Erminio Jacobelli

Nature Interpretation Blog 

[mpenvs3000w22]

Final Blog Post: A Temporary Goodbye

Wow, I can’t believe that we have already arrived at our final blog post for this course. I approach the end of this semester with uncertainty; I feel both relieved to finally be done with assignments for the time being, but also slightly saddened as this course has truly been one of the most rewarding experiences this semester. I look back on my previous blog posts and am just in awe of how much I have changed as a person and an interpreter within the course of just one semester. As I approach my fourth and final year of undergrad, I’ve been spending a lot of time introspecting. What do I really want to do with my degree? It has never been a consistent answer, as I went into first year thinking I’d be applying to veterinary college. A year later, I was dead set on doing herpetology research. The next year, I switched over to entomological research.

So here I am now, reflecting on everything I have learned from this course, and I am faced with yet another “career change”. I have come to realize that my lack of commitment to one pathway out of university is because I just have a general passion and love for all things nature. Whether it was veterinary medicine, herpetology, or entomology, the common factor was that I just love learning! And with that, I love helping others learn about the same things that have brought me so much joy.

This new-found motivation is what fuels my main belief about nature interpretation: accessibility for all. Now, this of course encompasses physical and economical accessibility, but one of my main focuses is what I would call “emotional accessibility”. I have often encountered this toxic sense of superiority when it comes to STEM, even in natural/environmental studies. Sometimes without even realizing, we often place our own stereotypes on who should or shouldn’t be a part of the scientific community, and on that note; if you are not a part of the scientific community then somehow your access to nature is restricted! I remember as a kid how daunting it was to ask questions to adults; some of the people i looked up to the most have scoffed as what they considered a “silly” question. For a time, this really put me off from studying biology, and I felt like I wasn’t “good enough” to join nature clubs at school because I didnt have any background knowledge (which, who would ever expect a 13 year old to be an expert on plant identification??). I had placed this extra pressure on myself because of the role models (clearly not very good nature interpreters) that chidded me as a kid.

These experiences, paired with everything I learned from this course about accessibility such as the importance of multiple intelligences (Beck et al., 2018) or the unpacking of our invisible backpacks (Gallavan, 2005), have taught me how vital it is to an interpreter to be accepting, forgiving, and encouraging. While this might be my motivation and my belief, it does bring about a huge amount of responsibility. As I witnessed myself first hand as a kid, and as highlighted in this unit chapter, we need to use our privilege of education and knowledge wisely as you never know who is looking up to you as a mentor. As an interpreter, you automatically are given responsibility for the future generation as they are the ones who listen the hardest and care the most (Beck et al., 2018). We need to be sure that our every action is in their favor and will help mold their connection with nature.

Thanks to this course, I am now able to both identify and express my motivations, beliefs, and responsibility; two skills that were definitely lacking beforehand. I have never been good at expressing myself in forms that were not visual; but through honing my writing and talking skills thanks to the blog and podcast assignment, I have realized that these skills were within me the whole time! I just never gave myself the chance to try it out. And that is exactly what I want to do after leaving this course. I want to give kids the chance to try out new skills and learn about nature in ways that they never thought they could. I now plan to further my studies by doing a Masters in Science Communication, so that I can continue to build these skills in both myself and the kids that I hope to inspire!

Thank you to everyone involved in this course, as the content of both the readings and your blog posts have been such an incredible source of inspiration! I have learned about things I never would have thought to look into and it has helped me widden my own personal point of view. I wish you all the best of luck in the rest of your nature interpreting journeys and hope to someday see how each of you have used these skills in your future careers.

Goodbye for now!

Marie

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World (1st ed., pp. 127-158). SAGAMORE Publishing.

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their “invisible knapsacks”. Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9fe2f151

[cljenvs3000w22]

Hi Marie!

I thought your post was very well done! You really did a great job wrapping up the course and relating it to your own struggles with school and how you came to the conclusion that nature interpretation should be accessible to all! I really liked this comment! I was also loved to read about your enthusiasm emotional accessibility, as well. This really resonated with me because I too find that not everyone is self-aware when they are putting their own personal biases into their interpretation. In addition, not everyone comes from the same background or was raised in the same situation, and I find a lot of the time when people are relaying their experiences and their opinions to others, they don’t consider this! I find that this course really helped with this as well! I am a biology/anthropology student, and I would say that when conducting qualitative research you really need to be aware and make it emotional accessible. I think that these courses have really helped me to understand this :) and I also think that it is super important. In addition, this ties into what we learned about the different learning styles, as well as multiple intelligences as you mentioned above (Beck et al., 2018). Learning styles are extremely important to understand when interpreting/presenting anything, in my opinion! I think it is a big takeaway from this course to understand that everyone learns differently, and there are limitations when we talk about accessibility. However, knowing the different styles we can try to minimize the limitations as much as possible. This may also help to increase the emotional availability of your platform/method (Tumblr, YouTube, vlogging, etc..).

I really loved hearing about your decision to pursue a master’s in science communication. This is definitely a pathway that is worth pursuing! I am currently deciding between master’s programs for next year, but I am leaning toward one at Guelph :)! I really hope that you continue to interpret nature - your blog is super entertaining to read and very well written! Thanks for your post and I wish you luck in whatever you decide!

Cora :)

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World (1st ed., pp. 127-158). SAGAMORE Publishing.

[ejenvs3000w22]

Hi Marie! Awesome final blog post! Great job on wrapping up the course and sharing all your final thoughts. It's funny how this class has led to another career change for you because it sort has done the same thing for me. Before, I wanted to go to Pharmacy school as I have a great passion for the pharmaceutical industry. But, after taking this class I realized I have another purpose in life and that is to help grow future sustainable cities and improve overall global health. Nature interpretation can be used in both of these scenarios, as we can begin to see future city builders incorporating the environment with our cities and increase access to outdoor spaces to improve our qualities of life.

This is something I have gained allot of interest in and it is a major challenge for us as we must find innovative ways to combat and adapt to climate change. It is so true for interpreters to be inviting, welcoming and promote inclusivity because it is every single person's responsibility to have a sustainable relationship with the environment and everyone should have a fulfilling purpose to have a proper connection with nature. Thanks again for sharing your insights and opinions. I hope nature interpretation follows you with whatever your future career endeavours may be. Take care and have a great day!

[haenvs3000w22]

My Final Blog

Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?

My personal ethic as a nature interpreter is one that integrates political change, scientific evidence, and personal experiences to inspire others to see Mother Nature for her true beauty and to inspire true stewardship. Saving the planet will require a massive change across our society, which will require some changing of the day-to-day behaviours of everyone to become more sustainable, but most of the change will have to come to some key powerful figures in our society. Capitalism has concentrated power and wealth in the hands of a few men, from the energy sector where fossil fuels provide most of our power and transportation to the food industry where massive industrial farming is raping the soil for all its nutrients and brutalizing helpless animals to feed only a small percentage of the world’s population while the rest of the world starves. Change at this level will require societal pressure from the working class and those outside of the 0.01%, and cohesive societal pressure will require a coherent narrative that will mobilize people to arm themselves with and to act upon the plain scientific evidence that begs us to do something. I am convinced that the only way to change minds and to invite them to participate in this narrative is through personal experiences. As Louv wrote in “Last Child in the Woods”, “One often overlooked value of children is that they constitute the future political constituency, and their attention or vote – which is ultimately based more on a foundation of personal experience than rational decision making- is not guaranteed.” I believe that, deep down, adults are no different than children, but post-enlightenment white western culture still entertains an outdated notion of the total primacy of objectivity that forces adults to maintain a façade of rationality and to justify their personal experience or else face criticism. This façade can easily be broken down though by inducing just a little bit of child-like curiosity and fascination. One song that comes to mind when I am interpreting nature is John Mayer’s “Belief” where he sings, “Is there anyone who/Ever remembers changing your mind from/The paint on a sign/Is there anyone who really recalls/Ever breaking rank at all/For something someone yelled real loud one time.” My responsibility as a nature interpreter is to not be a political crusader, because this will only reach those who are already convinced of the necessity of protecting Mother Earth. Instead, it is to initiate and guide people on their own journey of rediscovering the quirks, intricacies, and child-like wonder nature has always provided, and only once they have gotten back in touch with this childhood to provide them with the rational knowledge they need to change their behaviours to live more sustainably and the narrative they need to organize their psyches and to demonstrate to others the joy that the Earth can provide. The other, and more important responsibility I have, is to elevate the voices of those who have always known, protected, and advocated for the irreplaceability of nature but have been marginalized, specifically the Indigenous populations in Canada. As a white person who grew up in Burlington and has always had easy access to protected nature spaces, it is easy to forget that those spaces were originally stewarded by the Indigenous people in this area before it was stolen from them, and their cultures and families were destroyed by systemic oppression and residential schools. I have both the time and monetary resources to fully enjoy nature while the ones who protected it for centuries are struggling to have clean water. The land around my house is covered by the “Dish with One Spoon” treaty, which explains how everyone who lives and works in this land eats from this same dish, and so we must only take our share and leave resources for others as well as maintain the integrity of the land for generations to come. This perfectly models sustainability and stewardship, and so this is the core structure for my approach to nature interpretation.

In summary, my personal ethic as a nature interpreter necessitates a responsibility to facilitate individuals’ rediscovery of nature and childhood, to model the Dish with One Spoon approach to stewardship and sustainability, to arm people with the scientific evidence and political narrative that can mobilize the working class to force change at the top of an unjustly hierarchical capitalist society, and to elevate the voices of the original stewards of Mother Nature who have been marginalized.

Thank you to everyone who has interacted with my blog over the course of the semester, I have truly enjoyed this class and the ability to read everyone’s unique perspective. I wish everyone the best as we finish the semester and likely our university careers!

[akenvs3000w22]

Hello Hannah!

Thank you for such a powerful and insightful blog post! I absolutely love what you had to say about your approach for getting people impassioned about eco-consciousness and conservation efforts. It’s easy to become disheartened and discouraged with the state of the Earth and the rate of which things are changing for the worse; and it’s equally discouraging to see the amount of people who don’t care about or flat-out deny climate change. I also believe that becoming a political crusader, while still important, would mainly reach and empower those who already care for the state of the planet. As you stated, an interpreter’s responsibility is to guide others to rediscover the wonders of nature, and I believe this is what needs to happen to change people’s minds.

The sense of wonder that nature ignites, which you discussed, has been linked to changing people’s perspectives, inducing mindfulness, and increasing empathy (Beck et al., pp 472). This sense of awe will hopefully make people look at the world in a different light, challenging their ideas of consumerism and their own environmental impact. I think the immense urbanization and technological advances (especially with the internet), has created a massive rift between societies and nature, and this is possibly a great factor in the reckless and destructive consumption of others. What strategies do you think we should implement to close the gap between people and nature? Should we focus on bringing nature interpretation on-line, or should we aim to increase people’s exposure to real-life nature?

Thank you again for your insightful post, and I hope you continue to advocate for change in conservation and preservation efforts. I enjoyed reading your post and hope you’ve enjoyed taking this course! Wish you all the best with future endeavors :)

Reference

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

[ejenvs3000w22]

Hello Hannah! What a very inspirational blog post you've made! It's true that us as a society have to go through massive changes to save this planet and my only worry is when these changes will be implemented because we do not have much time. From how we transport ourselves to how we make energy to turn the lights on, these are all things that have to change in order for us to be sustainable with the environment.

I totally agree with your opinion that it will need intense societal pressure to change people's ways of living. I definitely believe adults and children are not far from different when it comes to using their personal experiences with the environment to foster their connection with nature. It is very important for anyone to have easy access to nature because it improves your quality of life. This class has made me realize this importance and it should be one of the top goals for future city buildings to incorporate nature with our cities. I remember reading in previous blogs that some people never felt close to nature because they did not have great access to it. This should be a top priority for city builders because not only does it benefit human wellbeing, it can help solve other economic issues.

Again, great post and I hope your future career endeavours can incorporate nature interpretation as much as it can. Have a great day!

[ejenvs3000w22]

My Final Blog Post

Now that i've reached the end of my blog, this post will be dedicated to reflect on my personal ethic as I develop as a nature interpreter. After completing this class, the most important thing i've learned is how important it is for humans to have a connection with nature, especially having a sustainable relationship with the environment. When we look at our stages of economic development with respect to how we utilize Earth's natural capital, the future is aimed to move towards sustainable development and green technology. This will be the movement towards using technology and science to reduce human impacts on the natural environment.

I believe this will be our future outlook on life as we can begin to see a greater emphasis on sustainability in our society. I believe that humans need to have a connection with nature to improve their quality of life. I believe that the environment you grow up in affects every facet of your life and this comes to prove that we must incorporate the environment with our everyday surroundings. As nature has many beneficial effects to our human health and wellbeing, we must use it to improve our quality of life and find ways in which we can sustain that idea for generations.

With the ideas covered in this class, nature provides us with natural benefits that improves our mood, spirit, and mind. Now that I fully understand the impacts nature has on humans, it is time for us to analyze how humans impact nature, and where we can improve. Every single person on this planet has the responsibility to live having a minimal impact on the environment. With a predicted sustainable future for society, people must change and adapt to new ways of living so we don't further contribute to climate change. Our ways of transportation, how we utilize energy sources, and how we produce waste needs to all change in order for us to have a sustainable future. Nature interpretation can be a key tool in helping people understand how important it is for us to protect the environment and use it sustainably.

It will still take time for majority of people to fully grasp the importance around this issue and to take the initiative to have a sustainable lifestyle. But as nature interpreters, we have the knowledge to turn the dial on supporting sustainable initiatives; becoming leaders who can teach why it should be everyone's purpose in life. Everyone in this class will use their knowledge in nature interpretation in their own ways, but mine will be to serve a purpose to build healthier cities and use the environment to improve my quality of life. I can see myself working with people who can create innovative ideas, meshing together our natural world with our economic world.

I also have a great interest in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, and I can use my nature interpretation skills to foster my purpose to create products that have a very little impact on the environment and improve human health. Gaining all the knowledge in how we can appreciate the environment has helped me create my vision for the future and what I want to do as a career in the future. I can not emphasis it enough on how important it is for every human to have a connection with the environment. It provides us with a purpose and with that, you can uncover what your true purpose is on Earth. At the end of the day, we are all here to work together to have a functional society, and we should be doing that with little impact on the environment because the visible consequences will only get worst.

Climate change is a scary and serious issue that can not be ignored. It is all I hear about in any of my science classes and it is in the hands of the younger generation to help fix it. All of us must come together to help combat and adapt to climate change. Building sustainable businesses, buildings, and lifestyles are the solutions to this problem and if you already appreciated the environment, there is no doubt that you would also agree with this statement. I love nature and appreciate everything it gives me, its art, its music, its history. There is no more room for us to destroy it and it is time to build a future with the environment, not without.

[rsenvs3000w22]

The Wonder of Not Knowing

Being a nature lover is possibly the best hobby or interest to have. It’s virtually endless. Just as you think you know everything, there is a whole other topic or discipline to study. Even the experts on certain topics don’t have all the answers. To me, this is the most amazing thing, that so much of nature is still unexplained and waiting to be uncovered.

When I was in elementary school, I was obsessed with knowing strange and random facts. Many of these, sort of unfortunately, have stuck with me. For instance, that mouse brains at one point were used in toothpaste. Gross. Another that has stuck with me for years is the phenomenon of the sailing rocks in Death Valley National Park.

Sailing rock in Racetrack Playa. Image retrieved from https://www.nationalparks.org/connect/blog/sailing-stones-death-valley

Also called sliding rocks, walking rocks, rolling stones, or moving rocks, this geological phenomenon is when rocks move and inscribe long tracks across a smooth valley floor with no animal intervention or gravitational cause. It’s important to keep in mind these aren’t just pebbles or small stones. Many of these are hundreds of pounds. The scary part is no one has witnessed them moving in person. And yet here are these long trails that tell us they have.

Sailing rock tracks in Death Valley National Park. Image retrieved from https://earthsky.org/earth/death-valley-sliding-slithering-sailing-stone-mystery-solved/

Even though there was seemingly no answer to why these rocks moved, that was part of what made it so exciting. Now years later today looking up this phenomenon for my blog, it turns out there is peer-reviewed literature on the mechanisms behind their movement. The movement is caused by 3 steps. First rain creates a shallow water layer on the dry terrain (Chhabra, 2019). Overnight this water freezes and turns to ice which in the morning breaks into thin sheets (Chhabra, 2019). The floating ice sheets are pushed by wind against the boulders that act as a “sail” causing the rocks to slowly slide over the wet muddy terrain (Chhabra, 2019). While this process is interesting, you may agree with me it's not as astonishing as giant rocks mysteriously moving on their own.

As someone who has always searched for the answer and solution to a problem, I’ve come to realize that some things are better left unexplained. I especially learned this when I tried to learn about space. It was a black hole of many unanswered questions. You may never know every bird call that you hear or be able to explain why a waterfall occurred where it did. But that is part of the beauty of nature. In some ways not knowing can be the best way to appreciate nature as you’re left to interpret it the way you experience and see it.

References

Chhabra, K. (2019). The sailing stones. Science Reporter. Retrieved from http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/47212/1/SR%2056%285%29%2060-61.pdf

[ejenvs3000w22]

Hello, awesome blog post this week! First, it is crazy to find out that mouse brains were used in toothpaste, I have no idea why people incorporate such odd things in our consumer products sometimes. Anyways, this story about these moving rocks is very interesting, its so cool how there's always the science behind such odd things that happen on Earth, especially within nature.

I totally stand with your point that "not knowing can be the best way to appreciate nature as you’re left to interpret it the way you experience and see it." This is such an uplifting statement because there are many things that we still do not have a reason for and when it comes to nature, not knowing why certain things happen can help people interpret things differently in their own way. This allows nature to increase our imagination, creativity, and meaningful connections with the environment. This provides nature with another benefit to society and that is the true beauty of nature. Awesome post, looking forward to reading your future blogs!

[ejenvs3000w22]

The Most Amazing Thing I Know About Nature

Since the beginning of the pandemic, nature has started to have a greater importance in society than ever before. As I stated before in my previous posts, people have begun to appreciate nature and the environment again. Being stuck in quarantine has made people realize how important the environment is for us and our health. The environment provides us with many things to improve our mental and physical health.

As society begins to realize how important nature is for us to grow in and surround ourselves in, future city builders are beginning to incorporate nature with our future cities. Building more sustainable cities has been a much talked about subject and people can begin to see the amazing innovations that are being created to incorporate nature with our cities.

A great example that is coming to Toronto is the Quayside site. This will be Canada’s first Zero-Carbon Building certified neighbourhood of this scale (3.4 million square feet), demonstrating climate leadership as one of Canada’s most sustainable low-carbon communities (Bredin, 2022). As you can see from the photos, this new community will mesh together nature with future building architecture. This will also help grow our cities while combating climate change.

This new development will help us tackle urban environmental challenges such as stormwater management, pollution reduction, and climate resiliency (Bredin, 2022). Nature also supports the health and well-being of the people that live in cities, offering benefits like stress reduction and opportunities for social connection.

The most amazing thing I know about nature is that it isn't just a pretty thing to look at. Nature gives us a source to reduce pollution, inspire physical activity, improve neighbourhood safety, reduce risk of disease, and improve our contact with the natural world. Nature provides us with solutions and improves our quality of life. Nature is such a gift and provides us with more than just its beauty. I am very excited to see what's in store for our future sustainable cities. I look forward to see what's in store for us as we continue to find ways to combat climate change and improve our quality of life. Thank you nature for your help, we couldn't do this without you!

References

Bredin, S. (2022, February 15). Dream unlimited and great gulf group selected to develop quayside. Waterfront Toronto. https://waterfrontoronto.ca/nbe/portal/waterfront/Home/waterfronthome/newsroom/newsarchive/news/2022/february/dream+unlimited+and+great+gulf+group+selected+to+develop+quayside

[gvhenvs3000w22]

Music in Nature

Where is music in nature?

TLDR; its everywhere! From songbirds, to the sounds of crunching leaves in the fall, trees creaking in the forest, bugs chirping, the sounds of animals communicating surrounds us in nature. A great memory is the feeling when you wake up in a tent, to the sounds of birds chirping and squirrels squeaking, singing their wake up song just for you!

Where is nature in music?

When I read this question, the first thing that popped into my mind is the song Blackbird by The Beatles. The first time I heard this song, the introduction of the bird chirping at the end of the song was just the cherry on top of such a beautiful song! With a calm beat and a soft guitar, the songbird’s song really suits the vibe of the song and always makes me smile. Hearing this song always puts me into a calm state, just as I feel when I am surrounded by nature listening to the birds sing!

Another way that nature is used in music is in indigenous cultures. The drum represents the heartbeat of mother earth, as drums are made by stretching animal hide over a wooden frame. Using animal hide to create a drum is a great example of how nature can be found in music.

Songs that take me back to nature are camp songs! As the youngest in my family, I always enjoyed trying to get my cousins and brother to sing along with my nonsense. My favourite camp song is one that my mom taught me, its about being chased by a bear! I often forget the words so I am thankful that she spent many years attending and working at a summer camp so the songs are stuck in her head. I always make sure we sing all our camp songs atleast once a year at a campfire. 

I have another memory with the song Forest by Twenty One Pilots. A few years back in Killarney, I brought my ukulele to my favourite rock, and played the song quietly while looking out onto the lake. Although I don’t play much ukulele anymore, anytime I hear that song it transports me back to my rock, watching the sunset and playing my song.

[ejenvs3000w22]

Hello! Great post this week! We both had similar views on this topic and it was great reading your insights. I always find it cool when artists incorporate nature's music to their songs, as i think it really adds a timeless aspect to the song. Especially "Blackbird" by The Beatles, I can listen to that song everyday. It's cool that drums are made by animal hide, i never knew that till now.

It is great how we can associate music wth distinct memories and experiences in our lives. I believe that's the true beauty behind music. We have developed our attraction to music the same way we have the attraction to sounds from the environment. It keeps us more connected to nature and brings us good feelings. Awesome post this week, looking forward to your future posts!

[ejenvs3000w22]

Where Is Music in Nature? Where Is Nature in Music?

I love listening to music. I've always been the person to discover new music to enjoy and share it with others. I listen to music almost everyday, when I am walking to school, getting ready to go out, and even while I do my homework. Music boosts my mood and can even make me more productive. Music is tied with our emotions and people have emotional connections with it. Music is everywhere and people do not realize the impact music of the natural world has had on human evolution. Music evolves with us and is at the centre of what it means to be human.

The sounds of birds chirping, waves crashing on the shore, and the whistles of dolphins are examples of music from the natural environment. Our innate attraction to music was created on a foundation based in the natural environment. As I'll mention again, music is tied with our emotions. This is why hearing the sounds of birds chirping in the morning can make you feel closer to nature, it can boost your mood, and it is very pleasant to listen to. It provides us with a source of entertainment and enhances our appreciation for the environment. Not knowing, we hear the natural worlds music everyday and it gives people the ability to associate them with memories and experiences.

Music is described as patterns of sounds varying in pitch, melody, rhythm, and harmony. These patterns of sound come naturally from our environment and can even help us make human music. Many artists use music from nature to incorporate in their songs and inspires them to create new songs we have never heard before. Acknowledging nature as being musical can promote environmental advocacy, which is also the sole purpose of nature interpretation.

Music is apart of our everyday life whether it is listening to human made music or listening music from the natural world. Our memories and emotions can be tied with music and can be associated with the paths in our lives. The song "Break the Silence" by Depeche Mode always bring me back to the road trip I had with my family across Pennsylvania state, after I graduated high school to visit our family from the USA. I specifically think about listening to that song and looking out to the rolling hills and forests as we drive on the highway in-between them. It was my parents anthem on that trip and we listened to it probably 1000 times. Pennsylvania's landscape surprised me, as the state is filled with many mountains and valleys. It was a very peaceful and heartwarming road trip that I will never forget.

[ngsenvs3000w22]

Blog 6- 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)

At first, I was stuck on this quote and what Edward Hyams tried to express. But as I read it over and over again, I got a sense of what he is trying to express. In the first part of this quote, he expresses that in order to keep the integrity in history, every part of history has to be known not just the main points or bias views. The full picture must be seen; however, this is not always the case. There are biases that changes the story as it goes on through people and generations that as it goes on the truth changes every time little by little.

The second part of the quote as I understood it, states how there are times in our lives leave a mark within us that then become a part of ourselves and our history. After each train has passed a lesson was learned and the tracts that stays are the path created after each lesson. With these ‘tracts’ we keep in mind the past and thrive with what was learned. Keeping this marks a part of our history.

This quote overall expresses that history sometimes is scattered having passed through many people who have different options or omitted certain details creating a biased. These biased can be everywhere in academia, everyday life, politics etc. and it’s because everyone has their own option and beliefs. However, we should try and keep the integrity of history by keeping it pure and showing the full picture and not just what we want to be seen.

As interpreters, we aim to make an impact/mark on people’s lives to be part of their history. To become a “railway station” with our tracks to guide and follow through to the future. Throughout this course we have all made references and told our memories of our relationship with nature or how nature has impacted us in a certain way and thus interpreting nature through history. This is important because a person will carry this memory with them and continue to relive it while also sharing it and the lesson they learned.

Also involving history with nature it gives more depth and meaning to it allowing others to truly grasp and learn as much as they can, while truly appreciating nature and its beauty.

[ejenvs3000w22]

Hey there, great post this week! We both have unpacked this quote in similar ways. Especially when you state that every part of history has to be known, not just the main points or bias views. This is how history keeps its integrity and we must never change history. When you say that after each train has passed a lesson was learned and the tracts that stay are the paths created after each lesson; that is exactly how I interpreted that section of the quote.

I stated in my own post that the train station will always be there, the next train depicts what will happen next in it, and the previous train leaves behind the people who have already completed their journey. This goes the same way with history, what was left behind impacts what will happen next in history, and it is a pattern that will always happen. It is like thinking that once the pandemic is over, we will go back to how life was in 2019. This is not true because the pandemic will change the way we work, how the internet works, and what society thinks about the world. Involving history with nature gives the environment a greater importance and us at interpreters must acknowledge that, to show people how history has shaped the planet we are standing on today. Again, great post and looking forward to reading your future blogs!

[ejenvs3000w22]

Nature Interpretation Through History

Quote: "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."

After reading this quote many times, It was challenging to reveal what the overall main message Edward Hyams was trying to convey. Now after allot of thought, I think I know what is really being said here. First, he states that in order to keep the integrity in history, every part of history has to be known, not just the main points. This means that we must view history as a whole, not just certain parts of it, but everything that has influenced it. That is how we keep integrity with history. Especially when people form their own biases and try to change others views on historic events.

The true story can get manipulated by generations and people trying to pass the history on by word of mouth. "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." What I believe he is trying to say is that once the present becomes the past, we must learn from it and acknowledge that the past leaves behind a path that leads us to the future.

Overall, history can not and will not be forgotten. It does not live for a certain period of time without influencing what is next to come. The train station will always be there, the next train depicts what will happen next in it, and the previous train leaves behind the people who have already completed their journey. Involving nature with history gives nature a greater value and importance. Us as interpreters must acknowledge that, so people can understand how history has shaped the planet we are standing on today.

Here is a photo I took while visiting Pompeii. You can see the ruins that have been left behind after the tragic volcanic explosion that completely destroyed the city. Without any evidence, no one would have known that this event has happened. But, thanks to what was left behind, the next generation has preserved it, to teach the world what had happened and how it has influenced Italian history/culture.

[dhenvs3000w22]

The Beach - Blog 5

Everyone has a place that they feel most at home, whether it be just at their house, a cottage, outside, a sports field, or even an individual. For me, it’s the beach, specifically with my family. With COVID-19 it has forbidden my access to travel, especially to a destination residing on a beach. It has forbidden many things for all. Although now things are slowly opening back up and restrictions are beginning to get lifted, my family and I have been hesitant for a while to travel for many reasons. Now I don’t wanna make this whole post about COVID-19 because I’m sure many individuals have had enough of it, just like myself, but it has restricted me from being in a place that resolves all negatives in my life. 

I love the beach because…

The scenic bright blue waves crashing in the background noise. The ocean breeze’s earthy and salty odours. The soothing sounds of the ocean and the gulls. The vitamin D absorbing in my skin, the feeling of sand on my feet, the warm wind that brushes a tan, it makes me feel at peace, calmness. The relaxation, the scenery, the warmth, the water, and the sun the beach has to offer, quite frankly I believe can make anyone’s frown turn upside down, or their mood skyrocket with dopamine. 

Every trip I have gone on and every country I have traveled to, my family always goes to the beach. For them too, and their own love for the ocean and the beach, has grown my love for it. When I am at the beach without them, it offers the exact same feeling as if they aren’t there with me. 

I miss it incredibly. I am thankful enough that this summer I will finally be able to travel again without any hesitations, and go on a trip down south with my family which we have planned for in August. 

This aspect of nature has impacted my love for it, and my life entirely. The beach has offered many outlets in my life, and has made me more appreciative for the Earth, mother nature and it’s offering. As beaches surround us in many different parts of the world, I still cannot bear the thought of not being consistently brought up around it, because since I was a little girl, it has offered a positive impact on my future life and self, something I would have never imagined. It is a place that I can go to, and nothing else matters than offering myself mental and physical self-care. 

Here’s a small look into some of the photos I have or my family has captured from the many beaches I have experienced in my lifetime:

[ejenvs3000w22]

Hello! Awesome blog post this week! I definitely feel most at home when i'm at my cottage and the beach. The beach has been a place I've always been drawn to because it is the only place where you can physically emerge yourself in our planets nature. Swimming in the ocean, feeling the sand on my feet, and being surrounded by its beautiful landscape, the beach has always been my favourite place to be.

I'm sure everyone knows why the beach is usually where people want to be because there is nothing better than hearing those calm waves hitting the shore and soaking up all the sun you can. I love that the beach has made you appreciate nature more and that is exactly what the beach can do to people. I've always loved going to the beach and I'm happy we are both on the same page for that. Great post this week and I'll be looking forward to your future posts!

[ejenvs3000w22]

How the Pandemic Has Changed Our Relationship With Nature

Before the pandemic started, most of us already knew about the importance of spending time outside, since modern technology (gaming, social media, internet) has impacted the way younger generations will see the outdoors. Once COVID-19 hit, the entire world was stuck in quarantine and this started the sudden fear to go outside. I remember during the first lockdown, I started loosing my mind because I was bored and there was nothing for me to do at home. Once spring arrived and the weather got warmer, I took the initiative to do more activities outside, since there was nothing else to do inside. I began running, exercising, walking, planning picnics, and going on long bike rides along the lakeshore in Toronto. I started to absolutely love going outside. It would improve my mood, reduce anxiety, and reduce stress levels.

I realized that my solution for lockdown was to go outside. Not long after, everyone started doing it. Families were going on family walks, people began buying more dogs and brought them on walks, parks were busier than ever, and it seemed like all people wanted to do was to go out and explore nature. Research shows that being out in nature can tackle depressing feelings and the body responds physiologically to the natural world (Richardson, 2021). I strongly believe that humans have a deeper connection than we think with nature and we are all connected. People need purpose and a place. Right now, people can not properly connect with each other and nature can provide us with the need to be a part of something.

Now being two years living through the pandemic, mental health has become a very concerning issue with our society and nature can help us. We have seen that nature can improve our lives and this pandemic has unlocked a new way in which people will view the environment. Climate Change is all I hear about nowadays and there is more talk around being sustainable and having net zero carbon emissions. I think the pandemic provided us with a wake up call to stop harming the environment and to start appreciating it more.

I believe that the future can look very optimistic if we stick to new rules to become a more sustainable society. Buildings being made with gardens on the balconies, electric cars, and global companies aiming to be completely sustainable are all examples of the new innovative projects that have come from providing solutions to global warming. The pandemic has provided us with a wake up call and has made people more aware of the environmental issues that we face. Not only are people starting to love the outdoors more than ever before, but the outcome from this pandemic has sparked a new generation of nature-loving innovators that will shape our future for the better and save our planet.

Reference

Richardson, M. (2021). How the pandemic has changed our relationship with nature. How the pandemic changed our relationship with nature - Issue 13 - University of Derby. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from https://www.derby.ac.uk/magazine/issue-13/how-the-pandemic-changed-our-relationship-with-nature/

[fdenvs3000w22]

Nature inspires art ~ Blog 04

Hi Everyone!

This week’s free writing is going to be extra special as we discuss nature interpretation through various art forms. I have always thought about why people spend their leisure time visiting nature parks, museums, or history tours and attending interpretive events. Well, it’s because people have fun; they can connect with and value those meaningful experiences as it leaves some sort of inspiration in them. If people did not derive any satisfaction from such outings, they would not attend voluntarily or realize the value behind taking the time to do so and invest in the travel or entrance costs. While reading the course content for this week, I thought of how art provides another dimension to interpretation; art can mimic nature as it visually replicates objects as they actually appear in life. Traditionally, there are endless art forms that consist of literature (poetry, drama, stories), visual arts (sculptures, drawing, paintings), graphic arts (designs, drawing and paintings expressed on flat surfaces), decorative arts (enamelwork, mosaic), and performing arts (theatre, dance, music). 

All these art forms thrive on interpretation, but artists and creators have always resisted having anyone explain the meaning of their artwork. They insist that each person should have their response and an interpretation of the significance of the work that they can respond to personally. Similarly, interpretive professionals use a mix of emotional and intellectual approaches to communicate and help others form a secure relationship with nature.  We have now begun to recognize the several outlets that tell stories of art and artists helping people perceive natural, historical resources and artistic performance with enhanced perception. A lot of interpretive sites have recognized that creating arrangements that offer mutual benefits to the park (for publicity), the artist (for sales) and the public (for learning from the artist) most certainly lead to a better world.

Who am I to interpret nature through art? As undergrad students, we have been taught to recognize the beauty behind flowers, plants, trees, botany, animals, weather, geology, environment, evolution, crop pollination, and so much more. While I may not have interacted with nature as much as I wanted to, I have always consistently recognized its beauty and all that it offers – as I said in my first blog prompt, you discover yourself by discovering nature. While capturing my sense of place, I learned that my connection to nature was through photography and snapshotting beautiful murals and scenery. While graffiti is generally understood as an illegal and unauthorized public space by an individual or a group to gain attention, I have always understood it as an expressive art form that is withheld in nature. [Public art is art in any media planned and executed to be staged in the physical public domain, usually outside and accessible to all. Graffiti is typically unplanned and viewed at hidden paces and easy to view - certainly a riskThe beauty of art is that not everyone relates to it the same way as beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. The “Gift of Beauty” for me is “that it gives us the pleasure to look around and try to comprehend what we see, as the deeper we look into it, we understand everything better." Art allows us to live how we want to live. To feel the love we want to feel. To fight what we want to change. To create the stories we want. Most importantly, to find a place of sense in the face of life’s complexity. 

When it comes to sharing a meaningful piece of informal art that includes elements of nature, I would refer to the neighbourhood known for its fine street art and unusual installations of graffiti, The Kensington Market! Those of you who have visited this section of Downtown Toronto know how it has become a platform to display graffiti and street art. However, they say that you haven’t seen the Garden Car and haven’t seen Kensington. Before I introduce this thoughtful creation, here’s a photograph to show you what I am precisely referring to:

I am sharing this because the way society feels for an artwork determines its true meaning and appreciation. This impacts all age groups as the Garden Car is admired by children, adults, and seniors. It’s far away from the messy tagging and is known to be one of the top 10 "Toronto street art spots to snap your next Instagram photo.”

This public art installation was originally in front of the La Palette restaurant, where it had been since its creation in June 2006. Initially, its creators did not know if it would be permitted to remain on the street but continued feeding the parking meter. The car was towed away once, but Amlani (restaurant co-owner) had it returned. On another occasion, when a tow truck showed up, the car’s supporters formed a human chain link around it. Because this beautifully designed car is considered public art, it required liability insurance, which La Palette’s insurance company covered for a long time. At a point, this restaurant was closing its marketing location, which meant this car would have to find a new home. Luckily this little piece of downtown was quickly embraced by her new uptown neighbours and much appreciated by the seniors who preferred gardening in a raised bed.

With the help of the local Councillor and the support of the Toronto Parking Authority, the parking fees were waived as long as this car would be removed during the winter months to avoid interference with snow trucks.

Knowing about the community’s effort to keep this car in the area was unbelievable. As I mentioned, this car would go into its hibernation during the winter, and the people around would be so concerned about where the car is going and if they’ll bring it back or not. This car does get repainted with different artwork quite frequently, so don’t be surprised if you don’t exactly see this when you go there. The location of this car does vary around the neighbourhood, but you can always find its address online.

Currently, this Garden car is located at:

Eventually, an artwork gains meaning before or after and in the case of the Garden Car, it indeed is a joyous production. As I mentioned before, this car drastically differs from messy tagging as it is a combination of a mural on a motor vehicle enhancing nature and its beauty. This is the first public art invention that has acted as a tool of environmental outreach. This Garden Car reminds me of the cannon at UofG because they both are moveable objects displaying a wide variety of murals and quotes. The creators have effectively used a scrapyard four-door sedan (possibly a dodge spirit) festively painted and filled with soil to deliver the message of using public space to enhance greenery. Not only that but creating art from scrap requires a lot of thought and hard work; after all, the artist has to transform something worthless to worthy.

I know this post was a little too long but theres just so much to express! Thank you for reading:) I look forward to hearing your views on this! Additionally, if you ever had the chance to deliver a message in public through an art installation what would it be? and where would you place it?

Farheen D.

References:

Beck, L. et al. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. 2018. Sagamore Publishing.

Roy, M.-F. (2016, October 9). The 10 best public art spots in Toronto. Matador Network. Retrieved February 4, 2022, from https://matadornetwork.com/life/10-best-public-art-spots-toronto/

Teotonio, I. (2010, October 27). Kensington Market’s garden car to roll once more. thestar.com. Retrieved February 4, 2022, from https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2010/10/27/kensington_markets_garden_car_to_roll_once_more.html

Torontoist. (2011, May 29). Kensington Market’s garden car, once threatened, is safe and sound. Torontoist. Retrieved February 4, 2022, from https://torontoist.com/2011/05/kensington_markets_garden_car_is_safe_and_sound/

[ejenvs3000w22]

Hello! Great blog post, I very much enjoyed reading it. Both of us have developed the same understanding that people can connect with and value meaningful experiences as it leaves some sort of inspiration in them. This definitely can come into play when interpreting nature through art because humans can have a deeper and fulfilling connection with nature by appreciating the way nature looks.

It was interesting to read that your connection to nature was through photography and snapshotting beautiful murals and scenery. That urge you get to take a picture of a beautiful landscape should remind you that we have human desires to look back at natures beauty and we all can look at nature through art. Adding value to natures beauty, appreciating what nature has given us, and forming those connections/feelings we can have with nature are all gifts in itself.

I am very pleased that you visit Kensington Market, since that is usually where I hang out with my friends when we go downtown. I am happy you shared those photos too; as I see those same art pieces all the time. It is true that the way society feels for an artwork determines its true meaning and appreciation. This is also true when it comes to the way society should feel about natures beauty. Nature is such a great gift to enable us to form meaningful connections and relationships with the world around us. Great post again and I'll be looking forward to reading your future blogs!

[ejenvs3000w22]

Who am I to interpret nature through art? How do I interpret “the gift of beauty”?

This weeks blog prompt got me very excited because I am that one friend of the group that tries to take a picture of every moment on a trip and interpreting nature through art is something I've dabbled with for some time now. From the textbook and information given to me this week, I began to realize all the different forms of art that I forgotten about. Literature, visual arts, graphic arts, decorative arts, and performing arts are all examples of the diverse subjects art can be expressed in. To be honest, art to me was either a picture, painting, or dancing. I understand now that literature can be an art to share a story to an audience and have them immerse themselves in the theme.

Now that I have grasped my understand of what art is, I've realized as well that all I do is interpret nature through art. Every time I take a picture of the landscape I am in, I am interpreting nature as art because I see the nature around me as visually appealing, the same way paintings are viewed by an audience. I have always seen the beauty in nature and that is one characteristic in myself that can help change how an audience can interpret nature. The feelings nature can give you, for example, being surrounded by lots of snow in a forest at night or palm trees on a hot day, can evoke tenderness, happiness, and many more feelings onto a person and that is the beauty of nature.

Humans can have a deeper and fulfilling connection with nature by appreciating the way nature looks. It can be hard at sometimes to see the beauty in some aspects of the world, but as nature interpreters our job is to help others see the beauty in any landscape they are in. Interpreting nature through art is a great method to help people bring value to nature enough so that they will form that initiative to protect it. Interpreting the "gift of beauty" can enhance every aspect of your life. Adding value to natures beauty, appreciating what nature has given us, and forming those connections/feelings we can have with nature are all gifts in itself. This comes back to supporting the idea of people having sustainable relationships with nature and must sustain its beauty.

That urge you get to take a picture of a beautiful landscape, sunset, or event in nature should remind us that we have human desires to look back at natures beauty and we all can look at nature through art. Making nature photos and videos meaningful to us is the reason why natures beauty is such a gift to enable us to form inspiration, connections, and relationships with the world around us.

[dhenvs3000w22]

Privilege - Blog 3

Privilege to me means being accessible to or given advantages to certain aspects of life others may not be accessible to or given. Ultimately, I believe this word can mean and be portrayed differently by individuals who obtain different offerings to define their privilege. From my point of view, privilege has stemmed from personal achievements that provide rewards from dedication and hard work, as well as having connections across the world. My parents have granted my brother and I privileges because of their own sacrifices to create a great life for my brother and I, in which they teach us we must work to provide for our own families one day. 

When unpacking my invisible backpack, I come to realize I am an upper middle class, European, bilingual (English, Ukrainian, Polish) female. In reality, I am given and accessible to many things without having to work hard for it, such that I am very fortunate in everyday life, in which others may not be. For instance, working to provide for car, phone, school or housing payments is not optimally needed for me to do. But regarding this, I also believe I am privileged enough for other reasons such as always having a roof over my head, food at the table, and living healthily. Other aspects of life I believe I am privileged for consist of:

A Canadian passport for travel

Free health care 

My drivers license and owning a car for transportation 

A large, very tight, supportive family - especially across different parts of the world 

Traveling 

My last bullet point, traveling, is how my privilege plays a part within nature interpretation. Without my privilege stemming from my parents and travel, I would not have such a strong connection with nature today. My privilege has been able to always provide me fully paid trips, whether by my parents or through my dad’s work. A lot of the traveling I have experienced has come from job conferences for my dad’s work. Therefore, my experiences and privilege have led me to gain a bigger perspective to those who are unlike me. Being bilingual has also offered me a great advantage in life which my parents also have given me, such that it can be beneficial in nature interpretation when being in or working in different country settings and helping others from language barriers from the information that is being spoken or taught, in which such privilege other may not accustomed to, which then can be a disadvantage and affect others experiences. Although this may be classified as my privilege, it has enlightened my knowledge to understand that money does not just buy access to nature and experiences. You can do so simply by walking through a new community trail in your area for zero dollars. It has taught me that being considerate of everyone coming from different walks of life which allows for different accessibilities, may be their own privileges. 

Did anything surprise you when unpacking your invisible backpack?

[ejenvs3000w22]

Hey! I really enjoyed reading your post and allot of your points have resonated with me. As I unpacked my "invisible backpack" it also made me realize how I am given and accessible to many things without having to work hard for it. Allot of this has to do with being a Canadian citizen, as we have access to free health care and have the privilege to grow up in a developed country. We both have listed similar things out of our backpacks and this can mean we probably have had similar experiences with nature.

It is very true with myself as well, that travelling has developed that strong connection I have with nature today. Without being given those opportunities to travel with my family, I definitely would not appreciate nature as much as I do today. I love how you ended off stating that being considerate of everyone coming from different walks of life which allows for different accessibilities, may be their own privileges. That is a very clever point because everyone does live different paths of life. That alone can be their own privilege, giving them opportunities to develop a different connection with nature that others might not have developed. Great post and I'll be looking forward to reading your future blog posts!

[ejenvs3000w22]

What Role Does “Privilege” Play in Nature Interpretation?

Privilege to me is defined as an advantage or right given to a particular individual or group that other people do not have based on their socio-economic, identity, and cultural characteristics. After this units reading, I realized that other peoples experiences and ways of life will change the way they engage with the world and their relationship with our environment. This definitely comes into play when an interpreter is trying to convey a message and tries to use direct experiences to generate enjoyment with the audience. You must take into account what privilege you audience has been given to be able to appreciate nature the same way as you.

As I unpack my "invisible backpack" I can point out that I am a white male, high-middle class, English speaking, have a Canadian passport, and is able to attend university from funding by my parents. I can say that I am extremely privileged in our society and my given privilege has allowed me to participate in activities with nature that others may not be able to participate in because they do not have the privilege to do so. Obviously, anyone can walk outside, go to a park, and have accessibility to nature like anyone else.

But, when it mainly comes down to their socio-economic status, they might not been given opportunities to embrace nature more than others. For example, (as I mentioned in my first blog post) I have been given the opportunity to go on a school trip to Italy and that was one of the best experiences of my life. After that trip, my relationship with nature changed; sparking my interest in sustainability and appreciating all types of nature no matter where I am in the world.

Not everyone can be given opportunities like this in their lives and having that privilege can be misunderstood by others. This changes peoples perspective on nature and it is important to acknowledge that when you are a nature interpreter. You want your actions to impact your audience in a positive way. Assessing those economic, cultural, and communication barriers that arise around the topic of privilege as mentioned in the textbook, are challenges interpreters must overcome to reach their audience and help them form meaningful relationships with nature.

[rjsenvs3000w22]

Blog 2: Environmental Interpreter

When I try to think of myself as an environmental interpreter, many different ideas come to mind. I can’t say I’m someone who knows exactly what I wanna do and which path to take. I’m at the point in my life where I’m hitting the end of a road and have to choose what the next one will be, which is daunting since I have so many I’m interested in, it’s hard to pick just one.

I think other environmental interpreters throughout my life have had a huge influence on my interests and hobbies by introducing all aspects of nature in different and fun ways, and to pass on that impact to the next generation would ultimately be paying it forward. While I’m not someone who enjoys public speaking, I think I could find comfort in small groups especially if it’s something I’m passionate about. I could see myself working at a conservation area or a provincial/national park anywhere in North America learning about and sharing the plant species found within it. I could also see myself working in a large scale greenhouse educating customers of the pros and cons of different ornamental plant species.

I personally am a visual learner, so I love to see the things I hear and read about. Although in order to be a successful interpreter, it’s important to incorporate all learning styles. To adhere to auditory learners, I would initiate a discussion so people could hear the opinions and stories of others, or do a podcast like the one in this course. To include tactile learners, I would take them on an explorative and self-discovery walk to find the species I’d be talking about. I haven’t had any experience being an environmental interpreter, so it would really be a learning experience for me as well.

From looking at the class’s collaborative word cloud I noticed that the most popular needs for learning were examples and some form of visual aids, which are very important when teaching anything about nature. How can we learn about a plant, animal or insect without knowing what it looks like in the real world? In the environmental department, I think we’ve all had a lack of in person examples during covid, with most our labs and seminars turning online. Tactile learners and some visual ones like me probably find it difficult to retain information about a course once its over when all you’ve had is online lectures to sit and listen too. I’ve had some pretty interesting interactive based courses over the past couple years that turned into listening, memorising and then regurgitating the information online. It saddens me that I don’t remember as much as I could about them, and highlights the importance of including all learning styles to deliver information.

Thanks for reading!

[ejenvs3000w22]

Hi there! I really enjoyed reading your post and I wanted to share with you some of your points that resonated with me. I also am at a point in my life where I don't know exactly what I want to do and which path to take, but hopefully after this year I can find out what career path i'd like to pursue. Just wanted to say there's no reason to worry as most of us are trying to figure out what we want to do in the future and you will eventually find your path; there's no rush!

I am also a visual learner and I know how important it is to incorporate all the other kinds of learning styles to become a successful interpreter. I believe a successful interpreter can package a message for their audience, no matter who their targeted audience is because knowing how to alter your communication strategy is a key skill in becoming an awesome interpreter. Great blog post and i'll be looking forward to reading your future posts!

[ejenvs3000w22]

My Ideal Role as an Environmental Interpreter

My role as an Environmental Interpreter would be to help humans understand our natural world and how they can form a sustainable relationship with their environment. As I stated in my first blog, people should appreciate the area around them no matter where they are in the world. Although environmental landscapes in different parts of the world are vastly distinct, people should appreciate the area around them, even if they think the area they live in is incomparable to other places on Earth.

This job entails allot of communication and background knowledge about the environment. For someone to become an Environmental Interpreter, they must have a great interest in our nature and help form the concept of humans living on Earth without harming the planet and our wildlife. Personally, I can see myself becoming an Environmental Interpreter in an environment that I am not used to seeing everyday. Although Ontario does have beautiful landscapes, I would like to work in an environment that can show all types of land formations. Ideally, Western Canada would be the best place to be an interpreter because you have access to all kinds of environmental landscapes that most people don't see in Eastern Canada.

Mountains for example, give us time to take a moment to be in awe of the natural beauty of the world. Escaping the rush and pollution of modern life and altering your perspective. Being exposed to grand landscapes like mountains can have a positive impact on your wellbeing and can help an interpreters audience to form a positive relationship with the environment. As I have previously taken classes related to science communication, there are allot of skills i've developed that can come into play with this job. Understanding what information you will present, how your targeted audience will change your approach, and ways you can make your message personal are all questions that I've already learned to answer when trying to communicate science to an audience. These questions helped me form skills that I can use as an Environmental Interpreter. Having the ability to communicate a message with an audience without boring them and understanding how to package that message for your audience are important skills you need as an interpreter for nature.