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My Role in Interpretation: Nature and the Environment

For me, as a developing nature interpreter and a growing human, there are a lot of values and ideals that are important to stay true to when I’m out there in the world, observing and interpreting. I’ve discussed and reflected throughout this course about who I am as an interpreter, so it’s only fitting to share that as I sign off for my final blog.

I remember mentioning in my first blog post how I felt this field of conservation and interpretation is where I was meant to end up. I wanted to talk more to that and why I chose to pursue this type of work.

First off, I was an anxious kid when I was younger, not that that changed very much. I remember learning about climate change in science class, and it blew my mind when I found out this isn’t how it’s always been. There was a time when people didn’t worry about their emissions, or fret over a hole in the ozone layer, or talk about tipping points and irreversible damage and the ocean levels swallowing us whole.

Not every generation was told they were the last hope.

I had originally wanted to become a vet. I always say I changed majors from Animal Biology to Wildlife Biology and Conservation because I didn’t want to be doing the same spays and neuters for the rest of my life. The truth is, when I first heard about WBC, I was drawn in and it felt like I had this “aha moment” where I realized my purpose and where I would excel. Since then, I’ve learned just how to fulfill this purpose. I’ve heard over and over that it’s hard to make a career out of animal/environmental care and conservation. But that’s not why people rally to make these big movements for conservation, raise awareness, and advocate through their interpretation. So what drives us, what drives me?

I’m not in it for the money. I know I’m selfless and honest and respectful and empathetic. But these aren’t the values I want to describe just me, I want these ideals to be associated and intertwined with my interpretation, to guide and direct it.

Selfless

Selflessness means putting others before yourself. When I say I think it’s important to be selfless as an interpreter, what I mean is that you constantly have to be thinking about the audience you are providing your interpretation to. Interpreters aren’t doing this service just to hear themselves talk or just to cash a cheque. I became an interpreter because I cared about getting important messages out to people that want to listen. You can’t disregard your audience because they are the reason we interpret, and they are how our interpretation will spread.

Honest

As an interpreter, I never lie to an audience, and I will always stick by this. I won’t make an issue bigger than it is, but I also won’t sugarcoat it to lessen the sting of reality. People are seeking interpretation and its services because they want to learn. I want my interpretation to be meaningful and relevant. We discussed in Unit 6 the importance of integrity, mostly in regard to historical interpretation, but this ideal is applicable to interpretation as a whole. It’s my job to make my message entertaining by itself, not add useless, half-true, or distracting filler for the sake of entertainment. An interpreter’s role is to lay out the facts, and move people to make them care about the message.

Respectful

I feel this one is pretty self-explanatory, but the idea behind this is that people copy what they see. Of course, we want to practice respect all the time, but sometimes people forget that applies beyond human-human interactions. I think it’s not only important to be respectful of the people I talk with, but also of the animals I may handle to demonstrate messages, or the plants I pass on a nature hike, or just the way I talk about my appreciation for the environment around me. I think it’s especially important to verbalize to an audience the respect I am showing when demonstrating appreciation for something because it encourages mutual respect between them and me, and also them and their environment.

Empathetic

I want to be mindful of other people and how my interpretation may be further perceived based on different privileges. I think this was an important topic we reflected on in the course earlier, and moving forward something I will be (and already have been) conscious of when designing my approaches for interpretation. I think being empathetic can make me a better and more effective interpreter this way since I am constantly thinking about how to be more inclusive by changing my message, delivery, target audience, etc.

I aim to inspire people with my passion and enthusiasm for wildlife and environmental conservation. Sometimes I want to inspire action and change, other times I just want to make someone care. Not all of us interpreters will be reaching the same audience, so it’s important to work together so that we can rally everyone together for a common goal, a positive experience that can one day lead to positive change.

Art, science, technology, and teaching are the approaches I tend to gravitate toward as an interpreter, and I think are best suited to me as an individual. I like to use these four in combination because they can have different effects on how your message is presented and interpreted. Teaching is personable and unique, but so is art. Art doesn’t require much talking sometimes and can lead to deep reflection. Science is cool and fascinating, and also empowering for audiences. Technology is becoming more accessible and can elevate interpretation.

I didn’t leave myself very many words to summarize my post, but I hope some people out there relate to some things I’ve said and have more to add themselves. I definitely could go on, so if we meet on the other side of this screen, let’s chat about nature interpretation! You can tell me what you learned and I will share what I have too. Cheers to a good semester, best of luck.

Teagan :)

kh-envs3000-w23

HI, thanks so much Teagan for the blog. I love your site as well, very engaging. I like the way you laid this out, focusing on the core foundations of yourself as a person and in relation to interpretation. Each of these traits resonate with me, but will speak to a few only.

Selflessness: in Nature interpretation, I agree the audience needs to come first, but if I take it one step further, I think the purpose of engaging stewardship should also be a foundational purpose behind it. This too is selfless, putting yourself out there to support the greater good of our planet.

Empathetic: I agree that empathy supports our ability to put ourselves in someone else's shoes and build understanding. I completely agree that inclusivity is needed to ensure the whole world is working towards a common purpose in our shared home. I also think we need to empathetic to nature and other species. Have an eco or bio centric view of the world also requires people to have empathy for all living things and systems, which feeds into what you have talked about regarding being Respectful.

Good luck with all of your endeavours!

apenvs3000w23

Unit 10: Who I Am!

Before I explain my personal ethic as a nature interpreter, I think it is time to address the elephant in the room…How on earth is this semester coming to an end already!! I hope I am not the only one utterly shocked that we have made it to Unit 10. This semester has flown by, and I have enjoyed sharing my opinions and stories with you each week. It has been so delightful getting to learn so much about everyone! It's funny because this is a Distance Education course, yet I feel I have learned more about my peers than in an in-person class! Taking the time to write these posts has never felt laborious to me, as I enjoyed sitting down and connecting what we learned in the readings to what I value and believe.

That being said, I will disclose that when I first enrolled in this class, I had yet to learn what nature interpretation and being a nature interpreter meant. I was heavily surprised when the core assignments for this course revolved around the blog and podcasts. I'm not too fond of tests and quizzes and much more prefer assignments, so this was a breath of fresh air for me! I also found that these types of assignments were very refreshing and enlightening, and kept me engaged.

Some of my favourite new photos from my camera roll. United States Botanic Gardens in Washington (left), Moss growing along the stone in Pennsylvania (right)

As we approach the end, I feel as though I have grasped the vital messages to be understood from this course and I have developed my personal ethics regarding nature interpretation. The first belief I will be sure to include is my passion. Being passionate about the topic you are explaining to your audience is key. I believe this is one of the most influential topics of being a successful interpreter. It is never ideal to be listening to someone who evidently does not enjoy what they are talking about. This will not only not engage the audience but can dampen the joy of someone excited to learn. A positive deliberation, however, will cause the audience to feel more comfortable and as Beck et al (2018) state, it is more probable that they will listen. I want to be able to transfer my passion to others to spark their interest. Therefore, my priority will be to speak passionately and/or excitingly express the topics to be a successful interpreter.

Secondly, integrity and honesty are two significant factors that I will bring to nature interpretation. I wish others to know I am trustworthy as integrity is a big factor. As someone who has grown up with technology and social media so accessible, I believe it has caused two opposing outcomes; 1. People who believe everything they see online is accurate or 2. People who think everything is fake. With such a grave difference, it is essential to be skeptical of what we see because it is easy for anyone to display a fake persona with untrue facts. With this in mind, I hope to build the trust of my audience so that even if they did question what I was saying, they would find no fabrication, and they would know I value honesty. As an interpreter, honesty and integrity are fundamental, and along with passion, these beliefs best describe my personal ethic as a nature interpreter.

Along with that, a major responsibility that I would hold myself accountable for is inclusivity. I want to build an environment where no one is left out, and everyone has the same opportunity to enjoy and learn. When we discussed “barriers” in the textbook readings and shared our privilege, this was the most eye-opening aspect of the semester. I truly grasped the extent of it once I was able to take a step back to understand my privilege. Barriers, as we have learned, are present for many and they can be disability-based, economics etc. (Beck et al., 2018). Understanding this aspect of nature interpretation inspired me to ensure I will do my best to eliminate all types of barriers and have options for each learning style. This means I must be cognizant of all possibilities, for instance if there are visual aids, different hearing options, accessibility of sites, prices etc. Including aspects that cause these elements to vanish will help me to encourage inclusivity. I wish everyone to experience nature interpretation and see what it offers. Increasing the number of people in your audience increases the chance of stimulating individuals and creating new passions. In the environmental/conservation sector, bridging the gap and involving more people helps for great advancements (Merenlender et al., 2016). This study area is complex and costly, so having a larger team of individuals fighting for the same beliefs can lead to great things. As someone who has gotten to experience nature in many different areas, this has been how my passion has grown. Being immersed in the environment helps people to build a connection which is vital for an interpreter to accomplish. I also believe that it benefits everyone to experience nature interpretation as a community. As we all occupy the same planet, it is advantageous to grow fond of it and understand how to preserve it. Therefore, if these barriers are non-existent and everyone can be included, the connections made with the audience would be vast, and the number of conservationists will likely increase!

Overall, this course has helped me to discover who I am as an interpreter and what I stand for. Key aspects that I had not thought about prior to this course have helped me understand my beliefs. I have learned that to become a successful interpreter, I will make sure I am passionate about the information I deliver. I will be trustworthy and ensure inclusivity throughout this process.

Thank you all for a great semester! I have had such a great time learning about you all and sharing my stories. This has only increased my interest in nature, and I hope it has done the same for you!

Good luck with your future endeavours!

I started these posts talking about sunsets, so it only feels fitting to add one more picture for the final post :)

Literature Cited

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

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

kh-envs3000-w23

Thanks for this post. Loved the last photo of the sunset, I am also sunset beach views. I whole heartedly agree, the course has gone very fast! I was actually, like you, not sure what this course was going to be about. I actually typically prefer papers, tests, etc, but this course gave me a new appreciation of blogging and getting back to some creativity, by producing podcasts. I also really enjoyed that we had freedom to pick topics and look into what we were most interested in. Similar to you, I believe that honesty, integrity and inclusivity should be foundational to all roles in interpreting nature. Nature is honest, brutally at times, and that is also our role to bring an honest view to the audience. It is so much easier to talk about something you believe in and are confident about, so knowing your topic really matters.

"Positive deliberation"... impressed by how you phrased that. I think we need to be hopeful and create a path of possibility to engender environmental stewardship. I focused a lot in my blog on the need for interpretation to support stewardship and sustainability especially in light of the Earth's current situation. That is a very difficult platform, because it can appear to be negative, and create a doomsday view of the world. Building empathy, but also a responsibility to support nature is key. I am sure you feel the same!

Thanks

Unit 10 Blog – Nature Interpretation: Personal Ethics & Beliefs

In our final concluding blog for this course, I find myself going back to the beginning, not the beginning of the course, but to what started me on my decision a year ago to take time off from a career in finance, to study environmental science at this university. Having worked in corporations for over 27 years, I have seen first-hand, how difficult it is to convince executive leads, board members and shareholders on the relevance and urgent need to become more sustainable, to care about the environment. Especially, when at times, I helped model the trade-offs of investment in other competing initiatives, with far higher immediate returns. During that time, we have come a long way, and many of those same companies now have ESG strategies (Environment, Social, Governance), and have even hired small teams to lead the way forward in becoming more sustainable. At the same time, many of those corporations have grown 5-10 fold or more, the growth of these companies, along with the emissions, waste, resource use and pollution generated, cannot be covered off with their new (at times) tepid sustainability goals. Now…these companies are not solely to blame, there is a demand fueled by population growth, global world development, and by increased consumerism in developed countries.

My reason for studying environmental science, is the same fuel for my personal ethic: More is needed, and until we change the minds of governments and corporations, and most importantly, the voters, consumers, employees, and shareholders, we will not succeed. My personal ethic is this: We all have a responsibility to learn, to teach, to engage others to see the scientific truth about our world and we are running out of time. To do this, we need to engage humankind to understand why it is important to protect nature, and why nature is so important to all species. Tim Merriman writes, "We still need to help the world’s decision-makers understand the vital importance of the effects we have on the Earth’s atmosphere and ocean, and we must continue to help all people understand how individual behavior contributes to both the problems and the solutions.” (Beck, at al., 2018, pg. 459) As per the Stockholm Resilience Center, we have the left the safe operating zone for 6 out of 9 of our planetary boundaries. (Stockholm Resilience Center, 2023). When I read this a year ago, I was shocked, and panicked and felt helpless against this. At the time, however, I did not understand how much is being done by so many globally to reverse the tide. I had heard about the Paris Climate Accord, and although a positive step, it was not going to be nearly enough. At that point, I hung my head thinking once again, politicians are going to get this wrong. In November 22, under COP-27 (The 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), more was done, and funds committed to help vulnerable nations as they become the first to feel the ravages of climate change. I am more hopeful, and I believe that the world has woken up to climate change. However, there is still much to do and to turn the tides of public neglect, disregard, or negation of the seriousness of the situation, we must not only open their hearts but also create a path of possibility that has us all believing that we can make a difference and that we can bring our home back from the brink.

Stockholm Resiliency Center 2022

Nature Interpretation for me, is one path to bring people into nature, with a feeling of safety. To let them see and appreciate not only the peace, beauty, and awe of it, but to understand the importance of it and the threats to it. This would be my focus or first responsibility in interpretation. To do this, it is also an interpreter’s responsibility to know the subject matter, and to engage the audience, while ensuring that everyone’s needs and pre-existing beliefs are considered. Nature must be inclusive, to be reflective of the world we live in. Richard Louv writes, "Interpretation enriches experiences, advances physical and mental health, benefits the environment, promotes cultural heritage, enhances community welfare, and recognizes the importance of diversity, equality, sustainability, science, and truth" (Beck et. al, 2018, pg. 476).

My approach would be to balance between finding ways to engage through humour, fun, and instilling a sense of adventure, but tempering that with the goal to engage children and adults to understand the importance of giving back. In Chapter 21 of our text, there were many examples of how we can become more involved even just in a small way, by understanding our own localities. Enos Mills wrote, “"A nature guide in every locality who, around his home or in the nearest park could show with fitting stories the wild places, birds, flowers, and animals, would add to the enjoyment of everyone who lives in the region or who visits it.” (Beck et al., 2018, pg. 458).

In listening to the interview with Richard Louv and David Suzuki at the AGO, a few other thoughts were enforced. One, many people, by choice or circumstance have become very disconnected from the natural world, seldom leaving the comfort of their homes and screens. To reach these people, more must be done to build urban parks, or reach out through technology to get their attention to get out and “smell the roses”. Two, as David Suzuki said, we have really become time machines (and not in a good way), we control our time slots and fill them up, but that is not natural. As he speaks, “Nature needs time to reveal her secrets.” He speaks to the need to just spend time, whatever time watching and immersing ourselves. I think a disconnect from nature hurts humans, we need nature to remind us of where we came from, we need nature to help us rebalance and breathe. We need nature to feel awe, to really be inspired.

In closing, I go back to the beginning, we must appreciate the home we have, and live with an eco-centric mind set, while understanding, that we have a job to do to keep our home for future generations. Stan Lee in Spider Man wrote, “With great power, comes great responsibility”.

References

Beck, L, Cable, Ted T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Natural & Cultural Heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing. 2018

Stockholm Resilience Center (2023). Planetary Boundaries. Stockholm University. https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/planetary-boundaries.html

Richard Louv and David Suzuki at AGO. https://youtu.be/F5DI1Ffdl6Y

jcenvs3000w23

Unit 9: The world's loneliest whale

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

kh-envs3000-w23

Hi, thanks for this. I thought this was really timely given the recent news of "Kiska", also considered the loneliest Orca (or Killer Whale) in captivity. She was at Marine Land in Niagara Falls for over 44 years. I find it truly sad, that this whale was never reunited with her family. In reading about 52 from your blog, this was the first time I had heard about the whale and the on-going tracking, as well, as I had never realized that whales have dialects. It's fascinating, just how much we do not know about the natural world. I, like you struggled to come up with a topic, especially just one, as there is so much diversity and novelty to speak about. Perhaps, this is a good summation or link to our course. Nature has so much to offer and we have so much to learn, that becoming a person who interprets nature, is a truly significant calling, especially in this world that has been so plundered by humans for centuries now.

A little about Kiska: She was 47, and was captured in Icelandic waters in 1979 with her brother Keiko. He was the whale featured in the movie "Free Willy". He was later sold and ended up at Sea World. She swam alone for almost a decade. (National Post, 2023). To me, her captivity and loneliness were cruel. I have not been to Marine Land, since I was a child and have decided to not go back. Whales should be free!

Unit 9 Blog Post - Just Amazing

It is not an easy task to pick one amazing fact about Nature. Nature is well, Nature. The number of eco-systems, planets, stars that awe and inspire, the diversity of flowers and trees and even just the variation in blades of grass, are wondrous. Then there are all the insects, reptiles, mammals, fish, birds, and yes even us humans. Not all of these creatures are beautiful, but that again is subjective. One truth, however, is that we all serve some purpose and thus we all belong here. Purpose… an important word. I would like you to consider it as we talk about the topic today.

The Dragonfly is a popular emblem from notebook covers, to café names, to logos, and don’t get me started on the tattoos. They are also in many cultures, a symbol of hope, transformation, new beginnings, change and even good fortune. (David, L, 2022).

Source: shutterstock_1948485058 (licensed for limited use)

However, not the reason I chose this topic today. Instead, I look to their purpose, and one of those purposes have provided me with some major benefits… living close to a swampy/boggy area, one thing we can be sure of each year are lots of MOSQUITOS! Dragonflies eat these pesky and painful beasts. Now, I am sure Mozzies also have a purpose (to help us appreciate the indoors? To invite us to cover up? support a buy spray industry?), but that is not the topic today.

Source: shutterstock_1849063864 (licensed)

The Dragonflies surround my backyard, and skim over the pool, all the while clearing the decks and maybe this blog will create some education and show my gratitude.

With a short blog, I will have to focus on the facts that I believe make them an amazing and integral part of nature.

Did you know?

There are over 7,000 different species (order name is Anisoptera) and have been on this earth for over 325 million years (National Geographic, 2023). Yes, that’s right, they are survivors!

In the Paleozoic era, wingspan could be a couple of feet, they are much smaller now! (Foster, S., 2023)

In addition to eating insects, they are an important part of the food chain for birds and fish. Also, dragonflies require clean water to support stable oxygen levels, and so scientists will use them as a bioindicator of ecosystem health (National Geographic, 2023)

Dragonflies are strong and fly incredible distances. One type, aptly called the Globe Skimmer or wandering glider, can fly 6,000 KM, the longest flight of any known insect! (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2023)

Dragonflies are colourful. They have their structural colours, which can be based on maturity, sex, type of dragon fly, but they also change colour as they move about or so it seems, but it is based on how the angle of light hits certain parts of their sometimes-multi-coloured bodies. This is called iridescence. (Foster, S., 2023). This helps them camouflage, may help attract mates, but also brings such beauty to this world.

Like all of earth’s creatures, rapid urbanization, growing agriculture, deforestation, pollution, and climate change bring risk even to this sturdy and long-lasting insect. 10% of the species is under risk of extinction. (National Geographic, 2023). As dragonflies live on every continent (except Antarctica), this will have long lasting effects. Remember, I cited earlier that they are a barometer of healthy ecosystems. Well, here is one more proof that our ecosystems are in trouble, because the Dragonfly said so.

References

David, L. (Oct. 25, 2022). 4 Cultural Meanings of the Dragonfly + Why to Pay Attention to This Critter. Mind Body Green Mindfulness (2022). https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/dragonfly-spiritual-meaning

Encyclopedia Britannica. (Feb. 2, 2023). Dragonfly. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/animal/dragonfly

Foster, S. (2023). The Color of Dragonflies – Blue, Black, Orange and Many More! School of Bugs. 2023. https://schoolofbugs.com/the-color-of-dragonflies/

National Geographic (2023). Dragonflies. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/dragonflies-insects#:~:text=Dragonflies%20are%20important%20to%20their,the%20health%20of%20an%20ecosystem.

deaenvs3000w23

Music Surrounds Us!

When searching “nature music” you will find hundreds of hours of videos and music of nature sounds that are often described as calming or relaxing as many people find solace in being in nature or listening to it at the very least!

I find music in nature as the sounds of nature help me to sleep, I especially enjoy thunderstorms as I find the sounds relaxing and reassuring. Music in nature often write themselves as I think of bird’s songs that allow them to find mates, I often think of the musical dancing bird from ‘Our Planet’ which performs for their mate! You can also find music in nature with the hums of bees, flapping of bird’s wings, splashing of ducks in a pond, and swishing of trees in the wind! Putting all of those sounds together may create an incredible piece of art through song!

Nature in music, I often think of people creating music that is inspired by nature or using music in interpretation to keep viewers interested (166). In the textbook they compare photos and videos. Photos capture one scene and can often communicate better than words (170), videos however contain sound which can make the scene so much more interesting (171) and immersive through technology in regards to interpretation using videos and songs. Nature in music could also tell stories and teach lessons, I personally think of campfire songs. Radio stations can also incorporate nature with music! They could play music to draw in viewers and then talk about nature in the breaks (175) or play music that contains nature lessons. Radios are great for some viewers which information is presented in 1–5-minute periods and a great way to reach different viewers in a format that they enjoy! Nature in music can occur as a tool as music will resonate with the visitor (12), help different people learn with different learning styles (105), and draw people towards an interpretive experience (200).

I think that music can take many forms in relation to nature. Many songs are often nature sounds solely, nature sounds incorporated, or based on /inspired by nature (animals, landscapes, abiotic features)! I found 15 songs related to nature in a pro-environment context in article by Anderson (2020). I’m sure that if you search up your favourite animal + song, you will find a song that at the very least mentions the animal. Perhaps it will teach you something or use the animal’s attributes within the song!

Some songs I think of from the top of my head of nature would be “Butterfly Fly Away” by Miley Cyrus, “Roar” by Katy Perry, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland and covered by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, “Little Rain” by Morgan Wallen, just to name a few! To unpack one, “Butterfly Fly Away” by Miley Cyrus my personal favourite from growing up contains a lesson that as you grow you should spread your wings AND contains a little bit of knowledge of the caterpillar becoming the butterfly! Growing up from under your parents care to going out to make dreams come true!

Are there any influential songs you grew up hearing or think of when prompted with the word “Nature”? What does it teach you!

Anderson, S. (2020). Earth day: 15 pro-environment songs. Rolling Stone. Date of Access: Feb 27, 2023. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/earth-day-songs-151780/

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

kh-envs3000-w23

Thanks for your post. So many great examples of music in nature, that I didn't even get to in my blog, but that I also find soothing or similar to music. Like. you, I really enjoy the sound of rain and thunder. Rain has so many varied sounds as well. The sound of it on the window pane, can be so different to the sound of it beating on the ground. And a slow rain is so different vs. a deluge.

Thanks for also sharing some examples of nature in music. I think i have listed to Roar at least 50 times, and don't think I ever realized that there was nature in it. A weird coincidence that you mentioned the version of "Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. I started taking Hawaiian on Duolingo, and that same night I see a post about Israel on social media (so strange then to see it in your blog, two days later!). I was in Hawaii years ago, and actually purchased a ukelele and that sound always take me back to that trip as well as grade 7 Music class. So Mahalo and Aloha!

Unit 7: Music...it takes me way back

Where is Music in Nature? If you listen carefully, it is my experience, that nature holds all sorts of melodies, tunes and staccatos. Consider the sound of tree frogs, which to me have always sounded like a chirp, versus the croak of a larger frog. They tiny frogs serenade me every night in the summer. More familiar to most is the bird song we hear in the mornings or really at any time of day. This song can be a cacophony or explosion of drills, high notes, and long and short tones. The wind, the waves, and even the humming of bees can be music if you listen carefully. I have always thought this, but in reading the article, The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music, it was formalized for me by the quote, “If songs can be defined as "any rhythmic repeated utterance, whether by a bird, a frog, an insect, a whale or a human being" then hump back whale songs are constructed according to laws that are strikingly similar to those adopted by human composers.”. (Gray et. al, 2001)

Where is Nature in Music? Many artists have used the sound of ocean waves, or bird songs to provide relaxing music back drops. In our readings, we heard about Ben Mirin, and the genre of “wildlife DJ”.

Music creates memories and feelings. I can still remember the first time I heard the song “Take it Easy” by the Eagles. It was my early teens, and we were doing an annual family road trip to Indianapolis, Indiana to visit my cousins. The music blared on the radio (assuming my dad agreed to it, to keep us quiet), and as the greenery blurred past us on that hot summer day, I can remember how happy that song made me feel. Our car winddowns were open, and we were on a two-lane highway. I would like to say it was route 66, but not sure if it was. When I hear that song now, I am often reminded of that car trip, and many others like it.

A favorite poem of mine is “ I Wandered Lonely as A Clloud” by William Wordsworth. Every time I hear that poem or recite it to myself, I can see the waves and daffodils in my mind’s eye. And just like Wordsworth, it “brings me a bliss of solitude”. I use this poem often as a touchpoint if something stressful is happening around me or if I get anxious. I imagine myself “along the margin of a bay”, just looking at the dancing waves and daffodils. This poem brought me a store of nature to call upon when needed.

Music and poetry are not just written lyrics or stanzas, they can evoke memory, and memory evokes feelings, but also pictures that can work wonders. What a terrible world it would be without music, art or poetry that mimics or evokes imagingings of nature.

References:

Gray, P.M., Krause, B. Aterna, J., et al. (Jan. 5, 2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science Vol. 291. American Association for the Advancement of Science. (2001)

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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.

kh-envs3000-w23

Thanks for sharing this quote, “historical interpretation grounded in individual histories facilitates connection between lived experiences and archival records or artifacts.” (Modern Cartography Series, 2019). Your points on how this view of it takes us further down to the scale of families and personal histories, reinforces for me the view in our readings of localized histories and interpretations. I think the point of "connection" is very powerful. To be able to take things, facts and build connection is the most important part of telling.a story.

Similar to your points on "telling the entire story", I also wrote something similar. All facts must be presented, in order for the visitor or audience to have the ability to interpret or opine or feel based on what they have been able to connect with. I believe this goes back to our readings on pg. 341, “heritage is an active phenomenon with two stages: … and (2) our decision to do something about it (options include: to ignore, reject, or destroy it and/or to embrace, restore, and preserve it for others)…” (Saxe, 2009, cited in Beck et al, 2018, pg. 341). Heritage, just like history, must present all the facts as well in order for the visitor to create a true connection.

Thanks Kate

Unit 6: Interpretation Through His/Her Story

This quote begins, “there is no peculiar merit in ancient things”, which is the

only part of the quote I disagree with. Firstly, what is the reference to says “things”? Are they material objects, or can they be facts of a history. Either way, both have merit. The first car ever built is an ancient thing, but to be able to view it now, evokes a story of persistence and tells a truth about how far the world has come. As another example, it is a fact that Punjab (a state in India where my parents were born), was once controlled by Afghan rulers. As a fact on its own, it’s still powerful, as it begs a curiosity.

With the rest of the quote, I fully concur, the past helped form the present and tomorrow, today, will be the past. Each day brings lessons, it etches a way forward and losing those lessons or paths, ignoring the past, has and will continue to lead to missteps. So much of what has happened, will happen again. Just take bell-bottoms as an example. As David Uzzell says, “We are deceiving ourselves if we think that when we stand in front of a case of medals, or guns, or photographs …., we are looking at the past. We are looking also at the present and the future. ….” (Beck et al, 2018, p. 342).

In our readings, there was a discussion regarding “place of memory”. In nature interpretation, to ignore the historical facts or relevance, is at best foregoing an opportunity to evoke more from the visitor, and at worse, it disrespects what came before. In the ICOMOS definition, I found this point most important: ”… What differentiates a place of memory from other categories of heritage is the relation between the material and non-material components of the site. In “places of memory”, the non-material component is of far greater importance than the material one.” (Beck et al, 2018, pg. 327). I believe this captures the importance of story and bringing life to a material place.

One last point, I would like to speak to is the controversary around Heritage. Hyams speaks to the merit in integrity. The discussion around heritage and Saxes definition, “heritage is an active phenomenon with two stages: … and (2) our decision to do something about it (options include: to ignore, reject, or destroy it and/or to embrace, restore, and preserve it for others)…” (Saxe, 2009, cited in Beck et al, 2018, pg. 341), seem to be at odds. To have integrity, we cannot ignore, or reject. To preserve integrity, all important facts must be set forth, so the visitor or viewer can interpret their own truth. This is, I think, a very difficult task, and one that will never be perfect. All stories, have interpreters, and all facts are passed on with some level of opinion.

Beck, L, Cable, Ted T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Natural & Cultural Heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing. 2018

“One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds. Much of the damage inflicted on land is quite invisible to laymen. An ecologist must either harden his shell and make believe that the consequences of science are none of his business, or he must be the doctor who sees the marks of death in a community that believes itself well and does not want to be told otherwise.” ― Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac

"Nature can win if you give her a chance." Jane Goodall

In celebration of Jane Goodall's birthday, let's learn from her wisdom and deep sense of hope.

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My Plant Journey

Wow, no topic? I’ve been sitting at my computer trying to think of what to write about. I don’t want to talk about future environmental jobs, it stresses me out. I don’t want to talk about school or post-grad learning, it stresses me out. What types of nature interpretation that I’m currently involved don’t stress me out? Why is it that as I’ve gotten older, my interaction with nature has shrunk into my computer screen, valued by grades and money? I sit here trying to think of one way I interact with the environment every day that isn’t for academic or professional goals, but for my personal ones. A-ha, my plants!

I don’t know about you guys, but growing up I have never had a green thumb. My mom always joked that our family has red thumbs because every plant that entered our house would die. During COVID when I really lived in Guelph for the first time off residence, I decided to get my first actual plant. My roommate has half the amazon rainforest in her room and reassured me she’d help me get started.

My roommates room above.

So we went over to Walmart and got a plant that she was an avid fan of: the pilea.

The pilea, also known as the Chinese Money Plant, is super cool. My favourite thing about it is that it has unique circular leaves that you normally wouldn’t imagine for plants to have. They’re made this way to absorb the maximal amount of sunlight that they can because they usually only grow in indirect sunlight. I have fond memories of my roommate bottom-watering her pilea in our grimey Chancellors kitchen with all of us huddled around the plant to listen to it absorb the water. So when I got this plant, I figured it would be no different. Not sure what happened, but this is my pilea two years later:

You think that’s bad? Below is the second plant I ever got:

Obviously I gave it to my roommate.

But you know what? I never gave up! After several more premature and unfortunate plant deaths, I finally kind of got a grip on the whole plant thing. We had left Chancellors and moved into a cozy little house. I was basically living alone for the summer and needed a new hobby. I worked as a receptionist at a car dealership and boy was it boring. I sat at that desk for hours at a time scrolling through facebook marketplace looking for some ideas. One hot summer afternoon, I saw that a woman was selling her pathos plant. I decided to stop by after work and pick it up.

This was the start of my addiction. Since then, I have collected roughly 15-25 more plants. It’s gotten so bad, I have plants on the floor of my bedroom because I don’t have space for them on any more shelves. Of course several of my plant predecessors have passed away, but hey, there’s still a few that are kickin’ it! I feel like although this hobby can be taxing at times due to the constant upkeep, it is really rewarding to have nature in my bedroom with me. It makes me really happy to nurture my plants. I have learned to understand their cues, giving them water, light, shade, or humidity as they need. I also enjoy decorating my plants by painting their pots or putting crystals into the soil.

I really love seeing the afternoon sun hit their leaves, it makes me really happy. It has also helped me become interested in horticulture and ecology- I’ve both volunteered and worked as a horticulturist around the Kitchener-Guelph-Waterloo area over the past few summers!

I guess the moral of the story is that it’s important to maintain some level of personal conenction to nature outside of school and work. Don’t be scared to get some plants, it can be daunting but with trial and error, you’ll learn!

What’s your guys’ favourite plants? I’d love to see some pictures and hear your story about them! Thanks so much!!

Mishell

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Hi Mishell, great pictures and yes I do think you may have a problem/addiction (ha,ha). Seems like an excellent addiction to have. I fully agree on your comment on connection to nature. Especially in the winter, having the plants can really cheer up a room. I also find for me, that having something to take care of, can give me purpose. My family has always had plants growing up, and my parents seem to be able to turn a small, tiny plan into towering plants that have taken over their kitchen and family room. When i moved to my current house about 20 years ago, I wanted to make sure I had plants in every room, but after many dead orchids and other plants..I managed to save 5 that have been going strong for sometime now. I have decided to keep changing their pots to bigger ones as they grow vs getting new plants. Hope you enjoy the photos!

Unit 5: Environmental Education

Over the last year, I have truly gained a new understanding of Environmental Science and Education. I have chosen courses that have been extremely varied in their focus spanning everything from ethical beliefs and stewardship to an education of the history and formation of our planet Earth. In the article, “Convergence between Science and Environmental Education” (Wals, et al., 2014), it highlights the divide or divergence that has existed between Science Education and Environmental Education. To date in my studies, I have so far found that the courses have done a really good job of integrating natural history including the creation of Earth with the current day importance and impact of natural areas, creatures, weather systems, etc. For example, in my course, “Human Impact on the Environment GEOG1220”, we learned about climate systems from a systems or scientific perspective, but then learned about what the extraction and processing of fossil fuels are doing to ecosystems thousands of miles away, for example in the Arctic. Similarly, in “Discovering Planet Earth ENVS 1060”, we learned about the geology of rock and minerals, but then the coursework went further to explain the system of fossilization and the resulting production of natural resources and their impact of the environment. My point it, that it all ties together, and Science can no longer be taught without the integration of impact on environment and society.

The article further speaks to “Citizen Science” (Wals et al, 2014) and I believe this is also a fundamental connector of not only environmental and scientific education, but a global integration of history, geography, politics, sociology and economy. The article writes, “the rise of citizen science (CS) also enables for people to engage with science on relevant environmental issues in collaboration with scientists working in local contexts”. For me education must be holistic and purposeful in generating understanding and creating motivation or a “so-what” as to application in our world.

As we can speak to anything on our minds this week, I also wanted to appreciate the Ted Talk “For the Love of Birds”. It was a genuinely engaging talk that brilliantly used personal experience and the “getting to know” the bird to create empathy and tell a story that resonated. It encompassed science, natural history and environmental impact, in a charming and emotionful way. In reading about how to create podcasts and how to tell stories, one can start to understand how important it is to be thoughtful and to create a narrative that can create understanding, empathy and most impactfully, purpose driven action.

References:

Wals, A.E, Brody M., Dillon, J., Stevenson, R.B. (2014, May 9). Convergence between Science and Environmental Education. Science Magazine. 2014..

https://wwwscienceorg.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/doi/10.1126/science.1250515

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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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The pictures you have posted are really beautiful. I myself, also love interpreting nature through photography more than any other medium. I don't think I am in your league, however. But, as you mentioned, it really is a very personal memory or interpretation of a moment in time. Nature is a beautiful gift and its amazing that there are folks who truly do not appreciate how many different ways, nature can be viewed or recorded. There are expansive landscapes, or tiny flower petals, or colourful butterflies. There is nature in motion or action and there is nature in stillness as well.

I also agree with your comment, that we all have different tastes and different emotional connections with nature and art. Its very personal, as only we as individuals have had the experiences that shape our perspective or our unique way of interpreting art. In the photo of the trees, 10 different people may have captured it 1000 different ways, and they would likely all still be art.

I had the honour of visiting the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam and he truly is a nature lover, another quote I enjoy "If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.".

Interpreting Nature through Art

We read in our Unit 4 course work, that “You don’t need to be an artist to share art, and you don’t need to be some sort of aristocrat as well to appreciate art” (Unit 4, ENV3000). I agree with this comment, the making of art and the appreciation of art is a very personal experience and hence I believe that everyone has the ability and right to interpret or create art from any medium and from any subject matter. Who am I to interpret Nature as Art? As we read in our text about Freeman Tilden, one passage resonated with me as I approached this question. He said "If you love the thing 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." (Tildman, 1957 as cited in Beck, L. et al, 2018, p. 83). I love nature, I live in nature and I have the right to interpret it as I choose, through any form of art available to me, and it may speak to others or it may just be a reflection of a thought or an emotion that can bring joy to me.

I enjoy taking photos of new vistas. They remind me of places I have enjoyed and places my family will one day also enjoy.

I also love taking photos of my own yard based on the season. Every season brings fresh beauty, every day, or even minute can bring a fresh light and so photos can capture beauty in a myriad of ways by just changing the angle or capturing the light differently.

The expanded set of interpretive principles, based on Tildan’s work, as set out by Beck and Cable (2011), lay out the Gifts of Interpretation. Two of these speak again to our right as interpreters. One is the “Gift of Beauty: "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, L. et al, 2018, pg. 85). To interpret nature through art is our right but also can be agreed to be our obligation. As generations before us, we are preserving stories and moments for future generations and sparking interest and perhaps a love of nature. The Gift of Hope, is also important to speak to "The beauty of human integrity commemorated in events of the past and the beauty of the intricacies of nature give rise to hope, and these are the tools of the interpreter.” (Beck, L. et al, 2018, pg. 84).

I am a nature love and therefore I am also someone who can interpret nature with my own unique perspective, the same can be said of many.

References

Beck, L, Cable, Ted T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Natural & Cultural Heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing. 2018

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Environmental Privilege

I believe the best way to describe privilege is the unearned advantages awarded to an individual or group of individuals based on perceived characteristics that in turn make their life easier. Privilege can relate to anything from the language we are taught and the resources we have to our familial culture and background. I grew up in an upper-middle-class family and therefore was able to develop an appreciation and relationship with the environment in many different ways with access to many different opportunities; camping trips and family vacations, living and playing in a safe neighborhood, access to education with field trips and other learning opportunities, participation in many extra-curricular activities etc. To unpack my own indivisible backpack, access to these types of resources and the ‘Canadian culture’ I grew up with allowed me to unknowingly have these advantages in our society. Along with access to higher education and different opportunities throughout many aspects of my life, it is not until reflection that I am able to see these advantages and think about extending access to individuals without these advantages.

Privilege plays a very big role in the way in which we as interpreters and learners appreciate the environment. Many individuals, if not all, do not see the beauty of the environment, let alone all of the resources that are used on individual and manufacturing levels. Individuals without access to the same amenities may lack resources, knowledge, and an understanding of the diversity of the environment. Taking in some things we learned in the last unit when being able to connect with learners as interpreters, we must gear our so-called lessons to our audience and offer them information and tips for areas they have access to.

kh-envs3000-w23

I really like the definition that you start off with "the unearned advantages...based on perceived characteristics ...that make life easier". I wrote something similar, privilege can be unearned, as in you are simply born and because of your social standing, colour, etc, are automatically awarded societal checkmarks that grant one access to a VIP lounge...so to speak. Growing up upper-middle class, gives you a very unique perspective, and would love to hear more about it (in a very encouraging and accepting way). A lot of my friends that I went to University with, also grew up with a similar societally labelled standing. Great friends, great people, for many I may have been their first ethnic friend, who was paying for University with loans and part-time jobs. It's funny, but access to nature as in parks and just the ability to see green, should be universally free. Its the air we breathe, but maybe it's harder for some to appreciate the "simpler" things when so much else is going to take up head space (such as jobs, making ends meet, etc. ). I actually see myself as privileged. I lived in a nice subdivision, went to Queen's, for the most part had access to green spaces and now I have an abundance of nature at my doorstep. I also think privilege can accumulate with merit, just a heavier back pack to get there. But would not change a thing.

Privilege - the Dirty P Word

Privilege can mean many things and can accrete benefits in a multitude of ways. As an executive once, I was privileged to be included in executive leadership training as well as receive benefits reserved to a C-Suite, including use of a private plane. Privilege can also be earned by achieving something, such as a university degree or a certain position, that opens up a set of career possibilities or it can be inherently present by simply being born into a situation. This type of privilege has to do with factors such as: which country you were born in, the ethnicity of your birth parents, the income or family background of your parents, your skin colour and even your genetics. In the current world we live in and the historical world we came from, wrongly and in many parts of the world, traits that are valued include skin colour (white or lighter skinned even), wealth, connection (who were your people?), and appearance (height, weight, eye colour, hair colour, and how those coalesce into an appeasing appearance). This type of Privilege is what gives you an advantage by simply looking and talking a certain way and having access to wealth and connection. It’s not earned, its inherent. There are some other ways to get this Privilege (lets capitalize it so we know what I am referring to), such as the school you went to, the friends you made, the wealth you earned and even the way you dress. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the noun definition is “a right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor”, and as a verb “to grant a privilege to; to accord a higher value or superior position to.” We live in a world where class or standing is still very much ingrained in every institution. As an Indian/Canadian/British woman with sight problems, I can tell you the world needs to change. And it will.

In Nature Interpretation, we saw that privilege plays a large part in understanding the make-up of the visitors and understanding who the interpreters are themselves. Experiences we live when we are younger can often shape our interests, career pursuits and lifestyle choices as we age. Having access by way of our parents or network of friends to outdoor activities such as cottages, water sports, hiking, camping, etc. can spark a lifetime of interest or at least a level of comfort in these environments. Nature Interpreters choose their callings based on an experience they might have had at one time. Those experiences may have led them to an education that allowed them an opportunity to pursue this as a field. Through-out my own life, I was fortunate to be invited to cottages in Ontario, the inviter has never been non-white, and it’s almost always been a family cottage. I am happy to say my camping friends are slightly more mixed now. I was fortunate to grow up in suburbia with parents who did get us to parks regularly, but the main tourist ones, not hiking in the woods or anything to do with water. I have been teased about not being able to swim (I can now), my worry over axe murderers lurking in the woods, and other experiences. Privilege is access to experiences, emotions, vistas and a life that encompasses nature. Privilege is growing up with nature as a given. Lack of privilege is belonging to an economic class, an ethnicity, a social standing, that makes it more difficult to access it, or even know its available, and to not have the same experiences to compete in the profession.

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