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[ecenvs3000w23]

Unit 10: Finale

My personal ethics are a mix-bag due to living in multiple different cultures. I lived in Korea until 7. Then, I moved to the UAE and stayed there for 12 years. Now, I’ve been in Canada for the past 4 years. Throughout, some of the things I came to value are fairness, responsibility, and self-improvement. These ethics can translate, in multiple ways, to that of a natural interpreter. 

Casual photos of places I've lived in: Korea (top left), Abu Dhabi (top right), Guelph (bottom).

The fairness ethic of mine developed by experiencing a variety of cultures and peoples in my life. In the UAE, I went to an affluent international highschool, where I met people from all over. However, outside school, the UAE is full of low-wage immigrant workers and it becomes evident that they are underserved in various aspects of life. The UAE essentially has no middle class as you see in Canada - it’s either poor or high-middle class (or higher). In Canada, I experienced the full force of the oftentimes struggling middle class. Many of my friends are white and considered “privileged”, yet they have to work so much just to afford the basics. 

Thus, I feel a responsibility, as a natural interpreter, to bring fairness to all. A core aspect of being a good interpreter is to serve a diverse audience (Beck et al., 2019, pg.132), especially if your goal is to spread the message of an environmental issue. This also ties into the concept of “unpacking” my privilege so as to not bias your interpretation to a certain group of people (Gallavan, n.d.). 

Image credits: Spirit FM

Barriers create the “underserved populations” and by recognizing this, I can expand my reach towards these parts of society (Beck et al., 2019, pg.132). For instance, economics may be a key barrier towards a large part of the population, especially if they do not possess a personal vehicle or are busy with work (Beck et al., 2019, pg.133). Or, there may be cultural barriers where different groups have very different opinions about nature (Beck et al., 2019, pg.133). 

Whatever the barrier, by “unpacking my privilege” and following my fairness ethics, I have the responsibility to reach out to give a fair chance to everyone. For example, if I were to work in a national park, I could make the effort to reduce economic barriers by advocating for cheap transportation (like a bus) to pick up people and at diverse times to allow for busy people to have an opportunity. 

Also, as a “minority” myself, I oppose the idea of treating them differently just because they are a “minority”. I think my experience in Guelph exemplified a good approach that ensures fairness. Here, I have never once been treated differently just because I am Asian. If anything, people treated me like a fellow Canadian, even asking me who I voted for during the 2019 election. As such, I think it is important to recognize it is wrong to generalize a minority group (Beck et al., 2019, pg.133) and when making the special effort to reach out to them, don’t make it seem like a special treatment type of deal (Beck et al., 2019, pg.134). If possible, the best approach would be to treat everyone equally while keeping in mind who your current audience is. This can be done by friendly talking to them, asking why they're here, and even internet surveys (Beck et al., 2019, pg.129). 

When it comes to responsibility and the self-improvement ethic, this is heavily tied to my Korean heritage. In Korean culture, you are always compared to others, and people have very high expectations of you. Almost feels like you are constantly carrying the weight of the world. Thus, if I don’t get perfect on a thing I am invested in (like academia), I become angry at myself. I think this is a toxic trait of mine but the positives can be used as a natural interpreter. 

Image credits: Presentermedia

Having a sense of responsibility allows you to try to perfect your interpretation of nature. While this may be subjective, a good interpretation takes considerable effort, which may be lacklustre without a sense of responsibility for the environment. It is not a walk in the park to make an emotional and intellectual connection with the audience, communicated through nature (Beck et al., 2019, pg.304).

For instance, the usage of arts can tremendously benefit the interpretation. I believe even approaches like theatre and reenactments can be useful for natural interpretation. Having a diversity of approaches that targets all the senses help leave an impression (Beck et al., 2019, pg.107). However, these approaches require heavy investment into knowledge, making connections to the character, props, rehearsals and much more (Beck et al., 2019, pg.219). Only someone with a high sense of responsibility for the environment and position can tackle such a challenge. 

With self-improvement, it will help further improve as an interpreter. By taking good feedback and reflecting on your doings (and if it meets your objectives), you can infinitely improve (Beck et al., 2019, pg.419). I think one of the best things you can do to do this is to invite other natural interpreter sites and become a "visitor" for your own sites (Beck et al., 2019, pg.420). Oftentimes, you know more than the audience and thus may leave out key details that the audience may not know. By fixing these issues, it makes the interpretation much more available for all audiences. 

Finally, I want to talk about an approach that is suitable for me and others in my generation. We grew up with the rapid development of technology. Many might think this causes a disconnect between people and nature (Beck et al., 2019, pg.166). However, I believe we can use it to also reconnect. Websites, social media, Youtube, etc. have the presence of billions. As such, I see our technology literacy as a huge opportunity to reach those billions of people to reconnect nature into humans (Beck et al., 2019, pg.168).

A foldable phone - a symbol of today's rapid technological development.

Overall, I have a long way to go to be an interpreter. However, I have still learnt much, especially in ways of scientific communication - a topic important in current science.

I hope people feel the same and good luck on the final stretch!

Eugene Cha

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.

Gallavan, N. P. (n.d.). Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks". Multicultural Education, 13(Pages: 36-36).

[kalenvs3000w23]

Hi there!

I really enjoyed reading your post and I feel like you made a lot of really good and interesting points!

Firstly I think it is so interesting that you can speak from the perspective of someone that has lived in so many different locations. I feel like this has allowed you to have a lot of insight that would definelty be useful as a nature interpreter.

I really like what you said about how as interpreters we should approach varrying priviliged and "minoritys" in the audience. I like the point you made regarding how you should not nessesarily go out of your way to treat someone "special" because you think they are less privileged for whatever reason, because this could potentially have the opposite effect. As you said, we should instead make a conscious effort to simply treat everyone equally and with respect and to ensure that this is the standard within the whole group.

I also agree with what you said about how with the advances we have in technology, future generations will likely utilize this more and it may become a more common platform for naure interpretation. I think this could actually be very beneficial and potentially reach a much wider audeince from many different backgrounds, which would not nessesarily be possible in person.

Overall I really liked your post and think you did a really good job!

[lsdenvs3000w23]

Looking Ahead

This is my last semester of my undergraduate degree. I have switched majors three times, going from a BA in English, to International Development, and finally to a BSc in Wildlife Biology and Conservation. I have spent the last five years studying and taking courses from all of these disciplines, and I truly feel like I have accumulated vast amounts of knowledge from all three areas. And out of all the courses I have taken (trust me, there's a lot), Nature Interpretation was by far the most inspiring and meaningful, and I'm grateful to finish my degree with this course in my final semester.

As someone in STEM, I'm used to looking at facts. Whether it's completing my own experiments, or reading other's research, I am drawn to conclusions and results. I'm lucky that I have been given the resources to understand scientific literature and apply these facts to the world around me. Five years ago, in my first year as an English major, I don't think I would be able to say that. Learning the ins and outs of Nature Interpretation has allowed me to fully grasp how important this is, but it has also allowed me to gain an appreciation for scientific accessibility. Nature interpretation offers a pathway of accessibility to scientific information that otherwise might not be readily available. Nature interpreters have such an important role in the scientific world, as they are the ones who convey the science to others. This exchange of information allows for collaboration that could improve society's relationship with the natural world. This course has made me appreciate this, and I'll carry this appreciation with me after I graduate.

Reminding myself of the importance of accessibility in STEM helps me to establish my personal ethics. I know how it feels to be so interested in a topic and yet know nothing about it, and feel like it's too difficult to learn. I am lucky that my university education has helped me in this aspect, but I know that not everyone has this opportunity. Reaching as many people as possible to spread scientific awareness of our natural world is important to me, and I hope that as an ethic this will remain an important part of my life and career. Learning about the importance of nature interpretation has established this ethic in the foundation of who I am as an interpreter.

As I enter this next chapter of my life post-graduation, I have to remind myself of my responsibilities as a nature interpreter going forward. Outside of university life, I will have the opportunity to reach more people and share more knowledge and experiences. I am looking forward to working jobs and volunteering in spaces that give me these opportunities.

I talked about the responsibility of keeping STEM accessible, but there is more to the story. I am privileged to be able to go outside and hike in nature, or two buy a plane ticket and travel to a new location. I know this privilege does not extend to everyone, and it is my responsibility to help others establish these connections with nature in any way that they can. I want everyone to find a space in nature that they can connect with- something that is special just to them.

My childhood best friend, Maya, works as an educational guide in Ontario. She often tells me stories about high school students that she takes on guided hikes, who have spent so many of their teen years inside, partly due to COVID and partly due to technology. It makes her so sad to see these teenagers bored by nature, and unable to connect with it, as they would rather spend time on their phones. I feel sad as well. And I feel like I have a responsibility to help that generation form connections with nature. We were all teenagers once, and teenagers are stubborn, but I haven't given up hope. When people like Maya and I, and you (my fellow nature interpreters) work together to help people experience the natural world, I think we can heal the world around us by forming connections.

Maya and I, 2019

When I think about how I will approach my role as a nature interpreter, I think it comes down to encouraging people to find out what fascinates them. I want to encourage curiosity and for people to be eager to learn. I want to bring people outside and show them just how much we depend on the natural world so they can connect and develop their own fascinations. What I'm interested in may have no impact on someone else, but maybe it will spark an inquiry elsewhere. When people are curious, they observe their surroundings more in depth, and are constantly coming up with thoughts and ideas. From a nature interpretation standpoint, curiosity could allow people to actively engage with the natural world, instead of just being in it. By approaching interpretation as a way of fostering this curiosity in people, I hope to spark creativity in those around me.

When people are encouraged to learn more about their natural surroundings, they are also more confident in their ability to conserve them (Merenlender et al. 2016). This is an important step towards environmental conservation, and this confidence can be achieved at any age. While it is important to start teaching people about the importance of our environment at a young age, we should not neglect those in high school or older, as it is not "too late" to spark their interests.

In conclusion, I hope that I am able to use my personal ethics as a route to actively pursuing my responsibilities as an interpreter. Throughout this course, I have been able to reflect on what being a nature interpreter means to me on an individual level, and it boils down to these three points:

I want to be someone who conveys scientific information in a way that is accessible to people of all ages/ backgrounds

I want to encourage curiosity and spark interest in others, in the hope that they will find something they are passionate about and pursue it

I not only want to share information and experiences with others, but I also want people to share things with me. We all have so much to learn from one another, and every day we interact with new people. I want to learn from these interactions.

I have truly enjoyed reading everyone's blog posts this semester. I have learned a lot, and have much to reflect on going forward. I wish you all good luck with your schooling and future endeavours!

Merenlender, A. M., Crall, A. W., Drill, S., Prysby, M., & Ballard, H. (2016). Evaluating Environmental Education, citizen science, and stewardship through naturalist programs. Conservation Biology, 30(6), 1255–1265. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12737 

[kalenvs3000w23]

Hi there!

I really enjoyed reading your post!

I really feel I resonate with what you talked about regarding being in STEM and being used to looking at facts. I know one of teh critiques I got in my first podcast outline was that it was too factual and did not include enough interpretation aspects. This has been a learning experience for me in this class. I personally have enjoyed learning to speak more in a story tellng way and a fluid way then a strictly factual way.

I also resonated with what you said about being priviliged enought to have experiences like going for hikes and travelling. I did not really ever think of this as being a privillege before taking this course but it definelty is. I personally grew up going to a cottage every weekend in the summer. This is such a privlige that has allowed me o really develop a strong relationship with nature.

Finally in regards to what you said about STEM being accesbible. I do feel like this is a big issue. Especially in regards to journal articles. As students we have access to journal articles, and this is also a privilege. I think it is important as nature interpreters to share our findings in a way this is accesible for the majoirty of people.

Overall I really enjoyed your post! I really like the 3 points you summarized as being your personal ethics. I really resonate with all your points but especially the point you made about wanting to also learn from the audience memebers. I think the learning and growth can go both ways.

[kalenvs3000w23]

My Future as a Nature Intepreter

Until this semester I had honestly never heard the term “nature interpreter”. I read the course description for this course and I thought it sounded interesting. I wanted to try something different and did not know what to expect. I have been very pleasantly surprised by how much I have enjoyed this class, and I now do feel that I have a thorough understanding of what it means to be a nature interpreter and how I would personally approach nature interpretation.

One of the first blog posts that we did in this class had us reflect on our privilege. This was a really eye opening experience for me. I knew that I held a lot of privilege in the sense of my ability to get a good education and live in a nice place etc… However I had never really thought about how privileged I am to live in a place where I can frequently immerse myself in nature, as well as the privilege I have to be able to travel and experience new places. Also the privilege that I have the time and can afford to take time to go outside for hikes or go to my cottage. This is not something that can be a part of everyone's lifestyle, and this is a privilege. In the textbook they discuss the importance of getting to know your audience as much as possible in order to maximize their experience (Beck, 2018). This includes information regarding the audience members privilege as this may impact the approach that you need to take. Privilege covers a wide scope of things ranging from gender to race to income to even geographic location (Beck, 2018). Personally if I get a chance to go forward as a nature interpreter one of the main things I will take from this class is I need to try and learn about my audience so I can cater the experience to their needs. This is a very important aspect of my personal ethics in regards to nature interpretation.

I need to not just know my audience for the sake of taking into consideration varying privilege, but also in regards to audience members' age and varying learning styles. I have learned a lot from trying to make two podcasts with the same topic for two different age groups. I have learned that age is a huge factor when considering how you want to go about talking to your audience. The textbook discusses the need for balance when presenting to an audience (Beck, 2018). There needs to be a balance between the information that is being given and the fun aspects that will keep your audience engaged and the information (Beck, 2018). This balance is going to be different for children vs adults and this is crucial. Also it is important to recognise that different people have different learning styles (Beck, 2018). Personally going forward I will try and incorporate aspects that benefit people who are hands-on learners, learn audibly, and learn visually (Beck, 2018). I think with a little bit of creativity this can be done in most settings.I was not able to have a visual component in my podcast but I do feel that we made sure to have parts supporting the other two learning styles. It is important to my personal ethics that all people with all learning types can take something away from the experience.

I also think as a nature interpreter I will hold a lot of responsibility. First of all I think that I am able to effect change with my role as a nature interpreter, and I need to try and take advantage of this to make a positive impact. In the textbook it says, "By  following the guiding principles of interpretation the recipients of the interpretation are more likely to be moved by their experiences and will recognize, more deeply, both their privileges and obligations toward the planet, therefore making it a better place"(Beck, 2018). I am personally very passionate about the environment and trying to make small changes to help our environment. I think that as a nature interpreter I have the responsibility to try and help educate people on what is going on with our planet, and what small changes we can all do to help our environment. I also think as a nature interpreter that is leading a group of people I hold the responsibility of making sure that everyone feels comfortable. The article that discusses unpacking our invisible backpack goes into detail regarding the importance of making sure that everyone from all cultures and all backgrounds feels welcome (Gallavan, 2005). It is my responsibility to treat all members of my audience equally and with kindness. It is also my responsibility to ensure that this is the standard within my audience members as well. Both of these responsibilities are in line with the personal ethics I value and want to hold myself to. 

Overall I think that the idea of bringing a group of people together to hopefully inspire them and have them take something away from our time together is a really beautiful thing. I hope that as a nature interpreter I can adequately account for varying privileges and make everyone feel comfortable and welcome, as I would say this is what is most important to me as far as my ethics go. I also hope that I can inspire people to have an open mind and truly be impacted from the experience. Perhaps audience members will even be inspired to make changes regarding the health of our planet. I hope that I can create an environment where my group feels open to share experiences and stories, so that I too can learn and grow. 

References:

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

Gallavan, N. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their “invisible knapsack”. Multicultural Education. 13(1): 36. Retrieved from https://go-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=guel77241&id=GALE|A137921591&v=2.1&it=r&sid=AONE asid=9fe2f151

[mecenvs3000w23]

Unit 09

Since we don’t have a specific prompt this week, I will write about something I find amazing in nature which is the night sky. As a reminder, I have spent four years working seasonally in Algonquin Provincial Park and am looking forward to going back for my fifth year. Something I love to do in the summer is walk down to the staff docks at night and stare up at the night sky. I remember one night vividly when my friend and I were down at the docks and saw many shooting stars very clearly, the most I had ever seen. Throughout this post, I have included some pictures of the night sky that I took last summer on Canoe Lake. So now, let’s talk about shooting stars!

Shooting stars can be defined as “a piece of rock or metal that burns very brightly when it enters the Earth’s atmosphere from space, and is seen from Earth as a bright star travelling very fast across the sky” (Shooting start definition and meaning, n.d.). Shooting stars may also be termed meteors. Generally, meteors become visible when they are approximately 97 kilometres away, and some large meteors can be heard and be brighter than the planet Venus; these are referred to as fireballs (Dobrijevic, 2022). ‘Normal’ meteors travel through the atmosphere at a speed of 48,280 kilometres per hour and reach extreme temperatures of 1648°C (Dobrijevic, 2022). Meteors are common with approximately two to seven meteors being visible to observers every hour of the night (Reddy, n.d.). Additionally, it is possible to have dozens to hundreds of meteors in the sky and when this occurs, it is termed a meteor shower (Dobrijevic, 2022). Meteor showers are more common at specific times of the year and can be predicted. Furthermore, meteor showers are given names based on where they appear to be originating from; specifically, which constellation (Dobrijevic, 2022). For example, meteor showers that originate from the Orion constellations are named Orionids (Dobrijevic, 2022). For viewing purposes, it is recommended to look out for them during pre-dawn hours from a location facing the direction of Earth’s orbit (Dobrijevic, 2022). As well, hopefully, the shower occurs on nights when the moon is less bright as this makes the meteor shower more noticeable (Dobrijevic, 2022).

In historical times, meteors and anything else seen in the night sky created superstitions and were most commonly associated with gods and religion (Dobrijevic, 2022).  For example, shooting stars were thought to be sent down by angels as a gift to Earth (Dobrijevic, 2022).  However, others believed shooting stars was how gods displayed their anger (Dobrijevic, 2022). These superstitions lasted for a long time in Earth’s history because most scientists simply did not think that stones could just fall from the sky. Oftentimes, scientists simply ignored accounts of this happening (Dobrijevic, 2022).

I hope you learned something new from this post and would love to know what you find fascinating in nature!

References

Dobrijevic, D. (2022, August 11). Meteor showers and shooting stars: Formation and history. Space.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.space.com/meteor-showers-shooting-stars.html.

HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. (n.d.). Shooting star definition and meaning: Collins english dictionary. Shooting star definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/shooting-star.

Reddy, F. (n.d.). Meteors and Meteor Showers. Astronomy.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://astronomy.com/observing/observe-the-solar-system/2010/04/meteors-and-meteor-showers#:~:text=Under%20a%20dark%20sky%2C%20any,of%20the%20inner%20solar%20system.

[kalenvs3000w23]

Hi there!

I really enjoyed reading your post!

I agree with you I think the night sky really is a beautiful thing, especially at night. It is so wonderful that you have worked in algonquin seasonally and got to enjoy everything there is to offer there. I know that some areas do not have as great vision of the stars as other, but I imagine that algonquin park probably has pretty good view of the stars.

I found everything you said about meteors very interesting! I specifically found it interesting that you said that 2-7 meteors are visible to observers every hour!

One of my favourite activities to do at my cottage when I have friends up is to lay on the dock at night and look at the sky. We often try and count the amount of shooting stars we see. We often see quite a few throughout the night. However I always thought maybe we were mistaking some of them because I thought there was no way we could see so many. So I find it very intersting that you say that observers can actually see 2-7 very hours. I am still pretty positive some of our claims of seeing shooting stars were false, but its cool to think that a lot of the time we were probably right!

[kalenvs3000w23]

Most Amazing thing About Nature to Me

As a Canadian, the most amazing thing about nature to me is the different seasons. I find it incredible that in the span of one year we can go from it being so hot that there are heat warnings and it's almost unbearable to be in the sun to so cold that it is almost dangerous to be outside not properly dressed for too long. 

I think it is so beautiful to live in a place where we get to experience all four of the seasons. With each season comes its own wonderful things and wonderful memories we associate with it.

When I think of summer I think of being outside all the time. The last 4 summers I have had jobs that required me to be outside, and even when I was not at work I still choose to spend most of my time outside in the summer. I also think of my cottage which is where I have spent most of my weekends in the summer since I was a baby. The summer is my favourite season not only because of how beautiful the weather is but also because it is the season with some of my fondest memories. Summer makes me think of beach days and campfires and late night talks on the deck with friends. 

Winter is the polar opposite of summer, yet it is still one of my favourite seasons. I think we are so lucky in canada to get to enjoy snow. I remember going on a trip to florida when I was a little kid close to christmas time and meeting another kid who had never seen snow before. I thought that was so crazy, and it was so crazy being in a place in the month of december that did not have snow. When I think of winter I think of how stunning it is when I look out my window after fresh snowfall and see all the grass and trees coated with snow. I also think of all the winter activities I enjoy with my friends and family like skiing, skating, building snowmen, snowball fights etc… These are all really special events I have had growing up and I can't imagine not getting to experience it year after year. When I think of winter I also think of christmas. I think of all the pretty lights and the celebrations with family and friends. Christmas is my favourite holiday and it just would not be the same if I did not get to enjoy the season that is associated with this holiday

Then there is spring. Spring always comes at exactly the right time. It comes when we have finally had enough of winter and we are ready to be able to go outside without heavy winter coats and boots. Spring makes me think of beautiful flowers blooming again. This season always brings so much excitement and feels so special.

Finally there is fall. This is the favourite season of many canadians. How could it not be, when it is so beautiful. I love seeing all the different colours in the trees. For people who do not like the heat it is a perfect middle ground, as it's not super hot but it's also not so cold that you need a big heavy coat. 

Overall I think the thing that I find most amazing about nature is how it changes so much in such short periods of times. I feel so lucky that I live in a place where I get to experience this.

I think as a nature interpreter it is important to understand how special each season is. This is because many audience members may not be from here and may have never experienced this season in this location before. It is important to know your audience and find out where they are from. If you are working in the winter in Canada doing nature interpretation and you have audience members from Mexico who have never seen snow this is important to know. You can make their experience very special and meaningful by taking advantage of the season. We have learned extensively that when doing nature interpretation it is important to know and present based on your audience (Beck et al., 2018). I think that taking into account what seasons your audience experiences is a really important part of this.  

References:

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

[kalenvs3000w23]

Disclaimer

This blog was created for __________, University of Guelph. 

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of the University of Guelph. 

The University of Guelph is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by this blog.

[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?

[kalenvs3000w23]

I really enjoyed reading your post and I think you made some really great points!

I like how when you were talking about where is there music in nature your proposed the question, well where is music not in nature. I completely agree with you, I think that all sounds can be considered music and it is up to each individual what sounds they enjoy. I also think that music can come from busy places like cities, which are enviroments that some people may not consider when thinking about music in nature. However I think that for some people the sounds of cars and people moving about could be consider rythmic for them.

I also like what you said about how nature is able to tell a story through the sounds within its landscape. I thought this was really beautifully put and is something I had not considered before.

I also agree that nature is incorporated in music in many ways ranging from the lyrics embodying the feeling of being in nature or describing elements of nature, to songs directly including noises found in nature. One thing I would add is do you think that someone can feel a song resembles nature simply because they have had experiences in nature while listening to these songs? I personally feel that their are a lot of songs I listen to that do not nessesarily directly talk about nature or have noises that represent nature. However because I have listened to them at the cottage or on a camping trip they still transend me to a place in nature.

Overall I really liked the points that you made!

[kalenvs3000w23]

Music in Nature

The first part of the prompt this week asks, “ where is music in nature?”. I think this is a really interesting question and it got me thinking. Overall I think that you can find music in nature anywhere you are. Music in nature might refer to the birds chirping, or maybe the leaves rustling or maybe even water flowing through a river. This music does not have to come from a secluded area in nature either, I don’t personally think. I think the sound of cars and people moving and talking could also be seen as music in nature. Some people enjoy the hustle bustle sounds that come with living in a busy environment like a city. While others enjoy the serenity of the sounds that come from being alone in nature. The music of nature and the nature of music article defines music as, “patterns of sound varying in pitch and time produced for emotional, social, cultural, and cognitive purposes” (Gray et al., 2001). I think this means that as I was saying music does not need to be defined as one specific thing. I think the beauty of music is it is directly correlated with  the ear of the beholder. Everyone will interpret different sounds slightly differently and will enjoy some sounds more than others. The article discusses a lot about the debate regarding whether other animals also enjoy music and look for music (Gray et al., 2001). They discuss the way that whales and birds make their songs similar to how humans make music (Gray et al., 2001). They even discuss how whales create rhymes in their songs and they use it as a way to remember complex material (Gray et al., 2001). I think it is really beautiful to think that it's not just humans that enjoy music and sounds that form music, but that other species also make music and enjoy the sound of music. 

The prompt also asks, “ where is nature in music?” I think that many elements of songs incorporate aspects of nature. Many songs incorporate nature in their songs through the lyrics. The lyrics paint a picture and transports us to a place in nature. Some songs also directly incorporate sounds like crashing waves or birds chirping that are from nature.

The last part of this week's prompt asks what song takes me back to a natural landscape. I think the song that I feel takes me back to nature the most is “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver. There are many reasons why I feel that this song takes me back to a natural landscape. Firstly this song reminds me of sitting around the campfire at my cottage. My step brother plays guitar and he will start playing this song and we sing around the campfire at night. When I hear this song I am immediately brought back to being outside at the cottage, listening to the fire crackling and my family laughing. I also think this song brings me back to a natural landscape because of the lyrics. For instance when the songs says,

“ Blue ridge mountains, shenandoah river

Life is old there, older than the trees

Younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze”

I feel like these lyrics do a good job of painting a picture that is easy for people to visualize. It is easy to hear these lyrics and have your mind drift off and daydream of being out in nature. 

Overall I think that music could be a very helpful tool in nature interpretation. I feel that some songs are really good at incorporating lyrics that can help transform us to a different place. The textbook mentions that music is able to reach a larger number of people than may be possible without music (Beck et al., 2018). I agree with this. I think most people enjoy some form of music and using music could be a good way to hook your audience and also help to put them in the mindset to take in aspects of nature.

References:

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

Gray, P. M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science, 291(5501), 52. https://link-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/apps/doc/A69270354/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=fb9366a8 

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Nature interpretation through History

Everyone at this point has taken a highschool history course where we are taught usually about the tragedies that occurred in history. These stories of atrocities, discrimination and ethnic conflicts are taught to remember the sorrows of those before us and to keep the story alive (Beck et al. 2018). I want to start with what I initially thought of interpretation through history before learning the actual unit.  This definition of historical interpretation states “historical interpretation grounded in individual histories facilitates connection between lived experiences and archival records or artifacts.” (Modern Cartography Series, 2019). This is interesting because it ignites the idea of sharing a personal history or family history as well which is a smaller scale that I did not really consider being an option. When I think of historical interpretation, I think of teaching about  historical tragedies or movements that had a strong influence on society.

This week, we are analyzing the following quote:

“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.”.

When I first read this quote, it made me think of a very common saying that I am sure you have all heard…”If you’re gonna tell the story, tell the whole story”. A lot of history is not digestible, it is not an easy topic and a lot of events seem unfathomable for many people today but it is important to tell the entire story and not just bits and pieces. As an interpreter of history, you should not decide which parts of the story you decide to tell but rather provide your audience with all parts and allow them to interpret their own feelings and opinions on the subject. Furthermore, history has many perspectives, for example, war between 2 countries will be viewed very differently by citizens from each country despite being the same event. I think another aspect of “merit in integrity” is providing a very unbiased perspective when presenting information which will allow the audience to create their own thoughts. An interpreter should present the story as neutrally as possible while being mindful of their tone and emotions and ensuring that their own opinions are not included. 

I think interpretation through history is the lens that requires the most mindfulness and consideration when presenting because it is easy to misconstrue a story that you more than likely did not witness yourself. In our Courselink notes, we are given 5 questions to consider: What story is being shared? What is included? What is ignored? What is implied? What is specified? If an interpreter can successfully answer all of these questions while telling the story, it is likely that they will avoid bias while also telling the entire story to their audience. All in all, history contains a lot of sensitive stories that can easily be altered or misconstrued over the years and it is the interpreter’s job to thoroughly study the topic and tell their audience the entire story.

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

Hooykaas, A. (2023). Unit 6: Nature Interpretation through History [Courselink Content]. University of Guelph. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/791355/viewContent/3306929/View.

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I really enjoyed reading your post and I think you made a lot really interesting points! I found it really interesting when you talked about how history has a lot of parts and it is not always the easist thing to digest. I guess this is very true and I think probably has to do with some of the more ugly parts of history which make it hard to digest. I do think it is really important to know the history regardless of how hard a pill it is to swallow. I know canadians have hidden certain parts of their history in the past. No matter how shamefull history can be, it is important to acknowledge it and learn from it.

I also found it intersting how you talked about how different people can view different historical events from different perspectives depending on their circumstances. You used the example of history of war where two countried may view what happend during the war differently. I agree that in an attempt to avoid this interpreters should try and present historicals stories as unbiases as possible to try and avoid people from choosing sides, and so that the integrity of the historical events can stay in tact. This is not something that I thought about extensively when considering interpreters role in talking about history. However interpreters could likely very easily pursuade viewers to side in a way that may be slighlty bias. I think this really emphasises how important the role of an interpreters can be and how large of an impact they can have on the lives of the poeple listening to them, and relying on them for information.

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Unit 6

In this week's blog we were asked to unpack a quote. The quote 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.” I think that this quote is very interesting and highlights the fact that it is not necessarily the objects themselves that are meaningful but the stories that go with ancient things that make them meaningful. Also when the quote says, “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”. I think this is highlighting the fact that it is the memory of things that is important, because without the pieces of our past how are we to learn and grow from our experiences and our history. The quote goes on to say that, “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”. I think that this part of the quote is bringing to light the fact that something that has happened in the past never fully disappears. There is always some trace of an event. It is past events that build our world, our culture, our beliefs etc…. Even things long long ago that we have no memory likely have some impact on how people live life today. Learning about history is not just for trivial purposes. Learning about history is what shapes our futures.

History can also be a very important part of nature interpretation. In the textbook it says, “Interpreters are able to help people see how history relates to their own lives by telling exciting, enriching and entertaining educational stories in interpretive programs” (Beck et al., 2018). I really agree with this because I think it can be difficult for people to see the value in history and how it has shaped us today. I think interpreters can play a really important role in helping people see this. Thet textbook goes on to talk about how it is also important to interpret history to remember not only happy stories but also terrible tragic ones (Beck et al., 2018). Stories that talk about things like discrimination and ethnic conflict (Beck et al., 2018). Although it may be hard to reflect on these events, it is important to learn from them so that we do not repeat the past and we grow (Beck et al., 2018).

References:

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

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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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Hi I really enjoyed reading your post!

I find the topic of climate chnage very interesting and I actually took a course that was solely focused on climate change last summer. In this course we talked a lot about how even though 99% of scientists are on the same page regarding how climate change is a fact and is caused by human actiivty. Yet a supprisingly small portion of the population chooses to believe them, even though they have shown concrete evidence. We talked about how science communication is very important when it comes to this topic. I think that nature interpreters could actually make a big difference regarding climate chnage. This is because people get scared off very easily when talking about this topic, and if you try and get into the big picture too much they tend to stop listening. Taking small steps and showing people small things they can do to make a chnage, is much more attainable and much less overwhelming for people. Therfore I agree with you that nature interpreters can play a fairly large role in spreading awaraness about climate chnage and small things people can do to make a difference. I think the example that you used was a great way to demonstrate how a nature interpreter could work these concepts into a conversation without overwhelming or scaring their audience. Science communication is very difficult because a lot of people get scared off when big words they do not know are used or when scientists jump too far into the overall big picture. I took a science communication course and we talked a lot about this. We talked about it in the context of covid and how sometimes people try to approach encouraging people to get vaccinated by scarring them, when this is actually not a very good approach and can have the opposite effect. This knowledge can be applied to science communication about climate chnage in the sense that we do not need to tell people its dooms day, because I think this gets a lot of people to shut down. We need to take an approach where we are communicating more atainable peices of information and steps to take. This is something that I think a nature interpreter could excel in.

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How Seasons Impact Mood

This week there's no prompt and we are simply supposed to write about what we have been thinking about. What I have been thinking about lately is how the different seasons and weather drastically impact my mood. People often talk about seasonal depression and how people often feel down in the winter months.

 I think this is mainly due to the fact that people are inside more in the winter because it is so cold. I have been trying to make an effort lately to go outside at least once a day. I try to walk to school instead of driving or taking the bus. I find that this makes a big difference in my happiness. Lately the days have been beautiful and the sun has been shining, and I have actually found I have really been enjoying the brisk weather and looking at all the snow.

 I am lucky that my family always made an effort to prioritize winter sports to make what seems like our longest season go by quicker. I love to ski and skate, and my family frequently goes on snowmobile trips. Through these experiences I get to be in touch with nature I think more than I am with any other season. It is funny because I am outside way more in the warmer seasons, but when I am outside for winter skiing and I get to see the views on top of the mountain, it is a beautiful experience that I have yet to replicate in any other season. I am starting to have a better appreciation for winter and what it has to offer. I think it is important to make an effort to enjoy all the seasons as they do all have something to offer. I have been trying to be more positive about the cold winter, and consider myself lucky that I live in a place where I get to experience all four seasons and the beautiful things that come with each season.

 I think another big reason why winter is known for being a season where people feel down, is the sun goes down so early in the day. I think one way to try and cope with this is by going outside and getting as much sunlight as possible during the day. I find when I am outside all day I do not mind as much when it gets dark earlier, it can actually be cozy and good conditions for curling up with a book.

Overall winter is a tough season for a lot of people. I hope that people can try and find the beauty in winter because I do feel like this may help. As I mentioned before, I have been trying lately to focus on the beautiful parts of winter and what winter has to offer. I feel like this has really helped me and has helped me to force myself outside, which makes all of the difference.

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Unit 04: Nature Interpretation Through Art

This week we ask, “who are you to interpret nature through art?” although you may read this prompt defensively at first glance, I believe that interpretation through art comes in many forms. The beauty of interpretation is that there is no correct answer. There is a method and a medium for everyone to enjoy, such as music, paintings, theatre, photography, etc. As Beck et al. (2018) state, incorporating art into nature interpretation is helpful for increasing the pleasure and enjoyment of the audience. Information and emotions can be communicated through art forms, making them powerful. Beck et al. (2018) also mention how the utilization of art can permit areas of your mind to open and connect yourself to the interpretation. 

I believe this relationship flourishes because of our five senses; sight, taste, smell, hearing, and touch.

They are powerful. 

They can have you revisit a single memory from one specific day in 2012 just based on one triggered sense. I believe art taps into these senses in a similar way. Since art can satisfy all senses, it can compel your body and mind to vulnerability. Vulnerability aids in forming connections and resonating with the topic, which is why art used in nature interpretation is so influential.

My favourite form of art for nature interpretation is photography. Taking pictures of what I find beautiful is what brings me joy. It allows me to open up and saturate myself with my surroundings. Not only does it delight me in the present, but I can relive it all later. This may be a biased approach since I have grown up with a smartphone for most of my life. However, when I am surrounded by nature’s beauty, instead of taking it all in, I have been subconsciously conditioned to take out my phone and take a picture. Although this seems upsetting, I like to alter this outlook to have a more positive approach. I remind myself that wanting to take a picture should not make me feel guilty and should not make me feel as though I am not “living in the moment”. If photography brings me joy and I wish to revisit this picture later, what’s the harm? 

That is the charming aspect of art. There is a medium for everyone. 

In terms of the “gift of beauty,” I believe that the spectrum of “beauty” is vast. This concept is expressed as a person’s capability to observe beauty in their surroundings through interpretation that aids in increasing resource preservation (Beck et al., 2018). I agree with this concept and its premise. Since everyone has different tastes, anything can be considered beautiful! Regarding myself, I coincide with this concept as nature is truly a beautiful gift that we have been provided. 

To conclude, I have added a quote from Vincent van Gogh that correlates different methods of art and nature.

“I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?”

 –Vincent van Gogh

The photos I have added to this post remind me why I love photography and nature!

Literature Cited

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

better world. Sagamore Venture.

Vincent van Gogh to Theo Van Gogh : January 1874. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2023, from

ightful,not%20The%20Hague%20and%20Brabant.

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I really enjoyed your post!

I like how you discussed that one reason nature interpretation is great is because it can be done on so many different platforms. Whethe it is drawings, painting, sculptures, films etc... these could all be considered nature interpretation through different peices of art and like you said there is a medium for everyone. I think that this is special for many reasons but one reason is it is a very inclusive way to do nature interpretation. There are poeple who do not have the means to travel to different locations whether there are finacial bondaries, physical boundaries or even mental boundaries that will not allow them to. I think it is very special that when nature is interpreted through art it can reach a wide scope of people from various backgrounds. For instance even blogs like this with such beautiful phottos I think could be conidered nature interpretation through art. Blog and other online platforms are accesible to people all around the world. It is such a wonderful thing that people from all around the world can connect in a way like this.

I also found it very interesting the way you discussed our senses. I have never thought about it that way but I think you made a good point and that is an interesting perspective.

I also agree that photography is my favourite form of interpretation through art. I think it is so great that taking photos has become so accesible through smartphones. I think it is a wonderful thing to be able to share photos with others.

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Interpreting Nature Through Art

I think that there are many ways to interpret nature through art. There are many artists who specialize in capturing beautiful landscapes in paintings or photos. I know when I was younger one of my favourite things to do was to paint landscapes. I was never any good but I just thought what I was looking at was beautiful and I wanted to attempt to capture that. My mom would buy me and my siblings tons of canvases and paint that we would use to paint landscapes. My siblings and I would frequently watch the sunset at the cottage and try to paint all the beautiful colours on our canvas. In the textbooks they discuss how professional interpreters are beginning to use art as a way to convey messages much more frequently (Beck et al., 2018). The textbooks talks about how this makes sense because there is a natural connection between art and culture and landscapes in the world (Beck et al., 2018). I very much agree that there is a natural connection, and it is natural to want to express what you see and feel in nature using various media. 

Another way I interpret nature through art is by taking pictures. These days taking pictures has become very accessible. Most people have some kind of smartphone with a camera, and the cameras on these phones have actually become quite good. I think it is so wonderful that almost anyone has the ability to capture different aspects of nature through photos. Photos are such a great way not only to relive beautiful landscapes, but also to look back fondly at memories. In a previous post I discussed how my happy place is the cottage and some of my favourite memories come from the cottage. We have full photo albums at the cottage featuring me and my whole family. When I look at the pictures it feels like I can remember almost every detail about that moment and it brings joy to the whole family. Through these photos we can also see progress. We see how the cottage has changed and been renovated and we see how the landscape of our cottage has been updated and kept up, and we see how I have grown up.

Paddle Boaring at Cottage

For instance I love this picture of my friend paddle boarding at the cottage. Not only does this picture capture the beautiful sky and water. It also makes me think back to this night and the fun we had out on the water paddle boarding. It makes me feel happy and makes me miss summer and times like this.

Another reason why pictures are great for nature interpretation is you can capture images of places you will likely not be able to see again or very frequently anyway. Specifically I love taking pictures when traveling. When you travel you get to be exposed to a climate and environment that you are likely not used to being in. With pictures you get to capture this, as well as the culture and memories that go along with it. The picture below is a picture I took when in Puerto Plata recently. I think the picture really captures how beautiful the view was. This picture also makes me think of the beautiful walk I took with my family to reach this spot with the view.

Overall I think that art is a great way to share and interpret nature, whether it be through painting, pictures, sculptures, music or any other media. To give the “gift of beauty” as an interpreter is to help people be able to, “sense the beauty in their surroundings - to provide the spiritual uplift and to encourage resource preservation” (Beck et al., 2018). I think a great way to try and give the gift of beauty as an interpreter is to do it through art. This way you can reach a wide scope of people from a wide scope of backgrounds who all share a love for this piece of art

References:

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

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Risk vs. Reward (Unit 03)

My current working "definition" of privilege resembles that of the one provided by Gallavan (2005). Privilege to me, is an unearned advantage provided to an individual that inequitably tips the scale of success in favour of those who are baselessly associated with superiority, dominance, and power.

With that being said, I am going to "unpack my invisible backpack" as explained by Gallavan (2005) as a means of self reflection and acknowledgement of my privilege. By doing so, I aim to connect further with my audience by opening the conversation (regardless of similarity), and provide to me as a nature interpreter the chance to understand and experience the setting from a different perspective (Beck et al., 2018).

My backpack: I am a straight white male, middle class, highly educated, speak both English and French, able to pay for university, played multiple competitive sports outside of school, possess a Canadian passport and have travelled outside of the country, and even though I do not practice under any religious affiliation; work and school schedules reflect my observed holidays.

If you feel comfortable doing so, I would love to hear about your life and unpack our backpacks together further in the comments!

Pertaining to risk and reward in relation to this section, this unit raised multiple forms of associated risk in both physical and situational risk in pursuit of the rewards of strong interpretation and communicating to diverse audiences (Beck et al., 2018). Physical risk as exemplified by the St. Johns School: Tragedy in Temiskaming, is an important category to cover as both the terrain, weather, audience and wildlife can all pose physical risk to you and your audience while interpreting. The situational risks associated pose a different kind of risk, where as the interpreter your audience can become polarized by the lack of connectivity for numerous reasons under the spectrum of privilege or something as simple as your attitude towards the job. Both of these associated risks that a role as an interpreter faces promote the use of the precautionary principle, where the most valuable approach you can take in risk management is to provide your audience prudent information and action in response to uncertain interactions.

Activity: Using the precautionary principle, what risk would you advise your travelling group to be wary of from this picture alone?

References

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

Gallavan, Nancy P. "Helping teachers unpack their 'invisible knapsacks'." Multicultural Education, vol. 13, no. 1, fall 2005, p. 36. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9fe2f151. Accessed 27 Jan. 2023.

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I really enjoyed reading your post!

I too have a very heavy backpack with many items due to the privilage I have. I am a straight white women and therfore have tons of privilage because of this. I also have a passport with lots of stamps that have indicated the different countries I have been on, places I have been able to go to due to the financial privilage I have from coming from a family that is fairly well off and values travel. I also speak both english and french. I have gotten to foster my relationship with nature through many experinces like going to camp, going to my family cottage, going to the beaches I live near and travelling to different countries. All of these things were a direct result of the privilage that I have. I recognise that without these experinces I do not think I would have the same relationship with nature that I currently do.

I like what you said about how audience members can become polarized if nature interpreters fail to take into account the various privilages members of the audeince may have. I think that one way this could be adressed is to try and get to know members of the audeince a bit before the nature interpretation experience (Beck et al., 2018). I know this was a suggestion that was made in the textbook (Beck et al., 2018). This way it is possible that you could try to account for various privliages and backgrounds in your approach (Beck et al., 2018). I also think that a good approach would be trying to make sure your approach when speaking to your audience can reach a diverse group of people despite their various privilages and background. I think nature interpreters should try and make thier experiences as inclusive as possible so even if they are not aware of individuals privilages, everyone can hopefully still have a good experience.

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

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The Role That Privilage Plays in Nature Interpretation

I think that privilege refers to the advantages some individuals have over others, that is for the most part out of their control.This can refer to things like race and gender. Unfortunately discrimination because of race and gender does exist. I am a white woman and therefore I am fairly privileged in this sense. I have never had someone treat me in an unfair manner because of the colour of my skin. However, I do believe there is a little bit of privilege that comes with being a man over a woman. However I do think that progress is being made in this sense, and hopefully continues to be made. Privilege can also include things like financial well being. Many kids do not grow up with the same opportunities simply because their families can not afford these opportunities. I was very lucky that my parents were fairly well off when I was growing up and I got to experience a wide variety of things like going to camp, going to our cottage, going on trips in various countries and learning to do various outdoor activities like skiing and wakeboarding. These experiences have helped me grow into the person I am today and helped foster the relationship I now have with nature. Mclntosh believes that, “ privilege, dominance, and power are not earned, they merely exist by virtue of being born White, male, heterosexual, and middle class” (Mclntosh, 1989). She goes on to say that things like religion, education, geographic location etc… can also have a significant impact on the privilege that people have (Mclntosh, 1989) I believe this supports my definition of privilege where I say that it is not something that people have control over, it is something people are born with, and it seems to be purely related to the circumstances each individual was born with.

 In class we discuss how everyone has an invisible backpack that essentially holds things that come with our privilege. Some people have backpacks that are much heavier than others due to varying privileges. My individual backpack contains money to pay for my education. I would never have been able to get to my job that is 30 minutes away from my house if I was not able to borrow my parents' extra vehicle on a regular basis. This is a huge privilege that not many young adults have. In my backpack I also have my Canadian passport that contains stamps from various locations I have traveled to. I have been privileged to come from a family that values travel and is financially stable enough to take me on trips when I was growing up. In my backpack I also carry my highschool diploma. I was able to get this because I come from a country where education is a high priority, and I come from a family that did not need me to work full time to support us.

I think that privilege impacts nature interpretation because an important part of being a nature interpreter is considering your audience. Various people who have had different experiences and experience different levels of privilege will likely need a different approach. For instance many people will not have the same relationship with nature as the nature interpreter has. Not all people get to build a strong relationship with nature for various reasons. My relationship with nature has been fostered through things like going to camp, going to our cottage, traveling to different countries, going to the beach. All of these things were acquired due to the privileges I have. Financial privilege allowed my parents to afford to send me to camp and afford to take me on trips to different countries. Geographic location privilege allowed me to be within walking distance from beaches and be surrounded by beautiful hiking trails. Not everyone gets to have these experiences, and therefore they may be starting at a different spot in their relationship with nature. In the textbook they discuss the importance of trying to get to know your audience a bit before beginning (Beck et al., 2018). This way you can gauge things like where they live and if they have been to that location before, as well as why they chose to have this nature interpretation experience (Beck et al., 2018). I also think it is important to approach most nature interpretation in a way that tries to account for various privileges, even if you do not directly know the privilege each audience member has. I think if this approach is used it is more likely that everyone will have a good experience and everyone will be able to take something from the nature interpretation. Perhaps those who have not yet had the chance to develop a relationship with nature will feel like they have made a big step in fostering that relationship.

References:

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

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

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UNIT 02

When I think about what an environmental interpreter is, or rather just an interpreter in general, I think of someone who is passionate about a topic and patient enough to teach others about it. Interpreters have an important job to engage with an audience and provoke a passion in the visitors in which they are able to leave with. Visitors should be able to leave a place having learned something or gained an interest in a particular field or area that they are not typically familiar with. A quote from Beck et al. (2018) says, “If you love the things you interpret, and love the people who come to enjoy it, you not only have taken the pains to understand it to the limit of your capacity but you also feel its special beauty in the general richness of life’s beauty.” This quote in particular spoke to me in the sense of what kind of interpreter I would want to be. We are all able to be interpreters in our daily lives, we are able to do this by having different interests and hobbies and sharing them with others. However, the part of this quote that I particularly liked was how if you like what you are teaching and those who want to learn, the job is not really a job, rather you are finding the beauty within the world and others. 

A time in which I was a visitor was when I went to Italy one summer. My family and I toured all around and ended up in Rome towards the end of our trip. While there, we decided to join a tour of the Colosseum. This tour was offered auditorily through headphones and you were able to learn about the history of the Colosseum while walking around on your own. I particularly liked this form of communication as it allowed me to walk at my own pace and take in the scenery without having to follow around a tour guide in a big crowd. As stated in the textbook, personal interpretation is important as there should be opportunities for visitors to simply go out and enjoy the wonders of the resource on their own, taking in all aspects of the beauty of the resource through their senses (Beck et al., 2018). 

A time in which I was an interpreter myself was when I worked at a garden center with my family. I was nervous at first as I did not have much confidence in my knowledge about plants, however, after a couple weeks I was able to retain enough knowledge to help customers with their questions. During this job, I taught people about different plants, their sun, water, and soil requirements, and which plants would do best in certain zones. I was lucky to have been given the knowledge to then pass on to others about nature and how to take care of it, and to find some new favourite plants myself (such bleeding hearts which caught my attention pretty quickly - pictured first).

In all, I believe that the skills needed to be an interpreter are unique to every individual. Sure you may say that confidence is needed, good speaking skills, good presence, ect., but I think that these skills will automatically come after trying a few times. I think that the only ‘skill’ needed to become an interpreter is passion and enthusiasm about what you are teaching. Without passion and enthusiasm, the visitors will not be engaged and will not be able to feel happiness through the words of the interpreter.

Literature Cited

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

[kalenvs3000w23]

I really enjoyed this post! I really liked the quotes that you included and I agree that ideally the type of interpreter that I want to be is one that shares things that I love. I agree with what you said regarding how if you are doing something that you love for a living it does not really feel like a job. I would love to share places I am passionate about with others, and maybe inspire others to share this passion with me.

I also agree that most of the skills required to be an interpreter can be taught over time, however you will never truly master it if you do not enjoy the topic at hand. People can feel how you feel about the topic. I know personally when people are telling me about something they are passionate about I am always so intrigued and invested in the conversation, because the enthusiasm is contagious. 

I also found it very interesting when you talked about how in Rome you got to experience a unique type of interpretation where you got to explore and wander at your own pace. I think that would be such a cool experience because I think a problem with going with a guide is you have to follow their schedule and can not be as independent and it limits your ability to reflect and truly experience where you are. If I got to be an environmental interpreter one day I think it would really enhance the experience if I could include an experience like this. I think it allows for more personal reflection as well compared to when you are with a group. I think a combination of being in a group and some individual exploring would create an ideal experience.