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[raenvs3000]

Hello,

I loved reading your post. I would have to agree with you regarding the sensationalism that often occurs in the media. You bring up a very real and important moral obligation of interpreters to not fall into this trap. As to avoid potential distrust in the information that is being shared.

How do you think you might go about accomplishing this in future when interpreting?

Sometimes this may not be very easy. It’s easy to get caught up in something that one is passionate about and exaggerate its importance since one holds it to a great importance themselves. Or to make something more interesting and impactful one may try to make it sound more stimulating to the audience.

I know I`m at fault for occasionally falling into this trap. I`m very passionate about environmental conservation and climate action. Sometimes when discussing with others who may not share the same opinions regarding climate action I may distort some talking points to get my message across. However, like you mentioned, it is best to not fall into this trap since it can appear to falsify the message in which you are trying to share.

Maybe one potential way to avoid this is to make sure you are well informed about the topic you are discussing and to remain composed even when passion is involved.

What motivates me to interpret nature, and how does this define my personal ethics.

One of my earliest memories of interacting with nature is helping animals. Living in the city, one of the biggest issues in my area was birds being injured. We would frequently have requests to take care of these injured birds and aid them in their healing. I remember having a big cardboard box with newspaper setup next to the door. When a bird got injured, we would place it in there with a bowl of water, and give it time to get used to all the noises in the house. Later at night, my dad or granddad would use gloves and just look at the wings to ensure it was nothing serious, occasionally wrapping it. They would feed the bird some grains or sometimes milk formula through a cotton bud, if it seemed to be tired, dehydrated or weak. And eventually, after the bird would heal, they would release the bird in the park, or leave our backyard door open, allowing the bird to make that decision. This is what made me passionate about Nature. I wanted to help animals, but also understand them.

Lip Kee Yap, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/House_Sparrow_%28Passer_domesticus_indicus%29.jpg

When I think about what ethics I want to bring as a nature interpreter, it is to always remember to help. While that was one of the first reasons why I was motivated to pursue nature interpretation, there are other values that are now an important part of me. These are - being honest, which means stating things as they are without exaggeration. Many times, I have come across climate change articles which exaggerate the current urgency of controlling climate change, but when these articles are proven factually and statistically wrong, public seems to think that climate change is no longer an issue or a priority. Another important value for me is sustainability.

Teodoraturovic, CC BY-SA 4.0-https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons-https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Morals-and-ethics.jpg

My responsibilities as a nature interpreter are a result of my beliefs and motivations. It is my responsibility to raise awareness of social and environmental issues while also making sure that I share correct information. In order to do that, I want to keep learning, keep doing better, keep researching and updating. My responsibility is not only towards nature but people who are getting information through me. And it is important for me that I do not misuse that faith or power I have.

Samurai Gandhi, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Tree-of-Knowledge_art.jpg

As a result of these personal values, the most suitable approach for me, as a nature interpreter, is through consideration, understanding, appreciation, validation, and reflection. It is important to be considerate and understanding towards others and yourself. Be kind and appreciate all things around you and about you. Validate feelings and move forward while reflecting on these. This will ensure that my ethics and motivations are fulfilled and I give my best. By reflection I also mean to reflect on how to best get your message across, and to ensure it is inclusive and accessible.

I am sure that there are more values and motivators that will influence me as time goes on, and I hope I can include them in my personal and professional life. I hope I always keep learning and growing, and help others do the same :)

[raenvs3000]

My Personal Ethics as a Nature Interpreter

Interpretation can be described as a form of communication in which historic, cultural, and natural phenomena is translated (Beck et al. 2018). I began to discover more about this idea and began to develop my own personal definition of what interpretation is after completion of this course. Along with this I began to better understand my own personal ethics as a nature interpreter.

I would define interpretation as learning that inspires and evokes new ideas to an audience. This is what I personally believe is the goal of interpretation. It is also one of my personal ethics as a nature interpreter. This is primarily because I believe that learning/interpretation needs to inspire to be effective. I`m sure everyone has their own example of a teacher or a professor that didn’t really hit the mark on this idea. Personally, I remember having one teacher in high school who didn’t evoke any excitement in what they were teaching and would read off the slides, talk in a monotone voice and didn’t provide the class with any other form of learning. This made me dread going to the class everyday and I was never passionate about what was being discussed. Likewise, I felt like I didn’t really learn much in this class nor did I care to learn anything. Creation of an uplifting emotional experience is what is defined as good interpretation (Beck et al. 2018). This I believe is a moral obligation of myself as a nature interpreter.

The reason I believe this is an ethical obligation as a nature interpreter has to do with the beauty contained in nature and the urgency in which environmental issues need to be addressed. I believe that nature is truly beautiful. As discussed in one of my previous blogs posts this beauty provides me with a sense of place. I believe it is imperative that I share this beauty and describe the feelings that I associate with nature so that the art contained within nature can be shared with others, who potentially have not had the opportunity to experience these feelings. The idea being that once these feelings are shared with the audience an uplifting emotional experience will be created, which inspires a greater appreciation for nature and the natural environment. Once this appreciation is gained it may galvanize the audience to take actions regarding protection of the natural environment by reason, to protect this beauty. Environmental conservation is an issue that requires immediate action and hopefully interpretation can act as an agent that catalyzes others to act.

There are a few ways that I discovered through this course that can aid in generation of a truly impactful interpretation experience. One of which being to utilize various learning styles. The three different learning styles are auditory, visual, and tactile/kinesthetic. Interpreters should adapt their teaching methods in a way that tries to satisfy various learning styles. This will increase the impact of their interpretation by suiting each audience members specific needs. Additionally, it can make learning more exciting and fun for the audience.

To conclude, this course has taught me more about the importance of interpretation as a tool for environmental conservation. It has also provided me with certain tools that I can utilize to ensure that important messages resonate with the audience.

Questions

What generates good interpretation in your eyes?

References 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world. Urbana: Sagamore Publishing.

[raenvs3000]

Hello,

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. I first became interested in sharks after watching the movie Shark Water. Rob Stewart, the director travels to the Galapagos Islands and feeds sharks to demonstrate their nonviolent nature. The film discusses the misrepresentation of the aggressive nature of sharks portrayed in the media.

This misrepresentation of sharks is something that you mentioned in your blog post. I would have to agree with you. When I was younger, I remember being afraid to swim in the ocean for fear of an impending shark attack. It was only after watching documentaries such as Shark Water, did I start to dispel this fear.

Do you think there is way we can alleviate some of this fear? I personally I believe that education is a potential way to solve this. But would love to hear what you think.

Kind Regards

Rachel 

Diving into Sharky Waters🦈

Over my university career, I have learned many things about the environment but the most amazing and surprising thing I learned was about sharks and the influence they have on ecosystems. Did you know that sharks evolved before trees and despite a few exceptions like the hammer head sharks, have remained relatively unchanged for millions of years (Davis, n.d.)? I first became interested in them when I took a vertebrate biology course and dissected a dogfish. Learning about the sensory modalities that these ancient animals have evolved blew my mind and is what initially interested me about sharks. The ampullae di Lorenzini are tiny electroreceptor pores found along the nose and face of elasmobranch species and allows them to detect electromagnetic fields that are generated by the muscles and movements of every living thing.

A schematic diagram of how sharks use the ampullae di Lorenzini to detect their prey. Credit: Sharkbanz

This incredible sense of elasmobranch species allows sharks to roll their eyes to the back of their head when feeding and rely on their electromagnetic sense to tell them where to bite. These amazing pores are also the reason why you should not listen to the common advice to punch a shark in the nose if you ever come face to face with a curious shark. Hitting the underside of a shark’s nose will cause them to reflexively open their mouth which is likely the last thing you want! Instead, as demonstrated in the video below, a better method to deter an inquisitive shark is to place your hand on the top of the head and direct them away from your body. Also, remember, only prey swims away!

Here is a video by One Ocean Diving, a shark eco-tourism group in Hawaii, in which Ocean Ramsey shows us how to physically deter a shark. Credit: One Ocean Diving

Other cool ways of deterring sharks using their electroreceptors are active shark deterrents like sharkbanz which use magnetic technology to interrupt the sharks reception using their ampullae di lorenzini to deter their approach.

There is a quick video explaining how sharkbanz work. Credit: SharkBanz

Learning about sharks in that lab dissection really highlighted to me how little we know about these creatures most of society would only describe as a monster. Since they aren’t as charismatic as other marine life, sharks receive a significantly less attention in turns of conservation and research (Cisneros-Montemayor et al. 2013). Our media focuses on the rare aggressive behaviour and influences like the movies JAWS has painted sharks to be blood thirsty, mindless killing machines when they are actually extremely intelligent and deserve our respect. For example, the common phrase “shark infested waters” really highlights our societies relationship this these apex predators. Since the waters are the shark’s home, technically humans are the ones who are infesting our waters with the amount of coastal development and the crowds at public beaches. I think Ocean Ramsey did an amazing job in her TEDtalk, explaining her relationship to sharks and their importance to our world so I highly recommend you check it out below!

Ocean Ramsey of One Ocean Diving describes her relationship with Bella the great white and their importance in ecosystems. 

Davis, J. Shark evolution: a 450 million year timeline. Retrieved 20 March 2021, from https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/shark-evolution-a-450-million-year-timeline.html

Cisneros-Montemayor, A. M., Barnes, M., & Al-Abdulrazzak, D. (2013). Global economic value of shark ecotourism: implications for conservation. Fisheries Centre.

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duunnn dunnn… duuuunnnn duun… duuunnnnnnnn dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnn dunnnn. The most amazing thing about nature to me is the ocean. It’s both intriguing and scary how vast and large it is. Less than five per cent of the planet’s oceans have been explored, which is quite mind-boggling to me. Likewise, scientists estimate that 91 percent of ocean species have yet to be classified.

Hopefully, you have had the opportunity to experience the sounds and feelings of the ocean. The sand between your toes and that very distinctive aromatic sea air smell. The sound of the waves crashing and rushing over the sand. The feelings of relaxation and calm as you soak up the sun and take that breath of fresh air.

In addition to the recreational aspects of the ocean, it also provides other many benefits that I believe are often overlooked but are just as, if not more, important.

Ever wondered why the ocean has that very distinct smell that I mentioned earlier? The smell comes from gas produced by ocean dwelling bacteria. This odorous gas is necessary in cloud formation over the ocean and helps some animals find food.

The air near the ocean may feel ‘fresher’ due to negative ions in sea air that accelerate your ability to absorb oxygen. Additionally, the ocean produces oxygen. In fact, the ocean produces over half of the worlds oxygen and absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere.

My favourite ocean creature is the beautiful shark. These creatures are just as intriguing as the ocean itself. Sharks first appeared in the ocean around 455 million years ago. These old guys don’t have any bones and use their gills to filter oxygen from the water. They are known as elasmobranchs since they are made of cartilaginous tissues. Other ocean animal that fall into this category include rays, sawfish, and skates.

What is your favourite ocean animal? How would you describe the sites and feelings of the ocean?

References

Thompson, Andrea. “Key Found to the Smell of the Sea.” LiveScience, Purch, 1 Feb. 2007, www.livescience.com/4313-key-smell-sea.html#:~:text=A trip to the beach, that delightful and distinctive smell? &text=The smell comes from a, researchers in ocean-dwelling bacteria.  

Fisheries, N. (n.d.). 12 Shark Facts That May Surprise You. Retrieved from https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/12-shark-facts-may-surprise-you

[raenvs3000]

Hello Bug Guy!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post you bring up some very thought-provoking ideas regarding music and the natural world. The whole universe is vibration and music/sound are vibration. So, it makes sense that music is as integral to the universe as mathematic is (as you so eloquently put it).

Do you think that nature has inspired the music that many musicians create today?

For me personally I think that nature has inspired various musicians to write and create music. One of my favourite musicians Sting has discussed how a barley field influenced his song ���fields of gold”. Sting wrote the song after he bought a house near a barley field. The sunsets and the colours of the field helped inspire the lyrics.

Definitely give the song a listen too if you get the chance!

Kind Regards

Rachel

The Nature of Music

I think that music is as integral to the universe as mathematics is. That is to say, I view music as a tool that can be used to interpret the universe and the nature of our world into a way more tangible and usable by the majority population.

Music has been amongst human civilization for as long as humans have existed, and much, much further beyond that. What about the birds that sing in old forests, or the wind that whistles through mountainous canyons? Those are just as much music to me as a modern day band of brass instruments is. To me, music is anything you want it to be.

Just as humans have acted as the interpretors for the universe, creating languages and axiums in order to explain its secrets and communicate with them, I think music acts much in the same way. Music requires an interpreter for it to be valid - could a bird listening to its mate’s call consider that song music? Or perhaps a wolf pack hearing a lone howl? What about the way rain falls around a plant after a long drought? I think those are all valid forms of music to each of those individuals.

To look at this another way, if humans are a part of nature, having been born from it, a product of evolution and the universe, would our musical creations not be considered nature intrinsically? I think so. Whether its hardcore rap, or soft folk country, or a traditional song sung by the indigenous passed down through generations, I think every note, every composition crafted is a product of nature.

As for something more personal, a song that brings me back to nature every time i hear it, would be Ahead by a Century, by Canadian band, the Tragically Hip. It has folk rock vibes with an acoustic guitar, and for me, invokes the imagery of the whistful air of fading sunshine, romanticizing on days long past. It reminds me to times I’ve gone hiking through the Arboretum, or through Lakeside Park back at home. It’s really something to check out if you’re in the market for soft, chill, folk vibes!

[raenvs3000]

Nature and Music

I am a self-proclaimed music lover. I`ll listen to anything… any genre and any artist. I fell in love with music at a very young age. My mom had a huge collection of CDs (before the time of iTunes and Spotify) and as a kid I would go through each CD pick one that had an interesting album cover and play it on my “Discman” that my mom had passed down to me. This fascination for cover art and music followed me through later years and I started to collect vinyl records. These records not only showcased the cover art beautifully they could be listened to over and over again. I never really consider how nature and music were interconnected until reading this unit’s content.

When I read the prompt “where is music in nature” my mind instantly goes to listening to the songs of the birds on various family camping trips. Being kept awake by the sounds of the whippoorwill. And hearing the songs of the chickadee on hikes during the day. As I began to think about this topic more, I began to discover more sounds/music associated with nature. Like the sounds of the cicada bug during the summer. Or the sound of leaves blowing on a windy fall day.

For me a song that takes me back to a natural landscape is fields of gold by sting. Sting wrote the song after he had bought a house near a barley field. The sunsets and the colours of the field helped inspire the lyrics.

In his book Lyrics by Sting, he describes the view from his house which helped inspire the song:

“In England, our house is surrounded by barley fields, and in the summer it`s fascinating to watch the wind move over the shimmering surface, like waves on an ocean of gold”.

The lyrics, rhythm and tone of the song really paint a beautiful image to the listener of a warm day experiencing the feelings of the sun and the wind.

If you're reading this, I would encourage you to give the song a listen to. I would love to hear your perspective regarding what feelings are invoke and the image that is painted?

[raenvs3000]

Nature Interpretation Through 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”

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

When I read this quote one particular part stands out to me is “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” To me this part of the quote really emphasizes the “permanence” of history. History is something that will always be present in our day to day lives. From the roads we drive on to the train tracks that we ride on, our history will always be apart of our society and day to day lives.

This really got me thinking about how history has changed and shaped our society today. As someone who is passionate about sustainability and environmental issues my mind initially went to our societal history regarding the environment.

Historically, we haven’t been kind to the environment. Before environmental issues were in the forefront, deforestation was a very common practice. As far back as 3,000 years ago people were clear cutting forests for farming and grazing.

However, it seems as though we may not have learned from our history as deforestation is still common practice across the globe. The practice of ignoring and disregarding our historical mistakes is exactly what I believe Edward Hyams is denouncing in his quote.

As mentioned briefly in my introduction to this post, I believe that Hyams is really stressing how permanent history really is. To continue with the deforestation example that I have provided above, historic deforestation can also demonstrate how our past mistakes can influence our present. This is since even when restoring a plot of land that was previously deforested back to a forest the site will always retain characteristics of an artificial community. Meaning that the forest will never be completely restored to its natural form.

I hope this post made you think about the importance of learning from our history and really expressed how much our past impacts our present and future. If you are reading this, I would love to discuss your opinion on whether or not you believe history is relative to our present day.

[raenvs3000]

Hey Maggie!

I loved reading your post! Midterm season is a stressful time for everyone, and you provided some awesome tips to help students manage study breaks and really stressed the importance of mental breaks. I remember in my first year of university feeling really overwhelmed with midterms. I didn’t really want to take any breaks since, like you mentioned in your post, I thought I was “running out of time” and felt that I needed to fit as much studying as possible into one day in order to do well.

It wasn’t until one of my professors brought up in class one day that studies show that taking study breaks helps you retain more information. After hearing this I reconsidered my current study strategy and began to implement breaks into my studying. I noticed that this helped increase my attention span while studying and really helped improve my overall mental wellbeing.

Thanks again for sharing! Have a great reading week.

Rachel

Take A Break!

It’s that time in the semester again: midterm season! Scary, I know, but don’t let that be an excuse to fall into bad self-care habits. Trust me, I am the first person to put off a 30min workout or 15 min break with my roommates “in the name of studying!”, but I have tried to make a conscious effort this year to give myself breaks and to make my studying as effective as possible. I thought I would share some of these tips, the science behind taking study breaks, and where nature comes into play.

Why take a break at all?

As counterintuitive as it sounds, taking breaks is the most efficient way to study and work. Studies have shown that taking breaks throughout the work- day lowers a person’s need for recovery (NFR) by the end of the day. In short, resting throughout the day allows you to be productive for longer and you won’t be in need of a major recovery by the end of the day.

Taking a study break is like a breather for your brain; it has been firing on all cylinders for hours, and breaking your study session allows it to absorb what you have learned and prepare itself for more information. As well, humans are not designed to be concentrating for 8+ hours a day without stopping, not only does this lead to a diminishing focus and mental fatigue, the increase in reliance on the internet for school can cause eye damage! (read this page for more info)

Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash

What types of breaks should I be taking, and how long should they be?

A study by Felsten highlights this importance finding that university students, specifically, experience the most effective breaks when out in nature and that even looking at nature out your window is more ‘restorative’ than looking at an urban setting! Think about how you feel taking a step outside after having spent hours at a desk. There’s nothing better than getting fresh air and feeling the sunlight on you to brighten your mood and clear your head.

Photo by Kaylee Eden on Unsplash

While outdoor spaces are a promoted way of taking a mental break, there are other types of breaks that you can take throughout the day including: lunch breaks, social breaks, washroom breaks (yes this can count!), yoga/meditation breaks, etc.

The science behind the length of breaks, and the work intervals between these breaks, is mixed. It mostly comes back to what works for you. For me, I have found that taking short breaks (5-15min) every hour and a longer break (30min+) every 2-4 hours is most effective!

Retrieved from: https://www.developinghumanbrain.org/read-learn-better-faster/

Plan, Plan, Plan

Often times, during midterm and exam season, I study all day long. Despite knowing the importance of breaks, it can be hard to pry yourself away from your work, especially when you feel like you’re running out of time. Planning set breaks at set time intervals keeps you on task for the time that you are studying and controls how long you are going to spend taking a break. To ensure that you stick to this schedule consider: setting a phone alarm, planning your breaks with a friend and helping each other stay on track, and plan what you will do during break time ahead of time – this gives you something to look forward to and you then know ahead of time what your day will look like – no last-minute surprises!

Photo by Renáta-Adrienn on Unsplash

So, stop what you are working on, grab a friend and go on a walk around the neighbourhood, or find a park to eat you lunch, or just simply stretch. Whatever you do, make sure that it is relaxing and provides a change of pace from your studies. Most importantly: be kind to yourself, university is hard, take a break and do the best you can!

- Maggie

[raenvs3000]

The Krazy Kool Kangaroo

Since this week’s course content focuses on nature interpretation through science, I decided to write a post that focuses on this idea. As mentioned in this weeks reading, often when looking at nature through a scientific lens, it is assumed that you must offer the audience taxonomic history. While this may be helpful in some instances it may not be what the audience wants or needs.

Nature interpretation through a scientific lens is clearly a skill that needs to be developed to be able to utilize effective techniques that engage the audience and provide them with a clear take home message.  So, I’m going to use this post to practice some interpretation techniques. The species that I will try to interpret in this blog is the Krazy Kool Kangaroo. So, lets jump to it and start exploring these animals.

I’ve personally never seen a Kangaroo. However, maybe you haven’t either if you’ve ever been to Australia. Kangaroos can also be found in Tasmania, and in some parts of Asia and the Americas. Kangaroos live in woods and bushland primarily. However, they are very adaptable and can survive in a wide range of habitats.

Interestingly, kangaroos are the worlds largest marsupials. In simple terms a marsupial is a species order that is characterized as mammals that give birth, that are incompletely developed young which are then carried and suckled in a pouch on the mother’s belly. An example of another species which is in this order is opossums.

You’ve probably heard about or seen images of a boxing kangaroo in the media. These images are somewhat accurate since boxing between male kangaroos is used to establish dominance. The male that “wins that boxing match” is then the leader of the mob (a mob is a term used to describe a group of Kangaroos) and has exclusive access to the female kangaroos for mating.

Now that you have a general understanding of the Kangaroo, here are some cool facts about the Kangaroo. Kangaroos have excellent hearing and raise their ears to pick up sounds. A male kangaroo is called a boomer, a female is called a jill and a baby is called a joey.

I hope you enjoyed reading and learning about Kangaroos. I would love to hear feedback on how you think I can better my science interpretation skills regarding this post. Maybe if you feel up to it, provide your own scientific interpretation of a particular insect or animal.

Kangaroo Fact Sheet. (2020, July 23). Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/kangaroo-fact-sheet/

[raenvs3000]

Hey Mary!

I loved reading about your passion for insects. I would agree with you being that the beauty in insects is often overlooked. There are so many interesting and unique types of insects out there! Each with their own unique and sometimes subtle differences. This was recently discussed in one of my courses this semester. We were discussing the challenges associated with visual identification of insects since the differences between insect species can often be very subtle.

Photo by Ando et al. 2018 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06116-1

For example, this picture includes various species of lady beetles each with there own unique phenotypic trait. Thanks for sharing!

-Rachel

Art in Nature

My love for nature has always walked hand in hand with my love for art. While I am not an amazing artist, I do put effort into my work and I find peace while I do it. As I spent time outdoors the beauty inspired me constantly, as the world has endless wonders to look at. My imagination always surpasses my skills, but I love to imagine humans intertwined with nature. This has made me see the how intricate and detailed the nature can be, from the scales of a butterfly to the veins in a leaf.

I think that my love for insects has also improved my capabilities when it comes to interpreting nature through art. I say this because I think that insects are greatly overlooked, and if you take the time to examine them, you see how gorgeous they can be. I have only been collecting insects for a few years now, and still people are amazed at what I show them. There are so many amazing and complex insects out there, and people do not even know they exist. They can be neon green or neon pink, they can have spots or stripes, be large or small, intricate, or simple. I have found that people are often surprised or amazed at what insects I show them because they are something they have never stopped to look at before. I love that I have a crew of older men working in a cemetery looking out for cool insects or interesting thing outside to show me. I work with a team of older men as groundskeepers at a large cemetery, and after annoying them with bug facts and bringing bugs into the breakroom, they fell under the influence of seeing what nature has to offer.

I will continue to look for beauty EVERYWHERE in nature, from moss to eagles, I want to admire it. I am curious if anyone has a photo that they think truly shows how beautiful nature is, whether it be an animal, a plant or a view! I’d love to see what people find beautiful.

[raenvs3000]

Nature and Art

My social media is usually full of different pictures from hikes, canoe trips and various outdoor activities. My phone wallpaper is always, without a doubt, an image of a landscape or sunrise. I never considered nature as a form of art. It was always just something to pass the time, something that to helped me de-stress and something that I enjoyed looking at. I saw nature as something beautiful, but not necessarily art.

I’ve never really considered myself an artist. When I think of an artist, I think of someone drawing beautifully detailed sketches, or of a painter creating a colorful painting. Both of which are not my strong suit. My artistic ability in that sense extends as far as stick man drawings with the occasional smiley face for added detail. It wasn’t until I read the content for this week that I began to challenge my own definition of art.

In this unit’s content one thing that really stood out for me was when the element of beauty was brought up about photographs. That when you capture an image it is because some form of beauty is held within it. Once that image is shared you are extending that appreciation and that moment with another. Seems as though I have been an artist and interpreting nature without even realising it.

As defined in the textbook the gift of beauty: “should instill in people the ability, and the desire, to sense the beauty in their surroundings - to provide spiritual uplift and to encourage resource preservation” (Beck et al. 2018). For me the gift of beauty has always been a beautiful landscape or sunrise. These things have always been something I found beautiful and provided me a sense of place and peace. Of which I described in one of my previous blog posts. It hasn’t been until going through the content of this course that I have started to explore this idea within myself further.

Questions for anyone reading this. What do you consider art and what is your personal experience with art?

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC.

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Hi Mikhaela

I really enjoyed reading your post! I thought your analogy of privilege as a backstage pass was insightful and really did a great job of describing what privilege is in a real-world sense. I personally possess a lot of privilege. Being that I am a white woman have had the opportunity to persue higher education among other things. So, I often possess the backstage pass that you referred to in your post.

To answer your question one time that I can think of where I didn’t posses the same privilege as someone else came up in conversation with one of my male friends regarding male privilege. We had been studying at the library till late at night. When it was time to leave, I started to dial one of my parents so that could remain on the phone with them as I walked home. My male friend was confused as to what I was doing. I explained to him that my parents like me to call them when I walk home alone at night to ensure that I make it back safely. He stated that he never really thought about anything like that and frequently walks home alone at night by himself. We ended up having a really great conversation about privilege and our personal experiences with privilege.

Backstage Access to Nature Interpretation

       The role of privilege in nature is one that is becoming more noticed over time. To me, privilege is an attribute of a person that makes them more well off, not because of their personality or actions, but in terms of where they came from. Privilege is like having backstage access at a concert, it gives you extra perks. It is something that gives a person better opportunity, allowing them to get ahead in life, compared to those who do not have the same privilege. It is a topic that is often not spoken of, as people generally don’t realize how they might be. Other times, it might be hard for a person to admit that they are, and even further, acceptance of this brings extra responsibility by making the person accountable.

Photo by Tim Toomey from Unsplash

       So what does privilege have to do with nature interpretation? Although nature can be found all around us, having access to it and knowledge of it is still linked to privilege. There are those who as children did not have the luxury of being able to go outside and play in the grass, surrounded by trees and the sound of birds chirping. And even still those that might have had the chance to do so, but might not have been able to experience the beauty that a national park has to offer. It is in ways such as this that interpretation is related to privilege; it is not accessible to everyone.

       This is why as nature interpreters it is our responsibility to acknowledge our privilege, and also acknowledge that others may not have the same. In considering this, there are many ways we can provide others the same access to nature that we have experienced and take the huge role of privilege out of nature interpretation. As an interpreter, it is important to interpret in a way that can reach your entire audience that is made up of people that may vary demographically and culturally. One way to do this is by getting to know the individuals in your audience, allowing you to understand their reasons for attending. Those who fall into the category of underserved are those who interpreters tend to not reach with their interpretation for varying reasons including economic barriers, communication barriers, and discrimination. It is important to understand the ways in which people are underserved, and that while these may not be issues for everyone, they should be a consideration for everyone. As an interpreter making people feel welcome, respected, and safe is important especially for underserved audiences, and taking the time to better understand individuals one-on-one is a good place to start. Further than this, making use of universal concepts and all of the senses is a good way to ensure you make interpretation accessible to everyone in your audience, from those who might have visual impairments to those who have just started to learn English. 

       The important thing, regardless of being an interpreter, is to understand where people come from and that not everyone has had the same benefits. Privilege doesn’t just reside in nature interpretation, but it can be found everywhere, from those who were able to get driven to school versus those who had to walk or take the bus, to being able to buy something in a store without being asked for ID. Privilege is a dividing factor and more people must become aware of this to create social equality.

Photo by Markus Spiske from Unsplash

Was there ever a time where you felt like an outsider because you didn’t have the same privilege as someone else?

[raenvs3000]

Privilege Regarding Nature Interpretation

This week’s blog prompt “What role does privilege play in nature interpretation” is not something I had really considered until I read the assigned course material for this week. Before I go on to discuss how I believe privilege is an aspect of environmental interpretation, I`ll provide a definition of what I believe privilege is.

In my understanding, privilege is possessing any advantage or special right that can be used to benefit the person possessing the privilege. With this working definition in mind examples of privilege could include having high socio-economic status, being of a particular race or gender, or identifying with a particular sexual orientation. My backpack of privilege holds several things. I am white I come from a middle-class family and was raised in a household with both my parents having higher education. I speak English fluently and am a Canadian citizen. I can afford my university education currently through working various summer jobs throughout the years.

Photo by  EqualiTeach

In terms of nature interpretation privilege can play a major role. For example, being blessed financially can lead to easier access to resources and the ability to travel to natural areas. This is something that I can relate to. As mentioned in one of my previous posts, I spent a lot of time growing up in nature and got the chance to visit and explore various natural areas. This ultimately led to the development of my love of nature and passion regarding environmental issues. Looking back, I was only able to gain this because of my socio-economic status privilege. This is since my family was able to afford the luxury of travel. Whereas, on the other hand someone with lower socio-economic status may not be able afford such luxury.  

Education is another privilege that I believe is associated with nature interpretation. As mentioned in my last post one of the skills I believe to be essential to becoming an effective nature interpreter include possessing extensive knowledge regarding the issue in which the interpreter is trying to educate the audience on. For me I have been privileged to be able to attend a University in which I gain knowledge of various issues every day. Which can then be utilized in the future for environmental interpretation. Even looking back to just a couple of weeks ago I knew nothing about what environmental interpretation was. The knowledge that I possessed about interpretation was solely based on what I had read from the syllabus for ENVS*3000. Which has since grown and will continue to grow as I progress through the course material. This is something that I would have not been able to gain had I not had the privilege of higher education.

Questions that I have for my fellow students. How has privilege played a role in your life?

[raenvs3000]

Hello fellow ENVS 3000 Student!

Thanks for your post! I loved reading about your personal experiences and memories that you have from your childhood that have influenced what you are passionate about. I share a similar idea as to what qualities an environmental interpreter should have. One of which is being passionate about what they are educating the audience on.

To answer your question, I am passionate about environmental conservation, particularly species conservation and rehabilitation. Much like you I grew up hiking and playing various games outside and from there I began to develop concern for the protection of the places that gave me these great memories. I also spent a lot of time exploring the Bruce trail and have very fond memories of exploring and playing hide and seek along the trail with my older brother. My ideal role as a nature interpreter would entail guiding my audience through such places that I have these fond memories of.

My Ideal Role As A Nature Interpreter

Describe your ideal role of environmental interpreter. What might it entail? Where might it be? What skills might you need? (Keep these all-in mind as you begin to work on your assignments – tailor these to that ideal job!

When I think about the ideal role of an environmental interpreter, I think about certain qualities that are essential. To be an interpreter, you have to be able to transform your interest and understanding of nature into an experience that can capture the interest of people and educate them on the topic you’re passionate about. It would require wisdom, intelligence, and skills such as perception and curiosity. An interpreter needs to be able to effectively communicate information to various learning styles such as auditory, visual and hands on learners, and teach in a way that is understandable and engaging for any audience.

A photo I took in Kenya of a hyrax, the closest living relative to the elephant!

Reflecting on personal experiences, I’ve met people throughout my life that have been able to turn experiences in nature into something educative and wonderful, leaving me with a new understanding of the place I’m visiting, and provide new insight into the ecology and biodiversity of the area. When I was younger my family and I went on a safari in Kenya where we spent a couple weeks in tents on a park reserve. We had guides who were able to take us to various landmarks and show us how animals and the environment interact. Overall it was a great experience that was turned into something special with the help of the guides. Their ability to communicate their understanding and experiences changed my perspective of Kenya and provided me of a rich understanding of the geography and culture.

A photo I took of a rock in hells gate national park in Kenya! The directors for the lion king visited the park before beginning production of the movie.

Years later, reflecting on what the role of a nature interpreter is, I’m glad I had those experiences and was able to see strong examples of what makes a good nature interpreter. For my personal ideal role, it would be as a nature interpreter for the Dundas escarpment and Bruce trail. Moving from America I grew up in the small town of Dundas in Ontario. As a kid my friends and I really enjoyed what the nature of the town had to offer. There’s the Dundas peak, which you can walk to by taking a path from the Bruce trail that provides a view of the entire town. This view is very sentimental to me because I always reflect and try to see what has changed, and can also see various landmarks such as the elementary and high schools I attended, my house and many others.

A photo I took at the Dundas peak, what a view!

As a kid we would play manhunt, which is pretty much a large game of tag, on the trails and surrounding forests. Because of these memories, the geography surrounding dundas is something I’m passionate about, and I believe I’d do a good job educating others on what the area has to offer, as well as share my personal experiences. Finishing writing this post had me reflecting on important places in my life and what I’m passionate about, is there a place or passion you could be an interpreter for?

[raenvs3000]

My Ideal Role as an Interpreter

I believe that to be a good environmental interpreter you need to be very passionate about what you are trying to inform your audience about. The role of the interpreter is to then translate this passion into a comprehensive learning experience for all members of the audience.

I briefly touched on an environmental issue that I am very passionate in my last post; species conservation and rehabilitation. My ideal role as an environmental interpreter would encompass this environmental issue. This would allow me to share my experiences with an audience in the hope of them becoming aware of the importance of species conservation and hopefully encourage them to make lifestyle changes that help preserve biodiversity.

My ideal interpreter role would entail taking the audience on a trail hike. This would be ideal for me since I love spending time outside and hiking. As a tactile/kinesthetic learner, hiking and exploration is how I learned most of what I know about species identification. By taking the audience on a hike I would ideally reach audience members who share a similar learning style to me. Ideally, I would guide the audience through the trail and stop along the way to point out different species. With each stop I would briefly describe each organism’s ecological niche and emphasise the importance of this organism in the ecosystem.

For example, if I was to come across an ash tree during the hike, I would briefly describe how I identified that the tree was an Ash. In this case one can identify an Ash tree by looking for a tree with a compound leaf with 7 leaflets and having light green clusters of seeds. Next, I would describe the importance of Ash trees in the environment. In this example, Ash trees are significant since they provide shelter and food for various insects and birds. Additionally, they are very important to humans since they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Then I would describe threats to the ash tree. Threats include deforestation and extinction caused by the Emerald ash borer. After this I would describe the Emerald Ash Borer pointing out the fact that it is an invasive insect that was unintentionally introduced to North America. Since its introduction, Ash tree populations have declined rapidly to the point of near extinction. Lastly, I would describe how the audience can help to preserve the Ash tree by not moving firewood and monitoring Ash trees for Ash Borer infestations.

Emerald ash borer. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

Skills that I would need to pursue this type of role include having impeccable species identification skills and extensive knowledge regarding species interactions and niches. These skills are significant since I wouldn’t want to misinform my audience!

I would love to learn about what others are passionate about and how that has influenced their chosen interpreter role.

[raenvs3000]

Hello!

Let me start off by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post! You did an amazing job of painting a picture of your ‘sense of place’ by describing the sounds and feelings you get when being in your happy place. I enjoyed hearing your story about your relationship with nature and how this has developed over the years.

You mentioned that nature gives you a sense of tranquility and you use it to escape various pressures. I also have had a very similar experience. Growing up I truly felt a connection to nature and would often use it to de-stress (or sometimes get away from my older brother). This is something that has followed me till this day. I remember being in my first year of University and exploring the Dairy Bush and the Arboretum to de-stress from some of the pressures of first year. This has also been a major aspect of my day to day life currently. Being in lockdown has brought its own set of pressures and stresses and I find that taking the time to get some fresh air and explore some of the natural areas around my neighbourhood has really helped me de-stress and clear my head.

To answer your question my happy place is anywhere with fresh air and a great view! However, if I was to pick one place it would be in the middle of a lake in my kayak. Looking out and seeing the horizon, feeling the wind on my face offers me a sense of peace.

Finding My Happy Place

Let me take you to the place where I first fell in love with nature. It’s not a far walk at all, we’ll just have to take a few steps through the latched gate and into my backyard. If you listen closely, you’ll be able to hear the birds chirping in the tall evergreens, the soothing water trickling downstream into the koi pond and if we’re really lucky, we might even be able to hear the frogs croak right before they jump back into the water. I’d like to welcome you to my happy place!

A picture I took of my backyard in the summer of 2017. 

I am very fortunate that my parents created our own little oasis to escape to. From a young age, I always enjoyed spending time in our backyard, whether  playing an intense game of soccer with my brother or rapidly chasing my dogs around the yard (they never really got the hang of fetch). However, as I grew older, my backyard transformed from an area where I would go to let out all my bottled up energy, to a peaceful place to refocus and reflect. It truly is my own sanctuary - especially now during these challenging times! During the warm days of summer, I like to slide a chair out into the sunshine, sit there, and just breathe. On the chilling winter nights, I’ll sit in the kitchen and watch the snow fall, creating a fluffy white blanket covering the landscape. I am very grateful to live in Canada where I am able to experience the beautiful changes my oasis encounters throughout the seasons. 

This photo was taken by me in my backyard. My mom and I planted hydrangeas because they are our favourite flower. 

My ‘sense of place’ was (and still is) fostered by my lovely parents. Since I was young, they always encouraged me to step outside and explore the beauty of nature. From going on long walks with my dogs at the family cottage to jumping in the lake afterwards, my family aspires to spend as much time as we can outdoors. As I grow older, I have begun traveling to new places to see nature from a different perspective and take my exploration beyond the limits of my own backyard.

This is my favourite photo I have ever taken of my dog Maia. She is getting ready to soak up the sun at our family cottage!

In high school, I was part of the OutDoors club where we traveled to Tobermory, Ontario, and spent 3 days hiking through lush forests, up the sides of cliffs, and waking up to the most breathtaking views. To this day, one view that still has me completely stunned was when my family traveled 10,000 ft up the side of the Haleakala volcano to see the most spectacular sunrise. Being up amongst the clouds gave me a feeling I will never forget. 

This photo was taken of me by a friend of mine when we visited Tobermory, Ontario in 2015.

This photo was taken by me at the top of the Haleakala volcano in 2015.

In all, being surrounded by nature gives me a true sense of tranquility and serenity that I am very grateful for, as I have learned to use my deep connection with nature to escape both the internal and external pressures of life. Mental health has been something that I have always struggled with and I never truly recognized how big of an impact nature has had on my wellbeing until recently. My adventure with nature has just begun and I can’t wait to see what nature has in store. 

My question for you is; where is your happy place?

A picture I took when going up to the top of Grouse Mountain in a gondola in Vancouver, BC. 

[raenvs3000]

My Current Relationship with Nature

My relationship with nature started at a relatively young age. Both of my parents had spent a lot of time outside during their childhood and wanted to pass down similar experiences to my brother and I.  Every weekend we would pile into our car and go on an adventure. Sometimes with no destination but stopping along the way when coming across a park or other natural area. Other days we would spend the weekend camping or going to the beach. I think that spending so much time outdoors as a child developed a sense of place in nature as described in the text “Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage”. This is primarily because nature began to be a familiar place to me with specific family memories attached with various natural areas that we explored.

Photo of my brother and I. Taken by my mom. 

As I grew older and became more independent and I started to explore the natural environment by myself. This included going on hikes, kayaking, canoeing and snow shoeing. At this period in my life my connection with nature continued to grow and I began to seek out information regarding the natural world and ecology. I became intrigued with the complexity of nature and began to research and learn about ecological niches and species diversity. It was at this point that my exploration become more of a learning experience rather than an activity to pass the time. For example, when I came across a particular organism, I would make it a habit of identifying and learning more about that organism its niche along with interesting facts about the organism. One organism that stands out for me was a blue-tailed western skink that I found resting on a rock. These animals have a very bright metallic blue tail when they are juveniles that eventually loses color with age. One interesting fact about skinks is that they can lose their tail if caught by a predator. 

Photo of Blue-tailed western Skink. Taken by me. 

Another cool organism that I found while on a hike was a baby snapping turtle. These turtles have an extremely powerful jaws with an average bite force of 209 newtons! 

Photo of baby snapping turtle. Taken by me. 

Unfortunately, during my research I discovered that both organisms are threatened with extinction. Skinks are considered an endangered species in Ontario and are now protected under the Endangered Species Act. Snapping turtles are also threatened and have been listed under the Ontario Endangered Species Act. It was this discovery that lead me to develop my passion for environmental conservation to protect the species that made my experiences in nature more thought provoking.

As my knowledge of species and environmental concerns grew, I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in environmental science and am currently wrapping up my last few years of study at the University of Guelph. I hope to one day have a career in which I can educate others about the importance of environmental conservation efforts.

I would love to hear from others. Is there any species that you have come across in nature that was of particular interest to you. If so why?