Victoria DeRose

Nature Interpretation Blog | ENVS 3000

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Disclaimer

This blog was created for __________, University of Guelph. 

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

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

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Disclaimer

This blog was created for ENVS*3000 (DE01), University of Guelph. 

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

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

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Personal Ethics in Interpretation

When you interpret nature for an audience, you are provided with an opportunity to helm not only their education but their sense of place and passion for the natural world (Beck et al., 2018c). Here, the combination of your knowledge, ethics, passion, and personality dictates your success in deepening your audiences’ understanding of the natural world and inspiring their appreciation of nature and willingness for environmental protection (Beck et al., 2018b). Knowledge provides credibility and is the basis for programming, and passion and personality work together to fuel the appeal and effectiveness of programs (Beck et al., 2018b). An interpreter’s personal ethics, however, is particularly important as it is what guides the direction and outcome of programs.

An interpreter’s personal ethics is apparent in all aspects of programming. When I think about the ethics surrounding my development as an interpreter, words such as amiability, honesty, open-mindedness, sensitivity, compassion, authenticity, patience, and reliability come to mind. These ethics appear in various parts of program development and delivery.

At the most fundamental level, interpreters must be empathetic and responsive to their audiences’ needs. Understanding how to account for Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is an essential aspect of facilitating effective and safe programming (Beck et al., 2018). You must ensure that your audience is comfortable before anything else. Do they have to go to the washroom? Are they straining their eyes by looking into the sun? Are they getting bitten by bugs? Do they feel safe? These are some examples of questions you must consider before and during your program's delivery. Doing so makes it easier for your audience to appreciate your program by limiting their distractions from discomfort. To do this effectively, you must constantly be aware of your audiences’ comfort by harbouring a level of empathetic sensitivity.

There is something so facilitating about interpreting nature while immersed in nature. I think a large part of this has to do with the fact that we are a part of nature. So, in a way, we are facilitating connections between two things that are already innately connected. As nature interpreters, our role goes beyond that of a teacher due to our ability to inspire hearts as well as minds (Beck et al., 2018d). With this, nature interpretation has the power to encourage individuals to look at the world through a new lens. I believe this is enabled through the ability of effective nature interpretation to provide audiences with profound multisensory experiences (Beck et al., 2018a). What’s better than immersing yourself in serene and wonderous natural landscapes, seeing the plants and wildlife, listening to the music, or biophony, of nature, smelling the sap and wildflowers, and feeling the breeze or sun against your skin, all while learning about the history or science behind elements of your experience (Beck et al., 2018a; Grey et al., 2001)? Fully immersive natural experiences like this appeal to so many parts of your brain and can fully captivate your senses in a way that makes you feel small and insignificant. I’m sure many of us have experienced this feeling when in nature; I know I have. 

As nature interpreters, I believe that we have a duty to encourage our audience to connect with the land so that they develop a sense of care and responsibility towards it (Rodenburg, 2019; Beck et al., 2018d). Nature interpretation helps develop our audience’s ethical sense of place in the world as well as encourages them to respect the animals and plants that we share the world with (Beck et al., 2018d). My background in environmental ethics and historical human-nature relationships led me to believe in the ever-growing importance of honest and progressive nature interpretation. Unfortunately, developing relationships between humans and nature is often impeded by deeply ingrained assumptions of human ascendency and widespread consumer-facilitated anthropocentrism. The consequences of this are twofold. Firstly, we must be wary of biased scientific research that may support sacrificing ecological sustainability for economic growth. Thus, substantiating the need for well-informed and honest interpretive programs (Beck et al., 2018e). Secondly, society’s deeply ingrained anthropocentrism tends to limit the effectiveness of interpretive programs that are aimed at ecocentric or biocentric worldviews, for example. In these cases, we must structure our programs to appeal to anthropocentric worldviews by acknowledging the value of nature to humans. Such value may be derived through aesthetic, aural, climate, or ecosystemic processes, to name a few.

You may ask, “why does it matter? It’s not our duty as nature interpreters to make people care.” However, I believe that as nature interpreters, we also have responsibilities as environmental stewards (Beck et al., 2018b; Beck et al., 2018d). Hence, I think that it is our responsibility as environmental stewards to encourage people to open their minds to different and potentially more ecologically sustainable worldviews and perspectives. In doing so, we must also be open-minded in understanding that not everyone harbours the same worldview. We must be able to approach topics from the different perspectives of various worldviews, appealing to human-centric mindsets in addition to biocentric or eco-centric ideologies. Therefore, we must be open-minded and sensitive in our interpretative programming in addition to honest and progressive.

Of course, there are additional perspectives that we must also consider, including those we carry in our invisible backpacks (McIntosh, 1989). Being sensitive to our audiences’ potential limitations, experiences, or existing ideologies allows for more effective programming and enriching experiences. This idea also applies to the accessibility of programs. As interpreters, we are responsible for continuing to increase the accessibility of programs and natural spaces so that everyone can enjoy them (Beck et al., 2018f). 

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018a). Chapter 6: How people learn. In Interpreting culture and natural heritage for a better world (1st ed., pp. 105-126). Sagamore Venture.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018b). Chapter 5: Guiding principles of interpretation. In Interpreting culture and natural heritage for a better world (1st ed., pp. 81-104). Sagamore Venture.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018c). Chapter 1: What is interpretation? In Interpreting culture and natural heritage for a better world (1st ed., pp. 3-16). Sagamore Venture.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018d). Chapter 3: Values to individuals and society. In Interpreting culture and natural heritage for a better world (1st ed., pp. 39-58). Sagamore Venture.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018e). Chapter 15: Interpreting history. In Interpreting culture and natural heritage for a better world (1st ed., pp. 325-347). Sagamore Venture.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018f). Chapter 7: Serving diverse audience. In Interpreting culture and natural heritage for a better world (1st ed., pp. 127-164). Sagamore Venture.

Gray, P. M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science, 291(5501), 52. https://link-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/apps/doc/A69270354/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid

McIntosh, P. (1989). White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack. Peace and Freedom, 10-12.

Rodenburg, J. (2019, June 17). Why environmental educators shouldn’t give up hope. Clearing. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

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 Hi Faith! 

Really awesome blog post this week! I really liked your quote at the beginning of your post saying that we are not only an audience's education but also their sense of place and passion for the natural world. I can definitely agree to this and think it is so important to realize this before being a nature interpreter. Without knowing your role and impact, it can be difficult to present to an audience in an effective and respectful way. I think it's hard to realize that not everyone will be as interested as you are in the topic that you are presenting, that's why it's crucial to see that you have the sense of place and passion. Without your own passion, your audience will be bored. 

I like that you said that we are a part of nature. I completely agree and think it is so beautiful that we are able to experience nature in so many different ways. In unit 7 we discussed music and nature and I wasn’t surprised to read that every known human culture has music as it was produced for emotional, social, cultural, and cognitive purposes (Gray et al., 2001). Music is such an important part of life and we would not have it if it wasn’t for nature. 

Being respectful and mindful in your everyday life will definitely get you far. These are ethics that relate to nature interpretation and what it means to be a human in this changing world. Thank you for this post to end off the semester!   

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

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Interpreting in the Real World, Guiding Principles

Ethic… the guiding principles that govern my behavior as to what I think is right and wrong. I often ponder about greed in the world and to live without greed is often one guiding principle I live by throughout my life and hope to bring with me in nature interpretation. I believe that everyone has the chance to make small changes which will compound to make a large difference, we just need to start! This will be hard to accomplish because even with individuals making small changes, a few big corporations often have all/most of the control. We can try to change what we consume and who we buy from, but affordability and convenience is very important to today’s consumers. For groceries, with rising food insecurity, it is very impractical to choose sustainable options (more expensive) or choose to shop locally. I often feel that the solution is out of my reach and far larger than myself, but if you can live greedless and afford to put the planet before convenience and affordability, I encourage you to do so! I often see greed in other places, especially when I see how grocery prices and taxes rise for consumers while large corporations are making record breaking profits. It is frustrating to see these profits going into a greedy person’s pocket instead of perhaps into conservation efforts. Just recently carbon taxes have gone up, gas prices went up to reflect this and the tax is being absorbed by the consumer. I ask what is this tax going towards, their reason for taxing gas is because it is ‘dirty’ so are they using this tax to clean up the ‘filth’ we must use in today’s society? There seems to be no transparency of where the extra money is going when prices rise for consumers, is anyone asking this question too? Yet we continue to exploit the planet without restoration.

I feel responsible to be the generation that actually does something about the world’s state, because after all, humans are the reason everything is happening. By acting, educating, carrying out plans I want to make the difference! Conservation plans are always made but failed to be carried out. For example, the UN Decade of Biodiversity (2011-2020) had a strategic plan, 20 biodiversity targets across 5 strategic goals but zero were successfully completed and only 6 were partially completed… Did I know about this? No. Once I knew, did I feel as though I could individually make a difference? Also no. I have grown up with older generations consistently passing the responsibility to younger people, or making plans and strategies but putting other selfish goals as their priority. I don’t want to be a part of the next generation that has a chance to conserve the beauty in nature that doesn't! Therefore another goal I have as I continue as a nature interpreter is educating others on what they can do individually and help them see that value of nature as something of beauty and solace instead of something we can exploit to make money.Perhaps another goal/responsibility I have as an interpreter is to inspire people to necessary small changes and encourage others to ask necessary questions large businesses don’t want us asking like the recent annihilation of plastic bags, then charging more for reusable bags. Are they using the profits made by selling bags for the environment or are they filling their pockets and continuing to act unsustainably (CTV Vancouver, 2018)?

Old People Don’t Care About Climate Change

Subscribe now: https://www.youtube.com/c/funnyordie?sub_confirmation=1See more: http://bit.ly/FODLatestScrew it. They don’t care about clima

Another guiding principle I would use as an interpreter is emphasizing the quality of information I use in interpretation. I have the responsibility to listen to many points of view and obtain the highest quality of information for interpretations. I also must adapt when new information is found as soon as possible as having accurate information I think is the most important when trying to convey the message in nature. This would lead me to be up to date with information by always learning! It has been mentioned in our textbook that an interpreter always has the desire to continue to learn beyond the classroom which is why I would use this to guide me in Interpretation!

As for approaches…

As I develop as a nature interpreter, I want to bring these questions, solutions, inspirations to be selfless and quit exploiting nature. I do not want to see nature degrade but want to share my love for nature with others! This is my place where I feel at peace, especially the places where I share fond memories of family and I hope that we can conserve nature for many generations to come to have the chance to experience what I have been lucky to have done so.

I want to start my responsibility now… educating you on something called the Willow Project that is proposed to start in the next month or so. I know that this is happening in the US, but it impacts us all worldwide! It is the largest oil extraction proposed on federal lands in Alaska, and is estimated to add more than 250 million tons of CO2 to the atmosphere over the next 30 years (POW). Research at Stanford by Josie Carthwaite estimates that plants and soils together currently absorb an estimated 30% of the CO2 emitted by human activities each year (2021)! With this additional release by the Willow project, it's hard to imagine coming back from such a catastrophe and perhaps will push global warming to an all time high! No only does this impact us as we will likely see a short lived boom of the economy for immediate benefits, but soon after, it is likely that our earth will have no more to give after ecosystems are gone, global warming unstoppable, animals wiped out at an uncontrollable pace will all have long term impacts. Don’t let our immediate greed for money and energy jeopardize our earth, ecosystems, and other generations' chance to have nature, experience the joys I feel when in nature.

DONT GIVE UP. SAVE OUR EARTH. #stopwillow #stopwillowproject #stopthewillowproject #saveearth #saveearth🌍 #2023 #dontgiveup

why would you ever agree to that. #fyp #willowproject #boost #alaska #animal #viral #foryoupage #foryou #saveearth #famous #australia #trending #spreadlove

People are already speaking out, signing petitions, making videos, researching, trying to get the Willow Project to stop! Everyone joining together is making NOISE and not sitting back and letting people motivated by greed to do this to our planet! We all can make the difference! 

this is how you do it #stopwillow #houseofreps #activistofoptimism #americanpoliticsnews #vanlifedog

There is just too much information and tools I have learned in this course to name everything in just a short blog! Thank you everyone for the incredible information you shared and conversations and replies!

What was your most memorable blog you remember using nature interpretation?

Resources:

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World (1st ed). Sagamore Venture

Carthwaite, J. (2021). Soils or plants will absorb more CO2 as carbon levels rise- but not both, Stanford study finds. Stanford- News Service.https://news.stanford.edu/press/view/38728#:~:text=Plants%20and%20soils%20together%20currently,there%20for%20a%20long%20time. 

POW. (2022) The Willow Project. Date accessed: 2023, March 15. https://protectourwinters.org/campaign/willow/ 

Unknown. (2018) Plastic bag fees: Helping the environment or big profit for retailers?. CTV Vancouver. https://bc.ctvnews.ca/plastic-bag-fees-helping-the-environment-or-big-profit-for-retailers-1.4208398

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Hi Dana!

I really enjoyed your post for this week and thought that it was really well researched and supported. I agree that everyone has the opportunity to make small changes in the world and set their own morals and ethics. These morals and ethics shape who a person is but they also shape the world we live in. If everyone had the same mindset and no one lived with greed or disrespect, I think the world would be a much happier and safer place, do you agree? I think it's important to realize that yes, we are all unique in our own way, but the morals and ethics that we strive to achieve in our lifetime should be in unison with the rest of the world if serious change were to occur. 

I really liked how you touched upon our generation being the one to carry out change. I also grew up around older generations saying the future is up to us, but it wouldn’t have been if they also made a conscientious effort to not let things get out of hand. 

Thank you so much for discussing the Willow Project, I was definitely unaware about this occurring and will look into ways to help! Educating others is the key aspect to nature interpretation, without it, there will be no change. We can only learn through telling and listening. With this we will hopefully be able to help the planet before it is too late. Thank you again for this amazing post to end off the semester!

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UNIT 10

Hey everyone! 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Unit 9

My time in Bali, Indonesia opened my eyes to a world of nature that I had no idea existed. I felt immediately connected to nature and the way that the locals use their land. The respect that the people of Bali have for the animals and the nature they live with is inspiring. This trip taught me so much about how the people and the animals interact in so many new ways. 

One of the most interesting and shocking things I discovered on this trip was Kopi Luwak. This is a coffee made from partly digested coffee cherries. An animal called the Asian Palm Civet eats the coffee cherries and as they pass through the intestines, they are fermented and then defecated. My family and I visited a Kopi Luwak shop and were given a tour of the sanctuary where the Civet cats are kept. They explained to us the process of obtaining the coffee but also the cultural significance of the drink to the people of Bali. They explained how many of the Kopi Luwak coffee shops keep their Civet cats in terrible conditions where they are forced into cages, but this specific family was operating a sanctuary where the Civet cats are treated humanely. Learning about humane animal practices in popular tourist destinations was also an eye opening experience for me. 

Producing coffee in this way was discovered by the local people during times of colonization by the Dutch, as local farmers were not permitted to harvest their coffee beans (Muzaifa et al., 2019). To work around this, the farmers realized that as a part of the Civet’s diet, they consume coffee cherries and do not digest them (Muzaifa et al., 2019). They were able to collect them from the feces and clean them properly (Muzaifa et al., 2019). The beans are collected from the feces of the Civet, washed, dried, and the skin on the outer portion of the bean is removed. At this point, the beans are either stored away or roasted (Pierce-Feldmyer, n.d.). I remember drinking the coffee and wondering why it almost had a slight lemon scent, and the farmers explained it was a byproduct of the fermentation and these beans have a higher level of citric acid than regular beans. 

This type of coffee is some of the most expensive in the world, with 100g averaging $80 in the United States (Pierce-Feldmyer, n.d.). The reason for this is due to the amount of work that goes into producing this coffee (Pierce-Feldmyer, n.d.). This includes caring for the Civets, collecting their fecal matter, and doing the intensive cleaning process. The demand for this coffee led to discovery of more efficient harvesting methods, which is where the mistreatment of the animals came into play (Pierce-Feldmyer, n.d.). This allowed me to realize how delicate the line between mass consumption and cultural significance is when it comes to nature. What once was an important cultural staple that represented balinese history has become a worldwide delicacy and the Indonesian relationship with the land has changed. This is an example of bring nature interpretation into my everyday life (Beck et al., 2018). 

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

Muzaifa, M., Hasni, D., & Rahmi, F. (2019, October). What is kopi luwak? A literature review on production, quality and problems. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 365, No. 1, p. 012041). IOP Publishing.

Pierce-feldmyer, A. What is Kopi Luwak and why is it so expensive?. https://sciencemeetsfood.org/kopi-luwak/

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Hi there, really amazing blog post this week!!

Bali has always been a location on my travel list, I think it is so beautiful and has always been a place I want to explore. Your post was very insightful about how they make this coffee and I’m glad you touched upon how the animals are treated. It’s sad to hear how many of the places that make this coffee exploit them and don’t treat them well. It’s hard to hear about these situations because if it wasn’t for these animals, those people would not be able to sell the coffee. 

The history behind the coffee making was very interesting to read. It's fascinating to me how they were able to discover that after eating these coffee cherries, that they were able to get them, clean them, and use them to make coffee. I think it's really interesting to hear stories like these, because I sure wouldn’t have been able to discover something like this. This really touches upon nature interpretation through history as we are able to appreciate these animals and what they contribute to our economy and traditions (Beck et al., 2018). Without nature interpretation and history, we wouldn’t be appreciating what this discovery meant for Indonesia. 

It makes sense how much this coffee goes for, if it was cheaper I think that the quality of life for the Civets would be much worse than it already is. Thank you so much for sharing this cultural tradition. I look forward to the day I finally travel there and will be sure to try this coffee!

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

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UNIT 09

This week’s blog post is quite an open ended question which I typically find daunting, especially when discussing the most amazing things I know about nature. I find so many aspects of nature amazing and it was very difficult to choose just one, however, for this post I am going to be talking about monarch butterflies! I have a feeling that a lot of people are aware of how awesome these butterflies are, but if you’re like me and never really knew how monarch butterflies migrate then I am excited to share and hopefully get you appreciating these little creatures a bit more. 

I was first introduced to this process in my first year biodiversity course, before this, I was never too aware of how insects migrated, and honestly, I never really considered them to be migratory species (excuse my ignorance). What’s pretty awesome about this process, is that there is one particular location in Central Mexico (4000 km away) called the Oyamel Fir Forests where they travel to from the U.S. and Canada, where they stay for the winter (Canada, 2019). 

The most interesting aspect of all this, is that when spring rolls around and it is time for the butterflies to come back to Canada and the U.S., it is not the same generation of butterflies that originally made the journey. By the time the monarchs come back, 4 generations have gone by, this process is called multi generational migration (Canada, 2019). Due to this, the monarch has become an international symbol of conservation and nature and is part of a shared natural heritage between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico (Canada, 2019).

Unfortunately, the monarch butterfly is endangered and is at high risk of becoming extinct. This is a problem, not only for the species itself, but for other species that rely on their pollination. Some ways that the general public can help these butterflies is to plant native milkweed in their gardens as this plant is the only one that monarchs will lay their eggs on and the only one that caterpillars will eat (Canada, 2019). In addition to that, citizen science plays a huge role in the protection of this species. There are programs such as Mission Monarch that call on butterfly enthusiasts and citizen scientists to go outside and search for monarch eggs, caterpillars and butterflies (Canada, 2019). You are able to report everything you see on the website and make a contribution to the safety and conservation of these butterflies. It is important to keep records on plant and animal species that are endangered or going to be extinct quickly (Beck et al., 2018 (pg. 463)). Citizen science is one of the main ways in which we are able to preserve the safety of this species.

As I have mentioned, I work at a garden centre in the summer and I have noticed that a lot of people have been coming in asking which plants attract birds and butterflies. It is as simple as this to create a garden that is pollinator friendly, and adding milkweed is a huge part of the conservation of monarch butterflies in particular. 

Work Cited

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

Canada, E. and C. C. (2019, August 29). Government of Canada. Canada.ca. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-education-centre/fact-sheets/monarch-butterfly.html#toc1

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Nature Interpretation an Music

Music is a very powerful art form that speaks to many people in different ways. It can impact our moods and help us to feel different emotions from past and present experiences in our lives. Similarly, to my post on art, music speaks to one’s emotions and is unique to you based on how you interpret said art. Music is also very prevalent in cultures and can hold religious importance for various religions. This demonstrates how music can communicate to people in a variety of ways. Looking at it from a different perspective, those who enjoy creating art through music, can express themselves through this outlet. They can reflect on their own personal journey with nature or other experiences. This kind of music can provide lessons to those who listen and can have them connect with it emotionally if they have similar experiences.

As we learned in the assigned reading this week from Beck et al. (2018), they explained that we must first capture people’s attention in the midst of this chaotic world. Then the next step is to entice people to connect with the message on an emotional level. Music can be a great gateway for this because since listening to music is a part of a lot of people’s lives, important messages can get across to people in a way they enjoy. Combining this concept with nature can be a great way to help people connect with the environment or their experiences with it.

When you think of music and nature interpretation, one may think about the sounds of birds singing or the calming sounds of a waterfall. Yet the way that I think of it is the way that music ties us to our experiences in nature. Whether it is a song that reminds you of times at the cottage or your favorite music to go on a walk to. Music can tie us to some of our favorite experiences or memories. For me, the song Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd brings back a lot of memories of going camping. My dad loved this song and will play it many times while driving and when we were all hanging out around the fire. When I hear this song today, it brings back a lot of great memories and it is amazing that something as simple as a song can bring about such great emotions.

Overall, I think it is amazing to experience how nature can be interpreted on so many platforms such as art and music. With these things being very prevalent in our everyday lives, it can be a great gateway to getting important messages across to society in a world that is very hectic. Also, the mood improvement qualities of music make our relationship with nature even stronger. When the songs we listen to have a positive attachment to it, its bring out happy emotions that then bring out the best in people to make positive changes.

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

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Hi Amanda!

I enjoyed reading your post for this week about music and nature. I too believe that music is a very powerful form of art that is able to impact our lives in tremendous ways. It’s crazy to think about how drastically our moods can change depending on the genre of music we are listening too. I enjoyed how you said that those who make art through music are able to express themselves through this outlet and I think that it’s similar for those who listen to that person's music. By listening to a particular artist, you are communicating with them and gaining an insight to their deepest emotions and passions.

I agree with capturing people's attention in the midst of a chaotic world. That's why radio broadcasting is so important and reaches so many individuals (Beck et al., 2018). While the world is so chaotic and people are constantly running around, radios are a great way to still stay attached to reality while also “losing yourself” within music while going about your busy day.  

It was so special reading about your personal experience with music and how it takes you back to a good memory. I think that is one of the most special aspects of music and why it is such a huge part of everyone's life. Similarly, Love You Like a Love Song by Selina Gomez plays a similar role for me. My friend and I as children really loved singing this in the car while we were driving to the cottage and it always reminds me of that fun and simple time of my life. Would love to go back. 

Great job this week, can’t wait to hear more!

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

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UNIT 07

I was personally quite excited about this week's blog post! Music is a huge part of everyday life and I love how universal it is. No matter your culture or background, music is a way for people to bond and display their own unique musical tastes. It is said that every known human culture has music and that music can be defined as patterns of sound varying in pitch and time produced for emotional, social, cultural, and cognitive purposes (Gray et al., 2001). I like to look at music as patterns of sound because I think that oftentimes music is only perceived as the music we hear on the radio. However, there is much more to music than the latest pop songs. 

Not only is music a great way for people to interact, but it's also an amazing way to interact with nature. If you were to go on a walk right now, you would be surrounded by various sounds that display the music of nature. The sound of rain, the wind howling, birds chirping, frogs croaking, all of these sounds can be perceived as natural music. It’s unfortunate that people who live close to nature perceive a wider range of sounds than those of us living in industrialized societies (Gray et al., 2001). This reduces the chance for most people to hear and appreciate the sounds that nature produces.

I personally love listening to rain noises and nature sounds while I’m studying. I find these types of sounds to be really calming and help me listen to something without losing focus on my work. I also think it is important to note how these sounds come into play in regards to the music that we listen to on the radio. Radios are important tools used to reach lots of people at a given time, and are able to influence culture (Beck et al., 2018 (pg. 175)). 

Interestingly, the tone and timbre of many whale notes are similar to human musical sounds (Gray et al., 2001). The famous whistle tone definitely originated from animals and the way they are able to carry notes is very similar to that of humans. Also, similarly to humans, not all bird sounds emanate from the vocal tract - some are produced with “instruments” such as special feather structures, others by the bird pounding on an object with a “preferred” resonance (Gray et al., 2001). It is interesting to read about this seeing the similarities between humans and animals in terms of music. This reiterates the fact that music is universal and can be enjoyed by all species on earth. 

A song that reminds me of a special time in nature is The Nights by Avicii. Anytime I hear this song, I’m brought back to 2018 when I went to Italy for a summer course. I went through a school program and was able to travel with my friends and meet a bunch of new people. As the trip was coming to an end, this song was played on repeat in the bus and on the beach as we were all getting ready to say goodbye to one another. This song will forever remind me of the beauty of Italy and the amazing people I shared that time with. 

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

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

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UNIT 06

To begin to unpack this quote, I think that it is important to define the word integrity. It can be defined as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; the state of being whole and undivided. I agree with the quote in the sense of there being merit in integrity and how it entails knowledge, and a memory. However, I so disagree with the portion saying there is no merit in ancient things. That sentence provides ignorance to all ancient items and events that shaped the present we live in. In nature interpretation it is important to have integrity while being both the interpreter and the audience. An interpreter can use integrity to be honest about the location they are exploring, as well as if there are any unpredictable elements to the tour prior to having individuals sign up. For example, upon reading about the northern lights, I learned that there is a lot of unpredictability in terms of actually seeing the lights, making tours difficult to schedule/manage. Personally, as someone who would be part of the audience, I see these types of situations as part of the fun. It is beautiful to see nature in its most raw and unpredictable form. You can never fully know what nature will do or how it will act on a given day, and I believe that if people are expecting a true display of nature for their tour, then they should also expect there to be challenges along the way. 

The second part of the quote is particularly important in regards to nature interpretation. History is a very critical part in everyday life, there would be no present day without the past. The textbook regards history as something to remember; to remember not only the happy stories of our past, but also the tragic ones (Beck et al., 2018). There are a lot of memories within nature and how certain areas came to be, specifically areas that can be toured and taught about. Historical events can be taught through public history in general public museums, historic sites, parks, and libraries (Beck et al., 2018). Being able to teach historical events well and properly has become a very honourable profession and a popular and enriching hobby (Beck et al., 2018). I believe we all act as public historians in a sense, by teaching those around us about past events that we are particularly passionate about. There are different ways to go about teaching history, there is first person and third person living history (Beck et al., 2018). This refers to the way in which the teaching is presented. There are also some challenges with interpreting history such as the accuracy of the information, the authenticity, and controversy (Beck et al., 2018). It is important for interpreters to know the information well and to avoid skewing the facts when presenting information to an audience. 

In all, I think it is important to be able to absorb historical knowledge about nature and to be able to reiterate it to the best of your ability to really get the most out of the interpretive experience. Not everyone will be interested in every aspect of historical interpretation, but it is key to find a piece of history that you resonate with and to be passionate about inorder to fully appreciate the natural world we live in today. 

Work Cited

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

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Hey!

I wanted to start off by saying that I agree to many of the points you stated! I do agree that saying there is no merit in ancient things is a bit ignorant. There are so many ancient artifacts that are extremely culturally significant to many people. Ancient things do in fact symbolize the history and the past of the lands that we live in and the nature that surrounds us. I truly do like your point about how we all act as public historians in a sense because it is valid. We also carry the history of nature within us and share it to people that surround us when we feel truly passionate about it. I do think a challenge with teaching history is the biases that may come into play. Views on history may be subjective and people might want to push certain narratives onto the people they are teaching. That is why it is critical for nature interpreters to teach the history of nature as it is, while maintaining the integrity of the history and land. I do like your point about about finding an aspect of history that we are truly interested in, as it does make the learning and teaching more effective. I wonder what part of history you're interested in! Overall, your post was extremely insightful and brought a fresh perspective on this quote. Thank you!

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Hi there!

Thank you so much for your response to my post! I appreciate you bringing up biases in regards to the challenges of teaching history as I agree that there is bias with how events get explained. A lot of the time, when we try to explain events that happened to us (maybe only a few days in the past) there tends to be over-exaggeration of certain aspects. We usually alter the story to be in our favour if we were in the wrong, which can also be said about past global events.

I would say that the part of history I am interested in is the world wars and the holocaust. For some reason, I tend to gravitate towards stories about this general time frame and find stories about the family/relationship dynamics to be particularly interesting. Im not sure if this would be hypocritical of saying that facts are important, but I do enjoy reading historical fiction novels that display these dynamics and the hardships that everyone felt. I specifically enjoyed this one book that shows the challenges of the females who were left at home during the war and the hardships they had to face, whereas most stories focus on the soldiers.

May I ask what aspect of history particularly peaks your interest?

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Nature Interpretation Through History

Unpacking this quote is not an easy task. Hyams packs a lot meaning between words and uses metaphors that may be interpreted differently depending on your background. In a way, this alone encompasses the true meaning of interpretation. My understanding of this quote is likely very different to that of someone with very different life experiences to me.

Hyams defines integrity by keeping together the parts of whole, and by the effort to do so when the parts are not blatantly obvious or accessible. This often relates to “ancient things” or stories of history. The only way to learn and adjust our interpretation of today’s world is by learning from the ancient things. My mind immediately goes to an environmental disaster that occurred in Ukraine in 1986, known as the Chernobyl Disaster. At the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat, Ukraine, a nuclear reactor malfunctioned, causing explosions that took the lives of at least 4,000 people in the Soviet Union, including my Great Aunt. There is no merit in this event. It is a disaster whose effects are still being felt by people and the environment today. There is merit, however, in the mercy that the world showed Ukraine during the immediate aftermath of the event. There is merit in the relief efforts and there is beauty in the way that nature can fight toxic events like Chernobyl. To combat the radiation in the soil and ponds that were killing all life forms, sunflowers were planted due to their ecological ability to remove the harmful elements.

This event affected my interpretation of nature and of life. I think the sunflowers represent finding light in the darkest times. I also cannot help but think about my family. This disaster occurred in 1986, and my parents immigrated to Israel in the late 1970’s, after years of trying. If this had just taken them a few more years, they would have had endure the radiation poisoning that affected their entire town. It adds perspective to my life and makes this quote even more meaningful to me. I think Hyams would classify the teachings of Chernobyl as brave acts to maintain integrity.

The second part of this Hyams’s quote struck a chord in me. Perhaps it was the subject of the metaphor being a railway, but I can’t help but think of another ancient thing that effected my family and millions of others, the Holocaust. “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 is so incredibly powerful. If we collectively leave the past in the past, we will have no idea where we are going in the future. Furthermore, we leave nothing for the next generation to learn from. If the railway stops existing when our train gets off it, what about the incoming trains? What will guide their path? This reminds me of a quote by George Santayana which states “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”. this is a quote that has been spoken by figures throughout history such as Winston Churchill and author and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. We must acknowledge to past as we move forward to help us navigate this world. We cannot maintain integrity without holding onto the parts of the whole.

What does this mean for nature interpretation? Our generation is living through a climate crisis. The time to act on it is now, and we must look to the past to guide us but think about the future in doing so. We must represent nature through literature, music and art so that the parts of the present can be preserved for the future.

Beck, L, Cable, Ted T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Natural & Cultural Heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing. 2018

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Hi there, 

I really enjoyed your post for this week’s prompt. Thank you for your honesty and raw emotions in terms of what you and your family have gone through. I would like to first say that I am so sorry for the events you have had to endure and it shows great courage to share these life events with us so that we can better understand the impacts these events had on our very own peers. I agree with the way in which you explained and interpreted this quote. There is definitely a great emphasis on learning from the ancient things and events that occurred in the past in order to better experience our present. It is very important to learn about events, like the Chernobyl Disaster and the Holocaust, as you mentioned. As horrible as these distinct and disastrous events were, they are also incredibly important to learn about so as to not repeat them. I think there is great integrity in knowledge, as mentioned in the quote, because being able to understand and recognize the importance in such events is the greatest knowledge we will endure. 

The textbook was helpful in terms of explaining the challenges of interpreting history (i.e accuracy of the information, the authenticity, and controversy) (Beck et al., 2018). One thing that comes to mind is the accuracy of facts when news came out about the graveyards found at former Residential Schools. I think that this scenario was an accurate display of how little society knew about these schools and what Indigenous families had/still have to go through. There is an immense amount of merit in this situation and to say that there is no merit in ancient things was ignorant of the quote to say, in my opinion. Without ancient things, we wouldn’t have a past to look at and learn from.

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

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UNIT 06

To begin to unpack this quote, I think that it is important to define the word integrity. It can be defined as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; the state of being whole and undivided. I agree with the quote in the sense of there being merit in integrity and how it entails knowledge, and a memory. However, I so disagree with the portion saying there is no merit in ancient things. That sentence provides ignorance to all ancient items and events that shaped the present we live in. In nature interpretation it is important to have integrity while being both the interpreter and the audience. An interpreter can use integrity to be honest about the location they are exploring, as well as if there are any unpredictable elements to the tour prior to having individuals sign up. For example, upon reading about the northern lights, I learned that there is a lot of unpredictability in terms of actually seeing the lights, making tours difficult to schedule/manage. Personally, as someone who would be part of the audience, I see these types of situations as part of the fun. It is beautiful to see nature in its most raw and unpredictable form. You can never fully know what nature will do or how it will act on a given day, and I believe that if people are expecting a true display of nature for their tour, then they should also expect there to be challenges along the way. 

The second part of the quote is particularly important in regards to nature interpretation. History is a very critical part in everyday life, there would be no present day without the past. The textbook regards history as something to remember; to remember not only the happy stories of our past, but also the tragic ones (Beck et al., 2018). There are a lot of memories within nature and how certain areas came to be, specifically areas that can be toured and taught about. Historical events can be taught through public history in general public museums, historic sites, parks, and libraries (Beck et al., 2018). Being able to teach historical events well and properly has become a very honourable profession and a popular and enriching hobby (Beck et al., 2018). I believe we all act as public historians in a sense, by teaching those around us about past events that we are particularly passionate about. There are different ways to go about teaching history, there is first person and third person living history (Beck et al., 2018). This refers to the way in which the teaching is presented. There are also some challenges with interpreting history such as the accuracy of the information, the authenticity, and controversy (Beck et al., 2018). It is important for interpreters to know the information well and to avoid skewing the facts when presenting information to an audience. 

In all, I think it is important to be able to absorb historical knowledge about nature and to be able to reiterate it to the best of your ability to really get the most out of the interpretive experience. Not everyone will be interested in every aspect of historical interpretation, but it is key to find a piece of history that you resonate with and to be passionate about inorder to fully appreciate the natural world we live in today. 

Work Cited

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

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Unit 5: Nature Interpretation through Science

In one of the readings this week, “Convergence Between Science and Environmental Education”, we learned that science education and environmental education are often separated. For example, while science may dive in on teaching fundamental knowledge and skills, it may neglect to touch on the importance of certain values and behaviours that environmental education emphasises. Science may look at the small-scale intricacies and inner workings of a process, while environment looks at big picture approaches and broad factors that span place and time.  

The important takeaway of this article is that, despite these different approaches, there is no reason why these different forms of education can’t overlap or even merge at once. This idea is of special interest to me, largely because I am a student who is majoring in Biological Science and minoring in Anthropology; the merging of different disciplinary fields is the very focal point of my interest! It is a fundamental part of my belief system that when passing on knowledge to a receiver, different perspectives should be incorporated to allow the receiver to acknowledge many faces of one topic. This can include incorporating natural sciences with social sciences, Western knowledge systems with Indigenous knowledge systems…the list goes on.

With that being said, one main dichotomous debate is that over nature versus culture, in other words, non-human animals and the environment versus humans. Many believe that humans are undoubtedly situated above other species and fundamentally different due to our emotions, brain capacity, abilities, and practices. This idea is generally referred to as human exceptionalism, and was a core belief of many philosophers, scientists, and anthropologists alike for hundreds of years. While it is true that humans have some pretty cool characteristics, discourse in modern day is leaning towards the notion that not much separates us from nature, which we for so long have othered ourselves from. In other words, we are animals and a piece of the natural world too!

This post-humanist perspective is one I urge you to ponder on. Can it really be said that animals don’t have culture, the supposed defining characteristic of humanity? Take the TED Talk we watched in this week’s content as an example. Birds, like us, build houses. They love and date and even kiss each other. Are these not things we may consider cultural practices, or human-like characteristics? What really separates us from them? Is it language? Have you ever thought that bird calls could just as well serve as language?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this whole debate – comment down below or reblog with your ideas!

So, how does this all relate to interpretation?

Firstly, interpretive programs should make a conscious effort to incorporate different educational styles, disciplines, or systems. As we are constantly reminded in this course, interpretation is not forcing one strict perspective on visitors – it is allowing them to be provided with opportunities and prompts to bring themselves on a journey of learning and feeling in a natural setting.

Secondly, we should evaluate where we think we stand relative to nature, and be open to the idea of being an element of it. Once we are aware of our positionality relative to (or within!) nature, we can better reflect on our interaction with it, and what we can do to coexist with it and even help it flourish.

If nature is happy and healthy, and we are a part of nature, shouldn’t that make us happy and healthy too?  

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Hi Delainey, I really enjoyed reading your post for this week! I liked your example about how science may dive in on teaching fundamental knowledge and skills, but how it may neglect to touch on the importance of certain values and behaviours that environmental education emphasises. Environmental education is very important to reinforce how citizens can participate in educational programs and tie in the knowledge that they receive with the skills learned to enhance their output on environmental issues. 

I personally believe, and mentioned in my own blog, that science and nature should definitely be intertwined. Balancing these two modes of learning is very important for the advancement of involving citizens with environmental decisions. It is stated in the literature how citizen science is a critical component of Earth stewardship that strengthens community involvement and helps people develop a sense of and commitment to place (Merenlender et al., 2016). I know that the people in my life who are not science people are less likely to participate in citizen science programs because they feel as though they don’t belong or that their contribution would not be effective or necessary. However, this is not true and it is essential for everyone to participate even if it is new territory for them. 

In terms of the debate regarding animal cultural characteristics, I think that they do. First, I think we should define some of the most common human characteristics such as curiosity, belonging, and memory. We can see it with our own household pets. My cat and dog have their own cultural characteristics that are unique to their species. Both are very curious, they enjoy being in our company, and it is said that they dream about past events that happen within their life. I also agree that if nature is happy and healthy, we should be happy too. 

Work Cited

Merenlender, A. M., Crall, A. W., Drill, S., Prysby, M., & Ballard, H. (2016). Evaluating Environmental Education, citizen science, and stewardship through naturalist programs. Conservation Biology, 30(6), 1255–1265. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12737

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UNIT 05

Where to begin with how important it is for nature education to be taught alongside science. It is no secret that the world we are living in may not be able to sustain itself if humans continue to exploit resources and contribute to climate change, loss of biodiversity, and food scarcity. The only way for these persisting problems that are contested in both science and society to be solved is with the help of the public. In order to achieve this, education is needed by engaging people in what are commonly referred to as sustainability challenges (Wals et al., 2014). 

It is becoming more and more apparent that the need for public involvement in regards to environmental success is critical. A lot of environmental education focuses on investigating the conditions and learning processes that enable young and old citizens to develop their own capacity to think critically, ethically, and creatively in appraising environmental situations while also making informed decisions about those situations (Wals et al., 2014). There is more attention being given to an understanding of the learning processes and the capacities of individuals and communities needed to help resolve complex socio-ecological issues (Wals et al., 2014). A lot of people feel like they cannot participate when it comes to taking action for the environment but the problem originates in the lack of education that people have received in terms of the environment and how to be helpful. Everyone knows to recycle and to carpool and to reduce the use of single use plastic but there is no further engaging scientific education for the non-science individuals. No matter your background, the importance of involvement is always high. 

Throughout my education, the natural environment was never touched upon with urgency or passion. Science was more heavily spoken about and it’s what I geared myself towards all of highschool and during my first couple years of university. In my first year (in a different program than what I am in now) I remember saying “why are we learning about plants when this is an animal oriented biology course?”. Little did I know that I would be changing my entire program to one that focuses on conservation and the natural environment. I learned that while science is important, so is nature, and it is so powerful to combine the two. My favourite way to learn about nature and science is through books and exploring while doing research about the area.

The paper, “Evaluating Environmental Education, Citizen Science, and Stewardship Through Naturalist Programs” discusses the precipitation in naturalist programs. These programs are meant to touch upon citizen science, which is defined as engaging nonprofessionals in scientific research (Merenlender et al., 2016). It is a critical component of Earth stewardship that strengthens community involvement and helps people develop a sense of and commitment to place (Merenlender et al., 2016). In this study it was shown that people are more motivated to participate in citizen science projects when they believe that their actions enhance scientific knowledge, educate the public, or provide evidence on environmental quality (Merenlender et al., 2016). Consequently, no one wants to participate in something that doesn’t have direct impact or ‘rewards’ for their effort. 

How have you been engaged to participate in citizen science? How do you engage/encourage others to participate?

Photos of a bird conservation/educational service on the suspension bridge in British Columbia.

Work Cited

Merenlender, A. M., Crall, A. W., Drill, S., Prysby, M., & Ballard, H. (2016). Evaluating Environmental Education, citizen science, and stewardship through naturalist programs. Conservation Biology, 30(6), 1255–1265. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12737

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

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Interpreters are Artists!

Anyone can interpret nature through art! It is an interdisciplinary way to reach many audiences with different means by peaking different interests in art (music, dance, theatre, visual art)! They often encourage viewers to interpret in their own way and not to think about what the composer meant for them to learn (page 228).

There are many arts in interpretation: theatre, storytelling and poetry, music, dance, and visual arts. In the past I never thought to interpret art during my science journey, but I have since learned that art can integrate biological and social sciences, and emotion and intuition, for effective communication (page 218). I always expressed love for nature through visual art but never thought that my photography could be shared to help people learn and interpret to have meaning, they always were something personal and meaningful just to me.

Yes this owl is beautiful, but it mainly means something to ME as a symbol of my passed Grandpa. What could it mean to someone else? I hadn't thought of that...

“The gift of beauty” to me means that we should not allow others to destroy nature for their own profits at the expense of others (page 41). Nature is a gift that sustains life, provides humans with sustenance, and helps with individual growth as a person (page 46-47). Being able to see the beauty in everyday life ensures good mental and spiritual well-being and allows feelings of love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization (page 47). Interpreters help people develop an ethical sense of place and role in their world (page 54) which allows their audiences to appreciate the landscape and nature. This gift allows us to be well-rounded people and allows for health in many sectors of your life. The gift of beauty allows people to exercise in these spaces (physical), relax or get inspired (mental), and gather with friends (social). The gift that nature is allows us to flourish in all aspects of our lives because of the beauty it provides. If the space was not beautiful, it may not attract a wide variety of people and thus the beauty that draws people in allows us to directly benefit in various aspects of life.

“The gift of beauty” could also be interpreted as that you see beyond selfishness and are able to see that nature is beautiful. There is no doubt that some people will exploit nature for their own profits at the expense of everyone else (page 41) but some people can see past their greed and have the gift to see the beauty that nature is and all it has to offer as it stands! It allows the ignition of the participants’ fascination and curiosity surrounding the natural world (van Boeckel, 2015). See beauty can move people in many ways and can strike on emotions and empathy which can help with change of how we currently live to more sustainable because we do not want to see this beauty disappear!

This is beautiful and perhaps you just see a waterfall, but to some you feel peace when you see this! How could someone tear this out and build housing here? If there was a motion to develop this area, and this photo was shown, how would society react? It may be controversial to tear this out if this is the photo that they are sharing of the space to develop. Might get public uproar and may to too controversial to continue because of the power of its beauty!

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World (1st ed). Sagamore Venture.

Van Boeckel, J. (2015). At the heart of art and earth: an exploration of practices in arts-based environmental education. Environmental Education Research, 21(5), 801-802.

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Hi Dana! It was so nice reading your blog post this week! I thoroughly enjoyed this week’s topic and I agree with your post in terms of everyone being able to interpret nature through art. It truly is a means by peaking different interests through various mediums allowing the audience to learn in their own way. 

I specifically enjoyed the part where you said that you never thought to interpret art during your science journey. I too have never thought that the two can relate but since switching into wildlife biology it has come apparent that art is very relevant in terms of biology and wildlife. A lot of aspects within biology can be interpreted through art whether that be photography, visual art, poetry etc. I personally love incorporating photography and visual art to express the parts of nature that evoke emotion within myself. I took a field course last semester where I was in the arboretum for research and I couldn’t help but photograph plants and trees and wildlife that I came across that made me feel peace and happiness. 

The gift of nature was an amazing talking point within your post. I agree that most people may not appreciate nature and may exploit it for their own needs but for the people who can find peace and happiness in nature are the real winners. I do hope that the beauty of nature can move people and strike emotions and empathy so that we can promote conservation and protect the beauty of the natural world. 

Overall great work and I hope you continue to find peace through art and nature!

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UNIT 04

I believe that art in general is a beautiful and personal way to experience various things in our everyday lives that would otherwise be considered mundane or normal. I think that interpreting nature through art is an amazing way to view nature in your own unique way. No two people will view nature the same and that is the beauty behind interpretation. As interpreters, our goal is to engage others to experience nature in their own way that is special and meaningful to them. It is impossible to push your own exact view on others, rather, you must be gentle with your audience and allow them to come to their own conclusion about what nature means to them. The textbook states that performing and visual arts have long been counted among the tools of interpretation and both of these are important ways to engage your audience (Beck et al., 2018). A quote written by Jay Griffiths (2013) says, “art elicits sympathy, conjures empathy, and these emotions are requisite for a kind, kinned sense of society.. For the greatest artists do not make their best works of art in clay or paint or sound or words; they make them right inside us, within the heart of the reader or audience” (Beck et al., 2018). I thoroughly enjoyed this quote as it holds true for interpretation as a whole. All art that is created is made differently in each of us, with no ‘true’ meaning. It is left to the interpreter to decide how a piece of art makes them feel. 

The use of the arts in interpretation have proven to be extremely effective in attracting and serving visitors and many have recognized that this style of programming strongly attracts the “unconverted” those people who are not necessarily passionate about the environment or history (Beck et al., 2018). This shows that the gentle workings of art elicit a change in people who are otherwise uninterested in a topic. Art speaks to all individuals differently no matter what the medium is (visual art, poetry, theatre, music etc.). A friend of mine once painted me their version of a purple seascape with a sailboat in the distance. To them it was a simple painting that they did not deem to be good, however, it is my favourite painting to this day and whenever I am feeling stressed or anxious, I look at it and it calms me. It reminds me of how peaceful the ocean is at sunset and the colours create a calm atmosphere within myself. I am forever grateful for that piece of art and how it allows me to interpret the calmness of nature. 

In all, nature is best perceived through art in my opinion. It allows individuals to have their own special relationship with the medium being interpreted and also allows the individual to have their own experience within themselves. I personally love interpreting nature through various mediums whether that be through reading, painting, taking photos or viewing paintings. The beauty of nature can be seen anywhere at any time making the experience of stumbling upon a favourite pierce of art just that much more special.

Works Cited

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

Here are some of my favourite ways to interpret nature through art :)

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Decolonizing Nature Interpretation - The Importance of Recognizing and Addressing Privilege

Privilege refers to the benefits and advantages that some individuals or groups have in society, not earned by merit or effort but as a result of societal systems and biases based on factors such as race, gender, class, and sexuality. In the context of nature interpretation, privilege plays a significant role by influencing an individual's experiences and understanding of the natural world.

People from privileged backgrounds may have the enhanced ability to access, experience, and appreciate the natural world. As a result, these people may have considerable influence on conservation efforts and decision-making leading to a lack of representation of marginalized communities and their needs in conservation and environmental policies.

Moreover, privilege can also shape the way in which the natural world is interpreted and presented to the public. Historically, nature has often been portrayed as untouched and pristine, with Indigenous peoples and other marginalized communities erased from the narrative; this fails to acknowledge how these communities have interacted with and cared for the land for generations, perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

Individuals from marginalized communities may not have the same access to nature as those from privileged communities. Whether it be due to a lack of resources, such as transportation or financial means, or a lack of representation in the field of nature interpretation, these individuals may have a limited understanding or appreciation of the natural world, which can impact their ability to engage with and protect it. In addition, privilege and nature accessibility are not just about race and class but also physical ability. People with disabilities may face barriers such as limited access to nature trails, lack of resources to adapt to their specific needs, and lack of representation in nature interpretation.

To promote fairness and inclusivity in nature interpretation, we must recognize and address the role of privilege. Increasing representation and access for marginalized communities and actively working to decolonize and decenter dominant narratives in nature interpretation is essential. In addition, we can create programs that provide access to nature for marginalized communities, promoting diversity and representation in nature interpretation and conservation fields and actively seeking out and amplifying the voices and perspectives of marginalized communities in conservation and environmental policies.

In conclusion, privilege plays a significant role in nature interpretation by shaping who has access to the natural world and how that world is represented and understood by the public. It is critical to address and challenge privilege to create a more inclusive and equitable understanding of nature and to ensure that conservation and environmental policies are inclusive and equitable.

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Hi Anisa, I enjoyed reading your post this week about privilege and the role it plays in nature interpretation! I appreciate the connection you made between privileged individuals and how they are more likely to be the ones making decisions in terms of nature and conservation. It brings up the very important fact that people who are not minorities in any aspect, are the ones making crucial and influential decisions that are most likely under-representing individuals and communities that are marginalized. There was a part in the textbook that I didn’t like too much; it said that individuals that are in the minority should be hired as interpreters to make the guide/tour/educational center more inclusive (essentially saying that they will look more inclusive/better to the public eye and therefore receive a bigger audience). That in itself is a privilege in my opinion. To hire people just because it will make the business look better rather than hiring people because they are perfect for the job.

I also really appreciated your mention of Indigenous communities and how they have essentially been erased within historical context. There is definitely a lack of awareness within historical explanations in regards to how natural areas came to be and their origins. It is surprising how underrepresented Indigenous communities are when discussing natural settings as they were and still are the most harmonious with the land. If we adapted to and worked in unison with Indigenous communities, I believe we would have a better understanding of the natural world. 

Overall, I really enjoyed your take on how privilege plays a role in nature interpretation. Marginalized communities need to be better represented so that everyone is able to have the same meaningful experience when it comes to nature.

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UNIT 03

I believe that privilege is an extremely important term to discuss in relation to nature interpretation and interpretation in general. Privilege to me, in a broad sense, explains when an individual or group is able to experience and perform everyday life at an advantage whether they acknowledge it or not. These people are able to go through the motions of life with little to no worry about their class, ethnicity, race, gender, etc., and with little to no barriers between these people and the future they want to have. It was stated in the reading that individuals with privilege are taught to think of their lives as morally neutral, normative, and average  (Gallavan, 2005). Personally, when I read that quote, it really put into perspective how those with privilege, myself included, are so oblivious to the advantages they have in everyday life and would prefer to think of themselves as the ‘norm’ and everyone else is either worse off or extremely privileged, completely disregarding the fact that they themselves fit into the latter. 

In terms of nature interpretation, there is unfortunately privilege prevalent. It was hard to fully recognize that having the ability and time to go out for a walk in nature is a luxury. There are individuals who need to work 24/7 in order to put food on the table and are definitely not thinking about going for a nature walk. Some individuals are also not able to afford excursions or site seeing. It is also a possibility that people fear going to a tour and being treated differently than the rest of the audience due to race, sex, ethnicity, or disabilities. There are quite a few barriers listed in the text such as economic barriers (not having transportation to the site), ethnicity barriers (cultural preferences), communication barriers (language barriers), and fear (wildlife, getting lost discrimination etc.) (Beck et al., 2018). Ensuring that an entire audience is able to participate is crucial for interpreters. It was also stated that cultural minorities, children, teenagers, older adults, and individuals with disabilities participate more readily when interpreters make special efforts to welcome and better serve them (Beck et al., 2018). This further pushes the notion to ensure that these experiences are accessible to everyone. 

In all, no one should feel that they cannot experience the joys of nature with a group of like minded individuals. It is important for interpreters to advertise that they are willing to accommodate and ensure that everyone has an equally magical experience. It is crucial to get to know the audience that you will be spending time with. This can be done by engaging in meaningful conversation with the group prior to the start of the tour and by monitoring comments on social media. By learning about the people coming to the tour, adjustments can be made to be more inclusive. Reducing the privilege within nature interpretation is the best way to allow for a more diverse audience to engage with and teach about the beauty of nature and the outdoors. 

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

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks". Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36.