Coast to Coast with Cait

           Writing this final post has actually made me quite sad. I enjoyed drafting these posts as they provided me with an opportunity to express my views and share my thoughts and opinions with my classmates. The response process with everyone also provided a much-needed social interaction that was lost due to the pandemic. Yet I will not dwell upon what is coming to an end. Instead, I will reflect upon what I have learned about my development as a nature interpreter. In particular, how is my personal ethic evolving, what beliefs are influencing me, what do I view as my responsibilities, and what approaches are most suitable for me as a nature interpreter? The highly divergent views expressed by my classmates in their blogs has illustrated how important individual life experiences and circumstances are in forming their opinions, thoughts and views. Sharing our individual experiences has helped us collectively expand our horizons. So how has this influenced me?

          Everyone has an ethic that influences the way in which they approach a task or respond to an issue. Ethics are referred to by the Government of Canada (2015) as “a way of living” that people use to justify their actions based upon what they deem right and wrong and just and unjust. The moral judgments that individuals make are not something that can be taught but is something that they need to cultivate. An individual’s ethics can continue to develop and change as people grow and learn valuable lessons over their lives. The beliefs that I have, the responsibilities that I feel, and how I go about addressing situations are all rooted back to my individual moral ethics.

My parents are two of the most important people in my life. A lot of the moral ethics that I have now are because of them. They have instilled values in me that shape every action I do. Photo taken by Brooke Murphy (my sister)       

       I believe that humans tend to take things for granted and we tend to not understand how truly valuable people, moments or objects are. I think that nature is one of those things humans undervalue. 

Quickly take a second and reflect on how vital nature is for your survival.

 Humans require nature for food, places to exercise, to find inspiration, and improve their mental health. That is why I believe nature interpretation is so vital. It helps enhance one’s appreciation for the natural world. Personally, the pandemic took a toll upon my mental health. One of the ways that I have been able to recover is through interpreting nature. Nature brings me this sense of calm, making all the anxieties, which tend to overtake my life some days, disappear. The significance nature plays in my mental health recovery is why I believe that nature is so vital as the benefits it has tend to go unnoticed by most.

I started really understanding how important walking through nature was for my mental health in 2017 when I started to develop severe anxiety. This photo is around the time my anxiety was becoming extremely bad and I was going on frequent walks just to try to feel calm and I found nature was able to help me find this calm.

         Given how positively impactful nature has been on my life, I feel responsible to serve as an interpreter for nature. I do not necessarily want to be a formal nature interpreter, but I would still like to be a nature interpreter through my day-to-day actions. The natural world has helped me immeasurably and improved my mental health. That is why I feel responsible for helping to improve nature’s physical health by discussing endangered species, climate change, and other pressing environmental issues. When I graduate, I plan to pursue a career in teaching and use the concepts that I learned in this course in my career. I learned that effective communication is essential! To educate an audience about nature, I need to be able to effectively communicate to an audience in both an engaging and inclusive manner in order to appeal to their moral ethic to act as stewards of the earth! 

Freeman Tilden says…..

 “we must not tell one what they can do, but what they should do and not what they must be, but what they can be”. 

I believe that in order to do this I will need to tailor to my audience how I present a topic. In the course and textbook, the notion is discussed that how people interpret and connect with a presentation will be influenced by presentation style. Understanding and customizing each presentation to address each audience’s different learning styles is critical and my responsibility.

           I feel responsible for being an effective nature interpreter, not just for nature, but also for the individuals that I am presenting to. I believe and feel everyone has a right to be included and that no one should be made to feel as if they are not welcome - speaking from experience. As a nature interpreter, it is my responsibility to ensure that everyone can engage comfortably with an issue or concept that I am discussing. As a person who suffers from social anxiety, I can relate to the difficulty of group engagement. I know that as soon as my anxiety begins, I start to zone out and cannot remember anything. To ensure that this does not happen to others, I would give consideration to making people feel physically, mentally and socially safe. Doing this will help to ensure that everyone is given the same opportunity despite what they have and lack in their “invisible knapsack”.

I remember I was super anxious this day and was very quite during this tour/experience. The tour guide picked up on it and in front of the whole group made me come and kiss a stingray for 7 years of good luck. This gesture made me feel so included and special that I stopped feeling as anxious and began engaging more. Highlighting how important it is to make sure everyone feels included and has the same opportunity to learn. 

          I find that humour is one of the best ways to present a concept as it makes people more engaged and relaxed. Adding humour to my presentation, while effectively articulating my point, makes an experience more engaging and memorable while creating a sense of joy and calm. I use humour often in my everyday life. Humour helps to lighten the mood and make experiences more enjoyable, I also find it helps reduce my anxiety, which is an added bonus.

          This course taught me that there are many ways to be a nature interpreter, present a topic or write a blog. The diverse means of completing different tasks allows us to add our own values and beliefs to everything. Therefore, when someone wants to use different approaches, teaching styles, and so on, that is 100% okay! The ways that individuals choose to work in the future will be effective regardless of the style, as long as they stay true to their morals, beliefs and values.

As long as you stay true to you the impacts you can have and the lessons you can teach will be unmeasurable! 

References 

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

I too can relate that the pandemic took a massive toll on my mental health.  As someone who has severe depression and already has a hard time “seeing the future” this pandemic has really made it difficult to remind myself “of things to look forward to.”  Especially now that we’re going into another lockdown I really have to keep myself grounded and remind myself that depression is a liar.

I too use nature to help myself with this everyday battle.  My daily walk that finishes in the forest allows me to be reminded of the beauty that the earth has to offer.  It allows me to “ground” myself by writing down 5 things I see, 4 things I hear, 3 things I can feel, 2 things I can smell and well I’m not tasting anything in the forest (Lol!) But the importance of this is keeping myself in the present moment.  I tend to always be in a more negative head space so this allows me to give my brain a break and just think as well as enjoy something else.  It also allows me to be reminded of what else I still need to see in this world.

With that, I thought I’d mention a couple of other tips I like to use to keep my mental health strong.  One, being journalling.  I mentioned before about grounding myself and writing down my surroundings, but just writing in general has helped tremendously.  Whether that’s through the poetry I like to write or just giving myself positive affirmations.  I can also say meditation has helped a lot as well.  Meditation allows me to go to a “safe place” and that my mind can also be filled with beautiful thoughts.

Here's a link to a guided meditation that I quite enjoy!

Do you recommend anything else to help with mental health?

I believe that nature is an integral part of our lives, and that day by day it is being taken away from us. I wonder if the generations to come will see and experience the same things in nature that we have had the chance to.

Looking back to my very first blog in this course, I really had no clue where we were going with it, but I loved writing it. It was much different from anything I’ve had to write for any other class I’ve been in! I was able to freely think about what I wanted to write about, and what made me really happy as a kid. It was creative and imaginative writing. I had to let my thoughts sit and marinate to really put myself back in my shoes as a child. It is definitely interesting trying to remember how I used to think and feel when I was first beginning to immerse myself in and understand nature, especially forests. For me, there has always been something that has drawn me to forests. I find them to be magical.

This is a Ted Talk on the importance of nature, and why children need it when they are growing up.

After digesting the information from this course, I have come to the conclusion that my childhood experiences in nature greatly impacted the person I have become today. Even though I do not wish to pursue a career in the environmental field (I wish to pursue the medical field instead), I deeply care about nature. In my spare time the only documentaries I watch are about nature. I love watching Planet Earth because it puts me in different animals’ shoes and helps me to see life how they see it. We see their fear, their emotions, and how they survive. We also get to feel like we are in the middle of the rainforest, or floating over coral reefs, all while sitting on our living room couch. My favourite nature films of all time are all about human-nature interactions, where humans spend enough time outside that they actually develop loving relationships with wild animals. It is an eye opener that we are not all that different. Animals are very intelligent and they feel emotions just as we do. They evoke feelings of empathy and compassion, and remind us that it is our responsibility to protect these animals and their habitats.

here is a small clip about Jane Goodall. An inspiring story of a woman integrating herself into the families of chimpanzees.

Throughout this course I've learned about what makes a nature interpreter a good one, and I mean, it is a lot of things. But one thing that really stood out to me when reading about how to make a difference in the environment now, is the importance of actually telling people how they can actively make a difference (Wals, 2014). I have a personal and very recent experience that validates this idea!

I learned some information in another class about Gypsy Moths. It was great to learn about them because they are invasive all around Ontario. I learned that they lay egg masses on trees over the winter and they hatch when the trees begin to bloom, but if you scrape the egg masses off of the trees and soak them in a bucket of water and soap for a few days, you can prevent the eggs from ever hatching and thus prevent the severe damage to the trees which may have eventually killed them. I learned this a few weeks ago and ever since, every time I take my dog for a walk in my yard or forest, I am constantly looking for egg masses and scraping them off the trees. I love doing it because I know that I am actively making a difference. Every single egg mass that I scrape off, counts, and may contribute to saving a tree!

This is a photo of a few Gypsy Moth egg masses. Photo taken by me.

“Now, my tree-climbing days long behind me, I often think about the lasting value of those early, deliciously idle days. I have come to appreciate the long view afforded by those treetops. The woods were my Ritalin. Nature calmed me, focused me, and yet excited my senses.” (Last Child in the Woods). I think that this quote is very important because it highlights how much people inherently cherish nature. It brings us back to think of a magical place we once were. I remember going back into the forest, and truly thinking of it like it was how the kids in “a bridge to terabithia” imagined their forest. Now, my imagination does not run so wild this day in age, but it once did. My memories of my imagination contribute to my desire to want to preserve nature.

here is the bridge to Terabithia trailer.

I have lived in my house for many years now. We have a luscious forest in the back, and along the side leading up to the forest there are many trees which have branches that are vine-like. I remember playing back there and making forts. I was truly so happy and amazed by the natural beauty of the forest. In the next 5 years or so, that will all be gone. Sadly the field next to my house will be completely urbanized, and many trees will be chopped down I am sure. It breaks my heart, it feels as though a person in my life is going to be taken away from me. My feelings on this are so strong, that I believe if other people had these same magical experiences as kids, they too would not dare to cut down a perfectly healthy tree or urbanize beautiful land. So that is why we need to continue to immerse kids in nature. Nature interpretation is so important!

Here is a photo of what is left of one of my childhood forts. Photo taken by me.

Many studies have been done that show how important nature is for our mental health. According to our assigned video, 30% of boys in the US rely on stimulants to focus. Nature is greatly important for our attention, academic performance, and relaxation. Biodiversity has even been shown to positively influence our immune systems. Healthy ecosystems means healthy people.

Here is a video on how to save our planet.

In the future, we can create communities that are rich in nature which can provide kids with a deep love for the systems we are immersed in and eventually these children can go on to sustain and regenerate things (A. Hooykaas, lecture notes, ENVS3000 Nature Interpretation, March 26, 2021). According to our assigned video, we can introduce kids to a place where they feel in touch with nature and let them find that connection with nature themselves. We really just need to focus on helping kids find their magic places (Rodenburg, 2019). One great idea that was mentioned in our assigned video, was that a great way to make kids feel like they’re helping to make a positive change in nature is by getting a community to plant a diversity of native plants. This could help feed a lot of different organisms and increase the presence of biodiversity in the community. This is a great way to show kids that they indeed can make a positive impact on the environment and ecosystems around them, and hopefully that idea is one that they can actively apply throughout the rest of their lives.

Questions:

What is one way you think we can each help improve the environment?

What is one way to help kids feel connected to nature?

What do you think is the most important thing about nature and its preservation?

Are there any natural places that remind you of your childhood?

References

Hooykaas, A. (2021). ENVS*3000 Nature Interpretation Course notes. Retrieved March 26, 2021, from https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/666945/viewContent/2593375/View

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

Your first thought about future generations experiencing nature and if they will get the chance to made me think. I unfortunately really don’t think they will.  With deforestation, bottom trawling and climate change, future generations will not be able to see what once was.  I even think about the Great Barrier Reef for example, and how I was never able to see it.  I feel like this trend will just continue as we keep destroying our planet.

A way, however, we can help improve the environment individually would be to continue to “reduce, reuse and recycle.”  A few conscious efforts I try to do are:

Avoiding the use of disposable plastics (unless I have to)

Buying used clothing and donating my old clothes

Using reusable grocery bags and containers

Purchasing products made of recycled material

Recycling and composting!!

To answer your second question, a way to help make kids feel connected to nature would be to immerse them in as much as you can.  I feel especially from a young age if you can get them outside as much as possible this will help them start to connect with “their home” right away.  I know for me growing up I spent most of my time outside running around and playing in the mud.  I feel like this allowed me to connect to nature at a young age and help fuel my creativity and imagination.  When I head back to “The Farm” this weekend for Easter it will take me back to my childhood.  Anytime I head home I always think about the many days swimming in the river and trying to catch frogs.  I think about the simpler times of trying to not get lost in the cornfield.  What I would do to go back to that.

Do you ever find yourself reminiscing on when you were younger and wanting to go back?

Cait

I think that the most amazing thing I know about nature is its vast healing abilities. Nature and its products can positively influence people's mental health, physical health, and it always seems to find a way to heal itself. Nature serves so many purposes!

We as humans are spiritual beings. We can walk into a forest and look around and magically feel at ease. The songs that birds chirp and the sound of leaves ruffling evoke feelings of serenity and peace. Not only does nature positively influence our emotions, it can also heal us. Due to our spiritual nature, I believe that connecting with nature is something that we need daily to feel good. When I am having a really bad day I often have an intense urge to go outside. When I am outside I walk, sit, run, or write. It does not matter what I am doing though, as long as I am outside, simply being there makes me feel at peace. Many people can resonate with this because as a species, we have a tendency to be closely associated or interact with other forms of life in nature. This tendency is called biophilia! Recently it seems as though we have begun to integrate nature in different mental and physical healing treatments. Some examples include naturopathic medicine, therapeutic horticulture, restorative environments, therapeutic landscapes, and healing gardens. Although nature has always been an integral part of many cultural healing techniques, it seems as though it is becoming more popular now!

Here is a video I found of a walk through a forest with the sound of rain. As you can see it is very relaxing to watch, and there are hundreds of videos just like this!

I believe that my generation in particular is seeing a big shift in our lives. Most of us went from living a very fun childhood, spending most of our time outside playing in the sun, in the forest, or at a cottage by the water, and now we spend a large portion of our life inside with a cell phone glued to our hands. We now use nature to escape the lives that we are living, and I think we can all agree that the older we get the more we realize the importance of nature and what effect it actually has on our mental health. There is actually evidence to support the role of nature experiences in an increased psychological wellbeing (Bratman et al., 2019). Not only does technology pull us away from nature, different living situations can as well. Often people are encouraged to move to urbanized areas due to different opportunities such as a higher education or a well paying job in the area. These opportunities themselves may promote mental health, but the necessary contact with nature in urbanized areas is often lost or at least greatly reduced.

Here is a photo I took of my dog when we were on a walk in a forest!

Not only does nature positively influence our mental wellbeing, it is also very important in our physical health. In nature and healthy ecosystems, healthy plants are grown. Plants are very important sources of food and medicine! One example of a medicine that can be found in nature is Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) This plant is actually considered a weed! It has a long stem (about 20-30 cm) with white flowers at the end. When the flowers of this plant are dried, they are consumed as a herbal tea (chamomile tea) (McKay & Blumberg, 2006). According to McKay and Blumberg (2006), in vitro studies, chamomile has been found to have antimicrobial activity against some species of bacteria, fungi, and viruses and has shown to be particularly effective against molds and yeasts. Antioxidant activity and antiplatelet activity have also been found in vitro studies of chamomile (McKay & Blumberg, 2006). In animal model studies anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenesis, antigenotoxic, hypocholesterolemic, positive cardiac and gastrointestinal effects have been found. Chamomile has also been found to have positive effects on the liver and central nervous system (McKay & Blumberg, 2006). According to (McKay & Blumberg, 2006), chamomile in oil form has been found to have positive effects on the gastrointestinal tract in combination with other components. Chamomile oil has also been found to reduce pain of women giving birth and positively influence mood. One of chamomile's most well known effects is its mediation of anxiety and insomnia, as chamomile acts as relaxant.

Here is a photo I took of Chamomile tea!

Not only can nature heal us, it seems as though nature always finds a way to heal itself! A great example of this is invasive plant species. Oftentimes when invasive plant species come in, they have the potential to take over an entire ecosystem. Despite this, every species has a natural enemy. A great example of this is the gypsy moth, which is an invasive species to North America. Gypsy moths eat foliage on trees, and they can do so very quickly. Even though they are rapidly spreading and causing a lot of damage to trees, they have many natural enemies which can help to keep their population numbers in check. These predators include wasps, flies, beetles, ants, spiders, birds, chipmunks, squirrels, and racoons (City of London, 2021).

Here is a photo I took of some gypsy moth webs in some trees in my backyard.

In conclusion, I find it very fascinating that nature has the ability to heal so many things and people. Even when things get out of check, nature seems to find a way to bring things back to equilibrium. As long as we protect nature, nature will protect us. We live in a symbiotic relationship with nature and that is why it is so important that we protect it!

QUESTIONS:

Have you ever treated an illness or wound (or any other medical problem) with something from nature?

How do biocontrol methods relate to natures ability to heal itself? How can we take advantage of this?

References

Bratman, G. N., Anderson, C. B., Berman, M. G., Cochran, B. Vries, S. D., Flanders, J., Folke, C., Frumkin, H., Gross, J. J., Hartig, T., Kahn Jr. P. H., Kuo, M., Lawler, J. J., Levin, P. S., Lindahl, T., Meyer-Lindberg, A., Mithcell, R., Ouyang, Z., Roe, J… Daily, G. C. (2006).  Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective. ScienceAdvances, 6. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax0903

City of London. (2021). Gypsy moth. City of London. https://london.ca/living-london/water-environment/trees/invasive-species/gypsy-moth

I quite enjoyed reading about your blog post about nature and its healing abilities. I too agree that we need nature daily to feel good on the outside as well as the inside.  I feel like this is because we are essentially nature and when we are in it we “come back home.” I too can relate that just by being outside it brings me inner peace.  Especially on bad mental health days, just getting outisde and going on my usual nature loop helps me a lot.  Recently, especially with the warmer weather I have been doing my writing downtown by the Speed River!  I absolutely cannot wait to spend everyday outside with the weather changing.  Even tomorrow, I plan on going to Guelph Lake to do my school work just to change the scenery and absorb some vitamin D!  

Do you have any places in Guelph you recommend going to for some writing inspiration? I’m always on the hunt for a new spot to check out!

Here’s a picture I took downtown Guelph at Speed River.

But I didn’t know these tendencies actually had a name! Biophilia is a new word I’ll add to my personal dictionary.

I have also heard that chamomile helps the nervous system as well as the liver. Luckily chamomile is my favourite type of tea and I drink it quite a few nights per week.  I also quite enjoy drinks with matcha, which helps the brain since it’s filled with antioxidants and drinks with kombucha which helps in digestion!

I hope to look at more natrual remedies for physical and mental health in the future!

Cait :)

     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 loved that you connected music and nature to creating emotions that strengthen yourself and others. You mentioned music is what heals your soul and keeps you at peace.  I do agree with this but do you think music can also actually hold you back from fully healing?  For example, when you listen to break-up songs over and over again.  Or when you listen to sad songs that could give you a sense of peace but not help you fully heal from the situation. I feel as if yes because some artists make me feel at peace because I can relate to their emotions and lyrics however that might not be the best for me. For example, one of my favourite artists is Lil Peep.  As much as I love Peep, listening to him when I’m already upset makes me feel more numb and subconsciously think about the words of his songs even after I’m done listening.

I love outdoor concerts as well! I was supposed to go to Boots and Hearts last summer for my first time but unfortunately it was canceled due to Covid.  My last outdoor concert was the previous summer when I saw Kali Uchis and Jorja Smith at Echo Beach in Toronto!

A picture I took on the bridge on the way to Echo Beach!

But as for your question, yes to all the above!  In my post, I mentioned how I like listening to the sound of waves before bed.  And on the nights when it’s raining or thundering (not too heavily) I will keep my window to hear.  Lavender is one of my favourite smells as well!  I love to incorporate it when I meditate :)

Cait

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)

People have always just been people. You see poker-faced portraits from 1900AD and Roman marble statues from 90AD, and you get the impression that these people must have been entirely different from you. They lived so long ago, after all, and in such different circumstances. How could you possibly have anything in common? But in reality, they are just people, and despite how serious and dignified they look, they are just as likely to get in a snowball fight or write crude graffiti as you or I. And so, by learning about them and our history, we learn about ourselves.

(Video of a snowball fight from 1890)

(The Bawdy Graffiti of Pompei and Herculaneum) https://kashgar.com.au/blogs/history/the-bawdy-graffiti-of-pompeii-and-herculaneu

  “Listen to you elders” is a common phrase for a good reason; learning about the experiences of the people who came before you can be an immensely helpful tool in making better, more informed decisions. There is no substitute to hard-earned wisdom when it comes making sure you aren’t repeating someone else’s mistakes. For the same reason that people earn wisdom by gaining experience throughout their life and reflecting on their past, we can examine the history of others and glean wisdom through their stories.

We don’t live in a vacuum. The society we live in now is a product of the past, and by ignoring the flaws and poor decisions in the past we ignore the remnants still present and invite them to return in present day. We see this not only in examples of human suffering like war, but in how we approach nature as well. The world used to be widely seen as something to be exploited by humans. Everything existed only to serve our purposes. And so, our handling of nature reflected this mindset. Bison and passenger pigeons, who used to be so incredibly abundant, were hunted mercilessly and without any thought for the consequences it would have. Carnivores like wolves, cougars, and even species of hawks were not only hunted, but had a bounty on their heads for disturbing agricultural practices. Wolves and cougars in particular have been hunted out of all but a select few protected areas.

Without reflecting on this history, we experience a shifting baseline for what is ‘normal’. Of course there are so few wolves in eastern North America. Why should there be, if they have never existed there in my lifetime? It is only by studying how our natural areas used to be that we gain a frame of reference for how much they have changed. And it is only then that we can begin repairing the damage that we have done. We cannot just allow ourselves to be ignorant to the impact that the current and previous choices of our society have had on wildlife, especially with the conservation crises we are now experiencing as a result.

Are there any particular examples you can think of where you were surprised to learn that something wasn’t the norm? How did it change the way you thought or acted? 

You are right!  By learning about people from thousands of years ago we are learning about ourselves.  For all we know they could be our ancestors.  It's funny to me thinking about my family like my Great Oma in a snowball fight at our age.  Or when I think about my parents in their early twenties.  I have always wondered if my parents and I were both the same age would we have been friends? What would they have been like if they went to the University of Guelph in 2021 or who is someone they would have been like that I know?  These are the type of questions that randomly pop up in my head during the day.  And before you ask, yes I am a daydreamer.

Here is UoG's Campus Pub in the 1980's called "The Keg" or as we know it, "The Brass Taps." My mom went to UoG in the 80's and it's funny to think of her sitting at one of these tables. Photo from PORTICO UoG.

As you mentioned, “listening to your elders” is extremely important.  They are essentially the past in present form.  This is crucial when passing stories, wisdom, and my favourite, recipes from generation to generation. When I wanted to learn more about my elders it was interesting learning about them through sites like:

https://www.ancestry.ca/

Through websites like this, you can connect your family tree and find generations of your family and their stories.  I personally enjoyed this a lot as my family was split up during WWII, so I get to see across the world where the Wittke name has gone.

Else and Ragnar Wittke, my Oma and Opa!

As for answering one of your questions, I don’t think actually that we were able to protect a natural area or species by learning from our past mistakes.  Unfortunately, humankind is greedy as much as there are people who care, it all comes to money at the end of the day.  The Great Barrier Reef is gone, the ice caps are melting and the amazon forest is not nearly what it once was. As one of my favourite quotes reads,

“Only when the last tree has died, and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.” -Cree Indian Proverb

Since we were granted a free week to blog about any topic of our choice, I decided to use this opportunity to share how nature has been my escape, especially during a global pandemic. This time has definitely been strange and difficult but living with my two best friends and their puppies has made it easier. 

This is a picture of my two roommates and their two dogs during one September evening when we decided to go and sit outside on a blanket. Photo credits - My phone’s self timer camera.

I wanted to share some of the ways my roommates and I have been incorporating nature into our lives during this pandemic, while remaining safe and socially distanced. An activity we have recently taken up is painting. We wanted to find activities that do not require us to look at our screens during the evening, since this is what we do all day for school. These activities have been really great because it allows us to exercise our creative sides, but it also acts as a stress relieving activity. I have found myself mainly painting pictures that involve nature in them because nature brings me a feeling of peace and comfort, similar to painting. I often paint beautiful flowers I have seen on my daily walks or beautiful views I used to experience on vacations before the pandemic. Painting pictures of nature and things that I love helps me emotionally and physically during these times. 

This is a picture of my friends and I painting during quarantine in April, 2020. I painted a picture of my favourite flower called the “forget me not” flower. Photo credits - me.

Nature has played a major role during this pandemic because it feels like one of my only escapes and ways to find peace. I often go on walks around our neighbourhood, on scenic routes in downtown Guelph and in the forest behind my house. It is a good way for me to get out of the house, get some fresh air and experience a change of scenery. 

This picture was taken on one of our walks in Downtown Guelph. Photo credits - me

This picture was taken on our walk in the trail behind our Guelph home. Photo credits - me. 

Another interest we have taken up since the beginning of the pandemic in March of 2020 is plants. I have accumulated a total of 19 plants in my room and will most likely continue to grow this collection. It is nice to have plants in my room because it is something to care for and it really livens up my room. 

A picture of my roommate and I after we bough plants from a store in Downtown Guelph called “Plant”. Photo credits - My phone’s self timer camera  

Another activity we participate in is going on long drives in the countryside and singing to loud music or having long conversations. When we really need to get out of the house for stress relief purposes and the weather is too cold, this is the perfect activity. It’s a good way for us to release some stress from the hard school day and enjoy some music. Long car rides are one of my favourite activities because it forces me take a break and enjoy life without worry for a few hours. It is a good way to get outside during the stay-at-home order without having to interact with people; however, we try to limit the number of times we go on car rides because of its negative effect on the environment. Combining good friends, good music and a beautiful view of nature is the perfect way to de-stress during these times for me. 

A picture of my roommate, her dog and myself watching the sunset with McFlurries in September of 2020 on a country road. Photo credits - My phone’s self timer camera  

I hope to look back on this post one day when the pandemic is over and remember how life was during this time! 

My question to you is: 

1. How has nature’s impact on your life changed from before the pandemic to now?

Thank you for reading and I can’t wait to read all of your blogs this week!

I quite enjoyed reading your blog post this week!  I too can relate that nature has been an escape now more than ever in this global pandemic.  Right now I need to help myself stay “grounded.”  That is keeping myself strong mentally and physically.  Before going back into our second lockdown I had an easier time of doing this since in the “orange-zone” I could still have my bubble of 10 and play sports.  Before, I would box three times a week and play shinny on Friday nights.  I would then see my friends or family on the weekend which made things feel as they were somewhat normal. 

On the left, my housemates before lockdown at the Gryphons Hockey Arena on campus! We would go for an afternoon skate as a nice break. At least now we're playing pond hockey!

On the right, pre-lockdown at the gym. I miss boxing.

After being thrown back into a second lockdown, I had to fully switch my routnine again.  Without a set routine I have a hard time leaving my bed.  Even now, just getting up is tiring because I really don’t have any real reason to (i.e go to class, go to sports, etc). 

So, that is where I’ve had to create my own new lockdown routine.  In the morning, I always make my bed to start the day off on the right foot.  I then like to have my coffee by the window and use this time to take in my surroundings (what do I see, what would I hear, stay present in the given moment).  I then like to write out some positive affirmations before I start school work.  As a break from school, my housemate and I do our usual hour long walk, specifically going throught the forest to help give our brains a break. 

On the left, I've also been doing a lot of cooking! It keeps my mind occupied and tastes great!

On the right, here's last nights artwork. This is what I would look like if I we're a Powerpuff girl!

Later in the evening I always try to do some yoga or a guided meditation to again give my brain a break from not only school but screens.  I like to wrap each night up with some netflix and a journal entry or a piece of artwork.  With these in place and school, the days seem a bit more manageable.

I hope you’re doing well,

Cait

Over the years I have been very conflicted when I am out in nature whether to just purely enjoy the moment or to take photos that I will be able to reflect upon another time. These photo that I take will be at angles or locations that I have interpreted within the moment but once I post that photo to social media, everyone that views it may interpret it another way. This is the beauty of how art influences our interpretation of the environment surrounding us and the feelings that are brought to us in those moments.

(Photo taken by Walter Mason, retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/meandermind/14980090749/)

The relationship between art and nature can be expressed in many different forms based on how the artist interpreted the scenery and how they wish to express this interpretation. One artist that truly appreciated nature and depicted their interpretation is Vincent Van Gogh. He clearly loved the art of nature and wanted to paint it so he was able to remember how he interpreted and appreciated it in the moment. In one of his letters to his brother he wrote “Always continue walking a lot and loving nature, for that’s the real way to learn to understand art better and better. Painters understand nature and love it, and teach us to see.” (Gogh, 1874). The beauty is also that the art work from one artist may change due to changes in their interpretation which is fascinating.

(Wheat Field with Cypresses at the Haute Galline Near Eygaliers, by Vincent Van Gogh in July 1889, https://www.thoughtco.com/greatest-paintings-by-van-gogh-4154730)

With such a large variety of art domains that will allow for the viewer to have a different interpretation and feelings based on the art form. Who am I to interpret nature through art? Well art has not been a major aspect or hobby within my life although I have had the opportunity to interpret the various photographs that my mother has taken and to appreciate the perspective at which she viewed the scenery as when taking the photo. This has allowed me to try to understand the story behind the photo without being told the exact story. I believe this has helped me to interpret the various forms of art that may be illustrating nature and the interpretation of the artist.

(Photo taken by my mom on Lake Nipissing, ON)

When I think about “the gift of beauty” I interpret this as appreciating the art itself and how the artist viewed nature within their eyes. We are able to understand that every individual interprets their environments in a different way which is the most beautiful aspect of nature. It allows each individual to feel a different way which is shown within the art piece bringing out it’s beauty. The world is not black and white which is what is amazing with art and nature in itself. It brings back hope to many individuals of a time where pollution was not a problem to our environment changing the nature and beauty. There are many great feelings that come from interpreting nature in the various art forms but to some there may be feelings of sorrow as they may interpret the beautiful nature art as something of the past due to the increase in anthropogenic pollution.

(Poster designed by Surachai Puthikulangkura, retrieved from https://littlethings.com/lifestyle/surachai-puthikulangkura-eco-posters)

Reference:

I can very much relate to you saying if you just purely enjoy the moment while being in nature or take photos to reflect on at a later time.  I very much am the person that always takes pictures.  I blame my parents because they take pictures of everything, so naturally I follow suit.

I loved that the artist you chose was Van Gogh.  I personally am a big fan of his work especially his well know painting “Starry Night.”  I found he not only captures nature but conveys his emotions through it as well.  It was known that Van Gogh battled with mental illness and this is seen in “Starry Night.”  You may see the night sky and the added brush strokes as it pertains to his mental health.  A peaceful village below, with a clearly isolated church and an almost deranged night sky.  It’s as if Van Gogh could have been representing himself through the church feeling alone.  For he is the only one seeing the sky for how it truly is.  That’s my interpretation I get from “Starry Night” at least.

Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh (1889)

I also agree with you that the world is not black and white.  Sometimes I have a hard time reminding myself this.  But with “the gift of beauty” it allows us as you said to “appreciate the art itself and how the artist viewed the nature through their eyes.”  There is beauty in that not two people see and interpret things the exact same way.

I enjoyed seeing your mom’s photo of Lake Nipissing as well.  It looks beautiful!

Thanks for the post,

To me, privilege is an inherent advantage that isn’t earned, but instead handed to you because of who you are. I am a white, low-middle-class woman who attends university with the assistance and support of my parents. Growing up, I have never had to worry about money at home or being discriminated against simply for the colour of my skin. This has already given me a head-start leaps and bound ahead of those that were not born into the same situation I was – this has been very prevalent to me over the years. I have had to watch friends take time off school to earn money because their parents would not or could not help them financially. Racial discrimination can be seen every day in person, on the internet and on the news; although I have always been aware of it, the events of the past year have certainly amplified my awareness of it. As much as some people like to deny it exists, privilege is very real and is part of the reason why I am where I am now. 

Source

There are also aspects of my life where I am not so privileged. I have struggled and continue to struggle with numerous mental health disorders, some of which have had impacts my social life and academic performance. I am also a lesbian who struggled for years to come to terms with my sexuality due to the heteronormative society I was raised into (I also wrote an article about it here a few months ago, while I was still coming to terms with it). This was a stressful time in my life that I had to overcome, as I felt like I didn’t know who I was. Although I am still quite young and still count myself lucky to have finally figured myself out so early, this is an obstacle that I would not have needed to endure if I was straight. However, my mental health and sexuality do not overrule the fact that I am privileged in my everyday life simply because I am white. 

I do think that privilege plays a role in nature interpretation; this is because privilege can determine your education and your experiences. I am privileged to be in this class learning about nature interpretation, as this is a luxury that many are not able to afford. Without this class, I would not have known exactly what nature interpretation was or what a career entailed. Furthermore, many of the experiences I have had that have enhanced my interest in nature would not have been available to me if I was not privileged – whether it was my vacation to Yosemite Park I mentioned in an earlier post or growing up in Bermuda which was in itself a privilege. If I did not have these experiences, I likely wouldn’t be taking the academic path I am now.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on privilege!

I can definitely agree with you that privilege is “an inherent advantage that isn’t earned, but instead handed to you.”  I also wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for the privilege I was born into.

Unfortunately, I can personally understand the struggle of having many mental health issues as well.  Starting from the nice age of 10, mental health has been something I have struggled with for the majority of my life.  I can relate to the impacts of my academic performance and social life because of this.  As you already know, the pandemic has made my bad mental health even worse than normal! So as someone who is also in a battle with their brain each day I hope you are doing alright.  I know each day for me is just trying to survive the next.  If you ever need someone to chat with I’m always around!

But I started realizing my privilege from quite a young age.  In my blog post, I talked about my grandparents immigrating to Canada and not having much privilege. This led to my dad also growing up with not nearly the privilege I had.  Hearing stories from either my grandparents or my dad made me realize how lucky I truly am.  My awareness of privilege continued to grow as I started grade school and started to see racism.  My friend would be made fun of for the shape of his eyes and just the way he looked.  I was also made fun of because of the way I looked but because I was “fat.”  And just like that, a friendship was born.  I feel like at a very young age I learned what privilege is. 

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 really enjoyed reading your blog post!  I too can personally relate to your fear of public speaking.  A memorable moment was in my first year when I had a presentation on Cystic Fibrosis.  I dropped my cue cards on the ground because my hands were shaking so much.  I wasn’t too surprised because anytime I have to do a presentation in a large group setting I become very nauseous, start trembling and become even more pale than usual.  I know this comes from a lack of confidence, but it’s something I continue to work on each day.  

However, in smaller group settings, I’m the complete opposite. Even when it came to classes where I had to read or share my part, as long as everyone is also sitting or also all standing I have no issues.  It’s as soon as everyone else is sitting and I’m standing it becomes hard for me.  I feel like I was a bit worried about potentially pursuing this career path because of my fear of public speaking. I agree with you that I need and want to get better.  I know practice makes perfect, so by signing up for a course like this it will push me outside the box.  To also help with that fear I would want to pursue an environmental interpretation role in a smaller organization too. This allows me to still be able to present the information but in the best way for myself as well.  Overall, I know a mix of both small-scale and large-scale campaigns will be the most effective to get others involved but for my personal impact, I know small-scale campaigns would be the most effective.