The practice of natural history is the bedrock of science. This talk will illustrate how we as naturalists employ stories, specimens, exploration of the natural world and the practices of paying close attention to build our understanding of the world from the bottom up. Presenter Andrew Hipp will make a case for the importance of natural history as a set of skills and habits that help expose what we don’t yet know and build our affection for the world. Natural history puts the onus on each of us to learn something new before we lose any more pieces, and it gives us the practices to do so. Supporting and continuing to build a community of naturalists is our best way to ensure the effectiveness and strength of that community.