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Wildlife Biology & Conservation ENVS 3000 W23

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Nature Interpretation's Role in Environmental Sustainability 

Blog 9: Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual? 

I believe in order to delve into my personal ethic as a nature interpreter, I have to reflect on who I am as a person and my values. Growing up I was fortunate enough to have parents that encouraged me to explore and ask questions. I believe this plays a pertinent role in my approaches to nature interpretation. I love when someone acts as a guide to help foster a meaningful connection to the world around me. They allow for questions to be asked and create a safe and engaging space for all. I would love to play this role as a nature interpreter as every person has their own unique bond to nature based upon their lived experiences. Ideally as an environmental interpreter, I would not be dictating these relationships but rather providing resources to increase an individual connection. However, in terms of bringing people into the outdoors, I must recognize that my positive exposure to nature is a result of my privilege and has led to a high level of comfort in the outdoors. I grew up travelling and camping with my family which played a large role in who I am today. I acknowledge that not everyone had the opportunities I did growing up and that it is a part of my privilege. 

For as long as I can remember I have been drawn to the ocean and its inhabitants. The marine biologist in me would absolutely adore to be a guide on whale watching tour. Whales have been a favourite of mine for as long as I can remember, so to interpret in that setting is the dream. Although I would be thrilled to do this job anywhere, I have always wanted to travel French Polynesia, specifically Moorea. This location appeals to me as it is located on part of the humpback whale migration path from June to November. Not to mention, there is an abundance of marine life that I would be eager to observe. Species of interest include stingrays, sea turtles, and black tip sharks. My pre-existing knowledge about the species would be an obvious asset to creating a meaningful experience for guests and my passion for the ocean would only add to the fun. Therefore, as an interpreter my responsibility would be to help establish initial connections, while drawing attention to the benefits of having a healthy relationship with your natural surroundings. I also have an obligation to give opportunity for visitors to further their knowledge about the natural world.  

I am fortunate to have grown up with a very positive and rewarding connection to nature. I can’t begin to express how much I have learned about myself and nature from these experiences. I want to share those types of learning experiences with others so that they can understand the joy that nature can bring. Recently, I have found that there is a serious disconnect between people and the natural environment they live in. My current relationship with nature is still intimate and complex. I believe that as I have grown up, I have become more connected to offering myself a “sense of place.” I still often choose to seek solace in nature. I choose to nurture my connection to the natural world by taking the time to slow down and appreciate the little things. Although my relationship with nature has changed throughout my life, my adoration of the natural world has only grown stronger. It is my belief that increasing personal connections to the natural world will result in a positive climate influence as it is what drives my passion. Nature has given me so much throughout my life; the benefits of simply being exposed to green spaces have been extensive and plentiful. From this, I feel as though I have a sense of duty to giving back to it through sustainable living and helping educate others. I want to help foster meaningful connections to the natural world.  

Part of my beliefs stem from my privilege and that plays a large role in nature interpretation because it influences how we view the world and connect with people. Recognizing and acknowledging personal privilege is a step that is necessary in providing an enjoyable educational experience for people from all walks of life. It is equally as important to realize that every person carries their own bias based upon their lived experiences. Thus, I believe that it is crucial to take a step back and recognize who you are as a person and how that can translate to who you are as an interpreter.  

I was also fortunate to have parents that recognized the fact that swimming is an important skill to have. From a young age I was placed in swim lessons and had water safety messages drilled into my brain. One of the most prominent deliveries of water safety took place at my summer cottage. I remember that until a certain age, there was always a rule that we were only allowed to enter the water at the beach with an adult. As we grew older and became better swimmers, we were allowed to enter up to our hips but only our knees when it was wavy. These boundaries were put in place to ensure safety, but my guardians had to know that it was important to set these rules. I was also fortunate that my parents had the means to register my sister and I in swim lessons (and eventually competitive swimming). I was lucky that my parent’s jobs allowed for them to be able to drive me to the pool in town at 4:30am for practices and have time to volunteer at my swim meets, not to mention they could afford all the necessary equipment for the sport.  

After my time as a competitive swimmer, I became a lifeguard and swim instructor. It was a natural transition to teach others, but I really found myself enjoying the fact that I could help others have safe and pleasant experiences in the water. Even though lifeguarding is a pretty common job, it takes quite a bit of time and money to become fully certified. Let alone, the fact that you must be a competent swimmer to achieve the necessary certifications. Through my work as a lifeguard, I became more aware of the role privilege plays in aquatics. It became clear that inclusion is such an important topic to discuss in aquatics.  

Not everyone engages in the world in the same ways and to assume as an interpreter that everyone will experience something the same way would be very ignorant. Throughout this course, I have taken the time to reflect on the opportunities and experiences that I was privileged to have. It has allowed me to think about the influence these opportunities have on how I interact with the world around me as well as the importance of acknowledging privilege.  

All of these factors and experiences play a role in the personal ethic I have developed as a nature interpreter. 

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I also really connect with being really fortunate with having a curiosity that started at a young age, and eventually grew into something larger as I got older about enjoying nature and the protecting the environment. I also think that if people spent more time outdoors, they could really connect with nature and environment around them, and possibly the wildlife and habits these environments as well. I think it is so important for younger generations to be exposed because they can become very interested and passionate and maybe one day they could become the leaders we need to fix our planet. I also think we are privileged in a way to experience these vast environments that even Ontario offers. I think being really connected to the environment and wildlife, especially if you’re connected to whales and sea turtles and other threatened or other endangered species, can really motivate people to protect and help conserve wildlife. And I love finding people with similar interests and values regarding combatting climate change conservation of endangered species and cleaning up the environment. I find it very rewarding and it also makes me feel that there’s other good people in the world that want the same good things as I do.

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Blog 10: Kickstarting change for the better of the environment

Prompt: Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?

Throughout this course we have been encouraged to examine what kind of interpreter we are and what we represent as an interpreter. I have not only learned a lot about the different ways I subconsciously interpret nature but also the way I rely and share this information to others. In short, I definitely feel more connected to myself as someone who interprets nature and specifically what things in nature particularly interest me. I feel like this is especially important being someone who is in Environmental Science and going on to persure a career in this field. 

Being an Environmental Science student, all of my classes have looked deeply into the innerworkings of the environment from how different parts of nature function and why, to how multiple factors function to create what we know as the planet. With that said, I have also learned a lot about why conserving different aspects of the environment is important and this directly lines up with my beliefs as a person and as a nature interpreter. I think that if we as humans feel we are so ‘important’ and put our importance above the natural world to the point where we feel we can alter it however we want, then we automatically make ourselves responsible to protect and sustain it when it is faced with adversity. Sort of like a ‘you break it, you fix it’ scenario. Now, I know you’re all thinking that you’ve heard this a million times, but we are seriously running out of time and that’s something I think a lot of people don’t understand or can’t get a grasp on. I think oftentimes we forget that there are 8 billion people on earth all operating in the same manner and at the same time we are, and that many people have a significant influence on the earth. When we pursue and support conservation efforts, not only does it acknowledge the intrinsic value of other species, but also the intrinsic connection between us and our natural world. We can’t seem to get a grasp on the idea that the world’s resources are finite, so I believe looking towards conservation efforts is a first great step in the start of working with the environment rather than against it. I wanted to brush up on this blog I read regarding social science and its role in conservation that I largely agree with and I think kind of goes hand in hand with the point I’m trying to get across. The blog talks about this book called “Conservation Social Science: Understanding People, Conserving Biodiversity” and how human behaviour is a crucial part of conservation practices and solutions and is mostly ignored. They go on to explain that conservation is about changing the way that we as humans interact with the environment in our everyday lives, therefore we have to also look at aspects such as human’s relationship with the environment. Just because there is scientific evidence that there is a need to protect the earth doesn’t mean everyone understands it or believes it, that just the kind of world we live in. This blog also touches on how significant amounts of money is being put into conservation efforts but sometimes don’t succeed for the simple reason that they do not take into consideration how societies interact and influence the environment. I believe that this is definitely a huge factor but just as much as conservationists need to ultizate social sciences, society needs to be more self aware in terms of their relationships with the environment and why it is so crucial to understand the world around you as there is way more than what meets the eye. I’ve linked the short blog post below if anyone is interested!

Why understanding people is key to protecting nature

Humans have altered the planet so dramatically that scientists say we may have entered a new geologic epoch — the Anthropocene. And yet huma

Although there is always room to expand my environmental science knowledge, I think as someone who understands and studies the environment as well as works within the field, it is my responsibility to be the voice for nature. It is my responsibility to do my best to spread my knowledge to others in hopes to make society more aware and it is also my responsibility to keep learning about the environment as time goes on. Being a voice for nature can show others a recognition of interconnectedness between us and the environment that they may have never understood or have simply overlooked. I feel although reading books or articles about this topic is extremely important, learning through others can make learning these things a lot more fun. I’ve found that when I learn through other people I tend to remember things better and actually engage in the topic of conservation by asking questions and bouncing off knowledge. It is my responsibility to not relay information by talking at people, but talking WITH people. There is a huge difference. When you make learning interesting and are passionate about what you are presenting, it entices people to listen and hopefully continue to strengthen their knowledge.  Not only is it important for me to be an advocate but also ensure that I am also making environmentally conscious choices within my everyday life and working towards a greener way of life. If I’m going to preach that way of life to others then I need to be a prime example myself! Having learned everything I have in my studies thus far, I feel a sense of responsibility to create change and do something memorable. Whether that be discovering new research or designing something that contributes to protecting our planet. 

I think the approaches that are most suitable for me as an individual are getting involved or working with companies that express the same values as me, giving me the opportunity to put my mindset into action. I am striving to pursue a job with large companies working in environmental restoration and protection. I feel this would give me a great opportunity to take what I’ve learned and apply it in a real world scenario, different perspectives and voices are always needed in this kind of field. In my first year of university (approximately 4 years ago) I worked with Trent University students in releasing turtle hatchlings back into a wetland within the city of Guelph and since experiencing that, I knew that was something I wanted to keep on doing. I think in doing this kind of work not only am I putting my beliefs into action but I hope to also enspire others to want to do the same, especially younger generations. I think it is extremely important to expose these generations to scenarios such as this so that they can be consciously aware of their actions and also enspire them to potentially take a science route in their future studies. Scenarios like this can completely change what people think they know about nature and also help the younger generations get a head start on a greener way of life and influence them in an environmentally cautious way. Creating first hand experiences to others can potentially change someone’s route of life like it did mine! It can help people see what they are interested in and work towards pursuing that. There can never be too many scientists in this kind of field, more is potentially one step closer to saving our earth. With all that said, I will leave you all with this short video and remember it is never too late to do the right thing and if you put your mind to it, you are capable of great things.

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I really like that you pointed out the fact that humans feel that we are so important and that we put our importance above the natural world. I think that we don’t taken to account how our actions affect other beings that we share the planet with in the near and far future. I wish that people thought about climate change, and how rising temperatures affect different species from the warming temperatures of the ocean, and how it affects coral, and how corals are an important habitat for small creatures, such as fish, other crustaceans and mollusks, for example. Just like small scale ecosystems that tie into something much bigger.  I also think about how rising temperatures can create terrible storms, tornadoes, and tsunami’s that also affect us as well like, how do we not think of how these things will affect our future for generations to come? I agree that I feel that we are running out of time, time is so precious yet we take it for granted and put off saving the planet and reversing the negative effects. I think that’s a great point to add the blog post Why understanding people is key to protecting nature. After reading, I feel like Mary Kate McCoy really reinforces what is environmental and conservation students are preaching, yeah also what we’re lacking. I think it’s also a big part of communicating science and facts into something that people can digest and understand and relate to. I think that people are not so-called to urgency because people do not understand or are uninterested because the world is not exactly falling apart during their lifetime.

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Final Blog Post

To me, ethics are used in every aspect of my life whether it be with school, work, life at home and more and it all involves being an overall good person or at least attempting to try to be. I’ve really thought about putting forth the most effort and integrity I could especially now that as I’m an adult, this is the type of person I would like to be. I definitely would want a world filled with more people that at least try to be good human beings. Since the start of my degree in September 2019, I’ve always tried to put school first by always doing assignments and tests with academic integrity. Acting with integrity makes me feel like a good person and to me that is the most important thing. With work, I always do my very best and it like to think that I am trying to be the best person I can be when I am serving guests. At home, I like to always try to stay on top of chores because I know that there’s more than just me living in this house and I feel that others would appreciate a clean environment. I like to do my chores once, and I do them right, so I do not have to fix or do it over again a second time. So, in total, I like to think that in the most of my everyday life, I like to think that I have a great moral compass and ethic.

 I also think I consciously use my ethics in everyday life to be the best person and that makes me happy. I think I am trying to do my part for the environment, even though I think it’s just a drop in the bucket. I like to do my best to recycle everything. I do use a compost bin even though it gets really gross and I always want to throw it out, but I feel like I’m really doing something. I did look into getting an electric car, but I was told that if I were to even buy a new car and sell my old one, it wouldn’t make sense because of all the fossil fuels that have been used into the creation of the new car anyways. I believe that I bring my best efforts for others and for the environment and especially for future generations, I feel that as a person I do my very best while trying to get others on board even with paper straws. I do feel like that everyone is capable of doing their very best to save the environment and reduce greenhouse gases, but I also believe everyone has their own views and values, and that should be looked at as a perspective as well (as much as I do not agree). I feel like it’s everyone’s responsibility to at least try to do their part because we all live together in one world. I think that I am going to take my own ethics and urge of responsibility for my future career in conservation. I think that I would be a person that would feel fulfilled by pursuing a career in trying to protect endangered species and protect their well-being and longevity for the future. I think that because I have taken conservation, biology and environmental based courses will really give me the tools I’ll need for the future. I think that more people should be interested in giving the best Earth for the future generations because what kind of world would anyone want to live in if the quality is so poor? Like what is it going to take? Like how sad. I sometimes get really frustrated when people don’t have the same views as I do unfortunately. It definitely takes more than one person to save the world. I remember going to “grade 5 camp” for 3 days a long time ago and one day we took a hike and were placed in different areas to journal about whatever we wanted to talk about. I remember thinking about nature and how quiet and peaceful it was and feeling really connected to the world around me. That memory makes me think about how people can walk through such a beautiful forest and not think about wanting to protect it and preserve the life within it and how the creatures big or small deserve to live in world they did not disturb?

To be clear, the beliefs that I bring is I believe that we as a species are capable of creating a future that looks healthy and has potential to thrive for future generations. I think that it starts with government. I believe that the government has the most power to implement laws and regulations. I would like to think that the government is really trying to make all cars electric by the year 2050 but I wonder what else is going to affect the environment within that time frame? Is making all cars electric by the year 2050 worth it or too far in the future? I wish that trash disposal was more accessible for the public. For example, driving to my parent’s house in a neighborhood for over 20 years, I see piles of discarded garbage and mattresses on the side of the country roads makes me so angry about pollution. I called the city, but they have no plan to fix this reoccurring issue! They just said someone will get back to me and never did. I think we could be doing better but as one person I don’t know how to fix it on my own. I never see by-law or any law enforcement reinforcing any preventative dumping laws. I think my responsibilities include doing my part of not polluting, reducing my carbon footprint if possible, recycling, composting and reporting any concerns I see to someone with greater power while trying not to overly push my beliefs onto others is doing my part! I hope one day we could all agree that the world needs our help today and that we need to start putting in more effort to combat climate change and create a world where people can go out into nature and appreciate and enjoy the environment around them.

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Sense-Making of Nature Interpretation

Blog 8: Interpret (through this blog) the most amazing thing you know about nature – get us excited. This is your blog – you audience isn’t out in the field with you so bring the field to your armchair reader.

            There are so many amazing things that I know about nature. To be quite honest I find everything about it interesting. Growing up I was fortunate enough to have parents that encouraged me to explore and ask questions. I believe this is a key factor in the knowledge base I have created. Living in Ontario most of these experiences took place in the forest or near a lake. However, there were times where my family would travel abroad, and I would be exposed to tropical climates that created more questions. These tropical climates are my absolute favourite and I adore being near and in marine bodies of water. I find that this is reflected in my course of study as I am now studying marine and freshwater biology with the hopes of finding a career that focuses on marine conservation. Since I am only in the second year of my program, a lot of my courses are still general and all too often leave me desperate for more specific marine related experiences. I am lucky to be starting co-op this summer and I’m hoping to find an experience that satisfies my longing for the ocean.

            This leads me into one of the coolest things I learned about nature. Just this last year, I learned that there is a theory which explains why I feel so connected to natural bodies of water and why I feel so calm around them. Obviously, part of this comfort stems from knowledge of water safety as well as many years of experience as a competitive swimmer and lifeguard. The theory is called the blue mind theory, and it explains that bodies of water increase dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin while decreasing cortisol levels (stress hormone). It was also found that the sound and feel of water leads to increased calmness and a lower pulse rate. I was so intrigued by the fact that there is scientific reasoning to why we feel so calm around water.

Since I just adore marine wildlife, I really want to take the time to tell you all about my favourite sea creature. These are one of the most amazing creatures I know of. My favourite sea creature is the Glaucus atlanticus which is more commonly known as a blue glaucus or blue dragon. These are tiny sea slugs that are usually less than one inch long and have vibrant blue colouring. Now here’s where things get interesting. These sea slugs feed on venomous creatures like the Portuguese man ‘o war and the violet snail. Not only does it feed on these creatures, but the blue dragon stores the venom in its appendages thus making itself highly venomous to predators. If you think that’s amazing, then this next part will blow your mind! This sea creature spends its whole life floating upside down at the surface of the water. Blue glaucus' use a unique adaptation called countershading to camouflage. Countershading is where the top of an organism is darker than the bottom so that it can blend in with the sea floor (when being viewed from above). The bottom half is lighter so that when being viewed from below, they blend in with the lighter surface water. However, since blue glaucus' do not naturally have this shading, they float inverted so that it can display the bright blue of their belly. They float at the surface of the ocean and travel in ‘blue fleets’ by wind and currents. Unfortunately, according to the IUCN, the blue glaucus is listed as endangered, but since these organisms’ float in the open ocean it is difficult to figure out the exact population.

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I also resonate with how everything about nature is so interesting. I feel like I can’t narrow anything down in reality. I feel like there is so many interesting parts of every part of nature if that makes sense. I think wildlife evolution and adaptation are so interesting, but I also think the colour of different rocks are pretty neat too on a different scale. I like that you can expand your mind and be so curious about different environments and continue to ask questions in different environments from your everyday life. I love that you took your passion and curiosity and are using it towards your degree. I really think that having a job that you’re passionate about makes you into someone that is very connected and involved with their work and really put the most effort. If you’re only in second year, I would recommend maybe if you have the time volunteering in the aqua lab and maybe you can gain some experience and ask more questions for the future. I believe there’s also a field course that is out in Nova Scotia doing fieldwork on the water, which would be a great opportunity for experience. That’ is so interesting to know why we feel so calm around water I would have no idea there is a correlation. I have also recently found out about the Blue dragons. They remind me of blue beta fish, but a lot fancier. I think it’s really interesting that somethings so small can have such a powerful camouflage mechanism!

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Blog Post 8

The most amazing thing I know about nature is curiosity being the driving force to continue to discover new findings in every location. What this means to me is that every time I go out into nature, I am actively looking to discover something I’ve never seen, heard or felt etc. A couple summers ago, I was walking through a forest on a trail and discovered so many mushrooms I’ve never seen before. I have never thought to be interested in them, as I have always been interested in the wildlife. This time, I randomly noticed a cool looking mushroom and from then on actually took the time to look at different mushrooms along the way and take note of different characteristics. Ever since then I’ve always make an effort to look for mushrooms, because I now think that they are so interesting which I haven’t felt before. It all started with an orange slime mold I found walking in Orangeville. Attached below is a picture of the orange slime mold. This fungus first caught my eye because it was vibrant orange and looked almost spongey or gooey. It looked like you would just want to know what the texture felt like, almost not mushroom or fungus like. The next attached picture is a mushroom I believe is called Turkey Tail. I was intrigued by the bright orange and brown colour gradient I thought it was beautiful and reminded me of Thanksgiving. Does anyone else understand that connection? After I took my interest in mushrooms back home to Kitchener and continued. The next mushrooms I have no idea what they would be called, but I thought it was cute that all these little mushrooms grew together in a cluster and reminded me of little lamp shades on such a small scale. This made me think back to what small creature could use this small lamp shade look alikes as little umbrellas or something like that. The last mushroom I will make a comment on is one I found in Algonquin Park. With the help from the Seek app I believe this is a Dog’s vomit slime mold. The picture speaks for itself. I was so surprised to find this fungus but again how bright and vibrant yellow it was so cool! Now I still find myself interested in mycology. I have watched every mushroom documentary on Netflix including Fantastic Fungi, How to Change Your Mind and A Trip to Infinity which are very interesting. I was so interested how different mushrooms grow, look and their chemical properties. There are fungi that you can eat and some that can make you very ill. There are now documentaries that talk about psilocybin and how those properties are used in research and medicine. I think it is important to think about how every day mushrooms you can find can be used to cook, help people mentally feel better and some just are pretty to look at.  I hope this post intrigued my readers to keep an eye out for these beautiful little beings next time they are out for a walk in the forest.

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Blog #7 Nature Interpretation through Music

Blog Prompt:

Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music? What song takes you immediately back to a natural landscape? 

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Music is everywhere in nature. The sounds of Crickets, Wildlife calls in the middle of the night, the sounds of rain etc. it’s a never-ending list. As I was studying this week’s content i came across Tilden’s third principle of interpretation, which goes:” Interpretation is an art, which combines many arts…” This quote prompted me to think the idea that it is up to us to interpret whatever is in front of us, and it truly is an art to dive deeply into these interpretations and uncover connections. 

There is no box that can describe music. Music essentially, is a sound that nourishes the soul. when a stream of water meets the edge of a stone, it creates a rhythm with drops falling one after another. The flow of tides is a rhythm that has been blessing earth’s ears since the dawn of time. 

Through my research about this topic i came across a term called “Biomusic”. As you might assume, Biomusic is simply the music that is created by nature. these sounds can be as simple as a waterfall or more complicated like “Plant Waves” a technology that transforms plant biorhythms into music. Below i have attached a link to a video of the Music that mushrooms can make. 

If you have spent a night in the woods camping, you have definitely experienced and know that there is always natural music playing;  Sometimes near dawn sorrows sing along with the crickets and all of a sudden the wind blows and leaves start to rustle and fill the experince with a beautiful background ambient sound.  Below I have attached a personal video which I think is the perfect example of music in nature.

if you ask me where is nature in music? I would ask you if you have ever heard the music of indigenous people. According to Ethnomusicology, indigenous people employ music as a way to show their appreciation of wildlife and the environment. Music did not develop overnight and musical instruments are some of the most fascinating things to look at when we are looking for signs from nature. The oldest musical instrument found has been made out of a bird’s skeleton and is about 70,000 years old. Nowadays, we still depend on nature to create instruments such as xylophones and drums. The idea of creating flutes has been influenced by the. sound of birds. As a result, nature is to be found everywhere in music both as an influence and physically.

I agree with this week’s content about the fact that we have learnt that music is either entertainment t or educational and this was an opportunity for me to take a look more deeply and combine these two. It depends on our perspective as to what to interpret.

The song “Whale” By Iday takes me back to this scenery where i see a vast ocean in winter, I can imagine myself looking at the ocean from a cabin and hearing all the wildlife calls. It takes me back to winter because despite the fact that the land is hibernating, the life inside the ocean is lively and the whales are singing.

This song does not have any lyrics and is a Biomusic that has used the sound of whales to create a masterpiece that human lyrics could never.

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I think the list could go on and on about the different music that is found in nature. One of my favourite music found in nature is the songs from different frogs during the summer nights, to me it is a sympathy of different songs with different patterns and pitches. Also, I agree with the quote you mentioned of Tilden’s third principle of interpretation. I think that the combination of many arts refers to the fact that interpretation should make you use all your senses as in art and connect on multiple levels. I think that's really cool how you pointed out how biomusic is music created by nature. I wonder how someone could come up with this idea. I think that it is awesome that you mentioned the music created by indigenous people. I think that they are so connected with nature that their music must be so pure. I think it's neat that a bird skeleton could be used to create music like that so fascinating that physical nature could be used as instruments. But I think too that horse hair for violins or hide for drums is another way nature could be physically used for music. I think that the song you posted Whale by IDay was so calming.

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Blog Post 7

There is music in nature from the sounds that nature naturally provides. Trees rustling in the wind can be music in nature by the way the leaves move or how fast the wind is blowing to create the music. Waves crashing can be music in nature. I think that sound is the most calming and relaxing music from nature. Or even the sound of water flowing through a river. Another place music is found in nature is the sound of wood crackling. This music of the fire crackling reminds me of the fireplace put on the tv around Christmas time. Another place that music is found is in the thunder and lightning strikes during thunderstorms. The sound of rolling thunder and feeling the vibrations of the power of thunder really connects you to nature. Another really good source of music in nature is the sound of a frog call symphony with creative patterns and tones during the summer. Last semester I took herpetology, and we had an assignment based on different Ontario frog calls and we had to describe each individual call and what it sounded like to us with like everyday items like a brush bristle. Or similarly, the different songs from bird calls. I could go on and on about the music found in nature. This music that nature provides can be found on nature podcasts that continuously play these sounds such as the Relaxing Sounds Podcast by Alba Audio found on Apple podcasts. There is also nature in music too. To me, I think nature can be found in lyrics and in sounds. Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake uses both rain fall in the intro of the song and comparing crying a lot of tears to a river. I think nature can be involved in music in many ways, but I think through the sounds of nature create good intro to songs to set the tone of the rest of the song while lyrics that can describe titles or feeling that could be provoked from listening to the song. To continue, a song that takes me immediately back to a nature landscapes would be a really good song by The Naked and Famous called Punching in a Dream. This song is an older and a bit random to take me back to a natural landscape but hear me out. The story behind it is that while I was in Algonquin for the course field ecology, I was driving a couple classmates and this song came on and I believe someone mentioned that they really liked this song. After that, every time the song came on, I would listen to it and remember why I had that song in the first place and really enjoyed listening to it. It brings me back to the landscape of Algonquin and being immersed in the dense forests, swimming in the lake, canoeing, being outside at night, climbing the trails and so much more that I love to do just because I listened to that song there I now have these memories tied to this song. Attached is a picture I took in Algonquin that I love.

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Blog #6:Nature Interpretation through History

Unpack this quote.

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"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 from Edward Hyams is very simple. Although Edaward’s taste in writing has articulated it perfectly. This quote explains to us that just because something is old it does not make it valuable undoubtedly. Value is in something that owns “Integrity”. What does integrity mean? Integrity means the state of being undivided and unified. Integrity is required for different elements to work harmoniously and to function. Now, the elements that create our whole existence are spread out throughout time. In order for us to preserve the integration between present and future, we need to study the past to not only be able to use our knowledge now but also use it for predictions in the future. 

Edward uses a metaphor to make this quote more understandable and help us picture the importance of studying history. If you think that the past is done and should be forgotten; it is like thinking that a railway station was there only when you were there and it’s like perceiving the railway as non-existent just because you are not there anymore. The railway and the station are part of a purposeful history apart from the time you got the privilege to pass through it.

This quote emphasizes the significance of studying history because we can learn from it and use this ancient knowledge to apply it to environmental matters. 

You might think how can we apply our studies from the past to nature? We can use this knowledge in predictions, analyzing long-term environmental data, learning about natural disasters, reevaluating urbanization etc. There is so much more that i can think of and I'm sure you can. Don't forget to reblog your ideas for me to see what are your other examples.

As we saw in this week’s lesson, there was a video of a chief historian who works on national parks and analyzes the impact the Civil War had on the park and where and how some of the battles took place. This historian is another example that shows us that even though the Civil War took place many yeras ago, there's still a benefit in learning about its relation to nature. On the other hand, The war resulted in significant land use which drastically affected the ecosystem. The destruction that was followed by the war led to more appreciation from the people for nature. Peale decided to preserve the green areas and expand them to save the ecosystem. I looked up some of the post-Civil War national parks and “Yellowstone National Park” in the United States is one of the first national parks that was lawfully preserved in appreciation of nature. This is a perfect example where the community learned a lesson from the past and tried to alter their future. National Parks are not man-made but they are parts of nature that are designated to be saved and enjoyed by humans in order to be looked after and taken care of.

In this blog, I have tried to write considerately to not only write what my viewers want to read but also share my wisdom through my words (Beck & Cable, 2018).

Here is an old picture from Johnstone Hall in Guelph from 1960 for you to take a fun little moment to compare the building and the ecosystem with what you see today in 2023.

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Hello!

I think it's neat that you found the quote very simple. For me, the wording made me really think about what the author was trying to convey or saying plainly. I like that you mentioned about how to preserve integration between present and future that we need to study the past and us our knowledge and use it for predictions in the future. To me, this is important by taking what we know from history and projecting it in the future. I love that you connected the main important parts of this quote for environmental factors about long-term data and and reevaluating urbanization. I also really liked how you attached a picture of the Agriculture College of Guelph, I think that it's very fitting. This black and white picture relays the very beginnings of this college and what it once was.

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Blog Post 6

To unpack this quote, we need to first start off by breaking terms down to define them for better understanding. According to the dictionary from Oxford Languages, peculiar means strange, or odd, unusual, particular, special (Oxford Languages, 2023). Merit means the quality of being particularly good or worthy, especially so as to deserve praise or reward (Oxford Languages, 2023). The meaning of integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong, moral principles; moral uprightness (Oxford Languages, 2023). So meaning that “there is no peculiar merit in ancient things but there is merit in integrity and integrity entails to keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time than the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge memory of ancient things (Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)” to me this means that History tells an important story by pulling together certain events that paint a picture for an audience to interpret for over generations by repeating the truth of history over and over again. “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 part of the quote makes me interpret this meaning as to pass on historical stories that preserve the same feelings as the interpreter before them telling the same story with the same details. To me, this is integral and having strong morals to repeat the truths of history when you really think about it. The way privilege plays a role in this in my thought process is that it is a privilege to hear historic stories that may have been passed down from family members generation after generation hearing them the same way with every detail and then you will continue on to tell your children as well. To me privilege also plays a role by maybe repeating sacred stories that many people do not know about. In my own experience, I just started reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer which gives insight of indigenous wisdom and of storytelling. Her writing sparks your feelings and interpretations with her descriptive wording. She does. Really good job of passing on stories through her perspectives. I won’t spoil it with a quote you will just have to take my word. 

Oxford Languages. Integrity. Oxford Languages. https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-

en/

Oxford Languages. Peculiar. Oxford Languages. https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-

en/

Oxford Languages. Merit. Oxford Languages. https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/

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Blog 5

Hey! This week we were asked to write whatever was on our minds (presumably still related to nature interpretation).

This semester I’m in the process of completing an independent research project on aquatic plants, so needless to say they’ve been on my mind quite a bit recently. I thought my some of my experiences with the project and things I’ve learned so far fit in well with this class. There are two topics I wanted to write about today, the first being aquatic ecosystems in general, and the second being science communication and some thoughts on the readings for this week. The project I’m working on focuses on freshwater macrophytes. Macrophytes are aquatic plants that function as carbon sinks and important sources of oxygen, in addition to providing food and habitats to a variety of species (Bornette & Puijalon, 2011). I’m looking at their physiology, and determining how abiotic environmental parameters contribute to their survival and success. Specifically, my project focuses on pH (how acidic or basic the water is), and how aquatic plants respond to changes in water pH. The pH of freshwater systems is affected by climate change, in ways that are less predictable than marine systems (Hasler et al. 2016). If the pH of a lake changes to a level that its macrophytes can’t handle as well, they are at much greater risk of being outcompeted by photosynthetic algae (Sayer et al. 2010). This contributes to algal blooms, an issue that’s become quite prevalent recently. So, having a greater understanding of aquatic plants can assist with preventing algal blooms, as well as restoring damaged freshwater ecosystems. Reviews have found that most research on aquatic plants focuses on marine ecosystems, and very little research is done on freshwater ecosystems (Hasler et al. 2016). In my own (very non-qualitative) analysis from watching nature documentaries, it definitely seems like there’s a much greater focus on marine environments. While there is certainly more water in oceans than anywhere else, I think it’s important not to forget about freshwater ecosystems. So many of us, especially in Canada, get to enjoy being surrounded by so many beautiful lakes and rivers. It can definitely be easy to take them for granted. The readings for this week focused on interpreting nature through science, which is something I’ve been learning a lot about while working on my project. Currently, I’m in the process of learning how to communicate something I care about in a way that’s accessible to a variety of audiences. Part of the course is writing papers on the topic, as well as giving presentations. It’s made me realize how easy it can be in the sciences to get excited about a relatively niche topic (ex: freshwater botany) and essentially start speaking in a language that few people are going to understand. And if someone can’t understand a topic, they’re probably a lot less likely to care about it. So, it’s made me think about how important communicating science is when it comes to nature interpretation, as well as conservation.

References: Bornette, G. & Puijalon, S. (2011). Response of aquatic plants to abiotic factors: a review. Aquat Sci, 73, 1–14.

Hasler, C.T., Butman, D., Jeffrey, J.D. & Suski, C.D. (2016). Freshwater biota and rising pCO 2 ? Ecol Lett, 19, 98–108.

Sayer, C.D., Burgess, A., Kari, K., Davidson, T.A., Peglar, S., Yang, H., et al. (2010). Long-term dynamics of submerged macrophytes and algae in a small and shallow, eutrophic lake: implications for the stability of macrophyte-dominance. Freshwater Biology, 55, 565–583.

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Hello 

I think it’s really neat that you’re working on an independent research project. I feel like that a course like this really gives a good experience in research, especially beneficial for the future. I’m curious to know if you chose macrophytes for any reason to do your project on? Like if you had a connection to this specific topic? I really like how your project really focusses on climate change and how to combat that. I think that algal blooms are such a big problem as a result from climate change that create such damage and have a major impact that lasts a long time for ecosystems. It makes me sad to think that freshwater ecosystems are not a main focus and that little research has been found. I think it’s great that you are doing research on a not well-known species, there definitely needs to be more research done. These systems are so important for the planet such as supplying the world with the oxygen we breathe and creating habitats for plants and animals. I think it’s a great point to also talk about how communicating to different audiences is part of science. I think why would anyone care about a topic they don’t understand? I understand that. I think people can learn and understand differently. With that being said, good communication will benefit more people when each individual can understand the importance and benefits of macrophytes in freshwater ecosystems.

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Blog Post 5

So, after learning about animal signs from Kitty and Jenny I thought I would talk about some animal signs I found during my field course in Algonquin last year. In the first picture is from the first day of the trip is a shedding from a snake not sure what species it is, but from the abundance of Garter snakes that were frequently spotted, I assume it could be one of them. We also found a Ring-necked snake that we passed around carefully. This was unique and memorable experience to hold because I don’t think I have ever had the guts to hold one! Anyways, one of the Garter snakes that we would frequently see had a stubby tail which I thought it was very interesting, sad but made that snake stand out and I would always look for the same one around the same rocks. In the next picture is a picture of a mussel shell, which we found out that otters and beavers lived nearby where they would come close to the wildlife research station in the early mornings to feed on mussels and other crustaceans like crawfish. In the next picture is a Snapping turtle skeleton. There were a group of master students working on a turtle projects, mainly just tracking and tagging. I got to tag along one morning to help monitor and track tagged Painted turtles. I also got to hold them and it was really cute to see them up close. Anyways, they had all sorts of turtle shells of endangered species of Ontario and different charts about where we could find different species that are located all across the province. It was interesting to find out that all species of turtles in Ontario are considered threatened or endangered. In the next picture is a mold of a black bear footprint that was found in Algonquin, and next to it are Black bear claws. You could fit your whole hand into the mold. It’s crazy to think that these animals are walking around potentially right beside you. There was also conservation workers that were there to help supply the public a lot of information about the bear sightings and what they do when there is a bear close to the public. In the next picture there is a what I believe is a beaver print next to someone’s hand it was very interesting to see the finger patterns and how similar it is to humans but not quite. In the next picture is a lily pad full of eggs not sure what kind of eggs they are but I thought it was interesting that they’re on top of a lily pad leaf- I’m assuming for protection from predators. In the next picture is an old antler that was found right next to our cabin, which means that there was either a deer or moose right beside where we slept. This one seemed pretty old, but very fascinating to find it had deep ridges and the moss really added some character to it.

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Blog Post #4

Who am I to interpret nature through art? I am an observer, admirer and fascinated. This question brings me back to a memory I have two summers ago, on my field trip to Algonquin for BIOL 4410 or field ecology. We would frequently visit the visitors center to use the wifi for our projects but when we needed a break, we would check out the boardwalk trails, check out the binoculars that overlooked the unbothered forests and valleys and observe the information that they provided visitors about the environment that they are surrounded in. They have an exhibit that shows the types of wildlife that lives in the area. For example, there are moose replicates that are life-like. For example, the moose was very large with antlers, with coarse looking hair and was set in an enclosure that looked like the exact environment it would be found in. After I admired the very realistic wildlife. It was very fascinating to see how artists can create lifelike replicates of such big wild animals the next exhibit had artifacts that were from indigenous people many years ago. There were pottery, tools and art. This was fascinating as well. Also, the Algonquin visitors center had a room for selling art from I believe local artists. There were many landscape paintings that I think were inspired by landscapes found in Algonquin. Each one was nice and represented a different artistic version of a place found in Algonquin. 

How I interpret the gift of beauty from chapter 5, is that the beauty that we find in nature should drive a want to connect with the environment and want to push people to want to preserve and save what is left for future generations to be able to admire as well. 

I think that the spiritual uplift should bring only good feelings and the connection to care for nature. I think it Is all within us to care, with real information and could spark an= feeling of need to care. I think real facts and information really affect how people interpret nature. For example, not everyone believes in climate change. If more people believe the facts that the world is heating up whether that has happened before or not, it is going to drastically change life on the planet and how we will go about living life with higher temperatures.  Future generations will have to suffer the consequences of extreme weather, drought, and rising sea levels, this also will affect landscapes and the art that portrays it. Art would look like unhealthy ecosystems and lots of extinction.

Attached is a picture of me at the Algonquin visitor center looking over insanely beautiful, green and lush forests. Right out the frame are binoculars that we could zoom in on different habitats. It was such a nice touch and cool experience.

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Blog Post 4

Prompt: Who are you to interpret nature through art? How do you interpret “the gift of beauty”?

The relationship that exists between humans and nature has always been subject to art, historically and in modern times. People from all over have been able to perfectly capture the beauty nature has to offer through so many different art forms. This can be through art forms likelandscape paintings, nature journaling/books, wildlife photography done by professional artists but sometimes we take part in interpreting nature through art without even noticing. Personally, I am a big fan of the sunset, and at the end of the day all I ever want to do is watch the sunset like it’s the last thing I’ll ever see. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t take a picture of the sunset whenever I see it. I have always had a simple appreciation for art and I feel like a lot of people in this course can relate! When you’re out and you see a pretty scenery what do you do? Take a picture right? I mean at least that’s what I do, even though most times the picture doesn’t do it justice I think it’s so cool that you can freeze a moment in time and have it forever. Over the years I have appreciated nature through art so much that I thought that’s what I would pursue as a degree. That was until I realized that understanding nature and the environment is an art in itself. Knowing and understanding the intricate connectedness pertaining to how the world functions can be so neat when understanding it on a deeper level. 

Different artists have always played a unique role in how I interpret nature and the way the world existed before I existed. Through their art, I have been offered new perspectives, emotions and insights on the natural world. For example, two artists that specalize in nature paintings that I really enjoy are Thomas Cole (1801-1848) and Martin Johnson Heade (1819-1904) because their art pieces are super realistic, some to the point where you can believe it’s a painting and not a picture. With that said, I also like how these painters offer a different perspective of nature. Since they are dated back to the 1800’s and early 1900’s, the landscapes they have captured are an important part of history, as it shows us what certain landscapes looked like at that time and can be compared to now and how they’ve changed. Another form of nature through art that I love is photography. Specifically, in the last two years I have taken an interest on social media this artist called ‘isacctakespics’ where he focuses on wildlife photography and videos. His pictures allow for insight on different species lifestyles which is important when interpreting nature even on a surface level. 

What interpreting the “gift of beauty” for me is something that involves engaging senses and emotions with an open mind. It means seeing things beyond the surface level and perceiving specific details within nature all while admiring its beauty and what it has to offer. I feel as though there is beauty in everything, and it often exists in simplicity like the sound of birds early in the morning, sunrise, an intense thunderstorm or stopping to look at a field of flowers. The gift of beauty is always around us, and it’s important we dont lose this insightfulness.

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Hello!

I like how you mentioned art in many different forms. I think many people would not think about how journaling about nature could be art. I think when journaling, how to describe something in a journal could be art by using colours, shapes, the feeling you could get, sounds, smells etcetera. For example describing a Lobster mushroom could be art. Describing it as a bright neon orange, how it has an irregular lobster-like shape. The lobster mushroom gets its name also for its sea-food like scent (Corsa, S, n.d.). To me, the desiring words paint your own pictures in each persons head which is individualized art. I love how artists portray landscapes and capturing important details to project these emotions. I also capture many pictures of sun sets. I like to record time lapses and watch how the sun sets and how the colours change. When I am out for a hike the number one thing I take pictures of are all the wild life I can find. For example, I have many pictures of salamanders, different types of birds and also a coyote. I like how you added about how landscapes captured by a painting and how it captures that landscape in that moment of time, when in reality it is constantly changing. I attached a picture of a Lobster mushroom, and a picture I took of a coyote.

Corsa, Sarah. (N.d). Lobster mushroom. Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/lobster-mushroom-northwest

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Blog Post 3

Prompt: What role does “privilege” play in nature interpretation? Please include your working definition of privilege.

Privilege has never been something I’ve given much thought to, and I think many people can resonate with this sentiment. To me, privilege means having an advantage over others and this is granted to some people at birth because of their cultural or socioeconomic classes. It means being able to go through life without much worry and being certain that at the end of the day you will have things your way. I am an Indian, first-generation immigrant, cis woman; in many ways I am privileged and in many ways I am not. My parents decided to immigrate to Canada when I was just 6 years old so that my brother and I could have the best possible opportunities for education and our lives. I am privileged in that aspect as they had to do the hard work for our family to become Canadian citizens. We live in Mississauga which is well known for its diversity, so I never felt like an outcast even when I first moved to Canada. 

However, I did face many hardships throughout my life, and being an Indian woman definitely has its caveats. One of the hardest periods in my life thus far was coming into university. I realized that the colour of my skin plays a lot more factors in my life than I had originally thought. It was difficult at first to adjust to the culture at Guelph, but soon I found my people and I found my place within the community. Coming to Guelph is what also allowed me to really get immersed in my own culture and learn how to actually appreciate it. In many ways I was underprivileged and that sucks, but to be honest I have so much to be grateful for in my life, so I choose to look at the positive sides of things.

To me, privilege plays a huge role in nature interpretation. My parents allowed me to grow my love for nature and animals and never discouraged me in trying to pursue an environmental career, and for that I am so privileged. When I was younger I always tried to convince my parents to allow me to get a cat or a dog as a pet, but they refused as we do live in an apartment. So as a compromise my parents got me hamsters, and I currently have one and her name is Peach Fuzz <3. In grade 12, I also had the opportunity to volunteer for High Park zoo where I essentially hung out with llamas and chickens at a petting zoo. I was allowed to venture into nature surrounding my area and my mom would accompany me and just listen to me talk about different trees, invasive species and wildlife. UoG also gave me opportunities to foster my love of nature and I get to take interesting and intellectually challenging classes like ENVS 3000. 

Privilege is not often talked about, or at least I try to avoid that subject as much as possible. But I am grateful for this opportunity to be able to reflect back on my life and understand how it has affected and nurtured who I am as a person today.

Here are some cutesy pictures of my hamster, Peach Fuzz btw :)

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Hello!

I agree with your definition of privilege from a socio-economic perspective. I also think I have not given any thought about privilege, but it makes me wonder about why I have not thought about it and I'm wondering should I be so aware about it? My mother was a second-generation immigrant and I wonder if she had a different childhood growing up. I know she grew up in Venezuela on an oil compound, but she went to boarding school in the US for a few years, so that could be a privilege in a way too. I think that it is great that you feel comfortable in the place that you live in, and that you have people to connect with and have shared experiences with, I think that that is really important and healthy. I think that it's great that you have the privilege to follow a career that you are passionate about. I think having a career that you really enjoy is a privilege because I think people take on jobs and careers for their whole lives not really enjoying what they are doing. Also, your hamster Peach Fuzz is adorable, thanks for sharing.

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Blog Post 3

If I were to come up with my own working definition of privilege, I would say that privilege is a special advantage acquired to a specific person or group based on a perceived superiority over others. 

The role that privilege can play in nature interpretation could be that maybe people in a certain location could have the privilege to be surrounded in such a nice environment versus others that may not be surrounded with such a nice environment. For example, someone could have the privilege to live in Canada, a country that has such a variety of nature from coast to coast. For example, on the west coast in British Columbia, I think it would be a privilege to be in the presence of the beautiful Sequoia trees. Sequoia trees are the largest and longest living tree species found in the world. I believe these trees are only found in a few places. On the east coast where the environment is very different in places like Prince Edward Island, there are people that are privileged to be surrounded by ocean with vast wildlife that not everyone gets to see in their lifetime. Being surrounded by ocean there could be more aquatic animals like sharks and whales. Compared to Ontario where there are no oceans around, more terrestrial wildlife can be found like moose and black bears. I think it is a privilege to see a moose or black bear even up close. Seven years ago, while camping in Killarney I was a few meters from a black bear. It was a very scary but intriguing experience. My family and I were on a hike at Silver Peak, and three out of five of us went to the top. After admiring the view of the mountains, lakes, trees and horizon that went on and on we went down the mountain and on the way down out the corner of our eyes was a juvenile black bear that almost seemed confused to see us. It was such a privilege to be so close to a wild animal in its habitat undisturbed. Some people on the on the other side of the world or anyone not living in Ontario do not have the privilege to see what I saw. For me, I had the privilege in 2016 to travel to Panama with my high school to work at a school and I felt the privilege to be in this different environment that had animals and being I would never see in my everyday life. I saw toucans, sloths, capybaras, a leaf-like bug and more. It was so amazing and an experience I could never forget.

All in all, I think privilege could mean something different to different people. I think that from a nature perspective where you live could mean you have an advantage to have access to the nature around you that could offer different advantages on a small or large scale. On a small scale like a park or on a large scale, a safe place from wildlife (lions, jaguars, polar bears) or materials (lumber, rubber, fruits) that could feed into the economy.

Below is a picture from 2016 at the top of Silver Peak. 

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Blog post #2

I think that my ideal role of an environmental interpreter would be someone that makes you think or feel certain ways that you would normally not. I think an interpreter should make their audience really take in the environment around them and to use all or most of their senses. I think an interpreter's role could also translate how people are feeling and to connect with nature. I also think an interpreter could point out things in everyday nature that we do not think about or consider. For example, maybe on someone's way to work they have never noticed their neighbour's garden but never thought to realize how pretty the flowers are or the time and effort into the planting different species together, or height arrangement or different colours that match well together.

I think an interpreter could be found anywhere and that interpreters with different background from different places could be good the specific environment they are in. I would expect an interpreter to be found in a conservation area. I think that this would be a great place to find an interpreter because maybe people would start to care about the environment around them. I think that if an interpreter did a good job they would get the general public interested and excited about the world they live in. If the interpreter got people connected to nature, people may want to take care of the planet by recycling, using less gas, finding cleaner alternatives or starting/continuing careers in science. I think that this is important for future generations and for the health of our planet.

Picture below was a picture I took in France this past summer. I was walking in a small town and right off the sidewalk was a path that led to a small park that was completely empty. It was a nice sunny day and very quiet. All the flowers were very colourful and well taken care of. I remember feeling very calm and relaxed while walking through the paths to see this small bench that looked very old. I love how people still cared and took care of this place that I am sure many people do not know about. In this situation I think an interpreter could interpret how the ecosystem cooperates here and explain maybe the relationships between the plants, animals and insects that could be found here. I also think the aspect of the history of this park and how it came to be. Judging by the stone bench, to me it seems like it has been here for some time. I also think that an interpreter could interpret conservation efforts like if this park is protected in any ways or any endangered wildlife that is found in this park.

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Week 2

I think my ideal role as an environmental interpreter would be working with kids and have a strong focus on the botanical aspect of nature rather than the zoological aspects. Working with kids would be ideal for me because I would like to help spark kids interest in science and the environment. Every summer growing up I went to summer camp but the year that was most memorable to me was when I went to a science camp at McMaster University. At this camp we learned about anatomy, hydraulics, geology, chemistry and more. Learning advanced concepts at such a young age really sparked my interest in science. This is the reason that my ideal role as a nature interpreter would involve working with kids. I am my own evidence of the impact that I could have on kids. Thus, I would really like to give kids the opportunity to explore their interest in nature, the same way that camp allowed me to explore my interest in science.

As I briefly mentioned in my previous blog post, I am minoring in plant science, which is why my focus as a nature interpreter would be heavily centered around the botanical aspects of nature. I would love to educate others on the identification, anatomy, and roles that plants play in nature. Ideally, someone with a focus in zoology would be working by my side in this position to ensure the kids would be getting educated on all aspects of nature and the interactions that occur. I think that this job could take place at a conservation area, possibly working with kids on school or camp field trips, and hosting events for the general public. A skill that I would need for this job would be the ability to simplify information. All of my knowledge is at a university level, so I would need to find ways to take what I have learned and make it easily digestible for the audience. On top of this, I would need to simplify it to different levels depending on the age of the group I am working with.

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Hello,

I think that it is a nice idea to have a strong focus on the botanical aspect of nature because I think that that may not be the first thing that people think about when it comes to nature. I think that people think more of animals, and not about the plants around them. I also think that its is great to focus on kids and to spark their interests in sciences because I think that it is important to teach kids facts and to be curious about the world. I wish I knew about the science camp at McMaster, that sounds like that was a fun camp to be at with different topics. I think your plan to educate others with a zoologist would be pretty neat to have both plant and animal focuses for kids with a variety of interests. Overall, I think you have great ideas to present to the public and hopefully get people interested in botanicals.