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Disclaimer
This blog was created for ENVS 3000 W24, University of Guelph
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of the University of Guelph.
The University of Guelph is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by this blog.
Unit 10: Nature Interpretation and Sustainability
As a nature interpreter, it is my responsibility to treat nature with respect and care when making my observations. Firstly, my values as an individual are what assist me in my ability to make decisions. As someone who has spent much time in nature, I feel that I have seen my fair share of nature being disrespected and uncared for. This is particularly true when looking at areas nearby me. I believe it is important that we treat nature with empathy and understanding (Beck et al. 2019, Chapter 10). I often see people who have littered in nearby open spaces, have cut down trees to make more room for infrastructure and hunt animals recreationally (Hooyokas, n.d). Each of these reasons serves as a further reminder that it is important we work to protect our environment in its entirety as these habits deteriorate our natural environment (Hooyokas, n.d).
It is my responsibility to preserve nature when making my observations. When out in the fields I always ensure to look rather than touch or remove things from their environment (Hooyokas, n.d). For example, when I was in a first-year biology course, we were asked to go out and document squirrels' behaviours. When carrying out this task, I made sure to keep the homes of these squirrels intact by leaving their nests and food stashes in place. I continued to keep notes and take photos while maintaining a safe distance to allow the squirrel's habitats to remain maintained. In addition to this, as a nature interpreter, I work to act as a silent observer. To me, this means that I work to take in the environment at a slow and steady pace. I take mental note of surrounding features such as the sound of the wind or the movement of plants seeds and fruits in order to help me better understand the movement and behaviours of animals in their habitats. Moreover, this helps me better identify any changes that could be disrupting these patterns. This is evident when looking at areas where trees have been cut down or in places that have fewer areas of higher ground. For this reason, I believe it is imperative that we work towards keeping such elements intact.
When examining my beliefs I feel that I am someone who greatly emphasizes the importance of appreciating the environment. I make sure to do this by providing care and support to plants around me as that works to nurture other aspects of nature. This helps to ensure that there are great levels of diversity in our flora and fauna. This helps contribute to a healthy and sustainable ecosystem as food chains are able to thrive. Nature interpretation plays a huge role in mental health. (Beck et al. 2019, Chapter 3). I also enjoy spending time in nature as a form of a mental health break as I often find it helps me feel at peace. Particularly, I often do this during midterm and exam season as I feel that it serves as a good break and helps me to refocus after a long day. I do this by taking walks by the forest near my home or by sitting by our local pond. The sounds of the water as well as that of the birds chirping and rustling of animals in the bushes help me feel as though I am more connected to my surroundings. This gives me the opportunity to get away from my busy schedule and get my mind off of the work that I have. I often work to engage in nature interpretation by taking photographs I enjoy being able to reflect back on the moments I have spent in various environments. Moreover, it allows me to share my love for the environment with others. It allows me to share the beauty of natural landscapes through my own lens.
When looking at my personal approach to nature interpretation I work to incorporate my passion for the environment into aspects of my everyday life. I am someone who loves gardening and plants. I myself have many indoor plants that I like to tend to. In addition to this, I keep an outdoor garden in my backyard full of various plants, including fruits and vegetables. I feel that this hobby allows me to have better control over incorporating healthy foods into my diet. Moreover, it acts as a way of spending quality time with my family. We all enjoy gardening and are able to do so together in the summers while incorporating quality time in nature. I think this is a unique way of appreciating nature as gardening allows us to watch aspects of nature transform and evolve. It shows us that nature is fluid and constantly changing. It reminds us that there are so many forms of life in nature without us realizing it. It encourages me to get in touch with nature through an active role. Another approach I like to take includes that of being in touch with nature. The act of laying out on the grass or swimming in nearby waters allows me to feel physically in tune with the environment
Nature interpretation itself is a very broad field that works to describe both the intricacies and complexities of the world around us through our observations. This course has allowed me to better understand what it means to be an interpreter while also examining nature through differing lenses of interpretation itself. By ensuring that the respect and integrity of our environment are maintained I believe that I have gained a richer experience when out in the fields. In addition to this, by attempting to take on a multitude of approaches I feel that I have been able to develop an appreciation for nature and help protect it from some of the dangers it faces in our society today. Overall, much of what we see can be appreciated as well as presented in various forms.
References
Beck, L., Cable, T.T., and Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore
Publishing. Hooykaas, A. (2024). Unit 10: Nature Interpretation’s Role in Environmental Sustainability. University of Guelph.
Hi Tara,
Great final post! I think it was a great choice to incorporate the main ideas from Unit 10 to address this prompt. This unit focused on environmental sustainability and its role in the interpretation of nature. I think this is the most important concept to consider when taking in nature and should be our number one responsibility as interpreters.
I think we are all painfully aware of at least some of our population’s impact on the environment and it is ignorant to ignore our impact on every corner of this earth. You brought up a few great examples about our effect on wildlife such as disposing waste improperly, encroaching on greenspaces, and hunting recreationally. Although these all have immediate consequences, it is also important to consider the long-term effects of each.
One way our population tends to depose of waste is by littering, with many instances being next to roadways. Even if the liter may be compostable, it is not only impacting the health of ecosystem, but it is also attracting rodents or small mammals to roadsides to feed. This creates a hazardous environment when feeding but also allures predacious animals to hunt in these dangerous areas. Therefore, throwing garbage out on to the roadside is not just affecting soil quality or individual animals but has long lasting effects on the wildlife surrounding it. You also mentioned our urbanization and deforestation practices in natural areas. Not only does this have the immediate effect of destroying the homes of wildlife but it also causes the animals to adapt certain natural behaviours. An example of this is the increase in bird of prey electrocution risk due to the lack of natural perching. As these animals are often searching for high advantages when hunting, electrical infrastructure tends to be a magnet for perching. This unfortunately has caused 500 deaths North America in the Golden Eagle species alone (USFWS, 2016). Overall, it is evident that our impact on the environment affects many and is long-lasting. Thus, it is imperative that as nature interpreters one of our main goals is environmental sustainability.
Can you think of some long-term effects that occur from recreational hunting?
References:
US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (2016). Bald and Golden Eagles: Population Demographics and Estimation of Sustainable Take in the United States, 2016 Update. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, Washington DC, USA.
Last BLOG
As I think about everything I've learned in this course about becoming a nature interpreter, I realize it's changed me a lot. It's not just academically but ethically and personally. It's also about how I see my role in talking about and protecting the environment. It's made me really think about how I can take all this classroom learning and use it out in the real world.
First up, I absolutely love nature. That's the big reason I'm doing this class. I've always been amazed by the outdoors, and this course has made me want to share that amazement with others even more. Like from the textbook by Beck, Cable et al, (2018) mentioned, sharing what you're passionate about can really make a difference. It's not just about dumping facts on people; it's about making them see why nature is so awesome. I want to get people as excited about saving the planet as I am.
Another big thing I've learned is how important it is to make sure everyone feels welcome in nature. The outdoors should be for everyone, no matter what challenges they might face getting out there. We talked a lot about making sure things are accessible for everyone, whether that means having braille for people who can't see well or making sure paths are wheelchair friendly. Nature doesn't leave anyone out, and neither should we. I strongly believe that nature isn't just for the few. It's for everyone, no matter their background or abilities. This means I've got to think creatively to make sure everyone can join in
I also realized that learning about nature is never done. The world is always changing, and there's always something new to discover. I want to keep exploring and finding out new things, and I want to help others do the same. It's like what Rodenburg (2019) said: being curious and always ready to learn more is super important.
After taking this class it makes me feel like it's my job to make sure that when I share nature, I do it in a way that everyone can enjoy. This means thinking about different people's needs and making sure they are welcomed and accessible to all. Beyond just pointing out cool plants or animals, I see it as my responsibility to educate people about the challenges our environment faces and inspire them to be part of the solution. It's about stirring up a sense of wonder and a desire to make a positive impact.
I've also spent a lot of time thinking about how different people connect with nature. Some might like to learn by doing things with their hands, while others might enjoy listening to music inspired by nature or looking at nature art. Stories or history about a place can also make it come alive in a new way for people.
While nature is all about disconnecting from screens, I think technology can be a great tool if used wisely. Things like apps for identifying flora and fauna, or podcasts about nature (which could provide loads of insights by the way!), can enhance the outdoor experience without taking away from the magic of being in the moment.
Building upon that, creating and hosting a podcast as a nature interpreter opened up a whole new world of insights for me, way more than I expected. It wasn't just about sharing cool facts about nature or talking about the outdoors; it became a journey of discovery, connection, and learning that went both ways, between me, my guests, and my listeners.
For me, as an individual diving into the world of nature interpretation, finding approaches that resonate with my personality and strengths is crucial. A strategy that feels most suitable for me is definitely getting hands on, I love doing things where everyone can actually touch and see stuff up close. Imagine going on a walk and being able to touch the leaves, smell the flowers, or even spot animal tracks. It's like making everyone feel like they're part of the adventure, not just watching from the sidelines.
In a nutshell, my journey as a nature interpreter is guided by my love for the natural world, a commitment to inclusivity and education, and a belief in the power of hands-on learning and storytelling. My mom, who recently passed, always used to say “get outside today”. I will hold on to that saying forever, and definitely do that.
References:
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Publishing LLC.
Rodenburg, J. (2019). Why environmental educators shouldn’t give up hope. Environmental Literacy. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300.
Cheers!!! -Virginia
Hi Virginia,
I thoroughly enjoyed reading through your final blog post. The style of your writing is very conversational and appealing to the reader, a great quality to have in written nature interpretation. You brought up a lot of amazing points in your post that I hadn’t thought to include in mine! In my blog post I addressed these questions specifically around the ideal area of nature I want to interpret, rather than taking a more general approach like you did. Answering the prompt regarding our future in nature interpretation more generally would have been advantageous as I will be faced with various fields of nature to interpret in the future. The vast components of nature interpretation have provided us with a new set of tools to approach and convey any area of nature.
You mentioned the quote by Rodenburg (2019): “Being curious and always ready to learn more is super important”. This is such a great quote to include in your last post because I truly believe this is one of the main important concepts we’ve learned and one of our responsibilities as nature interpreters.
I liked that you included what you’ve learned working on the podcasts this semester. I am somewhat new to the world of podcasts so working in our groups allowed me to learn quite a bit. It is quite different then a regular presentation. There is more of a conversational style and requires additional time to perfect. Keeping the delivery of the educational information causal can be more engaging to the general public and is something to consider in any interpretation situation.
Other than continuously learning and incorporating conversational approaches, what do you think was the most important tool we learned that can be used to interpret nature?
Rodenburg, J. (2019). Why environmental educators shouldn’t give up hope. Environmental Literacy. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300.
Final Thoughts - My future in Nature Interpretation
I chose the role of a nature interpreter to continue to strive for the conservation of birds of prey and other wildlife. As someone has worked with raptors for 5 amazing years now, I cannot tell you how excited I was to take this course to further my skills in this area. Most of my experience has been working with non-releasable birds of prey including falcons, owls, hawks, eagles, and vultures. I have worked as an educational ambassador and trainer with Pacific Northwest Raptors on Vancouver Island and with Wild Ontario’s volunteer program here at the University of Guelph. Both of been amazing opportunities to learn and grow in this field. I have had the pleasure of working with some incredible mentors throughout this period which has shaped my interests in the nature interpretation field and allowed me to hone my abilities in educational communication and animal training. By combining the resources and ideas I’ve learnt from this course, my passion for raptor conservation, and the applicable skills I have acquired through various positions, will allow me to continue in this area and carryout a fulfilling career. As this course comes to a commence, it’s time to consider the main takeaways and how these concepts will apply to my future in nature interpretation.
Personal Ethics
As a nature interpreter and bird enthusiast looking to progress in the education branch of wildlife conservation, it is imperative that I implement essential principles to be the best learning outlet for visitors to foster positive and enlightening experiences. Thus, the ethics I want to consider include accessibility, proper welfare of animals, respect for nature, and authenticity.
Ensuring maximum inclusiveness for all members of the public is necessary for conservation education. When working with non-releasable raptors, most educational events incorporate visual presentations or close encounters with the educational ambassadors to inspire the individual to appreciate and connect with the animal. To increase inclusivity the proportion of visitors engaged, proper accessibility measures must be established. This includes accounting for diverse physical abilities (visibly, auditory, mobility) and comprehensive levels (age, learning styles,). It is important to have accessible ramps, walkways and bathrooms for strollers, wheelchairs, and other physical disabilities (Beck et al., 2018). Catering to different age and knowledge levels is also crucial for uttermost outreach. For example, younger age groups tend to do better with shorter presentations and partaking in non-competitive educational games or activities, whereas senior audiences would benefit from in-depth information and minimal movement (Beck et al., 2018). Not to mention all the other age brackets between the two that require unique accommodations.
Providing appropriate living conditions and welfare practices is another ethical concern to remember. When working with live animals it is critical that they are mental and physical health is prioritized. Size of enclosure environment, access to enrichment, and human interaction are all variables to assess to ensure proper welfare of educational ambassador animals (Baird et al., 2016).
Authenticity is another important moral as well as involvement tool. A quote from Dacher Keltner in chapter 21 of our textbook describes the empowerment authenticity provides to interpretation: ‘In various studies we’ve asked people, “What’s running through your mind when you feel awe, and they’ll say things like, “I want to make the world better’” (Beck et al., 2018). When people connect with live animals or real props like feathers, skeletal systems, or taxidermy, they are more likely to care about their future conservation.
Beliefs and Responsibilities
Along with advancing research, public education is powerful tool to manage wildlife populations and preservation. One aspect of education that is fundamental is keeping up with current findings. This includes monitoring population statuses, rules and regulations, interesting facts, and innovative training techniques. As a nature interpreter I also would incorporate my respect and recognition. There are a few responsibilities to integrate to serve these beliefs:
Verify information authenticity used in presentations and programs.
Continuing to update findings with novel research.
Encourage safe appreciation practices and not to disturb wildlife.
Consider the best environmental sustainability when conducting educational programs.
Inspire people to make a difference (avoid using rodenticides, put up owl boxes, improve compost/recycling habits, reduce disposing waste next to roadways)
Approaches
There are many approaches in nature interpretation depending on audience, budget, and purpose. Some strategies I would like to use in future interpretation positions consist of enhancing interpretation through maximizing the involvement of various learning styles, inspire individuals through experimental learning activities, appreciate historical and cultural significance, and boosting engagement through multi-media platforms.
Our world is made of a variety of learners, each benefiting from different learning styles. To optimize the impact of each educational interaction, it would be advantageous to include a technique to accustomed to each learning style: visual, auditory, and tactile. Working with live raptors is a great approach to appeal to the masses but especially to visual learners. Seeing the birds up close, examining the details, and learning their story will connect individuals to the animal, forming a deeper appreciation for the species. Some examples of this approach can include meet and greets, flying demonstrations, and bone/feather displays. To cater to auditory learners, these visual representations can be accompanied by captivating storytelling and presentations. Teaching the audience about the animals, while demonstrating their natural behaviours, is not only super engaging but highly informative. Tactile learning is a hard style to address working with live animals. One of the best strategies in the avian field would be to include touchable stations incorporating feathers, skeletal systems, eggshells, nests, pellets, or preserved remnants, would further improve the authentic interpretation for the individual.
Experimental learning approaches can also excite and inspire meaningful interpretation. One of my most memorable lectures was a nature walk in the Arboretum. My class was using this time to walk around the landscape and observe Ontarian birds in their natural environment. I learned so much walking with Chris Early, our leader on the walk, regarding identification and observation strategies that I still use to this day. These interpretive experiences are affective and long-lasting. Leading an evening owl prowl would be a fun activity to try!
Another approach I would want to incorporate is connecting these birds to their cultural and historical significance. History is an important aspect of interpretation as we learned in this course. In unit 6 we discussed how nature is everchanging, as it always has. Thus, historical, and cultural considerations are a necessity for raptor education and conservation importance. When working with Bald Eagles I come to learn a lot about their history and their cultural importance in indigenous communities. One important fact I learned was that eagle feathers are protected by Canadian laws and can only be kept by those who are indigenous (Hamilton, 2023). I have learned that enriching my interpretation of nature with its historical background is an asset in teaching and understanding.
Finally, I would want to use technology in my approach to raptor education. As someone who enjoys working with multi-media (photos, videos, posters, etc.), creating digital content can also be an effective method in this field. This will reach further audiences and also available to all accessibilities. Some examples could include short educational videos, photos from the wild, infographics, surveys or quizzes, and livestreams.
Final Thoughts
Working as a raptor trainer and presenter has been an astonishing experience that has driven a true passion of mine. Please enjoy some of my favourite photos I’ve taken working in this field over the last few years!
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore Publishing.
Baird, B. A., Kuhar, C. W., Lukas, K. E., Amendolagine, L. A., Fuller, G. A., Nemet, J., Willis, M. A., & Schook, M. W. (2016). Program animal welfare: Using behavioral and physiological measures to assess the well-being of animals used for education programs in Zoos. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 176, 150–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2015.12.004
Hamilton, W. (2023, June 1). The significance of Eagle Feathers - Canada-UK foundation. CANADA. https://www.canadaukfoundation.org/newsletter/the-significance-of-eagle-feathers#:~:text=Eagle%20feathers%20are%20considered%20very,for%20his%20or%20her%20role.
Nature's Fastest Animal - How to keep up!
What is nature’s fastest animal?
Now I am not proud to say I went the majority of my life thinking I knew the right answer to this question, not knowing until recent years how wrong I was. If you answered the Cheetah, which are known to run up to 120 km/hr, I thought the same thing!
But did you know there is an animal that moves almost triple their speed? The Peregrine Falcon!
Now the peregrine falcon evolved to hunt at speeds at over 300 km/hr! But this is not in a level flight. If a pigeon and a Peregrine Falcon had a level flight race, the pigeon would actually be faster. So, the falcon had to adapt his hunting strategy to get hundreds, if not thousands of feet up into the sky and searched for prey down, and then tuck their wings to free fall out of the sky. Their streamline body and teardrop shape allows them to be super aerodynamic and reach such incredible speeds. Now there are a few unique ways the falcon will attempt to hunt or stun their prey.
There first method is using a falcon punch! Yes... this is a real thing. While the falcon is diving straight towards its prey it will ball up its fits and extend its feet to PUNCH its prey right out of the sky. If the bird is not doing a falcon punch it will attempt to do a falcon body check! Same idea as the punch but instead of balling up those feet into fists they will tuck them up and lead with their reinforced keel bone to ram their prey out of the sky and stun them long enough to collect them on the way down (or on the ground). I will attach a few links to this post highlighting these hunting strategies and how they pass these techniques on to their young. It amazes me every time I watch it.
Another falcon feature that makes these incredible species stand out from other raptors is the shape of their head. Whenever you’ve seen a hawk or eagle up close (whether in person or in a photograph) you’ll notice they look a little mean looking, maybe even angry, and that is due to their prominent brow bone that they use to shelter their eyes from the sun. The problem with clunky facial features is that they make you much less aerodynamic, and therefore not a trait the falcons want to have. Instead, they have a rounder head with dark vertical lines or patches leading down from their eyes. These are called “malar stripes” and similar to football or baseball players when they put black lines under their eyes, its helps reflect the sun glare aiding their sight during the day. Some species are known to even chase their prey towards the sun to blind them and inhibit their ability to get away.
If you think that the development of these hunting strategies is extraordinary just you wait, they keep on evolving! Peregrine falcons are found on almost every continent, but the highest concentration seem to be in major cities for a few reasons: there favourite food is in high abundance (pigeons) and the tall skyscrapers act like cliff ledges that they prefer to nest upon. What some of these urban peregrines have started to do is incorporate these buildings into their hunt to conserve energy. So instead of dive bombing their prey they will chase the pigeon right into the building, letting the window do the work for them. Absolutely incredible if you ask me.
I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit more about the creatures that rule the skies and encourage to keep your eyes skyward!
If you have any question about falcons, or any other raptor, I would love to answer them!
*Disclaimer*: most of this information is coming from first-hand experience, thus the lack of references.
Links:
Nature Interpretation through Music
Nature in Music and Music in Nature.
No matter how you think of it, one cannot exist without the other. They complement each other completely.
In nature you have the beautiful harmonics of life, such as the lively chirps of birds in the morning, or the crashing of waves. Nature’s acoustic melodies can be seen throughout composed music as well. Some of my earliest experience with music came from analyzing “The Four Seasons” composed by Antonio Vivaldi. His brilliant work was inspired by the playfulness of spring, the warm intensities of summer, the lively abundance of autumn, and the dark harshness of winter. This musical interpretation allows the listener to feel the unique vibrations of each season. Another great example of nature featured in created music is the use of its harmonics in the background of songs. One example of this is “Come back as a country boy” by Blake Shelton. This song starts with the sound of wind, crickets, and wolves howling in the background transporting the listener to a fireside environment, or at least that’s how I interpreted this intro. It is truly amazing how listening to a song can take you to an entirely different atmosphere.
It is hard to think of just one song to include that takes me back to a natural landscape so hears a few. The first that immediately came to my head was “Starting Over” by Chris Stapleton. This song played on every radio when I moved to Vancouver Island for the Summer of 2022. One of my favourite things about living here for that time was how emersed in nature you were any moment you left your home. I drove 50 minutes to work every day… but how could I complain? I had the ocean to my left and rolling hills of forests to my right for the entire drive. I remember seeing Black Bears, Elk, and Bald Eagles on my drive too! Highway 1 is one of the most beautiful highways I have ever seen, nothing here even compares. So now anytime I hear this song I am instantly brought back to that car starring out at the natural landscape surrounding my drive. Another song that transports me back to the natural landscape is “When the night feels my song” by Beddouin Soundclash. This used to be one of my mother’s favourite songs when I was younger. When I was ages 5-12, my family owned a mobile home on a campground where I spent most of my summers. Here I spent every day hiking through the forest trails looking for snakes and salamanders, or at the pond catching frogs and turtles. Any time I hear this song (which is often as I have it in my favourites) I am brought back to the joys being a kid and getting to spend every day in nature.
It is truly beautiful how transformative nature interpretation through various mediums can be. I am excited to read through all your experiences with nature and music.
Nature Interpretation through History
This week's prompt leaves us with a very powerful quote to unpack:
"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 Hyms
The analogy of the train only existing while you are traveling on it is a great way to envision how we would interpret nature if we ignored its history. By acknowledging the rich history of various aspects of nature, the interpreter is given the full picture rather than taking it at surface value. Understanding the past is highly relevant to what we learn in the present and provides the integrity of what is known to be true. There was a quote from our textbook that fully embodies the importance of interpreting history: “History serves us in many ways. It can delight and enrich us, inspire and caution us, inform and educate us, help us make thoughtful decisions, enlarge and intensity the experience of being alive” – American Association for State and Local History (ASSDLH, 2023).
Imagine passing through life without appreciating what has been learned in the past. History has taught allowed us to learn from the past and helps us avoid repeating mistakes in the present. This is as much applicable to nature preservation and interpretation as it is to conflict prevention and politics. It has permitted the ideal investigation strategies and conservation tactics in our natural world and allowed us to discontinue approaches that are not as effective. Without this knowledge infatuated from the past, we would not be able to recognize or cherish the natural environment today.
As someone who has had the pleasure to travel to different countries and partake in several excursion, I can say my favourites have all been tours that stress the historical importance and incorporate cultural narrative. By far my favourite tour was went I went to Pompeii in 2014. Not only does this area have rich natural history, but also cultural significance. I am sure most of you have heard the story of Pompeii; the advancing city in Italy growing near the base of Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano which erupted in 79 AD and covered Pompeii in ash. Walking through the recovered ruins, learning about each building and story, permitted a meaningful interpretation of the landmark.
This idea of interpretation also connects back to our unit about privilege. Due to various privileges, I was able to travel to Italy and walk through the ruins of Pompeii with an extremely informative tour guide. Without the finical, physical, and linguistic privileges I possessed, I could’ve had a different interpretation of the monument.
Written Interpretation of Nature - Open prompt week
When I noticed no unit focalizing specifically on nature in literature, I knew exactly what I would want to write about when given a free blog prompt this unit. One of the most beautiful interpretations of nature one can experience is through reading, fiction or non-fiction. I’ve read numerus field guides, books, magazines, and blogs that have shown me thorough explanations, detailed diagrams of specimen, or even recommendations on ways to interpret nature.
The main reason why I wanted to discuss this topic on my blog is actually because of one book in particular, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Not only is Delia Owens an amazing author, but she is also a zoologist and conservationist. I absolutely loved this book, one of my favourite aspects being its descriptive setting of each scene. Due to her background, her style of writing made you feel like you were right there on the beach with the gulls or floating between the reeds down the estuaries of the marsh. That was one moment where are truly appreciated the importance of nature in literature. To be able to transport to a new province or country through the words we read is a powerful example of the interpretation of nature through literature. I have yet to read a book that reminds me of this beautiful use of nature interpretation to set the story’s scene as well as this one has. I cannot recommend a book more.
As the textbook states “writing is a powerful interpretive tool” as well as a form of art (Beck et al., 2018). Journaling, reflecting, poetry and other written styles are an amazing interpretation skill that can be used to convey a vast array of themes in nature. Interpreting nature through writing is exceedingly useful in allowing the reader to make connections emotionally and mentally to the unique concepts discussed (Leftridge, 2006). The advantages of written interpterion are immeasurable, which is something amazing to hear as nature interpretation enthusiasts. This is just another incredible tool we can use to maximize our engagement with the community and appeal to different learning styles. As someone who has always loved the creative freedom of writing but have been more interested in sciences and the natural environment, this is encouraging to learn that there is a happy medium between the two differing subject areas.
I have always wanted to produce written work, a book or maybe an anthology, and I think this could be a great way to convey my perspective of nature through literature. I can use the strategies I’ve learned through this course as well as grasp inspiration from other ecological written pieces like the book Where the Crawdids Sing.
There is a lot of interesting additional information on what I have discussed in this post in our textbook (in chapter 14 especially) including word choice, nature writing strategies, steps of written interpretation, and writing styles. Let me know if any of you read the chapter!
Also, if you have any book recommendations in this category, I would love to hear them!
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore Publishing.
Leftridge, A. (2006). Interpretive writing. National Association for Interpretation.
Unit 04: Interpreting nature through art and What the "Gift of Beauty" means
This week's unit dives into how we can interpret nature through art. Art is an amazing medium in which we can capture our interpretations of the environment and translate them in a way others can enjoy. As discussed in unit 04, when appreciating a piece of environmental art you're actually looking into a moment in time and the perspective of the artist's world. Being able to share art in all forms allows the viewers to also be present in that moment and experience its beauty. In my opinion, art is greatly about interpretation and it is also found throughout nature within all the amazing things biology has created. With that being said, I believe art and nature are extremely interconnected, as nature is the root of many art forms. The environment does not just exist within art mediums such as carving stones and wood, glass art or ice sculptures, but it is also one of the largest sources of art inspiration. For me, art has always been one of my primary means of interpreting nature. Since I was young, I have felt a strong connection with art whether it was with crafts, drawing, painting or digital art, I enjoyed it all. While making art I often received my creativity from the environment and my favourite types of art are by far landscape or nature paintings. Often, instead of referencing specific locations I enjoy painting my own environments, building a unique natural world for others to interpret and enjoy.
When exploring the textbook readings for this week, we read about the expanded set of 15 principles and associated gifts to help guide interpreters (Beck et al., 2018). Regarding the “gift of beauty”, the text mentions that interpreters can display this by instilling the ability and desire in their audience to see the beauty in their surroundings (Beck et al., 2018). I found this very interesting specifically when looking at Tilden's idea that a love of what you are interpreting and a love for your audience is the overriding principle of interpretation (Beck et al., 2018). When interpreting nature, I find it easy to do this through art because of my prior love for the subject of interpretation. This can allow me to be a stronger interpreter of nature and further connect with my audience through personal forms of expression. I think it is important to reflect on what forms of interpreting nature align with what you love most. With this, we can provide more meaningful and insightful experiences for your audiences. what aligns with you most when interpreting nature?
The gift of beauty to me is how we can share nature through art in a way where others can perceive their own ideas of “beauty”. Allowing for uninterrupted and unique interpretations of nature through art is the true gift of beauty, as it provides diverse views and perspectives. When creating art it allows us to have a special ability to capture and provide an experience of nature to others where they can immerse themselves into the art and create personal interpretations.
References:
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing.
Hi Alysia
I loved reading through your post and learning what interpreting nature through art means to you. I completely agree, art and nature are interconnected. You can’t have art without nature and all its brilliant colours. If you think back to early art, most mediums were made from nature (flower petals, berries, mud, and coloured rocks), the earliest of paints actually date back almost 100,000 years and was made of charcoal and ochre (Hennings and Lynch, 2018).
So not only is art inspired by nature, but nature is what allows art to exist! Thinking about this has really made me go full circle. Nature is art.
Looking at your painted rock photos brought me so much nostalgia as it reminded me that I used to do the same! One of my favourite activities was going out into the forest across the street and picking out a rock to paint. I would get my whole family involved by insisting they partake or even making it a competition at times. What I didn’t notice until now was how much the environment and nature influence my art and creativity. I have attached a couple of my painted rocks from the past for you to check out..I think it’s cool we both have similar creative minds!
- Camryn
Hennings, J., and H. Lynch. 2018. The colorful history of paint. EarthDate. Available from: https://www.earthdate.org/episodes/the-colorful-history-of-paint
Nature Interpretation through Art - The Gift of Beauty
“The Gift of Beauty: Interpretation should instill in people the ability, and the desire, to sense the beauty in their surroundings – to provide spiritual uplift and to encourage resource preservation” – A direct quote from Beck et al. (2018).
When reading through the content from this unit and the textbook, I couldn’t help but think “stop and smell the roses”. To me this means taking time to appreciate the beauty.
Appreciating the gift of beauty means taking the time to be present in nature and finding a meaning through the beauty of your surroundings. Moving out west to Vancouver Island these past two summers has not only allowed me to fully immerse myself into nature, through my job as an avian education and the wonderful landscape surrounding me, but also through the time it gave me to enjoy it. I don’t know about you but “summertime” to me usually meant busy days working and the evenings playing sports or with friends. In the past I never had time to go out into nature to learn and interpret the world around me. Moving out west, and living in a new place I have never been before, gave me a lot of time. Time that I was able to spend outside, experiencing nature to the fullest. I think that interpreting nature through art harmonizes with this idea of time. In order to interpret nature through art and all its beauty, you must devote time into doing so and being present.
Art is also an amazing way to interpret the nature around you without as much of a time commitment. Back when I was growing up in my family home my mother hung a painting above our piano of Mount Rundle – one of the spectacular mountains you can see in Banff, Alberta. It was her “favourite mountain” she told me. She grew up out west, so she had visited Banff many times. I however was very young at the time and had only flown out west to visit my grandparents in BC; I had never been to Banff – yet! I remember driving through Canada on my way to Vancouver Island, making sure I stopped at all the good spots. Mount Rundle and the town of Banff was of course on the list. I will never forget when I first saw the mountain. I knew instantly which one it was, no one had to tell me. I had seen it a thousand times above my piano. The beauty encapsulated within this small painting was almost as beautiful as the grand mountain itself. I will say that the inspiring feeling I got when looking at that painting, was the same on I experienced starring up at the white peaks in person. What I have learned from this experience is how much the beauty of nature can be interpreted through art and how nature can draw you right back to the art and all its elements.
Now I tried to get a photo of the original painting in my house, but I wasn’t able to get it in time. I then searched for a bit on google to see if I could find it. Crazy to me that after all these years and a couple scrolls down google, I still knew immediately which one it was.
Here’s the painting by Michael Horyn:
And my photo of Mt. Rundle (a little bit of a different angle!):
I hope you enjoyed this art and nature comparison!
Camryn
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore Publishing.
Blog 3
This week’s blog topic can be viewed as a bit more sensitive than those previous. I want to begin by prefacing that having privilege does not mean you are a bad person. In many scenarios privilege is uncontrollable, but it is very important to be self-aware and strengthen your ability to recognize when it’s present. Privilege is a discussion topic much more prevalent in today’s world than ever before. One way I define privilege, is an individual gaining unearned advantages in certain situations due to unconscious bias towards an uncontrollable characteristic/attribute. It can be identified in many different aspects of life such as the workplace, at school, and -most important to today’s discussion- even in nature interpretation.
In my opinion, the aspect most affected by privilege in relation to nature interpretation revolves around access. The first point we will touch on is where an individual grows up/ lives. An individual’s ability to access the wildlife/nature that they are interested in analyzing is an extreme advantage. For example, If I were interested in discovering new medicinal plants it would be a great advantage to live somewhere close to a rich wooded area in comparison to a big city. Aside from the obvious point that the place in which you live is super important for nature interpretation, I think it is worth specifying the place an individual grows up is just as, if not more important. Being given the ability, or privilege, to make a connection to nature from a young age is very important to the development of new nature interpreters by inspiring them.
The next aspect that I think privilege greatly affects is one’s economic status. There is a very common expression that money makes the world go ‘round, and unfortunately in many situations this is true- nature interpretation is no exception. Like many jobs and positions, it is usually a requirement-or at least a recommendation- that some level of education is required. Nature interpretation being under the sciences category means that in many positions a post-secondary degree would be required. As many of my fellow students know, an education is not cheap and for those who don’t grow up economically stable this may not seem like a reality. In terms of access, economic status plays a large role in that as well. Travelling is a very expensive hobby. Planes, food, shelter, and gas can really add up, and those who have access to funding are able to do this without worry.
The third and final privilege I want to address is a bit different than the others and much less commonly thought of. I think that in nature interpretation it is an extreme privilege to have optimal physical health. Those who have physical inhibitions are at a great disadvantage when it comes to opportunities within nature. Yes, it is still possible to do many things regarding this field, but it is much more difficult. For example: an individual in a wheelchair. If said individual were to go on a hike, depending on the terrain, it could be much more time consuming and hard to engage in this task.
Hi Owen!
Thank you for sharing what privilege means to you and your thoughts on privilege in nature interpretation.
I shared a lot of the views you had but one aspect of privilege I didn’t think to add at the time was physicality. There are so many different activities within nature that require you to have some physicality in order to part take in and appreciate. Such as hiking, travelling, touring, swimming, flying on an airplane, scuba diving, and even driving a car.
These are just a few that I feel so lucky to be able to participate in, realizing now that there are so many who don’t have the privilege. Being young and physically healthy has allowed me to accomplish various activities in nature, as well as learn immensely about the world around us. There are also people that are physically healthy but due to other disabilities are not able to do the activities I listed above. I think it is our duty as nature interpretations to improve the accessibility of some of these nature learning opportunities.
I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this as it has helped me realize even more about what has been in my invisible backpack. Because as when we perceive our invisible backpack as something different than what it is, or ignore parts of it, it leads us to live in an exclusive society, closed off to others due to something out of their control, something we are lucky to have been given, and privilege we don’t deserve.
Privilege in Nature Interpretation - The Invisible Backpack
Working through this unit was not only eye opening but invigorating. Growing up as a female, I was painfully aware of the sexism and the privilege of men in our society today. What I was unfortunately oblivious to was my own invisible backpack of the privilege that I also carried. Privilege is the applied advantage to society that one may have that they have had no influence or control on but has allowed them to succeed in various aspects of life. Some of the more evident privileges include sex, race, religion, language, and finance, but it goes even deeper than this.
This unit has taught me immensely about the privilege I received growing up. From where I am from my family would be considered upper middle class. I had access to a private education, could play the competitive sports I wanted to, travelled yearly, and was able to get most of the things I wanted (within reason). Financial privilege is something I feel very lucky to have had growing up but was one privilege I was also very aware of as I was often reminded by my parents. One privilege I had not thought of until now was the privilege I had in competitive sports. For those who don’t know me I am 6 feet tall and have been since elementary school. Since size is a huge asset in many sports I was often approached by scouts, allowing me to play at the highest levels of the sport and allowed me to make any team I wanted to play for. For hockey, this allowed me to play for an academy team, giving me access to the best coaches and training that a lot of other players did not have the same opportunities for, thus allowing me to develop quicker and become a better hockey player. Due to the reputation of the team I played for, this eventually led me into a coaching/teaching opportunity, where I taught young kids to skate.
Privilege is also apparent in nature interpretation. The main roles privilege plays in nature interpretation regards language and finances. Most learning experiences around nature interpretation has some type of cost. Whether that is to visit nature centres, zoos, excursions, tours, or even traveling to a new area. These all come with their own expenses. Those with the financial ability are the ones who can learn through all these experiences, whereas others may never get the opportunity. One thing I really admire about the arboretum team at Guelph is the free nature walks and activities. This gives people great learning opportunities without the financial burden, and is something I believe more nature centres should partake in. Language is also a major privilege within nature interpretation. Being English speaking in Canada, and even other countries, is a major asset whether you are in a working position or the consumer. Those without English as their first language may not get the same position in a teaching opportunity or may have to do further translating to get the most out of the experience. Learning this through this unit has truly opened my eyes to the privilege I have received in my previous working positions in nature interpretation.
Can you think of other privileges seen in nature interpretation?
02: My ideal nature interpretation role
Hi everyone, for this blog I’ll be talking about my ideal environmental interpreter role! My ideal role as a nature interpreter would be to educate people on endangered species, and encourage them to become more involved in conservation.
I have always loved programs or experiences that get you interested and involved in learning about endangered animals, and that inspire you to help those species. I remember watching Steve Irwin’s show when I was younger, and it got me really interested in animals and inspired me to help protect endangered species as much as I could. Having a hands-on or in person aspect to this kind of teaching is something that I find can engage someone even more in conservation. Having a hands-on portion in conservation programs engages people more by offering a tangible connection to nature, which gives them a sense of responsibility. I think the same thing can be said for things such as zoos too. You gain a much greater sense of connection when you can actually see the animals in person. Because of this, my ideal role as a nature interpreter would be a job where I could talk to and educate people on endangered species, with either a hands-on or in person portion to this role.
This role would involve me talking to an audience about certain species, and then giving them an opportunity to actually hold/touch the species, or be able to see the species in person. This role could be done as a travelling nature educator, someone who goes to schools or events to talk to people about animals and brings live animals with them for their audience to interact with. One company that does this is “Sciensational Sssnakes.” I recently had the opportunity to attend one of their presentations, and it was a great experience! The owner talked to us about many different snake species in Ontario, and some of the conservation concerns and efforts surrounding those species. After the presentation, we got to hold the snakes and interact with them, which made me feel a lot more connected! I think a role like this is exactly the type of nature interpreting that I would like to be a part of. Another place I would love to work is the Toronto Zoo. The shows and educational talks that the zookeepers do at the zoo have helped many people, including myself, to feel more connected to conservation efforts, and gives them a sense of responsibility when it comes to endangered species.
Me holding a Black Rat Snake at the Sciensational Sssnakes presentation!
Both of these roles would require very similar skills. A combination of strong communication skills to convey information in an engaging manner, a deep understanding of animal behaviour and biology, the ability to adapt content for diverse audiences, and patience and empathy in working with both animals and people would all be necessary for this sort of nature interpretation. Passion for conservation and a commitment to promoting ethical and responsible treatment of animals in educational settings would also be essential. Overall, educating people on endangered animals and conservation efforts would be my ideal role in nature interpretation!
Hi Grace! I also had Sciensational Sssnakes come into my lab for a presentation and absolutely loved it! Jenny (the presenter) did a fantastic job at captivating the audience, stressing the importance’s of the conservation of these endangered species, and conveying next steps we can take to help!
When I took the learning style test, I was almost an even split between the three, with auditory being slightly higher (40%). I think this is why I enjoyed and learned so much from the Sciensational Sssnakes presentation as it was mostly verbal communication with some visual demonstrations as they walked around the room with the snakes. I think one way they could have appealed more to the visual learning style is by having photos of each species up on the board while they were presenting because we only got a brief look at each snake as they came around. That way we could see all the physical attributes while Jenny was describing them. At the end of the presentation the audience was allowed to hold some of the species which I think is an amazing way to see these creatures up close as well as appeal to the tactile learners. Overall, a great presentation and I can’t wait to use some of the techniques she displayed while presenting in future nature interpretation roles!
My Ideal Role as an Environmental Interpreter
Over the last five years I have been lucky to find a true passion within the field of environmental interpretation in the world of raptors. I have had the pleasure of working with two different bird of prey organizations; Wild Ontario and Pacific Northwest Raptors. Both organizations strive for the conservation of wild raptors through educational programs and demonstrations. Where the differ regards the type of birds used as educational ambassadors. Wild Ontario works strictly with non-releasable raptors, all having their own stories, such as wing or eye injury, which prevents them from going back into the wild. The Pacific Northwest Raptors has a larger team of birds of prey with only a fraction being non-releasable animals and the other is made up of birds that were hatch and raised in human care. The reason this organization has raised their birds this way is because of the important jobs they have as wildlife management officers. These raptors are used in pest management in places such as airports, landfills, industrial sites, and downtown buildings. These raptors are natural predators of pest species such as gulls, geese, or ducks, and thus one of the best strategies for this area of management.
The time I’ve spent at both organizations, and everything I’ve learned, is something I will always value in any field in the future. One of my daily duties at the Pacific Northwest Raptors was presenting 45 minute flying demonstrations, conducting private tours of the facility, and taking small groups to fly some birds up close. My main focus is stressing the importance of raptor conservation through education and allowing the public to truly appreciate these creatures. One thing I never considered until this unit was learning styles. After taking the learning style test I determined I was almost a even split between auditory, visual, and tactile learning (auditory being my highest with 40%). This means that I benefit immensely from a variety of teaching styles being displayed and I have noticed this through the ways I study. I often used many different mediums such as writing out notes, making flash cards, making a mind map to connect main ideas, listening to a podcast on the subject, having someone quiz me, and teaching someone else. Understanding this idea of learning styles will allow me to generate multi-style presentations to target more of the public.
There are many different skills that I’ve noticed really elevate environmental interpretation and education. One of the most important I think is engaging your audience. This includes making sure the information you are trying to convey comes across as interactive. You want your audience leaving learning something but also inspired to make a difference. This can be through sharing your own individual stories or possibly sparking their interest with something they can do. Overall oral communication is essential in nature interpretation and what learning styles you incorporate will only improve your message more!
A Sense of Place (take 3)
Okay, I've messed this up so many times now, I should not be allowed to blog, I've accidentally deleted this entire post and responses I've made so were gonna just try again I guess.
My relationship with nature begun at a very young age at my family's cottage. My cottage, located just east of Bracebridge, ON has been in my family for three generations now (me being the third). It was the place where I spent my summers, learned who I was, learned what nature is and the first place I have in mind when I have time off. Although I grew up in the suburbs of Georgetown, my cottage is my home, because, at the end of the day, it’s the place I always want to go back to.
When I was young I didn't entirely realize the privilege it was to have a space like this. I was always aware that not everyone had a cottage, none of my friends did, and I only knew a few people in my grade that actually owned a cottage instead of just renting. As I got older it became more and more apparent that I had won the lottery when it came to my cottage, and from there I gained a deeper understanding of my privilege as well as the opportunity I was born with, when it came to this connection I was able to make. My love for nature and the natural world was born up in Bracebridge and nurtured and grew from there and is still growing to this day. As I sit here writing this post as a student studying environmental sciences, I can't help but think how proud my younger self would be, knowing that I've grown up to become a person who can help protect the areas I was raised in.
My childhood allowed me to form connections with the natural world, I played in the forest, and swam in the lake and enjoyed the peace that nature offers. Now it's something I aim to protect. One of the biggest developments in my connection to nature occurred rather recently when I was introduced to outdoor education. For four months I worked at an outdoor education school for one of my co-op positions. There I helped educate young students on the importance of the natural environment and helped them form their own connections with nature. This was one of the most eye opening experiences in my life and again brought up the privilege I had grown up. So many of the kids coming up to the school located in Huntsville ON (about 3 hours north of Toronto) had almost no connection to nature. Only a few had or rented cottages, and growing up in the Scarborough area didn't offer them many opportunities to explore nature in a safe environment. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life watching them interact with nature and the joy that it brought them. I have never seen bigger smiles on students faces, they had the opportunity to play freely outdoors, we led them on hikes, and taught them about the importance of nature and what it can offer us. And I truly believe that those kids left with a better understanding of why the protection of natural areas is so important, even if they didn't realize it yet.
From there, my connection to nature was reignited and I went on to teach nature photography at a non-profit last summer (the main photo for my page up there was actually taken by me at my cottage!). It's so rewarding to be able to help others develop a relationship with nature for there sake but also for my own. Every time I saw one of those kids exploring on their own or taking a picture a tree or following bumblebees, it reminded me of my own relationship with nature and the importance it holds in my life.
I hope that I helped offer those students and campers a sense of place, and that they left with a deeper understanding of the natural world and hopefully a connection of their own.
My own sense of place was introduced to me by my family, and the opportunity they granted me to build this beautiful connection to nature, and inevitably, what sculpted me into the person I am today. For me there was never a moment in time where I can pinpoint my relationship with nature starting. It started before I was even aware of it, it started the moment my parents brought me to that cottage and it hasn't ever stopped. My cottage isn't just a place, and I never felt like it was, it was always a home. And the love I have for that place translates to every natural environment I have explored since.
-all for now :)
Hi @hqenvs3000w24, great blog post!
As someone who has recently got into nature photography I loved to hear about your non-profit position. My main focus for nature photography has been on birds, as they are a true passion of mine, but I am also starting to open up to photographing other species or even interesting landscapes in nature. What is your favourite subject to photograph? I would also love to hear any tips or tricks regarding nature photography and your experience with it! I’ve attached some of my favourite photos I’ve taken.
Reading your post also reminded me of my experience with inspiring kids to have their own relationship with nature. I used to lead YMCA camps at an outdoor site, and I never noticed how much I targeted activities towards nature until now. Most other counsellors focused on random games to occupy their group for the day, whereas I wanted to teach my group what I know about our environment and interacting with it. One of my favourite activities I lead was hiking into the forest to find a nice rock and then painting our favourite part of nature on it. At the time I loved being near water, so I ended up painting waves on a beach. If you work with children again in the future in a nature setting, I recommend doing this activity. My entire group loved every part of it!
Nature Interpretation Changed My Life, and I Didn't Even Know it, Here's How.
I have always had a deep connection to nature. It started when I was young when my parents would take me outside with them for hikes, walks and yard work. I spent most of my younger years outdoors, immersed in nature. I attended nature camps where I learned about local plants and animals and participated in games that taught about food webs and interactions. All of these helped me to interpret nature. Now that I am older, I have much less time to spend outside because of school and work; I can look back and realize how lucky I was and appreciate what nature did for me. It made me feel more connected to the earth and more motivated to continue to spend time outside. I can value nature more now because it is more absent in my life. As they say, you don't realize what you have until it's gone. In addition, the older I get and the more I learn about the world around me, the higher I regard nature. When you’re young, you don’t have the same interest in learning details about life; at least for me, I didn't. I now want to learn everything I can. I am way more interested in biology, geography and history. The more knowledge I accumulate, the more I appreciate my surroundings and the more It encourages me to continue to learn. I hope that, in the future, this cycle continues and my appreciation for nature will continue to develop and grow.
I have experienced a sense of place throughout my life with many places and aspects of nature; however, the first and most significant experience that comes to mind occurred this past summer. I participated in a field course in Algonquin, where I spent two weeks immersed in nature, learning about the history and biology of each area of the park. My professor and the teaching assistants would continuously point out plants and trees specific to that area or animals mainly living there, such as the Canada Jay. They would discuss land formations such as kettle bogs and had guest lecturers who would discuss historical aspects of the park, such as the introduction of deer and the interaction between deer, moose, and wolves. They also highlighted the similarities between different areas while emphasizing differences. All of these aspects helped to create a sense of place. It wasn't a random park with beautiful trees, but it told a story; it became unique. It was interesting going to a location such as Algonquin, where many people travel, as there were numerous examples of nature interpretation that, at the time, I did not think much about, but now, I can see that it was a form of interpretation. Many forms of interpretation were present in the main visitors center, including signs, museums with voice recordings, talks that teach individuals about the park and many books or pamphlets. They also had boards at each trail that talked about the area and the unique aspects of each. I didn't realize how common and how crucial interpretation is. It allows people to learn, better appreciate and enjoy the places we have. Nature interpretation helps to grow an appreciation for nature and encourages people to be invested in the world around us.
Hi there! I thoroughly enjoyed reading through your post as I have had a lot of the same experiences and up brining regarding nature. I also often think about all the time I had to dedicate to being out in nature as a child and how much I truly miss it. It has made me realize just how much being outside affects my mental health. During the semester I try to get outside as much as possible, mostly as a study break but it’s also a great way to practice all the information we’ve learned in person. My personal favourite is going out to bird watch as I can use all the interesting information, I have learned in my ornithology lab to help me identify birds, their calls, and their behaviours. What would you say is your favourite topic to interpret out in nature? Or what are you most curious about?
I loved hearing that you did nature camps as a child. This was always something I wanted to do but with playing soccer competitively, I never had the time for it growing up. Looking back at that time, I wish I just made the time for it. I also loved hearing about your field course in Algonquin and I would love to hear more about it! What course was it? What topics did you focus on? And would you recommend taking the course? I’ve never taken a field course, but I have always been interested so I would love to hear your thoughts!
Developing a "Sense of Place": My Relationship with Nature
“We can never have enough of nature” – Henry David Thoreau
The best parts of my day are often spent outside immersed in nature. My relationship with nature is ongoing and deep rooted. I have been connected with nature starting at a very young age when my favourite summer activities involved investigating the tadpoles, frogs and turtles in pond at my summer campground. Spending almost every summer camping until I was 14 years old, really allowed me to find my love and appreciate for our wonderful world around us and all the amazing relationships within it. As life began to get more hectic and busier, my time spent in nature started to get shorter and shorter. I no longer had or made time for going out, connecting with nature, and finding a “sense of place”.
When the pandemic hit and lockdown began, I all the sudden had unlimited time to devote to the activities and passions I once didn’t have time for, including interpreting nature. I hiked daily in the greenspaces near my house. During this time, I really recognise the importance and value in getting outside and becoming one with nature. Being in nature benefits me immensely, physically and mentally, and I made sure to keep these habits in my life when the times get back to normal.
Once life did get back to normal, I spent as much as I could each week outside in nature whether that was for work, walks/hikes, study breaks, sports, or even studying itself. Over these last few summers, I had the pleasure of working out on Vancouver Island at Pacific Northwest Raptors. Working as a bird of prey educator, trainer, and flying demonstration presenter, I was able to connect various groups of people, all different ages to the importance of raptor conservation and their role in wildlife management. To this day this is the most rewarding job I have ever had. The appreciation people had out in BC is very eye opening and I am happy to have learned a lot through that experience.
Once experience in particular where I had developed a sense of place and felt a part of something was when I spent the weekend in Telegraph Cove. This is a small community on the northeastern coast of Vancouver Island. It is relevantly remote compared to the more developed areas on the Island, which was one of our main interests when finding areas to explore during the summer. While we were there, I had the opportunity to paddle board in the Pacific waters of the Johnstone Strait. The vast wildlife seen during this time was amazing. Watching bald eagles’ fish in the water in front of me to the fish and jellyfish in the water below me. I sat on my board and watched everything in that environment for quite a while. It was one of my most cherish memories spent in nature. Unfortunately, I wasn’t lucky enough to see the orcas and whales seen frequently in those waters, but I was fortunately to learn all the history and cultural background of the small fishing community and these animals inhabiting them through their very own whale interpretive centre. Here they had many different aquatic skeletal systems but also a family tree of the orca pods seen often in the area. It was incredible to learn and compare all the different specimen found in telegraph cove.
