Edan's Nature Blog

[nskenvs3000w23]

Week 10:- Nature Interpretation’s Role in Environmental Sustainability

It’s wild to think that we have already reached week 10 with the final week of our blog upon us. I remember feeling overwhelmed about the thought of writing nature blogs at the very start of the semester as I have never done anything like this before and on top of that this is my first environmental science course I’ve ever taken. Honestly speaking, I didn’t have a clue what a nature interpretation course would even entail. Looking back, the opportunity to create a nature blog in this manner was such a cool alternative to the boring old Courselink discussion board posts and replies. Not only that, sharing my thoughts freely every week and getting to hear all of your opinions has been my favourite part of my week for the last 10 weeks!

On my very first blog post, I wrote about being a city girl at heart, having spent much of my childhood in downtown Toronto. I even mentioned that I believed my view on nature was skewed due to the lack thereof where I grew up. After the last 10 weeks I came to realize that though I may not be in tune with nature as much as some of you may be, my unique interpretation and admiration of nature is still valid and rooted in the experiences I had in the concrete jungle of downtown Toronto.

Downtown Toronto, Ontario. Taken August 25th, 2022.

Over the last few months, as I learned more about nature interpretation and what it means to effectively interpret, I have developed many personal ethics which have guided me throughout this process.

First and foremost is the belief that it is my responsibility to teach those around me about nature and the natural world while also motivating and inspiring them to interpret their world as well. As we’ve learned from the start of the semester, interpretation has many benefits to society as it provides educational, recreational, and inspirational experiences which promote a healthy and informed community (Beck et al., 2018). For me, the responsibility to inspire my friends, family, classmates, and other community members isn’t something I take lightly. I believe that inspiring those around you is something so special, especially when inspiring those to love and cherish the beautiful world we live in. We all have such different ideas of nature and such different memories in nature, so sharing all our knowledge in an open and honest way is so important.

Key West, Florida. Taken December 22nd, 2022.

Another factor of ethics that is extremely important to me as a developing nature interpreter is the responsibility for everyone to take care of the planet we live in. As I’ve gotten older and had more opportunities to travel, I can say without a doubt that the world around us is absolutely gorgeous and its our duty to protect it and make smart decisions. I’m sure we all know what we are supposed to do to keep this planet the way we know and love, but it seems we aren’t taking the responsibility to do so. Climate change is a real problem, and it is time we work together to make a change. NASA describes climate change as human-caused global warming that is ongoing and only getting worse (NASA, 2022). NASA’s Global Climate Change data demonstrates that since the industrial revolution in the 18th century, there has been a 50% rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide and a global rise in surface temperature of 1.1 degrees Celcius (NASA, 2022). On top of this, Arctic sea ice is melting at the alarming rate of 13% per decade, while ice sheets have melted by 151 billion metric tons per year since 2002 (NASA, 2022). It is so upsetting to think about how much our beautiful world is changing for the worse, but it is important for us as humans to know the consequences of our actions. For this reason, I believe it’s crucial for nature interpreters, like me, to not only interpret and share the beauties of the world but also stress the importance of rectifying the damage we have inflicted on our planet.

The way I see it, if we don’t take matters into our own hands and start pushing for change, nature interpreters and civilians alike won’t have anything to interpret and admire. For this reason, I wanted to remind everyone of a few quick changes we can make in our everyday lives which will make a big difference.

1) Take shorter showers to conserve water! I love taking long hot showers after stressful days, but I have taken the initiative to try cutting down my showers by at least 5 minutes a day. 2) Use a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastics! Though it can be convenient at times to grab a plastic water bottle that you can dispose of at any time, using a reusable water bottle not only saves money but saves the planet too! 3) Carpool whenever possible to reduce your carbon emission! Don’t get me wrong, I love driving alone because I can jam out in the car and not have to worry about anyone hearing, but my friends and I have vowed to always try to take as few cars as necessary whenever we hangout.

Lake Louise, Alberta. Taken October 18th 2022.

Overall, I believe responsibility is the biggest personal ethic I have developed as a nature interpreter. In my opinion, we as interpreters and as humans are responsible to experience the amazing world around us and share it with as many people as possible. Think about it, where do you want to travel? Iceland? Thailand? Why do you want to go there? Often times we choose the places we want to visit or travel to next because of the word of mouth. Similarly, the word of mouth, or the sharing of our experiences in nature with others sparks curiosity and admiration. However, I believe our responsibility to the planet doesn’t stop there. I also believe that we are responsible to look after our planet and resolve as much of the hurt we have caused as possible.

Cheers everyone! :)

References

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

NASA. (2022). Climate Change: Vital signs of the planet. NASA. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://climate.nasa.gov/

[etzenvs3000w23]

Hi!

I think you have a really important perspective to share as someone who grew up in Downtown Toronto! I grew up in Vaughan, so not too far! And I spent a lot of time downtown.

I really like what you said about your responsibility to teach others and how this related to climate change. I think knowledge is power. As nature interpreters, we are able to share knowledge and experiences with others. This is really important because, as you shared, climate change is a huge issue and our environment needs help. We have the chance to empower others through educating them so that they can make informed decisions on actions that impact the environment; and I think that is a very important responsibility as a nature interpreter!

[fhenvs3000semesterw23-deactivat]

Unit 10 :) 🦋☘️🐢

The past semester along with the blog posts have taught me alot about being an interpreter in nature, specifically. The blog post prompts in particular have made me unlock the level in my brain regarding how I view nature, and how it has impacted me in my life. I have learned a lot about myself, but as an interpreter, I would say that I believe in respecting nature and what it has given us as people. Now, I know that may sound so generic that anyone can say it easily because we all love nature ( hopefully), but as mentioned in my earlier blog posts, it's not about liking it or not, but appreciating the actual beauty and this gift we have that a lot of people look down upon. The past blog prompts have made me delve even deeper into the idea of being a nature interpreter, because this can be done in so many ways, from music to art, and more.

I personally have never had a great connection with nature growing up, because I enjoyed the comfort of staying in, away from the scalding heat or extreme cold temperatures. I would see people outside going for walks in any temperature, and it would shock me why people would put themselves out like that. I would be in awe, but growing up my perspectives about nature kept changing, and eventually led me to my current program. My parents are one strong pillar behind my enthusiasm and role in the nature interpretation part of my life, because they would always encourage us to go out in nature, and appreciate and love what god has given us. From a small walk, to a far away trip to a beautiful ocean, any of this made my parents make it a teaching experience because they would tell us about the small things within what we saw outside. The plants that we would see would make my parents teach us about them, like herbal remedies, and how some plants could be used medically. I slowly have begun since then to appreciate what we have in the outside world, even though it is being damaged. By damage, I mean climate change, and this is something that has been on the radar for so long because it is getting worse by the moment.

My favourite place to visit in the summer with my parents is the beach. It has opened so many learning opportunities for me, because it grew my love for nature even more! (NatGeo)

I see my role as an interpreter is to appreciate nature and love it, and to take care of it as if it were our own home. I believe that every leaf, blade of grass, rock, is to be appreciated, and respected because it is what builds the earth, and makes it a home for other animals that we also need to respect and care for when the opportunity comes. I see it my responsibility to get other people to love and respect the outside world. It is not something to run away from or pass and not care about, but something to respect.  There are a variety of ways to help encourage oneself and others on how to love and appreciate nature, and make it feel like your own home rather than something boring. This has been showcased through the blog post prompts we have had, like through art and music. My favorite one was music, because nature being incorporated in sounds and rhythm is something very interesting to me. It can make one appreciate the naturalistic sounds more when you hear it in famous singers' songs. It can make one realize that nature can be that beautiful that is being used in some famous songs with millions and millions of views. This is one way nature can be loved and appreciated more in my opinion. What's great about these prompts we have had over the semester is that it can open more doors in one's mind and knowledge about the deeper side of things, like nature in this situation. It is so much more than what we see, it's delving more deeply, and understanding it from an artistic or creative lens almost.

The approaches that are the most suitable for me as an individual when it comes to nature interpretation is getting people together to appreciate what we have in the outside world and the environment, and to make them appreciate nature as much as I do or other people that share their love for nature. I obviously am not referring to a forceful way, but in a nice way where someone can learn something. This can be like joining community center programs like helping clean up a certain place in your neighborhood. Another example is a program to plant plants around your city, and this can be something for all ages. Having youth based programs or getting togethers are a great way to appreciate and love nature, and in a fun way because that's how it's supposed to be. Overall, there are just so many ways one can imagine in order to connect, appreciate, respect, nature and make it as their own. I have learned so much in this course, especially the blog prompts allowed me to do, and I never thought there was so much more to nature and outside world in a critically thinking manner.

Good luck everyone with your future endeavours :) 🦋🌊

Beach. Education. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/beach/ 

[etzenvs3000w23]

Hello! Amazing post :) I really enjoyed reading the insight you have gained over this course.

I really relate to what you said about liking nature vs really seeing the beauty and gift of nature! I completely agree that these are two different concepts. To me, liking nature is pretty surface-level, whereas having an appreciation of nature is deeper and means that you are acknowledging the relationship between nature and humans.

I think you made an interesting point about how you felt not very connected to nature because you stayed comfortable indoors. I would like to expand on this point a bit! I think nature interpretation is a great way to help people go out of their comfort zone. I don't think humans were meant to always be comfortable, and the most significant growth comes from being uncomfortable. Being a nature interpreter is such a great way to get people out of their comfort zone so they can develop a relationship with nature and learn all the wonderful things about it, just like you did! I think this is also a great way to get people to realize the value of nature.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and perspective!

[etzenvs3000w23]

My approach and values as a nature interpreter

Taking the time to reflect on the various aspects of nature interpretation over the past four months has lead to a whole lot of insight! I have learned so much about myself, my values, and techniques to share my values with others through nature!

I have come to realize that the two main ideas that I would like to focus on with my nature interpretation are (1) building a sense of compassion for nature, and (2) connecting with your child self. My personal ethic and beliefs that I bring to nature interpretation would work to facilitate these two ideas.

To begin, I firmly believe that nature should be accessible to all. As we learned in class, people have different learning styles and different levels of privilege. People also have different physical abilities, and this may pose barriers to them accessing natural spaces. My approach to nature would include making education and connection with nature as accessible as possible by catering to various learning styles and making sure my programs are as barrier-free as possible for people with disabilities, racialized people, and other demographics of people who would naturally have more barriers to nature than people with more privilege.

Furthermore, I feel that it is my responsibility to help people truly care about the environment. And to care about something, it helps to have a personal connection to that thing. Helping people develop a personal connection to the land and environment around them is one way that I feel that I work towards this responsibility. As well, I think that a way to get people to care more is to show them how fun nature can be! This shows them the personal value of nature. This relates to the idea of connecting to your child self.

For me, the opportunity to connect with my child self is something I value very highly. Connecting with my child self and facilitating the space for others to do the same is something I would want to center my nature interpretation around. With this in mind, my approach to nature interpretation would be to make it as interactive as possible for the people participating and facilitate a space where people are encouraged to be adventurous and ask questions. I think this would make it fun and allow people to be silly and curious, and in turn, feel more connected to their child self. On a similar note, I feel that a responsibility of mine as a nature interpreter is to create a space where people feel comfortable taking risks. I would definitely apply the concept of calculated risk for both adults and youth. I think this would further show people the value of nature as a tool for growth, and allow them to have new experiences while also having the support needed to effectively take risks.

[etzenvs3000w23]

The most amazing thing about nature

To me, the most amazing thing about nature is the interconnectedness of it all. Everything is connected to everything else. Even things that you wouldn’t dare think are connected, are! When I think about this concept, I am always mind-blown! This can be thought about on so many different spatial scales, but for me, I like to think about trees as the prime example of this idea deep interconnectedness.

Trees interact directly with so many different aspects of the environment – including the air, water, soil, and animals. However, what we don’t think about too often, is that trees interact with each other and with other plants! I know many of us in this program have started learning about this concept, but I wanted to share it because it truly blew my mind when I first learned about it.

While we can’t direct see it, there is a whole network of fungi underground that plants use to communicate with each other. They can use this network to send nutrients and resources to other trees, including their offspring and other saplings that may not get enough sunlight to produce enough of their own nutrients (Grant, 2018). They can also warn others of danger (Grant, 2018). This occurs through electric signals that run through the fungi (Grant, 2018).

Ever since learning about this communication network of fungi, I have had a new appreciation of trees and plants. I think it’s incredible that there is such a vast network right beneath our feet that allow for communication that we can’t see or hear.

Grant, R. (2018). “Do Trees Talk to Each Other?”. Smithsonian. Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-whispering-trees-180968084/

[cmuenvs3000w23]

Sounds of the Universe (Unit 07: Music in Nature)

The course content for this week covers music in nature and how as interpreters we can use the vastness of the musical landscape to effectively demonstrate and communicate the aspects of nature to our audiences. An immediate thought I had when going through the content was how much of communication is non-verbal and yet the themes and messages are abundantly clear despite an apparent "lack" of communication. My assessment of this weeks prompt is that, nature IS music, and music IS nature. What I mean by this is, that music exists because of nature and it is in our nature to memorialize and appreciate the timelessness of existence and music is one of the most connected and raw platforms in which we display it. The foundations of music and melodies are tied all the way back to observing the natural world (whale song, babbling brooks, birds chirping, natural disaster) and how we have come to embrace the "musical" aspects in nature as a way of permanently preserving what time seems to actively erase.

In 2001, Gray, et al., went as far as to say that humans have a requirement for music making, as if we have an inherent desire to perform, create and memorialize the aspects of our culture, where we are in the role, how we experience it and how important it is to preserve nature in its most basic elements. The same "need" is supported in our text (Beck, et al., 2018), with how media itself has become the centre of so many focal points in our history, everything from the sounds of war and patriotism, to teenage rebellion and self identification, and providing a voice to those facing injustice. Music exists as part of our nature because nature promotes the music in us as humans, for example; all of the different sections of a church choir, each individual responsible for a different sound, story, and support to relay a message from moments passed in hopes of spreading gratitude and love. In the textbook (Beck, et al, 2018), it talks about the use of music and media in interpretation, that when used properly to invigorate and bring awareness to resource issues, historical or natural, the results have been overwhelmingly positive in support of providing deeper connections, strong ties to the community and an overall more focused directive in support of nature.

On a more personal note, the song I have chosen that transcends me immediately to a natural landscape is "Universal Sound by Tyler Childers". The songs lyrics though dreary and heartfelt at times, paint a picture of immersion and aligned frequency with the natural world. I think as our lives get busier and busier, we forget to listen to the "universal sound" or the rhythms and music of nature. We forget that as people, we are part of this world and will forever be connected to it, in life or in death. The importance being to always remember that we are a part of something greater than ourselves and to make sure we don't lose the ability to hear the universal sound. As long as nature persists, there will be music, and music to focus and reconnect us to nature when life gets too loud.

References

Beck, L, Cable, Ted T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Natural & Cultural Heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing. 2018

Gray, Patricia M., et al. "The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music." Science, vol. 291, no. 5501, 5 Jan. 2001, p. 52. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69270354/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=fb9366a8. Accessed 5 Mar. 2023.

[etzenvs3000w23]

Hello!

I really enjoyed reading your post about music and nature. Your take on human nature is particularly interesting to me! I really agree with your main point here – that nature is music and music is human nature. The way you described our inherent need as human to make music makes me question how that need manifests itself in my life. As someone who plays and appreciates music, I find that my life would feel quite empty without music. Personally, I naturally pay attention to the music elements of nature. I think these musical elements might be a reason why nature can be very grounding for people, as people may have a similar response to nature as they do to calming music.

You also make a good point about how music has been connected to nature from the start and many early musicians, and even current ones, are inspired by nature. I think the song you shared is a great example of this. Music is extremely powerful, and when artists are able to use their music to convey such important messages – such as taking a moment to listen to the music nature, as you said – they can make a real difference in their listeners. There are some songs that have a similar impact on me and also help me remember to take a step back from this busy life and reconnect with nature. One of these songs is “Only the Wild Ones” by Dispatch, which I highly recommend listening to!

[etzenvs3000w23]

Music and Nature

This week’s course topic prompt made me feel really excited to write a blog post! Music is something I am very passionate about and practice often. I grew up playing different instruments, and now I play guitar almost every day. What first comes to mind when I think of music and nature is how I take every chance I have to play guitar outdoors. For some reason it just feels more meaningful this way, especially when there’s wildlife around. I always feel more inspired and connected to the world when I play outside, and I know that the way I play and the music I come up with is inspired by my environment.

I think that nature is inherently in music, and music is often a way for people to feel connected to nature. For instance, people often choose to listen to happier, brighter music in the summer, and slower music in the fall and winter. I think this is a way for people to connect to nature and meet their environment where it’s at. However, sometimes it is more intentional than this. Musicians often base their music off of nature. For example Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is four movements that each represent one of the four seasons. He did this by using instruments, melodies, and musical elements that resemble each season. Many musicians also use imagery of nature in their lyrics to add to the message of their song. One example of this is the artist The Tallest Man on Earth. I highly recommend listening to his music with this topic in mind!

This prompt also made me think of something I saw a few years ago, when I learned that there are people who record bird calls and transcribe them through music notes. The same thing can be done for frog mating calls. This is a clear example of how music exists in nature. All you have to do is simply go outside and listen, and you’ll experience the symphony of sounds that makes up nature. You can hear the call and response of birds, the blowing wind, a running stream, and rusting leaves. All these aspects of the environment have musical elements within them. These musical elements are also an extremely important tool in nature. Many species use specific songs to find a mate, or to communicate with other individuals of their species.

Overall, I think that music and nature are inherently intertwined. We can use music to appreciate nature, and we can use nature to appreciate and inspire music. I think music is also a really powerful tool for species to communicate to each other about the state of their environment (e.g. through warning calls), and that does not exclude humans. We can use music as a way to communicate environmental issues to one another, or to help others develop a stronger sense of connection and compassion for nature.

[sdrenvs3000w23]

"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."

I'm going to be candid - this blog prompt intimidated me. I think I've spent 15 minutes reading through this quote, over and over, trying to determine the right words to say.

It's interesting - I guess there is no inherent merit to old things. It's why some pieces at an antique store could be worth 50 cents, and others could be worth thousands - there are plenty of external factors we place on things that make them worthwhile.

I like the way this quote continues. Merit in integrity. I've contemplated what that means to me for some time, but I keep coming back to the same idea - if something is truly worthwhile, especially if it's ancient or has been around for a long period of time, and is still in full integrity, it means that someone, or many people, have exhausted time and energy into the preservation of it for some reason, whether this reason is apparent or not. When something is maintained to its full integrity over years, decades, or even centuries, and spans across many people and generations, it becomes seemingly obvious that this thing has a merit of sorts to many different people.

The second half of this quote, to me, considers the idea that even though we may not interact with something the same way we may have at its origin, doesn't mean that we can't build profound, intimate relationships with it. Just because it may not currently be an essential part of our livelihoods now, doesn't mean that we can't build an understanding of how it once impacted us our our ancestors.

I think this quote is especially beautiful when applied to nature. Obviously, nature has been around for quite literally billions of years, and has always been attempted to be preserved and maintained to some degree. It is the most ancient thing that we have, and some systems still operate with complete and full integrity. When the second half of the quote is applied, it makes me realize that even though we don't interact with the landscape in the same manner that our ancestors did, doesn't mean that we can't build new, different, and equally profound relationships with the systems and landscapes we exist in today, shaped by the paradigms we have built from being alive now. This not only maintains, but in my opinion, adds to the integrity of an "ancient thing" - it combines the perspectives and opinions on a specific thing across generations, adding more value each time it is perceived or interpreted.

I'm curious to know what you all think - did you interpret this quote in a similar way, or have I just been looking at CourseLink for too long?

[etzenvs3000w23]

Hi! I found your take on this quote really interesting!

I liked your interpretation of the second part of the quote! I thought of it a bit differently but I will definitely start taking on the perspective you provided about still being able to create meaningful connections with things that exist differently now than they used to. To me, I initially interpreted this part of the quote as - we can learn lessons from the past. But I really like your take on it because it opens up a whole different was of interacting with history. Feeling connected to objects or experiences of our ancestors creates a deeper understanding of our current circumstances, and could possible lead to compassion for other circumstances. Understanding the significance of certain things to people in the past can help us understand the significance of those things in the present, and I think that is very valuable knowledge to have.

[etzenvs3000w23]

History as a tool for preserving the integrity of nature

This week’s topic in class was nature interpretation through history. We were assigned to unpack the following quote by Edan Hyams – “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.”

To be honest, I read over this quote many times trying to decipher what exactly is being said. I understood the main message of this quote to be – in order to understand the full story of something, we must have all the pieces of that thing, and that includes its history. More specifically, you cannot truly understand the present without knowing the past. I think giving people an understanding of the history of an object, idea, condition, etc. provides a whole other depth to their understanding of that thing.

I’m trying to apply this quote to nature interpretation and the other things we have learned in class. One of the first things that comes to mind for me is that teaching others about the historical significance of certain plants and animals may show them how these plants and animals were valued in the past, and how they should be valued in the present. For the most part, we only know what we experience, and what we experience in North America is often a disregard of nature as people don’t often see its “economic value”. But showing people that societies in history, such as many Indigenous Peoples, have valued nature for a very long time. This helps us understand the full picture and how there are many different ways to think about nature and its value. Doing this can, as described in the quote, preserve the integrity of nature.

[fbenvs3000w23]

The Power of Science as a Lens for Nature Interpretation

This week’s course material focused on the interpretation of nature through a scientific lens. Firstly, I find it interesting that we are following our study of nature interpretation through art with that through science. Science and art are often seen as two very distinct and different disciplines. Given the context of nature interpretation, I tend to agree with this statement. Provided the target audience is the general public, interpreting through a scientific lens requires you to break down information, whereas interpreting through an artistic lens requires you to build up information. I recognize this assertion is not without exception, but please, let me clarify what I mean by this claim. When you interpret nature through science, you often explain the fundamental concepts underlying the bigger picture. You may look at lichen, for example, and explain, in simple terms, how it’s the product of a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium and the role of each within the relationship. In doing so, you are taking a small element of the greater picture, being nature, and further breaking it apart to increase your audiences’ understanding and, through this, their appreciation of nature. Conversely, when interpreting nature through art, you tend to reach for larger information found outside the painting, such as context and theory, to build the bigger picture for your audience. There are many other connections and differences between the two lenses that I could get into, but there is more that I want to touch on in this week’s post.

For one of my other classes this week, I was tasked with writing an essay about the changes to public opinion and legal disposition towards animals in early America. My mind was quite preoccupied with this topic, so as I was reading this week’s course material, I was pondering the ever-changing and ever-expanding nature of science and how that intermingles with societal understandings. The environmental crises we are facing speak to the mounting importance of nature interpretation as a method for increasing public awareness and willingness to act in favour of the environment. I see the historic changes to animal rights as hope. At the beginning of the 1800s, animals were viewed as no more than insentient machines intended by God to serve humans. Not even 100 years later, every state had implemented laws protecting animals based on their sentience. Historically, the theologically supported idea of animals as subordinate, soulless and mindless creatures whom we have no moral obligation towards has largely been displaced by the scientifically defended understanding of animal sentience. Who is to say this outcome will not be the same for our plant friends? Animals have largely gained our respect and willingness to protect, so why can’t this expand to the rest of nature? Just as science could convince people to protect animals, I believe it has the potential to do the same for the rest of the environment. The progress of animal rights speaks to the power of science as a lens for nature interpretation and its ability to justify and inspire protection.

Photo of Oliver the Dog on a Canoe Trip in 2020

[etzenvs3000w23]

Hi! I think this is a very well written post!

I really like your take on this week's topic. You made a very strong and important point here about how science has the power to influence laws. I also believe that science plays an incredibly important role in making change towards a more sustainable society.

You also made a very interesting point about how science and art help us understand nature at different scales. Science definitely does break down big concepts into bite-size pieces that may be easier for people to understand relative to bigger abstract concepts that are interpreted through art.

I also think that these two ways of interpreting nature go hand in hand, and I agree that it's interesting that these two topics went back to back in our course. I think a balance of both is needed, but I also think that people may be more responsive to one method over the other - just as we learned that people have learning styles. For me personally, I take in scientific information more easily than art on nature, but I know other people that are the opposite!

This was a cool realization for me to come to, and I think it is important for nature interpreters to take this into consideration as they go forward with their work.

[etzenvs3000w23]

Knowledge is Power

This week’s unit focused on nature interpretation through science. This is a topic I feel pretty strongly about! I believe that educating people empowers them in many different ways. This can be true for adults and children of any age. Because of this, the ability to use scientific knowledge as a nature interpreter to communicate with others is a very important skill.

As we have learned, art is a very effective tool for people to connect with nature. This is also true for science. Using a scientific approach to teach others about nature can be very effective in creating a sense of connection. When individuals learn specific facts about the nature around them, they ultimately have a better understanding of their surroundings. And with a better sense of understanding, comes a greater sense of connection with their surroundings. This is a very important foundational step of empowering people when it comes to nature and environmental issues.

When people have the information needed to fully understand a situation, they can then make their own judgements and come to their own conclusions on their own. I often think of this in the context of climate change. Paired with a stronger feeling of connection to their surroundings, understanding how climate change affects their surroundings may make them care more about this issue. As well, understanding the mechanisms of climate change can help them understand how and why certain actions and decisions contribute to climate change. On the other hand, it can also help them understand how certain actions help mitigate climate change. This gives individuals the power to make their own decisions while knowing how they contribute to climate change, and can further help them see that climate change is a serious problem.

I think this is especially true for children and youth. They are so open minded and creative and when scientific information is presented in a consumable way to them, this knowledge can help them feel empowered about issues they are passionate about.

Overall, I believe that using a scientific approach in nature interpretation can help give people the knowledge they need to confidently make educated decisions.

[akbenvs3000w23]

Unit 04: Nature Interpretation through Art and Planning for “All” Scenarios

In my personal opinion, the “gift of beauty” is based on the most essential guiding principle of nature interpretation. Possessing the ability and desire to truly understand the beauty in one’s surroundings, creating a spiritual connection with these surroundings, and allowing that connection to guide one towards resource preservation is absolutely fundamental (Beck et al. 2018). This is a gift that one must develop over their lifetime, and is oftentimes overlooked due to the way modern society’s emphasis on nature interpretation as a whole seems to be diminishing. Whether this is due to rapid urbanization, the rise of technology’s prominence in society, or just an overall lack of accessible nature interpretation resources, it almost seems as if possessing the gift of beauty is now more of a rare privilege rather than an attainable objective. In fact, I would venture as far as saying that the gift of beauty is something that many individuals will not possess in their lifetimes, as it is not deemed an important societal value. This is why I feel like the field of nature interpretation as a whole would benefit from both increased accessibility and prioritization in general, whether this be through the education system, the media, or the government. 

The way I interpret the gift of beauty is heavily based upon my upbringing and surroundings, which is likely a common theme amongst my peers. The religious and spiritual beliefs I hold also play a part in my interpretation, as I consider myself a spiritual person who feels a strong, innate connection to nature and this connection has given me possession of the gift of beauty. Whether it be through listening to religious hymns about nature, meditative walks, or even just simply watching the snowfall on a winter’s day, nature’s beauty is constantly on my mind. This appreciation for nature’s beauty has also led me to prioritize nature conservation so that future generations may also experience the world in the same way.

In my eyes, nature and art are forever entwined, as one cannot exist without the other. Whether it be through visual arts, music, storytelling, poetry, theatre, or dance, mankind has relied on nature as a muse since the beginning of time (Beck et al. 2018). The way I interpret nature through art takes many forms, as I consider myself a creative person who is heavily inspired by the world around me. Visiting art museums and being in awe at the way an artist has captured something as ordinary as a sunset is my attempt at seeking meaning and interpreting another individual’s interpretation of nature (Beck et al. 2018). This activity which may only last a few hours and doesn’t necessarily involve me interacting with nature itself has a way of strengthening my connection with the world around me and creating a newfound appreciation for the field of nature interpretation (Beck et al. 2018).

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

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Hi! I found your post very thoughtful and thought-provoking!

Your experience with art museums was really interesting to read about. I've never thought about it that way but I can really relate! Through looking at other people's interpretations of nature, I feel like I'm interacting with nature in some capacity. This is something I will definitely start being more aware of now.

I also really relate to what you said about spirituality. I'm not a particularly religious person, but I do feel a sense of spirituality when it comes to nature and I always have! I truly believe that if more people felt that sense of spirituality or deep connection with nature, there would be much more progress towards sustainable resource use and ecosystem restoration. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, the way our society is currently set up makes this very hard to achieve. I've noticed this in myself. Our society puts up so many barriers to connect with nature in the ways that I want to, and practicing my "gift of beauty" does not happen as often as it used to, or as often as I would like it to. As you mentioned, I'm sure many other people feel the same way. But, I know I have the power to change this and this can be a new goal for me!

Overall, I really enjoyed reading your take on this week's topic, and it prompted a lot of new insights for me!

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Interpreting Nature Through Art

As I see it – nature is art, and art is in our nature as human beings.

People interpret nature in a variety of ways – one of which is art. An integral part of humanity is its ability to interpret things through art. To me, someone who interprets nature through art takes their time to witness the beauty, chaos, serenity, and spirituality of nature. This could even include a child making a finger painting of a tree! In that moment, they are recreating the beauty of nature through their own medium and their own perspective.   

Interpreting nature through art does not only mean through visual art; it also means music, poetry, dance, pottery, film, storytelling, and many more! These art forms allow people to connect with nature in their own way, and in a way that is meaningful to them. For example, I play guitar and sometimes I sit with my guitar on a warm sunny day, or on a snowy white winter day, and write music in that moment where I feel at peace and connected with the nature around me. I haven’t done something like that recently, and I think that is because the fast-paced environment of the world I live in makes it difficult to be in the moment and connect my passion for guitar playing with my passion for nature appreciation. I’m sure this is the case for many others! This is one reason why I appreciate seeing other people’s art about nature. It shows me how they connected with nature in that moment and took the time to witness and appreciate nature as it is. This is how I would interpret the “gift of beauty”.

It is always interesting to see how others interpret nature through art because it lends a sneak peak into their mind and tells you a bit about their character as a person as well as the details they pick up on (ie. if two people paint the same tree, they may emphasize different features of that tree). This exercise has helped me come to realize just how integral art is to nature interpretation. This is something I have never considered before! Providing a space for people to practice using their “gift of beauty” in nature feels like very meaningful work! And writing this makes me want to do that for myself as well. I believe that allowing people witness nature and its beauty (even the beauty of seemingly gruesome things in nature!) will help people develop more compassion and care for the environment around them; and I think that is an extremely valuable quality to have!

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Unit 3: Risk versus Reward in Interpretation

The content this week regarding privilege was extremely important to learn. How I understand it, privilege includes tangible and intangible advantages that a person did not earn, but instead were handed due to their innate positionality. These can include material things like finances, opportunities, health, or place of residence, but can also be subtle, like connections, skills, values, abilities, or mindsets that one holds based on how they were born or raised.

A lot of the time, privilege can go unnoticed by others, and many people are unaware of their own privilege. This is why the term “invisible backpack” that we learned this week is an apt description of privilege.

It is important in my discussion of privilege to unpack my own invisible backpack. I am a white woman who grew up with a loving, middle-class family. I grew up in a safe and well-kept community, in a city with lots of opportunities (Toronto), in a country that is safe, comfortable, and familiar for someone like me (Canada). I am healthy, and educated. These things inform everything I think, say, or do, whether I realize it or not.

My first memory of becoming aware of my own privilege was in kindergarten. I brought to school my Hannah Montana lip gloss I had gotten as a gift from my parents - a piece of merchandise from one of my favourite television shows. I showed it to my friend, and she was perplexed. She did not find my item cool, and had many questions. “What is lip gloss?” “Who is Hannah Montana?”

I wondered why she did not see this object the same as me. Perhaps her parents could not afford gifts like makeup sets. Perhaps she was not allowed to watch television, thus feeling left out on conversations her peers had about these shows during recess. This is a very small-scale example of privilege, but it was my first exposure, and left a lasting impact.

Regarding nature interpretation, I see that privilege plays a role in two ways.

In the first way, the interpreter must recognize all visitors will have a range of privileges. Even if the interpreter is aware the people coming to their program are all part of one group (e.g., all within a certain age group), they must recognize the group is still heterogenous. Accommodating different intentions with the program, ability to progress through the program comfortably and with dignity, or ability to receive and process the information presented must all be considered.

In the second way, the interpreter themselves must reflect on their own privilege and positionality, and wonder about how messages coming from them might be received by a diverse audience. In what ways can they ensure their messages are self-aware, well-received, and free from bias?

One beautiful thing about nature interpretation is that it can serve as an opportunity to interact with people with different invisible backpacks, and learn from each other. That’s not to say we should put the emotional load on those with less in their backpacks, by forcing them to ask for accommodations and teach the rest of us about privilege – it is instead to say the more we interact with different people, the more we become aware of ourselves and what we can do with our position to ensure everybody has a positive experience.

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Hi! I loved reading your take on this week's prompt!

I strongly agree that it is all nature interpreters have a duty to reflect on their own privilege and come up with ways to reach as many different types of people as possible. And to do that, understanding the foundational concept of privilege is essential.

Your lip gloss example is a perfect representation of what people might feel in a nature interpretation setting. The language we use as interpreters may not be conducive to someone who has little knowledge of environmental science topics and may not feel comfortable asking questions in that setting. Therefor is think it is really important to keep this in mind as an interpreter and make sure you create a space where people of all abilities and background feel welcome and comfortable enough to ask questions.

You're also so right that nature interpretation is a perfect opportunity to interact with different people. I also think it is a great opportunity to get creative and think of teaching things in a variety of ways. If, for example, there is someone who is visually impaired in the program, that is such a great opportunity to practice teaching in a style that is maybe more auditory and tactile!

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Privilege and Nature Interpretation

Learning and reflecting on the role privilege plays in people’s access to nature has helped me put words to some of the situations I’ve witnessed and been part of throughout my life. But before getting into all that, it’s important to understand what privilege actually is. My current working definition of privilege is: the lack of barriers and/or the presence of advantages because of characteristics that an individual has related to race, socio-economic status, ability/disability, religion, native language, gender, sexuality, education, etc.

Access to nature itself is a privilege. I have a lot to say on this topic, but I will try to keep it short! I am a Middle-Eastern person who is a child of immigrants. Growing up, I was privileged enough to go camping with my family every summer. I almost used the word “lucky” instead of “privileged” in that last sentence. I changed the word to privilege because I was able to go camping as a result of my family being middle-class and able bodied; thus we were able to afford good camping equipment, a car, gas, cost of the campsite itself, cost of renting a canoe, and my parents could afford to take time off work to give me these amazing experiences. As someone who has grown up with these experiences, I now know that someone like me – Middle Eastern, brown, queer – can in fact go camping, even though those spaces are not always as welcoming to me as they are to white people. When I’d go camping with my family, I would rarely see racialized people, let alone openly queer people. As well, the media adds to this. We often see outdoorsy ads targeting white, middle class, able bodied people. The lack of representation of all other groups of people implies that camping and being outdoors is simply not for them, and in turn they may face more mental and physical barriers to interacting with nature. They may be more reluctant to participating in nature interpretation programs and the risk of feeling out of place or not knowing what to do may deter them further.

There is one specific example that comes to mind in relation to this topic. I worked at a camp for kids with disabilities and I saw first-hand how there are barriers that make it harder for disabled individuals to interact with nature. For example, my co-worker who is an amputee and a canoe tripper uses a custom-made paddle and prosthetic to go on trip. She explained to me that typical paddles disable her, but her custom paddle enables her. This shows how privilege plays a role in access to nature as that it is a privilege to simply be able to use a typical canoe paddle. I witnessed how kids with similar challenges saw for the first time that going camping is actually possible as a disabled person. However, sometimes it might be more costly and so your socio-economic status plays a part in whether or not you have access to nature at all. In relation to nature interpretation programs, I have been on maybe one guided hike that was wheelchair accessible.

I could go on and on but I am at my max word count. Overall, there are endless examples of the barriers that exist that may prevent/make it harder for people to access the outdoors, and that in itself shows that privilege plays a large part in nature interpretation.

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Unit 2: finding a future as a nature interpreter

One example of a dream job in nature interpretation would be as a naturalist in a provincial park. I already got some experience as an interpreter, working at a summer camp. In the future, I would like to do something similar, interpreting nature to an audience of adults as well as children, and lead hikes in a nature park. As a nature interpreter, I found that one of my favorite things to do was to show the life form in question, let kids see it, and, if it was safe for both us and the animal, handle it. When I took the “What's your learning style?” test by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, 2011, I scored highest in visual and kinesthetic. I realized that this translates strongly to the way I like to teach the most. Some of my favorite parts of programming was going on unstructured wanders in an interesting area, where we could find many interesting plants and animals in person. There we could see firsthand what the plants and animals looked like. For example, we could wander along a beach and everyone would collect cool rocks, shells, and bones. We could pick berries, dandelions and clovers to eat and make little salads out of them. The method of “letting nature interpret itself,” as mentioned by Beck et al. 2018, is something that I realized already did a lot of. In the course readings by Hooykaas, 2020, and textbook by Beck et al, 2018, it was mentioned that it is also important to make sure the kids enjoy the interpretation too, and that it resonates with them. After all, if it doesn’t, the lessons wouldn't stay with them. That's why I’ve try to vary the activities with different people, as we've been trained at work! Quiet kids might want to quietly wander and/or do crafts, while others would want to play some sort of high-energy nature-themed game.

According to Beck et al. 2018, Enos Mills saw nature interpretation as more like storytelling than lecturing as a teacher would in a school. Making nature interpretation more about capturing the imagination, than just being forced to memorize facts.

I like to draw. And I also like to write stories. And I've managed to hold an audience with my nature-inspired stories before. These stories were both personal experiences, and fictional fairy tales I made up. As I became more confident over the years, I became better and better at telling these stories among of crowd of hyper kids who might not have the greatest attention span. Though I haven't engaged in this form of interpretation as much yet, I wanted to do something similar to what the many field guides and books I've consumed have done. Present the life history of creatures in an engaging way, complete with eye-catching drawings and cartoons.  Because I enjoy making art, and sometimes even made small sketches of characters for the kids, I thought this would be a great way to combine the two interests of mine.

Some sketches I made during the summer camp!

References:

Beck, L., Cable T. T. & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. (2011). What’s your learning style? 20 questions. Education Planner. http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml

Zopf R., Giabbiconi C. M., Gruber T., Müller M. M. (2004). Attentional modulation of the human somatosensory evoked potential in a trial-by-trial spatial cueing and sustained spatial attention task measured with high density 128 channels EEG. Brain Res. Cogn. Brain Res. 20 491–509.

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Hello from a fellow camp counsellor!

I really enjoyed reading your take on this week’s prompt.  I think there is a much needed space for people with artistic skills to be able to communicate environmental ideas to other through art. Some people respond better to this approach and to be honest – I don’t see it very often!

I can really relate to what you said about going on unstructured wanders in nature! I would often take adults on guided hikes at my camp and each hike was so different because I was with a different group of individuals with completely different questions and interests. As well, one of my favorite things at camp was unexpectedly stumbling upon a really cool natural phenomenon that I could gather all my campers around and we would then have an impromptu, amazing discussion about what we were seeing!

I think your method would be extremely effective for people who are quieter and maybe prefer those kinds of story-telling or artistic activities. I find that these people often get left behind in traditional educational settings and would potentially connect more to the activities that you described.

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My Role as a Nature Interpreter

My ideal role as a nature interpreter is to be in a position where I create a sense of connection between people and the environment. I aim to let people tap in to their sense of wonder and facilitate a space where they can fully engage with nature in a meaningful way. This would include discussing Indigenous history and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in my programs. Ideally, people would leave feeling a greater sense of connection and compassion for nature and a responsibility to protect our environment.

I would like this to take place in an outdoor setting as I think that would create a more engaging and well-rounded experience for myself and others. As well, being a primarily kinesthetic learner myself, I find it easier to teach others through this method. Being in an outdoor setting and letting people see and touch physical aspects of the environment allows me to teach in a way that plays to my strengths. In addition, I would want to bring physical aspects of the environment (such as leaves, bark, fur, etc.) into an indoor space to allow people to be comfortable as they take time to familiarize themselves with these objects.

Making nature accessible is something that is often on my mind. As someone who has worked with youth and adults with a variety of disabilities, I have seen the barriers many people face when it comes to being in nature. I would want to gain skills in making nature interpretation accessible to people of all abilities. I would want to be able to tailor my programs to the people I am speaking to. This could look like incorporating a tactile element to my nature interpretation, such as getting people to feel differences between different types of leaves or bark. This could also look like learning specific nature-related words in ASL to be able to communicate with Deaf individuals. Removing barriers for individuals to have an opportunity to participate and interact with nature is something I would want to accomplish in my role as a nature interpreter.

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My 'Sense of Place' and Appreciation for Nature

Nature has always been very important in many aspects of my life and I have only recently begun to reflect; not only during this time but also on many of my past experiences.

Not only do I appreciate the beauty of many different flowers, plants, wildlife etc., I have also been able to really enjoy the sense of stability and relaxation that comes with many ecosystems and territories that I visit and research. I also share many fond memories outside with family, friends, and different types of clients that I hold close to my heart.

I go on a daily walk with my dog, and frankly I think I enjoy it more than he does. The peaceful morning buzz that you hear as the sun starts to rise is my favourite part of these walks. I find that without this in my morning routine, my whole day is thrown off. His favourite thing to do after a fresh snowfall is to roll around in the snow. I used to hurry him along since I am always cold, but I have grown to appreciate the happiness that a fresh snowfall can bring this little guy.

I have also been very active my entire life that during the pandemic i began to really enjoyed (and almost relied on) going on daily runs/walks by myself. I found it relaxing to just spend time outside, exploring the new town my family had just moved to a couple months before the pandemic. I think we can all agree that our appreciation for the outdoors grew during this time of lockdown. Anyways, during this time I found myself enjoying random walks around Guelph or the town my family lives in. I have included some snapshots of my favourite views I have randomly come across. 

Some of my favourite memories growing up are of my siblings and I enjoying time exploring anything we could outside. I can relate my interest in nature to these memories because having many siblings with different interests, we all tried just about everything and I appreciate the diversity of outdoor activities that I took part in in turn. My parents also enjoyed almost all weekends at our cottage (and although we were not much of an ‘electronics’ household, lack of wifi at the cottage had us exploring even further). From spending hours looking at the stars at night to playing each and every sport during the day (and finding time to fish in between), I feel like these activities built my appreciation and interest for the outdoors as well as my ‘sense of place’. 

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Hi Mel! I relate to so much of what you wrote here I don’t even know where to start!

Watching my dog play outside also brought me so much joy! She was always a reminder for me to take a moment to appreciate where I am and not rush anywhere. Taking my dog out first thing in the morning was such a great start to my day. The brisk morning air was always so refreshing and was such a positive start to my day.

My family played a big part in developing my relationship to nature as well. My brothers and I were always playing outside and even now prefer to be outside playing sports instead of staying inside. I found that this was especially influential on my attitude towards winter. Starting from the very first snowfall of the season, my brothers and I would spend every minute we could playing in the snow as kids. We would also go snowboarding together pretty often. These experiences translated into me loving winter because my association with winter was fun and adventurous. I feel like this feeling is something I have to work hard to hold on to now… winter doesn’t seem as fun for some reason. But, I recently worked at an outdoor education center in the winter and that rekindled my love for the snow! Being around other people who love being outside and find ways to have fun in any situation is also such a gift and helps me maintain the love I have for nature!