Nature Interpretation with Michael

Fostering a shared appreciation for nature by expressing my love for it

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Disclaimer

This blog was created for ENVS*3000 W24, University of Guelph. 

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

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

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Unit 10: A reflection on my Personal Ethics as a Nature Interpreter

Hello fellow interpreters,

For my final blog post for this course as a nature interpreter, I bring with me a set of beliefs, responsibilities, and approaches that guide my interactions with the natural world. This final blog serves as a place of reflection on my changing beliefs, the responsibilities I uphold, and the approaches that I find the most suitable for me as an interpreter (Beck et al. 2019, Chapter 4). Taking inspiration from ideas in the textbooks and course material I plan on applying my values and insights into meaningful actions in the world of nature interpretation. 

Starting with my beliefs, as a nature interpreter I believe that nature has a greater purpose than just its practical uses. I believe that nature possesses great value and worth, and it deserves our respect and protection. Thinking back to when I was a kid, my beliefs about nature have developed for the better as I became more educated on the topic over my academic career. For example, as a kid I only knew nature from what I had experienced, which included going on family camping trips, going on hikes, and playing outside with friends. I would say my view of nature at this time was that it provided a space for me to engage in activities and I didn't understand how much value it held. Now that I am older and more developed, I have learned a lot about the environment, I understand how much it shapes our day-to-day life, our mental health, our physical health, self-esteem, and many more (Beck et al. 2019, Chapter 3). After learning about many aspects of nature I understand that it is far more than a resource for human consumption but a complex and interconnected web of life that sustains us all (Beck et al. 2019, Chapter 3). By recognizing and honoring the value of nature, we can build a deep sense of appreciation and stewardship for the world around us (Dr. Hooykaas, n.d.). 

Secondly, as a nature interpreter, I understand the responsibility that comes with the role of creating connections between people and the natural world. In this role, I am tasked with creating understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of the environment while also advocating for conservation and sustainability practices (Dr. Hooykaas, n.d.). This responsibility is exemplified through my exploration of communication and experiential learning theories in this course, which have equipped me with tools to effectively communicate important information on nature to diverse audiences (Beck et al. 2019, Chapter 5). Just like interpreters help people develop an ethical sense of their place and role in the world, my goal is to create a similar sense of connection and responsibility toward nature in future generations (Beck et al. 2019, Chapter 3; Jacob Rodenburg, 2019). Inspired by Tilden's goal of creating transformative experiences through interpretation, I am committed to providing engaging stories, asking thought-provoking questions, and evoking a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world in all those I encounter. Take the children's podcast we recently completed as an example, we focused on environmental education, where I put my interpretive skills to use to engage young listeners in topics such as biodiversity, conservation, and the wonders of the squirrels in the arboretum. Through projects like these, I plan to fulfill my responsibilities as a nature interpreter by inspiring curiosity, and compassion, and creating a sense of environmental responsibility in future generations (Dr. Hooykaas, n.d.). 

When dissecting naturing interpretation, I tend to favor approaches that focus on authenticity, empathy, and experiential learning to interact with visitors. Through the content of this course, I believe that the power of storytelling is a great way to create deep connections using tales that make sense to the lives of participants as the medium to convey messages of unity and empathy (Beck et al. 2019, Chapter 10). Using interactive and story-telling techniques that captivate the senses and provoke emotional responses, I intend to promote an interest in nature and motivate action in the people I come across. I see the importance of meeting people where they are in their journey of life so that I can adapt easily to their interests, backgrounds, and developmental stages.

As an individual, I have learned through this course that I am a visual learner and that I tend to use approaches that emphasize hands-on experiences and visual aids. I believe in the power of storytelling and how it captures the imagination and interprets complicated ideas in a relatable way. By incorporating visuals, such as photographs, diagrams, and props, I can help others who are visual learners as well by enhancing their learning experience and making complex concepts more manageable for participants. Throughout this course, I have noticed the importance of creating inclusive and welcoming environments for everyone so that they feel comfortable and engaged. Whether I am leading an interpretive walk, holding a workshop, or creating interpretive material, I will always make sure that my approach meets the diverse needs and preferences of my audiences, to make sure everyone can connect to nature in a meaningful way (Beck et al. 2019, Chapter 6).

Overall, as I reflect on my journey as a nature interpreter, I am reminded of how big of an impact my beliefs, responsibilities, and approaches have on shaping the interactions made with the natural world. By being more mindful and searching within myself, I have gained a better appreciation of the inherent worth of nature and the connections between all life. The ongoing changes in my personal beliefs lay a foundation for my future nature interpretation responsibilities which include, building understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of the environment, while still advocating for conservation and sustainability practices (Dr. Hooykaas, n.d.). From creating educational materials to interacting with various audiences, I am dedicated to the goals of accurately describing ideas, empathizing with the audiences, and experiential learning in the process. By creating memorable narratives using storytelling, pictures, and inclusive practices, I hope to create transformative experiences that inspire curiosity, and compassion, and create a sense of environmental responsibility in all who cross my path. As I continue my journey as an interpreter, I am grateful for the knowledge I have gained and look forward to applying it in practice, ensuring that nature's interpretations remain a powerful tool for connecting people with the natural world. Together as a class, let us embrace the wonders and beauties of nature, and strive to be stewards of the earth we call our home. 

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore Publishing. https://www.sagamorepub.com/products/interpreting-cultural-and-natural-heritage-better-world

Jacob Rodenburg. (2019, July 17). Why environmental educators shouldn’t give up hope | CLEARING: PNW Journal of Environmental Education in the Pacific Northwest. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

Hooykaas, A. (n.d.). Unit 10: Nature Interpretation’s Role in Enviornmental Sustainability [Lecture notes]. ENVS3000 Nature Interpretation. University of Guelph.

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Hello Natalie, thank you for providing us with a detailed layout of your beliefs as an interpreter and how they have transformed over time. It certainly seems that this course you're taking has advanced your knowledge of nature interpretation as it both relates to understanding nature and conveying that information to audiences.

I do have one or two questions about some of the things you said. You said that nature has a greater purpose than just its natpractical uses. I wonder what exactly you mean by this. I know you followed it up by saying that nature has inherent value - which I agree with. I just don’t know exactly what its “purpose” is, in a larger sense. 

I also thought it was interesting how you broke down the differences in your knowledge as a child and now. UYou state that your knowledge was solely experiential when younger - and now that you’re older you know the physical and mental health benefits of nature. I might argue that you ‘knew’ them when you were younger, just not in the details of the psychology of it. But maybe I’m wrong I don’t know - it depends how broadly we define knowledge and what we understand about different systems of knowledge.

Those are my only inquiries - and I have to say I’m glad to hear you enjoyed your experience creating the podcast. That may have been a bit of a challenge given you descrivbe your self as a visual learner. I also learned a lot - especially on the software side of things. Anyway, thanks for sharing your beliefs and approach to interpretation. 

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Final Blog: Beliefs of a Nature Interpreter

Hey everyone, welcome back! This will be my final blog post and I just wanted to take a quick second to thank everyone for reading my thoughts and ideas and I wanted to say it was a wonderful time! I really enjoyed seeing all your opinions about my thoughts and I hope to see them one last time in this post! Stay strong, protect the natural world around you, and keep exploring! As always I hope you enjoy my thoughts and pictures.

Nature is such an important part of everyone's life, and must be preserved at all costs. However, to some nature is more than just an escape. It’s a calling. I believe that every little thing in nature is worth saving, protecting, and maintaining its beauty. In the class content it said, “we can create nature-rich communities where kids feel a deep and abiding love for the living systems that we are all immersed in” (Hooykaas, 2024), and this quote really stuck with me because I believe that every person in this world should be given the ability to establish their own special bond with the natural world around them. I believe the preservation of nature should be of the utmost importance because if the natural world changes too much there may not be any of the same things that we hold dear left to explore, and without it so many people would be left confused and unsure where to wander. I believe it is also extremely important to teach others, especially the younger generations how very important it is to maintain the beauty of what can occur when humans do not manipulate the environment. I also believe it is important to not interfere with natural occurrences that you might stumble across no matter how disturbing, awkward, or sad it may be. For example, last summer I came across many different animals doing various things from water snakes mating to a garter snake eating to a family of beavers building a damn under a dock, of course I tried to take pictures if I could, but not a chance would I get too close or startle the animals due to the slightest chance of it messing with their routine.

This is a collage of a few things I’ve witnessed while out exploring nature. Top left is a shaggy mane mushroom, top right is a member of the beaver family that was creating a dam, bottom left is a garter snake attempting to eat an earthworm, and the bottom right is a very large wolf spider that was just hanging around.

Being an nature interpreter is a role that must help others explore aspects of nature that they wouldn’t have thought to look at. Nature interpreting is so much more than simply a job. As I said before it’s a calling, a passion, a craving for exploration, and bringing what is unknown into the light for other people to be in the know. Nature interpreters have some of the largest responsibilities for the future. They hold the responsibility of being storytellers for future generations. They won’t just say facts about nature because that is not what gets people, more importantly kids, interested in the natural world. Kids are interested in video games and have simulations of nature, however, it is the responsibility of nature interpreters to tell exciting and eccentric stories that get them wanting and willing to go out and experience it for themselves (Boeckel, 2015). It is also the responsibility of the interpreter to be well-prepared, insightful, and communicate efficiently and in an appropriate manner depending on the audience that they are attending to. It is also the responsibility of the interpreter to, while telling the stories, make sure that everyone who is listening knows how important even the smallest thing in an ecosystem is all the way down to the small twig/branch the kids may want to pick up and play with. 

This was a location that we visited called Overhanging point (name is kinda self explanatory) during a guided hike. This was carved out by glacial ice movement.

As an individual it may seem difficult at times to think that what you say has an impact on the overall scheme of things, but there are many things that one person can do that can change and pull so many more people in. As it says in the textbook, find a way to articulate your ideas and points in a relevant, creative, and caring manner because that is what draws the attention of others (Beck, Cable, and Knudson, 2018). There are many ways to engage groups of people, and some effective ways are: holding interactive presentations for specific topics, creating a podcast that can appeal to younger and older audiences with many games such as guess the bird call, or guess that animal by the description, guided hikes are also a good tool to pique the interest of the more outdoorsy type of person, and sometimes even simple blogs like this one is an effective tool for getting ideas across to a very significant amount of different people. I know from personal experience that the two most effective ways to reach me with different information is an interactive presentation, or a guided hike. These two speak to me the most because I find them the most useful for engaging people. Guided hikes are a very nice way of exploring the wilderness because not only do you get to be out in nature, but you are able to hear the backstories of all the caves, rock formations, or anything that you may come across during the hike. However, each person has a different way of engaging with nature.

That’s all I have on my mind for now, and I hope everyone enjoyed my thoughts this time, and I hope you have all enjoyed my previous posts too! I had a wonderful time sharing my opinions and thoughts over the past months. I am looking forward to everyone's replies and ideas of their own. 

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

Boeckel, J.v. (2015). At the heart of art and earth: an exploration of practices in arts-based environmental education. Envir. Edu. Research. 21 (5), 801-802. https://doi-org.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/10.1080/13504622.2014.959474

Hooykaas, A. (2024). Unit 10: Nature Interpretation’s Role in Environmental Sustainability. University of Guelph. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/858004/viewContent/3640024/View.

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Hello Jody, I love hearing about your passion for nature, which I happen to share. I do have a few inquiries about your ethical framework. You believe that every little thing in nature is worth protecting and preserving, which kind of sounds like you believe nature has intrinsic value: which is also a belief I happen to hold. But, I wonder how you would balance that with the fact that as humans we do need to use the natural world - we need resources, medicine, food, timber etc. While I think this should be done sustainability and with as little impact as technology permits - we obviously cannot perfectly preserve and protect everything. So, I just wonder how you kind of sort out your ethic of protecting nature with our need for some level of resources. 

Not to be critical but I do have another point that I wonder about a little bit. You emphasized about 2 or 3 times the importance of reaching younger people and future generations etc. I just wonder why there is such a specific emphasis there. I definitely agree that young people should be reached , but people of all ages and all generations are deserving of interpretation. I mean retirement-age people generally have more free time and a greater ability to participate in community projects. They also tend to hold more wealth and influence and so interpreting nature to them can also be beneficial for driving actual change either politically or elsewise. 

And Jody I have to agree with you about guided hikes being really interesting and engaging! I wish I could go on the m more! Well, there’s some feedback for you my friend - happy trails.

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Ethics Beliefs and the Future of Interpretation (week 10)

Hey everyone, welcome back to another week of nature interpretation! I have some unfortunate news: this might be my last post in awhile. I’m moving on from blogging to explore where I can make meaningful contributions elsewhere. 

That being said, I am excited to share some of my final thoughts about nature interpretation, and share my personal beliefs and ethics. As some of you may remember, my university major is Biological Science, but my courses have become progressively more focused on biodiversity and conservation as the years have gone on. 

Personal Ethics

So, let’s get into my personal ethic as a nature interpreter. Now, there’s probably a million different things that comprise my views if I were to deeply analyze them, but let’s focus on the most important components. First, I believe in having a fundamental respect for the intrinsic value of nature, acknowledging that it exists for its own sake. Believing that nature has intrinsic value helps us reframe our interaction with natural resources as not something that is owed to us by nature, but rather something we should respectfully take only when we need to.

 In terms of the art of interpretation itself, I believe that presenting authentic and scientifically accurate information about the natural world is paramount (Beck et al, Chapter 7, Serving Diverse Audiences). This should be obvious -  we don’t want to give people misconceptions about nature. Nature already has so many interesting things to offer that exaggerating is both not necessary and unethical.

Something that is often overlooked is striving to make nature interpretation accessible and inclusive to people of all ages, backgrounds, abilities, and identities (Beck et al, Chapter 7, Serving Diverse Audiences). Nature is everyone’s heritage regardless of their background! These are but a few of my major guiding principles.

What Beliefs I bring

One of the most important beliefs I hold is that interpretation should empower others to take positive action based on their newfound understanding and appreciation of nature, especially through local communities. Learning to love and interpret the natural world is incredibly important, but action is necessary to make real changes. Urgent issues such as climate change, food scarcity, malnutrition, and loss of biodiversity are highly complex and contested in both science and society. To address them, environmental educators and science educators need to engage people (Wals et al., 2014). In this way interpretation benefits society by promoting healthy communities and helping to inform the public which democracy requires (Beck et al, Chapter 3, Values to Individuals and Society). 

I’d also like to take a more detailed look at one of my ethics for interpreters ourselves. I believe that we should try to act in ways that minimize harm to the environment. Doing a better job recycling, planting native species, etc. This summer I am trying to grow a vegetable garden, and am continuously urging my family to convert parts of our yard to more native species. Even though addressing massive systemic problems is important -  we should try to live out our values on a personal level. 

Another primary belief I hold is that actions which protect nature actually work to promote human flourishing  (Beck et al, Chapter 5, Guiding Principles). Let’s look at a practical example. Over the last number of decades, it has become extremely difficult to repair and acquire parts for appliances. This forces consumers to toss out their old stuff and buy new. Recently, there has been a focus on right to repair laws in Europe and Canada that would increase the ability of consumers to repair. This helps consumers as they aren't wasting money on brand new items and lessens the demand on nature for resource extraction and landfill facilities. These kinds of actions can be a win-win for people and the environment!

Here's a picture of me repairing something! I mean it counts right?

My Responsibilities

Lets look at my responsibilities - here’s a simple yet difficult one - staying positive. Interpreters are encouraged to have a sense of humor, and to not despair, but rather to find solace in nature (Beck et al, Chapter 5, Guiding Principles). There is plenty of nihilism regarding climate change and ecological destruction to be found, but this is not useful. We should act as though we truly can make a positive difference, because if we don’t we’re guaranteed to fail. I think this fits into another goal of interpretation which is to “enjoy understandingly” - we’re supposed to enjoy the natural world while understanding the real threats it faces (Beck et al, Chapter 3, Values to Individuals and Society).

I think another responsibility is to communicate well with people who disagree with you. It is easy to do interpretation with others who agree with you. For example, among the students and staff in my program, there is deep passion about conservation. However, there is some deviation between this setting and the general public. It gets much harder to interpret for example, when someone fundamentally has different beliefs than you do. A common example of this is climate change denialism. It is almost impossible to do interpretation without inevitably addressing climate change, and it's even a goal of some programs (Beck et al, Chapter 5, Guiding principles). Of course, your audience does have the right to retain and express their own values, but offering new perspectives, being respectful, and asking your audience where their beliefs come from can go a long way. 

Individual Approach

Okay to end this off let’s take a specific look at how I can interpret best as an individual. I’ve been thinking about this a lot - I don’t know what specific ‘job’ or ‘career’ I want in this regard: will I become a park ranger or work in a museum? I mean I wouldn’t be opposed to trying out those roles but I just don’t know

At the end of the day, I could realistically see myself working at a summer camp as a counselor and leading a cabin in tons of fun and chaotic activities while still helping them connect to nature. I know I would personally enjoy that setting, which would obviously help me display enthusiasm naturally in my role. The fond memories that they’ll carry with them will instill a love of nature. We obviously aren't perfectly rational: we don’t just care about nature because of rote facts relating to how much timber we extract from forests for housing. We are often led by emotion and our personal experiences. In whatever role I hold, I will strive to maintain the ethics and approaches I listed above, and continue to hone my communication and interpretation skills! 

Anyway, that's all for now folks! 

I wasn’t sure how to end this post, so here’s a picture of a cute young snapping turtle that I forgot that I had taken until now

References

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

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  

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Blog 8: The Bear Necessities

Hey everyone I hope you’re all doing great and have had a wonderful time since the last time we’ve talked here. We’re already at week 9 which is WILD but I’m glad to have spent them talking with everyone here! Anyways let’s get into this week and I hope you enjoy this post as I am in love with these animals and their variety! Enjoy the pictures and my thoughts!

Bears. Every person to live has some different kind of perspective on bears. Many people think of them to be large terrifying creatures that are only around to cause havoc, or to scare people and animals. Some others think of them as nuisances that are getting into their garbage or compost and causing a mess. However, there are a few people (me included) that think bears are one of nature's most beautiful and majestic creatures. Bears range from being such small cuddly looking creatures to very large, muscular units of sheer strength that come in so many different colours between species and even within them too. 

This is a chart of many but not all the bear species from around the world, so that you have a visual of what these different species look like compared to one another. Retrieved from 79dd92b67197d50840ef0066a20b39a5.jpg (736×639) (pinimg.com)

There are so many species of bears: Polar bears, Grizzly bears, Brown bears, Sun bears, Spectacled bears, Panda bears, Black bears, and many more, but these are just the main species of bears. There are also subspecies of bears found within some species, for example, the Kodiak bear is a subspecies of Brown bear that is only found on Kodiak Island in British Columbia which differs from the normal brown bear species by being significantly larger, and has more aggressive tendencies. There is also a subspecies of Black bear called Kermode or Spirit bears is a more common name for them. They are essentially the same as a Black bear but have a snow white coat like a Polar bear. This white coat is not associated with albinism and does not have any detrimental health effects. The Kermode is my all time favourite bear along with its main species Black bear. There are thought to only be a few hundred Spirit bears to live and are extremely rare to occur. The Black bear species is a relatively docile species that will more times than not run away when encountering a human unless there is a threat to its life or that of a cub.

This is a picture of a Black bear taken just outside of a cottage in Tobermory, Ontario. This is a younger bear I would estimate to be roughly 1-2 years old and weighing approximately 200 pounds!

If you plan to stay within Ontario the most common bear you will see is the Black bear, but if you go really far up north you have the chance of seeing polar bears but it is a rare sight in ontario. There is a colony of Black bears of a couple hundred that live within the Northern and Southern Bruce Peninsula, but if you wish to see a Grizzly or Brown bear they are most commonly found in the more western provinces like Alberta and British Columbia.

One sad but interesting fun fact is that due to the northern ice melting and the Polar bear habitats being reduced it is pushing them further into Grizzly bear territories which is causing the two species to mate and create hybrid offspring.

This is a picture of a Polar-Grizzly hybrid taken from: OIP.8QjxLcuk8z8Vm5cPR_eGAgHaEs (474×300) (bing.com). As you can see from this photo it has more characteristics of a Grizzly bear but has a very light coast that is almost all white.

Thank you all for joining me this week and talking about bears with me! I am looking forward to all of your thoughts! Join me again next week to see what we are going to talk about!

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Hi jodi, thank you for sharing your passion for bears with us! I happen to also be one of those people who thinks bears are one of nature's most beautiful species. They just look like giant dogs that you’d want to be friends with! I think some misconceptions come from the notion that bears are vicious predators (which some species like polar bears are), but black bears derive almost all of their diet from plants and berries and don’t really see people as food. 

That chart of bear species is quite interesting. I know personally that I always think of black, polar, grizzly, and panda bears but commonly forget about those other south American bears like the sun bear and sloth bear! I think my favorite species is the black bear just because they live around here and they seem pretty chill compared to grizzlies and polar bears which also live in Canada but are quite scary. 

One of the coolest species of bear in my opinion is the short-faced bear which is now extinct, but I think it was even larger than grizzly bears, which is very impressive.

That information on the kermode bear is really interesting too! It's nice that their white color isn’t detrimental to them! I know in elementary school I read a book that had a white spirit bear in it, and I thought they were only mythological creatures. It wasn’t until years later that I learned the kermode bear was a real subgroup!  

Overall, your post shared varied information on different bears and bear subspecies across the world, and I found it thought provoking, as I started thinking about cool bear stuff that I knew lol. Thanks for sharing.

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Mindless Intelligence - Week 9

Hey everyone, welcome to another week of nature interpretation! Today I’d like to share the story of an amazing creature out in nature that you may have never even heard of - Slime Molds. 

Slime molds look very similar to, and are decomposers, like fungus. But they aren't actually fungus. Or plants. Or animals. They are actually single celled (sometimes) Eukaryotes. Eukaryotes is the ‘complex cell’ group, including all animals, plants, protists, and fungus (Howard, 2020). So, basically slime molds are in that group, but don’t really belong to any of the subgroups. They’re just kind of ‘miscellaneous’.  

Oh yeah, and the reason I say they are single celled sometimes, is because slime molds will often congregate together and share their cellular contents, forming a giant collective cell thing, which is really cool and weird (Howard, 2020). Slime molds live out most of their lives as single-celled microorganisms, but when they’re ready to reproduce, they can scale up in size to form structures that look like fungus.

The fungus-like fruiting body of a species of slime mold. © Andy Sands/NPL https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/vive-le-blob-the-amazing-abilities-of-slime-moulds

I first learned about these creatures in a youtube video from an absolutely excellent nature communicator, Ze Frank on Youtube True Facts: The Smartest Slime. I would really recommend checking out his videos and channel. He’s such a compelling interpreter because he tells a story by naming the animals in his clips funny names and narrates it, and he uses wit and humor to keep the audience engaged (Beck et al, Chapter 10, Arts in Interpretation).

Now, let me get into more interesting and amazing bits. So, slime molds have no brains, no eyes, so ears, and are essentially a big blob of cells. You would think that this would -  no offense - make them very stupid. But, researchers have found that they can solve mazes (Howard, 2020). As the slime mold moves through the maze on the lookout for food, it is able to sense the trail of slime that it’s left behind, allowing it to avoid areas it's already been.

This is a picture of the species used to solve mazes. © Andy Sands/NPL https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/vive-le-blob-the-amazing-abilities-of-slime-moulds 

Some species are also capable of a primitive style of learning. Normally, when one of the slime mold’s tendrils touches a negative stimulus like salt or caffeine, it slows down and moves elsewhere. But if it discovers that it can reach food by traveling through the hazard, it learns, over time, to keep going to get the food! One of the interesting things about this behavior is that it can be ‘taught’ to other slime molds by fusing with other ones that have never encountered the risk. Even more interesting is that this behavior stays in the slime mold for many weeks, even if the blob goes into a dried-up, hibernation-like state (Howard, 2020). How crazy is that? 

While doing this research I also found some wild information about their reproduction.  Slime molds have a swirling mass of additional types of sex cell – giving them around 720 sexes in total (Howard, 2020).

Anyway, I hope you found this topic interesting, and I encourage you to look for some videos on the topic as it can be quite cool to see these molds solve mazes and such. That’s all for this week, keep on exploring!

References:

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

Frank, Z. (2023, January 31). True facts: The smartest slime. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_GTIL7AECQ  Howard, J. (2020). Vive Le Blob: The amazing abilities of slime moulds. BBC Science Focus Magazine. https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/vive-le-blob-the-amazing-abilities-of-slime-moulds

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07: Music in nature.

Hi everyone! As someone who loves both music and nature, I’m excited to talk about this week’s prompt! I've found myself captivated by the connections between music and nature in the past, and It's a topic that's as fascinating as it is deep. When we ask, "Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music?" we're really diving into the core of how we interpret and understand both. 

Nature is like the ultimate composer in a way. From the rhythmic crash of waves to the gentle rustle of leaves in the wind, it’s almost like a whole symphony out there. And it's not just about inspiration; nature's sounds can actually shape the way we create music. If you listen to the works of Beethoven or Debussy, you can practically feel the influence of the natural world woven into their compositions. 

In modern music, the influence of nature can be heard across a wide array of genres and styles. Take, for instance, the Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós, whose soundscapes often revolve around the beauty of their homeland's landscapes. In songs like "Sæglópur," layers of shimmering guitars and haunting vocals create a sense of vastness and wonder, making listeners imagine fjords and tundras. Even in electronic music, artists like Björk incorporate elements of nature into their compositions, using field recordings of wind, water, and wildlife to add depth and texture to their songs.

Music, in turn, also becomes a way for us to interpret and express the essence of nature (Hooykaas, 2024). Whether it's through a beautiful orchestral piece or the melody of a piano, music has an incredible ability to evoke the feelings and sensations we experience in the great outdoors (Hooykaas, 2024). It can even be like taking an audio journey through forests, mountains, and oceans without ever leaving your seat. So, when we talk about nature interpretation, we're also talking about how we interpret the sounds and rhythms of the world around us, and how we use music to capture and communicate those interpretations. It's a beautiful cycle of inspiration and expression that speaks to the deep connection between humans and the natural world. 

One song that immediately reminds me of a natural landscape is “Landslide” by The Chicks. This is a cover of the song originally written by Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac. With this version by The Chicks being a country song, it’s much different than the rock/metal I usually listen to, but it’s a song that has always stuck with me. Me and my mom like to go for drives out in the country roads/backgrounds, and she always plays this song on those little trips. I find that this song really fits with the rolling hills, vast open fields, and blue skies that I see when we go on those drives. Now that I can drive too I like to go for drives out in the country, and I play this song everytime! It’s a great listen, and really adds to the scenery. The song itself has many lyrics that relate to nature as well.

Overall, as someone who's passionate about both music and nature, I'm amazed by the ways in which these two things are so connected. Whether I'm listening to a symphony or taking a hike in the woods, I can't help but feel like I'm tapping into something bigger than myself, and that's what makes exploring the relationship between music and nature so rewarding!

Hooykaas, A. (2024). Unit 7: Nature interpretation through music. University of Guelph. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/858004/viewContent/3640021/View

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Hey Grace, it's wonderful to see your enthusiasm for the deep connection between music and nature! I particularly enjoyed your analysis of how nature inspires music. 

I do have a big question for you though. You seemed to have focused more on how nature inspires artist’s music, but only briefly touched on the music in nature itself.

 Is every possible sound found in nature music, in and of itself? Can music constitute any natural sounds, like the wind? I agree that nature can produce beautiful sounds that we can include in our art, but I don’t think the sound of rustling leaves alone is natural. I think it has to be more intentional: like the music of mating frogs or male crickets, or the communication between humpback whales. What do you think?

Beyond that, I found it fascinating that when you thought about how nature inspires music, you focused on soundscapes that stoke the imagination of natural landscapes.  It's fascinating how so many different genres can incorporate elements of nature, creating a sonic experience that mirrors the natural world. For example, you spoke of the ‘layers of shimmering guitars and haunting vocals’ which make listeners imagine fjords and tundras.

On the contrary, when I thought of nature in music, my mind went immediately to songs which referenced natural landscapes in their lyrics, such as Green River by CCR. I find it interesting how your initial thoughts were on how sounds inspire the imagination, whereas my thoughts were about more direct and explicit connections. 

Your passion for both music and nature shines through, and it's inspiring to see how these two aspects of life can come together to create a rich and fulfilling experience. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences on this beautiful intersection of music and nature!

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Nature's Symphony (week 7)

Hey everyone, I took a little hiatus from posting for a week to recharge. I was able to go on a brief hike but forgot to take any pictures for you guys : (   I did see a thunderstorm this week, which was super cool but highly unsettling given that it is FEBRUARY IN CANADA, but I digress.

This week I’d like to address a fun question: Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music? I guess the first thing to do is to define music. Music is loosely defined as patterns of sound varying in pitch and time produced for emotional, social, cultural, and cognitive purposes (Gray et al., 2001). So, basically it is intentionally made sounds that vary in pitch. 

So, where is music in nature? Well to me it can be found in a variety of things. Something as simple as the wind blowing through the leaves of some trees can be a form of musical ambience, although by itself it isn’t really music because it isn’t done for any particular cognitive purpose. Instead, intentional sounds like crickets chirping and bullfrogs croaking form a musical symphony. 

Personally, I find pretty much all of nature's music peaceful and calming. Even cicadas, which I know many people find annoying, remind me of summer. So, I find them peaceful even when others do not.

Perhaps the most interesting music in nature is formed by more intelligent creatures such as whales. According to research, humpback whales use phrases similar in length to ours, and create themes out of several phrases before singing the next part (Gray et al., 2001). And, even though they can sing over a wide range of seven octaves, humpbacks still use musical intervals that are similar to the intervals in our scales (Gray et al., 2001). Their songs even contain repeating sounds that form rhymes! I knew whales’ had complex communication, but I didn't know it often took the form of a song. That's pretty cute honestly. The whales are actually singing to each other.

The second question is ‘where is nature in music’? In my opinion, there are two ways to look at this. The first way is that humans are ‘natural’ in the sense that we are evolved animals like whales and frogs, and so the songs and music we produce are inherently part of nature’s music. I think this view, while technically true, is less useful because usually we use ‘nature’ to mean non-human. 

The other way to look at it is how the natural world inspires human artists in their creation of music. There are tons of examples of this. There are songs that are more abstract in their use of nature, such as “Flight of the Bumblebee” that has no lyrics, but is meant to evoke the seemingly chaotic and rapidly changing flying pattern of a bumblebee. And, there are songs in which people directly talk about their experiences in nature. One of my personal favorites is Green River by Creedence Clearwater revival. It more directly reminds me of my experiences along ponds and rivers talking about the bullfrogs and dragonflies. 

Anyway, that's it for this week! What’s your favorite nature song? What song brings you back to nature?

I don't have any pictures of bullfrogs singing, but here's a picture of a leopard frog, they also make mating calls.

References

Gray, Patricia & Krause, Bernie & Atema, Jelle & Payne, Roger & Krumhansl, Carol & Baptista, Luis. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science. 291. 52-54.

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History & Nature (unit #6

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“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.” (Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)

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The interpretation of history and nature interpretation is much more connected than one may think, as nature is just history. Every time we go outside we see trees that have towered over city streets for decades, interact with species that are part of long lineages often with tales of speciation or complex interactions, and endure weather that is part of a complicated narrative of climate trends. However, there are much more subtle connections such as the means we go about both types of interpretation and the values their interpretation holds in society. Notably, history and nature are severely disserviced by poor interpretation; which is an important aspect to note as both are often influenced by beliefs/biases over fact (e.i people's opinions on wars and opinions of climate change).

Hyams conveys the importance of accurately interpreting history and that history has significance in the present day. These two principles are equally as crucial in nature interpretation. In the first part of this quote, Hyams explains that there is no importance in history without accurate context and the full picture. Artifacts of history are like snapshots that can help interpret a full story but they are meaningless without the rest of the story and equally as worthless if the story is falsely conveyed. Thus, it is not the age but the preservation of truth that is attributed to the worth of an artifact or historical event. For anyone who has watched Pawn Stars, Hyams' message is communicated when an item is brought onto the show without any context or story behind it. Without the integrity of a story, the object lacks knowledge as Hyams states, and in turn, there is a blow to the value of the object because “there is no peculiar merit in ancient things” (Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation).

(Pawn Stars Youtube, 2022)

Furthermore, I find the second part of Hyams’ quote relates very well to nature interpretation, specifically in arguments about climate trends and conservation. Hyams refers to the fact that history is just as relevant today because past events still have influence, they don't just disappear. Time is a major driver of nature as seen in old-growth trees, corrosion over millions of years creating rock formations, land-locked lakes formed by glaciation, and so much more. It is undeniable that history has shaped the ecosystems and the entire planet we see today. Therefore, nature is history and when we get out into nature we are quite literally basking in a natural history museum. I will never understand how historical buildings can be preserved solely due to age but old trees that house countless species and contribute to ecosystems are cut down. (Beck et al., 2018)

(TJ Watt/Ancient Forest Alliance)

Additionally, writing is a huge component of both nature and historical interpretation as writing style and vocabulary can completely change one’s audience due to terminology barriers, accessibility, and level of engagement (Hooykaas, Unit 06). This quote by Edward Hyams is a prime example of the power of writing. I think this quote it is too convoluted to easily get a point across to many, it requires too much interpretation for the average reader. I think the message would have been lost on me if I had just skimmed over it and not been required to analyze it. (Beck et al., 2018)

References 

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

Hooykaas, A. (n.d.). Unit 06: Nature Interpretation through Science [Lecture notes]. ENVS3000 Nature Interpretation. University of Guelph.

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Lauren, your analysis about the connection between history and nature interpretation was well done! I particularly enjoyed your comparison of historical artifacts on shows like Pawn Stars to Hyams' emphasis on historical context. It effectively illuminated the importance of integrity in historical narratives. This analogy was super unique and brought back some hilarious memories of watching Pawn Stars clips on YouTube. I never would have had the creativity to connect it to nature interpretation.

Following that, your description that nature itself is a form of history shaped by past events was an interpretation of the quote that I agree with. Nature is truly a fluctuating form shaped by the past.

I did think there were some areas for further exploration. For example, what societal factors contribute to the differing preservation priorities between old buildings and trees?

I also agree with your observation that Hyams' quote may be too convoluted for the average reader to understand. How could the quote be rephrased or broken down for clarity? I think something like “The value of old things isn't in their age alone but in their stories, and how that shapes the current world” is kind of what he was going for with the quote. How would you rewrite it to make it more readable while keeping the original meaning?  

Keep up the thoughtful work!

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Past Shapes Present (Week 6)

Welcome to another week of nature interpretation my friends! I hope you’ve taken time to enjoy nature recently! This week I thought we’d dissect a thought provoking quote by Edward Hyams:

“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.” (Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)

While this quote is rather complex (I know I had to read it a few times), I’m going to break it down and provide some examples. 

First of all, I totally agree with the sentiment of the statement, which I interpret to mean that our current conditions are predicated on all the past that came before it, and that to truly describe something as it is now, you need to know about its past.

This principle is relevant to me as an interpreter. To convey a fully meaningful story to visitors I will necessarily reference the past. For example, if I was leading a fall hike through a forest, any complete story about the beautiful fall colors would refer to dynamic seasonal changes: the trees are not red, orange, and yellow year-round. Our present moment is shaped by everything that came before, and this is absolutely true of our ever dynamic natural world. 

It is also consistent with some of the primary goals of interpretation as stated by the self-taught nature interpretation Enos Mills. The goal that comes to mind is “to give biographies rather than classifications” (Beck et al, Chapter 5, Guiding Principles). By delving into the unique stories in nature, we maintain the integrity of the natural world, by recognizing that its past intricacies contribute to its present.

It also reminds me of British Columbia, standing in front of a Douglas Fir tree. Part of their beauty and intrigue is not only their massive size, but also in their ancient age. They remind us of the past, and make us ponder which world events took place while the tree was alive. This tree - this singular thing - is part of the world as we know it now with our modern technology and conveniences, but was also part of the world when it was radically different. All of these things, the past and the present are wrapped up and represented in this one ancient tree. I am certain a good interpreter could craft an excellent story tying these trees to ancient history. They could connect Canadian history with the present, breathing life and meaning into past events through these ancient trees (Beck et al, Chapter 15, Interpreting History).

What a great quote to look at! That’s all for this week folks. I’ve been slowly developing my writing, and I hope it shows (Beck et al, Chapter 14, Interpretation and the Written World). 

I hope writing is capable of showing my passion for these topics. As the famous interpreter Freeman Tilden said, “Whatever is written without enthusiasm, will be read without interest.” (Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage)

References:

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

Tilden, F. (1977). Interpreting our heritage. University of North Carolina Press.

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NATURE & SHIPWRECKS (unit #5 - freestyle)

Hello friends, 

We are back again this week with the most exciting prompt yet: no prompt! I am taking this opportunity to talk about my biggest childhood interest… SHIPWRECKS!

You might be wondering how this relates to nature at all but deep-sea shipwrecks are biodiversity hubs. I have always been interested in shipwrecks because I am both terrified and in awe of them. My main fascination is with how such an inorganic and visually man-made object is completely emersed by aquatic life and fits so well in an ecosystem it was never intended to be in. 

STOCKTREK IMAGES. (n.d.). A sunken ship lays on its side near Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas. How do we find shipwrecks—and who owns them? National Geographic. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/how-do-we-find-shipwrecks-and-who-owns-them. 

Shipwrecks are considered “islands of biodiversity” because they offer a structure for an incredibly wide variety of species to inhabit, which creates pockets of very high biodiversity, acting as artificial reefs (Hamdan et al., 2021). Imagine a sandy sea floor with not much going on besides some small rocks and vegetation, now put a huge stationary shipwreck there, and eventually, many species will call this new isolated habitat their new home. Many shipwrecks are dripping with so many species that you cannot even see bare metal anymore.

It is clear from photos that there are lots of different fish, vegetation, and corals that inhabit old shipwrecks, but we are missing a very important aspect of shipwreck ecosystems: the micro-organism colonies! In our defense, we can't see them but they make up a huge portion of biodiversity. Microorganisms establish and preserve shipwrecks as artificial reefs, allowing other species to thrive in/on shipwrecks. It is amazing how much power the tiny species hold and how influential they are to full ecosystems. (Hamdan et al., 2021)

Murat. (n.d.). Bream Fish around the shipwreck. How do we find shipwrecks—and who owns them? Adobe Stock Images. Retrieved from https://www.bristolaquarium.co.uk/animal-stories/animals-that-find-a-home-in-sunken-ships/

I have never had the opportunity to visit a shipwreck other than kayaking over top of a boiler. I love watching videos of people diving to explore shipwrecks, although I can't imagine ever doing it myself. I am incredibly curious to hear if anyone has done this? I would absolutely love to hear your experiences! We (Ontario locals) live in the perfect place to go shipwreck diving because the Great Lakes have cold water and low salinity which are fanatics conditions for the preservation of shipwrecks. The Great Lakes are regarded as one of the best shipwreck diving spots in the world. (Harrington, 2019) 

I have always found shipwrecks interesting because of the duality that the vessel wasn't strong enough to complete its voyage but it is strong enough to be preserved underwater for (possibly) hundreds of years, sometimes in near-perfect condition. However, the shipwrecks of the Great Lakes are in trouble!! Invasive species of the Great Lakes like zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussels (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) are threatening our beautifully preserved nuggets of history. These filter feeders can cause damage through heavy weight and even corrosion of some metals, if enough pile up. Additionally, they release carbon dioxide which can severely alter water quality and the conditions that help preserve shipwrecks. It is insane that these huge structures that can last up to thousands of years can be threatened by something as small and seemingly passive as mussels. (Harrington, 2019)

Thanks for reading, hopefully you see shipwrecks from a slightly different perspective! Who knew shipwrecks were so intertwined with nature (I did because I am a nerd who loves shipwrecks)! 

References 

Hamdan, L. J., Hampel, J. J., Moseley, R. D., Mugge, R. L., Ray, A., Salerno, J. L., & Damour, M. (2021, April 22). Deep-sea shipwrecks represent island-like ecosystems for marine microbiomes. OUP Academic. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-00978-y 

Harrington, M. (2019, November 20). Aquatic invasive species threaten shipwreck preservation in the Great Lakes: Wisconsin sea grant. Wisconsin Sea Grant | University of Wisconsin. https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/aquatic-invasive-species-threaten-shipwreck-preservation-in-the-great-lakes/

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Hi Lauren, the facts you divulge regarding shipwrecks were extremely fascinating to me. I hadn’t thoroughly considered the biodiversity benefits of shipwrecks before. It does make sense in hindsite, given that environmental heterogeneity tends to promote biodiversity. Shipwrecks, with there variety of surfaces and complex shapes make a perfect heterogeneous structure in the ocean.

 However, I do have to wonder about the possible negative effects. For example, do they leak toxic elements or heavy metals which are harmful to ocean life? Do their sharp surfaces pose a risk to delicate sea life? I suppose once they are converted to essentially a coral reef they are safe, but have to wonder about initial risks. 

Tragically, I have never scuba dived to a shipwreck either Lauren. I didn’t know the Great Lakes were the best site for shipwreck scuba diving in the world! I know my mind always travels to the tropics when thinking about scuba, but the Great Lakes do sound like an excellent spot to try it out too!

Finally, I have to say I knew zebra mussels were a massive problem and annoyance, but I didn’t know they were coming after our shipwrecks too?? Can they leave anything alone : (  

I did enjoy the read quite a bit, and the information regarding shipwrecks was highly fascinating and novel (at least to me :)

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Blog 5: Escaping the Relentless Fly Swarm Adventure

Hello again fellow nature lovers! It is time for another weekly dispensation of natural interpretation. This week I’d like to share a story about a negative encounter with nature. It wasn’t that negative, nothing bad happened, but it felt pretty crazy in the moment.

Last summer, my family took a trip to eastern Canada to visit both Prince Edward Island and Kouchibouguac National Park in New Brunswick. We visited in July, and during our stay in Kouchibouguac (it took a trip to the nature center within the park for our family to learn the correct pronunciation) we decided to rent some bicycles. 

Now, these bikes were proper: they had some really wide fat tires for going on trails and bumps and the like. My brother and I decided to go on a pretty far ride, so we looked at the campground map and determined a pretty decently lengthed trail (I think more than 5 kilometers, but I don’t recall in detail). We headed out, and things were going pretty well. The park is beautiful and I love biking. We stopped at a spot by the water before getting moving again. Eventually, we hit a more remote dirt trail and it was at this point that we began to be swarmed by all sorts of flies. I assume there were black flies, dear flies, which I knew were more prevalent in remote regions.

It wasn’t their existence that surprised me, it was their speed. We started pedaling full speed, I mean full out effort, but we couldn’t escape them. We could only just barely keep ahead of them and maintain enough speed that they couldn’t land on us. But, the moment we stopped biking, if we got tired and slowed our pace a bit, if we stopped for water because it was the afternoon and peak heat of the day, they caught up. 

We decided to veer onto a paved road with the hopes that we could get some more speed on the smooth surface and that there would be less flies than in the forest. This did not work. They maintained speed and kept harassing us. We started looking behind us, and we could visually see a swarm following us, it was the only time I’ve ever visually experienced a swarm of insects following me.

Thankfully, we both had decent cardio and never completely exhausted out, although we’d occasionally let up the pace only to be overtaken again. Eventually, we reached a trail that led to some sort of cabin for hosting events during the winter (I assume because it had a fireplace). Maybe it was used for some nature interpretation (see what I did there)? We caught our breath there for a minute before heading back to our campsite.

Needless to say we were hungry,  thirsty, and exhausted when we returned. But we had survived without any injuries, and with an interesting story to tell our parents! 

Looking back, it doesn’t sound that serious, but in the moment while we were biking full speed under the blazing sun and could see a swarm of flies keeping pace and trying to eat us, it was kinda intense, but created a funny story. My question is, do you have an interesting negative encounter with nature that you would consider sharing?

I don't have many images of Kouchibouguac National Park on my phone was we lacked electricity, but here's one I took on my way in

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Nature Interpretation through Art and “The Gift of Beauty”

Hello!

Today I will be discussing my qualifications for interpreting nature through art, and how you can interpret nature through art as well! We will also discuss the idea of “The Gift of Beauty”, a principle set forth by Beck & Cable in 2011, which was based on Mills and Tilden’s previous works on the principles of interpretation (Beck, L., et al, 2018).

The phrase “interpret nature through art” seems daunting at first, because, for myself and possibly others, I do not know much about art! But, you do not need to have a formal education in art to understand its importance in the nature interpretation field. Interpreting nature in art should be done through an emotional and intellectual perspective, meaning you can describe how it makes you feel, but then also communicate what the image depicts and its importance. For example, if you were to take a photograph of a meadow, and say “This meadow brings me a feeling of comfort because it seems so tranquil, and I think that it can represent what we are striving to protect from climate change”, you have interpreted art! It is not necessarily about the specific qualifications you hold when interpreting nature in art, but more so a deeper understanding of the message and experience you are trying to convey to the audience you have. In Jan van Boeckel’s 2015 study, they found that an interpreter's specific process or skill set in arts-based environmental education did not change participants' ability to experience the natural world in new ways, proving that you do not necessarily have to fit a certain mould to interpret nature through art effectively.

The definition of “The Gift of Beauty” is based on the idea that interpretation should allow an individual to have the desire and initiative to find beauty in their surroundings, in turn, this experience will then uplift their spirits and encourage conservation (Beck, L., et al, 2018). When I hear “The Gift of Beauty”, I immediately think of how beauty is held in the eye of the beholder. I think that this idea came to my mind initially because everyone has the freedom to experience beauty how they choose, which is a beautiful thing! As well, different people may find different things beautiful, and this is all dependent on the unique experiences they hold. The process of receiving “The Gift of Beauty” can affect many people differently, for example, a beautiful forest when interpreted may instill feelings of homesickness, calmness or wonder!

My question to you is; “Have you ever had an experience where you found a setting particularly beautiful, and a peer did not? If so, what were the differences in your emotional connection to that setting?”

Thanks for reading!

Sandra :)

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). In Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For A Better World (pp. 84–85). essay, Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC.

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

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Hello Cassandra, you excellently described the process of interpreting nature through art! I found that study you cited highly interesting. Its findings that an interpreter does not require formal education in order to expose audiences to new feelings regarding nature is fascinating and useful for interpreters (especially those who are not professionally artists) to know. 

The question you posed had me thinking for awhile. Most of my family and friends have some appreciation for natural beauty so there are not many instances of differences of opinion on beauty. However, I have to admit that I have a particular affinity and love of wetlands, including swamps and ponds, which some others do not share. There have been some times when I have really taken my time while walking along a boardwalk or trail near a pond. I’m always thoroughly looking at everything - looking for any critters like turtles, frogs, or snakes. I really find those ecosystems particularly beautiful because of my personal connection to them. My mom always took me to the pond when I was younger and I really loved it. So, there have been some times when I’ve been walking with friends and I get held up thoroughly staring at and exploring the swamp while they just want to keep walking. 

That was an excellent question that got me thinking about both my relationship to nature and others! I would pose a similar question back to you Cassandra, what natural site do you find particularly beautiful that others may not?

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The Art of Interpretation: Beauty in Nature

Who am I to interpret nature through art? I’m a student currently studying biological science.  In this field of study, there is often a lack of traditionally artistic expression, such as music, painting, dance etc. Yet, even so there is art to be found in studying biology. To me, the creative endeavor of understanding and deciphering nature takes on a creative artistic element. I am a curious student trying to unravel the intricacies of nature through the combination of science and creativity. There is often beauty when learning something and a ‘lightbulb moment’ occurs and you understand something new about the natural world! I would argue that there is a creative and artistic element to this process, even within the ‘hard sciences’ such as biology. 

That being said, I also enjoy connecting to nature through other forms of artistic expression. I appreciate paintings because they allow me to understand diverse perspectives on how nature is interpreted. I also appreciate paintings for another reason: they can let us see how we change. For example, you can return to the same painting every few years and realize that you interpret it in a completely different way. The painting is the same, but my life experiences are different and I have changed. There is something I really love about that. It’s like watching a movie from your childhood and figuring out all the jokes or themes or emotions you couldn’t understand because you were a kid. It is an opportunity to see the changes in yourself that you do not notice on a day-to-day basis, but accumulate over time. In the context of nature interpretation, it can allow you to see how your interpretation of nature has changed over time. 

Anyone who cares about their relationship with the natural world and people has the tools to interpret art through nature and find the connection between their emotions and the physical world through a variety of mediums. Everyone has a particular preference in the art that they prefer and what aspects of the natural world they enjoy the most. As long as you explore what they are, many connections between art and nature can be forged.

Even though I don't paint regularly, I did go to a painting tutorial back in High School! I completely forgot that I have painted nature in the past!

The ‘gift of beauty’ is a personal talent that allows the interpreter to instill in visitors the ability and desire to sense the splendor of nature, fostering a deep connection between the observer, the artist, and the natural world (Beck et al., 2018; p. 85). Each individual will have a subjective experience of natural beauty and its presence in the world around us. For me, I experience the beauty of the natural world in remote regions where it feels like there’s a distinct separation of distance between myself and the human world. Particularly, I enjoy being near the water along a beach. So, being in a remote location on a beach is where I most experience the beauty of nature. The strength of this experience often makes me introspective and sometimes even existential. It often invokes in me reflection on humanity's long standing connection to nature. I look out along the shoreline and imagine how people for tens of thousands of years have walked along similar shores, and what they might have thought about the expensive and beautiful world. I also enjoy documenting these locations with basic photography, and it has produced some of the photos that I most enjoy reflecting on.

References

All photos are my own

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

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Privilege in Nature Interpretation

The concept of privilege plays a significant role in shaping individuals' relationships with nature, influencing access and opportunities to engage with the environment, and many other factors in life outside of nature. My working definition of privilege is advantages or opportunities unrelated to personal achievements or abilities but simply due to one’s background, social status and other factors. My definition is similar to the $100 race video in the courselink notes for the week, which highlighted disparities based on factors beyond the students accomplishments and actions.

Growing up in a big city with a single, hardworking mother, my early experiences were marked by limited access to nature. The inability to take time off work for zoo visits or nature excursions was a reality for many from lower-income backgrounds. Economic barriers, as outlined in the textbook, contribute significantly to this limitation (Beck et al, 2018). Additionally, people are faced with other problems, for example not having a car or money to pay entrance fees or food expenses like the textbook mentions (Beck et al, 2018). I remember when I was younger my mom would try to take me to a theme park once a year but I knew that meant I couldn't ask for anything inside because the entrance fee was already expensive. I also knew that we would most likely leave the park for lunch or bring our own food to munch on. Again this isn't the case for everyone but now that I am older I know that I was privileged enough to go as not everyone had that chance. 

Reflecting on my own journey, it wasn't until I moved to Canada that I had the opportunity to travel and explore nature. The privilege of my parents being able to take time off work and afford travel expenses opened up new horizons for me. This newfound ability to explore different places, cultures, and environments played a pivotal role in shaping my character and fostering a love for exploration which some don’t experience ever or until later in life.

The textbook’s emphasis on cultural barriers is also noteworthy. The ethnicity theory suggests that cultural preferences, shaped by factors such as history, family structure, and values, impact participation in outdoor activities (Beck et al, 2018). An example the textbook gave was camping, which might be perceived as an activity reserved for the affluent by urban minorities. This perspective highlights how cultural barriers can influence interpretations of nature-related activities and I can relate to that. Coming from a Hispanic family, we have never been camping, I have but with friends. When I have brought up camping to the family they look at me weirdly as if they could never do that and couldn’t know how. 

Communication barriers, particularly language barriers, further contribute to disparities in nature interpretation. The lack of bilingual interpreters, printed materials, and signs in languages other than English limits access for non-English speakers. The experiences of Hispanic visitors to National Forests in southern California, as discussed in the textbook, exemplify the challenges posed by language barriers. I lived in California for 13 years and go back pretty often and I have never once been to any of the beautiful national forests. I also don't know anyone in my family who has gone especially my family members that don't speak English. Additionally, this past year my aunt was looking to travel abroad and asked me how hard it would be for her as she doesn't know English which shows how limiting this can be.  

The last thing that the textbook talked about that I find extremely important is lack of representation. Personal experiences, such as my grandparents' tendency to visit areas with a larger Hispanic population, reflect a desire for familiarity and comfort. I have also felt a tendency to choose things related to my culture in different aspects of my life. So I wish to be a part of the representation in the Latin community. In conclusion, acknowledging and addressing these barriers is essential for creating inclusive and accessible environments for all individuals to connect with nature.

I am curious to know if any of you have dealt with any barriers in the nature world and how you as a nature interpreter would overcome them.

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

[mdenvs3000w24]

Hi Lainey, I enjoyed reading your blog this week. I think your working definition of privilege is decently similar to my own, and I generally agree with it. The definition I prefer also denotes that on the other hand those that lack those advantages or opportunities are victims of unearned disadvantage. I think this definition could be slightly more accurate as it can distinctly remind people that there are also individuals who lack privilege.

 It is unfortunate to hear that you had limited access to nature growing up due to a combination of economic barriers and the lack of natural sites nearby due to your living in a big city. But it is pleasant to hear that as you’ve grown older and moved from California to Canada you were able to explore nature and travel more, which potentially helped with creating this nature blog.

 I also thought that it was interesting how you highlighted both some of the ways you lacked some privileges growing up, but also some of the ways you had some more privileges as others, such as being able to attend a theme park. This is important to highlight, as some people oversimplify privilege categories into saying that you are either a privileged person, or you are not. However, each person will have a unique combination of advantages and disadvantages which shape their level of 'privilege'.

Finally, it is interesting to hear the similarly between your experiences, and the specific scenario described in the textbook Interpreting natural and cultural Heritage. When I first read the example describing how some kids and parents grew up not camping at all, it was a bit of a foreign experience to me, as my family has gone camping regularly since I was younger. So, in many ways I lacked some of the barriers that you did and have had a relatively privileged upbringing when it comes to nature experiences. So, thank you for sharing some of your personal experiences!

[mdenvs3000w24]

Duck Hike

Hello fellow nature lovers. Earlier I alluded to the fact that I would post some more "nature" themed posts alongside the deeper analysis of nature interpretation theory.

Well, yesterday I went on a brief hike like I try to do every so often with one of my roommates. Well, we found this huge cluster of ducks and geese chilling on the river.

I don't know why they all congregated along that stretch specifically, and why so many of the geese have not undergone their natural migratory flight.

Beside the river is a sign urging visitors to not feed the ducks as it can interfere with their migration, but I don't know if feeding is at play with this. We also had a abnormally mild start to the winter which could also be throwing off their "Phenology". Phenology is a term I learned recently which refers to the timing of life events in an organism, such as the time they reproduce or migrate. So, perhaps that is part of the reason for such a peculiar large mass of ducks and geese hanging out mid-January. Anyway, here's some pics. That's all for now!

[mdenvs3000w24]

Beyond Sunsets and Boardwalks: Unpacking Privilege in Nature Interpretation

Hello readers and fellow nature lovers! Today I’d like to share my thoughts on a more serious topic that is important to consider in the field of nature interpretation. I’d like to discuss what privilege means and its role in nature interpretation. Don’t worry, there will also be some light nature posts coming soon! That’s right, I’m going to sandwich some deep analysis in between pictures of sunsets and boardwalks! : ) 

The first step is to define the term “privilege” because it can be confusing or even cause a negative reaction in others. I think a decent description of privilege is: the unearned advantages that someone receives by being born into a specific group (NASP, 2016). Conversely, those outside of the group are victims of unearned disadvantage. The individuals who have received these advantages have not earned them due to their own work, but rather their affiliation to the group. 

I think privilege plays a role in nature interpretation on both the side of the interpreter, and on the side of the audience/participants. 

The first role privilege plays is the opportunity to become a nature interpreter in the first place. Generally speaking, nature interpreters have a decent education, as it helps them synthesize knowledge and articulate it in a meaningful way to their respective audience. Also, within Canada interpreters probably require fluency in English and/or French, which many people (such as immigrants) lack just because they weren’t born in an English speaking nation. For example, my opportunity to produce this Blog is shaped in part by those factors.

The role privilege plays in being a participant is also shaped by things like access, including economic barriers, cultural barriers, communication barriers, lack of knowledge, and fear of wildlife (Beck et al., 2018; p. 132). These factors are particularly important in minority groups and often prevent them from coming. 

Differences in privilege between an interpreter and their audience can also shape the ability of an interpreter to communicate to their audience effectively. Therefore, considerations should be made on behalf of the interpreter to reach as large of an audience as possible, taking into account the different levels of experience that different groups have with nature as a result of their privilege or lack thereof. For example, many groups of inner city kids (who are usually disproportionately racial minorities as well) may not have any prior contact and experience with nature. In a specific case presented by the textbook, such a group required explanation as to why they would want to do a tenting trip outdoors, when youth and parents thought only homeless people slept outside (Beck et al., 2018; p. 127). In this example, the disadvantages (lack of privilege) that the youths and parents experienced nearly prevented them from participating in an exciting trip. The solution was the clear and open dialogue and explanation between the parents and the people leading the trip. 

This is just one of many examples which highlights the role of privilege and diverse experiences, while also describing a solution that helped in this case. 

Pictured: Me on a camping trip. I know this is just a fire. I do not have a picture of the tent (or me), but I assure you I slept in a tent (and that I was there). 

References

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

National Association of School Psychologists. (2016). Understanding Race and Privilege [handout]. Bethesda, MD: Author.