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Hey Jaclyn, 

Awesome read! I really enjoyed how you took information from the course and applied it to yourself. I like how you touched on respect and responsibility. The respect we need for our natural green space and each other is vital to the preservation of our natural areas. Especially with the people who have a long history with the natural areas, like you mentioned. They have a different perspective on the natural world compared to most science practices which can be used to preserve natural areas. Additionally, you mentioned that we as humans have great responsibility to take care of our world, since we hold the means to fix it. We are the ones who have damaged the earth so it is our responsibility  to do what we can to fix it. I like that you tied this point in with privilege and since we are privileged  to enjoy these green spaces, we have to work towards preserving them. I feel that is course really gave us even more responsibility  to impose change towards a more sustainable world. We know how nature fits in with so many areas of our society and culture. We can use this as our advantage to spread the world, to get more people involved. I really like this theme of communication. I think there are a lot of misconceptions of the natural world, that become populator. This miscommunication creates unintended issues that become a barrier when trying to get people to value natural areas more. Through proper communication we can education everyone on  what nature really has to offer especially now in the era of social media!

Awesome post, good luck on the rest of your semester!

Kiran 

The Final Post

As the semester comes to an end and this course along with it I reflect back on all I have learnt this semester. Over the duration of this course I have learnt the many different roles that nature interpretation has through a variety of lenses. Looking back on past blogs I can see how I began to think deeper and more creatively as the course progressed. I believe I have grown as a nature interpreter and can now provide meaningful connections to nature which I hope that I can bring with me into future career paths after graduation. This course has helped me to understand the important role that nature interpretation plays in our world and its ability to bring different groups of people with different backgrounds and education together to connect with nature. 

So, with the semester winding down this will be the final blog post. For this final post I will reflect on myself as a nature interpreter, my personal ethics, beliefs and my responsibilities as an interpreter. 

When thinking of what my personal are I think the most important one would be respect. I think that respect is a personal ethic that is imperative for our society and environment to flourish. It is important to me that even when I do not agree with someone on their opinions on the environment, wildlife, climate change and so on that I still treat them with respect. I also think it is important for us as a society to have respect and to learn from indigenous peoples as well as other cultures who have been stewards of the land for centuries. I believe that it is a great privilege to be able to learn from others who have strong connections to the environment and I think that there needs to be more inclusion, collaboration, learning and communication between those who work in environmental fields and Indigenous groups in Canada. I think we have a lot to learn about how to live more sustainably and alongside nature from Indigenous people. 

I also think it’s important to show respect for nature when we enter natural spaces. It’s a privilege to be able to access natural spaces so when we do enter them we must show respect and leave things as we found them. Also we treat wildlife with respect as well making sure to not harm, disturb or interfere with wildlife when we encounter it. 

Another personal ethic that I would say I have is responsibility. I think that responsibility for our actions that affect others, the environment, and wildlife is incredibly important to have. I feel a sense of responsibility to live more sustainably in order to lower my carbon footprint because I care and think we should all care about protecting our planet’s health. I feel a sense of responsibility to use my education which I am privileged to have to help inform others about the environment and nature and also apply it in a way that will benefit the planet and all its inhabitants in some way, big or small. I feel like more people need to think more consciously about how their actions affect the environment because many may not even be aware of their own impacts. 

When I think of my beliefs and responsibilities I have as a nature interpreter I find myself thinking forward into the future. What can I bring to the world? What kind of impact can I make to help ensure that our world has a future where we have a healthy environment? I believe we all have a responsibility to our planet and other life forms on Earth to best protect, nurture and restore our environment back to health. As humans have been the ones responsible for considerable and horrific damage to our planet we have a responsibility to make right with our Earth as for the most part we have inhabited it with little care of how our actions affect others with whom we share this planet’s resources and spaces with. I believe we all have the right to access and enjoy our world’s natural spaces, but with that we are also responsible to respect nature so when we take ourselves into it we should treat it as though we are invited guests into a home that does owe us anything but affords us with many privileges. 

I personally feel that as an interpreter I have a responsibility to help others be educated in the importance of preserving, protecting and restoring our environment. As we have learnt through this course one does not need to have a degree or high level of environmental science knowledge to be able to connect with and understand how intertwined our lives may be with the natural environment. This course has taught me how to make deep connections between the environment and subjects that many people know and love such as music, art and history. As an interpreter it would be my job to make meaningful connections to nature and when given the opportunity to do so to help others make their own connections as well. It is not my job to force my own opinions and beliefs on others but instead pass on information and help others to make connections in a way that is suitable and specific to the individual. 

As an individual I feel that the approach that best suits me as an individual is through visuals and verbal communication through technology through the form of videos and or presentations. Throughout my university career I have found that visual aids help to keep me engaged. I also find media such as TED talks to be engaging and informative as well, as they are often a more creative form of lecture. I personally find that images and videos can help an audience connect to the topic especially when the intent of the presentation is to gain engagement, conversation and more care and or concern. When information can be distributed media using technology it is also capable of reaching more audiences so I believe this is an effective tool to distribute information as it can be shared and passed on to interested individuals. 

I really enjoyed reading all the great creative blogs this semester! 

Thanks for sharing and thanks for reading:)

-Jaclyn 

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Hey Sara! I really, really enjoyed reading your blog post. It was very refreshing to see that you thoroughly enjoyed this course and took away something from every unit. From reading what you have said, it look like you enjoyed this course without having any expectations. I really liked this course too because it is not like any course I have taken before. The learning required is not the same as other academic courses. This courses makes us look at what we already know and push it through this social science, interpersonal lens. Your summaries of each unit really drove this point home for me. In the science community, we forget how much we know about something and when we try to explain a concept to the general public, they end up starring at us like we’re crazy. So I think this course really stuck home the societal application science has to others and to open my mind to other perspectives on science or nature. I also like how this course brought my own personal experiences into the light, topics that I haven't really thought about became the prompts for many blogs. As a result, I kind of looked forwarded to creating a new blog post. This is brought a step further by taking the learning test in Unit 2 or Unit 7 through nature. I like this inclusion of human culture into Nature Interpretation because in the end, we are all humans who are interpreting nature. 

I am curious to know if you will take the lessons learnt from these Units beyond university and into a career? I think these perspective in science are missing and just have this new perspective in the work force can be extreme beneficial. 

What an awesome way to close out a course, taking away what was learnt. I wish all the best in your future years and a happy rest of the semester!

Kiran 

What I’ve learned – Last Discussion Post

I enrolled in nature interpretation because I am a nature lover and am frequently outdoors, so the course description aligned with my interests. Also, ENVS 3000 counted as a restricted elective for my program, environmental science. I wasn’t sure what to expect regarding the materials we would be covering and the related assignments; I assumed it would consist of many readings, but other than that, I had no expectations. I learned a lot of new and interesting things about nature and myself. Each unit brought a new way to look at nature, which further enhanced my admiration and knowledge surrounding the outdoors. Because so many different topics have been covered over the last few months, I have decided that the best way to share my takeaways from the course would be to review each unit individually. This way, I can cover everything that I got out of each subject covered and do so in an organized way that should avoid any overlap or confusion. Unit 1 Unit one gave me my first introduction to nature interpretation as a discipline. Before, when I thought of nature interpretation, I just assumed it was something that everyone subconsciously did when outdoors; I now know there is much more to nature interpretation than that. I never before made the connection between education and interpretation, now two things I group together. Unit one explained what nature interpretation is, and what came as a surprise to me is how broad this discipline is. This point became increasingly evident throughout the course as we looked at nature interpretation and how it relates to many different topics, like music, history, and art. Unit 2 Unit 2 taught me about the different types of learners that exist. I discovered that I was 50% tactile learner, 30% auditory learner, and 20% visual learner. This did not come as a surprise to me. Growing up (and still today), I was very active and had high energy, and I always had to be doing something. I would skip the instructions and dive right in anything that required instructions—always learning by doing. Knowing the type of learner that I am is very useful. I can adjust my study strategies and learning environments to make them more conducive to focusing and absorbing information. Education is linked with nature interpretation, and as an interpreter, it is imperative to recognize and connect with people of all different learning styles. For example, it is important to be able to explain something visually equally well as provide a demonstration of what you just described. In chapter 5 of “Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For A Better World” Beck et al. (2018) explain that the primary job of an interpreter is to help people comprehend the world around them, cultures that exist(ed) alongside their own, and how their existence can influence how humans live in this world. This passage highlights the importance t=of an interpreter being able to communicate effectively with their audience. When it comes to my morals associated with nature, I hold the environment and wildlife in very high regard and do my best to make my lifestyle choices have as small an impact on the environment as possible. Something that has come up a few times throughout this course is environmental stewardship, a very important role today. Unit 3 Chapter 7 of “Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For A Better World”, Beck et al. (2018) go into detail about the many ways nature can be made more accessible to people. Something from this chapter that stood out to me was a review done by Pease (2015) on interpretation and underserved audiences. The review highlighted barriers faced by individuals which discouraged park visitation, such as:

- Economic barriers - Cultural barriers - Communication barriers - Lack of knowledge - Fear

Unit 3 also touched on privilege and access to outdoor recreation. My privilege can be demonstrated in my surprise to learn of the prevalence of all of these barriers. I was surprised to learn of this since these are barriers that I never had to face. All people should have equal and easy access to nature, and as I discussed in my unit 3 blog post, lots can be done to change this.

Over reading week, I was fortunate to go skiing out west with my family. This class has made me even more aware of my privilege and I was very grateful to have this opportunity. Unit 4 Unit 4 focused on risks associated with nature. My biggest takeaway from this unit is the importance of planning ahead. So many problems can be avoided by proper planning and preparation. Unit 4 mentions that accidents that happen outdoors are usually caused by a chain of decisions and events, all building up to one significant fallout. I would consider myself a risk-averse person; I plan for things and rarely leave something to the last minute, especially when it concerns a situation with big consequences. Unit 5 I see nature through a scientific lens because of my academic background in environmental science. Wals et al. (2014) talk about the importance of allowing people to develop their own ability to think critically, creatively, and ethically when evaluating environmental situations, make sound decisions pertaining to those situations, and build the capacity and commitment to act individually and collectively for environmental sustainability (source). This point speaks to the importance and prevalence of science in nature interpretation, specifically, valuing ecosystems to ensure they function well.

Here��s a picture of a twig I took as part of a tree-identification project. This demonstrates how education is often combined with nature interpretation.

Unit 6 The primary takeaway from unit 6 was how much value there is in history. As covered in unit 6’s blog post, all of our knowledge today stems from the past. Therefore, to better understand where we came from and how we evolved, the interpretation of ancient things is crucial.

Unit 7 Every nature interpreter is unique. Their interpretation style is influenced by their upbringing, surroundings, and more. Music provides a platform to express people’s ideas through art. A lot of music draws inspiration from nature in sounds, motifs, and lyrics. However, there is also music made by nature. This is in the form of wind, rain, animals and more. Something I learned from this unit is just how closely the two subjects, nature and music, where and how music is a great way to experience nature. Unit 8 My main takeaway from unit 8 is that both pros and cons come along with the advancement of technology as it relates to nature interpretation. Technology can be advantageous because it allows people to enhance their exposure to nature through music, podcasts, etc. However, it also creates a disconnect between society and the natural world. Before technology, kids would resort to the outdoors for entertainment. This time spent outdoors had health benefits (exercise, creativity, social…). Today, it is easier to turn on the tv or scroll through social media with technology. The lesser time people spend outside, the bigger the gap between nature and society becomes. And this can lead to people undervaluing nature. Unit 9 Something that I still wonder is how much other people value nature. It would be inaccurate to assume that everyone feels the same way as I do because people have opinions of their own that extrinsic factors have shaped. However, I can use tactics learned in this course to promote nature appreciation to encourage people’s appreciation for the outdoors.

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). In Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For A Better World. Sagamore Venture.

Pease,  J.  L.  (2015).  Parks  and  underserved  audiences:  An  annotated  literature  review.  Journal of Interpretation Research, 20(1),11–56.

Wals, A. E., Brody, M., Dillon, J., & Stevenson, R. B. (2014). Convergence between science and environmental education. Science, 344(6184), 583-584.

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“What Starts Here can Change the World for the Better”

“What starts here can indeed change the world for the better”. This speech changed my life, to this day it still gives me chills. It put me on a path towards greatness. This speech showed me the power of one person and the potential within each of us to do amazing things. To lift the downtrodden and never give up.  This mindset is very powerful, and anyone can take it to fuel where they want to go in life. To live by this “hero code” mindset gives anyone the power to make a change, no matter how small at first. I highly recommend you give this speech a listen. It is done by Admiral McRaven, a retired Navy SEAL who shared a lot of his wisdom and lesson learned. I have injected these lessons into many aspects of my life, but for this post, I will focus on how it affects my relationship with nature.

The reality is, we have trashed our world. To quote Avatar “we have killed our mother”. In every science or environment course, I have taken, there is always the cry to help reverse the damage we have inflicted on our planet. By looking at all these issues at hand, it can be seen as something impossible to reverse. That we have dug our hole too deep to crawl out. Because of this, many people, including my friends have not bothered to confront these issues. As for me, this shows me I have work to do. In a way, this idea of being almost hopeless, drives me to act, no matter how small. Any action is better than sitting idle. That’s why I am here right now, to build a base of knowledge to understand the expanse of this issue and where are its weak spots so I can target them. University is just the beginning. It is the brainstorming before the final project. The calm before the storm.  As a person who has been connected to nature all my life, I feel it is my duty and responsibility to do something with it. Not everyone sees the world as I do, and it would be a waste to not put it towards something great. It can literally be anything, no matter how small. If can show someone that spiders aren’t dangerous and evil, that’s a victory. If I can hold someone’s attention and just talk about fishing, that’s a victory. If I can change someone’s mind or show off how cool the natural world is, that makes my day. I think as long as I can connect with people about nature in any way, that’s great. It always comes back to the idea of small things can grow into big things, with just a little patience and consistency.           I know I want to turn this into a full-time career someday, not sure when, where, what, or how, but I do know the WHY and WHO. To me these 2 Ws are the most important as I feel they guarantee the rest. It creates this warrior mindset where you are fueled by yourself and the idea of acting on behave of something that is ultimately much greater than yourself. If I dig farther into my why, I go deeper than just doing it to save the planet. I think it boils down to the protection of the innocent. No living thing should be the victim of our selfish needs. I know nature is a harsh place, but there is a balance. With people and overexploitation, there is no balance. We just take and take, leaving those who don’t have a say to suffer. This always reminds me of the movie War Horse, where a horse is taken from a farm and forced into the horrors of WWI. A war solely based on the egos of political powers which had no reason to drag an animal as free as a horse into the fray. It is deep-rooted why that will take me places beyond motivation and pull me up if I get knocked down. It also gives me the freedom to take a multitude of routes to get there, as long as I am moving toward my WHY.           My problem now however is which way to go? I wasn’t sure before and now  university has definitely widened my opportunities and the scope of what I want to get into. It doesn’t really matter where I end up honestly since nature is everywhere. I think I need to focus on my approach. In a broad sense, just building good relationships with people encourages the spread of ideas. I think in today’s society, people get offended too easily if a person perceives the world differently. That is neither effective nor pleasant. So, building off people’s ideas and connecting them to mine will ensure that we not only respect and understand each other’s perspectives. But we can use this relationship to create something better. It is funny that we all really have the same goals, but just fight about how to get there.             In the end, life is what you make it. I want to make sure that we as a human race do not lose touch with nature. I will do that through any means possible. In the meantime, while I find a full-time job, I will continue to do small things that build up to my ultimate goal. I also feel for this to be possible I have to invest in myself as well. To better my leadership and social skills, to be able to have those meaningful connections with people. Gosh, that was a lot of self-reflection for one day. I appreciate you taking the time to read my post and hopefully you found it inspiring as well. As this is the last official post, I would like to thank everyone for your lovely posts through these weeks and wish you all the best in the future! Kiran

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Hello!

Wow! Just wow! I am very surprised that I have only now just heard of  Shinrin-Yoku! I think we are all on to something when we say nature gives us a sense of calm and is able to cleanse our minds and bodies of stress. But in Japan there is actually solid evidence and now it is even a practice. 

This adoption of being in nature as a way of healing is just more proof to that we need to conserve nature, just like you mentioned. It was really surprising that it can be considered a disorder when someone is not exposed to nature for extended periods. Although I am not aware of this disorder, I can really feel the symptoms. I become more impatient and crabby, my happiness dwindles, I am not as social. But the moment I go for a walk, no matter how long, all these issues just disappear. My mind suddenly becomes clear, my heart rate calms down, I feel energized and really to socialize. It is really a super power, that we as society do not take advantage of. 

However, I feel after covid, people will have more appreciation for being outside and fulling the mind with needed energy. I also feel this is why fish keeping or terrariums are becoming more popular. It brings the outside in. So if someone cannot go out into nature on a regular basis, there’s apart of it inside the house. 

Thank you sharing, really enjoyed your post! 

Kiran 

Shinrin-Yoku

I want to share a really cool practice with you all.  And I hope that it inspires you to spend as much time as you can out in nature wherever you can find it.  'Shinrin-Yoku’, translated into English as Forest Bathing, is the Japanese study of using the beauty and rejuvenation of the forest to heal.  The research and data continue to show a lot of potential in reducing many mental and physical health issues, where the main way to reduce the issues has been medications (Hansen, et al 2017). The idea of letting time in nature heal the mind and reminding people that it is okay to go slowly in life was promoted in Japan during the 1980s as preventative health care (Hansen, et al 2017). The combination of  Shinrin-Yoku with environmental interpretation and education has enormous potential to help both environmental degradation and mental health. In our course reading, the Richard Louv term ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’ (Hooykaas, 2021) refers to the negative effects that can come from people spending all their free time on electronics, for example short attention span, anxiety, and depression, due to missing out on the benefits that come from spending time in nature.  Although Louv is not from Japan, his ideas have been connected to Nature Bathing which is seen as a cure for Nature Deficit Disorder. An article by the Government of Canada states that Shinrin-Yoku has been studied for nearly 40 years and is an evidence-based wellness practice (Health Promotion, 2021).  

This is one of my favourite spots to experience Shinrin-Yoku at the Bruce peninsula.

Our textbook says that when people are just browsing online, their attention span is often that of a goldfish: that is 9 seconds (Beck et al. 2018). Set the timer and see how long that is—I bet you won’t, you’ll get bored—you’re currently reading this on the web! The idea of nature being a cure can give the environment even more standing against developers. Shinrin-Yoku is motivation to protect natural habitats and visit nature centers with interpreters so visitors can learn and understand the importance of nature in their life: for example, physical improvements of walking, climbing, emotional relaxation, and purposefully being present and interacting in the community. It is very easy to feel isolated in buildings and this disconnect from others can have severe consequences. These issues can be not just reduced but may even be cured with as little as a daily 30 minute walk in the forest.  An impactful quote in our textbook says: “But if the trance induced by electronic gadgets makes us oblivious to the wood, the wildflowers, and the songs and smells of resurgent spring, then we have suffered a grievous loss” (Beck et al. 2018). There are a lot of reasons for the disconnect from nature, not just electronics, but the main emphasis for me is to not lose the natural health benefits of nature for children and adults and to make experiencing nature a priority.  I would love to hear if anyone else has heard of Shinrin-Yoku or have felt the benefits of time in nature for themselves.        

                                                 References

Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

Hansen. (2017). Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art Review. PMC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5580555/

Health Promotion .(2021). Health Promotion- Improve your mental well-being with forest bathing and fall into wellness. Government of Canada.  

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/news/regional-news/western-sentinel/2021/09/improve-your-mental-well-being-with-forest-bathing-and-fall-into-wellness.ht

Hooykaas, A. (2022). Sense-Making of Nature Interpretation. [Unit 9 course reading]. Nature  Interpretation Course University of Guelph.

Wals, A. Bordy, M. Dillon, J. Stevenson, R. (2014). Convergence Between Science and

Environmental Education. Science. https://www-science-org.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/doi/10.1126/science.1250515

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Nature is Amazing

The most amazing thing about nature, is exactly what we do not know. And how nature, no matter what we do always seems to surprise us.  

*Fair warning, this post is gonna be all over the place.

We think we know everything about the world beyond our streets, but we are still discovering new species every day! We haven’t even explored all the world has to offer yet! We still have no idea what’s going on along the ocean floor, not to mention what lurks down there.

I get this feeling even in preservation park, an area of greenery surrounded by an urban landscape. Even though I feel I have done my share of exploring in the park, spending endless hours off the well-worn path, there are places where I still feel “lost”. That idea of wow, I have never been in this area before is so refreshing to me. It lets me know end in a space as small as preservation park there are still unknowns. So, if I scale that up to the size of entire forests, there are hundreds of these areas which remain unexplored. I guess that’s for the best, leaving these little sanctuaries free from people. But the sad reality is, people don’t have to be physically in an area to affect its inhabitants.

I am always going to turn back to the vastness of the oceans to depict that there’s so much we do not know about our planet. It is the one place on Earth that we still have infinite questions about. I think that is obvious when we look at all the mythology around the open ocean and what might lurk underneath the waves. As humans I think it is in our nature to craze organizing things into groups that we understand. So, we will go to great lengths to being order to our otherwise “chaotic” world. I think that’s why we have put so much effort into areas such as taxonomy, so we can understand how and why things are the way they are. However, nature doesn’t think like this, it reacts, adapts, and thrives in whatever way possible. We are constantly trying to keep up with nature in this way. But oceans add a new dimension of being an almost “alien” ecosystem. Where it is hard to effectively group things because of how vast and unacceptable majority of it is.

I like that idea. The idea of the unknown. It kinda puts us humans back into our place. We have made massive leaps in technology, created urban jungles, etc. However, what if that all goes away? And we are forced to face nature head on, without the comforts of society. We don’t’ stand a chance. That’s also what is awesome. No matter how advanced we become as a society, nature will still humble us. So, no matter how advanced our human civilization becomes, we will always need a way to connect to nature. Connect to nature in a way that is pure and real.

Thank you for taking the time to read my mess of a post!

Kiran 

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Hey Hannah, 

You bring up lots of great points! I like the point you made about nature and music being very grounded in our everyday lives. Especially now with music being so easily accessible. It’s funny when you mentioned that people listen to music to fall to sleep. Goes to show that music is with us everywhere and that it has the ability to change our moods and our emotions. Then of course in music in nature and you are absolutely right, music in nature is everywhere!

Hmmm I really like this idea of grounding ourselves as humans. I feel this is especially important at our age when you are exposed to so many perspectives and information where it is hard to find what we really feel. Music has definitely helped me with this. Just listening to things that I really enjoy and speak to me. I have found that when life seems crazy if I listen to certain songs, I am able to calm down. Yanno? And this can also be said when in nature. I think you can tell a lot about someone when you know what their favorite bands are and how they respond to nature. 

One last thing. You said that music connects people from different backgrounds, they don’t even have to speak the same language! I think no better place to drive that point home is any concert. The atmosphere, the people, the united vibes. CRAZY! That energy creates energy that no video can capture. 

Awesome post, could really relate to what you had to say:) 

Hope you have an amazing week!

Kiran 

Music as a Gateway To Nature

Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music?

The overarching similarity between nature and music is that these two things ground us in life. You can hear the music in nature from birds chirping, the calls of different animals and how the wind interacts with the surroundings. Many of these particular sounds are very calming and can centre you in the moment. Many people who are struggling to sleep will listen to nature sounds, whether that be rain, wind, or birds and other nature noises, to find a clear mind and tranquillity to sleep. Humans live such busy lives that they are often so disconnected from nature that these sounds can pull us in and help us find inner peace. Music in nature is beautiful and so expressive of many emotions without using any words, which truly allows for decompressing and moments of relaxation.

Nature plays such a central role in our lives, often without our realization. It is very often that motifs and symbolism are subconsciously pulled from aspects of nature. Part of being human is our connection to the environment and how its patterns have dictated our lives for so long, and only recently has the power of nature being able to be ignored in our everyday lives. When we think of beautiful metaphors, they often refer to aspects of nature as its beauty and mystery are unmatched. Only recently, in respect to human history, have lunar cycles and other parts of nature not been the cornerstones of societies and how they are run. I believe that the introduction of music has aided in grounding human emotion alongside the help of nature.

One particular album that grounds me is A song for every moon by Bruno Major. This album has a lot of beautiful comparisons to love and nature; this unique album holds a lot of sentimental value for me as it was what I was listening to with my boyfriend when I realized I was in love with him. Nature provides an ideal gateway for perspective and an ability to see things in a manner we have never seen before. Music is a beautiful medium that can capture these life-altering moments. Listening to the songs in this album gives me the same peace and joy I experience when hiking in a beautiful landscape. We as humans love to find connections, and I believe the most longstanding relationships come through feelings of love, peace and tranquillity. Music can encapsulate these feelings and emotions and translate them to experience nature in a whole new way.

Music can connect multiple people who don’t speak the same languages as nature can. A beautiful flower or song can be interpreted and loved by every individual uniquely, which deepens the connections we have with each other.

A song for every moon - Bruno Major

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Music

The definition of music is the “vocal or instrumental sounds combined in a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion. In other words, they are sounds that sound good. If we just listen. Music is everywhere in nature. From the wind blowing leaves on a tree. Bird songs. The chirping of frogs and cicadas. To the flow of a tiny stream. The cracking of lake ice.  Rain. The list can go on. But I feel as we migrate toward more urban areas, we are losing our touch with music in nature. We are then replacing it with what’s coming through our headphones. There’s nothing wrong with that, listen to Spotify! I am doing that right now, but there is something unrecordable about sitting there listening to the summer night. Something that cannot be explained, only experienced.

Music is something that is very human. No matter where you are in the world or the culture, there is music. Music has been a part of us from the very beginning. So has nature. We have been “hanging out” with nature from the beginning as well. So, it is obvious that there are hints of nature in our music. But it is not always directly associated with nature. You know when you listen to something and you’re like “hey this makes me feel like I am in a forest or walking on a beach”. Music has that ability to capture an emotion or a memory, that can make us think about nature. Then there are the direct links to nature where the premise of a song is around nature.

Going back to the indirect associations with nature. I have this one song in mind that takes me back to a very specific memory I have with me in nature. And every time I listen to this song, it brings me back to that day. In fact, I am going to play that song right now to draw some inspiration for the remainder of this post!

The song is “Little Talks” by Of Monsters and Men. Side note, this band is awesome! All of you should listen to their stuff 11/10!! This is one song that I can listen to a million times and not get tired of it. To prove this point, it has been on my top 5 tracks on Spotify since I downloaded the app. Anyways back to the memory:

Day trip. Sand Banks Provincial Park.

Sunny. Waves crashing. Dog beach. Family. Smiling. Playing. Warm.

Tiny stream. Let’s go fishing. Tons of sunfish. Fish slime. Spines. Having a blast.

                Sunset. Time to go. Wet. Tired. Happy.

                                         Radio playing. Turn it up.

                                                       Little Talks.

Have an amazing week everyone!

Kiran 

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Hey Noah, 

Amazing dissection of the quote! You definitely put in way more thought than I did! What really stood out to me was your last couple of sentences “We need the past for a sense of our civic responsibility, how all these benefits and freedoms came to us, and what it is our duty to protect.” Just like the textbook says, “keeping the memories alive maybe the most significant role of history interpreters.” Learning and understanding where we’ve been, helps to guide us in the future.”

That really I think was the main take away, to preserve our history. That really got me thinking about what that really means and what our history actually is. Like you said it’s like a game of broken telephone. Where the details slowly get lost or sanded over through time. But then there is the point where history is only told by the victors. Or those who are alive and well to pass on their accounts. But I think in today’s world, we have invested so much is uncovering the stories that were previously untold. So that we are slowly piecing together the other perspectives that were lost. By doing this we can keep more memories alive and protect these memories as well so they are not forgotten. 

Kiran 

Blog Post 6

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.

When Edward Hyams states, “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,” I believe Hyams is saying that as time goes on history gets changed. As the word of mouth keeps on going throughout time, it sort of ends up turning into broken telephone. Changing little by little each time it is passed along.

Edwards explains that there is no good in ancient things but there is good in the integrity of the history, such as the word of mouth. When Edward states, “maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things.” I believe this is trying to say that the that the integrity is keeping the history truthful and pure. Additionally, I believe Hyams also saying that although the past is now a part of history, and we can’t forget about it. This is exemplified through his analogy, “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 is saying that after a train has left its station it has left its mark, people have come, people have left, and the train tracks are still on the ground. With all these changes the only thing constant is the tracks. By not forgetting about the past we can depict what those tracks are in history. David McCullouh stated this perfectly, “we need the past for our sense of who we are. We need the past for a sense of our civic responsibility, how all these benefits and freedoms came to us, and what it is our duty to protect.” Just like the textbook says, “keeping the memories alive maybe the most significant role of history interpreters.” Learning and understanding where we’ve been, helps to guide us in the future.

Noah Higginson

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Preservation of History

“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.”

Preservation of History.

History is important. It gives meaning to the present. It puts events into context. It makes sure we do not repeat the same mistakes. To forget or dismiss the past is futile. Therefore, history must be preserved, recorded and remembered.

That’s what I take away from this passage from the textbook. To ensure that we preserve our history. Interpterion can be a form of that, by passing on information in the form of stories, talks, videos, music, art, the list goes on. Just like the history of wars, people, and civilizations, nature has a history. A history that has to be preserved. The hard thing about interpreting history is that fact that we didn’t create it. It has been a part of human civilization from the start. We were born in it, molded by it. As a result, we have been constantly trying to make sense of it. Through taxonomy, religion, science, exploration, etc. However, this has caused multiple clashes in interpretation. About whom is right? Which interpretation is what really happened?

Maybe that’s not the point. We are about making sure we are right, but history has an infinite number of perspectives, with infinite number of interpretations. But still, in each of these unique interpretations of nature, there are constants, things that still overlap. That doesn’t mean that details are lost. This ensures that events or memories are never forgotten.

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Hey Andrew,

Hahaha I could totally relate to your blog post! And good for you for getting someone into the bug world! Nicely done.

You bring up such an important point and one of the main barriers that keep people from exploring the natural world, fear. To me, most fear of the natural world is based on the fact that we do not understand something rather than having a bad experience with something. In other words, it is our perceived notions on something that hold us back and when we actually face our “fear”, it’s not what we expect.

So, I think it is up to us; the people who are not fearful or as you said, use fear to full our curiosity of the unknown to show others the beauty of nature. Show that everything is not out to get them.

Awesome post!

Kiran

How Interpreting Sparks Curiosity

Misunderstanding and fear go hand-in-hand. From this, it comes as no surprise that the less exposure we get to nature growing up, the more we may fear it. This is a trend I see with some friends who grew up in cities and seldom went camping or hiking. If a bug, even a caterpillar, dared go near them, they would freak out. Even the beach was frightening with the thought of a fish or water snake possibly brushing against their leg! I always found it peculiar how different our views of nature were, and it saddens me that fear can hold someone back from seeing all the wonders of the natural world.

To me, nature was something to explore endlessly. Sure, I didn’t understand all of it, but I used my lack of knowledge to fuel curiosity instead of fear. To me, this is the most fulfilling aspect of interpretation: watching someone’s fear or uncertainty of nature morph into a curiosity and drive to learn and see more.

This past summer, I was fortunate enough to go camping at the Pinery with my roommates and some of their friends. One of these friends had never been camping and was never fond of bugs. On the other hand, I am obsessed with insects and have always been impressed by their diversity and ecological success. Naturally, I had packed a net, plus a few bug catchers, and was eager to see what kind of critters I could find in the tall grass.

Within minutes I had caught several grasshoppers, caterpillars, and whatever else was lingering in the grass. I proceeded to go around showing everyone what bugs I manages to snag, telling them whatever cool facts came to mind. At first, most of my friends thought I was just being a blatant weirdo (which I certainly was), but after showing them the first few insects, I noticed I began to pique some of their interests.

The one friend, who had never been camping, was especially hesitant at first, but as I kept showing her how I could hold these insects without being bitten, and how they’re nothing to fear, my friend began to turn her fear into curiosity. Before she knew it, she was asking to hold grasshoppers and cicadas. She began asking more questions and I would tell her about all the amazing adaptations that insects have. I would explain how some insects use biological latches and springs to jump incredible distances, or how ants have entire caste systems and even have ant “graveyards”. It was like she was discovering a whole new world of animals just as inspiring and charismatic as elephants and tigers, except it had been hiding in plain sight all this time.

Now, every time I see this friend-of-a-friend she excitingly refers to me as “the guy who got her over her fear of bugs”, and I have to admit, it felt really satisfying to see someone feed off of my passion for insects. It’s instances like these where I realize how lucky I have been to experience so much nature in my life, and how I can use these experiences to uplift others. Now I wonder, what are some things that I fear that I should start approaching with curiosity? What about you?

Here are the only photos I seem to have taken of “bugs”… Plus one of me pretending to eat a grasshopper (I promise that is GUM in my mouth)

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Fly fishing for Carp is AWESOME

^That carp was caught out of a storm pond, off the side of a road!

Do I dare say it? Okay, fly fishing for carp is the most fun you can have! But it’s also the most fustrating thing ever!

Common carp were introduced to Ontario 200 years ago as a food source, but have now acclimated to the surrounding ecosystems. As a result, they are quite common in most bodies of water; including ponds, rivers, and lakes. In these water bodies, they can easily surpass twenty pounds and have reached the record of 40 pounds in Ontario. They are quite opportunistic eaters, feeding on plant matter, algae, insects, mollusks and even small fish. What makes them so fun to catch is the fight they give you! They definitely know how to throw their weight around. They can easily take yards (I know it’s a imperial measurement, but that’s how fishing line is sold ;P) off your spool and can even “spool you”!

Growing up in the GTA and without opportunities to fish in more natural environments, I fished for what was plentiful. So, it was either largemouth bass, creek chub or carp. Living under zone 16, Largemouth Bass are out of season until the fourth Saturday of June, so I had to spend early summers fishing for something! So why not carp! Since the start of high school I became fascinated with fly fishing just because you almost have to work for every cast so it makes you feel in the moment even more. Plus everything feels bigger on a fly rod!

So, this is how it works. To catch carp on a fly you need just need a heavier set up compared to a trout set up. But at the same time have some finesse as the only way to target them effectively is in shallow clear water. Carp are actually very smart and are very aware of their surroundings. You have to sneak up on them and make sure that you don’t cast too close to their head, or they’ll spook. Carp in May and June school up to spawn and when they do, they do not eat. You have to be able to tell which fish are eating and which ones are spawning. However, even if you make the perfect cast to the carp, who is nose down in the substrate and has no idea you are there, it can just not eat. And that’s when you start to go a little crazy. My rule is, out of all the carp you cast to, you’ll catch 5% of them.

But it’s that ONE moment that ONE CHANCE when you see their head dart towards the fly, you see their lips open, your fly disappears and then you strip set and the carp takes off and your reel starts screaming, you’re screaming….AWESOME!

One thing with carp is I use barbless hooks because catch and release and it makes unhooking them better. I also use a rubber net, just to make sure they don’t hurt themselves while I get a cheeky photo!!

Anyways that’s enough about carp on the fly.

If anyone wants to give it a try in May, let me know 😊

Kiran

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So well said! 

Art is something that is so easy to relate to nature since so much of our art is influenced by nature! I don’t know about you, but when I first saw the prompt to this weeks blog, I knew how I felt, but I had such a hard time finding words to describe how nature and art relate. I feel like it’s something that’s rooted so far down into our DNA that art and nature are connected to us. I think that’s why its so nice to stare at a sunset or be able to take in all the colours of a landscape! I certainly agree with the calmness that come with art or just being in nature and how you can feel the emotion “pouring out”. Or how you can feel like you actually in another place even though you are just looking at  a painting. 

I think your last point really drove it home for me when you said “I am no one”. It speaks to the fact that we all have a unique take on the natural world and how we choose to translate it into a way we can appreciate it. There is no right way to interpret the world, so we are able to make the world we live in unique to ourselves!

Nature and Art

I am so glad that we are discussing nature through art. I have loved art my whole life, and abstract landscapes are some of my favourite paintings to make. I’m not sure if it’s because drawing people is hard haha. But there is something about staring at a sunset photo or painting of a lake that just feels like home.

A photo my sister took last summer (2021)

I have always been drawn to paintings, photos, etc., of nature that are full of colour. It amazes me how vibrant and expressive nature can be. When you look at a painting of a sunrise, and it is filled with colours ranging in warm tones, you can almost feel the warmth on your face. Paintings of nature have a special way of transporting you to the place they capture.

A painting I did for my grandparents (2020)

I have stated before how I find peace in nature, and when I stand alone and close my eyes in a forest, I feel a sense of calm as I listen to the birds and the wind. Paintings and photographs have the same effect when I take in the art I am transported and can feel the sense of peace the artist felt when they took the photo. It is incredible that without including people or any clear expressions, you can still feel the emotions and tone of the work pouring out.

A quick painting I did for my leopard geckos tank background :P (2021)

We are so fortunate to live in a time of cameras and the internet, it seems silly to say, but we have such incredible access to places and nature all over the world that we would have never been able to witness if it weren’t for the artist who captured the moment. I am forever grateful to have seen places of the world through paintings and pictures that I may never get the chance to visit but still be able to interpret the nature they witnessed through the screen.

A photo I took on my trip to Alaska (2017)

The question states, who are you to interpret nature through art? Well, that’s the wonderful thing about art. I am no one, yet I can bear witness to the beauty all the same. Art is for everyone, and it gives access to everyday people. Art allows people to broaden their horizons and opens the world to many.

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Nature through art

Nature and art. Nature in itself is an art full of complete textures, colours, shapes, the list goes on. We humans have noticed the immense beauty of nature and have tried for hundreds of years to capture it. Whether that be through stories, paintings, carvings, drawings, sculptures, poems, dances, and music. The beautiful thing is, we all interpret nature in a unique way and thus, no piece of art is identical.  

Just like when in nature, creating art brings a calm over me. In a way, it’s a form of meditation that takes your attention away from everyday life. It’s kinda dangerous, especially when a lecture is not quite catching your attention and there is a nice white margin in the notebook just asking to be filled. Time just melts away and suddenly, I am just there with my own thoughts focused on what my right hand is creating.

I like to draw and it’s always the battle between trying to capture all the details in a picture, while still trying to make it possible to draw an image. It’s almost impossible the beauty of nature on a piece of paper, there’s just too much going on! Then there’s the fact that the beauty of nature is just not limited to one sense! But then, maybe that’s the point to capture what is important to you, what speaks the most to you. That’s why it’s also so interesting to look at other’s pieces of art. To see what they see and how they see the world. I am always interested in the process of making apiece of art. What was going through their minds? Where did they start? Where did this idea come from? How does it make them feel?

A new way of portraying the beauty of nature that I have been exploring is the creation of mini environments through setups like paludarium or any rimless aquarium. The creators always try their best to replicate the nature look, while still trying to give the piece a sense of atheistic that is pleasing to the eye. The one thing that I have noticed by watching videos of people’s creations is that everyone has a built-in idea of what is aesthetically pleasing to them. Like when you place something at the perfect angle that makes you feel like “man, that looks perfect just the way it is”. Is that what the gift of beauty is about? The idea that beauty is a self-imposed idea that cannot be replicated by anyone else and how everyone has a different idea of what looks good to them.

Art is so cool. Everyone is some way is exposed to nature yet, everyone’s interpretation is different. But at the same time, it connects people on a deeper level, where everyone can feel included in a discussion about art.

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Hi Isabelle!

Your blog post was very interesting. I can relate as I haven’t thought about privilege in such depth. It was all really humbling to think of what we have and how lucky we really are. It can be hard to think of what we have as a privilege when it is almost normal, or a part of our everyday life. I like how you split the definition of privilege into different types and how you connected them to nature interpretation! I really like your point about university forcing us to meet all these different people and expose us to something that is not our home.  I feel like that is a essential part of growing; being exposed to people who are different than yourself. It gives us a different perspective on the world which allows us to reflect on ourselves to improve who we are as people. Which is pretty awesome! I also found at Uni, that even though I have met lots of people who are from different places and backgrounds, we are all kind of the same. In the sense that we are all here to further our education, have fun, meet new people and tale on a challenge!

Awesome post!

Kiran

Blog Post 3

Privilege is something I hadn’t thought in depth about until recently. This week’s content has made me realize how privileged I am and how much I have taken it for granted in the context of nature interpretation. I grew up in a small town with people of the same race, background, and financial situations. It’s only on social media when I learned the extent of my privilege. My definition of privilege an advantage given to a person or a group; there are many types of privilege including financial, race, education, sexuality and much more. 

The way my privileges relate to interpretation are as follows:

Financial: I come from a family of middle socioeconomic status and had the financial means to do things that some other people did not. For example, my family went on vacations every couple years and my grandparents rented out a cottage for 2 weeks every year. I was also able to do recreational activities such as dance and swimming lessons. I have been financially able to visit interpretation sites if that is what my family wanted. 

Racial: As a white person, I have never felt discriminated or oppressed due to my race, particularly, at a nature interpretation facility. 

Communication: My whole family is proficient in English, so in Canada we have never had to deal with the stigma of not being fluent in English. Moreover,I have not encountered an interpretation site in Canada where I had difficulty communicating due to language barriers.

Education: Although education is a right, it is treated like a privilege. I have been lucky enough to not have any barriers accessing education. Furthermore, I am able to pursue a post-secondary education without placing my family or myself is a difficult financial situation. I was able to collect OSAP and get a loan from the bank. Through my schools and family vacations, I have been able to attend multiple nature interpretation trips. 

Health: With every activity that involves some degree of athleticism, there is a risk of getting hurt. I recognize that I am able to participate without being concerned about paying out-of-pocket for an injury due to access to free healthcare and my family’s coverage. Additionally, I have never had the need to research for accessibility features or turn down nature interpretation opportunities because I have the privilege of being able-bodied.

Privilege was not really talked about when I was younger but I believe that it needs to be addressed to children. This will help kids understand the ways that people are different and how some people do not have the same advantages as others. Throughout my childhood, most people around me were of the same race but when I came to university, I met many people of different background. Getting to know people with different situations and varying levels of privilege compared to my hometown, I am able to recognize how privilege plays a crucial role in opportunities and experiences. My friendships now include a diverse group of people which has shown me that there needs to be more work done to increase equality in our society.

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Privilege

Privilege. According to Google, Privilege is a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group. I have struggled giving a personal definition to privilege. To me, I feel as if privilege to some extent is self-defining and what you put value in and is subject to change. Everyone is different, no tow people are the same, nor have the same. I think it depends on the hierarchy of needs as mentioned in the textbook. As you meet certain needs, your values change and thus so do your idea of privilege.

As for me. I am highly privileged. I have unlimited access to food, water, shelter, and education. I am surrounded by people who care about me and who I deeply care about. I am able to watch any movie or TV show I want. I have hard days, but they make me a better person. I live in Canada. I speak English. I have knowledge. I am healthy. I am alive. I am happy. Yes. I am highly privileged.

But the question is, what role does “privilege” play in nature interpretation. Does this change how I view the natural world? I say it depends. It depends on whether I bring nature to me, or I bring myself to nature. From looking at nature through a lens, a screen, a piece of glass, I can distance myself from nature’s grasp, I can bring nature to me without experiencing the nature in its raw form. However, when I venture into nature, I bring myself into nature, nature does not care about my privilege. The rain still gets me soaked. The mud still stains my pants. Stinging ants still burn my back. Waves still smash me against rocks. Rocks still twist my ankle. Pike teeth still make my hands bleed.

Nature does not discriminate; it treats everyone the same. To quote The Legend of Tarzan “The jungle consumes everything. It preys on the old, the sick, the wounded. It preys on the weak, but never the strong”. Is there a difference between being strong and being privileged? I feel there are some differences however, for a privileged person to be strong, they have to have humility. Nature can make us all humble. Suddenly, the base of our hierarchy of needs is unstable.

This is why nature is very important. No matter who you are or where you come from, nature does not care. It is a way that can unite people. Be a safe place where society labels don’t really matter and that’s why places like national parks are visited by such a diverse set of people.  

Well that’s my opinion on it. Let me know what you think!

Have an amazing week! You are awesome!!

Kiran 

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Hey Nabila,

A park interpreter sounds like a lot of fun, but also looks like it requires a lot of hard work. Out of curiosity, which Canadian park would be your favorite to work at? I would assume based off your post, that it would have to be somewhere mountainous!

I feel like using online platforms to help visitors learn about the park is a great way to get more people interested in a natural area! It brings the park to them in a way before they have made up their minds that they want to visit. This way they can see what they’re getting themselves into! But as you mentioned, it may not be for everyone as some trails might be too hard.

Your memory of visiting Banff and Lake Louise really brought me back to when I visited. It is a very surreal place that seems like it is frozen in time. Although I was there for half a day, I remember all the history about the area and of course the scenery. I think that goes to show even after all these years, my visit to the park still has an impact on me to where I can remember what I saw and learned through someone else’s experiences!

I hope you find a way to make this dream a reality😊

Kiran

Blog post 2:My role as a park interpreter

My ideal role as an environmental interpreter is observing nature through nature hikes. Thus, my ideal job is to be a park interpreter. To be a successful park interpreter, I must research and conduct educational programs for those who wish to visit national parks and conservation areas (eco Canada, 2021). I plan to focus on learning and gaining knowledge about the most visited tourism sites and sharing that knowledge and information I gain as a park interpreter. To fit today’s social trends, I must use online platforms to help visitors learn and understand the sites before and during their visits. I plan to use blog posts like this and explain with pictures to aid visual and verbal learners. Some individuals learn differently, and I need to understand that not everyone has the same learning style. For instance, I hope to use platforms such as TikTok and Instagram to make videos explaining the history and current state of the parks by walking through the parks and sharing relevant information.

This is a picture I took at the beginning of my hiking trail at Lake Minnewanka.

To be successful as a park interpreter, I must have specific skills.  For example, research skills are crucial to sharing relevant and detailed information concerning nature and the wildlife that may reside there (eco Canada, 2021). My goal as a park interpreter is to share historical and scientific facts concerning certain parks with tourists and local communities. I have always had a great interest in nature; I must admit that my passion for nature was sparked when I visited different sites in the province of Alberta. I fell in love with the mountains and lakes in Banff and Lake Louise. The mountains and lakes are so beautiful it looks like a painting. After visiting Lake Minnewanka in Banff, I learned of interesting facts and historical events there. Lake Minnewanka used to be called “Minn-waki” or “Lake of the Spirits.” It is a respected site because it is believed the lake has spirits (Parks Canada Agency, 2020). Many hiking trails there are restricted for safety reasons. When hiking, it is recommended to do so with at least four people, along with cans of bear spray. This is something I wish I had known when I visited; my goal as a park interpreter is to share knowledge and facts to visitors before their visit to allow them to have a safe journey. I used to think going hiking up a mountain; you just needed water and running shoes; more preparation is required, such as knowledge of wildlife which resides there. Additionally, I learned that some trails in Banff are categorized as scramble trails, which means paths may be rocky and falling backwards is inevitable. That is the importance of having trekking poles. I researched the hiking trails before beginning to hike on mountains. With my blog posts and future social media platforms, I plan to help visitors prepare to enjoy nature while also having a safe journey.

Thanks for reading.

Nabila

Eco Canada. (2021). Park interpreter. Retrieved from https://eco.ca/career-profiles/park-interpreter/

Parks Canada Agency. (2020). History of lake minnewanka. Retrieved from https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/les10-top10/minnewanka/histoire-history

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Ideal Interpretation Role

This is a really good question. Honestly, it has taken me this long to have a good think about what my ideal environmental interpreter role would be. The issue is, while I do enjoy spending time with people in the outdoors and really like sharing my interests with others, I feel as if that takes away from the experience for myself. Is it just me? If I was to explain things to people or to ensure that everyone was taking something away from my role, I feel over time that would deteriorate my satisfaction from my role. So, I feel it has to be a role where I can be spontaneous and creative with what I want to do. But still, be able to connect with people and hopefully inspire them as well. I think this is why my ideal “role” would be a YouTuber; a platform where you can decide what your content can be and hopefully attract and inspire others. Now of course for this to work I have to learn how in the world to use iMovie and possibly invest in an actual camera, especially if I am going to be recording myself on my adventures. I have seen many people do this already, but I feel really connected to these channels since they are just being themselves and enjoying what they are putting out. Furthermore, I feel you can still attend to the different ways people absorb information. Of course, you have the visual, but you can add in music or narration for the audio, and hopefully inspire others to go out and try similar things to obtain the more physical senses (smell, touch, taste). In my own experience, the combination of a video and the right music to accompany it can be extremely powerful. I think in terms of connecting YouTube content more to nature interpretation is how I connect what is happening in the video to the big picture. For example, let’s say I decide to make a terrarium build video, because it is cold outside, and I miss summer. I can add the cool time-lapse, the feel-good music, the sick macro shots, the smooth transitions, the calm voice narration to show people how crazy, but beautiful the natural world is. Or can film a fishing session on the speed river (not in winter of course). Can just throw on a chesty GoPro and be ready to talk to myself about what I am doing and good to go! I can just think out loud about where I am going, what my plan is, why I am doing something, how I am going to do it. Then again, I can link it to the larger picture of water quality and conservation. What I like about YouTube is even though it is a virtual platform, there is still a sense of community within a given channel. The viewers can still share their opinions with me and others. I always light up when I am watching a video and there are so many comments saying how this video has inspired them to do something or has helped them through a hard patch in someone’s life. YouTube, it’s not your conventional role, but I think it would be quite fun 😊

Kiran