Nature Interpretation with Alyssa

Prior to this course, my view of nature was quite closed-minded. In fact, I perceived nature as simply a space to enjoy and relax during my downtime, for leisure activities, and as a place to take a breather from the stressful world around me. Although nature still provides this escape for me, I have also come to understand that the natural world is much, much more. I am grateful for this course because it has taught me to appreciate nature interpretation as a space for learning and growing as individuals and as a community. Nature is a welcoming place for all.

Throughout my journey as an interpreter, I have had many opportunities to reflect on my relationship with the natural world. Not only have I become more self-aware of my connection to nature, but I have also become more mindful of new perspectives of interpretation. According to Chapter 1 of Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World, Canadian Yorke Edwards defines the essence of interpretive work, stating that “the job of interpretation is to open the minds of people so they can receive the interesting signals that the world is constantly sending” (Beck et al., 2018). I truly believe that nature evokes feelings that support a personal relationship with the cultural landscape. Effective interpretation needs to remain relevant and thought-provoking to the audience in order to nurture one’s personal connection to their natural surroundings.

When I think about my own personal morals and core values, I realize that a lot of them are shared with the ethical beliefs of a good nature interpreter. I value honesty, integrity, and responsibility. I strive to stay creative, patient, and passionate. I cherish exploration, wonder, and ambition. These ethics that I have inherited from my parents, learned from friends and family, and discovered through my life journey are extremely important to me. As an interpreter, I wish to share my experiences and teachings with others while remaining true to my values and beliefs.

My responsibility as an interpreter is to make sure that everyone feels welcomed and included. Inclusion is a core value of mine and has been since I was young. In fact, growing up I played soccer and I recall one particular practice that still resonates with me. The coach selected two team captains to do a classic “school-yard pick” to create the two teams. I was chosen as one of the captains for that practice. We went along, going back and forth, choosing each player to join our team. At the end of the practice, the coach pulled me aside and said “I know what you did. I know that you choose all the girls first who were always chosen last to be a part of your team. And when I tell you how happy each of those girls looked - thank you.” To this day I always remember this moment, as what I thought was just a simple school-yard pick, turned out to make a major difference. I still strive to make each person feel included like those girls did that day. I wish for each person's contribution, big or small, to feel significant. As Maya Angelou once stated, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Thus as an environmental interpreter, I wish to create an experience that will leave participants with a stronger sense of belonging. In particular, I can do this by encouraging others to share their personal thoughts, opinions, and experiences with nature. It is so important that I create safe spaces for other nature interpreters where they can feel comfortable to openly explore new perspectives in a communal environment.

Retrieved from: LINK

Another responsibility I have as an environmental interpreter is to understand the numerous ways that people learn. This deeper understanding will allow me to better organize experiences in a cohesive way that others will remember and find meaningful (Beck et al., 2018). Specifically, it is imperative to comprehend diverse learning styles and multiple intelligences in order to provide a deeper learning experience for each unique individual.

My approach to environmental interpretation is foremost rooted in artistic expression. Specifically, I intend to use my passion for art and creative design to inspire others to establish a deeper emotional connection with their surroundings. As noted by Jay Griffiths, “Art elicits sympathy, conjures empathy, and these emotions are requisites for a kind, kinned sense of society… for the greatest artists do not make their best works of art in clay or paint or sound or words; they make them right inside us, within the heart of the reader or audience” (Beck et al., 2018). Knowing this, I hope to use the power of creative expression to foster greater connections between one’s emotions and the world around them. In particular, I hope to encourage others to engage with a variety of artistic mediums (i.e. painting, sculpting, and drawing) to represent their personal understandings of their emotions in relation to nature. Interestingly, just like art, there is no one specific way to interpret nature. Blending art and nature is an important approach that allows interpreters to open their minds to a variety of diverse perspectives.

A second approach that I use as a nature interpreter is focused on facilitating discussions with an array of individuals of different backgrounds and experiences. After taking this course, I recognize that my personal interpretations of the natural world are limited to my unique schema and specific interactions with nature. To address this, I hope to engage in meaningful conversations with other nature interpreters in my community to grow in my understanding of our beautiful world. This approach is similar to Peggy McIntosh’s paper, “Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.” In this work, McIntosh explains that each of us has, “an invisible knapsack of unearned assets … of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools, and blank checks” (McIntosh in Novel, 2000, p. 116). Essentially, we all carry our own knapsacks of privilege and bias that influence the ways in which we view and perceive the world. I understand that my view of nature is limited to the items in my own knapsack and therefore I hope to expand my understanding by sharing my tools with others.

Overall, this course has taught me numerous lessons and strategies to implement as a nature interpreter. I intend to apply these new skills throughout my daily life to continue growing my relationship with others and nature. Thank you all for joining me on this journey!

- Marissa🌿

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

I really enjoyed your post this week, especially how honest you were at the beginning. I also think that my core values as a nature interpreter stem from honesty and integrity while heavily being influenced by my own personal experiences and shared knowledge from family and friends. By including these aspects into the role of nature interpreter, it creates a sense of friendliness and a truly welcoming environment for the audiences that you are trying to reach.

When we are trying to reach these audiences, we have to ensure that we are acknowledging the privilege that we possess and use this for the greater good. Additionally, to me as an interpreter, we have the major responsibility to be inclusive and not disregard someone just because of their history or background. Nature is not ours to control or say who is or is not able to experience the plentiful goodness that it provides. But rather we are obliged to share the knowledge and goodness to all individuals so they can learn and share with their peers.

Although I have always found art to be challenging and I wasn’t necessarily good at it, I never let the quality of my work hold me back. As you stated art allows the person to express themselves while simultaneously establishing an emotional connection with their surroundings. It is very evident that you have a passion for the art and truly understand the importance of building a greater connection between the individual and nature.

You did a great job this week, and I believe that you have been able to develop an impressive appreciation for what being a nature interpreter entails.

Good luck with the rest of the semester!!

When this course began, I was in the dark about the whole concept of nature interpretation. Unsurprisingly, I assumed it would mainly entail developing increased awareness and mindfulness when spending time outdoors. I figured this course would help me learn to share those experiences with audiences from all kinds of unique backgrounds. My role as an interpreter before ENVS*3000 focused on topics surrounding my studies as a science student. Being in university has a way of making school the primary lens through which you perceive the world; at least, that has been my experience. As a result, when I look at the world around me, it is easy to recognize the ecosystems at play and the unique interactions happening within them that are essential no matter how small. As a science student in my final year of study, the natural world’s complexity is evident, and for me, this is one of the most humbling thoughts to entertain. It is crucial as an interpreter to be mindful of the natural world’s sheer magnitude, something often overlooked by the anthropocentric society we are immersed in. 

In nearly any situation, humanity has a way of commanding attention, but learning how the complex systems at work in nature genuinely are, makes it clear that it really is a delicate balance. It can also be an eye-opener for many to realize humans are not as pivotal to Earth’s well-being and function as we are conditioned to believe. Humans have less control over the world than we would like to admit. Although the environment is plagued by the seemingly infinite number of challenges resulting from human activity, the wilderness will and always should stay out of our control. As interpreters, it should be our role to help others recognize the power and knowledge found within nature and the positivity it can bring to our lives when we do our part to care for it and maintain its integrity. When we care for the Earth, it cares for us by healing our psyche and fostering our physical well-being.

Photo by Lukasz Szmigiel on Unsplash  

My development as a nature interpreter is heavily influenced by my personal morals and the belief that good interpreters should share the knowledge and power nature offers. The things most important to me that define my personal ethics as an individual and as an interpreter are respect, integrity, and the value knowledge holds. As interpreters, our primary role is to share the knowledge we have with others so that they may achieve the same benefits we do as a result of forming a meaningful connection with nature. Additionally, I think it is our job to teach others how we know to be respectful of the environment in sustainable ways to maintain the integrity of our natural surroundings. When discussing my development as an interpreter, my mind automatically jumps to my future role as a science teacher. I am starting my Bachelor of Education this upcoming fall to teach high school science, a clear showcase of my priority to share the invaluable knowledge that exists in the field of science with others. 

I have always loved sharing what I have learned with people around me, even if it’s just a remarkable fact I learned in class that week with a friend or even my mom. The key here is how significant knowledge and learning is to me, and I think this goes hand in hand with honesty, integrity, and respect, morals by which I try to live my life. While these factors are those by which I guide the actions and decisions I make in my life, they are also the ones I focus on when interacting with the natural world around me. Being respectful is one of the most important things to keep in mind when getting out and experiencing nature, especially to maintain the integrity of the ecosystems and the organisms that rely on them. Connecting back to my future as an interpreter through the role of science teacher, I can share these ethics with the students who enter my classroom and show them the importance of the environment and how they can personally maintain nature’s integrity. 

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash  

Continuing my role as an interpreter through teaching science introduces a variety of responsibilities. First and foremost, teaching youth to respect the environment and do what they can to improve nature’s conditions whenever possible. Environmental stewardship offers benefits to the domain directly, but it also provides an outlet for individuals to connect and spend time outdoors. I believe nature holds so much power, be it in terms of psychological relief from stress or anxiety or a physical escape from the hustle-bustle we are affronted by in modern society. I believe it is a gift to be shared, and that is our responsibility as teachers and as interpreters of the natural world. As mentioned in Rodenburg’s article (2019), today’s youth simply are not getting outside to experience nature the way many of us did as kids, even though that really was not so long ago. In a world that has been rapidly developing new technologies for even more convenience, people are beginning to forget to slow down and appreciate what is around them, and children are not exempt from this. It is so important to foster the connection between humanity and the environment to avoid “nature deficit disorder,” a term coined by Richard Louv in the textbook (Beck et al. 2019) to describe the detachment between humanity and nature. 

Throughout history, nature and humanity have always been intertwined; one can never exist without the other, so nature deficit disorder can introduce various challenges. Perpetuated by modern society, nature deficit disorder can manifest in countless ways that exemplify the physical, social, and cognitive deficits that result from the disconnect with nature (Beck et al., 2019). Teachers have so much power to initiate reform by educating and inspiring their students who will grow up to be the policy-makers, business owners, scientists, teachers ultimately, the future caretakers of the world. The impact teachers can have on their students is undeniable, which is a primary aspect of effective interpreters, which is a significant reason I decided to pursue a career in teaching to make a difference.

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash  

Everyone will have a unique perception of the broad privileges granted by the environment that expresses the individuality between people. As an interpreter, it is vital to focus on the various things that catch different individuals’ attention, providing insight into the unique personal relationship held with nature and their relationships with others and even within themselves. There is a valuable connection between humans and the environment from the deep evolutionary history that forever links the two. Creating a strong relationship with nature and helping others to do so will aid mental wellness by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, elevating mood and reestablishing attention to the physical health benefits that include promoting cardiovascular health and reducing obesity by staying active. There are many benefits to support the power of getting involved in the environment and building a personal relationship with nature. I believe that to be one of the responsibilities of a nature interpreter and a science teacher.

Photo by Steve Halama on Unsplash  

This course provided invaluable knowledge about how to reach a variety of audiences, but more importantly, it allowed me to gain insight into my personal relationship with nature. While learning techniques to improve the way I can share my own interpretations with others has been amazing to prepare me for my time in teachers’ college. The enhanced relationship with the natural world has provided me with much needed benefits and escape from symptoms of nature deficit disorder and many other aspects of nature I had never recognized before this course. I always knew the importance of the environment when it comes to science, of course, and in art based on the numerous art pieces or musical creations inspired by nature. This course expanded my appreciation for the incredible impact nature has had on humanity throughout history, but it is even more important in society today. 

Thanks for a great semester everyone!!

Sierra 🌼

References:

Rodenburg, J. (2019). Why Environmental Educators Shouldn’t Give Up Hope | CLEARING: A Nonprofit Magazine for Environmental Education in the Pacific Northwest. clearingmagazine.org. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

After reading your post, I realized that we both share a lot of similarities in our ethics and responsibilities when becoming a nature interpreter. I also discussed the importance of teaching the audience about being and living environmentally sustainable. This coincides with environmental stewardship as they both emphasize the significant impact that nature has on our lives. If we do not teach and provide options for individuals to be sustainable then they will not be able to learn the true sense of what environmental stewardship entails. When people reach a harmonious connection between these two components of nature interpretation, then, hopefully, the appreciation for nature will increase. I also agree that to instill the significance of environmental stewardship and sustainability in individuals, it has to begin at a young age as children are so impressionable. One way this can be accomplished is by implementing interactive ‘eco’ clubs within the elementary schools to try and get the children excited about being environmentally conscious.

I didn’t know that there was an actual term for the lack of connection between nature and humans. I found that to actually be quite devasting that people are getting out enough and experiencing nature. Like you stated, nature provides humans with so many benefits it almost seems endless. In an article written by Helen Briggs (2016), she stated “we’re more likely to learn about wildlife ironically from a David Attenborough programme than maybe from a walk in the woods.”. This statement really stuck with me as it grasped the essence of modern humans needing to be entertained, through technology, at all times but at the cost of such a crucial component of our lives.

Great job this week and best of luck with the rest of the semester

Alyssa

References

When I glanced at this week’s prompt, I felt a little pressure to be honest. You all want to know the most amazing thing I know about nature?! I didn’t know where to begin, and I wanted to provide something that would surely wow you all. The first thing that came to mind was how wondrous of a feeling nature can provide for you, it’s truly therapeutic and it goes unmatched. This is one of the most amazing things about nature in my opinion, but I can’t sum it up in a blog post for you – you must experience it for yourself. What I can do is provide you with some incredible science/math that will hopefully deepen your connection to nature and the universe around you. The science that I’m referring to is called fractals, and it’s also referenced as sacred geometry.

Enchanted Forest: Photography by Inge Johnsson. Can be retrieved from: https://pixels.com/featured/enchanted-forest-inge-johnsson.html

Have you ever heard of these terms? Fractals are self-similar patterns that repeat themselves at different levels of magnification – every small part resembles the whole.

A “simple” fractal (self-repeating pattern). Retrieved from Tumblr. 

As you can see in this gif, the pattern appears to be on an infinite loop, demonstrating a pattern inside a pattern inside a pattern, so on and so forth.

I’m sure you’re wondering how fractals play into nature. In one of my courses this semester, we discussed how nature organizes itself into fractals to “problem solve” (McCann, 2021). Fractals are ultimately formed by nature to fill empty space, which in turn can effectively add a dimension (McCann, 2021). Yes, you heard that right, fractal filling can drive additional dimensions. I thought this fact was wild when I learned it! You’ve probably heard your local hippie say at one point or another that we’re “multidimensional beings”; that we have access to dimensions higher than that of 3D (including 4D, 5D, 6D, all the way to 12D+). In my opinion, this logic is supported to a degree because us humans have fractals all throughout our bodies that are ever repeating. A perfect demonstration of this is our circulatory system – we have 60,000 miles of branching blood vessels and capillaries inside each of us (Elsevier, 2019).

Artwork by Matthew James Taylor that represents a branching network of blood vessels. Retrieved from: https://matthewjamestaylor.com/fractal-art

This amazes me not only because of the dimensional aspect, but because these fractals are found throughout all of nature. This implies that both humans and nature have the ability to produce internal dimensions through fractals. To me, it is proof that we are not separate from nature, but simply a part of it. Our bodies carry some of the exact same patterns and mathematical ratios that nature does.

A very well-known pattern that is found across humans and nature is the Fibonacci sequence. This pattern exists at all levels of creation: human body proportions, plants, crystal structure, the orbit of the planets, etc. It’s so amazing to me because as previously mentioned, it demonstrates that we are not separate from nature. Our bodies form the same patterns that plants and animals do, down to a mathematical level. Some people believe this proves that humans along with nature are all derived from the same source.

A closer look at the Fibonacci sequence. Retrieved from: https://mocomi.com/fibonacci-sequence/

This is a complex topic and I have merely touched the tip of the iceberg, so here are some additional sources if you’d like to dive deeper:

(1)  Fractals: a world in a grain of sand | Ben Weiss | TEDxVeniceBeach - YouTube

(2)  Fractals In Nature: Develop Your Pattern Recognition Skills In The Forest (diygenius.com)

(3)  (1) Fractals - Hunting the Hidden Dimension - YouTube

The next time you’re out in nature, look at all the beautiful fractals and patterns that surround you. Understand that you are a part of nature, and that nature is a part of you as well.

References

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

Fahy, E. (2019). Blood Vessels: The 60,000 Mile Network Inside Us. Elsevier. Retrieved from: https://3d4medical.com/blog/blood-vessels-the-60000-mile-network-inside-us-anatomy-snippets

What a great post this week! I also was really overwhelmed with trying to narrow down to one thing that I thought was amazing in nature. If I wasn’t discussing species diversity, I was going to talk about fractals and patterns within nature so I’m glad you brought light to this remarkable phenomenon. I also took McCann’s Communities, Populations and Ecosystems class last year and I remember when he discussed fractals, I was blown away. I always understood the relationship between humans and nature, and how we can be seen in nature and vice versa. But I was stunned by the actual complexity of this relationship.

(left) Image retrieved from https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/189010515596970909/

(right) Image retrieved from https://www.ignant.com/2017/09/12/human-vs-nature-by-agnieszka-lepka/

While doing some additional research, I was able to come across some additional examples of how humans resemble nature. The example of how our fingerprints is comparable to those of the annual growth rings of trees. It’s very interesting that both of these are unique to every human and every tree, no two are alike. Likewise, the branching of the bronchioles draws parallels with the branching of trees.

Human evolution would be nowhere near as successful and dominant as we are if it wasn’t for nature and the lessons it has taught us. From providing us with shelter, food, water and other essentials that we need in order to survive and providing us with an overabundance of natural remedies to cure illnesses. For example, walnuts are rich in alpha-linolenic acid, a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid, which are crucial brain ‘food’ that counteract major stressors that drive cognitive decline (Beerman, 2020). And it is said that it is for this reason as to why walnuts resemble the human brain.

Great job,

Alyssa

References

     Music and nature are both forms of art. They create heartwarming emotions, which can help build and strengthen relationships within yourself, and with others. Music can be heard and found in nature endlessly. Such as the sound of birds chirping in the morning as the weather starts to warm or the sound of crickets outside late at night. Music can be heard within the leaves rustling through a windy autumn day or even through the echo of a pebble skipping across a pond. Music is whatever heals your soul and makes you feel at peace. There are so many examples and forms of those sounds of harmony within nature; it is almost impossible to write it all out in one post. 

     According to Beck et al. (2018), “Music is a form of art and the arts move our minds from the ordered and sequential logic into the deeper, more cyclical world of imagery, values, metaphor, and symbolism.”  When I think of music and nature, I think of the serenity that I can find when I can feel both. For example, merely watching a sunset while listening to the ocean waves or listening to the sound of a bonfire crackling on a warm summer night - is enough to create peace within my soul. Don’t get me wrong; I love listening to actual music! I am one of those people who have different playlists for different moods. I love music so much; it has helped me overcome many hurdles in my life, mostly when I have felt alone. However, in my opinion, relating (back) to the quote, there is nothing more calming than associating those beautiful sounds of nature with those beautiful images, such as sunsets, sunrises, mountain tops, seasonal changes, ocean views, and so on. On that note, I feel I should mention that is also why I am that person who lives for outside music festivals! I have been to multiple outdoor concerts in Wasaga Beach, Toronto, Guelph, Kitchener and I attend Boots and Hearts music festivals every summer! I love being able to dance, sing, and enjoy myself outside in the sun! 

(PERSONAL PHOTO: LOCATION: Boots & Hearts Music Festival, Oro-Medonte, Ontario. DATED: August 11th, 2017, 2:38 pm). 

(PERSONAL PHOTO: LOCATION: Boots & Hearts Music Festival, Oro-Medonte, Ontario. DATED: August 12th, 2018, 7:47 pm). 

(PERSONAL PHOTO: LOCATION: Bingemans, Kitchener, Ontario. DATED: September 8th, 2017, 7:56 pm). 

     Now moving onto nature in music, where is nature found in music? I believe nature is found in music naturally. It is located within talent, lyrics, music videos, and so on. I do not mean that nature is found in everything related to music; I just mean that there are deeper meanings behind the art of both music and nature. 

     One of my favourite songs to listen to within adventures outside is Sleep On The Floor by The Lumineers! This song reminds me of the saying, “seize the day.” The lyrics express how people move on to bigger and brighter things in life to fulfill their dreams. This song moves me in a certain way because I also feel that once I complete my degree, I will have to pack up my things and start my life outside Canada; an exhilarating but nerve-wracking experience! Also, if you have never heard of this song before, I will place a youtube link below in case you guys wanted to have a listen! :)

SONG LINK →  https://youtu.be/v4pi1LxuDHc (The Lumineers, 2016). 

QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS:

Have you ever thought to yourself why some of us sleep better through a thunderstorm or rainstorm? Or why some of us find calmness in nighttime playlists like rainforest sounds and ocean waves? Or why smells like lavender help some of us feel relaxed? There are just some things that are stronger together, and music and art are one of them. 

QUESTION → Do any of you use any of the examples I provided above to help you with anything? Whether that be for sleep or relaxation purposes. Let me know! I would love to see if I have some relatable followers :) 

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage (First Edition). Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC. 

I first want to say, that the statement that you made in your post about how listening to a bonfire crackling during the summer and how that brings you inner peace, I couldn’t relate more! I feel like with every crackle created by the fire it is actually the sound of another one of my worries releasing from my mind and the closer I am at relaxation.

Another example of how I use the sounds of nature to find relaxation in my life is for the past 3 summers I have gone over to my friend’s house, who lives in the country, and we watch the Perseid meteor shower. This has been the highlight of my summer because we leave our phones in the house and we go onto her dock in the pond and just lay there immersing ourselves in the sounds and sights of nature. It gives us the ability to just take a break and relax without the need to rely on electronics.

Photo taken by me of my friend frog 'hunting' (catch and release don't worry). This picture briefly shows the dock and pond I described above.

I also live for summer concerts. For the past 6 years anytime I would go to a concert, they had to be outside (typically at the Molson Amphitheatre or Echo Beach in Toronto). I think for me, the feeling of being outside and being able to experience both listening to some of my favourite artists while simultaneously being outdoors/ surrounded by nature, makes the experience that much better. There truly is not a better feeling than being in the warm, summer sun with your friends while listening to music.

Have a great weekend,

"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

What does this quote mean? Honestly, I had to read it over and over again and even then, I’m still not sure I fully comprehend what it means. To my understanding, the main point of this quote is expressing how merely having a historical artifact does not make it worth something, its knowing and understanding its history that gives it its value. Interpretation plays a big role in this process as it can allow the passing of knowledge from generation to generation so that we may remember our history and learn from it.

Image of two people appreciating our natural history in a museum (Credit: Jennifer Arnow) https://www.fodors.com/news/arts-culture/worlds-best-natural-history-museums

History plays a very interesting and unique part in the natural world that often isn’t considered enough. A huge story of history taking place in nature is the story of evolution. It is absolutely incredible that with the technologies we have available to us today, we are able to unmask our Earths history from millions of years ago. Even more incredible, is we can see evolution take place right in front of us through small diversifying natural phenomena that are causing the very species we know today to evolve and adapt with their changing environments. Muck like how fish began to walk on land 400 million years ago which gave rise to new animals like amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

A funny meme depicting exactly what happened 400 million years ago and how the vertebrates came to be. (https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1891908-tiktaalik)

We can also learn from this natural history to preserve our future. Data shows that the Earth has gone through a few extinction periods and large fluctuations of temperature – both hot and cold. Yes, the Earth is supposed to naturally go through hot and cold fluctuations like we have seen in the past, but today we are experiencing an above normal rise in temperature that is definitely cause for concern. So much of the planet’s biodiversity is dying and its our job to prevent a new extinction period from happening again.

Image illustrating what the extinction of the dinosaurs may have looked like. (https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Mass_extinction#cite_note-3)

Fantastic job with your blog post this week. I think you truly found the meaning behind Edward Hyams quote. When you stated in your dissection that ‘its knowing and understanding its history that gives it its value.’ it beautifully and simply unpacked the complexity of that quote. I too believe that it is the value, the story and the meaning behind an artifact that is what makes it special. A perfect example of this is that I have a card in my desk at home and if someone were to open that draw and see the card, they would think nothing of it. But to me that card is valuable as it was the last card my grandmother gave me; it is the meaning behind the card that makes it valuable to me.

To answer your question, I truly believe that the only way that the earth will not succumb to the disastrous outcome that climate change possesses on it, is if we retreat back to our ancestral ways of living in harmony with the planet. We must learn from the stories passed down from generations and use these stories to change the way we treat our planet. Taking/ harvesting only what we need while living sustainably and unmaterialistic are minor attributes of our ancestral past that we can incorporate into our everyday lives as a way to preserve our futures.

Also, as a marine biology student I absolutely loved the tetrapod meme!

Great job,

Art is a fantastic tool to use when trying to share and engage with an audience who may not initially have a passion for what you are sharing, especially for the environment. It allows for you to provide a connection to people in a form they are passionate about, making sharing your message much easier as you are reaching people in a way they connect best with.

I have found this to be true and effective in my personal experiences. I have a great love for the arts, including music, poetry/spoken word, photography, and drawings. I have a huge appreciation for those who are professionals and talented in these areas of art because I don’t have much talent in creating these sorts of things (although I try my best). These forms of art are not only great for entertainment purposes, but also for sharing stories, educating, and sharing culture. It is pretty much an easy way to engage an audience and use it for a greater purpose.

Who am I to interpret through art? I would have to say I am one to use my own photographs I take during my adventures, as well as personal sketches I do to share my passion with others. Throughout my blog posts, I have tried to as much as possible and when appropriate to use my personal photographs to help portray my interpretations and blogs. Interpretation can get quite personal, especially in these blogs when we draw upon personal perspectives and experiences. This is why I think it’s important to also share my own photographs, which usually will help the reader visualize what I am sharing, as well as give myself some accountability on what I’m saying. 

A calm evening on Lake Ontario. Photo taken by myself

An example where this would be effective is if I were writing about a time I felt truly at peace. I would share of the time I was down at Spencer Smith park one evening and experienced this unbelievable scene. The lake was the calmest as I’ve ever seen with extraordinary pastel colours that blended into the sky. It was almost as if the water and sky were one. This was such a relaxing experience and truly peaceful. To help others share this same experience since they probably were not there, I would share this photo I took to allow them to share the feeling.

One specific piece of art that stands out in my mind while we are discussing art for the use of interpretation is the piece called “Not Forgotten” created by a Canadian First Nations woman, Maxine Noel. Maxine’s piece, like all First Nations artwork, is created in order to share a story with meaning. Not Forgotten was created to raise awareness of the missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls, honouring their spirits and memory. I would not be aware of this issue if it were not for Maxine’s art displayed in many local shops in the towns in Northern Ontario. She connected with me, with my love of art, to share something so much greater than colours on a piece of canvas and I will forever be changed because of it.

Not Forgotten Painting by Maxine Noel (Noel Maxine n.d.)

This is where “The Gift of Beauty” comes in. I interpret this phrase as the ability of people to take anything and find beauty in it. No matter what they are seeing, hearing, or doing, they want to find a sense of beauty in it and are able to share that view with others. As humans, we don’t all appreciate things the same, or view them the same. The gift of beauty allows us to pick out the beauty in things we see and are passionate about, and share that view with others, possibly changing the way they see things and their personal perspective. Artists of all people usually like people to have their own interpretations of their pieces, finding individual connections with the art and finding their own “beauty” within it.

What are some forms of art that have had an impact on your life?

How have you used a form of art to share something with someone else?

-McKenzie 

References:

Really great job with your post this week!

I agree that interpretation can become so personal and it has been something that I have had to get use to when writing these blogs. But I also think that using our own images when expressing ourselves has truly helped. It allows me to set the tone/ perspective for my post and assists the reader when they are trying to relate to the blog by giving them the image that I am talking about.

To answer your first question, I think the biggest form of art to impact my life has been photography. I am by no means a professional, but I love the feeling I get when I take a good photo and am able to look back at the picture and reminisce about the memory behind it. Now with having a camera at our fingertips with phones, I try to never miss out on an opportunity to take a picture. It doesn’t matter to me if the picture is bad quality or our faces look bad it in, it’s the fact that one day when I am older, I will be able to look back and really cherish these moments with family and friends. I think with the circumstances that we have been faced with in this past year, it has impacted my way of viewing a lot of things, mostly for the better, and I believe enjoying the little things has been one. The photo below is just a quick example of how although you can hardly see anything or hard to make out some details, the memory behind me being at Lake Louise for sunrise definitely beats the quality.

Image taken by me of Lake Louise, AB

To answer the second question, again, I have found photography to be the best way to share art with others. All of my mom’s family lives in western Canada and I rarely have the opportunity to see them. So sharing my life with them through pictures, either sharing them on facebook or by texting them, has been a great way to incorporate that side of my family into my life.

I was going to start this week’s post by saying how I never considered privilege and nature to be connected - and then I realized that perfectly exhibits my privilege. 

To be clear, I consider privilege to mean that certain people possess traits that give them the tools and the position to make life easier for themselves. It is the idea that in a race, those with privilege are starting further ahead and that, unfortunately, the game of life isn’t fair. 

I would considered myself to be fairly privileged. I am white, I grew up in Canada, I speak English (but I also speak French) and I have no disabilities that make anything in my life more difficult. My family is upper-middle class, which has afforded me a lot of opportunities in life. Both of my parents (and later my sister and I) grew up in Aldershot, a “nicer” area of a “nicer” city. My grandparents owned our family cottage and my parents were able to buy their own next door. Between contributions from my grandparents and my parents, I have spent very little on my university degree. There has not been many (if any) instances in my life where my background has prevented me from doing something or made an accomplishment more difficult to achieve. I have a lot of tools in my invisible backpack. 

** A picture of my sister and I with my grandfather, at our family cottage**

Unfortunately, it took longer than I would like to admit to understand just how much easier my life is because of my privilege. Growing up, all of my friends lived a very similar life to me and my life was pretty average compared to my peers. It wasn’t at all uncommon for friends to be going on multiple vacations a year or spending time at their cottages, and I knew very very few people with divorced parents. It’s very hard to change your mindset to see things that were always normal to recognize it as privilege. I started to understand this as I got older and I actually vividly remember the first time I saw the video of the $100 race that we watched in class this week. My mom became more and more involved as a teacher working to promote equity in the school board and she would share many lessons like that video with us and I began to understand how privileged I was. 

However, understanding and experiencing first hand is a completely different level of comprehension. When I came to university, it was the first time I met anyone that had grown up in a very different way than I had. I was faced, first-hand with how different life was and is for so many different people.

** Picture taken by me of the Severn River from my cottage **

Combining that idea of privilege to nature is something I think is so important. I fell in love with the outdoors from a young age, but I had a unique opportunity to do so, having a cottage to visit and a house with a large property featuring woods to hike through. Had I not had the financial privilege of growing up where I did, would that love have been fostered? It most certainly would have been more difficult. I went to school for biology, where my learning has further increased that love - without the financial support would that have been possible?

** Image by Ponomariova_Maria **

To me, the most important thing about privilege is recognizing that you have it. Nature is something that no one person deserves to experience more than someone else. Those of us who have had certain opportunities because of our “invisible backpacks” have a responsibility to offer any assistance that we can. Nature interpreters are in a beautiful and unique position to guide individuals towards the beauty and healing that the environment can provide - especially those who aren’t in a position to do so as easily without their guidance. It is important to considered privilege in every aspect of life but nature is an important one. I truly believe that every single individual who wants to should not have barriers preventing them from experiencing the natural world. 

I am well aware that I have much to learn. I can never fully understand what it is like to not have privilege because that simply isn’t my reality. But I can (and I do) commit to always being open to learning, to try my best to see the world from another person’s perspective and to use my privilege to try to help someone who wasn’t handed the same tools in their backpack as I was.

Firstly, I want to say I really appreciated how honest you were when discussing the privilege that you have been so fortunate to have throughout your life. I too remember the first time watching the $100 race video and it was honestly one of the first experiences I had endured with regard to my privilege. It woke up a sense of urgency and a need to understand why this was happening and how come privilege is something that only some people get to experience. The topic of privilege has become so prevalent in our lives over the past year as a result of the BLM protests and the presidential election in the US and needs to be addressed immediately.

Nature is not be something that people get to control. It isn’t something that anyone gets to decide who is and who isn’t allowed to participate in as there are an abundance of benefits that it possesses. Being able to experience nature is truly one of the best things to have happened in my life, it has allowed me to take a step back from my life and realize how minute the material things; true beauty and happiness come from nature. But to think that some people are not able to take part in the sense of joy that is apparent when in nature because of something they cannot control is devastating. I think your statement about committing to always being open to learning and trying your best when addressing privilege is definitely something that we all must do as people of privilege and to continue the discussion.

The role of being an environmental interpreter is a highly critical position as we try to persuade individuals who may have lost their connection with nature, are searching for their ‘sense of place’ or who just want to learn more about their surroundings, about the importance of nature. This needs to be done with passion as we must transform facts into intricate and compelling stories and experiences; the individuals have to feel as if they were ones who experienced those stories firsthand. Environmental Interpreters also have the responsibility to not only the environment but as being members of society to aid their peers in observing the beauty and meaning of culture and nature in their everyday lives.

To be honest, I am still unsure as to what exactly my purpose is or the specific kind of job I would like to pursue in the future but after learning what a nature interpreter’s role is in society, I feel like that is something I could do. About 4 years ago, I had the opportunity to volunteer at a water and nature festival at Ball’s Falls Conservation Area in Vineland, ON. At this event, children would come from the surrounding elementary schools and we had the role of informing them about the importance of conservation and what they can do at home and in their everyday lives to help. We had to make sure we were making the event as interactive as possible as we were working with children but at the same time had to ensure that we were getting our concerns and points across to the children.

Image of Ball's Falls Conservation Area in Vineland, ON. Photo obtained from Google Images.

With that being said, I think my ideal environmental interpreter job would be similar as to what I was doing for the festival. Being able to work hands on in small groups within smaller scale communities really aids in the connection aspect of being an interpreter. I think it is super important for us to connect with the younger generation and show them how crucial conservation and preservation are for our environment. And starting this integration of nature and children as soon as possible will be the most beneficial. As I stated above, it is essential to make this kind of event as interactive as possible for children. But as we learned this week, there are different types of learning styles, so as an environmental interpreter, I would have the responsibility in including activities that will encompass all of these styles.

A few questions for you as you conclude this reading:

1. Has nature interpretation always been an option for a career path? Or is it something that has recently sparked interest?

2. Do you think it is more important/ effective to reach out and integrate nature interpretation within the younger generations or do you think that adults would be more receptive?

Thank you for reading and I can’t wait to see what you guys think!

Great blog post, I loved reading about your experience as a volunteer at a water and nature festival. In fact, I did a very similar thing in my hometown, I was in charge of explaining the water treatment cycle to children and found it very rewarding to teach the future generation about the world. I would also like to work in smaller groups as you are able to convey your message and engage with participants better. To answer your question nature interpretation has never been on my radar as a future career but this class has sparked my interest for sure. In the future I wish to be an elementary school teacher which possess a lot of similar skills as an interpreter. Also, young children tend to be very interested in nature so in a way I will hopefully be a nature interpreter by going on nature walks with the children and describing different elements of their environment. In fact, I work at an elementary school now with JK/SK children and they have such a strong passion for the outdoors. We recently did an activity where they classified different elements outdoors as living or non-living and talked about what made something alive or not. 

I think that it is important to begin integrating nature interpretation at a young age to build the foundation for when people are adults. Children I find tend to be more interested in nature, but that doesn’t go to say adults wouldn’t be equally interested it depends on the person. But i think it especially important to educate the young about nature and its beauty because they are the ones responsible for future policies relating to conservation and climate change. 

Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to my post, I appreciate it!

I never realized that nature interpretation could be found within an array of occupations, like being an elementary school teacher. But as you explained, they really do share a lot of similar qualities and i feel that the knowledge you obtain from this class will truly assist in your future job.

We discussed last week about finding a sense of place, and i found that it was always better to instill and provide that sense at a younger age as it gives the person the ability to grow and evolve alongside their environment. I agree that children will be more receptive to the information that would be provided as it can be more difficult to alter any established opinions that adults would have already made. 

Thanks again and stay safe, 

I don’t like public speaking. I don’t know when exactly it started, though I have a suspicion it was in the midst of adolescent insecurity. Regardless, I have a genuine fear that the people I present in front of are silently judging me. This took quite a while to deal with, and even now in my late 20s, its still with me. I feel it every time there’s a crack in my voice or a trembling in my hands when I must stand and present for a crowd.

So why I would even want to enroll in something like Nature Interpretation? Well because I want, and need, to get better. One of the biggest issues environmental causes face is bad PR. While public awareness may have increased since the rise of the internet, it does not mean that understanding has done so in stride. We often see articles telling us about the hopelessness of climate change and the steps our leaders are -not- taking to steer us clear. This can overwhelm an audience and make them disengage in the topic. “If it’s that big an issue, I’m too small to fix it.” If we truly want to get more people involved in the stewardship of nature, we need to bring it to a more relatable level. I think that’s why I feel my ideal environmental interpretation role would be in outreach for a smaller organization, such as a non-profit. Having worked for environmental non-profits, I’ve seen firsthand what outreach entails. It can be connecting with schools, or businesses, or even to other organizations hosting events. Whether its arranging planting events or setting up booths to teach kids about the animals in their own backyard, it’s the sort of work that sparks engagement in the community and gets people personally invested in nature.

A juvenile sunfish collected during a fishing event held by a non-profit organization. Photo by me.

With that I think one of the most important skills one can have in any communication role is empathy. You’re always going to have to interact with people who have a different perspective than you. In nature interpretation, this can manifest itself in several different ways, such as misunderstandings, to outright frustration. But I think approaching these situations with patience and compassion can lead to greater learning outcomes for those involved. I remember last summer stopping my nephew from squishing a bee in our yard because, as he put it, “bees sting you.” I took the opportunity to teach him about how bees are important for the earth, and how rare it is for them to sting a person (Here is a great article by Canadian Geographic if you want a crash course on bees). We are always learning in life, and how we learn is unique for every person on the planet. The best educators are those who can bring out the best in those we are teaching…Even if you get a little tongue tied while doing it!

A sweat bee, one of the many bees that get a bad wrap from public misinformation. Photo taken by me.

I’d love to hear if people agree or disagree about my feelings on outreach? Do you think that smaller, community efforts are the way to go, or are larger scale campaigns the best way to get people involved?

Cheers, 

I found your post the be very relatable. I too have a fear of public speaking and tend to almost ‘black out’ (unable to hear what I’m saying) when I’m presenting in front of people. But like you stated practice makes perfect and when you have a passion about you’re presenting, it really helps in overcoming that fear. 

Environmental conservation and climate change are currently two of the most pressing topics that need to be addressed within every community globally. This is such a big concern because the more time that passes without significant changes being made then the consequences become prevalent and are irreversible. As you stated, some people feel as if their efforts won’t be enough to make a change. But one of the best examples of no action goes unnoticed or is too small is Greta Thunberg. She was just one girl from Sweden who wanted to protest against the Swedish government as they were not taking immediate action against climate change and wanted to hold them accountable. It started off as just a single person school walkout and grew into an international event, occurring in 150 countries, which is known as ‘Fridays for Future’. This proved that every effort will, in one way or another, make an impact. 

Photo taken by me at the Guelph ‘Fridays for Future’ school walkout last September. 

To answer your question, i think it is important to have these difficult conversations on smaller scales as it provides the listeners with a more one-on-one type of interaction. However, I also believe it is crucial to have larger scale campaigns as well. Some people may not have the time or the resources to attend smaller community events so by having a combination of both of these types of community interactions available, I think will be the most beneficial to everyone.