My View of Nature

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Final Blog Post

Hi everyone!

This week’s blog prompt definitely had me pondering about this whole semester. I don’t know how everyone else feels, but this semester flew by for me. It is crazy to think that 4 months ago, I didn’t know nearly half the information I know now about nature, and nature interpretation. What I was unsure about when I first read the course outline was weekly blogging but now, I am glad that I chose to take this course. I now have a toolbox of interpretation skills which I can carry with me and use whenever I am surrounded by nature.

This class challenged me to work with others on a project none of us have ever attempted before- podcasts. This process really tested our knowledge on how to be effective nature interpreters based on the age of our audience. I believe that technology is such an amazing tool when it comes to nature. Although some people might say that technology or cellphones take away from the experience of being in nature, I think it can enhance the experience. I’ve used apps on my phone to identify constellations during my camping trips. This allowed me to learn more about what I was experiencing and I know that there are apps out there that identify plants, insects, birds, etc. I read in the textbook of this course that we should not be afraid that technology is a distraction, but rather incorporate it as a tool to teach us more (Beck et al., 2018). On my future nature adventures, I will definitely be looking into technology that I can use to enhance my experience and learning.

My Beliefs:

In the early portion of this course, we learned about invisible backpacks and multiculturalism in terms of nature interpretation. I believe that it is my job to:

Share unbiased stories/knowledge to allow my listeners to form their own ideas

Teach effectively by connecting with my audience on an emotional level

Do my research on accessibility to provide anyone in need with resources such as trails with wheelchair access, or nature guides in various languages.

We never know what other people are facing and what their relationship with nature is like. That why it is important that we are respectful and aim to support them on their own nature journeys rather than force them into something that would dampen their relationship with nature.

My Responsibilities:

While my responsibilities also fall in my list of beliefs, there are a couple other topics that I believe I hold responsibility for. The first is that I hold myself accountable for leaving nature clean or cleaner than I found it. I find that I am constantly reminding people I know to not litter, and now many of those people have gotten out of this habit. Similar to this topic, I try to always compost, and correctly recycle my things (i.e. washing containers before recycling, taking off any non-recyclable components).

Since I have a strong background in animal care, I think it is my responsibility to advocate for animals. As well as to educate others on any animals we may see in nature. It is important that we are aware of how our actions as humans will affect animal populations. We have talked a bit about animals in this course such as the music they provide. Now that it is getting warmer, I do hear more bird sounds outside my window which I now interpret as music in nature.

My Ethics:

Ethics are a guide for us to differentialize right from wrong. One of my main ethics revolves around conservation, preserving wildlife and nature. I hope that my future kids and their kids and so on will be able to experience everything wonderful about nature that we have now. We learned from Beck et al. (2018) that an effective interpreter will instil in their listeners the importance and need for conservation. That is definitely something I will aim towards as an interpreter leaving this course.

-Vee

Reference:

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

[arenvs3000w22]

Hi Vee!

I really enjoyed reading your post this week. The beliefs you’ve gained from taking this course are very much in alignment with mine. Making nature accessible to others is something I’m very passionate about. I liked how you incorporated our learnings about privilege into your discussions about accessibility. The sooner we recognize the barriers that many people have to overcome in order to have an experience with nature, the sooner we can work to break these barriers down. Increasing accessibility broadens the audience we can reach and encourages diverse groups of people to get excited about conservation.

I love the insight you shared about advocating for animals. Interpretation brings a voice to nature and allows us to highlight the ways our choices can threaten the livelihood of others species. I really admire your goal to educate your audience about animals, as I think that people are more prone to make changes to protect animals than other biotic species. Bringing awareness to animal-related concerns is a surefire way to increase positive engagement with nature, because no audience member wants to see an animal suffer. 

I fully agree that technology can be a useful interpretive tool. I had the opportunity this semester to speak with Chris Earley, the interpretive biologist at the Arboretum. In our conversation he shed light on the asset that technology can be to researchers through citizen science projects. He mentioned FeederWatch, e-Bird, and iNaturalist as great apps for engaging with a community of nature interpreters. For iNaturalist, users can photograph any living species they come across, and other naturalists around the world can help to identify it. For FeederWatch, researchers compile citizen bird sighting data to provide insight into range and migration patterns. Really cool stuff!

Wishing you all the best with the rest of the semester!

Annika

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Nature Interpretation’s Role in Environmental Sustainability - Blog 10

I truly feel like this past semester has flown by. Last blog already? I cannot believe it. This class has taught me so much, let alone these new weekly topics and posts surrounding nature interpretation. Truthfully, when I first entered this class I really had little to no idea of what nature interpretation truly meant. Although, now I can truthfully say I, in my own way, am a nature interpreter; especially a developing one. We all are. From interpreting our roles/relationships to our privileges, to art, to dissecting quotes, to music, and TO our own interests, ALL surrounding nature. My knowledge has grown enormously which has now allowed me to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of these topics surrounding what nature has to offer, and reflect my own knowledge to educate others. I am positive there is still an abundance more that is unknown and I have yet to learn. 

My personal ethic as a nature interpreter 

As a developing nature interpreter, I believe my personal ethic has grown during this process which is gaining and presenting accurate knowledge. Therefore, being professional in my research and being sensitive to cultural misunderstandings is something I have conceded is important in this role. As I present and teach others I want to do it with integrity, and concisely. Beck et al. 2019 stated it is vital to exclusively use well-documented sources, as a well-inform people who will value and appreciate their resources to formulate and exclaim better decisions. Regarding this, the past posts and unit topic materials provided, I have gained a greater understanding of the importance of integrity, reflecting to educate others with pride. 

What beliefs do I bring? 

It is easy to say that I have an abundance of beliefs towards nature interpretation. I believe the importance of impacting one person at a time. I believe in the importance of inspiring others to understand and reflect my own or others knowledge. I believe in the importance of not just offering one continuous element, but educating many elements in nature; as nature is so diverse. I believe in accuracy and presuming up-to-date knowledge. Ultimately, I believe in impacting others with the importance of nature and biodiversity entirely; how it affects our lives as humans every single day.

What responsibilities do I have? 

I hold several responsibilities as a nature interpreter. Here are 3 I ought are the most important ones:

First: I will ensure all learning styles of any individual I may cross is met. Whether visual, audio, reading/writing, or kinesthetics. It is important to convey information in a way suitable and understandable to others to effectively pass on past, present or future information. Regardless of their ethnicity, race or gender. Zero exclusivity tolerance, and inclusivity to all importantly.  

Secondly: I will educate with integrity and accuracy. I will not assume information, I will hold truthful facts and knowledge regarding the specifics. As an interpreter, it’s critical to anticipate any misunderstandings that may arise and adapt it so that the original facts are communicated as efficiently as possible. Whether the knowledge is passed from me or from others, accuracy is important to impact. 

Thirdly: I will always be enthusiastic and engaging. If individuals are not engaged, the transmitted information will not be cared for, held value, or passed on. For me this is easy to hold considering when I am passionate about any topic, I want to ensure or inform others how fascinating, important or educating it is. If others don’t see the passion in you, others won’t want to hold the same passion. 

My suitable approaches 

To me, my most suitable approaches for being an interpreter would be incorporating visuals and technology. These are forms in which I am most comfortable and common with using. In many ways I am able to effectively describe or teach certain things, and I feel as if nature could be one of them. 

Visuals, nowadays, are very common. Many people like to see pictures and/or videos when someone is teaching them a topic. Therefore, my effectiveness with providing accuracy when seeing a visual for myself is a great way for me to show my interest and want others to be inspired as well. Pictures and videos also tend to grab individuals’ engagement. 

Technology, on the other hand, can be similar in many ways but also have its differences. It offers the same aspect of visuals, but also even more. In this generation, technology is overtaking almost everything. Nature can be taught through live streams of species or landscapes, brochures, current living habitats, apps etc. This is also a great way to engage individuals within learning topics considering when individuals can learn from their phone or laptops with present visuals, being intrigued occurs and passion drives. 

I have had a blast reading your thoughts and opinions, and also reflecting my own. I truly have learned so much from this course, and I am so very thankful I got the opportunity to take it. I hope you all continue diving deeper into nature as I will be, and I hope that nature can bring you light and positivity into your lives like it does for me. 

References 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage. Van Haren Publishing.

[arenvs3000w22]

Hi Dalia, 

I really enjoyed reading your final blog post of the semester. It’s clear that your learnings in this course have benefitted you greatly.

The idea of educating accurately is evidently very important to you, and I can really appreciate that. It’s admirable how this belief you hold so firmly has overflowed into a responsibility that you will take into action. I have also grappled with how I will ensure accuracy in my approach to nature interpretation beyond this course. Especially with my limited existing knowledge, I often consider how I will interpret meaningfully and completely, taking into account the many events and perspectives that have shaped the land. If interpretation is subjective, is ‘accuracy’ even possible to achieve? This struggle has forced me to adopt a spirit of humility in my interpretation, knowing that I will not have all the answers. I will continue to learn and my interpretation of the same place may change with time. What’s most important is that I recognize my own shortcomings and improve from the mistakes I will inevitably make. There is integrity in recognizing that your interpretation will impact your audience; you owe them the most accurate interpretation you can provide at that time.

The approaches to interpretation that you have shared really resonate with me as well. I agree that technology has the capacity to ignite a passion for nature and inspire audience members to get outside if they are able. Your focus on engaging your audience to be excited about nature reflects your own passion for the care of the environment. It’s wonderful that the ultimate goal of nature interpretation - to inspire conservation and regenerative efforts among your audience - is one that you’ve adopted as your own.

All the best with the rest of the semester!

Annika

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Final Blog Post

It’s hard to believe that this blog post is the last of the semester. I’ve really liked working in this format and reading the insights of my peers in this course. Many of you have had really unique and inspiring experiences with nature! It’s motivating to be reminded of the scope of opportunities that are waiting to be explored.

One belief that I’ve developed throughout the semester is that everyone deserves access to nature. I believe that nature interpreters are in an ideal position to bring nature to people with barriers that prevent them from exploring outside. Everyone has the ability to appreciate the connections between culture and landscape in some capacity, but not everyone has the opportunity to do so. As a nature interpreter, I have a responsibility to tailor programming that focuses on including those whose access to nature is limited. Nature is a place where everyone belongs. As the textbook mentions, there are strategic ways to integrate programs for disabled and non-disabled people, providing unity rather than separation (Beck et al., p. 141, 2018). There are also non-traditional ways to increase access. Virtual resources can be appealing as they are generally less costly and can be viewed anytime. They also tend to have the option to be translated into other languages, slowed down, made louder, transcribed, or paused. A skilled nature interpreter should be able to provide a sense of immersion through virtual programs, recognizing that the reach of their interpretation will extend to a much more diverse audience. Virtual resources have the capacity to plant the seed of nature appreciation as effectively as other types of programs.

Another belief I have fostered is that quality interpreters don’t shy away from ‘humanness.’ The most effective teachers and interpreters I have engaged with have sought to build a connection with their audience. They don’t adopt an air of superiority, but instead they humbly share their knowledge and admit when they are unsure of something. Rather than robotically regurgitating information, these individuals strive to incorporate anecdotes and unique perspectives. Vulnerability is a key attribute of good interpretation. I find that I feel far more comfortable asking questions to someone who has made it clear that they are my friend. Since the goal of interpretation is to inspire a passion for conservation and regeneration, it’s imperative to allow your audience to feel comfortable and safe enough to engage with the concepts you share.

As an interpreter, I have a responsibility to the next generation. I find purpose in stewarding the Earth even if it won’t benefit me during my lifetime. I strongly believe that the decisions I make today should support the best interests of the future. I won’t be here forever, so as an extension of this responsibility, I should strive to prepare the next generation to serve their descendants. Acting sustainably makes me feel good, because I feel like I am doing my small part to protect nature. I want to pass this feeling on to others, too. It is critical to recognize that you can make a difference on an individual level, and that your choices do affect nature and people. This course has led me to learn about citizen science projects and the ways in which they bring people of all ages and education levels together in working towards a common goal: conservation. It can be really encouraging to know that you can do something good right where you are. 

And, even if my interpretive efforts do not cause my audience members to become instant stewards, I can still rest easy knowing that experiencing nature benefits creativity and health in the short and long term (Louv & Suzuki, 2012).

For me, the most suitable approaches to nature interpretation are at the intersection of art and nature. I find art to be such a rich way to interpret nature that extends beyond what words alone can accomplish. Whether its music, visual art, poetry or storytelling, art has the ability to affect each member of the audience deeply and differently. And, the same experience in nature can inspire very different artistic products. Consider these two paintings, both inspired by the Grand Canyon and composed within a couple of years of each other. One is a very literal, bright take on the scene, and the other is more abstract and looming. It’s clear that different things are important to these artists, but at least one commonality exists between them – their desire to immortalize the beauty of nature. It amazes me how making and seeing art can affect people diversely, and I would love to share that amazement with others.

Carol Nelson’s interpretation of the Grand Canyon, “Grand Canyon 2″

Randy Follis’ interpretation, “Grand Canyon”

References

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

DavidSuzukiFDN. (2012). David Suzuki and Richard Louv @Ago. Youtube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5DI1Ffdl6Y&t=272s.

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Unit 09 Blog - Nature Story

In every place where interpretation could occur, at least some amount of it should (Beck et al, 2019). Nature is no exception to this rule, so for this blog I am going to attempt to interpret one of my favourite experiences in nature through a few lenses discussed in this course. 

Before anything can be interpreted, I need to tell the story first! It was December 13th last year, and my brother and I were going to do a late season archery deer hunt. We slept in that day, so our expectations for seeing anything were pretty low. We pulled up to the spot around 10:45 am. This place is an old hay farm with steep rolling hills that make it hard to far anything else on, or do anything with the bush where the ridges are steepest. For this reason, the only unnatural disturbance to the bush is firewood that my uncle and the landowner cut, and we help split each year. As we walked into the bush towards our stand, every footstep was loud because of a heavy frost on the ground. I went up into the stand, near the top of a ridge looking into a “bowl” below me, and my brother walked back out the way we came in, he was going to make a long circle back towards me and possibly push some deer my way. As he walked away, I could hear his footsteps leaving, but it hadn’t been five minutes when I realised that at some point his footsteps had faded out and turned into a deers’. Very shortly after my brother left, about 4 does and fawns came towards me from exactly where he left. They were a bit nervous looking because they likely caught his ground sent, and were also downwind of me, but seemed to be still coming in. I was slowly trying to open my jacket pocket and get the rangefinder out and see how far they were, when I saw movement out of the corner of my eye on the ridge behind me. I slowly looked back and saw a flash of an antler, this was super exciting because until this point I hadn’t seen a buck all season! When it stepped out more, I saw that it was the biggest buck I’ve ever seen, and the one we’d had on camera for a couple years, and it was with another big buck! I slowly tried to turn in my seat to face them, but that was too much movement for the already spooked does in front of me, and they took off. The bucks didn’t know what was going on and froze for what felt like an hour (probably 2 minutes). The smaller one was in an open lane for me to shoot at, but I thought he was too far. Then when they finally started walking again, the big one went even closer to me, walking quartering away at probably 15 yards! There were too many branches in the way to get a clean shot, so I watched both deer slowly walk away along the ridge. Once they were gone, I ranged to the spot where the one stood when I had a shot to it, and it was only 30 yards (within range). Overall, even though I never shot, I got super close to these two amazing massive deer, without them ever knowing I was there! It was a surreal experience because I’ve never seen any deer that size, and they came so close to me and it all happened so fast. The whole experience from seeing the does to losing sight of the bucks was probably 5-10 minutes. 

(Trail cam pictures of the bigger of the two deer)

This encounter could be looked at through a historic lens because of the natural history of the forest I was in (Beck et al, 2019). A mixed deciduous forest like that one in Grey county is rare to have unlogged. The composition of the trees and plants is likely the exact same as it was hundreds of years ago! Some of the older trees probably saw all kinds of history unfold in front of them just like they saw those deer on that day. 

An element of risk versus reward as discussed in unit 03 could be thought of too. In a sense, my choice to take a shot at any of the deer would pose that problem because the reward would be harvesting an animal and getting food, but the risk would be making an unethical shot because I wasn’t sure of the distance and because of the branches in the way. Ultimately, I decide the risk outweighed the reward, and didn’t make a shot. 

Finally, interpretation through art could be thought of as well. Although there weren’t any paintings or pictures involved, one of the reasons I go hunting is to experience the natural beauty of undisturbed forest settings.The same way national parks in the United States and Canada have intrinsic value based on their beauty (Beck et al, 2019), there is beauty to be seen in many local forests. The benefits to your mental health from being in nature as discussed in unit five are a great reason to spend time in the woods, hunting or not, and you might just have a cool encounter like this!

Sorry for the longer blog this week, I felt like I had a lot to say about this, and wish I could have kept going with some of my other crazy stories in the woods!

If anyone else here likes spending time in nature and interacting with animals, I’d love to hear some other cool stories of what you all might have run into. 

Nathan

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage. Van Haren Publishing.

[arenvs3000w22]

Hi Nathan!

I loved reading your post this week. It’s so interesting to hear about the respect and understanding of nature that are necessary to be a successful hunter. I also liked what you said about the trees and plants being constant overseers in the forest, bearing witness to the activities of deer and people who pass through. It’s cool to see how risk and reward come into play in a situation like the one you described. Deciding whether the shot can or should be taken, presumably amidst adrenaline and the allure of the reward, must require a lot of control and practice. As someone with no hunting experience, I’m curious how you were able to identify that the buck you saw was the same one from the previous trail cam footage. 

One of the most memorable experiences I’ve had interacting with wildlife was a few summers back. I was on a canoe trip in Algonquin, and we decided to drive out to a secluded area of the park and listen for wolves. Once we parked the truck, we walked a few feet away and entered a small opening in the woods. The air was cold and dry, and the sky was the blackest I’d ever seen. We stood in a circle and listened for a few minutes, hearing nothing. Then, my uncle let out his loudest attempt at a wolf’s howl. Sure enough, a chorus of other howls began to cry out into the night within the minute. The wolves howls sounded near. It was chilling but beautiful. I still reflect on that night as a time where I felt connected to nature. I wasn’t actively benefiting or harming it, but I was invited in to be a part of it and to further my appreciation for it.

Looking forward to more of your posts!

Annika

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Interpreting Something Amazing Thing About Nature

Hello!

In reading this blog prompt, something came to my mind rather quickly. Regardless of your familiarity with it, it’s likely something you encounter almost everytime you go outside. It is a phenomenon that defies scale and geography. Any guesses?

The Fibonacci sequence is the most amazing thing that I know about nature. For those who might not have heard of it before, the Fibonacci sequence is a mathematical truth that repeats throughout numerous parts of nature which seem to have nothing else in common. It was first identified by an Italian mathematician in the year 1202 in relation to the reproductive pattern of rabbits, though other sources claim that evidence of the pattern has been recorded in Indian mathematics since 200 BC.

The numbers of the sequence are 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55…. proceeding onwards infinitely. To reach the next value in the sequence, simply sum the previous two. If you input any two consecutive Fibonacci numbers into a fraction, e.g. 55/34, you get a ratio which approaches the golden ratio, 1.61803… an irrational number symbolized by the Greek letter, phi.

The Fibonacci spiral is the most common visual representation of the Fibonacci sequence. The spiral is made up of perfect squares with relative lengths associated with each consecutive Fibonacci number. You may have noticed a Fibonacci spiral today!

Pineapples, sunflower heads, pinecones, and shells are smaller examples of natural things containing Fibonacci spirals. These things develop according to a design. The Fibonacci sequence serves as the universal blueprint of nature. If it arises independently in all these very different pieces of nature, it must be an ideal pattern for efficiency in survival. In fact, it’s also seen in patterns of leaf and petal growth.

And yet, even non-living things display the Fibonacci sequence. The spirals of a hurricane or tornado and the curl of a wave all exhibit the characteristic numbers. These are phenomena without genes to inform their development. How do they know to adopt the same shape, over and over again? Perhaps these reckless natural disasters, in all their destruction, are actually more calculated than I’ve previously thought. It seems like it must be the Earth’s desire to twist its occupants into this perfect spiral. 

But, it doesn’t stop at the Earth. In fact, galaxies also mirror the Fibonacci sequence. Which, to me, begs the question, is there something even larger following this simple pattern? 

The Fibonacci sequence, in my opinion, provides unity to connect the limitless facets of nature. Each time I consider the sheer scope of its expression through nature, I feel insignificant, but in a good way. I am only a small part of a body composed of all natural things in existence.

Sources

Fibonacci numbers and the Golden Ratio - mathcs.emory.edu. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2022, from https://www.mathcs.emory.edu/~rpschne/Fibonacci_Golden.pdf

The fibonacci sequence in nature - coe. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2022, from https://coe.hawaii.edu/ethnomath/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2019/10/Fibonacci-Sequence-in-Nature.pdf

Nature, the golden ratio, and Fibonacci too ... Math is Fun. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2022, from https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/nature-golden-ratio-fibonacci.html 

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Unit 07 Blog - Music in Nature

Music in nature is everywhere. From songbirds chirping away on a nice morning, to whales letting out low frequency hums that mimic the tempo and lengths of human songs (Gray et al, 2001), nature is filled with great tunes. My personal favourite one to hear on a calm spring morning is the drumming of a ruffed grouse 

It may sound quiet from the video, but the low frequency can really carry it far, and when you learn to listen for the pattern of starting slow and speeding up towards the end, it is unmistakable. The reason the grouse drums is to attract a mate, but this is not always the case for all music in the animal kingdom. Amazingly, it has been suggested that whales use repeating refrains similar to human rhymes for the purpose of helping them remember complex ideas (Gray et al, 2001). Or maybe simpler, it is possible that sometimes animals like birds just sing for the sake of it (Mayntz, 2020). 

Just like how music is ubiquitous with nature, themes of nature are found all throughout music. This theme can be found in both modern music and in traditional, folk, or aborigional music. An example of this is the oral storytelling performed in folk music in Finland (Mallarach, 2012). These poems expressed in the form of songs mix nature with mystery, telling stories of the earth’s origin from an egg, or of a massive oak tree that blocked out the sun. They also vividly describe the natural landscapes surrounding the region, and the animals they house (Mallarach, 2012). Folky music like this is not all traditional however and is still being made today. Owen Riegling from Mildmay for example released the song Old Dirt Roads where he sings about finding him “down where the tree line ends and the cattails grow”.

If you want to hear about nature from your more modern music, you don’t have to look much further than country radio. All kinds of modern songs appeal to nature or bring up elements of it in an attempt to invoke the same feeling that yu get from actually being there. Lines like “Somewhere where the road ends out there where the creek bends” by Rodney Atkins are pretty blatant examples of this. 

Sometimes the songs that are the most effective at taking you back to a natural place in your head are not intended to do that at all. Hearing a specific song or line while having a natural experience can make a link between that song and place forever. For me, hearing “22” by Taylor Swift takes me back to driving around aimlessly with my dad as a kid in the fall looking for fields with geese to ask permission to hunt on. 

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage. Van Haren Publishing.

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

Mallarach, J.M. (2012). Spiritual Values of Protected Areas of Europe: Workshop Proceedings. German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. https://ares.lib.uoguelph.ca/ares/ares.dll?action=10&form=50&value=289844 

[arenvs3000w22]

Hi Nathan,

I really liked your post this week! I’ve found that songs with both lyrical and musical ties to nature really resonate with me. When I consider the metaphors musical artists write to compare people and places, I often think that humans and nature are not all that different. At the risk of sounding cheesy, both have qualities of beautiful art, and both make an excellent muse for songwriting. I think of the popular song “Take me Home, Country Roads,” and how John Denver relays strong positive memories of a landscape and a person which are somehow connected. It’s clear in this song that nature has had some integral role to play in informing his relationship with this person. The song, “Going to California,” gives me a similar impression. Nature enhances the beauty of the person he sings about and informs the musical style of the song. The chords pattern falls to minor right after he describes a situation in which “the mountains and the canyons start to tremble and shake.”

I also find it very interesting how nature can inspire non-lyrical music. I think to the Tuva people and their throat singing techniques. According to https://www.pnmartists.com/chirgilchin, these people used to live a nomadic lifestyle, heavily influenced by nature which in turn influenced their music. Throat singers are able to produce two tones at the same time by taking advantage of the resonant tones in their throats, which gives them the ability to more closely mimic the sounds of nature. 

Looking forward to reading more of your work!

Annika

[arenvs3000w22]

Music and Nature

Some of my best memories have come from trips to Northern Ontario. My dad and I will often wake up early to complete silence, load our gear into the boat, and head out onto the lake to fish while the sun rises. This part of the day is like the dramatic rest before nature’s melodies begin to build. The first streak of light in the sky is accompanied by ribbiting frogs. Then cooing mourning doves. Then the eerie whistle of the wind through the line guides of my fishing rod. The splashing of the fish near the shore. A chorus of biotic and abiotic harmonies which ebb and flow with the waves. My dad and I don’t talk much while we fish, which allows us to be privy to the secret music of the lake. This is where I hear music in nature. As Gray et. al. (2001) mention, nature offers its music as a way to connect us to our evolutionary roots. These authors suggest that music is an innate characteristic of living things, not something that humans invented. Immersing myself in the sounds of the lake serves as a sort of reset for me and allows me to view myself as a part of nature rather than distinct from it. I’m interested to hear which of nature’s sounds resonate most with you.

Some pictures from the lake:

I like to think of art as a collective thing. Every being expands the breadth of the greater body of work by adding their own iterations and perspectives. Nature’s music can be thought of the same way. It inspires human-made music, and it is used in human-made music. Even natural things which are not often associated with sound can be used to synthesize music. My acoustic guitar honours the tree it was made from. I like the thought that it is both a continuation of and a tribute to nature. I often hear nature in acoustic music, even when the lyrics don’t explicitly mention natural motifs.

As an aside, I’ve come across a number of videos recently which make music directly from nature. Probes are attached to living plants, and the biorhythms that are detected by the probes are translated into audible notes. This video by PlantWave is one of my favourite examples, where the mushrooms are captured producing a meditative forest song. I was surprised to like it as much as I did, and I encourage you to check it out if you’re interested!

To close, I’ll share a song that brings me back to nature: “I’ll Be There in the Morning,” by Townes Van Zandt. I love this song for many reasons, some of which are difficult to articulate. It is packed with natural imagery of mountains and rivers and themes of escape, love, loss, and solitude. The simple chord pattern has a sense of tragedy and mourning, which is reflected in the lyrics of the final verse, “...I’ll stay as long as the cuckoo wails and the lonesome bluejay cries.” The song is equally sad and comforting to me, and I can’t quite explain why. I keep coming back trying to understand its lyrics more thoroughly and also to feel the sense of peace it gives me.

Is there a particular music style that makes you feel most connected to nature? I’m looking forward to reading everyone’s posts this week!

Annika

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), 52–54. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.10.1126/science.1056960

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Blog #6 - Interpreting History

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

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

Unpacking a firm quote such as the one above has always been my favourite way to interpret things or my least favourite. I will be frank and say that I really struggled with this one, and like many people, complex things are never fun to do but are always worth it.

I think I had read this quote over 15 times and tried to understand what Edward Hyams was trying to say here, that at some point, the words on my screen began to blend together, and I could not make up any of the terms or sentences in this quote. I kept thinking about this quote throughout the week and why we were asked to unpack it. I sit here, in my office chair during this dark, rainy, gloomy day, wondering when it will click!

One of the most fascinating components of nature interpretation is that although we are often guided by interpreters, the takeaway message is that each individual will have their own understanding of things, which makes nature interpretation such a beautiful, complex and unique thing. The way I interpret this quote may be completely different than how you interpret it, and I think that a well-known artist by the name of Picasso illustrates this idea with the following quote “painting is a blind man’s profession. He paints not what he sees, but what he feels, what he tells himself about what he has seen.”

Now that I have rambled on about how dreadful and challenging this week’s blog prompt is, let’s unpack this quote. We all had the opportunity to read Chapter 15, Interpreting History from The Gifts of Interpretation textbook, which paved the way to understanding this quote better. The biggest takeaway I took from this week’s reading was that history shapes who we are today, how we got here, why we are here, and what life events occurred to allow this exact moment to be taking place. Interpretation, in my opinion, does just that; it explains to us the true meaning of past events, allowing each one of us to form values that guide the way we live in the present. “Without interpretation, artifacts are merely old things, historic buildings are just old buildings, and ceremonies and festivals are merely entertainment” (Chapter 15, The Gifts of Interpretation).

Take, for example, the artifact below. At first, many of you like myself have no clue what this C-shaped historical artifact is, ultimately holding absolutely no meaning to us. However, when I unpack this item for you, as an individual, you can form your own values, opinions, and story of what this piece may have looked like in the past, who used it, why it was used, and so on.

https://www.historymuseum.ca/blog/first-peoples-of-canada-native-copper-from-the-canadian-museum-of-history/

This picture was captured by the Canadian Museum of History and is a Bracelet made from native copper from the Late Archaic period, found near Lake Superior (Canadian Museum of History [CMH], 2016). It is approximately 3,000-4,000 years old (CMH, 2016). This bracelet was worn by Aboriginal people in Canada and was part of their culture (CMH, 2016). Native copper was a commonly used material to manufacture tools and personal objects for nearly 7,000 years (CMH, 2016). This material was easily shaped and thinned by cold hammering, ultimately allowing for very thin and fragile artifacts such as jewelry to be made (CMH, 2016). 

Now, I bring up this story and artifact in this post because, as the initial quote says, we cannot simply forget pieces of our past. “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” (Edward, Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation). Take, for example, this common pattern within Canada, the history of indigenous oppression, and the nationwide genocide of their people is rarely discussed and touched upon throughout our educational career (elementary school, high school, etc.). No matter how much those in power will try to disregard past events. No matter how hard it is to talk about the past, we must always learn that maintaining the integrity of knowledge, memories, and ancient facts is crucial for the future. We must understand the who, why, and how to pick the puzzle pieces back up and work on never letting them get loose again.

I wanted to end this post by asking whether or not you have a place, person, or event in your life that you find deep meaning within or have experienced lasting memories that you would be willing to share and provide us with your personal interpretation?

Thanks for tuning into this week’s blog post!

Shelly

References: 

Canadian Museum of History. First Peoples of Canada: Native Copper from the Canadian Museum of History. Your Museum. Your Stories. (2016). Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://www.historymuseum.ca/blog/first-peoples-of-canada-native-copper-from-the-canadian-museum-of-history/ 

[arenvs3000w22]

Hi Shelly,

Wonderful post this week. I loved the copper bracelet you shared to remind us of the rich history of Indigenous peoples on this land. I agree that it is so important to think of how the past informs the present. We cannot conveniently ignore pieces of history that reflect poorly on us, but rather, we must remember our failures and work to reconcile them in the present.

I have just begun to read the book Braiding Sweetgrass, and it has really opened my eyes to the intricacies of Indigenous knowledge systems which have historically been repressed. I recommend this book if you haven’t read it already!

Personally, my grandmother’s farm is a place where I have experienced lasting memories. While it may seem pretty run-of-the-mill to onlookers, the property is special to me because it represents something deeper. It is the house where my dad was raised, and where my grandparents lived and worked as first generation Canadians. We visit often to her house, and growing up I can recall many positive memories which helped to build my character: making forts in the hayloft with my cousins, walking back to the creek with the dogs, helping my nana in the garden, eating warm apple pies, and pushing my sister on the tire swing. I am very grateful for all of these memories, and I think it is really special that I have been able to share in some parts of my dad’s childhood. 

Every year when the fields are plowed, I am reminded of the more ancient history of the property. My dad and I will collect exposed arrowheads and fragments of pottery in the clay soils, indicating the livelihood of the property’s oldest inhabitants before it was zoned into a farm: Haudenosaunee peoples.

Looking forward to more of your posts!

Annika

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Unpacking a Quote from Edward Hyams

“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.”

Interpretation calls for authenticity – a prudence in telling the whole story from an unbiased point of view. The age of a place does not inform its value, but rather its history does: the people who influenced the landscape and their reasons for doing so. The example at the beginning of Chapter 15 in the text shares this beautifully. People connect more with locations with a rich, well-preserved history. The students of Cabot Yerxa Elementary School felt a greater sense of pride and identity in their neighbourhood after learning about the endeavours of its namesake (Beck & Cable, 2018). Interpreters have the joy and responsibility of sharing the events of the past with their audience. The past can serve as a caution to audiences and inspire a more peaceful future, or nurture a sense of pride in people who made history better in these spaces. In either case, the past is not obsolete. It must be actively remembered and learned from.

Importantly, many of the resources that interpreters use to develop their understanding of the past are not objective. Personal experience is both valuable and biased, so it is important to seek diverse perspectives to share with the audience. The textbook cited the example of Christopher Columbus as either a hero or a villain, depending on who you ask (Beck & Cable, 2018). The danger in telling only one side of the story is that groups who have been traumatized by the past are silenced or neglected. This further illustrates how the past remains relevant to the present in its ability to divide groups of people. Sharing the past from multiple perspectives encourages dialogue between people with opposite experiences. 

The three tenets of interpretive authenticity expressed in Chapter 15 were memorable to me this week: objective, constructed, and personal authenticity (Beck & Cable, 2018). 

Relating these to the interpretation of natural spaces, some questions an interpreter could ask to determine the objective authenticity of a place might be: How similar is this landscape to its historical form? How can I make the experience of being physically in this space true to its history? How can I accurately describe modern differences from the historical features of the site to enhance my audience’s understanding? 

In interpreting the constructed authenticity, one could ask: Has the space been modified or reconstructed to better emulate its past? How does this enhance my audience’s experience? How can I be transparent about the parts of the landscape that have been reproduced? 

And finally, in interpreting personal authenticity, one could ask: Have diverse, relevant perspectives been consulted in the maintenance or construction of this space? Do visitors glean a sense of deepened identity or connection to the history of this space after experiencing it?

I found it helpful to remember that natural sites are often drastically changed by historical events, and likewise, historical events are often shaped by the presence of natural resources. The relationship between people and landscapes is dynamic, and histories are complex. Good research is imperative to interpreting the history of natural spaces.

To close, I wanted to share an anecdote from a trip to Quebec City I took with my French class a couple of years ago. I had a great experience with a living history interpreter, who went into first person character at two separate sites within the same day. She did such a wonderful job of sticking to her character in each situation that it took me until the end of the second presentation to realize that I had seen her already earlier that day! She was adept at answering questions in character, and had planned engaging treasure hunt activities to teach us about her “daily life.” And, as a bonus, she was bilingual and presented to us in both English and French to enhance our understanding. I was really impressed with her skills, and I was inspired that people like her exist to so passionately share the rich and beautiful history of Quebec City in such a bustling metropolitan environment where relics of the past are still abundant. I don’t think I would ever be interested in being a living history interpreter, but I’m curious to hear about your experiences with such programs. Do you find living history to be a positive way to experience historical sites? What do you think are the hallmarks of a good living history demonstration?

Until next week!

Quebec City today, complete with fortified city walls. The walls represent many years of violent conflict between the British and French. Some of the earliest conflicts in Canada’s colonial history still affect some citizens as French-speaking vs. English-speaking disputes today. Photo from: https://www.quebec-cite.com/en/old-quebec-city/inside-quebec-citys-walls

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

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What has been on my mind? Lepidoptera!

During my summer employment, I worked in a Lepidoptera collection, which included butterflies and moths. I loved working here, but I did not get to interact with the public or share all of the fantastic species I was working with. There are such a wide variety of species, and all are beautiful in their way. I think that talking about butterflies and moths relates to our prior blog posts about art since their wings are beautiful and useful for things like mimicry. When it comes to nature interpretation, something I think is important is introducing people to new, exciting parts of nature. Butterflies are a great way to get people interested in insects because many are very visually appealing. I've attached some of my favourites that I found around my work. Working at this job is what started my interest in entomology. I honestly did not think I would like it very much when I accepted the position, but now I really enjoy working with bugs! I hope that I will be able to introduce more people to the fascinating world of bugs through nature interpretation.

Butterflies are some amazing creatures. Take the monarch butterfly, for example, who goes through an amazingly long and arduous southern migration. Considering their size and weight, it truly is an impressive feat. I remember my kindergarten teacher had brought monarch caterpillars into the classroom. We helped take care of them until we released them as adults. I am fond of this memory because I remember being fascinated by the transformation (and I still am). Because of monarchs popularity, there is also attention brought to their problems, such as lack of food. Milkweed is the monarch's preferred food source, but there are problems with its dwindling abundance, so in school, I was taught about planting native species for butterflies and pollination. Looking back, these are valuable lessons that apply to a much broader group of insects than just monarchs, but I learnt about invasive vs native plants because of being invested in monarch butterflies after seeing them grow. I also learned how animals use mimicry to differentiate between monarchs and viceroys. I think about how I have learned about nature from presenters and what lessons stuck out to me. Butterflies, monarchs in particular, are a great way to generate interest in the world of bugs because they are beautiful. This idea could be applied to a broader context where, as a nature interpreter, the goal is to catch the audience's interest before teaching them more detailed information.

I would love to hear about what creatures/topics interest others either when they were younger or now!

Emily

[arenvs3000w22]

Hi Emily!

I loved reading your post this week. The pictures you shared are stunning. What types of butterflies are those? I remember also being fascinated with monarch butterflies when I was younger. I used to capture caterpillars in my garden and watch them inside for weeks as they metamorphosed in their cocoons. I agree that they beauty of butterflies can really aesthetically appeal to audiences and engage people in learning more about the ways food and habitat loss affects them. 

For me, learning about honeybees provided the gateway to begin appreciating insects and the many often-overlooked roles they play in ecosystems. Whenever I had the opportunity to talk about honeybees and the necessity of their conservation, I would. Now, this spring, I am getting my own hive of bees for the first time. I am nervous but excited to be able to further expand my knowledge and admiration of this species.

Looking forward to reading more from your blog!

Annika

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What I’ve Been Thinking About

Hello! I wanted to take an opportunity to share some ramblings for this week’s open-ended blog prompt. 

First, I wanted to express how engaging I found Kitty and Jenny’s “Animal Signs at The Arboretum” video to be. I was surprised to retain so much information from a virtual, non-interactive segment, and I wanted to discuss here some of the reasons why I thought their interpreting skills were so great. I loved how they employed the use of visual aids to allow their viewers to decide what sort of animal signs we saw in the Arboretum. They also did an eloquent job of describing how the life history of the animals affects their behaviours and the clues they leave behind in the Arboretum. It seemed to me that Kitty and Jenny were targeting a naive audience, but they provided enough information to appeal to people of all ages. I really liked how they used gestures and tone of voice to their advantage in keeping the audience engaged. As the course material this week suggested, there are some risks and rewards to this sort of approach. I think that one of the risks to virtual delivery is that there is little or no opportunity for the audience to ask questions to enrich their knowledge or to clarify what they’ve learned. This has the potential to stunt the learning of the virtual audience when they might be looking for more information. Another disadvantage to the virtual approach is more obvious -- audience members don’t get to physically experience nature. Tactile learners can’t feel the wood pecker feeding holes, for example. There are number advantages, too. For one, a virtual setting allows viewers to replay and pause the video as they see fit, eliminating potential time constraints discouraging people from accessing nature interpretation. The virtual environment is also more accessible to people with disabilities. I think the main take-away here is that even when we can’t see animals around us, it doesn’t mean they’re not there. A trained eye can pick out evidence of their existence all around us. Kitty and Jenny also drew the audience’s attention to some of the impacts that humans can have on trees in the Arboretum, which were largely negative. They reminded Arboretum visitors to try to leave nature as its found to allow animal habitats to persist.

I’m curious to know what you think of this format of nature interpretation. Do you virtual delivery engaging?

Now for an abrupt change of subject! I have had the opportunity to enjoy many local hiking trails recently, most notably to catch a couple of sunrises at Princess Point in Hamilton. I noticed some signage which subtly integrated nature interpretation into the landscape, which I thought was super neat. It is always eye-opening to discover something you didn’t know about a place you’ve visited dozens of times. I think that this course has made me more aware of the different ways nature is being interpreted around me. 

And to close, some snowy scenes from Hamilton and Espanola I’ve photographed in the last few weeks.

Looking forward to reading everyone’s posts this week! 

Annika

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BLOG 4

When looking at the blog prompt I put some heavy thought into the following question: Who are you to interpret nature through art? This is an important question to reflect upon.  Firstly, how does art become an interpretation of nature? Art has the power to mimic nature by visually replicating objects we see in nature as they appear in real life. Another question to ask is do we need to have qualifications to interpret art, such as a university degree? I believe that anyone can interpret art regardless of their qualifications. When considering how I interpret art as an individual, that is a complicated question. I think art has the power to let your imagination run free and create beautiful images and stories. Art and nature are both very similar as the way they are interpreted are left in the hands of the interpreter. 

Speaking honestly, I have never had the most artistic eye and have never been good at actually making art. Although I do not have the most talent in this area I do enjoy it quite a lot. There are many ways different styles of art that I enjoy such as photography, painting, music and cinema. When I am in nature I enjoy taking pictures to capture its beauty. When I look back at my pictures I feel the emotions I felt at that time and relive the memories I had. 

(Estero Island, Florida (2017). Whenever I look at this image it reminds me of the memories I had on this trip and the fun times I had on the beach with my cousins. I remember feeling complete relaxation as I looked at this sunset. This just goes to show the power of photography!)

In my opinion, art plays a very important role in nature interpretation and should be incorporated more into programs. Firstly, many visitors may find it fun to participate in activities that include art. For example, incorporating crafts in a children’s program will likely stimulate their minds and help them take an interest in what is being presented to them. In addition, art has the power to resonate in our minds and help visitors truly take value in nature.  As the textbook highlighted; a dance, song, image or drama is likely to be more interesting than dense information. 

To quote the textbook: “The gift of beauty comes from the principle that interpretation should instill in people the ability and desire to sense the beauty in their surroundings (Beck et al., 2019).” This inspires people to connect with the beauty of nature spiritually, developing a connection that is bigger than yourself. It is so powerful that it can motivate resource preservation, making people more likely to protect the world we live in. The gift of beauty can also relate to nature interpretation through art. A visual representation of nature is another way visitors can feel and desire the beauty of nature. Art helps to visualize meaning associated with a place and can even tell a story. 

I am looking forward to reading about everyone else’s interpretation of the gift of beauty!

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

[arenvs3000w22]

Hi!

Great post this week. The photo you shared is very beautiful. It’s amazing how the peace of that sunset translates straight to the photo’s viewers. 

I loved what you mentioned about art interpretation not requiring a degree or other qualifications. There is no right or wrong way to view art. I think that the job of an artist is to document a feeling and impart that feeling to their audience through their work. Art connects us with nature, regardless of its quality, by allowing us to experience nature through someone else’s lens.

I agree fully that art has a very important and often overlooked place in nature interpretation. Nature interpreters must work to strike balance between fact and art in their programs. I find that I retain information better when it is delivered in conjunction with imagery. Therefore, I think that nature’s gift of beauty is better realized when art is used a medium to deepen one’s understanding of the world around them. It’s powerful to me that nature’s gift of beauty goes beyond what we can see. Yes, it is aesthetically beautiful, but it is also beautifully intricate and complex. Nature’s superficial beauty is what attracts us to learn more about these processes. And, once we are sufficiently awestruck, the natural next step is to preserve this beauty, as you stated in your post.

Looking forward to reading more of your work!

Annika

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Blog 4: Nature is art

When it comes to interpreting nature through art, I believe there are many factors that come into play. There are the obvious things that come to mind for most people such as sunsets, blooming flower gardens, and picturesque mountains. But these things are all made up of our 5 senses. We can experience the beauty of nature through our sense of touch and smell. The feeling of sand between our toes on a beach, or the smell of pine trees on a walk are significant in our nature experience. Nature also provides us with its own music, sounds such as the birds chirping, wind blowing, rain falling. Beck et al. (2018) writes that, “Music is a form of art and the art moves our minds from the ordered and sequential logic to the deeper, more cyclical world of imagery, values, metaphor, and symbolism”. When I think back to some of my most meaningful memories in nature, I can remember the sounds that I heard. From the sound of the bonfire crackling, to the crickets chirping outside my tent, to the pure blissful silence of a sunrise, these sounds are all part of my core memories in nature. When interpreting nature as art, I think being able to see, feel, hear, smell and touch nature are all parts of experiencing its immense beauty.

Who am I to interpret art? I would say that I am one to take elements of nature and focus in on them through photography as well as through my hobby of creating clothes. While I am by no means a professional photographer, I do like to share my adventures through photography. I enjoy being able to look back on photos and reminisce their memories. The photo below is from a tiny café halfway up a mountain in France. The only sounds heard up there were from a little cd player that the café owner had brought out.

This is from a hike in San Francisco up a small mountain. The strongest winds I have ever felt were up here!

Similar to the saying of how you don’t know what you have until it’s gone, I think that in order for people to care about nature conservation or interpretation, they need to be able to experience the beauty of it themselves. By this I mean, if people experience the beauty of a rainforest and can appreciate all it offers, then they will truly care to preserve its beauty. Beck et al. (2018), talks about the gift of beauty as colours and forms that have the ability to “resonate in the viewer’s mind”. Over the past few years I have found a new way of appreciating the beauty of nature. I found a second-hand sewing machine (that is all pink!) and found myself in a new world of using nature within my sewing. One way I do this is by using food scraps to dye fabric, avocado skins can make a light pink dye! Something I would love to try in the near future would be eco-printing which uses flowers and leaves to imprint onto fabric. It leaves outlines of whatever plants you lay onto the fabric and I think this is a beautiful way to add meaning and memories to clothing. I have a newfound appreciation for this type of work and I now also view natural fabric dyes as a form of art within nature.

Reference:

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

[arenvs3000w22]

Hi!

I loved reading your post this week. The photos you attached are breathtaking! You brought up some really interesting points that I had failed to consider.

While reading through the content this week, I had mostly imagined nature interpretation taking place through visual art. Your post reminded me that visual art is only one way to interpret nature. Nature also inspires (and produces) music. Being in nature is like being in an immersive art piece that we get to use all our senses to experience. 

I also think it’s inspiring how your love for nature’s gift of beauty has inspired you not only to replicate nature in your own work, but also to integrate pieces of nature sustainably into your clothing pieces. It’s as if your art is a continuation of nature, rather than something separate from it. I’m glad to hear a success story with avocado skin/pit dyeing, as it’s something I’ve been wanted to try for a long time! It’s clear that your appreciation for nature has led you to learn more about it and to more fully grasp what it can do, like create beautiful pigments from products that would otherwise be discarded. I like to imagine that as humans, we have the privilege of engaging in a mutualistic relationship with nature. We benefit from nature’s boundless beauty, and nature benefits from our stewardship and preservation.

Looking forward to reading more of your posts!

Annika

[arenvs3000w22]

Interpreting Nature Through Art

It is the role of a nature interpreter to inspire audiences to see quality in the natural world around them. Art provides a medium to enjoy nature that extends beyond what words can describe. For me, nature and art are intrinsically connected and inseparable. I often think of nature itself as art, even before it is captured as a photograph, sculpted, or drawn. Neither art nor nature need to be fully understood to be enjoyed, though interpretation of both promotes a fuller and richer understanding of our world. Likewise, the desire to seek out both art and nature is a major component of what makes us people. We rely on both for recreation, to cope with stress, and to grow.

The gift of beauty is a tough concept to articulate. Like any gift, it is not something we earn, but something we receive. I see it as the innate character of nature to be beautiful, but also to become more beautiful through further discovery. Receiving nature’s gift of beauty is essential to growth and self-actualization. Nature interpreters have the daunting, yet rewarding task of integrating the immense superficial beauty of nature with information about its processes and complexities. In combining these two essential characteristics of nature, nature interpreters have the opportunity to open the eyes of their audience to its gift of beauty. Ideally, audiences who have been awakened to the “gift of beauty” should be encouraged to uphold nature’s beauty through preservation efforts. Our textbook quotes Burrough’s The Gospel of Nature, “‘To enjoy understandingly, that, I fancy, is the great thing to be desired’” (Beck et. al., 2019). Nature interpreters should inspire their audiences to do just that. Appreciating that nature is pretty often ignites a desire to respect it and to learn more about it. When we gain more knowledge about nature, the true magnitude of its beauty is revealed.

I like to paint as a hobby, and I primarily paint nature scenes from pictures I’ve taken or landscapes I imagine. When I paint, I am usually inspired to do so by an overwhelming experience of beauty in nature that demands to be expressed through art. It is the ultimate muse for me. I’ve often been inspired by the impressionistic style used by many members of the Group of Seven, and particularly by the brightness of the colours used by Emily Carr. What I love most about doing art is that there is no such thing as a good or bad composition. There is only your perception of and appreciation for your subject. Art is one area that I do not seek perfection in, but rather I am grateful to be able to paint what I love without any added pressure attached.

Some of my recent work is attached below!

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural

heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.

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Privilege

I began to prepare for writing this post by first examining my invisible backpack. There is no doubt that my entire life has been helped along by my vast amounts of privileges. While I am a queer woman, the fact that I am white, middle-class, and well-educated has given me enough of a level of privilege and security that it continues to benefit me to this day. It is this security that allows us white people to stay comfortably unaware of the disadvantages that others around us face. This is why my personal definition for privilege is the advantages given to you solely for your membership within a group as well the ability to not see these advantages.

Privilege is often invisible to those who possess it, which makes fighting for social change an often insurmountable task. In the case of racial injustice, many white people remain oblivious to how deeply intertwined they are, it’s no longer just a case of “not being racist”. I myself only really became aware of how deeply systemized racism was during the Black Lives Matter movement (this ignorance is in itself a privilege).

When it comes to nature interpretation, there are countless ways in which privilege and ignorance come into play especially when considering racial injustice. When reading chapter 7 of our textbook by Beck et al. (2018), the authors highlighted many fantastic ideas for promoting inclusivity such as:

1. Reducing economic barriers by providing transportation to those unable to travel to natural history sites

2. Reducing cultural barriers by “inviting, including, involving” minorities

3. Reducing communication barriers through strategic communication using varied languages and media

While all of these suggestions are absolutely amazing and do have the potential to help make nature interpretation accessible to all, the authors fail to mention the main root of the issue. Much of the book refers back to the national parks service, yet there is no real mention about the racial issues within this agency. When I was reading through the chapter, it was honestly of no surprise when I read that the majority of national park visitors were white, yet I found myself asking “what about the national park service itself?”. I was forced to do my own research, and found that the NPS is actually one of the least diverse agencies in the United States, with 83% of the total workforce being white (this number is assumed to be even higher within its seasonal employees). How can we expect POC to feel comfortable walking through these parks and taking advantage of the wonderful programs being offered when there is such a clear racial bias. By having 80% of the NPS superintendents being white, there is a slim chance that black, hispanic, indigenous and asian voices are being considered when making changes to park programs.

Research conducted by the Center for American Progress found that less than 25% of park sites focused on the cultures of minorities and underrepresented groups. And when these areas are supposed to be a place where the country’s history is being showcased, so many communities are being erased from this history, which is both morally and factually wrong.

As a nature interpreter it is very important to be aware of the systemic racism that is prevalent within all systems of our country, even those we cherish such as the National and Provincial parks. All of this leads me to wonder how we, as relatively new nature interpreters who have yet to be doing this as a career, can make a difference? I would love to hear your thoughts as I often get quite frustrated when thinking about such a large and seemingly insurmountable issue.

[arenvs3000w22]

Hi Marie!

Wonderful post this week. I really appreciated how you completed your own research to delve into the racial inequities present within the NPS. It is discouraging to consider that this same lack of diversity is present at many levels of government. When lawmakers act in a way that suits their agenda, the resulting laws often align with the interests of people who share similar types of privilege. I think that this is one reason that privileged people often deny that they are advantaged -- it is systemic and ingrained into our every day lives. But, just because we are used to something, it doesn’t mean that it’s right. 

You pose a very challenging question at the end of your post, and I don’t know that I am equipped to provide an answer. Since we are not yet working as nature interpreters, how can we have any tangible impact on the injustices related to nature access? I can think of a list of things that the NPS and other outdoor agencies can do, but it is more difficult to think of how I fit in to the bigger picture. It can be frustrating to consider that change is often slow. I think that by intentionally informing ourselves about the biases that exist and prevent some groups of people from accessing opportunities more than others, we can prepare ourselves to bring forth a commitment to inclusivity when we enter the field. Continuing to call out our own privilege, and amplifying the lived experiences of POC, disabled, or otherwise marginalized individuals are other ways to highlight the systems in place which perpetuate inequity. Developing a rage about injustice will help us to catalyze progress in the area of nature interpretation when our time comes, but we may have to have some patience before we are able to enact meaningful change. We will also come away from this course with knowledge on how to appeal to diverse audiences, which I think will be valuable in making nature safe and inclusive for individuals at every level of experience.

All the best!

[gienvs3000w22]

Privilege- Blog 3

When I unpack my invisible backpack, I see that I have had the privilege many others have not had in accessing opportunities that have led me to where I am today. For example, growing up skiing my parents were able to drive me and my friends to the ski hill every weekend and pay for gear that I used. In the summers, my family often drove up to Northern Ontario so that my sister and I could go biking, swimming or paddleboarding at the lake. My parents often had the time and resources to provide the us with fun outdoor activities and expeditions, which I am very grateful for. In my opinion privilege means having a better opportunity to have access to certain freedoms. That being said, I have a different interpretation of nature than someone who hasn’t had the same experiences as me, that being said that doesn’t mean one of our interpretations is better than the others. We have the opportunity to learn from one another in our different interpretations.  

I have noticed that many people carry different backpacks, for example being a ski instructor I have come to notice that kids come from different families and different experiences in the sport. One of the participants often skied at Chamonix Ski Resort with his family compared to another child in the class that has only skied at the local ski hill. These children have very different opportunities and therefore different skiing abilities.

In nature interpretation, privilege often affects peoples experience, for example if someone hasn’t had much experience in nature, they are more likely to have more questions than someone who has spent a lot of time in nature. In addition, their time in nature might be more meaningful to them more so than someone who spends all their time in nature. I believe in order to truly understand a participant’s invisible backpack the nature interpreter must ask questions to get to know the audience so that they can understand the audiences’ beliefs, values and motivations. This allows the interpreter to tailor the program so that they can relate the information to their experiences and interests. This is also very important for the participants because once the interpreter gets to know them on a deeper level than they feel they can trust the interpreter and ask questions about the program or what they see around them.

I believe there is a stigma around spending time outdoors, many think that its only for those that have the privilege to spend money to get a park membership or the proper gear. However, this is not the case, anyone can spend time in the outdoors, it doesn’t need to be anything complicated. I also believe the outdoors has a ‘male stigma’ around it, as I have personally felt that being a women in the ski industry has its challenges, some people often don’t have the open-mindedness to allow women to ski in the backcountry. I feel that the nature community should be more open to people who are new to the outdoors and offer workshops to those that don’t know where to start. Being in a community where everyone is welcomed with questions is something we need to work towards.  

On another note:

The video, “The Last Place” A song about the 1978 Temiskaming Tragedy, really resonated with me, as on my expeditions I often felt that I had to “reach into my bag of possibles” however, I often times couldn’t find what I needed to get through the circumstance. Therefore, I had to find the strength to get through it. I once had to get through 72 hours in the Vancouver Island backcountry with no contact and a makeshift shelter. It was a very difficult experience to get through, I was often scared about the wildlife that would visit me at night such as, wolves, snakes, and mice. Outward Bound Canada spent weeks prior to that preparing us for that experience, however nothing could prepare me for how difficult the mental part of the expedition would be. Having done a backcountry ski trip as well as an AST1 (Avalanche Safety Training) course I have come to know that no matter how much you prepare, anything can go wrong. This was/still is a difficult idea for me to swallow as I am a firm believer in preparation and execution. I very much enjoyed this unit, as it made me reflect on some past experiences and I have realized how far I’ve come; I very much look forward to the rest of the course.  

Dr. Amanada Hooykaas. ENVS* 3000 Nature Interpretation Course Notes (2022). January 26, 2022. 

[arenvs3000w22]

Hi Guili!

Great post this week. I really enjoyed reading about your experience from two sides -- as a person with privilege in some areas and not in others. It’s really eye-opening how a person’s bias, towards women, for example, can lead them to exclude others from outdoor activity even today. I agree that it is so important for these misconceptions about groups of people to be challenged and dismantled, so that everyone can get access to the outdoors. Nature interpreters have a responsibility to engage audience members with different levels of experience and education. While it seems a daunting task, asking well-crafted questions to determine the traits of an audience is a skill that nature interpreters must hone. I think that experienced nature interpreters can have a critical role in reducing the stigma surrounding who should and should not engage with nature.

I think that your discussion of your backcountry ski trip creates a really useful connection between some of the concepts from this week. First, that privilege may have had a role in affecting your access to the sport of skiing, which has since become a big part of your life, and has presented you with many (super cool!) opportunities. Second, that teachings from skilled nature interpreters and course leaders seem to have allowed you to make educated risk vs. reward choices pertaining to an expedition that could be dangerous to a person without training. 

It is very admirable that you have continued to work in the ski industry in spite of the bias you’ve faced as a woman. It’s clear throughout your post that you value resilience! Let’s hope that change continues to occur with the goal of making time spent outdoors universally accessible.

[arenvs3000w22]

Privilege in Nature Interpretation

For me, this week’s blog topic has been very thought-provoking. Nature is readily available to me, and it can be easy to forget that this is not true for everyone. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve begun to realize the magnitude of my own privilege and how it has benefited me throughout my life in ways I’ve thought were standard. There was a line in one of the readings this week that really impacted me: “[McIntosh] asserts that individuals born into privilege "are not taught to recognize their own privileges," and, if acknowledged, they "deny the resulting advantages". The first part of this statement aligns with my own experience. Being white, English-speaking, part of a middle-class family, and able-bodied, I have had access to opportunities that others lacking any one of these characteristics may have been barred from. As a child, I was surrounded by people just like me. My classrooms were minimally diverse, and all of my friends also got to attend summer camps, play sports, and take vacations. I was made to believe that this was normal. While we were taught to be grateful for what we had, we were not taught that many people even within our city did not share the privilege that we did. 

When it comes down to it, privilege has had a lot to do with the opportunities I have had. Denying this would perpetuate bias towards less-privileged people. I resonate with the idea that we carry our privilege in an invisible backpack. Because my family is middle-class and both of my parents have good jobs, I knew I would be able to attend university. I was able to get good grades because I didn’t have as many household responsibilities and could devote more time to studying. I was able to gain a part-time job because of encouragement from my two supportive parents. My privilege has served as a tool to me in getting to where I am today. There are ways my privilege has benefitted me that I still may not even fully realize, such as living under a government system initially designed by other white people, likely with my interests in mind. My working definition of privilege is any unearned characteristic of a person which enhances their access to participation in personal, social, or professional opportunities. 

Privilege can affect access to nature. Being in nature can require access to a vehicle, the financial ability to take time off work, and sometimes the ability to maneuver difficult terrain. Privilege can also affect a person’s ability to benefit from nature interpretation programming. For example, someone who has had access to higher education might get more from a nature interpretation program than someone who has no baseline knowledge of the topics being discussed. Someone who is English-speaking is more likely to take advantage of nature interpretation in the English language than someone who cannot speak or understand English. Our textbook reiterates that each guest of a nature interpretation program brings with them a different set of abilities, knowledge, and experiences. Nature interpreters must work to understand the characteristics of their audience members to ensure that all attendees have a valuable experience. It is part of their role to accommodate the needs of every group member.