The Nature of Nature

Interpreting the nature around us all.

[ktenvs3000f21]

Humans: Guilty as Charged!

Nature has been an enchanting wonderland that I love exploring and learning about. But it wasn't always like this. I discovered my love of nature through watching countless documentaries and docuseries' on Animal Planet. Out of all the shows I watched back then, my favourites were always where humans saved domestic and non-domestic animals. However, it was usually humans that put these animals in these situations in the first place. At this moment, I realized that it was humans that were the cause of most of the environmental issues plaguing society today.

Pollution, humans do it every day - from oil spills in the ocean to our morning commute, humans are the sole contributors to most if not all pollution in the world. Humans are causing global warming and the melting of our ice caps. Humans are poaching endangered species to the point of extinction. Honestly, the list goes on and on. I wonder how ethically, we as humans, continue to participate in these harmful practices without thinking about the consequences.

Are we insane? After all, as Albert Einstein said, "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.Don't get me wrong; I'm guilty of this, too, at times. Most people are often unaware of how their actions may be negatively impacting the world around us. For many, ignorance is bliss. This is why I believe that our responsibility as this generation's nature interpreters is to educate and inspire people regarding issues that matter. After all, "people must care about before they care for" (Beck et al., 2018, p. 60). What is one way you are environmentally conscious in your everyday life?

This summer, I worked as a scale operator at my community recycling centre. Sounds glamourous, right? I promise it really isn't – "community recycling centre" is just a fancy way of saying community dump. I was surprised to learn just how little I knew and how little the general public knew about sorting waste through my work there. Countless times, residents would argue with me because they believed something that was considered garbage to be recyclable. As an environmental issue, I know this seems like something very minute. Still, I believe it is an excellent representation of the lack of knowledge people have regarding ecological issues as a whole. Since working there, I have taken on the responsibility of educating friends and family members on the dos and don'ts of recycling.

Did you know that although books are primarily recyclable, hardcovers are not? When you recycle a book, you need to remove the hardcover and put it into the garbage. Then the rest can go into the recycling!

I don't know about you guys but, I am an animal lover through and through. I believe that all animals, from dogs to snails, deserve respect. Here is a photo of some of the cute furry friends that I have in my life to prove this to you. Of course, I'd love to see some pictures of yours too if you'd like to share!

I believe that wild animals should remain wild. I have watched many shows where people bought and sold wild animals such as lion cubs as house pets. Once these animals grew up, people often discarded them as trash which is extremely disheartening. There is usually a misconception that if a wild animal is hand raised, they are no longer a danger to humans. When handlers learn this isn't the case many times, it is too late. Just because wild animals are not living in the wild does not mean that you've taken the "wild" out of them.

I also believe that animals should not be kept in zoos or marine aquariums; it is unethical. When necessary, I understand that wildlife rehabilitation centres can be great for educational purposes because they allow interpreters to emphasize environmental stewardship—allowing visitors to see these animals can facilitate discussion on important topics of wildlife management and conservation (Beck et al., 2018, p. 95-96). Although I know it's the best place for animals that cannot be wholly rehabilitated, I believe that no animal should have to live out the entirety of its life in a small enclosure. These enclosures often have substantial negative impacts on animals. A great example that comes to mind for me of the adverse effects of captivity on animals is that of Tilikum, the captive killer whale in the documentary Blackfish. If you haven't watched the film, I strongly suggest you do!

This video does a great job of summarizing why captivity is unethical and mentions some other unsettling cases. If you have time, have a watch and let me know some of your thoughts. Do you agree or disagree?

"Our most important audiences might be our smallest and youngest ones" (Beck et al., 2018, p. 144).

I believe it is imperative that we educate children of all ages - children are our last hope for the future (Beck et al., 2018, p. 144). This is an approach I'd love to take. I love teaching kids new things about nature, especially since I have only younger cousins and have been unintentionally doing this all my life. Children are developing their morals, values, and belief systems at young ages and, therefore, are the most impressionable (Beck et al., 2018, p.144). As interpreters, we have the privilege to shape and inspire the interest of these future generations (Beck et al., 2018, p. 144). To do so successfully, our responsibility as environmental interpreters is to provide age-appropriate environmental education (Rodenburg, 2019). It's essential to remember that children learn best through stories, experiences and discovery (Rodenburg, 2019). We must not forget that "interpreters impact the future by interpreting to children today" (Beck et al., 2018, p. 144).

There are not enough words in this post to help me describe to the full extent all the beliefs I bring to being a nature interpreter. But I can tell you that they mostly revolve around having respect for the natural world. While developing all these beliefs, I learned the importance of advocating for what is right. We learned that advocacy is defined as taking public action regarding important issues (Beck et al., 2018, p. 469). Since the environment can't advocate for itself, I believe it is my responsibility to advocate on its behalf. This can be a bit overwhelming because it seems impossible that one 22-year-old girl living in rural Caledon could make an impact. But, regardless of this, it's worth a shot! This is why I believe the conservationist approach to nature interpretation is well suited for me.

This is Karissa signing off :)

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Rodenburg, J. (2019, June 17). Why environmental educators shouldn't give up hope. Clearing Magazine. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

[mhbenvs3000f21]

I loved reading your post. I can completely agree that documentaries and docuseries have been a huge source of inspiration for me. I appreciate how you mention that unlike featured in many of these films, humans have a major influence on the environmental issues that are taking place today. I think it is important to recognize that a our activities and lifestyles are the primary contributor to the environmental issues that are taking place, and it is up to us to change it.

I like how you mention all of the things humans have participated in that contribute to climate change. In my opinion, the things we practice without truly thinking about the consequences involve driving, flying by air plane, and having children. The latter is one that not many people know about, and I never did either. In some of the past courses I have taken, I learned that doing things like having one less child, driving less, and limiting air travel are the three most influential things that individuals can do to mitigate their impact on climate change. I know personally, these were all a huge surprise to me. This made me wonder, how many other people do not know about the influence these seemingly simple things have on our environment and future generations?

To answer your first question, one way that I am environmentally conscious in my everyday life is by not only putting food in my compost bin, but also by leaving some food out for the racoons that rummage through my  garbage bin. I know this might sound contradictory, but, to my knowledge, racoons gather a lot of their food through rummaging through human's garbage. I have a motto... "if anyone is going to come looking through my trash for food, I am going to feed them." I feel like although this may be contributing to some problems, this is also a source that keeps the few city species we have alive. I am not suggesting that everyone do this. But I am saying, that if you see another species or organism in need of something so simple, do what you can to help. This is one of the major sources of ethics I consider as an individual. Although I know I can't (or it is hard) to make a difference in the grand scope of things, I think there are small things we can do to help the environment and the species within it.

I am also an animal love, as you can probably tell from the paragraph above. So, here is a photo of my dog....

I also agree that wild animals should remain wild and that zoos can be an awful place for many animals. There have been plenty of depictions of animals that are "wild" being raised in the homes of humans and domesticated. But, this also makes me wonder, would dogs have been better off if they were never domesticated? Thanks for sharing these videos, I think it is really important to raise awareness on the negative side of these actions. Raising awareness on things like this is an important ethic involved in nature interpretation and it is up to us as environmental interpreters to explain these things.

[bdenvs3000f21]

Ethics within Nature

It can be debated that the very being of our ethics are developed around what we experience through nature. Nature is evident within our lives and is involved in our daily activity in some way or another. To further evaluate the role that nature has on our lives, consider the extensive interpretation work conducted by the author Richard Louv. Louv believes in connecting to the nature around us and every small detail it has to offer us, we in return are saving it at the same time. A quote from Louv (2019) regarding the importance of nature that has resonated with me within this chapter is this; 

“Will help everyone break away from their fixed gaze at the screens that dominate our lives and remember instead that we are animals in a world of animals.” 

I believe this quote stuck with me as the dominance of online forums takes over most of our lives. Although this new era of technology careers and schooling is not exactly the ideal situation, it has provided me with the opportunity to become the best nature interpreter I can be. When the pandemic became relevant, I moved back to my hometown in Northern Ontario. Growing up, I used to hate living so far away from any big cities and could not wait to get away from all the rural communities. My beliefs, perspective, and responsibilities towards the environment have been forever altered as I now am back in the North and would not want to be anywhere else. I have included a list of realizations I have now regarding nature; 

It is our duty as the next up and coming generation to highlight the importance of nature and environmental conservation as it becomes the predominant threat to society.

There is life outside the cities and this is even more relevant now that remote work is an option.

We should be interpreting nature everyday as it is all around us and is constantly changing, just like we should be doing. 

We all have responsibilities regarding nature. It is our personal duty to identify what they are and ensure we are actively participating in them.

These are just a few, but everyone has different emotions and perspectives regarding nature and our role in it. Personally, I try hard to be active in respecting nature and educating those around me in doing the same. I believe that nature and the environment should be respected the same way some groups view religion or spiritual beliefs. 

To expand on that idea, I believe that environmental education should be taught within the Canadian school system from the first day. Our young people need to be aware of the deterioration of the environment so they can become an active part of prevention rather than affecting it more without knowing. 

So how do you feel? Do you think teaching young people about their responsibilities as nature interpreters from a young age will inspire a generation of nature conservationists? 

Louv, R. (2008). Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. Algonquin books.

Krebs, A. (1999). Ethics of nature: a map (Vol. 22). Walter de Gruyter.

[mhbenvs3000f21]

I quite enjoyed reading your post. Specifically, I was intrigued by your realizations since moving back up North. I agree that it is our duty to highlight the importance of environmental conservation to future generations. This reminds me, in another one of my classes I learned about how the perspective the next generations take on climate change and the impact they have on it, depends a lot on their parent's opinions and actions. Considering this, I think it is crucial that if we are to have children... We raise them to respect and value nature. We can do so through nature interpretation. This also touches on your realization that we should be interpreting nature every day. However, this raises a question that I asked in my post this week... How do we experience and interpret nature in a way that is not simultaneously harming it? I worry that engaging in activities like walking through the forest can be damaging to the organisms that live within it. I would love to hear your opinion on this.

I appreciate that you try hard to respect nature and educate the people around you about it. I think this is an important ethical consideration we need to keep in mind while we are interpreting nature.

I agree that environmental education should be discussed throughout the education system and that this will inspire young people to care for the environment. I am surprised that as of right now, or at least when I was in grade school, that this was not a heavy topic. Climate change is and will continue to have an influence on the lives of people, animals, plants, etc. Considering this, I think it is something that needs to be taught from a young age in hopes of finding more solutions on how to combat it.

If you are interested, here is an interesting link that aims to explain climate change to children: https://climatekids.nasa.gov/climate-change-meaning/

References

NASA. (2021, October 19). What is Climate Change? Retrieved from https://climatekids.nasa.gov/climate-change-meaning/

[mhbenvs3000f21]

Ethics

I want to begin by touching on the first thing we encountered throughout our content this week; The quote by Richard Louv... "Now, my tree-climbing days long behind me, I often think about the lasting value of those early, deliciously idle days. I have come to appreciate the long view afforded by those treetops. The woods were my Ritalin. Nature calmed me, focused me, and yet excited my senses." (Last Child in the Woods)

This quote reminds me of my love for exploring forests. Specifically, I enjoy wandering "true forests". By this, I mean they are those that have remained untouched by humans. They have no paths and have been allowed to develop on their own accord. Last week, I was in Uxbridge and had the gift of being able to explore the forest with my dog. We climbed on top of fallen trees and went wherever our hearts desired. Although there was some evidence of humans having been there (in the form of water bottles and man made huts), most of the forest appeared to be untouched. This raises the question, is exploring nature in this way damaging? Also, how do we experience and explore nature without destroying it ourselves? It became apparent to me throughout my exploration, that my being there was only to my benefit, not to the trees and other species trying to survive and were being hurt by my walking on them. There were many young trees, just starting out their lives that I had to ensure I did not step on. Did I accidently step on something I did not intend to? Was I damaging the delicate forest floor that many species rely on? I think these are all questions we need to consider as environmental interpreters. Although experiencing nature seems harmless at the surface, I believe we can be hurting it by doing things like this. So, my question to you all (because I am extremely unclear of the answer) is... How do we experience nature without hurting it unintentionally?

I also truly appreciate how Louv discusses that whatever our motivation is, we need to consider our responsibility to future generations. I agree with this point and it is one of the responsibilities I think I have as a nature interpreter. In terms of the story I have described above, I believe we owe it to our future generations to ensure forests are still there for them to experience. The forest is a place that many people find piece and inspiration to care for the environment. I think we need to take the necessary steps to preserve it the best we can, but I often wonder how we can do this as individuals. Unfortunately, the answer seems unclear and to have minimal influence. But, if we all took the initiative to do something and inspire others to take action, it will make a difference. These are similar questions to what is discussed by Jacob Rodenburg, which we encountered throughout our readings. But, I cannot help but wonder, how do we know if we are effectively inspiring others to care for the environment?

The beliefs I bring as a nature interpreter regarding ethics involve the responsibilities we have to inspire others to care for the well-being of the environment. As we have learned, there are so many things to worry about. These include climate change, habitat destruction, pollution in the oceans, etc. I believe it is crucial that we communicate this knowledge and ways to help as individuals.

Here is an interesting, and popular video, about how we can save our planet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Puv0Pss33M

If you are interested in learning about ways you can help as an individual, here is a useful link that will provide you with lots of information: https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/10-easy-ways-you-can-help-our-environment

The approaches that seem to be the most suitable for me as an individual would be experiencing nature hands on and writing blogs and/or websites. These platforms allow me to describe the experience and what we can gain from it to help the environment. This description must be meaningful and it must spark an interest in the audience, hopefully inspiring them to care for preserving the environment. I think this written approach to interpretation best suits me because I can be a little shy and prefer to get my messages across in written words, rather than by verbally speaking them. I also feel like this offers the chance to provide all sorts of materials to the audience. For example, we have learned throughout the course that there are various types of learners. Different types of learners learn best by different means; some prefer to learn hands on, some prefer to visualize things, and others prefer to listen. Blogs and websites allow the opportunity to appeal to all of these types of learners. We can provide hyper links to direct the audience to different materials that may allow for more of a hands on approach, visualizations, and videos/audio recordings.

I think another important belief I have regarding the ethics of nature interpretation is our responsibility to provide material in the most accessible way possible. There are many different types of learners (as I have described above) and many people that have disabilities. These people have the right to be able to access the same material as others. If you are interested in this, check out this link that provides useful information on how we can adapt blogs and websites to be more accessible to everyone: https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-make-websites-accessible

To summarize, I believe the responsibilities I have as a nature interpreter are ensuring I am inspiring others to care for the environment, and that this information is accessible to all sorts of people.

References 

WWF International. (2019, April 5). How to Save our Planet. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Puv0Pss33M

Butterfly Conservation. nd. 10 easy ways you can help our environment. Retrieved from https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/10-easy-ways-you-can-help-our-environment#:~:text=10%20easy%20ways%20you%20can%20help%20our%20environment,fun%20whether%20you%20are%20five%20or%20105.%20

Government of Ontario. (2021, January 1). How to make websites accessible. Retrieved from https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-make-websites-accessible

[hnenvs3000f21]

The Best Part of Nature

No one makes nature sound more interesting than David Attenborough. I recommend that you go watch one of his documentaries RIGHT AWAY and immerse yourself into the world of nature as narrated by the most soothing old British guy.

After watching all of his documentaries, you will fall in love with nature and its processes all over. I could never live up to the standards of Sir David Attenborough, but I can try my best and try to immerse you into the world of nature. There are so many different components of nature, all with their valuable and interesting topics, but with some standing out more than others. 

To me, the most amazing thing I know about nature is the colours. How many colours can you count in a forest? Tons right? Nothing in the world can add up to the vibrant colours of the natural world around us. Trees, for example, are some of the most colourful components of our world. In North America, they are a vibrant green in the summer, but as soon as the weather gets colder, they change. They turn into vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow, and turn the green monochromatic landscape into a colourful palette as the leaves start to change. 

The changing colours of the trees are the most mesmerizing part of the forests, as there is always something to look at inside. You never know what colour you are going to see. 

Not to mention the creatures that live in these trees. Insects and birds of every colour can be seen flying around, some of them trying hard not to be seen. It’s hard to believe that so many colours exist and are being used by species every day to survive. Spending a day in the forest, it’s guaranteed you could find all the colours in the rainbow present, just by looking at the colour of the bugs you see crawling and flying around. 

Even in the winter, when you think everything is dead, the forest continues to be a palette. The bark of the trees still reflects the incoming light, scattering it and making the forest light up. The snow held up in the branches of the trees adds shape and character, and provides contrast to the dark interior of the forest left by the cold winter. It may not look like a lot, but combined it is still a pretty picture. 

I myself am biased towards forests, as they are all I know living inland in North America. I would be fascinated if someone who has spent time underwater could tell me about the colours they have seen, perhaps scuba diving or snorkeling? It’s funny that you don’t think of all the colours you’ve seen until you start to think about them!

But, if you haven’t, I am still curious to know that if you could take a snapshot of nature, with the prettiest colours, in your eyes, where would you take it?

[mhbenvs3000f21]

I love how you describe the changing colours, it makes me feel like I am currently standing in the middle of a forest looking at the beautifully changing leaves. One of the things I find amazing about the fall is how the green grass is covered in leaves of different shades and these leaves create a new, temporary, home for tons of creatures.

Your post made me think about how we can interpret nature as a art in itself, and how these beautiful fall landscapes make outstanding pieces of art for artists that have been inspired by them.

It is so interesting to think about all of the colours of creatures within the forest. Especially how many of these creatures, as you have described, have taken advantage of colours to avoid being seen. For example, the leaf bug has taken advantage of the colour of leaves to avoid being seen my predators. Also, if you are interested in a cute photo... look up "young leaf bug". They are adorable.

If I were to take a snap shot of nature, with the prettiest colours, I think this would be an area full of flowers with bees and other insects flying around. I love the yellow of bees, and the way bright flowers contrast them. Or maybe it would be under the microscope

I am wondering, what do you think is the most appealing season in terms of colour? The green of spring and summer? The oranges and reds of fall? Or the white, snow covered winter?

[mhbenvs3000f21]

Tree Communication

The most amazing thing I know about nature? This has to been the concept of trees having "families", similar in many ways to the families us humans have. I know this sounds crazy, and trust me it sounded that way to me too when I had first learned about it. "The Hidden Life of Trees" written by Peter Wohlleben has been extremely inspirational for me, and likely many others, and happens to be where I have learned about the science behind this claim.

Through fungal networks, trees will send things like water and nutrients to other trees when they are sick and even to their seedlings (Wohllenben, 2016). Similar to how we take care of an ill family member, trees do too.  I think what has shocked me so much about this is how trees are responding to the needs of others without having a brain.

Even more shocking is how it has been found that plants can remember. Wohlleben walks the reader through a study done proving that plants can learn and remember from experiences. Again, the fact that this can be done by some species and they don't have a brain boggles my mind. To get some clarification about how trees communicate through fungal networks, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kHZ0a_6TxY

If reading isn't your thing for finding inspiration, and that is completely understandable (it isn't always my thing either), take a look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9fBEc-dRYI&t=19s  

Put simply... It is a beautiful and relaxing documentary about trees. Perfect for before you go to bed and an idea way to feel like you are surrounded by nature. As we have learned in previous units, music can be a great way to interpret nature. Luckily, this documentary has beautiful music in the background that will make you feel like you are in the forest surrounded by trees, birds, and other animals.

I am wondering, what do you think about these statements and did you know about them prior to this?

These videos made me think about the interesting role technology plays in nature interpretation. As we have learned, technology allows us to experience nature with a new depth but can also numbs our senses too. On one hand, I can thank technology for allowing me to discover this book and learn these amazing characteristics of trees. But on the other hand, I can understand how technology sometimes limits having experiences with nature. However, for the purpose of this blog post I think technology has improved my communication of this topic by allowing me to share useful videos with you that are sometimes more interesting than reading a long post.

I think getting a chance to write about the thing I find most interesting about nature has really challenged me to reflect on how I can share these things with an audience and interpret them effectively. While reading the content for this week a question came up for me... How do we know if we are effectively reaching and inspiring our audiences? If anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear them. 

Anyways, I hope learning about how trees have families and about some of their communication mechanisms has sparked some interest within you. They truly are a beautiful and I think many of us, including me, take them for granted. Good news is, we don't have to. Get outside, appreciate their beauty, and take steps like minimizing driving to slow down the effects of climate change if you can. I'm sure you won't regret it.

Image Credit: Freeimages/Invincible_bulldog

[bdenvs3000f21]

Music within Nature

Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music?

Music is a lot like nature. It can be interpreted through those experiencing, it can spark feelings within us, and it can create a sense of belonging. Music is felt through nature by the whistling through the trees, the crackling of branches, the sounds of animals and so many other ways. Music is all around us, just like nature. The only difference between the two is that I believe the silence that nature provides is its best music. When we go outside in locations that are far from our busy lives, we experience something that we do not get to appreciate throughout our work days, silence. This silence provides peace and calmness, an escape from the loudness of our lives. 

“There is nothing in nature that arouses our attention, or impresses our feelings more quickly, than a sound” - William Gadnier

I live just minutes away from an Indigenous reserve. The culture and appreciation of the Indigenous culture has been incorporated within my education throughout grade school. We attended powwows to demonstrate and celebrate our respect towards Indigenous culture. Within this, our diverse community would engage in the music that consisted of drums and singing that honoured the spirits of the past. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDpJRa3UX-I

The video above is from one of the powwows held at the high school I attended. It incorporates the music, clothing, dancing and more that we celebrate annually.

What can you take away from this video?

Furthermore, I best interpret nature through songs that incorporate small details of the outdoors. One of my favourite bands (similar to many I am sure) is the Beatles as many of their songs honour what nature provides us. The song “Blackbird” tells the story of a bird travelling to find themself. My interpretation of the song is that even through trauma and hard times, it is important that we rise up and carry ourselves to new adventures and opportunities. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Man4Xw8Xypo

As cheesy as it may sound; when I am in nature and cannot hear a thing except for the crackling of the trees and movement of animals, I feel the same way I do when I hear the tune of this song.   

What music makes you feel the same way nature does? 

[mhbenvs3000f21]

I absolutely love how you incorporated the Indigenous culture into your post, and I want to thank you for sharing this video. To answer your first question... From this video I take away a sense of community. The video shows a individuals dancing in the company of one another listening to music, all while being outside and enjoying nature. If you are interested in Pow-Wow's, I would recommend you checking out the song I shared in my post. It is what brings me back to nature. Although specific animal sounds may not be included in the song/video, I believe the elements of this music (featuring the drums, etc.) reminds me of being with others outside enjoying nature together.

Also, I love how you mention all the sounds of nature and how this is music in itself. The sound of the outdoors is something I really enjoy too, and as you have mentioned, this is even more special when we are far away from the city where we hear noting but almost complete silence. I truly wish I incorporated more of this into my life, and after reading your post I plan to.

I like how you mention how you best interpret nature through the songs that incorporate details of the outdoors. Before reading your post, I was focused on songs best representing nature through those that featured actual sounds of it (like bird calls, animal sounds, wind, etc.) So, thank you for opening my eyes to the fact that we can interpret nature through music that discusses the outdoors and its various elements.

To answer your second question about what music makes me feel the same way nature does, I would have to say videos that consist of sounds like rain, wind, and waves. I know this sounds kind of simple and may not technically be music, but as of right now I am struggling to think of any other ways that music makes me feel the same way nature does besides listening to recordings of actual nature. I am wondering, what do you suggest listening to that may spark some feelings similar to that of being in nature?

[mhbenvs3000f21]

Music and Nature

Where is music in nature?

After reading the content for this week, I came to the realization that music is quite popular in nature. It just may not be what we typically consider music. The songs of birds, the sound of the wind and rain, the crickets we hear at night. These are all quite beautiful and pleasing things to hear (at least in my opinion), and all of which I would consider to be music. In case you are in the mood to listen to the soothing sound of rain falling... Here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8plwv25NYRo&t=1s

Where is nature in music?

As we have learned from the content this week, music can be viewed as a gateway to nature. For example, raising awareness about and connecting to endangered species can be done through incorporating their sounds, calls, and songs into modern music. This seems to be a great way to get people thinking about these species and possibly even learning about them if there are educational aspects included within the created music. Although this is an explanation for where nature can be in music, I cannot help but wonder how this could become popular. I know there are some songs that do incorporate natural elements, but this does not seem to be widely utilized. For example, a quick Google search for revealed very few of these modern songs. Here is one of them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-HfMiue7-k&t=2s

This was one of the few songs that came up which was targeted towards young/mature adults, with many of the songs on the Google search being tailored towards young children:

This made me wonder... what are some effective ways to utilize the noises, sounds, and songs or animals/nature in modern music while educating an older audience? If anyone has some ideas, I would love to hear them.

One idea... We have learned in our readings from this week how Digital Media, like websites, are important for keeping people up to date on interpretive opportunities and how it is important to capture people's attention on these platforms. I think one of the ways this can be done is by using music with natural sounds as a background on the website. This would allow the audience to possibly think of the things they are learning the next time they hear the song. Or, maybe have the song stick in their head further engaging them with the material throughout the day. Of course, having the option to turn the music down or off would be important in case someone isn't in the mood or appropriate location to be listening to music. What do you all think of this idea?

A song that takes me back to nature:

I completely understand that this may not be a song everyone enjoys, but that is a lot of music and this song happens to be the one I thought of instantly after considering what music brought me back to nature. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs2wZ7i8dmQ

Something about the drums and vocals makes me think of sitting outside and enjoying nature with a group of people. Although I have never had the opportunity to listen to this specific song with a group of people outside, that doesn't stop me from thinking about it and feeling connected to the outdoors. In fact, this has inspired me to take a moment and step outside. Let me know what you guys think of it and if anyone (somewhat) enjoys it like I do.

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Holding onto history

The following quote is filled with a lot to unpack. “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) I interpret this quote to say there is nothing more special in an old item than a new item, however there is a unique memory with old items as they carry the knowledge of the past with them. If we do not acknowledge the past then we can’t fully understand the present. 

I truly enjoy this quote as I feel as though it shares a very important message. This message being that if we did not experience everything the world has in the past we would be nowhere close to where we are today. It is so important to keep records of the past and learn about the past to keep the lessons and failures in our minds so that we can use what we have learned in the future. This is why we have different historical landmarks, buildings and equipment on display in different areas of the world where they are found. It is important to recognize our history to see how far we have come. If we didn’t understand our history then we would not be shocked and excited when a new development is made. History is needed to allow humans to self reflect and to be grateful for what they have and how far we have come. 

Unpacking this quote in relation to nature interpretation, I believe, is a completely new question. This is because I feel as though our natural world history wasn’t fully kept. I am grateful that old buildings and artifacts that show our ancestors’ history were kept for everyone to learn from but I am curious about what was their first. Around the world we have some beautiful landmarks that I truly enjoy visiting and feeling the natural energy they exude but think of all the other landscapes that existed before everything man made was built. Is it possible that the most breathtaking natural wonder of the world was built on or destroyed? Is it possible that that history is lost? Rainforests and meadows are destroyed everyday for human needs. I sometimes wish that natural history was admired as much as man made history. 

One of my favourite protected landmarks that is natural but also man-made is the Cheltenham Badlands in Caledon, Ontario. If you have never seen them I highly suggest you take a trip to enjoy the beauty. The reason I am mentioning the badlands in coordination with this quote is that 100 years ago the badlands were a productive farmland, however it was poorly maintained so it was overgrazed and then eroded to create these red rolling hills. I believe this is an example that unpacks the quote because 100 years ago the badlands did not look like this, however the history of how the Cheltenham Badlands came to be is very important for understanding their beauty and significance. 

- Sydney

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Your interpretation of this quote, and how you describe it, is very inspiring. I agree that by not acknowledging and taking the time to understand the past, we cannot understand the present with the same depth and value. There is a tremendous amount to learn from the past that is useful for our understanding of the world today. Without the discoveries from people throughout history, we would be nowhere near where we are in our understanding of nature.

I like your point about how the history of nature does not seem to be as well kept as man made history. I think a lot of that history may be lost, but not all of it. There are likely artworks from a long time ago showing the beauty of what the world looked like at that time. However, I understand this is likely limited. I think the majority of the history of nature is kept within books, journals, and other pieces of writing. This makes me appreciate the wonderful gift of writing we have been given by our ancestors. It is a form of (semi) permanent communication that can be used to speak to people in the future, which I find extremely interesting and relevant to nature interpretation. Without these pieces of writing we would likely not be able to understand and use what historical environmental discoveries have been made.

Thank you for sharing this picture and story about the Cheltenham Badlands in Caledon. This is a really interesting story, and I definitely want to visit them at some point. I think it definitely unpacks the quote because, as you have mentioned, understanding the history behind Cheltenham Badlands is crucial for appreciating their significance and beauty.

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Nature & History

"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)

This quote is describing that although there is no unusual goodness or worth in ancient things, there is in integrity. Integrity involves keeping a memory and an understanding of history, so we must appreciate it and learn from it. The metaphor used in the second part of this quote is particularly interesting. It is saying that thinking, feeling, and acting that the past can be disregarded is like saying it does not exist anymore. This means that just because something is not in our immediate view does not mean it is no longer in existence.

This sets up an interesting view on how we interpret nature. As we have learned, nature is not static and neither is our understanding of it. We have learned a lot about the environment from the evidence discovered by expert naturalists. These discoveries allow us to interpret nature the way we do today. As the quote above suggests... Even though the people that made these discoveries are not all with us in the present, it does not mean that what they have uncovered does not exist and have merit. Without the scientific discoveries of many people throughout history, we would not be able to interpret nature with the same depth that we do today. For example, if Darwin (and Wallace) had never dedicated their lives to passing on their knowledge we would have never been able to appreciate the diversity of life the way we do now. I love to think about how all organisms on Earth stem from that same being all that time ago. That is one interpretation of nature I would like to further pursue one day, and it is all thanks to the ideas and evidence historically discovered.

I think writing is an element of history that we often take for granted. We have learned that as interpreters it is crucial to be able to write. It helps unify a message, increases audience, captures our individual experiences, etc. Some time in history, writing was created and has since been past down generation after generation. It has allowed us to share knowledge with one another and today in this class, it is allowing us to interpret nature in this format. 

I would like to relate this to something that many people may find engaging; Indigenous lifestyles. Elements of the way Indigenous people live are an example of how communities can be enhanced by recognition of memories, stories, and shared traditions. For example, Elders are usually older members of the community that share their knowledge and life experiences with others. This is an example of passing down information and sharing elements of history with others. Despite their experiences possibly not being the experiences of the present, they are still important and influential to understand, appreciate, and learn from.

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Free Write During Midterm Season!

I wanted to use this free write opportunity to address the ever consuming midterm stress we must all be going through right now. Personally, I find it very difficult to find the energy or time to do the things I love once school picks up. It becomes increasingly difficult to go on walks, leave the house, hang out with friends, or watch a good show. This year, I have been trying to work on this issue, and reserve more time for myself so that I can wind down and reduce my stress levels.

One of the ways I have been doing this, is taking my notes and reading them outside. This is a great way for me to still enjoy nature, get some fresh air and relax, while not feeling anxious about wasting precious study time. When I am trapped inside all day, I end up feeling very burnt out and I start to feel guilty that I have not been going out and enjoying my favorite season!

Sadly, midterm season falls right around the time when the autumn is at its peak and all the trees are showing off their beautiful color changes. As frustrating as this is, I think it is important to find the balance between our school work and natural interpretation. Since we are all taking this course, I think it is safe to assume that we all appreciate nature and value our time outside. Thus, I think it is important to acknowledge the problem of finding time for both.

Instead of watching some Netflix or YouTube in my spare time, I have been opting for a short walk around my neighborhood or park to fill the time. This is a great way for me to rest my eyes from the computer screen and shut down my overthinking for a little while. These breaks also allow me to continue appreciating nature and they allow me to stay connected to the changing environment around me. Most importantly, it helps me calm down my nerves about school and it keeps me from feeling utterly overwhelmed with my upcoming deadlines.

Apart from studying outside and going on walks, I do not really have any other solutions for enjoying nature during midterm season. I am pretty new to prioritizing myself above school, so I would love if you could drop any suggestions on this topic! I have been looking for more ways to continue practicing natural interpretation through busy times, but it has not been easy.

Thank you for reading, and I look forwards to reading your comments!

-Georgi A.

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Taking notes and reading them outside is an excellent way to enjoy nature while studying. I really like how you bring this up, this is also something I do. Whenever the weather allows me to, I try to do at least a bit of my homework outdoors each day. This allows me to spend time with my pets outside, which they love. As you have mentioned, it allows us to get some fresh air and a break from being cooped up indoors all day.

I agree that finding a balance between studying and enjoying our time within nature is crucial. As you have described, it can be hard to find time to do both of these things during midterm season. You have definitely inspired me to take some time today and spend it outside in my backyard. I am getting anxious about the winter coming soon and not being able to do this. So, I think it is important that we do it now before it gets cold.

I like how you mention the connection you get to experience with the changing environment through your walks. This is something I had not yet truly appreciated. I am going to try to do that more now.

The suggestions I have for enjoying nature during midterm season would be to think about how we may be less productive when we don't take our mental health into consideration. For me, a lot of taking care of my mental health means doing the things I enjoy within nature. Sometimes, this is taking a complete break from school work and sitting outside with my pets for a while. I sit in my backyard and simply listen to all the sounds, and if I am lucky I will see a squirrel or a bird that will occupy my mind for a little while.

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The Beauty of Pets and Wildlife

As you likely already know, animals like dogs, cats, and probably others have been around humans for a long time. This has always fascinated me. Why and how did these animals come about to live alongside us? I am not sure, but I do know how much a lot of us appreciate their existence and their part in the natural world.

I have always had pets. So, I never truly realized how important they are for my mental health until my first year of university. I missed having pets around, so I ended up venturing out to the pet store and coming back to my room with two baby rats. Definitely not what I expected to return with, but better than I have ever imagined.

I understand that not everybody feels that pets are a help to their mental health, but I am sure everyone can appreciate, on some level, the benefits of having something that helps them with their mental health. For a lot of people, that is their pet. My rats and dogs have always been a huge part of keeping myself mentally healthy. They give me purpose and bring me joy. When I am feeling down, I know there is always a little face I can look at that will make me feel better. I know there is always someone wanting to play ball or explore the world together.

Wildlife is another aspect of nature that many of us have come to appreciate a lot. Personally, I find thinking about wildlife and all of its beauty brings me a lot of peace. There are endless aspects of it. It is a never ending gift that we have all been given. It is something we can always think about and when we get the chance, explore. We can read books about it and learn. We can take a walk in the park or through a forest and observe it. We can swim in the lakes or oceans if we are fortunate enough to get the opportunity. I have found all of these things have also been so good for my mental health, and are important for us to preserve given the consequences associated with rising emissions.

Interactions with animals are a really interesting aspect of nature. The bonds we create with pets are life long. They love us, and we love them. Wildlife and it's diversity is a beautiful thing that contributes to many environmental processes. Unfortunately, there are a lot of animals out there being abused and a lot of wildlife suffering because of the actions of humans. I want to take some time to share some ways that we can help support and take care of these aspects of nature. 

1. If you know of an animal being mistreated, report it. 2. If you find a wild animal struggling, call a wildlife rescue. 3. To help preserve wildlife, take steps to protect the environment and reduce emissions (for example... driving less, less airplane travel, and a plant based diet).

What are your thoughts on pets and wildlife? Also, I would love to hear some more suggestions from anyone about how we can protect wildlife and animals that are suffering.

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Nature Interpretation Through Art

The majority of art comes from what we see in the world around us and how we interpret it. Nature inspires art in many different forms of media. When I think of art, the first idea that comes to mind is a landscape painting of nature scenery. Capturing the feeling and experience of being in nature is a powerful way to share the environment. The beauty of nature is why people are attracted to the outdoors and express it in their artwork.

The question "who are you to interpret nature through art?" brought me to the realization that everyone can interpret the environment through art. We all experience different emotions and experiences when in nature that can be portrayed in many different art forms. Two people could be looking at the same sunset and create two completely different forms of art based on their interpretation. I personally am an artistic person, and I find a lot of joy in creating, whether it's through painting, sewing, drawing or photography. Taking time to stop and appreciate nature around us is the first step to interpreting nature into art forms. I put a few paintings I've done below :)

Before reading the textbooks definition of the "gift of beauty", I wanted to interpret my meaning. I believe the "gift of beauty" is referring to the gift nature is giving to everyone as a place to experience true beauty. Our natural world is a place where humans can escape and enjoy becoming secluded from themselves. The book Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World explained that having "the gift of beauty" means you can present nature in a way that allows others to see the beauty you experienced. Inspiring others with the artwork you made to capture the environment around you. I have always found it easy to find the beauty in nature. Always try to travel places with new landscapes that I've never seen before to experience the beauty. I also try and appreciate the nature around me and how even something that happens every day, like a sunset, can be so beautiful. I find reading poetry or listening to music are some of my favourite ways to experience other expressions of nature. Music and poetry, I feel bring emotion and room for visualization. Listening to a song and picturing a place and feeling in time helps me feel connected to nature. Poetry is something I have recently started reading, writing can be a powerful way to express emotions and experiences.

One of my favourite activities I ran as a nature interpreter at camp was bringing a group of children to a lookout spot in Algonquin Park to spend the hour painting what they saw and interpreted from the area. At the end of the session, it was amazing to see how everyone's paintings looked unique when they were all painting the same image. This activity allowed the children to take a minute and absorb the beauty surrounding them and capture it in a painting.

I would love to hear how everyone else interprets nature through art!

[mhbenvs3000f21]

Thanks for sharing your experiences with art and nature, and especially your paintings. They are beautiful.

I agree that nature is an inspiration to art and that this is a powerful way to share experiences with the environment. I like how you mention that two people can create a piece of art of the same sunset and the outcome will be different for both. This shows how the direct experiences of nature can be interpreted differently for everyone.

Music and poetry are interesting forms of art to interpret nature, and I think it can be really inspiring. Like you have mentioned, they bring emotion and visualization. This is so crucial because it allows for individuals to come up with their own understanding and appreciation for the nature. They can visualize what they think the scene looks like, and this is likely to be much more powerful to them than being shown what it looks like.

I interpret nature through art mainly by capturing moments with photographs. However, after reading the activity you did with children at camp, I am developing a desire to create art by hand. I think I have normally been fearful that the piece would not turn out appealing, but that is not the point it seems. The point is to sit down and appreciate nature, and that I love to do.

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Interpreting Nature Through Art...

Interpreting nature through art is something I love to do and some art pieces depicting nature can almost be very surreal to observe and admire. Growing up, I would paint a lot with my mom and we would draw a lot of landscapes that we saw after hiking through the ravine near my house. Specifically, I enjoy paintings that have a lot birch trees because they are rare to find as they’re usually found near lakes and rivers. They require well-drained soil, enough moisture and direct sunlight for proper growth. The graceful shapes, small stature, white trunks and distinctive bark are why I love birch trees so much. 

Interpreting nature through art allows me to connect with nature on a different level and express my imagination. It also has a lot of healing powers as interpreting nature through art can be somewhat therapeutic and soothing. Nature can be interpreted as art as it represents recreating the natural world and also creating new ways to see nature in a new light. In other words, art can mimic nature by seeking to visually replicate certain objects as they would appear in real life.

I also interpret nature through photography which is a form of art. When I would go glamping with my friends, I love to take photos of the landscape, plants and animals. In addition, I love enhancing the photos to bring out the colors that are in the trees and the sky. I think that is a key tool for myself in interpreting nature and forming a certain narrative of the photo that I captured. Art galleries and museums allowed me to interpret the gift of beauty and the history behind a lot of the issues that we face in the our day to day life within the environment that we live in. We touched on this briefly in our textbook and I believe whatever we are exposed to in our adolescents will ultimately be the result of how we interpret certain things today. Everyone interprets “the gift of beauty” and “nature” in a different way and we all cherish certain memories from our past that relate to how we have interpreted nature. Which reminds me, I used to love interpreting nature through animated movies such as Ice age. It sounds silly, but these movies opened my eyes to what nature looks like in different parts of the world. It allowed me to construct my imagination on what nature looks like in places like Antarctica. Also, the human tribes featured in the movie are somewhat powerless in the face of a dangerous natural world. That gave me a better sense of how us humans are even impacted by nature. 

I really enjoyed talking about interpreting art through nature for this week’s blog post! Looking forward to reading your posts! How do you all interpret nature through art and has it had an impact on how you perceive nature today?

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I loved reading your post. I think there are a lot of aspects of it that have inspired me and I can relate to. 

I admire how you have painted a lot of landscapes. I think how you mentioned drawing what you were experiencing during your hikes really speaks to how we can interpret nature through art when directly experiencing it. I also love how you mention this is something you would do with your mom. It brings another level into nature interpretation when you are doing these things with another person, because you two can inspire one another. 

I agree that using art as an interpretation tool can be therapeutic. It is an element of self-care and benefit to our mental health. By creating something, we are doing something that we enjoy and makes us feel accomplished. Also, our art can lead to inspiring others.

Just like you, I interpret nature through photography. I love to capture some of the moments within nature that I am experiencing. I find that showing someone something I have seen can be more powerful than simply a description. It somewhat allows them to experience a part of it with me. You mentioning how you interpret nature through animated movies made me realize, I did too. I don’t think it sounds silly at all. Movies like “Ice Age”, “The Lion King”, and “Spirit” were so uplifting and made me think about the world. I think this is a great way to inspire children, and if you are like me, adults too.

As I have mentioned, I interpret nature through capturing moments with photographs. I also used to draw animals a lot, which is something I want to pick up doing again. I think this has had an impact on how I perceive nature today. Taking photos allowed me to revisit experiences with nature I have had time and time again. Every time I go back and look at an old photo, I find new inspiration for my love for nature. I think drawing allowed me to take the time to appreciate the precious details of everything within nature. As a painter I am sure you know, it is extremely hard to capture every detail. That is one of the beauties of nature, you can never truly recreate it. 

Thanks for your post. I loved reading and engaging with it.

[mhbenvs3000f21]

Interpreting Nature Through Art

As we have learned, a huge part of interpretation is from direct experiences (Beck 1986 cited in Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson. D.M., 2018). I interpret the gift of beauty by directly experiencing it, and with this sometimes comes the creation of art. For example, one morning when I was awake quite early, I went for a drive and got to experience the whole sunrise. What was even more interesting about this was that it was one of the days we were able to witness a red sun. At first it amazed me, but then I realized it wasn't normal and was likely due to the increase in forest fires which is one of the consequences of climate change. Moments like these I love to capture with a photograph. This way I can share it with others in a way that they get to experience part of it. I think this is a far more effective way of inspiring people to experience and care about the environment and how climate change influences it, than by simply explaining it. 

Here is a photo of the red sun I saw. See way better than me simply telling you I saw a red sun one morning. 

A way to interpret nature through art, for me, is through visual illustrations, pictures, and sometimes drawings of nature. Bill and Tiden state that reporting the beauty of a scene may take away the opportunity for inspiration. One of my goals as an interpreter is to inspire people, so I think finding a way besides writing and explaining nature's beauty may be an effective way to do this. As I mentioned this could be done through art by presenting a picture or illustration to describe the scene rather than through written words. This allows for the audience to come up with their own inspiration from the visuals.

A major part of nature interpretation is revealing meaning. When doing all of these things I have discussed it is important to not lose sight of the meaning. That is, we must communicate to the audience in a way that understands their background, reveals the meaning of the interpretation, tells a story, and develops a whole understanding of the information (Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson. D.M., 2018). I think a key to doing this involves the visuals presented with the information. Visuals will allow the audience to keep engaged and promote understanding of the information. In the situation I mentioned earlier with the sunrise and red sun being a consequence of climate change, I think it is important to emphasize that this has a deeper meaning; which is, we need to care about our environment and take steps to take care of it. I am wondering, how do you think we can inspire people to care about taking care of our environment and reduce emissions through art?

Reference:

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

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The thought of nature interpretation can come with a largely thought assumption that it is just as easy and accessible for any individual. I can appreciate that this week's blog activities are presented to us to alter this perception and to recognize privilege. It is often difficult to understand privilege because of the fact that we are born with our respective one’s! Realizing that we live with these specific advantages that were not caused by one’s own decision making or hard work can be neglected a lot of the time. This is especially true when it comes to nature interpretation, where not only must the interpreter's privilege be considered, but also those of the audience members.

The biggest privileges that I think of when I think about nature interpretation are geographical location and class/income you grew up in. After reading through this unit, one of the first things I noticed was the privileges I have associated with nature interpretation; I’ve even mentioned them already in previous blog posts! For example, having parents who can afford seasons passes to Ontario’s Conservation Parks, or attending a high school that provided so many opportunities for camping trips. This is extremely important for me to recognize as an environmental interpreter, as I must take these privileges of mine into consideration when engaging with an audience.

Privilege plays a massive role in nature interpretation, especially in this relationship between interpreter and audience. As Professor Hooykaas mentioned in one of her personal experiences of bringing youth at risk on a Northern Ontario canoe trip, you will never fully understand an audience member's entire life and what privileges came with it! However, as interpreters, we can understand that every person is different and therefore we cannot treat every audience the same. Simply the location you were born or grew up in can provide a lot of privilege in nature interpretation; being located close to safe areas of nature evidently provides increased opportunity for nature interpretation compared to a location where there are cultural barriers and the environment is more industrialized and unsafe. The privilege of being part of a high class or high income family will also provide natural advantages like travel/transportation opportunities and paid excursions/activities in nature whereas individuals with economic barriers cannot always take part.

The privileges that I have seen being mentioned including the ones I have just discussed are all associated with the very generalized concept of underserved audiences. To truly discuss privilege’s association with nature interpretation, we must be more understanding of audiences on a case to case basis without making any generalizations.

This is definitely a unit of heavy reflection and I am excited to learn as much as I can on these topics so I can mature as a person in nature and as an interpreter!

- Sophia

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I enjoyed reading your post and agree with many of the points you bring up about privilege in nature interpretation.

I think the point you bring up about the role privilege plays between interpreter and audience is a crucial one, and one that I had not considered fully. I appreciate how you suggest that we can not fully understand the circumstances of everyone we are communicating to, but we can understand that everyone has had difference life experiences. To add to this, I think that maybe one way we can do as environmental interpreters is to try and make the information we provide as accessible as possible to people, even if they don't have much privilege. For example, we could provide translation options so that even though our information is presented in English there is accessibility for people that speak a less common language.

I had not yet considered the safety of being able to experience nature in some areas of the world. I think this is another privilege I have that I had not yet considered, and I am glad you brought it up. It makes sense that this would be another barrier between audience and interpreter. If we are making suggestions for how people can experience nature, I think it is important for us to understand our privilege and consider that this might not be something everyone has safe access to.

Thanks so much for your post. It is interesting and opened my eyes to some other aspects of privilege I had not yet considered.

[mhbenvs3000f21]

Role of Privilege in Nature Interpretation

While reading this post, consider that I am using "privilege" here to refer to opportunities and experiences that an individual is given throughout their life that provides them an advantage. These opportunities and experiences are given. By this, I mean they are obtained not through the actions of the individual, but by those out of their direct control.

I am embarrassed to say that before this course I had not considered the role privilege plays in nature interpretation. Privilege provides individuals with opportunities that not everyone may get, and these opportunities can be done at a lower risk. I will dive further into what I mean by this with shortly. In terms of nature interpretation, privilege provides more access to environmental interpretation opportunities.

Speaking and writing in English is one privilege. Large journals are often written in English, so being able to write in English allows for a better chance at becoming recognized in literature. A similar circumstance might be said about communication for environmental interpretation. Since English is a popular language, communicating in English may provide the most opportunities for reaching a large audience. For example, hosting an English podcast would likely reach and appeal to more people than a podcast in a language that is not as popular. Considering this, it makes me wish there were extra measures (if there are not already) to effectively translate material. This would allow those that do not speak English more of an equal opportunity to access information. I am wondering, does anyone have an idea of how to go about this? Or if this is already being done?

Back to the point I touched on earlier (about how privilege comes with more opportunities and less risk). Here I meant that those with more privilege have more opportunities to experience and learn about nature. This could be because of their available finances, having two parents that provide them with opportunities, etc. These things would allow them to be able to do activities that lead to an inspiration for caring about nature and the environment. Although risk can be found anywhere, I state that there is less risk for those with privilege because their life situations may provide them with less opportunities to be exposed to danger. For example, people with more financial security are able to participate in things like overnight hiking trips, go to a cottage, or sign up for a paid podcast without having to worry about the possibility of a financial loss that will negatively influence them. Does anyone else have any other ideas of how risk might be lower for those with privilege?

By understanding the role of privilege in nature interpretation, I have begun to unpack my invisible backpack (think about the characteristics and opportunities I have been given that others might not have as much access to). For example, I am learning about nature and interpretation because of my mom offering me the chance to go to university. This is allowing me to learn about how to effectively interpret nature which may give me a step up compared to others if I decide to make my own interpretation website, social media, or another blog. Recognizing the role of privilege and understanding the privilege we have as individuals is crucial to offer everyone as equal of an opportunity as we can to understand and learn about nature, which I think is a important responsibility of an interpreter.

Image credits: https://thevarsity.ca/2015/01/11/when-is-it-necessary-to-for-us-to-check-our-privilege/ 

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The Role of a Nature Interpreter

In my eyes, the ideal role of an environmental interpreter is explaining the meaning of the environment and its various components in a meaningful way. By meaningful, I mean in a way that shows passion and appreciation, but also effectively reaches a large and diverse audience. This passionate and appreciative way of describing the meaning of nature would hopefully lead others to find an inspiration to take care of it. Ideally, this would be through sharing similar information on various platforms like social media, podcasts, and interactive websites. I think communication through these platforms would be the most effective for inspiring people by allowing people with different learning styles an option that may best suit them.

Social media could potentially allow various age groups the opportunity to see something about the environment and become inspired. This way of communication seems to be a way to reach visual learners, since they have a preference for seeing. This could be through simple educational posts with visual aids. An important part of this is that the posts become popular, allowing them to reach many people and audiences. How to do this? I am not too sure yet. I am open to any one else’s thoughts and ideas about how social media could be a platform for inspiring people to care about nature and the environment. What I do know is the skills involved being an environmental interpreter communicating through social media likely requires a huge skill set. Ranging from effective online communication to understanding what the audience responds to well. These are skills that I hope to improve on.

Podcasts are a great (and low budget way) to get information out into the world and spread inspiration. I think this way of sharing information can be an entertaining option for auditory learners. Auditory learners learn through listening, so podcasts may be a platform that they enjoy and learn well with. I think the skills involved in hosting a podcast as an environmental interpreter would be effective verbal communication. Also, it may be important to be able to verbally entertain people while still providing informative material.

Interactive websites allow the audience the opportunity to engage and play an active role in learning about the environment. This way of sharing information about the environment may appeal to tactile/kinesthetic learners. These are learners that learn through experience. Though forums, comments, quizzes, and workshops these learners are likely to learn better and find inspiration to care about nature and the environment. This option may take a lot of time and effort, so as the environmental interpreter it is important to be persistent.

All of these options for sharing information about the environment require that the nature interpreter has a love and passion for nature, along with a desire to share this information with others. Personally, a huge part of my role as a nature interpreter is inspiring people to find their connection to nature. Being in nature can be extremely beneficial for our mental health, which is important for everyone to live happy and healthy lives. Also, when people find this connection to nature they are more likely to take care of their environment. Taking care of the environment means taking steps like driving less and flying less on air planes to reduce emissions and help combat climate change to preserve the biodiversity and Earth.

[mapenvs3000f21]

Thank you for your post. I have a similar goal of connecting with my audience through social media and in-person guided walks. As you have highlighted it is a challenge to grow a following and connect with people online. I mean we are competing with cat videos on the internet. One tip I have heard to increase your following is to follow accounts or tags that would have a similar audience that you are looking to target. Like and sharing others accounts will encourage them to share and post your connect. I feel social media is also a case of “if you build it they will come” scenario.

I think what you have highlighted will be key in reaching a wide audience: podcast for auditory learners, interactive websites for kinesthetic learners, infographics for visual learners. It involves a different skill set for each one of these learning tools as you have highlighted. A few questions I have includes: How do you plan to inspire people to get outdoors? Will you focus on a specific skill (i.e. plant ID) or have more general information? Do you think personal stories will be an effective method of inspiring people to connect with nature as you have highlighted?

[mhbenvs3000f21]

Hi there, thank you so much for your response. I really like, and agree with your idea to use tags to increase the following and find the appropriate audience. This would allow people that are interested in the content to be found on their own accord. I also agree that being active with the social media page by liking and sharing content from other accounts would help build up a following/audience. 

To answer your first question, I think inspiring people to get outdoors could be done through providing suggested activities described on each of these platforms. For example, an Instagram post could be created with suggestions on how to connect with nature. Your second question is an interesting one, and I do not completely know what would be the most effective in this case. In my opinion, I think that focusing on specifics and generalities could both be useful and could potentially both be included. The interactive website could provide general information about a topic, but also have specific workshops designed to utilize or learn about a specific aspect of nature. To answer your last question, I think personal stories could be effective for inspiring people if they are done in a way that supplements to the information you are already providing.