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Disclaimer
This blog was created for ENVS*3000 W24, University of Guelph.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of the University of Guelph.
The University of Guelph is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by this blog.
My Ideal Role as an Environmental Interpreter
My ideal role as an environmental interpreter would likely look like me taking a group of people on a hike/walk in the forest and teaching them about plants and their medicinal value. I don’t know a great deal about this topic currently but I know enough that I can go on a walk and name some of the plants I’d see (thanks to my plant-loving mom). I hope to learn more about plant identification in the future as well as medicinal uses of these plants which can be very useful in a pinch. I think these things are best learned from someone in your community giving a hands-on learning environment. In this way, people of all learning types can get something out of the experience because you are speaking to them, showing them, and actively using and showing the plants. I would hand out booklets with the information spoken as well for those who prefer to read and process information on their own. Forest walks are not accessible by everyone so I’d like to have this information online as well for those who can’t be there in person.
Guelph is a great location for this kind of learning because there are so many access points to nature. I currently don’t drive but if I did I would do some walks out in a further forest that would be more remote and I would host some on the Royal Recreation Trail for those like me so they can access it by foot or bus. The fact that we experience all four seasons, and beautifully so, in Guelph adds another layer to this job. I would be going out in very hot and very cold temperatures which may not always be ideal but this is my dream job so I would still enjoy it! Nature transforms throughout each of those seasons, making what I present to each group slightly different based on the time of year and which plants are in season.
This job requires a lot of skills including teaching, understanding, problem solving, organization, creativity and communication. Firstly, I’d need to learn more about how different people learn and possible nuances in this that I may come across while in this position. I’ll need to educate myself further about this topic and on how to communicate what I’ve learned to others. I will want to make my nature walks as engaging as possible which requires a lot of creativity and organization to put something together that people will find valuable. Thus, this is a journey I’m excited to delve further into and take you all along with me. I hope to expand my skills in all of these areas through learning and teaching and hopefully one day be able to make this dream a reality.
Hey! Thanks for sharing!
I love how you pointed out the importance of making the booklet accessible to those who can’t join on the forest walk. For those who are there on the walk, they have you to confirm that the plant they have identified is correct, but how about those at home? I was thinking you could also promote an app like iNaturalist that they can use to help identify the plants they see. I used this in some of my Zoology classes and it definitely makes it like a game. This may encourage people to get out on a walk even if they can’t make it to the forest walk. Also, as someone who has had anxiety about joining things in big groups in the past, this may encourage those that do not want to attended socially to explore on their own.
Rucu Pichinchia
I’ve been loving the idea of a career as an environmental interpreter recently and I know exactly the role I’d want… Expedition Guide for Rucu Pichincha, an enormous stratovolcano in Ecuador. I did this hike, all the way to the top, at 11 YEARS OLD. Absolutely amazing, unforgettable experience but now that I am learning about environmental interpretation, I feel like I missed a lot of the hike because I was busy complaining about how hard it is, catching my breath, and debating quitting. If I were to go again, which I hope I get the chance to, I think a guide, an environmental interpreter, would allow me to maximize this experience. For example, if I were the interpreter and I noticed my group struggling, I would point out the plants that are able to grow at such harsh conditions that we are currently struggling in such as the varying temperatures, wind, high altitude. I would hand out cards that have various plants we will see on them and spotting the plant on the card you’ve been given becomes a game that encourages observation and interpretation of the natural world around them. When a person finds the plant, they can choose for their fellow climbers to call them that for the remainder of the climb. This activity is for those with interpersonal intelligence as it promotes an opportunity to interact with those around them (Beck et al., 2018). They could also have an interactive map to follow based on checkpoints such as symbols, landscape views, animals, along the climb. This will help greatly in terms of spatial intelligence because it will allow them to conceptualize this long, seemingly never-ending climb onto a smaller scale (Beck et al., 2018).
“Interpreters lead, enable, and encourage. Interpreters educate. Interpreters entertain. Interpreters inform. But most of all, interpreters enrich recreational experiences with substance and a sense of personal fulfillment” (Beck et al., 2018). On a challenging climb up Rucu Pichincha, an interpreter must have well-developed skills in communication, leadership, and patience. A sense of humour is valuable as it serves as a distraction from the physical challenges. My family and I love travelling and every interpreter we’ve had has had a sense of humour which I tie to the overall experience.
Being a motivational force and building connections with the climbers contributes towards a positive environment. It is up to the interpreter to lead the group however understanding that each climber progresses at a different pace is essential.c If someone is lagging behind due to the difficulty of the climb, the interpreter should join them and offer a distraction.
These skills are fundamental to creating a more enjoyable environment for the climbers and ensuring they look around them and take in the unique beauty of Rucu Pichincha.
BRB... going to check Indeed for this exact job posting.
Here are some pictures from my climb up Rucu Pichincha in 2015...
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world (1st ed.). Sagamore Publishing.
Blog 1: My relationship with nature
Hi everyone, my name is Lea, and I am in my third year of Biological Science with a minor in Zoology. This first post is about my relationship with nature and how it has developed.
I have always felt I had a strong connection with nature and animals. I care deeply for the environment and the conservation of plants and wildlife. My love for nature all began at my cottage. My grandparents bought land along the water in a small town called St. Anicet, Quebec, on Lake St. Francois in their mid-30s. My grandpa had built a small cottage for our family to visit. I have lived a better half of my life at the cottage, every summer, every school break, every chance I had. At a very young age, my grandfather had taught all the kids how to fish and drive the boat and my cousins, and I were always free to go out onto the lake and discover what it had to offer.
I have so many unforgettable memories of kayaking with my older sister and little cousins across the lake to the many islands the lake provided. We always brought butterfly nets and insect kits with tiny magnifying glasses and caught bugs and frogs all day. We would also take the little fishing boat, go to different areas of the lake, and compare the size and type of fish we had caught. One of my favourite activities was going out on the canals, just off the lake, and simply looking at the white lilies (Nymphaea odorata) floating on the water.
The freedom to explore granted by my family helped me lean into my interest in nature. Going out and discovering different aspects of the lake on my own allowed me to observe the biodiversity and wildlife present. I grew up in Ottawa, specifically the Kanata area, a quiet suburb 20 minutes from the downtown core. Growing up in the suburbs felt significantly limiting in terms of being in touch with nature. My only relationship with nature was provided when my parents would drive outside of the suburbs to visit the different NCC parks and trails. These nature trails were not accessible to me growing up as they were too far to walk or bike, and I had to rely on my parents to drive. I believe that living in the suburbs definitely limited my connection, but having a cottage to visit was indeed an escape.
My current relationship with nature has developed over the years, from relying on my parents to take me to various nature trails to having the freedom to explore my interests on my own. As I have grown older, I have been able to do my own thing and visit new ecosystems. I enjoy going on hikes with my friends, and our favourite spot is definitely the Eagles Nest Lookout in Calabogie, just outside of Ottawa. I believe that I have given myself “a sense of place” because exploring on my own has improved my relationship with nature and allowed me to expand my interests.
Here are a few photos of me at my cottage & my favourite hiking spot :)
Hey Lea. Thanks for sharing a little about yourself and your emotional connection with nature!
This summer, I went to see the Hilton Main Waterfall in Milton, just a 30 min drive away from me. I went with two friends that I hadn't seen in a few months and we did the little hike and landed at the waterfall where we just sat, looking at the waterfall and talking for hours. It's just a small waterfall but we created a memory, a whole story which my brain connects to that waterfall.
Both of our stories show how personal connections can be made to specific natural environments and how these connections lead to a sense of place. The memory of feeling at peace and reconnecting with my friends was enhanced by the presence of nature. It wouldn't have been the same if we were just sitting in the living room chatting. I now see that nature can provide emotional depth and that's a beautiful thing to recognize!
Romania: A Sense of Place...
Nature plays a huge role in my life and not just because I am studying Zoology. Nature relaxes me on my hardest days, clears my mind, and truly allows me to appreciate life and its beauties. I make an effort to connect with nature in various ways such as daily walks, planning nature excursions whether close or far, watching nature documentaries, browsing the natural/organics aisle in grocery stores… I love seeing what the natural world has to offer. Through having knowledge about the planet that contributes so positively to my life, I have implemented sustainable practices in my daily life such as using beeswax wrap in my kitchen, wool dryer balls as fabric softeners, and using an electric composter which is great for my mom’s garden. I’ll link the products below!
As stated in Chapter 1 of Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World, “By explaining the resource management policies and problems, interpreters often persuade visitors to behave in ways that prevent resource destruction and deterioration” (Beck et al., 2018). I related to this greatly as it was through learning about our planet that I implemented these products into my life as a thank you for all that the planet has done for me.
I was born in Canada but I spent majority of my summers in Romania growing up. Both my parents are from there and we would go visit family, but honestly my parents were visiting for family, I was visiting for the animals. The stray kittens in the bushes at my grandma’s apartment that she would take care of, the bunnies at the farm behind the old age home my grandma was living in, the chickens at my dad’s best friend’s house. These were the best memories of my childhood and these experiences definitely played a role in developing my love for animals.
These experiences, although so long ago, offered me a sense of place, going way beyond physical features and leaving me with a long-lasting connection to nature that is still with me today and that I am certain will be with me forever. I am actually going back to Romania this summer and I’m looking forward to seeing how the sense of place feels now that I am older. I will keep you guys updated!
But for now… here are some cute pictures of the little kitties my grandma feeds still to this day!
Links to the products:
Beeswax Wrap
Wool Dryer Balls
Electric Composter
References
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world (1st ed.). Sagamore Publishing.
