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Great job Jessica on your blog post this week! It has been interesting to see everyone’s future goals and how nature interpretation takes shape for our various dream roles. Your enthusiasm is palpable in your blog, and I hope all of our passions will shine through in our respective endeavors.

I wanted to especially highlight your comments on creativity as a skill. It is an exceptionally difficult thing to quantify or assess, and so I feel it is sometimes undervalued by those in academics. However, I feel you are correct that creativity in the manner in which you connect with others, how you deliver your message, and being open to new options is all vitally important. Your examples of using music or art to help connect with your audience were notable also. I don’t recall if I have seen others mention these tools so far this week, so well done for highlighting this! It served as a good reminder to me that there are continually ways to think outside the box and expand upon my preconceptions of what interpretation could be. Ultimately, as you say, it is all done in an effort to connect with the audience to have a lasting impact.

To that end, your mention of interpretation as being an act of teaching also stood out to me. It was a simple comment but it resonated with me. While slightly nuanced, it shifted my view of the interpreter as a somewhat aloof lecturer to that of a more engaged, dynamic instructor. Thank you for giving me another perspective to consider as we move through this course.

My Ideal Role as a Nature Interpreter

Nature interpretation is about building connections between people and the natural world, between facts and emotions, and between curiosity and understanding. To me, being a nature interpreter means not only sharing knowledge, but also inspiring a sense of stewardship and wonder in others. My ideal role as an interpreter would hopefully blend my passion for the natural world with my love for teaching and creativity, and it would be rooted in fostering meaningful experiences in nature.

The Role

In my ideal nature interpretation role, I would work in a protected area such as a national park, marine protected area (MPA), or wildlife sanctuary somewhere here in Canada. I envision guiding small groups of visitors on interpretive hikes, tidepool explorations, or wildlife viewing excursions. These experiences would allow me to help people connect with their surroundings on a personal level, whether that’s identifying animal tracks on a forest trail, admiring intertidal species, or listening to the unique calls of birds as the sun rises.

Beyond in-person interactions, I’d also want to engage with a broader audience through social media. Creating accessible, interesting, educational content—such as blogs or videos. I think this could help extend the reach of interpretation to people who are unable to visit these places in person. A hybrid approach would mean I could ensure that nature’s stories are shared widely, and inspire diverse audiences.

Skills and Expertise

To thrive in this role, I think I’d need a mix of scientific expertise, communication skills, and creativity. My education thus far in biological sciences and zoology has provided me with a solid foundation in ecology and animal behavior, while my interest in conservation also keeps me learning. I do recognize technical knowledge alone isn’t enough though. Interpretation is sort of about storytelling. It’s like taking complex concepts and translating them into narratives that resonate emotionally with people.

Public speaking, leading activities, and guiding groups would be essential skills for me to lead engaging programs. Interpersonal skills are essential. Being approachable and enthusiastic would help me create a welcoming atmosphere where visitors feel comfortable asking questions and sharing their thoughts. Creativity would also play a big role too I believe — designing interactive activities, coming up with memorable metaphors, or even incorporating art or music to appeal to different learning styles.

Additionally, I’d definitely need to polish my practical skills like time management, adaptability, and conflict resolution. Outdoor work clearly involves unpredictable variables — weather changes, diverse group dynamics, and wildlife that doesn’t follow the script, etc... The ability to stay flexible and upbeat is key! 

The Impact

By helping people connect emotionally with nature, I would hope to inspire a sense of responsibility for its protection. That’ll always be the main goal. Whether I’m introducing someone to their first glimpse of a moose in a wetland, or explaining the delicate balance of a coastal ecosystem, I’d want visitors to leave with a deeper curiosity, respect, and appreciation for the natural world and their place within it.

Being a nature interpreter is so much more than just sharing facts. It’s about awakening curiosity and empathy. My ideal role would combine fieldwork, education, and creativity to cultivate meaningful connections between people and the environment. If I can tailor my skills and passion to this vision, I’d hope to make a lasting impact on both individuals and the landscapes they come to love. 

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Future Role as an Interpreter - Unit 2

I initially was uncertain of how to connect my dream career of working in veterinary medicine with that of an environmental interpreter. However, a large part of a veterinarian’s role is communication on behalf of various animal species. This communication involves interspecific signals, as they read the body language and behaviour of the animals they work with. It also involves both written and verbal methods of communication with pet owners, farmers, researchers, government bodies, law enforcement (when necessary) and the general public as a whole. Some of the verbal communication can also take place over the phone, where the lack of body language can be limiting. I imagine this challenge will be similar in our podcast endeavor, where we will have to rely on tone and inflection to help convey more than just the words themselves.

I am fortunate to currently work at a mixed animal practice, which also serves a local zoo in our area, a government-run bird sanctuary, and is a triage point for turtle rescues in Ontario. As you can imagine, this gives many opportunities for involvement beyond the traditional companion animal scope. It is imperative that the general public and involved animal guardians are given correct information, and that they receive this information in a manner that will resonate with them. Particularly in emotional or emergency situations, it can be difficult for people to remember information, however critical. It is the job of the veterinary team to help convey the necessary information in an appropriate manner, and involves taking into account the person’s current level of knowledge, language barriers, preferred method of communication, and assessing whether further follow-up is needed to ensure the information was retained.

My successfully stabilised turtle

To be successful in this role, beyond the scientific knowledge I would also need skills such as quick-thinking, comfort with public speaking, emotional intelligence, compassion, flexibility and a willingness to adapt to changing circumstances. An ability to multi-task is necessary, as the communication to people may be occurring at the same time as managing the animal patient themselves, which sometimes also poses a safety threat. Additionally, being adaptable to the environment is important, as communication not only happens at the hospital, but also on farm regardless of weather, in rural areas for emergency calls, or in peoples’ own homes. These more obscure locations may provide individual challenges as factors outside of our control come into play, such as distractions, other noise, and lack of equipment or services (ie. electricity, internet or cellular access).

Myself at a Birds of Prey demonstration with one of our patients

Lastly, it is worth acknowledging that society has increasingly transcended to social media and other online methods of communication. It would be naive to think clients and the general public aren’t utilizing these options, either by intentionally seeking out information, or by unintentional absorption of information presented to them by others online. Learning how to interpret and communicate animals’ behaviour and wellness to an online audience will likely continue to be of vital importance. This may be done through social media, blog posts, or podcasts. I look forward to gaining more experience in this area as the course progresses, so that my future self can be at her best in representing the animals of the world around us.

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Hi Armaan, thank you so much for your great first blog post! I really appreciated your commentary regarding the experience of connecting with nature from a suburban living situation. I am from Burlington myself, though my grandparents owned a crop farm out in Norfolk county. My childhood memories are therefore contradictory, as I have the small local city parks contrasted against the vast crop fields (including hiding amongst the corn - which was taller than myself).

I empathize with your definition of a “sense of place”, as I too see it as an innate experience and connection. I appreciated our textbook giving us the reminder that developing a “sense of place” for others is part of the overall goal of interpretation. While we are only just starting to learn how to do this, there is obvious passion and care for places in nature of significance to yourself and our other classmates. It has been warmly fascinating to read everyone’s connections to their various examples of nature, be it local or abroad.

Thank you for sharing your connections, and the challenges others face in reaching them due to a lack of access geographically. Hopefully by sharing the meaningful impact and value in our natural world we can help to protect it so that it remains viable and more accessible to all.

P.S. “Zico” is adorable, and I hope he enjoys being out in nature as much as you do!

Welcome To my Blog - Unit 1

Hello and welcome to my nature blog for the ENVS3000 course!

My name is Armaan Dosani and I am a third-year biological science student here at the University of Guelph.

Growing up in a suburban area with a family that values sports and an active lifestyle, I believe that the outdoors has always been our escape. As a family, we made sure we were in touch with nature, even though Whitby, where I grew up, is not renowned for its natural beauty. Playing soccer in the summer sun or pond skating in the winter has always been a big part of my family's and my lives. Even Zico, our family dog, enjoys our regular outings into the surrounding landscapes, whether it's a relaxing walk in our neighbourhood or a visit to Heber Downs, a nearby conservation area.

Often, people who live in suburban regions find it challenging to maintain a connection with nature because of the constant shifting or lack of access to nature. Despite these difficulties, my family and I were able to connect deeply with nature. Perhaps it is because we simply love nature, or perhaps it is because they are first-generation immigrants who cherish the beauty of the country that took them in. These daily activities have influenced my emotional and physical attachments to the environment. These are more than simply exercises; they are significant engagements with the surroundings that enhance my "sense of place"

The concept of “sense of place” as discussed in our textbook is portrayed in my lifestyle. It's about connecting on a level that goes beyond the physical and becomes an integral part of who we are, not just about identifying with a place. My neighbourhood is more than just my place of residence; it's an extensive range of experiences that improve my life and connect me to nature.

Whether I’m skating across a frozen pond, running along a soccer field, or walking my dog each activity ties me to this place. These experiences allow me to live in the moment yet feel connected to something timeless and fundamental about my home environment.

These activities and nature provide a deep sense of peace and belonging that is frequently lacking in highly metropolitan areas. Although it's still an urban setting, living in a suburban neighbourhood with conservation areas allowed me to feel more connected to nature. I can escape the stresses of everyday life and rediscover something wholesome and reestablishing when I have direct access to nature. Every game of soccer I play, every stroll Zico and I take, and every changing of season in my neighbourhood all contribute to a narrative that is both unique to me and applicable to others. The story is about my connection to nature, community, and home.

As we progress in this course, I want to learn more about how dynamic interactions with nature continue to influence how I see the world and myself. I'm excited to share these thoughts and hear other people's perspectives on how their surroundings affect their sense of place.

Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I can't wait to dive deeper into the ties that bind us to our beloved earth.

Me and my dog "Zico" on a walk in my local conservation area (Heber Down Conservation Area)

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Week 1 - Let the journey begin!

Hello, Bonjour, Aaniin… and welcome to my blog! While I greatly enjoy reading or listening to the musings of others, this is the first time where my ‘voice’ becomes front and centre in this manner. It is both exciting to undertake, and also admittedly quite intimidating - I want to be able to do the nature and world around me justice!

I am originally from the GTA, where the parks and wooded areas I once grew up with are sadly seen to be disappearing with each visit back. As a returning, mature DE student, I now call the Georgian Bay area of Ontario home, for which I am grateful to be surrounded by an abundance of outdoor landscapes and flora.

Living in this region now for some years, I have also been kindly offered some indigenous perspectives, teachings and overall appreciation for the nature surrounding me. Given this experience, I now bring a mixed perspective as a former child ‘tourist’ to this area, an evolving scientist, an open-minded student, and a humbled human being. While I can still sometimes feel like an encroaching outsider, it is a wonderful thing to still have the sense of awe for the generational knowledge and spirituality of nature to the local communities. I am aware that my current understanding doesn’t yet encompass the full magnitude and importance of the plants and medicines around me, but it is a journey to learn.

(McCrae Lake Conservation Reserve, photo by Ashley Mann)

Elsewhere, I have been fortunate to travel and have seen some of the diversity Earth has to offer. While I enjoy the traditional city tourism and hospitality, the open landscapes nearby typically form the more impressive and lasting memories. Photos generally do not do such experiences justice, as they don’t capture the scents in the air, the sensation of the temperature or wind, the noises of the wildlife or water, or the general atmosphere one finds themselves in. Large credit is due to those able to capture such places successfully through interpretation efforts, nature photography, and documentaries. I have many of my own memories in such places, and hope they are preserved so that I may one day share those experiences with my children.

From an education standpoint, my focus has been on health and medicine, particularly veterinary medicine. My love for animals, both companion and wild, also gives me appreciation for the fauna in nature as well as the ecosystems they call home. I aim to be as respectful as possible of the environments I encounter so as to not disturb the wildlife. Hypocritically though, I acknowledge for myself that I am better at not disturbing designated parks and reserves I visit, and less respectful of my own home property where I try to conform my lawn and garden to traditional Western expectations.

(Giraffes in Serengeti National Park, photo by Ashley Mann)

Overall, my relationship with nature is evolving, varied, memory-making, and humbling. I look forward to delving into this further with all those in the course this semester, and learning from others’ experience and perspectives. Best wishes to all, let the journey begin!

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Disclaimer

This blog was created for Ashley Mann's ENVS 3000 W25 coursework, of University of Guelph. 

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of the University of Guelph. 

The University of Guelph is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by this blog.