Andrew's Nature Interpretation Blog

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.

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Blog 10: Reflecting as an interpreter

Throughout this course, it’s been amazing to read all the different backgrounds each person brings from all over the world, that each brought us here, writing these blogs. I think it goes to show how strongly nature can really bring people together. Whether you’re in a science major or not we all feel some sort of bond with the outdoors we’d like to extend to others. In a month I’ll be graduating with a degree in Environmental Biology and I’m excited to see where it will take me. I think the writing and personal reflecting I’ve done throughout this course will surely help me in the future. I believe that the ethics and beliefs a person carries with them constantly evolve throughout life the more you learn, which has happened even to me during this last semester.

First off, I really enjoyed watching the video of David Susuki and Richard Louv discussing the importance of connecting with nature. A takeaway from the video is that it’s important to remember that nature can be found even in the most urban areas. We don’t have to travel to national or provincial parks to believe we are more connected than other people, it all depends on your perception of what’s around you. They said to think of what you can do in your own yard and neighborhood to appreciate what’s there. This could be starting your own little garden or collecting indoor plants, putting out bird seed or attracting pollinators etc. Even in a concrete jungle there are always ways to connect.

This is a picture of the greenhouse thats actually on uog campus attached the the Bovey Building! I’ve gone here many times this semester just to take in the beauty of all the plants. Its open to anyone I highly recommend taking a look if you havent.

This is another spot affiliated with uog on college ave across from the arboretum. The trial gardens in the summer and early fall are a beautiful place to see the colours of nature. 

I believe that nature truly has healing abilities and that everyone should have access to it. Studies have shown that spending just 20 minutes outside in nature can decrease stress hormones (Loria, 2019). This can range from a variety of things like a walk to just tending to your garden or plants (I think this is why I accumulated so many house plants during covid lockdowns). Nature can heal both mentally and physically by improving sleep, reducing depression, cardiovascular disease and obesity (Loria, 2019). I’ve become aware though that not everyone has the privilege to access nature for many reasons. I am very grateful for the fact I grew up with easy access to fun outdoor experiences, but I will agree it created a sort of ignorance to those with the opposite. Thats why its important as an interpreter to consider this. Each person brings along a personal set of experiences, interests, knowledge, ability and personality (Beck et al., 2018). I think to be a successful interpreter this must be acknowledged on the job, and to treat everyone the same regardless of past experiences.

I also believe that we should leave nature just as pristine as when we found it.

“Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.” -Robin Wall Kimmerer

I think this is also a responsibility we have as a nature interpreter. While nature is there for us to enjoy, it is also there for the next people. This is why many parks have the “leave no trace principle” when camping or being a tourist. Interpretation involves the individual seeing the beauty or understanding the significance of the resource (Beck et al., 2018). Understanding the significance of all nature’s resources means we must develop a sustainable relationship in order to properly respect them. From a consumer level in our lives this can mean only buying essentials at the grocery store to reduce extra waste, and living a less materialistic life. As I’ve gotten older I’ve learned the importance of only buying what I really need, as everything requires energy and resources to produce. Being a good interpreter means practicing what you preach on or off the job.

The approaches that are most suitable to me as an interpreter would be through art or technology, since both of these can come in so many different forms. With digital advances, interpretation occurs via websites, blogs and social media among other technologies” (Beck et al., 2018), and has become a much easier way to interpret information across large scales. As I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs, my favorite way of sharing nature is through photography, which is a combination of both technology and art. This is a way of sharing to people that may have physical, temporal or economic barriers that may prevent them from ever seeing what’s in the photos. I’ve learned and remembered more from watching online nature documentaries and photos than I have from what’s around me. Although, there is a dark side to technology that pulls us away from nature. As mentioned in the notes, children spend more time inside on their devices than they used to in the past. Richard Louv mentioned that the more high tech our lives become the more nature we need. Using technology to connect with each other and nature is a way we can utilize it in a positive way. As interpreters, we have the responsibility to use these tools in a way that is enthusiastic and engaging. Not only this, but we must consider that everyone learns different ways, so using these to adhere to visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners creates the most successful approach.

Thanks to everyone I’ve connected with through these blogs!

-Reilly

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World (1st ed.). Sagamore Publishing

Loria, K. (2019). The Healing Power of Nature. Consumer Reports. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://www.consumerreports.org/health-wellness/healing-power-nature-outdoors/

[akenvs3000w22]

Hello Reilly!

Thank you for sharing this post as well as all of your previous contributions! I could not agree more that spending time outdoors or around nature is beneficial to our well-being, physical health and mental health. From this, it’s important that we preserve nature so we can not only enjoy it, but also benefit from its resources, as sustainably as we can of course! This is certainly a responsibility for us interpreters, and it’s important we set a good example in order to trailblaze a way for future environmentalists and interpreters. As you also mentioned, being conscious about what we consume is another great way to set a good example.

I also found it interesting when you discussed how impactful technology has been when interpreting nature in your life. I absolutely agree that technology has taught me the majority of what I know about nature, however I would like to challenge this by asking would interpretation via technology have had the same impact if you hadn’t been previously exposed to real-life nature? Technology is a very powerful tool to use for nature interpretation, however I believe that first-hand experiences will always be more impactful and more likely to change our perception of things. When you think of the most amazing feats of nature that you’ve seen, how many have been in person and how many through technology? I know for me the vast majority are real-life experience. However, I must admit that this is thanks to the privileges I’ve had that allowed me to access so much nature in my life, and technology is great for bringing nature to those who may not be able to access it.

Overall, I really enjoyed your post and it got me thinking a lot about how effective technology really is when it comes to nature interpretation. You appear to have a lot of passion for nature interpretation and I hope you continue to spread this passion with others. Thank you for all of your posts this semester, and wish you all the best with your future endeavors!

[haenvs3000w22]

My Final Blog

Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?

My personal ethic as a nature interpreter is one that integrates political change, scientific evidence, and personal experiences to inspire others to see Mother Nature for her true beauty and to inspire true stewardship. Saving the planet will require a massive change across our society, which will require some changing of the day-to-day behaviours of everyone to become more sustainable, but most of the change will have to come to some key powerful figures in our society. Capitalism has concentrated power and wealth in the hands of a few men, from the energy sector where fossil fuels provide most of our power and transportation to the food industry where massive industrial farming is raping the soil for all its nutrients and brutalizing helpless animals to feed only a small percentage of the world’s population while the rest of the world starves. Change at this level will require societal pressure from the working class and those outside of the 0.01%, and cohesive societal pressure will require a coherent narrative that will mobilize people to arm themselves with and to act upon the plain scientific evidence that begs us to do something. I am convinced that the only way to change minds and to invite them to participate in this narrative is through personal experiences. As Louv wrote in “Last Child in the Woods”, “One often overlooked value of children is that they constitute the future political constituency, and their attention or vote – which is ultimately based more on a foundation of personal experience than rational decision making- is not guaranteed.” I believe that, deep down, adults are no different than children, but post-enlightenment white western culture still entertains an outdated notion of the total primacy of objectivity that forces adults to maintain a façade of rationality and to justify their personal experience or else face criticism. This façade can easily be broken down though by inducing just a little bit of child-like curiosity and fascination. One song that comes to mind when I am interpreting nature is John Mayer’s “Belief” where he sings, “Is there anyone who/Ever remembers changing your mind from/The paint on a sign/Is there anyone who really recalls/Ever breaking rank at all/For something someone yelled real loud one time.” My responsibility as a nature interpreter is to not be a political crusader, because this will only reach those who are already convinced of the necessity of protecting Mother Earth. Instead, it is to initiate and guide people on their own journey of rediscovering the quirks, intricacies, and child-like wonder nature has always provided, and only once they have gotten back in touch with this childhood to provide them with the rational knowledge they need to change their behaviours to live more sustainably and the narrative they need to organize their psyches and to demonstrate to others the joy that the Earth can provide. The other, and more important responsibility I have, is to elevate the voices of those who have always known, protected, and advocated for the irreplaceability of nature but have been marginalized, specifically the Indigenous populations in Canada. As a white person who grew up in Burlington and has always had easy access to protected nature spaces, it is easy to forget that those spaces were originally stewarded by the Indigenous people in this area before it was stolen from them, and their cultures and families were destroyed by systemic oppression and residential schools. I have both the time and monetary resources to fully enjoy nature while the ones who protected it for centuries are struggling to have clean water. The land around my house is covered by the “Dish with One Spoon” treaty, which explains how everyone who lives and works in this land eats from this same dish, and so we must only take our share and leave resources for others as well as maintain the integrity of the land for generations to come. This perfectly models sustainability and stewardship, and so this is the core structure for my approach to nature interpretation.

In summary, my personal ethic as a nature interpreter necessitates a responsibility to facilitate individuals’ rediscovery of nature and childhood, to model the Dish with One Spoon approach to stewardship and sustainability, to arm people with the scientific evidence and political narrative that can mobilize the working class to force change at the top of an unjustly hierarchical capitalist society, and to elevate the voices of the original stewards of Mother Nature who have been marginalized.

Thank you to everyone who has interacted with my blog over the course of the semester, I have truly enjoyed this class and the ability to read everyone’s unique perspective. I wish everyone the best as we finish the semester and likely our university careers!

[akenvs3000w22]

Hello Hannah!

Thank you for such a powerful and insightful blog post! I absolutely love what you had to say about your approach for getting people impassioned about eco-consciousness and conservation efforts. It’s easy to become disheartened and discouraged with the state of the Earth and the rate of which things are changing for the worse; and it’s equally discouraging to see the amount of people who don’t care about or flat-out deny climate change. I also believe that becoming a political crusader, while still important, would mainly reach and empower those who already care for the state of the planet. As you stated, an interpreter’s responsibility is to guide others to rediscover the wonders of nature, and I believe this is what needs to happen to change people’s minds.

The sense of wonder that nature ignites, which you discussed, has been linked to changing people’s perspectives, inducing mindfulness, and increasing empathy (Beck et al., pp 472). This sense of awe will hopefully make people look at the world in a different light, challenging their ideas of consumerism and their own environmental impact. I think the immense urbanization and technological advances (especially with the internet), has created a massive rift between societies and nature, and this is possibly a great factor in the reckless and destructive consumption of others. What strategies do you think we should implement to close the gap between people and nature? Should we focus on bringing nature interpretation on-line, or should we aim to increase people’s exposure to real-life nature?

Thank you again for your insightful post, and I hope you continue to advocate for change in conservation and preservation efforts. I enjoyed reading your post and hope you’ve enjoyed taking this course! Wish you all the best with future endeavors :)

Reference

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018.

[akenvs3000w22]

Exploring My Role As An Interpreter

Happy Sunday everyone!

This journey exploring my outlook on nature interpretation has been insightful and enriching, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. For my final blog post, I will be exploring what my role as an interpreter has become, but I would like to emphasize that this role is fluid. Firstly, as an interpreter I hope I never become stagnant, and I keep challenging myself to learn more and hone my skills. If I want my audiences to be open to my interpretation, then I need to ensure my mind is always open to new ideas, or else I will become ignorant. I also hope to instill this lifelong learning practice in those around me, as will allow us to grow and aid in our personal lives and endeavors (Beck et al. Ch21, pp 46).

Something else I will continue to adamantly practice is getting to know my audience as well as I possibly can. Obviously, this has barriers when interpreting online via blogposts; however, I have gotten to know you all by reading your blogposts, which are often revealing about your own values and beliefs. Knowing the audience is critical if you want your interpretation to have an impact, because even if the content matters to you, it will have no effect if it matters not to the audience (Beck et al. Ch7, pp 130). From this, embracing and acknowledging the differences and minorities in audience members is integral to creating a welcoming interpretation program. This is not just a priority in interpretation, but every aspect of life.

When interpreting, even though I will try my best to get to know my audience members, there is a challenge in which you will always be interpreting to a group of people with their own unique life stories with unique perspectives on everything. The beauty of interpretation, and one of my main responsibilities as an interpreter, is that we can use shared human experiences to give meaning to anything.

One of my favourite interpretive approaches is to guide and harness the human senses in order to make the interpretation an experience (Beck et al. Ch5, pp 100). The audience may not know where to look, what to listen for, or what to feel, but guiding the audience in the right direction will ensure that they are able to get the first-hand experience. This will make the moment much more authentic and genuine for the audience members, especially because they found the beauty themselves. The use of senses will also make the moment much more memorable and will often act as a catalyst to seeking further education and interpretation (Beck et al. Ch5, pp 101). Using the human senses is an effective approach because it doesn’t matter what your walk of life is, because we all use our senses to experience the same world.

Photo taken by me. This is a simple image of preservation field with a clear sky in Guelph, ON. Think about what senses would be stimulated if you were placed within this photo? How would these senses impact your experience here?

Possibly an even better approach to interpreting, is the harnessing of human emotions. Although we all come from different origins, there are key emotions that are shared amongst humans of every culture, such as suffering, love, overcoming a challenge, and fear (Beck et al. Ch5, pp 88). I believe that using these universal emotions is a great way to invoke empathy within audience members, creating an emotional connection between them and the topic of interpretation. I find this incredibly impactful when mixed with story-telling, because it ties in vivid imagery with vivid emotions, which allows the interpretation to stick with the audience members (Beck et al. Ch10, pp 223).

These approaches will help me fulfill the responsibilities of interpreting: educating and uplifting. Furthermore, as an interpreter, I have the responsibility of ensuring the safety of everyone involved, as well as curating a welcoming and inclusive environment for anyone. This means that I have the responsibility of acknowledging my privileges, such as being an able-bodied middle class man; and understanding my own privilege will aid in better understanding my audience, which I previously stated will elevate my interpreting (Beck et al. Ch7, pp 130). These responsibilities, along with the approaches mentioned to ensure they interpret through their own perspectives, will allow me to meet both the audience’s basic needs and growth needs (Beck et al. Ch3, pp 47).

Once all of the basic levels of needs are met, I believe self-actualization is one of the most enriching parts of interpretation because it challenges one to perceive differently and offers exhilaration and deep satisfaction (Beck et al. Ch3, pp 47). A common theme throughout many of my blog posts has been to explore the feelings of awe and wonder, and how impactful and overlooked they are. It’s even been shown through research that awe-inspiring experiences can change lives in profound ways and can induce empathy and generosity (Beck et al. Ch21, pp 472). I believe harnessing the feeling of awe is key to self-actualization, and it is something I strive to elicit through interpretation.

Nature is abundant with awe. Think about all of the magical sunsets, raging downpours, or colourful autumns you’ve seen in your life, and how you feel during those moments. I’m not sure about you but I just stand there and soak all of the sounds, sights and smells of the moment in and gawk at how incredible these feats of nature are. These things are regular occurrences too, as the sun sets every day, and embracing the feeling of awe can make you feel grateful for these “regular” things. More so, I think awe makes me grateful to be alive in general because I am so lucky to be able to see all of the amazing feats of nature. I strive to instill this gratefulness in others, and hope that all of us can tap in to our curious and inquisitive sides.

Here is a photo of me and my friends watching an everyday sunset. I remember feeling said sense of awe and wonder while letting my senses take in all of the surroundings. Specifically, I remember admiring the deep colours on the horizon, feeling the cool breeze, and smelling the fresh air. Which sense tends to have the greatest impact on your sense of wonder?

This blog has taught me so much about my interpretation approach, and how important it is to uplift each other. Through the practices of understanding my audiences, and using human senses and emotions, I hope that I can lead people to self-actualization and perceiving the world with wide eyes. Nature interpretation is a very fulfilling gift, and I look forward to seeing the next generation of interpreters.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this blogging series, and I hope you enjoyed this journey as much as I have. Good luck with your future endeavours, and I can’t wait to see the paths you’ll forge!

References

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Chapter 3: Values to Individuals and Society. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018, pp 41-57

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Chapter 5: Guiding Principles of Interpretation. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018, pp 81-102

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Chapter 7: Serving Diverse Audiences. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018.

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Chapter 10: Arts in Interpretation. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018, pp 215-231

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Chapter 21: The bright future of interpretation. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018, pp 457-477

[akenvs3000w22]

The influence of nature on music and vice verse

Today we are discussion music in nature and nature in music: something that I have been pondering about at night for the past week or so. Music is a fascinating phenomenon. We, as humans, take melodies and rhythms and intricately create something that heightens your sense of sound. When you listen to a song you love, you relish in the emotions it evokes, you admire the way the melodies blend together and cherish every harmony. You let the lyrics sink in and feel your body want to move to the beat. It’s an experience unlike anything else, and I’ve been wondering what the origins are to this common human phenomenon.

So, where is music in nature? Some things that likely come to mind are the songs of birds, the howling of the wind, or the chirping of crickets in the dead of night. The symphony of sounds you hear in nature are in their own rights “music”, as they are capable of evoking emotions which is a integral part of music (Beck et al. 2018). These sounds of nature also do a remarkable job at imprinting an event or setting into your memory, which is another aspect of music (Beck et al. 2018). Personally, when I think about the sounds of mourning doves and cicadas humming, I envision my daily bike-ride to school, inhaling fresh morning air. Without even realizing it, nature makes an impact in our lives through the use of sound, and I believe that music works in a very similar manner.

In fact, I not only believe there is nature in music, but I believe that music is inherently a part of nature. It’s undeniable that music is a universal practice, and it is an important aspect of every culture. When you listen to music your body has a biological response to it: you may be inclined to tap your foot or sway, and you feel shifts in your emotions. Music is in our blood and even if you don’t create music, it likely holds a special place in your life. This is why I am convinced that music is an inherent part of human nature, and this is what makes it such a powerful tool.

Now, hopefully that philosophical tangent about music wasn’t too incoherent, but I would love to share an artist that helped change my outlook on nature and the world!

One of my favourite artists, Kacey Musgraves, has a track titled “Oh, What a World”, and it holds a special place in my heart. This song plays with the emotion of awe and wonder that you feel when you see the natural wonders of the world, such as the northern lights, or “things that swim with a neon glow”. It describes some of the wonderful things we get to experience on earth, and the chorus goes “Oh what a world, and then there is you”.

Although the lyrics are simple, it does an amazing job capturing that child-like feeling of awe you feel that makes you appreciate the world around us. Exploring this feeling brings me back to any time I have been in nature, and just soaking in all of my surroundings. Nature is an amazing tool to bring out our sense of wonder, and it’s moments like these where I realize how lucky I am to get to experience this all.

I encourage everyone to seek out these feelings of wonder and think about how it changes your perspective of nature. Also, please share what songs make the world seem like a magical place to you!

Reference

Beck, L., Cable, T., & Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. 225-226

Musgraves, K., Tashian, D., Fitchuk, I. (2018). Oh, What a World. Golden Hour, track 4. UMG Recordings.

[nbenvs3000w22]

Hey! I really loved reading your post this week. Honestly, I also felt that I was getting really philosophical with my post, but I feel that it was kinda necessary in order to answer the prompt. But in regards to music, I completely agree that it imprints events into your memory. I have so many songs that bring up memories of trips, drives and good times with friends - I can remember even the fine details too. Even though it may not be your typical form of nature interpretation, music is honestly so important to help people create a relationship with nature. Songs, rhythms, beats and instruments have been such an important part of humanity’s culture. It only makes sense to include in nature interpretation.

I really loved reading your connection with the Kacey Musgrave song “Oh, What a World”. I find the simplest of lyrics can instill so many positive emotions. I also relate to the lyrics “things that swim with a neon glow”, it reminds me so much of when I went camping as a child. When I was exploring the forest or canoeing through the lake, everything seemed to be such a new and exciting thing. I remember the feeling of wonder and joy, all the new sights and smells were so unique. Everything was pretty much swimming in neon gold. A song that gives me the same feeling is Out of My Leauge by Fitz and The Tantrums. One summer, that song played constantly on the radio whenever I was going on trips with my sister. I remember screaming the lyrics out the window with my sister while going on our own adventures. It brings back so many great memories.

Anyways really enjoyed your post! Can’t wait to read more!

[akenvs3000w22]

Thanks so much for such a thoughtful reply to my blog post! I’m glad I wasn’t the only one to get philosophical with it! You’re absolutely right about music being within the core of culture and humanity, and there’s no surprise that it brings people together; it’s such an important aspect to nearly everybody’s life! 

Your description of the song Out of My League was really inspiring. I absolutely love that rush of freedom and unrestricted joy you seemed to display when screaming out of the window with somebody like your sister. Obviously that memory runs deep within. I love that music can do that to us, and that we are able to allow ourselves to let the music take over! 

Keep up the good work and good luck with your last week of blogging!

[akenvs3000w22]

How something small can have such a BIG impact...

This blog prompt, yet again, is very exciting to discuss. Upon doing the textbook reading this week, I was surprised to see the topic of awe discussed and noticed a lot of unintended similarities between the text and my blog posts (which you should totally check out). The feeling of awe can evoke curiosity and make you question your place in the world and is actually shown to positively affect your well-being (Beck et al. 2019). These are sentiments I shared when unpacking my experiences with the emotion of awe, and there is no doubt that nature has an abundance of awesomeness.

Now, what is the most amazing thing about nature to me? This is an extremely loaded question that does not have a concrete answer. However, if I was forced to answer immediately, I would choose the sheer abundance and diversity of insects.

Insects are, by a long-shot, the most abundant and successful group of animals in the world. To give you some perspective, the known insect species represent 80% of the total world’s species, with an estimated 10 quintillion individuals alive right now; that is a one followed by 19 zeros, by the way (BugInfo, 1996). This numerical success in itself baffles me and gives me perspective as a human and how our success as a species may not be as great as we imagine.

Now, insects aren’t only quantitatively incredible, but their diversity and ancient lifestyles are equally incredible. Just the concept and complexity of metamorphosis in butterflies is astounding when you think about it, especially when you realize that butterflies have the same memories as their larval stage (Nielson, 2008). Furthermore, learning that when food becomes scarce and grasshoppers have to share a small food source, the entire population will transform into ravenous locusts and attempt to eat anything they can access (Song et al. 2017). Learning facts like these have completely changed my outlook on insects. What was once a world overshadowed by large charismatic animals is now an entire new world with even more to explore!

The sheer amazement I experience when learning about the success and adaptations of insects, makes me question my own perspective and importance in the world, which draws back to the topic of awe (Beck et al. 2019). Insects are small, and when they’re alone they often seem insignificant. However, understanding more and more about them has made me realize that their lives are just as significant as ours is. We as humans search for purpose in life. Are insects, and every other organism born with a purpose? Is their purpose to fill their ecological niche and maintain the balances of nature? What does this say about our purpose and our own “ecological niche”?

This change of perspective might actually be the most amazing thing about nature. The more that I learn about this world we live in, the more I realize its importance and its impressiveness. The way it challenges my ways of thinking and my place in the world is a gift in itself… and who knew that thinking about some silly little bugs could teach me so much!

Here is a link to John Hallmén’s Flickr page if you’d like to check out more of his insect photos!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnhallmen/

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Chapter 21: The bright future of interpretation. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018.

BugInfo. 1996. Numbers of Insects (species and individuals). Smithsonian. Accessed 20 March 2022 at https://www.si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/bugnos

Nielsen, J. 2008. Study: Moths can remember caterpillar days. Research News. Accessed 20 March 2022 at https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88031220

Song, H., Foquet, B., Mariño-Perez, R. and Woller, D.A. 2017. Phylogeny of locusts and grasshoppers reveals complex evolution of density-dependent phenotypic plasticity. Scientific Reports (7): 6606

[ltenvs3000w22]

Hey Andrew!

I really enjoyed reading your blog post this week!

I never really thought about the sheer abundance and diversity of insects. I love how throughout your post you mentioned a bunch of interesting facts and didn't just keep it about one specific insect!

I think it is so interesting that the known insect species represent 80% of the total world’s species. That is very mind blowing but definitely makes sense when you think about it. Metamorphosis in butterflies is a really incredible process. I was thinking about that as I was reading the blog post prompt. I did not know that they have the same memories as their larval stage. That is so cool!

I believe that insects are born with a purpose! I think everything in life is a snowball effect and is meant to affect everything around it! If we did not have insects living on earth, our lives would be incredibly different. It is funny how such a small thing can have such a large impact.  Insects pollinate many of our fruits, flowers, and vegetables. We would not have much of the produce that we enjoy and rely on without the pollinating services of insects, not to mention honey, beeswax, silk, and other useful products that insects provide!

Thank you for your post! I really enjoyed reading it!

- Lauren

[akenvs3000w22]

Hey Lauren! 

Thanks for your thoughtful reply! I’m glad you enjoyed hearing me ramble on about insects and learned a few things. Complete metamorphosis is truly an extraordinary feat of evolution, and it’s no surprise that beetles (also holometabolous insects, like butterflies) are the most specious group of insects. Another mind-blowing feat with insects are the eusocial matriarchies that you see in bees, termites and ants. It’s crazy to think that they have had their own little “societies” with caste systems and job positions millions of years before we came along. 

I also appreciated your addition to the topic of “purpose” and how you highlighted many things that we take for granted that we owe to insects. I’m glad you think all living things have a purpose, and you appear to have a sense of gratitude because of this. I wish more people exhibited this because I believe that would make a lot of us less wasteful and impulsive. 

Hope to read more from you and good luck with your final blog post!

[doenvs3000w22]

Nature is full of unique and wondrous things, that too many may not even seem possible, so to pin it down to one pehenemon is quite a challenge. To me what might be most amazing in nature is not any one event, but a particular species that fascinates me. The Greenland shark, is a very unique species, living in the depths of the arctic ocean these sharks are wildly different from other species, the reason I chose them to be fascinating is because of their lifespan, they can live up to 500 years, meaning some alive today have been around since the 16-1700 which to me is just fascinating to think about, all the events they’ve lived through and the fact that they’re still here. Along with their extremely long life span, they also have unique biological and anatomical structures that truly make them a wonder of the oceans.

These sharks are almost completely blind, though they are born with fully functional eyes, almost all get infected with a parasite that renders them blind by attaching to the corneas of the sharks. These sharks are also different in the fact they have very small heads, with large bodies and small fins, as they swim slowly, living in cold waters, they are also generally confrontational and there’s only been one reported incident in 1859 when a Greenland shark was found to have a human leg inside its stomach.

Although a good amount is known, so much of their history and behavior is left a mystery due to how seldom seen they are, and where they live, for example, their exact diet, how they give birth, how they mate, and how they look like throughout the stages of their lives, as their lifespan is abnormally long compared to humans. What do you think about the Greenlands shark lifespan? Does it fascinate you as well? And perhaps what questions does it leave you wondering?

[akenvs3000w22]

Hi @doenvs3000w22!

Thank you for sharing your post about the Greenland shark, which is definitely one of my favourite fish! I absolutely love that you brought up their lengthy lifespan and how fascinating it is to you. I personally am drawn to animals with such long lifespans because it baffles me to think about everything they must have experienced. To think about the sheer amount of change that I’ve seen in my 21 years of life, yet alone everything that has changed in the past 100 years! It really puts our own life into perspective, and I think this feeds into the concept of awe. I certainly sense the wonder and “wow” feeling when I look at a Greenland shark and think about how long it’s lived, which may be why you are drawn to it if it amazes you and sparks senses of wonder and curiosity (Beck et al. 2019).

I also think the mysterious aspect of Greenland sharks draw me in. You mention that several aspects of their biology are yet to be understood, which, paired with their lifespan, makes me wonder what on Earth their lives are like? On top of this, although we understand copious amounts of nature, there is just as much, if not more, that is still a mystery. This only excites me because it means that there is an unlimited amount of beauty and fascination to be discovered.

Seeing Greenland sharks make me wonder what else is out there that we know hardly anything about? It inspires me that such a complex and unique species can thrive in such harsh conditions and is a testament to how successful life on Earth is.

Thank you for sharing your post and reminding me about such a cool animal! Hope to see more from you 

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Chapter 21: The bright future of interpretation. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018.

[akenvs3000w22]

How something small can have such a BIG impact...

This blog prompt, yet again, is very exciting to discuss. Upon doing the textbook reading this week, I was surprised to see the topic of awe discussed and noticed a lot of unintended similarities between the text and my blog posts (which you should totally check out). The feeling of awe can evoke curiosity and make you question your place in the world and is actually shown to positively affect your well-being (Beck et al. 2019). These are sentiments I shared when unpacking my experiences with the emotion of awe, and there is no doubt that nature has an abundance of awesomeness.

Now, what is the most amazing thing about nature to me? This is an extremely loaded question that does not have a concrete answer. However, if I was forced to answer immediately, I would choose the sheer abundance and diversity of insects.

Insects are, by a long-shot, the most abundant and successful group of animals in the world. To give you some perspective, the known insect species represent 80% of the total world’s species, with an estimated 10 quintillion individuals alive right now; that is a one followed by 19 zeros, by the way (BugInfo, 1996). This numerical success in itself baffles me and gives me perspective as a human and how our success as a species may not be as great as we imagine.

Now, insects aren’t only quantitatively incredible, but their diversity and ancient lifestyles are equally incredible. Just the concept and complexity of metamorphosis in butterflies is astounding when you think about it, especially when you realize that butterflies have the same memories as their larval stage (Nielson, 2008). Furthermore, learning that when food becomes scarce and grasshoppers have to share a small food source, the entire population will transform into ravenous locusts and attempt to eat anything they can access (Song et al. 2017). Learning facts like these have completely changed my outlook on insects. What was once a world overshadowed by large charismatic animals is now an entire new world with even more to explore!

The sheer amazement I experience when learning about the success and adaptations of insects, makes me question my own perspective and importance in the world, which draws back to the topic of awe (Beck et al. 2019). Insects are small, and when they’re alone they often seem insignificant. However, understanding more and more about them has made me realize that their lives are just as significant as ours is. We as humans search for purpose in life. Are insects, and every other organism born with a purpose? Is their purpose to fill their ecological niche and maintain the balances of nature? What does this say about our purpose and our own “ecological niche”?

This change of perspective might actually be the most amazing thing about nature. The more that I learn about this world we live in, the more I realize its importance and its impressiveness. The way it challenges my ways of thinking and my place in the world is a gift in itself… and who knew that thinking about some silly little bugs could teach me so much!

Here is a link to John Hallmén’s Flickr page if you’d like to check out more of his insect photos!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnhallmen/

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Chapter 21: The bright future of interpretation. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018.

BugInfo. 1996. Numbers of Insects (species and individuals). Smithsonian. Accessed 20 March 2022 at https://www.si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/bugnos

Nielsen, J. 2008. Study: Moths can remember caterpillar days. Research News. Accessed 20 March 2022 at https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88031220

Song, H., Foquet, B., Mariño-Perez, R. and Woller, D.A. 2017. Phylogeny of locusts and grasshoppers reveals complex evolution of density-dependent phenotypic plasticity. Scientific Reports (7): 6606

[mkawenvs3000w22]

Nature is Music. Music is Nature.

The Earth has music for those who listen | https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/489555421976402950/

What exactly is music? Does it need lyrics? A singer? When I began to brainstorm for my blog this week, the quote above came to mind. I think there is a lot of truth behind this quote, because music, to me, will forever be embedded into the nature around us, and this concept was supported in this week's reading (Gray et al. 2001). From the sounds of a babbling brook to the songs of birds in the morning to the croaking of frogs in the evening.

I was introduced to music essentially at birth and it has always played an important role in my life - for example, my parents met and connected because they shared a love of a particular band. Through music, I have also learned the value of storytelling; music always has a message and a story to tell, whether it is supported by lyrics or is purely instrumental. I've had the opportunity, through my life experiences, to develop connections with both music and nature, separately and together. Going outside and exercising alone, whether it's running, walking, or hiking, are the times when I feel most at peace. This, I believe, has a lot to do with the fact that when I'm alone, I genuinely enjoy and internalize all of the peaceful sounds and scenery around me.

When I go for a run, however, I almost always find myself preferring to put in earbuds and listen to music from my phone, which I don't tend to do when I go for a walk or hike. This is not because I want to block out the sounds around me, rather, I want to listen to music in conjunction with the natural world around me to motivate me to move faster. I've discovered that the energy I get from being in nature and the energy I get from listening to music work together to lift my spirits and encourage me to run at my best speeds.

One song that will always take me back to a natural landscape is Musetta’s Waltz composed by Giacomo Puccini. I was taking a break at a lake while on a hike, and I felt the desire to listen to some instrumental music, and it really made the moment magical for me. Every time I listen to this song, I am immediately transported back to the lake.

Remarkably, many sounds we hear in nature incorporate the same musical techniques that are employed in human music (Gray et.al. 2001). Perhaps this is why nature is a popular source of inspiration across all genres of human songs. Nature is all around us, and as we've learned in this course, can and should be interpreted in a variety of ways, therefore, it's the ideal muse. For example, one song I like is Blackbird by the Beatles and it samples sounds from actual birds. Some songs also involve nature, in less direct ways, like referencing them in their lyrics - one song that comes to mind is Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens, which expresses the beauty that can be found in nature. Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell and Mercy Mercy Me by Marvin Gaye tells of the destruction of the Earth's ecosystems by human industrialization. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen utilizes nature in a metaphorical way, describing the feeling of a being stuck in life through the imagery of a landslide.

These songs, through their sound, can have a lasting impact on their listeners, much like interpretation. A few units ago, we blogged about the role of art in nature interpretation, and this week's topic is very similar. Artists, through song, hold the power to encourage listeners to connect to certain aspects of nature featured in their songs. For example, people that listen to Blackbird by The Beatles would ultimately develop an emotional attachment to the bird through an association with the song. Listeners who particularly enjoy the song would subsequently be more likely to become stewards in safeguarding Blackbirds and their environment (Beck et al. 2018). Nature association through song can motivate us to learn more about certain aspects of nature, just by having a favourable memory associated with it.

In this week’s reading, Gray et al. (2001) stated that “The ambient sound of an environment mimics a modern-day orchestra: the voice of each creature has its own frequency, amplitude, timbre, and duration, and occupies a unique niche among the other musicians”. This quotation pertains to both music in nature and music nature in music, as it illustrates the reciprocal relationship between the presence and development of music in everyday life. In addition, while I write this in the dead of winter, I'm reminded, by this quote, of the summertime orchestra of nature. When the unique sounds of frogs, birds, crickets, cicadas, and the other voices in nature create a wonderfully unique cacophony of sound that persists throughout the day and merges into the next. Unique sounds, that vary according to location or season, that every human can hear and be instantly transported to a time, a place, or an experience. I'm not a musician in the slightest and I couldn’t tell you what classically or properly constitutes music, but to me at least, nature has provided me with some of my favourite songs, both human-made and not. Do you share my sentiments?

Bird Orchestra | https://www.salon.com/2021/06/20/scientists-translated-a-birds-brainwaves-into-its-song/

Reference:

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Redshelf eBook. Sagamore Publishing. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://platform.virdocs.com/r/s/0/doc/1948104/sp/245407251/mi/718086528?cfi=%2F4%2F4&menu=index.

Gray, P. M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), 291(5501), 52–54.

[akenvs3000w22]

Hi Madeleine! It was an absolute pleasure reading your discussion behind how nature and music go hand in hand. I really enjoyed hearing about how listening to instrumental music in nature felt magical, because I vividly remember doing the same. It’s similar to how you described running with earbuds in; it’s not that you’re trying to block out the sounds of nature, but rather enhance the sight and smells and feelings of nature through the emotions a song can evoke. However, I suppose you could also argue that the nature is being used to enhance the music. For example, that classical piece may not have been as memorable or impactful had you listened to it on your phone in bed. Do you think that one works more to enhance the other, or do you think that this just shows that nature and music complement each other?

I would also like to digest your brief discussion regarding what music is at the beginning of your post. You ask what music is and whether it needs specific elements to be valid. This made me wonder if music is less about what it’s composed of and more about the experience while listening to it. I would argue that the sounds of a forest, for example, are very musical, although there are no lyrics or beat per se. It only becomes musical when it evokes emotions from within and you experience that sensation that music gives us all that makes us feel open to the sounds around us, paying closer attention to the detail. You feel this when listening to your favourite song, just as you do when you sit at the beach and simply listen to the waves and the wind. To me this is what was meant when you expressed that you “enjoy and internalize all of the peaceful sounds and scenery around you”.

So, what do you think: is music really about the heightened experience when listening to certain sounds? Or do you think music is an assortment of beats and melody separate from the experience? Thank you for sharing your post, and I hope you were able to follow my attempted “deep dive” into music!

[akenvs3000w22]

The influence of nature on music and vice verse

Today we are discussion music in nature and nature in music: something that I have been pondering about at night for the past week or so. Music is a fascinating phenomenon. We, as humans, take melodies and rhythms and intricately create something that heightens your sense of sound. When you listen to a song you love, you relish in the emotions it evokes, you admire the way the melodies blend together and cherish every harmony. You let the lyrics sink in and feel your body want to move to the beat. It’s an experience unlike anything else, and I’ve been wondering what the origins are to this common human phenomenon.

So, where is music in nature? Some things that likely come to mind are the songs of birds, the howling of the wind, or the chirping of crickets in the dead of night. The symphony of sounds you hear in nature are in their own rights “music”, as they are capable of evoking emotions which is a integral part of music (Beck et al. 2018). These sounds of nature also do a remarkable job at imprinting an event or setting into your memory, which is another aspect of music (Beck et al. 2018). Personally, when I think about the sounds of mourning doves and cicadas humming, I envision my daily bike-ride to school, inhaling fresh morning air. Without even realizing it, nature makes an impact in our lives through the use of sound, and I believe that music works in a very similar manner.

In fact, I not only believe there is nature in music, but I believe that music is inherently a part of nature. It’s undeniable that music is a universal practice, and it is an important aspect of every culture. When you listen to music your body has a biological response to it: you may be inclined to tap your foot or sway, and you feel shifts in your emotions. Music is in our blood and even if you don’t create music, it likely holds a special place in your life. This is why I am convinced that music is an inherent part of human nature, and this is what makes it such a powerful tool.

Now, hopefully that philosophical tangent about music wasn’t too incoherent, but I would love to share an artist that helped change my outlook on nature and the world!

One of my favourite artists, Kacey Musgraves, has a track titled “Oh, What a World”, and it holds a special place in my heart. This song plays with the emotion of awe and wonder that you feel when you see the natural wonders of the world, such as the northern lights, or “things that swim with a neon glow”. It describes some of the wonderful things we get to experience on earth, and the chorus goes “Oh what a world, and then there is you”.

Although the lyrics are simple, it does an amazing job capturing that child-like feeling of awe you feel that makes you appreciate the world around us. Exploring this feeling brings me back to any time I have been in nature, and just soaking in all of my surroundings. Nature is an amazing tool to bring out our sense of wonder, and it’s moments like these where I realize how lucky I am to get to experience this all.

I encourage everyone to seek out these feelings of wonder and think about how it changes your perspective of nature. Also, please share what songs make the world seem like a magical place to you!

Reference

Beck, L., Cable, T., & Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. 225-226

Musgraves, K., Tashian, D., Fitchuk, I. (2018). Oh, What a World. Golden Hour, track 4. UMG Recordings.

[cdwenvs3000w22]

Blog #6: The Quote (Nature Interpretation Through History)

For this weeks blog, I will unpack this quote:

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

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

At first this was hard for me to understand. I found it was easier for me to dive into the meaning of this quote if I separated it into two parts.

Part 1: 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.

In this passage: Merit= worth, value, goodness, Integrity=unity, wholeness.

 This first portion indicates to me that historical objects have no intrinsic value, but there is value in the relationship between historical objects and how they are perpetuated through memories and knowledge. For example, historical artefacts in museums have value because they contain knowledge and memories; but, an object from the past can be little more than an object if it lacks historical significance. Emperors governed in China’s history, for example, and people know this because of stories told in ancient texts that were left behind. These emperors sat atop thrones, which may now be found in museums all around the world.This object just discovered could be seen with no historical significance, could be considered a glamorized chair, yet we comprehend what this chair is and its historical significance to China because of what we know and what has been passed down through history. This, I believe, is what was meant by integrity: taking scattered parts and putting them together to form a whole. Historical information and objects are dispersed over time; some become separated and forgotten, yet these pieces have been discovered and linked to their historical context and meaning thanks to research and conservation. The maintenance of this integrity entails the memories and knowledge that are attached to it. This can also apply to historical sites, you can see evidence from ancient architecture, and piece together what it is, who created it, why it was created, and when. We are able to identify these things by historical knowledge that has been preserved though time. Overall, I feel this first part of the quote speaks to how historical objects and sites only have value if the scattered parts of their historical story are held together through time….or are reconnected over time based on the knowledge we gather to be able to reconnect them. 

Part 2: To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.

To me, this part implies that living your life as if history is merely the past with no relevance to the present or future is naive. It is critical to recognize that history has led to the present, and that our present will one day become history. History is an important aspect of revolution and the story of human progress in architecture, art, technology, and nature, among other things. If you choose to ignore it and think, act and feel that history is the past and its over, it is like believing that a railway station through which our train has recently passed only existed for the duration of the train’s stay.

What does this have to do with interpreting nature? 

History, I believe, has an important part in how we view nature. History lends value to nature and natural sites, and by doing so, history serves to support environmental conservation. When a historical architectural site is saved, the land on which the historical structure rests is also conserved. History brings people in to observe and enjoy natural wonders while also promoting historical education.

I hope you enjoyed reading this weeks post! 

[akenvs3000w22]

Hi there!

Thank you so much for sharing your interpretation of this quote! I really enjoyed your discussion regarding the importance of artifacts being “scattered throughout time”, because it is very true that if these artifacts were never found, then they don’t have any merit or value. I do agree that this implies that they have no value to recorded history if they aren’t uncovered, however I wouldn’t say they are completely meritless if they don’t survive. Even if something never gets discovered before it’s lost to time, we can’t disregard the impact it may have had during its time, therefore I believe it still has some merit. However, this is a very minor addition, and you did recognize that “history has led to the present”, which is something I am glad you highlighted.

Another aspect of your post that I appreciate is how you highlighted how many integral parts of humanity that history has played a major role in. Art, technology, and nature all have directly and indirectly relied on historical events and figures to get where they are today. I also think that this ties into the “merit” aspect of the first half of the quote. History is valuable to all of these aspects of life and I also believe that the understanding we gain from history helps fill in our gaps in knowledge, thus tying into the concept of integrity and completeness again.

Lastly, I was glad you touched on how these concepts tie into nature interpretation and how we can tie together human history and natural history. I would also add that natural history is a powerful tool to use when interpreting because it can shed light on how a site appeared and functioned prior to globalization.

Overall, I thought you did an excellent job unpacking this quote, and I appreciated looking at it through an alternative lens! Hope you enjoy your reading week :)

[akenvs3000w22]

The Power That History Holds...

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 (Beck, Chapter 7)

This quote from Edward Hyams is quite provocative as it makes you think about the significance of history. What I received from this quote is that historical events, artifacts and stories aren’t special because of their age, however they are significant because they add pieces to the puzzle of time, making it more complete. To me, this means that we can look at the present, and look at the possibilities that the future brings, however if we don’t acknowledge the past, we aren’t seeing the whole picture. The “integrity” mentioned refers to this sense of wholeness that history offers, and I would argue that this integrity acts as a foundation for our success as humans.

Everything in the past has led us to today, with incredible scientific and health advancements, world religions, wars, etc. Regardless of whether we acknowledge them or not, they still happened, and each event has consequentially led us to the present moment. This is why history holds power, because understanding the past can shed light on why things may be the way they are, therefore providing a better understanding of the present and the future. This “understanding” that history can provoke is the merit that history holds; it is representing the significance and good that can come from understanding history and applying the lessons you can learn from it.

Now, this is a nature interpretation blog, and at this point you are probably wondering, “How does all of this fit into interpreting?”. Integrating history into an interpretive program is an excellent way to tell stories, which is an awesome tool to grab the attention of the audience and convey natural and cultural messages. For example, telling stories about how a Canadian park would have looked and functioned pre-colonialism would give listeners an understanding of how this piece of land functioned over time. Furthermore, these stories can provide a place with vitality, because now the audience knows that this land, for example, has its own life-story and origins, just like you and me and everyone around us. Understanding the history of a place can literally give it life in the eyes of the audience and allow them to empathize and form an emotional connection with it.

Once the audience understands the roots of a natural site, they will likely try to draw comparisons of how it looks and functions in the present. These comparisons have the power to show the effects that humans have had on the environment. Now that the audience has an understanding and appreciation of the history of this site, I believe they will now have incentive to aid in preserving what remains of this history. This goes to show how important understanding the history of our land is when it comes to addressing the climate crisis.

So, this quote had quite a lot to unpack and discuss. To me, Hyams wanted to convey the importance that history has in understanding the present, and how understanding something’s back story can give it significance. This is what makes history so powerful when it comes to interpreting, because it helps build a connection between the audience members and the subject.

The last thing I’m left wondering about is where does the future fit into this? We can’t know or fully understand the future, so I wonder how greatly this affects the “integrity”. Do you think we even need to understand the future, or is the past and present enough to understand why things are the way they are? Just some food for thought!

Reference:

Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural  Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore- Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2.

[akenvs3000w22]

Alvars: a unique environment makes for unique writing approaches

Prior to these readings, I had no idea what an alvar was. Upon reading these three articles about alvars in North America, I was quickly inspired to choose them as a focal point. For those who don’t know, an alvar is a barren land mass of limestone or marble with very little soil, and they are home to a unique set of plant species due to these harsh conditions. The unique flora belonging to Alvars makes them intriguing, and almost magical, for us to observe; and this can make for a great topic to write about from various perspectives.

Firstly, the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists’ website has a free article titled, “What is an alvar? Burnt Lands: a rare alvar of exceptional quality”. This article describes the basics of what an alvar is and describes what makes the Burnt Lands Alvar stand out. This article was generally written with a scientific scope, listing and describing the various species and their abundance in a monotonous way. However, when introducing the topics, the writer did an excellent job injecting emotion into the writing. For example, a universal sense of triumph was felt when it was described how alvars are home to species that have been isolated and thrived through generations untouched, while other species didn’t survive. Additionally, quotes from people familiar with the alvar were used to further get the reader to relate to alvars on a personal level.

The second article was found on the site for Drummond Island Tourism Association and is titled “Drummond Island Alvar”. This article also explains what an alvar is, then proceeds to describe the Drummond Island Alvar in a matter-of-fact way. Although this article felt a bit dry at times, it focused primarily on what makes this Alvar unique in great detail. Using a straight-forward voice and simple terms allows the reader to easily comprehend the content. Furthermore, focusing on the unique traits of this Alvar can inspire the reader to want to visit this unique site, as this may be a marketing strategy for this tourism website. Overall, this article was less personable, but certainly used a more accessible language and is likely intended for both adults and teenagers.

The final article I chose is from the Meander Photography website, titled “Saskatchewan’s Alvars”. This was my personal favourite article as it recounts the search for an alvar (which are rare in Saskatchewan) by a photographer and their girlfriend. This first person approach allows the reader to put themselves in the author’s shoes, and paired with the photos, it can feel like you’re exploring an alvar yourself! Although this article was less scientific, it was the least accessible of the three as it used many ecological terms that most people aren’t familiar with.

Overall, all three articles were well written and informative on the topic of Alvars. The first article was excellent at personifying and using quotes to invoke emotions from the reader, whereas the second article was a bit dryer but was better for marketing the location for tourists. Lastly, the final article was the most unique as it took on Alvars through a first person lens and utilized photographs to really capture the beauty of experiencing an Alvar. It is because of this that I think “Saskatchewan’s Alvars” was the article that “worked best”.

Photo of an areal view of an alvar (Saskatchewan’s Alvars, 2021).

References:

“Drummond Island Alvar: the largest remaining high quality alvar in North America” Drummond Island Tourism Association. Accessed 16 Feb 2022 at https://www.visitdrummondisland.com/alvar.html

“Saskatchewan’s Alvars: Hidden in Plain Sight” March 2021. Meander Photography. Accessed 16 Feb 2022 at https://www.meanderphotography.ca/Alvar

“What is an alvar? Burnt Lands: a rare alvar of exceptional quality” Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists. Accessed 16 Feb 2022 at https://mvfn.ca/what-is-an-alvar-burnt-lands-a-rare-alvar-of-exceptional-quality/

[akenvs3000w22]

How Interpreting Sparks Curiosity

Misunderstanding and fear go hand-in-hand. From this, it comes as no surprise that the less exposure we get to nature growing up, the more we may fear it. This is a trend I see with some friends who grew up in cities and seldom went camping or hiking. If a bug, even a caterpillar, dared go near them, they would freak out. Even the beach was frightening with the thought of a fish or water snake possibly brushing against their leg! I always found it peculiar how different our views of nature were, and it saddens me that fear can hold someone back from seeing all the wonders of the natural world.

To me, nature was something to explore endlessly. Sure, I didn’t understand all of it, but I used my lack of knowledge to fuel curiosity instead of fear. To me, this is the most fulfilling aspect of interpretation: watching someone’s fear or uncertainty of nature morph into a curiosity and drive to learn and see more.

This past summer, I was fortunate enough to go camping at the Pinery with my roommates and some of their friends. One of these friends had never been camping and was never fond of bugs. On the other hand, I am obsessed with insects and have always been impressed by their diversity and ecological success. Naturally, I had packed a net, plus a few bug catchers, and was eager to see what kind of critters I could find in the tall grass.

Within minutes I had caught several grasshoppers, caterpillars, and whatever else was lingering in the grass. I proceeded to go around showing everyone what bugs I manages to snag, telling them whatever cool facts came to mind. At first, most of my friends thought I was just being a blatant weirdo (which I certainly was), but after showing them the first few insects, I noticed I began to pique some of their interests.

The one friend, who had never been camping, was especially hesitant at first, but as I kept showing her how I could hold these insects without being bitten, and how they’re nothing to fear, my friend began to turn her fear into curiosity. Before she knew it, she was asking to hold grasshoppers and cicadas. She began asking more questions and I would tell her about all the amazing adaptations that insects have. I would explain how some insects use biological latches and springs to jump incredible distances, or how ants have entire caste systems and even have ant “graveyards”. It was like she was discovering a whole new world of animals just as inspiring and charismatic as elephants and tigers, except it had been hiding in plain sight all this time.

Now, every time I see this friend-of-a-friend she excitingly refers to me as “the guy who got her over her fear of bugs”, and I have to admit, it felt really satisfying to see someone feed off of my passion for insects. It’s instances like these where I realize how lucky I have been to experience so much nature in my life, and how I can use these experiences to uplift others. Now I wonder, what are some things that I fear that I should start approaching with curiosity? What about you?

Here are the only photos I seem to have taken of “bugs”... Plus one of me pretending to eat a grasshopper (I promise that is GUM in my mouth)

[dhenvs3000w22]

The Beach - Blog 5

Everyone has a place that they feel most at home, whether it be just at their house, a cottage, outside, a sports field, or even an individual. For me, it’s the beach, specifically with my family. With COVID-19 it has forbidden my access to travel, especially to a destination residing on a beach. It has forbidden many things for all. Although now things are slowly opening back up and restrictions are beginning to get lifted, my family and I have been hesitant for a while to travel for many reasons. Now I don’t wanna make this whole post about COVID-19 because I’m sure many individuals have had enough of it, just like myself, but it has restricted me from being in a place that resolves all negatives in my life. 

I love the beach because…

The scenic bright blue waves crashing in the background noise. The ocean breeze’s earthy and salty odours. The soothing sounds of the ocean and the gulls. The vitamin D absorbing in my skin, the feeling of sand on my feet, the warm wind that brushes a tan, it makes me feel at peace, calmness. The relaxation, the scenery, the warmth, the water, and the sun the beach has to offer, quite frankly I believe can make anyone’s frown turn upside down, or their mood skyrocket with dopamine. 

Every trip I have gone on and every country I have traveled to, my family always goes to the beach. For them too, and their own love for the ocean and the beach, has grown my love for it. When I am at the beach without them, it offers the exact same feeling as if they aren’t there with me. 

I miss it incredibly. I am thankful enough that this summer I will finally be able to travel again without any hesitations, and go on a trip down south with my family which we have planned for in August. 

This aspect of nature has impacted my love for it, and my life entirely. The beach has offered many outlets in my life, and has made me more appreciative for the Earth, mother nature and it’s offering. As beaches surround us in many different parts of the world, I still cannot bear the thought of not being consistently brought up around it, because since I was a little girl, it has offered a positive impact on my future life and self, something I would have never imagined. It is a place that I can go to, and nothing else matters than offering myself mental and physical self-care. 

Here’s a small look into some of the photos I have or my family has captured from the many beaches I have experienced in my lifetime:

[akenvs3000w22]

Hi Dalia!

First of all, how dare you share pictures of the beach while we’re stuck indoors in FEBRUARY!? Secondly, I really enjoyed hearing your appreciation for the beach and how it holds a special place in your heart. Nature often finds a way to grasp us and create a safe space for us to relax our minds, and especially with the pandemic, as you mentioned, it has been difficult to access some of our favourite places. It really shows how much we take these natural sites for granted, and sheds light on how much nature can affect our well-beings.

I always find it ironic that we as humans seem to be so focused on urbanizing and industrializing. We tend to think of ourselves as “above” or “separate” from nature, and we always interfere with nature to build the next theme park, factory, or suburb. The irony comes into play when so many of us will spend money to travel and enjoy nature, or even trying to bring nature into our lives via houseplants. It’s like we are trying everything to separate us from nature as a society, even though it’s something we always turn to for comfort! This often confuses me as to why we don’t try to incorporate more nature into our society. Small things like community gardens or more fieldtrips to local forests won’t just make the public more passionate about environmentalism, but simply offer everyone the sense of peace and tranquility we seek from nature!

I really enjoyed reading your post, and it really spoke to me. Plus, I enjoyed living vicariously through your beach photos! I could practically taste that pineapple haha!

[akenvs3000w22]

This week we get to discuss art in nature interpretation, and I’ve been really excited to talk about this topic! I remember when I was a wee little tyke, I was convinced that every school subject fit into the category of art. Math was an art in the way that you had to use your imagination and creativity to use numbers to solve any problems. Science was an art in the sense that there was an order to everything, but everything worked harmoniously and in complex and mysterious ways that you can’t help but appreciate it the same way you’d appreciate an artistic masterpiece.

Yes, I realize this was quite the nerdy outlook to think of mathematics, of all things, as an art form; however, I’ve carried this mindset from then on and it has always made learning these “dry” subjects much more meaningful. This is the power that art has and understanding this and incorporating it into nature interpreting can make the experience so much more special.

Interpreting on its own is an artform, and the best examples of it are expressions of what is held in the head and heart of the interpreter (Beck et al. 2018). When these expressions are authentic, there is an inherent connection between the audience and interpreter, because you get a glimpse of something that the interpreter is passionate about. This can make the passion contagious, and before you know it everyone is mentally and emotionally engaged.

Furthermore, mixing in traditional art forms with interpreting can make the experience that much more impactful. Art has always brought people together, whether it be a family singing and dancing to music, or an audience watching a Broadway production. It’s undeniable that art is an important aspect to all of our lives. We also see its impact in society and culture, where singers sing or writers write about current societal issues, and often act as trailblazers for societal progression.

Using traditional art forms to express eco-consciousness and raise awareness of the climate crisis can be immensely impactful. Personally, music holds a special place in my heart, and I would love to interpret nature through music. Songs have the potential to tell a story, and a story holds the potential to attract audiences of many ages and backgrounds (Beck et al. 2018). The beauty of music is that it can be used to invoke so many emotions within the listeners, which pairs remarkably well with good story telling. Just think about it… A horror movie with no soundtrack is much less frightening, and a funeral scene just probably won’t make you cry without the melancholy piano and strings playing. Music can intensify the feelings that are quintessential to interpreting, and I would love to use it to enhance the many emotions that you feel when exploring nature.

The “gift of beauty” is defined as cultivating a sense of desire and appreciation for your surroundings, resulting in positive and uplifted spirits (Beck et al. 2018). To me, the gift of beauty is that feeling of awe you experience when you experience something moving. This could be the feeling you get when you walk through the forest and get lost in its beauty, or the feeling of intense emotion a song invokes that brings you to tears. Heck, even the feeling I felt when I looked at math and though, “wow numbers work in so many amazing ways!”. This gift of beauty is what makes interpreting so effective and pairing it with an equally impactful art can be ground-breaking.

Also, I would love to hear some of your favourite examples of artists who incorporate nature interpretation into their works! Please share!

Here is this week’s photo (because photography is an art LOL), taken from my hike this week! There is a deer somewhere in there but I cannot find it for the life of me. Let me know if you spot it!

Reference: Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018.

[tnenvs3000w22]

Hi Andrew,

I enjoyed hearing about your feelings towards art. I especially like that you highlighted that science is an art. I always use to love science because it explained the beauty of everything and art made you wander why you see things the way you see them. I use to simplify it by stating there is complexity in simplicity and simplicity in complexity. I also like how you introduce music into this definition of art. It is one I am close to and I truly do believe it has a magical hold on what we feel. To me it seems like a portal to a greater experience. Like how you mentioned a horror movie being more effective with music. I think you set up your point for the gift of beauty very well and I couldn’t agree more. It is a feeling of awe, a feeling that isn’t fully expressed by words. Interestingly enough you post reminded me of that feeling.

To answer your question I’m a big fan of the Romanticism, to me this are period shows the power of the world as humans or gods roam through it. I also appreciate artists like Fragonard who made an impact on the rococo era, which showed the fascination and whimsical connection to nature. I also enjoy the great debate of abstract expressionism but I do feel that some pieces evoke feeling such as Jackson Pollock’s work. The most impactful style I have witnessed is the woodland style. Artists like Norval Morrisseau show the connections of nature in the physical sense and how everything has a spirit. I feel like it encompasses how nature is truly alive.

- Tamia N.

[akenvs3000w22]

Hi Tamia!

Thank you so much for your lovely reply to my post! I wanted to start by thanking you for sharing all of the artists you mentioned, I had to google all of them, but it was worth the search! I appreciate that you mentioned how abstract expressionism is greatly debated, because I constantly hear people talk poorly about how abstract art is “lazy” or “not real art”. I agree that abstract pieces have the capacity to evoke emotions, and I would go further to think that their open-endedness only leaves more room for interpretation. If simply looking at a colour swatch can elicit a feeling from me, then why can’t abstract art?

I also really like your quote, “there is complexity in simplicity and simplicity in complexity”. I interpreted this quote as a commentary on perspective; it’s all about the way you look at something. You can look at something, like a painting for example, and simply appreciate its beauty, or you can read into it and try to find deeper meanings and the artists’ intention. As for a scientific example, you can explain the way the cardiovascular system works in a simple, matter-of-fact way (the structure, function, etc.), or you can start asking why or how the system formed, or look into more complex processes within, all while appreciating its complexity! I’m not sure if this is exactly what you meant by this quote, but I enjoyed taking a moment to think about what it might mean to me. Thanks for sharing this, and hope to see more thought-provoking content from you!

Cheers!

[akenvs3000w22]

This week we get to discuss art in nature interpretation, and I’ve been really excited to talk about this topic! I remember when I was a wee little tyke, I was convinced that every school subject fit into the category of art. Math was an art in the way that you had to use your imagination and creativity to use numbers to solve any problems. Science was an art in the sense that there was an order to everything, but everything worked harmoniously and in complex and mysterious ways that you can’t help but appreciate it the same way you’d appreciate an artistic masterpiece.

Yes, I realize this was quite the nerdy outlook to think of mathematics, of all things, as an art form; however, I’ve carried this mindset from then on and it has always made learning these “dry” subjects much more meaningful. This is the power that art has and understanding this and incorporating it into nature interpreting can make the experience so much more special.

Interpreting on its own is an artform, and the best examples of it are expressions of what is held in the head and heart of the interpreter (Beck et al. 2018). When these expressions are authentic, there is an inherent connection between the audience and interpreter, because you get a glimpse of something that the interpreter is passionate about. This can make the passion contagious, and before you know it everyone is mentally and emotionally engaged.

Furthermore, mixing in traditional art forms with interpreting can make the experience that much more impactful. Art has always brought people together, whether it be a family singing and dancing to music, or an audience watching a Broadway production. It’s undeniable that art is an important aspect to all of our lives. We also see its impact in society and culture, where singers sing or writers write about current societal issues, and often act as trailblazers for societal progression.

Using traditional art forms to express eco-consciousness and raise awareness of the climate crisis can be immensely impactful. Personally, music holds a special place in my heart, and I would love to interpret nature through music. Songs have the potential to tell a story, and a story holds the potential to attract audiences of many ages and backgrounds (Beck et al. 2018). The beauty of music is that it can be used to invoke so many emotions within the listeners, which pairs remarkably well with good story telling. Just think about it… A horror movie with no soundtrack is much less frightening, and a funeral scene just probably won’t make you cry without the melancholy piano and strings playing. Music can intensify the feelings that are quintessential to interpreting, and I would love to use it to enhance the many emotions that you feel when exploring nature.

The “gift of beauty” is defined as cultivating a sense of desire and appreciation for your surroundings, resulting in positive and uplifted spirits (Beck et al. 2018). To me, the gift of beauty is that feeling of awe you experience when you experience something moving. This could be the feeling you get when you walk through the forest and get lost in its beauty, or the feeling of intense emotion a song invokes that brings you to tears. Heck, even the feeling I felt when I looked at math and though, “wow numbers work in so many amazing ways!”. This gift of beauty is what makes interpreting so effective and pairing it with an equally impactful art can be ground-breaking.

Also, I would love to hear some of your favourite examples of artists who incorporate nature interpretation into their works! Please share!

Here is this week’s photo (because photography is an art LOL), taken from my hike this week! There is a deer somewhere in there but I cannot find it for the life of me. Let me know if you spot it!

Reference: Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018.

[hsenvs3000w22]

Hi! 

I loved reading your wonderful perspective on finding an artistic outlook on things that we wouldn’t typically describe as art. Like you mentioned, nature interpretation is definitely an art form in itself, and I like that you chose the word passionate when describing an interpreter. In my own post this week I focused on the ability of art and nature to evoke inspiration and I believe passion goes hand in hand with being inspired by something. When I look at a beautiful piece of art, whatever form it may be in, or a breathtaking sunset I feel inspired by the underlying beauty. To me, this is the gift of beauty. It may not be exactly as described in the textbook however, it follows along the lines of appreciation for ones surroundings. 

Your interpretation of the importance of music in movies really highlights the significant role that art plays in capturing our emotions and feelings. In combination with nature, art can be used to connect with an audience through emotions and perception. The way in which individual visitors perceive their experience with nature is valuable to the interpreter in guiding their experience as well as promoting sustainability and raising awareness. 

Thank you for sharing this great post, it was delightful to read!

- Harleen

[akenvs3000w22]

Hi Harleen!

Thanks for replying to my post, and I’m glad you agree that art is a powerful way to share passion with anyone. I really like what you added regarding art evoking “inspiration”, and I think this is not only true but also highlights the impact art can have, especially when paired with environmentalism. When using art with interpreting, you are increasing the inspiration your audience will feel towards the topic, and hopefully nature in general as well. This inspiration is key if we want to light a fire in the audience members to fight for change towards the climate crisis. It’s hard for a lot of us to find inspiration to make a difference, and without the inspiration we start to lose sight of why environmentalism is so important. This, at least to me, is why inspiration is a key element in solving issues like climate change, and pairing art with nature interpretation is the perfect recipe for this inspiration!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and I look forward to seeing more from you!

[swenvs30002022]

Blog 4: Interpreting Nature Through Art:

When I thought about the question “who are you to interpret nature through art?” It took me a while to answer. I am not artistically gifted and so I have never been able to capture the beauty of art through drawing, painting or sculpting. For many people it is difficult to truly gravitate towards art and to be able to express themselves through art, me being one of them. I struggle to find a deeper meaning to art pieces when visiting art galleries and museums. However, I believe that we all just need to find a connection to art in our own ways and that can help us strengthen our connection to nature because nature is art. Interpreting nature through art does not necessarily mean being able to find the deeper meaning or micro-analyzing a piece of art; it could simply be appreciating how that piece of art was able to capture the beauty of nature.

When considering how I interpret the "gift of beauty," I had to acknowledge that beauty is subjective. If I find something beautiful it does not necessarily mean that other people will share my sentiment. “The gift of beauty” is when your art, whether that be a photograph, painting or piece of music, touches the heart of your audience. Your art becomes their safe space and it is something memorable for them. Sometimes the viewer needs more encouragement or knowledge to properly appreciate the beauty and depth of your art, and other times it is "love at first sight". Our responsibility as nature interpreters is to make our audience “feel” something.

How I interpret the “gift of beauty” is through photography. I love taking photos which is why when reading the textbook the line “taking a picture is capturing a snapshot in time” really resonated with me (Beck et al. 2018). Some claim that photography isn't actually art, but I disagree because the pictures photographers take are able to capture nature in a unique state that it will never be in again. Every sunset is different and every tree tells a different story. Being able to capture all of this is a skill and is also a form of art. Interpreting nature through art goes beyond words and employs a variety of mediums, including paintings, pictures, and music, to express information that words by themselves can't convey (Beck et a;. 2018).

Here are some of my favourite photographs that I have taken over the years on my adventures.

I find it amazing that I can capture the beauty of a sunset, the tranquillity of a lake, and the magnificence of a tree just by a click of my finger. By simply glancing at that photograph again at a later time, I am able to relive the same feelings I had while taking the picture. I can share these beautiful moments with other people and encourage them to also appreciate the beauty of nature through photographs. Being able to share these photos on social media for my friends and followers to see and enjoy makes this a form of interpreting nature. Whether we are sharing our photographs/ paintings or our knowledge about nature, the ultimate goal for us is to help individuals in appreciating the beauty of their environment, regardless of where they are, and instilling in them the importance of conservation (Beck et al. 2018). If people are able to recognize the beauty of the world around us it will encourage them to do everything they can to protect the world from harm.

Work Cited:

Reference: Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018.

[akenvs3000w22]

First and foremost, thanks for sharing such lovely photos with us! I personally really like the first picture with all the warm yellows and browns. You obviously have a knack for knowing what makes a good picture!

I’d like to start by countering your statement that you are not “artistically gifted” and have trouble finding the “deeper meaning” compared to others. The beauty of art is that it is subjective, so everyone is artistically gifted and the meaning you find in art is just as valid as the “deeper meaning” someone else might see. Sure, artists may be more skilled at their artform than you, but as long as your art is authentic and means something to you, it will hold more impact than a technical piece that had no heart put into it.

I also agree that photography is most certainly a form of art, and a great medium to interpret nature too! As you mentioned, every photo tells a different story, and can make the viewer feel an array of emotions. Artists and photographers have always turned to nature for inspiration because of how powerful the emotions it can invoke are. For example, the photos you shared gave me a serene sense of peace and tranquility. These feelings only enhance the story a photo tells and is why nature photography is something people make careers off.

Lastly, I wholeheartedly agree that once people recognize the beauty of nature, which is catalyzed by art, they will begin to realize the need to conserve it. I believe that if mainstream art and media focused just a bit more on the beauty of nature, it can really open the minds and hearts of many people to the beauty of nature. This will only make everyone more eco-conscious and provide incentive to conserve our amazing world!

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on art and interpreting, and for your lovely photographs! Hope you have a great week :)