Filip Malinski Brings You Nature Interpretation

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The end... of the beginning

To me, this course and it’s timing has been pretty significant. It has been a sort of coming home to me to get back into the outdoor world and teaching after being on the backburner while I have thought of pursuing different careers. The two main moments in this course that struck a chord are the differentiation between a job and work, and what climate activism can look like.

image: a photo of a quote written inside the canoe hut at Camp Edgewood. “Look for the little miracles”. Photo taken by me.

I’m not sure that everyone has experienced what “work” feels like compared to a “job”, but I was lucky enough that one of my first jobs was working as a camp counsellor, among other things, at Camp Edgewood in Eden Mills. I worked there for two summers before, devastatingly, the camp had to shut down because of a lack of funding to replace our sewage system. Can you believe it? Working there meant giving up you whole summer, besides Saturdays to work 24 hours around the clock, anyone who works at camp knows this, but to me it never felt like a job and I remember saying this at the time. This place was so special, no matter someone’s background, it gave them a chance to connect with others and the nature around them. When you’re disconnected from the rest of the world, the news, and social media, social norms kind of go out the wind and you’re allowed to be as goofy and weird as you want because people are accepting. I remember a camper saying to me that the one week a year that they got to spend at camp weas the only time that they felt like they belonged and that they weren’t the outsider or the “weird one”. This setting and this community’s commitment to fostering these relationships is something that I seek for my work in the future. Lately, I’ve kind of thrown away the idea of “career” and I am committed to focusing on “work”. So, what makes it work for me? Making a difference.    

image: graphics of a melting earth with blue rings around it. Image taken from https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/strategy/impact-and-opportunities-of-climate-change-on-business.html. 

This year I have really struggled with learning about climate change. It is so essential, yet draining, and leaves me without hope. In chapter 5 of Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage, a huge wave of relief washed over me when they explain how fostering relationships with nature is a way to help with climate change. This idea made me realize what my approach to solving climate change must be, to educate and excite people about the world that we live in. I know that as someone who knows about climate change, I need to lead a life that makes a difference, but the idea of having to think about and face this complex challenge every day in a job has been weighing on me and I hadn’t even started this mystery job! During this semester I have decided to apply to the Queen’s Outdoor and Experiential Education Teaching Program after I graduate from my Undergrad. This is the outlet that I can use to encourage stewardship for other people and do my part to help tackle the climate change challenge. Here is a link to an interview with one of my high school teachers talking about the OEE program: Queen’s University Outdoor & Experiential Education Program.

Throughout my BA in Geography I have been learning about the complex relationships between people and places and the details about those people and those places. What I have learned in taking this course is that part of my work needs to be on the frontlines of those relationships between people and spaces, particularly in the outdoors. I would like to teach in some sort of an outdoor setting. I hope that in doing this I can include different aspects of interpretation from science, art, history, education, and sustainability. Personally, I have always been a generalist, meaning that there are a lot of things that I am okay at, but there’s no one thing that I am an expert at. In this field, I can use this to my advantage because it required a lot of skills to interpret/teach.  

image: a photo of me at my cottage in Temagami, crouching under the old growth forest, picking blueberries. Photo taken by my sister

A direct application to what I have learned in this course will be the job that I landed this summer. I put myself out there and sent an email to the rental cottages around the area of my cottage asking if I could teach swimming lessons at their sites. I was answered right away and will be teaching swimming lessons, fishing skills, canoeing skills, and leading hikes just a short canoe ride from my cottage. I am so excited to learn more about the area so that I can teach it. Mostly, I am excited that I can be outside all day and help other people enjoy the outdoors. This type of job is something that I have been dreaming of since working at camp, but had deemed it as not a “career” job and had assumed that I would not make enough money at a job like this. I was wrong, no both fronts. Like I said before, I’m not worried about a job that looks good on a resume because it matches my degree, a so called “adult job”. I sought out the job that I know will make me happy and that at the end of the day I will be able to say that I did a good day’s “work”.  

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading along with my realizations, hopes, and dreams. What do you want to be when you grow up (not your adult job, your real job)?  

Goodbye for now.

Jasmine

image: a photo of me holding one of my custom jeaote bags, another passion that I have been investing in. In the fall I started making bags out of old jeans and fabric to reduce textile waste. Here is a link to my Instagram in case you want to check it out! https://www.instagram.com/jeaote/ Yes, this is a shameless plug.

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Hey jasmine before I begin I just want to say I understand where that camper was coming from who finally felt like he belonged somewhere and wasn’t the outsider when he was at camp. This is since truthfully when I was younger that was me. I didn’t fit in to too many groups or if I did I still kind of felt like I was the outcast but then I went to an overnight sports camp in cottage country where I meet likeminded people and finally felt like I fitted in somewhere.

In regards to my dream job I am still juggling some ideas, however I do know I want to make a difference either through educating the next generation of nature lovers or somehow contributing to research that can make a difference to protect our planet. Included in the research avenue I am interested at looking into ways to reduce or offset air pollutants which would aid to slow climate change. Outside of research though I am considering something in the education field in which I could educate the next generation of nature lovers to so that beautiful nature landscapes can be preserved for future generations (Beck et al., 2018). Now I believe I am actually ready for this career in nature education since I understand that individuals at different ages should be taught varying things so that they may develop a love of nature and protect it. For instance individuals under 11 should be taught to love and explore nature and that only once they are older than 11 should they engage in solving real world problems (Beck et al., 2018).

 Now I understand you have a general framework of what you want to do for work so my question for you is what do you not want to do and why?

References:

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

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Nature interpretation and its role in saving our planet

I believe that nature is an integral part of our lives, and that day by day it is being taken away from us. I wonder if the generations to come will see and experience the same things in nature that we have had the chance to.

Looking back to my very first blog in this course, I really had no clue where we were going with it, but I loved writing it. It was much different from anything I’ve had to write for any other class I’ve been in! I was able to freely think about what I wanted to write about, and what made me really happy as a kid. It was creative and imaginative writing. I had to let my thoughts sit and marinate to really put myself back in my shoes as a child. It is definitely interesting trying to remember how I used to think and feel when I was first beginning to immerse myself in and understand nature, especially forests. For me, there has always been something that has drawn me to forests. I find them to be magical.

This is a Ted Talk on the importance of nature, and why children need it when they are growing up.

After digesting the information from this course, I have come to the conclusion that my childhood experiences in nature greatly impacted the person I have become today. Even though I do not wish to pursue a career in the environmental field (I wish to pursue the medical field instead), I deeply care about nature. In my spare time the only documentaries I watch are about nature. I love watching Planet Earth because it puts me in different animals’ shoes and helps me to see life how they see it. We see their fear, their emotions, and how they survive. We also get to feel like we are in the middle of the rainforest, or floating over coral reefs, all while sitting on our living room couch. My favourite nature films of all time are all about human-nature interactions, where humans spend enough time outside that they actually develop loving relationships with wild animals. It is an eye opener that we are not all that different. Animals are very intelligent and they feel emotions just as we do. They evoke feelings of empathy and compassion, and remind us that it is our responsibility to protect these animals and their habitats.

here is a small clip about Jane Goodall. An inspiring story of a woman integrating herself into the families of chimpanzees.

Throughout this course I've learned about what makes a nature interpreter a good one, and I mean, it is a lot of things. But one thing that really stood out to me when reading about how to make a difference in the environment now, is the importance of actually telling people how they can actively make a difference (Wals, 2014). I have a personal and very recent experience that validates this idea!

I learned some information in another class about Gypsy Moths. It was great to learn about them because they are invasive all around Ontario. I learned that they lay egg masses on trees over the winter and they hatch when the trees begin to bloom, but if you scrape the egg masses off of the trees and soak them in a bucket of water and soap for a few days, you can prevent the eggs from ever hatching and thus prevent the severe damage to the trees which may have eventually killed them. I learned this a few weeks ago and ever since, every time I take my dog for a walk in my yard or forest, I am constantly looking for egg masses and scraping them off the trees. I love doing it because I know that I am actively making a difference. Every single egg mass that I scrape off, counts, and may contribute to saving a tree!

This is a photo of a few Gypsy Moth egg masses. Photo taken by me.

“Now, my tree-climbing days long behind me, I often think about the lasting value of those early, deliciously idle days. I have come to appreciate the long view afforded by those treetops. The woods were my Ritalin. Nature calmed me, focused me, and yet excited my senses.” (Last Child in the Woods). I think that this quote is very important because it highlights how much people inherently cherish nature. It brings us back to think of a magical place we once were. I remember going back into the forest, and truly thinking of it like it was how the kids in “a bridge to terabithia” imagined their forest. Now, my imagination does not run so wild this day in age, but it once did. My memories of my imagination contribute to my desire to want to preserve nature.

here is the bridge to Terabithia trailer.

I have lived in my house for many years now. We have a luscious forest in the back, and along the side leading up to the forest there are many trees which have branches that are vine-like. I remember playing back there and making forts. I was truly so happy and amazed by the natural beauty of the forest. In the next 5 years or so, that will all be gone. Sadly the field next to my house will be completely urbanized, and many trees will be chopped down I am sure. It breaks my heart, it feels as though a person in my life is going to be taken away from me. My feelings on this are so strong, that I believe if other people had these same magical experiences as kids, they too would not dare to cut down a perfectly healthy tree or urbanize beautiful land. So that is why we need to continue to immerse kids in nature. Nature interpretation is so important!

Here is a photo of what is left of one of my childhood forts. Photo taken by me.

Many studies have been done that show how important nature is for our mental health. According to our assigned video, 30% of boys in the US rely on stimulants to focus. Nature is greatly important for our attention, academic performance, and relaxation. Biodiversity has even been shown to positively influence our immune systems. Healthy ecosystems means healthy people.

Here is a video on how to save our planet.

In the future, we can create communities that are rich in nature which can provide kids with a deep love for the systems we are immersed in and eventually these children can go on to sustain and regenerate things (A. Hooykaas, lecture notes, ENVS3000 Nature Interpretation, March 26, 2021). According to our assigned video, we can introduce kids to a place where they feel in touch with nature and let them find that connection with nature themselves. We really just need to focus on helping kids find their magic places (Rodenburg, 2019). One great idea that was mentioned in our assigned video, was that a great way to make kids feel like they’re helping to make a positive change in nature is by getting a community to plant a diversity of native plants. This could help feed a lot of different organisms and increase the presence of biodiversity in the community. This is a great way to show kids that they indeed can make a positive impact on the environment and ecosystems around them, and hopefully that idea is one that they can actively apply throughout the rest of their lives.

Questions:

What is one way you think we can each help improve the environment?

What is one way to help kids feel connected to nature?

What do you think is the most important thing about nature and its preservation?

Are there any natural places that remind you of your childhood?

References

Hooykaas, A. (2021). ENVS*3000 Nature Interpretation Course notes. Retrieved March 26, 2021, from https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/666945/viewContent/2593375/View

Rodenburg, J. (2019). Why environmental educators shouldn’t give up hope. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

Wals, A. E. J., Broady, M., Dillon, J., Stevenson, R. B. (2014). Convergence between science and environmental education. Science, 344(6184), 583-584. DOI: 10.1126/science.1250515

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Hey Haleigh before I dive into your question section I would just like to say you made many valid and strong points throughout your blog. The most moving and inspirational one to me though is that even though knowledge is important without application either direct or indirect by letting people know how to make a difference it is almost useless. I can personally relate to this sentiment since currently I am an undergraduate student and majority of my courses have been theory based with little application so when it comes to applicability they are not the most useful.

 Now I will dive into some of your questions, one place that reminds me of my childhood is 16 mile creek forest. This is a forest near my home which I often explored as a child and while doing as such built an emotional connection to (Beck et al., 2018). If I was to travel back in time and decipher how I could use my childhood to help other children feel closer to nature I would advertise the act of exploration. I acknowledge the fact that people learn more effectively at different ages however personally I’ve always felt that exploration was the most effective learning tool for me (Beck et al., 2018). This is since I have always had an innate sense of exploration and have always been curious as to what I am going to find under a fallen log, around a corner at the bottom of a river bed and what not (Beck et al., 2018).

Photo of 16 mile creek forest captured January, 2021 by author.

 Now my question for you Haleigh is how do you recommend we help kids feel more connected to nature?

Reference:

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

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My Journey as a Nature Interpreter so far

I have recently began my journey as a nature interpreter by educating myself on the importance of nature interpretation and all of the positive benefits it can yield both for nature and humans. In regards to nature the profession of nature interpretation can positively benefit it through directly preserving it by inspiring politicians to enact policies that set aside and protect wilderness landscapes so that they may be enjoyed by future generations. Such as occurred in the 19th century when artist paintings were able to convince congress to set aside and protect wilderness landscape (Beck et al.,2018). Whereas in regards to humans, nature interpretation may also yield positive benefits. Nature interpretation is used not only to reveal the history of a location but also to reveal the intangible meaning behind the tangible object that is there (Beck et al.,2018). This acts to enrich experiences, advance physical and mental health and enhances community welfare (Beck et al.,2018). Now I acknowledge the fact that this is a noble and important profession, however only time will truly tell if this is a career pathway I will explore. Now the real question: how did my ethics develop as I educated myself about nature interpretation?

Like any student as I began educating myself about a subject, in this case it was nature interpretation I brought a set of underlying beliefs with me. These beliefs are centered in utilitarianism along with altruism. This essentially means that with my actions I always strive to create the greatest good for the greatest amount of people however my actions do not always results in me reaching this desired outcome (Northouse, 2019). Keeping that in mind it is because of these underlying beliefs that I have develop as I have as a nature interpreter. As I have educated myself about the profession of nature interpretation I believe it was because of my underlying beliefs that my personal ethics or as they are commonly referred to as the moral values that guide our actions have develop as they have (Oxford Learners Dictionary, 2021).

These ethical principles have guided my beliefs that nature interpreters should strive to offer interpretive material to as many people as physically possible while still effectively imprinting a message in their minds. By this I mean that interpretive material should not just be offered to those with privilege but they should also be made available to those lacking privilege. This is important to me since to some degree I understand what it means to have privilege that others do not. For instance I grew up in a relatively wealthy area and had good health and access to a car that I could use to explore my surroundings which I understand that many people did not. Now, I view this as an unfair advantage I have been blessed with. It is unfair that some people such as me where born with advantages like these so I feel as though we as a society should strive to offer the same opportunities to those lacking privilege as those that have privilege (Gallavan, 2005). This seems like a daunting task and it is, however a good place to start would be nature interpretation since this discipline can improve the physical and mental health of individuals which is becoming ever more important in this world especially right now with Ontario’s provincial wide stay at home order just announced.

If I was to pursue nature interpretation as a career path I would hold my self-responsible to ensuring the programs that are offered at my facility would be inclusive of everyone regardless of their levels of privilege. Offering these programs to people with varying amounts of privilege even those that have excessive privilege is important since it can inspire them to become nature interpreters who continue to protect nature and all of its landscapes for future generations to appreciate (Beck et al.,2018 ). With that said though it is crucial to offer nature interpretation programs to those who are less fortunate and less privileged. The reason for this is that it eliminates any barriers and wall put up by society or even their underlying mindset and at minimum gives them the opportunity to experience the wonders and joy of nature as other with excessive privilege do with ease (Beck et al.,2018 ).

Outside of ensuring that nature interpretative programs can be accessible to everyone regardless of privilege it is also important to ensure that they appeal to different learning styles. According to multiple intelligence theory people learn in different ways but can all be equally intelligent, so it is important for interpreters to tailor their material to their audience’s specific learning style (Beck et al., 2018). Personally I am spatial learner which is just a way of saying I learn best with visual aids so any interpretive media offered to me should have visual aids. In an ideal world interpreters know the learning style of their audience however this is unrealistic so if I were to become a nature interpreter I would strive to incorporate multiple learning styles to appeal to a wide range of audiences (Beck et al., 2018). There are multiple different subcategories of learning styles however they all broadly fall into 3 categories: auditory, Visual, and tactile/kinesthetic. Auditory learners learn through listening, visual learners learn through seeing things and tactile learners learn through experiences. Obviously it is a daunting task to accompany all of these various learning styles however interpreters may be able to achieve this through offering a program that strikes a balance between all 3 broad groups of learning. One way this could be accomplished at say an archeological site is through giving a lecture about dinosaurs or any other prehistoric creatures that once roamed that area and ensuring it included some photos to appeal to the auditory and visual learners and then include a section of the program in which people can get their hands dirty and explore through the active learning processes of digging up bones which acts to appeal to the tactile/kinesthetic learners.

 Questions

To anyone reading this I am curious have your ethics in regards to nature interpretation developed to benefit the greater good? Yourself? Or a combination?

Also do you think nature interpretation is something you will pursue in the future? Will this be professionally or casually in your free time?

 -Filip

 References:

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

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping Teachers Unpack Their. Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36.

Northouse, P. G. (2019). Leadership: Theory and practice (8th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Oxford Learners Dictionary. (2021). Ethic noun. Retrieved from: https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/ethic#:~:text=ethic-,noun,the%20ethics%20of%20his%20position.

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Fractal Frenzy (wk. 9)

When I glanced at this week’s prompt, I felt a little pressure to be honest. You all want to know the most amazing thing I know about nature?! I didn’t know where to begin, and I wanted to provide something that would surely wow you all. The first thing that came to mind was how wondrous of a feeling nature can provide for you, it’s truly therapeutic and it goes unmatched. This is one of the most amazing things about nature in my opinion, but I can’t sum it up in a blog post for you – you must experience it for yourself. What I can do is provide you with some incredible science/math that will hopefully deepen your connection to nature and the universe around you. The science that I’m referring to is called fractals, and it’s also referenced as sacred geometry.

Enchanted Forest: Photography by Inge Johnsson. Can be retrieved from: https://pixels.com/featured/enchanted-forest-inge-johnsson.html

Have you ever heard of these terms? Fractals are self-similar patterns that repeat themselves at different levels of magnification – every small part resembles the whole.

A “simple” fractal (self-repeating pattern). Retrieved from Tumblr. 

As you can see in this gif, the pattern appears to be on an infinite loop, demonstrating a pattern inside a pattern inside a pattern, so on and so forth.

I’m sure you’re wondering how fractals play into nature. In one of my courses this semester, we discussed how nature organizes itself into fractals to “problem solve” (McCann, 2021). Fractals are ultimately formed by nature to fill empty space, which in turn can effectively add a dimension (McCann, 2021). Yes, you heard that right, fractal filling can drive additional dimensions. I thought this fact was wild when I learned it! You’ve probably heard your local hippie say at one point or another that we’re “multidimensional beings”; that we have access to dimensions higher than that of 3D (including 4D, 5D, 6D, all the way to 12D+). In my opinion, this logic is supported to a degree because us humans have fractals all throughout our bodies that are ever repeating. A perfect demonstration of this is our circulatory system – we have 60,000 miles of branching blood vessels and capillaries inside each of us (Elsevier, 2019).

Artwork by Matthew James Taylor that represents a branching network of blood vessels. Retrieved from: https://matthewjamestaylor.com/fractal-art

This amazes me not only because of the dimensional aspect, but because these fractals are found throughout all of nature. This implies that both humans and nature have the ability to produce internal dimensions through fractals. To me, it is proof that we are not separate from nature, but simply a part of it. Our bodies carry some of the exact same patterns and mathematical ratios that nature does.

A very well-known pattern that is found across humans and nature is the Fibonacci sequence. This pattern exists at all levels of creation: human body proportions, plants, crystal structure, the orbit of the planets, etc. It’s so amazing to me because as previously mentioned, it demonstrates that we are not separate from nature. Our bodies form the same patterns that plants and animals do, down to a mathematical level. Some people believe this proves that humans along with nature are all derived from the same source.

A closer look at the Fibonacci sequence. Retrieved from: https://mocomi.com/fibonacci-sequence/

This is a complex topic and I have merely touched the tip of the iceberg, so here are some additional sources if you’d like to dive deeper:

(1)  Fractals: a world in a grain of sand | Ben Weiss | TEDxVeniceBeach - YouTube

(2)  Fractals In Nature: Develop Your Pattern Recognition Skills In The Forest (diygenius.com)

(3)  (1) Fractals - Hunting the Hidden Dimension - YouTube

The next time you’re out in nature, look at all the beautiful fractals and patterns that surround you. Understand that you are a part of nature, and that nature is a part of you as well.

References

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

Fahy, E. (2019). Blood Vessels: The 60,000 Mile Network Inside Us. Elsevier. Retrieved from: https://3d4medical.com/blog/blood-vessels-the-60000-mile-network-inside-us-anatomy-snippets

McCann, K. (2021). BIOL 3060: Communities, Populations and Ecosystems, lecture 3 notes [Fractals].

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Before I begin I just want to say that I definitely agree that nature is therapeutic and I imagine similar to you I take advantage of nature by going on walks around my community and exploring natural landscape that are near and far.

 I must say this is the first time I am learning about fractals and from the information you have provided they are actually really interesting. Even though I have witnessed them in nature and also learnt about them in the classroom it is awesome to finally put a name to a principle that I have witnessed many times without even being aware of it. I have seen fractals by observing fossils and also by observing meandering rivers, now even though these objects are vastly different in size they both show fractals since they shows patterns that repeat themselves at varying levels of magnification. For instance let’s take fossils like the one seen below at all levels of magnification the swirling pattern may be seen.

A photo of a fossil captured by myself on March 19th, 2021.

Due to advances in technology fractals have been discovered in the human body and the meanings of them have been brought to the light (Beck et al., 2018). Now, you mentioned they may be seen in our circulatory system however they may also be seen elsewhere in the body as well such as in the nervous system or also in the respiratory system. In these two system their branching pattern may be seen on whatever scale you analyze them on which acts to fill empty space effectively adding a dimension.

 My question for you now is: in nature what is the most beautiful fractal you have seen?

 References:

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

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Is Nature Powerful???

When I peak my head out my window and expose myself and my senses to nature I am able to experience it in many forms. One way is by visually appreciating the aesthetic appeal of the trees, birds and even the occasional deer that I may see. While another way includes closing my eyes and just listening to the music nature is producing around me such as the chirping of birds and the rustling of wind (Beck et al., 2018). I can experience nature using all or at least nearly all of my sense but what truly amazes me about nature is its power to transform landscapes.

 I often go on walks so that I may get some fresh air and during two particular walks last week I witnessed the power of nature in the form of the seasons changing before my eyes. Early on last week I went on a short walk around my neighborhood and noticed that there was 4 or 5 inches of ice covering the local soccer field, now at the time I thought nothing of this since there had been at least this much ice on this particular soccer field for the last 4 months so I continued walking. The next day when I returned however all the ice had melted since it was a rather hot day out relative to the prior week where it was below 0 Celsius. This demonstrated to me the power nature had to literally transform a landscape overnight from one that was covered by snow to one that was covered by greenery in the form of grass.

After seeing my local soccer field literally change overnight I pondered about how natural processes have transformed landscapes throughout time and after consoling google and some photos from my phone I was truly in awe (Beck et al.,2018). This is since through the consolidation of technology I was able to see how authentic places had been transformed throughout time (Beck et al., 2018). For instance let’s take Rockwood conservation area located in Rockwood. This particular conservation area has many amazing geological features from cliffs to caves but what I find truly amazing is the potholes there. These potholes where formed from water runoff originating from a retreating glacier, in certain areas this water formed eddies that picked up dense boulders and rocks which drilled into the ground forming glacier potholes which I saw on a trip to Rockwood conservation area last fall.

 A photo from my biking trip through Rockwood Conservation Area showing a glacial pothole with my bike for reference, photograph captured by author in the fall of 2020. 

Outside of creating beautiful geographical feature which are aesthetically pleasing to look at natural processes may also cause serious damage almost instantaneously. Such as what happened at Pompei over 2000 yrs ago, where a huge eruption from Mount Vesuvius showered volcanic debris all over the city and an entire culture and all of its people where lost to a nature disaster, demonstrating the true power of nature (Jashemski, 2021).

Now that you have read my blog I wonder has there ever been a moment where nature has elicited a moment of awe from you? If so what was it and how did it  draw this emotional response from you?

 -Filip

References:

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

Jashemski, W. F. (2021, March 02). Pompeii. Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/place/Pompeii

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Week 7: Majestic Markings of Art

     Music and nature are both forms of art. They create heartwarming emotions, which can help build and strengthen relationships within yourself, and with others. Music can be heard and found in nature endlessly. Such as the sound of birds chirping in the morning as the weather starts to warm or the sound of crickets outside late at night. Music can be heard within the leaves rustling through a windy autumn day or even through the echo of a pebble skipping across a pond. Music is whatever heals your soul and makes you feel at peace. There are so many examples and forms of those sounds of harmony within nature; it is almost impossible to write it all out in one post. 

     According to Beck et al. (2018), “Music is a form of art and the arts move our minds from the ordered and sequential logic into the deeper, more cyclical world of imagery, values, metaphor, and symbolism.”  When I think of music and nature, I think of the serenity that I can find when I can feel both. For example, merely watching a sunset while listening to the ocean waves or listening to the sound of a bonfire crackling on a warm summer night - is enough to create peace within my soul. Don’t get me wrong; I love listening to actual music! I am one of those people who have different playlists for different moods. I love music so much; it has helped me overcome many hurdles in my life, mostly when I have felt alone. However, in my opinion, relating (back) to the quote, there is nothing more calming than associating those beautiful sounds of nature with those beautiful images, such as sunsets, sunrises, mountain tops, seasonal changes, ocean views, and so on. On that note, I feel I should mention that is also why I am that person who lives for outside music festivals! I have been to multiple outdoor concerts in Wasaga Beach, Toronto, Guelph, Kitchener and I attend Boots and Hearts music festivals every summer! I love being able to dance, sing, and enjoy myself outside in the sun! 

(PERSONAL PHOTO: LOCATION: Boots & Hearts Music Festival, Oro-Medonte, Ontario. DATED: August 11th, 2017, 2:38 pm). 

(PERSONAL PHOTO: LOCATION: Boots & Hearts Music Festival, Oro-Medonte, Ontario. DATED: August 12th, 2018, 7:47 pm). 

(PERSONAL PHOTO: LOCATION: Bingemans, Kitchener, Ontario. DATED: September 8th, 2017, 7:56 pm). 

     Now moving onto nature in music, where is nature found in music? I believe nature is found in music naturally. It is located within talent, lyrics, music videos, and so on. I do not mean that nature is found in everything related to music; I just mean that there are deeper meanings behind the art of both music and nature. 

     One of my favourite songs to listen to within adventures outside is Sleep On The Floor by The Lumineers! This song reminds me of the saying, “seize the day.” The lyrics express how people move on to bigger and brighter things in life to fulfill their dreams. This song moves me in a certain way because I also feel that once I complete my degree, I will have to pack up my things and start my life outside Canada; an exhilarating but nerve-wracking experience! Also, if you have never heard of this song before, I will place a youtube link below in case you guys wanted to have a listen! :)

SONG LINK →  https://youtu.be/v4pi1LxuDHc (The Lumineers, 2016). 

QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS:

Have you ever thought to yourself why some of us sleep better through a thunderstorm or rainstorm? Or why some of us find calmness in nighttime playlists like rainforest sounds and ocean waves? Or why smells like lavender help some of us feel relaxed? There are just some things that are stronger together, and music and art are one of them. 

QUESTION → Do any of you use any of the examples I provided above to help you with anything? Whether that be for sleep or relaxation purposes. Let me know! I would love to see if I have some relatable followers :) 

References:

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

The Lumineers. (2016). Sleep On The Floor. [Recorded by The Lumineers]. On Cleopatra [YouTube]. Decca Division, Universal Music Operations LTD. URL: 

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Hey Sanchi,

To answer your question, none of things you listed actually help me with anything however I am familiar with the principle that different stimuli can alter our mood. For instance disorder in the form of rain beating on a window may make some people relaxed while for others it may make them on edge. The reason for this is different people react differently to stimuli, one person may be relaxed by a certain stimuli where another may be agitated by it. The reason for this is certain stimuli similar to music can not only communicate a message but can also remind people of good and bad experiences which they tie emotional reactions to (Mallarach et al. 2011). Speaking personally whenever I snowboard I feel happy since I feel the adrenaline rushing through my veins the wind howling in my ear which makes me feel free and thus happy since I am reminded of all the times I truly felt free on a snowboard. Whereas being with certain people will make me angry or miserable since I am reminded of all the negative experiences we shared. I can’t speak for everyone but for me these individuals are often people of power who abuse it, do not listen and do not stick to their word.

Now I’ve listed a couple of things that can alter my mood either for the better or for the worse, I am curious what are some stimuli that alter your mood and why do they alter it?

 Reference:

Mallarach, J. M. (2011, November). Spiritual values of protected areas of Europe. In Workshop held from (Vol. 2, p. 6).

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Can music originate from nature or only a recording studio?

Music as is referred to as “patterns of sound varying in pitch and time produced for emotional, social, cultural, and cognitive purposes” are not only created in a studio they are also created in nature (Beck et al., 2018). Music can be found almost everywhere in nature you just have to listen carefully (Gray et al., 2001). I hear music in nature all the time and I’m sure you do as well, some of the ways I hear natures music include birds chirping in the morning, the wind howling, rain beating on my bedroom window and lastly waves crashing against the shore. What’s actually quite interesting is that advances in technology has revealed that the music composed by nature actually resembles some of the music we as humans create. For instance when birds compose songs they tend to us the same rhythmic variations, pitch relationships as many human composers (Gray et al., 2001). In addition to this music composed by humans and nature can serve a similar purpose which is to communicate a message (Mallarach et al. 2011). We as humans often use music as a form of communication and fellowship with other, to share idea, thoughts, feelings and inspirations similarly to how animals communicate (Mallarach et al. 2011). Take ducks for instance they will often produce sounds varying in pitch and time to communicate a message such as in the form of a mating call.

Similar to how music can be found in nature, nature can also be found in music. For instance many of the instruments we as humans use to compose music are products of nature such as the guitar. The guitar is made of wood and metal strings which originate from nature so it can be said that nature allows us to make music. Nature can also be featured in music through the use of sounds originating from nature in types of music such as electric dance music. Additionally nature may be in music by being the underlining message of a song such as in folk music where it has shaped human cultures (Mallarach et al. 2011).

Songs like other interpretive media can not only communicate a message but can also bring someone back in time to a found memory, for me the song White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane does this. This song takes me back to this prior summer where me and my friends where listening to music and looking at the stars on a crown land camping trip. The reason this specific song brings me back to this place and time is because this is one of the odder songs we listened to on that trip so it stands out and now whenever I listen to it I am brought back to this camping trip.

 Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnJM_jC7j_4

Some question for my readers:

Can you tell me of any other way nature influences or is a part of music that I didn’t speak about?

What other animals use music as a way to communicate a message besides ducks?

-Filip

References:

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

Gray, P. M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The music of nature and the nature of music. Science, 291(5501), 52-54.

Mallarach, J. M. (2011, November). Spiritual values of protected areas of Europe. In Workshop held from (Vol. 2, p. 6).

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Can the Past be used to get to a Brighter Future?

In deciphering how we learn lessons from the past to create a brighter future it is important to look at this quote:

“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it” (Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation).

In the first part of this passage Edward Haynes mentions that ancient things in and of themselves often do not hold a vast amount of significance. The reason for this is that without some kind of story behind an object/place that object/place holds little significance to someone since they do not understand how it came to be or what has happened there. Interpretation rectifies this and breathes life and meaning into events, buildings and objects (Beck et al., 2018). Of all the types of interpretation historic interpretation may be the most important for breathing life into past events and historical sites. This type of interpretation teach us lessons from the past through the acts of triumph against insurmountable odds, success, innovation and resourcefulness that may have occurred there (Beck et al., 2018). Take the strip of concrete road located on Red oak trail within Hilton falls Conservation area. Many who visit this trail will see this section of road and only see a strip of concrete on top of a bridge, since no one has ever told them the stories of triumph that have happened there. Included in these stories of triumph are mine along with all those who sprinted across those 300m of concrete to either maintain their position or move forward in the rankings during my last cross country race.

The second part of this quote talks about remembering the past events that occurred somewhere even if it may seem as though nothing is occurring there now. There is a great deal of significance to the second part of this quote, since as humans we must always learn from our past actions and the past actions of other so that we may constantly improve ourselves and our world. Nature interpretation can assist us in this by fostering a sense of joy and wonder within us which will ultimately motivate us to protect nature against those who may want to harm it (Beck et al., 2018). Let’s take the VW emission scandal of 2015 where the car company VW essentially rigged the software on certain cars so that when it was being tested for emissions it was emitting less than it actually was (Hotten, 2015). It is crucial we as society learn from these kinds of mistakes so that we can prevent them in the future and a cultivate a cultural of peace (Beck et al., 2018).

For those who read this far here are some questions:

Has learning the history of a historic building or site ever affected how you see it?

Have you ever witness some form of injustice let it be environmental or socioeconomic that you couldn’t stand for that made you want to create positive change? How did you go upon doing this?

-Filip

References:

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

Hotten, R. (2015, December 10). Volkswagen: The SCANDAL EXPLAINED. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34324772

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How a global Pandemic impacted my interpretation of nature

I saw someone else’s post about how nature affected their life during this pandemic and it got me thinking about how it affected my life this past year. It is crazy to think how things change so drastically in 1 year and I never thought I would be living in a pandemic and several lockdowns. Starting the pandemic, I was still living in Guelph with a few roommates while we completed our winter semester. As the weather began to be nicer, we started spending more time outside, especially going for walks with my dog boo. It was great having the opportunity to spend more time outdoors, enjoying what nature has left for us to appreciate.

(Photo taken by myself during one of many walks in Guelph with my dog boo and roommates. We throught this tree looked very different from the rest. It started a lovely conversation about how nature is so amazing in the sense that it does crazy things like this)

Once the semester was over, I moved back home to North Bay to try and save some money while everything was still closed. We are fortunate up here to have many places that are not overly populated with the public which allowed me and my family to go on much different nature walks with our 4 dogs. With all of the hikes also came many drives to our waterfront where we could watch the lovely sunset on the lake. It dawned on me at this point, how I needed to appreciate the little things within nature that I noticed even when times are tough (and in this case living during a pandemic).

(A video I took of our dogs playing with some other dogs we met on the trail. Spending some fresh air and viewing new places while making some new friends is what I love most of being outdoors)

I would find something beautiful in every moment spent within nature, even when I would be hyperventilating while hiking up a hill. I would start to notice all of the different birds chirping and how happy my dogs were to be going for a walk, or swimming at the beach. I was able to take in all that was around me during the summer and explore more within our province.

(Photo my mom took of me and my dog boo after hiking to the Firetower in Restoule,ON. One of the many hikes that boo and I went one during the summer)

Once the fall came around and the new semester began, fewer exploration adventures were happening and more local admiration occurring. I was fortunate enough to have a lab where I could go to a stream within my region and collect a water sample using leaf packs. From here I would pick through all of the leaves and identify the macroinvertebrates found. It was such a fun time and education in understanding what lives in the water within your area. This opened a new fascination of mine to understand more of the things living within my area. It was great getting to share this experiment with my family as I showed them all of the different macroinvertebrates living just around the corner from our house. I have always wanted to go to the ocean (and really, I still do), but learning and sampling the lakes and streams here opened a new world to interpret and understand.

(Photo of myself taken by my mom while I was writing the information of the stream chemistry when placing my leaf pack. This was for my Limnology and Natural Pollutions class)

This pandemic ultimately changed my perspective on the natural world around me and I love being able to share my knowledge and desire for it with others. I hope that even when this pandemic is over that I continue to interpret, appreciate and share my knowledge with those around me.

My question for you is:

What is something you noticed changed with your interpretation of nature during this pandemic?

Emily😊

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Hello there,

Your blog post was similar in nature to mine so I have decided to respond to it. To answer your question we must first identify what nature interpretation is, the textbook states interpretation helps people connect with places, stimulates interest and observations and ultimately helps them understand what’s around them (Beck et al, 2018), therefore nature interpretation is this, but just applied to nature. Over this pandemic I was bored so to relieve this boredom I explored nature around me and in doing so my connection with nature grew. Specifically walking outdoors near the forest located down the street from my home made me curious as to what’s around me that I have yet to explore, so during my walks through the forest I would often leave the beaten path and try to discover something new, either some kind of landform or creature. It is this same curiosity which made me want to explore new landmarks such as beaches, gorges and untouched forests in Ontario this summer. After doing this I gained a deeper connection with the natural world around me by experiencing new landmarks/geological features that I had never experienced before. For instance over this summer me and my friends went on a camping trip through crown land and during this trip I experienced beautiful sunrises, the brightest stars I’ve ever seen and also at night I was shocked to see the lake near us as still as a glass of water.

To sign off I leave you with this question, how would your perspective of the natural world be different if this pandemic didn’t happen?

A photo my sister took of me will we where exploring a gorge just outside of Guelph in the summer of 2020. 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Ed: 1. Sagamore Publishing. 

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Making Plant-y or at least some time for your health over this pandemic

This week I have decided to write about how my mental and physical health has altered over the duration of this pandemic and relate it to nature interpretation. At the beginning of the pandemic when everything got locked down my mental and physical health was negatively affected since I was spending more time indoors and sadly not doing the things I loved such as working out at public gyms, physically hanging out with friends, going to the clubs/bars and so forth. I was mostly sitting indoors watching Netflix and playing video games, now don’t get me wrong I like gaming but not as much as other activities. This quickly developed into a habit at the beginning of the pandemic, which negatively affected my mental and physical health which I luckily broke by exploring nature around me.

Over the summer I lived with my parents to save some money while everything was closed. During this time I was fortunate to get to explore natural landscapes both near me and those further away since I was privileged to have good health and access to a car that would allow me to get wherever I wanted to go. Some of the landscapes I explored included 16 mile creek in Oakville Ontario near my home and Canatara beach a little further away. This improved my physical health through allowing me to exercise and also my mental health through feeding my sense of exploration and helping to relieve the boredom I felt from watching Netflix and playing video games. While I was exploring these location I was also interpreting nature by building an emotional connection of happiness with certain landscape, through observing their interesting features such as eroding banks and crashing waves and in short gaining a deeper understanding of what’s around me (Beck et al, 2018).

A photo from my trip to Canatara Beach this summer, photograph captured by authors sister in the summer of 2020. 

After the summer was over I moved back to my student house in Guelph and continued interpreting nature while improving my mental and physical health without even realizing it. I walked and jogged through trails near my home and also went on bike trips. During these moments I was exercising and fostering good mental health I let my brain wander and since I was surrounded by nature I started to interpret it. I did this by thinking about what the intangible story behind the tangible item I was passing represented, for instance when I was biking through Rockwood conservation areas I often taught how the massive cliff faces and caves here came to be. In short while I was exercising and attempting to foster good health I was also interpreting nature by opening my mind and receiving signals from the environment and trying to figure out what the world is all about, come to think of it I was interpreting my surrounding exactly as Yorke Edwards put it.

“The job of interpretation is to open the minds of people so they can receive—on the world’s best receiver, the human brain—the interesting signals that the world is constantly sending. And the messages sent, when added up, tell what the world is all about” (Beck et al, 2018).

A photo from my biking trip through Rockwood Conservation Area showing a cliff face and a cave with my bike for reference, photograph captured by author in the fall of 2020.

Some question for my audience:

Have you used nature interpretation to improve you mental or physical health over this pandemic?

Where do you want to travel after the pandemic?

 -Filip Malinski

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Interpreting Nature Through Art

As humans, we all possess the ability to be impacted emotionally. It is through this that art can make the largest impact.

Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash

Near Brodick, Isle Of Arran, Scotland, 1849-1851 by William Andrews Nesfield

Art definition: the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.

Interpreting nature through art takes effort, understanding of your surroundings, and passion. I think anybody who wishes to pursue this has the agency to do so and because we are all unique in our own ways each person would have special attributes that allow for distinction in style and approach.  

Photo by Stephen Leonardi on Unsplash

Art can inflict emotion upon its viewer which can create various feelings toward the piece(s) or in a more internal way that causes personal belief or ideas to be shaped, re-shaped, or morphed. Art has the ability to create interest in something that could have been rather boring to some people. If you consider something such as a simple painting depicting a natural scenery. People will likely be able to connect to the art if they are able to relate in some sort of way.

Photo by Edanur Ağaç on Unsplash

When interpreting art, it is important to appeal to the imagination and reason. To do so we must appropriately use the information we know about the art and creatively inspire others to buy in so to say. This can be done through things such as relating to the artist’s style, representation of something, or how the art visually reads. This can be touchy if you overextend your position because there is a fine line between talking to the piece and talking about the piece. An interpreter seeks to make connections between the audience and the art which give expression to the myths, symbols, and rituals of our world. To breathe life into inanimate objects such as paintings or sculptures is important in how the audience perceives the art. By giving biographies rather than classifications it allows the audience to make the connection more easily for themselves which in turn can lead to a spark of discovery and promote further interest. Judicious silence is needed at times as some scenes or art pieces need no words and “reporting” may actually hinder the beauty in ways that discourage the audience’s connection. Art speaks what words can’t explain. Visual pieces have the ability to convey messages more easily that depict sceneries, problems, or beauties to people and allow for consideration in various perspectives.

Photo by Jp Valery on Unsplash

The goal is to provoke rather than instruct, so as someone who interprets nature through art the largest contributing factor is the emotion the piece inflicts upon us. As an interpreter, you must use how the piece emotionally makes you and those around you feel as you look upon it and it gazes back at you.

What kind of emotions arise?

Is the piece depicting something larger at play?

What is it implying about nature?

Art has the power and transforming qualities to move people in extraordinary ways (Beck, et al., 2018, pg 230).

Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash

The Sheep Drive, 1863. Artist: John Linnell

The gift of beauty is truly unique to everyone because each and every one of us has varying beliefs, morals, and codes that we live by, and these guide our interests. Although many people’s ideas of what makes something beautiful may align in a similar manner it is important to consider that the connection people make to art is often personal or intrinsic in ways that they can’t always explain. This is why when discussing the gift of beauty on a specific piece, it’s important to encompass the audience with valuable ideas that provoke the connection in various ways to encourage people to make their own connection. The gift of beauty can not be proclaimed and is created by desire’s form within.

Questions I have for the reader:

How does art affect your mood? Your Thoughts? Or your perception of something?

Can participating in arts-based environmental education activities enhance the connection of participants to the world around them?

Can you encourage a direct experience/ connection to someone through discussing a work of art? 

Thanks for reading, 

Justin

References

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

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To answer your first question, art does affect my mood through its colours, symbols and the message it portrays. Art can make me feel an array of emotions: happiness, sadness, jealously to name just a few it all depends on the subject matter though. For instance a scenic painting of the Canadian Rockies instills a sense of exploration and joy in me whereas a piece detailing climate changes consequences instills a sense of sadness. These emotions created from their respected pieces of art do affect my thoughts if the meaning of the piece created resonates with me and leaves a lasting impression, which then affects my day to day activities. For instance in grad school I often stumbled upon photos of ducks and aquatic animals wrapped and suffering in plastic 6 pack beer ring and this has affected the way I act. For instance whenever I throw out plastic 6 pack rings I always make a consensus effort to cut the plastic up so it decreases the likely hood of it harming wildlife. In addition to affecting my thoughts and actions art also affects my perception of something. When I was young and less aware of the effect our actions have on the environment I looked at art as a tool to educate myself since it can portray a message better than written text. It is for this reason that art has affected my perception of plastic and made me realize that even though it may be cost effective this does not necessarily outweigh its environmental consequences in many circumstances.

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Nature interpretation through art

Nature interpretation can occur at a physical location or through other mediums such as art. The utilization of art is a meaningful way to interpret the world around us since it allows us to not only see the rolling hills, lakes, cliffs and what not of an area it can also portray a direct or indirect message. Such messages may include that an area is rich in biodiversity or even that climate change is diminishing/harming certain species. Regardless of what message is portrayed by the artist their piece may leave a lasting message in the eye of the beholder influencing their future decisions. Such an instance happened in the 19th century when artists painting where able to convince congress to set aside and protect wilderness landscapes (Beck, et al., 2018, pg 216).

Photo by gryffyn m on Unsplash  depicting deforestation of a landscape.

I interpret nature through many mediums one of them being art, both digital and that of which is composed with a brush on a canvas. Doing this allows me primarily spot a message the artist is conveying quicker than by reading an academic paper, most likely due to my heightened sense of spatial awareness. Outside of the fact that I can interpret nature quicker through art than that of a written text, I choose to use art since it contains some element of beauty and when I see and experience it I extend my appreciation for the image the artist is portraying. It is for this same reason when I describe areas I have been or experiences I have had I always try to include some kind of visual, most of the time being a photograph. This allows those to whom I am expressing this experience or location to, to experience this new location how it actually was, allowing them to grasp a deeper appreciation than that which can be obtained from just words.

A photo of a cliff face within Rockwood conservation area which I often use to depict the landscapes I witnessed here to others. Photo taken by author on November, 2020.

I have always had an appreciation of the beauty nature provides even if sometimes it has wavered, this appreciation is something I have always admired sharing with others. I admire nature’s beauty not just because of its scenic landscapes but also because of the story it shows. For instances where some may only see a beach I see the story behind it, I see how it has eroded over the years and in doing so affected characteristics of the landscape around it such as the vegetation that has at one point grown on it. I interpret this gift of beauty by not only appreciating how it has formed but also attempting to convey this message to others be so that they may gain a greater appreciation of the intangible behind the tangible. My appreciation of the process of transformation includes many things outside of and including nature such as transformed human physique, the development of skills and traits and truthfully anything that has a story behind a tangible item.

Coronation parks beach in Oakville, Ontario captured by author on January, 2021.

A few question to push the conversation forward:

What do you consider beautiful? Do you consider it beautiful because of what you see or what it represents?

Has art ever increased your appreciation of a landscape?

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A combination that I never considered to be related: Privilege and Nature Interpretation

The first thoughts that come to mind when hearing the word “privilege” are special advantages or rights that are granted to individuals depending on their race, gender, ethnicity, education, gender identity, religion, sexuality, ability (mental and physical), socio-economic status and many more (Media Smarts, 2014). As mentioned in our textbook, these groups of people that are separated by “some demographic characteristic” are labeled as “underserved populations or audiences”. Privilege allows certain individuals to believe they are more entitled to specific opportunities and experiences due to special pre-existing conditions that have been determined by society. 

The term “privilege” holds a different meaning for each person because everyone has experienced or witnessed different kinds of privilege throughout their lives. I am a half Trinidadian and half Chinese woman who grew up in Canada. I was raised in a home with two, full-time, successful working parents that love and support myself and my older brother. They have always provided us with everything we have ever needed, including clean water, clothes, food, a well-rounded education, a roof over our head and other luxuries including electronics, vacations, etc. All of the things that have been provided to me by my family have always seemed to be a basic right because it is all I have ever known and been exposed to; however, this is not the case for many people. I recognize the privilege that I do have because of the family I was born into and the status they hold in society. However, I am also able to recognize the opportunities and experiences I have lost or were not considered for because of the privilege I do not have due to the fact that I am a mixed woman of colour. 

This is a picture of my two parents, my brother and I in Mexico in 2008. This picture was taken by my grandma.

To be completely honest, I never considered the term privilege in the sense of nature or nature interpretation before reading the prompt for this blog post. However, I came to realize that privilege plays a major role in one’s interpretation of nature because the opportunities we were fortunate enough to experience in our life influences the way we think and interpret the world around us. The places I was able to visit and the beauty of nature that I was able to experience in those places were made available to me because of the privilege provided to me by my family. Although one does not need to partake in extravagant trips in order to experience the beauty that nature has to offer, I think that these experiences do influence the way in which we interpret nature. I believe that every experience or opportunity we have encountered in our lives will change the way we interpret interactions, objects, challenges, opportunities and more. I think that without the privilege I do have, my interpretation of nature would be extremely different. 

My questions to you are: 

- How old were you when you realized how privileged you were? Was there a specific moment, interaction or experience that opened your eyes? 

- How have you changed the way you lived your life or the way you look at your life once you realized your privilege? 

Thanks for reading and I am looking forward to any comments! 

- Victoria 

References: Media Smarts. (2014, August 20). Forms of Privilege. Retrieved from https://mediasmarts.ca/diversity-media/privilege-media/forms-privilege

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I agree that privilege makes certain people feel entitled to specific opportunities and experiences but above all this I find that it makes them entitled in their actions. For instance I see people acting entitled by walking onto a bus without showing the driver their pass/their ticket, customers aggressively telling an employee what to do and the list goes on. I believe it is the privilege they have experienced in their past that pushes these individuals to act this way.

Like you Victoria, I felt everything I had been gifted was a human right, this was up until my mid-teens where I realized what I had been granted is a luxury to some. I.e clean water, a roof over my head, etc.  This realization happened when I went off the resort in Cuba with my friends/family 5 years ago and spent time with some locals and realized just how fortunate I was to live in a first world country instead of a second world country. We spent some time with a couple Cuban families in an area that was less well off financially and I realized how fortunate I was to have all the luxuries I have such as a cellphone. After experiencing how these individuals lived I felt extremely fortunate to live in such a wonderful country and I stopped taking advantage of the things such as A.C, heating and access to national parks since I realized just because I have access to something does not mean other do.

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The connection between Privilege and Nature Interpretation

Privilege is the ability to have something that gives you an advantage in life, that other don’t have simply because you are placed in a situation where this asset is provided to you for free. Everyone has a set of privileges, for instance the Canadians reading this post are privileged to have free health care, those born into rich families have financial stability, even those who just have running water are privileged and the list goes on and on. I know for a fact I am privileged to have both parents, running water, electricity, a roof over my head and family who spends time with me. When I was born did I have to make some kind of sacrifice to achieve these things? No, I was born into them and I am grateful that I have them since they give me advantages some are not fortunate enough to have.

A photo of myself from a family trip me and my family went on to Niagara Falls, image captured by authors father in the summer of 2013.

Privilege plays a large role in everyone life and tends to pops up constantly, even in the field of nature interpretation. Privilege plays a significant role in this field through factors such as: language, finances and physical health.

1. Language

A shared language provides people with a platform to communicate, however a lack of a shared language hiders this communication. This language barrier does not stop at verbal communication but also includes written communication in the form of brochures sign and so forth. This lack of shared language amongst individuals does not only hinder nature interpretation at the physical location through talking to park rangers and reading sign but also limits nature interpretation through online platforms. If an individual does not speak the language of the interpreter in a video there nature interpretation experience will be diluted compared to someone who speak the language. I know I am very fortunate to speak the most common language in Canada.

How successful communication is when there’s a language barrier (Bratcher, 2018).

2. Finances

Financial status is an asset many people are able to utilize to further their nature interpretation experiences. Having a comfortable financial status not only allows you to enter national parks which have a price tag but it also likely means you can travel to parks further away which some individuals may not access to. In addition to this it may mean you have property up north which is not only a privilege for nature interpretation but one in and of itself.

3. Physical health

Being born physical healthy is a privilege that enables people to experience the natural world around them to a greater extent than others through activities such as hiking through crownland and backpacking. Individuals born with physical limitations can still take part in these activities however it is much harder for them, so it is a privilege to be born without physical limitations. This enables you to experience more nature interpretation since you can more easily access sites and take part in activities at that site. In addition to taking part in these activities individuals who are physical challenged may still experience nature interpretation through parks which can accommodate them and through various media such as videos or documentary movies.

Now I will leave you with a question to push this topic forward:

What experience(s) made you realize that you had more privilege than other both in general and when it came to nature interpretation?

References:

Bratcher, E. (2018, April 05). How to Overcome Language Barriers When Hosting Global Events. Retrieved January 28, 2021, from https://associationsnow.com/2018/04/overcome-language-barriers-hosting-global-events/

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Interpreting nature interpretation :)

What is environmental interpretation, you might ask? I was asking the same question only about a week ago, until reading further into the course textbook:

“The interpreter transforms bare facts into stories and experiences that stimulate understanding and wisdom. Interpreters serve as storytellers who transmit the essence and meaning of culture and nature to members of society.” (Beck et al., 2018).

A memory from the summer of 2009 popped up into my mind when trying to better understand the environmental interpretation. That summer, a very memorable character came to deliver a presentation on the knicks and knacks and fun facts about the camp’s environmental surroundings. Driving home after camp that summer, my parents recall me going on about all the new fun facts I learned about rattlesnakes and mushrooms (both of which covered the camp). I believe that this interpretive experience played a major role in transitioning my outlook of the environment to one that sparked an inquiring mind!

Now, 12 years later, I am reflecting on how I myself can provide such an experience. When imagining my goals as an environmental interpreter, I want to be able to pass on environmental knowledge in a way that transcribes a feeling of connection, to the natural world. I would aim to provoke a sense of belonging and kinship to ones’ environmental surroundings. After all, we do live in a time when this – a feeling of connectedness to nature –  is needed more than ever. I would strive for an inclusive educational experience that incorporates all learning styles to account for each learners learning strengths and weaknesses. For example, as well as learning about auditory (i.e. learning through listening) vs visual (i.e. using visual aids that represent ideas) vs tactile (learning via experience) learning styles–it would also be helpful to reflect upon introverted personas, which may require more quiet reflection (i.e. reflective learners), versus extroverted personas, which may require further discussion and application (i.e. active learners). I, myself, am more of an auditory and reflective learner!

Environmental interpretation can be for anyone and everyone. In my opinion, only two “skills” are really needed for environmental interpretation – a love for the outdoors (which we innately carry, really), and effective communication with others. Environmental interpretation can happen anywhere at any time; be it during my morning dog walk with my mom through the park at the end of the street, or during a camping trip in the Rockies. If I could choose where I could perform environmental interpretation, it would be in the islands of Georgian Bay–where I spent a lot of my childhood exploring the outdoors.

Enjoying a book on a summer evening in Georgian Bay, ON - 2017 - Photo by Emilia G.

I leave you with one question: what do you want to either learn more about, or share knowledge about, in the environmental world? (Mine is whales, then mushrooms!)

References

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

[fmenvs3000]

Hello Emilia,

I agree that a sense of connection know is needed more than ever, especially amongst those who spend more time in front of a screen than in the outdoor world, which is becoming the reality for more and more people especially during covid.

 Gif by welovewaves

I also agree that interpreters/educators should strive to meet there audiences learning style, since this would allow for the message they are delivering to effectively reach the audience. Since everyone learns differently, this would mean incorporating various mediums to deliver your underlying message, such as the use of lectures for the auditory learners, pictures for the visual learners and hands on experiences for tactile learners. I think it’s crucial to use multiple medium since this will not only allow for the delivery of your message to diverse learners but will also hopefully provoke independent thinking and discovery within your audience.

 Building upon the facts that you would like to incorporate various teaching styles as an interpreter I would also recommend using multiple platforms such as social media, YouTube or guided tours. This is since even though you ideally would like to deliver nature interpretation at Georgian Bay not everyone can access this area so using various platforms allows you to increase and diversify your audience size. If done effectively this will allow you to deliver your message and provoke meaningful thoughts in a larger more diverse audience than just those who can access Georgian Bay.

 Lastly to answer your question I would like to learn more about dangerous animals in the Canadian wilderness since I love camping but I want to educate myself how to do it safely.

[fmenvs3000]

My approach to environmental interpretation

The position of an environmental interpreter would allow me to share my passion of an area and leave my audience with a lasting message that would provoke their thoughts in a way that they would seek out additional information themselves. I feel as though I would excel at this in a geographic location, I was familiar with and/or meant something to me such as 16-mile creek trail in Oakville Ontario. Growing up I used to love wandering around this trail and exploring it with my friends and family and I was amazed at how beautiful its landscape is. As I got older and showed it to my family who had never seen it before I started to experience this trail in a whole new light since I was seeing it through their eye. This made me realize that just because I had experienced something doesn’t mean others have which became more evident to me when I was only a few meters away from a deer 6 months ago. Growing up within the GTA I had only ever saw dears in pictures or occasionally within the outskirts of the GTA, so being within a few meters of one this past fall made me appreciate the environment and the experiences I have had within them much more since it made me realize just cause someone had experienced something doesn't others have.

A photograph I took when I was just meters away from a deer in the fall of 2020.

IOn order to get my audience interested and passionate about something I would explain why I am passionate about it and use various mediums to get the message across to my audience since people learn things in various ways. Some ways I would consider doing this would be using multiple mediums such as guided walks, handing out broachers, pointing out signs and their meaning and so forth. As a visual/hand on learners I would prefer though to give guided walks and tours in which I explain to my audience either the ecological or geological significance of the site using visuals such as rocks and scenic areas. In giving these walk I would follow the TORE approach which in short is an interpretation method based around a central theme, which is organized, relevant and enjoyable. Ideally, I would aim to use the tangible objects to bring out the intangible meaning behind them to life. For instance, I could use worn down rocks to demonstrate the effect of erosion within 16 mile creeks meandering stream and bring this geological process which takes 100,000s of years to light.

A photograph of 16mile creek captured by theauthor in January 2021.

In order to be a good interpreter, there are a few critical skills I need such as confidence, knowledge of the area and warm body language. The reason these are so important is that if you do not have confidence in the way you speak or act you will lose credibility in what you are saying, knowledge of the area gives you something to talk about and warm body language draws people towards you and gives you an audience you can instill a message in along with provoke to do their own independent thinking.

The ability to be knowledgable about something (Mentis, 2019).

A few questions to push the conversation forward:

1. What was the most meaningful nature interpretation program you took part of? why?

2. If you could attend a nature interpretation event anywhere in the world where would you choose?

References:

Mentis, C. (2019, October 21). Don't Let a Lack of Digital Knowledge Hold Back Your Business. Retrieved January 21, 2021, from https://www.claromentis.com/blog/dont-let-a-lack-of-digital-knowledge-hold-back-your-business/

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A “Sense of Place” in a Wide, Open Space

I found a “sense of place” when I was standing at one of the lookout points on the Centennial Ridges Trail in Algonquin Park in late September. I took a photo of the view (seen above the title of my blog) to capture the fall colours, the expansive scenery, and as a memory of a fun hike with my mum. I didn’t know it at the time, but in the moment I realized that this view was more than just a good spot to have a sandwich, I was experiencing a “sense of place”.

It was a profound moment. Standing at the edge of a rocky ridge, hundreds of meters above the ground below, I was struck by how I had never seen a landscape that looked so untouched by human activity. I was glad to see nothing but trees, rocks, sky, and lakes. I turned to my mum and said, “I suppose most of Ontario would have looked like this at one point”. I flipped to the page in the trail guide that discussed the view I was seeing and the historical figures that had been influential in the Park’s history. As I read about how the Park had changed over the years, I began to feel a connection to this view; that my standing there was a result of the hard work and goals of people over the past 100 or more years, and that I was part of something much bigger than myself.

A view from one of the other lookout points on the Centennial Ridges Trail in Algonquin Park - photo taken by me. 

I would hike 4 more Algonquin Park trails in late September and early October, all with my family. My relationship with nature is deeply connected to my relationship with my family. My family’s favourite way to spend time together is be in nature together. We enjoy bigger activities like hiking, camping, and canoeing, but we also love walking around our neighbourhood, tending our red pepper plants on our balcony, and barbeque dinners together.

A snowy scene from my neighbourhood, taken during a walk with my family - photo taken by me. 

My family and I moved from a house into an apartment in early May and my relationship with nature shifted significantly after we moved. Living in a house, we could see very few trees and almost never saw a nice sunset. Moving to our apartment, our balcony is level with the treetops so we can watch the trees change with the seasons in ways we never saw in our old house. Being level with the trees meant we could observe the birds, too. I had always thought bird watching was a bit dull, but since moving to our apartment, we have often got out the binoculars to watch blue jays, cardinals, and American Goldfinches flying between the trees and the rooftops. I didn’t even know we had these birds in the city, nor did I know the difference between male and female cardinals, but I do now that we moved. We also see fantastic sunsets from our apartment. Below is a photo I took of a sunset back in early December, a sunset that I doubt I would have seen from my old house.

Sunset photo over city skyline - photo taken by me. 

[fmenvs3000]

Hello Anja

 Similar to you my backpacking/hiking trip with my loved ones has given me “sense of place” since it has not only instilled in me a sense of appreciation but also a sense of joy, tranquility and excitement which I feel are emotions bigger then me. On my backpacking trip through McCrae lake we decided to camp on top of a 120ft cliff. Similar to you I was shocked by just how untouched the landscape looked, I witnessed some of the brightest stars I have ever seen and was amazed by the fact that the cliff faces/ vegetation can make a massive lake as still as a glass of water at night. Like you I experienced “a sense of place” since I was experiencing something that took millions of years to develop. This appreciation I felt for this beautiful landscape was exponentially improved since I was able to share it with some of my closest friends, which is what truly made me feel a “sense of place” and I am sure you felt the same way with your mother with you.

Photo of myself enjoying a morning cup of coffee on top of a 120ft cliff at McCrae lake. Picture captured by myself.

Throughout reading your post it seems as though you have only experienced a “sense of place” through exploring Canadian Landscapes. So what I would recommend you do to further develop your “sense of place” in nature is to travel with friends/family and experience other natural landscapes you cannot find in Canada such as in the tropics. The reason I recommend you go with friends/family is that having someone with you that you care about and appreciates beautiful landscapes makes you appreciate them more.

If I am wrong and you have travelled outside of Canada I would appreciate hearing how it affected your “sense of place”.