Bring the benefits of creativity
& nature connection into your life!
Here in the world of Wings, Worms, and Wonder, I guide your creative nature connection journey through nature journaling, art-making, creative connections, organic gardening, & the Montessori Method.
I’m Kelly Johnson, your artist, author, and creative garden guide.
My goal is helping connect humans and nature, creatively!
My grandparents taught me how to garden when I was a child, & I’ve been making art as long as I can remember.
So when I became a Montessori teacher 21 years ago, I wanted to provide the same creative nature connection experiences for my students.
After 10 years of gardening and nature journaling in a school setting, I decided to grow my focus to guide wider audiences - and so the world of Wings, Worms, and Wonder was born in 2010!
Along the way, I began calling myself a “creative nature connection guide.”
Much like an adventure guide, I'll help you discover your perfect path to nature inspired artistic success by meeting your needs as gardener, art journaler, teacher, or all 3, in practical and creative processes based ways.
Here on my website, you’re on the right path to spark wonder and creativity! Check out my blog for lots of creative nature connections tips, tricks, ideas, and activities!
Then, explore my Books & eCourses!
They provide a fun, inspiring, & realistic ways to tap into both your creative side & your green thumb as you journey into nature journaling & gardening!
And finally, be sure to check out my art to provide you with pops of nature inspiration to adorn your everyday!
Want to learn more about how Wings, Worms, and Wonder is qualified to help you? Keep reading!
Or…want to find out fun facts about me, Kelly?
Then click here.
The past 26 years teaching children and adults in many environments inspired me to delve into this work of reconnecting humans and nature using our immense powers of creativity.
I had a childhood grounded in nature and an adolescence focused on environmental and social responsibility. These experiences heavily influenced my life still to this day.
Modern life’s rushed pace and disconnection from the natural environment propels me to action using arts-based nature connection practices. I draw from the work and philosophies of progressive educators including Montessori, Sobel, and the historic Nature-Study educators.
I earned a BFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1998, with a major in photography and a minor in art history. Since graduating from SCAD, I have created and exhibiting my own art & craft in settings as large as a 7 story mural and as intimate as a vegan ice cream shop.
I received my Montessori 6-9 teaching certification from The American Montessori Society in 2004.
In 2012, I earned an MA with a concentration in Environmental Studies from Goddard College and self published my first book, Wings, Worms, and Wonder: A Guide for Creatively Integrating Gardening and Outdoor Learning Into Children’s Lives!
Beyond inspiring humans around the world through my 5 books, nature inspired items, online journaling classes, blog, consultations, workshops, conference presentations, I also teach regular children’s gardening workshops and watercolor painting and nature journal classes.
Through the DIG Local Network, a non-profit for which I was a founding board member for 6 and education director for 4 years, I developed and facilitated programming for 3 community children’s gardens. I've also taught "Little Gardener" workshops for toddlers, children’s gardening and adult nature journaling workshops for the University of North Florida, watercolor based nature art classes to seniors, developed the Nature-Study Program for Montessori Tides School, created 12 (& counting) Girls Scout nature & art based badge workshops, & more!
Since leaving the classroom full time in 2010, I’ve taught arts based school garden integration & nature journaling in the University of Richmond’s Nature and Sustainability Institute, for Jacksonville University, and many more schools, garden clubs, bookstores, art stores, and more from Florida to New York to Hawaii.
I also present my work at international conferences including: the Association for Experiential Education International, North American Association for Environmental Education International, Green Schools National Network, American Montessori Society, The Montessori Foundation, the Maine Montessori Association, the League of Environmental Educators of Florida, and the Florida Learn Green conferences.
Are you ready to jump into your creative nature connection adventure? A world of wonder, creativity, peace, and joy await right outside your door - & I’m ready to guide you!
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