Emily @emenvs3000-20 - Tumblr Blog

Developing as a nature interpreter:

I care very much about the environment and I believe that I am very ethical when it comes to my abilities in nature interpretation. I would describe myself as a mild influence on others when it comes to nature and my interpretations of it. I like to ease myself into topics of nature with others because I find that people turn away from aggressive conversations and are more likely to do the opposite of what you ask of them. I find it better to gradually teach lessons about nature that I know or enjoy in a softer manner, in hopes of influencing them to learn about nature interpretation and treatment of the environment themselves. Kind of like reverse psychology. No one likes to be told what to do, so much so, that we often do the opposite of what we’re being pressured to do (Pantalon, 2011). This is why I do not force my opinions and interpretations onto others. As I develop my knowledge, skills, and outlook about nature interpretation, I believe that I am gradually becoming wiser in not only my understanding of nature, but how I want to interpret it to others as well. I am learning how to properly communicate, and how to choose various methods of interpreting information to others that is most appropriate in different situations.

The general belief that I have and share with others as a nature interpreter is to continuously share the knowledge I have and gain to others. It is important to remember how human activity progressively affects our environment, as well as the various impacts it influences. There are still many individuals who are either unaware of how severe climate change is becoming, or they may be ignorant towards the idea of it. As an environmental science student, I am well aware of the implication’s climate change will have on our future populations. I can also confidently say that I still have so much more to learn about it. With that being said, it is a gradual process. Taking part in conversations with friends, family members, coworkers, or strangers about how they can interpret what is occurring in nature is important towards spreading the awareness and knowledge that science has presented us. I believe that it is better than nothing, and that it is okay if it takes baby steps. As a nature interpreter, I am willing to interpret my understandings through communication!

This video, created by TED-Ed shows how easily false news is able to spread, especially in today’s societies with rapid communicational advances. This video emphasizes to me, how important it is to share the truth that you know. It is important that we do not let false news take over what we know about nature.

This relates to the responsibilities I have as a developing nature interpreter. It is my responsibility to use my knowledge that I have gained through education to raise and spread awareness. It is also my responsibility to lead by example to show others how I value nature. If you can teach people about a subject that is valuable to sustaining a high standard of life for future societies, then it should be your responsibility to continue teaching as much as you can. Not everyone specializes or takes the time to learn about nature. It may not be a topic of interest to many. With that being said, I believe it is also my responsibility to attempt to make the topic of nature interesting to others.

This is where my role as a nature interpreter comes in. To make the topic of nature interesting to others, it is important to understand the various methods to interpret the subject, or how to interpret to the masses. Many people are much more influenced by media methods like photography, documentaries, and social media posts. This is a personal preference for me, as I find that visual media truly influences an emotional response as I learn. For example, I follow an Instagram account called: get.waste.ed. This account posts photographs and videos to display both wasteful practices and companies, as well as environmentally friendly innovations. This account motivates me to consume sustainably. It also deters me from purchasing certain items, materials, or from specific companies for their wasteful practices.

Here are two screenshots of posts from the get.waste.ed account. Check them out to get inspired!

I have also learned from books, courses, communication, as well as personal experiences. A great book I read during my time in University was called: A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold. This book truly put nature into a perspective I wish I saw on my own. Leopold uses metaphorical language to describe nature that further inspired my appreciation for nature. Maybe for others, visiting a conservation zoo would deliver the message much clearer than seeing a photograph, or reading an entire book. As an individual, I would best interpret my knowledge about nature through photography, the use of social media, and communication. However, being present with nature or seeing wildlife regardless where they are encountered, I am also inspired and affected. Overall, it is very important to interpret the knowledge you have about nature to others in a way that will peak interest and communicate the messages effectively. It is important to consider what methods were effective for us to interpret the various messages, as well as how we want to interpret them to others. Similar to the two target audiences we had for our podcast assignments, considerations like age groups is necessary to know to be able to choose effective methods.

Moving forward, ask yourself these questions: What sparks your interests? How would you best teach your interpretations about nature to others? Who do you want to influence, and why?

Tatiana

References: Pantalon, M. (2011). Do You Use “Reverse Psychology?” Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-science-influence/201104/do-you-use-reverse-psychology-stop-right-now

emenvs3000-20

Hey great post!

I completely agree that its best to have these important conversations in a very soft and relaxed way, like you said without forcing your views on anyone. Right here I think this shows your understanding of people and how your role as a nature interpreter impacts them and how to do so successfully!

That Ted video was super interesting and did a great job at explaining concepts, especially circular reporting. This is definitely commonplace now in our digital society which so heavily depends on social media to get their information. I know I don’t watch the news or read the newspaper, so I tend to be weary when getting information from a social networking site such as twitter because of this same concept. Especially when it comes to environmental issues. So many people will see one article or one post that suits their viewpoint and spread that information which dilutes the other (and possibly more correct) information. Like the video said, the desire for information beats out the desire for correct information.

Thanks for sharing that Instagram account as well, it is super informative and important to highlight these wasteful practices and show the companies that are being conscious of their impact and using more environmentally conscious habits!

To answer just one of the questions you posed,

What sparks my interests is how spaces are designed for people and then how people actually use them. You can design the most beautiful space but if it is not made functionally then it will go to waste. I also love to learn about plants and all of their cool characteristics. Looking at a site trying to understand why specific trees were selected over others. For instance, my favourite tree is a London Plane Tree, it has super unique bark that adds visual interest along with the fact that the bark sheds. Due to the shedding it makes a great street tree as it absorbs pollution into the bark and then sheds it, keeping the tree healthy! Super cool, although it is not native so I don’t get to use it much as it doesn’t do much else for the environment.

Image from http://www.tree-guide.com/london-plane-tree

We have a few of these trees on campus and you can identify them by their camo bark! (There are some along South Ring Road as well as on Johnston green over towards War Mem!)

btenvs3000-20

My Role in Nature Interpretation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

References

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

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

emenvs3000-20

I loved reading your post and I completely agree! Nature is something where I am also focusing on inclusion and it is such a broad area!

Reading your post, it caused me to remember reading about nature as therapy and as a form of teaching. I have looked into this area in regards to therapy for the elderly along with a skill that elderly can teach to kids and also using gardening as a way to teach English. This shows, like you were discussing, how nature is universal. This is an amazing tool that we have access to and can use it in many different ways.

Gardening has been used to teach English as a second language. There are many different examples of this and even people developing a curriculum for more effective learning! There are some curricula out there, but these vary widely. These also use gardening and working with nature as inspiration for writing essays and poetry. Showing how like you said nature can be such a powerful educational tool!

With respects to the positive impacts on nature and the elderly it was described as a form of therapy which engages all of the senses. It can also be used as a low impact form of exercise. As well as the other positive outcomes of creating a sense of community and a sense of purpose.

Just by considering natures impacts on others we as interpreters can understand the positive outcomes of inclusion within working with nature.

Like you said, its hard to focus on just one thing. It is such a large concept with so many impacts in different ways on different people it just keeps expanding.

I also loved your point on regeneration instead of just sustainability. We have proven that we can not sustain the path we are on. We need to reconsider our ideas of environmental action and protection and consider these ideas of regeneration over the constant idea of sustainability.

Overall you had a great post and I hope that I was able to share more resources similar to what you were thinking about and can expand what we think of in this area of education with nature. I know you were able to enlighten me a lot!

Sources:

DuRivage, Michele, "Cultivating Knowledge In The School Garden: New Ways Of Teaching Literacy To ESL Students" (2011).MATESOL Collection. 495.https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/ipp_collection/495

Kara, D. (2020, May 22). The Importance and Benefits of Teaching Gardening to Children Toddlers to Preschoolers. Retrieved from https://www.montessorinature.com/importance-benefits-gardening-children-toddlers-preschoolers/

Trillium Senior Living. (2017, July 28). The Benefits of Gardening for Seniors |. Retrieved from https://www.trilliumcommunities.com/benefits-gardening-seniors/#:~:text=Gardening therapy engages all of,a Kansas State University study.

Ethics and My Role in Interpretation

As I have progressed through my studies, I have found myself constantly returning to the idea of accessibility and the part I play in it. This is something I am very passionate about and feel my ethics relate back to this idea of accessibility and inclusion.

I want to be able to share the information that I have and help others have positive and meaningful interactions with their surroundings, but I always keep this idea of accessibility with me.

As I’m not much of a kids person this class has helped with my accessibility towards younger audiences. How they interact with the world around them and how to help them have these meaningful interactions. This was never something I cared much about and would normally just rather stay away from them. But it is so important to be able to connect with the younger generations and help them learn.

Through reading the textbook and the specific chapters on accessibility and interpretation in relation to children, to the podcast assignment where we had to consider how children would interpret the information we are providing, I have been able to learn a lot.

Just because I have been so focused on physical accessibility and those with intellectual disabilities, I had forgotten about kids and chose to not focus on how they interact with these spaces.

By doing this I was then creating inaccessible spaces as I was not considering their needs. This class has brought this area, or weakness, to the forefront so now I can make a change. If I claim my ethics relate back to creating accessible spaces, how can I consciously not design with kids in mind as well?

Furthermore, as a future Landscape Architect, I have a responsibility to think about everyone who will be using the space I design. This course has allowed me to think more broadly about that and have a better understanding of how to reach a more divers population through the interpretation I provide.

I think it is really interesting to think about the design of a landscape and the overall impact that this has on the user’s experience. I have had discussions with people about how a simple material choice was detrimental to the user’s experience. This was the result of an individual with Cerebral Palsy using a splashpad. Cerebral Palsy often includes weak or stiff muscles. This individual moved through the space by using their arms to pull the rest of their body. Due to the coarse concrete (chosen for the splashpad for its grip and ability to deal with the fluctuation of water) the individual was left all cut up. Although they came prepared to the site with padding they still left covered in cuts.

This conversation led me to research different materials that can be considered for splashpads and I found a nonabrasive rubber safety surfacing. The use of this material over traditional concrete would have completely changed this experience. It still provides the grip that’s needed for a splashpad but has more cushion to it and is designed to not cut the users.

By thinking beyond the minimum requirements and how users will experience the space a greater experience can be had. This is not just in relation to materials but can also be applied to interpretation and what additional information and experiences are provided for the users.

As I do not see myself out there on site available to provide interpretation for everyone who visits I have to get a little more creative when it comes to my approaches.

This led me to consider how I will provide supplementary information where needed but in other forms other than just a plaque with text on it.

Through my research this semester, focusing on accessibility, I looked into wayfinding (the way people orient themselves in a space) and feel this is one of the most applicable ways to reinforce interpretation in the sites I design. (I touched on wayfinding in an earlier post too). By providing information in a format other than just text it will be more accessible to a greater range of individuals. Including but not limited to, young children, those who can not read and those who just can’t read English.

This research into wayfinding and its dependence on literacy led me to research some different groups. When looking into the deaf and hearing-impaired community I was surprised to learn about the lack of literacy within this community. The average deaf child leaves school with their reading level generally equivalent to the average fourth grader (Stewart et al., 2003). This was a population I originally did not think of when considering those who might not be able to read. But clearly this is an issue that I need to be aware of and consider.

It is also important to note that there are not standardized images used for wayfinding. Each system can have its own unique graphics to represent what they want. This can prove to be difficult as each time someone comes to a wayfinding system they need to learn and understand what is being depicted and then apply that to the space. This is something that I think should be changed and a standardized system should be implemented to help with accessibility. When you consider public washrooms and the signage for that, it is commonplace and easily understandable so why not apply that method to wayfinding?

It is also interesting that symbols are standard and commonly used in the medical profession (Boisadan et al., 2020). This shows that it can be done and has been done. The thought and effort to standardizing wayfinding has not been done (at least on a large scale to my knowledge).

By reflecting on my ethics and designing inclusive spaces and providing interpretation in an accessible format I have discovered many areas where I can continue to improve and provide better interpretation. I have a responsibility to be aware of my weaknesses and areas that I need to improve and work on these. This course has provided me an amazing opportunity to reflect on my knowledge and communication skills and has challenged me to think about how I communicate and come up with different ways to successfully transfer my knowledge to others. Weather it is through art, providing pamphlets or online sources I will continue to develop and implement accessible interpretation through my designs with the hope of creating educational and impactful experiences for those who visit the site.

Sources

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

Boisadan, A.,Buisine, S., Moreau, P.,& Boumenir, Y.(2020).Designing universal visuotactile pictograms for orientation maps. Journal of Accessibility and Design for All, 10(1), 31-69. https://doi. org/10.17411/jacces.v10i1.219

Lomax, B. (2019, May 06). Let's Make Every Kid in a Park a Guarantee for Fourth Graders. Retrieved from https://www.moon.com/travel/national-parks/every-kid-in-a-park-guarantee-fourth-graders/

Stewart, D. A., & Clarke, B. R. (2003). Literacy and your deaf child: What every parent should know. Washington, D.C.: Gallaudet University Press.

Writer, S. (2020, May 5). Top 5 Benefits of Wayfinding Systems for Your Business. Retrieved from https://www.smallbusinessrainmaker.com/small-business-marketing-blog/top-5-benefits-of-wayfinding-systems-for-your-business

emenvs3000-20

The Importance of Outdoor Education and Hands-on Learning

Dear Board of Directors,

I am reaching out to you today to discuss the current situation regarding Wrigley Corners Outdoor and Environmental Education Centre.

As I have been notified that the Center is being closed due to insufficient funding, I wish to draw your attention to the lasting benefits this Center has provided.

As a former student of the Waterloo Region Districts Schoolboard, I had the benefit of attending many programs at the Center where my understanding of nature was deepened and my love of the natural world flourished. Through the classroom space us students were able to learn about the natural world and look at different samples and specimens that were housed there. We benefited from hands on experiments such as collecting samples from the pond and then bringing them back to examine them under microscopes.

This learning experience not only provided many lasting memories, as here I am retelling stories some 12 years later. But it also allowed me to gain a better understanding of these ecosystems that we were taught in class. By closing this Center, you are removing this hands-on experience that many kids are not able to experience on their own. This environment provides the firsthand experience with proper guidance and resources to help children explore and develop greater understandings of nature and their world around them. By having interpreters available for the children, they are able to get deeper understandings of their environment rather from a teacher who may just be a generalist in the topic being discussed. The interpreter provides an enriched experience that speaks to the children while being educational and enjoyable (Beck et al., 2018). As I have learned through my nature interpretation class, these experts are incredibly valuable for the skills they have and their ability to adapt and tailor the experience based on their group and how they learn best.

By having these hands on experiences available at such a young age and within their own community the children are deepening their understanding of their own environment and further creating a sense of place, identify different characteristics and the “big story” (beck et al., 2018). The interpreter working with the kids helps them see past the basics and unpack all that nature is able to offer them. This allows the kids to be more invested in their own environment and encourages them to protect it and make the environmentally conscious decisions when they can.

An example of the resources that this location also provides for teachers while still engaging the kids!

When we have these experts that are trained in interpretation and know how to respond and encourage these discussions with children why would these valuable lessons be sacrificed. As shown through my own interest these lessons were truly impactful and educational and helped lead me in the direction of working with the environment and I truly believe that these are lessons that are more effective in these hands on learning experiences. I urge you to reconsider your funding and find a way to keep this important education center open to continue environmental education within the schoolboard and within the children’s own neighbourhoods.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Emily

Sources:

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

Moore, L. (2020, May 21). Retrieved from https://twitter.com/wrigleycorners?lang=en

Waterloo Region District School Board. (n.d.). Wrigley Corners. Retrieved from https://schools.wrdsb.ca/environmental-education/about-2/our-centres/wrigley-corners/

bmenvs3000

Hi Emily,

Thank you for sharing your letter, I enjoyed reading it and felt very connected to many of the things you said. I like how you brought up the idea of hands on learning in relation to children and how it provides a rich experience for them when it comes to environmental education and awareness. This is something that I can 100% vouch for. My most memorable learning experiences as a child were hands on activities, whether it was a field trip, a science experiment or just a nature walk; I tend to learn the most when it is hands on and visual. This is something that I’ve noticed in many children as well. When it comes to environmental education, outdoor education programs are extremely necessary, not only do they have various mental health benefits, but they also provide a sense of place and belonging to interpreters. One thing that I’d like to add on to what you have said is that programs such as this emphasize skills essential for succeeding in tomorrow’s world; they form nature interpreters and empowers them to lead the way in creating a greener and healthier world for our planet. Seeing as climate change is a significant issue in our current world, the defunding of nature programs is a step in the wrong direction.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this,

Cheers!

emenvs3000-20

Hey!

I couldn’t have said that better myself! I totally agree, it is so important to get kids engaged to help them understand what is going on and to create those important connections to the natural world.

While doing some research on this topic I was able to come across a paper looking at an educators perspective of hands on learning. Here it stated that the educators believe that these interactions with nature not only improve the kids self-esteem, it also increases engagement with school and creates a sense of empowerment (Maller, 2009). This is similar to what we were saying and how these experiences were so helpful for us as young students and were the most memorable!

As well as to further explore the topic of creating leaders who will continue to push for a greener and healthier world, I looked at an environmental education research journal. Here it was discussing how students are a catalyst for environmental change and this is manly from their exposure to environmental education (Ballantyne et al., 1998)!

It is so fascinating to see these changes happening around us as a result of our early educational experiences and how those shape the paths we chose to follow. I think this definitely reinforces why these types of educational centers and the resources that interpreters can offer is so important. Specifically, for these younger populations, but are also important for any ages who wish to continue to learn and make positive changes for the environment.

Maller, C.J. (2009), "Promoting children's mental, emotional and social health through contact with nature: a model", Health Education, Vol. 109 No. 6, pp. 522-543. https://doi.org/10.1108/09654280911001185

Roy Ballantyne, Sharon Connell & John Fien (1998) Students as Catalysts of Environmental Change: a framework for researching intergenerational influence through environmental education, Environmental Education Research, 4:3, 285-298, DOI: 10.1080/1350462980040304

The Importance of Outdoor Education and Hands-on Learning

Dear Board of Directors,

I am reaching out to you today to discuss the current situation regarding Wrigley Corners Outdoor and Environmental Education Centre.

As I have been notified that the Center is being closed due to insufficient funding, I wish to draw your attention to the lasting benefits this Center has provided.

An example of the resources that this location also provides for teachers while still engaging the kids!

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Emily

Sources:

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

Moore, L. (2020, May 21). Retrieved from https://twitter.com/wrigleycorners?lang=en

Waterloo Region District School Board. (n.d.). Wrigley Corners. Retrieved from https://schools.wrdsb.ca/environmental-education/about-2/our-centres/wrigley-corners/

cdenvs3000

Reflecting on Interpreting Nature Throughout the Semester

After taking this course I find myself thinking of nature with a different mindset than I previously had. Throughout the semester we have been challenged to view nature through various lenses as corresponding to course material. Sharing our thoughts with our peers in the form of this blog has been an incredible way to see how others interpret nature different from myself.

One thing that I am certain of is the fact that humans can all find a sense of peace within nature. This is something that has been displayed through the blog posts of various weeks. Some common words that come up when discussing our views on nature interpretation have been peace, calm, serenity, and escape. This is all quite interesting as our society has been more and more disconnected from nature throughout the years. This still does not take away from the fact that embracing nature can be seen as a (literal) breath of fresh air and escape from this technology and Internet based reality that we face today.

Something that now wonder is if everyone realizes this remedy power that nature holds. As our society becomes less in touch with the actual world around us, I wonder if the understanding of the healing powers of nature are being lost. An interesting topic that has been discussed in a couple podcasts that I enjoy listening to is how we now seem to live in “hustle culture”. This term meaning that everyone feels as though they must always be working, studying, or planning their next move in life in order to feel a sense of purpose or accomplishment. If many of you think about this you will probably agree that this is true. With the society we live in, having access to work or studies all hours of the day as its literally in our back pockets on our phone, it’s hard to disconnect. This is why I wonder if the simplicity and peace of connecting with nature is being lost, and if it can be restored.

Moving forward with the thought that society has lost the appreciation for nature, it inspires me to push those around me to connect with the environment around them. Using nature as an escape from our digital reality is something that should be utilized much more. We can only hope that as people connect with and interpret nature around them they will be able to gain more of an understanding on issues impacting our nature in terms of climate change. This is something that also inspires me as I have taken various courses on the topic this past year. If more individuals can look at their surroundings in nature and acknowledge how they observe small changes, it will cause more of a push for protecting of our natural environment. Aa I have previously mentioned in other posts, I live in a beach community along Lake Huron. When I moved there 8 years ago there was sandy beaches all along the shore of our town. Now the city is taking action in preventing erosion from rising water levels from destroying roads and the surrounding land. Connecting with nature and observing changes such as these pushes people to want to protect our environment, much like Beck et al. stated.

I feel as though I can ignite in terms of nature interpretation by continuing educating myself on ways to understand nature around me, even beyond this course. As our generation grows older I feel as though it is our job to ignite a passion for nature within the next generations. Our first blog prompt was to describe who offered us a sense of place within nature, I feel as though it is now our job to offer others a sense of place here as well, much like someone in our lives did for us.

emenvs3000-20

Hey! Great post!

I definitely get where you're coming from when you bring up the idea of “hustle culture”. Everyone is so consumed with working and the more materialistic aspect of life. Work hard to be able to buy the newest thing they want so they can brag about it and show off on social media. This is definitely something people get so caught up in, I know I have myself. But it is great to have the ability to reflect on nature and enjoy all it has to offer!

Like you say, take a breath of fresh air. I love that you push others around you to use nature as an escape and appreciate all it has to offer. There is so much to learn about our environment and how to better take care of it. I completely agree that the more people understand and appreciate nature the more willing they will be to take care of it and make the personal changed they can to help protect it.

This was a great post that got me to reflect on how I can help others to enjoy nature and encourage them to go enjoy the world around! Along with support the changes that they can make individually to help protect the environment. As well as continue to educate myself and gain a better understanding of my environment and the impacts I have on it.

Thanks for your post!

My Role as an Interpreter

I know for certain that I am a nature interpreter, albeit a new one. I know that I am taking in all of this information from the profs, guest lectures and other forms of information and I am passing this knowledge along to others. I can see this most easily from my plant identification class. Going on walks now with friends and family I am constantly practicing my identification and teaching others little tips and tricks that I have learned along the way. I change little things about how to remember the plant, either how to identify it or how to remember its name based on the person. I try to find something that will relate to them to allow them to remember it easier. With my roommate I was teaching him about the American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana). It also goes by the common name of Ironwood, which is the street we live on, by creating this connection for him he can still recall the botanical name which I think is pretty cool.

What I still wonder is how to continue to create more meaningful interpretation, especially within the sites I design in the future. As the designer I can always include a plaque or signage to talk about the space, but this is not always the most meaningful way. We don’t necessarily talk about much of the interpretation that could occur on the sites we design but as stated in the textbook “every place in which interpretation could occur should include some element of interpretation” (Beck et al., 2018). This course has allowed me to reflect on past designs and rethink them. Where I put in a simple plaque to allow for interpretation could I have done something more thoughtful with the site design. Build the site to allow for the visitor to have a greater experience than just providing supplemental reading. This course has allowed me to understand many more ways that interpretation is possible that I never considered before. I will continue to include the idea of providing interpretive experiences in the sites I design and push my ideas further than before and hopefully be able to provide better experiences.

I find inspiration through many different areas. Looking at my classmates work, both in this class as well as my design studio and other creative spaces, seeing what others are creating is a main way. I also look into current designs that firms are putting out, I try to unpack the designs and imagine how the space would feel if I was there. This helps me imagine how the space is interpreted and what the designers want the visitors to focus on in the site. Practicing this helps me do the same for my designs, so I can understand if what I am trying to communicate is coming through or not. I will continue to look at my peers and other professionals to gain inspiration and learn from their successes and mistakes along with my own.

Lastly, I hope to ignite by sharing my passion and having that come through within my designs. I want to focus on accessibility and creating equal opportunities for these experiences within my designs and I hope that by focusing on accessibility I am creating places where all can learn about and from nature. I hope to ignite by continuing this and carrying it through to my workplace and finding a job once I graduate that also has the same passion for accessibility and inclusive designs as I do.

References

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

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Microplastics In Water - Debrief

This debrief is for the podcast titled “Podcast.m4a” which was about microplastics in water. Let me start off by saying I loved it and I learned a lot! Any criticism I make will be simply nitpicking what could have been improved because this will benefit the group more than me just complimenting it endlessly (despite it being very deserving of me just complimenting it!).

My first impression of the podcast during the first 30 seconds was a little confusion because the music was too loud. This is an easy fix and did not detract from the actual podcast because the music only lasted during the introductions. There was also an echo that made the audio hard to hear at times, but it was gone at other times.

With that technical stuff out of the way, the introduction to the actual content was fantastic. The audio was crisp and there were no filler words used such as “Um” and “Uh” which sounded like a professional podcast.

3 lessons I learned from this podcast are:

1) Using plastics is problematic because they do not degrade when disposed of.

2) Majority of what we put in the blue recycling bin is not actually recycled. Only about 10% is.

3) Guelph’s water is more safe than others because majority of our city water comes from groundwater, which is not exposed to thermoplastics.

I think these lessons were effective through the lens of a child because unnecessary jargon was avoided. The speaker you guys chose did a great job (probably because you told him to keep it simple) by simplifying the details. Great job on that!

Photo of figure showing global plastic waste by disposal. We can see that the overwhelming majority of plastic waste is discarded and not recycled. This confirms the third lesson mentioned above. Retrieved from here.

One technique I learned from this podcast that I may integrate in my future podcast is including multiple speakers. Our podcast only had a total of two speakers, which may have been less engaging than including more speakers like you guys did.

Overall, I had a pleasant experience listening to your podcast and I actually learned about thermoplastics which I didn’t know about before. Out of everything I mentioned, the only real suggestion for improvement is the audio, and specifically, the echo. Taking care of that will make your podcast nearly perfect for the future submission. I hope this helps!

emenvs3000-20

Hey!

Thank you so much for your kind words and your feedback! As well as the additional information that you added, that was a great visual to help illustrate what Ryan mentioned!

It was really great getting the opportunity to talk to Ryan about his research and he was super informative and we really wanted to highlight his work and knowledge! If anyone is interested in his work (he has a few different projects) you can find it through the School of Environmental Sciences website https://ses.uoguelph.ca/people/ryan-prosser

Cutting down the interview and summarizing some of the parts that have an echo could definitely be something we do for our next podcast to help with the sound quality and to enhance our listeners experience.

It was great to learn about microplastics but it was also great to learn even more of the basics about just recycling which allows people to think about their consumption and the impacts that they are having on the environment. Microplastics in water is definitely something to be concerned about but even taking things the step further and reducing your overall plastic consumption would have a greater impact that just recycling. This is a whole other area that I think would be very neat to explore!

Thanks again for your feedback and I’m so glad you enjoyed listening and were able to learn from it!

Genes not Jeans

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

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

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

Betula lenta (Cherry birch tree)

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

References:

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

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

emenvs3000-20

The Coolest Plant I Own - Lithops

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

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

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

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

My plants are currently in this phase!

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

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

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

Other plants that top my favourites list are:

Calico hearts

burrows tail (along with what I am propagating)

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

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

Sources:

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

btenvs3000-20

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

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

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

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

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

emenvs3000-20

Hey!

I loved that point that you brought up about invasive species versus how we grow all of these plants from all over the world in our homes. Its just such an interesting way to look at plants.

Personally, I see Norway Maples, especially Crimson King Norway maples (Acer platanoidies ‘crimson king’) everywhere and they always make me a little upset because they're invasive and there are so many other trees that would work just as well!

Image of a Crimson King Norway Maple.

I think this also brings up a good point about being aware of what you are planting and if it is going to be of benefit to the environment or harming it. The houseplants we grow provide us with joy and like you mentioned a nice ambiance! These because they are contained and within your house are not causing any harm. Where if you're planting a garden or tree with all of these non-native species there's so much more to consider such as the harm it could be causing.

Back to the Norway Maples, they are non native to the area and cause many issues for other plants! They have very competitive and shallow roots which causes issues for other plants in the area as they will often lose in comparison and not get enough water. The canopy also provides dense shade, in some cases blocking out the sun for other plants in the area. We have this issue with growing grass under a Norway maple in our backyard at home.

Here's a link about Norway Maples and a guide to identify them if you wanted to learn more! http://reforestlondon.ca/norway-maple-acer-platanoides

Thanks for reading my tree rant!

Tree Image from https://www.connonnurseries.com/plant/Acer-platanoides-Crimson-King

The Coolest Plant I Own - Lithops

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

My plants are currently in this phase!

Other plants that top my favourites list are:

Calico hearts

burrows tail (along with what I am propagating)

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

Sources:

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

joenvs3000-20-deactivated202104

Illustrating Nature

When I think of arts-based nature interpretation a lot of different things come to mind. So, this unit led me through a string of thoughts. First, I thought of the concepts Beck et. al (2018) explains, such as theatre. I also reflected on “At the heart of art and earth: an exploration of practices in arts-based environmental education”. This article expressed the lack of connection today’s digital society has with real components of nature (van Boeckel, 2015). I also thought about people who have employed artistic methods to share stories of nature with the rest of the world, such as Paul Nicklen and his photography. Paul Nicklen is a Canadian photographer and marine biologist.

I really admire Nicklen’s photography because it centres around sharing information about the changing climate and the nature of regions most people will never visit, such as the Arctic. I think that photography like this allows us to connect with the cumulative impacts of climate change and visualize what’s happening worldwide. Photography allows us to see the Arctic melting, polar bears diminishing, and glaciers breaking. These are things we read about in science reports. However, climate change statistics and research can be really difficult to keep up with. Photography presents this in a more digestible way. We can see the science. It provides an opportunity to connect more deeply with the implications of climate change.

Check out Paul Nicklen’s website here to see what I mean! https://paulnicklen.com/

Next, I started to think about how I interpret nature through art. I can’t say that I often use art to interpret nature, but I do love to take pictures on my travels and share them with people when I get back. This unit has started to get me thinking of this as a small example of arts-based storytelling. I recently shared a photo album with some friends, and I found that all my photos had stories to go along with them. It became a big conversation about the places, people, and landscapes in the photos. It was really fun and made me feel connected to the places in the photos again.

For instance, this photo I took in Reykjavik, Iceland eventually led to a conversation about global food systems! Photography can help spark conversation and lead to all kinds of discussions!

I think visual storytelling is a really great way to connect with different areas and interpret nature in an artistic way. It’s a method of using today’s technology to bring people closer together and form a deeper understanding of the natural world.

References:

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

van Boeckel, J., (2015) At the heart of art and earth: an exploration of practices in arts-based environmental education. Environmental Education Research. 21(5), 801-802

emenvs3000-20

Hey!

Thought this was a great post and I completely agree! Photography is a great tool to use for story telling and can be super helpful. From like you said, talking about trips and places you have visited to more serious, scientific issues that are being documented.

Nicklen’s work is really amazing, thank you so much for sharing! It was really cool to see these landscapes and get a better understanding of them! This actually led me to look into climate change photography and it was very cool but heartbreaking to see these pictures of natural disasters, pollution and climate change. I think this is a very unique way to interpret nature and definitely helpful to understand the situation a little bit better.

This picture is by SL Shanth Kumar, it shows the flooding of a street in Mumbai, India and then further talks about how Mumbai is at risk for costal flooding due to climate change and rising sea levels.

It was a really cool website to check out to get a look into environmental photography, focusing on climate change. Here is the link if you want to look into it! https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2019/sep/25/environmental-photographer-of-the-year-2019-winners-in-pictures

I found this website had a great collection of images and brief captions that helped provide more insight and it was a very awakening experience to be able to see what is happening all over the world in regards to environmental photography.

Aspirant Artist

As I reflect on myself, I have always been drawn to art, more specifically visual arts, and the creativity that this allows. This is something that drew me to my program of study as I wanted to ensure that this creative side of myself would be allowed to run free throughout my career.

Reflecting on this question of “who are you to interpret nature through art”, I am an eager student who is passionate about both art and nature and wanting to explore this area of learning more deeply. It is a learning style directed towards myself where I feel comfortable and confident. Its more effective and engaging, I have an emotional reaction to the work of art I am interpreting and can reflect on it on my own and through the support of a description or artists’ statement. As someone who finds excitement and intrigue when viewing different works of art and seeing what others create and digging deeper to see how it is created, I find I am drawn to the visual arts frequently.

As this is something I find very engaging and a successful tool for my learning I wanted to reflect on the greater idea of interpretation of nature through art as a whole. This led me to consider accessibility, something I try to consider in all aspects of my life.

This form of interpretation is much more accessible as it allows all types of viewers to be able to interpret in their own way. Through research for my thesis which is focusing on accessibility, literacy is a large issue and to be able to present the information in a different way, one that is not dependent on being able to read, a greater audience will be reached. The emotional response that art creates will then aid the viewer in their interpretation. As stated within the textbook, people perceive art with an emotional and intellectual response, pulling on emotions of empathy or sympathy (Beck et al., 2018).

(Ultremari, 2016), (Peate, 2018)

Wayfinding – a medium frequently used especially within nature that is not accessible to many as the main form of communicating is based in text. I have included a text example and then a graphic based example.

Returning to the idea of myself interpreting nature through art I have had many opportunities as I seek out art galleries and have frequently been drawn to the ones depicting nature. My favourite being Claude Monet, and more specifically his water lilies. I was lucky enough to view these in person at MoMA in New York and that experience was what I immediately thought of when there was mention of art provoking an emotional reaction in the lecture then again in the reading. The feeling of standing there looking at the giant canvases and his impressive depiction of the scene is something I will not forget. Although I may only be an amateur art critic, I still find lots pleasure through viewing these works of art and see it as a helpful tool in unpacking all that the world has to offer. I don’t believe that there is a specific type of person that interpretation through art is targeting and I feel it should be used more.

(The Museum of Modern Art, 2020) Monet's Water Lilies.

As I said I also love art galleries and would be super interested in hearing about some of your favourites or any works of art that have been able to create a strong emotional response for you!

Sources:

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

Peate, S. (2018, June 08). Where Do We Go Now? Exploring The Wonders Of Wayfinding Design. Retrieved from https://fabrikbrands.com/the-wonders-of-wayfinding-design/

The Museum of Modern Art. (2020). Claude Monet. Water Lilies. 1914-26: MoMA. Retrieved from https://www.moma.org/collection/works/80220

Ultremari, N. (2016). Robinsons Island Trail wayfinding system. Retrieved from https://www.behance.net/gallery/46038693/Robinsons-Island-Trail-wayfinding-system

nrenvs3000

Fight For the Future

Thomas Hobbes was a famous English philosopher in the 17th century, who once stated that by nature, humans are very selfish and that we are willing to hurt one another if we think it will help us. You don’t have to look very far for examples of people competing against one another in pursuit of their own personal gains, especially in cases where financial gains are available. It is not uncommon for people to focus on their own personal pursuit of success and not always thoroughly consider how their actions may be impacting the lives of others, but when in comes to environmental conservation, not considering how our current actions will influence the state of the earth for future generations is completely unacceptable.

Humans have been destroying the earth for years. Highly developed nations such as Canada and the United States are driven by capitalism, which I believe unintentionally promotes the of use of natural resources as a way for people to make their own personal financial gains. Industrial development has been rapid in the 21st century, introducing an extensive list of industries consuming high levels of natural resources, such as coal and oil as fuel, or steel and lumber used to create housing to support the ever expanding population (Sweezy, PM. 2004). Capitalism allows for private sectors to control natural resource industries and trade, and because of this I believe capitalism can greatly influence a person’s interpretation of the environment. In my opinion, the companies that are at the top of resource industries, such as forestry or natural gasses, interpret the environment as nothing more than a source of income, competing with one another to gain access to natural resources across the world in order to expose them for profits. I believe that as long as capitalistic ideology is in place, people will continue to overuse natural resources for profits, despite the detrimental impacts this mind set can have on future generations.

According to NASA, in the past 100 years the average surface temperature of earth has increased by roughly 1 degree Celsius, which they say has been largely driven by human population expansion and increased levels of human-made carbon dioxide emissions (www.climate.nasa.gov). There is an extensive list of environmental impacts that can be caused by these rising average temperatures, including increased droughts, changes in annual precipitation patterns, reduced crop yields, and health impacts in cities related to heat (www.climate.nasa.gov).

I believe that this evidence showing increased average temperatures, as well as the associated environmental impacts of climate change, paint a clear picture that people need to stop interpreting the environment as a source of income and consider the impacts that their actions will have on future generations. In an article published by BBC news, it states that if we wish to keep the global temperature increase under 1.5 degrees Celsius this century, 45% of human carbon dioxide emissions must be cut by 2030. Time is running out, and if our generation wishes to leave the world in a condition that will allow our children and grandchildren to thrive, drastic changes must be made on both an economic and societal level, opening up people’s interpretation of the environment as a precious source of life for all generations, and not as a way to get as rich as possible during your time here.

Sources:

McGrath, M. (2019, July 24). Climate change: 12 years to save the planet? Make that 18 months. Retrieved October 02, 2020, from https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-48964736

Paul M. Sweezy (Oct 01, 2. (2014, June 30). Capitalism and the Environment. Retrieved October 02, 2020, from https://monthlyreview.org/2004/10/01/capitalism-and-the-environment/

The Effects of Climate Change. (2020, August 21). Retrieved October 02, 2020, from https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/

emenvs3000-20

Hey! I thought this was a great post! I definitely agree and you have some really strong points! People, especially with the capitalist view, see the earth more as a resource to further their wealth than something they depend on to live. These people tend to already have larger amounts of wealth too making their exploitation of earths resources easier for them to do but completely unjustifiable as they don’t need it and as you said are leaving earth in a state that will not be in a condition where future generations can survive.

Bringing in the numbers of raising temperatures along with having to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 45% by 2030 really brings things into perspective. There is limited time to make the changes necessary and it really brings these larger companies who are greater polluters into the spotlight. Are they willing to make the changes with the potential of reducing their profits? It really causes you to question people and companies’ priorities. I know I would prefer to support a company who is making changes to reduce emissions and help the environment rather than one that is not making changes and just focused on their own profits. Great post! Thanks for sharing and getting me thinking about this aspect of the future of the environment!

Accessibility

When I think about nature and the experiences that I have been able to have I always reflect upon these fondly. Generally, with a smile and I consider some of my favourite places. The trail by my house where I walk my dog, some of the hikes I did in New Zealand or the camping trips that make up most of my childhood. Reflecting on a lot of these experiences now, as I come to finishing my degree in Landscape Architecture, I have a different perspective and consider different aspects that I did not when I was younger. One of the main things I now consider is accessibility.

Growing up my neighbor down the street has special needs. He is one of my oldest friends and I love our time spent together. He was never any different to me, he was just one of my friends. As I got older, I started to get a better understanding of the situation. I carried these lessons he taught with me through school and while in high school I participated in and ran the Best Buddies club. Here I planned events for us to do as a club together. This is when accessibility first became a larger consideration. Weather it was where we were going, if it was wheelchair accessible, or if we needed to rent a wheelchair accessible bus (which are crazy expensive and a whole other issue). Planning these events required much more planning and foresight and I was so thankful to have the developmental education teacher help guide me through this.

This became even more evident to me when I worked at a summer camp for individuals with special needs. Here camp did its best to be accessible. There were issues but for the most part it was manageable. The lack of funding to make space accessible is a large issue and one that camp faces, there simply wasn’t the budget to change the grade of one area of the path so it was easier for those in wheelchairs. Or not enough money to create boardwalks through all the science and nature area so they were easier to access. The limited funds went to making the experience as enjoyable as possible for the lodgers. Lastly at camp, while going on the weekly out trips again my thoughts of accessibility were heightened. The places chosen had to be accessible for most of the lodgers and even in these spaces they could be very overwhelming and confusing for some.

As I touched on in my last post this is something I am very passionate about! This is something I am so glad to have experienced firsthand as these experiences will influence how I design spaces in my professional career. I carry with me these people I have met and how they navigate spaces, the simple things that make a space easier for them. I wish to create spaces that everyone can enjoy and I want to create spaces where others can deepen their passion for nature, much like how I have been able to with everything I have been able to experience.

My neighbour and I at our prom!

gnenvs3000-20

A Privileged Nature Interpretation

I would define privilege as an advantage or opportunity available only for a select person or group based on a variety of factors like gender, skin colour and socio-economic class. Since privilege grants a special advantage to some people it can definitely change perspectives between people as well.

You can see privilege in nature interpretation when you look at the thousands of people who vacation in tropical destinations like Hawaii, while the locals there never get to experience the same luxury. Tourism is painted as the economic savior for Hawaii, when that is far from the truth. In reality, Hawaii is exploited and prostituted by its government, landowners, and large corporations to feed into the American idealism of Hawaii as a tropical, magical escape and the people who suffer the consequences are the locals. Hawaii’s tourist attractions involve national parks, beaches and an abundance of species that are only found in Hawaii, and to tourists this is a surreal experience. Tourists experience a romanticized view of Hawaii which reduces Hawaii to be a just tropical paradise that foreigners can use as a getaway. Hawaiians can tell you that Hawaii is not the scenic, luxurious place, people imagine it to be because it is far beyond that. Their land is sacred and holds a lot of cultural and spiritual significance to the natives, and the tourism industry exploits it and ultimately destroys it. Foreigners get the privilege of enjoying these sights, while actual Hawaiians pay by sacrificing their own land. Thus, tourists get to enjoy Hawaii for its beautiful scenery, and endless amounts of parks, beaches and wildlife while the locals have to watch their sacred land of centuries be disrespected and exploited. This is an example of difference in perspectives because of privilege. Foreigners can afford to only scratch the surface of what Hawaii has to offer , while the locals share a more ancestral and spiritual connection to their land and thus the fraudulent romanticized experience of Hawaii as a mere getaway vacation island is extremely disrespectful.

Some people or groups are given the opportunity to explore and experience the beauty of nature because of their privilege and oftentimes their dreamy, touristic view of nature is built off the backs of the locals. This difference is extremely evident in the Hawaii case, where foreigners and locals have completely different perspectives of Hawaii. Not everyone can afford this luxurious nature experience and thus this privilege creates different interpretations of nature. You may be able to afford the luxurious experience of a getaway in Hawaii, or may just be born in Hawaii where the tourism industry has destroyed your land and completely shattered your view of nature. Ultimately, privilege through race, gender, class, socio-economic status is what shapes your perspectives on nature.

I’ve also attached a few links of Hawaiians explaining their opinions on the tourism industry in Hawaii and how badly it impacts them, feel free to check them out if you want!

https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/tourism-and-prostitution-hawaiian-culture

https://www.lutherchips.com/7243/features/the-exploitation-of-hawaii-by-the-tourism-industry/

emenvs3000-20

Hey!

I thought you brought up some really great ideas about privilege in nature interpretation. It is so important to consider different viewpoints and different values and that is exactly what you made clear with your example of Hawaii! As this is a place that I definitely want to visit this post was able to make me reflect on the tourism industry and how to be able to visit and experience Hawaii in a different way, if it is possible to do so at a lesser impact to the locals, and maintain the respect that their land, traditions and values deserve. The links you attached were really helpful in understanding the larger impact and gaining a local perspective! I also thought this was a great topic as I’m sure it could be applicable to other places that depend on tourism as I could assume these trends would be similar. It is so heartbreaking to hear about the homelessness and the struggles that the tourism industry has created and continues to increase and I think it was very important to reflect on this and understand the privilege that you bring with you everywhere but especially in a situation like this one.

Acknowledging my Privilege

Privilege, to me, is a benefit or advantage granted to a person or a group of people for a specific attribute (something that only that group or person holds).

A different take on privilege in regard to nature interpretation is the idea of living with nature because you chose too vs having to. An interesting example of this is from Peppa Pig. There was an episode titled “Mr Skinny legs” where Peppa’s dad try’s to help calm her after she was scared by a spider by telling her that spiders are “very very small” and “can’t hurt you”. This episode was pulled from Australian air as it encouraged children to hold spiders and not have a fear of them. Something that is a privilege in many countries but not Australia. This is a hands-on experience that many children around the world can experience but can not be as easily done in Australia ( we see these activities all the time at conservatories and learning centers). Showing the privilege of choosing to live with nature vs having to.

Privilege also plays the obvious roll in exposure to nature. What you have been able to experience, and what these experiences have been like because of who you are/how well off you are. Because of who I am, the experiences I have had and the fact that my parents have been able to provide many experiences for me have been to provide many different positive experiences in nature. Most recently through my opportunity to study in New Zealand. This experience was able to provide me with different perspectives, meet new people and learn about different environments and ecosystems while experiencing them firsthand. Due to my privilege I have had these experiences that enrich my learning and my relationship with nature and I am very grateful for them all but I also acknowledge how lucky I have been to be able to do these things.

Lastly privilege is also clear in nature interpretation when looking at minorities and vulnerable populations. I have worked with the special needs community for many years and with a range of abilities. As a nature interpreter and more specifically, a landscape architecture student, I need to acknowledge my privilege and use it to help create accessible and inclusive spaces. When I worked at a summer camp for individuals with special needs I was on every out trip. Each week I would be assigned a group and would spend the day away from camp with them on the trip. This was an enlightening experience as it really highlighted my privilege and the simple things that I took for granted. How easy it was for me to navigate a space, ask for help or be able to quickly understand what was happening in my ever-changing surroundings. While on the trips I had to think beyond myself and tailor the experience to the lodgers needs. There were many who used mobility aids and I had to help in navigating the way and finding the accessible paths/entries. There were also trips that lodgers would not sign up for because they were in a wheelchair and it would be too difficult for them. Through my career as a landscape architect I wish to carry these experiences with me and create interactive spaces in nature which are accessible to all so that everyone can have these experiences and important moments with nature, no matter their ability.

(Some NZ pics)

Sources

Zhou, Naaman. “Peppa Pig 'Spiders Can't Hurt You' Episode Pulled off Air in Australia – Again.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 5 Sept. 2017, www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/sep/05/peppa-pig-spiders-cant-hurt-you-episode-pulled-off-air-in-australia-again.

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