Jaaziah's Nature Interpretation Blog

For ENVS 3000

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Unit 10 :) 🦋☘️🐢

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

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

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

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

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

Good luck everyone with your future endeavours :) 🦋🌊

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

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Hi Fatima!

Reading your post made me feel like I can truly connect with you as a nature interpreter! I strongly agree that throughout this semester, these blog prompts have been extremely thought-provoking and made us look deep within ourselves. I also had a hard time connecting with nature when I was younger too. I live in a very urbanized city so it was hard to really view nature. I am also a homebody myself so going out requires a lot of mental strength. Your post goes to show how people also play an important role in our views of nature. As nature interpreters, it is always our goal to get people to connect with nature, whether it be through telling our stories or even sharing pictures. Your parents also seem super cool! Herbal remedies are a topic that I find extremely interesting and would love to learn more about it! I also found my favourite blog prompt is the one in which we interpret nature through art. These are ways in which we can appreciate nature through unorthodox methods. It was one of the blog posts that truly meant a lot to me and I will never forget it. I now realize that I try to look for nature in everyday mundane things. If you truly look, you can find nature in almost anything you do! I like how your approach is to gathering people. People truly help us make nature a better place and learn to love it more

I really liked reading your post, Fatima! And I am super glad this course meant a lot to you just like me!

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Hi,

I really enjoyed your post, I found it very cute, not in a condescending way, as it was somewhat comforting. I agree that it is important that interpretations are enjoyable and fun, but I think it is important that we find different approaches to interpretations. Finding different approaches also speaks to the importance of being respectful of the different learning styles, I believe that being respectful of the audience and their difference or similarities is a crucial responsibility of interpreters. The interpreter needs to respect both the audience and nature for there to be a smooth and enjoyable interpretation of nature. The respect for nature is what truly makes the interpretations authentic and entertaining for the audience. I may even argue that the respect of the audience and the environment is what allows for the ability to have an interpretation that is fun and interactive. Personally, I believe that when the interpreter has genuine respect for nature it exudes into the interpretation. I agree that the blog prompts allowed us to get a greater understanding of our similarities and differences in our approaches to interpretation. The prompts and the posts from our fellow classmates allowed me to realize there is much more I need to learn, which I believe is an important quality for an interpreter.

Well done, Fatima!

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Personal Ethics in Interpretation

When you interpret nature for an audience, you are provided with an opportunity to helm not only their education but their sense of place and passion for the natural world (Beck et al., 2018c). Here, the combination of your knowledge, ethics, passion, and personality dictates your success in deepening your audiences’ understanding of the natural world and inspiring their appreciation of nature and willingness for environmental protection (Beck et al., 2018b). Knowledge provides credibility and is the basis for programming, and passion and personality work together to fuel the appeal and effectiveness of programs (Beck et al., 2018b). An interpreter’s personal ethics, however, is particularly important as it is what guides the direction and outcome of programs.

An interpreter’s personal ethics is apparent in all aspects of programming. When I think about the ethics surrounding my development as an interpreter, words such as amiability, honesty, open-mindedness, sensitivity, compassion, authenticity, patience, and reliability come to mind. These ethics appear in various parts of program development and delivery.

At the most fundamental level, interpreters must be empathetic and responsive to their audiences’ needs. Understanding how to account for Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is an essential aspect of facilitating effective and safe programming (Beck et al., 2018). You must ensure that your audience is comfortable before anything else. Do they have to go to the washroom? Are they straining their eyes by looking into the sun? Are they getting bitten by bugs? Do they feel safe? These are some examples of questions you must consider before and during your program's delivery. Doing so makes it easier for your audience to appreciate your program by limiting their distractions from discomfort. To do this effectively, you must constantly be aware of your audiences’ comfort by harbouring a level of empathetic sensitivity.

There is something so facilitating about interpreting nature while immersed in nature. I think a large part of this has to do with the fact that we are a part of nature. So, in a way, we are facilitating connections between two things that are already innately connected. As nature interpreters, our role goes beyond that of a teacher due to our ability to inspire hearts as well as minds (Beck et al., 2018d). With this, nature interpretation has the power to encourage individuals to look at the world through a new lens. I believe this is enabled through the ability of effective nature interpretation to provide audiences with profound multisensory experiences (Beck et al., 2018a). What’s better than immersing yourself in serene and wonderous natural landscapes, seeing the plants and wildlife, listening to the music, or biophony, of nature, smelling the sap and wildflowers, and feeling the breeze or sun against your skin, all while learning about the history or science behind elements of your experience (Beck et al., 2018a; Grey et al., 2001)? Fully immersive natural experiences like this appeal to so many parts of your brain and can fully captivate your senses in a way that makes you feel small and insignificant. I’m sure many of us have experienced this feeling when in nature; I know I have. 

As nature interpreters, I believe that we have a duty to encourage our audience to connect with the land so that they develop a sense of care and responsibility towards it (Rodenburg, 2019; Beck et al., 2018d). Nature interpretation helps develop our audience’s ethical sense of place in the world as well as encourages them to respect the animals and plants that we share the world with (Beck et al., 2018d). My background in environmental ethics and historical human-nature relationships led me to believe in the ever-growing importance of honest and progressive nature interpretation. Unfortunately, developing relationships between humans and nature is often impeded by deeply ingrained assumptions of human ascendency and widespread consumer-facilitated anthropocentrism. The consequences of this are twofold. Firstly, we must be wary of biased scientific research that may support sacrificing ecological sustainability for economic growth. Thus, substantiating the need for well-informed and honest interpretive programs (Beck et al., 2018e). Secondly, society’s deeply ingrained anthropocentrism tends to limit the effectiveness of interpretive programs that are aimed at ecocentric or biocentric worldviews, for example. In these cases, we must structure our programs to appeal to anthropocentric worldviews by acknowledging the value of nature to humans. Such value may be derived through aesthetic, aural, climate, or ecosystemic processes, to name a few.

You may ask, “why does it matter? It’s not our duty as nature interpreters to make people care.” However, I believe that as nature interpreters, we also have responsibilities as environmental stewards (Beck et al., 2018b; Beck et al., 2018d). Hence, I think that it is our responsibility as environmental stewards to encourage people to open their minds to different and potentially more ecologically sustainable worldviews and perspectives. In doing so, we must also be open-minded in understanding that not everyone harbours the same worldview. We must be able to approach topics from the different perspectives of various worldviews, appealing to human-centric mindsets in addition to biocentric or eco-centric ideologies. Therefore, we must be open-minded and sensitive in our interpretative programming in addition to honest and progressive.

Of course, there are additional perspectives that we must also consider, including those we carry in our invisible backpacks (McIntosh, 1989). Being sensitive to our audiences’ potential limitations, experiences, or existing ideologies allows for more effective programming and enriching experiences. This idea also applies to the accessibility of programs. As interpreters, we are responsible for continuing to increase the accessibility of programs and natural spaces so that everyone can enjoy them (Beck et al., 2018f). 

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018a). Chapter 6: How people learn. In Interpreting culture and natural heritage for a better world (1st ed., pp. 105-126). Sagamore Venture.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018b). Chapter 5: Guiding principles of interpretation. In Interpreting culture and natural heritage for a better world (1st ed., pp. 81-104). Sagamore Venture.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018c). Chapter 1: What is interpretation? In Interpreting culture and natural heritage for a better world (1st ed., pp. 3-16). Sagamore Venture.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018d). Chapter 3: Values to individuals and society. In Interpreting culture and natural heritage for a better world (1st ed., pp. 39-58). Sagamore Venture.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018e). Chapter 15: Interpreting history. In Interpreting culture and natural heritage for a better world (1st ed., pp. 325-347). Sagamore Venture.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018f). Chapter 7: Serving diverse audience. In Interpreting culture and natural heritage for a better world (1st ed., pp. 127-164). Sagamore Venture.

Gray, P. M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science, 291(5501), 52. https://link-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/apps/doc/A69270354/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid

McIntosh, P. (1989). White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack. Peace and Freedom, 10-12.

Rodenburg, J. (2019, June 17). Why environmental educators shouldn’t give up hope. Clearing. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

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Hi Faith,

I really enjoyed your take on this week’s blog prompt. When I was thinking about interpreters’ ethics and responsibilities, I focused on the personal responsibility of the interpreter to be respectful and professional, which in turn will cause the audience to feel as though the interpretation is authentic. I never took into consideration the importance of including the different worldviews in interpretation. I believe to understand the environment a holistic approach is the most reasonable, but failed to include that interpreters have a responsibility to also include the different levels of worldview. However, I do agree that humans attach value to the environment based on these different worldviews, which is the reason that the holistic approach is very important in interpreting. I agree that interpreters have a responsibility to encourage people to open their minds to the environment, there is nothing more important to interpretation, in my opinion than having an open and inviting atmosphere for the audience. This includes the importance of considering the different levels and styles of learning. Very well thought-out blog post, you articulated your points and caused me to look at the responsibilities of interpreters in greater depth. It caused me to look into my own personal ethics and see how I can learn more about becoming a better interpreter.

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Unit 10: Nature Interpretation's Role in Environmental Sustainability

As I grow as an interpreter and a lover of nature, I believe that my ethics and my responsibility towards the environment also grow. When I was younger I thought in saving nature that benefits us as humans, and everything else did not require protection and acknowledgment. Now as I have grown older my philosophies regarding nature have changed.

The philosophy I have towards nature is a holistic approach. I believe for the success of the individual there must be the success of the whole, and vice versa, there cannot be one without the other. Not only is it vital to protect the environment on a biological level, but also on an aesthetic level. All levels of nature are required for the success of the environment. The scientifical level of the environment is essential regarding sustainability and biodiversity, while the aesthetic level first draws people to nature and causes them to care about nature. That is why it is our responsibility to protect, learn and teach each level of nature.

Personal ethics and responsibility are key parts of being a successful and impactful interpreter. There are ethics that are universal and that all should have when interpreting nature, such as protecting and respecting the environment. Still, there are some that are particularly important to me. As an interpreter, I feel that it is very important, to be honest. Honesty is contagious and attractive, this is what allows the audience to feel as though the interpretation is authentic. It is essential that this trust that an audience has in me as an interpreter is not broken due to the alteration of facts and circumstances. This honesty also includes impartiality, I believe that as an interpreter it is important to not let personal beliefs and ideologies find their way into the interpretation. My role as an interpreter is to relay the spirit messages with consideration of social and cultural context. I am not there to advise and demand how the audience should feel about the information presented or the environment as a whole. Impartiality is also a sign of professionalism to me. It is essential to enjoy what you are doing as a nature interpreter but it doesn’t mean that professionalism and impartiality should be forgotten. Professionalism is an aspect of many professions that is integral for the enjoyment of the clients, and nature interpretation is no exception. Being professional allows people to enjoy that interpretation without fear of bias and dishonesty being involved.

I also feel that it is my responsibility as an interpreter to be respectful. My personal belief is to treat people how I wish to be treated. Therefore, I live life offering all those respect hoping that the respect will be returned to me. That is why I believe that as an interpreter I must treat all parties with respect, not only the audience but the environment as well. As we are humans, the audience and I may have different views and opinions about nature and the interpretation of it, however, that is not means for disrespectful and harmful rhetoric to present itself. An interpreter, in my opinion, should always treat the audience with respect, not allowing the interpretation to be overshadowed. I also think that this respect also extends to respecting the audience's different learning levels and styles. Understanding that not everyone learns in the same way, pace, and level, respecting this, and being patient will the audience is a responsibility of interpretation that I take instead seriously. Respect from the interpreter extends to the environment that is being interpreted. Respecting the environment goes beyond practicing sustainability and speaking about environmental issues. To respect nature is to consciously make decisions that are better for the environment and to learn and love nature. Once you love nature you find it easier to respect and protect it allowing you to be a better and more authentic interpreter.

Finally, I believe that as an interpreter I have the ethical responsibility to continually strive to learn more about nature. There is no end to what we can learn about and from nature. I think in order to interpret properly I should always feel as though I have more to learn. Having more to learn means that there is something new to look forward to, allowing interpretation to feel fresh and exciting to me. When an interpreter truly enjoys what they are doing, and wishes to learn more about the environment it extends to the audience. The willingness to continue to learn creates not only an interactive atmosphere but also causes interpreters to present more approachable. I believe this atmosphere also creates space for a more respectful interaction and interactive interpretation. I think it is important for interpreters to acknowledge that they too need to learn more about nature, which makes it less likely for the interpreter to feel the need to include personal bias and opinions in the interpretation. When you think there is nothing left for you to learn, you believe your opinions have greater weight and feel obligated to share them. This is why it is even more important to have the willingness to continue to learn, it allows you to uphold your professionalism.

While everyone has their own ethical standards and responsibilities, there should be some shared opinions between interpreters. Personally, I think that all my ethics and responsibilities as an interpreter should be connected and work together. There is no professionalism without respect for all parties, and impartiality. Impartiality and respect are the results of a genuine willingness to learn more about the environment.

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Unit 9: The world's loneliest whale

When I saw the prompt this week, I was somewhat overwhelmed. I was unsure of what I knew about nature that could be amazing, what would excite other people. I thought to talk about something that everyone would understand and feel familiar with but realized the prompt said “this is your blog”. So I decided to speak about something that fascinates me, hoping others would find it fascinating as well.

I have decided to talk about what can be considered the loneliest animal on the planet, the 52-hertz whale. The first time I heard about this whale was through a K-pop song that my sister showed me. At the beginning of the pandemic, my younger sister had gotten interested in BTS, a Korean group known for their very complex lyrics and song themes. The song “Whalien 52” drew a connection between the 52-hertz whale and a person who feels as though they are alone, an outcast, an alien, thus the name “Whalien 52”. Like the person described in the song, the 52-hertz whale is considered the loneliest whale as its call is significantly higher in pitch than other whales (Perkins, 2013).

The whale has never been sighted; it’s only heard through hydrophones and its movements track via its call. Due to this fact, it is unclear what species of whale it belongs to as blue whales have a call pitch between 16-39 Hz and fin whales about 20 Hz. Scientists have been tracking this whale since 1992 and have yet to identify its species, even wondering if it is a hybrid of two different species.

While it sounds quite sad that this is the loneliest whale, it being consistently heard over the years of its tracking has confirmed that, though unusual, its call has no disastrous impact on its life and health.  According to the Bioacoustics Research Program at Cornell University, the whale may not be as lonely as portrayed. Researchers say that it can likely be “understood” and recognized by other whales. They also say that with whales from different regions having different dialects the 52-hertz whale may not even be that unique, to the whales. To us, however, it is still very unique with no other whale being recorded at such high pitch levels, making it quite unique.

I love this topic because it just ties back to what we spoke about last week, about music in nature. Whale calls are one of the most common examples of music in nature and one of the most studied. However, the 52-hertz whale proves that there is still so much about nature that we still don’t know. One of the beauties of nature is that it is a mystery that can never truly be solved. The more we seek to understand nature the more we have to learn and that’s what makes nature interpretation so powerful. It helps us understand nature as much as we can and simply enjoy the beauty in the mysteries we cannot solve.

Perkins, S. (2013), People: The Science Life: Seeking the loneliest whale. Science News, 184: 32-32. https://doi.org/10.1002/scin.5591840626

Andrews, R. (2019, March 11). Whale dialects can be identified using new algorithm. IFLScience. Retrieved from https://www.iflscience.com/whale-dialects-can-be-identified-using-new-algorithm-34281

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Bioacoustics Research Program. (2015). Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://web.archive.org/web/20150226002906/http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/listen-to-project-sounds/blue-whale

Funnell, R. (2021, August 31). IFLScience meets: Director Joshua Zeman on filming the loneliest whale: The Search for 52. IFLScience. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.iflscience.com/iflscience-meets-director-joshua-zeman-on-filming-the-loneliest-whale-the-search-for-52-60747

Beck, L,. Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). The bright future of interpretation. Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore Publishing

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Pheromones: Nature's Secret Language

Like many of you, I found this blog prompt to be intimidating. Since a lot of us are in our undergraduate degree majoring in a science, we have learned a considerable amount about nature. I am in awe of how complex and stunning nature is daily. This feeling often arises when I observe something beautiful in the outdoors. Instead of focusing on one of the many visual things that make me love nature, I made this post about something you can’t see with the human eye, the secret language of pheromones.

Last semester I took a course called “Natural Chemicals in the Environment” (the course code is ENVS*3040 if you are interested). I took the course as I felt many of my classes were going over similar topics, and I found it hard to stay interested in topics I had already learned. When I read the description for this course, I didn't know any of the material being covered, which grabbed my attention. This course opened my eyes to a huge part of nature that was unknown to me. For those of you that don’t know what semiochemicals are, I think you will find them as interesting as I have. Semiochemicals are naturally occurring chemicals that, when released, mediate interactions between species (Sonenshine, 1985). Specifically, the semiochemical type that interests me most is pheromones. In this blog post, we will explore the fascinating roles of pheromones in the natural world.

Pheromones are semiochemicals that mediate intra-specific interactions (interactions between the same species) (El-Shafie & Faleiro, 2017). When an individual receives the signal from the pheromone, it causes them to exhibit a particular behaviour. These signals can communicate many messages from a distance (Sonenshine, 1985). They can notify the presence of predators to communicate danger, attract mates, mark territory, and even lead individuals to a particular source. An example is how ants use pheromones to make a trail out of chemicals to lead between their nest and a food source (Chalissery et al., 2019). This allows other ants to follow the trail and locate food.

Video: How Ants Get a Taste for the Trail

Ants use their antennae to sniff out food and other ants. It’s how they make sense of the world. But how exactly do they use them?

The most interesting part is that this ‘community of communication’ is entirely invisible to all other species (Sonenshine, 1985). Each species has methods to maintain the specificity of the chemical release so that only their species can receive the message. Even closely related species have mechanisms to only notify individuals of their species. This is particularly important to maintain reproductive isolation (Sonenshine, 1985). For example, closely related moth species have different times when they release sex pheromones to prevent interbreeding (Jeremy & Ring, 2016). 

Overall the secret world of pheromones is an amazing aspect of nature that allows communication between species in ways entirely invisible to us. Although we know a lot about nature, there is always more to learn, and I am consistently amazed by the beauty of the complexity of our environment. Interpreting the complexity of pheromones allows us to acknowledge the many complicated relationships within nature and see ourselves as species of a larger ecosystem (Beck et al., 2018). I hope that by providing this information, you can better appreciate the beauty and complexity of diversity in nature and understand our part in protecting it (Beck et al., 2018).

Learning about something so discrete makes me think: what other amazing discoveries await us in the future?

References

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

Chalissery, J. M., Renyard, A., Gries, R., Hoefele, D., Alamsetti, S. K., & Gries, G. (2019). Ants Sense, and Follow, Trail Pheromones of Ant Community Members. Insects, 10(11), 383. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects10110383

El-Shafie, H. A. F., & Faleiro, J. R. (2017). Semiochemicals and Their Potential Use in Pest Management. Biological Control of Pest and Vector Insects. doi: 10.5772/66463

Jeremy D. A., & Ring T. C. (2016). Pheromone Communication in Moths : Evolution, Behavior, and Application. University of California Press.Sonenshine, D. E. (1985). Pheromones and Other Semiochemicals of the Acari. Annual Review of Entomology, 30(1), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.en.30.010185.000245

The New York Times. (2016, March 24). How Ants Get a Taste for the Trail [Video]. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/video/science/100000006261057/how-ants-get-a-taste-for-the-trail.html

[jcenvs3000w23]

Hi,

I really enjoyed your blog post; pheromones are very interesting to talk about and often misinterpreted. When I first heard about pheromones it was in the context of physical and sexual attraction between humans. As this is how the media portrayed pheromones, this is what shaped my perception of the concept. Later on, I was told that pheromones are used in mating in various species, not only humans. It was not until I started my degree in biology that I was able to learn a bit about pheromones and their true nature. When I started learning about it, I was intrigued by how much it reminded me of animal “songs”. We know that the songs and calls that the animals have been used as a way for them to communicate beyond mating making them quite similar to pheromones. However, what makes pheromones more interesting like you said is the “invisible” aspect of them. I’m amazed by the fact that species use pheromones to mass communicate with members of their species without the interpretation of others, because, unlike a call or song, you cannot hear them or see them. Your blog post was a very well-done interpretation, it has caused me to want to search and learn even more about pheromones. Even though I corrected a lot of the misconceptions I had about pheromones, your blog has caused me to learn more and wish to understand even further. Well done!

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Nature Interpretation Through Music

Using music as a means of interpretation is no new concept. The protest songs of the 60s and 70s provide a clear example of people using music as a hugely successful means of mass interpretation. This music reached a vast audience of change-thirsty youth, mobilizing them against the time's social, political, and environmental issues (Covach & Flory, 2018). The power of music as an interpretive force is undeniable, but how does this apply to our discussion of nature?

Well, if you consider music to be a combination of vocal or instrumental sounds combined in a way that produces beautiful form, harmony, and emotion, then wouldn’t nature be the purest and longest-playing symphony? Music is everywhere in nature. It’s in the rustling leaves, the whistling wind, the chatter of animals, the pattering rain, the billowing thunder, the trickling water, the crashing waves, and the sounds of footsteps.

Additionally, nature is everywhere in music. It’s in the sounds of instruments, the rhythm/ tempo, and the topic of lyrics. Nature inspires music. Take “The Four Seasons” by Antonio Vivaldi, for example. Each concerto in the series represents one of the four seasons. If you listen to these concertos, you will hear representations of flowing creeks, singing birds, barking dogs, buzzing flies, storms, winter fires, and frozen landscapes, to name a few. “The Four Seasons” may be one of classical music's most obvious direct expressions of nature. Still, many others work off a similar premise, such as Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,” which translates to “Moonlight” in English. Such representations of nature are also not limited to classical music. “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong is a great example from late 1960s R&B, and “Summer Breeze” by Seals and Crofts is an example from 1970s folk rock. Lyrically, many songs have nature-related themes and inspirations. There is “Sundown” by Gordon Lightfoot, “Bobcaygeon” by the Tragically Hip, “Where do the Children Play” by Cat Stevens, “California Dreaming” by The Mammas and The Pappas, and the list goes on.

Music doesn’t have to have nature in its theme, lyrics, or instrumentation to inspire thoughts of natural landscapes in its audience. Music triggers a part of our brain that helps us to remember (Baumgartner, 1992). I’m sure you all have specific songs that trigger memories of natural landscapes from your past. Likewise, I can recall many songs that transport me to places in nature. Despite growing up in the age of iPods and Apple Music, I listened to most of my music through CD players. Thus, many of my transportive tunes were, instead, transportive albums. Most notably, every song in the “Cheap Thrills” album by Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin swiftly transports me back to the summer of 2016. I would lie in the back of my truck in the middle of the hay field or bomb around on my dirtbikes, all while repeatedly listening to the album.

I compiled a Spotify playlist of some of my favourite nature-related music. Have a listen. Who knows? Maybe you'll find your new favourite tune!

References:

Baumgartner, H. (1992). Remembrance of Things Past: Music, Autobiographical Memory, and Emotion. Advances in Consumer Research. 19. 613-620.

Beck, L., Cable, & T. T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and

Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore Venture.

Covach, J., & Flory, A. (2018). What’s that Sound?: An Introduction to Rock and its History. W.W. Norton & Company. 

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

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This was an amazing post! I think you did a beautiful job following the prompt in a way that was articulate and what feels like would be true to you. Your reference to music from the 60s and 70s as an interpretive tool used to unite the masses on global struggles really got me thinking. I feel like music of that time was like no other; there was so much intention behind evert factor that contributed to making music, from the lyrics to the composition of every instrument. You can hear the messages that were being conveyed and you can tell that they extended far beyond just making hit records. I believe that might be why I consider music of that time to be my favourite. 

I think I see and hear music in nature and nature in music in a very similar way to you. I think your connections to “The Four Seasons” and “Claire de Lune” shows how impactful nature can be as a source of inspiration. Beyond that, it serves as more than just a muse but a force that connects us all, as we are apart of it. I think you explained and captured that well by showing nature in music throughout time and how it can never be celebrated enough. 

Thank you for your insightful post and beautiful imagery, I think you nailed it! I also admire your taste in music; that playlist you put together will certainly be listened to by my ears. “Vincent” by Don McLean is one of those songs for me that brings you closer to nature than just seeing it for yourself, so I love that you have it in there. 

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Thank you so much for the uplifting reply! Don McLean's "Vincent" does the same for me as well. I remember the first time I actually listened to the lyrics and realized he was singing about Vincent Van Gogh. I must have heard that song over a dozen times before I finally clued in! I always appreciated the song musically but never connected with it in the way that I did following that revelation. Your brain is a funny thing. I don't recall where I was the first time I listened to it, nor any time after. But I do remember exactly where I was, what I was doing and what part of the song I was at when I made the connection.

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I really enjoyed your post, well done! I also made the connection to Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” when I was considering the relationship between music and nature. While it is one of the most obvious classical representations of nature in music, that is what I love the most about the piece. Each concerto expresses the universal emotions associated with the seasons in such an intricate yet direct way. This category of music that is inspired by music guides listeners to the emotions the composer wishes for them to feel and understand. It interprets music through emotions that everyone is sure to have experienced at least once making it a nostalgic piece even when it is your first time listening. However, like you said there are songs that have nothing to do with nature and still invoke this same nostalgic feeling concerning nature. I like that this is the type of music you have decided to share with us. I never considered these types of songs when thinking about ones that remind me of nature. I find it interesting that you are able to experience this nostalgic feeling without the music having a direct correlation to the memory or nature itself. I guess it is just another way everyone’s minds are different.

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Unit 7: Interpretation through music

Where is music in nature? One of the most enchanting and captivating aspects of nature is its music. From the rustling of leaves in the wind to the chirping of birds, nature has a symphony all its own. Water is one of the most soothing and calming sounds in nature. From the gentle trickle of a stream to the powerful roar of a waterfall, the sound of water can have a profound effect on our mood and emotions. The sound of water can help to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve sleep quality. Birds are some of the most vocal creatures in nature, and their songs can be heard all around us. Each bird species has its own unique song, which can vary in complexity and duration. I love that humans have taken the time to study these different songs to allow them to slightly interpret the meaning and intention behind these songs. Even the simple sound of wind blowing can be seen as natural music as it rustles leaves or blows forcefully against buildings. Nature has music all its own, and listening to its sounds can have a profound effect on our well-being.

Just as music can be found all around in nature, so can nature be found in music. Nature has been used as a source of inspiration for composers and songwriters throughout history. Musicians like Vivaldi, Beethoven, and Debussy were inspired by the beauty of the natural world and used it as a source of inspiration for their music. For example, Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" is a set of four violin concertos, each representing a different season and the natural elements that come with it. We see in more recent songs the comparisons of nature and love, the songwriters often using nature as a caveat to express their emotions in a universally understood manner. Musicians often use natural sounds, such as bird songs, ocean waves, and wind chimes, to create a calming and soothing atmosphere.

Using the very music found in nature to present nature in music. When this topic came up there were many songs that came to mind. The song from my childhood that would always bring me back to running through the small forests while I lived in Hamilton is “Colours of the Wind” from the movie Pocahontas. The song perfectly explains how though we live on Earth we do not own it, expressing the interconnectedness of all living things and encouraging us to respect and appreciate nature's diversity. So when I hear this song it reminds me of all the beautiful trees seen while running and playing and the wildlife we would be extra careful not to disturb. The song reminds me of the importance of living in harmony with nature and the need to protect the world's natural resources. It reminds me to respect and protect nature which brought me so much joy as a child, so it can continue to bring joy to others.

Schwarm, B. (2020, February 7). The Four Seasons. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Four-Seasons-by-Vivaldi

Beck, L., Cable, & T. T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and

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Unit 6: Natural Interpretation through 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).

To me personally, this quote is easy to understand and unpack. In simple terms, it speaks of not having complete integrity in our modern interpretations if they do not consider the past. However, breaking this quote into sections would allow for a more whole and complex explanation.

The quote starts by stating that there is no merit in ancient things. This sentence means there is no real benefit in historical objects as they stand alone. They hold no intrinsic value without there being a story connected to them. For example, Canadian pennies have no monetary value today; therefore, unless considering their historical relevance, they are useless. Therefore, forgone things are pieces to a puzzle, and singular puzzle pieces are worthless.

The quote continues by saying that integrity, which has merit, requires the keeping together of all parts of a whole. Therefore, as interpreters, if we wish to have integrity, we cannot disregard history in our interpretations, or it is incomplete. A complete interpretation requires understanding not only the information of our modern world but also ancient. Furthermore, we must also seek to learn how the world changed from ancient times and whether it is all for the better.

Finally, the quote closes with an analogy to history being like a train station. We know that the line does not only exist when we are on them, but train tracks, like history, persist without us being there. I firmly believe that history is present in our everyday lives; however, we must actively try to acknowledge and understand it to recognize its presence.

So now that we have unpacked the quote, why does it matter? In my opinion, incorporating history in every kind of interpretation is vital. We can not only learn from the past but also use the past to continue to learn and expand our future. I consider history a guidebook; it shows us what worked and what needs change. We cannot understand our world today without first looking into the past. "Historical interpretation grounded in individual histories facilitates connection between lived experiences and archival records or artefacts" (Modern Cartography Series, 2019). Historical interpretations are not only cautionary tales; they are ways to keep stories alive and to create deeper connections. Interpreting history brings more honesty and transparency to interpretations, allowing both the audience and the interpreter to lose themselves in the stories of the times. Interpreters can use history to help cultivate our futures; that is why historical interpretations are vital. Use history to answer questions that are usually ignored; use it to have complete and honest interpretations.

Author Robert Heinlein said, “A generation which ignores history has no past and no future." (Time Enough for Love, 1973). Without using our past to learn and write our future, we refuse ourselves whole interpretation rooted in integrity.

However, we must ask ourselves if we are truly willing to accept all components of our history.

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

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What's On My Mind?

Looking at this picture there are multiple thoughts that run through my brain. I think of the beauty that this picture holds, a sense of belonging, I think of the science behind snow turning into ice and I think of how hard it’s going to be to shovel the snow and clean my car before going to class. Throughout the last five units we’ve been learning how interpretation works, we’ve learned what it takes to be an interpreter, how to interpret, for example, using science to interpret things, interpreting through art etc. and much more. 

This picture is a great representation of what offers me a sense of belonging (Beck et al., 2018). This is a picture of Chancellors Way, housing services near the University of Guelph, where I live. The people that live in these buildings all offer me a sense of peace, especially my roommate (Beck et al., 2018). My roommate (my best friend) is the reason I enjoy staying at this apartment. She explains all the beautiful scenery and all the science behind it, she is a true biomed major (Wals et al., 2014). When it snows she goes into the whole science behind why snowfalls occur, she explains the chemistry behind the snow turning into ice and then turning into water puddles when the sun comes out. When the sun comes out and flowers start to flourish she explains the whole concept behind photosynthesis! These scientific explanations help me feel more connected to our environment and also offer a different lens to interpret nature through. 

I believe that my roommate is helping me interpret nature through science education (SE) (Wals, et al., 2014). Science education focuses on environmental education stressing the “incorporation of values and changing behaviours” (Wals et al., 2014). This can be seen through the examples I listed above for example the changes occurring in snow turning to ice and the photosynthesis of plants. She also talks to me loads about climate change. She stresses how human behaviour is impacting our world's climate so every time we walk outside and see garbage on the ground she reminds me of how our planet is being harmed (Wals et al., 2014). Although it is not in the form of a textbook or journal article she is still teaching me about the environment and the science behind it all. 

An interpreter's job is to get individuals to feel more connected to nature whether that be through explaining the history behind different scenery or offering them a sense of belonging or even just entertaining them and influencing them to come back and visit the same area (Hookyaas, 2023). This being said, I hope that everyone is able to find themselves an interpreter. Although my relationship with nature has always been great, by being exposed to multiple interpreters I have been able to see and interpret nature through many different lenses and am learning how amazing and beautiful our world is! I have also learned that our world is complex and that it is getting ruined due to human influences. We need to treat our earth with more respect especially since it is everyone's home!

References

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

Hookyaas, A. (2023). Unit 02: Teaching Learners. Courselink.

Wals, A. E. J., Brody, M., Dillon, J., Stevenson R. B. (2014). Convergence Between Science and Environmental Education. Education Forum.

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Hi Sanjna,

I agree that we need to be more concerned about protecting our environment. I believe that if an individual can find a way to interpret the environment, they will begin to feel the need to protect it. As you said, many interpret it through science, which is how they can understand the importance of the environment. However, this course has taught me that interpretation needs to go beyond just the scientific level of nature. Interpretations need to feed all aspects of human understanding for us to truly connect with nature and feel the urge to protect it. I love your point about finding interpreters that open your respect and love for nature more. I think that we expect interpreters to be people who have a higher knowledge of the environment. However, your post made me realize that anyone can be an interpreter of nature. Without realizing it, some people influence our relationship with the environment by enjoying it through a lens through which they understand it the most. Your roommate enjoys nature through science; my sister enjoys it through pictures. Both are not actively trying to interpret nature to us but., expressing their love for nature through their respective lens has affected our relationship with the environment. Therefore, you are correct everyone should expose themselves to multiple interpreters and multiple interpretive lenses; this is how their connection to nature can become even stronger.

I thoroughly enjoyed your post; it opened my eyes to a new perspective on interpretations. Well done!

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Unit 5: Sustainable eating

Something that has been on my mind a lot is sustainable eating. The sustainable eating presented to us today has several problems that need to be addressed. The way that sustainable eating has been interpreted to us through the media is very problematic.

The way sustainable eating is presented to us through media is that vegetarian and vegan lifestyles being adopted are needed to protect the environment. The two problems I have with these ideas are that: they place responsibility on individuals and disregard that not all vegan and vegetarian food are produced sustainably. Firstly, the idea that if individuals adopt vegan lifestyles, it fixes many problems overlooks the fact that the concern with eating meat is that the companies producing the meat also cause environment damaging chemicals. Therefore, the focus should not be on the individual consuming animal products but on the companies. Furthermore, there is a misconception that vegan and vegetarian diets are automatically more sustainable. However, the same unsustainable practices seen in the production of animal products are found in agricultural practices. Therefore, the concern is not people's diet but the production practices of the companies.

Another issue is that sustainable eating demonstrated through media is a privilege. Veganism is one of the most common demonstrations of sustainable living today. Many vegan "activists" present it as the best way to eat to protect the environment and as something everyone should partake in. These ideas fail to consider the economic strain the vegan lifestyle will ensure on everyday people. Many people cannot afford to eat sustainably especially considering the current economic situation. Poverty and food security is a problem that affects almost every country, and expecting people in these situations to pay attention to sustainable living is illogical. While buying locally is more sustainable, it is a privilege to do so as local suppliers must charge more compared to large corporations. The textbook explains how interpreters must acknowledge our privileges and consider how they affect our interpretations (Beck et al., 2018). The lack of privilege acknowledgment seen within sustainable eating interpretations is an important issue that needs further addressing.

The final issue I have with the examples of sustainable eating is the lack of cultural consideration. Often people fail to acknowledge that the curators of sustainable living are indigenous peoples. The customs in which indigenous peoples use every part of the animal have been the best examples of sustainable eating and living for centuries. These practices also extend further than meat, it is seen in their agricultural production. Their cultural connection to the earth caused them to cultivate to survive while still sustaining the gifts of the environment. Therefore, when some interpretations I have seen condemn their hunting rituals claiming that they are harming the environment, it shows a lack of acknowledgment of indigenous peoples. This lack of cultural consideration also falls under interpreters' inability to acknowledge their privilege and how they affect others. I have no issue with sustainable eating; I encourage it if you can. It is the way that the media presents sustainable eating with which I have an issue. Interpretations on sustainable eating are filled with misinformation, biases, and lack of considerations and need to be corrected.

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 4: Translating Nature through Art

There are a multitude of art forms, and so many (perhaps all of them) serve as incredible methods of interpretation. Think about all the songs that singers write about heartbreak. By doing this, they pour their pain into an outlet that not only serves a therapeutic purpose but helps an audience understand. I will provide just one example before I delve into the discussion of nature: the song "Love Yourself" by Justin Bieber. Almost all of us have heard that song on the radio before, but some of us may not know that the song was written by Ed Sheeran about his own love life. The chorus of the song literally opens with the words "My mama don't like you and she likes everyone." In my opinion, that is an incredibly effective (albeit cold and brutal way) to translate the reality that clearly Ed Sheeran must have dated quite a monster.

In terms of nature interpretation through art, I have always been one who digests information quite well through story telling. As a child, I was fascinated with the stories of how predators were a vital part of their landscape due to how they controlled the ungulate population, allowing plants to grow. The most glaring example of this is the reintroduction of the wild wolf population in Yellowstone National Park. Plant populations were able to recover greatly in the park when wolves were reintroduced (Beschta & Ripple 2012), since their hunting was able to curtail elk overpopulation and overfeeding (Beschta & Ripple 2016). According to Freeman Tilden's Principles of Interpretation (Beck et al. 2018), nature interpretation should allow people to understand the beauty of their surroundings. I think the influence of predators on their ecosystem is an incredibly beautiful system, and during my childhood, this concept was perfectly explained to me by the storybook "Wolf Island" by Celia Godkin (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Title Page of Wolf Island

Not only did this book do wonders to help me interpret the importance of the presence of predators, I also find it incredible that the book was published six years before wolves were even reintroduced to Yellowstone! In relation to the podcast project, I firmly believe these artistic methods of interpretation should be used as guides for making the podcast (or any sort of nature tour/information session) fun and interactive for an audience. And the more beautiful an piece of art is, the more effective it may be to convey the gift of beauty, or help others to interpret it.

References

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

Beschta, R.L. & Ripple, W.J. (2012) Trophic cascades in Yellowstone: The first 15years after wolf reintroduction. Biological Conservation, 145(1), 205-213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2011.11.005.

Beschta, R.L. & Ripple, W.J. (2016) Riparian vegetation recovery in Yellowstone: The first two decades after wolf reintroduction. Biological Conservation, 93-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.03.031.

Godkin, C. (1989) Wolf Island. Fitzhenry & Whiteside

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Hi Alec,

I enjoy how you saw the beauty of nature through the ecosystems and the roles that the wolfs played. Understanding ecosystems was never something I considered beautiful, and find it rather hard to equate it to beauty. However, I believe that with the right interpretation, one can see beauty even in the most unorthodox places. I am different from you; I find it hard to receive the "gift of beauty" from storytelling. However, while looking at photographs of animals in their habitat, I am to understand the importance of protecting them and admire their natural beauty. Like learning differences, I believe people have their creative differences. What may invoke intense emotions and the ability to understand for one will not be the same for another. And though I enjoy hearing stories and poems about nature, I have a better ability to see the beauty of nature when looking at visual art.

While I agree that artistic interpretations are crucial, I disagree that they should be used simply as guides. Art interpretations can stand alone and have been for years. They allow the audience to feel the sentiments of the artists while also coming to their own conclusions about the piece. I believe that art interpretations stand on their own.

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

Art is a medium that is used to portray all different messages. Therefore, I believe anyone can interpret nature through an artistic lens. Whether through music, dance, or visual arts, they are used to interpret nature. I believe artistic interpretations are the best examples of "the gift of beauty."

"The gift of beauty" is defined as instilling people with the ability and desire to see beauty in their surroundings (Beck et al. 2018). The interpretation allows people to feel something deeper based on the beauty of nature, eliciting the desire to understand and protect the environment that caused such a response. The gift of beauty is just by hearing the stories of nature or watching dances revolving around nature; there is spiritual uplifting (Beck et al. 2018).

As someone who couldn't connect with nature when I was young, I appreciate those who use art to interpret nature. "Who am I to interpret through art?" I am a person who made her first connection to nature by appreciating its beauty. I started to express my love for nature by using photography to capture moments in nature that were especially beautiful to me. Through photography, one can express the sentiments experienced at that moment in a lasting photo. Art portrays the artist's emotions while simultaneously invoking different emotions in the audience. Photography always made me feel as though I was in that moment, losing myself and hearing, seeing, and experiencing nature in real-time. The first professional photograph of natural phenomena that drew me to photography interpretations is that of the Northern Lights by Kristopher Foot.

Though it is something so simple as the photo of the lights still invokes such a strong desire in me to protect the places where they can be seen. The ability of the photograph to instill strong emotions in me allows me to realize the importance of artistic interpretations.

Seeing others' ability to interpret nature through photography encouraged me to do the same. I am not professional, but I have developed the habit of capturing moments in nature in which I feel at peace. For example, while on my flight to Jamaica, I felt overwhelming happiness when I saw how much greenery surrounded the island. It caused me to think about how important it is for us to protect and preserve the Greenlands we have left here in Canada. Capturing that moment I felt others would share this sentiment, after observing how beautiful it is to see a couple of buildings here and there surrounded by a multitude of nature.

Art interpretations move beyond the logical sense of the environment. They target the sentiments and the spirit of both the audience and the interpreter. They allow us to enjoy nature and the beauty it provides.

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 3: Recognizing Privilege

What role does “privilege” play in nature interpretation? Please include your working definition of privilege.

When considering diverse populations, such as the one in Ontario, we see families and people who come from many different backgrounds and whose privileges manifest in different ways. We often think about a financial situation regarding privilege, but when thinking about exposure and interpretation of nature, privilege can play many roles. To me, privilege is the ability and freedom to engage in activities that bring joy and add to one’s quality of life.

Firstly, financial privilege can alter one’s relationship with nature. Many exciting outdoor activities require a certain amount of money and time. Consider a double paycheck household in Ontario, for example. The parents both earn a comfortable living and can invest in things like camping trips or outdoor sports for their kids. Furthermore, they have the time to be involved because they are not working multiple jobs to provide for their family. This is an example of a family that (if willing to) can expose their children to nature in exciting ways, therefore shaping their children’s interpretation of nature. Beyond this, varying degrees of financial freedom affect things like travel. When I reflect on my experiences in nature, I have been privileged and fortunate enough to make memories in exquisite settings like Bali, Zermatt, and Vancouver. I recognize that leaving one’s home to explore different landscapes affects one’s exposure to nature. Although one can form an incredible relationship with nature at home, being able to explore the world is an extreme privilege.

Another aspect of privilege is parental involvement and willingness. To put this point into perspective, picture a wealthy family whose parents are always working, and the children spend all their free time indoors playing on iPads. These children, although incredibly fortunate, do not have a role model to expose them to nature and build a love for it within them. So, therefore my definition of privilege goes beyond just the financial and into simply the level of exposure to nature. This can impact a person’s interpretation and relationship with nature severely.

The other aspect of privilege, and I think this is one that is often overlooked, is the privilege of being able-bodied, mentally healthy, and physically fit. Health plays a huge role in exposure to nature. Imagine an able-bodied individual who wants to go swimming. With proper access to a beach, all this person must do is get their swimsuit on. Now imagine someone who used to greatly enjoy swimming but was in an accident and lost the use of their legs. This can greatly change one’s interpretation and relationship with nature. The same goes for physical and mental health. We often overlook the difficulties that someone with depression has regarding simply going outside for a walk. Having our health, both mental and physical, is an extreme form of privilege that cannot be overlooked when discussing nature interpretation.

Lastly, personal experiences can greatly affect nature interpretation. If a family or individual experienced homelessness and spend many winters sleeping outside in the cold, it is not unusual that if they improve their situation camping may be an activity that brings on trauma and pain (Beck et al., 2018).

Overall, privilege plays a massive role in nature interpretation. It is so important to understand this and be able to assess one’s own privileges.

Refrences

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

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I enjoyed reading your blog post. I like that you decided to speak on certain privileges we often don't consider. Having parents who feel that having experiences with nature is very important is a privilege in itself. People usually believe that kids playing outside is enough nature they need. However, it is also a privilege to consider other options to access nature; for some going outdoors is the best they can do. Therefore, I agree that parents who see the importance of a relationship with nature are a privilege. I also did not consider the advantage of being able-bodied when unpacking my privilege. Being able-bodied is taken for granted, especially regarding access to environmental interpretations. As you said, having the physical and mental capacity to enjoy nature is a privilege. One suggestion to reduce this barrier would be to somehow incorporate nature in the recovery process of these health issues. Helping those who are depressed to find relief from nature, even from the comfort of their home, if they can't find it in them to move; allowing better disability support for those who enjoy nature but find it hard physically. These are considerations that are overlooked, and I am glad that you took them into thought while writing your post. I enjoyed your insight, as it caused me to look even deeper into my privilege and how I can use it to help others at a disadvantage.

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Unit 3: Risk vs Reward

Privilege, as I see it, is the advantage afforded to a particular group or person that others do not have due to reasons beyond their control. Privilege affects every aspect of life and is seen within nature interpretations. Privilege is not one-dimensional; we all have access to privilege if we look long and hard into our lives. This unit spoke about unpacking our backpacks of privilege; I believe that is incredibly important if we are to find ways to become more inclusive.

When I was trying to unpack my invisible backpack, I initially thought I had limited privilege. I am a black woman in North America, and this alone allowed me to believe that my privilege was limited. However, after looking further, I realized that I am a middle-class, highly educated person that speaks English and had the opportunity to attend university with financial aid due to my mother working at the University of Guelph. These are benefits that many others cannot afford by no fault of their own but simply due to their lack of privilege. I have access to these privileges through no work of my own but due to my parents.

Nature interpretation and access to these interpretations are also affected by privilege. The lack of minority inclusion in nature interpretations over the years is evidence of the lack of consideration of advantages to which many minorities have no access. The first consideration is cultural barriers (Beck et al., 2018). Minorities will not go places where they feel unwelcome. In the past nature interpretation parks and access to them have been predominantly white, giving the illusion that it is a "white thing" deterring minorities from getting involved. This also leads to potential communication barriers in nature interpretations by not having minorities employed as interpreters create barriers (Beck et al., 2018). Another is the consideration of economic barriers (Beck et al., 2018). These include high entrance fees in parks making it harder for minorities of lower incomes to access these parks. Fellow minorities in my life would prefer using the money it would cost to go to these parks on things they are positive they will enjoy than risking not enjoying the interpretation park.

The textbook speaks of many ways to increase the involvement of minorities in environmental interpretations. Suggestions include advertising in places where minorities frequent to make the invitation more "personal" (Beck et al., 2018). However, we must not stop at simply inviting but include minorities in the interpretations to make minority visitors more comfortable. Including minorities, interpreters give visitors a sense of belonging, trust, and security. This type of inclusion begins the breakdown of both cultural and communication barriers. Another suggestion was allowing access to transportation from underserved audiences to the site of interpretation (Beck et al., 2018). Access to transportation reduces the cost for these audiences to visit these parks and museums, removing some of the economic barriers.

I believe that privilege will rear its ugly head anywhere. However, if we wish for all to have the opportunity to enjoy nature, we must use some of our privileges to aid those at a disadvantage. I understand that following the suggestion given in the textbook won't remove all the barriers between minorities and nature interpretations. However, I do believe it is a start.

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UNIT 2: Teaching Learners

Prior to enrolling in this course, I had never really considered being an environmental interpreter. In fact, I believe I had a misconstrued view of the field of interpretation as a whole. In my eyes, partaking in the role of an interpreter was a simplistic task. A tour guide was just that - someone who gives people tours of a national park, for example. Passionately connecting with the audience, increasing their appreciation and understanding of the world around them, and overall providing enrichment to their experiences are just a few of the roles an interpreter may be responsible for (Beck et al. 2018). This means that a successful environmental interpreter is an individual who is capable of wearing many hats simultaneously, so to speak. You have to be a teacher, a storyteller, an environmentalist, and much more to really build a lasting connection with your audience and truly fulfill the role of an interpreter (Beck et al. 2018).

At first, considering my ideal role of environmental interpreter seemed overwhelming. After learning about what this job really entails, I started to think about my passions, interests, and skills, and where they may intersect within the vast web of environmental interpretation. Thinking about my previous interactions with environmental interpreters helped guide my understanding as to where I may fit in best, as there are a few standout interpreters I have encountered in my life who significantly contributed to my understanding of the world around me. The majority of these interpreters I had encountered during my childhood, through field trips throughout Southern Ontario whose memories I still hold dear to my heart. Therefore, I think my ideal role as an interpreter would be someone who works with children and helps them appreciate the beauty of nature in a local sense, whether it be at a conservation area in their city or a national park a few hours away.

As someone who didn’t grow up going on many vacations or traveling with my family, learning to appreciate the environment that I lived in every day helped foster a love of nature for me and that is definitely something I would aspire to instill in the children I work with. Perhaps this role could be fulfilled being an elementary school science teacher, who often takes their children on local field trips within their municipality. One skill that would be essential to possess and hone is patience, as working with children requires one to be able to understand their behaviour, and possess a great deal of both tolerance and composure when it comes to connecting with the audience. However, the one attribute that I would consider paramount to my success in this role is love. Love of the place and love for the visitors or audience is a key principle that I believe would translate very well when working with children, as I believe that when children can sense one’s passion for the work they are doing, they are more likely to feel engaged (Beck et al. 2018). As an interpreter, I would hope to positively impact the lives of each and every child I get the privilege to work with, and create long-lasting memories full of love and wonder.

References

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

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Finding how your interests intersect with environmental studies and integrating it into your role as an interpreter is vital. Therefore, I think it is good that you have been able to view the role of an interpreter through the lens of children. Often people associate environmental studies with the grand scale of wildlife and biodiversity conservation; it is refreshing to see a perspective focusing on the smaller scale of children enjoying their local environment. As you said, interpreters that worked with us when we were younger left impacts on our lives; one can say that they were a catalyst in our growing relationships with the environment. Therefore, your ideal role can be seen as simple but is a stepping stone for the future. It is not just your point on teaching children that I agree with, but I believe it is also crucial to teach people to love nature close to them. We often think about the beauty of nature around the world, emphasizing beautiful beaches, gorgeous rainforests, and the Northern lights. However, it is important to value local environments realizing they also need to be protected. I agree that as the interpreter, you must have as much love for the environment as you hope to instill in your audience, if not more. Your statement about learning to love nature around you is inspiring and honest. I believe that most people grow to love nature and seek to understand it first in their backyard. You are right to love and patience are the two attributes every interpreter needs. :)

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Unit 02: Teaching Learners

Environmental interpreters have roles in how people relate to and understand the environment. While pondering on my ideal role as a nature interpreter, I was confused as I have always considered a career in environmental science and biology as separate. However, after thinking of the blog prompt, I realized that does not have to be the case. Therefore, my ideal role as an environmental interpreter is to show people the importance of environmental conservation through the lens of a biologist. While fulfilling this role, I will use my biology knowledge to protect and teach about nature; I have continually learned to love and enjoy. I hope to reach a variety of audiences while in this role, but most importantly, those wondering how the environment truly benefits us. Some people don't see any value in protecting something that "doesn't benefit them." Therefore, using biology and different studies to show how the environment positively affects aspects of the quality of life of humans will allow these people to understand the plight of environmental conservation. I look to share the health and biological pros of simply spending time outside.

Being an environmental interpreter, I would be in the position of teaching people. While trying to teach someone, it is crucial to consider the different styles and abilities present within a group. As an auditory learner, it is easier to take notes as someone speaks to retain the information taught. However, that is not the case for everyone therefore, it is important to include visual aids and hands-on activities in learning settings. Integrating some format of each learning style allows for a more inclusive and productive learning experience, leading to a greater understanding of the material. Our textbook states, "an interpreter must use creative imagination to help others understand and enjoy their cultural and natural environments"(Beck et al. 2018). Paying attention to ensure that all learning types are represented and enjoyable for the learners is the most crucial part of being an environmental interpreter.

The responsibility of an interpreter is to help others understand their environments; to achieve this there are skills that it entails. Firstly, I believe this role requires patience. Working with different learning styles and levels can be frustrating; one must be patient, letting learners move at their own pace. Secondly, an interpreter must be understanding. Understanding that everyone grows to appreciate nature differently and may not always agree with your interpretation, but that is the beauty of learning. Finally, it is vital to love the environment and feel that preserving it is an important task for which we are all responsible.

There is no specific location where I would take up this role. I want to travel the world to teach people how the environment benefits us and our health. I wouldn't only remain in Canada because protecting our environment is not specific to one country or region.

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 1: The Great Outdoors

While the definition varies from person to person, nature can be described as the phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations. Everyone has individualized experiences that help cultivate their bond with nature, depending on where they were raised to how "outdoorsy" they were as children. My relationship with nature has been a fascinating expedition due to the diverse environments I have lived in throughout my life.

Growing up in Mumbai, I have felt connected to nature and being outdoors from a young age. I have early memories of visiting the park near my house every week and playing in the sun for hours. Although, as I got older (before moving), I saw fewer and fewer of those green spaces that I loved. India's rich biodiversity and diverse ecological landscapes have been under tremendous pressure from its accelerated economic growth. In turn, it leaves little space for people to appreciate or even discover nature amidst its busy streets in recent times. Moving to Canada was quite an eye-opener, and quite honestly, I was shocked by the amount of green space in this country. As a child, I was mesmerized because it almost felt like there was a park at every intersection you turned (practically non-existent in Mumbai). My relationship with nature started to develop around that time because I found comfort in being in the presence of nature. I began to appreciate the outdoors due to its comfort, inspiration and beauty.

I'm currently a 4th-year landscape architecture student and am very passionate in learning about planning, designing, managing, and nurturing built and natural environments. However, the concept of landscape architecture being beneficial to the environment is only sometimes valid. Inherently it seeks to mould and fabricate the natural order of things to be more palatable to humans. The emphasis on creating an anthropogenic sphere is not the best course of action. Ideally, nature that does not hurt anyone should be respected and remain untouched. In many ways, landscape architecture seeks to exert human control over nature, which can be very harmful. For example, if there are plans to turn an area with mass forestry into a parked forest. This new space might be more accessible and inviting to humans, but this creates the possibility of environmental damage and could hurt the biosphere, natural flora, and fauna of an ecosystem. However, this only applies to areas with mass untouched natural reserves. On the other hand, in already urbanized areas, landscape architecture is an excellent tool to bring back the biological roots into a human-centric space.

My program has driven me to examine nature much differently than I did as a child, as I now look at it through the lens of a designer. However, nature can be a magical thing and in itself provide a "sense of place" for people looking for peace and tranquillity. For me, spending time outside in the sun and gardening have been some of my favourite moments in the last few years. My connection with nature has been an ever-changing development. At the moment, my relationship with nature can be described in one word: GROWTH. In nature, there’s no such thing as a monoculture. Plants grow together harmoniously, forging beneficial relationships to help them develop; likewise, I continuously learn and relish the natural environment as each day comes. Mimicking nature, we as a society work together in harmony, which makes us stronger.

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Hi Nicole,

I enjoy how you speak about your relationship with nature was shaped by your different upbringing. I completely agree that being surrounded by nature is inspiring. Growing up in Canada, I was not ever without green spaces, but I never saw these spaces as the most inspiring parts of nature. However, when I visit family in Jamaica, I felt the inspiration of which you speak. As Jamaica has fewer build-up areas, you can see continuous green spaces where I find more inspiration. I find that the green spaces in Jamaica are more peaceful, leaving more space for inspiration.

You also spoke about seeing nature through the lens of a designer. I completely agree with this phrase. I think as we continue to grow in our experiences with nature, perspectives and interpretations change based on our personal experiences and gained knowledge. Nicole, your seeing nature and how to improve our environment is very commendable. I also wish to look at nature and understand it not only through the aesthetic lens but through the lens of a biologist. I believe that nature lovers and those who seek to understand it should use their different knowledge to preserve and protect it. Protecting nature that gives everyone a "sense of place" is important and can bring as much enjoyment as nature itself. Nature brings me peace and tranquility; therefore, I agree that it can be the thing that offers people a "sense of place." Like you said sometimes nature doesn't need someone to introduce it to you, it presents itself as an outlet when most needed.