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Last Blog Post

In today’s society, it is becoming increasingly difficult to connect or learn from nature as we become more and more urban as a population. It seems as though the foundations of nature are being neglected when thinking about the future of our planet. Learning about the ins and outs of nature interpretation and what it means to be an interpreter has been a journey in this course. I find it hard to believe that we are almost at the end of the semester, as it feels like I just began learning! In some ways this is true, as I can now recognize that interpretation is a forever evolving process that will never be ‘complete’. Interpretation in the sense of this course, is a process involving communicating and inspiring others in the context of the nature that surrounds us (Beck et al. 2019). I am now learning that this communication is an integral factor going into saving our environments and our world in the wake of climate change.

  As interpreters, there are many core beliefs and values that are shared as well as personal unique ones. A core belief about interpretation is that it is integral for the promotion of healthy and connected communities (Beck et al. 2019). Something personal I bring to this as an interpreter is my passion in gaining new knowledge that I know I can then interpret for others, hopefully making some sort of impact. I believe in making important and educational experiences for individuals in a fun way, as enjoyment is what becomes meaningful in someone's life, not solely instruction (Tilden, 1967). More specifically, I find myself satisfied when I utilize the resources around me to spread messages of interpretation. For example, posting information about climate change and why we should care to my social media platforms is a useful way of bringing individuals together as a nontraditional audience, of whom would not all necessarily voluntarily visit a physical interpretation session (Beck et al. 2019). I believe strongly in the power of technology and its ability to capture people with compelling colours, shapes, and images. Interpretive messages can be spread to audiences far and wide, even going viral without effort (Beck et al. 2019). This should be taken into consideration when approaching the subject of climate change. The best way to reach the intended audience about why they need to take action and what they need to do is through technology! 

People learn to love something through good interpretation skills and through love, the natural reaction for an individual is to want to nurture and maintain whatever they have learned about (Beck et al. 2019). This is a responsibility that I, along with all of the newer generations, have, when it comes to climate change. The earth’s temperature is rising quicker than ever, and without this nurturing, we will start to lose countless of our precious ecosystems all around the planet. Therefore, we carry a huge responsibility as the new generation. The most important audiences for interpretation are the youngest, as these individuals are the stewards of our future nature and culture (Beck et al. 2019). These children are so extremely impressionable and absorbent, hence my responsibility as a young adult to inform them in a meaningful way, about climate change. We must first teach them about the importance of an empathetic relationship with nature before any tragedy is introduced, as this is where the natural urge to care and maintain stems from (Beck et al. 2019). Not until later years, when these children have found their place in society, is it appropriate to educate about saving the planet and its living species. There is a fine balance between intimidating children with daunting tasks like saving the world and encouraging them to want to do so. I believe one of my main responsibilities is exploring this balance as an interpreter and making meaningful connections with the younger generation.

The approaches I will use to take action against climate change and educating others depend on where my life leads me in terms of a career path. I hope to make a living out of something substantial in which I am fortunate enough to have access to countless educational resources. Things like visual art and music are types of media that I believe are increasingly impressionable when it comes to an audience of children. A big part of interpreting in this sense, is demonstrating the consequences we will see in the future, if we do not act in the present (Beck et al. 2019). Therefore, by connecting educational information to actions that can be easily taken by children, like saving energy in their houses or riding their bikes to school, I am able to connect to my audience. Through the recognition of all three learning domains, I feel as though I am more prepared to take on my role as an interpreter now and in the future. 

The use of these blogs has been a really great way of learning from others, as well as discussing our respective passions. It was fascinating to see the variety in everybody’s post, when we are all writing from the same prompt. This variety demonstrates how unique our individual experiences with interpretation have been and the memories we have grasped from these experiences. As a part of the next generation of interpreters, I cannot wait to see our advocacy in action. I have hope that we are all strong stewards in nature interpretation and are sufficiently passionate about fighting against climate change in a way that we can bring society together on small scales and big ones to benefit ourselves and all other species on Earth. It has been so fun reading everyone’s posts and I hope to have evoked something in all of you through my posts, as yours did for me. Thanks everybody! :)

-Sophia

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Tilden, F. (1967). Interpreting our heritage. Univ of North Carolina Press.

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Hi Brayden,

I really enjoyed your blog post and the depths you reached as it helped keep me quite engaged throughout. You brought up some cool ideas that I would like to expand on. I think your entire theme about the ethics and responsibilities that are associated with nature is really important for everybody to recognize. It is extremely integral to begin teaching young individuals about their duties as interpreters and conservationists, especially in the wake of climate change. The younger generation are the future stewards of our heritage and nature preservation (Beck et al. 2018). Therefore, teaching them the right morals to have is so important. There will always be people with selfish motives trying to destroy our nature and heritage for economic profit. After all, anthropogenic induced climate change largely comes from urbanization of some of our most beautiful rural areas. We have to slow this process down as much as possible, for the Earths health, and for our own. As Beck et al. (2018) states, “good interpretation is fun, but the best interpretation evokes an uplifting emotional response”, meaning in order to reach a common goal of preservation, we must make a mark on the young people who are the most impressionable and ensure we instill the values of nature interpretation and appreciation for it. By teaching environmental education from early on, I think this is definitely achievable! Great idea!

- Sophia

 References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Ethics within Nature

It can be debated that the very being of our ethics are developed around what we experience through nature. Nature is evident within our lives and is involved in our daily activity in some way or another. To further evaluate the role that nature has on our lives, consider the extensive interpretation work conducted by the author Richard Louv. Louv believes in connecting to the nature around us and every small detail it has to offer us, we in return are saving it at the same time. A quote from Louv (2019) regarding the importance of nature that has resonated with me within this chapter is this; 

“Will help everyone break away from their fixed gaze at the screens that dominate our lives and remember instead that we are animals in a world of animals.” 

I believe this quote stuck with me as the dominance of online forums takes over most of our lives. Although this new era of technology careers and schooling is not exactly the ideal situation, it has provided me with the opportunity to become the best nature interpreter I can be. When the pandemic became relevant, I moved back to my hometown in Northern Ontario. Growing up, I used to hate living so far away from any big cities and could not wait to get away from all the rural communities. My beliefs, perspective, and responsibilities towards the environment have been forever altered as I now am back in the North and would not want to be anywhere else. I have included a list of realizations I have now regarding nature; 

It is our duty as the next up and coming generation to highlight the importance of nature and environmental conservation as it becomes the predominant threat to society.

There is life outside the cities and this is even more relevant now that remote work is an option.

We should be interpreting nature everyday as it is all around us and is constantly changing, just like we should be doing. 

We all have responsibilities regarding nature. It is our personal duty to identify what they are and ensure we are actively participating in them.

These are just a few, but everyone has different emotions and perspectives regarding nature and our role in it. Personally, I try hard to be active in respecting nature and educating those around me in doing the same. I believe that nature and the environment should be respected the same way some groups view religion or spiritual beliefs. 

To expand on that idea, I believe that environmental education should be taught within the Canadian school system from the first day. Our young people need to be aware of the deterioration of the environment so they can become an active part of prevention rather than affecting it more without knowing. 

So how do you feel? Do you think teaching young people about their responsibilities as nature interpreters from a young age will inspire a generation of nature conservationists? 

Louv, R. (2008). Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. Algonquin books.

Krebs, A. (1999). Ethics of nature: a map (Vol. 22). Walter de Gruyter.

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Hi Katelyn!

Your blog was such a fun read, and I agree; the semester flew by! I came into this course with somewhat the same expectations as you but I am so glad to recognize how much we have all learned. I love that you already have so much experience with nature interpretation and know how important it is to educate, especially the younger generation. 

Authenticity truly is an essential part of interpretation. That is why majority of interpreters have a passion for their craft, meaning they find great enthusiasm and joy in teaching about cultural and natural history (Beck et al. 2018). It becomes more than just a job, but a never ending, lifelong duty to protect and engage others. All interpreters want to do is form core memories for their audience so that an impact is made (Beck et al. 2018). 

I also love your point about being open-minded, especially when it comes to learning styles. One of my biggest take aways from this course is that there are countless ways in which to engage and teach your audience. The most interesting part of it all is that some of these styles are very effective for one person but not the next (Beck et al. 2018). Therefore, being open-minded to new and different ways of interpreting and using different resources to do so, is essential for interpreters. 

I love your added photo as well! It shows such engagement and wonder on everyone’s face, truly showing how important and rewarding it is to educate younger people. 

Thanks Katelyn!

- Sophia 

References

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson. D.M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore-Venture.

My Personal Ethics

I can not believe we are already at the end of the semester; time has flown by. When deciding to take this course, I thought we would learn about different ways to teach about nature. I did not expect to discover the depth and understanding that I have. My main experience with nature interpretation is teaching children in a classroom or outdoor setting. This class has shown me the variety of ways nature interpretation can occur and all the background components required. I took a while to think about the values and beliefs I’ve developed over the last months through reading the textbook and my classmate’s ideas. I took a step back and looked at all the course units to outline my personal ethics for nature interpretation.

I believe authenticity is a crucial part of any interpretation but especially nature. Knowing and understanding the history of nature and the land you are interpreting is essential for giving your audience the full picture. The textbook mentions (Beck et al., 2018) that the story of the land would not be complete without interpreting the earlier cultures of the land. Some of the best interpreters can bring the past alive and make connections to the present and future. By not simply displaying artefacts or telling historical facts, they take into consideration how the past has shaped our future. When teaching on land with rich indigenous history, I believe it is necessary to provide authentic knowledge of their history and values. Sharing direct knowledge from cultural stories or practices can help immerse the audience in history.

I also believe that equality is important for nature interpretation. I believe everyone should have an equal opportunity to learn and experience the beauty of nature. Unfortunately, not everyone has the privilege to participate in those experiences. As an interpreter, I plan to make connections with my audience to understand everyone’s privileges and tailor my teaching to accommodate everyone. I believe by providing different platforms when interpreting allows for people with disabilities or families of lower-income to experience nature as well. I believe minorities should be encouraged to participate in interpretative programs because they are faced with many disadvantages such as economic troubles, lack of communication and fear of possibilities (Beck et al., 2018). Hopefully, as more minorities get involved it will break down barriers and show others that once you get past the fear exploring nature is a valuable experience (Beck et al., 2018).

One of the main beliefs I have is that nature interpretation must teach respect for the natural world. Pollution and climate change are major issues on the earth today. I believe that nature interpretation should teach others about the importance of conservation and sustainability. Connecting people with nature should develop beauty and appreciation for the world around us. Once people have a connection they are more likely to make small daily adaptations to benefit the environment. I also believe it is important to leave every place we visit the same as it was. As more people engage in nature areas, paths off of trails can become trampled, and litter can be left behind. I think it is important to teach others how to respect the environment while learning and enjoying it.

To teach others, I think it is crucial to also be open-minded to learning as an interpreter. Being open to new learning styles is a great way to diversify your teachings. Everyone learns in a different style, and being open to incorporating new methods can be helpful for the audience. Continuously researching and knowing what is occurring in the world ensures that the information you are sharing is correct and accurate. I believe that as an interpreter working on your skill by getting new certifications or attending conferences can benefit the knowledge you bring to your audience. I know that I gain a lot of my inspiration from hearing other peoples experiences and stories. By benefiting yourself, you can feel more confident in your teaching, which will be recognized by the people you are interacting with.

One of the most impactful articles I read was in a high school course, the article was a philosophy paper about the impact nature has on children. After reading this, I thought outdoor education was the career path I wanted to take. I’m not sure that is a forever job for me, but I have enjoyed teaching children at multiple camps. This course reminded me that I still believe we must educate all children about the environment.  I think as interpreters it is our responsibility to find ways to show kids of all ages the beauty of the outdoors. Looking back to when I was a child I used to play outside every day, seeing how little some children outside makes me want to make a change. We need to find ways that engage children through stories, discovery and impactful experiences (Rodenburg, 2019). The children of today will shape the society of the future by interpreting nature with children we can teach them about our natural world (Beck et al., 2018).

I believe it is also our responsibility as nature interpreters to keep our audience safe when taking risks. After learning about the Timiskaming Tragedy in class, you must be qualified and comfortable inheriting the responsibility of others lives. Risk assessment is important before any trips or actions that could potentially cause harm to individuals. Experiences will not be meaningful if they end up in a tragedy. Nature interpreters need to be equipped with accurate training and skills to ensure everyone’s safety. Working at a summer camp we had two weeks of pre-camp training to ensure we could manage any risky situations and felt completely comfortable dealing with any problems.

From this course, these are some of the beliefs and responsibilities I believe nature interpretation requires. I am glad I could learn and expand my knowledge through this class, and I look forward to sharing it with others. I would love to hear everyone’s opinions and any new ideas you would like to share!

-Katelyn 

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson. D.M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore-Venture.

Rodenburg, J. (2019). Why environmental educators shouldn’t give up hope. CLEARING. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300.

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I enjoy the more broad blog prompts as it allows for us to really dive deep into our thoughts and memories to interpret things from nature. I am sure my answer to “the most amazing thing I know about nature” would be different every single week, as there is always more to observe, learn and interpret. However, for this week, something about nature that I think is really astounding is Opossums! I have seen a couple in my backyard in the past weeks which motivated me to conduct further research on these little creatures. My initial emotions and interpretations led me to believe Opossums are unhygienic and “scary”, and do not have many skills, as I was only able to catch a quick glimpse of them, however I was proved wrong through gaining further knowledge. I will now take on the role as interpreter to share that knowledge with you!

One of the most known facts about opossums is that they play dead when they sense a threat, like a human. However, I learned that it is an involuntary response to fear; they quite literally get so scared that they pass out! Their looks are often compared to that of a rat, however they are more closely related to kangaroos than rats (Nagorsen, 1996)! Opossum mothers have the same pouch as kangaroos, making them the only marsupial in all of North America: I thought this was a super interesting fact. They also develop for only 14 DAYS in their mothers stomachs: one of the shortest gestation periods in all mammals. After they are born, they cling onto the mothers back until they fall off of her (Nagorsen, 1996)!

In regard to what they do all day and their contributions to the nature around them; they spend a majority of the day grooming themselves. In the process, they also eat ticks on their body, which adds up to about 5,000 ticks per year! This is an amazing relationship that rids our environments of ticks that carry the harmful Lyme disease. Additionally, they have a lower body temperature of about 35 degrees celsius that makes it very rare to carry the rabies virus that humans are often worried about with these kinds of wild animals.

Using my own first-hand experiences as well as additional knowledge and information to make a thorough interpretation for myself and all of you was very fun and exciting; especially using all of the theories and basics I now know based around this course. By combining two of the major learning domains in my interpretation, the cognitive domain with my informational facts and the affective domain with my corresponding photos (aren’t they adorable?), I hope I have had a positive and lasting effect on you all with my newfound interest in opossums!

Nagorsen, D. W. (1996). Opossums, shrews and moles of British Columbia (Vol. 2). UBC Press.

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Hello!

Your blog post was such an interesting read and I really did learn a lot. As I said in my post, I love the broad prompts as everybody has the opportunity to open their minds and share a lot. The connections you made between the emotions and actions of humans to trees and their respective actions are amazing! Your explanation of the use of fungal networks and the comparison of taking care of family members when we are ill was my favourite. This shows us how primal the need is for care and connections. 

Your findings that trees can remember is thought-provoking as well. This brings back a memory of an elementary school teacher encouraging us to talk and sing to the plants in the classroom and the trees outside because they will remember! These facts are truly astounding to see studies around.

Additionally, I really liked how many different resources you provided in different forms to appeal to everyone and our differing learning strengths. You have videos, music, and typed out informational facts that all appeal to your interpretation. I cant wait to check out all these resources you provided and learn even more. I also agree with your final message on taking it into our own hands to protect our earth, as we are the defining generation. :)

- Sophia

Tree Communication

The most amazing thing I know about nature? This has to been the concept of trees having “families”, similar in many ways to the families us humans have. I know this sounds crazy, and trust me it sounded that way to me too when I had first learned about it. “The Hidden Life of Trees” written by Peter Wohlleben has been extremely inspirational for me, and likely many others, and happens to be where I have learned about the science behind this claim.

Through fungal networks, trees will send things like water and nutrients to other trees when they are sick and even to their seedlings (Wohllenben, 2016). Similar to how we take care of an ill family member, trees do too.  I think what has shocked me so much about this is how trees are responding to the needs of others without having a brain.

Even more shocking is how it has been found that plants can remember. Wohlleben walks the reader through a study done proving that plants can learn and remember from experiences. Again, the fact that this can be done by some species and they don’t have a brain boggles my mind. To get some clarification about how trees communicate through fungal networks, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kHZ0a_6TxY

If reading isn’t your thing for finding inspiration, and that is completely understandable (it isn’t always my thing either), take a look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9fBEc-dRYI&t=19s  

Put simply… It is a beautiful and relaxing documentary about trees. Perfect for before you go to bed and an idea way to feel like you are surrounded by nature. As we have learned in previous units, music can be a great way to interpret nature. Luckily, this documentary has beautiful music in the background that will make you feel like you are in the forest surrounded by trees, birds, and other animals.

I am wondering, what do you think about these statements and did you know about them prior to this?

These videos made me think about the interesting role technology plays in nature interpretation. As we have learned, technology allows us to experience nature with a new depth but can also numbs our senses too. On one hand, I can thank technology for allowing me to discover this book and learn these amazing characteristics of trees. But on the other hand, I can understand how technology sometimes limits having experiences with nature. However, for the purpose of this blog post I think technology has improved my communication of this topic by allowing me to share useful videos with you that are sometimes more interesting than reading a long post.

I think getting a chance to write about the thing I find most interesting about nature has really challenged me to reflect on how I can share these things with an audience and interpret them effectively. While reading the content for this week a question came up for me… How do we know if we are effectively reaching and inspiring our audiences? If anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear them. 

Anyways, I hope learning about how trees have families and about some of their communication mechanisms has sparked some interest within you. They truly are a beautiful and I think many of us, including me, take them for granted. Good news is, we don’t have to. Get outside, appreciate their beauty, and take steps like minimizing driving to slow down the effects of climate change if you can. I’m sure you won’t regret it.

Image Credit: Freeimages/Invincible_bulldog

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Hey Lauren, 

I really enjoyed your post and thought you did an excellent job at interpreting the ideas of this unit while forming your own ideas. The tiktoks about “plant music” using bioelectricity are truly fascinating. The fact that music is a universal concept that is used beyond the human species shows us how powerful it is! Hopefully, we are able to discover any unheard music of different species in the near future as this is an intriguing idea.

Your connection of symbolism in songs to nature is a great concept. This follows along with Tildens second principle of interpretation in which he describes that “information is not interpretation”. Symbolism like this takes a lot of feeling and analyzing to fully visualize, and the thought provoking that comes from this is an integral part of interpretation. It is a universal message, as nature is experienced by everyone, that still manages to awake a different response in every audience member, depending on their respective lives and connections to the emotions they feel when listening.

Thank you so much for sharing! The tiktoks and music video were such a nice touch to aid in connecting to your post.

- Sophia

Nature and Music

Hey Everyone!

I am so excited for this week's prompt because of how much I love music. I am really looking forward to reading what everyone has to say about this topic!

Where is music in nature?

Sometimes finding music in nature can be as easy as cracking open a window to listen to the birds outside. Birds sing songs in order to communicate with one another - imagine human beings constantly singing to communicate, creates an interesting image. These songs can vary from species to species and also can vary based on the situation (i.e., warning calls, mating calls, etc.). There are other species that also follow this type of communication, such as whales. Whales produce beautiful melodic calls in order to communicate within and between pods. I just recently visited the Royal Ontario Museum during the Summer and was able to experience the Great Whales exhibit. Part of that exhibit included a room where you can sit and listen to a variety of whale calls in surround sound. This experience at the ROM made me realize just how much music there is in the world that doesn't come from people. With that idea, I was thinking about how other species, such as plants, communicate with each other. Is it possible that there is music in nature that we just can't hear? Luckily I stumbled across a TikTok account called modernbiology that investigates this question. They use the bioelectricity that plants produce and convert it into music. I have attached a few of these videos below!

Where is nature in music?

Beck et al., 2018 mentioned that music is used to paint a picture in people's minds. Music can make you feel a variety of emotions and can also transport you to a place. This is where nature is incorporated with music. Musicians often use descriptive lyrics to sketch beautiful settings into your mind that make you feel like you're really there. They also often take inspiration from natural sounds like birds chirping, winds blowing through leaves, waves crashing, and much more which provide the listener with a connection to the natural world. In music, nature is also often used as metaphors for emotions like love, hate, fear, etc. For example, there are many songs that use storms as symbolism for fear, heartbreak, or pain. I think that this use of nature as symbolism in songs helps musicians communicate their message to their listeners because nature is one thing that we can all experience, or at least it should be as we work towards more inclusive natural spaces. So, it is often very effective for musicians to use nature-based symbolism, as people can understand that the feeling that those specific natural processes induce is the same feeling that the music is trying to portray.

What song takes me back to a natural landscape?

For me, the song that takes me back to a natural setting is Bobcaygeon by The Tragically Hip. My dad is a huge Tragically Hip fan, so growing up we would listen to a lot of their songs, but Bobcaygeon was one that we always listened to around the campfire. The line "I saw the constellations reveal themselves one star at a time" always reminds me of sitting under the stars around the campfire roasting marshmallows.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and a safe and happy Halloween!

Lauren :)

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore Publishing

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Nature Interpretation Through Music

Interpretation comes in so many forms as we have been learning. Music is one of my favourite outlets and looking at it from an interpretation point of view is very intriguing to me. Music has been around for centuries, remaining a constant glue in many communities. The sounds that immerse from music create a channel to connect members of the same species together, or to other species in nature. With it being a part of the “affective” learning domain, music relates to an individual's feelings, which I personally think is the most effective method of interpreting. This is because it is not affected by discrimination or privilege as we discussed in Unit 3: music is a universal language!

When I think about music in nature, I think about ambient noise, as it is constantly all around us in nature. One does not have to be immersed in a fully rural setting to experience the sounds of ambient noise. Tilden’s 6 principles of interpretation, especially number 4, outline the idea that nature interpretation should be a thought provoking process that creates memories, not just needless amounts of information thrown at the audience that will not be absorbed. I think music and ambient noise correlates well with this idea, as there are no facts or limiting knowledge involved. Instead, it evokes a different response in everybody depending on their respective experiences. For example, when I think about ambient noise, I think of an opening shift at my job in Bronte Creek Provincial Park in the summer. There is not one soul in the usually packed park and I get to experience the amazing silence. Hearing the trees rustle, the whistling of the wind, or the waves of the pool fills me with a sense of calmness of peace that prepares me for the day! 

Regarding nature in music, I think that it is everywhere. An article called The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music expresses how us humans have been influenced for many years by species in nature when it comes to music. For example, it states that we utilize every elementary rhythmic sound that birds use in their song. More so, whales have been seen using repeating sounds that form rhymes! As a lot of human music also uses rhymes, we are involved in a symbiotic relationship with nature and music, in which we both benefit from each other.

My favourite memory of music and nature is from my trip to Tobermory last summer with a group of friends. We stayed up very late and listened to the soundtrack to Interstellar by Hans Zimmer in the backyard of our airbnb, laying on the ground and watching a spectacular display of shooting stars. The music itself is very special, mysterious, and moving, therefore making it an incredibly memorable experience.

- Sophia 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore Publishing

Gray, P. M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The music of nature and the nature of music. Science, 291(5501), 52–54.

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Hi Katarina,

Your blog was a very compelling and intriguing read! We shared a lot of similar ideas which is interesting to see that we analyzed the prompt quote in alike ways.

I enjoyed your in depth analysis of the train metaphor portion of the quote, as I struggled a little bit with unpacking this particular part. Your explanation of micro details and events being of equal importance to anything else is very helpful to interpret. I can agree that there are numerous components that are all apart of one big natural historic event that are easily ignored. However, it is these components that the quote explains are integral. By understanding the entire process behind said one event, we can appreciate its value and importance. These micro details help humans see the natural world in a much more accurate and unbiased way.

Additionally, your emphasis on unity as a community through historic interpretation of nature and exemplifying First Nations is something I touched on as well. These communities are truly a perfect example of the strength and unity to learn from. The First Nations understand the importance of remembering natural history and using it to sustain a high quality liveable life today and in the future. Therefore your title perfectly ties in with this idea; we must use the past, apply it to our present, and maintain it into the future.

Past, Present, Future

Hello my fellow classmates, I hope you are making it through midterm season, and can utilize your blog post writings as a source of fulfillment in these harder times!

“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 begin our journey of unpacking this dense quote, let’s define a few key words. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2021), peculiar is defined as “Different from the usual or normal”, merit is “A praiseworthy quality”, and integrity is “The quality of being honest and fair”. Keeping this knowledge in mind, we can interpret this quote by saying there is nothing out of the ordinary about the supposed praiseworthy quality in ancient things, but there is praisable quality in being honest. This praisable quality has the special capability of remembering the past. When we pay tribute to history and keep past memories alive, we respect their value and can learn and grow from them. The train metaphor is used as an example to describe the above. The train station was not only of value when the train was physically at the station. There are various little details and events that take place behind the scenes to successfully get the train to and from the station, and is arguable that these small events are of greatest importance. Similarly, major historic events have several micro-details involved that must be studied and passed on to get the full picture and true meaning of the situation. Interpretation shines light on previous events, architecture, and artifacts. It boosts wisdom to lead a way living in the present. Historic interpretation unites communities to remember their shared memories and traditions, and makes them a more special place to live (Beck, Cable, & Knudson, 2018). Relating back to the quotation, there must be maintenance of historic memories in order to preserve the wisdom enclosed in them.

It is important for history and nature interpretation to be presented at the same place. All natural sites hold a unique history, and all historic sites have natural assets (Beck, Cable, & Knudson, 2018). When I think of how history plays a role in natural interpretation, I immediately think of First Nation communities’ reserves. Indigenous people pass on the stories of their early ancestors from generation to generation. They are taught to respect and praise their land, care for it, and to live in harmony with the natural world. The elders on First Nation reserves act as the interpreters to the younger citizens so that their community history is kept alive, and still retains its relevance today, just like the quotation states.

There does not always have to be an interpreter present for an audience to be guided and informed on historic topics. Beck, Cable, & Knudson (2018) state that high quality interpretive writing encourages the reader to think deeply about the writing. When a piece of writing has the ability to spark an inspiration among the reader, they are able to gain an understanding and grow. It is for this reason that interpretation should always be used to examine past events so that not only are we aware that the train has arrived, but we know where it has come from and where it is going.

- Katarina

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson. D.M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore-Venture.

Merriam-Webster.com (2021). Merriam Webster.

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Nature Interpretation Through History

 This quote can be interpreted in numerous ways, as has been proven with everybody’s blog posts this week. I was able to unpack this quote in the way that memory and proactiveness is a critical component involved in the restoration and preservation of the history that is all around us. The importance of interpretation is highlighted as an integral process in embracing the past. 

To relate this to nature interpretation through history, the first thing I thought of was the Indigenous communities that first occupied the land we stand on today. It is a great misfortune to recognize the harm and suffering they have endured throughout time because of our country’s pure lack of interpretation of their history. However, we have begun our journey as a nation in remembering everything they have done and provided for us. This is an example of interpreting nature through history that is capable of making us better and more complete humans through honesty and accuracy (Fleischner, 2002). The indigneous’ awareness of their natural surroundings was so heightened that it was not even thought of as a separate part of life to interpret nature, whereas in our technological world, we must be reminded constantly to prevent the distance between us humans and nature’s history. 

I think that the indigenous protected and conserved areas are a wonderful example of what this quote is all about. These are areas around Canada where the unique nature history perspectives of the Indigenous people are utilized to conserve nature history. These areas remind us as Canadians that we must protect and honour the relationship between land and people, as was done in the past. These places observe Indigenous traditions and laws to make a point of remembering their contributions and conservation efforts. 

Why is it important to remember and conserve like this? It is a substantial effort of Canadians to reconcile with the Indigenous communities and learn the positive attributes that come from caring for our land. These include making us overall better humans, psychologically, mentally, culturally and more, just by observing the world in an accurate way. Interpreting our impact on Indigenous culture in the past and present will eventually help us to treat the world how we were intended to.

Learning from natural history instead of ignoring it will improve our own health, others health, biodiversity, culture, and more. By breathing life into the past, we can adapt to our new societal norms while supporting nature simultaneously. Utilizing conservation traditions can unify a nation in awareness of our “world of wounds” (Fleischner, 2002). The more we remember, the more educated we become. The more educated we become, the more we are inspired to make a change.

- Sophia 

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson. D.M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore-Venture.

https://journal.naturalhistoryinstitute.org/journal/articles/why-natural-history-matters/

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This course and the prompts each week have allowed me to reflect on a lot of positive memories in my life that have to do with nature. Regarding this week's open-ended prompt, I was able to give consideration to many substantial moments in nature that I have experienced. Specifically, I would like to share about my childhood memories travelling to Cuba!

With Cuba being a go-to tourist destination, it is always an adventure. I used to go every summer for one or two weeks with my entire extended family. More recently, I have gone many times with my closest friends. When I was younger, going outside of the resort to embrace the locals and their traditions was always my favourite. We would go to the busiest parts of Havana to see beautiful families full of different generations making the most out of life. Cuba is a country with a lot of problems economically and politically, however they all make the most of their beautiful environment and the nature around them to enjoy life to the fullest. Whether it's the children outside playing sports or the adults gardening and farming, they have learned a unique and very special way of nature interpretation that we may never understand. The simplicity that they live in keeps them distracted from materialism and consumerism. Though there is a lot of improvement to be done in the country, the conversations I have had with locals tells me that they are very happy to be embraced by nature.

When I have gone more recently, I have been able to try my own ways of nature interpretation with friends. Swimming in some of the clearest, most beautiful ocean water I have ever seen, hiking for hours on end through the blistering yet amazing heat, or looking for shells and learning about new animals are just some of the most beautiful parts of nature interpretation I like to experience when I am there. One of my favourite memories of my Cuba trips with friends is when we partook on an extremely long walk down the ocean line. At one point, walking through the water was our only option and we suddenly became swarmed by flying fish! There were hundreds, maybe thousands of these fish surrounding us as we walked through. I was annoyed at first, however it is such a surreal experience to look back on! When I came back home, I did my own proper research on these fish and learned so much. This small, funny experience allowed for me to interpret nature in a way I could not have done without the privilege of travelling to such a beautiful country.

Let me know if you have ever been to Cuba or had any similar experience! I would love to know how others have seen the world. Thank you guys for listening to my post.

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Hi Rachel, 

This was such a cool post to read! I have always loved the dedication possessed by tree planters and it is very cool to see that you have experienced it! The minimalistic approach of it all seems like it really must help you be fully thrown into nature. The absence of the usual hustle and materialistic world that we are usually living in looks like it has a lot of positive effects. Even through the negative toll this job takes on your body and health, the beauty of nature prevailed no matter what. I like that you can admit that not everything was easy and fun. This is what the beauty of nature is all about for me; embracing every aspect of it whether it be the bitter storms or the sunshine that comes after them. 

Trees are such a critical part of our environment and its unfortunate how often they are damaged. Thank you so much for being a part of the force behind tree planting in our province! Through your photos and explanations, it looks like you have started to learn so much about nature and your role in it as an interpreter.  Being in tune with nature really becomes critical with this type of dedication and involvement for three whole months. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience; it was a pleasure to read.

- Sophia

lessons learned while planting trees

For the past 2 summers I’ve packed my life into a hockey bag, boarded a bus and drove to some remote part of Northern Ontario where I spent 3 months planting trees. Treeplanting is one of the most interesting jobs I’ve ever had in my life. I’ve never done something so painful, draining and defeating but somehow so fun, empowering and beautiful at the same time.

For 3 months I lived in a tent, at various camps a couple kilometers down random logging roads. We travelled all around Northern Ontario, setting up and taking down camp every couple of weeks. There was never cell service, the shower was essentially a hose and a piece of plywood, and my diet consisted of mainly peanut butter sandwiches, oranges and far too many cookies. I got to live and work with some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met who are now some of my closest friends. The planting environment builds close relationships FAST, whether it’s by somebody helping you through a breakdown or just trying to entertain yourselves when there’s literally nothing to do. And after three months of living in the woods together, everybody goes a little crazy.

As a tree planter you get paid based on how many trees you plant (anywhere from 10-14 cents/tree in Ontario), which means you are in control of how much money you make. Each day no matter the weather- be it blisteringly hot, freezing cold, raining or even snowing, you’re planting trees. From 8 am – 6 pm your entire life is “plant a tree, take 2 steps, plant another tree, take 2 steps, step over a fallen branch, plant another tree” all while carrying 40 pounds on your back.

One of the most interesting parts of treeplanting is how it changed my relationship with nature. To me, nature has always been a thing of beauty and abundance, it’s always been a place where I feel calm and at peace. But while planting I realized that nature can also be cruel, harsh and unrelenting. In the same ways nature built me up and filled me with joy in my past, some days it knocked me on my knees and took away all my strength. On days when the heat was so bad I’d throw up, or days when my rain coat soaked through and the wind chilled my bones, and especially when I stepped on a wasp nest and had to run for my life. Some days felt like going to war with the Earth. For the first time in my life I hated nature, and I felt like it hated me too.

Planting pushed me to both my physical and mental limits. I felt a level of tired I didn’t know was possible, I got blisters in places I didn’t know I could, and I learned to live with permanent pain and soreness. If I wasn’t planting as many trees as I hoped, I’d get so down on myself. And spending 10 hours straight with only my thoughts to keep me company was a lot harder than I imagined (thankfully I had my headphones in 99% of the time, as long as Taylor Swift is playing nothing is THAT bad right?).

But for every rain day, there was a day filled with sunshine and blue skies. For every mosquito swarm there was a heron, or a moose, or a baby fox. As much as this job wrecked me, it built me up to become a better human than I was before I was a tree planter. I learned I am so much stronger than I thought, I persevered through even the hardest times, and I was also able to provide support and guidance for my friends.

Although this is the hardest job I've ever had I wouldn't change it for the world! I get to live in the beautiful boreal forest surrounded by cool people for the whole summer! Even at the end of the hardest days you get on the bus, go back to camp and wash the day away by jumping in the lake, eating as much home cooked food as you can and hanging out with your friends. I am so grateful for all of the lessons I learned planting trees, and I cant wait to make even more memories next summer!

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Hi!

I really enjoyed reading your blog this week. You covered plenty of interesting ideas that helped me to see nature interpretation through art in a new light. 

I also talked about how much photography inspires me as an outlet for interpretation. It is an amazing way to experience other environments and elements of nature that exist in our world, that we do not necessarily have access to in person. Photos create increased accessibility for everybody and that is something that I think of when defining the gift of beauty- accessibility and equality. However, I associate with your definition of the gift of beauty as well. Photographs have the ability to capture beautiful moments in nature and emphasize its delicacy. Photos are a very important effort in instilling gratefulness and conservation values in people. They are a critical resource that evokes enough emotion to uplift and inspire.

Your photos are breathtaking and very impressive! Your Lake Timiskaming photo is chilling and depicts how interpretation is truly unique to every individual - depending on one’s experience or knowledge on the tragedy, their reaction to this photo will vary greatly. As well, your winter photo evoked a appreciation in me that we get to experience all four seasons in Ontario. We often complain about the cold weather, but it is something people across the globe yearn for. Your photo showcased the beautiful aspect of winter and brought up gratefulness as a main emotion for me.

Thank you for sharing your opinion on the gift of beauty and art as a form of nature interpretation. I appreciated your take on things as well as your photos! 

Interpreting Nature Through Art and “the Gift of Beauty”

Nature is the gift that keeps giving. Every little detail that we experience while interpreting nature can be perceived through creative eyes and expressed artistically. Some of the greatest pieces of art are based on scenic nature scenes or animal encounters. Photography, music, painting and so many other artistic talents embrace what nature provides us and shapes it into our own visions. Art gives individuals the ability to interpret what they see, feel, and appreciate from nature and put these aspects into one arrangement. 

The greatest form of nature interpretation through art for me is photography. Photography is an art that allows us to capture moments of distress and/or peace. The most horrid storms or the best sunsets can be captured in a million different ways through a lens and allows us as observers to interpret. I live in a place that sees the odd thunderstorm or snowstorm, however, through photography I am able to interpret other environments such as how dangerous tornadoes are or how hot the desert is, all from photos. 

“Interpretation should instil in people the ability, and the desire, to sense beauty in their surroundings- to provide spiritual uplift and to encourage resource preservation” (Beck et. al, 2018)

The “gift of beauty” is embraced by all who appreciate the artistic aspects of nature. I have seen this quote a few times this week, between readings and blog posts. I think it sets a certain tone for how we use art to interpret nature. It is important for us to appreciate the beauty that nature surrounds us with and to feel privileged to have it. However, it is also essential to preserve and respect our environment. I interpret the “gift of beauty” as a sense of gratefulness for nature’s artistry and its ability to ‘spiritually uplift’.

I attached some of my favourite photos that I believe interpret nature. For me, these photos each create a different feeling and tell so much without saying a word. I hope you have the same experience!     

These photos were both taken in Northern Ontario. The summer photo is of Lake Timiskaming.. The same lake as the tragic disaster that took place in 1978 as we learned this week… 

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson. D.M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore-Venture.

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Nature interpretation is a timeless concept that will always be a part of our lives no matter what. Though when we think about nature interpretation, we can sometimes incorporate the hustle of our everyday modern lives into it, by assuming it must include an outrageous amount of speaking filled with facts and dates and statistics. However, “reporting the beauty of a scene might reduce the opportunity for inspiration (Beck et al. 2018). A lot of us live pretty fast-paced and sometimes stressful lives, which makes it challenging to slow down the pace when it comes to nature interpretation. We must let our minds run wild with thought when observing nature through art, so as to form whatever personal connection is needed to let the art resonate with oneself.

Reading this unit provoked a lot of thought and emotion for me personally, as my dad has a genuine passion for art and using it as an outlet for nature interpretation as well. I have such vivid memories of him bringing me to galleries and showing me The Group of Seven! At the time, I could not understand the importance my dad was desperately trying to verbally explain to me. This is because his words could not resonate if I was not actually doing any interpreting myself. His verbal explanations of what he sees and why he connects with it, would have varied greatly from what I myself can see and interpret from the painting. Now that I have grown, I can create connections with the nature through art I come across and make my own meaning out of it.

When interpreting the gift of beauty, one must utilize whichever form of art for interpreting that resonates and uplifts the most. I think of photography as the best form of nature interpretation for myself. I have already shown evidence of this within my blog post (as have a lot of my fellow bloggers), with all the beautiful photos I have posted of the nature around me. I think they are an amazing way to interpret the gift of beauty, as I can pinpoint exact memories and emotions associated with each photo I take, while others can look at them and think of something very different. The common denominator of this visual art and the respective interpretations people make of it, is that there is an overall appreciation and admiration for nature’s beauty.

When we talked about privilege in nature interpretation, a lot of us mentioned that economic and geographic barriers can cause disadvantages for some. The beautiful thing about nature interpretation through art is that these barriers can come down. Symbolism through art can be accessed so much easier than physically travelling place to place to interpret nature. I think that a component of interpreting the gift of beauty is that it is accessible to everyone and art helps make this happen! Let me know if any of my photos evoked an interpretation for any of you. :)

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson. D.M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore-Venture.

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Hello!

Your blog post was very engaging and had some insightful thoughts that I thought I should respond to!

You definitely should not be embarrassed for not considering this weeks topics of privilege and nature. Its something that does not seem obvious at first, however I'm sure we all learned with this unit that it is quite evident in every day life.

I really enjoyed your emphasis on speaking/understanding English as a privilege associated with nature. I would have never thought to connect the two, but your explanation of this communication barrier makes a lot of sense. It helped me recognize the privilege I have myself by simply understanding and speaking English. It would indeed be much more of a challenge to engage in nature when the majority of educational and recreational resources are provided in English, including our podcasts!

There is for sure less risk associated with privilege. Even the barriers of fear and lack of knowledge can be considered a risk for minority groups as these barriers hold them back from nature interpretation opportunities that are available to them. Lack of knowledge could lead to insufficient preparation for a trip into nature. For a drastic example, not knowing the survival essentials for a camping trip could put one at a very high risk.

I got to think a lot about my own life from the strong points you brought up in your post. I am excited to read more and reflect on privilege and its associations.

- Sophia

Role of Privilege in Nature Interpretation

While reading this post, consider that I am using “privilege” here to refer to opportunities and experiences that an individual is given throughout their life that provides them an advantage. These opportunities and experiences are given. By this, I mean they are obtained not through the actions of the individual, but by those out of their direct control.

I am embarrassed to say that before this course I had not considered the role privilege plays in nature interpretation. Privilege provides individuals with opportunities that not everyone may get, and these opportunities can be done at a lower risk. I will dive further into what I mean by this with shortly. In terms of nature interpretation, privilege provides more access to environmental interpretation opportunities.

Speaking and writing in English is one privilege. Large journals are often written in English, so being able to write in English allows for a better chance at becoming recognized in literature. A similar circumstance might be said about communication for environmental interpretation. Since English is a popular language, communicating in English may provide the most opportunities for reaching a large audience. For example, hosting an English podcast would likely reach and appeal to more people than a podcast in a language that is not as popular. Considering this, it makes me wish there were extra measures (if there are not already) to effectively translate material. This would allow those that do not speak English more of an equal opportunity to access information. I am wondering, does anyone have an idea of how to go about this? Or if this is already being done?

Back to the point I touched on earlier (about how privilege comes with more opportunities and less risk). Here I meant that those with more privilege have more opportunities to experience and learn about nature. This could be because of their available finances, having two parents that provide them with opportunities, etc. These things would allow them to be able to do activities that lead to an inspiration for caring about nature and the environment. Although risk can be found anywhere, I state that there is less risk for those with privilege because their life situations may provide them with less opportunities to be exposed to danger. For example, people with more financial security are able to participate in things like overnight hiking trips, go to a cottage, or sign up for a paid podcast without having to worry about the possibility of a financial loss that will negatively influence them. Does anyone else have any other ideas of how risk might be lower for those with privilege?

By understanding the role of privilege in nature interpretation, I have begun to unpack my invisible backpack (think about the characteristics and opportunities I have been given that others might not have as much access to). For example, I am learning about nature and interpretation because of my mom offering me the chance to go to university. This is allowing me to learn about how to effectively interpret nature which may give me a step up compared to others if I decide to make my own interpretation website, social media, or another blog. Recognizing the role of privilege and understanding the privilege we have as individuals is crucial to offer everyone as equal of an opportunity as we can to understand and learn about nature, which I think is a important responsibility of an interpreter.

Image credits: https://thevarsity.ca/2015/01/11/when-is-it-necessary-to-for-us-to-check-our-privilege/ 

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The thought of nature interpretation can come with a largely thought assumption that it is just as easy and accessible for any individual. I can appreciate that this week's blog activities are presented to us to alter this perception and to recognize privilege. It is often difficult to understand privilege because of the fact that we are born with our respective one’s! Realizing that we live with these specific advantages that were not caused by one’s own decision making or hard work can be neglected a lot of the time. This is especially true when it comes to nature interpretation, where not only must the interpreter's privilege be considered, but also those of the audience members.

The biggest privileges that I think of when I think about nature interpretation are geographical location and class/income you grew up in. After reading through this unit, one of the first things I noticed was the privileges I have associated with nature interpretation; I’ve even mentioned them already in previous blog posts! For example, having parents who can afford seasons passes to Ontario’s Conservation Parks, or attending a high school that provided so many opportunities for camping trips. This is extremely important for me to recognize as an environmental interpreter, as I must take these privileges of mine into consideration when engaging with an audience.

Privilege plays a massive role in nature interpretation, especially in this relationship between interpreter and audience. As Professor Hooykaas mentioned in one of her personal experiences of bringing youth at risk on a Northern Ontario canoe trip, you will never fully understand an audience member's entire life and what privileges came with it! However, as interpreters, we can understand that every person is different and therefore we cannot treat every audience the same. Simply the location you were born or grew up in can provide a lot of privilege in nature interpretation; being located close to safe areas of nature evidently provides increased opportunity for nature interpretation compared to a location where there are cultural barriers and the environment is more industrialized and unsafe. The privilege of being part of a high class or high income family will also provide natural advantages like travel/transportation opportunities and paid excursions/activities in nature whereas individuals with economic barriers cannot always take part.

The privileges that I have seen being mentioned including the ones I have just discussed are all associated with the very generalized concept of underserved audiences. To truly discuss privilege’s association with nature interpretation, we must be more understanding of audiences on a case to case basis without making any generalizations.

This is definitely a unit of heavy reflection and I am excited to learn as much as I can on these topics so I can mature as a person in nature and as an interpreter!

- Sophia

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Hi Julia,

I had to respond to your blog post as your photo and stories of experiences in Seoul are fascinating! I can appreciate how you acknowledged your lack of experience in nature interpretation. However, you utilized what you do know about yourself and nature to elaborate on physical demand being an asset in your ideal role as an environmental interpreter. It is super convenient that this would be beneficial to not only your audience, but yourself as well! I agree with your emphasis on teamwork and communicating with each other. It is a critical part of everyday life, and especially in nature interpretation.

The photo you included is breathtaking and shows me how South Korea seems like an absolutely amazing place to be. I can sense the serenity and calmness of the environment just from the photo. It is very easy to see how this is your dream location to do environmental interpretation. You seem to have a good sense of the skills associated with your dream role and how this is doable for you as an interpreter. You also mentioned that you have a long way to go, which is something I talked about as well. Just as we are always interpreting, we are always learning new things from new and different interpreters as well. It is an exciting ever-going cycle in all of our lives!

Thanks for your contributions, Julia!

- Sophia

Me as an Environmental Interpreter

Describe your ideal role as an environmental interpreter. What might it entail?

Unfortunately, I’ve had no previous experience working as a nature interpreter or working in nature at all for that fact. However, I’ve always wanted to work in an outdoor setting closely with nature. It’s definitely a career path that I consider and appeals to me because I would love to learn to take deeper meaning in things around me while growing my appreciation for the natural world. My ideal role as an environmental interpreter would be to work in a more physically demanding position such as guided hiking tours. Growing up I have always loved being active so I think I could really thrive being a guide through an extensive hike. This way I’d be able to share my love and passion for nature and its profound ecosystem while getting exercise and staying fit doing it.

Through guiding group hiking tours, I’d wish to encourage my visitors to interact with one another and boost motivation. That way, we can be inspired as a group and build an even deeper connection with the nature surrounding us. Overall, working together as a team would enrich the experience for everyone. Also, I would prefer to work with a smaller group of people so that I could focus on each one of them and provide full assistance to whoever needs it. If I had to guide a large group on my own, I could see myself being overwhelmed, possibly losing the attention of the visitors.

Where might it be?

It would be a dream to be able to work as an environmental interpreter at a park or a hiking trail in the mountains of South Korea. Every year I go back to my home country to visit my family and friends. And when I do visit, I make sure to go hiking with my dad. It’s sort of becoming our tradition now. The picture that I added to this post is actually a picture that I took on one of our hikes. The picture simply did not capture the beauty that lay in front of my eyes. The Korean mountains hold a special place in my heart. Not only does it bring me joy hiking through one but it truly brings me a sense of peace being there. Seoul is a fast-paced and highly-populated city. So to be looking over a huge city like that from a mountain peak that is simply untamed and tranquil is a surreal feeling. You guys have to try it for yourselves. It allows you to gain a greater appreciation for life and the beauty that nature has to offer.

What skills might you need?

The skills necessary for a position of a hiking tour guide would be effective communication, extensive knowledge of the natural world, strategic leadership, high physical endurance level, and finally a general knowledge of health and safety training to avoid any possible injuries during the hike. I think that all of these qualities together would build an exceptional tour guide. Obviously, in order for me to work up to that, I have a long way to go. But the truth is, anyone can take up environmental interpretation, as long as you keep an open mind and are willing to search for deeper meaning in the world around us.

-Julia

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I have been thoroughly enjoying everyone’s blog posts and learning a lot about the meaning behind being an environmental interpreter. Personally, I believe that we are all meant to be interpreters in one way or another. Everybody has the natural ability to be an interpreter, however it is up to you where this ability takes you in life (Beck et. al, 2018)! The critical part is working to improve the teaching skills associated with the role as we mature. Any one person will view the environment in a different light depending on their respective experiences and opinions. Therefore, we all have distinct takes on our surroundings to share and teach to others.

The important component of being an environmental interpreter is making the presentation of your knowledge meaningful in a way that your audience is engaged and excited to learn from you (Beck et. al, 2018)! The process of captivating your audience changes significantly with each event, therefore my ideal role as an environmental interpreter is not finite. The ideal scenario of nature interpretation involves not only an engaged audience, but a topic that I, myself am genuinely interested in and excited to become involved in.

To exemplify my thought process, let me expand on the picture above! I was probably somewhere between 8-10 years old in this photo, which subsequently means I was an impressionable young learner and interpreter. At this age I was very naïve and didn’t truly consider what the experience meant to me. I was not able to fully interpret the interaction I just had with such a beautiful creature of nature and how this was not an everyday occurrence. The hands-on tactile aspect of it all was the most efficient way for me to absorb as a learner. At this age, it was easier to simply embrace hands-on experiences with nature and therefore I would have prioritized an outdoor and tactile role as an environmental interpreter. However, now at 20 years old, a lot has changed within my experience and personal knowledge of nature. As I grew older, my relationship with nature developed into one with a bit of caution and hesitation.

Presently in my life, I think my ideal role as an environmental interpreter would be in a classroom setting, emphasizing the seriousness of climate change in our environment and all around the globe. My 8-year-old self would never think to be an environmental interpreter for climate change, however through life experience and lots of research in school, I am intrigued on the topic to be eager enough to interpret for the right reasons and engage my audience! Evidently, the topic can never be fully learned as it is an ever-evolving area of environmental interpretation that is constantly up for debate. Nevertheless, I would love to engage a younger audience on how critical is to keep our earth healthy and make sure they are excited to do so. I would do this by using a lot of visual aids to physically represent my ideas (Beck et. al, 2018). Using visuals to talk about climate change would demonstrate how real it really is, since it is difficult to imagine when our world seems healthy at first glance. A successful interpretation would improve the chances of the new generation getting involved and continuing the effort of connecting people to the earth (Beck et. al, 2018).

References

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson. D.M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore-Venture.