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Ethical Interpretation of Nature

One’s personal ethics are built from a foundation of virtues, morals, values, and principles (Waggoner, 2010). Ethics are what guide us around what is right and what is wrong, resulting in the decisions we make both in our personal and professional lives. Personally, as I develop as a nature interpreter there are various core values and ethics that I would like to carry into the profession. For example, I believe that nature interpretation around the world should consist of socially, culturally, and intellectually responsible heritage interpretation which recognizes minorities of all kinds (Beck et al., 2018). It is the responsibility of nature interpreters to ensure that all participants feel included and comfortable, in order to provide an optimal experience of learning and inspiration that they can carry with them beyond their visit. Furthermore, an approach that would be most suitable for me as an individual would be to sustain and interpret the unique heritage of local communities, to foster a sense of worth, and to disseminate it broadly in order to nurture a greater mutual understanding (Beck et al., 2018). In doing so, nature interpretation can contribute to harmonious interactions between visitors and local community members. Secondly, I believe in the power of knowledge and the importance of sharing that knowledge with future generations. The ability to acquire knowledge, preserve and pass it on to future generations is what gives us the tools to be better and continue to evolve in a positive direction. Therefore, I believe that promoting educational training programmes and providing opportunities of growth for interpreters and volunteers is crucial to their success (Beck et al., 2018). Accordingly, an approach that would be most suitable for me would be to help develop courses, programs, and training opportunities to share knowledge around the principles of nature interpretation (Beck et al., 2018). In addition I would like to promote academic research focused on the impact of nature interpretation on a local and global scale (Beck et al., 2018). In this way, I can fulfill my responsibility in promoting the positive outcomes associated with nature interpretation and spread awareness on the importance of it, not only on local communities but also on tourists and visitors. As nature interpreters we have a responsibility to advocate for all individuals involved. This includes, heritage site owners and operators, tourists, local minority communities, and education professionals (Beck et al., 2018). In conclusion, the beliefs I bring to nature interpretation focus on inclusion, recognition of all, advancing education, continued learning, with a foresight on posterity. I hope to carry these efforts into both my personal and professional life in order to better understand the world around me.

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage. Van Haren Publishing.

Waggoner, Jessica, “Ethics and Leadership: How Personal Ethics Produce Effective Leaders” (2010). CMC Senior Theses. Paper 26. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/26

kdenvs3000w22

Hello,

I really enjoyed reading your final thoughts on not only this course as whole, but your developmental role as a nature interpreter. The importance of ethics truly did stand out to me. As, I too believe that as nation we have to take owner ship on the past and recognize the downfalls we have had and continue to demonstrate. We can never erase history, but we can learn from it and apply our knowledge to our everyday actions. I enjoyed what you said, in terms of what actions you are going to take “an approach that would be most suitable for me as an individual would be to sustain and interpret the unique heritage of local communities, to foster a sense of worth, and to disseminate it broadly in order to nurture a greater mutual understanding”. I think a lot of us should follow in this example, as its easy to only follow suit for our own needs.

Additionally, I found the part in which you stated “I can fulfill my responsibility in promoting the positive outcomes associated with nature interpretation and spread awareness on the importance of it, not only on local communities but also on tourists and visitors. As nature interpreters we have a responsibility to advocate for all individuals involved.” to be quite motivational. Your ability to emphasize on how we have a job as nature interpreter’s to speed awareness and knowledge to the people we are surrounded by, or anyone we come in contact with. I too advocate for all individuals, as each individual brings their own history and relation with them.

Thank you for sharing your final thoughts. I wish you all the best :)

cnenvs3000w22

Final blog post

As a nature interpreter I thought that one of my main ethics would be to put the environment above all. However, the world is not black and white as I thought. What might be taught to be environmentally good, could be the complete opposite.

Take environmentally friendly items. Things become unsustainable by the process of how it’s made, how they get put into landfills, and how effective it really is. All these effects and more, decided the fate of what is considered to be good for the Earth. It gets even more complicated when you try to implement these things into a society that has a variety of people that cannot adapt fast or are unable to adapt. I have a privilege to be able to wash my reusable items without concerns about my disability affecting me. It is a privilege to even be able to buy such items. So while I want to preach to use reusable straws and such, sometimes it is not that simple.

The same can go for my personal ethic as a nature interpreter. I believe that we should do everything we can in order to protect the environment but we cannot ignore that there is always going to be a contrasting argument to take into consideration. One person is not entirely right and there is scientific evidence to prove both sides. I want to ensure that that perspective is taken into account when trying to tell others what is happening in nature.

Throughout this year I have learned about the different aspects of nature that I have not even thought about. Things like history or how it can relate to artistic themes such as music and art, are all concepts I failed to acknowledge for a long time. If I did it would be something as simple as “oh yeah nature is pretty like art. People like to take inspiration from it.” Nothing more.

Forcing myself to look deeper into a concept was what made me realize that there are more ways to give information. People may not understand the scientific background but they can still learn about the world around them through these different methods. I want to value the environment because I understand that we need it in a certain condition in order to survive. Others want to value it because it is beautiful. It’s their source of calmness and what makes them thrive. Something that people can use to relate to others from across the world. Even if someone had not experienced snow they know that it is white and cold. A simple idea that can be used to convey thoughts. Nature is powerful like that. It can be straighword with facts but up to anyone to interrupt as they please.

That is to show as well that I am not anyone important when it comes to expressing my thoughts. I do have a formal background in environmental but that does not mean anything to a child. To them, they view nature as something outside to enjoy. Not study in a book. What is a book about the cells diving in a leaf to a person who cannot see that with their naked eye? In contrast to that my background is not as intense as others out there. I still have not found a field of nature that I want to dedicate my life to like other scientists that to them I have no place to tell them what to think. I do not have a right to tell someone else to change their point of view. If someone wants to look at a leaf purely for the colour, and I want to study it, there should be no difference in the fact we both care for our surroundings. Using that connection is how I want to blend it all together. Taking both informational and creative sides together to make the best of both worlds.

As an individual I want to approach my interpretation of nature less on scientific facts and more on how it makes people feel. In the end, there is little that we can do to convince people without emotional attachment to a subject. That the amount of scientists out there is nothing compared to anyone that can walk outside and appreciate the environment. By using things like art and music, and knowing where I stand in this world, I hope to be able to deliver what I know in a way that can work with anyone. Whether a person with a blank slate, an artist or a scientist, I take it upon myself to show that there is more to the world than what is written in a textbook. How I look at something compared to another is different. That does not mean that it is wrong or that one is better. Only different. Delivering that idea is how I want to be portrayed as a nature interrupter.

kdenvs3000w22

Hello,

I really enjoyed your final post. You managed to not only sum up a lot of what we learned in class, but also demonstrated your main focus, on who you want to become as an interpreter. I think you made great points on how “things become unsustainable by the process of how it’s made, how they get put into landfills, and how effective it really is.” I have never really thought about the process of when we see the words “reused item” or “eco-friendly”. Although yes, I assume they are better alternatives, I have never thought about the process it takes to create the item itself. To which regardless of the beginning of the item, it will one day end up in a landfill, like the rest of human created waste.

Furthermore, I think it is beautiful how you are taking a step in the direction of using not only history, but perspectives of individuals to better understand the world around you. I too, have based a lot of my answers to life questions and situations in general by backed up by science results. Not to say this is a bad thing, but in doing this with nature, we lose our human connection and feeling we innately have with the world that surrounds us. We end up analyzing, when we should just be enjoying.

Overall, thank you for sharing your final thoughts and I wish you all the best :)

Final Blog

So, this being my final blog post I would like to be honest by saying at the beginning of this course I did not expect much. Not because of the course itself, or the factuality teaching it, but the prenotion of it being just an online course. To which my main career focuses, or general interests were not quite in. Although, throughout my journey of discovering what nature interpretation means, not only to me but my fellow classmates. I came to realize that this class, or topic in general has a way higher magnitude of importance then I every believed prior. For this I wanted to start off with a thank you.

As we dove through many topics of conversation, some more controversial than others. I think I can confidently say who I am striving to become as a nature interpreter. Although, it’s hard to know where to begin. I guess I can say that as an individual, I am person who fights for equal rights for a human race. I knew this prior to this course, but I never knew that I could intergrade it into the system of nature interpretation. Learning about how privilege is in everything we do, ignited a feeling in me that I hadn’t felt before. We fill our minds continuously with information, whether that be via news networks, journal articles, or mindless scrolling that takes place at the tip of our fingers. We achieve such a high level of indulgence, but the question is, what do we do with it? A quarter of us can say we use it, in some part of our lives. But the other portion of us just keep this information locked in our minds. Sent away down a stream, like a pointless memory that will soon be forgotten until the next dopamine fix kicks in. I don’t want to forget anymore; I don’t want to forget seeing people of colour fighting for an equal justice system or hearing large corporations dump liters of waste into our oceans. I can’t, because I feel as though every day we hear news, that we all are aware of, but then we turn the other cheek and go about our day. Like nothing had happened or is happening. I’m not saying we must surrender our minds to all the chaos that we continuously hear. As for that becomes overbearing. I do though think that I have decided to take a step in emerging myself within these conversations more. Fighting for the anger that comes from these difficult topics and turning it into motivation and passion. Speaking to the older generation on the topics of oppression, climate challenges and asking questions that can inform me on how history has shaped their understanding and knowledge.

As I move forward from this course and even just on with my life, I don’t necessarily think my career will be in nature interpretation. I do know that in every nature hike I take, I will look with more open eyes to the beauty and history that comes with my location. I do know that in every song I listen to, I will listen to it with open ear and observe the relation of movement the music has, as if it were a glimpse of wind or ocean waves passing by. I do know that, in going forward with the human interactions I have; I will remember that I don’t know their history and what made them who they are. For that, I will indulge in their knowledge and possibly by doing so expand on my own.

Like I said at the beginning of this post, thank you all for sharing your thoughts throughout these weeks. I know we do so mostly for a grade, but I see a lot of hope within my fellow generation or any group of people within this class, and for that I thank you.

jalenvs3000w22-deactivated20220

Music in Nature ~ Nature in Music

A cinematic moment you may recognize that comes to mind is a little red crab gathering his marsh pals to sing “Sha la la la la la” and create an epic love story score!

I believe there is music in nature everywhere. Just picture hearing birds singing, crickets chirping, streams and waterfalls splashing, leaves rustling, pileated woodpeckers drumming away in the backyard…

Each time I find myself outdoors I like to take a moment to listen to the natural sounds around me, even silence in winter has a ring to it. Some sounds are not as pleasant as others (I’m thinking about an obnoxious Blue Jay claiming the birdfeeder). From my experiences, seeing a bird of prey swooping down to catch an unsuspecting mouse as I drive along the highway is analogous to a cymbal crashing in the band. As a white tailed deer jumps out in front of you, it’s like being immersed into the music of nature.

Now the reverse of that is “Where is nature in music”? Rhythm. There’s a lot of rhythm in nature. Not the typical idea of rhythm or beats used in music, but instances like the circadian rhythm or life cycles. Or even the fibonacci sequence, the Golden Ratio seen throughout nature is a beautiful flow for the eyes to follow – similar to how music flows.

Today, we are not as dependent as indigenous groups were (or still are in some locations) on cycles and the rhythm of nature: when to hunt, relocate, and prepare for different seasons. Now, we are blind to those factors of life because of situations such as buying a mango in the middle of winter! Many farm families may also relate to needing the rhythm of nature as a part of their life: plant, treat, harvest all in the right time frames.

I was asked what song takes me back to the natural landscape. Right off the bat I think about country songs; any country song puts me in the summer mood. I think when I listen to country songs the most it is during the summer time, windows down, road trip experiences. In particular I’m thinking about “Follow Me” by Uncle Kracker. I had to take a few moments to actually figure out why this song brings me ‘good nature vibes’ and I think it really just has to do with the connotations I have placed with it from my outdoor adventures. I think it is a very applicable song to any of my family’s camping trips or bike ride excursions I have taken with my sister. I know we were only supposed to select one song, but as I was thinking about camping trips Fleetwood Mac came to mind. All of their songs are familiar to me as “camping vibes”. Especially “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac because of all the natural language used as metaphors and similes. I get the picture of “snow-covered hills, ocean tides, season of my life, landslide…” it’s all very poetic.

I can’t wait to read about everyone’s nature songs,

Jacqueline

kdenvs3000w22

Hello Jacqueline,

Firstly, I would like to begin with saying, I love your opening sentence as I definitely remember my boy Sebastian.

I really enjoyed your post this week, as I can agree with you on the fact that music is everywhere in nature, if we just listen close enough. Furthering this, your example of “seeing a bird of prey swooping down to catch an unsuspecting mouse as I drive along the highway is analogous to a cymbal crashing in the band”, was spot on, and definitely and interesting perspective on how you picture music in nature within the wild.

Your idea on the fact that we have “blinders” on to certain factors in life, due to the effects of western society, stood out to me. As, it is true, we as a society go throughout our day with no awareness of what surrounds us anymore, especially in comparison to our ancestors or other cultures. Furthermore, we lost our nature rhythm, similar to what you speak of. Our society is so full of distractions, that our connection with the outdoors is shadowed by mainstream media, making it hard to sink into our innate connection with nature.

Overall, really enjoyed your post and the songs you recommended. I can definitely agree that country music has the ability to take you back to great memories of the summer with family and friends.

Can’t wait to read your next post,

Kyra

Nature Interpretation through Music

Let me set a scene for you. It is a warm, sunny day in June. You and couple of your friends, are headed on a stroll, at a conservation site. It is early in the morning, so the area is quiet from human encounter. Only small fragments of clouds are present in the sky, with a piercing blue pigment standing behind them. As you walk, you hear the stream that rushes beside you. Carrying the small fish and rock fragments to their designated destinations. The tall grass, that grows around the body of water, rustles as the wind blows through it. Like a comb through a young girl’s hair. The humming sound, of the grasshopper’s that play at your feet, relax you. With every step, you and your friends take, you become more and more full of natures music.

Walking trail downtown Hamilton. Beautiful view from top of peak, 2021.

Insects chirping, as unknown species of insect makes it's way through the flowers, at Christy’s Conservation area. July 2021.

Music in nature, is in all creation, if we listen well enough. Prospectively, sounds are what allows species, of all types, to communicate with one another. Either it be the chirping of birds, sending warnings to one another, of a near predator. Or the phrase “I love you” being said around the world, in different languages. It is innate to express ourselves with sound.

As humans, we express ourselves differently from one culture to another. For instance, as mentioned in the lecture notes, Indigenous peoples do not recognize a separation within their culture and nature. Which can be emersed into their native music. A Pow Wow is a sacred gathering, which is held by many Indigenous communities. Full of traditional instruments and vocal singing. Certain breathing practises and holds, are further used as one’s individual instrument. Throughout many cultures, it is demonstrated that, the different aspects of one’s environment, uphold their expression of sound (Malloch and Trevarthen, 2018). Music reflects and embodies our feeling of self, and of our past and future peoples. Therefore, in short, nature is everywhere in music. As music reflects nature. Musicians are by far one of the strongest interpreters of nature. And not in the sense of scientific understanding but listening. To natures original song. And captivating little pieces of it to create something individually special to them.

Album cover for “Wasteland Baby!”, by Hozier. Released 2019.

There are three artists, to which you may know, but if not, I will happily introduce you. It is hard to explain exactly what I specifically extract from each of these individuals, but each successfully bring me to a place of peace and calmness. With some of their songs being beautifully haunting and reminding me of the walks I have taken in the dark woods at night. While others, reminding me of the songs I would blast with my friends at the campfire during our trips down to British Columbia. I hope you enjoy them, and feel the beautiful movement in each song, like a calling from the outdoors.

The Cinematic Orchestra: ‘To Build A Home’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUFJJNQGwhk

Hozier:

- ‘In the Woods Somewhere’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJdTRF5d94k

- ‘Movement’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSye8OO5TkM

Fleet Foxes:

- ‘White Winter Hymnal’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrQRS40OKNE

- ‘Ragged Wood’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2KOI8Lt2Lc

References

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 7: Nature Interpretation Through Music. Lecture Notes Retrieved, February 28th, 2022

Malloch, S., & Trevarthen, C. (2018). The Human Nature of Music. Frontiers in psychology, 9, 1680. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01680

amenvs3000w22

Blog post 5 - Nature interpretation through history

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

This quote can be interpreted in many ways. Normally when I think of history and its impact on current events, I think of that old saying, that history repeats itself, and that history is important to know so we can manage our actions to mitigate any risks. However, this quote suggests that history is always present, and shows itself in all aspects. When considering nature, or various landforms, it is critical to think of the history of the area. Where did these plants originate? How/when were they introduced to this area? Was there use of this plant (food, medicine, etc.), and do we still use it for its benefits? How did this environmental event happen? Considering who, what, when, where, why, and how when interpreting nature is important in determining why nature currently is the way it is. This quote, it states “integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole.” In regards to history and nature interpretation, I believe this means that to fully understand or appreciate nature, you must know its history in addition to current information, otherwise you are only exposed to a fragment of nature and its wonders.

In one of my other classes, we had an assignment where we had to locate the origins of the foods we eat daily, be it fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, grains, fats, etc. I obviously knew that most of the plants I eat regularly are not native, but since completing this assignment, I have gained a greater appreciation for the foods I eat, knowing how they need to be cultivated and where they originate from. Although this is not a very good environmental example, it still showcases the importance of interpreting history to strengthen the level of appreciation and be able to better manage processes to maintain sustainable ecosystems.

History is part of a whole. Even when just thinking about yourself, your past is your history, and it is a part of you. Your friends might only know little pieces of you, but your history tells a story of why you are the way you are. The same can be said for nature. When it comes to nature, history is important not only to be able to identify why environments are the way they are, but to utilize knowledge about the past to determine future environmental management/conservation plans. For example; a forest was purposefully ignited, causing a forest fire, to promote new growth and more biodiversity, but ended up decreasing biodiversity. The landscape has now changed, and biodiversity still needs to increase. Conservationists can use the history of the area to properly determine a plan to improve the biodiversity of the forest without causing more harm.

I look forward to hearing your ideas on what this quote means (as I’m sure we’ve all interpreted it differently)!

kdenvs3000w22

Hello,

I really enjoyed your blog post this week, and how you interpreted the quote. Your statement on how to become a great interpreter, is through once ability to acknowledge and learn from the past, stuck out to me. As it’s true, in order for us, even just as individuals, to grow, we must uncover how things became this way. The only was to do that, is understand the past.

Like you said in your example on forest fires, just because we know a story or that people in a part of history had an “intent” to reach a goal of some sort, doesn't mean we get to stop our understanding there. We must as interpreters, dig deeper and uncover all aspects of the history we intend to inform other’s on. As each aspect, is necessary for individuals to create their own notion on the subject, or just better comprehend a part of the past.

Furthermore, I think it is really interesting that you dove deep, in considering the difficulties it takes to cultivate and transport the foods you eat, on a daily basis. Like we have previously discussed in the course, a lot of us attending university have such a high level of privilege. Not just through our education, but that most of us are able to have food on our table everyday. Being able to actually take a step back, and like you said, appreciate where our food comes from, is such a beautiful gift. Definitely will be viewing my resources with little more care, as I go on throughout my day, thinking of “what is the story behind you”.

Overall, great post this week :)

-Kyra

kdenvs3000w22

Nature Interpretation Through History

(Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)

This quote unpacks heavy content, in the sense of exploring a lot of bases of history, within a couple of sentences. As humans, each one of us have been passed down information, from either a parental figure, sibling, teacher, or any books/literature we have had the privilege to indulge in. Although each teaching may be similar; for example, the process of photosynthesis will always be the same, regardless of who is explaining it. Everyone absorbs knowledge differently, with their own point of view already subjected into the topic. From this, I think the message in this quote is, as an interpreter we have the obligation to present our knowledge onto the listener or reader with full honesty and accuracy.

I find myself picturing the game I used to play as a child called “telephone”, where an individual would start the game by making up a phrase, and then passing it on to the next person beside them. The idea of the game was to see if the phrase could go around the whole circle of individuals, without being changed or forgotten. At the end, the person who created the phrase, would shout aloud what had come back to them. Oddly enough, I always remember that the phrase would be changed. Most kids changing it for fun, or to get laughs out of their peers. But in hindsight, I feel as if this was foreshadowing reality. As once we got older, it was up to us to determine if the information we gathered was the full truth. As an interpreter, we must ensure we are informing the reader or listener with a deeper insight and truth on the matter. This allows them to create their own understanding on the subject from their own individual experiences.

The Telephone Game : https://icebreakerideas.com/telephone-game/

Furthermore, the part of the quote that stated, “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.”, reminds me of how a lot of us, create our own conformational biases. Once we are given information, we stick with what we know on it. Sometimes finding it hard to release the ego, that causes us to stop exploring the other side of the “story”. But as interpreters, we need to avoid biases. As for the past to live on, we must explore the hardships and the good time’s that come with every act in history.

sbenvs3000w22

Hey!

I really enjoyed reading your post this week. I would have to absolutely agree with you when you mentioned that “everyone absorbs knowledge differently, with their own point of view already subjected into the topic.” You used the concept of photosynthesis to explain how the process itself will always remain the same, but everyone will have their own way of explaining it. When we look back to the first week of class, where we all wrote our first blog post, we can see how everyone’s ‘sense of place’ drastically differs because of their personal experiences and upbringing, which is what makes nature interpretation such a beautiful thing.

My day-to-day experiences most likely differ to some level from your daily experiences. My background with nature most likely differs from yours. As previously highlighted in a blog post where we discussed the term ‘privilege,’ my opportunities in life may vary from your opportunities. My experience playing the “telephone” game also most likely differs from yours.

–> When I was a kid, we also used to play that game, however, we referred to this game as “Broken Telephone.” The game I played consisted of the same rules and procedures as the game you played, but we referred to it as two different things.

This is why I believe that the role of an interpreter is so crucial, as their goal is not only to educate and inspire their guests but also to allow each individual to interpret things in their own way. As discussed in previous blog posts, I highlight that I absolutely love the world of art and being able to interpret paintings. A picture is worth a thousand words because you and I may see different things portrayed in an image. This is where the art of interpretation comes into play because a picture can really highlight the true meanings of past events, allowing us to form values that guide the way we live in the present. This really ties back to this week’s quote, in my opinion. I find that interpretation plays a significant role in how I perceive paintings. With that being said would you consider a specific form of art a source of substantial interpretation, or do you perhaps believe other forms of nature, art, music, experiences etc., provide you with a greater sense of interpretation?

Overall, I enjoyed reading your post this week and look forward to hearing more.

Shelly

kdenvs3000w22

Hi Shelly,

I am happy you could relate to my post in one way or another. Very interesting that we both played the same game, but had a different name for it. Just interesting how that even ties back to this weeks topic. Having similar knowledge, yet it developed from a different form.

To answer your question, for me personally I find music is the best guide for me, as an interpreter. I really enjoy listening to music from the 50′s and 60′s such as Billy Holiday or Etta James. These artists are able to take the listener back in time, during a period of history I could never fully emotionally comprehend. Although textbooks, and articles are written about those time frames, singers allow you to hear and feel the emotion of their elements of life. They bring you with them on their journey, like you are right there beside them, hand in hand.

Thank you again for the response.

Nature Interpretation Through History

(Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)

The Telephone Game : https://icebreakerideas.com/telephone-game/

rjsenvs3000w22

Blog 5: a relationship with nature

Not being given a topic to write about is definitely something I’m not used to. For as long as I can remember in school, writing was more for the teacher reading it than it was for myself. I normally write what the other person expects to see, which doesn’t always include my own thoughts or opinions. This week’s subject on nature interpretation through science is a very vast topic. With most of us here working towards a bachelor of science, this has been our primary way of interpreting and learning about nature.

There’s a lot we can learn from textbooks and lectures, but nothing beats actually experiencing nature first hand, and in my mind is crucial to truly understanding it. The video by Kitty and Jenny in the arboretum is a great example of this. Some of the things they talked about like the organ pipe mud dauber and the goldenrod galls were new information to me, but learning that through an interpretive outdoor walk was much more interesting than reading it in a research paper or textbook.

In the book I am reading, “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer, she described the time she gave her third year university ecology class a survey asking them to ‘rate their understanding of the negative interactions between humans and the environment.” Almost everyone in the two-hundred-person class agreed that humans and the environment are a bad mix. Later on, she asked about positive interactions between humans and the environment, with the average answer being there are none. What the students fixate on is the culture they’ve grown up in where the land and water are constantly being harmed by human actions. Although, this is not true for all cultures as Robin explains throughout the book.

After reading this part I could admit that I partially thought the same way as them. Throughout university we often learn about the wrong doings we have made to the environment and all of its cascading negative effects. In the geography and environmental science courses I’ve taken I’ve learned more about global warming, pollution and the negative impacts on natural systems than I have about learning to connect with the land and what it really needs. Conservation is geared towards implementing a scientific proposition to reduce our effects on the environment, rather than changing our relationship with it.

“The land is the real teacher. All we need as students is mindfulness.” -Robin Wall Kimmerer

“What we contemplate here is more than ecological restoration; it is the restoration of relationship between plants and people. Scientists have made a dent in understanding how to put ecosystems back together, but our experiments focus on soil pH and hydrology—matter, to the exclusion of spirit. We are dreaming of a time when the land might give thanks for the people.” - Robin Wall Kimmerer

There are a million quotes I could take from this book since it has such a deep and powerful message. Overall I think it highlights how society has become disconnected from the environment that we rarely take the time to recognize that everything comes from another life. We as humans have the responsibility to look after and respect our environment. Creating a relationship with nature and appreciating it is the first step in showing our gratitude for all it does for us.

The first spring blooms of 2021

Reilly :)

kdenvs3000w22

Hello

First off I want to say I totally resonate with the feeling that school writing pieces are more implicated for the advisor of the class than yourself, as you’re always given a topic to comprehend and then condone onto a sheet of paper, but more so in a writing style for their liking instead of your own. I respect that you took this opportunity to speak upon what you wanted to this week.

Furthermore, your blog post this week truly hit my sweet spot, as in my younger years I would always focus on the negative and how much plastic my family was using, and how they’re going to “kill the sea turtles”. I always made scientific communication from my knowledge a negative subject, this being based around fear. I should have used my knowledge as an encouraging and motivational resource. Although, like you stated in school we study the pollutions and the negative consequences that come with them, but we don’t see the good research as often that is coming from behind these different experimental and observational studies, that are used to help change this implication.

I think by applying a more positive out reach from research, it would help motivate people to want to do more and expand their knowledge. As like the saying going “oblivion is bliss” and and if all we are expecting is a negative result from expanding our minds with information in such topics (climate change, extinction) why would we want to? In a world that is to some already seems so hopeless, diverging into harder topics to process is not something we would choose to do. I think books like you implicated, are resources we should strive to get more noticed, as that information could motivate someone’s hopeless world into a helpful one.

Nature Through Science

Since this week’s topic is based around natures interpretation through science and we as a class are beginning our process of creating our podcasts, I thought I would speak about my own favourite podcast, which is called Ologies by Alie Ward.

Alie studied both film and science in college and has appeared on many television programs such as “Brainchild” on Netflix and an award winning science series “ Did I Mention Invention?” on CW. Furthermore, she volunteers her time at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and donates to many different charities in honour of the ologist’s choosing during each weeks podcast.

Image of Alie Wards podcast “Ologies” logo, (very cool).

I really enjoy this podcast as each week Ward has on a different ologist’s from various scientific fields, and asks them questions about their research and findings in a way that the audience gets excited no matter the topic. I find this to be the “staple” of her podcast that makes her stand out from competing shows. These topics can vary from ants (myrmecology), concussions(neuropathology ) to talking dogs and people (speech language pathology) and still every week, us as her listeners, are excited to learn something new about the assortment of conversations she has.

She demonstrates the importance of science communication, being able to have the ability to encapsulate the audience on any topic in a way that can be digested to all ears with all different levels of knowledge which creates a community that is unbiassed to possible social and economical stigma’s. For me as student, I take many different classes that both peak my interest and some that are just needed as a prerequisite, through her podcast I get to explore a world on many other topics that I would not hear or learn in my day to day classes, allowing me to expand my interests and see where I truly want my degree to take me.

Overall, no matter what you are studying in school, or just interested in in general, I definitely recommend this podcast. As it will uplift your week with her ability to create funny commentary while being extremely informative.

Reference

Alie Ward, Ologies, 2017, accessed 12 February 2022, https://www.alieward.com/ologies

smgmenvs3000w22

Nature, Art, and the Gift of Beauty

Who am I to interpret nature through art?

I believe that anyone can interpret nature through art. Many of us are familiar with the common saying; “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, which fundamentally applies to art and its ambiguity. A painting or drawing doesn’t need to be perfectly symmetrical or realistic to resonate with its audience. If the desired outcome is to convey ideas and emotions, then anyone can create art. It is arguably not just a right to interpret nature through art, but a responsibility, to share our experiences through a variety of mediums and learn from art created by others. Sharing of art is the sharing of emotions and experiences, which benefits us and ultimately serves to help protect our landscapes by elevating understanding and reminding others of its beauty. It also is a universally spoken language, and allows us to connect and share no matter the native tongue of our audience.

The connection between nature and art, for me, is the ability to take a piece of the forest or ocean or meadow, and preserve it so while I am doing homework in my room, or sitting on a bus in the middle of the city, I can be taken back to moments where I felt at peace in nature. Putting paintings on the wall of beautiful Canadian scenery, or even just having a photo album on my phone full of nature photos from my most treasured places, affect my mood.

How do I interpret the “gift of beauty”?

My interpretation of the “gift of beauty” is teaching others to appreciate nature to their full capacity. Stopping to take it all in (on a hike, for example) is difficult for some people, and finding this “gift of beauty” can take practice. Teaching someone to use every one of their senses, not only sight, can help them to ground themselves in their setting. Our textbook describes the principle of the “gift of beauty” as “Interpretation should instill in people the ability, and the desire, to sense the beauty in their surroundings- to provide spiritual uplift and to encourage resource preservation” (Beck et al., 2018). I place an emphasis on the word choice of “sense”, reminding us that beauty is not a purely visual idea. Practicing looking at the vastness of a forest atop a hill, listening to the songs of birds, smelling the freshness of the trees and flowers, feeling the wind blowing through your hair, tasting the crisp air, will provide the most immersive nature experience possible. One of my favourite places to just stop and sense the beauty of nature is at my cottage. Specifically in the mornings, before the lake has woken up, when the water is still and covered in a layer of slowly drifting fog. I take out the canoe and paddle along the shore, where I can hear the sounds of the forest and the drops of water from my paddle hitting the water’s surface, and I just breathe it all in.

My dog, River, looking out over the misty morning lake.

References:

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

kdenvs3000w22

Hello,

First I would like to take a moment and appreciate your beautiful image of your dog River on a “river”. Love that contrast between the two.

In terms of your blog, I was very drawn to the statement “Sharing of art is the sharing of emotions and experiences, which benefits us and ultimately serves to help protect our landscapes by elevating understanding and reminding others of its beauty.” We as humans can get caught up in materialistic things and business oriented lifestyles that we forget to take a moment, breath, and look at what actually surrounds us, thereby being in the present. Your statement made me feel hopeful, as it’s true, no matter what life style you come from art has the ability to affect us all. People in different industries, that come from different cultures and countries can see the pain or beauty in an art form and be moved to a place their brain would never personally take them. Art gives new perceptive’s.

Sometimes words aren't enough, like the saying goes “a pictures worth a thousand words”, and if you and I as people, from anywhere in the world, can come together and be moved by a piece of art, that's inspiring. I hope as time goes on, and people deliver more stories in their art, we as a species can come together and be informed by the changes we need to make.

I recently went to Hamilton Art museum, and this image reminded me of your post, on how an art form can call for change.

Painting by Eddie (last name not known), a message was left beside it and read:

" Picket the picket fences,

After all, what is a fence but not a cage for those we call neighbours,

Who needs zoos when we have the suburbs."

Nature Through Art

I think this weeks question is very interesting as to understand who I am to interpret nature through art, I would have to understand to a deeper level on how I perceive art.

Nature has always defined my relationship with art. myself not being a very artistically inclined individual, I could uphold an image or sculptures beauty in terms of its nature like characteristics. And although my knowledge is limited on techniques and practises that are used to create the art pieces, my brain is able to pick a part the message and if not create my own. I think nature in art is a wide spectrum that I am still attempting to comprehend, looking at paintings, such by Bob Ross, of high rising mountains with ocean views demonstrates an exact depiction of a natural environment that almost everyone deems beautiful. But I think nature in art can be found in less “eye appealing” forms, the construct of old images from the 1800’s of hand built houses made of different trees wood within a solitary part of the woodlands is like an art form of its own, demonstrating the contrast between nature and what nature created in the hands of man.

From this, I think there is no right or wrong way to interpret art, that’s what it’s is all about right? How you see something and how you find beauty in it. As from my example above, those old homes remind me of my home, and it creates this feeling of connection as I am able to perceive the image with a more in tune viewing, wether that be with the sounds or smells that I could imagine surrounding it, I implicate characteristics of my own life into the art, which creates my own standard of beauty towards it through nostalgia.

The “gift of beauty” for me is being able to interpret surroundings with many different filters and not through one lens. Being from Canada and being able to observe a persons art work on nature from different cultures and countries suggests the idea that everyone is given the gift of interpreting beauty, and what it means to us. Art allows us to not only express our environment but allow people to draw their own conclusions on it.

For me I very much enjoy taking pictures of nature, whether it be on its own, or intertwined with mans creation. There’s a sense of peace and calmness through doing so as by knowing I will have this tiny moment forever with me in my back pocket if I choose to bring it to light.

Image of stem and leaves fossil within the cement at Courtcliff Park.

Up close image of moss spores found in Valens Conservation Area.

cdwenvs3000w22

Blog #3: Privilege

In this weeks blog post I will be discussing the topic of privilege. To me privilege is having more opportunities and less obstacles in your day-to-day life based upon what you are and what you have. For instance, through every era, humans have had their ideal body types and standards of beauty. The standards have changed drastically over the years - way back in the day, women that weighed more were considered more desirable because it insinuated that they came from wealth. With wealth came access to an abundance of food, more than skinnier women at that time. As time has passed, food has become more accessible and does not correlate as strongly with wealth. I know that in my lifetime the beauty standard is very unrealistic, and if you obtain them, you are considered more valuable with even more opportunity compared to someone that does not reach that standard. I feel that this beauty standard is perpetuated by social media, not truly by the people experiencing it. I am sure that everyone understands this “pretty privilege” that comes with meeting the beauty standards. I feel that this standard of beauty has a toll on my metal heath, consistently wishing I was beautiful enough, questioning my value based on my looks and weight.

I feel that this type of privilege relates strongly to nature interpretation. For instance, people who have pretty privilege are treated better, and people tend to see and value them more. When interpreting nature, people assign things that are stereotypically beautiful with more value, causing them to view nature in a more aesthetic way that disregards the things deemed less beautiful by society. For instance if there is a beautiful place in nature, like a great waterfall, people will go and visit this place more then a plain landscape. Yet underneath the aesthetic beauty, both places may be filled with complexities that go underneath the surface, beneath what the human eye can see. Such as, wildlife, food webs, specific plant species that may be rare to the location and more. This is the beauty that needs to be uncovered and represented. This idea also relates to politics and climate change. While people love beautiful natural sites and appreciate the look of nature, they do not see the damage we cause to it because it is all under the surface. You cannot see the direct impact of human activities on nature because nature still proceeds to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye. This is why humans do not take every action possible to decrease the state of global warming. In the Arctic we are not there to see the beauty unfold, to see the ice melt. Humans are seeing the aesthetic value of nature over the real and true value of nature in our lives - nature in general is the main resource for humans.

It is clear to me that aesthetic beauty is of high value in this present day, and the privilege that comes with it can apply to people and nature interpretation.

kdenvs3000w22

Hello,

Your blog for this weeks topic stood out to me the most as I love how you correlated the idea of the human standard of beauty with our interpretation of nature. I think it’s important to realize that we all embrace and absorb the “aesthetically” pleasing views more, and allow them to be deemed more valuable like you stated. Working at a greenhouse, I even realize that with certain plant species we sell, people will spend 40 dollars on an orchid, and complain about how much our 7 dollar aloe plants cost. Comparing the two, although orchids are beautiful to the eye, the beneficial healing properties of aloe go way beyond abs should be valued higher.

I never thought of how much farther standard goes for things that appear more beautiful, to be honest even in grocery stores you choose the shiny orange over the bruised one, though they are both as sweet inside.

Thank you for sharing your piece on this topic, as from now on I will move throughout my day with kinder eyes, and think less of what I see on the outside of nature’s beauty, but think of how astonishing the creation/species in front of me truly is and how complex the process of making it must have been.

Privilege & My Role in it

We live in a world that perpetrates a social norm, whether that be in a life-threatening situation with the police or by a day by day in counter of walking alone at night. Our society is built and moulded by privilege that is demonstrated through the treatment of people with different ethnicities, social status and many more countless demeaning reasons. Although this is a difficult topic to speak on, it should not be undermined. For this week I’m excited to speak on the power of privilege.

Funny enough the other night my mom was telling me a story based on her childhood, she grew up in Winnipeg and in a low social class as her mother, my Baba, came from a difficult walk of life. She explained to me how when she was younger she was one of the few white girls in her class, most being aboriginal or from another oppressed group. Everyone in her class was a similar social status, by wealth terms, but at the age of seven she understood the idea of privilege, not because the money differences but she saw how teachers, principles and people of higher authority would treat the other students. From these experiences she learned quickly that not all privilege can be “earned” like she believed before.

From a child to adult, we all can somewhat comprehend what privileges in a sense; as the framework of injustice and historical circumstances that have further lead to the large pattern of environmental and unsustainable acts that privilege forth-comes (Kolan and Sullivan 2014). And like a child we all know the world power and acknowledge it’s connection within social-ecological systems.

So as a nature interpreter we have the obligation to exert our knowledge and experiences on to anyone willing and wanting to listen. As someone from a white, Canadian background, unfairly I have privilege that individuals will not experience.

As at a young age I had the privilege to go on camping trips with my family, go to science camps with school peers, travel to Italy at the age of seventeen in high-school. My ability to have experience, learn and grow as a person should not be compromised because of my ability to pay for it. But for my yearning to want to have those memories. And it is unfortunate that people, even more deserving, are blocked by barriers that were created to keep them for exploration.

Overall I view relationship with nature as something that is not “for” me, but as an ability to help absorb myself in knowledge and share and give it to everyone.

I think and ask myself, “if I were behind their set of eyes, what more would I see”.

Kolan M., Sullivan, K.T. 2014. Privilege as Practice: A Framework for Engaging with Sustainability, Diversity, Privilege, and Power. Journal of Sustainability Education. http://www.jsedimensions.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Kolan-Sullivan-JSE-Vol-7-Dec2014.pdf

Nature Interpreter

My interpretation of nature has gone through vast spectrums of my life. I have seen nature in many different perspectives through the same set of eyes, yet it continues to evolve.

I have been too many beautiful places in my life from different small towns in Italy, to being under the hot summer sun of Montego Bay Jamaica, too summiting the Devil‘s thumb in BC with a couple of friends of mine. I have had so many opportunities to devise my own interpretation of nature and become my own natures interpreter.

Italy, 2017.

Montego Bay, Jamaica. 2018.

Ideally I would love to be an interpreter of nature at the a conservation area. As beautiful as Canada is, with it’s high mountains and diversity is tree species. I would love to explore outside of this country, better yet in another continent where the niches in environments are different to what I’m used to. Such as the Sugarloaf State conservation area in Australia or El Malpais National Monument in Spain. To be able to explore my ideology on what I know of nature would allow me to be a better nature interpreter as I would be to higher my education on the connection of environments and evolution of animal species or climate change on plant organisms. Regardless of what specific environment I am in, I think it’s important to learn new skills and knowledge on the untouched lands of nature.

Gaby and I on the top of Devil's Thumb in British Columbia. 2021.

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Blog #2

My role as an environmental interpreter.

I don’t have a definitive answer for the ideal role I would like to fill when it comes to environmental interpretation. I do know I would like to interpret science in a way that is more accessible, easily understood and digestible for the general public then further apply this to make substantial change in communities. This is something I would like to pursue because I believe the field of environmental science is so often based in “prestige,” classism and colonialism and this therefore makes science less accessible to most people. Think about how peer reviewed articles are usually behind a paywall and written in a way that it can be hard to parse through even when you have background in the field or how most news articles are written at levels higher than the literacy level of the average citizen. This is why most environmentalist teaching structures should focus on reaching the broadest audience possible, as learning is not dependent on factors such as income or access to education. I would like to make interpretation accommodating to everyone, because it is so common that current forms of nature interpretation, specifically in the west by settlers, only focuses on white, relatively wealthy, able bodied people. Nature is for everyone to experience and thus there needs to be change within these spaces focused on teaching about nature, away from colonial teachings and towards teaching indigenous expertise.

Working in a role that makes environmentalism accessible could be accomplished in many ways, but I think specifically environmental outreach is something I would be interested in. This would involve educating the general public as well as advising governing bodies on infrastructural and social issues regarding both the community, environmentalism and sustainability. Ideally, I would work towards moving cities away from gentrified, car centered and environmentally unsustainable infrastructure and towards cities and towns being built accessibly for low income people, that do not actively ostracise pedestrians and focus on environmentally sustainable infrastructure. This is something I am particularly interested in because I feel as though it is an intersection of so many of my passions, those being a focus on social change, community building and green infrastructure.

Ideally for me this would give me the opportunity to spend time connecting with people and finding solutions that are both environmentally and community driven. This kind of position would require one to have intimate knowledge of the community trying to be reached as this familiarity will allow one to become more accustomed with the specific needs of people within the community. Qualities such as patience, flexibility, organizational and communication skills are all very important when regarding environmental outreach. Although I do recognize that my “goals” as a nature interpreter would be difficult, I truly believe that having communities and coalitions focused on improving the environmental, infrastructural, and socioeconomic structures of a society is the best way to see progress

kdenvs3000w22

After reading your post, I could not have said it better myself. I think Western society is very much so still based on ‘social status’ when it comes to any sorts of accessibility, especially in sciences.

You mentioned peer reviewed articles, that topic I think is very much neglected, as to formulate a journal article you must have a large body of income to support both the scientists behind it as well as the materials needed to create it. Similarly to what you discussed these are usually formulated by larger corporations who thereby have a general idea on ‘who’ they want their reader to already be. The science world is predominantly ‘white’ as there has been numerous studies on the difficulty for educational attainment for people of colour. Furthering that point the underrepresentation of Hispanics and blacks in the STEM workforce needs to be further acknowledged. As according to the U.S Census Bureau reported in 2013, blacks made up 11% of the total workforce in 2011, yet they only occupied 6% of STEM jobs (Landivar 2013).

Furthering your idea on accommodating scientific literature to everyone, I think this plays a big part in breaking down the barriers of “prestige” and colonialism like you said. Science communication should be assessable to everyone who wants to further their knowledge on topics that can benefit them and even just out of peak interest. Depriving them of this right is detrimental to so many individuals who could/should be valued in the scientific community.

Thank you for sharing your raw perception on this topic.

Liana Christin Landivar, 2013, “Disparities in STEM Employment by Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin,” American Community Survey Reports, ACS-24, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC.

dralh

Disclaimer

This blog was created for __________, University of Guelph.

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

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