Grace Van Helvert

ENVS*3000

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Welcome to the Final Show

This course has really opened my eyes to the eyes of interpretation in nature. Having the ability and opportunity to read about how nature has raised all of my classmates has helped me to reflect on how it raised me and all the things I missed about being in touch with nature. As an interpreter, I see myself as someone who wants to pull on their own experiences and teach through memories, rather than textbook materials. I’ve always been a firm believer of the notion that our impact on the environment is taking away from our children and grandchildren. As an interpreter, I think it is important to emphasize how our behaviour today is going to still be impacting the state of the environment for future generations; it doesn’t just go away once we are gone. With that being said, I guess my personal ethic as I develop as a nature interpreter is just a promise to myself that I will spread awareness and educate as many people as I can about our impacts so that my children and grandchildren can have a childhood like mine, filled with trees, birds, bugs, and any living thing I could get my hands on.

As this is the last blog post for this class, I wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on some of my experiences as a nature interpreter and how I’ve practiced my beliefs as an interpreter to help better my community for the future. All of these activities were made possible because of people in my community I looked up to as teachers and nature interpreters themselves. Each of these experiences helped me grow into the interpreter I am today and provided me with the tools to grow and the knowledge I need to pass along the passion for environmental conservation.

Wetland Habitat Restoration - Alongside the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) and my highschool’s EcoTeam, I assisted in transforming an abandoned marina back into a fully functioning wetland.

Pollinator Garden Construction - planned and organized a pollinator garden “planting day” to attract different insects and pollinator species

TD Tree Days - every year I would partner with TD Bank and the Caldwell First Nations people for reforestation projects around Essex County

Food Waste and Climate Change presenter/advocate - after researching and collecting information on how food waste contributes to climate change, I delivered presentations to schools in my area as well as virtually to former Minister of the Environment for Climate Change for Canada Catherine McKenna for the Climate Change summit in Paris. This experience gave me the opportunity to spread awareness, information, and solutions we can implement into our everyday lives to help the cause and slow the effects of climate change. This was also a great experience as the presentations allowed me to spread my concerns and knowledge to a broader scale than just my community.

These experiences helped me to understand my responsibilities as an interpreter. They are as follows:

First: Understanding and adapting to different learning styles. Throughout planning the Pollinator garden and delivering the Food Waste presentation, it was important to consider the different learning styles of my audience to ensure they gained the most they could out of the event/presentation. This is an important skill for me as an interpreter to have because in different environments you need to pull on different styles. The Pollinator garden for example was very hands-on so I utilized the ability to teach through demonstration rather than simply verbal instructions.

Second: To educate honestly and passionately. It is one of my beliefs that when trying to explain the severity of issues like climate change (as an example), that sugar coating information is part of the reason why a lot of people don’t take environmental issues seriously. To make substantial change, people need to know the truth, so I believe it is my responsibility as a nature interpreter to make it clear how our actions impact our future and how we need change sooner than later.

My suitable approaches:

To play on my strengths, I think my most suitable approaches as an interpreter would have to be different types of visuals, as well as hands-on experiences. I would use visuals like photos and videos to (a) accommodate visual learners, and (b) provide context to concepts rather than just lecturing for long periods of time. Educational videos also allow for a change in pace from the main content/presenter which can be beneficial for different learners. After completing my undergrad, I have thought about being an Environmental Outreach Coordinator since I love sharing my passion for the environment. I am a very hands-on learner myself and so I think utilizing this skill of demonstrations and experiential learning for teaching will help me pass on my passion.

As nature has always been at the forefront of my personal endeavours, each day I wake up with the intention to do better. Whether it be for the world and the tangible ideal or nature, or the way I perceive nature. I hold an abundance of awareness that translates towards my actions each day. Whilst I go on walks outside, or discern certain ideals from the media, I make sure my actions translate to my core feelings towards helping this earth. I recognize the importance of trees as they provide the world with breath. I utilize my ability to focus on fragments of debris to make sure our earth and our surroundings are clean, like how it should be, before the toxins and pollution turned the vibrant blue sky grey. Each day, I wake up with the intent to do better for this world, and I can do this by being the interpreter I know I can be through what I’ve learned in school and in the field.

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I loved hearing about your experience in nature interpretation, it sounds like you’ve had some really great opportunities to make a difference!

Reflecting on your own personal experiences in regards to what we have learnt in this course kinda makes everything come together in the end, as we start to apply what we’ve learnt here to real world experiences.

I agree that as a nature interpreter, we shouldn’t sugar coat serious issues like climate change. It is important that people understand what is going on and why these things are happening, and how we can help. I believe that it is important as a nature interpreter to also be an advocate for our planet, for example promoting sustainability and educating others on climate change.

I loved reading your blog throughout this semester, good luck with your exams and any next steps in nature interpretation!

- Grace

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Myself as a Nature Interpreter

Taking care of the environment around you is a key ethic of mine in everything I do. The quote “take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints” is one that I have always followed in life, and is one that I hope to bring into my future endeavours as a nature interpreter. This quote is often credited to either Sir Robert Baden-Powell or John Muir of the National Park Service. However, the actual source of the quote is unknown at this point in time. If I were to adjust this quote, I would encourage others to “take nothing but memories and knowledge, leave nothing but footprints and improvements”. I have always been taught to leave the world better than you found it, and I want to instill this idea in those I interact with.

Sir Robert Baden-Powell was the founder of Boy Scouts and the co-founder of Girl Scouts alongside his sister Agnes. Prior to this, he was a military man who fought in Africa. Upon his return, he found out that some of the handbooks he had designed for soldiers were being used to teach young men and boys about the wilderness, which became the roots of Scouting as it is known today.

John Muir was fascinated by the interconnectedness of nature. He had a passion for educating and inspiring others to care for nature as much as he did. As noted in the textbook, Muir was well-known for his sentiment that nature has intrinsic value, beyond the value it holds for humankind; this is a sentiment that I myself also share.

Personally, I feel that my views and values around sharing nature with others align with some of the perspectives of these individuals, which is part of why I love this quote so much. However, I want to make it clear that I do not view either of these individuals as role models – I could never look up to someone who has expressed homophobic or racist views towards others. In my opinion, regardless of the time period and of what was deemed ‘acceptable’ at the time, everyone should feel welcome to enjoy and explore nature – it should not be gatekept from those with unique identities. One cannot claim to care for nature and yet disrespect Indigenous people, who are the original caretakers of this land. If you truly care about preserving nature, then everyone’s attempts to do so should be welcomed and valued. Nature is not property – it belongs to everyone equally.

As an interpreter, I have the responsibility of teaching others that every action has a consequence, whether it be good or bad. This could be in reference to their own actions, to the actions of humans as a whole, or to the actions of nature itself. Predators pursuing prey, increases in global warming, pollution – everything impacts the balance of nature in some way. Some things can be rebalanced, like the population dynamics between predators and prey; others, like water pollution, are much harder to counteract and rebalance. This does not mean that I will discourage people from interacting with nature; I will simply help them to understand the impacts so they can make informed decisions about what they do.

My main belief when it comes to nature interpretation is that no one knows everything, but everyone knows something. As discussed throughout the textbook and this course, everyone comes from a unique background and has their own experiences; therefore, there is always room to learn from new perspectives. Learning from others makes me a better interpreter, and allows my audience to gain insights they did not previously have.

As a young female in STEM, I feel that my best approach to interpretation would involve treating others as equals. While I may posses knowledge that they do not, there is no other power dynamic that puts me above them. I aim to create an environment that is conducive to learning for all. My approach also involves being inclusive to all that enter my programs, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or ability. All of these aspects play a role in how my audience and I see the world, but they are not barriers. I like to think of them as different glasses a person wears. They alter your views and mindset but beauty is still seen, even if it is different than the person next to you.

In conclusion, my view on nature interpretation is that everyone is welcome and everyone has something to contribute. Learning from and protecting the environment are everyone’s responsibilities.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/53006178

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Stephenson-Smyth-Baden-Powell-1st-Baron-Baden-Powell

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sierra-club-muir-racism-board-vote_n_619548aae4b0f398aeff3677

https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/about-us/about-john-muir

https://yourmileagemayvary.net/2020/01/17/the-iconic-tourist-destination-that-youre-not-allowed-to-take-a-picture-of/

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I love how you improved the quote “take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints” and I agree that we should leave the earth better than how we found it. At the provincial park I worked at the past 2 summers, we would encourage visitors to pick up garbage on the trails, so they can do their part in helping keep the park clean, and we would reward them with a sew on patch if they brought the garbage back to the gate! I’m not sure if all Ontario parks do this, but I thought it was a great way for people to help clean up and keep the park healthy! Now, when I go on walks with my dog, I always make sure to pick up any garbage I find and throw it out.

I also like how you said no one knows everything but everyone knows something. Everyone has their own point of view, and it is important to see things from different perspectives. I believe that this is truly what makes a good interpreter, being able to see all sides of the story and incorporate what others may know with your knowledge to complete a story. I also think that letting everyone share their point of view and letting everyone’s voice be heard is important.

Loved hearing your perspective on this week’s prompt, and I wish you luck with the end of the semester!

- Grace

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Final Blog

This course has taught me a lot about nature interpretation that I can apply to my life in the future. I’ve had a wonderful time reading everyone’s blogs and everyone’s perspectives on the prompts. My biggest takeaway from this course is that everyone has the right to access nature. I acknowledge my privilege, being a white, middle class, English-speaking, able-bodied woman. As a nature interpreter, I want to provide everyone with the same opportunities to learn more about nature.

I think my biggest responsibility is to inspire others to want to learn more about nature. I can do this about being enthusiastic about my work, as my passion can inspire others to want to learn. It is also important to be engaging, so I can be memorable and help create lifelong memories. Another important responsibility is to spread the message about conservation. As climate change continues to affect the environment, I think it is important to teach those who want to learn about facts, and how we can help certain species or ecosystems.

As a science student, I had always interpreted nature through science, but this course has taught me how to interpret nature through art (unit 4), music (unit 7) and history (unit 6). I think approaching nature interpretation from multiple different angles is what truly creates a well-rounded interpreter. This also allows the interpreter to reach different audiences, for example those who appreciate art or history.

What are your next steps in nature interpretation after this course? I got a job as a tour guide at the African Lion Safari for this summer! With this course under my belt, I will think back to what I’ve learnt to make every tour I give memorable for the visitors. I truly hope to inspire children to want to learn more about the animals at the safari, as I hope they will see my passion and will want to get excited about animals with me! I will make sure to cater to my audiences, whether my tour group consists of more children or adults, I want to make sure that everyone has a memorable experience. I will reach auditory learners by talking on the tours, visual learners by driving by the different animals in the safari so you can look at them while I interpret, and hopefully tactile learners will enjoy taking in the whole experience. As it says in unit 2, as an interpreter I must be able to cater to every learner and adapt to my audience’s needs.

Overall, I am glad that I have completed this course as I move on into the world of nature interpretation. I’ve learnt a lot, and I’ve spent some time rethinking how I approach nature interpretation. I will always remember to ask:

Who am I as an interpreter? Who is my audience? How can I make this experience meaningful?

Goodluck to everyone with your end of the year assignments and exams, hope to cross paths in the woods someday!

Grace

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Mudpuppies and Walking Trees

There are so many amazing and interesting things about nature, so it was very difficult to settle on one thing, so I decided to talk about both a plant and an animal that I find very fascinating. 

Firstly, I thought I’d talk about the mudpuppy, an aquatic salamander, which I had the opportunity to observe first hand here in Ontario. You may have heard of the axolotl, the endangered aquatic salamander from Mexico. Mudpuppies are very morphologically similar but are actually very distantly related. They both possess the unique feature of external gills, but the mudpuppy does not undergo metamorphosis and the they occupy very different climates.

A picture of a mudpuppy taken by my mom on “Mudpuppy Night”, showing off its red external gills it uses to breathe.

Mudpuppies are nocturnal amphibians, hunting for their prey at night. Despite being cute little salamanders, they are carnivorous and like to eat things such as small fish, insects, and worms. As I mentioned before, mudpuppies have external gills which protrude from the sides of their faces. They rely mostly on these gills for gas exchange, however they also have lungs which they use mainly for buoyancy. You may be wondering why they are called “mudpuppies”, and the reason is that they are known to “bark” or squeak in such a way that they sound like dogs! This is why they are sometimes called “waterdogs”. The thing I found most surprising about the mudpuppy is that they are active in freezing cold waters throughout the winter. They prefer areas with highly oxygenated water, such as at the base of dams or waterfalls. I was able to join a group of researchers that guide an interpretive “Mudpuppy Night” in Oxford Mills (near Ottawa), where you can see dozens of mudpuppies in their natural environment. We had to go out in winter gear and hip waders, using flashlights to spot the little salamanders hiding under the ice and in rock crevices.

I also wanted to mention the “walking tree” (Socratea exorrhiza), a kind of palm native to Central and South America, which I was able to see on a trip to Costa Rica many years ago. On a guided hike, our interpreter told us about a tree that is able to “walk”- not the same way or speed we do, but they are able to slowly move in a direction of their choosing over a long period of time. They grow their roots in the direction they want to go (usually towards a better patch of light), and the roots behind them slowly lift off the ground and into the air so the tree can continue to move.They can walk up to 20 metres per year, or up to 2-3 centimetres a day.

A walking palm tree, with its many roots it uses to displace itself.

References

Common Mudpuppy. (2022). In Wikepedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_mudpuppy

Gruber, K. (2015, December 16). Trees that can walk up to 20 m per year. BBC Trave.. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20151207-ecuadors-mysterious-walking-trees

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I loved hearing about mudpuppies and the walking tree, I had no clue either of these things existed! I have a friend that has a pet axolotl, but I had no clue that mudpuppies existed, and are even found in Ontario! I even looked up a video of a mudpuppy barking, and it does sound a lot likea dog which is so cool! I find it fascinating as well that the walking tree moves towards the sunlight, but its quite shocking to hear how much they can actually move in a day. I can imagine walking through the forest and using memorable trees as a guide to remember where I came from, I couldn’t imagine if the tree I was using as a guide moved! 

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Nature makes me happy!

The most amazing thing I know about nature is how it can impact your mental wellbeing! As I'm sure we can all relate now, with the snow melting, the weather getting warmer and the sun setting later in the day, spending time in nature just feels so good. I'm so happy I can comfortably sit on my porch in a t-shirt while my cat rolls around on the concrete.

There have been many studies on how nature can impact your mental wellbeing. For example, studies have shown that those who took a nature walk did better on a memory test than those who walked down an urban street. Nature walks have also been show to help uplift the mood of people suffering with depression. Spending time outdoors has even lowered stress hormones in some people. A survey in Australia even showed that kids who participated in outdoor activities had better vision than those who spent more time indoors!

As I've mentioned many times in this blog, sitting at my rock looking out onto the lake makes me the happiest I can be as I can relax and feel calm. I'm sure theres some psychological reason that I am so attached to this rock, maybe because of all of the happy memories I've created over the years. For more reading on environmental psychology, check out this blog about environmental psychology! https://positivepsychology.com/positive-effects-of-nature/#:~:text=Nature%20improves%20psychological%20wellbeing,%2C%20%26%20Kaplan%2C%202008).

Finally, a photo of the famous rock! (2015)

I leave you with one question, is there a time where you could tell that being in nature was healing? I'd love to hear about some happy memories.

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Music in Nature

Where is music in nature?

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

Where is nature in music?

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

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

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

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

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The History of Nature

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

(Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)

At first glance, this quote was confusing to understand. When taking the time to read it slowly, I started to understand the meaning. The comparaison of history to a train passing through the station stood out to me a lot. When you compare that to nature interpretation, you can understand that the story behind the nature being interpreted does not just exist right now, it has a history and it will have a future as well. With this in mind, it is important to share that history with others so it does not lose its past.

For example, the first thing that came to mind when unpacking this quote was the Keystone XL pipeline project. This pipeline was set to carry oil from the oil sands in Alberta, to Nebraska. This project was opposed by many, including the local communities that would be at risk due to the construction of this pipeline. If you think about the history of the nature where they planned to put this pipeline, it would have interferred with many first nations groups. Some first nations groups even sued the provincial and federal government in northern Alberta due to 15 years of oil sand development that they were not consulted on. When planning out the construction of this pipeline, they should have considered the history of the land that they wanted to build on. In the end, with protests from first nations groups and climate activists, the project was terminated.

It is important to see the whole picture, to aknowledge the past and look forward to the future, and enjoy the present. 

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The start of COVID-19 was rough for everyone, and many people got quarantine pets such as dogs, cats, bunnies or even cool reptiles. I got a kitten with my roommate! Cleo was found in my friends backyard in Windsor, and they brought her up to Guelph for us to keep while they kept her brother Gomez! We got Cleo in November of 2020 at about 5 weeks old. I had never owned a cat before, as my dad is very allergic and I grew up with dogs in the house. The first few days of having Cleo was very stressful for me, as I didn’t know how to take care of such a small animal that I had no experience living with. She eventually learned how to use her litter box, which was such a relief, and we finally started to bond as I learnt how she communicated with me and I learnt how to communicate with her!

After getting her checked out at the vet, and once she grew a bit bigger, we brought Cleo outside to explore! She loved going on walks in the arboretum, and rubbing up on her favourite tree. We then took on the task of bringing her camping, in Killarney of course! We bought a cat backpack to bring her on hikes, and even had a little cat tent for her to hang out in if she was tired of laying on the gravel. Our first day it rained all day, and poor little Cleo was not a happy kitty. She LOVES sitting in the car, and all she wanted to do was go lay in the backseat. We finally had a nice sunny day where we went on a canoe ride and a nice long hike. Cleo stayed in the backpack during the boat ride, until we stopped at a portage for her to explore. During our hike, it was getting pretty hot out and she was bouncing around in the backpack so we took it slow and took many breaks for her to walk around on the rocks. Overall, I think Cleo’s favourite part about camping was just chilling at the campsite chasing moths.

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The Correlation of Art and Nature

Hello everyone, its that time of the week! Welcome back to my blog!

As someone who started out as an artist and studying art before pursuing design art is a powerful way to communicate to people. It is important to note that art comes in various forms, some of which may shock you. As an interpreter it is also a job to help be the medium to communicate the beauty nature provides to others. It’s communication that goes beyond diagrams; it reveals emotion and story. Art is an important medium for communication. Literally, though! Many people have used forms of art to make languages. One of the languages I am currently learning is Japanese. Apologies if I don’t get this exactly right I'm still learning. Basically, Japanese is divided into 3 writing forms hiragana, katakana and kanji. Kanji is the use of Chinese characters, following the rules of Japanese there are two pronunciations; Onyomi (the Chinese derived pronunciation) and Kunyomi (the Japanese pronunciation). Point of this being, a Japanese writing practice sheet I have shows how kanji came from kokotsubun (a hieroglyphic/drawn kind of character) that seems to resemble elements of nature which was then simplified into hiragana. The progression of drawings helped make a base for language and communication. Obviously this is over simplified but it is interesting because a lot of ways I help myself remember kanji is by making drawings from the character pertaining to what they mean. Thus writing and words can be derived from an artistic expression as well as a literal form of communicating.

This brings up a valid point that nature is the basis for art. Many artists draw inspiration from nature and displayed the parts that speak to them in a way that makes sense to them. The group of seven is infamous for Canadian landscapes, but there are eras dedicated to the fascination of life embellished by nature or natural elements such as the rococo, romanticism, realism, art nouveau, impressionism, surrealism. These time periods are often known to highlight human elements but have also showed perspectives of nature alongside the human image. Art has the ability to speak to something deeper. Nature can show insight to new perspectives. Nature has impacted my personal art. You are the limited by your own imagination and creativity therefore witnessing other creative works can expand upon what you know and how you perceive things.

"The Swing"/ Painting from Rococo Art Period/ Fragonard

Coy Fish and The Island/ Paintings/ Tamia Noel

The gift of beauty closely resembles the saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is the appreciation and embracing the feeling of beauty radiating from ones environment. Everyone takes it in differently but the feelings are still there. The gift part I can see in two ways, it a gift because it is shared with us and it is also a gift because we should be grateful to witness such beauty. I grew up in an environment where perspective of food, art, culture and nature are a blend of different peoples backgrounds. Such is the essence of the Caribbean. When I interpret and view things I think in different perspectives but the one constant is my view of nature. That is not to say that it isn’t influenced by different stories and teachings but some how, even in the darkest tales, there has been a strong display of nature’s beauty. For me, natures beauty comes from its strength while also providing interesting sites to see. It is not something that we can control which I think is why it is so beautiful on its own. Nature owns its strength and beauty and each person takes in its different features. For me I capture each feature through drawing, painting, writing, spoken word, photography and sometimes sculpture. Every form of communication is art, especially when it describes the wanders of our world. I want to try to capture nature as much as I can. Ever since I was little I loved looking at the world and trying to understand it. I found very quickly that nature is art.

What ways do you try to capture nature? What feelings does it invoke when you are creating or capturing art?

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

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I loved reading your post this week! As someone who does not consider themselves as an asrist, it was nice to hear your take on this week’s discussion. It’s really cool how you talked about how languages can be considered art, I’ve always wanted to learn japanese but I can see that learning how to write would take a long time. I totally agree that nature is the basis for art! Whether or not you are painting a landscape, the shapes and colours of nature can surely inspire artists. 

To answer your question, I like to capture nature with photography! As I cannot interpret nature through drawing/painting, I find that photography is a good way to capture a moment to share with others! Although it may not be an interpretation of nature, it is how I view nature from my point of view. The feeling that I try to evoke is mainly for me, so I can look back at my pictures and remember the memories I made or the way I was feeling when I took a picture.

Excited to read your post next week!

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Nature through Art

Who are you to interpret nature through art? As someone who is artistically challenged, I am not too sure, but I can still appreciate others who can find a way to interpret nature through art. 

As I’ve said in probably every blog post so far, I spent the past two summers working in Killarney Provincial Park. A really cool fact that I remembered when doing my readings this week is that the group of seven, specifically A.Y. Jackson, Franklin Carmichael and A.J. Casson were so captivated by  the landscape there that they persuaded the Ontario government to make it a park! Because of this, they have named lakes after them, and even O.S.A lake, which stands for Ontario’s Seven Artists! Cool right!

Picture taken from a campsite on O.S.A, such a beautiful mountain range! (2014)

Although I am not the best artist, I got to help out and participate in an Art in the Park event this past summer! It was hosted by my friend who goes to Sheridan for visual art, and he loves to paint scenes in the park as he gets inspired just like the group of seven were. This was a really fun opportunity to try and interpret what I was seeing and to translate that into my art work! I got some pointers along the way but I don’t think I’ll ever take up art...

The inspiration!

And my beautiful painting...

The way that I like to interpret nature through art is with photography! Whether I am taking a picture of a flower or a landscape, I always want to capture an image from my point of view, so others can see how I truly interpret an image. Although I wouldn’t say I’m super into photography, I do enjoy taking pictures of different landscapes so that when I look back at it, I can transport right back to that spot and imagine that I am revisiting it. I especially love taking pictures in Killarney, as the white peaks and cliffs of the La Cloche mountains contrast with the pine and hardwood forests surrounding the lakes. By sharing these images, I hope to show others how I interpret nature, and to inspire others to want to check out the park!

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Privilege in Nature

Nature interpretation is a privileged industry, but it doesn’t have to be. It is something that people with privilege has created, but it is something that with a little work, we can make it so everyone feels the rush and amazement when learning about nature and what they can do for nature.

My working definition of privilege would be any part of your life in which something in which you do not have control over has given you an unfair advantage over others. This could be race, this could be wealth, where you live etc.

Unfortunately, when people have privilege, there are others who do not, usually people of a certain age group, minority, or a person with a disability. These people do not always have the option to visit nature to learn and take in its beauty.  This is shown by the crowds going to national parks, as noted in ‘Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World’ the majority of visitors are not within any minority groups.

This is something that needs to be fixed, as it is everyone’s responsibility to help care for our planet, and nature interpretation is something that will be a guide t us humans on how to do that. Now the question is… how do we make sure people are feeling more welcome and more excited to come out and learn about all these things? That is up to us, as a future nature interpreter I would love to make sure as many people as possible are comfortable coming to a guided tour.

Some things I think are important to think of is the risk vs reward of changing things in order to make it more accessible, as it should be something that rewards us a lot more than it will negatively affect any part of nature. Things like added pavement paths for people who are unable to hike through the forest will help, however this may negatively affect the nature, as the pavement impedes on the ground in which the plants will grow! But having things like pressed down paths are a lot better and have a much higher reward, and this has been tested at a few National Parks  and for sure works.

Another obstruction that turns people away would be any type of language barrier they might have. If the goal is to get information to as many people as possible, this is something that would be very tricky to do if the person cannot understand the information you are trying to convey. This could be solved with a number of different solutions. One could be to have a variety of audio tours available in different languages, although this comes with the risk of someone feeling out of place as they are the only person not listening along to the person tour. Another one could be having multiple multi language interpreters on site at a time in order to best aid any and all visitors.

All of these solutions come at a cost, but the goal is to find the one which the reward is greater than the cost.

[gvhenvs3000w22]

Hello!

I loved reading your post and hearing your opinion on this topic, I thought it was very insightful. I agree with you that although nature interpretation is open to everyone, some people may not feel welcome. As nature interpreters ourselves, it is our job to make sure that everyone feels welcome! I agree that accessibility is an issue, and it may be difficult to make absolutely everything accessible to all, but even creating a flat pathway for a simpler hike is a good way to create more accessibility in nature. Spending time in nature is great for your mental health, as we have all seen during the pandemic as everyone wants to go out for walks, but I think it is important for everyone to have access to safe spaces in nature to heal.

I love your idea of having language interpreters on site to help out with translation! I can imagine that if a location knows they get a large crowd of people from Quebec for example, that they would make sure to have someone on deck who speaks french fluently. I think that would make people feel more welcome and included in the space!

Excited to hear more of your opinions throughout the semester!

[gvhenvs3000w22]

Privilege in Nature

When I think of the word privilege, I think of something that benefits a specific person or group. This privilege could be earned, or you may simply be born with it. While unpacking my invisible backpack, I have privileges that I was born with, as well as some that I have earned.

I was born into a white, middle-class, english-speaking family. I am able-bodied and cisgender. I am lucky enough to have two parents who attended post-secondary education, who now work full time jobs who can help me pay for university, and I do not have to worry about money. I was also lucky that my parents encouraged me to join extra-curricular activities when I was younger, and they paid for me to join the rowing team for my high school and the club team all 4 years of school.

For privileges I have earned, I attended French immersion from grades 5-12, and I am fluent in French. Because of this privilege, I may be able to apply to a wider variety of jobs, as speaking two languages means I can cater to a larger audience. Another privilege I have earned is that I have a good connection with my past employer at Ontario Parks. In the job world, I believe it is very important to form connections with employers, or to “know a guy” especially if you are looking to move up in a certain field. Since I worked hard at my old job, my past employer acts as a great reference for when I am applying to other jobs in a similar realm.

When I think of privilege in terms of nature interpretation, I think of accessibility. For example, information about nature may not be accessible for those without internet, some people may not be able to afford the education they want to learn more about nature, and even guided hikes or walks are not necessarily accessible to those who are disabled. I was reading a blog on trailspace that said “Just because a place is public, does not make it welcoming or accessible. Barriers exist like access and proximity, the cost of gear, and transportation. And once out there, some groups may not feel safe or included”. This reminded me of a time this past summer at work, there were many new visitors coming to our park who were newer to camping, what some people call “covid campers”. These visitors were still trying to get the hang of setting up their tents, or starting a fire, and many other park visitors were making fun of them. They were just trying to do something new, and needed a little bit of guidance, but some of the experienced campers felt the need to discourage them. As a nature interpreter, I’d like to make all spaces in nature welcome to everyone, no matter your race, sexuality, religion, social class etc.

(Here’s a link to the blog I mentioned earlier, it’s a good read!)

https://www.trailspace.com/blog/2020/06/03/diversity-inclusion-being-an-outdoor-ally.html  

[rmenvs3000w22]

Blog 2: My Ideal Role in Environmental Interpretation

Hi everyone!

As you know, this weeks task was to “describe your ideal role of environmental interpreter”.  What a task to do when you’re in (what I like to call) a not-quite yet quarter life crisis! I have absolutely no idea what job I would like to have next week let alone long term. But that’s okay. I tried to start writing this post almost every day this week, and each time I wrote something completely different, decided that wasn’t quite it, and deleted what I wrote.  But this post is due tomorrow, so instead of continually trying to identify this mysterious role, I am instead going to write a list of things I like and we’ll see where that takes me.

Things I like:

1) Being kind to the Earth

This was the first thing I thought of when I started trying to write about an ideal role, so maybe this one has more weight behind it. I really love advocating for the Earth and am constantly trying to make eco-friendly changes that reduce the impact I have on it. Being waste free is something that I have always aspired to do. I love that being eco-friendly is rising in popularity, and my biggest wish would be that it could become a trend that is cool to follow. I think in little niche communities it is, but I’m talking a trend bigger than obsessing over Justin Bieber in 2010. I also really love the idea of trying to mitigate the impact that I do have by cleaning up what other people have left behind. I think I would really like to do things like beach or ocean cleanups. If that could be a good paying job, I would never turn back.

2) Wildlife animals and conservation

I have always had a passion for caring for animals and would love for this to be a component of a nature interpretation role. Specifically, I really love studying unique species and understanding the adaptations and conditions that have allowed them to get to where they are now. This links in with my previous point of caring for the environments around us, but I would love a role that highlights and brings awareness to the negative impact of human existence on the animals that live around us.

3) Developing genuine human connection + meeting new people

I really like deep and profound conversation. This is something I’ve only recently noticed about myself, but I now value it like nothing else. I really hate small talk and awkward interactions. I would rather introduce myself and be able to have a conversation like we’ve known each other for a decade. We all have so much to learn from one another. We have all lived such different lives and we all have unique passions and opinions and experiences that make us who we are. Why wouldn’t you want to want to be able to view the world in as many ways as possible? I think a position where I have opportunity to meet all kinds of new people would be incredible.

4) Awareness + Growth

I live very intentionally and really love using nature as a tool to help me do that. I really love practicing awareness by focusing on how the environment around me makes me feel. I have always been a very emotionally grounded person, and I think practicing gratitude and awareness in nature is the best way to figure out what makes you happy. Once you practice awareness in a very physical sense, I think it starts to get easier to become aware in the other aspects of your life. I also think that ability to reflect on how things in your daily life make you feel can completely change your life. Everything from the people you surround yourself with to the food you eat or the items you own can have such an impact on your life – be it negative or positive. Once you notice how the negative things affect you, you can begin to cut them out and start to surround yourself with only the positive things. I personally think that’s the best way to work on being happy. My ideal role would physically be in nature so that I am able to keep growing and working on my awareness every day. I would love to help others do the same.

5) Science

Of course, this can be expected as I’m about to graduate with a biology degree, but I would really love an interpretation role where I can apply scientific reasoning and data to my interpretations. I love having a deeper understanding or explanation as to why things are the way they are. I love being able to look at landscapes and understand how they were created, even if it’s just a rough idea. A lot of things in the universe are still unexplained by science and theories are just theories, but I love having the knowledge to evaluate different explanations and I love trying to find which ones I agree with or don’t. I also love the possibility that everything we know is wrong. At one point, people were being taught that the Earth was flat (and also the center of the universe). Even though they were confident everything they knew was right, it simply wasn’t. There are incredible discoveries being made every day, theories that are proved wrong, and things that still have no explanation. I love it all.

So in summary, my ideal role would be one that uses scientific reasoning to interpret nature in a way that promotes or contributes to the mitigation of environmentalism, brings attention to anthropogenic effects on wildlife, allows for good conversation and genuine human connection, and promotes self-awareness and growth in both myself and everyone involved. I’m not quite sure what that role is, but if I find it, I’ll let you all know.

Cheers,

Riley

[gvhenvs3000w22]

Hey Riley,

I loved reading your post, and we are totally on the same page with not knowing what kind of job you want! I like how rather than discussing a specific ideal role, you talked about different factors your ideal role would include and I hope you can one day find this dream role! 

I agree that being kind to the earth is super important. I am very interested to hear any tips and tricks you have for being eco-friendly/waste free! Maybe as you learn more about being eco-friendly you can inspire others to do the same! I say that I try my best, but I’m sure there are many things I could change in my life to be more eco-friendly. I always bring my resuable bags when grocery shopping, and I don’t use plastic straws, but I am sure there are many eco-friendly products out there to replace single use items that I would love to learn about! 

Let me know if you have any suggestions!

Cheers,

Grace

[gvhenvs3000w22]

Ideal Interpreter Role

To be honest, I’m not too sure what my one ideal role as a nature interpreter would be, I can’t pick just one! Thinking realistically, I can see myself working for the discovery program at any Ontario Park sometime in the future, but you can often catch me saying “I need to save the bears”, so in a dream world I would be working at some sort of conservation area educating others on how we can help the animals that need a helping hand.

When I started working in Killarney two years ago, it was the start of COVID so the discovery program held maybe one event that year, and wasn’t a very active program. Last summer, the discovery program grew and they were able to plan and host more events while still following COVID guidelines. Although I just worked at the gate, I got to attend a few of the events, and at one point we had set up a table outside of the office for campers to ask us any questions about wildlife or camping and my boss would often send one of us outside to chat with the visitors! This was a really great opportunity to share with others the knowledge I had about the park, until they started asking very specific questions about different birds in the park, and I am not a birder! Luckily there was a staff member who was able to answer this visitors question, but it definitely made me notice that there is so much I don’t know! If I ever end up working for a discovery program, I hope to be educated enough to be able to answer most questions that visitors have about nature.

I think that having a lot of knowledge on a topic shows others that you are very passionate about said topic, and I also think that if one person is very passionate about a topic that they can rub some of this passion onto others. No matter what role of nature interpretation I find myself in, I hope to share my passion with others and maybe inspire some kids to want to learn more about nature!

Me at work!

If I could imagine myself helping save the bears, I’d love to be in a position where I inform others about why the bears need help! In this role, I think it would be important to know how to cater to all age groups, and I think its important to make the experience memorable! If I have an important message to share I would want my listeners to remember what I say! It’s important to be engaging and even interactive with the audience to make your message stick. 

I could see myself living in BC, or maybe somewhere in northern Canada to help save the bears! Although not many people visit way up north, I think making educational videos would be a good idea to let the world know what is going on. If I was in BC, maybe I could go visit schools to share my knowledge with kids, or we could host events at my imaginary conservation area to educate others! 

(insert here some cool bear picture that I do not have because I am not a nature photographer)

[kmsenvs3000w22]

Relationship with Nature

Half past noon. Sun. Crouched. Calm. Stream trickling. Water Striders. Trees creaking. Smell of warm air. Warmth of the sun. Boots sink in mud. Soaked. Cold. Stationary. Everything is stationary. Peaceful. Movement. Twig breaks. Flash of brown and white. Deer. One. Two. Three of them. Eyes stare. Frozen. Close the distance. No threat. Back turned. Walk. Disappear. Stationary. Everything is stationary once again. Peaceful.

Nature.

I honestly believe that the person who gave me a “sense of place” is myself.  For as long as I can remember, nature has always been a part of me. It is what many people know me as in one shape or form. I am not sure how this fascination with nature began, but it has always been there. Both of my parents are not too keen on the outdoors, nor what inhabits them. I like to think through my obsession, I have dragged them in with me. Whether it was through begging them to go camping or spend a night in the backyard. Or asking if I can keep the Gartner snake, I caught in my butterfly net. After a couple of years of this, it was clear to them that this wasn’t a phase. These days I think they just tolerate my shenanigans, but I know they encourage it as well, especially my mom.

To me, being in nature clears the mind and strips me of the chains of our urban lifestyle. In nature, nothing else matters than what I see through my eyes, what I smell with my nose, what I feel with my hands, what I hear with my ears, and not so much taste with my tongue (for now anyways). Completely in the moment. It shows me what really matters and reminds me how distant we are from it all. Nothing drives this point more than the water. I have always been drawn to the water more than anything else. Its inhabitants, the silence, the idea of entering a different world. The idea that I am so out of place here, yet everything else under the surface is thriving. The one memory I have tied to this all is swimming with Whale Sharks, nothing beats it.

I have always loved animals, especially the ones misunderstood by the general public. I remember I got a tarantula when I was five years old for Christmas. It was my first “real” pet. Her name was Aragog, she was an Aphonopelma seemani, she was so pretty. I didn’t realize how much I cared for her until I found out she had passed in the December of 2018. She was just always around. And even though she couldn’t speak or effectively communicate, I always felt like I knew what she was thinking. I knew when she was stressed or scared, when she was ready to moult and when she was hungry. She had a personality. She wasn’t out to get me or aggressive. In my young mind, I concluded that she’s not too different to me.

Currently, I feel the same as I did when I was five years old. That’s why I sometimes feel like I am a five-year-old in a twenty-one-year-old’s body because the same things excite me! Nowadays, I have more freedom to spend even more time with nature. I also have been lucky enough to turn this passion for nature into a career path. Additionally, also become obsessed with the idea of fly fishing for several years now. It’s a burden on the bank account, but hey it’s worth it 😊

In mind, my relationship with nature is only beginning.

[gvhenvs3000w22]

I loved the use of imagery at the start of your post, it made me think back to a specific memory and it made me feel like I was really there again, as I’m sure it did for others as well. I also really loved how you said you gave yourself a sense of place, it’s like your relationship with nature just comes naturally which I can agree with. Swimming with whale sharks sounds so cool! I’d love to try scuba diving one day as I think it would be cool to swim alongside so many sea creatures.

I’m looking forward to see how you interpret the rest of the discussion prompts!

[gvhenvs3000w22]

My Relationship with Nature

I’d like to think that I have a pretty great relationship with nature, and over the past few years I have learnt how to truly appreciate spending time immersed in nature. 

Growing up, my family never went on any cool vacations, but we would go camping every summer. Some of my greatest childhood memories are from camping trips when I was younger. One thing I’ve noticed in the past few years is that my relationship with nature compared to when I was younger has grown and developed into something beautiful. As a kid, I always loved going on guided hikes or participating in other events held by Ontario Parks staff, as I loved to learn and I wanted to know cool facts about bugs or plants! As I’ve gotten older, I do still enjoy the events at parks, but I find myself enjoying nature by myself. I no longer feel the need to know absolutely everything, I can simply sit outside to observe and listen to my surroundings, where I can enjoy the calmness of nature.

Little Grace, reading the self-guide book for a hike in Grundy Provincial Park (2009).

What really helped develop my relationship with nature is my favourite place on earth, Killarney Provincial Park. My family has been camping there every year for the past 11 years, and we have all fell in love with the park. I fell inlove with the quietness, as it is pretty much in the middle of nowhere, and I fell in love with the scenery of the La Cloche mountain range. From day trips in the backcountry to day hikes along the Georgian Bay, I have loved every minute of exploring this beautiful park, and after 10 years there is still so much more to explore! From seeing bears, raccoons, foxes, beavers, and even a porcupine, there are so many cool creatures to see in the park (at a respectable distance, of course).

My brother and I enjoying the view from a portage on George Lake, in Killarney Provincial Park (2012).

The past two summers, I was lucky to score a job working in Killarney! I worked as a gate attendant, and used my 10 years of knowledge to help answer questions visitors had about the park, and gave advice on where to explore! This was such an amazing opportunity, as I stayed in staff housing and was encouraged to explore the park on my days off. During this time, I spent lots of time at my favourite place, the jumping rocks. Whether I was swimming, reading or just sitting and observing nature, I always felt the most calm when I visited my rock. I loved watching the waves hit the rocks, and I enjoyed seeing others out paddling or swimming, as I am sure they felt as relaxed and happy as I was. Although I will not be returning to work in Killarney this summer, I am looking forward to visiting the park that I consider my second home.

View from the jumping rocks (2020).

The person who offered me a sense of place was defintiely my mom. I loved to help her garden when I was younger, and as I’ve gotten older she has became the best camping buddy! She is always interested in cool naturey things that I’ve learnt in school or from working for Ontario Parks, and we can enjoy our hikes together, whether we are looking out for cool mushrooms to show each other or just sharing our thoughts on a lookout point. She has taught me a lot about camping and nature, and I hope to one day pass that down to my own children.

Super excited to start this blog and maybe encourage others to visit Killarney!

Top of the Crack, with Killarney & O.S.A lake, as well as the La Cloche mountains (2018). The most beautiful view in the park!