ENVS 3000 Nature Blog

Vee's Nature Blog

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Final Blog Post

Hi everyone!

This week’s blog prompt definitely had me pondering about this whole semester. I don’t know how everyone else feels, but this semester flew by for me. It is crazy to think that 4 months ago, I didn’t know nearly half the information I know now about nature, and nature interpretation. What I was unsure about when I first read the course outline was weekly blogging but now, I am glad that I chose to take this course. I now have a toolbox of interpretation skills which I can carry with me and use whenever I am surrounded by nature.

This class challenged me to work with others on a project none of us have ever attempted before- podcasts. This process really tested our knowledge on how to be effective nature interpreters based on the age of our audience. I believe that technology is such an amazing tool when it comes to nature. Although some people might say that technology or cellphones take away from the experience of being in nature, I think it can enhance the experience. I’ve used apps on my phone to identify constellations during my camping trips. This allowed me to learn more about what I was experiencing and I know that there are apps out there that identify plants, insects, birds, etc. I read in the textbook of this course that we should not be afraid that technology is a distraction, but rather incorporate it as a tool to teach us more (Beck et al., 2018). On my future nature adventures, I will definitely be looking into technology that I can use to enhance my experience and learning.

My Beliefs:

In the early portion of this course, we learned about invisible backpacks and multiculturalism in terms of nature interpretation. I believe that it is my job to:

Share unbiased stories/knowledge to allow my listeners to form their own ideas

Teach effectively by connecting with my audience on an emotional level

Do my research on accessibility to provide anyone in need with resources such as trails with wheelchair access, or nature guides in various languages.

We never know what other people are facing and what their relationship with nature is like. That why it is important that we are respectful and aim to support them on their own nature journeys rather than force them into something that would dampen their relationship with nature.

My Responsibilities:

While my responsibilities also fall in my list of beliefs, there are a couple other topics that I believe I hold responsibility for. The first is that I hold myself accountable for leaving nature clean or cleaner than I found it. I find that I am constantly reminding people I know to not litter, and now many of those people have gotten out of this habit. Similar to this topic, I try to always compost, and correctly recycle my things (i.e. washing containers before recycling, taking off any non-recyclable components).

Since I have a strong background in animal care, I think it is my responsibility to advocate for animals. As well as to educate others on any animals we may see in nature. It is important that we are aware of how our actions as humans will affect animal populations. We have talked a bit about animals in this course such as the music they provide. Now that it is getting warmer, I do hear more bird sounds outside my window which I now interpret as music in nature.

My Ethics:

Ethics are a guide for us to differentialize right from wrong. One of my main ethics revolves around conservation, preserving wildlife and nature. I hope that my future kids and their kids and so on will be able to experience everything wonderful about nature that we have now. We learned from Beck et al. (2018) that an effective interpreter will instil in their listeners the importance and need for conservation. That is definitely something I will aim towards as an interpreter leaving this course.

-Vee

Reference:

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

[arenvs3000w22]

Hi Vee!

I really enjoyed reading your post this week. The beliefs you’ve gained from taking this course are very much in alignment with mine. Making nature accessible to others is something I’m very passionate about. I liked how you incorporated our learnings about privilege into your discussions about accessibility. The sooner we recognize the barriers that many people have to overcome in order to have an experience with nature, the sooner we can work to break these barriers down. Increasing accessibility broadens the audience we can reach and encourages diverse groups of people to get excited about conservation.

I love the insight you shared about advocating for animals. Interpretation brings a voice to nature and allows us to highlight the ways our choices can threaten the livelihood of others species. I really admire your goal to educate your audience about animals, as I think that people are more prone to make changes to protect animals than other biotic species. Bringing awareness to animal-related concerns is a surefire way to increase positive engagement with nature, because no audience member wants to see an animal suffer. 

I fully agree that technology can be a useful interpretive tool. I had the opportunity this semester to speak with Chris Earley, the interpretive biologist at the Arboretum. In our conversation he shed light on the asset that technology can be to researchers through citizen science projects. He mentioned FeederWatch, e-Bird, and iNaturalist as great apps for engaging with a community of nature interpreters. For iNaturalist, users can photograph any living species they come across, and other naturalists around the world can help to identify it. For FeederWatch, researchers compile citizen bird sighting data to provide insight into range and migration patterns. Really cool stuff!

Wishing you all the best with the rest of the semester!

Annika

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Hi Annika,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post! I definitely agree with you that animal-related issues are a way to increase engagement with other environmental concerns. Animal advocacy also covers many other topics in nature such as human littering/pollution, deforestation, and climate change which all negatively affect animal habitats. That is why I think it is a starting point for many people who are interesting in learning more about environmental issues but are not too sure where to begin.

Your meeting with Chris Earley sounds interesting! I will look into those apps that you mentioned and try to use them during my cottage trip this summer. Especially iNaturalist, it sounds like a fun way to make hikes more educational. Thanks!

Good luck with the rest of your semester.

-Vylan

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Unit we meet again...happy farewell ~

It’s so hard to believe that this semester has to end, and we’re writing our last blog post for this course already; it feels like it was just yesterday when we wrote about “discovering our sense of place.” The best part is that we learned so much about the beauty of nature and the beauty of interpreting nature while developing our skills as ideal nature interpreters who bring the past alive, make the present more enjoyable and the future more meaningful (Beck et al. 2018). I brought this up because most of my experience at Guelph has revolved around health and nutritional sciences, and I thought of taking environmental science courses just for a change. Little did I know that nature nurtures and instills a passion for the environment we all share, which became one of my strongest personal ethics that describe how much I value human kindness and warmth. Everyone needs to recognize the amount of information and academic outputs provided by environmental science courses and should be one of the mandatory credits for graduation – since our age group or even generation can really speak for the planet. Don’t you think? 

Like Aldo Leopold (1996) wrote, “Promoting perception is the only truly creative part of recreational engineering.” The key to the job interpreter is helping people perceive the world around them more acutely, the culture that preceded and coexisted with their own, and how they can affect the future ways in which humans will live in this world harmoniously (Beck et al. 2018). 

I believe that the main takeaway from this course is that even though we all may not pursue a career in this field, even if you reach out to one person and instill a sense of belonging, help them enjoy the world around them a little more and spark an interest you have accomplished something by making that difference. Not only that, but inspiring people to learn more about nature is a skill to have because if our generation isn’t aware of it, how can we pass it on to future generations? Trust me, deep inside, we all recognize how healing nature can be, especially with what we went through during COVID-19, a worldwide crisis that led to so much trauma. Much of what we understand to contribute to practical interpretation comes from other fields of studies such as education and communication (Beck et al. 2018). The education theory includes an approach called “constructivist.” As we learned in this course, it involves building new knowledge, values, and beliefs on each individual’s earlier constructed expertise and matters (Beck et al. 2018). It also recognizes that people learn differently, so we should follow different approaches. Now that we have the necessary tools to do so and have gained a privilege in raising awareness or promoting beliefs and values to others to make a difference in our shared environment. 

I want to use this privilege to encourage self-growth and recognition, create a sustainable environment, and promote awareness of endangered species. Just like we learned in the article this week by Jacob Rodenburg, there are so many issues that we need to be worried about. From climate change to habitat destruction, from oceans of plastic to those species endangered by it, from the loss of biodiversity to melting glaciers, the list goes and on and on. School just isn’t enough to teach us the power of the resources around us and reveal their true value and meanings. 

Young children adore discovery, and I resonate with the author that if I had a job description, it would be sweet and straightforward: I want to help children discover the wonder and cultivate awe. I want kids to have curiosity and nurture their wow moments while teaching them about the power and possibility of restoring nature in their backyards, parks, rivers, and schoolyards. And I am not only saying this for young children, but citizens of any nation should be able to recognize the landscape, its natural and cultural resources that they reside in. This would ultimately help them feel like they are part of the nation and promote unity and a sense of belonging. The textbook also mentioned that this healthy pride might prevent foolish actions that could preserve the resources of a country which is honestly so true (Beck et al. 2018). Those grown up in the cities are terrified of real and imagined things out in the unknown woods. Likewise, if they never learn to enjoy and be a part of the delivery of their fellow citizen’s customs, style, attitude, and living, they may perceive them as dangerous (Beck et al. 2018). In comparison, the same children familiar with the secrets of the woods and meanings of the cultural varieties by first-hand interpretive experience will undoubtedly become protectors of the resources and diversity. The readings also emphasize that one of our most essential audiences might be our smallest and youngest ones (Beck et al. 2018). They are the hope of the future because the beliefs, attitudes and emotional responses that they form to their environment can last a lifetime. At the same time, negative experiences can result in a lifetime of fear or empathy which develop over time. It’s also important to recognize that middle-aged adults are the missing groups at many interpretive sites where my responsibility would be to teach them through their children. When they bring their parents or grandparents to the park, zoo or museum, in a way, adults receive the interactive messages along with their children. Nonetheless, even if adults don’t attend programs, children interpret to their parents at home as they share about their learnings. The whole point is no one should be left and we need to recognize and address the barriers that restrict participation.

Similarly, from my podcast experience for children, we know that children often like to create miniature worlds for imagination. Miniature worlds allow them to see the bigger picture for a natural area, further encouraging them to notice and care for small things. Introducing animals through storytelling is also a vital part of children’s emotional development, so they learn to care for them. 

I also think that if I were in charge of presenting information to others, I would be responsible for considering multiple perspectives of people who take part and concern myself with the quantity and quality (more like selection, accuracy and authenticity) of the presented information (Beck et al. 2018). This also means that I have to continually enhance my learning, be open to different viewpoints, and understand their beliefs. If I cant make them comfortable in the setting, how can I provide a spiritual uplift and the desire to sense the beauty in their surroundings?

As vital as it is to interpret truthfully, it is also challenging because historical interpretation is dynamic and constantly evolving. Likewise, the meanings associated with past events changes with time as values change and local culture interprets the same event differently from people in other locations (Beck et al. 2018). Regardless interpreters must strive for the truth through thorough and unbiased research. Thus, as an interpreter, I have to provide a sense of comfort and security while recognizing that people process information differently, considering different age groups, cultures, backgrounds, beliefs and indigenous communities.

While I genuinely do recommend in-person activities and interactions, I did learn through this course that the most practical and suitable approach for me as an individual would be through technology and, in fact, blogging, which allows me to share my heart out while also adding a creative aspect to each and every post. I would use a little bit of both blogging (with a voice-over style podcast) or even vlogging because virtual resources can be just as attractive and can be viewed anywhere, anytime by everyone. We know not everyone may come outdoors, but the whole point is to bring the outdoors to them, so they once feel the pull to step outside and appreciate the beauty of nature around them. Virtually I can take all the time I need to plan, organize and implement personalized approaches and firmly believe that these techniques would suit a diverse audience and be personalized for those who learn better with visuals, reading, or interactive experiences and listening. Most importantly, it would be composed of a musical or artistic form blend accordingly. In a previous post, I mentioned that songs work in several ways to get words and facts to stick in the listener’s mind or paint a picture in their imagination and evoke emotion that makes them most memorable (Beck et al. 2018). You would think that it’s easy to integrate nature in music through lyrics, but I honestly have no words to explain how nature and music go beautifully hand in hand. Similarly, art provides another dimension to interpretation; art can mimic nature as it visually replicates objects as they actually appear in life. I would love to see any examples that you’d like to share:)

Thank you for reading! Wishing you all the best.

Farheen Dhaliwal

References:

Beck, L. et al. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. 2018. Sagamore Publishing.

Rodenburg, J. (n.d.). Why environmental educators shouldn’t give up hope. CLEARING. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

[vtenvs3000w22]

Hi Farheen,

You touched on so many great points in your last blog post! What stood out to me and made me want to respond to you was when you wrote that reaching out to just one person and instilling a sense of belonging is an accomplishment. Often, we are so focused on pleasing everyone around us that sometimes it is an unattainable goal. However, helping one person and making them feel heard and worthy is very attainable. Sometimes this can be as simple as stopping to help someone you see on the street, giving out compliments, and thanking/acknowledging others when they help you.

One of my responsibilities that I wrote about was advocating for animals, you wrote about a very similar responsibility- promoting awareness for endangered species. I think that for many people, learning about endangered species is where they had their first experience with conserving nature. When we learn about how our actions are affecting animals, we want to be more cautious of our actions and help others learn about what they can do to help. This week’s article talks about how children connect with nature by establishing relationships to it (Rodenburg, 2019). Animal conservation is a topic that many children at young ages will be able to form relationships to if they have pets at home that they care for. Additionally as interpreters we should be able to instil in our listeners the urge to conserve their environment (Beck et al., 2018). Animal advocacy is a good topic to practice this.

I agree with you that learning virtually allows us more time to prepare and organize at our pace. That is one thing I like about virtual learning, however one thing I miss about in-person learning are labs/seminars where we can be hands on both individually and in a group. Like you said, children enjoy creating their own miniature worlds which is why in my groups podcast we had an activity for them to build their own “bee hotels” in their backyards as a way of observing bee populations.

Thanks for sharing your posts this semester!

-Vylan

References:

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

Rodenburg, J. (2019) Why Environmental Educators Shouldn’t Give Up Hope. Environmental Literacy. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

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BLOG POST 9 (FINAL BLOG)

Hello everyone!

The blog prompt this week had quite a bit to reflect upon! I have spent some time going through my old blog posts to truly figure out what kind of interpreter I am.

The most important thing I have learned about in this class is how vital nature interpretation is. As a third-year biology student, I have always been unsure about what I wanted to do when my degree is over. I have considered many fields such as ecology, medical, environmental education and other research jobs but have always been unsure what I would do. Whichever path I take I feel the concepts learned in this class will carry over. It is important to have the skills to leave people inspired and to genuinely care about what you have said. Now that I have the tools to do this I have the duty to help others understand the importance and beauty of nature and everything it has to offer. 

The blog prompt asked three questions so I am going to take some time to go over each one:

What beliefs do you bring?

I believe that interpretation should stimulate minds, challenge individuals and impact change. It should make visitors consider their impact on Earth and what they can do to preserve it and make it a more beautiful place. An individual who is informed will respect and love their resources and make better decisions (Beck, et al. 2019). I think that if you truly believe what you are saying is important, those listening will sense this and also see the importance. 

What responsibilities do you have?

I believe that as a nature interpreter I have the responsibility to effectively teach, learn, and inspire. I have made a set of responsibilities I plan to follow:

I will serve my visitors to help them sense beauty in their surroundings and leave them feeling inspired.

I will respect and welcome all visitors regardless of age, gender, interests, cultural differences and abilities. As was discussed in Unit 3, not everyone has been given the same opportunities and many people are discriminated against. As an interpreter it is my job to ensure all visitors feel accounted for and important.

I will only speak reliable and accurate information. It is essential to only use sources that are well documented (Beck, et al. 2019). It is also important to continually learn and update the information to best benefit visitors. 

I will ensure I come prepared and structure the information being presented. I will also keep in mind that well it is important to have a plan I must be prepared to alter material based on any challenges that may come.

I will come well presented and speak in a friendly voice. This means I will strive to look good, polished and friendly. It is important to speak in a well-modulated and friendly voice to keep visitors interested (Beck, et al. 2019).

I will strive to make the information interesting and inspiring to each individual. This involves altering what I am presenting based on who I am conveying the material to. It is also important to use different learning styles and consider my audience.

I will believe in myself and always try my best. 

What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?

As an individual, I have various tools and different ways I could excel in teaching. 

Firstly, I can effectively communicate with others with the use of humour. Humour is a great way to loosen up an audience and keep them captivated. While it is a great way to spice up a conversation, it must be used at the right time and place. In addition, having too much humour in a presentation could make the audience feel the subject is not serious or important (Beck, et al. 2019).

Another approach I think has a high potential to be beneficial is the use of technology. Digital advances have changed the way we live and have also changed the way we interpret nature. There are many different ways interpreters can appeal to visitors through technology (Beck, et al. 2019). There are online videos, brochures, informative programs and more. Therefore I will strive to offer as many different platforms of interpretation programs as I can. This can involve creating a website, making a youtube video or doing another podcast! Luckily I feel more prepared after making my own podcast to use technology when interpreting. I truly believe technology has made nature interpretation something that can be used and seen by everyone. 

Another important approach for me to look at is nature interpretation for kids. Children today will one day be our future leaders and therefore we should put extra time into ensuring their minds develop properly. They should be taught about climate change, pollution, global warming, and so much more. Unfortunately, sometimes as adults we fail to understand that children are not cognitively ready to receive this information (Rodenburg 2019). Luckily, there are many ways to help them learn and keep them inspired. Kids can connect best when you present information with stories and faces (Rodenburg 2019). This may mean altering information into a story with characters to make it more kid-friendly. Creating more nature-loving kids in the world is also creating a better Earth. We can hope that one day their love for nature will turn into a love for protecting and regenerating the Earth (Rodenburg 2019).

Thank you all for taking the time to listen to my thoughts and views over the semester. I have enjoyed reading everyone’s blogs and they have left me feeling inspired. I hope everyone has a good rest of their semester and summer!

Makayla

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage. Van Haren Publishing.

Rodenburg, J. (2019) Why Environmental Educators Shouldn’t Give Up Hope. Environmental Literacy. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

[vtenvs3000w22]

Hi Makayla,

You made a good point about how the skills we have learned in this course are applicable to many different situations. No matter what we end up doing after this course, we have learned effective methods at communicating via blogging and podcasts. As well as how to be an effective interpreter.

When you said that,

“interpretation should stimulate minds, challenge individuals..”

it reminded me a lot of our experience with podcasting and how it can be so easy to create a monotone, un-inviting, and un-engaging podcast. The challenge is to challenge your listeners and maintain their interest! I don’t know if you feel the same but I personally found this difficult.

Your list of responsibilities covers a wide range of topics. I think you covered many important points however I especially like your point about believing in yourself. I think that is really important and that when we believe in ourselves, it rubs off on other people so that they believe in themselves as well.

I agree with your last point about children being out future and that we should educate them on environmental topics. I did not start learning a lot about environmental issues until I was old enough to do my own research. I think implementing this topic into children’s curricula would be greatly beneficial. In our reading this week, there was a quote that reminded me of this topic, “being an environmental educator in today’s world feels like you are asked to stop a rushing river armed only with a teaspoon” (Rodenburg, 2019). By educating children, we can “stop the rushing river” earlier, children will learn more about conservation, pollution, global warming, etc. earlier than we did so they have time to practice their skills and be responsible in nature.

Thanks for sharing your posts this semester!

-Vylan

Reference:

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

Rodenburg, J. (2019) Why Environmental Educators Shouldn’t Give Up Hope. Environmental Literacy. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

[vtenvs3000w22]

Final Blog Post

Hi everyone!

This week’s blog prompt definitely had me pondering about this whole semester. I don’t know how everyone else feels, but this semester flew by for me. It is crazy to think that 4 months ago, I didn’t know nearly half the information I know now about nature, and nature interpretation. What I was unsure about when I first read the course outline was weekly blogging but now, I am glad that I chose to take this course. I now have a toolbox of interpretation skills which I can carry with me and use whenever I am surrounded by nature.

This class challenged me to work with others on a project none of us have ever attempted before- podcasts. This process really tested our knowledge on how to be effective nature interpreters based on the age of our audience. I believe that technology is such an amazing tool when it comes to nature. Although some people might say that technology or cellphones take away from the experience of being in nature, I think it can enhance the experience. I’ve used apps on my phone to identify constellations during my camping trips. This allowed me to learn more about what I was experiencing and I know that there are apps out there that identify plants, insects, birds, etc. I read in the textbook of this course that we should not be afraid that technology is a distraction, but rather incorporate it as a tool to teach us more (Beck et al., 2018). On my future nature adventures, I will definitely be looking into technology that I can use to enhance my experience and learning.

My Beliefs:

In the early portion of this course, we learned about invisible backpacks and multiculturalism in terms of nature interpretation. I believe that it is my job to:

Share unbiased stories/knowledge to allow my listeners to form their own ideas

Teach effectively by connecting with my audience on an emotional level

Do my research on accessibility to provide anyone in need with resources such as trails with wheelchair access, or nature guides in various languages.

We never know what other people are facing and what their relationship with nature is like. That why it is important that we are respectful and aim to support them on their own nature journeys rather than force them into something that would dampen their relationship with nature.

My Responsibilities:

While my responsibilities also fall in my list of beliefs, there are a couple other topics that I believe I hold responsibility for. The first is that I hold myself accountable for leaving nature clean or cleaner than I found it. I find that I am constantly reminding people I know to not litter, and now many of those people have gotten out of this habit. Similar to this topic, I try to always compost, and correctly recycle my things (i.e. washing containers before recycling, taking off any non-recyclable components).

Since I have a strong background in animal care, I think it is my responsibility to advocate for animals. As well as to educate others on any animals we may see in nature. It is important that we are aware of how our actions as humans will affect animal populations. We have talked a bit about animals in this course such as the music they provide. Now that it is getting warmer, I do hear more bird sounds outside my window which I now interpret as music in nature.

My Ethics:

Ethics are a guide for us to differentialize right from wrong. One of my main ethics revolves around conservation, preserving wildlife and nature. I hope that my future kids and their kids and so on will be able to experience everything wonderful about nature that we have now. We learned from Beck et al. (2018) that an effective interpreter will instil in their listeners the importance and need for conservation. That is definitely something I will aim towards as an interpreter leaving this course.

-Vee

Reference:

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

[vtenvs3000w22]

Entering the largest cave in the world

Top of a stalagmite inside Son Doong. Photo from Oxalis, 2011.

Imagine:

It is December 10, 1990, you are a parent living in the rural areas of Vietnam, struggling to feed your family. What is the cheapest way to get enough food to feed everyone? You go out into the jungle to hunt and to find timber to sell. During your search for food, you notice a small opening from a limestone cliff. There seems to be clouds swirling out of this opening and you can hear what sounds like water rushing through. You feel drawn to this opening but would you attempt to go in or would you continue your hunt for food?

That was the story of a man named Ho Khanh who discovered the largest cave in the world.

What is the most amazing thing I know about nature?

I think that has to be how large the world truly is and how we think we know so much but there are things constantly being discovered. That is why I chose to talk about the largest cave in the world. This story hits close to home as the cave is actually located in Vietnam where my family is from. Much of what Khanh did can be applied to us now as nature interpreters.

Khanh actually decided to forget about this opening he found and focus on gathering food. However, skipping ahead to 2008, after being approached by the British Cave Research Association (BCRA), Khanh re-discovered the cave opening (Oxalis, 2011). In 2009 he led a team from the BCRA into the pure darkness of the cave (Oxalis, 2011). Due to 90m high barriers, it wasn’t until 2010 that the end of the cave was reached (Oxalis, 2011)! Now named Son Doong, it is the largest cave by both volume (38.5 million m3) and cross-section (Oxalis, 2011). It is large enough to fit a 40-story New York City skyscraper and even houses its own rainforest (Oxalis, 2011)! It is crazy how nature has created something so large and beautiful.

Looking back at the entrance you came through. Photo from Oxalis, 2011.

National Geographic provides a 360° tour of the Son Doong expedition. It is linked here if you want to get a feel for how big the cave is. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news-features/son-doong-cave/2/#s=pano37

Khanh used to be an illegal logger, searching for timber in the jungle to sell. He then became a farmer to support his family (Oxalis, 2011). After the discovery of Son Doong, he returned to his life on the farm (Oxalis, 2011). However, Son Doong became an attraction for people all over the world and they needed someone to lead the expeditions. Khanh has led almost every expedition! He is also recognized for turning many of his illegal logging companions towards a sustainable tourism business (Oxalis, 2011). In addition to being a cave/tour guide, Khanh runs this sustainable tourism business with his friends and family. I think this story is a great example of finding and sharing your passion with others through education. Beck et al. (2018) talks about how nature interpretation brings together a diverse group of people through storytelling and embracing the beauty of the Earth. Who better to share stories during the Son Doong expedition than the man who discovered the cave himself? Beck et al. (2018) also defines a good interpreter as someone who can evoke an emotional response by enhancing one’s ability to sense quality which Khanh achieves on his tours.

Exploring the 3 million year old Son Doong cave is a 4-day adventure with trekking, and climbing the 90m wall to the end of the cave (Oxalis, 2011). The adventure is rated at high difficulty so while I would love to see it for myself, I don’t think I’d be able to handle that- would you?

Fun fact: during Khanh and BCRA’s many attempts at locating Don Soong, they actually discovered 11 new caves, 2 were named after Khanh and his daughter.

References:

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

Edström, M. (n.d.). Fly through a colossal cave: Son doong in 360°. National Geographic. Retrieved March 14, 2022, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news-features/son-doong-cave/2/#s=pano37

Son doong cave. Oxalis. (2011). Retrieved March 14, 2022, from https://oxalisadventure.com/cave/son-doong-cave/

[acenvs3000w22]

Hi Vee,

I was very captured by your post this week as caves are something that I haven’t really spent much time thinking about.  I visited the link you provided to get a better feel of Son Doong and it truly looks like somewhere out of this world.  What also piqued my interest while on that link is that the site not only gave a virtual tour, allowing the online visitors to visually navigate their way through the cave, but also incorporated auditory sounds that matched with the environment.  Going back to last week’s unit, nature really does seem to be in music, and music in nature.  Additionally, Beck et al. (2018) mentions that there is an emergence of high-tech technologies and I think the link you provided definitely demonstrates that! It felt as if other than being there in real life, the virtual experience provided was the second-best thing.  

I got the opportunity to visit a couple caves throughout my life including the “scenic caves” at Blue Mountain in Collingwood, Ontario, and the Bellamar and Saturno caves in Varadero, Cuba.  Being in these caves truly felt surreal as I was surrounded by such a different atmosphere.  We were informed that the stalagmites and stalactites at the Bellamar caves had been forming for hundreds of years and in its own right is something that is truly awesome.  If you get a chance to go, I would highly recommend swimming in Saturno grotto! Although 15 year old me found it quite frightening, it was such a memorable experience.  I could not even imagine how enthralling it would be to experience being in a cave as big as Son Doong.  The different sights, sounds, and smells would be such a captivating experience and I hope one day I will be able to visit.  I wonder how many other caves there are that have yet to be explored.  To think, 2009 when Khan re-discovered the cave opening, that wasn’t even too long ago!

Bellamar Caves, Cuba.  Retrieved from: https://www.vintagecarstours.com/varadero-day-tour-bellamar-caves/

Saturno Cave, Cuba. Retrieved from: https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/saturno-cave-cuba.html

Thank you for your post this week! It truly did open my eyes to a whole new world.

Take care, Ashley

Reference

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

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Hi Ashley,

Thanks for your response, I wanted to continue our conversation on caves as I did some research into the Bellamar and Saturno caves you mentioned! First, I wanted to say how peaceful and beautiful the Saturno cave is and the Bellamar cave has so many stalactites and stalagmites. While I have not visited the Bellamar cave, I did hear about it during my trip to Cuba many years ago. There was a large number of young children on the trip with me so we decided not to visit the Bellamar. I did learn that it was one of the oldest tourist sites in Cuba, dating back to the 1860’s. It is something I definitely want to see if I ever go back to Cuba. During my trip I did not learn about the Saturno cave, I wonder if it was because tour guide companies were pushing more for the historical story of the Bellamar cave. It is interesting to see what these companies think tourists will be most interested in. It reminds me of how Beck et al. (2018) talks about how a good interpreter will share the whole story and let their listeners decide for themselves what the meaning is/what they interpret from the story. I would have been just as interested in the Saturno cave as I was with the Bellamar cave. 

Thanks for sharing!

Reference: Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC.

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The Most Amazing Thing I Know About Nature

Since the beginning of the pandemic, nature has started to have a greater importance in society than ever before. As I stated before in my previous posts, people have begun to appreciate nature and the environment again. Being stuck in quarantine has made people realize how important the environment is for us and our health. The environment provides us with many things to improve our mental and physical health.

As society begins to realize how important nature is for us to grow in and surround ourselves in, future city builders are beginning to incorporate nature with our future cities. Building more sustainable cities has been a much talked about subject and people can begin to see the amazing innovations that are being created to incorporate nature with our cities.

A great example that is coming to Toronto is the Quayside site. This will be Canada’s first Zero-Carbon Building certified neighbourhood of this scale (3.4 million square feet), demonstrating climate leadership as one of Canada’s most sustainable low-carbon communities (Bredin, 2022). As you can see from the photos, this new community will mesh together nature with future building architecture. This will also help grow our cities while combating climate change.

This new development will help us tackle urban environmental challenges such as stormwater management, pollution reduction, and climate resiliency (Bredin, 2022). Nature also supports the health and well-being of the people that live in cities, offering benefits like stress reduction and opportunities for social connection.

The most amazing thing I know about nature is that it isn't just a pretty thing to look at. Nature gives us a source to reduce pollution, inspire physical activity, improve neighbourhood safety, reduce risk of disease, and improve our contact with the natural world. Nature provides us with solutions and improves our quality of life. Nature is such a gift and provides us with more than just its beauty. I am very excited to see what's in store for our future sustainable cities. I look forward to see what's in store for us as we continue to find ways to combat climate change and improve our quality of life. Thank you nature for your help, we couldn't do this without you!

References

Bredin, S. (2022, February 15). Dream unlimited and great gulf group selected to develop quayside. Waterfront Toronto. https://waterfrontoronto.ca/nbe/portal/waterfront/Home/waterfronthome/newsroom/newsarchive/news/2022/february/dream+unlimited+and+great+gulf+group+selected+to+develop+quayside

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Hi Erminio!

I really enjoyed reading about your topic this week! Prior to this, I did not know about the Quayside site. The photos do not look anything like what Toronto buildings currently look like- which is great to see. I love how much greenery and nature is intertwined with human living. I grew up about an hour and a half away from Guelph, in London and there are some similar buildings there now, called Eve Park (https://www.evepark.ca/home?hsLang=en-ca. I linked the website here if you wanted to check it out). These are “net-zero” buildings, powered completely by solar energy. The building promotes a more sustainable lifestyle by providing electric car-share programs, fresh produce markets, gardens, plenty of outdoor areas to enjoy, and many family owned businesses. All the appliances inside the suites are also energy efficient. The design of these stacked townhouses is interesting because they are built circular rather than rectangular. This is so that, inside the circles, there can be green space such as courtyards and gardens, there is also more space on the rooftop for the solar panels.

Eve Park Building Design with Solar Panel Rooftops. Photo from Eve Park, 2021.

Something I thought was really neat, is the low-footprint parking tower that reduces land occupancy that parking lots normally require. It is like an elevator or carousel for your car! Once you park it inside the tower and get out, the car is moved up the tower where it stays parked until you need it, then it would come down the tower. I think buildings like Eve Park and Quayside site are the future of living. Residents in these buildings will definitely feel more connected to nature compared to typical city buildings. These buildings also remind me of the “Gift of Beauty” as defined by Beck et al. (2018) because it provides the residents with the “ability and desire to sense the beauty in their surroundings” while also, “encouraging resource preservation”. After reading about both of these buildings, I would certainly live in either one of them, would you? I wonder what some cons would be to this style of building.

- Vee

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

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Entering the largest cave in the world

Top of a stalagmite inside Son Doong. Photo from Oxalis, 2011.

Imagine:

It is December 10, 1990, you are a parent living in the rural areas of Vietnam, struggling to feed your family. What is the cheapest way to get enough food to feed everyone? You go out into the jungle to hunt and to find timber to sell. During your search for food, you notice a small opening from a limestone cliff. There seems to be clouds swirling out of this opening and you can hear what sounds like water rushing through. You feel drawn to this opening but would you attempt to go in or would you continue your hunt for food?

That was the story of a man named Ho Khanh who discovered the largest cave in the world.

What is the most amazing thing I know about nature?

I think that has to be how large the world truly is and how we think we know so much but there are things constantly being discovered. That is why I chose to talk about the largest cave in the world. This story hits close to home as the cave is actually located in Vietnam where my family is from. Much of what Khanh did can be applied to us now as nature interpreters.

Khanh actually decided to forget about this opening he found and focus on gathering food. However, skipping ahead to 2008, after being approached by the British Cave Research Association (BCRA), Khanh re-discovered the cave opening (Oxalis, 2011). In 2009 he led a team from the BCRA into the pure darkness of the cave (Oxalis, 2011). Due to 90m high barriers, it wasn’t until 2010 that the end of the cave was reached (Oxalis, 2011)! Now named Son Doong, it is the largest cave by both volume (38.5 million m3) and cross-section (Oxalis, 2011). It is large enough to fit a 40-story New York City skyscraper and even houses its own rainforest (Oxalis, 2011)! It is crazy how nature has created something so large and beautiful.

Looking back at the entrance you came through. Photo from Oxalis, 2011.

National Geographic provides a 360° tour of the Son Doong expedition. It is linked here if you want to get a feel for how big the cave is. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news-features/son-doong-cave/2/#s=pano37

Khanh used to be an illegal logger, searching for timber in the jungle to sell. He then became a farmer to support his family (Oxalis, 2011). After the discovery of Son Doong, he returned to his life on the farm (Oxalis, 2011). However, Son Doong became an attraction for people all over the world and they needed someone to lead the expeditions. Khanh has led almost every expedition! He is also recognized for turning many of his illegal logging companions towards a sustainable tourism business (Oxalis, 2011). In addition to being a cave/tour guide, Khanh runs this sustainable tourism business with his friends and family. I think this story is a great example of finding and sharing your passion with others through education. Beck et al. (2018) talks about how nature interpretation brings together a diverse group of people through storytelling and embracing the beauty of the Earth. Who better to share stories during the Son Doong expedition than the man who discovered the cave himself? Beck et al. (2018) also defines a good interpreter as someone who can evoke an emotional response by enhancing one’s ability to sense quality which Khanh achieves on his tours.

Exploring the 3 million year old Son Doong cave is a 4-day adventure with trekking, and climbing the 90m wall to the end of the cave (Oxalis, 2011). The adventure is rated at high difficulty so while I would love to see it for myself, I don’t think I’d be able to handle that- would you?

Fun fact: during Khanh and BCRA’s many attempts at locating Don Soong, they actually discovered 11 new caves, 2 were named after Khanh and his daughter.

References:

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

Edström, M. (n.d.). Fly through a colossal cave: Son doong in 360°. National Geographic. Retrieved March 14, 2022, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news-features/son-doong-cave/2/#s=pano37

Son doong cave. Oxalis. (2011). Retrieved March 14, 2022, from https://oxalisadventure.com/cave/son-doong-cave/

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Music and nature

Music in nature

When I think of music in nature, my first though is birds. There are so many different types of birds, all with their own sounds. I think it is fascinating how birds sing to communicate (warning calls, mating calls, etc.) with each other, yet we hear it as a form of music in nature. Imagine how funny it would be if humans also had to sing instead of speaking to communicate! I noticed that birds were also mentioned in the reading by Gray et al. (2001), which states, “any rhythmic repeated utterance, whether a bird, a frog, an insect, a whale or a human” can be defined as a song. I’m not sure many people will agree with me on this but, the insect songs are the only ones I am not a huge fan of, simply because there always seems to be an insect chirping outside my window when I am the most need of sleep. I think Gray et al. (2001) defines a song very well in terms of nature. When we are in nature, we hear music all around us from the simple buzz of a bee to the complex whale rhythms.

While I was researching some more in depths ways that we can find music in nature, I came across a company called Plant Wave. They offer a device that detects electrical variations in plants using electrodes. The electrical variations are translated into instrumental music which is super interesting! I linked the company site here if anyone wants to learn more or purchase their own device.

https://www.plantwave.com/

Below is a sample of the Plant Wave device on a mushroom found in the Kaelia Forest Reserve. I think the music is so peaceful and calming. Let me know what you think of turning bio-electricity changes into music.

Nature in music

I enjoyed reading about the birdsongs in beatboxing by Ben Mirin aka wildlife DJ. I found his website and learned that in addition to being an artist and an educator, he is also a biologist. I think that this relates to many of us as we are in sciences programs and learning how to be nature interpreters. It is great to see someone similar to us who has gained a following from sharing his passions.

There is so much nature in music these days. I find that many artists use the sound of crashing waves, bonfire crackling, rain, etc. However, I have noticed artists use these nature sounds more commonly in the introduction of their music, rather than throughout. Another thing that comes to mind when I think of nature in music is artists using nature to portray a theme. Many songs use rain or storms to signify a sad heartbreak storyline. Whereas songs using bird chirping or waves crashing are typically more upbeat and happy. For example, Harry Styles’ music video for his song ‘Watermelon Sugar’ incorporates beach sounds in the introduction scene. This sets a carefree and fun tone for the rest of the video.

My nature song

While it was hard for me to pick one song that reminds me of nature, I ended up going with the ‘Bare Necessities” from The Jungle Book movie. The lyrics in this song remind me of nature through my childhood eyes. As a child I was happy by myself at just the local park finding rocks and plants and building houses for insects. This song reminds me of the simple and calm aspect of nature whereas life now is so hectic and busy, we rarely get time to take a step back and appreciate everything around us. Im curious to read what everyone else chose as their song this week!

Reference:

Gray, P. Krause, B. Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C. & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science. 291. 52-54

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I enjoyed reading your blog post this week and thought you incorporated some neat ideas. I loved that you chose a song that reminded you of both nature and your childhood. If I were to pick a song that reminded me of both I would choose “Beyond the sea” by Bobby Darin. This song plays at the end of Finding Nemo which is a movie I have always loved, and it just sounds so happy. Like you mentioned I think its very important to try and connect back to our childhood perspective on nature. I used to play in mud puddles for hours making “pies” and “cookies” , never getting bored. Such a mentally simpler time it was.

Another thing that caught my eye was Plant Wave music. I don’t know much about how that works or how someone discovered that but I’ve always found it very fascinating, and the music in that video is so calming! On their website, the simplified explanation is that plants give off electrical variations that are detected by electrodes placed on the leaves. Then each variation is associated with a musical pitch chosen by the company.

https://datagarden.bandcamp.com/album/quartet-live-at-the-philadelphia-museum-of-art

This link has 2 of their songs done by the Data Garden Quartet, which consists of a philodendron, two schefflera, and a snake plant. This type of technology encourages people to better connect with their gardens and indoor plants in a relaxing and unique way.

Thanks for sharing!

Reilly

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Hi Reilly,

Thanks so much for your response to my blog post! I do have some memories with the song you chose, I noticed that it is used in a lot of movies. Amazing how the song is known throughout so many generations due to media/movies.

I had a look at the site you linked for plant generated music. The introductory song has so many different pitch variations! There was a line from the description that I really liked, “as stone tools were a way for us to expand our physical strength, electronic tools expand our ability to perceive in real-time”. Plant generated music allows us to experience and observe so many things that were once beyond our abilities.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and research.

-Vylan

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Blog Post 7 - Music and Nature

Music exists everywhere in nature and not just in the chirping of birds or the singing of whales. Music itself is a system of patterns that incorporates elements like pitch, timbre, melody, bass, and evocation of emotion. While I doubt you will find an entire orchestra or Iron Maiden concert while on a hike in the woods, you can certainly find facets of what makes the music we know today. In my mind, the grooves in the wall of a fjord or the desolate feeling from an underwater cave can produce ideas or sounds in the minds of those who truly try to listen. Even the scale of something can create music in the most unlikely of places. For example, in a lot of nature documentaries an imposing cliff face is often accompanied by swelling brass or a tense chase between a lion and an antelope is accompanied by high strings and a thrashing tempo. Of course, the many sounds produced by nature are music in their own right. The hooting of an owl or an oak tree dropping acorns are music for all who enjoy the natural world and all it has to offer. Music is an art and as such it is abstract, it is up to those who listen to find the entertainment that surrounds them.

Just as music is everywhere in nature, nature is everywhere in music. There are countless stories of composers struggling to come up with a riff or bassline until they step outside, and it finally hits them. There are examples of literal sounds of nature being sampled into songs which can be used effectively to drum up emotions, but I also think it can be more nuanced than that. My favourite use of nature in music is that in lyrics or song titles. Before you even hear the solo in Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird you just know from the title alone it’s going to be liberating. The artists call on the audience’s understanding of birds to create an idea of what the music will sound like before they hear it. Gordon Lightfoot’s Summer Side of Life cleverly uses descriptive words to relate things in the summer like “ripe” or “green” to the somber subject matter of the song. Nature in music can also be used to convey a message. Roger Payne famously made an album of whale sounds in hope to promote conservation efforts. Everyone likes to say that “there are no original ideas” and I also think that applies to music as there has been an extreme amount of inspiration and sampling from nature in songs we listen to today.

The song that immediately takes me back to a natural landscape is Black Water by The Doobie Brothers. The song paints a detailed picture of a Southern vista and lifestyle both through the lyrics and instrumentation. The song has a very laid-back feeling to it and effectively immerses me into the song. I also listened to it a lot over the summer when driving to my job out in the boondocks, so I have personal connection with the song and nature.

To answer the debate in the material this week, Rocky Mountain High is John Denver’s best song.

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Hello!

I enjoyed reading your post this week, you discuss a couple songs that I hadn’t heard before (Gordon Lightfoot and Roger Payne). I will definitely have to check those out! Your explanation of how a cliff and trashing tempo is associated with a tense chase between two animals was something I had never made the connection between myself. I do agree that music is abstract, especially sounds of nature. To some, the pitter patter sound of rain is peaceful and calming while to others it may be eerie and daunting.

When I thought of nature in music, I did not think of lyrics and song titles like you did. I thought of sounds like birds chirping and wind blowing. After reading your post, there are numerous songs that come to mind using parts of nature as lyrics. Words used in nature like ripe and green are definitely a great way to tell a story.

Roger Payne’s efforts to promote whale conservation is an interesting approach. I don’t think I have noticed or come across similar conservation methods. It reminds me of the wildlife DJ from our notes this week. Both artists aimed to educate others by incorporating sounds from nature into their work.

I have never heard a whale call sound in real life experiences; however I have heard them from online sources like movies and social media. I think it is great how social media can provide us with new sounds that we would not be able to experience without travelling to that location. Gray et al. (2001) talks about a similar topic, how there are so many natural sounds that can only be heard in certain parts of the world. Technology allows us to be transported to these destinations through sound.

Great post this week!

Gray, P. Krause, B. Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C. & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science. 291. 52-54.

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Music and nature

Music in nature

When I think of music in nature, my first though is birds. There are so many different types of birds, all with their own sounds. I think it is fascinating how birds sing to communicate (warning calls, mating calls, etc.) with each other, yet we hear it as a form of music in nature. Imagine how funny it would be if humans also had to sing instead of speaking to communicate! I noticed that birds were also mentioned in the reading by Gray et al. (2001), which states, “any rhythmic repeated utterance, whether a bird, a frog, an insect, a whale or a human” can be defined as a song. I’m not sure many people will agree with me on this but, the insect songs are the only ones I am not a huge fan of, simply because there always seems to be an insect chirping outside my window when I am the most need of sleep. I think Gray et al. (2001) defines a song very well in terms of nature. When we are in nature, we hear music all around us from the simple buzz of a bee to the complex whale rhythms.

While I was researching some more in depths ways that we can find music in nature, I came across a company called Plant Wave. They offer a device that detects electrical variations in plants using electrodes. The electrical variations are translated into instrumental music which is super interesting! I linked the company site here if anyone wants to learn more or purchase their own device.

https://www.plantwave.com/

Below is a sample of the Plant Wave device on a mushroom found in the Kaelia Forest Reserve. I think the music is so peaceful and calming. Let me know what you think of turning bio-electricity changes into music.

Nature in music

I enjoyed reading about the birdsongs in beatboxing by Ben Mirin aka wildlife DJ. I found his website and learned that in addition to being an artist and an educator, he is also a biologist. I think that this relates to many of us as we are in sciences programs and learning how to be nature interpreters. It is great to see someone similar to us who has gained a following from sharing his passions.

There is so much nature in music these days. I find that many artists use the sound of crashing waves, bonfire crackling, rain, etc. However, I have noticed artists use these nature sounds more commonly in the introduction of their music, rather than throughout. Another thing that comes to mind when I think of nature in music is artists using nature to portray a theme. Many songs use rain or storms to signify a sad heartbreak storyline. Whereas songs using bird chirping or waves crashing are typically more upbeat and happy. For example, Harry Styles’ music video for his song ‘Watermelon Sugar’ incorporates beach sounds in the introduction scene. This sets a carefree and fun tone for the rest of the video.

My nature song

While it was hard for me to pick one song that reminds me of nature, I ended up going with the ‘Bare Necessities” from The Jungle Book movie. The lyrics in this song remind me of nature through my childhood eyes. As a child I was happy by myself at just the local park finding rocks and plants and building houses for insects. This song reminds me of the simple and calm aspect of nature whereas life now is so hectic and busy, we rarely get time to take a step back and appreciate everything around us. Im curious to read what everyone else chose as their song this week!

Reference:

Gray, P. Krause, B. Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C. & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science. 291. 52-54

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History repeating

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.

- Edwards Hyams (Beck, Chapter 7)

This quote from Edward Hymans I found quite thought-provoking and allows us to reflect on our history and the importance of understanding the past.

For me at least, I have always found the subject of history to be something unattainable or was for experts only. That I did not have the knowledge or the expertise, which has restricted me to even learning about certain events. As we navigate our way through academia in certain niches, other topics should not be disregarded. This is where we must allow ourselves to explore in order to understand our world completely. History is for all of us, and we must learn that things parts and pieces that we know of can add to the bigger picture of our understanding of the present. Taking a more integrated approach to learning and researching can allow us to progress as humans.

In the first part of the quote, he states that these artifacts do not hold value because of their age in time but because of the stories they uphold the lessons we can gain from them. There is something to say about the age of something, and that might influence one to want to preserve it more but there must be some sort of significance behind it in order to inspire others to preserve as well.

There is a quote from Leon Brown that states that “history repeats itself endlessly for those who are unwilling to learn from the past” (Tew, 2014). This is a common theme that many of us can probably remember from our grade 10 history classes, but it is an important one. We have to acknowledge that everything from the past has brought us to where we are to today, from wars, immigration, industrial and medical advancements and family history. Everyone and everything has a story behind it or them that has led us here, and understanding such can allow us to apply our knowledge to future possibilities.

Using historical context in nature interpretation can allow the audience to capture the full picture and beauty of the landscape. They can acknowledge that a particular area has been altered and changed by anthropogenic and natural forces, and that it is our job to preserve them at this state. With our ever-increasing human population, perhaps we can use these stories to demonstrate the importance of protecting them. With a diverse population comes with different views and not everyone might perceive a space of land with the same importance. Some might notice that southern Ontario has become essentially a series of islands for species due to habitat fragmentation from housing developments. Yet we can use historical interpretation to demonstrate that an area for example near my home, certain paths, foot bridges, and waterways were used to power mills and supply to village with food and water in the 1800s (Heritage advisory committee, 2013). These committees can be used to consolidate planners and educate the public, and the audience can then draw their own conclusions from the past and relate them to present. They will be able to understand the importance of preserving what remains from what they see now and now know.

In conclusion, this quote had a lot to offer about the importance of history, how it has led us here, and what we can do about it in the future. We must understand that everything relates to each other.

Beck, L. Cable, T.  Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural  Heritage For a Better World. Sagamore- Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2.

Town of Ajax Heritage Advisory Committee. (2013). Heritage Conservation District Properties. https://www.ajax.ca/en/play-and-discover/resources/History-Heritage-Archives/Heritage-Conservation-District-Properties.pdf

Robert Tew. (2014). Live Life Happy. https://livelifehappy.com/life-quotes/history-repeats-itself/

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Hi Brooke,

I can relate to the feeling of not immersing ourselves in the subject of history. I learned most of my history knowledge later than others when I put some time into researching topics that interested me. We can learn so much online about our history and about historical artifacts.

The quote from Tew made me think about how we also have to ensure that we are not learning from only one side of the past. It is important to take into account the point of view of the person narrating the story so that we can form our own non biased opinions. It is also our job as interpreters to educate others without bias so that they can take away what they think is important from history.

Your point about preservation is an important one. Landmarks and buildings with historical meaning have been demolished to build more modern architecture. While these new buildings will carry their own history, we should not forget about what stood there before. Similar to your point about habitat loss, we should be preserving the landmarks and buildings we have now instead of taking them down.

Vee

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Blog Post 6

There is a value with ancient items such as paintings, sculptures, historical tools used in ancient times that have great importance due to their historical significance. I always think that old things are more valuable because it has a story that makes them more treasured. For instance, think about your first tooth that came out when you were a child. Many parents keep it, and it has value to them as it signifies their child is growing up. It has an emotional weight to it that you can’t get back. For instance, you keep the bear or blanket you had when you were a child because you try to get back the comfort it gave you. Some parents replace their kid’s old blankets with a new one, and the child notices and do not like the new blanket because the emotional connection they have with that blanket cannot be replaced. This shows that old things are irreplaceable because of the item’s value based on historical events. This signifies the child’s personal authenticity towards the blanket (Beck et al., 2018: pg. 339).

When I thought of personal authenticity, it reminded me of Lake Minnewanka in Alberta. When I visited this historic landmark, my initial thought was that this place is magical; later, the tour guide explained the landmark events of the lake, and I understood the personal authenticity the lake has that is irreplaceable (Beck et al., 2018: pg.339).

Lake Minnewanka was once referred to as “Minn-waki” or “Lake of the Spirits” the Stoney people gave this name, and they were respected and frightened by the lake of its residential spirits (Dixon, 2017).  

“This is not a site to wander alone in unless a person is blessed for such a mission, as spirits wander there without regard for those who hike this land; night camping might be quite a scary affair.”

                                 ~Linda Dunning from Lost Landscapes (Dixon, 2017)

There is a glass case in the Banff Indian Trading Post of a mythical half-man and half-fish creature that once lived the Lake Minnewanka. People that visit and see this creature question where it came from (Dixon, 2017). They even share that visiting and witnessing the merman of Lake Minnewanka is a must when visiting Banff, Alberta. This shows the importance of experiencing and seeing ancient things and understanding their origination, and understanding its history, survival, and in this case, how it came to be. We have many questions in the past and how some survived in areas or climates that we currently cannot apprehend. I look at ancient beings as stories.

Mythical merman of Lake Minnewanka (Dixon, 2017)

Lake Minnewanka has authenticity, and after learning about its history, many visitors allow their imagination to enter the place’s history. Some explore night camping at this authentic place to understand and experience the Stoney people’s identification of the Lake brings “The Lake of spirits” (Beck et al., 2018: pg. 340). Lake Minnewanka is surrounded by multiple mountains and some mountains no visitors have ever visited due to the danger of the animals. Many people fear visiting due to the spirits of the Lake.

An additional interesting fact about the historic landmark of Lake Minnewanka is that in 1912 the lake was flooded due to a plant operation (Nalewicki, 2017). The flooded area is only available for scuba divers to explore, and it has been reported that many critical archeological findings were found (Nalewicki, 2017). The historic site is visited by 8,000 scuba divers every year, and there are still things that are hidden and have not been identified even to this day  (Nalewicki, 2017). Due to the cold and clear water in Lake Minnewanka, wood can survive well there even after years of being underwater (Nalewicki, 2017). After reading my blog post personally, I want to know if you would ever decide to scuba dive in Lake Minnewanka. I have done scuba diving with sharks before, but I don’t have the courage to scuba dive there due to the evident spirits. 

Thanks for reading; looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Nabila 

Reference list:

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

Dixon, T. (2017). The spirit of minnewanka - calgary guardian. Retrieved from https://calgaryguardian.com/the-spirit-of-minnewanka/

Nalewicki, J. (2017). This Canadian lake hides an underwater ghost town. Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/underneath-canadian-lake-sits-preserved-ghost-town-180964645/

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Hi Nabila,

Your post this week was very interesting to read! When I was unpacking Edward Hyams’ quote myself, I spoke about it more on a grand scale in regard to significant historical findings. I talked about the stories that those pieces held, making them of high value. I thought your explanation of a child’s tooth or blanket having importance was eye opening. I have definitely seen children who were able to tell the difference between their favourite blanket and a replacement blanket. Even at such a young age, they are able to acknowledge that their blanket has more meaning to it than just something that provides warmth! I think that even once we get older and lose that blanket, the memory of it still holds value to us just like in Hyams quote on how ancient things are valuable because of the truth they hold.

I have seen that photo of the mythical merman before but I never knew the origin story of it so thank you for sharing that! I did not know very much about Lake Minnewanka so I definitely learned a lot in this section of your post. I’ve heard stories about people who hear voices or screaming from the lake but do not see anyone out there. I think I would be too scared to visit Lake Minnewanka alone, but I would definitely go with other people. While I don’t think I would explore night camping or hiking mountains there, I would try scuba diving. I love not knowing what I’ll find or see under the water. It is always a very happy and memorable experience for me.

Did you feel or hear anything strange while you were there?

Vylan

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Blog 6: History and Nature

“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

I think this is a pretty interesting quote that can be interpreted a few different ways. I’m looking forward to reading what everyone else thinks of it! Here is how I unpack this quote.

The beginning parts of this quote talk about there being no inherit value in something just because it is ancient. However, a piece being ancient means that it holds integrity, truth, and knowledge in its history. So, what makes an ancient things valuable is not its age but its honest history. Historical discoveries such as the Rosetta Stone provide us with valuable information on the past. According to Edward Hyams, without its historical information, the Rosetta Stone would just be a rock. Next, the quote talks about how just because the past is done with, doesn’t mean that it is gone. The past may be getting farther away from us, as we get older, but that does not mean that the past did not exist. Just like how in the quote, the railway does not stop existing after we go through it, it just gets farther away but is still there. Our past shapes our present in many ways and in some ways defines who we are.

To me, Hyams quote means that we must keep our history alive in order to maintain our honesty and integrity as humans. It is important that we are preserving history and sharing the lessons that we have learned from it.

Looking in our text, I found a similar quote, “Any interpretation must be presented with the utmost attention to personal and professional integrity to assume that the recipients of the interpretive effort are presented with the truth.”

- Beck et al, Chapter 15, Interpreting History

This quote is also about how we must keep history intact and honest. By presenting a story to your audience, each person can come to their own conclusions based on the information you provided. This is why it is important to keep the story (history) as authentic as possible. It is also important to remember that stories can be viewed in many different ways depending on the perspective it is told from, we as interpreters are responsible for telling things from an unbiased perspective.

In many of our major cities, forests and historical buildings have been torn down to build newer and more modern pieces. So, much of the nature we see today is new or man-made. I think that losing these historical pieces is also losing history itself. One way we have been restoring history and nature is by restoring our forests. In doing so, we are keeping the memory and understanding of history alive. I have also seen newer buildings incorporating old characters or pieces of history from around it so that we do not forget what was once there. Just because we cannot see history, does not mean it isn’t there!

Lastly, with history always changing as new discoveries are brought to light, it is important to listen to these new findings and change our previous thoughts on the past. New information allows us to deepen our understanding of history and learn from it.

Reference:

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

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Blog #5 - Just a one way ticket

“Travel. Because money returns, time doesn’t” is one of my favourite quotes. Travelling the world has been my ultimate bucket list dream. I want to travel the world to enrich and gain a broader and better view of our world while simultaneously gaining insight into our planet’s different cultures, roots, and beautiful landscapes. In addition to travelling the world, I have smaller bucket list goals that I hope to complete and experience during my Europe trip.

I have found various resources, guides, YouTube videos, blog posts and traveller advice regarding the best locations to visit. I have gathered a list of places around Europe that I will visit once I can travel. Throughout this trip itinerary, you will see that I hope to visit significant cities filled with beautiful chaos while also staying in places filled with greenery, mountains, and beautiful landscapes with almost no mundane infrastructures.

My trip around Europe consists of over 20 locations, but I will only highlight 3 as I can write for hours about this trip :) 

1.     Amalfi Coast and Rome

Starting the trip off strong Rome and Amalfi Coast provides some of the most beautiful experiences. In Rome, I want to be the most tourist-like individual possible! Consuming delicious foods such as pasta and pizza topping it off with a creamy Italian gelato sounds like an absolute dream! After spending time in Rome, I want to head south to the Amalfi Coast, relaxing by the beach, driving on the coast, and getting some colour!

Things to do in Rome:

-       Ride on a vespa (especially during the night!)

-       Visit all historical sites

o   The Colosseum

o   Arch of Constantine

o   Vatican City

o   Roman Forum

o   Palatine Hill

o   Trevi Fountain

-       Visit multiple museums in Rome

o   Capitoline Museum

o   Galleria Borghese

o   Palazzo Colonna- Galleria Colonna

Things to do in the Amalfi Coast: 

-       Take a day tour of Pompeii

-       Drink loads and loads of delicious Italian Coffee

-       Visit the Arsenale della Repubblica museum

-       Wander the Via dei Mercantini (the market)

-       Spend the day by the beach

-       Eat, eat, and eat some more!

2.     Interlaken and Lucerne, Switzerland

Where do I even begin! Switzerland has got to be the #1 natural beauty of our planet. From previous blogs, I had mentioned that I feel most at home in the city, but I feel most at peace in the natural world filled with greenery, mountains, and countryside views, thanks to my grandpa, who provides me with “my sense of place.” Interlaken is one of my dream locations, particularly my dream location to go skydiving! Skydive Interlaken offers guests the opportunity to jump from 14’000ft “between the glacier lakes with the best view of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau.” Before your jump, you experience a beautiful helicopter ride filled with scenic panoramic views of Interlaken, glacier lakes, and the beautiful swiss alps.

I mean, just look at this view! How could anyone not want to jump out of a plane!!!

*I included a short 2-minute video posted by Skydive Interlaken of a skydiving experience!  https://youtu.be/yKQenILe11I  

Unfortunately, not many people are willing to sign their life away to experience a short rush of adrenaline which is entirely understandable! The list below highlights some amazing things anyone can do when visiting Interlaken and Lucerne, Switzerland.

Things to do in Interlaken:

-       You can make your way up as high as 730 meter using a ten-minute funicular to a mountain called Harder Kulm

-       Hop on the Interlaken Ost Railway train ride

-       St Beatus Caves

-       Escape the tourist areas and take a beautiful hike in the Weissenau Nature Reserve

Things to do in Lucerne:

-       Explore Old Town (very low on traffic)

-       Attend the Swiss Museum of Transport

-       Cross the Chapel Bridge

-       Visit the Glacier Garden

-       Hike up a mountain to see the breathtaking views, capturing the Musegg Wall (Lucerne’s city defence wall)

3.     Croatia + Montenegro

This destination is how I would want to end my 20+ European cities/countries tour. I will get into more detail in a few minutes about why this would be my final stop. To start off the destination, a Balkan country known as Montenegro is filled with beautiful mountains, small medieval villages, and coastline beaches. This location is the perfect mix of beautiful landscapes and incredible history that captivates many individuals such as me.

Things to do in Montenegro:

-       Visit the Kotor Town and Bay of Kotor

-       Enjoy the day in Budva Riviera (this place is an actual paradise)

-       Blue Grotto (snorkelling is a must in this cave)

-       Visit the town of Cetinje (was the Capital of Montenegro during the late 19th and 20th century)

-       Explore the beautiful Durmitor National Park

After enjoying some time in beautiful Montenegro, the trip’s final stop concludes in Croatia. Now, in my opinion, this is one of the best ways to end a fantastic trip. Yacht week Croatia has been a lifelong bucket list goal since I was as young as 14 years old. This is an 8-day trip, where you live on a yacht/boat filled with 2-3 other cabins occupied by individuals from different locations around the world. Every day, you port to a different town and have the day to explore the beautiful country of Croatia. I honestly believe that no words can express my love for this trip, nor could they do a good enough job describing it. I have linked a YouTube video that shows the beautiful 8-day Original Route, and I 1000000% recommend you give it a glance.

https://youtu.be/5JBwGUqp1Jg 

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Hi Shelly,

I LOVE the topic of your blog post this week as I am someone who strives to live by that quote: “Travel. Because money returns, time doesn’t”. I can feel your excitement and passion for travel through this blog post and I am definitely taking notes and adding them to my own travel bucket list! When I was little my cousin went backpacking through Europe for a month and ever since then, that same experience has been at the top of my bucket list. I don’t know if I am “built” for the backpacking life but I would certainly want to try it for a few weeks.

Of your 3 locations, I have been to the first one and can definitely say it has been one of my favourite trips. I only stopped in Naples for one day but while I was there, I took a tour of Pompeii and I learned so much. The tour guides were great interpreters! In Rome I stayed in a cute little hotel practically beside Vatican city. I would walk through Vatican city every day and the views of the sculptures never got boring!

Above is Vatican City up close Vs. Vatican City from afar (below).

I remember getting SO lost on my way to the Trevi fountain but during this time, I stumbled upon an adorable gelato shop and became friends with two of the workers there. They ended up helping me get to Trevi fountain which of course was actually just around the corner that I kept circling around. I am quite proud of my photo below because what I managed to keep out was the swarm of people all trying to capture photos of the fountain.

I think the most mesmerizing thing I experienced in Rome would definitely be seeing the Colosseum for the first time, I knew it was big but it blew my mind when I saw it in real life! It is so different seeing things online compared to in real life.

If you are an avid coffee drinker then you will become addicted to the espresso shots in Italy because I sure was. I would return to Rome in a heartbeat, there’s so much that I did not get to do there. I am definitely taking the Galleria Borghese and the Capitoline Museum from your list and adding it to my list!

Visiting Montenegro had never crossed my mind but your post has definitely convinced me to look into it. I love snorkeling and I try to do it at every place I go to if there is an ocean nearby.

I look forward to reading your future blog posts and I will certainly be making my post-covid travel plans now.

-Vylan

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Blog 5

What have I been thinking about? The main thing that’s been going through my mind lately are my post-graduate plans. I think many of us here are in the same boat, deciding what comes next as we near the end of our undergraduate degrees. Even though I have some sort of a rough plan for my life, there is still the uncertainty of “what if my grades aren’t high enough to get into a post-grad program? How will I start to pay off my student loans? What if I don’t find a job in my field after graduating?”. For me, this all comes back to my present, future, and past self. I ranked those in order of least important to most important- but maybe you disagree!

Being too focused on my past or my future causes me to miss out on things currently happening in the present. While I pay be “present” for the present events, my mind can be elsewhere meaning that I am not enjoying or experiencing the present to the best of my abilities. In terms of my post-grad thoughts, dwelling on grades that I cannot change from courses in the past are not going to help me improve on the grades of the courses I am currently in. In the same sense, putting all of my energy into mapping out my future is taking time away from my focus right now, which is doing well in my current courses and enjoying what is left of my undergrad with my friends.

I think that the past and the future are definitely important in terms of how I can change my behaviours or plans for the better. I am able to see what went wrong in the past and take those lessons to improve my future. I remember seeing a post on social media that was encouraging people to collect three items: a stick, a rock, and a leaf. The point of this was to then say something that would “stick” with you in your future, something that “rocks” in your present day, and lastly, something that you want to “leaf” behind in your past. I think this is a great activity that also brings in aspects of nature and gives a new meaning to a rock, stick, and leaf.

Image by Hamish Weir on Unsplash.

Our sticks, rocks, and leaves:

Something I think will “stick” with us would be our new abilities of nature interpretation. We can use our knowledge of nature through privilege and art forms combined with our skills of communication via blog posts. Nature interpretation is something that I think we will continue to do in our day to day lives even if we did not set out to do so.

Something that rocks in the present day would be all the sustainable and eco-friendly options out there. It is becoming more common for people to use sustainable alternatives for day to day items such as reusable grocery bags, cups, containers, and straws instead plastic ones. Of course without the past showing us about our effect on climate change, this present sustainability movement would be less impactful.

Lastly, one thing I think we all want to “leaf” behind are lockdowns due to COVID-19.

Photo Reference:

Weir, H. (2018, December 15). shallow focus photography of water photo - Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/OQU9kT8UMt0

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Blog #4: Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

(Picture of a sculpture I took in Korea)

When I was younger, I took art and drama classes and had always wished, even to this day, that I had continued with it. I believe that art and nature interpretation are interconnected so that you will always find art in nature and interpret it in your unique way. Art is meant to evoke emotions and often provides a medium for emotional release. Especially in the context of nature interpretation, it can enhance the experience. Personally, I usually feel a sense of nostalgia or a connection. For example, when I went to the Art Gallery of Ontario, I only took one photo:

This art piece is called Meadow by Jack Chambers. Although it was a metaphor for mortality, I found myself reminiscing about a time when my family would take a road trip to go camping or when I would pass by the country fields back in Korea with my parents driving and my dogs sitting next to me (Whyte, 2011). Another example is when I went to visit my dad in Jeju Island, Korea and saw these statues:

(Taylor, 2018)

Since I had grown up in Canada, I had always felt a bit of a disconnect from my home country. My parents, who had acted as interpreters to teach me about Korea, explained that these statues are called dol hareubang (돌하르방). It translates to “Old Grandfather” and represents a symbol of fertility, health, and protection from evil spirits. Through art, I had the opportunity to learn more about my culture and feel closer to my family.

The big question is, who am I to interpret nature through art? I am constantly seeking out this nostalgia and connection through nature and visual art. Since I was 17, I’ve been away from my family, and with the pandemic, I have not seen my parents in three years. Finding beauty in nature has been a constant regardless of where I am and who I am with. Seeing a sunset, for instance, takes me back to the times I appreciated a pretty sunset with my siblings, my dogs, or my parents. 

(Picture of a sunset I took in Korea after school)

Feeling this positive emotion and adding value to such experiences that occur every day, which some might find mundane, is a quality that I treasure. The “Gift of Beauty” is one where interpreters instill “the ability and the desire to sense the beauty in their surroundings” as well providing “spiritual uplift and encourage resource preservation” Beck et al. (2018).

The emotions and beauty I find in nature and visual art is one that I would define as the “Gift of Beauty”. A good interpreter aims to evoke an uplifting emotional response by enhancing one’s ability to sense quality (Beck et al., 2018); having felt this uplifting emotional response, I would love to share this with everyone, which I would consider a key quality in nature interpretation. By being able  understand the perspective of the audience, I can interpret nature through art. 

Thank you for reading!

Lisa

References

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

Taylor, P. (2018, July 23). What are Jeju Island’s Dol Hareubang? Culture Trip. Retrieved February 5, 2022, from https://theculturetrip.com/asia/south-korea/articles/what-are-jeju-islands-dol-hareubang/

Whyte, M. (2011, December 8). From the darkness, a ray of light rekindled. The Star. Retrieved February 5, 2022, from https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2011/12/08/from_the_darkness_a_ray_of_light_rekindled.html.

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Hi Lisa,

The photos you added in your post are great! I especially like the ones of the sculptures. I think your experience of nostalgia or a connection to art is one that many people can relate with, including myself. Similar to you only taking one photo at the Art Gallery of Ontario, I find that when I am at art exhibits or museums, I only take a photo of the pieces that have the most meaning to me. I like to be in the moment at these places, reading the information cards or plaques and educating myself on what the artist was trying to portray. I find it fascinating how we can all have different interpretations of the same art work. When I look at the piece in your blog called Meadow by Jack Chambers, I think of my train rides alone where I always had the time and silence to reflect on life while looking out at greenery similar to that piece.

I really liked how you referred to your parents as interpreters to teach you about Korea. I had never thought of my parents to be interpreters but after reading your blog, I can see how them teaching me of my home country is a form of interpretation!

I thought your post this week was very insightful and I look forward to reading more of them this semester!

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Art in Nature Interpretation

“Art not only imitates nature, but it also completes its deficiencies”, (Aristotle, n.d.).

Art can play a big role in nature interpretation. It can help provide a sense of place and deepen the interpretive experience. Exhibitions such as Art in the Park can help guide the visitor and provide more of an experience to them by providing information on historic events.

My experience with art in nature interpretation

When I visited the Athabasca Glacier in the Banff National Park last summer, pictures of the former extent of the Glacier truly shocked me. I felt extremely sad and overwhelmed by the pictures that gave evidence of how most of the glacier had retreated. The fact that the glacier shrank 1.5 km cannot be denied and pictures provide the evidence for that (Parks Canada, 2017).

The Athabasca Glacier in Banff National Park (August 2021).

Art can convey messages like the retreat of the glacier unbiasedly and can approach difficult topics like climate change so that the visitors see the facts and can then make up their own minds. When people interpret nature through art, with no one explaining anything, the message itself is delivered in a more objective manner. You also don’t need to speak a certain language to understand the message. To quote Bruno Barbey: "Photography is the only language that can be understood anywhere in the world." (Bruno Barbey, 2016).

How I interpret nature through art

My way of personally interpreting nature through art is photography. Photos of places that I have been to or that look familiar to me awaken some deep emotions inside me. In my room, I have this huge picture that I printed on canvas. It shows a place I visited in 2019, Mount Cerro Torre in El Chalten, Argentina. Every time I look at this picture, I feel happy. I also feel sad that I am stuck inside right now and that I cannot travel. Most importantly, I feel grateful that I had this experience. All these emotions come back by just looking at the picture.

Mount Cerro Torre - The picture in my room (February 2019).

Personally, I am by no means an artist. The reality is, I am not in touch with my “artsy side”. I don’t write poetry and I don’t draw. However, art is so much more than writing and drawing. I am also really compelled by interesting stories. I used to read books about Greek myths and legends and I was fascinated by them. Therefore, I think that storytelling and photography are arts I would focus on as an interpreter.

The “gift of beauty”

One principle of successful interpretation is the “gift of beauty”. To me, the gift of beauty means that an interpreter gives a sense of place to the visitor so that this site becomes something they cherish and want to protect. The interpreter establishes an emotional connection between the visitor and the place. Art can be a great medium to create this connection because art triggers emotions from the audience and provides aesthetics.

Personally, I feel very close to nature. I always prefer it when no one says anything and I can just enjoy the beauty of nature by myself, in silence. However, with historic sites, I definitely appreciate the guidance and I need someone to help me feel the “gift of beauty”.

In conclusion, arts can be a powerful tool for interpreters that can spark emotions in the audience. Art speaks to many people, even if they themselves are not artists. Art can support interpreters trying to convey the “gift of beauty” to the audience.

Parks Canada. (2017). Columbia Icefield Area and the Athabasca Glacier. Retrieved February 1st, 2022 from https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/jasper/activ/itineraires-itineraries/glacier-athabasca

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Hi there,

That photo of Mount Cerro Torre is amazing! I can see why you had it printed on canvas. Your photo of the Athabasca Glacier reminds me of how oftentimes, we do not know what we have until it is gone. This is similar to the glaciers retreating because of fluctuating climates. Now that we are seeing the effects of our actions, we are more conscious in terms of conservation efforts and being sustainable to mitigate climate change. Beck et al. (2018) also touches on a similar topic saying that nature interpretation should “instill in people the ability, and the desire, to sense the beauty of their surroundings- to provide spiritual uplift and encourage resource preservation”. To me this means that interpreting nature and appreciating its beauty translates to a newfound desire to protect all aspects that make up Earth’s beauty.

Similar to you, I also enjoy sharing photographs of my adventures! Especially when it so easy to share through social media so that my friends and family can also see the beauty of my adventures. I like the point you made about how storytelling is a form of art because I had never thought of it that way before. I realized that a lot of the time, when I am sharing stories of my hikes or travels, that these stories are an artform too. I now like to think that these weekly blogposts are considered a form of art as we are able to express our thoughts and opinions through writing.

I thought your post was very insightful and I look forward to reading more of your blog posts this semester.

-Vylan

Reference:

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