Adventures in Nature

Nature Interpretation

[igbenvs3000w22-deactivated20220]

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.

[nbenvs3000w22]

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

[tkpenvs3000w22]

Goodbye Nature Nerds

Wow, what a semester this has been! I hope all of you have been exploring nature as spring begins to uncover the ground to make room for new growth.

As an aspiring nature interpreter, my personal ethic is to keep the focus of nature interpretation on inspiring a passion to take care of the environment in others (Beck et al., 2018). Teaching others that it is great to explore nature and get out into the wild is amazing, but to make them cognizant that, as they do so, they could ultimately damage the environment is critical because we want to encourage responsible and respectful nature enthusiasts (Beck et al., 2018). In contrast with the expression encouraging you to “take the road less travelled,” perhaps consider sticking to the trail as foot traffic can trample flora. Moreover, do not take biotic or abiotic items from the natural environment as it may disrupt the ecosystem, remember to pick up after yourself or your pet and dispose of the waste properly, do not wash dirty dishes in freshwater sources instead use your own water away from streams, if creating a campfire you have to contain it whilst burning and remember to completely extinguish it before you leave, and these are just a few tips. If you practice these habits, it makes all of the difference in preserving the natural environment ensuring that it remains for others to experience and appreciate.

Do you have any other good advice for habits to protect the environment?

A belief I hold when it comes to nature interpretation is that nature is for everyone, but it is to be appreciated in different ways based upon one’s abilities or background (Beck et al., 2018). For example those with various physical disabilities may use different senses to enjoy nature. Deaf individuals may rely more heavily on their sense of sight and, contrastingly, a blind individual may rely more heavily on their hearing. I believe some individuals may argue that they are not getting the “full experience,” however, I counter that with there is no one standard by which everyone enjoys nature. Other than just in terms of disabilities, individuals have different perspectives due to varying cultural and religious upbringings. I strongly hold that, though these various factors may impact the way in which they perceive the beauty of nature, everyone is capable of appreciating it (Beck et al., 2018). As the colloquial phrase implies, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Moreover, these varying perspectives teach the rest of us different ways to view nature and, as a nature interpreter, it is best to understand how others view nature and learn more which increases my breadth of knowledge as an interpreter making me better at my job. Learning from others also would allow me to make nature more accessible to others, such as through developing virtual nature walks or programs, as well as other activities that best suit individuals’ various learning styles, such as by developing podcasts for auditory learners, creating visual art portraying nature for visual learners, and designing hands-on activities for kinesthetic learners, etc.; there are many options available for different types of learners (Beck et al., 2018).

Beyond protecting the environment, which I consider the greatest ethic with which a nature interpreter must adhere to, the major responsibility that I believe the nature interpreter has to impart upon others is that we all should be held responsible to take care of the Earth: each of us has an impact, for better or for worse (Beck et al., 2018). Though it may feel like our actions are little as we are only individuals on this Earth containing billions of people, if everyone took some responsibility, we would make a difference as a whole. The issue is getting others to believe or to care at all. I believe the best route to getting others to understand would be to tell individuals the truth and not sugar coat as I believe little white lies told to comfort individuals do more harm than good. I think that individuals need to be aware of the severity of the dire situation facing our environment to want to take action. The large example that I’m sure is on all of our minds is climate change. We need people to understand that every action they perform has a consequence and that there is a need to reduce our carbon footprint to mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure that we have clean air and water for generations to come. But I only think that this strategy works if you provide advice on how to help out because we do not want to open pandora’s box of negativity. In the case of climate change, advice that would convince me to try to make a difference to protect our environment but not intimidate me from even trying would include recommending I eat less meat and dairy, take public transportation when possible, reduce energy use by turning off lights in rooms where you are not present, try to reduce the waste you produce, etc. Actionable day-to-day tasks are very motivating, especially as a starting point, and then you can work up to larger tasks such as attending protests and trying to change legislation.

Would you take this approach, or do you believe that there is a better way to go about getting others to comprehend the severity of the situation? If you have a new idea, share it so we can all be better informed!

Thank you all for sharing with me this semester, I have learned so much from all of you that a textbook could never cover so I am grateful. I am certainly going to miss these enlightening conversations that we were having weekly. In closing, I hope you continue to get out into nature and explore responsibly. I can’t wait to find out what you are all up to someday, maybe we can all catch up somewhere in nature on a hike.

Not goodbye, but see you later nature nerds!

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

[nbenvs3000w22]

Hello! I loved reading your post this week; it’s crazy to think this is our last blog post! This semester has flown by so quickly. I really liked how you mentioned that it is our responsibility as nature interpreters to help people understand the severity of climate change. I’m sure climate change is not their primary stressor in life within people’s day-to-day lives. There’s school, work, taxes - those worries can quickly overtake any efforts towards maintaining a sustainable lifestyle. As nature interpreters, it is our responsibility to encourage our audience to be eco-friendly and make them aware of climate change issues.

  Of course, one of the main things nature interpreters should bring up is making sustainable changes in their everyday lives. Like you said, taking public transportation, reducing energy use, and eating meat can be small and important changes within daily life, making a meaningful impact on the climate movement. However, I think there needs to be more emphasis on keeping large companies accountable for the damages they have created for our environment. They tend to place the blame on the everyday person when they are some of the main contributors to climate change/greenhouse emissions. Even some environmental NGOs are guilty of this problem. So I think rather than encouraging people to make small changes, we should encourage people to focus on big change within our government and economies. You can encourage people to sign petitions or partake in protests. Even so, creating awareness towards these issues can be just as effective.

Anyways, good job! ~Nicole

[nbenvs3000w22]

The End!

Wowie, I can’t believe we made it to the end. It’s been a long process (writing every week was tougher than I expected), but I have had a lot of fun on this nature interpretation journey. I have learned a lot about myself and who I am as a nature interpreter, especially how to provide a meaningful connection with nature. From unpacking my invisible backpack to using music as a method of interpretation, ENVS*3000 taught me so much about this subject. Also not to mention, I enjoyed exploring my own connection with nature throughout my life and how it has changed me as a person. I never realized how big of a role the environment plays within my life, especially throughout my childhood. This truly made me realize how it is crucial to gain/have that connection with nature, which is why nature interpretation is so important.

Ok! So now, onto our final topic - ethics within nature interpretation!

As a nature interpreter, I think our main goal is to provide a healthy connection with nature and teach sustainability to an individual. In our world today, there are many people with different backgrounds, all having varying relationships with nature. In order to bring a compelling message to your audience, it is important to consider everyone’s beliefs and perspectives towards our environment. Going into any form of nature interpretation, we should avoid preconceived notions and assumptions. This will ensure that the message remains strong and effective, as the message remains inclusive towards any field of knowledge. For example, if you were taking a group of people on a tour of a nature reserve and coming across a deer and its fawn, you would not use difficult scientific terms and concepts to teach your audience. You would use general terms that would be easy for any person to understand (science and non-science backgrounds) and challenge them to think further. Of course, it is context-dependent (you can be talking to an audience of scientists); however, it is important to draw that connection within your interpretation. That is one of my personal ethics as a nature interpreter - take an adaptable and inclusive approach to things!

That leads to my second personal ethic within nature interpretation - acknowledging different beliefs from different cultures and bringing them into my own interpretation. Within sustainability practices, many different cultures and backgrounds have other methods of maintaining a healthy environment. For example, here are some religious texts/quotes that promote living sustainably with the environment:

Buddhism (Dalai Lama, 1990a):

“Our ancestors viewed the earth as rich and bountiful, which it is. Many people in the past also saw nature as inexhaustibly sustainable, which we now know is the case only if we care for it.”

Sikhism (Guru Granth Sahib, Maru Sohele, page 1020):

“You, yourself created the Universe, and You are pleased… You, Yourself the bumblebee, flower, fruit and the tree.”

Taoism (Lao-Tzu, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 16):

“This original nature is the eternal law. To know the nature’s law is to be enlightened. He who is ignorant of the nature’s law shall act recklessly, and thus will invite misfortune. To know the constant law of nature is to be generous. Being generous, one is impartial. Being impartial, one is the sovereign. Sovereign is the nature itself.”

You can find more about it here; they have a couple of more quotes that are super interesting to read! Now back to what I was saying - I think it’s essential to draw in lessons from different teachings to create a meaningful connection with nature. There are so many other sayings and beliefs that can all be broken down into a straightforward message: care for the environment as it is a crucial aspect of our lives. We always tend to hear only the western side of environmentalism within government and politics, which is not a practical road to sustainability (especially with capitalism being the central ideology within the western world, but that conversation is for another time, LOL). We should take in the perspectives of every different culture and belief system when it comes to promoting sustainability; each group has something important to say/contribute. This is why as a nature interpreter, I want to bring in beliefs from all over the world that support one main goal; protecting our environment. This is a truly important part of nature interpretation since some people may have only been exposed to one way of thinking. Opening up the minds of your audience and introducing them to different cultures and ways of thinking can be extremely important to convey a message of sustainability. You can do a land acknowledgement whenever you are on indigenous lands and mention how they promoted a healthy relationship with Mother Earth, which can effectively teach sustainability to others. When talking about protecting our world from climate change and pollution, it doesn’t make sense to only bring up one side of the story. Environmentalism and sustainability come from all ends of the earth, not just a white, wealthy male politician.

Now finally, I want to explore my responsibilities as a nature interpreter. Nature interpretation can be taken down many different avenues, from tours around a natural wonder to create a citizen science project to help promote scientific knowledge within the community. But I think the most important aspect of this field is making a “sense of place,” as mentioned at the beginning of this course in chapter one of the textbook. There is a significant disconnect between humans and nature within our world today. With technology and the growth of cities, it can be hard to develop a deep connection with the environment around us. We tend to be caught up with school, work and other daily stressors, unable to relax and reflect. This stress digs us into a deep hole, making us think, “why should I care about nature and sustainability at the moment? There are a lot bigger issues I am currently dealing with”. Or even, “I don’t care that we’re going camping next weekend. I have a project due the next week which I need to get done as soon as possible”. We push ourselves further and further away from nature, which can damage or limit our “sense of place”. That’s why I think that as a nature interpreter, it’s important to give your audience the building blocks to form a “sense of place.” By developing this feeling, you can truly help create a response towards the “beauty of the environment” (Beck et al., 2018). I think the textbook said it best; 

“The interpreter helps visitors to recognize a location as more than just another mountain, river, arboretum, or pioneer settlement. The interpreter helps identify the special characteristics and the “big story” that the place represents in the overall scheme of things” (Beck et al., 2018)

A deep and meaningful connection can be formed by helping the audience identify the “big story” of nature. It can inspire them to learn more about the world about them and make meaningful changes within their lives to help better the environment.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed my blog! I surely loved reading and responding to everyone. Can’t wait to hear about everyone’s journeys as a nature interpreter! Goodbye for now!

~Nicole

[amenvs3000w22]

Blog post 8 - The most amazing things about nature

In a world as extraordinary and complex as ours, with millions of different species and processes occurring every second, there is no doubt that there are so many amazing things about nature. The most amazing thing I know about nature is that plants and animals have the ability to evolve and change their structures to carry out specific functions. This might not seem very exciting, but it is a process that has helped to develop human technology. How you may ask? I’ll give you an example. Every dog owner on the planet hates burs; they stick to clothes, shoes, hair, fur, and are near-impossible to get rid of. But have you ever wondered why they stick to everything? Burs are seed capsules, coated in tiny little ‘hooks.’ Burs have evolved to contain these hooks for survival purposes. The hooks and thick rough fibers make it difficult for predators to break into the seed capsule, but that isn’t their main function. The hooks are specifically designed to get stuck in fur. It is believed that the fibers will latch onto mammals, and will fall off after the mammal has traveled far distances. Once the capsules have fallen off, they will decompose, and the seeds will germinate in that new region. This technique ensures wide-range dispersal of the plant, and provides advantages in increasing population abundance. 

This is my sister’s dog, Eva, who I take on endless outdoor adventures with me. I’ve lost count of the amount of burs she’s had on her, luckily we’ve not had to give her any wacky haircuts, they’ve all come out smoothly!

Through observation of the structural functions of plants, such as this dispersal technique, humans have been able to incorporate these mechanisms into our everyday technology. Not quite sure how burs have influenced human technology? It might not seem like the most advanced piece of technology, but through observing the dispersal patterns of burs, humans have invented velcro. Velcro contains two types of fabrics: both fabrics are comprised of nylon, but one fabric is soft and textured, containing thousands of small loops, and the other fabric is hard and consists of hundreds of small plastic hooks. When these two fabrics meet, they fuse together, and have the ability to hold objects in place. This invention is important for a variety of applications, including household use, healthcare use, military use, and even use by NASA in their spacecrafts, and would have never been invented if it weren’t for plants.

We can’t forget about animals and their structures! Let’s look at cats. Have you ever wondered why cat’s have whiskers? Whiskers are the length of the width of the cat. When their whiskers touch an object, they have sensors that tell them they are touching an object. This helps cats navigate their environment. This evolutionary technique has assisted cats (and other mammals) in night hunting, as it improves their ability to understand their environment when they have limited sight! (Sidenote, this is not my cat, this is Cora’s cat, she’s in this class. Her blog is cljenvs3000w22, go check her out!)

Another seed-related example is the Galapagos finches of the Galapagos Islands. I’m sure we’ve all learned this at some point, but the study of the finches of the Galapagos Islands determined that the same species of finch occurring on different islands experienced different phenological characteristics, despite containing the same genetics. The most significant observed phenological difference was the differences in beak sizes among each island, especially since the finch populations on each island were separated and had no way of interacting with each other. Islands containing small-sized fruits and nuts housed finches with small, narrow beaks, but islands containing large, hard, or bulky fruits and nuts housed finches with large, wide beaks. The finches of each island had evolved to accommodate the available resources on their island. This structural change ensured the survival of the species, and assisted humans in their knowledge on the process of evolution. This has led to countless evolutionary discoveries that have assisted humans in predicting historical and future events.  

[nbenvs3000w22]

Ok - I saw a cat and knew I had to respond to your post. Even though it's not your cat, I love the picture (also love your sister's dog too!).

Anyways, I really enjoyed reading your blog post this week about your favourite parts of nature. The technology behind burs tends to be looked over by so many people, so I'm happy you brought it up. Even though they can be so annoying to take off, burs have evolved in such an interesting way. Their dispersal technique is very effective since they attach so easily to animals with fur, due to their hooks. It's crazy how such a small adaptation has made a drastic difference in a plant's survival. Even though the concept is simple, it's crazy how a plant can develop such complex structures to do so.

Another part of your post that I really enjoyed reading is the connection of nature to human technologies and discoveries. I had no clue that burs were an inspiration for velcro! Velcro, as simple as it is, has become a staple in everyday life and even in space! Imagine a world without it - we wouldn't be the same without it. Even something as commonplace as the flight was inspired by birds and their wings. It really shows you how nature has benefited us in many ways. We are truly connected with nature and depend on it, no matter what we do or say. That's why it's so sad to see how we have lost our connection with it, especially with the increase in technology and the use of fossil fuels. But I believe that's our job as nature interpreters - to help people find that connection.

Anyways, can't wait to read more!

~Nicole

[nbenvs3000w22]

Nature is Pretty Cool, ngl.

So for obvious reasons, I'm pretty biased on this topic; I am in ecology, and I am taking a course on nature interpretation. But I think nature is one of those things that everyone has a connection to, whether they know it or not. Now you don't need to be a "tree-hugger" or intertwined with mother nature to feel a connection (even though those are cool); you can just have a cherished memory within nature. Whether it's driving through a forest or camping with your friends - a connection to nature is always there. Sometimes, you just gotta look for it.

Now, I'll be honest with you - I didn't have a strong connection with nature for some time. Whenever my parents would go for a drive to see the changing colours in the fall or go on a hike, I was never the biggest fan. I loved seeing all the different animals (feeding chickadees and seeing all the farm animals), but I would always question why my parents would freak out about the scenery. I would ask them, "what's so special about the mountains?" or "this is so boring for me, why isn't it for you?". They would always respond, "just wait till you're older; you'll understand," which always annoyed me. They barely answered my question! Plus, they pulled the "wait till you're older" speech which didn't help their argument at all! But as they always say, your parents are always right. My appreciation for nature came gradually with age and maturity as I realized nature's role in my life. Not only did it give my family, friends and I great memories we share till this day; nature gave me curiosity and wonder. Even though it surrounds us in our everyday lives, there is always so much more to see and discover. As I began to learn about the different things nature had to offer (cute animals and pretty blue grottos), I wanted to explore and learn as much as possible. And that's the joy of it - there's always something for someone. Whether you like a relaxing beach to tan on or discovering all the different bugs under a trunk of a tree, nature has it all.

A fun boat trip to Honey Harbour for my Grade 12 Graduation (2020). My friends and I were at the water 24/7.

Now, of course, I gotta share with you guys the most amazing thing I know about nature - animals can have altruistic (selfless; benefiting others without any benefit for themselves) behaviours. I know it sounds pretty strange, but it's not only humans that display these characteristics. For example, with worker bees, all of their actions are devoted to the queen and their colony's longevity (National Aquarium, 2020). Rather than focusing on their own survival, they place all of their attention towards a greater cause - even at the expense of their life. Another example of this is in a study done by Désirée Brucks and Auguste M.P. von Bayern, where they tested the altruistic behaviours of African grey parrots. When given a token to exchange for food, the parrot would voluntarily provide the token to a parrot who did not receive a token. These are some of the many examples of altruistic behaviours displayed within animals. I find this portion of nature to be so interesting - sometimes it is hard to remember that animals are living creatures with feelings and emotions. Diving deep into their psychology shows that they aren't too far away from us humans.

Do you guys have any fond memories of nature? Or any cool facts about it? Let me know!

~Nicole

[akenvs3000w22]

The influence of nature on music and vice verse

Today we are discussion music in nature and nature in music: something that I have been pondering about at night for the past week or so. Music is a fascinating phenomenon. We, as humans, take melodies and rhythms and intricately create something that heightens your sense of sound. When you listen to a song you love, you relish in the emotions it evokes, you admire the way the melodies blend together and cherish every harmony. You let the lyrics sink in and feel your body want to move to the beat. It’s an experience unlike anything else, and I’ve been wondering what the origins are to this common human phenomenon.

So, where is music in nature? Some things that likely come to mind are the songs of birds, the howling of the wind, or the chirping of crickets in the dead of night. The symphony of sounds you hear in nature are in their own rights “music”, as they are capable of evoking emotions which is a integral part of music (Beck et al. 2018). These sounds of nature also do a remarkable job at imprinting an event or setting into your memory, which is another aspect of music (Beck et al. 2018). Personally, when I think about the sounds of mourning doves and cicadas humming, I envision my daily bike-ride to school, inhaling fresh morning air. Without even realizing it, nature makes an impact in our lives through the use of sound, and I believe that music works in a very similar manner.

In fact, I not only believe there is nature in music, but I believe that music is inherently a part of nature. It’s undeniable that music is a universal practice, and it is an important aspect of every culture. When you listen to music your body has a biological response to it: you may be inclined to tap your foot or sway, and you feel shifts in your emotions. Music is in our blood and even if you don’t create music, it likely holds a special place in your life. This is why I am convinced that music is an inherent part of human nature, and this is what makes it such a powerful tool.

Now, hopefully that philosophical tangent about music wasn’t too incoherent, but I would love to share an artist that helped change my outlook on nature and the world!

One of my favourite artists, Kacey Musgraves, has a track titled “Oh, What a World”, and it holds a special place in my heart. This song plays with the emotion of awe and wonder that you feel when you see the natural wonders of the world, such as the northern lights, or “things that swim with a neon glow”. It describes some of the wonderful things we get to experience on earth, and the chorus goes “Oh what a world, and then there is you”.

Although the lyrics are simple, it does an amazing job capturing that child-like feeling of awe you feel that makes you appreciate the world around us. Exploring this feeling brings me back to any time I have been in nature, and just soaking in all of my surroundings. Nature is an amazing tool to bring out our sense of wonder, and it’s moments like these where I realize how lucky I am to get to experience this all.

I encourage everyone to seek out these feelings of wonder and think about how it changes your perspective of nature. Also, please share what songs make the world seem like a magical place to you!

Reference

Beck, L., Cable, T., & Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. 225-226

Musgraves, K., Tashian, D., Fitchuk, I. (2018). Oh, What a World. Golden Hour, track 4. UMG Recordings.

[nbenvs3000w22]

Hey! I really loved reading your post this week. Honestly, I also felt that I was getting really philosophical with my post, but I feel that it was kinda necessary in order to answer the prompt. But in regards to music, I completely agree that it imprints events into your memory. I have so many songs that bring up memories of trips, drives and good times with friends - I can remember even the fine details too. Even though it may not be your typical form of nature interpretation, music is honestly so important to help people create a relationship with nature. Songs, rhythms, beats and instruments have been such an important part of humanity's culture. It only makes sense to include in nature interpretation.

I really loved reading your connection with the Kacey Musgrave song "Oh, What a World". I find the simplest of lyrics can instill so many positive emotions. I also relate to the lyrics "things that swim with a neon glow", it reminds me so much of when I went camping as a child. When I was exploring the forest or canoeing through the lake, everything seemed to be such a new and exciting thing. I remember the feeling of wonder and joy, all the new sights and smells were so unique. Everything was pretty much swimming in neon gold. A song that gives me the same feeling is Out of My Leauge by Fitz and The Tantrums. One summer, that song played constantly on the radio whenever I was going on trips with my sister. I remember screaming the lyrics out the window with my sister while going on our own adventures. It brings back so many great memories.

Anyways really enjoyed your post! Can't wait to read more!

[nbenvs3000w22]

Music in and out of Nature

Even though my dreams as a pop star have not come to fruition, I have to say I have a very close connection with music. It's kind of been my safe haven from the stressors of life; it truly allows me to escape and relax. Whether it is listening to music in the shower (apparently not a lot of people do it - if you haven't tried, it is SO worth it) or on a walk through a park, it gives me the opportunity to reflect on my day and my life. When I was reflecting on this week's prompt, I realized music is extremely universal. Humanity has used music ever since they evolved the cognitive ability to do so as a form of communication. Today, you can find so many genres and subgenres of music from around the world. As mentioned in The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music, music-making is in our "genes". It's so deeply rooted in humanity's culture that it's become an important part of our everyday lives. So it truly makes sense to use music as a form of nature interpretation.

When it comes to music in nature, my mind instantly goes to plant/mushroom music. One time, while I was scrolling through Instagram, I found this guy attaching electrodes onto a mushroom and playing its current through an electrical device of some sort. Of course, when I saw this, I was intrigued. I went through his account and saw him listening to "music" from a bunch of different plants. Even though it was strange (to say the least), listening to their sounds really helped me realize something. Music can be found everywhere, it doesn't matter if it's animals or plants. Everything in this world has its own sound, beat, and tempo. You just gotta listen (as cheesy as it sounds)! If you wanted to read more about the device created to listen to plant/mushroom music, here's an article all about it.

Also here's a video of some mushroom music! If you do some more exploring you can find the "music" from a bunch of different plants.

Now, when it comes to nature in music - I honestly don't listen to too much music that includes strong nature themes. But when I started to further think about the topic, my mind straight to a famous Inuit Tiktoker, Shina Novalinga. She typically talks about her culture and the issues indigenous people face, but she posts a lot of videos of her and her mom's throat singing (katajjaq). This is where two or more women use short vocal patterns to create a melodic pattern. It becomes a form of competition, as all parties see who could last the longest. The different sounds patterns and beats can be related to the sounds of different animals, such as puppies and geese. While watching these videos, I was encapsulated by the music. The amount of skill it takes to throat sing is crazy, not to mention, maintaining a melody. It's such a deep-rooted cultural tradition that has strong connections to nature, it's a great example of nature in music. Read more about it here and here!

When it comes to me personally, a song that reminds me of nature is Lisztomania by Phoenix. It brings me back to when I went on a road trip to Blue Mountain with my sister when I was younger. While looking at the dense forests and the lush landscapes of pure nature, this song was playing in the background. When I listen to it to this day, it brings me back to that cool summer night in the car, driving with the windows down. There are so many that come to mind, but this is one of my favourites.

Anyways, hope you enjoyed this week's post!

~Nicole

References

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

[cjenvs3000w22]

Nature Interpretation through History

The first thing that came to mind when I read this quote by Edward Hyams was the expression “if there is no one around to hear a tree fall in a forest, will it still make a noise?” - specifically the line “(...) believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it”. Things simply do not happen just when we are around to witness or experience it; one cannot be present for every moment, of every day, of every person’s life just to verify that an event truly occurred. This is the same with historic events, just because someone today wasn’t there to experience them doesn’t make them unimportant or untrue. To me, this quote reflects the importance of history, and how it’s important for us to learn about it and understand it now to avoid history repeating itself. From a nature perspective, to me this quote represents appreciating the past, but also learning from it to serve the purpose of preserving and protecting our environment for future generations.

The first half of this quote, to me, refers not just to history, but like I previously stated, it’s importance. As someone who wasn’t the biggest fan of History in school, I still understood the importance of events even though it wasn’t something I had interest in. Although I wasn’t there, I still respected and valued the stories I was being told about the history of my country. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, a common theme throughout this post is not being present for the historical events we learn about today, so the pessimist in me is saying that I should mention how because we weren’t there, who is to say the tales of these events are true? These stories have been told for years, from generation to generation, there is bound to be some exaggerated details, right? This made me think of the game “Telephone” I used to play as a kid around the campfire. If in one short round of Telephone the sentence can get changed, it’s almost inevitable that historical events have bent from the truth.

To wrap up this post, what this quote says to me is that it is important to have faith in the history we know to be true; despite if there has been an ongoing game of Telephone being played throughout time.

[nbenvs3000w22]

Hey!

I loved reading your post this week, especially how you broke down the quote. Honestly, I find it so interesting how we can each interpret this quote in so many different ways. Like for example, you related the quote to "if there is no one around to hear a tree fall in a forest, will it still make a noise?" to the train station analogy. Even though no one may remember or want to acknowledge the past, it still happened. It can be easy to forget, but I still feel like it is necessary to learn. History makes us who we are as humans; it gives us culture, stories, and values that are irreplaceable. If we just ignore our past, who are we as a society? As much as many of us find it boring, we should learn about our history to better ourselves for the future. Not to mention, it "breathes life" into a lot of components and features within our lives (one of my favourite quotes from this week's chapter). Life would be pretty boring without history!

I also liked how you mentioned how history is just a giant game of broken telephone. One of the most valuable lessons I received in grade 10 history was that the winners tell history. It made me reflect on everything I learned, which helped me realize that there are always two sides to the story. That's why I think it is essential to address each side of history so our view is not skewed.

Can't wait to read more!

~Nicole

[nbenvs3000w22]

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)

Not going to lie; this week was another hard prompt to tackle. I guess maybe unpacking quotes and art may not be my thing! But I have to say, history tends to be one of my strong suits. I always have had an affinity for the subject, especially when visiting historical sites. I love learning about what happened years ago at a particular spot; it truly makes me feel a part of that history.

The first memory that comes to mind while I read the quote was when I went to Stone Henge in 2017. It has a fascinating history. Since 2500 BC, the monument has had many different meanings to many other people; there is no valid purpose known at the moment. Some people believe that it was a form of a calendar as it aligns with the sun, but no one knows why it is there or how it got there. When I visited the site of the Stone Circle, awe set over me, there were these massive stones in front of me that are WAY older than me, which are an enigma to historians. But hearing the stories and what could have possibly happened drew a deep connection within me. This one spot may have had such significant meaning to people, whether to understand the date or it was a place of worship, and it is still standing here today, right in front of me. This experience reminded me of the line, "if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things." (Hyams, Chapter 7). Even though the meaning has been scattered throughout history and time, the stories I have learned through interpretation were able to "breathe life" into the architecture (Hookayas, 2022).

Some cool rocks - if you ever go, please bring a poncho! I got soaked that day.

Then when it comes to the second part of the quote, "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" (Hyams, Chapter 7), I believe it really speaks towards the importance of history and how it can be downplayed. I find that people think that the past is the past and is not essential for the future. They typically think it is boring and never understand the true meaning. However, when it comes to this way of thinking, my mind goes straight to this one famous quote "history repeats itself." Even though it sounds cheesy - it's true. We're humans; we are bound to follow similar human behaviours. It is extremely important to understand our history as humans to right our wrongs. Without acknowledging the past, we can not move forward and better ourselves. There are a lot of mistakes and issues that humanity has had in the past - by acknowledging these problems; we can understand some of the ignorance or prejudice we may have had. Rather than just ignoring the "railway station," we should see the station and everything around it. History isn't just a date; there are so many different components that make us who we are today. So, the overall thing I want you to take home from this is that: history is kinda cool!

References:

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/things-to-do/stone-circle/celestial-stonehenge/

https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/730239/viewContent/2951597/View

[sbenvs3000w22]

Blog #5 - Just a one way ticket

“Travel. Because money returns, time doesn’t” is one of my favourite quotes. Travelling the world has been my ultimate bucket list dream. I want to travel the world to enrich and gain a broader and better view of our world while simultaneously gaining insight into our planet’s different cultures, roots, and beautiful landscapes. In addition to travelling the world, I have smaller bucket list goals that I hope to complete and experience during my Europe trip.

I have found various resources, guides, YouTube videos, blog posts and traveller advice regarding the best locations to visit. I have gathered a list of places around Europe that I will visit once I can travel. Throughout this trip itinerary, you will see that I hope to visit significant cities filled with beautiful chaos while also staying in places filled with greenery, mountains, and beautiful landscapes with almost no mundane infrastructures.

My trip around Europe consists of over 20 locations, but I will only highlight 3 as I can write for hours about this trip :) 

1.     Amalfi Coast and Rome

Starting the trip off strong Rome and Amalfi Coast provides some of the most beautiful experiences. In Rome, I want to be the most tourist-like individual possible! Consuming delicious foods such as pasta and pizza topping it off with a creamy Italian gelato sounds like an absolute dream! After spending time in Rome, I want to head south to the Amalfi Coast, relaxing by the beach, driving on the coast, and getting some colour!

Things to do in Rome:

-       Ride on a vespa (especially during the night!)

-       Visit all historical sites

o   The Colosseum

o   Arch of Constantine

o   Vatican City

o   Roman Forum

o   Palatine Hill

o   Trevi Fountain

-       Visit multiple museums in Rome

o   Capitoline Museum

o   Galleria Borghese

o   Palazzo Colonna- Galleria Colonna

Things to do in the Amalfi Coast: 

-       Take a day tour of Pompeii

-       Drink loads and loads of delicious Italian Coffee

-       Visit the Arsenale della Repubblica museum

-       Wander the Via dei Mercantini (the market)

-       Spend the day by the beach

-       Eat, eat, and eat some more!

2.     Interlaken and Lucerne, Switzerland

Where do I even begin! Switzerland has got to be the #1 natural beauty of our planet. From previous blogs, I had mentioned that I feel most at home in the city, but I feel most at peace in the natural world filled with greenery, mountains, and countryside views, thanks to my grandpa, who provides me with “my sense of place.” Interlaken is one of my dream locations, particularly my dream location to go skydiving! Skydive Interlaken offers guests the opportunity to jump from 14’000ft “between the glacier lakes with the best view of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau.” Before your jump, you experience a beautiful helicopter ride filled with scenic panoramic views of Interlaken, glacier lakes, and the beautiful swiss alps.

I mean, just look at this view! How could anyone not want to jump out of a plane!!!

*I included a short 2-minute video posted by Skydive Interlaken of a skydiving experience!  https://youtu.be/yKQenILe11I  

Unfortunately, not many people are willing to sign their life away to experience a short rush of adrenaline which is entirely understandable! The list below highlights some amazing things anyone can do when visiting Interlaken and Lucerne, Switzerland.

Things to do in Interlaken:

-       You can make your way up as high as 730 meter using a ten-minute funicular to a mountain called Harder Kulm

-       Hop on the Interlaken Ost Railway train ride

-       St Beatus Caves

-       Escape the tourist areas and take a beautiful hike in the Weissenau Nature Reserve

Things to do in Lucerne:

-       Explore Old Town (very low on traffic)

-       Attend the Swiss Museum of Transport

-       Cross the Chapel Bridge

-       Visit the Glacier Garden

-       Hike up a mountain to see the breathtaking views, capturing the Musegg Wall (Lucerne’s city defence wall)

3.     Croatia + Montenegro

This destination is how I would want to end my 20+ European cities/countries tour. I will get into more detail in a few minutes about why this would be my final stop. To start off the destination, a Balkan country known as Montenegro is filled with beautiful mountains, small medieval villages, and coastline beaches. This location is the perfect mix of beautiful landscapes and incredible history that captivates many individuals such as me.

Things to do in Montenegro:

-       Visit the Kotor Town and Bay of Kotor

-       Enjoy the day in Budva Riviera (this place is an actual paradise)

-       Blue Grotto (snorkelling is a must in this cave)

-       Visit the town of Cetinje (was the Capital of Montenegro during the late 19th and 20th century)

-       Explore the beautiful Durmitor National Park

After enjoying some time in beautiful Montenegro, the trip’s final stop concludes in Croatia. Now, in my opinion, this is one of the best ways to end a fantastic trip. Yacht week Croatia has been a lifelong bucket list goal since I was as young as 14 years old. This is an 8-day trip, where you live on a yacht/boat filled with 2-3 other cabins occupied by individuals from different locations around the world. Every day, you port to a different town and have the day to explore the beautiful country of Croatia. I honestly believe that no words can express my love for this trip, nor could they do a good enough job describing it. I have linked a YouTube video that shows the beautiful 8-day Original Route, and I 1000000% recommend you give it a glance.

https://youtu.be/5JBwGUqp1Jg 

[nbenvs3000w22]

Hello Shelly!

This post really makes me miss travelling. I am DYING to go to Europe again. I've been to England and Portugal so far, but I want to check out some of the places you mentioned in your itinerary also. Even though Europe is known for their historic cities, there are so many natural wonders to see there. From the beaches in the Amalfi Coast to the vast mountains in Switzerland, there is so much to see and do.

I think one of my favourite things you mentioned in your itinerary is Skydive Interlaken in Switzerland. Skydiving is one of those things that everyone says they want to do, but when it comes down to it, they chicken out. Like you said, not many people are willing to sign their life away in order to get an adrenaline rush - it's a scary feeling for sure! But for me personally, I would absolutely love to try it, especially in Switzerland. I feel like seeing glacier lakes and the swiss alps would be way better from 14,000 feet in the air, you can truly appreciate how vast the area is. I think that view would be etched into your mind for the rest of your life. For myself personally, I would love to see all the different geographical structures I have learned in geography over the years. But overall, I think it would be a great experience for everyone to be able to appreciate the beauty of Switzerland.

Anyways, after COVID is less of an issue, I really hope you will be able to fulfill your dream and visit all of these awesome places. As you said, travelling indeed does help you grasp the beauty of this world and what it has to offer. So go out there and explore when you get the chance! Make some great memories :)

~Nicole

[nbenvs3000w22]

I Miss Travelling

For the past two years, we have all been stuck inside the house (Well, at least for me). I used to travel outside of Canada at least once every year. Though, because of COVID, I have not left Ontario since the summer of 2019. Now, this is not anything to complain about, but recently I have been coming across way too many ads that have been tempting me to leave the country. So I figured in order to feed my hunger for adventure, I'll share some of my travelling adventures with you, along with some tips on what to do while you're there.

Now I can go on forever on the places I have gone or the places I want to go to, but for this post, I am going to focus mainly on Japan. It is one of the main spots known for its ecotourism, which is going to different natural wonders in the country and supporting them. By buying a ticket to a natural attraction or supporting the businesses in the area, you are participating in ecotourism!

First things first, if you ever get the opportunity - please go to Japan. The country is filled with a rich culture, fascinating history, food to die for, super friendly people and beautiful scenery. It was like no other place I have been to. At first, it was a bit of a culture shock with the busy train stations and massive city centres, but you get used to it with the help of apps and locals. My sister and I took the shinkansen (bullet train) all around Japan, which truly helped me see the country's beauty. It was a quick, easy and eco-friendly option (they run on electricity) - we wouldn't have been able to do half the excursions we planned without it. Not to mention, on any long haul trips, the stations always had stalls where they served delicious snacks and bento boxes which you can eat on the train (Bento boxes weren't my favourite, but it's worth a try). So use this to your advantage, even if you just want to see the countryside.

On our way to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park via bullet train.

There are numerous places you can see that truly highlights Japan's natural beauty. Bamboo groves in Arashiyama, Sika deer in Nara Park, the floating Shinto Shrine in the waters of Miyajima - these are some of the many places we visited that support ecotourism. However, I would like to highlight two important areas that are a must-visit.

1. Mount Fuji

This is probably one of Japan's most famous, well-known spots for obvious reasons. I remember seeing this while taking the train and being in absolute awe. You can see it as clear as day, from kilometres away. The size of the mountain is insurmountable (3,776 m to be exact); I remember feeling so small compared to it. I won't lie, it was very touristy and hard to get to; however, the views are worth it. The picturesque lake, deep forests and the snow-peaked mountain is something that you won't forget.

Views from Chureito Pagoda, luckily no clouds covered our view! There were a lot of stairs though, so be prepared!

2. Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

If you like wildlife and anything nature, this is the place to go. The train ride is filled with rolling mountains and small towns with ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) and lush forests. When you get to the park, you are faced with a 30-minute hike through a beautiful forest within the mountain. There are a couple of small stores and a hotel on the path, but other than that, you are alone in nature. The hike was extremely peaceful (except for the muddy patches that destroy your shoes. Had to buy socks mid-hike from the shop) and filled with dense pine trees. When you get to the park, you get to see the wonder of Japanese Macaques relaxing in the hot springs. There were very few people there when I visited, which meant the monkeys were everywhere. You can't touch them or get too close for obvious reasons, but getting so close to the monkeys in their natural habitat is something you won't forget.

After a long hike being absolutely covered in mud, our reward was pretty sweet!

I'll probably talk about Japan way more in future posts, but here's just a snippet of one of my favourite trips. At the end of the day, it is essential to support ecotourism when you can, as it can help promote and sustain local environments. I would love to hear any travel stories you have, so please share them if you would like!

Information and facts from: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/japan/articles/japans-best-ecotourism-destinations-we-cant-wait-to-visit/

~Nicole

[gienvs3000w22]

Art and Nature-Blog 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Nature Blog,

Giuli

[nbenvs3000w22]

Hey Giuli!

I loved reading your post! It brings up many interesting points about using art through nature interpretation, not to mention, it’s very aesthetically pleasing! All the white, blues and greys in the photos you used really accentuate your story and message. But anyway, back to the important stuff.

Honestly, I have never considered using art activities as a form of nature interpretation. Art has never been my way of expressing emotion and feelings; I led my creative output down other avenues. I think that may be the same with many different people. If people were told to express their feelings through art, many people would struggle to take the activity seriously. They’ll put up the excuse “I’m no artist” or say “I don’t know what to do,” with no real focus on the true objective of the activity. People can barely express their feelings independently, let alone express them through art. However, with the right environment and some encouragement, art can be a great avenue for nature interpretation. For example, I think an ideal nature interpretation activity for adults would be a “Wine and Paint” workshop. This is where they would go out into nature (waterfall, forest, etc.) and paint whatever is around them (with some liquid encouragement, of course). Creating a safe environment where everyone feels welcomed and has a sense of comfort makes creating a connection through art easier. Even if painting doesn’t garner a positive relationship with nature, spending time outside with others will. But as an overall answer to your prompt, I think art should be integrated more into nature interpretation; however, some guidance is needed.

Anyways, I can’t wait to read more of your posts!

~Nicole

[nbenvs3000w22]

Nature Through Art

Ok, so I will be honest. As soon as I read the blog prompt for this week, I was a bit worried. I am no artist or art interpreter, no matter how much I tell myself I can "see the deeper meaning" in a painting. My boyfriend, who is very artistically inclined, always tries to explain to me that art needs to have emotion and personality, which I struggle to understand while doing anything artistic. So trying to interpret nature through art may be a bit of a struggle for me, but I will try my best to navigate through this prompt!

Who are you to interpret nature through art? For starters, I am a student learning about all the different aspects of nature. Through university, I have learned the ins and outs of different animals, plants and ecosystems that are in our world today. From a micro to a macro scale, I'd like to say I am pretty knowledgeable in anything ecology-based. But to dig deeper, I have always found a sense of peace within nature - it's almost like my second home. Whenever I am stressed or feeling down, I walk to my local park and listen to the sounds of the stream and the wind in the branches of the tree. I have always felt happy exploring different areas and checking out the views, etc. - however, happy never fully encapsulated how I felt. There are so many other emotions attached to various features of nature; it's hard to pinpoint an exact feeling.

So, due to the nature of this blog post, I decided to google "nature art." As I scrolled through the images, there were a lot of stunning pieces, but I only connected to some. I tried to interpret the feelings and emotions behind each image. However, I only seemed to connect to a few. However, this made me realize - everyone has their own interpretations of art and nature. No one person shares the same feelings towards a particular part of nature; everyone expresses it differently. That's why no art piece is the same; "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." So in regards to the question, I am not qualified to interpret nature through art (for obvious reasons). Not one single person is - there are no qualifications that can make a person truly understand the purpose behind an art piece. I believe the interpretation lies in the "eye of the beholder." No one person is right or wrong about what an art piece is trying to convey. All that matters is that the interpretation is meaningful to you.

Now, like myself and many others, sometimes it's hard to see the beauty in some aspects of our world. For myself, it's art, but for others, it may be nature. As nature interpreters, it's our job to help people understand the beauty of nature. That comes from "the gift of beauty," which can help others connect within nature. Through my interpretation, "the gift of beauty" is assisting people in getting that "Aha!" moment, where they realize a forest isn't just a bunch of trees. This "Aha!" moment happened to me while driving to Florida with my family. As a child, I used to H A T E doing road trips, mainly because it took forever to get to the final destination. My parents would drive through the mountains in Virginia and North Carolina, typically stopping to enjoy the view. As a child, I couldn't care less - they're just mountains. However, about four years ago, I decided to do the dreaded drive with my parents. However, it was different this time around. When we stopped, the view was breathtaking; I had no clue why I complained. This was my "Aha!" moment, which was very important to me. So hopefully, as a nature interpreter, I plan to teach people nature's sense of beauty so they can get their "Aha!" moment too.

Here was my exact "Aha!" moment while driving down to Florida. The video doesn't really do it justice.

~Nicole

[amenvs3000w22]

Blog post two - My ideal role

As an environmental interpreter, it is my role to spark an interest in others regarding nature and connecting with nature. In order to do this, I must understand that everyone has a different style of learning and be able to adapt to account for the majority of the population in my delivery. For example: in my Tumblr posts, I try to word things as clearly as I can so that auditory learners will be able to understand, I add pictures to allow for visual learners to comprehend a little better, and I try to describe everything in a mechanistic way for the kinesthetic learners. Personally, I learn the best when I am visually shown exactly how something works, or am able to have hands-on experience. In terms of auditory interpretation, I understand things better if I am able to clearly picture exactly what the interpreter is describing. A combination of hands-on learning with clear instructions and a clear demonstration works best for me personally, as I am a kinesthetic learner.

This is a picture of me beekeeping this past September in the Apiary located at the University of Guelph. I was giving the bees 2 different types of medicines to help prevent mites and disease from forming in the colonies.

I’m not sure of the exact role I would want as an environmental interpreter, but something I’m passionate about is raising awareness about pollinators and encouraging practices to conserve pollinators.  One of the best ways to do this as an interpreter would be by running workshops and attending various events to raise awareness. These workshops would be hands-on and would range from starting a pollinator garden, constructing bee, butterfly, and bird houses, making home-made cleaners and pesticides that are not harmful, etc. For people who are not hands-on learners, I would have some sort of social media page (such as tiktok) where I would be able to spread awareness and encourage people to help in other less interactive ways (ex. Donating, reposting, question and answer sessions, etc.). Conserving pollinators is one of the most important topics that needs to be focused on right now, and is something I’m super interested in. If I can be a good interpreter and spark the interest of many individuals, it could assist in the conservation of pollinators and could help people build better and more eco-friendly habits, which could contribute to various other environmental issues. Most of the information you hear about pollinators is all negative. By using workshops and activities to introduce these topics, it will be more appealing to the general public and is a more efficient way of spreading information. These workshops could be executed at local markets, flower shops, or events. This way, the learners would be able to see all of the amazing products pollinators help to produce, and will hopefully build interest in the topic. Obviously I would not make this a career, but I think it is something that is important to interpret to a large population. 

This picture is a macroscopic image of a honey bee collecting pollen from a sunflower in my garden this past August. I like this picture a lot because you can see all the flecks of pollen on her hairs and in her pollen baskets. Honeybees collect pollen from a variety of flowers, and in doing so, they assist in cross pollination, as well as self pollination in flowers with both male and female reproductive organs. By doing the plants this favour, they get to collect some pollen and nectar for themselves, so it is a mutualistic relationship.

To be a successful environmental interpreter, I would need to be visibly confident, knowledgeable and passionate about the topic I am discussing, and must be able to connect well not only with nature, but with the people I am interacting with. Building relationships will result in more approachability, and will help the learners to remember more about the session. If I am able to have an impact on someone by connecting with them personally, I might be able to make them more passionate about the topic. The ultimate goal as an interpreter is to use your enthusiasm to inspire others.

[nbenvs3000w22]

Ok, I’ll admit… I’m absolutely terrified of bees or anything bug-related, but your post is super interesting! I’ve always seen beekeepers on Tiktok and Instagram and have always questioned how they do it with the big suits. But seeing the picture of you with just a t-shirt on at the Apiary shocked me. How do you not get stung? How are you not afraid? I give you so much credit; I don’t think I can build up the courage to even get close. Though I won’t lie, I think I have gained a new appreciation for bees and pollinators over the past two years of university. They are such an essential part of our ecosystem; without them, our world would collapse. Even though I am scared of bees, I am hoping to take ENVS*2210 (Apiculture and Honey Bee Biology) in the future to truly understand their role within our environment. I feel that it’s so important to teach people why we need to protect pollinators, so I am really happy you’re so passionate about the topic. Regarding your role as an environment interpreter, I completely agree that you need to spark their interest by catering to everyone’s learning styles. I feel that a lot of learning material tends to cater to just one learning style and fails to create engaging content. Something as simple as adding a diagram to an informative writing piece or asking a student to find a specific species they’re learning about in their backyard can enhance their learning experience. As environmental interpreters, it’s important to be inclusive of all learning styles.

Anyways, awesome post! Can’t wait to read more :))

-Nicole

[amenvs3000w22]

Hey Nicole! 

Thank you for your comment :) I’m glad you found my post interesting! Definitely take ENVS*2210 if you get a chance. I took it this past Summer and it was incredibly eye opening and informative. You also get to learn about different styles of beekeeping. At the Apiary on campus we farm the bees for their honey (so it’s not beekeeping for conservation) but there are other methods designed to conserve honeybees and strengthen their populations. Bugs can be very scary, I have to admit that I still get quite scared, but through learning about bees in the apiculture and honeybee biology course I became less hesitant and scared of handling them. Insects are generally gentle creatures, you have to remember that they only sting you because they think they’re protecting their colony. Thank you once again for your positive words! 

All the best, Ally 

[nbenvs3000w22]

Hey Ally!

ENVS*2210 is now totally on my future class list, hopefully I get in! But anyways, I give you credit for your courage to work with bees - I think I may need some time getting use to them. I will take your word though for any future bug handling!

~Nicole 

[tnenvs3000w22]

Nature's Dance with Privilege

Hey Everyone! It's that time of the week so welcome back to my blog!

This week I am discussing privilege and honestly when I read what I was going to be talking about I choked a bit. Honestly, it's something I joke about a lot but it is a bit uncomfortable. To start I will tell you where I'm coming from and then discuss the overall effects of privilege. So let me be frank. I am black, Afro-Caribbean to be more specific, I come from a middle-class immigrant family (now a blended family as my parents are divorced), I speak fluent English and dabble in many other languages, I’ve played sports all my life and I was born and raised in Canada. In terms of my education, I am very fortunate to have parents who were in a position to plan and pay for University tuition.

Speaking English in North America is a great asset but the benefits of that never occurred to me until I got older. Another interesting take is that both my parents have accents but can switch to an American accent easily to be understood and with the additional purpose of being taken seriously. In a way, it is oddly a privilege that I speak naturally with an American accent. Both my parents were able to pay for me to do sports, something which I have the privilege to continue in University. I think the most shocking privilege is socio-economic. I grew up in a town where majority of people around me growing up had the world at their fingertips, I often felt out of place. However, as I grew up I realized how fortunate I was and still am. I am by no means rich but my family has done well for themselves, it is something I never considered but it is true regardless of what I think. I also had the privilege to grow up in an area surrounded by trees and trails. I had the privilege to just travel to mountains to ski or to explore national parks. I had the privilege to grow up in a safe space where I was free to explore the world. Growing up in that environment made me want to share nature because regardless of where you come from nature does not judge. I hope for everyone to have that experience.

My definition of privilege is the ability to easily obtain opportunities without barriers or discrimination. As a nature interpreter, it is important to invite everyone into experiencing nature while providing a safe space. Privilege affects one's relationship with nature because it affects contributing factors such as knowledge, access, financial means and health. Growing up in a medical household my parents would always remind me of how lucky I am to be able to explore the world the way I can and how it is a privilege to not be bound to a hospital. Some people cannot physically access nature because of their health and that is a perspective that I was always reminded to never forget. Education can change how you see the world whether it be oral knowledge or written - they are valuable. In addition, some people may be looked down upon if they do not have a lot of knowledge on the subject or cannot understand the language the knowledge is being shared in. That creates a hostile environment and may result in animosity or restriction to exploring nature. It also creates a fear of nature, if one is not able to read signs when walking through the trail, they may be scared by the picture of a snake biting someone or the rash from poison ivy will ward them away from returning. Honestly, language is one of the main reasons I try to learn so many. I hate not being able to speak to everyone and make them comfortable. Money often breaks many barrier which is why it is something that many wish to have more of. It is interesting because people think that they can’t see these amazing places because of money when they can travel to other places that have just as much value, just not social value. I'm sure many people have been on trips outside the country but downplay it not realizing some people haven’t left the province let alone the country. In writing this blog I realize the many barriers one may experience and how I have been blind to many. It is interesting because we often discuss how we want to travel to all these amazing places but disregard the things that we do have access to. The places we have the privilege of exploring and understanding. It is a privilege to have the ability to take in all this information and learn from others.

As a nature interpreter, it is important for me to be self-aware and understand where my perspectives differ from that of my audience. And I also want to be as transparent as possible So no matter how big or small I am always interested to hear your relationship with nature or how you are investigating that relationship.

- Tamia N.

Beck, L. et al. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. 2018. Sagamore Publishing.

[nbenvs3000w22]

Hi Tamia!

I loved reading your post about privilege and its role within nature interpretation. I feel that it is so essential to understand different perspectives and backgrounds people may have in order to create a meaningful experience with them. It is easy for people to forget that they have privilege, which causes them to ignore its existence. Discrimination tends to amplify this issue, as people justify their racist, sexist, classist (etc.) beliefs by saying it is society's norm. This is a significant issue on its own, as people's ignorance can become very damaging and dangerous. However, with a greater understanding of privilege and how it is an issue in today's world, some of these problems can slowly be resolved. Even though education in this subject is a small band-aid towards the issues privilege creates, it can help take the steps needed to solve this issue. For example, the point you made about being self-aware as a nature interpreter and understanding your audience's perspective is an excellent method to address privilege. The audience may not have been provided with the same opportunities as everyone else has had, so it is vital to be inclusive during your nature interpretation experience. This can improve the experience for everyone around, which can help people create a stronger connection with nature.

Anyways, your post also opened my eyes to the privilege of speaking English in North America. English is my first and only language; I have never experienced any issues with communication with others. I can't imagine what it must be like to be an immigrant in Canada or America and trying to communicate with other people (let alone getting a job, learning in school, etc.). Now, I will consider this whenever I am taking the role of a nature interpreter or creating an informative piece.

Have a good one!

~Nicole

[nbenvs3000w22]

Privilege

Privilege is an important topic to address, no matter what field of study you are in. Whether it's acknowledged or not (by others or yourself), you can't run away from it. It is important to determine the level of privilege you have compared to others to understand different perspectives. Especially in the world of nature interpretation, where people may not have been provided with the same experiences as others, we need to understand the level of privilege we ourselves have, along with others.

As a child, I had a lot of privilege. Even though I was not dirty rich, my family did provide me with many great opportunities. I would go camping every year, go on long road trips down to Florida, and not mention - the occasional vacation to the Caribbean. Through those trips, I was exposed to so many different aspects of nature I would dream about. For example, as a child, I always wanted to swim with dolphins. Other than wanting to feel like a mermaid swimming with her sea buddies, the species always fascinated me with their friendly demeanour and actions. Luckily enough, my parents surprised me on one of my trips to Florida with an excursion to swim with the dolphins. Even though, as an adult, I realized how inhumane most dolphin sanctuaries are, that experience was significant to me. It further inspired my interest in animals, which got me where I am today. I never really thought too much into it until I got older as I began to learn about different levels of privilege. I found out that some people may not have had the ability to go on trips outside of Canada and experience other aspects of nature. I learned that some people may not even have the ability to learn in schools, which really made me "check my privilege."

Swimming with the dolphins in 2012, living my mermaid dream.

As I began to mature and realize my privilege, I realized what it meant. It is the opportunities provided to someone solely based on how society views them. Whether based on their monetary status, race, gender or sexuality, privilege can change drastically. This is perpetuated by human biases created by racism, misogyny, classism, etc., which can form a society where people view others as "more important" than others. For many reasons, this cycle needs to stop. There needs to be equal opportunities for everyone no matter what in order to progress as a society. With an understanding of privilege in all aspects of life, people would see that everyone is equal and deserves the same opportunities as everyone else.

Within nature interpretation, privilege tends to show through the misunderstandings from nature interpreters. There tends to be a belief that those who want to experience nature and learn have the same experiences and knowledge as those who teach it. Some people may have not been able to learn about different concepts in ecology or have had the opportunity to explore our world. Nature interpreters will tend to use complex science terminology and previous experiences to teach others. This is not an effective way of teaching, as it ignores certain privileges the interpreter may have. However, if they were to use more inclusive language and acknowledge their privilege, the learning experience would be more meaningful for everyone.

Hope you guys enjoyed! Talk to you guys soon :))

~Nicole

[amenvs3000w22]

Blog post two - My ideal role

As an environmental interpreter, it is my role to spark an interest in others regarding nature and connecting with nature. In order to do this, I must understand that everyone has a different style of learning and be able to adapt to account for the majority of the population in my delivery. For example: in my Tumblr posts, I try to word things as clearly as I can so that auditory learners will be able to understand, I add pictures to allow for visual learners to comprehend a little better, and I try to describe everything in a mechanistic way for the kinesthetic learners. Personally, I learn the best when I am visually shown exactly how something works, or am able to have hands-on experience. In terms of auditory interpretation, I understand things better if I am able to clearly picture exactly what the interpreter is describing. A combination of hands-on learning with clear instructions and a clear demonstration works best for me personally, as I am a kinesthetic learner.

This is a picture of me beekeeping this past September in the Apiary located at the University of Guelph. I was giving the bees 2 different types of medicines to help prevent mites and disease from forming in the colonies.

I’m not sure of the exact role I would want as an environmental interpreter, but something I’m passionate about is raising awareness about pollinators and encouraging practices to conserve pollinators.  One of the best ways to do this as an interpreter would be by running workshops and attending various events to raise awareness. These workshops would be hands-on and would range from starting a pollinator garden, constructing bee, butterfly, and bird houses, making home-made cleaners and pesticides that are not harmful, etc. For people who are not hands-on learners, I would have some sort of social media page (such as tiktok) where I would be able to spread awareness and encourage people to help in other less interactive ways (ex. Donating, reposting, question and answer sessions, etc.). Conserving pollinators is one of the most important topics that needs to be focused on right now, and is something I’m super interested in. If I can be a good interpreter and spark the interest of many individuals, it could assist in the conservation of pollinators and could help people build better and more eco-friendly habits, which could contribute to various other environmental issues. Most of the information you hear about pollinators is all negative. By using workshops and activities to introduce these topics, it will be more appealing to the general public and is a more efficient way of spreading information. These workshops could be executed at local markets, flower shops, or events. This way, the learners would be able to see all of the amazing products pollinators help to produce, and will hopefully build interest in the topic. Obviously I would not make this a career, but I think it is something that is important to interpret to a large population. 

This picture is a macroscopic image of a honey bee collecting pollen from a sunflower in my garden this past August. I like this picture a lot because you can see all the flecks of pollen on her hairs and in her pollen baskets. Honeybees collect pollen from a variety of flowers, and in doing so, they assist in cross pollination, as well as self pollination in flowers with both male and female reproductive organs. By doing the plants this favour, they get to collect some pollen and nectar for themselves, so it is a mutualistic relationship.

To be a successful environmental interpreter, I would need to be visibly confident, knowledgeable and passionate about the topic I am discussing, and must be able to connect well not only with nature, but with the people I am interacting with. Building relationships will result in more approachability, and will help the learners to remember more about the session. If I am able to have an impact on someone by connecting with them personally, I might be able to make them more passionate about the topic. The ultimate goal as an interpreter is to use your enthusiasm to inspire others.

[nbenvs3000w22]

Ok, I’ll admit… I’m absolutely terrified of bees or anything bug-related, but your post is super interesting! I’ve always seen beekeepers on Tiktok and Instagram and have always questioned how they do it with the big suits. But seeing the picture of you with just a t-shirt on at the Apiary shocked me. How do you not get stung? How are you not afraid? I give you so much credit; I don’t think I can build up the courage to even get close. Though I won’t lie, I think I have gained a new appreciation for bees and pollinators over the past two years of university. They are such an essential part of our ecosystem; without them, our world would collapse. Even though I am scared of bees, I am hoping to take ENVS*2210 (Apiculture and Honey Bee Biology) in the future to truly understand their role within our environment. I feel that it’s so important to teach people why we need to protect pollinators, so I am really happy you’re so passionate about the topic. Regarding your role as an environment interpreter, I completely agree that you need to spark their interest by catering to everyone’s learning styles. I feel that a lot of learning material tends to cater to just one learning style and fails to create engaging content. Something as simple as adding a diagram to an informative writing piece or asking a student to find a specific species they’re learning about in their backyard can enhance their learning experience. As environmental interpreters, it’s important to be inclusive of all learning styles.

Anyways, awesome post! Can’t wait to read more :))

-Nicole