Nature Blog @nhenvs3000w22 - Tumblr Blog

The End...

As this semester comes to end and so does my bachelor’s degree, I am able to look back to the beginning and appreciate all the technical and personal growth I have experienced. This course allowed me to recognize my importance as a student in biology in terms of communicating with others. I was also able to recognize my disconnect from nature I had been experiencing since the start of the pandemic. But having realized this disconnect I can mend my relationship with nature…

My personal ethics as I develop as a nature interpreter.

When explaining the term ethics, it is explained as the moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conducting of an activity. However, this a very broad description therefore I wanted to describe both personal ethics and environmental ethics. Personal ethics is how an individual behaves in relation to others and situations in which they experience in everyday life. Whereas environmental ethics is the right and wrong way for humans to act toward the environment. Affecting us personally, but also the types of government policies we support and the sorts of actions or responses to environmental challenges we believe are necessary or reasonable. I believe in order to be an effective nature interpreter; your personal and environmental ethics need to overlap. I define a successful nature interpreter as an individual that is able to connect with others through a mutual interest in nature, while being able to discuss and educate one another through various means of learning about the environment. Therefore, some personal ethics I have and have aided my progress in becoming an effective nature interpreter is integrity, selflessness and honesty.

Integrity is the quality of having strong moral principles or moral uprightness. In terms of nature interpretation, I believe integrity is the ability and quality of holding healthy relationships with other people as well as the environment.

Selflessness is the concern more with the needs and wishes of others than with one’s own. I believe this important just as an environmentalist, putting the needs of the environment and others can be very important when discussing and making decisions regarding the future.

Honesty is the quality of upholding the truth. This important in terms of nature interpretation because discussing accurate information is essential when wanting to inspire and educate others about the environment.

My beliefs and worldview

When I think of beliefs and belief systems I think of worldviews. Id assume everyone is familiar with the term worldviews but it is the set of commonly held beliefs, ideas, values and so forth about the world and our place in it. In the past the most common worldview was the westernized worldview. The western worldview entails the exploitation of nature so that we can continue to accumulate material wealth is right and that science and technology allows us to control nature for our purposes (nature is for economic purposes only) humans are separate from, and superior to, nature. John Locke (1632-1704) was an English philosopher that was known for his westernized view on the environment. He described that any parcel of land/environment has no value until it eventually becomes property. The fact that the living tree provides a home to non-human species and plays a significant role in our climate and hydrological cycles is overlooked. Thankfully most of the population has moved past this problematic worldview by recognizing the importance and value nature has not just for our own needs. Therefore, I believe I hold an eco-centric worldview. This worldview is a set of beliefs and environmental ethics that put ecological concerns first; over human priorities. This viewpoint believes Earth’s ecology and ecosystems (including its atmosphere, water, land, and all life forms) have intrinsic value—meaning they should be protected and valued even if they can’t be used by humans as resources. The start of eco-centrism was from John Muir (1838-1914). He was naturalist and environmental philosopher, known as the ‘Father of the National Parks’. Muir believed that nature was full of wonder and held great spiritual value and should be protected/preserved from development.

The responsibilities I hold

I believe as a graduating student in wildlife biology and as a general environmentalist I have many responsibilities as an individual and as an educated person. Therefore, I have an environmental responsibility to protect and improve the environment. As an environmentally responsible individual I should regularly assesses my environmental sustainability and apply this knowledge to my future decision-making. Currently, there is an urgent need to take environmental responsibility very seriously within every type of business and sustain our environment for future generations. As an individual I am responsible for recognizing the impact I have on the environment and, when possible, minimize the damage I may do to the planet. But as an educated individual I believe I am responsible for inspiring and educating others about the environment.

Some approaches that are the most suitable as individuals

I believe that from this course we have developed the basis of becoming a successful nature interpreter. Therefore, I believe the most suitable approach as we continue to develop as nature interpreters is to continue the conversation. We should continue to communicate with others whether it be family and friends or strangers through this blog but continue to talk about the environment. Furthermore, I believe another suitable approach would be to continue taking environmental responsibility. There are many actions we can easily do today that will reduce our impact and environmental impact. This following website describes 30 actions to make your life more environmentally friendly.

· https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/06/17/climate-change-30-ways-to-make-your-life-more-environmentally-friendly/39366589/

Before I conclude my last blog post for this semester, I wanted you remind you that this Saturday (March 26th at 8:30pm) is earth hour. More than 180 countries will be participating in earth hour by diming their lights and reducing their electricity use. If you want to participate individually or with others, here are some activities you can do that do not require electricity: read a book, paint/draw/color a picture, play a board game, do some yoga, catch up on some household chores or homework or simply just relax!

Cheers!

Signing off… Robyn..

nhenvs3000w22

Hello Robyn,

I really enjoyed reading your final post and though you gave interesting insight into the values of a nature interpreter. I completely agree with you that nature interpreter should possess integrity, selflessness, and honesty. I think you captured the main values a nature interpreter should have. However, I think there are a few more that a nature interpreter should have such as humility, compassion, kindness, tolerance, empathy, toughness, self-reliance, and attentiveness. Is there any you think I missed? I personally believe that tolerance is an important quality, as often nature interpreter will have to deal with stubborn and an obnoxious audience. This can often be linked to young children, as well as ignorant (either purposefully or unknowingly) adults.

I really like the quote you incorporated in your post by John Muir, “of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” I believe this is challenging us to not always go down the easy road, the road that looks the best. We learn more through challenges and taking the path where we may “get dirty”, will help us grow significantly. Likewise, you never know where the path less taken will lead you. Directly linking this to the environment, dirt paths are more natural, versus the normal paved roads we have created that have inflicted negative impacts on our environments. Several meanings behind this quote from my perspective, hence the reason I enjoyed it so much.

Thanks,

Noah Higginson

akenvs3000w22

Exploring My Role As An Interpreter

Happy Sunday everyone!

This journey exploring my outlook on nature interpretation has been insightful and enriching, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. For my final blog post, I will be exploring what my role as an interpreter has become, but I would like to emphasize that this role is fluid. Firstly, as an interpreter I hope I never become stagnant, and I keep challenging myself to learn more and hone my skills. If I want my audiences to be open to my interpretation, then I need to ensure my mind is always open to new ideas, or else I will become ignorant. I also hope to instill this lifelong learning practice in those around me, as will allow us to grow and aid in our personal lives and endeavors (Beck et al. Ch21, pp 46).

Something else I will continue to adamantly practice is getting to know my audience as well as I possibly can. Obviously, this has barriers when interpreting online via blogposts; however, I have gotten to know you all by reading your blogposts, which are often revealing about your own values and beliefs. Knowing the audience is critical if you want your interpretation to have an impact, because even if the content matters to you, it will have no effect if it matters not to the audience (Beck et al. Ch7, pp 130). From this, embracing and acknowledging the differences and minorities in audience members is integral to creating a welcoming interpretation program. This is not just a priority in interpretation, but every aspect of life.

When interpreting, even though I will try my best to get to know my audience members, there is a challenge in which you will always be interpreting to a group of people with their own unique life stories with unique perspectives on everything. The beauty of interpretation, and one of my main responsibilities as an interpreter, is that we can use shared human experiences to give meaning to anything.

One of my favourite interpretive approaches is to guide and harness the human senses in order to make the interpretation an experience (Beck et al. Ch5, pp 100). The audience may not know where to look, what to listen for, or what to feel, but guiding the audience in the right direction will ensure that they are able to get the first-hand experience. This will make the moment much more authentic and genuine for the audience members, especially because they found the beauty themselves. The use of senses will also make the moment much more memorable and will often act as a catalyst to seeking further education and interpretation (Beck et al. Ch5, pp 101). Using the human senses is an effective approach because it doesn’t matter what your walk of life is, because we all use our senses to experience the same world.

Photo taken by me. This is a simple image of preservation field with a clear sky in Guelph, ON. Think about what senses would be stimulated if you were placed within this photo? How would these senses impact your experience here?

Possibly an even better approach to interpreting, is the harnessing of human emotions. Although we all come from different origins, there are key emotions that are shared amongst humans of every culture, such as suffering, love, overcoming a challenge, and fear (Beck et al. Ch5, pp 88). I believe that using these universal emotions is a great way to invoke empathy within audience members, creating an emotional connection between them and the topic of interpretation. I find this incredibly impactful when mixed with story-telling, because it ties in vivid imagery with vivid emotions, which allows the interpretation to stick with the audience members (Beck et al. Ch10, pp 223).

These approaches will help me fulfill the responsibilities of interpreting: educating and uplifting. Furthermore, as an interpreter, I have the responsibility of ensuring the safety of everyone involved, as well as curating a welcoming and inclusive environment for anyone. This means that I have the responsibility of acknowledging my privileges, such as being an able-bodied middle class man; and understanding my own privilege will aid in better understanding my audience, which I previously stated will elevate my interpreting (Beck et al. Ch7, pp 130). These responsibilities, along with the approaches mentioned to ensure they interpret through their own perspectives, will allow me to meet both the audience’s basic needs and growth needs (Beck et al. Ch3, pp 47).

Once all of the basic levels of needs are met, I believe self-actualization is one of the most enriching parts of interpretation because it challenges one to perceive differently and offers exhilaration and deep satisfaction (Beck et al. Ch3, pp 47). A common theme throughout many of my blog posts has been to explore the feelings of awe and wonder, and how impactful and overlooked they are. It’s even been shown through research that awe-inspiring experiences can change lives in profound ways and can induce empathy and generosity (Beck et al. Ch21, pp 472). I believe harnessing the feeling of awe is key to self-actualization, and it is something I strive to elicit through interpretation.

Nature is abundant with awe. Think about all of the magical sunsets, raging downpours, or colourful autumns you’ve seen in your life, and how you feel during those moments. I’m not sure about you but I just stand there and soak all of the sounds, sights and smells of the moment in and gawk at how incredible these feats of nature are. These things are regular occurrences too, as the sun sets every day, and embracing the feeling of awe can make you feel grateful for these “regular” things. More so, I think awe makes me grateful to be alive in general because I am so lucky to be able to see all of the amazing feats of nature. I strive to instill this gratefulness in others, and hope that all of us can tap in to our curious and inquisitive sides.

Here is a photo of me and my friends watching an everyday sunset. I remember feeling said sense of awe and wonder while letting my senses take in all of the surroundings. Specifically, I remember admiring the deep colours on the horizon, feeling the cool breeze, and smelling the fresh air. Which sense tends to have the greatest impact on your sense of wonder?

This blog has taught me so much about my interpretation approach, and how important it is to uplift each other. Through the practices of understanding my audiences, and using human senses and emotions, I hope that I can lead people to self-actualization and perceiving the world with wide eyes. Nature interpretation is a very fulfilling gift, and I look forward to seeing the next generation of interpreters.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this blogging series, and I hope you enjoyed this journey as much as I have. Good luck with your future endeavours, and I can’t wait to see the paths you’ll forge!

References

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Chapter 3: Values to Individuals and Society. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018, pp 41-57

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Chapter 5: Guiding Principles of Interpretation. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018, pp 81-102

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Chapter 7: Serving Diverse Audiences. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018.

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Chapter 10: Arts in Interpretation. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018, pp 215-231

Beck, L., Cable, T.T. and Knudson, D.M. Chapter 21: The bright future of interpretation. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. 2018, pp 457-477

nhenvs3000w22

Hello Andrew,

I really enjoyed reading your final post. I thought you gave great insight into what a nature interpreter is supposed to be like. I like how you brought up the point, “as an interpreter I hope I never become stagnant, and I keep challenging myself to learn more and hone my skills.” I completely agree with this statement. I believe that we can and must become better and better nature interpreters. As time passes, we must learn, adapt, and continue to increase our skills and gather better tactics that can help everyone as an individual. I also like how you then described that more often than not, as nature interpreters, we will be interoperating nature for a group. This can be a challenge as everyone learns differently, however I feel that as time passes we will be able to utilize different tricks that can help suit everyone’s needs. This can be accomplished by learning new activities, creating more visuals, or simply adapting to an evolving audience.

Additionally, I never thought about how senses play a role in nature interpretation. I was recently reading an article that stated, “odors can serve as a memory trigger, augmenting our abilities to recall or recognize information” (Gillespie 2021). I wonder if there is any activity that can be incorporated utilizing our olfactory? A possibility could be having each of the audience smelling different tree leaves or other vegetation. Can you think of others?

Thanks,

Noah Higginson

References:

Gillespie, Claire. This Is Why We Associate Memories So Strongly With Specific Smells. 2021. Dotdash Media, Inc.

Blog Post 10: Personal Ethic

My personal ethic as I develop as a nature interpreter are always changing. Before this class I never really thought about what it meant to be a nature interpreter. A nature interpreter is supposed to be someone that informs other about the environment and is to make sure that they understand the significance. However, they are supposed to allows the audience to interpreter in their own way but need to point them in the right direction. The reason I volunteer as a nature interpreter is I want to leave the world the world the same way as when I came into it. One of my favorite quotes is by Franklin D. Roosevelt, “a nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forest are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people

If more people are informed on the little thing’s they can do to help the environment, Earth would be in a much better position. To tackle this issue, I try to inform the audience in a way that they can understand. Many articles use words that the average person can comprehend. I try to “dumb down,” the information so that the audience can see the whole picture. An example of this misconception is when scientist say that the Earth is getting warmer. Many believe, “well yeah its summertime.” Then when scientist start to talk about carbon sequestration and other things, they are lost.

I believe that as nature interpreters we should be doing everything we can to help people have access to nature. The United States has mandated the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities (Beck 2018). This helps people with all different disabilities, physically or mentally. Allowing people that can physically access these places will allow for a more well-rounded population. Similarly, as a nature interpreter we should help to eliminate all economic, cultural, and communicative barriers for people to understand nature and the environment around them. Even though parks are, “on the social front, the parks provide one of the few truly democratic facilities for enjoyment and inspiration of all the people. To the extent that we become inclusive in our welcome, understanding, accommodation, and interpretation of all constituent populations, we reduce fragmentation and strife.” I personally believe we can only strengthen our abilities to become better nature interpreters, but in doing so, we all need to personally reflect on what works and doesn’t work and adjust accordingly.

One of my favorite quotes is ,“time spent among trees is never time wasted,” by Katrina Mayer. I view this quote as saying that anytime you spend outdoors in never a waste and you shouldn’t take it for gratinated as it can be taken away at a moment’s notice. This also reminded me of the saying, “don’t waste your time, it is too short, valuable, and irreplaceable” (Beck 2018). In particular, time is short and valuable. Therefore, my take away from this is that we can waste our time being a nature interpreter, or find ways to be more effective at it to add real value. As I reflect on this course, it helped to provide me ways to reflect on how I can be a better, and more effective, nature interpreter.

References:

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

Blog Post 9: The most Amazing thing about Nature

The most amazing thing I know about nature is how unpredictable it can be. Liam Neeson stated, “for all of nature’s wonder and beauty, it is alps hostile and unpredictable.” Nature is always changing, and you don’t know if what it will have to offer. For example, a volcano could erupt at any movement, or a tsunami could form in the ocean. I personally believe that everything happens for a reason.

Nature has so much to offer. Such as surfing the coast or hiking through the forest. Having the opportunity to enjoy these things is something I defiantly take for granted. Until this class I never thought about the privilege we have to enjoy nature. At a moment we could lose the ability to enjoy the outdoors. Ever since I started taking this class, I have noticed I have started to do more outdoor activities. This class has gotten me thinking about how much more nature has to offer.

Additionally, another amazing thing about nature is how much we use it to improve our live. Taking the wood for our home and utilizing the different resources to increase our technology are just some of the thing’s we take from nature. However, as we increase our technology, we are increasing our odds at saving nature. A recent article stated that, “we consume more natural resources than the plant can regenerate” (Lambertini 2018). “Forests are under pressure like never before with unabated deforestation and at sea, 90% of the worlds fish stocks are overfished” (Lambertini 2018). I believe that in the near future we will have the tools to decrease the tolls we are imposing on nature. However, we need to accomplish this before it is too late, and the toll is irreversible. The article also states how, “it is time to focus on the solution which we know exist or have the potential to be developed and this is where technology, along with behavioral change, can help us reboot the health of our nature and planet” (Lambertini 2018). I believe this is describing how we need to push all our resources into new technology’s that can help preserve and undo the damages we have imposes on our planet. By adding additional measure to help detect and monitor the tolls we are imposing on nature can only be beneficial. Lastly, I believe that nature is something we need to protect at all costs. We have all seen in many movies such as in the movie, “2012,” that it can be taken away at a moment’s notice.

References:

Lambertini, Marco. Technology can help us save the planet. But more than anything, we must learn to value nature. 2018. World Economic Forum.

amenvs3000w22

Blog post 7 - The sound of music (in nature)

Music is everywhere, even in nature. Music is the wind whistling through grasses and trees, the buzz and hum of insects, busy collecting pollen or building homes. Music is the wings of hummingbirds, whizzing through the air, the calls of cheerful songbirds, and the splash of fish, swimming through clear calm waters. Individually, all of these components are just sounds, but similar to how bands are composed of multiple parts (guitar, piano, drums, vocals, etc.), when the sounds are all put together, they make a whole; a song. People can identify organisms by the sounds they make, connecting them to nature and allowing them to feel as though they are not alone. When I was in high school, I used to be a camp counselor, and one thing I would do while taking young campers on nature hikes was to have them close their eyes, cup their hands around their ears (making ‘deer ears’ as I would tell them) and listen to what they could hear. Although this was such a simple gesture, it always amazed these young kids. From this activity, they were able to recognize how great the biodiversity of the forest was, even though they couldn’t see all of it.

This is a picture taken of me in 2018 as a camp counselor. I was instructing campers on how to canoe before taking them on a nature hike through trails in the Heart Lake Conservation Area in Brampton, Ontario.

As for where nature is in music, nature can be utilized and interpreted in many songs through the lyrics, or even in samples created from the sounds of nature. How many songs do you know that have birds singing, rain falling, or bees buzzing in them? Apart from a lot of instrumentals, there are quite a few modern artists that utilize samples like these to paint a better picture for their work, and tie their songs to have multiple meanings (example: a love song using sounds or lyrics inspired by nature could have a direct meaning of love, and an indirect meaning that to be in nature is to be in love). Music and nature both play a huge part in my life, but rarely do I reflect on how they are connected in so many ways. My personal favorite nature-related song is called “Bloom” by The Paper Kites. A love song with lyrics such as “Can I take it to a morning Where the fields are painted gold And the trees are filled with memories Of the feelings never told?” relates the singer’s best memories with their lover to time spent outdoors. The song is entirely acoustic, and is very warm-sounding, making me feel like I am walking through a sunny flower-filled meadow every time I listen to it. It is not directly written about nature, but the inclusion of nature themes helps listeners to picture the song and also interprets the wonders of nature. Songs such as this, and “Rocky Mountain High” by John Denver, showcase the calming experiences nature provides and indirectly advises listeners to spend time outdoors.

nhenvs3000w22

Hello Ally,

I really enjoyed reading your post and thought you gave great insight into music in nature and nature in music. Your use of describing music in nature is very unique. I enjoyed reading about the activity’s you use when being an nature interpreter. Taking away one you your five senses only heightens the other four. Allowing them to hear more of the music nature produces and smell of the fresh air only increase the desire for nature.

After listening to the song, “Bloom” by The Paper Kites I agree that the lyrics, “can I take it to a morning, where the fields are painted gold and the trees are filled with memories of the feelings never told,” makes me also feel like I am walking through a sunny flower-filled meadow (Bentley & Lacy 2011).

Before today, I had never heard the song Rocky Mountain High,” by John Denver. After listening to the lyrics, I instantly felt like I was back in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina (I spent several years there in my youth). Especially, in John Dever lyrics, “he climbed cathedral mountains, he saw silver clouds below, he saw everything as far as you can see and they say that he got crazy once and he tried to touch the sun. And he lost a friend but kept the memory.” Listening to these lyrics I could visualize climbing the Rocky Mountains as I recalled the tranquility and natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Thanks,

Noah Higginson

References

Bentley S., Lacy C. (2011). Boom [Recorded by Australian band The Paper Kites]. EP Bloom Single. United States: RIAA.

Denver J., Taylor M. (1972). Rocky Mountain High [Recorded by singer-songwriter John Denver]. Rocky Mountain High. United States: RCA REcords.

Music in Nature

Music is everywhere in nature. George Santayana, a poet philosopher, and naturalist, stated “the Earth has music for those who listen.” Birds and whales have very similar music in respect to human songs. A song is defined as, "any rhythmic repeated utterance, whether by a bird, a frog, an insect, a whale or a human being (Gray et al. 2001). For instance, whale’s “songs fall between the length of a modern ballad and that of a movement of a symphony” (Gray et al. 2001). Due to the fact that whale’s songs are close to humans, it is believed that that they have close attention spans to humans (Gray et al. 2001). This is a result of whale’s large cerebral cortex’s (Gray et al. 2001). Additionally, whales are able to sing over a range of seven octaves. However, whales typically utilize “musical intervals between their notes that are similar to or the same as the intervals in our scales” (Gray et al. 2001). Next, birds will often chirp songs that “use the same rhythmic variations, pitch relationships, permutations, and combinations of notes as human composers” (Gray et al.2001).

Nature is also everywhere in music. Many of the sounds that are utilized in modern music are from nature. I personally know many people that can’t fall asleep without listening to ‘nature’s music.’ For example, hearing running water from a waterfall, owls hooting, or ocean waves crashing on the beach. Even in the famous nursery rhyme, “Old Macdonald Had a Farm,” nature is utilized in music through the use of the different farm animals.

The song that immediately takes me back to nature is “Big Yellow Taxi,” by Joni Mitchell. The message in this song is very clear message regarding society’s poor use and concern for our use of the lands around us (Mitchell, 1970). This is shown in the main chorus “we pave paradise and put up a parking lot,” as well as “we cut down all the trees and put into a tree museum and charge the people a dollar and a half to see them” (Mitchell, 1970). Whenever I hear this song, I think about how beautify nature is and how it is being taken away. This is even stated in the song when Joni Mitchell says, “you don’t know what you got till it’s gone” (Mitchell, 1970). I believe that this statement sums up nature as society has become so driven that nobody takes the time to enjoy what Earth has to offer. I loath the day we need to pay “a dollar and a half” to see nature in a museum.

References

Gray, P. M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science, 291(5501), 52. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69270354/AONE?u=anon~bddb6115&sid=googleScholar&xid=8b0b8c09

Mitchell J. (1970). Big Yellow Taxi [Recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell]. On Ladies of the Canyon. United States: Reprise Records.

jsenvs3000w22

Chapter 6: Integrity of the Past

There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it. (Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)

This quote is dense. There is a lot to unpack in just this short snippet of Edward Hyams’ thoughts. It took me a long time to get a full grounding of what I think Hyams is saying here, and I still don’t think it encompasses all interpretations. In this quote Hyams states that “ancient things” have no peculiar merit. I read this as Hyams saying that things of the past, in and of themselves, do not pose merit. Reading further, Hyams goes on to say there is merit in integrity and says “integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole”. By this, Hyams means that historical and “ancient” things are valuable, only so far as to it's related context that these objects or places represent. By keeping the knowledge and understanding of these things intrinsically tied to the objects themselves, then we instil integrity and therefore merit in the objects. Hyams claims this can be done through knowledge, a memory. In interpretation, we relay and recount information and stories to tie in isolated places, people, and objects. Without interpretation, these entities would exist in isolation from each other - without integrity. Interpreters weave a myriad of stories, myths, facts, and understandings of the world around them and present this knowledge to audiences from all walks of life. Hyams’ writing suggests that this interconnectedness of information through time underpins the integrity of nature interpretation. Further, Hyams presents an analogy of believing a train station only exists so long as our train is sitting in it, and as soon as it's in the past it ceases to matter. He equates this as thinking, feeling, or acting as though the past is done with. I think this is an incredibly effective analogy, with a powerful message. The past is not simply “done with” just because it is out of sight. Every day we live in a world defined and created by the thoughts, feelings, fears, dreams, and actions of those before us. We cannot take for granted all that it took to bring about the world we live in. The Interpreter's job is to provide context and information on past events, objects, and places. These things have real, tangible, and powerful impacts on our day to day lives and do not simply cease to exist because they are not directly in front of us. Beck and Cable (2011) notes “the beauty of human integrity commemorated in events of the past and the beauty of the intricacies of nature give rise to hope” and I think this profoundly connects Hyams thoughts on integrity and the interpretation of nature through human action.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.

nhenvs3000w22

Hello Jenna,

I really enjoyed reading your post. I thought you gave a very interesting perspective into the quote. I agree with your point that, “By keeping the knowledge and understanding of these things intrinsically tied to the objects themselves, then we instill integrity and therefore merit in the objects.” An object only has merit if you give it. We need to understand that history holds a lot of power and we can’t forget about it. Just because it is in the past doesn’t mean it didn’t leave a mark. I believe this is what Edward Hyams was trying to explain. Whether we like it or not, I believe the past has ramifications on the future. Consider the current Ukraine – Russia situation. Past issues and events over centuries has brought us to the current day standoff.

Additionally, I agree with your point that, “The interpreter's job is to provide context and information on past events, objects, and places. These things have real, tangible, and powerful impacts on our day to day lives and do not simply cease to exist because they are not directly in front of us.” I believe this adequately sums up an interpreter’s job. Consider the impact of interpretation of how Columbus discovered America. The traditional version is that Columbus discovery of America was a great thing. More recently, this interpretation is being challenged to one where Columbus’s discovery led to stealing the land, taking advantage of, and ultimately the oppression of Native American’s. Similarly, Critical Race Theory is also being debated in the United States suggesting the current history taught in American schools is biased from a racist perspective which has lead to continued oppression of African American. Using these examples, one can see how completely different interpretation of our past can shape (and has shaped) our present as well as our future. This also highlights the importance of interpretation, and as you suggest, the importance of “integrity” in “keeping the history truthful and pure.”

Thanks,

Noah Higginson

Blog Post 6

Quote: 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.

When Edward Hyams states, “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,” I believe Hyams is saying that as time goes on history gets changed. As the word of mouth keeps on going throughout time, it sort of ends up turning into broken telephone. Changing little by little each time it is passed along.

Edwards explains that there is no good in ancient things but there is good in the integrity of the history, such as the word of mouth. When Edward states, “maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things.” I believe this is trying to say that the that the integrity is keeping the history truthful and pure. Additionally, I believe Hyams also saying that although the past is now a part of history, and we can’t forget about it. This is exemplified through his analogy, “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.” I think this is saying that after a train has left its station it has left its mark, people have come, people have left, and the train tracks are still on the ground. With all these changes the only thing constant is the tracks. By not forgetting about the past we can depict what those tracks are in history. David McCullouh stated this perfectly, “we need the past for our sense of who we are. We need the past for a sense of our civic responsibility, how all these benefits and freedoms came to us, and what it is our duty to protect.” Just like the textbook says, “keeping the memories alive maybe the most significant role of history interpreters.” Learning and understanding where we’ve been, helps to guide us in the future.

Noah Higginson

dhenvs3000w22

The Beach - Blog 5

Everyone has a place that they feel most at home, whether it be just at their house, a cottage, outside, a sports field, or even an individual. For me, it’s the beach, specifically with my family. With COVID-19 it has forbidden my access to travel, especially to a destination residing on a beach. It has forbidden many things for all. Although now things are slowly opening back up and restrictions are beginning to get lifted, my family and I have been hesitant for a while to travel for many reasons. Now I don’t wanna make this whole post about COVID-19 because I’m sure many individuals have had enough of it, just like myself, but it has restricted me from being in a place that resolves all negatives in my life.

I love the beach because…

The scenic bright blue waves crashing in the background noise. The ocean breeze’s earthy and salty odours. The soothing sounds of the ocean and the gulls. The vitamin D absorbing in my skin, the feeling of sand on my feet, the warm wind that brushes a tan, it makes me feel at peace, calmness. The relaxation, the scenery, the warmth, the water, and the sun the beach has to offer, quite frankly I believe can make anyone’s frown turn upside down, or their mood skyrocket with dopamine.

Every trip I have gone on and every country I have traveled to, my family always goes to the beach. For them too, and their own love for the ocean and the beach, has grown my love for it. When I am at the beach without them, it offers the exact same feeling as if they aren’t there with me.

I miss it incredibly. I am thankful enough that this summer I will finally be able to travel again without any hesitations, and go on a trip down south with my family which we have planned for in August.

This aspect of nature has impacted my love for it, and my life entirely. The beach has offered many outlets in my life, and has made me more appreciative for the Earth, mother nature and it’s offering. As beaches surround us in many different parts of the world, I still cannot bear the thought of not being consistently brought up around it, because since I was a little girl, it has offered a positive impact on my future life and self, something I would have never imagined. It is a place that I can go to, and nothing else matters than offering myself mental and physical self-care.

Here’s a small look into some of the photos I have or my family has captured from the many beaches I have experienced in my lifetime:

kpmbenvs3000w22

Hey there! I loved reading your post, it really took me back to the trips I had at the beach in Florida with my family and how at home I used to feel in the ocean as well. I think it was cool to see someone talking about parts of nature other than just the forest or hiking, as that is something I also talked about this week in my post! I would love to learn about how all the beaches you have visited have been different, because I think it’s so interesting that a place with the same name no matter where you are in the world can have such different characteristics. Knowing how much biodiversity and nature occurs within a single beach as well, I would love to hear about your experiences with different marine and land life you’ve encountered. Now, I end this with some questions; what do you think is your favourite thing you have learned while at the beach? Have you ever encountered an interpreter who has been able to give you more information while at the beach that interests you?

dhenvs3000w22

Hi Katherine,

Thank you for reading my post and reflecting your thoughts upon it! To answer your questions, firstly I believe as much as a beach offers all the same things, everyone I have visited has been different in many ways. Whether it’s the texture of the sand, the temperature of the water, or the atmosphere around. I have experienced some very small, quiet beaches, or ones that fall long in distance with kilometers of distance that flow of tourists or families across the world. Some may offer more peace, or some offer more happiness and excitement. I thoroughly enjoy the ocean and marine life, I have also experienced many excursions which I have discovered and seen many aquatic ecosystems and species while being by the beach. It is a place that offers so much more than just swimming and tanning.

I believe my favourite thing I have learned while at the beach is change. I mean this in a sense is that when you look at the water, you realize how transitory life is. There might be tremendous waves one minute and then be very calm and motionless the next. It can be fluid and surprising at times, just like life. You must ride out the ups and downs with the knowledge that change is the one constant in life.

Lastly, I have unfortunately never been encountered by an interpreter to impact my love for the beach, I hope one day that I do so that I can grow my perspective of it.

nhenvs3000w22

Hello Dalia,

The beach is also my favorite place to go. Living 4 years in California we went to the beach almost every day in the summer. Once my feet hit the sand I am instantly taken back to a time of pure joy. A time I didn’t have to worry about school, work, money, etc. My family is very similar to yours as they are not ‘sight seers.” Our idea of a vacation is going to the beach. As such we decided that during covid we were going spent a month in Aruba, staying at the beach while working online. Before the trip, I was a little worried at first. Was I going to actually be productive there and not want to enjoy the scenery? However, I found I was more productive and was able to complete my work more time effectively and efficiently. I believe this was due to the fact that I was in an atmosphere I was more comfortable in. A place that I could focus on my task and had something to look forward to when I was done. Whether that was playing beach volleyball, catching a tan, snorkeling, or exploring the reefs. Exploring the reefs were my favorite as I could observe all the different creatures that lived there. I also believe these experiences at the beach helped to me to develop a deeper appreciation for and connection with nature. The tranquility, the beauty, and the great memories. Ironically, my parents are also in the process of moving to the New Jersey shore, where they will be less than a block from the beach. I hope to visit lots!

Is there any other place’s that offer you this same feeling?

Thanks,

Noah Higginson

What I Have Been Thinking About

As I have progressed through the environmental science program at Guelph, my understanding of environmental issues as grown, as well as my understanding of how many things we do day to day can have significant environmental impacts. For instance, while the news is focus on the economic and political impact of the trucker anti-vaccine protests, this same protest is actually having a negative environmental impact. At the focal point of the protest is the city of Ottawa, where air quality has diminished since the start of the protest. This is due to the fact that these trucks are idling for hours, as well as the use of multiple barbeques and campfires. The current air pollutant level for Ottawa is 14 time greater than the average (Sears 2022). Many harmful substances, such as arsenic, formaldehyde, benzene, etc., are produced through the emissions of diesel engines (Sears 2022). To add many of those substances are linked to causing cancer and cause serious health concerns. The main concern from these diesel emissions is the particle matter (PM 2.5) emissions into the air. The current PM 2.5 level is actually 4 to 8 times greater than normal levels (Sears 2022). Without high winds or other form of dispersal the emissions will be confined to the area, seriously affecting the people that live and work in the area.

I personally believe that these truckers don’t realize the toll they are putting on the people in Ottawa and the negative environmental impact they are causing. As nature interpreters, someone needs to help inform them of the ecological impact these are putting on that region.

Additionally, I also I recently watched a video, “What Happens If Yellowstone Blows Up Tomorrow,” on Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone is located in the United States, specifically in northwestern Wyoming, southern Montana, and eastern Idaho. The national park is still currently volcanically active, but many scientists have concluded that there is no potential threat. I found it fascinating that as it stands, Yellowstone is overdue for an eruption. The video goes on to describe the environmental impact an eruption would have on the world. For example, the lava that would be emitted from the eruption would disperse over the area the size of Texas. Additionally, the ash that would be produced would engulf the entire United States. This would kill neighboring communities and impose health concerns to surrounding areas, as well as around the world. After watching the video, I have been contemplating what action to be taken to either prepare for the disaster and or how we can decrease the magnitude of the eruption. As well as how we can decrease the chances of having an eruption to occur.

After researching various websites and how to stop Yellowstone from erupting, I came across an article posing the option of drilling to release the pleasure under Yellowstone. The article goes on saying how attempting to release this pleasure would increase the chances of erupting and cause negative consequences (What If 2020). I found it alarming that no action is being taken to limit this potential disaster and any of the proposed actions could have unintended negative consequences. Reflecting on this, while most of our focus is on dealing with manmade environmental issues and impact, there are several other natural environmental risks around the world that could have an even greater negative impact on our planet. Does this mean we should give up? Or should we still control what we can control? Personally, I still think we need to control what we can, and the human race has the ability to make changes to help preserve our plant, even though mother nature may still ultimately decide our fate. What do you think?

References:

Sears, Sarah. Protesters’ idling trucks are making downtown Ottawa’s air quality worse. 2022. CBC News.

What If. What if the Yellowstone Volcano Erupted Tomorrow? 2020. Youtube

tnenvs3000w22

The Correlation of Art and Nature

Hello everyone, its that time of the week! Welcome back to my blog!

As someone who started out as an artist and studying art before pursuing design art is a powerful way to communicate to people. It is important to note that art comes in various forms, some of which may shock you. As an interpreter it is also a job to help be the medium to communicate the beauty nature provides to others. It’s communication that goes beyond diagrams; it reveals emotion and story. Art is an important medium for communication. Literally, though! Many people have used forms of art to make languages. One of the languages I am currently learning is Japanese. Apologies if I don’t get this exactly right I’m still learning. Basically, Japanese is divided into 3 writing forms hiragana, katakana and kanji. Kanji is the use of Chinese characters, following the rules of Japanese there are two pronunciations; Onyomi (the Chinese derived pronunciation) and Kunyomi (the Japanese pronunciation). Point of this being, a Japanese writing practice sheet I have shows how kanji came from kokotsubun (a hieroglyphic/drawn kind of character) that seems to resemble elements of nature which was then simplified into hiragana. The progression of drawings helped make a base for language and communication. Obviously this is over simplified but it is interesting because a lot of ways I help myself remember kanji is by making drawings from the character pertaining to what they mean. Thus writing and words can be derived from an artistic expression as well as a literal form of communicating.

This brings up a valid point that nature is the basis for art. Many artists draw inspiration from nature and displayed the parts that speak to them in a way that makes sense to them. The group of seven is infamous for Canadian landscapes, but there are eras dedicated to the fascination of life embellished by nature or natural elements such as the rococo, romanticism, realism, art nouveau, impressionism, surrealism. These time periods are often known to highlight human elements but have also showed perspectives of nature alongside the human image. Art has the ability to speak to something deeper. Nature can show insight to new perspectives. Nature has impacted my personal art. You are the limited by your own imagination and creativity therefore witnessing other creative works can expand upon what you know and how you perceive things.

“The Swing”/ Painting from Rococo Art Period/ Fragonard

Coy Fish and The Island/ Paintings/ Tamia Noel

The gift of beauty closely resembles the saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is the appreciation and embracing the feeling of beauty radiating from ones environment. Everyone takes it in differently but the feelings are still there. The gift part I can see in two ways, it a gift because it is shared with us and it is also a gift because we should be grateful to witness such beauty. I grew up in an environment where perspective of food, art, culture and nature are a blend of different peoples backgrounds. Such is the essence of the Caribbean. When I interpret and view things I think in different perspectives but the one constant is my view of nature. That is not to say that it isn’t influenced by different stories and teachings but some how, even in the darkest tales, there has been a strong display of nature’s beauty. For me, natures beauty comes from its strength while also providing interesting sites to see. It is not something that we can control which I think is why it is so beautiful on its own. Nature owns its strength and beauty and each person takes in its different features. For me I capture each feature through drawing, painting, writing, spoken word, photography and sometimes sculpture. Every form of communication is art, especially when it describes the wanders of our world. I want to try to capture nature as much as I can. Ever since I was little I loved looking at the world and trying to understand it. I found very quickly that nature is art.

What ways do you try to capture nature? What feelings does it invoke when you are creating or capturing art?

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

- Tamia N.

nhenvs3000w22

Hello Tamia,

I really enjoyed reading your post and agree with your view of how you interpret nature through art. Art does allow us to interpret nature in many different ways. Nature does allow for more and better insight into nature,and I believe that we can utilize art to become better environmental interpreters. Having different ways to interpret nature makes us better environmental interprets. I do believe that nature has also impacted my personal art as well. Seeing different aspects of nature, I am able to add more detail and make my artwork even better. Observing different art forms gives us a better perspective into nature.

I also agree with you how the gift of beauty relates to the saying “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” With that said, an artist’s work is also a representation of their own interpretation and feelings. Therefore, I wonder if were to only view nature through art, would are own interpretation be biased by the artists views?

While this is likely, I think this supports the idea of nature interpretation through a variety of mediums such that one can fully establish their own views and interpretation based on a variety of inputs.

I also found it fascinating the linkage you made between kanji and hiragana and how they were derived from elements of nature. Without your interpretation, I don’t think I would have recognized the linkage to nature from the photo of the Chinese characters you posted. Thanks for being an interpreter.

Thanks,

Noah Higginson

Blog 4: Interpreting Nature Through Art

There are many different ways one can interpret nature. I personally interpret nature through many different art styles. Whether that is through photos, painting, sculptures, etc.. In the book, Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage, Larry Beck, Ted T. Cable, and Douglas M. Knudson describes an interpreter as someone that “helps people to gain some understanding of the unusual and curious places of the land and the people that inhibit[ed] it, trying to part a sense of wonder in the mind of the perceiver. On the one hand the interpreter helps people to gain new perspective on the common place and new understandings of the world around them” (Beck 2018). However, I believe that this accurately describes how art helps to depicted nature. For example, through photography Eliot Poter said, “that we usually notice flowers, autumn foliage, mountains landscapes, and other summits of nature’s displays.” This describes how photography is able to grab the essence of nature to share with others. As we become better interpreters we start to notice more and more of nature. The little details are what make an experience and as we gain more of these experience’s we become more well-rounded and increase our ability to share with others.

Additionally, photography is a great way that we can become better nature interpreters, by allowing the less fortunate or unable to experience natures beauty. Incorporating more art would allow for the community to interpreted nature in a more effective way. Environmental interpreters should utilize art more often when trying to effetely demonstrate the beauty of nature by engaging audiences in more of a hands-on experience. Since more people are more of a hands-on learner, art would allow for more people to interpret nature more effectivity. Art gives one the ability to associate photos, painting, and sculptures, to a place, a feeling, a location, etc.

The book, Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage, also describes the gift of beauty as, “interpretation should instill in people the ability, and the desire, to sense the beauty in their surroundings-to provide spiritual uplift and to encourage resource preservation” (Beck 2018). I believe this represents the role nature plays in everyone’s lives and how important nature is to our everyday life. Everyone interprets nature differently and that is also the “gift of beauty” that nature instill in us.

The one key risk with interpreting nature through art, is that the very art you are interpreting is biased by the artist. As Neil Forkey describes in Canadians and the Natural Environment to the Twenty-First Century, there are differing views on nature, the “utilitarian conservation” approach where nature is something where humans should interact with, and the “romantic preservation” approach which view nature as something that should be maintained in is wild state without interaction and interference by nature (Forkey 2012). These differing perspectives will ultimately come through in the artist’s work, which can influence and ultimately alter one’s interpretation of nature through art that art.

What do you think the book, Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage, was meaning when describing the gift of beauty? I look forward to reading everyone else’s responses.

- Noah Higginson

References:

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

Forkey, Neil. Canadians and the Natural Environment to the Twenty-First Century. 2012. University of Toronto Press.

rmenvs3000w22

Blog 3: The Role of Privilege in Nature Interpretation

Hey everyone,

I really enjoyed the content of this week. I particularly liked the supplemental ARES reading and appreciated the analogy of having an “invisible backpack” as I think it’s a great way to help understand and visualize the concept. I think it would be a really great way to introduce the concepts to kids as well.

I really appreciated how thoroughly the textbook went into different kinds of privileges and where they can stem from. I also like how it reviewed how to properly interact with people based on their needs so that everyone feels equally respected and heard.

I think privilege plays a very key role in environmental interpretation as it really can affect what an audience is able to interpret as well as how they interpret it. We all have a huge responsibility as environmental interpreters to understand privilege so we can ensure that what we’re creating or teaching is equally accessible to everyone. So far, my definition of privilege is “access or opportunity to things that are only available to certain groups or people”.

Up until recently, I understood that I had privilege, but I didn’t really understand what it meant. I wanted to share one really influential moment in my life that happened last year that taught me a lot about privilege and really shaped the way I think about it.

At the time, I was working as a technician at a vet clinic and everything was still operating curbside. The clinic I worked at specialized in reproductive medicine, so we would regularly have scheduled or emergency c-sections on dogs. Sometimes, we would require dogs and their owners to come in daily to do blood work and have an ultrasound so we could monitor the pups. One of our clients at that time had hired a gentleman to drive her dog to the clinic every day for these appointments as she worked and couldn’t take the time off. On one of the days her dog was scheduled, I was walking back inside from the parking lot when the driver of this client stopped me. He asked me if I had ever been to Africa. A little confused, I said no. He then told me that where he’s from, mothers die when they have complications with their pregnancies because they don’t have access to doctors that can operate on them. But somehow here, people can get the same surgery for their pets 24 hours a day without a second thought.

The driver went on to tell me about his life in Kenya and how he had come to Canada to make a better life for his family back home. He told me that because I’m well-off and have white skin that I have a unique privilege to be able to make change in this world. He wanted me to go to Africa with him to experience the things he told me about so that I could come back and tell people what was happening there. I told him I didn’t have enough money to get there, but that wasn’t entirely true. I had savings for post-grad school and for my first down payment on a house. If I wanted to, I could make it happen. But I didn’t.

So why don’t we prioritize helping others if we have the ability or privilege to do so? I think we are all so surrounded by privilege that it seems like nothing is happening outside of our lives. We have such strong social constructs that tell us we should go to school, immediately get a nine-to-five job and save for a house to support our future families because that is what makes us “successful” in life. No one stops to think about the people our wealth was stolen from or the state of anyone else’s lives other than our own, because that’s not what we were taught to worry about. That in itself is a privilege – the privilege of ignorance.

Even if we can’t end world hunger or make sure every mom has access to medical care by ourselves, I think appreciating that we have the privilege to be able to make change and taking responsibility for the ignorance surrounding it are the first steps. Although poverty in Africa is a very different aspect of privilege than what we may deal with on a regular basis or what we’ll deal with in interpretive roles, the same concepts still apply. In our society, we have been taught to prioritize ourselves and to not think about others. We have the ability and the privilege to be able to change that.

Our roles as environmental interpreters can give us the opportunity to lead by example while we practice taking responsibility for our privileges. If I can understand that I have the privilege to communicate in any way I want, I can then use that privilege to be able to make my presentations available to those who may only be able to communicate in a single way. If I understand I have the privilege to be able to educate myself on whatever I want, I can use it to teach those that may not be able to do the same. If we understand our privileges in life, we can begin to notice how we can use them for good. Through our other privileges, we gain the unique privilege of being able to help and make change. I think that is such an amazing gift that so few people realize they even have.

I am so appreciative of that gentleman that took the time to pull me aside and remind me of not only the things I am uniquely capable of, but of the responsibility that comes with those capabilities. We ended up talking for about a half an hour, and even though I knew my boss would probably get me in trouble for staying outside for so long, I also knew that what this man was telling me was one of the most important things I would ever hear.

It was. I now regularly work on taking responsibility for the privileges I have by taking the time to identify them and consider how I can use them to do good. If I do end up in an interpretive role, I will incorporate these practices into my work so that I can act on my privilege to make change – even if it’s just within a single person or a community. I was gifted such an amazing ability to be able to help others and make a difference in this world, and I intend to live my life doing so.

My only hope is that I can try to inspire others to do the same.

Riley

nhenvs3000w22

Hi Riley,

I really enjoyed reading your post about the role privilege plays in nature. I too never thought how privilege tied into nature but after further reflection I understand what an important role it plays. Like yourself, I did not realize how privileged I was growing up as it relates to nature. Likewise, although my “invisible backpack” is similar to yours, I’ve also had the privilege of living in various places around the US and Canada (Ontario, North Carolina, California, Illinois). These unbelievable experiences have brought me to experience many things and places that most won’t be able to in a lifetime. So many people do not have, or will never have the privilege that I’ve had. Which takes me to the quote you used from Liane Moriarty that “You could jump so much higher when you had somewhere safe to fall.” Reflecting on this and the role of privilege, I think those with privilege should try to “jump higher” as they do have a safer place to fall. Jumping higher means going the extra mile to translate and leverage one’s privilege for those who don’t have the same type of environmental privilege. This concept has also made me reflect back on my own life and experiences. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to bring friends from California and Illinois to visit by grandparent’s farm near Barrie, as well as take them to a cottage in Muskoka. As I look back, I recall their expressions and comments related to the beauty, peace, and gratitude for being able to experience nature in a way they have never before. If we can do this at a broader society level, this could be very impactful.

Thanks,

Noah Higginson

Privilege in Nature

Privilege plays a significant role in nature interpretation. Many are faced with barriers that affect their ability to interpretive nature. The main barriers people are faced with when talking about nature interpretation include physically, psychological, and social barriers. It is a privilege when one is not faced with these types of barriers. An example of a physical barrier might be one that is handicapped can’t reach certain locations. One that is psychologically impaired might not have the capability to interpreted nature. Some face social barriers such as, economic barriers, cultural barriers, communication barriers, lack of knowledge or fear. One of the main barriers that the population faces is the lack of transportation. One may not have access to a personal vehicle or public transportation.

My working definition of privilege is to have limited barriers compared to others. A nature interpreters’ job is to limit these barriers one may face in nature. Willian Brown said, “on the social front, the parks provide one of the few truly democratic facilities for enjoyment and inspiration of all the people. To the extent that we become inclusive in our welcome, understanding, accommodating, and interpretation of all constituent population, we reduce fragmentation and strife.” I believe that this quote captures the role a nature interpreter must play. Likewise, it is an interpreter’s role to leverage their privilege to reduce these barriers to those without privilege, similar to the role parks play in our society as Brown suggests. As an example, for someone who grew up in a city like Toronto, they likely had many more barriers to experiencing nature as compared to someone who lives in North Bay. If you’ve had that privilege of experiencing nature in North Bay, you need to help leverage that privilege to share with someone who has not had the same exposure living in Toronto. One that grew up in the big city does not have the same experiences as one that did not. One must try to relate and share the experiences that a city person is lacking. Often times these circumstances are out of one’s control. It not fair that some people get to have different experiences then others. Not only nature interpreters but also us as a whole, need to help bridge this gap.

Privilege plays an important role in nature interpretation, and one can’t underestimate how their privilege has helped them to understand nature compared to those without the same type of privilege.

hsenvs3000w22

Being a Historical Environmental Interpreter

My ideal role as an environmental interpreter would be at a historical site such as the Borobudur in Indonesia. My grandmother was from Indonesia and would always share stories of her growing up there with me. It has always been my goal to visit Indonesia and learn more about the cultural and historical background. The Borobudur is one of the most famous landmarks and tourist attractions in Indonesia. It is a large temple that was abandoned and later rediscovered.

Genius loci is the unique nature or character of a particular site which outlines its significance. As an environmental interpreter one of my main goals would be to enrich the experience of visitors by studying the character of historical sites and then sharing it with others. This includes sharing things like the historical and cultural significance of a place. A key skill that I would need to adopt in order to successfully share knowledge of historical places with others, is using engaging methods of communication to keep people interested and allow them to feel the true essence of a place.

Another key role as an environmental interpreter is to provoke wonder in the mind of the perceiver. Although the interpreter is responsible in helping others gain a historical and cultural understanding of a place, it is also their job to allow the visitor to perceive things in their own way. One skill that I would need in order to do this is to be highly adaptable. This would help me propose ideas from different viewpoints and allow room for curiosity in the mind of the interpreter. Each person has their own perception of the world based on personal values and experiences; however, being able to present one idea in different ways helps everyone gain a deeper understanding than what first meets the eye.

As an environmental interpreter I would like to split my audience into beginners who may be interested more by exciting information and those that are experienced who would benefit from a more challenging experience that will expand their knowledge. This would require a certain level of creativity, planning, and organization in order to connect with my audience in a meaningful way. This can be done in a number of ways such as pamphlets, media, tours, and even communication that extends beyond the experience itself such as through websites or blogs. Technology allows for a large number of ways in which visitors can continue to interact with their nature experience and share their knowledge with others.

I hope that one day I will have the opportunity to connect with my roots and visit Indonesia. I want to learn everything I can and share that knowledge with future generations in a meaningful and lasting way.

nhenvs3000w22

Hello Harleen,

I really enjoyed reading your post and agree with your view on how an environmental interpreter should be. Being highly adaptable would allow for an environmental interpreter to show different viewpoints. Being environmental interpreters means that you are teaching future generations.

I really liked how you said “a key role as an environmental interpreter is to provoke wonder in the mind of the perceiver.” I do agree that the role of the environmental interpreter is to allow the receiver of the information to perceive the information in their own way. However, I do feel that the receiver of the information needs to know all the facts in order to have a complete understanding. With this in mind, I really liked your idea about tailoring the content and information to the experience level of audience you are communicating with (“beginners” versus “experienced”). I think this can help to prevent overwhelming the “beginners”, and avoid losing interest in the “experienced” with basic information. A key risk I also see with interpreters, is coming off too strong, or being perceived as too radical in their views. This can lead to distrust, and a perception that environmentalist are overreacting and doing this to gain attention among their peers. This is a key risk interpreters need to avoid.

I have never been to Indonesia but would also like to visit. The Borobudur sound like an interesting place and would have a lot of history being a large temple. Is there another place in Indonesia you would enjoy being an environmental interpreter at?

Thanks,

Noah Higginson

Role of Environmental Interpreter

My ideal role of an environmental interpreter would be at a national park. Being an environmental interpreter at a national park would enable exposing a large diverse group of people in a natural setting. People from all around the world attend national parks to take in the unique environment and characteristic they entail. Here I would be able to express the important role the environment plays in our everyday life, in a way that everyone could understand. In doing this, bigger ideas would be simplified for the average person to understand. People naturally block out things they don’t understand, and when scientific information is presented in a complex manner, they too block it out. Therefore, I would find ways to keep the information simple and relatable for people to understand. Keeping listers well informed in a plain and simple way would enable them to better understand and interpret the information, ideally engaging their curiosity to learn more. Being an interpreter at a national park, would also allow me to engage audiences in more of a hands-on experience. People often learn better when they experience something directly. An example, demonstrating how as ice begins to melt, water levels rise is a simulation type of exercise could be powerful. Seeing or experiencing instead of just being told can be very useful. Typically, people are more of a hands on learner rather than just memorizing the main points.

As an environmental interpreter, creating an atmosphere that is exciting, engaging, and establishes two-way communication between the interpreter and recipient is also essential. Open communication is key as this allows for the recipient to ask questions when needed without judgement. Even though an environmental interpreter is supposed to allow the recipient to interpret the ideas how they want, helping to provide information to assist them in interpreting what they are seeing is also part of the role. I also believe an interpreter needs to come off as credible, yet balanced. Unfortunately, many environmental interpreters come off as extremists, “the world is ending,” type of thing. This approach can cause people to block them out and disengage. If we lose them off the start, it can be difficult to re-engage them. Therefore, some important skills for interpreters include communication, listening, adaptability, patience. passionate, practical, and relatable to people. Without these specific characteristic’s this job would be very difficult to achieve.

jsenvs3000w22

Chapter 1: Growing into my Place in Nature

My relationship with nature has changed significantly over my lifetime. I cannot say that it has been ‘home’ or a ‘friend’ to me in my childhood. To be frank, I grew up quite sheltered from nature. The most immersive experiences I had as a child in nature were a small handful of camping trips that I only remember from photos. Nature was pretty much a stranger to me. There was a huge disconnect from the outdoors that I experienced and the “nature” I saw through television. As a child, I ravenously consumed any documentaries that aired on the TV. I hungered for what the people in these shows experienced – the wilderness beyond my backyard. In hindsight, what these programs did was present to me a sense of place, even for a place I’ve never been. I craved to experience these things for myself. I dreamed of exploring the tundra, riding elephants, photographing birds of paradise, and swimming with sharks. The interpretation of these experiences brought me into the foreign world of nature. While I had never experienced nature in the way these programs had promised, they raised me with such a strong sense of awe that it carried over into my career.

Even into university, there was so little of nature that I had experienced firsthand. My first real camping trip, the first time I saw a deer, my first real cathartic experience in nature all happened in adulthood. My boyfriend had grown up in the outdoors his entire life, and I learned about all these experienced that I couldn’t relate to. The outdoors, to him, was second-nature, while it felt like an awkward acquaintance to me. I mourned the childhood I wished I had, littered with memories I had envisioned – learning how to chop wood, to fish, to hike. I wanted to experience those things for myself.

Over the last four years, I have grown into myself. I have developed a much stronger identify and came to the realization that even if I didn’t experience those things when I wanted to, its never too late. I strived to actively seek those experiences for myself. I learned how to chop wood and start a fire and fish and see nature through eyes of wonderment again. I wanted to rediscover nature for myself, and I did. I started going out whenever and wherever I could. My partner took me out and let me experience nature for myself, he brought me to the places of his childhood. We spent weeks in Haliburton forest where I learned how to fish, and swim, kayak, and canoe. Once again, I was given a sense of place in nature. However, this time I could experience it first-hand. I had known nature through a classroom and could describe nutrient cycling, decomposition, ecosystem structure, productivity, and biodiversity in textbook definition. But this was a new nature to me. One that was raw, and real, and just as wonderous as I had hoped. It renewed a fervor in me to continue to seek these experiences and make nature more accessible to all, at any age. Hence, I took this course. I waited years to find a place in nature for myself, but before that, interpretation bridged the gap between me and nature. I want to learn how to do the same for others.

nhenvs3000w22

Hi Jenna,

I really enjoyed reading your post. It sounds like your boyfriend has become and important interpreter of nature for you. While I had plenty of opportunities and was quite emersed in nature, I now realize that I really didn’t appreciate it the way I should have or do now. Growing up around North America I was able to experience many different place and climate but didn’t appreciate how amazing nature is.

Additionally, I also used to watch a lot of documentaries growing up. My favorite growing up was Turtle: The Incredible Journey. Now, my favourite documentary is Planet Ocean. I was always fascinated with the ocean and wanted to gain as much information as I could about it. Did you have a favorite documentary growing up?

My relationship with nature has also changed and evolved over time. I feel that I am able to appreciate more of what nature has to offer and am definitely more conscious about the effects we have on it. More recently, the environmental science program has taught me the many adverse effects we have on nature. Especially after taking ENVS*3010, Climate Change Biology, I feel I have a better understanding on just how big that affect is. I now recognize that growing up, I was ignorant towards nature, and did not realize the importance of small things we can all do like to recycle, and conserve. Are there specific courses at the University of Guelph have changed impacted your relationship with Nature more than others?

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

Nature Blog