Nature Appreciation Blog

Blog for ENVS 3000

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Unit 10

This week brings us to our final blog post of the semester. I have to admit I was not really sure what to expect when I enrolled in this course, but I definitely enjoyed it much more than I originally thought.  Blogging is something that I have never really done much of before, so when I first saw how many marks our blogs were worth I was intimidated. However, it did not take very long to learn how to blog and they kept getting easier every week. I am excited to share my final thoughts about what I have learned about being a nature interpreter. 

I would like to start this blog off by sharing a quote from the textbook that really relates to this week's blog prompt. 

"Interpreters help people to develop an ethical sense of their place and role in the world. Interpreters offer understanding and appreciation of our place and role in the world.  They give people facts and experiences so they care enough to help make the story turn out right” (Beck et al., 2018, p. 54).

This quote is saying that in order for an interpreter to help others develop a sense of place in nature, they first need to develop their own. Throughout this course, I really feel like I have developed as a nature interpreter and I would like to use the remainder of the blog to discuss how this course has helped my development. 

I would like to talk about my beliefs when it comes to being a nature interpreter. I think that my main goals and responsibilities as a nature interpreter would be to engage, educate, and connect with my audience.

Personally, I think that the most important responsibility an interpreter has is to engage their audience with nature. A quote from our course textbook says it best,  “People are out for recreation and need restful,  intellectual visions, and not dull, dry facts, rules, and manuals” (Mills, 1920)". This quote is saying that the reason people come out into nature is for a break from their everyday life activities, so they do not just want boring dry facts, they want to be excited about what they are learning. I am fortunate enough that throughout my life I have gone on many different family vacations. On these vacations, we would often partake in day excursions and this gave me the chance to experience many different interpreters. The best interpreters were always knowledgeable, funny, passionate, and very interactive.  They did not just act like it was a job, they would show true love for what they are doing and this would always make my family and I love it that much too. 

I also believe that educating my audience is one of my biggest responsibilities as a nature interpreter. I personally feel like I have a very strong connection with nature and I have always felt the need to do whatever I can to help protect it. Expressing my feelings about how I feel about nature with my audience would hopefully help to educate them about environmental issues and also inspire them with things they can do to help. I feel like this is especially important if the audience is kids because they may be the generation that has the chance to reestablish a healthy relationship with nature and stop the loss of biodiversity.  I would like to use a personal experience as an example. When my family went to Costa Rica we did a day excursion to go snorkeling. The interpreters were very knowledgeable, but they did not just feed us dull facts. They educated us about the importance of our ocean ecosystems by sharing feelings instead of facts.

Connecting my audience is also an essential responsibility as a nature interpreter. It’s one thing to engage and educate your audience, but if they do not feel connected to the topic are they even going to care? With so many people losing touch with the natural world an interpreter needs to connect people with nature. This is not done through sharing dull facts with the audience, but by allowing them to develop a deep personal connection with nature and making them understand why nature is so important to everyone in the world. 

The final thing I would like to talk about is how a nature interpreter needs to know their audience.  In unit 2 of this course, we learned about the different learning styles an individual may have and how that affects nature interpretation. The three different styles we learned about were, auditory, visual, and tactile learners. Therefore, as an interpreter, I would make sure to include all of these styles so everyone in the audience is able to learn in their own way. We also learned in unit 3 how privilege plays a role in nature interpretation. In this unit, we learned about “invisible backpacks” and how not everyone is equally privileged. Someone who is very privileged is more likely to be connected with nature than someone who is not as privileged because of the opportunities they have. This is why as a nature interpreter I will do my best to be accessible to everyone and to make sure everyone has a similar experience regardless of how privileged they are. 

In conclusion, this class had many different benefits for me. One benefit I did not expect was how educating people about nature has reminded me how much I care about the natural world.

References:

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

[jpenvs3000w23]

I 100% agree with you saying that the “most important responsibility an interpreter has is to engage their audience with nature.” There are so many different ways to engage your audience with nature. The best way is to get people outside and actually in the environment you’re talking about. Being in nature allows people to observe, listen, and touch the things around them which can help people create connections with nature. Being out in nature also gives people the opportunity to explore the environment and gets them to use skills that often are less utilized as we get older. Exploring allows us to revisit our childhood curiosities and get us to appreciate the wonders of the world. After allowing people to connect with the environment around them you can then educate them about the environment and its importance, which you mention in your post. Education is the key to everything, learning more allows you to see things from other’s perspectives and form a more educated opinion on issues. Educating people about the environment teaches them how the many ecosystem interactions, animal species, insects, and nature cycles keep the planet in balance. I think an important aspect of the climate crisis is that people don’t understand how the negative impacts we are having on the planet will one day, which is coming soon, start to negatively impact our way of life. This lack of education also demonstrates how important it is for us to have interpreters active in the community so that we can help protect our amazing planet.

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Unit 10

My ethic as a nature interpreter has evolved over my life, and evolved through taking this course and engaging in meaningful discussion with my peers. Through this course, I have articulated how I interpret nature through art, music, and history all while taking my privilege into account. I gained valuable perspective on my own interpretation by reading about my peer’s personal journey with nature. Going forward, as I continue to develop as an interpreter, I will do so with lots of gratitude. I believe that obtaining knowledge, being mindful, and being grateful, are the most important things we as interpreters can do, and in a nutshell, this is my personal ethic. 

Obtaining knowledge is so powerful. This can be done by reading, watching TV programs such as Blue Planet, by traveling and speaking to people from different backgrounds. The more knowledge we have about nature and its meaning both ecologically and culturally, the more aware we can be as interpreters. I have been lucky enough to travel to incredible destinations, where nature and people are connected in a way that I had never witnessed myself in Canada. Being inspired by the relationships between people and nature that I witnessed in places such as Costa Rica, Bali, Mexico and Hawaii, I decided to educate myself on Indigenous connections with nature. I looked further into Mohawk and Anishinaabe rituals and values regarding nature. As a result, I understand the nature that surrounds me in a way that I had never before. For these reasons, obtaining knowledge is central to my ethics in nature interpretation. 

Next, being mindful is a simple value I hold in many aspects of my life, but only recently have I begun being truly mindful of nature. Growing up, I was not very “outdoorsy”. I never cared for camping or spending long amounts of time outdoors and I was not very mindful of the fragility of our earth. As I have matured and come to build a love for the outdoors, I have learned that our nature is vital to our health, and we must be mindful of the health of the planet. Our society has taken steps to eliminate single use plastics and I can appreciate the importance of that as I have become more mindful of nature. I have made mindful changes in my lifestyle to do my part in preserving our environment, such as walking where I could drive, buying reusable straws, taking the time to learn how to properly recycle and compost. These all sound like miniscule and insignificant changes, but they are my contribution with the limited resources I have as a student. When I spend time outdoors I actually think about how this land is home to so many species and acknowledge the importance of it. These realizations come with maturing and growing up, and being able to understand how I have evolved into somebody who pays attention to the little things is an accomplishment that I, as an interpreter, am proud of. 

Something that naturally comes with being mindful is being grateful. I practice gratitude in my life every single day. I firmly believe that this is so important in leading a happy, healthy life. We must understand our privilege, do the most with what we have, and at the end of the day, be grateful for those around us. When interpreting nature, it is important to be grateful for the beauty and the benefits it brings. From nature, we get food, beauty, medicine, and so much more. More importantly, on the most fundamental level, without nature we would cease to exist. We must explore our world with that gratitude in mind in order to fully interpret it. Looking at the course discussions, we can be grateful for the music and art that was inspired by nature. I am someone who cannot live without music, and many of my favorite songs were inspired by nature. This is such a simple thing but it is important to express gratitude for it. 

Given my ethics, my personal responsibilities as an interpreter are to speak to my peers and people I meet in my travels. I think that talking to people is extremely important. This class, for example, has pushed me as an interpreter just through online discussion. Even though I have never met most of the people I have spoken with in this class, I have learned so much from their experiences in nature. Therefore, I believe my responsibility is to speak to and learn from people.

The approach most suitable for me is traveling. My parents have taught me the importance of learning from other cultures through travel. I am lucky enough to have the resources to travel and experience the world first hand. Through travel, I learn about nature through experience, culture, music and art. The world is so vast and there is so much to see and I hope to be able to immerse myself in it as much as I can. Through traveling, I also can learn so much about history. The discussion that most impacted me is the interpretation through history unit. I looked at my family history and how nature impacted it, and learned about my classmates history and relationships with nature through that lens. I think this is a very important approach to take.

Overall, as I grow as an interpreter, I hope to do so by learning, being mindful, and being grateful. I will do this through traveling and connecting with different landscapes and speaking with different people.                                                                                                                                                                              

[jpenvs3000w23]

I believe as an interpreter and nature advocate gaining new knowledge is so important. You talk about learning from people and documentaries but I think there is also value in learning through exploration. Exploring through touch, sound, and sight can provide insight into the environment around you which can improve your understanding and knowledge about how nature interacts and works with and around us. Exploring nature, I believe, also fosters connections with the environment, and connection inspires people to be passionate about nature and to help protect it. Additionally, exploring nature yourself can help you learn the best ways to incorporate exploration when interpreting to the public. Exploring nature is also a great way to help support good mental health and allow us to take a break from the world of technology. You talk about the importance of mindfulness, and I believe being out in nature is a great way to promote this. I’ve experienced the positive impact that being out in nature has had on my well-being, mental health, and spiritual well-being. The environment is a fundamental part of our biology, the chemicals in our brain respond positively to being out in nature and as an interpreter one of our many responsibilities is getting others outside and connecting with nature. I love that you discuss talking to strangers on your travels and sharing your nature knowledge with them. Something valuable about talking to people on your travels is that you can share your perspective and they can share yours and you can both learn from each other.

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Being Outdoors Allows Us To Explore

This week brings us to our final blog post, I’m excited to share with you my final thoughts about what I’ve learned is important to me as a nature interpreter and how I want to share my knowledge with the public going forward. 

As an interpreter, my four main goals are to educate, connect, engage, and inspire those I’m interacting with. I believe that these are essential components of what being an interpreter means and the impacts they should have on those around them. As an environmental steward and a future educator, personally, I believe some of the most important people to interact with and inspire are children. Although some adults are receptive to change and new ideas, many are not. The media clearly shows us this by reporting the decisions governments and big corporations are making. For example, the Willow Project, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the project so I won’t go into too much detail, however even though there are many economic benefits the environmental repercussions of this project could be huge. Not only will 239 million metric tons be emitted over the project’s 30 years, but what about the harmful effects of building roads, increasing the human population, building more houses, and more noise, and light, what effects will this have on wildlife (Puko, 2023)? On the plant and climate change? People like Biden, and there are many others, say one thing and then do something else. People like Doug Ford want to develop the Greenbelt, an important protected natural area in Ontario and even with large opposition from the public (Jones, 2022). I don’t want to get too political here, but I want to make a point that, in my opinion, many adults cannot have their minds changed and continue to deplete and ravage the natural, endangered world around us. 

For me, my focus and my passion as a future educator is to teach and inspire the new generations to be aware of and respectful of the environment. Taking them outside on a nature walk or on a field trip allows them to learn about the environment, and connect with the world around them through touch, sight, and sounds. It engages them in current world issues such as pollution, deforestation, and animal conservation. And hopefully inspires them to learn how they can help, inspires them to become environmental activists, and inspire them to teach people in their community. But, as mentioned in Jacob Rodenburg’s article, getting kids outside to explore and learn is becoming more difficult because it's cheaper and “safer” for kids to be inside (2019). I want to directly quote the article here because this short sentence is powerful “leaving kids indoors cuts them off from the knowledge and understanding of what it means to be a living being that shares a world with other living beings” (Rodenburg, 2019). I think this is such a powerful quote and is seen in our modern-day, corporate world. I honestly believe that some people forget that we share this planet with other living beings besides other people. They see plants, trees, squirrels, and birds daily but I don’t think they truly make the connection that we share the environment, they just think that they are living in our world. 

You can only learn so much inside a classroom, that is where the differentiation lies between a teacher teaching you about the environment and an interpreter connecting you with it. Kids need to see it, touch it, explore it, listen to it, hear stories about it, and interact with it, learning about the environment from a classroom cannot create the connection that being outdoors can (Rodenburg, 2019). In schools, there is still a lack of balance between education, well-being, and life skills/exploration. But I believe incorporating environmental exploration and learning from nature interpreters can be a great way to balance all three. We came from the Earth, it is connected and has guided us for millennia, but with the rise of technology, we have become disconnected from it. Nature has been proven to help improve mental health, an important focus in today’s schools, it educated us, it tells stories by watching trees grow, seasons change, and animals hunt. And it gives us the space to explore and fulfill this biological need to connect with the environment around us. 

As a future teacher, I believe it is my responsibility to my students to teach them about and interpret the environment around them but to do that they need to be in it. As I’ve gone through this course and reflected on my own guided nature experiences, I’ve discovered that I, as a nature interpreter, enjoy interpreting through stories. Not necessarily made-up stories like about a snapping turtle named Snappy, but stories that are about history, about the daily life of a grizzly bear, about the life cycle of a plant, stories that help to explain the world around us. Interpreting in this way, I believe, brings a sense of clarity and allows connections to form. These connections can lead to inspiration to help conserve and protect our environment and its inhabitants.  

I believe it is my responsibility and my calling as an interpreter to teach children about the importance of the environment and how to connect with and be respectful of the world that provides and lives around them. Helping them understand the environment and creating healthy connections with the Earth will hopefully inspire them to as they grow up learn more, educate others, and get involved in protecting the environment and its inhabitants who, unfortunately, do not have a voice to advocate for themselves. That is another hope I have as an interpreter is to not only teach and build connections but to inspire others to do the same, and if need be fight to preserve the environment for generations to come, because at this rate there isn’t going to be much left. 

Jones, R. P. (December 22, 2022). Ford government forges ahead with Greenbelt development plan despite ‘broad opposition’ in public consultation. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/greenbelt-oak-ridges-moraine-regulations-1.6692337

Puko, T. (March 24, 2023). What is Willow? How an Alaska oil project could affect the environment. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/03/17/willow-project-alaska-oil-drilling-explained/ 

Rodenburg, J. (2019) Why Environmental Educators Shouldn’t Give Up Hope. Clearing. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

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Blog 09: The Most Amazing Thing About Nature

This week’s blog prompt was very open ended. Asking me to write about the most amazing thing I know about nature opens so many doors to my favourite things. I know so many amazing things about nature and learn more amazing things every day. However, I am going to focus on my most favourite part of nature, my cottage, and the several benefits associated with spending time in nature. Although my cottage specifically is not “nature” it is where I encounter all the amazing thing’s nature has to offer.

As our textbook mentions, nature and the environment hold so many benefits to individuals and society. People tend to spend their free time visiting nature centres because they have fun and leave feeling inspired (Beck et al., 2018). In addition to this, parks and landscapes have health benefits. Nature parks provide individuals for a place to perform physical exercise and a place to relax. Our textbook also indicates that the health of natural landscapes is linked to human health (Beck et al., 2018).

I find it even more interesting to learn that there is a disorder the exists amongst people that lack a connection with nature. In our textbook, I came across “nature deficit disorder”, which is a disorder people encounter when they have a broken bond with nature (Beck et al., 2018).  This makes me feel so thankful I have such easy access to spending time outdoors, as I can head up North for a quick weekend in the woods whenever I want. I have never had to worry about a lack of activity in natural landscapes because it is something that brings me so much joy. However, I could completely understand how I would feel mentally if I did not have a bond with the environment.

I can relate to this concept of nature influencing individual health benefits, as I personally can feel so much healthier when I am encountering nature. I would say my physical health is linked with natural landscapes because I really enjoy going for hikes or runs outside in local conservation areas. Being surrounded by nature in any way makes it a lot easier for me to do something active. I would also say my mental health is linked to natural landscapes because being outdoors gives me a little extra serotonin. I always find myself happier and feeling less anxious when I am outside.

Therefore, I decided to focus on my cottage in this blog prompt. I have spent a lot of time exploring natural landscapes and learning about all the individual benefits I have gained from spending time outdoors. All thanks to my cottage.  The feeling of being secluded in the trees while looking out onto the lake brings me so much personal joy. Sometimes I find it hard to recognize the nature that surrounds us here in Guelph, but when I am up North, I never struggle to recognize the constant feeling of wildlife that is all around. There is no better feeling then being one with nature and knowing it is all around you.

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

[jpenvs3000w23]

I love that you brought up the nature deficit disorder because I feel like it is not talked about enough. When we were younger we were not so easily affected by the depressing winter conditions but nowadays we often hear about seasonal depression because of shorter days and winter conditions. But this is also another form of nature deficit disorder because in the winter it is harder and less enjoyable to connect with nature. Prior to getting my dog I definitely have affected by seasonal depression, but since getting my golden retriever I am now forced to go out almost every day to fulfill her needs. So over the course of the last two winters, I have almost been forced to reconnect with nature during these less-than-ideal winter months. Even though I have enjoyed nature these last few months I am ready for spring and summer when I get to enjoy nature to the fullest. Like you I could not imagine not being able to go out into nature whenever I want. Even missing out on going outside for a couple of days makes me feel unwell. I think this disorder is also becoming more prominent as technology addictions are on the rise. With people glued to their phones, laptops, and televisions, they are less likely to go outside and connect with the physical world around them. Humans have evolved over millennia to connect and interact with nature. Depriving yourself of this biological need will have negative consequences on mental health and overall well-being. Thank you again for raising this important mental health and nature issue.

[jpenvs3000w23]

The Beauty of Wetlands

This week's blog post is going to be about wetlands and the beauty of these less-explored ecosystems. I have spent countless summers at my cottage on the lake in Northumberland County. We are on the Trent Severn Waterway lock system on a smaller lake called Crowe Bay. We spend countless hours on the water tubing with the speed boat, fishing with my uncle on his fishing boat, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding, just enjoying the summer at the lake. One of my favourite things to do is to take the kayak or paddle board and go into the marsh that is just by my grandparents' cottage next door. 

As you paddle over to the mash you first see the tall, green bull rushes with their brown fluffy tops, then you notice the lily pads with their yellow and white flowers growing all throughout the marsh. And the fallen, waterlogged logs sometimes with painted turtles or frogs resting on them. These are the initial things you notice as you slowly paddle in. But as you get further into the marsh and you take a moment to pause you start to see the finer details. The water bugs dance on the surface of the water as your paddle splashes in and out of the cool water, the flies buzz around your head and hands, the birds that fly in the sky above looking for a snack, and the fish below swim away from your kayak’s presence. The roots, weeds, and boggy marsh floor below that you can see through the clear, brown-tinted water when the warm sun shines brightly. It’s a beautiful place with so many hidden wonders, creatures, and interactions that you can miss in the blink of an eye.

Not only is witnessing these interactions a beauty to behold, but they are also essential to the function of the marsh and lake ecosystem. From the smallest piece of algae to the birds above they all play an important role in keeping the balance. Many view these ecosystems as gross and unappealing because of the muddy, buggy nature of these areas, and the historical viewpoint that they are dumping grounds for garbage (NPS, 2016). But in reality, wetlands and marshes provide so many important functions that help the environment and animals around them. Some of the most important things that wetlands do are improve water quality by filtering out toxins and sediments from the water, and they help provide a continual supply of freshwater by storing it when there is an abundance and releasing it during dry months (CWF, 2017). Marshes provide food for many animals and provide shelter if they are in danger, during mating season, or some animals live there throughout their entire life cycle (CWF, 2017). Wetlands are an essential part of maintaining freshwater ecosystems in North America, but unfortunately, they are under imminent threat and have been for decades.

In 1990, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service revealed that “more than half of the 221 million acres of wetlands that existed in the lower 48 states in the late 1700s have been destroyed” (NPS, 2016). And in Canada, about 70% of all wetlands in southern Canada have been destroyed (Kaumeyer, 2022). These are heartbreaking statistics, but there is still hope to preserve the wetlands we still have left. Through education and interpretation general audiences such as you will better understand the importance of conserving our precious wetlands.

References

Canadian Wildlife Federation Blog (CWF). (2017). Wetlands: The Unsung Heros of Our Natural World. https://blog.cwf-fcf.org/index.php/en/wetlands-the-unsung-heroes-of-our-natural-world/# :~:text=Without%20wetlands%2C%20we%20would%20no,clean%20soil%20and%20water%20behind. 

Kaumeyer, L. (2022). What’s happening to Canada’s vanishing wetlands? Without a proper inventory, we won’t truly know. Ducks Unlimited Canada. https://www.ducks.ca/stories/wetlands/whats-happening-to-canadas-vanishing-wetlands/ 

National Park Service (NPS). (2016). Why are Wetlands Important? https://www.nps.gov/subjects/wetlands/why.htm 

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Unit 7: Nature Interpretation through Music

Music is everywhere in nature. It is in the calls of the birds, in the sounds of running water, in the wind, and in every other sound you hear when you step into a natural space. Of course, the opposite is true as well; nature exists in music. Every once in a while, when listening to a song, I will notice the sound of birds, or of crickets, or some other natural element. Whether a song may be indirectly inspired by nature through its melody or lyrics, or directly inspired by nature through use of a recording as part of a song (i.e. songs with crashing wave sounds, for example), nature has a well-established place in music. It doesn't have to be music we created ourselves, either, as mentioned in our Unit (Hooykaas, 2023). The sharing of nature-inspired music between humans is a form of nature interpretation in itself. This means it is beneficial simply to listen to the musical interpretations of others. Music is also an integral aspect of culture. It provides a tool with which humans can connect to others within a community, and connect to the world around them. Culture, music, and nature are inevitably intertwined. In Inuit legends, the very first individuals to be throat singers were small birds called Tunirtuaruit (BBC, 2023). Inuit throat singing is a musical form that often involves the imitation of nature sounds, and it is a strong example of the close relationship between nature and music (BBC, 2023).

A song that immediately transports me to a natural landscape is “Mull of Kintyre” by Paul McCartney and Wings. This is a true campfire song, at least for my family. As part of our camping traditions, we would always gather by the fire at night and my dad would play songs on his guitar. This song was one of my favourites. It brings me memories of a childhood full of marshmallow roasting, forest adventures, and warming my hands by the fire. Something I feel is important to note is that the song itself speaks of nature. Here is a little snippet of the lyrics:

“Far have I traveled and much have I seen Dark distant mountains with valleys of green Past painted deserts, the sunset's on fire As he carries me home to the Mull of Kintyre”

(Paul McCartney and Wings, from Mull of Kintyre)

In my mind, these words paint a distinct image of traveling through the wilderness. They offer a sense of adventure in the natural world, along with a return to the safety of home in the beautiful natural area of Scotland. As I consider the lyrics, I can visualize the mountains, the green valleys, and the fiery sunsets. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for adventure stories, and that includes stories in songs, too. The concept of adventure is inevitably tied to nature; there is inherent adventure within our enjoyment and exploration of the natural world. This particular song allows me to interpret nature as a place to be explored, to travel, to leave and to return.

Hooykaas, A. (2023). Unit 7: Nature Interpretation through Music. Courselink. University of Guelph. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/791355/viewContent/3306932/View

[BBC]. (2023). A revival of Indigenous throat singing. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20210414-a-revival-of-indigenous-throat-singing

[jpenvs3000w23]

I really loved your blog post this week. I agree with all your points about nature being found in music, but I would like to elaborate more, as you only briefly talk about it at the beginning of your post. I believe that individual songs are found in nature like bird songs, rivers, etc but I also believe that these sounds combine together to cohesively create the song of mother nature as I call it. When all these sounds combine together they create a song that emits ground and calming energy. I often believe the song of nature is often overlooked because people are too focused on the visual beauty of nature instead of the auditory. 

I also want to thank you for sharing your family campfire song with us. I just listened to it and you’re right, it is a wonderful campfire song. Symbolism plays such an important role when interpreting nature in music. It helps paint a picture of a natural scene or describe a feeling you experience in nature. 

Lastly, I really like your point about how music allows everyone to become an interpreter just by sharing music with friends and family. By sharing music you are showing others how you see nature, what it means to you, and what messages you think the song or nature is giving you. Overall, I think music is a beautiful way to interpret nature, it is also the only form of auditory music that doesn’t have to use words. To end I want to share favourite interpretation of nature through music, it is Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

[jpenvs3000w23]

Nature and Music

Today I’m going to analyze two questions, Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music?

I believe that music and nature are forever intertwined. To answer the first question, I want to respond with another question, “Where is music not in nature?” Every mating call, stream, breeze, and bird song can be viewed as music, and when combined I like to refer to them as the song of Mother Nature. This song can be viewed as an interpretation of nature, it allows those who are bearing witness to it to explore nature through sound and listen to the story nature is telling. As we have discussed before a big part of interpretation is storytelling, and without a word, nature is able to tell a story through song and sound. As people focus on individual sounds they learn about different smaller stories going on in the environment around them, like a male bird singing his mating call or the stream flowing, giving life to everything around it. Some people also enjoy the sounds of nature not for the story but for the calmness and grounding energy the sounds emit. I would also like to acknowledge that music is subjective, some people can more easily find music in nature than others, which is important to note because some don’t recognize music in nature, and that is okay. Personally, I very much enjoy spending time in nature, allowing the sounds of nature to calm me, and listening to the world around me. Nature is where all sounds come from and through the centuries people have learned from and imitated its sounds. 

Now, moving on to the second question. This one is a bit more difficult, especially when comparing to today’s music which has so many different genres. In the past, prior to modern music, lots of music was inspired by nature. By specific animals, places, sentiments, seasons, and more. One of the most famous musical pieces inspired by nature is Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. These pieces are known around the world and are a direct interpretation of each season and the emotions associated with them. However, I believe that most of today’s music does not draw influence from nature, but don't worry cause there are still many that do. A big factor is the genre of music because this can influence where music draws influence from. Today I feel like nature can be found in music in many ways, directly using sounds from nature, imitating sounds found in nature, drawing inspiration from the feelings of nature, or directly about nature themes. Regardless, all music influenced by nature is interpreted, those about the themes and stories of nature are most obvious while those that use nature sounds are less obvious.

To reiterate, I strongly believe that nature and music are closely intertwined, there were still many things that I wanted to talk about on this topic but instead will leave questions to spark more conversation.

Do you think that instruments made from nature or that are decorated by nature are a form of nature interpretation through music?

Do you think that sounds of nature in some way play a role in all music?

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Unit 06: Interpretation through History

The quote we are discussing in this week’s blog is:

“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)”

The quote’s central idea highlights the importance of history and how its significance cannot be neglected. Hyams uses the analogy of the railway station and trains to visualize how people tend to only focus on what they can see at the moment instead of acknowledging its existence, even if it is a memory for a group of people. In the first sentence of the quote, he also voiced the message that history is only significant when we interpret it. He emphasized that it is through interpretation that we piece together history and learn from “ancient things,” as the meaning is given by the interpreters; the “things” themselves do not carry the meaning.

We interpret history because it “breathes life and meaning into past events, architecture, and artifacts” and contributes to developing communities and enriching the lives of the people in them (Beck, 2018, p. 326). Helping people establish a personal connection to history may lead to a new perspective on life. Similar to how we interpret nature, the interpreter needs to apply the same principles of a good interpretation to the public (Beck, 2018, p. 329). For example, a compelling story that is relatable to the audience can provoke meaningful engagements.

It is suggested that history interpretation and nature interpretation should go hand-in-hand, as the natural resources at the historical sights are usually linked in their stories (Beck, 2018, p. 329). An approach to history interpretation is “living history,” where the goal is to replicate the part of history under interpretation as accurately as possible while integrating entertainment (Beck, 2018, p. 330). I believe that this method relates back to the quote by Hyams; we tend to only accept the reality that we know by experience, but through “living history,” one can better understand a piece of history and its meanings. Additionally, to practice the approach of living history, the enormous amount of preparation and research required is a part of the process of gaining knowledge from history, like how Hyams meant about history maintaining knowledge (Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation). However, through interpretation, that knowledge is passed on in a thought-provoking and approachable way to the audience.

References:

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

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Your post is very well written and I think well interprets the analyzed quote. I do believe that interpreters bring artifacts to life but contrary to the quote and your explanation I believe that the “things” do carry merit and meaning even without interpreters and that they carry stories that interpreters draw inspiration from. I am a firm believer that interpretations are invaluable resources that people should take advantage of but I also believe that we are all individuals, and to a degree can be our own interpreters. In other words, “things” are valuable because each person can visual their own “living history” in their head and interpret the significance of the object and what story it has to tell. I love your section on living history because I totally agree with its importance. Living history is a great way to engage and entertain audiences while educating and interpreting history for audiences. Living history allows people to better understand what life was like, more easily put themselves in others' shoes, and understand the past so that they can make better decisions in the future. Interpreting history is also very much connected to nature as you mention but it is also connected by historical natural events such as tornados, earthquakes, deforestation, mining, extreme weather, over-fishing, and more. Some of these natural events were uncontrollable but other were events happening in nature but were caused by human activity. Understanding human's historical relationship with nature can help us heal the aftereffects and help prevent further destruction. Interpreters can help by telling stories not only about human history but about natural history and through the eyes of the land and wildlife to help people understand the relationship what kinds of relationships we’ve had with nature in the past and how to maintain and better them for the future.

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The Importance of Interpreting 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)

This quote is about the importance of history and that it cannot be neglected, but also states that there is no merit in ancient things which is kind of confusing, lets's unpack it. 

In the first part of the quote Hyams says there is no merit in ancient things, this I do not agree with, I believe there is great importance on ancient objects not just events, people, or knowledge. Objects help us visually see history and connect with it. They are also very important for interpretation and give interpreters the opportunity to create stories and engage with audiences. Beck et al. state living history is “an attempt to accurately replicate the past through the use of a  physical  environment  and  the  sights,  sounds,  and  smells  of  the  period  being  represented” (2018). This shows the importance of historical objects and how interpretation through exploration and storytelling is one of the best ways to engage audiences in history. Living history is, for both the interpreters and viewers, an immersive, educational, fun, enriching, and imaginative way to learn about history, and is a great way for interpreters to engage with audiences. There are two main ways that interpreters can deliver living history, through first-person and third-person interpretation (Beck et al., 2018). First-person is when the interpreter is portraying a specific person and third-person is when the interpreter is explaining the scene or life of someone as an outsider (Beck et al., 2018). Living history relies on “ancient things” such as objects, clothes, ancient sites, and more, to help interpreters tell an enriching story. 

Now to unpack the second part of the quote, which I agree with, “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.” Some people are less interested in the social, political, and storytelling of history, but these are important, even more so than the physical artifacts because they were the result of human decisions and actions, which can be repeated. There are many good and bad things that have happened throughout history, either with or without malicious intent. Let's look at a current political and social issue, woman's bodily autonomy, specifically abortion, and Roe v. Wade. In the recent past, in 1900s-70s, it was illegal for women to have abortions. And because of this women in the thousands would seek unsafe abortions, and unfortunately, this led to many women having irreparable damage done to their reproductive organs, causing them to be severely ill, and many women died. This was the norm at that time even though it was wrong and we now know the negative effects it had on women. So, women fought, they fought for years for their rights and “won.” And yet the United States has now regressed and is now allowing state governments to deny women the right to bodily autonomy, and indirectly giving men (majority of the people in government) the right to control their bodies. That was a bit of a side tangent, BUT I want to explain how this pertains to interpretation. This is a case where interpretation has “failed” to show audiences and society the wrongful ways of the past and how these actions should not be repeated. And so unfortunately history has repeated itself, and people are now again suffering. Interpretation can and should be more heavily used to describe and immerse people in the past so they can learn, and make better decisions about the future. 

This week I did not use any specific nature examples but the principles are the same and can be applied when interpreting nature in the past. Some examples are looking at colonization and today and examining issues such as deforestation, overfishing, and abuse of the land.

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

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Nature Interpretation through Science (week 5)

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

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

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

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

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

I look forward to hearing your responses! - Tiana

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

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

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I just talked about climate change in my blog post and I would like to bring forth some of those points in response to your question. Because this course is about nature interpretation I would like to discuss the important role interpreters play in wildlife conservation. Often tour guides are on the front lines when introducing and showing the public natural environments and wildlife. This gives them the perfect opportunity to educate people about the importance of preserving these animals and how they can help. I truly believe education is the most important part of conservation. If no one knows about or understands these animals and their importance to their ecosystem then there will be no effort to help protect them. I love learning about animals and I find it helps me better understand them and creates a stronger passion to protect them. At the end of August, I went to the Toronto Zoo with my 9-year-old cousin and we did a behind-the-scenes tour with the giraffes. It was amazing, it was geared to people of all ages with a focus on younger audiences. It was engaging and they made it fun, but they also educated you about giraffes, their importance to the ecosystem, the challenges their fellow giraffes are facing in the wild, and what you can do at home to help the giraffes. I thought the tour was super well done and provided kids with information and ways to help their big giraffe friends so that we can continue to admire them for years to come.

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The Role Interpreters Play in Combating Climate Change

For this week’s blog, I would like to write about climate change, people’s beliefs about climate change, and how interpreters can help improve small-scale action against climate change. First, I would like to present some statistics about current thoughts about climate change in North America. The first prompt is, “people believe the world is getting warmer,” the national average in the United States is 72% agree, and in Canada, 83% agree (Marlon et al., 2022, Mildenberger et al., 2019). The next prompt is “people believe that climate change is caused by human activity,” in the United States the national average is 57% agree, and in Canada, 60% agree. (Marlon et al., 2022, Mildenberger et al., 2019). Are you surprised by these statistics? I can say that I’m a little surprised, I thought the United States “the world is getting warmer” statistic would be lower and the “caused by human activity” statistic for Canada would be higher. Even though people don’t believe it, it has been proven by scientists that climate change and the rapid rate of change is being caused by human activity (Trenberth, 2018).

Although people believe in climate change they do not believe that it is caused by humans, it is good that people are acknowledging there is a problem but because people don’t think it is being caused by humans they believe they don’t have a responsibility to “fix it.” This mindset can be changed by interpreters when interacting with their audiences. Interpreters will not be able to create big changes but can create small-scale changes in their communities and within families by talking about conservation and small lifestyle changes that people can make. When doing nature tours, for example, as guides are moving through the landscape they can pose questions about what people like in the environment and use these as jumping-off points to talk about conservation. Let's go over a simple example of how this would play out, for example, one person mentions how much they love the native flowers of the area. The guide can affirm these beliefs that native flowers are beautiful, then talk about the important role they play in the native ecosystem, and how they help pollinators and are a food source for other animals. But because of changing temperatures their reproductive cycles could be negatively affected or they could be out-competed by nonnative species that have been introduced. Hearing about the uncertain future native flowers will face guides can talk about ways people can help like helping with non-native species removals and walking and riding their bikes more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is a very simple example of the impact interpreters can have on their audiences, because of the hands-on experiences they provide they can make the effects of climate change hit closer to home giving people the opportunity to understand the negative effects climate change will have on their lives. Even if changes will not be as significant in certain parts of North America as in others or other countries, people will still see changes and need to understand how to decrease the impact climate change will have on the local, regional, national, and global environments. 

Trenberth, K. E. (2018). Climate change caused by human activities is happening and it already has major consequences. Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law, 36(4), 463-481. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/02646811.2018.1450895

Marlon, J., Neyens, L., Jefferson, M., Howe, P., Mildenberger, M., & Leiserowitz, A. (2022, February 23). Yale climate opinion maps 2021. Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us/  

Mildenberger, M., Howe, P., Lachapelle, E., Marlon, J., Leiserowitz, A., Stokes, L., & Wang, X. (2019, November 21). Canadian Climate Opinion Maps 2018. Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Retrieved from https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ccom/

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Unit 4: Using Art to Interpret Beauty

No matter who you are, there is a way to interpret nature through art that speaks to you. Whether it's movement, music, visual art, fibre arts, or storytelling, there is a way to grab the attention of everyone through art-based activities.

I find it hard to introduce art interpretation to both myself and others. There is usually an expectation of talent or perfection that comes with attempting art in any space. To avoid this, I like to think about normal activities we do that are unintentionally artistic. For example, storytelling. There is an art to storytelling and a simple question can spark this in anyone.

What did you notice on the walk?

What is your earliest memory in nature?

I like to think of times I have sat and traced lines aimlessly in the dirt with a stick I had found, or tried to mimic the bird calls I heard in the distance. But beyond that, my favourite way of connecting to nature through art has been cordage. I was taught by a good friend and mentor of mine the art of using natural fibres to create rope and cord. He taught me how to harvest dogbane, cedar bark and grasses to make a strong rope that can be used for a variety of crafts and practical situations. The process of collecting and creating within nature makes room for reflection and gratitude, as with all forms of art.

In Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World, there is a set of outlined gifts and principles (Beck et al. 2018). The gift of beauty is defined by the principle that nature interpretation should "instil in people the ability, and the desire, to sense the beauty in their surroundings" (Beck et al. 2018). I agree with this, my interpretation of beauty is a gift nature has given to us. The beauty of the sight, smell, touch, taste, and sound of nature is a gift. Nature interpretation allows us to fully realize and appreciate these gifts in all aspects. Finding beauty in the usual and the mundane, as well as the exciting and grand.

There is beauty all around us, and it is what allows us to become responsible nature interpreters at any level. As mentioned in the principle it “encourages resource preservation”, when we recognize beauty we don’t want anything to take it away. This ties back to using art as a tool for nature interpretation. All forms of art are beautiful.  If we are able to create beauty from nature, with nature, or in nature, we will feel more connected to it. 

I want to end this post with a few lyrics of a song I like to sing or hear with others in nature. It is from Anthem by Leonard Cohen and I learned it in the first weeks of my journey into nature interpretation:

"Forget your perfect offering,

just sing the songs that you can sing.

There is a crack in everything,

that's how the light gets in."

Reference:

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

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First, I want to say how cool it is that you have learned the art of cordage, I was lucky enough once to participate in a small cordage workshop at an Indigenous museum on Vancouver Island. It is a beautiful art form and a way to connect with the land. I am also intrigued by your concept of creating art in nature by tracing lines in the sand or repeating bird calls. I love the fact that this idea of art is an interactive and simple way of engaging people in nature and exploring its beauty through touch, sound, and sight. Using art to interpret nature is a great way to engage audiences of all ages and from all backgrounds, because depending on your previous experiences you will interpret things differently. Furthermore, this is a great way for people to interpret nature because as the saying goes ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder,’ meaning everyone views beauty differently and in different things. As you mentioned “it encourages resource preservation” because by allowing people to explore nature in their way people will protect what they find beautiful. Something that I find unique about interpreting nature with art is when artists have captured the beauty of nature in a single snapshot like in a painting, drawing, or sculpture. Being able to capture beauty, and emotion, and provide knowledge in a single snapshot is so inspiring as an interpreter because these artists are able to interpret nature without having to use a single word.

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Artists and Art Pieces are Nature Interpreters

Nature, the land, the sky, animals, the weather, plants, and water surrounds us, inspires, and influences our actions. Many artists draw inspiration from nature, use nature as their medium, use nature to create a theme in their work, and use it to help them develop a deeper understanding of the world and themselves (Iwinski, 2021). We consume art every single day, on our phones, the radio, in books, on the television, seeing art pieces in public, and more. Everyone enjoys art in some form or another, I enjoy television, photography, and music. How do you enjoy art? Art, just like nature, is important to spiritual and mental well-being, it promotes engagement with your surroundings which can help with overall well-being (Mental Health, 2019). As we are starting to understand the link between art and nature, and the powerful impact they have on society it is now important to introduce how interpretation plays a role. 

Just like those who interpret the environment, some interpret art. Whether it be ancient or modern art pieces they help viewers understand the message the artist is trying to convey or to understand the elements of a piece and how they interact, regardless of the artist's intent (Lin). However, regarding art about nature, I also believe that the artists and the art pieces themselves are the interpreters and that an additional interpreter (tour guide) is not required. When artists are depicting nature in their work they are trying to capture the beauty of an extraordinary moment in a singular painting, photograph, or 3-minute song. They are interpreting nature without using words, or without using pictures, and yet they have mastered the ability to convey emotion, knowledge, and intrigue into their pieces. The question that prompted this week's blog post was “Who are you to interpret nature through art?” This is a bit confusing at first glance, but what I think it’s saying is, how can you interpret nature through art, because the artist and the art itself are the interpreters, so what use is there for another interpreter. And what I love that is unique about art being the interpreter is that everyone’s interests and needs are met. Whether they are visual, kinesthetic, or auditory learners everyone can find an art form that they understand best and receive the most benefits from (Beck et al., 2018).  

Speaking of beauty, how do you interpret “the gift of beauty”? In my opinion, beauty is subjective and everyone perceives, interprets, and finds beauty in different places. I love nature, specifically wildlife photography. The way they can capture the beauty of animals, their environment, their emotions, and how they live is just mesmerizing and something I would spend all day looking at. My favourite Canadian photographer is Jason Leo Bantle because he can capture the beauty of Canada through wildlife photography. He and his images give you insights into nature that you otherwise would not be able to experience, and is interpreting the wild parts of nature to the public. 

Not wildlife photography, but photography of animals is so beautiful to me. This is a picture of my Quarter horse gelding. Taken my Seafind Photography, rights owned by Julia Pridmore.

Interpretation and art are interesting topics that I feel many people have different opinions on. I would like to note that, unlike other blog posts, I’ve made I did not talk about myself and how I am an interpreter because I don’t view myself as an artist, I like to take photos on my phone and occasionally paint with friends but to me, this does not make me an artist. I love to engage, appreciate, and view art and that is why I talked more about the view experience and interpretation vs being the interpreter. 

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

Iwinski, S. (2021, October 14). The importance of nature in art. Humans in Nature. https://humansinnature.org/2021/10/14/the-importance-of-nature-in-art/ 

Mental Health Foundation. How arts can help improve your mental health. (2019, June 25). https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/blogs/how-arts-can-help- improve-your-mental-health#:~:text=The%20arts'%20 valuable%20role%20in%20mental%20health%20is%20being%20recognised&text=It%20can%20help%20to%20boost,alleviates%20anxiety%2C%20depression%20and%20stress. 

Lin, S. (n.d). Art and Interpretation. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. ISSN 2161-0002. https://iep.utm.edu/art-and-interpretation/#:~:text=Interpretation%20in%20art%20refers%20to,the%20interpretation%20of%20the%20work. 

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Privilege and Nature Interpretation

I define privilege as an aspect of one’s life that presents advantages and often is not noticed by the person who possesses it. Specifically, an individual or group has privilege if they live with a certain advantage that is not earned by the individual but given to them. This aspect of privilege is explained well in an article by Black and Stone (2008). This article outlines this by saying that privileges are granted to someone as a “birthright” and are not obtained from personal qualities, ability, or intellect (Black & Stone, 2008). Black and Stone (2005) examine the concept of social privilege, which expands the definition beyond race and gender and considers socially constructed categories such as sexuality, age, socioeconomic status, differing degrees of ableness, and religious affiliation (Black & Stone, 2005). Like race and gender, these demographics are not earned by the individual, they are a “birthright.” These categories are important to consider when describing privilege as the group a person is in may acquire an advantage. Privilege is also defined based on cultural values and societal norms (Black & Stone, 2008). Therefore, particular groups will have greater advantages than others based on their privilege and the area where they live (Black & Stone, 2008). As I stated, privilege often goes unnoticed by the individual that possesses it. This is primarily due to people being unaware of the advantages they possess compared to others, an invisible backpack (Gallavan, 2005). 

The concept of privilege is important to consider in all aspects of life. It is crucial for people to be aware of their privilege, not make assumptions about one's privilege based on their visible demographic, and acknowledge that others may not have the same level of privilege as they do. Privilege is also essential to recognize in nature interpretation. The interpreter must be aware of their privilege and the privileges of their potential audience. By acknowledging privilege, interpreters can better facilitate people in their audience of different demographics and cultures(Beck et al., 2018). Interpreters can also make programs more relevant and accessible to people. As the textbook included, interpreters first need to discern the reason for the small percentage of visitors that attend their program. People do not participate in programs due to not knowing about the opportunity, not seeing any value in the program, or wanting to participate but encountering barriers (Beck et al., 2018). By understanding the reasons for nonparticipation, interpreters can alter the program to make it more inclusive. Specifically, making people aware of opportunities, presenting information in a valuable way, and eliminating barriers, are methods to include these groups of nonparticipants. These steps are necessary to effectively communicate the interpreter's message to a broad audience (Beck et al., 2018). The Transit to Trails Act is an excellent example of interpreters addressing barriers (Ray, 2022). This act has established a program that provides transportation systems to and from underserved communities and public lands. With this program, communities that do not have access to trails and green spaces can now enjoy these areas at no cost.

Acknowledging privilege is essential to overcome obstacles in nature interpretation and strive to allow all individuals the opportunity to enjoy nature regardless of their demographic.

What are some new innovative ways to make these programs more inclusive and accessible to nonparticipants?

References

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

Black, L.L., & Stone, D. (2005). Expanding the Definition of Privilege: The Concept of Social Privilege. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 33: 243–255. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1912.2005.tb00020.x

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks". Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36. https://link-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9fe2f151

McIntosh, P. (1989). White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack (1989) 1. Peace and Freedom. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351133791-4 

Ray, T. (2022, February 8). Transit to trails act. American Hiking Society. Retrieved January 25, 2023, from https://americanhiking.org/advocacy/transit-to-trails-act/ 

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Very informative and thought-provoking blog post. You very thoroughly explained privilege and how it directly affects our lives in ways we can’t control due to systemic barriers that have, in my opinion, founded the concept of privilege. 

Addressing your question there are a few ways that nature programs can become more inclusive to nonparticipants. First, providing more information upfront can ease the anxiety of those that are contemplating attending for a variety of reasons, such as fear of the outdoors, people with physical or mental disabilities, people with young children, or other reasons. This information will most commonly be put on a website and can include, information about the region and areas that will be visited, potential risks and how they are being proactive at managing them, information about what kind of accommodations can be made for those with disabilities, profiles are the different guides/interpreters, and itineraries about the different excursions. Another way to make these programs more inclusive… There are so many ways to do this, however, one of the most effective ways is to use universal design when designing excursions. Of course, depending on the excursion harder ones may not always be accessible to all due to physical terrain restraints. But the majority of the excursions offered should incorporate universal design as much as possible. Universal design is the idea that any product, space, and/or program should be accessible and enjoyable for all, regardless of being able-bodied, disabled, privileged, or underprivileged. A couple of design improvements that I’ve come up with based on my own experience are, creating signs with larger fonts and adding in an element that makes it accessible to those that cannot see or read English, a common way to do this is using a QR code that will take indicate what the sign means on their phone. Another is giving the option of having an additional guide that can help anyone who is physically disabled navigate the terrain if it is difficult. 

I could go on and on about how to make programs more accessible but these are two impactful ways that are relatively easy (physically and financially) to implement into existing programs.

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How Privilege Impacts Nature Interpretation

I believe that privilege plays a large role in nature interpretation and how interpreters address and cater to different audiences. Privilege is when a person or group is knowingly or unknowingly given advantages and liberties, often due to systemic barriers and stereotypes. 

First, I’m going to address some of the advantages that have been given to me because of where I was born and my upbringing, this is not to in any way brag but just to state the facts. I am a 21-year-old white female that was born and raised in Oakville, Ontario by two university-educated, high-middle class parents who gave me every social and financial opportunity to succeed in life. Every single one of these advantages, except being female, are things I could not control but gave me many systemic advantages over others. Over the years I have become more and more aware of these advantages and how they have affected my life and affected my interactions, presumptions, and view of the world. The only disadvantage I have is being a woman and the sexism and danger that follows our sex. 

Recognizing your privileges and those of your audience is essential to how you interpret and convey messages. As noted in the Beck et al text, to be a better interpreter it is important to get to know your audience, and the easiest way is to come to your tour early and have conversations with those attending (2018). Furthermore, understanding privilege helps interpreters recognize why certain groups of people are less likely to interact with nature interpreters. Some of the reasons are age, fear, disabilities, lack of knowledge, or economic, cultural, and communication barriers (Beck et al, 2018). Understanding these barriers is essential to reduce assumed stereotypes about those who attend tours and to increase the accessibility of tours to underserved populations. In summary, connecting with and understanding your audience, and the privileges they have or do not have is important to help create a meaningful and accessible experience. 

I now want to discuss a few different ways in which nature tours and interpreters can be more accessible and accommodating. First, educating potential visitors decreases fear about going outdoors, lets visitors know what to expect, and outlines accommodations for those with disabilities. Creating websites with lots of pictures, videos, and information about the area, tours, and accommodations is a great way to educate people before the experience. Next is designing tours or accommodating features that are accessible to all. These programs can either be designed for specific groups of people, or they can be designed using universal design, meaning anyone can enjoy the program regardless of any privileges one has over others. Lastly, if possible, provide free or discounted days to allow those with financial barriers to access nature experiences and programs. Additionally, if possible also providing transportation to these remote areas from central places can allow those without personal transportation to visit.

In conclusion, privilege heavily impacts nature interpretation, how people access it, how programs are delivered, and how it is enjoyed by visitors. 

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

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Becoming an Interpreter in the Maritimes

In my experience, the ideal environmental interpreter is knowledgeable, passionate, professional, interactive, and well-spoken. One of the best tour guides I’ve ever had was when we went cave exploring on Vancouver Island. Our tour guide was funny, asking us questions, answering our questions, informative when delivering facts, professional, and encouraging when we were travelling through the caves. Although the actual tour itself was cool and very well done, it was not my cup of tea because I don’t like small spaces. 

I would love to be an environmental interpreter, for nature conservation areas. I have always been fascinated by nature, history, and anthropology and enjoy sharing this knowledge with others. As an interpreter I would choose to be a tour guide for those who want to learn about and explore a specific area. As a tour guide I can provide a connection between the knowledge about the history, land, animals, and indigenous populations to the environment that surrounds us in the present. While also catering to visitors of different ages and learning styles by providing activities that encourage exploration, learning, and questions through visual, tactile, auditory, and kinetic means. Being a tour guide plays an important role in how people expereince new places and learn about the importance of nature and the interconnectedness of everything.   

Me and my sister walking the beach in Nova Scotia

I am fortunate that throughout my life my parents have taken my sister and me on many trips across Canada, the States, the Caribbean, and Europe. However, I have found the most beautiful place to be in Canada. My top two places in Canada are the Rockies in Alberta and the Maritimes, specifically Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island (PEI). But after spending four months in Canmore this summer, I learned that although I love it there, it is not my place. So, if I were to ever become a nature tour guide, it would be somewhere in either Nova Scotia or PEI. Ever since we visited the Maritimes when I was twelve, I’ve been wanting to go back. The ocean, the culture, the landscape, and the history are all so fascinating and humbling. Region-specific skills I would need to be a nature interpreter in this region would be knowledge, about the land, people, wildlife, and relevant history to the conservation area I’m working at. Also, to gain insight about resources I can utilize to enhance visitor experience such as artifacts (or replicas), and to understand the historical demographic of visitors to the area so that I can develop a variety of interactive activities. General interpretive skills that I need to develop are improving my storytelling and engaging vocabulary, creating connections between the information and visitors (i.e. providing interpretation), and developing my ability to create thematic, and cohesive interpretations and interactive programs. 

The coast of PEI

Being a nature interpreter is not just relaying facts but creating an experience for visitors that engages their minds, bodies, and souls in the environment that surrounds them.

Tree-covered road in Nova Scotia

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Teaching learners

To me, the ideal environmental interpreter adopts a leadership role in an intentional educational setting. A powerful environmental interpreter approaches leadership by fostering a space that elevates the voices of other members of the group and ensures there is space and opportunity for all members to contribute meaningfully to the experience. Jobs where environmental interpretation is a keystone component include being summer camp counselor, park ranger, teacher, trip leader, and even friend. This person works to help guide the audience to appreciate nature and natural processes and is able to do this by being open and excited when their audience shares new ideas or asks questions for further inquiry. This person demonstrates care for all natural and cultural aspects of their environment and the humans, plants,  and animals they share it with.

Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage by Beck et al. (2018) suggests that the role of an environmental interpreter is not merely to list scientific and ecological facts, but to act as a bridge connecting culture and environment in a way that the greater public can relate to their surroundings and create their own meanings and significance. An effective environmental interpreter also bridges together different learning styles and epistemologies to best communicate to diverse groups of people, including having tactile, auditory, kinesthetic, and visual components of Western and traditional natural and cultural history (Beck et al., 2018). This gives the audience the tools and information to individually critically and emotionally invest in the content to form deeper connections and respect for the land and its natural and cultural history. This is especially valuable since interactive and adaptive learning environments help develop individuals' knowledge, understanding, and aesthetic needs which build the foundation of deeper care and inquiry of our shared planet. As suggested by Maslow then expanded on by  Beck et al. (2018), only once these knowledge, understanding, and aesthetic needs are met can people begin to self-actualize and implement meaningful environmental change in their lives and the world. Once there is an informed public sphere, more true democracy can be achieved (Beck et al., 2018).

An environmental interpreter can work and function in a wide range of spheres including government settings, provincial parks, summer camps and other experiential learning opportunities, and more. For an interpreter to show mastery of this creative and scientific task, they should be able to cater their interpretation to many different social realms since there is cultural and natural history all around us and these narratives are intrinsically connected and universally relevant. Although there are of course differences in the work you do in a government environmental interpreter role versus a summer camp or provincial park, a lot of underlying skills remain constant. For example, environmental interpreters must demonstrate respect and compassion for the earth and all who dwell on it, have a good understanding of the cultural and natural history of where they are situated, be strong communicators through a plethora of methods, and demonstrate passion and openness to their audiences to build engagement and care among larger groups.

Literature cited

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing.

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Hi Melanie!

You touched on so many important points such as different learning styles, the important role that interpreters play being the bridge between the environment and us, and the different types of jobs interpreters can have. I was really intrigued by the points you brought up in your second paragraph about what an interpreter does and provides. I’ve been on many nature tours and you can really tell the difference between those that are passionate about what their doing and talking about and those that aren’t. Good interpreters provide information in a way that makes you think and connect with the land you’re on. They also provide opportunity for you to interact with the exhibit or nature around you either through visual, auditory, tactile or kinetic means. For example, when I was younger we used to visit Crawford Lake Halton Park. This is the most interactive of all the parks because there are so many things to do that engage you with the land, wildlife, and history of the area. Like exploring the longhouse, going to birds of prey shows and attending different booths that provide more experiences that engage visitors. 

You did a great job highlighting the importance of interpreters and the valuable lessons and experiences they provide. However there were a couple questions that I felt weren’t answered in your post that would provide value to your post. First, what you would do as a nature interpreter? Where would you go? And what skills do you think you would need to work on to become an effective interpreter?