Leader Details

Melinda Nakagawa Melinda Nakagawa, M.Sc., is a naturalist, nature connection mentor, nature journal educator, bird ecologist, and best-selling author. As the Founder of Spark in Nature, Melinda's mission is to guide people to spark and sustain a heart-felt connection to nature and their inner nature through transformative experiences that blend science, nature, art and heart.
Central to her work is nature journaling, a practice that fosters keen nature awareness, curiosity, and connection through sketching and writing about nature.
In addition to her nature journaling workshops, she leads bird watchers on "slow birding" walks to find more joy and wonder in watching and sketching birds. She's inspired bird lovers to use nature journaling as a practice to improve their birding, learning, memory, and enjoyment of the birds they encounter.
Melinda received her M. Sc in Marine Science at Moss Landing Marine Labs studying marine birds. As a seabird ecologist she lived and worked on Southeast Farallon Island studying seabirds.