Nature's Voice

My name is Stephanie, and I am a studying Wildlife Biology and Conservation at the University of Guelph, with a minor in French! Why you may ask? Well thats simple, I watched a movie! Yup I decided I wanted to study Wildlife Biology and Conservation because I watched the movie We Bought a Zoo. Its really good you should go check it out. Aside from that I just an adventurer discovering new things and hoping to share that with everyone I meet, While learning from them too!

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The Gifts Received and the Responsibilities that Come with Them

Spark, revelation, beauty, joy, passion and hope. These are not only six of the “gifts” that a nature interpreter can possess, but they are my personal code of ethics and beliefs that I have learned to carry, and will carry with me, into the future wherever my path may take me. Over the last twelve weeks I have not only learned and obtained multiple skills and tools, but I have learned that I had already had some of them in my possession without my realization. When I became aware of the skills I had acquired from the gifts I possess, I now understand what Uncle Ben really meant when he said the famous words “with great power comes great responsibility”. In the final blog post of the semester I am going to delve into my personal ethics, values and beliefs and describe how I believe we as nature interpreters have a great power to make change. To finish off, I am going to share which skills I have used in which circumstances that outline my optimal ability as a nature interpreter.

 In my very first blog post I reflected on how my first experience with the “spark” of nature was when I was younger when I went to my cottage and spent a few weeks camping during the summer. Although I didn’t outline it very well in that post, I believe that the “spark” is the basis of a person’s entire experience with nature. It doesn’t have to happen when you’re young, but I believe for you to truly start your personal journey with nature you need to have this “spark”. For me it was spending time in nature when I was young, this led me to observe and experience my surroundings more, and eventually allow me to appreciate and then choose a career path that will help preserve it one day. As stated in the first chapter of the textbook, effective interpretation allows for the trigger of brain paths and stimuli and for the information to be processed and stored for later use. This is the first step someone must take in order to become a nature interpreter.

This picture of my sister and myself was taken on one of my various camping trips where I created the basis of my journey as a nature interpreter.

The Gift of Revelation is not one I knew I possessed until taking this course. My mom and dad were both the ones who bestowed this onto me through our experiences while camping. The Gift of Revelation is helping people make the connection between the tangible (what they can see, hear, smell, feel and taste) and the intangible (aesthetics, beauty, etc.) of the environment around them and what it means emotionally and mentally to the people within the system. Giving people this gift is like “peeling back the layers of the world” as I like to call it. Giving people this gift is probably the most important step in their nature journey because without the understanding of how important something is to other people you come to a dead end. When you give people this gift you allow them to understand why it’s important to protect an endangered species of plant because it may provide a vital ecosystem service, or why not to hunt a species of fish because it is important to Indigenous Peoples’ culture. This is the start of giving people the power to change their ways and to aid nature.

Part of gifting the “spark” to another person is being able to find common ground with them to draw them into your world. This building block translates perfectly into The Gift of Beauty. If the “spark” is drawing them in, then The Gift of Beauty is making sure their mentality is permanently within the world of nature interpreters. In chapter thirteen of the textbook there is discussion of the definition of beauty. The topic of beauty and the parameters of defining it are one of the most subjective things in the world. How you define it as an individual is an extremely personal and intimate act. That’s why as an interpreter I do not waste time trying to convince others that what I view is beautiful, but rather I open up and show the more intimate side of myself and share my outlook on nature with them. This enables people to put more of their trust in me, as well as it allows them an opportunity to show their vulnerable to others, enabling others to share their views on the beauty of the world. This creates a very strong trust and bond among up and coming nature interpreters.

This photo was taken on the nature walk in the greenhouses near the UC. The beauty of this flower opened my eyes to how important greenhouses are.

The Gift of Joy is one that can be traced back thousands of years to philosophers such as Aristotle. The feeling of pure joy is one that can be hard to come across, but we as nature interpreters have the power to take steps towards creating that for ourselves and others. Rich feelings of enjoyment can come from pushing our bodies and minds in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile. As discussed in lecture, while guiding people as nature interpreters we should encourage people to step out of their comfort zones and push themselves to try something new. Whether it be canoeing for the first time, or trying to identify different wildflowers, once we encourage people to attempt new things and we push them in the right direction, they will voluntarily push themselves to new boundaries. This will lead to them experiencing joy out of the new activity. We have the ability to change a person’s outlook on their experience and nature as a whole.

 One of the final steps and one of the most important steps is using The Gift of Passion to pass on the knowledge and experience you have as a nature interpreter. I believe this gift should be renamed “The Gift of Imparting”. Passion comes from the very heart and soul of what you love and what you cherish and what you want to protect most in this world. Through spark, revelation, beauty and joy you have gone through the journey of becoming a nature interpreter, peeling back the layers of the world and appreciating it and understanding it more than you had at the beginning. Once you have the knowledge of a nature interpreter you have such a rich understanding of the world that you want to protect it. Because of your passion towards nature, I find it is my duty and responsibility to share this passion with other people so they too start their journey in becoming a nature interpreter.

Finally we must look towards the future. The Gift of Hope is the most powerful tool we as nature interpreters have because hope transcends the physical world and is something that people can feel inside them and share together. To look past the human destruction and degradation we see in the present day, we must believe there is hope in the future. Using the “gifts” as tools we are able to create hope for the future. I am in the field of environmental science because I want to help the world one day. I have used many of these gifts in the past and I will use them all in the future in all aspects of my life.

“To express hope by some star, the eagerness of a soul by a sunset radiance. Certainly there is nothing in that of stereoscopic realism, but is it not something that actually exists?” - Vincent Van Gogh

I believe Van Gogh wanted people to look past the woes of present day life, and into the future, seeing unimaginable possibilities. This is my responsibility as a nature interpreter and as someone in the field of environmental sciences, to use my gifts to work towards a hopeful future.

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You did such an amazing job of summarizing each of those gifts, it made me see them in a different light! I especially liked how you said the Gift of Passion should be changed to the Gift of Imparting. I fully agree with that, and although all the gifts of interpretation are equally important I think the Gift of Passion is key in many aspects. This is because without passion, the message you convey will most likely not resonate as strongly with the person you are leaving that knowledge with. When someone is passionate about something, it causes a chain reaction, provoking those who witnessed this passion to wonder why this person was so passionate about it, and then think of something they wish to be as passionate in. 

When you mentioned that these gifts are simply your beliefs and ethics I couldn't agree with you more. Even though my beliefs or ethics were not specifically the Gifts of Interpretation they most definitely tied into one or more Gifts of interpretation. After reading your blog post it lead me to believe that as they were writing this book “The Gifts of Interpretation” and the reasoning behind why it is so effective, lies in the fact that these “Gifts” are the beliefs of the nature interpreters who wrote this book. Beliefs and ethics may have a different meaning for each of us, or be applied to our lives in various ways, but if you think about it, the underlying message of all beliefs and ethics are actually the same. They are all about our relations with other people. 

“The Gifts of Interpretation” expands upon various traits nature interpreters should learn to possess, due to the fact that it will help them better their program. But if you dive deep into each of them you will come to find a link between a belief of yours or even a personal ethic! Take the Gift of The Spark for example, this talks about how each of us has a moment that first sparks our interest in nature and all it has to offer, because of something someone told or showed us, or just through an experience we had! This I see as my belief of everyone being entitled to learn and being able to respect how everyone learns. The Gift of The Spark reveals that no matter what age or education level nature will always speak to you and teach you so many things, and this should be available to all! 

Your quote by Van Gogh, took me a couple tries of reading it to fully understand it.your description is similar but also slightly different from mine. I understood it as the indescribable feelings we have like hope and eagerness cannot only be described through words, but only fully captured by the nature around us ! 

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The Journey, and Why You Shouldn’t Stop Believing

What striked me this week was Personal ethic, this is a fairly big topic as I find ethics or personal beliefs are not always something that can truly be freely expressed. However, as a nature interpreter it is an important tool to help you show your appreciation for nature, but also to relate to the way others appreciate nature. The idea of having ethics or beliefs is something that everyone shares.

I would say my personal ethics which relate to nature and interpretation, is first and foremost respect! This is a major principle for me, because although I may sound like a second grade teacher, this concept has always directed how I aim to treat people. I always think how can anyone expect to be respected if you do not give it to others. The first area in which respect is key for me in nature interpretation is to those I am are interpreting to! It is not my goal to show off to those I meet and to make them feel as though I am so much smarter than them, because in fact even though I may know a lot about nature those I meet could have a vast amount of knowledge in other subjects. The best part of nature interpretation and meeting so many people is the many things you can gain from each of these people!

If you do not develop this trust and earn the respect of the people you are speaking to, they will in no way be as receptive to what you share. Respect for the nature around you is another way in which I use my ethics and beliefs as I interpret nature. 

(Rattlesnake Point, Milton. By gaining people’s trust and respect you can push them to escape their comfort zone)

One of the main reasons we bring people outside to learn more about our amazing world is to enhance their respect for it! When someone respects something they care for it, my goal as a nature interpreter is to not only teach the art of appreciation, but the art of appreciation through respect. More importantly, I must also show this respect as an example, not simply due to my position as a nature interpreter but simply as someone who loves nature and will work hard to preserve it. I am an example to those around be, and if I don’t practice what I preach, why would someone even bother to listen?

In light of this, if I were to ask you was respect a personal ethic of mine or a belief, what would you say?

I know I would be pretty confused because frankly they seem to be the same, respect could very well be a belief or an ethic!

How about if we now turn the tables towards you? In one sentence describe,

What do you believe?

What are your ethics?

For me personally, a belief is much stronger as it has a personal connection to you. Ethics on the other hand are usually shared by more than one person in a common way. So in terms of being asked what do I believe, and how has that developed. I can most simply say, 

(Me bravely holding a praying mantis in the University of Guelph Arboretum)

I believe in beauty, and in taking a moment to take it all in, I believe in nature as a healing tool to energize and lift your spirits! I believe that anyone who sets their minds and hearts to it can accomplish anything, and how you may ask will I use these beliefs as a nature interpreter? Well that is in the answer as to how they have developed.

I have come to learn that your beliefs, although they may not be shared by everyone can be a form of inspiration! When you believe in something long enough and allow your actions to mimic this belief, people begin to question. This is where you tell them your story, do not impose your beliefs on others, that’s not what they are for, rather use those beliefs to spark your excitement and your interest. Who knows that could also lead to you igniting a spark in someone else!

With this, as do many things, comes great responsibility. I have come to learn that as a nature interpreter it is your job, to ignite that spark and provide them with a way to keep that burning. You can easily be responsible for establishing that person’s passion, but what does it amount to if after they leave it becomes extinguished? 

Even more so, the responsibility of those who have joined you on your walk, or camp trip are now your responsibility, sure they may be older than you but you are the one who knows the environment in which they are in, therefore giving you the upper hand and the most responsibility. You need to be prepared for any situation, whether it be an injury or a question you don’t know how to answer. As a nature interpreter people are entrusting you to take them o an adventure and to bring them out of their comfort zone whilst bringing them back home safe as well.

The approaches I think are most suitable for me in relation to the Gifts of interpretation are the Gift of Story, or the Gift of Provocation. I love telling stories, because this is a way I can relate to people, through my experiences people can better understand what I am trying to inform them of. If the story reflects how I want them to see nature it gives them a real life example by also providing them with an open platform to share their stories as well!

The Gift of provocation is really close to me as well! I am the kind of person who loves to be provided with suggestions of what they can do next after they have learned so much. In this way, I try to always work to provide this to others as well. If you give people the tools to take action, they are more likely to do so, since you have taken some of work off of them. 

(Forks of Credit Provincial park )

These are the abilities I have learned work the best for me but this course has taught me to learn more about those abilities that I do not have, and to work to use those as well!

I want to know what are the best ways you interpret nature to your friends, family or even for work. Not only in terms of your gifts of interpretation but even a really amazing experience that made you realize that talent or ability!  

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Trees, Trees, and More Trees!

You know those beautiful monstrous creations of nature that we see all around us, aka trees, these creations are so much more than a plant that gives us oxygen! Although this is vital for survival, these trees especially the ones on campus have stories to share! Thanks to the walk that took us through the different trees across campus, I can no longer look at those two large Austrian Pines (I think that’s what they were called) between Mackinnon and the Library the same.

This group showed me a new side of campus, and showed some great gifts of interpretation. They showed the Gift of Story, precision, and Joy, however they lacked the Gift of Provocation.

The Gift of Story speaks to having knowledge but presenting it in an imaginative and intriguing way. The interpreter should tell the story of what they are interpreting with typical aspects of writing like; humor, metaphors, anecdotes, examples, etc. This group used the knowledge they acquired to tell the story of specific trees on campus and their purpose on these grounds. One of my favourite parts was when they spoke about the tulip tree, and the cork tree! The tulip tree was a large tree that in fact has nothing really to do with tulips, but rather lilies! As they told this story I found myself intrigued, but also happy that I now know this little fact and the story behind the lilies that grow on the tree. This Gift is quite powerful, as is said in The Gifts of Interpretation book, it has the power to connect us to all time periods of our lives and others, or in this case the living trees around us each day. This group also provided a connection with the past of the cork tree by speaking of its uses and how the core or roots of it are in fact the softest part.

Next the Gift of Precision, is sometimes a hard one to tackle. Today we are constantly being bombarded with information from every aspect and to be able to sort the important facts is quite hard. This group had a database of about 6000 different trees (I’m pretty sure) to choose from. Their choice of trees to talk to us about were trees that are pretty evident in our everyday life but also ones that we may not have taken much notice to. They spoke about relative information in relation to the location of the tree and its role in that area, or why it may have been planted here. They were not too over zealous and knew that these giant trees didn’t need to be exaggerated, they stated the facts they knew and did not try to over exaggerate this.

The Gift of Joy.. This is something that is quite obvious, you can tell if the interpreter is excited to share their knowledge or not. This group really demonstrated this, trees are not the liveliest thing to talk about, but they made their stories interesting. They were happy to provide us with more information on these trees. They made us interact with them, and brought the parts of the trees that brought them joy to life when they told us about it!

However, the one gift I do believe they lacked was the Gift of Provocation. This gift I believe is quite important, it is really important to leave you group with something for when they leave. You want to make sure they have an action to follow through on or something to take home to remind them of what they learned. I think this group could have left us with something better at the end. We did acquire the information they gave us and they told us where we could find it, but we could have been given more! They could have left us with the reminder that these trees are a major part of our campus and make it as beautiful as it is, so it is important we take care of them!

Reference:

Beck, L., & Cable, T. T. (2011). The Gifts of Interpretation. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing. 

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A Walk to Remember

Much like my fellow classmates, I was not excited about the weather on Saturday, November 10, but I was excited to see everyone’s Jane’s walks. Everyone did an amazing job, and I dare say I learned some new things! I’m glad I stayed until the end of the day, for Group 2’s walk on ethnobotany in the Guelph Arboretum (which is the walk I’ll be debriefing in this week’s post). To me, this walk had numerous gifts mentioned in Beck and Cable’s ‘The Gifts of Interpretation’ (2011), but particularly the gifts of spark, technology, and passion.

Source: (Wild Carrot, Illinois Wildflowers, 2017) 

At one of the stops we were taught the difference between wild carrot and water hemlock; one is a yummy vegetable and the latter is a poisonous plant. Wild carrots are also called Queen Anne’s Lace, as the flowers are lace-like, and have a purple/red floret. The interpreter at this stop told us the story of Queen Anne sewing lace and pricking her finger, and this story was very effective in helping me understand the difference between the two plants.

The gift of spark: The interpreters related ethnobotany to the group through provoking memories we may have with the subject. At the last stop at the maple grove, I recalled a personal experience tapping maple trees at a friend’s cottage every year when I was much younger. This was triggered by the interpreter’s story of her own experience tapping maples, and through surveying the audience on whether they have had similar experiences. Most Canadians have had some form of exposure to maple syrup, making this a very effective spark for interest in the subject.

The gift of technology: The interpreters also incorporated technology into the interpretive program with photographs on a tablet. This incorporation of technology did not take away from the friendliness of human interaction (the way full integration of interpretive technology can) but was an easy way to show pictures of plants being discussed, and in a sustainable way as well! The technology was engaging, dependable, and revealed something we could not have seen without its help, covering the three elements needed from technology.

The gift of passion: Lastly, the gift of passion was clearly present in all the interpreters. A passion for the resource, people, and inspiring others is an essential ingredient for effective interpretation. The passion of an interpreter can lead to excitement and engagement in the students, which was evident throughout the walk.

From Csikszentmihalyi’s characteristics of Flow from the gift of Joy, I would add the incorporation of other senses into the characteristic of Involvement. It would have been interesting to see samples of the plants that were spoken about to see/smell/touch. The purpose of the walk was to teach 11th graders how to survive in the wild and providing real life examples of what should and should not be eaten would be super helpful.

Overall, it was a walk I would recommend to a friend, and don’t think the hot tea at the beginning of the walk didn’t go unappreciated!

Reference Beck, L., & Cable, T. T. (2011). The Gifts of Interpretation. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing.

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Let me just say that when I read your title, the first thing that popped into my head was the Nicholas Sparks book turned movie, A walk To Remember, which at first confused me but them once I got my head back into this weeks topic, made so much sense. 

I really enjoyed reading your opinion on this groups walk! I too was one of the ones who stayed the whole day until the end, and thanks to this walk and all the ones after lunch, I most definitely do not regret it. 

I agree with you on all the Gifts you said this group showed. I can personally relate to the maple syrup taping story as well, my parents and I used to go tapping every year with some family friends. For some reason, the day of the walk I was not thinking how beneficial it was that this group talked about the sugar maple tree, as it is something that most Canadians can relate to ! 

I do agree with you that they could have potentially improved their gift of Joy, but I do also think they could have improved on the Gift of Provocation. They did mention to us the common uses of all these trees and plants, however, I think it would have also been beneficial if they mentioned the importance of preserving these amazing plants and trees, or mentioning that further information or volunteer opportunities in the Arboretum could be found at the Arboretum center. 

Aside from this, I thouroughly enjoyed this walk as well and agree with all the gifts of interpretation you said they showed ! Im not too sure which gift this would fall into, but it was also really great how well this group was able to keep us engaged even though they were the final group  of the day when everyone was so tired and cold, and simply wanting to go home. They had a lot of really great and varying activities to keep us engaged ! 

Steph

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Films that teach us something about science

Movies have an undeniable impact on our view of the world. Some movies apply this lens to nature, and teach the general public concepts in new and interesting ways. Fictional movies certainly are able to do this, but in terms of relaying real stories, documentaries do it best.  Let’s talk about 3 in particular that I believe do this in a more provoking way.

Blackfish

Possibly one of the most obvious selections, the impact of Blackfish was one of the most significant societal reactions to a documentary in modern history. The movie struck a chord so deep, it accelerated the movement to boycott Seaworld, and by extension other marine zoos like MarineLand. Currently in Canada, people are celebrating the passing of the senate passing a bill which would ban whale and dolphin captivity. The bill, which mainly would hit primarily the Vancouver Aquarium and Marineland, received a wide amount of public support much accredited to the widely released film. This movie didn’t just uncover the horrific conditions that marine animals face in captivity, it also educated people on the majesty of orca whales; their intelligence, psychology and habitat requirements. If you watched and were captivated by Blackfish, the Cove will fascinate you even more (but it is not for the faint of heart).

Chasing Ice

One of my go-to answers to the intimidating question “what’s your favourite movie?”, this one had me tied in from the get. Not only combining the interpretive magic of photography and storytelling, this film also justifies the result. The trials and tribulations of the Extreme Ice Survey are brought to a wider audience, along with the incredible talent of James Balog. Footage of the largest calving event ever caught on tape and the explanation of black soot melting holes and accelerating the diminishment of glaciers are not things I will soon forget.

An Inconvenient Truth

Undeniably the movie that put me on the path to studying environmental science, Al Gore broke down concepts of climate change in a way that my seventh grade brain can understand - and then get super stressed out about. The original even included a Simpsons-esque animation to explain global warming. For me, this movie was an introduction to concepts like acid rain, greenhouse gases, and meteorology. And Al Gore presented all the ideas in a soft but urgent tone that inspired learning. Sigh, if only the popular vote decided the president. I didn’t find An Inconvenient Sequel as necessarily captivating, likely because my optimism was more easily induced back then. I’d be interested to know if any of you watched each a few years apart and felt the same way.

In all three films, the crossover of storytelling and conveying scientific information blends perfectly to captivate an audience. Though the ideas presented aren’t always the most accurate, and often come with criticism, they are presented in thought provoking and simple ways that much of the general public would be able to understand. What are your favourite documentaries? And what do you think makes them so great?

More faves: The Cove, Before the Flood, any episode of Planet Earth, and literally anything with Bill Nye in it.

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Hey!

I myself am also a big movie buff and I am always looking for really great movies to watch, so I will definitely be adding all of these to my list ! 

I too remember when everyone was boycotting Sea World, and the captivity of whales and being so confused as to where all of this has come about, and then someone mentioned this documentary! It really opened up my eyes to these scenarios. 

It is really powerful to see how movies can so greatly impact the views and lives of people across the world. It is really important to get messages like these across and movies or documentaries are such powerful mediums for this. Many people enjoy watching movies and will usually be more willing to sit through a movie than a talk. I always admire the ability of people who make these kinds of thought provoking documentaries and movies because it takes a lot of courage to challenge things that are so accepted by society.

One of my favourite movies is the documentary done by Leonardo DiCaprio called Before the Flood, it was really motivating to me, and got me thinking about climate change in a very different light! 

Funny enough I also realized I wanted to go into Wildlife Biology from a movie, We Bought A Zoo. I really love the movie and it just showed me more about my appreciation for animals !

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Some Food For Thought... Literally!

So a common struggle I find for myself when I go out hiking, is packing the right amount and kind of food. I am a big foodie, I love eating good healthy food and am a sucker for dark chocolate. So this week I’ll be going over, the foods I like to bring while I’m outdoors, whether it’s on a day hike or a weekend camp trip.

(My mom and I eating some yummy mac and cheese while camping)

While hiking or camping you would probably bring different food compared to if you were staying in a hotel! While spending a day or weekend outdoors you want food that is easy to pack, doesn’t need a lot of refrigeration, while also providing you with the protein and vitamins you need! Another thing to keep in mind is the duration of your time outdoors, you want to be sure you have enough food to sustain yourself for that whole time. Plus a little extra never hurts, you can never be too safe in the event that possibly get lost!

So now let’s get into the good stuff…. THE FOOD!

Usually when I go out on a hike my favourite go to snack is trail mix, funny enough I am usually on a trail when eating this! Trail mix is a great source of protein with all those nuts. The fruit and dark chocolate (if you choose to put it in) are a great source of sweetness to give you that extra boost! Trail mix is really easy to carry in a jar or container. Fruit is also my go to when going for a day hike especially apples or oranges, you don’t have to worry about them getting too squishy in your bag. Finally, granola bars are a great quick snack to bring that are really good for an energy boost!

Next up I’ll go into some great camping snacks and meals! Now this obviously depends on what you will be bringing to cook food on so I’ll try and keep it simple by just sticking with a fire.

So let’s talk breakfast, probably my favourite meal of the day! While camping my favourite breakfast food is overnight oatmeal, its easy to pack and you can pretty much put anything in it! I always do a good mix of peanut butter, banana, and some pumpkin or chia seeds and then add milk. Bagels or toast are also really great breakfast meals with peanut butter or cream cheese on it. 

Next up, lunch! For this one you could always go with the old fashioned sandwich, you can never go wrong with some yummy cheese, ham, avocado, spinach and tomato. But if you want to mix it up, quinoa is a really delicious lunch time snack as well! I like to add tomato’s, cucumber, feta, and olives and some chicken, with a little bit of Greek dressing! 

Alright, now its time for dinner, with this meal it can really be anything that can easily be packed, and is mainly up to your preferences, like all the other things I mentioned above. Usually, I will bring something warm like chili or a stew, you can just warm it up in a pot on the fire. Hamburgers are also a really great dinner. These are all fairly easy to make or easy to prepare before your trip!

Since this blog post was on food, it is also really important to mention the idea of leaving no trace. Sometimes the food we bring can come in packaging, so it is important to ensure all the packaging is thrown out and not left lying around. Try prepping your food before hand and bringing it in containers or jars! Another side of leave no trace that people often forget is the fire that the food was cooked on. It is ideal to leave as little disturbance to the areas you visited and that means being sure to properly put out your fire by dumping water on it or sand!

I hope this helped you realize that the food you bring outdoors doesn’t always have to be really bland simple food, it can really be anything as long as you have the proper equipment to cook it and prepare ahead of time! 

If you have any yummy recipes I would love to hear about them ! feel free to post the link in the comments !

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Tree tattoos

Picture a forest. What does it look like? How big is it? What types of trees are in it? What animals live there? How long has it been growing?

When you think of the forest, think of all the power that would be needed to take it down. The energy and force required to dominate more than just a few square kilometres is hard to imagine. But one thing in particular can do it in a more dramatic and sensational way than anything else. Wildfire.

Wildfires vary in their characteristics just as much as forests do. Their size, intensity, temperature, whether they reach the canopy or stay on the ground, the amount of smoke, the amount of damage. But before wildfire begins, the stage must be set. The recipe:

Forest fuels: dead and decaying plant matter and low lying trees.

Dry conditions: the longer since it has rained, the better.

Some wind: too much wind will blow out a flame before it even begins. Once a fire starts, high winds aggressively spread the fire.

Now with all those ingredients, a forest is in prime condition for an ignition. The ignition typically comes from one of two things: human causes (campfires, cigarette butts, intentional lighting) or lightning. After an ignition, how long it lasts and how far it goes depends on many different factors: the type of forest fuels, the density of the forest, the boundaries the fire encounters (forest breaks, water sources), the weather, the temperature, etc.

Why do we care about recreating an accurate record of fire? Wildfires are a significant part of our earth’s story. Fire has major impacts on our society and our ecosystems. For example, British Columbia this summer had the worst fire season on record. There were days that the sun wasn’t visible through the smoke, even in cities kilometers away from the nearest fires.

This map shows the hundreds of fires that were reported over the 2018 season.

Having information on historical wildfires will guide us in knowing how to best manage (or not manage) them in the future, and give us an understanding of our changing climate. Wildfires are monitored and tracked quite thoroughly these days, but they weren’t as well recorded in the past when humans had less technology and resources to do so.

Luckily, trees have a wonderful method of growth, that creates a ring each year, visible when you look at a cross section of it’s trunk.

Like humans, when trees are wounded, they react through biological strategies. Humans develop scabs to cover the injury while new skin develops, protecting it from infections. Eventually, we grow new skin and sometimes are left with a scar. This process happens with trees, and creates a history- or a chronology -of  when that tree was damaged. Scientists can decode this history, finding the approximate year and intensity of fires, by looking at tree rings and recording where there is younger wood and scars from fire. It’s like if each scar on your body was labelled with when you got it and why it’s there; the scar above my left eyebrow from a cycling wipeout in 2016, the mark below my knee from an aggressive shrub this summer.

Quick facts about fire scars:

It’s not always clear what is a scar and what isn’t, sometimes scars are confused with weird growth.

Hardwoods and conifers have different reactions to injury: hardwoods use chemical defenses, while conifers use both physical and chemical resistance. Some conifers will even grow extra cells after they are injured to produce this resistance (which is usually in the form of resin).

What season the fire was in can be determined from the tissue that is scarred; the position of the scar in the ring of that year can tell us an approximation of when the fire occurred. Trees also grow different types of tissues at different times of the year, early wood in the spring and latewood in the fall.

Scars aren’t always visible from the outside; the smaller the injury, the more likely you can’t see it from the exterior of the tree.

The power of abiotic things on forests are awe-inspiring. Massive, powerful, resilient forests clash with incredible forces of nature, and these battles are documented by the survivors. It’s our job to piece together the clues of damage and learn the story of what happened.

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Hey, 

I really enjoyed reading this post. I myself didn’t know too much about wildfires, seeing as though they are not a major concern usually in Ontario. I have heard a lot about them and always wondered what caused them or how it effected the forest, and you answered my questions ! 

Another interesting fact I learned is that trees get fire scars, I did not know this was something that happened, but it is so cool to be able to realize! That these great fires can leave severe impacts on the trees. 

I think it is also really important that you brought this up. Some of the times (i’m not sure the actual stats) these wildfires are started by humans who have started a fire in an area they are not supposed to, or a smoker simply dropped their cigarette without even thinking of the effects it could have. People need to be more aware of this because if they go to an area where wildfires are pretty common, one wrong mistake could be damaging. 

You also hinted at the fact of wildfires potentially being beneficial, I have heard of this but didn’t know too much about it. I would love to know a little more about how wildfires are potentially beneficial to forest stands!

I was also wondering have you experienced seeing a wildfire? If so I think that is so amazing, if not I really appreciate your interest in this powerful force of fire!

[spenvs3000-2018-blog]

Ohh How the Nature changes ...

In Canada we are so lucky to be able to experience all four seasons, although many people may not agree with me on this, I personally enjoy it and it’s part of what I find most amazing about nature. Throughout the year, we get to see the leaves change, the snow fall, and the flowers bloom. This cycle repeats each and every time, without fail.

The place I see this the most is when I’m up in Collingwood, Ontario.

Just recently I spent my weekend up their taking in the rainy, but colourful fall season. The Blue mountains always have such vibrant colours on the trees, and its contrast with the deep green of the grass on the hill make it all that much better. As everyone seems to know fall brings around the smell of cool air and worms on those rainy days. But what is so interesting is that for a season in which any things are dying off it is extremely colourful. Interestingly enough, the reason trees drop their leaves is because in the winter time there is a lot less sunlight and so they can’t preform photosynthesis (when plants take up sunlight and store it as energy), leaves being the part of the tree they use to do this, loose their function and so they drop the leaves because they are no longer needed!

(Collingwood, ON. View of The Blue Mountains in the fall from Blue Mountain Village)

Then about 2 or 3 months later when we are up there in the winter usually to snowboard, the mountains are covered with a white blanket of snow. Every living thing is pretty much on pause, there is very little movement or colour. This time of year is when you hear complete silence in nature, the birds aren’t chirping because most of them have migrated south, and most other animals have gone into hibernation. Everything is frozen and stilled.  

(Collingwood, ON. In the winter, view from the Scandinave Spa)

Then as the temperatures begin to warm, that frozen snow layer melts away, all the trees look bare and lifeless. But then with a little rain and some sunshine, green begins to appear as little buds on the tree, and a new season begins! Those leaves that fell off in the fall are now growing back prom these buds. The animals begin to emerge in search of food and water. This cycle of life has restarted after a long cold winter, and the resilience these plants and animals showed by withstanding the cold and by come back again each year leaves me dumbfounded.

Finally, summer comes, the sun is shinning everything is a bright green, people are outside, birds are chirping and that new start of the cycle in spring continues in the sweltering heat of summer. The plants and trees absorb as much sunlight as they can throughout this season to live throughout the winter.

(https://www.bluemountain.ca/mountain/discover-summer, Collingwood, ON is the summer, view from Blue Mountain Village)

This whole process or how plants and animals endure each of these seasons is incredible. They have adapted in many different ways to learn to search for food or store it, of how to keep warm with out the artificial heat that most humans enjoy over the winter. The intricacy of these organisms are so specific in order to benefit them in the best way possible. There is a reason these specific   plants and animals can live through each of the four seasons that Canada experiences, and I love knowing each of those ways or figuring out new ones!

So if you all know of some cool or interesting ways plants and animals live through these seasons, let me know! I would love to hear some interesting facts from you!

[cmenvs3000-2018-blog]

Music is a Little Loonie

Music is wherever a listener is willing to hear it in nature. Every single sound that is created by a falling leaf, or the wind through the trees, or the rain pounding the earth is a composition like none other. Much like beauty, this kind of music is completely open to interpretation. As the text for this course shows, it is up to a listener, or an interpreter, to find what makes it unique to the listener. Somebody who appreciates the song of a wild bird will hear nature in the springtime sound of the chickadee. Somebody who does not tune into this kind of music, will hear nothing but a distant sound.

For me, nature has found its way into every art form, even music. Especially in early instruments, there is some reliance found in some concepts of nature. For example, wind instruments rely on the resonance of the air flowing through their chambers. This sound mimics the way wind rushes through rocky outcrops or the hollow of a tree.

Nature is found in the very origin of many wind instruments. According to encyclopedia Britannica, it is thought that wind instruments were first created by blowing air through various natural objects, including branches, bone, shells, and various hollowed objects. Creating sounds with objects found in nature inspires curiosity in the user. Even now, children will often find ways to make sounds using sticks, rocks, or even just their bare hands. I recall as a child we would frequently attempt to make loon calls using our hands, trying to blow air through them just right.

Of course, I never succeeded. But alas, many people find success, amusement, and inspiration through such activities. Not only is nature involved in music through the materials we use, but it is also often the sound that we mimic. Whether it be through bird calls, or even modern synthesized sounds of wind or rushing waves that could be incorporated into music.

In case you’re interested in doing your own at home loon calls, just like me and my siblings did when we were young, here are some helpful pieces of information. First, let’s figure out which loon sound you would like to do. The Loon Preservation Committee has some helpful audios to identify different loon sounds. According to this, our hand version might just be a mixture of the wail and the tremolo call, which likely causes a lot of confusion in the loon community.

Now here is a helpful video (which I found on Youtube) of how to do the hand loon call. Give it a try and let me know if you can get it (but don’t offend any loons!)

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very instrumental First, I love the title of this post, I was a little confused to begin with but then it made sense as I continued to read.

I would have never looked into the history of music to understand and see how nature is in it, But in fact it makes so much sense. I love how you brought to light the idea of how wind instruments were inspired or simply created by how the air traveled through them, similar to how the wind would sound through a hollow tree! Do you play a wind instrument, if so is that what brought about this thought? 

Doing nature interpretation over the summer I always struggled with how to incorporate activities other than fact based quizzes. I for some reason never thought of learning bird calls. We did do a walk based on bird calls though but we played the sounds instead of learning to make them! So I will now definitely be using this over the summer thank you so much for giving me the tools to do it! I will also definitely we using this as some sort of signal with my siblings as well when we are out camping! 

However, one question I do have is do you have a specific song that reminds you of nature ? A lot of my friends and family including myself thought of folk songs or songs that were very instrumental, is that the same for you ? 

Steph 

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What Do You Hear?

If you ask someone to describe the sounds of nature, what will follow is usually some very creative sound effects such as woosh, a whistle maybe, or even the drip drop of water. Everything in Nature is music. The sound of the wind between the pines, the birds chirping early in the morning, and the rush of the waves all play a part in the soundtrack of nature.

Without the sounds I strongly believe nature would not be the same, but then again these sounds cannot be removed from nature, which is amazing. They are a part of the so called “silence” of nature which in fact is not silence but I think its rather calming sounds that brings silence to our crazy world.

On this note, when you are a nature interpreter, you want to tell everyone about the facts of nature, how it works, or even point out really beautiful views…… BUT sometimes the most effective way to show someone and get them to connect with nature is to stop and just listen to what they hear around them.

(Forks of Credit Provincial Park, Sitting by rushing rivers or any body of water always makes me feel so calm, the power of the water just brings me so much peace)

This is because in my opinion, sounds can evoke memories in people that you may not know about, so the best way is to just let them relate those sounds and memories themselves. Then will they have that lasting connection your role will be to just bring them to where they can hear the sounds provide them with some background information and let the rest unfold.

Now, in terms of nature in music, that was a little harder for me to figure out, so for this I outsourced. I went around to some family and friends and asked them, what songs have nature in them to you. Interestingly enough, everyone’s response was fairly similar. In instrumental or rather folk music is where they most heard nature. I myself resonated with this because nature in music to me, reminds me of Celtic music. I am not Celtic but I do love the sounds of the music and what they talk about.

The landscape is a common theme, where they describe the rolling hills, the cliffs where the ocean crashes against and the green they see all around them. A song in particular that reminds me of this is Rare Old Mountain Dew by The Dubliners

On the other hand my friend, said that the instrumental music from the hobbit reminds her of nature, thinking about this and having had watched the hobbit before I realized she was right! The instrumental sounds bring me to the lush green home of the hobbits and new Zealand really !

(The Misty Cold Mountains - The Hobbit)

I myself am not musically gifted, but by someone incorporating music into interpretation they are opening up a whole other door for people. Through music, many people could hear about the beauty  and joy of it simply by hearing the song! Someone from Toronto would not have to go all the way out to British Colombia to experience the thrill of being atop the rocky mountains. One could simply hear the song and be transported there. I would reach urbanites and many city dwellers. Music is a beautiful and amazing tool that can connect people from around the world, So why not use it to connect people to nature !

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Paying Attention to the Details

Art has always been something close to my heart. My great grandfather was a painter and so is my aunt so I guess you could say it runs in my family. I personally prefer to sketch. I am brining this up because our readings talk about the 19th century poet John Ruskin, and his idea that people can fully possess nature’s beauty through drawing or writing about it. He believed that this would allow people to slow down so that they could understand and process all the fine details of nature. This really resonated with me because quite frankly, it is true. Sketching is a time consuming creative process that allows you to really think about what you are drawing in new ways. 

I don’t typically share my sketches because the saying that ‘you are our own worst critic’ is definitely true. However, I think that sketching is beneficial to everyone so I will use them help illustrate my point.

There is a little bit of a story behind this hawk sketch. There was a period of time in my life when I was dealing with anxiety and panic attacks. During this time there was this hawk that always hung out at my barn and to me it represented freedom and strength so I decided to draw it. I am sharing this story to illustrate the point that art allows people to make personal connections to a place or animal. Hawks are now one of my favourite animals because I have this personal connection to them. 

This lion sketch is a favourite to many people. I included it to show that not every sketch has to have a previous personal connection like the hawk did, it can be created as you are drawing. I started drawing this lion simply because I felt like it. However, as I was sketching I began to make up a story in my mind about how he is this young male looking for his own pride with a coalition of other males. This shows how art really makes people slow down and appreciate what you are drawing and gives you time to make up stories and create a connection to nature through your imagination. 

I am not going to talk about the other 3 sketches in this post because we would be here all day. I am including them because I would actually love to hear your interpretations on them (if anything catches your attention), I find it really interesting how people take images in different ways. If you did want to hear why I drew one of them I would be happy to share.

The point I am trying to get at is that art is an extremely useful form of nature interpretation. I know from experience that it forces you to pay attention to the details that you may have missed by just giving something one quick look. It also allows you to create a personal connection through the use of your imagination which is a powerful thing. 

For those of you who have never tried it, I highly recommend picking an animal or place and trying to sketch it. I find music helps to get you thinking creatively about what you are doing. It can be frustrating, I am a bit of a perfectionist so half of the time I walk away feeling frustrated but find it really helps you to connect with what you are drawing and not miss any of the details. 

I would love to hear how you guys feel about implementing art into nature interpretation programs. I personally like sketching because I am a very visual thinker so breaking down the fine details of a face or even the eyes of an animal is very helpful. I know some people prefer physically dancing or listening to music as a way of expressing themselves so there are many different ways that this kind of interpretation can be done. 

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I think adding art into nature interpretation is an amazing thing. I worked as an interpreter over the summer and a lot of the activities we had were very fact based and all about knowledge but I think it is an amazing thing to let the creative side flow. By encouraging those artistic activities you are making people see nature not only in a functional way but as a form of beauty as well, it helps you to take time, to pause and watch nature, to admire the colours and the motion of it. SO yes knowing the facts of nature is important but appreciating the beauty that masks those facts is also amazing as well!

in terms of your three sketches I think the one of the bear spoke most deeply to me. It almost shows a soft side of this animal that we often see as scary. your sketch also reminds me a lot of the movie Brother Bear, not sure if you have seen it but if not you definitely need to! It focuses on this spirit bear, and your drawing reminds me very much of a spirit bear emerging from the woods, it provides a peaceful view of the bear and I really appreciate that! 

Thank you for sharing your sketches, they are amazing ! 

Steph 

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Beauty for All

Who are we to interpret nature through art?

This question can be intimidating if you let it. WHO ARE YOU to interpret nature through art…..it makes you think as though if you are not an artist of some sort, it is not your place. When in fact, who is someone to say that you are not an artist. Art comes in many different forms, and is in no way exclusive to those who society demes as artists.

When thinking of art and referring to art based environmental activities for nature interpretation, I think it is important to know what art is defined as. Many people I’m sure, including myself often think of art as simply drawing or painting. But over the years I have come to realize that it encompasses so much more.

Art can be music, drama, painting, drawing, dance and numerous other things. So when we look at how to incorporate art into nature interpretation I believe we have to include all of these mediums, because each of them shows a unique way of how to understand the beauty that lies within nature!

When I think of art and nature my mind automatically goes to the group of seven I think their paintings are an amazing form of nature interpretation for the beautiful Canadian landscape. These men made their living off of painting what their view or interpretation of nature was. Although it was not all that realistic, it showed the depth of the Canadian landscape and all it offers in an animated version. What is also beautiful about art and paintings like those of the group of seven is that they may have painted them with a specific intention in mind but someone else looking at it could have a completely different perspective of it, and neither would be wrong!

(September Gale, Georgian Bay painting)

Also, when I was doing nature interpretation over the summer most if not all of our activities were fact based where the kids or adults had to know the facts to complete the activity but not once do I remember any art related activity. Which I think is a shame because at the childhood age kids are usually really creative so why don’t we target or expand on that. And adults need to remember to be more creative. So this would benefit a lot of people!

On top of all this, it is important to realize that beauty is a perception, not everyone’s definition of beauty is the same. As nature interpreters it is important that realize and remember this. Our role is to provide the blank canvas and let the others paint on the beauty they see. A common phrase is Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, this is especially true when speaking f nature. How people see nature or elate to the beauty of it is different for each and every person. We as nature interpreters can show them the places but we must be mindful of not forcing our opinion of beauty on these we are interpreting to and letting them find it for themselves! 

(Forks of Credit Provincial Park)

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Stress & Nature Mediation

I am very glad that this week we have a free for all blog post because I have a lot on my mind between school, my home life, the news, and thinking about the future. I have been looking at my calendar and assignments and feeling the pressure as time goes on and due dates get closer. I love my family dearly, but Thanksgiving tends to be a stressful day when you have a schedule you need to stick to. Today was a very warm day. The high was 26 degrees Celsius which is odd for a week that was so cold and wet. With the weather being odd, I couldn’t help think of the news released by the UN. This news is stress inducing, especially when you’re like myself and have little control over political decisions such as those which would mitigate the effects of climate change. 

I was feeling very stressed, but I went for a walk through Riverside park by myself and I now feel much more calm and relaxed. That made me think that my blog post should be about nature mediation because I’m sure many individuals like myself could use it if they don’t already know about it. Here is a link to more information about Riverside Park if anyone wants to check it out and hasn’t been already: https://guelph.ca/venue/riverside-park/ .

(Riverside Park, October 10th, 2018)

(Riverside Park, October 10th, 2018)

What is mediation? Mediation is an activity that individuals use to clear their mind and achieve a state of peace. One can mediate using breathing techniques, music, and visual aids to focus on a particular thing and let everything else bothering them ‘slip away’. When I was reflecting today in the park, I was thinking that nature mediation could be an excellent way for nature interpreters to reach out to the general public and get them more involved with nature. Looking online, I found this primary research article that discusses the benefits of being in nature! I believe that if the general public knew about these benefits they’d be outdoors more. I suppose that as nature interpreters, it is essential that we communicate the benefits of nature to the general public to get them more invested in nature. There are on campus nature walks such as on Wednesdays, there is a walk at 12:15 pm at the Arboretum that is open to the public. 

(https://www.facebook.com/uogarboretum/photos/a.400427158176/10155903144873177/?type=3&theater) 

As a resident of Guelph, I have not seen any other nature walks organized in the city like the Arboretum noon hour walk. I’m not sure what organization in the City of Guelph would be responsible for this kind of activity, but I would be interested in emailing them and organizing a weekly nature walk. I am sure that organized nature walks would also be beneficial for other residents of the City of Guelph because stress isn’t only limited to university/college students.

With midterms coming up, I’d like to know how my fellow classmates combat stress. I’m open to other stress dealing strategies as well!

Unfortunately, there is little I can do about the news released by the UN, but what I can do is communicate that information to others, tell them of its significance and connection to nature, and urge them to speak to their political representatives.

[spenvs3000-2018-blog]

I fully agree with everything you said! 

let me break that down..... 

I am right there with you in terms of feeling the pressure of deadlines, so many seem to be coming up this week, and I’m looking at each of my assignments and saying i will not be able to get this all done, but some way somehow it does. So trust in that I would say, one way or another you will get what you need to get done! 

The news on dealing with climate change is also a slight stress inducer for me too! However, I wouldn’t necessarily say that you are hopeless in doing somethig about it. I mean I’m still trying to figure that out myself, ut maybe get a little more info on specifically environmental politics and seen if there is any organization you could get involved in that works to combat this, or maybe even start a kind of petition. You are only as powerless as you make yourself be!

Meditating in nature is also something that keeps me sain. I have not been to riverside park yet, but I heard it is beautiful, and looks beautiful based on your pictures. MY go to place is usually the arboretum or down by speed river. I always like being near water because the sound of the flowing water I find slows down my breathing to a more normal phase and almost washes away the stress. My destressers are mainly waks in these beautiful places or a nice morning yoga class or workout really, simply refreshes my brain ! 

Goodluck with all those due dates !

Steph

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A Peace of Nature Around The World

When I first read this week’s blog prompt I was really excited about being able to free write, but then as I proceeded to think about it I was like wait… what in the world am I going to talk about?

So I sat and racked all the crevices of my brain, and all I got was my vast appreciation for the stillness that nature offers me, so I thought sure why not I can build off this. So just like my mind I will build this post from a simple idea and I hope you’ll follow me!

All my life, nature has been my place of serenity, and I don’t know about you but it has always been a place where I can go no matter how busy my life is and trust that it will all slow down even if just for that moment I’m outside.

In using the peace and quiet nature provides for myself I was also able to uncover more of what it has to offer. I realized that sitting in silence can open your eyes to so many amazing views and creatures you would never have seen. This past weekend I went hiking with a friend at Rattlesnake Point in Milton, and we saw so many amazing things when we took the chance to just sit and watch the cycle of life around us. We saw Turkey vultures circle their prey and heard the gush of their wings flapping (gush is probably not the best descriptive word for that sound, so if you have a better one please do let me know), we saw the cutest little chipmunk foraging for food, and a stick bug which is as difficult to spot as their name suggests. They really do look exactly like a stick.

Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area, Milton, Ontario

Branching off from this, taking the time to observe the various environments and levels of creation in Ontario also enhanced my excitement for my exchange next semester. I will be heading to The University of Ghana for 4 months. I will be in a completely different country where it is constantly hot and I get to see elephants and giraffe in their natural habitat, I almost can’t fathom the possibility.

Flowcom, Flickr Images 

Anticipating this experience also got me thinking of how it will change me, as a nature interpreter. I’ll have experienced a whole other side of nature, while being immersed in the culture. It is almost intimidating to be able to have that kind of knowledge under my belt but also intriguing to be able to discover how I will be able to relate it to the Canadian landscape.

What awaits me next year I have no idea, and although I am slightly terrified about being in a new country halfway across the world, I have an inner calmness in knowing that two things will never change. The fact that I can always find peace and calmness in nature and that even though my classroom maybe changing the processes of nature will never cease to amaze me and provoke me to learn more.

With that I leave you with one question,

What is your constant thing in nature that you can always find no matter where you are in the world, mines peace, what’s yours?

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natural his-tree

“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, this quote means that you cannot create a presence or future unless you build upon the past. 

Personally, I strongly relate this quote to the natural history of the environment. Nature can act as an artefact or snapshot of the past, for example an old growth forest can show how the composition of a forest has changed over time and how valuable this history is to its ecosystem. For my interpretation of this quote, I am going to focus on trees and their history.

I think trees are the greatest storytellers of all. By simply looking at a tree, you can infer a lot about its life; if it is big and has a large canopy, you can tell it’s had favourable growing conditions and has probably outcompeted its neighbours, whereas if the tree is loosing its bark and has lost its leaves, you can tell it’s been through some rough times and is struggling to hang on. Another way that trees tell stories is through their rings, by taking a core sample or observing a stump, you can see what that tree has lived through. When the rings are really spaced out, the tree has had good weather and growing conditions, and when the rings are tight, the tree has been limited by its environment, typically through nutrient, water, or light availability. Through these rings, the trees can tell the story of all of the hardships and bounties they have experienced in their lifetime. By inferring the environment through the trees’ stories, you can see how the environment has changed over time, especially as climate change is becoming more of an issue. This history in particular can help us understand how climate change has affected our ecosystems and environments and how these may change in the future. These stories would be particularly useful for determining how we can help mitigate the impacts on our environments and determine key methods in preserving the integrity and functionality of our ecosystems. As a soon-to-be biologist, I think that we should be listening to the stories that nature can tell us, so we can tailor research to fit the needs of a changing environment.

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Hey jasmin, I really liked your relation with the tree. It makes a lot of sense to me, and it’s a really great way to break down the quote and the meaning of it by explaining it in a way I think many people would be able to understand ! I think it is amazing how these trees and a lot of nature can act as story tellers of the past, but also indicate how they will adapt to future changes as well. When the quote says there is merit in those things that are scattered in the past I think you linked it really well by saying it can help us predict future research that is needed. If we listen nature can tell us a lot about what we need to do, we just need I allow ourselves the to take the time to understand it ! So thanks for the reminder ! Steph

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The Puzzle

“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 aknowledge, 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). 

When first reading this quote, I was pretty confused as to what it was saying, I felt as though I was just going in circles not grasping any of what it was truly trying to describe. At first I thought of the definition of merit, which is to claim respect, and of integrity, which is, adherence to moral and ethical principals, honesty. Then my thought process proceeded as so

It is speaking of there being no merit in ancient things, but yet because there is merit in integrity (honesty) then don’t these parts that make up a whole become those ancient things and therefore have merit, but does that merit only apply when they are scattered through time?

Re reading this thought process really confused me even more, so I broke the quote up into parts and things began to become clearer. I think the main take home here was that a whole is the sum of its parts. If you take merit in a particular thing they you too merit those smaller parts that make up that whole thing. Much like a puzzle you can’t see the whole picture without every little piece, making all those smaller pieces just as important as the whole puzzle.

Photo by: Olga Berrios  

The second part of the quote with the train station, has two parts to it! Those being that all we do, every part and every thing involved in our life is timeless, something does not cease to exist once we are selves are done with it. These parts make up the whole and without even one of them the picture would be changed forever. The other part is that everything that exists is not only existing because it is soley in our life. We share this world with about 7 billion other people. Thus, it is a reminder to us to consider the perspective of our past through the eyes of others and to also see everything in the eyes of others. We may only know of that train station because we passed through it but that train station could also be the spot where a husband met his wife. Everything has a different meaning to everyone.

It is also kind of interesting that of all the words to describe breaking down this quote, the word UNPACK was used. Over the years we pack up our past, because we are either ashamed or simply just carrying it around with us. But sometimes in our life we need to unpack the past that we have stored away and look back to learn from mistakes we have made or good things that have gone well. And I myself think this is what the quote is implying, that there is true integrity and honesty in looking back and learning from your past and realizing how it has and will continue to shape you.

Sao Miguel, Portugal. For the longest time I never got to see the town or house where my dad grew up, and it felt as though a part of my past that was linked to him was missing. Being able to see this house gave me a deeper look into who my Dad is and why. I am eternally thankful for the merit he had in the ancient things that built his life today, with me as his daughter. 

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Grouse-ly Privileged

Privilege can mean anything to any one person. The definition changes with context, and with the opinions of an individual. When I hear the word privilege I think of an abundance of opportunities to pursue whatever it is I want to pursue. I believe that being able to come into contact, and connect with nature is a privilege on its own. It is a privilege to be able to watch and learn through nature, as well as a privilege of a nature interpreter to be able to teach and show these things to an interested crowd.

I personally have had the privilege of observing nature in some very interesting ways. In the small town I grew up in I was lucky enough to be immersed in nature from day one. As I grew up and explored further and further from the comfort of home, the more frequently I would chance a meeting with an interesting creature. Of particular interest to me was a small, brown, splotchy bird that I frequently saw sitting in the fall underbrush. The grouse would normally not even seem to know I was coming, and would usually sit on the ground in the warm sun until I was right up next to it. I was fascinated sometimes by how a bird this slow and tired seeming managed to survive in a woods full of foxes and coyotes.

This is a photo of a ruffed grouse, one of the types of grouse that can be seen in Ontario. This individual has a particularly interesting hair-do.

On one particular encounter on a sunny afternoon, as we drove home from visiting a friend, my mother stopped the car quite suddenly. There in the very middle of the road was a single grouse. It made a series of somewhat aggressive noises at us, which seemed very unusual for this bird. Why would it stand there, and not simply fly away? We stayed back, waiting patiently for the animal to move off the road. It was then that we saw why the animal chose to stay rather than fly. From within the brush on the side of the road slowly emerged its young. Out they came, one by one, skittering out to meet their mother, who preceded to walk across the road with them. She remained on the road to ensure each of her babies made it across safely, despite the likely intimidating presence of our vehicle.

As the last of them disappeared into the brush, the mother finally turned and continued off with them. At that moment I felt extremely privileged to have been at the right place, at the right moment, to watch this strange bird and its display of motherly protection. For me, this is a prime example of being privileged enough to witness a moving event in nature. Seeing the fierce maternal instincts of a normally very slow bird was an interesting experience that was able to change my perspective on these animals, and I know that even on that day I felt privileged to be there to witness it.

I believe that all people are able to experience this type of privilege with the right mindset as they head out to explore and appreciate nature. Even the smallest of events can be an interesting learning experience that could change your perspective.

[spenvs3000-2018-blog]

Hey, 

I really liked your perspective on privilege. It wasn’t necessarily how you were privileged by what others do for you but by what you were able to see simply by you being in the right place at the right time. 

I think that is an important part to privilege that we all need to remember, which is that we are privileged to be able to just be in the presence of nature and surrounded by it as well. One could go on to say that it was the privileges you had in your life that allowed you to be in that place at that time, but I believe you would have encountered something similar in another way, I mean nature is all around. With this in mind, I think it also sparks a sustainable lifestyle if you look at privilege in this way. When you take the time realize we are privileged to be able to live on this beautiful earth, your perspective and definition of it changes as well. So thank you !

steph