Make Meaning of nature

[kdenvs3000w22]

Final Blog

           So, this being my final blog post I would like to be honest by saying at the beginning of this course I did not expect much. Not because of the course itself, or the factuality teaching it, but the prenotion of it being just an online course. To which my main career focuses, or general interests were not quite in. Although, throughout my journey of discovering what nature interpretation means, not only to me but my fellow classmates. I came to realize that this class, or topic in general has a way higher magnitude of importance then I every believed prior. For this I wanted to start off with a thank you.

           As we dove through many topics of conversation, some more controversial than others. I think I can confidently say who I am striving to become as a nature interpreter. Although, it’s hard to know where to begin. I guess I can say that as an individual, I am person who fights for equal rights for a human race. I knew this prior to this course, but I never knew that I could intergrade it into the system of nature interpretation. Learning about how privilege is in everything we do, ignited a feeling in me that I hadn’t felt before. We fill our minds continuously with information, whether that be via news networks, journal articles, or mindless scrolling that takes place at the tip of our fingers. We achieve such a high level of indulgence, but the question is, what do we do with it? A quarter of us can say we use it, in some part of our lives. But the other portion of us just keep this information locked in our minds. Sent away down a stream, like a pointless memory that will soon be forgotten until the next dopamine fix kicks in. I don’t want to forget anymore; I don’t want to forget seeing people of colour fighting for an equal justice system or hearing large corporations dump liters of waste into our oceans. I can’t, because I feel as though every day we hear news, that we all are aware of, but then we turn the other cheek and go about our day. Like nothing had happened or is happening. I’m not saying we must surrender our minds to all the chaos that we continuously hear. As for that becomes overbearing. I do though think that I have decided to take a step in emerging myself within these conversations more. Fighting for the anger that comes from these difficult topics and turning it into motivation and passion. Speaking to the older generation on the topics of oppression, climate challenges and asking questions that can inform me on how history has shaped their understanding and knowledge.

           As I move forward from this course and even just on with my life, I don’t necessarily think my career will be in nature interpretation. I do know that in every nature hike I take, I will look with more open eyes to the beauty and history that comes with my location. I do know that in every song I listen to, I will listen to it with open ear and observe the relation of movement the music has, as if it were a glimpse of wind or ocean waves passing by. I do know that, in going forward with the human interactions I have; I will remember that I don’t know their history and what made them who they are. For that, I will indulge in their knowledge and possibly by doing so expand on my own.

           Like I said at the beginning of this post, thank you all for sharing your thoughts throughout these weeks. I know we do so mostly for a grade, but I see a lot of hope within my fellow generation or any group of people within this class, and for that I thank you.

[doenvs3000w22]

Hi!

Your post this week was definitely a great way to round off the class, in connection to what I wrote in my final blog I think you raise an excellent point when it coms to nature and those who interpret it. I like how you described yourself as someone who may not be a stereotypical nature interpreter, or that this class and what it entails does no tfit in your career goals, I think it really amplifies two major concepts. 

1.) The importance of exposure and education to nature and the environment,along with looking at concepts at different angles, in which each individual can find the best possible approach to nature interpretation that fits for them.

2.) I especially think, now more than ever, the a nature interpreter can come from anywhere, so long as the drive and passion is there, anyone who dreams of learning about it can.

Overall I really enjoyed reading your post and think you had great points!

[igbenvs3000w22-deactivated20220]

The Ethics of Nature Interpretation

Before this class, I did not think of myself as a nature interpreter. I saw myself as someone who was interpreted to and I thought I didn’t know enough about nature to be an interpreter. I now know that almost anyone can be a nature interpreter if they put in the work required. It is important as an interpreter to think about your ethics, beliefs, responsibilities and the approach you are going to take. To me, the ethics of nature interpretation include your beliefs, responsibilities and the approach you take in your interpretation. 

My beliefs focusing on nature interpretation have been strengthened during this class. I believe that nature should be preserved and we need to do better at conserving it. Nature has value in itself, not just for the value it provides for humans and this should be emphasized during interpretation. I believe that there should be better and more education on the basis of nature and conservation; this includes in school and in interpretation. I also believe that we are not doing enough to protect nature and we need to educate people on the downfalls of human activities. One of my most important beliefs for nature interpretation is that every individual no matter what background, level of ability or socioeconomic standing should be able to enjoy both nature and nature interpretation. It is important to me to acknowledge my privilege, because it has afforded me opportunities that others do not have, including attending this university. Not everyone has the opportunity to attend university and get a formal education, this is why I feel that giving avenues for learning outside of a classroom is really important because it can reach more people.

This class explained some of the responsibilities of a nurture interpreter and I have also have built upon that to think about my responsibilities as a nature interpreter. As an interpreter, it is our job to make information and education available for many types of people, whether that be by creating online programs or tailoring our existing programs for different audiences. We should also strive to create interpretation programs that serve different age ranges and backgrounds as well as abilities. Children should have their own programming and the interpretation site should be accessible for everyone who wants to come. This accessibility can include ramps for wheelchairs and people who cannot climb stairs easily, there should be breaks for people who have a hard time walking for long periods of time and there should be signs in different languages and for people who are hard of hearing or deaf. As interpreters, it is also our responsibility to create a comprehensive and interesting interpretive program about nature. This will keep people interested and more likely to absorb the information, this also allows for returning customers and great reviews which can increase the revenue to the park or interpretation sites, and a more educated population. 

Every nature interpreter has a different approach when it comes to educating and speaking to their audience. My approach to this relies heavily on my love for science because even if the content is kind of boring my love for it would hopefully shine through and make the program interesting.  I am not much of a public speaker and I would rather not do it unless I know a lot about the subject although I am very talkative one-on-one. Although I do not love public speaking, I can go on and on about topics and things that I love, this overtakes my nervousness in public speaking. As long as I am talking about something I am passionate about then I will be happy to speak to many people.  I love science and I want to share that love, especially with children who might take my interpretation to hearty and maybe develop and nurture a love for nature and science. Most of us who love science or nature had someone who showed us how cool it was, for me that person was my grandpa who taught me to love nature. The people who taught me to love science are not even people I have met face to face, they were people I saw on TV such as Bill Nye and the scientists on shows like river monsters and even Mythbusters. You do not even need to meet someone to install a love of science or nature and this is even more important during the trying time we have just lived through. The pandemic created a unique experience for many people, and nature interpreters have had to adapt to this. Large groups were not allowed so interpreters had to overcome that barrier. Technology is so advanced now that we can use it for interpretation, websites, webinars and virtual walkthroughs. Technology advancements have also helped us reach more people because they don’t need to take a trip to witness the program if there is an online version. I think virtual walk-throughs could be really great for people far away or for people with mobility issues. I think technology can also be used on-site to help convey the information. Technology can be used as an aid or just as a fun part of the interpretation. 

Ethics are an important part of any learning, scientific, or work environment. Everybody should have equal access to nature and interpretation. There should be rules, and initiatives to make sure everyone is included and welcomed to the natural site. There needs to be accessible ways to view the interpretation site, and signs in different languages and large letters. People of every age and background should be welcome at the interpretation site.  Science and nature interpretation should use plain language and explain concepts in words that the general population understands. These are some but not all the important factors in the ethics of interpretation and should be involved in every interpretation program and site. This class has taught me a lot about nature interpretation and I can’t wait to learn more as I grow as an interpreter.

[doenvs3000w22]

Hi there!

Great final blog post, its crazy to think this is the last one already, the semester has surely flown by. I really enjoyed reading your emphasis on education when it comes to nature interpretation and praservance, because i think tis vitally important. I also think we can be doing more than we are now, from when I was younger, and in elementary school, I hardly recall information, opportunity or exposure to the natural world which has definitely not helped me in pushing my passion for nature, so if more effort was implemented, a larger number of youth could be interested in something they are not yet aware of.

Of course, wiriting thise I still ackowndlge hte cons of educating people about the environment, it often comes with an environmental price, using resources and products, and a mass effort to educate may not yield results one hopes for. At the end of the day its possible that not all really do care about the environment or nature, and with that can lay a huge problem. Do you think there are ways to combat this?

I look forward in hearing your response!

[doenvs3000w22]

The End

Over the course of this semester, I have certainly learned and explored a whole new aspect when it comes to my own understanding of nature, a lot of the materials and questions posed in the different units were ones that, without this course, I may have never encountered, and thus these questions allowed me to gain appreciation to another way of analyzing one's relationship with nature, and how often nature and the individual is connected through unique relationships that are not as common as we may think. When it comes to interpreting nature, I find myself more knowledgeable in seeing how nature connects us all, but still left wondering what nature really is or means, to me as an individual, and to humans as a whole.

To me, learning nature from a new perspective, as a nature interpreter has been challenging, and many times I felt as though my prior knowledge on nature did not apply or implement well within being an interpreter, instead of analyzing things scientifically as I tend to do, I felt as though I had to start viewing nature in a way that harmonizes better with interpretation, perhaps more philosophical, open-minded, and anadocetal, however, I am not entirely sure if this is the right way, perhaps it's up to the individual to decide what method of viewing nature best correlates with their interpretation. So for this final blog prompt, the question of personal ethics goes well I find with my new attempt of viewing nature. When it comes to personal ethics I still feel conflicted, in many ways I try to live as ethically as I can when it comes to nature, but many of the small day to day things, such as cutting out plastic, public transport, and buying things from responsibility sourced material seem increasingly meaningless and useless in the overall fate of the natural world,many times I ask myself, if at this point it is even possible to revert the things we've done and still have a chance to thrive ina flourishing environment, but with large corporations and governments running our environment to the ground, the obvious reluctance for change is likely to result in an impending doom of the natural world, for these reasons I find myself with a large appreciation for the nature I do see and encounter and am moved by places still untouched.

(Photo of a fox taken a few summers back in a opening of a forest)

Alot of my personal ethics as previously described, also entails the beliefs I bring. A big thing I learned through this class was that not just anyone can become a nature interpreter, but a nature interpreter can come from anywhere. I think this concept really resonated with me during the blog post in which we talked about privilege, I realized that even someone from a large city, with little access to nature can still explore nature as long as the drive and passion is strong enough, and those who may be privileged living right near nature, might not even be interested. Ive also come to think that my beliefs are based in reason, as someone who is always trying to learn new things in nature and the environment I ask myself, what are the facts? And always try not to be distracted by what can divert me from that, I often look for the truth, and even when the truth does not align with what I was hoping, I hold it as a responsibility to change my previous thoughts. With this comes an education. I feel when it comes to nature education especially to young kids is vitally important and should be something that is exposed at a young age, along with opportunities to explore the environment one may not be accustomed to, with this can spark a passion in future generations to preserve what wilderness we have left.

(Sylvia earle oceans first education program)

I think the responsibilities I hold as a nature interpreter  are important to how I live my everyday life. Inherently i think we have no environmental responsibility, which is seen in the way many people live, but when we assign ourselves responsibilities, we hold a chance in living a sustainable life. I also thinking educating others is a big responsibility I hold, in form of teaching, conversing, entertainment I try to provide exposure of nature to others in any way shape or form. Along with educating others, a huge responsibility I feel is doing my own researching and constantly educating myself.

(Photo of a lake near my house, educating myself by being in nature and observing wildlife around)

Overall I think the approaches that best suits me has to still be a scientific approach, to me it just makes the most sense in absorbing and learning information in a way for me to understand nature. However I think going through the units of this course I can understand new approaches to interpretation and how its unique to any one person. In conclusion this class has been a great way for me to escape the rush of my other classes, and reflect on my relationship with nature. I have very much enjoyed conversing and reading all the blogs that have been written, and can finish this last blog post knowing the care that others around me put into nature interpretation.

-Daniel Oliker

[doenvs3000w22]

Nature is full of unique and wondrous things, that too many may not even seem possible, so to pin it down to one pehenemon is quite a challenge. To me what might be most amazing in nature is not any one event, but a particular species that fascinates me. The Greenland shark, is a very unique species, living in the depths of the arctic ocean these sharks are wildly different from other species, the reason I chose them to be fascinating is because of their lifespan, they can live up to 500 years, meaning some alive today have been around since the 16-1700 which to me is just fascinating to think about, all the events they've lived through and the fact that they're still here. Along with their extremely long life span, they also have unique biological and anatomical structures that truly make them a wonder of the oceans.

These sharks are almost completely blind, though they are born with fully functional eyes, almost all get infected with a parasite that renders them blind by attaching to the corneas of the sharks. These sharks are also different in the fact they have very small heads, with large bodies and small fins, as they swim slowly, living in cold waters, they are also generally confrontational and there's only been one reported incident in 1859 when a Greenland shark was found to have a human leg inside its stomach.

Although a good amount is known, so much of their history and behavior is left a mystery due to how seldom seen they are, and where they live, for example, their exact diet, how they give birth, how they mate, and how they look like throughout the stages of their lives, as their lifespan is abnormally long compared to humans. What do you think about the Greenlands shark lifespan? Does it fascinate you as well? And perhaps what questions does it leave you wondering?

[ltenvs3000w22]

Nature in music & Music in nature!

This blog post prompt really interests me because I am fortunate enough to have a ravine and forest in my backyard. Everyday I hear music in nature.

Depending on the time of year, there is a variety of different sounds in nature.

Year round, starting in the morning, there is a variety of bird songs with different tunes. For example the tap tap tap of the woodpecker searching for insects in the oak trees and the cardinal’s sweet songs as they collect sunflower seeds at our bird feeder give two different melodies in nature.

On any given day, standing on my balcony you can hear the squirrels and chipmunks wrestling in the leaves by the ravine which also has its own melody as it flows through the forest. Not only does a ravine make music but the sound of waves crashing in an ocean or the plunge of the waterfall as it collapses into its base. The croaking of a bullfrog in a pond creates a constant rhythm similar to crickets chirping in the grassland.

On a windy day you can hear the wind whistle through the trees, and the leaves shaking. In the fall, the added sound of acorns falling adds to the natural concert. Stepping on dry leaves and twigs is almost as satisfying to the ear as crunching snow and ice in the winter.

In the spring and summer, the pitter patter of raindrops and the BOOM of thunder makes a symphony of its own. I love the splash of ducks jumping in the lake and the baby duckling squeaks in the summer.

I can hear the loud, piercing howling of coyotes at night in the forest as my dog’s barking joins the chorus. In the summer I can hear the sweet sound of hummingbird wings as they flap their wings 80 beats per second.

All these melodies, tunes and songs in nature come together to make music.

I was trying to think about what natural sounds are in music, but realized there weren’t many songs with nature unless we’re talking about children’s tunes or meditation music.

I continued to discuss with my family about nature in music because it was a little difficult for me to find it. We talked about our bamboo wind chimes which combine both nature in music and music in nature! Drums made of animal skins and wood make a beautiful sound out of nature. Rain sticks mimic the sound of rain and are typically made out of wood. I have heard many songs with whistling in the background which imitate the sound of a bird singing.

There are a few songs that take me back to a natural landscape.

The song Leather and Lace by Fleetwood Mac doesn’t have a lot of clear nature in the song but it does take me back to a natural landscape. It reminds me of walking in a field and looking at sunflowers. Here is a picture of what this song reminds me of.

Thank you for reading!

Lauren

[doenvs3000w22]

Hi! great post!

Your thoughts this week and the way you wrote them were fantastic!

I think when talking about what natural sounds are in music, it doesn't have to be sounds made from just natural objects, I think the way certain songs are composed, and based on your own memories songs can contain natural aspects to them through emotion and natural connection, ultimately however you interpret a certain song.

Do you think that some songs might naturally seem to be more connected to nature than others? or perhaps is it all just up to whoever is interpreting it?

Thanks!

Dan.

[doenvs3000w22]

Music in nature

I think music in nature is everywhere, not bound to any certain places or things, but lies wherever he who looks for it. It's one of those concepts with no right answer, where music may lie for some, might not be found by others, in short, it's entirely up to the individual. Personally, I feel as though my interest in nature has always influenced my emotional attachment to certain sounds/songs I listen to, and when I listen to music, the images and thoughts that run through my head are often associated with being in nature. A lot of this may have stemmed from being outside a lot as a kid and thus having most of my memories associated with nature and exploring the environment around me.

It also seems that music can capture a certain feeling or essence from nature that otherwise, would be hard to put into words, the feeling of hearing nothing but a waterfall flow, or the image of seeing birds of prey through soar, in what other ways can we truly capture that freeing feeling but with music.

This piece really reminds me of a natural setting. Although I discovered it fairly recently it brings me back to memories of spending time outside as a kid, exploring as much as I can. One thing I really enjoy about it is how it captures certain emotions. I think it represents the sense of solitude and hopelessness one might feel being alone in nature, but also captures the beauty and understanding of what nature is. Another thing I tend to relate nature and music too is its time. Often when listening to music, especially order pieces, it reminds me of how different nature was years and years ago, along with how untouched and unexplored it was, a feeling that gives me a bit of sadness but makes me grateful for the nature left around me.

[kmsenvs3000w22]

Preservation of 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.”

Preservation of History.

History is important. It gives meaning to the present. It puts events into context. It makes sure we do not repeat the same mistakes. To forget or dismiss the past is futile. Therefore, history must be preserved, recorded and remembered.

That’s what I take away from this passage from the textbook. To ensure that we preserve our history. Interpterion can be a form of that, by passing on information in the form of stories, talks, videos, music, art, the list goes on. Just like the history of wars, people, and civilizations, nature has a history. A history that has to be preserved. The hard thing about interpreting history is that fact that we didn’t create it. It has been a part of human civilization from the start. We were born in it, molded by it. As a result, we have been constantly trying to make sense of it. Through taxonomy, religion, science, exploration, etc. However, this has caused multiple clashes in interpretation. About whom is right? Which interpretation is what really happened?

Maybe that’s not the point. We are about making sure we are right, but history has an infinite number of perspectives, with infinite number of interpretations. But still, in each of these unique interpretations of nature, there are constants, things that still overlap. That doesn’t mean that details are lost. This ensures that events or memories are never forgotten.

[doenvs3000w22]

Hi there!

Great post this week, I know this week's prompt was a bit different so it was great reading your thoughts on the quote. I really did enjoy hearing how you think interpretation has many different forms, and it's something I agree with. I definitely see what you mean when you say there is infinite numbers of perspectives, and it truly does make me think. I guess in many ancient historical timelines and stories there is no universal consensus of the way things occurred and what the true mistakes were, and that this might entail complication in the search for present day integrity, it does however mean that those stories will not be forgotten for as long as they are in discussion. Do you think a universal consensus on certain pieces of history would prove to be more universal when learning from its mistakes in the attempt to avoid them today?

[doenvs3000w22]

Ancient items and history

This week's prompt was certainly an interesting one, rather than giving a definitive statement, we really have to delve into the meaning of the given quote and relate it to what we've learned in the area of nature interpretation. When analyzing this quote, or others for any instance it is important to acknowledge the essence of the quote and to not over analyze.

When looking at it as an individual I find myself agreeing with some of the quote and disagreeing with the rest. The beginning of the quote I disagree with “There is no particular merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole”. Merit is assigned subjectively, and can essentially be applied to whatever from he who chooses, so in this case, I think that both ancient items and their story/history play two equal parts in understanding the merit in which they hold. While an object on its own may not hold much without a certain history or story, it can very well be used to elevate the meaning and empathy of a pre-existing history, and from it we can learn. When connecting this to nature it can be seen in the same scope. We can use items, fossils, rocks, ancient tools, to learn from and admire of how the environment was in the past, and how knowing what has been well make us want to work towards a better environment, whereas without certain items to gain knowledge from many parts of the way we view nature as a “whole” will be missing.

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. 

This second part of the quote I do agree with. To maintain integrity very well entails knowledge, a knowledge of learning from the past, as to not repeat our mistakes, and a knowledge of being open to new ideas and stories around us. Without such a basis of understanding of how nature was, and what we did and are doing to harm it would ultimately lead to the faster destruction of the environment and the integrity that it holds for all living things that inhabit it.

Overall, this week's prompt enabled me to think outside the box more and try to change perspective in how the author thought when writing this quote. Though I feel as it is applicable to almost any human endeavor, I can acknowledge and understand that perhaps ancient items have no merit and it's the history that defines them.

My question to you guys this week is if we had no stories of nature or past history of the environment could ancient items alone with no backstory spark empathy and curiosity for the environment?

[doenvs3000w22]

Birds!

Over the past few months, I've found myself increasingly thinking about ornithology and many different species of birds that exist. Over my life, I've been interested in birds and had a passion to study them. A specific thing I remember was going out in nature with my friend and photographing/writing about different birds we've encountered. Even though I'm interested in all sorts of animal life on the planet, I find a particular wonder in birds, their behavior, and habits, and as such, I think I can focus a lot of my time and energy towards, which as a nature interpreter can be essential in the search for a personal understanding of the natural world.

(picture of a morning dove)

One thing I find especially interesting about birds is their unique variety in adaptation to their environment, it's fascinating that some birds can fly, some can't, some can swim with ease, some rarely go in the water, some are excellent runners, and many can only waddle, it is these stark contrasts that I find quite intriguing! To me my favorite birds have always been penguins, I find their perseverance in cold harsh weather and ability to swim effortlessly makes them one of the most unique birds in the world.

Another thing about birds that makes them unique and important is their ecological contribution. Avian species have a great ability to disperse trees by releasing the seeds of the fruit, allowing new trees to grow in new locations, and pave a way for evolution in these plants. Not only this, but these very trees can be useful for humans in we can harvest fruit from them.

https://www.google.com/search?q=penguin&sxsrf=APq-WBtTpK3jgPAck-vwRipWPUUHviwgDw:1644445488412&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj9pcHp1PP1AhVVj4kEHTmBBFUQ_AUoAXoECAIQAw&biw=1440&bih=731&dpr=1#imgrc=X5bd5xlNq0YxeM

[swenvs30002022]

Blog 4: Interpreting Nature Through Art:

When I thought about the question “who are you to interpret nature through art?” It took me a while to answer. I am not artistically gifted and so I have never been able to capture the beauty of art through drawing, painting or sculpting. For many people it is difficult to truly gravitate towards art and to be able to express themselves through art, me being one of them. I struggle to find a deeper meaning to art pieces when visiting art galleries and museums. However, I believe that we all just need to find a connection to art in our own ways and that can help us strengthen our connection to nature because nature is art. Interpreting nature through art does not necessarily mean being able to find the deeper meaning or micro-analyzing a piece of art; it could simply be appreciating how that piece of art was able to capture the beauty of nature.

When considering how I interpret the "gift of beauty," I had to acknowledge that beauty is subjective. If I find something beautiful it does not necessarily mean that other people will share my sentiment. “The gift of beauty” is when your art, whether that be a photograph, painting or piece of music, touches the heart of your audience. Your art becomes their safe space and it is something memorable for them. Sometimes the viewer needs more encouragement or knowledge to properly appreciate the beauty and depth of your art, and other times it is "love at first sight". Our responsibility as nature interpreters is to make our audience “feel” something.

How I interpret the “gift of beauty” is through photography. I love taking photos which is why when reading the textbook the line “taking a picture is capturing a snapshot in time” really resonated with me (Beck et al. 2018). Some claim that photography isn't actually art, but I disagree because the pictures photographers take are able to capture nature in a unique state that it will never be in again. Every sunset is different and every tree tells a different story. Being able to capture all of this is a skill and is also a form of art. Interpreting nature through art goes beyond words and employs a variety of mediums, including paintings, pictures, and music, to express information that words by themselves can't convey (Beck et a;. 2018).

Here are some of my favourite photographs that I have taken over the years on my adventures.

I find it amazing that I can capture the beauty of a sunset, the tranquillity of a lake, and the magnificence of a tree just by a click of my finger. By simply glancing at that photograph again at a later time, I am able to relive the same feelings I had while taking the picture. I can share these beautiful moments with other people and encourage them to also appreciate the beauty of nature through photographs. Being able to share these photos on social media for my friends and followers to see and enjoy makes this a form of interpreting nature. Whether we are sharing our photographs/ paintings or our knowledge about nature, the ultimate goal for us is to help individuals in appreciating the beauty of their environment, regardless of where they are, and instilling in them the importance of conservation (Beck et al. 2018). If people are able to recognize the beauty of the world around us it will encourage them to do everything they can to protect the world from harm.

Work Cited:

Reference: Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018.

[doenvs3000w22]

Hi there,

Great post! I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on this week's topic. I also think that a lot of times when questions like “how do you interpret art?” arise it can be a bit daunting to many in the fact that a lot of us don't know art too well and perhaps don't know how to interpret it. So when you said that art and beauty is subjective I found that to be an excellent point, even those who aren't immersed into art can still perceive it their own way and appreciate/relate it back to their own life and experiences with nature. I think this is the best way to go about it so everyone can interpret how they please, as opposed to there being some sort of universal standard where many can be left out. I would also agree with you and say photography is an art and a great way for many to appreciate the world around them, along with paintings, drawings and other various forms. Overall I think your post was filled with great points! Do you think when it comes to people who may not be exposed to nature, art can be a good way for them to get a glimpse of its beauty?

[doenvs3000w22]

art from nature

This week's question is one I have not previously thought of before. Before I very seldom looked at art and connected it to nature, but in the past few months I've found and intrigued by historical and new art pieces, how I can relate them and interpret them to nature seems to be a tricky question. For a long period of time, I never related the two or thought one can fit in the other.

When I think about it I can now see a lot of similarities the differences between the two. I view art as something predetermined, and somewhat predictable, a place where those who imagine a certain view can turn it into life and add personality to their art. As opposed to nature I think it contains unpredictability and wildness to it, in nature you may never know what will happen, and to interpret it means to let go of the predetermined views you have on it. 

I also see art being influenced greatly by the characteristics of nature, much of its beauty can be seen in art, not only in paintings of landscapes but in nonobjective art as well. Through these methods of understanding and interpreting nature, one can better understand art and the meaning behind it in their own way. This being said, art is subjective so it can be interpreted in any way, a way that's up to those who interpret it. In contrast to this, I think that those who understand can also find great beauty in nature and make meaning of some of the natural phenomena that occur.

The gift of beauty form is the sense to truly understand the beauty in unusual places and interaction within the natural world. A large part o this has to do with my understanding for science. Often many people can understand the beauty of nature in obvious places, but with my background I find I can find beauty in the way nature interacts within itself to function how it does, understanding these processes allows me to truly comprehend the complications behind them and gain a greater appreciation for the overall nature around me.

https://www.culturepartnership.eu/en/article/nature-and-art

Hansen, M. M., Jones, R., & Tocchini, K. (2017). Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art Review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 14(8), 851. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14080851

[cbenvs3000w22]

Blog #3

To me, privledge is like a head start.  It is also largely based on one’s access to resources and how this impacts their view of the world. I believe this is realted to Maslow’s heirarchy of needs which follows the order: physiological, saftey, belongingness, self-esteem, self-actualization (Johns & Saks, 2019).  This theory also suggests that the lowest level of the heirarchy which one does not posses is what they will be motivated to focus on (Johns & Saks, 2019).  This is applicable to privledge in nature interpretation because if someone is born without their physiological or saftey needs met, they will be focused on finding their next meal or somewhere to live.  This does not leave room to search for a greater appreciation of nature, which might fall under belonginess or even higher, in self-actualization.

I have been very privledged in my life which has allowed me to enjoy everything that nature has to offer. For example, I have been able to camp from a very young age.  As outlined by Beck et. al. not everyone is able to experience these things for a variety of reasons such as: economic, cultural and communications barriers as well as a lack of knowledge and fear.  Growing up I had many opprotunities to explore and travel different places in the world which exposed me to plenty of nature.  As I mentioned in previous blogs, this allowed me to find a special appreciation of nature.  My goal as a nature interpreter is to do my best to help others pass through these barriers.  My privledge has made me lucky enough that I have not experienced them and therefore, I could use this for the greater good of the world to help others.  The lack of economic barriers came as a result of my parent’s hard work to find financial success.  This allowed me to experience multiple countries as well as be immersed in nature through something like a hike at any time.  I did not experience cultural barriers because as I mentioned my parents were large influences in taking me camping.  Similarly, I have never been deterred from nature due to a lack of knowledge or fear because I have been exposed to it from a young age. I have never experienced communication barriers because I am lucky enough to have learned English as a first language.  Given that it is one of the hardest languages to learn and one of the most commonly spoken this has never been a problem for me.  I believe an awarness of this is important because it allows me to think about how I might need to change my interpretations of nature in order to best reach others depending on who they are.  I also believe that it is important for me to be grateful for the experiences that my privledge has granted me.

References

Beck, l., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Venture

Johns, G. Saks, A.M. (2019). Organizational Behavior (11th). Toronto Ontario: Pearson Education Canada

[doenvs3000w22]

Hi there,

Your topics on this weeks discussion were very intriguing! Reading what you had to say made me realize many roles financial class plays in the life of an individual when it comes to nature interpretation. I can definitely see how when some people are struggling to get by nature may seem like the last thing on their mind, or perhaps something they are ven unaware of. Situations like these are surely unfortunate as I believe everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy nature as much as they please. I guess the question when it comes to this is how can nature become accessible to people who are struggling? or if thats even possible? what do you think? regardless, your post has given me a lot to consider and think about!

Thanks again

-Dan

[doenvs3000w22]

Privilege in nature

The role privilege plays in our daily lives along with nature and nature interpretation is certainly interesting, and a topic that can be viewed in many different ways. To understand how privilege is incorporated in nature along with other aspects it must first be defined. To me I would define privilege as such, “Opportunity/accessibility given to those based on outside factors and not merit, and/or work done. This being said we can now delve into different ways privilege is involved with nature interpretation.

Privilege has been a topic in many aspects of social life, and everyday opportunities. Many are born being privileged based on where they live and perhaps the wealth along with health they are born with, and it is more commonly analyzed in socio-economic perspective rather than one of nature, often we associate people with privilege to get job opportunities easier, to live in 1st world countries, and to have access to good healthcare. Now when it comes to privilege and nature, a lot of the previous topics may not be as important, for me to be privileged in nature is to have the opportunity to experience a great variety of it first hand along with being able to educate yourself about it, so, for example, someone who perhaps lives in a third world country, but is filled with nature and can experience a vast diversity species, climates, and other natural phenomena can very well be more privileged than someone who lives in a big city where access to nature isn't as accessible, and thus can not gain an ability to interpret nature. Another issue with this is education, now this can also be split in two, while the person who has access to nature almost 24/7 can experience it and be educated by said experiences, is at the same time in the privileged position to receive formal education about nature, whilst the person who lives in the city does not have the privilege of being exposed to nature often, may find it easier to get a formal education on nature and can thus interpret it in different ways.

Now these examples are obviously two extremes of the spectrum and many cases lie in between, however, the message and the way I view privilege in nature interpretation is very subjective to the individual and does not fit into any one case or definition, a lot of the times those we see as not being privileged in other social cases may be privileged when it comes to nature, and vice versa.

sources:

Jennifer E Smith, B Natterson-Horowitz, Michael E Alfaro, The nature of privilege: intergenerational wealth in animal societies, Behavioral Ecology, 2021;, arab137, https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arab137

[akenvs3000w22]

My Environmental Interpreting Dream...

Funnily enough, I had a lot of trouble choosing my ideal role as an environmental interpreter. My first answer would be to travel to remote locations to film a docuseries like Planet Earth and be the next David Attenborough. Although this would mean my interpreting could reach global proportions, I decided it would feel more impactful to be present with my audience. After taking a few days to ponder, I went on my usual walk through preservation park. Although I felt like I was about to get a full-body case of frostbite, it finally clicked! Interpreting for a local forest is an ideal role for environmental interpreting. If done right, sharing the significances and beauties of a local trail can really open up the eyes of the community to see how special forests can be. This can motivate them to explore more and join as a community to not only preserve local ecosystems, but forests like these all over the world.

Leading a tour through preservation park would likely be the best approach to interpret, and the theme of the tour would be the connections and relationships that are needed for the entire forest to function harmoniously. To satisfy the auditory learners I would explain how these relationships work. For example, I would explain how beneath the forest floor trees trade nutrients with fungi, in which the fungi act as messengers, sending signals and nutrients to neighbouring trees, essentially making the forest a community of trees helping each other thrive! For our visual learners, I would point out any displays of natural relationships, like watching a squirrel bury a nut, and explaining that many trees depend on squirrels to disperse their seeds which likely make up many of the trees already in the forest. Lastly for our tactile learners, I would encourage them to flip over decaying logs and rocks. Getting their hands dirty won’t only allow them to “get in touch” with nature but will also expose all the little decomposers that act as the clean-up crew for the forest, recycling anything dead into nutrient-rich soil for the plants.

These are just a few of many ideas that came to mind about how I would interpret a natural site for an audience, but I could spend hours finding relationships in a forest. Hopefully, learning more about how organisms work together to form a complex community in a neighbourhood forest would help people appreciate the balance and importance of every interaction that allow an ecosystem to survive. Additionally, I would certainly need to brush up on my presentation skills and work on not over-complicating the content I teach. This way the audience can have their attention grabbed and prevent them from being intimidated by complex topics. Lastly, I would also work on story-telling skills to paint a more relatable picture of how a forest works. This would enhance the audience’s experience and hopefully make more of an impact!

Overall, it was a tough choice deciding where and how I would like to be an environmental interpreter. Preservation park, or another neighbourhood forest, would be a great place to begin integrating nature into the lives of the community. I have no doubt that the more people that have the opportunity to learn about nature, the more of a difference we can have on preserving it. Being an environmental interpreter means you’re making a difference in peoples’ life and the world.

Here are some pictures taken at Preservation Park from Fall 2021, taken with my poor-quality phone camera, haha!

Thanks for reading my post, and can't wait to discuss more later this week!

[doenvs3000w22]

Hi there,

I really enjoyed reading your post and thought you put forth great ideas when it comes to nature interpretation. One thing I especially enjoyed you writing about was the contrast between two scales of interpretation, one being more local and focused to a direct live audience, and one being a more global scale. I think a lot of times when we think of nature interpretation we automatically think of the way we bring it to a very large scale and often disregard many ways we can communicate nature to a direct audience in our very own communities. As you explained with your idea as a tour leading, many opportunities can arise from this, not only are you able to communicate directly to an audience and teach them about environmental topics that are new to the, you can also inspire anyone to find an interest and nature, and seek ways to learn and help preserve the environment for its long term health. On this topic, do you think there is any way to reach people on a local level directly in another fashion, for instance, those who may not go to the park or take these tours, how can they be reached and be shown new things about nature that may spar interest?

[doenvs3000w22]

Nature Interpretation

Nature interpretation takes on many forms. I think it can be implemented in a variety of ways specific to who you are, whether it's your hobbies, profession, or both, you can equally make a great impact n nature interpretation for others and yourself. When I think of the ideal role for me as a nature interpreter, I don't attribute it to anyone's activity, but instead several different things I like to do. Growing up being interested in the natural world I've always wanted to explore and do marine research. In this case, I see my ideal role as researching, studying the things that interest me, and being able to share it with the world for anyone who also finds interest in it, I would love to write papers on scientific discoveries and work in marine ecosystems in an effort to understand and preserve the beauty I find amongst them. Though this would be my ideal role, a lot of the specifics I am unsure of, Where might it be I don't quite know, ideally a place close to an ocean, and perhaps a university where I would be able to conduct research but also teach on the subject and provide knowledge to others.

Aside from a professional standpoint, I think I can find a role as a nature interpreter in other endeavors, For example, I very much enjoy videography and photography and think capturing moments and creating videos of nature in perhaps unusual places can spark an interest in others, and inspire them to do the same. For a role as such, I think the proper equipment and skills are needed. Adequate knowledge on how to operate camera settings and lenses will be crucial, as well as basic knowledge on whatever it is you want to shoot, for me it would be wildlife, I particularly enjoy shooting birds and find I can share knowledge about them through photos I take.

I also think that other topics of interest outside of environmental science or nature can be combined with it equate in a project of great importance. For example, I think nature and philosophy go very well together, and perhaps writing about how it connects on a blog or journal can allow others to find an understanding of the environment that may not have been known before. Overall I think my ideal role as a nature interpreter is not bound to any one thing but instead explored in the topics that interest me in y everyday life, and through I hope to find a better understanding of nature for myself and others.

[kdenvs3000w22]

A sense of place

I have never felt more like myself then when I am in a woodland area surrounded by nature. Whether that be by the tall trees that hold the singing birds or the flat earth at my feet that is shaped with the tracks of all the animals who have passed through. This is where I find my comfort.

Throughout the years my relationship with nature has changed. When I was younger my mother would call me her “little monkey” as she would always find me in the outdoors either climbing the trees in our backyard or lifting up fallen branches to discover the smaller world that lived beneath them. Nature was my outlet, for I was a child of little words and would use Mother Nature as my talking point. Most of my friendships in elementary school were formed due to a common excitement for the natural world that we absorbed. My family and I bonded as well over our love for the outdoors and spent lots of time camping, going on hikes and the unique activity of collecting rocks for my mothers small inukshuk business.

My sister, mother and I posing for a picture at a marina in Oakville; where we would search for flat rocks that my mother would use for her inukshuks. Year: 2003.

As I have gotten older there has been a shift in my relationship with nature, a distance you may say. Although I can understand the world around me at a more scientific level and have a higher appreciation for it, I find myself not absorbing it as much as my child mindset would have. I think with age I have found life filled with distractions and deadlines that I forget sometimes to sink back into my child like perception and enjoy the present beauty around me.

Through education my knowledge of biological process and evolutionary reasoning has expanded, which allows me to say “I have evolved in my ideas and opinions on nature”, but in context of enjoyment and taking time out of my day for it, my honest truth is I have back-tracked and somewhat “lost” myself to the noise of society that surrounds us. I hope in the near future I regain that “little monkey” that sits and awaits inside of me.

[doenvs3000w22]

Hi there! I really enjoyed reading your post and found myself relating to a lot of the experiences you wrote about. Like kids our relationship with nature tends to be one of a happy and careless nature, the very essence of being a child, not having things to worry about or knowing the true way the world is, really contributes to our minds and how we used to interact with the natural world. Like you said when we get older it kind of changes as we experience life, and the mindset we had as kids begin to fade, the bit of curiosity and wonder that was once extremely prevalent is confined by the daily stress and tasks of a new busy everyday life, finding it hard to reconnect with the environment, and if so being under stressful conditions. However, I think in times when we can find time to revisit nature in a truly pleasant and freeing period in our lives, it is very freeing, and gives you a glimpse of the imagination and wonder you held as a child. Though personally, I feel any connection to nature has not diminished too much, it is certainly different than the one I had as a kid, and I hope one day, I can experience that same feeling as I once did.

[dralh]

Disclaimer

This blog was created for __________, 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.