for your actions, not a bumbling professor uncaring/ thoughtless about the chaos your actions can create.

How does the environment affect the natural world? The environment can include the location, traffic from vehicles or people, buildings, sidewalks, fences, a river, trees, everything. I think of the odd weed poking up in an otherwise pristine sidewalk. There is the natural world surviving in the environment it finds itself in.

Take time and return. You may see something interesting while busy and make quick notes before moving along. But, plan ahead and choose a time and location where you are not rushed and can return to again and again. Things change in the natural world. You need more than one visit. Try a sunny day and later a rainy day, even in the same week.

You could make a study of just one weed growing where it manages to get a start. What changes day by day? What struggles does that weed have? Does it grow to full height or remain stunted? Does it produce flowers or seeds? If someone pulls it out, does it have enough root to grow back? Endless questions and observations.

Don't forget the motto (used by urban explorers) "take only photographs, leave only footprints". Whatever you bring with you should leave with you, no littering. On the other hand, don't remove things from their environment. Instead hope you will see them/it again next time you visit. I make an exception for seeds and clippings from plants which you could add to your notes. But, don't harm the plants, make sure there is enough of it to keep thriving. In some locations you may need to stay on trails, especially in fragile ecosystems. Think of it as the butterfly effect without the time machine.

Dress appropriately. Think about insects (bees and mosquitos). Think about the weather. Bright colours or anything flashy will make it harder to watch animals, no matter how patiently you wait. Bring everything with you in an easy to haul around backpack or something else that works well for you.

Give yourself credit for what you have learned, progress you have made in understanding the ecosystem and new discoveries you make. Celebrate your discoveries. Add to your research by looking into history and lore about the plants and animals in your own backyard. Which plants are edible? Find out about foraging and cooking/ baking with wild plants. Learn tracking skills for seeing where the animals came from and where they go.

Here are some reflection questions to help you choose your next outdoor adventure: What am I excited to learn outside? What would be easy for me to do in the amount of time I have? What would be easy for me to do in the locations I have nearby? What areas of nature study am I most passionate about? What areas of nature study have I not done in awhile? If you ever get stuck and unable to go deeper in a particular area of naturalist curricullum… simply take a break and go study something else for awhile!

Quoted from Brian Mertins, Nova Scotia.

• Discover the World Around You: Your Guide to Becoming an Amateur Naturalist
• Citizen Science 101: What It Is and Why It Matters
• Backyard Naturalist podcast (US based).
• Backyard Naturalist (Australia)

Urban exploration is about exploring the modern world, as it is. This includes infiltration (going where you are not really wanted or allowed) documenting abandoned and derelict places and being an actual explorer - with ethics.

Don't get the idea urban exploration is all about trespassing, goofing around and leaving your mark. That is entirely the wrong way to get started. Urban explorers have a respect for the locations they explore. "Take only photographs; leave only footprints" is the motto for people who are true urban explorers. We value history and we want to continue visiting the places as they decay and change.

Demolition is the sad fact of urban exploration - photograph history today because it may be gone tomorrow. This is very literally true! However, don't think of demolition as the enemy, this just makes you bitter. Change happens and we need change - everything can't just stay the same forever. So, be sad, but be glad you got the photographs while you could. Photographs of place now gone are treasures.

Rephotography

You can also get into rephotography. Take an old photo and photograph it again, included in the original location as it has evolved now. Look for rephotography for some really exceptional examples online, or on photography sites like Flickr.

Where to Explore

There are endless places to explore in the modern world. Not all urban explorers look at old buildings. There are industrial ruins, tunnels and drains and tall buildings where you can get photos of the whole city as you stand looking out over it (rooftopping). There are also ghost signs - faded signs from shops and advertising on the sides of buildings. There are ghost towns, if you can find much left of them. Urban explorers also like cemeteries - the old gravestones. You may be a rural urban explorer (like myself) and look at abandoned farm houses, barns, farm machinery, old cars too.

How to Explore

Before you begin exploring you will need some basic equipment: sturdy footwear, a map and a camera. These are the basics, you can certainly have more and will need more gear if you are exploring tunnels and other risky locations. But, for the average or new explorer you should stick to less risky places where you just need a good pair of boots to keep you safe.

Be aware, there are risks in most places. When exploring old farms I have been attacked by birds dive bombing me, I've made the mistake of walking in the flight path of a beehive and I worry about where I step each time I put my foot down. Always watch were you are stepping - you could find a deep trench under tall grass, an abandoned well which was not properly covered or marked or a big rusty nail which came from the house or something dumped there by someone else. If you explore consider yourself responsible for your own safety.

How do you Find Places to Explore

The question people usually as is how do I find places I have explored. I look for them! It really is that simple. You can get in the car and drive around and find places. I highly recommend you have someone else drive while you navigate and watch for signs of an old house. I have tried solo exploring while driving and it is not that great. The extra pair of eyes watching for old houses is great but - one of you needs to be watching the road as well. (No, I didn't actually drive off the road but I was not a safe driver on the road).

You can also check the Internet for locations. Not every explorer will share the locations they find. We can be cautious about giving away information when we don't know you or your intentions. Some people like to find abandoned places to salvage them for parts, some just want to find something to destroy and vandalize. Urban explorers don't vandalize, we don't leave trash on the site and we don't salvage parts or take anything (though I make an exception for garden plants because I like to save a living thing from dying in the weeds).

Pay attention to the news too. If you listen to the news or read the newspaper you will sometimes hear about a business, school or other location being closed or abandoned. A place up for sale is not really abandoned but may be interesting to explore. An old school or factory being closed and likely to be demolished is technically abandoned and really nice to explore and document  in your photographs (before it's gone).

Read about local history. Find out about the old buildings, places and locations in your area. Chances are there are great places to explore right under your nose - you just haven't found out about them. What was the first house built in your town - is it still standing? What was the first industry or business in your town - where is it now? Visit your local museums and libraries, you will find a lot of local history there. Join your local historical society. Not only does this give you access to more resources but you will have a membership card to give you validation as a local historian. Keep your membership card with you when you explore. If someone doesn't like you being there you can at least prove your interest in history rather than being labelled a troublemaker.

What do you do After Exploring

What I like best, once I've scraped some of the muck off my shoes or boots and cleaned the rest of me up as well as I can, is a good coffee. I seem to pick rainy days to wander around taking photographs. Good for the photos but the leave me (and my camera) damp or right soaked through at times. I stop for coffee somewhere, visit the washroom to clean my hands and tidy up a bit.

The best part about after exploring is seeing your own photos and sharing them online (not all of them - I tend to pick the best and save the rest). I've been posting my photos to Flickr for a few years. I began a group for other explorers in my area. You can search the site and see if there are local explorers in your area. Share your photos and as you get feedback and get to know them you can begin asking them where they have been and what they have seen. Share tips, and locations. Let them know what you found when you were there. (Was there a dog, a dive bombing bird, an abandoned swing set in the back, something else interesting or useful to watch for?).

*Originally, I wrote this for h2g2 - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition ( the Unconventional Guide to Life, the Universe and Everything). But, they don't want illustrations added to the posts unless you have approval from a peer review, or more credentials from past work on the site. I don't know if I want to write for their site on top of the work I'm already doing so I'm just going to keep the post for here instead. *