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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.

rsenvs3000w22

Hi!

Your post immediately caught my attention with the quote you added. I find it very powerful, and I think perfectly sums up your ethics as an interpreter. I really resonate with your statement that if more people were informed then the Earth would be in a better position. As the token environmental science friend within my group, I often get asked questions or share information that is new to others. The information I’m able to give often gives them a better outlook and understanding of environmental issues they usually would ignore. Environmental problems can seem daunting and quite hopeless at times. But as you said, pointing others in the right direction can be the solution. Effective communication is without a doubt the key. As an interpreter, we must provide the right information, the right amount, the right tone, and the list continues. I still have a lot to learn as a communicator and interpreter, but like you, I think this course has put me on the right path.

Thank you for sharing, and good luck with the rest of your semester!

tcenvs3000w22-deactivated202301

This is only the beginning...

I can’t believe this is the last blog post for this course! To be honest, writing these blog pieces did not seem like a task; instead, it was an enjoyable journey. As I write my final blog post, I reflect on the process and all that I have learned this semester. Each of us has brought wonderful things to the table, including perspectives and experiences. Not only have I learned something about myself, but I have broadened my knowledge of nature.

I am conscious of my surroundings and have built awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability. I’ve taken my role as an educator seriously, even pausing on our walks to enlighten my mother about various aspects of nature and point out multiple sounds in our neighbourhood. I’ve exposed deeper meanings and truths in this way, all while encouraging her to appreciate the beauty in her surroundings (Beck et al., 2018). So, I suppose you could say that my audience has been friends and family throughout my journey, and I have carefully considered how to tie the topic of nature to the lives of individuals I am educating.

Photo taken by my mom on a recent walk as her appreciation for nature grows (January, 2022)

My ethical beliefs have evolved as I progress as a nature interpreter. Now that I am more aware, I better understand what constitutes right, wrong, just, and unjust. Though everyone has their own opinions, I can shape perspectives to be more environmentally concerned. This might be difficult in today’s society, but we must maintain some optimism. After all, there are so many topics to be worried about, including climate change, pollution, global warming, deforestation, and biodiversity loss (Rodenburg, 2019). So, what are my beliefs? I believe in the importance of building principles. Some of these principles entail being compassionate and caring with the environment. The second principle addresses my obligation to actively participate in the environment. The last principle involves sustainability, which entails being conscious when making day-to-day purchases to reduce my ecological footprint. Adherence to these principles will take time. Yes, I became aware of them over the semester, but adopting them and implementing lifestyle changes takes effort. Only when you demonstrate your commitment to your beliefs will others take you seriously. In fact, the most effective approach to educating others is to serve as a role model.

The ultimate responsibility of a nature interpreter is to educate. As someone who has learned how to interpret nature, it is now my obligation to put what I have learned to use. Not just teaching people about large-scale environmental concerns such as climate change, but also bringing the education aspect closer to home. Having recently moved to a rural area, I am surrounded by more nature than I ever had been as I now live in a greenbelt neighbourhood.

After some thinking, I’ve come up with many approaches to address and educate the residents of my area. Since relocating to the region, I’ve observed that fishing is a popular recreational activity among many people. However, it should be noted that this fishing takes place in a local wetland, which has obvious implications for the biodiversity and long-term viability of the wetland. I hope that by teaching these individuals using Nextdoor, an app built for neighbourhoods where you can exchange local tips, I would be able to make them aware of the impact that their hobby is having on their surroundings. I can also extend my responsibility as a nature interpreter to the children I volunteer with. Here I can create activities to teach children how to love the natural world. Children are the most impressionable as they establish ideas, attitudes, and emotional reactions in their settings (Beck et al., 2018, p.144). It is easy to get them excited and learning about their environment without them even noticing (Rodenburg, 2019).

Children playing in nature. Source: https://activeforlife.com/unstructured-nature-play/

There are various approaches you can take in nature interpretation. Fundamentally different approaches should be followed when you want to engage your audience, especially when it comes to children, teenagers, and seniors (Beck et al., 2018). In my opinion, the simplest approach to educate others is through storytelling. Storytelling piques the attention of listeners and keeps them interested. In addition, it provides the recipient with the opportunity to create relationships with others and perhaps share their own personal experiences with the audience. Storytelling encourages self-reflection that prompts the “ah-ha” moment when people realize that what you are teaching them has relevance to their own lives. To reiterate, approaches change as your audience changes. Therefore, the approach I take to educate the fisher of the pond would be different from the storytelling approach I use with children. In this case, I may want to use the Authority of the Resource Technique (ART) approach, which gained much attention in the 1990s (Beck et al., 2018). This strategy combines law enforcement with interpretation, which would be beneficial in preserving the wetland while also helping fishermen understand why the law has provisions in place that ban them from fishing there.

Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed this course and reading the blog posts that each of you have shared! I hope that our blogging journey doesn’t end here and that we continue to apply what we have learned as nature interpreters to help foster the development of environmental stewards.

Keep reading

rsenvs3000w22

Hi Tatianna,

I cannot believe this semester is over already! I feel like the process of blogging each week has helped me grow, and yet I feel like there is so much left for me to learn. I loved your guiding principles/ethics and their optimistic tone. More often than not, I feel environmental messages are lost in translation from being based on fear. As an audience, it is difficult to want to listen or feel inspired when instead you feel like a target. As you pointed out the most effective approach is to act as a role model, and inspire others of the beauty around them, as you did with your mother. Your approach to nature interpretation reminds me of a lot of popular nature documentaries like Planet Earth. Like David Attenborough, you seek to tell a story that piques the audience’s interest while making them aware of environmental concerns.

I think you share a lot of great insight and like you, I hope to apply what I’ve learned from this course and others throughout my career. Good luck with the rest of your semester!

Wrapping Up

My Beliefs I Bring to Interpretation

In grade 10 civics and careers I can remember watching “The Cove.” The 2010 documentary had a profound impact on my perspective of the world and myself. In the movie, I specifically recall one person describing that you cannot be an activist if you are not actively doing something about the problem. This idea has stuck with me ever since then and forever changed the way I view environmental issues.

Scene clip from the "Cove" (2010). Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/100308-cove-movie-oscars-dolphin-hunts-japan

At times this outlook has benefitted me, but it has also been a detriment. As I have grown as an environmental scientist and activist, I have learned at times this mantra is not always useful. As pointed out in this unit, the list of environmental issues worldwide is daunting and nearly endless. To feel responsible for being the active change that will solve all these problems is therefore extremely consuming and disheartening. It is important to care for what you love which means taking care of the earth and others. However, as an interpreter, I hope to bring the belief that we each have an integral role within our communities. Rather than trying to solve the myriad of global issues, the most effective thing we can do is focus on what is within reach. If each of us paid greater attention to our surroundings, the cumulative impact would be extensive.

My Responsibilities as an Interpreter

At some point, most of the world’s population I feel has become completely disconnected from the world around us. What I see around me often seems to reflect the conqueror mindset that shaped the colonization of the world by Europeans. “If people lose knowledge, sympathy, and understanding of the natural world, they’re going to mistreat it and will not ask their politicians to care for it” (Attenborough 2009). By no longer experiencing nature a large portion of the population has lost touch with the natural world. As David Attenborough said, “No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced” (Attenborough 2009).

Community effort in nature. Source: http://dxchem.com.cn/environmental-care/

The best way for me to explain this is through the video below:

In Ethiopia, almost all old-growth forests have been lost to agricultural development. However, the strong spiritual connection people have to these forests through Churches has allowed some to survive. Humans are not removed from the forest but rather are an integral part of its survival. These Church Forests signify the strength that connection to nature can have in its conservation.

As an interpreter, I feel my role and responsibility is to heal people’s relationships with nature by instilling the ability and desire to sense the beauty around us (Beck et al., 2018). While I may not be able to solve every environmental issue, helping one more person form a connection to nature is a step forward.

Jane Goodall. Source: https://www.biography.com/news/jane-goodall-chimpanzees-college-degree

My Approach as an Interpreter

What I have learned throughout this course is everyone’s journey in their relationship with nature is different. The same methods or messages may not always work as a consequence. This has been obvious in the numerous ways we have learned to interpret outside of science such as through art, music, and technology. Personally, I am a very visual and tactile learner. My love for nature developed as I camped, hiked, and enjoyed the outdoors throughout my childhood. All these experiences I can attach to fond memories with family and friends which extended to how I view nature. This love solidified as I spent countless hours watching nature documentaries. I was inspired by the magnificent scenery and wildlife and prominent figures like David Attenborough and Jane Goodall.

However, I think my strength as an interpreter that would have the greatest impact on others is through speaking. Oral communication and engaging with others through speech are where I excel. While developing the podcast it became clear to me that situations, where I can speak to or with my audience, will be my most effective format of interpretation. Moving forward I intend to implement what I've learned about myself and communication regardless of if it pertains to nature.

Prompt

How do you think you’ll continue to interpret beyond this course?

References

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World (1st ed.). Sagamore Publishing.

Shariatmadari, H. (Director & Producer); Attenborough, D. (Presenter). (2009). Can the Earth cope? - Horizon: How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth? [Video file]. Retrieved April 3, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zHcX9gGCHc&ab_channel=BBCStudios.

#Youtube

tkpenvs3000w22

Math within Nature.

Unit 09 Blog

Though they may seem so different, math and nature intersect with a common ground rooted in symmetry, the natural constant, and Fibonacci’s sequence.

Symmetry can occur in three different ways: rotational symmetry, bilateral symmetry, and translational symmetry. Rotational symmetry can be described as when you rotate an object upon its own axis, its shape still looks the same. Rotational symmetry is replicated in nature very frequently in flowers, for example, but they are also an example of bilateral symmetry at the same time. Bilateral symmetry occurs when an image is inverted perpendicularly through the plane, this could also be considered reflection or mirror symmetry. Butterflies are a classic example of bilateral symmetry in nature, so are many other insects. Lastly, translational symmetry occurs when each point in a figure is moved the same distance in the same direction. This was certainly the one furthest from my mind, but upon further inspection, looking at many images of nature enlightened me to the fact that it the structures of crystals and honeycombs present in a beehive.

Have you noticed any other types of symmetry in nature? If not, do any particular examples of symmetry in nature fascinate you? Explain why. Personally, I quite enjoy bilateral symmetry as it reminds me of that form of art I would do as a child where I would fold a paper in half, open it and place paint on one side in a design, fold it closed along the already formed crease, and reopen it to a beautiful, bilaterally symmetrical, image. Moreover, I believe it is appealing to the human eye as we humans are, mostly, bilaterally symmetric and familiarity is comforting.

As for the natural constant, mathematically known as “e”, is something known as Euler’s number (Ping, 2016). Named after famous mathematician Leonhard Euler, Euler’s number is a constant that appears with exponential growth or decay (Ping, 2016). What is riveting about this mathematical constant is that it is easily found in the natural world within the growth of plants or ammonite shells (Ping, 2016). There are countless occurrences of it within the natural, but you may recognize it from logarithmic equations in math classes.

Lastly, I want to mention the Fibonacci sequence. If you are like me, you recall learning about this string of numbers in which each number that appears is a sum of the previous two numbers: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, etc. (Carlson, 2019). What is unique about these numbers is that the ratio between any number and the one prior it follows a 1:1.618 ratio famously known as the golden ratio (Carlson, 2019). In nature, it can be observed in the shell of a snail, the petals of flowers, the pattern of sunflower seeds, or the spiral pattern of a pine cone (Carlson, 2019). In the media, you may have heard references to the golden ratio in related beauty: it is commonly held as the mathematical symmetry algorithm underlying what we perceive as attractive (Carlson, 2019). This related back to nature’s presence in our lives as a “gift of beauty” (Beck et al., 2018). All of this said, if math is in nature and nature is beautiful, then math can be beautiful. Do you agree? Can’t wait to hear what you think!

Can you think of any other examples of math in nature?

Talk to you soon fellow nature nerds!

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

Carlson, S. C. (2019). Golden ratio. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/golden-ratio

Ping, X. (2016). Why natural constant “e” is called “natural”. The University of Melbourne. https://blogs.unimelb.edu.au/sciencecommunication/2016/09/04/why-natural-constant-e-is-called-natural/

rsenvs3000w22

Hi Taite, I loved your take on this week’s post. As someone who usually hates math, I think you did a good job of making it fun and interesting.

Personally, the Fibonacci sequence has intrigued me. As an artist early on I learned about the golden ratio but was amazed to learn how engrained it is in everything around us from our own bodies to plants and space. DNA molecules in our body follow the sequence as they are 34 angstroms long and 21 angstroms wide for each full cycle of the double helix (Dvorsky, 2017). Romanesco broccoli is not just pretty, but also follows the Fibonacci sequence in a series of fractals. Spiral galaxies also follow the Fibonacci with each a logarithmic spiral that is preserved by something called the winding problem (if you’re interested in space at all it’s worth looking up) (Dvorsky, 2017). In some way, I find the underlying math in nature comforting. It shows that there is an order to nature that we can sort of explain. I also think as you said it makes it beautiful. To know that everything is connected by this ratio makes me feel a sense of place within it.

Golden ratio of the Milky Way galaxy (left), romanesco broccoli head (right). Images were taken from https://www.mathnasium.com/examples-of-the-golden-ratio-in-nature and https://listverse.com/2013/04/21/10-beautiful-examples-of-symmetry-in-nature/ respectively.

References

Dvorsky, G. (2017). 14 Interesting Examples of the Golden Ratio in Nature. Retrieved from https://www.mathnasium.com/examples-of-the-golden-ratio-in-nature

The Wonder of Not Knowing

Being a nature lover is possibly the best hobby or interest to have. It’s virtually endless. Just as you think you know everything, there is a whole other topic or discipline to study. Even the experts on certain topics don’t have all the answers. To me, this is the most amazing thing, that so much of nature is still unexplained and waiting to be uncovered.

When I was in elementary school, I was obsessed with knowing strange and random facts. Many of these, sort of unfortunately, have stuck with me. For instance, that mouse brains at one point were used in toothpaste. Gross. Another that has stuck with me for years is the phenomenon of the sailing rocks in Death Valley National Park.

Sailing rock in Racetrack Playa. Image retrieved from https://www.nationalparks.org/connect/blog/sailing-stones-death-valley

Also called sliding rocks, walking rocks, rolling stones, or moving rocks, this geological phenomenon is when rocks move and inscribe long tracks across a smooth valley floor with no animal intervention or gravitational cause. It’s important to keep in mind these aren’t just pebbles or small stones. Many of these are hundreds of pounds. The scary part is no one has witnessed them moving in person. And yet here are these long trails that tell us they have.

Sailing rock tracks in Death Valley National Park. Image retrieved from https://earthsky.org/earth/death-valley-sliding-slithering-sailing-stone-mystery-solved/

Even though there was seemingly no answer to why these rocks moved, that was part of what made it so exciting. Now years later today looking up this phenomenon for my blog, it turns out there is peer-reviewed literature on the mechanisms behind their movement. The movement is caused by 3 steps. First rain creates a shallow water layer on the dry terrain (Chhabra, 2019). Overnight this water freezes and turns to ice which in the morning breaks into thin sheets (Chhabra, 2019). The floating ice sheets are pushed by wind against the boulders that act as a “sail” causing the rocks to slowly slide over the wet muddy terrain (Chhabra, 2019). While this process is interesting, you may agree with me it's not as astonishing as giant rocks mysteriously moving on their own.

As someone who has always searched for the answer and solution to a problem, I’ve come to realize that some things are better left unexplained. I especially learned this when I tried to learn about space. It was a black hole of many unanswered questions. You may never know every bird call that you hear or be able to explain why a waterfall occurred where it did. But that is part of the beauty of nature. In some ways not knowing can be the best way to appreciate nature as you’re left to interpret it the way you experience and see it.

References

Chhabra, K. (2019). The sailing stones. Science Reporter. Retrieved from http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/47212/1/SR%2056%285%29%2060-61.pdf

mbenvs3000w22

BLOG POST 7

Hello everyone!

This week’s blog prompt, “Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music?” made me think for quite a while. At first, I thought it was the same question repeated as they both go hand in hand. Once I thought about it more I realized the questions are quite different and both have very different answers.

As I was reading through the Grey, et al. 2001 article I was stumped by the question “Is music-making in humans defined by our genes?” Music is an art that combines vocal or instrumental sounds for emotional expression or beauty of form. It is a form of art that everyone can enjoy or see some value in it. We each respond differently to different forms of music and it can trigger specific memories and emotions within us. So therefore I think music-making can be defined by our genes as we all interpret it differently.

A song that immediately brings me back into nature is called “Awaken” by Big Wild. If you have not listened to the song I greatly recommend it! Whenever I hear this song the twinkling instrumental noises and powerful bass makes me feel as if I am staring at the stars on a clear and warm night. Although this song has no words so much can be said and felt just by hearing it. From my interpretation and experience, this song has the power to connect me to my spirit, my soul and the basic element of the universe. I will attach the link to the song below if anybody is interested! This would be an example of “Where is nature in music.” In contrast, when thinking about “Where is music in nature” many things come to mind. Simply sitting outside and listening to your surroundings is like being at the symphony. I hear the birds chirping, the cicadas making rattlesnake-like noises and the crickets rubbing their wings together which all come together in beautiful harmony. The environment we surround ourselves in mimics a modern-day orchestra as the voice of each insect or animal has its own frequency, duration and amplitude (Grey, et al. 2001). Grey, et al. 2001 describes music as a rhythmically repeated utterance by a human, whale, frog or any being. For example, birds have similar rhythmic variations and combinations of notes as songs by humans composers use. Another example of music in nature that came to my mind is my always successful method of falling asleep. Each night before I go to sleep I play a youtube video on my phone which contains the noises of rain, thunder and lightning. These three simple noises together help me to quiet my mind at night and takes me to the point of relaxation where I can peacefully fall asleep.

What songs do you feel take you back to nature?

Link to “Awaken” by Big Wild:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBTAJ-GHNes

Link to “Epic Thunder and Rain”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDq6TstdEi8

Reference:

Gray, Patricia M., et al. “The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music." Science, vol. 291, no. 5501, 5 Jan. 2001, p. 52. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69270354/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=fb9366a8. Accessed 3 Mar. 2022.

rsenvs3000w22

Hi Makayla,

I love the song you shared, I feel like the lack of lyrics and focus on instrumental really allows you to engulf yourself in whatever emotion it elicits. I can hear how it would help you connect spiritually; I’m definitely going to add it to my yoga playlist.

Like you explained, I think both questions are quite different. But I also think they’re connected in a sense. Nature itself as you pointed out acts as a modern-day orchestra. While the music we have today like the song you shared maybe doesn’t use obvious sounds from nature I feel that in some way the basis of music is inspired by nature. I grew up playing classical piano and much of it has obvious inspiration from nature. For instance, often a song will have a call-and-response where the main theme is played and then a variation is played next as a sort of reply. Sometimes the left hand will pick this up after the right. To me it heavily mimics how birds communicate. So, I guess for me I would say classical music tends to take me back to nature.

If you’re at all interested, here’s one of my current favourite pieces called “The Swan.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA71PRwkaaA&ab_channel=Fledermaus1990

Music and Nature

Picture this. You've had a late night but tomorrow is a Saturday. Thank god you get to sleep in. However, 6am rolls around and this starts.

While I thought the sun was what woke me up every morning, I've come to realize it's the sounds of birds usually that do the trick. So much so that I've bought an alarm clock that plays bird songs to wake me up. Yet unlike a normal alarm clock, I still love and appreciate hearing bird songs at any hour of the day.

Music is everywhere in nature. However, I feel that the sounds of nature especially those we experience daily are so engrained in us we don't notice this quality of them anymore. Yet just as many people have a full library of music they listen to; many people also enjoy listening to natural sounds to relax. Like music, the sounds of nature evoke certain emotions. For example, the sounds of rain may create a sense of ease and relaxation, while the sound of a chimpanzee, like the one below, may make you feel tense. This kind of music created within nature is just as important to our connection in a landscape as the physical.

As the textbook points out finding nature in music is often challenging (Beck & Knudson, 2018). Which I agree is true in a literal sense. But, as we discussed in this unit "it is said every known human culture has music" (Gray et al., 2001). Therefore, while it may not be as obvious as a lyric about trees, it is likely that within many genres nature has contributed to its development. Different kinds of music are usually an outcome of the culture and surroundings of where it was created. For instance, Jazz emerged from Afro-American folk music traditions such as spirituals, work songs, and blues due to the surrounding culture in New Orleans. In a more literal sense, many classical pieces are directly inspired by sounds in nature. A great example is “Flight of the Bumblebee” by Rimsky Korasakov. Ultimately, for thousands of years many artists like John Denver mentioned in this week's unit, nature is a major inspiration and driving force of their creativity.

While it may be challenging to pinpoint nature in music, I think it's possibly more valuable to think of how we can use music as interpreters to enhance an experience. For auditory learners, music can be a great tool to help them connect to a landscape. As the follow-up question hints, music can also help form memories and feelings that stick.

The first song that came to mind is "Roam" by The B-52's. When I was about 8 my family took a summer trip out west through Alberta to eventually Vancouver island. Anytime I hear this song I think of that trip and how much it made me love the west coast of Canada. It also reminds me of the corny slide show my dad made with this song afterward. If you've gotten this far in my post I'd love to hear what your road trip anthem is!

Photo taken by my dad of me in Tofino on our west coast trip

#Youtube

mpenvs3000w22

Unit 06: Honouring the Black History of Environmentalism

“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)

What I love most about this quote is how it can be applied to so many different areas of life, not just nature interpretation. The power of integrity as defined in this quote is essential to ensuring success in any sector, yet as a society we seem to have stopped prioritizing it. How are we expected to move forward successfully if there is no regard for the past, as both a tool for learning and as a reminder to respect the work of those who came before us.

This is especially true in the field of environmentalism, a core driving factor behind nature interpretation. The quote perfectly encompasses the mindset of many when it comes to this subject. Since environmentalism focuses largely on plans for the future while condemning the mistakes of our past, we often forget to acknowledge the important people and forces behind the initial movement. We chose to remain on our theoretical “train”, oblivious to the other trains, stations, and conductors that are not a part of our current “field of view”.

This “content ignorance” about the past of environmentalism is especially important to discuss currently during Black History Month, as the movement is commonly misrepresented as a white movement. With “superstar” environmentalists like Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough, most mainstream headlines about climate change and environmental activism focus predominantly on white contributions. But like many areas of society, those whose voices are heard most often are not necessarily representative of the whole. The reality is that black communities have been fighting for environmental justice for countless decades, and are credited for beginning the environmental justice movement. Racial and environmental justice are deeply connected as black people have always been disproportionately impacted by pollution, climate change and lack of access to green space. This exact issue was brought into the national spotlight in 1982 when a landfill in Warren County, NC (the only majority black county in the state) became the proposed site for dumping toxic chemicals. In response, the black community staged a sit-in to protect their community from harmful pollution, sparking a global movement.

Rev. Benjamin Chavis at Warren County PCB Landfill Protest – Photo from the United Church of Christ

Since then, POC have been shouldering the burden of environmentalism, calling out racist environmental groups such as the “Group of Ten” and developing principles of environmental justice that serve as the basis of the movement to this day. In Unit 06, we were asked to reflect on who/what benefits from sharing stories linked in history, and how this might impact others in the future. It was mentioned that survivors of horrific events share their stories so that the events will not be forgotten. Thinking on this, it is clear that as a white society, these stories have not been shared enough, as I myself had to do a good deal of research to learn anything about black environmentalism. It has practically been erased from the modern narrative; a “train station” that we never seem to pass through. As interpreters, we have a unique opportunity where we can share this forgotten history and shape the future. With this in mind, I ask everyone that has read this post up to this point to honor the legacy of black environmentalists by taking five minutes to look into this history, share a black environmental activist that has inspired you, and keep them in mind as you continue your nature interpretation journey. Don’t let these stories die out more than they already have!

Whiting, K. (2021, February 25). 5 black heroes of the Environmental Movement. World Economic Forum. Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/02/black-environmentalists-justice-climate-change/

Junsay, E. (2019, February 21). The environmental justice movement is rooted in black history. 350.org. Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://350.org/black-history-month/

rsenvs3000w22

Hi Marie,

I loved reading your post. I think you brought a unique view and insight to this quote that I hadn’t considered. I especially like that you connected it to Black History Month. As you pointed out, environmental justice has been a prevalent issue in communities of people of colour. This reminds me of the 2019 documentary “There’s Something in the Water,” which brings attention to the injustices and injuries caused by environmental racism in Canada. It’s a fantastic movie on Netflix that highlights a lot of what you mentioned. A black environmentalist I’d like to recognize from this film is Louise. After years of watching her friends and family pass away from cancers due to contaminated drinking water, she fought her local government hard for a community well to provide clean drinking water access to residents. Eventually, a private donation was given to build the well.

It’s hard to imagine the atrocities of environmental racism that have occurred in Canada when you’ve grown up with access to clean and safe resources. It’s even harder to imagine that it’s still occurring. Which is why I think your post is so spot on. It is difficult to take this burden off POC when their history has been all but erased. As such I agree, there is an overwhelming need to create space within the environmental field for these stories and the voices of POC who are disproportionately affected.

The environmental field in my opinion has become very “whitewashed.” In many areas as you point out, it has ignored a whole group of people who have been at the forefront fighting and who have been practicing sustainability for millennia. The goal is not to diminish the efforts of white scientists, activists, and nature lovers, but to recognize there is a lot to learn from the history of POC in this field.

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts, I thoroughly enjoyed your take on the quote.

Link to the documentary!

https://www.netflix.com/title/81206890

If you’re at all like me, you may have read the quote above and thought, huh? Honestly, at first, I was a bit stumped. I had to come back and read it over a few times before deciding what it meant to me. Like poetry and other art forms that we discussed in Unit 4, I think that this quote can be interpreted differently by everyone.

For me, it was the second half that really stood out. In my mind, this portion is a reminder for all areas of our lives that the past is a valuable place to start when looking at the present. What has occurred in the past cannot be discounted as it contributed to where we are today. Personally, I have always loved history for this reason as the events and choices of the past can be seen throughout aspects of our daily lives.

Rattlesnake Point lookout. Source: https://ontarioconservationareas.ca/

In the context of nature interpretation, the past is crucial for understanding the landscape in terms of both natural history and human history. The best way for me to describe this is through a story of looking out from rattlesnake point as my dad described how the Niagara Escarpment was formed. He told a story of a vast tropical sea 450 million years ago. Years later the sediments comprised of the sea life were compressed by rock. The same region as the climate changed was overlain by glaciers that as they melted and retreated carved away along with the elements leaving behind these cliffs. Interpretation helps us breathe life and meaning into past events and forms values to guide the present (Beck et al., 2019). His story did exactly that as I was astounded and in awe of the area which left me with a deeper connection. The cliffs were no longer only cliffs but a natural wonder that took millions of years to occur.

Eastern white pine plantation in Guelph. Source: https://www.vanwaffle.com/2013/02/02/grace-of-a-white-pine-monoculture/#sthash.2VpYBjZd.dpbs

Similarly, the human history of the landscape plays a role in interpretation. While it is important to remember the happy stories of the past it is equally important to recount the tragic ones (Beck et al., 2019). Interpreting history can help us better understand the impacts of certain actions and hopefully inspire individuals to be agents of change (Beck et al., 2019). For example, we can learn from past human impacts on the landscape. Considering this I am reminded of the tall Eastern white and red pine plantations across Southern Ontario. At the time they were planted it seemed like an efficient policy for future investment in logging and to re-establish the original ecosystem encountered by Europeans. The result was many sterile ecosystems. In a way, I think understanding the history behind these forests you’re bound to encounter serves as a reminder of nature’s complexity and the difficulty to recreate it after its destroyed.

Ontario old growth white pine forest. Source: http://www.ancientforest.org/the-past-isnt-what-it-used-to-be/

Is there a place you visit in which the natural, human, or personal history has given you a deeper connection or understanding?

References

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World (1st ed.). Sagamore Publishing.

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First Time Independent Traveller

Hi all!

Welcome back to my nature blog. Today, I have a little anecdote/story to tell about how I came to be EVEN MORE in love with nature over the course of the pandemic than I was before!

I thought I would talk about how this year was a big year for me! Before this year I had never been on a plane, or been on a vacation without my parents. However, in 2021 I completed both these things, even despite the pandemic. The pandemic has been going on a long time now, and it has been quite mentally and physically draining on everyone. I have learned a lot about myself throughout this time. I’ve had the chance to be alone, to decompress, to feel lonely, and to long for human connection - as have many of us I presume. At the beginning of the pandemic, almost 2 years ago now, I felt lonely, bored, and generally physically exhausted from not being outside or doing the activities that I would normally do (like go to the gym, or go to a gathering with friends). However, throughout the years (yes, years!) I have grown to enjoy being on my own, and I feel that nature helped me immensely on this journey. This post is somewhat of a love letter, if you will, to nature.

The summer after it first broke out - I started to enjoy being outside in general - sitting outside, reading, listening to music, going on a walk, lying out in the sun, etc. This was my time to decompress to enjoy time with myself, and it allowed me to grow in a very short amount of time. This growth, that I could not be more grateful for, did wonders for my confidence. I was able to express myself with people and make connections I was never able to make. This actually led me to find someone who shares the passion for being outside and travelling to new places just as much as I do (now that I have come to appreciate it so much more).

Last summer, we went on a trip, just the two of us, completely in the middle of nowhere. We rented a cottage with no wifi, no air-conditioning; just us, the lake and nature all around us. It was truly a moment in my life I felt completely confident in my abilities to live in the “real world”. I know it must sound silly, but it’s true! And those few days I was able to appreciate nature which only made me want to travel and see more of the world in this same way.

Here are a few photos of the trip:)

Thank you so much for reading!

Cora

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Hi Cora, thank you so much for sharing this personal story! I can really relate to you that the pandemic forced me to deal with a lot of challenges and slow down. Before the pandemic school would tend to consume a lot of my time and thoughts. Once almost everything shut down it gave me the time to reflect and focus on myself. Just like you, I relied a lot more on being outdoors and made a much bigger effort to incorporate it into my daily routine. With life somewhat more normal I’ve carried this habit on and noticed dealing with school and stress is a lot easier. I think your story think it’s a great example of how having a connection to nature is very integral to our mental health. Also, I totally relate to what you mean in feeling more confident in your ”real world” abilities. I’m currently planning a Europe trip with one of my friends and am very nervous about travelling internationally alone but I know it will be a huge growing experience. I’d love to hear more about your trips you took this past year and any tips or challenges you had!

What have I been thinking about? Fungi!

As an interpreter, it is essential to ask yourself the following questions: where do you find inspiration and how does it motivate and drive you? For me, I find inspiration in learning more about nature around me. This motivates me to share this information with others and hopefully generate a sense of stewardship. Passion is an essential ingredient in interpretation and serves as an effective tool for illustrating to others the importance of conservation (Beck et al., 2018). So for this week’s post, I figured I would talk about a topic that I’m recently passionate about; fungi!

Basidiomycetes from Ernst Haeckel’s 1904 Kunstformen der

More specifically I’d like to tell you about what most people will call a mushroom. Mushrooms are just one group in the kingdom of fungi. They come from a major division called Basidiomycota which also includes many other groups that may be mistakenly called mushrooms or not recognized as fungi at all. These include chanterelles, boletes, polypores, bracket fungi, and many more. Basidiomycota is filamentous fungi composed of hyphae that reproduce sexually through specialized spores.

Thomas J. Volk, in Encyclopedia of Biodiversity (2001)

But now what does that mean. Well, what you see in terms of these fungi is just the tip of an iceberg. In reality, around 95% of these fungi is mycelium, the vast network of cellular strands called hyphae in which its entire life cycle plays out. Fungi regulate the flow of energy and information throughout these hyphal networks. They use them to consume and distribute energy and can even use adaptive defenses when threatened. The top of the fungi which most people call a mushroom is the fruiting body. This part is responsible for producing and distributing spores that will germinate elsewhere and reproduce.

Picture was taken from GroCycle (2022)

Basidiomycetes are the only major organism that can break down or significantly modify lignin, a key structural component of wood. As such this major group of fungi plays a critical role in the cycling of nutrients in ecosystems. The fungi’s spores or mycelium enter through wounds, dead branches, branch stubs, tree stumps, or damaged roots and use enzymes to break down wood and organic matter to nutrients. Most species, they release spores in wet seasons to increase their chances of germination. Therefore, you’ll often see them on dead or dying trees in early spring or fall.

Fungi tend to get very mixed reactions of delight and disgust. Personally, what has intrigued me about this group of fungi is that many are edible and have traditionally been used for medicine. For example, Ganoderma lucidum has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the prevention or treatment of many diseases including cancer (Han & Qin, 2014). Many fungi are recognized as a dietary supplement to aid in cognition, gut health, cardiometabolic diseases, and cancer (Harvard School of Public Health, n.d.). Psilocybin and psilocin, the active compounds in “magic mushrooms” are currently gaining interest for treating mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. While it hasn’t been legalized yet it’s interesting to see growing interest in the use of fungi for a variety of health conditions.

If you’re ever wondering why the mushroom gets invited to all the parties. It’s because he’s a Fungi!

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Nature Through Art

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

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

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

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

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

~Nicole

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Hi Nicole, I think you lend a great perspective to the use of art as a lens to interpret nature. I especially loved your connection of how your difficulty to connect to art is similar to those who struggle with connecting to nature. Like you described, in both art and nature, the reaction and interpretation are individual experiences. While it is the role of the artist or interpreter to communicate a certain feeling or goal, everyone will have a different opinion and reaction.

I also completely relate, I hated road trips growing up. I remember in elementary school my parents told us we would be driving out east to visit the different provinces. I cried. Now I see that this was a bit dramatic but at the time couldn’t imagine sitting in a car that long. In comparison when I got older and we traveled I loved sitting in the car and just looking out the window. I remember driving from Rome to Venice and staring out the window the whole time because everything was so new and different. I think the difference is exactly that “Aha” moment you described. Whether through art or any lens I think you described perfectly how it is the goal of the interpreter to create the “Aha” moment.

Art and Interpretation

Have you ever walked through a gallery and been perplexed by one piece in particular? Heard a song that reminded you of a time in your life or a performance that brought you to tears? Do you find yourself taking pictures as you walk through the forest or see a beautiful sunset? Art, in all these instances is maybe the best method of sharing the experience and emotions of a certain place or time.

While art in any medium is meant to promote self-expression for each artist it is also an interactive experience. Across many mediums art can be used to invoke emotions and communicate a message to viewers. In this sense it is a very important tool for communication. As discussed in Chapter 5 of the course textbook, “an effective interpreter will use the tangible elements of the place – plants, rocks, streams, wildlife – to advance intangible meanings associated with them.” (Beck et al., 2018) These intangible meanings are “various ideas, feelings, and meanings such as love, courage, beauty, freedom.” (Beck et al., 2018) Art is an exceptional way of accomplishing the connection between tangible and intangible. Each person will have a different response and perception in the same way they would to nature. I feel this is what makes the two go together so well.

Art and nature for me has always gone hand in hand. Without a doubt it is how I interpret the “gift of beaty.” My family are avid art appreciators, and I grew up practicing several mediums. Whenever we’ve visited a provincial park or new place my parents took us to galleries that featured local artists. Reflecting on this unit as I walked through my house, I’ve realized many of the pieces of art we own are reminiscent of the nature and culture from places we’ve visited.

I’ve mentioned in previous posts that my family is also very into outdoor activities. Naturally, this led to a love for nature that shone through my sister and my artworks. Throughout my years playing piano I’ve gravitated towards more contemporary music which tends to be inspired by nature. Attached is one song I’ve recently been playing. While my love for nature pushed me into a career in environmental science, for my sister it led her to be a landscape painter. Her artwork is a way for her to express the emotions she felt in a specific place and time. Below is one of her projects of Killbear Provincial Park.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFYLKUFmoSs&ab_channel=HansFrancken

As an interpreter, I think art is an essential lens that should be utilized more. What I’ve realized from my own experience is it is a way to hold onto and remind myself of the spiritual uplift felt in an outdoor space. There are many examples of ways to integrate art into a program such as inviting people to sketch, paint, or write about how they feel throughout an experience. Many trails create art installations such as the Crawford Lake Hide and Seek Trail. On this trail wood carvings of Ontario species at risk have been added which help to communicate conservation goals. Performing arts in parks where space is available is another way to create a memorable experience and raise money for conservation or other environmental efforts

Sources

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World (1st ed.). Sagamore Publishing.

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Privilege+Nature Interpretation

Whether we realize it or not, privilege plays a big part in all of our experiences in life. Privilege refers to the certain social benefits an individual has by virtue of belonging to a certain group. For example, individuals in western scoeity that are typically recognized as being privileged include individuals who are white, wealthy or those who identify as male. As a south Asian woman, I’m automatically part of two minority groups in western society. However, there are a variety of other factors that make me privileged and have thus impacted my experiences relating to nature interpretation. For example, I am proficient in English, able bodied with no disabilities and health complications, of middle socioeconomic status, and have had the ability to get post-secondary education. Having adequate financial resources, means that I’ve been able to visits various natural attractions that many may not be able to afford. For example, I was able to take a week-long trip to the East Coast and visit various natural sites and attractions because I had the financial means to do so. During that trip, I was able to use my proficiency in English to ask people questions and to enhance my experience by being inquisitive. My post-secondary education thus far, has also provided me with the knowledge to be able to ask certain questions and think “outside the box”.

“The Wheel of Privilege” From The CIHR Institute of Gender and Health

Individuals that aren’t privy to the same level of privilege I have, may not know about interpretive opportunities, may not perceive the value in participating in them, or are willing to participate but are unable to do so due to physical or social barriers. Physical barriers can include lack of transportation, or limited access to an area due to a disability. Physical barriers can be removed by making sure that parks and attractions are accessible for seniors, families, or those with disabilities. Free or discounted means of transportaion that is subsidized by the government is also a potential method of alleviating the barrier of transportaion. The social barrier is much more difficult to tackle and must be handled not from the point of view of wanting to coerce or indoctrinate an individual or group of individuals, but instead by helping to provide emotionally and intellectually meaningful experiences, that lead an individual to care about a place the context of their own values and understandings (Beck et al., 2019).This can be done by building universal concepts like family, beauty, friendship into interpretation, to reach a wider and more culturally diverse audience. Interpreters can also ensure that there isnt a communication barrier by providing pamphlets, and brochures that consist of a variety of languages or having an individual that is able to translate and cater to a specific population. For example, if an area is known to have a large East Asian population, languages of the region can be incorporated into the interpretative experience in the form of audio, video, and text or simply a diverse group of interpreters that are able to speak the language and bridge the gap in communication and even culture. Employing individuals of various backgrounds, is an important step in addressing the problem of inclusivity in nature interpretation. Many organizations are now specifically looking to employ individuals of marginalized groups to address the issue. For example, the Toronto Zoo has an internship program called “Building Leadership through Climate Action", that was specifically built to serve low-income, minority and Canadian youth aged 18 to 30. This program was developed to equip interns with a knowledge of climate change issues and actions they can take, by teaming them up with experts and Toronto Zoo staff. The interns would then be able to use this knowledge and experience to create projects that include connecting with visitors of the Toronto zoo at various exhibits, conducting field trips, and collaborating with community partners.

“Field trip” From The Toronto Zoo Website

This is just one of the many examples of actions being taken by organizations to make these sorts of experiences more inclusive and diverse. However, I think we can still do so much more. Provincial parks and other natural attractions can start by acknowledging the privilege of their own existence and that they largely exist on stolen land that was once inhabited by indigenous people. They can also give back to indigenous communities by incorporating them into these experiences and letting them speak about their history and contributions to this country.

A sacred site, known as “The Teaching Rocks” at Petroglyphs Provincial Park. This is a prime example of how a provincial park is able to acknowledge its privilege by respecting indigenous culture and paying homage to it.

From: https://wanderingwagars.com/

Reference:

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Redshelf eBook. Sagamore Publishing. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://platform.virdocs.com/r/s/0/doc/1948104/sp/245407251/mi/718086528?cfi=%2F4%2F4&menu=index.

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Hi, Aasna thank you for sharing your thoughts and unpacking your invisible backpack. I found the wheel that you shared very powerful. Looking at the different categories it's striking to think of how many are connected and therefore how certain groups experience much greater marginalization than others. Yet at the same time how certain characteristics may lead to assumptions about others and the boxes, they fall into. Ultimately this wheel puts into perspective the many factors that you must consider as an interpreter when guiding/teaching a group. As well the number of barriers that must be tackled which you did an excellent job of explaining. I think you made a great point of provincial parks and natural attractions acknowledging, incorporating, and giving back to Indigenous communities. This really reminded me of Crawford Lake conservation area. This park in the Halton region has a reconstructed 15thcentury Iroquoian village that is used to teach about local First Nations history. They often have speakers and storytellers from different First Nations communities and over the years have added immensely to the center. Based on their website it is unclear what other involvement is present and would be great to see more acknowledgment of current communities. Thanks again for sharing Aasna and if you ever get a chance I highly recommend visiting Crawford Lake!

Privilege in Nature Interpretation

My own definition of privilege is very similar to that of Peggy McIntosh. Privilege to me is the unearned qualities or characteristics an individual has that due to societal structures and principles provides them with advantages. Generally, I find that most people’s degrees at university or college have pushed them to consider their own privilege. If not, recent media surrounding issues like BLM and reconciliation has led to better education. Yet I was still very moved by the idea of the invisible backpack.

While I have considered many of my privileges, I haven’t necessarily thought of how they apply to different areas of my life. One was my role as a nature interpreter.

When I first started to reflect my recent interest in backcountry camping came to mind. During the planning of my first trip with my sister, I realized we would need a lot of gear we didn’t own yet. Growing up we had car camped with my family quite a bit but some gear we owned was too heavy and not meant for hiking 20km into the bush. Overall, I ended up spending quite a bit on necessities like a very warm sleeping bag since it was mid-fall. I was shocked by the amount of money I spent even while trying to buy second-hand and only what I needed. Below are some pictures from the trip!

Although backcountry camping may not be everyone’s first nature experience it put into perspective that there is a significant financial amount needed to be a part of any outdoor experience. I realize I had grown up with the false assumption that since the outdoors is all around us, everyone had the same access. For instance, most hiking trails require personal transportation to get to and require park fees that can add up with a full vehicle. I’ve become more aware that this partially is a reason for the lack of diversity and representation in the outdoor community. An article by Emma Gosalvez (2020) I’ve linked below discusses this in greater detail, but states that people of color are three times more likely than white people to live in places that have no immediate access to nature. Furthermore, due to Socioeconomic status, cultural differences, racial discrimination, and the history of institutional racism people of color have less time and disposable income to visit conservation areas (Gonsalvez, 2020). What I had never considered was how the lack of representation can lead to unease in outdoor spaces. In my case of backcountry camping, not only was I able to invest in new gear, but my privilege as a Caucasian person made me feel comfortable and welcomed in the community on the trail.

In this situation, I think privilege plays a role in understanding that as you lead and communicate everyone may not have the same comfort level. Furthermore, besides the experience level of individuals it is important to consider how they may feel unwelcome or out of place due to lack of representation. I’m still learning a lot about how my privilege applies to nature and looking forward to reading other people’s reflections.

Gosalvez, E. (2020). Nature gap: why outdoor spaces lack diversity and inclusion. Retrieved: https://cnr.ncsu.edu/news/2020/12/nature-gap-why-outdoor-spaces-lack-diversity-and-inclusion/

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My Role as an Environmental Interpreter

Growing up with so much love for wildlife and nature, I’ve become exceptionally passionate about the topics. Whenever I am asked by my friends or family about any topic revolving around the environment, I find that I can become a bit overwhelmingly passionate when trying to communicate my feelings toward the topic at hand. Sometimes it’s easy for me to forget that not everyone is as interested or passionate about this field in the same way that I am. Thankfully, being in the environmental management program, I’ve met so many others like myself who I am happy to have become friends with. However, having grown up in Toronto for a lot of my life, many of my friends from the city showed little interest in being outdoors or in nature. I found that this began to slowly change over the years as I began bringing my friends along to the camping resort I’ve always gone to in Muskoka. Everything there was so new and estranged to them as many of them had never been in a lake or forest, let alone even outside of the GTA. Once I took them swimming, kayaking, fishing and hiking through the forests with me, I realized a spark of interest ignited in them. Soon after, every year they would tell me how eager they were to return with me. I have attached a few photos from over the years below! :)

Now thinking about it, I have always known that I was a tactile learner and enjoyed doing things hands-on and developing my own interests and opinions on what I learn. However, I realize now that it’s also my teaching style. In the case of my friends who I brought to Muskoka with me, I was able to share what I am passionate about by simply bringing them along for the ride and letting them try it out and learn for themselves. This allowed them to form their own passions and care about the same things I did, but in their own ways. Now, I believe that as an environmental interpreter, a tactile teaching style in this way, may be the most effective way of sharing my passions. I believe this means that I would have to be somewhere outdoors in nature, experiencing nature hands on, so that I may also share my interpretations to my audience in a hands-on way. For myself this may mean working as a tour guide at a national park, leading groups of people on forest expeditions or even serving as an information guide at an outdoor wildlife rehabilitation center. For these types of career paths I would need a lot of patience, enthusiasm and confidence. I would want my audience to develop their own opinions and interests toward nature in their own ways and at their own pace, meaning that I would need to be very patient. However, I would also want to provide them with opportunities to develop these opinions hands on, in an enthusiastic and confident way so that they are at least excited to try these new things out in nature. Although I am still very unsure of what career path I may take in the future, I believe my strengths lie in trying to help others experience nature hands-on, in their own ways, as I like to do myself. This may aid me in reaching my goal of working to spread awareness about environmental issues and shedding light on the beauty and significance of nature.

Thanks for reading! :)

Swimming with my friends at the cottage.

Kearney, Ontario (Muskoka). 2020.

Candid photo of my friends at the cottage.

Kearney, Ontario (Muskoka). 2021.

Candid photo of my friends at sunset at the cottage.

Kearney, Ontario (Muskoka). 2021.

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Hi Cora, thanks for sharing that story about bringing your friends to Muskoka. The lake looks beautiful and it looks like you've had a lot of fun there, I can see why they're so excited to go back with you :)

Also I 100% agree that tactile learning and experiencing nature first hand is a very effective tool. Your story was an amazing example since you telling your friends about this resort clearly had a much different impact than when they were able to visit themselves.

I often think tactile learning isn't utilized with adults as much as it should be. I remember during one of my co-ops I helped with Guelph's Wacky Water week events to teach kids about source water protection. I had lots of kids play games which demonstrated how different household items or activities could harm the water supply. They picked up the message very fast and had fun. What I found interesting is the parents also got pulled in by these games and demonstrations. While it was targeted at younger kids it pushed them to ask me more questions. In this sense, it was a lot more effective for communicating and gaining interest than the brochures and pamphlets targeted for this demographic.

I think this realization about your learning/teaching style is something we can all learn from and take on as interpreters to give people the best experience!

My ideal role as an environmental interpreter

Being a student in environmental sciences, I often get a lot of questions from family and friends. From simple things like how does this [blank] process work? To more complex questions like should I be concerned about climate change and what can we do about it? During these conversations, I always hope I’ve communicated effectively without throwing in too much dull or unnecessary information. I desperately want to answer these questions in a way that makes the topic exciting and pushes them to want to learn more.

When I think of these conversations, I envy the social media accounts that can discuss these topics with ease and make them exciting to learn about. One account I think of right away off the top of my head is asap science. While not nature interpreters, they explain science in an easy to understand and fun way.

Here’s an example of one of their videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yywWKtKheQ&ab_channel=AsapSCIENCE

Here’s another great example from Tik Tok I found:

https://www.tiktok.com/@environment_explained/video/6923522211345075458?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

My ideal role as an environmental interpreter would be to run a social media account that teaches people about the earth and environmental sciences. I’ve always been passionate about these topics and the natural world and want others to feel the same excitement. I mentioned before on my blog that I believe stewardship comes from feeling connected to nature or the issues at hand. This is why I think this form of communication is necessary for tackling environmental problems. Social media has the potential to reach large amounts of people, especially those who might not take a trip out to a conservation area or nature center. As well, many of these topics can feel overwhelming and most people don’t like the discomfort that accompanies environmental problems. Having a platform like Tik Tok or Instagram that breaks these issues down can make environmental issues feel more manageable and help gain interest.

As a soon to be graduate in environmental sciences student I feel equipped with the knowledge for a wide arrange of topics. The first challenge however is ditching the scientific jargon and cutting back on the information. Being a good scientific communicator and for different audiences is something I don’t have much practice in. This is one of the reasons I’m excited about this course.

Creativity is another must for this area of interpretation. Art is one of my hobbies and I went to an arts high school to practice art. Since coming to university I have definitely become rusty and not had to push myself creatively. However, there’s no better way to improve than just starting. Improving and expressing myself creatively is something I’ve missed and wanted to improve upon – which is why this interpreter role is my ideal. It melds together two of my major interests perfectly.

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Interpretating Nature with Rebecca