Buggin' out for Nature

Marie's not-so-secret nature interpretation diary on all things creepy, crawly, and beautiful.

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Unit 10 Blog - Ethics in Nature and Sustainable Harvesting

My biggest ethic, as both an interpreter and an individual, is to put conservation first. Since the most impactful way to go about wildlife conservation is to preserve wildlife habitat (Wildlife Habitat Canada, 2018), I try to support this whenever I can. I take pride in being a member of both Trout Unlimited Canada and Ducks Unlimited Canada, where my contributions help improve the quality of local waterways, and Canada wide wetland habitat. As someone who enjoys the outdoors and wants to see it intact for future generations, I feel it is my responsibility to pitch into conservation efforts. 

Another personal belief I share is that one of the best ways to ensure the future of our natural resources is to get the next generation of kids involved in outdoor activities. I think Rodenburg (2019) did a good job explaining this by saying that the true hope resides in creating “nature-rich communities where kids feel a deep and abiding love for the living systems that we all are immersed in.” One great program that I was lucky enough to take part in is the Ducks Unlimited Canada Wetlands Centre of Excellence program. Here, we would take grade 4 students from surrounding schools and give them a tour of Luther Marsh, while teaching them all about the importance of wetlands. 

“Critter Dipping” at the pond to show students what kinds of macroinvertebrates are present in wetland ecosystems. Photo from Ducks Unlimited Canada (2022). 

Chapter three of Beck et al. (2019) discusses an assortment of benefits and values that nature provides. Of these, education, recreation, inspiration, individual growth and even health values are given to both individuals and society. However, what this chapter doesn’t mention are some of the more tangible benefits that nature provides in the form of natural resources. As someone who grew up in a more rural area, my experiences with agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishing have all led me to appreciate nature’s ability to provide food and resources, and to develop a strong ethicacy for sustainable harvesting. 

From an agricultural perspective, I always grew up around farming, but not actually on a farm. I have however worked in agronomy as a Crop Scout for FS, where I took soil samples and assessed crop growth and health. This gave me a solid foundation in agriculture practices, which I can use to better understand what sustainable agriculture looks like. As someone that does most of my hunting on farm properties, I understand the importance of having a healthy environment around the fields, and prioritising more than just yield. The thing I’m most passionate about in agriculture is applying fertiliser responsibly. If you apply the right amount at the right time, you can maximise yields without any nutrient loss to the environment. Following the “4R’s” of nutrient stewardship (right rate, right source, right time, right place) can allow you not only to save money on fertiliser by not wasting it, but can minimise the environmental effects of agriculture, and help farmers harvest their crops sustainably. 

The “4R’s” of nutrient stewardship. Image from 4R Nutrient Stewardship (2017). 

I can also look at the theme of harvesting sustainably from a forestry point of view. Forests obviously hold a special place in my heart as someone that tries to spend as much time in nature as I can, but also as someone that wants to live in a house, I realise the need for harvesting wood. This is not a new problem for interpreters, and controversial issues like whether or not to harvest certain forests have been going on for years. In chapter 16 of the textbook, Beck et al. (2019) suggest not challenging your clients viewpoints on such topics so as to not alienate anyone you’re interpreting for. My personal take on this is that there is a happy medium to be found, where harvest can occur, but on a sustainable level. This can be done by emulating natural disturbances (Spence and Volney, 1999). For example, in a Northern Ontario Jack Pine stand, wildfires are fairly regular occurrences, so clearcutting followed by replanting does a good job mimicking that effect while providing us with lumber. In a Southern Ontario hardwood stand however, a more appropriate method of harvest would be a selective cut, targeting a few of the declining or diseased hardwoods. In some cases, clear cutting patches in uniformly aged timber stands might even increase biodiversity through habitat heterogeneity and edge effects (Hamm and Drossel, 2017). By creating niche potential for species that benefit from both young and old growth stands, species evenness and diversity would be expected to increase. If anyone is interested in learning more about what factors might make a tree get cut or retained, I would recommend checking out the Ontario Tree Marking Guide at this link: https://dr6j45jk9xcmk.cloudfront.net/documents/2807/guide-treemarking.pdf.

On a more personal level, I think the role I play as a nature interpreter would be an ‘ambassador’ for the outdoors. As an ambassador, I believe it is my responsibility to introduce as many people to the outdoors as possible, and to bridge the gap between environmental education and scientific education as expressed by Wals et al. (2014). If the next generation of kids grows up loving the outdoors as much as I do and I imagine all of you do too, they will be more likely to go down a similar environmental science related path, and continue bridging the gap. In order to introduce new people to the outdoors, I think it’s great to take people out hiking, hunting, or fishing when they normally wouldn’t. 

One example of this that I think is an odd but interesting concept is Delta Waterfowl’s University Hunt program. Here, students at participating universities can enrol in a wildlife management based course that covers topics on conservation and sustainable harvesting. Students of scientific backgrounds with little to no hunting experience are encouraged to enrol, so that the future of scientists and policy makers have a good idea of actual in the field practices and animal behaviour (Delta Waterfowl, 2020). 

Students going on their first hunt, as part of Delta Waterfowl’s University Hunt program (Delta Waterfowl, 2020). 

Anyways, I know I went over a lot of topics in this post and would love to hear your guys feedback so I can further talk about some of these points! What do you guys think is the best way to promote conservation? Is it getting the youth involved or something else? Are you guys for or against cash crop agriculture? Do you guys think encouraging university students to go on their first hunt is as good of an idea as Delta Waterfowl does? Any responses and viewpoints are welcome as I am passionate about this topic and am sure you all are too!

~Nathan

References: 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., and Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage. Van Haren Publishing.

Delta Waterfowl. (2020). Delta Waterfowl University Hunting Program. https://deltawaterfowl.org/deltas-university-hunting-program/ 

Ducks Unlimited Canada. (2022). Luther Marsh WCE. https://wce-education.ducks.ca/index.php/en/wce-3/item/45-wellington-heights 

4R Nutrient Stewardship. (2017). What are the 4Rs? https://nutrientstewardship.org/4rs/ 

Government of Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. (2004). Ontario Tree Marking Guide. Queen’s Printer for Ontario Printed in Ontario, Canada. https://dr6j45jk9xcmk.cloudfront.net/documents/2807/guide-treemarking.pdf 

Hamm, M., and Drossel, B. (2017). Habitat heterogeneity hypothesis and edge effects in model metacommunities. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 426:40-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.05.022 

Rodenburg, J. (2019) Why Environmental Educators Shouldn’t Give up Hope. Clearing Magazine.org, https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300 

Spence, J.R., and Volney, W.J.A. (1999). EMEND - Ecosystem Management Emulating Natural Disturbance. Sustainable Forest Management Network, G208 Biological Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. ISBN 1-55261-028-4 

Wals, A.E.J., 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 

Wildlife Habitat Canada. (2018). What we do. https://whc.org/what-we-do/ 

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Hi Nathan!

I first just want to say how much I enjoyed your final post. Not only was it very well thought out and introspective, but it was still super educational (which seems like that is something you are really passionate about)! What resonated with me the most was your mention of sustainability in agriculture, forestry, and hunting. I feel like when people are just starting out on their “eco/sustainability” journey they are often filled with so much passion but not as much education. This leads a lot of people to immediately demonize “controversial” topics, especially hunting. I speak from experience, as this used to be me too! Before I had the chance to get a good grasp on ecology, I was so against hunting. The whole concept just gave me the creeps. But I quickly learned how hunting, along with agriculture and tree harvesting can be done in ways that actually help the environment (alongside all the deep rooted history and indigenous traditions surrounding such activities).

I share this past experience because I feel like it's a great example of what the majority of our audience as interpreters would be. As STEM students, we are currently existing in quite a sheltered bubble when it comes to the people that surround us. We expect others to already be educated on such subjects, and therefore don't need to worry about “challenging” people’s viewpoints like Beck et al. mentioned. Not everyone has first hand experience or knowledge about more “rural” subjects like farming and hunting, and so they take news headlines or passing comments as face value which can end up with them forgoing any of their benefits. With that said, I think it's extremely important for everyone to get the chance to experience these things, whether it be young school children, STEM students that have never stepped foot out of the lab, or elderly people that were never exposed to sustainable methods for these activities. This is why I think that the Delta Waterfowl program is absolutely amazing, because as you said, these people can be future scientists and policy makers; and the most important skill to have in these positions is diversity in your mindset and experiences!

Thanks again for your wonderful post! I am also very passionate about sustainability, because at the end of the day, we can't realistically end all human practices such as agricultural and logging, we just simply have to find a way to co-exist with nature!

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Who I Am as an Interpreter?

My name is Katie Schankula, and I am a 21-year-old girl who grew up in North Bay, Ontario, Canada. I am attending the University of Guelph because I have the privilege to do so. Because I grew up in a country that allows me to do so, with a family that supported me, and access to a high school education. I was able to go camping as a child, I had clean lakes to swim in, and Ontario Parks to hike through. That is my backpack, and I now see how much privilege it holds (Gallavan, 2005). I now more thoroughly understand the privilege I have and have an uttermost respect for the people who are underserved (Beck et al., 2018). I will not let my privilege of having access to an education and the ability to understand interpretation go to waste. That is my promise to my fellow classmates, my professors, and the people I interact with every day.

When Richard Louv suggested that no matter what your motivation is to do this job, you have a responsibility to future generations, this really sunk in for me. It emphasizes the idea that we may all come from different backgrounds as interpreters, we have different reasonings for taking this class, and different interests, but in the end, we share a common passion. And that passion runs so deep that it brings us all together and connects a diverse group of people with one common goal, to share our love of nature with others.

My responsibility as an interpreter is to do exactly that, to share my love of nature with others. Because I had the privilege to obtain a university degree from an environmental program that is well recognized, I have a role to share that knowledge with the public. Even if I do not obtain a career strictly as a nature interpreter or in that field, I have a responsibility to connect people to nature through the scientific education I have obtained. I now have the tools in my pocket to be able to take heavy material and create a fun and engaging program for all audiences. I recognize that some people do not have the access to provincial parks or the means of travel to attend a guided hike. For them, I will use communication and word of mouth to spread my stories. I will listen to other’s stories and help keep the art of storytelling alive. As Beck et al. (2018) mentions, storytelling is able to encapsulate entire cultures. It is inexpensive and just as effective, as even younger audiences can appreciate a good story.

I had the privilege of obtaining many certifications such as white-water canoe training, basic canoe training, wilderness first aid, basic CPR and first aid, and a pleasure craft operators’ card. I know the trade-offs between risk and reward, and I am responsible to ensure that I am encouraging safe behaviour in the environment for both the person and the ecosystem (Beck et al., 2018).

What do I believe? I believe that no matter the age, no matter the ethnicity, beliefs, or background, everyone has the right to enjoy nature. I think people are quick to picture children as enjoying nature, playing in a puddle, or getting covered in the mud. But why shouldn’t and adult be able to do that too? I want to create an atmosphere around interpretation that makes everyone feel comfortable being themselves and connecting to nature in whatever way that makes them happiest. I want to provide people with the tools to do so. That could be helping someone identify a bird call, or simply pointing out where to look for dragonflies.

I am an able-bodied person who is passionate about the outdoors and has worked as a nature interpreter in the past at Marten River Provincial Park. When I approach nature interpretation, I think I would personally be better suited in an outdoor setting. I don’t necessarily mean in a structured sit-down lesson, or a pre-determined game. This could be as simple as suggesting going for a hike with a friend when I am bored. I have learnt that interpretation can be found in everything. There are people that are better at engaging groups in more of a classroom setting, and people that are better at creating podcasts, but I am better suited outside being exposed to the sounds and beauty around me. I am sure lots of people feel this way, and I would be capable of running a program indoors or online, but my element is outside. And there is nothing wrong with accepting where your strengths lie.

If there is one thing I could work on as an interpreter, it is supporting fellow interpreters. Attending interpretation events at the university, or seeking community held events. Although interpreters are trying to create a sense of community with the public, I think it is also important to create that sense of community with each other. Because as I mentioned, as well as Richard Louv, we all have the same responsibility and together, we can create an even larger community.

I want to take a moment to thank the teaching staff at the University of Guelph and for the ENVS*3000 “Nature Interpretation” course for providing me with the tools and the education to spread my knowledge to others. And thank you to my classmates who interacted with my posts and started creating that sense of community between interpreters. To have the ability to interact with so many other people with the same passions as me has been awesome and I have learnt so much from you all! I hope to keep spreading your stories and inspiring others to do the same!

Best of luck moving forward to you all!

-       Katie Schankula

One last photo of my trip to Hawaii! Go explore what Earth has to offer! 

References 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage. Van Haren Publishing.

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their “invisible knapsacks.” Multicultural Education (San Francisco, Calif.), 13(1), 36–36. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9fe2f151

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Hi Katie!

First I just want to say how much I enjoyed your final post as well as many of your previous ones throughout the semester. You always tell the most interesting stories and have some of the best insights! It is clear to me that you really took a lot away from this course, especially when it comes to acknowledging privilege. I think this skill will make you a very successful interpreter in the future, even if you don't end up in a “typical” interpretation job like you mentioned.

I especially resonated with your point about forming communities within nature interpretation. We all clearly have the same goals, passions, and responsibilities as you mentioned, so it only makes sense! It all comes back to diversifying ourselves. In the past, nature interpretation was left to male white historians or nature enthusiasts, there was not much room for anyone else. This clearly made for poor quality of interpretation, as their audience could really only be other white people. But now, we have the chance to make nature interpretation accessible to everyone, and that can only happen if we connect with other interpreters from all over the world. I plan on making it a personal goal of mine to attend more events like those you mentioned, so that I can grow my own personal point of view when it comes to nature.

Thanks again for all your lovely posts this semester, and I wish you the best of luck on whatever path you take next!

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Final Blog Post: A Temporary Goodbye

Wow, I can't believe that we have already arrived at our final blog post for this course. I approach the end of this semester with uncertainty; I feel both relieved to finally be done with assignments for the time being, but also slightly saddened as this course has truly been one of the most rewarding experiences this semester. I look back on my previous blog posts and am just in awe of how much I have changed as a person and an interpreter within the course of just one semester. As I approach my fourth and final year of undergrad, I've been spending a lot of time introspecting. What do I really want to do with my degree? It has never been a consistent answer, as I went into first year thinking I'd be applying to veterinary college. A year later, I was dead set on doing herpetology research. The next year, I switched over to entomological research.

So here I am now, reflecting on everything I have learned from this course, and I am faced with yet another “career change”. I have come to realize that my lack of commitment to one pathway out of university is because I just have a general passion and love for all things nature. Whether it was veterinary medicine, herpetology, or entomology, the common factor was that I just love learning! And with that, I love helping others learn about the same things that have brought me so much joy.

This new-found motivation is what fuels my main belief about nature interpretation: accessibility for all. Now, this of course encompasses physical and economical accessibility, but one of my main focuses is what I would call “emotional accessibility”. I have often encountered this toxic sense of superiority when it comes to STEM, even in natural/environmental studies. Sometimes without even realizing, we often place our own stereotypes on who should or shouldn't be a part of the scientific community, and on that note; if you are not a part of the scientific community then somehow your access to nature is restricted! I remember as a kid how daunting it was to ask questions to adults; some of the people i looked up to the most have scoffed as what they considered a “silly” question. For a time, this really put me off from studying biology, and I felt like I wasn't “good enough” to join nature clubs at school because I didnt have any background knowledge (which, who would ever expect a 13 year old to be an expert on plant identification??). I had placed this extra pressure on myself because of the role models (clearly not very good nature interpreters) that chidded me as a kid.

These experiences, paired with everything I learned from this course about accessibility such as the importance of multiple intelligences (Beck et al., 2018) or the unpacking of our invisible backpacks (Gallavan, 2005), have taught me how vital it is to an interpreter to be accepting, forgiving, and encouraging. While this might be my motivation and my belief, it does bring about a huge amount of responsibility. As I witnessed myself first hand as a kid, and as highlighted in this unit chapter, we need to use our privilege of education and knowledge wisely as you never know who is looking up to you as a mentor. As an interpreter, you automatically are given responsibility for the future generation as they are the ones who listen the hardest and care the most (Beck et al., 2018). We need to be sure that our every action is in their favor and will help mold their connection with nature.

Thanks to this course, I am now able to both identify and express my motivations, beliefs, and responsibility; two skills that were definitely lacking beforehand. I have never been good at expressing myself in forms that were not visual; but through honing my writing and talking skills thanks to the blog and podcast assignment, I have realized that these skills were within me the whole time! I just never gave myself the chance to try it out. And that is exactly what I want to do after leaving this course. I want to give kids the chance to try out new skills and learn about nature in ways that they never thought they could. I now plan to further my studies by doing a Masters in Science Communication, so that I can continue to build these skills in both myself and the kids that I hope to inspire!

Thank you to everyone involved in this course, as the content of both the readings and your blog posts have been such an incredible source of inspiration! I have learned about things I never would have thought to look into and it has helped me widden my own personal point of view. I wish you all the best of luck in the rest of your nature interpreting journeys and hope to someday see how each of you have used these skills in your future careers.

Goodbye for now!

Marie

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World (1st ed., pp. 127-158). SAGAMORE Publishing.

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks". Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9fe2f151

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Shinrin-Yoku

I want to share a really cool practice with you all.  And I hope that it inspires you to spend as much time as you can out in nature wherever you can find it.  'Shinrin-Yoku’, translated into English as Forest Bathing, is the Japanese study of using the beauty and rejuvenation of the forest to heal.  The research and data continue to show a lot of potential in reducing many mental and physical health issues, where the main way to reduce the issues has been medications (Hansen, et al 2017). The idea of letting time in nature heal the mind and reminding people that it is okay to go slowly in life was promoted in Japan during the 1980s as preventative health care (Hansen, et al 2017). The combination of  Shinrin-Yoku with environmental interpretation and education has enormous potential to help both environmental degradation and mental health. In our course reading, the Richard Louv term ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’ (Hooykaas, 2021) refers to the negative effects that can come from people spending all their free time on electronics, for example short attention span, anxiety, and depression, due to missing out on the benefits that come from spending time in nature.  Although Louv is not from Japan, his ideas have been connected to Nature Bathing which is seen as a cure for Nature Deficit Disorder. An article by the Government of Canada states that Shinrin-Yoku has been studied for nearly 40 years and is an evidence-based wellness practice (Health Promotion, 2021).  

This is one of my favourite spots to experience Shinrin-Yoku at the Bruce peninsula.

Our textbook says that when people are just browsing online, their attention span is often that of a goldfish: that is 9 seconds (Beck et al. 2018). Set the timer and see how long that is—I bet you won’t, you’ll get bored—you’re currently reading this on the web! The idea of nature being a cure can give the environment even more standing against developers. Shinrin-Yoku is motivation to protect natural habitats and visit nature centers with interpreters so visitors can learn and understand the importance of nature in their life: for example, physical improvements of walking, climbing, emotional relaxation, and purposefully being present and interacting in the community. It is very easy to feel isolated in buildings and this disconnect from others can have severe consequences. These issues can be not just reduced but may even be cured with as little as a daily 30 minute walk in the forest.  An impactful quote in our textbook says: “But if the trance induced by electronic gadgets makes us oblivious to the wood, the wildflowers, and the songs and smells of resurgent spring, then we have suffered a grievous loss” (Beck et al. 2018). There are a lot of reasons for the disconnect from nature, not just electronics, but the main emphasis for me is to not lose the natural health benefits of nature for children and adults and to make experiencing nature a priority.  I would love to hear if anyone else has heard of Shinrin-Yoku or have felt the benefits of time in nature for themselves.        

                                                 References

Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2

Hansen. (2017). Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art Review. PMC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5580555/

Health Promotion .(2021). Health Promotion- Improve your mental well-being with forest bathing and fall into wellness. Government of Canada.  

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/news/regional-news/western-sentinel/2021/09/improve-your-mental-well-being-with-forest-bathing-and-fall-into-wellness.ht

Hooykaas, A. (2022). Sense-Making of Nature Interpretation. [Unit 9 course reading]. Nature  Interpretation Course University of Guelph.

Wals, A. Bordy, M. Dillon, J. Stevenson, R. (2014). Convergence Between Science and

Environmental Education. Science. https://www-science-org.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/doi/10.1126/science.1250515

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Hi there!

As I started to read your post I was immediately hooked, because although I had never heard of Shinrin-Yoku, I've somehow been doing that my whole life! I never knew it had a name, let alone has been studied for decades as a real form of healing! This week I wrote my blog post about an exercise that I like to do to calm my mind and foster a stronger connection with nature. In this activity I meditate in a natural setting and set my focus on the different senses so as to eliminate any negative thoughts or anxieties I've collected from my day. I feel the effects of nature deficit disorder often, especially when I am overwhelmed with school and have been spending days on end at the library, so your post really resonated with me.

The fact that my obliviousness to Shinrin-Yoku as a concept did not stop me from feeling the mental and physical health benefits of spending time in nature makes me believe that this really is something innate to us. The positivity that we can gain just from a short walk outside is too precious to lose, especially as we become a more “online” and “inside” society.

Thank you for making me aware of the concept of Shinrin-Yoku, as now i’ll be able to research it more myself and find ways to incorporate it in my life further than just my usual outdoor sense meditation!

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Post 8: Exploring Nature with all five senses

When writing a blog where most (if not all) of the readers are also people in a nature related field of study, I tend to make assumptions about people’s experiences with nature. I've catered my writing to people who have been going on hikes for years and who already have an innate appreciation and love for nature. This struck me as odd, as isnt nature interpretation supposed to be accessible and relatable to everyone, even those who may not be such “nature freaks” like us? For some, nature was never a part of their childhood and therefore do not have the same connections and memories associated with them. They might not even know where to start when it comes to creating a relationship with nature. And so, for that reason, I want to tell you guys about my favorite, low commitment, and easily accessible activity that has helped me foster my appreciation for nature at times where I've felt disconnected: “exploring nature with all five senses”. The great thing about this activity is that it can be done by anyone, regardless of if they are able bodied or if they have access to a lush forest or green space, making it a great nature interpretation exercise. The first step is to find your ideal location, and since nature can truly be experienced anywhere, you just need to be outside! Whether it be a beautiful lush forest, or even just a couple potted plants on an apartment balcony, take a seat and begin to relax. Then, slowly, as you start to take in your surroundings, begin to experience nature through each sense that is available to you, while trying to remain in a meditative and relaxed mindset. If you are a person who lacks one of the senses, you can simply pass on it and spend more time on the senses that are strongest for you.

SIGHT

This one is often the easiest sense, as many of us use it everyday! Wherever your sitting, look around: look up at the sky and see if any birds are flying about, look as far as you can to try and spot some far away trees, pluck a blade of grass and look closely at its structure, look at the ground to see some ants in a busy hurry. Wherever you look there is beauty in nature. Even if it's just a single leaf, you can appreciate the veins running through it that provide the nutrients necessary for life. Begin to think about all the intricate patterns found in nature that we so often look past, and you'll find that this will bring a new sense of appreciation the next time you're outside!

HEARING

“visit https://xeno-canto.org/ to listen to their amazing collection of bird sounds from across the world”

Begin by closing your eyes in order to remove any other distractions. Ideally, you'd be in a location removed from city noises, but if this isn't possible then you can just work on separating what noises are natural and what noises are man-made. Start out by finding the louder noises; a crow cawing in the distance, a big gust of wind howling through branches, or even your neighbor's dog yapping away. Once you get used to these noises, you'll start to pick out the more subtle and softer noises; the soft gurgling of a nearby stream, a squirrel hopping from branch to branch, a lone cricket calling out to its friends. By the end of this, you'll become familiar with nature’s soundtrack and be able to appreciate it even when you're just walking to work in a hurry.

TOUCH

“Soft and fuzzy leaves of the Lamb’s Ear plant”

This one has become my favorite part, as I am always surprised by how many different textures there are in nature. This will very much differ according to your location, but reach out your hand and carefully begin to touch things around you. It might feel a bit silly at first, but if it's safe to do so, I also like to go barefoot and feel the earth as well. You might start by rubbing some waxy blades of grass between your fingers, marveling at how strong they feel. Then, move on the dirt beneath them, noting if it feels soft, warm, dry, rough, cold, moist, etc.. Run your hands on some rough bark and feel the etches of time on some stones. You might even get lucky and have the experience of rubbing some lamb’s ear, a wonderfully fuzzy and soft plant that is colloquially called “cowboys toilet paper” for obvious reasons. We often try to avoid touching nature because we can get “dirty”, but it actually creates such an intimate connection when you truly let yourself feel.

SMELL and TASTE

“A flowering tomato plant, that both smells AND tastes lovely”

These last two senses can sometimes be the most difficult, especially if you don't have access to large natural spaces. If you are surrounded by flowering plants then you can begin by smelling these, noting how each plant is different! Even just fresh air has its own distinct smell! The more you practice this sense, the stronger it gets. I especially love the smell of freshly rained on earth, and the smell of fresh cut grass laying on the pavement on a hot sunny afternoon. If you are an expert forager, you might be able to taste nature in its purest form (if you don't have experience with foraging, don't eat anything in nature, there are LOADS of dangerous copycat plants, berries, and mushrooms). If not, then an alternative exercise I like to do is bringing a snack with me. This works especially well if it's locally grown produce, but really anything will do. I like to end the exercise by communing with nature because it almost feels ritualistic, and really helps form that connection in my mind and allows for a full body experience.

Now, with a full tummy and a relaxed mind, I pack up my things making sure I leave everything as it was, and go back to my day feeling recharged and ready! I love doing this when the weather is nice and I have some spare time, and if you're feeling up to it, inviting a friend to join you is a perfect opportunity to interpret nature to them in a casual setting!

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Musical Nature or Natural Music

When I think about the connection between music and nature, two of the most beautiful things in the world, one big question comes to mind.

Did the music of humans and the songs of animals evolve separately, or was the first inspired by the latter?

Maybe it's the scientist competing with the psychologist in me, but I've always wanted to understand this relationship better.

Music in Nature:

There are so many species that use sounds and songs to communicate. In addition to the birds and whales that are commonly discussed, here are a few more to check out:

FROGS AND TOADS: The singing toad choir from Harry Potter is not entirely fictional or magical. Frogs and toads make very unique sounds that create an orchestra. Some of their sounds are musical, while others imitate other animals. For example, the 'peeps' of a spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) can sound like the jingling of bells from a distance. The different pitches of male American toads (Anaxyrus americanus) calling for a mate create a melody of sounds.

ELK: The North American elk (Cervus canadensis) is one of the most vocal ungulate (hoofed) species. Their sounds can range from squeals to barks to whistling roars. Some even refer to it as the sound of a bugle, making them a true instrument in the chorus of nature.

Nature in Music:

When I think of how nature is reflected in music, the first thing I think of is Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. This is a set of violin concertos that reflect each of the seasons. Check out this clip to see them condensed into only a minute! Throughout the four pieces, the musical representations of birds, storms, the frigidity of winter, and more are displayed.

I think it would be really cool for someone (with better editing skills than myself) to rearrange a song with animal sounds in place of instruments. Across the animal kingdom, some animals make sounds ranging from bass to soprano. This could create an exciting sound that really brings nature into music.

Songs that Take Me Back to Nature:

Thanks to many summers spent at summer camp and the cottage, camp songs always transport back to the calm of nature. Some songs, like Alice the Camel, take me back to the amphitheatre at Camp Wyoka where we had our nightly Girl Guide campfires. I have fond memories of other songs, like one about loggers on a river, that take me back to the beach at Balsam Lake where I went to many evening campfires and interpretive programs as a child. Unfortunately, I can't remember this song, nor can I find it anywhere, so it may just be a memory now. I enjoy listening to folk-pop songs when driving long distances along the highway through natural areas. Maybe it's the common themes of being together, coming home, and exploring, but they always make me super excited to get to wherever I'm heading.

Elliott, L., Gerhardt, H. C., & Davidson, C. (2009). The frogs and toads of North America : A comprehensive guide to their identification, behavior, and calls. Houghton Mifflin.

https://www.hww.ca/en/wildlife/mammals/north-american-elk.html

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Hi there!

First I just want to say how much I enjoyed your post this week. It might sound dramatic but music and nature have always been the two most important parts of my life. I rely on them so much for my mental health, as there hasn't been a moment where being outside listening to great music hasn’t helped make my day better. I basically live with my earphones glued to my head. With that being said, I loved your take on the “origin” of music. I wrote about a similar topic in my blog post, as I was also curious about whether the sounds of nature inspired our own music. I wonder if there truly is “music” in nature, or if it is just our human minds applying our own conceptions onto the sounds that creatures create. I like to think it's the former… Life is a lot more fun and colorful if that’s the case.The sounds nature makes most often have a strict purpose like attracting a mate or sending out a warning. I wonder if there are any non-human organisms that make sounds purely for the pleasure of listening to how it sounds. Definitely something worth looking up!

The interconnectedness of nature and music has the potential to be such a great tool for nature interpretation, especially with such creative ideas like the one you mentioned about turning Vivaldi’s four seasons featuring nature as the musician. I really hope someone out there with better audio/editing skills takes this challenge on!

(Also I just want to mention how funny it was to see Alice the Camel be brought up. This song has a special place in my heart too since I was a lifeguard for four years and had to sing that song at least 20 times a week for the preschool classes. I think it's really cool how songs can bring about such different memories for people; while Alice the Camel brings back warm memories of summer camp, for me it brings back memories of hours spent in the cold indoor pool singing this song over the din of crying babies until my throat began to hurt (I was cold, they were cold, no one was happy to be there lol). Music really has such a special power, allowing people to reconnect with memories unique to them!

[mpenvs3000w22]

Find your inner house plant: how nature and music intertwine in my life

Music in Nature

There are many different theories as to why humans began creating music, with some believing it was as a form of sexual attraction, and others proposing that it formed communities by coordinating the movement of people engaging in productive activities. While all of these theories are good and great, I like to believe that nature is what inspired our music. This might not be the most accurate take, but it is quite romantic in a way, with our music acting as a sort of love letter to nature. For anyone who has spent a moment of time standing still in a forest or a field far away from noisy highways or cities, you also know this to be true. Nature creates its own soundtrack: mourning doves cooing in the warm morning sun, leaves of a dying ash tree rustling in the wind as a last call for help, big boasting bullfrogs croaking a rough love song, crickets chirping along to a steady beat, an the occasional trout splashing out the water like a cymbal… how can you not be inspired by this? Music can be found everywhere in nature, as long as you're listening.

Nature in Music

Since music is so prevalent in nature, it's only reasonable to assume nature will be prevalent in music. And oh boy is it..

In any written art such as poetry and music, so many of the themes and literary devices are based on nature. We as humans seem to have this inherent need to connect with nature even when we can't be within it physically. Just think of the time and true classic “Country Roads” by John Denver, there is a reason why most people know this song to the point of it being overplayed (controversial opinion, i know).

“Almost heaven, West Virginia

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River

Life is old there, older than the trees

Younger than the mountains, growin' like a breeze”

How he describes nature through his lyrics helps us visualize it ourselves, and when paired with beautiful music, the message comes through clearly. The memories we make are so often linked to a moment in nature, and this can be a powerful tool in nature interpretation. By adding an emotional connection to nature (as is done so well with music), we as interpreters can ensure that the visitors will leave knowing that they have had a provocative and thoughtful experience. Music awakens our ecological understanding.

Music AND Nature

While all of this inspiration from nature can lead to beautiful worlds of art, as Unit 07 states, we have to be very careful to not get carried away with the “entertainment” of nature interpretation, as “education” remains the backbone of what we hope to pass on to people. Sure, you might learn that the Shenandoah River flows through West Virginia by listening to Country Roads, but that's really the extent of it. This is why I LOVE the art of bioacoustics/biomusic, where experimental music is created using sounds taken directly from music. Whether it be a pink oyster mushroom plugged into a synthesizer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZEkwF3VBtI) or a piano piece based off of the electrical fluctuations of plant leaves (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZEkwF3VBtI), this type of music has a much larger potential to pass on ecological knowledge about specific organisms. It forms a beautiful symbiotic relationship between the listener and nature.

With this, I want to leave you guys with the song that really connects me to nature. I'm going to cheat a little bit and actually recommend a whole album: Mother Earth’s Plantasia by Gart Morson. Morson created Plantasia in 1976 to be given as a promotional item for anyone who bought a house plant at the small store Mother’s Earth in LA. It was made specifically for the plants to listen to, claiming that it would help them grow happy and healthy. Safe to say it wasnt the greatest hit at the time, but it quickly gained a cult following as decades went on. While this isn't based on any scientific fact, my brother (who introduced me to this album) plays it almost everyday on his record player, and lo and behold… his apartment is an absolute oasis of green thriving houseplants in every corner where he could fit them in.

I highly recommend you check out at least some of its songs on Spotify such as “Music to Soothe the Savage Snake Plant”, “Symphony for a Spider Plant”, and “Swingin’ Spathiphyllums”, especially if you love funky 70s synth music. I always love to play this album as I work, since I find that it helps me to focus and relax, so maybe it means I'm part houseplant!

[smgmenvs3000w22]

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 illustrates the importance that the past has in going forward with the future. We must recognize that it is our responsibility to acknowledge history, as each moment in time has contributed to the present day’s outcome. Who we are and where we come from is a conglomeration of events that have preceded us. If we consider the earth’s existence as a linear timeline, it can be viewed as a kind of railroad. Each stop or railway station is a particular event that has contributed to the way things are today. When we consider a journey from one location to another, we know there is a sequence of railway stations that lead us to our destination. So why should we view our present any differently? Historical or ancient events do not cease to exist just as railway stations do not cease to exist once we have passed them, and we would be ignorant to believe any differently.

In terms of nature interpretation, it is important to recognize the past when trying to understand the present. Say, for example, you are looking out over a landscape of rolling hills in Southern Ontario. Many people would only be seeing the grass and flowers that occupy it, which is only a snapshot of what it really is. The hills are actually drumlins, which were created way back in the glacial period when glaciers deposited sand and rock over many years (Drumlin, 2022). The grass was once a forest, before early settlers cleared the trees to cultivate the land and feed their families. The flowers are purple loosestrife were actually brought over to Ontario in the 19th century by European settlers and ships (Ontario, 2018). The natural landscapes and wildlife have multidimensional stories which are relevant to developing an in-depth understanding of what they are today. Edward Hyams equates this understanding to maintaining integrity when enjoying and interpreting our natural world.

Drumlins in the Peterborough, ON area. Credit: Urban Tomato (https://urbantomato.ca/the-gorgeous-drumlins-around-peterborough-county/)

In my opinion, this all relates back to conservation of nature. The more we know about the past of an area, the more we can identify with it, and the more we want to preserve it. With regards to interpreting history, our textbook says, “In doing so, it nurtures the development of a personal identity as individuals hear inspiring or thought-provoking stories of the past, and it forms values to guide living in the present” (Beck et al. 2018). When the necessary information is provided to establish a connection with nature and our land, we begin to personally identify with the environment and feel an increased need to protect it.

References

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

Drumlin. (2022, February 17). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drumlin

Ontario. (2018, October 22). Purple loosestrife. https://www.ontario.ca/page/purple-loosestrife#:~:text=Purple%20loosestrife%20is%20a%20wetland,and%20discarded%20in%20North%20America.

[mpenvs3000w22]

Hi there!

I would just like to say that I really enjoyed your blog post this week! Your interpretation of the quote we were given as a prompt was such an original and refreshing take. Many of our other classmates decided to take a more “cultural” take on history, while you decided to focus on “natural” history. This really highlights how wide of a definition “history” can have, and how important every type of history is, especially in the context of nature interpretation. Many people forget about this, so I love how you reminded us!

I have always kind of just “known” about the drumlins of Ontario and the presence of purple loosestrife as a highly invasive plant.. Yet not once have I actually thought to learn about the history of these things!! And as a biology student, I am not quite sure WHY have not. It just goes to show how easy it is for people to pay no attention to our environment’s past, even when it is something that I am innately interested in. So for that I thank you, as it has almost acted as a wake up call for myself to be more curious about the history of things I am studying.

Since you did chose to focus your interpretation on “natural” history, I would love to hear your thoughts on how it can also be applied to “cultural” history. I spoke in my blog post about how the quote we were tasked with interpreting could be easily applied to so many subjects in life, and I would love to see what your thoughts are on how culture can also be applied in nature interpretation.

Again, thank you for providing us with such a fresh take on this quote (and for making me realize that I am also not immune to being the train passenger that forgets the train station exists once i've passed it).

[mpenvs3000w22]

Unit 06: Honouring the Black History of Environmentalism

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

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

What I love most about this quote is how it can be applied to so many different areas of life, not just nature interpretation. The power of integrity as defined in this quote is essential to ensuring success in any sector, yet as a society we seem to have stopped prioritizing it. How are we expected to move forward successfully if there is no regard for the past, as both a tool for learning and as a reminder to respect the work of those who came before us.

This is especially true in the field of environmentalism, a core driving factor behind nature interpretation. The quote perfectly encompasses the mindset of many when it comes to this subject. Since environmentalism focuses largely on plans for the future while condemning the mistakes of our past, we often forget to acknowledge the important people and forces behind the initial movement. We chose to remain on our theoretical “train”, oblivious to the other trains, stations, and conductors that are not a part of our current “field of view”.

This “content ignorance” about the past of environmentalism is especially important to discuss currently during Black History Month, as the movement is commonly misrepresented as a white movement. With “superstar” environmentalists like Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough, most mainstream headlines about climate change and environmental activism focus predominantly on white contributions. But like many areas of society, those whose voices are heard most often are not necessarily representative of the whole. The reality is that black communities have been fighting for environmental justice for countless decades, and are credited for beginning the environmental justice movement. Racial and environmental justice are deeply connected as black people have always been disproportionately impacted by pollution, climate change and lack of access to green space. This exact issue was brought into the national spotlight in 1982 when a landfill in Warren County, NC (the only majority black county in the state) became the proposed site for dumping toxic chemicals. In response, the black community staged a sit-in to protect their community from harmful pollution, sparking a global movement.

Rev. Benjamin Chavis at Warren County PCB Landfill Protest – Photo from the United Church of Christ 

Since then, POC have been shouldering the burden of environmentalism, calling out racist environmental groups such as the “Group of Ten” and developing principles of environmental justice that serve as the basis of the movement to this day. In Unit 06, we were asked to reflect on who/what benefits from sharing stories linked in history, and how this might impact others in the future. It was mentioned that survivors of horrific events share their stories so that the events will not be forgotten. Thinking on this, it is clear that as a white society, these stories have not been shared enough, as I myself had to do a good deal of research to learn anything about black environmentalism. It has practically been erased from the modern narrative; a “train station” that we never seem to pass through. As interpreters, we have a unique opportunity where we can share this forgotten history and shape the future. With this in mind, I ask everyone that has read this post up to this point to honor the legacy of black environmentalists by taking five minutes to look into this history, share a black environmental activist that has inspired you, and keep them in mind as you continue your nature interpretation journey. Don't let these stories die out more than they already have!

Whiting, K. (2021, February 25). 5 black heroes of the Environmental Movement. World Economic Forum. Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/02/black-environmentalists-justice-climate-change/

Junsay, E. (2019, February 21). The environmental justice movement is rooted in black history. 350.org. Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://350.org/black-history-month/

[kh-genvs3000w22]

Why I love Nature

This course has already inspired me so much and given me essential tools for my future.  For example, the teachings of Freeman Tilden, Jean Piaget, Peggy McIntosh, and Sam Ham who I talk about in my other blogs, really motivate me.  Reading about their experiences in the various fields of being teachers, environmental interpreters, and conservationists even though they’re from different disciplines, makes me ready to share the knowledge. There is a question that Aldo Leopold asked in his book A Sand County Almanac that stuck with me throughout university: “Is education possibly a process of trading awareness for things of lesser worth?” (Leopold, 1949 p. 20).  His example was that of a duck being shot during hunting season due to the duck giving knowledge of its presence.  Sometimes when people learn natures’ lessons they take advantage–when I first thought about this question, I was conflicted due to his example.  On one side, humans have a right and need to about nature in order to protect it; on the other hand, knowledge is power and power can lead to corruption and exploitation. Through this current course, I have a clear answer: without education about the animals, habitats, and ecosystems, people could destroy nature unintentionally as a result of privilege differences, cultural and language barriers, and fear. Barriers leading to nature not being a priority will lead to exploitation and devastation.  As I learned through this course, interpretation properly done is a vital tool to create natural resource stewardship (Beck et al. 2018).  Although there is risk involved–both with positive and negative outcome–by sharing such a vulnerable gift that is environmental knowledge, it is the only way to have more people care enough to protect it. 

This picture is of baby rabbits left abandoned by a sidewalk. I called a rescuer in the area, and they were saved.  They were too young to open their eyes.  People walked by these babies without seeing or caring that they were in danger from dogs, cats or wild snakes and birds.

People passing by may have missed how cute they are too!  

Interpretation also has benefits for humans in the city. Interpretation influences cities’ welfare, according to our textbook, by increasing society welfare and community stability (Beck et al. 2018). When the environment is a priority it leads to cleaner cities and healthier citizens.  There is an enormous amount of hope through environmental interpretation and education. Environmental science focuses on the technical monitoring of the environmental damage and environmental education focuses on changing the behaviour that is causing the devastation and stopping it at its core (Wals, et al 2014). When both combine and inform each other, the possibility of fixing the environmental degradation and many more issues can be achievable before it is too late. That is where my passion and hope is–using the power of knowledge and passion to lead change.  I would like to hear what your thoughts and your opinions are.

                                               References

Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural    Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2   

Leopold, A. (1949). pp16-20. A Sand County Almanac. New York, Ballantine  books. ISBN 0-345-34505-3

Wals, A. Bordy, M. Dillon, J. Stevenson, R. (2014). Convergence Between Science and Environmental Education. Science. https://www-scienceorg.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/doi/10.1126/science.1250515

[mpenvs3000w22]

Hi there!

First of all I just want to say how much I appreciate your take on the risks and rewards of sharing knowledge. While obviously it is important to educate the public about nature and share information freely, it is also just as important to think critically about these actions and reflect on how they could possibly bring about negative changes. The quote you included from Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac really gave me lots to think about. Once I started reflecting about how freely given knowledge can be taken advantage of so easily, I started seeing examples of it everywhere. Whether it be small social instances, where people will pry and utilize information about people's lives to their own advantage, or in grander ways, such as when colonizers were taught about the bounty of nature and its plants by indigenous communities, only to turn around and take advantage of all the resources and Peoples living there initially. 

While I do believe that this is an inherent human trait, I also think that this risk is trumped by the benefits that educating the public about environmental issues can bring. Many science communicators and researchers have found that increased environmental literacy at a young age increases people's ability to make informed decisions, critical thinking, and using acquired skills to turn knowledge into action. So while I dont think that the possibility of “knowledge presented through nature interpretation being taken advantage of” is a risk worth negating the whole process, I do think that it is an extremely important point to reflect on. By considering all angles and thinking critically about what knowledge is being shared and why, we can make informed decisions about safeguards that can be implemented to prevent this kind of negative reaction, as well as making nature interpretation more accessible to all.

(also omg those baby bunny photos absolutely made my day, I'm so happy you were able to get them some help! that must have been such an amazing moment to experience)

[mpenvs3000w22]

As an introvert: blog post 5

When I saw that this week’s blog post was to be unprompted, at first I was really excited! “This should be pretty easy” I thought. What perfect timing as I’ve got such a busy week of schoolwork, this blog post should take me no time at all to finish since all I have to do is write about literally anything. However, once I actually started trying to write about anything, I seemed to be stuck. I never realized before how much I rely on prompts, not in just this blogging assignment but in pretty much every aspect of my life. I like to think of myself as an outgoing and spontaneous person, but in all reality, I have always been shy and reserved as I have struggled with social anxiety my entire life. I often find myself lost with what to do when there are no specific instructions or “prompts” given to me. While I know that this is just simply a part of who I am, that there is nothing inherently wrong with being a shy and quiet person, I can't help but think how this will affect me in a career of nature interpretation or science communication.

As stated in our Unit 5 content, “you already know much of what you need to know, scientifically, and the rest is about approach”. Yes, I am very comfortable in my scientific knowledge, but what happens if I'm lacking in the approach? This topic has especially been on my mind this week as I just hosted my first live lesson for my science communication internship at Exploring By The Seat Of Your Pants. Since it was my first time, all I needed to do was introduce the guest speaker (which happened to be the Board Chair of the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia, Carolyn Farqhuar) and welcome in all the classrooms tuning in from around the world. This took 40 seconds max, but I was SO nervous and was shaking so fiercely by the time it came to start the broadcast. I rewatched the livestream afterwards once it was posted to YouTube, and you could visibly see the fear in my face and hear every gulp and stutter. This upset me, because I doubt that listening to any kind of interpretation from someone who is shaking and stuttering the whole time would make for a memorable experience.

I often wonder whether this is a skill that can be improved, or if it is just an inherent trait that people have; where public speaking and engagement comes naturally. The most frustrating part is that I truly do enjoy forming connections with people by educating them about the natural world that surrounds us, but my lack of confidence has always held me back.

While this course has already helped me navigate the world of nature interpretation and given me a bit more confidence through the different assignments (such as this especially vulnerable blog post), I'd love to hear if anyone else has had similar experiences to me. Whether you are a “reformed” shy person, or still struggle with confident public speaking, how do you navigate the incredibly up-close and personal world of nature interpretation? And are there ways to still have a successful “approach” to interpretation without having a naturally energetic and magnetic personality?

[ejenvs3000w22]

Who am I to interpret nature through art? How do I interpret “the gift of beauty”?

This weeks blog prompt got me very excited because I am that one friend of the group that tries to take a picture of every moment on a trip and interpreting nature through art is something I've dabbled with for some time now. From the textbook and information given to me this week, I began to realize all the different forms of art that I forgotten about. Literature, visual arts, graphic arts, decorative arts, and performing arts are all examples of the diverse subjects art can be expressed in. To be honest, art to me was either a picture, painting, or dancing. I understand now that literature can be an art to share a story to an audience and have them immerse themselves in the theme.

Now that I have grasped my understand of what art is, I've realized as well that all I do is interpret nature through art. Every time I take a picture of the landscape I am in, I am interpreting nature as art because I see the nature around me as visually appealing, the same way paintings are viewed by an audience. I have always seen the beauty in nature and that is one characteristic in myself that can help change how an audience can interpret nature. The feelings nature can give you, for example, being surrounded by lots of snow in a forest at night or palm trees on a hot day, can evoke tenderness, happiness, and many more feelings onto a person and that is the beauty of nature.

Humans can have a deeper and fulfilling connection with nature by appreciating the way nature looks. It can be hard at sometimes to see the beauty in some aspects of the world, but as nature interpreters our job is to help others see the beauty in any landscape they are in. Interpreting nature through art is a great method to help people bring value to nature enough so that they will form that initiative to protect it. Interpreting the "gift of beauty" can enhance every aspect of your life. Adding value to natures beauty, appreciating what nature has given us, and forming those connections/feelings we can have with nature are all gifts in itself. This comes back to supporting the idea of people having sustainable relationships with nature and must sustain its beauty.

That urge you get to take a picture of a beautiful landscape, sunset, or event in nature should remind us that we have human desires to look back at natures beauty and we all can look at nature through art. Making nature photos and videos meaningful to us is the reason why natures beauty is such a gift to enable us to form inspiration, connections, and relationships with the world around us.

[mpenvs3000w22]

Hi there!

When I started reading your post I was immediately hooked because I relate so much about being that friend who is constantly taking photos of everything. I often find myself taking photos of even the most random things like a pretty rock or a funny looking bird, simply because it makes me happy. I like to think that this is what art is; something that prompts you to feel, whether that be feeling happy, sad, nostalgic, or inspired. I resonate a lot with what you said about art and how it's easy to forget how wide its definition is. As someone who has been drawing and painting since I was a kid, art has always just been “visual art” to me. But similarly to you, this unit has helped me realize how much more “art” can be, especially as a valuable tool for nature interpretation.

Your ability to see beauty in nature wherever you look means that you already have an innate knack for nature interpretation, as you have the emotional connection needed to turn simple informative presentations into truly thought-provoking interpretation. I feel like more people should work on that part of themselves, that almost child-like wonder and appreciation for the things around us. Without it, life can get cold and mundane, and there is no way for us to form any real connections with nature.

I really enjoyed your take on utilizing art as a way to maintain sustainable relationships with nature and its beauty (and I loved all the beautiful pictures you included, really makes me wish I was outside right now instead of doing a bunch of schoolwork indoors!)

[mpenvs3000w22]

Art & Vulnerability: Risk or Reward?

For many, as soon as you bring up art, fear is struck within their souls. I have witnessed this phenomenon many times; whether it be in some of my classmates' posts who proclaim they don't have one artistic bone in their body, or even in self-proclaimed artistic individuals who are simply struck with fear when having to create. I am no exception to this. While I consider myself an artist, being in a constant state of creation and imagination since I can remember, I often find myself stuck in place when it comes to actually sharing my work.

It is my belief that all of these different forms of fear surrounding art stem from the same problem: vulnerability. Looking back at Hahn’s Six Declines of Modern Youth that was presented to us in Unit 4, many valid points were made about how “modern society” has negatively impacted us. However, I believe that the real tragedy of modernity is how most people mistake vulnerability as a weakness, when it's really one of the greatest strengths we possess. I prefer to see vulnerability as a risk of gain (R+), where opening up to those around you presents a real emotional risk, but also has the opportunity to bring about great growth or gain. Art at its core is essentially just a visual/physical from of vulnerability, in which the artist allows the viewers to engage with a part of themselves, putting themselves at the mercy of their interpretation. While many see this as a risk of loss (R-), this vulnerability is what makes art such a useful tool for nature interpretation.

As stated in Freeman Tilden’s fifth principle of interpretation, “The chief aim of interpretation is not instruction, but provocation”. Reading that principle was almost like an “aha!” moment, where it finally clicked what nature interpretation really entails. Sure, a sign listing the native species in the surrounding area can be informational, but this is in no way nature interpretation. Visitors will most likely walk by without giving it a second glance, or at most will passively read the information and move on. There is no engagement, there is no provocation, there is no vulnerability, there is nothing that will encourage the visitors to have a connection with the native species listed on that hypothetical sign. By integrating some form of art (which is a very broad word, one that has many different definitions so feel free to interpret it as you wish) it is now possible to form that kind of connection between the visitors and the subject at hand. Not only does it show that you as an interpreter care about the subject (which will inherently make the visitors more eager to pay attention), but it more importantly encourages them to begin thinking past the words on the sign, essentially forming their own personal connection to the surrounding nature.

I have always believed that everyone is an artist just as no one is an artist. Art at its core is subjective, therefore who am i to say what is “good” art and what isn't. The sole factor that separates art from the mundane is the love and passion put into it. If you are able to recognize love and passion, then you are able to interpret nature through art, even though you might not realize that's what you are doing at the moment. And as a nature interpreter, being vulnerable in your love and passion for nature through art is a risk that has the potential to lead to amazing connections with others.

I’d like to finish this blog post with another quote from the textbook that was really eye opening for me and really highlights the importance of art in nature interpretation:

“True love, deep love, abiding love sustains us as people in a complex society and ecosystem. Producing this kind of love can come only from direct acquaintance.”

I’d love to hear how other people interpret this quote, as well as its connection to their own experiences with the risks and rewards of art.

[cbenvs3000w22]

Blog #3

To me, privledge is like a head start.  It is also largely based on one’s access to resources and how this impacts their view of the world. I believe this is realted to Maslow’s heirarchy of needs which follows the order: physiological, saftey, belongingness, self-esteem, self-actualization (Johns & Saks, 2019).  This theory also suggests that the lowest level of the heirarchy which one does not posses is what they will be motivated to focus on (Johns & Saks, 2019).  This is applicable to privledge in nature interpretation because if someone is born without their physiological or saftey needs met, they will be focused on finding their next meal or somewhere to live.  This does not leave room to search for a greater appreciation of nature, which might fall under belonginess or even higher, in self-actualization.

I have been very privledged in my life which has allowed me to enjoy everything that nature has to offer. For example, I have been able to camp from a very young age.  As outlined by Beck et. al. not everyone is able to experience these things for a variety of reasons such as: economic, cultural and communications barriers as well as a lack of knowledge and fear.  Growing up I had many opprotunities to explore and travel different places in the world which exposed me to plenty of nature.  As I mentioned in previous blogs, this allowed me to find a special appreciation of nature.  My goal as a nature interpreter is to do my best to help others pass through these barriers.  My privledge has made me lucky enough that I have not experienced them and therefore, I could use this for the greater good of the world to help others.  The lack of economic barriers came as a result of my parent’s hard work to find financial success.  This allowed me to experience multiple countries as well as be immersed in nature through something like a hike at any time.  I did not experience cultural barriers because as I mentioned my parents were large influences in taking me camping.  Similarly, I have never been deterred from nature due to a lack of knowledge or fear because I have been exposed to it from a young age. I have never experienced communication barriers because I am lucky enough to have learned English as a first language.  Given that it is one of the hardest languages to learn and one of the most commonly spoken this has never been a problem for me.  I believe an awarness of this is important because it allows me to think about how I might need to change my interpretations of nature in order to best reach others depending on who they are.  I also believe that it is important for me to be grateful for the experiences that my privledge has granted me.

References

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

Johns, G. Saks, A.M. (2019). Organizational Behavior (11th). Toronto Ontario: Pearson Education Canada

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Hi there!

I really enjoyed reading your blog post this week. I feel like many people often feel awkward or uncomfortable talking about their privilege, almost as if it would constitute as a form of “bragging”. There is not anything inherently wrong with having privilege, however, it's when people choose to remain silent or pretend like their privilege doesn't exist that harm is brought to those with less privilege. This creates almost a sort of “taboo” when discussing privilege, and I often end up asking myself “well then what am I supposed to do?”. There's only so much good that acknowledging privilege can do for those who are disadvantaged.

That is why your post stuck out so much when I read it, it was your mention of using this privilege as a tool for helping make the world a more fair place. This has already proven to be extremely valuable in many other real-world settings such as white people using their “built-in safety” to physically protect POC during protests, but I have yet to really reflect on how this could be used in nature interpretation. Perhaps by using our financial privilege we can help fund programs that make nature more accessible to disadvantaged people? I always find it a fine line to navigate between using my privilege to advocate for POC and accidentally taking up too much of their space as a “white saviour”. I'd love to hear your thoughts on other ways we can use our privilege to help others.

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Privilege

I began to prepare for writing this post by first examining my invisible backpack. There is no doubt that my entire life has been helped along by my vast amounts of privileges. While I am a queer woman, the fact that I am white, middle-class, and well-educated has given me enough of a level of privilege and security that it continues to benefit me to this day. It is this security that allows us white people to stay comfortably unaware of the disadvantages that others around us face. This is why my personal definition for privilege is the advantages given to you solely for your membership within a group as well the ability to not see these advantages.

Privilege is often invisible to those who possess it, which makes fighting for social change an often insurmountable task. In the case of racial injustice, many white people remain oblivious to how deeply intertwined they are, it's no longer just a case of “not being racist”. I myself only really became aware of how deeply systemized racism was during the Black Lives Matter movement (this ignorance is in itself a privilege).

When it comes to nature interpretation, there are countless ways in which privilege and ignorance come into play especially when considering racial injustice. When reading chapter 7 of our textbook by Beck et al. (2018), the authors highlighted many fantastic ideas for promoting inclusivity such as:

1. Reducing economic barriers by providing transportation to those unable to travel to natural history sites

2. Reducing cultural barriers by “inviting, including, involving” minorities

3. Reducing communication barriers through strategic communication using varied languages and media

While all of these suggestions are absolutely amazing and do have the potential to help make nature interpretation accessible to all, the authors fail to mention the main root of the issue. Much of the book refers back to the national parks service, yet there is no real mention about the racial issues within this agency. When I was reading through the chapter, it was honestly of no surprise when I read that the majority of national park visitors were white, yet I found myself asking “what about the national park service itself?”. I was forced to do my own research, and found that the NPS is actually one of the least diverse agencies in the United States, with 83% of the total workforce being white (this number is assumed to be even higher within its seasonal employees). How can we expect POC to feel comfortable walking through these parks and taking advantage of the wonderful programs being offered when there is such a clear racial bias. By having 80% of the NPS superintendents being white, there is a slim chance that black, hispanic, indigenous and asian voices are being considered when making changes to park programs.

Research conducted by the Center for American Progress found that less than 25% of park sites focused on the cultures of minorities and underrepresented groups. And when these areas are supposed to be a place where the country’s history is being showcased, so many communities are being erased from this history, which is both morally and factually wrong.

As a nature interpreter it is very important to be aware of the systemic racism that is prevalent within all systems of our country, even those we cherish such as the National and Provincial parks. All of this leads me to wonder how we, as relatively new nature interpreters who have yet to be doing this as a career, can make a difference? I would love to hear your thoughts as I often get quite frustrated when thinking about such a large and seemingly insurmountable issue.

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My Future as a Nature Interpreter

I still do not know what my dream job would be. What I do know is that I want to work outdoors and that I love to see children learn about nature. As I mentioned in my previous blog, at one of my co-op work terms I was an outdoor education intern and an outdoor education centre north of Toronto. Many of the students who came to the centre had never left the city before and were experiencing being in nature for the first time. We took them cross country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, and taught them while doing these activities. It was incredible to watch their eyes open as they learned about the outdoors while experiencing them at the same time. These types of trips were always my favourite while I was in grade school as well and I found I learned the most while experiencing nature.

All this being said, I am a relatively quiet person and do not love speaking in front of big groups. While on this work term, I learned that I do better and enjoy it more when there is a group of around 5-10 people where I can interact more. I also really want to do field research. Putting these things together, I think my dream job would involve ecological monitoring in a park (provincial, national, or other) where I could still interact with groups of visitors and educate them about what they are exploring.

I think it is incredibly important to educate the public about the importance of conserving biodiversity. More often people just hear “save biodiversity” without an explanation of why it’s so important. I think that I would do well in a position of getting people to care about biodiversity by having them see it first-hand. While I don’t do well speaking in front of large groups, I do well with small groups. So, explaining to visitors what I am working on and why as they pass by would be a really rewarding job for me.

I love forests and am really passionate about trees. One of my favourite things to explain to friends when I’m hiking is the “perched birch.” This is when the beginning of the roots of a birch tree are above ground making the trunk to appear perched above the ground. This happens because birch seeds are not always heavy enough to get through the layer of fallen leaves on the forest floor, so the seed lands on a decaying log and begins to grow. The log decays over time and you are left with a perched birch tree. I love learning about adaptations like this on that trees have to survive, and I love talking about them. When I get to show them first-hand, it’s a really rewarding experience. I also find that they often look at trees and appreciate them in a different way after this.

So, I’m still not totally sure how I see myself in the future as a nature interpreter, but I know that something like what I’ve described would be a dream and that I love to do it for fun with friends.

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Hi there!

As I was reading through your post, I just kept thinking: "wow this person is exactly like me!!" I know exactly what you mean about being a relatively quiet person, and the natural aversion to public speaking. I was always a shy kid and preferred quiet time alone reading that playing in big groups of people. This followed me into adulthood, but I began to see it as more of a strength than a weakness. It is a common misconception that people in educational or interpretational careers have to exceptionally loud and bubbly, if anything being a reserved person allows you to be more visually attentive.

By being a more attentive person, you'll be able to tailor your nature interpretation specifically to your audience and allow them to have a wonderfully immersive experience. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is passion, and you seem to have an endless amount of that. I love how you have had the opportunity to work with underprivileged kids and those who have never had the chance to see the great big outdoors. I believe that they are our most important audience as nature interpreters as they are most in need of the inspiration and passion that nature can bring, hopefully creating a new generation of nature enthusiasts/biologists/researchers.

Overall a wonderful post and I really loved learning about the perched birch, never knew that!

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Nature Interpretation Through Art

While I’ve always had a passion for biology and “nature’s underdogs” as highlighted in my last post, I didn’t always know for certain if that was the path I was going to take. This was mainly because I also had another great big passion: visual arts. This comes as no surprise as I have always been a very visual person, with my learning style score being 70% visual and only 5 % auditory. Ever since I was a little kid, I've been drawing and drawing and drawing, eventually taking all art courses at my highschool on top of the science courses. I always thought I was going to have to choose one and stick with it, because I had always been told that art and science were polar opposites as careers. I ended up sticking with science, choosing to do a zoology degree, but I very quickly found out that this wasn't the case. I wish someone would have told me earlier that meshing science and art is a very valuable skill and can provide one with a wide variety of opportunities. This quickly became my goal: to somehow use my talent for visual arts to promote the learning of science and a love for nature.

When reflecting on what my ideal role of environmental interpreter would be, I know already that it will be a combination of my two passions. This however, is where I come up blank. I do not know exactly how this will come about, but I know I'm going to make it happen. Ideally, I'd love to make educational programs for my community, utilizing my skill for digital design to make them both accessible and visually enticing. However, it can be very hard to succeed as an independent artist. A more realistic (but still incredibly rewarding) position would be to work as a science communicator for organizations that already provide this service. This is why I am currently doing an internship at “Exploring By The Seat of Your Pants”, a wonderful non-for-profit organization that hosts live events connecting classrooms with scientists, explorers, and researchers from all over the world. I hope that my time as a science communication intern will provide me with the skills I will need to continue this as a (hopeful) career. This type of environmental interpretation will require me to be very charismatic, creative, and organized, all of which are skills I am working on.

Until then however, I am keeping myself busy and honing my other skills by creating small side projects. Currently, I am completing a collection of zines (a small-circulation self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images) in which I advocate for the conservation of the more commonly feared creatures such as spiders and bats, all while remaining humorous and light hearted to encourage people to look at them with a new mindset.

As stated in our Unit 2 notes, nature interpretation is all about “sharing what you care about with others – and most importantly, to also get them to care”.I believe this perfectly sums up my mindset about ideal role of interpreter, as my passion for meshing science and art as a useful tool for showing others the beauty and importance of the natural world, especially that of the small and often-forgotten creatures.