Katya's ENVS Blog

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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.

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Personal Ethics

As I develop as a nature interpreter, my personal ethic is deeply rooted in a desire to make a positive change in an ever-evolving world. I am driven by the aspiration to inspire others to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the natural world, emphasizing that we are a part of nature, not just co-inhabitants of our planet. My beliefs are centered around the critical importance of animal conservation and rehabilitation strategies, focusing on addressing and mitigating major concerns such as habitat destruction, poaching, and the impact of roadways on wildlife. I am committed to exploring and sharing ways to overcome these barriers, aiming to reflect the knowledge and experiences I've gained to inspire others.

I acknowledge the responsibilities that come with this role, including the duty to convey accurate information, foster a sense of stewardship towards the environment, and engage people from diverse backgrounds in meaningful discussions about conservation (Beck, et. al., 2018). My approach to fulfilling these responsibilities leans towards leveraging written and published work, as I find my strengths more pronounced in these areas compared to verbal communication (Beck, et. al., 2018). I am also keen on utilizing visual signs and signage as effective tools for interpretation, believing that these methods can powerfully convey messages about conservation and the natural world (Beck, et. al., 2018).

The preface of the textbook, Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage, highlights the multifaceted role of interpreters, who are tasked with transforming facts into engaging stories and experiences (Beck, et. al., 2018). This resonates with my ethic, as I see the value in using various media, including blogs, social media, and exhibits, to reach and educate a wider audience (Beck, et. al., 2018). Interpreters are described as ambassadors, a role I embrace by striving to serve as a bridge between the natural world and the public, encouraging a deeper appreciation and understanding of our planet's biodiversity (Beck, et. al., 2018).

The ideals of interpretation stress the importance of offering experiences that involve and resonate with visitors, promoting values such as peace, beauty, truth, diversity, and sustainability. These ideals align with my belief in the power of interpretation to inspire individual growth and communal action towards a better world. The philosophy of interpretation, with its focus on sharing the wonder and beauty of life, guides my approach to engaging with audiences and fostering a collective sense of responsibility towards environmental conservation.

In the context of environmental education, the challenges of climate change, habitat destruction, and biodiversity loss underscore the urgency of my mission (Roden, 2019). . Despite the complexities and siloed nature of these issues, I remain hopeful and committed to teaching and empowering the next generation to act (Roden, 2019). . Recognizing the limitations that keep children indoors, I advocate for more opportunities for outdoor learning, believing in the transformative power of direct experiences with nature to cultivate a sense of connection and stewardship among young people (Roden, 2019).

In conclusion, my personal ethic as a nature interpreter is anchored in a commitment to conservation, education, and engagement. By leveraging my strengths in written and visual communication, I aim to contribute to the collective effort to protect and preserve our natural world, inspiring others to join in this crucial endeavour.

References:

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

Roden, J. (2019). Why Environmental Educators Shouldn't Give Up Hope. Clearing. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

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Hi Abbey, 

It was lovely reading your discussion post. I found that I related a lot to your post. For example, when you talk about the ambition you have towards using various media outlets to be able to educate and engage with a wider audience. I have to agree with you and the Preface of the textbook. This is such a strong tool in today's age and I feel it is probably the most effective way to reach a target audience. Many kids nowadays use electronics a lot more than we did when we were little. Children who are learning and growing up are so impressionable. Educating  people from a younger age allows them to become familiar with these concepts and eventually grow up to develop their own interpretations and ideas. I’ve noticed a lot more outdoor classroms in place now at schools to allow children the opportunity to learn in a naturalistic environment which can actually help with educating them (Beck et al., 2018, pp. 53). 

I love the aspiration you have for wanting to teach the next generation. I hear a lot “Why should I care I will be dead when that happens” which is such a terrible view to have. It's selfish, how can you bear leaving your children's children to suffer and fend for themselves. This kind of mentality is the problem. We need people like the devoted nature interpreters to speak up and educate on these issues. Caring for the environment doesn't have to be a hard thing or political in any sense. It just needs a little attention and deep-rooted motivation for wanting to do good. I think you encompass the role of a nature interpreter exquisitely! Great work Abbey:) 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing, (pp. 53).

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Final Blog

Throughout this course, I have developed not only as a person but also as a nature interpreter, and as I continue to change into a nature interpreter in whatever form that may take, I want to bring a few personal ethics with me. The first ethic is that I want my love and passion for nature always to be evident. Interpreting often involves sharing facts and telling history, which is highly informative. If done correctly and with good interpretation in mind, it should also connect with people and boost their view of the world through a sharing of passion (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 5). It is also vital for me to carry the love of nature and work to have others fall in love with nature the same way I did. I believe love for something initiates learning, solving problems, and protecting fundamental issues in a changing world with many environmental and ecological challenges. Love is also where many children begin to learn; they develop a love for nature and then grow to learn more about complex concepts and ideas (Rodenburg, 2019). Lastly, I want to ensure that I continue to learn and encourage others to continue to learn. There is endless knowledge to be had, and I want to encourage people to realize that it is never too late to stop learning. 

As I work towards becoming an experienced nature interpreter, I want to bring a few beliefs with me, beginning with the fact that everyone wants to learn and sometimes just needs more help. Many people have barriers such as being too busy, physical or mental ailments or lack of financial ability (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6). Despite barriers, everyone can participate in nature interpretation and continue to learn more about the world around us. I also believe in sparking joy with participants. Making people fall in love with nature is the key to handling more significant issues such as climate change. 

Being a nature interpreter involves many responsibilities ranging from the goals of interpretation and spreading a message to ensuring inclusion for everyone. Along with many responsibilities, I think a few take the cake for importance, and I would like to focus on these. The most important responsibility is creating an inclusive environment that is supportive of learning for everyone. You can have a fantastic message and interpretive performance, but if not everyone can see or experience it, then there is no point. A critical aspect of this is accessibility. If someone is blind, I have to ensure they have components they can participate in, such as having brail pamphlets or information boards; if someone is in a wheelchair, I need to provide either an accessible, safe walk or, if that is not possible provide an online component offering the same experience (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6; Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6). It is also important for me to include people of all ethnicities and races, whether through hiring a diverse team of individuals or being aware of different individuals with differing beliefs on religion, history or politics (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 5). It is also crucial to get to know my group before beginning to interpret (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6). Talk to them, hear their perspectives and change my program depending on the discussion (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6). Understanding the people you are interpreting is key to sharing your message with them. My last key responsibility involves creating an effective interpretation program. I have to be able to pick out unique features of a place, relate them to the common person and create a bigger picture and sense of place through an enjoyable, organized method (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 5; Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 1). Ensuring that the entire story is shared by including history is essential to avoid only relaying parts of the pieces (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 5). Overall, there are many responsibilities when interpreting. However, the most important thing to me is getting to know the people with whom you share your message to tell a story effectively. 

Everyone is different, which makes nature interpretation fun because everyone brings different experiences, passions and abilities. When it comes to interpreting, I will be sure to include as many multiple intelligences as possible to try to reach all learners. However, I have a few that I think I would be best at, and those are bodily-kinesthetic, naturalistic and musical. I learn the best through these types, and I feel I can relate to learners who are similar to me. Using hands-on experiences out in nature is an easy way of teaching because this is how I learn. The same goes for musicals, as I remember lyrics and sounds well. I can use music to connect audience members to what I am interpreting. I also feel that I can connect with people very well. I have always been more of an introvert who would rather sit back and watch other people than be the one in the spotlight. This gives me an advantage when getting to know the audience, like what they are interested in, their barriers or why they are there. I can then tailor my interpretation to suit the audience best, allowing them to get the most out of the program (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6).  Another approach that I would be effective at using is art. I have always connected with art and have been creative growing up. Art is used to help convey messages, remember facts, and set tones (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 10). By using pieces of nature to make art, using art mediums to draw or recreate nature, or using music, I can effectively interpret and add more to a program. One last approach I want to use, as I think it suits me, is using history to change perspectives and give a place more meaning (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 15). I never used to be interested in history and thought it was boring; however, I have recently begun to change my opinion, and I see the value in it being used. I want to share this newfound passion with people and use history to create and tell a complete story about a place. I want them to imagine the place in it is past and understand how it has changed to where it is now and why that change has been important. This could be incredibly important when discussing topics such as climate change, where landscape changes can be seen through things like glaciers receding. 

Nature interpretation will look different for everyone as we bring unique perspectives, assets and passion to the field. I want to know how you think nature interpretation will be incorporated into your life in the future. 

References:

Beck, L. Cable, T. T. & Knudson, D. M. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Available from: Sagamore Publishing LLC, Sagamore Publishing LLC, 2018.

Rodenburg, J. (2019). Why environmental educators shouldn’t give up hope. Environmental Literacy. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300.

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Hey Olivia, 

What an incredible post. You demonstrated such an impeccable understanding of course content and what it means to encompass the title of a nature interpreter. I was specifically impressed by the accessibility portion. I’ve taken a couple of courses that have touched on this concept numerous times. It is so overlooked and tends to create a lot of division. Taking it upon yourself to ensure that as an interpreter you can reach people of all kinds shows immense amounts of maturity, sensitivity, and awareness.

Part of being a successful leader is connecting and relating to others. The human species is based on interconnection and how we connect with others and have relationships with them. There's a sense of trust that comes along with being able to understand an individual. This trust can then be used in terms of relaying your information or messages to your audience. Beck et al. (2018) exemplifies this beautifully by saying, “Seek relevancy by learning what matters most to them, their values and interests. Take time to build an active relationship of trust and involvement”. This way you can then proceed on a foundation based on familiarity and comfortability in which you can guide your fellow interpreters to join you during this process (Beck et al., 2018, pp. 158). 

Curating your interpretation in ways that can be understood by all is an extremely successful approach and it is clear that you are aware that different styles impact different people. I would also agree that my personal best styles to use would be along the lines of those that you mentioned. I also agree with the fact that hands-on experience in nature can be a very effective way of teaching and I would personally be someone who benefits greatly from this kind of experience. Overall lovely discussion post Olivia!:) 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing, (pp. 158).

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Final Blog

Throughout this course, I have developed not only as a person but also as a nature interpreter, and as I continue to change into a nature interpreter in whatever form that may take, I want to bring a few personal ethics with me. The first ethic is that I want my love and passion for nature always to be evident. Interpreting often involves sharing facts and telling history, which is highly informative. If done correctly and with good interpretation in mind, it should also connect with people and boost their view of the world through a sharing of passion (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 5). It is also vital for me to carry the love of nature and work to have others fall in love with nature the same way I did. I believe love for something initiates learning, solving problems, and protecting fundamental issues in a changing world with many environmental and ecological challenges. Love is also where many children begin to learn; they develop a love for nature and then grow to learn more about complex concepts and ideas (Rodenburg, 2019). Lastly, I want to ensure that I continue to learn and encourage others to continue to learn. There is endless knowledge to be had, and I want to encourage people to realize that it is never too late to stop learning. 

As I work towards becoming an experienced nature interpreter, I want to bring a few beliefs with me, beginning with the fact that everyone wants to learn and sometimes just needs more help. Many people have barriers such as being too busy, physical or mental ailments or lack of financial ability (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6). Despite barriers, everyone can participate in nature interpretation and continue to learn more about the world around us. I also believe in sparking joy with participants. Making people fall in love with nature is the key to handling more significant issues such as climate change. 

Being a nature interpreter involves many responsibilities ranging from the goals of interpretation and spreading a message to ensuring inclusion for everyone. Along with many responsibilities, I think a few take the cake for importance, and I would like to focus on these. The most important responsibility is creating an inclusive environment that is supportive of learning for everyone. You can have a fantastic message and interpretive performance, but if not everyone can see or experience it, then there is no point. A critical aspect of this is accessibility. If someone is blind, I have to ensure they have components they can participate in, such as having brail pamphlets or information boards; if someone is in a wheelchair, I need to provide either an accessible, safe walk or, if that is not possible provide an online component offering the same experience (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6; Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6). It is also important for me to include people of all ethnicities and races, whether through hiring a diverse team of individuals or being aware of different individuals with differing beliefs on religion, history or politics (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 5). It is also crucial to get to know my group before beginning to interpret (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6). Talk to them, hear their perspectives and change my program depending on the discussion (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6). Understanding the people you are interpreting is key to sharing your message with them. My last key responsibility involves creating an effective interpretation program. I have to be able to pick out unique features of a place, relate them to the common person and create a bigger picture and sense of place through an enjoyable, organized method (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 5; Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 1). Ensuring that the entire story is shared by including history is essential to avoid only relaying parts of the pieces (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 5). Overall, there are many responsibilities when interpreting. However, the most important thing to me is getting to know the people with whom you share your message to tell a story effectively. 

Everyone is different, which makes nature interpretation fun because everyone brings different experiences, passions and abilities. When it comes to interpreting, I will be sure to include as many multiple intelligences as possible to try to reach all learners. However, I have a few that I think I would be best at, and those are bodily-kinesthetic, naturalistic and musical. I learn the best through these types, and I feel I can relate to learners who are similar to me. Using hands-on experiences out in nature is an easy way of teaching because this is how I learn. The same goes for musicals, as I remember lyrics and sounds well. I can use music to connect audience members to what I am interpreting. I also feel that I can connect with people very well. I have always been more of an introvert who would rather sit back and watch other people than be the one in the spotlight. This gives me an advantage when getting to know the audience, like what they are interested in, their barriers or why they are there. I can then tailor my interpretation to suit the audience best, allowing them to get the most out of the program (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6).  Another approach that I would be effective at using is art. I have always connected with art and have been creative growing up. Art is used to help convey messages, remember facts, and set tones (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 10). By using pieces of nature to make art, using art mediums to draw or recreate nature, or using music, I can effectively interpret and add more to a program. One last approach I want to use, as I think it suits me, is using history to change perspectives and give a place more meaning (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 15). I never used to be interested in history and thought it was boring; however, I have recently begun to change my opinion, and I see the value in it being used. I want to share this newfound passion with people and use history to create and tell a complete story about a place. I want them to imagine the place in it is past and understand how it has changed to where it is now and why that change has been important. This could be incredibly important when discussing topics such as climate change, where landscape changes can be seen through things like glaciers receding. 

Nature interpretation will look different for everyone as we bring unique perspectives, assets and passion to the field. I want to know how you think nature interpretation will be incorporated into your life in the future. 

References:

Beck, L. Cable, T. T. & Knudson, D. M. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Available from: Sagamore Publishing LLC, Sagamore Publishing LLC, 2018.

Rodenburg, J. (2019). Why environmental educators shouldn’t give up hope. Environmental Literacy. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300.

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Final Blog

Throughout this course, I have developed not only as a person but also as a nature interpreter, and as I continue to change into a nature interpreter in whatever form that may take, I want to bring a few personal ethics with me. The first ethic is that I want my love and passion for nature always to be evident. Interpreting often involves sharing facts and telling history, which is highly informative. If done correctly and with good interpretation in mind, it should also connect with people and boost their view of the world through a sharing of passion (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 5). It is also vital for me to carry the love of nature and work to have others fall in love with nature the same way I did. I believe love for something initiates learning, solving problems, and protecting fundamental issues in a changing world with many environmental and ecological challenges. Love is also where many children begin to learn; they develop a love for nature and then grow to learn more about complex concepts and ideas (Rodenburg, 2019). Lastly, I want to ensure that I continue to learn and encourage others to continue to learn. There is endless knowledge to be had, and I want to encourage people to realize that it is never too late to stop learning. 

As I work towards becoming an experienced nature interpreter, I want to bring a few beliefs with me, beginning with the fact that everyone wants to learn and sometimes just needs more help. Many people have barriers such as being too busy, physical or mental ailments or lack of financial ability (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6). Despite barriers, everyone can participate in nature interpretation and continue to learn more about the world around us. I also believe in sparking joy with participants. Making people fall in love with nature is the key to handling more significant issues such as climate change. 

Being a nature interpreter involves many responsibilities ranging from the goals of interpretation and spreading a message to ensuring inclusion for everyone. Along with many responsibilities, I think a few take the cake for importance, and I would like to focus on these. The most important responsibility is creating an inclusive environment that is supportive of learning for everyone. You can have a fantastic message and interpretive performance, but if not everyone can see or experience it, then there is no point. A critical aspect of this is accessibility. If someone is blind, I have to ensure they have components they can participate in, such as having brail pamphlets or information boards; if someone is in a wheelchair, I need to provide either an accessible, safe walk or, if that is not possible provide an online component offering the same experience (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6; Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6). It is also important for me to include people of all ethnicities and races, whether through hiring a diverse team of individuals or being aware of different individuals with differing beliefs on religion, history or politics (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 5). It is also crucial to get to know my group before beginning to interpret (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6). Talk to them, hear their perspectives and change my program depending on the discussion (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6). Understanding the people you are interpreting is key to sharing your message with them. My last key responsibility involves creating an effective interpretation program. I have to be able to pick out unique features of a place, relate them to the common person and create a bigger picture and sense of place through an enjoyable, organized method (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 5; Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 1). Ensuring that the entire story is shared by including history is essential to avoid only relaying parts of the pieces (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 5). Overall, there are many responsibilities when interpreting. However, the most important thing to me is getting to know the people with whom you share your message to tell a story effectively. 

Everyone is different, which makes nature interpretation fun because everyone brings different experiences, passions and abilities. When it comes to interpreting, I will be sure to include as many multiple intelligences as possible to try to reach all learners. However, I have a few that I think I would be best at, and those are bodily-kinesthetic, naturalistic and musical. I learn the best through these types, and I feel I can relate to learners who are similar to me. Using hands-on experiences out in nature is an easy way of teaching because this is how I learn. The same goes for musicals, as I remember lyrics and sounds well. I can use music to connect audience members to what I am interpreting. I also feel that I can connect with people very well. I have always been more of an introvert who would rather sit back and watch other people than be the one in the spotlight. This gives me an advantage when getting to know the audience, like what they are interested in, their barriers or why they are there. I can then tailor my interpretation to suit the audience best, allowing them to get the most out of the program (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6).  Another approach that I would be effective at using is art. I have always connected with art and have been creative growing up. Art is used to help convey messages, remember facts, and set tones (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 10). By using pieces of nature to make art, using art mediums to draw or recreate nature, or using music, I can effectively interpret and add more to a program. One last approach I want to use, as I think it suits me, is using history to change perspectives and give a place more meaning (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 15). I never used to be interested in history and thought it was boring; however, I have recently begun to change my opinion, and I see the value in it being used. I want to share this newfound passion with people and use history to create and tell a complete story about a place. I want them to imagine the place in it is past and understand how it has changed to where it is now and why that change has been important. This could be incredibly important when discussing topics such as climate change, where landscape changes can be seen through things like glaciers receding. 

Nature interpretation will look different for everyone as we bring unique perspectives, assets and passion to the field. I want to know how you think nature interpretation will be incorporated into your life in the future. 

References:

Beck, L. Cable, T. T. & Knudson, D. M. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Available from: Sagamore Publishing LLC, Sagamore Publishing LLC, 2018.

Rodenburg, J. (2019). Why environmental educators shouldn’t give up hope. Environmental Literacy. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300.

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The Last and Final Blog

Over my past 4 years here at the University of Guelph, the environment has been at the center of my focus. Immersed in this for 1460 days has truly shaped me into who I am as a person and defined what my ethics and values are. For every job I applied to, the question I always got asked was, Why is this something you want to pursue? My answer is always the same; By being a student who is immersed in this knowledge and knows the complexities of the environment down the molecular level, I feel that it is my moral duty to relay this information and educate others. As an interpreter, my personal ethics encourages me to help educate people on ways they can learn about their impacts and how to help. It is important to look back on the daily decisions you make to see how you are either contributing or helping the environment. Some situations can be exempted. For example, they say you should buy electric cars, however, CTV News reported that the average price for an EV vehicle has reached 73,000$ (Bickis, 2023). When the price of a car is this high, you cannot blame individuals for using their gas cars to get to work so they can put food on the table for their families. Understanding that not everyone is as privileged to live a fully eco life is one step closer to stopping the blame and a step in the right direction for education on how you can become environmentally friendly with your living status. Being taught about the imbalances in the environment as a result of human disturbances and the effects they can have is very scary. Constant exposure to this kind of content every day can seriously impact your thoughts and beliefs about life and the world. In my case, it became very motivating. It drives me to want to help educate others and contribute to organizations that are focusing on the preservation and conservation of our earth. 

This course has been a very pivotal experience for me. Although I love taking courses about the environment which includes biology and chemistry, this course forced me to look beyond just these numbers and the analytical lens. It forced me to think more intuitively regarding interpretation and environmental science. Understanding the needs of our earth and how much we impact it starts with admitting to yourself that there is a problem whether created by you or someone else, and that it needs to be addressed. Today, there has been lots of greenwashing which tends to turn people away from wanting to advocate for the Earth. There is such a divide between the general public knowledge and students/scientists. I can't tell you how many people have said to me “Oh, so you want to save the Turtles” when I told them I was in environmental science. This statement right here goes to show the lack of understanding between preservation and protecting the planet. Environmental science falls under a huge umbrella. It encompasses so much that goes beyond just implementing reusable or compostable straws. 

When I have conversations with people who are out of touch with reality, I feel nothing but sad for them. That they are not as fortunate to know what I know or that their motivations might be driven by something else. But I cannot blame them, knowledge is power but it's also money. I believe it is my right as someone who holds this kind of knowledge, to help people understand and become engaged and involved with the environment. However, I do also believe as people of this earth, it affects us all, and doesn't matter what your social status, race, gender, etc. is, it is something we should all be working towards understanding. Let's just put it this way, a hurricane doesn't care if you're a billionaire with a nice house. Beck et al. (2018) state that there are immense educational benefits associated with acquiring knowledge that can result in “an enjoyable and enriching experience” encouraging a more meaningful relationship with the topic of interest. It doesn’t matter who you are, you will be affected directly or indirectly and therefore I believe we all have an innate calling to preserve and protect the earth not only for us but for the generations to come.

Nature has been a huge component of my life whether it was in the classroom or my own personal outlet. I was taught from a very young age to appreciate nature in all its glory. Over the years I have become increasingly empathetic towards the environment. When I read about things in the news I can’t feel anything but sad. It's so disheartening seeing our earth become hurt and have to constantly rebuild itself. I constantly ask myself when. When will we learn? How long does it take for us to make a change? What brutal disasters need to keep happening for us to stop? Going back to first-year environmental science, we talked about nature having intrinsic value and I couldn’t agree with this statement more. Just like we learned in this course, even if we do not gain any materialistic value from nature and it does not directly or indirectly benefit us, it still has a purpose and is still valuable on its own (Rea & Munns., 2017). Many people are motivated based on economic return and unfortunately, the environment is at the centre of those decisions. The understanding of intrinsic value is based on an ecocentric standpoint which is developed from having a serious concern for the environment, something many people lack (Rea & Munns., 2017). This concern can come from upbringing and experience that shape how one views the world. For people who are struggling to put food on the table, the state of the environment is not typically their biggest problem. Effective interpretation as described by Beck et al., (2018) involves building new knowledge, values, and beliefs. Being open-minded to adopting new concepts can truly work wonders.

Finally, I feel it's my responsibility as an interpreter to educate. Social media is a very powerful tool in today's age and being able to raise awareness about situations regarding climate issues is a great way to expose the general public. I just hope we can create a sense of unity when it comes to caring for our planet and that it gets the attention it deserves because we only have 1, but 1 is enough if we do it right! 

Thanks, everyone for a great semester I enjoyed reading all your blogs! 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing, (pp. 42). 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing, (pp. 91). 

Bickis, I. (2023, October 22). EVs are getting easier to find -- but with price tags out of reach for many Canadians. CTVNews. https://www.ctvnews.ca/autos/evs-are-getting-easier-to-find-but-with-price-tags-out-of-reach-for-many-canadians-1.6612044 

Rea, A. W., & Munns, W. R. (2017). The value of nature: Economic, intrinsic, or both? Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 13(5), 953–955. https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.1924

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The Innate Intelligence of the Octopus

Hi everyone, 

This week we are talking about the most amazing things we know about nature. There are so many avenues to take when talking about this kind of subject however, the most prominent one that came to mind are Octopi! These are incredible aquatic creatures that possess very impressive qualities. I’ve always been interested in this species because of their unique way of life and all the cool advancements they are capable of. First and foremost, we all know Octopus have 8 tentacles and suction cups. But did you know that there can be over 200 suckers on each arm with the ability to lift 31 pounds (Pagowski, 2018)? Did you also know that these suction cups are how the octopi can taste things (Pagowski, 2018)? That's why they are so versatile to the octopus, because they not only use their tentacles to grab things but based on the taste of things, they can determine the difference between stationary objects or food (Siliezar, 2020). One extremely scary fact is that the Giant Pacific Octopus arm can reach a length of 6 meters or up to 20 feet, to put that into perspective, that's the length of one shipping container (Pagowski, 2018). 

Giant Pacific Octopus (Nature Picture Library, 2022)

Unlike many other creatures, this species has 9 brains and 3 hearts (Blue Planet Aquarium, 2022). Yup, you heard that right. They have 3 hearts, 1 which circulates blood around their bodies, and the other two pump blood to their gills (Blue Planet Aquarium, 2022). They have 9 overall brains, one brain known as the ‘central brain’ is used to control the body as a whole and then they have the other 8 located within each tentacle to control each arm independently (Associated Press, 2019). These are some of the more unknown facts, however, one of the most impressive facts is their ability to camouflage. Octopi up close look like they have speckled skin or spots. These spots are sacs containing pigment underneath the skin (WWF, 2019). When Octopi squeeze and contract these sacs, they can increase and mutate colours simultaneously while mirroring the surrounding colours (WWF, 2019). This is such an intricate and complex process. Being able to change colour and texture depending on the severity of the situation, location, and surrounding predators is a strategy that is so incredibly unique it is almost hard to comprehend. 

Camouflage Octopus (Science Friday, 2016). 

I hope at this point you are just as fascinated with Octopi as I am. Fun fact, you can say Octopuses or Octopi however Octopuses is more widely used and simpler, this is the preferred plural form. For me, Octopi just sounds better! I would encourage everyone to watch My Octopus Teacher on Netflix. This documentary highlights a very unique relationship between a filmmaker and a female octopus. We see the daily life of this octopus but eventually, they would develop a relationship so strong that she would wait in the same spot for him every day for a year. She was intellectually capable of developing a relationship and understanding the emotions associated with the presence of the filmmaker. He would wait until she would reach out to him. This female octopus would willing stick by the filmmaker whenever he would visit her at the beach. Her cognitive health was so strong, she portrayed actions not typically understood or seen in aquatic life. Unfortunately, the relationship between the two had to end to continue the circle of life. Female octopi die after laying their eggs and are already dead once these eggs hatch. The filmmaker had to let go of this relationship in order for her to fulfill her duty. It was a very emotional moment and some have a hard time comprehending this kind of physical relationship, but it exists between humans and nature. This is a prime example. It has been noted that for some females in captivity actually speed up this process purposely by mangleing themselves with their arms showing acts of self-harm (Wood, 2022). This theme has been common in many captive animals including orcas and proves to us that there needs to be an end to captivity. 

Sorry I went a little overboard with this one but I really hope you enjoyed this post. I think Octopi are so cool and intelligent animals I wanted to share with you all! 

AP News. (2021). 9 brains, 3 hearts: Some wild facts about octopuses. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/ba6e3fa5bb804565b9d6d666b6d40a73# 

ED_BluePlanet. (2022). Giant Pacific Octopus - Animal spotlight. Blue Planet Aquarium. https://www.blueplanetaquarium.com/sea-life/giant-pacific-octopus/ 

Giant Pacific Octopus - Northwest Wildlife Preservation Society. (2018). https://northwestwildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/giant-Pacific-octopus.pdf 

Siliezar , J. (2020, November 9). Octopus’ suction cups hold its taste and touch sensors. Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/10/octopus-suction-cups-hold-its-taste-and-touch-sensors/ 

Wood, M. (2022). What causes the octopus death spiral? new study points to changes in cholesterol production. University of Chicago News. https://news.uchicago.edu/story/what-causes-octopus-death-spiral-new-study-points-changes-cholesterol-production#:~:text=After%20a%20mother%20octopus%20lays,arms%20into%20a%20tangled%20mess. 

World Wildlife Fund. (2019). Meet the master of camouflage, the day octopus. WWF. https://www.worldwildlife.org/magazine/issues/spring-2019/articles/meet-the-master-of-camouflage-the-day-octopus#:~:text=But%20those%20spots%20are%20actually,out%2C%20depending%20on%20the%20situation. 

Photo References: 

Prints of Giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) experiencing freedom after release from captivity, Vancouver Island, British Columbi

Giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) experiencing freedom after release from captivity, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada,

Secrets of Cephalopod Camouflage

Ethologist Roger Hanlon has devoted a career to studying how octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish become inconspicuous.

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The Amazing Resilience of Nature

One of the most amazing things about nature is the incredible examples of resilience seen within ecosystems. In a world that is constantly changing, nature can persist through even the harshest conditions to bounce back to its original form or make way for new life.

What is resilience? There are many different definitions of resilience used in ecology. Ecological resilience can be described as a natural system's ability to absorb the effects of a disturbance before the system changes states (Death, 2024). Engineering resilience is a natural system's ability to bounce back from disturbances to its previous state (Death, 2024; Thorogood et al., 2023). Overall, resilience is the ability of an ecosystem to maintain its structure or function with little change following a disturbance.

Here is a picture my mom took of tree roots that had been lifted from the ground after a downburst occurred at our cottage. After my dad cut the fallen trees, the roots and attached soil fell back over the rocks. The next year many of the trees survived and new trees and shrubs grew.

The disturbances ecosystems face can be naturally occurring events such as seasonal floods, storms, and wildfires. Humans create additional pressures such as climate change, urbanization, overexploitation of natural resources, pollution, the introduction of invasive species and more (Thorogood et al., 2023). It is the organism's and ecosystem's ability to prosper in the face of these events that makes a natural system resilient.

It may be hard to believe but wildfires can be good for an ecosystem. Forests in Canada have experienced periotic natural disturbances such as fires, insect infestations, diseases, and floods for thousands of years (Canada, 2023). These forests have adapted to these conditions to live through these events (Canada, 2023). These natural disturbances are a natural part of the life cycle of forests and even help renew life in these areas (Canada, 2023).

Here is a picture of a wildfire burning near the Pondosy Bay Wilderness Resort in B.C. (Laanela, 2018).

As a fire swipes across a forest, a door is opened to allow new life to grow. As the tree litter on the forest floor burns, nutrients that have been stored are released back into the soil. These nutrients allow soil to support the growth of new plant and tree life. Forest fires open the forest canopy supporting new life to grow as sunlight reaches the forest floor (Canada, 2023). Amazingly, some species of tree such as lodgepole and jack pine trees need forest fires to reproduce (Bushey et al.; Canada, 2023). The heat from forest fires allows the cones on these trees to open and release their seeds. Without forest fires, these tree species would not be able to reproduce (Bushey et al., 2023).

This is a picture of the cones on a lodgepole pine tree. Picture from Forestry England (n.d.).

Forest's ability to survive and create new life following wildfires is an incredible example of natural resilience. However, the increased frequency and intensity of wildfires in the wake of climate change can reduce forests' resilience to fires (Bushey et al., 2023).

This is a picture of the cones on Jack pine trees. Picture from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (2014).

Humans can disrupt the remarkable resilience of many ecosystems through anthropogenic activities. For example, when extreme forest fires or floods occur annually there is not enough time to allow even the most resilient animals and plants to bounce back. However, when humans support nature, the true resiliency of nature can be truly inspirational.

The reintroduction of Yellow Stone wolves is a story I am sure many of you have heard. Between 1872-1926 wolves were hunted and removed from Yellowstone. Following the eradication of gray wolves, elk populations doubled, and overgrazing caused many plants and trees to die off (Peglar, 2023). The entire ecosystem was disrupted.

Rodent and bird populations declined due to habitat loss (National Geographic, 2024). Grizzle bear populations declined due to the lack of berries needed to eat before hibernation. The riverbanks eroded due to overgrazing and caused sediment to affect the water quality (Peglar, 2023; National Geographic, 2024). The whole ecosystem changed because of the loss of the gray wolves.

On January 12, 1995, eight wolves from Jasper National Park in Alberta were introduced to Yellowstone. A total of 41 wolves were introduced. Following this, the elk population was reduced and helped prevent overgrazing. The wolves even created elk populations more resilient to drought due to the thinning out of weak and sick elk (Peglar, 2023).

The wolves prevented elk from overgrazing along the river. This allowed trees to grow along the riverbank, protecting the river from erosion (Peglar, 2023). This improved water quality and supported beavers and aquatic organisms to increase in numbers (National Geographic, 2024). The reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park with the help of humans promoted biodiversity and higher resilience to this ecosystem.

Nature is incredibly resilient to the ever-changing conditions of the environment. With conservation efforts seen in natural areas and everyday action taken to protect the environment, people can help support the resilience of nature. By maintaining resilient ecosystems, humans and nature can thrive in a constantly changing world.

References

Bushey, D., Osmer, M., Green, H., Garneau, D., & Lesser, M. (2023). Forest resilience and regeneration dynamics following wildfire disturbance. Ecosphere, 14(9). https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4655

Canada, N. R. (2023, June 22). Why forests need fires, insects and diseases. Natural Resources Canada. https://natural-resources.canada.ca/our-natural-resources/forests/insects-disturbances/why-forests-need-fires-insects-and-diseases/13081

Death, R. G. (2024). The resilience of Riverine Ecological Communities. Resilience and Riverine Landscapes, 23–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-91716-2.00016-9

Enel Group. (n.d.). Ecological resilience: How ecosystems adapt to change. Enel. https://www.enel.com/company/stories/articles/2023/03/ecological-resilience

Laanela , M. (2018, August 15). B.C. declares state of emergency as hundreds of wildfires burn across province | CBC News. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-declares-state-of-emergency-as-hundreds-of-wildfires-burn-across-province-1.4785983

Forestry England. (n.d.). Lodgepole Pine. Forestry England. https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/lodgepole-pine

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. (2014, July 18). Jack Pine. ontario.ca. https://www.ontario.ca/page/jack-pine

National Geographic. (n.d.). Wolves of Yellowstone. Education. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/wolves-yellowstone/

Peglar, T. (2023, June 22). Yellowstone’s most controversial residents. Yellowstone National Park. https://www.yellowstonepark.com/park/conservation/yellowstone-wolves-reintroduction/

Thorogood, R., Mustonen, V., Aleixo, A., Aphalo, P. J., Asiegbu, F. O., Cabeza, M., Cairns, J., Candolin, U., Cardoso, P., Eronen, J. T., Hällfors, M., Hovatta, I., Juslén, A., Kovalchuk, A., Kulmuni, J., Kuula, L., Mäkipää, R., Ovaskainen, O., Pesonen, A.-K., … Vanhatalo, J. (2023). Understanding and applying biological resilience, from genes to ecosystems. Npj Biodiversity, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-023-00022-6

Picture Credits

Forestry England. (n.d.). Lodgepole Pine. Forestry England. https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/lodgepole-pine

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. (2014, July 18). Jack Pine. ontario.ca. https://www.ontario.ca/page/jack-pine

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Hi Tess, 

I really enjoyed reading your discussion post. It was extremely insightful and I learned quite a lot of new information. I would definitely say that you brought the field to all of us with this post! I thought your definition of ecological resilience was summarized in the most simplistic yet effective way possible. I think it's important to also note that biodiversity tends to play a crucial role in how ecosystems function and their resilience (Fanin et al., 2017). I will definitely say I was caught off guard by the Forest Fire information. I honestly had no clue that when trees are burnt down, this allows for the nutrients present to be released back into the soil to enhance further and new growth. I also had no clue that certain trees need forest fires in order to reproduce. Thats insane! I would also agree that humans 99% of the time create nature's downfall. We severely impact the natural life cycle and we are constantly forcing nature to change, adapt, and adapt to our disturbances. It's frustrating how some people are failing to see that we are the ones who are causing these widespread disasters. The introduction of the wolves is truly inspiring. When earth's natural cycles are thrown out of wack because of us, we have a moral duty to fix our mistakes. When we work with nature we truly can create a relationship that is nothing but harmonious and I think you exhibit this beautifully.  Resilience is such an incredible word. It's so universal. One thing I think we should all learn from nature is its resiliency, and its ability to adapt. When things get tough, nature fights back. Nature finds a new path to take to return to homeostasis. Nature is truly incredible. Overall great post! 

Fanin, N., Gundale, M. J., Farrell, M., Ciobanu, M., Baldock, J. A., Nilsson, M.-C., Kardol, P., & Wardle, D. A. (2017). Consistent effects of biodiversity loss on multifunctionality across contrasting ecosystems. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2(2), 269–278. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-017-0415-0

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Blog #7

Over the years, there has been such a disconnect between society and nature. I feel as though its importance and benefits are severely overlooked nowadays and unfortunately, that also means failing to give nature the credit it deserves. When you stop to listen, observe, and understand nature, you may come to realize how astonishing it is to have so many forces thriving together in one setting. The observations in nature are what help us comprehend the unity of the species and the ecosystem. Observation doesn't only mean visual, but auditory too. The sounds and music within nature are so incredibly intricate and they tell a story that we can interpret. Music in nature can be defined as many things from the trees rustling from the wind or the sounds of rushing water. However, for me, when I think of music in nature, it resonates more with the idea of communication in nature. I think communication is such a beautiful concept and the one thing that can tell you the exact emotions someone may be experiencing. Language in itself is a form of music and among populations, it is fascinating. When I think of music in nature I think of all the sounds I hear when I’m out in the summer. I mentioned in my response to someone however I wanted to talk about it here. CRICKETS! One of the most distinct sounds that everyone knows. Crickets make sounds with their wings and they respond to temperature. They move their wings faster when it's hot and slower when it's cold because as an ectotherm, their body depends on the outside temperature (NOAA, 2022). This movement creates a sound. The Tree cricket can “sing” anywhere from 2500 - 4000 hertz which is a measure of frequency or pitch (Rainsong, 2018). For reference, the average pitch range of a female's voice is 160 - 300 hertz (Re et al., 2012). The reason is am talking about crickets is because, for me, I consider this sound to be music in nature. Although I feel many people find it to be annoying, this sound evokes a particular feeling for me. The feeling of reminiscing. It doesn’t matter where I am, if I hear crickets, my mind immediately goes back to summer campfire nights at my cottage with my family. Such an amazing feeling and memory that I get so happy thinking about being back there again. To me, that is a pretty powerful thing. Beck et al. (2018) mentions the capability for people to interpret things virtually “beyond park boundaries”. We often share to social media anything nature releated, myself included. I think sharing these photos creates a positive experience for both the photographer and the viewer. I love when individuals post about certain places because I get to find new places to visit or things to add to my bucket list through someone else's experience. Other individuals often educate and inspire me when it comes to new places. 

Lastly, I want to talk about Nature in music. Nature is utilized so frequently in many songs including the song that takes me back to a natural landscape. For me, this song is Hymn for the Weekend by Coldplay. When I hear it I immediately feel so free. I think about driving through country roads with greenery on each side of me, windows down, breeze in my hair blasting the song. This is my go-to song when I need my spirits to be uplifted and I am so excited to experience this again. This song starts off by playing jungle sounds including numerous types of birds chirping and animals whistling. When I hear this song I am automatically placed back into a natural landscape. I hope you all enjoyed this weeks post!

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 5: Guiding Principles of Interpretation. In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World (pp. 304). Sagamore Venture.

NOAA. (2022). https://www.noaa.gov/education/explainers/can-crickets-tell-temperature-answer-is-in-their-chirp

Rainsong, L. (2018). https://listeninginnature.blogspot.com/2018/03/cricket-songs-general-characteristics.html

Re DE, O'Connor JJ, Bennett PJ, Feinberg DR. Preferences for very low and very high voice pitch in humans. PLoS One. 2012;7(3):e32719. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032719. Epub 2012 Mar 5. PMID: 22403701; PMCID: PMC3293852.

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Harmonies of Nature: Exploring the Interplay Between Music and the Natural World

The intricate relationship between music and nature captivates our imagination, prompting us to delve into the interplay between these two realms. In pondering the enchanting melodies and rhythms that echo through the natural world and the realm of music, we are invited into a realm of profound exploration. These questions, "Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music?" serve as a gateway to a deeper understanding of how sound and harmony intertwine with the beauty and majesty of the world around us.

Nature itself is a symphony of sounds, from the gentle rustle of leaves in the wind to the melodious songs of birds at dawn. But perhaps one of the most captivating examples of music in nature is found beneath the waves, in the hauntingly beautiful songs of humpback whales. These majestic marine mammals are not only inveterate composers but also share striking similarities with human musicians in their rhythmic structures and musical expressions [Gray et al., 2001].

Singing humpbacks demonstrate an innate sense of rhythm, utilizing phrases and themes in their songs reminiscent of human compositions. Their songs, spanning a range of at least seven octaves, feature musical intervals and structures like those found in our scales and symphonies [Gray et al., 2001]. Moreover, the presence of repeating refrains and rhymes in their songs suggests a sophisticated level of musicality [Gray et al., 2001].

The connection between nature and music extends beyond the songs of whales. It permeates every corner of the natural world, from the gentle babbling of brooks to the thunderous roar of waterfalls, from the rustling of grasslands to the whispering of forests. Nature's melodies inspire composers and musicians alike, weaving their way into compositions that evoke the awe and wonder of the natural world.

The peaceful and powerful sound of water flowing at the devils punchbowl in Hamilton ON

The iconic song "Country Roads" by John Denver resonates deeply with those who have experienced the serene beauty of rural landscapes firsthand, evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing for the tranquillity of nature's embrace. For individuals like myself who grew up on a farm, the song's lyrics and melodic strains transport us back to cherished memories of golden fields, rolling hills, and winding country roads. It serves as a reminder of the simple joys found in the rhythms of rural life – from the gentle hum of bees pollinating wildflowers to the soft rustle of leaves in the wind. "Country Roads" celebrates the deep connection we share with the land and the sense of belonging that comes from being part of something greater than ourselves, embodying the spirit of rural life and the profound beauty found in the simplest moments.

Reflecting on this intersection of music and nature, one cannot help but be transported to a serene landscape, perhaps reminiscent of a quiet forest or a tranquil mountain. For many, certain songs evoke vivid memories of specific natural landscapes, instantly transporting them back to moments immersed in the great outdoors's beauty.

Whether it's the rhythmic cadence of whale songs beneath the waves or the evocative melodies of folk tunes like "Country Roads," the connection between music and nature is undeniable. It reminds us of the profound beauty and harmony in the world around us, inviting us to pause, listen, and appreciate the symphony of life that surrounds us daily.

In conclusion, the music of nature serves as a timeless source of inspiration and wonder, weaving its way into the very fabric of our existence. As we explore the depths of this harmonious relationship, may we find solace and joy in the melodies that echo through the natural world, forever intertwined with the songs of our hearts.

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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Hi Brody, 

I had an awesome time reading your discussion post. What and excellent and intriguing read. You really captured the explanation of nature in music and music in nature. I was particularly interested in the section when you talk about music in nature and refer to humpbacvk whales. I truly did learn something new. The fact that their songs span a range of octaves is astonishing. Its crazy that their sense of rhythm is innate, something their born with. Like humpback whales, a rather unusual animal that is considered a musical species are Crickets! Fun fact about them is that they actually make music with their wings and not their legs (Desjardins, 2020). Tree crickets can actually sing anywhere from about 2500 to 4000 hertz (a measure of frequency) (Rainsong, 2018). For reference, the average pitch range of a females voice is 160 - 300 hertz (Re et al., 2012). Pretty impressive for these little bugs. Like humpback whales, these creature utilize their innate abilities to navigate through life. This really has me interested in doing more research in this area. I know some people may find cricket songs to be annoying but for me personally, it reminds me of summer nights at my cottage by the campfire with my family. Such a good feeling and such a fond memory, I cant wait till that time of the year comes again. Its crazy how sounds of nature can correspond with our feelings often times in terms of reminiscing. I also visited Devils Punch Bowl but went for a class trip at a time when there wasn’t any water flowing through other than a few drops. This video brought me back to my time there but also provided me with an alternative view of the landscape and I got to experience the movement of water here virtually. So thank you for that. I really enjoyed your post! 

Desjardins., S. (2020). CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-things-know-crickets-1.5691826#:~:text=Crickets%20make%20music%20with%20their%20wings%2C%20not%20their%20legs.&text=When%20crickets%20rub%20those%20together,why%20you%20can%20hear%20it.%22

Rainsong, L. (2018). https://listeninginnature.blogspot.com/2018/03/cricket-songs-general-characteristics.html

Re DE, O'Connor JJ, Bennett PJ, Feinberg DR. Preferences for very low and very high voice pitch in humans. PLoS One. 2012;7(3):e32719. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032719.

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Nature Interpretation Through History

I think one way I interpret this quote is that it is a perspective that highlights the importance of maintaining the integrity of the connection between the past and how it has shaped the future. Many times people will go to art exhibits or museums and automatically think about how old an artifact is and thus put a certain amount of significant value on the piece, myself included. It goes way beyond the age of the artifact. When we observe these pieces with a theoretical approach, we can dive deeper and discover that the significance of the artifact doesn’t just come from age but the story it's trying to tell. The meaning behind the pieces and the way in which they inspire individuals, encourage thought-provoking thoughts, and tell stories (Beck et al. 2018). For example, I am sure we all know the famous ‘Starry Night’ painting. Besides the fact that the painting is 135 years old and in perfect condition, it is a painting that portrays optimism and hope (Murrell, 2023). This painting is also associated with Van Gogh's deteriorating mental health and it is said that the blues he used correlate to the blues in previous paintings made during times of extreme mental health struggles (Murrell, 2023). When we view this piece in this approach, the direction of the importance behind this piece changes. It becomes a story, something you can relate to, something familiar. Others suggest that the contrast between the dark sky and yellow lights exemplifies the idea that although it's dark, as long as the stars are shining, there is always a light to guide you (Mayfield City School). Both interpretations are beautiful and surpass the value of the piece associated with its age. 

Starry Night By Vincent Van Gogh 1889 From: https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Starry-Night

I think another prominent perspective is the idea that although something has already occurred, we simply cannot ignore the past. We hear all the time the past is in the past and that you can’t change the past which is true. However, the idea that the railway only existed for the length of time the train was there is an analogy to explain that although we are in the present and have moved on from the past, it doesn't mean the history of the past no longer exists. The present exists today because of the actions of the past. If we cannot learn to accept the connection of how the past shapes the future, we can lose sight of its significance. The teachings, lessons, and significance of history help us comprehend the past and how everything has evolved. History can provide us with a sense of community. We can become closer to each other intellectually through the recognition of memories, stories, and shared local traditions (Hooykaas, 2024). “History makes spaces meaningful” is such a powerful quote that I think explains the connection to one another as human beings through shared experiences (Hooykaas, 2024). One thing we all have in common is that we all have a past, although certain experiences are different, there are some shared experiences of the past by many of us. I believe this to be a connection between one another that cannot be ignored. This is how I interpreted the quote. Let me know what you all think! 

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

D., Murrell. (2023) https://study.com/academy/lesson/van-goghs-starry-night-description-analysis-facts.html#:~:text=The%20Starry%20Night%20meaning%20is,also%20indicate%20his%20mental%20state.

Hooykaas, A (2024) Unit 4: Nature Interpretation Through Art and Planning for "All" Scenarios. ENVS*3000. University of Guelph

Mayfield City School. (n,d) https://www.mayfieldschools.org/StarryNight.aspx#:~:text=There%20are%20various%20interpretations%20of,always%20light%20to%20guide%20you.

Painting:

The Starry Night | History, Description, Artist, Vincent van Gogh, Painting, & Facts

The Starry Night, an abstract landscape painting of an expressive night sky over a small hillside village by Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh i

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Importance of Interpreting History

Hi everyone!

Welcome back to another blog!

In today’s blog, I will unpacking the quote by Edward Hyams stating, “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.” 

As I read this quote over and over again, trying to really grasp the sense of what he was trying to imply and express, I believe that this quote can be understood in many different ways depending on how you want to see it. In the first part of the quote, I believe he was trying to express how the importance and goodness of history and ancient things is not necessarily the history in itself, but rather the togetherness, the knowledge and the memories that come from it and how it is passed throughout time. For example, chapter 15 of the textbook explains that it's important to interpret history as, “Interpretation breathes life and meaning into past events, architecture, and artifacts. In doing so, it nurtures the development of a personal identity as individuals hear inspiring or thought-provoking stories of the past, and it forms values to guide living in the present” (Back, 2018). Meaning that, the importance of history and old buildings or museums is not the architecture itself, but rather how we remember history and keep the past alive in order to create our future and share these memories. 

The second part of the quote I believe represents the idea that we cannot define our own ‘history’ or ‘tracks’ simply by only considering the railways that we’ve been on…for our history extends beyond the present and the past is made up of the tracks that got us here. In the larger picture of the world, I believe this holds true in issues such as discrimination or war that were large conflicts of the past throughout history that created the world we live in today. To remember not only the happy stories of our past but also the tragic ones are what makes interpreting history so important. In my own life, the idea of things such as my great grandmother's wedding ring or my grandfather's artifacts from when he was in the army being passed down through generations comes to mind. It is not necessarily the wedding ring or the artifacts that are important to have, but more so the meaning and the stories behind them that show where I came from and how the lives of those before me have lived. 

As nature interpreters, I believe this is an important idea as it's our job to make an impact on people’s lives to become a part of their history. To help people see how history relates to their own lives by telling stories of the past is a way to help people remember and keep memories alive. To extend beyond merely what is physically present and instead create lasting feelings and memories. Can you think of any historical artifacts, buildings, etc that have made you remember memories or moments from the past? How has history shaped you into the person you are today?

I look forward to hearing back from you! 

Natalie :)

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

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Hi Natalie.

Thank you so much for this incredible analysis of the quote. Your rendition of this quote captured the true meaning behind how the importance of ancient history can shape our futures. Your interpretation correlates with the idea that history is not just merely a collection of facts or “things”, rather can be seen as a living narrative that can formulate a mutual understanding about these memories. I love how you included a little personal relation to this topic. I agree with the fact that the possessions of your grandparent's previously owned items goes further beyond simply acquiring them. There's intrinsic meaning behind these things, sentimental value, and attachment. Those pieces tell a story that is not bluntly written out. They represent something, someone, a life! We can interpret the feelings your grandparents might have felt through their possessions. The love and happiness that your grandma probably felt wearing that band or the honour and integrity your grandfather has for himself and his country. I think this is such a beautiful way to look at this concept. I also feel this is a great example that can depict the way Public historians may advocate for history. A way in which they inspire individuals, encourage thought-provoking thoughts, and tell stories (Beck et al. 2018). I enjoyed reading your post. I guess I want to ask you how you feel about acquiring the possession of your grandparents. What thoughts/feelings come to mind? How do you think your grandparents felt about these things? Why are they so important now, today, to you? Thanks so much!

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5. Sustainability!

When I first found out we had no blog post prompt this week my immediate reaction was to panic. I am someone who absolutely loves structure and knowing the subject of the task I have to complete so being able to write about anything was something that kind of threw me for a loop. I ended up deciding that I wanted to talk about sustainability.  

Sustainability has been something near and dear to my heart for honestly as long as I can remember. I credit a lot of that to my grandma, who instilled the importance of protecting and preserving our planet from a very young age. I remember her teaching me what could be recycled and how to clean things properly, as well as teaching me how composting was not only great for avoiding throwing food waste in the garbage, but also super helpful for gardening. I’ve also always found sorting and cleaning things quite relaxing which I will say also probably contributed to why I enjoyed it.  

Fast forward into high school and I was really starting to get more interested in sustainability. I remember reading into the implications of anthropogenic change on habitat destruction and climate change and being really motivated to change my actions to help reduce this. I became really into avoiding single use items, like plastic bags, saran wrap, and straws, and replacing them with alternatives like beeswax wraps, reusable containers, and metal straws. It was such a simple change yet so gratifying. I was also lucky enough that I lived close enough to walk to and from school every day, avoiding using transportation which would contribute to my carbon footprint. I think the biggest change I made in high school was becoming mostly vegan ( with exceptions to bee products and fish which my family would catch). I also began to engage with sustainability on a political scale, attending a bunch of Fridays for futures! At this point I also really started to realize I had a passion for sharing sustainability with others and thinking of it in a career aspect.

Now fast forward to university. I’ve really made an effort to live my most sustainable life possible. I am vegan diet wise ( I still use bee products like beeswax wraps and lip balm which family friends that own an apiary make, shoutout Honey Pie Hives and Herbals in Prince Edward County). I avoid single use as much as possible. I use reusable containers, my straws, wraps, and reusable grocery/ produce bags all the time, and make an effort to shop at more sustainable stores to get food (mainly the farmers market as much as I can). I use public transport if I go anywhere, I can’t walk to. I also got a job where I can share sustainability with others! I am the RA-LLC for Eco House, which is an on-campus residence community dedicated for students who want to engage with sustainability and environmental related topics/ conversations. I get to help facilitate conversations about environmental and social issues and share knowledge and resources with students on how to engage with and live more sustainable lifestyles! I also volunteer for the sustainable residence committee, which is a committee for students living in residence to have conversations and share knowledge about sustainability with like-minded individuals, whilst planning and running iniatives relating to sustainability for residence students! I find both of these experiences to bring me a lot of joy, and to encourage me to continuously learn more and keep living this lifestyle.

I know I wrote a lot but its because I am genuinely so passionate about it. For those of you who might be interested in checking out your own carbon footprint, theres a really cool tool called carbon-calculator which can tell you, and let you know what you’re doing that’s really good and areas where you can approve! ( mine was 1.3 tons CO2e)

Carbon Calculator - ClimateHero

What is your carbon footprint? With ClimateHero carbon calculator you can calculate your carbon emissions in just 5 minutes.

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Hi Emma,

Wow! What an insightful post. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this discussion post and you exemplified a sustainably conscious human being. Love to see it! I particularly enjoyed how much of an impact your grandma has made on you since the beginning. I feel like this goes back to the first blog prompt that asked "Who offered you a sense of place" and how your relationship with nature developed. Your exposure to environmental sustainability thanks to your grandma has shaped and influenced you into the person you are today. Without that exposure, you may or may not have had as big of a role as you have now. That isn't to say that you wouldn't have eventually formulated your own opinion in regards to environmental sustainability but I think that imprint from a young age becomes a part of who you are. It became familiar and comfortable because you grew up with that ideology. I can relate to this relationship so much because my grandma has influenced me greatly. She is my go-to person and is someone who I confide in for anything. She has exposed me to certain things that have become a part of my life, personality, and soul. I love how involved you are when it comes to sustainability and it's clear you are setting a fabulous example for the people around you, even the ones you cross paths with briefly (like me!). By educating others, you are giving other people the opportunity to view this situation to the magnitude that it deserves and that alone is already doing so much. Thank you so much, this post was very inspiring. Keep up the great work!

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Blog #5: Gratitude

Hi everyone, this week we have been given the privilege to talk about anything we are thinking of. I am excited to see everyones blog this week! This week I want to talk about gratitude. Over the past 3 years, I have made it a part of my daily routine to acknowledge my gratitude. Every day I get to wake up blessed that I get to see another day, I am healthy and happy. I have a roof over my head and clothes on my back. I feel like showing gratitude can very easily be overlooked by all the other things we want or desire in life. However, I believe to allow yourself to acquire these new desires, you need to be grateful for the things you already have. An article published by UCLA Health (2023) states that based on previous research, consistently practicing gratitude can “enhance mental wellness and possibly promote a lasting change in perspective”. People often think that you need a lot in life in order to show gratitude but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Showing gratitude in every aspect of your life can make a difference whether it's for something big or small. For example, these past few days I am sure everyone has noticed that the sun has been out. I could not be more grateful for seeing the sun and blue skies. In turn, it also makes me extremely happy. Therefore, I am grateful for the feeling of sunlight on my skin because it has made me very happy and in high spirits. 

Especially in the world we live in today, it is very easy to get caught up with the next best thing or the new shoes that everyone has. I find myself doing this a lot recently. Sometimes I think feeling stressed and unmotivated can be very overwhelming for me and something that will make me happy or ‘I think’ will make me happy is a new purchase. When I feel like this is tend to try and force myself to look at the greener side of the grass, or in other words, show my gratitude for all the things I already do have and tell myself that these feelings come and go. It’s how we choose to react to them that can make a difference. It's crazy how the purchase of a $150 shoe can bring about the same happiness I felt when the sun was shining on my face. It’s all about perspective. My possessions do not define me as a person and I am trying to focus on not associating my feelings with purchases. However, I will say, there is nothing wrong every once and a while and I will most definitely be eating ice cream or sushi if I am feeling like I am in a funk. 

It is okay to resort to this mentality sometimes as long as you can practice gratitude for the things you currently have. These new possessions, experiences, and feelings you acquire do not make who you are as a person rather enhance your life for the better. I just wanted to put this out there because I know when times get tough and stress is eating us alive, it's hard to feel happy and grateful but just know it can be a very uplifting experience. Like my Abuela (Spanish version of grandma) likes to tell me, This too shall pass! Thanks, everyone and let me know your thoughts:)

The sunset from my walk (February 4th, 6:04 pm)

Uclahealth. (2023, March 22). Health benefits of Gratitude. UCLA Health. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/health-benefits-gratitude#:~:text=Research%20shows%20that%20practicing%20gratitude,positively%20affect%20your%20physical%20health.

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Blog #4 Nature Interpretation Through Artwork

Personally I feel as though nature interpretation through art can encourage a specific set of feelings and emotions that is entirely unique to the individual who is interpreting it. The beauty behind nature interpretation through artwork is the fact that the experience an individual shares during this process can be different from someone else. These interpretations can form as a result of culture, experience, location, etc. Nature especially portrayed through artwork can evoke perspectives that can become eye-opening experiences for individuals who would not have interpreted it that way. Art and its use of education and depictions of nature have been a common staple throughout history, go visit a museum, they are full of artwork and pieces that tell stories!

I recently went to Rome this past summer with my family and we did a lot of walking tours. On these tours, we were educated on so many of these historical pieces. When most people think of Rome they think of the Colosseum or the Forum which is an area in Rome that is surrounded by ruins that were apart from ancient government buildings. One piece in particular that I remember vividly is Trajan's Column. It is a 98-foot column made from marble and is located in the heart of the city (Becker, n.d). This column is inscribed with artwork that resembles a movie-like story. Essentially, as you follow the artwork up the column it tells a story, like a film that keeps spinning to tell a story, and so does the column if you follow it in order. Artwork was and still continues to be a form of communication. As Beck et al. (2018) suggest, “Through the connection between a tangible thing and an intangible meaning the full spirit of a place or event may emerge”. Storytelling has become so prominent through art and the beauty behind this form of communication is there can be multiple ways to interpret these meanings. There are many different interpretations of the story depicted on Trajan’s Column however we will never really know the exact meaning beyond the artwork. Only the people who created it were the ones who would truly know the full story. 

Upclose Photo of Trajan's Column inscriptions.

My Photo from afar.

Interpretation through art and tangible and intangible things is a universal concept that allows individuals to relate to what they are interpreting (Beck et al, 2018). We can relate to certain artwork because we know what rocks feel like or the sound of waves, and in turn, these ultimately help encourage emotions and feelings from the intangibles present in the artwork. There are so many hidden meanings in artwork and each individual has the freedom to interpret it in a way that is uniquely their own. I find a sense of peace and blissfulness knowing that nature interpretation through art can facilitate messages throughout our bodies and the fact that this experience is different for everyone. The message being conveyed can impact each individual diversely. It truly can be an eye-opening experience and a way in which we can learn and bond with each other. 

Becker., J.A (n.d). Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/roman/early-empire/a/column-of-trajan#:~:text=The%20column%20itself%20is%20made,weighing%20a%20total%20of%20c.

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

Cartwright, M. (2013, June 09). Detail, Trajan's Column. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1271/detail-trajans-column/

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Art and Nature Interpretation

When thinking about who I am in regards to interpretation of nature through art, I think of both what my skills and understandings of the field are, and what types of interpretation I personally enjoy. I enjoy viewing and creating art in general, but I especially like art that incorporates nature in some way. I have a moderate understanding the decision-making process in art and how people convey meaning through their works. Much of this understanding of art comes from my partner who is finishing up a studio art degree and is a very talented artist. They mostly create art that includes some sort of nature interpretation and often discuss the reasonings behind their process and decision making with me, which is where most of my knowledge comes from.

Untitled Generator 1, 2023 by my partner Maddy Cohen (@madsc_arts on Instagram)

I also think I have a good understanding of nature interpretation through music. I have enjoyed playing music for most of my life, and I really enjoy learning about songwriting and composition which allows me to understand how people use music to interpret whatever they are interested in conveying. Every small decision made, melody used, or style of production can give insight into what specific message an artist is trying to interpret. Especially more experienced or skilled artists can accurately translate their feelings or understanding of nature through their music in a way that is both easily consumed and understood while also implying deeper meanings. Most of my favorite music includes some sort of nature interpretation. For example, my favourite band Ween has an album based on their time living by the sea and how they interpret the feelings elicited by the coast and the ocean. I also create a lot of my own music, and regularly try translating my understanding of nature or feeling of connection to nature through music.

The Mollusk by Ween

One of my favorite forms of nature interpretation through art is the use of nature documentaries. I find that these give an intimate look into aspects of nature that I would probably never witness personally. Documentaries tend to provide really eye-catching and inspiring visuals, while also weaving together a narrative about what is being shown to deepen the ease of understanding and messaging conveyed in their work.

A picture I drew of how I envision nature on a strange planet

Well-made art is designed to convey some sort of feeling or message, and one really common form of this is interpreting beauty. I tend to think of beauty as a reflection of the appealing aspects of nature, and the things that I see as beautiful are generally heavily inspired by nature or are natural themselves. I definitely agree with the sentiment that interpretation should focus on translating the beauty of nature to an audience (Beck et al., 2018). Showing people how to perceive the beauty around them is a great way to provide people with the gift of beauty (Beck et al., 2018). For example, my partner is quite obsessed with finding cool mushrooms, and whenever we go hiking, they will constantly point out cool ones to me and tell me some interesting things about that mushroom. This has developed into me becoming quite fond of mushrooms too, and now whenever I walk outside, I am constantly noticing all the cool mushrooms around me and feeling excited to find them. Before meeting my partner, I had never really noticed or appreciated this aspect of nature’s beauty, but I now have a great appreciation for it. This shows how passion for a subject and an ability to interpret that to others can provide the gift of beauty to another person.

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

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Hi Daniel, 

I really enjoyed reading your discussion post. It was very insightful and I feel you did an excellent job in opening up about how the use of art has a profound effect on nature interpretation. Your partner seems incredibly talented and I really enjoyed the artwork you included. I like the fact that you include all kinds of art from stemming from music all the way to drawings. I agree with the fact that every brush stroke or melody can facilitate messages. Art is a resourceful tool when it comes to education and you even mentioned the use of documentaries which I think is a great way to reach a wide variety of audiences and provides excellent detail for an individual to interpret nature regardless of educational background. 

Art can be used as a form of communication and is a great way to reach many diverse people. The beauty behind art just like nature, is that each person can interpret both differently. There is no right or wrong answer and we can often learn from others. It can be a very eye-opening experience because other people can expose you to different ideas that you may not have thought. You exemplified this fact when you mentioned that your partner introduced you to the beauty of nature through art. This is a prime example of how we can learn so much from others and how each experience that we have can shape the way we interact, interpret, and educate. Art is a universal concept that is capable of impacting everyone differently. Thank you so much for your awesome blog!

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Art and Nature Interpretation

When thinking about who I am in regards to interpretation of nature through art, I think of both what my skills and understandings of the field are, and what types of interpretation I personally enjoy. I enjoy viewing and creating art in general, but I especially like art that incorporates nature in some way. I have a moderate understanding the decision-making process in art and how people convey meaning through their works. Much of this understanding of art comes from my partner who is finishing up a studio art degree and is a very talented artist. They mostly create art that includes some sort of nature interpretation and often discuss the reasonings behind their process and decision making with me, which is where most of my knowledge comes from.

Untitled Generator 1, 2023 by my partner Maddy Cohen (@madsc_arts on Instagram)

I also think I have a good understanding of nature interpretation through music. I have enjoyed playing music for most of my life, and I really enjoy learning about songwriting and composition which allows me to understand how people use music to interpret whatever they are interested in conveying. Every small decision made, melody used, or style of production can give insight into what specific message an artist is trying to interpret. Especially more experienced or skilled artists can accurately translate their feelings or understanding of nature through their music in a way that is both easily consumed and understood while also implying deeper meanings. Most of my favorite music includes some sort of nature interpretation. For example, my favourite band Ween has an album based on their time living by the sea and how they interpret the feelings elicited by the coast and the ocean. I also create a lot of my own music, and regularly try translating my understanding of nature or feeling of connection to nature through music.

The Mollusk by Ween

One of my favorite forms of nature interpretation through art is the use of nature documentaries. I find that these give an intimate look into aspects of nature that I would probably never witness personally. Documentaries tend to provide really eye-catching and inspiring visuals, while also weaving together a narrative about what is being shown to deepen the ease of understanding and messaging conveyed in their work.

A picture I drew of how I envision nature on a strange planet

Well-made art is designed to convey some sort of feeling or message, and one really common form of this is interpreting beauty. I tend to think of beauty as a reflection of the appealing aspects of nature, and the things that I see as beautiful are generally heavily inspired by nature or are natural themselves. I definitely agree with the sentiment that interpretation should focus on translating the beauty of nature to an audience (Beck et al., 2018). Showing people how to perceive the beauty around them is a great way to provide people with the gift of beauty (Beck et al., 2018). For example, my partner is quite obsessed with finding cool mushrooms, and whenever we go hiking, they will constantly point out cool ones to me and tell me some interesting things about that mushroom. This has developed into me becoming quite fond of mushrooms too, and now whenever I walk outside, I am constantly noticing all the cool mushrooms around me and feeling excited to find them. Before meeting my partner, I had never really noticed or appreciated this aspect of nature’s beauty, but I now have a great appreciation for it. This shows how passion for a subject and an ability to interpret that to others can provide the gift of beauty to another person.

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