Sanjna Farma

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Unit 10 :) 🦋☘️🐢

The past semester along with the blog posts have taught me alot about being an interpreter in nature, specifically. The blog post prompts in particular have made me unlock the level in my brain regarding how I view nature, and how it has impacted me in my life. I have learned a lot about myself, but as an interpreter, I would say that I believe in respecting nature and what it has given us as people. Now, I know that may sound so generic that anyone can say it easily because we all love nature ( hopefully), but as mentioned in my earlier blog posts, it's not about liking it or not, but appreciating the actual beauty and this gift we have that a lot of people look down upon. The past blog prompts have made me delve even deeper into the idea of being a nature interpreter, because this can be done in so many ways, from music to art, and more.

I personally have never had a great connection with nature growing up, because I enjoyed the comfort of staying in, away from the scalding heat or extreme cold temperatures. I would see people outside going for walks in any temperature, and it would shock me why people would put themselves out like that. I would be in awe, but growing up my perspectives about nature kept changing, and eventually led me to my current program. My parents are one strong pillar behind my enthusiasm and role in the nature interpretation part of my life, because they would always encourage us to go out in nature, and appreciate and love what god has given us. From a small walk, to a far away trip to a beautiful ocean, any of this made my parents make it a teaching experience because they would tell us about the small things within what we saw outside. The plants that we would see would make my parents teach us about them, like herbal remedies, and how some plants could be used medically. I slowly have begun since then to appreciate what we have in the outside world, even though it is being damaged. By damage, I mean climate change, and this is something that has been on the radar for so long because it is getting worse by the moment.

My favourite place to visit in the summer with my parents is the beach. It has opened so many learning opportunities for me, because it grew my love for nature even more! (NatGeo)

I see my role as an interpreter is to appreciate nature and love it, and to take care of it as if it were our own home. I believe that every leaf, blade of grass, rock, is to be appreciated, and respected because it is what builds the earth, and makes it a home for other animals that we also need to respect and care for when the opportunity comes. I see it my responsibility to get other people to love and respect the outside world. It is not something to run away from or pass and not care about, but something to respect.  There are a variety of ways to help encourage oneself and others on how to love and appreciate nature, and make it feel like your own home rather than something boring. This has been showcased through the blog post prompts we have had, like through art and music. My favorite one was music, because nature being incorporated in sounds and rhythm is something very interesting to me. It can make one appreciate the naturalistic sounds more when you hear it in famous singers' songs. It can make one realize that nature can be that beautiful that is being used in some famous songs with millions and millions of views. This is one way nature can be loved and appreciated more in my opinion. What's great about these prompts we have had over the semester is that it can open more doors in one's mind and knowledge about the deeper side of things, like nature in this situation. It is so much more than what we see, it's delving more deeply, and understanding it from an artistic or creative lens almost.

The approaches that are the most suitable for me as an individual when it comes to nature interpretation is getting people together to appreciate what we have in the outside world and the environment, and to make them appreciate nature as much as I do or other people that share their love for nature. I obviously am not referring to a forceful way, but in a nice way where someone can learn something. This can be like joining community center programs like helping clean up a certain place in your neighborhood. Another example is a program to plant plants around your city, and this can be something for all ages. Having youth based programs or getting togethers are a great way to appreciate and love nature, and in a fun way because that's how it's supposed to be. Overall, there are just so many ways one can imagine in order to connect, appreciate, respect, nature and make it as their own. I have learned so much in this course, especially the blog prompts allowed me to do, and I never thought there was so much more to nature and outside world in a critically thinking manner.

Good luck everyone with your future endeavours :) 🦋🌊

Beach. Education. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/beach/ 

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Hi Fatima!

I enjoyed reading your post and it made me understand you as an interpreter. If I’m being honest, I never really had the best relationship with nature when I was younger. I only started to develop an appreciation for nature as I got older. When I was younger I was always scared of bumble bees and insects, but as I get older I realize how important they are for our environment. This being said I am sure that many people fear visiting interpretive sites due to many reasons (Beck et al., 2018). Some of these reasons include; being unsure of park rules, fearing potential wildlife encounters etc. (Beck et al., 2018). I believe that there is one important approach that we can take as interpreters in order to alleviate this fear so everyone has a chance at interpretation. 

One approach we can take is to introduce bilingual staff (Beck et al., 2018). Lack of diversity has been identified as one of the main challenges for National Park Services (Beck et al., 2018). Individuals who are part of minority groups, for example, being part of a minority group that doesn't know how to speak or understand English can create anxiety for individuals in an all-English environment. Put yourself in their shoes. How would it feel to go to a zoo where the majority of the staff speaks English only and you can't understand anything? Exactly, it would feel terrible, this is why interpretive programs need to be made multilingual so everyone has a fair chance at diving into the beauty of interpreting nature accurately. 

Do you know of anyone that has been through this struggle and lost the opportunity to interpret nature because of it? 

Thank you, 

Sanjna Farma 

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

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My Roles and Responsibilities as an Interpreter Beyond ENVS 3000

Thinking back on everything I have learned in this course and how it relates to my role as a nature interpreter, I think about how it is my responsibility to consider the different life experiences and privileges brought by everyone that I interpret to. This is something I always had a bit of an idea of but was unsure of how to approach it. 

A reading that stuck with me was “Helping teachers unpack their ‘invisible knapsacks.’” I think the lessons learned from this reading can span beyond educating about nature and apply to any situation where I would be educating others. I was a camp counsellor for a few years, and one of these years was spent at Camp Miriam in British Columbia. Camp Miriam will not turn away campers if they cannot afford camp and will provide camperships made from donations to the camp. This setup brought in campers from many different backgrounds, and as such, any interpretive or educational program we ran had to be inclusive. Growing up, most of my friends came from a similar cultural and socioeconomic background, and we all had similar privileges. As such, suddenly being in an environment where I had to create educational programs for a more diverse group was intimidating. I wanted to be inclusive and make everyone feel comfortable, but I had no idea where to start. The “invisible knapsacks” reading really sticks with me because I think that the program described would have been beneficial to run during our pre-camp training sessions, and would have helped me feel more comfortable creating inclusive programming and more comfortable discussing privilege. I think that when someone is in any position of educating others, doing an activity to help them understand their privilege, compare it to that of others, and allow for an open conversation about privilege is necessary to create an inclusive program. All of this is to say that I think a major responsibility of nature interpreters is to ensure that any interpretation programs they design or present are inclusive and recognize the different levels of privilege that people have. If an interpreter cannot create inclusive programming, then many groups or individuals may feel like they are unwelcome, creating a barrier to them accessing interpretive programs (Beck et al., 2018). 

I do not see myself as continuing in the role of a nature interpreter, at least not in the way I thought of nature interpreters before taking this class. When I think of a nature interpreter, instinctively, I think of park rangers or people working at wildlife education centres. Before taking this course I thought of nature interpretation exclusively as teaching about specific aspects of nature, like why butterflies migrate or why trees have certain types of bark. After taking this class, my perspective on what is considered a nature interpretation shifted. As the textbook says, “interpretation refers to a communication process designed to inform and inspire people about culture and nature” (Beck et al., 2018 pg. 4). I see this definition as more open-ended, focusing less on facts and a specific role, and more about getting others to engage with nature. This definition fits more with how I view my role as an interpreter going forward. I do not know much about specific facts about nature, but I love pointing out beautiful flowers, interesting trees, animals, and stars in the night sky to my friends and family. I guess this is my preferred form of nature interpretation; an informal interaction designed to show whoever I am with what I appreciate about nature and to inspire positive feelings. As well, I have a younger cousin (8 years old) and after reading the textbook’s definition of interpretation, I think that the way I interact with nature and appreciate it can inspire him to become passionate about nature and maybe someday about climate change. Since children are the future voters, and the future of the planet relies on them caring about the environment, I hope to be able to inspire him to love nature (Rodenburg, 2019; University of Guelph, 2020). 

Another way I see my role as an interpreter going forward is through photos on social media. When I am out in nature and I see something that inspires me, I usually take a picture, and if I remember, I share it on my Instagram or Snapchat story. Photos can better communicate what I saw than a verbal description (Beck et al., 2018), so I prefer sharing photos online to trying to describe to people what I saw after the fact. As well, social media allows me to share my interpretations with people I do not see regularly. I also like that posting photos on social media allows me to practice interpretation without commitment or planning. I do not need to plan an interpretive program, I can just share what inspires me whenever I feel like it. Along with posting my own photos of nature, I love seeing what my friends share, especially when they travel to places I have never been. Social media opens up the doors to experiencing interpretation of places one has never been to, as we can see a wide variety of photos and videos from around the world. 

Overall, I do not see myself continuing as a nature interpreter in a formal way beyond this course. Doing so over the past ten weeks through my blog posts and podcast assignments has been an interesting experience, but at times it felt very forced. I was not always sure what to write in my blog posts, and when creating the first podcast, I sometimes felt uninspired and felt like I was creating interpretive material because I had to, not because I wanted to. In the future, I plan on interpreting more casually through social media posts and inspiring friends and family on my own terms, rather than through a structured program. I also plan on taking the lessons I have learned throughout this course, such as how to educate diverse groups, and applying them to other areas of my life. 

Do you plan on continuing nature interpretation in a structured, formal way?

Sources

Beck, L,. Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore Publishing. 

Rodenburg, J. (2019, June 17). Why environmental educators shouldn’t give up hope. Clearing Magazine. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

University of Guelph. (2020). Unit 10: Nature interpretation’s role in environmental sustainability. Courselink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/791355/viewContent/3306935/View

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Hey Maya!

I really enjoyed reading your post since you and I share the same point of view on the roles and responsibilities of a nature interpreter. In my blog post, I talked about how I believe that interpretation programs need to be more accessible and inclusive. It’s very interesting to see how although we have the same goal of making interpretation more accessible and inclusive, we have different approaches to making this happen. 

Although I love to spend time on social media, I suck at taking pictures, creating posts, and creating captions to go with them. However, I am an excellent presenter, I love to create PowerPoints and present them to a large audience. As Beck et al. (2018), mentioned the best interpreters possess very strong communication skills and weave all their creative thoughts into fascinating presentations and programs. 

To answer our question, I didn't expect that I would continue as a nature interpreter formally after this course, however, this course has changed my mind. Midway through this semester I realized that I possess amazing presentation skills and a strong passion for nature, and applied to various environment-based companies as an advocate for them. I plan on being a charismatic interpreter when presenting topics such as climate change’s effects on animal populations, natural landforms etc. so that individuals will view me as an advocate and trust that I am providing them with important and accurate information (Beck et al., 2018)

Aside from social media, how do you plan on educating diverse groups on lessons that you learned throughout this course? 

Thank you, 

Sanjna Farma 

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

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What I stand for as an interpreter

As defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary ethics are “the principles of conduct governing an individual or group” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). As a nature interpreter, I have developed a strong personal ethic which guides me in my work. This ethic is informed by my beliefs about the importance of protecting the natural world and the role that humans play in shaping its future. 

My personal ethic as a nature interpreter is based on a couple of beliefs, the main one being that nature is constantly changing and that humans play a role in shaping its future. Although many changes in the world are natural and necessary, other changes are usually a result of human activities such as climate change. As an interpreter, I believe that it is important to educate individuals about the impact their actions have on the natural world and encourage them to take action to protect it. As mentioned by Beck et al. (2018), accurate interpretation has the power to help individuals understand many complexities such as climate change, endangered species, social justice etc.

In order to provide individuals information to accurately interpret the natural world, more awareness needs to be created and programs must be more inclusive and accessible. As mentioned by Hookyaas (2023), unfortunately interpretive programs are not always accessible to everyone, and those with different levels of privileges have different levels of access to these programs. I believe that everyone should have access to interpretive programs regardless of their level of privilege. An interpreter’s role is to share their knowledge and inform individuals about the natural world and picking and choosing who has access to this is a form of discrimination. 

As mentioned by Beck et al. (2018), it is a difficult task to ensure that programs are accessible to individuals with disabilities. When designing my own program I would take a couple of approaches to ensure that all of the programs are accessible to individuals with disabilities. One of the steps that I would take is to ensure that I offer the programs in many different accommodations and on different platforms. For example, if the program is offered online I would make sure to have audio and also captions. Those individuals who are unable to hear will be able to view the captions to understand the program and those who are unable to see can hear the program. I would also ensure that the program is offered on paper along with technology that will allow individuals to choose how they want to access the program based on their comfort. One of the steps that I would take is to have an ACA coordinator review my programs to ensure that they are accessible and that all legal requirements are met (Beck et al., 2018). An ACA coordinator’s job, just like an ADA coordinator, is to ensure that there is no discrimination against individuals with disabilities (U.S. Department of Labor, n.d.). Providing every group of individuals with a chance to accurately interpret nature will allow them to take action in order to keep our planet healthy and beautiful.

As a nature interpreter, I have several important responsibilities. One of the most important responsibilities is to provide accurate and objective information about the natural world. In a world where inaccurate information is advertised on a daily basis, it is an interpreter's job to be a source of accurate information (Beck et al., 2018). For example, creating a program on climate change would require extensive geographical and scientific research and if not done correctly, individuals viewing the program may cause more harm than good to the environment.  

As mentioned by Hookyaas (2023), an interpreter’s responsibility is to get individuals to feel more connected to nature whether it be through explaining the history behind different scenarios or offering them a sense of belonging or even just entertaining them and influencing them to take action to feel more connected to nature. As I mentioned, one of my goals is to ensure individuals with disabilities are able to access and understand my programs. By running my programs through an ACA coordinator and making them accessible to everyone, I am working on offering all individuals a sense of belonging regardless of their privilege.  

This semester I took a zoology course where we had to prepare a presentation on scientific articles that we read. I chose a paper which spoke about the effects that climate change has on the sex determination in sea turtles (Porter et al., 2021). I took on this project as if I were creating a program in order to inform individuals about how their activity is causing a decline in the sea turtle population. My approach to creating this presentation was to make it accessible for everyone, by including pictures, audio, and activities for individuals to partake in, essentially incorporating different learning styles to cater to everyone (Hookyaas, 2023). My presentation could be thought of as science, historical and environmental education. By incorporating different types of education into my presentation I was able to attract everyone’s attention. For example, many people said they loved my historical explanation of climate change and sea turtles but others loved the science interpretation part more. This just goes to show how everyone has different interests and to capture their attention it is our responsibility to research and incorporate many different education styles in our programs (Hookyaas, 2023). 

Although I have mentioned my beliefs, responsibilities and approaches I will take to make interpretation more accessible, they are still subject to change. As mentioned by Beck et al. (2018), “effective interpreters routinely change beliefs or judgements about certain behaviours”. This means that as our natural world changes it is my job as an interpreter to change my beliefs, responsibilities and approaches to ensure that I am keeping my audience up to date and helping them interpret the world effectively with newer, more updated approaches. Overall, my overarching goal as an interpreter is to educate individuals on climate change by using environmental and science education synergistically and my first step to achieving this goal (my zoology presentation) was effective and a great success (Wals et al., 2014). 

Check out my presentation/blog on sea turtles at: https://grossinetwork.wixsite.com/animalphysblog/post/sea-turtles-need-to-dress-warmer-to-survive

How do you think your beliefs as an interpreter will change as our world continues to evolve and change? 

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

Hookyaas, A. (2023). Unit 01-10 Courselink Notes. Courselink.

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Ethic. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethic 

Porter, E., Booth, D. T., Limpus, C. J., Staines, M. N., & Smith, C. E. (2021). Influence of short‐term temperature drops on sex‐determination in sea turtles. Journal of Experimental Zoology, 335, 649–658. https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.2509

U.S. Department of Labor. (n.d.). Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Retrieevd from https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/disability/ada#:~:text=The%20Americans%20with%20Disabilities%20Act,local%20government%20programs%20and%20services

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Amazing things in Nature!

Nature continues to amaze us daily, by constantly adapting to the changing world around us. One amazing thing I know about nature is bioluminescence, it’s one of the most eye-catching things I have seen myself. While vacationing, I had the privilege of seeing bioluminescence on the beach while in the Caribbean. The water lights up beautifully as you run your feet through it, and the mechanisms behind how the water lights up is even more interesting. The bioluminescence we see is essentially a chemical reaction produced by living organisms, and involves luciferin (the light), and luciferase (the catalyst) (Bedolfe, 2012). The luciferase combines luciferin with oxygen to oxidise it, which creates oxyluciferin, and photons. The light we see is the result of the chemical reaction usually occurring in the organism, but it does not always occur inside it (Bedolfe, 2012). When I ran my hands through the water and disrupted the waves, the organisms present, called dinoflagellates, produce light as a defense mechanism (Aguilera, 2015). Here is a picture below of bioluminscence in action at night!

Image Credits: Alvaro Bejarano

An interesting fact I learned while diving more into this topic is that it only takes 15 milliseconds for the dinoflagellates to respond to stimuli! (Aguilera, 2015). It is extremely fascinating to think that the pretty glow I observed in the water was actually a warning from the dinoflagellates. It is also known that high levels of algal bloom are actually harmful to humans, and exposure to these phytoplanktons can cause skin irritation, and cause negative effects on ecosystems (Powell, 2022). There are different colours of bioluminescence that we can see, personally, I have seen a mix of green and blue light being produced. Another event caused by bioluminescent organisms are red tides, which are rare but can be seen more often now due to climate change. Red tides are lasting longer due to temperature changes, water pollutants, as well as severe weather events (Powell, 2022). I have never seen a red tide, but this picture below shows how they can appear to us, and it looks a little similar to an oil spill!

Image Credits: M. Godfrey, 2006

Red tides are made of the same bioluminescent algal blooms that are responsible for the pretty green colours we see as well (Powell, 2022). It is important that we understand the importance of acknowledging events such as red tides, as these are natural warning signs from nature. Humans have a tendency to overlook a lot of unusual events in nature, which eventually can lead to disastrous climate change that is non-reversible. I enjoy seeing the beauty in nature, especially bioluminescence, and to conserve these organisms and keep our algae levels at health levels, it's important to take care of our oceans. Can you name other species that also use bioluminescence?

References

Aguilera, M. C. (2015, May 5). Research highlight: The force behind Nature's light. Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Retrieved from https://scripps.ucsd.edu/news/research-highlight-force-behind-natures-light#:~:text=Dinoflagellates%20employ%20bioluminescence%20as%20a,as%20a%20type%20of%20alarm

Bedolfe, S. (2012, December 26). Ocean stemulation: How does bioluminescence work? One World One Ocean. Retrieved from https://oneworldoneocean.com/blog/ocean-stemulation-bioluminescence-how-does-it-work/

Powell, J. (2022, February 10). Bioluminescence - beautiful or dangerous? Gair Rhydd. Retrieved from http://cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk/gairrhydd/bioluminescence-beautiful-or-dangerous/ 

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Hey!

Thank you for sharing your experience with bioluminescence! It's truly amazing to learn about how different organisms are able to adapt to their environment in order to produce such beautiful and unique phenomena. To answer your question, there are actually many other species that also use bioluminescence. One of these species is fireflies! These insects use bioluminescence to attract males and even communicate with one another (EarthSky, 2021).

It is also important to be mindful of the potential effects that bioluminescence can have on the ecosystem. As you mentioned, high levels of algal bloom can have harmful effects on humans and the ecosystem. Light pollution can also disrupt natural bioluminescent events like the ability of sea turtles to navigate and find food.

To conserve the organisms and keep our oceans healthy, it is important to reduce harmful impacts on the environment. This can include reducing plastic pollution, disposing of waste products appropriately, supporting sustainable fishing practices and even reducing carbon footprints. Taking these steps will allow future generations the ability to appreciate the beauty of bioluminescence and for them to discover other natural phenomena.

Overall, bioluminescence is a reminder of the complexity and uniqueness of our natural world! Continuing to learn about and appreciating the phenomena we are able to understand our impact on the environment and word towards creating a more sustainable future! This will allow future generations to enjoy all that the earth offers and much more!

Thank you, Sanjna Farma

References

EarthSky. (2021, June 10). Fireflies light up: Why and how? https://earthsky.org/earth/fireflies-light-up-why-how/#:~:text=Male%20fireflies'%20light%20signals%20their,the%20patterns%20of%20other%20species.

Frontiers for Young Minds. (2020). What Is the Difference between a Virus and a Bacterium? https://doi.org/10.3389/frym.2020.00123

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Unit 9: Moss!

This week, I’ve chosen to write about my latest fascination in nature, moss. After reading Braiding Sweetgrass (2013) by Robin Wall Kimerer last year, I needed more of the author’s beautifully descriptive and digestible science writing. Enter: Gathering Moss (2003). Since starting the book, I’ve been in awe of the tiny little ecosystems that are often overlooked by the general public, myself included prior to Kimerer. In this post, I hope to share some of the most interesting facts and information that I’ve learnt about moss thus far, and possibly help create some more moss enthusiasts (if you’re not already one). 

In this week’s reading Beck et. al (2018) focuses on the bright future of interpretation, in all regards, and discusses the importance of bringing interpretation into the everyday. I believe that moss is a great example of a form of nature interpretation that is accessible and relatable to a wide mass of audiences and locations, and yet their significance to ecosystems is often overlooked or unknown to the general public. Mosses can be found growing on various hard shady surfaces throughout the world, and serve as a great means for sparking a connection and appreciation between an audience and their environment as they can find and admire it almost anywhere in the world.

Various species of moss date back 450 million years, and have survived and thrived through earth’s various drastic climatic changes (Kimerer, 2003). These non-flowering plants have stems and leaves, and no roots, but rather rhizoids. These small hairlike structures act as roots in that they are responsible for stabilizing and holding onto hard surfaces, as well as (for some species) sucking up nutrients (Kimerer, 2003). Grabbing a magnifying glass and getting nose close to moss has really allowed me to appreciate the beautiful structure and uniqueness of mosses growing in the small forests around the area that I live, I highly suggest it. 

Another fascinating component of mosses is that they serve as microhabitats to a variety of microorganisms including nematodes, rotifers, and tardigrades (Hedderson & Brassard, 1990)! I love staring at even the smallest patch of moss, and imagining a bustling community of organisms just going about their day seemingly unaware of the big wide world just outside their lil city, similar to Horton Hears a Who! (Seuss, 1954). Additionally, mosses can serve as a habitat to both aquatic as well as terrestrial fauna due to their temporary water holding capacities (Hedderson & Brassard, 1990). The subsequent species are more active depending on when moss is dry vs wet. 

Image of a little Tardigrade (also known as moss piglets, amazing) doing it's thang.

Mosses not only play an important role in miniature ecosystems, but are also vital in the development of larger ecosystems as a whole (Kimerer, 2003). They are one of the first plant colonizers of disturbed land, due to human influence or natural disasters such as forest fires. Mosses are responsible for stabilizing the surface of the soil, holding it in place to prevent erosion, as well as assisting in moisture retention and nutrient fixation. These functions lead to the possibility of additional plant growth, and the re-development of healthy ecosystems (Kimerer, 2003).

Thank you mosses for all that you do!

Below are a few photos of some mosses I’ve spotted while on hikes (one of them is a repeater from a previous post on art in nature!). I would love to hear your thoughts on moss, are you already a moss lover? Have you read Gathering Moss (Kimerer, 2003), or is this a new found topic that you’re now excited to dive into?

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

Hedderson, T. A., & Brassard, G. R. (1990). Microhabitat Relationships of Five Co-Occurring Saxicolous Mosses on Cliffs and Scree Slopes in Eastern Newfoundland. Holarctic Ecology, 13(2), 134–142. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3682638

Kimmerer, R. W. (2003). Gathering moss: a natural and cultural history of mosses. First edition. Corvallis, OR, Oregon State University Press.

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Hey!

I enjoyed reading your post on moss and its significance in nature. Like you, I also had no prior knowledge of the importance of moss in ecosystems. 

One of the things I found interesting about moss is its ability to survive through the earth’s various climatic changes! This is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of these organisms. I love how you emphasized the accessibility of moss as a means of nature interpretation for a wide range of audiences. It’s really amazing to think about how moss can actually serve as a starting point for individuals to connect to and appreciate the environment they live in, which is a crucial step when interpreting nature (Beck et al., 2018). 

When reading your post and learning about the ways that moss can help our planet, I started connecting it to the various other species that also help our planet in various ways. For example, I thought about fungi and what a crucial role they play in nutrient cycling and decomposition in our ecosystem (Ecosystem Restoration, n.d.). They break down dead organic matter and release the nutrients they gather from it back into the soil which can be taken up by plants (Ecosystem Restoration, n.d.). This uptake of nutrients from fungi allows the plants to grow in a healthy manner!

I’m excited to see how other students interpreted your post! As Beck et al. (2018) mentioned no two individuals will have the same interpretation of a topic!

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

Ecosystem Restoration. (n.d.). Benefits of Fungi to the Environment and Humans. Decade on Restoration. Retrieved from https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/stories/benefits-fungi-environment-and-humans#:~:text=Nutrient%20Cycling,-Fungi%20have%20the&text=Some%20fungi%20are%20decomposers%20which,for%20plant%20development%20and%20productivity

Thank you,

Sanjna Farma

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Jellyfish can cheat death?

As mentioned by Beck et al. (2018), nature study is “not just our ability to name plants and birds, to ‘know our neighbors,’ as significant as that might be, but the opportunity to question and grow, to be moved, to be momentarily stunned–or flummoxed–by something you couldn't have anticipated”. It has the power to mesmerize and inspire us with the beauty and complexity it has to offer. As someone who loves spending a significant amount of time exploring our world, I have realized that many amazing things about nature often go unnoticed. In this blog post, I will be sharing the most amazing thing I know about nature which hopefully will excite you to go outside and explore! 

Jellyfish are amazing and I remember being fascinated by them when I used to watch SpongeBob but did you know that there is a species of jellyfish that can essentially live forever? I know right, I was shocked too! Well, this species of jellyfish is called Turritopsis dohrnii and they originated in the Mediterranean Sea but now are present in many different oceans!  I know, this sounds like it's straight out of a movie but it’s a real-life phenomenon and I’ll explain this process to you in more detail!

When faced with adverse conditions, such as starvation or injury, these jellyfish have the unique ability to transform their adult cells into immature cells, which can develop into new polyps, and eventually into new jellyfish (Natural History Museum, 2022). This process is known as transdifferentiation, which allows these jellyfish to cheat death and continue their life cycles indefinitely (Natural History Museum, 2022). Imagine if we could harness the power of transdifferentiation and apply it to our own cells! Imagine if we could regenerate our damaged tissues, organs and even effectively reverse the aging process. Creating awareness about these jellyfish can open up new avenues for research into regenerative medicine and potential for human longevity!

In the future, I hope that these jellyfish will be introduced to public aquariums where people can come and view these amazing creatures! Since I have so much knowledge of this species I would love to be an interpreter at the aquarium where they are introduced. Introducing these jellyfish to an aquarium will allow for more interpretation to take place as these types of places attract many visitors (Beck et al., 2018). Not only will it allow individuals to become more aware that these fascinating creatures exist, but it will also allow them to interpret their life cycle in their own way. For example, to me this species is more than just a jellyfish that doesn't die, they are a symbol of resilience, endurance and strength. Others might follow the same train of thought or they might connect to the jellyfish more by interpreting their life cycle in their own way (Beck et al., 2018). I'm interested to know, what does their life cycle symbolize to you?

Immortal jellyfish are one of the most amazing things about nature but remember, it is just one example of the incredible complexity and diversity that is present in the natural world! The world is filled with so many other fascinating phenomena and creatures that are waiting to be discovered by people.

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

National History Museum. (2022). Immortal Jellyfish: the secret to cheating death. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/immortal-jellyfish-secret-to-cheating-death.html.

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Unit 07: Music and Nature

Music is a medium commonly used to interpret music. It is used across history, countries and cultures. Music and nature are often interconnected, as both implement elements from each other. In nature, music can be found everywhere. The most obvious would be animal noises (singing birds), sounds of the water, and wind blowing through the trees. Nature sounds are often viewed as healing, meditative and grounding; they serve a purpose for humans and other animals. Many animals communicate vocally, and their sounds' different melodies and tones can deliver signals across a certain distance that is often linked to survival.

Furthermore, we humans have also been using music to communicate with animals. One example I've come across is "Kulning." It is an ancient Swedish herding call from the medieval Nordic period. Kulning sounds like singing, but the sound travels incredibly far from its unique technique, allowing the singer to communicate with the animals from a long distance. Below is a video of Kulning by Jonna Jinton; the melodies are lovely and magical.

               From a different perspective, elements of nature are also wildly used in music. From classical to modern pop music, elements such as fire, water and earth are commonly incorporated into songwriting. In classical music, the resemblance of nature sounds is more direct, like mimicking water flowing using instruments. Many instruments, such as string and wind instruments (violin, flute), and even drums, can mimic certain nature noises like water dripping sounds and birds singing. In addition, some instruments are purposely made to mimic nature's sound, such as the rain stick, thunder drum and ocean drum.

In addition, instruments were made to use natural elements to play. For example, a hydraulophone is an instrument that utilizes small streams of water flowing from a tube-like structure, and by manipulating the water flowage, one can create unique melodies (Click this link to watch a video on it! https://youtu.be/deyHTDSg5BQ ). Another example would be the wind chime, which we see everywhere, yet we often forget how it functions on the power of nature. On the other hand, although nature sounds are not often featured in modern music genres, elements like fire and rain are still trendy. Often it does not have to be direct sounds of nature, but songwriters would make music to produce a similar "feeling" or "vibe" as an element, such as metal or rock, which is often related to fire and thunder. In sequence, music with lyrical purposes about nature is also used across history. From nurseries to pop songs, music with the message of protecting nature and voicing environmental issues has been proven to be an effective educational tool. I'm sure most of you know the song "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson, where he sings about humankind's destruction of our environment and mother nature. He addresses issues like deforestation and unethical animal killing in his music video. From such as influential figure, his song delivered his message globally in a way that is easy for the public to understand and accept (compared to government campaigns that are often neglected). Attached is the Youtube video link to the song.

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Your post was lovely and a joy to read! I agree that music can be used to interpret nature. I spoke about the same thing in my blog post about how birds chirping, and sounds of the water waves crashing can help individuals connect to the nature around us. As a songwriter, I have actually incorporated various sounds of nature in my work. For example, I have used the sound of birds chirping in the background of many songs that I have created. I believe that this allows individuals listening to my music to feel more at home and feel a sense of belonging. It is so interesting to see how these sounds can be hidden in music!

I absolutely love the song “Earth Song” by Michael Jackson, this song was actually introduced to me by my grandfather. I instantly connected with this song as it related to many of the issues that happen in today’s day and age such as unethical animal killings as you mentioned. Instead of incorporating nature in a more common way in his music such as using snippets of birds chirping he incorporated natural world issues that are going on. This encourages individuals to take these issues seriously and act upon them in order to make our world a better place. Not only does music have the power to help with nature interpretation but it has the power to create change in our world. By creating this change individuals will learn to appreciate our world and nature that much more!

Thank you,

Sanjna Farma

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Music and Nature

As Tilden stated “interpretation is an art, which combines many arts, whether the materials presented are scientific, historical, or architectural.” (Hooykaas, 2023). I agree with this statement and believe that music can help individuals connect with nature and even feel a sense of belonging. I listen to music when I want to connect with nature, for example, when I go on road trips I put my car’s roof down and blast my favourite songs that allow me to feel grounded. 

My favourite song to listen to is called Closer by The Chainsmokers. This song has a line in it which says “like your roommate back in Boulder” which immediately reminds me of nature. This is because Boulder is at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Whenever I hear this line in the song I can imagine the Rocky Mountains and the sound of the water moving along with all the birds chirping and insects making noises. I have visited Colorado many times in the summer and even in the winter to go skiing and these activities are what offer me a sense of belonging. This is why I love the song so much because it reminds me of the one place that offers me a sense of belonging which means that the song offers me a sense of belonging as well. 

Aside from the obvious, that popular music can remind individuals of nature there is music in nature and nature in music in many different ways. One of these ways is that, if you have ever listened closely to the crickets chirp, birds chirp or even frogs ribbit you can hear that this is a form of music as well. This shows that there is music in nature, that these animals and insects are creating music of their own which we listen to all the time. Many artists also use sounds from nature to incorporate into their music. An example of this is the song Bad Guy by Billie Eilish. In an interview, she broke down how she created this song and showed how she embedded sounds from the crosswalks into her music. She took a snippet of the sound that the crosswalk makes and down or up-pitched it and when you listen closely you can hear it in the melody. Although this isn’t your typical type of nature such as an insect or the wind or waves crashing it is still something in nature that individuals walk by on a daily basis. This shows how nature can also be incorporated into music. Many people who might listen to the song may envision the crosswalk as the sound that it makes is very unique. This shows how music can offer people a sense of belonging by incorporating nature into their music. 

Music is an amazing way for individuals to connect to nature and feel a sense of belonging. Music can also be used as a getaway, to escape reality when things are rough. Music has helped me through a lot of hard times and has also helped me to live in the moment during amazing times. I love music!

Thanks!

Sanjna Farma

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Unit 6: Natural Interpretation through history

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

To me personally, this quote is easy to understand and unpack. In simple terms, it speaks of not having complete integrity in our modern interpretations if they do not consider the past. However, breaking this quote into sections would allow for a more whole and complex explanation.

The quote starts by stating that there is no merit in ancient things. This sentence means there is no real benefit in historical objects as they stand alone. They hold no intrinsic value without there being a story connected to them. For example, Canadian pennies have no monetary value today; therefore, unless considering their historical relevance, they are useless. Therefore, forgone things are pieces to a puzzle, and singular puzzle pieces are worthless.

The quote continues by saying that integrity, which has merit, requires the keeping together of all parts of a whole. Therefore, as interpreters, if we wish to have integrity, we cannot disregard history in our interpretations, or it is incomplete. A complete interpretation requires understanding not only the information of our modern world but also ancient. Furthermore, we must also seek to learn how the world changed from ancient times and whether it is all for the better.

Finally, the quote closes with an analogy to history being like a train station. We know that the line does not only exist when we are on them, but train tracks, like history, persist without us being there. I firmly believe that history is present in our everyday lives; however, we must actively try to acknowledge and understand it to recognize its presence.

So now that we have unpacked the quote, why does it matter? In my opinion, incorporating history in every kind of interpretation is vital. We can not only learn from the past but also use the past to continue to learn and expand our future. I consider history a guidebook; it shows us what worked and what needs change. We cannot understand our world today without first looking into the past. "Historical interpretation grounded in individual histories facilitates connection between lived experiences and archival records or artefacts" (Modern Cartography Series, 2019). Historical interpretations are not only cautionary tales; they are ways to keep stories alive and to create deeper connections. Interpreting history brings more honesty and transparency to interpretations, allowing both the audience and the interpreter to lose themselves in the stories of the times. Interpreters can use history to help cultivate our futures; that is why historical interpretations are vital. Use history to answer questions that are usually ignored; use it to have complete and honest interpretations.

Author Robert Heinlein said, “A generation which ignores history has no past and no future." (Time Enough for Love, 1973). Without using our past to learn and write our future, we refuse ourselves whole interpretation rooted in integrity.

However, we must ask ourselves if we are truly willing to accept all components of our history.

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

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Hi Jaaziah! 

Your post was very thought-provoking! I love the examples you gave to connect with what the quote means to you. To start, I agree with your interpretation of the quote, it closely resembles the way I interpreted this quote. I loved the example you gave about Canadian pennies. What you said is true, without historical relevance without us being able to interpret and connect to their historical relevance all they are, are coins that hold a monetary value but no integrity. We learn from a young age that money does not grow on trees. This lesson usually includes telling us how people worked hard to earn these coins that hold monetary value. In the past, these individuals put all their physical and mental efforts to earn money. By understanding and connecting with this lesson we all understand how important these pennies are and we learn to appreciate working hard that much more. 

Although understanding and interpreting history is crucial, as you mentioned, we must ask ourselves if we are willing to accept all components of our history. We must ask ourselves this question because unfortunately, history is often distorted and manipulated to serve certain interests, and it is very important to recognize and address these distortions to have an accurate and comprehensive understanding. If we do not have an honest interpretation of history it can mess with the interpretation we have of these events, objects or places and steer us away from connecting with them. We might not feel a sense of belonging which is the main objective of interpreting nature (Beck et al., 2018). 

This being said, should we accept all historical stories we are told or should we critically evaluate them before accepting them and interpreting nature? 

Thank you, 

Sanjna Farma 

References 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

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Interpretation and History

The statement “there is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity” by Hyams can have many different meanings and is very thought-provoking. This statement highlights the importance and significance of preserving the past. The quote suggests that the value of ancient things is not simply due to their age but instead is embedded in the preservation of the complete picture of the past. 

So far in our ENVS*3000 course we have learned that knowing the history of items aids in our interpretation of the object or place (Beck et al., 2018). By preserving the past and all of its components, individuals in today’s day and age will be able to better interpret the true significance behind those items (Beck et al, 2018). For example, museums keep many historical artifacts and each of them comes with a label. These artifacts usually connect with one another in order to explain a historical story. Museums not only help individuals interpret objects and places by learning their history but also their storytelling through art (Beck et al, 2018). This can play a role in offering individuals a sense of belonging, intriguing them to come back and visit more often (Hookyaas, 2023). 

Many individuals in our world overlook the importance of history and historical art, thinking that it has no value in the present. This quote warns us that thinking, acting or feeling as if the past is done with is only going to make it harder for us to interpret and connect with these places or objects. This could contribute to those objects or places losing their value and lesser amounts of individuals wanting to view them since they did not bother to interpret and connect with them. 

This quote can also be interpreted as a reminder that the past continues to have an impact on the present and the future. The events and developments of the past have played a role in shaping the world that we live in today (Hookyaas, 2023). It is our responsibility to understand and learn from them. If we ignore or forget the past there can be risks of us repeating the mistakes that our ancestors made and missing the lessons that they learned. For example, many museums have kept objects from world wars one and two. These objects usually come with an explanation or story behind what happened during the world war. By reading these stories we can learn from the mistakes our ancestors made such as learning how to maintain peace. This can also lead to more personal lessons such as how to deal with conflicts with friends, family etc.

Finally, the quote has implications for the way that we treat our cultural heritage. The preservation of cultural heritage is not just through preserving ancient buildings, and artifacts but you must also preserve cultural practices, traditions and knowledge. Without the knowledge of the history behind these cultural practices, how is one going to interpret these practices and keep them alive? Cultural heritage is an essential part of our identity and helps us understand who we are as a society. It is crucial to preserve cultural heritage since it is an essential part of our collective memory. In order to do this we must take initiative in wanting to learn more about our cultural history and this knowledge will help us connect with these cultural practices and keep them alive.

Thank you,

Sanjna Farma

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

Hookyaas, A. (2023). Unit 05: Nature Interpretation through History Courselink.

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My current thought bubble

This week's blog post is a sigh of relief for me. I am at that point in the year, in the season, and in the semester where everything feels overwhelming. Every small task and occasion feels like another marathon. I do not find that this feeling hits me as much during the fall semesters and I think in large part this has to do with the weather. I study wildlife biology and conservation, to a lot of people this may seem like a zoology adjacent major; and in large part it is. You might assume that I chose this major because I love biology and I love animals; and while these are both true, there is one reason above all. I chose it because I love wildlife in every sense of the word. I love being outside and breathing in the fresh air. I love the sounds of the forest and hearing all the other species just existing in harmony. To me nature is my safe haven, when I feel stressed and overwhelmed I go outside; because outside in nature there are no expectations or deadlines, or distractions.

I think another reason that I am feeling the way I am is because it’s my last semester. Everyone keeps asking me what plans are after school, everyone keeps asking if I'm excited; and sure I am excited. But mostly, I’m scared. I am pursuing a masters in large part because I love the field, but also because I want to extend school. I have been a student for all of my life, I have no idea how to be something else. So apart from all of the normal stresses of life, of the semester, and of the season, I am also stressed about the future, about what the next few years of my life will look like. Although this class is stressful like all other courses, it’s also a breath of fresh air.

This course has challenged me to push the boundaries of what my degree could be, what my future could look like. I always thought that my future in science had to either be field work, or in formal education settings (like schools). This course has allowed me to see all the other paths that exist in science. This class has shown me all the ways that I could share my passion for science and nature with others. 

This week’s prompt is forcing me to sit down with my thoughts and just listen to them. Usually I don’t like to sit here and just think, I am a very practical person and for me time should always be used on reality not on hypotheticals; but this prompt is giving me a chance to focus on the hypotheticals for a practical and real reason. This prompt is really just a giant thought bubble of what is currently in my brain, but hey that was the prompt. I don’t really know how to end this, I guess there’s no real conclusion or ending. These are all feelings and emotions from the present and for the future so the ending won’t come until the future does.

This post was kind of dense so here is a happy moment in nature interpretation for me this week! Featuring Sensational Snakes and Piglet the Western Hognose!

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I 100% agree with you about how hard this semester has been to keep up with deadlines and deal with a crazy workload. In order to cope with the stress from this I go on runs and walks with my dog. These walks and runs allow me to feel connected with nature just like nature offers you a sense of peace. I believe that in our scenarios instead of a human providing us a sense of belonging it is nature that offers us this (Beck et al., 2018). This is because nature grounds us, it allows us to feel at peace, destress and take away all of our worries. 

I’m also in my last semester of university so I definitely feel the pressure of everyone asking what I plan to do post graduation. Lucky for me, I was able to narrow down what I want to do just recently. I am planning on applying to law school and hopefully pursuing real estate or corporate law. It took me a really long time to make this decision. I started off as a biological science and pharmaceutical chemistry major, quickly realized that it was not my cup of tea and then switched into biological science only and pursued a criminal justice and public policy minor. Throughout this decision making I was under a lot of pressure and my one sweet escape was the park near my house. Any time I felt overwhelmed I would find myself sitting on the hills in the park proving my point further that nature is what offers me my sense of belonging (Beck et al., 2018). 

Overall, you’re doing great and good luck with everything, don't stress too much!

Thank you, 

Sanjna Farma 

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

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What's On My Mind?

Looking at this picture there are multiple thoughts that run through my brain. I think of the beauty that this picture holds, a sense of belonging, I think of the science behind snow turning into ice and I think of how hard it’s going to be to shovel the snow and clean my car before going to class. Throughout the last five units we’ve been learning how interpretation works, we’ve learned what it takes to be an interpreter, how to interpret, for example, using science to interpret things, interpreting through art etc. and much more. 

This picture is a great representation of what offers me a sense of belonging (Beck et al., 2018). This is a picture of Chancellors Way, housing services near the University of Guelph, where I live. The people that live in these buildings all offer me a sense of peace, especially my roommate (Beck et al., 2018). My roommate (my best friend) is the reason I enjoy staying at this apartment. She explains all the beautiful scenery and all the science behind it, she is a true biomed major (Wals et al., 2014). When it snows she goes into the whole science behind why snowfalls occur, she explains the chemistry behind the snow turning into ice and then turning into water puddles when the sun comes out. When the sun comes out and flowers start to flourish she explains the whole concept behind photosynthesis! These scientific explanations help me feel more connected to our environment and also offer a different lens to interpret nature through. 

I believe that my roommate is helping me interpret nature through science education (SE) (Wals, et al., 2014). Science education focuses on environmental education stressing the “incorporation of values and changing behaviours” (Wals et al., 2014). This can be seen through the examples I listed above for example the changes occurring in snow turning to ice and the photosynthesis of plants. She also talks to me loads about climate change. She stresses how human behaviour is impacting our world's climate so every time we walk outside and see garbage on the ground she reminds me of how our planet is being harmed (Wals et al., 2014). Although it is not in the form of a textbook or journal article she is still teaching me about the environment and the science behind it all. 

An interpreter's job is to get individuals to feel more connected to nature whether that be through explaining the history behind different scenery or offering them a sense of belonging or even just entertaining them and influencing them to come back and visit the same area (Hookyaas, 2023). This being said, I hope that everyone is able to find themselves an interpreter. Although my relationship with nature has always been great, by being exposed to multiple interpreters I have been able to see and interpret nature through many different lenses and am learning how amazing and beautiful our world is! I have also learned that our world is complex and that it is getting ruined due to human influences. We need to treat our earth with more respect especially since it is everyone's home!

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

Hookyaas, A. (2023). Unit 02: Teaching Learners. Courselink.

Wals, A. E. J., Brody, M., Dillon, J., Stevenson R. B. (2014). Convergence Between Science and Environmental Education. Education Forum.

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Nature Interpretation Through Art

“Our ability to perceive quality in nature begins as in art, with the pretty. It expands through successive stages of the beautiful to values as yet uncaptured by language” (Beck et al., 2018 p.45)

Beck et al. (2018), quotes Aldo Leopold (1966) to introduce the power that an interpreter can have in teaching the ability to find beauty everywhere you look. I think this quote can help me paint the picture to explain how I am someone that can interpret nature through art. In many ways I can relate to this quote, I have always loved being outdoors. I loved how pretty the leaves on the trees looked as they swayed through the wind. I loved how pretty the water looked on a calm day. My interest in nature began by seeing the pretty. This evolved to my interest to learn more. 

Throughout my academic career I have taken a handful of botany courses. Throughout these courses I have learned about the intricate workings that are occurring within a plant. All these very small building blocks play a huge role in the overall success and growth of a plant. In many cases this is similar to theater, when I was in highschool there were so many different roles to audition for. Some were backstage and some were acts that incorporated huge monologues. But regardless of the size of the role, all of them are extremely crucial to the production of a successful show.  Interpretive theater has been used in many ways to show a story or to educate others on history and science (Beck et al., 2018 p. 222). I have also loved another form of art, music. I always loved music, from a really young age I would create my own little songs. When I got older I grew a huge passion for house music and I got inspired by some of my favorite DJ’s and producers to start mixing my own music. So in 2020, in the beginning of the pandemic I began to mix my own music. In every song I would focus on the bass, the drums and the hi hats, the components of this song created everything and it all came perfectly together. Music has also been used by many interpreters to demonstrate the changes in culture through a song from the past (Beck et al., 2018 p. 225). These arts and nature have so many themes that overlap. Having such a passion from them gives me the ability to combine the both. The ability to interpret one through the other. The ability to interpret nature through art is the ability to see nature as art.

The gift of beauty was referred to in Chapter 5 “Guiding Principles of Interpretation” as 

“Interpretation should instill in people the ability and the desire, to sense the beauty in their surroundings and to provide spiritual uplift and to encourage resource preservation”

I mentioned earlier in this blog post learning about the intricate details of a plant. It is incredible to see the mechanisms that have evolved. There is something so fascinating about it. I think attempting to interpret a plant in these aspects has provided me with the gift of beauty. The gift of wanting to understand more about these specimens. The gift of understanding how incredible mother nature is and the amazing things it has provided for us. The gift of beauty is to continuously see and appreciate the beauty of nature that surrounds us. 

Sometimes we just need to take a deeper look and we will find a whole new world around us.

In what ways do you see the beauty of nature? Excited to see what you guys have to say!

Literature Cited

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

Ale

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Hi Ale!

I love your post this week and I loved the story that you told about yourself! This is an example of when Beck et al. (2018), mentioned that art being shared is a way for the story to continue being told. This blog post that you posted is a piece of art, it talks about who you are, your interests, your relationship with nature etc. and by posting it on Tumblr you are sharing your story with each one of us and this story will continue being shared through each one of us. This is a perfect example or the interpretation of nature through art.

Just like you used to do, I write songs in order to express myself and this allows me to feel spiritually uplifted (Beck et al., 2018). Feeling this spiritual uplift is one of the guiding principles of interpreting nature and art. The most important part about interpreting nature through art is that this art can be seen by others. The best part about others being able to see or hear the art is that it allows them to see how nature is changing over time. For example, music from a few years back is much different than music now and this is because of the change in nature. As nature changes so does art and individuals listening to this change in music are able to interpret the change in nature as well. 

Overall, I believe that everyone has their own way of interpreting nature and art. There is no right or wrong way to interpret nature and art, as long as this interpretation brings a sense of spiritual uplifting, that's all that matters! 

Thank you,

Sanjna Farma

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

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Is Nature Art's Muse?

As Hookyaas (2023) mentioned, “art (whether a painting, a photograph, a sculpture, or something else) often captures but a moment in time… and if that art is shared, the story continues”. My Instagram is a perfect representation of this statement. My Instagram is my way of expressing myself, especially my thoughts and feelings through posts or stories (Beck et al., 2018). As you will see in this photo below I love capturing all my favourite moments on camera and posting them to my story to share with all my friends and family. These moments usually tell a story, for example, when I go on vacation I share snapshots of the places I visit, the food I eat etc. and these stories get continued through the friends/family I share them with.

This being said, who am I to interpret nature through art? I am just a girl who loves to pour out her emotions by painting, taking photos, songwriting, etc. Now you might ask how this relates to interpreting nature through art. Well, when I am writing songs, I write about the emotions I feel in that exact moment wherever I am. These emotions are a sign of nature. For example, on one cloudy day I felt quite sad and lonely and wrote/composed a song. When listening to the song closely you can hear that I used the raindrops as a part of the melody along with sounds of thunder for the intro. When I listen to this song, just being able to hear the sound of raindrops and thunder allows me to connect and interpret nature and my feelings through my art. 

According to Beck et al, (2018), the gift of beauty is when an interpretation allows people to sense beauty in their surroundings and “to provide spiritual uplift and to encourage resource preservation”. As an interpreter, I need to help individuals connect to and find what is important to them in nature. For example, for some people may find beauty in nature just by picking out flowers, while others might find beauty in nature by taking a dip in the water at the golden temple allowing them to feel a stronger connection with nature. This gift of beauty is different for everyone. 

For me personally, this gift is the sun. Ever since I was a little girl I have felt much happier whenever the sun was shining. This to me was a sign that the days were going to be longer, all my friends would be outside, fresh flowers would be blooming and most importantly more trips to the park. This is a gift that I would want to pass along to everyone. I want everyone to understand how important and valuable the sun is and all the beauty it holds. The sun brings people together by allowing good weather for family barbecues, beautiful flowers to grow, children to go outside and play with their friends or ride bikes etc. The sun is a gift that everyone should learn to appreciate because I know I do!

What is your chosen art that helps you interpret nature?

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

Hookyaas, A. (2023). Unit 03: Risk versus Reward in Interpretation. Courselink.

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The Privilege Concept

My working definition of “privilege” is something that gives an advantage in life that is both unearned and taken for granted. My parents and grandparents grew up during a time when Korea was pretty poor. My grandparents are now very successful and rich. My mom and dad worked like crazy to work for Korean air. Today, my dad is a pilot for Etihad, a renowned and respected airline. I firmly believe that they deserve all the comforts of a high middle-class lifestyle. 

Me, on the other hand, am benefiting much from their hard work. My livelihood in Canada and tuition are all paid by my family (which is an aspect of Korean culture). I’ve always lived a comfortable life and when my grandparents told me the hardship stories of my parents growing up, I was in shock. It was so different from how I grew up. I believe that is when I understood that my life right now is “privileged”. 

Dinner at a first-class seat, all owed to my dad being an Etihad staff - an example of my privilege.

Privilege is crucial in natural interpretation because interpreters are essentially the “story-tellers'' of a place, with the goal to connect the people to nature. That means that they must “unpack” their own privileges (Gallavan, n.d.) in order to communicate a “story” that is universally understood. For example, if an interpreter interprets something to parental love, it leaves out those who may have not had such experiences growing up. Essentially, the interpreter here had the “privilege” of growing up with caring parents and did not “unpack” the fact that not everyone has those experiences.

Privileges act as barriers that cause certain people to avoid interpretation, especially those that are underserved (Beck et al., 2019). There may be economic barriers. It would be privileged to think that everyone can drive to the location (Beck et al., 2019). There may be communication barriers, like languages being underrepresented, acting as barriers to people that cannot speak that language (Beck et al., 2019). Cultural barriers exist as well, where wildlife and activities like camping are valued differently for different groups (Beck et al., 2019). In addition, not having great accessibility options creates barriers for people that have disabilities (Beck et al., 2019). 

To combat such issues, interpreters can know their audience and find ways to break such mentioned barriers. By knowing the audience, it helps target the interpretation towards them and avoiding any issues with privilege (Beck et al., 2019). In essence, it removes the mentioned barriers. For instance, by providing brochures, pamphlets, and more with multiple language options, it allows the interpreter to share a similar experience to all. By having accessibility that allows people that are disabled to experience the same thing, it removes another form of barrier. An interpreter must also understand that disability is a matter of continuum rather than a separate category of people because most will be impaired some point in their lives (Beck et al., 2019). In addition, by providing transportation at a convenient time for visitors, the interpreter can avoid certain economic barriers and to target a more diverse audience. 

If natural interpreters do not unpack the privileges and don’t work around them, it will cause a bias in the types of audiences that are attracted and ultimately fail to connect the people, community and the world to nature. This applies to me and my set of privileges as well. 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.

Gallavan, N. P. (n.d.). Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks". Multicultural Education, 13(Pages: 36-36).

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Hi Eugene! 

I absolutely loved your post and your story! Thank you for sharing this with us. One point that really stood out to me in your post was when you touched upon the fact that communication, cultural and economic barriers stand in the way of interpretation. I had also touched upon these in my blog post because according to Beck et al. (2019), these are the most common barriers preventing individuals from interpreting nature in their own way. I find this very sad because I relate it back to myself and my grandparents. My grandparents were born in India so they cannot speak English very well and neither can they understand it properly. When we go on tours or even to the museum my grandparents have a hard time understanding what the interpreter is saying. This communication barrier sadly gets in the way of them being able to understand what they are actually looking at and understanding the history behind it. I do try to translate for them whenever I can but since I was born in Canada I cannot speak Punjabi (the language that they understand) very well. I believe that there are many solutions that can help combat this issue. For example, places like museums can hire tour guides who are multilingual. To make this more effective research can be done to see what languages are most prevalent among tourists who visited that museum. This would allow the museum managers to hire individuals who can understand and speak those languages fluently, ultimately removing that barrier so everyone can have an equal chance at interpreting historical figures. 

Thank you, 

Sanjna Farma 

References Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.

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Unit 03: Risk versus Reward Interpretation

Addressing Privilege in Nature Interpretation

I define privilege as unearned advantages that apply to certain groups of people. For instance, someone who grew up in a middle-class home with married parents did not earn the benefits of having food on their table every night, but rather are born into that privileged lifestyle.  Peggy McIntosh (1989) describes how privilege can be seen as an ‘invisible backpack’ of unearned assets that can be counted on cashing in each day, but is meant to remain oblivious. In other words, many individuals are unaware of the privilege they hold in their invisible backpack and overlook the lack of privilege that others experience. By unpacking our invisible backpacks, we can acknowledge the privilege we have as individuals. 

Here I will unpack my own invisible backpack; I am a white, middle class, healthy, young woman. I am also a highly educated individual that speaks English, is able to pay for university, possesses a Canadian passport, and has the opportunity to travel outside of Canada if desired. I grew up in a small suburban neighborhood that was relatively safe, I always had food on the table and my family could afford many extracurricular activities that my brothers and I would partake in. These are all things that I have been given from the love and support from my family without directly earning. 

Privilege also has a major influence on how we interpret and experience nature. There is a noticeably large lack of attendance from minorities in nature interpretation parks and this is suggested to be true due to economic, cultural, communication, knowledge, and fear barriers (Beck et al., 2018). Economic barriers from minority groups relate to large entrance fees to parks and minorities experiencing a generally lower socioeconomic position in society (Beck et al., 2018). Cultural barriers refers to the differences in culturally accepted activities in minority groups. For instance, some minority groups would not prefer camping as it is deemed more as being in deep poverty than as an activity to experience the wilderness for enjoyment (Beck et al., 2018). Communication barriers can prevent interpreters from being able to communicate with a variety of audiences that speak different languages aside from English. Speaking English is of high privilege and gives great advantages to people to be able to experience an abundant amount of activities in Canada. In relation to this, there is a lack of knowledge on the subject of nature in minority groups which can be a result of language barriers. Finally, fear also corresponds with this notion of lacking in knowledge. There is uncertainty of what to expect with wildlife encounters, as well as potential discrimination against minority groups in predominantly white-based activities such as camping (Beck et al., 2018).

Beck et al. (2018) suggests ways that we can provide inclusivity towards underprivileged and minority groups in terms of nature interpretation. Cultural barriers can be reduced by personally inviting minority populations to nature interpretation events through organizations to attract minority populations. By hiring a more diverse group of individuals, language barriers can be minimized by having a variety of programs be presented in multiple languages. Similarly, by increasing staff diversity, fears can be reduced and ultimately more education can be provided to marginalized groups. 

References

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

McIntosh, P. (1989). White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack. Peace and Freedom, 10-12.

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Hi Catherine, 

I loved your post and thought that it was very well written. I 100% agree with your definition of what privilege is. It kind of seems unfair that we are given all these wonderful gifts without having to even earn them while others are suffering to attain these gifts. 

Being an Indian, middle class, healthy and a child of two working parents has rewarded me with so much privilege so I can completely relate to you! Sometimes I compare myself with my parents and realize that they have provided me with so much more privilege than what they had when growing up and I will forever be grateful for that. The greatest privilege they have given me is the ability to connect and build a healthy relationship with nature. If it wasn’t for all the extra curricular activities my parents had put me in such as skating, skateboarding, swimming etc. I would not be able to appreciate nature the way I do now. For example, if my parents hadn’t put me in swimming lessons I wouldn't have been able to swim in the middle of a lake filled with freezing cold glacier water in Vancouver. Not only did swimming allow me to connect to nature but the fact that I am able to understand English and French allowed me to understand my interpreter when he was explaining the history behind the glacier water and landmarks. Communication has never been a barrier for me as it is a privilege that I was given, however as Beck et al. (2018), mentioned that a language barrier can prevent many minority groups from visiting interpretation parks. Changes need to be made so that these minority groups are able to experience a connection with nature as well. 

I wish there was a way for me to give back to those individuals who haven’t had the opportunity to fully interpret nature from their own lens! 

Thank you, 

Sanjna Farma 

References Beck, L., Cable, T. T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

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Privilege = an upper hand for individuals

I view privilege as an upper hand that individuals have gained without having to work hard for it. I say this because I am able to speak from personal experience what it is like living in a world where you are privileged versus unprivileged. Peggy McIntosh (1986) explained that privilege can be seen as an “invisible package of unearned assets which one can count on cashing in each day” (Hookyaas, 2023). In this blog I will be unpacking my own invisible backpack/package that I have overlooked as being a privilege that not alot of individuals might have. 

I am an Indian, middle class, healthy and young woman. I was born in Canada and was lucky enough to have parents that could afford to send me to school and also partake in many extra curricular activities. Not only did I receive a simple public school education, my parents enrolled me in french immersion schools ever since grade one. This is one of the biggest privileges I have had growing up. There are many kids out there that are unable to afford even a basic education, but I was able to not only gain an education but also master all my education in a french format as well. It is all of my parents' hard work that allowed me to gain an excellent education, if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be able to directly earn the privilege of going to school. 

According to Beck et al. (2018), economic barriers from minority groups can play a role in lack of attendance of these groups in nature interpretation. By being allowed this privilege of going to school I was also given many opportunities to go on excursions and field trips. This is one of the major roles or privileges in nature interpretation. Since I was privileged enough to attend these field trips such as skiing, hiking, taking a trip to Montreal, etc. I was able to connect with nature and explore many new things. The children that cannot afford to go to school would miss out on these field trips that allow you to connect with nature and allow you interpret it in your own way. 

Beck et al. (2018), mentioned that communication barriers can also affect an effective experience in nature interpretation. For example, I am able to fluently speak English and can understand it very well so when interpreters are explaining different ideas I am able to understand them and connect with that idea without any trouble. However, my parents who are not able to understand English very well have a very difficult time understanding what interpreters say which can play as a road block between them and having a great experience in nature interpretation. 

There are many ways that we can improve inclusivity in nature interpretation of underprivileged and minority groups. For example, as Beck et al. (2018) mentioned, hiring more diverse groups of individuals can minimize the communication barrier in nature interpretation. There have also been many donations made to countries where education is not easily attainable due to financial reasons. These donations will allow students to not only gain an education but also venture out and explore different areas of field trips allowing them to have their own experience with nature! 

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore Venture.

Hookyaas, A. (2023). Unit 03: Risk versus Reward in Interpretation. Courselink.