Thomas' Nature Interpretation Blog

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Unit 10: Finale

My personal ethics are a mix-bag due to living in multiple different cultures. I lived in Korea until 7. Then, I moved to the UAE and stayed there for 12 years. Now, I’ve been in Canada for the past 4 years. Throughout, some of the things I came to value are fairness, responsibility, and self-improvement. These ethics can translate, in multiple ways, to that of a natural interpreter. 

Casual photos of places I've lived in: Korea (top left), Abu Dhabi (top right), Guelph (bottom).

The fairness ethic of mine developed by experiencing a variety of cultures and peoples in my life. In the UAE, I went to an affluent international highschool, where I met people from all over. However, outside school, the UAE is full of low-wage immigrant workers and it becomes evident that they are underserved in various aspects of life. The UAE essentially has no middle class as you see in Canada - it’s either poor or high-middle class (or higher). In Canada, I experienced the full force of the oftentimes struggling middle class. Many of my friends are white and considered “privileged”, yet they have to work so much just to afford the basics. 

Thus, I feel a responsibility, as a natural interpreter, to bring fairness to all. A core aspect of being a good interpreter is to serve a diverse audience (Beck et al., 2019, pg.132), especially if your goal is to spread the message of an environmental issue. This also ties into the concept of “unpacking” my privilege so as to not bias your interpretation to a certain group of people (Gallavan, n.d.). 

Image credits: Spirit FM

Barriers create the “underserved populations” and by recognizing this, I can expand my reach towards these parts of society (Beck et al., 2019, pg.132). For instance, economics may be a key barrier towards a large part of the population, especially if they do not possess a personal vehicle or are busy with work (Beck et al., 2019, pg.133). Or, there may be cultural barriers where different groups have very different opinions about nature (Beck et al., 2019, pg.133). 

Whatever the barrier, by “unpacking my privilege” and following my fairness ethics, I have the responsibility to reach out to give a fair chance to everyone. For example, if I were to work in a national park, I could make the effort to reduce economic barriers by advocating for cheap transportation (like a bus) to pick up people and at diverse times to allow for busy people to have an opportunity. 

Also, as a “minority” myself, I oppose the idea of treating them differently just because they are a “minority”. I think my experience in Guelph exemplified a good approach that ensures fairness. Here, I have never once been treated differently just because I am Asian. If anything, people treated me like a fellow Canadian, even asking me who I voted for during the 2019 election. As such, I think it is important to recognize it is wrong to generalize a minority group (Beck et al., 2019, pg.133) and when making the special effort to reach out to them, don’t make it seem like a special treatment type of deal (Beck et al., 2019, pg.134). If possible, the best approach would be to treat everyone equally while keeping in mind who your current audience is. This can be done by friendly talking to them, asking why they're here, and even internet surveys (Beck et al., 2019, pg.129). 

When it comes to responsibility and the self-improvement ethic, this is heavily tied to my Korean heritage. In Korean culture, you are always compared to others, and people have very high expectations of you. Almost feels like you are constantly carrying the weight of the world. Thus, if I don’t get perfect on a thing I am invested in (like academia), I become angry at myself. I think this is a toxic trait of mine but the positives can be used as a natural interpreter. 

Image credits: Presentermedia

Having a sense of responsibility allows you to try to perfect your interpretation of nature. While this may be subjective, a good interpretation takes considerable effort, which may be lacklustre without a sense of responsibility for the environment. It is not a walk in the park to make an emotional and intellectual connection with the audience, communicated through nature (Beck et al., 2019, pg.304).

For instance, the usage of arts can tremendously benefit the interpretation. I believe even approaches like theatre and reenactments can be useful for natural interpretation. Having a diversity of approaches that targets all the senses help leave an impression (Beck et al., 2019, pg.107). However, these approaches require heavy investment into knowledge, making connections to the character, props, rehearsals and much more (Beck et al., 2019, pg.219). Only someone with a high sense of responsibility for the environment and position can tackle such a challenge. 

With self-improvement, it will help further improve as an interpreter. By taking good feedback and reflecting on your doings (and if it meets your objectives), you can infinitely improve (Beck et al., 2019, pg.419). I think one of the best things you can do to do this is to invite other natural interpreter sites and become a "visitor" for your own sites (Beck et al., 2019, pg.420). Oftentimes, you know more than the audience and thus may leave out key details that the audience may not know. By fixing these issues, it makes the interpretation much more available for all audiences. 

Finally, I want to talk about an approach that is suitable for me and others in my generation. We grew up with the rapid development of technology. Many might think this causes a disconnect between people and nature (Beck et al., 2019, pg.166). However, I believe we can use it to also reconnect. Websites, social media, Youtube, etc. have the presence of billions. As such, I see our technology literacy as a huge opportunity to reach those billions of people to reconnect nature into humans (Beck et al., 2019, pg.168).

A foldable phone - a symbol of today's rapid technological development.

Overall, I have a long way to go to be an interpreter. However, I have still learnt much, especially in ways of scientific communication - a topic important in current science.

I hope people feel the same and good luck on the final stretch!

Eugene Cha

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

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

[tbenvs3000w23]

Hi Eugene,

I really enjoyed reading about your journey from Korea to the UAE and to Guelph. As someone who has never left North America, I really value hearing these experiences from others, as I have to imagine the barriers one would face when moving around the world. I also mentioned the concept of the invisible backpack within my post this week, and it's very interesting to hear from someone who not only has a different backpack from myself, but has also met people around the world who face an entirely different set of challenges than us here in North America.

Serving a diverse audience is a challenge for all nature interpreters I'm sure, so I'm glad you decided to write about it. I agree that a variety of artistic approaches is important for delivering messages or stories to audiences. Personally, I know it would be harder to keep my attention with some types of media over others.

I agree that technology can be beneficial in terms of appreciating nature; if anything, technology and the internet makes it easier than ever to see and appreciate parts of the world you might not have the chance to visit. As well as this, the internet can reach such a large percentage of the population, that a successful post, video, etc. can reach a much, much larger number of people than any in-person interpretation activity if done well.

Really great post overall! Good luck with your end-of-term!

[vdenvs3000w23]

UNIT 10

Hey everyone! 

I can’t believe we have reached the end of the semester and I’m writing my last blog post. I am so grateful to have been able to read so many amazing perspectives and discuss the beauty of nature within so many different elements. I have learned so much from this course and I am thankful to have been pushed out of my comfort zone in order to fully dive into the world of nature interpretation and what it means to interpret nature in different ways. It was nice to be able to have a space where we can all have our own perspectives on the topics presented to us and to be able to discuss them respectfully. As stated in the textbook, personal interpretation is important to allow opportunities for others to simply go out and enjoy the wonders of the world on their own, taking in all the different aspects of the beauty of the world through their senses (Beck et al., 2018 (chapter 5). It was nice to see how everyone views the wonders of the world in their own way. Which blog prompt was the most challenging for you?

When reflecting on my personal ethics in regards to nature interpretation, I think that they mirror the ethics that I follow throughout my everyday life. Everyday I strive to make ethical and moral decisions that are inclusive, loving, understanding, respectful, and mindful. I really want to bring back the topic of privilege, as previously discussed in unit 3. I think that understanding and recognizing privilege is so important for my own ethics within nature interpretation. Realizing that the aspects of my life that got me to where I am right now are not accessible to most and I should never assume that any two people are the same in terms of their privilege. It is so important to properly include groups such as cultural minorities, children, teenagers, older adults, and individuals with disabilities so that they are more inclined to participate more readily when interpreters make special efforts to welcome and better serve them (Beck et al., 2018 (chapter 7)). No one should feel like they are not able to participate in nature interpretation, or anything for that matter. 

Nature interpretation in itself is very personal but it is so special when you are able to share it with others. Interpretation is aimed to provoke a personal connection with things, places, people, and concepts (Beck et al., 2018 (chapter 5)). I believe that inclusivity and respect are important aspects for my own nature interpretation ethics. As someone who has given horseback riding trails and has taught a kids camp, I can say that every interaction is different. It is always up to me to make sure that everyone is comfortable and feels seen and heard. I want to inspire people and get them excited about the parts of nature that also inspire me. 

I also love how this course incorporated science and nature. As a student with a science background, it was nice to see how non-science students and the general public can participate to make the planet a better place. There is more attention being given to an understanding of the learning processes and the capacities of individuals and communities needed to help resolve complex socio-ecological issues (Wals et al., 2014). Through nature interpretation, the general public will be able to recognize and appreciate all aspects of nature with a more clear understanding of why there needs to be change. There is a plea that is made to support the Earth Charter, which embodies a balanced respect for future human generations through principles (Bourdeau, 2003). It is important to realize that we are setting the stage for so many generations to come, if we don’t take care of the earth properly, there will be no nature to interpret. The German philosopher, Hans Jonas, said that we must be guardians of nature and of future generations, whose interests are closely confounded as they are weakened to the point where their persistence is no longer assured (Bourdeau, 2003). We have a certain ethical and moral obligation when it comes to taking care of the earth. 

In all honesty, I didn’t really anticipate this course to challenge me in the ways that it did. I took this course because I love nature and wanted to be able to learn more about the ways we interpret it but I quickly realized that it demands a much more critical way of thinking than I was expecting, and I am glad for this. The most interesting thing I learned is how the ambient sound of an environment mimics a modern-day orchestra: the voice of each creature has its own frequency, amplitude, and duration (Gray et al., 2001). I found the podcast to be a challenge, however, I was super happy with how it turned out, getting to see our hard work turned into a good copy. Doing a podcast was very beneficial, especially considering the way technology has progressed because having interpretive programs being accessible live or recorded adheres to more audiences around the world (Beck et al., 2018 (chapter 8)). This means that more people are able to tune in and learn about nature interpretation even if they are not in a particular area to do so first hand. 

I will definitely be taking so much away from this course and will be implementing the different topics discussed into my life. I strive to continue showing and passing on the love I have for nature to others and inspire those who are disconnected to connect and appreciate the world, nature, and the people in it.

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

Bourdeau, P. (2003, August 29). The man−nature relationship and environmental ethics. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265931X03001802?casa_token=Yn8LrDgbqTUAAAAA%3AdVzbvAyyY5cGTPjw5A-3cyYYh2SIvCtywIrl8Zw8tNvUU0-Mp-1c_6iixOV0Se7bQp7Jz3ul

Gray, Patricia M., et al. "The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music." Science, vol. 291, no. 5501, 5 Jan. 2001, p. 52. Gale Academic OneFile

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

[tbenvs3000w23]

Hi Victoria,

I love how you mentioned how personal nature can be! We've talked in our previous posts about how nature can invoke emotion and memories, and I completely agree that sharing it with others can feel so rewarding.

I also enjoyed your point about how this course intertwined science and nature. Prior to this course I would have not realized the difference to be totally honest - I have always viewed nature from a scientific lens. The science is interesting of course, but the raw emotions someone can feel by seeing a beautiful sunset, or waterfall, or whatever is an unmatched feeling. Those moments of 'wow thats so amazing' can't necessarily be explained by the science side of nature. Of course there is also tons of cultural and historical perspectives on nature that once again, science plays little to no part in.

I have also enjoyed reading different peoples' perspectives on the prompts each week. Many of us come from different parts of the world, and have different experiences overall, which allows for very different takes on the same prompt we were all working from.

I genuinely want to continue posting to this page, I had no idea how refreshing it would be to read through other's posts every week. I think the best way to look at it is; this class gave us the chance to hear from our peers with different perspectives, but we have the ability to do that outside of class as well. I know I'll continue to have discussions with people regarding nature and the environment, as this is the best way to learn.

Great post overall! All the best :)

[tbenvs3000w23]

My Future as a Nature Interpreter

I entered this class not knowing what to expect; “nature Interpretation” was a term I had never heard anywhere. If I’m being completely honest, I still did not really understand what nature interpretation was for the early portion of the course - I struggled to understand the concept. Here in Unit 10, I now know not only what nature interpretation is, but how I fit into it.

The first concept that resonated with me was that of an “invisible backpack” (Gallavan 2005). I have always known I live a privileged life, but as silly as it sounds, writing about it for this class made me realize how many things I take for granted. Looking solely at my experiences with nature, I’ve had the opportunities to go camping at least once a year, as well as live in a house with a backyard, have pets, trips to the zoo as a child, and so much more. All of these experiences have led me to where I am today - studying environmental sciences in University, which is YET ANOTHER PRIVILEGE! I won’t go into detail on what I need to unpack from my invisible backpack, as I did that in a previous post, but the reason I’m writing this is simply to acknowledge that my audiences in whatever setting may not have had the same opportunities I have had, which might make it harder to use my experiences as topics to relate on.

Here's a beautiful park my family and I walk to a few times a year. This particular morning there were a couple feathered-friends on the water :)

I strongly believe that nature is healing to everyone on earth, and even though I have met many people who ‘absolutely hate the outdoors’, nature appreciation can be as simple as enjoying the sunset, or loving rainy days. Reaching audiences of different age groups, from different places, with different interests creates the need to look further than one's own experiences when presenting information or knowledge of nature.

As I develop as a nature interpreter, I would say my personal ethic is similar to my mentality and beliefs going about my life day to day; trying to make more kind and respectful decisions, considering myself but also those around me. To touch briefly on the invisible backpack concept once more, after completing these blog posts, I now understand how I must change my voice to appeal to more audiences. I also know how there are many different mediums I can use to share stories and information about nature, and how some may appeal to some demographics more than others which is important to take into consideration (Beck 2018).

Growing up, I knew I wanted to pursue a career working with animals. This later developed into a passion for the environment as a whole, and I ended up deciding on environmental sciences as a university major rather than zoology, which had initially been all I ever wanted to do. At a young age, and up until today, I’ve never known what I wanted to do with this desire to work within nature.

My parents have mentioned that they think I would make a good teacher because I am a very patient and passionate person, which I never gave a second thought to be quite honest. But I do think it is a path I would enjoy - I love working with kids, and I get a lot of joy out of explaining the concepts I’ve learned about. When I’m studying concepts for tests I like to get someone who doesn’t know the material to quiz me; I’ll compress what I know into the most useful information and explain it to them to help them understand it, which really helps me for some reason. I grew up with a younger brother, and he would always be interested in whatever I was interested in, so he would ask me a million questions about animals and whatever else I was interested in at the time. The one big difference between us was what we excelled at; I was quite good at maths and science, whereas he struggled with them. When he struggled with a math unit, or science concept, I loved sitting down with him and working through it. We have a 5 year age gap, so it was honestly a nice refresher to go over these things again years later. I would find myself teaching the concepts the way I wanted to be taught them, until a couple years into helping him when I realized his learning style is different from mine. This was a good experience as it allowed me to understand different learning styles, which is yet another topic covered in this course!

While teaching does sound exciting, I am not sure it is what I would want to do for a career. I think it is a wonderful way to spread the love of nature (if that were the field I ended up teaching in). I do however feel the responsibility to use my passion for spreading knowledge within whatever field I enter after post-secondary. I believe that passion is important in any job; even as I worked minimum wage fast food jobs in high school, I would go about my day with a positive attitude, as I’ve always found that a positive attitude makes my entire day better, even if I’m faking it, it soon becomes genuine.

Following this course, I strive to be more aware of my audience in all aspects of life, which will allow me to be more inclusive. My final thoughts on this course are all positive. I have enjoyed creating all of my posts because they honestly feel like a break from my busy schedule sometimes - which I’m sure many of my peers can relate to. I would absolutely recommend this course to others, especially to those not in environmental sciences, as I feel like they can learn a lot from this experience as well. Thanks to anyone who read this post, this one was a lot of fun, and I'm honestly a little sad this is the last one as I've been enjoying writing these. Good luck with your future endeavours everyone! :)

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their “invisible knapsacks.” Multicultural Education (San Francisco, Calif.), 13(1), 36–36.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018c). Chapter 7: Serving Diverse Audience. Interpreting cultural and natural heritage : for a better world. (pp.105-123) Sagamore Venture.

[skenvs3000w23]

Amazing things in Nature!

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

Image Credits: Alvaro Bejarano

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

Image Credits: M. Godfrey, 2006

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

References

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

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

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

[tbenvs3000w23]

This was a super cool post!

I remember learning about bioluminescence of dinoflagellates in an invertebrate class I took last year! I found it super interesting how dinoflagellates use this as a defense mechanism! I remember learning about how not only is the light meant to ward off predators, but also lure in predators of the predators - so cool!!

I was always interested in bioluminescence as a kid, especially in fireflies. I think it's such a shocking thing as a kid to see fireflies light up, I remember thinking how magical they were for being able to light up, no other creature I could think of could do that. I also find it fascinating how fireflies use bioluminescence almost exclusively for mating as opposed to the dinoflagellates.

I've never had the chance to see anything like the pictures you've attached from your trip to the Caribbean - that looks so beautiful, and unreal! It honestly looks like something out of a science fiction movie or a video game. I hope I get to see something like this someday, what a cool way to see a chemical reaction in nature.

Despite their cause, red tides are also a pretty example of this. I think your topic was a great one to choose.

Great job with this post, I didn't understand the specific chemical reaction of the dinoflagellate bioluminescence before I read this! I look forward to reading more of your posts!

[tbenvs3000w23]

Unit 9: Nature is Amazing!

Choosing one topic of interest within nature is very difficult, as I've learned about so many interesting facts and fields throughout my time in my program, and my life outside of school.

I've been very interested in the wine industry for the last couple of months, and I've been enrolled in a wine tasting class, so I think I'm going to share how interesting this industry is, and how very connected it is to the field of environmental science.

Grapes have been used in wine making over other fruits as they are one of the only fruits with a high enough sugar content to convert yeast to alcohol in the fermentation process, however other fruits can be used for wine making.

A brief history: Vitis Vinifera is the globally-preferred grape variety for quality wine, however it's viability to be grown varies around the world. This variety is very susceptible to pests such as the grape phylloxera, an aphid-like species that destroys the vines of grapes, and have causes problems for vineyards for a long time. The wine industry found a way to solve this - by grafting these ideal wine grape plants with the more robust roots of North American-native grape variety - Vitis Labrusca (this grape is not preffered for its flavour, but its roots are immune to the phylloxera).

Now that pests and diseases are less of an issue due to this grafting process, winemaking around the world can fluorish!

As most people know, wine from different parts of the world will have different flavours. Wines from grapes in colder climates will tend to be more acidic and have lower alcohol content, whereas wines from grapes in warmer climates will have a higher sweetness and alcohol content. This makes sense once you realize why this is happening - in warmer climates the grapes are able to ripen faster, therefore producing more sugars as compared to colder climates.

Here's where the amazing nature part comes in; aside from just climate, other factors of the surrounding environment can influence the taste of a finished wine. Many vineyards take pride in the type of soil/substrate the grapes are grown on, as this influences the taste!

This is a vineyard in Southern Rhone, called Chateau Neuf-Du-Pape. As you can see the ground is made up of rocks; which are called "pudding stones". These stones make the vines work harder to find water due to their excellent drainage (harder working vines tend to produce complex flavoured grapes).

This example, as well as other characteristic regions around the world all provide something called 'terroir' in their wines. Terroir is essentially the marriage of climate, soil and grape variety, which creates a characteristic flavour profile for the wine made here only created by this region.

I am so interested in how this works, how the type of soil can change the final product of something like wine, how the tastes can come through after the whole fermentation process!

I'm sure there are reasons that this happens, I'd love to learn more, but it's kind of exciting to view it as a bit of a magical thing that I don't know the details of.

Anyways thanks for reading this post if you've made it this far. Wine is cool! Nature is cool! Have a great day :)

[cwenvs3000w23]

Music in Nature

Music in particular is an extremely powerful force that can draw people in, and express a powerful feeling in a way that people from all walks of life can enjoy and relate to. Music is a universal language that people from all cultures around the world use to express themselves, and the environment around them. Music can be any form of sound that is manipulated by a change of tone and pitch, and for this reason music is most definitely present in nature. The sounds of the birds calling to each other, the mating calls of various animals, and the sounds that are produced by climate such as the sound of wind echoing, or that of raindrops on the night of a thunderstorm these are all melodies that are produced everyday in nature. Sounds are used by many animals throughout the world's ecosystems to communicate various different messages such as for  mating, pointing out a food source, or warning fellow animals of a predator nearby, in a similar way to how humans use many different mediums to communicate their thoughts and feelings. It is for this reason that music is so present in nature, the sounds of nature tend to serve an important function, such as Ravens who will mimic the calls of other birds to trick them or lure them to a certain location (Bird Avid, 2022). In the same way, music serves an important function for humans in regards to helping us express emotions like beauty or despair in a way that simply speaking can't. 

One of the greatest and most consistent sources of inspiration that many artists draw from is often forces of nature, and you see many songs use references to nature, especially when you look at things such as folk music or cultural music, where references to the natural landscapes of a particular nation serves as a source of national pride. It is for this reason that music can be such a magical force when it comes to making people feel a deeper connection to nature which can further help develop someone's understanding of nature and of it’s beauty and importance (Beck et al., 2018). Nature in music can be seen in its purest form when we look at things such as the drum in indigenous culture which symbolises the heartbeat of mother earth, such connections show how intertwined nature truly is with music (Hampton, 2021).  

One song in particular for me personally that makes me feel a connection to a landscape in nature is the song Subwoofer Lullaby by c418, which is the artist that makes the band for the world famous video game, minecraft. I often had this and the rest of their soundtrack in my ear while working endless hours as a tree planter, the calm piano music made me feel such a strong connection to the earth I was planting, as I also had in mind my fond childhood memories of exploring the endless landscapes in minecraft. Minecraft is a game that had different soundtracks that often pertained to different biomes and landscapes of the map, and it did such a fantastic job of setting the mood of being in a spruce forest, a desert, a mine, or a snow biome. This is a great example of how music can be used to bring people closer to music, as you can also do through other forms of art such as video games, and there are no limits to the natural beauty you can capture in the form of song, and the magical feelings of awe that music can strike into the hearts of many.  

Citations

Why do ravens mimic sounds? explained. Bird Avid. (2022, December 1). Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://birdavid.com/ravens-mimic-sounds/#:~:text=Ravens%20make%20different%20sounds%20to,t%20so%20common%2C%20after%20all. 

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritagefor a Better World (1st ed). Sagamore Venture.Hampton, M. (2021, July 15). Indigenous drumming a sacred art. Merritt Herald. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.merrittherald.com/indigenous-drumming-a-sacred-art/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CFor%20First%20Nations%20Peoples%2C%20the,special%20rhythm%20on%20the%20drum.

[tbenvs3000w23]

Hey Carson,

I really enjoyed reading your perspective on the power of music!

Growing up I played a lot of minecraft as well (and still do I can't lie). The music in the game is incredibly made and I will always stand by that. It truly does transport you to a different world, one with beautiful, albeit cubic, landscapes.

I totally relate to your point about music bringing people closer to nature, I always find that I associate music with where I was when I first listened to it - so I have fond memories of things like camping and hiking when I hear a lot of my favourite songs. Tree planting with subwoofer lullaby sounds like a very cool experience!

There are a ton of examples of nature within music; I mentioned in my post how so many songs will have even a brief mention of some aspect of the natural world. Nature itself is art in a way, and impacts everyone living on earth in some way or another.

Lastly, I love your point about music expressing feelings that cannot be expressed by simply speaking. I have always thought that music is there for you no matter how you are feeling, and I feel that same way about nature. Whenever I'm not in a very good mood, I find listening to music and going for a long walk calms me more than anything else.

I look forward to reading more from you in the weeks to come :)

Thomas

[tbenvs3000w23]

Music within Nature

Music and nature, while not always directly connected, are more intertwined than I have realized.

Music can be seen in nature through the sounds of wind blowing through trees, bird calls in the morning, waves crashing on the shoreline, and so much more. While I have never considered this to be ‘music’ per se, it’s clear to me after this unit that it essentially does the same thing – invokes emotion through audio. I’ve always thought the most beautiful sound was the call of the loon, as this sound that sends me back to every camping trip I took from childhood until now. And I find myself listening to music for the same reasons – to relive emotions and memories from my past.

Looking for nature in music is incredibly easier than I initially thought. I suppose it slips my mind that nature impacts anybody and everybody every single day, in any number of ways. This is translated to the work of many musicians and can paint a lovely picture that many people can relate to.

A song that reminds me of nature is Helium by Glass Animals. There isn’t any one landscape or anything I picture form this song necessarily, but this song reminds me of last summer and spending time with my girlfriend and friends. I took no classes in the summer and just worked as much as I could. Because of this, I could spend my free time visiting people and doing things like biking through Toronto by the lakeshore, going to Sauble Beach, and going camping. This song was very often in the rotation, so hearing it now gives me an immediate feeling of warmth and joy, and given past experiences, it will continue to do so for a long time. Here’s a line I really like from the song;

“Soft blue skies

Helium balloons float up away

Broad daylight

But we’re sunflowers in the rain”

Also here’s a nice photo from that summer;

I think even nature and music both tell a story, and it only makes sense to associate the two. I think it’s not also inevitable, but important to create these associations, as later on in life the music will be a way to re-experience these wonderful memories - as music lives forever.

[tbenvs3000w23]

Nature Interpretation and History

Robert Sutton, the Chief Historian in the video within Unit 6 brought up an interesting point; I believe he implied how much more enriching it is as a learner/interpreter to be painted a picture rather than seeing a sum of a story's parts. The way he said it was that he tried to expand the story of the civil war beyond 'who shot who, when and where'.

I think this applies to nature interpretation in a big way. Even though we have discussed (in previous blog posts) the beauty of visuals when learning; I know for myself, that a large part of the beauty of nature comes from understanding why it's beautiful, or why it even exists the way it does. Essentially, Robert pointed out that an appreciation/interest in a historical event is better established when more is observed than what is on the surface.

I'm going to try my best to integrate these thoughts with this week's blog post; "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".

This quotation took me many attempts to understand but I think I managed it. I'm going to unpack this quote with nature in mind.

Essentially, any one piece of nature at some point in time, while beautiful, is just a single capture of one giant video playing throughout all of history. This one capture could be a cliffside in a national park for example, which would have meaning to many people that visit the park. As a natural landscape, this cliffside is destined to change over time; continuously creating new experiences for those interpreting it. Maybe it didn't use to be a cliffside, maybe it was carved out, and maybe many cabins are planned be built atop the cliff to overlook the beautiful view below. These changes through time don't destroy the memories created prior, they simply create opportunities for new ones to be formed.

It is difficult sometimes when a place you use to love is no longer there for you; maybe a house you moved out of, or a beloved restaurant that has been shut down. But telling the stories of these things and understanding why they existed, and what might follow is a beautiful thing, which with the right mindset, can expand on your appreciation for them entirely.

[mienvs3000w23]

My Plant Journey

Wow, no topic? I’ve been sitting at my computer trying to think of what to write about. I don’t want to talk about future environmental jobs, it stresses me out. I don’t want to talk about school or post-grad learning, it stresses me out. What types of nature interpretation that I’m currently involved don’t stress me out? Why is it that as I’ve gotten older, my interaction with nature has shrunk into my computer screen, valued by grades and money? I sit here trying to think of one way I interact with the environment every day that isn’t for academic or professional goals, but for my personal ones. A-ha, my plants!

I don’t know about you guys, but growing up I have never had a green thumb. My mom always joked that our family has red thumbs because every plant that entered our house would die. During COVID when I really lived in Guelph for the first time off residence, I decided to get my first actual plant. My roommate has half the amazon rainforest in her room and reassured me she’d help me get started. 

My roommates room above.

So we went over to Walmart and got a plant that she was an avid fan of: the pilea. 

The pilea, also known as the Chinese Money Plant, is super cool. My favourite thing about it is that it has unique circular leaves that you normally wouldn’t imagine for plants to have. They’re made this way to absorb the maximal amount of sunlight that they can because they usually only grow in indirect sunlight. I have fond memories of my roommate bottom-watering her pilea in our grimey Chancellors kitchen with all of us huddled around the plant to listen to it absorb the water. So when I got this plant, I figured it would be no different. Not sure what happened, but this is my pilea two years later:

You think that’s bad? Below is the second plant I ever got:

Obviously I gave it to my roommate.

But you know what? I never gave up! After several more premature and unfortunate plant deaths, I finally kind of got a grip on the whole plant thing. We had left Chancellors and moved into a cozy little house. I was basically living alone for the summer and needed a new hobby. I worked as a receptionist at a car dealership and boy was it boring. I sat at that desk for hours at a time scrolling through facebook marketplace looking for some ideas. One hot summer afternoon, I saw that a woman was selling her pathos plant. I decided to stop by after work and pick it up.

This was the start of my addiction. Since then, I have collected roughly 15-25 more plants. It’s gotten so bad, I have plants on the floor of my bedroom because I don’t have space for them on any more shelves. Of course several of my plant predecessors have passed away, but hey, there’s still a few that are kickin’ it! I feel like although this hobby can be taxing at times due to the constant upkeep, it is really rewarding to have nature in my bedroom with me. It makes me really happy to nurture my plants. I have learned to understand their cues, giving them water, light, shade, or humidity as they need. I also enjoy decorating my plants by painting their pots or putting crystals into the soil.

 I really love seeing the afternoon sun hit their leaves, it makes me really happy. It has also helped me become interested in horticulture and ecology- I’ve both volunteered and worked as a horticulturist around the Kitchener-Guelph-Waterloo area over the past few summers!

I guess the moral of the story is that it’s important to maintain some level of personal conenction to nature outside of school and work. Don’t be scared to get some plants, it can be daunting but with trial and error, you’ll learn! 

What’s your guys’ favourite plants? I’d love to see some pictures and hear your story about them! Thanks so much!!

Mishell

[tbenvs3000w23]

Hi Mishell,

I related to your post super strongly - as I have been nearly hopeless at taking care of my plants in the past.

My mom and dad never really excelled in this field either, but my grandmother has always kept an incredible house full of plants (I wish I had a picture of her living room, its beautiful). I've always loved plants, but never really learned how to care for them, so any plants my grandmother would gift to my family would be fated to die unfortunately.

Almost 2 years ago I met my girlfriend, who is plant-OBSESSED. So I suppose it was inevitable that some of that would rub off on me. Here are a few of her dozens of plants just for reference;

Keeping plants made her really happy and I didn't necessarily relate to that initially, but since then I've bought a few of my own, which are still alive! I chose low maintenance ones on purpose but I'm still proud of them (The jade plant is shrivelled at the moment, I swear its just being dramatic).

Anyways, Its so cool that you've volunteered to be a horticulturist! I've definitely gained an interest in that field recently, thats awesome. I totally agree it's important to keep a relationship with nature outside of the classroom, and this is a wonderful way to do it :)

[tbenvs3000w23]

Moving Forward in my Field

This blog post being a blank canvas is daunting - but I knew immediately I wanted to write about the thing on my mind the most these days, which is what my plans are for the future.

Throughout my time in my program I have often thought about what I will be doing after I complete my bachelor's degree. I'm in a bachelor of science in environmental science, with my major being in ecology. It is hard to think about my path following my degree as my parents are quite adamant they would like me to pursue a masters degree. While a masters degree is a great path to take - it is quite the undertaking, and even though I am already in my fourth year, I am still unsure its for me.

I've been looking for work/volunteer opportunities in my field very often since the end of my first year, and very little of it has worked out, unfortunately. I am only now working towards my full drivers license, which has limited my job opportunities significantly when searching on Experience Guelph in the past. I did work one co-op work term at the beginning of my third year however, and it was a great experience. My parents were kind enough to assist me with travelling when necessary, although I was mainly remote. Since then I have continued my search hoping for more experience as I know it would be very beneficial.

I do think a masters degree is a great option, and might be the most comfortable since I would still be a student, which is all I have known for as long as I can remember - job searching and ending school seems much scarier at this point in my life. I have made friends at my current job and through school, so this change would alter much more than just my status as a student.

I am optimistic for the future, I believe no matter which path I choose I will figure out how to enjoy and better myself. I suppose I just need to accept these upcoming changes and keep my head up as I search for my next opportunity.

On a less serious note, look how cool this picture I took in my botany lab is;

We were looking at the different tissues in plants and we did a cross section of celery. This is a close-up of a vascular bundle, the round dark circle is the xylem, and the light purple around it is the phloem. I think it's cool because it looks like a cartoon spaceship.

Anyways thanks to anyone who read through this post, It was mainly for me to unload a little stress, and I think it helped a little. I am looking forward to the future, and classes like this make me excited about school and the environmental sciences as a whole.

[lkenvs3000w23]

Interpreting Nature Through Art

There are many different ways to interpret nature, but one way is through art.  Using art to interpret nature is a powerful tool to increase engagement and enjoyment for guests (Beck et al. 2019). There are many different ways a nature interpreter can use art to engage their audience, it can be through dance, music, theatre, paintings, and poetry. Using these different forms of art as a nature interpreter is a unique way to connect your audience with nature on a personal level.  

The thing about art is that multiple people can look at the same painting or listen to the same song, but all of them will interpret the meaning in different ways.  This is why for centuries artists have resisted having anyone  “explain the meaning”  of a  painting or sculpture; they insist that each person should have an individual response and interpretation of the significance of the work (Beck et al. 2019). For many artists, art is a way for them to express their emotions when it comes to nature, and can use their artwork to help educate people on certain environmental issues. This can make people experience a lot of different feelings and emotions and this is a good way for artists to use their art to help promote conservation. 

One way that nature can be interpreted through art is by photography, and now that we live in a world where basically everyone has an iPhone or a phone with a camera this is becoming one of the most common ways. Taking pictures of nature is something that I have done my whole life, every time I see a sunset, a unique landscape, or some kind of wildlife I have always felt the need to capture the moment by taking a picture. 

Another way that I have been able to frequently interpret nature through art is by frequently visiting Algonquin Park. As I mentioned in previous blogs, my family's cottage is right at the gate of Algonquin park, so growing up I would always go multiple times a year. One of my favorite things to do at the park is go to the park's art center. The art center has some of the most breathtaking art I have ever seen in my life. However, there was one artist whose art I really enjoy and that is the artwork of Tom Thompson. My favorite painting of his is of Canoe Lake.  Canoe Lake is a lake that I have canoed on for my whole life and whenever I see that painting it makes me feel calm and relaxed.  In fact, this is actually the lake he died on, and one summer my friends and I even canoed to the site of his grave. Although I have spent a lot of time in Algonquin Park the art of Tom Thompson has really helped me connect with nature and help me find my sense of place.

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

1 note

[tbenvs3000w23]

Hi Logan,

I really liked the way you mentioned how artists resisted people 'determining the meaning' of a piece of artwork. I have always thought that trying to conclusively determine what any piece of artwork means is ridiculous as a concept, as every person you talk to will have some sort of different feelings about the piece.

I also liked how you tied back into your sense of place. I've always found that my photographs I've taken when camping are beautiful captured moments in time, and looking at them allows me to travel back to that day for just a few seconds, which is a beautiful thing. If I were to show these pictures to others I'm sure they would find something to appreciate, however as the 'creator' my connection with this piece is likely different than anyone else observing it.

I strongly believe that without photography, paintings, music or any other art form depicting nature, learning the subjects would be tedious at times - as the beauty would not come across as well by reading from a textbook or story.

Overall I enjoyed your post, and look forward to reading your future ones!

[tbenvs3000w23]

Arts Purpose in Nature Interpretation

I believe that art, in any form, is meant to capture a moment or subject, which can be shared and invoke emotion in others. I've often found that I appreciate music due to the musicians ability to capture an emotion into words - one I've felt deeply but never knew how to express. This creates a sort of 'bond' between the creator and listener, and allows for all to appreciate that feeling or moment that has been represented.

"In interpretation, the arts are a means, but rarely the ends. Living history presenters use their art to dramatize the timeless messages of the time and people they represent" (Beck et al., 2018).

This quote sums up what I first mentioned quite well, and I believe that nature is one of the most versatile and beautiful subjects to create artwork of - something everyone globally can understand and appreciate.

The picture above is one I captured while camping at Algonquin. My family and I were on our way home after packing up, and I told my uncle to turn around as I was positive I saw something off the side of the road. After we pulled over we pulled out our binoculars to see a mother and calf. Everything was silent, all I could think was how incredible being able to see this was, and how I needed to capture this and show my friends. I had never seen a moose before, and I had never realized how big they were in person. Looking back, the photo isn't necessarily of the best quality or composition, but it has a lot of meaning to me, and sharing it might remind others of similar experiences and cause similar positive emotions.

I think of the 'gift of beauty' as the desire to share the positive emotions invoked by nature. I've experienced this on many occasions; seeing the first snowfall of winter, a beautiful lake at sunset, or coming across some form of uncommon wildlife such as that picture above. This gift is one experienced by all to some degree, and spreading visual imagery whether by photo, painting, or sculpture is an incredible way to provoke emotions and promote preservation of nature's beauty.

Visual representation is a powerful thing in terms of learning - I think that attaching photographs and artwork when learning new concepts helps most people develop a better understanding of the subject matter. I believe creating this artwork is important in learning as well. This unit mentions how you do not have to be a talented artist to produce a piece that can spread the 'gift of beauty' and i could not agree more. Creating artwork celebrating nature in any form spreads the love for the environment and its many beautiful components, and I believe it is beneficial and can even be therapeutic to people around the world.

[dmenvs3000w23]

Unit 3: Risk versus Reward in Interpretation

The content this week regarding privilege was extremely important to learn. How I understand it, privilege includes tangible and intangible advantages that a person did not earn, but instead were handed due to their innate positionality. These can include material things like finances, opportunities, health, or place of residence, but can also be subtle, like connections, skills, values, abilities, or mindsets that one holds based on how they were born or raised.

A lot of the time, privilege can go unnoticed by others, and many people are unaware of their own privilege. This is why the term “invisible backpack” that we learned this week is an apt description of privilege.

It is important in my discussion of privilege to unpack my own invisible backpack. I am a white woman who grew up with a loving, middle-class family. I grew up in a safe and well-kept community, in a city with lots of opportunities (Toronto), in a country that is safe, comfortable, and familiar for someone like me (Canada). I am healthy, and educated. These things inform everything I think, say, or do, whether I realize it or not.

My first memory of becoming aware of my own privilege was in kindergarten. I brought to school my Hannah Montana lip gloss I had gotten as a gift from my parents - a piece of merchandise from one of my favourite television shows. I showed it to my friend, and she was perplexed. She did not find my item cool, and had many questions. “What is lip gloss?” “Who is Hannah Montana?”

I wondered why she did not see this object the same as me. Perhaps her parents could not afford gifts like makeup sets. Perhaps she was not allowed to watch television, thus feeling left out on conversations her peers had about these shows during recess. This is a very small-scale example of privilege, but it was my first exposure, and left a lasting impact.

Regarding nature interpretation, I see that privilege plays a role in two ways.

In the first way, the interpreter must recognize all visitors will have a range of privileges. Even if the interpreter is aware the people coming to their program are all part of one group (e.g., all within a certain age group), they must recognize the group is still heterogenous. Accommodating different intentions with the program, ability to progress through the program comfortably and with dignity, or ability to receive and process the information presented must all be considered.

In the second way, the interpreter themselves must reflect on their own privilege and positionality, and wonder about how messages coming from them might be received by a diverse audience. In what ways can they ensure their messages are self-aware, well-received, and free from bias?

One beautiful thing about nature interpretation is that it can serve as an opportunity to interact with people with different invisible backpacks, and learn from each other. That’s not to say we should put the emotional load on those with less in their backpacks, by forcing them to ask for accommodations and teach the rest of us about privilege – it is instead to say the more we interact with different people, the more we become aware of ourselves and what we can do with our position to ensure everybody has a positive experience.

[tbenvs3000w23]

Hi Delainey,

I really enjoyed reading your post!

I like how you mentioned that the effort towards change should not be placed upon the people with less in their invisible backpacks - as requiring them ask for specific accommodations rather than providing them in the first place is unnecessary and unwelcoming.

I also enjoyed reading about your first exposure to the concept of privilege (the Hannah Montana Lip Gloss). Growing up I used to think my friends had so much more than I did, whether that be a bigger house, more toys, games, or whatever I was interested in at the time. But as I got older I also found people that were much less fortunate than me - which entirely changed my perspective.

Avoiding biased information as an interpreter was another interesting point you had made. Prior to this unit, I did not think of how my posts, or other stories I tell might be influenced by my past experiences and come through in my speech. Ensuring messages can be related to by all is important when delivering information to diverse audiences, and I thought that was great that you brought it up.

Overall you are very well spoken (or typed I suppose), I look forward to your next posts!

[tbenvs3000w23]

Risk vs Reward: Recognizing Privilege

Privilege is a tricky thing to define, as it comes in many forms, however I would define it as an unearned advantage in life. Privilege means not having to worry about as many obstacles in life as others, and this is usually taken for granted.

I consider myself quite privileged. I have a family, housing, easy access to food, and I have been enrolled in a University program for almost 4 years now. I am only in the position I am in because of my supportive family, which I did not ‘earn’ per se. It is very easy to take things like this for granted, but it is so important to recognize that I, along with many others, have a safety net when taking risks - something that a lot of people do not have. Regardless of how independent I am or become, I have my family to turn to in a time of crisis, which gives me yet another advantage that was thrust upon me simply by happenstance.

I always believed that I worked towards my university degree and earned it by getting good grades in high school, and getting a job to make money towards my tuition, but I realise that without the comfortable life I have been given, this would not have been nearly as easy. Without the emotional and financial support of my parents growing up, none of these opportunities would have been possible, even when working my first job at Tim Hortons in high school, my parents very often had to drive me to and from shifts. As well as this, they assisted me when preparing for my interview for that job, as well as multiple others. 

I have mentioned in my previous posts how much I have enjoyed going for hikes, and going camping with family, which I know is what led me to study environmental sciences and ecology at Guelph. However, I only gained these experiences because my parents spent time and money to share their passion for nature with me, not because I worked for it or earned it.

In the field of Nature Interpretation, or Environmental Sciences as a whole, I realize I have an advantage over those who did not attend university, or experience some of the things I was able to do while growing up. Everyone should be able to experience nature freely, and sadly this is not possible for all. Being an able-bodied, young, heterosexual male, I will face little to no prejudice or obstacles when looking for opportunities in this, or any field of work. For example, if I wanted to travel for a nature hike that I think might benefit me, I am able to, which is not the case for many people facing financial struggles, or physical struggles or disabilities.

I truly believe nature can benefit all, but it is true that it is more accessible to some than others. I think that increasing accessibility of things like provincial parks and nature reserves is important to share the passion for nature among everyone. Although we cannot eliminate privilege, I think recognition of our own privileges is extremely important, and is the first step in overcoming barriers in not just this, but all aspects of life.

[ajenvs3000w23]

ENVS*3000 Entry 2: Teaching Learners

I am very aware of my incredibly strong passion for teaching people about what I love, especially animals (movies as well). My ideal position for teaching people about animals would be either driving the Zoomobile at the Toronto Zoo (and narrating the tour) or leading wildlife tours in Algonquin for a company called Voyageur Quest. The head of Voyageur Quest lives on my street and offered me a position when he heard my passion talking about animals, which was just incredibly. Unfortunately, I still need to get my Wilderness Advanced First Aid certification and my Bronze Cross before I can have the position. Still, getting those certifications will be worth it. It would be a dream come true for me to lead people through the wilderness and teach them about black bears and wolves, or to sit on the back of the Zoomobile and talk about the zoo. Obviously, these are short term jobs and not necessarily careers, but I still think that they would serve as fun and fantastic starting points. Beyond the certifications listed above, I believe two obvious requirements for such positions would be patience and confidence. However, I also stress charisma to be a very important, yet slightly underrated quality. People who attempt to teach others really need to be able to engage and hold the attention of their audience. Upon review of the list of multiple intelligences in Beck, Cable & Knudson 2018, I think I would have the strongest appeal in the area of linguistic intelligence. I do well by learning from story telling, and story telling is also how I love to teach others (it is also something I just like to do). In my opinion, providing examples through telling stories is incredibly effective for hammering a point home. In my previous blog post, I briefly touched on the importance of not making people feel judge or shamed for being less knowledgeable than me about nature. I believe one weakness of mine that may present a challenge for me is how bothered I can be by people's failure to understand certain things about nature. One little anecdote I will use to support this point regards when I was on a Zoom meeting for a lab during the W21 semester. One of the people in my small Zoom group said that she used to work at Algonquin Park, and one evening she received a phone call from a park visitor who asked, "What time do you release the animals?" She clearly found such a question annoying and ridiculous, as did I, and this is why I acknowledge the importance of patience when attempting to interpret nature to others, especially when trying to stress the concept that nature does not belong to humans, nor is it there for our amusement. Whoever reads this post may consider it healthy and/or wise on my part to immediately acknowledge my flaw of being so bothered by, well, this type of ignorance. Even so, this is why I also advocate that any teacher, nature interpreter or otherwise, should possess the skill of impulse control so that even if something like this bothers them, it is not made apparent to the audience and therefore the audience feels no judgement or shame.

References

Algonquin Park Career Opportunities with Voyageur Quest https://www.voyageurquest.com/jobs-opportunities/

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

[tbenvs3000w23]

Hi Alec,

I really enjoyed reading your post, and absolutely agree that patience is an important skill to have in the role of nature interpreter.

As a kid I went with my parents to the Toronto zoo every year, and I share your desire to drive the zoomobile and do the narrations, likely because this was my first real-world experience of a nature interpreter, and it has always stuck with me.

I threw myself into learning about animals when I was younger, I was always fascinated by how many species there were, and tried to learn as many as I could. My parents told me that sometimes I was impatient with other zoo-goers, correcting them when they called an animal by the wrong name (one person called a tree kangaroo a koala, who was really in the wrong here?).

I only mention this story as it follows with your theme of patience, and it is wrong to provide a negative experience with those exploring the natural world, it should be allowed on their own terms, as nature is for everyone to enjoy.

I also could not agree more that the ability to tell a story with passion and charisma is underrated. Out of all of the classes I have taken thusfar in University, the ones I remember most of are the ones with passionate profs that engage their audience.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this, and look forward to your next post!

[tbenvs3000w23]

My Ideal Nature Interpreter Experience

Growing up I have been exposed to a variety of environmentalists that deliver information to the public in a fun way. Steve Irwin first comes to mind as someone who always showed his enthusiasm for the environment and all of its creatures. Not only did he possess a deep knowledge and love for all wildlife, but he had a certain charisma and passion that allowed him to catch the interest of many people worldwide. Alongside Steve Irwin, I would credit my love for animals to Chris and Martin Kratt, specifically when they hosted their television show Zoboomafoo. What these people all have in common, aside from their love for animals, is their ability to engage an audience. And while ‘environmental interpreter’ may not be any of their official job titles, they effectively engaged me in the biological world, so I strongly believe their skills overlap.

In tandem with these skills, I think an important skill to have as an environmental interpreter is the ability of storytelling. When trying to engage an audience, It is incredibly beneficial to tell a story that encapsulates information rather than simply spewing facts. The first professional environmental interpreter I can recall talking to would have been when I was around 9, when I was on a camping trip to Killbear Provincial Park. I took a late-night tour with a small group and a tour guide. The tour was a search for owls, we listened for owl calls, and visited a couple of the known nesting sites. This tour guide could have easily read off of a pamphlet of owl facts, or wrote some lazy script, but instead he chose to share his experiences with owls at the park. Throughout his stories, he worked in explanations of the morphological traits of owls, as well as their other habits such as their thrown-up pellets of indigestible materials (which younger me was very fascinated by). These stories not only helped me remember the information, but provided me with fond memories, and an interest in the subject matter.

I believe based on my experience, that my ideal role of environmental interpreter would be working with kids and talking about the environment. I think telling kids exciting stories about the outdoors would be the best way to catch their interest in the field of environmental science. Leading tours at provincial parks would be very exciting not just for them, but for me as well. Although the information I would be presenting in my stories might be broken down into its simplest form, reiterating these points to kids who are hearing it potentially for the first time would feel very rewarding. I’ve considered teaching in the past, and teaching what I love in a place I love being would be an incredible experience.

[amvenvs3000w23]

From Fields To Mountains

Growing up on a small family farm in the “armpit” of Ontario, my relationship with nature has drastically evolved as I developed as a person. Initially as a young boy, I remember spending long days in the fields pulling weeds and picking rocks. Always it felt like I was trying to “tame” nature, and that it was me vs the beast, as if nature was out to destroy me. My mother being a very cautious loving mother, always warned me of the dangers of coyotes, blizzards, and poison ivy.  Although as young boys do, I had an urge for adventure, and a curiosity for the world around me. Routinely I would venture off into the forest at the back of our farm (to the dismay of my mother) and explore the nature around me. I loved observing wildlife, seeing deer graze, skunks’ rout for grubs and snakes catching frogs. Keeping my hands busy, I liked to forage for materials that I could use to build primitive forts, spending the nights in them staring out at the stars and seeing the wonders of the sky above, the thousands of twinkling stars above, and back on the ground that magical display of fireflies.

Unbenounced to me at the time, I had the privilege of spending my childhood in and around nature, developing a love for the natural world from such an increasing rare perspective. As I grew up and continued my education unto university, my passion for the natural world led me to study the environmental sciences, to help me further my connection with nature. I was shocked to realise that my childhood was an ever-increasing anomaly. Most of peers grew up in large cities where their experiences with nature were limited to annual vacations to national parks or tropical forests where they too fell in love with the natural environment, although as a curiosity. Learning that many of them couldn’t see a single star in the sky back home gave me a deep appreciation for my upbring and my hardships that at the time I thought of as disadvantageous, but now realize was my greatest asset. Continuing my education, I to develop a similar curiosity as my counterparts, although to the arctic. To me an unfamiliar environment, such as nature with my city dwelling friends. Through an opportunity with my co-op program, I decided to feed this curiosity and spend a term in the Yukon. This experience stoked the fire which was my love for nature. Experiencing the “untouched” beauty of the Yukon gave me a sense of place, opening my eyes to the importance boreal ecosystems to the global carbon cycle. Responsible for sequestering carbon that was released from the other side of the globe. This helped me to not only look at the beauty that the natural environment offers us but its economical uses as well, and how moving forward we as a species can use nature to heal the wounds we created.

[tbenvs3000w23]

Hi Andrew,

This post is very interesting! It's so cool that you got to grow up with the wilderness in your backyard - exposing you to the field of environmental sciences long before you would even begin to learn about it in school.

Your experience is very unique, and I must say I envy that to a degree. Every trip my family took to a provincial park (or anywhere outside of the city really), I would always wish that somehow we would not have to go back home that time. But I do believe this shaped me as a person and developed my curiosity for the outdoors and the environment. Every trip I took I made sure to savour, and it made me that much more excited for my next one.

I can also definitely relate to the 'protective mother in the face of nature' aspect of your post. When I was much younger my mother would frequently warn me about ticks, bears, poison ivy, coyotes, and anything that could possibly cause me any harm while outdoors up North. Similar to you, I would often stray off to search for the unknown. I would often find interesting things that I would not have seen otherwise; snakes, deer, foxes, and other miscellaneous creatures in the forest. If anything, her warnings made the unknown more intriguing, which made me more excited to explore it, fuelling my love for animals.

Your post was very fun to read, and I look forward to seeing your future posts :)