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Who I Am As An Interpreter

Hello everyone! I would like to welcome you to the last blog post of the course! I want to start off by saying I have really enjoyed the privilege of learning so much about all of you, and who you are/aspire to be as nature interpreters. I also am very excited to share all of the aspects pertaining to who I am as an interpreter this week!

When it comes to how I approach nature interpretation, there are many beliefs and views I have that contribute. The first belief that I have is that every person here has a duty to respect and maintain nature as much as possible. The beauty of nature interpretation is partly due to the extreme diversity presented all over the planet, we cannot be complacent and allow some of this diversity to diminish. There are many ways in which this task can be completed, even something as small as cleaning up garbage in parks is helpful and impactful to its inhabitants.

Another belief that I have is that every type of nature interpretation is valid and equally important. There is no right or wrong way to engage in nature interpretation- whether it is music, art, technology etc- all methods are unique and valued in my eyes. My favourite type though, is most definitely music. Not only do I feel nature can be embodied by a certain vibe of music, but I also feel that the inclusion of nature sounds in music is extremely fascinating. For example, as of recent one of my favourite artists is Zach Bryan, and in his song “Smaller Acts” he includes many nature noises including frog croaks! As it says in unit 07, music is not just for celebration and fun: it can be used to inform as well as display the artists connection to nature (hooykas, 2024)

Nature interpretation to me is any way a message or information can be highlighted through a plethora of lenses. Everyone is not always going to connect to these messages the same way, but it is most important that it means something in the eyes of the interpreter.

Building of the belief that everyone has a responsibility to take care of nature, I feel that my role as an interpreter is slightly different, but it includes the same end goal. One of the biggest factors of nature interpretation is viewership. It is difficult to convey a message if nobody is there to receive it! I feel that my largest responsibility as an interpreter is to take my beliefs and values and share them in an attempt to inspire others to do the same. Awareness is extremely important in nature conservation, as it is a driving factor in creating an effort to combat negative relationships between us and the earth. Now just because I believe it, doesn’t excuse the extreme importance of the accuracy of my information conveyed. It is important that I unpack my “invisible backpack” (hooykas, 2024) and provide accurate information that is accessible and inclusive to all. It is my duty as an interpreter to share with others something that will be helpful to the community.

By creating a pathway of communication between the public and the environment, I help people appreciate and comprehend nature. As a result, I have an obligation to support conservation activities. I must provide the public with the knowledge they need to make wise decisions that will benefit the environment by teaching them about ecosystems, biodiversity, and the delicate balance of nature. Preserving the Earth's biodiversity, reducing the effects of climate change, and guaranteeing the welfare of current and future generations all depend on conservation. I get to motivate people to act because I interpret nature. As a nature interpreter, one of my responsibilities is to protect the environment for the good of all living things. You can aid in the preservation of ecosystems by taking an active role in conservation activities.Bottom of Form

The first suitable I feel an approach to complete this task is by photographing adventures I embark on: I have snowboarded all my life, and I will never forget the first day I went on a trip outside of Ontario. My perspective on snowboarding completely changed. The mountains completely encapsulated me and now I am completely obsessed with them. I am even convinced the air out there is completely different and cannot explain the inherent calmness that washes over me when I am present there.  I feel the by photographing these adventures and sharing them with others, it would help encourage others to go out and explore to find the thing that brings them joy and peace. I think that combining these photographs with a message on how they make me feel and steps that need to be taken to preserve these beautiful landscapes would be very effective in sharing with the public. The tools I would be using to complete this task would be shown by the role of technology in nature interpretation (hooykas, 2024). Other adventures I enjoy that would be suitable for this task would be rock climbing, hiking, swimming, and even just exploring!

The second approach that I would love to take is by interpreting through art. Something that I really enjoy and find fascinating is visiting art museums and just finding cool art in general. Though I am a subpar artist myself, this does not inhibit me from interpreting the art of others and sharing it with the many to convey the beautiful messages behind many pieces (hooykas, 2024). One example of this that I can think of is when I was in Banff (Yes, again). When I went to Banff last summer, we visited many shops, but one in particular was extremely cool and memorable. In this shop were many different art canvases with vibrant colours and beautiful landscapes. The section that interested me the most included many different animals, and this art was done in an indigenous style. Although I did not get any (Wow they were expensive) I think it would have been cool to share this art and some info about the endangered animals included.  

Hooykaas, A. (2024) Unit 03: Risk versus reward in interpretation, ENVS*3000. University of Guelph.

Hooykaas, A. (2024) Unit 04: Risk versus reward in interpretation, ENVS*3000. University of Guelph.

Hooykaas, A. (2024) Unit 08: Risk versus reward in interpretation, ENVS*3000. University of Guelph.

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Hello Heather!

Thank you for taking the time to share your views on nature interpretation through a historical lens. I especially appreciated the part where you included the quote about every natural site having a history. Something this reminds me of is the formation of the great lakes! The great lakes are a famous natural site and one of the largest masses of fresh water in the world! This begs the question: where did this water come from? By appreciating and understanding the history of the world, we are able to thank the melting of massive ice sheets for this mass of water!

To answer your question, One way I interpret nature is by documenting my hikes! i have hopes to completely fill my whole hiking book by the age of 25. I think it would be very interesting to go back and do these hikes with my family when I am older, and compare the trails to the way they used to be!

To learn from the past is to better the future...

This week we were tasked to pull apart and inspect 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)

To start, it makes sense that there is no particular worth in old things like artifacts, however there is worth in integrity, and integrity means keeping together the parts of a whole. This means that in order to maintain the integrity of a historical event, we need to maintain those ancient things that make it what it is. In order to maintain the integrity of the whole, you have to remember why it was ever important in the first place, and that is what makes it important to give merit to the ancient things that make up a whole. In the sciences, we learn about system thinking, and that the whole is merely the sum of its parts. In order to properly remember and interpret history, you have maintain the integrity of all the little things that make that historical event important.

To say that “the past is in the past” is to say that moments are only significant or important if they happen directly to you, and that there is no merit in remembering history, as we weren’t there and therefore it has nothing to do with us. In reality, interpreting history helps us understand ourselves, where we have been and what makes us who we are (Beck and Cable, 2018). History allows us to find inspiration in the stories of creators, leaders and survivors. Interpreting the past gives us the opportunity to learn from others’ mistakes and successes, and create a better future using that knowledge.

One of the most important lessons I took from this week’s content is that we need to always consider when interpreting history is to make sure we are doing so accurately and respectfully. The lessons we can learn from the past can be powerful, and it’s important that we’re portraying the past in the way the story was meant to be told, and avoid bias or personal attachments.

Beck and Cable (2018) said that “every natural site has a history and every historical site has natural resources.” I thought this quote connected this week’s content with past content. Although we have been focused so far mainly on how to interpret nature to others, history and nature have always been intertwined, and it is important as an interpreter to be comfortable with both. Tied into this concept (and every concept) is the impact of privilege that we talked about a few weeks ago. In Canada, it is always important to be aware and mindful that the nature and history that we are interpreting has been skewed by colonialism. One of the most respectful things we can do as interpreters is ensure that the stories we are telling about the history of the land reflects the actual truth.

Besides first-person and third-person interpretation (Beck and Cable, 2018) I think that writing is one of the most common types of interpretation of history (and nature) that we see in the world. All over museums and archives, natural parks and conservation areas, the written word can be found interpreting what you are looking at. Interpreting through the written word makes it possible for there to be an absence of a live interpreter while at the same time forcing a person to pause and interact with the item or place, as well as capture someone’s attention, so that they might learn something new (Hooykaas, 2024). Writing plays an important role in the interpretation of both nature and history, and is also something that helps keep memories alive.

What’s one way you have (or someone you know, or somewhere you’ve been) used writing as a way to interpret nature or history?

One way I interpret through writing is to write down important memories I’ve had (both good and bad) and that way I can go back and reminisce or pull guidance from an experience I’ve lived through :)

- All for now!

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing.

(Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)

Hooykaas, A. (2024). Unit 06: Nature Interpretation through History. [Lecture notes]. ENVS3000 Nature Interpretation. University of Guelph.

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Blog 6

I am excited to look at nature interpretation through a historical lens with everyone this week! I find it very fascinating to observe how much landscapes have changed over time, though sometimes the change seen is quite depressing. There are many places like Greece, Italy, and Egypt, that are famous for their ancient architecture. It is tragic but beautiful to see how much these have changed.

            For this week, we were given a quote to analyze. I think the main theme of this quote, is to remind those who read it that it is necessary to appreciate the events that created landscapes as we know them now. I first want to address the first part of the quote “There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity…” (Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation). I think that this is an important part of the quote, as it highlights the importance of historical significance in landscapes. It essentially is conveying that these ancient landscapes (ex: the colosseum), are worthy of praise due to how long they have lasted, and the story they tell. It is almost mind-blowing to think about: These ancient landmarks were once beautiful buildings made by mankind and were used and appreciated daily. Thinking about how long they have lasted makes me wonder, how many animals have used these building for shelter after abandonment? How many plants have used them for structure to grow upon? It is thanks to the integrity of these builds that we can appreciate them and their stories centuries later.

            The second portion of the quote is even more intriguing in my eyes: “… 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) This part is interesting to me on a personal level. When I was younger driving through the mountains, I saw a hill that was being excavated and drilled into. I was very curious and asked my parents many questions about it. Now that I think back to it when connecting it to the quote, it makes me wonder about how much we as humans have changed about the land. Now, the national parks are largely untouched in most parts, but what about the city of Calgary? This quote showing the importance of what was, makes me wonder what many cities looked like before development. Before skyscrapers, neighbourhoods, and roadways were created. I think that it is very important to appreciate what the land was before we changed it. For example, we need to be thankful for fertile lands allowing us to create farms for food!

I am excited to read other perspectives on this quote, and thank you for taking time to read mine!

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Hello Katya! I think you did an amazing job of choosing your topic this week. You went a very different route on this assignment then I did, and I really enjoyed comparing the two posts and analyzing the contrast. Though they are very different ideas, I wanted to apply your idea of gratitude to my blog post that I made this week. I made a post about my dream locations that I want to visit, but this post started to make me think of mine from a different perspective. Specifically when you said: "people often think that you need a lot in life in order to show gratitude but that couldn't be farther from the truth" when you said this, it made me want to reflect on the amazing places I have had the privilege to go instead of places I want to be. The main thing that I want to express gratitude for, is where I live. I am so lucky to live a five minute walk away from one of the most beautiful freshwater lakes in the world. I even work as a lifeguard on the coast! When i think of it from this perspective, I feel people that don't get to see this massive lake every day like I do might even have it as one of their dream spots to visit! Thank you for sharing and allowing me to view my post from another perspective.

Blog #5: Gratitude

Hi everyone, this week we have been given the privilege to talk about anything we are thinking of. I am excited to see everyones blog this week! This week I want to talk about gratitude. Over the past 3 years, I have made it a part of my daily routine to acknowledge my gratitude. Every day I get to wake up blessed that I get to see another day, I am healthy and happy. I have a roof over my head and clothes on my back. I feel like showing gratitude can very easily be overlooked by all the other things we want or desire in life. However, I believe to allow yourself to acquire these new desires, you need to be grateful for the things you already have. An article published by UCLA Health (2023) states that based on previous research, consistently practicing gratitude can “enhance mental wellness and possibly promote a lasting change in perspective”. People often think that you need a lot in life in order to show gratitude but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Showing gratitude in every aspect of your life can make a difference whether it's for something big or small. For example, these past few days I am sure everyone has noticed that the sun has been out. I could not be more grateful for seeing the sun and blue skies. In turn, it also makes me extremely happy. Therefore, I am grateful for the feeling of sunlight on my skin because it has made me very happy and in high spirits. 

Especially in the world we live in today, it is very easy to get caught up with the next best thing or the new shoes that everyone has. I find myself doing this a lot recently. Sometimes I think feeling stressed and unmotivated can be very overwhelming for me and something that will make me happy or ‘I think’ will make me happy is a new purchase. When I feel like this is tend to try and force myself to look at the greener side of the grass, or in other words, show my gratitude for all the things I already do have and tell myself that these feelings come and go. It’s how we choose to react to them that can make a difference. It's crazy how the purchase of a $150 shoe can bring about the same happiness I felt when the sun was shining on my face. It’s all about perspective. My possessions do not define me as a person and I am trying to focus on not associating my feelings with purchases. However, I will say, there is nothing wrong every once and a while and I will most definitely be eating ice cream or sushi if I am feeling like I am in a funk. 

It is okay to resort to this mentality sometimes as long as you can practice gratitude for the things you currently have. These new possessions, experiences, and feelings you acquire do not make who you are as a person rather enhance your life for the better. I just wanted to put this out there because I know when times get tough and stress is eating us alive, it's hard to feel happy and grateful but just know it can be a very uplifting experience. Like my Abuela (Spanish version of grandma) likes to tell me, This too shall pass! Thanks, everyone and let me know your thoughts:)

The sunset from my walk (February 4th, 6:04 pm)

Uclahealth. (2023, March 22). Health benefits of Gratitude. UCLA Health. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/health-benefits-gratitude#:~:text=Research%20shows%20that%20practicing%20gratitude,positively%20affect%20your%20physical%20health.

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Blog 5

In this blog, I have decided to write about my dream nature spots around the world that I want to visit. I decided to write on this because travel is something I find super interesting, and I wanted to pair it with some amazing landscapes to show you what kind of things I enjoy.

My number one travel spot in the whole world is a bit of a unique one. I would love to travel to Norway. For some reason I have always enjoyed the cold and the snow, and in the winter months, Norway has plenty of it. It is for this reason that I developed my love for snowboarding! It is my goal to snowboard in as many mountains as possible while I am stile able. I would love to visit Norway in the summer also! I find the mountainous landscape and the massive fjords so intriguing. Some of the activities I would love to do include Rock climbing, Canoeing, Hiking, and learning as much as I can about the Norwegian culture.

The second place I would like to visit is Oregon! I have always found the deep green forests fascinating, and I would love to explore and find multiple amazing waterfalls. Though some of the landscape in Oregon is mountainous, it has an entirely different vibe than Norway. In my opinion Oregon has a much calmer feel to it. The activity I would love to do most, is sleep on the Oregon coast on the beach. There is also some cool wildlife in Oregon, including my favourite animal: Bears. Bears are in the Ursidae family, and they can be found foraging in the forests for food like berries or hunting in rivers for a variety of fish.

 The third place I want to visit would have to be Switzerland. It is probably quite basic, but I would love to visit the Swiss alps. These mountains are a dream location for many snowboarders and skiers alike. Aside from snowboarding, I would get to go rock climbing, and visit some of the most beautiful alpine lakes in the world. Though they are a major focus of its landscape, the alps are not the only thing Switzerland has to offer. It is a beautiful country, and I would be more than happy touring around their cities to appreciate the architecture.

These are three locations that I feel reflect the way I am as a person. I think you can tell a lot about a person by the places they have been and the places they want to go. For example, if they would rather be on a beach or exploring in the mountains. What places would you want to go if you had the chance?

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To be honest, I had quite a difficult time responding to this prompt. I am not very educated when it comes to things pertaining to art, but I did my best to look from a different perspective on what it is to interpret nature through art. When reflecting on nature interpretation, I really tried to focus on the story behind it, and how it affects me emotionally. In my opinion, one of the most abundant and important variations of art in relation to nature is photography. I think photography is amazing for nature, because it is something that can be captured from so many perspectives, depending on the individual behind the lens. Taking a photo of nature captures a moment in time, and depending on the weather, time of day, or season this landscape could look like an entirely different place. When I think of what this means to me, it is something that can be perceived differently in the story a photo tells. For example, I like to connect this to how my photos in my camera roll make me feel. I have photos of myself in cool nature locations and it really brings back many memories from hikes I have been on. Obviously, this is much easier to comprehend when it is a personal photo. I feel this is the most beautiful portion of art interpretation: you can completely make up a story about the piece based on how it makes you feel, and you can try to connect to the artists feelings in the moment of the photo captured.

The way I interpret the gift of beauty is by thinking of the millions of years that have passed to form these amazing natural locations. This past summer, I went on a vacation to visit family in Calgary, and I had the privilege to visit Banff and Canmore again. I have been there before, but the drive into the mountains never ceases to amaze me. The fact that these unfathomably huge mountains were formed through the shifting of tectonic plates is truly fascinating to me, and it is undeniable that it is a gift to experience. The gift of beauty is the ability to be able to share this experience with others through the form of art, which I feel very privileged to do with all of you! I have another trip planned on reading week, only this time it is the winter season, and I will be able to snowboard in the mountains for the second time in my life. I obviously don’t have these photos yet, but I plan to take many pictures to compare the different form of beauty offered to me and how it contrasts those of the summer! Once I get these pictures I will try to remember to share them as an extra post.

(also just noticed the Art in nature sign, Very cool!)

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Hello Alysia! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on privilege and how it integrates within the world of nature interpretation. I really enjoyed reading your post and agreed with many of the points made in this blog. one thing I enjoyed was that you reference the example used in our unit 3 notes: unpacking your invisible backpack. This example assisted me in recognizing the privileges have personally! The most important in my mind, and something I am thankful for every day, is that I am lucky enough to be physically healthy. As you mentioned in your post, outdoor activities are not always accessible to everyone, and many of my hobbies I enjoy are activities like this. Some of these hobbies include hiking, rock climbing, swimming, and snowboarding. I don’t even want to imagine how I would feel if my ability to participate in these activities I love was taken away. Something from your post that I felt I could relate to is the economic portion. Travelling is not something that has always been readily available to me, though it is something I have always been interested in. I have been lucky enough to go on some hikes and ski in the mountains of Alberta while visiting family, but if there is one lessen, I retained from this experience is that travelling is not cheap. Though the reason is unknown to me, I have always had an obsession of sorts with Norway. Something about the landscape and culture has drawn me in. Being in university, I don’t have much money now so visiting this place is seeming increasingly unlikely to me. There are many other places like this I would love to visit, and it has greatly reinforced the privilege it is to have access to funds to enable my aspirations aligned with nature interpretation.

Unit 03: Role of privilege in nature interpretation

This week's blog post explores some heavy topics about understanding the importance of managing risks, recognizing our privilege and unpacking our invisible backpacks. As nature interpreters, we must acknowledge how privilege can impact one's ability to interpret our environment. Reflecting on our privileges will allow us to recognize these advantages to help build equality in access to nature interpretation.

Peggy McIntosh discusses how privilege is defined as a construct of beliefs and practices that are taken for granted by people throughout society and in education (Gallavan, 2005). Further, privilege, power and dominance are not earned but simply exist and come from being white, male, heterosexual and middle-class (Gallavan, 2005). However, privilege is much deeper than just these characteristics, and applies to an abundance of attributes including, culture, language, religion, disability, age and much more (Gallavan, 2005). While privilege is so prevalent and can be applied to many aspects of our lives it is also often left unacknowledged (Gallavan, 2005).

My working definition of privilege is similar in that privilege isn't earned but something you inherently have that influences your opportunities and achievements. The invisible backpack of unearned aspects as Mclntosh describes, helps us recognize our own maps, tools, provisions and more that come from the privileges we have (Gallavan, 2005). To reflect on my own invisible backpack I am white, speak English, and am a Canadian middle-class student, receiving a University education. I've had the privilege of receiving a good education in Canada, in both English and French, not because I had to learn another language but just because I could. I've also had the privilege of being a competitive swimmer from a young age and attend outdoor summer camps. Both of which have given me many life tools and advantages, such as being a lifeguard and camp counsellor.

Privilege plays a role in nature interpretation by impacting access to opportunities in nature due to accessibility, geographical location, education, economic/financial status, cultural identity, or time restrictions. Let's break these down. Not all outdoor activities are inclusive to people with disabilities especially if establishments such as ski resorts, boat rentals, water sports, outdoor education programs or more, don't provide accessible options. This discourages people with disabilities from pursuing opportunities to interpret nature since they have limited options to begin with. Secondly, a geographical restriction can impact one's access to nature like living in dense urban areas with little green spaces. As well as being able to access nature interpretation opportunities by having your own personal outdoor space such as a backyard is a privilege. Having an educational or financial advantage also influences people's wants when accessing nature, this could be because of an interest in nature from past knowledge or by having the finances to go somewhere nice. Furthermore, cultural identity also impacts our interpretation of nature by shaping how we appreciate and value the environment. Viewing nature through different cultural lenses changes drastically how one understands, treats and observes the environment and approaches nature opportunities. Lastly, being able to spend time in nature and pursue opportunities to interpret and explore the environment is a large privilege. Many people have to work and can't often set aside time to get outside to really be able to experience and perceive what's around them.

I hope my post this week gives some insight into the role of privilege in nature interpretation!

References:

Gallavan, Nancy P. "Helping teachers unpack their 'invisible knapsacks'." Multicultural Education, vol. 13, no. 1, fall 2005, p. 36. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9fe2f151. Accessed 24 Jan. 2024.

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Blog 3

This week’s blog topic can be viewed as a bit more sensitive than those previous. I want to begin by prefacing that having privilege does not mean you are a bad person. In many scenarios privilege is uncontrollable, but it is very important to be self-aware and strengthen your ability to recognize when it’s present. Privilege is a discussion topic much more prevalent in today’s world than ever before. One way I define privilege, is an individual gaining unearned advantages in certain situations due to unconscious bias towards an uncontrollable characteristic/attribute. It can be identified in many different aspects of life such as the workplace, at school, and -most important to today’s discussion- even in nature interpretation.

In my opinion, the aspect most affected by privilege in relation to nature interpretation revolves around access. The first point we will touch on is where an individual grows up/ lives. An individual’s ability to access the wildlife/nature that they are interested in analyzing is an extreme advantage. For example, If I were interested in discovering new medicinal plants it would be a great advantage to live somewhere close to a rich wooded area in comparison to a big city. Aside from the obvious point that the place in which you live is super important for nature interpretation, I think it is worth specifying the place an individual grows up is just as, if not more important. Being given the ability, or privilege, to make a connection to nature from a young age is very important to the development of new nature interpreters by inspiring them.

The next aspect that I think privilege greatly affects is one’s economic status. There is a very common expression that money makes the world go ‘round, and unfortunately in many situations this is true- nature interpretation is no exception. Like many jobs and positions, it is usually a requirement-or at least a recommendation- that some level of education is required. Nature interpretation being under the sciences category means that in many positions a post-secondary degree would be required. As many of my fellow students know, an education is not cheap and for those who don’t grow up economically stable this may not seem like a reality. In terms of access, economic status plays a large role in that as well. Travelling is a very expensive hobby. Planes, food, shelter, and gas can really add up, and those who have access to funding are able to do this without worry.

The third and final privilege I want to address is a bit different than the others and much less commonly thought of. I think that in nature interpretation it is an extreme privilege to have optimal physical health. Those who have physical inhibitions are at a great disadvantage when it comes to opportunities within nature. Yes, it is still possible to do many things regarding this field, but it is much more difficult. For example: an individual in a wheelchair. If said individual were to go on a hike, depending on the terrain, it could be much more time consuming and hard to engage in this task.

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Hello Kat! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on what environmental interpretation fits your personality! This post was very interesting, and I enjoyed reading. I think that it is interesting that we both have the exact same types of learning styles! I am a visual and tactile learner as well. When you mentioned that your values were preservation and practice, I found it quite interesting because that is one of the same values entailed in being a park ranger (the role I felt would best fit my style of environmental interpretation). I wonder if our similar values are due to the similar learning styles or if it is something purely coincidental. Something that I feel you have had much more success in than me is taking many classes! Unfortunately, this is one of the first mainly environmental classes I have had the pleasure to partake in, but I think it is fantastic that you have already accumulated some basic knowledge in terms of preservation. I think that your point in relation to having props and visuals to aid in teaching the public! If I were to become a national park ranger, this is something I would strive to incorporate any time I found myself teaching the public. For example, I’ve I was acting in as a tour guide on a hike, I would make sure to point out some interesting things to the public like scat-bear excrement- (gross) By providing this visual it would give the public knowledge for when they go on their own hikes, enhancing their safety. It is always beneficial to know that a bear may be in the vicinity!

Blog #2 Environmental Interpreter

Hi everyone and welcome back to my second blog. I am really excited to get into this topic because I have actually found some interest in regards to this area. I've noticed over the past couple years of school, I have left class feeling very inspired and educated and I would go on to tell family and friends the facts that I have learned and point out specific things. Although I am unsure whether I would choose a career along these lines, I could definitely see myself as an outdoor/environment interpreter. I've noticed that I enjoy educating people, especially about certain earth processes that take place, like the transfer of nutrients within ecosystems, or how plants use certain processes for different needs. I find this knowledge very fascinating and I feel as though I would be a proficient educator if I was able to teach outside on interpretive walks, hikes, and outdoor sessions.

I completed the quiz to determine my learning style and found that I was predominantly a visual and tactile learner (no surprise there!). For me personally, an overload of auditory information can really affect my ability to retain and perceive the content. However, being immersed in an environment where I get to learn/educate individuals where these processes occur and with what organisms would be an incredible learning experience whether I am the teacher or student. I would definitely blend my knowledge of the environment with an outdoor experience in order to deliver a lesson that can be understood by all. This would also include physical objects that individuals and I could touch and use while also having lots of diagrams that can be very easily understood in order to maximize the learning experience.

I strongly associate my values and ethics with preservation and practice. I am very passionate about understanding the ways in which ecosystems are impacted and how we can change our behaviours to help. Participating in numerous classes that have thoroughly taught the importance of the mutualistic relationship we share with nature has really motivated me to want to educate others on the complexity of our world and how the littlest changes can impose the greatest impacts. I have always appreciated the beauty of nature but also its resourcefulness in teaching us and I think this is a tool that should be utilized.

It's important for teaching styles to reach a wide variety of individuals thus I feel as though interpretive teaching in the setting of what you are educating people about is a great way to diversify our learning strategies. Incorporating useful learning techniques like visuals and props is a strategy that will not only encourage successful comprehension of young children but adults too (I know this because this is my preferred learning style).

I feel as though my connection and inspiration from nature would make my teaching style of educating in those kinds of environments a very uplifting and positive experience for all individuals. I think practicing my execution would act as a vital tool in checking off all the learning styles and with some more research it can be achieved. My goal is to encourage and inspire others just as I am every time I attend classes! Thanks so much for tuning in:)

Kat

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Blog 2: Environmental interpretation

When trying to determine my ideal role of environmental interpretation, I decided to reflect on past experiences of mine with nature. I was born in Calgary, AB, so I have a lot of family out west that I go to visit from time to time. On these visits, I have always been extremely fascinated by the Canadian Rockies which leads me to believe my ideal role would be as a park ranger. This position would entail many different important tasks including public communication, wildlife/nature conservation/protection, and possibly leading guided tours.

            The location I would want to be is in Alberta, at either Jasper National Park or Banff National Park. I have been to Banff more than once, and I feel an innate sense of calm when I am in the mountains that I can’t explain. I think it would be an incredible privilege to work there alongside the wilderness.

Public communication would be crucial in this position to protect the wildlife as well as tourists themselves. The best way to succeed in keeping everyone safe is education. One way park rangers achieve this is by hosting presentations/information sessions. These sessions could be held in a classroom type setting or something more hands on like during a nature walk. By providing this range of opportunities to learn the culture of the park learning caters to all three main types of learners: Auditory, visual, and Kinesthetic! Some skills that would help me with this that I feel I excel at are humour and confidence! I think these skills would be beneficial to keep the public engaged in the activity I would be leading.

The part that I feel would be my favourite aspect of this role is wildlife and nature preservation. This past summer, I went on my first real long hike in Canmore at Grassi lakes. It was not a difficult hike, but it was extremely beautiful and made me reflect about how many places like it had been stripped of resources and diversity over the years by humans. It has created a sense of importance to protect places like these. I would find great pride in protecting/assisting native species like bears and mountain goats, as well as protecting the trails themselves from getting rundown. Important skills that would help me be successful in this is expansive knowledge of native species. OK, this is something I would need a lot of work on, as I haven’t exactly studied too much into it yet… but I have the motivation to and that’s step 1!

Another task I feel I would love is being a guide on hikes, solely because I would get to explore and learn a vast number of different routes. I have not been on many hikes as of now and it is something I want to do anyways… so why not make it my job! Not only do I find hikes relaxing, but they are a healthy activity that I enjoy. I feel it would be rewarding to share this passion with others. Some skills needed for this would be, again, wilderness knowledge and physical fitness. Physical fitness is already something I enjoy as I regularly go to the gym.

            Being a park ranger is something I have always been interested in and it would be the type of environmental interpretation that is perfect for me.

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Disclaimer

This blog was created for ENVS*3000, University of Guelph. 

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

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

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