I have learned so much from this course and believe that I have gained a proper skill set to be able to effectively provide nature interpretations. I think the most important thing to bring to nature interpretation is ensuring that the information is presented in an interesting manner while incorporating conservation and protective insight. Personally, this is my main drive behind nature interpretation. With the current state of the world and the destruction that humans cause I think the least we can do is bring awareness to the struggles we as a society have caused. Whether or not the impacts of my interpretations are small or big, I think eliciting a positive change in any form can be impactful and better for the future.Ā
I live based on the beliefs that nature has its own value outside of what it provides for us and I think it is important to respect it as so. I always think nature could survive without us, but we could not survive without it, so why must we treat it with such disrespect? I believe that we need to take into consideration future generations of not only humans, but all species. I believe that we should act as if we owe it to every living thing, both big and small, to allow them to have the chance at survival in the future. I think many people tend to not think of the big picture when going through day to day life. I want to be able to show them how beautiful and important nature is and how their actions can help to preserve it.Ā
As a nature interpreter you bear a lot of responsibilities regarding the information that you tell, but also specifically audience based responsibilities. To begin with the information portion I have the responsibility to have an accurate understanding of the aspects of nature that I am to interpret. It would be wrong to say I am a nature interpreter and guide an interpretation without having sufficient knowledge of what I'm talking about. I feel responsible to interpret through both science and history. As we talked about in this course science and history are both vital aspects to include to ensure the audience gets the best understanding. The use of history in nature interpretation can help show the audience how we got to the point that shaped the ecosystems we see now (Beck et al., 2018). The use of science in nature interpretation can deepen the understanding of the why, what, when, how questions that may present themselves to the audience during the interpretation.Ā
The responsibility to the audience is to ensure they receive accurate information and safety precautions are always in check. To make sure that the entire audience gets the most from the interpretation I have the responsibility to first understand the needs of the audience. Being able to first identify and understand that each member of the audience is unique in what knowledge, emotions and experiences they bring to the interpretation. This means focusing on individual needs and wants of the audience to truly make the interpretation of personalized experience (Beck et al., 2018). This makes it more enjoyable and entertaining for the audience rather than if you were to, for example, only think of your own experience and tailor the interpretation based on this alone. Seeking out information about the audience is just as important as the actual information for the interpretation. This includes age, interest/experience in the subject, education level, learning styles etc (Beck et al., 2018). An interpretation that is created with the baseline being about the audience creates the most meaningful and impactful interpretation. This can decipher whether or not the audience not only understands the information, but also DOES something with the information. Which to me is arguably the most important part.
As you are responsible for the information in the interpretation you are also responsible for the overall health and wellbeing of the audience both during and after the interpretation. If hosting an interpretation outdoors it is vital that before the interpretation begins an opening statement is made about potential hazards that you may encounter throughout the guided walk (or whatever it may be). This allows for the audience to be well suited and understand what risks may lie ahead, also giving them the opportunity to continue on with the interpretation. In order to properly ensure a safe interpretation you must do research prior to the interpretation to weigh out the risks and also make sure to be keen and well prepared for any possible danger that you could encounter on the interpretation itself. Being prepared for anything is vital (Hooykas, 2024). Examples of things that need to be taken into consideration includeā¦
Physical abilities of the audience (stamina and physique some people may not have the physical capabilities to withstand walking through certain terrain)
Weather conditions (Is there going to be icy/slippy terrain)
Wildlife (Potential for running into a wild animal that could pose harm such as a black bear)
Listening skills (should you be taking a large group of little kids on a walk through the forest by yourself, no this probably would not end well)
Photo taken at Shade's Mills. An example of a helpful interpretive sign that is accessible to many people.
While some of this may seem like common sense it can quickly be overlooked when you have personal experience with the terrain and environments. Yet, another example of unpacking your invisible backpack and understanding that everyone's needs are different. Overall it is important to really think about the risk and reward of the situation as we talked about in Unit 3 (Hooykaas, 2024).Ā
This applies to all interpretations, not just physical ones such as outdoors walks. The information that you give to the audience needs to be relayed in a way that is safe. Making sure that you explicitly list the risks associated with certain information is just as important as providing it during an in person outdoor event. For example, when talking about a certain aspect of the forest you may tell the audience how they could check it out themselves in person. Instead of just telling them and essentially āthrowing them to the wolvesā it is important to list how they can achieve this in the safest way. This includes simple things such as making sure they do not go alone. It's better to be safe than sorry.Ā
For the question, āWhat approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?ā, I'm going to focus on what approach I would like to get better at in the realm of nature interpretation. So focusing more on what currently is not āsuitableā currently that I am working towards changing. Being a science major for my entire educational background I have been taught to write papers and create presentations in a āprofessionalā manner. To be this means creating something that is formal and informational. I feel like this has made it very difficult to write interpretations that are not structured like these papers that I have become accustomed to writing. I think that this affects how entertaining my interpretations will be, essentially making them boring. I am working on opening up my creative side and trying to loosen the hold that formal papers have on me.Ā
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 6. In Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. essay, Sagamore Publishing LLC.Ā
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 7. In Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. essay, Sagamore Publishing LLC.Ā
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 15. In Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. essay, Sagamore Publishing LLC.Ā
Hooykaas, A. (2024). Unit 03: Risk versus Reward in Interpretation. University of Guelph, CourseLink.