Warren Zeinstra

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Blog 10: Reflecting as an interpreter

Throughout this course, it’s been amazing to read all the different backgrounds each person brings from all over the world, that each brought us here, writing these blogs. I think it goes to show how strongly nature can really bring people together. Whether you’re in a science major or not we all feel some sort of bond with the outdoors we’d like to extend to others. In a month I’ll be graduating with a degree in Environmental Biology and I’m excited to see where it will take me. I think the writing and personal reflecting I’ve done throughout this course will surely help me in the future. I believe that the ethics and beliefs a person carries with them constantly evolve throughout life the more you learn, which has happened even to me during this last semester.

First off, I really enjoyed watching the video of David Susuki and Richard Louv discussing the importance of connecting with nature. A takeaway from the video is that it’s important to remember that nature can be found even in the most urban areas. We don’t have to travel to national or provincial parks to believe we are more connected than other people, it all depends on your perception of what’s around you. They said to think of what you can do in your own yard and neighborhood to appreciate what’s there. This could be starting your own little garden or collecting indoor plants, putting out bird seed or attracting pollinators etc. Even in a concrete jungle there are always ways to connect.

This is a picture of the greenhouse thats actually on uog campus attached the the Bovey Building! I’ve gone here many times this semester just to take in the beauty of all the plants. Its open to anyone I highly recommend taking a look if you havent.

This is another spot affiliated with uog on college ave across from the arboretum. The trial gardens in the summer and early fall are a beautiful place to see the colours of nature. 

I believe that nature truly has healing abilities and that everyone should have access to it. Studies have shown that spending just 20 minutes outside in nature can decrease stress hormones (Loria, 2019). This can range from a variety of things like a walk to just tending to your garden or plants (I think this is why I accumulated so many house plants during covid lockdowns). Nature can heal both mentally and physically by improving sleep, reducing depression, cardiovascular disease and obesity (Loria, 2019). I’ve become aware though that not everyone has the privilege to access nature for many reasons. I am very grateful for the fact I grew up with easy access to fun outdoor experiences, but I will agree it created a sort of ignorance to those with the opposite. Thats why its important as an interpreter to consider this. Each person brings along a personal set of experiences, interests, knowledge, ability and personality (Beck et al., 2018). I think to be a successful interpreter this must be acknowledged on the job, and to treat everyone the same regardless of past experiences.

I also believe that we should leave nature just as pristine as when we found it.

“Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.” -Robin Wall Kimmerer

I think this is also a responsibility we have as a nature interpreter. While nature is there for us to enjoy, it is also there for the next people. This is why many parks have the “leave no trace principle” when camping or being a tourist. Interpretation involves the individual seeing the beauty or understanding the significance of the resource (Beck et al., 2018). Understanding the significance of all nature’s resources means we must develop a sustainable relationship in order to properly respect them. From a consumer level in our lives this can mean only buying essentials at the grocery store to reduce extra waste, and living a less materialistic life. As I’ve gotten older I’ve learned the importance of only buying what I really need, as everything requires energy and resources to produce. Being a good interpreter means practicing what you preach on or off the job.

The approaches that are most suitable to me as an interpreter would be through art or technology, since both of these can come in so many different forms. With digital advances, interpretation occurs via websites, blogs and social media among other technologies” (Beck et al., 2018), and has become a much easier way to interpret information across large scales. As I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs, my favorite way of sharing nature is through photography, which is a combination of both technology and art. This is a way of sharing to people that may have physical, temporal or economic barriers that may prevent them from ever seeing what’s in the photos. I’ve learned and remembered more from watching online nature documentaries and photos than I have from what’s around me. Although, there is a dark side to technology that pulls us away from nature. As mentioned in the notes, children spend more time inside on their devices than they used to in the past. Richard Louv mentioned that the more high tech our lives become the more nature we need. Using technology to connect with each other and nature is a way we can utilize it in a positive way. As interpreters, we have the responsibility to use these tools in a way that is enthusiastic and engaging. Not only this, but we must consider that everyone learns different ways, so using these to adhere to visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners creates the most successful approach.

Thanks to everyone I’ve connected with through these blogs!

-Reilly

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

Loria, K. (2019). The Healing Power of Nature. Consumer Reports. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://www.consumerreports.org/health-wellness/healing-power-nature-outdoors/

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Hi Reilly,

I really enjoyed your post, you made a lot of interesting points. You discussed the video of Richard Louv and David Suzuki and the importance of connecting with nature. I also really enjoyed this video, especially the idea of connecting with nature in urban environments. As you discussed, it is easy to see nature in areas like national or provincial parks, but nature is less obvious in an urban area (Beck et al., 2018). However, nature is very resilient and finds a way to live in all environments if you are willing to look for it. You showed the Bovey building on the Guelph campus, this is a great example of nature existing within an urban environment. One way I like to find nature in the urban environment is looking at the diversity of trees in people front lawns. Before I knew much about trees, I assumed everyone had the same trees, but the more I look the more I am amazed at how diverse the community of front lawn trees is.

           I also really enjoyed your discussion of nature and its healing abilities. This is a very interesting area of research! As you discussed there are many studies researching the health benefits of time spent in nature. This healing ability also goes beyond just time spent in nature, many plants found in nature have medicinal qualities. Modern medicine is just starting to understand the use of plants for healing. This is not new information however, as many indigenous communities have extensive knowledge of the healing properties of plants. A 2000 study looked at the indigenous people of Nepal and their knowledge of using plants for medicine (Joshi and Joshi, 2000). This is another way nature helps to heal us.

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

Joshi, A. R., & Joshi, K. (2000). Indigenous knowledge and uses of medicinal plants by local communities of the Kali Gandaki Watershed Area, Nepal. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 73(1-2), 175-183.

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Last Blog Post

Hi Everyone! 

This week’s post is a lot to think about and reflect on, and I’ve been looking through a semester’s worth of blog posts to see what I’ve learned about myself and nature interpretation. 

The most important takeaway I’ve learned is how vital nature interpretation is. I’m graduating with a Wildlife Biology degree this year, and I love learning about ecology and all things nature-related, including conservation initiatives. The skills I have learned in this class, though, will be some that I carry with me as I move on to my next chapter because to be successful in this field of work, being able to share my love for wildlife and inspire more people to care about nature is truly an important skill to have. I believe that one of our primary responsibilities now that we have the tools is to help others see the beauty and awe of nature, to give them a feeling of belonging and help others enjoy the world around them a little more. 

Touching more on beliefs I have, something I strongly feel is leaving wildlife and nature as pristine as how it was before I visited, or more so. This belief is an idea I would want to get across to anyone I am guiding or working as a nature interpreter for. I also believe that nature is for everyone and that as nature interpreters, we should make it our job to help as many people as we can learn and discover nature in any capacity they can. Being inclusive is of utmost importance so that everyone can feel comfortable and enjoy their time in nature. As discussed with the idea of an invisible backpack, not everyone will feel comfortable in the same settings (Gallavan, 2005). 

Responsibilities are involved with being nature interpreters as well. As a nature interpreter, I have the responsibility to try to ignite a passion for learning about and enjoying nature in younger generations. A quote from the textbook in Chapter 7 reads: “Our most important audience might be our smallest and youngest ones. These groups are the future o four natural resources and cultural heritage. They are our hope for the future…Interpreters impact the future by interpreting to children today (Beck et al., 2018, pg. 144).” The idea of impacting people’s outlook on nature is also perhaps one of the most significant rewards of nature interpretation; seeing the people you are presenting to, of any age, be interested in what you say and develop their own passion for nature in some capacity. I think we also have a responsibility to consider multiple perspectives and make sure that what we are presenting is truthful to the best of our knowledge (Bowen et al., 2006). I also think that if I were in charge of teaching information to others, I would need to be responsible for continually educating myself by learning new information as it becomes available and broadening my understanding of the natural world. This education includes incorporating people’s views and beliefs that are not my own, as told and described by them in their own voices as much as possible, such as understanding the history of places and Indigenous perspectives. 

From what I have learned about myself over this course, I think that I am a lot more comfortable going about nature interpretation through the written word, such as this blog, or creating videos and podcasts that can be shared. I’m not a very outgoing or talkative person and am much more confident when I have time to practice, plan, and do re-takes, not in front of a crowd. I enjoyed interviewing an expert for my group’s podcast, for example, where it was a one-on-one friendly conversation with a pre-made list of questions/talking points. I also am more of a tactile learner, so being able to create shows and tangible things would feel rewarding for me. I enjoy learning new things from people about nature and wildlife and hearing others’ stories. A platform that would allow me to do so, interviewing people and sharing their thoughts, learning from them and creating a space for others to learn, whether through audio, visual, or written means, would be ideal for me as a nature interpreter. 

I have enjoyed sharing my thoughts with everyone through this blog over the semester and reading and interacting with others. There have been many posts that have inspired me and intrigued me. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas. 

Emily 

References

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. 

Bowen, C., Bessette, H., & Cham, T. C. (2006). Including ethics in the study of educational leadership. Journal of College and Character, 7(7), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.2202/1940-1639.1241 

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 Emily,

I really enjoyed reading your post. You made a lot of very important points, and I found a lot of similarities between our posts. Your first point about the skill of sharing you love for wildlife is crucially important. The first chapter of our textbook highlights the importance of this skill well. It states that interpreters strive to communicate the significance of cultural and natural resources (Beck et al., 2018). Through communicating your passion for wildlife, you are teaching your audience about the importance of the natural world.

           You also discussed the importance of inclusivity and the presence of the invisible backpack. This is an amazing point, and we should all strive to make this one of our core interpretational beliefs. Not everyone has the same access to resources including education, technology, and mentoring. This creates unequal access to nature. As you discussed not everyone is comfortable in the same situation, it is our job as interpreters to recognize, understand and remediate these fears.

           Finally, you discussed developing others passions for nature. This point really stuck with me. Everyone who loves the natural world does it in a slightly different way and came to nature in a different way. Creating a passion for the natural world is extremely important and something I also discussed in my blog. To quote our textbook “what nobler employment, or more valuable to the state, than that of the man who instructs the rising generation (Beck et al., 2018). Creating youth who are passionate about the environment is one of if not our most important responsibility as interpreters.

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

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Final Blog

As we reach the end of the semester, and thus the end of our nature interpretation class we must look back and reflect upon our development as nature interpreters. The prompt for this week’s blog is to answer the following questions; describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual? These are all complex and important questions. In order to answer these questions, I think we should take a step back and ask ourselves what is our goal as an interpreter?

           What is my goal as an interpreter, this is a simple question with a complicated answer. Ultimately my goal is simple, I want to provide inspirational education. What I mean by this is I want to help create the next generation of naturalists, biologists, ecologists and interpreters. However I end up interpreting, I want the end result to be showing an interested audience that the natural world is amazing. I want to bring out the same passion for the natural world I discovered, to my audience. Chapter 1 discusses the goal of interpreters as inspiring resource stewardship, developing awareness of natural and cultural heritage and perpetuating the deepest values and traditions of special places (Beck et al., 2018). This summarizes my goal very well, resource stewardship is especially important in my personal goal as I want to ensure that the next generation understands the importance of preserving and conserving the natural world. As Ralph Emerson said in chapter 16 “nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm” (Beck et al., 2018).

            The first question from this week’s prompt is describe your personal ethic as you develop as an interpreter. Chapter 5 discusses the guiding principles of interpretation, on of these principles was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori (Beck et al., 2018). She developed the beginnings of constructivism or allowing individuals to learn on their own (Beck et al., 2018). I would like my personal interpretational philosophy to follow this idea. The quote “a truly educated person continues learning long after the years in the classroom because motivation comes from by a natural curiosity and love for knowledge” (Beck et al., 2018). I want my personal ethics of interpretation to follow this philosophy of individually motivated learning. This style of interpretation will allow me to create a lifelong passion for the natural world and hopefully fulfill my goal of inspirational education.

            “Only YOU can prevent forest fires”, this iconic quote from Smokey Bear highlights my first belief. That being that everyone can make a difference. I truly believe that if someone is passionate about something, they can make a positive change. I think Smokey exemplifies this belief perfectly. This simple quote puts the protection of forests from fires in the hands of everyone. Smokey Bear believes that everyone can and should make a difference and so do I. My second belief is that there is always more to learn about the natural world. This idea is discussed in chapter 6 with the idea of Vitamin N (nature) (Beck et al., 2018). This prescription for Vitamin N is daily and lifelong. No matter how much time you spend in nature, there is always more to learn. The idea that you cannot learn everything about the natural world is daunting, but if you get your daily Vitamin N you can learn something everyday and connect with the natural world.

           The next question is what are your responsibilities as an interpreter? My responsibility ads an interpreter is simple, I need to ensure I provide accurate information to my audience. Providing accurate information to your audience is always important, however, it is especially important in science communication. Not everyone is directly involved in science, but science effects the lives of everyone (Fischhoff, 2013). Effective science communication provides the audience with the benefits, risks and all the important elements, to allow the audience to make their own informed decision (Fischhoff, 2013). This is especially important in nature interpretation, however we choose to interpret, ultimately we will be providing our audience with information about important topics. It is our job to ensure this information is accurate, to allow our audience to be informed about the natural world and all its wonder. My second responsibility is to encourage the passions of others.

           The final question I will be answering is what interpretive approaches will work best for me as an individual. The approach that will work best for me to interpret effectively is roving interpretation. This technique is discussed in chapter 9 and entails an interpreter roaming about areas of high traffic and explaining important features to their audience (Beck et al., 2018). The reason I know this approach will work best for me is because I have a lot of experience with it. In grade ten I was part of the CELP program (Community, Environmental, Leadership, Program). The final project for this course was taking a group of grade four students on a nature walk and discussing habitat types and their importance. Roving interpretation worked exceptionally well in this scenario, the students followed a defined trail, and we were spread apart along the trail. This allowed us to deliver the form of interpretation we felt was most appropriate. I would ask the students if they wanted to play a game, learn some facts, or ask me some question. This allowed a more flexible, and personalized interpretive approach.

           I would love to hear your personal goal for interpretation and how you plan to achieve it. I would also enjoy discussing the similarities and differences between our ethics, beliefs, responsibilities, and approaches. Nature interpretation is a powerful tool for making the difference we want to see in the world. I would like to end with a quote from Sam Ham “the primary emphasis of interpretation is that it is designed to make a difference on purpose”. I hope that myself, and all other in this class can go make a difference on purpose.

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

Fischhoff, B. (2013). The sciences of science communication. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(Supplement 3), 14033-14039.

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Nature and its Amazing Fungi

Okay, so this week’s post is about what I find most amazing about nature. That’s a difficult one because there are so many amazing choices to choose from! Nature is amazing in so many ways such as how species communicate through song, colors and movements. It is amazing through its ability to combat human alterations to the planet and its ability to create spaces where life flourishes at every level but also for its ability to cause catastrophic disasters in seconds. We are truly at the will of nature, no matter how hard we try to tame it we will never have control over this planet. This week I watched a documentary called “Fantastic Fungi” and I found it a bit mind-boggling, so I want to talk about the amazing world of fungi this week! 

Fungi is incredible, it is both born in death and the begining of new life! It turns old life into new materials for other life to use as a source of food and nutrients. Fungi has an extensive amount of uses such as creating food and drinks we love such as bread and wine, it is nature’s recycler of organic material, it has antibiotic properties that we use to produce life saving drugs, it can provide mental health benefits and is also utilized by the forest for communication among plant species! 

One cool fact about fungi that I love is that plants use fungi to communicate with one another! Mycorrhizal fungi act like the telephone networks of the forest, hidden from the human eye but bursting with life and activity below the soil. When neighboring plants are linked through mycorrhizal fungi networks they can communicate with each other and ignite behavioral changes such as nutrient transfers from healthy plants to weaker ones, increase the rate of photosynthesis, increased carbon transfer, it can prompt defense responses in plants against pathogens and pests, and can improve plant survival under environmental stress such as droughts (Gorzelak et al. 2015). 

Mushrooms and fungi are beloved around the world for their culinary purposes but also have been used for their medicinal properties and are still being researched today for potential medicinal uses as well. Some medicinal benefits of fungi include antiviral, immunomodulatory, antitumor, antioxidant, radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antihypercholesterolemic, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic effects (Qin & Han, 2014). Cordyceps sinensi is a fungi that has been used by the Chinese for thousands of years and studies have found that it can regulate insulin sensitivity and can lower cholesterol levels  (Qin & Han, 2014). Agaricus blazei Murill commonly known as the “Sun mushroom” is widely used for its medicinal properties in many cultures for the prevention of different types of diseases such as cancer, hepatitis, atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and dermatitis (Qin & Han, 2014).

Some species of mushrooms have been found to contain properties that help stimulate the growth of brain cells, leading many researchers to believe they can be used for the prevention and or treatment of many neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and Dementia (Valverdeet al. 2015). A particular mushroom commonly known as “Lions Maine” for its lion mane-like appearance contains two compounds that help stimulate brain cell growth called hericenones and erinacines. When tested on mice it reduced symptoms of memory loss and prevented brain damage caused by amyloid-beta plaques, which build up in human brains that have Alzheimer’s disease. The ability for this mushroom to promote nerve growth and protect the brain from neurological diseases proves that there may be a promising future for increased uses of medicinal fungi. So that is what I find amazing about nature. Its ability to bring new life from death, how it connects all things in forests and for its capacity to heal humans all in the form of fungi! 

-Jaclyn

Gorzelak, Asay, A. K., Pickles, B. J., & Simard, S. W. (2015). Inter-plant communication through mycorrhizal networks mediates complex adaptive behaviour in plant communities. AoB Plants, 7, plv050–. https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plv050

Qin, & Han, C. (2014). Medicinal and Edible Fungi as an Alternative Medicine for Treating Age-Related Disease. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014, 638561–638562. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/638561

Valverde, Hernández-Pérez, T., & Paredes-López, O. (2015). Edible Mushrooms: Improving Human Health and Promoting Quality Life. International Journal of Microbiology, 2015, 376387–14. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/376387

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Hi Jaclyn,

I loved your post about Fungi! They are such integral parts of our lives and the ecosystems the reside in but are rarely noticed. You brought up some amazing ideas that I had never heard of. The idea that fungi is being used to potentially treat Alzheimer’s is amazing and something I will definitely be monitoring now!  You touched on Fungi being natures recycler and this is such an amazing ability. Fungi break down dead organic matter and allow nutrients to be bioavailable for other species such as plants (Webster and Weber, 2007). They also form associations with plants roots (Bonfante and Anca, 2009). One specialist at doing this is mycorrhizal fungi (Bonfante and Anca, 2009). This amazing fungus uses fractal branching to explore the soil for nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen roots (Bonfante and Anca, 2009). This fractal branching is more efficient than the search pattern of the tree’s roots roots (Bonfante and Anca, 2009). Thus, the mycorrhizal fungi trades with the plant, it exchanges nitrogen and phosphorus for sugars the plant produces roots (Bonfante and Anca, 2009). Many common legumes utilize this association such as soybeans (Webster and Weber, 2007). Something else that is super interesting about fungus is that different species have dietary preferences. In a rotting log there is cellulose, lignin and hemicellulose, different species of fungi have evolved to specialize on one of these components or be generalists. roots (Bonfante and Anca, 2009) This can lead to many different species of fungi living together in the same area but using slightly different resources.

  Bonfante, P., & Anca, I. A. (2009). Plants, mycorrhizal fungi, and bacteria: a network of interactions. Annual review of microbiology, 63, 363-383.

Webster, J., & Weber, R. (2007). Introduction to fungi. Cambridge

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Blog 8

What is the most amazing thing about nature? To me the answer is simple, the most amazing thing about nature is its incredible diversity. The natural world is full of different species each with its own unique adaptations to the environment it resides in. Every animal or plant has its own niche, or a specific set of environmental conditions where the species thrives. To illustrate this idea, think of your favourite species of animal or plant. Mine is the white-tailed deer. I will walk through a thought activity using this species, as you follow along try to do the same with your favourite species.

(Image of a White-tailed deer)

           To best understand what allows white-tailed deer to survive, let us consider the things that challenge their survival. To start, white-tailed deer have many predators such as coyotes, wolves, humans, black bears, brown bears and cougars (Waller and Alverson, 1997). Since white-tailed deer have so many predators, they have developed some amazing adaptations to survive in spite of these predators (Waller and Alverson, 1997). The first and most important adaptation to this is their amazing senses of sight and smell (Waller and Alverson, 1997).

(White-tailed deer licking his nose to improve his sense of smell. Deer lick their noses to add moisture which helps to trap scent molecules and allows deer to smell better (DeYoung and Miller, 2011).)

White-tailed deer have approximately 300 million olfactory receptors compared to a humans 5 million, this allows them to identify smells from an incredible distance better (DeYoung and Miller, 2011). White-tailed deer’s eyesight is also uniquely adapted, white-tailed deer see in a focused band approximately 270 degrees around their head better (DeYoung and Miller, 2011). They also have extra rods in their eyes, which allows them to see better in the dark better (DeYoung and Miller, 2011). Both of these make a white-tailed deer’s sight the perfect tool to detect predators. They have also developed exceptional camouflage and signaling to avoid predators (Moen, 1976). A white-tailed deer’s coat colour is light-dark brown allowing them to stay hidden wherever they go. If they detect their predators their iconic white tail allows them to signal to other deer that there is danger.

(Can you spot the deer in this picture? It is difficult to spot them with their incredible camouflage and ability to stay completely still.)

           Another challenge to a white-tailed deer’s survival is the environment it lives in. In the winter white-tailed deer often have to survive temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius better (DeYoung and Miller, 2011). To combat this they have a thick, double layered coat that repels water and traps air to keep them warm better (DeYoung and Miller, 2011). As well as a thick layer of fat to further insulate them better (DeYoung and Miller, 2011). Along with these physical adaptations white-tailed deer have also developed some behavioral adaptions to survive this cold. When winds increase or the temperature drops white-tailed deer seek out the warmest place possible to hide better (DeYoung and Miller, 2011). They seek thermal cover such as cedars and south-facing slopes to have the heat from the sun.

(Here you can see a white-tailed deer bedded in thick cover to keep warm in the winter. Also notice how thick her coat is. Especially compare this winter coat to the summer coats in the first 2 images.)

           All of these unique physical and behavioral adaptations allow white-tailed deer to survive and thrive. Each animal or plant has its own unique adaptations to its specific environment. What was the animal you thought of, and what were its unique adaptations?

 DeYoung, R. W., & Miller, K. V. (2011). White-tailed deer behavior. In Biology and management of white-tailed deer (pp. 324-367). CRC Press.

Moen, A. N. (1976). Energy conservation by white‐tailed deer in the winter. Ecology, 57(1), 192-198.

Waller, D. M., & Alverson, W. S. (1997). The white-tailed deer: a keystone herbivore. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 217-226.

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#7: Music and nature; a natural match!

I’m an avid hiker and try to walk daily - luckily close to home is Paletta Lakefront Park in Burlington, which is a nature getaway in the middle of the city; it has a lovely creek, a rocky beach and pretty grounds on Lake Ontario, see the picture below. Needless to say that there are constant human sounds from the many visitors and car noiseswhich became clear when I recorded nature sounds for this assignment. It made me realise that as much as I like walking with others as a social activity, I truly relish hiking alone as it allows for a deeper appreciation of the sounds of nature. By paying attention to the sounds around me, I suddenly heard the trickling of melted snow dripping onto a rock whereas otherwise I’d have walked by; listen here.

Nature is never silent regardless of the season. As the unit content describes, music in nature can be recognised by tapping into the sounds that other animals make (Hooykaas, 2022). Bird song in my backyard wakes me up even in the dead of winter (listen to this 22 February recording), and squirrels always make a lot of sound, rustling leaves looking for food or chasing each other over food :). All natural habitats have their own “animal orchestra” which represents a unique musical fingerprint (Gray et al., 2001). That said, I believe that the most powerful music in nature comes from an abiotic source; water. Water is the source of all life on earth and is everywhere around us. At Paletta Park, I captured besides the trickling snow melt two more distinct water sounds; that of waves crashing on the beach, and of the creek running its course. Water sounds remind me of the great forces of nature that were in place before humans showed up and that will remain long after we’re gone. Never make the mistake of camping next to a river; what appears to be a gentle melody during the day turns into an ear-deafening concert at night!

Nature in music tends to be used as a metaphor for the human condition; similar to how the coursebook (Beck et al., 2018) describes that news releases are mostly focused on people’s stories rather than things or events, so do most songs. Diana Ross’ uplifting chorus in Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (2:40-3:06) proclaims how “no mountain, no valley or no river '' present insurmountable difficulties for love. Guns N’ Roses’ famous line in November Rain (6:28-7:02) “Cause nothin' lasts forever, even cold November rain” evokes a vivid mental image of hardship that will pass eventually. In this way, popular music acts as a channel of nature interpretation to the masses (Beck et al., 2018), reminding millions of people of their connection to the natural world.

One of my favourite songs is The Hills Are Alive from the Sound of Music film, in which the first 22 seconds of instrumental music before the lyrics start, immediately evoke the majesty of mountains. The rich music creates an atmosphere of magnificence in which humans are just tiny creatures in the landscape - supported by amazing video footage for that time (see picture below) - and depicts the feelings of sacredness and awe that I experience in the mountains. The words that follow then specify what it is all about (Sahi, 2011), singing about the hills, a brook and a lark. This song more than most encapsulates how music and nature are a natural match!

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

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

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

Sahi, V. (2011). Using folk traditional music to communicate the sacredness of nature in Finland. Spiritual Values of Protected Areas of Europe, 2, 129-132.

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Hi Fleur

I really enjoyed your post, you had a lot of unique and interesting ideas. I loved your quote “nature is never silent”. To me this highlights the idea that music is always present in nature, but it only presents itself to those who listen. I also enjoyed your idea of the “animal orchestra” this relates to the ideas I discussed in my blog of harmony and rhythm in nature. Your idea about the abiotic elements of nature being so important for the sounds of nature was brilliant. I had never thought about the importance of abiotic elements of ecosystems and their role in natural music. Now that you discussed it, I find it hard not to find examples of this, the most obvious to me is wind. Wind is an abiotic element that is crucial to the music in nature. Whether the wind is howling, drowning out all other noise, or calm, allowing for the sounds of the forest to echo, it is always present. Your idea of nature being incorporated into music through lyrics was also very interesting. I did not think of this, but now I can think of many songs that have lyrics about nature. This idea of lyrics to describe nature can also be related to Indigenous story telling and oral history. As we discussed in lecture, a lot of indigenous knowledge is communicated through storytelling and music (Hooykaas, 2022). Also, a lot of the content of these stories relates to explaining and describing nature and natural processes (Morris, 2010).

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

Morris, B. (2010). Indigenous knowledge. The Society of Malawi Journal, 63(1), 1-9.

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Music and Nature

The topic of this week’s blog is music and nature, specifically I will be answering two questions.  Where is music in nature and where is nature in music? To start off, I think it is important to define what music is. Webster’s dictionary defines music as “vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds having rhythm, melody, or harmony” (Webster, 2020). When reading this definition music, it may be hard to recognize where this appears in nature and where nature appears in this definition.

To start, I will discuss how music appears in nature. To do this I will show you some of my favourite sounds in nature, and then we will discuss how they relate to musical elements.

White-tailed Deer vocalizations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5ZlSgkAnDI

Ruffed grouse drumming

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVfiIp3QGs4

Ontario Spring

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R_3XKynC6E

             In these clips there is obvious use of vocalization, such as the white-tailed deer’s grunts or the spring peepers. The ruffed grouse also shows us instrumental, mechanical and rhythm. The drumming is instrumental and mechanical as he uses the log and his chest to beat and drag his wings to make the sound. It’s rhythmic as he produces the same sound every time, a slow buildup to a rapid drumming. The sounds of spring show us harmony, many different frogs all singing the same song at different times combine to make a beautiful sound that lets us know spring has arrived. To me, music is always present in nature, you just have to pay close attention.

           What might be less obvious is how we see nature in music. My perspective is that nature is the foundation if music. As we discussed, music is composed of vocalizations, rhythms, and harmony. These elements of music are based in nature. In nature animals utilize vocalizations, rhythms and harmony to communicate. Whether this communication is to find a mate, defend territory or let others know the location of resources. Humans are no exception; we use music to communicate with one another. How we convey our vocalizations, rhythm and harmony conveys important information about our message. If we want to convey happiness, we use an upbeat rhythm and positive words (vocalization), if we have a darker message the rhythm and vocalizations change. Humans have made music very technical and precise with modern instruments, and technology, but at its core we are using the same basic principles found in nature to communicate our message. As our messages have become more complex, so to has our music.

           Our textbook also discusses how music is used to convey our message (Beck et al., 2019). In interpretation music can be used to get facts to stick in the minds of listeners, and to reach the emotions of the listener (Beck et al., 2019).

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

Music. 2020. In Merriam-Webster.com.

Retrieved March 3, 2022 from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Music

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Blog Post 6: History and Nature Interpretation

      For this weeks blog we have been prompted to unpack this quote:

“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.” -Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)

To me, this quote is about how important it is to learn and remember history and apply it to our lives. Edward Hyams is saying that although some people do not see any value in understanding things which have happened in the past, it is actually essential to humankind because the past is never over because it is the foundation on which the present has been built. 

In my opinion, understanding history is very important because it helps us in the present understand mistakes to not make again and possible “old methods” to instill again for reparation. By this I mean that we can use the past as a guide to make better choices in the present, and by ignoring that the past has happened we would waste valuable knowledge which has already been learned by humankind. For example, when studying the past and observing the many traditional ways in which civilizations coexisted with nature rather than exploiting nature, we can see how that might be beneficial and possibly use their traditional ways to live more peacefully on this Earth. Another example would be to look at the past wars that humankind has engaged in and to see how those horrible situations occurred to try to not fall into the same patterns again. 

As well, thinking about history in the terms of nature is very interesting to me because the components of the ecosystem have been around for much longer than each human reading this has been. Is it even possible to call it “history” when the rocks and dirt we stand on were still there long ago during the “historic time” we think about? The water we see flowing in rivers has been recycled so many times over and the trees have survived for centuries, therefore they are all “living history”. “History” implies that it was a chapter that has closed, but these natural components never “end”. Just some hard to explain things I’ve been thinking about!

Thanks for reading,

Aurora

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Hi Aurora,

           I enjoyed reading your perspective on the quote, and found many similarities between our perspectives. I particularly liked your idea about how not remembering history wastes knowledge humanity has already learned. I think that this idea has a lot of applications to our world today.

           The indigenous peoples of North America grew “the three sisters” corn, beans and squash (Hill, 2021). Corn provided a support for the beans to grow, and shade for the squash. The beans climbed up the corn stalk to grow and provided nitrogen to replenish the soil. Squash shaded the ground and prevented weeds from growing and had spikes to prevent herbivory (Hill, 2021). This is why these crops are called the three sisters as they are grown together (Hill, 2021). The indigenous people recognized that when grown together their yield is higher than their yields grown separately (Hill, 2021). This practice of intercropping was common knowledge and practice to the indigenous people.

           Modern agriculture does not use this historical knowledge of intercropping. The crops grown are monocultures, one field of the same crop, all plants being clones of the plant beside them (National Geographic, 2020). This agricultural practice does not utilize historical knowledge and because of this we see many negative impacts of modern agriculture. We see increased disease and pest outbreaks, leading to increased herbicide and insecticide (National Geographic, 2020). We see soils with low nutrients and to compensate we add synthetic fertilizer (National Geographic, 2020). Growing only the three sisters is not the entire solution to our agricultural problems. However, this knowledge should be and is being considered. We are starting to see sustainable agricultural practices that acknowledge historic practices such as agroforestry and intercropping.

           It is important in all aspects of life to remember and utilize history and the knowledge it provides. I am interested to hear what real life examples you can think of where historical knowledge can improve modern life.

Hill, C. (2021, December 14). Returning the 'three sisters' – corn, beans and squash – to Native American farms nourishes people, land and cultures. The Conversation. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://theconversation.com/returning-the-three-sisters-corn-beans-and-squash-to-native-american-farms-nourishes-people-land-and-cultures-149230

National Geographic Society. (2020, January 16). Environmental impacts of agricultural modifications. National Geographic Society. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/environmental-impacts-agricultural-modifications/

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Blog 6

“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it  

           For this blog post I am going to unpack this quote. First, I will unpack this quote line by line, then I will reveal what I think the overall message is and how that relates to the ENVS 3000 course and myself.

           “There is no peculiar merit in ancient things”, to me this first section of the quote means that history, artifacts or “ancient things” by themselves have no meaning or inherent value. The quote next says that integrity has merit, meaning that integrity has value and is important. To ensure this integrity, we need to understand the whole picture, as the whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts. If the parts of this whole are separated through time, we need to have knowledge of these parts to understand the whole.

           The section “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” is almost a quote on its own. This section is an example used to illustrate the above point. The point being that if we want to understand the present, we cannot forget the past.

To me the overarching message of this quote is quite simple. It is trying to state the importance of history. To understand anything, we need to understand that there are processes, people, and events that have shaped what we see today. We cannot forget these things as they provide context and reasoning for what we see today.  

Interpretation through history is an invaluable tool as it provides context and knowledge and thus a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the artifacts we see. Our textbook summarizes this nicely “without interpretation, artifacts are merely old things, … interpretation breathes life and meaning into past events, architecture and artifacts (Beck et al., 2019).

I have also seen the importance of history in interpretation firsthand. My grandfather is 78 years old and has been a farmer his entire life. In that time a lot of agricultural practices have changed. He tells me stories about how farming used to be done by him and even before his time, how his grandfather farmed with no electricity or engines. He showed me the track that runs along the roof of the barn, leading to the hay mow, and told me why it was there. Before we had balers to make small square or round bales, he put the hay into the mow loose. There was a cable attached the track and a fork attached to the cable. The fork came and picked up the hay, it was swung over the mow and then the hay was dropped in and repeat. This story provided context as to why there was a random track on the roof of the barn that is no longer used. It provided me with a deeper understanding of the history of the barn, farming practices, my grandfather and how and why current agricultural practices came to be.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.

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Exercising in Nature

Something that has become a super “hot topic” over the last few months has been working out and exercise and the closure of gyms due to Covid -19. Due to these closures many people have been forced to find alternatives to fulfil their exercise needs. Some people may have resorted to at home gyms, or working out at a friend’s house, but others may have moved their exercises outdoors.

I have always felt uncomfortable in a gym setting, maybe because I don’t really know what I am doing, so I resort to exercising outdoors. When outside you get the joys of nature and the peaceful sounds of birds chirping or the sun shining as motivation to keep pushing through whatever activity you may be doing. I also enjoy exercising in ways that do not make it feel like a task. For example, going for a long skate on a winter trail or a bicycle ride on a waterfront path feels more like fun than work!

I have always enjoyed exercising outdoors, but I wonder if all these people who were forced to find alternatives to exercising have newly discovered a passion to exercising outdoors as well. Introducing someone to an outdoor workout can provide inspiration for that person to enjoy outdoors and perhaps spark questions about what they may be observing. For example, taking a run through an old growth forest may make someone stop and wonder how a tree got that big, or how they can conserve that forest. It makes me wonder if exercise can somehow be used in nature interpretation. I often hear about nature hikes or walks but what about more extensive exercise to replace a gym setting?

A super cool outdoor gym I keep seeing social media posts about is the Tulum Jungle Gym located on Tulum Beach in Mexico.

Photo Taken from: https://tulumjunglegym.com/gym-in-tulum-tulum-jungle-gym/

 Beck et al. (2018) mentions that children often need to have games to play or something to do to keep buys sometimes, but what about for older audiences? As Beck et al. (2018) mentions, you also must think about inclusivity as well, and ensure that all members are able to participate. This is where the idea of a perhaps a group cycling event may only appeal to certain audiences.

Something I have really wanted to try that may be more inclusive is outdoor yoga or meditation. That way if you are not comfortable with participating in the yoga portion you can follow the inspirational messages that the instructor may convey all while being outdoors. I personally want to try goat yoga because I love animals, but others may prefer the calming atmosphere of just being outdoors! Although I may get too distracted by the goats!

Let me know what you think about incorporating gym activities in nature interpretation?

Photo taken from: https://www.foxdengoatyoga.com/site/about-goat-yoga-niagara

The image above is taken from foxden Goat Yoga, which is a goat yoga place in Niagara, Canada that was featured on the television show “Dragons Den!”

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Hi Katie,

I love the inspiration behind this post. This is a very unique, relevant and interesting topic. I liked your point about enjoying exercise that doesn’t seem like a task. I agree with this, some of my favorite activities are ones that have no end goal, the goal is to just enjoy yourself. I personally enjoy snowshoeing for this purpose, it is a great way to exercise in nature while not seeming like a chore.

However, I also find a lot of enjoyment exercising in ways that feel like a task. One of my favorite activities is splitting wood, I find it very calming, and a great way to collect my thoughts. Splitting wood defiantly feels like a task, but to me that’s what makes it so calming. You focus so much on the activity it allows your mind to clear your head. Is there anything you do in nature that you experience this?

I also appreciate the point you made about exercising allowing people to find a new passion for nature. I think this is inevitable, if you spend any time in nature, you are bound to find something you love about it. There are so many different aspects of nature to appreciate, as you said someone may wonder how that tree got so big, or why does that river flow there?

I also liked your idea of using games to interpret nature for children. This is an excellent idea, it will burn off some of the excess energy, and provide a more memorable learning experience for them.

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Blog 5

           Nature can be interpreted through a variety of lenses. One that I am very familiar with is the scientific lens. The scientific lens is both simple and extremely complex. At its core the scientific method centers around the concept of testing a mechanistic hypothesis. The structure of this being “A effects B due to C’, this concept is simple and the foundation of the scientific lens. The complexity arises when we replace A, b and C with real life variables. This simple “A effects B due to C” turns into a hypothesis that is very specific to the field of study and is often impossible for someone outside the field to understand. If we as interpreters choose to use the scientific lens to interpret nature, we need to recognize this.

           Recognizing the possible complexities of the scientific method forces us as interpreters to consider our audience. We must assess the current level of knowledge our listeners poses and an appropriate level of new information to give them. This is discussed in our textbook in chapter 7, “each individual brings along a personal set of experiences, interests, knowledge, ability and personality”. When using the scientific lens, it is especially important to understand this idea and use it to tailor the message based on the audience.

           An example of this from my personal life is how my discussions of hunting change depending on my audience. I find myself using the scientific lens to interpret nature quite often. However, the level of detail I present depends on who I am talking to and their level of knowledge on the topic. If I am speaking to someone who has never hunted before and has very little knowledge of the topic my scope increases and detail decreases. I discuss broad topics and avoid going into niche details that would overwhelm the listener. I would discuss the reasons why hunting is important such as population control, conservation and sourcing your own food. When discussing hunting with someone who already has knowledge of hunting my scope decreases and details increase. In this case I will discuss very specific aspects of hunting and the reasoning behind them.

           An example of this is a discussion I had with my dad, who is very familiar with hunting. We discussed White-tailed deer breeding season (rut) behavior and the current knowledge surrounding it. We discussed how the location and size of scrapes varies, and if there was any literature surrounding it. We discussed the paper Scraping Network Analysis: A Method to Explore Complex White-Tailed Deer Mating Systems specifically. It hypothesizes that the frequency of which a buck visits a scrape influences their dominance in the area.

           Interpreting through the scientific lens is an invaluable way to interpret nature. However, we as interpreters need to understand the importance of our audience when delivering our message. As our textbook states “As interpreters we seek to cast interpretive nets more widely”.

           I look forward to further discussing the topic of interpreting nature through a scientific lens. As well as discussing hunting through a scientific lens.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.

Hearst, S., Streeter, S., Hannah, J., Taylor, G., Shepherd, S., Winn, B., & Mao, J. (2021). Scraping network analysis: A method to explore complex white-tailed deer mating systems. Southeastern Naturalist, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1656/058.020.0122

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Blog #4: Nature Through an Artistic Lense

When I think about art I think about the ability to let your imagination guide you to creating a visual representation of something. The definition of art is boundless as art comes in endless visual forms just like nature. This is where art and nature go hand in hand, as anything that presents itself visually is open to free interpretation. Personally, some art forms that I enjoy are painting, crochet, and music. A common feeling that I often experience when feeling motivated to create art is inspiration. To be inspired by something and then channel that inspiration through art is very enlightening. This is the same with nature, as I often feel inspired to explore, learn about, and visit new places. 

For me, interpreting nature through art contributes to a deeper connection between myself and nature. As I mentioned in my first blog post about my relationship with nature, I often like to enjoy artistic activities outdoors. Whether that be reading, crocheting, painting, listening to music, I enjoy doing these things outside as it gives me a sense of calmness and stability. Hence, interpreting nature through art is a positive emotional experience for me filled with feelings like hope, inspiration, and gratitude. In regards to the beauty of hope the textbook mentions that, “The beauty of human integrity commemorated in events of the past and the beauty of the intricacies of nature give rise to hope, and these are the tools of the interpreter”. To me this statement means that as an interpreter of nature, a very valuable tool is to allow visitors to experience a feeling of hope based on sharing the past and present beauties of nature. By doing this, we are creating a positive experience for visitors in which they can be hopeful towards the future. Helping the visitor to find meaning in the world around them and find their own purpose in how they can affect the future ways in which humans will live in this world. 

The gift of beauty is to inspire others to connect with the beauty in their surroundings in a spiritual way that extends beyond themselves. This entails developing a connection that is bigger than yourself, your experiences, and your values. Instead, coming to the realization that we are all connected for example, through nature. This also relates to nature interpretation through art, as an artistic visual representation of nature is another way that an interpreter can give their audience the gift of beauty. Through art we can also channel the intangible meanings associated with a place and its elements (plants, rocks, streams, wildlife). The gift of beauty also inspires resource preservation in the receiver, motivating them to protect the future of the world in which they live. 

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Hi Harleen,

           I enjoyed your perspective on interpreting nature through art and the gift of beauty. Your quote, “art is boundless as art comes in endless visual forms just like nature’ was very interesting. This quote follows the common belief that art often imitates nature. This can be seen in many aspects of art through patterns, colours, or shapes. I enjoyed this fresh take on an established concept.

           I also enjoyed how you pointed out that nature inspires you to learn more about it. A lot of us in this course, myself included have found ourselves immersed in this cycle. We learn something new about nature, a place, a species, an ecosystem or a process, and we learn more and more about it, and this leads us to a new discovery and the cycle continues. As you discussed art is a great way to explore these inspirations.

           Your point about using the gift of beauty to inspire others is a very important to understand, and I am glad you addressed it. Teaching about nature is excellent, and a great way to inform listeners, however, it has its short comings. We as interpreters should strive to allow people to perceive the gift of beauty for themselves. In this way we create someone who looks at the same things in a new way and this fresh perspective is invaluable. As you discussed this also creates people who want to protect and conserve the natural systems around them to preserve the gifts of beauty they have experienced.

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Blog 4

Who are you to interpret nature through art? This is an important and though provoking question. Are there qualifications or certificates to allow you to interpret nature through art? Is there a universally accepted standard of who can and cannot interpret nature through art? In my opinion there are no limitations on who can interpret nature through art. Whatever form of art you choose to interpret nature through the only requirement is that you show respect and appreciation to what you interpret.

As for how I personally interpret nature through art this is a complicated question. I enjoy capturing a picture to represent my memories in nature. Seeing as a lot of the time I spend outdoors is hunting or fishing a lot of these pictures involve me holding a fish or animal I have harvested. This may seem crude, and if one just sees the picture, that opinion is justifiable. However, to me that picture represents much more than the outcome of the hunting or fishing trip. It represents the quality time I spent outdoors and the immense respect I have for the animals I pursue.

(A picture I took to commemorate my favourite Turkey hunt. My brother and I harvested this Tom at my Grandparents farm. It was a very memorable hunt, we saw turkeys all morning, and called this bird across an open field using a call I made. The Tom was strutting and gobbling the whole way across with the sun reflecting off his feathers. It was a picture-perfect day.)

Interpreting nature through art leads to no right or wrong answers. Everyone has their own unique and valid interpretation of the world around them. As interpreters we are allowed to share our perspective and in doing so, we hope to pass on knowledge to those listening. It is important to remember when sharing our interpretation of nature that it is not the only possible view, and we are not automatically correct. It is important for us as interpreters to realize that you cannot and should not force your perspective upon someone.

The gift of beauty comes from the principle that interpretation should instill in people the ability and desire to sense the beauty in their surroundings (Beck et al., 2019). The best way to give this gift to our listeners is to say nothing at all. To quote Mills and Tilden “interpretation sometimes uses silence, some scenes need no words” (Beck et al., 2019). This is something I oftentimes find myself doing. When sitting in a tree stand or on a riverbank for hours it is very easy to say nothing and observe. This is an invaluable lesson to teach your listeners as this allows them to not solely rely on your interpretation, but to interpret on their own. This will allow them to receive the gift of beauty and instill the desire to preserve, conserve and restore the natural world. To quote the textbook again “the gift of beauty should provide spiritual uplift and encourage resource preservation.

I would love to hear how you interpret nature and the gift of beauty. As well as answer questions about my own interpretation.

 Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.

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BLOG 3: THE ROLE OF “PRIVILEGE”IN NATURE INTERPRETATION

      I believe that privilege is when one person is presented with advantages that others do not have. Privilege isn’t always abundantly clear. It can vary in how much one person is favoured over another. I also think that privilege isn’t something you can work towards or buy, you are just born with it. There’s a set of circumstances that put you in a position that may be more beneficial than someone else’s situation. I personally feel very privileged. There are moments where my privilege is subtle and other times where it is abundantly clear. If I were to unpack my “invisible backpack” as discussed in unit 3 of this course, I would come up with the following: I’m a white woman living in a country that values freedom. I’m educated and capable of pursuing further education. I am financially comfortable and have a place to call home. These are the most obvious privileges that I possess. But when I look further into my ‘backpack’, I see that I’m also privileged in many other ways. Such as my ability to speak English, as our professor mentioned. I also think that it’s a privilege to have access to different forms of transportation and that I don’t have to walk miles to get to places I need to be. I have ‘free’ health care and I’m in good health. Even my age gives me an advantage deepening on the situation. There are many more and probably some I haven’t even thought of. Overall I’m very fortunate. Of course, I also have disadvantages, not a lot, but some that I can’t avoid. Although I consider my limitations to be minuscule compared to others in this world. I think everyone has their own disadvantages, but some aren’t as bad as others. I feel that it is important to acknowledge the impositions of others to truly appreciate the privileges we have.

       When I think about the role “privilege” has in nature interpretation a few things come to mind. Firstly, I think it’s a privilege to be a nature interpreter or amongst one. It’s amazing that we are in a country that values nature and wants to educate others about the wonders of the environment. Also, I think that as an interpreter you are privileged in knowing and experiencing different aspects of the environment. Whether that be having an education in environmental sciences. Or being able to experience luxuries like camping, hiking or just adventuring outdoors. Additionally, I believe that there is a privilege in the ‘nature’ itself. In my opinion, Canada has some of the most beautifully abundant and diverse ecosystems. There is a lot of undeveloped land that is protected and preserved. What is a nature interpreter without nature? We have the privilege of being able to explore an environment that hasn’t been completely desecrated by human actions. Lastly, I think that access to technology is an amazing privilege that allows nature interpreters to connect to a larger audience. Overall, the privilege is in being able to share something that you love with others.

Keep reading

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Hi Megan,

I really enjoyed reading your post. I found a lot of similarities in our experiences with realizing and understanding privilege. When you said there are moments when your privilege is subtle and moments when it is abundantly clear, this resonated with me. This is a great way of describing how we experience our privilege. I appreciate that you discussed education and technology in your discussion of privilege in nature interpretation. Technology is extremely important to nature interpretation, and access to it is a privilege that is taken for granted. You also discussed access to education, I think this is extremely important to nature interpretation. Going to school for environmental science as you discussed is an excellent experience and invaluable in pursuing a career in nature interpretation. With this education it is also important to recognize this privilege and understand that not everyone has a post secondary education. A quote from our textbook summarizes this well “think like a wise man, but communicate in the language of the people”. Often the language we use when talking about the natural world is related to the literature we have read, and thus our tone is scientific. We need to recognize the privilege we have had pursing our education and ensure we communicate in a way that is accessible to everyone in our audience. In this way recognizing our privilege will make us better interpreters.  

 Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.

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Blog 3

My definition of privilege is advantages afforded to a particular group of people. Privilege is not binary, you are not privileged or not. Privilege exists on a gradient, and factors such as sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion and many others determine the level of privilege afforded to you. Privilege is not fair, it is not something that you can achieve through a lifetime of hard work and dedication, you are born with it. It is important to recognize the privilege you have, in order to better understand and connect with people not afforded the privileges we possess.

To unpack my invisible backpack as discussed in the lecture, I am very privileged. I am a well educated, white, heterosexual, male, from a middle-class family, who speaks English. These are the obvious privileges afforded to me, but if you look more deeply I have many more privileges than this. I played many different sports, I was introduced to many outdoor activities and was encouraged to not get a “job” but to pursue a career I am passionate about. All of these were afforded to me because my family was financially stable, and I could afford to do so. If you were to think of someone who is privileged, I am the poster boy.

A quote from the reading that really spoke to me was “individuals born into privilege are not taught to recognize their own privileges, and, if acknowledged, they deny the resulting advantages” (Noel, 2000). This quote grabbed my attention because this is exactly how I reacted when we discussed privilege in my high school social equity class. I became frustrated because to me it felt like my teacher was saying that what I had achieved was not due to my work ethic, but rather all the privileges I was afforded. It took me a while to realize that’s not what is being said. Acknowledging your privileges does not mean devaluing your accomplishments, but rather acknowledging the struggles others face.

I think privilege effects every occupation, and nature interpretation is no exception. Becoming a nature interpreter requires a lot of knowledge and skills. A lot of these begin to form at an early age, while being introduced to nature. That in itself is a privilege as not everyone is able to do so. Activities in nature are expensive, be that money or time. Even something as simple as a walk through a public forest, you may need a vehicle to get there, or time off work to go. Not everyone is afforded these privileges. Another way privilege impacts peoples access to nature interpretation is through technology. Technology plays such a crucial role in all areas of life, nature interpretation included. If you want to identify a plant, there’s an app for that, want to learn what bird made that call, there’s an app for that. Not everyone has equal access to technology or access at all. We need to ensure we acknowledge our own privileges and recognize the advantages they grant us. This is the first step in creating the change we want to see.

  Noel, J. (2000). Notable selections in multicultural education. Guilford, CT: Dushkin/McGraw-Hill

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My Promise to People - Blog #2

My ideal role as an environmental interpreter is creating a community of people who can be as passionate about the environment as I am while still doing a job I love! My ideal role is more of a promise to the people I interact with. A promise to do everything I can to ensure that I am portraying my passion for the outdoors with them, and encouraging conscious decisions when thinking about our environment. My dream job would have to be working for a conservation authority on species at risk and invasive species projects. 

However, if I could modify this job to have more ideal interpretation involved it would be doing community outreach programs on specific scientific findings. Perhaps I could continue working on native and invasive species projects but have a commitment every month to do some form of community outreach.

Let me explain my thought process more in detail. After working as a species at risk research assistant I found that a lot of the findings and conclusions made by scientists were not broadcasted to the public as well as they could have been. Some very important research for example about how to reduce turtle road mortalities or increase bat populations was never released for community involvement. In order to be efficient at portraying these findings, I think it is important to have a good relationship between scientists, local communities, and social media or outreach platforms.

A monthly outreach program may include visiting a local elementary school to introduce important topics found by scientist but in a simplified version that they would find interesting. For example, introducing the idea of turtle road mortalities, but keep the activities fun by demonstrating how to safely aid a turtle in crossing the road by using a stuffed turtle and a paper roadway. I could create a turtle crossing game, something that will stay in their memory. As explained in this week’s course material these activities could apply to active learners, visual learners, and depending on how the lesson is taught both sensory and sequential learners. After these lessons I have learnt that finding a program that appeals to as many learning styles as possible is important. 

On another hand, outreach could be as simple as offering a virtual zoom meeting where members of the community or fellow co-workers who may not know about the research can log on and watch a brief presentation on important environmental topics. I could also do some fun zoom sessions like basic tree identification to start to encourage the community to think about the local ecosystems.

One of the skills that I think would be very important to this kind of outreach is good communication skills. Not only communication to the public but also between scientists and people offering the outreach. As I mentioned before without good communication between all parties then important scientific findings may never be demonstrated to the public. The importance of community participation in environmental mitigation efforts has never been so important.

As I have mentioned before provincial parks are a great spot to provide community outreach programs and encourage people to get outdoors! However, to get as many people as possible involved I think offering online sessions, as well as maybe local parks or hiking trail walks can be a great way to get community cooperation without requiring a potentially long drive to a park depending on where you are from! 

A picture of myself from a summer position as a discovery guide at Marten River Provincial Park. (We were looking for bugs!)

If anyone is interested in community outreach offered by Ontario Parks, they have their own blog page that posts some really cool information about fun activities to do outdoors and informational blogs about native species and other environmental topics! I attached the link below in case anyone wants to enjoy some cool readings!

https://www.ontarioparks.com/parksblog/

[wzenvs3000w22]

Hi Katie,

           I really enjoyed your post, it was very informative and has an important message. I think it is a great idea to combine your passion for protecting species at risk and removing invasive species with outreach and education. There is not normally a lot of overlap between these two areas, as people normally specialize in one or the other, as you would have with your job with parks Canada. Providing a linkage between these two areas is very important as you highlighted many scientific findings go unknown to the general public. This divide is worsened as even the scientific literature that is published is written in an academic tone and can be hard to read for someone outside the field. I especially enjoyed how you talked about outreach to younger kids. I think this is very important as teaching youth about the natural environment will help create adults that are passionate and informed about environmental issues. Your point about using games to teach kids about important issues is an excellent idea. In high school I lead grade fours on nature walks through the Luther Marsh and talked to them about the importance of wetlands and their ecosystem services. I found the best way to convey their importance was through games, the students actively participated and retained a lot of what they had learned about wetlands. A suggestion for your turtle game is instead of having a paper turtle and roadway perhaps you could make a game where one of the kids is the “turtle” and they have to get the “turtle” safely across the road, this way the kids can run around and learn at the same time.  

[wzenvs3000w22]

Unit 2 Blog

One of my favourite activities involved in hunting is scouting. Scouting involves me my brother and my dad walking around a forest somewhat aimlessly looking for sign of the animals we hunt. We may see signs of feeding, such as scratching or browsed twigs, signs of the rut (breeding season) such as scrapes or rubs, or we may see wing marks in the snow. Whatever we may find, it gives us some information, and we extrapolate from that and begin to paint a picture of how the animals are using this area. For instance, this year my brother and I found an area with 3 large rubs, and a lightly used trail that followed the edge of a swamp and went into some thick cover consisting of cedars, dogwood and willows. We talked back and forth, discussing what this could mean and how we thought the deer where using this area and came up with a plan for next fall. My ideal role of an environmental interpreter would be a consultant to property owners on how to improve their wildlife habitat and how to hunt their property successfully. In this role I could meet with a landowner and walk with them through their property and discuss with them the strengths of their property and what needs to be improved to have a more diverse and healthier ecosystem. Some properties may have lots of good cover for wildlife but very limited food such as natural browse or agricultural fields, and others may have ample food, but no cover for animals to feel secure. Improving the property will provide the landowners with more enjoyment of their property and better hunting opportunities.

The best area for me to pursue this would be southern Ontario. This is because this is the area I am most familiar with. Through hunting in this area I have learned what good habitat looks like for different species and elements all good wildlife habitat share. I would not be able to advise landowners on how to improve their property in ecosystems I am not familiar with such as the Boreal forests of northern Ontario.

To achieve this goal I will need to improve my existing skills and learn and refine new skills. I will need to better understand forestry practices and techniques. To do this I will need to read literature on the common practices and consult experts in the field on how to best manage different forest types. I will also need to develop my skills as an interpreter, I will need to ensure that whatever the learning style of the landowner is, I can convey my message and goal to them. I would take them along with me as I walk through their property and engage with them based on how they best learn. I will also need to continue to learn more about the animals I hunt for in order to best understand the requirements they have and the role they play within an ecosystem.

(picture of one of the rubs discussed in the post. White-tailed deer males (bucks) make these rubs in the early fall to get rid of the protective velvet on their antlers and in the breeding season as territorial markers)