SKENVS300W24

by Shaylah Kearley for ENVS*3000

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Disclaimer

This blog was created for ENVS*3000 W24, University of Guelph. 

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of the University of Guelph. 

The University of Guelph is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by this blog.

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10: My Personal Ethics as a Developing Nature Interpreter

I cannot believe we are reaching the end of another year in our university endeavours. It feels like just last week, I was moving into residence, and now here I am three years later with new knowledge, experiences, and relationships. I invite you to join me one last time with this final blog, where I will share my personal ethics as a developing nature interpreter.

Whether for the better or worse, I am quite the strong-minded and sometimes stubborn (shoutout to all my fellow Taurus’) individual. Accordingly, I have lots of beliefs, morals, principles, opinions, etc., about the different aspects of life. However, when it comes to nature, I find my opinions not so ‘opinionated,’ if you will; the pure tranquillity of nature leaves no room for anything but peace.

That being said, I do believe that nature is one of the most incredible creations I have ever learned about. I won’t lie, I do really like having my phone, or being able to drive places, or having a microwave to warm up my food. But all these inventions and technologies are premeditated. I think what separates nature and what makes it so profound is that (in my belief) there is no creator behind it. What were once extremely dense packs of energy have now expanded to our universe, inhabiting tens of billions of persons and species and probably a myriad of unbeknownst aliens and other foreign pieces of matter. To put it plainly, nature is something that came from nothing. This evolution of life and nature serves many lessons for me. It inspires me to do the unimaginable. It serves as a reminder that I am just one person in a world of eight billion. It shows me that growth and change are okay. My admiration for nature is the foundation that motivates what I find to be my responsibilities as a developing nature interpreter.

I think it goes without saying that for many of us in this class, it is our responsibility to take care of the earth; to not litter, turn off the lights, respect wildlife, conserve water, etc. However, this is the bare minimum. I hope to keep myself responsible for more than the minimum, starting with helping others unpack their invisible backpacks, as well as my own invisible backpack. That is, making one’s invisible, unearned assets visible; acknowledge the passport, clothes, visa, tools, etc., that you were born with that give you an advantage in life compared to others (Gallavan, 2005).

Furthermore, I am responsible for doing what I can to make nature interpretation accessible for anyone, regardless of what is in their backpack. At this point in time, I do not think I have the tools needed to truly make nature interpretation accessible for all. However, one day, I would like to contest the significant barriers that prevent minorities from nature interpretation by reducing economic, cultural, communication, knowledge, and fear barriers (Beck et al., 2018).

Looking at this a bit more introspectively, I plan to hold myself responsible to always be curious – to learn from any opportunity that arises. Of course, during classes, when I come across a new term or theory, I will research it until I understand it, but outside of university, including nature, this same principle will apply. This may look like asking mentors questions, googling my curiosities, or putting myself into firsthand experiences. In extension, I would like to be responsible for sharing my knowledge with others, ideally with the gift of provocation, inspiring peers to broaden their interpretive horizons (Beck et al., 2018). The outcome of my responsibilities will be more successful if I follow approaches that are well suited to me as an individual.

I think it is crucial for nature interpretation to be approached through all lenses to get the entire picture: science, art, history, etc. Take for instance, the artistic approach from Finnish groups where they use folk poetry and folk music to convey myths about the world, traditional ways of life, and links to nature (Sahi, 2012). I agree with Sahi (2012) that an interdisciplinary approach to interpreting nature that goes beyond academic, environmental, or economic perceptions is needed. For my contribution to the interdisciplinary lens of nature interpretation, I believe my personal strengths and skills would excel the most in a scientific and research approach.

Beck et al. (2018) highlight several ways in which interpreters can meet visitors’ needs following a framework similar to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs with, for instance, physiological needs at the bottom and self-actualization at the top. I believe that the best level for me to help visitors meet as a nature interpreter would be either knowledge or understanding. The knowledge level refers to providing permission to access resources and data, managing meetings for discussion between interpreters and visitors, and allowing visitors to see practical applications of theories and ideas (Beck et al., 2018). One level above this comes understanding, which has interpreters provide visitors with continued studies of present interests, answers to public inquiries such as regulations, policy, and sciences, and provides experiments and activities for visitors to take home with them (Beck et al., 2018).

Revisiting what approach would be best suited for me, I find there are many similarities in the skills needed for a scientific or research approach compared to helping visitors meet their knowledge or understanding. For instance, researching gaps of knowledge and helping visitors understanding by answering public questions both require a degree of problem-solving skills.

In summary, my ethics as a developing nature interpreter are built on the belief the creation of our world is the most insane ‘invention’ yet. That I am responsible for helping others and myself continue to unpack their invisible backpacks, reduce barriers to interpretation, and to always be curious. Finally, the approach that is best suited to me will follow a research and scientific avenue to help others achieve knowledge and understanding of nature.

Thank you to everyone for sharing their thoughts throughout the semester – they have provided me new insight and perspectives on the various prompts. Further, thank you for taking the time to read my ideas, and I hope you have received some form of pleasure or benefit from doing so.

All the best,

Kiera

References

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

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks". Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36. https://go-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=guel77241&id=GALE|A137921591&v=2.1&it=r&sid=AONE&asid=9fe2f151

Sahi, V. (2012). Spiritual values of protected areas of Europe: Using folk traditional music to communicate the sacredness of nature in Finland. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, 129-132. https://www.silene.ong/en/documentation-centre/spiritual-values-of-protected-areas-of-europe-workshop-proceedings#Proceedings_Spiritual%20Values_PAs_Europe.pdf

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Hi Kiera!

Your post was a delight to read and I think your personal ethic as a nature interpreter is very commendable! I agree with what you’ve said and I think that your perspective and examples have helped me to understand my own thoughts and feelings as well. 

I completely agree with what you have said about inclusivity and accessibility for nature interpretation. I think if we want the most people to be able to experience nature interpretation—and I would imagine that we do—we need to work on removing the barriers that currently exist. As you’ve stated, though, this can be a hard task. I think that any effort is still progress, so we should focus on doing what we can and striving towards being able to do more. Starting small, like including closed captions on videos and making sure to stay culturally informed, can be the deciding factor as to whether someone seeks out nature interpretation or not. 

I also enjoyed your connection to Finnish traditional groups as someone with familial ties to Finland. Incorporating multiple disciplines into nature interpretation allows for more people to find something they like about it, ultimately opening more doors than if we were to simply stick with an academic or technical approach. I think it is great to consider this to attract more people to nature interpretation.

Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful post, I hope the rest of your semester goes well!

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Nature Interpretation for change

At its core, I believe that nature interpretation is all about the feelings you have toward nature, whether it's in that moment or in general. However, the more textbook definition is an educational activity that analyzes the meanings and relationships within nature, through use of original objects and first hand experience to communicate information (Beck et al, 2018. Chpt1). Nature interpretation can and should be done by anyone and anywhere. 

What is my personal ethics as a nature interpreter? I feel as though everyone should have the right and access to nature interpretation. This means that as interpreters we need to make interpretation easily accessible to everyone, especially public areas (Beck et al, 2018. Chpt7). This means adding more ramps for wheelchairs in public parks, and making sure there are enough benches for people to sit at whenever they need. There needs to be trash cans and picnic tables for people to eat lunch, or use at their own leisure as some people may need to change their diabetes patch or throw out a diaper. We also need to make nature interpretation a safe space for people to share their own thoughts. Some reasons people, especially minority groups, might not want to get involved with nature interpretation is because of cultural barriers, communication barriers, and economic barriers (Beck et al, 2018. Chpt7).

I also believe that as interpreters we should encourage the future generation to become interpreters, and open this up to children as well. I think it is so important for children to understand the beauty of nature at a young age. Knowledge of the world and natural history breeds “fond familiarity” with people and nature experiences (Beck et al, 2018. Chpt21). It is so important for people to create these relationships with nature because it’s in ecological literacy that makes people understand the impact of climate change, pollution, and other environmental problems (Beck et al, 2018. Chpt21). I believe that the next generation needs to be more exposed to nature and being outside. With today's technology, the appeal of going outside and playing has faded and we need to bring it back. I think some new initiatives to enforce this can be through having more outdoor school trips in elementary schools, and trying to incorporate more outdoor classes into our schedule. There are even simple activities that we can try and get children into to deepen their love for nature. Some of these activities include nature portraits where you paint or draw everything around you, or pattern wandering where you pick a pattern and search an area for anything that has a similar pattern (Evergreen, 2023). All this is to say that I believe the next generation needs to develop their sense of place. This is the feeling you feel when you find a place where culture and history speak for itself. Finding your “A raison d’être” or a reason for existing is crucial for wanting to protect the environment (Beck et al, 2018. Chpt1). I think that our next step is to engage children in more nature interpretive activities. 

I am very passionate about protecting the environment and I am always looking for new ways to become more eco-friendly and sustainable. As nature interpreters, it is our responsibility to look after the environment as it sustains everything that we need to survive. I think one way in doing this is researching and donating to researchers trying to find new ways to help in the climate crisis. One organization called rainforest alliance hopes to bring harmony to people and the environment by implementing scalable solutions to the climate crisis (rainforest, 2024). Rainforests are ecosystems under pressure from climate change, and organizations like this that put emphasis on protecting them are crucial. Another new initiative that is being researched is carbon sequestration. Everytime a farmer tills their soils, they release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere and this increases our greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists are trying to find ways to keep the carbon in the soil, and this is through practical farming techniques like reducing tillage, cover crops, precision fertilization and more. A scientific article called Shaky Grounds by Gabriel Popkins discusses all of the ways that carbon sequestration could show promise to the climate crisis (Popkin, 2023). Supporting research for this is one simple way that we can all become more sustainable and aid the climate crisis. Another very simple way is by adapting a more reusable lifestyle. Some ways of doing this are through not using disposable bottles, using reusable initiatives such as beeswax to preserve food instead of plastic wrap, and using reusable makeup wipes instead of disposable ones. I think it is our responsibility to adopt these small changes in our lives and in the lives of the people around us. 

Everyone will be able to tackle these changes in their own unique and important way. However, the way that I believe I should tackle these issues is through social media. I think social media is the future whether you choose to admit it or not. It is so important to use social media as a tool to engage and teach people. Something I can see myself doing, and that I already partly do is posting and reposting climate change initiatives and ways to save the planet. I think that using social media as a platform to encourage change is amazing! I currently run a couple TikTok pages for different clubs and it is so exciting to see the way different people respond to what we post. Some TikToks also reach thousands of views in only a couple hours. This goes to show the power that social media has. The National Park Service Climate Change Response Program has slowly begun to emphasize the importance of climate change and ways to help the crisis. Some of the ways they are doing this is through using science to help manage parks, finding ways to reduce our carbon footprint, and through public awareness and communication (Beck et al, 2018. Chpt5). I think that climate change needs to become an active influential part of the interpretation of nature as these go hand and hand, and I believe that spreading awareness through social media is my way of doing this. I will be posting more photos of nature to encourage a deeper appreciation in others and repost articles that talk about ways that we can aid in the climate crisis. 

So why is nature interpretation so important? It is absolutely essential to create heightened appreciation, make deeper understandings, and find new ways to view the world around us. It can be one of the solutions to the climate crisis, and it can help one's mental health (Beck et al, 2018. Chpt1). The environment is beautiful, and one way to appreciate it is through nature interpretation. I know that everything I have learned over the last couple of months will be put to good use going forward! 

Here are some of my favourite nature moments

Beck, L. Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. (Chapter 1). SAGAMORE Publishing.

Beck, L. Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. (Chapter 5). SAGAMORE Publishing.

Beck, L. Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. (Chapter 7). SAGAMORE Publishing.

Beck, L. Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. (Chapter 21). SAGAMORE Publishing.

Evergreen. 10 fun and easy outdoor activities for Kids. (2023). https://www.evergreen.ca/stories/7-fun-and-easy-outdoor-activities/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-_mvBhDwARIsAA-Q0Q4Rj4rHzCu8PxRJ0ob-7Kpuq0TrABZKSyTIQgnCzAcIxronevCsfZAaAujcEALw_wcB 

Popkin, G. (2023). Shaky ground. Science, 381(6656), 369–373. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adj9318 

Rainforest Alliance. (2024). https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/

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Hi Hana!

I really liked reading your blog post this week. We made a lot of similar points, but I really appreciated seeing the things that you thought about that I did not!

We have a similar mindset when it comes to accessibility for nature interpretation—I think your suggestions of ways to make it more accessible are really good and could make a strong impact on people. These efforts would not just make it more possible for people to experience nature interpretation, but seeing them would make them more comfortable trying in the first place. This can be important for people who already feel uncomfortable or who have never tried nature interpretation before, which is great if we want everyone to be able to!

One thing you touched on that I did not think about was focusing on the future generation for nature interpretation. I agree that this is incredibly important—they are the ones who will be inheriting the world from our generation, after all. Your ideas to get them involved through school programs or activities are also great. Field trips to explore nature were some of my favourites as a kid, and I think if everyone is able to experience that then we will have a future generation that cares very strongly for nature. It’s my hope that this will encourage them to preserve the environment better than humanity has in the past so it can be even better for their future generation. 

I think you have a strong personal ethic for nature interpretation that is very admirable and I thoroughly enjoyed reading your ideas. Have a great rest of your semester!

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My Personal Ethic as a Nature Interpreter

Hello again everyone!

This will be my final blog post of the semester, so it will be an important one! For this blog post, I will be describing my personal ethics as a nature interpreter, including my personal beliefs, responsibilities, and approaches when it comes to how I experience and provide nature interpretation. I’m going to be going into quite a bit of detail for this, so let’s get right into this!

First let’s start with my personal beliefs, since that’s where most of one’s personal ethic stems from. I think a lot of belief stems from experience and how you are brought up. I’m quite thankful for the upbringing I have, with my mother taking me and my brother on plenty of hikes and nature excursions. Bringing this back to my first blog post this experience helped me develop a “sense of place” for the natural world (Beck et al., 2018). Because of this my personal belief when it comes to nature interpretation is first of all that everyone should be able to do and feel comfortable with it! I think nature interpretation, and nature in general, is something that is incredibly important for a person’s mental well-being and belonging. Being in nature can make someone feel relaxed, and being able to experience nature interpretation can help them feel more connected to their surroundings and can help build up a sense of community among participants. I also have witnessed firsthand how connecting with nature can make it more important to you, which is why I also believe that it is necessary for conservation efforts. People are more willing to protect something that they care about, which means that nature interpretation can help inspire people to protect nature. Since I believe that nature interpretation is so important, I also believe that it needs to be accessible and open to anyone and everyone.

This belief leads to what my responsibilities are as a nature interpreter. I believe that first and foremost I have a responsibility to make sure that I am not alienating anyone or making anyone uncomfortable with my approaches to nature interpretation. I have a responsibility to make sure I am educated about the history of a place, including Indigenous perspectives, and that I keep these histories in mind during my interpretations. I also have a responsibility to remove any barriers I can that may prevent someone from accessing nature interpretation, including making sure I am remaining disability and financially inclusive (Beck et al., 2018). I think that advocating for these types of things will also send a message to people and help them feel more at ease with coming to me for nature interpretation because they know these are things that I care about. Since I will be the person that people are looking to for information I also have the responsibility of making sure I am accurate in what I say and speaking in plain language so everyone can understand me. Of course, dismantling these barriers is something that is easy to say and harder to do. Still, I think that making an effort is important and can have a meaningful impact on people. If it makes even one person more likely to seek out nature interpretation or more comfortable, I think that makes it worth it to do. 

As for what approaches are the most suitable for me as an individual, I think I excel at two types of nature interpretation. First, I believe I am a very confident speaker and am very good at expressing my thoughts and ideas verbally. I have to speak to a large volume of people consistently in a professional manner for my career, as well as in my daily life as an undergraduate at university. While I do get nervous sometimes, I find that I am consistent with how I speak and am told that I am good at verbal communication. Because of this, I feel that I would be good at an approach to nature interpretation that allows me to speak to people, whether it be one-on-one or to a larger group. Another approach I think I would excel at for nature interpretation is through a visual medium. This is due to my history with visual arts which I believe I could combine with my passion for nature to create graphics that facilitate and promote nature interpretation. Graphics like these could be used for social media, posters, presentations, or just about anything that has a visual component. Given my love for art and design, I think that this approach would also be very fulfilling for me, which I think is important. I think you can really tell when the person behind something is passionate about it and that passion can encourage other people to feel the same way. Both of these approaches to nature interpretation speak to me, and I think I would be suitable for either one to inspire and inform people about the environment. 

I think that these facets of myself all combine to form my personal ethic as a nature interpreter. I want people to be as excited to learn about and care as much about nature as I do, and I’m willing to put in the effort to make them feel comfortable and engaged to do so. Over the course of this semester and this class, I have learned new strategies for nature interpretation and have gained important insight into how to make people feel welcome through my actions. I am excited to see how everyone else has taken these lessons and applied them to their own personal ethics. I hope everyone has a great end to their semester, thank you all for a great experience!

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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Dancing Bees!

Evolution has always interested me and so have bees. So today I want to tell all of you about the bee dance and how it evolved. I read about this a couple years ago and when I did it completely changed my perspective on bees. When I used to  think of bees, I thought of simple insects that are programmed to be driven to any flower they see. Until I found out they dance to communicate which flowers to go to. 

An article by Doenhaus and Chittka (2004)  titled “ Why do Bees Dance?” showed me that bees actually have a way to communicate information about food sources with each other through dance. The dance in question is a “waggle dance”  done by moving their comb in a figure 8 motion (Figure 1A)   (Doenhaus & Chittka, 2004) . This dance is supposed to inform other members of the hive in which direction and how far they can find a good source of pollen. 

The way bees communicate direction and distance is quite interesting. The dancer repeatedly circles in a figure-eight pattern centered around a waggle run in which the bee waggles its abdomen as it moves forward (Dong et al., 2023). The direction of the waggle shows the direction of the food source, the duration of the dance shows the distance and the amount of waggles depicts the quality of the food ( more waggles means higher sugar concentration) (Dong et al., 2023).

 The experiment by Doenhaus and Chittka examined the evolution of the “waggle dance”. The overall conclusion of the article“Why do Bees Dance”stated that bees in environments with plants that flowered for a short time had more need for the dance than bees in areas where there were more options for pollen throughout the year. This showed that the dancing likely evolved in conditions of scarcity where this information could determine the overall success of the hive that season.(Doenhaus & Chittka, 2004)

 The study by Dong et al. intended to study how important it is for bees to learn the waggle dance from older bees. It did this by studying the accuracy of the messages sent through dance by bees that had no older bees to learn from and then from bees that did. It concluded that bees develop and refine their waggle dance by watching other older bees dancing (Figure 1B) . The study showed that social signaling when younger bees encoded and learned to deliver a specific message( distance, quality, direction ) in a certain way as a young bee, would continue to do it like that as it got older. So the first set of bees that did not have older bees to teach them the dance delivered messages that were more incorrect their entire life, but bees who had observed other bees as a young foraging bee were able to improve the accuracy of the messages in their dance(Dong et. al., 2023).

The evolution of the dance language and the ability for bees to develop and improve on their ability to convey information about distance, direction and quality shows how intelligent they are. Now you know how smart bees are!

Figure 1: A. shows the dance of the bee, 1 round of the dance starts at 1, the waggle is 2 and then 3 the dance is repeated. In the image below, w is doing the dance while the fs are watching to learn where to go. B. showing how the directional accuracy of bees in E1, which are young bees with no older bees around them, gave less accurate information about a food source than C1, young bees with older bees around them. (Dong et al., 2023)

Dong, S., Lin, T., Nieh, J. C., & Tan, K. (2023). Social signal learning of the waggle dance in honey bees. Science, 379(6636), 1015-1018. Dornhaus, A., Chittka, L. Why do honey bees dance?. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 55, 395–401 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-003-0726-9

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Hi there!

Thank you for sharing with us about the dancing bees! I’ve heard of their dances and waggles before, but I had no clue about any of the specific details so I was very excited to learn more. 

I especially appreciated your look into how this behaviour developed and what conditions made it favourable enough to evolve. It also makes me curious as to how other “dances” in nature may have evolved and why those dances were beneficial to those species. I know that a lot of birds dance in order to display fitness to their mates, but I’m sure there is a wide array of creatures that dance and reasons why. For instance, I have heard peacock spiders mentioned in a few of my invertebrate courses as having a pretty unique dance, so I decided to look into them after your post. I found out that not only do the male spiders do a cool dance for the females but they also produce vibrations for additional signalling (Girard et al., 2011). I think this is super interesting stuff and shows just how intricate the communication of creatures can be. 

Thank you again for your insightful post about dancing bees and for inspiring me to look into more of the dancing creatures in nature. I look forward to hearing from you again in our next blog posts!

ReferencesGirard, M. B., Kasumovic, M. M., & Elias, D. O. (2011). Multi-modal courtship in the peacock spider, Maratus Volans (O.P.-Cambridge, 1874). PLoS ONE, 6(9). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0025390

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Wonderful Wobbegongs

Hello again everyone!

This week I will be interpreting the most amazing thing I know about nature for you—which, if you know anything about me, is bound to involve my one true love: sharks. 

Sharks come in many shapes and sizes. When you think of sharks most people probably think of ground sharks or mackerel sharks—these are your classic great whites, tiger sharks, and bull sharks that are so popular in movies and on TV. Sharks can also be super tiny like pygmy and cookiecutter sharks, or huge like basking and whale sharks. They can be cute and charming like oceanic whitetips and thresher sharks or a little bit more… unique like goblin and frilled sharks (though I suppose that’s more up to personal taste). 

Just a quick look into some of the amazing diversity of sharks (Image: Sharks FAQ n.d.). 

My favourite types of sharks, though, are the wonderful carpet sharks like the tasselled wobbegong! 

Just look at that fringe (Image: Levy, 2024)!

These sharks are pretty far from the traditional image of a shark with their flattened bodies and unique patterning, which is part of what I love about them. The term wobbegong references an Australian Aboriginal word meaning “shaggy beard,” which certainly fits their look (Wobbegong Shark 2023). The fun name was what drew me to these sharks in the first place as a kid. They also behave a lot differently from the common perception of sharks by using their patterns to blend into the ocean floor and ambush their prey as it swims past rather than chasing it down as one would imagine of a shark (Carpet Shark: Meet the 7 families of orectolobiformes 2023). Generally, they eat fish and marine invertebrates but they have been known to bite humans who step too close (Bester, n.d.). Wobbegongs are also nocturnal, coming out at night to hunt, and have a strong bite that can be very difficult to remove once they chomp down (Tasselled wobbegong n.d.). 

You can find wobbegong sharks in shallower, coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific ocean where they have plenty of interesting material to blend into (Tasselled wobbegong n.d.). They’re around 4 feet long, so certainly not the biggest shark but not quite tiny either! Not a lot is known about the conservation status of wobbegongs, but they are considered “Near Threatened” by the IUCN since the habitats where they live are expected to decline with global anthropogenic change (Bester, n.d.). I would love to see there be more information about wobbegongs gathered so we can make sure these unique sharks are protected in the years to come (and also so I will have more information about them to share with people). 

I hope you all enjoyed reading about what I think is one of the coolest and most under-appreciated types of shark out there and I hope it has inspired some people to learn more about them. I can’t wait to see what other amazing facets of nature everyone has written about!

References

Bester, C. (n.d.). Eucrossorhinus Dasypogon. Discover Fishes. https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/eucrossorhinus-dasypogon/ 

Carpet Shark: Meet the 7 families of orectolobiformes. Scuba.com. (2023, July 6). https://www.scuba.com/blog/carpet-bunch-7-families-carpet-sharks/ 

Levy, E. (2024, March 15). Tasselled wobbegong shark. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/elevy/14280770698 

Sharks FAQ. Discover Fishes. (n.d.). https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/sharks/faq/ 

Tasselled wobbegong. National Aquarium. (n.d.). https://aqua.org/explore/animals/tasselled-wobbegong 

Wobbegong Shark. Smithsonian Ocean. (2023, May 11). https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/sharks-rays/wobbegong-shark 

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Music and Nature

Honestly I think that music is everywhere in nature. I think music is sort of subjective in a way, and it’s based on how we interpret melodies, rhythms, and composition. To me, the earth is a composer, and the sounds of nature are its melodies. For instance, you have the softer melodies of rustling leaves on a summer’s day, sands blowing across dunes, or simple raindrops, juxtaposed to that of loud roaring thunder and crashing waves. When we take the time to pause and interpret what we’re hearing, I think we can find that natures music is all around us. I think that if we listen to this music, it can almost tell a story. For instance, we might hear a heavy downpour with thunder, then lighter raindrops, then chirping of birds, all of which paints a story of what has happened around us.   

I also think that music in nature extends to the animal kingdom. To me, the melodies of birds singing is one of my favourite things to listen to. It brings such a strong sense of calmness and peace, and allows me to reconnect to the natural world, which I think is quite beautiful. In the summer at night, I hear the rhythms of frogs and crickets which lull me to sleep. Just like humans create music for one another, so do these animals. I am so glad I exist in a world where I can share the planet with these wonderful creatures.

I would argue that just like music in nature, and nature in music is also everywhere. The sounds of our instruments replicate the sounds of our natural world. The soft sound of flutes mimics the sound of the wind, while the sharp sound of percussion instruments reflects the harsh sounds of nature like thunder and roaring waters. Some melodies in musical compositions flow just like a gentle stream or a harsh river, while harmonies can evoke a sense of tranquility and calm like that of a quiet pasture. Moody pieces of music can evoke a sense of urgency and stormy atmosphere. Sometimes, the sounds of nature are even directly incorporated into music in not so subtle ways, like in mediation music which often uses the sounds of running waters or birds.   

One song that immediately takes me back into nature is “Love You” by The Free Design. I want to start off by saying this song is so so nostalgic to me and holds such a special place in my heart. I remember my grandma would play this song for me all the time when I would go out in my backyard to catch bugs during the summers. I remember little Emma being so happy and carefree hunting for bugs with a net in the backyard, the sun shining down on me, and rustling grass surrounding me, with my grandma watching me from our picnic table. When I was rereading the lyrics of the song, the lyrics “ Dandelion, milkweed, silky and a sunny sky” really stuck out to me, as when I listen to this song, that’s the exact imagery and memory I’m transported too.

In summary, music in nature and nature in music is all around us. When we take the time to be present and to reflect on what we hear around us, we can see that music and the natural world are so interconnected with one another. The music that surrounds us can often tell us compelling stories, and serve as a tool to learn more about ourselves and the world around us. To me, the song that reminds me of nature, “Love you” solidifies my connection to nature, and helps to remind me of the beauty that always surrounds me.

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Hi Emma!

I completely agree with what you said in your post about nature being a wonderful composer of music. I especially liked how you brought up the non-biotic sounds that can be attributed to nature like rustling leaves and rainfall. These are all sounds that I love to listen to and I think many would agree that listening to nature provides a lot of emotional benefits to people.

I also really liked your comparison of musical instruments to sounds of nature, I think that’s such a lovely way to think about them! I remember quite a few pieces that we played back in orchestra class where the flutes were entirely devoted to mimicking bird sounds or where the percussion had to sound like the footsteps of horses. Considering all this, we as humans certainly owe a lot to the inherent musicality of nature!

I listened to the song you’ve linked, I loved how the artists were able to capture the feelings of a nice summer day and the appreciation for it in the lyrics and sound. Your memory of the song was also so sweet to read and I think it is so incredible how music can connect someone to a time, place, or activity. These sorts of connections are so important for nature interpretation and developing a sense of place and music is an incredibly effective and poignant way that this can happen.

Thank you for your thoughts and the song link, I look forward to hearing from you next week!

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Nature Interpretation through Music

Hi everyone!

This week’s blog post prompt is “Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music?” These sorts of questions are some of my favourites as someone with a background in the arts—I played the cello and clarinet in my high school orchestra for 4 years, which means that I’ve had to think about music a lot!

In my opinion, music is everywhere in nature. Music can be defined as “patterns of sound varying in pitch and time produced for emotional, social, cultural, and cognitive purposes” (Gray et al., 2001). From this description, I would say that all those beautiful sounds that you can hear outside like birdsong, toads croaking, squirrels chittering, and so on all combine to create the “music” of nature. These sounds are all reflective of the ways that nature communicates with itself and others, and can also give humans an additional emotional benefit from listening to them and feeling relaxed. 

As for where nature is in music, I think there are a few ways of thinking about it. One way to think about it is that nature can be in music when music is about nature. Some songs are written about specific places or species. This sort of music is important in that it can give people a better appreciation for nature and feel more connected to it. Music can also be about nature in a way that connects people to the cultural history of an area or species, helping them to understand how these things can be thought about from a different point of view. Nature can also be in music in simply the connections that people make between nature and music, like your favourite hiking playlist that keeps you going and allows you to appreciate your surroundings by putting you in the right mindset. 

One song that takes me immediately back to a natural landscape is “Shrike” by Hozier (clicking the song title should open a YouTube link if you'd like to give it a listen!). Part of what I love about this song is how it uses the metaphor of nature—particularly the act of a shrike spearing its prey on the thorns of plants or barbed wire—to symbolize devotion. This song reminds me a lot of the long road trips to my cottage and sitting around the campfire, as there was one year that I forgot to download any music besides this album and listened to it nonstop. Every time I listen to this song a part of me is reminded of sitting in the hammock, watching my dog run around like crazy, and hearing the waves on the beach. These experiences are part of why I think music is so good for  connecting people to nature and giving them a sense of place.

I’m excited to hear what everyone else thinks about music and nature, and hopefully pick up some new song recommendations! 

Literature Cited

Gray, P. Krause, B. Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C. & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science. 291. 52-54.

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Blog 6

This week we look at the quote from Edward Hyams, "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." In simple terms, this quote is saying that being old doesn't automatically make something valuable or special. What really matters is integrity, which means keeping all the important parts of something together. Imagine if these important parts are like puzzle pieces scattered across different times in history. To maintain integrity, we need to know and remember these pieces from the past. At the heart of historical interpretation lies the crucial notion of remembering both the positive and negative aspects of the past. This is essential for extracting valuable lessons and insights, allowing us to learn from our historical experiences (Beck, 2018). Highlighting the importance of both the negative and positive aspects of past events serve as a reservoir of knowledge in order to improve the present and future. 

I think this quote mainly focuses on focusing on the bigger picture. By looking at every aspect of the past, positive and negative, we are able to see a positive impact by learning from past mistakes and see consequences from the past. With regards to nature, I think focusing on the crisis of honeybees is a great example. As a child, I have always been terrified of bees. After the twelfth time of being stung, I stopped keeping track! Although I did not let this fear affect the ‘bigger picture’. In the past ten years, we have seen a decline in the honeybee population. Honeybees are vital to our ecosystem as they play a crucial role in pollinating plants, ensuring the reproduction of numerous crops that contribute to global food production.Pesticides have significantly contributed to the decline of honeybees by posing various threats to their health and overall well-being. Despite my fear for honeybees, I knew that I needed to do something to help. In elementary school, I created a fundraiser with a few of my friends to raise money in order to sell wildflower seeds to plant. I also gave my family members seeds to plant for their own homes. Last year, I took the Honeybee Biology course and my fear for bees basically disappeared, I learned to appreciate all that they do for ecosystems. The quote from Edward Hyams emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and learning from the past. “History serves us in many ways. It can delight and enrich us, inspire and caution us, inform and educate us, help us to make thoughtful decisions, enlarge and intensify the experience of being alive” (Hooykaas, 2024). The Canadian government has banned pesticides that are linked to the decreasing numbers of pollinators, especially honeybees (Canada takes action to save the bees). The Canadian government along with many other countries have learned, after extensive research, that pesticides that may have been praised in the past, have negative impacts on ecosystems, leading to the ban of them. While this example could be considered a small-scale example, it clearly shows how we must learn from past mistakes, in order to better the future. 

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

Canada takes action to save the bees. Home. https://www.wildernesscommittee.org

Hooykaas, A. (2024). Unit 06: Nature Interpretation through History. [Lecture notes]. ENVS3000 Nature Interpretation. University of Guelph.

I don't know why this picture looks so blurry, but here are some of the wildflowers I planted in my backyard a few years ago!

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Hi Sydney!

This week’s prompt was incredibly interesting, I really liked being able to read all the different ways people interpreted the quote. I love how you connected this quote to your personal experiences with bees and wildflowers, I think that those types of anecdotes help to ground these kinds of difficult concepts and make them more understandable to people. Considering pesticides and their historical praise turned environmental concern in regards to this quote also really helped to put things into perspective. 

Perhaps it is these histories and established ideas that people have around things that make them so resistant to environmental change. I can imagine that if I was growing up being surrounded by the news of how great pesticides are and how much they improve things and I was suddenly told that they are actually harmful to pollinators I would be more than a little shocked. I think this is part of what Hyams means when he said that there is not an inherent merit to old things—that just because we have thought something for a while doesn’t mean we shouldn’t still be willing to reconsider or think critically about it. Much like you’ve said, having the willingness to use the past to inform us and to learn from it will be necessary for combatting environmental challenges today and in the future.

I hope you have a great reading week and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on our next prompt! Also, the wildflowers are so pretty! :>

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Hi everyone!

This week for my blog post I will be unpacking the following quote from Edward Hyams: “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 really resonated with me as a member of the queer community which, as I’m sure many are aware, has a long history of strife and activism. To me this quote means that it is not just important to have a recounting of the history of something but to also consider how it connects to other events, people, or places. It is also important to think about how history affects us today, and the context of how and why things take place. If we isolate historical events or people to simply being in the past we risk losing the context surrounding them. When you consider important events in queer history like the Stonewall protests and simply consider them as a part of the past you can become ignorant to their importance and relevance today. Historical events are important as both reminders of where we came from and where we stand today.

Beyond just my interpretation of this quote as a queer woman, I believe that these messages can also be applied to global issues involving the natural environment. The issues with sustainability and conservation that we face today undoubtedly have their connections to past events and people that we would be remiss to forget about. By remembering the past as a previous stop on the metaphorical train station mentioned by Hyams we can look back and see how far we have come on these issues and gauge how far we may yet need to go. History can also be used as a lesson in this sense to see how issues have been handled previously, why they have been handled in such a way, and why they may have/ may have not worked out. As is often said, those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Hopefully by keeping the integrity of past events alive we can continue to make progress towards environmental goals that protect the natural world. This inevitably requires that people care enough to maintain the memory and contexts of the past in order for us to be able to understand it fully for the future.

One thing I liked about this quote is that it can have a very different meaning to different people based on their personal background, so I look forward to seeing how everyone else interpreted it! Have a great reading week everyone!

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NATURE & SHIPWRECKS (unit #5 - freestyle)

Hello friends, 

We are back again this week with the most exciting prompt yet: no prompt! I am taking this opportunity to talk about my biggest childhood interest… SHIPWRECKS!

You might be wondering how this relates to nature at all but deep-sea shipwrecks are biodiversity hubs. I have always been interested in shipwrecks because I am both terrified and in awe of them. My main fascination is with how such an inorganic and visually man-made object is completely emersed by aquatic life and fits so well in an ecosystem it was never intended to be in. 

STOCKTREK IMAGES. (n.d.). A sunken ship lays on its side near Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas. How do we find shipwrecks—and who owns them? National Geographic. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/how-do-we-find-shipwrecks-and-who-owns-them. 

Shipwrecks are considered “islands of biodiversity” because they offer a structure for an incredibly wide variety of species to inhabit, which creates pockets of very high biodiversity, acting as artificial reefs (Hamdan et al., 2021). Imagine a sandy sea floor with not much going on besides some small rocks and vegetation, now put a huge stationary shipwreck there, and eventually, many species will call this new isolated habitat their new home. Many shipwrecks are dripping with so many species that you cannot even see bare metal anymore.

It is clear from photos that there are lots of different fish, vegetation, and corals that inhabit old shipwrecks, but we are missing a very important aspect of shipwreck ecosystems: the micro-organism colonies! In our defense, we can't see them but they make up a huge portion of biodiversity. Microorganisms establish and preserve shipwrecks as artificial reefs, allowing other species to thrive in/on shipwrecks. It is amazing how much power the tiny species hold and how influential they are to full ecosystems. (Hamdan et al., 2021)

Murat. (n.d.). Bream Fish around the shipwreck. How do we find shipwrecks—and who owns them? Adobe Stock Images. Retrieved from https://www.bristolaquarium.co.uk/animal-stories/animals-that-find-a-home-in-sunken-ships/

I have never had the opportunity to visit a shipwreck other than kayaking over top of a boiler. I love watching videos of people diving to explore shipwrecks, although I can't imagine ever doing it myself. I am incredibly curious to hear if anyone has done this? I would absolutely love to hear your experiences! We (Ontario locals) live in the perfect place to go shipwreck diving because the Great Lakes have cold water and low salinity which are fanatics conditions for the preservation of shipwrecks. The Great Lakes are regarded as one of the best shipwreck diving spots in the world. (Harrington, 2019) 

I have always found shipwrecks interesting because of the duality that the vessel wasn't strong enough to complete its voyage but it is strong enough to be preserved underwater for (possibly) hundreds of years, sometimes in near-perfect condition. However, the shipwrecks of the Great Lakes are in trouble!! Invasive species of the Great Lakes like zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussels (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) are threatening our beautifully preserved nuggets of history. These filter feeders can cause damage through heavy weight and even corrosion of some metals, if enough pile up. Additionally, they release carbon dioxide which can severely alter water quality and the conditions that help preserve shipwrecks. It is insane that these huge structures that can last up to thousands of years can be threatened by something as small and seemingly passive as mussels. (Harrington, 2019)

Thanks for reading, hopefully you see shipwrecks from a slightly different perspective! Who knew shipwrecks were so intertwined with nature (I did because I am a nerd who loves shipwrecks)! 

References 

Hamdan, L. J., Hampel, J. J., Moseley, R. D., Mugge, R. L., Ray, A., Salerno, J. L., & Damour, M. (2021, April 22). Deep-sea shipwrecks represent island-like ecosystems for marine microbiomes. OUP Academic. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-00978-y 

Harrington, M. (2019, November 20). Aquatic invasive species threaten shipwreck preservation in the Great Lakes: Wisconsin sea grant. Wisconsin Sea Grant | University of Wisconsin. https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/aquatic-invasive-species-threaten-shipwreck-preservation-in-the-great-lakes/

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Hi Lauren!

I loved reading your post! Not only was this an incredibly creative topic to talk about this week, but it was really well done and fascinating to read! :) 

My family on my dad’s side is from Newfoundland and apparently when I was a kid they took me out on the boat to look at shipwrecks all the time. Admittedly I don’t remember much of this due to being so young, but there are pictures of it so they’re probably telling the truth. I’ve never dived into a shipwreck before, and honestly I think I’d be too scared to ever want to try except for looking from a distance. As you’ve described in your post, shipwrecks can be incredibly diverse and unique ecosystems, so I think it’s important for divers to be considerate of that and try not to harm the structure of them. A quote I like to live by when exploring nature is to take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints—though I suppose you wouldn’t be leaving those underwater anyway! Your post has definitely made me more interested in how these shipwreck ecosystems work. I am curious as to why they attract so many organisms, is it just the structural support of the ship or are they potentially feeding off of the metals and other substances? Your interpretation of them also gave me a newfound appreciation, I really like the idea of them being integrated into the environment despite not belonging and I think it’s a very poignant image. 

Have a great week, I look forward to reading your posts again!

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Nature Interpretation through Science

Hi everyone!

This week is an interesting blog post, as we don’t have any specific prompt to adhere to! With this in mind, I decided that I wanted to write about some of the topics brought up during this week's readings about “Nature Interpretation through Science.” This topic is certainly more familiar to me as a science student, but that isn’t to say I haven’t also thoroughly enjoyed our other topics. I think that nature interpretation through science is incredibly important, though, for considering global change and how to get people to care and be involved. 

When I think of aspects of nature interpretation, science is arguably the one I should understand best and be able to make connections with. Something I hadn’t thought about, though, that was brought up by the reading “Convergence Between Science and Environmental Education” is that the way we are taught about science and the environment can be very different (Wals et al., 2014). As this reading describes, scientific education is often focused on teaching skills and knowledge, while environmental interpretation teaches about the synthesis and incorporation of values into behaviour (Wals et al., 2014). Both of these forms of education are important in their own right, but being able to combine them is especially important for making change. Scientific education provides a background, a framework, and the necessary knowledge for the kinds of change that environmental education teaches us to care about and consider the behaviours that need to be addressed (Wals et al., 2014). 

Something that I also often find myself thinking about as I continue with my education at the University is the accessibility of scientific knowledge and literature. A lot of scientific writing is written in a way that just isn’t particularly approachable to someone who isn’t in a scientific field. Some examples of barriers that might prevent someone from being able to access or fully utilize scientific knowledge are excess jargon in writing and articles being put behind heavy paywalls. Personally, I feel scientific and environmental knowledge should be available to everyone and that more effort should be put into removing these barriers when they can be. By limiting jargon and making articles more widely accessible, more people will be inclined to listen to the ideas presented in these writings. This is especially important if we want people to be involved in making a substantial change, for example towards conservation. If people don’t understand issues or what changes they can make to help, they aren’t going to do anything unless they can access knowledge which will change that. 

I hope some of what I’ve written this week resonates with people. Writing without a prompt is a little tricky, but I think this was a good thought exercise and I’m excited to see what everyone else decided to write about this week!

References

Wals, A. E., Brody, M., Dillon, J., & Stevenson, R. B. (2014). Convergence between science and environmental education. Science, 344(6184), 583–584. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1250515 

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How I interpret nature through art

When it comes to nature interpretation, I think one of the reasons it’s so popular is because nature is beautiful. When you wake up early in the summer and see dew on all the grass. Or when you take a walk through a forest in October and every tree has different coloured leaves. Nature is a gift that needs protection as we step into a climate crisis and global warming. 

There are many gifts in life; you may have heard of the gift of passion, or the gift of story. However, today we are going to focus on the gift of beauty. The gift of beauty is when interpretation instills the ability for people to sense the beauty in the world around them, and when it does, there is a spiritual uplift. This uplift is what drives resource protection and preservation (Beck et al., 2018). I think a simpler way to explain the gift of beauty is that feeling you get when you see something absolutely breathtaking. It doesn’t matter if it's a picture, place, or person, it is that feeling of being stunned. The gift of beauty is the ability to feel that way and express those emotions, while also wanting to protect the environment around you. I know that when I find the most beautiful place while on a hike, I get that feeling of wanting to take a picture and hoping that it never changes. To protect this place I’ll pick up trash I find on the ground, and I’ll watch where I step to make sure not to crush anything. 

I love art, and it is something I am very passionate about. I love painting, drawing and photography and I find that I love to use nature as my inspiration. One of the effective ways to be an interpreter is through using tangible items to advance the meanings of intangible moments that are associated with them (Beck et al., 2018). One of the reasons I love photography is because it can capture those special moments with a camera. If you take a photo of a sunset, you can look back and remember the moment through that photo. This is a form of making intangible moments somewhat tangible. I think this is a very powerful interpretation skill that is used so frequently in nature interpretation. 

When I interpret nature through art, I always start by going outside and finding something that makes me feel something. Most of the time I capture moments that make me happy, but sometimes it's moments that make me feel grateful, amazed, sad, shocked and more. From here I capture this moment that made me feel something. Sometimes I paint it if I feel as though the texture of the area or item I am capturing is needed to interpret it. I like to draw it if I know that drawing it in black and white will enhance the beauty. I’ll take a photo if I know that I want to save this moment just the way it is. Art thrives from interpretation, and I think that's the beauty of it. One of the reasons I love nature interpretation so much is because certain things can have different meanings to other people. Visual arts allow people to interpret the “beauty and complexity” of a certain place (Beck et al., 2018). 

This has been one of my favourite blog posts, as it combines two of my passions! I have attached a bunch of my art below! See you next week!

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

Pictures I took on my camera!

Drawings I made from a camping trip in 2020!

Paintings I made a couple years ago!

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Hi Hana!

Your description of the gift of beauty was wonderfully put, and I completely agree! Your examples of just how it can inspire you to want to conserve the environment were very relatable to me and helped me understand exactly what the textbook meant better. 

I also related a lot to your experiences with interpreting nature through art as an artist. Reading your artistic process was especially great for me, as I love trying to understand what someone is thinking when they create a piece—your drawings and photos are gorgeous, by the way :>. Drawing in black and white and focusing on texture to present things is a lovely way of conveying the beauty of the environment. 

As someone who has never tried photography outside of just taking random pictures when something looks pretty, I loved reading your descriptions of environmental photography. Thinking of the pictures as a sort of eternal snapshot of things just the way they are in the moment is an especially powerful thought, and I like how it recontextualizes photographs as their own method of preservation. Through photography, you’re preserving not just how things look in that moment but also how you felt in that moment, which I think is beautiful.

Your post gave me a lot to relate to and a lot to think about. Art is such a great way to interpret nature for oneself and to share that interpretation with others. I look forward to hearing from you next week!

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Nature Interpretation Through Art

Hello again everyone!

This week I will be answering the prompt of who I am to interpret nature through art and how I interpret the “gift of beauty.” 

As defined by our textbook, the gift of beauty is the ability of environmental interpretation to allow people to sense the beauty in their natural surroundings (Beck et al., 2018). One outcome of having been given the gift of beauty is for people to feel inspired and bolstered spiritually, which drives people to care for their surroundings and encourage their conservation (Beck et al., 2018). I think that the way I interpret this can be described in two ways. The first way that I interpret the gift of beauty is in the way that nature can calm and soothe someone. When you go on a walk and look out to nature to clear your head and feel that connection to the world around you is one of these gifts. The other way I interpret the gift of beauty is the inspiration one feels when looking at a gorgeous landscape or a single creature, whether that be for conservation or for creating works of art. 

Art is something I hold near and dear to my heart, despite being a science major. Much like nature, art is something that I seek out to clear my head and relax, which I think compounds the effects when combined. I don’t often draw nature (I’m a mostly character artist when it comes to professional work) but I believe the times I have have profoundly impacted the way I interpret nature through art. One of the first pieces of art I had to create in my high school class was a recreation of a Group of Seven painting—Island Georgian Bay by Franklin Carmichael. Recreating this art piece was interesting for me because I had to try and get in the mind of the person creating it in order to mimic them. What did they actually see? How did they stylize it? What did they want to portray with their art? How were they feeling? These questions and more rattling around in my head while I struggled to blend the cheap, horribly saturated oil pastels helped me to realize that paintings of nature weren’t just about recreating the image of a pretty place leaf by leaf. The stylized elements and artistic choices helped convey a different kind of gift of beauty—I wasn’t just looking at a place, I was looking at how it felt to be there. To see the fluffy leaves and the marbled rocks, to feel the wind and the water. As I was drawing I found myself wanting to convey that sense of beauty myself. I think this experience helped me to realize how I can view nature through an art piece. 

In my personal work, I tend to stick to a form of nature I am more interested in—I draw sharks, and lots of them. One thing that I’m drawn to is drawing the different species and their unique traits, giving them a sort of character through that. The two I’ve attached below are a collared carpetshark and an angular roughshark. To me, creating these is my own gift of beauty for these creatures. I hope you like them!

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 5: Guiding Principles of Interpretation. In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World (pp. 81–103). Sagamore Venture.

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Blog 3: The invisible influence of privilege

As we begin self-reflection in our role as nature interpreters, the concept of privilege becomes a crucial aspect. Privilege, as Peggy McIntosh introduced which I have incorporated into my working definition, can be visualized as an invisible, weightless backpack of helpful, unearned assets carried by each individual, often unaware of their existence. It is not something that can be earned but instead inherited, giving someone a head start and an invisible advantage over those not afforded the same opportunities.

To understand privilege, one must engage in an honest, open-minded examination of the characteristics and opportunities they've been afforded. It's an acknowledgment of the advantages one possesses that others may lack equal access to. In my own reflection, I recognize elements of my privilege—being a white, middle-class girl with access to education, extracurricular activities, healthcare, and housing. These factors have positively influenced my journey, subtly shaping the trajectory of my life.

In the realm of nature interpretation, recognizing privilege is crucial. Educational backgrounds, geographical locations, cultural identities, financial status, time availability, and accessibility are all privileges that vary among individuals. Education significantly shapes nature interpretation, enhancing both experiential knowledge and interpretative abilities. The geographic location of where one lives profoundly influences exposure to diverse environments, impacting one's understanding of nature. Cultural identity adds another layer, enriching the interpretative experience with traditional knowledge, while individuals from marginalized communities may face overlooked narratives. Financial status and time availability also influence privilege, as individuals with limited resources must allocate their time and money toward basic necessities such as shelter, food, or family commitments, restricting their ability to embark on ecotourism adventures, attend educational workshops, or invest in outdoor gear. Additionally, accessibility emerges as a substantial but often overlooked privilege. Individuals with disabilities may encounter barriers in accessing natural spaces, restricting their participation in nature interpretation activities. Meanwhile, those with the privilege of physical mobility may take for granted the ease with which they can navigate trails, parks, or wilderness areas.

While I've highlighted only a few examples of privilege, the key takeaway is that everyone possesses different privileges, subtly shaping how each person interacts with the natural world. This awareness significantly influences our conversations and decisions in nature interpretation, guiding the way we connect with diverse audiences. Just remember that acknowledging our privileges doesn't diminish our experiences; instead, it serves as a reminder that others may be carrying different backpacks on their nature interpretation journeys.

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Hi Skylar!

Your post described very well the many ways that different privileges can influence how someone accesses and views nature interpretation. I think what you’ve brought up is very important to consider for nature interpretation as a whole, as the ultimate goal should be to reduce or completely get rid of these barriers caused by privilege. In an ideal world, everyone would be able to and feel comfortable accessing nature interpretation. As we’ve seen from our readings, nature interpretation has many benefits both for people and the environment, so we should be striving to make sure it is as free from barriers as possible.

Something that I’m sure others have mentioned is how to dismantle these barriers, which is certainly a hard question that doesn’t always have a clear and simple answer. Some methods are more tangible, such as making buildings and trails accessible for mobility devices or hiring more diverse employees so people of all backgrounds feel comfortable with staff. There are some aspects of privilege, however, that I feel are harder to work around. One that you mentioned is affordability and time. While it would be nice to make nature interpretation free, I’m sure that that’s not a catch-all answer due to overhead costs for maintaining most areas. I also would struggle to come up with how to fix someone not having enough time to visit natural environments without completely reshaping how society functions. Ultimately, though, I think it’s important that we do our best moving forward to acknowledge these privileges like we have done this week and work to level the playing field for everyone. 

Thank you for the insightful post!

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Privilege and Nature Interpretation

Hi again everyone!

The blog post prompt for this week is what role “privilege” plays in nature interpretation, as well as what our own working definition of privilege is—something I have personally been thinking about a bit already while reading the textbook. 

To start I think it would be best for me to define what I think privilege is. Based on my reading of “Helping teachers unpack their “invisible knapsacks”” I would define privilege as having more advantages, benefits, rights, or opportunities than others. This article also points out that privileges are often granted by the circumstances of one’s birth and are not always earned, which while not necessarily a part of my overall definition I feel important to acknowledge in a discussion about privilege in nature interpretation (Gallavan, 2005). 

As for what role I think privilege plays in nature interpretation, I think it is actually something that would be quite pronounced in many different ways. One of the ways I could think of is that not everyone has access to nature interpretation in the first place, as they may not be able to afford to go to places that offer interpretation due to a different economic background. Another thing to think about is that some people might feel uncomfortable or out of place in these areas that offer nature interpretation due to a lack of social privileges. These factors already make nature interpretation less accessible as a result of privilege, but there are even more that the textbook readings made me consider. 

One such aspect of privilege discussed by the textbook is that the knowledge of how to even access nature interpretation is a privilege itself (Beck et al., 2018). People who are unaware of or have not been taught what to do or where to go to access nature interpretation lack this privilege, again creating a barrier (Beck et al., 2018). The opportunity to access nature interpretation and the benefits that accompany it are an example that fits within my previously described working definition of privilege. 

A final yet important role of privilege in nature interpretation I think focuses on the interpreters themselves. It is unlikely that anyone performing nature interpretation will not have some privileges, whether it be their race, economic background, gender, sexuality, or any other of the myriad of possibilities. For this reason, privilege and the way it influences how someone views the world may also in turn influence what they interpret and how they communicate their messages. It is important to be aware of this aspect of privilege, as well as the aforementioned ones, in interpreting nature for the public to try and not alienate anyone from the experience.

I feel like these are some of the major ways that privilege influences nature interpretation, though I’m sure ironically my own privilege has left many more that I’m not aware of. I look forward to reading other people’s perspectives on this!

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 7: Serving Diverse Audiences. In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World (pp. 127–158). Sagamore Venture. Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks". Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36. https://link-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9fe2f151

[jtenvs3000w24]

Ideal Interpretation

Through the textbook readings my view of interpreters not just through an environmental lens but as a whole has changed. Where previously when I heard of an interpreter, I would’ve thought of a person who relays information in a different language, and specifically an environmental interpreter as Someone similar to a teacher. Now when I see or hear the word interpreter I now think of a person, similar to a guide that helps people experience through as many facets and senses what something has to offer.

My ideal role as an interpreter would be to help people experience the environment now. While also making people aware of the importance of the environment, its ecosystem and all its components, as well as the ways they can help sustain it for future use both individually and as a community. I guess I would say the role I envision would be somewhat similar to a sustainable environmental interpreter. Combining some aspects of a sustainable systems and remediation initiatives to help heal and nurture a healthier long-lasting environment while also allowing the enjoyment of the environment currently, in the present without further harming it.

Location wise for my role as my perfect interpreter job I imagine it would be in an environmental location where there is a need to bring awareness. Maybe somewhere like Alberta where Caribou populations are on the decline and at times extirpated. Or maybe in British Columbia giving guided interpretation in the Boreal Forest while also making visitors aware of the decline in forests and ecosystem diversity due to deforestation. For these types of areas or scenarios I would imagine that working in or for a national park would be an ideal setting. Doing do would allow me to interpret to a wide audience of visitors for the park while also managing somehow to incorporate protection of these environmental amenities in Canada. Depending on the position it may be easier to protect not only specific national parks and surrounding areas, but diversity and species abundances as well.

Tools I imagine I would need to reach my idealistic interpreter position would of course be this class. Through ENVS 3000 Nature Interpretation, I would gain hands on experience for interpreting nature a wide audience and a variety of audience demographics. First through blog posts which let me practice writing for academic audiences outside of a formal writing setting. A rather welcomed change of pace considering all the academic and scientific papers I’m sure many fellow students had also had to write. And second through the two podcasts which are targeted to children, an audience of a lower comprehension level. And adults, an audience of a possibly similar comprehension level to academics but who are less informed. As I continue on my education and Co-op through schooling, I imagine I will also be able to pick up a variety of other environmental specific skills that will allow me to become a better nature interpreter and environmental scientist. I will also be able to build upon my interpretation skills and add new viewpoints and knowledge, reshaping my opinions.

[skenvs3000w24]

Hi there!

I really liked reading your post, especially since we have pretty different areas of interest when it comes to our ideal roles in environmental interpretation. Personally, I’m more of an aquatics person, so I love to read the perspectives of people who are more interested in forests or other terrestrial ecosystems. Of course all of these different areas are important and have such different yet rich histories and cultures surrounding them, which makes it so important to have people who are passionate about interpretation for them! While I am not all too knowledgeable about the boreal forest or caribou populations, they certainly sound like important subjects that will need someone who cares about them to provide necessary context to the public moving forward.

One thing you brought up that I really liked was how these posts and our other projects can help us to build skills that will be necessary for any interpreting roles we may have in the future. It really is important to not just think about getting an assignment like these posts done, but to also consider what skills you can potentially build from them and why you might be asked to do them in the first place. I agree that these posts and our podcast assignments will help to build our skills in communication and interpretation in a way that will help us to be better at those roles in the future.

I look forward to reading more from you, have a great week