Mohammed Ali's Blog

[maenvs3000w22]

ENVS3000

Disclaimer

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

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

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

[noenvs3000w22]

Final Blog Post

Hi everyone,

This is the final blog post; it has been a great experience for me to be able to have this space and share my thoughts with everyone and also read the thoughts of all of you. As we reach the final post, it made me reflect on the past weeks of the semester and how much I have grown as an individual and an interpreter. My initial thoughts of nature when joining this class was that it was pretty and that’s about it, I never really thought about nature into that much depth until I joined this class. The weekly blogs made me think more about nature and connect it to so many more things, for example, through this course we have connected nature to music, technology, art and history. Being able to see and understand how nature connects to those various topics made me realize how special nature truly is and how it needs to be appreciated much more.

What beliefs do I bring as an Interpreter?

This class made me think hard about my beliefs as a nature interpreter and how I want to share my beliefs to those who are willing to listen to or see them. The main belief that I have as an interpreter is that everyone needs to be more open to nature and take their time to learn more about it. I think some people treat nature as a trend, something that is hyped for a while then slowly people forget about it. Forgetting about the importance of nature doesn’t have any benefit to anyone, nature is not a trend, it is not an event that comes and goes. Nature is always going to be with us, and I believe that everyone needs to decide if they want nature to continue to be something beautiful to us or slowly lose its beauty. We all shouldn’t wait until nature starts drastically going bad for us to start taking action.

What responsibilities do I have as an environmental interpreter?

As an environmental interpreter my main responsibility, is to be able to convey my thoughts and beliefs in an accurate way. I need to be able to teach people everything they need to know about nature and make them fall in love with nature even more. I believe that as an interpreter I have a responsibility of raising awareness about nature and spreading that awareness to everyone. A goal I have is to be able to take people to see the arboretum, last semester was my first time hearing about it and considering I have been on campus for three years that was shocking to me. The arboretum is such a calm place to go for a walk, take a breath of fresh air, relax, and let nature calm you. Not a lot of people know about the arboretum, or they might know about it but are not just interested in visiting, therefore I want to make it a responsibility of mine to spread more awareness about the arboretum and get more students, faculty and visitors of the campus to go see it.

Approaches most suitable for me as an individual

The most suitable method for me as an individual to interpret to others is using my learning styles, which are visual and tactile. I can do this by taking people out on a walk to enjoy nature and let them see the beauty of nature and also do activities that can help them all appreciate nature more and of course for auditory learners a podcast is a good way to share my thoughts with them.

It was really fun reading everyone’s blog post this semester and I hope you all have a great end of the semester!

Asua

[maenvs3000w22]

Hi Nkeonyeasua,

I must say reading your final blog had me thinking of all the similarities we had in our post. Right off the bat, you talk about nature being pretty and that's about it, now it's kind of a shame but my whole life was about the same, even with all the camping and outdoor exposure. Its weird how once you are exposed to something from a different perspective it changes everything. Furthermore, you talk about how amazing it was to broaden our thought process with relation to nature and different topics and I couldn't agree more, it's amazing how much there is to connect and how little we do it casually. In your beliefs section, you spoke on how nature is somewhat of a trend, hot take but 100% true. People abuse it for their Snapchat stories or Instagram posts but don't take the setting in for anything more than a background. Its important that we change this, we need to now more than ever make sure that the generations of the future understand the weight of their decisions, life choices, and all other aspects when it comes to nature as sooner or later we won't have generations to teach if change doesn't come soon. I think your responsibility of exposing people to stuff such as the arboretum is an amazing idea. Show the people more than what they can see in their backyards and “nature” walks. Give them a sense of what more there is out there and what's being effected the most. Furthermore, I think like you, most people need visual and tactile learning styles to be able to process things to finality. By taking people out and showing them the first-hand effects of mankind, then we might truly be able to find support groups to start a mass change. Overall amazing post, it was great seeing your perspective and take on how you want to go about interpreting in the future, goodluck and godspeed!

- Mali

[vtenvs3000w22]

Final Blog Post

Hi everyone!

This week’s blog prompt definitely had me pondering about this whole semester. I don’t know how everyone else feels, but this semester flew by for me. It is crazy to think that 4 months ago, I didn’t know nearly half the information I know now about nature, and nature interpretation. What I was unsure about when I first read the course outline was weekly blogging but now, I am glad that I chose to take this course. I now have a toolbox of interpretation skills which I can carry with me and use whenever I am surrounded by nature.

This class challenged me to work with others on a project none of us have ever attempted before- podcasts. This process really tested our knowledge on how to be effective nature interpreters based on the age of our audience. I believe that technology is such an amazing tool when it comes to nature. Although some people might say that technology or cellphones take away from the experience of being in nature, I think it can enhance the experience. I’ve used apps on my phone to identify constellations during my camping trips. This allowed me to learn more about what I was experiencing and I know that there are apps out there that identify plants, insects, birds, etc. I read in the textbook of this course that we should not be afraid that technology is a distraction, but rather incorporate it as a tool to teach us more (Beck et al., 2018). On my future nature adventures, I will definitely be looking into technology that I can use to enhance my experience and learning.

My Beliefs:

In the early portion of this course, we learned about invisible backpacks and multiculturalism in terms of nature interpretation. I believe that it is my job to:

Share unbiased stories/knowledge to allow my listeners to form their own ideas

Teach effectively by connecting with my audience on an emotional level

Do my research on accessibility to provide anyone in need with resources such as trails with wheelchair access, or nature guides in various languages.

We never know what other people are facing and what their relationship with nature is like. That why it is important that we are respectful and aim to support them on their own nature journeys rather than force them into something that would dampen their relationship with nature.

My Responsibilities:

While my responsibilities also fall in my list of beliefs, there are a couple other topics that I believe I hold responsibility for. The first is that I hold myself accountable for leaving nature clean or cleaner than I found it. I find that I am constantly reminding people I know to not litter, and now many of those people have gotten out of this habit. Similar to this topic, I try to always compost, and correctly recycle my things (i.e. washing containers before recycling, taking off any non-recyclable components).

Since I have a strong background in animal care, I think it is my responsibility to advocate for animals. As well as to educate others on any animals we may see in nature. It is important that we are aware of how our actions as humans will affect animal populations. We have talked a bit about animals in this course such as the music they provide. Now that it is getting warmer, I do hear more bird sounds outside my window which I now interpret as music in nature.

My Ethics:

Ethics are a guide for us to differentialize right from wrong. One of my main ethics revolves around conservation, preserving wildlife and nature. I hope that my future kids and their kids and so on will be able to experience everything wonderful about nature that we have now. We learned from Beck et al. (2018) that an effective interpreter will instil in their listeners the importance and need for conservation. That is definitely something I will aim towards as an interpreter leaving this course.

-Vee

Reference:

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

[dhenvs3000w22]

Hi Vee,

Firstly to start off when reading your last blog post, I can relate to being very “iffy” about these weekly blog posts. 1. It was out of my comfort zone, 2. I was not familiar with the tumblr social media platform at all. Although, as we started to get the course moving, I adapted to it very quickly and thoroughly loved this type of format in a class. It is something I've never experienced before. Nextly, stating your thoughts on podcasts, I can relate to very well. I was also very scared to tackle this project, because there were so many questions yet so much free lance to do what we wanted and how we wanted. With all this being said, this course has also pulled me out of my comfort zone so much, but I feel as if it almost reflects the job of a nature interpreter. Exploring new findings, approaches, and tackling new ideas to be able to translate and educate others. 

When reading about your beliefs, responsibilities and ethics surrounding a developing nature interpreter, hear what you have taken and learnt from this course is very interesting, and I would say is a little different from what I did. I think it is important as you stated that you want to impact others to keep nature clean of garbage. This is a recurring issue in today's world, but what are some things you could do to start this initiative and impact others to the point of change? I’d love to hear. Thank you for your personal reflection as a developing nature interpreter. 

[askenvs3000w22]

Hi!

I agree that this semester went by super quickly and that it feels like just last week was our first blog post! I was also very unsure about the blogging portion of this course but found it be a useful way to consider other perspectives and gain a more thorough understanding of the course content.

I also agree that technology can be a beneficial tool for exploring nature, I have used apps to identify plants and animals that I’m curious about and I’ve shared meaningful experiences with others through photos and videos which encourage other people to go exploring outdoors! However, I’ve also felt technology as a distraction, like on a nice day when I feel a strong pull to watch TV rather than go for a walk, or when I stand outside waiting and scroll through Instagram rather than taking a moment to enjoy the sights and sounds around me, I think it can be a balance though and that technology is not the root cause of the problem, which in my opinion is exhaustion. When its been a long day of going to work and class and stressing about all of the deadlines, I sometimes can’t bring myself to get back up on my feet and go outside when I could sit and watch a show to let my brain slow down! Sometimes I can feel my brain playing tug of war with the two ideas. I know that nature is healing and makes me feel better, but I’m so tired that staying indoors often wins, which is sad. I know so many environmentalists judge the general population for “being lazy” and not getting outdoors often, but this is misplaced because I’m sure many of them feel like me and are just too tired and busy staying alive to get outside often.

My partner and I out on the water in North Vancouver, BC (behind the bridge is the Vancouver skyline)

I also have similar beliefs to you, in that I would like to interpret nature in a wholesome and unbiased way, leave the environment cleaner than when I found it, and educate others on animals. It is so nice to talk to others who are of a similar mindset, because it makes me feel less alone with my thoughts. I find it very difficult to think about all of the trouble that the environment is in with pollution, climate change, poaching, etc, and I quickly become weighed down and overwhelmed by it all, I remember learning about climate change in elementary school and crying for hours because I felt that the weight of the world rested on my shoulders and that I needed to solve the worlds issues myself. Seeing that other people care as well gives me some hope that things might not out okay if we continue to educate our peers on being mindful of the environment.

Thanks for reading!

[maenvs3000w22]

Hiya :)

Just gotta say your blog was riddled with things that I either connected with or agreed on. The fact that the semester is almost over is crazy, where did the time go? Also, the podcasts weren't something I was used to, even with a background in public speaking it felt very weird narrating the script and trying to get a message across to people who aren't directly in front of you. It's an odd feeling but one I am very glad I got to experience, along with all the new skills and perceptions under my belt. This class really got us thinking of things that you might not have and gave us all a platform to express that to each other which is really cool. Just like you said in your beliefs that you want to share stories and knowledge, these blog posts seemed to have done just that remotely, well played professor…well played. On the topic of your beliefs, they're just like mine, and a lot of others whose blogs I read. It seems like the general consensus is that now as interpreters we’ve realized the weight of our newfound knowledge and understanding, and the best thing to do with it now is spread it, it's like a good virus lol. Similarly, you're responsibilities also fall under the same general beliefs, now I hope you know that that is a good thing, having these things lap over in my opinion means that change is not possible but probable. If we all want to follow in “leaving nature clean or cleaner that I found it” then we stand a chance at fighting those who treat the land poorly. Small steps like that are what start a movement that won't be stopped. I am glad that most of us are seeing eye to eye with the current global topics and the state of the planet, its nice to see another person who has the same kind of train of thought and approach with this new position we have as adults. Great post!

- Mali

[maenvs3000w22]

Final Blog :):

First off I wanted to start by saying a small thanks to anyone who replied to my blog posts, this journey was truly enjoyable. Removing us from the norm of science classes to one more philosophical and psychological in nature, breaking through into something quite beautiful. Opening our eyes to that which was right in front of us, yet hidden. Nonetheless, let us begin with this week's blog.

My ethic heavily revolves around treatment. What I mean by that is any interaction on the planet has some form of feedback, whether it be positive, negative, or neutral. For example, you go to order some food at a Tims, “can I get a …. With a…. And a side of…. THANKS”, the person is giving you something, an exchange so you thank them. On the other hand, if you hold the door for someone and they don't say thank you, the first thing that comes to mind is that you hope they trip on air… I'm kidding….sorta. Each exchange having its own response means that every exchange I partake in also will. My goal in life is to enjoy it to the very end, I'm not one to wish to live to a 100, but I want to live a happy life no matter its length. Without honesty and kindness, I truly believe no one can be happy. The common saying of “treat those the way you want to be treated” is stereotypically one of my main ethics. Now “those” does not pertain just to man, but everything, treating things with respect is of the utmost importance, I remember my high school woodshop teacher always told us that those who don't respect the tools, lose their fingers. Growing up I realized that it wasnt just tools and people, its applicable to everything around you just need to look deeper. Treat a garden with respect and it bears fruit and flowers, treat it poorly you’ll find dried-up bushes and rot. Take care of your belongings and they last longer. Fuel your body with healthy food and it functions better. I could go on and on, the main point is everything you treat well (most of the time) will respond the same way. Now, this class has given me more and more to think about each time I hop onto the trials, thinking about topics like the music in nature, the way technology has improved our understanding of it, ways to look at something with a different perspective, and finally ways of spreading our views and understanding to others. I believe that nature deserves not just our kindness but more, throughout history we marked that mother nature grants us everything, shelter, sustenance, and entertainment. Our entire history is written on the conquering of land, exploiting its material, and strengthening empires. Surely, this has decreased over the past century or so to a certain degree, but as a species, we’ve left scars in the earth that soon enough will be irreparable, that is without intervention. I believe in my new role as an interpreter, its time for me to look beyond the surface level, looking deeper in finding ways to apply my ethic of treating those the way I want to be treated to nature itself. I think as a collective it’s time that we enforce some system to engage the younger generations to experience nature interpretation in some way shape or form pertaining to education. It’s time we let our future generations truly understand the complexities that we come from, the connections, and the incredible amount of inspiration that is all around.  Now at a personal level, I believe that my responsibility now as an interpreter is to spread this newfound perspective and knowledge to those around me, giving them the ability to hone the beauty that comes with interpreting and do good to themselves, each other, and the environment. As mentioned earlier I believe we need to expose the younger generations to some kind of interpretation activity, whether that be school, camps, etc. This exposure is what made me so in love with nature, though it was caused by my parents and their method of raising me rather than school. The lessons learned, problems solved, memories made, and a whole lot more stem from my experience with nature, and I truly believe that it’s important, almost necessary that every individual on this planet have that same exposure. It gives you a sense of importance, a sense of responsibility, knowing that you are the only one that can control your actions, how you treat the land around you, how you abuse it, and finally how you can heal it. If everyone had this growing up, even with corporate greed and the ill-mannered litterers I believe we can at least balance what we’ve done to the earth. The approach taken would mostly revolve around giving the kids exposure through completing a task while maintaining freedom. Something along the lines of “hey guys I want you all to take a picture somewhere in the forest, each one needs to be unique, and tell me how it makes you feel?” or, “Hey guys I want you to look around, tell me what part of nature makes you think of cities?”. Encouraging the kids into not only thinking but having fun while doing it, letting them express their artistic side and make connections that they may have never done before. Now this worked wonders for my closest nature-loving friends and me, that why applying this kind of method is the one I chose, surely there are more but as a kid, I remembered most of us were hands-on learners. Touching everything and figuring things out with our hands and not our head, which is why taking them into a setting where one can be bombarded with stimulus is what I think would work best. I would like to hear what you guys think, should we approach the issues of today by exposing children to them, to possibly see a brighter future? And do you think my approach would work? 

It was an amazing journey, see you on the flip side lads :)

[maenvs3000w22]

Blog 8

The most fascinating thing in nature, at least in my opinion is all the different types of relationships between organisms. Mutualism, commensalism, predation, parasitism, and competition collectively make up what we call symbiosis. Each pertains to a different type of interaction but my favorites are mutualism and commensalism. In these two relationships, organisms find themselves either both benefiting, or one benefiting whilst the other is not affected whatsoever. I like to think about it as somewhat of a friendship between organisms. There are so many that we know of that we might not think about, like those cool suction cup fish that stick to sharks and whales, or even bees and pollinating flowers. The possibilities are endless and some of these relationships are incredibly unexpected. Now my favorite case of mutualism is that of the Hazda people of Tanzania and the Honeyguide bird, Latin name Indicator indicator. This incredible symbiotic relationship is one that is truly remarkable, stating that up to 10% of the Hadza’s diet is caused by the help from their flying fellow (Wood et al. 2014). This interaction is one that proves the intelligence of both man and animal, as noted in this article that the Hadza would deliberately not feed or reward the birds, using their increasing hunger to find more nests. Now for this to have happened one would questions whether these birds were trained and released? And surprisingly enough that is not the case. Like some other symbiotic relationships these birds coevolved with that of man, estimated around the Pliocene (Wood et al. 2014).

Now why is this amazing? Well let's just think about all the different processes found in nature, to think that these two organisms managed to work together, with no 3rd party help, and managed to keep going for millions of years is incredible. All these relationships are! The fact that their interactions with specific organisms is literally written in their DNA and sent down the generations just makes my brain MELT. It makes you question all the possible symbiotic relationships that we will never know, maybe the T-rex had one? My inner child is just imagining another dinosaur scratching its back for it LOL. My point is that these relationships, mutualism and commensalism, are incredibly complex, somewhat of a true relationship we experience at a psychological level. Having give and take, knowing boundaries and so on. Maybe besides just the physical interaction of gaining food or shelter or something, these animals might have a psychological thing going on? Who knows, what do you guys think?

Wood, B. M., Pontzer, H., Raichlen, D. A., & Marlowe, F. W. (2014). Mutualism and manipulation in Hadza–Honeyguide interactions. Evolution and Human Behavior, 35(6), 540–546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2014.07.007

[cbenvs3000w22]

Blog #7 - Nature Interpretation Through Music

Wow! Okay, where to start? If you know me, you know music is my favorite thing on the planet. You also are surely tired of my ramblings about how great my favorite bands are (sorry). The blog this week comes at a perfect time for me. Just two days ago, after 842 days away, I finally saw a concert again. Progressive metal gods, Dream Theater are a band that are incredibly close to my heart and who got me through the difficulties of the last two years and counting.

Check out my view! I am very grateful for this experience!

Anyways, you may be saying how does this relate to nature and nature interpretation? During the show there were honestly multiple instances where this class and its concepts crossed my mind! I’ll give two examples of nature in music that I experienced at this show.

The first being a lyric example which occurs during the song Bridges in The Sky from the 2011 album A Dramatic Turn Of Events:

“Sun

Come shine my way

May healing waters bury all my pain

Wind

Carry me home

The fabric of reality is tearing apart

The piece of me that died

Will return

To live again”

The song literally tells the story of healing from pain through many aspects of nature such as the sun, water, or the wind (fire is also mentioned later). While I sung along to this beautiful chorus, I thought about how nature and hiking has been an important part of my continual progress learning to control the anxious thoughts in my mind. These images in my mind make the lyrics of the song hit even harder and certainly increase my appreciation for nature. Therefore, Dream Theater are nature interpreters, and effective ones at that! Please check out that song here (but if you'll listen to one I reccomend the second song I'll mention moreso than this one):

The second example is a description of what is probably one of the best moments of my life. The final song of the night was the nearly 20-minute epic masterpiece, The Count of Tuscany from the 2009 album Black Clouds & Silver Linings. It can be found here:

Between the eleven- and fourteen-minute marks of this song, the keyboards and the guitar create a beautiful, ambient, audio landscape. In this section, the guitars begin to introduce the vocal melody which is sung later in the finale of the song, it truly is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. Please, while you take a break to cook tonight or even while you do some of your easier work, listen to this song and let me know what you think, I promise twenty minutes flies by! During this section in the live show, the screen behind the musicians showed images of rolling fields and forests. This was truly one of the moments in my life where I have felt most present. I breathed deeply and focused on the sounds, the musical motifs, and their importance. As tears streamed down my face (no, I am not afraid to admit this) I realized that the images of natural settings in the background were a large part of the immersion I was feeling! Now obviously, I did not pull out my phone at this moment, but another member of the fan community provided a video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMWGkNQtb_Yfrom which I captured the following image so you can see what I saw.

At this point, while I exercised the skills of living in the moment which I learned from spending in time in nature, the images of trees were beautifully poetic. This song has certainly become one that will remind me of a nautral landscape.

Now sadly, I have already exceeded the word count with my passionate ranting here, but I will give a short nod to the other idea of the prompt. I think music is everywhere in nature, for example the rhythm of a woodpecker, or the patter of rain. It is truly wonderful, and I can’t wait to read other blogs that explore it more.

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. It would mean the world too me if one of you who will read this took a listen to a few minutes (or all if you’re brave) of one of the songs I mentioned and told me what you think.

- Carson

[maenvs3000w22]

Hey Carson,

I’m sensing that you might be a fan of Dream Theater but I could be wrong, the way you describe how emotionally, spiritually and literally invested you are to this band and its music might be a tell but who knows. All jokes aside your connection with music clearly stems from a deeper appreciation than the average, not a lot of people nowadays are truly moved and brought to tears by music as its become somewhat of a filler in our lives, filling in the lack of sound and no longer being an expression of thought or an illustration of a moment with true depth. Now I don't mean that all modern music is like that as I personally steer clear from the common radio playlist and what not, but to be impacted by a song so heavily like you described is beautiful, and i think that from an artists perspective they’ve achieved the goal, making you feel something and one that truly requires a high level of intensity. Now you brought up how you found yourself thinking of the class during the concert, with how the music connected with nature, reminded you of your connection, making a kind of circle of connections with appreciation to both the music and to nature itself. The goal of art is to make you feel, with Dream Theater displaying a natural landscape as they play you connect deeper, or even connected with the artist's musical intent, connecting the sounds they produce with the beauty of nature. Now with all that said I wonder if you are like me, where a specific sound of music even if from different artists connects you to the same conclusion? For me I know that most music from say System of a Down makes me feel and be put in the same kind of place with that of SlipKnot, similarly The Strokes and The Arctic Monkeys, in this cruel world full of injustice and lack of understanding, or a smooth ride in the countryside with the windows down nothing on your mind but peace. Let me know what it's like for you. I'd love to know!

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Music and Nature.

Unit 07 Blog Post

Where is music in nature?

Music is absolutely everywhere in nature!

All of the sounds we hear, the flora and fauna, form a musical symphony. Together the rustling of the leaves in the trees, the creaking of branches and the rush of a stream, accompanied by melodic bird song and the chittering of squirrels form a beautiful “soundscape” that is intriguing (Gray et al., 2001).

Based on the definition that “music has been defined as patterns of sound varying in pitch and time produced for emotional, social, cultural, and cognitive purposes” I believe that these naturally occurring sounds fulfill the majority of these requirements other than the fact that I do not believe that music made in nature has an intention of being produced for human liking, but rather that humans coincidentally enjoy (Gray et al., 2001). The songs of nature consisting “rhythmic repeated utterances” happen to be constructed in a similar way that human composers create (Gray et al., 2001). Moreover, like humans, every individual creature creates a different sound even when part of the same species; everything has its unique voice.

Throughout my writing on this topic, I have been likening music in nature to music composed by humans, but I think it should be the other way around. Humans have certainly been inspired by the music of nature that predates us, we did not invent music (Gray et al., 2001). Birds, for example, create songs consisting of rhythm, pitch and combinations of notes among other musical elements and motifs, something human composers often emulate (Gray et al., 2001).

What other animals do you think may share a lot of core elements of their songs and music with humans?

Where is nature in music?

My instant answer to this question is imagery. By imagery I mean both lyrical imagery and imagery conveyed through the instrumental aspects of a piece. Many famous songs reference different aspects of nature in tandem with trying to convey an emotion, for example, when referencing personal growth, one may use lyrics of blooming flowers as imagery, or when referencing overcoming hardship maybe climbing a mountain would be used as imagery in the lyrics. Furthermore, instruments are often used to imitate the sounds of nature. Often a flute or other light and airy woodwinds are used to represent bird song or various percussive techniques can be used to copy the sound of crashing waves on shorelines. We humans feel a great need to incorporate nature into our lives through creating, performing, and listening to music (Gray et al., 2001).

Where is music in nature?

It may seem like an obvious choice as this song was composed as part of a collection based upon the seasons, and you may already have a clue what I am referencing, but this would be “Spring 1” of Max Richter’s album “Recomposed: Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.” I would recommend you give it a listen before I explain my thoughts on it, so go ahead and follow that link to the YouTube recording of it. I hope you enjoy it even just 1% as much as I do!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41IOkVjy3MM

I find it clearly succeeds in imitating the feelings associated with spring. It is chaotic, but uplifting as many things are occurring, new birth and life is appearing everywhere. It is almost overwhelming, but it reminds me of how I feel when standing in a field of flowers blooming in the spring. It makes me think of the warm sunshine reflecting off the dew drops on the grass, bunnies nibbling on grass, bright bursts of colour everywhere, and vibrancy more than anything. I think all of this is achieved by layering many string instruments to demonstrate just how much is happening, performing the song in a major key to evoke a sense of happiness, the incorporation of scales creating a sense of how quickly everything is happening, etc.

What did you think of this song and how did it make you feel?

Talk to you soon fellow nature nerds!

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

[maenvs3000w22]

Hi Taite, I loved your post. See like myself you defined what music is then later went off in a specific direction, now yours is much more of a different direction than mine and I love it! There's a lot in life that we never really consider until it is either straight up told to us or shown to us, and the idea that music is not a “human” thing is one that was unsettling at the start but pretty obvious. Now I connected music with math in my post, how it follows a mathematically “sound” sequence and pattern makes me think surely yes that it isn't human but rather a take on the universal language, and that made me think; “well birds and whales don't know math” now sure that's pretty obvious but its cool to think that an animal is capable of producing sounds which are both beautiful to the ear and to musical theory and what not. Makes me think if that has to do with some golden ratio or Fibonacci type of thing we learned all about in highschool. To answer your first question I know that a species of parrot uses sticks and drums to attract females, it's always the drummers, lol. There will be a link below for an article written by The Washington post on them. If you want to read more about it, they're pretty rock and roll.

Furthermore, you bring up that music puts you in a place of imagination, giving you this ability to set yourself in a fantastical setting produced by the sound and lyrics, this is something that i believe everyone can connect to. Whether that be a sad song reminding you of a difficult time in your life, one you will cherish as it was the song playing during your first dance, one that illustrates the injustices of the world, the possibilities are endless and music can do it all. I personally am a massive fan of indie and soft music (though I listen to a lot of metal and rock), these genres put me in places where I can almost escape reality and live within an imaginary world for a few minutes. The Strokes have some great songs that give me this “escape” and if you haven't listened to them I highly recommend it. Now, Spring 1 does exactly that of which I explained above, for me when thinking of a nature kind of sense I get this feeling of watching an ecosystem form, shaping itself from the harsh winter, with grasses peeking from the soil and buds forming on little stems, until this explosion of life immerges, the music intensifying as this happens and climaxes at the view of thousands of dandelions across a field, birds soaring, fish swimming, and the ultimate end to the new beginning.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/06/28/these-birds-are-the-only-other-animals-that-drum-to-a-beat/

[maenvs3000w22]

Blog 7

Now the thing with music is it's just mathematically sound… sounds. It's a combination of patterns and fractions that add up in a sequential pattern that just makes our brain scream “YES”. Now to find music in nature isn't hard, we all know of songbirds and whales but there is so much more to it. Lately I've been overly addicted to TikTok, following these accounts that are all about foraging mushrooms (not the fun ones), and one of these accounts uses mushrooms found in the wild to make sound. Now this specific page makes a bunch of different videos and each sound unique, with these bursts of a techno synth it's somewhat futuristic, eerie and beautiful all at once. The Rollingstone actually wrote an article about “The Mycology TikToker '' and his endeavors with mushroom music if you guys are interested, its really cool! Now Biomusic as a whole is a pretty neat thing, making music through the use of anything non human, whether that be mushrooms, trees, insects or whatever your big brain can think of, it is definitely an odd concept but one that makes sense without needing to. 

Now where is nature in music? Its everywhere! Like said earlier with birds and whales they follow musical theory (to an extent). They follow a melodic sequence and change notes in audibly satisfying ways, and don't be fooled this is intentional. Now beyond just the literal sounds that nature produce, music is rooted in nature, with instruments ranging thousands of years being sourced from animal hides and bones, every culture on the planet has had some form of musical influence and each has used the fruit of nature to produce it. Even our late cousins the Neanderthals had them! An instrument resembling a flute dating over 50 thousand years ago, carved from the bones of an animal were uncovered in 1995 which means that music beyond birds and whales has been on the planet before the last ice age! Now sure some have argued that the flute was actually just a chewed up bone that a hyena was enjoying but I think not.

See I am not much of a musician, at least not anymore, but my touch with music grows more and more deeply each day. Coming from an Arabic background I listened to the sounds of the “tabla” the traditional drum or “oud” which is the middle eastern lute. These being a core component to music there made exploring the sounds of the west all the better, getting exposure to techno, metal, rap, indie, and pop. Now the song that just encompasses a natural landscape, at least for me, is “helplessly hoping” by Crosby, Stills and Nash. This song is my go to when driving up to cottages and enjoying a nice ride on a kayak. It has a special part in my heart as I discovered this song the first time I went camping without my parents, just me and the high school gang, completely unprepared for camping and blasting music and making memories. It is truly amazing what music can do to a person and the memories they remind you of.

as mentioned above this is the article about the mushroom music and the flute down below (respectively) 

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/mushrooms-tiktok-mushtok-mycolyco-1256112/

https://www.divje-babe.si/en/the-neanderthal-flute/

[hsenvs3000w22]

For the Love of Science

Scientific knowledge plays a crucial role in nature interpretation. Current issues such as climate change, sustainability, and habitat loss are all based on scientific conclusions drawn by researchers or professionals in the field. However, we rely on interpreters to relay this information in a meaningful way to groups of people in order to motivate them to be a part of the solution. One of the main goals of nature interpretation is to be able to educate the audience in a way that they can carry beyond the experience itself. I like to think of this as a step by step process, while recognizing that it may not be as clear cut in reality. The first step in my head is to engage the audience and answer questions such as ‘Why should we care?” and “Why is this important?”. This is one of the techniques used in the TED talk, For the Love of Birds by Washington Wachira. Washington uses a beautiful physical feather to engage his audience. He also speaks about the topic in relation to humans by highlighting the many ways in which birds impact humans. By doing so, he is able to gain the audience’s interest in the topic before highlighting issues that need attention. His TED talk is told as a smooth flowing story and he did a great job at using visual images to enhance the experience. After establishing a vested interest from the audience, he then begins to highlight problems affecting birds such as climate change, poisoning, habitat loss, hunting, and wind farms. At this point the audience is emotionally or intellectually intrigued and have an interest in helping to solve these issues. The next step is to highlight solutions for these problems and ways in which people can contribute to the solutions.

I see science communication through nature interpretation as an art, as it requires a delicate flow of information that is easy to understand, impactful, and will leave a lasting impression on the audience. By invoking feelings of inspiration, motivation, and passion amongst an audience we can help solve pressing issues. To me, science is very meaningful and has played a huge role in my life. I see the world from a scientific lense whether that be the environment, animals, or humans. I believe in the concept of One Health in that all three of these things are connected and the health of one relies on the health of the others. This is why it is so important for us to understand the world around us and protect the future of our planet. 

What does it mean to you to see the world through a scientific lense? What role has science had in your life?

[maenvs3000w22]

“I see science communication through nature interpretation as an art, as it requires a delicate flow of information that is easy to understand, impactful, and will leave a lasting impression on the audience.“ WOW, that’s some poetic stuff right there. I’ve got to say this post was amazing. As a third year student who has spent his whole life oriented with nature I never really thought about the communication aspect to those who might not as in tune as I am. After reading I began to think about the complexities there are with not only being a good presenter, but also ways to enhance the experience and truly buy the audiences attention. Your connection to the TED talk is a great example as watching it really did make me invested in his speech and the issues he brings up. 

Now to answer your question. See most “outdoorsy” people who go into nature are fascinated by the surface level, the pretty trees, the cool mountains, the funny looking bugs and so much more. I on the other hand look at the complexities such as tree growth, river patterns, animal foot traffic, geological processes and all the other things that I cant think of off the top of my head. I completely agree with nature interpretation acting as an art, but would also say that nature itself is an art, somewhat of a play. As the audience we need to look for the ques and the connections between specific situations seen and compile them in hopes to understand the story better. Its like watching a TV show, you wonder what’s going to happen next so you sit there talking with friends about the possibly outcomes and their probability. Now with how TV shows work they leave you with cliff hangers and questions to ponder at for lengthy times, an amazing strategy to keep the audience hooked. With that tactic it would be amazing to implement with the world, giving them some motivation to seek knowledge and understanding on topics such as climate change and what not. 

In my opinion everyone sees the world through some form of scientific lense, whether that be literally like I do, or more of a laid back almost careless way. In my life its open my eyes to how complex both man made technology and nature are, the amazing creations we’ve made with mother natures fruit and the landscapes that she’s hiding said fruit in. 

I wonder do you think that if we looked at science from an artistic approach it would have the same effect? would we be able to decipher things we never would have been able to?

[maenvs3000w22]

Blog 5

I won't lie, I’ve been sitting here itching my head at what I'm going to write about. In times like these where the natural way of life is obstructed, it's amazing how much and how little can be done at the same time. I found myself trying out all sorts of new hobbies, watching new movies, listening to different music, cooking, leather crafting and so much more. It’s somewhat funny how we find ourselves bored in a world where there is so much to do if you just put your mind to doing something. Throughout the pandemic, 2 hobbies connected with me; golf and bonsai. Now, these two are in completely different categories of hobbies yet share an incredible amount of characteristics. Both share a foundation within nature and art (pretty much fancy landscaping), shaping and contouring the land for players to enjoy, or sculpting a tree throughout years to fit a design that produces a specific feeling. These two incredibly different things share everything, emotion, goal, and concept. We see specific trees that have been shaped to symbolize/depict a specific feeling or scenario. The tree below is a great example of this, from a literal view it's just a small tree, from the artistic standpoint it's so much more, I see this depicting the natural course of life, enveloped in the beauty that there is we are surrounded by death and one day this tree, wrapped in the “bones” of another will also die. It's somewhat harsh but it's art, and it does exactly what art is supposed to do, invoke a feeling.

Now, what about golf? Well if anyone tells you they like playing golf they are lying. Golf sucks. But conquering a course, finishing 18 holes, and 3 putting every green with your best friends in the middle of some of the most beautiful places is what makes it great. Now sure you can say” if golf sucks why do people play it?”, the simple answer is to relax, sure 3 putting isn't going to make me happy but being outside in nature, watching the sunset behind the last hole, listening to the birds laugh at your swing, and the amazing memories that you can make within the sport that is what makes people come back. Furthermore, the sport in itself is an art, think about the bag like a toolbox or painting kit, each time the ball lands you need a different tool, sure you can use a hammer to put a screw in the wall but that won't work well for you now will it? Analyzing the slopes and curves of the land ahead, the rivers and ponds, trees and hills, the art is in beating the hand mother nature has exposed ahead of you.

On these courses, or in my room shaping and wiring my bonsai I find myself most connected with nature. Sure it's no walk in the park or camping in the forests but it's as close as I can get. The beauty of mother nature's art and my take on it is that anyone can interpret and think of it differently, no one is wrong, no one is right, it's up to you. Here is my bonsai that I got as a birthday present from my girlfriend and a video of me “slicing” a ball into nowhere :)

If anyone has any questions about bonsai or any tips please let me know! And if you wanna golf when it's warm out I’d love to join.

[gienvs3000w22]

Art and Nature-Blog 4

Art has a big part to play in nature interpretation, when I was a kid my parents would often take me to museums and art exhibits that were attached to nature preservations, such as the McMicheal Art Gallery. A lot of the art was based on the local nature environment. My Mum is also a big art collector, she enjoys collecting paintings from Canadian artists resembling the Rockies or different Muskoka bays our family has had many memories on. I know of many artists that are also heavily involved in various activities done in nature. My tour guide for my AST1 is also an artist, she often paints designs based on the mountains she’s skied and has done many art pieces for various companies such as BUFF Canada, POW and J skis. Also, Chris Benchetler, a professional skier and artist, creates and designs skis for Atomic. His art is a little more abstract in the way he interprets nature, but it is nonetheless amazing.

Photos curtesy of Jessa Gilbert-a beautiful piece of art of a summer summit in the Bugaboos.

The 2021 Atomic Bent Chetler 120 skis-a piece of art that ties Old Man Winter, Mother Nature and animals.

I believe art has a big role to play in nature interpretation, I believe as nature interpreters we should incorporate it more into programs. For example, after a nature walk participants could paint/draw how nature made them feel or just whatever comes to their mind after the activity. I think a creative output is necessary for a complete experience of what they just witnessed, as it allows for a way to express their thoughts and feelings about the program in a passive way. I have noticed that nature interpreters do this for children however, it disappears in the program for teens and adults. I think it’s important that we bring art into the program for all ages to enjoy so that we may install the Gift of Beauty in everyone.

The Gift of Beauty refers to the ability to instill interpretation in people and the desire to sense the beauty in their surroundings-to provide spiritual uplift and to encourage resource preservation. I interpret the gift of beauty to be found when we are in nature, for example, when I visited Curaçao I was taken aback by the beauty of the Caribbean, I felt so lucky to be able to see the reef and the amazing animals that lived in the ocean. However, I was disappointed to find a lot of garbage on the beaches and in the ocean, it saddened me to see this destroy the beautiful natural environment, so I made sure to clean up every beach we visited. It might not have made much of an impact but I hope to do more of these types of clean-ups in the future.

Do you think we should put more art activities in nature interpretation programs for adults and teens?

Dr. Amanada Hooykaas. ENVS* 3000 Nature Interpretation Course Notes (2022). February 2, 2022. 

The Nature Blog,

Giuli

[maenvs3000w22]

Hi Giuli,

After reading you post i found myself completely in agreeance with your idea to incorporate nature more into art. Like yourself, I have many memories in a nature setting that connect with some of my fondest times. Having something like a painting or drawing that could illustrate my feelings at the time would have made those times never ending, being able to gaze upon such a thing would truly be gift. I wonder how we could make this more occurrent in times where selfies and snapchat stories plague social media, any thoughts?

Furthermore, you talk about the beauty that you witnessed during a trip to  Curaçao, the beauty of the ocean and the reefs are something that I also am lucky to have witness, sure it was in Egypt but that explosion of life and color set me aback just the same. I remember the revolting amount of plastic waste on the shore line and the sudden change from debris to bright blue water and how upsetting it was to see. Now sadly I wasn’t at an age where I could connect the dots and did my part to clean up, but I did use that experience as ammo towards what i surround myself with today. All my wallpapers, backgrounds, painting, posters and music (mostly) have some kind of nature theme to it. My computer has the beautiful scenery of Japan and an animated redwood. My phone with Jupiter and the trials to the creek behind my house in Burlington. The posters of waves and animals. These scenes we experienced, though different, are the experiences that uplift and encourage preservation just as explained in the textbook. I wonder, do you think some kind of trip that included seeing the beauties of the world, and the destruction behind the curtains may influence more people to do more towards saving the environment? For example a cheaper trip to the islands you visited, but the people would have to see the good and the ugly. Let me know what you think I would love to hear! 

- Mali

[maenvs3000w22]

Blog 4

If you've kept up with my blogs you will see some form of repetition on how I love to be outside. Finding myself lost in the creeks, trails, and cliffs by my home, each shifting and changing as the days go by, never to be the same again. I said something along the lines of mother nature's amazing artwork, and I do mean amazing. See we find ourselves at the pinnacle of technological advancements and the complete vision of those during the industrial age. We have automation, AI, fridges, cars, phones, and tik-tok. Each of these takes away the necessities found in nature from the average man. No longer needing to hunt, build, store, ride horseback, send letters, or go to the circus to see the bearded lady. We have come to a range where we no longer need to seek out anything, 99% of it is found in an aisle at Walmart. We find ourselves bombarded with the advancements of today and rarely look back at the ingredients that got us here. Now, who are we to interpret art? See this question is somewhat fun to look at, we can ask anyone who they are to anything. Now asking a mechanic who they are to tell us that we need an oil change is not what I'm saying, rather with regards to something that is subjective; art, music, favorite teams, food, etc, it is all on the basis of he who is looking at it. So who am I to interpret nature through art? I could say the same to that who wrote the question. In my opinion, we are all equally in the same "right" to interpret nature, we all came from it, we all will look at a cloud and see something different. That's the beauty behind both art and nature, sure you can have a painting a bowl of fruit, we can all agree it's fruit and a bowl, yet looking at something such as "The Creation of Adam" can have a variety of different interpretations. Most will say that the painting (specifically the hands) are god giving life to Adam, this in no shape or form is incorrect, that's what was meant in that painting, yet when I look at it I see the opposite. I don't see god giving anything, rather I see him letting go, letting go of his creation, one which is not holy or divine. It's all based on that who gazes upon something, without bias or influence. The beauty of going to museums or pop-up art exhibits is not that you need to know anything about the art you shall see, rather the opinion and angle you find within a said piece.

Now with nature, all which was said above applies. We all have a right to look at it and interpret it in a different way. We need to. If it was cut and clear all the time it would just be boring, the beauty in life is interpretation/opinion, differences in how we perceive something are what gives art its spark. Nature has art everywhere, with golden ratios and Fibonacci sequences everywhere, the symmetry within butterflies wings, the rings of a tree, the twisting spiral within nautilus shells and chameleon tails, the vastness of the oceans, the intense color pallet within a reef bed. We all are guilty of looking at nature and admiring the artistry of mother nature, the Gift Of Beauty, and the overwhelming sense of joy when watching the sun break the horizon, or a rainbow focus into the sky after a storm. I find myself constantly amazed with the many disciplines that mother nature holds, her ability to make ponder and question if this is the work of a higher being or the application of the universe's mathematical rules, who knows.

Now you may be wondering why I brought up all that stuff about the industrial age and not looking back at the past. See, we have been wired to look into the future, find better sources of food, find better ways to build things, better ways to get places, better, better, better, future, future, future. Which is a good thing and in no way do I intend to slow it down, but if we took the time to look at what got us here and nature we will find many similarities. We find many connections between our current day lives and where we come from. The wings of birds and planes, hooves and shoes, woodpecker skulls, and football helmets. We apply so many things in such a way that when we do take the chance to look back we see that nature had either influenced it indirectly, or it has already done it. The gift of beauty is so much more than just the "wow factor" and the awe, it's the application that we can make of it, the concepts within the genetic code of millions of species, and the amazing ways we can apply it both artistically and technologically.

[jsenvs3000w22]

Chapter 3: On Privilege

For many, nature is a refuge or an escape from politics, burdens, and other worldly stressors. It is supposed to be the “great equalizer” where nature is free, universal, and accessible to all without discrimination. However, there are often real and impactful barriers to accessing nature, especially in the interpretative industry. These barriers are systematic, socioeconomic, and discriminatory. Often, at the heart of these barriers, lies a source of privilege. My blog post will be written under the definition of privilege as: “a right or benefit that is given to some people and not to others” as accessed from Merriam-Webster dictionary (1). You can look at any individual person and dissect them into a conglomeration of age, gender identity, orientation, neurology, health, disability, race or ethnicity, wealth, education, English proficiency, geography, nationality, religion, and culture to identify sources of privilege. Privilege is multidisciplinary and can manifest in a myriad of consequences. There are also different types of privilege. The most common and arguably impactful kinds include racial, religious, gender, orientation, and socio-economic privilege.

In the environmental sector, privilege is emerging as a principal factor in sustainability, conservation, and interpretation. A major emerging concern regarding the ever looming climate crisis is the implications for underprivileged peoples on a global scale. The onset of climate change not only exacerbates those living in precarious conditions, but may push those to the precipice of either displacement or extirpation. Environmental injustices, such as asthma risk, exposure to lead and other dangerous materials and pollutants, proximity to landfills, access to clean drinking water, crop and livestock resilience, risk of invasive species expansion, susceptibility to novel disease, and frequency of natural disasters are gaining traction in modern environmental literature and subsequent action.

In nature interpretation particularly, privilege has a hand in accessibility and inclusion. There are many unseen, systematic barriers that litter nature interpretation including financial stability, able-bodiedness, representation, education and/or English proficiency, and access to technology. These barriers contribute to the growing threat of nature deprivation in underprivileged communities.

Our textbook, written by Beck et al. (2018), highlights recommendations for empowering inclusivity in nature interpretation. Their suggestions target four types of barriers and include (2):

Reduction of economic barriers by providing transportation or bringing interpretation to the people

E.g., public transportation access, provision of private vehicles, portable exhibits

Reduction of cultural barriers by “inviting, including, involving” minority groups

E.g., Personal invitations to churches, schools, youth groups, and neighborhoods

Reduction of communication barriers using multiple languages and varied media

E.g., brochures, signs, and tours in multiple languages; opportunities to celebrate cultural holidays

Reduction of fear by increasing staff diversity

E.g., hire minority or bilingual staff members

This passage really sparked my interest and prompted me to try to come up with novel ways to bridge nature interpretation and inclusivity. I want to ask you, can you think of any other recommendations to tackle different ways privilege manifests barriers in nature interpretation?

References:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/privilege

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

[maenvs3000w22]

Dear Jenna,

I must say reading your blog this week was one that was incredibly well written and informative, touching on subjects most would not even consider. Factors such as how and who climate change is currently affecting, and the plethora of environmental injustices affecting millions if not billions across the world. Similar to my thought process when writing my blog you factor in some very important changes or aspects that need changing to increase the opportunities for everyone to experience nature. You list off many barriers brought up in the textbook that all affect someone, or a group of people, these barriers are ones that I fully believe are an issue within the umbrella of “lacking privilege”. As an immigrant, raised only speaking Arabic and having to traverse the complexities of English and the Canadian culture it was difficult for me to coexist with those around me in schools and such. Being a country that stands so heavily with being diverse and accepting anyone from anywhere yet only “repping” English and French on government-issued signs or provincial park brochures is somewhat problematic when advertising inclusivity so heavily. Your post has many other points which each can have tens of hundreds of issues but that one language barrier hits close to home. You ask at the end of your post “can you think of any other recommendations to tackle different ways privilege manifests barriers in nature interpretation?”. One main issue I find incredibly dumb is the fact we have to either pay for entry within specific parks, for us to say we want to preserve and maintain the beauty of nature for all to see yet put a paywall to nature seems incredibly dumb. Sure I can understand how are workers supposed to get paid and where are we going to get the funds to maintain and what not but paying 13 dollars for a day pass to a provincial park, being told I have to pay for parking, then being told I'm not allowed to use my own kayak, having to rent a kayak, and only be able to use it for an hour in a river that spans nearly 10km seems more of a monopoly than it is freedom. In short, make nature free, it is for every other being on the plant.

[maenvs3000w22]

Privilege

This word is one that is somewhat 'problematic' for me. Now you may ask why, let me explain. The definition of privilege, as per Oxford states that privilege is "a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group". Now Surely we have all been privileged at some point in our lives, no matter the weight of said privilege we have all had a taste, some more than others, and some very rarely. I was privileged of being born to a stable family, have 2 parents, good health, culturally accepted intellect, an education, experienced travel, no issues with food, toys, and a massive list that I can humbly say is unfair in comparison with others around me (during my time overseas back home in the UAE). Fast forward 10 years or so I find myself still privileged with some of those aspects, parents are still around, good health, education, and so on. But there are a few things that I lost on the way. A battle that my parents called mixing water with oil, an issue of being Arabic in a city built on land, not theirs, and out-casted for my heugh. That sounded pretty good eh? Super intense and deep. Pretty proud of that to be honest, but let's clear it up because that a lot more excessive than the truth. I lived in Mississauga for the first year in Canada, with 2 parents out of a job spending their life savings to bring me into a country with no plan but to survive, it was hard. But we had family, friends, and people native to my home across the ocean waiting with open arms. This came to an end when coming to Burlington, surrounded by white people. Now I have no hate, no anger, nothing, but the treatment given to my family and me for not being the same was insane. From class to playgrounds, to teams, and friendships, it was all dictated by where I was from and who I was. This privilege that my parents gave my sister and me, to go out west and build a life away from the political and religious conflicts of the east were met with the oppressive behavior of uneducated adults and their spawn. So basically what I'm trying to say is; I had a taste of privilege, I know what it's like, and I know the opposite.

My parents always taught me that privilege is split into two separate categories; the one you inherit, and the one you gain. Born into a well-off family or great athletic abilities is inherited, no blood-sweat or tears. Whilst grinding throughout high school, getting a scholarship, doing well in postgrad, saving money, and buying your dream car, now that is gained.

The issue with privilege is somewhat of a curtain of sorts. It blinds those who possess it, most notably those who didn't have to fight for it. Not realizing the 'power' they have been granted through a lucky hand. It happens to me all the time, not realizing how lucky I am not to have to pay for school or help financially during high school. Though I still had to work for the things I wanted and cared about. Most kids throughout primary and secondary school were given everything, games, consoles, sporting equipment, and even cars. I spent weekends mowing lawns and shoveling driveways to save up for a pair of cleats or used skates, not that my parents couldn't afford to buy me them, rather gift me the sense of money and appreciate the fruit of hard work.

Now you might be thinking jeez this guy keeps rambling, you'd be right, but with this, you might see where I'm coming from when connecting it all with nature. See I was privileged by my father to have experienced the outdoors in two completely different areas of the world, ranging from jungles to deserts I've been lucky to see more than the average. The amazing artwork of mother nature is something that everyone should have. Though life can be brutally unfair, as a nature interpreter I (we) should stand and make it a priority to grant access and knowledge to everyone on the amazing life beyond our bubbles. We are all born on this earth, and we all should equally have the same level of access to admire and be a part of it. There are many things we can execute to enhance the movement of our goal;

- increasing accessibility, specifically for those who may not be able-bodied

- Increasing language options on signs, brochures, websites, etc

- decreasing the costs, or even granting free rentals of equipment to tourists/visitors to specific parks and wildlife reserves.

- increase accessibility to those searching for it, such as free subscriptions to mail regarding the local environment

These aspects touch on many real-life situations that many people face. Issues revolving around, knowledge, physical access, language barriers, and financial issues are just the tip of the iceberg.

[askenvs3000w22]

When I think about what I want to do as my career I feel endless amounts of opportunity coupled with massive fear and anxiety about actually attempting to reach any goals I make. This fear has been restricting me from creating any goals for after my graduation and has resulted in a desire to pretend that I am not graduating soon, which is an (unfortunately) unsustainable mental state. However, I believe that this fear stems not from a lack of knowing what I want to do but from an excess of ideas of what I could do and the worry that I might miss out on better options by picking one. It’s like I can see from where I am standing many different paths leading to different careers and lives and I’m afraid to take a step in any direction.

If I were to pursue nature interpretation, I would like to work outside in a natural area with forests and biodiversity (invertebrates, large animals, plants). This would probably be in the National Parks or National Forests sectors. I would like to teach others about how fragile yet resilient the environment is and how there is natural beauty in everything, whether it be an ant, a berry, a bear, or a mountain. 

From the quizzes on learning styles which were presented on Courselink, I have learned that I am a visual learner. This connects to me because I have always learned the most about the environment by being immersed in it and I would love to lead experiences that allow that for others who learn like me. I find that it’s really hard to learn about something if I don’t inherently care about it, and that I can’t care about something if I don’t see it and feel it myself. Therefore, when I spend time surrounded by what I am learning or teaching others about then I will be much more connected and passionate about the subject.

To live this life of interpretation I would definitely need to work on my communication skills. I tend to have a lot of anxiety when public speaking, although I’ve noticed that I gain much more courage when I am passionate about the topic. I would also need to work on presenting information in ways which all learning types could connect with (including visuals, hands on learning, and auditory information). I would also need to learn how to adjust my interpretive teaching style to the different groups I get so that I can really connect with the people in a way that captivates them. I haven’t found myself in many teaching situations throughout my life so to be an interpreter I would have to learn how to teach, but I do believe I already have what it takes, which is passion and a desire to share that passion with others!

Thanks for reading!

[acenvs3000w22]

Hi Aurora, I relate to what you mentioned regarding career opportunities after graduation. Where did all of undergrad go? I feel like we are meant to know exactly what we want to do and it can be quite overwhelming, but you aren’t alone! As we get farther along in this course this also has opened my eyes to potential career opportunities in the field of nature interpretation and is something that is worth exploring.

I would also agree with you on the importance of teaching others about the duality, complexity, and beauty of nature. One quote from the textbook that caught my attention writes: ‘“Yet, how much is missed if we have only eyes for the bright colours… the essence of the earth’s beauty lies in disorder…”(Porter & Gleick, 1990).’ I thought this was such an amazing quote because so often we are drawn to things that are traditionally viewed as aesthetically pleasing to the eye when in reality, if we look at the bigger picture, beauty is everywhere and in everything.

I can also relate to how you feel when public speaking - it has never been my forte. However, like you mentioned, I believe that when you are passionate about something, it shines through and allows you to express your emotions to others regardless of whether it’s to 1 or 100 people. I think another important characteristic is being able to constantly find ways to grow and develop your skills to give the best visitor experience possible, and that is also something that you seem to be doing naturally!

It was a pleasure being able to connect with your post!

Ashley

[maenvs3000w22]

Hey Aurora. I’ve got to say being in that same boat where knowing but also not knowing where your life is going or can go can be super demanding on your mental state. My whole life I’ve wanted to be a vet, with that said the options are quite high. I think the stigma of needing to have a specific career path set in stone is somewhat impractical as life can be a roller coaster. Now the only advice I have for you is don’t look at your options in the sense of which to pick, rather which not to. It is somewhat like guessing on a multiple choice option, scratch out the ones that are wrong and see what you have left. For me personally I know the last thing I want to do is be a poultry veterinarian, so that relieves some, still a long list of other options but that one is gone.

Similarly to you visual learning is the most efficient for me, having something that I can clearly see and process works wonders in my understanding of a specific topic. When I was younger i remember struggling to understand lift and drag for physics. My teacher found an amazing video showing us how it works with fog. By giving people the ability to actually see the effect of specific interactions, whether that be the physics of a plane, the effects of plastic pollution in soil, dumping, or just general carelessness to wildlife, citizens will be more effected and shocked at the results, possibly promoting change for the better. I know when I see something sad on the internet or tv i just shrug it off, but seeing it in person can be downright devastating. In short, immersing people in topics such as conservation and correct/healthy/safe interactions with the environment are incredibly important. Giving people the ability to experience and learn in the setting of interest gives people the ability to apply the info with ease.

Overall really great post, thanks for sharing!!!

[maenvs3000w22]

Blog 2

Se most people find it quite difficult to pick career and go through with it for the rest of their lives. Some may struggle even now to know what they want to do in life. For example my mom finished top of her class in electrical engineering, she soon after was married and held a job for 6 months before quitting. She only lately explained that she hated it, never did she think of becoming an engineer and that it just was what happened. She now runs a beauty business that she says she can do till she drops dead. So I asked if she ever knew what she aspired to do, her response was simple and sweet, “no”. Now she later explained that her lack of having some career goal was never a bad thing and that if I didn't that there's nothing to stress about. Luckily I do, and always have. My plan has always revolved around animals, that being pets, wildlife, zoos it didn't matter if it had scales, fur, feathers or slime all I want is for my life to revolve around them. Now in my third year of biological science my drive and aspiration are in conflict with the realization that my marks may not make the cut, but alas we move forward.

As explained earlier my goal is to be in a field that revolves around animals, now that can mean a magnitude of things, but coupling it with nature and wildlife would be a dream. With my experiences camping across a variety of settings its safe to say that being a wildlife vet would be something super cool. Running around and checking on protected species and their health, marking and studying areas to see how the environment is doing overall seems like an amazing experience as I value my experiences there as a child. I believe that being able to aid in the protection and stability of forests and parks across Canada would be an amazing and fulfilling experience, being able to possible aid in another kids chance to see such amazing things like I have during my youth.

Furthermore, I believe with the skill set and education I have, working in a field in conservation and wildlife caretaker would fit like a puzzle. Whether it be research, caretaking, teaching or whatever else that field holds, being apart of some kind of support or benefit towards the environment is at the top of my to do list. 

With my experience handling a range of different animals, having spent nearly 600 hours in vet clinics, another 200 in 2 different pet stores, thousands of hours outdoors (camping, fishing, hiking, etc) and with the education that I am in the process of getting, being a wildlife interpreter is what I would dream to do. Working both as somewhat of a guide and catalyst for communities to better understand their environment, as well as aiding in the health of said environment. A major downfall of todays society, in my opinion, is the lack of knowledge and data presented to the public regarding our environment. Now I don't mean the usual, “the ice caps are melting”, “global warming”, “overfishing” and “micro plastics”. Though these are incredibly huge problems that need the attention they get, and if anything need more, I just wish that communities would be more informed about there local wildlife, environment, and ecosystem. I know I wasn't as a child. Its the small stuff that overtime make a massive difference and the issue is that the small stuff is there, just hidden behind a brochure of the latest carnival or new videogame. As a person who loves animals I only found out 4 years ago that bird seed you buy at walmart or bulk barn are absolutely terrible for birds. That type of knowledge is what I want to give to communities, not by teaching them it specifically but rather get them to figure it out, whether that be through school trips and putting a little twist on a game, or having university students look at the nutritional needs and comparing that with the seed composition. Giving people a chance to not only be guided through understanding, but also promoting it.  

[cbenvs3000w22]

Blog #1 - My Relationship With Nature

I believe that my relationship with nature is currently at its strongest.  It has been developing for as long as I can remember.  In fact, some of my earliest memories come from camping with my family.  Hiking through forest paths, learning to build fires and just starting to appreciate the sights and sounds of being immersed in nature.  As I have grown older, my “sense of place” in nature has continued to develop as my connection has been strengthen in a variety of ways. To find a sense of place means to see what makes something special, deepening one’s connection and enhancing appreciation (Beck et. al., 2018).

My girlfriend’s contagious enthusiasm for adventure has placed me in quite a few scenarios that increased my appreciation of nature in the last four years.  The most prominent example is our trip to Algonquin park. One rainy afternoon we spent four hours conquering their longest and most challenging hike.  This experience was one I will never forget and one that surely helped me find a sense of place.

I always find that my memories that have to do with nature are the most vivid and unforgettable.  Perhaps it becomes easier to live in the moment when the distractions of technology such as cell phones are not present? For example, returning to the previously mentioned hike, I recall the experience vividly with many of my senses.  The pitter patter sounds of the rain on the hood of my jacket along with water droplets streaming off the front of my hat, jumping from rock to rock to hopelessly avoid puddles, the burning of muscles in my legs while gaining elevation and most certainly, the breathtaking views of the many peaks of the trail.

Another similar vivid memory comes from sitting on a large rock in the middle of a river for an amount of time I can’t recall and listening to the water flow by.  In general, I have an extremely difficult time quieting my mind. I am always thinking about the future, or some musical idea or the characters of a book.  However, in that situation, I felt completely calm and was able to live in the moment.  The vividness of these memories is one of the things that I appreciate the most about nature. I have even begun using them as a safe spot within my own mind.  When I feel anxious, I think back to these moments and immerse myself in the calm that I felt.

My other passions, specifically fantasy books and the metal band Gojira, have also helped me to strengthen my connection to nature.  When it comes to fantasy books, I often find myself fascinated by the descriptive nature of the stories and the depth of the worlds.  A large part of this is often the description of the environment.  From the sweeping sands of Arrakis in Dune to the rolling hills of the Shire in The Lord of The Rings, these stories have led me to appreciate my own world even more.  When it comes to Gojira, they are a metal band whose lyrics often deal with the suffering of the planet at the hands of humans.  Their aggressive vocals and meditative, pounding heavy rhythms mixed with strangely beautiful melodies give a voice to the damaged natural world around us. These messages have led me to stop and think about the importance of nature to me and the terror of a future without it.  In some way, these forms of media are acting as an interpreter as defined by Beck et. al..  They are enhancing my appreciation for the natural world around me by helping me see what makes it special.

What are some of your favourite protrayls of nautre in media? Are there are any specific examples which you beleive act as an interpreter?

Finally, classes such as evolution and biodiversity have given me a deep appreciation for the variety of natural life and the chance of its occurrence.  I think it is incredibly beautiful and awe inspiring to ponder the natural forces which figuratively push life forward causing the development of the nature we know and love.

Overall, my relationships and passions have helped me to find a deep sense of place in my connection to nature as I have begun to view it as a comforting and calming escape from daily life.

References

Beck, l., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Venture

[maenvs3000w22]

Dear Carson,

Could you direct me to the isle where i can find a girlfriend that goes hiking and camping? Thanks. Anyway I must say that your story of the 4 hour hike resurfaced many long lost stories buried in the corners of my mind. The connections we have and the tape-recording-like memories formed from such simple experiences are something that truly amazes me. Coming from an Arabic background and living in the UAE for the majority of my childhood I didn't experience much rain, and most definitely not in a beautiful forest such as that within Algonquin park. It must have been a very difficult trek and I tip my hat to you sir. Furthermore, I noticed you connected many memories with some form of natural factor, this is something that I found myself constantly doing throughout my elementary school years. Having skipped classes with classmates, sitting around eating the lunches our moms made, and going back as wild friends. its truly amazing what a natural setting can do to boost a connection, void of distractions such as phone just like you said. The experience becomes more personable, your senses feel heightened and the its like you become one with the earth. 

I really found it fascinating that we both share a similar mindset/experience when in a situation like that. The chaotic swoosh of the river water should feel somewhat scary or unsettling but just like you, I find it calming and peaceful, a chaotic good. I also have a somewhat heavier taste in music and though the common question of “does that not make you go crazy?” shows up every once and a while there is something about the chaos that ensues within the music that though I can agree is very “disturbing” but a majority of it tell a story full of the atrocities that have been committed to man and the areas they inhabit.  

To answer your great question; Dune. Cinematically stunning this movie made me feel like I was back in the deserts of the UAE, just without the giant worms and space violence.

Overall, I’ve got to say great post, loved your connection to art and media, I remember my dad once said to me that the beauty in nature is that its an ever changing art piece, one day its this the other its that. So keep experiencing the nature around and best of luck.