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Unit 10: Where do I stand?

Before I decided to take this class, I had never really heard the term “nature interpreter”, nor would I have ever used such a term to refer to myself. However, throughout my journey in this class, I have learned a lot about what it means to be a nature interpreter and the multitude of different tools one can employ to help educate and spread our shared passion for nature. With each blog prompt, I have been challenged to critically think about my own experiences and how they have influenced my journey in regards to studying the environment. During the various blog posts, I have learned to unpack my “invisible backpack” of unearned opportunities I’ve had that have helped guide my value for nature, and see how different circumstances may have led to a different outcome (McIntosh, 1989). Through analysing my own life and experiences with nature, I can better understand why I have gained a passion for connecting to the nature around me. Keeping that in mind, it further enables me to think of how someone with completely different life experiences may not share the same passion as me, and through this understanding I can better learn how I can educate and spread my passion to people of all walks of life.

Of the many topics the units of this course have covered, a common theme that has been enforced throughout the units is to understand your audience, how they learn, and what they may best respond to. Whether it’s through a simple engaging conversation, stating fun facts, or using aspects of art such as music or visual art; all these serve as different tools that can help engage an audience and perhaps ignite the same sense of passion for nature that we have as nature interpreters. When I first heard the term nature interpreter, the only thing that came to mind was the stereotypical guide at a conservation park, but after 10 weeks of this course I know there is so much more to it, and that educating others about nature is very crucial when it comes to protecting the environment for future generations. For me personally, I grew up going camping trips with my family, and doing things such as visiting a provincial park, or going out hiking or canoeing was a crucial part of my life that defined the value that I have for nature at a young age. This helped me define my interest for nature, and helped aid my decision to study Environmental Management here at the University of Guelph. However, hundreds of millions around the world do not have access to nature in the same way that I did, and due to this most of their views when it comes to nature are guided by the media and the plethora of different arguments when it comes to things like climate change or habitat conservation. Due to this, it can create a sense of disconnect to nature for many people, which can lead to the mentality that human civilization is so separate from nature. However, I personally see us as a part of nature, as not only do we rely on it to provide us with necessary resources, it is also a crucial part of the human soul. Due to this view, I believe that it is my role as a nature interpreter to share the values I have to as many people as possible so those who didn’t have the same opportunities as me can truly feel the same sense of connectivity to nature that I was able to discover through my life experiences.

Thinking about where I stand as a nature interpreter still leaves me with a bit of uncertainty when it comes to what form of nature interpretation suits me best. When I try to think about where my future stands I find it important to think through my past and what brought me to study the environment in the first place. One of the major conclusions that I found throughout high school as I thought about what I wanted to do in university, I knew I was the kind of person who wanted to avoid spending my career sitting in an office chair. I have always been more of a hands-on learner who enjoys actually going out into nature, and experiencing the sights, smells, and sounds so I can better gain inspiration in a way that a computer screen could never provide. So this is why I think I can best educate others on nature in a setting that allows me to guide others through the same physical experiences that ignited my passion from a young age. Through guiding others in hands-on experiences and using some of my knowledge, and storytelling skills to instil a sense of connectivity and passion in nature is currently where I see myself as being the most effective as a nature interpreter. The people who receive your nature interpretation will be able to sense how passionate and genuine you are pretty quickly and this will influence how much they take your message seriously. It is for this reason that it is best as a nature interpreter to be in a role that you are truly passionate about, as passion is one thing that can’t be faked.

My ethics in regards to nature interpretation has changed, and been redefined as I learn more about environmental issues and some of the misconceptions I had before beginning my studies. I have always valued nature, and seen it as something that is worth preserving, however my values in regards to what the current losses in biodiversity means to us as humans, and how we can best go about protecting nature has changed quite a bit through this course. I have learned the importance of educating others not only so they know facts about nature, but so they know more about the spiritual and cultural aspects around nature that make people feel a stronger connection to nature so they will view it as something worth preserving for future generations. In my view, losing nature is much more than just losing pretty landscapes or important resources, it is akin to losing a part of ourselves. It is very important to guide the general population into understanding why we dedicate our lives to protecting nature, and why its importance is much deeper than what's on the surface. This is because it is only through a better-educated populace that we can influence political, and business decisions regarding the environment, as with more people advocating for nature with a passion, decision makers will be more inclined to move towards more sustainable practices. Given the current state of the world, it may seem like a very uphill battle for us as nature interpreters, but through reading everyone’s discussions throughout this term I have gained a lot more confidence in the future by seeing how passionate many others are in this class are for protecting the nature around us so future generations can enjoy the same passion and awe we find in mother nature.

References

McIntosh, P. (1989). White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack. Peace and Freedom, 10-12.

lrmenvs3000w23

Hey Carson, congrats on finishing the blog-portion of this course. This is my last post, and I chose yours as it was very well thought out!

I also hadn’t heard the term “Nature interpreter” before I started the course, but it turned out to be an incredible nuanced and multifaceted subject. I would also agree that with each week’s blog prompt, I was forced to think critically, and in a way that I had never had to think before. I believe that’s one of the fantastic things about open ended courses, such as Nature Interpretation, is that with one prompt, you have get 60 entirely unique responses. Although I found them difficult to start at first, throughout the course I could find myself thinking critically about the subject, and each post became increasingly easier, yet difficult at the same time.

I also agree that my ethics as a nature interpreter have changed throughout the course. I feel as if I am thinking more critically about certain environmental issues, and whenever I discuss them with others, I try and incorporate the things I’ve learned in the course to insight a deeper conversation. It’s refreshing to have conversations about things that don’t just skim the surface of knowledge but dive deeper into more complex subjects and the underlying issues associated with them.

Again, awesome post, good luck with the final podcast assignment!

jprenvs3000w23

Nature Interpretation's Role in Environmental Sustainability

As a nature interpreter, I do feel that I have to be careful about how I conduct myself. Ultimately, the intent is to guide people towards understanding why they may relate to nature more than they thought they would, but also to allow people to realize on their own that they should go out into nature to develop this opinion for themselves. Perhaps my own interests are rooted in the well-being of my surroundings, in the sense that I am interested in nature and everything it encompasses, but not everyone necessarily relates to that. So, I consider this rooting to ultimately be of my own interest, that way I can express this belief in a way that presents it as an interest like any other person would have. I simply think nature should be allowed to exist, for it brings me great joy in many ways simply by existing in its unmanaged state, but if I were to express in an objective manner that my audience also allow nature to exist in its unmanaged state, then it might be hard for me to keep said audience.

One of the beliefs I have that I still struggle to get across in a way that people can get behind is vegetarianism. I’ve been avoiding animal products for over six years now, because after informing myself of how they are obtained and what the costs of doing so are, it made sense to me that it was not something worth being a part of. So, without much hesitation, I simply decided that I was going to stop being a part of animal product consumption. At the time, I had no idea how people would react to how I was now going to conduct myself, though I was in for a bumpy ride. As a pretty typical white male tenth-grader in a suburb of Boston, I hadn’t really had much in the way of insecurities, and I’d just opened myself up to a wave of criticism from people who come from a plethora of backgrounds. To make that long story short, I was often questioned about my choice to become vegetarian, in ways that made me less open about it. I felt people wanted to talk civilly about things they were able to relate to, but once the topic became something they already had in their mind as something so preposterous, they became more defensive and uncivil in conversation, and it started to become a bit of an insecurity. However, despite all the insecurity I felt around doing what I believed was right, I never let up, and I think it’s helped me to express myself in general more confidently.

Something I learned here at the University of Guelph from keynote speaker Payton Head, a queer black man with a history of strong leadership, on the topic of interdisciplinary inclusivity, is that everyone grew up with their own set of environmental conditions, and are only able to shape their thoughts and beliefs. While we may see another person’s views as ignorant, we can still only empathize with a person if we want to discuss their thoughts and beliefs in a way that we may see as benefiting from change, regardless of how different these thoughts and beliefs may be. I only see the need to dismiss one’s self from an interaction if there is a lack of common respect coming from one or more of the individuals interacting. So, with all that in mind, I feel my best approach for perhaps being influential as a vegetarian is to simply lead by example. People tend to look up to others who have shown they can conduct themselves in a calm and collected manner, and do well by themselves, even if not necessarily doing so at all times. I think that as long as I can continue to conduct myself in such a manner, while still doing things the way I see as right and respectful towards other people, then I may be able to keep myself approachable to someone intrigued by it, and possibly influence how they choose to conduct themselves.

If we are to take a more collaborative approach to it though, I think the best change should start with children. As Jacob Rodenburg put it in this week’s reading, children are disconnected from their natural surroundings, and not by their own choice (2019). Young children, for the most part, are restricted by their parents/guardians as to where they can be throughout most of their early life. If we want to allow people to make their own choices as to how they want to conduct themselves, starting in their younger years, I believe we owe it to them to show them what exists, including nature, how we operate society and its food supply, and so on. Nature is full of different plants and animals which we have learned to appreciate throughout the course of life. When one takes their kid to a farm, they often want to pet the farm animals, as they perceive the world as being friendly; uncorrupted. Hunters often say that if most people had to kill their own meat, then people would eat far less meat–not for the effort it takes to track down an animal, take its life, then prepare it so that it is both edible and palatable, but simply because they become aware of what takes place when they eat meat. I think the same would absolutely be true with children. If Children, who often learn to love and adore animals, saw how they needed to be treated in order for them to eat, they might resist eating them in the first place. In one case, a farmer even decided he would resist such after having lost his cattle to bovine tuberculosis, by going vegetarian himself (Bearne, 2022). Considering the environmental impact that agriculture has on our planet, I ultimately feel responsible to make it a part of our knowledge pool.

Literature Cited:

Jacob Rodenburg (2019). Why Environmental Educators Shouldn’t Give Up Hope. Journal of Environmental Education in the Cascadian Bioregion. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

Suzanne Bearne (2022). The meat and dairy farmers who are going vegan. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61565233

lrmenvs3000w23

Hi Justin, great job on the final post. I chose yours as one of two to reply to because I found your statements to be interesting and thought provoking.

As someone who does not practice vegetarianism, I cannot find your post relatable in your experiences, however I can appreciate your perspective on the subject matter. It is interesting to think about how the idea of vegetarianism is so heavily criticized in some circles. It is truly a shame that something as simple as a person’s choice not to eat meat, becomes so controversial to some people. I have some friends who practice vegetarianism and veganism, and almost always the choice stems from very noble and admirable reasons. Things such as the environment, animal rights, and personal health are among the many reasons I have encountered. To shame anyone for these would be wrong, but for some reason its still so prevalent.

I also agree with the statement that if more people had to kill for their own meat, meat consumption would go down. I believe in today’s day and age, there is such a big disconnect between meat and the animals that produce said meat. To most, cows and the beef you buy at the supermarket, are for all intents and purposes, different things. If more people saw the process of farming meat, maybe there would be a sense of humility when making food choices.

Reflecting on the past, Looking to the Future (Unit 10)

Becoming an interpreter of any variety comes with a great deal of responsibility. You are becoming not necessarily an expert, but more of a Sheppard, in the teachings of an area. With this, you can help shape and develop the opinions and knowledge bases for others. I believe that if you are an interpreter, your ethics must be concrete, as you have an responsibility to properly teach those you connect with.

Growing up, like many others, your first teachers or “interpreters” are your parents. They teach you how to see the world the way they know best, and your young and impressionable mind soaks up every piece of knowledge they can pass down. Of course, as you get older, sometimes your opinions and views will differ from your parents, and sometimes they will not. But the most important part to remember is that your parents have the potential to be so influential because of the trust you have in them.

That brings up a main point, that without trust, you will never be as successful as you can be as an interpreter. The audience you are projecting to must have a sense of trust in you not only as an educator, but as a person as well. Speaking from personal experience, it is a very comforting feeling knowing that there is a sense of trust between yourself and the teacher. This allows you to relax and become comfortable in that setting, which I find allows for increased knowledge intention.

Additionally, becoming an interpreter is a delicate balance of personability, and teaching that becomes difficult to balance sometimes. A lack of emphasis on the subject matter, and you lose the ability to effectively teach the audience. Too much emphasis however, the subject matter becomes disinteresting. The unfortunate fact that I have encountered in my academic career is educators that are experts in their subject area, but fail to personally connect with their students, and therefore develop a level of disinterests that disengages the audience.

With that being said, navigating this course has given me a new perspective on what it means to be an interpreter. I have always thought of interpreting a subject through the traditional classroom setting. However, there is so much more to interpreting that speaking in to an audience. Connecting to an audience in different mediums, such as through music or through nature, has become a new point of emphasis for when I engage with a subject (Beck et al., 2018).

Looking back, one of the most learning experiences I have ever had, came outside of the classroom, walking through the streets of downtown Toronto. This particular teacher was always trying to engage students in different ways, attempting to accommodate all types of learners, which was interesting to learn about throughout this course (Beck et al., 2018). We ended up taking an end-of-year school trip to Toronto, to learn about the experiences of social workers who work closely with the homeless populations downtown. This type of experiential learning opened my eyes to the type of humility that should be approached to such a delicate subject, but also it inspired me to become a teacher myself. The type of commitment this teacher had to her students, was inspiring. Her dedication to trying to cater to each individual learning style was underappreciated in the moment but means so much looking back.

Overall, becoming an interpreter is rewarding and challenging, but this path requires a strong sense of responsibility, ethics and commitment to continuous learning and growth (Dartmouth 2023). Interpreters can effectively shape and develop the knowledge of others, inspiring a new generation of learners. Balancing personability and teaching can be a challenge but finding the right approach can help engage the audience and foster a deeper understanding of the subject. It is also important to recognize that interpretation isn’t limited to traditional classroom settings but can also be achieved through a variety of mediums that can cater to a wide variety of learning styles.

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.

Dartmouth, U. of M. (n.d.). How to accommodate different learning styles. Center for Access and Success | Student Affairs | UMass Dartmouth. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://www.umassd.edu/dss/resources/faculty-staff/how-to-teach-and-accommodate/how-to-accommodate-different-learning-styles/

etenvs3000w23

MUDSKIPPERS!!

After four years of being a zoology major, it is very difficult for me to come up with just one thing that excites me about nature. I could talk about my thesis, which studies thermal tolerance in ants and how it has made me realise how incredibly diverse just one family can be in the animal kingdom. Or I could talk about cryptid species and how before DNA barcoding we had no idea just how many species there actually were as it turns out in many cases what is thought to be one species is actually ten that look the same. Or I could talk about the incredible work done at yellowstone park and how the reintroduction of wolves changed the very geography of the park due to how much the natural dynamics of the ecosystem changed. I could go on and on, but instead, I’m going to talk about something I learned very recently in one of my other courses I took this semester. So, did you know that many fish can breathe outside of water??

I cannot believe I went my whole life not knowing this, but it turns out there are many fish that not only come onto land for brief periods of time, but come onto land for most of their life. And yet they are still considered fish. These fish are referred to as “amphibious fish” and like other amphibious animals such as frogs and salamanders, they breathe on land not through gills but through lunglike structures or cutaneous (skin) respiration.

My favourite amphibious fish has got to be the mudskippers, which live almost their entire life out of water in the muddy flats in the low tidal areas of Japan. I like them primarily because of how strange and bizarrely cute they look, but because they also have some super interesting behaviours, which can be seen in this BBC Earth video narrated by David Attenborough:

There are many species of mudskipper, but all of them maintain moisture by rolling around in the wet mud or digging holes for themselves to keep shelter from the sun. Their fins are very strong and rigid compared to other fish, and that's because they not only breathe on land but they walk on land too! Their protofeet pulls them along the mud flats, where they feed, mate, and maintain their territories. Something else super interesting is their eyes, unlike most fish, mudskippers are able to do a type of blinking very similar to amphibians and mammals. They have a water filled sac right beneath their eyes that allow them to periodically pull water to moisten their eyes. Their vision is excellent on land but terrible underwater as a result of their lifestyle. Perhaps their most bizarre behaviour is the fact that they can not only walk but jump extraordinary heights as a mating display to attract their partners.

The mudskipper fascinates me because it is such a strange and unusual creature full of fun facts to talk about. It is the perfect case study for why I got into studying nature in the first place, which is to say that I got into nature because it is super cool and exciting to learn about. That, for me, is the key to the importance of interpretation, if you can find something fun in what you are learning, you will never forget it, and you’ll never want to.

lrmenvs3000w23

Hey Emily, great post. It’s really nice to see how passionate you are about the broad topic of nature, and it really shows in your writing.

I also think mudskippers are fascinating little creatures, and its amazing how animals can become so suitable to a multitude of environments. Mudskippers are a perfect example of how the diversity and adaptability of nature never ceases to amaze is. Mudskippers, like many other animals, have some very unique and interesting behaviors that shows how well adapted animals in nature can be. It was interesting to learn about how their eyes are more similar to mammals, rather than fish. I would have had no idea if I didn’t read your blog post!

Its nice to see that something as simple as a mudskipper can inspire someone like yourself to pursue a degree in zoology, and its inspiring to see people pursuing what they are passionate about. I also agree, that having fun while learning is easily the best way to keep not only yourself, but keeping others engaged as well. Some of the most memorable teachers and lessons I have had in my academic career have stemmed from classes that were so fun and interesting, I couldn’t help but remember them.

Again, great post, and I wish you luck in the remainder of the course!!

Preserving Indigenous Knowledge (Unit 09)

Nature has always been an essential part of the Indigenous way of life, across Turtle Island, also known (CBC 2017). With such a strong connection between Indigenous people and nature, the relationship between has become something of a more spiritual connection. This is having been an integral part of the Indigenous culture and way of life since the beginning. Traditional Indigenous ecological knowledge, practices, and beliefs were often actively restricted since colonization, however, recently there has been a strong push to incorporate traditional beliefs into conservation efforts (UN 2021). It is now understood that this belief system is essential in not only understanding but preserving the land and resources that both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities reside on.

Not only does Indigenous ecological teaching in Canada differ from what is traditionally implemented, but the motivations differ as well. With historical interactions between Indigenous communities and the natural landscapes of the America’s, each community has a deep-rooted understanding on the interconnectedness of the natural landscape. The traditional Indigenous understanding on how the push-pull effect that ecosystems have is essential in managing natural resources both effectively and sustainably.

Indigenous management strategies have already been implemented and considered effective across the western hemisphere. For example, in an effort to conserve salmon populations in British Columbia, Indigenous management systems were incorporated with input from the local communities (Atlas et al. 2020). Since these communities has created a dependence on the pacific salmon populations, they had a very intimate understanding on how to conserve the dwindling populations.

Not only does Indigenous input in conservation efforts help create sustainable change, but it also helps build relationships between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous communities. The inclusion of Indigenous perspectives and knowledge in the management of Canadian natural resources can not only help propel conservation efforts but build positive change and a more sustainable future for all Canadians.

The importance of the traditional Indigenous ecological knowledge and sustainability practices cannot be understated. The knowledge that Indigenous communities possess is crucial in understanding and preserving our environment and natural resources in Canada. Creating positive change within nature and the environment creates positive change for all Canadians. Supporting Indigenous input within the context of Canadian restoration and conservation efforts is essential to understanding our cultural and scientific understanding of the environment.

Refrences

Atlas, W. I., Ban, N. C., Moore, J. W., Tuohy, A. M., Greening, S., Reid, A. J., Morven, N., White, E., Housty, W. G., Housty, J. A., Service, C. N., Greba, L., Harrison, S., Sharpe, C., Butts, K. I., Shepert, W. M., Sweeney-Bergen, E., Macintyre, D., Sloat, M. R., & Connors, K. (2020). Indigenous systems of management for culturally and ecologically resilient Pacific salmon (oncorhynchusspp.) fisheries. BioScience, 71(2), 186–204. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaa144

CBC/Radio Canada. (n.d.). Turtle Island - Where's that? | articles | CBC Kids. CBCnews. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://www.cbc.ca/kids/articles/turtle-island-wheres-that

How indigenous knowledge can help prevent environmental crises. UNEP. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/how-indigenous-knowledge-can-help-prevent-environmental-crises

Nature through a musical context (Unit 07)

Growing up, I was not musically inclined whatsoever. Not only was music my least favorite subject as a kid, but I could not play an instrument to save my life. However, as I got older, I began to have a much deeper appreciation for music. After driving across Ontario for hockey and lacrosse as a kid, I began to directly associate the songs on the radio with the happy memories and excitement I felt back then. Now, whenever I hear those songs, I am transported back to those times, and I can’t help but feel happy.

Now, what does this have to do with nature? Sure, it’s easy to feel nostalgic when your favourite song comes on the radio, but is that the only form of music there is? Definitely not. After spending every summer on Fishing trips in Northern Ontario, I found it incredibly easy to fall asleep to the sounds of the wind rushing through the trees, and waves knocking the boats against the dock, and the crickets chirping. Now, it’s not necessarily a traditional “song”, but whenever I have trouble falling asleep, I always put on ambient noise that mimics the sounds heard in nature.

It’s not until recently, that I considered the sounds of nature to be music. In a sense, it’s a symphony of organized chaos, with each piece of nature trying to play over one and other. Whether it’s the endless songbirds, or the constant noise of the water, or even the squirrels playing in the trees, it ends up becoming a form of therapy that immerses the listener. When I was researching, I found a quote that so perfectly sums this idea up by Pythagoras, which reads “The highest goal of music is to connect one’s soul to their divine nature, not entertainment”.

Additionally, growing up in an Indigenous household, it’s really fascinating to think that for hundreds of years prior, our families’ ancestors would have heard the exact same hymn from nature. It is as if the connectedness Transends just one individual person. We often talk about incorporating traditional Indigenous knowledge and teachings into our society, however, to experience the connectedness that Indigenous ideology holds to highly, is truly special (ICT 2015).

References

Joseph, B. (2022, December 28). Indigenous peoples and the environment. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/indigenous-peoples-and-the-environment#:~:text=Many%20Indigenous%20Peoples%20believe%20the,'in%2C%20as%20its%20owners.

Pythagoras quote: "the highest goal of music is to connect one's soul to their divine nature, not entertainment.". Quotefancy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://quotefancy.com/quote/1374584/Pythagoras-The-highest-goal-of-music-is-to-connect-one-s-soul-to-their-Divine-Nature-not

YouTube. (2021, August 9). Campfire by the lake ambience with crickets, owls, water, & night sounds for relaxation & sleep. YouTube. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nBFKH3qhGE

#Youtube

jyenvs3000w23

Unit 07: Music and Nature

Music is a medium commonly used to interpret music. It is used across history, countries and cultures. Music and nature are often interconnected, as both implement elements from each other. In nature, music can be found everywhere. The most obvious would be animal noises (singing birds), sounds of the water, and wind blowing through the trees. Nature sounds are often viewed as healing, meditative and grounding; they serve a purpose for humans and other animals. Many animals communicate vocally, and their sounds' different melodies and tones can deliver signals across a certain distance that is often linked to survival.

Furthermore, we humans have also been using music to communicate with animals. One example I've come across is "Kulning." It is an ancient Swedish herding call from the medieval Nordic period. Kulning sounds like singing, but the sound travels incredibly far from its unique technique, allowing the singer to communicate with the animals from a long distance. Below is a video of Kulning by Jonna Jinton; the melodies are lovely and magical.

From a different perspective, elements of nature are also wildly used in music. From classical to modern pop music, elements such as fire, water and earth are commonly incorporated into songwriting. In classical music, the resemblance of nature sounds is more direct, like mimicking water flowing using instruments. Many instruments, such as string and wind instruments (violin, flute), and even drums, can mimic certain nature noises like water dripping sounds and birds singing. In addition, some instruments are purposely made to mimic nature's sound, such as the rain stick, thunder drum and ocean drum.

In addition, instruments were made to use natural elements to play. For example, a hydraulophone is an instrument that utilizes small streams of water flowing from a tube-like structure, and by manipulating the water flowage, one can create unique melodies (Click this link to watch a video on it! https://youtu.be/deyHTDSg5BQ ). Another example would be the wind chime, which we see everywhere, yet we often forget how it functions on the power of nature. On the other hand, although nature sounds are not often featured in modern music genres, elements like fire and rain are still trendy. Often it does not have to be direct sounds of nature, but songwriters would make music to produce a similar "feeling" or "vibe" as an element, such as metal or rock, which is often related to fire and thunder. In sequence, music with lyrical purposes about nature is also used across history. From nurseries to pop songs, music with the message of protecting nature and voicing environmental issues has been proven to be an effective educational tool. I'm sure most of you know the song "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson, where he sings about humankind's destruction of our environment and mother nature. He addresses issues like deforestation and unethical animal killing in his music video. From such as influential figure, his song delivered his message globally in a way that is easy for the public to understand and accept (compared to government campaigns that are often neglected). Attached is the Youtube video link to the song.

lrmenvs3000w23

Hey, great post!

I had many similar thoughts about what constitutes as music in the context of nature. I too said that songbirds, water, and wind blowing through trees are therapeutic, and I often find myself using these noises to relax myself when I can’t sleep.

Before I read your post, I did not even know what Kulning was, but I was shocked to hear it. It sounds almost haunting, and it’s amazing how far the sound seems to travel. It’s amazing that humans have been using music as a form of communication for so long. It almost seems like our identities as a species is intertwined with the music that nature provides us.

You also brought up the fact that we often make instruments to mimic nature. This made me think of a video I saw awhile back, where movie background noise is created in a studio with many impromptu items to mimic noises like walking on gravel, or a rainstorm. The nuisances that are picked up on, like the difference between rain hitting a puddle versus hitting a hat are all created a little differently, and it’s amazing how realistic it sounds. I’ll the same video I watch if you want to look!

References

YouTube. (2017, January 12). The magic of making sound. YouTube. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO3N_PRIgX0

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Interpreting nature through a historical lens

The fascinating aspect of the quote provided by Edward Hyams is that it can be interpreted in numerous ways depending on how the individual who is reading it relates to it. Personally, I interpret that this quote highlights the importance of integrity. Integrity is a term I often associate with how I aspire to be in life, to myself and to others around me. The author suggests that integrity plays a role when attempting to maintain the past and it is and important aspect when considering how we interpret history today. In order to maintain historical aspects and preserve them, the honesty and value of these very ancient aspects must be maintained as well. I believe Edward Hyams is suggesting that although some things in history may not appear to have significant value, just keeping the idea of the historical knowledge alive by preserving it creates a sense of togetherness in regard to human nature. While I was beginning to unpack this quote, I wondered “why it was important to maintain integrity and why is preserving history important”? As I continued to unpack the quote, I then realized that the author suggests it is critical to maintain historical aspects because it is important to appreciate and recognize the value of the past as it has an effect on the values and integrity of the present and future (Beck et al. 2018). So where does integrity come into play? Without preserving the memories knowledge of the past, there would be no integrity of the past and this would lead to no integrity in the present/future (Beck et al. 2018). The analogy of the train passing through a railway station really opened my eyes on how important preserving historical aspects and integrity really is. I’ve always had an appreciation for history and knowledge as I am always left curious and wanting to know more about a topic that pikes my interest. However, reading this quote has not only led me to understand why the integrity of history is important but also why history itself is important. In our everyday lives, history provides us with knowledge and tools we can utilize to analyze and solve problems from the past (Beck et al. 2018). Ultimately, this aids us in observing the patterns that take place and solving current and future problems (Beck et al. 2018). I resonate with this quote because I am able to connect it to the situations in my life. If I have a current problem, I can apply the knowledge from my previous learning experiences and I am able to come to a solution that I am content with. Overall, interpreting nature through history has enlightened me on how important it is to speak truth to “facilitate a connection between lived experiences and archival records or artefacts (Modern Cartography Series, 2019). Below I have attached a photo of the time I visited the acropolis in Greece which one of the most well-known historical architectures. In the moment I did not realize it, but the knowledge I acquired on that day has influenced the decisions I make in my life to this day.

References

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

lrmenvs3000w23

Hey, first off, fantastic post, I really liked your take on Hyams quote.

In the context of nature, the past is an essential idea to incorporate into decision making and interpreting how it can help us make informed choices. The natural climate and landscape we have formed isn’t just a collection of places and things, but it’s a result of our past choices to conserve the environment. The prior choices we have made in a historical, social, cultural, and environmental context has essentially shaped the way our society interacts with nature today.

As a society, it’s so important to determine the significance of our choices in the context of the future, and how they will affect future generations. I also though the quote provided great commentary on how the approach with a lack of integrity that our society often takes can be damaging to how our future choices and are made. I also agree that history should be embedded and interwoven into our society, as we can learn from lessons and mistakes made in previous generations.

Our past is one of our most powerful tools, and how we use them is entirely up to us as a society. The pride in upholding the integrity of both the environment, and to a more abstract sense, and ideology, should be of the utmost importance, and the quote by Hyam exemplifies this.

Learning from the past, to preserve the present (Unit 06)

For me personally, there are 2 components to this quote, that can be unpacked separately. Beginning with the first half, I believe what Hyams is implying is that whether its knowledge based or a physical thing, the pride in preserving something is not the thing itself, but the generations of people that helped propel it forward. This ideology can be applicable to just about anything ever done by anyone in human history.

Of course, in this course, there is a strong emphasis on nature and the way we interact with it. Applying this concept to the issues of today, the pressing issue of global warming and preservation of nature comes to mind. Unfortunately, there seems to be a disconnect with our place in nature, and how we interact with it. For thousands of years, humans our environment has been able to achieve a harmonious balance, but unfortunately, that balance has been lost.

That is where the second part of this quote can be unpacked. Our “Railway station” is present day and unfortunately, we are living in ignorance to the significance of where our train has been and where it is going. As a society, we are fixated on the “now” and often are choices are made without thoughts of future implications and how they will affect the environment.

One example of this, is the mass consumption of fossil fuels that the world runs on. There is currently ~47 years left for our global oil reserves, at our current consumption rates (Worldometer 2016). Of course, we are starting to buy into the idea of preserving and healing the environment we have so badly damaged, but it brings up the question, why wasn’t the future implications of fossil fuel use brought up in the first place. Was it just not known? Did they just take a “Deal with it when it becomes an issue” approach?

There is a global effort to take precautions and assess future implications of the choices we make today, but for too long we have wreaked havoc on the planet without thoughts of our future “Train station” stops. The quote highlights the importance of making connections with the environment to preserve and protect for future generations. Conservation efforts can prevent the loss of ecosystems and our climate.

References

Oil left in the world: Worldometer. (n.d.). Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.worldometers.info/oil/#:~:text=World%20Oil%20Reserves&text=The%20world%20has%20proven%20reserves,levels%20and%20excluding%20unproven%20reserves).

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Nature Interpretation Through Science

After thinking about what I wanted to share this week, the idea of my future plans, trips, and adventures came to mind. As an individual who loves to travel and is always seeking new adventures, the past few years were quite challenging due to the covid-19 pandemic. I can remember being in Florida at a Track and Field training camp when I heard the seemingly good news that we would be getting an extra two weeks off of school due to this virus called "covid-19". At the time, I was excited knowing that we would have an extra two weeks off of school, not realizing that the two weeks would actually turn into two years. From masks to lockdowns, to social distancing and being in isolation, the world began to feel like a ghost town. Businesses were closed, people were inside, and there was little to no social activity. When we left for Florida, I realized soon after that my training partners and I were on one of the last flights, as most flights and trips were cancelled less than a week later. Both my sister and mother were headed to Cuba for the March Break, about a day or two after I had left for Florida, however, their flight ended up being cancelled and they were sent home.

As restrictions have been lifted and the spreading of the virus has slowed down, my urge to travel and see more of the world has only grown stronger. This past summer my best friend and I took a spontaneous trip to Vermont, about a week before school began in the Fall. I'm so glad we took the chance and decided to go, as it was truly an eye-opening experience of what the world had to offer. Even though we only captured a glimpse of Vermont, as we were there for three days, I can honestly say it has inspired me in so many ways to plan new adventures, make more memories, and continue exploring! Since returning from Vermont, both my friend and I have made big plans, as to where we want to go next and what we want to do. As a student, going on trips can be expensive, however, I've realized that there are ways to properly budget and travel affordably!

This summer our plans are much more adventurous and in some ways daunting. We have narrowed it down to Iceland or Tanzania. In Iceland, we are thinking of going backpacking through a part of the country without a guide. We will pack enough food and water with us for a week, bring a small tent that can fit into one of our hiking backpacks, and set out into the wilderness. Of course, before attempting such a feat we will train for it and do smaller trips leading up to it. We will also plan out our seven-day hike beforehand and bring a marked-up map with us. After the seven-day trek, we are thinking of staying in a hostel or low-cost accommodation in one of the towns and being more of a tourist.

In terms of our possible plans to visit Tanzania, it may even be more adventurous. After doing some research, I found out that you can climb Mount Kilimanjaro with a guide for approximately 2000 dollars. This may seem like a lot, but the experience of summiting one of the world's highest mountains would totally be worth it! It takes about 5-9 days to summit the mountain and climb back down, so it is definitely possible within a two-week trip. As for the rest of the Tanzania trip, we haven't made further plans. Any suggestions? Let me know by reblogging my post or in the comment section below. I will definitely take your ideas into consideration when planning our summer trip.

In addition to our potential plans for the summer, I also wanted to highlight an interesting perspective in one of our readings this week, entitled, "Convergence Between Science and Environmental Education". In the final two paragraphs of the article, under the subheading, "Place and Identity", it states, "The reasons for the recently established disconnect between people and place that results from a preoccupation with and dependency on ICT (17) are underresearched, but there is some evidence that such technologies can actually reconnect people and places (18)." If you are unaware of the term ICT, as I was at first, it simply stands for "Information and Communications Technology". Overall, I found this perspective on technology and nature to be quite unique, and one that I haven't really thought of before. In the past, I have regularly viewed technology as something that has taken us away from and damaged our relationship with nature, rather than strengthening it. The article goes on to say, "Numerous examples exist of citizens monitoring changes in the environment (e.g., bird migration patterns and quality of water, soil, and air) using geographic information systems, cell phones, and specially designed monitoring applications (11). As such, ICT devices actually get people to go outdoors, even those who normally are not inclined to do so." I found the idea that current technology like our cell phones having the ability to enhance our connection with nature to be quite encouraging as scientists and engineers continue to innovate and find new ways to become more efficient.

P.S. Any suggestions concerning our summer trip would be much appreciated!

This is the mountain we may climb! I can only imagine how beautiful the view is from the top!

References

Wals, A. E., Brody, M., Dillon, J., & Stevenson, R. B. (2014). Convergence between science and environmental education. Science, 344(6184), 583–584. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1250515

lrmenvs3000w23

Hey Carter,

First off, I would like to say, great post. I too have been very fortunate to travel, and the pandemic sure did put a huge damper on those aspirations. I also remember being so happy to get an unexpected 2-week break to let Covid cool down across the world, who would have thought that the next 2 plus years of our lives, the world would be turned upside down.

Tanzania and Iceland seem like two very different and unique destinations. Personally, I would love to visit Iceland, as the culture and landscape there seems very interesting. Backpacking through there would be an amazing trip. However, who would be able to pass up hiking up Mount Kilimanjaro? It sounds like you can’t go wrong with either option.

I’ve seen a lot of stuff about Kilimanjaro trail running races as well, which I thought was interesting. I’ve had a lot of my classes discuss the effects that altitude training has on the human body, and how it can positively influence your athletic ability once acclimated. A bit off topic, but I thought it would be interesting to include.

Regardless, I hope you enjoy your trip, wherever you may travel to! Best of luck if you decide to climb Kilimanjaro!

Zoos, to support or not support? (Unit 05)

Growing up, I loved going to the Toronto Zoo with my family. As a child, I saw it as a fun and innocent experience that was also educational. Obviously, at that age, I was unaware of the ethical concerns regarding zoos, and the constant debate on whether they should be allowed or not. As I got older, I began to understand the ethical implications of keeping wild animals in captivity, regardless of if it is for educational purposes or not.

So, I began to raise the question to myself, would ever go back to a zoo again? Now, I am aware that zookeepers and the staff that maintain the zoos, for the most part, care for the animals immensely. But, I still question whether this justifiable enough to support the continuation of zoos as a business. After all, these animals were never meant to be stuck in captivity for the rest of their lives.

However, on the other hand, I understand the curiosity of the human nature. As a kid, I loved watching Zoboomafoo, and I was so excited to see a lemur in person. I guess you can say its scientific curiosity in its earliest forms. That’s the great thing about zoos, you don’t have to fly all the way to an animal’s native habitat to see them and study them. We have talked about barriers to learning and education in this course, with financial barriers being a big one, not everyone can fly to Madagascar to go see a lemur.

When I am speaking about zoos, the main picture that appears in my head is that of lions, frogs, otters, polar bears, and other terrestrial organisms. However, one thing I can adamantly say I am 100% against is keeping large aquatic mammals in captivity. Simply put, there is no realistic way to accommodate animals such as orcas in captivity, in a way that is human. Their territory is simply too wide. I saw a video recently about the last remaining orca at marineland in Niagara, and it is simply heartbreaking to witness. Again, I’m sure the caretakers of marine animals care deeply about what they do, but I find it hard to get behind.

So, to wrap it all up, is there benefits of creating zoos? For sure, it makes science more accessible to the masses, and creates interest for kids, who otherwise may not have found any interest in science. But, there are certainly moral and ethical dilemmas behind every corner when it comes to supporting these organizations.

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Unit 04: Nature Interpretation Through Art

This week we ask, “who are you to interpret nature through art?” although you may read this prompt defensively at first glance, I believe that interpretation through art comes in many forms. The beauty of interpretation is that there is no correct answer. There is a method and a medium for everyone to enjoy, such as music, paintings, theatre, photography, etc. As Beck et al. (2018) state, incorporating art into nature interpretation is helpful for increasing the pleasure and enjoyment of the audience. Information and emotions can be communicated through art forms, making them powerful. Beck et al. (2018) also mention how the utilization of art can permit areas of your mind to open and connect yourself to the interpretation.

I believe this relationship flourishes because of our five senses; sight, taste, smell, hearing, and touch.

They are powerful.

They can have you revisit a single memory from one specific day in 2012 just based on one triggered sense. I believe art taps into these senses in a similar way. Since art can satisfy all senses, it can compel your body and mind to vulnerability. Vulnerability aids in forming connections and resonating with the topic, which is why art used in nature interpretation is so influential.

My favourite form of art for nature interpretation is photography. Taking pictures of what I find beautiful is what brings me joy. It allows me to open up and saturate myself with my surroundings. Not only does it delight me in the present, but I can relive it all later. This may be a biased approach since I have grown up with a smartphone for most of my life. However, when I am surrounded by nature’s beauty, instead of taking it all in, I have been subconsciously conditioned to take out my phone and take a picture. Although this seems upsetting, I like to alter this outlook to have a more positive approach. I remind myself that wanting to take a picture should not make me feel guilty and should not make me feel as though I am not “living in the moment”. If photography brings me joy and I wish to revisit this picture later, what’s the harm?

That is the charming aspect of art. There is a medium for everyone.

In terms of the “gift of beauty,” I believe that the spectrum of “beauty” is vast. This concept is expressed as a person’s capability to observe beauty in their surroundings through interpretation that aids in increasing resource preservation (Beck et al., 2018). I agree with this concept and its premise. Since everyone has different tastes, anything can be considered beautiful! Regarding myself, I coincide with this concept as nature is truly a beautiful gift that we have been provided.

To conclude, I have added a quote from Vincent van Gogh that correlates different methods of art and nature.

“I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?”

–Vincent van Gogh

The photos I have added to this post remind me why I love photography and nature!

Literature Cited

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

better world. Sagamore Venture.

Vincent van Gogh to Theo Van Gogh : January 1874. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2023, from

ightful,not%20The%20Hague%20and%20Brabant.

lrmenvs3000w23

Hi Alexia, first off, great post, very thought provoking!

I really liked how you related the utilization of art, to the five senses. That was a really unique perspective, and one that I hadn’t consciously thought about before! I also love nature photography, and I would consider it my favourite medium as well. Often times, I find myself setting my lock screen to different pictures of nature I’ve taken over the years. You make a great point on how art can have you visit specific memories. Whenever I look at some of these photos, I can almost put myself back to when I first took them. The sights, sounds, smells, everything are such distinct memories that can stay with someone for a lifetime.

I enjoyed your inclusion of the Vincent van Gogh as well, I believe that often, people try and overcomplicate life, and overextend themselves. If sometimes we stopped and reassessed our priorities, we would realize we need so little to lead fulfilling lives.

Again, great post, and I enjoyed the pictures you’ve included at the end of your post, the picture of the sky really makes me miss summer and the beautiful sunsets it brings.

Interpreting Nature Through Art (Unit 04)

Too often in today’s day and age, we are caught in the monotony of similarity. We try and dress how everybody else dresses, listen to the same music, watch the same shows, jump on the latest trends. Of course, we want to try and fit in as best as we can, why wouldn’t we? This constant trend cycle reminds me of a quote common in Japan, which reads “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down” (Hashi 2012). Too often people are ostracized for being different, and it leads to a uniformity in society that can get quite dull.

However, when you can set aside the opinion of others, people begin to interpret things on their own, invoking a unique response. This becomes especially prevalent when people are able to interpret art without being told what to think about it. This ensures that each person “Has an individual response and interpretation of the significance of the work” (Beck et al., 2019). Does this leave room for pretentiousness? Sure, but that’s my opinion, and I’m not the one spending millions on a banana duct taped to a canvas.

Now, what is art, and what is art specifically in the context of nature? In my opinion, art can be anything that evokes a though or feeling. Through song, dance, visual art, anything that moves you, really. In high school, I had to do a case study on Ansel Adams, his personality, and photographs both left a very large impression on me. One quote that really stood out was that “You don’t improve nature, you reveal your impression of nature and natures impact on you” (Adams, 2018, p. 64). I find this to be especially relevant to this unit, as nature in any art form leaves a unique impact on everyone it touches.

For me personally, on a trip out to BC in 2021, I found that the vast and epic landscapes were so beautiful, that they should be considered art. I couldn’t help but feel in awe of the mountains and the bright blue water at its base. From that point, I understood what Ansel Adams meant. Nature itself is art. Through performing arts or visual arts, I believe the artists are trying to invoke a unique feeling like experiencing nature. The medium doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. Experiencing nature through art is a very personal experience and allows people to interpret it in their own contexts.

This is just one example of the amazing landscape I witnessed on my trip!

Adams, A., Teiser, R., & Harroun, C. (1978). In Conversations with Ansel Adams: An Interview conducted by Ruth Teiser and Catherine Harroun in 1972, 1974, and 1975. essay, Regional Oral History Office, Bancroft Library, University of California.

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

Hashi. (2012, September 13). The nail that sticks up... Tofugu. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://www.tofugu.com/japan/conformity-in-japan/

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Unit 3 Discussion: Privilege and Nature Interpretation

I would define privilege as a concept of opportunity; the ability to be born with a set of opportunities that are not shared equally by everyone else. It is a concept that is important to acknowledge and discuss. Something I feel very privileged to have received in my own life is my experience traveling the world. I am fortunate to have seen and explored many different landscapes throughout my childhood, and I am aware of how lucky I am to have encountered these experiences. They were learning opportunities that brought me new ideas, perspectives, and overall enjoyment. I am also aware of my privilege regarding the ability to move freely through nature to perform activities like hiking, running, or swimming, as these activities can be difficult and inaccessible for those who experience physical disabilities (Beck et al. 2018). While interpreting nature, I believe it is important to consider what actions one could take so that more opportunities can be shared and accessible for everyone.

As I considered the relationship between nature and privilege, I found myself thinking of the movie Parasite, which I saw back in 2019. While it has been a long time since I saw this film, I can’t help but remember a scene depicting class dichotomy with the use of a rainstorm: when the storm began, the wealthy family had been away on a camping trip, and were all able to return home as it worsened. Meanwhile, the family dealing with poverty had to face the consequences of the storm directly, as their house had been flooded and destroyed. It struck me what a privilege it is to be able to go out and enjoy nature when you feel like it, and then return to a warm, safe environment at the end of the day. There are so many people who are forced to endure every painful and dangerous element that our environment has to offer, and it is lucky to be able to choose which aspects of nature to enjoy and which to avoid. For example, when I say I love the snow, the cold, and the ice, I am lucky to have this positive outlook, as I have never had to experience the act of genuinely trying to survive through the winter like so many people who don’t have access to housing. It is important to consider these ideas of equality and privilege as we examine our own relationships with nature, as it can help us improve our social structures and create a world with less disparity. Just as we would hope for humans to establish harmony in nature, we should also aspire for humans to establish harmony with each other.

Work Cited

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., Knudson, D.M. 2018. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore Venture.

lrmenvs3000w23

Hi! First off, I would like to say this was a fantastic post, very thought provoking.

I thought your relation of privilege to the movie Parasite is a fantastic connection. While watching the movie, there was a lot of social commentary on the privilege that wealth provides. Life, I find, is all about mitigating risks. Knowing that at the end of the day, you can always go home to a nice warm and comfortable home, is the ultimate endgame for most. I once read an article about how economically poor populations tend to avoid risk, while wealthier populations will have a higher propensity to voluntarily undergo risk (Payne et al. 2017). Your interpretation of how the rich family can just pack up their camping trip, while the poor family had to deal with the storm head on, really hits the nail on the head. The same storm that others watch from the inside, others must deal with firsthand.

These experiences are so important to topics such as nature interpretation, as people have such diverse experiences, and you never know how that can affect one person compared to the other. Being cognisant and respectful of these experiences, we can build meaningful conversation, which will hopefully in time help break down some barriers of privilege that separate us.

Sharing our Invisible backpacks (Unit 03)

Growing up, I was very fortunate that my parents were in a position where they could afford for me and my brother to have experiences that others may not have been able to. With yearly trips to northern Ontario, the occasional trip to a tropical destination and the plenty of small weekend getaways scattered in between. We got to experience different aspects of nature firsthand- One of my greatest memories was seeing a sea turtle in the ocean during a kayak excursion in Hawaii. I consider myself extremely privileged that I got to experience these things, my invisible backpack, if you will.

Addressing privilege in nature interpretation can be a tricky subject. But, before we address that, what is privilege exactly? Privilege can come in many forms- Economic, social, educational privilege are some, just to name a few. Anything that can be beneficial in a situation can be considered a privilege, but what is important is establishing what can be considered a privilege and a right. Being born into a either a privileged or disadvantaged position should never be held against the person, as they did not choose that situation. However, each person, in any way privileged or disadvantaged, should be afforded the same rights. In the context of nature interpretation, these rights include being welcomed in the pursuit of education, never being discriminated against in any form, and ultimately being respected as a student and a human being. Bottom line.

One of the great perks about being able to educate others, is being able to connect with a diverse group of people, that you may not have encountered otherwise. The statement “Each visitor brings along a personal set of experiences, interests, knowledge, ability and personality” (Beck et al. 2018) brings up a great point discussed last week, that everyone brings a unique perspective to the table, leading to productive and meaningful conversations regarding nature. While one person may be considered privileged in one aspect, another may be privileged in another. Using these experiences, in a safe and respectful environment, we can both uplift, and expand each other’s perspectives on things that we may not have considered before.

While the word privilege has a negative connotation in today’s environment, I believe that it can be used as a tool to help foster meaningful educational experiences and conversations when used correctly. When privilege is identified, but respect is maintained, people can bring a unique perspective to the table, and share items they have picked up in their “Invisible backpacks”.

References

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., Knudson, D.M. 2018. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore Venture.

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Unit 02: Teaching Learners

My uncle lives on the shore of Lake Erie and down the road from his house is an arboretum/biodiversity hotspot called Monarch Landing Nature Reserve. My uncle became good friends with the gatekeeper of the reserve and while visiting my uncle in the summer of 2021 we went to the reserve for a tour. The gatekeeper’s name was also Aaron, and he was extremely knowledge about all the species on the reserve. It was host to 230 species of birds, 73 species of butterflies, Carolinian and rare trees, and plants. On the tour Aaron talked about the different species, how they originally came to Canada or if they were native, the status of the species, which species migrated through the reserve, and overall showed me some cool plants.

I do not think that my future employment will involve interpreting nature in this way however I think it would be cool to volunteer to gain the opportunity to teach people about different plants species in Ontario and how to preserve them. This could be volunteering throughout my career or after I retire and just something I do on the side for fun. I want to be able to look at any plant or tree species and know exactly what its scientific name is and then be able to explains its history is a fun imaginative way that will get my audience excited about nature. Ideally this would be performing nature tours at an arboretum to children and adults.

After taking the What’s your learning style quiz I found out that I am a 45% tactile, 40% visual and 15% auditory learner. Meaning I learn best through experiences and seeing. Taking that into account when I interpret nature for others, I need to consider their learning style and incorporate that into my explanation.

If I were to perform tours, I believe the best way to interpret nature to my audience would be through the story line strategy (pg. 100) (Beck et al., 2018). As well Beck et al. (2018) indicates that interpretation should not be just facts but rather acting as a guide to help better the experience providing the flesh and blood (pg. 83). Beck et al. (2018) provides a list of the 15 principles and there corresponding gifts (pg. 85). Depending on the intended audience these principles must be adjusted to represent the material in understanding ways. Such as with the gift of joy programs can be designed to be targeted at adults, children, and a mix of both so when you start a tour it can reach the audience at all levels. Adjusting interpretation to different ages will be important to learn as well. Asking where, what, who questions to children under 2, when and why questions to children 2-7, focusing on concrete experiences for children 7-11, and lastly for children older than 11 incorporating problems will be helpful (pg. 108/109) (Beck et al., 2018).

Another skill to learn would be multiple intelligences to help engage as many people as possible (pg. 110) (Beck et al., 2018). Many of the other theories Beck talks about are important to learn as well. Incorporating these theories into steps to guide the audience through a story line with the main goal in mind. Overall, this will all take time to learn and could take years to masters before you can apply your knowledge to everyone’s learning style.

Aaron

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

lrmenvs3000w23

Hey Aaron, I found your post very interesting, and liked how your personal experience at the Monarch Landing Nature Reserve sparked your inspiration for your post. I find the shear number of species we have in Ontario to be incredible! 230 species of birds on the one Nature Reserve is fascinating. I am not one particularly interesting in bird watching, so it was a big shock to me that there are that many species of birds in that one area.

I also found it quite interesting that you are 45% tactile learner. Learning through experience generally isn’t something that is focused on in the Canadian education system. Do you think that this influenced your ability to grasp concepts in a classroom environment? I am a bit more of a mix, but I can relate to learning through experience. Did you find that your style of learning was accounted for?

I think you have developed a great approach to teaching people of varying ages. Kids engage into things differently at different ages, and your approach seems to really hit the nail on the head. Some of the most memorable learning experiences are created through the story line strategy!

I appreciate the care and thought you put into your post; it really shows! Good luck to you and your group with your podcast. You seem to have a firm grasp on the foundational concepts necessary to create engaging and educational content!

Environmental Interpreter, Who am I?

As an elementary student, I was once asked to explain the meaning behind “7+3 equals 10, but so does 9+1”. Truthfully, in the moment, I really did not care about the deeper meaning behind the statement. After all, I was only a small child, and hadn’t yet grasped the concept of critically thinking about a situation. It wasn’t until a bit later in my young academic career that I was able to experience why accounting for different learners was so important.

Staring down at my math workbook, I could not seem to grasp the concept my teacher just taught. But why? Was there something I was missing? Was I just not paying attention? So, I found myself, as many did, on YouTube at the kitchen table watching a video on the very same subject I learnt earlier that week. But then suddenly it all clicked! It just took a different way of explaining the same concept. It made things infinitely easier to understand.

Now, with the opportunity to host a podcast with my peers, I find myself on the other end of the screen. Creating educational content, rather than consuming it. A full circle moment!

Ideally, I would love to act as a host for those who aren’t primarily interested in nature and the environment. Acting as a sort of liaison for those who may not necessarily have a background in environmental science or biology. Of course, this may be a bit more challenging because as hosts, we will have to approach topics in a way we may not be traditionally used to.

Creating content that is both entertaining and educational, all while keeping the audience engaged is a great balancing act. By using topics that are current and relevant in the world today would be a great way to keep the audience engaged. Adding a level of interaction can also ensure that the viewer feels heard as a listener. By adding things such as topic suggestions and questions that we, as hosts, can answer the following week are all great tools that many of the top podcasts use.

Putting yourself in the shoes of the listener, feeling welcomed and included would be two things of utmost importance. As hosts there is a level of responsibility to be educational, but not condescending. Being knowledgeable in an area is one thing but teaching others in a way that is both respectful and educational would be one of the most important skills to master when creating a podcast. If you can spark curiosity in at least one person, then you’ve done the best you can do!

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Liam's Nature Interpretation Blog