I agree that humanity is extensively intertwined with nature, which is why it is so important that we preserve and protect the environment because it will have such dire consequences for humanity. I agree that, as nature interpreters, we have a fantastic opportunity to help people foster a deeper connection with nature which subsequently alters one’s perspectives on environmental conservation. My journey as a nature interpreter proves the phenomenon you mentioned in your blog: when I discovered an appreciation for nature, I became much more interested in environmental sciences as an area of study and spreading awareness for environmental issues. Additionally, I love how you mentioned the importance of authenticity in nature interpretation, this aligns with my beliefs about transparency and honesty. To add to your point, I believe that everyone has the right to be told accurate and clear facts as you mentioned, but also the opportunity to draw their own conclusions. As nature interpreters, it is our job to help communicate the facts, making things more digestible and comprehensible for everyone, but my secondary goal is for individuals to let their own beliefs mold their conclusions. For example, the public should not have to be trained scientists to understand climate change, that is where we come in as interpreters to help present the facts, but there is a fine line between interpretation and pushing our own beliefs on people. I believe that people respond best when they can solidify their own conclusions through transparent facts, as we can lose the trust of our audiences if they think we are twisting facts to serve an agenda (a prime example being climate change discussions). Do you agree with the “fine line” I mentioned? How do you think we can avoid interpretation turning into personal beliefs or is it a good thing?

ethics as an interpreter

As I embark on my journey as a nature interpreter, I find myself being guided by mainly my personal beliefs and responsibilities. This ethical base is a compass that leads me towards more understanding and appreciation.

One of my personal beliefs lies in the interconnectedness of life forms and our ecosystems. I view nature as a vital part of our existence as it is and deserves respect for its beauty, importance and abilities and should thus not be seen as separate from humanity. This belief fuels my passion for being a nature interpreter as I strive to convey interconnectedness to others.

Another huge contributor to my personal ethics is the responsibility I feel towards both the natural world and the people I engage with as an interpreter. I find myself to be a mediator between these two and thus it is my responsibility to bridge the gap between us humans and the rest of the beautiful natural world. Along with this role comes the duty to inspire and install a sense of wonder. Through fostering a deeper connection to nature in these individuals I can empower them to become advocates for environmental conservation and sustainability as well and spread awareness.

 Through fulfilling my responsibilities of being a nature interpreter, there are a few approaches that reflect my personal ethics. First, prioritizing authenticity in my interactions with the audience and natural world is a top priority as I strive to ensure the information being presented is accurate and clear so that everyone is able to understand and acknowledge the importance and complexity of our ecological systems.

I also embrace a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to nature interpretation through insights from ecology and history. This is because I have taken a variety of history in the environment and animals in history courses as well as a field ecology course that helped me connect to nature on an even deeper level and sharing these insights with others will help resonate on a more intellectual and emotional level.

Lastly, I am committed to ensuring that everyone is able to enjoy nature. Ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the transformative power of nature regardless of their background or circumstances is my top priority. 

As I continue to develop as a nature interpreter it is also important that I learn and grow with it and am mindful of the evolving nature and am open to new ideas, perspectives and experiences that challenge and deepen my understanding of the environment. My main goal is to inspire others to discover, reflect and act towards a more harmonious relationship with our natural world.

Hi there,

You absolutely described me when you said that environmental issues terrify people. I wrote my entire final blog about this fear and how it motivates me to be a nature interpreter. However, it is abundantly clear from reading my blog that climate change is a pretty crimping fear of mine and I have obsessed over it for years. For this reason, I really loved how you addressed and gave advice on how to avoid this fear, I felt like you were talking directly to me! It took me months of internal conflict to arrive at the conclusion you gave: being a nature interpreter is a vital role that is needed to get people to make small changes towards environmental change and spreading awareness. This is a new-found mindset for me, as before this week’s blog I felt like the entire weight of the world was on my shoulders. I am so happy I read your blog because it is exactly what I need to start my journey down this new path! I love how you explained your belief that the Earth is something we need to work with, and not try to control. I feel the same way, but I have not put it into words so well before. We have similar beliefs and goals as nature interpreters related to small changes on a large scale to help fight climate change, so I wonder what specific actions you will be taking? I brainstormed some ideas for my blog but I would love to hear what you come up with because I think you have such an amazing perspective on this!

Blog 10: My personal beliefs, goals, and ethics as a nature interpreter

Hi everyone, welcome back to my final blog post of this term! I’m very sad that this will be my last post, but I am excited to share my final thoughts regarding this entire course as well as deeply interacting with this week’s blog prompt. So without further adieu, let’s get into my personal thoughts and ethics behind being a nature interpreter.

As someone who is an avid nature explorer and viewer, I feel that this course truly attacked and challenged my understanding of being a nature interpreter, and I am very grateful for it. I had never thought about the importance of being a guide to others in helping people experience nature through a focused lens, but that is the main idea that I got from this course as a whole. I am going to first focus on reiterating what my definition of a nature interpreter is, after which I will cover the specific roles I believe nature interpreters have in our society before ending with my personal beliefs and ethics of being a nature interpreter.

Being a nature interpreter is more than just a job or a role in a community, it is centered around being a leader. As I have discussed in many of my previous blog posts, a nature interpreter is someone who is trying to inform the naivete of the importance of nature and its role in their lives (Beck et al., 2018). They try to bridge the gaps in individuals’ knowledge in an attempt to broaden their understanding and encourage them to make active steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle (Beck et al., 2018). Going off this, we can assume that nature interpreters can be anyone who is passionate about nature and who shares their knowledge with others. This could likely be anyone from a professor to a park ranger to just a passionate individual.

Currently, there are many issues we are experiencing in our world such as climate change, habitat degradation, and multiple other factors. As someone who is in Environmental Science, these topics are something I am very passionate about as I am actively learning about them through my classes as well as outside of my education. It can feel like a big responsibility to take the role of a nature interpreter, because looking at the bigger picture can be extremely overwhelming. This is often why, in my opinion, many people ignore or disregard environmental issues because being aware of the topic can feel terrifying. However, to avoid this, it can be important to view the issue as the smaller steps you can take to improving everything. For example, instead of thinking about the idea as a whole, it is good to start small, such as improving your surrounding area by being active in your community or by joining clubs with like-minded individuals. This is why nature interpreters have such an important role: they act as the guide to show people the small steps they can take, or even just making them aware of the things they might not have known of previously. This way, they are not overwhelming them with a large amount of concerning information, but instead introducing the topic in small steps to make it more approachable.

It can be quite upsetting when you really think about it though, hence the importance of introducing the topic in smaller steps. It can often feel hopeless and that our efforts are null in the big picture of things. When you consider the impacts that some industries have on the environment, it can feel like using reusable bags or reducing your food waste is not enough to cancel out the drilling of oil or the mining practices worldwide, especially when considering the pollutants that are released from those activities. However, it is my personal belief that while some of our smaller efforts might not make a big enough impact, we are so much stronger as a whole. It’s a silly example, but similar to Disney's “A Bug’s Life”, the ants are controlled by the grasshoppers because their outlook has always been that one individual is powerless against a single grasshopper, let alone a small gang of them (Lasseter, 1998). When they realize that there are hundreds of them, and only a handful of grasshoppers, they are powerful enough to eradicate the tyranny of the grasshoppers and begin again (Lasseter, 1998). I view this as a metaphor to the current situation we are in. The people in power believe they have the upper hand, but there are billions of us to their few hundred, and banding together would surely be enough to enact a widespread change. This is my thought at least, that if enough people are up in arms about something, then something would have to be done. This is why it is so important to educate people on this topic, because the more people who join the cause, the more power we have in overturning certain activities.

This mindset can start to sound a little controversial at times, but if we keep continuing down the road we are on, there will be disastrous consequences to the good of our planet and the human race. What’s funny is that the Earth has gone through so many mass extinctions over its 4 billion years of life, and it has always rebounded (Ritchie, 2022), yet we think that we are a permanent aspect of this world. It is therefore this mindset that we need to get around: we as the human race are not permanent, as nothing is truly permanent on this Earth. The Earth is a closed system that is fueled through its internal processes that maintain an equilibrium, and we just happen to be along for the ride (BBC World, 2012). A great example of this is the idea of the Snowball Earth, presented by Paul F. Hoffman (BBC World, 2012). Let's take a deep dive into what the Snowball Earth is, and how this applies to the topic at hand

Snowball Earth is the idea that the world froze over from pole to pole approximately around 2.4 billion and 540 million years ago (Britannica, 2024). Hoffman had many pieces of evidence to back up his claim, such as the dropstones that are found around the equator (dropstones are large stones/boulders that are held in icebergs which are dropped into a body of water as over time) (Young, 2009; Britannica, 2024). However, we know that the negative feedback loop that maintains our climatic system consists of water absorbing a lot of heat from the sun to warm up the area (hence why coastal cities are warmer) and ice reflecting that solar radiation back into the atmosphere (hence why the Arctic is so cold and why climate change reducing the ice caps is so concerning) (Center for Science Education, n.d.). How then, did the Earth return to what it is today if it was entirely frozen (i.e., all solar radiation reflected back due to ice creating a positive feedback loop to maintain the cold temperatures)? The answer lies within volcanic activity, which occurs regardless of the surface conditions (Young, 2009; BBC World, 2012). With this volcanic activity, ice melted and sulfur gas and carbon dioxide are released, which are very powerful greenhouse gasses (EPA, 2024). This gas increased the amount of heat absorbed in the atmosphere, which over time melted the ice caps enough for some areas of liquid water to occur, which, due to its high heat capacity, was able to return the Earth back to its normal climatic conditions (BBC World, 2012). 

While this example seems a little off topic, it greatly applies to the message I am trying to get across: nothing is promised, and the Earth is able to maintain itself, regardless of whether we are here or not. With this in mind, we are able to see that our mindset that we have conquered the Earth is not accurate, and if we keep using these limited resources as if they are unlimited, we are going to drive the world into something that we cannot return from; but the Earth can. 

This belief may seem to contradict what I said earlier about taking small steps, but I am viewing this as the end goal, whereas the small steps are the processes we need to take in order to reach this goal. This reinforces the importance of nature interpreters in being the guide for these small steps. We need to slowly introduce the topic to entice people to learn more, and we will eventually reach a point where those people will want to do something, which is where this second role of nature interpreters comes in. Therefore, nature interpreters can come in two varieties: those who are working with the naive, and those who are working with the knowledgeable. They both have the same end goal, they are just at different stages of the process.

Overall, this topic is something that is extremely important to me. I believe that understanding this might encourage others to change their mindset from viewing the Earth as something we control to something that we need to work with. The Earth is a self-maintaining system, and our attempts to mold its processes to suit ourselves is futile. We need to take a step back from our ego-centric lives and view everything as a whole, not just and ends to a means. This is the role I see for nature interpreters, and it is the role that I hope to achieve in the future. Our planet should be considered a safe haven, a gift; not something that we are in control of, but something that we are partnering with to sustain ourselves and our futures.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my beliefs on what I think it means to be a nature interpreter, and the responsibilities I feel we owe not just to ourselves, but to the Earth as a whole. I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic, and how our views might differ or coincide. Enjoy!

References

BBC World. (2012, December 23). Snowball Earth. Dailymotion. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xw5nro 

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: 

For A Better World. Sagamore Venture. 

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2024, March 14). Snowball Earth hypothesis. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/Snowball-Earth-hypothesis

Center for Science Education. (n.d.). Climate Feedback Loops and Tipping Points. Feedback Loops Can Be Positive or Negative. https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/earth-system/climate-system/feedback-loops-tipping-points 

Environmental Protection Agency. (2024, February 16). Overview of Greenhouse Gasses. Greenhouse Gas Emissions. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases#:~:text=In%20general%2C%20fluorinated%20gases%20are,nitrogen%20trifluoride%20(NF3). 

Lasseter, J. (Director). (1998). A Bug’s Life [Film]. Pixar

Ritchie, H. (2022, November 30). There have been five mass extinctions in Earth’s history. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/mass-extinctions#

Young, G. M. (2009). Snowball earth hypothesis. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series, 907–910. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-4411-3_211 

Ethics

My personal ethics related to nature interpretation are driven by the concept of preservation for future generations, and hugely driven by my sense of responsibility for our planet's well-being. The driver of responsibility is multi-faceted: taking accountability for one’s previous actions, as well as taking an authoritative position to spark future action and educate others. As a nature interpreter and environmentally conscious person in general, I am the most influenced by an unconventional driver: fear. When I think of 15 years in the future, I am overwhelmed by a sense of uncertainty and sadness because I do not know what the state of the world will be, based on the trajectory we are currently on. I have been obsessed with climate change biology, biodiversity, wildlife management, and forest ecology, since starting my undergrad 3 years ago, which has subsequently transformed my hobbies and interests outside of school into hiking, camping, and exploring nature. I have developed an intensive love for nature that I want everyone to experience as well; I love bringing friends, family, and my boyfriend on adventures and showing them my favorite beaches, trails, and little secret spots in the forest. However, I fear I will not be able to do these things with my children one day because of habitat degradation and loss. This is not an irrational fear, even the textbook describes climate change as a looming threat that requires action and the need for policy-makers worldwide to better understand the importance of climate change (Beck et al., 2018).

I have always been interested in eco-friendly lifestyle choices such as zero waste, carbon-neutral practices, and ethically sourced food for the preservation of our planet. When I was much younger I thought that everyone had to be 100% plastic-free and make sacrifices for our planet, but my beliefs have shifted… I still believe that it is everyone’s responsibility to help save our planet but I can recognize that unfortunately, even my most intense efforts on an individual scale were lackluster compared to the negative contributions of large corporations and governments. 

My values are a very strong driver in my life, as my beliefs on the importance of climate change action and the preservation of the planet have had me in debate lately on what I want to do for my graduate studies. I am not sure if I want to do my Bachelor of Education (as originally planned) or a master's degree to contribute to climate change research. My dream research would be to develop improved carbon sequestration modeling, specifically for agriculture. This is a field of research very dear to my heart because it is the intersection of my major and minors (Biological Science, Mathematics, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) & Environmental Analysis), as well as being in demand research for policy-makers to set accurate goals. As the textbook states, a key role of nature interpretation is helping people accurately perceive the world (Beck et al., 2018). We are currently in a situation where we have inaccurate carbon storage and sequestration models in agriculture (and other areas such as the Arctic). This research could severely influence our carbon capture goals and efforts needed for Canada to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, as promised in The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act (Government of Canada, 2024).

Kinsky, G. (2023). Tractor moving forwards with histograms and data in the background. Unearthing the Potential of Agriculture in Carbon Sequestration. Agritask. Retrieved from https://start.agritask.com/blog/carbon-sequestration-in-agriculture/. 

I feel horrible guilt about climate change, habitat degradation, and the loss of biodiversity, which has made me feel obligated to help “save the planet” as it is partially my responsibility. For so many problems in the world, we think things are not our responsibility and that someone else more qualified or higher up-the-food-chain will come along and fix them, but this research seems perfect for me to tackle because I am very passionate about the issue and my entire undergrad lends itself to this research. 

Now you might be thinking “So what’s the problem? What is stopping you from pursuing this research?” 

I am in a constant debate between becoming a teacher and prioritizing raising children and starting a family young or if I should throw myself into academia by prioritizing research for the next several years. On the one hand, I would love to pour my entire heart and soul into raising children and being a nature interpreter for them and my students, on the other hand, I could devote all of my energy to the longevity of the planet which could benefit the entire world. Ethier way, I am very motivated as a nature interpreter to spread awareness about climate change and reverse the degradation we have done to the planet, intending to preserve a healthy planet for generations to come, because what type of world would we be bringing children into if we do not crack down and make changes now? 

This blog has been incredibly intimidating for me because of how deep the prompt is this week. I have completely rewritten his blog 2.5 times since Monday; it has sent me into crazy spirals doubting my entire life plan and rearranging my planned courses, I even set up a meeting with an academic advisor. So after a week of wrestling with my personal ethics and goals/responsibilities as a nature interpreter, I have realized that I cannot drive into a master's degree out of guilt and that I can feel satisfied with my contributions to helping the planet without compromising my life plan and other personal beliefs. Our textbook mentions the importance of teaching people that the individual behavior of everyone contributes to both the problems and solutions of climate change (Beck et al., 2018). The best approach for me to accomplish my goals and feel I have done my part is to use the skills I've developed as a nature interpreter in this class! I will encourage others to see the beauty in the planet and help them take action against climate change as a nature interpreter. I will help spread awareness about climate change through word-of-mouth and social media, be active in politics and talk to my municipal representatives/elected officials, lead the eco-club at the school I will be teaching at someday, and make eco-friendly household changes like investing in energy-efficient appliances, reducing water waste, having a garden, composting and shopping locally. I will do my part to tackle climate change by taking the powerful role of a nature interpreter and leading by example!

I would like to end by sharing my favourite family photo: three generations of my family (me, my sister, my mom, and my grandma). I love this photo because it represents the biggest motivator of my personal ethics: the prosperity of future generations. 

References

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

Government of Canada. (2024, February 2). Net-zero emissions by 2050. Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/net-zero-emissions-2050.html

Hi there, 

You are such an amazing writer, you really have a way with words! Your descriptions were so compelling, that your post instantly transported me to the ocean with all of the powerful language used. I honestly didn't know much about dolphins before reading your post but wow dolphins are interesting! I knew dolphins are smart but I didn't know they have signature whistles or names, I found that the most intriguing. It makes me wonder if other animals have human-like forms of communication that we just haven't discovered yet, what do you think? The other thing that struck me while reading your blog was who is responsible for studying animal languages and making progress in this field? At first, I thought obviously a biologist who would be super familiar with animals, then I thought maybe a neuroscientist to analyze their brains and behaviors, then I thought a mathematician or computer scientist to create advanced algorithms and software to record data and decipher languages. There is likely a team of scientists who check all these boxes but I thought it was notable how many disciplines intersect here. This is also a very good example of the use of interpretation in the real world, as mentioned in this week’s reading. Thanks for the awesome post, I really appreciate your call to action for us to keep listening, learning, and advocating for dolphins. You had a very memorable and interesting blog this week, as I will definitely remember the unseen conversations happening under the sea the next time I am around the ocean! 

Take care:)

Lauren

Amazing things in nature!! BLOG

When I was trying to think about what to write about this week, I remembered that I created this amazing project in grade 11 about dolphins... Just when you thought that the ocean couldn't get any more captivating and mysterious, let's dive into a revelation that brings us closer to understanding the complex social side of one of the sea's most intelligent animals, dolphins. These beautiful creatures, known for their playful demeanour and remarkable intelligence, share some incredibly human-like with us, they call each other by names. YES, I know, you read that correctly. Dolphins have names for each other, a discovery that not only endears them further in our hearts but also opens up a whole new perspective on animal communication and social dynamics.

Dolphins, these graceful swimmers of the sea, are not just animals; they are storytellers, friends, and individuals with their own unique identities. Imagine a vast, blue world beneath the waves, where light dances through the water and where sounds travel faster and farther than in our air-filled world. Here, in the deep blue, communication is key to survival and social connection. Dolphins, with their sophisticated brains and social structures, have mastered the art of communication in a way that is both complex and profoundly beautiful.

At the core of dolphin social life is their use of distinctive whistles, which scientists have likened to human names. Each dolphin develops its own unique whistle, a signature sound that identifies them to others. This is not just a random noise but a carefully crafted representation of their identity. When a dolphin emits its signature whistle, it's announcing its presence, calling out to friends and family across the watery expanse. And when they hear their "name" called, they respond with an acknowledgment that strengthens social bonds and maintains group cohesion.

But how do scientists know that these whistles are indeed names? Simply through research and observation, scientists have discovered that dolphins use these unique whistles specifically when separated from each other. By recording and playing back these signature sounds, researchers observed dolphins responding to the whistles of their pod members, but not to unfamiliar ones. This indicates not just an understanding of the concept of names, but also an ability to recognize and remember these acoustic labels, a feat that underscores their cognitive sophistication.

This discovery has profound implications. It challenges us to rethink our views on animal intelligence and communication. Dolphins, with their named identities, demonstrate a level of complexity in their interactions that we're only beginning to understand. They remind us that the animal kingdom is full of surprises, full of creatures with rich inner lives and social intricacies that mirror our own in ways we never imagined. Beyond the sheer wonder of this discovery, understanding dolphin communication helps us appreciate the importance of their conservation. These creatures, with their names and friendships, face threats from pollution, fishing nets, and habitat loss. Protecting them means preserving their complex social structures and ensuring that their stories continue to unfold in the oceans' depths.

So, the next time you gaze out at the ocean, remember the unseen conversations happening beneath the surface. Dolphins, with their individual names and vibrant social networks, are not just surviving; they're thriving, communicating, and connecting in ways that continue to astonish and inspire us. Let's keep listening, learning, and advocating for these remarkable creatures, for in their stories, we find threads of our own.

Cheers

-Virginia

Unit 09: An Amazing Thing

In my eyes, the most amazing thing about nature is water. I have always been drawn to water for as long as I can remember. My mom always tells this story about the first time they brought me to our family cottage: I was a year old and the first thing I did was beeline for the lake, running with my little legs as fast as they could go to get to the water. I have always been fascinated with water in all forms, from rain to waterfalls to lakes and oceans, I love it all. I grew up in the Caribbean so I am no stranger to the warm, vibrant blue ocean but I am most enamored with Lake Superior. There is something about the clear, frigid water of Lake Superior that feeds my soul. 

Here is a dream afternoon at Lake Superior for me: 

It’s a beautiful August day with clear skies so it's hot and sunny. We just did a 5km hike, not too tiring but just enough to feel the heat and get our blood pumping. You saw some gorgeous views of the lake and the seas of trees from up high, giving you an entirely different point of view than being on the beach or driving on the road alongside the lake. 

Now that you have worked up a sweat, it is time for a dip! I was just complaining about how hot the sun is, but in a few minutes we will be thankful that the sun has heated the surface water of the lake to the warmest it will be all year at about 20°C (68°F).

We just arrived at my favourite cove! We will float on top of the surface water for hours. We keep forgetting that we are in northern Ontario and not a tropical beach for a split second until we dip a bit too low and get a taste of the freezing water below us that isn't heated by the sun as efficiently. 

The photo of the cove above is one of my favourite spots on Lake Superior. I’m almost 1000km away but it still makes me happy thinking about the next time I will take a dip here. On many occasions this winter, I have thought about this spot and how excited I am to go back this summer.

My grandma and her siblings grew up with Lake Superior literally in their backyard. So they know the shore better than anyone, my grandparents and my great-uncle have acted as guides and nature interpreters for me while exploring the lake and I hope to do the same for my children one day. The section of this week’s textbook reading about the next generation of nature interpreters hit very close to home for me because I have had the same experience that the young boy did. I too have proclaimed “I’ll never forget this for the rest of my life!” to my family about Lake Superior… and that is why Lake Superior is my answer for the most amazing thing I know about nature, a breathtaking place that not enough people from Southern Ontario have explored. (Beck et al., 2018)

Reference

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

Hi there, I don't think the area I live in experienced any thunderstorms but I am very jealous. I love sitting outside or near a window while it’s raining. It is one of my favourite things in general but it’s definitely my favourite nature noise! I have a very controversial opinion about bird songs though… I either really enjoy listening to birds or REALLY hate hearing them. For example, I adore waking up on a sunny spring morning to the sounds of birds chirping outside my window, but I HATE hearing birds chirping while studying outside, I find it very distracting. I really have no good explanation for it but I relate to your controversial nature opinion on the sounds of cicadas. 

I really appreciated how you defined music before diving into your post. I found myself having issues with what “counted” as music or not. I am a very literal person so when given the prompt of music with nature influences, I immediately thought of songs that either directly sampled nature sounds or had nature-related lyrics. That is why I appreciated the song you mentioned, “Flight of the Bumblebee,” so much, it is by far my favourite song of any other blogs I’ve peaked at. It is such a good example of a song that relates to nature without blatantly sampling nature sounds in a clunky way or having lyrics that explicitly refer to nature. Great job this week, this was a tough prompt!

Take care,

Lauren

Nature's Symphony (week 7)

Hey everyone, I took a little hiatus from posting for a week to recharge. I was able to go on a brief hike but forgot to take any pictures for you guys : (   I did see a thunderstorm this week, which was super cool but highly unsettling given that it is FEBRUARY IN CANADA, but I digress.

This week I’d like to address a fun question: Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music? I guess the first thing to do is to define music. Music is loosely defined as patterns of sound varying in pitch and time produced for emotional, social, cultural, and cognitive purposes (Gray et al., 2001). So, basically it is intentionally made sounds that vary in pitch. 

So, where is music in nature? Well to me it can be found in a variety of things. Something as simple as the wind blowing through the leaves of some trees can be a form of musical ambience, although by itself it isn’t really music because it isn’t done for any particular cognitive purpose. Instead, intentional sounds like crickets chirping and bullfrogs croaking form a musical symphony. 

Personally, I find pretty much all of nature's music peaceful and calming. Even cicadas, which I know many people find annoying, remind me of summer. So, I find them peaceful even when others do not.

Perhaps the most interesting music in nature is formed by more intelligent creatures such as whales. According to research, humpback whales use phrases similar in length to ours, and create themes out of several phrases before singing the next part (Gray et al., 2001). And, even though they can sing over a wide range of seven octaves, humpbacks still use musical intervals that are similar to the intervals in our scales (Gray et al., 2001). Their songs even contain repeating sounds that form rhymes! I knew whales’ had complex communication, but I didn't know it often took the form of a song. That's pretty cute honestly. The whales are actually singing to each other.

The second question is ‘where is nature in music’? In my opinion, there are two ways to look at this. The first way is that humans are ‘natural’ in the sense that we are evolved animals like whales and frogs, and so the songs and music we produce are inherently part of nature’s music. I think this view, while technically true, is less useful because usually we use ‘nature’ to mean non-human. 

The other way to look at it is how the natural world inspires human artists in their creation of music. There are tons of examples of this. There are songs that are more abstract in their use of nature, such as “Flight of the Bumblebee” that has no lyrics, but is meant to evoke the seemingly chaotic and rapidly changing flying pattern of a bumblebee. And, there are songs in which people directly talk about their experiences in nature. One of my personal favorites is Green River by Creedence Clearwater revival. It more directly reminds me of my experiences along ponds and rivers talking about the bullfrogs and dragonflies. 

Anyway, that's it for this week! What’s your favorite nature song? What song brings you back to nature?

I don't have any pictures of bullfrogs singing, but here's a picture of a leopard frog, they also make mating calls.

References

Gray, Patricia & Krause, Bernie & Atema, Jelle & Payne, Roger & Krumhansl, Carol & Baptista, Luis. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science. 291. 52-54.

NATURE AND MUSIC (unit 7)

There is a genre of music called Biomusic which is music with sounds created by animals and plants, instead of humans. There are two types of biomusic: music entirely made by non-humans and music that is composed of non-human sounds but arranged by a human. This sounds like a very out-there and foreign concept but you have absolutely heard biomusic before, the most common example is birds. Maybe it was just one bird chirping away or a duet of two birds chirping together and seemingly playing off of each other almost like they are taking turns singing or even multiple birds like a symphony, but you have heard the natural phenomenon of bird songs. Additionally, many songs sample nature sounds like Blackbird by The Beatles and Radiohead by Morning Mr. Magpie. 

My favourite example of nature in music is study, ambient, and sleep music. Most sleep music and white noise machines play nature sounds like babbling brooks, drizzly rain, or crashing waves. But why does the human brain find this so relaxing? For the majority of human existence, we have been immersed in nature and have only recently (since the industrial revolution) most people live disconnected from nature. It has been found that exposure to forest noises causes physiological and psychological relaxation, including lowering heart rates, and increasing feelings of comfort and improved mood. Evolutionarily, humans have only had a short time to adapt to the new sounds that surround us (Jo et al., 2019). We went from being surrounded by the peaceful “silence” of birds chirping, wooshing leaves, and streams running to the constant buzz of an air conditioner, honking and auditory stimulation 24/7. 

I have always found it really interesting how many people cannot stand to sit in silence; needing to listen to music or at least have some background noise. I wonder if there is a correlation between people who enjoy silence and love being in nature, as well as the opposite, people who want constant stimulation prefer indoors. I have a small sample size so I do not want to make any definitive conclusions but out of my immediate family, the people who enjoy silence and white-noise nature sounds also really enjoy the outdoors, the others find the outdoors “boring” because they have grown up with constant visual and auditory stimulation. I really resonated with a quote from the textbook by Eduardo Arango: “When technology has nothing more for man, then nature will go on showing him her wonders” (Beck et al., 2018). I hope that my younger siblings grow to love and appreciate nature as much as I do someday, but currently, they are only interested in Tiktoks and watching movies, even while up at our cottage surrounded by nature. Have you observed a similar trend in your life? Or do you think there is no correlation? 

The song that immediately takes me back to a natural landscape is Mountain Sound by Of Monsters And Men. This song reminds me of being up at my cottage and the very long drive up to the top of Lake Huron. It's amazing how powerful music can be, just listening to this sound reminds me of summer and gives me the feeling of warmth and freedom from school. 

References: 

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

Jo, H., Song, C., Ikei, H., Enomoto, S., Kobayashi, H., & Miyazaki, Y. (2019). Physiological and Psychological Effects of Forest and Urban Sounds Using High-Resolution Sound Sources. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(15), 2649-. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16152649

Hi there, 

I agree that interpreting the past allows us to learn and apply past events to the present. However, as you mentioned the importance of accurately interpreting history, I have always feared the possibility of improper interpretation and misunderstanding the historical context surrounding major events and facts. Additionally, I have always been concerned with the biases and what you refer to as history being “skewed.”

For example, I took a classics course (ancient Greece and Rome) and I was always wondering the why/how/who of the information that was presented to us as facts.... How do we know this information? Who recorded this information? Why did they record this information? I was so distracted by the possibility of biases and how “facts” could have been miscommunicated over thousands of years. This issue actually relates to the question you posed. We trust history textbooks as fact because they are written by people who specialize in the art of interpretation and are highly familiar with the historical context, giving the average reader the opportunity to learn about historical documents, records, and artifacts without the responsibility of interpretation. The way I see it, when we read about a topic in a history textbook, most of the interpretation is already done for us to avoid misconceptions; historians get us on the right track to properly understand history. With that, unless we are interpreting a historical document or artifact directly ourselves without anyone else's input, there is some degree of bias.

Is there a line where we should just accept a certain degree of bias? Should we be taking all history with a "grain of salt" as we are unfamiliar with the interpreter presenting us with information?

Thanks for sharing! 

-Lauren

To learn from the past is to better the future...

This week we were tasked to pull apart and inspect the following 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 start, it makes sense that there is no particular worth in old things like artifacts, however there is worth in integrity, and integrity means keeping together the parts of a whole. This means that in order to maintain the integrity of a historical event, we need to maintain those ancient things that make it what it is. In order to maintain the integrity of the whole, you have to remember why it was ever important in the first place, and that is what makes it important to give merit to the ancient things that make up a whole. In the sciences, we learn about system thinking, and that the whole is merely the sum of its parts. In order to properly remember and interpret history, you have maintain the integrity of all the little things that make that historical event important.

To say that “the past is in the past” is to say that moments are only significant or important if they happen directly to you, and that there is no merit in remembering history, as we weren’t there and therefore it has nothing to do with us. In reality, interpreting history helps us understand ourselves, where we have been and what makes us who we are (Beck and Cable, 2018). History allows us to find inspiration in the stories of creators, leaders and survivors. Interpreting the past gives us the opportunity to learn from others’ mistakes and successes, and create a better future using that knowledge.

One of the most important lessons I took from this week’s content is that we need to always consider when interpreting history is to make sure we are doing so accurately and respectfully. The lessons we can learn from the past can be powerful, and it’s important that we’re portraying the past in the way the story was meant to be told, and avoid bias or personal attachments.

Beck and Cable (2018) said that “every natural site has a history and every historical site has natural resources.” I thought this quote connected this week’s content with past content. Although we have been focused so far mainly on how to interpret nature to others, history and nature have always been intertwined, and it is important as an interpreter to be comfortable with both. Tied into this concept (and every concept) is the impact of privilege that we talked about a few weeks ago. In Canada, it is always important to be aware and mindful that the nature and history that we are interpreting has been skewed by colonialism. One of the most respectful things we can do as interpreters is ensure that the stories we are telling about the history of the land reflects the actual truth.

Besides first-person and third-person interpretation (Beck and Cable, 2018) I think that writing is one of the most common types of interpretation of history (and nature) that we see in the world. All over museums and archives, natural parks and conservation areas, the written word can be found interpreting what you are looking at. Interpreting through the written word makes it possible for there to be an absence of a live interpreter while at the same time forcing a person to pause and interact with the item or place, as well as capture someone’s attention, so that they might learn something new (Hooykaas, 2024). Writing plays an important role in the interpretation of both nature and history, and is also something that helps keep memories alive.

What’s one way you have (or someone you know, or somewhere you’ve been) used writing as a way to interpret nature or history?

One way I interpret through writing is to write down important memories I’ve had (both good and bad) and that way I can go back and reminisce or pull guidance from an experience I’ve lived through :)

- All for now!

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing.

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

Hooykaas, A. (2024). Unit 06: Nature Interpretation through History. [Lecture notes]. ENVS3000 Nature Interpretation. University of Guelph.

History & Nature (unit #6

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“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)

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The interpretation of history and nature interpretation is much more connected than one may think, as nature is just history. Every time we go outside we see trees that have towered over city streets for decades, interact with species that are part of long lineages often with tales of speciation or complex interactions, and endure weather that is part of a complicated narrative of climate trends. However, there are much more subtle connections such as the means we go about both types of interpretation and the values their interpretation holds in society. Notably, history and nature are severely disserviced by poor interpretation; which is an important aspect to note as both are often influenced by beliefs/biases over fact (e.i people's opinions on wars and opinions of climate change).

Hyams conveys the importance of accurately interpreting history and that history has significance in the present day. These two principles are equally as crucial in nature interpretation. In the first part of this quote, Hyams explains that there is no importance in history without accurate context and the full picture. Artifacts of history are like snapshots that can help interpret a full story but they are meaningless without the rest of the story and equally as worthless if the story is falsely conveyed. Thus, it is not the age but the preservation of truth that is attributed to the worth of an artifact or historical event. For anyone who has watched Pawn Stars, Hyams' message is communicated when an item is brought onto the show without any context or story behind it. Without the integrity of a story, the object lacks knowledge as Hyams states, and in turn, there is a blow to the value of the object because “there is no peculiar merit in ancient things” (Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation).

(Pawn Stars Youtube, 2022)

Furthermore, I find the second part of Hyams’ quote relates very well to nature interpretation, specifically in arguments about climate trends and conservation. Hyams refers to the fact that history is just as relevant today because past events still have influence, they don't just disappear. Time is a major driver of nature as seen in old-growth trees, corrosion over millions of years creating rock formations, land-locked lakes formed by glaciation, and so much more. It is undeniable that history has shaped the ecosystems and the entire planet we see today. Therefore, nature is history and when we get out into nature we are quite literally basking in a natural history museum. I will never understand how historical buildings can be preserved solely due to age but old trees that house countless species and contribute to ecosystems are cut down. (Beck et al., 2018)

(TJ Watt/Ancient Forest Alliance)

Additionally, writing is a huge component of both nature and historical interpretation as writing style and vocabulary can completely change one’s audience due to terminology barriers, accessibility, and level of engagement (Hooykaas, Unit 06). This quote by Edward Hyams is a prime example of the power of writing. I think this quote it is too convoluted to easily get a point across to many, it requires too much interpretation for the average reader. I think the message would have been lost on me if I had just skimmed over it and not been required to analyze it. (Beck et al., 2018)

References 

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

Hooykaas, A. (n.d.). Unit 06: Nature Interpretation through Science [Lecture notes]. ENVS3000 Nature Interpretation. University of Guelph.

Hi Lainey, 

I love your explanation of how intertwining meditation and nature has brought you closer to nature on a new level, that is so powerful. Do you meditate outside or is the art of meditation so powerful that you feel more connected with nature even if indoors? Also, If you don't mind me asking, what class were you assigned to lead a guided mediation? That’s an incredibly interesting assignment and I am curious to hear what subject they have incorporated that into (a few come to mind). 

The connection you made between science and mediation was very intriguing, I agree but it’s definitely not the first thing that comes to mind when I think of nature interpretation through science. It made me want to do further research because I am not very familiar with meditation or neuroscience. I am amazed that there is a correlation between meditation and immune and endocrine markers; evidence that meditation can impact our immune system and hormones. Additionally, meditation has been shown to improve symptoms of anxiety, depression, chronic pain, migraines, post-traumatic stress disorder, and even improve sleep quality and insomnia. (Brandmeyer& Wahbeh, 2019)

I know that there are lots of different types of meditation, some specifically for stress management (like the one you posted) or targeted towards sleep. Do you have a favourite type of meditation or preferred time of day to meditate? I have tried to incorporate meditation into my daily routine a few times but I can never make it stick. The only time I could consistently do it was before bed, but I don't have sleep issues so it didn't feel like it was that beneficial to me. I would be much more interested in trying meditation in nature rather than in my bed at night.

References

Brandmeyer, T., Delorme, A., & Wahbeh, H. (2019). The neuroscience of meditation: classification, phenomenology, correlates, and mechanisms. Progress in Brain Research, 244, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.10.020

Meditation as a Gateway to Nature Interpretation

In our fast-paced world, where distractions and demands of daily life can be overwhelming, finding moments of peace and connection with nature is increasingly important. Recently, I have been exposed to a powerful tool that not only brings tranquility to the mind but also deepens our understanding of the natural world: meditation. In one of my classes, each student has been assigned a week to lead a meditation session at the beginning of class. Despite my initial apprehension, I found myself drawn to this task and ultimately discovered a newfound enjoyment in guiding others through moments of mindfulness. Which is why I decided to talk about it in this week's blog. 

At its core, meditation is about quieting the mind and tuning into the present moment. When we immerse ourselves in nature through meditation, we open our senses to the rich tapestry of sights, sounds, and sensations that surround us. With each breath, we deepen our connection to the earth beneath our feet, the rustle of leaves in the wind, and the sounds of birds chirping. In this state of heightened awareness, we begin to interpret nature not just with our minds but with our hearts and souls, tapping into a deeper understanding of the interconnections of all living things.

Incorporating the insights from Chapter 3 of our textbook, we can further illuminate the connection between meditation, nature interpretation, and the quest for optimal experiences in recreational settings (Beck et al, 2018). Just as interpreters aim to provide programs that are fun, stimulating, and pleasurable for visitors in recreational areas, meditation offers a pathway to achieving these goals(Beck et al, 2018). The textbook suggests, good interpretation is fun, but the best interpretation goes beyond enjoyment and evokes an uplifting emotional response (Beck et al, 2018). This sentiment aligns perfectly with the essence of meditation. By quieting our minds and opening our heart to the beauty and wonder of the natural world, meditation evokes a profound sense of connection and joy.

Moreover, meditation adds life and feeling to nature study, making it more heartfelt and less cold like mentioned by Burrough (1916) in the textbook (Beck et al, 2018). Through practices like mindfulness meditation, participants are encouraged to connect with the living, breathing world around them. Ultimately, by embracing meditation as a form of nature interpretation, interpreters can fulfill their mission of providing optimal experiences for visitors, fostering a deeper appreciation and connection to the natural world. (Beck et al, 2018). 

We talked about nature interpretation through science this week and although it may not be clear but meditation can be tied back to science. Just as a scientist meticulously observes and analyzes the natural world, so does the mediator, they do so by observing and exploring the inner landscape of their own consciousness. Additionally, just as scientific inquiry seeks to uncover underlying principles, meditation helps us uncover our personal truths and relationship with nature. Through this practice, individuals can have a sense of empathy and compassion towards all living beings and themselves, recognizing the interconnections of humanity with the wider web of life. 

Would you consider using meditation as a form of nature interpretation? Or have you ever meditated? 

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

Here’s a meditation video for stress if your interested! 

NATURE & SHIPWRECKS (unit #5 - freestyle)

Hello friends, 

We are back again this week with the most exciting prompt yet: no prompt! I am taking this opportunity to talk about my biggest childhood interest… SHIPWRECKS!

You might be wondering how this relates to nature at all but deep-sea shipwrecks are biodiversity hubs. I have always been interested in shipwrecks because I am both terrified and in awe of them. My main fascination is with how such an inorganic and visually man-made object is completely emersed by aquatic life and fits so well in an ecosystem it was never intended to be in. 

STOCKTREK IMAGES. (n.d.). A sunken ship lays on its side near Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas. How do we find shipwrecks—and who owns them? National Geographic. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/how-do-we-find-shipwrecks-and-who-owns-them. 

Shipwrecks are considered “islands of biodiversity” because they offer a structure for an incredibly wide variety of species to inhabit, which creates pockets of very high biodiversity, acting as artificial reefs (Hamdan et al., 2021). Imagine a sandy sea floor with not much going on besides some small rocks and vegetation, now put a huge stationary shipwreck there, and eventually, many species will call this new isolated habitat their new home. Many shipwrecks are dripping with so many species that you cannot even see bare metal anymore.

It is clear from photos that there are lots of different fish, vegetation, and corals that inhabit old shipwrecks, but we are missing a very important aspect of shipwreck ecosystems: the micro-organism colonies! In our defense, we can't see them but they make up a huge portion of biodiversity. Microorganisms establish and preserve shipwrecks as artificial reefs, allowing other species to thrive in/on shipwrecks. It is amazing how much power the tiny species hold and how influential they are to full ecosystems. (Hamdan et al., 2021)

Murat. (n.d.). Bream Fish around the shipwreck. How do we find shipwrecks—and who owns them? Adobe Stock Images. Retrieved from https://www.bristolaquarium.co.uk/animal-stories/animals-that-find-a-home-in-sunken-ships/

I have never had the opportunity to visit a shipwreck other than kayaking over top of a boiler. I love watching videos of people diving to explore shipwrecks, although I can't imagine ever doing it myself. I am incredibly curious to hear if anyone has done this? I would absolutely love to hear your experiences! We (Ontario locals) live in the perfect place to go shipwreck diving because the Great Lakes have cold water and low salinity which are fanatics conditions for the preservation of shipwrecks. The Great Lakes are regarded as one of the best shipwreck diving spots in the world. (Harrington, 2019) 

I have always found shipwrecks interesting because of the duality that the vessel wasn't strong enough to complete its voyage but it is strong enough to be preserved underwater for (possibly) hundreds of years, sometimes in near-perfect condition. However, the shipwrecks of the Great Lakes are in trouble!! Invasive species of the Great Lakes like zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussels (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) are threatening our beautifully preserved nuggets of history. These filter feeders can cause damage through heavy weight and even corrosion of some metals, if enough pile up. Additionally, they release carbon dioxide which can severely alter water quality and the conditions that help preserve shipwrecks. It is insane that these huge structures that can last up to thousands of years can be threatened by something as small and seemingly passive as mussels. (Harrington, 2019)

Thanks for reading, hopefully you see shipwrecks from a slightly different perspective! Who knew shipwrecks were so intertwined with nature (I did because I am a nerd who loves shipwrecks)! 

References 

Hamdan, L. J., Hampel, J. J., Moseley, R. D., Mugge, R. L., Ray, A., Salerno, J. L., & Damour, M. (2021, April 22). Deep-sea shipwrecks represent island-like ecosystems for marine microbiomes. OUP Academic. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-00978-y 

Harrington, M. (2019, November 20). Aquatic invasive species threaten shipwreck preservation in the Great Lakes: Wisconsin sea grant. Wisconsin Sea Grant | University of Wisconsin. https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/aquatic-invasive-species-threaten-shipwreck-preservation-in-the-great-lakes/

Hi there, 

I enjoyed reading your blog because I want to be in the education field someday too. For context, I want to be a teacher in a classroom and since it sounds like you plan on working in a nature center, you made me realize an important issue that wasn't on my radar before ( which reflects my own privilege): the restriction of education due to financial means. It's not an obstacle that I need to be as focused on as you in my career, but it is still important to be aware of in general. You mentioned that you don't want to limit your audience based on financial concerns, how exactly do you think nature centers can avoid this type of discrimination? If you are setting prices for a hypothetical presentation, would you want to do it for free for all? How does one balance the need to make a living wage with the goal of delivering education to everyone?

I absolutely agree with you and believe that education is a basic human right. However, I think that it is a lot easier said than done to provide fair education to all; something we, as the next generation of educators and interpreters, need to work especially hard to achieve. I am very happy that I do not have to worry about setting prices and limiting the minds I can touch due to economic struggle, that sounds like a horrible burden to carry. Thank you for having the value system you do and someday making an effort to educate as many people as possible.

Take care:)

Lauren

3: Privilege

Privilege is defined as a “special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group”. I feel however, that this definition doesn’t fully encapsulate just how much privilege affects all aspects of life, nature interpretation included. Privilege is often wielded unintentionally, because it’s in every layer of society, which makes it difficult to distinguish at times.

As a white, healthy, physically capable university student, there a lot of areas where I benefit over others. This applies to environmental education aspects as well. Being white allows me to venture into places without the fear of being discriminated against, or questioned on why I’m there in the first place. I am also able to access these places, since I’m able-bodied and physically healthy. Sometimes, I will be teaching people who won’t have the same able-bodied abilities that I do, does that mean that they don’t get to experience the same scope of nature interpretation that I aim to teach? I certainly hope not. If I want to teach, I have to make it accessible, which takes time and consideration of others.

When continuing into the work force, I have to stay aware of the privilege I have, especially if I wish to work in a field in which I am responsible for the education of others. Depending on what type of presentation style I intend to move forward with, impacts the overall audience. If I choose to work at a nature center, and charge for presentations, that impacts my audience, in the way that now I’m limiting those who get to learn about nature, based off an economic baseline. Once again, I have to take these things into consideration, otherwise I limit those who get to learn.

Making sure what I say is accurate at all levels, and not just accurate from my singular perspective is key, and will require collaboration and constant research. My education has afforded me an advantage, because I was fortunate to be able to receive a higher education, but I have to remain aware that the opportunity is not always afforded to everyone, and I should be using that awareness to direct my education to be more accessible and understandable, while remaining prevalent and imparting as much knowledge as I can.

Nature Interpretation Through Art (unit #4)

I see “The Gift of Beauty” (Beck et al., 2018) as the passing of nature’s magnetic and recharging quality from interpreter to audience. Nature is known for its magnetic quality that draws people in, to the point of craving fresh air and sunlight almost like a drug. Many people consider nature spiritual and emotionally recharging, which adds to nature's mass appeal and draw. Additionally, an important feature of “The Gift of Beauty” is the. aspect of preservation. Nature’s immense beauty creates an intrinsic drive for one to want to preserve it to be able to continue to appreciate it and allow others the opportunity to do so as well. A huge driving force for me is that I want my future children to experience the beauty of nature, which ultimately drives a need for conservation and sustainability for me.

I think that “The Gift of Beauty” and “The Gift of a Spark” are connected because of how powerful beauty is, often being the spark of interest for many. Notably, beauty is the easiest of the 15 principles and gifts to quickly communicate, especially through art. It is said that one has a maximum of 10 seconds to grab an audience’s attention (Griffith, 2023) so visual art is the most effective and impactful. An example of beauty being utilized to spark interest and desire for nature is through information pamphlets (below). An interpreter chose each of these images to grab attention and convince someone to visit.

(The Adventure Map)

But you don't have to be designing nature pamphlets to act as an interpreter bestowing “The Gift of Beauty” on audiences… the average nature-lover does this all the time without even trying, that's how powerful the draw of nature’s beauty is! Every time we upload a vacation photo of a pretty destination, open our laptops revealing a landscape wallpaper, tell our friends about our camping weekend and so many more tiny things, we are be spreading “The Gift of Beauty” to other’s without even trying! 

So this brings us to the question of “Who are you to interpret nature through art?” Well, I am a human being just like all of you so it is in my nature to enjoy and protect the beauty, as well as want to spread the beauty for others to revel in. Art is one of the most accessible forms of communication on the planet, as art is a universal language that has no economic or social barriers when it comes to personal expression. 

One of the pieces of artwork below is by Claude Monet and one is by an elementary school student… can you tell which is which? 

(Gorden, 2024; Monet, 1897)

I joke of course! However, the point is that both pieces of artwork communicate “The Gift of Nature” and inspire audiences to appreciate nature: one probably inspired a family to go on a nature walk after dinner and the other inspired generations of artists, but the point still stands that art is a power tool to drive audiences. Additionally, art can be expressed in many forms which opens up even more opportunities for the average person to interpret nature.

References 

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

Gorden, B. (2024). Tissue paper Monet art projects [Photograph]. 123HomeSchool4Me. https://www.123homeschool4me.com/famous-artist-monet_71/

Griffith, R. (2023). Use value proposition to catch attention: Pragmatic Institute. Retrieved from https://www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/articles/product/the-10-second-customer-attention-test/#:~:text=User%20experience%20data%20and%20market,they%20engage%20with%20your%20message. 

Monet, C. (1897). Nympheas: Sun Effects [Photograph]. GettyImages. https://www.gettyimages.ca/photos/claude-monet-water-lilies

The Adventure Map. About The Adventure Map [Photograph]. CHRISMAR. https://chrismar.com/pages/about-the-adventure-map%C2%AE

Hey there, 

I relate very intensely to your blog post, it sounds like we have had similar experiences. I am very jealous of the beautiful picture you painted of the daily life of someone with easy access to nature while living outside urban cities. Although I agree that people with more exposure to nature have an advantage through greater experiences that benefit them in interpreting nature; the beauty of interpretation is that each individual has a unique experience regardless of our backgrounds. Our interpretation as city folk also has a place in the nature-interpretation community and can even be a benefit depending on the audience we are trying to connect to. I worked at the CNE as a “ham-bassador” teaching the general public about the pork industry, the lives of pigs, and much more. The majority of my audience had never seen the inside of a barn, having absolutely zero prior knowledge, as I did before entering the agriculture industry a few years ago. I honestly felt that being familiar with the public’s lack of knowledge helped me better connect with people and really "WOW" them. So although we unfortunately did not grow up as connected to nature as we would have liked, there is absolutely a place for us as nature interpreters. Millions of kids grew up in cities just like us that we can connect and relate to, giving us an advantage in knowing how to get city folk into nature!  

Take care:)

The Invisible Backpack: The Impact of Privilege on Nature Interpretation

Welcome to all my fellow lovers of nature!

In this blog post, we take a thoughtful look at the complex and sometimes disregarded idea of privilege in the context of nature interpretation. Let's first create a working definition of privilege before delving into this complex network. In this sense, privilege describes the unjustified advantages and chances that some people or groups enjoy, which are frequently conferred upon them by social structures. Drawing from the perspective of Peggy McIntosh, privilege might be thought of as an unseen, weightless backpack of undeserved assets that people carry around, influencing their experiences. Even though I am white, middle-class, highly educated, speak English, and have a Canadian passport—qualities that are sometimes linked to privilege—there are parts of my relationship with nature where privilege may not be as evident. Let's now explore how privilege shapes our perceptions of the natural world.

Imagine a forest with the scent of earth filling the air, sunlight piercing through the foliage. Imagine this haven being right outside your home, a permanent companion to grow up alongside. Some people consider this situation to be a reality, considering it a benefit of growing up in rural settings with easy access to the outdoors. Reaching these natural havens might be an uncommon and difficult task for people living in busy urban environments, like myself. The way that access varies from person to person highlights how privilege shapes our experiences by acting as a canvas on which we paint our interpretations of nature.

Interpreting nature involves more than just solo exploration; it is also shaped by the mentors and guides we come across. Being in the company of someone who instills a love of the natural world is a blessing that goes beyond brief encounters. In addition to providing access to the marvels of nature, this mentorship instills principles of gratitude and respect. Imagine having a guide who fosters a respectful and sustainable relationship with nature in addition to teaching you about ecosystems. This advice, which influences our perceptions and relationships with the environment, is a privilege that is not always bestowed.

Privilege can manifest itself in a variety of ways, including educational attainment, geographic location, cultural identification, financial standing, time availability, and accessibility. Recognizing and comprehending these intricacies helps us to better grasp the complex viewpoints that influence how we interact with the natural world. Our cultural identities provide distinctive stories, and educational backgrounds improve our comprehension of scientific events. Acknowledging our privileges enables us to view nature interpretation from a more inclusive and compassionate perspective. It provides a forum for a variety of discussions that deepen our understanding of nature as a group.

Remember our invisible backpacks as we explore the broad regions of nature interpretation. In all of its manifestations, privilege gives our experiences depth and shapes the narratives and viewpoints we exchange. Let's explore the wonders of nature with open minds and hearts, ready to welcome the many perspectives that add to our common understanding of the natural world.

Through deliberate examination and acknowledgement of our privilege, we may work together to create a more inclusive narrative of nature.

Until next time! :)

Privilege in Nature Interpretation (unit #3)

Privilege is the increased opportunities, advantages, and rights of individuals due to the basis of status (racial, economic, social, etc.). I think of the level of privilege someone possesses as a spectrum, with varying degrees of opportunities, advantages, and rights based on which privileges one possesses. Additionally, the grounds privileged status is built on are often uncontrollable, making privilege typically static and something that we are born with or without. 

I think privilege plays a large role in nature interpretation, seen as early as the origins of nature interpretation during the Scientific Revolution. The study of science, especially the exploration of nature was only practiced by individuals with enough privilege to have leisure time, as well as being members of exclusive gentlemen's clubs such as The Royal Society of London (pictured below).

Thus, the origins of nature interpretation are rooted in privilege, as many scientific discoveries and literature were driven by the new currency of wealth and power: scientific expeditions, collecting specimens, classifying species, and displaying artifacts that majority of society could never obtain because of their economic status, gender, race or education level. 

However, progress has been forged such as the work of Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), who created the Linnaean taxonomy and is attributed as one of the most influential nature interpreters to this day because he made science accessible to individuals other than the highly privileged. Linnaeus simplified classification, allowed women and children to participate in the field of study, and created field guides to make nature more accessible. (McClellan & Dorn, 2015)

Although as a society we have progressed from the intense level of privilege required for nature interpretation during the Scientific Revolution, there is still improvement to be made. Even today the demographic typically represented in nature interpretation positions is similar to that of hundreds of years ago, specifically able-bodied males presenting people with the most leisure time and disposable income. Besides the obvious advantage of people who have traveled extensively and have encountered a greater variety of species, ecosystems, climates, and natural phenomena, there is an advantage even when staying within Ontario. 

Let’s analyze some of the social, psychological and physical barriers in the scenario of camping… (Beck et al., 2018)

Abled-bodied individuals are privileged as not every campsite/trail is accessible (wheelchair, walker, crutches, white canes, etc.). Male presenting people are privileged with peace of mind as women are often warned not to camp/hike alone and may not feel safe to embark on solo adventures. Individuals whom have a mentor to teach/guide have an advantage over someone who is starting their interest in nature alone. Individuals with flexibility and leisure time easily book campsites over individuals with rigorous work schedules and few vacations. Lastly, individuals with disposable income to own a car and can invest in camping equipment have an advantage as most campsites require traveling outside of cities, and equipment to increase comfort and one’s experience is quite expensive. Therefore, privilege absolutely still shapes our interpretation and exposure to nature, which is a constant theme seen for centuries.

References 

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

McClellan, J. E., & Dorn, H. (2015). Legacies of Revolution: From Newton to Einstein. In Science and Technology in World History (Third). essay, John Hopkins University Press.

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Hi there, 

I appreciate your brutal honesty in saying you are only in this course because it is required. I too have never taken an ENVS course and do not consider myself an “outdoorsy survivalist.” I understand the adjustment going from hard-core science courses to a more fluid and self-reflective class such as this; we definitely need a completely different set of tools and skills to be successful here.

You can correct me if I am wrong, but I get the impression that you are not super into this class because you don't know how applicable this content is to your future career and life. I also do not plan on having a career as a nature interpreter but I see the value of this course as a science communication course. I touched on this in my blog post but skills as a general science interpreter are far more applicable to my dream career than specifically a nature interpreter. However, I think that the majority of the soft skills needed to be a nature interpreter are directly transferable to any other science. I would assume in Biomedical Science your future career prospects would also benefit from having increased scientific communication skills and other skills we will pick up in this course's assignments and podcast project, such as creative thinking, adaptability, teamwork, time-management skills, self-discipline, and conflict resolution.

If you dont mind me asking, what are you thinking career-wise and how could the skills developed in this course help you with your goals? 

Of course, I am not trying to force you to have a good time in this class, but I think this course has a lot more value than even I saw at first, it is much more applicable to life and future careers than I thought. I am also a big believer that mindset and attitude towards courses play a huge role in academic success, so by finding value and enjoying the class more you will likely do better grades-wise. 

Thanks for reading. Take care:)

-Lauren

A Biomed Student's Take on Environmental Interpretation

Hey folks,

So, I've found myself in this environmental interpretation course. It's a far cry from the lab and lecture theatres where I spend most of my time as a biomedical science major, but hey, it's a requirement, and I'm all for diversifying my transcript.

The Unexpected Role

When I think about what my role as an environmental interpreter would be, I'm not picturing myself as the next Bear Grylls. But I do love the ocean – the calm, the vastness, and the mystery of it all. So, if I had to choose, I'd say let me be that chill interpreter who takes small groups on beach walks. We'd talk about marine life, the ecosystem, and maybe how human health can be linked to the health of our oceans.

The Skills I'd Need

Sure, I've been camping a couple of times, and it was great, but I'm no outdoorsy survivalist. So the skills I'd need for this laid-back interpreter gig would be more about communication. I'd take those complex scientific concepts I've learned in biomed and translate them into something anyone can grasp. It's like breaking down a research article into a few bullet points for a friend.

Where It Might Be

I'm envisioning a local setting, nothing too remote. Maybe a coastal nature reserve or a seaside educational center. Somewhere I can hear the waves, feel the breeze, and not be too far from a good cup of coffee.

Wrapping It Up

For now, this course is a cool departure from my usual routine. It's making me think about the environment in new ways, even if I'm not planning to make a career out of it. Who knows? Maybe this whole experience will come in handy someday, even if it's just impressing someone with fun facts about sea creatures on a beach date.

Catch you on the next wave!

UNIT #2: Teaching Learners

Hey everyone! Welcome to my second blog post, this week our topic is discussing our ideal role as an environmental interpreter. My ideal role as an environmental interpreter is a complicated question because I do not want to be an environmental interpreter as a profession. You may be wondering why I would take a class called “Nature Interpretation” if I have no intentions of being a nature interpreter; well my ideal role is to be a general science interpreter, as I want to be a high school science (biology and chemistry) and math teacher. I believe that many of the practical skills of being a nature interpreter can be applied to other disciplines of science, such as communication skills, teaching learners (utilizing types of intelligences, learning styles, learning theories), and engagement without sacrificing scientific facts and detail. My role as an interpreter would be in a senior-level high school classroom hopefully teaching university-level classes (biology, chemistry, advanced functions, and introduction to calculus). I have always been very passionate about math and science, which I attribute to my very enthusiastic parents as well as having amazing teachers. I have the philosophy that the teacher/professor is often more important to student success than the content itself; the most interesting content can be ruined by bad delivery and likewise, very difficult and possibly “boring” content can be brought to life by awesome delivery. I have heard countless students write off math and chemistry because of a bad experience and a teacher they didn't like, which is just tragic. My dream since high school was to be an overly enthusiastic, passionate, slightly eccentric teacher who is a little too into the content they are teaching. I want to prevent people from avoiding math and science because they think it's boring or feel limited by bad past experiences.

However, I can be as fun and enthusiastic as I want but it won't help student’s understanding and retention of material if I do not have the teaching and interpretation skills to back that up. Specifically, the following skills are important for me to be currently developing: strong verbal and written communication skills, creative thinking for engagement, leadership, teamwork, time-managament skills (you only have ~45-75 minutes of class time), and conflict resolution. This class and the assignments are excellent opportunities to practice ALL of these skills because the qualities needed for nature interpretation are very similar to the ones needed for interpretation of other sciences and math. I am specifically very excited for the challenge of podcasting because it perfectly mimics teaching as we need to lesson plan, deliver content in an engaging but educational manner, and stay within a time limit. 

Although the podcast for the adult group is more applicable to the age group I want to teach, I am also very excited about the podcast for the child group. I think it will definitely be a challenge but also good practice for someday being a parent. I am planning on raising my future children very engaged in nature, and I will act as an environmental interpreter for them someday as my grandpa was for me growing up. From quick fun facts to pop quizzes to long highly descriptive stories, some of my fondest memories are with my grandpa who always captured my attention with his knowledge of EVERYTHING nature-related. Last summer we explored Lake Superior together; where he knows every road, trail, and rock we kayaked by like the back of his hand. He enriched the entire experience with ecological and historical commentary like an actual tour guide. I have to start honing my skills in plant and animal identification, animal behaviour, boat launching/driving, memorizing trails and bodies of water, and overall history (settlements, shipwrecks, fun facts etc.), if I want to someday play this role as he did. His ability to be an excellent nature interpreter has always astounded me and I hope I can play the role for my own kids someday.

Thanks for reading! Take care:)