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Unit 10: Final Blog post

I can’t believe that this course is already coming to an end and that this will be my last blog prompt. I’ve taken away so much from this course throughout the last three months and grown tremendously as nature interpreter. At beginning of the course, I never imagined that there were so many different things you can nature interpret through like history, music, and technology. The blog prompts were a key way for me to communicate with others and express my thoughts on each and every unit during the times of solitary of online school. Thank you all for such a great semester and I look forward to reading and responding to all of your final blog prompts! To describe my personal ethic as a nature interpreter I will go through the main questions posed in this week blog prompt which are about my ability to translate my own insights, personality, and ethics.

What beliefs do I bring as a nature interpreter?

This class really got me thinking about my personal beliefs, what I stand for as a nature interpreter and how I want to pass that down to those Ill be educating. Throughout his class I have learned many different strategies on how to translate my knowledge and beliefs to the minds of larger audiences, but I now ask myself, what are those beliefs that I stand for? The main personal belief I have is that everybody should be exposed to nature and be knowledgeable to some degree if we are going to sustain our planet for the future. The number one threat to wildlife Is habitat loss due to a record amount of new development occurring across the globe. So many people in today’s world are immersed in pavement and concrete and their cellphones all day every day and are totally disconnected from the natural environment that our society is in control of. I believe this is the reason our pollution rates, logging rates, and habitat destruction are at record highs. I would love to take these ceo’s of companies, and those who disregard keeping our water, air and forests clean through the exact forests they are destroying and teach them about the all the beauty, significance, and importance of the land. I believe that if they were exposed to the type of nature that I was from a young age, they would share the same feelings as me, in that we need to preserve and protect our forests for as long as we can.

What responsibilities do I have as a nature interpreter?

The first responsibility I have as a nature interpreter is to always do my best to convey accurate and teach others what I know to the best of my ability, free of discrimination. I feel that I have the responsibility to help the planet by educating others on the importance of nature so they too will become passionate in protecting it. I also now feel that have a responsibility to use the tools I have gained in this course to effectively educate others, like blogging, social media, and podcasting. These are just a few of the ways we learned but I find these three to be very valuable today because they don’t require in person interactions to get people passionate! A future responsibility for me will be to actually take groups of people from the city on nature hikes and put together a tour that will help them learn so much about nature. I think another big responsibility as a nature interpreter for me is to inspire our generation and the next generation because I believe that we are the ones who can make a real difference. We are the ones who can put the environment before profits and see a longer-term future for us.

What approaches are most suitable for me as an individual?

I think that ultimately the most suitable method for me to interpret would be through face-to-face boots on the ground interpretation. I would like to work at a provincial or national park or potentially run my own nature interpretation tour guide service and take groups of people out, educating them on the history of the landscape, functioning of the ecosystem, the cultural importance, and the conservation importance. This method might take some time for me to get comfortable doing so I think a very suitable method for me to start nature interpreting would be through social media and posting education bits to get comfortable with people listening to me speak more. Like the textbook says, “we must not worry about technology as a distraction, but rather use it as a tool.” (Beck 2018). This gives me confidence that I will be able to start my journey with social media. This way I can continue to learn myself, and develop my speaking skills because the last thing I would want to do is take people on a guide and not leave them amazed and passionate about nature when its over.

Once again thank you all for a great semester and for your amazing blogs!

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

robynwhaleyy

Hi there, I really enjoyed your post this week as I have similar opinions and beliefs as you.

Your paragraph about your beliefs regarding everyone’s knowledge about nature really resonated with me. I believe our world would function much differently if everyone had the basic understanding of environmental relationships and how fragile they can be. I think this could be easily implemented in schools. Along with the mandatory English and math would be a nature class that would teach the basics of the abiotic and biotic world. I also think that people that live in the concrete world completely disconnected from nature would benefit from more green infrastructure. Green infrastructure as the natural vegetative systems and green technologies that collectively provide society with a multitude of economic, environmental, health, and social benefits. Some examples of green infrastructure could be rooftop gardens, a row of trees along a major city street, or greening an alleyway. Green infrastructure has so many benefits is troubling to understand why it hasn’t been implemented in more cities! Green infrastructure increases exposure to the natural environment, reduces exposure to harmful substances and conditions, provides opportunity for recreation and physical activity, improves safety, promotes community identity and a sense of well-being, and provides economic benefits at both the community and household level.

I know not everyone would agree with implementing more nature into the city, but I believe once they would experience it they wouldn’t change it back!

Imagine all our cities being this green!

I’m glad you enjoyed this class as much as I did! Good luck on all your future endeavors!

Cheers, Robyn:)

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Blog 10 - Final blog

Throughout the semester we have learned how to become a nature interpreter and what special qualities and skill we should develop. With the weekly blog prompts we wrote we were able to not only write on our experience with nature but make a connection into becoming a better interpreter while also discussing with classmates and their unique experience.

I believe that everyone can have an understanding and appreciation of nature. However, in today’s world it is harder to get people to leave their comfort zones and ever evolving modern world of technology to spend time in nature. I believe the best way to have a deeper connection and fondness of nature one must be in nature with no distractions to really take in the beauty. But as I mentioned, technology has affected this as more kids are staying indoors rather than going out or them choosing to go to wonderland than going camping. In one of the units we read, it expressed how we can use technology as an outlet that can even help reach more people than we tend too.

I believe that we can use technology as a way to lur others into taking a break and going into nature to explore and develop a deeper connection with nature, on a physical, mental, and spiritual level. My best memories as a child were going to our cottage in the summer with my whole family and my cousins and I would go on a walk in the woods behind the house we would sometimes get lost as we were still young however we always found our way back.

Something I love to do when I am stressed or uncertain of what to do, I find just watch in the distance how water moves weather in a river, lake, or any body of water. It gives me a sense of peace and helps we forget about any distraction and focus on a solution or just giving me a break from the world.

I believe as an interpreter we need to show others that nature isn’t so scary and can be an outlet for us to let out steam or clear our heads as everyone can get overwhelmed time to time. I want to be able help others get this sense of relief when going into nature and for them to seek the comfort that nature can provide.

The responsibilities I have as a nature interpreter is being able to connect each and every person in their own unique way to nature, it takes just one memory to either make or break someone’s relationship with nature. Nature can be scary, as sometimes nature can be ruthless showing no mercy to anyone or anything. However, I believe that the beauty while executing safety precautions outweigh the negative side of nature, because everything in life there is always a good and bad side. Not everyone is going to jump headfirst into the idea of spending days or weeks in nature and or have a past fear of being in nature one bad experience can really impact a person’s life and can reflect onto other people around them. For example, my family and I went to Cuba one summer for my birthday and on the trip, we decided to do a 2-day horse riding expedition. We spent a few hours riding while being informed about the rich history of the forest we were riding through by the guide, we pasted rivers, open spaces, we saw some wild turkeys and native plants of Cuba ending up at an amazing natural waterfall. While we spent time at the waterfall, we had an unexpected visitor a Cuban Boa also known as Chilabothrus angulifer. It was my first time seeing a snake in its natural habitat and so close… I loved it. The whole experience truly brought me closer to nature and wanting to spend more time in it and experiencing new things. However, this trip was the complete opposite for my sister, she hated the whole experience since the horse ride was bumpy that caused her lower body to hurt and since she was wearing dark colors she was being constantly bit by mosquitos and to further ruin her experience something I found so interesting and amazing terrified her wanting to leave immediately. What sparks interest in one person might not for the other and my responsibility as an interpreter is to make sure everyone is creating positive memories and connections with nature for them to then want to continue exploring and creating deeper connections.

An approach most suitable for me as an individual is connecting it with wildlife and entertainment. I really liked earth rangers as a kid I have a fascination with animals so anything involving animals my ears perk up and has my immediate undivided attention which is also the reason why I’m studying zoology. Every time I go to a place, I like to know what wildlife there is in the area, which is why on my bucket list I want to go to both British Colombia and Africa. British Colombia has such amazing and unbelieve views and it has such a diversity in its wildlife. People who live there have the possibility to run into bears, wolf and even cougars, this is dangerous however I find it fascinating that they have such strong predators in Canada. When interpreters use wildlife as a way of creating connections, I really enjoy it and find it interesting, and I have a better way of understanding nature around me.

Another approach is being entertaining, getting information back-to-back with little connection or buffers makes me loose interest as this is a way of parting from my regular day to day learning. Hearing someone talk for more than 30 minutes without a buffer or a way to connect with the audience is exhausting especially when it can be approach in a creative and interactive approach. Having a balance of information and buffers can really help the information sink in while creating a fun atmosphere.

Overall, I REALLY enjoyed this class and what a unique take it had with assignments… I was more of making connections with the curriculum our own way and this is one of my classes this semester where I truly learned because I had to take the information and relate it back to experiences. If I could take this class again I would do it in a heartbeat. I also enjoyed reading everyone’s blogs on their own take of each unit and everyone’s experience. I hope everyone enjoys their summer!

Natasha Garces

robynwhaleyy

Hi Natasha,

I really enjoyed your post this week as I have similar opinions and beliefs as you.

I agree with your statement that to truly appreciate nature and all its beauty is to eliminate and avoid distractions. I believe this is a great way to mend and develop a healthy connection with nature. A few years ago, I went on several trips to Algonquin park and Haliburton Forest that lasted weeks at a time. During these trips I left my phone in the bus back on the main camp, and the rest of my group did as well. As weird as it felt the first few hours and days I began to love being disconnected from my phone and the outside world. it allowed me to connect not only with the environment but also connect with the people around me on a deeper level! As I think that technology can aid in nature interpretation and education especially for people that can’t experience nature firsthand, I don’t think we should heavily rely on it. I believe education should take a step back on the technological side of learning and invest more in hands on field trips that stimulate real connection with topics and teachers.

I too feel a sense of peace when relaxing in nature. I have discovered that when I’m feeling anxious or overwhelmed being outside can be a cure to my anxiety. Sometimes all it takes is a breath of fresh air, and others its taking a nap on a blanket in the grass, and I’ve realized that’s the best sleep I’ve ever had. Maybe that’s why I sleep so well on camping trips because all my worries seem to slip away!

I’m glad you enjoyed this class as much as I did! Good luck on all your future endeavors!

Cheers, Robyn:)

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..

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Mudpuppies and Walking Trees

There are so many amazing and interesting things about nature, so it was very difficult to settle on one thing, so I decided to talk about both a plant and an animal that I find very fascinating.

Firstly, I thought I’d talk about the mudpuppy, an aquatic salamander, which I had the opportunity to observe first hand here in Ontario. You may have heard of the axolotl, the endangered aquatic salamander from Mexico. Mudpuppies are very morphologically similar but are actually very distantly related. They both possess the unique feature of external gills, but the mudpuppy does not undergo metamorphosis and the they occupy very different climates.

A picture of a mudpuppy taken by my mom on “Mudpuppy Night”, showing off its red external gills it uses to breathe.

Mudpuppies are nocturnal amphibians, hunting for their prey at night. Despite being cute little salamanders, they are carnivorous and like to eat things such as small fish, insects, and worms. As I mentioned before, mudpuppies have external gills which protrude from the sides of their faces. They rely mostly on these gills for gas exchange, however they also have lungs which they use mainly for buoyancy. You may be wondering why they are called “mudpuppies”, and the reason is that they are known to “bark” or squeak in such a way that they sound like dogs! This is why they are sometimes called “waterdogs”. The thing I found most surprising about the mudpuppy is that they are active in freezing cold waters throughout the winter. They prefer areas with highly oxygenated water, such as at the base of dams or waterfalls. I was able to join a group of researchers that guide an interpretive “Mudpuppy Night” in Oxford Mills (near Ottawa), where you can see dozens of mudpuppies in their natural environment. We had to go out in winter gear and hip waders, using flashlights to spot the little salamanders hiding under the ice and in rock crevices.

I also wanted to mention the “walking tree” (Socratea exorrhiza), a kind of palm native to Central and South America, which I was able to see on a trip to Costa Rica many years ago. On a guided hike, our interpreter told us about a tree that is able to “walk”- not the same way or speed we do, but they are able to slowly move in a direction of their choosing over a long period of time. They grow their roots in the direction they want to go (usually towards a better patch of light), and the roots behind them slowly lift off the ground and into the air so the tree can continue to move.They can walk up to 20 metres per year, or up to 2-3 centimetres a day.

A walking palm tree, with its many roots it uses to displace itself.

References

Common Mudpuppy. (2022). In Wikepedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_mudpuppy

Gruber, K. (2015, December 16). Trees that can walk up to 20 m per year. BBC Trave.. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20151207-ecuadors-mysterious-walking-trees

robynwhaleyy

Hi there!

I really enjoyed your post, I’ve always been very interested in amphibians like salamanders but I knew very little about mudpuppies! Your post was very informative and kept me wanting more. I had no idea that these animals actually make sound, I had to hear for myself! When searching the bark of the mudpuppy I came across another salamander species, the giant salamander. I’ve heard of these but again did not know much about them!

Chinese salamander found in depths of a river bottom

The Chinese salamander has the longest lifespan of amphibian living up to 70years old. Adult salamanders can reach up to 1.2 meters and length and 65lbs. They spend their entire lives under water, however unlike mudpuppies they but don’t have gills and thus absorb oxygen through their skin. The are also carnivorous like mudpuppies eating a variety of animals, including fish, insects, crayfish, snails and small mammals. They have extremely slow metabolisms and can go weeks without eating. Native to China this fascinating creature is now critically endangered from habitat destruction and over hunting. The giant salamander is often farmed and hunted for its meat for human consumption. But conservation efforts are striving to recover the population of this ancient species.

Insect or Bird?

It was very hard for me to pick just one amazing thing I know about nature. But I decided to go with one of my favorite insects that got me interested in entomology. This insect is actually often mistaken for a bird, and given its name it is very understandable. Before scrolling to read the rest of this blog, try and take a guess what this insect may be. Here are some hints:

Belongs to the order Lepidoptera and Family Sphingidae

Feeds on the nectar of flowers

Emits a humming sound when it flies

So, is it a bird? Is it a bug? Whatever it is, this wing-beating creature is sure to cause you to do a double take! Meet the hummingbird moth.

In the Us and Canada they are commonly referred to as Hummingbird Moths and Clearwing Moths. Whereas in Britain they are referred to as Bee Hawkmoths. There are 23 known species within the Hermaris genus. 4 of these species are found in North America. The most familiar ones are the Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) and the Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe)

Unlike most moths, the hummingbird moth is day flying enjoying common vetch flowers (Vicia sativa) or bee balms (Monarada). They are often mistaken for hummingbirds or sometimes bumble-bees because of their plump bodies, rapid flight and hummingbird-like hovering abilities. These moths also emit a hummingbird-like hum when in flight. This humming sound is created by its rapid wing movement. They can remain suspended in the air in front of a flower while they uncurl their long tongues and insert them in flowers to sip their nectar. Instead of a beak like a hummingbird, it has a long tongue-like proboscis that rolls out of its coiled tube to reach the nectar deep inside flowers. Its tongue is about double the length of the moth’s body. These moths have a rapid wingbeat up to 70 beats per second, enabling it to fly up to 12 mph. Their bodies range in length from 2-2.5 inches long and are covered in hair that resembles feathers, with white, rust or brown markings. Their wingspan ranges from 2-6 inches depending on the species.

When looking for pictures of this amazing species I came across this very informative video by Mark Frasier. I believe this video is a great example of the use of media in nature interpretation. Fraiser proved to be a fantastic interpreter by using illustrative media to reveal an environmental species through original content and firsthand experience (Beck et al., 2018). I believe the future of interpretation really relies on the use of technology such as YouTube videos and blogs such as this one. Technology is becoming more and more available and accessible allowing for more citizen engagement in science (Beck et al., 2018). But it is important to take a break from technology to experience nature first hand because it is not only beneficial for your mental help but also makes you a better interpreter.

References Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage. Van Haren Publishing.

Marshall, S. A. (2017). Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity (Second ed.). Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books.

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Music and nature

Music in nature

When I think of music in nature, my first though is birds. There are so many different types of birds, all with their own sounds. I think it is fascinating how birds sing to communicate (warning calls, mating calls, etc.) with each other, yet we hear it as a form of music in nature. Imagine how funny it would be if humans also had to sing instead of speaking to communicate! I noticed that birds were also mentioned in the reading by Gray et al. (2001), which states, “any rhythmic repeated utterance, whether a bird, a frog, an insect, a whale or a human” can be defined as a song. I’m not sure many people will agree with me on this but, the insect songs are the only ones I am not a huge fan of, simply because there always seems to be an insect chirping outside my window when I am the most need of sleep. I think Gray et al. (2001) defines a song very well in terms of nature. When we are in nature, we hear music all around us from the simple buzz of a bee to the complex whale rhythms.

While I was researching some more in depths ways that we can find music in nature, I came across a company called Plant Wave. They offer a device that detects electrical variations in plants using electrodes. The electrical variations are translated into instrumental music which is super interesting! I linked the company site here if anyone wants to learn more or purchase their own device.

https://www.plantwave.com/

Below is a sample of the Plant Wave device on a mushroom found in the Kaelia Forest Reserve. I think the music is so peaceful and calming. Let me know what you think of turning bio-electricity changes into music.

Nature in music

I enjoyed reading about the birdsongs in beatboxing by Ben Mirin aka wildlife DJ. I found his website and learned that in addition to being an artist and an educator, he is also a biologist. I think that this relates to many of us as we are in sciences programs and learning how to be nature interpreters. It is great to see someone similar to us who has gained a following from sharing his passions.

There is so much nature in music these days. I find that many artists use the sound of crashing waves, bonfire crackling, rain, etc. However, I have noticed artists use these nature sounds more commonly in the introduction of their music, rather than throughout. Another thing that comes to mind when I think of nature in music is artists using nature to portray a theme. Many songs use rain or storms to signify a sad heartbreak storyline. Whereas songs using bird chirping or waves crashing are typically more upbeat and happy. For example, Harry Styles’ music video for his song ‘Watermelon Sugar’ incorporates beach sounds in the introduction scene. This sets a carefree and fun tone for the rest of the video.

My nature song

While it was hard for me to pick one song that reminds me of nature, I ended up going with the ‘Bare Necessities” from The Jungle Book movie. The lyrics in this song remind me of nature through my childhood eyes. As a child I was happy by myself at just the local park finding rocks and plants and building houses for insects. This song reminds me of the simple and calm aspect of nature whereas life now is so hectic and busy, we rarely get time to take a step back and appreciate everything around us. Im curious to read what everyone else chose as their song this week!

Reference:

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

robynwhaleyy

Hi there!

I really enjoyed your blog and think we have very similar views on music. My first thought of music of nature was also birds. Birds are one of my favorite groups because of how vocally beautiful they can. I was actually named Robyn because of my mother’s love for springtime, and robins are usually the first sign of spring displaying their bright red chest and unique songs. I also grew up owning a canary named Charlie. He was my first encounter with non-human music, and I have loved the music of birds and nature ever since! Your blog post also reminded me of another blog I came across while investigating other sources of music in nature (link). This blog describes all the natural music that can be heard in Ontario parks and how it can benefit your mental health, a very interesting read. I also really enjoyed Ben Mirin’s (DJ ECOTONE) music and looked into it more. He described how he began creating this music and said that he felt disconnected from nature when living in the city and pursued to recapture this relationship. He explained that he create music from animal sounds to inspire conservation and introduce new audiences to the natural world. He hopes that his music can open the door to getting everyone to explore the world we originally came from while giving the opportunity for people to experience nature that don’t have the privilege of experiencing it firsthand. I believe Mirin’s way of creating music from nature provides the example of memorable teaching. He create amazing art while teaching his listeners about the species and their conservation importance.

Cheers,

Robyn :)

Music to my Ears

Music in Nature

Music outside humankind is all around us, we just have to slow down and listen. Nature has been making music for as long as time, far longer than humans, therefore music is not just part of human culture. Music is defined as the defined as patterns of sound varying in pitch and time produced for emotional, social, cultural, and cognitive purposes (Gray et al., 2001). The soundscape is divided into three components:

Anthrophony: sound generated and created by humans including music, theatre and electromechanical.

Geophony: sound generated by non-biological things. For example, the effects of water by a stream or waves at the ocean, the effects of wind in the trees or grasses, and sound generated by the earth, itself, such as, glaciers, avalanches and earthquakes.

Biophony: all biological sounds created my non-humans.

The biophony is made up of many animals that create sounds for a variety of reasons. Animals vocalize to other members of their species or different species to communicate, including warnings, threats, to show dominance, and to attract a mates. Here are some examples of animals that use sound to communicate:

Birds: Use complex songs to attract mates, defend their territories, or warn of danger

Whales: Use their songs to communicate over the vast distances of the open ocean

Frogs/toads: Sing to announce their territories and to attract females

Insects:

Male katydids sing to attract a mate by rapidly moving the front wings

Crickets are well known around the world for their songs

Cicada songs are known for their reference to summer temperatures. You can estimate the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit by counting the number of chirps in 15 seconds and adding the number 37.

While many animals make sounds for communication, only a select groups actually participate in song-like productions. These groups include cetaceans (whales and dolphins), avians (birds), and anurans (frogs). And of these groups, cetaceans and avians have been known to participate in social music production. There is a whole field of study dedicated to the research and investigation of music making non-human animals called zoomusicology.

Nature in Music

Humans have created music for various reasons such ceremonial purposes, recreational purposes, and artistic expression (Beck et al., 2018). The early developments of human-made music often mimicked the sounds produced by nature. Countless musicians have been inspired by nature, and many have been quoted describing their feelings and relationship with the natural world. For example, Beethoven said: “I am happy as a child at the thought wandering among clusters of bushes, in the woods, among trees, herbs, rocks. No man loves the country more than I; for do not forests, trees, rocks re-echo that for which mankind longs.”

As many of you know from the readings and from popular music hits, John Denver was a folk music singer-songwriter who had numerous hits including "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and "Rocky Mountain High." However, Denver was also a well-known environmentalist and humanitarian, participating in many organizations including the National Space Institute, the Cousteau Society, Friends of the Earth, Save the Children Foundation, and the European Space Agency. He also cofounded the Windstar Foundation, a non-profit wildlife preservation agency.

My Music Taste

I don’t have a particular song that takes me back to a natural landscape or experience, I do however have some favorite songs that simulate the feelings I get when I am in nature. These songs give me chills and make me feel weightless, the same feeling I get when I am relaxing in natural settings.

Paradise by Coldplay

Wavin’ Flag by K’NAAN

Thanks for reading :)

References:

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

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

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Ancient things and the importance of history

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 something I do not agree with but understand where the author is coming from. This quote explains Hyams’s opinion that ancient things are not as important as the effort that has gone into conserving and interpreting them. Hyam also explains that although that past has already occurred there is no reason to believe that we are done with the past. The first part of the quote is what I don’t agree with. I believe that there is merit in ancient things. Ancient architecture, art and knowledge are not only extremely important now but also very important in the time they were first created. The way ancient people behaved and the knowledge they amassed is really important for the basis of a lot of our knowledge and behaviour. For example, we still use some of the mathematical equations from ancient Greece, the building techniques of the ancient world are not only still used but also the basis of architectural advancement, our number system comes from ancient India and art techniques based in ancient times are still used and built upon today. Even though I am not an artist I believe that all art has merit and although preserving it makes it visible to more people, it doesn’t need that to hold merit, if the art reached even just one person then it is important. Ancient things also held merit to the people who used or admired them and should therefore hold merit in modern time. I do see the authors side of this part of the quote though because so much work has been put into conserving and preserving these ancient things. The merit of ancient things also includes the preservation of it, conserving and preserving these ancient things gives them merit to people now, because they are able to see ancient things.

I agree with the part that that past is not done with yet. We are still using knowledge and techniques from ancient times and all of our knowledge is based on the knowledge acquired in the past. This part of the quote also reminds me of the popular quote by Winston Churchill: “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it”. These quotes are similar because they talk about how the past is not done and how we are constantly thinking about and using things from the past. The Winston Churchill quote is very poignant when it comes to war and other dark parts of history. If we do not think about the causes and learn from the consequences from the past then we are likely to not understand the problem of doing it again.

In terms of nature and interpretation, it is important that we remember history and conserve ancient things. In my opinion, remembering our history is important for conserving our planet because we know what Earth was like in the past and how we have changed it. Interpretation of history is also incredibly important because it provides the public with more knowledge and many people find history really interesting (like me).

robynwhaleyy

Hi Isabelle!

I really enjoyed your post as I believe it highlights the overall importance of interpretation, because we perceived this quotation by Hymans differently. I understand your interpretation of the first part of the quote that Hyman explained that ancient things are no longer as important as the effort into preserving them. However, I interpreted this part that ancient things and the past are only as important as the knowledge and memories it has provided us with. While our interpretations of this quote are a little different, I believe that it is important to highlight these differences because it explains the difficulties in interpretation and how things can easily be misunderstood.

Furthermore, I agree with your interpretation of the rest of the quote that we are not done with the past because with as still continuously learning from it. I too explained in my blog the importance of learning from the past in order to improve the future. However, I also believe relying too much on the past can also create negative consequences in the future. Even though these following quotes are from fictional movie I believe they have great meaning behind them:

“Oh yes, the past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it." -Rafiki “My Mama always said you've got to put the past behind you before you can move on.” -Forrest Gump

Robyn :)

Interpretating History

This week’s blog prompt entailed unpacking a quote from Edward Hymas in ‘The Gifts of Interpretation’: “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 took me awhile to comprehend as it has a lot of parts working together. I thought breaking up this quote made it easier to follow and understand. The first sentence mentions integrity three times, therefore it is best to understand the exact definition of this word. Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles or moral uprightness. From my interpretation of this first sentence, I believe it is explaining that there is no significance of the past then what it has provided through knowledge and memories. This explains that the past can no longer provide benificial properties to us to beyond of what it has taught us and the parts of it that is left. I also think this sentence explains the importance of truth behind historical story telling. Like the game ‘telephone’ if each part (person) is not repeated with integrity (honesty and truthful) then the end result is completely different. This part of this quote also made me think of another quote commonly mentioned in other environmental teachings. This quote is from Aristotle, a philosopher in Ancient Greece, explaining that ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’. This is commonly mentioned when discussing nature, because a small insect may not be very important on its own, but it is very important when looking at an entire ecosystem.

The last sentence of this quote by Hymas, explains the importance of the past. It uses a simile comparing a train to the past and the station to time. This sentence explains that believing that once time has past it is no longer important just as a train has left the station, and that this way of thinking is problematic. This way of thinking is problematic because it explains that we should not learn from our past, specifically our mistakes. Without learning from past mistakes nothing would improve or thus evolve ultimately not survive the constantly changing circumstances of life. Learning from mistakes is very important in environmental management and conservation. Take for example, the use of DDT as an insecticide in 1950. If we did not learn from the negative consequences of using DDT, we would likely have continued to use it harming every living thing including the human race.

Interpreting quotes like this allows for growth and knowledge expansion in a variety of subjects. Natural and historical interpretation are similar in some parts but also posses’ individuality. Nature interpretation explains the practice of intentional, focused attentiveness and receptivity to the more-than-human world, guided by honesty and accuracy (Fleischner, 2002). This definition relates to the first part of the quote explaining the importance of integrity. Historical interpretation is grounded in individual histories, facilitating connection between lived experiences and archival records or artefacts (Modern Cartography Series, 2019). This definition relates to the second part of the quote explaining the importance of the past through the parts it has left us with.

Interpretation in all varieties gives meaning to past events, architecture, and artifacts. Through interpretation, it encourages the development of personal identity and knowledge growth as individuals hear inspiring stories of the past, and it forms values to guide living in the present. Interpreting history and nature contributes to vibrant and unified communities (Beck, Cable, & Knudson, 2017).

Robyn:)

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My Octopus Teacher and Nature Interpretation

I am so glad that this week we were given some creative freedom in terms of topic choice. I watched My Octopus Teacher this week, which in my opinion, perfectly exemplifies nature interpretation. I’m sure many of you have already seen this documentary already, given the mutual love and interest in nature we share, but if you haven’t I highly recommend it. Craig Foster describes how he happens upon an octopus living in a kelp forest off the coast of South Africa. He visits her daily over the course of about a year and gains her trust, eventually developing a close bond. She becomes a teacher of sorts, as this connection teaches him how to become one with this environment and deepen his love for all nature. He describes it as “She was teaching me to become sensitive to the other, especially wild creatures.” This connection led him to co-found a non-profit called the Sea Change Project, exhibiting that connection is paramount in conserving nature. His love began with just one organism, and broadened to include all the creatures big and small of the ocean. It is truly a testament to how important it is to teach others how to connect with nature in order to encourage conservation.

In the beginning when he is just starting to visit the kelp forest he says “If you really want to get close to an environment like this, it helps tremendously to have no barrier to that environment.” This is in reference to his choice not to use an oxygen tank (he free-dives instead), as well as to not wear a wetsuit despite the very cold water temperature. While I would definitely have chosen to wear the wetsuit, I found this comment particularly interesting as this could apply to many ways in which humans interact with nature. We are constantly putting barriers between us and the wild. These barriers include watching birds through the window, drive-through safari experiences, zoos and aquariums, even the cities we live in are dividing us from the nature that surrounds us. We’re so afraid that we feel the need to shelter ourselves constantly, never leaving our protective little bubbles that prevent us from truly immersing ourselves in nature. Craig recognizes that his wetsuit is a layer of protection which interferes with making the deepest connection he can with the ocean. This made me reflect on the barriers that I’m not always aware of that may be preventing me from establishing a deeper relationship with my environment. What are some things that I don’t need when hiking, camping, canoeing, etcetera, that are distracting me or keeping me from completely immersing myself? The first thing that comes to mind is my phone. When walking, I’m usually texting here and there or listening to music. These things are pulling my attention away from my surroundings and interrupting my ability to connect with and feel the things around me.

Another quote that really hit home was when he said “I was getting so much from the wild, and I could actually now give. I had so much energy to give back.” With his new and evolved appreciation for the ocean and marine biology, he teaches his equally passionate son everything he knows. I think this is one we can probably all relate to. As someone who is also energized by nature, I can relate to the feeling of wanting to share this energy with others. When someone sees the happiness and passion that nature ignites in another, it is contagious, and allows for connection with that person over a mutual interest but also allows for connection with the earth. This documentary reminded me of how important it is to share what we know and love about nature so that future generations can inherit this knowledge and continue to protect it. Beck et al. (2018) highlight this with the idea of “The Gift of Passion”, and how it is the “essential ingredient for powerful and effective interpretation”.

Going forward with what I learned from Craig Foster and his “octopus teacher”, I will try and get to know my environment better by observing more closely and getting to know my surroundings through the various interactions I have with wildlife. While it is important to not interfere and put the forces of nature out of balance, we are still animals and can learn much about our world from the creatures that occupy it.

References

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

Ehrlich, P., & Reed, J. (Directors). (2020). My Octopus Teacher [Film]. Netflix.

robynwhaleyy

Hi there!

I really enjoyed your post as I have never heard of this documentary and am very intrigued. I think documentaries like this one are very important because it not only teaches people about the natural world but also how nature has much more to it than just interesting facts. Documentaries that teach the importance of connecting to nature are essential because it allows people that might overwise be disconnected to nature due to disabilities, location or personal reasons, they can still somewhat experience it. Documentaries allow people to connect and interpret nature without actually leaving the comfort of their own home. I believe connecting with nature is an important experience that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy and learn from.

Thank you for sharing this documentary, I will be sure to check it out and pass the word on to my friends and family!

Cheers,

Robyn :)

The Future of Climate Change

After reading this week’s unit and blog prompt being anything that’s on my mind, I contemplated all the topics that I could possibly write about. As I am in a science program it has become second nature to me to look at topics through a scientific lens. All the courses I’ve taken previously have only focused on the science side of things and rarely discussed any other point of view. I’ve also noticed that many of my courses have focused on the negative impacts and circumstances our world around us is going through. As someone who struggles with anxiety this can be very hard for me to focus on and interpret.

A major topic that has been a source for many science-based articles as well as my anxiety, is this future of climate change. Most topics centered around climate change mention the inevitable warming of the earth with increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters impacting the livelihood of every living thing. Climate change topics are also related to every type of pollution, from smog in China to plastic in the oceans. While these topics are commonly discussed and well know, they are still not discussed enough to create action within our governments.

No matter the amount of IUCN reports and peer reviewed research is published regarding the destructive capability of climate change in the future, action from our governments are not matched. This has enraged and worried all scientists and climate activist worldwide, myself included. While climate change has and will continue to impact the future of the earth it has also altered my personal outlook on life.

From a young age I always knew I wanted to raise a family of my own. This way of life was how I was raised and brought up. It was uncommon to not get married and have kids but now sometimes I think that might be the case for me. I have gone back and forth on this part of my future for many years, while I still have plenty of time to come to a decision it also feels like it is right around the corner. On one hand I think having children could be beneficial, in terms of living out what I figured my future would be while raising them to understand the importance and beauty of the natural world. On the other hand, having children is still contributing to the overpopulation of the human race.

While this might not seem like a big deal to some people, as I am only one person how much of a difference could it make? My mentality is that it only takes one person to make a difference and change the world. Being a climate activist and animal lover, I believe every decision I make will have a impact on something, from how a grocery shop to what I do with my life. Therefore, the future of climate change will inevitably impact the world as well as my career and personal life.

-my personal rant on my life impacted by climate change

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Blog Post 4- Nature Through Art

When I started to write this blog, I began to think about how to answer the question “Who are you to interpret nature through art?”, I had to reflect on my journey as a student and an individual that enjoys viewing nature. Growing up my parents had enrolled my siblings and me into a local art studio that taught us various art skills like painting, clay pots, and sketches. The art assignments helped me as a child to express myself using different colors, shapes, and textures to learn who I’m as an individual. The word ‘nature’ has many meanings for me, I see it as a place that provides me to think and connect to myself by meditating with the sounds of water waves and leaves ruffling as the wind blows. I get to feel nature and find a home as a hike every summer in different forests and trail tracks across Ontario. Hiking in nature is a sport that I enjoy and always excited to go on adventures during any season to see changes in trees. So to answer the question I’m a student that is skillful in various forms of arts who is passionate about the environment that can interpret nature through arnot t. Art has been used in environmental interpretation in various issues to alert populations. For example, global warming is rising concern around the world and alerts the citizens, art has been used to create graphs, diagrams, and images to explain human activities that are increasing the temperature. Before and after images of glaciers in the artic can be helpful to display to people to visually explain what global warming can affect in areas that are ‘suppose to be cold and not have melting ice’. The role of art in environmental interpretation is helpful for people that do not have the education or knowledge about the climate or environment. This helps people from various educational backgrounds to easily understand the environmental concerns that are rising.

In Chapter 5 of Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World, described “the gift of beauty” as an interpreter it means to influence others to learn and appreciate the beauty of nature. But the negative outcomes of trying to effectively teach others about nature can be related to their artistic capabilities and experiences. But how do ‘I” interpret the gift of beauty is by painting images of beautiful views that I see on my hikes. I try to capture the “gift of beauty” that nature has of trees, sky, and plants. It helps me understand the beauty that nature has created embrace the earth.

I'm looking forward to everyone's answer on “how do you interpret the gift of beauty”. Hope you all enjoyed my post!

robynwhaleyy

Hi there!

I really enjoyed your representation of how are is used to alert population of various environmental issues. Your example of the use of graphs and diagrams, had me realize that I never thought of these forms as art before now. As a university science student, I always thought of graphs and diagrams of being an extension of content and very technical. But by my broad definition of art being anything that is created, this falls under that umbrella. Your other examples also reminded me how many artists have started using recycled materials to create art. This movement educates others about the growing concern of garbage in the environment especially within the oceans. This artwork is not only educating the public but also taking part in reducing the issue. The Non-profit “Washed Ashore” works towards upholding this concept of education with participation. Another similar artist advocates for the ban of single-use plastics by photographing a mermaid model drowning in an ocean entirely made out of disposable water bottles. This type of artwork has always pulled on my heart strings but also inspires me to give my artwork meaning and purpose for important environmental issues.

Here is a video that shows the beautiful art created from garbage within the Pacific Ocean, if you would like to learn more! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNEJhPj_yUY

Robyn:)

Nature in Art & Art in Nature

Art can take innumerable forms, from the ones that are obvious to mind such as painting and music to others less obvious as architecture and culinary. If you research the forms of art, what returns is 7 forms of the following: painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, music, cinema, and theater. This description of art forms leaves out so many others like the culinary mentioned above as well as dance. However, art is such a broad term it can be used to describe just about anything that is otherwise created. In this sense, I don’t believe art and nature are too different, and they often find themselves within each other. Nature within art and art within nature. Furthermore, interpreting nature through art does not always focus on the final product but the components that it is made out of. For instance, creating art takes time, patience, and passion but also materials such as paint, a canvas or even instruments for music. In comparison, nature needs abiotic and biotic factors. Such as air, water, or plants, insects and animals. And for both nature and art, all the components are connected, without one the final product may look different and change every time.

The famous philosopher wrote "Art not only imitates nature, but it also completes its deficiencies." This quote can be interpreted that art can recreate the natural world, while also allowing nature to be view differently, in other words, art speaks for nature. This quote reminded me of how art has been used for centuries to connect us to the natural world while educating us about its importance. The start of nature within art began with the purpose to conserve it and all its beauty. John Muir, an influential environmental philosopher, believed that nature was full of wonder and held great spiritual value and should be protected/preserved from development. His writings influenced the preservation of many National Parks within the United States. His work and passion spread through the world influencing others to use art forms to voice their opinion regauging environmental concerns. From this, Aldo Leopold said “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise”. I believe we have lost touch with the connection between art and nature, and how important it can be in terms of environmental education.

So, who am I to interpret nature through art? I believe my love and passion for both the environment, and art forms creates a connection between the two that has been missing in today’s society. My love for the environment is very obvious and I think it influences others interest as well. Also, I have a love for creating art especially painting. I’ve never been the best at painting structural things or specific people because I found myself trying to make it perfect. I always found comfort in painting nature such as a landscape or animals because of course those are things I love but also because nature isn’t perfect. Therefore, sharing my artwork of nature extends the appreciation to others.

The gift of beauty depends on your definition of beauty. Beauty is a concept that varies from person to person. Something that is beautiful to one person may not be for another. Beauty may not also be visual but emotional like a feeling. This made me think of the term ‘the beauty of childbirth’. Most people would not describe it as being very visually appealing or beautiful but it is the connection made through families and a newborn. To me ‘the gift of beauty’ is not within the one/thing that poses it but the one who recognizes and appreciates beauty in everything or more commonly know definition: ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’.

Robyn

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The Role of Privilege

I believe that the role privilege plays within nature interpretation is one of inclusion and self-awareness. To be more specific, once a privilege is acknowledged it can then be applied to an inclusive interpretation strategy, ie, once an interpreter is grateful and understanding for the fact that they can hear normally from an objective standpoint, as opposed to having a hearing disability of any level, they have the opportunity to include and participate in strategies that will enable a whole separate demographic of individuals to partake as visitors in whichever interpretive activity is being presented. For example, the interpreter could wear a microphone, or a microphone connected specifically to an individual’s hearing aids. There are many privileges that exist, and it is important to practice self-awareness to know/learn your own privileges. This can be visualized as an invisible backpack, in which are many special amenities such as maps, keys, clothes, etc are kept, which are at our disposal whenever we need, except not every backpack contains the same amenities, and it is our job as interpreters to be aware of this fact and be as inclusive as possible. If I were to explain this concept from a personal standpoint, I would describe privilege as to any circumstance that furthers an individual’s position or ability to accomplish any set of tasks, this could be any situation from blindness to the colour of an individual’s skin.

Within my blog, I have been attempting to start learning how to teach my current audience of 3rdyear university students about plant micropropagation. So far, I have not considered many variables as to the backgrounds or contents of the individual's invisible backpacks who read my posts. I have read over some considerations that may help my blogs be more inclusive, these include addressing economic, cultural, and communication barriers, in which I have not given thought to in the past, how I need to learn how to reach audiences who may not have access to the internet, or may not speak English, or may not have the slightest experience with any plant science terminology at all. I believe that with practice, I can learn to reach further visitors to my blog and have them feel more included.

robynwhaleyy

Hi there!

Thank you for sharing your outlook on privilege in nature interpretation. Your post made me think deeper about the deaf and hard of hearing community. I noticed I take for granted so many things in my life that are very difficult to do with any sort of hearing deficit. One of my biggest pleasures is going to see movies in the theatre. I never realized how difficult this simple pleasure would be for this community. Not all movie theatres offer closed captioning and also make it a rare occurrence if they do. This made me think of all the other industries that are not very inclusive for the hard of hearing community. For example, drive-thru only fast-food restaurants are virtually inaccessible to this community.

In terms of nature interpretation, I believe the use of American Sign Language (ASL) would be beneficial to all communities. By using ASL while educating individuals about any nature topic, this not only makes the learning experience more meaningful to deaf or hard of hearing people, but also educates others about inclusivity and ASL. ASL is a very common way of communication and its use is spreading through schools and service industries. I am glad that it is being integrated in more everyday activities people may face, and I look forward to it being continuously taught and encouraged in learning environments.

Through writing my own post, reading others and replying to yours, I believe I am much closer to recognizing and practicing self-awareness while learning my own privileges.

Robyn:)

Privilege in Nature

I always knew I was privileged growing up but I didn’t know in exactly in what way or the extent it benefited my everyday life. My working definition of privilege is the unearned rights, advantages or immunities granted to an individual. In the article ‘Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks"’ by Nancy P. Gullavan, describes that the construct of privilege is also defined by the beliefs and practices that are taken for granted by everyone throughout society. This statement really opened my eyes regarding how oblivious I was to the privileges I had throughout my childhood, and still to this day. Opening up my ‘invisible knapsack’ I was able to unpack the various privileges I have:

Born and raised in a free country (Canada)

Free healthcare

No restrictions on my lifestyle because I am a woman, unlike some third world countries

Always had access to natural spaces

No severe pollution, allowing me to have access to clean air and water

I am white with white parents, and I speak English (as my first language)

I am physically healthy, providing me with no transportation boundaries

I have always owned a vehicle (as well as my parents growing up) allowing me to travel to areas that would be otherwise inaccessible

I could afford my university schooling without the help of third-party loans

Middle-class: I never had to worry about money growing up especially food or bills

I had never really thought about privilege in terms of nature until this class and this unit. As I dug deeper into my knapsack I realized that nature is a significant privilege that many have to live without. In an effort to understand this more I came across a blog regarding this topic. On Trailspace Blogs, Alicia MacLeay, discussed how the outdoors and nature for some people is an escape and a hobby, but for others it is a refuge. This mindset is explained to be ignorant and naïve to what others experience all over the world. Even to access trails there are systemic, racial, and socioeconomic barriers that prevent people from accessing the plentiful benefits nature has to offer. Many barriers exists even if the place is public, there are accessibility, proximity, financial and transportation barriers in every location. One statement that really stuck with me in this blog is that “the physical and mental benefits of nature are well known, diversity is critical to healthy ecosystems and communities, and being outside safely shouldn't be a privilege” (MacLeay, 2020). To read more of this blog click here.

From this recognition I was able to understand that privilege plays a huge role in nature interpretation. Throughout my childhood I was always privileged with access to natural areas and the ability to explore them through various activities such as canoeing, camping and hiking. But what I failed to realize is the privilege of nature interpretation that I received from the high school I attended. My school had and still has a very strong relationship with the local Conservation Authority. This relationship provided knowledge through festivals, connections and personal involvement that was not offered to any other schools. My school also offered environmental high-skills majors that allowed students to graduate with a red-seal diploma with various certificates and courses related to the environment. And all these opportunities were offered to students for free. My school also offered an environmental leadership program, that I was enrolled in, that offered senior level Interdisciplinary Studies, Physical Education (Outdoor Education) and Co-Operative Education. This program was unlike any other, providing more important certificates such as chainsaw operator certificate and very importantly the ORCKA ( Ontario Recreational Canoeing and Kayaking Association) certificate. The ELP takes many trips to Algonquin and Haliburton throughout this semester. The very first thing we learned about was the Timiskaming Tragedy. After this tragedy the ELP required a swim test and extensive canoe training before the first trip to Algonquin. This course was a high privilege to me as it not only provided me with essential certificates for my future career in environmental conservation, connection to jobs within this field but also essential life saving skills that I would have never got without ELP within my high school.

Trip to Haliburton Forest

Robyn

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The Role of Nature Interpreter

In my eyes, an environmental interpreter is NATURE:

N = narrator: An interpreter is the narrator of each participant’s own experience. They find ways to connect the learning to everyone’s past experiences.

A = activist: An interpreter is always in the position of enforcing policies like “leave no trace” that allow for the maintenance of natural landmarks.

T = treasure: Interpreters play an invaluable role in allowing the public to access and understand the true beauty of our world. They are an irreplaceable bridge between citizens and the world around them.

U = unique: Each interpreter is different in engaging their audiences. This means that each outing is unique for the audience and provides a new and exciting experience.

R = resourceful: Interpreters are always willing to pivot to ensure their audience is engaged and learning new things. They understand how people learn and deliver information to allow for comprehension and meaning.

E = educated: Environmental interpreters are well educated about the land they interpret. They are also constantly learning in order to provide meaningful lessons to others.

When I think of an environmental interpreter, I think of the park naturalists in a provincial park who run workshops for kids. I have many fond memories of playing ‘Predator and Prey’ or getting to pet a skunk at such sessions.

I now understand that interpretation is such a vast field and entails much more than this. An environmental interpreter doesn’t even need to be a person – it can be a well-written field guide or exploration map that allows the reader to connect to the environment at their own pace.

(Anala, 2022)

robynwhaleyy

Hi Amanda,

Your post really caught my eye with your use of a mnemonic in your writing. I think this is a very clever way of discussing this topic, since the topic is about environmental interpreters but also how to effectively communicating and educating others. I think your post is very thoughtful in subtly addressing different learning styles. Throughout our schooling we continuously took personality and learning quizzes to understand how our brain processes and remembers information. Every quiz I ever took always came back that I am a visual learner. That made sense to me because I learned by reading or seeing pictures, by understanding and remembering things by sight. I continuously pictured what I was learning in my head. I always knew I learned best by using methods that are primarily visual. Such as q-cards and diagrams. I liked to see what I was learning. I am still a visual learner today. That is why your post really resonated with me and how I processes new information I am reading. In our class activity this week we were asked to describe what we need to learn. I immediately thought of examples/engagement, visuals and connection to the material. For me, your post was able to effectively communicate the topic through my style of learning. And from that I believe you are a successful environmental interpreter!

Cheers,

Robyn😊

Teaching Learners

When you search the definition of environmental or nature interpreter it might define it as someone who specializes in entertaining an audience on various environmental topics, and is able to interpret and communicate the realties of nature. In my opinion this is a very broad definition that can encompass many aspects of an environmental interpreter while also overlooking some important ones. My definition of an environmental interpreter is someone 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. My ideal role as an environmental interpreter would be that I have an interest and connection to the topics I am discussing while engaging with the people around me such as friends, colleagues or learners. In high school while I was enrolled in the environmental leadership program, I was tasked with being various station leaders at different festivals. The first festival was Marsh Quest. Marsh Quest is a festival in which students visit the Herb Kebbel Marsh at the Yarmouth Natural Heritage Area. Students in grades 3 and 4 attend the festival and take part in stations of interactive learning. From the festival students gain a better understanding of what a marsh is, why wetlands are important to us, how many different living things interact together in these spaces and how we can help protect them and nature in general! I also had several stations at the Carolinian Forest Festival. The Carolinian Forest Festival is an event that teaches grade 6 and 7 students the importance of the Carolinian Life Zone, forest ecosystems, species at risk, stewardship and conservation, and climate change. These opportunities taught me the ability to communicate to different age groups while keeping them engaged and interested in very important environmental topics. From these experiences I was able to land a position as a Maple syrup Interpreter at a festival run by the Catfish Creek Conservation Authority.

While these events provided me with somewhat of a script, it was up to me how I wanted to present the information. From this, I was able to use my creativity and personality throughout the positions. I believe these experiences along with my schooling has allowed me to become a better environmental interpreter. An environmental interpreter doesn’t always have to be in school, or the work force it can also be casual conversations with friends and family. An effective environmental interpreter takes patience and understanding while also having quality people and communication skills. But overall, I believe an environmental interpreter must have passion. A passion for the topic and for teaching and making a difference.

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