Learning on the Outside

[jsenvs3000-20]

Nature Interpretation

Now that the semester is nearing the end, it’s time to reflect back on what I have learned through my studies as well as myself as an individual. I’m sure my peers can agree with me when I say that this semester has non the less been something we have never experienced. With Covid and everything being online there were many difficulties, but I have to say that I have had opportunities that I would never have had if it weren’t for this scenario. 

I have been able to have the leisure of being at home for much longer than I usually am. My home town is something that I hold dear to my heart and I am truly happiest when I am on my island on Lake Temagami. As I have said in many of my posts that my love for nature stemmed from living in such a nature-filled environment. Belonging to the Temagami First Nation I have been embraced in such a culture that appreciates everything that comes from nature. Known as our creator, there are so many things in nature that we are reminded to be grateful for and to give thanks. We are just visitors on the land and that’s why we have to give thanks so that appreciation is shown. For instance, when my grandmother and I go fishing she always makes sure to bring tobacco to sprinkling into the water as a thank you to the creator when we catch and capture fish. Having said all of this, the way I have been raised and the culture I am constantly surrounded by has shaped me into the person I am today and the ethics I have developed.

Photo of a section on Lake Temagami.

I have always been a nature interpreter for as long as I can remember, but this course has developed my knowledge on the various aspects I never even considered were related to nature interpreting. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am huge on taking photos and videos of my various adventures, sunsets and just nature in general. My camera goes everywhere I go. I interpret nature strongly through art, because I feel like some things cannot be explained in words.  From my upbringing and current state in life, I have strong beliefs that we are all visitors to the Earth and so we must treat it with the respect, just as a guest would typically behave if they were a guest in someones homes. 

My goal as a nature interpreter is to bring awareness to a more sustainable future. This is an indirect impact on the environment, but by decreasing the amount of production and waste that goes on in the world, less resources will be used and therefore less harm towards the environment. Last year I was enrolled in a course that required developing a case study that showed a more sustainable approach than what we see in our world today. The subject my group chose was to have an environmentally friendly grocery store. This opened my eyes to many aspect of how a carbon footprint can get so large. Through electricity, packaging and waste disposable, there were many ways that the typical grocery store could be improved to not only be more sustainable, but cheaper in the end. I feel like I have a responsibility to spread awareness to just how wasteful humans are to the environment and prompt sustainability. From the different courses I have taken from the University of Guelph I feel like I need to spread and share information I have learned that will hopefully get across to people and make a difference. I have the opportunity to make a difference and by being a resident on Lake Temagami I have a wide range of connections to individuals who have relatively important jobs. Multi millionaires who I could reach out to by introducing various environmentally friendly implements to their business. Food chains, crane operations, landscaping, construction companies are some examples of the business that individuals own from lake. There is a wide range of organizations that I have connections to that I could further discuss and establish changes. This semester has truly made me realized how privilege I am and I need to take advantage of it and put my passion for protecting the environment to good use. Reading the different perspectives on these blogs has also been very eye opening and interesting to me. I have been able to relate to many people while learn about so many differences that nature is interpreted through others eyes. Its nice to have a place where we can share our own views on various aspects that relate to nature because with so many people coming from different backgrounds, there are so many different points that are brought to the table. 

Through my beliefs I believe that there is a lot I can bring to the table to ensure sustainability in the future. This course has opened my eyes to have the ability to connect and relate to people with different backgrounds and ethics. In the tough times of uncertainty that the whole world is experiencing, its comforting to known that one thing that hasn’t changed for the worse is nature and in fact has been a mechanism used to escape the chaos.

We only have one world so lets try to make sure its as healthy as it can be. Stop spending your time staring at a screen when you can go out and experience our perfectly imperfect world! 

[jlenvs3000]

Hello Jennifer!

The first thing you mentioned in your post was just how different this semester was, and I couldn’t agree more. I was very optimistic during the summertime that things might calm down enough to be able to attend courses in person, this one in particular. The idea of creating and being an interpreter for an interpretive walk was something I was looking forward to, as it was something I had previous experience with and was therefor comfortable with. However, creating these blog posts and learning to be more reflective through them has definitely been a unique and useful experience for me and I have learned new things because of it.

Hearing about Lake Temagami and your connection to the land was very interesting. I’ve never been to the area myself, but it really does sound like a great place to appreciate nature and discover the environment. The photo you provided reminds me somewhat of the mountain lakes in the Adirondacks that I would visit throughout my childhood. I’m sure your connection to the land is strong and I hope it gives you strength on your mission to promote a more sustainable lifestyle to others. Few individuals are perfect when it comes to living a life that is completely sustainable and free of waste, but taking small steps and working together is the most likely solution in my opinion, which is what I aim to achieve by taking part in nature interpretation. Best of luck on your future sustainability-related projects!

Joseph

[vsenvs3000]

My Personal Ethics, Beliefs, and Approaches Concerning Nature Interpretation.

Each and every person has their own ethics, beliefs, and approach to life, and these are just a few of mine when I think about nature interpretation.

My current personal ethic as a nature interpreter is that I believe the individual is just as important as the whole. By this I mean that even the smallest organisms in nature are as important and have equal intrinsic value as the largest organism. In my mind, if I stick with this outlook while leading interpretive tours people will find a new sense of importance in nature.

Based on my personal ethics explained in the previous paragraph I’m sure it comes to no surprise that my biggest belief when it comes to nature interpretation is that it should be more than just providing information to a group of people about their current environment (Beck et al., 2018). I believe that the point of nature interpretation is to provide your guests with an experience and leave them with the desire to learn more and provoke deeper thinking causing them to question nature around them for the rest of their life (Beck et al., 2018). By doing so, this may cause people to change certain habits, challenge social norms, and even support the fight for the environment (Beck et al., 2018). I think If you are able to evoke change in just one person through just one nature interpretation program, you have successfully fulfilled your purpose as a nature interpreter.

As nature interpreters we have many responsibilities. The first that comes to mind is education. We are responsible for teaching individuals both young and old about the environment around them while trying to instil (in a limited amount of time) that nature is much more than just forests, mountains, and animals. When it comes to education, I think the most important type of people we are responsible for is the educating of children. I am a strong believer that teaching young people the value and importance of nature early in life will truly benefit them in the long run. For one, nature provides countless opportunities for discovery, creativity, problem-solving, stimulating deeper thinking, improving cognitive development, as well as contributing to improved physical and mental health (Beck et al., 2018; Poppell & Monroe, 2018). Most importantly, the young children we teach today are the future and hopefully, these teachings will translate down to future generations and create change in the world.

A photo of a young children learning about nature…in nature. 

Outward Bound.  (2020). [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.outwardbound.org/blog/pursuing-career-outdoor-education-instructor/

I have found with my own personal experiences in the role of nature interpreter, that the approach that is most suitable for me is storytelling (Beck et al., 2018). While working in Costa Rica I taught people primarily about the local insects (mainly butterflies) and I found that on these tours I loved telling my own personal stories for a couple of reasons. I felt it made me appear like more of a friend rather than a teacher. This made my guests feel more comfortable with asking me questions which created a personal relationship between me and them. While writing this, the story that comes to mind that I used to tell was about the tarantula hawk wasp.

During our tours most interpreters would quickly speak about the tarantula hawk wasp being the second most painful insect sting in the world, and then move on to our golden orb weavers that had their webs above the heads of the guests. However, I usually spent a little extra time after explaining the lifecycle of the wasp to tell my guests about my first encounter with a tarantula hawk wasp. My story went a little like this;

“Earlier this year I was in the rainforest of Ecuador, 6 hours from the nearest city. It was my first morning at Yanayaku Biological Station, 2100 masl. I woke up early with the excitement of venturing deep into the rainforest that day to find some cool bugs. Trying not to disturb my sleeping roommate on the bunk beside me, I took my headlamp and began to dig through my backpack for a change of clothes when I saw something literally running toward me along the floorboard. I shined my headlamp at it and saw it was an iridescent insect with orange wings. Thinking it was just a simple wasp I left it alone, changed my clothes and went down the dining area. This is where I found my professor sitting on a chair in front of a dirt mound. Curious, I asked him what he was doing and he told me he was observing a tarantula hawk wasp burying its recently paralyzed tarantula. I then told him I had just seen one in my room. He then tells me that its sting is second to the bullet ant and that I needed to go find it quick! I ran up to my room to find my roommate awake and I told her what I saw and that we have to find this bug immediately! After searching for an hour, we gave up. We could not find the wasp and we just hoped it found its way out through a crack in the wall. I soon forgot about the hawk wasp but on the day we were packing up to leave, I picked up my backpack from off the floor and the hawk wasp fell out of my backpack strap!”

Me with the female tarantula hawk wasp I caught in Costa Rica.

The reason why I think this approach suits me is that I am very loud, excitable, and expressive (in person) and because my stories are not ones you hear every day. 

If you would like to learn more about the tarantula hawk wasp… here is a good link…https://www.aboutanimals.com/insect/tarantula-hawk/

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T., & Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Urbana, IL: Sagamore – Venture Publishing LLC.

Poppell, K. & Monroe, M. C. (2018).  Why is exposure to nature interpretation important in early childhood? University of florida. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr394

[jlenvs3000]

Hey Victoria!

Just wanted to say that I enjoyed reading this post tremendously, it’s just as well thought-out and comprehensive as all your other posts have been. Right from the beginning of the post, when you had mentioned treating an individual with equal importance as the whole and comparing them to the importance of a species in a natural system, I was hooked. Not only is this comparison brilliant in terms of the context, but it’s also a great way of backing up your belief that nature interpretation should be much more meaningful than just dry information that doesn’t get people interested. I happen to express the same belief, perhaps because nature interpretation was the gateway to my current interest and understanding in the natural world. Knowing that you have the power to change someone’s perspective and potentially their path in life is what makes nature interpretation so interesting and unique to me.

That story about the tarantula hawk was also great. Story telling like this in combination with interesting info and a passionate presenter surely makes the whole experience that much more memorable and entertaining for the participants. These kinds of experiences really let your passion for the subject at hand show, which definitely helps engage the audience, from my experience at least. I’m glad to hear this is your preferred approach as it seems to match your character quite well!

Oh, also, I happened to have seen a spider wasp this year here in Quebec. I watched as it dragged a paralyzed wolf spider across the forest floor. Although it wasn’t quite as large as a tarantula hawk, I was still very impressed with its ability to carry the spider all the way to its burrow. Amazing experience, less so for the spider though.

[jlenvs3000]

Personal Ethics, Approach and Reflection on Nature Interpretation

Personal ethics are quite an interesting topic to me. I understand it as the ability of an individual to recognize what is morally right and wrong, the reasoning as to why a certain decision is right or wrong however is completely dependent on individual in question. This is what makes it so unique between individuals and differentiates it from other fields of ethics such as business ethics and legal ethics. I believe making these decisions as to what is morally proper is based upon one’s own past experiences, their ability to understanding how it may affect others and their ability to analyse the situation and all its potential outcomes. Whether we recognise it or not, we make these decisions on a daily basis, many times with little reflection and consideration.

But what relevance does all this have with nature interpretation? The field of nature interpretation seems to be filled with many kind-hearted individuals, many of whom have different beliefs and understandings. I have numerous different beliefs concerning nature interpretation, many of which I’ve acquired through the experiences that I have been privileged enough to have lived. One of these beliefs is that everyone should have a chance to experience nature in a manner suitable for themselves. While the world may seem more connected than ever before thanks to the internet and cellphones, some of the more natural connections to our surrounding environments has been lost by many. Some perhaps never had the opportunity to create these connections and I know that when I interpret, I especially enjoy interpreting in an attempt to create that connection and light the spark. There are many things I’ve learned to appreciate in the natural world around me; the melodious songs of a warblers at dawn, the seemingly endless diversity of local plants and the many interactions between species within a community. Although I may be interested in spending hours at a time admiring trees, others will surely be far more interested in a different aspect of the environment. So, I try to recognize my preferences before creating an interpretive activity in an effort to focus on what would be the most memorable experience for the participants. It may be easier to interpret in ways that I would enjoy experiencing the activity, but it’s far more important to make that connection and encourage the curiosity of the audience.

I often try to present something cool to get the attention of the audience, such as this Attacus atlas, one of the largest moths in the world!

Another belief I have is that nature interpretation is our most efficient tool in not only creating those connections but also in educating a wide audience and changing their behaviour, particularly concerning environmental issues. As many people might expect, increasing the feeling of connectedness to nature using environmental education through nature interpretation has been shown to positively influence the way people act towards the environment (Otto and Pensini, 2017). Encouraging individuals to act in a sustainable manner to lessen their own impact on the environment may help in dealing with pressing environmental issues such as climate change and habitat loss. Large corporations are also greatly at fault but being able to recognize that our choices at the grocery store and at the ballot box can also impact their ability to contribute to these problems is also a step forward. I believe even nature interpretation in its simplest form can at the very least encourage some to take a step in the right direction.

As I mentioned earlier, I’m in continuous awe of the natural world, mainly from a science-oriented view as that is what has been available to me throughout education. This is why I primarily enjoy interpreting in the form of nature walks and interactive activities, as I attempt to express how amazing the environment is with the use of what scientific information is available. I’m very fond of this method for the most part as our scientific understanding of most things is the result of the combined theories and hypotheses that attempt to make sense of this expansive world we live in. I feel as though this idea of coming together to discover with a solution that everyone can agree upon is something we should apply more often outside of science. In any case, it seems to be great way to communicate as it feels like you’re presenting something that many people would be able to understand and hopefully relate to.

As I’ve reflected upon my past nature interpretation experiences within the past few months, I’ve come to appreciate other forms of interpretation that I had previously not taken into too much consideration before. Interpretation of indigenous cultures through the stories they told and the art they created is one I hope many Canadians can relate to. The depictions of these wild spaces and the creatures that inhabit them is truly an incredible way of interpreting the connection that the indigenous people of an area had in a time long past and hopefully still do, and is without a doubt worth preserving and experiencing. Participants involved in this form of interpretation have even been shown to develop a greater “care of place” (Walker and Moscardo, 2016) which I believe is beneficial for everyone.

One of the amazing Nuu-chah-nulth totem poles I had the fortune of seeing during my time at Pacific Rim National Park, BC. Retrieved from: https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/11470174024694423/

Nature interpretation has played an immense role in my life, both as a participant and as a presenter. Perhaps it has had a more significance than I can even recall at this moment. I surely cannot tell where I’ll be within 10, 5 or even a year from now, not for certain, in any case. Despite this uncertainty, there is one thing that I am certain of; I wish to further explore nature interpretation as a means to understand more about nature, how others perceive the world around them and how I can potentially better others and myself through nature interpretation.

References

Otto, S., & Pensini, P. (2017). Nature-based environmental education of children: Environmental knowledge and connectedness to nature, together, are related to ecological behaviour. Global Environmental Change, 47, 88-94.

Walker, K., & Moscardo, G. (2016). Moving beyond sense of place to care of place: the role of Indigenous values and interpretation in promoting transformative change in tourists' place images and personal values. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 24(8-9), 1243-1261.

[lsenvs3000-20]

A Plea to Save the Apis Apicultural Centre

Dear board of directors,

I am writing on behalf of the Apis Apicultural Centre in regards to the closure of our establishment due to insufficient funding.  I feel as though our centre is not only essential in maintaining the pristine and surreal natural beauty of Cambridge Ontario, but it also plays a vital role in the conservation of local honey bee populations.  

Since its establishment in 1973, the Apis Apicultural Centre has been providing the community with a place to learn about the practice of apiculture, as well as one of Earth’s most important pollinators.  Guests have loved the experience of dawning a bee suit and joining one of our apiarists/nature interpreters. This offers a more immersive way of learning about how bee colonies function, how they convert pollen and nectar into honey and the role bees play in maintaining good environmental health.     

As stated by Wals et al. in 2014, environmental education is extremely important as it aids in the restoration of many ecosystems.  This is one of the reasons why the Apicultural centre is so important.  The main goal of our centre is to educate the public on the important environmental role which bees play, this being pollination.  Pollination is essential for the survival of many native wildflowers as well as numerous crops which we humans depend on.  If bee populations continue to decline, our production of food would be greatly limited and we may risk losing some incredible species of flowers!  By teaching people about the extrinsic value which bees have, the public gains a much deeper appreciation and understanding of how important these little guys are, as well as a better grasp of the issues at hand (Beck et al. 2019).  Many of our guests (myself included) have even started their own bee gardens!  These are gardens that are filled with flowers which bees love, which aides immensely in the conservation.

A bumblebee visiting one of our many bee gardens!

Furthermore, our facility ensures that everyone who visits is included and welcome.  By this I mean that any child or adult who wants to learn a thing or two about bees has the option of doing so.  This is of great importance to us we’ve found in the past that younger individuals are not considered when it comes to educating the public on the environment and other environmental issues (Gallavan, 2005).  

All in all, we feel as though our centre is an important part of the community which also doubles as a beacon for conservation.  

We sincerely hope that this letter changes your mind,

The Apis Apicultural Centre 

[jlenvs3000]

I really enjoy the idea of a centre like this. I faintly remember going on a fieldtrip during elementary school to an apiculture facility and learning how wonderfully connected the bees and the food we rely on everyday are. It was a for-profit company rather than an organization created only to educate visitors and encourage them to create their own garden, but the idea was still there.

I’m glad you pointed out how the facility is open to visitors of any age. I believe that the importance of educating children from a young age about the environment and how we’re a part of it rather than a force against it is often not properly addressed in schools. It’s understandable that teachers may not want to educate their students about an unfamiliar subject themselves, but local fieldtrips and guest speakers are both financially reasonable and efficient ways to get them interacting with someone knowledgeable and passionate about the subject.  

Having a local resource such as the Apis Apicultural Centre would also be helpful to adults unsure of how to approach creating a bee garden. Bee house workshops, local wildflower seed giveaways, bee garden seminars, and even maybe honey samples would all make for a great visit. I’m sure volunteers would also benefit greatly from the experience, whether they be students looking to get into apiculture or even just bee enthusiasts. Overall wonderful idea, and great execution on the letter.

Joseph

[jlenvs3000]

Help Us Keep the Bond Between Community-Nature Alive

Dear Board of Directors,

I am contacting you today on behalf of the Montérégie Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. I am on of the senior volunteers and would like to discuss the current financial situation of the center.

As you may already be aware of, our primary goal at the center ever since our founding in 1999 has been to help connect people with wildlife and help lessen human-wildlife conflict through education and interpretation. The varying species of local animals, currently 38, that we house helps us accomplish this goal. These animals are known as ambassadors and are unable to return to the wild due to permanent injury, imprinting or troublesome behaviours. The use of these native ambassadors allows us to connect visitors to the conservation issues that are affecting the wildlife around us (Fuhrman and Ladewig, 2008), which is where local environmental education should be prioritized. Despite being a small, volunteer-reliant organization, we make sure to follow all guidelines concerning the use of ambassador animals according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (2015).

Gaining a profit has never been a top priority of ours. The center has been able to support the animals it houses, both the ambassadors as well as those in need of rehabilitation and release, thanks to donations made by visitors and countless hours spent by volunteers. We’ve had continuous partnerships throughout the years with local colleges and universities that have had students volunteer here as part of their projects and internships. Donations of dogfood, surplus vegetables and usable unwanted, freezer-burnt meats have also been an integral part keeping the center afloat.

Unfortunately, we have been unable to collect any donations throughout this past season due to the Covid-19 closure. As much as we would have liked to put the whole center on pause, the animals continue to require daily care. This means no guests could visit and no ambassadors could be taken for presentations at local schools, libraries or retirement homes. Personally, I have only ever gotten positive responses from those who have participated in a presentation. Many residents aren’t even aware of the magnificent wildlife we share this land with until they’ve met our charismatic porcupine, Porky, or our locally threatened grey fox, Sky. Although the naming of these ambassadors hasn’t been proven to be significant in the retention of information post-presentation (Schueler and Newberry, 2020), it does help give character to each individual and allows return guests to feel more connected to the animal.

This center and the animals it houses would not be possible without the support of local volunteers and residents. The opportunities for unique experiences that we can provide students, residents and volunteers are not available anywhere else. The impact we’ve had on the education of our local community throughout the past 21 years is very noticeable. We hope to continue this education with any support the Board of Directors may be able to provide us in these difficult times. Any amount of funding would be appreciated greatly by the center and the community.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

The Montérégie Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation

References

Association of Zoos and Aquariums. (2015). CEC ambassador animal position statement. https://www.aza.org/ambassador-animal-guidelines.

Fuhrman, N. E., & Ladewig, H. (2008). Characteristics of Animals Used in Zoo Interpretation: A Synthesis of Research. Journal of Interpretation Research, 13(2).

Schueler, D. S., & Newberry III, M. G. (2020). Animal ambassador interpretation techniques and its impact on connectedness to nature. Applied Environmental Education & Communication, 19(3), 259-273.

[nrenvs3000]

Growing as an Interpreter

Throughout this course I have been exposed to many new ideas regarding nature interpretation, and all the different methods through which nature can be interpreted. It has been very eye opening to learn about all the different ways different environments, stories, pieces of art, or songs can be interpreted from a nature perspective.

What I know for certain is that there is extensive variability when discussing nature interpretation. Throughout this course we have discussed how many different factors can influence a person’s view towards nature, such as geographic location, economic status, or culture. Skogen (1999) investigated how children’s up-bringing and culture influenced their connection and perspective with nature and concluded that those raised with more exposure to nature and in culture that place emphasis on connection with nature, such as Aboriginal people. This study emphasizes the idea that different culture and upbringings can shape a person’s views towards nature and ability to interpret. I find the variance in ways people interpret nature so interesting because no one could really be considered wrong in their interpretation of a certain aspect of nature because we are all so unique with different backgrounds and ideas.

What I still wonder is how far nature interpretation can go and how much influence it can have on future issues relating to the environment. It is no secret that the physical state of the earth has been declining, but one large issue facing the planet is that there are still many people who deny any environmental issues, such as climate change, exist. I think that nature interpretation has a lot of potential in this area, because increasing a person’s ability to interpret nature can also help them understand the complex issues facing it.

I find inspiration through learning about new ways to interpret and think about nature. Throughout university I have taken many courses in environmental sciences which has greatly expanded my understanding on different environment related topics. By gaining better understanding about certain topics through my courses it has inspired me to continue to learn more about different areas surrounding the environment. This course has also inspired me to look back on many events from my life from an interpreter’s point of view in order to strengthen my understanding on the variety of ways nature can be interpreted.

I believe I can ignite by using the information I have learned in this course to interpret different areas of nature in ways that people may be more familiar with and more easily understand. This course has taught me many different ways through which nature can be interpreted, and many important aspects to keep in mind while interpreting, such as the targeted audience you are attempting to interpret for. A strong example of this was working through the first podcast assignment targeted at children ages 8-12. During this assignment I was able to apply many new strategies I have learned throughout this course in order to create a podcast about a somewhat complex topic in a way that young children can understand. Using the interpretation skills I have developed throughout this class, I hope to be able to further assist different groups of people in interpreting complex environmental topics.

Sources:

Skogen, K. (1999).  Another Look at Culture and Nature: How Culture Patterns Influence Environmental Orientation among Norwegian Youth. Acta Sociologica, 42 (3), pp. 223-239.

[jlenvs3000]

Hey Nolan!

I must agree with your point about discovering the many different forms of nature interpretation that I had previously not recognized completely. I believe the fact that there are so many different ways to express interpretation in combination with the many different factors that can affect one’s view of the subject, as you had mentioned, creates a very unique situation where seemingly endless experiences is a reasonable possibility. It’s almost as if it were a game of telephone between nature, the interpreter, and the participant; the variables of each subject can alter the message received and then sent, resulting an everchanging experience.

I find your interpretation on how nature interpretation can help future issues intriguing. I believe nature interpretation is and will be the most important tool when dealing with major environmental issues. Climate change is obviously an example that is affecting all of us currently and will continue to do so, but even situations such as the worldwide extinction of invertebrates need to be addressed as soon as possible because these situations types of things will be impossible to remedy by the time it starts affecting our everyday lives. I try to discuss these kinds of things whenever doing any form of interpretation, particularly after discussing why these things are important in the first place. Although it may not be too significant of an audience, I hope it brings even a little bit of awareness to individuals that previously were unaware of it. Overall, I’m very hopeful that nature interpretation will be recognized as a necessary form of education, especially in this rapidly changing world.

Joseph

[jlenvs3000]

Nature Interpretation and I

Nature interpretation is something very unique; it allows us to express our views, thoughts, and opinions on the natural world around us like nothing else can. It allows us to strengthen and even create bonds between people and the things they may have never appreciated before, such as the intricacies of a bird’s song or the existence of miniature ecosystems of invertebrates atop a single flower. I’ve always believed these things myself, but after having read more about what nature interpretation truly is, I now know that it goes well beyond what I have previously thought. Reciting a story or creating a song can be equally, if not more, effective than taking people on an interpretive walk. I still know for certain that my preferred method of interpretation is through hands-on activities that allow the participants to question the environment as well as their own understanding of the environment, but I now recognize more than before the importance of having a variety of methods for people to express their own interpretation. These methods may be more accessible or appealing to others, which I believe covers two of the most important aspects of nature interpretation these days; accessibility and enjoyment of the participants and the interpreter.  

However, I do still wonder what methods of interpretation remain unknown to me. Although I’ve certainly experienced or read about many of the more well-known ones, it would be improper to assume that there is little else. The sea of nature interpretation is vast and knowing what lies in the shallows is not but the tip of the iceberg. Literature is a great way to record and understand something, but to truly understand it, living through the experience would be optimal.

Fortunately, inspiration has not been too difficult for me to come by. Much of my inspiration has been accumulated through years of interacting with individuals involved in nature interpretation and the environmental field. I’ve been very privileged in terms of where I have lived and have experienced many different kinds of interpreters that way. The way I formulate content for hikes or presentations is really based on how I received interpretation through previous experiences and how much I enjoyed it and found it memorable. This includes interacting with as many components of the environment as possible, guiding participants to ask and answer their own answers, and creating pleasant memories.

Finding ways to organize activities that interest me such as interpretive walks is definitely the most difficult aspect. Being able to interpret and connect with people that may develop similar interests in the future gives me more than enough motivation to be excited to help. Thankfully, many organizations such as Let’s Talk Science and even local library groups are more than happy to host interpretive activities. My advice to anyone with a similar situation would be to reach out locally and see what’s available. You never know what opportunities might be out there!

[jlenvs3000]

Snapping Turtle Podcast Debrief

Hello all, this is just a couple debriefing notes that I made for the podcast on Snapping Turtle. I haven’t read any other opinions yet just so that I could stay unbiased but I’m looking forward to see how others have reacted to this as well. The subject of this podcast really got my attention because I’m quite fond of herpetology and find Snapping Turtles extremely interesting. I’m fortunate enough to see them often during the spring, so I thought I would enjoy listening about them in this podcast

A grumpy snapping turtle found during one of my walks (he didn’t enjoy being moved off the road).

I would imagine the opening sequence of the podcast to get the any kid’s attention right away. That upbeat, happy opening music really set the stage for the rest of the podcast and was followed up with a nice introduction.

Hearing about all the different types of food that Matt Dickson feeds the turtles was very interesting. I wouldn’t have thought that more exotic fruits would have been on the menu for them but it seems they are. I would have thought that they would try to simulate the natural diet of the Snapping Turtle as much as possible, but I can understand the difficulty in attempting that. Making sure the turtles are getting the proper nutrition is more important than that.

The part where he was describing the threat of vehicles brought upon the turtles by their behavior to get into a defensive upwards posture was also news to me. I’ve removed quite a few turtles from the middle of the road myself and have definitely seen them lung forwards in a similar behaviour to what Matt Dickson had described. I just never imagined they would attempt the same thing with vehicles that are much, much larger than them.

The asides that were created to give more information throughout the interview about the material that was being discussed was also very helpful. I’m sure that children listening to the podcast would be able to connect and understand a lot better with these extra details.

Asking about the dangers and how to approach a Snapping Turtle, if needed, was also a great idea. Obviously, kids would be very intrigued and perhaps inclined to interact with any type of turtle if they were to find it outside. Hopefully, they’ll think twice about the potential risk of being bite and instead admire the turtle from afar.

Overall, the podcast was very enjoyable. The flow of the material and the atmosphere of the interview was very clear, which is important when creating educational content for younger ages. Relating personal experiences with the turtles towards the end of the podcast was also great for encouraging kid’s to share their own stories amongst one another.

Great job!

[nrenvs3000]

Monarch Butterfly Podcast

I really enjoyed getting to the “Eco-zone” podcast about monarch butterflies. As soon as I began listening to this podcast, I was instantly engaged by the intro music as it gave me the sense that I was surrounded by nature.

I think this group did an extremely good job presenting their first lesson about the life cycle of a monarch butterfly, especially from the perspective of the targeted 8-12-year-old audience. Using the interview with ‘Ms. Monarch’ I was a really creative approach to teaching the lesson and I think it made the information much easier to understand for younger children. I especially liked the way the word metamorphosis was simplified, using the example of children growing in their sleep to put the definition into an easier form for kids to grasp.

The discussion about the impacts of climate change was also a great tool for engaging kids on the information. Discussing climate change is a good real-world example which I believe most children, especially those interested in a podcast like this, would have a basic understanding about the topic. The way that the issues of climate change were presented in relation to their impact on monarch butterflies was well worded for children, providing a very simple but accurate description of the potential issues. It was easy to pick out three main issues about climate change, which were butterfly habitat loss, loss of food sources, and altered migration patterns.

I also believe that the interview with Ryan Norris was very insightful and provided a lot of good information. The questions and answers from the interview helped put into perspective the migratory behaviours of these monarch butterflies and provided good support the idea presented earlier that climate change impacts these migratory patterns. Although I really enjoyed the interview with Ryan Norris, I do believe from the perspective of an 8-12-year-old many of the answers and terminology were a bit complex and would be difficult to fully grasp. One example would be when Ryan referred to milk weed as an obligate host for monarchs. I think terms like this would be better avoided or, if needed to be used, a brief simple definition could be provided in order to help the target age to understand and remain interested in the podcast.

Overall, I think this group did an awesome job with the podcast. For the most part they used a lot of effective and creative methods to help present the information about monarch butterflies in a way that was understandable and interesting to kids aged 8-12. My one suggestion going forward would to be to make sure that any complex terms being used are given a brief simplification in a way that the targeted audience understands. This won’t be as big of a roadblock when creating the podcast for adults, but it should be kept in mind that not every adult will have the same background knowledge on specific topics surrounding the environment.

Great Job!

[tplenvs3000]

Hello! 

I just finished listening to the monarch podcast as well and have a very similar opinion of it too. Did you know the monarch butterfly is the most studied butterfly on our planet? Or that they migrate to the southern states when the seasons change? They are very cool creatures! 

The idea of a group member taking on the role of a monarch butterfly was a very captivating approach and was my first initial fascination with this podcast! Young children at this time would use their imagination and picture a butterfly saying the information like they did. Throughout the podcast I enjoyed how this group started from the basics of a butterflies life, starting with how they are hatched and their lifecycles to an adult monarch! Explaining difficult definitions such as metamorphosis and climate change was a smart approach as well but should be continued throughout the podcast when Ryan Norris uses terms such as chemical markers, latitude and longitude that children might not know. 

I really enjoyed this podcast as it gave me a ton of new information that I had never known. For example, I did not know that due to climate change this species is now endangered from the loss of habitat and the harsh affects of a longer migration. Doing a podcast on climate change is very important in our present day as more people need to become aware. I also did not know that sampling a monarch butterfly wing can give you the location of where the butterfly is from. This is very cool for biologists!

One technique that I will takeaway from this podcast is playing the role of our animal topic during the discussion! This is a very creative and effective way of displaying the information. Overall I was very impressed with this podcast as well! 

[jlenvs3000]

Hello there Nolan and Taylor!

Thank you both so much for the kind comments about the podcast. Everyone in the group was really motivated to make a fun, informative and decently constructed podcast and thanks to your comments, we feel as we’ve achieved our goal, for the most part. None of us had any prior experience of creating, coordinating or editing a project such as this, so we did our best to work to our strengths and communicate amongst ourselves in an attempt to create a suitable podcast.

As I had used Audacity previously in a couple other projects, I did quite a bit of the editing, including the music. I honestly felt like I was overthinking it a little bit when trying to find a song I thought fit the light-hearted theme but hearing you had taken notice of the music and birds sounds is reassuring.

I would have to agree with the criticism on the use of higher-level terminology. We had thought about interjecting with descriptions but felt like it messed with the flow of what we had already recorded just a little too much and that having those terms would have to be acceptable. Our focus really was on the climate change aspect more so than covering too much background on monarchs, so we had to make that decision. We would definitely try to remedy this if we were to do it again.

Finally, it’s great to hear that conversation between Ms. Butterfly and the nature interpreter was well received. Someone else had suggested that idea and I could tell even while editing it all together that it worked great with the topic.

Joseph

[mhenvs3000-20]

Like food? Then care about bees!

[Bonus post]

My previous post about the most amazing thing I know about nature was regarding the wonderful little black and yellow buzzers.

Bees!

I had a lot more to say, but didn’t want to write an entire booklet for just one blog post.

Remember how I said 30% of the world’s food supply relies on bees? I wasn’t kidding. They’re vitally important to the future of mankind. Since bees provide essential pollination services to various plants, imagine what would happen if populations of bees start declining and how that may affect our food supply.

Oh, wait.

You don’t really need to imagine, because that’s exactly what’s happening. Pollinators as a whole are declining and bees are getting hit hard. For example, the rusty patched bumble bee population has declined by 87% in the last 20 years according to this. Other species of bees, as well as pollinators in general, are also declining rapidly. Researchers don’t even know for certain the consequences that this may have in the future.

The quotation shared by Dr. Amanda in week 8′s lecture stood out to me as I pondered about bees. In 2005 Louv said, “What could our lives and our children’s lives be like if our days and nights were as immersed in nature as they are in technology?”

The reason this is relevant to what I discussed is because this lack of prioritization towards nature leads to problems such as pollinator decline. For example, research shows that pesticide usage is contributing to pollinator decline. I believe if we were more immersed in nature as we are in technology, nature would be at the top of all of our priority lists and, therefore, we’d be a lot more careful about global pesticide usage. Pollinators are not just important for conserving plants and biodiversity. We literally depend on them for our food.

This fight is also not just for ourselves. It’s for the future of humanity.

Mo

[jlenvs3000]

Hey Mo,

I thought your first post about bees was wonderful and truly showed your passion for these important little creatures, but this post is the perfect follow-up. Discussing the importance of bees in terms of food really makes a great connection that people can easily understand. It’s very difficult for someone to mentally picture the lose of x% of a certain species but thinking about how a certain portion of your dinner plate is a direct result of bee pollination is really a great way of communicating this.

I also appreciate the real “call to arms” vibe towards the end of the post. This is definitely a situation that requires immediate action or we may lose something not only needed for the survival of nature, but for our very own.

I personally find that the most successful form of nature interpretation involves presenting the subject, presenting the issues, and providing some possible solutions to the issues. This all has to flow properly of course and keep the audience’s attention. I know it’s difficult to do all this in two short blogposts, so, if you wouldn’t mind, I would love to add some suggestions for those interested in helping out:

·        Avoid the use of pesticides on your lawn/garden.

·        Plant local native wildflowers.

·        Provide a home to solitary bees by putting up a bee house.

·        Raise local awareness and create a petition to challenge local municipal laws that endanger bees and offer bee-friendly alternatives.

·        If possible, allow certain areas of your yard to simply grow. You’ll be surprised at the diversity of flowers you may find once they get a chance to grow!

[jlenvs3000]

A Stroll Through the Woods

There are many things people might be missing as we continue to push through the second wave of Corona virus here in Canada. Summertime sports like soccer and baseball had been cancelled, camping with friends and family postponed, and for many people in more populated areas, even going outside throughout the past months has been difficult. I personally miss the chances to take part in or even coordinate any type of interactive nature interpretation. Sure, you can still learn through media available online or on the television, but it’s still lacking that special something. I particularly enjoy learning locally as it directly reflects the environment that I see and admire everyday.

As I went for a walk to ponder what I should share on my blog this week, as I always do, something occurred to me; I should try to virtualize some quick interpretive notes of the things (mainly trees, which I’m very fond of) I observe on my walk! All of these notes are shortened, intro level, and are simply my own recollections of information I’ve read throughout my education, so please look into things further if they’re of interest to you.

I hope you brought your jackets! It’s a beautiful, clear, and quite cold afternoon here in southern Québec. The temperature’s hovering at 0°C, but feels much colder due to the wind. Thankfully the forest blocks much of it and the sun really helps.

The local orchards have just about cleaned up all the apples off the trees, but these wild growing apples have yet to have fallen. They may look decent however they’ve been attacked by many insects throughout the growing season including Apple Maggots and Apple Sawflies. Not really great for us, but perfect for the birds that eat these apples throughout Winter!

As you can probably tell, most of the leaves have already fallen off the trees. A couple days of rain earlier in the week knocked most of them off. The trees that decide to drop their leaves, such as these maples in the foreground, are known as deciduous. Those cedars in the background keep their scale-like needles year-round, and they are known as coniferous trees.

Although they’re already dead, this deciduous American Beech is known to hold onto its leaves throughout the winter. The rattling sound of the leaves during wintertime is a sound I’ve grown quite fond of.

Another tree that is somewhat of an exception is this Larch, or Tamarack, tree. Although it is a coniferous tree, it sheds its soft needles every fall. If you ever get the chance to touch the needles of a Tamarack, do it, you will not regret it!

Many trees encounter pests and disease that may harm or kill the tree. In the case of this maple, a hollow has formed where a branch once grew. This creates a great home for porcupines, squirrels, birds, and many other local creatures. In addition to that, dead trees are often home to woodboring insects that woodpeckers love to find, especially as we approach winter.

Fungus like this Maple Tar Spot is likely one of the benefits to being deciduous and dropping leaves every fall.

Unfortunately, that’s all I can cover on a short post. I hope you enjoyed and take some time to explore your local wildlife!

[ehenvs3000-20]

Using Art to Interpret Nature

I do not consider myself to by very “artsy” in the traditional sense, so the thought of trying to think about how to interpret nature through art was slightly daunting to me.  I soon realized, however, that art does not simply mean a painting or drawing, there are so many different ways nature can be interpreted through art: we can see it in theater, music, dance, poetry and more.

I’ve always loved theater and spent many hours at different plays and musicals in Toronto and Stratford, however until this week’s reading opened my eyes to how this is actually used as a tool of nature interpretation, I never thought of it this way. Outdoor dramas seem like the perfect way to demonstrate how art can be used to interpret nature as the real natural surroundings can be used to explore the history of that area (Beck, Cable and Knudson, 2018). I have experienced this sort of theater production on a very small-scale level when visiting a campsite. The particular memory for me comes from visiting the Pinery Provincial Park as a child with my family for a week of camping, the staff there held all different events and one of them was a play to do with the animals and the history of that unique natural area. I still remember them using theater to tell stories about how the natural sand dunes in the area are believed to have developed.

The dunes at Pinery Provincial Park taken while visiting with family this past summer

Poetry is another art form that was mentioned in the readings as a way of nature interpretation, in fact they mentioned how the original folk tradition in Canada developed from Native Americans (Beck, Cable and Knudson, 2018). From my own experiences working in outdoor education we used to recite an Anishinabe story called Manabozho and the Maple Trees while going to a sugar shack with students. This particular form of art was so important to the students as it gave them a completely different interpretation of nature and allowed them to appreciate from the perspective of  those who were on this land first.

An Anishinabe Story I used to tell students while working at an Outdoor Education Centre (Ness, 2015)

Something else that really touched me when thinking of using art for nature interpretation was music. I have long been an avid music lover and singer, being a part of many concerts, singing in choirs and playing in coffee shops and open mics. As the reading discussed music can easily get long-lasting messages across due to how easily a song can get stuck in our heads. A song I think about that has a pretty strong message regarding nature and the environment is Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi, with lines like “farmer put away that DDT now” and “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot”. I actually remember using this song in elementary school for an assignment where we had to pick apart the main message, with us concluding it was to respect the environment and stop such large-scale development. Here is a link to this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94bdMSCdw20. Overall it was very eye opening to see how many amazing ways we can interpret nature through art.

Works Cited

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing. ISBN/ISSN: 978-1-57167-865-2

Ness, (2015). Keepers of the Earth Native American Stories. Retrieved from https://www.nesshistory.org/keepers-of-the-earth-native-american-stories.html

[jlenvs3000]

Hey Emily!

Hearing that you don’t consider yourself “to be very ‘artsy’” was very reassuring to me as I feel quite the same way. I have been absolutely amazed by the talent of many of the people that I’ve become acquainted with and have somewhat shied away from more traditional arts because of how much dedication and skill it takes to accomplish. After hearing the connection you made between theater and camp activities, I’ve come to realise that even creating activities that allow participants to interactively experience a different view on nature can be considered some form of art. This makes me think about the pollinator games we would prepare for the kids at camp which involved running around and collecting as much pollen as possible. Although not as visually stimulating as a painting might be, it really does get the participants (rather than the audience) to experience from a different perspective.

The point that you brought up about music easily providing a long-lasting message due to the fact it can get stuck in our heads is an interesting one. I would have to agree that it is a form of art that can interpret nature well, but is it safe to say it is one of the “long-lasting” ways to communicate it? Surely there are many songs that have been forgotten or never received proper recognition in the first place. I feel as though with the direction society is heading in general, forms of art such as music might have to be constantly updated to stay relevant whereas paintings or stories are more resistant to time as they are traditional. This is all just opinion of course. One thing I am certain of is that I will never forget Big Yellow Taxi.

[jlenvs3000]

Expressing Nature Through Art

“Art is the beginning of vision into the realm of eternal life.” This quote by Canadian artist Lawren Harris may seem ambiguous to some at first, but I feel like once one becomes slightly familiar with the history of Lawren Harris, a better understanding behind the meaning of this short, yet inspiring, quote might present itself. Harris was part of a group of Canadian artists known as The Group of Seven. The Group travelled together all across Canada and created art in varying styles that depicted Canadian culture and history (Silcox, 2003). Harris in particular was known for his paintings of great Canadian landscapes, which included many lakes, mountains, and trees.

The original painting Northern Lake by Lawren Harris (1923) at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Definitely one of my favourite pieces as reminds me of my time spent in similar looking locations.

To be honest, I had originally thought that the quote may have been referring to how the creation of art would allow one to be remembered eternally through their art. I’m also not very good when it comes to creating what most might consider art (paintings, sketches, music), but once I began looking through some of Lawren Harris’ paintings, I begun to understand what I believe he was referring to. The creation of his art allowed him to express the everchanging eternal life that he viewed in this wonderful environment that we continue to live in. The invisible yet constant shifting of mountains, the continuous cycle of cloud to rain to lakes, and even the life supported beyond death by now barren trees. There’s truly no end to what may simply be seen as life and death, only continuous cycles, adaptations and rebirths.

I’ve been very fortunate to have visited as much of our nature-rich country as I have until now. Many of the Harris’ paintings take me back to memories in time, like when I looked across the lakes outside Montebello, Qc and admired the sea of swaying trees or when I would appreciate the interesting wind-sculpted conifers along the shorelines in Cape Breton, NS. Despite the paintings being in a unique style (which I am very fond of), they still give me this sensation of realism and awe that I would experience out in the field.

A photo I had taken on Coxheath Hills in Cape Breton, NS. The contrasting colours resulted in a scenic view that I’ve always compared to those in art galleries.

I feel as though the most important thing to note about interpreting nature through art such as these paintings is that there is no minimum amount of experience required in either art or art interpretation to efficiently connect with art. As I mentioned earlier, my artistic skills are very minimal and even my experience with critiquing and interpreting art is essentially non-existent. However, I do feel as though this may be an underappreciated method of connecting with nature, especially if used properly as a gateway to further appreciation of the environment. Perhaps one day I will try to express my fondness of nature with a more artistic method, but for now sharing Mother Nature’s own art through specimen collecting and presentation will be my preferred method.

References

Harris, L. (1923). Northern Lake [Painting]. Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC. Vancouver Sun (2014). Retrieved from: http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Northern+Lake+Lawren+Harris+inside+Vancouver+Gallery+Vancouver+March+2014/9593023/story.html

Silcox, D. P. (2003). The Group of Seven and Tom Thomson (p. 448). Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books.

[lsenvs3000-20]

The Decline of the Music Industry

As of recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about how dissatisfied I am with the music industry.  Now to be fair, I think about this off and on for most of my waking hours, which I’ll admit is a tad hyperbolic, but I’ve given this subject much more than I usually do.   Recently, the CEO of Spotify, Daniel Ek, made a statement that in order for bands to stay relevant on the platform, they must release new material at least every 3-4 months.  

Hearing this, honestly upset me.  In the past few years or so, it seems as though artists are putting much more work into their singles, rather than albums as a whole.  With this new expectation for the continuous release of new content, I fear that the music scene is going to be composed of even fewer great albums, and even more boring carbon copied singles.       

Nowhere to me is this more evident, then when listening to the radio.  I don’t know if it’s just me, but anytime I don’t have an aux chord and I’m forced to turn on the radio, every radio station I turn to cycles through the same 10 generic singles.  It almost seems as though whether a song is good or not holds no value when a station is deciding what new songs to play.  What now seems to be the most important attribute, is whether a song is catchy or not.  Furthermore, I don’t think I’ve heard someone talk about “the album of the summer” or anything else along those lines, these days, it’s all about new songs that can be added to a playlist.  

For me, this is a terrible shift, as I’m someone who loves the album format.  They just make sense!  In my opinion they give songs a sort of place.  Whether that’s in the form of a seamless transition from one song to the next, or reoccurring themes that take place throughout the album.  This level of cohesion creates an experience similar to that of a movies soundtrack.

Now forgive me if this sounds too pretentious, but as someone who’s been playing and writing music for over a decade, the thought and ingenuity an artist puts into an album or song is something I appreciate greatly about an album or song. 

My band from high school playing one of our first gigs back in 2013.

All that being said, although the music industry is diluted with all sorts of not so great music, there are still many bands putting out great albums.  They may not get as much recognition or exposure as other artists, but in the long run, the effort they put into their craft will be remembered.

Okay, rant over.  What are some of your guys favourite albums or artists?  It may not be your cup of tea but a really interesting jazz/metal band called “Imperial Triumphant” put out a pretty stellar album called “Alphaville” this year and I haven’t been able to stop listening to it.

With cool costumes like these, how could you not want to check them out?!

Photo retrieved from https://www.revolvermag.com/music/how-imperial-triumphant-got-mr-bungle-and-meshuggah-members-wild-new-album on September 30th, 2020. 

[jlenvs3000]

Hey Luke, I don’t think you sound pretentious at all. I would be inclined to agree with you on most of the points you’ve made. My opinion is that albums are overall better than singles and that forcing artists to produce music every x amount of months to stay relevant is very harmful to the music industry. Perhaps it’s just because this is the way I originally began listening to my personal music rather than the radio, but I feel as though creating an album allows for more artistic creativity, especially when tracks on the album are part of a continuous story. I also always thought it was cool to have a song fade into the next song on the album, creating this unique experience you can only get from listening to the album.

Another thing about the album format is that it allows an artist to create tracks that are in a different style than their past songs, without fear of turning away some of their old fans. It’s understandable that “fans” will want to hear similar sounding tracks in future releases, but sometimes artists want to branch out and maybe even fans of their new material. I can imagine releasing a single that sounds different from the rest of an artist’s discography might be poorly received by fans and newcomers alike.

This is all my opinion of course. I don’t personally know all too much about the music industry, but I do enjoy listening to music. Oh, and if you would like an example of the story-like albums I mentioned, check out “Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards” (2015) by Gloryhammer. It’s symphonic power metal based on a high fantasy universe. Takes some time to catch the story, but it’s fun nonetheless.

[jlenvs3000]

Learning on the Outside Using iNaturalist

Have you ever paused to think that the cellphone that’s likely nearby has much more potential and processing power than almost anyone in the 1900s could have ever dreamed of? Not only is it powerful, but it can fit in your pocket and you can access it practically anywhere, at anytime. So, what should you do with all this power? Message friends from around the world, instantly? Access the entirety of humankind’s collective knowledge, AKA Wikipedia, at a moment’s notice? Browse funny pictures of cats? Well, all these options are possibilities, but how about something much more exciting; becoming a scientist with a few taps of the screen.

Alright, it may not qualify you for a degree or allow you to receive a salary but contributing to citizen science is an extremely rewarding hobby that’s becoming more and more popular. If you enjoy nature and have access to a phone, you’ve likely heard of the app iNaturalist before (if you haven’t, you should definitely consider downloading it from the Apple Store, Google Play or at their website, www.inaturalist.ca). The idea is rather simple and expertly integrated; users upload images of any living organisms they may find in the field (anything from snails to grasses to large mammals) and suggest an ID for the individual. The images are then reviewed by the community and if enough people agree with the ID, it becomes a research grade observation. These research grade observations can then be used by scientists that are conducting research on the observed species. It may sound interesting, but what’s in it for the users that are submitting observations or reviewing the observations of others? Well, more than you may think.

This friendly little Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) had no issues staying still for the camera so we could get his observation posted.

I was only first introduced to iNaturalist several years ago during training for a science outreach program. At first, I was amazed at the amount of observations some users posted. Tens of thousands of observations, sometimes all from the same area. I could never imagine submitting that many, especially with everything else I was occupied with. Despite it being somewhat daunting, I decided to give it a shot and today, it’s likely the best app I’ve ever downloaded. There’s no minimum amount of knowledge required to get into it. Unsure of a seemingly easy tree to identify? Take pictures and post it. Suggest that it is at least a plant and others in the community, sometimes experts, will likely help you identify it further. Not only is this observation contributing to an ever-growing database of observations that can be used for anything from range maps to abundance studies, but it’s also contributing to your knowledge of the local flora and fauna. There are even many exciting stories of individuals discovering species far outside of their known range or even some that find entirely new species!

More of a fungi-person? Try posting observations such as these Saddle-Shaped False Morel (Gyromitra infula) that I found along my hike.

Now, I can’t guarantee you’ll be able to find a new species and name it after yourself. What I can guarantee is that if you’re a nature enthusiast and enjoy learning and contributing to scientist, iNaturalist is the app for you. Just remember, take lots of pictures to help others ID, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and, most importantly, have fun! It’s more of a hobby than an assignment after all.

[hhenvs3000]

Hey Joseph, I was excited to see your blog post about iNaturalist as I just discovered this online community a few months ago myself! You did a great job outlining the features of this platform and the value it provides to anyone with an interest in nature as well as the scientific community at large. After reading your blog post and reflecting on my own experience, I find that it is a good avenue to increase accessibility to nature, as anyone can use the app and be connected to outdoor enthusiasts in an anonymous and safe environment. Additionally, I think this app demonstrates how technology can connect people, nature and science in a positive way that builds a sense of community.

I feel compelled to also share my experience with iNaturalist. It began when I was startled by a snake in my parents backyard this summer, which I had never seen before. After some quick research I was certain it was a “rare” species that needed to be reported for science. To confirm my almost certain suspicions I found iNaturalist after a quick Google search and within a few minutes had uploaded my photo hoping to surprise other users with my unique discovery!…Within 24 hours I was informed by some very kind fellow nature lovers that what I had found was actually a common Eastern garter snake…womp (see below).

Even though I did not discover a rare species, I did learn something from the online community and more importantly, found a great new resource to assist me when interpreting nature.

[jlenvs3000]

Hey Hannah, it’s great to hear that you’re familiar with the program! Sorry about your unexpected identification, but if it’s any consolation, I think Garter Snakes are pretty cool. There’s actually 13 different subspecies and many different morphs, so I usually try to learn about the distinguishing features of other snakes to help me differentiate them. They’re not called Common Garter Snakes for nothing!

I omitted discussing this in the original post, but another cool thing about iNaturalist is that it’s basically a portable nature journal. All your observations are stored online, so you can access them whenever you like. It’s always fun to look back on your past observations, especially if you get to travel a lot! Hope you enjoy using the app/website!

[jlenvs3000]

Learning on the Outside Using iNaturalist

Have you ever paused to think that the cellphone that’s likely nearby has much more potential and processing power than almost anyone in the 1900s could have ever dreamed of? Not only is it powerful, but it can fit in your pocket and you can access it practically anywhere, at anytime. So, what should you do with all this power? Message friends from around the world, instantly? Access the entirety of humankind’s collective knowledge, AKA Wikipedia, at a moment’s notice? Browse funny pictures of cats? Well, all these options are possibilities, but how about something much more exciting; becoming a scientist with a few taps of the screen.

Alright, it may not qualify you for a degree or allow you to receive a salary but contributing to citizen science is an extremely rewarding hobby that’s becoming more and more popular. If you enjoy nature and have access to a phone, you’ve likely heard of the app iNaturalist before (if you haven’t, you should definitely consider downloading it from the Apple Store, Google Play or at their website, www.inaturalist.ca). The idea is rather simple and expertly integrated; users upload images of any living organisms they may find in the field (anything from snails to grasses to large mammals) and suggest an ID for the individual. The images are then reviewed by the community and if enough people agree with the ID, it becomes a research grade observation. These research grade observations can then be used by scientists that are conducting research on the observed species. It may sound interesting, but what’s in it for the users that are submitting observations or reviewing the observations of others? Well, more than you may think.

This friendly little Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) had no issues staying still for the camera so we could get his observation posted.

I was only first introduced to iNaturalist several years ago during training for a science outreach program. At first, I was amazed at the amount of observations some users posted. Tens of thousands of observations, sometimes all from the same area. I could never imagine submitting that many, especially with everything else I was occupied with. Despite it being somewhat daunting, I decided to give it a shot and today, it’s likely the best app I’ve ever downloaded. There’s no minimum amount of knowledge required to get into it. Unsure of a seemingly easy tree to identify? Take pictures and post it. Suggest that it is at least a plant and others in the community, sometimes experts, will likely help you identify it further. Not only is this observation contributing to an ever-growing database of observations that can be used for anything from range maps to abundance studies, but it’s also contributing to your knowledge of the local flora and fauna. There are even many exciting stories of individuals discovering species far outside of their known range or even some that find entirely new species!

More of a fungi-person? Try posting observations such as these Saddle-Shaped False Morel (Gyromitra infula) that I found along my hike.

Now, I can’t guarantee you’ll be able to find a new species and name it after yourself. What I can guarantee is that if you’re a nature enthusiast and enjoy learning and contributing to scientist, iNaturalist is the app for you. Just remember, take lots of pictures to help others ID, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and, most importantly, have fun! It’s more of a hobby than an assignment after all.

[bmenvs3000]

Privilege of Familiarity with Nature

Personally, the definition of privilege to me is an advantage; specifically, one you were given at birth. As well as the individual experiences that are gathered going forward that have helped shape who we are today. For instance, a few of the privileges that I acquire include growing up in a first world country, having access to education, not having any physical disabilities, and having access to travel at a young age and the list goes on. Becoming familiar with the idea of what it means to be privileged and accepting it is not very easy but it is very important. It is critical to keep in mind that no matter where we are or who we are speaking to, many of the people around us may not have been given or experienced the same privileges that we often take for granted and vice versa.

Growing up, I was privileged enough to be given many travel opportunities through my parents. As a result of this, I have formed an abundance of unique experiences with nature through connecting with different parts and people of the world. The downside of this is that often, I find myself surprised and questioning things when some people around me are not as familiar with the natural world around them. This is something that I personally need to work on. Depending on where a person grows up, their nature lens could be very different to mine and that is perfectly normal. When it comes to the natural world, I have personally experienced that many fears originate from lack of knowledge. The more education that a person gathers when it comes to nature and the environment the more well rounded they are on certain nature topics.

I have made many new friends through studying at the University of Guelph, some of these friends have grown up on farms, some have grown up in beach communities and others in big cities. As someone who has grown up in Toronto and taken the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) to school every day, I sometimes find myself disconnected from friends who have grown up in different environments (rural, country, etc.). However, I have slowly learned to enjoy living through their personal experiences, hearing their stories and learning from them, because there is always room for knowledge and improvement!

-Photo of me and my Granda on one of our “nature walks” in Guelph, ON at Two-Rivers. I am privileged to be able to live in a university town surrounded by nature. 

Being able to interpret nature and introduce varieties of species, creatures and different scenery of the world to others who have never had a relationship with nature is a role with significant privilege. Being a good interpreter to me, means being able to see the privilege we carry and willing to be good, compassionate listeners when it comes to the interpretation of the natural world around us. Interpreters have the power to alter and change certain images when it comes to the great outdoors, making them more accessible and welcoming to everyone.

As someone who is always working on accepting and identifying my own privileges and the roles that they play in our world; what makes this discussion so captivating to me is the fact that everyone has their unique experiences and definitions when it comes to privilege and I am looking forward to reading them all and learning from them!

[jlenvs3000]

The distinction you made about learning what It means to be privileged and then recognizing how we are privileged is definitely something many people I’ve spoken with have failed to reflect upon. Perhaps this is the result of feeling guilty or helpless, but the response of many seems to be more of a defensive reaction, rather than one acknowledging that they have been more fortunate than others. Although travelling the world is quite the privilege that many can’t possibly experience, it seems that you’ve gained not only a greater admiration for the natural world, but also an excellent understanding of how often people are underprivileged around the world and how it might affect their perspective of the world. This type of experience is one even I have not experienced outside of Canada, but I try to get the closest idea of it that I can based on anecdotes and media.

Reading about how you eventually learned from your friends through their stories is very relatable. When I first moved into the city for further education, I hardly knew how to use public transport. Eventually, I would learn how to live in an urban area thanks to the help of my friends. Experiences like this have made me reflect on the different types of privileges that those in rural areas vs urban areas, and vice-versa, have. For example, the easy access to nature vs easy access to shopping malls are both things one might consider a privilege depending on their experiences. Many people would prefer one over the other, and sometimes it takes experiencing both to truly know which one is best for you.