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Disclaimer
This blog was created for ENVS 3000, at the University of Guelph.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of the University of Guelph.
The University of Guelph is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by this blog.
Unit 10 Blog Post
This is a big question to answer. I believe that my personal ethic is not really one individual thing or trait, but a network of traits and actions that ultimately work together to form the person I am today. This is not to say that my beliefs and ethics are “complete” however, and I would say that they are constantly evolving, changing and forming into other new ideas as well. What I do know is that I believe strongly in the right for everyone to have access to nature and nature areas. Being surrounded by nature as a child made me ultimately who I am today and my continued time spent outdoors currently changes who I am. In the reading for this week, Rodenburg explains that leaving children indoors and not exposing them to nature and everything that comes with it, harms them in the long run (2019). I believe this to be true, especially in my own case. As a kid, we never went on big trips on a plane anywhere. We never went to Florida as many of the other kids would on March break. We never went to Europe or anywhere else. But what we did do, was camping and spending time outside, and A LOT of it! Instead of going to Florida, we went up north and went ice fishing or snowmobiling. Instead of going to Europe in the summer, we would start the truck up and drive through Ontario towards Thunder Bay and camp all along the way. Would it have been nice to go on big trips like Florida or Europe growing up? Of course, it would have, however, I don’t blame my parents for not taking us there, as the time we spent outside in Canada was much more memorable and long-lasting.
I have attached a picture from my Alberta October 2022 trip. This was taken in Jasper National Park. If you look closely, you can see that the stop sign is bent towards the one way. This is because just mere moments before this picture was taken, a car slammed right into the ditch, right into the stop sign. It was this driver's very first time driving in the winter in Canada, and his SUV was stuck in the ditch. Long story short, he tasked me with driving his SUV out of the ditch back onto the road and I accepted! This was such a wacky and weird scenario, here I was in this completely random person's car driving it up a 45-degree angle just hoping I could get it unstuck (I was just as clueless as him about whether this would work or not). I eventually got his vehicle back up on the road, and he was extremely grateful. I often think of this story because of two reasons. Firstly, I would have never had this super odd but memorable experience unless I had gone on this adventure out west in the first place, which would have never happened unless I was taught to enjoy nature from a young age. Second, although this person got his car stuck in a snowbank, he was doing exactly what I have been preaching, just getting out there! This was a huge step for this man, and he even told me that he had never done anything like this before, and he took the leap! I’m sure this was a very stressful time for him, but in the end, it worked out just fine, no one got injured and surprisingly there was no damage to his vehicle.
I believe that my personal ethics and beliefs as a nature interpreter would be to enable more people to just get out there and face their fears involving the outdoors. Imagine if we lived in a world where 9 out of 10 kids had extended exposure to the outdoors. Their future mindsets towards environmental policy and conservation would be instilled in them since they were young. I believe that as environmental interpreters, we are responsible for instructing kids and showing them nature at a young age. Many kids have a fascination with nature, it's in their blood! But many parents do not and just don’t have the social, and economic means or knowledge to satisfy their child's need for time in the wilderness. I do also understand that it just isn’t feasible for everyone to go out on detailed multi day camping trips. However, spending time at a local park or conservation authority could be just as helpful. Enough time spent in low-key settings may motivate individuals to take the leap and go on their first multi-day camping trip.
Personally, if I were to do nature interpretation as a career, I would have to be in person, helping them every step of the way. I am an extremely hands-on person and communicate best in person around other people. It just isn’t the same as trying to explain something on the phone or through text. This is how I would conduct my interpretation. I truly believe that most people in the world would like to have a positive connection with their natural environment, they just simply do not know how. Public education is key in this concept, as they may not even know what they are missing out on!
As this course comes to a close, I am grateful for what I have learned regarding public education and how to convey information correctly. I am unsure if I will ever take on a job in the nature interpretation field, but after taking this class it seems very appealing! I appreciate blogging with everyone this semester and everyone takes care!
Rodenburg, J. (2019, June 17). Why Environmental Educators Shouldn’t Give Up Hope. Clearing Magazine. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300
Hi Ethan,
I really enjoyed reading this blog post! The begining of your post talking about ethics caught my attention when you mentioned it being a "network" I think this is a good way to put it as I agree that there is no simple way to describe it. I like that you mention that your ethic is a thing that is constantly changing and growing with you as a person because I think the more in life you learn the better you understand the world around you which is a result will change and evolve your ethics. I also think that the presence of nature in life is very important and will almost always have a positive effect on people.
I like that you mentioned kids being naturally drawn to nature and having so much potential to connect with it, as I think this is very true its something I felt as a kid and have noticed while working with kids over the summer. I think this is for sure a great advantage that we need to use and make nature more accessible so that more parents can expose their kids to nature. Kids are the future so their connection to nature is very important - as well as our of course to try and conserve best we can so they can experience nature their whole lives.
The final blog post
I have spent my life interpreting nature even before I realized it. I seek nature’s interpretation to expand knowledge, interest and enthusiasm (Beck et al. 2018, p.12). I have often found myself interpreting through museums, campgrounds, hikes, and visitors centres. Over the years, as my knowledge of the connections and interactions within nature expands, my interpretations become more applicable to my education, allowing me to exercise and expand my learned knowledge. When I am interpreting, there are several things I look to achieve and take away from the experience. This course specifically has taught me to allow my interpretations to be more open-minded, allowing me to see the connections when I reflect on my past experiences interpreting the world (Beck et al. 2018, pg. 13). These connections help me understand why something made me feel a certain way, or why a specific event might be so clear in my memory. This course has taught me to feel and connect my emotions through interpretation, whether it be art, nature, or music. In terms of my personal ethics regarding interpretation, I will never be the person to push boundaries within interpretation for the amusement of my own fascination. Pushing these boundaries offers risk of losing opportunities for anyone else which is not ethical. When at a museum if they say don’t touch something, regardless of if touching it will impact it’s quality I will not touch it. Or if on a hike and there’s a sign stating that these rocks are sensitive don’t step on them I would not push the boundaries for the security of knowing that others will get the same experience when they visit. I feel these are ethics and morals that should go without said, especially for people who often visit nature and might be seen as a role model. I am so strict within these rules for myself because I can recall one time my family was viewing these rocks on a hike in northern Ontario that were so impressively balanced on each other for hundreds of years, and just days before we visited, one of them had been pushed over by people who ignored the boundaries and it was so disappointing for us.
In terms of my personal beliefs regarding interpretation, I am often fascinated by observing and thinking or discussing with others. Especially in natures surroundings like hikes, I do not feel the need to interact or disturb nature’s processes, rather observe with fascination and apply my knowledge. I feel this allows for a more successful interpretation because you are watching experiences that would occur if you were or were not there. When watching nature, it is so interesting to wonder. When watching the squirrels, I love wondering what their mental processes are at the moment of our interaction. This goes hand in hand with the ethics of respecting boundaries. As someone who is in school for zoology, people are starting to come to me for questions about certain animals or situations within nature. People are starting to look towards me to feel comfortable within nature and that tells me I need to work even harder to be the best role model possible.
As someone who is very passionate and becoming educated about the contexts of natures and its interactions, there are several things I am responsible for when it comes to interpreting nature. I am a part of a group of people who are responsible for the quality of our nature and its future. Although I do not work or display myself in public opportunities for interpretation, I do have goals for my future. In whatever I might enroll myself in I have the responsibility to maintain accuracy of information, ethical information, and I will never share a belief for the point of pleasing others, I will always spread information that I also believe in and feel passion towards (Beck et al., 2018 p. 37). In my personal life, my responsibilities include the maintenance of stewardship to stay connected with the goals, beliefs, and cultural morals that portray themselves within whatever I might be interpreting (Beck et al., 2018 p. 37). This will allow for the stories, connections and history expression to stay present (Beck et al., 2018, p. 37).
I work at a dog boarding and daycare facility and I always love answering peoples questions about dog behaviour, why they do certain things, and further informing people on how their dogs might thrive better. All of my answers to peoples questions come from experience, and knowledge. My enjoyment of answering these questions tells me I would thrive in a position where this situation can be applied to nature. I have considered working at trailer parks, or volunteering to do nature lessons with rescued animals, and as someone who might have this future role, there are many responsibilities. These include but are not limited to, the promotion of knowledge towards conservation, educating people on how they can improve themselves or just educating to make more people aware of an issue, engaging people within my lessons without creating disruption, and applying the knowledge to other scenarios like cultures, beliefs, or background information. All this would be present while demonstrating ethical behaviour myself. I can be successful in an advocacy educational role by applying knowledge learned from this course, like different learning behaviours, understanding how to grasp the attention of diverse audiences, and understanding where I would fit in best to educate my audience.
These blog posts have forced me to interpret my life experiences through a new lens. They have allowed me to explore my emotional connections and understand my memories. In an ideal world where I have more time, I would enjoy beginning to journal because connecting my blog posts with my thoughts is something I have enjoyed doing. Starting a journal as inspiration from these blog posts would allow me to deeply understand myself and I also enjoy going back and reading my initial interpretations of the blog prompts to see how I would change my answer now. Finally, this course has taught me that I have unknowingly been interpreting nature this whole time.
Reference
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Publishing LLC. https://sagamore.vitalsource.com/books/9781571678669
Hi Kayla!
I really enjoyed reading your post and I thought it was well written and insightful and I shared feelings about certain things you brought up in your post. The first thing I noticed when reading your blog is your mentioning that this course taught you to be more open minded towards nature interpretation, I also took this away from the course and I found it taught me that there are so many ways that nature interpretation can be used even in day to day life. I also agree with this course having further developped my understanding of interpretation. I additionally did not think to mention the staying safe within interpretation and not pushing limits - I think this is super imortant and certainly key to making it safe and fun for everyone involved. I also agree with what you said on these blog post allowing you to look at different life experiences through various lenses. It did the same for me as a generally am not the first person to analyse situations, I usually just take in experiences and then move on, these blog posts forced me to really analyse some experiences and how I felt about them. I think they helped me become more analytical.
Overall great post thank you!
Final blog prompt - Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?
This final blog post is going to be about how I know feel as a nature interpreter after having taken this course, how have I developed in my nature interpretation throughout this course. First and foremost, I believe that I’ve always had a deep respect for nature and this course just deepened that as it enriched my knowledge on the broad concept of nature interpretation. I think overall this course added to my knowledge of ways that nature could be shared, and how many more ways there are to share your love of nature through educating others and that there are few limits to how you can share nature. It can be as simple as taking a friend to your favourite nature spot and sharing cool things you know about it, or it can be formal in a museum, there are endless possibilities.
I would say that my personal ethic towards nature regarding nature interpretation is that we owe a lot to nature as we have taken a lot from it without returning much, in the past there was more recognition for what nature gave us and I think this is missing in a lot of current cultures as there is an important focus in modernization of the world and society just becomes more demanding – this being in ways that require further development of big cities, factories, etc. When it comes to nature and how we should treat it, I strongly believe that we need to leave things as they were before you came, not taking from nature for no reason, not damaging nature and showing it gratitude and respect (to plants, wildlife, and the land as well as other people). A helpful way to do this is by feeling that we are part of nature. I believe that as nature interpreter one of our key roles is to share nature, which will enable more people support and look after it – our role is to transmit the message to others of our responsibility to nature. We need not only to conserve it, but also restore it when opportunities to do so arise.
I think one of my big responsibilities as a nature interpreter and simply as a member of society is to keep my curiosity and to keep learning and looking for opportunities to enjoy and share nature with others. A big thing is to stay connected to nature as the more connected one is to nature, the more inclined they will be to protecting it. Going into this course nature interpretation to me was limited to nature museums and guided tours in parks where there was “official” nature interpretation, it was obvious, but I now am aware of all the ways that nature interpretation can pop up in all sorts of ways in daily life, it just calls for a little awareness to notice it. Another key idea to take note of is that not everyone will feel the same “sense of place” in nature, so another important role to me as a nature interpreter is to help share that “sense of place” with people and help people find their place in it – I do think it is very easy to shy away from nature if you do not believe that you have a place being there. I know for example that when I was younger whenever I did new activity I always wanted to seem like I knew what I was doing, and always wanted to be properly equipped, I did not want to ask questions and I find that its easy to not want to seem like you don’t know things which can get in the way of feeling a “sense of place” as you don’t want to come into an activity being new to it. With this what is useful is to explore and show the different ways that people can connect to nature as with more options more people will be able to find their “sense of place” in nature, and to make nature and the social events surrounding it inclusive and welcoming.
I’m in my final year of wildlife biology and conservation and plan to pursue a master’s in environmental science – I think that by pursuing further education in a similar field will allow me to further develop my knowledge base in this field and I’ll be able to share even more knowledge. I also believe that it will be important for me to keep putting myself into nature as I definitely do not do this as much when I’m busy or in the city. Although I do not see myself working as a nature interpreter for my career, I do still see myself as a nature interpreter in a more casual way as a share my experience and knowledge of nature through those around and use it to positively impact others. Although I do say that I doubt finding myself as a nature interpreter for my career, I say this lightly as I previously mentioned nature interpretation comes in a lot of different forms, and I may end up taking part in it without even noticing. I also think that I need to keep exploring nature myself and go out and adventure more as I have not been doing that as much as I would like too in the past few years.
On a final note, this course has given me the opportunity to take away a lot more than just the basics of nature interpretation, but it has taught me how to properly interpret nature for myself – and as a result has given me the skill to interpret nature for others. It has opened my eyes to how nature interpretation can be done in all sorts of ways and that really anyone can be shown what nature is and learn from it. I learnt about the early history of nature interpretation, and I stand by its roots, the goal of nature interpretation is really simply put to share the wonders of nature.
Unit 9 Blog
Picture yourself walking through the forest, the sunlight peeking through the dense forest canopy, the birds are singing beautiful melodies, and the wind is circulating the wonderful scent of earth. The peaceful ways of nature calm your soul. But did you know that beneath your feet as you walk is an unseen world the holds the forest you love so deeply together. This is the world of mycelium, nature's own communication network, and it’s nothing short of magical. This is most amazing thing I know about nature.
Mycelium is a vast network of tiny, thread-like structures called hyphae that spread through the soil (Holewinski, n.d.). They are the root systems of Fungi that travel underground, connecting to plants and trees, interconnecting the entire ecosystem (Holewinski, n.d.). The collection of trees we see above ground are interconnected through mycelium underground. This network is massive and fills the soil beneath the surface. It is one of the largest organisms present on this planet (Holewinski, n.d.). Trees and Mycelium have an interconnected relationship. Trees use photosynthesis to create sugars and share them with the mycelium (Johnston & Brewer, 2023). In return, the mycelium acts as a devleity system, bringing water and nutrients to the trees (Johnston & Brewer, 2023). The most fastiting part of this relationship is that Mycelium act as a communicate hubs for trees. They are able to communicate through sending signals and warnings through mycelium about pests or diseases (Holewinski, n.d.). This allows the trees to activate defense mechanisms to protect themselves (Holewinski, n.d.).
This is such a magical part of nature that I find so fascinating. There is an entire world that communicates and take care of each other existing right beneath our feet that most people have no idea exists. This is how forests stay strong and healthy. Trees can also share resources to weaker or younger trees to support their life and growth (Holewinski, n.d.). The relationship between mycelium and trees teaches us something profound about life, that everything is connected. Trees don’t just survive, they thrive because of this underground partnership. Without mycelium, forests as we know them wouldn’t exist.
This can teach all of us that life does not survive standing alone, but by being part of a greater community. The incredible network of Mycelium and its relationship with trees serves as an reminder for humans that when we stand united, we are stronger. Collaboration and support with each other is what makes us stronger. We can try to walk through life alone, but when we have the support and love of people around us is what truly sustains us. Just like the young trees find strength to grow stronger from the elder trees around them, we humans grow stronger when we can lean on one another. This reminds us that there is power in community, and with community we can succeed in anything.
References:
Johnston , E., & Brewer, G. (2023, March 11). Mycelium: Exploring the hidden dimension of fungi. Kew. https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/fungi-hidden-dimension
Holewinski, B. (n.d.). Underground networking: The amazing connections beneath your feet. National Forest Foundation. https://www.nationalforests.org/blog/underground-mycorrhizal-network
Hi Alyssia!
I also briefly discussed the mycelium for my blog post this week, I'd briefly heard of it and I also thought it was really neat. I really liked being able to read your blog post and get more information on it as I only briefly looked into it for my blog as the main idea for my blog was the interconnectedness of nature - which the mycelium certainly shows. I really like the message you mentioned about "life not surviving standing alone, but by being part of a bigger community", I thought it was really nice because in a sense its an encouraging sign that its okay to rely on a community to help you out as even nature does it. When I looked into it I did not go to much into depth so I learnt a lot from your post!
As I was writing my post I was trying to think of other similar systems (maybe not quite the same since this one is pretty large and unique) but other examples of how nature is interconnected in all sorts of ways. Do you have any idea of any other similar systems? Another example I just thought of now was species that help each other out in the animal kingdom, this is similar in a sense of helping one another and building a community.
Unit 9: Interpret (through this blog) the most amazing thing you know about nature
I know this answer may seem a little basic but I the most amazing thing I know about nature is how all elements of nature connect to each other – there is communication within everything in nature. If I’m going to be honest, I’m not sure that this really counts as something I “know” about nature as I had to do a little bit of research for this, but overall, I’ve had knowledge that in all sorts of ways many elements of nature communicate, and I think that is a lovely thing to think about and interesting. As we generally know animals of the same species communicate with others, as well as with other species and even humans. We see communications in all sorts of ways: sounds, smells, actions, hormonal changes, pheromones, etc. Communication in nature is not just limited to animals, but also plants which I find fascinating. Nature as a whole feels like a web, all the elements are interconnected.
According to one paper written by The Smithsonian magazine they discuss that trees of the same species have been observed to be communal, and even help out other species (Grant, 2018), they state they are connected through the underground fungus (Grant, 2018). This to me is very interesting as it shows connection and gives the image of the forest as one. Now this is just one example of one of the unexpected ways of “communication” which take place in nature but there are certainly more. What is also interesting about this is that within certain species that communicate there will be a difference in communication system – some of these may also be linked to environmental factors (Wilczynski, 1999). This brings up the concept that nature and the world we live in is always changing and being shaped by its surroundings. To certain extent, I find that this helps strengthen the connection that we may feel between nature and ourselves as we are constantly adapting and growing to adjust to the situations that life may throw at us.
I believe that the minute you go out in nature, if you take a minute to observe and think about your surroundings, it is very easy to take notice and appreciate the interconnectedness of nature. The different elements of nature rely on one another is one simple example. The pollinators interacting with plants helping the ecosystem, the decomposition that happens on the forest floor giving nutrients to the trees, the fungal interactions taking place in the roots, predator prey dynamics, animals that live within communities, etc. All in all, I find that the thought of nature being a source of so much connection makes me feel closer to nature – and I think that it could make others feel the same which could help in making people feel responsible for looking after nature.
References
Grant, R. (2018). Do trees talk to each other. Smithsonian Magazine, 180968084, 1-9.
Wilczynski, W., & Ryan, M. J. (1999). Geographic variation in animal communication systems. Geographic Diversification of Behavior: An Evolutionary Perspective, 234-261.
Unit 07: Music and Nature
When responding to this week's blog post, I subconsciously reached for my AirPods to listen to my playlist of instrumental nature sounds. This helps me focus, and I often engage in more calm, profound thoughts when writing. Ultimately, this is what modern music is generated to do. Music releases natural endorphins, such as dopamine, within our body (Bastian, 2021). These ultimately decrease stress levels caused by high cortisol (Bastian, 2021). Music mindfully connects our body and brain by activating thoughts and memories, bringing up particular feelings, and slowing down our breathing to decrease heart rate (Bastian, 2021). This deep-rooted musical connection can be viewed as our soul tie or umbilical cord to the Earth's mother nature (Bastian, 2021). This internal connection via music allows us to travel back in evolutionary time to the original meaning behind the music and how it interacted with the ancient brain systems of common ancestors (Bastian, 2021). Instinctive habits are still within the music; for example, when we experience a loud thud or shock, our reflexes awake, igniting the primal brainstem (Bastian, 2021). However, the reptilian portion of the brain reacts to feelings of positive pleasure or negative, and the mammalian brain reacts to emotion (Bastian, 2021). Therefore, music can simultaneously amuse all of these parts of the human brain for our enjoyment (Bastian, 2021). Yet where do these sounds that we internalize originate from? Music stems from nature as a system primarily used to create sound, such as vocalizations for announcing danger (Bastian, 2021). This can be seen in many animals. These arranged sounds, over time, became more focused on the function of pleasure and enjoyment rather than survival, combining objects with sound (Bastian, 2021). This can be seen with the first flute, made out of bone (Bastian, 2021). This information aids in answering the question of where music is in nature.
Now, the question we must ask in this modern era is, where is nature within music? It is strange to think about how we must purposely attempt to bridge music and nature back together when they originated as one. However, as mentioned in the course readings, we have gotten to a point where we have distinctly divided the arts and enjoyment from knowledge and education. Therefore, we must delve back into our roots and listen to resources that connect strongly to our ancestral ways. As mentioned in the course video about Indigenous ways, previously used methods are more simplistic and rely on nature to be the teacher. Many past Indigenous groups depended on the stars and the waters to reach destinations and understand thier meanings through connections, equating to modern physics (World Economic Forum, 2014).
As we seek to rediscover the connection between music and nature, we must depend on our ancestral connections to enrich our understanding of the art of sound and the world around us. One of my favourite scenes from the movie August Rush perfectly explains how often we must simply listen to the sounds nature provides and how, when put together, they create the most beautiful song imaginable.
Bastian, J. (2021, June 12). Why music is “our umbilical cord to mother nature”: Life examined. KCRW. https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/life-examined/evolution-music/michael-spitzer-musical-human
World Economic Forum. (2014, March 21). Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science. YouTube. https://youtu.be/SoQS_7yjStE?feature=shared
Hi Cass!
I really enjoyed reading your blog post and I enjoyed learning about the science behind what music does for us, to a certain extent I know music makes me feel more relaxed and does good for me but it is interesting to read about how it does so. I think you make an important point when discussing how in order to truly answer and analyse this question we need to rediscover how music and nature are connected. I believe reconnecting the two as well as reconnecting learning (theory and knowledge) with enjoyment/pleasure is key in nature interpretation and overall learning as the more pleasant we make it the more likely we are to be willing to learn.
One thing I mentioned in my blog was the sounds of nature and you made a good point regarding this when you said that music stems from nature and a lot of music is based off of natural beats and rhythms we will hear in nature. I had not thought about this in my blog and mostly talked about music that refers to nature as I found that more common, but now that you say this I may need to think more about some of the rhythms and sounds in my music and see how they may be more connected to nature than I originally thought in a more discrete manner than explicit sounds of nature.
Unit 7 blog post - Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music?
This blog prompt has me thinking in all directions – but the first thing that comes to mind when I see the first part of the question: where is music in nature is the sounds of nature which is not immediately thought of as music, however if you think about it generally speaking music consists of different noises put together which ends up being pleasant to listen to too different people. In this measure the sounds that come with wind, and trees, and rain, and leaves, bodies of water (waves or streams and such) can come together quite harmoniously – and in turn I see this as music. I find the sounds of nature very soothing, and I also find certain music soothing so they can sometimes serve the same purpose.
A few “music’s” of nature in particular that I enjoy are thunderstorms with heavy rain I find them very soothing, and they bring me a sense of comfort as I think growing up I always took them as an excuse to get cozy and watch movies, which are things I would feel guilty for if the weather was nice. I also really love the sound of rain on a tent in the morning or a nice strong breeze when waking up while camping, although the rain is not necessarily a great start to a day while camping, I find it very calming. Additionally, I think a music of nature that many people also enjoy is the sound of waves, I think in general sounds of water from nature are quite nice.
Now to address, where is nature in music I want to start off by saying that I think there many ways to incorporate nature into music more and I think this can come with decreasing the separation between culture and nature in western culture. I think that the true sounds of nature are not often used in popular music – at least most of the music I know does not. However, I think I’d be able to give you more music that I know that speaks about nature, not a whole lot but I find it more common. This can be of importance because talking about nature and different natural elements and under different narratives brings attention to nature. Say someone listens to a song talking about nature and they really enjoy it they will make a positive association with the concerned element of nature, which can be good in educating about nature.
For me, songs that take me back to nature are songs that I’d listened to while going on road trips or camping trips or songs that make me feel free – as I associate nature with being free. Songs that have a good beat also take me to nature. For example, a lot of songs by the Lumineers or Caamp and Noah Kahan take me back to nature as they often have at least a few mentions of nature throughout their songs, and they all give me road trip feelings which I associate with nature.
Unit 06 blog post
Hi everyone!
As I read this quote- "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…", one of the things that came to mind was our relationship with the past. The quote indicates that the past should not be valued simply because it is old, but the integrity of things that exist beyond a certain period of time must still be preserved. It is understanding and remembering what came before that provides the insight necessary to keep a coherent whole, whether in society, tradition, or our own private lives, together. “Integrity entails the keeping together of the parts”, this part of the quote produces interesting questions as to what extent the past continues to have relevance for the present. Take environmental issues, for instance. It is a very modern concern, yet deeply rooted in ancient practices. For centuries, indigenous peoples worked very hard to be in balance with nature, and failure to understand that might cause us to miss out on some key information about how to care for our Earth. Not learning from ancient wisdom compromises our current environmental efforts. On the other hand, not all things passed on from the past are worth preserving. For example, the old ideologies of sexism, racism, and colonialism need to be left behind. The quote recognizes that the value of all things ancient lies not in their inherent worth but rather in the wisdom they teach about what should be preserved and what should be let go. To maintain wholeness in the integrity of living today, we have to carefully pick which elements of the past support that wholeness and which elements do not.
I found the railway station analogy to be very powerful: “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 passage of the quote makes me think of a train ride I took last summer in Switzerland, through tiny villages and scenery that seemed to be only a brief glimpse of another world. But that does not mean the towns and people that lived in them disappeared just because I moved on. The past is similar to those towns: it does not get erased just because we have moved on through it, it continues to shape the present whether we like it or not.
This is a picture of one of the beautiful towns I passed by, while on the train.
This led me to think; how do we determine what pieces of the past are worth keeping? I think the answer lies in whether those pieces contribute to sustaining integrity. In my own life, I’ve let go of family customs that felt more like obligations than meaning, but I’ve held on to others, like gathering for family dinners, because they keep a sense of connection and wholeness.
Ultimately, the past should neither be idolized nor discarded. It is but a part of the whole, and integrity means knowing which parts serve us in staying in touch with our selves of today.
Hey Chloe, I think you did a great job at deconstructing this quote and I gathered the same from it that the quote is trying to talk about the importance of remembering the past - while also not saying it is necessarily deserving of merit. This being to say that some things from the past were good, better than what we do now and some things of the past were bad and we do better now but that all and all they work as the different puzzle pieces to construct where we are now. This communicating, with the train analogy that we cannot just put the past behind us and forget it and that it will always have importance in various way such as in showing us what was done well and we should replicate versus what was done bad and should be avoided. It is not to be forgotten but used for knowledge and not a guide.
I mentionned in my post that this is key to interpretation because when interpreting and sharing knowledge we need to keep the past, present and future in mind with a perspective of wisdom from the past as we are trying to educate and share. What I mean by this is that it is important to share the knowledge from the past when educating people, but not necessarily putting everything on the past as the truth is the past is different, and also gives new fresh perspective.
Unit 6
There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.
(Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)
This quote seems complex upon first read, but the best way to absorb it and truly understand it is too break it down. The first thing that sticks out to me when reading this quote is integrity, the word is repeated more then a few times - what does integrity mean in this quote? What first comes to mind to me when I hear integrity is honesty - I think honesty is a big thing in all areas, including nature interpretation, we discuss the purpose of nature interpreation being to educate those around us and share the beauty of nature and in order to do this we need to be honest and educate them properly about the reality of it. In this quote when they talk about intergrity they mean not skipping over details of history and not simply putting the past in the past because it is done - and recognizing that even ancient things belong in the truth about the world.
I think what this quote is trying to communicate is the importance of the whole story - regardless of it being bad or good, you cannot just keep the good parts in order to fully undertsand something. I think how this relates to nature interpretation as a whole is because when interpreting nature sometimes we do look at older things, sometimes even ancient. For example say you are visting a cave with a tour guide and their are ancient paintings on the cave wall they are explaining, the interpreter is using these as a tool in the story they are telling as they are a key part in what the cave once was.
They want to communicate to the reader forever relevance that past events will have, they do not just happen then dissapear and I think that in nature interpretation this is a a key tool as it is able to give a sense of connectedness to everyone, it strengthens the emotional connection the audience feels which adds value to the experience for each individual. When they communicate this though they do start off by mentioning that there is no particular merit to ancient things, this meaning history? However they then seem to contradict it when mentioning how acknowledging the past is key when it comes to integrity.
Additionally I do think they are trying to bring up that the ancient things, or things of the past do not have more value as the present or the future, but more so an equal value and what is truly of importance is the consciousness of each element in order to be honest and truly be educated about the topic.
Blog 5!
Since there is no blog prompt for this week, I thought to write about post-grad plans and what lies ahead for the future. This is mainly what I am thinking about as my undergraduate journey is coming to an end. I have found many interests in a variety of subjects over my years here in Guelph. I have such love for animals and have wanted to be a vet for a long time. Growing up I always had animals surrounding me, whether it be dogs, cats, cows, horses etc, there was always something there. Their beauty, joy and peacefulness opened a lot for me and how I want to help them in so many ways. I know vet school is highly competitive, so I have my back-up plans just encase.
Here is a picture of my dog Dexter! He is the best thing in this entire world and I couldn't ask for a better friend.
My interest in how our immune system fights off bacterial infections, has prompted me to investigate cellular mechanisms. Working in a hospital to try and help people understand what might be wrong with them would be amazing. If being around animals and helping them does not work out then doing the same for humans is just as good.
There are always thoughts in the back of mind, the “what ifs”. “What if my grades aren’t high enough to get into whatever program”, “What if I don’t find a job right after graduating my program?”. For me this must deal with my past, present, and future self. If I am being to focused on past things or what I want my future to be cause me to miss out on some things happening in the present. Being an overthinker and wanting things to go how I’ve planned (even though it might not) may cause me to be dissociated from present events. Dwelling on past grades that I cannot change, are not going to help me improve in my future courses. I need to focus on my present with my current courses so I can do even better in them and enjoying what is left of undergrad with my friends.
I am very dedicated into keeping my relationship with nature in addition to concentrating on my grades, keeping in touch with friends and family, and handling everything else that comes with finishing undergrad. For me, our natural world has always provided peace and clarity during stressful times. Even when I place a high value on personal relationships and academics, I also understand that spending sometime outside is very good to my wellbeing. I want to make time for walks or even taking the time to study outside for a bit. These moments not only help me clear my mind but they let me be away from a screen just for a bit and ground myself before going back to studying.
I'm learning to strike a balance between setting objectives and living in the present as I consider what the future may bring. I'm determined to make the most of my remaining college days and to remain rooted in the things that make me happy and fulfilled, no matter where this journey takes me.
Hey Julia!
I really enjoyed reading your post and find it very relatable. I am also reaching the end of my undergrad and it has me feeling a little lost and worrying about certain things such as grades I can't change, and wondering if I'll be accepted in the post grad program I want. I like what you said on you being dedicated to keeping your relationship with nature as I feel the same way, I think it is an extremly important tool for me in staying grounded and not getting carried away by all the school stress going on. Nature gives me a sense of safety as I feel that it reminds me that although school is very important there is also other things to life, and it reminds me that life is not a race and I think this mindset has helped me a lot with stress.
I think that it is very easy to disconnect from nature as it gets colder with winter coming, and it gets dark early. These things make it difficult to get outside and the days feel shorter - I think the combo of this with being in busy school time can make for a stressful period. I usually find that this period is challenging for me and your post serves as a good reminder that even if its just for a little bit its helpful to actively push yourself to get outside and connect with nature every now and then.
Unit 5
This week we had the opportunity to write our blog post about what we wanted to with no given prompt to follow, so I am choosing to write this post about my grandfather as an interpreter of nature. My whole life my grandfather lived in the Pyrenees or somewhere in the middle of nowhere – the question was always where he will be next. Whenever we went to go see him it was always the same thing, we would go on hikes and have picnics and see wildlife, it was always one of my favourite parts of the summer. We would arrive to his place, and he already had planned out all the hikes and scenic routes we were going to be taking as well as different viewpoints and mountain villages he was ready to bring us too. He had his maps all ready and no way we were using the GPS no matter how long it took.
Wherever we would go he would always come prepared with an explanation for everything we were seeing and was educating us about everything there was to see in the area, he would give us history lessons about the area as well as a full explanation on the plants and animals we would or could potentially see there. This is what represents interpretation to me, he would give us his own interpretation of everything we were seeing. He would take us to wildlife reserves and no need to read any of the information put up for the visitors, he would have his own full explanation on everything. Sometimes he did bore us with these explanations, but I think they were always very good explanations, and we learnt a lot about nature from him. He would always talk to everyone wherever we’d go which I think made for discovering more from each experience as we’d learn different things from more people. Through all the different things he’d show us I think we covered all sorts of different types of interpretations, we’d see museums, guided tours, and self guided hikes and park visits. One time in particular that stood out to me was this animal park where they had species of the area, it was a sort of zoo but they just had animals from that area. I remember this specifically because I was surprised by how much my grandfather knew about all these species – this stood out to me because I realized the importance of being educated on the nature around you and that we need to acknowledge and respect the nature around us. I think the concept of respect and importance of knowledge about the natural world is very relevant in nature interpretation and it is what nature interpreters want to share with the world.
Unit 04 Blog Post
Art serves as a powerful medium for conveying emotions and experiences that resonate deeply with the human experience. Art has a unique ability to evoke emotions because it taps into our senses and memories, allowing us to interpret its meaning through our personal experiences. A simple landscape, for example, might stir emotions of peace or nostalgia, reminding us of moments spent in nature. Art brings nature into spaces we may not expect to encounter it like in a gallery or a home and allows us to appreciate the natural world’s beauty without having to be in it.
I don’t consider myself an artist, but I’ve come to realize that you don’t need to be a professional to appreciate or communicate nature’s beauty. For me, interpreting nature through art is about drawing attention to the details like the patterns on a leaf, or the movement of water in a waterfall. These details normally get overlooked in our fast-paced lives but when looking at it through a painting can remind us of simple moments spent in nature. My favourite moments spent in nature are when I'm outside and I hear the wind rustling through the trees and feel the sunlight on my skin and the colours of the landscape in front of me. If I were to make a piece of art I would want to capture these feelings in an art form to convey my personal experience with nature to others.
Interpreting nature through art is all about sharing personal experiences with nature with other people no matter their background. A simple photo or painting of a landscape is sharing someone's perspective of nature with the world. Art has the ability to reach people who may not otherwise have access to nature or who may view it through a different perspective like living in a different climate region.
Interpreters must not only share information but also instil a deeper sense and connection to the environment. "The gift of beauty" is about awakening a sense of responsibility towards nature . When people are inspired by the beauty of their surroundings, they are more likely to care for and protect them. In my own experience, growing up with frequent trips to local parks and summer camps instilled a deep appreciation for nature. Those experiences helped me realize that beauty in nature isn’t just an aesthetic quality, but also taught me the importance of conservation. Although I don't make active efforts in conservation efforts in my community, simple things like picking up trash and reminding those around me not to litter are my way of protecting the environment around me. We appreciate the beauty of nature through art, and art captures what the real world around us is like through different perspectives. If we did not make any conservation efforts, the art of nature would change around us. Our beautiful landscapes that we hang on the wall would be pictures of deforestation and our photographs of river streams would have garbage all over it. Nature interpretation through art can be a powerful tool for this, as it captures the emotional feelings of our surroundings and shares it with others in a way that can inspire long-lasting appreciation and action. It fosters not only an appreciation for nature but also a desire to conserve.
Hey Layal!
I enjoyed reading your post a lot and I completely agree with you in the way that you described interpretating nature through art being in taking in and appreciating the details. I think this is a very good way to describe it. I also totally agree with what you said about art being interpreted in different ways for everyone – art is a personal experience each connects to their personal life, I also talked about this and I believe that this is one of the reasons that it is a good tool in nature interpretation because it is important to cater to your audience every time and adapt so that they stay interested and engaged in learning about nature, art’s a good way to make it personal as each persons interpretation of art will be personal. This also supports the answer to the discussion prompt: “Who are you to interpret nature through art?” as its personal to everyone so everyone can interpret nature through art.
I also had not thought about “the gift of beauty” in the same way as you, I thought about it instilling connection like you, but I like that you said that it is about giving us a sense of responsibility for it. I think this is a very true statement as when I see a beautiful view of nature, or just feel happy in nature I do go right to thinking of how fragile it is and that we really need to help preserve and protect it.
Unit 4 blog post - Who are you to interpret nature through art? How do you interpret “the gift of beauty”? (Your readings – specifically Chapter 5 of the textbook – will be helpful for this!)
I believe that nature interpretation is for everyone – therefore to answer “who are you to interpret nature through art?” I would just say that I am someone who gets to experience nature, therefore I can interpret it in many forms including through art. As mentioned in course content art tends to give an emotional reaction regardless of who you are you will see art and feel a certain way about it, and it can take many forms, so it is very open to different interpretations.
When talking about interpretation we’ve addressed that the goal of interpretation is to educate – but do so in a non-classic way that has people more involved and is adapted to different audiences. Art is a good way to do so and it may help certain people associate nature with the emotional reaction they felt in response to the art. I’ve been too a few places that used art as a tool to interpret nature – I believe that as a kid this helped me understand interpretation as I preferred to look at things I could interpret without needing to read a big chunky paragraph, so this goes to show that truly anyone with the interest can interpret nature through art.
There are also different ways that nature can be interpreted through art, such as shows, plays and dances these can all be made to interpret various elements including nature. Photography is also a form of art and I find it is very common in nature interpretation as you cannot always show everything in the moment so sometimes its useful to show animals or different seasons and it is useful in giving a visual element for visual learners. I remember visiting some caves by a cliffside when I was younger and there were paintings on the wall and there was not much explanation about them so it was really interesting to be able to look at them and interpret my own story and understanding of what these drawings represented, all to say I think nature interpretation through art is really about thinking about what you’re seeing and experiencing.
Along with art certain impressive views evoke strong emotions, and I think that the beauty of some things you find in nature is a gift, this referring to “the gift of beaty”, it is a gift because it gives you feelings and interest in a place, maybe someone will feel very connected to a place after seeing a beautiful view. Overall beauty makes people happy; I love to go to lookouts on hikes in mountains cause they are always with a beautiful view or at the very least an impressive one. I think is part of where my connection to nature comes from. People often refer to nature as beautiful and this is with good reason. From the perspective of a nature interpreter, I believe the beauty of nature helps motivate people to share it.
Here a few pictures I took in the Pyrenees in France a few years ago, they are not all the same but all beautiful views:
Blog #3: The Role of Privilege in Nature Interpretation
Privilege is something that impacts everyone in different ways every single day. I would define privilege as undeserved advantages that some people or groups have based on their background, like their socioeconomic status, race, gender, or other social identities. Having open discussions about privilege is a vital step toward creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing themselves. I’ve noticed others addressing this, and I want to do the same. As a straight, white, middle-class woman, I recognize that I’ve had various privileges throughout my life. While this acknowledgement can sometimes feel uncomfortable, it is a necessary part of the conversation. This week’s chapter allowed me to learn more about my privilege, and prompted me to think about ways we can make nature interpretation more accessible to diverse audiences.
In nature interpretation, we can see privilege in ways that impact who feels welcome and included in these spaces. These advantages may not be obvious, but they are present. Firstly, access to these natural interpretive areas can be a privilege. Some may take the ability to get to these sites for granted, but those that come from low income backgrounds may lack the resources to participate in the outdoor activities, or even travel to these places to begin with. Additionally, economic status can also influence the educational opportunities some may have compared to others. Those from higher socioeconomic standings typically have better access to environmental education and outdoor experiences, making them feel more comfortable and connected to nature. From the chapter, I love the idea of providing transportation for lower-income communities, or bringing interpretation directly to them to try and reduce economic barriers. Implementing these ideas would take some planning, but it could significantly enhance the inclusivity in interpretation.
Next, representation is a crucial aspect of privilege found in nature interpretation. If the media (ie. photos, promotional videos, etc.), literature, and interpretive programs mainly show individuals from specific backgrounds, it can alienate those from minority backgrounds, making them feel as though they don’t “fit the mould.” This lack of representation may also discourage them from engaging with nature and participating in outdoor activities. By having a variety of voices, experiences, and backgrounds, we can create a more relatable and welcoming environment that encourages everyone to connect with nature.
A final example of how privilege plays a role in nature interpretation is related to individuals with disabilities. For those without disabilities, accessing nature can be pretty easy and straightforward, but for people of all ages with sensory, mobility, or cognitive challenges, it may be difficult, and could lead them to feel excluded from the environment. For instance, many nature parks and trails lack accommodations such as wheelchair-friendly pathways, audio guides or printed text and closed captioning. Implementing these types of accessibility features can help them feel included and integrated into the community, boost their self- esteem, encourage independence, and feel respected throughout their interpretive journey.
As a nature interpreter, my goal is to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable, excited, and inspired to connect with the natural world. I believe every individual, regardless of their background or abilities, deserves the equal opportunity to appreciate the beauty of our surroundings and explore the “Why?” and “How?” of these spaces. I think it’s essential to create a sense of wonder and responsibility, so everyone can engage deeply with nature to hopefully become environmental stewards and advocates for its preservation.
Hi Emma,
I really enjoyed reading your post and I think you really covered everything in your answer. When I was writing my discussion post I was struggling to come up with good ways of describing the role of privilege and I thing you did a great job explaining. In my response to the prompt I essentially just mentioned the ties between privilege and access to nature and nature interpretation. I think a key element I missed in my post was adressing the representation in nature interpretation as I do believe that plays a big role in finding interest in nature - if you do not see yourself represented you are less likely to grow an interest and feel welcome in these various spaces.
Additionally I wanted to ask if you thought that the field of nature interpretation is more inclusive now then it used to be? Your post got me thinking about this and I feel like more recently I have noticed more accessible trails in parks, which I did not notice as much in the past, but I have very rarely noticed other forms of increased accessibility.
Unit 3 blog post: What role does “privilege” play in nature interpretation? Please include your working definition of privilege.
I believe that “privilege” plays an important role in nature interpretation as I think that people need time and desire to be able to take advantage of nature because it does not come without effort. When speaking of privilege in the context of this blog I am referring to people who are better off than others in various ways, this could be financially, or by where they live (live in good/safe areas or close to nature), don’t suffer from discrimination and are healthy.
In order to benefit from and explore nature a person needs to go to nature and expose themselves to nature and different contexts where they can learn about nature. Someone’s ability to do so can change depending on how privileged they are. For example, a family struggling with money will not necessarily have the means to get out into nature and be exposed to various elements of nature interpretation or simply nature in general. A person struggling with their health will not always be able to get out and enjoy nature or explore different nature related learning experiences. Someone who lives in the middle of a huge urban area and does not have transportation will not be able to go out in nature as much. All in all, there are lots of ways that someone may be less privileged which in turn could limit their experience with nature and nature interpretation, so overall I think privilege plays a big role in nature interpretation.
This being said I believe that the role that privilege plays in nature interpretation is access, based on privilege people will have different access to nature and its interpretation, and as a result they will have varying degrees of opportunity to learn from nature and about it. Initially I had the thought that there are ways to work around different situations and still access nature interpretation, I was going to discuss nature being everywhere when you step outside with an open mind and that nowadays you can find so much on the internet and you could learn about nature online as well. Then I realized these ideas are coming from a privileged mindset, and that in some situations people do not have access to any of this – this really solidified my thoughts on the importance of the role of privilege in nature interpretation. I believe in the importance of nature interpretation, and I think it is important to recognize that it cannot be a priority for everyone as some people’s situation simply do not allow them to enjoy nature.
Unit 02 Blog Post
When I envision my ideal role as an environmental interpreter, I envision myself working with young learners, and I see myself teaching subjects like zoology and entomology. In previous experiences I've had working with children, I have found immense gratification in fostering an interest in science. In the context of environmental interpretation, I believe that nurturing a love for nature and interest in wildlife would provide me with a similar sense of fulfillment.
This past summer, I had the opportunity to work as a community presenter for the charity Scientists in School, where I traveled around the GTA conducting hands-on STEM workshops for school-age kids. The most rewarding part of that experience was witnessing the eyes of the children I was working with light up as they discovered the wonders of science beyond what is taught in a classroom. I believe that environmental interpretation for children could evoke the same excitement, making it an ideal career path for me.
Today’s children are increasingly influenced by technology and as a result are often spending less time outdoors, likely missing out on many opportunities to create personal connections in nature. I believe this generation would greatly benefit from engaging with nature through environmental interpretation. Teaching them to respect and appreciate their natural surroundings also fosters empathy—an essential component of their development.
To thrive in a role teaching children, several key skills are essential. First, being prepared and understanding the subject matter is crucial. Children are so inquisitive; they are always asking (sometimes unexpected) questions, so being able to answer them in an engaging and age-appropriate manner is super important. Next, strong presentation and communication skills are also necessary to keep young audiences with short attention spans engaged and interested. Patience is another important quality; kids often take more time to grasp concepts, and so encouraging their curiosity requires a supportive approach. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, being passionate about the subject matter is essential. Children are perceptive and can sense when someone lacks enthusiasm for what they are teaching. To truly engage them, one must authentically demonstrate spirit and passion for the environmental facet they are interpreting.
I am particularly interested in an environmental interpretation role that would focus on fields like zoology and entomology, which I have studied while here at the University of Guelph. Specifically, courses I have taken at Guelph that focused on insects have fundamentally changed my perspective on these creatures and highlighted their vital role in our ecosystems. I would love to help children understand that not all bugs are scary and gross; many are fascinating and play crucial roles in the environment. With a focus on those fields, an environmental interpretation role about insects or wildlife could happen in a number of places, such as nature centers, botanical gardens, zoos and aquariums, local parks, or even schools and community centers. One that I think would work best for this role would be botanical gardens, which often have butterfly gardens and insect exhibits — the perfect environment for doing guided tours and showcasing insects up-close. I would love to teach about their physiology, their roles in pollination and agriculture, and help remove some common negative perceptions of insects. I personally have visited many butterfly sanctuaries and have really enjoyed my time there — the employees always have really interesting stories and information to share about the creatures they care for. I just recently visited one this summer with my housemates, so I have included some pictures from that below!
Children possess an innate eagerness to learn and explore, and I am excited by the concept of an environmental interpretation role that would nurture that desire. The prospect that I could inspire even a tiny interest in nature and wildlife would be immensely rewarding. This is why I believe that a role as an environmental interpreter focused on young learners, combined with subjects I am passionate about like zoology or entomology, would be the perfect fit for me.
Hey Alyssa, I enjoyed reading your post and I liked your approach on environmental interpretation to young learners. I believe that young learners should certainly be a key target to environmental interpretation as they are less exposed to the outdoors now with all the technology, and it is a great time for them to discover a new passion and actually be exposed to nature. They are an audience that will be very open and have fewer pre-conceived (potentially negative) ideas about the environment. I think that having focus in a specific audience when it comes to nature interpretation is useful as it gives the interpreter the ability to really learn how to address their audience and in turn do a better job at educating.
The previous experience you have from this summer also sounds really interesting and from reading your post it really seems like you know your audience and are properly equipped with the tools to interpret for this audience. What other audiences do you think you would enjoy interpretating for? My initial thought when I think about environmental interpretation is interpretation to families and groups of people visiting natural tourist attractions as that’s more so what I grew up doing, my schools would maybe occasionally have people come in (Earth Rangers is the only one I remember) but not enough. This being said I feel like children could use more environmental knowledge and it would be great if there were more programs where kids got the opportunity to learn about nature and be interpreted too.
