My Role As A Nature Interpreter
Over the course of this semester, I have learned the importance of knowing your audience when interpreting nature and sharing with others. While interpreting nature, I reflect on my mind, experiences, morals, and values. Being able to communicate these thoughts of interpretation is key when becoming a nature interpreter. To be able to connect people to our natural world is a gift we as nature interpreters get to experience. Nature interpretation has given me time to take a step back from everyday life and be one with nature and bring a breath of fresh air into my life. Nature has been with me my whole life. I hope that others can develop respect and an understanding of nature as I have over the years of my life. To help others connect with nature, nature interpreters are essential guides!
It is important to be respectful and socially aware when interpreting nature. At the beginning of this course, I wasn’t aware of the layers there are to nature interpretation. To acknowledge the natural beings, the connection between people and the earth, as well as recognizing the people's stories and interconnectedness. The textbook emphasizes that interpretation should not only be informative but should also empower people to appreciate and protect cultural and natural heritage (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 1).
Understanding your audience is very important in nature interpretation, as it shows respect for the people you are sharing your thoughts with, as well as making it accessible for all to understand (Sande, n.d). The goal of a nature interpreter is to help people open their eyes to the beauty and complexity of nature. To achieve this, it is important to recognize that not everyone has the same knowledge, opportunity, and privilege as you yourself do. The textbook highlights the importance of understanding the connections between cultural heritage and natural heritage, urging interpreters to embrace a holistic perspective (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 3). Respecting that people come from all sorts of cultural backgrounds that may give them more or less experience with nature is key when relaying your interpretations to others. Nature is prominent in many cultures and is interpreted differently, so it is important to incorporate people’s practices to represent them when interpreting nature.
Respecting and understanding the audience also goes along with the belief that nature interpretation and education should be accessible to all. The textbook says that interpretation should be inclusive and reflect diverse worldviews and cultural perspectives (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 4). Sharing nature interpretations in different forms such as visually, audibly, and so on will allow for more people to be exposed to the natural world in ways that resonate with their learning styles and cultural backgrounds. It is also important to incorporate different levels of detail and science within nature interpretation to engage audiences of different scientific backgrounds.
Respecting nature is a key belief I have while interpreting nature. Respecting nature is acknowledging that nature is complex and full of all sorts of life forms. Whether it is a tiny beetle or a large oak tree, we must respect that these are living beings that are trying to survive on this earth as we are too. When interpreting nature, do not undermine living creatures just because they are not as ‘complex’ as humans. This aligns with the principle expressed by Beck et al., which calls for an understanding of natural heritage that goes beyond scientific knowledge to embrace the intrinsic value of biodiversity (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 2). We as humans should work to protect our ecosystems as a way of showing we value the species that live within them.
Responsibilities of A Nature Interpreter
It is a nature interpreter's responsibility to include everyone while sharing their insights. This does not mean every form of interpretation will be the same for all, but proving creative ways to include people of different educational backgrounds, geographic locations, ages, and privileges. The textbook highlights that cultural sensitivity is crucial in ensuring that heritage sites and natural spaces are interpreted in ways that are respectful of all visitors’ values and experiences (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 3). So, being aware and accommodating to different cultures and backgrounds will allow for more inclusivity and make all audiences feel comfortable learning about nature.
Communication of Knowledge
Another responsibility of a nature interpreter is to provide information about our environment. By doing this, it is the responsibility of the interpreter to have background knowledge of the natural world to be able to give informative insight into people's questions and help others understand. The textbook explains it is important for a nature interpreter to relay truthful and meaningful information to their audience (Beck et al. 2018, Chapter 4). Although you may not need to be an environmental scientist to be a nature interpreter, it is important to explore the basic science behind ecosystems and how they work in symbiosis.
Lastly, nature interpreters need to give people an experience that will help connect them to nature. Whether it be through photos, videos, or out in a forest with their audience, it is the responsibility of the interpreter to provide the audience with an engaging time. Everyone has their own idea of what is interesting to them, and different learning styles. Utilizing different learning styles and experiences will help to bring people together and deepen their connection to nature. It si also important to communicate with passion, energy and vibrance to get people excited about nature and want to learn more (Sande, n.d).
With all these responsibilities in mind, I as a nature interpreter aim to educate and communicate my thoughts on nature to all audiences in a way that will be inclusive for all and give people a meaningful experience.
Approaches to Interpretation
I believe telling a story and incorporating nature interpretation is one of the best ways to approach nature interpretation. This method can be effective for engaging all ages, as children love hearing an exciting story and it will help them understand the message of nature. As well, it provides visual and audible aids for people, as they can listen to the story or read it, and envision the natural aspects of the story. A great example of this is “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss. This book was made to communicate with children the importance of nature conservation, and how trees and plants make our world go round. Dr. Seuss incorporated important messages while connecting them to fun characters and scenery. The textbook describes the importance of using narratives to help people connect with both natural and cultural heritage (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 4). Using narratives in books and stories is an inclusive way for all people to interpret and understand nature.
The textbook argues that hands-on learning is one of the most effective methods of interpretation (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6). Encouraging people to go out into nature and experience the beautiful scenery is a great way of getting people to appreciate nature. Being in nature also has many health benefits which will aid in the positive connection formed between people and nature. Not everyone is able to experience nature often, so giving people opportunities and ideas on how to incorporate nature into their everyday lives will help deepen the connection between the audience and nature.
My Experience as a Nature Interpreter
Overall, being a nature interpreter has been a great experience. It has deepened my connection to nature as I had to think about how to explain my thoughts and feelings to an audience. I also find joy in explaining the beautiful things I have seen or learned about. Following my beliefs and responsibilities has been a great way of making sure I am creating positive experiences and bringing meaningful insights to my audience.
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing, Sagamore Venture.
Sande, A. (n.d). Becoming a Good Nature Instructor. Alderleaf Wilderness College. https://www.wildernesscollege.com/nature-instructor.htmlsrsltid=AfmBOoo7pALF3SEfkCuiH6AfgPjZibiD3_JRKw6HVtE7Kb-68rq_ef4l