National Arboretum Winter in the Woods Program

Winter in the Woods Festival

NatureArt Lab is proud to partner with the National Arboretum Canberra as part of the Winter in the Woods Festival.

Join us for six nature-inspired creative workshops that celebrate the beauty of winter through art, observation and curiosity. Choose from a range of beginner-friendly sessions in nature journalling, watercolour and drawing, designed to help you slow down, look closely and connect with the natural world.

Set within the stunning landscape of the National Arboretum Canberra, these workshops offer a welcoming and creative experience for anyone interested in nature, art and mindful observation.

About the program:

• Guided nature journalling, watercolour and drawing activities
• Relaxed, supportive instruction
• Beautiful outdoor locations around the Arboretum (weather permitting)
• Dedicated indoor spaces available in wet weather
• All materials provided

Whether you're completely new to art or looking to deepen your creative practice, we invite you to join us for a memorable winter experience surrounded by trees, nature and community.

Bookings are managed through the National Arboretum Canberra website.
https://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/visit/whats-on/feature-events/winter-in-the-woods

Friday 26 June, 10.00am – 12.00pm, Terrace Room (wet weather option)
Tree Stories: Origins & Adaptations (Nature Journalling with Ami Amlani)
Discover the fascinating journeys of trees from around the world and how they’ve adapted to thrive in different environments. Guided by Ami Amlani, this relaxed nature journalling session invites you to observe, sketch, and annotate with curiosity—building your confidence in drawing while deepening your understanding of form, structure, and survival strategies. You’ll learn how to turn simple observations into rich visual stories, enhancing both your creativity and your connection to the landscape.

www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/visit/whats-on/feature-events/winter-in-the-woods/winter-workshops/nature-journaling-with-natureart-lab

Sat 27 June, 10.00am – 12.30, (Bugang or Visitor Centre as wet weather option)Banksia Design: Collage Creations (Mixed Media with Alison Oberg)
Create your own dynamic and colourful banksia designs using collage and pen techniques with expert and fun guidance from Alison Oberg.

www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/visit/whats-on/feature-events/winter-in-the-woods/winter-workshops/banksia-mixed-media-with-natureart-lab

Fri 3 July, 10 – 12.00 noon, (Margaret Whitlam Pavillion wet weather option)The Architecture of Trees (Drawing with Dr Taylor Singh)
Discover the hidden structure behind every tree. Develop strong drawing skills by simplifying complex forms, improving proportion, accuracy, and your confidence in tackling detailed subjects.

www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/visit/whats-on/feature-events/winter-in-the-woods/winter-workshops/architecture-of-trees-with-natureart-lab


Explore the species of Terra Australis (Nature Journalling with Ami Amlani)
Sat 4 July, 1.30 – 3.30pm
(Margaret Whitlam Pavillion wet weather option)
Explore the Australia through plants. Learn to combine sketching, notes, and simple
diagrams to tell visual stories, enhancing both creativity and your ability to see and record detail.

www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/visit/whats-on/feature-events/winter-in-the-woods/winter-workshops/terra-australia-journaling-with-natureart-lab


Little Explorers Treasure Hunt (Ages 8 – 12 years) (Nature Journalling with
Ami Amlani and Suyana)
Sun 5 July 10 – 11.30am, (Bugang or Visitor Centre as wet weather option)

Have fun with a treasure hunt! Enable children to tune into the natural world around them through guided nature journalling in the Arboretum gardens. Using observation, drawing and words, they’ll capture tiny details—from insects to leaves—building curiosity, creativity, and a deeper connection to everyday nature.

Week 3 (6 – 12 July)

Wed 8 July, 10.00am – 11.30am, (Terrace Room wet weather option)
Banksia Adventures: Stories with May Gibbs at the STEP Gardens (Ages 8 –
12 years), (Nature Journalling with Ami Amlani and Suyana)
Inspired by the beloved world of May Gibbs, children will explore the Playground Gardens to take a closer look at real banksia cones, leaves, and textures. After a short storytelling session featuring the mischievous Banksia Men, children will create their own illustrated characters using drawing and natural materials.


Fri 10 July, 10.00am – 11.30am, (Terrace Room wet weather option)
Nature Detectives: Nature Journalling at the Arboretum (Ages 8 – 12 years),
(Nature Journalling with Ami Amlani and Suyana)
Explore the Arboretum Gardens and become nature detectives - observing patterns, textures, and living things. Through sketching and simple scientific inquiry, they’ll create their own illustrated journal pages inspired by this rich, sensory environment.

Sat 11 July, 10.00 – 12.00 noon, (Margaret Whitlam Pavillion wet weather option)
Winter Landscapes and Seasonal Change (Nature Journalling with Ami Amlani)
Slow down and tune into the quiet beauty of winter. Build confidence in sketching and note-taking as you capture tree forms, subtle colour shifts, and seasonal patterns—strengthening observation and creative mindfulness.

www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/visit/whats-on/feature-events/winter-in-the-woods/winter-workshops/seasonal-landscapes-with-natureart-lab

Sun 12 July, 10.00 – 11.30am, (Terrace Room wet weather option)
Tree Treasures: Rare Arboretum Bookmark Creations (Ages 8 – 12 years), (Nature Journalling with Ami Amlani and Suyana)
Discover the stories of rare and remarkable trees while creating beautifully illustrated bookmarks. Children will learn fun facts about unique species and translate shapes, leaves, and textures into artistic designs they can take home.

Week 4 (13 – 19 July)

Fri 17 July, 10.00am – 11.30am, (Terrace Room wet weather option)
Postcards from the Forest (Ages 8 – 12 years), (Art with Ami Amlani and
Suyana)
Inspired by the forest landscape, create a series of imaginative postcards using painting and printmaking techniques. These mini-artworks capture the spirit of the trees and can be shared with family and friends, or kept as a creative memory.

Sat 18 July, 10.00am – 12.00 noon, (Terrace room wet weather option) Botanical Colour Studies (Watercolour with Karen Holloway)
Unlock the subtleties of colour in leaves and plants. Develop control with watercolour while learning how to mix, layer, and capture natural tones with freshness and clarity.

www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/visit/whats-on/feature-events/winter-in-the-woods/winter-workshops/botanical-watercolour-with-natureart-lab

Sun 19 July 10.00am - 11.30am, (Terrace Room wet weather option)
Patterns in Nature: The Art of Leaves & Seeds (Ages 8 – 12 years), (Art with
Ami Amlani and Suyana)
Nature is full of patterns waiting to be discovered. In this hands-on session, children will explore symmetry, shapes, and textures through leaves, seeds, and natural materials, transforming them into vibrant artworks using rubbings, prints, and collage.

Week 5 (20 – 26 July)

20 July, 10.00 – 12.00 noon, (Margaret Whitlam Pavillion wet weather option)
Texture and Form (Drawing with Dr Taylor Singh)
Explore the arboretum forests and turn intricate patterns into expressive drawings. Refine your mark-making skills and learn how texture can bring depth, character, and realism to your work.

Wed 22 July, 10.00 – 12.00 noon (Margaret Whitlam Pavillion wet weather
option)
Tree Forms in Watercolour (Watercolour with Karen Holloway)
Loosen up your painting style and capture the gesture of trees. This session builds confidence in working with watercolour to create expressive, dynamic compositions.

Sat 25 July, 10.00 – 12.00 noon, (Margaret Whitlam Pavillion wet weather option)
Terra Australis in Colour (Watercolour with Karen Holloway)
Bring diverse native plant forms from this unique Terra Australis plant collection to life with vibrant washes and layered colour. Strengthen your composition skills and balance detail with creative expression.

Week 6 (27 July – 2 August)

30 July, 10.00am – 12.30pm, (Margaret Whitlam Pavillion wet weather option)
Banksia Patterns in Mixed Media, (Art with Alison Oberg)
Create your own dynamic and colourful banksia designs using collage and pen techniques with expert and fun guidance from Alison Oberg. All materials provided for a fun and creative morning at the Arboretum.

Fri 31 July, 10.00 – 12.00 noon, (Bugang Room or Visitor Centre wet weather
option)
Nature Journalling Tree Stories, (Nature journalling with Ami Amlani)
Discover the fascinating journeys of trees from around the world and how they’ve adapted to thrive in different environments. Guided by Ami Amlani, this relaxed nature journalling session invites you to observe, sketch, and annotate with curiosity—building your confidence in drawing while deepening your understanding of form, structure, and survival strategies. You’ll learn how to turn simple observations into rich visual stories, enhancing both your creativity and your connection to the landscape.

Sun 2 August, 10.00am – 12.00 noon, (Margaret Whitlam Pavillion wet
weather option)
Explore the species of Terra Australis (Nature Journalling with Ami Amlani)
Explore the Australian region through plants. Learn to combine sketching, notes, andsimple diagrams to tell visual stories, enhancing both creativity and your ability to
see and record detail.

Week 7 (3 – 9 August)

Wed 5 August, 10.00am – 12.00 noon, (Margaret Whitlam Pavillion wet weather option)
Tree Treasures: Rare Arboretum Bookmark Creation, (Art with Ami Amlani)
Discover the stories of rare and remarkable trees while creating beautifully illustrated bookmarks. Learn about some of the unique species of the arboretum and translate shapes, leaves, and textures into artistic designs.


Friday 7 August, 10.00am – 12.00 noon, (Margaret Whitlam Pavillion wet
weather option)
Creative Landscapes and Macrophotography with your Smart Phone, (Photography with Cristy Froehlich)
Get to know your iPhone and explore landscape photography with professional photographer Cristy Froehlich. Capture the colours and forms of a Canberra winter landscape with forests in focus.

www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/visit/whats-on/feature-events/winter-in-the-woods/winter-workshops/smartphone-photography-with-natureart-lab

Sun 9 August, 10.00am – 12.00 noon, (Margaret Whitlam Pavillion wet
weather option)
Winter Landscapes and Seasonal Change, (Nature Journalling with Ami
Amlani)
Explore the species of Terra Australis through slow looking and observation, connect with nature and create landscape sketches inspired by the patterns and colours of the winter landscape.