A World of Wonder

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Nature Interpretation and Me

As this semester comes to an end, it’s hard not to look back and reflect on everything I’ve learned both academically, and personally.  I doubt I’m alone when I say that has easily been one of my most interesting semesters to date.  Interestingly enough, it has been one of my favourites.

Throughout this course, I feel as though I’ve come to understand what my definition of nature interpretation is, and where I see myself fitting into the field once I graduate.  By using the knowledge I’ve attained from completing my degree in zoology, and the communication skills I’ve gained in respect to nature interpretation, I hope to be able to aid in the conservation of our earths species in any way I can.  

Even as a child, my parents instilled in me that one of the best things for conservation, is education.  They taught me that if people are unaware that there is a problem at hand, there is very little they can do to rectify the situation.  Unfortunately, there are countless species which are on the brink of extinction and the sad truth is, if a majority of them disappeared, many wouldn’t even notice this disappearance.  In my opinion, a major issue is that the media tends to focus on the species which are the most charismatic.  Pretty much everyone knows that polar bears and rhinos are facing extinction, yet I’m sure only a very limited few know that the blue-throated macaw is on the brink of extinction.  With a population estimated at less than 200, they are the most endangered parrot in the wild.  This is a great shame as blue-throats are such personable birds and in my opinion, they should be getting as much attention as for example, polar bears.   

Pictured above is Olivia, one of the blue-throated macaws I’ve had the pleasure of working with.  Although she wasn’t the biggest fan of me, her mate Neuton grew fairly attached to me as I was one of the few people who didn’t scare him haha.                        

Due to this lack of knowledge, my goal as a nature interpreter is to educate the public and raise awareness that many known and unknown species are facing extinction and that we should be taking the initiative to save them. I say this because most of the species are going extinct due to our actions.  All species are important in some and we should be attempting to save as many as we can and not just the ones that we think are cute.       

One belief that I feel I bring to the table is that much of science is extremely unaccessible to those who do not have a background in science.  What I mean by this, is that almost every scientific paper I’ve had to read has required at the very least, 3 read throughs in order to fully digest it.  I believe that this is largely due to the at times, excessive use of scientific jargon.  In my opinion, scientific articles are seen as the be all end all when it comes to communicating research.  I feel that this is very outdated as there are plenty of methods of communicating information that could appeal to a much broader audience.  The methods I speak of include but are not limited to; infographics, videos, podcasts or even comics!  By using more accessible types of media, is able to be understood by more people which in my eyes, makes them much more valid methods for scientific communication.         

Another course I was in this semester which I felt did an excellent job of instilling this message was ZOO*4910 or, integrative vertebrate biology.  For our final project, we were tasked with presenting one of the scientific papers we studied in class in an untraditional format, which I thought was an incredibly cool assignment.  For my project I decided to present Stoddard et al.’s study, “Wild hummingbirds discriminate nonspectral colors” as a video sketch, which I had a lot of fun making!  I chose to do a video as I felt that using things like, music, pop culture references and comedy would make the material much more interesting and engaging.  To ensure that the information presented was easy to understand, I sent the video to a few of my friends who don’t study one of the sciences.  Thankfully the consensus was that the concepts presented we extremely clear and easily understandable which told me that I had done job well.  If I’m being honest, this was probably the most fun I’ve doing a project in university and it is hand down the one I am most proud of.    

A screenshot from the video capturing the eye sore that was my hummingbird costume.  For anyone interested, the video itself is available at this link!    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adcbJtaqw_M   

Having played live music for a decent amount of time, performing is something that I not only enjoy doing, but I also think I am somewhat good at (could be delusion though).  Because of this, I feel that this sort of performance based education is something I would like to get better at as I feel as though it is the method of interpreting nature that works for me.    

As a zoology major, I feel as though it is my responsibility to use the knowledge I have gained to aid in the conservation of the species that we share our planet with.  This extends to ensuring that the next generation will be able to see and experience the same biological diversity that I had the pleasure of experiencing.  It may be one thing to view nature through the glass of an exhibit at a zoo or on a screen, but it is a completely different thing seeing it first hand in the wild.  For me, I will never forget seeing killer whales in the wild, it honestly felt like I was seeing some sort of mythical creature that was thought not to exist.    

A picture I took of the pod of killer whales I was lucky enough to see out in B.C.

Nature truly is a remarkable thing and it would be such a shame if we lost one of the most incredible things this planet has to offer.

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I can definitely agree with you in your statement that this has been one of the most interesting semesters, and I’m glad it has been one of your favourites. I’m curious, though, is this due to academics or personal life?

That your parents instilled those ideas when you were a child is so important. People do not realize how vital children are to the future of the environment. I remember seeing a news article (a very long time ago) about a community who taught their children to recycle and this was taught in school, at home, etc. The children then perfectly knew how to recycle, and thus taught their children, who taught their children and so on. That community now recycles 100% of their waste. I thought this was so incredible and it made me wonder why more communities are not doing this.

The problem of inaccessibility is so valid and such a large issue today. I know that even my mother, who is an educated woman, knows very little about the environment and my sibling and I are the ones to tell her about it since we are both in scientific fields. This lack of knowledge is what creates so many misconceptions and false spread of knowledge. While news outlets can be a good source of information, there is often bias and it can be hard to distinguish the real from the fake.

I wish I had the confidence that you do to perform! I think it can be such a unique and interesting way to convey information. It also makes it more accessible to a wider audience.

I really enjoyed your post and your pictures, and good luck with your future interpretation!

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Making a Difference.

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make” 

- Jane Goodall 

I came across this quote the other day, and it got me thinking about what kind of a difference I want to make in my future career as a landscape architect and nature interpreter. My responsibility as an aspiring Landscape Architect is to create natural and built environments that are aesthetically pleasing and practical. Although landscape architects have the ability to do so much more than just create aesthetic designs. Landscape architects also deal with human-nature interactions. How we view nature is unique to every individual, and landscape architects have the ability to influence these relationships. Landscape architects also have a major impact on the health and well-being of individuals. The profession is about inspiring health living and well-being while protecting our natural environments. My personal ethic as I develop as a nature interpreter and landscape architect would be to use landscape architecture to design spaces that provide a deeper connection and relationship with nature while inspiring the health and well-being of individuals.

Through this course, I have been able to find a lot of similarities between nature interpretation and landscape architecture. Interpreters transform facts and information into stories and experience that stimulate understanding and wisdom (Beck et al, 2019). Landscape architects design to achieve a similar outcome. Through the creation of spaces, the overall goal is to create a unique experience that represents culture, nature, and fascinating history. Just like nature interpreters, landscape architects try to see things with new perceptions, and use creative techniques to create fascinating designs and programs (Beck et al, 2019). Although landscape architects are not at the site to provide personal interpretation, through strategic design and installations, landscape architects can include visual representations of natural and culture history and significance. Interpretation has been considered a tool for the promotion of outdoor recreation settings that encourage healthy living (Beck et al., 2019). Just like interpreters, landscape architects play a major role in getting people outside and experiencing the environment around them. Both address national health priorities and are designed to make a difference (Beck et al, 2019).

Through my nature interpretation and landscape architecture studies, I have learned a lot about the importance of outdoor spaces for the health and general well-being of individuals. I believe that every individual should have adequate access to outdoor spaces. Getting outdoors and immersing yourself in nature actively or passively, can have incredible effects on your health. Nature can heal; it is a remedy for stress and anxiety, as well it can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels (Robbins, 2020). Being in nature for even just a short amount of time a day can improve your mood, immune system, and reduce nervous system arousal (Robbins, 2020). As an aspiring landscape architect, I have the responsibility to provide these outdoor spaces for passive and active recreation. Growing up, I had the privilege of living in a community with an abundance of green spaces, walking trails, and recreational space. I spent almost every day outside playing at the park or walking through my neighbourhood. Looking back on it now, I am so thankful that my town provided our community with these safe spaces that encouraged an active lifestyle. Not everyone has access to spaces like the ones I grew up with, and that is one of the main reasons why I strive to advocate for active design in all communities. With the growing risk of global pandemics such as COVID-19, it is becoming increasingly important for individuals to have access to outdoor spaces.

From a nature interpretation and landscape architecture viewpoint, I have to ask myself, how can I provide these spaces and make them appealing so that people want to utilize them? How can I provide people with unique experiences? After researching for my thesis, I have learned several approaches for creating spaces that encourage everyday use. One of the main elements is safety. Individuals won’t use an outdoor site for passive or active recreation if they don’t feel comfortable or safe. In order to provide safe outdoor spaces, it is necessary to include elements such as entrances and exists that are easy to locate, pathway connectivity, signage, appropriate lighting, and clear sight-lines. It is also important that the location of designed outdoor spaces are in the line of sight of nearby houses, apartments, stores and activity areas to ensure visibility. Including safe areas to enjoy nature can influence more people to use nature as a healing remedy to positively impact their health and well-being.

Zuccotti Park in New York City installed beautiful floor & tree lights that light up the entire park at night. These lights ensure safety and visibility at night. 

It is also important to approach landscape designs with physical activity in mind. I believe it is extremely important for designers to understand the approaches for creating communities that are active and encouraging. I strive to create spaces that motivate people to get outside and take a break from their busy lives. An approach for creating active designs includes the inclusion of accessible pathways to increase walkability. Parks should be designed to allow an individual to move throughout with ease. Unless these park spaces are in a central location and completely accessible, it is not likely that they will be utilized to their fullest potential. My goal as an aspiring landscape architect is not only to get people outside, but also get people to utilize the outdoor environment for active and passive recreation. Providing facilities like paths, running tracks, playgrounds, sports courts and open fields that are safe and accessible, accommodates a wide range of recreation activities so that all members of the community can be involved. I strongly believe there is nothing better for your soul and mind than a good walk through a beautiful park.

The best landscape designs are the ones that foster an active healthy lifestyle. The designs that give people an escape from their busy lives and allows them to just enjoy nature. One of my favourite examples is Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York City. Brooklyn Bridge Park is accessible by all modes of transportation but encourages cyclists and walkers with pedestrian and bike pathways through the entire 85-acre site. The landscape architects included a variety of play equipment and recreational areas to ensure that everyone has the opportunity for physical activity and healthy lifestyles. The park is equipped with supportive infrastructure such as bike racks, water fountains, bottle refilling station, benches, tables, and lighting. These elements support the variety of use on the site and positively contribute to the safety and enjoyment. Parks such as this one, connects the community members and improves overall social and physical well-being. Brooklyn Bridge Park acts as an important precedent for future development of public parks and spaces that support physical activity and community well-being.

Picture of Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn, New York. A park that fosters physical activity and well-being. 

Overall, my personal ethic going forward in nature interpretation and landscape architecture will provide all communities with access to open outdoor spaces as a retreat from the real world, while also fostering and encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle. I will strive to include interpretive elements in my designs to provide users with unique experience and information on the natural and cultural history of the site. Through interpretation and landscape architecture I will find ways to help others experience all that nature has to offer and develop their own connection and relationship to nature. With Jane Goodall’s quote in mind I have the ability to make a difference in my future profession, therefore I am going to use this to make a positive difference in the health and well-being of all individuals through nature.  

Thank you to all of my classmates for sharing all of your blog posts this semester and engaging in some amazing conversations!

Victoria Borsodi

References: 

Beck, L., Cable, T., and Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Urbana, IL: Sagamore – Venture Publishing LLC.

Robbins, J. (2020, January 13). How immersing yourself in nature benefits your health. Retrieved November 28, 2020, from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/how-immersing-yourself-in-nature-benefits-your-health

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I really enjoyed reading your blogpost because I found it quite unique. I don’t think I’ve ever actually met someone studying landscape architecture.

I’m so glad you included Jane Goodall as your opening line! I have found her so inspiring for so long now. I actually was able to hear her speak last year! Her story was so fascinating. She told us that she went straight to a PhD and skipped her masters due to a research program requiring her assistance! She is sincerely remarkable. She also is extremely humble and made me realize that education and knowledge truly come in different forms, and there is no one-way to get there.

I think landscape architecture is such an interesting area of study, and one that can be so well-tied to environmentalism. I have seen some innovative designs where the idea is to feel really immersed in nature, and to be able to create that is truly amazing. To be really sure of what you are going to do with your life must be so comforting. Your field sounds like it is challenging but also incredibly rewarding.

The fact that we need to be reminded how good nature is for our mind, body and soul is astonishing. Especially during quarantine, there is even less opportunity to go outside. I can honestly say sometimes I do not realize that I haven’t gone outside all day.

I think green landscape really is the future, so I hope that you are able to achieve your goal in creating such accessible spaces.

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My Role in Nature Interpretation

This course has taught me many things about myself, nature and the endless possibility that is nature interpretation. Nature interpretation has given me a little bit more hope and acknowledged that the field we are in is a difficult path to take. It pushed me to think more creatively and from different perspectives in order to include all audiences. I think that is one thing we do not always think about: inclusion. Nature is ideally the most universal thing in the world as it does not matter who one is, they are still able to enjoy, learn and grow from it. I found this week’s blogpost quite difficult because it forced me to think deeply not about one thing, but about the commonality of everything I do as a whole and its relation to the way I interpret nature and how I want to share it with others. My personal ethic as I develop as a nature interpreter is drawn from the belief that nature can be construed in an infinite number of ways by an infinite number of people. For this post, I will focus mostly on the comparison between children’s views on nature versus an adult’s. “That environmentalists need the goodwill of children would seem self-evident- but more often than not, children are viewed as props or extraneous to the serious adult work of saving the world.” – Richard Louv When I read this quote in Week 11, it made me almost sad. It is true, children are often dismissed or devalued when it comes to environmentalism. For example, Greta Thunberg, who has dedicated her young life to making a change in the planet, has been repeatedly belittled by certain adults. In her case, I believe it is because she is seen as more of a threat by them, but for other children, it is because they are thought to have invalid thoughts. 

Greta Thunberg taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greta_Thunberg.    I was once given a speech by a man whose career focused on nature interpretation, and “play.” He said, “Kids aren’t stupid, they just know less,” and that has stuck with me. While a child’s brain is not yet fully developed, they are not stupid; this would insinuate that they lack intelligence or common sense, when instead, they have simply not been taught it yet. The “play” aspect of his work was also so interesting to me. He told us that the older we get, the less we play. He then had us do an activity where he brought out a box full of nature: sticks, leaves, straw baskets, animal toys, and he told us he would be giving us no instruction. We, all being in our twenties, just sat there for a second; we honestly didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t even remember the last time that I did something like that, something without purpose simply for the enjoyment of it. Within ten minutes everyone was doing something. He said that this is how children are, they need no instruction because they have not grown up yet in a world that requires instruction for everything. This outlook on life should be something that is valued, not diminished. 

Children playing in nature taken from https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/jul2017/outdoor-play-child-development

“We can create nature-rich communities where kids feel a deep and abiding love for the living systems that we all are immersed in. Eventually, children will learn even to go beyond sustaining and to engage in acts of regeneration. That is where true hope resides.Eventually, children will learn even to go beyond sustaining and to engage in acts of regeneration” (Hooykaas, 2020). Such a large focus in our world right now is sustainability, and while sustaining is good, regeneration might be better. This ensures new life and growth within our planet. I believe it is my responsibility to allow people think with a more child-like mindset during nature interpretation but also to make nature accessible to everyone. Accessibility means to acknowledge that people learn and experience life differently, so by incorporating different art styles, digital media, social media, etc. (Beck et al., 2019).

My responsibilities in nature interpretation are largely to be able to sustain it for future generations, and hopefully to better it. By spreading knowledge and getting people to care about nature we are creating an emotional tie and awareness. When one cares about something one is more inclined to take care of it.

There is not a single approach that I would say is “most suitable” to me as a nature interpreter. I would argue that most people do not learn in only one way. I think connecting on multiple levels is what makes nature interpretation so special. Sometimes playing music while being outdoors is when I feel connected, and sometimes it is when someone is telling me a story. 

Some of my most memorable connections with nature were made on interpretive walks. These were when someone who was incredibly knowledgeable about the area took us around and pointed out things that we would probably have never noticed on our own. When I was in Ecuador, we were taken on a night walk. This is one of my most amazing memories. As soon as we were silent, we could hear all of the creatures that normally do not come out in the daytime. We even saw multiple blue poison dart frogs and a baby corn snake hanging down from a tree. When someone has a connection to nature in a different way than you, such as living in that environment versus visiting it, it can be so eye-opening to listen to what they have to say.

Baby corn snake taken from https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/384143043208130686/. 

Blue poison dart frog taken from https://moonlightelder.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/food-tree-frogs-eat-bugs-like-crickets-or/. 

Overall, I would say that the work of a nature interpreter is never over. There will always be more to discover, teach and learn. The ways that these messages are conveyed, however, may change with the times; even nature will continue changing with the times.

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world. Urbana: Sagamore Publishing.

Hooykaas, A. (2020). ENVS*3000 Nature Interpretation Week 11 course notes. University of Guelph.

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Advocacy, Adventure, Adrenaline: A Letter to Protect Niagara’s Nature Centre

Dear Members of the Board,

My name is Victoria Borsodi, and I am a nature interpreter at Niagara Glen Nature Centre. I am writing to you to emphasize the importance of the interpretation programs at Niagara Parks with hopes that you will consider increasing the funding for environmental education that is at risk of being permanently closed. An increase in funding would not only allow for the Nature Centre to remain open but would positively benefit the community and visitors. The continuation of this Nature Centre would allow our nature interpreters to continue to inspire the future generation of conservationists. 

Niagara Glen Nature Centre 

We would like to emphasize that interpretation adds great value to tourism, recreation, and community welfare (Beck et al., 2018). Niagara Falls is a booming tourist area with people visiting from all over the world. Taking the Niagara Glen Nature Centre out of this equation would leave behind amazing views with no overall meaning. Without interpretation, visitors will lack connection. There will be no wonder, curiosity, purpose, or creativity. The Niagara Glen will just be another nature reserve. On the contrary, with increased funding the Niagara Glen Nature Centre can continue to focus on our stewardship role, educating the public on the geological, environmental, and historical significance of the breathtaking Niagara Glen.

Today’s youth are incredibly at risk of becoming alienated from the natural world around them (Ganaraska, 2020). Children are experiencing high obesity rates associated with a physically inactive world. The natural world is one of the best opportunities for children to experience unstructured play (Ganaraska, 2020). Nature invites children to act on their own inquisitiveness in a uniquely engaging environment (Ganaraska, 2020). If we take the Niagara Glen Nature Centre away, we will be taking away one of the best opportunities for children to develop a relationship with the natural world. Our Nature Exchange interactive learning program promotes education, and research while supporting stewardship and preservation responsibilities. Through this program, guests can bring in nature objects to learn more. This gives individuals the motivation to be actively searching for unique and interesting nature elements as they explore the park. These programs are so important for children, creating an adventure aspect.

Additionally, being immersed in the natural environment has outstanding effects on everyone, “being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings” (University of Minnesota, 2016). Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones (University of Minnesota, 2016). Spending time in nature at the Niagara Glen helps individuals connect to the larger world.

Personally, I have spent a large amount of time experiencing the Niagara Glen growing up. The opportunity to be immersed and learn about such a unique area sparked my interest in nature and deepened my relationship with the natural world. Exploring when I was a child and participating in nature education programs like the ones at the Niagara Glen Nature Centre is the reason that I advocate and strive for the conservation of our beautiful world today. In order to inspire the next generation of advocates we need to ensure that these opportunities are available and accessible in the Niagara Glen area.

Overall, the interpretive programming at the Niagara Glen Nature Centre deserves an increase in funding in order to continue to promote healthy, adventurous experiences that spark a love for nature for everyone. We strive to create nature-rich experiences “where kids feel a deep and abiding love for the living systems that we are all immersed in” (Rodenburg, 2019). The funding would mean the world to everyone here at the Nature Centre, we really hope that we can continue providing these experiences for students, children, and adults. Our programs have something for everyone, and we feel they could significantly benefit our community and tourist area. Thank you for the opportunity to share the importance of the Nature Centre with you.

Sincerely,

Victoria & The Niagara Glen Nature Centre

References:

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

University of Minnesota (2016) How Does Nature Impact Our Wellbeing? Retrieved November 16, 2020 from https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-does-nature-impact-our-wellbeing  

Ganaraska Forest Centre (2020) The Value of Outdoor Education and Healthy Child Development. Retrieved November 16, 2020 from https://www.ganaraskaforestcentre.ca/value-outdoor-education/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CSpending%20time%20in%20natural%20environments,outside%20are%20also%20physically%20healthier.%E2%80%9D

Rodenburg, J (2019) Why Environmental Educators Shouldn’t Give Up Hope. Clearing Magazine. Retrieved on November 16, 2020 from https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

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I think that Niagara is such an interesting place to choose because although it is lush with nature, it has also become a very commercialized tourist attraction. I think a nature interpretation center would be incredibly useful as a way to break up what appears to be a monotonous wave of technology.

I agree with your point that without the “interpretation” aspect of nature, some of the potential that one could have with nature is diminished. Although it would not take away the beauty that is Niagara, it would not allow for the same connection or deeper understanding of our surrounding world.

Although modern technology is quite useful and innovative, it is so unfortunate that many youths are not experiencing the outdoors to the same degree. Outdoor centers are of the utmost importance as they provide spaces for youth to learn in an unconstructed classroom, harboring more positive feelings towards nature. If a student is allowed to learn at their own pace, they are much more likely be inclined to continue.  

I think your email was so well-written and really enjoyed reading it!

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An Attempt to Conserve the High Park Nature Centre

Dear Board of Directors,

I am writing to you in regard to the closing of the High Park Nature Centre due to insufficient funding in an attempt for reconsideration. We believe that our programs of nature interpretation are a vital asset to both the community and the relevance of environmental education, and therefore, the conservation of our earth.

The High Park Nature Centre is truly monumental; not only is it home to one of North America’s most endangered habitats (the Black Oak Savannah), but it has educated numerous visitors on the importance of environmental conservation (High Park Nature, 2018). Through this interactive landscape, people are given a practical experience that stays with them indefinitely.

Nature interpretation has countless benefits that are beyond students inheriting facts, as it allows for a deeper connection to nature via the mind, body and soul (Beck et al., 2018). Our programs allow for untraditional teaching methods, thus acknowledging that each person is unique and learns differently, making each experience completely personal and memorable (Beck et al., 2018). As much as I believe there is a time and place for traditional, in-class learning, I have found that I have much more memorable learning experiences through firsthand-learning. There is a reason that children get excited to go outside, and there is also a reason that people of old age remember things that were taught to them many years ago. It is because when we experience something and learn the significance behind it, we are more inclined to actually care.

While we teach many difficult and complex concepts, they are made more feasible through nature interpretation and the various medias we portray such as dramatic arts and music (Beck et al., 2018). Using such teaching methods has been used as a way of communicating urgent environmental issues to audiences of all ages and can be seen as a bridge between the public and the scientific community (Merenlender, 2015; Wals et al., 2014). The use of multi-media is perhaps already an underused teaching strategy, so by combining it with nature makes for an even more enriching experience.

In closing this center, a unique method of teaching would be lost along with the particular experiences and teachings that it offers. Closing this center would also be arguably unbeneficial economically, environmentally and socially due to tourism, lack of environmental conservation tactics, and decline in interactive experiences for the community.

In summation, the closing of the High Park Nature Centre would be to lose an incredibly innovative and unique community experience that connects people of all ages with nature. In an area as urban as Toronto, it is vital that people are able to use nature as an escape for their mental and physical well-being.

We hope that these points will sway your decision.

Best regards,

The High Park Nature Centre

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world. Urbana: Sagamore Publishing.

High Park Nature. (2018). High Park Nature. Retrieved from https://highparknature.org/

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

Wals, A. E., Brody, M., Dillon, J., & Stevenson, R. B. (2014). Convergence between science and environmental education. Science, 344(6184), 583-584. doi:10.1126/science.1250515

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A moment to make sense of nature interpretation

As an interpreter, I know for certain that nature interpretation makes a better world. I know that it is needed to build a better relationship with nature. We have learned when looking at history that humans before us had a better relationship with nature than we do currently. We saw the Group of Seven and how they traveled Canada to paint its environment. They felt at peace painting and traveling throughout the land. They showed people what’s out there and encouraged them to travel and explore nature. When we build a relationship with nature, we will care more about preserving it and not destroying it for a better future. Therefore, nature interpretation is certainly needed for a better future.

One idea that was discussed in this week’s lecture that I found very interesting and goes along with what I know for certain, is that nature interpretation involves many other disciplines, such as science, history and art. It’s the glue that brings everything together. It could use science to interpret nature, for example, how bees pollinate and help nature thrive. It can use art with paintings of natural scenery. It could use technology to bring us close to dangerous animals and how they live. Nature interpretation is very important in this respect.  

I still, however, wonder if technology is helpful in nature interpretation. We learned about technology and its impact on nature interpretation. After all the readings and research that I came across, I still think it can go both ways. It all depends on us, humans, and how we use technology towards nature. Technology could keep us inside our homes and take us away from going out to nature and enjoying it or it could inspire us to go out and travel and experience nature by seeing pictures or videos on our phones or TVs.

A nice illustration of how nature and technology could be hand in hand and work together. An interesting read if you are interested. Retrieved from: https://givingcompass.org/article/how-technology-and-nature-can-to-work-together-to-feed-a-growing-population/

I find inspiration being out in nature. Whenever I go camping with friends and family, I like to take walks in the forest and enjoy the peaceful sounds of nature. If we are close to water, I like to sit and admire the big bodies of water and what could be living within them. I’m not thinking of myself as separate from nature. I’m lost in it as part of the environment around me. I see the animals living in harmony and think of myself as if I was one of them. I’m happy and at peace during these moments. I think that nature improves our mental and emotional health. Whenever I feel down or stressed, I take a walk through a trail or I make a trip to nearby natural areas to relieve the stress.

A picture of the sunset that I took on one of my nature walks. So peaceful. Nature truly brings me happiness and joy whenever I’m feeling down. 

Watching people enjoy nature ignites me. I always take it upon myself to find beautiful natural environments to take family and friends to. Finding the perfect camping spot or viewpoint and showing it to important people in my life gives me great joy. I feel like nature should be enjoyed by everyone and spreading my knowledge ignites me the most as an interpreter.

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I love your certainty about how nature interpretation makes a better world and couldn’t agree more. I think especially in terms of education, it should be the standard as each person thinks and learns differently.

           Your statement that people have historically had better relationships in nature is interesting. Of course, initially humans would have coincided with the earth better than its current state, but the past also includes industrial revolution and colonialization. I think we romanticize the past to focus our attention away from the potential our earth has if we were to act another way. However, I do think that nature interpretation can definitely be a useful tool to show this potential!

           The point you made about technology’s use in nature is so interesting, and it is something I hadn’t even thought of for this assignment. It is so scary that most things that happen to the earth are reliant on the actions of humans. I agree that technology can go either way, bring us closer or farther from nature. I’m wondering if you had any specific technologies in mind. I definitely think that some forms of tech are extremely useful in the preservation of nature such as solar and wind energy.

           Watching people enjoy nature is also something that ignites me, and I love that you go out of your way to find areas of nature to be with family and friends.

           Overall, I loved your post and found it very thought-provoking!

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Unpacking Nature Interpretation

Prior to this course, I had a general understanding of what it meant to be a nature interpreter. I believed it was to act as a vessel to create a literal interpretation of nature, something so malleable it can be extended to all ages as a newer method of teaching. The topic of debriefing and the certain questions of certainty, wonder, inspiration and ignition are so interesting to think about because they force one to go back to the beginning and reflect.

This I know for certain…

What I currently know for certain is that there are so many ways to interpret nature such as art (theatre, music, visual), writing and the spoken word (Beck et al., 2019). It is so often that we do not realize that we are having nature interpreted to us or are interpreting nature! By being able to describe nature in so many forms, we are able to reach a much broader audience and cater to multiple preferences.

This is what I still wonder…

One of the most interesting things I’ve learned in this course is the interrelationship between “making sense” and happiness. This quote particularly resonates with me, “We learn more about well-being by studying our strengths and what makes us happy. The hope is that by better understanding human strengths, we may even learn to become happier” (Hooykaas, 2020). This idea is so interesting because happiness was once such a simple concept, but due to the ongoing stressors of modern-day life, it has become much more complex. What I wonder about this is: is happiness as simple as these three points of pleasure, engagement and meaning?

This is where I find inspiration…

Where I find inspiration is usually when I am able to be in an open space with little distraction, a place where I can be free to think in peace. This could be near water, in an open field, or even on a late-night drive. I also find inspiration from people, and how they relate to myself and the environment. Inspiration can come from anywhere, and I think the correct setting is important. Sometimes this comes from the sun or happy and bright times, and other times inspiration comes from a much darker, greyer place.

This is how I can ignite…

The way I “ignite,” in regard to nature, is by being able to share experiences, moments or my knowledge about nature. I think there is something so pure about appreciating nature for what it is and being able to share that with another makes it even more exceptional. When one are able to share their outlook on life through nature, it creates new perspectives and broadens one’s global view.

The Dairy Bush during autumn is one of my favourite places as the colours are unlike anything I've ever seen. This was after most of the leaves had fallen, but it allowed the sunset to be seen through the trees.

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world. Urbana: Sagamore Publishing.

Hooykaas, A. (2020). ENVS*3000 Nature Interpretation course notes. University of Guelph.

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Genes not Jeans

Listening to Tree Talk Podcast was a great and engaging experience! I loved the conversation that the group was having with one another and how they kept the very complex information simplified which worked well towards their targeted audience. I found the introduction engaging due to their formatting of a casual conversation between the three of them.

Overall, this team did a great job in providing lots of examples and relating the information in a way that kids might better understand. At some points it was a little overwhelming with examples, going from Lego to puzzles to cats back to back. It could be more effective to cut out the puzzle example as that is the only time it is discussed and just focus on the examples that are carried throughout the podcast. There is the assumption that the listeners know and have played Jenga before to understand the reference but later in the podcast the group does a good job of providing the example, Jurassic park, and then describing how it is an example of a gene bank. This was great as it allows the listeners to make these connections, but it is not dependent on them having the prior knowledge of the movie. The use of these examples is something that I would like to better integrate into my groups next podcast.

It was informative having Dr. Aron Fazekas from the arboretum in to talk. It was a great integration for them to provide their insight and recommendations for how kids can get involved. The example of the wild cherry birch tree was great! They explained how and why they are at risk and related it to why the gene bank is important and how it can help this species. All the information within the podcast was building on itself in a helpful way. The group started with the basics, built a good understanding of a gene banks, and then applied why it is important to a real-world situation.

Betula lenta (Cherry birch tree)

A recommendation I have, although this might just be personal preference is to close off with the section from the interview describing what kids can do. Especially when considering what was stated in our textbook, how capturing children’s interest then captures their parent’s hearts (Beck et al., 2018). feel like it is a nice way to end and leave the listeners engaged and then ready to act, opposed to suggesting what to do and then providing more information for the audience to listen to. I also would be interested to hear more about what Dr. Fazekas has to say about the arboretum gene bank, but I am sure that more will be shared in their next podcast! I really liked the recap that was done, I found this was super effective and helped tie everything back together along with the team stating their most memorable part of the podcast. It was a nice highlight reel! Great job team and I look forward to listening to your next podcast!

References: 

Beck, L., Cable T., Knudson, D. (2018) Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 

McDougall, S. (2018). Sweet Birch - Betula lenta. Retrieved from http://northamericantrees.com/betula-lenta.html

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I also listened to Tree Talk and loved how the group conversed with one another. I think this was a great way to make sure it doesn’t become too monotonous; it was as if you were being included in a conversation.

I found the group’s diverse examples very helpful as they made difficult topics fathomable for a younger audience, but also agree with you in that so many can become overwhelming. Regardless, the examples they did choose were very kid- friendly. I would also like to add more examples to our group’s next podcast as I feel they are interesting to listen to and easily relatable to people of all ages.

The group’s use of interviewing a member from the Arboretum was very clever, as it was a way to connect the topic of biodiversity to something local and familiar such as the Arboretum. The flow of the podcast was quite smooth, with transitions going almost unnoticed.

I liked your feedback of ending with a take-home message; this provides children with a lasting memory and a task that can be completed. This gives the child further incentive to come back and learn more, especially if they enjoyed completing the task they were recommended. It makes learning more tactile as opposed to simply listening or writing.

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Tree Talk Review

The podcast I reviewed is titled “Tree Talk,” and covers biodiversity and the environment. My first impression began with the intro music, which was light and made me feel as though I was in a treehouse in the jungle – very fitting. In the first minute there were easily understandable themes described about biodiversity such as the analogy of fingerprints, which demonstrated that we are all different, much like fingerprints. They used many aspects of the course textbook (i.e., music, connections to every-day life, etc.) making it a very versatile podcast.

I learned many lessons from listening to this podcast. The lessons were mostly offered in the same way, through use of analogies, but each was a different example. This differentiation made it interesting to listen to and easier to remember. The group also used personal stories and examples to make their podcast more relatable.

The first lesson was that genes make us all different, something that is essential to biodiversity. This was taught by comparing families, hair colours/texture and height, teaching us that it is genes that create these often-minute differences.

The second lesson was about gene banks and their importance. The group stated that gene banks are places to store these “building blocks” as a backup method to help endangered species. The group made a great connection to a Lego set, stating that many different pieces are required to make the final product interesting. Species diversity was then talked about in reference to a jigsaw puzzle, as needing all parts of a whole to be complete. The importance of adaptation to current issues such as climate change was also brought up, making the podcast even more relevant.

The third lesson was the importance of genes in an ecosystem, which rely heavily on a diverse and healthy species population. The connection was made to a Jenga block set, in which if too many blocks were removed, the tower would fall, similar to how if too many species are removed, an ecosystem will perish.

All of these lessons were very comprehendible as they used many connections that children would be able to easily connect to. I commend this group for tackling such a difficult topic and making it so easily understandable. All narrators were able to speak with expression as if they were really speaking to you. They also used pop culture references such as Jurassic Park and sized the Arboretum in comparison to football fields; both of these topics are easily understood to most people as they are things we have seen or experienced. I would definitely like to incorporate the use of analogies and pop culture into our next podcast as I found it made it more memorable.  

           Overall, I really enjoyed this podcast. I think it took a quite difficult theme and made it quite kid-friendly. My suggestions would be to edit out overlaps or flaws in speech and to extend it further to the required time (20 minutes).

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The Coolest Plant I Own - Lithops

I am going to take advantage of this week’s prompt to talk about how cool plants are and how they adopt to their surroundings.

I was sitting thinking about some of my favourite things about nature and I just kept coming back to my favourite plant, Lithops! I think they are super neat, and I wanted to be able to share them. They are my favourite because they are so odd looking, but I love talking about them and sharing how cool the plant itself is, not just how odd it looks.

I like them because they are unique, this is what originally attracted me to them. This mainly comes from the appearance of their leaves. Like all plants, they all have the same job of absorbing sunlight, but I find it super interesting to see how each plant does it differently and how important these leaves are to the survival of the plant specifically.

Looking at lithops they have two leaves fused together to make the cone shape, narrowing down at the bottom which leads to their few and shallow roots. These plants are native to southern Africa and thrive in dry soil with lots of drainage (Mahr, 2020). Due to its habitat the plant thrives with little water and the leaves are designed to hold water to sustain the plant. When the plant enters its dormant phase, a new body develops and the leaves will then split, allowing the new body to come through. This new growth is sustained by the old leaves and uses the moisture from them.

My plants are currently in this phase!

As described in an article on lithops, lithops has some difficulties getting light to the photosynthetic apparatus of the leaf cells which are underground, so the leaves have windowed cells that allow light into the inner portion of the leaf (Mahr, 2020). Super cool how the plant adopts to its surroundings and thrives. The plant also looks like rocks to blend into its habitat, hence the common name “living stones”.

Overall, I think it’s a very odd-looking plant but it is super interesting to learn how it functions and thrives! Its fairly low maintenance with the limited water it needs, but it also requires attention and knowledge of its growth cycle, so it is not over watered and stunted. Such as when the plant starts to split to allow the new growth in you must stop watering. If not, the plant will not take the moisture from the old leaves and they will strangle the new growth. So, like I said, easy to care for as long as you know the basics and what to watch for!

Anyway, that is currently the thing that amazes me most about nature and it gets me very excited. I hope I was able to produce something of interest to others and I look forward to learning more neat things!

Other plants that top my favourites list are:

Calico hearts

burrows tail (along with what I am propagating)

String of pearls (or string pf dolphins are cool too)

 The article that I have linked below was super informative about Lithops and gives a much greater understanding of the plant. I feel this website does a great job at interpreting the plant and providing those interested with lots of good information and a few stories that help with the understanding, hitting many key things described in chapter eight about successful websites.

Sources:

Mahr, S. (2020, August 05). Living Stones: Lithops. Retrieved from https://wimastergardener.org/article/living-stones-lithops/

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I loved your post about your plants! I recently started becoming very interested in houseplants. Until recently, however, I had been completely hopeless with plants and I even managed to kill a succulent (which are much more particular that one would think!). As of now, I have a money tree, a cactus, an ivy, a monstera, and am propagating a pothos. All are currently doing really well! I’ve even started saving banana peels and eggshells to use as fertilizer. I enjoy it because of the ambiance it brings to the room as well as I love seeing the growth.

I’ve never actually heard about a lithops plant, but your pictures of it remind me of bone marrow. I really appreciated you adding tips for taking care of it, too, because your post made me consider getting one.

[Bone Marrow] from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbRLMbDtiaA&app=desktop 

I think it is so strange that we buy things that grow from the ground, but that applies to everything, I suppose. Nothing is free in today’s day and age. It is so fascinating that we are able to grow plants here that originated from such faraway places! We purposely grow these species yet consider other species “invasive” and attempt to eradicate them. I guess this is because these particular plants do not cause harm to our native species, but then again, many invasive species are the fault of humans.

If you have any other tips or tricks, especially regarding propagation, I would love to hear them!

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Water: Simply Amazing.

There are so many amazing things about nature, it is so difficult to choose only one. Certainly, one of the most awe-striking things about nature remains the topic of oceans and water in general; how large, important, and unknown it is.

As of late, over 80% of the ocean is “unmapped, unobserved, and unexplored” (NOAA, 2018). The idea that such a prominent feature on our planet is so unknown to us is almost terrifying – it is literally 70% of our planet’s surface (NOAA, 2018). Then again, that is similar to why some people are scared of the dark: it is not the dark that they are scared of, it is what could be lurking inside it.

[Earth – Western Hemisphere] (n.d.) NASA/MODIS/USGS from https://phys.org/news/2014-12-percent-earth.html

One question I like to think about is: if we could see everything in the ocean, would we go in? In some areas of the world, such as much of the tropics, the water is already so clear. As you go deeper into the ocean away from the shore, it becomes less obvious what is underneath. I remember going to a friend’s cottage where the lake was black, purely because it was so deep. Although I am not afraid of water, I still prefer to be able to see at least partially what I am swimming in.

[Bora Bora] from https://foundtheworld.com/bora-bora/

[Blackwater Lake] from https://www.ehcanadatravel.com/british-columbia/whistler/pemberton/parks-trails/5103-blackwater-lake.html

I think I have always had a deep appreciation and admiration for water in general. How can something be so beautiful, yet terrifying? It is something that we enjoy at beaches, cottages, and getaways, yet can also cause great destruction to whole populations. I think I appreciate it also for the interesting, vibrant or unusual colours, shapes, and forms of creatures it holds. To believe that an organism breathes something different than oxygen is so normal, but to really think about it is mind-boggling. If the roles were switched and we breathed water, life would obviously be completely different. Half of the things we do on land would be impossible, from using paper to electricity, life would be so altered.

I have mixed feelings on discovering the ocean and its vast wonders. They do say that ignorance is bliss, and if humans were truly meant to know all of its secrets, would we not made to grow up with gills? The reason I say “grow up” is because when we are developing embryos, we actually do have features homologous to other animals’ gills (Miles & Srinivasan, 2020). These features are called “pharyngeal pouches” and never actually turn into full gills.

All in all, oceans are not something I believe we should be terrified of, regardless of the fear I may have instilled during this blogpost. Instead, they ought to be regarded as something we are so lucky to have, something to protect, and overall appreciated as simply something amazing.

References

US Department of Commerce, N. (2009, January 01). How much of the ocean have we explored? Retrieved from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/exploration.html

Miles, B. (2020, May 02). Embryology, Pharyngeal Pouch. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557724/

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Learning New Tools

In terms of nature interpretation, I am only a competent storyteller at best, as well as someone who enjoys using visual art (painting and photography) as both a tool and a hobby to teach people about nature. However, in this week’s chapter, I find myself feeling like “who I am” in terms of someone who uses art to interpret nature to be somewhat subpar. Beck et al. goes into detail about individuals who use art forms that I have never seen been used to interpret nature. I’m not sure if this lack of knowledge on the different art forms reflects my own lack of diversity in the different strategies or my lack of diversity in the types of nature interpreters I have experienced. Either way, I definitely learned new ways to interpret nature this week.

A picture of me leading a nature walk through the Monteverde Butterfly Gardens. Using storytelling as my art form.

The first art form that really stuck out to me while reading this chapter was the use of theater. I am not a fan of theater at all and I was even cringing at the thought of having to read about theater. However, I was blown away by one particular aspect, Lee Stetson. I have never heard of Lee Stetson or the character he portrays, Jon Muir, however, his dedication to theater is really inspirational (Beck et al., 2018). I decided to look into who John Muir was and discovered he was a naturalist and conservationist, which most of you probably already were aware of (Wood, n.d.). Upon learning this and learning that a professional actor who has had the opportunity to play other major roles chooses to play America’s foremost naturalist and conservationist for the last 37 years is amazing (Beck et al., 2018)! In addition, I also thought that Stetsons belief that interpreters do not need dramatic training to do what he does is refreshing (Beck et al., 2018). Hopefully, when quarantine is over and I am finally able to fulfil my dream of going to Yosemite, I hope to see Lee Stetson preform his meticulously researched character.

The second art form that really stuck out to me was visual art, mostly because it is my favourite type of art (both drawing and photography)! In Nirupa Rao’s ted talk, she mentioned how her art was able to help document trees for the Nature Conservation Foundation and also be used to create children’s programs to help them learn about local fauna. I think visual art is the most perfect way to interpret nature because it can mean many different things, you don’t need to speak the same language to understand (Beck et al. 2018).

There are thousands of interpreters that use art as tools in their nature interpretation and just learning about 2 of them has really inspired me to expand my imagination when it comes to using art in nature interpretation.

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T., and Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Urbana, IL: Sagamore – Venture Publishing LLC.

Wood, H. (n.d.). John Muir: A Brief Biography. Retrieved October 13,2020, from https://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/life/muir_biography.aspx

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Like you, I love to use both photography and painting to express nature. I think it is so refreshing to be able to use art to show others how you, yourself, view nature. I appreciate that these art forms can be done very lowkey as I believe my lack of stage-confidence prevents me from doing anything such as drama or dance. Although I am not the biggest theatre-dweller, I can still very much appreciate those who are as it means we are able to experience their hard work. I have heard of John Muir but never really looked into him further, so it is really interesting to find out that he was both a naturalist and conservationist.

Through quarantine, I have found myself turning to art as a way of self-improvement and relaxation through everything that is going on in the world. Currently I am really enjoying photography, painting, sketching and even makeup. Even if the art does not turn out well, it makes me calmer and allows me to think of only one thing at that certain time. It is difficult to find time to do these things as school often disallows for more creativity. That is one reason I am thankful for this class, as it allows us to write fairly freely on interesting topics, and these blogs are something I may even look back on one day.

A painting I made that turned out to be moldy lemons.

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Interpreting Nature Through Art

Art is such a unique way to interpret nature, it uses many different mediums such as voice, music and storytelling to convey messages that simple words cannot (Beck et al., 2018). During my time in Alberta I had some friends whose job it was to interpret nature through theatre. This was done in an outdoor stage, and many of the actors were drama students or acted professionally. Although I was fortunate to attend a few of these shows, the one I remember most clearly was one about a mother and baby deer. This performance explained concepts such as the wildlife’s usage of underpasses (safe transitways underneath highways for wildlife to cross) and the differences between white-tailed and mule deer (e.g., the name “mule deer” stems from the resemblance of the deer to the mule). These performances are classified as “Outdoor Dramas,” and are dated back to the Classical Greek period as a way to teach about heritage (Beck et al., 2018). I had never thought of communicating nature in this sense, but to this day I remember it quite well. That is just one example of how powerful nature interpretation can be and demonstrates how a connection can be made deeper than at a superficial level.

Two common deer found in Alberta: mule deer (left) and white-tailed deer (right). Taken from: https://coloradooutdoorsmag.com/2015/03/18/a-quick-guide-to-differentiate-mule-deer-from-white-tailed-deer/ by Wayne D. Lewis/CPW.

Nature in itself is so beautiful, really an artform all on its own. So, when nature is then transcribed into an artistic medium, I feel it brings a new level of life. I thoroughly appreciate how nature can be displayed in so many different ways artistically. These different forms range from poetry to dance to music to visual art, and each is beautiful and unique.

While watching the Group of Seven documentary, I admired several things: first and most obviously, the art. The colours chosen so specifically represent the changing of seasons that Canada is so fortunate to be able to experience. Secondly, the nostalgia it created, reminding me of simpler times playing in forests, going to the cottage and the simplistic beauty of the outdoors. And lastly, when one of the women in the documentary was painting her own version of a Group of Seven painting, the way she was able to be wholly present while painting. The peace that came with the ability to just paint and sit in nature. I think it is amazing that art in nature is capable of making one feel all of these things.

The Pool painting by the Group of Seven. Taken from https://www.1st-art-gallery.com/Group-Of-Seven.html.

The way that art is unable to really be “rightly interpreted” is so interesting to me, it is an individually unique experience (Beck et al., 2018). Although Beck et al. (2018) state that most artists object to having their work interpreted as it gives it a proposed “set” meaning, I believe we all interpret nature through art. We may not all create stories, poems or theatrics, but we all have our own experiences regarding our encounters in nature and art.

To think that one piece of art is able to be seen in an infinite amount of ways because of one’s past experiences, likes/dislikes, background, influences, etc., is so interesting. So, although we are not all art critics, actors, or artists, we are still able to harness a distinct take on the piece of art in front of us.

Reference

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world. Urbana: Sagamore Publishing.

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Finding Comfort

Nature has been a huge part of my life ever since I can remember. As a child, nature provided me with many opportunities for creativity and exploration, while offering a sense of wonder. A forest full of trees was my favourite playground, but I didn’t quite appreciate nature back then, like I do now. After starting in the landscape architecture program, my relationship with nature has matured and flourished. The experiences in my program have shown me the greater importance of nature and how nature influences the behaviour and emotions of every individual. Not only does nature have a beneficial impact on human behaviours, but nature is essential for the wildlife that surrounds us. My program has given me a deep understanding of what species of plants can do for biodiversity and ecosystems, and it is amazing to see what nature is capable of. As I get older, my appreciation and love for nature strengthens and grows. Without nature, we would not be in existence; we rely on nature so much for our essential needs and most of the time we do not even realize it. The miracles performed by nature on a daily basis continue to astonish me, and I will continue to be an advocate for maintaining a healthy environment, so that nature can continue to gift us with the world we live in. 

Quite recently, a relative of mine offered me a unique sense of place when I was visiting Aberdeen, Scotland on a study abroad trip. As the textbook describes, interpreters help people gain a sense of place by sharing the beauty of the environment, significance of the history, and the cultural surroundings. My cousin from Scotland provided this for me. Within an hour of getting off of the place in Aberdeen, my cousin was educating me on the history, and importance of the Scottish landscapes that we were driving through. That night he took me to Stonehaven, to see Dunnottar Castle at dusk. The sunset and waves crashing along the North Sea provided me with a sense of comfort that I had been missing since leaving home. It was in that moment that I truly appreciated the new landscape and nature that surrounded me. I was thankful to be immersed in such a beautiful place filled with history and importance. I visited Stonehaven three more times on my trip and each visit I took a moment to take in the scenery and reflect on all of the things that I am thankful for; nature being one of them. Stonehaven was more than just a site to see, it represented so much more to me, and I am forever thankful to my interpreter for providing me with this sense of place and comfort far away from home. My love for nature has been influenced by so many different interpreters, and I am looking forward to experiencing more of this amazing world as I continue to explore. 

I have included some of my favourite images from that first night in Stonehaven, Scotland. 

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I’ve actually always wanted to go to Aberdeen and was supposed to go to Scotland before Covid-19 struck. It looks so beautiful in your pictures, though, so picturesque. I think it is such a privilege to be able to experience nature through travel, especially when you have people in the destination spot that allow you to appreciate the surroundings even further.

Although I am thankful for where I grew up and live, there is something so different about having such close access to the ocean. I wonder if the Scottish take this close proximity for granted as it is something many of them have had access to their whole lives.

I think it’s so interesting that your cousin was a nature interpreter for you. We often think of nature interpreters as esteemed scientists or people on television, but do not realize that some of the best interpreters are those closest to us.

It also intrigues me how different schooling programs can give a different perspective, or lens, to look at the world through. It, too, makes every experience with nature that much more intense and meaningful. My program, ecology, allows me to think about how different systems work together to create such a beautiful landscape or environment.

Overall, I really enjoyed your post and pictures and I’d love to know a bit about the history of Aberdeen if you remember it!

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Loss and Healing in Nature

Loss is an interesting thing to consider in regard to nature; we came from the earth and we will eventually return to it. I am unsure if it is comforting or terrifying that nothing is permanent. Today’s blogpost is proving quite difficult to write, even though I had thought that it would be the simplest since it is the most versatile. The task this week is to write whatever is on your mind, but due to recent circumstances, loss and healing are all that are prevalent in my mind.

We often turn to nature for comfort, in our darkest times we seek its relaxing ambience. This relaxation is even proven in multiple studies: “forest therapy,” a term used to explain forests’ natural healing properties such as their scenery, sunlight, sounds, etc., was proven to increase serotonin in middle-aged women (Park et al., 2020). Another study that tested middle-aged men found that being in forests also decreased the body’s pulse rate, depression, fatigue, anxiety and confusion (Li et al., 2016). I would consider these healing properties of nature an ecosystem service, and this may suggest why loss in nature is so upsetting.

When we think about loss, we often associate it with a feeling of emptiness. One thing that comes to mind is fire, as it has the ability to destroy and create loss in an environment. What is so interesting about fire, though, is that it is often used by nature to heal itself and create new life and carry out the old. I learned this in my time in Alberta, where I was lucky enough to work with the Government of Alberta in their ecology section. I learned that fires are used purposefully by humans to shape the way the environment forms. It is used to create new, nutrient-rich soil, burn homogenous forests that are of little benefit to the environment, and to rid the area of certain pests that affect the forests. These fires are usually of little significance, with the wildlife often remaining unharmed at the time of the fire. If there is to be a larger fire scheduled, however, the wildlife is removed prior.

Photo of controlled fire taken from: https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/forest-fires-the-good-and-the-bad# by Day's Edge Productions / WWF-US.

Another significant factor in terms of loss is the Amazon rainforest. This tropical forest provides a significant amount of oxygen for our earth but is cut down in sizes of football fields. This news brings a sense of additional hopelessness with loss, as it makes me question what I can do while this is occurring. I have not even begun to talk about the physical healing properties that forests hold such as medicines. While in the Amazon I learned about, although cannot remember the names of, certain plants that can be used to heal burns and treat the flu.

Knowing that forests have physical and mental healing properties makes me question if I am putting another objective value on nature itself, as if it does not have inherent worth. There is much to think about in this sense, but for now I can acknowledge that nature is capable of creating great loss but also great healing simply as it is.

References

Li, Q., Kobayashi, M., Kumeda, S., Ochiai, T., Miura, T., Kagawa, T., Imai, M., Wang, Z., Otsuka, T., & Kawada, T. (2016). Effects of forest bathing on cardiovascular and metabolic parameters in middle-aged males. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine: eCAM, 2016, 2587381. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/2587381

Park, B. J., Shin, C. S., Shin, W. S., Chung, C. Y., Lee, S. H., Kim, D. J., Kim, Y. H., & Park, C. E. (2020). Effects of forest therapy on health promotion among middle-aged women: focusing on physiological indicators. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(12), 4348. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124348

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Privilege & Nature Interpretation: The not so great outdoors

I perceive privilege as advantages that a person has solely by being part of a certain social group, often a majority group or a group that has wielded dominance over others historically. This goes on to shape individual experiences and perceptions of the world. It is something that benefits and simultaneously oppresses without the need to have done, or failed to do anything. Privilege does not need to be acknowledged to exist, it simply exists. So, you might be wondering how privilege manifests itself in the natural world which is by and large considered ‘freeing’. Well it does, because we interact with nature and therefore the natural world cannot be independent of our social constructs. 

Being a black woman while navigating the space of nature interpretation or outdoor sciences in general, it’s strikingly obvious the many roles privilege plays. For one there is a lack of representation in the space, growing up and not seeing anyone that looks like you doing something you’re interested in is kind of sad, it makes it seem that much more unattainable. Simply searching ‘nature interpreter’ on google images not only highlights the lack of representation in the space, but it also sends you a message, “white and male dominated”. 

Nature interpretation has for a long time been represented as a largely homogeneous field. The lack of representation enables people to be oblivious to the privilege of occupying the space, and it normalizes the looks of surprise when people who look like me are seen in the field. An article by the guardian titled “Being black while in nature: You’re an endangered species” does a great job of summing up how I often feel. I’d suggest checking it out because as nature interpreters it’s important to learn about the experiences of others who navigate the same space from their perspectives. This can aid in connecting to, and better understanding diverse audiences. 

(Earyn & Corina: two of many amazing scientists that I follow on twitter)

Despite the lack of representation, I discovered that there is diversity in the field of nature interpretation, however small the percentage may be, it exists. It just took me falling down the black hole that is ‘science twitter’ to find it. On there, I was able to see people who looked like me, doing what I wanted to do, and acknowledging the barriers that they had to overcome to get to where they are. However you shouldn’t have to be on twitter to see representation and have conversations about increasing accessibility, it should be happening in the field. In order to reach and connect to diverse & minority audiences, interpreters need to understand and acknowledge that privilege exists in occupying the space. Because if it didn’t, you wouldn’t hear incidents of BIPOC naturalists being regarded as suspicious or dangerous when trying to connect with nature. 

If the role of privilege is not acknowledged in nature interpretation, then underserved audiences will continue to be underserved and the spotlight will continue to be on the homogeneity of the field.

[btenvs3000-20]

I love your point discussing how privilege does not require acknowledgment to exist, and I completely agree. Although no one chose to possess such a thing, recognizing it is incredibly important so that awareness is spread and action to change it occurs. It is almost upsetting that humans have such a large effect on the world that even nature itself is disturbed.

I want to thank you for sharing your personal experience; as a person of another minority it is refreshing to hear someone raise the point of White/male domination in environmental studies. I actually never really realized until this moment, but this may have been one of the reasons I so heavily admired David Suzuki. My country is often portrayed in the media and in my education as being a very polluted, anti-green place, which can be very discouraging when your goal in life is increase environmental sustainability.

I think I was also privileged enough to grow up in a very diverse area, which many people are not fortunate enough to have experienced.

I honestly really appreciated your post, because although I know we may not completely be the same, I related to it enough to feel connected and aware. (I’ll definitely be checking out those Twitter accounts!)

I knew that privilege existed in the scientific community and strived to always be aware of my own, but I thoroughly appreciated that you mentioned the privilege of the homogeny that often goes unnoticed.

[btenvs3000-20]

Privilege in Nature

I believe that privilege is anything that one did not do anything to earn but creates advantages in life regardless. For example, skin colour or birthplace; these are decisions made out of any of our control, yet, our lives differ drastically based on these factors.

Privilege is a major factor in nature interpretation, or how one views nature, for a number of reasons. Referring again to the birthplace example, where one lives will influence how nature is interpreted.

Growing up in the suburbs, nature was often manicured; the lawns were cut in the parks and the trees were groomed. This led to a personal romanticization of nature, and perhaps rightly so. This, and the media’s portrayal of nature, made me want to venture out and see what life looked like outside of this “suburb bubble.” I was able to accomplish this through travel, another extremely privileged feat. The role of eco-tourism has become increasingly popular as people look for new ways to escape their busy lives, in hopes of achieving a clearer mentality or stronger bond with the earth. Eco-tourism promises an escape, a slightly skewed version of these exotic places. This allows for a short immersion, a “break” from reality before returning to whence one came. Contrarily, someone inhabiting these areas might view nature very differently. I once learned in an environmental class about a man who cut down endangered trees in order to provide for himself and his family. As someone who does not have to do this to survive, it is easy to think he should stop, but of course this mindset does not consider this man’s reasons for cutting down these trees. Some people may not be privileged enough to view nature as an escape, but instead, a necessity to survive.

A photo of my mom and dog, Beau, on a hike at a Halton Falls. We are very fortunate to have such close proximity to well-kept paths. Although this area is considered quite natural, it is still so heavily human-influenced that it does not always feel so “natural.”

Nature interpretation is incredibly personal, and although I realized that everyone experiences it individually, admitting privilege creates an entirely new perspective.

There is a saying, “With great privilege comes great responsibility,” which I think caters largely to our relationship with nature. As we are able to enjoy, experience, and reap the benefits of nature, we also have a duty to protect it and acknowledge unequal access and rights that we may have. This inequity is coined “environmental racism,” in which certain groups of people are exposed to lower-quality environments, thus resulting in poor health conditions. An example of environmental racism is the living conditions of many Indigenous communities in which their access to clean water is limited, and exposure to harmful chemicals is heightened. These communities are also more vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

I think the reason why some people choose to leave their privilege unacknowledged is because it comes with a sense of duty, guilt, and fear that one cannot do enough. However, by acknowledging one’s privilege one is more equipped to see, and actively fight against, the environmental injustices in and around the world.