Interpreting Nature With Abby

fourth year biological science major finding her voice within nature

[kkenvs3000]

My Ethics as a Nature Interpreter

Picture originally posted by Earth Eclipse

When writing this final post, I can appreciate that I learned a lot about nature and different interpretation methods throughout this course. I have done a lot of self-reflection and realize some of my personal beliefs and morals when it comes to nature interpretation. I realized that specific interpretation methods are not for me, and I think that’s ok because at least I can say that I have tried them. I feel that trying different audiences on different audiences was part of helping us understand what does and doesn’t work based on our personalities. In my understanding, ethics are my moral principles that direct my behavior or the actions I take. I believe that my ethics rely a lot on leaving nature alone and not causing much disturbance. I firmly believe that I must support the survival of life on earth. It means when we observe nature, we don’t disturb the ongoing processes in each ecosystem. This is essential in terms of a lot of ecosystems being destroyed on earth and soon leaving behind a residue of what once was. The necessity to protect nature and its ecosystem is apparent nowadays with all the waste of energy and resources, growth of garbage, and ecological damage by industrialization. In an ecosystem, each organism has its role to play. Consider a small puddle at the back of your home. In it, you may find all sorts of living things, from microorganisms to insects and plants. These may depend on non-living things like water, sunlight, turbulence in the puddle, temperature, atmospheric pressure, and even nutrients in the water for life.

I believe that nature is beautiful and very mentally refreshing. Nature has kept me sane through this pandemic, as I’m sure it has for a lot of others. This makes me wonder why nature has this effect on us. Thinking back to my nature walks this week, I noted the sounds you hear, the wind, the birds, the leaves on the trees. They all embrace you with open arms. I love feeling all five of my senses being heightened when I walk. I feel the wind, and I smell the fresh air; I hear the birds’ sweet sounds. I love thinking of nature as a way of medicating the soul. I can almost feel it slowly healing me and bringing me to a happier place mentally. With all that nature is providing us, it is essential to give gratitude towards nature. Have you ever asked yourself if what you believe in is true? It is essential to understand your life depends on your beliefs, so make sure you only choose the best. 

The picture took by my sister at Sylvan lake. 

Time has come now to realize that the beauty of nature is very precious. Nature’s natural state of love, joy, and pride is the essence of life. With that being said, thinking about the responsibilities, I feel as though we should all be responsible for taking care of our surroundings. For example, A walk in the park is highly relaxing and peaceful and offers numerous health benefits. While it’s great to take the time to stop and smell the roses, it’s not a good idea to stop and pick them! Every park has a unique and complex ecosystem. Taking flowers or native plants changes the park’s ecosystem and prevents them from generating new seeds for future plants. Another responsibility is to spread awareness about the existing issues and promote their effect on our mental well-being. Letting others know the benefits of nature and making them more aware of the disturbances they might be causing. The best approach to the issues is to talk about the new concepts with my friends and share them with my family.  From writing blogs, and making podcasts, I got the chance to explore my comfort level and bring out the nature interpreter in me. I believe that knowing your audience is an important task that everyone faces. It is vital to understand your audience’s values, attitudes, and beliefs as it will allow you to anticipate and plan your message accordingly to connect with your audience deeply. I also take part in various clubs where I can promote these ideas. I love sharing new ways to improve mental health because it’s such a stigmatized issue, and it should be taken seriously. Most people have done well in this pandemic, but many have suffered detrimental damage from being indoors all the time.  This is why I will continue to promote nature walks and take care of the nature of this planet.

The picture was originally posted on Unsplash.

I want to incorporate some approaches into my responsibilities as a nature interpreter are using different learning styles.  This includes making a poster for visual learners or making a podcast for auditory learners. Even encouraging people to go on nature walks with me for people who prefer kinesthetic learning activities. This would allow me to educate a wider group of people. Another approach that most suitable for me is to combine humor with knowledge about the environment, highlight the issue, create a lasting impression, and grab attention from a wide range of people. According to research done by Stephan Schmidt’s article, humorous sentences were better remembered than non-humorous sentences. It is essential to keep these approaches in mind when spreading knowledge to others in the future.

All in all, spending time in nature is a great way to get out and explore nature. As long as we remember not to disturb the natural surroundings, the nature parks will be around for future generations to enjoy. Without nature, I’m not sure we would survive. 

Thank you for reading my post! I hope you all have a great rest of the semester. 

References

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Chapter 6: How people learn. Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. (pp.105-111). Sagamore Venture.

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 2: Teaching Learners [Course Website]. University of Guelph Course link. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/666945/viewContent/2583079/View

Schmidt, S. R. (1994). Effects of humor on sentence memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 20(4), 953–967. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-7393.20.4.953

[abenvs3000w21]

Hi kkenvs3000,

I really enjoyed your final post! I agree with the fact that it is of the most importance to protect nature now given the way the world is currently operating. The damage that has been done to this earth from industrialization needs the attention and care from everyone! I agree that through the pandemic, nature has been a sense of comfort. Taking a walk through the trails near my house has been the sole activity I have to keep myself happy and consistent. Nature really is beneficial to our health in so many ways. In comparison to all the forms of entertainment and relaxation out there, it’s so beneficial to the planet that you want to be a voice for promoting the use of nature walks. If people adapted in to walks instead of drives to clear their head let’s say, think of the environmental benefits and that’s just one example.

Also, it is important to think of all learning styles in interpretation, so that’s good that you plan on engaging your audience that way.

Thank you for your post!

Abby

[jehenvs3000]

My thank you to this course.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better it’s not.”

I try my best to live by this quote. I truly believe that each of us have a responsibility to use our limited time on this Earth to leave it better than we found it. And this quote teaches the importance of taking action. When we identify a problem in society, we have a responsibility to do something. If you aren’t going to take action, who is? For me, the thing I am most passionate about is the environment. The way that I want to make the world a better place is by protecting the environment. I am acutely aware that the best way to protect nature is for each of us to do our part. Although one person can devote their life to conservation and can make a monumental difference, we are most successful when we come together. When we each make small changes in our lifestyle for the betterment of the planet. We learned in this course that when people care about something, they are more likely to take action. I can therefore make a difference by encouraging as many people as possible to do what they can.

**Photo taken on the Severn River by my Mom, Maureen Hale**

This is why this course has been so interesting to me. Scientists can only do so much. One of the most important things a scientist can do is share their knowledge with the general public. Nobody can ever know everything about every topic and we have to rely on each other to share information about the topics we specialize in. I count myself lucky that I have had the chance to spend the last four years studying for a Bachelor of Science at University. Not everyone has had that chance. I think it is the responsibility of those of us that understand science to share what we know with the public. We know how important it is for the public to care about something before they will be compelled to take action. Interpreters are in a very unique position to be able to cultivate that respect for nature. We learned that the role of an interpreter is to take facts and information and combine it with stories in order to help their audience to forage an emotional connection with their environment. Helping to create that connection is vital to the protection of the environment. Once they have come to love it, they will want to help to protect it.

**Photo taken on the Severn River by my Mom, Maureen Hale**

My past has had a huge impact on how I view the environment. I grew up learning about the natural world around me from my father and my grandfather. Looking back now, I realize they served as my personal nature interpreters! I am acutely aware that I had a privileged childhood. I grew up with a forest behind my house and at my family cottage where I was constantly being taught new things about nature. But I can also recognize that it is because of this that I have the passion for protecting it like I do. It is because I care so deeply about nature that I want to protect it. Had my father and grandfather not raised me and taught me in the way that I did, I highly doubt that I would have that same passion and drive. I want to be that person for someone else.

**Photo taken on the Severn River by my Mom, Maureen Hale**

I am lucky enough to be able to serve as the environmental coordinator for my local cottagers’ association so I have a platform to be able to reach a community interested in learning about their environment. I have always wanted to be able to plan activities and reach the children growing up at their cottage so that they can have some of the experiences that I am so grateful for. This course has taught me a lot about what that responsibility really means. My learning style will not be the same as everyone else’s’. My background and “invisible backpack” is unique to me too. It is important that in order to reach and connect with as many people as possible I try to use a combination of teaching styles so that everyone can learn.

**Photo taken on the Severn River by my Mom, Maureen Hale**

I have always been passionate about protecting the environment and have always recognized the importance of teaching others about nature so that they will become invested in protecting it. But I am so grateful to this course for teaching me more about how to go about that. For explaining what my responsibilities are as an interpreter and how I can be as effective as possible.

Does anyone else have any quotes that represent their feelings about the environment or life?

Has anyone else learned something from this course that will change how they approach environmental interpretation in the future?

Thanks for a wonderful course everyone, I have truly loved reading your perspectives and learning from you!

Julia

[abenvs3000w21]

Hi Julia!

I really enjoyed reading your post for this week! I resonated with the idea of having “personal nature interpreters” as I too, had a figure in my life play this role. My grandmother is a major green thumb and some of me and my siblings most cherished memories involve spending days gardening with her. I learned everything about gardening and how to properly take care of plants from her and I’ll always value that. I hope that I too can live by that example and teach my future children and grandchildren how to respect nature and the ways of interpreting.

I think it’s such an important role for you to serve as the environmental coordinator of your local cottagers’ association and commend you for that. It is so important as an interpreter to be able to engage with children and utilize different learning style techniques so props to you for partaking in that!

A quote thats really stuck with me is one of Mother Theresa’s, “I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use”. I think this quote opens a lot of conversations about not only sustainability, but the over consumption in our society. We have more than we need available to us yet the need for more is constant. I think of antique furniture, thrifted clothes and refurbishing goods when I think about this quote. Do you have a different approach that could be interpreted from this quote?

As mentioned in my post from this week, the knowledge from this course that really inspired me was the mode of art in nature interpretation. This unit and others really opened up the topic of nature interpretation for me and got me really thinking about what I wish for my future career.

Thanks so much for your post! Abby

[abenvs3000w21]

Final Post -  Unit 10

This course has taught me a lot about the wonderful things to unwrap while interpreting nature. While I’d always had an appreciation for the natural world, this course has allowed me to step back and see things that I hadn’t before. Specifically, my relationship to nature, and how I can strengthen that relationship in order to give our environment the respect it deserves. From this course, I plan to continue to work on this connection and utilize the tools that I have gained in doing so. Taking in to account all that I have learned it has truly opened up my mind on what type of interpreter I intend on being. I was interested to embark on Unit 4: Nature Interpretation through Art and Planning for “All” Scenarios, particularly for my interest in art and specifically my own mode of art through sewing and fashion design. I think it could be really rewarding to combine my interest in nature interpretation and love for fashion that could positively benefit the environment.

The morals and ethics that I have inherited throughout my life consist of passion, creativity, honesty, courage, being dependable and most importantly treating others how I would want to be treated. I’ve developed these behaviors from the consistency of expectations brought on my parents throughout my childhood. To be thoughtful, responsible and honest was always instilled in my home and will stick with me forever. Not only my parents, but other family members, friends and employers have all introduced rules of living that I have whole-heartedly adopted. I think the morals and ethics that we have are often not, and should be, applied to nature. It’s important in respecting the planet, to treat the environment like the living being it is. Through reflecting on this I have thought a lot about what I can do as an interpreter to achieve this sort of approach.

The approach I am drawn to in terms of interpreting nature would be that of interpreting nature though art. As previously stated, I enjoy creating fashion through sewing, in which I am constantly exploring environmentally-friendly approaches. This weekend I invested in the needed materials in order to naturally dye my pieces. The process can be done with dried up flowers, fallen bark or leaves, and even different spices. My plan was to use a natural linen I purchased and dye it using a variety of dried flowers that would otherwise go to waste from a bouquet my mother received for her birthday. This idea got me thinking about the interpretation aspect of this project. I’ve always loved the idea of giving something a new life, such as upcycling old clothing or in this case, giving dead flowers a second go. It wouldn’t be intended to interpret nature in this case as something to be utilized, more so something to inspire fashion and creativity, to display the true colors of nature. This idea has me really inspired and excited to work on, which I plan to treat as a sort of summer project. I think this would be a truly desired career for me, making a sustainable fashion brand, given the amount of devastation that is continuously cause by the fashion industry and particularly ‘fast fashion’. As mentioned in a passage of At the heart of art and earth: an exploration of practices in arts-based environmental education by Jan van Boeckel, “Arts-based environmental education can engage us with natural phenomena in unfamiliar ways and makes space for the unforeseen”. I think the replacement of toxic dyes in the fashion industry with natural products will open doors of nature interpretation and sustainability in fashion that as it stands haven’t been fully opened.

Photo of different swatches of fabric dyed with various natural ingredients, found on https://mygreencloset.com/magic-of-natural-dyes/

Photo of different shades achieved by natural dyeing, found on https://www.seasaltcornwall.co.uk/blog/09/2018/how-to-make-natural-dyes/

Another approach that would correspond with my interest in building a sustainable fashion brand would be conversation and advocating for the environment. Through social skills I can implement a relationship with other interpreters who have a similar cause in order to truly bring knowledge to the public. It is important as an interpreter to connect and engage participants, which I feel equipped to do so. Finding the right approach to appeal to an audience of different learning styles while still keeping interest is something I will hopefully succeed at as an interpreter.

I am very grateful for the knowledge I have gained from this course and the lessons I intend on taking with me in my future career. This course has truly strengthened my relationship with nature and I hope to continue on this path.

Thank you all for a good semester! Abby

References 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Arts in Interpretation. In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a Better World (pp. 215–232). Sagamore Publishing.

Van Boeckel, J. (2014). At the heart of art and earth: An exploration of practices in arts-based environmental education. Environmental Education Research, 21(5), 801-802.

[nglenvs3000]

Fractal Frenzy (wk. 9)

When I glanced at this week’s prompt, I felt a little pressure to be honest. You all want to know the most amazing thing I know about nature?! I didn’t know where to begin, and I wanted to provide something that would surely wow you all. The first thing that came to mind was how wondrous of a feeling nature can provide for you, it’s truly therapeutic and it goes unmatched. This is one of the most amazing things about nature in my opinion, but I can’t sum it up in a blog post for you – you must experience it for yourself. What I can do is provide you with some incredible science/math that will hopefully deepen your connection to nature and the universe around you. The science that I’m referring to is called fractals, and it’s also referenced as sacred geometry.

Enchanted Forest: Photography by Inge Johnsson. Can be retrieved from: https://pixels.com/featured/enchanted-forest-inge-johnsson.html

Have you ever heard of these terms? Fractals are self-similar patterns that repeat themselves at different levels of magnification – every small part resembles the whole.

A “simple” fractal (self-repeating pattern). Retrieved from Tumblr. 

As you can see in this gif, the pattern appears to be on an infinite loop, demonstrating a pattern inside a pattern inside a pattern, so on and so forth.

I’m sure you’re wondering how fractals play into nature. In one of my courses this semester, we discussed how nature organizes itself into fractals to “problem solve” (McCann, 2021). Fractals are ultimately formed by nature to fill empty space, which in turn can effectively add a dimension (McCann, 2021). Yes, you heard that right, fractal filling can drive additional dimensions. I thought this fact was wild when I learned it! You’ve probably heard your local hippie say at one point or another that we’re “multidimensional beings”; that we have access to dimensions higher than that of 3D (including 4D, 5D, 6D, all the way to 12D+). In my opinion, this logic is supported to a degree because us humans have fractals all throughout our bodies that are ever repeating. A perfect demonstration of this is our circulatory system – we have 60,000 miles of branching blood vessels and capillaries inside each of us (Elsevier, 2019).

Artwork by Matthew James Taylor that represents a branching network of blood vessels. Retrieved from: https://matthewjamestaylor.com/fractal-art

This amazes me not only because of the dimensional aspect, but because these fractals are found throughout all of nature. This implies that both humans and nature have the ability to produce internal dimensions through fractals. To me, it is proof that we are not separate from nature, but simply a part of it. Our bodies carry some of the exact same patterns and mathematical ratios that nature does.

A very well-known pattern that is found across humans and nature is the Fibonacci sequence. This pattern exists at all levels of creation: human body proportions, plants, crystal structure, the orbit of the planets, etc. It’s so amazing to me because as previously mentioned, it demonstrates that we are not separate from nature. Our bodies form the same patterns that plants and animals do, down to a mathematical level. Some people believe this proves that humans along with nature are all derived from the same source.

A closer look at the Fibonacci sequence. Retrieved from: https://mocomi.com/fibonacci-sequence/

This is a complex topic and I have merely touched the tip of the iceberg, so here are some additional sources if you’d like to dive deeper:

(1)  Fractals: a world in a grain of sand | Ben Weiss | TEDxVeniceBeach - YouTube

(2)  Fractals In Nature: Develop Your Pattern Recognition Skills In The Forest (diygenius.com)

(3)  (1) Fractals - Hunting the Hidden Dimension - YouTube

The next time you’re out in nature, look at all the beautiful fractals and patterns that surround you. Understand that you are a part of nature, and that nature is a part of you as well.

References

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

Fahy, E. (2019). Blood Vessels: The 60,000 Mile Network Inside Us. Elsevier. Retrieved from: https://3d4medical.com/blog/blood-vessels-the-60000-mile-network-inside-us-anatomy-snippets

McCann, K. (2021). BIOL 3060: Communities, Populations and Ecosystems, lecture 3 notes [Fractals].

[abenvs3000w21]

Hello nglenvs3000!

I really enjoyed your post for week 9 all about fractals! To be completely honest I had never known the terminology for this natural phenomenon and all of the interesting details. I’m glad you wrote about this because it is seriously fascinating to uncover! The thing that struck me in your post was how fractals exist in humans too, which evidently makes me feel at least more interesting and connected to nature in a way. The fact that fractals can drive additional dimensions feels like were all in the movie Interstellar. I was really intrigued reading your post and thank you for introducing me to something so spectacular!

Abby

[abenvs3000w21]

The Dead Sea - Unit 9 Sense-Making

I learned that the Dead Sea was formed by a rift in the Earth’s crust, which seems like a really happy accident. Also called the Salt Sea, the salt lake is located in a desert between Israel and Jordan in southwestern Asia (Pletcher, 2021). The Dead Sea has the lowest elevation and is the lowest body of water on the surface of Earth. As a consequence of the low elevation and water levels of the Dead Sea, the occurrence of sink holes and subterranean caverns is more likely. In fact, some of these caverns had been discovered sites of left behind biblical manuscripts called “Dead Sea Scrolls” left by a Jewish sect escaping the Romans in 73 CE (Pletcher, 2021).

Photo of the Dead Sea, found on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea

Dating back roughly 2 million years ago, a heavy streamflow into the lake deposited large sediments of clay, sandstone and rock salt (Pletcher, 2021). As a result, the waters of the Dead Sea are known for the extreme salinity. The high density of salt in the water attracts many tourists due to the ability to float much easier in highly saline water. However, this amount of salt gives the lake the name “Dead” Sea, as no forms of life can survive it, excluding microbial bacteria. Along the shore the only vegetation to be found is halophytes, which are able to survive the high salinity (Pletcher, 2021).

Photo of salt formation in the Dead Sea, found on https://www.israel21c.org/new-study-solves-one-of-the-biggest-mysteries-in-the-dead-sea/

The geographical features of the Dead Sea result in the combination of plenty of rich minerals such as magnesium, sodium and potassium (Watson, 2020). As a result, the Dead Sea is known for it’s medicinal properties, attracting people of many different ailments. For example, the waters and mud of the Dead Sea have been applied to improve psoriasis symptoms, reduces skin impurities, and can relieve back pain and arthritis (Watson, 2020).

Photo of mud found at the Dead Sea, known for its many medicinal properties, found on http://www.ashtardeadsea.com/

The Dead Sea seems to be it’s own unique entity in regards to bodies of water. It’s interesting that waters that cannot support aquatic life can serve such medicinal properties.

Thanks, Abby

References 

Pletcher, K. (2021, March 2). Dead Sea - Human imprint. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Dead-Sea/Human-imprint

Watson, K. (2020, May 29). Dead Sea mud: Benefits for skin and overall health. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/dead-sea-mud#overview

[hpenvs3000]

Nature and Music

This week's readings have shown me that contrary to what I had previously thought, music can be a very important tool used in nature interpretation. A good interpreter/educator will seamlessly blend the arts and information (A. Hooykaas, lecture notes, ENVS3000 Nature Interpretation, March 3, 2021). This week's blog post was the one I had definitely struggled with most because despite the fact that I have a great knowledge of music and musical theory itself, I was not familiar with music and nature together. I prefer to listen to rap, hip-hop, or r&b, none of which have nature sounds or themes included in them.

Music is defined as patterns of sound which vary in pitch and time which are produced for emotional, social, cultural, and cognitive purposes (Gray et al., 2001). Based on this definition, we are not the only species on Earth to produce music.

Birds are most likely the animal that comes to mind when you think of an animal making music. Birds are everywhere, and they are always chirping songs, especially in the spring and summertime. Birds often use the same rhythmic variation, pitch relationships, permutations, and combinations of notes as human composers do (Gray et al., 2001). Not only do birds make music or musical noises with their vocal tracts, some species even use ‘instruments’ such as twigs which are used as a drumstick to hit hollow logs to attract partners, while others may use special feather structures to make musical noises (Gray et al., 2001).

This is a video I took in my backyard! If you listen closely you can hear owls hoo-ing, or shall I say, making music!

Humpback whales have also been found to produce songs similar in structure to those of humans and birds (Gray et al., 2001). Songs are considered to be any rhythmic repeated utterance which can be vocalized by birds, frogs, insects, or whales, all of which are constructed according to laws very similar to what human composers have adopted.

With this information, it becomes very clear that humans and many other animals produce music with many commonalities, thus we can conclude that it is very possible that music predates humans, and contrary to what many of us probably thought, we may not be the inventors of music.

Not only can we find music in nature, we can sometimes find nature in music as well. Some small examples would be the song California King bed by Rihanna, the music starts off with the sound of waves and leaves brushing together in the wind, which sets a soft feel-good/tropical vibe. This is something very minor and simple, but there are other examples where the nature in music is more extreme. A really great example of this is Musician Ben Mirin, he is a wildlife DJ that uses different animal sounds from New York City to Madagascar to produce music (GrrlScientist, 2016). He does this to bring awareness of different animals and their needs. In 2016, Ben Mirin was in Madagascar using his music to bring attention to the endangered Lemurs of Madagascar (GrrlScientist, 2016). He is a great example of someone using entertainment for educational purposes. He exposes a wide variety of people to different animals around the world through the sounds the animals make. Not only this, but his plan in Madagascar was to help its inhabitants celebrate their natural heritage while bringing awareness to the endangered Lemurs.

One of my most favourite and memorable songs about nature is the Earth Song by Michael Jackson.

Here is the link to the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAi3VTSdTxU

Watching the music video and listening to the song gives me chills because it has such a strong, passionate, and relevant message. The main message of this song is that we need to learn to love nature and preserve it before our greed completely takes over and destroys our beautiful planet beyond repair. The music video was a great way to use visuals to enhance the message. The music video starts off in a jungle full of life, abundant with trees and various animals. Soon after it shows the trees getting cut down, and what was once a beautiful landscape being industrialized. Eventually it shows murdered elephants along with a dirt landscape with burning trees that lack any foliage. The Earth Song was released in 1995, and its message is more than relevant today. The entire project is a great example of combining nature and music to spread awareness and evoke an emotional response in its viewers, a great way to make a change! I personally remember watching this video when I was around 10 years old and crying because it made me feel so sad. It is a great alternative to what songs and music videos are about today, which is oftentimes guns, violence, and drugs.

When thinking of a song that brings me back to some sort of natural landscape, the only thing that comes to mind is the artist city and colour. He has some great campfire songs, although I wouldn’t necessarily say he moves me to make the world a better place!

References

Gray, P. M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., Baptista, L. (2001). The music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science(5501).  https://go-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=guel77241&id=GALE%7CA69270354&v=2.1&it=r&sid=AONE&asid=fb9366a8

GrrlScientist. (2016, September 21). Music as a gateway to nature. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/2016/09/21/music-as-a-gateway-to-nature/?sh=36a58201549e

Hooykaas, A. (2021). ENVS*3000 Nature Interpretation Course notes. Retrieved March 3, 2021, from https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/666945/viewContent/2593375/View

[abenvs3000w21]

Hello hpenvs3000!

I was interested in replying to your post ‘Nature and Music’ to answer some of the questions you posed! Upon reading this unit I looked into the nature of whale sounds and what they can communicate to humans. What I found is that the pitch of a whale song can indicate much more than we think. Researchers have found that the pitch of these songs has been changing for years as a result of changes in populations and climate (AGU, 2018). The cause of this drop-in pitch was originally theorized to be noise pollution. However, it was found that changes in whale population and rising temperatures of the oceans due to global warming was the culprit (AGU, 2018). What’s interesting is not only how whales change the pitch of their song in accordance to their environment, but how similar that relays with humans. Music produced by humans reflect different moods or environments that one is set in, which can be said the same for whales. That being said, the overwhelming change in pitch from the whales truly indicates how climate change is affecting animals.

Thanks for your post! Abby

References 

AGU. (2018, November 29). Whale songs’ pitch may change due to population, climate changes. Eos. https://eos.org/scientific-press/whale-songs-pitch-may-change-due-to-population-climate-changes

[abenvs3000w21]

Music and Nature

I have always had a love for music especially coming from a home where music is playing on the constant. The best part of music for me is the place it can take you which can lead to places of nature. It’s fascinating how our world is surrounded by music, not only from the songs of birds and whales but any wind or sounds that fill the air. What I didn’t understand before exploring this unit was the complexity of the music that comes from whales and birds. Whale songs are the length of modern ballads due to whales having a similar attention span to humans (Gray et al., 2001). Also, bird songs and whales contain rhythms and repetition, laying the roots for human composers. Everything has an origin and music begun with the sounds of nature.

Music has made me able to escape to a safe place of sanctity, a place to be inspired and simply make me happy. Some of my favorite music comes from the movies I consistently watch. To name a few – “Liz on Top of the World” by Dario Marianelli from Pride and Prejudice (2005), this song plays when the main character Elizabeth is standing atop a cliff looking out at a plain. This part of the movie gets me every time and the song truly emulates the feeling of being on top of the world. This really shows how powerful nature is that standing atop the cliff can make someone feel like they are actually on top of the world. “Far Away” by Junip from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty plays when the main character, Walter, is long boarding down a winding hill in the middle of Iceland. I think of this scene when I hear the song and have always wanted to go to Iceland because of it. “The Hills are Alive” by Julie Andrews from The Sound of Music truly is the best example of songs from my favorite movies that really make me appreciate nature. Julie Andrews singing this song atop the German Alps runs through my head at least once a month and is stuck there often. The song takes me to a safe place, being I’ve loved the movie my whole life, also feeling inspired.

“Liz on Top of the World” scene from Pride and Prejudice (2005). Picture taken from Pinterest https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/557320522619540695/

“Far Away” scene in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Picture taken from Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/willmcgough/2020/03/20/travel-vicariously-through-these-5-movies-during-covid-19-and-social-distancing/?sh=61dd3e5a87d0

“The Hills are Alive” scene from The Sound of Music. Picture taken from placesjournal.org https://placesjournal.org/article/the-hills-are-alive/?cn-reloaded=1

In addition to feeling safe and closer with nature, music has such a powerful way of bringing people together. Some of my best memories with the people in my life are that relating to music, particularly all of the outdoor concerts I’ve been lucky to attend. Two years ago, a group of my friends and I went to Montreal for Osheaga, a music festival with a variety of artists. In just a short three days we saw many of our favorite artists and made very lasting memories. I hope to return when things go back to normal eventually because of the experience I had.

This picture was taken by my friend Lauren at Osheaga. Tame Impala was playing “Let it Happen” here so it really was a perfect moment. 

I encourage everyone to watch the movies I listed if you haven’t for the sole purpose of the soundtrack. Also, they’re just really good movies!

Thanks, Abby

References 

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

[rhenvs3000]

History - It Might Be More Important Than You Think

“It’s boring.” “I hate it.” “We just memorize facts about dead people.”

Unfortunately, history class hasn’t always had the best reputation. I mean how many times back in high school did you say at least one of those three sentences when talking about history class?

The problem is most history classes are built on memorization. Students are forced to memorize dates of events, and names of people, whose only connection to them is the 4 paragraph-insert in their textbook.

It’s a critical issue because history is important. It’s how we learn and grow. Our past is what got us where we are today and it’s what makes us who we are.

“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity is what 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.”

This is a quote from Edwards (2007) and I can’t help but think he is trying to communicate the criticality of history interpreters and their responsibilities. Taking individual items, people, or events from a previous time and using them to connect and preserve our past is what allows interpreters to give history life, whether through costumes, museums, or even living history.

“Living History” Image by FotoRC. Licensed under (”Pixabay License”)

Like nature interpreters, they must create an intriguing yet accurate representation of what their showing and allow visitors to connect and learn about the importance of the subject while giving it relevance (Beck et al., 2018). When we ignore history, we act as if the world is only relevant when we are on it, and this is simply not the case. The Earth has been here long before us and will be long after we’re gone. Only by acknowledging our past are we able to preserve and learn from the lessons, memories, and inspirations of those before us.

For me, interpreters altered my view of history when I visited the Holocaust Museum in Montreal. I listened to a real-life Holocaust survivor tell her story of spending 5 years in a concentration camp and watched a costumed interpreter talk of a young boy who had to hide in his neighbors’ cellar, alone, for 4 years during WWII to avoid being executed. The experience was more powerful than anything I had ever felt towards history and it showed me how detrimental ignorance can be.

For all of those that suffered, don’t we owe it to honor and remember their sacrifices?

“Stumbling Stones” by Braxamire. Licensed under (”Pixabay License”). Laid in memory of holocaust victims outside their last-known freely chosen residence (Apperly, 2019).

How can we ensure we won’t repeat the mistakes and tragedies if we forgot them? For many of us, history can seem boring and irrelevant but trust me it’s more important and interesting than you may think.

If you’re still not convinced I encourage you to take 3 minutes to watch this video and let me know if your perspective changed.

References:

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

Apperly, E. (2019, February 18). ‘Stumbling stones’: A different vision of Holocaust remembrance. https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/feb/18/stumbling-stones-a-different-vision-of-holocaust-remembrance.

[abenvs3000w21]

Hi there!

I really enjoyed reading your post and completely agree with your statement that acknowledging the past is a great way to learn lessons. I was really moved to hear of your experience at the Holocaust Museum and would love to go there myself as soon as i can! I think that your point about learning a lesson from history definitely speaks for the devastating parts of history such as the Holocaust. The museum and artifacts of those times are a good way to remember what those that suffered had to endure and i think the preservation of that is the least that can be done in honour of their sacrifice. 

Thanks, 

Abby

[abenvs3000w21]

Nature Interpretation through History

There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.

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

I have always enjoyed history so unpacking this quote was intriguing for me. In my opinion, objects in our life can almost mimic the circle of life and evolution. The human interaction with the world shows that things are constantly evolving which can apply to non-living things as well. I don’t think this means that to be evolved means new is better than old, but that ancient things should be cherished and respected. I think the memories that are hidden within old objects can be representative of adventure and knowledge. It’s important that ancient things are respected and preserved because they are memories and mementos of the past. The “railway station” represents our history, and because we are in the present day does not mean the past should be forgotten. I think that the “integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole” is speaking about keeping ancient things intact. It’s a shame to see pieces of our history decompose with the introduction of new things and tech.

An example of this in nature would be glaciers. Amongst many important functions, glaciers can be used to uncover the climate patterns over a thousand years back. However, due to climate change, the glaciers are significantly melting, wiping thousands of years of history off the planet. It is because of human interaction with nature and the constant release of greenhouse gas emissions that these ancient things are decomposing. This goes against the thought process of the quote of preserving history as the glaciers are rapidly melting and could eventually be completely wiped. I think in lieu of this destruction I think a message remains clear. Preserving and respecting old things can be beneficial to our planet.

"Glacier on Sand" Photo by Thomas Piekunka, found on National Geographic

The use of restoration and purchase of antique items can bring down the amount of carbon dioxide produced when manufacturing certain objects. I’ve always had a liking for antiques and plan to fill my future home with preserved antique furniture. The world seems to have enough furniture and clothing produced that the over consumption and need to have more is driving up the temperature of our planet. I think if everyone in the world switched up their normal shopping habits to thrifting, fast fashion and other un-sustainable ways of manufacturing products will fall. This is how much I think ancient things need to be preserved and cherished, I think our world will do better for it.

Antique bureau writing desk found on Antiques Atlas.

https://www.antiques-atlas.com/antique/antique_bureau_writing_desk_mahogany_english_/as272a1162

Thanks for reading!

Abby

[abenvs3000w21]

Interpreting Nature Through Art

My favourite part of nature depictions in art would be visualizing an artist’s own interpretation of nature. The outlet of art gives people the opportunity to see a different perspective of someone’s own experience with nature. With all of the different modes of art that can be accomplished, the concept of nature can be applied to various different art pieces. Films, paintings, sculptures and photography are just some of the many ways nature can be depicted through art. Amongst my favourite of these are paintings, while I’m not truly skilled myself, I take the time to appreciate paintings I enjoy. Claude Monet has some of the most beautiful artworks that truly interpret nature scenes in a way to my liking. Countless paintings of Monet’s encompass the beauty of nature in his own interpretation, which in its own brings more appreciation when you’re up close and personal with the world. Here are some of my favourite paintings by Claude Monet. 

Impression, Sunrise, 1872 by Claude Monet http://www.monetpaintings.org/impression-sunrise/

The Artist’s Garden at Giverny, 1900 by Claude Monet https://www.claude-monet.com/the-artists-garden-at-giverny.jsp

Another artist that interpreted nature scenes would be Winslow Homer, who shows a completely different approach and view than Claude Monet. Homer’s paintings while less whimsical than Monet’s, appreciate the true allure of nature depicted in his own way. I find Winslow Homer’s paintings more vivid and theatrical, which I really enjoy. Here are a couple of my favourite paintings by Winslow Homer. 

Flower garden and bungalow, Bermuda, 1889 by Winslow Homer https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/11121

Cannon Rock, 1895 by Winslow Homer https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/11113

I’m glad to have shared some of my favourite artists and the different ways they interpret nature through art. I hope to improve my own painting skills to a point where I too can masterfully paint a scene in nature to my own depiction. I think it’s really important to share our experiences with the world, especially with nature. It can give people a different stance on how things can be interpreted. 

Thanks, Abby

[abenvs3000w21]

Privilege in Interpreting Nature

I define privilege as being born with advantages and opportunities that doesn’t require work to earn it. Privilege can be assigned to people given their social status, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation, completely out of a person’s control. I am white, I live in Canada, I am able to attend university and I come from a middle-class home, therefore, I am privileged. Unlike others, I have the birth-right benefit of opportunities that others may not have. I was born with this where others were not, which comes with the duty of not letting someone’s status, ethnicity or religion change my opinion of them. Especially, for someone who is privileged, it is only right to speak up for those whose voices aren’t heard.

Privilege absolutely plays a role in nature interpretation. To truly dive in to the deepest parts of nature, transportation and money is necessary in some way or form. Simply looking at the trees in your neighborhood can only go so far for someone looking for a real experience with nature. That being said, someone who comes from a low socio-economic status, getting to the nearest hiking trail may not be easy.

I recently read an article about environmental racism titled “eMERGE Guelph Sustainability hosts online event on environmental racism” in Guelph Today. In reading this article I began to research and try to understand the true meaning to environmental racism. Upon my research, I found that environmental racism refers to how underprivileged people are found in neighborhoods surrounded by pollution, toxic hazards and garbage. This really puts into perspective how privilege can play into nature interpretation. The people living in low economic neighborhoods, and particularly POC are not given the same opportunity to explore and interpret nature like others.

I encourage others to take a look at this article!

https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/emerge-guelph-sustainability-hosts-online-event-on-environmental-racism-2760930

Thanks, Abby

[abenvs3000w21]

My Ideal Role as an Environmental Interpreter

“An interpreter is invested in a lifelong quest for learning and experience, and in sharing that accumulated wisdom” (Beck et al. 2011).

It was interesting this week to think of who I would be as an interpreter and how I would keep an audience invested. I am personally an auditory/visual learner, words can truly pull me in but pair that with visuals and I’m sold. In order to truly relay a meaningful message to my audience as an environmental interpreter, I think it would be best to attract alike learners, where I know personally what intrigues the person best. Taking from my own life experiences, I believe working in conservation areas in my region on topics that cover nature exploration and wildlife conservation would be ideal for my interests. In Aaron Fairweather’s video about Podcasting this unit, he mentions the non-traditional forms of nature interpretation such as art or podcasts where the audience is not getting the usual first-hand view. I’m drawn to the uncommon, unique tactics that he discusses in the video, and for that I think my mode of interpretation would be informative videos, possibly virtual tours of conservation areas. This loses the interest of tactile/kinesthetic learners, but hopefully with informative language and endearing visuals I can grab the interest of any learner.

In the Niagara Region, there are a lot of beautiful conservation areas to explore. The Woodend Conservation Area is close by where I live and offers plenty of good conversation about nature and wildlife with a rich history of the area. The conservation area was an observation point during the War of 1812, being directly between the battlefields of Queenston Heights and Lundy’s Lane. The trails are littered with rich tree and fauna species that make home for various passerine birds (Conservation Ontario). Due to the various aspects of this conservation area, informative videos and tours could be made to draw a larger audience and visitors to the area.

Growing up, nature didn’t excite me as much as it does now. That being said, with that in my past, I think I could work in changing the perspectives of those who aren’t comfortable surrounded by trees. As mentioned in The Gifts of Interpretation, “This is the gift of a spark; finding common ground with your visitors to draw them into the wonders of your site” (Beck et al. 2011). The ‘common ground’ in this case that I could have with my audience is that of not knowing their spot in nature. Through the use of descriptive language and visuals, I could really spark interest in the wonders of the Woodend Conservation Area and take people out of their comfort zone. I found nature myself and with my family and friends, hopefully my environmental interpretation can inspire others to find their own place in nature. The skills I would need to pull this off would to just speak with meaning, be personable and show enthusiasm for the subject I’m speaking on. I love walking the trails of the area knowing the history and the overall abundance of species, that being said, I think I am qualified in informing others and proving how beautiful this spot is.

Thanks,

Abby

References

Beck, L., & Cable, T. (2011). The Gifts of Interpretation: fifteen guiding principles for interpreting nature and culture (Third edition). Sagamore Publishing.

Ontario Conservation Areas. https://ontarioconservationareas.ca/component/mtree/conservation-authorities/niagara-peninsula/woodend-conservation-area?Itemid=

[abenvs3000w21]

Evolving with Nature

My relationship with nature has come a long way since I was young. Before, the idea of insects and reptiles scared me into keeping a safe distance from truly indulging in what the world has to offer. My fears did not completely hold me back, however, as playing outside is some of the fondest memories of my childhood that I cherish. Appreciating every aspect of nature, even some of the scary parts, didn’t come till later in my life. Living in Niagara Falls, while scarce areas to explore nature, provided enough exploration to open up my relationship to nature. The Gorge on the Niagara River is a common site for people in the area as well as visiting tourists. The beauty of this trail only grows as the bottom of the hill takes you straight to the river. Hiking the Gorge with my friends and family has to be my favourite activity not only for the exercise but the view and sense of total achievement making it right down to the water.

Photo taken by me at the Niagara Gorge

Photo taken by my friend Hanna of the Niagara River at the Gorge

My family instilled the “sense of place” as described in our textbook with regular trips in various biomes. Placing ourselves in nature is where my family truly comes together. My favourite trip with my family was to a cottage in the middle of the forest, on the water in PEI. Waking up to the surrounding of trees and flora is a feeling that is incomparable. ‘Stopping to smell the roses’ is what my family lives by and will always use any opportunity we have to come closer to nature. 

Photo taken by me of the morning view in the cottage 

Photo taken by me of the walk from the cottage to the water 

My appreciation for nature has grown not only by the influence of my family and friends but by my own intrigue. I am looking forward to exploring the various ways of interpreting nature! 

Abby

[abenvs3000w21]

*disclaimer

This blog was created for ENVS 3000, University of Guelph. The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of the University of Guelph. The University of Guelph is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by this blog.