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Unit 10: Finale

My personal ethics are a mix-bag due to living in multiple different cultures. I lived in Korea until 7. Then, I moved to the UAE and stayed there for 12 years. Now, I’ve been in Canada for the past 4 years. Throughout, some of the things I came to value are fairness, responsibility, and self-improvement. These ethics can translate, in multiple ways, to that of a natural interpreter.

Casual photos of places I've lived in: Korea (top left), Abu Dhabi (top right), Guelph (bottom).

The fairness ethic of mine developed by experiencing a variety of cultures and peoples in my life. In the UAE, I went to an affluent international highschool, where I met people from all over. However, outside school, the UAE is full of low-wage immigrant workers and it becomes evident that they are underserved in various aspects of life. The UAE essentially has no middle class as you see in Canada - it’s either poor or high-middle class (or higher). In Canada, I experienced the full force of the oftentimes struggling middle class. Many of my friends are white and considered “privileged”, yet they have to work so much just to afford the basics.

Thus, I feel a responsibility, as a natural interpreter, to bring fairness to all. A core aspect of being a good interpreter is to serve a diverse audience (Beck et al., 2019, pg.132), especially if your goal is to spread the message of an environmental issue. This also ties into the concept of “unpacking” my privilege so as to not bias your interpretation to a certain group of people (Gallavan, n.d.).

Image credits: Spirit FM

Barriers create the “underserved populations” and by recognizing this, I can expand my reach towards these parts of society (Beck et al., 2019, pg.132). For instance, economics may be a key barrier towards a large part of the population, especially if they do not possess a personal vehicle or are busy with work (Beck et al., 2019, pg.133). Or, there may be cultural barriers where different groups have very different opinions about nature (Beck et al., 2019, pg.133).

Whatever the barrier, by “unpacking my privilege” and following my fairness ethics, I have the responsibility to reach out to give a fair chance to everyone. For example, if I were to work in a national park, I could make the effort to reduce economic barriers by advocating for cheap transportation (like a bus) to pick up people and at diverse times to allow for busy people to have an opportunity.

Also, as a “minority” myself, I oppose the idea of treating them differently just because they are a “minority”. I think my experience in Guelph exemplified a good approach that ensures fairness. Here, I have never once been treated differently just because I am Asian. If anything, people treated me like a fellow Canadian, even asking me who I voted for during the 2019 election. As such, I think it is important to recognize it is wrong to generalize a minority group (Beck et al., 2019, pg.133) and when making the special effort to reach out to them, don’t make it seem like a special treatment type of deal (Beck et al., 2019, pg.134). If possible, the best approach would be to treat everyone equally while keeping in mind who your current audience is. This can be done by friendly talking to them, asking why they're here, and even internet surveys (Beck et al., 2019, pg.129).

When it comes to responsibility and the self-improvement ethic, this is heavily tied to my Korean heritage. In Korean culture, you are always compared to others, and people have very high expectations of you. Almost feels like you are constantly carrying the weight of the world. Thus, if I don’t get perfect on a thing I am invested in (like academia), I become angry at myself. I think this is a toxic trait of mine but the positives can be used as a natural interpreter.

Image credits: Presentermedia

Having a sense of responsibility allows you to try to perfect your interpretation of nature. While this may be subjective, a good interpretation takes considerable effort, which may be lacklustre without a sense of responsibility for the environment. It is not a walk in the park to make an emotional and intellectual connection with the audience, communicated through nature (Beck et al., 2019, pg.304).

For instance, the usage of arts can tremendously benefit the interpretation. I believe even approaches like theatre and reenactments can be useful for natural interpretation. Having a diversity of approaches that targets all the senses help leave an impression (Beck et al., 2019, pg.107). However, these approaches require heavy investment into knowledge, making connections to the character, props, rehearsals and much more (Beck et al., 2019, pg.219). Only someone with a high sense of responsibility for the environment and position can tackle such a challenge.

With self-improvement, it will help further improve as an interpreter. By taking good feedback and reflecting on your doings (and if it meets your objectives), you can infinitely improve (Beck et al., 2019, pg.419). I think one of the best things you can do to do this is to invite other natural interpreter sites and become a "visitor" for your own sites (Beck et al., 2019, pg.420). Oftentimes, you know more than the audience and thus may leave out key details that the audience may not know. By fixing these issues, it makes the interpretation much more available for all audiences.

Finally, I want to talk about an approach that is suitable for me and others in my generation. We grew up with the rapid development of technology. Many might think this causes a disconnect between people and nature (Beck et al., 2019, pg.166). However, I believe we can use it to also reconnect. Websites, social media, Youtube, etc. have the presence of billions. As such, I see our technology literacy as a huge opportunity to reach those billions of people to reconnect nature into humans (Beck et al., 2019, pg.168).

A foldable phone - a symbol of today's rapid technological development.

Overall, I have a long way to go to be an interpreter. However, I have still learnt much, especially in ways of scientific communication - a topic important in current science.

I hope people feel the same and good luck on the final stretch!

Eugene Cha

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.

Gallavan, N. P. (n.d.). Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks". Multicultural Education, 13(Pages: 36-36).

amvenvs3000w23

Hi Eugene,

Thank you very much for sharing your perspectives and photos with us! Being a native born Canadian I don’t have much experience with moving to new cultural places and adjusting to the local lifestyle. It must have been very difficult to leave behind all your friends, family, and home to start somewhere new. Not to mention doing this more than once.

I enjoy hearing about your perspective on life, and how despite being a minority you don’t let that dictate how to choose to live. Me personally I like to treat everyone as a friend regardless of where they came from. I see no reason to treat one individual different from another just because they are new.

I also really enjoy your perspective on our new technology. Being in the environmental sciences I’ve noticed many people complain that technology is “robbing people of the outdoors” or “kids these days don’t know how to grow up”. I understand where these people are coming from, but I also agree with you that technology has the potential for so much good. As you mentioned tech allows anyone around the world to experience things and places that they would have otherwise not been able to experience. For example, many national parks such as the grand canons has informational immersive videos and livestreams that show off the beauty and history of the parks. Someone in China (as long as they have access to technology) can have these experiences that otherwise they wouldn’t get.

Additionally, tech has allowed rare moments to be shared online, such as the time that I was able to catch a rare pair of birds breeding. Being the first instance in Canada, this was an amazing opportunity for me, but not for anyone else. Luckily, I was tasked with documenting this rare pair and because I was able to capture video, birders around the world got to enjoy being in that moment with me.

Overall great post, I hope you have a great end to your semester!

acmenvs3000w23

Unit 10: Nature Interpretation's Role in Environmental Sustainability

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to my last blog post I have had a wonderful time completing these and learning about nature interpretation and I hope you all feel the same.

I have grown immensely throughout my university career going through ups and downs, rights and wrongs, great times, and sad times. If I look at it from a larger picture, I ask myself how I stand up against my fellow undergrads. Am I better than them? Are they smarter than me? Who’s going to get the better job? I can guarantee most individuals maybe not all will think of these questions at one point or another. Not in a way that they want others to fail but rather in comparison. I do not want anyone else to fail but I also do not want to be at the bottom. Everyone is striving for superiority including myself. However, this concept is needed to create a competitive atmosphere that drives the thought in your mind to push yourself to your limits. To make something worth remembering. To be the change. Studies have shown that individuals have a high desire for status even if that means the downfall for others (Anderson & Hildreth, 2016).

Regarding my own ethics, beliefs, and reasonability’s they have all been developing since I could walk and talk. I was raised in a catholic home and went to a catholic school. Learning about the bible, the sacrifice, the joy, the consequences. Thinking about those experiences my ethics are solely based on my beliefs. Beck et al. (2018) on page 91/92 puts its perfectly explaining the idea of “constructivist”. We build new knowledge, values and beliefs based on our early constructs of knowledge and values that we gain in early development (Beck et al., 2018). We all learn in different ways meaning that the construction of every person is different and therefore constitutes a different ethics system. Beck et al. (2018) on page 110 explains that in all presentations a variety of learning styles is key to success. Meaning if an individual is not given the right opportunity to absorb knowledge through their learning style, then they cannot grasp the importance of the content which will directly affect their ethics and beliefs.

Now I have not really answered the question yet because to me the most important ethic to follow is common respect. No one is above you and no one is below you. Being smarter or having a higher paying job does not make you any better than your neighbour or friend. Yet our lives are consumed and controlled by this notion. Beck et al. (2018) on page 101 says that interpretation is a visitor’s experience. The ultimate goal is to get the visitor to respect what they are seeing, smelling, or hearing. If I can provide you with respect that makes you feel like you are important than learning from me is easy. Not only do others deserve your respect but nature does to. In the article by Rodenburg (2019) they mention a story about a killdeer where the students protected the bird and watched it raise its young. This exact same story happens to me every summer at my job. There are hundreds of killdeers around my workplace and whenever I see them nesting in a driveway where they could get hit, I always set up pylons and check up on them every day. It’s as simple as respecting another human being. Rodenburg (2019) further goes on about ways in which we can get children excited about nature allowing them to make a discovery even though you already know about. Respecting that this is a new experience for them is crucial to their development and their future ethics.

I believe that it is my responsibility to inform others to the best of my knowledge my interests and thoughts. Through this I am hoping that others will be in intrigued by my teachings to become interested in the subject. I am an environmental science student and so environmental issues are a big part of the concerns that I believe in. Approaching the question of my ethics and how they can be interconnected with my beliefs and responsibilities can be difficult to express. I want to approach the problem like Rodenburg. By building age-appropriate environmental education. Due to this I believe that another very important ethic to follow is integrity. Integrity is such an important aspect to follow. Simply being honest even when no one is looking is truly what brings you closer to a higher being. Beck et al. (2018) on page 458 explains that visitors who are served with thoughtful, meaningful, creative interpretation benefits the individual, the community, organizations, society and most importantly the integrity of the planet. By simply being an honest human, it reflects to much light onto others and shows the world how much you care about a subject. It creates wonders for other people to want to follow in your footsteps.

Now as I mentioned earlier in this week’s blog post, I am catholic and was raised to believe in the holy bible. I do not necessarily believe in everything that is spoken in the bible or even God for that matter. However, it is still my belief that there is a greater being and to reach that greater being you just need to believe. You could be good or bad, but everyone will one day reach that greater being. For some it may take longer because they do not see the way but for others that are in the right place it happens when the time is right. Individuals with strong ethics are closer to reaching this greater being than individuals lacking strong ethics. In a way it is my responsibility to try and help others try and reach their potential. I cannot make them believe in anything but helping them be a better person by educating them on environmental issues, having common respect for others and having integrity for our planet is crucial to reaching internal and external peace.

What are your thoughts? Are your ethics, beliefs, responsibilities similar to what I have talked about?

Thank you everyone for listening!

Aaron

Anderson, C., & Hildreth, J. D. (2016). Striving for superiority: The human desire for status. IRLE Working Paper No. 115-16. https://irle.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Striving-for-superiority.pdf

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing.

Rodenburg, J. (2019, June 17). Why environmental educators shouldn't give up hope. CLEARING. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

mpenvs3000w23

Hi Aaron,

Thank you for including how your religious upbringing has shaped your relationship to nature interpretation and the functioning and integration of the natural world. I was raised Jewish and this is an important aspect of my cultural identity, despite my atheist religious beliefs. Growing up culturally Jewish has also had an important impact on my relationship with nature and the personal responsibility I feel to protect the earth and better myself. Judaism emphasizes the ideas of ‘tikun olam’ and ‘tikun adam’ which translate to repairing the world and ourselves, respectively.

My interests and hobbies today reflect the ideas of tikun olam and tikun adam. For example, my degree in Wildlife Biology & Conservation has been an empowering avenue for me to learn more about ecosystem dynamics, human impacts on the environment, and career avenues that focus on environmental conservation and climate change mitigation. A lot of my interests lie in developing my leadership abilities, learning how to foster safer spaces, playing music, going bike and unicycle riding, and being a good friend.

These interests and passions of course are not unique to Judaism, they are just ideas that connect me to my Jewish identity and that I have felt prompted to explore more through the Jewish communities I am a part of. And I think these ideas have enhanced my perspectives in interpreting nature and have affected the lens I have brought to this course.

Melanie

amvenvs3000w23

Hi Aron,

Your blog post really got me thinking about my peers. Personally, throughout my university career, I also viewed my peers as equals and just other people living life, eating, sleeping, doing work. Your first statement really opened my eyes that maybe my peers feel threatened by me, or that they belittle me. I guess as we near the end of our university career we will be competing for jobs and positions. Although I like to think of everyone as people I will be working alongside, rather than competing against. Keeps things civil in my mind.

Personally, I believe that I have a few responsibilities as an adult. 1 Be kind and honest to all. 2 Try my best at work and my passions to help progress the world, and 3 (this one is controversial, so I apologize if I offend anyone) but to have kids to continue the human race.

I also grew up catholic and attended a catholic school. I would definitely say that the religious experiences I had as a child, defiantly shaped me as I am today. Mainly the teachings as I interpreted them were to be kind to all, don’t be greedy and we're all in this together. Pretty much help each other out and to do the best to your abilities. Being an adult I’ve realised that being kind is one of the most rewarding things. If someone is having a rough day and you are kind and nice, they will remember you. Who knows, you may never see this person again, but in my experience if had people I haven’t seen in years save my day, returning the kindness.

Secondly, I believe that I need to try my best to better the world and contribute to society. Our world as it is today, was created by our forefathers (for better or for worse) and I believe it is my personal responsibility to do my part. Whether that is as simple as trying my best day to day, or if it's I solve climate change, anything helps. The key idea I believe is just stay out of trouble and leave a legacy when I’m gone for the people who come after me. Just like those who came before us did for us.

Finally for the controversial one. I believe that I am responsible for having kids of my own and raising them as good human beings. This being said, this is what I believe for MY life. Everyone can make their own decisions. My recent evolution class has strengthened this belief even more for me. Being catholic it’s a part of our duty to have more catholics to continue the religion, but this isn’t why I believe I should have kids. In evolution we’ve, learned how the gametic cells within our bodies are a version of the original one (mutated a bit, but technically its never died). Our bodies are simply somatic blobs keeping the gametic cells alive from generation to generation. To continue this millions of years old cell line, as well as to respect my forefathers, I want to keep the line alive. I don’t want to be the end in a million of year line. Also, frankly I think kids are cute and want a little Andrew running around. Sue me.

Those are my beliefs on ethics and my role as a human on this planet.

Interpreters Role in Sustainability

As a nature interpreter, it often feels overwhelming being faced with the tasks of educating children about the many complex and pressing issues affecting our planet. From climate change to habitat destruction, ocean pollution to endanger species. The list of environmental concerns can seem endless, and exposing children to the harsh realities is daunting and may cause more harm than good for their developing minds. Additionally, being in the field of environmental interpretation has become increasingly difficult in this ever-changing technological world. With little guidance available to us interpreters on how to educate children, their parents, and the public, correctly and effectively on environmental catastrophes and prevention (Rodenburg and Martin, 2019).

Considering these challenges, we face. It is still important to consider how we can develop effective and meaningful approaches to teaching children about the environment. A key issue encountered is the limited opportunities that today’s children have to experience nature firsthand. Either growing up in cities, having overprotective parents, or the distraction of today’s technology. Children’s outdoor exposure is minuscule compared to what their grandparents experienced during their childhood (Louv, 2019). Additionally, with liability and safety concerns these days, schools and other organisations are hesitant to take children outdoors due to the risks. They have gone from embracing risk (R+) in the 1960s, to being risk adverse (R-) today (Hahn, 2020). A major reason for this is because of the rare but unfortunate events that have occurred in the past involving the death or injuring of children (Globe and Mail, 1978). Despite this, as us interpreters know, it is essential to provide children with opportunities to connect with the natural world. Not only does this help foster a sense of wonder and appreciation for the environment, but it also helps children understand their place in the world as living beings who share the world with everyone and everything on it.

To be effective interpreters, we must develop appropriate approaches that considers the different ways that child learn and grow. While teenagers are ready to learn about complex and depressing issues like climate change, younger children are best introduced to the natural world though positive storytelling and exploration (Beck et al. 2019 pg.107). By providing children with repeated exposure to the outdoors, we can help them develop a relationship with nature, and cultivate a sense of intimacy with the natural world that will last a lifetime.

An effective approach to teaching younger children about the environment stems from having child build a sense of connection with specific meaningful places (Rodenburg and Martin, 2019). By exploring local ecosystems and learning about the stories of the land and how it came to be, children can start to develop a deep appreciation for the natural world. For example, by introducing children to the nest a bird has built in a tree, we can help them develop a personal connection to the bird and the sense of responsibility for protecting her young. This will also allow the children to value nature and experience the love in the world (showing positivity).

Another effective interpretive strategy for children is to focus on microenvironments. Rather than only showing children the view of a valley, we may encourage them to explore the world of insects and other small creatures that live in the grasses and soils within that valley (Rodenburg and Martin, 2019). By encouraging children to focus on the small and often overlooked aspects of the natural world, we can help them to develop a sense of curiosity and wonder.

Ultimately, our goal as nature interpreters is to help children (and people of all ages!) to develop a deep and abiding love for nature, and to inspire them to take action to protect and restore the planet. By fostering a sense of connection and intimacy with nature, we can help people understand their role in the larger ecosystem and empower them to make a positive difference in the world. Whether through storytelling, exploration, or discovery, there are many ways in which we can engage children with the natural world and inspire them to become passionate and committed stewards of the environment.

As nature interpreters in training, it is important to consider the ethical and philosophical beliefs that make up the foundation of our work. For me, this means recognising that all living beings are interconnected and that all our actions have impact on the larger ecosystem. Just like the squirrel in the trees I am a part of the ecosystem. This also means acknowledging the unique perspectives and experiences of individuals and tailoring my teaching strategies to meet their needs and interests. Despite it being much easier to follow a one size fits all model.

I also feel that following the path to become a nature interpreter, I have a sense of responsibility to help our next generation develop that sense of connection with the natural world. This will involve me not only teaching them about the issues currently facing the planet (which is very uncomfortable to talk to children about), but also inspiring them to take the action required to protect and restore the environment to how it should be. By fostering this sense of wonder, awe, and curiosity in the children, I can help them develop a lifelong love for nature and a commitment to environmental stewardship.

In conclusion as a developing nature interpreter, I feel personally responsible to teach the next generation about our natural world. Not only are they our future, but they are the ones inheriting the world we are giving them. We need to provide them with the mistakes and lessons we have learned to provide them with the best future possible.

Citations:

Beck, Larry, et al. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing, 2019.

Hahn, K. “Six Declines of Modern Youth” Outwardbound, 2020 . https://www.outwardbound.org/blog/kurt-hahn-six-declines-of-modern-youth/

Louv, R. “What Is Nature-Deficit Disorder? - Richard Louv.” Richard Louv Blog Full Posts Atom 10, Richard Louv, 2019 https://richardlouv.com/blog/what-is-nature-deficit-disorder/.

Rodenburg, J., and Martin, J. “Why Environmental Educators Shouldn't Give up Hope.” CLEARING, 2019 https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300.

“Parents Pray While Waiting for names 12 boys, teacher drown on canoe trip 18 survivors due out today” The Globe and Mail, June 13, 1978, Canoe Trip Tragedy. https://www.proquest.com/docview/387072296/BB73CABC60F249E6PQ/1?accountid=11233&parentSessionId=NmPV0HvcX%2FJkv8SgvaQNAeShVAIT1WhBxPiuG3CPWuk%3D “

ihenvs3000w23

Sense Making in Nature Interpretation

A number of us are going to take different approaches to this week’s blog prompt as all of us are driven and interested by different aspects of nature. Some of us are passionate about specific wildlife, others are more interested in natural landscapes and some of us are still trying to understand what part of nature intrigues them the most. For myself, I have always been interested in the impact that nature plays in human health. To be more specific, what components of nature play a role in a healthy mind, body and soul.

Nature is fascinating in itself as there are many aspects of it that play dynamic roles in relationships. The most interesting thing I know about nature is the impact that it has on human health and happiness. As mentioned in the textbook, we learn how to interpret nature through our life cycle in academic settings (Beck et al., 2018). Schools want to integrate our learning with nature through various programs and facilities as it provides individuals important life skills (Beck et al., 2018). Prior to taking ENVS*3000, I have taken a couple of ecology courses and learned about the relationship nature has on human happiness in an ASCI course I took. Human beings depend a lot on their environment for their actions and their emotions. The term used that refers to this relationship is nature connectedness. According to a study conducted in China, there is positive correlation between nature connectedness and mental health (Liu et al., 2022). We have discussed throughout the course how nature is present in music, history and our everyday lives and when we choose to understand all of these categories, we are then able to confidentially submerge ourselves in nature (Beck et al., 2018). Some find peaceful meditation to nature sounds their way of destressing while others find walks or hikes their go-to. I want to pose the question, where do you feel the calmest? What do you do to connect yourself with nature?

Personally, I have always found myself feeling my best in terms of confidence and energy when I am in the outdoors. Whether this be sitting in my backyard enjoying my morning coffee on a sunny day or taking a hike in the escarpments. I have personally noticed amazing benefits to my skin in nature as well, for example, when I am at a beach or in saltwater, my keratosis pilaris magically disappears and my acne settles as well. According to some studies, saltwater places a role in soothing and reducing atopic skin conditions (Martin et al., 2016). I have always found that nature has had nothing but positive impacts on me both mentally and physically. I also believe that it is extremely important to look at how other countries advocate for the environment. Countries like China and Scandinavian countries are very keen on ensuring they are doing their part in integrating nature and the environment into people’s everyday lives.

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

Liu, H., Nong, H., Ren, H., & Liu, K. (2022). The effect of nature exposure, nature connectedness on mental well-being and ill-being in a general Chinese population. Landscape and Urban Planning, 222, 104397–. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104397

Martin, H., Laborel-Préneron, E., Fraysse, F., Nguyen, T., Schmitt, A. M., Redoulès, D., & Davrinche, C. (2016). Aquaphilus dolomiae extract counteracts the effects of cutaneous S. aureus secretome isolated from atopic children on CD4+ T cell activation. Pharmaceutical biology, 54(11), 2782–2785. https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209.2016.1173069

amvenvs3000w23

Hi ihenvs3000w23

Similarity to you, I also decided to interpret this week’s prompt through a human view. Human's are fascinating creatures made by nature, complex, creative, and compassionate. Although we often separate ourselves from nature, we are a part of nature, and nature is a part of us.

As you brought up, being in and surrounded by the natural environment is key for mental health. As an Ecology student, my interest in nature has led me to spend much of my free time outside exploring and surrounding myself with the natural world. By this experience, I can confirm that I feel at my peek in nature. My brain fog clears up, that eternal tiredness goes away and the negatives in my mind seem to fade for the time being. Something about that fresh air, exercise, and beauty of nature, lifts all the stresses and complexities of modern life.

I find the more rugged, more isolated, and more wild the environment, the better I feel. For me this was when I lived in the Yukon on the side of fish lake mountain. Having the constant exposure to fresh air and beauty of the mountains revitalized me. Being able to see wild Bald Eagles and Lynx live their life around me astonished me, and drinking the water (best tasting water I’ve ever had) energized me.

This all being said, I also discovered that nature alone isn’t a “miracle prescription” everyone hypes it up to be. Although all the improvements I mentioned above were true, one thing didn’t improve, my loneliness. It is human nature to be around others, especially those we love and care about. Being away from my friends and family for all that time made me feel lonely, helpless and I got a great deal of FOMO (Diaz, 2023). I was able to make several friends that to this day I still communicate with on a weekly basis, but surrounding myself with new friends could never replace the prior lifelong relationships had already established.

I now realize that mental health is a super complex subject that I will never be able to fully understand. Although, what I find works best for me is going to the gym (staying active), hiking behind my house (time in nature), spending time with my friends (being around friends) and going home to visit my family (family time). These methods I find help me to be the happiest and healthy version of myself. :)

Diaz, Joseph O. “Country-Level Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Programs: Moving Forward after Covid-19.” Mental Health and Psychosocial Support during the COVID-19 Response, 2023, pp. 239–265., https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003347620-16.

How does nature amaze me?

Oh, where do I start. For me every little thing about nature amazes me! From pigeons having built in magnetic compasses allowing them to return home, to solar gases accumulating around the poles creating the borealis, nature amazes me.

To answer the question “what’s the most amazing thing you know about nature” we first need to determine what precisely nature is. The Collins dictionary of the English language defines nature as “all the animals, plants, and other things in the world that are not made by people”, whereas the Britannica dictionary defines nature as “the physical world and everything in it”. By these definitions everything on this planet (not made by people) is nature, including humans ourselves.

I don’t know if people have stopped to think about it, but us humans are remarkable creatures, despite all our flaws and imperfections. From our ability to solve complex problems, bringing stuff into exitance with our hands, to innovating and adapting our environment to our liking, us humans are the most amazing thing I know about nature.

One of the most amazing things about nature created humans, is our ability to think critically to solve complex problems and create tools to help us. Although beavers may build damns, and termites build underground colonies, these pale in comparison to what us humans are able to accomplish. To localise economies we build cities, super complex, and efficient systems to conduct human daily life. We have figured out that oil from dead dinosaurs can be made into fuel to power work (power mechines). We study the human body and almost doubled our live expectancy adding 35 years to our lives (Boudoulas et al, 2017).

Humans are incredibly adaptable. Throughout history, we have faced numerous environmental changes, from ice ages to droughts to pandemics (shout out to you for surviving Covid-19). Despite these challenges, humans have managed to survive and thrive in a variety of different environments, thanks to our ability to adapt and innovate. Whether it’s building warm homes in the arctic, cultivating crops in the desert, to developing vaccines to fight deadly diseases, humans have shown time and time again that we can overcome even the most daunting challenges.

Think about your life today, compared to life we’d have to live if we weren’t this creative, adaptable, and innovative. Instead of waking up in a safe, warm cozy bed at a time you decided the night before, you may have woken up naked under a tree on the cold dirt. Sleep deprived from worrying about getting eaten, and covered in insect bites, you begin your search for food. Instead of heading to a job that earns you money to purchase items from someone (who can make them better can cheaper than you), you try tirelessly to catch a rabbit with your hands (remember in this universe we aren’t innovate enough to make tools). In your search for food, you come across a pack of wolves also searching for food, you try running but they catch you. You die at the age of 14, the cycle ends.

Although most people may have interpreted this week’s prompt as to that animals or landscape amazes you, I decided to really ponder about what part of nature absolutely astonishes me. Although Niagara Falls is cools, venom from the copperhead or salicylic acid from the willow tree complexes me. Us humans really are the one part of nature so complex, innovative, productive, and creative that nothing other than nature itself amazes me more.

Boudoulas, Konstantinos Dean, et al. “The Endlessness Evolution of Medicine, Continuous Increase in Life Expectancy and Constant Role of the Physician.” Hellenic Journal of Cardiology, vol. 58, no. 5, 2017, pp. 322–330., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hjc.2017.05.001.

Breslin, Gerry, et al. Collins Dictionary. HarperCollins, 2012.

Corbeil, Jean-Claude, and Ariane Archambault. Britannica Visual Dictionary. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2010.

deaenvs3000w23

Music Surrounds Us!

When searching “nature music” you will find hundreds of hours of videos and music of nature sounds that are often described as calming or relaxing as many people find solace in being in nature or listening to it at the very least!

I find music in nature as the sounds of nature help me to sleep, I especially enjoy thunderstorms as I find the sounds relaxing and reassuring. Music in nature often write themselves as I think of bird’s songs that allow them to find mates, I often think of the musical dancing bird from ‘Our Planet’ which performs for their mate! You can also find music in nature with the hums of bees, flapping of bird’s wings, splashing of ducks in a pond, and swishing of trees in the wind! Putting all of those sounds together may create an incredible piece of art through song!

Nature in music, I often think of people creating music that is inspired by nature or using music in interpretation to keep viewers interested (166). In the textbook they compare photos and videos. Photos capture one scene and can often communicate better than words (170), videos however contain sound which can make the scene so much more interesting (171) and immersive through technology in regards to interpretation using videos and songs. Nature in music could also tell stories and teach lessons, I personally think of campfire songs. Radio stations can also incorporate nature with music! They could play music to draw in viewers and then talk about nature in the breaks (175) or play music that contains nature lessons. Radios are great for some viewers which information is presented in 1–5-minute periods and a great way to reach different viewers in a format that they enjoy! Nature in music can occur as a tool as music will resonate with the visitor (12), help different people learn with different learning styles (105), and draw people towards an interpretive experience (200).

I think that music can take many forms in relation to nature. Many songs are often nature sounds solely, nature sounds incorporated, or based on /inspired by nature (animals, landscapes, abiotic features)! I found 15 songs related to nature in a pro-environment context in article by Anderson (2020). I’m sure that if you search up your favourite animal + song, you will find a song that at the very least mentions the animal. Perhaps it will teach you something or use the animal’s attributes within the song!

Some songs I think of from the top of my head of nature would be “Butterfly Fly Away” by Miley Cyrus, “Roar” by Katy Perry, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland and covered by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, “Little Rain” by Morgan Wallen, just to name a few! To unpack one, “Butterfly Fly Away” by Miley Cyrus my personal favourite from growing up contains a lesson that as you grow you should spread your wings AND contains a little bit of knowledge of the caterpillar becoming the butterfly! Growing up from under your parents care to going out to make dreams come true!

Are there any influential songs you grew up hearing or think of when prompted with the word “Nature”? What does it teach you!

Anderson, S. (2020). Earth day: 15 pro-environment songs. Rolling Stone. Date of Access: Feb 27, 2023. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/earth-day-songs-151780/

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

aaaenvs3000w23

Hi there! I loved your blog post, I really enjoyed how you mentioned the number of songs that are inspired by multiple species! I thought this was a great example of how nature inspires music, and to be honest with you it was not one that I initially thought of.

You asked in your blog about songs that may trigger childhood experiences that represent nature. As soon as I read your question I thought of the Zoboomafoo theme song. Although this is a theme song, it brings tons of memories of the days of my childhood when I grew up watching this show. This show made me want to experience the same adventures the main characters did and it definitely contributed to my love for nature and wildlife. However, the theme song is an amazing example of nature interpretation through music and video. It highlights the example you also mentioned in your blog posts about the use of music in videos to enhance interpretation (Beck et al., 2018). The Zoboomafoo theme song is catchy and entertaining for its audience! The show also demonstrates the importance of understanding your audience when interpreting nature. As a small kid, I was able to learn through this show about so many different species and this was largely due to the way the producers aimed to communicate with their audience. This show is a perfect example of how interpretation requires the consideration of many different aspects to be effective in teaching!

Here's the link to an episode of Zoboomafoo! Maybe this will also bring up some memories for you!

Ale

References Cited

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

deaenvs3000w23

Woah! You know when you see something that seems to be locked away in your memories and it memories get unlocked?! You did just that with this theme song! I remember staying home from school sick with chicken noodle soup and having this show come on! This theme song has a very positive memory correlated to it, and as it is upbeat, it captured my attention when I was small and made me feel better. It just goes to show that a video containing a catchy song related to nature can capture a certain age group's attention and unlock such memories to form connection and feelings with nature in interpretation! It also was great during that time of my life to capture me and teach me through song and video!

I also love that my question sparked a memory for you which is my goal to accomplish through this post relating music with nature! Thank you for responding Ale!

amvenvs3000w23

I completely agree with you, nature has a way of calming and soothing our minds, and for many people (me included), listening to nature sounds or music inspired by nature can be a source of relaxation and comfort. Your post highlights the different ways in which nature can be incorporated into music and how it can be used to tell stories and teach lessons.

I agree that the sounds of nature, such as thunderstorms, songbirds and the wind blowing through the trees can be incredibility relaxing. It’s crazy to think about how these sounds can be combined to create art through song as you mentioned. The use of technology to enhance the immersive experience of nature in music is also a great point.

I also love the idea of using nature in music to tell stories and teach lessons to others. Campfire songs are a great example of this, as they often involve storytelling and imparting lessons. Radio stations can also use music and nature to draw in viewers and educate them about the environment during breaks.

It’s fascinating to think about the different types of nature-inspired music, including those that incorporate nature sounds or are based on/inspired by nature. I found your examples of “Butterfly Fly Away” by Miley Cyrus, “Roar” by katy Perry, and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland and covered by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole to be greater examples of songs that teach important lessons and are inspired by nature. “Butterfly Fly Away” for examples teaches us to grow as an individual, while also referencing the transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly.

Overall, I think your post effectively captures the calming and inspiring effect that nature can have on music and how it can be used to tell stories and teach lessons. It’s fascinating to think about how these two seemingly different worlds can be brought together to create something beautiful and meaningful.

Louyah - (A long way) is a song that I think perfectly combines these aspects. Its heavy beat to me represents a thunderstorm, and its echo gives me a sense of a wide open valley. It also carries a message of how even after everything goes wrong, you can still find good.

#Youtube

Music from Nature, Nature from Music

The natural world is filled with sounds that have been inspiring humans for centuries. Music can be found in every known human culture, and it has been defined as patterns of sounds varying in pitch and time produced for emotional, social, and cultural and cognitive purposes (Gray et al. 2001). While people living in industrialized societies rely heavily on sound technology, those living close to nature perceive a wider range of sounds. For instance, seafaring tribes have been hearing whales in the ocean through the hull of their boats for millennian (Gray et al. 2001).

Whales’ songs are constructed similarly to bird and human songs, and the undersea songs of humpback whales prove that these marine mammals are inverterate composers. They use phrases of a similar length to human music and create themes out of several phrases before singing the nest theme. Humpbacks use musical intervals between their notes that are like or the same as the intervals in our scales. They mix percussive or noisy elements in their songs with relativity pure tones and do so in a ration like that used by humans in Western symphonic music (Payne, 2000). In some whale songs, the overall song structure is like human compositions: a statement of theme, a section in which it is elaborated, and then a return to a slightly modified version of the original theme.

Birds also compose songs that use the same rhythmic variations, pitch relationships, permutations, and combinations of notes as human composers. Some bird songs resemble musical compositions, such as the canyon wren’s trill that cascades down the musical scale like the opening of Chopin’s “Revolutionary” Eyude. An examination o fbird song reveals every elementary rhythmic effect found in human music. Many birds regularly transpose motifs to different keys. Some birds pitch their songs to the same scale as Western music (Baptista and Keister, 2000).

Therefore, music in nature can be found in whale songs and bird songs, which bear striking similarities to human compositions. In contrast, nature in music can be in compositions that use natural sounds, such as the sound of waves crashing, the rustling of leaves, or the chirping of birds (Krause, 2000).

For instance, the song “Weightless” by Marconi Union takes me back to the natural landscape, by inciting “natural” movement through its beat and melody. This song was created with sound therapists and is known to be one of the most relaxing songs ever made, capable of reducing anxiety up to 65%. The sounds used in the song are organic and composed of guitar, piano, and electronic instruments, and they evoke feelings of serenity and calmness. The song reminds me of a hike I went on with my friends in the Muskoka’s, where we sat by a lake surrounded by trees and the sounds of birds chirping. The song’s calming tones help me to feel at peace, with my surroundings and connected to nature. As I close my eyes, I can re-imagine the rolling hills and endless lakes I once experienced.

The song Weightless by Marconi Union brings me back to land scapes such as this. The vast nature, rolling landscape all broken up with lakes, rivers and mountains. It's almost mesmerizing.

Literature Cited

B. Krause, The Niche Hypothesis: How Animals Taught Us to Dance and Sing, BioMusic Symposium, AAAS Annual Meeting, 2000.

Gray, Patricia M., et al. "The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music." Science, vol. 291, no. 5501, 5 Jan. 2001, p. 52. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69270354/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=fb9366a8. Accessed 28 Feb. 2023.

L. F. Baptista, R. Keister, Why Bird Song Is Sometimes Like Music, BioMusic Symposium, AAAS Annual Meeting, 2000.

R. Payne, Whale Songs: Musicality or Mantra? BioMusic Symposium, AAAS Annual Meeting, 2000.

nbtenvs3000w23

Integrity and History in Interpretation

“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)

Historical interpretation can go hand-in-hand with natural interpretation in many situations. As we have discussed in ENVS*3000, effective interpretation often involves crafting a story that unifies the themes and messages an interpreter is sharing. Now what if that story aims not only to illustrate the natural history of a place, but also the cultural history that is connected there.

I believe that integrity is a highly important quality for all people to possess, and interpreters are certainly included. Going along with the description of integrity presented by Edward Hyams, to me integrity refers to the stability of character and consistently following one’s morals.

This week we were prompted to reflect on a set of questions that relate to historical narratives we share, emphasizing what we choose to share in our stories and, crucially, what we don’t share through these stories. What is made explicit and what is left open to interpretation?

I have had the privilege to work as a historical interpreter in a national park during the past two summers, so I feel like I have some insight to share in this regard. I learned that at my site, the historical narrative that is shared with visitors has changed a lot throughout the years, in a way that reflects different values than what was prioritized in the past. In the past, much of the historical interpretation that was delivered to the visitors focussed on European centric (or colonial) history, and that this place was “discovered” by some railway workers. This implied that they were the first humans to interact with this place, and it ignored the long history of indigenous culture that is tied to the landscape. Telling the story this way benefitted people who wanted to remain ignorant on indigenous culture and heritage, at the cost of the integrity of the site. To refer to Hyams’ quote, ignoring the indigenous history of this site while implying some railway workers were the first to find it is like riding a train and believing there no train stations because you can’t see any out the window.

When I worked at this site, the focus of the history we told had shifted to be looked at through a wider lens. I would often frame my tours and conversation by acknowledging the longstanding history of indigenous people in the area and at this site. I would also normally discuss how protected parks have a history of excluding indigenous people from their land and have played a role in the process of colonialism that has dominated North America for centuries. While conversations like these may be a small step towards reconciliation, I think they are important for preserving integrity as an interpreter. To interpret a history truthfully and ethically, the full scope of the story should be addressed even if the specific story being shared only covers one chapter of the history. Integrity means choosing to include all parts of a whole, and history should be shared with integrity.

That's all for now,

See you next time

amvenvs3000w23

Hey nbtenvs3000w23,

Thanks for sharing your experience as a historical interpreter at a national park and your perspective on the importance of interpreting history with integrity. As a fellow (provincial park) interpreter, I agree with you that it is crucial to acknowledge and include all parts of the story when interpreting history, even if some history is more challenging to share than others and may have been neglected in the past.

Your description of the changes in the historical interpretation delivered to visitors at your site, is a great example of how our understanding and interpretation of history can evolve as our values and priorities in life change. I appreciate your emphasis on the importance of acknowledging the long-standing history of Indigenous peoples in the area and recognizing the role that protected parks have played in excluding Indigenous peoples and perpetuating colonialism.

I enjoy how you concluded that maintain integrity by keeping parts of any whole together. This is an important reminder that the past is not separate from the present, but rather a continuum that informs our understanding of the world and our place in it. Allowing us to learn from our past triumphs and mistakes

Your post provides a great example of how historical interpretation can be used to promote understanding and inclusivity, by acknowledging the full scope of a site’s history, even if it requires addressing uncomfortable truths. Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences, and I look forward to reading more from you in the future.

Andrew

The Future Lies in the Past

I found that Edward Hyams quote reflects on the importance of preserving our past and maintaining its integrity throughout time. The merit is not in the age of things but in the integrity of the whole, which requires knowledge and memory of the ancient times to hold true. History highlights the significance of acknowledging the past and keeping the memories and lessons alive to this day. Such as remembering that a railway station will have more trains, not just the ones that have passed through to have only existing during that time.

The significance of history lies with how its interpreted, which gives meaning to artifacts and inspires individuals to learn from the past triumphs and mistakes (Beck and Cable, 2011). Without interpretation, artifacts are nothing but old objects that do not have any value. Interpretation is essential to renew the identify of an artifact by providing them with inspiring stories of how they shaped the world around them. History also contributes to building a sense of community by sharing collective memories and stories that enhance today’s community’s quality of life by learning from histories mistakes.

David McCullough emphasizes the importance of the past for our sense of who we are and our civic responsibility. Understanding the past helps us recognize the benefits and freedoms we enjoy and the duty we must protect them. Preserving the past is vital as it reminds us of our roots and motivates us to strive for a better future (David McCullough).

Interpreting history is not limited to understanding and learning from the past’s triumphs or mistakes. It can also inspire people to act for the better. Hearing the stories of survivors of atrocities can be inspiring to people, motivating them to act for a better tomorrow. Through interpretation, history becomes an agent of change and inspiration (Beck and Cable, 2011).

When interpreting history, authenticity is critical as it provides visitors with the most accurate information possible. There are three types of authenticity; objective, where artifacts are used to present the past, constructed, where reconstructions mimic artifacts, and personal activity, where the visitor transcends space and time, feeling as if they are part of the story. Personal authenticity is the most crucial as it enhances the visitor’s experience, making them feel like they are part of the past (Hill and Cable, 2006).

To conclude, Edward Hyams quote highlights the significance of preserving the past and maintaining the integrity of its stories scattered throughout time. The interpretation of history gives meaning to artifacts, inspires individuals, and contributes to striving for the best for all. The past is essential for our sense of identify and civic responsibility, and interpreting history can inspire people to act for a better future. Authenticity is critical in interpreting history to provide visitors with the most accurate information possible and enhance their experience, making them feel like they are part of the past. As interpreters we should strive to relate history in the most accurate and entertaining way possible.

References

American Association for State and Local History (AASLH)

Beck, L., & Cable, T. (2011). Ths gifts of interpretation: Fifteen guiding principles fpr interpreting nature and culture. Urbana, IL: Sagamore

David McCullough

Hill, S., & Pine II, B.J. (2007). Authenticity: what consumers really want. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.

deaenvs3000w23

Interpreters are Artists!

Anyone can interpret nature through art! It is an interdisciplinary way to reach many audiences with different means by peaking different interests in art (music, dance, theatre, visual art)! They often encourage viewers to interpret in their own way and not to think about what the composer meant for them to learn (page 228).

There are many arts in interpretation: theatre, storytelling and poetry, music, dance, and visual arts. In the past I never thought to interpret art during my science journey, but I have since learned that art can integrate biological and social sciences, and emotion and intuition, for effective communication (page 218). I always expressed love for nature through visual art but never thought that my photography could be shared to help people learn and interpret to have meaning, they always were something personal and meaningful just to me.

Yes this owl is beautiful, but it mainly means something to ME as a symbol of my passed Grandpa. What could it mean to someone else? I hadn't thought of that...

“The gift of beauty” to me means that we should not allow others to destroy nature for their own profits at the expense of others (page 41). Nature is a gift that sustains life, provides humans with sustenance, and helps with individual growth as a person (page 46-47). Being able to see the beauty in everyday life ensures good mental and spiritual well-being and allows feelings of love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization (page 47). Interpreters help people develop an ethical sense of place and role in their world (page 54) which allows their audiences to appreciate the landscape and nature. This gift allows us to be well-rounded people and allows for health in many sectors of your life. The gift of beauty allows people to exercise in these spaces (physical), relax or get inspired (mental), and gather with friends (social). The gift that nature is allows us to flourish in all aspects of our lives because of the beauty it provides. If the space was not beautiful, it may not attract a wide variety of people and thus the beauty that draws people in allows us to directly benefit in various aspects of life.

“The gift of beauty” could also be interpreted as that you see beyond selfishness and are able to see that nature is beautiful. There is no doubt that some people will exploit nature for their own profits at the expense of everyone else (page 41) but some people can see past their greed and have the gift to see the beauty that nature is and all it has to offer as it stands! It allows the ignition of the participants’ fascination and curiosity surrounding the natural world (van Boeckel, 2015). See beauty can move people in many ways and can strike on emotions and empathy which can help with change of how we currently live to more sustainable because we do not want to see this beauty disappear!

This is beautiful and perhaps you just see a waterfall, but to some you feel peace when you see this! How could someone tear this out and build housing here? If there was a motion to develop this area, and this photo was shown, how would society react? It may be controversial to tear this out if this is the photo that they are sharing of the space to develop. Might get public uproar and may to too controversial to continue because of the power of its beauty!

References:

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

Van Boeckel, J. (2015). At the heart of art and earth: an exploration of practices in arts-based environmental education. Environmental Education Research, 21(5), 801-802.

lkenvs3000w23

Hey!

I really enjoyed reading your blog this week and I thought you brought up some really good ideas and points! I liked how you mentioned that artists often encourage viewers to interpret art in their own way. This is something I also briefly mentioned in my blog as well because multiple different people can look at the same piece of art, but all of them might interpret the meaning of the art in a slightly different way. Like how that photo of the owl you posted has a specific meaning to you, but someone else looking at it will feel different kinds of emotions. I mentioned something similar to this in my blog. One of my favorite painters, Tom Thompson, has a painting of Canoe lake which is in Algonquin Park and this is a lake that I have canoed many times with friends and family. Whenever I see that painting it makes me happy and makes me feel calm and relaxed, whereas, someone else looking at the same painting may not experience these same emotions.

I also agree with your point about photography. Just like you, I have also always taken pictures of nature whenever I can, but I have never really thought of it as art or thought that sharing these photos could help other people learn about and interpret nature.

Thanks for sharing!

amvenvs3000w23

Hello!

I completely agree with your perspective on the role that art has in interpreting nature. It is truly a powerful tool that can reach a wide range of audience and evoke various emotions, allowing people people to connect with nature in their own unique ways. The beauty of nature has the power to sustain life and promote individual growth, both mentally and physically. By seeing beauty in everyday life, we can develop a deeper appreciation for the world around us and a greater sense of belonging and self-actualization.

It is also heartening to hear that you can look past greed and recognize the true beauty of nature, seeing beyond selfish desires, and allowing the enjoyment for everyone. This gift of beauty can be a catalyst for change, inspiring people to adopt more sustainable lifestyle and protect the environment for future generations. If one person puts their foot down to protect nature, others will join in the fight. This beauty has the power to move people and evoke emotions, making it an effective tool for promoting environmental awareness and promoting a more sustainable future for generations to come.

I agree art is truly a great way to interpret nature and promote appreciation for the natural world. By allowing audiences to interpret in their own way and tapping into their emotions, it can inspire people to adopt more sustainable lifestyles and protect the environment. By recognizing the beauty of nature and the important role it plays in our lives, we can promote individual growth and a greater sense of well-being for all.

Great Work! :)

-Andrew

Make Learning Fun!

As a nature interpreter, your role is to educate people about the natural world and its conservation. This is a skill not many people have, as it takes a while to develop. At the core of interpretation is communication. It is essential to communicate your knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural world, in a way that is accessible to everyone, despite their education level. For a general rule of thumb, writing and speaking at an 8th grade level is a good way to ensure that the information being presented is understood by the widest audience possible, regardless of their background or education.

Using clear and concise writing styles helps to simplify ideas, and makes it easier for people to grasp the concepts that you are presenting. Have you ever been to a lecture and all the material flew past your head? This is what many people experience when they listen to a presentation. Instead of a fun afternoon learning about the “Carolinian” for example, they get caught up trying to process all the technical information, which leaves the visitors exhausted. For people who want a relaxing afternoon this will make them not want to come back, and most importantly limits their ability to learn. When interpreting, ideas and jargon should be simplified so then visitors can easily listen and follow along without having to think too much about it.

Furthermore, using a more accessible language style can help to create a more inclusive environment for people who many have not had the opportunity to learn about nature in a formal setting. A huge barrier towards nature interpretation, is that many people feel left out or “not smart enough” for a nature program. For example, remember your first day of university. You may have felt as it you weren’t “smart enough” to be there as your surrounded by academics doing all sorts of interesting research. This same feeling is what some people feel when attending a nature presentation. They feel like they don’t deserve to be there, and it discourages them for attending programs in the future. If the information is presented in a simpler format, then these people will be able to understand the content and feel included in the discussions you may have.

This doesn’t just apply to adults, many kids who attend programs have limited knowledge or vocabulary about the natural world, and simplifying your content will help them as well. It is important however to ensure that you aren’t “dumbing down” your program as this can make people feel discouraged about their knowledge, or reading levels. When creating a program, we need to simplify concepts and vocabulary, while maintaining professionalism, and focus. People like to be treated their age, a 40-year-old who had difficulty understanding concepts is still a 40 year and should be treated as one. Always maintain professionalism and never use sarcasm or act higher than the people you are presenting to.

The 8th grade level of communication is a good rule of thumb as it accompanies the majority of individuals in our population. For younger audiences, we can further adjust, and for audiences from universities or institutions we can heighten our content to better meet their needs. It is important as interpreters to always try our best to accommodate to everyone while making them feel comfortable and excited to learn. Your visitors shouldn’t feel like they are studying but rather having fun and enjoying themselves.

My "Find the Fishes" nature program where visitors and I seine netted for fish species so we could see the biodiversity in the bay. During the program I adjusted my vocabularly for the kids, adults and university students who attended.

lsdenvs3000w23

The Many Art Forms of Nature

Being able to interpret nature through art (whether it be music, a painting, a book, or movies/ photographs) is such a special attribute. It can be easy to form connections to nature when your body is physically in it, but forming this connection through an art form can be more difficult.

Growing up, my parents filled the walls of our house with nature-inspired artwork. Whether it was a scene of wolves running through the forest, or a horse-drawn carriage traveling through a town around Christmastime, being surrounded by these images helped me develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between art and nature. A few years ago, I travelled to Victoria B.C. to visit family, and while I was there I went to the Robert Bateman Gallery. I can't quite describe it, but viewing his artistic interpretations of nature always left me with such a deep gratitude for the natural world and for artists like Robert Bateman who capture it so perfectly. Below is an image of one of my favourite paintings. My parents have it hanging in their house, and I love showing it to friends when they visit and seeing how long it takes them to realize this is not just a painting of grass.

Eyes in the Grass- Robert Bateman

I recently watched the movie "The Banshees of Inisherin," and felt quite moved by the cinematography and setting. My grandparents immigrated from Ireland, and I still have a lot of family there that I am lucky to have visited in the past. I have always found the rugged coasts and rolling fields of Ireland to be so beautiful, and this movie did such a special job of capturing the beauty. It left me with feelings of sadness and longing to go back to Ireland, but also with feelings of gratitude. Even though I'm not in Ireland now, seeing its landscapes portrayed in film left me feeling peaceful just knowing that they're there, and that they'll still be there when I get the opportunity to return.

A scene from "The Banshees of Inisherin"

I mentioned before that it can be easy to feel connected to nature when you're physically present in it. Don't get me wrong, this is still such a special feeling and is one I hope everyone can experience in their lifetime. But being able to connect with nature through art can allow you to experience a deeper level of connection with places you may have never physically been. It is inspiring and hopeful to feel connected to a place you are not physically in, and I think it creates a certain sense of longing to travel and experience these things first hand. Just knowing that the Irish landscapes are out there waiting for my return sparks such an excitement in me, and I feel lucky to have this feeling.

The beauty of nature is subjective. One person could look at a landscape and see nothing special, while the next person that comes along could think it was the most beautiful thing they have ever seen. The subjectiveness of nature interpretation is especially relevant when it comes to art, and it is so special that each person can experience the beauty of art differently.

tvenvs3000w23

I was truly inspired by the statement “It is easy to form connections to nature when your body is physically in it but forming this connection through an art form can be more difficult”. This makes me think much deeper about the meaning of art and nature. I can better understand how not everyone considers nature to be art. Especially, those who do not spend much time exploring nature. They may find it more difficult to even just form a connection with the outside world. The photo “Eyes in the Grass” by Robert Bateman is such a cool art piece. It took me a while to notice that the photo is more than just of grass. I think that this photo truly represents the art of nature and how someone can connect with it.

Personally, I find that I develop the strongest connection with nature when I am there physically, and I also tend to take many photos. When I look back on these photos, I consider them an art piece and I truly think about the comfort I felt when in these places. However, I understand that some places in nature that I consider to be art may not provide the same feelings for everyone. I believe this is the crazy and intriguing part about nature, that everyone has their own thoughts and opinions.

amvenvs3000w23

It’s great to hear that you have a strong appreciation for the connection between art and nature. It’s true that art has the ability to bring us closer to nature, and evoke emotions that may not be possible to replicate through a simple physical experience. The subjectiveness of art interpretation allows each person to experience nature in their own unique way, and this can help deepen their connection and create a sense a loging to explore and experience nature firsthand. This is a great tool for interpreters to use, as we can use art to encourage the exploration of our nature environment. Your experience visiting the Robert Bateman gallery and watching “The Banshees of Inisherin” is a great example of this as it moved you and added to your passion the landscape offers. When you get the chance, whether it be of Ireland or even the arboretum in Guelph, I suggest taking advantage of nature and explore.

As a fellow interpreter I love to take any opportunity I have to take photos of my surroundings. The art of my photos always inspires an awe and sense of wonder that stokes the fire of my passion for the outdoors. I also feel a huge sense of accomplishment with my photography. Although not award winning, knowing that I was able to create such a beautiful and majestic image with the help of nature fills me joy. Every time looking at the photo, bringing me back to that time and place.

Just some photos:)

The "Art" of Interpretation

Using art to interpret nature is a powerful tool to increase engagement and enjoyment for guests (Beck et al. 2019). Art has the ability to take the beauty, wonder and awe of the natural world, and translate it into something that resonates with people at a deep level. By doing so, interpreters can bridge the gap between the natural world and the daily human experience.

The beauty of art is usually recognized by centuries of artists creating masterpieces, such as seen in Europe with its historical beauty. While Europe has a rich sense of culture and history, we Canadians have the beauty of nature as a source of inspiration and wonder (Nash, 1982). This beauty, although natural, evokes the same emotions of awe and wonder and grasps the visitor’s attention allowing for more effective learning and engagement.

Our main goal as interpreters is to make connections with our audience (Rita Cantu). We strive to be the catalyst that sparks connections between something outside of us and something within us. This is achieved through the use of visual representation, and the creation of concepts and connections that are easy to understand and relate to. Whether through music, visual art, or performance, we aim to engage our audience and evoke emotions that help to create a deeper connection between the subject and the audience.

Music is a particularly powerful tool for interpretation as it helps people remember information and increases audience engagement (Beck et al. 2019). Songs work by getting words and facts to stick in our brains, painting a picture in our imagination, and reaching our emotions. This allows the audience to make a deeper connection with the subject, whether it is nature or something else.

Another tool that can be used to help interpret nature, is improvisational games. Incorporating games into interpretation helps to give children (and adults) a sense of enjoyment, making it easier for them to engage with the subject matter (Macklin et al. 2010). This approach can be especially useful in engaging younger audiences and helping them to make connections with the natural world. While working as a Naturalist for Rondeau Provincial Park, I utilized this strategy regularly when creating children’s programs as I found it to have the most success. Kids by their nature are curious and playful, and by making learning fun, I was able to get almost all the kids (and their parents) to join in.

Interpreting nature through art is a powerful tool for making connections with the world around us. By using music, improvisational games, and visual representation, interpreters are able to engage their audience, evoking emotions and creating a deeper connection with the natural world.

A photo from a snake program I organized, using visual aids of the beauty of nature to captivate the audience.

Citations:

Beck, Larry, et al. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing, 2019.

Macklin, E., Hvenegaard, G., & Johnson, P. (2010). Improvisational theater games for children in the park interpretation. Journal of Interpretation Research, 15(1), 7-13.

Nash, R. (1982). Wilderness and the American mind (3rd ed.). New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Rita Cantu, The Arts Provide Another Dimension to Interpretation

etenvs3000w23

Unit 03: Risk versus Reward in Interpretation

Privilege is a term that has been used to describe a broad range of advantages that is inherent to a certain group. It can be influenced by class, wealth, race, gender, sexuality, or even genetics, all of which is influenced by culture, geography, and other situations a person is born into or finds themselves in. According to McIntosh (1998), one way to visualise privilege is to see it as “an invisible knapsack of unearned assets”, and that those with privilege are seemingly unaware of the assets provided to them. The assets provided by privilege are often perceived as normal and a result of average behaviour that must be maintained in order to secure certain advantages. This mindset can be harmful as it perceives those without privileges as being inherently other, with the idea that had they been more normal and maintained the status quo, they too could gain said privilege. This is of course a falsehood, as many people who find themselves without certain privileges are born into their situation and are incapable of changing the external conditions that deprive them of certain privileges, that is if they perceive those conditions as being something desirable or capable of changing.

When it comes to nature interpretation, many people would not think of connecting with nature as something only the privileged can do, after all, anyone can walk outside and observe natural areas, right? However this could not be more wrong, as the textbook demonstrates in depth how many areas where people connect with nature are inaccessible to people lacking certain privileges (Textbook, pages 127-158).

For instance, the most universal form of privilege no matter where you are in the world is caused by wealth distribution (Textbook, pg 133). Those with very little money have very little time outside of work to travel, and on top of that, very little funds to spend on travel expenses. This automatically prevents a significant part of the population from being able to travel internationally or even domestically to more ‘untouched’ natural areas that many tourists visit for the beauty alone. Add in that most impoverished people tend to live in city centres far away from free and accessible natural areas, and you reduce the number of people experiencing nature interpretation even more.

Next, consider people with disabilities (Textbook page 139-144). Many natural areas are often advertised for their rough terrain as infrastructure such as pavement or buildings are avoided to allow the region to remain as natural as possible. This is excellent from a conservation standpoint, but where does that leave people with physical disabilities such as wheelchair users who now will have a severely difficult time traversing these areas if they are even capable at all. Or what about those who can traverse the path, but have alternative disabilities such as sight or hearing impairment? How can they be expected to learn from nature interpreters if they are unable to read sign posts or hear what the interpreters are saying?

These are just two examples of many in regards to how privilege, or a lack thereof can severely influence someone's ability to experience nature interpretation. It is the responsibility of those who work in these natural areas as well as those who interpret them to acknowledge the differing privileges and mindsets of their guests and work to accommodate everyone equally. Whether this be through nonprofit outreach programs to those lacking transport funds, or providing alternative accessibility for those who are physically impaired so that they may find these experiences as those who find themselves more privileged than others.

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

Gallavan, Nancy P. "Helping teachers unpack their 'invisible knapsacks'." Multicultural Education, vol. 13, no. 1, fall 2005, p. 36. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9fe2f151. Accessed 23 Jan. 2023

McIntosh, P. (1989, July/August). White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack. Peace and Freedom, 10-12

amvenvs3000w23

Hello @etenvs3000w23,

I completely agree with your conclusion that everyone should be able to be on the same level playing field in life. When people are given different opportunities, it creates instabilities and unjustness in society. A great example of this is individuals with disabilities, as everyone can relate as one point in our lives, we will either be temporary or permanently disabled (WHO, 2011). For example, an individual with a broken leg does not have the same privileges as an abled body person has. Walking becomes much more difficult, and walking long distances becomes almost impossible. Additionally, a smooth flat surface is needed, as walking with crutches poses a challenge with hills and mud. Whereas an able-bodied person can traverse hills, mud and for long durations. These two individuals both have different levels of privilege, with the able-bodied individual gaining an advantage of mobility. As interpreters we should aim to keep everyone "on a level playing field", this ensures everyone has an equal opportunity to participate and learn. This should be done by bringing the disadvantaged up, and not by putting the advantaged down. There are several ways we can aim to minimize the role privilege plays in the access to nature interpretation. Trails can be fitted with wheelchair accessible boardwalks; shuttles can be arranged to pick people up from city centres and drop them off of the site. Park entries can be waved for a couple weeks of the year. All these tactics can help to minimize the impact privilege plays and provide everyone with the chance to learn through interpretation.

World Health Organization. (2011). World Report on Disability. WHO/NMH/VIP/11.01. Geneva, Switzerland.

A Step In Their Shoes

The idea of different privileged individuals has become a mainstream topic in recent years, as many human rights cases have come to light. To me, privilege is an advantage an individual has, based off of their socioeconomic status, age, sex and or race of the individual. For example, people born in wealthy households with two parents, have the advantage of having all necessities with extras provided to them. This allows them to focus on other things such as education, whereas an individual in a poorer household may have to focus most of their time finding food or shelter rather than an education.

The idea of privilege is everywhere in our world, even in nature interpretation, despite the best efforts of interpreters worldwide. Within the American parks system, Beck et al (2019) found that African Americans and Hispanics were often underrepresented amongst park visitors, with Caucasians making up the majority of visitors. In a paper by Pease (2015), he determined the five main barriers discouraging park attendance from minority groups. These included economic (Marginality Theory), cultural, communication, lack of knowledge, and fears. All five of these barriers play off the disadvantages that members of the minority groups share. Nature interpreters usually work outside and in nature, proving it necessary for visitors to have transport and pay park fees. Sleeping in a tent is seen as fun for some cultures, but a reminder of homelessness for others. Many minorities speak a different language than the interpreter, making it almost impossible to understand the programs. For many it may be the first time to a park, and they may not have the knowledge or know how on how to navigate the park, leading to intimidation. Finally, the fear of wildlife, getting loss, or discrimination, leads to many individuals staying home.

An additional form of privilege commonly encountered within nature interpretation, is the difficulties disabled individuals have navigating the natural environment. This disadvantage provides a great thought experiment as it is relatable to everyone. Everyone at one point in their life will either be temperately or permanently disabled (WHO, 2011). Imagine that time you had a broken arm, foot, or a nasty cut on your finger that prevented you from doing some daily tasks like brushing your teeth, eating soup, or walking more than 10 steps. These are the challenges people with disabilities face every day. Now Imagine with your broken foot you’d like to go on a nature hike to learn about the Carolinian Forest, but its 1.5km long on a muddy trail. Unfortunately, you would be discouraged from going on the hike and feel left out. As interpreters it is our job to fix these issues, to make interpretation available for everyone. Maybe it involves a special wheelchair accessible board walk to be put into place, or it may be as simple as presenting your program from the parking lot, using the trees and environment around to help enhance your presentation. These simple strategies would allow someone unable to walk a chance to participate and feel included.

Beck, Larry, et al. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing, 2019.

Pease, J.L. (2015). Parks and underserved audiences: An annotated literature review. Journal of Interpretation Research, 20(1), 11-56.

World Health Organization. (2011). World Report on Disability. WHO/NMH/VIP/11.01. Geneva, Switzerland.

tvenvs3000w23

Describe your idea role of environmental interpreter.

An environmental interpreter can be described as someone who helps other humans understand the natural world (Youngentob & Hostetler, 2003). This can be through positivity and the use of examples in nature. Environmental interpreters must combat the skills and ability of establishing strong connections with the audience and the object of interpretation. Essentially, I would hope that as an environmental interpreter, I can help change the way people think and behave in consideration to the earth.

My ideal role as an environmental interpreter would be to promote the importance of recycling programs in communities. Growing up, I have learned much about the importance of recycling and about the prompt “reduce, reuse, recycle”. I have practiced recycling at my home and at school and believe that community recycling programs are essential. It can allow for sustainability in one’s immediate environment. If a community can invest in a recycling infrastructure, recycling will be more common rather than garbage being put in a landfill. Unfortunately, landfills are a primary contributor to greenhouse gasses in Canada. When garbage decomposes it creates methane which then traps heat in the earth’s atmosphere impacting global warming (Smith, 2022).

A community recycling program would entail individuals taking action to help limit the buildup of trash in landfills. A program should be easy for communities to navigate that way they will be more likely to use it. Another common issue is recycling bin contamination. This occurs when materials are sorted into the wrong recycling bins or when materials are not properly cleaned. Recycling then becomes nearly impossible. It can also cause a devaluation in the products being recycled and can create unsafe work environments for those sorting the products (Rachelson, 2017). This is a large problem and reduces the positive effects of recycling. Furthermore, a recycling program would include the promotion of recyclable products such as reusable water bottles, reusable bags, and reusable containers. I would hope that as an environmental interpreter that people would consider using these reusable products rather than plastic which continues to contribute to waste. Overall, community recycling programs must include envious amounts of information and awareness on the topic. Therefore, community members understand why recycling is so important, rather than just feeling forced to recycle.

As someone who is so interested in protecting the environment, I believe that recycling is an essential step everyone should take. Yet, I struggle to consider how I could inspire everyone. Hopefully one day I will be able to be a part of something or a large organization that greatly considers recycling and promotes it to communities. This would be ideal for me in the future.

Citations

Rachelson, D. (December 4, 2017). What is recycling contamination and why does it matter? Rubicon. Retrieved January 14, 2023, https://www.rubicon.com/blog/recycling-contamination/

Smith, M. (2022). How can recycling impact a community? How Stuff Works. Retrieved January 12, 2023, https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/recycling-impact-community.htm

Youngentob, K., & Hostetler, M. (2003). Environmental interpretation: how to communicate persuasively. University of Florida. Retrieved January 12, 2023, https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/uw182#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20main%20goals%20of%20environmental%20interpretation,Interpretive%20programs%20can%20be%20targeted%20at%20any%20audience.

ihenvs3000w23

I find this post to be significant especially in terms of society today. Respecting the environment and nature is one of the most important things we can be doing as humans. Sometimes people tend to forget that without a clean, healthy and safe environment, we would cease to exist. It is interesting that you want to promote the idea of recycling as many tend to not take part in this. Just like yourself, I remember being conditioned at an early age to “reduce, reuse, recycle”. The only downfall to this is that, many at not educated on how to properly do so. One thing that all should be aware of is that recycling may actually not be as great as you think. In 2022, CBC exposed Canadian recycling companies for shipping garbage with their recycling (Ward, 2022). The underlying issue is that Canadians are shipping over recycling to other countries because we have too much of it which is not being used. Another note to add is that unless recycling is done properly, which most of the time it is not, the ‘recycling’ ends up in the trash bin. I was curious if you had any interesting or creative ways in which would inspire people to recycle properly? On another note, you mentioned that waste contributes to greenhouse gasses in Canada and was curious if you think there are ways of limiting this? Overall, I enjoyed your post and am pleased to see the interest you take in the environment.

amvenvs3000w23

Education is the best way to convince people to change their perspectives. Rather than telling people to change their ways, which makes people defensive and want to push back, educating allows individuals to make their own decision. I agree that education through interpretation is crucial to get people to make more sustainable decisions in their day-to-day lives.

According to the government of Canada, only 9% of our plastic (270,00 tons) is recycled, leaving a whooping 91% going to landfills, wasting burning facilities, or into the environment (Canada, 2022). If we can increase recycling through education even to 50% recycled, that would save 1.5 million tonnes of plastics from the waste, and help to decrease emissions from creating new plastics. In theory, recycling seems to be something we should push toward sustainability. In reality, in the past couple of years, we have discovered that recycling is not as sustainable as it seems. This is because only the most valuable plastics and removed and recycled in Canada, the majority are shipped over to developing nations such as India, Turkey, and eastern Asian countries (CBC, 2022). This is cause for even greater environmental detriment as fuel is required to ship this waste. Once ending up in developing countries, people (including children) scour through it with their hands, burning all the plastics they cannot reclaim for recycling (Guardian, 2022).

Instead, I agree that we should be educating individuals on reducing their plastic consumption through the usage of reusables, such as water bottles, bags, and Tupper wear. Not only will this decrease our reliance on plastics, but also decrease the number of plastics sent to be recycled overseas, lessening our global impact.

Citations

Canada, Environment and Climate Change. “Government of Canada.” Canada.ca, / Gouvernement Du Canada, 31 Oct. 2022, https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/managing-reducing-waste/reduce-plastic-waste.html.

“Children as Young as Nine Say They Are Ill from Work Recycling Plastic in Turkey.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 21 Sept. 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/sep/21/children-as-young-as-nine-say-they-are-ill-from-work-recycling-plastic-in-turkey.

“Illegal Canadian Trash Keeps Ending up Overseas. and the Federal Government Won't Say Who's Shipping It | CBC News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 24 Apr. 2022, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/fifth-estate-recycling-1.6410657.

The Arctic Interpreter

Nature Interpreters are essential for the education of the natural world to the public. They help people understand the natural world, the threats nature faces, and how we as humans can help minimize these threats. Nature interpreters have a difficult job as they need to effectively communicate education in a fun interactive way to the public. As stated by Mills (1920), “People are out for recreation and need restful, intellectual visions, and not dull, dry facts, rules, and manuals.” Doing so will help the guest have a life-changing positive impact on the environment, allowing them to take part in acting sustainably (Beck et al., 2018). A successful interpreter will be able to instill the passion of learning to the guest regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. A good first step to become a successful interpreter is to follow The Gifts of Interpretation (Beck & Cable, 2011), which are a list of 15 gifts on how to approach interpretation and relate to the audience.

I have spent four summers working at Rondeau Provincial Park as a Naturalist (nature interpreter) practicing my interpretative skills. One of the main things I learned was to teach what you are interested in, as this will give you the most passion towards your topics. As an interpreter I would focus on educating the public on climate changes impact on the Arctic tundra. Being a Canadian the arctic is near and dear to my heart and being the most rapidly changing environment due to climate change in Canada, it needs our help conserving. Growing up in rural Ontario I understand the perspectives of individuals who doubt climate change and believe that I can use their concerns to better educate the public without touching politics. Ideally, I would work at Polar Bear Provincial Park, as it is the largest of the provincial parks, in the arctic tundra and is currently unmanned.

Being the first interpreter at Polar Bear Provincial Park, would provide me an amazing opportunity to use the cumulative knowledge from this class to create a solid foundation for its interpretative program. Having this program in the high arctic would allow visitors to see first-hand the accelerated impacts climate change has on the arctic biome. To accommodate to all learning styles, the visitor centre with be equipped with auditory, visual, and tactile/kinaesthetic learning stations. For auditory listeners, a recorded tour will be available, or an interpreter who can give a presentation of the visitor centre live. For visual learners the visitor center will be fill with exhibits demonstrating the arctic, such as diagram and photos as well as an underground display showing the melting of the permafrost. For the tactile/kinaesthetic learners as aspects of the exhibits will have interactive components such as arctic animal furs, a temperature changing permafrost exhibit (to tactile feel the temperature change) and a cold room, where the freezing arctic temperatures and storms can be experiences (with supervision). All these learning styles will be incorporated into each exhibit allowing for ideal learning conditions for everyone regardless of what learning style/combinations of learning styles best suit them. These combinations, will lead to an effective and successful interpretive centre.

Citations:

Beck, L. and Cable, T. 2011. The gifts of interpretation, Champaign, IL: Sagamore.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing.

Mills, Enos A. “The Adventures of a Nature Guide.” 1920, https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.57806.

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