tvenvs3000-2018

[jdenvs3000-2018-blog]

My place in nature

I figured I’d start this post off by defining what ethics mean to me - ethics are principles that follow a specified assortment of morals. In all honesty, I’m not totally sure that my ethics have changed since I started this course. I’ve always been a big believer and practicer of the Leave No Trace ethics ever since I was trained in LNT when I was sixteen. I also feel that LNT incorporates the practice of sustainability, in terms of nature interpretation, which is a big part of my life. Trying to be as sustainable as possible can be very hard, and honestly, we all have days when we can’t avoid waste or consumerism. I try to be sustainable in every aspect of my life - I carpool/bus/walk whenever I can, I live a low-waste/minimalist lifestyle, I eat vegan (I recently just celebrated my one month veg-anniversary!), and I try to incorporate my passion for protecting and conserving Mother Nature into everything I do. 

Following some friends backpacking the Highland trail 35km loop in Algonquin Park (2016).

The beliefs that I bring to my interpretations are that everything in nature matters, to respect Mother Nature at all costs, and to honour the land in the most respectful way possible. Now, you might think that I’m lying, but I’m really not - this is how much I care about nature and its future. Everything in nature matters. Simple as that. Everything has a purpose, and I try to emphasize this in my interpretation. I’m really interested in birds and plants (as I’m sure you’ve all gathered by now), but there are other things - the little things - that I also enjoy. Whenever I’m walking I tend to notice the fungi and lichen throughout the forest, and I’m constantly pointing them out and telling my friends all about them (walks take ten times longer when you bring me along). These fungi and lichen have their purpose in the ecosystem, and I am so appreciative of them that I can’t help but share them with others. Respecting Mother Nature is something that seems so elementary, yet so many people don’t do it. It can be as simple as picking up litter during a hike! And your actions speak to others - someone seeing you picking up some litter on a trail can inspire them to do the same or even be more conscious of their actions. Honouring the land is something that really resonates with me. I’ve been inspired by Indigenous practices and traditions for a long time now (my first powwow was in second grade), and I think we should be offering our respect to the Indigenous folks that were the first stewards of the land. This can be done in so many ways, but my favourite way is through land acknowledgement, which can be a simple or specific statement that acknowledges the territory that is being used, that the occupation of this territory is due to colonization, and offering respect to the Indigenous communities. Land is sacred and honouring the land helps acknowledge its history and significance. 

Trumpet lichen (Cladonia fimbriata) in the hemlock grove of Thunder Cape, Ontario (2017).

As a nature interpreter, I believe there are many responsibilities, but I’ll highlight a few of my main ones. Keeping the audience safe is my utmost priority, and I think this is the most important responsibility. This can be done through risk assessment and mitigation, both before and during the interpretation. Keeping the topic and discussions relevant - I can be side-tracked quite easily, so I am constantly trying to stay on topic! Another big one for me is keeping the audience entertained. I’ve personally never enjoyed icebreakers or team-building activities, so I never think to include these in any of my presentations, but for certain audiences, this can be super useful! I really enjoy learning cool facts and how to identify things in nature, and I tend to focus my interpretations based on this, so I need to work on incorporating facts with activities to keep the audience engaged. 

Upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) on a fence post in the Carden Alvar, Ontario (2018).

For me personally, I find factual and practical approaches are the most suitable. I’m not comfortable with speaking to an audience (I’m working on it), but a lot of my default actions when I’m nervous are spewing out facts or talking in depth about something. I also find facts really stick with me, and I can remember them really well, which would be useful to add to my interpretations. Practical approaches like learning how to identify things work great for me, since I am very familiar and comfortable with identification. I find that my go-to combo is based on factual and practical approaches; my favourite is identifying something, talking about it: providing background information, its history, and how to identify it, then letting the audience go out and try to find it or another species they can identify, and then bringing everyone back in for a discussion about what they found and how they identified it. I think this is a great way to develop identification skills, since everyone can have a different perspective on the same object. 

Me backpacking the Western Uplands 35km loop with some friends in Algonquin Park (2017).

As a whole, I think this course has helped me strengthen my interpretation skills and has pushed me to interpret nature in so many new ways. I would like to offer thanks to everyone for making this course so enjoyable and for offering so many new perspectives that I had not previously considered. Happy trails!

[tvenvs3000-2018-blog]

Your blog post is very personal and anyone that reads it I’m sure will also get the same impression I had, in which it is very clear you’re very passionate about mother nature. I love hearing other’s reasons or aspects to nature they enjoy, and I feel like this class has allowed us to broaden our horizons and interpret nature in less mainstream ways. It’s really interesting you bring up sustainability, because I felt that was one thing that could have been enhanced in this class because of the ever-growing importance. I myself recycle, I use reusable mugs, try to eat vegetarian meals, I bus and carpool all the time or most often walk when I can. But I like that you mentioned that we all can’t avoid waste or consumerism all the time, as our society is very consumer focused on what is convenient and easy. I personally think people find it easy to enjoy nature and be in nature, but when it comes to protecting nature (especially on a daily basis) on a big picture basis, it’s easy to take advantage of nature. The land acknowledgements that you mention are a great solution to this, by protecting that specific land. I hadn’t even thought of these! That’s really what I took away from this course, in being able to hear other’s ideas and opinions and then expanding my horizons and knowledge in ways I might never have. This course incorporated more artistic and hypothetical approaches which surprised me, but it got me out of my comfort zone and I think everyone was surprised at one time or another throughout the semester. I’m glad you were able to enjoy this course, enjoy your future classes and happy hiking!!

Ps. I have yet to experience Algonquin Provincial Park since I was a kid, and I’m dying to get there. Your pictures make me that much more eager.

[tvenvs3000-2018-blog]

My Personal Ethic

I’ve never been a cup-half-full kind of person. I prefer to think of myself as a cup-half-empty, and the cup has fallen over and broken kind of person. No, I didn’t have a rough childhood, in-fact my parents prefer the hands-off parenting method, so freedom and independence has never been an issue. I think people are either born a pessimist or optimist, or perhaps somewhere in between, and then our life and experiences influence that perspective. I think this outlook has influenced my religious beliefs, or lack thereof. I consider myself an atheist, and as a realistic person I believe strongly in the process of evolution and adaptation as the reason why everything on Earth is here today and appears and behaves the way it does. 

Darwin fish, retrieved from: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/13-6cm-5-7cm-Darwin-Fish-Cartoon-Car-Styling-Stickers-Decals-Vinyl-S4-0427/32798941115.html

When I interpret anything, specifically nature in the context of this class, I think of things in an evolutionary sense. I ask questions similar to, ‘how did this come to be?’, or ‘what environmental pressures would cause this characteristic, behaviour, etc?’.  I do this because I do not believe everything happens for a reason, I think 99% of the time sh*t just happens. Whether it be an evolutionary process due to environmental influences or things in our everyday life, I believe things happen and there may or may not be a clear explanation. And because I think of nature this way, I’ve found this class extremely difficult at times. The majority of people in this class were very enthusiastic and peppy (for lack of a better word), which kudos to them. If anything, I am jealous they have this outlook in life and choose to be optimistic. That’s just not the view I have in life, and so our discussions and class activities were difficult to me as someone who can not relate to this level of energy. I should also mention that I am a misanthropist to some extent, which by definition is “the genera hatred, dislike, distrust or contempt of the human species or human nature” (Wikipedia). I’ll admit the human species is extremely intelligent and have advanced incredible lengths since evolving, but incredibly short-sighted for the fact that we were destroying the planet we call home. Realistically, in the short time we have been on Earth (compared to the time line Earth has been a planet), we have almost exhausted our resources and caused suffering and pain to our own species and thousands of others. An example of how I utilize this idea in nature interpretation, is for example when I see wildlife in their natural habitat. I once saw a deer in the forest near my house in Guelph, and as excited I was to see it, all I could think was in what ways the deer in this forest had been impacted by human activity. Was it alone because another had gotten hit by a car? Had it ever run from a human in fear for its life? I like to think a bring a realistic and different perspective to nature interpretation, but I can also see how this can be seen as a negative approach.

No shame in being an opinionated, strong-willed, nature lover!! 

As strong as my opinions are, I think that I have a responsibility as an individual attending a recognized university in a fairly new program, to educate people in a way that does not compromise or include my opinions or other’s opinions. The true power of knowledge is using facts and statistical support to power your arguments, rather than pure opinions supported by the odd fact. A personal example I can give, is a few weeks ago my boyfriend and I were asked to go with another couple to Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto. I said no, because Ripley’s is the exact same as Marineland or SeaWorld, in which they both keep animals’ captive for the soul purpose of entertaining people (one of MANY reasons misanthropy makes sense to me). Ripley’s uses cyanide to catch their fish (which destroys coral reefs and kills some of the fish), and they replace numerous populations of fish in their tanks each week. 

https://justinpluslauren.com/ripleys-aquarium-in-toronto/  (here’s the article if you have any interest!) 

Very politely, I sent my friend this article, and explained that I wasn’t trying to be offensive but that I wouldn’t be attending because I don’t care to support animals in captivity other than strictly for breeding purposes. I think we all (including myself) have a responsibility as decent human beings to help others, but only when help is deserved. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever been described as sympathetic.  I don’t mind helping others one bit, and in fact I enjoy it. Difference is, I prefer to when individuals actually deserve it. I’ve had people in my program ask for answers or copies of my assignments, so they could copy, and I very rarely say yes. I personally think university should be hard, it should be challenging and require hours and hours of hard work. One could even compare it to evolution! (survival of the fittest). I work best on my own, as I learn best that way by being able to actively think through ideas on my own in ways I understand before hearing other’s ideas.  I have done well throughout my university career thus far, and I believe this is because I am a visual and hands on learner. This class was a good mix of individual and group work, but I most enjoyed the activities we were able to interpret and act on our own before collecting with others or as a group to conclude. One great example was the first lab we had in the arboretum, where we were able to go on our own and catch bugs and walk around and interpret the arboretum in our own ways. Then we were able to collect as a group and express our ideas and thing we found, which allowed us to enhance our learning by hearing everyone else’s ideas.

A previous class project, ie. More of what I expected for this class. 

Overall, this class has allowed me to think of myself and others in a much deeper and meaningful way than I ever have before. Our labs and class discussions have not only challenged my process to express my ideas and opinions, but also understand others in the context of nature interpretation. This class has also challenged my ideology around ‘nature interpretation’. Prior to this class, I thought our class and lab time would be spent outside understanding nature and acting out our true ‘grit’. Instead, this class took a very different route and showed us how to experience nature in its many forms.

This class has been a true eye opener.

[stenvs3000-2018-blog]

PROMPT 9. JANES WALK:

Hey y'all! Hope everyone enjoyed all the walks we went on last weekend, i know I did! I was to specifically talk about and that i thoroughly enjoyed was the second walk in the dairy bush (group ) that did a survival walk. I think the reason i liked this walk to much was because it was so inclusive. Throughout the entire walk we were engaged and in discussion, this make everyone feel included and made them pay attention. I personally am a hands on learner, this walk allowed me to get involved and partake in the action. In doing this I was able to grasp onto the concepts being shared and was able to take home the lesson that was being passed onto the participants. 

The walk mimicked a “plane crash” and we all had to take precautionary steps to ensure survival. The important things i took away from this walk was: when stranded there are key things that are crucial 1) shelter, 2) fire and 3) awareness of surroundings. 

The gift of a spark: This walk sparked my interest with the dairy bush, i wasn’t really too interested in the dairy bush prior to this walk. I had been before, but i wasn’t really aware of the opportunities that it offers. The dairy bush is home to many research projects and to many species. Knowing this intrigues me and makes me wants to learn more about what the dairy bush has to offer. At the beginning of the Janes walk, we had to pick an item out of a bag and brainstorm how it would be of use to us, this sparked our imagination with the items and nature.

The gift of beauty: The dairy bush has such a calming feel to it and i find it quite beautiful. It is so nice to know that there is a nice walk space or chill area in the midst of all the madness. I love knowing that there is something so readily available to me that i can utilize at any time of the day. I find it rather beautiful and peaceful. 

The gift of story: Throughout the walk we were able to create our own story and share stories amongst one another. This walk and the stories we shared allowed everyone to connect and relate to one another. When we all had to pick a spot to stay for shelter, everyone had to explain why they chose this location and why it was relevant. 

I think this group could have worked on their The gift of the past. The dairy bush has quite a history, i think this group could have elaborated on the past and maybe went into more depth when they touched upon the history of the Dairy bush. I think if this was done we would have been able to make more connections with the past and how it has influenced the dairy bush the way it is today. The first group did a great job making the past relevant to our present day Dairy bush. 

Overall i really enjoyed this walk, especially the engagement factor and how we were all involved in the story. Hope you guys liked this walk as much as I did!

[tvenvs3000-2018-blog]

As a member of the group who conducted the survival walk, I LOVED reading your ideas on our walk. I’m really impressed with what students like yourself could take away from our walk, and it sounds like your grasped exactly what we were looking for when we created this walk. 

Whats ironic, is we debated including more of the past of the dairy bush into our walk. We (as a group) went back and forth as to whether to include it or not, as we understood the importance and relevance of this for the audience. When it came down to it, we weren’t sure of two things. 

1- how to incorporate it effectively so it flowed with our theme, because really if your in a survival setting you likely won’t have this information accessible. 

2- we didn’t think we would have enough time to include everything we would have liked, so we figured our walk would survive without that extra information. We also wanted to have the most hands-on experience we could with this walk, so we tried our best to refrain from talking too much or having a lecture style walk. 

I personally do think it would have enhanced our walk so I’m glad you could understand that too!

[tvenvs3000-2018-blog]

Jane’s Walk: The Gifts Given

The one walk that caught my attention the most was the first walk, the group who brought us into the dairy bush for a research themed walk. I had an overall great experience and it gave me a new appreciation for the dairy bush and the forests on campus in general.

(The Dairy Bush, https://www.uoguelph.ca/ib/node/881) 

One gift that really was illuminated during this walk was the gift of spark. As per the textbook, to spark an interest, interpreter must relate and find common ground with your audience to draw them into your site. With their topic being research, and their location being a place where many students have either done research or had classes, common ground could easily be established. Once they grabbed our attention with a topic of which everyone could relate to, they maintained our engagement with interesting activities and multiple questions for us to contemplate and answer. Another gift they gave us was the gift of provocation, in which interpretation is meant to broaden the listener’s horizons. The group first started us off on a steep hike up to their first location in the dairy bush, which gave the audience an appreciation for being in the dairy bush. The textbook discusses how today’s society is removed from nature and tends to experience it primarily through secondary resources such as the internet or television, in which we are removed from the resource. This walk allowed us to be completely surrounded by the resource, as they told us the history of the dairy bush which gave us a historical appreciation for the dairy bush. They explained how it used to be a ski hill before being preserved and then used for research and is still used for such today. They really broadened our horizons through historical significance as to why that area had been set aside for past, present and future generations. The group also was able to gift us the gift of revelation, in which they utilized information properly and distinguished between information and interpretation. The textbook explains that the interpreter is best when they are given facts that appeal to the imagination and to the meaning and relevance to our lives. When the group gave us all the chance to walk around and determine which side of the forest was old or new growth, they allowed us to interpret. When they went further and discussed the current uses of the dairy bush and the future plans of the dairy bush, they allowed us to learn from our interpretation.  By allowing us to explore the dairy bush on our own but also giving us information based on their hard-work and research, it gave meaning and connection between our lives and the dairy bush and the importance.

The one ‘gift’ they could have improved on was the gift of spark, and maintaining that spark throughout the walk. The spark was very strong at the beginning with a topic everyone could relate to, and then at the end when they related the walk to our everyday life with the future plans of developing the dairy bush. But the time in-between these two almost wasn’t engaging enough for the audience, as most of the time everyone was standing around and just listening to the interpreters talk. A more active or engaging activity could have been useful.

Overall though, the walk was very relatable to our lives and it was very easy to see the group members did their research and really knew their walk and the importance of it.

[tvenvs3000-2018-blog]

Nature is Cool - Evolution

At first attempt at this blog prompt, I spent a good day trying to think of something unique or cool or interesting I know about nature. I know some interesting things, but to write 500 words (more or less) on that one topic is difficult. After trying to think of something closer to ‘bigger picture’ ideas, I realized I had been overthinking it. I’ve always been fascinated by evolution, the science behind bacteria and mutations from billions of years ago. As a disclaimer, I will be discussing evolution as a fact, so my apologies to those who do not believe in evolution or prefer more biblical or spiritual beliefs. But as an atheist, my blog post will discuss evolution and science as fact.

(Retrieved from https://www.aliexpress.com/item/13-6cm-5-7cm-Darwin-Fish-Cartoon-Car-Styling-Stickers-Decals-Vinyl-S4-0427/32798941115.html)

Personally, I find it crazy that ultimately, every living thing can trace its ancestry to a bacterium that lived billions of years ago. The millions of species, in addition to the millions more we haven’t even discovered, are a product of DNA mutation and survival of the fittest species in changing conditions of the Earth. Every difference and unique characteristic in every living thing, from coat color to behavior, has resulted from DNA mutation and the survival of species. What I find even more interesting, is the evolution of the human species within the timeline of the Earth. The modern form of humans only evolved 200,000 years ago with industrialization only forming in the 1800’s. If the history of the Earth was compressed into one year, dinosaurs wouldn’t appear until mid-December. Approximately one hour before the year would end, Homo erectus (humans) would evolve from a common ancestor of monkeys and chimpanzees.  Humans have been able to adapt to severe Earth conditions, from Antarctica to the Sahara Desert.  Other species which have developed for specific conditions, such as species endemic to specific locations, have difficulty adapting to changing conditions. The process of evolution will have implications, and is already having implications, for global climate change. Humans have evolved to utilize technology and knowledge to adapt and succeed in conditions. Other species do not have these advantages and are already suffering as a result of changing environments. One very easy example is the polar bear, which relies on ice in the North pole to hunt for seals. With melting ice and increased stretches of water, some populations of the polar pear are declining due to exhaustion and starvation.

(Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/08/explore-through-the-lens-starving-polar-bear-photo/) 

Understanding evolution is critical to understanding how species will continue to adapt (or go extinct) due to ever changing conditions on Earth.

[mpenvs3000-2018-blog]

The nature of music

If you look for music in nature, you will not have to search for long. If you have spent any time outdoors in silence you know what I am talking about. When out there, you are the closest thing there is to silence. I liked to play a game with myself at work over the summer when I was on a piece of land I considered remote. I would stop and listen to see if I could hear any trace of “people noise” around me. This could be hikers, planes, roads, anything that you would expect to hear in the background most places in southern Ontario. Normally there was some hum of a roadway or a plane overhead, but every once in a while I found what I was looking for. The only thing I could use as comparison is an orchestra. At first it appears as one harmonious yet at times chaotic and cluttered noise, but after a moment you can hear the instruments making the melody. The birds singing, the animals running through the trees and along the ground, frogs chirping beside a pond, water rolling over stones in the river, and my favouite, the wind in the leaves overhead.

The comparison to music is imperfect though. Whereas music differs by genre and preference, I personally haven’t met anyone who has gone out into nature and come back with complaints of the serenity or the songs around them. Maybe that’s one of the reasons people seek out solitude in the outdoors to heal themselves. As a personal anecdote for this, I remember one night when I was in high school on a weekend camping trip with a group of people, I was having a tough time dealing with something. I remember laying down in a hammock and just looking up above me. It was a windy night, and being by the water reinforced that. I remember the leaves above me rattling and sighing in the wind and I just lay there listening to it and watching them dance away. I still can’t put a finger on why but I felt at peace, and realized my problems weren’t so important. I still feel this way every time I watch the wind stir a tree, but when thinking about music in nature it was the first thing that sprang to mind.

(A personal favourite spot for watching the wind. University of Guelph Arboretum, October 2017)

Sometimes people try to capture this feeling in music as well, though there can be challenges. As I said before, we are limited because music has no universal genre like nature does. It can be just as beautiful though. What I have found the closest comparison is how some music can make you feel or think the ways that nature can. Again, art is subjective so I am speaking from personal experience only. A song that reinforces this idea to me, and I know it may be cliché, is Rocky Mountain High by John Denver. Not necessarily the music itself, although the continuous and soft nature of the guitar throughout the song can be reminiscent of wind and water, but one particular set of lyrics. In the second verse Denver sings,

“Now he walks in quiet solitude, the forests and the streams,

Seeking grace in every step he takes,

His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand,

The serenity of a clear blue mountain lake.”

My grandmother played this song to me a lot as a child, and this one quote always stuck with me and resonated above the others. To me it mirrors the appreciation, awe, and personal contemplation I feel when alone in nature. Then again, it could mean something entirely different to you, and you could have a totally different experience outdoors. Where do you find music in nature, or nature in music? I would be happy to hear!

[tvenvs3000-2018-blog]

Hey there, I really enjoyed your blog as you embraced this week’s prompt on a very personal level. I think most people who have enjoyed nature as much as you have, can really relate to the ‘music’ that can be heard in nature. I personally think that music and harmony felt in nature is expressed further in places untouched by humans. In very remote places, where the grass isn’t beaten down and maybe isn’t easily accessible. The game you explained you played at work, is an attempt to escape the ‘noise’ of people and just experience nature as it is. This reminds me of the trail back home near my house, which is barely accessible unless you know where to enter. When I was going through a rough time in high-school, I would take walks there so often because I felt at peace. It was a mix of the sun shining, the smell of fresh air and the sound of the trees that really made me feel myself again. Similar to what you explained about people searching for the outdoors to heal them, I think we also search for somewhere where we can feel most ourselves. A large reason I chose to attend Guelph was the Arboretum, since I was coming from a really rural background. I’ve gone to the Arboretum countless times as a study break or to seize a sunny day, because I immediately feel relaxed and calm. I’m glad you have taken advantage of the Arboretum, it’s an amazing place.

Thanks for sharing, I related exceptionally well to your blog.

[tvenvs3000-2018-blog]

Nature within Music

I’m so ridiculously thrilled to share my ideas for this blog prompt I can’t decide where to start.

So first, I will start with one of my favourite bands.

 Mumford and Sons are a band that I have loved since they formed in 2007, and I have attended two of their concerts. Each time, I’ll admit I have cried because I’ so in love with their music and their performances are brilliant. They’re a folk alternative/rock alternative group, based out of the UK. Their music is very emotional and natural, focusing on the instruments and how their sound can make you feel. There are some very heavy courses in some songs, but they are often about love or life or living in general. 

(Mumford & Sons song “Believe”) 

Their music always brings me back to when I went to Iceland, as it was basically the soundtrack to the entire trip. My aunt and I rented a car and drove around the entire island during our trip, and 95% of the time in the car Mumford and Sons was playing. Another band we constantly listened to was Of Monsters and Men, who are an AMAZING band from Iceland!! Their music has a very similar feel to Mumford and Sons, but a bit more folk like and less mainstream. Their sound is very unique, I’m not sure how to describe it other than the band very accurately represents the ambiance of Iceland itself. This music enforces my thinking even more so, that Iceland is where I am meant to be, and I intend to try my entire life to attain citizenship there (until then, you can bet I’ll be there as often as I possibly can). I think many of you could relate to the feeling of being somewhere, and your soul, your entire being, is at peace. I really got this vibe from our professor (Amanda) discussing her parent’s property and cabin in class on Monday.

(Of Monsters and Men song “Crystals”) 

I believe this feeling is what nature in music should bring. It should make you feel that freedom or happiness you would experience in nature. Its that feeling of joy, when the hair on the back of your neck stands up and your eyes maybe even get a bit teary. To me, that’s what really good music (in a nature sense) should make you feel, and that’s exactly how Mumford and Sons and Of Monsters and Men makes me feel.If anyone hasn’t listened to either bands I’ve mentioned, I highly recommend it! 

(Remember that feeling I mentioned where the hair on the back of your neck stands up and its essentially pure happiness?? This coast in Iceland made me feel that way.) - Picture taken by myself, 2016. 

[hdenvs3000-2018-blog]

Nature as an expression

Nature in my opinion is a characterization of art. Nature expresses itself with seasons, where light carries color and temperature paints the circle of life through weather patterns and stochastic events. Being able to sit back and admire the beauty of a landscape whether it be a meadow, mountain or body of water, become a rare skill and one that I feel is essential when trying to connect with the environment. Possessing a sense of wonder through questioning nature’s history and existence as well as associating philosophy with visual art becomes both a talent and struggle many interpreters come to pass.

Many of you do not know this, but I do at times consider myself an artist and have a secret passion for expression through hands-on projects. When it comes to nature, it is safe to say that many famous artists have expressed their view of the environment as a “gift of beauty”. One of which I find most inspiring is a man named Tom Thomson. He was a Canadian raised oil painter in the early 20th century (mostly self-taught) from Claremont, Ontario and grew to be one of the Group of Seven, which came to be one of the most famous artist groups in history. His family were environment enthusiasts, just like him, which came to life in his 400 oil paintings of plant life. He was employed as a graphic designer in Toronto until he found a new love for painting on his first trip to Algonquin Park, where most of inspiration came from. What I find most interesting is that his favorite thing to paint was rugged, unkempt scenery (hence why he was excepted into the Group of Seven) using very short yet broad brush strokes. This style followed his impressionist stature giving more emphasis on the meaning behind his work as opposed of making it look identical to what he was painting. The painting “The West Wind” shows a pine tree standing in early winter with the Canoe lake in the background and is one of his most famous pieces. He loved painting trees since it reminded him of great structure and unity, but pines he loved especially. In this piece, the pine represents the Canadian character or in his words:

“the visual equivalent of a national anthem, for they have come to represent the spirit of the whole country, notwithstanding the fact that vast tracts of Canada have no pine trees” ~ (2006, Firefly Books)

(Painting by Tom Thomson, “The West Wind”) (2006, Firefly books) 

The reason I bring Tom in the picture is because he poses as a great example of reconnection with nature through artistic processes. Educating ourselves just by simply being aware in our surroundings can bring us closer to nature and help us appreciate the environment and what it gives us. Now Tom Thomson is only one perspective of beauty in nature. I personally love seeing nature and a home and almost a fantasy world full of creatures we can’t explain. This idea keeps reminding me that there is still so much we do not know about nature and its vast connections.

(Quick sketch I drew a couple years back of life in a potted plant)

What do you use to express you love for nature? Comment down below!

[tvenvs3000-2018-blog]

Hey there,

 I found your blog really interesting, especially on a personal level.

My dad is from Claremont, Ontario and my grandma lived there for most of her life until recent years. I know Claremont inside and out, and yet I have never once heard of Tom Thomson and I’ve only vaguely heard of the group of seven. This is likely only because I have never been very interested in art of any sorts, although I do recognize that painting of Tom Thomson’s. My Umpa was really into art and he himself did a lot of paintings, especially concerning aboriginal views and values. I’m sure he was the one who has shown me this painting. I’m actually extremely intrigued by your fascination with Tom Thompson, and I will definitely be doing my own research and looking into him.

(My boyfriend & I, one of my biggest inspirations for writing)

On another note, how often do you paint or draw? I never really considered this until reading your blog post, but I often write thoughts and feelings down in a notebook. I suppose this could be a form of art, but I only do this maybe once every 2 weeks or so. Is drawing different? Do you often paint, do you have to be inspired or feeling something specific the same way I do to write? I’m curious as someone who has never considered myself artistic in any way. Needless to say, you’ve inspired me! Thanks for sharing.

[tvenvs3000-2018-blog]

Interpreting Art (& Beauty)

The prompt for this week made me exceptionally nervous. Growing up, I have never been the artsy type and I have always steered clear of any art classes available. I understand science and straight forward answers, where there is a right and a wrong answer. Art to me seems like such a vague, grey area that I don’t understand it and I have never been great at interpreting it.

The reading and lab this week allowed me to experience art in a way I haven’t been able to before. The reading for this week about the “Gift of Beauty” had a few points that really stood out to me. I really powerful idea the reading included was that one person experiencing something beautiful does not make it so to everyone. I really understood this when walking around the sculpture garden at the Guelph Art Gallery, when we were interpreting the long table made out of selected pieces of metal with rose bushes growing underneath. As our guide discussed the piece of art, I could tell people in the class were fascinated and intrigued. To me, I thought it looked like something randomly pieced together with no intellect or reason, like something a first grader could have done (I prefer brutal honesty over sugar coating, so my apologies to those who liked this sculpture…)

The point being, other people enjoyed this piece of art whereas I didn’t see the fascination. But this lab to the art gallery opened my eyes to art a bit, because I realized art in general is a very personal thing. Whether you enjoy a piece of art or how to interpret is very personal based on your own life experiences. The guide we had was an interpreter of nature, just in a different form of nature. She helped us see beauty in things we might never have imagined in the way she portrayed.

This art gallery experience reminded me of when I was in Chicago last year, and I visited the popular ‘Bean’ Exhibit in the downtown area. When I first saw it, I didn’t understand the intention or importance of the sculpture. But once I was there and took photos and experienced other people from all over the world experiencing ‘The Bean’, it gave me some clarity. Whether this is the intention or not, the sculpture brings people from all over the world together and offers the same enjoyment for all of them. Looking back at that experience and incorporating what I’ve learned about ‘beauty’ this past week, maybe art and beauty are just meant to bring enjoyment to people. It might not matter if they all interpret that enjoyment the same, but the general outcome is similar.

(Myself at The Bean, Chicago. March 2017)

Needless to say, I will likely revisit the Guelph Art Gallery.

[tvenvs3000-2018-blog]

Key climate panel, citing impending crisis, urges crash effort to reduce emissions

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says goal should be to limit warming to 1.5°C

I really enjoy the idea of a freewrite blog post, I think it’s a great idea to allow us all to share with each other what we’re passionate about or what we find ourselves thinking about. For me, an idea for a freewrite blog post was instant. I’m currently taking a Climate Change Biology course, and I have never been so interested in a course in my entire University career. We discuss natural vs anthropogenic causes to climate change, skeptics of climate change, and even topics right down to the cellular level components of climate change. I follow multiple accredited journals on social media platforms, and this week I came across an article which aligns perfectly with my climate change class.

The article was published recently (October 8th) by Science, as a result of the newest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. The report says that allowing the planet to warm by more than 1.5°C could have dire consequences, leading the climate panel to move the projected ‘goal posts’ for limiting climate change. One of the most fascinating parts of the article was that its highly suggested “net [carbon dioxide] emissions at a global scale must reach zero by 2050”. For a world which still heavily focuses on non-renewable energy and wastes vast amounts of resources, this emissions scenario seems impossible.

What I really took away from this article, in addition to my class, was that climate change is not some future event that we need to prepare for. The effects are currently happening, and even worse outcomes are not far behind. The article explains that overshooting 1.5°C will be disastrous, where coral reefs for example are projected to decline 70% to 90% at 1.5°C, but at 2°C 99% of coral reefs will be ravaged. As a science major, these stats are astonishing, and I really wish everyone on the planet could read this article and feel the same lump in my stomach when reading it.

(https://mote.org/reef-plate)

This is why it infuriates me when people say, ‘climate change isn’t real’ or ‘its not my generations problem’. It is everyone’s problem, and this kind of thinking is what got us into this mess. My climate change prof told me that even if we stopped right this second burning any fossil fuels or emitting more pollutants into the atmosphere, global warming will continue. What is key to this statement and the article, is that what we do now can change how much our planet continues to warm.

I strongly encourage everyone to read this article!! Or keep up with the news (the real news, published journal articles). For anyone like myself who appreciates nature in ways that are untouched by humans, preservation and conservation of our Earth is critical. The time is now.  

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Keeping Together the Parts of the Whole

“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)

In my opinion this quote is about remembering the past. It mentions “keeping together the parts of any whole” which is referring to how we cannot focus on the present without keeping in mind past events. This is because past events have shaped the reality that we live in today so disregarding them would be like trying to bake a cake based only on information about how the final product looks, and not information about all of the ingredients that originally went into it.

There are many ways that science demonstrates the importance of keeping together the whole story in order to fully understand life. Phylogenic trees are an awesome example of looking into the past to understand the present. By creating these trees we are getting the full evolutionary story of life on earth, not just the parts that we can see alive today. 

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazines/l/plastic/index-ps.html?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=%5BBrand%5D%20%5BCAN%5D%20%5BGoogle%5D%20National%20Geographic%20Magazine%20-%20NGM%20Plastics%20Issue%20(Broad)&utm_term=%2Bnational%20%2Bgeographic%20%2Bplastic&utm_content=Plastic%20Issue&ds_rl=1265457&gclid=CKjXmY2P7d0CFXu3swodIksOIQ&gclsrc=ds

This post also reminds me of an article I read in a National Geographic magazine this summer (the above link) about plastic. Even if you don’t read the article, take a look at the pictures and facts that are displayed here because they are very powerful. 

Plastic is an example of an object from the past that we cannot ignore because it is shaping our present reality. Although originally having good intent, plastics are killing large numbers of wildlife and are harming the planet. Therefore, in order to address the plastic issue we have to understand all parts of the whole- especially its past (how it originally got here)- in order to reduce its impacts today.

The more I pay attention to it, the more apparent it becomes to me how important the past is for where we are today. Evolution and plastics are just two examples I could think of. Please let me now if you can think of more! 

[tvenvs3000-2018-blog]

You have a very interesting take on this quote, and as a science lover myself I found it really interesting how well you related this quote.

Phylogenic trees are something I never even thought to incorporate into a discussion about the past, when really that’s the entirety of their existence. Their purpose is to allow us to view evolutionary traits and events, in such a way that we can better understand living organisms today and how they came to be. Your other example with plastic is even more relatable today, with anthropogenic impacts on our environment becoming more and more emphasized in the media. I’m sure when whoever created plastic thought it was genius and it is, but the impacts today I’m sure were never expected. Definitely something cool to think about when comparing the future and the past. While I was reading your post, I thought of a very relatable example in which it is important to refer to the past. Fossil fuel use when discovered was and still is, an incredible discovery and the techniques we have discovered to utilize the planets resources are outstanding. But similar to plastic, I’m sure for a while, the impacts of using these resources were never thought of. Not until problems begin to arise. It logically makes sense to acknowledge and therefore learn from the past in order to continue in the future. Hopefully this logic is taken account for in the environmental examples we have come up with, for more sustainable alternatives to allow us to continue enjoying nature and not destroying it.

Thanks for sharing!

[tvenvs3000-2018-blog]

“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).

When I first read this quote, I thought of a million things to share and discuss. For convenience, I will limit my post to two main ideas I had concerning this quote. In my opinion, this quote is establishing that individuals must acknowledge past events, ideas, knowledge, etc. to continue much of anything in the future or present.

This reminds me of what I learned during a therapy session. Not to go into much detail, but I have spoken to a therapist concerning personal matters. (I’m not at all embarrassed about this, I actually think its really cool I can apply what I’ve learned in this class!) She said many people who seek counselling only want to discuss current matters, and refuse to discuss the past. She explained that to work through current problems or issues, sessions most often start with current discussions but end up going back and forth between present and past. This was explained to me because most often things happening now or even in the future often relate to events or feelings in the past. Although this has little to do directly with nature interpretation, this general idea of referring to past knowledge or events can be transferred to everyone’s lives.

Conveniently, I think this idea is super applicable to the lab we had in the cemetery this week. We were constantly referring to the past, from who was buried where to the specifics of the headstones that were created in the 1800’s. The information our guide’s Ken and Anna gave us allowed us to interpret the environment and uniqueness of the cemetery in a whole new light that we would have never understood on our own. I personally found the information about the people’s past lives and what they did and how they died very relevant to understanding the cemetery’s importance, as many of them were buried more than 100 years ago. I always thought of a cemetery as sort of eerie and not for the general public, but Ken allowed me to experience a cemetery as a public place in which you should be respectful not scared of. By acknowledging and learning about the past of the cemetery, I was able to be really comfortable and engaged during the walk.

Woodlawn Memorial Park, Wellington County ON (www.woodlawnmemorialpark.ca) 

Overall, this quote focuses on acknowledging the past to continue in the present. I think this ideal should be used not just during labs or large events in our life, but in our everyday lives.

[jdenvs3000-2018-blog]

Being privy about privilege

In my opinion, privilege is a collection of benefits or advantages that are acquired by an individual as a result of the aspects of their identity. A person’s identity can include their ethnicity, religion, ability, sexuality, economic class, and gender, just to name a few. To state it simply, privilege is an invisible lens through which you perceive and are perceived.For example, I would identify as a middle-class, white, able, female. Throughout this blog post, I have included some photos of wildlife that I have been privileged enough to encounter.

Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) ram in Banff National Park (2018)

I think that privilege definitely plays a significant role in nature interpretation. The main challenge I have when interpreting nature to an audience is building a relation or common ground with them. Relating to folks who have never had the opportunity to experience true wilderness was a big struggle for me. I had a hard time understanding that not everyone cares to learn about new plant or bird species or understands why a particular type of forest is so important. This was my own privilege speaking for me though, and I learned to start looking at nature with the fresh perspective that many folks have when they are introduced to nature for the first time. This new perspective really opened my eyes, it was like starting  to love nature all over again and helped me gain a better appreciation for nature. 

Black-handed spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) in Nicaragua (2017)

The hardest challenge I’ve faced in my career is being able to communicate with all audiences. It’s tough trying to communicate with folks when you don’t speak the same language. The demographics of many of the folks I met while working in Algonquin Park were so diverse! We received a lot of folks from Germany, France, and the Netherlands, but fortunately, many understood basic English or could at least understand the tabloids I gave them. However, one pair of travellers that really resonated with me were these two women that were completely deaf. I immediately greeted them without knowing, and they handed me this slip of paper telling me that they were not able to hear me. After feeling like such a jerk, I brought out a pad of paper and two pens to communicate with. They would write down any questions they had for me, and I would respond including any comments or suggestions I had for them. I was humbled by how we were able to communicate without speaking. I then realized how being able to hear and speak was something that I had taken for granted, and that a lot of interpretive programs were not accessible to folks visual or hearing impairment. 

Hoary marmot (Marmota caligata) in Mount Revelstoke National Park (2018)

Privilege is something that should always be considered during nature interpretation, and figuring out how to not let your own privilege affect the quality of the interpretation that the audience receives.

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Hi, like you I also consider my experience with nature and the wilderness as a privilege for myself. Although I never worked in Algonquin Park as a nature interpreter, I get how its difficult to tone down your own bias of privilege when communicating with others who do not have the same experiences. Although in another sense, I do think some people have the freedom to attempt to explore nature and the wilderness more then they do in their own lives but they seemingly do not want to. As I am someone who does view nature as a privilege,  I cannot say for sure but some people may have their own privileges that they would consider more then the possibility to see more of the natural world. It puts into perspective I think of how privilege can change between person to person on through their own values and desires, though it’s difficult to explain the idea of how each person differs in their value of nature as a privilege.

On a lighter note, did you take that picture of the black-handed spider monkey in Nicaragua? Did you go to a jungle when you went there? I have never been to Nicaragua or Central America for that matter, but I would love to visit and see the culture and ecosystems!

[jdenvs3000-2018-blog]

@ddenvs3000-2018 I totally agree! Yeah, I took that photo while on a river tour in Nicaragua last December. I did not have the opportunity to visit any jungles there, but I did get to see one of their volcanoes! The culture and diversity of their ecosystems is amazing, I hope you get to experience them someday!

[tvenvs3000-2018-blog]

Hey there, first off; I LOVED your blog post. Your writing style is very engaging and keeps the reader interested in what you’ll discuss next.

Your first part about privilege being about your identity, I realized, is a super basic concept but likely one that very few of us would fully consider. I mean of course aspects of our identity including religion, economic class and gender would affect how or if we interpret nature, but on a day to day basis its easy assume that everyone receives equal opportunities to interpret nature and appreciate our world. Because each person has their own identity, it is hard to consider other’s having very contrasting identities which could affect how they interpret nature or the opportunities they would have to do so. On that note, I think nature interpretation is much deeper than just yourself enjoying nature, but everyone on this Earth being able to interpret nature. It is clear you have had amazing opportunities to see wildlife in action, which I am jealous of but super happy that you were able to experience that. I really enjoyed reading that you considered one’s own privilege should not affect other’s quality of other’s interpretation. Everyone deserves to experience nature in their own way and comfortably.

Thanks for sharing!

[tvenvs3000-2018-blog]

Job Opportunities (or Nature Interpretation Privileges)

I never really considered ‘privilege’ in regard to nature interpretation or nature in general until attending University. To me, privilege is having some advantage over another person. That advantage could be physical or psychological. During my first few weeks at university, I thought I had a fair amount of experience with nature and environmental field, but in comparison to everyone else in my program I felt completely at a disadvantage.

I have never had the privilege to work at a provincial park or environmental firm, despite numerous applications. I think most people don’t realize the privilege they have if their parents or family members or close friends have environmental connections, which can allow them to gain nature interpretation experience. To be clear, I do not mean to say that everyone with environmental experience has used connections to attain that job. Many people work hard for that position and all the power to them! But I personally have had experience where I was highly considered for an environmental assessment coordinator job but was not chosen because the other competing applicant’s dad knew the hiring coordinator (I was literally told this by one of the environmental techs at the firm). I’ve been told multiple times in my life “Its all about who you know”, and I believe that to be painfully true.

I do understand this logic to an extent, as hiring people who you know, and trust are two very extremely important success factors to a business. But when this ideal allows businesses to exclude potential hires based only on biased opinions, that can be extremely unfair. I have also been in a situation where I was asked to join an environmental group, only because my boyfriend’s dad’s friend knew the manager. My interview lasted 5 minutes and the only question I was asked was ‘why did you choose to go to school for environmental stuff’ (and yes, they said stuff). A day later I received a call saying they wanted to hire me, but the outlines of the job and job requirements were very vague. After given another job opportunity (that I got all by myself), I chose not to take the environmental job.

(the lovely ladies of Service Canada I worked with this summer, 2018)

I feel, and I’m sure other people have felt the same, that I have missed out on amazing opportunities to interpret nature in numerous ways because the hiring process for many jobs are based on ‘who you know’. This topic is so difficult because logically this process makes sense, but when you get the short end of the stick, its an entirely new view. This is why making these connections and meeting people in university is so great, not only because you can meet people with similar interests, but people who can help you with opportunities. 

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The spark that got me interested in nature wasn’t human influenced at all, it was my horse Rasa. In my opinion, pets are one of the easiest and most universal ways to get people interested and passionate about nature. I think its safe to say that people get very emotionally attached to their pets, so when we catch a wild animal engaging in a behaviour that reminds us of Fido back at home, the connection we feel is almost instantaneous. 

As for myself, my love for horses quickly translated into a general love for all things nature. I was that kid growing up who would rather watch an episode of Planet Earth than Spongebob. My relationship with nature continues to evolve with each new experience I have. As I am sure is the case with many of you, I consider myself to have a positive relationship with nature, but of course I am always learning new ways to protect and care for it. 

If anyone has any stories about how their four-legged friends helped them to connect with nature I would love to hear them! And if not, I would highly recommend going on a trail ride sometime! 

[tvenvs3000-2018-blog]

I really enjoyed reading your spark with nature, I relate exceptionally well to it. When I was around 14 I got my own horse after years of lessons. I find it funny when people call women like us ‘crazy horse girls’, because in all honesty I think everyone else is crazy if they don’t like horses. The bond you have with them is unlike anything else, and I also experienced my love for horses expand as a general love for nature. I’m not sure if you ride English or Western, but as a die-hard western rider, I find trail riding a great form of nature interpretation. I live extremely close to the trans Canada trail, and the amount of wildlife I’ve seen while on horseback there is phenomenal. I’ve seen deer, bears, raccoons, rabbits, foxes, and every time I am amazed. I’m not sure what breed of horse you have, but I had a quarter/paint cross gelding, and since he was a rescue trail riding was my goal. It took a lot of desensitizing, but eventually he really enjoyed getting out of his comfort zone and made a fearless trail horse. If you haven’t ever been trail riding, I can not suggest any better activity for a horse owner who loves nature. Just out of curiosity, do you ride Western or English? Have you ever competed or done any showing?

Thanks again for sharing, I’m ecstatic there’s someone else in this class who shares the same hobby.

[tvenvs3000-2018-blog]

My Spark(s) With Nature

I’ve grown up in a small, very rural town called Lindsay, where the only exciting thing that happens is the fall fair and perhaps the odd farming show. It may seem like it, but that is no complaint. My middle school was surrounded by hay fields and cattle grazing, and my high school graduating class consisted of 40 people. Small towns can have negative connotations, but for me it’s a very positive aspect of my life that has allowed me to experience nature in very accessible ways. Great hiking trails run through the town, our waterway locks are located right downtown and we are surrounded by agricultural activity.

In my 20 years of life so far, multiple sources of ‘sparks’ for my relationship with nature have evolved. The first being my dad, an arborist, who naturally enjoys what nature has to offer. At 10 years old, my dad decided I was old enough to help him with side-jobs and splitting wood to prepare for winters in the old farmhouse. Most pre-teen girls probably think such activities (in 30+ degree weather) is the worst thing to happen to them, but for me I was always happy to be outside. I was able to be in the sun and get fresh air, and often get sidetracked by picking bugs off dead branches. I remember during one side-job with my dad, we found a group of baby squirrels. I was ecstatic when my dad decided I could bring them home and bottle-feed them until they were big enough to let go. Times like these with my dad taught me hard work, but it allowed me to experience nature with a less traditional approach.  

My second spark with nature was no accident, I worked by a** off to achieve want I wanted, experiencing nature in a different light was a bonus. I had always wanted a horse, begged my parents until I was 14 and even made a (very) detailed power-point of why I deserved my own horse after years of horseback riding lessons. Using my own money and connections, I got a rescue who was absolutely terrified of whips, men, and basically anything out of the ordinary. Everyday after school and every weekend, I was at the barn up the road, mucking out the stalls, cleaning water troughs, etc. Our main activity was trail riding on the trans Canada trail as he was a rescue.  Looking back at those times, trail riding was nature interpretation from horseback. I always saw lots of wildlife, covered lots of land, and it got both myself and my horse out of our comfort zones. Without a doubt, that horse was the best thing that ever happened to me.

(Hunter, 2015)

The third spark with nature was and still is my aunt who has always been infatuated with traveling. She travels numerous times a year, and I have been incredibly lucky to have gone with her multiple times. She has taken me to Thailand, Mexico, Cuba, the Princess Keys, China, Iceland, numerous camping trips in Canada and enrolled me summer camp in Algonquin as a kid. These trips allowed me experience vastly different environments and explore nature in these places. A trip that really connected with me was Iceland, which seems dull and grey before you go, but the landscape is so distinct and the feeling you get there is like nothing before. It felt like home to me, as most of Iceland is small towns and vast landscapes. Without my aunt, I would have never been able to experience so many different parts of the world.

(Sister and I hiking to hot spring pool of Seljavallalaug, 2016) 

To conclude, I still do side jobs with my dad and I try to travel at least once a year, but I sold my horse to attend school. 

I hope to be able to continue to grow as a nature interpreter and experience new forms of nature to expand my knowledge. I hope you all do too!

[jdenvs3000-2018-blog]

nature is neat! #neature