Unit 10 Blog Post: Me as an Interpreter
Throughout this course, I have had the privilege to develop significantly in regard to what my role can be as a nature interpreter. In terms of my personal ethics, I have developed the belief that in order to find true meaning in life, one needs to have a connection with the natural world. This could be really anything- camping trips, a walk in a park, or even just feeling the breeze when you let your dog outside. Finding small but meaningful ways in which to connect with nature is grounding. When life is chaotic and your list of responsibilities feels endless, there is a sense of peace that can be found when, even just for a brief moment, you can take in and appreciate the nature surrounding you. I draw this belief back to childhood. As young kids, we would tire ourselves out riding bikes, drawing with chalk on the road, begging our parents to take us to our friend's house for a swim, and really just running around. These activities are important to the development of a healthy and well-balanced outlook on life as they force a separation between self and world. As we grow up, however, we lose the same joy we once found outside and instead turn to other things to fill our time. While I am not saying you need to get out and roll in the grass after your 9-5 (which honestly doesnāt sound like a bad idea), finding some way to connect with nature in our adult lives becomes something that many of us have to actively pursue. I believe that for someone to live a balanced life, being consciously aware of finding moments to enjoy nature is more than necessary. Reflecting on this course and the many ways interpreters can share the gift of nature, I realized that these personal views have dramatically changed. For many years, the advice āgo outsideā caused me to roll my eyes. I would think to myself, āYeah, if only that could solve all of my problemsā. But, thanks to the content of the course and the blogs of my peers, I have a very different interpretation of this once annoying sentiment. When someone says something along the lines of āgo outsideā, often the meaning is much deeper. I now interpret these words as āfind some meaningā.Ā
Going outside and hearing the birds chirping and wondering what they are saying.Ā
Making note of what colours an artist chose to paint the leaves to decipher what time of year is being depicted.
Ā Watching āSaving Private Ryanā and now associating France with its rich history rather than just the structure of the Eiffel Tower.Ā
All of these things encourage you to find a little meaning. This forces you to step outside of yourself, even just for a moment, and connect with the natural world. My father used to tell me that if you are constantly looking down on your own problems, you canāt see the helping hands being offered right in front of you. This, of course, is a nuanced conversation and in no way am I suggesting nature as a cure for negative mental health, but learning to find meaning in a world so much bigger than you can help shift perspective. If not that, it simply provides a momentary escape from whatever troubles you may be facing.Ā
I as an interpreter of nature have the responsibility to teach others how to find these small but impactful connections with nature. Regardless of how impactful I have found this myself, the work of the interpreter is to share the passion for and knowledge of the natural world with as many people who are willing. In order to do this effectively, I have to take privilege and risk into account. When interpreting nature I have a responsibility to be aware of different living situations, cultural backgrounds, economic standing, etc., to prevent members of my audience from feeling alienated and therefore disengaging. For example, encouraging someone to go for a hike with a friend doesnāt consider the fact that they may not live near a natural space to do this, or do not have the resources to travel to such a place. When I as the interpreter am aware of specific circumstances, this could be a great suggestion. However, making this a point to an audience member without these privileges may make them feel like this just isnāt something they can do. Furthermore, encouraging someone to go on a hike could lead to dangerous situations if a child, for example, decides to go for a walk alone. The concern for risk is part of the reason children spend less and less time outdoors in school systems, as the concern becomes about insurance and liability (Rodenburg, 2019). This poses a challenge for interpreters to get creative in the ways that children are encouraged to pay attention to the natural world. Therefore, I would tailor my role as interpreter to my audience in many ways, with specific attention to the privilege and risk that would stand as a barrier to the goal.Ā
Appreciating the beauty of the natural world, like the clouds, is a way to start building your relationship with nature.
For me as an individual, I find that I am most encouraged by things that seem manageable. Not wanting to go for a run or wake up to see the sunrise has in the past made me feel as though this connection with nature was unattainable. I am much more responsive to the idea of building my relationship with nature through small steps such as taking a picture of the sky when I notice the clouds, or keeping an eye out for a bird species I think is pretty. By not ābiting off more than I can chewā, the journey to a meaningful relationship with nature is something I build on over time and can truly sustain. I can bring this personal approach to interpretation to my audiences with a particular focus on teens and young adults because I empathize with feeling overwhelmed and needing the steps broken down into something manageable. Another interesting factor to consider is a decreasing attention span parallel to the increase in technology use, so encouraging small and often fast ways to begin to notice the beauty of nature can serve as a more effective method to ignite the spark for connections with the earth.Ā
Reference:Ā
Rodenburg, J. (2019). Why environmental educators shouldnāt give up hope. Retrieved from https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300
Hi Eaden, this is a great post. I really resonate with a lot of the points you mention, and especially how we can find meaning and purpose through nature. In my main post, I described how nature can teach us a lot about ourselves. As the world becomes increasingly online, we are more often subjected to negativity; that is, things like news stories or negative comments on social media can impact our mental health. For those who feel like they are absorbed in their routine and responsibilities, as you mentioned, spending time outside can change their outlook on life and promote a happier and healthier lifestyle. Since we have already developed our own connections with nature (hence why we are in this course!), I think we can all relate to this. During the pandemic, we were locked inside for quite a while with limited access to nature. With the time I used to spend hiking or biking or looking for cool bugs, I took to the internet, and watching shows or the news became the regular. After lockdown restrictions were lifted, I had every opportunity to stop what I was doing and go back to spending time outside. However, I did not take this opportunity at first, simply because I had yet to rekindle my connection with nature and would instead prioritize other things. It was clear that during my time away from the outdoors, I had neglected both my mental and physical health. If I had been told to āgo outsideā at the time, I probably would have rolled my eyes as well! When I finally did go outside, my life changed again for the better, and I developed a new appreciation for nature that my younger self had taken for granted. Today, I spend much of my free time outside walking, hiking or gardening, and Iāve never felt happier. Iām sure a lot of us have stories like this, and we can use our experiences to inspire others through nature interpretation. As an interpreter, I know firsthand that helping someone develop or rekindle a meaningful connection with nature can change their life, and this is what has inspired me to pursue this field!





















