Ilda Hadziosmanovic

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Unit 10

It has felt like this semester has gone by so incredibly fast, and I cannot believe that I am writing my last blog post already. I originally registered for this course for a few reasons. First, because it was offered as an online class, and throughout covid, I realized that I loved the added flexibility you have in online classes. Second, this was one of my restricted elective options and third, I love all things about nature and had been planning on taking this course since my first year. I am incredibly happy that it finally fit into my schedule during my last semester.

Throughout this course, I have learned a lot about interpretation as a whole and have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities I was given. For example, I found Tumblr blog posts to be much more enjoyable than regular discussion posts on courselink. Likewise, although we did generally have prompts, I loved the weeks when we could write about whatever came to our minds. As well, I loved reading other classmates’ blogs and enjoyed seeing the cool pictures that classmates shared. Additionally, the podcast assignment gave me the opportunity to try something completely different than I had before. It was my first time creating a podcast, and it was an enjoyable experience overall. I would love to hear your thoughts about the course in general and the assignments we were given!

Now, I would like to discuss the beliefs, ethics, and responsibilities that I may carry as a nature interpreter. To begin, I believe that every individual on this earth should have the right to see, enjoy, and immerse themselves in nature. Although this may not happen for every individual due to factors such as privilege, it is something that we should strive for. As a reminder, privilege can be defined as “a right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favour” (“Privilege definition & meaning, n.d.). Personally, I would define privilege as an individual or group that has an advantage over another individual or group of people. Privilege is frequently associated with factors such as gender, health, race, and economic status; all these factors play a role in the opportunities provided to specific individuals. Like privilege, it is important to consider the barriers that some people face such as, economic, cultural, communication, lack of knowledge, and fear (Beck et al., 2018). Overall, there are many factors at play that affect what opportunities are given to which individuals, and I believe we should strive for a more even playing field or at the least give children the opportunity to see, enjoy, and immerse themselves in nature. For example, incorporating this into the curriculum and having field trips and activities that are based on the idea of allowing children to see and enjoy nature, regardless of family status. In addition, I believe in respect and kindness when it comes to interpretation. Trying new activities can be scary and intimidating; therefore, I believe that all individuals should be treated with kindness and respect and be given help and guidance when trying new activities in nature. For example, canoeing can be tricky for beginners as can backcountry camping. Throughout my summers living in Algonquin, I have seen many individuals go camping for the first time or try canoeing and oftentimes I watch people tip their boats right at the docks, or leave garbage behind in the backcountry, or something silly like not hanging their food and scented items correctly. It is easy for outsiders to laugh or joke about these beginners’ mistakes, or even be annoyed. But we must remember that it may be their first time and maybe they have no idea what they're supposed to do in the backcountry or how to even sit in a canoe. In these situations, kindness, respect, and a willingness to help and inform beginners could go a long way. This leads to my next belief, which is that I believe in sharing knowledge and experiences. Beck et al. (2018) explained that using a storyline approach while interpreting can be beneficial, as is using the resources and facilities accessible such as visitor centres. Having knowledge about a topic and being passionate about it, as well as having personal stories and experiences to share with an audience is essential.

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Hi Meghan,

I know, I cannot believe this semester is already over, not to mention, my undergrad is almost over! I agree with your point about Tumblr posts being a little more fun than just a regular discussion post. I mean we did discuss learning styles and the importance of reaching a larger audience through images, videos, audio, etc. (Beck et al., 2018). This was my first time in my university career recording a podcast... I have done the presentations and videos, but never a podcast. I think the best thing about the podcast was that we got to do two that were presented to different audiences. I feel that sometimes we focus so much on sounding professional and knowledgeable and forget that not everyone has the same level of background knowledge as us. I think you bring up an important point and something that shows your kind-hearted character and it is the fact that you believe everyone should have the right and privilege to enjoy nature. I like the part where you mention making mistakes; Interpreting nature can be challenging and not for everyone, but it should be in the kindness of our hearts to help others and let them try. Some people may absolutely hate camping, but that does not necessarily mean they hate nature. Someone may hate swimming, again, this does not mean they hate nature. We all interact and build our relationship with nature differently and that is why it is important that we share our experiences and open our minds to other people’s interpretations. Anyways, good luck with the rest of your semester and thanks for sharing your thoughts!

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

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Blog Unit 10

Over the duration of this course, I have learned a lot about nature interpretation and what responsibilities are associated with being a nature interpreter. I have been able to further understand and develop my personal ethics as a nature interpreter and have learned more about who I really am as a person, and as an interpreter. Although I already had strong beliefs prior to this course, I feel like I have been able to strengthen and expand on my ethics and beliefs surrounding nature interpretation. During this post I am going to further address what I mean by this…

Thinking back to the beginning of this course I did not have a lot of knowledge surrounding nature interpretation. I did however have knowledge surrounding nature and a strong passion for spending time with the environment. This course has brought my passion for nature and the ability to learn (and teach) more about nature together. Since a young age I always enjoyed spending time outside. I would never pass up an opportunity to play outside, go for a hike, or camping, and I still wouldn’t. The opportunity to engage with nature in any shape or form has and will always interest me more than an any indoor activity. This passion is what shapes my desire to become a nature interpreter.

As I develop as a nature interpreter so does my personal ethic. The course textbook states that “Interpreters help people to develop an ethical sense of their place and role in the world” (Beck et al., 2018).  It took me a few minutes to fully comprehend the meaning of this, and now I am going to share my personal understanding of this quote. Interpretation is a learning experience that allows people to further understand a topic. In context of this course, interpretation often refers to teaching about nature and environmental relationships. This concept allows individuals to work on personal ethics because nature is such a strong component to our everyday lives. We must understand more about nature and the environment we live in so we can discover who we are and who we are meant to be in the world. We need to know how we can fit in nature and what relationships we should have with the environment. Knowing this will allow individuals ethics to flourish. From personal experience, I feel as if my ethics strengthen every time I learn something new or every time I spend time one on one with nature. In a way it is like a meditation that is strengthening me morally, physically, and ethically over time.

I have several beliefs that coincide with this week’s blog prompt. My belief system is strongly correlated with nature and environmental concerns. For example, I am a strong believer in the mental and physical health benefits associated with nature. I think this is a belief shared amongst nature interpreters. I believe that spending time outside can lower stress, impact my mood, and further my decision-making process daily. In addition to this, I believe everyone should work on spending time outdoors or taking time to learn more about nature. My beliefs have stemmed from personal experiences, as my first response to stress has always been to go for a walk outside. If I can make it to a conservation area or public park, it’s a bonus.

As of right now, I do not have a lot of responsibilities. Like most of you, I am a student that spends a lot of time doing schoolwork. I am currently not employed, but I do live with roommates in a student house. I am mainly responsible for myself and that’s it. With, sometimes being responsible for myself seems like an ample number of responsibilities. To tie this in with nature interpretation I would like to address the role nature interpretation has on my responsibilities. Firstly, to manage my stress levels I will always turn to nature exploration or environmental excitement to make me feel better. In the future, I hope my daily goals include more responsibilities, hopefully something that aligns with nature interpretation. I say this because I would love if my future job or career can incorporate nature interpretation in some way.

As an individual an approach that is most suitable for me will include a variety of teaching styles. I would say my preferred approach would be something hands on or visual. When it comes to learning new concepts, I know I learn best through a hands-on approach, and that’s how I would teach a concept as well. I know I learn best this way from experience. For example, I took a Field Course last summer in Algonquin Park, during this course most of the course content was performed in the field and as a complete hands-on learning experience. I would confidently say, I learned more during that course than I have in any lecture room.  Although I think it is important to experience lecture style teaching, mainly because this is where I have learned a lot of analytical concepts, I would not say it is my favourite style. If I were to interpret nature to others I would begin with a short, short lecture style speech, which would incorporate main thoughts and ideas. Then I would continue my interpretation technique through a hands-on concept or using visuals. When I think back to interpreters that I have witnessed and have enjoyed, my mind immediately thinks of instructor led hikes. This approach offered me the opportunity explore with someone who has knowledge on the same hike. During this experience I was able to feel content in nature while also expanding my knowledge on the landscape.

This course has taught me a lot and I strongly enjoyed reading everyone’s thoughts and experiences through blog posts. I think over the span of this course my passion for nature interpretation has become more real and has grown much deeper. I cannot wait to see what my future of nature interpretation looks like. I look forward to reading everyone else’s posts to compare how our ethics and responsibilities may align or differ.

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

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Hi Hailey,

I wanted to start off by thanking you for sharing your personal reflection on the knowledge you have gained and how you grew as a student and individual throughout the course! Just like yourself, prior to taking this course, I was not much of a nature interpreter. To be completely honest, I did not know the components that make up a nature interpreter. I am pleased to say that this course gave me the knowledge and tools to be an interpreter that strives to embrace nature and share with others, while also growing with those around me (Beck et al., 2018). One of the greatest things about being a nature interpreter is the fact that there are so man different aspects and levels to an interpretation. As we learned, interpretations are based on experiences, privileges, knowledge and other characteristics of the self (Beck et al., 2018). Furthermore, I want to agree with your point about the positive impact that nature has on human health. Personally, the driving actor during the course and the interpretation’s I was making were based on ourselves. I have always been interested in learning about the benefits that our relationship with nature has on both our physical and mental health. Ultimately, I believe that nature is one of the most powerful things and the more we focus on building and strengthening our relationship with it, the more we grow ethically, morally, spiritually, etc. Ultimately, I am glad that this course had a positive impact on you and your relationship with nature! Good luck in your future and have a great rest of your semester!

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

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Unit 10: Final Blog

After ten weeks of studying various approaches and topics that aid in our integrity as nature interpreters, I believe that my personal ethic has shifted to a more environmentally conscious one. Prior to taking this course, I recognized to some extent the importance of our role in nature, but not to the depth I understand now. When the course first started, my background was solely science based, not so much of my knowledge came from other aspects such as technology, art and history. I will however like to mention that studying how nature intertwines with many different disciplines actually allowed me to draw comparisons to prior course work I have completed in my undergrad. For example, when I look back at a philosophy course I took, I remember touching base on how Greek ancestors viewed art and how it was based on their interpretation of their environment. They would recreate scenes or objects they found beautiful and used their art as a way of representing their meaning of beauty.

Moving forward, I want to encourage more of my life to understanding nature and why we learn about it from the moment our academic careers begin to when they end.  One of the most important things that I found about nature interpretation is the way that information is presented to an audience. Throughout course material, blog posts and even our podcasts, the use of many learning styles have been tackled.

Personally, I believe that it is significant that I answer the questions posed in relation to my personal ethic and what I bring to the table. To begin, I am a firm believer in everyone having the opportunity and right to an education. My family came from an ex-communist country and when they were growing up, education was free for those who wanted to learn and pursue their undergraduate, graduate and Ph. D’s. With this being said, I believe that children especially should be granted opportunities to learn and see what nature has to offer, no matter the gender, ethnicity and status. Even though certain aspects of nature interpretation are due to privileges, but there should be certain aspects that are available to all to some degree. Furthermore, I feel that I acquire a sense of responsibility to ensure that I am using my knowledge to inform and teach those around me. Whether it be as simple as having people tune out other noises and listen to the sound of birds or as difficult as having people learn about the impact our environment has on human health. Lastly, I have found that the most suitable approach for me is interpreting nature through science. I have always been a very logical person and prefer knowing exactly how and why something is occurring. I’ve never been extremely creative and prefer actual answers to phenomenon’s not miracles or magic. However, I do wish that I was able to be more open-minded when it came to certain topics as it keeps it fun and allows for many different answers.

If I could carry my knowledge and skills from this course and others that have similarly focused on the significance of nature, I would want to focus on the direct relationship between human health and nature. My audience would involve students and adults who are determined to stay healthy and build their relationship with nature due to the many positive health impacts it has. I believe that I am a personable person and am quite outgoing which would make it easier for me to attract a larger range of audience. I also find that my work experience, from a family clinic to an apple farm to bartending would allow me to use multiple learning styles to educate my audience (i.e. those who are willing to learn about nature and health). In addition, I have experience with many different age groups as I was a gymnastics coach for a number of years so understand how an array of age groups develop skills and learn.

Even though I do not see my future career in environmental sciences, or anything related, I do believe that the skills and knowledge I have developed in ENVS*3000 will be useful anywhere and everywhere. I truly believe that our role as nature interpretations is significant in creating a sustainable environment for generations to come. I think that if other students were grnated the opportunity to learn about their role as nature interpreters, the idea of our environment would be much different. In today’s society, the only topics that are brought up frequently are climate change and sometimes wildlife. We are taught that our actions have consequences are that we are all guilty of attaining to climate change. We have individuals who do not believe in it at all and others that are devoting their lives to improving sustainability for future generations. I think the most prominent example of this is the ban of single use plastics and the transfer to electric cars. One of the greatest issues though is the cost to become sustainable, whether it be buying cold cuts over grass-fed raised beef, filtration systems over water bottles, or whatever it may be. In Canada it is expensive to eat organic, drive an electric car, and have a life built around the idea of sustainability. Even though the benefits to this lifestyle are at large, many people do not care and simply cannot afford this. I believe that the future will provide more affordable opportunities for Canadians to improve their lifestyles and acquire one that is based on sustainability and positive ecological impacts. All in all, I am grateful for the privilege of being able to learn and discuss with classmates about the role of nature interpretation and how we will all carry this in our future.

How will you carry knowledge from this course into your future?

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Fireflies

Since I was a child, there has always been one aspect of nature that never ceases to amaze me, and that is bioluminescence! One example of bioluminescence is fireflies. Fireflies are a type of beetle in the family Lampyridae, and are known for being able to emit light.

Fireflies regulate their light by controlling how much oxygen gets to their abdomen. This allows them to send out signals! These signals can be used to attract mates, as each species of firefly has a species-specific light code. It reminds me of morse code!

Fireflies and humans have a complex relationship of their own. While humans are always in awe of fireflies and their abilities to emit light, recent research suggests that this light could help humans in the way of medical research. The enzymes responsible for firefly light can be used to detect the presence of certain DNA, and has even allowed for the development of new antibiotic strains (Lewis, 2016).

Fireflies are also used to detect possible contamination in our food products. Common bacteria, such as salmonella, can be detected by the activation of Luciferase, the enzyme in fireflies (Andrews, 2012).

Another fascinating animal is the angler fish. I'm sure a lot of us remember this fish from Finding Nemo, and it's hard to believe it actually exists!

Like fireflies, these fish use the light to attract mates, but it is not the only use. Angler fish are predators, and use the light to attract prey in the darker areas of the ocean.

Are there any other examples of bioluminescence that you find fascinating? I would love to hear them!

Andrews, J. (2012, March 21). Pathogen Detection System takes a cue from Fireflies. Food Safety News. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/03/pathogen-detection-system-takes-a-cue-from-fireflies/ 

Lewis, S. (2016, July 21). How fireflies are beautiful - and useful. ideas.ted.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://ideas.ted.com/how-fireflies-are-beautiful-and-useful/ 

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I just want to start off by saying I enjoyed how interactive and lighthearted your post was today! One of my favourite things is when other students, like myself tune into their inner child and have the opportunity to speak about ideas, facts, and topics that interest them. To answer your question, one bioluminescent animal that has never failed to amaze me are Atolla jellyfish. I remember when I was younger, and I watched the movie Shark Tale for the first time, and I questioned whether these beautiful creatures ceased to exist in the real world. Lucky for me, they did and to this day I recall the joy these characters brought to me.

In terms of fireflies, I read a fact that intrigued me, and it stated that the bioluminescence n fireflies is extremely efficient and to produce their light does not take them a lot of energy (Evans, 2007). When you think about this logically, it is extremely important that fireflies store their energy and release it slowly as it allows for them to fly and participate in daily activities. On the other hand, the anger fish is a fish I specifically remember from Finding Nemo and remember watching a food network episode that discussed the use of this species for cuisine in Asia. I wanted to relate the use of bioluminescence as a tool in science. For example, bioluminescent products are used in screening and imaging for cancers and other abnormal growths within the body. All in all, I enjoyed your post and glad to see you enjoyed writing it too!



Evans, A. V. National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.: New York, NY 2007.

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Sense Making in Nature Interpretation

            A number of us are going to take different approaches to this week’s blog prompt as all of us are driven and interested by different aspects of nature. Some of us are passionate about specific wildlife, others are more interested in natural landscapes and some of us are still trying to understand what part of nature intrigues them the most. For myself, I have always been interested in the impact that nature plays in human health. To be more specific, what components of nature play a role in a healthy mind, body and soul.     

Nature is fascinating in itself as there are many aspects of it that play dynamic roles in relationships. The most interesting thing I know about nature is the impact that it has on human health and happiness. As mentioned in the textbook, we learn how to interpret nature through our life cycle in academic settings (Beck et al., 2018). Schools want to integrate our learning with nature through various programs and facilities as it provides individuals important life skills (Beck et al., 2018). Prior to taking ENVS*3000, I have taken a couple of ecology courses and learned about the relationship nature has on human happiness in an ASCI course I took. Human beings depend a lot on their environment for their actions and their emotions. The term used that refers to this relationship is nature connectedness. According to a study conducted in China, there is positive correlation between nature connectedness and mental health (Liu et al., 2022). We have discussed throughout the course how nature is present in music, history and our everyday lives and when we choose to understand all of these categories, we are then able to confidentially submerge ourselves in nature (Beck et al., 2018). Some find peaceful meditation to nature sounds their way of destressing while others find walks or hikes their go-to. I want to pose the question, where do you feel the calmest? What do you do to connect yourself with nature?

Personally, I have always found myself feeling my best in terms of confidence and energy when I am in the outdoors. Whether this be sitting in my backyard enjoying my morning coffee on a sunny day or taking a hike in the escarpments. I have personally noticed amazing benefits to my skin in nature as well, for example, when I am at a beach or in saltwater, my keratosis pilaris magically disappears and my acne settles as well. According to some studies, saltwater places a role in soothing and reducing atopic skin conditions (Martin et al., 2016). I have always found that nature has had nothing but positive impacts on me both mentally and physically. I also believe that it is extremely important to look at how other countries advocate for the environment. Countries like China and Scandinavian countries are very keen on ensuring they are doing their part in integrating nature and the environment into people’s everyday lives.

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

Liu, H., Nong, H., Ren, H., & Liu, K. (2022). The effect of nature exposure, nature connectedness on mental well-being and ill-being in a general Chinese population. Landscape and Urban Planning, 222, 104397–. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104397

Martin, H., Laborel-Préneron, E., Fraysse, F., Nguyen, T., Schmitt, A. M., Redoulès, D., & Davrinche, C. (2016). Aquaphilus dolomiae extract counteracts the effects of cutaneous S. aureus secretome isolated from atopic children on CD4+ T cell activation. Pharmaceutical biology, 54(11), 2782–2785. https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209.2016.1173069

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Nature Interpretation through Music

Hello Everyone,

I thought this was an interesting topic to read about. Music plays a role in many of our lives and it’s interesting to see it from a different perspective. Music is all around us in every possible crack and crevice. I use music to get away from the daily hustle and bustle. It clears my mind and just lets me relax. Now to think where music is in nature the answer is its everywhere. Whether you’re in the boreal forest listening to sparrows, warblers, chickadees, and others chirping along to the rustling of wind in the Sahara Desert to the middle of the Pacific Ocean where humpback whales produce sounds to communicate. We cannot escape it. Gray et al. (2001) discusses the many forms of music used by different species and how everyone has their own sort of way of showing it. Some are obvious like humans and birds but others such as whales are difficult to interpret. Gray et al. (2001) mentioned that the song structure used by whales is similar to ABA form which is also used in many differing songs by humans. We also have other forms such as AABA, ABAB, AAB and others. Furthermore gray et al. (2001) talks about a universal music that is waiting to be discovered. Imagine if we could discover this universal music. It would open so many possibilities. What would be the first thing you would do if there was a universal music?

Now let’s talk about where nature is in music. Mallarach (2012) mentions on page 130 that folk singing performances may offer the community with new strengthened meanings with links to the surrounding nature. The music is being performed to specifically connect individuals with nature. The nature is the reason the songs were made in the first place. Mallarach (2012) further goes to explains on page 130 that specific messages can be placed within songs to better communicate to the audience. These folk songs and many other songs from around the globe are created to show meaning and to remember the beauty and sacrifice that the land and nature has gone through. Songs hold scaredness. The ways these songs communicate towards the audience changes people views. Different instruments, vocals, pitches, and other music terms presented can alter a song and change where meaning is placed. In what ways can different instruments, forms, rhythm, and others alter that way a song is perceived? 

I live in a small town in the country so really any songs related to country music bring me back to natural landscapes. I just imagine the times where I was working outdoors, helping my parents, or going on a road trip. It was always country music. Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, and many others. They just have a certain vibe that makes me feel at home. Driving down the road windows down country music blaring basking in the sunshine just admiring the open landscape, different crops, and the beauty all around me. What are your favourite types of music?  

Aaron         

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), pp. 52-54. DOI: 10.1126/science.10.1126/SCIENCE.1056960

Mallarach, Josep-Maria (ed.). Spiritual Values of Protected Areas of Europe: Workshop Proceedings. Bonn, Germany: Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, 2012. 170 pp. ISBN: 978-3-89624-057-6.

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Aaron, I enjoyed reading your post as it was personable and thoughtful. The study that you touched base on was extremely interesting as whales are the largest mammal in the world. They are unique and rely on sounds and music as a form of communication. We can even see that in our day to day as sometimes music can be used as a more effective way of communicating a thought or a feeling instead of just saying it. I know that there are many forms of therapy that rely on the vibrations of both whales and dolphins for fetal growth in pregnant women. This is a great example of how connected humans are with nature and other species in both water and land. In addition, you made note about folk music and the sacredness their melodies and lyrics hold. I have found that whenever I am out in nature on a hike or even driving through the country, I prefer to listen to indie/folk music as it creates the perfect scene. When you think about folk music, the instruments that are often used are woodwinds which for the most part are created from pieces of nature. These instruments tend to mimic sounds you hear in the outdoors, knocking of a woodpecker, wind, leaves, etc. I am a firm believer that music is one of the best ways of forming connections with your surroundings and as a source of grounding. I am grateful that I am privileged enough to experience music in different forms and spaces.

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Nature & Music

Throughout history, music has played a large role in shaping cultures and values into specific relationships with nature. Music, just like nature is made up of subcomponents which play a role in the entirety. Every piece is significant in its own way whether it be the melody or the soil composition. As stated in the notes, the addition of some form of media, in this case music, takes a program from something good to something great. Music can be viewed as something universal, but I feel as though music is also a privilege to many. Being able to make music is one privilege, while being able to hear or feel is another. Furthermore, I believe that music is within nature as nature is within music. Music can be heard in nature with the sound of birds singing or the sound of the ocean. In terms of nature within music, many cultures use sounds from nature as a way of meditating and connecting with themselves. Other artists use these sound effects as a part of their melody or as inspiration for lyrics. In addition, certain instruments have been made from materials from nature and have been created to mimic the sounds that are made in nature.

When I reflect on a song that immediately takes me to a natural landscape it is called Space Song by Beach House. Near my home, there are escarpments and whenever I head this song, I think about how they look at nighttime. When I was in high school, my friends and I would park our cars and look out at the escarpments and I can vividly remember this song playing. So, now whenever I am around the area, this song needs to play and when I miss home, I tend to play this song.

This is not to say that there are no other pieces of music that remind me of natural landscapes, but that is the main one. I feel as though many people will choose actually music from nature, but I do not believe that would be an authentic answer of mine. However, when I choose to do yoga or meditate, I choose to listen to sounds of a rainforest. I do not know if I am the only one that finds instrumental music with rain overlapping as a source of comfort and relaxation, but I recommend it. In previous courses, I learned about the importance that human connectiveness with nature has on human happiness. One main factor was the positive impact that the sounds of nature have on stress and mood in people and there are studies such as the one by Buxton et al., which analyzes these health benefits. I was curious if any of you find that you become more productive or calm when you listen to natural sounds? If not, what sounds bring you Zen? If so, what is your go to nature sound or playlist?

Buxton, R. T., Pearson, A. L., Allou, C., & Wittemyer, G. (2021, March 22). A synthesis of health benefits of natural sounds and their ... - pnas. A synthesis of health benefits of natural sounds and their distribution in national parks . Retrieved February 28, 2023, from https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2013097118

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Lessons In Our History

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

First, I think that it is important to acknowledge that not everyone is going to interpret this quote in the same was as we all have different pasts, privileges (invisible backpacks), and knowledge bases that are our toolkits of how we all will interpret this quote. Interpreters also will perhaps use this quote to get people thinking and talking about what this means to their audience and might reveal a theme message for the audience.

Starting with the first sentence, merit means to have the quality of being good or worthy. There is good/worth in integrity (keeping together parts of any whole)-telling the whole story without leaving parts out. I feel that a lot of people take parts of history, little snippets, and use them to achieve a goal. It is important for interpreters to not do this but to share the whole story.

This reminds me of a photo I’ve seen before where from up close you think you know what is happening but then it zooms out and something else is happening. Therefore, looking at the whole picture can teach us a lot more about the past than a snippet does.

Photo Found at: https://thecircular.org/media-depiction-of-major-events-in-society/

I feel as though the media writes stories that viewers want to see, but also snips findings into pieces that often skew the story in an untrue direction. For example, the headline “scientists remain puzzled by mass of dead birds along West Coast”, they imply that humans are doing something wrong while, in reality, scientists concluded that natural overpopulation was the most probable explanation which is a natural response (Hays, 2015). Conservation can be difficult with inexact media twisting science so one way that interpreters can help is by sharing the whole story!

The analogy to think, feel, or act as though the past is done with to the train in the train station tells us that we should not ignore the past but instead be influenced by and learn from the past. There are so many lessons in history, from discrimination, atrocities, and ethnic conflicts (326). These lessons we can learn from the past can promote better understanding of present challenges that can help people navigate these challenges (343), and help people learn and comprehend the factors that make an atrocity possible so people can prevent it from being repeated in the future, and to cultivate peace (327). Interpreters can help people see how history relates to their own lives by teaching them in exciting educational stories (326).

How does history relate to nature interpretation. This is a question I wondered as well… The textbook said that nature often occurs in nature and vice versa. One can have learning about history draw them to nature or have nature draw them to learn about the surrounding history through interpreters. It also was suggested taking about nature through history to see that changes we have made. Conservation efforts and interpreters with a conservation goal /theme could reveal how much humans have changed the landscape and contrast the past and present as we see declines in biodiversity. This could be due to some species’ inability to move at these high rates of change and thus may gradually die out as climatic conditions become increasingly unsuitable (Malcom & Pitelka, 2001).

References:

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

Hays, B. (2015). Scientists remain puzzled by mass of dead birds along West Coast. UPI. https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2015/01/07/Scientists-remain-puzzled-by-mass-of-dead-birds-along-West-Coast/6531420656581/

Malcolm, J.R., & Pitelka, L.F. (2001). Ecosystems and global change. Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. https://www.c2es.org/document/ecosystems-and-global-climate-change/

[ihenvs3000w23]

 Your mention about the analysis of this quote by Edward Hyams varying from person to person due to a number of components is so true. To be specific, you stated the privileges that some people are accustomed to in comparison to others. This can play a role in the accuracy and authenticity of the piece of history as some may have the instruments and others may have the opportunity to see these places. In addition, the photo that you added to your post is such a great visual representation of the idea that parts are not the same as the whole. It is a very important job of the interpreter to ensure that they are analyzing the entirety and not only the parts. If it does come down to only analyzing the parts, it is important that they let their audience know in their reflection that this is the case.

Your next point about media and nature is also extremely significant in today’s society as media has a strong impact on the way that people receive information. Whether it be fake news or exaggerations, most people do not know how to sift through the good and the bad on their own. Lastly, nature is something that draws many people whether they enjoy being surrounded by it or not, history has the impact on many. They are both part of a significant relationship which rely on their interactions. All in all, you pulled some great points from both course content and your own knowledge!

[ihenvs3000w23]

Nature Interpretation Through History

Hyams uses this quote as a way of underlining the true importance of history and in which ways we should interpret it. To be specific, when he mentions “believing that a railway station through which our train has passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it”. Prior to your individual experience, somebody else was in the same position and experienced the situation either the same or in a completely different way. As mentioned in the textbook, the reason we interpret history is so that we can remember. What we deem to be important and worth remembering is personal, yet a combination of many other factors. For example, the term “place of memory” is used to describe a site or property that is protected due to a historic event taking place there. We see these places all around the globe, whether the significance be recognized by everyone around the globe or just a specific country. Furthermore, Hyams mentions the term integrity throughout this quote in relation to “keeping together of the parts of any whole”. This idea is evident through many parts of history, but I want to draw on the fact that even the many parts play a significant role in understanding the whole. For example, when bones are found, it is very rare that the entirety of the artifact are found, but that little piece will tell you where it comes from and what whole it belongs to.

In order to fully understand any object, place, or thing, it is important that we remember and learn about their history. We need to remember that everything in nature has a history and every piece of history has natural resources. The true beauty in nature comes to be when all components are understood and appreciated. I feel as though this is more complex to do than we think, truly because we tend to oversee the historical context of nature. Rarely do I find myself looking at a waterfall or mountain and questioning how it got there or when. I live near a conservation area and I recall for school trips going and studying its different components and what made it unique in comparison to that of other conservation areas.

Lastly, I want to touch on tying together all the nature interpretation aspects we have touched on thus far in the course.  When we interpret things in nature, we get the best interpretation when many aspects are brought together. Whether that be including interpreting nature through science, art, history and personal experiences. I personally believe that all components are highlighted to bring their own importance to their interpretation, and I do not believe that one component is more important than the other. I do however believe that people are more comfortable and prefer using one of the interpretation methods over the other. I was curious if you guys think that one of the interpretation methods is more important than the other? If so, which one and why?

[ihenvs3000w23]

PEAR

Good luck to everyone on their PEAR evaluations!!

[tvenvs3000w23]

Nature Interpretation through Science (week 5)

In week 5 in ENVS 3000, I was able to freely write about what I have learned. When looking over the lecture notes I decided to watch the video by Kitty and Jenny.  In the video, Kitty and Jenny are walking through the Arboretum and observing animal signs. These animal signs help to recognize different things that are being looked at in nature. Otherwise known as biodiversity sheets. The biodiversity sheets allow researchers to see what species may have made certain marks in a tree and if certain trees are essential habitats for specific species (Hooykaas, 2023).

Furthermore, Jenny and Kitty talk about how they can recognize when signs are left behind by humans. They stress the importance of humans leaving positive marks in nature. Sometimes these marks may be large, but they can also be small. This intrigued me and I did some research on what some of these positive marks could be. One positive human sign in nature could be reforestation. This can be beneficial as it allows for the growth of biodiversity, air filtering, carbon sequestration, and the linkage of habitats (Anderson, 2021). Another smaller form of human signs in nature would be to take a different pathway to avoid intruding wildlife in its natural form.

The video “For the Love of Birds” which is a TED talk was very influential. The talk was about birds’ feathers and how birds are feather-makers. Each and every bird is unique, especially since their feathers come in different sizes, shapes, patterns, and colours. They represent freedom in life due to their ability to fly and conquer gravity. This is truly amazing, and I know many people have considered what it would be like to fly and have that unique freedom (Hooykaas, 2023)

Specifically, I found learning about birds interesting as one of my podcast topics was about birds. Therefore, learning more about how birds are like us and how they are essential in helping our planet was great. The video taught me that birds contribute to cleaning up the environment, getting rid of rodents, and helping plants form fruit. Yet, they face many challenges including habitat loss, being hunted, poisoning, getting stuck in power lines and wind turbines, and mainly climate change (Hooykaas, 2023). As someone who is greatly interested in the environment, I hope to be able to educate others about the challenges that birds face to lengthen their time here on earth. I also have begun to consider the challenges that other species face as well especially due to the earth’s current climate change.

Have any of you considered the ways in which you can help the species on earth in consideration to climate change?

I look forward to hearing your responses! - Tiana

Anderson, C. (2023). What are the benefits of reforestation? Wolf Education and Research Center. Retrieved January 30th, 2023, https://wolfcenter.org/what-are-the-benefits-of-reforestation/#:~:text=Reforestation%20provides%20many%20benefits%20for%20us%20and%20our,%E2%80%93%20reforestation%20supports%20local%20economies%201%20More%20items

Hooykaas, A. (2023). Unit 05: Nature interpretation through science. University of Guelph: Courselink.

[ihenvs3000w23]

            There were a number of great ideas and topics presented throughout your post. I want to focus on the idea of combining science education (SE), environmental education (EE) and citizen science (CS). All three areas focus on different logistics and a different approach to every argument. As you mentioned, if all three areas were to work together to build one interpretation, it would lead to an ultimate one. When you think about the proper way to interpret nature, I hope that you get stuck and ask yourself what the qualifications might be. I believe that everyone has their own unique way of interpreting nature and that the skills and tools gained through education and experience aid your interpretation. These skills allow for a strong and clear connection to be made about what you see in nature. Now, if multiple perspectives are playing a role in the interpretation, this allows layers to be formed. Think about a surgery, sometimes multiple surgeons meet or call in specialists and they all work together to ensure the surgery is the right one for you. Having multiple perspectives rather than one is just better as some may see something you completely skipped over. They may teach you something that you did not know before. Not only is this a major learning opportunity in terms of knowledge, but it allows for community engagement like you said. Having a sense of community is important as it allows for people to be open and honest and this would allow for the strongest interpretations to be born.

[ihenvs3000w23]

Nature Interpretation & Science

This week we focused on nature interpretation through science. Now, this is something I am more familiar with as I am a student studying both biology and psychology. To be more specific, I have studied nature in ecological contexts throughout my time as a Gryphon. There are many ways that we interpret nature through science, whether that be the process that take place in nature or the patterns and relationships that take place. For example, gardening can be seen as a specific science known as botany which focuses on plants and their genetics and environment. Gardening is something I myself do not take part in, but my grandpa as I have stated before is consumed by gardening and crops. Since I was a little girl our home in Bosnia is surrounded by grape vines, cherry trees, figs, tomatoes, watermelon, etc. When I get there, all the hard work is already over and it is just harvest season. I did not witness the extensive work that was put into the proper growth of a crop. For example, in order for a fig to grow properly, the company of female bee’s is significant as they lay eggs inside the fruit in order for the fig to ripen. Sometimes, we have a habit of just looking at our surroundings in nature, but not understanding how these things come to be. Whether it be from a continental drift, a seed that grew into a tree, or a burrow that is a home to a groundhog. Another example that I would like to touch on is a waterfall that is right outside of my home in Bosnia. The waterfall/water is called Duman and according to my family it has always been there. It is one of the main water sources in Livno and is the best drinking water.

Even though Duman was not manmade, it is up to the people who visit and native people to the town who choose to keep it clean and take care of it. In other words, science is the explanation for the waterfall or magic as some may believe. Almost everything that exists has a reason for existing and can be explained through science, whether that be people or the reason for the weeds growing on your grass. Sometimes this can be evident when looking at a tree in a forest, it may have a spotted or moldy texture to it as it was affected by a fungus or disease. That can happen to things in nature just as it happens to us. Lastly, I want to make mention the relationship that humans and nature have with one another. When you look at a numerical scale of the human and of a plant, there are many similarities that we share. Whether it be the need for oxygen or the similar epidermal layer under a microscope, we would be unable to exist without nature. Thankfully, us humans are able to understand some of these similarities, differences, benefits, and precautions

[lsdenvs3000w23]

The Many Art Forms of Nature

Being able to interpret nature through art (whether it be music, a painting, a book, or movies/ photographs) is such a special attribute. It can be easy to form connections to nature when your body is physically in it, but forming this connection through an art form can be more difficult.

Growing up, my parents filled the walls of our house with nature-inspired artwork. Whether it was a scene of wolves running through the forest, or a horse-drawn carriage traveling through a town around Christmastime, being surrounded by these images helped me develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between art and nature. A few years ago, I travelled to Victoria B.C. to visit family, and while I was there I went to the Robert Bateman Gallery. I can't quite describe it, but viewing his artistic interpretations of nature always left me with such a deep gratitude for the natural world and for artists like Robert Bateman who capture it so perfectly. Below is an image of one of my favourite paintings. My parents have it hanging in their house, and I love showing it to friends when they visit and seeing how long it takes them to realize this is not just a painting of grass.

Eyes in the Grass- Robert Bateman

I recently watched the movie "The Banshees of Inisherin," and felt quite moved by the cinematography and setting. My grandparents immigrated from Ireland, and I still have a lot of family there that I am lucky to have visited in the past. I have always found the rugged coasts and rolling fields of Ireland to be so beautiful, and this movie did such a special job of capturing the beauty. It left me with feelings of sadness and longing to go back to Ireland, but also with feelings of gratitude. Even though I'm not in Ireland now, seeing its landscapes portrayed in film left me feeling peaceful just knowing that they're there, and that they'll still be there when I get the opportunity to return.

A scene from "The Banshees of Inisherin"

I mentioned before that it can be easy to feel connected to nature when you're physically present in it. Don't get me wrong, this is still such a special feeling and is one I hope everyone can experience in their lifetime. But being able to connect with nature through art can allow you to experience a deeper level of connection with places you may have never physically been. It is inspiring and hopeful to feel connected to a place you are not physically in, and I think it creates a certain sense of longing to travel and experience these things first hand. Just knowing that the Irish landscapes are out there waiting for my return sparks such an excitement in me, and I feel lucky to have this feeling.

The beauty of nature is subjective. One person could look at a landscape and see nothing special, while the next person that comes along could think it was the most beautiful thing they have ever seen. The subjectiveness of nature interpretation is especially relevant when it comes to art, and it is so special that each person can experience the beauty of art differently.

[ihenvs3000w23]

I agree with the interpretation of art to be something special and individual. I also would like to share a light on the point where you state that it is easier to form a connection with nature when you are physically in it unlike trying to form one with art. I find that an art piece has multiple roles it may play for different people. Especially when it comes to the artist and the audience. I can relate to you in terms of the art around the home, from my very early years I remember my parents buying different art pieces to decorate the house with. In addition, I remember bringing back shells from the beach and even large rocks when we would go on road trips to add to our garden. In terms of the film you mentioned, I have never heard of it, but I can connect with the feeling of going back to the country where my parents immigrated from. Whenever my family goes back to Bosnia, there is this feeling of depression not being able to reside there full time anymore. Yet, a feeling of gratitude being able to call it our second home and visit annually as a family. I love being in a different country, seeing different landscapes and being indulged by my new environment. Every time I go back, I feel more connected than I did the previous year. I was curious where you get your “gift of beauty” from? Has anyone in your life had a significant impact on your views?

[ihenvs3000w23]

Unit 4: Nature Interpretation Through Art

I would like to believe that nature and art play a significant role with one another. Personally, I believe that we all have a unique way of interpreting situations, places, and nature in general. Everyone has the right and ability to interpret nature through art as it is a personal experience that we are able to share with others. As mentioned in the reading, there are a variety of experiences that are able to be had from interpreting nature through art from educational to recreational. 

Throughout my academic career, we have studied both art and nature, but rarely ever focused on the symbiotic relationship that the two share. Many of the most beautiful pieces of art are a reflection of nature and what one see’s and captures through photographs, paintings, movies, etc. Everyone has a specific way of capturing a moment in nature, whether the noises on a hiking trail inspire you to paint something whimsical or watching the sunset inspires you to paint the beauty that you just saw. I also believe that the events that lead to the way you capture nature are very significant. For example, someone you loved has just recently passed, you have been gloomy and down for weeks, but then the most striking sunset appears. Maybe you begin to reflect back on the person that the sunset reminds you of and intergrade that into your work of art. If this is able to inspire or motivate another person to just take a step back and focus on the Brightside of every downfall, I believe that the artist accomplished what they wanted to. It is our job as the interpreter to try and relate these pieces of art to our everyday lives and even ask ourselves some tough questions (i.e. Do I truly appreciate nature? If I spent more time on creating a connection to nature, would my mental and physical health flourish?).

For as long as I can remember, my parents have been collecting paintings of scenery across the globe and decorating our house with them. These can be from places we have visited to places my parents want to visit.

In terms of “the gift of beauty”, I choose to interpret it using my experiences and personal characteristics. Many may view this idea through a religious lens, but mine is a mixture of both science and religion. Nature is something that is so special and like mentioned in last week’s blogs, it truly is a privilege. I find that we relate a number of beauty standards and ideals to the way we interpret beauty in nature. For example, our eyes are prone to being attracted to bright and colourful things, this can be seen in nature with the way the sun reflects onto different surfaces and plants. In addition, many of the items that we consider a “gift” come from nature, whether that be a pearl necklace, a crystal, a slab of wood used as your dining room table, etc. Then again, this “gift of beauty” brought to us by nature may be beautiful and special to you, but not the person that is right next to you.

[skgenvs3000w23]

Unit 03: Risk and Reward

My working definition of privilege involves the unearned reception of certain advantages to a group of people, or individual. These privileges are often passed down through generations and typically revolves around identities such as race, ability, socioeconomic status, sexuality, and level of education (Mcintosh in Noel, 2000 p. 115). While many people who live a privileged life are afraid to recognize it, it is an important topic to discuss in order to fully understand the power imbalances that result from it.

Privilege is just as important of a concept within nature interpretation as it is in everyday life. One of the ways I recognize that I am privileged in terms of my relationship with nature, is through having parents that placed values on our natural environment. Not everyone has the same opportunity to grow up in a family that has an appreciation for nature as I did. I am able to recognize this as a privilege as it is not something that everybody grows up with, and not something I ever worked to earn. I was simply born into a family that happened to share the same love of nature as I did, and this ultimately shaped the course of my life. One way this privilege unfolded as I grew up was through travelling. I have been fortunate enough to have parents that understand the value that comes with travelling and can set aside enough money for our family to go on trips. This has benefitted by relationship with nature greatly as it has allowed me to learn firsthand about different environmental topics such as ecology and conservation in other countries. This has bettered my ability as a nature interpreter as I’m able to spread the knowledge I’ve learned on trips with the people around me.

This privilege has benefitted me throughout the course of my time as a student, which even furthered my privilege. A specific example I can remember of travelling benefitting my performance in school was in grade 10. In my biology class we were learning about different interactions within nature, specifically symbiotic relationships. During the Christmas break of that year, my family travelled to the Amazon for an adventure. We were on a hike with a guide who was informing us of the natural history and interactions that occur within the rainforest. One topic he mentioned was the relationship between capybaras and cleaner bird species. He explained how certain birds will land on capybaras and eat ticks and parasites off of them and how this benefits both animals. It was a perfect example of a type of symbiotic relationship, specifically a mutualistic one, and I was able to reinforce what I had previously learned in class with a real-life example. When I returned to school, the information I had learned over the break stuck with me and ended up benefitting me in class. I was able to recognize that this was a unique experience that I was able to participate in and that it was a privilege resulting from my parents.

Privilege is an important topic to discuss, within the field of nature interpretation but also in everyday life. Continuing the conversation is one way to recognize your privileges and understand the power imbalances it creates.

Gallavan, N.P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their ‘invisible knapsacks.’ Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36.

Noel, J. (2000). Notable selections in multicultural education. Guilford, CT: Dushkin/McGraw-Hill.

[ihenvs3000w23]

I enjoy the way that you mentioned that sometimes people are afraid to recognize their privileges as it is true. Sometimes it may be out of shame or other factors that are out of their control, but as you mentioned it is important that these privileges are recognized. Thank you for sharing the contribution that your family has had on your relationship with nature! I myself cannot say the same, but that is not to say that my family does not like being in the outdoors they are just not nature advocates. They do however love to travel and see beautiful places all around the globe just as your family does. I was curious if you think that your parents had an impact on your love of nature?

I find that travelling and receiving an education in various places and environments encourages a different degree of understanding. Even though we are privileged enough to have the right to go to school and learn about these topics, it is an even greater privileged seeing these relationships in nature happen firsthand. To note on your final paragraph, it is important that we understand that being privileged is not necessarily a negative aspect of our lives. Those who are privileged are able to provide others with a different outlook on concepts and ideas. I also believe that it allows for healthy debate between groups of people as everyone has different privileges in different ways. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas!

[ihenvs3000w23]

Unit 3

To begin, I think that it is important to define the word “privilege” before diving into the question. I believe that the word privilege describes a person or a situation that is appointed an advantage or set of advantages due to their luck, wealth, family, etc. With that being said, those who are privileged tend to view the world and nature in different ways than the average or unprivileged person does. 

In the context of nature specifically, people who are privileged have a different sense of nature and the way that they interpret it. For example, someone who is able to travel every so often definitely has a larger palette of what they have seen. This goes from hiking the most beautiful mountains, walking down tropical trails, and even swimming in the most exotic waters. These are a few examples of extreme privileges, but others can be as simple as living near well preserved areas and forests. I, myself, consider myself to be quite privileged in the sense that I am able to take nature in with all of my senses. By this, I mean, I have 20/20 vision which allows me to see my surroundings; I have my sense of smell which allows me to breathe in the fresh or not so fresh aromas of a hiking trail; I have full hearing which allows me to listen to the sound of waves crashing or branches snapping below my feet; I have two legs and arms which allow me to feel bark on the tips of my fingers or sand between my toes; lastly, I have my sense of taste that would allow me to taste fresh maple syrup from a tree or dirt if I were to trip and fall. Also, I have been lucky enough to travel and see amazing parts of our world from other provinces in Canada, down to the tropics, and across the ocean to different parts of Western Europe.

To circle back to the role that privilege plays in nature interpretation, I believe that we are all privileged in a sense to be living in Canada and having nature around us. I read a post that was titled “Exposure to nature is a privilege, and a pathway to environmental care” which I believe to be so true (Scott, 2022). Being surrounded by greenery and wildlife is a fascinating thing, and we are fortunate enough to live in a country that encourages environmental acts. Especially Guelph, we are run by a Green party that respects diversity and ecological wisdom that ensures individuals are doing their part in respecting nature.

All in all, I believe that nature interpretation is dependent on many factors that are not just privilege related. There is a combination of factors such as age, place of residence, personality and interests that combine together to allow for individuals to interpret nature. In conclusion, the way people interpret nature is personal and unique in comparison to others.

Scott, M. (2022, February 23). Exposure to nature is a privilege, and a pathway to environmental care. Earthbeat. https://www.ncronline.org/news/earthbeat/exposure-nature-privilege-and-pathway-environmental-care

[ihenvs3000w23]

Just wanted to share because I could not believe how beautiful my drive was a couple of days ago!