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Disclaimer
This blog was created for ENVS3000, University of Guelph.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of the University of Guelph.
The University of Guelph is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by this blog.
Unit 10: Finale
My personal ethics are a mix-bag due to living in multiple different cultures. I lived in Korea until 7. Then, I moved to the UAE and stayed there for 12 years. Now, I’ve been in Canada for the past 4 years. Throughout, some of the things I came to value are fairness, responsibility, and self-improvement. These ethics can translate, in multiple ways, to that of a natural interpreter.
Casual photos of places I've lived in: Korea (top left), Abu Dhabi (top right), Guelph (bottom).
The fairness ethic of mine developed by experiencing a variety of cultures and peoples in my life. In the UAE, I went to an affluent international highschool, where I met people from all over. However, outside school, the UAE is full of low-wage immigrant workers and it becomes evident that they are underserved in various aspects of life. The UAE essentially has no middle class as you see in Canada - it’s either poor or high-middle class (or higher). In Canada, I experienced the full force of the oftentimes struggling middle class. Many of my friends are white and considered “privileged”, yet they have to work so much just to afford the basics.
Thus, I feel a responsibility, as a natural interpreter, to bring fairness to all. A core aspect of being a good interpreter is to serve a diverse audience (Beck et al., 2019, pg.132), especially if your goal is to spread the message of an environmental issue. This also ties into the concept of “unpacking” my privilege so as to not bias your interpretation to a certain group of people (Gallavan, n.d.).
Image credits: Spirit FM
Barriers create the “underserved populations” and by recognizing this, I can expand my reach towards these parts of society (Beck et al., 2019, pg.132). For instance, economics may be a key barrier towards a large part of the population, especially if they do not possess a personal vehicle or are busy with work (Beck et al., 2019, pg.133). Or, there may be cultural barriers where different groups have very different opinions about nature (Beck et al., 2019, pg.133).
Whatever the barrier, by “unpacking my privilege” and following my fairness ethics, I have the responsibility to reach out to give a fair chance to everyone. For example, if I were to work in a national park, I could make the effort to reduce economic barriers by advocating for cheap transportation (like a bus) to pick up people and at diverse times to allow for busy people to have an opportunity.
Also, as a “minority” myself, I oppose the idea of treating them differently just because they are a “minority”. I think my experience in Guelph exemplified a good approach that ensures fairness. Here, I have never once been treated differently just because I am Asian. If anything, people treated me like a fellow Canadian, even asking me who I voted for during the 2019 election. As such, I think it is important to recognize it is wrong to generalize a minority group (Beck et al., 2019, pg.133) and when making the special effort to reach out to them, don’t make it seem like a special treatment type of deal (Beck et al., 2019, pg.134). If possible, the best approach would be to treat everyone equally while keeping in mind who your current audience is. This can be done by friendly talking to them, asking why they're here, and even internet surveys (Beck et al., 2019, pg.129).
When it comes to responsibility and the self-improvement ethic, this is heavily tied to my Korean heritage. In Korean culture, you are always compared to others, and people have very high expectations of you. Almost feels like you are constantly carrying the weight of the world. Thus, if I don’t get perfect on a thing I am invested in (like academia), I become angry at myself. I think this is a toxic trait of mine but the positives can be used as a natural interpreter.
Image credits: Presentermedia
Having a sense of responsibility allows you to try to perfect your interpretation of nature. While this may be subjective, a good interpretation takes considerable effort, which may be lacklustre without a sense of responsibility for the environment. It is not a walk in the park to make an emotional and intellectual connection with the audience, communicated through nature (Beck et al., 2019, pg.304).
For instance, the usage of arts can tremendously benefit the interpretation. I believe even approaches like theatre and reenactments can be useful for natural interpretation. Having a diversity of approaches that targets all the senses help leave an impression (Beck et al., 2019, pg.107). However, these approaches require heavy investment into knowledge, making connections to the character, props, rehearsals and much more (Beck et al., 2019, pg.219). Only someone with a high sense of responsibility for the environment and position can tackle such a challenge.
With self-improvement, it will help further improve as an interpreter. By taking good feedback and reflecting on your doings (and if it meets your objectives), you can infinitely improve (Beck et al., 2019, pg.419). I think one of the best things you can do to do this is to invite other natural interpreter sites and become a "visitor" for your own sites (Beck et al., 2019, pg.420). Oftentimes, you know more than the audience and thus may leave out key details that the audience may not know. By fixing these issues, it makes the interpretation much more available for all audiences.
Finally, I want to talk about an approach that is suitable for me and others in my generation. We grew up with the rapid development of technology. Many might think this causes a disconnect between people and nature (Beck et al., 2019, pg.166). However, I believe we can use it to also reconnect. Websites, social media, Youtube, etc. have the presence of billions. As such, I see our technology literacy as a huge opportunity to reach those billions of people to reconnect nature into humans (Beck et al., 2019, pg.168).
A foldable phone - a symbol of today's rapid technological development.
Overall, I have a long way to go to be an interpreter. However, I have still learnt much, especially in ways of scientific communication - a topic important in current science.
I hope people feel the same and good luck on the final stretch!
Eugene Cha
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.
Gallavan, N. P. (n.d.). Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks". Multicultural Education, 13(Pages: 36-36).
Hi Eugene!
I really enjoyed reading your blog post. It’s always interesting to hear the different perspectives and experiences of others, but I find that I can relate to your blog in many ways as we share similar experiences and value fairness. I was born in Colombia and came to Canada at a young age, so I can relate to your transition and your experience of meeting people from different cultures other than your own. I found that my first few years had been a positive experience, especially when it came to connecting with others. This was greatly attributed to the people that I was initially introduced to and I learned to understand how important is it to treat others with respect and kindness regardless of our differences. Beck et al. (2018), has highlighted the importance of equity and respect when interpreting in various chapters. Although my transition to Canada did not directly involve nature interpreting, my teachers and classmates interpreted the culture of Canada to me in a way that I could understand at the time. They were able to try to understand my circumstances and teach in a way that was suitable for their audience (me! And other ESL students). This is a concept that has also been thoroughly mentioned by Beck et al. (2018), the ability to know your audience. My classmates and teachers were incredibly understanding of my situation and helped me flourish within my school. This experience has taught me the importance of interpreting in ways that can reach your audience, just like it has been taught by Beck et al. (2018).
Here's a photo of my mom and I at Centre Island when we first came to Canada!
References
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.
Looking Ahead
This is my last semester of my undergraduate degree. I have switched majors three times, going from a BA in English, to International Development, and finally to a BSc in Wildlife Biology and Conservation. I have spent the last five years studying and taking courses from all of these disciplines, and I truly feel like I have accumulated vast amounts of knowledge from all three areas. And out of all the courses I have taken (trust me, there's a lot), Nature Interpretation was by far the most inspiring and meaningful, and I'm grateful to finish my degree with this course in my final semester.
As someone in STEM, I'm used to looking at facts. Whether it's completing my own experiments, or reading other's research, I am drawn to conclusions and results. I'm lucky that I have been given the resources to understand scientific literature and apply these facts to the world around me. Five years ago, in my first year as an English major, I don't think I would be able to say that. Learning the ins and outs of Nature Interpretation has allowed me to fully grasp how important this is, but it has also allowed me to gain an appreciation for scientific accessibility. Nature interpretation offers a pathway of accessibility to scientific information that otherwise might not be readily available. Nature interpreters have such an important role in the scientific world, as they are the ones who convey the science to others. This exchange of information allows for collaboration that could improve society's relationship with the natural world. This course has made me appreciate this, and I'll carry this appreciation with me after I graduate.
Reminding myself of the importance of accessibility in STEM helps me to establish my personal ethics. I know how it feels to be so interested in a topic and yet know nothing about it, and feel like it's too difficult to learn. I am lucky that my university education has helped me in this aspect, but I know that not everyone has this opportunity. Reaching as many people as possible to spread scientific awareness of our natural world is important to me, and I hope that as an ethic this will remain an important part of my life and career. Learning about the importance of nature interpretation has established this ethic in the foundation of who I am as an interpreter.
As I enter this next chapter of my life post-graduation, I have to remind myself of my responsibilities as a nature interpreter going forward. Outside of university life, I will have the opportunity to reach more people and share more knowledge and experiences. I am looking forward to working jobs and volunteering in spaces that give me these opportunities.
I talked about the responsibility of keeping STEM accessible, but there is more to the story. I am privileged to be able to go outside and hike in nature, or two buy a plane ticket and travel to a new location. I know this privilege does not extend to everyone, and it is my responsibility to help others establish these connections with nature in any way that they can. I want everyone to find a space in nature that they can connect with- something that is special just to them.
My childhood best friend, Maya, works as an educational guide in Ontario. She often tells me stories about high school students that she takes on guided hikes, who have spent so many of their teen years inside, partly due to COVID and partly due to technology. It makes her so sad to see these teenagers bored by nature, and unable to connect with it, as they would rather spend time on their phones. I feel sad as well. And I feel like I have a responsibility to help that generation form connections with nature. We were all teenagers once, and teenagers are stubborn, but I haven't given up hope. When people like Maya and I, and you (my fellow nature interpreters) work together to help people experience the natural world, I think we can heal the world around us by forming connections.
Maya and I, 2019
When I think about how I will approach my role as a nature interpreter, I think it comes down to encouraging people to find out what fascinates them. I want to encourage curiosity and for people to be eager to learn. I want to bring people outside and show them just how much we depend on the natural world so they can connect and develop their own fascinations. What I'm interested in may have no impact on someone else, but maybe it will spark an inquiry elsewhere. When people are curious, they observe their surroundings more in depth, and are constantly coming up with thoughts and ideas. From a nature interpretation standpoint, curiosity could allow people to actively engage with the natural world, instead of just being in it. By approaching interpretation as a way of fostering this curiosity in people, I hope to spark creativity in those around me.
When people are encouraged to learn more about their natural surroundings, they are also more confident in their ability to conserve them (Merenlender et al. 2016). This is an important step towards environmental conservation, and this confidence can be achieved at any age. While it is important to start teaching people about the importance of our environment at a young age, we should not neglect those in high school or older, as it is not "too late" to spark their interests.
In conclusion, I hope that I am able to use my personal ethics as a route to actively pursuing my responsibilities as an interpreter. Throughout this course, I have been able to reflect on what being a nature interpreter means to me on an individual level, and it boils down to these three points:
I want to be someone who conveys scientific information in a way that is accessible to people of all ages/ backgrounds
I want to encourage curiosity and spark interest in others, in the hope that they will find something they are passionate about and pursue it
I not only want to share information and experiences with others, but I also want people to share things with me. We all have so much to learn from one another, and every day we interact with new people. I want to learn from these interactions.
I have truly enjoyed reading everyone's blog posts this semester. I have learned a lot, and have much to reflect on going forward. I wish you all good luck with your schooling and future endeavours!
Merenlender, A. M., Crall, A. W., Drill, S., Prysby, M., & Ballard, H. (2016). Evaluating Environmental Education, citizen science, and stewardship through naturalist programs. Conservation Biology, 30(6), 1255–1265. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12737
Hey there! Great work on your blog post! It is nice to meet someone else in the Wildlife Bio community. It is a little community here in Guelph so it is always surprising to meet someone else in it. You mentioned that as you develop as a nature interpreter and scientist, you will attempt to make information accessible to all ages and backgrounds. As I grow into my career, I also recognize how important and necessary this is in order to promote equality in the education system. The concept of accessibility in science education was taught to me in my UNIV*2020 course. I took this course at the beginning of the COVID and we learned about many aspects of science education. This was incredibly important, especially in a time when there was a lot of polarity present and much of it was due to misinformation or information that was not accessible to many groups of people. In many ways, a lot of our teachings were similar to Beck et al. (2018). We highlighted the importance of effective discourse, which referred to the way we communicated with people. This could include the type of language that was used, the technology used, etc. Similar to Beck et al. (2018), they highlighted the importance of communicating in a way that can be receptive to those you interpret to. There are many benefits that come along with making information more accessible to a wider audience which includes fostering creativity and new ideas, as well as increasing knowledge and new understandings in the education system.
Here's a really cool video on effective teaching methods in science education.
Ale
References
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.
Nature Interpretation's Role in Environmental Sustainability
David Suzuki and Richard Louv mention their involvement in connecting with nature at quite a young age. David Suzuki mentions that as a young kid, it was difficult for him to socialize with kids his age so he spent the majority of his time surrounded by nature and wildlife. Richard Louv experienced nature in a forest that was in the backyard of his family home. They highlight that we will all connect with nature in our own way and on our own time. They described that this moment could be explained by a few words “we know it when we see it” (Suzuki & Louv, 2012). I mention this video to introduce to you two very important personal ethics as I develop as a nature interpreter. The first one is the consideration and understanding of various backgrounds and experiences. Beck et al. (2018), highlights this greatly throughout the literature. It is very important to be aware of the different opportunities individuals have had and how these shape their understanding of nature (Beck et al., 2018). David Suzuki and Richard Louv, have experienced nature from such a young age that they have developed a strong passion for it. I was fortunate enough to have parents that enjoyed spending time outdoors and were able to take me on trips that revolved around nature and wildlife. However, there are so many individuals that lived in the city, or had parents that prioritized different experiences or simply put did not have the same opportunities as David, Richard and myself. It is important for me to consider these backgrounds. That way I can communicate in a way that is effective and considerate of each individual. The second important personal ethic that I will bring is that everyone has a “we know it when we see it” (Suzuki & Louv, 2012) moment at their own pace. This moment essentially describes when an individual connects with nature. As a nature interpreter, I never want to rush individuals to connect with nature in the way that I do. I want to inspire these moments but never have an individual feel less than for not feeling the connection many of us nature lovers already do. I think for many of us the moment of deep connection with nature may have taken time. The various nature adventures I have had throughout the years have changed my appreciation and love for mother nature. Therefore, it is important for me to consider that everyone will connect with nature at their own pace and with their own adventures.
Do you think that your connection with nature can be traced back to a single moment? Or was it through multiple experiences?
Here are two pictures of when I was really young in a park with my dad and brother and then this summer at Bruce Peninsula. These images are about 14 years apart, and all of these opportunities have developed the connection that I currently have with nature today.
I think a large portion of my beliefs and responsibilities interact and affect one another. I believe that nature can be labelled as this powerful, beautiful force called mother nature. This spiritual belief that I have is based on the appreciation for nature, this belief provides it with a name that evokes an entity in charge of things such as the mountains, the water and the wind. Labelling nature as this entity provides a responsibility to care for it. They always say that you should take care of the things you love. I definitely think that being a Wildlife Biology and Conservation student has drastically changed the way I see things. In many ways it has changed my priorities. Therefore, as a nature interpreter, it is important that I interpret in a way where I focus on topics that surround conservation and biodiversity. These are particularly important topics to cover as they are what I have studied for the past four years!
I think it is also our responsibility to try to inspire individuals to take action. Within this week’s reading, the author highlights how it may seem very overwhelming for environmental educators to teach in a way that inspires action (Rodenburg, 2019). I think as a nature interpreter this can be done through interpretive experiences that generate opportunities for connection. A connection with nature may elicit the desire to take action. Therefore, it is my responsibility to create opportunities for connection to also inspire action (Rodenburg, 2019). This connection could occur through self-reflection moments, through attempting to elicit emotions via nature and through various adventures in nature. I believe that connection rises in nature, when you touch, hear and/or smell. I went to Flowerpot Island this summer and one thing that I remember was how cold that water felt when I first stuck my hand in. I was able to connect myself deeper with nature through feeling but also connecting even deeper through having memories of swimming with my brother in that freezing cold lake.
“Flowerpot Island”
I think that nature interpretation through video would be the most suitable appraoch for me as I develop my skills in interpreting. I have mentioned throughout my blog my love for filming and editing videos. It would be great to incorporate aspects of my hobbies to teach and advocate for nature. I think the skills that I have developed prior would help focus on interpreting. That way it is a lot easier to dedicate time to the way I communicate rather than splitting my time on editing/filming.
What hobbies do you think that you could incorporate to nature interpretation?
I am excited to see if any of you can relate to my personal ethics, interested in what you guys have to say!
Ale
References
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.
Rodenburg, J. (2019, June 17). Why environmental educators shouldn't give up hope. CLEARING. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300
Suzuki, D. & Louv, R. [DavidSuzukiFDN]. (2012, July 20). David Suzuki and Richard Louv @Ago. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5DI1Ffdl6Y.
Sense Making in Nature Interpretation
A number of us are going to take different approaches to this week’s blog prompt as all of us are driven and interested by different aspects of nature. Some of us are passionate about specific wildlife, others are more interested in natural landscapes and some of us are still trying to understand what part of nature intrigues them the most. For myself, I have always been interested in the impact that nature plays in human health. To be more specific, what components of nature play a role in a healthy mind, body and soul.
Nature is fascinating in itself as there are many aspects of it that play dynamic roles in relationships. The most interesting thing I know about nature is the impact that it has on human health and happiness. As mentioned in the textbook, we learn how to interpret nature through our life cycle in academic settings (Beck et al., 2018). Schools want to integrate our learning with nature through various programs and facilities as it provides individuals important life skills (Beck et al., 2018). Prior to taking ENVS*3000, I have taken a couple of ecology courses and learned about the relationship nature has on human happiness in an ASCI course I took. Human beings depend a lot on their environment for their actions and their emotions. The term used that refers to this relationship is nature connectedness. According to a study conducted in China, there is positive correlation between nature connectedness and mental health (Liu et al., 2022). We have discussed throughout the course how nature is present in music, history and our everyday lives and when we choose to understand all of these categories, we are then able to confidentially submerge ourselves in nature (Beck et al., 2018). Some find peaceful meditation to nature sounds their way of destressing while others find walks or hikes their go-to. I want to pose the question, where do you feel the calmest? What do you do to connect yourself with nature?
Personally, I have always found myself feeling my best in terms of confidence and energy when I am in the outdoors. Whether this be sitting in my backyard enjoying my morning coffee on a sunny day or taking a hike in the escarpments. I have personally noticed amazing benefits to my skin in nature as well, for example, when I am at a beach or in saltwater, my keratosis pilaris magically disappears and my acne settles as well. According to some studies, saltwater places a role in soothing and reducing atopic skin conditions (Martin et al., 2016). I have always found that nature has had nothing but positive impacts on me both mentally and physically. I also believe that it is extremely important to look at how other countries advocate for the environment. Countries like China and Scandinavian countries are very keen on ensuring they are doing their part in integrating nature and the environment into people’s everyday lives.
Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World (1st ed). Sagamore Venture
Liu, H., Nong, H., Ren, H., & Liu, K. (2022). The effect of nature exposure, nature connectedness on mental well-being and ill-being in a general Chinese population. Landscape and Urban Planning, 222, 104397–. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104397
Martin, H., Laborel-Préneron, E., Fraysse, F., Nguyen, T., Schmitt, A. M., Redoulès, D., & Davrinche, C. (2016). Aquaphilus dolomiae extract counteracts the effects of cutaneous S. aureus secretome isolated from atopic children on CD4+ T cell activation. Pharmaceutical biology, 54(11), 2782–2785. https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209.2016.1173069
Hi there, I really enjoyed your blog post. You mentioned the positive effects of surrounding yourself in nature in regards to your mental health and I could not agree more.
Within your blog, you asked when I felt the calmest and I just immediately thought of being in a body of water, spread out like starfish, just floating, and feeling the water peacefully move my body. I think in the moments when I integrate myself into nature I connect most deeply with it. How the water feels, how the birds sound, how the trees sway back and forth. The moments when I am aware of my surroundings in nature, I begin to feel peace and a deep sense of connection.
A screenshot of a video of my brother and I swimming at Whitefish Lake in Algonquin.
In your blog, you mentioned how school education is currently seeking to integrate more teachings to educate students on nature. Beck et al. (2018), also mentions how interpretation can change the way we connect with nature. Therefore, the way nature education is taught can drastically impact the way it affects individuals (Beck et al., 2018). I think having nature interpretation classes in elementary to high school would be highly beneficial to so many students that may be struggling with mental health. The way that nature can free us of so many mental stressors is an amazing thing about it. So thank you for shining a light on this aspect of nature and how magical it is.
Ale
References
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.
Sense-Making of Nature Interpretation
As technology has developed it has changed the way that we have interacted with nature and with one another (Beck et al., 2018). In some instances, it can create a gap between nature and ourselves. Interpretation can bridge this gap through the process of connecting us through various experiences (Beck et al., 2018). This could be done through the process of communicating effectively to various audiences and creating experiences that create “repeat destinations” (Beck et al., 2018). Overall, interpretation connects us with ourselves and with nature. Connection occurs in many aspects of our life, whether that is through our relationships or through nature in forms like chemical processes that occur among trees. It is everywhere. This notion of connection brings me to introduce to you one of the most amazing things about nature.
The Mychorrizal Network and Mushrooms.
I imagine that many of you have seen mushrooms when you go for a hike or when you’re just strolling along in the forest. Now, imagine that those colourful funky-looking mushrooms are fruits and the roots of these fruits are what is known as mycelium, the web of mycelia is known as the mycorrhizal network (Grant, 2018). I introduce connection to introduce this network because it is an incredible demonstration of connection that occurs in nature. New studies have found that the singular strands of these large webs called hyphae communicate with trees (Grant 2018). Mycorrhizal fungi have been used by trees to communicate with other trees about insects, drought, and disease (Grant, 2018). The tree also provides energy through sugars to the fungi, this is called a symbiotic relationship, a “you scratch my back, I scratch yours” relationship (Grant, 2018). I wanted to highlight connection within my blog as my interest in the fungal community connected me very deeply with nature.
At the start of quarantine, I had so much time to myself and since things were not available to the public, one of the things I was able to do was go outdoors. There are a ton of trails near my house, so I began by going out there. Every once in a while I would spot a mushroom and I became fascinated by finding them. I would continuously go back to see if I could find more, these trails became my “repeat destinations”. This interest brought me so much closer to nature, as I would spend my time surrounded by it, attempting to identify the hundreds of different species I would come across. It was only later that I took a mycology course and learned the depths of fungi. However, this experience connected me with nature just as the mycorrhizal fungi are connected with trees.
There are so many connections between us and nature. I really hope that my small introduction to mycorrhizal fungi and mushrooms inspires you to create your own “repeat destinations”. Go out there and explore, be curious, you’ll find the depths of connectivity within our universe and I bet you’ll be amazed.
Ale
References
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.
Grant, R. (2018, March 1). Do trees talk to each other? Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-whispering-trees-180968084/
Hey guys! This week we learned about the technology in Nature Interpretation. In many ways, technology can be an asset in nature interpretation. Technology can create opportunities for others to connect with nature. That is why I wanted to share with you this really cool company I found called Beeyonder. This website offers the opportunity to have virtual tour guides all around the world! This is super fascinating and I thought it fit perfectly with what we learned this week.
Travel the world virtually with interactive group and private, live and prerecorded experiences
Anyways, if you guys check the website out let me know what you think! Have a great weekend everyone!
Ale
Music Surrounds Us!
When searching “nature music” you will find hundreds of hours of videos and music of nature sounds that are often described as calming or relaxing as many people find solace in being in nature or listening to it at the very least!
I find music in nature as the sounds of nature help me to sleep, I especially enjoy thunderstorms as I find the sounds relaxing and reassuring. Music in nature often write themselves as I think of bird’s songs that allow them to find mates, I often think of the musical dancing bird from ‘Our Planet’ which performs for their mate! You can also find music in nature with the hums of bees, flapping of bird’s wings, splashing of ducks in a pond, and swishing of trees in the wind! Putting all of those sounds together may create an incredible piece of art through song!
Nature in music, I often think of people creating music that is inspired by nature or using music in interpretation to keep viewers interested (166). In the textbook they compare photos and videos. Photos capture one scene and can often communicate better than words (170), videos however contain sound which can make the scene so much more interesting (171) and immersive through technology in regards to interpretation using videos and songs. Nature in music could also tell stories and teach lessons, I personally think of campfire songs. Radio stations can also incorporate nature with music! They could play music to draw in viewers and then talk about nature in the breaks (175) or play music that contains nature lessons. Radios are great for some viewers which information is presented in 1–5-minute periods and a great way to reach different viewers in a format that they enjoy! Nature in music can occur as a tool as music will resonate with the visitor (12), help different people learn with different learning styles (105), and draw people towards an interpretive experience (200).
I think that music can take many forms in relation to nature. Many songs are often nature sounds solely, nature sounds incorporated, or based on /inspired by nature (animals, landscapes, abiotic features)! I found 15 songs related to nature in a pro-environment context in article by Anderson (2020). I’m sure that if you search up your favourite animal + song, you will find a song that at the very least mentions the animal. Perhaps it will teach you something or use the animal’s attributes within the song!
Some songs I think of from the top of my head of nature would be “Butterfly Fly Away” by Miley Cyrus, “Roar” by Katy Perry, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland and covered by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, “Little Rain” by Morgan Wallen, just to name a few! To unpack one, “Butterfly Fly Away” by Miley Cyrus my personal favourite from growing up contains a lesson that as you grow you should spread your wings AND contains a little bit of knowledge of the caterpillar becoming the butterfly! Growing up from under your parents care to going out to make dreams come true!
Are there any influential songs you grew up hearing or think of when prompted with the word “Nature”? What does it teach you!
Anderson, S. (2020). Earth day: 15 pro-environment songs. Rolling Stone. Date of Access: Feb 27, 2023. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/earth-day-songs-151780/
Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World (1st ed). Sagamore Venture
Hi there! I loved your blog post, I really enjoyed how you mentioned the number of songs that are inspired by multiple species! I thought this was a great example of how nature inspires music, and to be honest with you it was not one that I initially thought of.
You asked in your blog about songs that may trigger childhood experiences that represent nature. As soon as I read your question I thought of the Zoboomafoo theme song. Although this is a theme song, it brings tons of memories of the days of my childhood when I grew up watching this show. This show made me want to experience the same adventures the main characters did and it definitely contributed to my love for nature and wildlife. However, the theme song is an amazing example of nature interpretation through music and video. It highlights the example you also mentioned in your blog posts about the use of music in videos to enhance interpretation (Beck et al., 2018). The Zoboomafoo theme song is catchy and entertaining for its audience! The show also demonstrates the importance of understanding your audience when interpreting nature. As a small kid, I was able to learn through this show about so many different species and this was largely due to the way the producers aimed to communicate with their audience. This show is a perfect example of how interpretation requires the consideration of many different aspects to be effective in teaching!
Here's the link to an episode of Zoboomafoo! Maybe this will also bring up some memories for you!
Ale
References Cited
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.
Nature Interpretation Through Music
From Grey et al., (2021), article we are taught that music is found in nature in many different species, including whales and different species of birds. In this sense, music was defined as “patterns of sounds varying in pitch and time for emotional, social, cultural and cognitive purposes” (Grey et al., 2021). So these sounds that were created by these species in our definition were music. However, I think there are many aspects of nature that create music that does not abide by this definition. This is created by sounds that naturally occur in nature that establish a very special ambience. If we were to close our eyes for a second and imagine we were at a beach with lots of palm trees surrounding us. We can imagine music in nature through the sounds of crickets chirping, the sound of the leaves swaying as the wind blows through them and waves as they come crashing down onto the shore. This is the way I see music in nature. The natural sounds of nature, consistently occur as music as mother nature takes control.
I think there is so much nature in music, Grey et al., (2021), highlights such an interesting point throughout this reading by stating that potentially music may “predate humans”. Therefore, music has occurred for long periods of time and may have potentially started through nature. I think in so many ways we have incorporated what we hear in nature into our songs. I have mentioned previously in my blogs my passion for music and my hobby of mixing music. When mixing music it’s important to take note of the lows and the hi-hats within a song. Earlier in my blog, I asked you all to picture being at a beach and listening to all the wonderful sounds of nature and the music it created. The sounds of the crickets chirping we can imagine to be hi-hats and the lows are the crashing of the waves. In many cases, we can take these sounds, rhythms and patterns and incorporate them into our own music.
Are there any examples you guys can think of where natural sounds have created a beat or rhythm?
My girlfriend, two of my friends and I went to Grundy Lake to camp for a couple of days. We were setting up camp and wanted to listen to some music, so my friend connected to her speaker and played Scarlet Paintings by Milky Chance. After the first time we heard this song, we played this song the entire trip, we would all sing together whether that was while we were by the lake, or by our campfire. Whenever we got a chance, we would all sing along. It became the song that resembled this trip. It was such a wonderful trip and whenever it plays it flushes my memory with the views and adventures of this amazing experience at Grundy Lake.
"This was such a fun experience, this was the first time I ever saw a snapping turtle in the wild!"
Grundy Lake, Ontario
References Cited
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. https://link-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/apps/doc/A69270354/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=fb9366a8
Hey guys check out this super cool tik tok!
In it we learn about the invasive species, sea urchin and get to see how it is ate right out of the ocean! Tons of nature interpretation going on here!
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMYjPcjej/
The Role Interpreters Play in Combating Climate Change
For this week’s blog, I would like to write about climate change, people’s beliefs about climate change, and how interpreters can help improve small-scale action against climate change. First, I would like to present some statistics about current thoughts about climate change in North America. The first prompt is, “people believe the world is getting warmer,” the national average in the United States is 72% agree, and in Canada, 83% agree (Marlon et al., 2022, Mildenberger et al., 2019). The next prompt is “people believe that climate change is caused by human activity,” in the United States the national average is 57% agree, and in Canada, 60% agree. (Marlon et al., 2022, Mildenberger et al., 2019). Are you surprised by these statistics? I can say that I’m a little surprised, I thought the United States “the world is getting warmer” statistic would be lower and the “caused by human activity” statistic for Canada would be higher. Even though people don’t believe it, it has been proven by scientists that climate change and the rapid rate of change is being caused by human activity (Trenberth, 2018).
Although people believe in climate change they do not believe that it is caused by humans, it is good that people are acknowledging there is a problem but because people don’t think it is being caused by humans they believe they don’t have a responsibility to “fix it.” This mindset can be changed by interpreters when interacting with their audiences. Interpreters will not be able to create big changes but can create small-scale changes in their communities and within families by talking about conservation and small lifestyle changes that people can make. When doing nature tours, for example, as guides are moving through the landscape they can pose questions about what people like in the environment and use these as jumping-off points to talk about conservation. Let's go over a simple example of how this would play out, for example, one person mentions how much they love the native flowers of the area. The guide can affirm these beliefs that native flowers are beautiful, then talk about the important role they play in the native ecosystem, and how they help pollinators and are a food source for other animals. But because of changing temperatures their reproductive cycles could be negatively affected or they could be out-competed by nonnative species that have been introduced. Hearing about the uncertain future native flowers will face guides can talk about ways people can help like helping with non-native species removals and walking and riding their bikes more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is a very simple example of the impact interpreters can have on their audiences, because of the hands-on experiences they provide they can make the effects of climate change hit closer to home giving people the opportunity to understand the negative effects climate change will have on their lives. Even if changes will not be as significant in certain parts of North America as in others or other countries, people will still see changes and need to understand how to decrease the impact climate change will have on the local, regional, national, and global environments.
Trenberth, K. E. (2018). Climate change caused by human activities is happening and it already has major consequences. Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law, 36(4), 463-481. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/02646811.2018.1450895
Marlon, J., Neyens, L., Jefferson, M., Howe, P., Mildenberger, M., & Leiserowitz, A. (2022, February 23). Yale climate opinion maps 2021. Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us/
Mildenberger, M., Howe, P., Lachapelle, E., Marlon, J., Leiserowitz, A., Stokes, L., & Wang, X. (2019, November 21). Canadian Climate Opinion Maps 2018. Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Retrieved from https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ccom/
Hey there, I really liked your blog post for this week!
I think although we were given the opportunity to post on whatever we would like this week, we actually talked about similar concepts. The overall themes that we both talk about are the type of discourse that we have with different audiences and how these can shape the way we teach and interpret nature. Within my blog post I mentioned that the need for effective communication is especially important during a time when scientists and the public are more focused on climate change. You mentioned specific statistics surrounding climate change and the differences in understanding of the issue. I think reasons for the knowledge gaps between what scientists are currently finding and what the public know is mainly due to ineffective communication. That is when I read your idea of improving this communication by captivating the audience through teachings that start by explaining something they already like. For example you mentioned the pretty native flower, this is an excellent example on how we can go about teaching through discourse that is effective. This reminded me of one of our readings that mentioned interpreting nature can start by seeing the pretty (Beck et al., 2018). I think your blog can teach and inspire many interpreters and science educators on ways we can communicate in a way that is better for different communities!
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.
Nature Interpretation Through Science
Within this week’s content, we were presented with two videos, one made by two naturalists Kitty and Jenny in the arboretum and a Ted Talk by Washington Wachira that focused on birds. We were prompted to consider some of the following questions: what techniques were being implemented? What is the directed audience? What are the risks/rewards of this approach? and finally what was the take-home message? Both of these videos had very common themes, their use of vocabulary was dedicated to an audience that may or may not have a science background. It was what I considered to be low in jargon and easily comprehendible to many members of society. It is important to note that these videos provided information in a way that makes answering the prompted questions significantly easier. This is entirely due to the form of communication that was used within these videos, this form of communication is extremely important. Especially at a time when topics such as climate change are becoming of greater concern to the public. I introduce the importance of proper communication in science education to start a conversation on “discourse”.
Discourse is defined as “Systems of thoughts composed of ideas, attitudes, and courses of action, beliefs and practices that systematically construct the subjects and the worlds of which they speak.” (Discourse, 2018).
Effective discourse can drastically change the way we have conversations, the way we teach others and the way we interpret nature. Beck et al., (2018) “Interpreting cultural and natural heritage”, teaches the readers to understand their audience and explains the different ways that we can teach and how others can learn. The words that we use are extremely important in how efficiently we can communicate with one another. A couple of days ago I uploaded a video link to my blog of an assignment that I had created in high school. This video had the goal of teaching others about how species of frogs are currently in decline with a scientific lens. The goal was also to use effective discourse, in this case, my audience was high school students. Understanding who I was presenting this information to, completely shaped the way that I communicated. Similarly, Kitty, Jenny and Washington, used language that their audience was likely comfortable and familiar with. Effective discourse is extremely important in scientific nature interpretation. In some cases, explanations can be necessary or perhaps different forms of vocabulary is more efficient. Overall, being aware of the style of language that we use to speak to people can drastically change the way they understand us.
I want to know if any of you have experienced times when you have changed your vocabulary to address certain topics, this could be in school assignments or in workplace environments too!
Excited to hear what you guys have to say!
Ale
Literature Cited
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.
Discourse - examples and definition of discourse. Literary Devices. (2018, November 1). Retrieved February 6, 2023, from https://literarydevices.net/discourse/
Nature through Art
Hey guys! In this weeks teachings we learned about the use of art in nature interpretation. About five years ago I created a video which I think captures many of these themes.
Here is the link I hope you enjoy!
Unit 4: Art Interpretation
There are a lot of different ways to interpret nature, but let’s focus on art. Just looking through my phone, I am able to look at pictures of sunsets/sunrises I have taken, and I am able to associate the pale tint of orange with a beautiful moment (Hooykaas 2023).
This is one of the many sunrise pictures I have taken. After appreciating the moment, I remember sharing this photograph to my social media so I could extend the appreciation to others (Hooykaas 2023). In a society that is connected to nature, the ability for people to interpret art in ways that allow them to express themselves, whether that be their thoughts or feelings is very important (Beck et al. 2018). We often hear the phrase “art is a way to express yourself”, this is where it is seen. Being used as a form of therapy or a way to showcase emotion, art is seen as a great way to express nature. The textbook also discusses Maslow’s concept of self-actualization (Beck et al. 2018). These are moments best described as the points in a person’s life that makes them the happiest. This concept can be captured in different types of arts. Using photographs as an example again, although a person may not be comfortable taking a picture of themselves smiling in front of an amazing view after a hike, they can take capture this momentous occasion by taking a picture of the view.
In a previous post, I discussed my opportunity to take a late-night hike in Algonquin Provincial Park. This hike consisted of multiple stations where there were designated people (characters full of enthusiasm and knowledge) at every stop. They used interesting topics and methods to help us stay engaged. This included stopping and showing a jar of fireflies, calls for specific fishes, howls to hear back from wolves and so much more. This is similar to the use of actors to portray important topics as discussed in the textbook (Beck at al. 2018). The whole group hike was a great way to express knowledge while also letting us know there are issues such as less wolves, or the milky way is not seen as clearly as you would have seen it a year ago.
“The gift of beauty “can be seen in different ways by different individuals. I personally see flowers, sunrises, and high peak views as gifts from nature and as it is something I am interested in, I can find these areas everywhere I go. Growing up art, drama and music were subjects I lacked in and realized as I grew up, that I took those classes for granted. As an adult, I have really grown to appreciate these outlets. Currently, I love photography, which allows me to look for those amazing sunsets or the gorgeous, rare flowers.
I would love to hear your personally experiences with how you have interpreted nature through art. What form of art have you used?
References
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: for a better world. Sagamore Venture.
Hooykaas, A. (2023). Unit 4: Nature Interpretation through Art and Planning for “All” Scenarios [Courselink Content]. University of Guelph. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/791355/viewContent/3306929/View.
Hey Maneet, I loved reading your post!
I liked how you mentioned being able to capture the moment of self-actualization through art. I completely relate to this, I love taking photos of moments of self-actualization so I can take a look back and remember all the wonderful experiences that I had. I think in some ways being able to capture nature through art provides a moment of self-actualization. Self-actualization was also referred to in the textbook as “when our bodies and minds voluntarily stretch to their limits to accomplish something worthwhile” (Beck et al., 2018 p. 47). I have mentioned in some of my previous posts my passion for videography, making these videos is sometimes quite challenging. I need to plan ahead of time to know what footage I would like to record, I have to record and then once the adventure is done go back home and spend a couple of hours editing it. In some ways it can be a long process. However, once that video is complete every single second spent doing those tasks was worthwhile. What I attempt to explain is that the moment of self actualization was of course the moments in my adventure, but they were also the moments of success in my ability to capture self-actualization through art and experience them once again.
Literature Cited
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.
Ale
Nature Interpretation Through Art
“Our ability to perceive quality in nature begins as in art, with the pretty. It expands through successive stages of the beautiful to values as yet uncaptured by language” (Beck et al., 2018 p.45)
Beck et al. (2018), quotes Aldo Leopold (1966) to introduce the power that an interpreter can have in teaching the ability to find beauty everywhere you look. I think this quote can help me paint the picture to explain how I am someone that can interpret nature through art. In many ways I can relate to this quote, I have always loved being outdoors. I loved how pretty the leaves on the trees looked as they swayed through the wind. I loved how pretty the water looked on a calm day. My interest in nature began by seeing the pretty. This evolved to my interest to learn more.
Throughout my academic career I have taken a handful of botany courses. Throughout these courses I have learned about the intricate workings that are occurring within a plant. All these very small building blocks play a huge role in the overall success and growth of a plant. In many cases this is similar to theater, when I was in highschool there were so many different roles to audition for. Some were backstage and some were acts that incorporated huge monologues. But regardless of the size of the role, all of them are extremely crucial to the production of a successful show. Interpretive theater has been used in many ways to show a story or to educate others on history and science (Beck et al., 2018 p. 222). I have also loved another form of art, music. I always loved music, from a really young age I would create my own little songs. When I got older I grew a huge passion for house music and I got inspired by some of my favorite DJ’s and producers to start mixing my own music. So in 2020, in the beginning of the pandemic I began to mix my own music. In every song I would focus on the bass, the drums and the hi hats, the components of this song created everything and it all came perfectly together. Music has also been used by many interpreters to demonstrate the changes in culture through a song from the past (Beck et al., 2018 p. 225). These arts and nature have so many themes that overlap. Having such a passion from them gives me the ability to combine the both. The ability to interpret one through the other. The ability to interpret nature through art is the ability to see nature as art.
The gift of beauty was referred to in Chapter 5 “Guiding Principles of Interpretation” as
“Interpretation should instill in people the ability and the desire, to sense the beauty in their surroundings and to provide spiritual uplift and to encourage resource preservation”
I mentioned earlier in this blog post learning about the intricate details of a plant. It is incredible to see the mechanisms that have evolved. There is something so fascinating about it. I think attempting to interpret a plant in these aspects has provided me with the gift of beauty. The gift of wanting to understand more about these specimens. The gift of understanding how incredible mother nature is and the amazing things it has provided for us. The gift of beauty is to continuously see and appreciate the beauty of nature that surrounds us.
Sometimes we just need to take a deeper look and we will find a whole new world around us.
In what ways do you see the beauty of nature? Excited to see what you guys have to say!
Literature Cited
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.
Ale
It was amazing to read Chapter 7 “Serving Diverse Audiences” and its focus on nature interpretation within minority groups. As a Latina myself it was touching to see the community is involving themselves in heritage and conservation interpretation.
Just in case you missed it! Here is the link to their website:
Connecting community y cultura with the outdoors.
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.
Risk versus Reward in Interpretation
I want to start off this blog post by recognizing my own privilege. I find that this may allow me to better define and explain my working definition of privilege. I was born in Colombia, my parents immigrated to Canada when I was about 4 years old. I have had the privilege to live and grow up in a first world country. I am immensely grateful for the sacrifices my parents made in efforts to improve their own lives and my own. I want to put an emphasis on the sacrifices my parents made, I did not do anything. I simply existed and was giving many opportunities that they would have never even imagined receiving. This week's courselink video “Social inequalities explained, 2017”, is an amazing example of this: the man teaching the students explains that nothing by the individual was done to be privileged. Being privileged to me is exactly what was described in the video, you have been provided opportunities without doing anything, you just existed and received those head starts.
The representation we see in social media, stereotypes associated with our race, the cultures we learned and focused on in highschool are all examples of privilege (Greenberg, 2020). Privilege plays a huge role in everyday life, privilege can emphasize barriers amongst different less privileged communities (Beck et al., 2018). These can be economical, cultural and communication barriers, these barriers play a huge role in nature interpretation (Beck et al., 2018). When I was younger, I was privileged enough to be able to go sightseeing in lots of parts of Ontario and Quebec. My parents would take me to Niagara falls, where we could see the history of Niagara on the lake. Once we even got a chance to see whales along their “whale route” in Quebec!. The cost of this trip included the entry fee, transportation and food costs. These are all examples of possible economic barriers; these limits can make it extremely difficult for less fortunate individuals to experience different aspects of nature interpretation (Beck et al., 2018).
A picture of my mom and I on the lookout for whales on the whale route in Quebec! (I promise I had fun)
The ability for my family to take me on such endeavors was due to the privilege I had, the one my parents gave me. These barriers are extremely important as a nature interpreter to take into consideration. It is important to create a community which is easily accessible and inclusive for all parties (Beck et al., 2018). It is also very important to create opportunities and remove these barriers as much as possible, this can be done through providing services, the act of initiating involvement with minority groups and more efficient discourse (Beck et al., 2018). It is extremely important as a nature interpreter to recognize their own privilege in order to create an environment where not only people are welcomed but an environment where everyone can have similar opportunities.
In what ways have you experienced privilege in nature interpretation?
Excited to see what you guys have to say!
Ale
Literature Cited
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.
Greenberg, J. (2020, May 28). 10 examples that prove white privilege exists in every aspect imaginable. YES! Magazine. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.yesmagazine.org/social-justice/2017/07/24/10-examples-that-prove-white-privilege-exists-in-every-aspect-imaginable
Social Inequalities Explained in a $100 Dollar Race. (2017). YouTube. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://youtu.be/4K5fbQ1-zps.
Hey,
This was an interesting read, that's very cool that your family came from Columbia! I totally relate, my parents immigrated to Canada as well and their sacrifices have created numerous opportunities that I haven't had to work nearly as hard for as they did. The example you gave of sightseeing whales is a great one: Many experiences that the children of immigrants have experienced would likely not have been possible without their parents. Nature interpretation is one of them. As mentioned in the textbook, economic (and therefore potentially geographic) barriers will limit the diversity of experiences that one can have (Beck et al., 2018). Smaller, rural areas are less inclined to do these extravagant sightseeing experiences because they do not have geographical access to such events. For example, a cold climate would not have tropics and therefore locals would be unable to experience this type of nature unless they travel. However, many cannot travel as they cannot afford to miss work, or cannot afford the trip at all (Beck et al., 2018). There are no whale tours back in the village my family is from! Being here has opened so many doors, and it's fantastic that we can recognize that privilege and take those opportunities!
To answer your question with a specific example, I have experienced privilege in nature interpretation by getting the opportunity to travel with my family. I went to the grand canyon with my family over the winter break, and it was so beautiful! I have never seen anything like it. Without their financial support and the privilege of my parents, I would not have seen such a unique landmark. (Almost as cool as whale watching!)
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.
Hey thank you so much for your response! That picture is beautiful!!
