Lauren Rintoul

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Disclaimer

This blog was created for the ENVS3000DE01 course at 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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Unit 10 Blog Post

As I reflect on my journey through this course and into the field of nature interpretation, I am filled with a profound sense of purpose and responsibility. The forests were my childhood sanctuary, a place of wonder, discovery, and unbridled imagination. Much like Richard Louv described in Last Child in the Woods, nature was my "Ritalin," calming me, focusing me, and igniting my senses. Now, as I step into the role of a nature interpreter, I carry with me a set of beliefs, responsibilities, and approaches that are deeply personal yet universally relevant.

At the core of my personal ethic is the belief that nature is not just a backdrop to human existence but an integral part of our very being. I believe that every person has an innate connection to the natural world, a connection that, in today's technology-driven society, is often neglected or forgotten. This disconnect has led to what Louv terms "Nature-Deficit Disorder," a phenomenon that I am committed to combating through my work.

I also hold the conviction that environmental interpretation is a powerful tool for fostering sustainability. By bridging the gap between people and nature, we can inspire a sense of stewardship and responsibility toward the environment. This belief is grounded in the understanding that personal experiences in nature are more impactful than mere knowledge of environmental issues. As Louv suggests, "children are viewed as props or extraneous to the serious adult work of saving the world," but in reality, they are the key to a sustainable future.

With these beliefs come significant responsibilities. First and foremost, I recognize my duty to create meaningful and engaging experiences that reconnect individuals with nature. This involves not just sharing information but facilitating moments of awe and wonder that can spark a lifelong appreciation for the environment. I am also responsible for nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards. Children, in particular, represent a future political constituency whose actions will shape the world to come. It is imperative that we provide them with the tools, experiences, and inspiration needed to make informed decisions about the environment.

Furthermore, I acknowledge the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in environmental interpretation. Nature should be a space where everyone feels welcome, regardless of their background or abilities. This means actively working to remove barriers and create programs that resonate with diverse audiences. As an individual, I find that storytelling and experiential learning are the most effective approaches for me. Stories have the power to convey complex ideas in relatable and memorable ways. By weaving narratives that highlight the interconnectedness of all living things, I aim to foster empathy and a deeper understanding of ecological systems.

I also prioritize hands-on experiences that engage the senses and encourage active participation. Activities like guided hikes, wildlife observation, and interactive workshops allow participants to form personal connections with nature. These experiences can leave lasting impressions that go beyond what can be achieved through traditional lectures or presentations. In addition, I strive to incorporate elements of mindfulness and reflection into my programs. By encouraging participants to slow down, observe, and appreciate the subtleties of the natural world, we can cultivate a sense of peace and well-being that is often missing in our fast-paced lives.

To keep this role more than just a job for me and more than a mere time-filler for my audience, I commit to continuous learning and personal growth. Staying informed about the latest environmental issues, interpretation techniques, and educational strategies is essential. This not only enhances my effectiveness but also keeps me motivated and passionate about my work. I also make it a point to personalize my programs based on the interests and needs of my audience. By engaging participants in dialogue and encouraging them to share their own experiences, we create a collaborative learning environment that is both dynamic and meaningful.

Moreover, I focus on fostering hope and empowerment. As Jacob Rodenburg notes, the list of environmental issues can be overwhelming. However, by highlighting positive stories of conservation and encouraging actionable steps, we can inspire participants to become part of the solution rather than feeling helpless.

So what does all this mean? It means that I am not just an interpreter of facts but a facilitator of connections, between people and nature, between knowledge and action, and between present realities and future possibilities. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the creation of nature-rich communities where individuals feel a deep and abiding love for the living systems we are immersed in. This course has reinforced the idea that environmental interpretation is not just about conveying information but about inspiring transformation. It has challenged me to consider how my own insights, personality, and ethics can influence others and contribute to a larger movement toward sustainability and regeneration.

As I move forward, I am reminded of the words shared by David Suzuki and Richard Louv about reconnecting with nature. Their insights emphasize the urgency and importance of our work as nature interpreters. The challenges we face are significant, but so is the potential for positive impact. I am committed to using my education wisely and my privilege cautiously. Recognizing that someone may be looking to me as their mentor, I embrace the responsibility to lead by example and to inspire others to discover their own connections with the natural world.

In conclusion, my personal ethic as a nature interpreter is grounded in a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of nature experiences, a strong sense of responsibility to both present and future generations, and an approach that is interactive, inclusive, and hopeful. By staying true to these principles, I hope to make every day in this role meaningful for myself and profoundly impactful for my audience.

This journey has been as much about personal discovery as it has been about professional development. I am grateful for the opportunity to delve deep into the philosophies and practices that shape effective environmental interpretation. As we wrap up this course, I carry with me not just knowledge but a renewed sense of purpose and a clear vision of how I can contribute to a more sustainable and connected world.

I look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead, knowing that every interaction is a chance to make a difference. Whether it's kindling a child's curiosity about the natural world or empowering adults to take action for environmental conservation, I am ready to embrace my role fully and passionately. Thank you for joining me on this journey, and here's to the adventures that await us all in the great outdoors.

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Hey Rushali! 

I loved your post this week. Peace is something we are so lucky to be able to experience, especially in the natural world. You started out strong, nature truly is an integral part of our existence whether we see it or not. Technology is so prevalent that we often forget about the amazing world around. Embarrassingly enough, I personally find myself on a screen far too often. Walking outside or even just spending my free time indoors. I am glad there is interpreters like you who wish to remind people of the beauty in the world. And in doing so, you are developing environmental stewardship in your audience. You are right, experiences are so much more meaningful than a given fact. I like how you are not creating fear in others, but instead fostering moments of “awe.” Additionally, I appreciate your efforts to work to remove barriers. We are all born into this world and therefore have a right to experience nature. I am interested to see what hands-on interpretations you move towards. 

Facilitator of connections sounds powerful, as is the role you are adopting. I hope you continue to learn, grow and reflect like you hope to do.

 I feel as though we have similar motivations with different focal points. While I wish to interpret to children, you hope to have a strong impact on present and future generations, both young and older. Whatever our futures look like, we will have profound unique impacts as we guide with our personal ethics. Thanks for your post! I wish you the best of luck assisting others in their reconnection with nature :)

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Unit 10 Blog Post

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

Throughout my life, and now throughout this course, my love for nature has grown and evolved quite a bit leading to the interpreter I am today. I feel that each week through the assigned textbook and supplemental readings, along with the blog prompts and getting to read others’ posts, I have been able to learn a lot about my personal ethic as an interpreter. 

Me out in Lake Erie enjoying nature!

For me, I believe that the interpretation of nature through a variety of goggles is the best way to go about it. In fact, I believe that you cannot only interpret nature under one lens, you need a mixture of outlooks to truly understand and appreciate the natural world. As a science major, it is easy for me to believe that science is one of the most crucial ways we can interpret nature because it brings along an understanding of what exactly we are seeing around us. Understanding why plants are green or why chipmunks may be burying their food helps to provide a deeper understanding and appreciation of our environment. As mentioned in one of week five’s supplemental readings, complicated issues such as the loss of biodiversity gain a lot of support when community members are taught about, and engaged in, the science behind it (Wals et al., 2014). By interpreting nature through a scientific lens we are better able to make sure people are informed about what is really going on around them and hopefully inspire them to take action when the natural world around them is at risk. 

Sea stars I collected for experiments in a marine research course!

Even though I believe that science is necessary when interpreting nature, I do not think it would provide someone with everything they needed to love nature for all that it is. While science provides an understanding of what is going on, it sometimes lacks emotion. I believe that a major part of nature is the emotions that it provides to the interpreter and one of the main ways to feel those emotions is through forging a more personal connection through the arts. Whether that be through painting, drawing, crafts, music, or any other form of art, it is what truly connects us to nature. Taking something as simple as a lone tree in a field and interpreting it in a way that is personal to you, making something physical out of what you are seeing, is the most pure form of interpretation in my mind. Boeckel et al (2015)., mention that there is a disenchantment of the world occurring along with a loss of direct nature experiences. I feel that by taking what we see in nature and making something out of it we are effectively reconnecting with it because we have to take the time to be immersed in it to generate ideas on what to make. 

Park near my house where I like to go and paint what I see!

Without artistic interpretations of nature we lack connection, but without scientific interpretations we lack understanding. This is why I believe we cannot simply pick one method of interpretation and run with it.

As an interpreter I believe that I have many responsibilities. First of all it is my responsibility to ensure that everyone feels included. This involves unpacking invisible knapsacks as learned in week three. Making sure that each and every participant has the same tools available to them, either literal or metaphorical, to truly understand and appreciate what is around them is key. If someone felt like they were at a disadvantage due to a lack of education, experience, or anything else then they would not be properly able to enjoy nature as they may be feeling othered. It is a responsibility of mine to be extra observant and make sure that this does not happen. Another responsibility I carry is making sure that everyone is being respectful with the natural world, myself included. Whether it's leading a hike or a camping trip or anything else outdoors there is a possibility for people to treat nature unkindly. Maybe it's by throwing their food wrappers on the ground or unnecessarily killing bugs around them for being “creepy”. When we are in and around nature it is our responsibility to treat it with care so that future generations can have the same experiences as us. As an interpreter I feel a sense of leadership and responsibility that includes keeping our forests, beaches, and other environments clean. Another responsibility of mine is to appeal to each and every learning style. In the course content we discussed tactile, auditory, and visual, but the textbook goes on to provide many others. Things like logical-mathematical, inter- and intrapersonal and many more were mentioned (Beck et al., 2018). I feel it is my duty to truly understand what each one involves and what strengths/weaknesses someone with that learning style may face when it comes to interpretation. A final responsibility I feel I have as an interpreter relates to what I wrote about above. I feel it is my duty to ensure that all aspects of interpretation are being included when out in nature. Providing the science behind why something is the way it is then going into artistic interpretations of it to make sure that everyone gets the whole picture is key. In the future I will strive to interpret in a way that incorporates it all to give participants the best shot at finding something they can connect to in nature. 

As an individual I feel I am best suited to do all that I have mentioned in this blog. I am a science student which helps me with scientific interpretations, but I also have a love for being creative which would help me with the artistic part. I definitely feel as though these weekly blog posts have helped me better understand who I am as an interpreter and what works best for me. I have learned quite a bit about myself during this course and I cannot wait to use all that I have learned in the future to be the best interpreter I can!

I cannot wait to read everyone else’s blogs this week and I hope everyone has a great rest of their semester!

References

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

van Boeckel, J. (2015). At the heart of art and earth: an exploration of practices in arts-based environmental education. Environmental Education Research, 21(5), 801–802. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2014.959474 

Wals, A. E.J., Brody, M., Dillon, J., Stevenson, R. B. (2014). Convergence Between Science and Environmental Education. Science 344,583-584. 10.1126/science.1250515

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Hi Francesca!

I felt inspired by your thoughtful post this week. I agree with you, this course has reminded me how much I love nature. It’s something we so easily forget about when dealing with classes, work, relationships, etc… I’m really happy to hear that you have evolved as an interpreter. I think this class did its job right then!

First, I love your metaphor of interpreting through different ‘goggles.’ We all see the world so differently. Who says my way of viewing the world is better than another’s?

 It is interesting to hear your perspective as a science major. Science does provide us with the nitty gritty of the world around us. It can explain what is happening and how things are occurring. I agree, science lacks the emotional and artistic side of nature. As an Arts and Science major, I like to view the ways humans affect scientific aspects of nature. What is it that we are doing that is creating such change? If we changed our actions for science, how would society be impacted? I like the idea of interpreting through our majors. I appreciate your inclusion of the arts, as we even explored so in a few weeks ago. 

After reading your post, I wonder, what is your ideal location to interpret? I think the park that you paint looks amazing.

Also, I appreciate your emphasis on respecting others and the world around us. Part of that respect is indeed our invisible backpack. The other part is conservative efforts. Leave the place as you found, just like you stopping people from littering and being an aware and proactive interpreter. Overall, I like your scientific perspective that is still rooted in key interpreting elements. I think you will do great in the future as an interpreter!

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LAST BLOG??? - Unit 10

Hi readers, 

Wow, the end of the semester already. Last week, I shared what I believe the most amazing thing about nature is. 

Interconnectedness. 

In a way, nature interpretation shares that feature. The environment connects different dimensions of science, politics, memories, experience, beauty, art, holistic and explanations. Nature interpretation has allowed humans to resonate with the world around us. Likewise, cultures and religions have been able to flourish with dependence on the natural world. Even more, without nature interpretation, art like songs and paintings would never be able to be enjoyed, green spaces in urban areas would not exist and scientific studies on climate and biodiversity. 

By interpreting the environment, we are allowing humans of all backgrounds to learn about the history, function, and complexities of the natural world. In turn, we are learning to be inquisitive. As we discover more about nature, we discover our roles within it. 

But what if the natural world we know, and love was being destroyed in front of our own eyes? Would you want to support the destruction or do something to stop it? 

My personal ethic as I establish myself in nature interpretation is founded in the idea that discovering the natural world can create deeper meanings between people and nature (Beck et al., 2022). Nonetheless, nature interpretation cannot be done unless we find ways to preserve it. My background in biology and sociology inspires me to find explanations and solutions. We all have heard by now that climate change is increasing at an alarming rate (Stevenson and Peterson, 2015). As an interpreter, I want to respect nature, highlight its beauty and address concerns for the environment (Stevenson and Peterson, 2015). Ultimately, it would be ignorant for me to appreciate nature through my interpretations without acknowledging the detrimental risks that are at stake. As I know the risks at hand, I have a responsibility to inform others as well. To lead others to care for the environment, I will guide with hope instead of fear (Beck et al., 2022). According to Beck et al. (2022) to effectively execute my ethic I will…

Be proactive

Be mission driven 

Prioritize my focus

“win-win” (want both parties to succeed)

Listen to understand, not to deflect 

Value differences 

Constantly work on my skills/seek to improve 

So what are my beliefs? What moves me as an interpreter? 

While I do not have any traditional beliefs about nature myself, I am motivated by an array of cultures and religions that do. I believe it is a privilege to be able to learn from others’ beliefs systems. When I chose to be open to greater ideas instead of secluding myself to my own upbringings, I was amazed by how much we can learn from each other. For example, I think everyone can learn from the indigenous and their views on conservation. Indigenous values highlight the notion of environmental stewardship (Appiah-Opoku, 2007). The indigenous peoples care for the well-being of the planet by responsibly managing resources and land use (Appiah-Opoku, 2007). I want to include the indigenous, as well as other groups, religions and cultures in my interpretations to show my audience that nature preservation can be done in different ways. I want to teach others to be open-minded when approaching the environment. There is always more information, skills, and practices we can adopt.  

Also, I have a passion for educating the youth, especially those who are misunderstood or overlooked. Outside of university, I work as a supply teacher and volunteer at schools in disadvantaged communities. From my work volunteering, I see how important it is to understand the diverse backgrounds of the learners. For example, some of the children I have taught have gotten the chance to go far and wide, discovering nature in different countries on expensive trips. Other times more often than you would think, the most nature a child has seen is as far as the school’s fence line goes. As an interpreter, I do not wish to interpret at some expensive excursion. I will unpack my invisible backpack and admit that I have been privileged in this life. I want to reach out and be a resource for those who have experienced disadvantages in their life. Don’t get me wrong, those whale-watching trips and hikes far and wide seem amazing. However, I believe fostering environmental stewardship starts with instilling environmental stewardship in the youth. Children have the resources of the environment surrounding them, especially the ones who know all they know. Therefore, I will be innovative and improvise through creative and interactive approaches (Beck et al., 2022). For example, I once did a craft with my group at volunteering. All we did was glue together fallen leaves, sticks and grasses to create an abstract landscape. In doing so, I hope to have taught the children to see the beauty in the small things around us and to understand the importance of each part of our ecosystem. As we were gathering the materials, I emphasized the need to respect living plants and animals. We only take what we need and do not disturb a living organism for our own satisfaction. 

What does the future look like for me as an interpreter? 

My approach as an interpreter will be leveraged by my future career as a science teacher.   

Using Beck et al. as a guide, I will teach to reach different learning styles through innovative and historically and scientifically backed activities (2022). I will incorporate a variety of values to share the importance of climate change. I will not create fear, but instead teach them the beauty of conservation (Beck et al., 2022). 

While being historically and scientifically accurate, I hope to provide hands on learning experiences, outdoor exploration and guests from professionals. My goal is to teach the curriculum, while still empowering the students to find their own passions in nature. I want to participate in activities like, earth day clean up, to show that change is possible on a small scale. 

Instead of telling the children what to believe, I want them to choose it. As a professional, it is my responsibility to constantly grow my skills, plan my interpretations and be understanding of my audience (Beck et al., 2022). In turn, I hope I foster inspiration and positive relations with the environment. I want to lead knowing I give each learner the chance to create their own opinions. 

So my ethic overall is to maintain the beauty of our planet. No generation should go without seeing the amazing ecosystems. Therefore, it is my ethic as a nature interpreter to foster sustainability efforts in those who find inspiration through my interpretations. 

References

Appiah-Opoku, S. (2007). Indigenous beliefs and environmental stewardship: A rural Ghana experience. Environmentalist, 27(1), 79–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/08873630709478212

Knudson, L.B.T.T.C.D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Publishing LLC. https://sagamore.vitalsource.com/books/9781571678669

Stevenson, K., & Peterson, N. (2015). Motivating action through fostering climate change hope and concern and avoiding despair among adolescents. Sustainability, 7(1), 5933–5946. https://doi.org/10.3390/su7055933

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Unit 9: nature is amazing!

From plant pathogens to symbiotic fungi, microbes are an essential part of our ecosystem! They keep things in balance, help plants grow, and even allow trees to ‘talk’ to each other. When I first learned that trees can communicate underground I was blown away. Now, when I say ‘talk’ I don’t mean verbally like you and I, but instead, they communicate with each other through an amazing magic-like network of fungi called mycorrhizal fungi. 

So what are mycorrhizal fungi? Mycorrhizal fungi are beneficial fungi that grow in symbiosis with plant roots. Essentially, they help plant roots take up minerals like phosphorus and nitrogen that can be hard for plants to access on their own. They also increase water uptake and in exchange, the plant provides the fungi with sugars and carbohydrates produced from photosynthesis. This relationship is essential for plant health by helping them grow while facing environmental stressors like drought or poor soil. But not only do they just help individual plants; they create a massive underground network that connects entire forests! 

This underground network is known as the mycelium network. It spreads far and wide, connecting trees and plants across the space, almost like a social network connecting people across a city! The mycelium network is made up of tiny, thread-like structures called hyphae.Through the network, trees, plants and even other fungi can share resources and communicate. When younger or weaker trees are in need, older, well established trees can send nutrients through the network to those in need which helps overall forest health and species survival. Beyond resource sharing, trees can use the network to warn other trees about pests when they’re stressed or under attack. This signal tells other trees to boost their defense and protects the overall forest ecosystem. If that doesn’t sound super cool, I don’t know what does! It’s amazing to think about how much is going on in a natural system beyond what our eyes can see and goes to show how connected nature is. 

So, the next time you’re out in the forest, take a moment to appreciate the incredible network right under your feet. Beneath you is a vast, hidden world of fungal connections, working almost invisibly to support and connect the trees and plants all around you! 

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Hi Julianne!

I enjoyed your post as we both went different ways with the ecosystem. I looked at the ecosystem and how its interdependence within is amazing. I like how you take it a step forward, specifically calling out the organism beyond the human eye! 

Like you said, it is amazing that living things we can’t even see do so much in nature. I talked about balance, and animals and plants helping each other survive. Your post perfectly supports this, as it is not just the big organisms that are worthy or recognition. I am also blown away that trees can communicate underground thanks to fungi. 

Exchanges in nature are necessary, yet often overlooked. We humans rely on each other for survival. To simplify it, we exchange our time and skills for shelter and food. In a way, fungi do the same. Mycorrhizal fungi help the plants obtain phosphorus and nitrogen in exchange for sugars and carbohydrates. They work for their survival, just like we do. 

I like how you’re spreading light to such an overlooked concept, the mycelium network. Physically and cognitively, it really is underground. Not many people know that hyphae play such a critical role in plant, tree and fungi survival. Who knew that plants have community and help each other out, again, just like we do as humans.

 I agree, it sounds super cool. It is really cool knowing that trees can protect themselves and each other with these networks. Just because they don’t have a brain and can’t ‘talk’ out loud, does not mean they are simply just there. It is truly amazing that so many parts of nature are “hidden.” I wonder what other functions plants or fungi might have to make such a large impact, like the underground network does! 

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Interconnection in Nature - Unit 9 Blog

What is the most amazing thing I know about nature?

Interconnectedness. 

Nothing in nature stands alone. That lone tree in your backyard is not there for nothing. Everything in nature has a purpose – from the polar bears living in the Arctic to the small flies buzzing around your kitchen. Good or bad, the ability of the natural world to function through its separate parts is nonetheless amazing.  

So, what is it that connects a bird to a worm and the worm to a flower? How can something so small in our environment hold such significance?

The word you’re looking for is ecosystem.

An ecosystem is the interconnected system where animals, plants, soil, landscapes, and weather directly and indirectly depend on each other to survive and maintain balance (National Geographic, 2023). Forests, lakes, deserts, and even your backyard are all independent ecosystems called biomes (National Geographic, 2023). Let’s dive right into a local forest in Woolwich, Ontario. 

What do you see in the picture below? 

If you said trees, roots, leaves, sun, shade, and a dog you are on the right track. 

We can dig even deeper – mammals, birds, insects, fungi, bacteria, soil and more all makeup this temperate forest biome. Biodiversity is the presence of these living and non-living factors that support life.  It is amazing that those trees each provide shelter and food for animals, purify the air, feed the soil, regulate water and protect the landscape (Government of Canada, 2021). 

My senses could feel the depths of the ecosystem around me. The crisp clean air fills my lungs, filtering out the city fumes. I feel my feet in the soil. I can see the abundant colours and shapes that make up the landscape. There are nests in the trees and insects flying around.  Lastly, I can hear the wind rustling the leaves, the birds chirping, the squirrels scurrying, and the ground crunching beneath my feet. 

I feel at peace.

What does peace have to do with the ecosystem? Over time, species evolve and adapt to gain skills and traits to survive (Mucina, 2018). These biomes work because the species are fit to live in the set conditions the environment provides (Mucina, 2018). We survive on animals, as they survive on each other. How an ecosystem allows species to adopt predator and prey relationships, share resources, and sustain energy flow is extraordinary (Mucina, 2018). The separate actions of predation, photosynthesis, biodegradation, seeking shelter, etc. are not inherently peaceful. Yet, how different functions work together to exist cohesively brings me peace. 

Overall, ecosystems are the most amazing thing about nature. They are the community that holds our natural environment together (Mucina, 2018). Nonetheless, no species can survive without the presence of another species or resource. In the forest, each of the living and non-living things we listed has a purpose. Just like how the lone tree in your backyard does not actually stand alone. There are systems beyond the human eye that sustain the environment. These ecosystems give my dog and me a place to escape from civilization. Ultimately, ecosystems are the reason we can experience and appreciate the natural world and to me, that is pretty amazing. 

References

Government of Canada. (2021, December 16). The power of trees. Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/campaign/2-billion-trees/the-power-of-trees.html

National Geographic Society. (2023). Ecosystem. National Geographic. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/ecosystem/

Mucina, L. (2018). Biome: Evolution of a crucial ecological and biogeographical concept. New Phytologist, 222(1), 97–114. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.15609

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Week 7 Blog

Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music? What song takes you immediately back to a natural landscape? What is the context?

Music is omnipresent in nature, and nature is deeply embedded in music. Whether it's rhythm, melodies, or metaphors, a simple walk outside reveals the symphony of birds singing and the myriad ways artists have drawn inspiration from the natural world for centuries.

If you shuffle play a playlist of the one hundred best songs of all time, you can be certain that within the first three tracks, there will be references to elements of nature. Just as in visual art, nature inspires artists to express their emotions in ways that resonate universally with listeners. Even someone who has never physically experienced nature can grasp concepts like being "pretty as a vine" or "sweet as a grape." Such similes and metaphors create a strong and familiar connection, allowing nature to serve as a conduit for expressing complex feelings in song. For instance, when a song likens one’s love to the depth of the ocean, it conveys a profound emotional vastness that humans can visualize and understand. Without nature, how could one replace the metaphor of the ocean? Perhaps with something less evocative like a "man-made hole" or a "sewer system"? The comparison pales in significance and highlights our reliance on the natural world to articulate emotions.

Conversely, the presence of music in nature is equally compelling. However, unlike the way music often guides listeners through metaphors, appreciating the music of nature requires active listening. Birds, for example, are renowned for their vocalizations, which serve various purposes such as attracting mates, warning of predators, or simple communication. Similarly, whales communicate through melodic sounds that can travel astonishing distances—some songs can reach up to 10,000 miles (Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, 2022). It’s also common for people to listen to recordings of whale songs or birdsong as a form of white noise, further emphasizing the musicality inherent in nature.

One song that evokes the essence of nature for me is "To Someone From A Warm Climate (Uiscefhuaraithe)" by Hozier. This track is my go-to when I need to clear my mind and immerse myself in nature, particularly during walks on scenic trails. The title itself, "Uiscefhuaraithe," encapsulates a unique feeling often associated with natural settings. As Hozier explains, it refers to "the feel of coolness only water brings." I interpret these lyrics as an invitation to be fully present, to embrace the sensation of coldness that is distinct to natural bodies of water, whether a river, a waterfall, or the ocean. While one might associate this experience with man-made sources like showers, I personally resonate more with the beauty of natural water. This duality exemplifies the power of Hozier’s work and the natural world: each listener can derive personal meaning and lessons from both.

References

Hozier. (2023). To Someone From A Warm Climate (Uiscefhuaraithe) [Song]. On Unreal Unearth. Rubyworks Records.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2022). Unraveling Mysteries of Humpback Whale Song at Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Retrieved from https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/sep22/mysteries-of-humpback-whale-song.html

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Hi Hunter! 

I felt challenged by your idea to shuffle three songs to find nature in music. So, I tried it. By the second song, “Slow it Down,” by Benson Boon, there was a reference to nature; “We’re too young to drown deep in dirty waters.” Even songs popular now, like this one, are using nature metaphorically, some to describe beauties, and others, like the dirty water, to describe fears. 

I like that you acknowledged how nature can resonate with people universally. We all know how deep and vast the ocean is, hence, why it is used to describe such extreme emotions. Dirty water for example is frightening, you don’t know what’s in it or how far it goes, like how doubt pulls you down emotionally into scary, unknown places. I did not realize how much we rely on nature to express our emotions. I agree with you, nature has a power that allows us to conceptualize emotions. 

Also, it is interesting how like you mentioned other animals create music, like whales and birds. Even bugs, like Cicadas, make music. I like how you mentioned nature in music requires active listening. It is easy to be considered background noises in our everyday lives. Yet, it is compelling the way other animals in nature use their “music.” 

Honestly, I have never heard that Hozier song before now. However, after listening to it, I can see how helpful it can be to immerse yourself in nature. It is calming, like how being present feels. I agree, there is a distinct feeling of the cold natural waters. 

Thank you for sharing your unique experience! I can see how this track helps you clear your mind, especially in nature. 

References

Boone, B. (2023). Slow it down [Song]. On Pulse [Album]. Night Street Records/Warner Records.

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Music and Nature Blog 7

Birds chirping, leaves rustling, crickets chirping, wind blowing and water flowing.

Where is music in nature?

Well, music to your ears may be different to music to mine. We can interpret any sound as music. 

Sound is everywhere in nature, but did you know there is actually music with rhythms and patterns in nature? 

There are limitless sounds in our environment (Gray et al., 2001). The further you are in nature, the more sounds it provides you. So, there is far less music to be heard by those living in urbanized areas (Gray et al., 2001). 

With science, we have discovered more advanced ways to hear the music of the earth, like the sound of whales in the ocean being recorded for the first time in 1940 through technology (Gray et al., 2001). Now, the music of the earth can be heard anywhere. 

Though, that was actually not the first time the whales were heard. 

The Tlingit and Inuit tribes used the hulls of their boats to hear the whale long before recording was created (Gray et al., 2001). 

Whales, specifically singing humpbacks, use repetitive rhythms like human music! A lot like our music they repeat their ‘songs,’ use similar octave intervals like ours, use rhymes and some even have a theme or statement (Gray et al., 2001).

It is amazing to think that we are not the only species that create music. 

Whales are not the only ones. Birds create music too. 

What other animals do you think create music? 

Next, where is nature in music? 

Nature and music alike are highly impactful on our feelings and state of mind. Some find rainstorms calming, others find them frightening. For years humans have been replicating sounds of nature in music for tone and expression. 

An example is the Rain Stick. 

Invented in the mid-16th century, the Rain Stick evolved into a part of traditional rituals revolved around prayer (Duke Edu, 2024). Made of hollow wood or bamboo and filled with rice, the instrument is shaken or rolled to mimic the sound of rain (Duke Edu, 2024). 

The Rain Stick is a very obvious form of nature in music. However, nature can be seen in music in many different forms. Sometimes, it is rather the feeling or story of nature being told or felt through a song. Other times, lyrics reference nature in the form of a metaphor or use exaggeration. For example, The Beatles, “Here Comes the Sun” uses the sun as a metaphor for hope. 

Overall, music is everywhere in nature and nature is everywhere in music. Songs may not even relate to a natural landscape, but our experiences attach meaning to songs and nature.

For me, the song “Whiskey Glasses,” by Morgan Wallen, came out in 2018 when I was 15 years old. That summer, my friends and I listened to it almost every day, singing along even though we had no idea what whiskey even tasted like. 

As I think back to that summer, I think of all the free time we had. The last summer before we were working full time and became ‘too cool’ to play outside. 

Overplayed or not, that song reminds me of innocence and imagination. At 15, we weren’t pretending and making up games. However, we were playing soccer in the fields and swimming in a lake behind my friend’s house. Thinking of it now that lake definitively had manure run off in it and I wouldn’t dare go near it. Yet, hearing that song, I feel like how I did when it came out. Nature wasn’t just a place to travel through or get away to. It was our everyday lives and a central part of our memories. 

Nonetheless, music connects us to nature as much as nature connects us to music. I look forward to reading about all of your specific connections to music in nature. 

References

Duke University. (n.d.). Rain stick: Central and South America (percussion instruments). Duke Music Instrument Collections. Retrieved October 26, 2024, from https://sites.duke.edu/dumic/instruments/percussion/central-and-south-america/rain-stick/

Montiel, L., & MacCurdy, D. (2001). Rain sticks and the music of the Andes. Music Educators Journal, 87(5), 40–44. Gale Academic OneFile.

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Blog Post 6- ENVS 3000

The quote in this week's blog prompt is a reflection on the importance of remembering the past and using the lessons we’ve previously learned to guide what we know today. The quote starts off by saying there isn’t necessarily value in any one aspect of the past, but there is value in having a comprehensive understanding of the whole. In most cases, you can’t fully understand something without looking at its past. By learning how a space used to look or be used, you can better understand how it looks today. For example, Wild Goose Woods in the Arboretum is composed of Freeman’s maple trees all primarily the same size and age, however it wasn’t planted like most areas that exhibit this type of growth. In the past, Wild Goose Woods was an old growth elm forest. When Dutch elm disease hit this area, it wiped out almost all of the elm trees, leaving room for a new species to emerge. In this case, Freeman maples, which have a higher tolerance to flooding (which is necessary in these woods due to the ephemeral pond that exists) than other maple trees. Since most of the elm trees died around the same time, these maples emerged within a few years of each other, creating what could look like a plantation at a first glance. This is just one small example of the importance of needing to understand the past to interpret the present.  

(Photo of Wild Goose Woods, showing several of the equally sized trees.)

The second part of this quote describes the ignorance that can occur if you don’t acknowledge the past. Hyams describes how easy it is to think the present revolves around ourselves by stating it's like thinking the train station you just passed through only existed while you were there. I think this is an important idea to keep in mind as humans tend to fall into a manner of thinking that only applies to what they are currently experiencing. Robert Sutton alludes to this in the video that was part of this week's content. He explains how much of what was described at Pea Ridge Battlefield used to focus only on the military aspects, stating it was largely about “who shot who”. He then discusses how they have more recently partnered with the Cherokee nation in developing a more comprehensive story that includes the interaction with the land and the Cherokee members who were active during this battle. If park services had chosen not to acknowledge these stories, they would be ignoring a significant portion of history and in turn the comprehensive integrity of the past.

The idea of paying attention to the past and honoring history becomes even more important when we think about the future of our planet. If we are conscious of how we acted in the past and we understand how our actions created what we see in the present, we’d be more likely to act in a way now that will lead to a more promising future. If we believe the railway station only exists while we’re in it, we may be more inclined to destroy it with litter or carelessness while we’re there than we would be if we acknowledged that another train will be coming in shortly. If we use the past in our interpretations, we may be better equipped to convince people that nature is important and worth conserving.

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I really appreciate your inclusion of Guelph’s history. I often walk the arboretum, especially during fall times. Never did I think Wild Goose Woods had such a compelling story to it. 

Like the quote, I treated the woods as the station. I have never looked into its history and thus am treating it as if it never existed before. While the elm trees are a part of history, the story of Dutch elm disease shaped what we know it is now. It is still being impacted by this, as maple trees proceed to survive in the flooded areas. 

I will definitely go back to this area and look at it differently. I have grown a new-found appreciation for these woods knowing what it has endured. 

Your post did exactly what the quote expresses. I realize now that by learning these ancient things, I can share, appreciate, and make conservation efforts as well. 

I also like your inclusion of the Cherokee people. History should include times of tragedy in efforts to not repeat them. 

Lastly, you make a great point, we all are a part of history. If we never acknowledge our history, we can never learn from it. We can take the good and continue, but also take the bad and change. If we are ignorant, like being on the train, then you are right, we are leading ourselves to greater destruction. As a society, and in the natural world. For example, in North America, we overconsume plastic. When the government made plans to get rid of plastic straws and bags, they acknowledged that our overconsumption of these things was not necessary and damaging the planet. Now, we are making efforts to change them. With hopes of conservation, the more we know about the past and its impacts on now, we can change our actions. 

Overall, I agree with your interpretation of the quote and learned from your insight!

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Ancient Things Blog 6

Hi Readers!

Today’s post will focus on the following quote;

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

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

What do merit, integrity and railways have to do with the past? 

I believe the quote implies that when we forget the past, we are disconnected from the present. 

However, there is so much more embedded within. So, to unpack this quote, I will analyze it by sentence to find its overall meaning. 

“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together 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.”

In this sentence, Hyams implies that historical things are not worthy. They are just objects or pieces of time. 

Yet, these ancient things are worthy because of their wholeness. 

They are parts that make up a greater story or memory. The beauty is in the efforts to maintain the overall story. They are stories that define cultures, communities, families, landscapes, and ourselves. 

As time passes and these memories become scattered, we must put forth effort to keep their importance alive. 

Chapter 15 of, Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World, supports the idea that interpreting history by educating enhances different aspects of life (Beck et al., 2018). 

Yet, memories are not always fond. By remembering not just happy stories, but stories of discrimination, sadness, and tragedy we can understand how our world and its systems are shaped (Beck et al., 2018). By obtaining knowledge of history, even when it becomes scattered, we can explain the present by understanding the past.

The second half expands on this;

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.”

The train is a metaphor of time. The past still exists, even as the future approaches. Likewise, like the railway station, places and things serve the present with their enriched history. 

Likewise, the knowledge of history inspires the action of today (Beck et al., 2018). 

This is demonstrated a lot in European and Westernized history. People of these backgrounds have museums, monuments and family history to share.

The indigenous though, have had a tragic loss of their culture and history. 

As Beck et al. says, we must use history as a way to learn from tragedy and grow (2018). 

Their language, practices, and community have been sacrificed for the memory of Eurocentric ideals. 

For years, residential schools and the gentrification the indigenous endured were kept hidden. Now, as we learn more, we must acknowledge what has and is occurring.

Canada was on the train trying to erase the railway station like the discrimination from the past never happened. We all play a part, whether we think so or not. 

Indigenous culture and freedom merit integrity. We are not done with their past. 

But, the past exists and it is what we do with that information that will shape the future. 

Indigenous people play a great role in nature conservation. As we learn their history, society can learn from their practice. Nature can benefit from their ancient practices as can we.

Knudson, L.B.T.T.C.D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Publishing LLC. https://sagamore.vitalsource.com/books/9781571678669

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Blog Post 5

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

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

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Hi Krishna, 

I really enjoyed your post. 

As someone who grew up in a small town with nature all around, I often wondered how I might interpret nature differently than someone who grew up in a city. I always asked myself, does living in a city make it harder to appreciate nature? However, your post proved me to be very wrong. 

Tommy Thompson Park sounds like the perfect place to become really involved with nature. I like how you mentioned the getting so far out you could not even hear the traffic anymore. Waking up to crickets and birds instead of people and cars is something I often take for granted.

Maybe, growing up in a city teaches you to appreciate nature just as much, if not more than someone from a rural area. You are excited to see snails, owls, and spiders, something I forget to stop and look at. 

Like you, as a kid I grew up biking through trails and playing in a creek behind my house. As I got older, those trips lessened. Now, I can travel and see places I thought were larger and more extravagant. Your post reminded me those local places are just as interesting. 

Our meaning attached to these childhood parks, the ecosystems within and the accessibility of them is what makes them so special. 

Thank you for your memories of Tommy Thompson Park. I now know that growing up in a city does not mean you are completely deterred from nature. I feel inspired to go out and explore the nature around me. There is so much to be seen that is local too! 

[lrenvs3000f24]

Unit 5: Social Media and Nature Interpretation

Hi readers!

In today’s day in age, we are surrounded by social media. When exploring nature, we often feel inclined to take a picture and share it with others. Our photographs capture the beauty of nature. Photography can be a form of artistry. This week, I wanted to investigate how social media has impacted nature interpretation. Has it made the industry too saturated? Or is it allowing interpreters to expand their audience? 

https://thenounproject.com/photo/group-of-young-people-hiking-in-nature-and-looking-at-cell-phone-47Xxab/

I figured there is no better way to approach this than a good old pros and cons list. With the help of Facets’, Evaluating the Benefits and Risks of Social Media for Wildlife Conservation, I will make a list that is applicable to nature interpretation. 

First, the cons. 

As we know, social media dictates a lot of what we do. Platforms like Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube, etc.. all have the potential to reach a wide audience. It has been seen time and time again where places gain traction due to viral posts online. However, this can potentially be harmful to the conservation of the landscape. Greater traction is amazing in the eyes of education. But larger groups can potentially lead to; damaged habitats from foot and vehicle traffic, wildlife interruption and larger amounts of littering and pollution, which impact the native plant and animal species.

Also, social media has potential to distract from the interpretation’s true intention. Many have become obsessed with the idea of getting the perfect picture or going viral. Environmental interpretation tells a story. Whether it be about conservation, appreciating the beauty in nature, creating personal connections and improving well-being, science in nature, or acknowledging indigenous culture, interpretation is done with planned intention. However, this meaning can be lost as people are too distracted in getting the perfect picture that matches their aesthetically pleasing feed.

As there are negatives, there are also so many benefits to the use of social media in interpretation. 

Likewise, the world is at our fingertips. If you want to reach a large audience, there is no better place than the internet to do it. This is beneficial in environmental interpretation as there is greater awareness. People from all over can be not only further educated on an array of topics, but they can learn about places out of their geographic reach. For example, I am from Canada, but I love keeping up with Chris Burkard’s Instagram as he travels the globe. Social media has allowed him to use his voice and share his photography with almost 4 million followers. 

https://www.instagram.com/chrisburkard/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=ffb8a718-a1d2-4cda-8ab5-b87970e37708

Additionally, with the rise of bandwagons, social media can be utilised in nature and wildlife preservation. An interpreter can spread awareness through various social media platforms. Social media allows people to come together and take action. An example of this is the #OceanCleanup project. People from all over are joining this trend to remove plastic and debris from the ocean. To protect the ecosystem, and allow us to interpret and appreciate the ocean for years to come. 

Overall, social media in interpretation is a tool that should be used for the greater good. I think it is good to be used in moderation. If visiting a popular place, maybe try researching the impacts of tourism on the environment and indigenous people first. There could be even better options out there that won’t destroy natural landscapes. Moreover, taking photos is an awesome way to express the beauty of nature through art, but should be done within the right context. 

Nonetheless, I am not against the use of social media and nature interpretation. This blog is a form of social media!

I would love to hear others’ opinions on this matter.

Do you think social media is good for nature interpreting? 

References

Haines, R. J., & Williams, L. J. (2021). The role of social media in wildlife conservation: A systematic review. Facets, 6(1), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1139/facets-2021-0112

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Unit Four Blog

            The act of interpreting nature—in any way, shape, or form—is one that is deeply personal to each of us based on our own experiences, while also being incredibly universal as it is something we all do. I think this is something that art can really emphasize; by putting your interpretation into a piece of art, you can emphasize and detail exactly what the art makes you feel, and it can be completely different from what the person next to you feels. Art as an interpretation tool can help us to make the universal aspect of nature feel deeply personal, as well giving us the opportunity to showcase our own personal feelings in a way that can be universally appreciated. Whether you are an artist or not, you have the ability to engage with nature in your own way.

This is the prettiest sky I've ever seen (and yes it was that colour in real life). 

           In questioning “who am I to interpret nature through art,” I would argue that the answer is simply, I am a person, and so it is something that I can and will do. Any person with access to nature has the capacity to interpret it through art, especially because art does not need to mean painting, art is also photography and poetry and sketching and music. So many great works have been crafted surrounding nature and we should not limit ourselves to only appreciating visual art. Yes, there is the obvious artworks, like Monet’s Water Lilies or Van Gogh’s Almond Blossoms (which I recently had the pleasure of seeing in person), both of which interpret nature as paintings. But there is also Ralph Waldo Emerson’s famous poem Water which is an interpretation of the many characteristics of water, appreciating both its beauty, vitality, and capacity for destruction. Neither method of art is better than the other, but they each highlight the beauty of nature in their own way and encourage audiences to acknowledge the beauty of their own natural surroundings.

A photo I took of Van Gogh's Almond Blossoms last summer.

            In regards to how I interpret “the gift of beauty,” I think my own experience is often one of great introspection. I don’t find myself particularly artistically inclined, or eloquent enough to put my emotional response to nature into words, and so it is usually something I just enjoy sitting with. Perhaps I’ll offer a few “oohs” and “ahs” to the people around me (if I’m in a group setting), but I strongly feely I have the most meaningful experience alone with my thoughts and the environment. Additionally, I do enjoy taking photos of things I find beautiful (natural and otherwise) and trying to capture what exactly it is that I see and feel strongly about, so that I can appreciate it on my own for as long as I’d like. Our textbook encourages interpreters to help people develop this skillset on their own, so that everyone can appreciate beautiful surroundings and experience their own personal connection with it, and I quite like that idea. I think it is a sad experience for anyone who cannot appreciate the beautiful world we inhabit, and I very much hope that my future as a nature interpreter can help many people to open their eyes to appreciate the world around them. Personally, I think we should all stop and smell the roses around us.

They're not roses, but this is a beautiful bush in my parent's front garden.

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I really like your use of “introspection.” I agree, I do not think I am very artistically inclined, and for that, I resonate with your post. I think it is amazing that you can appreciate the beauty of nature without having to put your thoughts into words and in photos. I too like the idea that nature is personal. Beauty can be seen in so many ways. What I may think is beautiful, might disgust another. Interpretation is what provides new thoughts, ideas, and perspectives to this world. Some repeated, others brand new. It definitely is sad for those who do not appreciate the natural world surrounding us. Any person can interpret, and I think people who do not appreciate natures beauty are still interpreting it in some way

I like how you mentioned that art does not need to be a painting. For you, it is through photos. For me, it is through an instrument. For others, it may be both of those or something completely different. I like that everyone has different niches when it comes to artistic interpretation. I can find joy in my own passions. However, I can still appreciate, enjoy and learn from others. I personally did not even think of poetry when I thought of art. I looked up that famous poem, and I felt inspired. There is art in many forms, even words. Overall, great post! As the gift of beauty comes from uplifting and sharing with others, I feel inspired by your take and examples of interpretation!

[lrenvs3000f24]

Unit 4 - Art and Beauty in Interpretation

“ Reporting the beauty of a scene might reduce the opportunity for inspiration.”

Honestly, I really had to sit back and think, who am I to interpret nature through art? I do not paint or draw, nor does anyone in my family. However, I can appreciate beauty in all forms. Nature is without a doubt represented beautifully through art. Colour can trigger emotion. As well as perspective and depth. 

As described in chapter 5, interpretation should instill beauty inside of people. It should allow people to sense it, even if in artistic form. 

A popular interpretation I think of is starry night. After viewing that painting, I find myself wanting to see the beauty in the night. Sometimes, I forget to stop and look up. Yet, that painting reminds me of all the night can offer. 

In Starry Night, you can see Van Gogh’s perception of the world. His use of depth in the sky and landscape and colours swirled together manifests gratefulness. I feel that I can almost put myself in his shoes when he was painting it. 

The gift of beauty is is to spiritually guide people and encourage preservation. As art ages, and urbanization persists, I think beauty could partly be what saves certain natural landscapes. For example, living in a city, I sometimes forget what nature has to offer. It’s artwork all around and photographs that remind me. Especially with social media, I find myself being receptive to the perspective of others. Capturing an essence in a photo or piece of art. I know for me; I want to feel what that art provides. The concrete buildings and busy cars in urbanization do not provide that. 

Additionally, I see art as beyond the eye. For me, I am artistic through music. Nature can even be interpreted through song. I play guitar, and I have learned some acoustic pieces that are meant to embody the feeling of being somewhere. I see music as a form of interpretation. In song, the tempo, rhythm, and tune can interpret a feeling, one that goes beyond the eye. 

There are so many forms of art, and so many perspectives. Each person sees beauty in different forms, so why would we all interpret it the same? I love to be able to appreciate others art and perspectives of beauty while also pursuing mine through music.  Another example is through our bodies. Some cultures may artistically interpret the beauty of nature through dance. 

Nonetheless, I see beauty as more than just a pretty sunset. I think the beauty partly comes from the perspective of the interpreter. It is beautiful that people can interpret nature through art, in more than just physical ways. For me, the interpreter's perspective is instilling the desire in me to appreciate things differently.  Through paintings, drawings, pottery, dance, song, etc... I feel inspired and uplifted.

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Unit 3

What role does “privilege” play in nature interpretation? Please include your working definition of privilege.

I would consider privilege to be centred primarily in one’s upbringing and the experiences they were afforded in their early years due to the socioeconomic standing of their family. More and more I have come to realise that I have been privileged in my ability to access nature from an early age, I have benefitted greatly from what my family could offer because of the area we lived in, finances, and the ability for them to take time off work to connect with nature as a family. Also, the fact that my parents recognised that connecting with nature as a child is important is another point of privilege, in my opinion. As a personal example, it’s the travel experiences that stick in my mind as a clear cut example of near-textbook privilege. I think of my time spent in the French Alps, specifically, where I had the opportunity to feel small in nature among the vast peaks. I would consider these trips truly formative, as they taught me to appreciate the unpredictability and immense power of nature. Lightning storms are common in the Alps in summer, and it came as quite a shock to see lightning repeatedly strike a summit that my family and I had been stood at just half an hour earlier. The experiences I was fortunate to have throughout my childhood through travel, access to books and media, and simply our proximity to nature in my hometown afforded me tools to nurture my connection with nature. So, even though I would like to think that I would have found my way to this point on my own, without these experiences, I am not certain that I would feel as strongly about nature as I now do.

 A cloudless sky near the summit just an hour before the storm rolled in (Chamonix, France. 2020)

To understand the true sway of privilege in the environmental sector, one must only look at statistics around race, gender, nationality and many more characteristics determined as ‘birth rights’ that apply to top policymakers, publishers, and famed interpreters. Above that, privilege has strong influence on the most heard voices when discussing protecting nature and other environmental issues.

Through my interpretation experience so far (yet another experience the privilege of being able to move to a new continent to attend university has afforded me), I have become mindful of making these spaces and scenarios as welcoming as possible to as many people as possible. This sent me down path of intense learning, and has led me to seriously consider how I can recognise my privilege and reduce the way it may warp my view of nature, and the wider world. Beyond the personal benefits I have gained from this, I would consider this to be an example of the power of interpretation; where not only the audiences are learning, but the interpreters are too. I think that through mindful and equitable nature interpretation we can start to bridge the gap that privilege creates, and hopefully reach a point where everyone is afforded distinct opportunities to develop their own relationship with nature.

[lrenvs3000f24]

Hi Megan! 

            I am glad to hear that you are becoming mindful of making environmental interpretation welcoming. I too am learning every day from my peers and media. You make a great point; the audiences are not the only one’s learning. As interpreters educate, they may be coming from a bias standpoint. For example, an interpreter who speaks English may not realize how privileged there are to be fluent in the language that is widely used. However, if an interpreter can learn about their privilege from others who are excluded from a vast array of nature interpretation because of their language, then they may be able find solutions, like providing a transcript. This is just one way an interpreter can learn about their privileges from others. Like you said, this may allow others to gain distinct opportunities. Learning about privilege in nature is not just acknowledging it but being proactive towards it too. 

            With that being said, I think privilege goes beyond someone’s socioeconomic standing of their family and their experiences within their early years. For example, someone in the LGBTQIA+ community may be excluded from environmental interpretation in a country where there are laws against their orientation or identity. Someone could have a middle to upper-class family, yet still experience disadvantages. It is a privilege to see the world freely without the fear of discrimination. So, I agree, socioeconomic class plays a huge factor in privilege, but there is so much more beyond finance and family experience. More examples of this could be someone with a disability - from birth or developing later in life, a person of colour in a white family, a refugee in a new country, or just the age someone may be. 

            Overall, privilege shows in many forms. I think privilege is advantages due to someone’s social group or identity. This can include socioeconomic status and early life experiences! Likewise, I appreciate reading about how you feel you are privileged with your experiences interpreting nature. Environmental interpreting can be very limiting. And like you thought, it takes openness to learn and change to acknowledge privileges and to provide opportunities for others. Something I could not agree more with! 

[lrenvs3000f24]

What is Privilege? Blog 3

Hi readers :)  

This week I had to step back and ask myself what is privilege? What does it mean to me? 

From my understanding, privilege is the unmerited advantages someone holds according to parts of their identity. It is hard to put privilege into simple terms as it has great depths and implications. 

To have a working definition of privilege is demonstrating my privilege.

 I am writing this blog for my university education because I have privilege. I have a part-time job when unemployment in Canada is at an all-time high. I come from a middle-class home, where my parents can help me financially. I am a white female who has never experienced barriers due to my race. 

I am inherently privileged and therefore benefit in society. 

 I do not deserve these benefits. Likewise, another does not deserve the lack thereof. Yet, it persists. Therefore, I must acknowledge my privilege in all walks of life, even nature interpretation. 

 To begin, I am a young, able-bodied person. The natural world is not designed for accessibility, and for that I am privileged. I can participate in activities without a second thought. Some people may face accessibility limitations as the landscapes or activities may not support mobile aids, or they may deal with pain and other physical limitations. So, when interpreting nature, it is important to understand that not everyone can participate. Accessibility should be considered from many different perspectives. An interpreter could ask for the perspectives of people of all abilities in an attempt to provide sufficient variations. 

 Additionally, a nature interpreter who is white, or from a Westernized society may look at nature from a Eurocentric view. This may include using the land for recreation, development, and science with potentially a lack of respect for the plants and animals. This is a privileged perspective as it ignores indigenous peoples and their practices. Indigenous people are ideal nature interpreters as their culture and history are imbedded with spiritual connections to the environment and include many sustainable and holistic practices. If interpreting on indigenous land, local indigenous people should be included in decision-making and planning. Moreover, land acknowledgments show that we are privileged to be standing on and learning about the land that was stolen through colonialism. 

  Privilege shows greatly in nature interpretation through economics. While people can interpret nature anywhere, many nature guides involve paid tours, and time off. To be financially comfortable enough to pay to enjoy nature in different forms stems from the privilege to get a job. To be able to spend time in nature even shows that shows that one does not have to work long hours with minimal spare time. 

Socio-economic status stems from many other privileges including race, ability, gender, age, religion, education, citizenship, language, orientation and more. Does this list look lengthy? Yes. All of these examples are present daily and are especially shown in nature interpretation. As I continue to think of examples, I realize just how many disadvantages someone may face simply because of who they are. 

I realized that privilege is everywhere. And as we know now, I am privileged to just be realizing this now. As I work on my ever-growing definition, I want to learn more from those who have not been granted the same opportunities as I have. The more I learn in life and as an interpreter, I want to do my part in sharing opportunities and demonstrating equality in nature interpreting. 

All people deserve to be able to interpret nature.

If willing, I encourage others to share their own understanding of privilege. We can all learn from each other one way or another!

[emrenvs3000f24]

UNIT 2 BLOG POST

To me, the ideal environmental interpreter is someone who can distill complex ideas into their fundamental principles and present them to a wide range of audiences. As a developing nature interpreter, I strive to explain natural phenomena to university students just as effectively as I can to kindergarteners. The ability to communicate the essence of nature, with or without technical jargon, allows us to reach the broadest possible audience.

When I envision a nature interpreter, I picture someone wearing a sunhat, binoculars around their neck, leading a group along a trail and pointing out interesting species. While this traditional form of interpretation is valuable, it’s often inaccessible to many, including those with mobility or vision challenges. To me, an ideal interpreter is someone who can communicate effectively both in person and virtually. While I believe being immersed in the ecosystem you’re explaining is the most impactful, having the skills to facilitate meaningful learning without being physically in the area can broaden the reach of natural science, especially in today’s technology-driven world.

For example, in situations where you can’t be in the field or show visual information—like in a podcast—you must rely on strong descriptive skills. Painting vivid images with words is no small feat, and it’s a skill I aim to improve this semester. Adding interactive elements to non-visual formats is also crucial. For visual or kinesthetic learners, a podcast might seem less engaging. However, incorporating thought experiments or encouraging movement can make the experience more immersive and rewarding.

In this unit, we discussed active versus reflective learners: active learners benefit from applying information to problems or explaining it to others, while reflective learners prefer to process information quietly and think it over. Incorporating elements like pop quizzes can engage active learners, while providing breaks between topics allows reflective learners time to absorb the material.

Ultimately, my idea of the ideal nature interpreter is someone with range—someone who can effectively translate scientific information for audiences with little scientific background, as well as for those with extensive knowledge. They should engage diverse audiences across multiple platforms, whether through nature walks, videos, blogs, podcasts, or social media posts. They must be able to present scientific concepts in ways accessible to people of varying abilities and learning styles. If by the end of this class I can expand my skill set to communicate science effectively across audiences and media, I will consider it a success.

Personally, I feel I’d be happiest taking people out into the field and teaching them about nature while being immersed in it. I truly love the outdoors and enjoy spending as much time as possible in nature. Even though that’s where my passion lies, I would also love to develop skills in digital interpretation, like podcasting, because it would allow me to reach a broader audience. This, however, requires skills beyond content creation, such as audience outreach, editing, sound engineering, and collaboration with other researchers—skills I have little experience in but hope to develop.

[lrenvs3000f24]

This post emphasizes what I think all environmental interpreters should embody; a passion to teach as many people as possible. I like the point you made about jargon; it should not be necessary when speaking to a diverse audience. I resonate with this as I remember feeling lost in some of my first experiences learning about nature. Coincidentally, they included complex jargon and technical terms that the average person would not know. I found myself growing frustrated and out of place. Like you said, if interpreters communicate in a way that is easily accessible to everyone of different levels of understanding, then more people can take away from and connect their experience.

You emphasize not just educational inclusion, but physical accessibility as well. I also think an interpreter should be adaptable to these situations as well. Virtual and in person skills are very necessary today like you said. I think nature is not exclusive, and therefore interpretation should not be as well. 

Descriptive abilities are definitely necessary, especially in scenarios when there is no visual components. I would like to add that story-telling abilities alongside descriptive abilities make the strongest interpreter. People become more engaged when they can follow a plot. Instead of listening to fact after fact, a descriptive story allows them to wonder; what else is out there? How does this relate to my own life?  

I like how you acknowledged that there are different platforms to reach a variety of people. Like these blogs or a podcast, many platforms allow people to express interpretation differently. I also hope to use a variety of platforms and expand my communication skills in this class! Overall, you made me think about how I can be more inclusive as an interpreter. I look forward to seeing how your skills develop through your posts! :)