km-envs3000-19

[km-envs3000-19]

Hey there!

Your post about ethics is a wonderful reminder of what it means to be human. The 4 points you raised of your personal code of ethics can be applied to everything and anything, including nature interpretation. I really think if we applied honesty and integrity, hard work and sincerity, respect and preparedness to life and to the big problems we are facing today, a lot of issues could be resolved quickly or go away altogether.

My favourite point from your post was what you said about respect. I totally agree that we need to be respectful towards the groups we are interpreting to and take into account their invisible knapsacks when presenting. Along with this, we as nature interpreters must respect the wildlife we see around us. When we demonstrate respect and awe for nature, I believe this is contagious to our groups, helping to ignite that spark you talked about for future generations.

I really like the bridge you created between the younger you and the adult you. The way you talked about your upbringing and those values merging with new or revised ones really stuck with me. I also think it’s crucial that we, the next generation of world leaders, are firm in our ethics while also being open to revision. Without humility, we end up big-headed and arrogant, and the world definitely does not need any more of those! I think your stance on ethics are inspiring and I can’t wait to see where they take you in your future endeavors!

Thanks for your insight and a lovely semester!

Kayla

My personal code of ethics and developing as an interpreter

          When I think of ethics, I think about the various business courses I have taken and how a business will have a code of ethics. However, I have never really thought about what my own personal code of ethics would look like. My understanding of ethics from business class would involve parameters for appropriate behaviour based on morals. My personal code of ethics would then act as guidelines for my actions based on the morals I hold. There are many moments in life where I have to choose between two alternative and my own code of ethics plays an important role in the decision I make. Especially as I develop as a nature interpreter my personal code of ethics will impact the groups that I am guiding on interpretive walks or programs. This makes developing my personal ethic very important.

Photo from colourbox (2019).

          I think that my personal ethics have developed since I was a child from learning and discovering the world. These are also constantly evolving as I continue to learn about the world and become an adult. There are four ethics I would like to talk about in this blog post: honest and integrity, hardworking and sincere, respect and be prepared.

Honesty and Integrity                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The truth matters to me. I think it is important to stand up for what is right and just. As a child my parents taught me important values such as honesty and compassion. I quickly learnt the importance of these values because my actions had consequences as a child such as getting a time out. Today as an adult this is still true only the consequences are different. As I develop myself as a nature interpreter, I think that honesty and integrity becomes even more important because the actions I make set an example for others. For example, as a nature interpreter it is important to me that natural landscapes be protected for future generations. To encourage others to be mindful of their own impact on the environment I need to show this to lead as an example for others. It is my responsibility as a nature interpreter to not only provide accurate information on the subject of climate change but also to stand up for the protection of the environment as various issues threaten the conservation of species and landscapes.                                                                                            

Hard work and Sincerity                                                                                                                                                                                                              I am hardworking and sincere. It is important to me that I am dedicated to the activities and tasks that I am doing to fulfill my ambitions. I am developing this with each challenge I am met with in my life. Especially since attending university I have been able to over come many challenges and work hard to achieve success. This has made me not afraid to take on difficult tasks. I think this becomes more important as I develop as a nature interpreter because it can be challenging to relate the subject of nature to the variety of peoples live in an audience to offer a “spark” (Beck & Cable, 2011). I have received this “spark” from other nature interpreters that has made a lasting impression on my life. Now as a nature interpreter myself I need to develop this skill of offering the “spark” to others. This will take hard work to develop and practice as I improve in nature interpretation. It is my responsibility as a nature interpreter to understand my audience and what they are interested in to relate my message to the knowledge and experience of the audience and provide an engaging and meaningful experience. This includes catering to different types of learners in the audience such as active and reflective, sensing and intuitive, visual and verbal, sequential and global learners.                                                                   

Respect                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         I think it is important to be respectful. This ethic has been with me since elementary school and into high school. I developed this because my elementary school motto was: “treat others the way you want to be treated” and in high school the motto was: “respect: give it, get it”. This has stuck with me ever since, highlighting the importance of respect and treating others fairly. As I develop myself as a nature interpreter and communicating to a wide variety of audiences it is important to be respectful to everyone. Especially as everyone carries their own invisible backpack. Being aware of this as a nature interpreter means respecting everyone regardless of what someone might have or not have in their invisible backpack (McIntosh, 1989). It is my responsibility as a nature interpreter to be aware of the privileges I have in my life and not assume things about other peoples lives. This way I can be inclusive to everyone as a nature interpreter.                                                                                                                 

Be prepared                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Another important motto I carry with me is from girl guides and that is “be prepared”. In girl guides this meant that guides are ready to cope with anything. I think that as I develop myself as a nature interpreter being prepared means planning for interpretive activities and programs. I also realize as a nature interpreter there are risks in any activity or program. Despite every effort to be prepared incidents can still happen. I carry with me as a nature interpreter the lemon theory to avoid accidents when be prepared isn’t enough. I am still developing my skills as a nature interpreter to manage risks in outdoor activities. It is my responsibility as a nature interpreter that my priority is everyone’s safety when engaging in various outdoor activities (Hahn, 1960). There is an element of being prepared with planning to avoid risks however as a nature interpreter I need to develop my ability to risk manage because accidents are not planned and can be out of my control                                                                                          

          My approach to nature interpretation is rooted in my love for beauty in the environment and being able to help people see this for themselves. Because beauty is subjective, and nature is dynamic there is always some aspect of nature that everyone can view as beautiful it just might not be obvious at first. I express the beauty I see in nature with my creativity in photography, so my approach to nature interpretation would involve photography to help others see the beauty in nature for themselves. By helping people who might not see the beauty in nature be able too perceive this beauty can help others understand the intrinsic value of nature to encourage the protection of landscapes and species. I am passionate about protecting the environment and as a nature interpreter my approach is not only to get people engaged with nature but also call people to action to protect nature and be mindful of everyday actions that impact the environment. 

Photo of me taken by my sister, to remind myself that my personal code of ethics will help me inform my decisions and help me develop as a nature interpreter (2018).

          My personal code of ethics will always influence my decisions and actions when I am faced with a dilemma. Some aspects of my personal ethics are influenced by how my parents raised me and values that have been instilled in me through experiences I had as a child. Other aspects of my personal ethics I am still developing as a nature interpreter and as adult. Because of this my ethics will adapt with my personal growth as a nature interpreter. I value the many lessons and experiences this course has offered me to developing myself as an adult and a nature interpreter.

References

McIntosh, P. (1989, July/August). White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack. Peace and Freedom, 10-12.

Beck, L., & Cable, T. T. (2011). The Gifts of Interpretation: Fifteen Guiding Principles for Interpreting Nature and Culture. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing.

Hahn, K. (1960).Six social declines of modern youth. Retrieved from: http://www.kurthahn.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2017-obt1960.pdf

[km-envs3000-19]

Hi!

This post honestly was so beautifully written! I love how you connected to Star Trek, I love Next Gen! My parents watched it when it first aired when they were first married (and living in Guelph while attending the UoG!) and they’ve been watching a rewatching it on Netflix ever since they discovered it on their TV! My parents are big nerds and I can hear my dad saying “never violate the Prime Directive.” I feel that if the Prime Directive has been followed since the beginning, we would have less conflict today.

I love how you applied the Prime Directive to nature interpretation in the sense that we are to let nature take its’ course and watch the natural processes around us unfold. I’m wondering how this applies to reversing damage caused by humans. For example, if I’m on a trail and spot a piece of garbage, I’m inclined to scoop it up and throw it away in its’ proper place. In the same way, we should be cleaning up the ocean! 

Your set of ethics derived from the Prime Directive and the textbook are excellent. They allow people to experience nature and to interact with the species in the wild, but in a moderated fashion and in a way that it doesn’t suddenly become a tourist destination. I think of Lake Louise out in Banff National Park. It’s a beautiful, natural landscape. But the bus loads of tourists with selfie sticks really kills the awe-inspiring quality that all nature possesses. 

Image: Baby me at Lake Louise in Summer of 2016. I remember it taking FOREVER to get to a place where my dad could get a good picture without crowds of people in the background!

Loved your post, and thank you for sharing your take on interpretation this semester!

Kayla :)

Live Long and Prosper

A show that boldly goes where no show has gone before, Star Trek not only brought to light interstellar travel and genius androids, but also the crew’s exploration into philosophical dimensions. It may be a popular sci-fi TV show, but since Star Trek launched in the 1960s, the series has blasted off with debates into metaphysical conundrums and ethical enigmas- such as questioning the nature of the soul to the foundations of society.

The “Prime Directive”, also known as the “Non-Interference Directive”, orders Starfleet crews to follow one rule: do not interfere with other cultures or civilizations. The actual order given in the 1968 episode called Bread and Circuses is:

“no identification of self or mission; no interference with the social development of said planet; no references to space, other worlds, or advanced civilizations”

Photo of Captian Jean Luc Picard retrieved from: https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/star-trek/

Captains take this seriously, like Jean Luc Picard from the original series who states:

“A starship captain’s most solemn oath is that he will give his life, even his entire crew, rather than violate the Prime Directive.”

The Prime Directive reflects both the Kantian commitment to respecting others autonomy and the consequentialist commitment to harm reduction. The assumption of the Prime Directive is that cultures are better left alone to their own devices, these devices can be social or technological. Any interference is judged to create chaos in unexpected ways, even if well-intended. If there are unintended harms to the culture it is better if they are a result from the culture’s own free choices. This commitment to respecting a civilization’s beliefs, practices and values rather than imposing “better” ones upon them is kind of an anti-colonialist ethos.

Are such policies in the universe’s best interests? If the Starfleet can save lives and civilizations from extinction shouldn’t they try to? By being bystanders does this make the Starfleet evil? Well, not according to the Westphalian sovereignty concept, a political paradigm embodied by the Starfleet. This concept comes from the 1648 Peace of Westphalia treaties which established modern thinking on nation boundaries and provinces and indicated that conflict would be caused through cross-border intervention. This thinking is discussed by Captain Jean Luc Picard who states:

“The Prime Directive is not just a set of rules; it is a philosophy… and a very correct one. History has proven again and again that whenever mankind interferes with a less developed civilization, no matter how well intentioned that interference may be, the results are invariably disastrous.”

You can see Captain Jean Luc Picard further talking about The Prime Directive in a debate here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mH-L6UCCAE

The philosophy of the Westphalia treaty appeared to lead to peace, halting over 80 years of war in Europe when initiated. But, as you may have noticed, there have been a couple of near-apocalyptic world wars since then. In our intricate universe such simple concepts rarely lead to peace.

Photo taken of my brother, his friend, and I on Halloween. My brother is dressed up as Data from Star Trek the Next Generation.

An example that may resonate more with folks in the ENVS*3000 Nature Interpretation course is imagine if you’re a wildlife filmmaker and you come across a dying antelope, do you have a moral obligation to help it? Are you responsible for the death because you walked away? What if by helping the animal you are inadvertently starving a pride of lions that would have fed on the carcass? What would you do?  

Photo I took of a happy Garter snake on the Bruce Peninsula. 

I have a respect for the Prime Directive and within my nature interpretation I will apply concepts like this. Nature is beautifully natural, and when leading guided hikes watching, not interfering and leaving no trace will be the morals I follow and lead. I have made a list of guidelines that I will follow, and you can too, based off of my personal ethics surrounding the Prime Directive and the textbook “The Gift of Interpretation” by Beck and Cable. This list includes:

1.       Always place the welfare of your group above all else.

2.       When looking at wildlife, ensure that your subjects are not caused any anxiety, physical harm, consequential predation, or lessened reproductive success by your activities.

3.       When observing, do not do anything that with alter the natural behavior of your subject permanently. (For example: habituation, baiting, or feeding.)

4.       Do not restrict or restrain wildlife to attract predators. Do not drug or restrain wildlife to film them.

5.       Be aware and follow all local/national laws regarding nature. (For example: staying on trails, picking plants)

6.       Give credit where it is due.

7.       Always do research before you present, some information is updated or is subject to change.

8.       Allow all sites to easily restore to their original state after you have been there.

9.       Be prepared for unexpected conditions, both environmental or the subject.

10.   When observing animals be aware and take precautions. Certain species will never return to a site because they can smell you there. Nighttime observations should be made with natural light. Being near dens or nests can attract more predators.

11.   Nature is naturally beautiful, and everyone deserves to enjoy it.

This concludes my blog posts for the course ENVS*3000 at the University of Guelph. I hope you have enjoyed reading my thoughts, a few of the prompts incorporated concepts I hadn’t considered before- so if you didn’t learn a lot, I sure did! I am very accustomed to scientific writing through University and having the opportunity to share my ideas in a creative way was difficult at first, but very beneficial and lots of fun. Thank you for reading, and to everyone in the ENVS*3000 course I wish you the best of luck! I have no doubts that everyone will guide rocking hikes, and use the skills learned on a daily basis.

References:

Beck, L., & Cable, T. T. (2011). The Gifts of Interpretation: Fifteen Guiding Principles for Interpreting Nature and Culture. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing

Lau, A. (2007). Engaging first-year students in ethical issues via Star Trek. Pennsylvania University, 566. Retrieved from: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/702a/b04eb5975f7a29a31701981bc5c1c25429d2.pdf

[km-envs3000-19]

reflecting on interpretation and faith

Personal ethic is a complicated topic, so thank goodness I have twice the word limit to tackle this final prompt! As a nature interpreter, I think we have the responsibility to use what we’ve been given in our invisible knapsacks to give meaning to our personal philosophies about interpretation.

I’m a Christian, and that has been a huge part of who I am for almost my whole life. Having these beliefs have shaped me as a person, including my own code of ethics, right down to the way I treat people. Jesus’ whole life was based around loving people even when they don’t run in the same circles as you, or when they’re different, or when they hurt you, or when they aren’t kind to you. As a nature interpreter, I can use this to my advantage as the groups of people I’m talking to will very likely be different than me, all the while still deserving and worthy of respect and love. By treating people kindly, it invites them into the experience of being in nature. By checking any preconceived baggage or bias at the door upon entering the space of interpretation, it creates a safe place for various people of all backgrounds to congregate and share in something bigger than ourselves. For me, creating this space is so meaningful because of my faith, because I know it makes God happy to see people brought together for good.

Image 1: Stairs through a forest in Norway, leading to a church. From Colourbox.

Now some of you may have a negative experience with a Christian in your invisible knapsack. You may have been hurt or offended by someone who was a Christian. You may have read the above paragraph and thought “Oh boy, this chick’s a quack!” Some people may have just read the first sentence of that paragraph and were completely turned off because of my faith. I’d just like to apologize on behalf of the Christian who hurt you, because that’s not what we’re about in my faith. We’re human, deeply deeply flawed people who mess up sometimes (a lot of the time actually). I know Christians have been awful to people and certain groups of people, but that’s really not what we’re about. We’re about loving and including people. I hope you will continue to read this post and try to understand why Christianity has given me joy and life. And if you have any questions, hit me up! I’d be happy to go for coffee to discuss faith and deeper meaning! I’m not really into debating, but if you want to have a mutually respectful conversation, or leave a respectful response to this post, please do! I’d love to hear it!

Another aspect of interpretation that I base off my faith is the respect for the Earth and the creation around us. In the Christian faith, we believe that we were made to be caretakers for nature and the creatures on this planet. This is relevant today, even though the Bible was written over 2000 years ago, with the rising need to address the climate crisis. If I’m to be a caretaker for the Earth, that means I’m conscious of the resources I consume and use, like water and plastic. Just think, if someone who you love very much created something beautiful and wonderful just for you, you’d do everything you could to preserve and protect that gift. That’s the way I like to think about the creation I see around me, and it’s why I try my best to minimize my waste and keep wild areas wild.

Image 2: A boy in the woods, just soaking it all in. From Colourbox.

Our experience at the Art Gallery, when we saw the art installation done by an indigenous woman and her son, relates to this. To those of us outside of that tribe, the land isn’t of great importance. But for those people, the land meant everything because it was a gift. They were heartbroken to see a highway built right through it, destroying their precious gift. In a nature interpretation scenario, this may be a little trickier to communicate to people. We can do our best to not litter and to stay on the marked trails, but who’s to say if the next person is going to have the same respect for the natural area? Through nature interpretation, the gift of passion and of a story, we can hope to explain to people the importance to respecting the land and the beauty around us.

In addition to being a Christian, I’m also a scientist. This confuses a lot of people, especially the old ladies at my church who think science is anti-God. In my mind, science makes God looks awesome. I love to study biology because I love to see the little details and complex processes that are happening at every second inside the body and within the ecosystems surrounding us. One of my favourite classes so far in my degree has been Evolution (BIOL*2400). I thought I was going to hate it, because it was my preconceived idea that evolution and faith were mutually exclusive. Now I just think it’s amazing that something could be created so intelligently that, over time, it could adapt and overcome obstacles to survive in new environments. In this realm, I really don’t have any concrete answers as to whether evolution is real or not (from a Christian perspective) because I’ve heard compelling arguments on both sides. However, I do know the biology I’ve learned have reinforced my faith and given me new passion for it. As an interpreter, I’m bubbling over to share all kinds of biology knowledge with people! I want them to be able to marvel at what we see around us. This gift of passion is what drives me forward, and what gets me out of bed in the morning!

Image 3: A woman on a hike in the woods, staying on the marked path (woohoo!). From Colourbox.

Overall, my faith has given me important tools that I can use in everyday life and in nature interpretations. For me, gifts of inclusiveness, respect for the Earth and awe of the world around us have roots in my faith and allow me to grow into different roles such as nature interpreter. All that I’ve learned has become part of my personal code of ethics. This course and semester have taught me so much, and all this knowledge has pointed me back to my faith. I linked one of my favourite worship songs below, and it’s appropriate because they make a lot of nature references. Again, if you have questions about faith please ask away! No judgement here! 

Thanks for everything, Fall 2019 semester! Thanks for everything, ENVS*3000!

Video: One of my favourite worship songs. It helps me reflect on the nature I see around me. I hope you like it!

[km-envs3000-19]

Hey there!

Great post this week! The walk in the Arboretum was a great experience and I really enjoyed listening to and learning from Chris. The bird game was so fun! I can really see how it would be fun for younger kids but still usable for an older audience (like us!). Like you, I enjoyed how we learned some bird songs that we can listen for next time we’re outside. I also like how the game got us moving, especially with the rain and chilly wind! The gift of joy was a little hindered by the weather, but like you said, definitely part of the experience. 

I really liked your idea of having people pair up and share what they found with one or two people before sharing with the bigger group. It’s such a good way to get more people involved, not just the chatty extroverts! I remember in elementary school we used to “think, pair, share!” I think this is very applicable to the nature interpretation world. A lot of people don’t speak up often times because they don’t want to be wrong. Giving people the opportunity to chat with a small group of people helps build confidence in their ideas, which in turn encourages them to share with the whole group!

I think it’s awesome that you’re making strides to get outside your comfort zone! So many people live their lives in their comfort zones, and I don’t blame them, it’s nice and cozy! It takes guts to intentionally step out of your bubble, so reading that you’re making a conscious effort to do this is so encouraging!

I really enjoyed your post! Your photo of the Arboretum last winter is so beautiful, it really drew me into your post!

Debrief and personal reflection

          Throughout this course I have had multiple opportunities to get engaged with course material during various lab activities. When I think about to which activity stood out for me during this course it was the visit to the Arboretum for a walk with Chris Earley. My experience during this walk was informative because it helped me connect the theoretical aspects of the textbook with a hands-on nature walk. The walk included a game about bird mating songs where the group was divided in two and one half had to sing the mating song and the other half had to close their eyes and listen to find who was singing their song. The game got everyone moving around and participating in a fun silly activity that made everyone laugh. I personally learnt a lot about different bird songs that I am now able to recognize on my own from the activity. I was able to relate this to the gift of joy because the activity had a purpose to not only teach people about the different bird’s songs but also get the group engaged and having a good time. Beck and Cable (2011) describe eight characteristics that provide an optimal experience; purpose, attention, challenge, involvement, immersion, control and sense of time all of which were reflected in this activity. The purpose of learning bird songs, the attention to what song you were singing or listening for, the challenge of identifying your bird call over others, the involvement of everyone in the group, the immersion into the bird’s song you were singing, control over singing the song or listening for it and the activity was fun so time seemed to go quickly.

Photo I took at the Arboretum to show the beauty that exists on the University of Guelph campus (2018).

          The next part of our time with Chris was walking in the Arboretum along a trail to get to our next destination. Despite the day being cold and windy, I really loved being in the Arboretum and appreciating the beauty of the nature that the University has right on campus. It made me think that I don’t visit the Arboretum enough to enjoy all that it has to offer. I was able to relate this to the gift of beauty because it made me sense the beauty in my surroundings. Beck and Cable (2011) reinforce this by describing that interpreters help people see beauty in ordinary things to help people be able to perceive and appreciate the beauty in nature. Then Chris stopped at an Osage Orange tree where he revealed a story about how this tree has difficulty reproducing without mammoths. We were then all asked to find something and interpret it to the class. I was very nervous about this activity because I don’t like speaking in front of large groups of people especially when I haven’t had time to prepare something. I personally would have liked if we were given the opportunity to present to friend first and then if people were willing to share, they could present to the whole class. Despite not liking this activity, I was able to relate this to the gift of story because it was a way to present information that was engaging to the audience. Beck and Cable (2011) describe the gift of story as 

“the interpretive presentation-as a work of art-should be designed as a story that informs, entertains and enlightens” (page 21). 

Chris ended the walk reflecting on what makes a good interpreter and shared his own tips from his experience being an interpreter. 

Photo from colourbox (2019).

          Reflecting on my experience from this walk in the Arboretum with Chris I need to further develop my confidence in speaking in front of others so that I can over come my fear of presenting. I need to develop the gift of story to improve my presentation skills. Beck and Cable (2011) explain that what makes a good interpreter is the ability to connect with the audience through a story that is relevant, entertaining and inspirational. By pushing myself out of my comfort zone and speak in front of groups I can work on developing these skills.

References

Beck, L., & Cable, T. T. (2011). The Gifts of Interpretation: Fifteen Guiding Principles for Interpreting Nature and Culture. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing.

[km-envs3000-19]

I’ll be brief, let’s debrief

The improv experience we did as a class was one of my favourite labs so far! We all got together on Halloween, most of us in costume, and prepared to feel uncomfortable. I was especially nervous, because I didn’t know if anyone else would be in costume, and I was coming dressed as Queen Elsa from Frozen. We did some activities together, acting out an ecosystem by pretending to be the various flora and fauna present in that ecosystem and then building and pitching a “science machine”. All seemed to be going well, people were dressed up and we were all starting to get comfortable with each other. Then came “PowerPoint Karaoke”. Aaron asked for a volunteer to come up and practice some individual interpretation. Crickets. Tentatively, I put my hand up. I had done a little research the previous night about the polar ice caps just in case, and I thought it would be funny if Elsa told people about this issue. But oh boy, I did not know what I was getting myself into. Aaron then announces that I’ll be giving a presentation based on a random PowerPoint that the class would choose. You folks really got me, and chose a PowerPoint exclusively written in Russian! This got me way outside my comfort zone, and it was a totally hilarious experience.

Image 1: My completed Elsa costume! It was so fun to dress up as a princess and just be a kid for a while!

I would say the top three “gifts” that I can identify from this activity are the gift of joy, the gift of passion and the gift of relationship. Firstly, the gift of joy was evident in the improv activities, mostly because I could not stop laughing and smiling the whole time! I was completely immersed in the activities which allowed me, as Beck and Cable say “to move, temporarily, beyond preoccupation with [myself]”. There’s no way the facilitator, Aaron in this case, could have forced us to have fun and to enjoy it as much as we did.

Secondly, the gift of passion was evident to me throughout this activity, because Aaron was so passionate about bringing the activities to life and encouraging us to all get involved. It made me want to be a part of the activities, which in turn made it much more fun! It was also an activity that sparked passion for me, because I love to make people laugh! So I got to do that during “PowerPoint Karaoke” by doing my terrible Russian-ish accent, and watch you all laugh with me!

Last, the gift of relationship started to bloom during this activity. I think after that activity, we’ve all bonded and learned from each other, forming a relationship. I loved sharing my energy and ideas with all of you throughout the activity, and feel like I can fully be myself around you now! Thanks to this activity, I feel much more comfortable in my own skin.

Now the one gift I could maybe see us working on in the future is the gift of professionalism. It was all well and good to be silly and dress up, but what happens when were interpreting nature to a more professional group? For example, this summer I gave tours to active military from the HMCS St John’s. In this situation, the gift of professionalism is definitely important!

Now what? Moving into the future, I think it’s vital that we take everything we’ve gained from our silly experiences and adapt them to new situations. In doing this, we are more well-rounded interpreters and are able to interpret nature in a whole new way!

[km-envs3000-19]

Hi Grace!

Loved this post about your grade 9 science teacher because it reminded me of the many many great teachers I’ve had over the years! I actually used to want to be an OB GYN or a midwife, similar to you! Before that I wanted to do mechanical engineering because of my grade 9 wood shop teacher, Mr. Bajaj. I was the only girl in that class, but Mr. Bajaj treated me equal to my male classmates. He challenged me to pay attention to details and to “measure twice, cut once.” He was the one who encouraged me into STEM; he showed me how to work the 3D printer and CNC machines (that only the grade 12s were allowed to touch), mentored me and suggested courses I would enjoy. He was also awesome because every Friday he cut the class short and we all ordered breakfast and ate it in the shop. He took me under his wing and took a personal approach to teaching me a subject I was so nervous to take. He retired after grade 9, and I never enjoyed wood shop as much with the new teacher (although, I did kick the boys’ butts both years and won the Tech award!)

I really like how you talked about your teacher's inclusive approach to teaching and testing, and how this shaped your early years as a scientist. Crazy to think that if it weren’t for Ms Pulford, you might not be where you are today! 

Such a great post, it really got me thinking and reflecting on the power of education and how everyday people can have such an impact on your life.

Heroes; They Live Among Us

When you hear the word “hero” who do you think of? I being a massive marvel fan think of Captain America. In this week’s blog I am going to be talking about heroes, but not the fiction or marvel kind, the scientific kind. Now don’t worry this won’t be a snooze fest, I am going to be talking about who influenced my life as a kid to go into the sciences. As a kid I was extremely studious (I mean as studious as an elementary school kid can be) and hated getting low grades. But unfortunately science was a subject I struggled with a lot, I could never quite grasp the concepts. I was encouraged by my elementary school science teacher to take applied science in high school but at the time I wanted to become a OB-GYN and knew a background in science would be crucial. So I decided to take the grade 9 academic science course and my teacher was Ms. Pulford.

Photo of me in an airplane stimulator that Ms. Pulford thought would be a good idea to show me the different kinds of science. Photo taken by Charlotte Tenszen (sister).

My experience with Ms. Pulford made me completely change how I thought about science. Before I was terrified to put my hand up and dreaded the class, but after grade 9 science it became one of my favourite subjects and then my undergraduate degree. Ms. Pulford was an amazing teacher for so many reasons. First being that she actually cared about our success. She didn’t just want us to show up and shut up. Ms. Pulford wanted us to have questions, be curious, and demand answers. One thing we talked about in my ENVS*3000 class earlier in the semester was how everyone is a different learner. Another reason why I learnt so well in Ms. Pulford’s class was because she didn’t just appeal to one type of learner. She did experiments, videos, lecturing, reading, and even a podcast! When it came to her tests, she had a variety of questions such as multiple choice, short answer, long answer, and diagrams. She tried very hard to make sure the auditory, visual and tactile learners all got equal shots at success.

Photo of my teammates and I at a cross country event. A sports team run by Ms. Pulford who encouraged me to join as a way to manage my anxiety with physical activity. Photo taken by Ms. Pulford (teacher).

Most of you properly don’t know this but I use to be a very anxious kid. When my anxiety would get really high in class I would need to physically move or else I’d have an anxiety attack. My mom ended up informing all my grade 9 teachers so they were aware and would let me leave the classroom if I asked. Unfortunately I was really embarrassed and ashamed of my anxiety so I never wanted to ask to leave in front of everyone, which caused me to just skip classes entirely. Ms. Pulford recognized this and came up with the idea that every 30 minutes everyone in the class would get up, walk around the room, and change their seat, kind of like musical chairs. She told the class she liked doing this to give our brains a break which meant no one knew that I was the reason.

Photo of my friend Annika, two science teachers and I at a grade 9 leadership camp which Ms. Pulford nominated me to go on. Photo taken by Gabrielle Bettio (friend). 

My current career path has shifted quite a bit from OB-GYN since I am now working towards the goal of becoming a high school biology teacher. As I have mentioned before, in the textbook “The Gifts of Interpretation”, it talks about the gift of a spark and how nature interpreters must try to find a way for their audience to attain that spark. Ms. Pulford wasn’t my spark for nature but she definitely was my spark for science. Some desired traits that I want to take from what I learnt in Ms. Pulford’s classroom is being able to modify the material so all types of learners are able to learn. As well as being able to be there for my students and accommodate them accordingly. I believe these specific traits are important since they are what made me go from hating science to loving it. Ms. Pulford honestly changed my life and hopefully one day I will have the opportunity to change someones life as well. My question for you is, do you have one teacher that you will always remember and why?

Reference “The Gifts of Interpretation” by Larry Beck and Ted T. Cable. 3rd Edition, Copyright 2011

[km-envs3000-19]

my scientific heroes

In my early years as a budding scientist I loved to watch Zoboomafoo! Growing up without cable, TVO was always on Saturday mornings and I loved watching Chris and Martin tell me all about animals. I can’t remember any specific episodes, but I can remember Zoboomafoo leap! Leap! Leaping along! I could sing you the theme song too! I remember seeing giant tortoises, monkeys and red pandas playing around in Animal Junction and thinking: Man, I wish I was just like Chris and Martin! And I think, without really knowing it, this started my journey as a lover of nature and wanting to learn all about them. I was kind of disappointed to find out that lemurs can’t talk and that I couldn’t get one to be my sidekick, but nonetheless I wanted to learn all about animals because of the passion that the hosts brought to the show.

Video: Some of Zoboomafoo’s best jokes! A great way to engage the viewers and to make them laugh! Also a great way to break up big chunks of information. (From YouTube) 

Chris and Martin were engaging and brought the most interesting information to the viewers making us want to be zoologists just like them. They were positive role models, brothers who were best friends and shared a common interest. I feel like my brother and I played Chris and Martin when we were young too. They presented a selection of information that was interesting for kids and didn’t include information that would disengage the audience. As a nature interpreter, I hope to be like Zoboomafoo and the gang, engaging, funny and informative for all the audiences I interpret to.

               As an adult, my scientific heroes definitely shifted as I am now well on my way to becoming a scientist. As a young woman in STEM, I find it crucial that I have female role models within my field. Rosalind Franklin’s contributions to discovering the structure of DNA marked the scientific community in a major way. Using X-ray crystallography, she created “Photo 51” unveiling the double helix structure of DNA, advancing the field by leaps and bounds. She eventually died of ovarian cancer, likely caused by her close contact with X-rays. As a woman in STEM, this story is one of triumph and heartbreak. I remember hearing this story in grade 11 biology class, and thinking: Wow, someday I’d like to make a difference like her.

Image: Rosalind Franklin’s famous “Photo 51″ where we can see the double helix structure of DNA. (From LiveScience)

Now it is unlikely I’ll make a revolutionary discovery that will forever change the face of biology, but I do plan to make a series of small, positive changes over my career (wherever that leads) to leave a positive mark on the world. Big changes are the aftermath of many small changes put together. I don’t know if Rosalind Franklin would be a very good interpreter, but her work shaped my motivation to become the best scientist I can be, so there’s something to say for that!

[km-envs3000-19]

Hi! 

This was a sweet post! I can clearly tell you are so passionate about the bees and want to save them! I wrote a paper about the waggle dance for my ZOO*3600 course and I found it so incredible that bees can dance to communicate! They even have long-term and short-term memories so they can go back to previous waggle dances if their food source changes! Incredible how such tiny creatures have such complex systems and ways to communicate. They don’t even have bones! Amazing! Something interesting about bees is the muscles contributing to their rapid wing movement. Instead of having 2 separate vertical muscles, bees have muscles running vertical and horizontal so that they require minimal energy to flap their wings. The contraction of the vertical results in the contraction of the horizontal and so on and so forth. Super interesting!

Image 1: A diagram showing the differences in muscle physiology between a dragonfly and bee. From ZOO*3600 textbook “Animal Physiology” by Hill.

The honeybee research center that the University is proposing we build is a great idea, because we need to invest resources into protecting this amazing species. But I don’t think it’s a good idea to build it over the organic farm because it is a major site of pollination for the bees, so it seems a little counter productive. There is definitely a better place for the research center, we’ve just got to find it!  

To answer your question, I don’t think I have a favourite insect! I’m more of a mammal kind of person honestly! But there is something to be said about the wonder of the insect world!

Great post!

P.S. I love your photo of the bee and the purple cone flowers! Such a good shot!

The Bee’s Knees

Get a buzz out of something…this time I’m talking about bees! Ever since I took honey bee biology I have been passionate about learning more about honey bees and pollinator conservation. I even convinced my group to do our podcasts on honey bees, to make sure the “buzz” gets around. 

To test your knowledge on our “furry friends” I want to ask you a question:

How do bees pollinate on a single foraging flight?

a) Go and pollinate a variety of different flowers, whatever is closest to the hive

b) Stick to pollinating two species of flowers

c)  Pollinate one species of flower

Check your answer at the bottom of my blog. If you didn’t know the answer I highly encourage you to read on so you can learn more about these amazing little creatures!

(My own photo. Check out the pollen basket on this bee’s legs!)

Learn how to dance like a bee and hive a great time! I’m serious…bees know how to dance. One of the dances they do is called the “Waggle Dance.” These dances are actually the most complex language used in all invertebrates! They let the other bees know the direction, distance and quality of a food source. The angle of the dance is in relation to where the sun is in the sky and where the food source is relative to the hive. It’s pretty amazing that bees can accomplish this!

(Bees “waggle” down the centre in this dance to communicate about the food source. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waggle_dance#/media/File:Bee_dance.svg )

Bees are also very important for our environment; in fact they are one of our best pollinators. Most species of plants require insect pollination. Bees are able to pollinate so well because they only pollinate one species of flower at a time. They are automatically carrying the right pollen from flower to flower! Get this…1/3 of our diet relies on insect pollination and 80% of this is done by honey bees! Un-bee-lievable! Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, even CHOCOLATE is pollinated by bees. Unfortunately, their numbers continue to drop and truth “bee” told, without them we will not have a lot of essential items in our daily diet.

It’s important that we help save the bees and other pollinators. I strongly advise you to start planting native plants in your gardens to attract bees. This doesn’t seem like a lot, but if lots of people do it, it will have a huge impact!

(”Bee Bomb” an example of a native plant. http://fieldnotescumberland.blogspot.com/2014/08/bee-bomb.html)

I wrote my own program this summer on honey bees and I realized how much this relies on the “gift of relationship.” The best way to pass on the buzz about bees is to attract support for programs to let them flourish. If we had more educational programs on bees and pollinators, I am sure this would improve  knowledge and support in our communities on this subject.

A few quick facts before you fly away:

1) Honey bees fly at about 25 km/h and beat their wings at about 200 times per second

2)  Honey bees have about 170 odourant receptors, quite the sense of smell!

3) Queen bees can lay up to 2, 500 eggs a day!

These are just some of my favourite bee facts and there are plenty more! If you want a break from studying, I also suggest checking out the Honey Bee Research Centre or even just their website. They have lots of facts on bees! Well…I gotta buzz, but thanks for hiving a listen to my buzz about bees…pass it on!

Answer: c) 

Question: What’s your favourite insect? And what’s an interesting fact about them?

References:

https://www.natgeokids.com/za/discover/animals/insects/honey-bees/

ENVS 2210 Notes-University of Guelph 

Beck, L., & Cable, T. T. (2011). The gifts of interpretation: fifteen guiding principles for interpreting nature and culture. Urbana: Sagamore Publishing.

[km-envs3000-19]

oh baby! the coolest things I know about baby animals

A human baby takes 9 to 12 months to take their first steps. And even when they do, they are very wobbly and often topple over, which is super cute. For an evolutionary perspective, humans are behind the times when it comes to fleeing danger and would be very vulnerable to predators in our early years if it weren’t for the dexterity in our hands and fingers. Our ability to build and create tools which enable us to defend ourselves is the main reason we’re at the top of the food chain (From Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, a great read by the way!). Human children are dependent on their parents from birth until (at least) adolescence. This is so different than many members of the animal kingdom. I start this post with our own species early stages of life to give you some perspective as you read through. I hope you’ll gain new appreciation for the other animals we share our planet with, and their unique starts to life. I’m intrigued by developmental biology, so in this post I’m going to talk about the infancy period of some of my favourite animals: the wildebeest and the giraffe.

               The wildebeest, or Gnu, is the fastest hooved animal to get to their feet after birth. Usually it takes about 5-10 minutes, but the record is actually 3 minutes! 3 minutes! Isn’t that incredible? These little wildebeests emerge into the world and right away have to get up and run to escape predators. They perform the world’s second largest land mammal migration, and the little ones must keep up with their mothers. Can you imagine if human babies got up and ran? Kind of scary to picture actually! When we compare the development of human infants to these juvenile wildebeests, we look pretty primal! Wildebeests will forever be my favourite animal because of their amazing natural ability to get up and run right away.

Image 1: A mother and baby wildebeest. From Colorbox

               Young giraffes on the other hand, start their lives with a 6-foot drop! That’s right, momma giraffes give birth while standing up, usually munching on leaves! Don’t believe me? There’s plenty of YouTube videos that you can watch, though they aren’t for everybody. Now a 6-foot drop for a human baby would be terrifying! But this drop during birth actually kickstarts the giraffe’s heart and allows them to pump oxygen through their body. Might I add that an adult giraffe’s heart is about the size of a basketball? After the drop, juvenile giraffes are quick to their feet, about 30-60 minutes! They’re 5-6 feet tall at birth too! They truly are beautiful, gentle giants.

Image 2: An incredibly cute baby giraffe. Photo from Colorbox

               As humans, we often think of ourselves as the rulers of this planet. We’ve lucked out in this role thanks to our apposable thumbs, but it’s so important to remember we’re not the best thing since Tiktaalik. So many other living things do extraordinary things every day, we’ve just have to take notice.

[km-envs3000-19]

Hi!

I really enjoyed reading your post and love how you dove into James Gordon’s music after the lab. The song he played for us gave me goosebumps and it’s so important that people have access to nature interpretation in a form that suits them and that they respond well to. I love how you talked about the sounds of birds, there’s something so beautiful about nature’s ability to sing us songs, even in Toronto amidst traffic and sirens.

I have heard quite a few songs about nature, but I definitely agree that it needs to become more common in popular music because it has the ability to reach people of all ages. For example, the song “Earth” by Lil Dicky has been becoming a hit for young adults like us as well as kids. The original song has a few cuss words in it, which I think a lot of people our age are drawn to, as well as the hip-hop/rap style. He also released a clean version which is kid-friendly (I like listening to this version better!) I think it’s cool how the same song can reach two different age groups after changing a couple words! If songs like these became more popular, for kids, teens, young adults and beyond, it would be a common topic of conversation. If we promote this love for nature from a young age, it becomes ingrained in their hearts and minds, creating the next generation of Earth activists! 

I really enjoyed your post! Can’t wait to read your next one!

Kayla

*ribbit* *howl* *chirp*  -the songs of nature

You always hear the lines in books where the author tries to explain the scene by saying “the wind whistled in the trees” or “the animals sang into the night”. I think that these are both ways that you can hear music in nature. Although it may not be the standard music that we are all used to, I believe that a bird’s song is just as complex and wonderful. 

I remember a large portion of our lab in the Arboretum was listening to bird songs and identifying the birds based on the song. This is a way to open your ears to hear the songs of nature. Any piece of nature can make music. Whether it be the wind travelling through the trees or the wolf howling at the moon. All aspects of nature have some sort of instrument that they seem to play and they all contribute to a beautiful song that can be heard every day and night. 

Personally, I love the sound of crickets at night. I live in Toronto, a really large city. And although I’ve grown to love the sounds of cars passing by, I always listen for that little bit of nature that is in my backyard. Living in a city, I don’t have tons of access to nature on a daily basis. So it’s really nice to be able to have a lullaby sung by crickets each night. 

I think that finding music in nature is quite easy. All animals have their own song, all plants interact with the wind in a different, playful way. However, I believe that finding nature in songs is much more difficult. In popular media, it’s hard to find songs that reflect on a topic like nature. Most songs are about love or friendship… or drinking. But looking for a song that not only discusses nature but also connects with you, is quite difficult. The lab we attended this week was a bit of an eye opener for me. I was never really aware that you can turn any topic into a successful song. 

Our guest speaker, James Gordon, has written some beautiful and catchy songs about subjects like climate and the environment. He played us a song from his original play about climate change and it really interested me. I looked up more of his music when I got home and I found a lot of songs that I really enjoyed and that I feel told a wonderful story. His song “No Matter Where This River Flows” has beautiful lyrics that describe a scene of a river. I think that an important part of nature interpretation is being able to get your message across in an effective way. His lyrics “The time has passed when we could turn around and head for home, we’re heading down into the unknown” paints a clear photo of the river he is describing. I think that this form of art is very effective when trying to illustrate a certain topic (or scene in this case), while also remaining extremely entertaining. I’ve listened to this song a number of times just because it sounds so beautiful. 

I think that music can be used as an effective form of nature interpretation because it has a way of capturing attention in an entertaining way, while also being able to describe a specific topic or idea. We discussed in class that effective writing in important when trying to get your message across to people. I think this also applies to song writing. You have to be able to find the right words to attract people to your songs. Your message becomes one that is not only talked about for a long time, but one that is sung. 

My question for you: I noticed that in my life, I haven’t come across many songs about nature. Do you think popular music should encompass more important topics and issues (such as nature or the environment)? Do you think that these kinds of songs would be popular with different age groups?

[km-envs3000-19]

the hills are alive with the sound of music

My heart wants to beat like the wings of the birds

That rise from the lake to the trees

My heart wants to sigh like a chime that flies

From a church on a breeze

To laugh like a brook when it trips and falls over

Stones on its way

To sing through the night like a lark who is learning to pray

-From “The Hills are Alive” from the musical “The Sound of Music” (1965)

The song goes: “the hills are alive with the sound of music” and that most certainly rings true. Life all around us is singing, and it’s up to us to decide whether we hear it or not. The sound of rain on a canopy of trees, crickets chirping late at night, the buzz of a bee whizzing by my ear, frogs and toads croaking, baby birds learning their songs, it’s hard not to find music in nature.

I’m not very musically inclined, I did piano lessons growing up but quit because I hated practicing (and my parents weren’t big on making me practice!). This summer however, I bought a ukulele at a small music store in the French city where I was living. I’ve tried to be consistent in practicing, but life always gets in the way. I only know 3 or 4 chords, but I can do a couple basic songs thanks to YouTube tutorials.

The best musicians are consistent in their practice, rehearsing until they get it just right. Nature is the most consistent musician in my opinion. Barring any irregularities (mutations, etc.), nature consistently exhibits the same patterns, like a composer repeating the same bars of a song hundreds of times before they get it just right. We could even stretch this analogy and say that when nature suddenly changes, it’s the composer rewriting that bit of the song, so it flows better. For example, take evolution and adaptation. Plants and animals gradually change over generations, as nature perfects each process and each aspect of their genotype and phenotype. The composer is changing a note here and there to create something that sounds different but ultimately works better in the song.

Nature is infused in our art and language. For example, the use of onomatopoeia in literature. For those of us who haven’t touched literary devices since grade 12, onomatopoeia is the formation of a word, as cuckoo, meow, honk, or boom, by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent (Dictionary.com), like a babbling brook. Nature has so much pull in our language, it only makes sense that it influences our music as well. Take Beethoven’s Symphony number 6 for example. He wanted to portray a mid-summer’s day from start to finish, and he did it without any lyrics! Moving forward into the 1970s, artists like Joni Mitchell penned songs about climate change and urbanization. Even in the present, we hear songs about nature coming from artists such as Kacey Musgraves (Oh, What a World). The rhythms of nature are surrounding us, and it up to us to make those songs known.

Image 1: A waterfall in a forest, retrieved from Colorbox. I can almost hear this photo!

My question to you is what is your favourite sound in nature?

[km-envs3000-19]

Hi!

I really enjoyed reading your post and it’s funny because my reflection this week is along the same lines as yours! I totally agree that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, cliche as it may be! Using art to draw people is so effective and it’s a tangible way that people can interpret nature even at home. I think of kids putting fall leaves under paper and rubbing crayons over it to get an impression of the leaf, even that is interpreting nature through beauty. 

There is so much beauty in ordinary things, from tiny caterpillars to tall trees. I find that we’re so rushed nowadays that people forget to absorb the beauty around them. It’s so important to slow things down for people, as the textbook mentions, because it’s often hard to do that on their own. Mother Nature is truly an artist, and it’s hard to always grasp that. But the fall leaves are beautiful colours, painted individually. And the trees dance in the wind, waving their branches. And a caterpillar turns into a colourful butterfly. These things happen all on their own, without any interference. If we pause and simply reflect on every tiny thing happening around and inside us, it’s easy to find an abundance of beauty.

To answer your question, I think the sense of smell is the most powerful for interpreting nature. I love the smell of trees after the rain, and every time I smell it, I’m transported back to the forest. I love smelling flowers and outside smells. I’m from the dairy capital of Canada, so even the smell of cow manure brings me some comfort haha!

Loved reading your post :)

Kayla

Bring Out Your Inner Artist

To be honest, I’ve never really defined myself as an “artsy” person. I have always envied my friends that have artistic talent. That being said, I have realized that interpreting nature through art can be in the eyes of the beholder. I don’t need a lot of artistic talent to see nature’s beauty. I think that’s the special thing about nature, it can inspire anyone. Everyone sees nature in a different light and can appreciate its beauty in different ways. It leaves us, as interpreters, something to connect to the audience with.

I like to interpret nature through art by drawing or painting (I did some paintings in high school). I don’t have that artistic talent that my friend has, but nature comes in all forms so people will understand what I am trying to say. I find it so relaxing to sketch or even “doodle” when I am outdoors.

The other way I interpret nature through art is taking pictures. I am not a great photographer either, but I find taking pictures in nature is easy because it already shows its beauty. I like looking at other pictures taken by people to see certain snapshots in nature. To visualize what was happening in that certain moment and to follow a story.

(Photo I took in my back yard over the summer)

Going to the art gallery was interesting to me as I got to see so many different pieces of art. The videos were amazing to watch, as another form of art that tells a certain story through media. Majority of people these days have social media, so I think it’s valuable to pass on nature education or perspectives through media as well. 

 I think it’s important to understand the importance of using art to teach people about nature. It “appeal to visitors and attracts locals” (Beck and Cable 2011).  Telling a story through art “convinces people to becomes as passionate about your cause as you are” (Beck and Cable 2011). It’s one of the ways we can easily catch people’s attention. I think this is important as an interpreter, to get creative, even if you aren’t “artsy” like me! 

( An interesting visual showing the social connectives of nature through art https://www.socialconnectedness.org/fostering-social-connectedness-through-nature-and-art/)

The Gift of beauty is something nature definitely possesses. How they defined it in the textbook really shows how nature appears, “it possess timelessness, power, dynamic (changes) and encompasses all our senses” (Beck and Cable 2011). I think the important thing about nature is it DOES involve all of our senses, making it easier to understand its beauty. Interpreters must “help people see beauty beyond the ordinary,” which sometimes is a tricky thing to teach people. If more people can see beyond the cover and see more into the beautiful details of nature, they might be able to appreciate it more. As shown in the textbook, “beauty inspires stewardship as it restores harmony and causes us to care” (Beck and Cable 2011). I believe nature possessing the gift of beauty inspires us as interpreters to use this as a key to connect with more people. It’s really important to try and at least be a bit “artsy” in nature interpretation, then doing nothing at all. After all, the gift of beauty is one of the fifteen principles of interpreting nature, so it must be important! 

( It’s important to notice the beauty in little things. https://beauthingsarepriceless.wordpress.com/2016/03/22/beauty-in-little-things/)

Question: When interpreting nature what sense do you think is the most powerful?

References:

Beck, L., & Cable, T. T. (2011). The gifts of interpretation: fifteen guiding principles for interpreting nature and culture. Urbana: Sagamore Publishing.

[km-envs3000-19]

art and beauty are subjective

I am not an artistically gifted person. Most of my “art” would be in the margins of notebooks, hastily drawn before scribbling more notes as the professor lectures. Sometimes I try watercolour painting, which is fun and a good way to destress, but I mostly like watching the colours melt together instead of producing a quality end product. As for other forms of art, I have two left feet and couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, so dancing and singing are off the table. My mom would say I’m dramatic, so maybe theatre would be a good artistic avenue to explore (unlikely though!). All this to say, I don’t know if am worthy of interpreting nature through art, simply because it’s not how I respond to nature personally. But this is not the case for everyone! As a nature interpreter, I think it’s our duty to take into account the diverse background of our audience, and recognize that one person may respond to nature in a scientific way, scanning the scene for plants and animals, whereas a person with an artistic background might be captivated by the shapes of the trees, or the way that they dance in the wind.

All of these interpretations of nature are beautiful because all of nature is beautiful, as Beck and Cable explain in chapter 13 of “The Gifts of Interpretation”. People are attracted to the tallest mountains and deepest canyons for very different reasons, and that gift of diverse perspectives is a gift in and of itself. I think of impressionist painter Claude Monet, who was greatly inspired by nature in his own garden and all-over northern France. His paintings of waterlilies are a very different interpretation than that of a botanist, researching the flower. His paintings of the stunning cliffs of Etretat are very different than other impressionist painters such as Jean Francis Auburtin painting the very same landscape (shown below). As humans, I believe we go into nature all seeking different things, and that to me is the gift of beauty.

Image 1: Claude Monet’s “L’Aiguille et la falaise d’Aval” 1885, on display at the Giverny Museum of Impressionism.

Image 2: Jean Francis Auburtin’s “Voiliers a Etretat” on display at the Giverny Museum of Impressionism. Notice the similarities between the two paintings. These paintings were part of an exposition of Monet and Auburtin’s works titled “Monet-Auburtin: Une rencontre artistique” (translates to “an artistic meeting”) More information here!

As interpreters, I think it’s our duty to unpack this, as it comes with every single person we’ll encounter. It’s almost like our invisible knapsacks we discussed earlier in the course, that each person comes with a set of tools they’ve been given based on privilege. I’d like to take it a step further and call the little things that people come with that they’ve chosen for themselves our “invisible fanny pack”. This could include interest in art, history, science, any tools or background knowledge that a guest could use to help them interpret nature for themselves. This is also an example of the gift of beauty, because it is unique to each person.

Beck and Cable explain that “interpreters help people possess beauty,” but in my opinion, it’s the opposite. People already possess the gift of beauty, and they actually show the interpreter a new view of the beauty of nature. Each person will tie their own meaning to place or thing, and that is a unique snapshot of who they are as a person. When people have a personal connection to a place or thing, they make an effort to protect it and to show others why it matters. And that, my friends, is beautiful.

Image 3: A photo of Claude Monet’s Gardens at Giverny, France. Where I see biodiversity, Monet saw art. Photo by me.

[km-envs3000-19]

Hey there!

It is really hard to believe that people still don’t understand the gravity of climate change! I’m in the same boat as you, hearing deniers saying that our winters are still cold so that means global warming doesn’t exist, which honestly makes me laugh! I do think the root of this problem is ignorance and pride, people being unwilling to admit that choices they’ve made within their lifetime have major consequences today so they just turn a blind eye.

I like the point you made about climate change being a natural thing. A lot of people, even young “climate activists”, assume that climate change is bad and unnatural. The fact is the earth has gone through several periods of freezing and thawing over history, and evidence of that is seen in our rocks and oceans. The important distinction you made is the rate at which this is happening, and how this is majorly due to human CO2 emissions.

In general, yes it is the boomer generation and older who rejects the possibility of climate change. But personally I know many exceptions to this rule, like my grandparents for example. They make a great effort to recycle and to buy ethically. My Gram even works at a thrift shop! I think it’s as important to educate this older generation as it is to educate kids! We could apply what was in the reading to seniors as well, I’m picturing a workshop at a seniors home about climate change and how we can save the planet everyday!

It’s recycling programs that we were exposed to in elementary school that helped me see the importance of saving the earth and of being a conscious consumer. I think we can work towards applying this to older folks too!

Loved reading your post! Happy thanksgiving weekend!

Post #4: Climate Change Denial

For this week’s topic I have decided to explore climate change denial. This has been an annoyance of mine for a long time now and probably irritates some of you in this class as well. So before I go to my family thanksgiving dinner tomorrow I have decided to explore where this began and why so that I can peacefully face my climate change denier uncles. I have some understanding as to why climate change denial exists; it’s hard to believe something you can’t always see happening and it’s hard to believe politicians and scientists who aren’t always 100% accurate. I also know that it was deeply rooted in oil industries who convinced politicians and industries to deny the facts in hopes of continuing to make money on burning fossil fuels. After all these years, with more events proving that climate change is occurring, such as floods and ice caps melting, why are there still people in denial?

Images portraying just how much ice melt has occurred in Greenland between 1980 and 2018 now being called its “death sentence” from https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49483580 

Another reason for denial goes back to people thinking that because it was warmer before our current temperatures in past history that we don’t have to worry about current warming. To start off, climate change is normal but the rate it is currently happening at due to anthropogenic impacts is not normal. The greatest impacts being increased greenhouse gases, specifically the most abundant one in our atmosphere, carbon dioxide (CO2). Furthermore, there is a lack of knowledge in terms of climate patterns and where greenhouse gases naturally come from and their cycles. 

While doing some research for this post, I came across the website https://skepticalscience.com/, I had heard about it before but never actually used it. While scrolling through this site I found a post someone made about climate change denier scientists who had written a letter to the European Union and United Nation institutions to derail current climate change policies. It was pretty sad to see that even some scientists don’t believe in climate change even at our current state. However, it was clear to me that all their arguments were invalid as they couldn’t be backed up by any sources and basic knowledge of our CO2 cycle would argue otherwise. For example, one of their arguments was that “there is no proof that anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are the major cause of global warming.” I will insert the link for this post at the bottom.

“Just as children need meaningful adult contact and a sense of connection to the broader human community, they also need independence, solitude, adventure, and a sense of wonder.” - Richard Louv

This is a quote I pulled from last week’s reading which focused mainly on how children need to be more exposed to nature and how to implement this in different ways. For example, the author explained the success of starting with baby nature interpretive programs so that children don’t grow up scared or disconnected to nature. There were also different strategies for interpretation for different age ranges. One of them even included that at age 12 environmental activism can come into play through recycling programs and other initiatives. I thought this was really great and it really applied to my post this week. It also occurred to me that the population of climate deniers is mostly the baby boomer generation or older, rarely ever is it young people such as ourselves. This means that a huge upside to all this is that climate change denial will soon be a thing of the past as younger generations become old enough to vote for leaders that support the need for change. Now more than ever, it is young people who are taking action and this brings hope for our future. Therefore, we need programs such as these to continue to raise environmentally educated youth. 

Image of Montreal high school kids holding a banner that refers to the maximum temperature increase allowed in order to avoid drastic impacts. From https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/climate-march-montreal-1.5058083

References:

“The Gifts of Interpretation” by Larry Beck and Ted T. Cable. 3rd Edition, Copyright 2011

https://skepticalscience.com/denier-5-arguments-to-eu-un-leaders.html

[km-envs3000-19]

we’re less alone than we think we are

Today is Mental Health Awareness day, so I think it’s only fitting that this week I blog this. In today’s world, it’s so easy to feel isolated, alone, surrounded by people who don’t know your name. It’s so easy to fall into negative patterns of thought, which escalate into mental illness and mental health problems. The good news is, we’re never truly alone. You’re made up of billions of atoms and cells and the only thing they care about is you! We’ve got literal microscopic armies looking after us, fighting germs and disease, regulating things like heartbeat and temperature and constantly multiplying to sustain our lives. That in and of itself means we are worthy of life. We are good enough. And I think our connection to nature helps convey that truth,

This week I headed to the Arboretum to my 8:30 class. It was chilly and misty, and I was feeling under the weather so I wasn’t too keen on this early morning adventure. But, once I got there and immersed myself in nature, wading through patches of goldenrod, looking up at the changing leaves, I felt my perspective shift. I felt so honored to be surrounded by this beauty and by this vibrant, alive ecosystem that I felt like my worries and stress had melted away. After that, I was more than happy to get my sneakers wet by walking through dewy fields to collect data for the group project, at the risk of becoming sicker and of having soggy socks the rest of the day. I’ve had several experiences in nature much like this, and I feel it is our connection to the earth that may be the best medicine.

Image 1: A quote by Lao Tzu I’ve been reflecting on while writing this post. From: https://mukeshbalani.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/nature-does-not-hurry-yet-everything-is-accomplished/

The above quote serves as a beautiful reminder. Our lives in the western world are so rushed with deadlines firing at us constantly, the bustling city life, the outside pressure to meet all kinds of milestones by the time we turn 25. Being in nature can help us reconnect with the idea that life goes on even if we don’t meet deadlines or accomplish huge things in a short time. Take a maple tree for example. It doesn’t grow to its’ mature height overnight. It doesn’t produce sap for syrup right away. It needs time and care, sun and rain, winter and summer to help it grow and develop into the big, beautiful tree we see before us today. Humans are similar, in that we need time to grow, we need sunny days and rainy days, cold and sunny seasons to help us mature and be able to produce. When we’re reminded that nature takes her sweet time, we too can learn to slow things down and gain perspective.

Nature may have this effect on people taking part in nature interpretation. We can keep this in mind when presenting to groups by taking reflective pauses for people to digest not only the information you’re providing to them, but also the scenery they see around them. As interpreters, we get a front row seat to watch people reconnect with nature, to watch as people take a step back from their ordinary hustle to take a deep breath and to truly feel alive. 

There have been numerous studies supporting the claim that nature has positive effects on our mental health and well-being. In an article published by Ontario Parks, they state “Stress is relieved within minutes of exposure to nature as measured by muscle tension, blood pressure, and brain activity.” Within minutes! This isn’t to discount other strategies to cope with mental health like counselling and medications, because those are important parts of healing. Nature is an accessible and readily available resource to help us deal with stress and emotions. Next time you’re feeling down and out, take a friend and go for a walk, I’m sure you’ll come back relaxed and ready to take on anything. 

Image 2: A fall tree in the Arboretum, photo taken by me on Tuesday morning!

How do you reconnect with nature? Let me know!

[km-envs3000-19]

Hi!

I really enjoyed reading your post! 😊 It was clear that you put a lot of thought into it and really care about the material!

The train metaphor is so powerful and I love how you thought about the tracks leading in different directions to different destinations. A factor behind these destinations is history itself, and the ancient things pertaining to the history of a particular place or area.

We really are never rid of the past, the stories of the past live on in those who tell those stories: us as nature interpreters! The fossils at one point in time were on the ocean floor, and today we can see them clear as day on the surface, which is so amazing! I appreciate this connection to your personal experience, it really puts the quote into perspective!

Loved reading your perspective!

A Continuous Train of Thought

         When you share a story with a friend, you never begin with the end of the story. It has no context…no build….and in the end, it’s not really a story. It’s just a single fact that has little relevance to your listener. So why should interpretation be any different? As Freeman Tilden once said, “A cardinal purpose of interpretation, it seems to me, is to present a whole, rather than a part, no matter how interesting the specific part may be” (Chapter 5, The Gifts of Interpretation). Presenting a single viewpoint of a larger picture can leave people more misinformed than when they began, but it begs the question: what defines a ‘whole’ exactly?

         I believe part of the answer lies within the following quote:

“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. 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.”  (Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation).

           Ancient things are another singular viewpoint in time. Out of context, they can seem meaningless, and therefore have no ‘merit.’ Simply looking at the beginning of a long-going story inspires no further thought. Edward Hyams mentions ‘integrity’ and having integrity in maintaining a sense of whole. In order to understand a full picture, you must examine all its parts. This integrity comes from keeping ancient things in memory in order to understand how it relates to the present. 

(Transit by rail freight - Retrieved from Colourbox)

           I think Hyams shares an extremely important message in the second half of this quote. Where a train has come from has important implications for where it is going. It’s connected after all on a track through time. One different turn can take you in a completely new direction and the next thing you know you are at a different station. I see it as a powerful metaphor for how past decisions can influence how we make our future ones. 

           As the quote infers, we are never really rid of the past. Its lessons are all around us, and I am always reminded of this when I look at nature. Simple structures, such as the rocks and sediments we stand on, all hold reminders of the past. While working along the shores of Lake Ontario in Kingston, the rocks are filled with fossils from a time when Ontario was merely an ocean floor. I think of the past as a tool always at hand. If we are able to learn from the past, we are better able to inform our future. 

(Crinoids, brachiopods and other marine invertebrate species fossilized in limestone along Lake Ontario shoreline - Photo taken by me)

“Ultimately the role of history is to provide the opportunity to examine ourselves and how we have become what we are today”

 (John Golda, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation).

        Looking upon our history to analyze what we might regret or strive to repeat allows us to not only grow as an individual but as a society. 

Beck, L., & Cable, T. T. (2011). The Gifts of Interpretation: Fifteen Guiding Principles for Interpreting Nature and Culture. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing.

[km-envs3000-19]

This post was so beautiful to read! I appreciate your vulnerability in sharing your life's experiences, and your yearning for the wild. I can relate to that desire to escape the concrete jungle and the neatly manicured parks us city folk call "nature". I'm super interested in your tree planting experience! What organisation did you work with? Where was it?

My s/o; Nature

I am a city-kid, born and raised, daughter to a single-mother who didn’t own a vehicle and who was often too busy working to put food on the table to consider camping or a vacation to some sort of nature destination. 

In addition, despite its misleading nickname, London (”The Forest City”) has very few forests, woodlots, or even nature areas. We have manicured fields and parks, a Garden Club next to a public civic gardens (which *surprise-surprise* is very over-managed as well).

I think it’s safe to say that as an individual living in London, I didn’t have much interest in nature (at least not much more than climbing trees as a kid). 

Guelph, winter 2019. Photo by me.

My most prominent and enjoyable memories involving nature were always fun and interesting because of the lack of control people held over them, which allowed my imagination to interact with nature and flourish while I walked around in a flooded backyard in summertime. Or wandered off the trail under a railway bridge to pull clams out of the water and pry them open to see what was there (it was like a giant orange tongue, by the way). Or climbing huge fallen trees in the brush behind my grandma’s house.

I went camping for the first time at age 12, and for a second time at age 17. Both were mildly disappointing when I learned we’d still be at a highly managed wooded area, with the closest store being in walking distance, and along with 300 other people.

By this time I had developed a sort of resentment toward any type of management systems or landscaping done to places that were supposedly natural areas. It seemed hypocritical to create a place to be in nature and yet keep it so “perfect”. No weeds, all freshly cut grass, deliberately planted and maintained gardens, gazebos, playgrounds, parking lots, and paved paths as though grass and dirt are something to fear.

This wasn’t nature. I knew that even though I had never really experienced “real” nature before. The strain of manicured perfection that I felt had been put on these nature areas, felt suffocating to me. Like I could never escape the concrete jungle that was London, Ontario.

In fact, it wasn’t until this moment that I realized; I was angry. I felt like it was an  claim to love that was really an unhealthy love with the “idea” of nature, but a denial of what it really was; chaotic, not meant to be tamed, wonderfully beautiful, and infinitely sincere in everything it did.

A dream catcher hanging from a tree in Ignace, ON. Treeplanting, summer 2017. Photo by me.

This craving to experience “real nature” lead to my application to the University of Guelph (for all their green space that they offered), and later, to a summer job as a tree planter in Northern Ontario the summer after my first year in university (where I would experience bush camping for two months straight), the switching of my major from Animal Biology to General Biology after 2 years, and finally to Wildlife Biology and Conservation. Most recently it lead to my conscious acknowledgement of my unrelenting desire for the joy that nature brings to my life.

Cup and Saucer Trail lookout, Manitoulin Island, summer 2019.

When I need a friend to help mellow me out and reduce my impulsive behaviours, I look to trees. When I need a reminder to be perserverent and optimistic, I go to my house plants. And when I need a lesson in self-awareness and compassion, I observe wildlife and how my presence affects them.

“The Earth speaks to all of us, and if we listen, we can understand.”

—Castle in the Sky (1986)

Manitoulin Island, winter 2019. Photo by me.

For all the intensity of emotions I have surrounding nature, I have many influences to thank, but one in particular stands above the rest in my mind. Like Promotheus gave man fire, Studio Ghibli gave me my spark. I was first exposed to Studio Ghibli movies at 6 or 7 years old, and repeatedly throughout my life. Though all of their movies have different plots, many of them hold the idea that the Earth is a sacred thing to be worked with, respected, and that it is our responsibility to care for it.