Exploring Nature

I am Verena, a 4th year Wildlife Biology and Conservation student at UoG, and this is my nature blog!

[dralh]

Disclaimer

This blog was created for __________, University of Guelph. 

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

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

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Final blog post #1: My beliefs and tools as a nature interpreter

For the final week of blog posts, I would like to take the chance to deeply reflect on what I have learned and how I can give back to my community, once I have graduated. I believe that as an environmental interpreter, I have the responsibility to teach, to inspire, to learn and to grow. In order to perform all these duties in an effective manner, I need to establish a set of beliefs that I need to follow:

Teach effectively by incorporating many styles of learning, do not settle with just the bare minimum (i.e: only giving out factual information like what a plain textbook already has, a nature interpreter is a person, not an audiobook).

When it comes to inspiring people, effective communication is an absolute necessity. This can only be done if I understand the topic, do my research, and communicate with audiences with a passion.

Always stay humble. Being able to own up to one’s mistakes is the most effective way to learn and mature from one’s faults. Besides teaching, it is very important to keep an open mind and open ears to listen, no matter who my audience is. There is always something they know that I do not.

Planning and design is important before embarking on any journey. However, keep in mind that there isn’t any perfect plan for every situation. Expect the unexpected and be prepared to handle any challenges in the most calm manner as possible.

Working in this field means I need to do my best to encourage participation and collaborative efforts (Knudsen and Seidler, 2013). This translates to giving my audience the opportunity to touch, feel, and smell nature, that way they get to experience nature to the full extent. This directly ties into the naturalistic intelligence that Howard Gardner suggested in 2011 (Beck et al., 2018). Even though it is the latest to be added to the list of learning style intelligences, I personally think it is the most relevant way to connect with nature on a deeper physical and spiritual level.

A useful tool that I can use to effectively communicate with my audience is probably my sense of humor. I have always been afraid of boring everybody whenever I talk, therefore, over time I learned how to level up my linguistic intelligence (Beck et al., 2018). However, it is important to keep in mind that there is an extent to the use of humor. Too much would just make the audience question the seriousness of the issue or the subject that I am trying to interpret, and will likely backfire on me as an interpreter.

Finally, we are living in an era where information and technology is only one click away. I think we should maximize this to their fullest potential. The textbook suggested that as interpreters, we do not need to be afraid of technologies as distractions, but rather, we can turn them into a tool by smoothly incorporating it into the ways we teach (Beck et al., 2018).

For now, that is where I am going to end this blog. I will see you all in the follow-up blog some time this week! Thanks for tuning in!

Duong (Robin) Nguyen.

References

Knudsen, M. A., Seidler, P. H. (2013). Nature interpretation for children and young people in the Nordic countries. Nordic Council of Ministers. DOI: 10.6027/TN2013-534

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

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Hi Duong,

I really liked your post!

Learning styles

I agree with you, incorporating different learning styles is very important to reach your audience, especially when they are kids in the audience! I really like that Beck et al. (2018) provide so many details on how to effectively interpret nature to young children. For example, I never would have thought about only using non-competitive games with children (Beck et al., 2018).

Humbleness and Flexibility

I also believe that staying humble is super important in any job! I hate it when I ask someone a question and they make something up because they don't know the answer. Not knowing everything is human.

As you mentioned, flexibility is very important in nature interpretation. Sometimes, you might not know your audience beforehand. You might also realize that your audience cares about certain aspects more than others. This flexibility also ties in with what you are saying about your sense of humor. You need to see if it is received well by your audience and then adapt if it is not.

The concept of multiple intelligences

It is very interesting that you brought up the concept of multiple intelligences. I did some research on that topic, and the inclusion of multiple intelligence in teaching, which nature interpretation is a form of, is recommended (Garder, 2011)!

The concept of multiple intelligences. Retrieved from Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory, 2021.

I am sure you know this, but I also just want to clarify that there is a difference between learning styles and intelligence (Garder, 2011). Learning styles are the way someone is most comfortable learning something like we talked about in Unit 2. People already have multiple intelligences to various degrees, and the thing you are most intelligent in does not necessarily match your learning style (Garder, 2011).

In Week 3, we learned about how teachers can unpack invisible knapsacks with their students (Gallavan, 2005). Here, the teacher first starts explaining relevant terms, strengthening the verbal-linguistic intelligence of students. Then, students are asked to bring an important object to class, which challenges their intrapersonal intelligence (Gallavan, 2005). When they are asked to consider another student's heritage, their interpersonal skills are strengthened and later, the visual-spatial intelligence is addressed, too (Gallavan, 2005).

What areas are you most intelligent in? Find it out with this quiz: https://alis.alberta.ca/careerinsite/know-yourself/multiple-intelligences-quiz/

I actually find these concepts really interesting and I am going to try to incorporate them into the next podcast!

Cheers,

Verena

References

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

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks". Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9fe2f151

Gardener, H. (2011). Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences. Hachette Uk.

Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory (2021). Additio. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://www.additioapp.com/en/gardner-multiple-intelligences-theory/

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Final Blog Post: A Temporary Goodbye

Wow, I can’t believe that we have already arrived at our final blog post for this course. I approach the end of this semester with uncertainty; I feel both relieved to finally be done with assignments for the time being, but also slightly saddened as this course has truly been one of the most rewarding experiences this semester. I look back on my previous blog posts and am just in awe of how much I have changed as a person and an interpreter within the course of just one semester. As I approach my fourth and final year of undergrad, I’ve been spending a lot of time introspecting. What do I really want to do with my degree? It has never been a consistent answer, as I went into first year thinking I’d be applying to veterinary college. A year later, I was dead set on doing herpetology research. The next year, I switched over to entomological research.

So here I am now, reflecting on everything I have learned from this course, and I am faced with yet another “career change”. I have come to realize that my lack of commitment to one pathway out of university is because I just have a general passion and love for all things nature. Whether it was veterinary medicine, herpetology, or entomology, the common factor was that I just love learning! And with that, I love helping others learn about the same things that have brought me so much joy.

This new-found motivation is what fuels my main belief about nature interpretation: accessibility for all. Now, this of course encompasses physical and economical accessibility, but one of my main focuses is what I would call “emotional accessibility”. I have often encountered this toxic sense of superiority when it comes to STEM, even in natural/environmental studies. Sometimes without even realizing, we often place our own stereotypes on who should or shouldn’t be a part of the scientific community, and on that note; if you are not a part of the scientific community then somehow your access to nature is restricted! I remember as a kid how daunting it was to ask questions to adults; some of the people i looked up to the most have scoffed as what they considered a “silly” question. For a time, this really put me off from studying biology, and I felt like I wasn’t “good enough” to join nature clubs at school because I didnt have any background knowledge (which, who would ever expect a 13 year old to be an expert on plant identification??). I had placed this extra pressure on myself because of the role models (clearly not very good nature interpreters) that chidded me as a kid.

These experiences, paired with everything I learned from this course about accessibility such as the importance of multiple intelligences (Beck et al., 2018) or the unpacking of our invisible backpacks (Gallavan, 2005), have taught me how vital it is to an interpreter to be accepting, forgiving, and encouraging. While this might be my motivation and my belief, it does bring about a huge amount of responsibility. As I witnessed myself first hand as a kid, and as highlighted in this unit chapter, we need to use our privilege of education and knowledge wisely as you never know who is looking up to you as a mentor. As an interpreter, you automatically are given responsibility for the future generation as they are the ones who listen the hardest and care the most (Beck et al., 2018). We need to be sure that our every action is in their favor and will help mold their connection with nature.

Thanks to this course, I am now able to both identify and express my motivations, beliefs, and responsibility; two skills that were definitely lacking beforehand. I have never been good at expressing myself in forms that were not visual; but through honing my writing and talking skills thanks to the blog and podcast assignment, I have realized that these skills were within me the whole time! I just never gave myself the chance to try it out. And that is exactly what I want to do after leaving this course. I want to give kids the chance to try out new skills and learn about nature in ways that they never thought they could. I now plan to further my studies by doing a Masters in Science Communication, so that I can continue to build these skills in both myself and the kids that I hope to inspire!

Thank you to everyone involved in this course, as the content of both the readings and your blog posts have been such an incredible source of inspiration! I have learned about things I never would have thought to look into and it has helped me widden my own personal point of view. I wish you all the best of luck in the rest of your nature interpreting journeys and hope to someday see how each of you have used these skills in your future careers.

Goodbye for now!

Marie

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World (1st ed., pp. 127-158). SAGAMORE Publishing.

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their “invisible knapsacks”. Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9fe2f151

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Hi Marie,

I really like your reflection on this semester! Thank you for being so open and vulnerable!

I can definitely relate to your constant idea of career changes - I wasted three years of my life studying molecular biotechnology and now I 26 and still in university. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I would just prefer to be done at this point.

I also feel like there is a lot of the toxic pressure in the science community. This feeling of not being good enough was the reason why I took a two year break after acquiring my first bachelor. I graduated with a B plus, and the head of the biology department told me he couldn't give me a reference because he doesn't think I am good enough.

On a good note, interpreting nature is what brings people closer to nature! I agree with you, as interpreters, we do play a vital role in making people care about nature. However, I don't think that all the responsibilities lies on our shoulders. As Suzuki & Louv (2012) said, community projects or just people how come together to go to a park can make a big differences, too.

Since you like learning and inspiring others, it does sound like nature interpretation might be the field for you! I suggest that you could maybe apply for a job with Parks Canada? They offer interpretative programs and, as a student, you can get a summer job working with them, practicing interpretation! That way you could make sure that this is your preferred field!

I also really enjoyed writing the blog posts and doing the podcast assignment. In a way, I felt way closer to my peers than I usually do in an online course.

Cheers,

Verena

Suzuki, D. & Louv, R. (2012). Interview with David Suzuki and Richard Louv[Interview]. Art Gallery of Ontario. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/F5DI1Ffdl6Y

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The "WHY" behind nature interpretation

“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees” (Henry David Thoreau)

Look back at your first blog post on your relationship with nature. What makes you appreciate nature? Why are you taking this course? We all have different ways of how we got in touch with nature. We all took different directions to be here, writing about one of the most important topics in the world: Environmental Sustainability.

My motivation for becoming a nature educator

Why am I here? My motivation of why I took this course and why I want to be a nature interpreter are two folds:

1. I care about myself. As the unit reading for this week describes, the fear of an office cubicle keeps me on my toes. I would love to work outdoors!

2. More importantly, I care about the environment. Even before taking this course, I always believed that making people care about nature is the way to combat issues like climate change. I always figured that if people like spending time in their local neighbourhood park, they would vote for it to be protected. This would influence who people vote for and politics is where the important, big decisions are made. This will improve our relationship with nature and lead to environmental sustainability.

Is environmental sustainability possible?

Looking at the big picture all at once can be overwhelming. At least I feel this way. Sometimes I wonder if we can save the world at all. Is environmental sustainability even possible, with more and more mouths having to be fed? What if the answer is no? Richard Louv said in the discussion that people imagine the future as a scenario where nature has turned on humans and a bare landscape remains (Suzuki & Louv, 2012). What if that is the actual future?

The question of how we can save our environment was the topic of the #COP26. When I listened to the speech on climate change by Mia Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados, I was very touched. The money for change is there. The mindset is not.

Overwhelming issues to explain

Just like Jacob Rodenburg says, being an environmental educator today is very important and powerful but also comes with great responsibility (Rodenburg, 2019). We want to protect nature but there are so many problems. How do we convey these problems and make people care? The answer is, by taking it slow. Creating a sense of place and interconnectedness are the first steps in connecting people to nature (Beck et al., 2019). When people are moved by their experience, they care more about the planet (Beck et al., 2019).

The responsibility that comes with nature education

We can’t give up hope. We have to try. For the sake of the children who haven’t done anything wrong. We have a responsibility to make sure that nature prevails. For some people, the responsibility may lie in ensuring the survival of the human species. I say, what about all the other species that already went extinct? What about nature itself? If we are going to live in a Mad Max scenario, we are not the only ones who lost (Suzuki & Louv, 2012). Nature also will have lost everything but the desert biome.

I deem three approaches to be most suitable to me in connecting people and nature through interpretation.

1. Nature through technology

I think one very good way of keeping the balance of talking about important issues while being hopeful is presented in the movies by David Attenborough. I always felt like he presents the world as it is, then he tells us what happens in the future and then keeps our hopes up by saying that we can change what happens in the future.

If you haven't seen one of David Attenborough's movies yet, check out this trailer!

The movies by David Attenborough also offer another way of how we can reconnect with nature - through technology. We reflected upon the importance of technology a few units back. Technology such as the movies by Attenborough, and the podcasts we all listened to in preparation for our assignment bring people closer to nature.

2. Pure experiences - Nature without technology

Technology can also dilute experiences with nature. Ask yourself, whenever you go to a park, how much time do you spend taking pictures and TikToks? How much time do you spend just enjoying the view? Beck et al. (2019) state it well: Nature is a place to think clearly without distraction. Technology can prevent us from doing so.

My partner and his parents have a canoeing company that takes people on 2-week trips into the wilderness in the Northwest Territories. They always tell stories of people being transformed by their experiences. I witnessed this myself last year when I went on a trip. I believe that this is a great way to connect people back to nature.

What I love about the wilderness in the Northwest Territories is that there is no phone reception. (August 2021)

3. Urban Parks

Not everyone has money for a canoe trip. When we talked about privilege, we pointed out that many people don't have access to natural areas (Beck et al., 2019). Not having a car to travel to natural areas also is a barrier (Beck et al., 2019). Like Richard Louv said, approximately a third of kids from San Diego have never been to the beach (Suzuki & Louv, 2012).

I believe that Urban National Parks are a great way to bring city-bound people in contact with nature. I go for walks in my neighbourhood all the time and it makes me appreciate all the nature around me. #goodnews Parks Canada has now started creating National Urban Parks, including one in the GTA (Parks Canada, 2021)!

"Heavy is the head that wears the crown." (Shakespeare).

We all want to protect what is important to us. If we can achieve that goal by interpreting what we love to people, maybe it will be possible to become environmentally sustainable. This is a lot of responsibility but for something so important and vital, we should choose to accept it.

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T. & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Parks Canada (2021). Rouge Urban National Park. https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/rouge

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

Suzuki, D. & Louv, R. (2012). Interview with David Suzuki and Richard Louv[Interview]. Art Gallery of Ontario. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/F5DI1Ffdl6Y

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Nature is Pretty Cool, ngl.

So for obvious reasons, I'm pretty biased on this topic; I am in ecology, and I am taking a course on nature interpretation. But I think nature is one of those things that everyone has a connection to, whether they know it or not. Now you don't need to be a "tree-hugger" or intertwined with mother nature to feel a connection (even though those are cool); you can just have a cherished memory within nature. Whether it's driving through a forest or camping with your friends - a connection to nature is always there. Sometimes, you just gotta look for it.

Now, I'll be honest with you - I didn't have a strong connection with nature for some time. Whenever my parents would go for a drive to see the changing colours in the fall or go on a hike, I was never the biggest fan. I loved seeing all the different animals (feeding chickadees and seeing all the farm animals), but I would always question why my parents would freak out about the scenery. I would ask them, "what's so special about the mountains?" or "this is so boring for me, why isn't it for you?". They would always respond, "just wait till you're older; you'll understand," which always annoyed me. They barely answered my question! Plus, they pulled the "wait till you're older" speech which didn't help their argument at all! But as they always say, your parents are always right. My appreciation for nature came gradually with age and maturity as I realized nature's role in my life. Not only did it give my family, friends and I great memories we share till this day; nature gave me curiosity and wonder. Even though it surrounds us in our everyday lives, there is always so much more to see and discover. As I began to learn about the different things nature had to offer (cute animals and pretty blue grottos), I wanted to explore and learn as much as possible. And that's the joy of it - there's always something for someone. Whether you like a relaxing beach to tan on or discovering all the different bugs under a trunk of a tree, nature has it all.

A fun boat trip to Honey Harbour for my Grade 12 Graduation (2020). My friends and I were at the water 24/7.

Now, of course, I gotta share with you guys the most amazing thing I know about nature - animals can have altruistic (selfless; benefiting others without any benefit for themselves) behaviours. I know it sounds pretty strange, but it's not only humans that display these characteristics. For example, with worker bees, all of their actions are devoted to the queen and their colony's longevity (National Aquarium, 2020). Rather than focusing on their own survival, they place all of their attention towards a greater cause - even at the expense of their life. Another example of this is in a study done by Désirée Brucks and Auguste M.P. von Bayern, where they tested the altruistic behaviours of African grey parrots. When given a token to exchange for food, the parrot would voluntarily provide the token to a parrot who did not receive a token. These are some of the many examples of altruistic behaviours displayed within animals. I find this portion of nature to be so interesting - sometimes it is hard to remember that animals are living creatures with feelings and emotions. Diving deep into their psychology shows that they aren't too far away from us humans.

Do you guys have any fond memories of nature? Or any cool facts about it? Let me know!

~Nicole

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Hi Nicole,

I really enjoyed reading your post!

I have a cool fun fact about animals: As you are probably aware, for animals, age correlates positively with size (elephants live longer than mice). Did you know that within a species, it is the other way around (Kraus et al., 2013)? This is especially prevalent with dogs where small dogs live longer than big dogs (Kraus et al., 2013).

It sounds like you came a long way with your relationship with nature! I can definitely relate to that, I used to hate travelling around to different places to see natural and historic sites. I always just wanted to stay in our hotel and play in the pool. My parents made a deal with my sister and me - we explore in the morning and swam in the afternoon!

The concept of altruism is super fascinating! I did know that worker bees had this mentality, however, I did not know that parrots also practise this! After you introduced this concept, I tried to find out a little bit more and I conducted a quick literature search.

Did you know that plants also supposedly practise altruism? Invasive plants, such as Centaurea stoebe, produce chemicals that prevent others from growing next to them (allelopathy) (Biedrzycki & Bais, 2010). This plant, however, recognizes when its own species grows next to it and turns its defences down (Biedrzycki & Bais, 2010).

I find it a little funny that we are talking about animals practising altruism and how similar they are to us, humans. Do humans really practise altruism? If they would, why are so many people poor and why are issues like climate change not solved yet?

Cheers,

Verena

References

Biedrzycki, M. L., & Bais, H. P. (2010). Kin recognition in plants: a mysterious behaviour unsolved. Journal of Experimental Botany, 61(15), 4123–4128. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erq250

Kraus, C., Pavard, S., & Promislow, D. E. L. (2013). The Size–Life span trade-off decomposed: Why large dogs die young. The American Naturalist, 181(4), 492–505. https://doi.org/10.1086/669665

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#9: Awe and respect for nature’s harmony

Having lived for a year in a jungle camp in Gabon when I was young, I already was familiar with elephants and crocodiles when I went on safari in Zambia in 2006; nevertheless the experience of being close to hippos and lions was overwhelming and I can recommend it to any nature enthusiast. The real gems of the trip however were the two walking safaris we did in South Luangwa’s National Park, in which my friend and I walked under guidance of an interpreter for 2-3 hours across the savannah, see the picture below. We were accompanied by a guard armed with a shotgun who was constantly on the look-out for animals, so we felt comfortable enough to embrace the risk and gain a unique opportunity of nature discovery (Hooykaas, 2022, Unit 4). We saw zebras, giraffes and buffalos, however the true excitement lay in looking at the small instead of the large; identifying termite nests, poking at poo and hearing bird songs & the leaves rustling in the wind, absent from car noise and seeing it at ground-level. Africa is famous for its iconic wildlife, however that’s only a small part of the savannah ecosystem. Our immersion in the landscape really brought home the harmony of all things in nature and how everything is part of a larger cycle... the “Circle of Life” song from the Lion King is corny but is oh so true!

I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors since I was little, however over the years I’ve started and continue to deepen my respect and awe at nature’s harmony; the more I learn about biodiversity and ecology, the more I recognise Beck et al. (2018)’s description of "sense of place" and the gift of beauty in every natural environment. Nature doesn’t need to offer a breathtaking view or a glorious sunset to provide an immersive experience in which all senses - visual, auditory and sensory - absorb and intuitively recognise the calming power of nature’s harmony. In the below picture taken on a recent hike, it's clear that everything has a purpose; melting snow results in groundwater replenishment for plants, dead logs provide food for fungi redistributing nutrients to the soil, and trees create habitat for birds and squirrels. There’s no residual waste in nature; biotic and abiotic elements affect each other in a never-ending harmonious relationship - although the mouse that gets eaten by an owl may beg to differ! 😉 I tend to make small stops on my hikes to contemplate the surroundings I’m in, which fills me with gratefulness to simply be alive and be witness to such beauty.

I believe the role of a nature interpreter as I aspire to become one day, is to make your audience aware, not superfluously but in the core of one’s being, that humans are part of the natural cycle of life and that we therefore, as the current dominant species on Earth, have a duty to protect and contribute to a healthy planet. I’m hoping that through effective interpretive programming, I’ll be able to share my amazement in such a way that it will inspire others to care too about the natural environment, one step at a time, whether it’s in Zambia or in Ontario!

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

Hooykaas, A. (2022). ENVS*3000 Nature Interpretation course manual. University of Guelph.

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Hi,

I really enjoyed reading your blog post!

I find it amazing that you spent a year as a child in a jungle camp! Would you say that is what brought you closer to nature? Did this make you decide to study the natural sciences (assuming that you do)?

Acacia trees and ants

I share your opinion on valuing the small over the large. There are so many interesting processes going on that we can't even see! For example, #DYK that acacia trees and ants have a mutualistic relationship (Palmer et al., 2008)? The acacia tree provides food for the ant and, in return, the ant attacks herbivores that try to feed on the tree (Palmer et al., 2008). You might have even seen acacia trees while you were on your Safari!

The calming power of nature

I also find nature to have incredible calming power. That is why I love going on hikes by myself. One especially memorable hike where I felt this way was going up Colca Canyon at 4 am, to beat the sun to the top. Nothing distracted me from being in nature, and I could have a moment where I was in peace with myself and the environment.

Colca Canyon, the second deepest Canyon in the world (December 2018)

Whenever I am in nature, I take a deep breath and I appreciate where I am and how fortunate I am to experience this. It sounds like you do the same. I believe it is very important that we are grateful for nature and we don't take it for granted. It is like you are saying, we need to start protecting nature better if we want it to stay the way it is.

How do make other people care?

As Beck et al. (2018) state, addressing issues like climate change in an environmental setting can be difficult. I struggle with this because, like you, I believe that helping the environment should be the purpose of interpretation. I guess creating a sense of place and providing the gift of passion ultimately motivates people to protect certain places (Beck et al., 2018).

Do you think issues like climate change should be directly incorporated into interpretive programs?

Cheers,

Verena

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T. & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Palmer, T. M., Stanton, M. L., Young, T. P., Goheen, J. R., Pringle, R. M., & Karban, R. (2008). Breakdown of an ant-plant mutualism follows the loss of large herbivores from an African Savanna. Science, 319(5860), 192–195. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1151579

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N(e)ature - Bears that Surf

Close your eyes for a moment and listen to this sound:

What do you see, smell and hear?

Besides the picture, these sounds immediately take me back to running water. Where does it take you?

Breath in deeply and close your eyes. Picture yourself near a stream. You can hear the water, a brute force that overpowers all the other sounds from other animals that might be around. You feel the moss underneath your feet. One step forward and you feel the very, very cold water touching your toes. You might smell flowers that are blooming onshore and are awakening from their deep winter sleep.

I see myself standing near a gushing stream in Jasper, Alberta. At Maligne Canyon, I can see the water passing along and then suddenly falling deep down.

Visiting Maligne Canyon at Jasper National Park (August 2021)

Waterfalls were not the only thing I saw out West! Last year, I saw my first-ever grizzly bears! Grizzly bears are really fascinating to me. #Funfact: Grizzly bears only reproduce every 5 to 8 years (Parks Canada, 2017)! Today, I want to tell you about how they practise surfing because when I learned about this, I was flabbergasted.

Resource Waves

Yes, you heard right, bears like to surf. They just don't use surfboards like we do and they don't surf waves on the ocean. Bears surf resource waves. Resource waves are changes in the spatial and temporal abundance of prey (Abrahms et al., 2021). This means, the bear takes advantage of when and where its food source is very abundant, and then it goes there at the right time to feed on the prey.

Grizzly Bear hunting salmon at a waterfall.

Salmon spawning times affect grizzly bear behaviour

As you can tell by the video, grizzly bears like to eat salmon. Since all of you have taken at least one biology course, you are probably aware that salmon migrate back to the watersheds they were born in to spawn. What you probably didn't know is that the spawning date of salmon changes with the water temperature (Abrahms et al., 2021).

In warmer waters, such as lakes, salmon spawn later. In rivers and fast-flowing, colder water, salmon spawn earlier. This change in spawning date is exactly what the grizzly bear takes advantage of: The grizzly bear tracks the movement pattern of the salmon and feeds first on the salmon in the river, and then in the lake (Abrahms et al., 2021).

Why surfing is crucial

You might wonder why it is important for the grizzly bear to track the resource pattern of its prey. There are two reasons:

1. The bear tracks the peak abundance of the salmon, which means it feeds while there is a lot of salmon present. This prevents the bear from decimating the salmon population (Abrahms et al., 2021).

2. The bear first feeds on the salmon in the stream and then in the lake. This gives the bear food for multiple months (Abrahms et al., 2021)!

The love for berries

Grizzly bears also love to eat berries. #DYK That bearberries are called this way because they are the favourite food of bears (Mussulman & Reveal, 2022)? Usually, berries bloom after the salmon spawn so when the bears are done feeding on salmon, they switch to berries.

Resource waves everywhere

I always find it so fascinating how things are interconnected in nature. The concept of resource waves is not limited to bears, mule deer also follow the peak abundance of vegetation (Abrahams et al., 2021). Next time you go for a walk, BEAR in mind how organisms are intertwined with each other and how impacting one will impact others. Maybe there are animals in your favourite forest that also practise surfing?

References

Abrahms, B., Aikens, E. O., Armstrong, J. B., Deacy, W. W., Kauffman, M. J., & Merkle, J. A. (2021). Emerging perspectives on resource tracking and animal movement ecology. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 36(4), 308–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2020.10.018

Mussulman, J. & Reveal, J. L. (2022). Bearberry. Discovering Lewis & Clark. http://www.lewis-clark.org/article/1352

Parks Canada. (2017). Grizzly Bears. https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/mtn/ours-bears/generaux-basics/grizzli-grizzly

[mmenvs3000w22-deactivated202205]

BLOG 7: NATURE IN... MUSIC... IN NATURE.

I think it is easy to find music in nature. As you wander through the great outdoors you begin to hear what I refer to as the “patterns” of the environment. In a forest, you start to notice the repetitive creaking of the trees. Wind gusts come rushing past you ever so often and leave a moment of silence in its wake. Once the noise floods in again you can hear the rustling of squirrels and rabbits on the forest floor. Birds communicating in song echos across the whole area. There are periods where you can hear them flying just above you. Maybe you come across a woodpecker or two tapping away at the bark of trees in a constant rhythm. As you stand there the “pattern” of the noises repeats over and over again. Altogether the forest harmonizes and makes a perfect melody. Essentially, you have listened to the music of nature. The song is forever changing with only key parts remaining the same. Every season brings a new “pattern”. For instance, if you were to go to the same forest now during the winter you would hear different noises. The melodies produced by the birds are minimal to none at all. You may come across the sound of dripping water from melting snow. Or the crackling of settling trees. But, overall in this season, it is a much more of a quiet tune. Do all of these noises count as being music? I think it could be considered a song. But ultimately it’s up to the listener to decide.

In terms of Nature found in music, I find it harder to distinguish. What counts as nature in music? Does the song have to contain lyrics that tell a story about nature? Like Bob Marley’s three little birds. His interpretation of the music in nature.

“Rise up this mornin'

Smile with the risin' sun

Three little birds

Pitch by my doorstep

Singin' sweet songs

Of melodies pure and true

Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou")”

Bob Marley

Or, does there need to be segments of nature sounds in the song? Such as the music Ben Mirin produces as we learned about in this unit. It’s interesting to hear how clips of noises found in nature can be manipulated to create an entire song. But do either of these methods of interpreting nature count as having nature within the music? I think so. The songs are taking ‘inspiration’ from nature. The artist is creating connections and emotional experiences in their music, all while using cues from nature. Overall, both methods are effective and sound amazing.

As a follow-up, I feel as though the mimicry of nature in a song can transport the listener straight to the natural landscape of the story. For instance, in the Inuit culture, they have this practice known as throat singing. It’s an emotional song imitating the sounds heard in nature and is extremely important to their culture. You may have come across it on TikTok. It is popularly showcased on Shina Nova’s account. The goal of her channel is to bring awareness to the oppression of indigenous people. She shares her cultural practice in hopes of showcasing its beauty and removing stigmatism/misconceptions about the culture. The music she and her mom make really illustrates the emotion and connection to nature. You should all go check it out. @shinanova on TikTok.

Shina Nova (@shinanova) Official TikTok | Watch Shina Nova's Newest TikTok Videos

Shina Nova (@shinanova) on TikTok | 139.7M Likes. 4M Fans. Proud Indigenous✊🏼👆🏼 Inuuvunga, I am Inuk Throat singer [email protected]

[vwenvs3000w22]

Hi,

I really enjoyed reading your post!

I liked your description of music in a forest. I think you are right - in order to hear those patterns of nature, we need to stop and listen! I looked up the definition of music for my post and a sound has to be rhythmic, harmonic or have a melody to be considered music (Merriam-Webster, 2022).

Hearing what you consider music in a forest, I guess the creaking of the trees does not really have a rhythm and would not qualify as music. However, I think this definition is just human-made, from a human perspective. I don't see why everything has to be human-like just to qualify as music. I believe everyone can decide for themselves what they define as music. To me, the sound of the wind rustling is just a sound.

I also had some trouble understanding what nature in music means. Many songs just mention nature briefly. I would not consider that music. However, when the lyrics talk about nature in more detail, I would say that qualifies as having nature in music.

I didn't even consider this concept from your perspective as having nature sounds in music! That is a really interesting idea. I also listened to some of Ben Mirrin's songs and they are so funny. I definitely would say this counts towards having nature in music.

Thanks for providing that information on Shina Nova's music! I have heard of throat singing before but I actually never listened to it until now. You talk about songs that bring you back to nature. What song does that for you?

Cheers,

Verena

Merriam-Webster. (2022). Music. Retrieved February 28, 2022 from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/music

[vwenvs3000w22]

There is more to a Sing Along...

Have you ever watched a movie and during an intense scene, covered your ears? I do that all the time when things get creepy. Without the power of music, films don’t reach us on the same emotional level.

But what is music? What distinguishes music from sound?

The definition of music: Vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds having rhythm, melody, or harmony (Merriam-Webster, 2022).

The role of music in nature

When I think of music in nature, I first think of the call of birds. Whenever I walk through the woods nearby in the spring, there is a good chance to hear a whole orchestra of birds chirping. Researchers found out that these bird calls actually have a certain rhythm, melodies and elements of harmony (Hartshorn, 1971).

Did you know that birds are not the only animals making music? Whales have underwater songs that they use to communicate with each other. Check out the humpback whale’s (Megaptera novaeangliae) call below! Again, these sounds are considered music from a human perspective because they have rhythms, melodies and/or harmony (Gray et al., 2001).

For these animals, the main purpose of music is communication. Music is their language. Humans have the spoken word as a way to communicate with each other. Therefore, there are many ways in which music can play a role for humans. For example, indigenous nations use music as a medium to pass on traditional knowledge and to teach about nature and history (Lepofsky, 2020).

The role of nature in music

Nature can be the topic of songs and play a role in music through that. For example, Finnish folk music and poetry teach about the flora and fauna of the forest (Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, 2012). There are also many modern songs about the environment, such as the Truth to Power song by One Republic. Here, the music is used to spread awareness and educate us.

Music also offers a way for us to engage with nature. Singing has been incorporated in environmental education to teach children about nature in an engaging way. This has been done in schools in Finland (Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, 2012). Elsewhere, bands such as the banana slug string band perform in schools and teach about nature (Beck et al., 2019).

Music is a powerful tool in nature interpretation because besides teaching us about nature, it sparks emotions and produces a mental picture (Beck et al., 2019). This helps to create a sense of place for the visitor. Music can also provide the gift of story (Beck et al., 2019). For example, James Raffam wrote the song “The Last Place” about the Timiskaming tragedy. He said that this was the only way he could capture this tragedy is by telling the story in a song.

The song that takes me back to nature

I thought long and hard about what song takes me back to nature. Personally, I don’t really listen to music while I am in nature. I do have some good memories singing Wonderwall by Oasis at a campfire. The song Summer Air by Italobrothers reminds me of going on a road trip with my best friend along the coast of Montenegro. However, when I think of these songs, I think more about my connection with my friends than my connection with nature.

Another thing to consider is that I don’t really listen to music lyrics. I only listen to English songs, but English is not my first language. Usually, I don’t understand the meaning of the song, unless I really focus on listening to it. Therefore, I would say that I don’t have a song that brings back a sense of a certain place in nature.

References

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

Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. (2012). Spiritual values of protected areas of Europe Workshop Proceedings. Retrieved February 28, 2022 from https://www.silene.ong/en/documentation-centre/publications/spiritual-values-of-protected-areas-of-europe-workshop-proceedings#Proceedings_Spiritual%20Values_PAs_Europe.pdf

Gray, P. M., Kraue, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C. & Baptista, L. (2001). The music of nature and the nature of music. Science, 291(5501), 52-54. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.10.1126/SCIENCE.1056960

Hartshorne, C. (1971). Born to sing: an interpretation and world survey of bird song. Indiana University Press.

Lepofsky, D. (2020, January 2). Indigenous song keepers reveal traditional ecological knowledge in music. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/indigenous-song-keepers-reveal-traditional-ecological-knowledge-in-music-123573

Merriam-Webster. (2022). Music. Retrieved February 28, 2022 from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/music

[rsenvs3000w22]

If you’re at all like me, you may have read the quote above and thought, huh? Honestly, at first, I was a bit stumped. I had to come back and read it over a few times before deciding what it meant to me. Like poetry and other art forms that we discussed in Unit 4, I think that this quote can be interpreted differently by everyone.

For me, it was the second half that really stood out. In my mind, this portion is a reminder for all areas of our lives that the past is a valuable place to start when looking at the present. What has occurred in the past cannot be discounted as it contributed to where we are today. Personally, I have always loved history for this reason as the events and choices of the past can be seen throughout aspects of our daily lives.

Rattlesnake Point lookout. Source: https://ontarioconservationareas.ca/

In the context of nature interpretation, the past is crucial for understanding the landscape in terms of both natural history and human history. The best way for me to describe this is through a story of looking out from rattlesnake point as my dad described how the Niagara Escarpment was formed. He told a story of a vast tropical sea 450 million years ago. Years later the sediments comprised of the sea life were compressed by rock. The same region as the climate changed was overlain by glaciers that as they melted and retreated carved away along with the elements leaving behind these cliffs. Interpretation helps us breathe life and meaning into past events and forms values to guide the present (Beck et al., 2019). His story did exactly that as I was astounded and in awe of the area which left me with a deeper connection. The cliffs were no longer only cliffs but a natural wonder that took millions of years to occur.

Eastern white pine plantation in Guelph. Source: https://www.vanwaffle.com/2013/02/02/grace-of-a-white-pine-monoculture/#sthash.2VpYBjZd.dpbs

Similarly, the human history of the landscape plays a role in interpretation. While it is important to remember the happy stories of the past it is equally important to recount the tragic ones (Beck et al., 2019). Interpreting history can help us better understand the impacts of certain actions and hopefully inspire individuals to be agents of change (Beck et al., 2019). For example, we can learn from past human impacts on the landscape. Considering this I am reminded of the tall Eastern white and red pine plantations across Southern Ontario. At the time they were planted it seemed like an efficient policy for future investment in logging and to re-establish the original ecosystem encountered by Europeans. The result was many sterile ecosystems. In a way, I think understanding the history behind these forests you’re bound to encounter serves as a reminder of nature’s complexity and the difficulty to recreate it after its destroyed.

Ontario old growth white pine forest. Source: http://www.ancientforest.org/the-past-isnt-what-it-used-to-be/

Is there a place you visit in which the natural, human, or personal history has given you a deeper connection or understanding?

References

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

[vwenvs3000w22]

Hi Rebecca,

I really enjoyed reading your post and getting your perspective on the quote. Just like you, I also had to read the quote multiple times and I had to search for the meanings of some words to attempt to understand the quote's meaning.

I found it really interesting that you mention the Niagara Escarpment because when @nzenvs3000w22 answered to my post they mentioned that history can change the meaning of a landscape and promote resource conservation. I did some research and it seems like the Niagara Escarpment is protected under the Niagara Escarpment Plan due to historic uniqueness, amongst other reasons (Neptis Foundation. 2021).

The protection of the Niagara Escarpment exemplifies that history does not only change the way we perceive but also the way we care for natural areas!

I really liked the example you provided regarding human impacts on the landscape. I definitely have the same feeling whenever I go hiking in this area. and become aware of the low diversity in the forests. Seeing the old-growth forest in BC makes it even more clear how the historic forest management in Ontario had tragic consequences.

Despite sharing most of your thoughts, I hadn't considered that the quote can be interpreted in different ways. I believe that everyone has different backstories in mind when they relate to this quote. For example, you think about the history of forestry whereas, in my blog, I focused on the Holocaust. Those two very different topics convey the same message - we mustn't forget the past. I believe that is what Hyams tried to bring across with his quote.

Cheers,

Verena

Neptis Foundation. (2021). Niagara Escarpment Plan (NEP). Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://neptis.org/publications/chapters/niagara-escarpment-plan-nep

[vwenvs3000w22]

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it (George Santayana, 1905)

Why do we want to know as much as we can about our ancestors? Why do we care about the past? Why is history important? In the following blog post, I will analyze a quote split into two parts about the meaning of the past.

Part One

The importance of memories

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.

(Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)

In the first part of this quote, the author states that integrity (wholeness, completeness) is what matters and that is why history matters. Think about it this way: Who would you be without your past? If you were to wake up tomorrow with no memories, would you feel whole?

The importance of ancient things

The idea of memories is just one part of the quote, Hyams says that integrity gives ancient things meaning. I remember going to the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany and a part of the exhibit was pairs of shoes from Jewish people that were killed in the Holocaust. The sign next to the shoes described who they belonged to and told me their story.

Without any interpretation, I would have fully ignored those shoes. The interpretation gave it meaning, provided integrity and made the shoes more than just shoes. This museum also had a cinema where they told the story of the concentration camps. This provided me with a personal authenticity experience (Beck et al. 2019). My parents thought they lost me in the museum because I spent two hours just exploring.

The Berlin Holocaust Memorial.

The importance of knowledge

In the 1880s, the Canadian government and multiple churches opened residential schools. I will never fully understand the horrors that indigenous people have gone through. If they survived the schools, the children weren’t even able to communicate with their own families because they were taught to forget their language and culture. Knowledge matters for integrity, for indigenous people and for us Canadians. If we ignore the past, how can they ever forgive us?

Part 2

Trains and Time

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)

The second part of the quote by Hyams uses a metaphor to illustrate why ignoring the past is wrong. The author compares the past to the train station that a train has just left. If we ignore the past, we refuse to take notice of the train station’s existence.

Do you care about the train station?

The reality is that most of us are more concerned with where the train goes to than where it was. I spend most of my time planning future events such as when I will complete my blog post for next week. In a way, we don't ignore the existence of the station; it just is not important at the moment.

The past is important. I grew up in Germany and we spent multiple years in school studying the two world wars my nation has caused. It took me a while to grasp the importance of learning this in so much detail. It is just as George Santayana says: If we don't remember the past, it is condemned to repeat itself.

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

[nzenvs3000w22]

Hey Verena, 

I really liked your post this week and interpretation of the quote by Hyams. You made it very apparent that looking through the lens of history opens up a lot more viewpoints than just nature interpretation. Being able to remember and learn from our mistakes in the past should keep us from making those same mistakes again. 

It is also really cool to think of all the history that nature has seen. For example, the woods and grasslands in Europe where both world wars were fought probably have some pretty frightening stories to tell. This in itself could change the way we as interpreters look at these areas. Maybe instead of focusing on animal life or natural landscapes, we would be more interested in the historic sites. This could even spill over into how we manage resources in these areas, whereas a normal forest might be logged more frequently and intensely, a history rich site like this may be more preserved, putting values on those hundred year old trees that were there during the fighting. 

That concept in itself is weird when you really think about it. You are treating a woodlot differently than you would typically because of something that happened in it years before that is long over. Even at the cost of better ecosystem functioning and sound forest management, our interpretation through the lens of history alters the way we handle our resources.

Like your example of holcaust victims shows being nothing more than an old pair of shoes without interpretation, these battlegrounds would be nothing more than forests and grasslands. 

I’m curious if you have an opinion on the topic, and look forward to reading more of your posts in the future!

Nathan

[vwenvs3000w22]

Hi Nathan,

thanks for reading my post and providing your perspective on the topic.

I believe that what you are describing with the grasslands gaining another meaning when you consider the historic events that happened there is considered giving the place objective authenticity (Beck et al, 2019). I never thought about this perspective of history in this detail but you are totally right! I definitely agree with you that there is a need for the interpretation of historic sites in order to feel a sense of place.

I also think that the fact that we treat something differently because of its history is interesting. If we don't consider history, it seems foolish to keep pairs of old shoes. Just like Hyams says: Ancient things don't matter unless history gives them meaning.

One negative point about the preservation of historic sites is the tourism that comes with it. I understand that this usually is what funds the preservation; however, too many people can endanger the ecosystem and restructure the whole community around a historic site. For example, when I went to Machu Picchu in Peru, I did not feel a connection to the place at all. Despite its astounding history, I just couldn't connect with the site. One reason for that is because people line up to take pictures and there was no place to just sit down and think about what I am looking at here. It was so busy and the village next to Machu Picchu was a tourist trap if I ever saw one.

Luckily, not all sites are attracting that many tourists. I think you definitely have a point by saying that history can influence forest management and the preservation of sites.

Looking forward to hearing your opinion on this topic,

Verena

Machu Picchu in Peru - It looks empty but it really isn't. (November 2018)

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

[vwenvs3000w22]

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it (George Santayana, 1905)

Why do we want to know as much as we can about our ancestors? Why do we care about the past? Why is history important? In the following blog post, I will analyze a quote split into two parts about the meaning of the past.

Part One

The importance of memories

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.

(Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)

In the first part of this quote, the author states that integrity (wholeness, completeness) is what matters and that is why history matters. Think about it this way: Who would you be without your past? If you were to wake up tomorrow with no memories, would you feel whole?

The importance of ancient things

The idea of memories is just one part of the quote, Hyams says that integrity gives ancient things meaning. I remember going to the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany and a part of the exhibit was pairs of shoes from Jewish people that were killed in the Holocaust. The sign next to the shoes described who they belonged to and told me their story.

Without any interpretation, I would have fully ignored those shoes. The interpretation gave it meaning, provided integrity and made the shoes more than just shoes. This museum also had a cinema where they told the story of the concentration camps. This provided me with a personal authenticity experience (Beck et al. 2019). My parents thought they lost me in the museum because I spent two hours just exploring.

The Berlin Holocaust Memorial.

The importance of knowledge

In the 1880s, the Canadian government and multiple churches opened residential schools. I will never fully understand the horrors that indigenous people have gone through. If they survived the schools, the children weren’t even able to communicate with their own families because they were taught to forget their language and culture. Knowledge matters for integrity, for indigenous people and for us Canadians. If we ignore the past, how can they ever forgive us?

Part 2

Trains and Time

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)

The second part of the quote by Hyams uses a metaphor to illustrate why ignoring the past is wrong. The author compares the past to the train station that a train has just left. If we ignore the past, we refuse to take notice of the train station’s existence.

Do you care about the train station?

The reality is that most of us are more concerned with where the train goes to than where it was. I spend most of my time planning future events such as when I will complete my blog post for next week. In a way, we don't ignore the existence of the station; it just is not important at the moment.

The past is important. I grew up in Germany and we spent multiple years in school studying the two world wars my nation has caused. It took me a while to grasp the importance of learning this in so much detail. It is just as George Santayana says: If we don't remember the past, it is condemned to repeat itself.

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

[hsenvs3000w22]

For the Love of Science

Scientific knowledge plays a crucial role in nature interpretation. Current issues such as climate change, sustainability, and habitat loss are all based on scientific conclusions drawn by researchers or professionals in the field. However, we rely on interpreters to relay this information in a meaningful way to groups of people in order to motivate them to be a part of the solution. One of the main goals of nature interpretation is to be able to educate the audience in a way that they can carry beyond the experience itself. I like to think of this as a step by step process, while recognizing that it may not be as clear cut in reality. The first step in my head is to engage the audience and answer questions such as ‘Why should we care?” and “Why is this important?”. This is one of the techniques used in the TED talk, For the Love of Birds by Washington Wachira. Washington uses a beautiful physical feather to engage his audience. He also speaks about the topic in relation to humans by highlighting the many ways in which birds impact humans. By doing so, he is able to gain the audience’s interest in the topic before highlighting issues that need attention. His TED talk is told as a smooth flowing story and he did a great job at using visual images to enhance the experience. After establishing a vested interest from the audience, he then begins to highlight problems affecting birds such as climate change, poisoning, habitat loss, hunting, and wind farms. At this point the audience is emotionally or intellectually intrigued and have an interest in helping to solve these issues. The next step is to highlight solutions for these problems and ways in which people can contribute to the solutions.

I see science communication through nature interpretation as an art, as it requires a delicate flow of information that is easy to understand, impactful, and will leave a lasting impression on the audience. By invoking feelings of inspiration, motivation, and passion amongst an audience we can help solve pressing issues. To me, science is very meaningful and has played a huge role in my life. I see the world from a scientific lense whether that be the environment, animals, or humans. I believe in the concept of One Health in that all three of these things are connected and the health of one relies on the health of the others. This is why it is so important for us to understand the world around us and protect the future of our planet. 

What does it mean to you to see the world through a scientific lense? What role has science had in your life?

[vwenvs3000w22]

Hi,

I really enjoyed reading your post. I definitely agree, we do rely on interpreters to convey science to audiences. The TED talk is a great example of that. Many researchers themselves have trouble explaining the topic of their research to people without the same background. I believe that a massive problem in scientific societies is communication. We need interpreters like Washington Wachira to open the science world up to the general public.

I think Washington Wachira used many different great techniques to keep his audience engaged and I think your summary of his techniques is very accurate. I also noticed how he kept relating things back to humans, even before he started talking about the way humans impact birds. For example, he says that birds represent freedom for humans etc. This is a great way of providing the "Gift of a Spark" as a principle of interpretation to the audience (Beck et al., 2019).

To answer your questions, I also see the world from a scientific perspective. Science fascinates me and I love what I learn about wildlife and ecology in school. When I go on walks with my roommates, I always end up naming different types of trees and telling facts about how trees survive the winter, xylem sizes and so on. One of my roomies is always super interested and asks really good questions. When I don't know the answer, we look things up at home. I would say that I definitely inspired her a little bit to learn more about the natural world.

I honestly don't know what it means to NOT see the world through a scientific lens. Maybe it would be seeing colours and art instead of remembering facts? What do you think?

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

[vwenvs3000w22]

It's a Risky Business with Nature

In my first post where I described my relationship with nature, I mentioned my first solo trek in Patagonia, Chile. Over four days, I hiked the Cerro Castillo Trek and I had an amazing time. On my third day of hiking, I had to cross the highest point, the Cerro Castillo pass. When I arrived at the top, it was incredibly windy. I did some research after and found out that it was over 50 km/h of winds. There is a day hike that you can do just up the mountain and the day I crossed Mount Cerro Castillo, the rangers stopped people from doing the day hike because of the strong winds. I, of course, didn’t know that. When I arrived at the top, I was terrified. I didn’t see any other people; it was just me and nature’s brutal forces. I had to crawl across the top because I didn’t dare to stand up. However, when I arrived at the other side, I saw one of the best views I have ever had in my life. While walking down, the winds were still pretty strong and while trying to maintain balance, I slipped and I felt my knee crack which I previously injured.

The reward for my risk - The top of the Cerro Castillo Pass (February 2019)

Thinking about this experience now, so many things could have gone wrong! I could have been seriously injured and I had no way of communicating with anyone - I would have had to rely on other people to find me. I could have died on this mountain, but I didn’t, and my reward was amazing. As you can tell from me mentioning this again, the experience itself really stuck with me. It stuck with me not because of the beauty of nature I experienced but because of the immense risk I took and the way I put my life in danger. After that hike, I decided that I want to be more risk-aware and more prepared.

Responsibilities

The trip of the St. John's schoolboys and the tragedy that happened really shook me. These boys and their parents trusted their teachers to know what they are doing. It is one thing to put your own life in danger but being responsible for the death of others is something I could never live with.

This brings me back to my second blog post about my ideal role as a nature interpreter. I mentioned that I would love to be a hiking guide. While I still very much would like that role, it comes with great responsibility. Before ever stepping into that role, I should probably attend an outdoor university program and take multiple courses to prepare myself. I never want to be in a situation where I put my life and other people’s lives and risk because I did not acquire the skills I should have.

Adventures come with risk

While being risk-aware is very important, there are some things you just cannot account for. There are certain risks you cannot avoid when you are out in nature. For example, my partner is a paddling guide and takes tourists on 2-week trips in the Northwest Territories. His company is very prepared because they have been leading this trip for 30 years. However, there are always things that can surprise even the most experienced nature interpreter. When we went on a trip last summer, my partner hadn’t paddled the Keele River for two years due to the pandemic. In a section called “The Splits”, the river had changed and dug new routes, eliminating old ways to paddle that section. We had a raft with us that was heavier and we got stuck because the river had changed and the channel wasn’t deep enough anymore. Obviously, everything went well and we were able to get unstuck. However, this illustrates that there are always hick-ups nature throws at us. With decent preparation, we can handle the challenges and adapt quickly.

The Keele River from Blood Mountain (August 2021). "The Splits" section is where the river splits up in different channels.

Please know that I would go out there any time again to do Cerro Castillo. There is nothing more rewarding than the view and the self-esteem you get from mastering this challenge by yourself.

This time, I would bring a sat phone and inform myself about the weather daily.

So BE PREPARED even if you are just going for a day hike!

Angel's landing - A devilish day hike in the Zion National Park in Utah. Multiple people have died on this hike and I still saw some people not wearing hiking boots. (February 2020)

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Nature through Art

Who are you to interpret nature through art? As someone who is artistically challenged, I am not too sure, but I can still appreciate others who can find a way to interpret nature through art. 

As I’ve said in probably every blog post so far, I spent the past two summers working in Killarney Provincial Park. A really cool fact that I remembered when doing my readings this week is that the group of seven, specifically A.Y. Jackson, Franklin Carmichael and A.J. Casson were so captivated by  the landscape there that they persuaded the Ontario government to make it a park! Because of this, they have named lakes after them, and even O.S.A lake, which stands for Ontario’s Seven Artists! Cool right!

Picture taken from a campsite on O.S.A, such a beautiful mountain range! (2014)

Although I am not the best artist, I got to help out and participate in an Art in the Park event this past summer! It was hosted by my friend who goes to Sheridan for visual art, and he loves to paint scenes in the park as he gets inspired just like the group of seven were. This was a really fun opportunity to try and interpret what I was seeing and to translate that into my art work! I got some pointers along the way but I don’t think I’ll ever take up art…

The inspiration!

And my beautiful painting…

The way that I like to interpret nature through art is with photography! Whether I am taking a picture of a flower or a landscape, I always want to capture an image from my point of view, so others can see how I truly interpret an image. Although I wouldn’t say I’m super into photography, I do enjoy taking pictures of different landscapes so that when I look back at it, I can transport right back to that spot and imagine that I am revisiting it. I especially love taking pictures in Killarney, as the white peaks and cliffs of the La Cloche mountains contrast with the pine and hardwood forests surrounding the lakes. By sharing these images, I hope to show others how I interpret nature, and to inspire others to want to check out the park!

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Hi Grace,

Your post really resonated with me! I do know what you mean when you say you are artistically challenged - I also have yet to discover any artistic talent for myself. I think your painting looks good and as long as you are happy with it that is all that matters! For me, I believe that part of the reason why I always disliked doing my own art was that I had bad grades in art class. I think art should be free of scores and marks. I probably would still have some interest in sketching if I wouldn't constantly judge the quality I produce.

I also lean towards interpreting nature through photography just because it is the easiest way for me to do so. I feel the same way as you - pictures trigger a memory and that brings me back to the place. However, I cannot say that I have the same feeling when I look at other people's pictures unless they resemble somewhere I have been. I always find that pictures just don't do the reality justice. When I saw one of your pictures at the campsite on O.S.A, it instantly took me back to my summer when I went canoeing in the Northwest Territories.

Paddling the Keele River in the Northwest Territories (August 2019)

While photography might be the way I personally would interpret nature, I definitely have it in me to appreciate art used in interpretation and it sounds like you feel the same way.

Since we seem to have so much in common, I am interested to know what the "gift of beauty" means to you.

Thanks for sharing,

Verena

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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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Blog 3 - Privilege and Nature Interpretation

In 2018, only 6 % of visitors to national parks in America identified as black (Ebbs & Dwyer, 2020). Clearly, there is a bias of who visits national parks and attends interpretation programs.

To me, privilege is something that exists that gives you an advantage in life. You did not work towards gaining it but it has been handed to you. For example, the fact that no person in my friend group, including myself, had a job during university. We were able to not work because our parents were middle-class people and made enough money to pay our rent and fees. Clearly, I am privileged. It took me a long time to realize that because I grew up in a bubble with other white, privileged people. I only started to unpack my "invisible knapsack" when I left that bubble to go travelling which is kind of ironic because I was only able to go travelling because of my privilege (Gallavan, 2005).

A picture of the concept of privilege.

5 ways of how privilege play a role in nature interpretation

1. The privileged founding fathers of conservation

The beginning of nature and its interpretation was initiated by the American president Theodore Roosevelt and his inner circle that had a big influence on the environmentalist movement (National Park Service, 2021). To this date, Roosevelt is commemorated at six national parks in the US (National Park Service, 2021).

#DYK that this group was also extremely racist?

One of Roosevelt's friends, Madison Grant, wrote a book about preserving the white race. Not surprisingly, there is also a national park named after him (Purdy, 2015).

Faces of American History at the Mount Rushmore National Park Memorial, including Theodore Roosevelt

2. The establishment of parks - fortress conservation

The "wilderness" that parks were established in belonged to someone - native people. For example, when the Yellowknife national park was established, the Miwok tribe that had lived in the area for thousands of years was forced to leave and threatened with death (Fererra, 2016). This is the foundation of the playgrounds for privileged people.

Yellowstone National Park - established 1872

3. The privilege of enjoying nature

Many Protected Areas are established in poor countries with high inequality. Who is using these areas? The privileged! We travel all the way to a different continent to go on Safari tours which makes it economically viable for the country itself to have this protected area (Kashwan, 2017). However, local resident do not visit those area or even profit from their existence (Kashwan, 2017).

4. Economic Barriers: Privilege and nature interpretation today

Privilege still plays a big role in nature interpretation. Minorities and people that are not very privileged experience certain barriers that prevent them from partaking in programs. Accessibility can be a big reason why people don't attend programs and visit national parks for example, if money or a car is required to experience nature. For instance, 50 % of UK's poorest people live 25 km from parks, further than privileged people (Mell, 2019). A good solution to this is free entrance and transport to sites (Beck et al., 2019).

Underprivileged people have less access to nature (Tomer, 2019).

5. Communication Barriers: Privilege and nature interpretation today

Another big barrier to attending programs is language. Most programs are only offered in English and maybe in French. It is important to offer programs in other languages as well. Moreover, having diverse staff might encourage more people to partake in programs (Beck et al., 2019).

In conclusion, we all need to identify our privilege and then work towards removing barriers for underprivileged people. Nature should be for everyone to enjoy.

“When we identify where our privilege intersects with somebody else's oppression, we'll find our opportunities to make real change.” (Oluo, 2019)

References

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

Ebbs, S., & Dwyer, D. (2020, July 2). America’s national parks face existential crisis over race. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/americas-national-parks-face-existential-crisis-race/story?id=71528972

Ferrara, G. (2016, April 22). Fortress Conservation & the Makings of Yosemite National Park. School of Marine and Environmental Affairs. https://smea.uw.edu/currents/fortress-conservation-the-makings-of-yosemite-national-park/

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks". Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9fe2f151

Kashwan, P. (2017). Inequality, democracy, and the environment: A cross-national analysis. Ecological Economics, 131, 139–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2016.08.018

Mell, I. (2019, February 20). National parks are beautiful, but austerity and inequality prevent many from enjoying them. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/national-parks-are-beautiful-but-austerity-and-inequality-prevent-many-from-enjoying-them-111768

Purdy, J. (2015, August 13). Environmentalism’s Racist History. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/environmentalisms-racist-history

Oluo, I. (2018). So You Want to Talk About Race. Seal Press.

Theodore Roosevelt and the National Park System. (2021, January 14). National Park Service. Retrieved January 25, 2022, from https://www.nps.gov/thrb/learn/historyculture/trandthenpsystem.htm#:%7E:text=As%20President%20from%201901%20to,of%20Chickasaw%20National%20Recreation%20Area)

Tomer, J. K. A. A. (2019, August 22). Parks make great places, but not enough Americans can reach them. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2019/08/21/parks-make-great-places-but-not-enough-americans-can-reach-them/

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Hi Verena, 

I thought that your blog post was written very well with a lot of thought and care into what you were saying, which is especially important when discussing such an important topic. I had no idea that Roosevelt was important in creating parks or that his racist friend has a park named after him (not that I’m surprised). While writing my blog post I was thinking hard about how Europeans colonized Canada, disconnected Indigenous people from their own land, created Parks out of this land, then created barriers to accessing the Parks which makes them inaccessible to many groups including Indigenous people. There are no words to describe how sickening it is.

While researching for my own blog post I found an article about how an area for Indigenous cultural use was created in Jasper National park. I found this graphic showing Indigenous relations within the park, and, as shown, it took 95 years since Indigenous people were removed from the land for an office to be designated, and over 100 years for a cultural use site to be established. 

Although reestablishing one piece of land specifically for Indigenous cultural use is clearly not nearly enough to make up for the damages of colonialism, it is a start, and I hope to see many more changes like this throughout my lifetime. 

Thanks for reading,

Aurora

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Hi Aurora,

Thanks for reading my post. To me, it is always interesting to learn about indigenous culture and history. I came to Canada two years ago and I grew up in Germany so I didn't learn about any of this until I came here - the focus of education in Germany is mostly on the World Wars we started (probably a good thing to not forget about as well). I remember hearing about residential schools for the first time - it was truly sickening.

The changes in Jasper National Park really sound like a step in the right direction! Generally, I feel like Parks Canada does a fairly good job at opening the world of nature interpretation to diverse audiences. For example, they include pictures of minorities on their website to encourage their involvement (Parks Canada, 2021). They also offer some content in different languages, including Spanish and Chinese (Parks Canada, 2021). Hopefully, we will see more of this!

Parks Canada. (2021). Learn to Camp. Retrieved January 31st, 2021 from https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/serapprocher-connect/ltc-dlc