The Ethics of Nature Interpretation
Before this class, I did not think of myself as a nature interpreter. I saw myself as someone who was interpreted to and I thought I didn’t know enough about nature to be an interpreter. I now know that almost anyone can be a nature interpreter if they put in the work required. It is important as an interpreter to think about your ethics, beliefs, responsibilities and the approach you are going to take. To me, the ethics of nature interpretation include your beliefs, responsibilities and the approach you take in your interpretation.
My beliefs focusing on nature interpretation have been strengthened during this class. I believe that nature should be preserved and we need to do better at conserving it. Nature has value in itself, not just for the value it provides for humans and this should be emphasized during interpretation. I believe that there should be better and more education on the basis of nature and conservation; this includes in school and in interpretation. I also believe that we are not doing enough to protect nature and we need to educate people on the downfalls of human activities. One of my most important beliefs for nature interpretation is that every individual no matter what background, level of ability or socioeconomic standing should be able to enjoy both nature and nature interpretation. It is important to me to acknowledge my privilege, because it has afforded me opportunities that others do not have, including attending this university. Not everyone has the opportunity to attend university and get a formal education, this is why I feel that giving avenues for learning outside of a classroom is really important because it can reach more people.
This class explained some of the responsibilities of a nurture interpreter and I have also have built upon that to think about my responsibilities as a nature interpreter. As an interpreter, it is our job to make information and education available for many types of people, whether that be by creating online programs or tailoring our existing programs for different audiences. We should also strive to create interpretation programs that serve different age ranges and backgrounds as well as abilities. Children should have their own programming and the interpretation site should be accessible for everyone who wants to come. This accessibility can include ramps for wheelchairs and people who cannot climb stairs easily, there should be breaks for people who have a hard time walking for long periods of time and there should be signs in different languages and for people who are hard of hearing or deaf. As interpreters, it is also our responsibility to create a comprehensive and interesting interpretive program about nature. This will keep people interested and more likely to absorb the information, this also allows for returning customers and great reviews which can increase the revenue to the park or interpretation sites, and a more educated population.
Every nature interpreter has a different approach when it comes to educating and speaking to their audience. My approach to this relies heavily on my love for science because even if the content is kind of boring my love for it would hopefully shine through and make the program interesting. I am not much of a public speaker and I would rather not do it unless I know a lot about the subject although I am very talkative one-on-one. Although I do not love public speaking, I can go on and on about topics and things that I love, this overtakes my nervousness in public speaking. As long as I am talking about something I am passionate about then I will be happy to speak to many people. I love science and I want to share that love, especially with children who might take my interpretation to hearty and maybe develop and nurture a love for nature and science. Most of us who love science or nature had someone who showed us how cool it was, for me that person was my grandpa who taught me to love nature. The people who taught me to love science are not even people I have met face to face, they were people I saw on TV such as Bill Nye and the scientists on shows like river monsters and even Mythbusters. You do not even need to meet someone to install a love of science or nature and this is even more important during the trying time we have just lived through. The pandemic created a unique experience for many people, and nature interpreters have had to adapt to this. Large groups were not allowed so interpreters had to overcome that barrier. Technology is so advanced now that we can use it for interpretation, websites, webinars and virtual walkthroughs. Technology advancements have also helped us reach more people because they don’t need to take a trip to witness the program if there is an online version. I think virtual walk-throughs could be really great for people far away or for people with mobility issues. I think technology can also be used on-site to help convey the information. Technology can be used as an aid or just as a fun part of the interpretation.
Ethics are an important part of any learning, scientific, or work environment. Everybody should have equal access to nature and interpretation. There should be rules, and initiatives to make sure everyone is included and welcomed to the natural site. There needs to be accessible ways to view the interpretation site, and signs in different languages and large letters. People of every age and background should be welcome at the interpretation site. Science and nature interpretation should use plain language and explain concepts in words that the general population understands. These are some but not all the important factors in the ethics of interpretation and should be involved in every interpretation program and site. This class has taught me a lot about nature interpretation and I can’t wait to learn more as I grow as an interpreter.
Hey! Great post this week; I really enjoyed learning about your approach and ethics towards nature interpretation. I love how you mentioned how we can all be nature interpreters. Honestly, going into this course, I thought this would be very “nature/ecology-based,” focusing on the basics of how to teach others on the subject. However, I was very wrong! There’s so much to explore with nature interpretation, especially its many different forms. This makes it a lot easier for anyone to take part in nature interpretation, no matter what educational background you have. You can do something as simple as an art installation in a forest, which can help people form a positive, memorable experience within nature. The most important part of nature interpretation is to create a deep connection with nature or a “sense of place,” as mentioned in the textbook. There’s no complex formula to it. Anyways, back to ethics! I really loved how you mentioned that nature interpretation should be accessible to all. Sometimes, science can be seen as an exclusive club, where only people with relevant educational backgrounds can be a part of. You can see this in some papers and research where they use large, complex words that even people with a university degree wouldn’t be able to understand. This is obviously an issue that we need to solve, where I think nature interpretation comes into play. As nature interpreters, I think we should provide an accessible way to learn science. By providing inclusive information and programs, we can share the joy of science with everyone.
Great post this week! Good luck with exams and everything else :)
~Nicole
Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World (1st ed.). Sagamore Publishing



















