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awenvs3000f24 · 16 hours ago

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Blog post 09

I do not have a plethora of deep interesting knowledge about one aspect of nature that most would not already know about, though I wish I did and someday hope I will. I was racking my brain to think of what the most amazing thing about nature is in my opinion, thinking of all the places I have traveled to and learned about, thinking about unique and interesting species I have learned about in other environmental science classes. I realized the part of nature that I connect to most and think about almost daily is something that is not very impressive as it is not niche but something that is very impressive when you take a moment to think about its effect on the way we live our lives, the changing of the seasons.

This week's textbook reading of chapter 10 “The Bright Future of Interpretation” talks a lot about authenticity and awe within interpretation. These are the factors that put the meaning and interpretation into a person's experience with nature that will make an impact on them. If you are authentic in your interpretation and provide the feeling of awe, the audience will leave with a positive lasting impression, no matter what the context of interpretation was, and “in addition, experiences of awe stimulate wonder, curiosity, perspective, purpose, and creativity (Beck et al., 2018).” The simplicity of how our world drastically changes 4 distinct times of the year is the most amazing part of nature to me, and each one provokes a unique feeling of “awe” due to the beautiful setting it presents, and the feelings that come with it due to the weather, the activities that become available, and the significant life events they bring.

Ever since I was little I have loved the seasons. My love and admiration for them has continued but the reasoning for that love has changed as I’ve grown up and my experience and connection to them has grown with me. In chapter 10, there is a quote that goes “Involvement with nature doesn’t begin in adulthood, but rather during early to middle-childhood (Beck et al., 2018),” and I think this is extremely true. Our experiences with nature as children, builds the foundation for our connection to it in adulthood. As a child I loved spring and I loved summer the most. My reasoning for this aligned with what my life looked like in the specific months that these seasons occurred, and thus when I thought about these seasons, what it looked like outside at this time of year, I could feel how I felt in the memories I associated with nature at that time. My birthday is in April, and I absolutely loved my birthday as a child. I loved to plan it, I loved to be celebrated and surrounded by all my friends and family. I have such great memories surrounding my birthday each year, and it is what I most looked forward to every year as a child. I knew the snow would be hopefully melting and I could have my parties outside and run around with all my friends and cousins. I also had dance competitions in the spring every year growing up which was the most exciting time for my friends and I. It meant we got to travel to different places together, stay in hotels and do what we love. Every weekend at competition we would be running around outside in the new warm weather after being indoors all winter playing capture the flag between our performances. These memories are very specific to me and my life experiences which is what makes the association each person has to the seasons so special. People who were born in the winter might have the complete opposite connection to spring than I do.

When summer hits, especially while still being in school I feel a sense of ease and excitement, it's easier to get up in the morning when the sun rises earlier and the air is warmer, and there is a free feeling associated with the excitement of school being out. Now, even while still in school and working in the summer, when the air starts to get warmer and the days start to get longer, I feel a weight lifted off of me because of the connection to summer that began as a child. I feel lighter and more free even when I am still busy.

In my present life, I look forward to the season of fall, and my connection has shifted more to the natural aspects of this time of year, while still including the experiences I indulge in within these months. After a long summer, and especially since our summers have become increasingly hot, I look forward to the first feelings of fall weather every year. The little bit of breeze when you first walk outside, how the air feels just a little crispy and you can almost smell the difference. I go on so many walks and hikes in the fall because it is the most beautiful time of the year in nature. The colorful trees are like someone came along and painted them so perfectly just for us to enjoy. It is getting cooler, but still not cold enough for the animals and insects to disappear so they are still around for admiration. Students do their work outside because it is the perfect temperature of not too cold and not too hot. People collectively start wearing a whole new wardrobe (cozy sweaters and boots) and watching the tv shows we view as comfortable and cozy (for me that's Gilmore Girls). There are no rules on how we change along with the seasons, yet we do. There is a totally new feeling in life when nature starts to change around us, and it has much more effect than we even realize. As chapter 10 of the textbook says, “Interpretation enriches experiences, advances physical and mental health, benefits the environment [..](Beck et al., 2018)." If we acknowledge natures beauty more often, we will appreciate it more and care for it more.

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awenvs3000f24 · 12 days ago

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Hi Amelia, I enjoyed reading your blog today and thought your take on music in nature and nature in music was very interesting. I really liked what you shared about music in nature being what you make it, and I completely agree with this perspective. Being woken up by the sounds of nature, like a chirping bird would be the best form of an alarm to me, it would make me happy and feel connected to nature and grounded as soon as I wake up listening to the beautiful song of the birds and wondering what they are saying or who they are singing to. However I know that might not be the popular opinion as I think most people would be frustrated by a loud bird chirping away in the morning, not thinking of it as music in the slightest. I feel like this relates to music not in nature as well. I listen to Taylor Swift and think it is the best music ever and so beautiful, where lots of people hate her music and are mad if they have to listen to it. It is so interesting how everyone interprets music, and music in nature so differently.

I also like your point about the inclusion of music within interpretation to evoke emotion in the audience. We have learned so much about how an emotional response from the audience is the best way to ensure they have a meaningful experience and take home what they have learned or experienced with them. Music is something that evokes emotion in me, and many others no matter what it is that I’m listening to. Whether it is sadness from sad songs, or joy from songs that make me want to dance, music always goes deeper than just listening to sounds. This is true for music in nature. Watching birds exist and interact in nature is one thing, but listening to them sing and chirp evokes so much more connection with them and nature. Chapter 8 in the textbook as you mentioned talks about the challenges of mass interpretation, and as we have learned through the article “The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music” this week, music touches everyone. Not only do all humans have some sort of connection to music whether it be through their culture or other aspects of life, but we also learned that almost all living beings have a connection to music as many animals make music in their own way. This shows just how universal music is, and thus how valuable it is to include in interpretation in order to touch people from any walk of life.

I also love the memory you shared that “Harvest Moon” brings back for you, that is something so special to think about when you hear such a great song.

Unit 7 - Nature in Music/Music in Nature

I think music in nature is only what you make it! If you ask my grandmother what music in nature is, I guarantee she would mention bird songs, as I grew up with her making cardinal noises outside when we heard them singing. My father, on the other hand, would call bird chirping a nuisance that wakes him up at dawn! Either way, there is music in most places for those with ears for it.

I think music in interpretation is a great avenue for evoking emotions in your audiences. Chapter 8 touches on the challenges of mass interpretation, as well as how effective communication can be integrated into interpretation. Music in nature gives an opportunity to tackle both problems! Concerts are a great example of a mass audience being communicated with. While a singer or band may not be the exact same as a nature interpreter, it’s apparent that the audience is being communicated with in a way that evokes a range of emotions! Music is a format that is accessible in various forms, be it listening, making together, or performing! In nature interpretation, music can of course be expressed through animal and plant noises, but it is important to think of how audiences can be more engaged by just listening. Examples such as using pieces of nature to create music (rocks, sticks, shells, etc.) come to mind as a way for audiences to contribute to the sounds of nature.

Musical instruments made of natural materials.

Source: Birmingham Contemporary Music Group

Nature in music is something I am a bit less familiar with. As mentioned in Gray et al’s 2001 article, music can have roots in natural sounds produced by animals. Aside from the direct sounds of nature in music, it is important to also highlight how different cultures integrate nature into artforms. An example would be the Finnish folk music mentioned in Mallarach’s 2012 article, where the relationship between humans and nature is expressed through song. I found this example particularly interesting as it was used in conservation efforts as well as an artform.

I think interpreting music through nature (and vice versa) is extremely important for reaching wide audiences and generations. The ability to communicate across languages, cultures, and age groups is extremely valuable. We can also consider how music can be passed down through generations. Bird calling is a skill my grandmother taught me, and I can think of many others involving the music present in nature that younger generations may benefit from! The same can be said about nature in music, where one may pass down instruments or recordings that reflect their relationship with nature.

A song that takes me back to a nature landscape would be ‘Harvest Moon’ by Neil Young. I think of campfires my family had growing up with the view of a never ending cornfield was across the road from us.

References:

Beck, Lawrence, et al. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing, Sagamore Venture, 2018.

Gray, Patricia M., et al. "The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music." Science, vol. 291, no. 5501, 5 Jan. 2001, p. 52. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69270354/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=fb9366a8. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.

“In the Garden... Composing at Home (Children) >.” In the Garden... &dash; Learning Resources Hub | Birmingham Contemporary Music Group Composing Activities for Young People and Resources for Teachers, resources.bcmg.org.uk/creating-music-at-home/in-the-garden. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.

Mallarach, Josep-Maria (ed.). Spiritual Values of Protected Areas of Europe: Workshop Proceedings. Bonn, Germany: Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, 2012. 170 pp. ISBN: 978-3-89624-057-6.

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awenvs3000f24 · 14 days ago

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Blog Post 07

This week's readings, especially the articles, really pulled me in and interested me. As a bachelor of arts and science student at UofG, I am particularly intrigued when nature and art come together as we analyze the relationship between the seemingly very different subjects in our core arts and science courses. When I tell people what my program is at guelph, I often get the response of “arts and science, wow those are two very different things to be doing at the same time,” and while yes they are very different subjects at face value, they intersect constantly and there is often not one without the other. The relationship of music with nature is a perfect example of these intertwined worlds, and as a lover of music and singing (even though I’m not a great singer), as well as a lover of nature and wildlife, this week's topic is very exciting to me.

The first question is “where is music in nature?” One of the articles for this week titled “The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music” gives many fantastic examples of music within nature. This article describes different animal species and their version of music, such as humpback whales and birds. When discussing the whales for example, it was so interesting to discover how similar their version of “music” is to ours, as the article mentions that humpback whale songs have similar structure and rhythms to songs made by birds and even humans (Krause, G.P. et al., 2001). This is crazy to think about as whales, birds and humans do not seem to have much in common at all, yet somehow we all make similar music? The article even says “they use phrases of a similar length to ours -- a few seconds -- and create themes out of several phrases before singing the next theme (Krause, G.P. et al., 2001).” This sounds like whales, a part of nature and wildlife are spending time forming these songs, intentionally making them sound pleasant and performing them throughout the years, passing them on to their children just like humans have done for years (Krause, G.P. et al., 2001). Whales aren't just making random sounds and humans are interpreting it as music because they chose to, whales even prefer to use the technique of repetition just like music artists do (Krause, G.P. et al., 2001). They discover what works well, sounds nice, and is easily remembered and they use that material many times over. In an evolution course I took last semester I learned all about the evolutionary crossing of whales and humans, but this has not happened for millions and millions of years, which makes this even more outstanding that our creations of music are so similar. This is a perfect example of music within nature, music is a universal thing which is why it is so beautiful as almost anyone in the world has some sort of relationship or connection with music, and this article provides proof that this extends further than humans, almost every species within nature has a relationship with music.

Here are some photos from when I was whale watching in Victoria, BC.

The next question is much the same but different, “where is nature in music? If you are someone discovering the world of music within nature, then you are likely someone who seeks out learning about nature and is passionate about the treatment and well being of nature, as well as a lover of music. Well, how can we get more people to pay attention to nature, to get excited about learning about it and to become educated and involved in the protection and well being of it. As we have discussed, music is a giant phenomenon and more people than not love to listen to music, play music, or have music as a big factor of their religion or culture. This means almost everyone is engaging in music in some form or another, much more than people are actively engaging with nature other than existing passively within it in their everyday lives. Incorporating nature within music is an extremely beneficial way to get people thinking about nature when they wouldn't have otherwise and is an enjoyable way to learn. An example of incorporating nature within music is described in the course content within this week's lesson. A musician named Ben Mirin found attempting to bring these two things together an exciting challenge, and he began to incorporate wildlife sounds such as birdsongs into his musical work. This is a genius way to plant a seed in the minds of the audience as they will enjoy the music, and find the mystery sounds intriguing. Most people won't be able to recognize what these sounds are or why Ben incorporated them into his song, but they will be interested enough to go find out, softly leading them more into the world of nature by curiosity. As said within the lesson, “How can a person connect with endangered species that they’ve never seen nor experienced? Create modern music featuring animals' sounds, calls, and songs, of course! (Hooykaas, 2024)” and this is such a great point. For non-nature people, music is a great gateway as it touches so many people in so many ways. This creates a positive ripple effect, leading to more attention towards issues surrounding nature and a bigger push towards nature and environmental protection.

Finally I will touch on the third part of this blog prompt, a song that reminds me of a certain landscape. I have many examples come to mind when asked this question as I attach memories to songs constantly. This actually helps me remember more meaningful moments, as I am reminded of memories all the time when I listen to music. In 2022 I traveled all around Africa with my family for the second time. When we were in Cape Town, South Africa my cousins and I decided to go on a hike. Some of my cousins are very adventurous and definitely fearless, but me, not so much. This hike up a mountain had very narrow paths on the edge of cliffs and extremely steep areas that we had to climb up. It started to rain and become slippery and I was pretty scared. My cousins and I started to sing “Aint No Mountain High Enough” by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson to distract me from my fear of heights and to get us to the top of the mountain. All of us singing this song while taking in the beauty of the nature surrounding us, and the view once we made it to the top was something so magical. I don't think I would remember it as vividly without this connection to a song, and everytime I hear it, I am taken right back to that moment singing with my family and experiencing the beauty of nature.

I am excited to hear about all of your connections with music and nature!

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awenvs3000f24 · 15 days ago

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Hi Olivia, I thoroughly enjoyed your post for this week's topic. You formed really great thoughts around this quote, and you shared great ideas that I did not think of myself but very much agree with. I love the direct connections you made to the textbook, this gave great insight to back up your points. The point you discuss about bias is something that did not cross my mind when interpreting this quote but is such an amazing thing to point out. You are right about how bias mostly stems from ignorance, people are biased to one side of something most often because they don’t have any knowledge of the other side, and cannot see a situation from any perspective besides their own if they are not taught. This is very relevant when discussing history and the interpretation about it. How can we be sure the stories being told to us by interpreters have not at some point been influenced by bias. If a story has traveled through years solely by spoken word, it is sure to have experienced twists and turns in the way it is told and interpreted by people bringing their own biases. You’re right when you say this can lead to lack of truth within interpretation and this is an uneasy thought. How can we really be sure the information we are interpreting and teaching to people, we are getting completely right and doing it justice. Unless there is direct proof such, interpreters can only base their information on the knowledge that they have been able to gain. I really enjoyed your connection to Chapter 15 and its reference to Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. I have learned about this book in many other classes, but have never thought of it as an example of interpretation. Rachel Carson really was an interpreter through Silent Spring, and her attempt to educate the masses worked wonders. Silent Spring had such a huge impact on the environmental world and people paying more attention to pesticide effects on wildlife, and knowing that it is still a very relevant

Unit 06 Blog Post

Merit means to be deserving or worthy of something. The beginning of Hyams quote then, is stating that there is worth in keeping together parts of wholes. This could be in terms of knowledge, writing, or stories. The mention of knowledge or memories of ancient things being necessary to integrity; however, is what I believe to be an essential part of this quote.

At some point in life, I am willing to bet that most people have come across bias. Whether this is bias regarding favouritism, or ignorance, the list could go on. Bias can often come from lack of integrity, in other words, lack of knowledge. Hyams’ quote comes into play here, if there is not knowledge of ancient things, how can the gaps be filled? The answer is they cannot, which leaves room for bias and lack of truth within interpretation. The question of why these gaps are an issue might have crossed your mind, and they crossed mine a bit too. I found the textbook readings gave me great insight into this topic.

In chapter 14 of “Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage,” we see the insane influence that interpretation, writing, and expression can have. On page 304, it is outlined that Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring started an entire environmental movement in relation to pesticides and their effects on birds. We also learned that her book went as far as to influence important changes in policies and laws for endangered species! Okay, so it is important to have gaps in knowledge covered because influence of writing on people can be huge, got it!

Chapter 15 of “Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage” more specifically evaluates interpretation of history and why it is important. One aspect of interpreting history this chapter discussed was the educational benefits of doing so. History is taught in school because we learn from it. On page 326, the textbook outlines that learning about history can help improve human identities, form guides of living in the present, and even contribute to economic development. These parts of the readings show how important memories are, and how important it is to have all the facts. If there are gaps in knowledge, they can be continually passed down, leading to misinformation, bias, fighting within communities, and so much more.

It is ignorant to disregard the past, and I think this is what Hyams was referring to in his quote. This can be seen especially in his metaphor of the passing train and railway station. I agree with Hyams in the stance that we need to examine the past, express stories and memories of it, and most importantly, learn from it. What do you guys think?

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awenvs3000f24 · 15 days ago

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Hello, I really enjoyed your blog this week and I very much resonate with what you said. I love traveling, and it sounds like that is a big part of your life as well. I also do not like to do all of the most popular tourist activities or spend the whole trip going to see the tourist sites, I prefer to find the more hidden spots in the location I’m traveling. Although I spend less time finding nature focused spots or activities when I am in a new place, I really try to experience the city in the most authentic way I can and immerse myself into the culture of the area. I love to go without a schedule as you said, but with a list of somethings I’d like to do. My ideal way to experience a new place is just to get up in the morning and walk around exploring the city, seeing where I end up. I find this is the most rewarding way to visit a new place and feel like you really got to be involved in the city. I prefer to stumble upon small family owned restaurants to taste authentic food of the culture within the city instead of chain restaurants or tourist centered restaurants and visit local parks or sites that aren't as popular as others.

Unit 5 Blog Post

An open blog like this is a good way for me to express how my personal view of nature interpretation has impacted my life and hobbies. Since I can remember, I've had this deep passion for exploration—going somewhere that not many other people have and doing activities that aren’t touristy or “popular.” When I go on vacation, I don’t go to a resort, or on a guided tour somewhere, I prefer to create the trip myself, rent a car and explore the area on my own. When planning my trips I tend to make a list of interesting areas that I’d like to explore while over there and loosely make my agenda around that. While I’m on my “vacation” I really don’t like the idea of everything being so scheduled, as it is at a resort or a cruise. On my trip to Alberta in 2022 I booked a plane ticket, a car, and a few nights in a hostel and went for it! The spontaneity of adventure excites me and makes it interesting to explore new areas without it being so planned out. When I travel, I would prefer to do hikes and other natural experiences as opposed to shopping or dining out. I’m not saying that doing these things are incorrect, or not a proper way to enjoy one's vacation, but these activities aren’t for me. As I said earlier the sense of exploration is what fuels my adventures, and what has crafted my personal view of successful nature interpretation. I enjoy telling stories about the areas I have visited because chances are, if I’m talking to someone else who has been there as well, we have had a completely different experience, but that is what makes individual nature interpretation amazing. Everyone has different preferences, likes and dislikes.

I've attached a picture of my friend Spencer’s, 1999 Volkswagen Jetta with a canoe strapped on top. This just may seem like a low-quality picture of a 25-year-old vehicle, which it most certainly is, but it is also so much more. This was taken in the summer of 2020, a rough summer for some people with the COVID-19 pandemic. Lucky for me this was one of the best summers of my life as this is when I lived and worked in Algonquin Provincial Park. On our days off we would always go camping and more often than not we would take this very car and canoe on our trips. The stories me and my buddies can talk about that summer are truly a gift, and I thought that this picture with some explanation would be able to convey just a bit of that energy I experienced that summer.

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awenvs3000f24 · 21 days ago

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Blop Post 06

This quote begins by identifying the integrity, and the integrity of ancient things. There is integrity in keeping things as they are, respecting their natural form and the value and significance they hold just by surviving through time. It talks about how integrity is in keeping things whole and not scattered throughout time. I think this can be related to physical historical artifacts but also the historic stories of things that happened. “[...] if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things;” this means that if a piece of history cannot be kept in its integral physical form, and this could also mean if there are no people still alive to tell their own story, then these things or stories are up to us to maintain through the sharing of knowledge and education, keeping the integrity of these historical things through memory. “To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.” I think this part of the quote perfectly puts into words the importance of history and keeping it relevant in our lives today, constantly learning about and how it is not meant to be forgotten. History serves us constantly in many different ways and it is such a privilege to have so much information and knowledgeable people to learn about history from. In the lesson this week we learned about all the different ways history is important, and thus why nature interpretation through history is of utmost importance, “It can delight and enrich us, inspire and caution us, inform and educate us, help us to make thoughtful decisions, enlarge and intensify the experience of being alive” (American Association for State and Local History). The past is not meant to stay in the past, nothing is meant to be forgotten or be a one and done thing just as a railway station is not built for one trains use at one moment in time, it is built for constant use, trains going by at all different times for years and years and for as long as possible. Our world is shaped by remembering our past, the successes and the tragedies. Not only is it just important to remember history and enjoyable to learn about how things used to be, it is essential. All of the terrible events that have happened in the world that we learn about constantly, through school growing up, through media and word of mouth, it is important for wars and events like 911 to stay relevant, to constantly be remembered and learned about so that as the common saying goes “history doesn't repeat itself,” we need to remember the horrible damage that was done and lives that were lost no matter how far removed we are from such historical events so that we can understand how these things happened and ensure they do not happen again.

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awenvs3000f24 · 29 days ago

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Blog post 05

Today I am going to blog about how experiencing nature through our senses can allow for deeper connection in nature interpretation. We have talked a lot in this course about different ways interpreters can elevate their teaching to involve the participants and keep them more engaged in the experience, thus providing a richer and more memorable experience and allowing for a deeper connection to what is being interpreted. We have talked about how the arts, and storytelling can provide a more emotional connection to nature and this got me thinking about other factors that can allow for deeper connection that interpreters can incorporate into their work.

Exploring nature through our senses can allow for a deeper understanding of the nature we are interpreting and more of a connection to the information being given. Listening to words is inevitably part of nature interpretation as the interpreter is most often speaking to the group when teaching. Hearing can be involved in more ways than just listening to facts though that can add more to the experience. The interpreter telling a story with lots of details about something or someone that relates to the environment is a great way, or playing music, or sounds for the group can also be great. If looking into a certain species, this could be listening to that certain species' different sounds and calls they make, what they mean and when they are used. Incorporating the touch sense and allowing for hands-on participation is another enriching way to interpret, feeling the texture of certain plants being discussed, or making something with your hands as an activity that goes along with the interpretation are great examples. Using smell in interpretation is also a great tool to form deeper connections through senses. Allowing the group to smell different plants that are being discussed and getting to experience its beauty through more than just looks can be very meaningful. This can also push conversations deeper. A beautiful flower will leave the audience with a certain impression, thoughts and connection to this species but if allowed to smell the flower and if it has a potent smell that is not good, or different from what expected this could be surprising, and provoke further discussion around the species. Incorporating taste might be the hardest sense but also the most rewarding if this can be incorporated into interpretation. Getting to taste something that relates to what is being discussed provides such an amazing connection and will often be what people remember most about the interpretation years later. If discussing a piece of land with history, especially from a group of people or time period maybe known for a certain food, or a species of bees that creates honey, getting to experience something through taste creates an extremely meaningful connection. Personally my most memorable and meaningful experiences in interpretation based environments have been when there is some involvement of food and taste. This is why learning about vineyards and tasting wine is such a popular activity, and food tours when traveling and exploring a new place and culture are such great experiences.

Overall, experiencing nature through all or multiple senses allows for a full body experience rather than just absorbing what we can into our mind. This to me provides the best opportunity for deep connection to nature, culture and history.

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awenvs3000f24 · 1 month ago

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Blog post 04

I have always been a strong believer that expressing any topic, issue, idea, or feeling through art brings it to life and provides it the space to provoke so much more meaning and emotion than it ever could through regular written or spoken word.

Seeing a concept expressed in a creative way, either by a painting, a sculpture, a dance, etc. evokes much more thought and captivation of the audience. Audiences are more intrigued with an art piece or performance than listening to someone ramble off facts to begin with, so more people are interested in this type of learning because it feels less dense and intimidating to them. People may feel like they are not having to think as hard or as much when looking at a sculpture or watching a performance but actually, they are thinking more. The facts and point of the art piece is not spelled out right in front of them, but instead represented in a meaningful way which is laid out for the audience to interpret. This actually provokes more thought from the audience, pondering on what the goal of the creator was, all the ways in which the piece could represent the topic, and how it conveys its meaning to them personally.

The true gift of art is its openness for interpretation and its ambiguity, and what better for this to play a part in than the interpretation of nature? The beauty of the interpretation of art and the interpretation of nature is that every individual has the ability and is encouraged to pull out any aspect that they attach meaning to. Every person's background, experiences, the way they view the world around them and everything in it allows them to have their own unique interpretation of art and of nature, which is the beautiful thing about interpretation in general.

The question of “who are you to interpret through art” is simple because in my opinion everyone and anyone has the ability to interpret through art. Anyone can make art, no matter how skilled or qualified you may be. Anyone can paint a picture, even if it doesn't end up as “good” as a professional, art is subjective and the only thing that is important is the meaning behind it.

On a personal level, if I were a nature interpreter for my career, I would definitely incorporate art within my work. Art has always been a big part of my life in the performance part of it. I have been a dancer my whole life and have always loved to perform through dance, acting, singing and anything else where I can bring to life something that has meaning and can possibly impact the audience in one way or another. Dance showed me how beautiful it is to know a backstory of something, know the meaning and intention we are putting into a routine and doing our best to display that meaning through only our movement, facial expression and background music. There is something so special about displaying meaning without telling the audience exactly what you are attempting to show them. I think it would be very interesting to have a performance incorporated into nature interpretation if I was an interpreter for my job. The audience could watch a performance of a play or a dance before the nature interpreting starts and form their own meaning behind what they saw, and then throughput the rest of the interpretation and after, they could take notice of how much of a different meaning they would attach to the performance once experiencing and learning what they were shown through the interpretation. The interconnection of art within this world of nature interpretation allows for deeper rooted connection to what the audience is learning and what the interpreter hopes they take with them and remember.

As a bachelor of arts and science student myself, I have first seen how well these two seemingly different subjects can interconnect and compliment each other so beautifully, bringing whole new perspectives to things that may seem like they only have one way of being interpreted.

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awenvs3000f24 · 1 month ago

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Blog Post 03

Privilege is a difficult term to define in a singular way as it appears in so many complex ways and implies to every privileged individual differently. A person can be privileged in many ways while being underprivileged in another way, for example being privileged in your race, while being part of a marginalized group due to your sex. My working definition of privilege would be, the advantages or immunity to marginalization that someone is born with due to their race, sex, social position, culture, economic status and many many more strands. People often don’t realize their own privilege and this causes more problems than privilege itself. Society and dynamics within society can be made more equitable for everyone if people unpack their own privilege and acknowledge their advantages in life and how this plays a role in every aspect of their lives and others.

Accessibility is a big part of the conversation when it comes to privilege, and this is included in the context of nature interpretation. Every interpreter's goal is to be the best and most equipt interpreter they can be, so that their audience can trust their level of knowledge and view them as an expert on the subject they are interpreting. An individual's opportunities for education and experience can make them feel inadequate to do their job to the highest possible standard, especially when other interpreters in their field may have had advantages in these areas and more opportunities due to privilege. An individual's socioeconomic class can have an impact on their educational opportunities, and can prevent them from getting a higher education within environmental science if that is something that would help them in their ideal career. If they do not have the opportunity or economic resources to attain a higher education, this might put them behind their peers within the interpretation career.

Representation is another big conversation that needs to be had within the scope of nature interpretation and the effects of privilege. Marginalized groups, specifically people part of a race that is not white, are not equally represented within many aspects of mainstream media and literature within the field of nature interpretation. How often do we see marginalized groups as the stars of nature documentaries, or as the authors of the main pieces of literature we go to for research or are required to learn from in school compared to those who are white and spotlighted within this field? Who are the people that get to tell these stories, share their passion, as well as sharing their own stories? This underrepresentation within the field of nature interpretation can produce a cycle of more underrepresentation. Often if people do not see themselves within a field, they are discouraged from making themselves a part of it as it feels like there is no place for them, or not possible for them to get there. This in turn leads to less marginalized groups of people within this career and less production of work to show representation, continuing this cycle of low representation for certain groups of people.

These are only a couple ways the deep and complex term of privilege plays a role in the field of nature interpretation, and there are many more factors that can be discussed within this topic. I would like to ask a question out to my classmates who might reply to this thread: what are the future implications we can put in place to steps to ensure equitable opportunities for all people within the nature interpretation space? How can we get more representation for underprivileged people? How can we make space for underprivileged and marginalized people in mainstream media and environmental literature?

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awenvs3000f24 · 2 months ago

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Hi Farhiya!

I really enjoyed reading your blog, it was very detailed and made me want to visit Bonne Bay as soon as possible! I felt like I got to know lots about you through this and you seem very passionate about the aquatic environment and doing what you can to help it thrive. I also appreciate your attitude on the fact that you didn't get the job you wanted, but are still happy to know there are more opportunities like it within your program. I hope you get one you like just as much.

I like that you are interested in leading a variety of different tours, this way there is an option for everyone based on their preferences of location and being inside vs outside. This can also make sure these tours offer accessibility as it might be more accessible for some people to participate in a tour within an aquarium rather than an outdoor type tour, and this also allows people to take a tour with you multiple times if they have different options and can have a new experience with your guiding each time. It also keeps things more interesting in your interpreter role if you aren't doing the same tour over and over again.

I think it is extremely cool that you want to do more beyond guiding tours and have a hand-on role as well to help the ecosystems you are working in and do what you can to help them thrive. This experience will only enhance your environmental interpretation knowledge and skills and shows how much you really love and appreciate what you are studying and interpreting about by the way you would care for it.

I think your people skills will be a very valuable asset for you in this ideal career and will make it easy for you to build connections with your guests and give them a very positive experience as well as keeping them entertained, engaged and eager to learn about what you are showing them.

Blog Post 2

There’s something truly magical about sharing the hidden world beneath the waves. In my ideal role as an environmental interpreter, I picture myself guiding groups through aquariums and along the rugged coastal waters of Bonne Bay, offering visitors a deeper understanding of marine life and the incredible ecosystems that exist just below the surface. This role is quite specific because, when applying for co-op jobs for the summer, it was one of the positions that really excited me. Every time I thought about it, it brought me such joy. Unfortunately, I did not get the job, but it still comforts me to know that opportunities like this are available in my program.

(Image:https://bontours.ca/bonne-bay-water-shuttle/) This is where research center s located.

in this role, I imagine leading a variety of tours—from walking visitors through the bustling aquarium and research station to guiding them along tide pools with Parks Canada. Each experience would offer a unique opportunity to connect people with the wonders of marine life, from the tiniest starfish clinging to rocks to the vibrant communities of fish swimming in the depths.

My work wouldn’t just stop at guiding tours, though. I’d also take on the hands-on tasks that keep these ecosystems thriving—collecting and caring for marine organisms, maintaining the tanks, and feeding the diverse species that call the aquarium home. This balance between sharing knowledge with visitors and directly caring for marine life is what excites me most about this vision.

With on-site training to dive deep into the natural history of Bonne Bay, I’d have the chance to explore the local environment and gain firsthand experience with the creatures that make this region special. From field trips to collect specimens to learning the ins and outs of aquarium system maintenance, this role would not only challenge me but deepen my connection to the marine world I’m so passionate about.

One of my biggest strengths is connecting with people. After working in customer service for years, I’ve gotten really good at making sure people feel heard and understood. Whether I’m chatting with a group of curious kids at the aquarium or explaining marine life to visitors during a tour, I know how to break things down in a way that makes sense to different people.

I’ve also learned how to roll with the punches. Working in customer service taught me to think on my feet, so I’m great at adapting to unexpected situations. This is perfect for a role where every day is different, whether I’m leading a tour and need to change things up to keep people engaged or dealing with something unexpected, like the weather or a surprise question.

Plus, with my environmental science background, I’ve got the knowledge to back it all up. I’m always thinking about how to present info in a way that clicks with different learning styles, whether people learn best by listening, seeing, or doing. My goal is to create experiences that not only teach people but also make them care about the marine life and ecosystems we’re exploring together.

At the end of the day, my role as an environmental interpreter is about more than just sharing knowledge, it’s about inspiring action. I would love to inspire both young and old minds and ultimately be someone people remember. So whenever a topic similar to something I’ve shared comes up, I hope they picture me or hear my voice in their heads, not in a creepy way, but in an inspiring way :)

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