Alexia Perri

Nature Interpretation Blog | ENVS 3000

[dralh]

Disclaimer

This blog was created for __________, University of Guelph. 

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of the University of Guelph. 

The University of Guelph is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by this blog.

[jmenvs3000semester]

Unit 10: The Final Blog Post!

I can’t believe this is our last blog post! Throughout this course, we have explored many concepts and aspects of nature interpretation, such as what it is, which encompasses much more than I initially thought. I now understand that there are many intertwined components of nature interpretation that I must consider in order to interpret to all audiences and have them get the most out of a nature interpretation program, walk, session etc.

 I have developed over the length of this course as a nature interpreter. I am still unsure if I want to pursue a career in nature interpretation, however, I can see myself taking up a summer job in this field, either at a museum or possibly with Parks Canada at a park, historic site, or conservation area. If I were to take up a job as a nature interpreter, all of the questions in our final blog prompt are helpful and reflective questions to ask myself before I step into this career path.

The first statement in the prompt is, “Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter”. After reading this sentence, I was lost on where to start because I first thought my personal ethics and values in my own life won’t apply to nature interpretation, however, after reflecting on what I’ve learned and read this semester that is not true. In chapter 3 “Values to Individuals and Society”, the textbook created a bridge between the values an individual has and can gain from nature interpretation and how this can benefit society. I would have to agree. My individual outlook and values I hold close, such as respect and love for others, hope, and the power of knowledge, can translate to nature interpretation as you can develop values such as these from exploring, understanding, and appreciating the places around you, and your role in the world (Beck et al., 2018). By allowing people the opportunity to do so, with myself being their interpreter, I can provide them with the tools, facts, frameworks, lessons and knowledge to develop their values and relationship with the natural world around them (Beck et al., 2018). Also, by applying this personal ethic of mine to all that I provide interpretation to, hopefully, those I speak to can go on to spread what they’ve learned to those around them. Together we can create a society that feels inspired to educate themselves, get outside and be active while respecting all parts of nature.

I briefly touched on my beliefs in this previous paragraph, but I didn’t mention the inclusion and importance of said inclusion of history in nature interpretation. Chapter 15 “Interpreting History”, I’m glad that we had the opportunity to read this chapter, as many places where people go to seek to connect with nature as a past and a history. In Canada and many countries worldwide, Indigenous Peoples have been displaced from their homes, or have had their land stolen through the signing of treaties. Many provincial parks in Canada reside on traditional land, therefore, the story of a park/site’s history would not be complete without talking about the culture of the Indigenous Communities that lived on that land as communities and their culture don’t solely exist in the past but still exist to this day (Beck et al., 2018). An alternative currently happening that is just as or even more critical is returning the land to the Indigenous Communities they were stolen from. There is one instance where two parks in British Colombia, Discovery Island Marine Park are being returned to The Songhees and Sookie Mountain Park is being returned to T’Sou-ke Nations, where the parks will be managed by these communities and still open to the public (CBC, 2023). My responsibility as a nature interpreter is connected to incorporating and honouring history in interpretation as we have the privilege to be in a position to share knowledge and educate others, we have a duty to share parts of history and people that were and continue to be impacted in an accurate and authentic way (Beck et al., 2018). This means presenting listeners with the whole truth using through research, accurate information from all that is included, therefore considering objective and constructed authenticity, but also factoring in personal authenticity. (Beck et al., 2018).

2 provincial parks in B.C. being considered as part of treaty settlement with First Nations | CBC News

The province says Discovery Island Marine Park and Sooke Mountain Park are being considered as part of land packages to the Songhees Nation

The approaches that are most suitable for me as an individual revolves around using modern technology and media to gain the attention of younger audiences. Based on our readings for Unit 10 and Richard Louv’s discussion on Nature-deficit Disorder, I agree that getting kids to connect to nature from a young age is essential, as it can spark positive impacts later in life, physically, emotionally and mentally. Looking back at my first post about my childhood growing up on a farm, I realized how fundamental the times I spent outside in the fields and forests shaped my relationship with nature today. Many kids miss that opportunity, therefore, if they have limited access to the natural world, but they have technology readily available to them, then I think taking the technology approach can be beneficial. By taking this approach, I don’t mean telling kids to spend more time on their iPad, iPod or phones. I mean using the tools technology can offer, such as apps, to get kids to go outside and explore. As mentioned in Unit 08, the app “Sky Guide” can be used to identify constellations, and that reminded me of a memory I had of something similar. When my friends and I were at a cottage, we sat on the dock and admired the night sky and want to know exactly what we were looking at. So, we downloaded an app similar to Sky Guide, and just sat there for a while discovering constellations we never heard of. I want to inspire kids to make memories like these. I want them to know that there are tools with technology that can allow them to be curious and want to go and discover cool parts of nature, and not just see it all from their screens at home.

Beck, Larry, Cable, Ted, and Knudson Douglas. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For A Better Worl. Sagamore Venture, 2018.

[apenvs3000w23]

Hi Joy,

I really enjoyed reading your final blog post this week! I love your transparency in describing that you are still determining if you would like to pursue a career in nature interpretation. It is refreshing hearing you say that, as many posts I have read have already had so much experience as a nature interpreter and wish to continue in this field. I, for one, haven't had this opportunity, and I feel as though I may perhaps like to pursue a job for one summer, but I do not think I would be able to do it for an extended period as well. It is nice that you have distinguished this now, as this takeaway is essential.

Regarding your personal ethic, I would have to agree with you that a lot of the beliefs you have mentioned are important to me as well. Respect and love are strong values that play a significant role in my life, and I believe showing respect is a form of love. It is incredible to note that all of your core beliefs can be tied into interpretation and influencing those around you. Your goal to create inspiration for society is impressive, as that is a primary goal of a successful interpreter. Once they are inspired, it can lead to inspiring others and overall protecting and loving the environment.

Your paragraph discussing the displacement of Indigenous Peoples and its importance to history and interpretation was very enlightening. It is crucial that visitors of these sites must be aware of its history, as you have said, history and interpretation coincide. This also lies within the integrity of the interpreter. An interpreter who can educate their audience on the past will have an easier time gaining their trust. I was also unaware of the two parks in British Columbia that are being returned to Indigenous communities, so that was very interesting to read about. I believe that the responsibility you have listed will allow you to be a very successful interpreter.

I appreciate the modern approach you have explained for enlightening children and connecting them to nature. Children are highly impressionable, as stated by Beck et al. (2018), so capturing their attention early about the environment is the most effective. It is very important to keep them engaged, and I can understand it isn't easy now with the heavy influence technology has had. Your idea of utilizing technology tools is a great idea to spark their interest first, which would most likely want them to go outside and see what nature really has to offer! This is an excellent way of bridging the gap. As you said, you grew up on the farm, and in comparison, I have also spent most of my childhood outside. This has gained my appreciation for the environment today and has grown my passion, so it would be a shame if children today did not experience this!

Overall, this was a fantastic final post! I enjoyed learning about your personal ethic, and it seems like you have effectively grasped the concepts throughout this semester very well!

I wish you the best of luck with your future endeavours!

Alexia

Literature Cited

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

[apenvs3000w23]

Unit 10: Who I Am!

Before I explain my personal ethic as a nature interpreter, I think it is time to address the elephant in the room…How on earth is this semester coming to an end already!! I hope I am not the only one utterly shocked that we have made it to Unit 10. This semester has flown by, and I have enjoyed sharing my opinions and stories with you each week. It has been so delightful getting to learn so much about everyone! It's funny because this is a Distance Education course, yet I feel I have learned more about my peers than in an in-person class! Taking the time to write these posts has never felt laborious to me, as I enjoyed sitting down and connecting what we learned in the readings to what I value and believe.

That being said, I will disclose that when I first enrolled in this class, I had yet to learn what nature interpretation and being a nature interpreter meant. I was heavily surprised when the core assignments for this course revolved around the blog and podcasts. I'm not too fond of tests and quizzes and much more prefer assignments, so this was a breath of fresh air for me! I also found that these types of assignments were very refreshing and enlightening, and kept me engaged.

Some of my favourite new photos from my camera roll. United States Botanic Gardens in Washington (left), Moss growing along the stone in Pennsylvania (right)

As we approach the end, I feel as though I have grasped the vital messages to be understood from this course and I have developed my personal ethics regarding nature interpretation. The first belief I will be sure to include is my passion. Being passionate about the topic you are explaining to your audience is key. I believe this is one of the most influential topics of being a successful interpreter. It is never ideal to be listening to someone who evidently does not enjoy what they are talking about. This will not only not engage the audience but can dampen the joy of someone excited to learn. A positive deliberation, however, will cause the audience to feel more comfortable and as Beck et al (2018) state, it is more probable that they will listen. I want to be able to transfer my passion to others to spark their interest. Therefore, my priority will be to speak passionately and/or excitingly express the topics to be a successful interpreter.

Secondly, integrity and honesty are two significant factors that I will bring to nature interpretation. I wish others to know I am trustworthy as integrity is a big factor. As someone who has grown up with technology and social media so accessible, I believe it has caused two opposing outcomes; 1. People who believe everything they see online is accurate or 2. People who think everything is fake. With such a grave difference, it is essential to be skeptical of what we see because it is easy for anyone to display a fake persona with untrue facts. With this in mind, I hope to build the trust of my audience so that even if they did question what I was saying, they would find no fabrication, and they would know I value honesty. As an interpreter, honesty and integrity are fundamental, and along with passion, these beliefs best describe my personal ethic as a nature interpreter.

Along with that, a major responsibility that I would hold myself accountable for is inclusivity. I want to build an environment where no one is left out, and everyone has the same opportunity to enjoy and learn. When we discussed “barriers” in the textbook readings and shared our privilege, this was the most eye-opening aspect of the semester. I truly grasped the extent of it once I was able to take a step back to understand my privilege. Barriers, as we have learned, are present for many and they can be disability-based, economics etc. (Beck et al., 2018). Understanding this aspect of nature interpretation inspired me to ensure I will do my best to eliminate all types of barriers and have options for each learning style. This means I must be cognizant of all possibilities, for instance if there are visual aids, different hearing options, accessibility of sites, prices etc. Including aspects that cause these elements to vanish will help me to encourage inclusivity. I wish everyone to experience nature interpretation and see what it offers. Increasing the number of people in your audience increases the chance of stimulating individuals and creating new passions. In the environmental/conservation sector, bridging the gap and involving more people helps for great advancements (Merenlender et al., 2016). This study area is complex and costly, so having a larger team of individuals fighting for the same beliefs can lead to great things. As someone who has gotten to experience nature in many different areas, this has been how my passion has grown. Being immersed in the environment helps people to build a connection which is vital for an interpreter to accomplish. I also believe that it benefits everyone to experience nature interpretation as a community. As we all occupy the same planet, it is advantageous to grow fond of it and understand how to preserve it. Therefore, if these barriers are non-existent and everyone can be included, the connections made with the audience would be vast, and the number of conservationists will likely increase!

Overall, this course has helped me to discover who I am as an interpreter and what I stand for. Key aspects that I had not thought about prior to this course have helped me understand my beliefs. I have learned that to become a successful interpreter, I will make sure I am passionate about the information I deliver. I will be trustworthy and ensure inclusivity throughout this process.

Thank you all for a great semester! I have had such a great time learning about you all and sharing my stories. This has only increased my interest in nature, and I hope it has done the same for you!

Good luck with your future endeavours!

I started these posts talking about sunsets, so it only feels fitting to add one more picture for the final post :)

Literature Cited

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

Merenlender, A. M., Crall, A. W., Drill, S., Prysby, M., & Ballard, H. (2016). Evaluating Environmental Education, citizen science, and stewardship through naturalist programs. Conservation Biology, 30(6), 1255–1265. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12737

[mecenvs3000w23]

Unit 09

Since we don’t have a specific prompt this week, I will write about something I find amazing in nature which is the night sky. As a reminder, I have spent four years working seasonally in Algonquin Provincial Park and am looking forward to going back for my fifth year. Something I love to do in the summer is walk down to the staff docks at night and stare up at the night sky. I remember one night vividly when my friend and I were down at the docks and saw many shooting stars very clearly, the most I had ever seen. Throughout this post, I have included some pictures of the night sky that I took last summer on Canoe Lake. So now, let’s talk about shooting stars!

Shooting stars can be defined as “a piece of rock or metal that burns very brightly when it enters the Earth’s atmosphere from space, and is seen from Earth as a bright star travelling very fast across the sky” (Shooting start definition and meaning, n.d.). Shooting stars may also be termed meteors. Generally, meteors become visible when they are approximately 97 kilometres away, and some large meteors can be heard and be brighter than the planet Venus; these are referred to as fireballs (Dobrijevic, 2022). ‘Normal’ meteors travel through the atmosphere at a speed of 48,280 kilometres per hour and reach extreme temperatures of 1648°C (Dobrijevic, 2022). Meteors are common with approximately two to seven meteors being visible to observers every hour of the night (Reddy, n.d.). Additionally, it is possible to have dozens to hundreds of meteors in the sky and when this occurs, it is termed a meteor shower (Dobrijevic, 2022). Meteor showers are more common at specific times of the year and can be predicted. Furthermore, meteor showers are given names based on where they appear to be originating from; specifically, which constellation (Dobrijevic, 2022). For example, meteor showers that originate from the Orion constellations are named Orionids (Dobrijevic, 2022). For viewing purposes, it is recommended to look out for them during pre-dawn hours from a location facing the direction of Earth’s orbit (Dobrijevic, 2022). As well, hopefully, the shower occurs on nights when the moon is less bright as this makes the meteor shower more noticeable (Dobrijevic, 2022).

In historical times, meteors and anything else seen in the night sky created superstitions and were most commonly associated with gods and religion (Dobrijevic, 2022).  For example, shooting stars were thought to be sent down by angels as a gift to Earth (Dobrijevic, 2022).  However, others believed shooting stars was how gods displayed their anger (Dobrijevic, 2022). These superstitions lasted for a long time in Earth’s history because most scientists simply did not think that stones could just fall from the sky. Oftentimes, scientists simply ignored accounts of this happening (Dobrijevic, 2022).

I hope you learned something new from this post and would love to know what you find fascinating in nature!

References

Dobrijevic, D. (2022, August 11). Meteor showers and shooting stars: Formation and history. Space.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.space.com/meteor-showers-shooting-stars.html.

HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. (n.d.). Shooting star definition and meaning: Collins english dictionary. Shooting star definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/shooting-star.

Reddy, F. (n.d.). Meteors and Meteor Showers. Astronomy.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://astronomy.com/observing/observe-the-solar-system/2010/04/meteors-and-meteor-showers#:~:text=Under%20a%20dark%20sky%2C%20any,of%20the%20inner%20solar%20system.

[apenvs3000w23]

Hi Meghan,

I absolutely loved your post this week! The night sky has been so fascinating to me for my whole life, and I always look forward to seeing it in the summer (just because it is warmer out). As I have said before, my cottage is one of my favourite places to be. In the summertime, when we have bonfires at night, I always look up to see if there are clear sky conditions, so I know whether to go back down to the beach when there is less light pollution. Stargazing is absolutely extraordinary, and shooting stars have always been a wonder for me. My family, friends and I always have subtle competitions on who can see more throughout the time period. It is always frustrating when you are the only one left out who has not seen the shooting star!

In terms of your post, this was very insightful, and I definitely learned more about shooting stars and meteors. I knew that meteors travel at a fast speed, but I never really researched that they travel at 48,280km/hr! I also did not know the historical significance of meteors and how they were believed to be sent by angels or the anger of gods!

The pictures you have included throughout your blog post reminded me of one I took last summer in August. Overall, this was a great post that allowed me to reflect on all the stargazing I have done and brought back great memories!

Here is a picture of the night sky in late august in Tobermory (put your brightness up)!

[apenvs3000w23]

The Venus Flytrap

This week we get to talk about an amazing thing we know about nature. Although I find many things amazing, the first thing that came to mind today was the Venus flytrap (Dionea muscipula). In my botany class, my professor briefly mentioned this plant and essentially talked about how cool it is. I have known about this plant before, but part of me wanted to dive deeper and discover how they "trap" their food. Therefore, today I will be enlightening you with all things Venus flytrap! I know you have probably seen a video or two of this plant before. It is the one where it can close and trap its prey! I have always found this very cool, especially since I was a child and I never really understood how it worked until now. 

The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant (Hedrich & Neher, 2018). There are approximately 630 other carnivorous plant species, so the Venus flytrap is not alone in this category; however, they are one of the few that have to complete a movement to capture their prey (Lotzof, n.d.). It terms of its trap, there are two lobes that are positioned towards the end of the leaf that are hinged and allow for the open and closing movement, and this is called the bivalved trap (NWF, n.d.). On the inside of the trap, trichomes are present, which are appendages that protrude off the leaf's surface (Werker, 2000). Essentially, the trichomes resemble hair, and when something like an insect touches them, they signal the plant to shut closed (NWF, n.d.). This plant has mechanoreceptors that are easily stimulated that transfer the signal from extracellular to intracellular with the help of an electrical network (Hedrich & Neher, 2018). Although they are easily stimulated, the trap will only close shut once the trichomes have been stimulated multiple times in order to conserve energy (NWF, n.d.).

Now, let's say the plant has trapped its prey. You may be wondering how does it even digest it? Essentially, along the edge of the trap, there are digestive glands, and once the trap is fully closed, the glands produce a liquid (Leege, 2003). The liquid touches the prey and slowly softens it, and the enzymes within the liquid break down the prey and withdraw only the necessary nutrients (Leege, 2003). The digestion process can prolong for approximately five days, so they do not need to trap prey often (NWF, n.d.). It can last many months before its next trap, as it can still undergo photosynthesis and get essential nutrients from that process (NWF, n.d.). 

Overall, I hope you learned something about the Venus flytrap, and that this has made you want to do more research! I have always found this species extraordinarily interesting, so I hope you did too. Now let me ask you, what is your favourite plant? Or a plant you find interesting?

Literature Cited

Hedrich, R., & Neher, E. (2018). Venus Flytrap: How an excitable, Carnivorous Plant Works. Trends in Plant Science, 23(3), 220–234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2017.12.004

Leege, L. (2003, December 29). How does the Venus Flytrap Digest flies? Scientific American. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-does-the-venusflytra/#:~:text=Once%20the%20trap%20closes%2C%20the,to%20extract%20the%20essential%20nutrients.

Lotzof, K. (n.d.). Carnivorous plants: The meat-eaters of the Plant World. Natural History Museum. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/carnivorous-plants-meat-eaters-of-the-plant-world.html

Venus Flytrap. National Wildlife Federation. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Plants-and-Fungi/Venus-Flytrap

Werker, E. (2000). Trichome diversity and development. Advances in Botanical Research, 1–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0065-2296(00)31005-9

[mecenvs3000w23]

Unit 07: Nature Interpretation Through Music

Music can be defined as “patterns of sound varying in pitch and time for emotional, social, cultural and cognitive purposes” (Gray et al., 2001). When paying close attention to our surroundings, music can be found just about anywhere including in nature. For me, the obvious comes to mind first like the sound of birds chirping, waves splashing, fish jumping, and the wind blowing around us. When I reflect more specifically on my relationship with nature, the music I hear includes the sound of a canoe paddle slapping the water, my hammock blowing in the wind, a fire crackling, the creaking of the dock as waves pass below, and the sound of a loon call across the lake. All of these sounds essentially make a beautiful song that reminds me vividly of being outside in nature and enjoying the things I love. Additionally, we must not forget about the calming sound of rain, a thunderstorm passing overhead, and even the sounds of various insects. Many, if not all, of those sounds I listed can be found on a common streaming platform like Spotify or Apple music so that they can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home, or maybe even as you fall asleep at night.

Furthermore, we can often find nature within the music. There are several songs that come to mind that discuss nature; for example, Feels Like Summer by Childish Gambino. Within the song, there is a set of lyrics which states,

“Every day gets shorter than the one before

Running out of water, it's about to go down

Go down

Air that kills the bees that we depend upon

Birds were made for singing, wakin’ up to no sounds

No sound”.

Although this song is not necessarily discussing the ‘good’ parts of nature, rather it’s portraying global warming, it includes aspects of nature within its lyrics. This is only one example of nature being included in ‘popular’ music.

To end, I would like to discuss one song that takes me back to nature, which is Canyon Moon by Harry Styles. Although this might not be an obvious choice as it was not written to be about nature, but rather a past love, when I hear this song it immediately takes me back to nature. Specifically, it takes me back to canoeing down the Barron Canyon in Algonquin Provincial Park with two of my friends. I first heard this song while we were on a backcountry canoe trip in Achray, exploring the Barron Canyon for the first time and I vividly remember the three of us lying back in the canoe taking in the sun and our surrounding while Canyon Moon was playing. I would love to hear what songs take you back to nature!

References

Gray, P. M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science, 291(5501), 52. https://link-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/apps/doc/A69270354/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=fb9366a8

[apenvs3000w23]

Hey Meghan,

I really enjoyed your blog post this week! I loved how you started with a definition of music to prepare your audience for the topic ahead, so everything is clear. When I first thought of music in nature, the first thing that came to mind was birds chirping and waves crashing. It is important that we recognize how these sounds are defined as music, and they surround us each and every day. I appreciated how you provided more forms of music in nature that apply to you. As a reader, this helps me understand who you are and what you find important. Providing me with this extra information has made your blog post more personable and engaging. Since I enjoy staying at the cottage, the sound of an oar hitting the water and a hammock in the wind allowed me to connect back to when I heard these noises in the summer. This helped evoke emotion and remind me of the beautiful song that nature can create. Also, as I have grown up, I have learned to appreciate and love the sound of a passing thunderstorm, but I remember that sound summoned fear and not comfort at some point in my childhood.

The song you have chosen to prove how nature is found within music is a personal favourite of mine. I am glad you used this in your blog post because you have reminded me of it, and now it is re-liked on my Spotify! 😊

I enjoyed your addition of the song that also brings you back to a natural landscape. I have also added that to my liked songs and can’t wait to listen!

Overall, great post this week! You did a great job answering the questions and keeping us engaged.

[apenvs3000w23]

Unit 07: Nature Interpretation through Music

Music has always been a crucial component of my life. When I was little, I was immediately interested in everything music-related. I started to pursue singing and playing the piano in middle school, and thankfully my middle school's music class provided us with an array of instruments to choose from. I chose the trumpet. Music was something that came easily, and I carried on my learning with both of these instruments in high school. Not only did I enjoy making music, but I also heavily enjoyed listening to different genres and curating playlists on Spotify. I listen to music daily, and it brings me joy quite easily. Music is amazing because there is something that can evoke emotion in anyone. My personal favourite game is when I am in the passenger seat and playing music for the driver. It is fun to try to find and play songs I know they'll like based on their interests and current favourites. 😊

I always understood that there was music in nature; however, completing the readings for this week opened my eyes to see how it is everywhere. What comes to my mind first when I think of music in nature is the sound of birds chirping, but it goes much further than that. What helped me to understand this was when Gray et al. (2001) stated that human songs and the natural songs curated by whales or birds all follow a similar structure. I found this fascinating because it shows our connectedness to the natural world. As I truly began to reflect on how music is in nature, I recognized that even the sound of rain, waves crashing, and fire burning are all applicable examples.

It is impressive to note our dependence on these sounds, and what helped me to understand that was the diffuser I have in my room. This device has all those sounds built in to aid in creating a calming environment, which aids in understanding how nature is present in music. Gray et al. (2001) explain how humans have always been influenced and fascinated by the natural sounds around them. I recognized that plenty of songs I listen to connect to nature in some way or another. An example of this is the song "Small Worlds" by Mac Miller.

"Ooh, I been a fool but that's cool That's what human beings do Keep your eyes to the sky, never glued to your shoes Guess there was a time when my mind was consumed But the sun comin' out now, clouds start to move"

This verse compares how he feels to nature as he says his mind was consumed, but now the clouds are moving, and the sun is starting to shine.

Finally, a song that immediately takes me back to a natural landscape is the song Brazil by Declan McKenna. This song ultimately reminds me of the past summer being at the cottage, spending time with friends on the beach, and going camping!

Overall, I have learned that music is extraordinarily prevalent in nature, and nature's prevalence is reciprocated throughout current music. Many of my favourite songs discussed nature throughout, but I have just been able to see it now! Let me know if this same thing has happened to you, and let me know which song brings you back to last summer!

Literature Cited

Gray, P. M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C. & Baptista, L. (2001). The music of nature and the nature of music. Science, 291(5501), pp. 52-54. DOI: 10.1126/science.10.1126/SCIENCE.1056960

[mpenvs3000w23]

Nature interpretation through history

This quote by Edward Hyams illustrates the importance of the past with the dynamic nature of the present. He begins by explaining that age alone does not equate virtue or correctness, it simply means you have lasted the test of time, for better or for worse. This reminds me of the idea of tradition. Many traditions are very culturally/religiously/personally meaningful to individuals and groups. However, if we don’t critically examine our traditions, we are literally just doing the same thing over and over just because we always have. In some cases this can be very dangerous, promote ignorance, and disqualify critical analysis and proactivity. For example, black people used to be enslaved, women couldn’t vote or go to school, and only heterosexual couples could get married. These outdated notions need to be constantly questioned so we can create a more inclusive and sustainable world.

Next, Hyams investigates the integrity and longevity that is inherent in ancient things. By definition, to be around for x amount of time, you need to have lasted all the selective pressures that were present from that time until now. For example, in biology, if a plant is dependent on moist conditions, it cannot persist in the face of desertification. However, if the environmental conditions remain relatively stable or the plant is phenotypically plastic it may be able to persist. In society, educational curricula must be updated overtime to match the contemporary needs of students and educators, and if not they may be teaching outdated and harmful information (such as the Doug Ford sex education curriculum reversion). It is not virtuous to present outdated information to young minds; however, it does show the strong will many people have to stay loyal to what is old and familiar instead of challenging ourselves and each other to grow.

Over time, these stories, artifacts, and biotic and abiotic environmental components build a rich foundation of knowledge and history with them. For example, in many Indigenous cultures, elders hold the important job of functioning as knowledge keepers and must spread knowledge to their community before they die (Hele, 2021). Over generations, this knowledge base becomes increasingly rich and these communities have a wealth of knowledge of the medicinal, spiritual, cultural, and topographical features of the land (Cable et al, 2018). Species of the earth have all been evolving for the same amount of time, and there is a wealth of knowledge in their evolutionary lineages through molecular data, morphological changes, selective pressures, and the fossil record. 

As humans, we love to document events (especially when it is convenient to the story we want to be remembered). We have vast archives of scientific data, ancient cave paintings,  libraries full of fictional and nonfictional books, and large online databases of scientific journal articles. This information is a powerful tool to understand the world we live in, one small piece at a time. This can also be dangerous since we don’t know what perspectives are missing, afterall, there are still Holocaust deniers since vast amounts of written and physical evidence was destroyed. And in evolutionary history there are also gaps in knowledge. For example, are similar features a result of homoplasy or homology? And the name of the discipline where we recount events is literally called “His” story, and is only written by the privileged victor. 

The quote then explores the lasting implications of history on the present, then the future, through a metaphor about a train leaving a station. Just because events have ended does not mean they are not still affecting current realities. Families are still experiencing intergenerational trauma from genocide and war their families and ancestors were in. And statistical tests cannot always be run on species since they share evolutionary history and are therefore not fully independent of each other. 

In summary, history and ancient objects offer a wealth of knowledge and contribute to the way we live today. It is important to evaluate these things to see how they are promoting or suppressing safety, peace, and sustainability today.

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

Hele, K. S. (2021, January 14). Indigenous elders in Canada. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 10, 2023, from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/indigenous-elders-in-canada#:~:text=Elders%20are%20respected%20individuals%20who,%2C%20healers%2C%20advisors%20and%20cou

[apenvs3000w23]

Hi Melanie,

This was a great blog post! I really enjoyed reading the post and understanding your interpretation of Edward Hyams's quote. This week's prompt is very interesting since we all have such different interpretations. How you connected it to tradition fascinated me, as that did not come to my mind. You are entirely correct that if we don't understand or analyze our traditions, it is as though we are doing them out of a routine. I believe this lessens our appeal to traditions, and they are more likely to lose their importance to us slowly. I also agree with what you said that this promotes ignorance and can develop a less knowledgeable population which is frightening. As an ecology student, I appreciated how you compared the aspect of integrity and longevity to a moist-dependent plant. This helped further my knowledge, and I looked at Hyams's quote from a different perspective. As a society, we must evolve while staying informed about the past to avoid making the same mistakes in the present. The way you have implemented so many different connections, such as school curriculum and Indigenous practices, was an incredible way of interpreting this quote. I agree with what you have stated that just because these events have happened in the past does not mean they are not currently affecting our present. Overall, this post was very well done, and I appreciated learning about your interpretation of Edward Hyams's quote.

Thank you!

[apenvs3000w23]

Unit 06: Nature Interpretation through History

For this week, we must unpack the following quote:

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

Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation

Since this quote is slightly open-ended, there is a possibility that everyone may interpret it a little differently. You may recognize that your interpretation may depend on your morals, what is familiar to you, or what you are interested in. Since I have been given a chance to explain my interpretation, this is how I deciphered the quote above. 

Edward Hyams mainly describes the importance between merit and integrity, and this connection only resonated with me later once he brought up the train analogy. This quote highlights the importance of preservation and the merit of preserving some things' integrity from the past. He explains that if we are ignorant of history, it is as though we believe that railway tracks only exist for the length of a specific train and then vanish. This analogy helped me to understand that there is plenty of value in understanding "ancient things". However, sometimes these "ancient things" will not be organized in the most efficient way of understanding. For memories to have stood the length of time, they tend to be dispersed along a timeline and have faced many pressures. Therefore, preserving its integrity requires knowledge and, as he states, "a memory". I believe what he is trying to say is that history is fundamental to learning, and without integrity regarding different parts of history, we are simply ignorant. It is easy to brush off the past and "live in the present," but ultimately, it is always vital to be knowledgeable instead of uneducated. 

After reading this quote, I asked myself, "Why was this implemented in the course?".

Until further deciphering, I realized how necessary history is to the world of interpretation, specifically nature interpretation. There is immense value in maintaining the integrity of the past, especially in the realm of interpretation. History helps us to intertwine nature interpretation and create sites with greater importance.

Throughout the textbook, Beck et al. (2018) explain the aspect of history and how it leads the way to understanding and to live in the present. It acts as a guide. The saying "history repeats itself" happens very often; therefore, understanding the past helps avoid making the same mistakes in the present. In nature interpretation, the knowledge that every natural site has history, as said by Beck et al. (2018), aids in developing a deeper connection to the site. I believe that as an interpreter if you are informed of a site's history that you can provide to the audience, the message and importance you are conveying has the opportunity of resonating further. 

Overall, this quote encapsulated history and nature interpretation and helped me to understand their connectedness. Was your interpretation different than mine?

Literature Cited

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

[etenvs3000w23]

Unit 5

I found it surprisingly difficult this week to find a prompt to talk about. When one is given a blank slate to talk about anything they want, it sounds easy, I thought it would be, but for some reason that was not the case. Maybe I’m just tired. Maybe I’m just overwhelmed. Or perhaps my priorities have shifted. I’ve noticed that when I am outside of school I tend to not think about science and nature all that much. Which is unfortunate, seeing as I am taking a Bachelor’s degree in the subject. I told myself this semester I would be excited about my field. Learn to express the work I’m doing with the same passion that the scientists I work with do. Which is why today I will be summarising my thesis project I have been working on all summer. Not because it's easy, if I had my real free choice I’d discuss the zoology of cryptids, or the creatures of Star Wars, or the Cordyceps fungal infection of the Last of Us, but because my thesis is something real. Something tangible. And something I hope to be proud of one day.

So. My thesis. Where to begin? I suppose it all began just under two years ago. Deep in the pandemic, desperate for real experience in my field as a Zoology student and uncertain how to get it when all the optional field courses were cancelled and my labs were shifted online. So, what I did do was apply to a USRA position through ExperienceGuelph. Not just one position though, but ten, and out of those ten positions, two got back to me, and out of those two, I was selected for one. An assistant position in Dr. Alex Smith’s lab for the summer of 2021. Dr. Smith, or Alex as he prefers to be called by his students, was perhaps my favourite professor I’d had in my first two years of University. He knew how to engage with students even across the screen, and his Intro to Invertebrates class was phenomenal. 

The work he had me doing that summer was simple but rewarding, as the more time I spent in the field the more I built up my skills as an independent researcher. Eventually they trusted me to collect data on my own. Run experiments by myself. Data on the thermal tolerance limits of ants. And this data is what has built the basis of my thesis project in my final year: ‘The effect of temperature on the activity and thermal tolerance of ants (Formicidae) across a habitat gradient’. In simplest terms I am looking at the lowermost and uppermost temperature limits ants can handle, and I am comparing how they differ between two habitats in a small area of the Dairy Bush woodlot on campus.

The work I have done for this thesis started out fun, with field work and research and the joy of discovery, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I have gotten somewhat disillusioned with my project this far into the game. I have read and reread so many articles I don’t know what my true focus is anymore. And I keep running stats that I honestly don’t know how to interpret. The more I work on it the more I feel like it's less complete. However, I know I have two months to complete this project. I know I have an amazing coworker to help me run stats. And I know I have an incredible supervisor who will cheer me on even when I am lost in the data. I know that once I reach that endgame, once I am prepping for my presentation, and finalising my paper for submission, that passion will reignite again, just like it did two years ago when I started this journey.

My poster presentation last semester!

[apenvs3000w23]

Hi Emily,

I absolutely loved reading this blog post! We had very similar reactions when we were not provided with a prompt for this week. I also found it very difficult and struggled to come up with something to write about. Similarly to you, I almost had an existential crisis when I realized that my mind never goes to nature or science in my free time. As we devote so much of our time and studies, it’s scary to think that it’s not always on our minds. But as you said, we are overwhelmed, and sometimes it is okay to have some separation. It is so exciting that you have a thesis project you’ve been working on! I have also had a class with Dr.Smith, who was always accommodating, so it’s great to hear you are having such a pleasant experience working with him! The research topic you are focusing on seems very interesting, and the experiments you had to run excite me for when it is my time for a research project. I loved when you opened up about the struggles behind this project, but you connected back to how your excitement will reignite. After reading this post, you seem passionate, and I wish you luck in the future!

[apenvs3000w23]

A Rainy Day...

Before I start, let me paint the picture of what I am doing at this point in time. So here I am, sitting at my desk at the time I have allotted to complete this blog post. I am on my computer staring at a blank word document for what feels like forever. It's raining outside, so I feel comfortable and a bit more reluctant to complete this task. Cars are passing by, but I haven't heard a single soul outside yet, which is strange because it's 1pm. I am reflecting on the fact that throughout the entire day, I always have what feels like 1000 different thoughts in my head at once that don't let me have a moment of silence. But right now. With all the power in the world to talk about anything I wish, my mind is blank and quiet.

It's amusing to me that no boundaries were set for this week, and I have the chance to be creative, but I am at a loss. When I really think about it, I am a bit fearful! Why can't I decide on one thing? Am I too reliant on others or my phone? Can I not think for myself? But then I take a step back and remind myself that we are in a challenging part of the semester. I have assignments like no other, midterms coming up, and my body has been wrapped in stress for far too long. So? It's okay that I couldn't think of something right away. I'm tired, and school has been a lot.

So instead of talking about things that stimulate the brain, let's talk about how powerful weather, seasons and conditions are to us. Because as I look outside on this cold rainy day, all I want to do is stay inside, close my school work and watch a movie. The act of leaving my apartment right now feels like the largest chore. It is so funny because yesterday it was 6 degrees Celsius and sunny, and I was so upbeat and wanted to stay out the whole day.

However, today, my day started completely different because I woke up to the sound of rain. I think that's pretty powerful, don't you think?

I don't know about you, but when the sun started setting at 4:30pm in late November to December, I was struggling. As someone who likes to get things done during the day, trying to get work done when it is dark felt impossible. My roommates and I found each other getting ready for bed at 6pm and would only realize once we checked the time. We felt so tired, and it ultimately affected all of our work patterns and mental states. Seasonal depression is so real. It's hard to stay so upbeat when the day ends so early. Nowadays, the sun is setting at 5:30pm, and things are starting to feel much better. Although I am still anxiously waiting for the warmth of summer and those long summer months when the day doesn't end until 9pm.

I guess I am trying to say is that sometimes you must take a step back to see how often we are affected by nature. It's okay if you wake up feeling down on a cold rainy day with no intention to move. Seasons and weather are so powerful! It subconsciously affects us every day without us even knowing sometimes.

Here is a picture that was taken at 9:07pm in June.

[kh-envs3000-w23]

Interpreting Nature through Art

We read in our Unit 4 course work, that “You don’t need to be an artist to share art, and you don’t need to be some sort of aristocrat as well to appreciate art” (Unit 4, ENV3000). I agree with this comment, the making of art and the appreciation of art is a very personal experience and hence I believe that everyone has the ability and right to interpret or create art from any medium and from any subject matter. Who am I to interpret Nature as Art? As we read in our text about Freeman Tilden, one passage resonated with me as I approached this question. He said "If you love the thing you interpret, and love the people who come to enjoy it...you not only have taken the pains to understand it to the limit of your capacity but you also feel its special beauty in the general richness of life’s beauty." (Tildman, 1957 as cited in Beck, L. et al, 2018, p. 83). I love nature, I live in nature and I have the right to interpret it as I choose, through any form of art available to me, and it may speak to others or it may just be a reflection of a thought or an emotion that can bring joy to me.

I enjoy taking photos of new vistas. They remind me of places I have enjoyed and places my family will one day also enjoy.

I also love taking photos of my own yard based on the season. Every season brings fresh beauty, every day, or even minute can bring a fresh light and so photos can capture beauty in a myriad of ways by just changing the angle or capturing the light differently.

The expanded set of interpretive principles, based on Tildan’s work, as set out by Beck and Cable (2011), lay out the Gifts of Interpretation. Two of these speak again to our right as interpreters. One is the “Gift of Beauty:  "Interpretation should instill in people the ability, and the desire, to sense the beauty in their surroundings—to provide spiritual uplift and to encourage resource preservation." (Beck, L. et al, 2018, pg. 85). To interpret nature through art is our right but also can be agreed to be our obligation. As generations before us, we are preserving stories and moments for future generations and sparking interest and perhaps a love of nature. The Gift of Hope, is also important to speak to "The beauty of human integrity commemorated  in  events  of  the  past and the beauty of the intricacies of nature give rise to hope, and these are the tools of the interpreter.” (Beck, L. et al, 2018, pg. 84).

I am a nature love and therefore I am also someone who can interpret nature with my own unique perspective, the same can be said of many.

References

Beck, L, Cable, Ted T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Natural & Cultural Heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing. 2018

[apenvs3000w23]

Hi Kate,

I really enjoyed reading your blog post this week! I, too, have a great appreciation for nature photography and resonate with this art medium the most. The photos you posted are beautiful and have a fantastic artistic touch. Your passion for taking new pictures of your yard every season is an excellent way of showing how art can create personal experiences. The passage you have pasted in this post also appealed to me because I believe we all have the right to interpret nature through art. When I first read the question for this week, it felt defensive and made me take a step back to revisit why/if we can interpret nature through art. However, your view on interpreting nature through art being our obligation was something I have never thought about before. We have been provided with this beautiful planet with so much history that we love to uncover, so we must protect what we have been given for future generations. As you mentioned, it may solely appeal to you or others as well; nevertheless, I believe art is a fantastic medium that has the power to impose emotion. As a nature lover as well, I think everyone should have the opportunity to interpret nature through art. Since art is multifaceted, there is a medium for everyone!

Thank you again for sharing!

[apenvs3000w23]

Unit 04: Nature Interpretation Through Art

This week we ask, “who are you to interpret nature through art?” although you may read this prompt defensively at first glance, I believe that interpretation through art comes in many forms. The beauty of interpretation is that there is no correct answer. There is a method and a medium for everyone to enjoy, such as music, paintings, theatre, photography, etc. As Beck et al. (2018) state, incorporating art into nature interpretation is helpful for increasing the pleasure and enjoyment of the audience. Information and emotions can be communicated through art forms, making them powerful. Beck et al. (2018) also mention how the utilization of art can permit areas of your mind to open and connect yourself to the interpretation. 

I believe this relationship flourishes because of our five senses; sight, taste, smell, hearing, and touch.

They are powerful. 

They can have you revisit a single memory from one specific day in 2012 just based on one triggered sense. I believe art taps into these senses in a similar way. Since art can satisfy all senses, it can compel your body and mind to vulnerability. Vulnerability aids in forming connections and resonating with the topic, which is why art used in nature interpretation is so influential.

My favourite form of art for nature interpretation is photography. Taking pictures of what I find beautiful is what brings me joy. It allows me to open up and saturate myself with my surroundings. Not only does it delight me in the present, but I can relive it all later. This may be a biased approach since I have grown up with a smartphone for most of my life. However, when I am surrounded by nature’s beauty, instead of taking it all in, I have been subconsciously conditioned to take out my phone and take a picture. Although this seems upsetting, I like to alter this outlook to have a more positive approach. I remind myself that wanting to take a picture should not make me feel guilty and should not make me feel as though I am not “living in the moment”. If photography brings me joy and I wish to revisit this picture later, what’s the harm? 

That is the charming aspect of art. There is a medium for everyone. 

In terms of the “gift of beauty,” I believe that the spectrum of “beauty” is vast. This concept is expressed as a person’s capability to observe beauty in their surroundings through interpretation that aids in increasing resource preservation (Beck et al., 2018). I agree with this concept and its premise. Since everyone has different tastes, anything can be considered beautiful! Regarding myself, I coincide with this concept as nature is truly a beautiful gift that we have been provided. 

To conclude, I have added a quote from Vincent van Gogh that correlates different methods of art and nature.

“I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?”

 –Vincent van Gogh

The photos I have added to this post remind me why I love photography and nature!

Literature Cited

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

better world. Sagamore Venture.

Vincent van Gogh to Theo Van Gogh : January 1874. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2023, from

ightful,not%20The%20Hague%20and%20Brabant.

[ecenvs3000w23]

The Privilege Concept

My working definition of “privilege” is something that gives an advantage in life that is both unearned and taken for granted. My parents and grandparents grew up during a time when Korea was pretty poor. My grandparents are now very successful and rich. My mom and dad worked like crazy to work for Korean air. Today, my dad is a pilot for Etihad, a renowned and respected airline. I firmly believe that they deserve all the comforts of a high middle-class lifestyle. 

Me, on the other hand, am benefiting much from their hard work. My livelihood in Canada and tuition are all paid by my family (which is an aspect of Korean culture). I’ve always lived a comfortable life and when my grandparents told me the hardship stories of my parents growing up, I was in shock. It was so different from how I grew up. I believe that is when I understood that my life right now is “privileged”. 

Dinner at a first-class seat, all owed to my dad being an Etihad staff - an example of my privilege.

Privilege is crucial in natural interpretation because interpreters are essentially the “story-tellers'' of a place, with the goal to connect the people to nature. That means that they must “unpack” their own privileges (Gallavan, n.d.) in order to communicate a “story” that is universally understood. For example, if an interpreter interprets something to parental love, it leaves out those who may have not had such experiences growing up. Essentially, the interpreter here had the “privilege” of growing up with caring parents and did not “unpack” the fact that not everyone has those experiences.

Privileges act as barriers that cause certain people to avoid interpretation, especially those that are underserved (Beck et al., 2019). There may be economic barriers. It would be privileged to think that everyone can drive to the location (Beck et al., 2019). There may be communication barriers, like languages being underrepresented, acting as barriers to people that cannot speak that language (Beck et al., 2019). Cultural barriers exist as well, where wildlife and activities like camping are valued differently for different groups (Beck et al., 2019). In addition, not having great accessibility options creates barriers for people that have disabilities (Beck et al., 2019). 

To combat such issues, interpreters can know their audience and find ways to break such mentioned barriers. By knowing the audience, it helps target the interpretation towards them and avoiding any issues with privilege (Beck et al., 2019). In essence, it removes the mentioned barriers. For instance, by providing brochures, pamphlets, and more with multiple language options, it allows the interpreter to share a similar experience to all. By having accessibility that allows people that are disabled to experience the same thing, it removes another form of barrier. An interpreter must also understand that disability is a matter of continuum rather than a separate category of people because most will be impaired some point in their lives (Beck et al., 2019). In addition, by providing transportation at a convenient time for visitors, the interpreter can avoid certain economic barriers and to target a more diverse audience. 

If natural interpreters do not unpack the privileges and don’t work around them, it will cause a bias in the types of audiences that are attracted and ultimately fail to connect the people, community and the world to nature. This applies to me and my set of privileges as well. 

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).

[apenvs3000w23]

Hi Eugene, I enjoyed reading your blog post about the privilege concept! Hearing the success story of your parents and grandparents, from growing up poor to their success and riches, is so inspirational. Also, the dinner you've shown at your first-class seat looks absolutely delicious! It is excellent that you have recognized your privilege, as this is a hard thing to grasp. My parents and grandparents also grew up quite poor and immigrated from Italy to Canada. Similarly, when I was told about my parents' and grandparents' hardships as immigrants and their previous lifestyle, it left me speechless. Our parents worked so hard to provide us with the best lifestyle, which ultimately helped us to acknowledge our privilege as we have aged. Reflecting on my life, I sometimes take many things for granted subconsciously, which I wish to work on!

I agree that privilege is prevalent in the subject of nature interpretation. There are many barriers that privilege creates in this topic. I appreciate that you have provided us with a multitude of examples and ways to prevent the creation of these barriers. Knowing and understanding the audience will undoubtedly aid the interpreter to keep away from making people feel uneasy and allow for seamless environmental interpretation and connection. The primary purpose of nature interpretation is to engage with the audience and create passion throughout their interpretation. By limiting barriers, as you have stated, we can achieve this purpose! Overall, this was a lovely post that I enjoyed reading.

Thank you for sharing your family's story!

[apenvs3000w23]

Risk versus Reward

Growing up, my parents always told my siblings and I to be humble. We learned from an early age that bragging and boasting about superficial things did not make you a good person. We realized that not everyone grew up with the same stuff we had. Bragging hurt anyone on the receiving end and had the power to make someone uncomfortable, which we would never want to do. They enforced humble behaviour because they understood that my sibling's and I's lifestyle was very privileged, which we got to acknowledge with age.

My working definition of privilege is someone that has been given advantages throughout their life that others may not have been granted, and privilege is present in many aspects. For example, my hardships do not compare to someone working paycheck to paycheck.

I am forever grateful for what my parents provided for our family and understand that my life came from their diligence. However, this never really "clicked" until I decided to ask my parents and grandparents how they grew up. It was quickly understood how hard they worked for what they gave us, and their situation growing up was not as comparable to mine. My grandparents on both sides are immigrants. They immigrated from Italy to Canada in the 60s and 70s. Moving to Canada with no other family and only a little money did not set them up for a lavish lifestyle ahead. They immigrated hoping for a better life for their family that they knew Italy could not provide. However, that entailed a lot of hard work and dedication, and they mostly had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Hearing their stories and comparing how my parents grew up versus how I grew up helped me understand my privilege. Due to their hardships, my siblings and I did not have to face the challenges they were in. Nonetheless, sometimes this tends to slip my mind, and I subconsciously take many things for granted. I wish to work on this, and I want my family to know how appreciative I really am.

I believe privilege is present everywhere and plays a role in nature interpretation. The topic of privilege is usually quite uneasy, and as I have previously stated, sometimes we forget and take things for granted. In the subject of nature interpretation, as Beck et al. (2018) described, those with disabilities or economic struggles have barriers where they may not be as privileged as those without. Someone who is blind or has a physical disability where they cannot travel to a specific environmental site due to their condition does not have the privilege of gaining such experiences. As well as, someone who cannot set money aside to travel or book tours does not have the privilege of someone who does. Barriers are endless and can also pertain to language or culture, which can disallow nature interpretation.

All things considered, it is evident that privilege exists in this subject, and as an interpreter, it is crucial to be aware and aim to steer clear of creating barriers (Beck et al. 2018). Experiences with nature are a privilege that I hope many can experience, so we must keep creating various methods to conquer these hurdles.

Literature Cited

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

[hbenvs3000w23]

Environmental Interpreter

Prior to this course, I had not placed enough importance on the way an interpreter can completely change and influence a persons’ experience of a place.  Their ability to “embrace the wonder and beauty of life and share that with others” is admirable and would perfectly describe my ideal role as an environmental interpreter (Beck et al., 2018). I would aim to be updated with the facts to effectively communicate the significance of a cultural or natural site and enrich the visitors’ experience. Interestingly, interpreters can create what Maslow calls a “peak experience”, which gives the sense of being temporarily transported, through their powerful and persuasive communication skills (Beck et al., 2018).

Understanding that individuals have varying learning domains is an essential factor to organize a valuable and satisfactory learning experience for visitors, through incorporating interpretive approaches from the cognitive, affective, and kinesthetic domain (Beck et al., 2018). This is comparative to the “What’s Your Learning Style” quiz, for which my results indicated that I am a 30% auditory, 45% visual, and 25% tactile learner, therefore it is important to approach an interpretation from all perspectives. As an ideal interpreter, I would encourage evoking passion and care for natural sites due to the growing importance of stewardship with the ongoing climate change crisis. As I am a visual learner, I have experienced that getting a brochure with details and facts about a specific location has always enriched my experience, because I am able to explore an area and learn new details. When visiting the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, we participated in a ghost tour in which the guide created a haunted atmosphere while providing us with historical details about the site. The interpreter’s storytelling ability and engagement made it a unique and worth-while experience, which significantly increased our interest towards the historical aspects. Although he was not an “environmental” interpreter, he still invoked ideal characteristics of one, and used similar principles, including the involvement of the TORE model of thematic communication (Beck et al., 2018).

If I were to choose an optimal place to be an environmental interpreter, it would be in my Town of Caledon, where there are several recreational trails, the Cheltenham Badlands, apple picking orchards, and the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park. The Cheltenham Badlands is one of the most unique places I have ever been to, and it always invokes excitement whenever we drive past. It is a type of place where the beauty speaks or interprets for itself. As my town is where my love of nature excelled, it is where I believe I would be most passionate about being an interpreter. Caledon is known for its environmental aspect, but the continuing increase in the population, causes an urgency to protect the town from urbanization and spread the message of stewardship. My role would focus on this message to encourage people to spend more time outdoors appreciating the breathtaking scenes that nature has to offer. Appreciably, for this ideal position, I would need sufficient knowledge, passion, enthusiasm, and love to act as an effective interpreter.

[apenvs3000w23]

Hi Harjot,

My initial thought about the importance of an environmental interpreter was very similar to yours! Before understanding its significance through the textbook and supplementary sources, I had never acknowledged the impact they may have on an audience or experience. Depending on the interpreter's delivery, they can enlighten and enrich the audience instead of providing information with no desire. I also agree that understanding and varying learning styles are essential as an environmental interpreter. I, too, am more of a visual learner, so I appreciate that visual aids or brochures, as you mentioned, can help my understanding of the subject. I enjoyed that you said "passion" also plays a vital role throughout this post. Passion is one of the most important aspects of being an interpreter, and I believe it is hard for the audience to be engaged if it is missing. The ghost tour you mentioned seemed very interesting! That seemed like a very captivating experience that immersed you into the historic site and impacted your life as you still recall it. Although it was not an environmental interpreter, it is beneficial to see the comparison as it is still a form of interpretation, as you stated. The location of your choice for your ideal environmental interpreter position seems suitable, as I can tell you are enthusiastic and passionate. I also agree that the Cheltenham Badlands are absolutely beautiful and unique! Overall, this is a fantastic post! I enjoyed understanding your ideal role as an environmental interpreter. 

[apenvs3000w23]

Unit 02: Teaching Learners

Environmental interpretation can be described as educating human behaviour to limit any negative influence they may have on the natural world (Munro et al., 2011). This is usually involved in tourism to enlighten visitors about any historical or protected natural areas to secure the preservation of such environments (Munro et al., 2011). An important factor of environmental interpretation, stated by Beck et al. (2018), is how this deliberation of understanding should also increase the enjoyment and passion of the audience. Environmental interpreters can engage their audience through various mediums, such as videos or pamphlets, to effectively deliver their message and establish communal understanding. Beck et al. (2018) describes that allowing visitors to choose from different forms of media allows for successful interpretation.

Being a prosperous interpreter involves a greater understanding of numerous learning styles. My understanding of my personal learning style mirrors my results in the “What’s Your Learning Style” quiz. The results showed that I am a 40% auditory, 45% visual, and 15% tactile learner. From my time at school, understanding your learning style was a heavily enforced topic. Being aware of your learning style helps you to grasp information better and prosper in the subject of your choice. Since learning styles vary from person to person, being an environmental interpreter is a more complex role than initially thought out. Educating your audience catering to your own learning style will not resonate with everyone, so you must have a more well-rounded approach. My ideal role of an environmental interpreter would be to encompass all learning styles throughout instructing the audience. Another essential trait that my ideal environmental interpreter should have is passion. Beck and Cable (1998) created a list of principles of interpretation, and what resonated with me most was to achieve effective and powerful interpretation, you need to be passionate. From personal experience, it is always best to be instructed by someone passionate than someone simply trying to complete the task as fast as possible. The audience is more engaged when someone is enthusiastic and will likely be more motivated to listen and increase the pleasure of their visit.

Being an environmental interpreter is an important position that would not be pleasant if what you were educating did not resonate with you. With that in mind, my environmental interpretation position would be where I am most passionate. I would be an interpreter in Tiny Township, where my cottage is located or any of its surrounding towns that I visit often. Since I have spent so much of my life growing up there, spreading information and enlightening visitors of its unique beauty would be my ideal position. I will be sure to share its history to inspire and instill its beauty in the mind of each audience member.

Here is a picture of the tree canopy you must drive through on the way to my cottage!

Literature Cited

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

Foundations of interpretation - national park service. (n.d.). Retrieved January 21, 2023, from https://www.nps.gov/idp/interp/101/foundationscurriculum.pdf

Munro, J. K., Morrison-Saunders, A., & Hughes, M. (2008). Environmental interpretation evaluation in natural areas. Journal of Ecotourism, 7(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.2167/joe137.0