Krishna

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Unit 10 Blog Post

As a nature interpreter, my personal ethics heavily emphasize respect for the environment while ensuring that actual knowledge is being taught. My favourite way to approach almost anything is making sure that it’s personalized. Of course, I am catering to a general audience, but I would make sure that I’m remaining authentic to my true self and allowing others to interpret what they see their way. To do this, I would involve tons of story-telling as I think this could create opportunities for those I am teaching to apply their memories and experiences to what they see. I would also try to incorporate building a deeper appreciation for nature through the various forms of art, as this helps me feel stronger about protecting the environment and maintaining its longevity.

A strong emphasis on respecting the environment would be one of the points on my agenda that I am heavily pushing. Bringing up conservation and respect for the environment would allow for the idea of sustainability to begin to be fostered, along with creating a genuine environment for all those I am teaching to adopt these ideologies. I would hope that through storytelling, I can begin to mention the loss of habitats for specific species and the impact that it has on the ecosystem and surrounding species just so my audience can start to think more about what we can do to conserve our environment and all the organisms that reside in it. Incorporating these ideas into the stories that I tell can help make sure that a wide variety of ages can easily digest the content I am teaching. 

One way to ensure that I maintain authenticity while being an interpreter is to foster the deeper emotions I feel in nature by being drawn to the artistic aspects of what I see. While in nature, I tend to think of the songs I am reminded of by the feelings I have, along with appreciating the actual view that I see in the environment, which causes me to feel more of an emotional connection to the surrounding areas, allowing myself to create a deeper appreciation for nature. Serenity is one of the feelings that being in nature provokes of me, which I mentioned in my original discussion post. I’d hope that by trying to get people to connect with the artistic aspects of being in nature, including the natural sounds you’d hear with the songs that being nature reminds you of, you can have this same feeling relayed. While this may not be the case for everyone, I think it can still be conveyed to certain people or similar feelings can be felt. 

I prefer approaches that are more focused on the engagement I get from my audience. Ideally, I would take people on interpretive walks through a variety of environments. I would create conversation as I went on these paths to better understand my audience and cater more to its current demographic. Having the adaptability to speak to different audiences would benefit my approach and allow me to ensure that I can relay my content and information to any age demographic. My responsibilities as an interpreter would be to create a safe environment for my audience to connect with each other and their surroundings, and have conservation and respect for the environment, which are two things they leave with after I finish our walk/hike. It would be my responsibility to have these ideas be what my audience feels stronger as I hope I can inspire them in the slightest to put more effort into conserving and protecting our environment and, along with that being more respectful to our environment and the state that is into they can feel strongly about and begin to become mindful of their own actions that impact our environment.

I think I have the qualities to be an effective interpreter as a few of my strengths are in public speaking and communication. These two skills would be highly beneficial for connecting and reaching my audience. When being an interpreter who is guiding a crowd on a walk and trying to teach them, the way you communicate depicts just how they interpret what they see and whether or not they feel strongly about any of the ideas I am trying to teach them about. Using this could help me tell stories that are more engaging, help with all my responsibilities as an interpreter, and ensure that my ideologies and personal beliefs are taught. Hopefully, using my communication skills, I can foster a deeper appreciation for the environment from my audience and influence their own behaviours and emotions when they are in nature so they can feel stronger connections to nature, spend more time outdoors and hopefully inspire them to do what they are capable of to help with protecting our environment.

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Unit 09 Blog Post

The most amazing thing that I love about nature is bioluminescence. Fireflies are a prime example of this and are near and dear to my heart. In the summertime, there are so many of them around my cottage and they are such a breathtaking sight to see. When the whole forest around us is twinkling in the night, I am always overtaken by a sense of awe and wonder. These creatures, and their amazing ability to create light naturally is one of the most amazing things in nature! This aspect of nature really reminds me of an important principle from our textbook, that "involvement with nature doesn’t begin in adulthood, but rather during early-to middle-childhood" (Beck et al., 2018). I think the aspects of nature that I have the deepest admiration for are things I experienced when I was young, which added a magical and nostalgic element to them. As a child, I loved running around in the dark catching fireflies and watching them light up inside my hands, which is probably why I have such a fondness towards them.

Bioluminescence is an incredible natural phenomenon, but many people don't know the science behind it. It comes from a complex biochemical reaction involving two key components: luciferin, a light-emitting compound, and luciferase, an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction. What is so special about the way fireflies create light is that they lose very little amount of energy as heat, because otherwise their bodies would overheat (which is an amazing feat!) (Dunuweera et al., 2024).

The chemical reaction goes like this: Luciferin + Oxygen → Oxyluciferin (in a reactive state) + Light

Fireflies can control their light emissions with remarkable precision. They can switch the light on and off by regulating the availability of oxygen, ATP, and the enzymatic reaction itself. This ability to flicker their lights serves multiple purposes, such as attracting mates, signaling to other fireflies, and warning predators about their potential toxicity (Dunuweera et al., 2024). What I find so amazing about this is that something as beautiful as the lightshow fireflies provide at night is actually an adaptation that helps them survive.

Fireflies are just one example of bioluminescence in nature. This phenomenon is found in various organisms across the animal kingdom, each showcasing unique adaptations. For example, bioluminescence is prevalent in the ocean, where many creatures produce light, and bioluminescence is actually most commonly observed in marine creatures. There are deep-sea lanternfish that use their bioluminescent organs for camouflage, jellyfish that use it to deter predators and attract prey, and famous dinoflagellates that create beautiful displays in the ocean. When dinoflagellates are disturbed, they emit light and create a beautiful glowing effect in the water (Dunuweera et al., 2024). If you've never seen the ocean light up under your hand like magic because of these creatures, it really is a sight to see. I was lucky enough to travel to visit my friend on Vancouver Island, and off the coast of her cabin, late at night, we went outside to the shoreline and saw flickers of the bioluminescent dinoflagellates that are so famous. It was truly amazing to see, and a memory that I'll never forget. Placing my hand and seeing the water light up around it was honestly nothing short of magical.

Humans have clear fascinations with bioluminescence, which is why it pops up in many famous movies like Finding Nemo and Moana. I think it is no coincidence that art forms like movies and the technologies of animation have tried to convey and capture the beauty of bioluminescence in nature.

Lastly, I honestly think this topic came into my mind because of the recent northern lights many of us might have had the chance to see! I happened to be up at my cottage with my family while they were visible, and it was an incredible experience that I'll never forget. Seeing the Northern Lights had always been something on my bucket list, and I was so excited and lucky to have been able to view it. Although it's not the same phenomenon as bioluminescence, I think that any kind of lightshow in nature has such a magical and wonderful element! I've included some pictures below from the night that my family and I sat on our dock to watch the lights, mostly sitting in silence in awe of the spectacle above us.

Light is a beautiful thing in nature, and I believe bioluminescence is one of the most magical and amazing things we get to experience :)

References

Dunuweera, A. N., Dunuweera, S. P., & Ranganathan, K. (2024). A comprehensive exploration of bioluminescence systems, mechanisms, and advanced assays for versatile applications. Biochemistry Research International, 2024, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/8273237

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

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Blog Post 9

Nature has many aspects that can be intriguing for people to analyze and learn about. For me, the absolute most amazing thing about nature is the relationships between every species that react with each other, in other words, the symbiotic relationships that occur. Many of these interactions can occur between multiple species. They can show signs of mutualism, where both species benefit, or parasitism, where one species reap a benefit, and the other is harmed.

An example of mutualism that has always stood out to me and was first mentioned to me by my mom was the relationship that woodpeckers had with trees, more specifically, trees that were infested with insects and pests. My mom would tell me how she would always see woodpeckers going at trees as a kid. She would watch them all day and be so annoyed by how loud they were, but she was unaware that woodpeckers were trying to eat the pests and insects that were harming the trees. This would benefit the trees as there would be less damage to them being caused by pests, and it would benefit the birds as they would now have some sort of food. She used this as an analogy with me when I was a little kid because she was trying to explain why I had to take showers (i know, please understand I was like 5 years old). She said that if I took a shower, I would feel refreshed, and she would not have a stinky kid running around so it was good for the both of us. I guess the woodpecker story worked out because now I love showering lol.

The symbiotic relationships in nature are vital to ensuring that species can continuously grow alongside each other and do different things that only they could do to benefit each other and the ecosystem as a whole. It’s almost like all the little gears working together to make a clock function. It’s important to factor these relationships in when we consider the way we preserve and care for nature. It goes to show that without certain species being in specific environments, we could see collateral damage to the ecosystem as a whole and is a reason for us to strongly care about how we maintain nature. These relationships are definitely one of the most amazing things I know about nature and is a topic I could go on about as it’s important to learn about how species interact with each other in order to understand how detrimental the loss of certain species can be.

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Unit Seven Blog

What is music really? I’m asking that rhetorically, but also, to be honest, I don’t really know the answer. I have never had a good singing voice, nor have I ever been able to play an instrument, so I am probably not the most qualified person to speak on what music is. I’ll give it my best shot, though. Because I think there can be a very straightforward answer: music is made by singing and or by playing instruments, it can be written or composed ahead of time, or made up on the spot, and it is meant to evoke feelings from the audience. However, I think the alternative answer is that music is much less rigid and can come from any source, so long as the sounds we hear are ones that bring forth some kind of emotion.

It is through that second definition, that I believe music exists in nature. In my opinion, the sounds of nature themselves are very musical—the rustling of a breeze through the treetops, the crunching of leaves on the ground, and, of course, the more literal music of birdsong. Personally, the sounds of nature instill in me a feeling of peace and contentment; does that not make them musical? That these sounds are able to bring forth any emotion in me speaks to their musicality.

As for the inverse, where nature is in music, I once again think there’s a few options. One of the more obvious is just songs that are about nature or use the natural world to describe other things, like “Wildflower and Barley” by Hozier, or “The View Between Villages” by Noah Kahan. But there are also songs that aren’t necessarily about nature but, for one reason or another, remind us of the natural world—whether it’s because remind us of a particular event, contain a couple of lyrics that reference the environment, or bring up the same feelings we experience in nature.

A photo I took when I was fortunate enough to see Noah Kahan in concert and got to see him play "The View Between Villages" live. It certainly was extra powerful to me in that moment.

A great example of nature being represented in music is provided in Virpi Sahi’s article “Using folk traditional music to communicate the sacredness of nature in Finland.” In the article, Sahi reveals many insights about Finnish folk music and poetry, making a very interesting point to discuss all the different ways that these folk songs contribute to nature interpretation, such as by inspiring feeling, channeling shared experiences, and putting into words things that not everyone may know how to say. Specifically, Sahi notes the importance of experiencing these folk songs live, and I think anyone who has been to a live music event or concert can attest to how much more impactful the experience is in real life.

Personally, I can think of many songs that fit into all three of those categories, but one of my favourites is the song “Fear and Friday’s” by Zach Bryan. It’s not a song about nature, but reminds me of a trip I went on with my friends last summer. We went to the Silver Lake State Park in Michigan and listened to this song practically on repeat (not intentionally, but the cell reception was too bad to load any other playlists, and my friend only had one downloaded). The entire trip was spent outdoors—we went to the beach, sat around a campfire, ate breakfast on the patio, and of course, drove around the dunes. Now whenever I listen to that song, I am reminded of flying over the dunes and the pure joy I felt spending that time with my friends. These memories are something I am so grateful for, and I wouldn’t have them if it weren’t for the preservation of natural landscapes like the Silver Lake sand dunes. In my future as a nature interpreter, I hope to instill this kind of gratitude in others. If anyone has been to the Silver Lake sand dunes or would like to share a similar story, I would love to hear what you have to say.

These are two photos I took this past summer in Silver Lake. The image on the left is of some vehicles lined up along the top of one of the dunes. The image on the right is a view of the sunset over Lake Michigan.

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Unit 07 Blog Post

The relationship between music and nature is profound and timeless. Nature is a vast soundscape, and for as long as we can recount, humans have drawn inspiration from its rhythms and melodies. Indigenous cultures like the Tlingit and Inuit have long been attuned to natural sounds, like whale songs and African tribes have incorporated the deep, low-frequency sounds of elephants into their cultural expressions. This deep connection between natural sounds and human music spans across species, cultures, and time. Whales, birds, and humans create music with striking similarities, despite the millions of years we have spent diverging from one another evolutionarily. Humpback whales compose songs that follow structures and patterns remarkably akin to human music, using repetition and rhythm similar to human composers. Likewise, birds sing intricate songs with call-response patterns, and even sing in recognizable scales. This shared musicality across species suggests that music might be more ancient and universal than we might initially think. I believe music could be an intrinsic part of life itself, a form of communication that precedes human invention.

Natural soundscapes have long inspired human music and found their way into human compositions, serving as a reminder of our connection to the natural world. Music imitates the flow of rivers, the rustle of leaves, and the calls of animals. I think it is beautiful that we try to emanate and embody the harmony and beauty we perceive in the environment. I believe that music acts as a medium that reawakens our emotional and spiritual connection to nature, offering a way to better understand nature’s significance beyond its material or economic value. For example, when forests like the ones in Finland are viewed only in terms of forestry management, this view diminishes the forest's sacredness and alienates people from a spiritual connection to the land. However, folk music, which is deeply rooted in cultural and spiritual traditions, can offer a way to bridge this gap through the spiritual experience it can provide. Nature can be understood in many different ways: scientifically, economically, emotionally, spiritually, and much more. This is why it is important to use an interdisciplinary approach when interpreting nature.

I believe that music can be a powerful tool for inspiring an audience of people to connect with nature. Because of its intrinsic ability to awaken our emotions and our spirits, when used in the context of nature and interpretation, it could be a effective tool for fostering deep relationships with nature and encouraging environmental stewardship.

In a time where technology is more prevalent than ever and humans are more and more engrossed by their phones, I believe music is a possible avenue for encouraging people to spend time outside and connect with nature. A challenge of interpreters is to convince people to get involved with nature. Although it might seem obvious to say that we should encourage people to simply throw away their tech as the solution to get into nature, technology isn't going away. As interpreters, we can either embrace it or fall behind. The internet, social media, television, music and much more can all serve as ways of reaching the masses and informing people about interpretive opportunities. Technology is a great way to communicate broadly, and I think this ties in with the theme of music being a method of communication, one that can convey meanings that go beyond words. Technology is a fantastic way to learn about nature and be encouraged to see the beauty in it, and something that certainly comes to mind for me are the many Planet Earth documentaries narrated by David Attenborough, which are impeccably good at capturing the vast diversity of our planet.

Lastly, a song that transports me to a natural landscape: Flowers by In Love With a Ghost. This is a simple instrumental song that I have loved for years, which incorporates natural sounds like running rivers within its composition. I have always found it very calming and lullabylike, and I associate it heavily with taking walks out in nature because that is when I listen to it the most.

I think it is no coincidence that many people can think of a list of songs they associate with nature, and that is because the two are deeply and intrinsically connected!

Thanks for reading! :)

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Blog Post 7

Music in nature can be found almost anywhere, from hearing the cascade of a waterfall to birds chirping and bugs buzzing. The sounds heard in nature are their form of music, and I always find that every noise can blend into such a soothing harmony. The ambience created in nature, especially when you do not hear any noise from people or traffic, really allows for such calming emotions to be felt. I find myself more of a productive studier when I listen to ambient music, as it allows me to focus. I think this is exactly the same way in nature, as hearing the ambience wildlife creates will enable me to focus on my thoughts and appreciate what I see more. 

I could go on about the ambient sounds created by nature and how it’s crazy to think that the wind blows against trees just happens to harmonize with crickets chirping, but tons of artists and composers bring elements of nature into music. I grew up with a solid music background as I played in a string orchestra and played the saxophone and piano, so I have played a lot of classical music, and it always stood out to me how certain composers try to mimic the sounds of nature in their music. A piece I remember giving me so much trouble learning as a kid was called A River Trilogy by John O’Reilly, a common piece for kids in the band to learn. It was memorable once I learned how to play it, but the composer combined two pieces, Deep River and Water is Wide, which tries to curate a sound reminiscent and inspired by the sounds you hear from water and what emotions it provokes.

Now, a couple of songs that IMMEDIATELY take me back to natural landscapes are Self Control by Frank Ocean, Drew Barrymore by SZA, Skeletons and Telekinesis by Travis Scott. The first two are extremely calming songs that I remember standing out so much during a cottage trip my friends and I went on. These two songs would always find their way into the song queue when we were all just sitting by the water and talking about the most random conversations. I remember at night after we lit a bonfire, we could see the stars and lightning across the lake because the skies were so clear, which we weren't used to in Toronto. We were listening to Telekinesis, and the combination of seeing the lightning and the stars was genuinely one of the most scenic moments I’ve experienced and created a core memory. I tried taking pictures of the lightning and stars, but they came out so blurry so just trust me on how cool it looked.

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Blog Post 6

The value and importance of history when considering nature interpretation is critical to understanding the roots of the land we stand on. The quote highlights the role of integrity when acknowledging the memories attached to ancient things. When we think of the history of certain aspects of nature, it’s imperative to remember that the land we stand on here in Canada has a deep history attached to it. Those who are nature interpreters should always be mindful of this and ensure that those they are guiding are being taught to honour the cultural and spiritual aspects of the land. 

The quote suggests that we, the reader, should be mindful and not forget the past, as it is still a part of history and affects what we see in the present. It makes me think of nature, which has been affected by severe weather storms, and how things have changed. My uncle lives in Vancouver, and I remember him telling me about the windstorm that affected Stanley Park. People who don't live in Vancouver and visit Stanley Park are most likely unaware of the crisis that occurred, which plays a crucial role in the park's history as it was a time when the community came together to help restore the park. Making sure that we pay attention to the history of this part is beneficial in ensuring that proper protocols are set in place if a similar scenario occurs. 

I think learning the history of the nature we interpret can help foster deeper relationships with what we see. Another aspect of history with nature can be our history of visiting these parks and trails. Creating memories in the outdoors brings our personal history into play and is something we can pass down to younger generations when the time comes.

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Blog Post 5

Since there is no blog prompt this week, I’ve decided to talk about one place at home that strengthened my appreciation for nature: Tommy Thompson Park. Growing up in the city, my friends and I would spend hours and hours outside, either playing basketball or biking in the city. My mom would hate whenever we would bike through traffic, so she told my friends and I to try finding a trail to go through. This is how we found Tommy Thompson. The path we’d take was extremely calming as it was such a drastic difference in sound. Going from hearing traffic and sirens to almost nothing but buzzes from different bugs and hearing your bike on the road was something I was not used to as a kid, but as I got older, I grew more appreciation for the peace. 

Seeing wildlife, which I was not used to as a kid, was a shock. I’d love to stop on the trail and watch birds other than pigeons in their natural habitat. Tommy Thompson is where I saw my first snail, owl, and different species of spiders, and trust me, I know these aren't the most exotic animals you could see, but going from pigeons and raccoons to this was insane as a kid. When COVID hit, I’d go biking here with my friends as this was our way of seeing each other while practicing social distancing, and those memories we made are something I cherish dearly. This past summer was the first time I had gone biking with my friends at Tommy Thompson since the lockdown and being hit with all those old memories was such a bittersweet moment. It felt like a full-circle moment, and it just so happened that I had seen one of the cutest little snails that was the same species as one of the first snails I saw at this park. I’m so grateful for living in Toronto since I feel the lack of nature I saw as a kid made me grow a profound appreciation for nature and understand the importance of preserving what we have.

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Blog Post 4

The gift of beauty is a concept that entails that people interpret their surroundings and should be able to find beauty in them. Nature interpretation gives people the freedom to perceive their surroundings in many ways, and its artistic aspect is something that I have yet to touch on in any of my posts, but I have always kept it in mind. Partially because I think most of us find nature beautiful, it was not necessary to point out the obvious. 

While my artistic capabilities have been on a consistent decline since I was born, my consumption and passion for art have continuously grown as I grew older and finding a deeper appreciation for the beauty of nature is something that ties in with my love for art. The beauty of nature can be subjective, as people's cultural beliefs and experiences affect the depth of their appreciation for it. The aspects of its beauty not only consist of the vibrant colours of various flowers but also of the scents and sounds that you can only hear in specific environments. My favourite way to describe being in nature is experiencing true serenity. I’ve always felt that being in enclosed forests and conservation parks brings an entirely different atmosphere. Seeing my favourite colour everywhere (green) allows me to enjoy the sights I am seeing truly. The other feelings nature can provoke are also part of the gift of beauty, as different scenery can help people express various emotions. I always find myself being able to reflect more when I look at large bodies of water or feel more sombre going on a walk through a forest at night. 

The group of seven played a significant role as I got older, as their paintings always caught my attention whenever I visited the Art Gallery of Ontario. Their work has been a symbol of Canadian nature, and many of what they painted are sights I have yet to see in person. A piece of artwork that has always stood out to me was The Cloud, Red Mountain by Fredrick Varley, a member of the group of seven. This piece shows the costal mountains of British Columbia and has always stood out to me with the way the colurs of the hills are so distinct from the rest of the scenery, yet it fits in perfectly. Seeing artwork like this at a young age made me search for more scenic views in real life and has taught me much about appreciating the sights I can see. It will always excite me to travel and see more of the natural beauty in the environment. 

Appreciating the gift of beauty can deepen one's connection with nature, as seeing certain things can impact one's own emotions and attach memories to them. With the broad scenery that nature provides and how different regions look and feel different, a variety of feelings can be expressed, and this is an extremely important aspect for myself when I interpret nature.

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Unit 4, Blog #1

The “gift of beauty” is explained in the textbook as the idea that interpretation should give people the ability and desire to find beauty in their surroundings, also enforcing spiritual uplift and the value of resource preservation. I feel this would be a very personal and important aspect of any nature interpretation I carry out in the future as nature, beauty, and art are very closely linked in my mind. As I discussed in the Unit One posts, nature has been a source of inspiration for much of the artistic media I have engaged in, both through attempting to capture the true beauty of nature, and through combining personal interests and interpretations (such as with the childhood sketch I posted in a previous blog entry).

The nuance and range in art depicting nature, even just based on Canada, is very interesting to consider. It can show how perspective, culture, and experiences can shape the artistic process for many people and result in such unique interpretations of the same landscape. The distinctions between the arts of various Indigenous communities, older works from the Group of Seven, and modern interpretive nature art highlight this. I believe this also indicates how important a variety of art is for effective nature interpretation, as some people may connect to one type of art, while others will be unmoved by it. This is crucial to consider as art has a strong capacity to promote interest and emotion related to a subject. Appealing or thought-provoking art could be an important draw for some people to engage with the environment and interpretive experiences to form deeper connections and understandings.

Something that comes to mind immediately when discussing the intersection of art and nature is the environmental art by Andy Goldsworthy. One of his most popular art pieces that some people likely recognize is the glowing tree roots, as shown below, though he does have a fairly extensive catalogue of works.

^Fallen leaves placed surrounding the roots of a sycamore tree (Andy Goldsworthy, 2013).

The idea of his works is one that represents the ephemeral value of nature’s beauty in an artistic lens, effectively combining the discussion topics here. He aims to create art that will exist temporarily within nature, constructed out of nature’s own elements. This is very impactful to me as it demonstrates the beauty that can be found around us if we are able to appreciate it.

I also believe nature itself has such a wide variety of beauty that it can be appreciated by anyone, regardless of what type of beauty they are hoping to see. Whether a person wants a stunning, humbling view such as a massive waterfall or incredible sunset; or a more peaceful view, such as a river or tranquil forest; there will be something each person can enjoy. This can also lead people to want to return to nature interpretation events if the different sights or seasons are advertised as unique experiences.

I am greatly looking forward to reading everyone’s posts and replies on this unit as it is such a personal subject with so many angles to consider.

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Unit 03 Blog Post

Privilege is often viewed as a contentious topic, often conjuring up strong emotions and opinions from different groups of people. The word “privilege” and its meaning are not at all offensive—it simply refers to individuals or groups of people who have inherent advantages over other individuals or groups of people for a variety of reasons (usually socioeconomic). I think a key part of that definition is the word “inherent”. Many people, many of whom are well meaning, would likely at first try to deny that they are “privileged”—again, this comes back to the negative connotations surrounding the word. These well-meaning people would likely feel disgusted at the thought that they have somehow disadvantaged others. The reality is that many people have some sort of privilege that is awarded to them from birth. It is not something that they chose, but it is something that they must acknowledge—and doing so is the first step towards making the world a more inclusive place.

            In nature interpretation, privilege is a HUGE consideration. I think it could be argued that almost all (if not all) forms of nature interpretation come from a place of privilege. Starting out basically, even being in the same vicinity of where nature interpretation is to occur takes a certain amount of privilege. Getting to a park or natural area often requires the use of a vehicle. Further to that, some areas may not be on a public transit route, and even then, there are monetary costs associated with using public transportation. The financial costs don’t stop with transportation—often there are admission costs to get into green spaces or partake in educational programs (which could open a whole other can of worms regarding funding). These financial costs would indicate that there are sufficient funds available to partake in these programs. This also brings up the point that even if prospective visitors would really like to visit a place, it just may not be feasible. One could argue that the interpreter could go to the audience—but even this brings about considerations about privilege. Where would the event occur? A school? If they do go to a school, isn’t there some inherent privilege with getting an education? Privilege is so built into our society; it is difficult to delineate exactly where it starts and stops.

            Further to this, nature interpretation must also take into consideration the past experiences of the audience (rooted in privilege), and the interpreter should never make assumptions about their audience. Not everyone has access to the same resources and information. The interpreter must be sure to provide explanations “from the ground up”; that is, provide a basis of knowledge such that everyone in the audience is able to connect with the ideas, and as such have the emotional reactions, that the interpreter is aiming for. This could also be as simple as recognizing that this could be someone’s first time visiting a certain area or seeing a wild animal. You never know just how significant something could be in someone’s life, and this needs to be considered accordingly.

            As interpreters, I think it is easy to fall into the trap of mundanity, but it is important to remember that to someone the experience that you are giving them could very well be life-changing and leave an impact that lasts for eternity.

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Blog Post 3

To me, privilege refers to an advantage that certain groups of individuals receive. Typically, it leads to inequality, as privileged people experience benefits that others do not. Regarding nature interpretation, privilege can refer to various aspects, including an individual’s access to nature and the amount of information provided in specific environments such as conservation areas. As someone who grew up in Toronto, I was not as privileged to experience a lot of nature at a young age due to being in a highly urbanized area with small amounts of forestry. The great thing about university was meeting so many people from different places in Ontario. It was a gateway for me to visit their hometowns and see the difference in our environments and how different our access to nature was. 

Access to nature can limit how people appreciate it. Those with regular access to nature appreciate it much more, as it breeds a sense of familiarity. People who live in areas with more nature spend more time in it, creating more memories and building a more profound connection than those without access, as they are more likely to have less appreciation. This ties in with the privileged information certain people receive about the environment, as some people simply may not know enough about nature to have a better connection with it. 

Another way privilege ties into nature interpretation is through travelling. Those privileged with the ability to travel can visit many more areas with protected natural spaces and tourist attraction points, giving them access to many locations that some people cannot afford. Travelling allows you to visit different regions of the world and see various wildlife that you usually wouldn't see at home. Experiencing different types of environments can be incredibly eye-opening, allowing those who experience them to have a greater appreciation of their surrounding environment. 

I find that I didn't appreciate nature as much as a child until I was exposed to new environments. Whenever we had field trips to visit different parks and learn about their respective ecosystems, I became more interested in and appreciative of my surroundings. This also led me to want to explore more beyond Toronto, going to various protected natural parks and seeing the different species of plants and animals. I’d say one place I hold very dear to my heart is Evergreen Brickworks, an environmental center that used to be a brick factory. It’s next to the Don Valley River, where we would go on field trips during elementary school to learn about conserving biodiversity. It’s close to where I live, and I’m incredibly privileged to have been here, as it sparked my more profound appreciation for nature. My friends and I often visit it as it has a great biking path and is definitely a gem in the city.

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Blog post 2

My ideal role as an environmental interpreter would involve creating a deeper connection with nature and people while educating them on environmental sustainability and protection methods. This role would entail critical responsibilities such as explaining the importance and historical context of the environment. Depending on where this interpreter works, the process of engaging the audience and the level of information they would need to provide will be determined. Despite children having shorter attention spans, I believe they could grasp the same amount of information as adults listening to a podcast. Still, the method of delivery would have to be catered to a younger audience. This could be done by explaining various ecosystems and what wildlife lives in the environment instead of going into extreme detail about certain plant species. 

Not everyone can be an environmental interpreter. To truly engage the audience, an interpreter must be experienced and have extensive ecological knowledge to foster deeper connections with the audience and the nature they are learning about. I would prefer to be an interpreter in the outdoors rather than through an online delivery method so that I can be encased in what I am learning about and deepen my learning through an experience rather than trying to visualize it in my head. Alongside being outdoors, I need to broaden my communication skills to get all points across to the audience while ensuring the terminology being used is understandable and simple enough. Ideally, I would love to take my audience on actual hikes where I’d have the routes memorized and be able to point out various aspects of the environment, for example, pointing out species that are being heavily affected by climate change and methods of preserving the respective species or being able to tell the history of the hiking trail. This would help me engage the audience by giving them things they can relate to. 

As an interpreter working outdoors, I’d stress the importance of respecting the wildlife’s habitat, as we would not want to harm or scare the animals we encounter. Alongside the animals we encounter, just in general, being respectful to the environment would be one of the key takeaways I’d aim for the audience to leave with, as this will help create new habits for people that do go out in public and litter or pick things off of plants without knowing if any harm is being caused to them. As an interpreter, I help the audience foster a deeper appreciation for the environment. By pointing things out and advising against things such as littering, I can help create a more significant environmental impact. I do not have any preference on what kind of trails I take my audience on. Ideally, it would be a path that I have taken before or somewhere I could do some research before engaging with the audience to create the best possible presentation for them.

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My Relationship With Nature

My current relationship with nature has strengthened extremely as I’ve found a lot of serenity and peace in the outdoors. I say strengthened since I’ve spent much more time in nature this past summer than in previous summers. I was born and raised in Toronto (actually downtown and not like Pickering). As a kid, I spent a lot of time biking and exploring various parks such as Tommy Thompson Park, Evergreen Brickworks and the small area of forestry near Riverdale Park. When I turned 16 I visited my uncle in British Columbia and was shocked to see the difference between the skyline of Whistler and Toronto. My experience in British Columbia was filled with tons of hikes and visiting various parks. This past summer my friends and I visited a few conservation parks in Southern Ontario including Mount Nemo and Laurel Creek Conservation Area. Seeing conservation parks was extremely eye-opening as the nature fix I got as a kid was extremely limited. Spending time in these isolated parks made me feel more connected to myself as the drastic change in noise in the city compared to a hiking trail gave me a lot of personal reflection time and allowed me to find a form of escapism. The time I spent on these hikes gave me time to slow down and enjoy my surroundings instead of worrying about getting from point A to B quickly. 

Although my relationship with nature has strengthened a lot compared to before, I’ve only experienced and seen such a small portion of nature in Ontario, leaving me with so much more to explore. I’m excited to grow and experience more of the outdoors, especially when it comes to seeing more not just in Ontario but worldwide. The picture above was taken on the path at Tommy Thompson Park. I thought this picture depicted a good portion of my childhood as a majority of it was spent in the city until recently when I began spending more time in the outdoors. When it comes to a sense of place in nature, I’d say my mom was the person who gave it to me. She would always tell me stories of her life before moving to Canada and the scenery in Sri Lanka. She’d always stress the importance of enjoying nature and not taking it for granted especially when considering the effects of climate change. I’d spend a lot of time at Evergreen Brickworks with my mom and we would walk through the trails often and that got my love for being in the outdoors started early. I’ve taken a few courses on climate change so I’m also aware that I need to explore more sooner rather than later as the effects of climate change worsen which is why I see my relationship with nature only getting stronger as I mature. I only see my life getting more hectic as I get older meaning I’m going to need to make sure I have downtime to relax.

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DISCLAIMER

This blog was created for ENVS*3000, University of Guelph. 

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

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