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Unit 10: Finale

My personal ethics are a mix-bag due to living in multiple different cultures. I lived in Korea until 7. Then, I moved to the UAE and stayed there for 12 years. Now, I’ve been in Canada for the past 4 years. Throughout, some of the things I came to value are fairness, responsibility, and self-improvement. These ethics can translate, in multiple ways, to that of a natural interpreter.

Casual photos of places I've lived in: Korea (top left), Abu Dhabi (top right), Guelph (bottom).

The fairness ethic of mine developed by experiencing a variety of cultures and peoples in my life. In the UAE, I went to an affluent international highschool, where I met people from all over. However, outside school, the UAE is full of low-wage immigrant workers and it becomes evident that they are underserved in various aspects of life. The UAE essentially has no middle class as you see in Canada - it’s either poor or high-middle class (or higher). In Canada, I experienced the full force of the oftentimes struggling middle class. Many of my friends are white and considered “privileged”, yet they have to work so much just to afford the basics.

Thus, I feel a responsibility, as a natural interpreter, to bring fairness to all. A core aspect of being a good interpreter is to serve a diverse audience (Beck et al., 2019, pg.132), especially if your goal is to spread the message of an environmental issue. This also ties into the concept of “unpacking” my privilege so as to not bias your interpretation to a certain group of people (Gallavan, n.d.).

Image credits: Spirit FM

Barriers create the “underserved populations” and by recognizing this, I can expand my reach towards these parts of society (Beck et al., 2019, pg.132). For instance, economics may be a key barrier towards a large part of the population, especially if they do not possess a personal vehicle or are busy with work (Beck et al., 2019, pg.133). Or, there may be cultural barriers where different groups have very different opinions about nature (Beck et al., 2019, pg.133).

Whatever the barrier, by “unpacking my privilege” and following my fairness ethics, I have the responsibility to reach out to give a fair chance to everyone. For example, if I were to work in a national park, I could make the effort to reduce economic barriers by advocating for cheap transportation (like a bus) to pick up people and at diverse times to allow for busy people to have an opportunity.

Also, as a “minority” myself, I oppose the idea of treating them differently just because they are a “minority”. I think my experience in Guelph exemplified a good approach that ensures fairness. Here, I have never once been treated differently just because I am Asian. If anything, people treated me like a fellow Canadian, even asking me who I voted for during the 2019 election. As such, I think it is important to recognize it is wrong to generalize a minority group (Beck et al., 2019, pg.133) and when making the special effort to reach out to them, don’t make it seem like a special treatment type of deal (Beck et al., 2019, pg.134). If possible, the best approach would be to treat everyone equally while keeping in mind who your current audience is. This can be done by friendly talking to them, asking why they're here, and even internet surveys (Beck et al., 2019, pg.129).

When it comes to responsibility and the self-improvement ethic, this is heavily tied to my Korean heritage. In Korean culture, you are always compared to others, and people have very high expectations of you. Almost feels like you are constantly carrying the weight of the world. Thus, if I don’t get perfect on a thing I am invested in (like academia), I become angry at myself. I think this is a toxic trait of mine but the positives can be used as a natural interpreter.

Image credits: Presentermedia

Having a sense of responsibility allows you to try to perfect your interpretation of nature. While this may be subjective, a good interpretation takes considerable effort, which may be lacklustre without a sense of responsibility for the environment. It is not a walk in the park to make an emotional and intellectual connection with the audience, communicated through nature (Beck et al., 2019, pg.304).

For instance, the usage of arts can tremendously benefit the interpretation. I believe even approaches like theatre and reenactments can be useful for natural interpretation. Having a diversity of approaches that targets all the senses help leave an impression (Beck et al., 2019, pg.107). However, these approaches require heavy investment into knowledge, making connections to the character, props, rehearsals and much more (Beck et al., 2019, pg.219). Only someone with a high sense of responsibility for the environment and position can tackle such a challenge.

With self-improvement, it will help further improve as an interpreter. By taking good feedback and reflecting on your doings (and if it meets your objectives), you can infinitely improve (Beck et al., 2019, pg.419). I think one of the best things you can do to do this is to invite other natural interpreter sites and become a "visitor" for your own sites (Beck et al., 2019, pg.420). Oftentimes, you know more than the audience and thus may leave out key details that the audience may not know. By fixing these issues, it makes the interpretation much more available for all audiences.

Finally, I want to talk about an approach that is suitable for me and others in my generation. We grew up with the rapid development of technology. Many might think this causes a disconnect between people and nature (Beck et al., 2019, pg.166). However, I believe we can use it to also reconnect. Websites, social media, Youtube, etc. have the presence of billions. As such, I see our technology literacy as a huge opportunity to reach those billions of people to reconnect nature into humans (Beck et al., 2019, pg.168).

A foldable phone - a symbol of today's rapid technological development.

Overall, I have a long way to go to be an interpreter. However, I have still learnt much, especially in ways of scientific communication - a topic important in current science.

I hope people feel the same and good luck on the final stretch!

Eugene Cha

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.

Gallavan, N. P. (n.d.). Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks". Multicultural Education, 13(Pages: 36-36).

cwenvs3000w23

Hello Eugene!

I really appreciate you sharing your unique life experiences in three different countries around the world and how your time there has influenced your ethics. I personally have been born and raised in Canada my entire life, and my family has been here for a few generations, immigrating from Ireland and Scotland escaping things such as the potato famine and the highland clearances in Scotland centuries ago. One of my favourite parts of these weekly blog assignments has been reading everyone else's blog posts, and getting to hear the unique perspectives of many different people on the various prompts.

It is through this that I have learned a lot more about how my experiences as someone who's spent the vast majority of my life in Canada has influenced my perception of nature. I was lucky enough to grow up experiencing summers in the Canadian wilderness and engaging in outdoor activities like sitting around a campfire, or going canoeing. Even before beginning this class I have always been very grateful and have known that I am very privileged to have opportunities to be in nature, and I have known that this is not the case for many others. However, through this class I have learned a lot more in regards to the true importance of understanding how much people’s perception of nature can be influenced by these factors.

As you have pointed out it is very important to understand the different experiences of your audience as individuals. As you have said, there is much more to understanding your audience than simply putting them into a box because they belong to various groups whether it be race, gender, economic status, etc. It is important to understand that people vary so much on an individual basis, and it is our role as nature interpreters to meet people where they are and develop strategies that can best appeal to your audience. I think your view on using technology to reach audiences at a scale that was never thought possible before will prove to be crucial in the future. We have only seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to technology, and I can only imagine how different things will be even a few years from now. If we can have nature interpreters that keep up with technology and effectively educate others, we will be able to expand environmental advocacy to a scale that was never thought possible.

Thank you for sharing your post, and I wish you luck through the rest of the semester and through your journey into nature interpretation.

wmenvs3000w23

Unit 10: Nature Interpretation's Role in Environmental Sustainability

This week, for our final post, we have been tasked with taking a look inward at ourselves as nature interpreters, and breaking down what our ethics, beliefs, responsibilities and approaches to interacting with the environment. I think this a really good way to finish off a great semester of nature interpretation blogging, as it gives us the opportunity to take another look at ourselves after learning so much.

My ethics and beliefs as a nature interpreter have definitely changed over the course of this semester, as while I always considered the environment as something we need to protect, this semester has instilled a sense of duty in me. Having learned about all the different ways we interpret nature and how it provides us with so many impactful and nostalgic memories, I now understand how valuable these experiences I’ve had outdoors are as well as the importance of securing the opportunity for future generations to have the same. Being a biology major with an anthropology minor, I interact with both conservation and humanitarian issues in the subject matter of my classes on an almost daily basis, which I also feel has shaped my sense of environmental ethics. Ethical issues involving conservation can often be quite tricky, as conflicts between human well-being and environmental well-being often arise. When looking into these issues, I often try to consider both perspectives such that harm to nature is minimized and benefits to humans are maximized. These can be tricky issues to navigate but placing a focus on protecting the environment over the long term should always be a main priority.

In terms of our responsibilities as nature interpreters, I think our main goal should be to project such ethics and beliefs while educating others on the value of the environment. Similar to the way this class helped me realize the worth of the memories I have in nature, acting as an interpreter allows one to start others down the same path. I will touch on methods that can be utilized to do so in the paragraphs to come, but I think that acting as a nature interpreter allows one to advocate for a critical piece of our Earth that otherwise lacks a voice. Anyone can go out into nature and experience its beauty, but it is the responsibility of nature interpreters to encourage others to do so, or to bring some of that beauty to those that can’t.

One of the most important things this course has provided me is exposure to the wide array of nature interpretation methods. Starting off in week one looking at past experiences allowed my interest in these topics to blossom throughout the semester, as our initial blogpost established why nature interpretation is so important for me. Going forward into the weeks that followed, I felt the desire to get others to start interpreting the same way the first blog prompt had pushed me. This first post also introduced me to the concept of one’s sense of place, which helped shape my understanding of why we appreciate specific environments, and it gave my feelings of nostalgia more legitimacy in the scope of the course.

An important method of nature interpretation touched on in the earlier blog posts was photography and art, and I found the various means of bringing the beauty of natural spaces to others quite compelling. Ever since I thought deeper about how pictures can act as a way to interpret nature, I have taken more photos of my natural surroundings and will continue to do so, such that I can save more snapshots of different places and seasons. Furthermore, thinking about these methods allowed me to appreciate art depicting nature more, as I could better understand how various mediums can extend the act of nature interpretation to those unable to reach a given location, and even inspire them to get out and interpret for themselves.

Another important method of nature interpretation that I didn’t realize would be so impactful was the making of my group’s first podcast. I had never considered that a podcast would provide an effective means to inspire others to get outside and interpret nature, but I found myself considering going out and birdwatching after making an episode about said topic. Furthermore, the subject matter of my group’s podcast got me to take a deep dive into birds as a whole, and while this episode was aimed at young children, even I found myself surprised and appreciative of some of the bird calls that I hear so commonly but had never pinned to a specific species. The act of making the podcast itself was quite informative, and I can now see how such a medium would be effective in bringing certain aspects of nature interpretation to others.

The last method of nature interpretation I found extremely interesting was music. While I had always considered human-made music inspired by nature to fall under this category, I had never considered that the sounds of nature themselves would also be considered a form of music. I have always listened to nature sounds while I study and work (I’m even doing so right now), but I had never thought about how these tracks could be considered forms of music produced by the environment. I found this quite compelling, as it allowed me to further conceptualize how auditory information can impact how one interprets a space.

Overall, I think the course’s use of a multitude of nature interpretation methods made me much better at doing so over the course of the semester, and the knowledge I gained both improved my appreciation of the environment around me while pushing me to help others understand the same concepts. Whether direct or indirect, nature interpretation provides us with the toolset to both appreciate the outdoors and gain a sense of environmental ethics, which act as essential lessons for the future that, hopefully, we can teach others as well.

I look forward to reading everyone else’s final posts :)

cwenvs3000w23

Hello!,

I must say I've greatly enjoyed reading your post as well as many others throughout this semester. It is great hear the unique experiences and views on various topics. I can definitely relate to many of the points that you have made in regards to your journey through this class and how it has changed your ethics and your approach to environmental education. I too have experienced a change in my ethics through this class, as well as gaining a new-found appreciation to the opportunities I have had in my life to go out into nature. As you have said, recognizing the importance of our own experiences has further defined the value I have for maintaining nature so future generations can have the same experiences. I believe that this preservation can only be achieved through spreading nature interpretation to as many people as possible, so more people are there to advocate for nature in the future.

There are many complex scientific, and political issues in regards to conservation, however if we can keep our ethics simple and advocate for them we can insure that decisions value minimising environmental damage.

I also enjoyed reading about the different methods of nature interpretation that exist and how the can be used to inspire audiences. I too learned a lot through making the podcasts which required us to employ various strategies that are necessary for engaging a specific audience and getting them interested in a species. Through this I can say I learned a lot more about the real application of interpretation. The methods I think I enjoyed reading about the most this semester, and the methods I think I am most engaged by are ones that employ the use of art. For me, I feel a much more spiritual connection to nature through things like music, and I think building this spiritual connection in others is equally as valuable as learning about the biological aspects. Art inspired by nature weather it is visual or through music speaks to apart of our soul and helps people gain a much deeper values when it comes to preservation.

I greatly enjoyed reading your post, and many other's throughout this semester. I wish you good luck with finals, and I look forward to seeing how nature interpretation grows in the future due to the many young minds in our generation that maintain hope and passion for preserving nature.

Unit 10: Where do I stand?

Before I decided to take this class, I had never really heard the term “nature interpreter”, nor would I have ever used such a term to refer to myself. However, throughout my journey in this class, I have learned a lot about what it means to be a nature interpreter and the multitude of different tools one can employ to help educate and spread our shared passion for nature. With each blog prompt, I have been challenged to critically think about my own experiences and how they have influenced my journey in regards to studying the environment. During the various blog posts, I have learned to unpack my “invisible backpack” of unearned opportunities I’ve had that have helped guide my value for nature, and see how different circumstances may have led to a different outcome (McIntosh, 1989). Through analysing my own life and experiences with nature, I can better understand why I have gained a passion for connecting to the nature around me. Keeping that in mind, it further enables me to think of how someone with completely different life experiences may not share the same passion as me, and through this understanding I can better learn how I can educate and spread my passion to people of all walks of life.

Of the many topics the units of this course have covered, a common theme that has been enforced throughout the units is to understand your audience, how they learn, and what they may best respond to. Whether it’s through a simple engaging conversation, stating fun facts, or using aspects of art such as music or visual art; all these serve as different tools that can help engage an audience and perhaps ignite the same sense of passion for nature that we have as nature interpreters. When I first heard the term nature interpreter, the only thing that came to mind was the stereotypical guide at a conservation park, but after 10 weeks of this course I know there is so much more to it, and that educating others about nature is very crucial when it comes to protecting the environment for future generations. For me personally, I grew up going camping trips with my family, and doing things such as visiting a provincial park, or going out hiking or canoeing was a crucial part of my life that defined the value that I have for nature at a young age. This helped me define my interest for nature, and helped aid my decision to study Environmental Management here at the University of Guelph. However, hundreds of millions around the world do not have access to nature in the same way that I did, and due to this most of their views when it comes to nature are guided by the media and the plethora of different arguments when it comes to things like climate change or habitat conservation. Due to this, it can create a sense of disconnect to nature for many people, which can lead to the mentality that human civilization is so separate from nature. However, I personally see us as a part of nature, as not only do we rely on it to provide us with necessary resources, it is also a crucial part of the human soul. Due to this view, I believe that it is my role as a nature interpreter to share the values I have to as many people as possible so those who didn’t have the same opportunities as me can truly feel the same sense of connectivity to nature that I was able to discover through my life experiences.

Thinking about where I stand as a nature interpreter still leaves me with a bit of uncertainty when it comes to what form of nature interpretation suits me best. When I try to think about where my future stands I find it important to think through my past and what brought me to study the environment in the first place. One of the major conclusions that I found throughout high school as I thought about what I wanted to do in university, I knew I was the kind of person who wanted to avoid spending my career sitting in an office chair. I have always been more of a hands-on learner who enjoys actually going out into nature, and experiencing the sights, smells, and sounds so I can better gain inspiration in a way that a computer screen could never provide. So this is why I think I can best educate others on nature in a setting that allows me to guide others through the same physical experiences that ignited my passion from a young age. Through guiding others in hands-on experiences and using some of my knowledge, and storytelling skills to instil a sense of connectivity and passion in nature is currently where I see myself as being the most effective as a nature interpreter. The people who receive your nature interpretation will be able to sense how passionate and genuine you are pretty quickly and this will influence how much they take your message seriously. It is for this reason that it is best as a nature interpreter to be in a role that you are truly passionate about, as passion is one thing that can’t be faked.

My ethics in regards to nature interpretation has changed, and been redefined as I learn more about environmental issues and some of the misconceptions I had before beginning my studies. I have always valued nature, and seen it as something that is worth preserving, however my values in regards to what the current losses in biodiversity means to us as humans, and how we can best go about protecting nature has changed quite a bit through this course. I have learned the importance of educating others not only so they know facts about nature, but so they know more about the spiritual and cultural aspects around nature that make people feel a stronger connection to nature so they will view it as something worth preserving for future generations. In my view, losing nature is much more than just losing pretty landscapes or important resources, it is akin to losing a part of ourselves. It is very important to guide the general population into understanding why we dedicate our lives to protecting nature, and why its importance is much deeper than what's on the surface. This is because it is only through a better-educated populace that we can influence political, and business decisions regarding the environment, as with more people advocating for nature with a passion, decision makers will be more inclined to move towards more sustainable practices. Given the current state of the world, it may seem like a very uphill battle for us as nature interpreters, but through reading everyone’s discussions throughout this term I have gained a lot more confidence in the future by seeing how passionate many others are in this class are for protecting the nature around us so future generations can enjoy the same passion and awe we find in mother nature.

References

McIntosh, P. (1989). White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack. Peace and Freedom, 10-12.

fbenvs3000w23

The Most Amazing thing about Nature: the Arctic Tern

There are so many amazing things about nature, so it was very difficult to settle on just one topic. As a wildlife biologist, I know a lot of cool animal facts and characteristics. How does one pick between a venomous mammal and bullet-resistant armadillos? Or the various ways reptiles survive freezing temperatures, such as having antifreeze in their blood like painted turtles or drying out their organs and freezing 60% of their bodies like wood frogs?

There are so many fascinating behavioural and biological adaptations to sort through that I could travel to the ends of the earth and still not find the most amazing one.

“To the ends of the earth.”

Wait a second; that might just be it! The story of a tiny little bird who spends its life doing just that: the Arctic tern!

Image credits: Barni1 (2015).

The Arctic tern is a small seabird known for its incredibly long yearly migration that takes them, literally, to both ends of the earth. Each year, during this migration, they will travel over 40,000km, making theirs’ one of the longest migrations of any animal on earth (Ramroop & West, 2022).

Distribution range and migration routes of the Arctic Tern (nesting region in red):

Picture by Andreas Trepte (n.d.)

How do they do it? Arctic terns have unique adaptations that allow them to be incredible migrators. Their wing shape and lightweight bodies enable them to glide great distances carried by the ocean breeze without expelling much energy (Ramroop & West, 2022). Additionally, they can eat and even sleep while gliding in the air (Ramroop & West, 2022).

Image credits: Canadian-Nature-Visions (2022)

Now, you may wonder why this bird, which weighs slightly less than a quarter-pound burger, is willing to travel such miraculous distances each year (Trepte, n.d.). Well, much like the Beatles’ 5th track on their 1964 album, Beatles for Sale, they “… Follow the Sun.”

In doing so, these birds are constantly perusing summer. As you may know, the seasons are caused by Earth’s tilted axis as it revolves around the sun (Mika, n.d.). As a result, Earth’s northern and southern hemispheres are experiencing opposite seasons at any given time of year. During North American winters, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, making it colder and darker in areas north of the equator. At the same time, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, making it warmer and brighter in areas south of the equator. The duration of daylight also changes depending on the season, especially in areas furthest from the equator (Mika, n.d.). During the summer, the Arctic and Antarctic get nearly 24hrs of sunlight. Conversely, in the winter, it is almost entirely dark. There are less noticeable temperature changes between the seasons in these areas than in other regions. Thus, the Arctic tern is not following the summer heat, as we may have envied. But instead, they are following the summer light (Ramroop & West, 2022).

Arctic terns rely on sunlight to illuminate the ground and ocean surface to see their prey (fish and insects) more clearly (Ramroop & West, 2022). By experiencing the ~24 hr-light of the Arctic and Antarctic summers, the Arctic Tern may experience more daylight than any other animal on earth (Ramroop & West, 2022). Their migration also allows them to take advantage of the good weather that accompanies summer, as it is beneficial to their method of flying. Terns rely so much on good weather and sunny conditions that they will fly thousands of miles out of their way to take advantage of the best weather and acquire the best food (Ramroop & West, 2022).

This post just scratches the surface of how amazing this tiny explorer is. The Arctic tern undoubtedly exemplifies one of nature's most impressive feats.

Google Earth tour of the Arctic tern’s migration:

Video credits: Encyclopedia of Life (2012).

References:

Barni1. (2015). Glacial lake birds to hunt fish [Image]. Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/photos/glacial-lake-birds-to-hunt-fish-889783/

Canadian-Nature-Visions. (2022). Arctic tern Sambro Island nesting. Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/photos/arctic-tern-sambro-island-nesting-6922063/

Encyclopedia of Life. (2012). Arctic tern migration Google Earth tour video [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bte7MCSBZvo&ab_channel=EncyclopediaofLife

Kaufman, K. (n.d.). Arctic tern: Sterna paradisaea. Audubon. https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/arctic-tern#

Mika, A. (n.d.). The reason for the seasons. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/activity/the-reason-for-the-seasons/

Ramroop, T., & West, K. (2022). To the ends of the earth: Article on the annual migration of the arctic tern. National Geographic Society. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/ends-earth/

Trepte, A. (n.d.). Distribution range and migration routes of the arctic tern [Image]. Cool Antarctica. https://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/wildlife/Arctic_animals/arctic_tern.php#:~:text=arctic%20tern%20facts%20Basics,(26%20%2D%2030%20inches)

cwenvs3000w23

Hello Faith!!

I greatly enjoyed reading your post and I can definitely tell how passionate you are about the arctic tern through this post. The fact that such a small bird could traverse the entire globe is not something that I ever would have thought possible before reading this post. To me, this bird is a testament to how resilient nature can be when it comes to survival, and the lengths many species will go in order to obtain the conditions they need to survive. Humans spent thousands of years wondering if flight could ever be possible, hence inventions such as Leonardo Da Vinci's ornithopter which was modelled after birds flapping their wings (Britannica, 2013). After all the effort put in over the centuries, we came up with a metal contraption that weighs hundreds of tones and sores through the sky. Through evolution, and the arctic terns following the sunlight they are able to achieve a level of mobility around the world that humanity's greatest thinkers couldn't accomplish for millennia.

I also thought that "I'll follow the sun" was the perfect song choice for this case, and I greatly enjoyed listening to it as well as watching the attached YouTube video which goes into a lot of detail on the arctic terns and how they accomplish their migration. Watching the migratory patterns on google earths it was very interesting to see how organized their migration is, especially the fact that the birds will split in half at the equator, with some following the South American coast and others the African coast. The fact that through their behavioural patterns and through evolution that these birds have such an organized migratory pattern speaks to how intelligent many species of birds can be.

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2013, May 1). ornithopter. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/technology/ornithopter

Nature is Awesome!!

Nature contains such a wide range of different species, natural processes, and many fascinating things that belong to mother nature. One of the aspects of Nature that I find to be incredibly interesting is the parts of history that can be observed in nature. It's so interesting to me that through looking at things like rock formations, water erosion, and carbon dating that we can learn things about our planet from millions of years ago. Things that we often walk past in nature contain evidence of what the climate was like thousands of years ago, or show evidence of ancient humans. It's through studying things like forest structure and soil that we can find out fascinating things about the future, for example the fact that much of the amazon rainforest is actually man-made. We know this due to the fact that 20 food-producing plants are extremely abundant compared to other plants and seem to be planted in an organized way, and also through the finding of a man-made dark earth soil called Terra Preta which greatly increases production (Smithsonian, 2017). I find it to be extremely interesting that just by looking at trees and soil, we can know that what we once thought of as a wild, untouched ecosystem was in fact shaped by humans around 10,000 years ago. In addition, we now know that the natives of the Amazon were much more advanced than we ever thought, with such an in-depth understanding of how to shape nature to their benefit.

This is just one example of how nature can tell us so much about the past, and about ourselves as humans.It is only thanks to the evidence left behind by nature that we can know things about history that are much older than the written word. Another example of this comes in the form of the discovery due to natural evidence that 6,000 years ago the Sahara Desert of North Africa was once a lush rainforest that contained many lakes, Rivers, and animal species such as Giraffe and Elephants. This discovery was made possible due to the natural evidence that was left behind, such as animal bones, and pollen that has been preserved in dry muds (Lemmons, 2023). Using natural evidence to learn more about the history of our planet allows us to expand our knowledge in regards to the natural climate cycles of our planet, and recognize patterns so we can get a better idea of how the climate may change in the future. In addition to this, looking at how our climate changed naturally before humans, we can also gain a better understanding on how human activity is affecting the environment today compared to natural climate cycles.The fact that so much knowledge can be gained just from looking at our surroundings is incredibly interesting to me.

References

Magazine, S. (2017, March 3). The supposedly pristine, untouched Amazon rainforest was actually shaped by humans. Smithsonian.com. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/pristine-untouched-amazonian-rainforest-was-actually-shaped-humans-180962378/

Lemmons, R. (2023, March 4). The green sahara of the past - tropical rainforest. Climate Policy Watcher. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://www.climate-policy-watcher.org/tropical-rainforest/the-green-sahara-of-the-past.html

tbenvs3000w23

Music within Nature

Music and nature, while not always directly connected, are more intertwined than I have realized.

Music can be seen in nature through the sounds of wind blowing through trees, bird calls in the morning, waves crashing on the shoreline, and so much more. While I have never considered this to be ‘music’ per se, it’s clear to me after this unit that it essentially does the same thing – invokes emotion through audio. I’ve always thought the most beautiful sound was the call of the loon, as this sound that sends me back to every camping trip I took from childhood until now. And I find myself listening to music for the same reasons – to relive emotions and memories from my past.

Looking for nature in music is incredibly easier than I initially thought. I suppose it slips my mind that nature impacts anybody and everybody every single day, in any number of ways. This is translated to the work of many musicians and can paint a lovely picture that many people can relate to.

A song that reminds me of nature is Helium by Glass Animals. There isn’t any one landscape or anything I picture form this song necessarily, but this song reminds me of last summer and spending time with my girlfriend and friends. I took no classes in the summer and just worked as much as I could. Because of this, I could spend my free time visiting people and doing things like biking through Toronto by the lakeshore, going to Sauble Beach, and going camping. This song was very often in the rotation, so hearing it now gives me an immediate feeling of warmth and joy, and given past experiences, it will continue to do so for a long time. Here’s a line I really like from the song;

“Soft blue skies

Helium balloons float up away

Broad daylight

But we’re sunflowers in the rain”

Also here’s a nice photo from that summer;

I think even nature and music both tell a story, and it only makes sense to associate the two. I think it’s not also inevitable, but important to create these associations, as later on in life the music will be a way to re-experience these wonderful memories - as music lives forever.

cwenvs3000w23

Hey Thomas!

I greatly enjoyed reading about your insight on music in nature, and about how music enriches your own past memories in nature. I most definitely agree with your initial point on how we can find music anywhere in nature, and things like rhythm, beat, and melodies can all be heard in a simple walk through the park. As you have pointed out, a fundamental aspect of music is that it can invoke emotional feelings and remind you of fond memories of the past. I too have spent a lot of time camping, and sounds like that of a loon call, or wolves howling in the night make me feel nostalgic for the nights I've spent camping around the fire. This is in the same way certain songs like John Denver's "Take me home, Country Roads" makes me feel a great appreciation for landscapes like mountains or rivers.

It is interesting to think about connected things we see as products of human culture such as music still has such a strong connection to nature, and how they can both bring forth similar emotions and memories within people. They both speak to a similar part of ourselves that want to remember the beautiful and priceless moments of our lives and the strong emotions that we feel in these times confronted by beautiful landscapes, or spending time with people that are important to us. It is through music, and through the familiar sounds of nature that these moments can truly continue to live on in our memories.

Music in Nature

Music in particular is an extremely powerful force that can draw people in, and express a powerful feeling in a way that people from all walks of life can enjoy and relate to. Music is a universal language that people from all cultures around the world use to express themselves, and the environment around them. Music can be any form of sound that is manipulated by a change of tone and pitch, and for this reason music is most definitely present in nature. The sounds of the birds calling to each other, the mating calls of various animals, and the sounds that are produced by climate such as the sound of wind echoing, or that of raindrops on the night of a thunderstorm these are all melodies that are produced everyday in nature. Sounds are used by many animals throughout the world's ecosystems to communicate various different messages such as for mating, pointing out a food source, or warning fellow animals of a predator nearby, in a similar way to how humans use many different mediums to communicate their thoughts and feelings. It is for this reason that music is so present in nature, the sounds of nature tend to serve an important function, such as Ravens who will mimic the calls of other birds to trick them or lure them to a certain location (Bird Avid, 2022). In the same way, music serves an important function for humans in regards to helping us express emotions like beauty or despair in a way that simply speaking can't.

One of the greatest and most consistent sources of inspiration that many artists draw from is often forces of nature, and you see many songs use references to nature, especially when you look at things such as folk music or cultural music, where references to the natural landscapes of a particular nation serves as a source of national pride. It is for this reason that music can be such a magical force when it comes to making people feel a deeper connection to nature which can further help develop someone's understanding of nature and of it’s beauty and importance (Beck et al., 2018). Nature in music can be seen in its purest form when we look at things such as the drum in indigenous culture which symbolises the heartbeat of mother earth, such connections show how intertwined nature truly is with music (Hampton, 2021).

One song in particular for me personally that makes me feel a connection to a landscape in nature is the song Subwoofer Lullaby by c418, which is the artist that makes the band for the world famous video game, minecraft. I often had this and the rest of their soundtrack in my ear while working endless hours as a tree planter, the calm piano music made me feel such a strong connection to the earth I was planting, as I also had in mind my fond childhood memories of exploring the endless landscapes in minecraft. Minecraft is a game that had different soundtracks that often pertained to different biomes and landscapes of the map, and it did such a fantastic job of setting the mood of being in a spruce forest, a desert, a mine, or a snow biome. This is a great example of how music can be used to bring people closer to music, as you can also do through other forms of art such as video games, and there are no limits to the natural beauty you can capture in the form of song, and the magical feelings of awe that music can strike into the hearts of many.

Citations

Why do ravens mimic sounds? explained. Bird Avid. (2022, December 1). Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://birdavid.com/ravens-mimic-sounds/#:~:text=Ravens%20make%20different%20sounds%20to,t%20so%20common%2C%20after%20all.

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritagefor a Better World (1st ed). Sagamore Venture.Hampton, M. (2021, July 15). Indigenous drumming a sacred art. Merritt Herald. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.merrittherald.com/indigenous-drumming-a-sacred-art/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CFor%20First%20Nations%20Peoples%2C%20the,special%20rhythm%20on%20the%20drum.

#Youtube

nskenvs3000w23

Week 6:- Nature Interpretation through History

There’s no doubt that history plays a huge role in today’s society, by setting a foundation for understanding and interpreting the world around us. It is important to study the past so that we as a society can learn from our successes and failures and use that insight to make informed decisions going forward. In terms of nature interpretation, history is crucial to provide us with an understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Understanding the history of the nature allows us to delve into the historical events and changes that have occurred on our planet and how they have transformed nature into the nature we know and love today.

There are many noteworthy historical events related to nature that have changed the way we as humans interact and understand the natural world around us. One major historical event that comes to mind is the Paris Climate Agreement, 2015, where countries around the world and the United Nations came together to vow to diminish climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emission. Another great example of how history has impacted the relationship between humans and nature is the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution, 1760, brought a transition to new manufacturing processes using the burning of fossil fuels to create energy. This in turn significantly increased the concentration of greenhouse gas in our atmosphere, leading to a multitude of negative effects on the environment. The Paris Climate Agreement and the Industrial Revolution are just a few of the many historical events that have changed the way humans coexist with nature and the natural world.

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

~Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation

This quote by Edward Hyams does a beautiful job of highlighting the significance of understanding the past as it holds the key to maintaining the world as we know it. As the quote describes, the past should not be valued because it is old, but rather for the wisdom and insight that it carries. I loved that Hyams mentioned the importance of keeping all parts of a whole together, because it is essential in order to see the bigger picture. The world we live in today is a sum of all its experiences, the good and the bad, which is important to account for. You are not simply able to look at all the beauties of the natural world without also considering the atrocities that come along with it. Most of all, I loved the comparison to the railway station that Hyams described. This portion of the quote emphasizes the fact that the past is not gone once it has passed, and instead adds to the present and future.

Overall, I believe that nature and the natural world in present day can never be fully understood without considering its past history. The past is not separate from the present, rather it is part of the whole.

cwenvs3000w23

Hey!

I greatly enjoyed reading your post and hearing about your perspective on the importance of history in the natural world, and how it continues to shape how we understand the world around it. As you have said, things change so much throughout the passage of time, people, animals, and landscapes are all prone to great change, and our present reality is the sum of these changes. The two historical examples that you bring forth, namely the Paris Climate Accord, as well as the industrial revolution are both fantastic examples of important events in natural history that show how much things have changed. Looking at the world in the wake of the industrial revolution, in which countries around the world began to build industry through the burning of fossil fuels at a rate we’d never seen before with zero regard for any of the potential consequences. This is greatly contrasted by the events of the Paris Climate accord in which major world leaders recognized the true threat that is climate change, and put forth initiatives to combat environmental destabilization. To think about how much changed in the 255 years that separate these two events, you begin to see how rapidly things can change. It is for this reason the the sentiments brought forward by the quote in regards to the importance of preserving the whole of history both good and bad for future generations are so important. As even if we decide to forget all about history, the past still forms the basis of what the world is today, and understanding how the world has changed throughout time allows us to use the past as a guide and make decisions that lead towards positive change.

Unit 06: Nature Interpretation through History

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

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

After first reading this quote, I wasn't so sure what to make of the true message that Edward Hyams is attempting to bring forth with this quote. However, after reading it over multiple times, his analogy about the train and the train stations is what resonated most with me. The train represents the present and the ever-flowing passage of time, and the tracks represent the memories that are left behind throughout history. This analogy does a great job of representing the true importance of history in interpretations, and how past events and shared history can continue to inspire and bring people together. Without recognizing the importance of the history, and only viewing things for their present state we lose such a powerful teacher and binding force that we call history, and due to this future generations may lose touch with the sheer value of a particular piece of land.

This is further exemplified through the video of this unit in which the national park services of the United States go into some of the crucial moments in American history that are contained in many national parks around the country. Important events in American History such as the American Civil war, and the atrocities suffered by indigenous Americans along the trail of tears caused by the American Government. Knowing the stories behind events like this, and how a particular area was affected by it can serve to be extremely useful knowledge for us as nature interpreters, as visitors will be able to feel a much stronger connection to a piece of land when they know about the stories that the land has to tell. This should go above the “who, what, when, where, and why” of a particular event, as it is much more engaging to paint a true picture about the emotions that people would have been experiencing through a particular event. This is what will serve to inspire visitors who look upon the landscape and imagine the memories of the past, they will be further convinced of the value that is contained upon the land through its historical importance. Another quote that I think is fitting in this case is “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana. This to me makes me feel a sense of responsibility as a nature interpreter to keep the memories of the past alive so they can continue to serve as a lesson for people in the future. Without maintaining this history we become like a tree without roots, swaying with every gust of wind and change that we are confronted with, however if we maintain the roots we may yet hold firm using the lessons that our past continues to teach.

kh-envs3000-w23

Unit 5: Environmental Education

Over the last year, I have truly gained a new understanding of Environmental Science and Education. I have chosen courses that have been extremely varied in their focus spanning everything from ethical beliefs and stewardship to an education of the history and formation of our planet Earth. In the article, “Convergence between Science and Environmental Education” (Wals, et al., 2014), it highlights the divide or divergence that has existed between Science Education and Environmental Education. To date in my studies, I have so far found that the courses have done a really good job of integrating natural history including the creation of Earth with the current day importance and impact of natural areas, creatures, weather systems, etc. For example, in my course, “Human Impact on the Environment GEOG1220”, we learned about climate systems from a systems or scientific perspective, but then learned about what the extraction and processing of fossil fuels are doing to ecosystems thousands of miles away, for example in the Arctic. Similarly, in “Discovering Planet Earth ENVS 1060”, we learned about the geology of rock and minerals, but then the coursework went further to explain the system of fossilization and the resulting production of natural resources and their impact of the environment. My point it, that it all ties together, and Science can no longer be taught without the integration of impact on environment and society.

The article further speaks to “Citizen Science” (Wals et al, 2014) and I believe this is also a fundamental connector of not only environmental and scientific education, but a global integration of history, geography, politics, sociology and economy. The article writes, “the rise of citizen science (CS) also enables for people to engage with science on relevant environmental issues in collaboration with scientists working in local contexts”. For me education must be holistic and purposeful in generating understanding and creating motivation or a “so-what” as to application in our world.

As we can speak to anything on our minds this week, I also wanted to appreciate the Ted Talk “For the Love of Birds”. It was a genuinely engaging talk that brilliantly used personal experience and the “getting to know” the bird to create empathy and tell a story that resonated. It encompassed science, natural history and environmental impact, in a charming and emotionful way. In reading about how to create podcasts and how to tell stories, one can start to understand how important it is to be thoughtful and to create a narrative that can create understanding, empathy and most impactfully, purpose driven action.

References:

Wals, A.E, Brody M., Dillon, J., Stevenson, R.B. (2014, May 9). Convergence between Science and Environmental Education. Science Magazine. 2014..

https://wwwscienceorg.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/doi/10.1126/science.1250515

cwenvs3000w23

Hey Kate!

I greatly enjoyed reading your blog post this week and seeing what you decided to focus on today given the open-ended nature of this week's blog prompt. I can definitely say I agree with your point that it is very important when educating people on science to also ensure that they know why what they are learning is important and applicable to the real world. I too have taken a wide variety of different courses relating to environmental sciences, and I also took the class GEOG 1220 that you mentioned and thought they did a great job of not only going through how climate change is affecting various processes in the environment, but also does a good job of demonstrating that everything is interconnected and impacts each other. I also found learning about citizen science this week to be very interesting as it is not something I was aware of, and after learning bout it I think it will be extremely valuable to connect citizens with their local environment and become engaged with environmental issues that are close to home. It's fascinating for me to see all the unique and innovative ways the interpreters are using to get more and more people to recognize the importance of protecting nature. I also enjoyed the "for the love of birds" ted talk and thought the speaker did a fantastic job as a science communicator to demonstrate the importance of birds in a way that is entertaining, and encourages action, I look forward to seeing how I can use such skills in our podcasts and in my future ventures in nature interpretation.

Thanks for sharing your post, Carson

Unit 5: Nature interpretation through science

This week's readings have got me thinking about how scientific knowledge can best be used to educate regular people who don't have time to navigate through overly complex scientific jargon, and know precise definitions. Due to this it is crucial that we are able to demonstrate the gravity of environmental issues to people in a way that is accurate, and allows them to gain an understanding of some of the nuisances that are often involved when it comes to nature and ecosystems. We live in a modern time where people have access to such insane amounts of information at the touch of a finger, and this in my opinion has created a unique challenge in scientific communication due to the nature of the online news cycles which rewards the articles that write the most attention grabbing headlines, and therefore more clicks and engagement, this can lead to a lot of scientific studies to be misinterpreted. In order to bring in the most attention, more “extreme” headlines are often used to create a more emotional response from the reader when in many cases the rest of the article tends to have a slightly different theme than the headline suggests.

This serves to make educating the populace on the numerous topics and issues that are currently important for maintaining biodiversity a lot more difficult. Due to the excessive amounts of different information floating around on the internet it can seem overwhelming for people trying to learn and educate themselves. Due to this reality, it is our role as nature interpreters to clear up some of the doubts that people may have, and demonstrate the reality of how climate change, deforestation, etc, is affecting an animal, ecosystem, or landscape, and why taking action to preserve them is important and worth pursuing. This was demonstrated in this unit through the TED talk “for the love of birds” by Washington Wachira in which he used a story about various different bird species, interesting facts about them, relating them to humans, and then going into how bird conservation can be very important in Africa, and how he’s developed a way to keep bird watchers engaged in Africa with his app.

I found this ted talk to be well executed and I found that he didn’t overly complicate things by going into the population dynamics of birds, or explaining in-depth scientific concepts, he talked about the birds in a casual way that kept everyone interested, and still demonstrated their importance. As nature interpreters in this modern age I think it is going to be important to figure out how to adapt to the ways in which information is presented to the general population with modern technology. In today’s day and age we are seeing more and more short form content, as most people on the internet tend to have short attention spans until they scroll on to the next thing (myself included), so it’s going to be important for us to figure out how to communicate our messages in ways that continue to be digestible to as many people as possible.

rhenvs3000w23

Unit 4: Using Art to Interpret Beauty

No matter who you are, there is a way to interpret nature through art that speaks to you. Whether it's movement, music, visual art, fibre arts, or storytelling, there is a way to grab the attention of everyone through art-based activities.

I find it hard to introduce art interpretation to both myself and others. There is usually an expectation of talent or perfection that comes with attempting art in any space. To avoid this, I like to think about normal activities we do that are unintentionally artistic. For example, storytelling. There is an art to storytelling and a simple question can spark this in anyone.

What did you notice on the walk?

What is your earliest memory in nature?

I like to think of times I have sat and traced lines aimlessly in the dirt with a stick I had found, or tried to mimic the bird calls I heard in the distance. But beyond that, my favourite way of connecting to nature through art has been cordage. I was taught by a good friend and mentor of mine the art of using natural fibres to create rope and cord. He taught me how to harvest dogbane, cedar bark and grasses to make a strong rope that can be used for a variety of crafts and practical situations. The process of collecting and creating within nature makes room for reflection and gratitude, as with all forms of art.

In Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World, there is a set of outlined gifts and principles (Beck et al. 2018). The gift of beauty is defined by the principle that nature interpretation should "instil in people the ability, and the desire, to sense the beauty in their surroundings" (Beck et al. 2018). I agree with this, my interpretation of beauty is a gift nature has given to us. The beauty of the sight, smell, touch, taste, and sound of nature is a gift. Nature interpretation allows us to fully realize and appreciate these gifts in all aspects. Finding beauty in the usual and the mundane, as well as the exciting and grand.

There is beauty all around us, and it is what allows us to become responsible nature interpreters at any level. As mentioned in the principle it “encourages resource preservation”, when we recognize beauty we don’t want anything to take it away. This ties back to using art as a tool for nature interpretation. All forms of art are beautiful. If we are able to create beauty from nature, with nature, or in nature, we will feel more connected to it.

I want to end this post with a few lyrics of a song I like to sing or hear with others in nature. It is from Anthem by Leonard Cohen and I learned it in the first weeks of my journey into nature interpretation:

"Forget your perfect offering,

just sing the songs that you can sing.

There is a crack in everything,

that's how the light gets in."

Reference:

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

cwenvs3000w23

Hello!

I greatly enjoyed reading your post and hearing about your perspective on how the beauty and art of nature can speak to anyone in some form or another, and aid in increasing our connectivity and desire to preserve the beauty of nature. I greatly enjoyed reading about how art spoke to you in the form of cordage, and how creating art using resources that nature provides makes you feel a strong sense of connectivity of nature. I can definitely relate to this feeling, as I greatly enjoy participating in bush-craft and doing things such as building forts with the nature around me, or building a perfect fire that me and my friends can cook from. There is something about using what nature provides to create works of art that makes me feel like I'm apart of nature rather than an outsider. In addition, I think you provided a thought provoking view into how the gift of beauty in nature can be used to demonstrate the importance of preservation. I most definitely agree that exposure to beauty inspires in us a sense of responsibility to protect it from any forces that would seek to take the beauty away. It is through this that we can spread our passion for nature to many different kinds of people, since the gift of beauty is a gift for all of us!

Thanks for sharing your input, and I look forward to reading your blogs in the future!

Unit 4: Nature Interpretation through Art and Planning for “All” Scenarios

Art is an extremely powerful force, which uses the talents of artists under many different mediums weather it's visual art, music, or poetry, to provoke an emotional response from the audience and get a message across. This is an extremely important aspect of nature interpretation, as art speaks to the emotional side of how we perceive nature, and can seek to capture the moments of reverence we feel when confronted with a beautiful landscape. When I find myself in a beautiful moment in nature, I often feel the desire to capture it and use photography as a medium of art, so I can look back and remember the beauty I experienced in that moment.

A photo I took in the Wasatch Mountains in Utah, USA, this photo helps me remember how amazed I was with the mountainous landscapes of Utah.

In my opinion, what makes art such a powerful and useful tool in nature interpretation is through its subjectiveness, or the fact that people can derive different meanings from the same work of art. How we perceive a work of art is based on the part of our soul that it speaks to based on our own personal experiences. For example, when seeing different landscape pieces from the group of 7, some might be reminded of their fond memories spent in similar landscapes of the Canadian wilderness, but for others the painting may speak to a completely different meaning. This makes art so valuable in nature interpretation as it can evoke a powerful reaction to people of all walks of life, and transcend things such as language barriers, as well as help convey the emotional passion that nature instils in so many people.

In the text, "The gift of beauty" is defined with relation to the purpose of nature interpretation to "instill in people the ability, and the desire, to sense the beauty in their surroundings" (Beck et al. 2018). This to me speaks to how important exposing people to the beauty of nature is to us as nature interpreters. It is easy for us to get lost in the intellectual aspects of nature interpretation, and the various facts we find interesting, however it is often the beauty that we experience in nature that truly leaves a lasting impact. Through exposure to the beauty of nature in the form of the sights, sounds, and smells that nature produces serves to make use feel more connected to nature, and in turn inspire a feeling of responsibility and passion towards preserving this beauty so people can continue to enjoy it in the future. This allows us as nature interpreters to demonstrate the value of nature to people in a way that is tangible and powerful, as the intrinsic value of nature is often brought up when talking about why preserving nature is important. It is for this reasoning that beauty is such a crucial tool in nature interpretation, as it can be used to illustrate our passion for nature and speak to the "soul" of our audience so we can demonstrate the value of nature and its preservation.

Citations:

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

ccenvs3000w23

Unit 03: Risk versus Reward Interpretation

Addressing Privilege in Nature Interpretation

I define privilege as unearned advantages that apply to certain groups of people. For instance, someone who grew up in a middle-class home with married parents did not earn the benefits of having food on their table every night, but rather are born into that privileged lifestyle. Peggy McIntosh (1989) describes how privilege can be seen as an ‘invisible backpack’ of unearned assets that can be counted on cashing in each day, but is meant to remain oblivious. In other words, many individuals are unaware of the privilege they hold in their invisible backpack and overlook the lack of privilege that others experience. By unpacking our invisible backpacks, we can acknowledge the privilege we have as individuals.

Here I will unpack my own invisible backpack; I am a white, middle class, healthy, young woman. I am also a highly educated individual that speaks English, is able to pay for university, possesses a Canadian passport, and has the opportunity to travel outside of Canada if desired. I grew up in a small suburban neighborhood that was relatively safe, I always had food on the table and my family could afford many extracurricular activities that my brothers and I would partake in. These are all things that I have been given from the love and support from my family without directly earning.

Privilege also has a major influence on how we interpret and experience nature. There is a noticeably large lack of attendance from minorities in nature interpretation parks and this is suggested to be true due to economic, cultural, communication, knowledge, and fear barriers (Beck et al., 2018). Economic barriers from minority groups relate to large entrance fees to parks and minorities experiencing a generally lower socioeconomic position in society (Beck et al., 2018). Cultural barriers refers to the differences in culturally accepted activities in minority groups. For instance, some minority groups would not prefer camping as it is deemed more as being in deep poverty than as an activity to experience the wilderness for enjoyment (Beck et al., 2018). Communication barriers can prevent interpreters from being able to communicate with a variety of audiences that speak different languages aside from English. Speaking English is of high privilege and gives great advantages to people to be able to experience an abundant amount of activities in Canada. In relation to this, there is a lack of knowledge on the subject of nature in minority groups which can be a result of language barriers. Finally, fear also corresponds with this notion of lacking in knowledge. There is uncertainty of what to expect with wildlife encounters, as well as potential discrimination against minority groups in predominantly white-based activities such as camping (Beck et al., 2018).

Beck et al. (2018) suggests ways that we can provide inclusivity towards underprivileged and minority groups in terms of nature interpretation. Cultural barriers can be reduced by personally inviting minority populations to nature interpretation events through organizations to attract minority populations. By hiring a more diverse group of individuals, language barriers can be minimized by having a variety of programs be presented in multiple languages. Similarly, by increasing staff diversity, fears can be reduced and ultimately more education can be provided to marginalized groups.

References

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

McIntosh, P. (1989). White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack. Peace and Freedom, 10-12.

cwenvs3000w23

Hey Catherine,

I greatly enjoyed reading your post and through you brought forward many interesting points on the nature of privilege and how it influences our access to nature. The analogy of the invisible backpack is a great way of describing how privilege works in ways that often go unnoticed by those who benefit from the various forms of privilege, and to demonstrate why it is important to unpack our "invisible backpacks". To unpack my backpack, I am a white, able- bodied man who grew up in a middle class household that had income and resources that allowed me to take part in recreational activities in nature, as well as the ability to work and fund my university education. These are all things that have influenced my ability to take part in activities in nature and grow my passion towards it. I think that it is very important for us to look inwards and try to understand what's in our invisible backpack, and how it can serve as barriers to those with different circumstances. You bring forward good points about how various minority groups can struggle with these invisible barriers due to a plethora of different factors such as economics, culture, and language. These are things that I feel I have not put much thought into with regards to nature, and I think it is very important for us to address the various struggles and fears that people can struggle with due to factors outside of their control. I also greatly enjoyed reading about the solutions you brought forward to help encourage more inclusivity and I definitely agree that having more diversity in nature interpretation will aid in this goal.

Thanks for sharing your input, and I look forward to reading more of your blogs in the future!

Unit 3: Risk vs Reward: Recognizing Privilege

A very important factor that may influence our approach, and overall feelings towards nature interpretation comes in the form of privilege. Privilege to me refers to the various opportunities people have access to due to factors that are outside their control, this can be things such as race, socio-economic status, or language that can influence the access a person may have to enjoy activities in nature. The privileges I’ve had access to throughout my life especially with regards to nature is something I feel that I often take for granted, and as it talks about in the text, people often assume the privileges they have are “normal” or “standard” for others, and it takes a lot of honest self reflection, and conversations with others to fully recognize the privileges you’ve had. Having the time, and resources to go out in nature and enjoy it through activities like hiking, camping, or canoeing is already in itself a privilege that millions of people don't have access to.

I myself have grown up with the privilege of being able to spend my summers as a kid going on camping trips, and being able to participate in many outdoor activities. This is something that I have always been grateful for, and I definitely consider myself privileged for being able to spend a lot of time in nature. I know that without having these privileges many things in my life would likely be different, and my love for nature and the environment may not be the same if I didn’t have access to the same opportunities growing up and in the present. However, as we have learned in this unit, privilege can be like an invisible backpack and different people have access to various tools based on their life circumstances, and due to this there are many forms of privilege that we may not realise influence our access to nature. This can come in the form of being fluent in English, being middle class, or growing up in a country like Canada which offers access to outdoor recreation in a way that many parts of the world don’t. These are things that I didn’t realise had such a profound effect on my access to nature, and how they serve as barriers for others. As nature interpreters I think that it is very important for us to recognize how our privilege has influenced us and our ability to enjoy the nature we love. I believe that as we learn to recognize our privileges more we can use that knowledge to try to make things more accessible to others in the future, and adapt strategies in our work as nature interpreters that allow for a more inclusive environment. Recognizing privilege does not diminish the hard work, and the things that you have achieved throughout your life, it simply recognizes the tools you may have had due to factors outside of your control that may serve as barriers to others. It is only through learning how privilege can affect our access to nature that we can find ways to make things more accessible for everyone.

amvenvs3000w23

The Arctic Interpreter

Nature Interpreters are essential for the education of the natural world to the public. They help people understand the natural world, the threats nature faces, and how we as humans can help minimize these threats. Nature interpreters have a difficult job as they need to effectively communicate education in a fun interactive way to the public. As stated by Mills (1920), “People are out for recreation and need restful, intellectual visions, and not dull, dry facts, rules, and manuals.” Doing so will help the guest have a life-changing positive impact on the environment, allowing them to take part in acting sustainably (Beck et al., 2018). A successful interpreter will be able to instill the passion of learning to the guest regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. A good first step to become a successful interpreter is to follow The Gifts of Interpretation (Beck & Cable, 2011), which are a list of 15 gifts on how to approach interpretation and relate to the audience.

I have spent four summers working at Rondeau Provincial Park as a Naturalist (nature interpreter) practicing my interpretative skills. One of the main things I learned was to teach what you are interested in, as this will give you the most passion towards your topics. As an interpreter I would focus on educating the public on climate changes impact on the Arctic tundra. Being a Canadian the arctic is near and dear to my heart and being the most rapidly changing environment due to climate change in Canada, it needs our help conserving. Growing up in rural Ontario I understand the perspectives of individuals who doubt climate change and believe that I can use their concerns to better educate the public without touching politics. Ideally, I would work at Polar Bear Provincial Park, as it is the largest of the provincial parks, in the arctic tundra and is currently unmanned.

Being the first interpreter at Polar Bear Provincial Park, would provide me an amazing opportunity to use the cumulative knowledge from this class to create a solid foundation for its interpretative program. Having this program in the high arctic would allow visitors to see first-hand the accelerated impacts climate change has on the arctic biome. To accommodate to all learning styles, the visitor centre with be equipped with auditory, visual, and tactile/kinaesthetic learning stations. For auditory listeners, a recorded tour will be available, or an interpreter who can give a presentation of the visitor centre live. For visual learners the visitor center will be fill with exhibits demonstrating the arctic, such as diagram and photos as well as an underground display showing the melting of the permafrost. For the tactile/kinaesthetic learners as aspects of the exhibits will have interactive components such as arctic animal furs, a temperature changing permafrost exhibit (to tactile feel the temperature change) and a cold room, where the freezing arctic temperatures and storms can be experiences (with supervision). All these learning styles will be incorporated into each exhibit allowing for ideal learning conditions for everyone regardless of what learning style/combinations of learning styles best suit them. These combinations, will lead to an effective and successful interpretive centre.

Citations:

Beck, L. and Cable, T. 2011. The gifts of interpretation, Champaign, IL: Sagamore.

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

Mills, Enos A. “The Adventures of a Nature Guide.” 1920, https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.57806.

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Hello Andrew,

I greatly enjoyed reading your blog and hearing your perspective in regards to what being a nature interpreter means to you, and how you approach that in your personal experiences. I can most definitely resonate with your point in regards to how a nature interpreter should approach education in a way that is fun and relaxing, as very few people enjoy hearing a dull lecture on a nature retreat. If you want to leave a lasting impact on people, it is crucial that you teach in a way that conveys your passion towards nature, as I believe that passion is something that all people gravitate to and it is something that people will remember after they go back home. I also greatly enjoyed reading about your experience in the arctic as a naturalist, and how you intend to pursue this in the future. It is important that we have nature interpreters that have true passion for the environments they are representing, this will only serve to strengthen education efforts and lead to a more environmentally aware populace overall. I think your approach to education in a currently unmanned park is a noble pursuit that will serve to spread knowledge in a fun and inclusive way that takes all learning styles into account. You also brought up a crucial point in regards to knowing how to communicate with people such as climate skeptics, as I believe that being able to communicate with people you disagree with is a very important skill for a nature interpreter. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and experiences, and I hope one day I can join one of your tours at Polar Bear Provincial Park!

Nature Interpreters and effective communication

When it comes to the role of an environmental interpreter, there are a number of characteristics which are needed in order to make sure the message being conveyed reaches its intended audience in the most effective way possible. An important aspect of being an interpreter is being able to understand the needs of your particular audience, and knowing how you can take them into account when trying to make them care about a certain topic or issue. As an environmental interpreter, it is your role to use your knowledge base and present it to your audience in a manner that is easily digestible. The overall role of an environmental interpreter is extremely crucial in educating the masses about processes in nature, and this education cannot be achieved without effective communication skills.

As nature interpreters, it is easy for us to focus too much on conveying our knowledge on a particular issue or the “what”, however when speaking to an audience it is important to also put an emphasis on the “why”, as in why your audience should care or why the nature we are trying to protect is important. This importance is conveyed not only by how you explain it, but the overall passion you express towards nature, and your specific topic. Passion is something that people in the audience will be able to sense as you speak, and due to that your audience will be more receptive to your message. In regards to my personal experience, it reminds me of when I worked as a wilderness skills instructor at an overnight summer camp where I taught boys from the ages of 11-14 about things such as fire building, fishing, and identifying various animals and vegetation. It ended up being a rather challenging job, however without knowing it at the time I was using the skills that a nature interpreter would have such as understanding my audience, and teaching the kids through games and making it fun, rather than making it into a lesson. For me as a kid, my initial interest in studying the environment came from effective science communicators such as Bill Nye, who are able to communicate and teach kids about complex scientific concepts in a way that keeps them engaged. When trying to educate people it is also crucial to understand the different ways people learn, and how you can take that into consideration when attempting to spread a message. As we have learned in this unit, there are different learning styles such as auditory, visual, and kinetic, and every person will respond to teaching styles differently depending on their unique learning style. Taking this into account I believe that it is important to educate in a way that all learning styles can be accommodated in your presentation, this can be done by mixing in visuals or videos, speaking, as well as hands on activities. There is a lot to take into consideration as we attempt to improve our abilities as nature interpreters, however being able to educate a wide variety of audiences is one of the most important steps in achieving change around a particular issue, and this is what make nature interpreters so crucial.

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