Forest Blog

Come on a hike with me.

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Final Blog

This course has taught me a lot about nature interpretation that I can apply to my life in the future. I’ve had a wonderful time reading everyone’s blogs and everyone’s perspectives on the prompts. My biggest takeaway from this course is that everyone has the right to access nature. I acknowledge my privilege, being a white, middle class, English-speaking, able-bodied woman. As a nature interpreter, I want to provide everyone with the same opportunities to learn more about nature.

I think my biggest responsibility is to inspire others to want to learn more about nature. I can do this about being enthusiastic about my work, as my passion can inspire others to want to learn. It is also important to be engaging, so I can be memorable and help create lifelong memories. Another important responsibility is to spread the message about conservation. As climate change continues to affect the environment, I think it is important to teach those who want to learn about facts, and how we can help certain species or ecosystems.

As a science student, I had always interpreted nature through science, but this course has taught me how to interpret nature through art (unit 4), music (unit 7) and history (unit 6). I think approaching nature interpretation from multiple different angles is what truly creates a well-rounded interpreter. This also allows the interpreter to reach different audiences, for example those who appreciate art or history.

What are your next steps in nature interpretation after this course? I got a job as a tour guide at the African Lion Safari for this summer! With this course under my belt, I will think back to what I’ve learnt to make every tour I give memorable for the visitors. I truly hope to inspire children to want to learn more about the animals at the safari, as I hope they will see my passion and will want to get excited about animals with me! I will make sure to cater to my audiences, whether my tour group consists of more children or adults, I want to make sure that everyone has a memorable experience. I will reach auditory learners by talking on the tours, visual learners by driving by the different animals in the safari so you can look at them while I interpret, and hopefully tactile learners will enjoy taking in the whole experience. As it says in unit 2, as an interpreter I must be able to cater to every learner and adapt to my audience’s needs.

Overall, I am glad that I have completed this course as I move on into the world of nature interpretation. I’ve learnt a lot, and I’ve spent some time rethinking how I approach nature interpretation. I will always remember to ask:

Who am I as an interpreter? Who is my audience? How can I make this experience meaningful?

Goodluck to everyone with your end of the year assignments and exams, hope to cross paths in the woods someday!

Grace

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Hi Grace, I loved your post. In our textbook, it calls enthusiasm contagious by saying “the interpreters who seem truly excited about what they discuss create an atmosphere of inspiration”(Beck et al. 2018, p 194). The way you described your new job certainly shows your enthusiasm. I really like African Lion Safari.  You make a great point about using a wide variety of techniques to share information with the audience. In unit 4, it says art captures a moment in time and when shared the story continues (Hookaas, 2021). Pictures can give intangible ideas a very real depiction and even a face. Often the emotions that a picture evokes are very unique, and different than other ways of getting the audience to feel. I agree that it is our responsibility as nature interpreters to be a positive guide to help people engage and explore the environment. To answer your question, “What are your next steps after this course?”  I'm done my certificate in Environmental Citizenship and am now planning my career by applying all the knowledge I have gained.  Although, as a lifelong learner,v my knowledge will constantly develop. I feel that it is the responsibility of nature interpreters to always learn new science, technologies, and approaches so they can improve their programs and approaches. I like your point about asking yourself the questions that were in each unit as you go through life, as this will help gather your thoughts and reflect on your program's efficacy. Good luck in your new job!

                                                      References

Beck, L. Cable, T. Knudson, D. (2018) P 194. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

Hooykaas, A. (2022). Nature Interpretation through Art and Planning for "All" Scenarios. [Unit 4 course reading]. Nature Interpretation Course University of Guelph.

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Nature Interpretation’s Role in Environmental Sustainability - Blog 10

I truly feel like this past semester has flown by. Last blog already? I cannot believe it. This class has taught me so much, let alone these new weekly topics and posts surrounding nature interpretation. Truthfully, when I first entered this class I really had little to no idea of what nature interpretation truly meant. Although, now I can truthfully say I, in my own way, am a nature interpreter; especially a developing one. We all are. From interpreting our roles/relationships to our privileges, to art, to dissecting quotes, to music, and TO our own interests, ALL surrounding nature. My knowledge has grown enormously which has now allowed me to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of these topics surrounding what nature has to offer, and reflect my own knowledge to educate others. I am positive there is still an abundance more that is unknown and I have yet to learn. 

My personal ethic as a nature interpreter 

As a developing nature interpreter, I believe my personal ethic has grown during this process which is gaining and presenting accurate knowledge. Therefore, being professional in my research and being sensitive to cultural misunderstandings is something I have conceded is important in this role. As I present and teach others I want to do it with integrity, and concisely. Beck et al. 2019 stated it is vital to exclusively use well-documented sources, as a well-inform people who will value and appreciate their resources to formulate and exclaim better decisions. Regarding this, the past posts and unit topic materials provided, I have gained a greater understanding of the importance of integrity, reflecting to educate others with pride. 

What beliefs do I bring? 

It is easy to say that I have an abundance of beliefs towards nature interpretation. I believe the importance of impacting one person at a time. I believe in the importance of inspiring others to understand and reflect my own or others knowledge. I believe in the importance of not just offering one continuous element, but educating many elements in nature; as nature is so diverse. I believe in accuracy and presuming up-to-date knowledge. Ultimately, I believe in impacting others with the importance of nature and biodiversity entirely; how it affects our lives as humans every single day.

What responsibilities do I have? 

I hold several responsibilities as a nature interpreter. Here are 3 I ought are the most important ones:

First: I will ensure all learning styles of any individual I may cross is met. Whether visual, audio, reading/writing, or kinesthetics. It is important to convey information in a way suitable and understandable to others to effectively pass on past, present or future information. Regardless of their ethnicity, race or gender. Zero exclusivity tolerance, and inclusivity to all importantly.  

Secondly: I will educate with integrity and accuracy. I will not assume information, I will hold truthful facts and knowledge regarding the specifics. As an interpreter, it’s critical to anticipate any misunderstandings that may arise and adapt it so that the original facts are communicated as efficiently as possible. Whether the knowledge is passed from me or from others, accuracy is important to impact. 

Thirdly: I will always be enthusiastic and engaging. If individuals are not engaged, the transmitted information will not be cared for, held value, or passed on. For me this is easy to hold considering when I am passionate about any topic, I want to ensure or inform others how fascinating, important or educating it is. If others don’t see the passion in you, others won’t want to hold the same passion. 

My suitable approaches 

To me, my most suitable approaches for being an interpreter would be incorporating visuals and technology. These are forms in which I am most comfortable and common with using. In many ways I am able to effectively describe or teach certain things, and I feel as if nature could be one of them. 

Visuals, nowadays, are very common. Many people like to see pictures and/or videos when someone is teaching them a topic. Therefore, my effectiveness with providing accuracy when seeing a visual for myself is a great way for me to show my interest and want others to be inspired as well. Pictures and videos also tend to grab individuals’ engagement. 

Technology, on the other hand, can be similar in many ways but also have its differences. It offers the same aspect of visuals, but also even more. In this generation, technology is overtaking almost everything. Nature can be taught through live streams of species or landscapes, brochures, current living habitats, apps etc. This is also a great way to engage individuals within learning topics considering when individuals can learn from their phone or laptops with present visuals, being intrigued occurs and passion drives. 

I have had a blast reading your thoughts and opinions, and also reflecting my own. I truly have learned so much from this course, and I am so very thankful I got the opportunity to take it. I hope you all continue diving deeper into nature as I will be, and I hope that nature can bring you light and positivity into your lives like it does for me. 

References 

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

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Hi Dalia,

Your post was very thought-out and a really nice summary of the course.  I feel the same as you that there is so much I have discovered about nature, myself, and others through this course. And the learning does not stop here.  Unit 10 says whether you introduce children to animals or provide tools to allow them to learn safe decision making on a hike you are offering a spark to be fanned and developed (Hookaas, 2021). It is our responsibility as nature interpreters to fuel that spark to create lasting experiences. It reminds me of the poem in chapter three, page 56 of our textbook that has a line: “You never know when someone may catch a dream from you” (Beck et al. 2018 p 56). I also really liked your point about having many different approaches and focusing on different elements of nature.  This is important due to how people's interest and values change. Interpretation must adapt to the changes in knowledge and audience in order to be meaningful and relevant. I agree that good ethics must involve ensuring that your information, both shared and obtained, is of the highest level of accuracy. An interpreter must be conscientious of everything they say, do, and teach, so they can be a valuable person in the audience's memories. That is why it is vital to keep lear9ning and researching scientific discoveries. I am curious about what you mean when you say: “I believe the importance of impacting one person at a time.”

                                                    References

Beck, L. Cable, T. Knudson, D. (2018) P 56. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

Hooykaas, A. (2022). Nature Interpretation's Role in Environmental Sustainability. [Unit 10 course reading]. Nature Interpretation Course University of Guelph.

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Last Post for This course

Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual (Hookaas, 2021)?

This week I thought a lot about these questions and struggled to clarify my answers. I think I should start with how I see my interactions with the world: in order for me to feel like I am doing the right thing, it must benefit everyone or everything it affects: I would not feel okay if I benefited but everyone else received only negatives. Utilitarianism is the term Byron Williston uses to describe this ethic in his book Environmental Ethics For Canadians.  In order  for me to know whether one may not benefit from my actions or whether it will be sustainable, I ask the simple question – simple in theory – what would happen if everyone did this action? Would there be negative consequences or positive effects? The term Williston uses for this ethic is Universalizability (Williston, 2016).  These terms and the ideas they describe are very important to me, and for the conservation of the environment as well: because it should be seen as an obligation people have to always have a positive effect. These ethics are valuable for a wide range of issues from littering to pipelines for oil. Let me give you an example that's a bit more meaningful to your everyday life: if you think about the ethical ideas regarding the environment, that means if one person left a Tim Horton's cup on a bench during a hike, it wouldn't be too destructive. My obligation as being conscientious and being informed by consequentialism and universalizability says I need to educate hikers that if everyone did that then forest trails would look like unsafe garbage dumps, not beautiful, protected land. In unit 10 of our course and as this course comes to an end, I formed the answers to the questions posed at the beginning of my blog: my ethics are that working as a society and doing what is best for all involved means the audience, visitors, or community can trust me to inform them of the world and to learn from them just as much as I teach.

My beliefs are that change and education do not come from being told lifeless jumbled facts but rather a spark of interest that a knowledgeable person gives fuel to. And that it takes bravery to share as an interpreter, but it takes even more to ask an interpreter for help in learning something new. My responsibilities are to be a safe and open person so the audience can feel comfortable to be themselves and learn: to encourage brave discovery in my audience and to help them understand the world and their place in it. I will take these responsibilities and these ethics and guide my audiences to find answers themselves, so it is them driving and developing their spark. Interpreters have a responsibility to not be conventional teachers, but explorers--and to let the audience have their time to process the information. Freeman Tilden is quoted as saying “the true interpreter will not rest at any dictionary definition” (Beck et al. 2018, p 5).  To give people the tools to work as a group and think as having the responsibilities of a group will let them develop a new awareness outside of individual mentalities that previously have been fostered. My belief is if people understand the full effect of their choices, they will become more environmentally aware. That is what motivates me; that is what gives me hope.  

There are many approaches that I can use to achieve meaning for others, but I think the main technique is the art of the engagement in storytelling and talking to a crowd. Storytelling creates vivid images in the minds of the listener, and helps them grow in mind and spirit (Beck et al. 2018). I have always loved to listen to stories, but when I go to tell them I get bogged down in the details and the enthusiasm is often lost. I have tried to tell people about the environment, but I used fact, not emotion. Now through this course I realized how to use both.  Storytelling can be through podcasts, video, or in-person, but it must use authentic voice and emotions. The approaches that are useful for me as an individual are roving, videos, and even podcasts. I find that when people read something, the immediacy of the topic is lost, if they even read it all the way through. The passion in others and myself feed off of each other and bring life, hope, and change in the hearts of the listeners that can only be conveyed through voice--and I don't know about you but I am not going to stand on stage and sing a presentation. I would love to know what approaches you plan to use in your future?

Let me just join the rest of the class and say this has been an amazing course and I have loved every minute of it. I have gained so much, from tools to understanding, for my future development. This is my last course of an Environmental Citizenship Certificate program and now I am going to have the knowledge I need to find a career in environment education. Thank you Professor Hookaas. Although I am done my program, I am nowhere near done learning.  I am a lifelong learner and will always say yes to the opportunity to develop new ways of seeing the world, whether it is from academics or professionals or opinionated people I pass on the trails--I love getting to hear about people's lives. Even if people go to an interpretative talk, they may know quite a lot about the subject or a similar subject. Talking with them instead of at them can create an exchange of knowledge that will help you both in the future. On that note I would love to read what your thoughts are?    

                                                References

Beck, L. Cable, T. Knudson, D. (2018) P 5. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

Hooykaas, A. (2022). Nature Interpretation's Role in Environmental Sustainability. [Unit 10 course reading]. Nature Interpretation Course University of Guelph.

Williston, B. (2016). Environmental Ethics For Canadians. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-901449-1.

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#9: Awe and respect for nature’s harmony

Having lived for a year in a jungle camp in Gabon when I was young, I already was familiar with elephants and crocodiles when I went on safari in Zambia in 2006; nevertheless the experience of being close to hippos and lions was overwhelming and I can recommend it to any nature enthusiast. The real gems of the trip however were the two walking safaris we did in South Luangwa’s National Park, in which my friend and I walked under guidance of an interpreter for 2-3 hours across the savannah, see the picture below. We were accompanied by a guard armed with a shotgun who was constantly on the look-out for animals, so we felt comfortable enough to embrace the risk and gain a unique opportunity of nature discovery (Hooykaas, 2022, Unit 4). We saw zebras, giraffes and buffalos, however the true excitement lay in looking at the small instead of the large; identifying termite nests, poking at poo and hearing bird songs & the leaves rustling in the wind, absent from car noise and seeing it at ground-level. Africa is famous for its iconic wildlife, however that’s only one part of the savannah ecosystem. Our immersion in the landscape really brought home the harmony of all things in nature and how everything is part of a larger cycle... the “Circle of Life” song from the Lion King is corny but is oh so true!

I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors since I was little, however over the years I’ve started and continue to deepen my respect and awe at nature’s harmony; the more I learn about biodiversity and ecology, the more I recognise Beck et al. (2018)’s description of "sense of place" and the gift of beauty in every natural environment. Nature doesn’t need to offer a breathtaking view or a glorious sunset to provide an immersive experience in which all senses - visual, auditory and sensory - absorb and intuitively recognise the calming power of nature’s harmony. In the below picture taken on a recent hike, it's clear that everything has a purpose; melting snow results in groundwater replenishment for plants, dead logs provide food for fungi redistributing nutrients to the soil, and trees create habitat for birds and squirrels. There’s no residual waste in nature; biotic and abiotic elements affect each other in a never-ending harmonious relationship - although the mouse that gets eaten by an owl may beg to differ! 😉 I tend to make small stops on my hikes to contemplate the surroundings I’m in, which fills me with gratefulness to simply be alive and be witness to such beauty.

I believe the role of a nature interpreter as I aspire to become one day, is to make your audience aware, not superfluously but in the core of one’s being, that humans are part of the natural cycle of life and that we therefore, as the current dominant species on Earth, have a duty to protect and contribute to a healthy planet. I’m hoping that through effective interpretive programming, I’ll be able to share my amazement in such a way that it will inspire others to care too about the natural environment, one step at a time, whether it’s in Zambia or in Ontario!

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

Hooykaas, A. (2022). ENVS*3000 Nature Interpretation course manual. University of Guelph.

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Hello,

I enjoyed reading about your adventure. I really liked your point about the small critters on your safari being as amazing as lions and other big animals, because that is what I like to learn about too. I love the harmony you talked about and how everything in nature has a role. When reading your post, I was reminded of our textbook talking about people's reliance on technology that causes humans to disconnect from living things and experiences (Beck et al. 2018). This leads to many children not using all their senses or not being present when standing in nature, as you talked about. My experience was different, because as a child I became aware of animals like loins, zebras, giraffes and buffalo through a webcam in Africa pointed at a watering hole--every morning as my family would have breakfast, we would watch the animals come to drink. Technology introduced me to a range of habitats and animals. Technology also is currently helping me continue learning about nature.  In our course unit 8 readings, the question was asked: “What could our lives and our children’s lives be like if our days and nights were as immersed in nature as they are in technology” (Hooykaas, 2022)? Reading your blog I was thinking of the same question: what if kids were as “addicted” to nature as they are to video games? Instead of controllers, they had compasses, instead of video simulations of surviving in the middle of the African Savannah, people went on a safari adventure like you did?

References

Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

Hooykaas, A. (2022). The Role of Technology in Nature Interpretation. [Unit 8 course reading]. Nature  Interpretation Course University of Guelph.

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Shinrin-Yoku

I want to share a really cool practice with you all.  And I hope that it inspires you to spend as much time as you can out in nature wherever you can find it.  'Shinrin-Yoku', translated into English as Forest Bathing, is the Japanese study of using the beauty and rejuvenation of the forest to heal.  The research and data continue to show a lot of potential in reducing many mental and physical health issues, where the main way to reduce the issues has been medications (Hansen, et al 2017). The idea of letting time in nature heal the mind and reminding people that it is okay to go slowly in life was promoted in Japan during the 1980s as preventative health care (Hansen, et al 2017). The combination of  Shinrin-Yoku with environmental interpretation and education has enormous potential to help both environmental degradation and mental health. In our course reading, the Richard Louv term 'Nature Deficit Disorder' (Hooykaas, 2021) refers to the negative effects that can come from people spending all their free time on electronics, for example short attention span, anxiety, and depression, due to missing out on the benefits that come from spending time in nature.  Although Louv is not from Japan, his ideas have been connected to Nature Bathing which is seen as a cure for Nature Deficit Disorder. An article by the Government of Canada states that Shinrin-Yoku has been studied for nearly 40 years and is an evidence-based wellness practice (Health Promotion, 2021).  

This is one of my favourite spots to experience Shinrin-Yoku at the Bruce peninsula.

Our textbook says that when people are just browsing online, their attention span is often that of a goldfish: that is 9 seconds (Beck et al. 2018). Set the timer and see how long that is—I bet you won't, you'll get bored—you're currently reading this on the web! The idea of nature being a cure can give the environment even more standing against developers. Shinrin-Yoku is motivation to protect natural habitats and visit nature centers with interpreters so visitors can learn and understand the importance of nature in their life: for example, physical improvements of walking, climbing, emotional relaxation, and purposefully being present and interacting in the community. It is very easy to feel isolated in buildings and this disconnect from others can have severe consequences. These issues can be not just reduced but may even be cured with as little as a daily 30 minute walk in the forest.  An impactful quote in our textbook says: “But if the trance induced by electronic gadgets makes us oblivious to the wood, the wildflowers, and the songs and smells of resurgent spring, then we have suffered a grievous loss” (Beck et al. 2018). There are a lot of reasons for the disconnect from nature, not just electronics, but the main emphasis for me is to not lose the natural health benefits of nature for children and adults and to make experiencing nature a priority.  I would love to hear if anyone else has heard of Shinrin-Yoku or have felt the benefits of time in nature for themselves.        

                                                 References

Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

Hansen. (2017). Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art Review. PMC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5580555/

Health Promotion .(2021). Health Promotion- Improve your mental well-being with forest bathing and fall into wellness. Government of Canada.  

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/news/regional-news/western-sentinel/2021/09/improve-your-mental-well-being-with-forest-bathing-and-fall-into-wellness.ht

Hooykaas, A. (2022). Sense-Making of Nature Interpretation. [Unit 9 course reading]. Nature  Interpretation Course University of Guelph.

Wals, A. Bordy, M. Dillon, J. Stevenson, R. (2014). Convergence Between Science and

Environmental Education. Science. https://www-science-org.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/doi/10.1126/science.1250515

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Music and nature

Music in nature

When I think of music in nature, my first though is birds. There are so many different types of birds, all with their own sounds. I think it is fascinating how birds sing to communicate (warning calls, mating calls, etc.) with each other, yet we hear it as a form of music in nature. Imagine how funny it would be if humans also had to sing instead of speaking to communicate! I noticed that birds were also mentioned in the reading by Gray et al. (2001), which states, “any rhythmic repeated utterance, whether a bird, a frog, an insect, a whale or a human” can be defined as a song. I’m not sure many people will agree with me on this but, the insect songs are the only ones I am not a huge fan of, simply because there always seems to be an insect chirping outside my window when I am the most need of sleep. I think Gray et al. (2001) defines a song very well in terms of nature. When we are in nature, we hear music all around us from the simple buzz of a bee to the complex whale rhythms.

While I was researching some more in depths ways that we can find music in nature, I came across a company called Plant Wave. They offer a device that detects electrical variations in plants using electrodes. The electrical variations are translated into instrumental music which is super interesting! I linked the company site here if anyone wants to learn more or purchase their own device.

https://www.plantwave.com/

Below is a sample of the Plant Wave device on a mushroom found in the Kaelia Forest Reserve. I think the music is so peaceful and calming. Let me know what you think of turning bio-electricity changes into music.

Nature in music

I enjoyed reading about the birdsongs in beatboxing by Ben Mirin aka wildlife DJ. I found his website and learned that in addition to being an artist and an educator, he is also a biologist. I think that this relates to many of us as we are in sciences programs and learning how to be nature interpreters. It is great to see someone similar to us who has gained a following from sharing his passions.

There is so much nature in music these days. I find that many artists use the sound of crashing waves, bonfire crackling, rain, etc. However, I have noticed artists use these nature sounds more commonly in the introduction of their music, rather than throughout. Another thing that comes to mind when I think of nature in music is artists using nature to portray a theme. Many songs use rain or storms to signify a sad heartbreak storyline. Whereas songs using bird chirping or waves crashing are typically more upbeat and happy. For example, Harry Styles’ music video for his song ‘Watermelon Sugar’ incorporates beach sounds in the introduction scene. This sets a carefree and fun tone for the rest of the video.

My nature song

While it was hard for me to pick one song that reminds me of nature, I ended up going with the ‘Bare Necessities” from The Jungle Book movie. The lyrics in this song remind me of nature through my childhood eyes. As a child I was happy by myself at just the local park finding rocks and plants and building houses for insects. This song reminds me of the simple and calm aspect of nature whereas life now is so hectic and busy, we rarely get time to take a step back and appreciate everything around us. Im curious to read what everyone else chose as their song this week!

Reference:

Gray, P. Krause, B. Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C. & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science. 291. 52-54

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Hello, your post was great. I have never heard of that Plant Wave device and I think it is really cool. In our course readings, it said the role of entertainment in interpretation is essential in making great programs (Hooykaas, 2022).  Actually hearing plants is a unique way to involve all the senses into interpretive programs—resulting in the connection that is often only created from hearing music. I agree that it was inspiring to learn about Ben Mirin and how he took his passions and made a career out of them (Hooykaas, 2022). I want to join my passions of photography and environmental education to teach about nature.  I also really like how Patricia Gray describes the human relationship with music: because whale and human evolutionary paths haven't been connected since about 60 million years ago, there must be evidence that music may predate humans (Gray et al, 2001). I also loved your idea of how amusing it would be if we had to sing everything instead of talking. It reminded me of the Sami's oral tradition of yoiks that was discussed in Gray's essay.  These songs use only sound and vocalizations but still tell a full story (Gray et al, 2001).  I agree sounds in nature can be used to convey such emotion, even though there are no words, and as I think about it, language is sounds that over time became widely used. I also liked the song you chose this week. I chose Old Pine by Ben Howard.

                                                     References

Gray, P. Krause, B. Atema, J. Payne, R. Krumhansl, C. Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Gale Academic Onefile. 

https://go-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=guel77241&id=GALEA69270354&v=2.1&it=r&sid=AONE&asid=fb9366a8   

Hooykaas, A. (2022). Nature Interpretation Through Music. [Unit 7 course reading]. Nature Interpretation Course University of Guelph.  

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Songs as Interpretation

This week I'm excited to share two songs that mean a lot to me. I  also have two questions I want to discuss: where is music in nature? And where is nature in music? My answer is highlighted in Joni Mitchell's idea about paving paradise and having to pay to see trees in a museum. The song is called Big Yellow Taxi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94bdMSCdw20) (Mitchell, 2010). The focus of the song is to leave nature protected instead of using pesticides and paving open grass spaces.  Her goal was to inspire other people to learn about these issues of deforestation and the damage pesticides do to pollinators. I also love humming along to instruments or listening to music that has few lyrics; I found it really cool to learn through this unit that birds and humpback whales also have the same musical structures as humans (Gray et al, 2001). Music has been very important to me, whether it was learning how to play the musical saw or listening to my dad play guitar at campfires. There is a song by Ben Howard called Old Pine that brings me back in time to camping with friends and family. Because of this song I can show someone the feeling of being at a campsite in total peace. Only music, I find, can move me that much--only music can cause a physical need to know what the artist feels firsthand. A lot of people have creativity that at some point got suppressed in life (Hooykaas, 2022). Unfortunately, it is common for there to be strict guidelines on what art is, such as writing and music. So much so that many people would not consider the noise animals and insects make as music. These rules make it common for everyone to ask the same questions: who am I to call my own creation art? Am I good enough to show others? The questions that need to be asked in interpretation are: what are my creative talents and strengths that can  enhance this story? Do I understand and therefor meet the responsibilities that I have when telling other people's stories to keep their voices as authentic and accurate as possible (Hooykaas, 2022)? Every individual person starts with creativity in their life: imagination through games, toys, and talking with friends—then people use imagination through painting, writing, and  drawing.  As people grow up their sense of self changes and they often lose that free ability to create and interpret art and begin to judge it on someone else's standard. As the textbook states in chapter 8:  the structure when writing is an inverted pyramid with layers of information: the first layer is the most important information, the second is supporting details, the third is less important information, and the last section is general and summary information (Beck et al, 2018). These tips are essential to get the best results from written work, but music is different: Music in nature is loose sounds that bring emotion instead of strict rules.

                                        References  

Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

Gray, P. Krause, B. Atema, J. Payne, R. Krumhansl, C. Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Gale Academic Onefile. https://go-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=guel77241&id=GALEA69270354&v=2.1&it=r&sid=AONE&asid=fb9366a8   

Hooykaas, A. (2022). Risk versus Reward in Interpretation. [Unit 3 course reading]. Nature Interpretation Course University of Guelph.

Mitchell, J. (2010). Big Yellow Taxi. [video]. YouTube.ca. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94bdMSCdw20

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Week 6

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

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

 From the Oxford English Dictionary online, there are two definitions to describe integrity. 

the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.

Synonymous words include “honesty, uprightness, honour”

the state of being whole and undivided.

Synonymous words include “unification, wholeness, cohesion”.

When I look at this quote presented from Unit 6, I believe the definition of integrity was focused on the second meaning, by having a wholeness and unified connection to our past. Cohesion, as in the sticking of all the fragments of the past together to create a story that people can connect to. Connection, to ourselves and to others, as we know is extremely fundamental to our wellbeing and shapes how we make our way in the world. The last section of the quote that deals with the train metaphor, says that to not acknowledge the past equates to the belief that we are not connected or unified to the other parts of the world. That as we pass through the station, it did not exist before and it does not exist after our passing, that there is no wholeness to the station without our presence.

So I agree that this meaning of integrity is important about being whole, but I think that the other definition could use some attention as well. When we tell stories of the past, I believe it is certainly rooted in honour, whether from a positive experience, or to honour a lesson that was learned from a potentially negative experience. There is a duty to pass on the stories and weave them into our current world, because we can learn from them and also feel more connected to one another. I definitely think both definitions apply here. 

In the readings, this quote can be very well explained by the fact that honouring the past “breathes life and meaning” into events that have occurred, ancient artifacts, and architecture. Otherwise of course, objects would just be objects and likewise buildings would be meaningless towering bricks if it weren’t for the stories or history that back them up. When we have a collective of stories, we have more knowledge on how to live our lives meaningfully, and we get a sense of this through how others have lived. I think we all grow up with inspirations, be it people or a certain lifestyle we want to lead– this too comes from stories.

From Chapter 14 in our readings, this quote does a great job encouraging the reader to make intellectual and emotional connections, and to apply this quote to their own lives. The metaphor gives room for creative space and lets the mind wander, as well as it challenges you to reflect deeply.

In connection to my life, though I am a science major, I have always enjoyed creative writing and I love to draw (things that are not too valued in the scientific community). But whether it’s writing or drawing, I have never liked to, nor followed a template. I remember art classes trying to instruct step by step instructions of drawing a face, but I never followed it and my instructors didn’t really care because my end products turned out good. Writing I feel can draw a little more criticism, and my style of writing can be loose but I like to write with voice in my words and I feel as though it helps people relate more to them. And if people are connecting to what I say then I believe my goal is achieved. When reading Chapter 14 of the textbook, to be completely honest I wasn’t a fan of all the “do’s and don’ts” of the writing process with the grouping of like words together and omission of big words people can’t understand. I think this takes away the writer’s voice! If you have to think about what you’re writing with so much scrutiny and rules, the flow isn’t there, and that’s not really how I operate. I am interested to know what others think about this? Do you like following a template?

References cited

Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural  Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore- Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2.

 Hooykaas, A. (2022). Nature Interpretation through History. [Unit 6 course reading]. Nature Interpretation Course University of Guelph.

Oxford languages and google - english. Oxford Languages. (2022).

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Hello Jill,

I found your post thoughtful.  I loved your idea about connection being vital to human experience. It seems like through this pandemic isolation is one of the main problems across society. When learning about history, having a face to recognize and connect to is vital in evoking human emotion and engagement from the participants--that is why living history is such a useful tool. Keeping a clear record of history is also important because when looking back in history scientists can pinpoint the cause of massive viruses like wet markets and predict when the next pandemic may hit (Penn, 2021).  In the textbook it asks the question similar to what you stated: why is it important to interpret the stories that focus on struggles? The answer the textbook gave was people find inspiration in the stories of survivors and those who made change happen (Beck et al. 2018).  Because of this, as you said, both negative and positive events in history should be honored.  Your point about having inspiration from lifestyles seen or from actual people that we admire influencing our life choices made me really consider the inspiration of family members or people I look up to influencing how I lead my life in this context. I think that is an extremely valuable thing to keep in mind as an interpreter--especially when talking about stories in history of survivors and people's struggles, there should be that admiration for the kind and honorable people through hard times.

                                                 References

Penn, M. (2021). Statistics Say Large Pandemics Are More Likely Than We Thought. Duke Global Health Institute. https://globalhealth.duke.edu/news/statistics-say-large-pandemics-are-more-likely-we-thought

    Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

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Why Are Ethics Important When Interpreting History?

There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it. (Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)

I love this quote because there is an idea people have of  the past being static like a picture--forever stuck, taken for that one purpose to reflect on.  This idea is often used in support of an argument to ignore the most important events from the past that influence current times.  A simple way of thinking about this is: a hiker was going for a walk on a paved trail in the forest when they were confronted by a squirrel that says look what humans have done to my home. The hiker says well that was the past, and walks away.  The squirrel, however, is still left with no home.  It is a funny thought--what if an animal could talk--but then comes the realization that the history of damage to the environment impacts the health of every single animal and that the emergency of time ticking on the clock of climate change started around 1938 (The Carbon, 2021). Those years between 1938 and 2022 are crucial and despite the increase in evidence, people in authority refused to act, instead blaming it on the past. Because history has a tendency to repeat itself, we can be better prepared and make better choices.  The same systemic racism, misogyny, and speciesism that make up relationships toward society and the environment are from old ways that haven't been adapted to new knowledge.  When working on the enhancement of a community, considering collective memories and traditions along with their stories is a great start (Hookaas, 2022).  Honest, factual, authentic interpretation of historical events is extremely important because it is the only way to keep current the memories of a peoples' lives or way of life and those hold valuable lessons. Ethical Interpretation also has no agenda to gain and much to lose from misrepresenting the events in history.  Any interpretation must be done with the utmost integrity to ensure the audience is shown true facts (Beck et al. 2018).  It is a very different experience to attend a movie or read a book than to watch living history interpreters. The emotion of the portrayed lives comes through from human contact and being able to interact with the time period objects. Giving the stories a real recognizable face taps into that core subconscious part that brings the teaching to another level of accessibility and immediacy. As noted in our textbook: incorporating sensory awareness and physical involvement of children promoted critical social, cognitive, and emotional development (Beck et al. 2018).  Unpacking this quote is simple in theory but is more difficult to put into practrice because the basis is in order to have an authentic valuable history all perspectives, motives, and facts need to be fully and accurately presented in order for the interpretation to be of any worth.  People can't change history but they must reconcile themselves to it, repair what they can, and focus on learning better for the future, by actively helping to reduce further damage and applying systems to prevent similar problems.

                                           References

Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

Hooykaas, A. (2022). Nature Interpretation Through History. [Unit 6 course reading]. Nature Interpretation Course University of Guelph.

The Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Effect. (2021). American Institute of Physics. https://history.aip.org/climate/co2.htm.

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Why I love Nature

This course has already inspired me so much and given me essential tools for my future.  For example, the teachings of Freeman Tilden, Jean Piaget, Peggy McIntosh, and Sam Ham who I talk about in my other blogs, really motivate me.  Reading about their experiences in the various fields of being teachers, environmental interpreters, and conservationists even though they're from different disciplines, makes me ready to share the knowledge. There is a question that Aldo Leopold asked in his book A Sand County Almanac that stuck with me throughout university: “Is education possibly a process of trading awareness for things of lesser worth?” (Leopold, 1949 p. 20).  His example was that of a duck being shot during hunting season due to the duck giving knowledge of its presence.  Sometimes when people learn natures' lessons they take advantage--when I first thought about this question, I was conflicted due to his example.  On one side, humans have a right and need to about nature in order to protect it; on the other hand, knowledge is power and power can lead to corruption and exploitation. Through this current course, I have a clear answer: without education about the animals, habitats, and ecosystems, people could destroy nature unintentionally as a result of privilege differences, cultural and language barriers, and fear. Barriers leading to nature not being a priority will lead to exploitation and devastation.  As I learned through this course, interpretation properly done is a vital tool to create natural resource stewardship (Beck et al. 2018).  Although there is risk involved--both with positive and negative outcome--by sharing such a vulnerable gift that is environmental knowledge, it is the only way to have more people care enough to protect it. 

This picture is of baby rabbits left abandoned by a sidewalk. I called a rescuer in the area, and they were saved.  They were too young to open their eyes.  People walked by these babies without seeing or caring that they were in danger from dogs, cats or wild snakes and birds.

People passing by may have missed how cute they are too!  

Interpretation also has benefits for humans in the city. Interpretation influences cities' welfare, according to our textbook, by increasing society welfare and community stability (Beck et al. 2018). When the environment is a priority it leads to cleaner cities and healthier citizens.  There is an enormous amount of hope through environmental interpretation and education. Environmental science focuses on the technical monitoring of the environmental damage and environmental education focuses on changing the behaviour that is causing the devastation and stopping it at its core (Wals, et al 2014). When both combine and inform each other, the possibility of fixing the environmental degradation and many more issues can be achievable before it is too late. That is where my passion and hope is--using the power of knowledge and passion to lead change.  I would like to hear what your thoughts and your opinions are.

                                               References

Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural    Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2   

Leopold, A. (1949). pp16-20. A Sand County Almanac. New York, Ballantine  books. ISBN 0-345-34505-3

Wals, A. Bordy, M. Dillon, J. Stevenson, R. (2014). Convergence Between Science and Environmental Education. Science. https://www-scienceorg.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/doi/10.1126/science.1250515

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Week 5!

This week, I wanted to start a discussion on the communication of information and how it is interpreted.

In Washington’s “For the love of birds podcast”, he explained the uniqueness and power of birds through their evolutionary paths as well as their ecosystem services and anthropogenic benefit. Yet he tailored this to his audience and explained the topic without a load of scientific jargon; this can help the public understand scientific information in a way that makes sense. And that is the ultimate reward right there: to convey important information from the scientific world, translate it and communicate it so everyone can understand, and so ultimately everyone can make a difference!

A risk of this however is misinformation.

At one point in the TedTalk, Washington said that certain countries in Africa hosted the highest numbers of species diversity. While this can be true, diversity is such a vague term that is tossed around in our society, and people really don’t know what that means. In conservation biology (and a class I am taking right now), we are learning that there are so many meticulous definitions of diversity: alpha, beta, gamma, structural, functional and so on. Numbers of species refer to alpha diversity, but people don’t know this and therefore they can interpret the information they receive very differently! So what is the balance? Should we bother with the picky terminology with our audience or not? As important as it is to know the differences between all these forms of diversity, I think what is more important is the message and getting your audience to care. 

Scientists conducting research and publishing articles of their important findings are great; but the accessibility, both of the paper and the writing itself, are scarce. It is sad that the scientific language is closed off to the rest of society;  but a lot of papers are only accessible through whatever institution your associated with, and even so once you try to read these papers, they’re near impossible to understand unless you have years of education trying to understand them (what I have been doing the past 3 years). And that closes a lot of doors to people, and these important things will ultimately be lost, and what’s the point of that then? 

We know that change lies in the hands of policy, but politicians are far from being scientists. So if not policy makers, it’s up to civilian action and the good old case of supply and demand. If people want something and believe in it and make choices to buy something for a cause, that will increase demand, and therein lies the change. But if we don’t communicate, and the scientists of the world keep to themselves in their science bubble, nothing really is going to change. 

What are solutions to this issue?

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Great post! I agree that scientific papers are increasingly separated from the general public, often resulting in scientists to preach to the choir. This is very dangerous, as can be seen in recent weeks with Covid misinformation, the Ottawa truck convoy, and even politicians taking advantage of cherry-picked information. These dangers come from people reading articles that they can understand, that most often are not well-sourced or peer-reviewed and do not come from a government site. Instead they come from a fellow citizen that heard it from somewhere else with unclear agendas. When information is the most accessible both to create and read, people who want to learn about something are often having to skim through hours of articles to find one that half confuses them and half answers their question. That is, if they have the time and attention to give. In our textbook I found a quote that I loved, and it will stick with me for years “think like a wise [scholar] but communicate in the language of the people” (Beck et al, 2018 p. 130). I really liked the questions you raised: “Should we bother with the picky terminology with our audience or not?” and “So, what is the balance?”  My answer is yes--it is worth it to show the audience that there are many different terms and meanings that can be jargon but the balance is to just clarify the ideas so they understand the main point you want them to remember.  

                                                   Reference

Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). p 130 Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

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Nature Through Art

Nature through art is interesting as there are many different forms from photorealism to abstraction. Art can sometimes convey information that words can’t making it an amazing tool to express the beauty of many aspects in nature. As an interpreter of nature, we have to create positive environments to allow others to experience a feeling of hope based on sharing the past and present beauties of nature. I would describe myself as artistically challenged when it comes to drawing and any type of painting, but I do love to take pictures of landscape and nature as when I look back at the picture it almost makes me feel like I’m there again bringing back memories. To all the countries I have visited I always try to take as many pictures as possible of the different topography and culture. “Art is such a unique way of interpreting nature; it goes beyond speech and uses a range of techniques, such as paintings, photographs, and music to convey information that words alone cannot (Beck et al., 2018)”. This is a great quote and really speaks volume about how your art is a useful aspect in seeing different perspectives in nature.

According to Hahn, the Social Declines of Modern Youth, if I had to add one for today it would be the decline in care caused by the increased time of devices and social. This whole emerging tech savvy world distracts us and disconnects us from others, but this also overlaps with the rest of them. Fitness, memory and imagination and self discipline are all affected by the increase of screentime. Nature through art can be enjoyed by everyone and could help us to communicate and care more. Maybe this is the answer to distract our younger generation from screens and social media??  

The gift of beauty is to inspire others to connect with the beauty of nature. This goes further then themselves and to the surroundings in a spiritual way. Developing a connection that is bigger than yourself, your experiences, and your values. Instead, coming to the realization that we are all connected through nature. As humans we are part of nature and part of the life cycle that continues to develop overtime.

Nature interpretation through art involves artistic visual representation of nature as it’s a perfect way that an interpreter can give their audience the gift of beauty. Through art we can channel the meanings associated with a place and its elements from plants, bodies of water, rocks, and animals. The gift of beauty inspires resource preservation and conservation motivating us to protect this beautiful world for our future generations.

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I fully agree with your point that as interpreters we have to inspire and motivate people. If people's first impressions of nature are fear, dread, and boredom, there will be no reason to feel connected. I feel the same as you, in that the use of pictures can change the perspective people may have on animals as well. For instance, some may be afraid of lions. But if people are shown pictures of their care towards their young it can change their perspective of the lion into a sensitive animal.  I  have a different viewpoint on technology and the environment, however: I feel that technology has given people a way to connect better then before. For example, an article in The Globe And Mail reports that musicians are pulling their music off Spotify due to harmful misinformation on Covid-19 being spread on the app (Harris, 2019). This resulted in subscribers' involvement as well. Technology used for interpretation allows people to get involved and make a stand. I like how you described the feeling of being a part of the world as being connected to something bigger than humans. In our textbook, it says nature interpretation creates public welfare, family values, community and stability (Beck et al. 2018).  This is led by the interpreters reaching the best of humanity, like for example how Jan Van Boeckel said: “ignition of the participants’ fascination and curiosity, centered in an increased awareness of their own bodies and interactions with the natural world” (Boeckel, 2015).            

                                                References

Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

Harris, A. (2022). Canadian musicians follow Neil Young and Joni Mitchell in removing their music from Spotify over COVID-19 misinformation. The Globe And Mail. .

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/article-canadian-musicians-follow-neil-young- and-joni-mitchell-in-removing/#:~:text=Following%20the%20lead%20of%20Neil,podcast %20The%20Joe%20Rogan%20Experience

Jan van Boeckel. (2015).  At the heart of art and earth: an exploration of practices in arts-based environmental education. Routledge Taylor and Francis Group. https://journals-scholarsportal- info.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/pdf/13504622/v21i0005/801_athoaaopiaee.xml

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How Art Creates Change

My brother at a climate strike. Photo by: Laura Broadley/Times-Journal

Pictures are a vital form of language due to their power.  Interpreters often use that power when talking about nature and how important it is to protect it. People become alienated from nature if they do not see its intrinsic value, rather than just technical terms and resources.  If aspects of nature are never seen, there will be no awareness of  how beautiful it is and how to protect it.  A picture of a child holding a sign to protect his future cannot go unnoticed and the feeling it creates in the hearts of the citizens which then motivates politicians is what is going to make a better future: art brings a sense of caring that cannot be gotten from words on a page.  To answer this week's questions “who am I to interpret nature through art and how do I interpret the gift of beauty” (Hooykaas, 2022): I am the one to present the art and the information, but leave the art for the observer to experience, because that is the main purpose of most art, not for someone to dictate what to think, feel, or do--but to present a different way of seeing the world.  I interpret the gift of beauty as a breath-taking escape from everything the audience has to worry about and give them an experience of new knowledge and motivation.  In chapter 5 of our textbook, it talks about how Sam Ham connected tangible things with intangible things to create a universally understood experience helping to tell a story Ham was interpreting (Beck et al. 2018).  That is what I aspire to do: give that urgency and life to the stories I'm trying to convey.

I took this picture of the moon.

Theatre is also often used to act out important information in a more engaging way for the audience.  For example as mentioned in the textbook, the interpreters use made-up characters to educate about weather, natural cycles, and animals (Beck et al. 2018).  Having this understanding as an interpreter helps to get all audience members interacting with the presentation.  Professional interpreters use arts judiciously to convey impactful messages and enrich the experience (Hooykaas, 2022). This can help the presentation feel more inclusive in that the audience is part of the story. when stories are told with all senses involved  they help the subject matter to the people.  Even though storytelling is very old, there has been a revival that is becoming evident (Beck et al. 2018).  I found the video for TedTalks by the speaker Mihaly Csikszentmihaly inspiring because the way he described how people throughout history went to special places to feel ecstasy which is commonly known as flow (Csikszentmihalyi, 2004); this is exactly how people who encounter nature in this way describe how they feel.  Presentations that include art help people visualize and experience things in nature they may not be able to otherwise.  Giving them a deeper understanding of the importance of the presentation.  

                                                References

Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore- Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2004). Flow, the secret to happiness.[video]. TED Talks.

https://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_flow_the_secret_to_happiness 

Hooykaas, A. (2022). Risk versus Reward in Interpretation. [Unit 3 course reading]. nature interpretation course University of Guelph.

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Privilege

To me privilege is when someone is given a special advantage or right that is available only to them. The video “Social Inequalities Explained in a $100 Race” really shows the meaning of privilege, it showed how privilege has a lot to do with circumstances in our lives that we cannot control. The questions asked were things that the participants could not control in their life, for example, one of the questions was “take two steps forward if you never wondered where your next meal was going to come from” this statement made me grateful for my parents because they have granted my siblings and I privileges, because of their own hard work to give my siblings and I a better life than they had.

As I unpacked my invisible backpack, I realized that I am middle class, Nigerian, female. I am given access to many things without having to work hard for it, which I will continue to be grateful for every day. I believe that I am privileged for having things like:

·      a roof over my head

·      A Canadian and Nigerian Passport

·      Free health care

·      Supportive parents, siblings and friends

·      Traveling

·      Food at the table

Privilege is an important factor of nature interpretation. No one views nature the same as others, this is because of the different lives people have. As a child the only nature I experienced was going to the beach and one camping trip, I was not much of an outdoor person mainly because I lived in the city, so I did not have much access to nature. My friends had access to nature so they grew up going camping, on hikes and kayaking, they got to experience nature in a way I couldn’t growing up. Still there are some people who do not have the privilege of experiencing nature even as little as I did because they did not have the same opportunities I had.

When thinking about privilege and nature interpretation. Last summer I tried to go on a camping trip with my friends from Nigeria and they had absolutely no interest in going camping, the thought of sleeping outside in the middle of the woods did not sit right with them, at first, I was a bit annoyed that they did not come but then I realized that they grew up differently than I did. When I was in high school, I got to go on camping trips and experience nature a bit more, but my friends didn’t have that growing up, I never really thought about calling this privilege but thinking more about it, it definitely is.  

[kh-genvs3000w22]

I liked how you described privilege in your post. I agree the video “Privilege Class Social Inequalities Explained in a $100 Race” was very impactful. Your story about going camping illustrates what the textbook was saying about fear and knowledge difference being a big demotivator for people to not go out in nature.  Fear of wild animals and not knowing the paths well and maybe getting lost were some main reasons people stayed away from the woods (Beck et al. 2018).  Having parents that had the time, money, knowledge, and equipment to go on family camping trips is a vary unique privilege. I feel that it is a common experience that even if someone does not grow up with nature like you, at some point they may connect with it later. That is one reason I found the story of Jessica in our textbook inspiring: she was locked in her comfort zone until she decided to go on a huge adventure and joined a program that took her into the woods (Beck et al. 2018).  I think to reduce privilege influencing nature interpretation you have to as the interpreter ask yourself the questions posed this week in the unit reading: “why are you doing what you are doing, where is your motivation and how might these answers impact the connection between the audience and the interpreter” (Hooykaas, 2022)? If a person talks passionately about nature they can inspire people to feel connected to nature, no matter their life story.

                                                     References

Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore- Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

Hooykaas, A. (2022). Risk versus Reward in Interpretation [Unit 3 course reading]. Nature Interpretation Course University of Guelph.    

[kh-genvs3000w22]

I have a question I wanted to answer in my post this week about privilege: how does privilege influence nature interpretation? It's important to realize that how people are treated often informs how they treat or think about nature.

When talking about privilege in nature interpretation, I feel that it is crucial to highlight that when people have different privileges, they may not have the opportunities to enjoy time in the woods, instead of focusing on other necessities of life. I am privileged and acknowledge that many people may not have the same experiences. I have been home schooled my whole life, free to gear my studies to my interests, and my parents encouraged me to get involved with environmental groups like Roots and Shoots, park clean-ups, volunteering at an outdoor education center, and nature hikes.  My family and I also go camping to the national parks around my area. I am also very fortunate to be in university. Peggy McIntosh talked about advantages as having an invisible backpack holding privileges that can be cashed in any situation that requires access (Hooykaas, 2022). I realize that in my invisible backpack, due to the opportunities I have been given, I have the knowledge needed to get employment in my preferred career.  This has created many opportunities for me to develop my passions.  In answer to a point raised in unit 3 of this course “does describing one's privileges make one newly accountable” (Hooykaas, 2022), I would say 'yes': becoming aware of the opportunities and benefits you've had makes you accountable for how you present yourself and the way that may influence how others feel you perceive them.    

I took this picture of Lake Erie at a campground where I had the privilege to work.

My definition of privilege is when certain people or groups of people are born and/or raised with opportunities that others do not have, including a lack of structural barriers.  The way privilege was described in our unit readings helped me better understand how it influences the relationship between people and the environment. When talking about privilege, it takes empathy, time, and exposure to really understand the full effect it has. As Nancy Gallavan said: exploring democratic principles, equity of the educational system, and social justice both amongst peers and in the world establishes awareness and responsibility for one another (Gallavan, 2005).  I see the connection between nature interpretation and how to do my part to make my future programs more inclusive. I try promoting inclusiveness, respect, and support in every interaction between myself and others no matter the privilege difference. Now I see, as mentioned in our textbook, having captions on videos, wide smooth paths, and roving interpretation are a few physical ways to support people (Beck et al. 2018).  I recognize that these will help a larger group to enjoy nature and be able to benefit from the activities available. But it still is not enough: do you have any ideas on how to be more inclusive?

                                                   References

Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural  Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore- Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

Gallavan, N.(2005). Help Teachers unpack their invisible knapsacks. Gale Academic Onefile https://go-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/ps/i.do? p=AONE&u=guel77241&id=GALEA137921591&v=2.1&it=r&sid=AONE&asid=9fe2f151   

 Hooykaas, A. (2022). Risk versus Reward in Interpretation. [Unit 3 course reading]. Nature Interpretation Course University of Guelph.

[ejenvs3000w22]

What Role Does “Privilege” Play in Nature Interpretation?

Privilege to me is defined as an advantage or right given to a particular individual or group that other people do not have based on their socio-economic, identity, and cultural characteristics. After this units reading, I realized that other peoples experiences and ways of life will change the way they engage with the world and their relationship with our environment. This definitely comes into play when an interpreter is trying to convey a message and tries to use direct experiences to generate enjoyment with the audience. You must take into account what privilege you audience has been given to be able to appreciate nature the same way as you.

As I unpack my "invisible backpack" I can point out that I am a white male, high-middle class, English speaking, have a Canadian passport, and is able to attend university from funding by my parents. I can say that I am extremely privileged in our society and my given privilege has allowed me to participate in activities with nature that others may not be able to participate in because they do not have the privilege to do so. Obviously, anyone can walk outside, go to a park, and have accessibility to nature like anyone else.

But, when it mainly comes down to their socio-economic status, they might not been given opportunities to embrace nature more than others. For example, (as I mentioned in my first blog post) I have been given the opportunity to go on a school trip to Italy and that was one of the best experiences of my life. After that trip, my relationship with nature changed; sparking my interest in sustainability and appreciating all types of nature no matter where I am in the world.

Not everyone can be given opportunities like this in their lives and having that privilege can be misunderstood by others. This changes peoples perspective on nature and it is important to acknowledge that when you are a nature interpreter. You want your actions to impact your audience in a positive way. Assessing those economic, cultural, and communication barriers that arise around the topic of privilege as mentioned in the textbook, are challenges interpreters must overcome to reach their audience and help them form meaningful relationships with nature.

[kh-genvs3000w22]

Hello Erminio,

I enjoyed reading about how you think of privilege and how it affects your life. I had similar experiences as you when learning about this week's materials. Although I have to disagree with you on the fact that not everyone has the opportunity to go out to a park or walk outside. There are people who live in cities with limited green spaces and there are elderly people who live in long-term care homes where the staff do not have the resources necessary to take the residents out to parks.  Even to go out of their doorstep could be challenging for some with wheelchairs, walkers or are blind.  Time is another dividing privilege: some people do not have time to spend in nature instead of putting their effort into more pressing issues. In our textbook, it describes even more of these challenges: the lack of vehicles, not being able to pay admission, culture or language differences, and fear of the unfamiliar (Beck et al. 2018). I liked how you pointed out that interpreters need to be aware of their own privileges and how they are perceived by others to establish meaningful connections with the audience. A similar point was mentioned in the textbook when it suggested one way to check how you as the interpreter will be perceived is to come early to the presentation and ask visitors simple questions to get to know them a little (Beck et al. 2018).  I also liked your video. Where did you go in Italy?  

                                                   References

          Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural    Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore- Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

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02: My ideal role as an interpreter

My ideal role as an environmental interpreter would be to use my knowledge of the processes in the environment to educate others as well as improve it. I would ideally like to work in western Canada at a national park working to provide knowledge for visitors and information for the park on how to best fix environmental issues. I would ideally be providing tours for visitors, as well as monitoring and advising the park for anything issues that need attention. This role is vital in protecting our national parks from people and ensuring that these parks last for centuries to come. 

A picture of the national park Mount Revelstoke, it is 270 square km big and is in British Columbia Canada. This park would take my top pick out of any others in Canada.

This would not be an easy job and is not something anyone could do. Some skills I would need for this job are to have an abundance of real-life experience and knowledge with the surroundings in that area, as well as a degree in environmental sciences. The degree is important because it will provide me with the knowledge to know every biological and chemical process in the environment. Another important skill to have would be to have lots of patients, because not everything in nature happens quickly. I must be very good at recording observations and conveying the information I am seeing. Another necessary tool to have would be to have lots of cultural knowledge in the area because it is important for people to know the significance of the cultural relationship that some species have with humans. 

An interactive sign that is used to educate visitors about the history, characteristics, and cultural aspects of the forest in front. These types of signs can be very useful in protecting the area in front because when people read about the importance of it, they will think twice before destroying it of littering on it.

I think this job would be perfect for me because I take pride in the amount of knowledge I know about the environment and it makes me feel good to educate others for the good of the environment. Education is so important because the more people know, the better they will be able to preserve and protect our planet. I also really enjoy being in nature and can sit quietly for hours watching my surroundings and am passionate about doing whatever I can do to better the environment. I love western Canada and it is one of the most beautiful and pristine areas in the world, which is what makes it so important to protect as well.

[kh-genvs3000w22]

Hello Sam,

I really enjoyed reading your post, especially the way you expressed how passionate you are about the environment. Throughout the textbook so far, there has been a focus on passion; Freeman Tilden explained in his set of principles “Passion is the essential ingredient for powerful and effective interpretation.” (Beck, et al. 2018 p85). When encouraging people to care about the environment, enthusiasm driven by passion is essential. With your post, you effectively highlighted the skills needed to preserve the environment at National Parks. I agree that it does require fundamental niches to be understood and protected. And it is extremely important for the visitors to understand why plastic bottles or wrappers cannot be left behind, due to the leaching of toxins that may happen in the soil and plants surrounding it (Plastic Planet, 2021). I feel the same as you about the environment, and love reading and exploring all the complex interactions there are in the world. I think it would be great to work at a park somewhere. Although that is not my ultimate passion. I also love the pictures you included--what a beautiful park! Your point about the importance of teaching people to take care of the land reminds me of the quote by Aldo Leopold in chapter 5 of our textbook: “The key job of the interpreter boils down to one of helping people to perceive more acutely the world around them” (Beck et al. 2018 p 90). Good luck going for your goal.

                                              References

Beck, L. Cable, T. Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. (85-90) Sagamore- Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

Plastic planet. (2021). Plastic Planet: How Tiny Plastic Particles Are Polluting    Our  Soil. UN Environment Programme. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/plastic-planet-how-tiny- plastic-particles-are-polluting-our-soil