Emilia Grujic

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to look through your dog’s eyes? Some of my favourite movies are the ones that show life from the perspective of a dog, like Art of Racing in the Rain  (2019), A Dog’s Purpose (2017), Homeward Bound (1993), Lady and the Tramp (1995) and so many more!

One of my favourite childhood movies, Lady and the Tramp, released in 1995 tells the story of two dogs on opposite sides of the fence. Gif taken from:  https://giphy.com/explore/lady-and-the-tramp  

I was really excited to learn that I could write this blog freely, and I thought it would be fun to talk about nature from what I think would be my dog’s perspective! One of my favourite component’s of nature interpretation is storytelling. In my experience, a story is such a powerful but also enlightening way to share information. I think it’s part of my learning style; I remember information best when I can see the relationship from the practical to the real world. I also think story-telling is a great way for all types of learners to learn, not just audio learners. I like to think that words can paint a picture too for visual learners, and you can always include action and fun additives for tactile learners. So I hope this post gets through to all types of learners, even if it is a little quirky.

Without further ado,  I would like to bring Koda to the virtual stage!

Personal photo: A screenshot of one of the many videos I have of Koda. Taken at the Halon Dog Park. 

My name is Koda and I’m a 2 and ½ year old German Shepherd x Aussie Shepherd not-so-puppy-anymore-puppy. My favourite toy is a stick which I think tells you a lot about how much I appreciate nature. I love exploring trails, and going on hikes and adventuring out of bounds, even if it gets us lost sometimes (which at some point gets a little stressful for my humans, I don’t why). I like to remind her that it can be a game.

Personal photo: This is human’s roommate Katie and we went exploring one time and it was very icy. Photo taken by my human sometime a while ago, I don’t know.

One of my favourite quotes about dogs is “ A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. … A dog doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give him your heart and he’ll give you his.”  I don’t know who said it, but I think it’s true. Sometimes I think my humans care too much. They spend so many hours logged on their screens and away at work, that I think they forget that the simplest of things can also bring us joy. As a dog, my biggest joy is my humans. I think my favourite moments with her have always been outside. Sure we like to play tug of war and cuddle, but the times I feel the happiest in her company has been outside. When we get to run through big colourful leaf piles and crash into each other and roll around, it makes me, I feel like she starts to notice all the things I do. Like when the air is getting crisper because it turns to fall, or that the clouds are parting and we finally get to see the sun during the winter blues. When we’re outside, I start to notice that even the slightest of changes renews her energy.

Personal photo: Look how happy my human is!! I told her to play in the leaves, I can be pretty convincing. Taken sometime when the leaves where pretty. 

I sometimes hate being inside. It’s where my food is and my bed and my rope are, but I think my humans feel a little trapped too. For some reason, everyone has been inside a lot more lately. I think sometimes it makes them feel lonely and stressed. So I do my best to help them get through the tough times and get back outside. To remind them how good fresh air feels. How sometimes the road is slippery and it makes a game of chase so much more exciting. How I will protect her from all sticks that cross our path. She sometimes says my pestering to go outside is ‘annoying,’ but I just want to remind her to take breaks. Because once I see them get their coats, and grab for my leash, I know an adventure awaits us, even if it’s just for a little while.

Personal Photo: my human took this of me cause she said it looks aesthetic? I don’t know, I was too busy watching the birds play outside without me.

People can tell you how beautiful nature is. Or how important. Or why it matters to them. But when we get to go adventure anywhere, even if it’s not the most aesthetic place, I’m happy to tag along. That’s why nature is special to me, because I get to share the most simplest of moments with the ones I love the most. (And I get to go crazy and stretch my legs hehe.) I know sometimes my paws get cold from the snow being so deep or my ears are chilly from the scream of the wind, but those moments with her no matter how chilly or tiring they are, are some of our best. I know that when she sees the wag of my tail, I lift some of the weight she holds on her shoulders. And that’s all a dog can ask for.

 I think one thing this pandemic has definitely created for me, and most people from what I’ve heard, is an even closer connection to my pup (Silver!). I don’t exactly know how I would have survived this pandemic so far without her!! And through the days when I spend hours behind my laptop in classes (or glued to Netflix for a little too long), Silver nudges me (literally) to go outside and remind me what a breath of fresh air feels like. I always come back from our dog walks with a lighter step in my walk, and feeling a little more open-minded, too. Furry friends just have a way of connecting to the outdoors, and I am so grateful that she leads me with her!

Silver taking in some Vitamin D (and posing hard) - 2019 - Photo by Emilia G.

If Silver were to say something about our adventures outdoors, I think this is what she would have to say:

Hello, I am Silver and I love my life!!! I am a 10-year old doggy living life with my 2 humans…who don’t know what type of doggy I am since I got adopted from Thailand, but anyway! Things have been different lately – my humans are at home with me lots more for some reason, which I have been LOVING since I have been getting endless scratches. 

Me getting some nice scratches on my walk from human - 2020 - Photo taken by human (Emilia G.)

They also take me on longer walks now too! We go to the dog park (where I get to smell lots of other doggies), or the ravine (where I get to smell all the nice smells of the creek and the trees), and sometimes even the beach (where I avoid going close to the water at ALL costs since I am a scared of that wet stuff)! When we first step outside, my humans always shiver a bit and seem all tense, so I like to run around a lil and cheer them up so they get more into it and we end up having the best time ever!!! I love being a dog. And I love being outside. And I love my humans!!!

Leading my humans through these leafy Don Valley Evergreen Brickworks trails! - 2020 - Photo taken by human (Emilia G.) 

Beach day with humans! It was extra cold by the water so I made sure to keep us movin and explorin! - 2020 - Photo by human (Emilia G.)

Thanks for sharing your adventures! We hope you enjoyed reading a bit about ours :)

From,

Some things are too good to be true. Sometimes, this can be great, and other times, I would prefer things to as too true to be good. What I’m trying to refer to here, and what this blog will be about, is the current, ever-growing infiltration of “sustainability” into marketing schemes - otherwise known as greenwashing. Defined as “the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service”, greenwashing is a tactic being used by numerous corporations around the globe, in the midst of climate change (Chandler, 2017). I learnt about this concept last year in a class I took in corporate social responsibility. This class taught me a lot of things. But most of all, it taught me to dig a little deeper when plucking something off the shelf in the cosmetics aisle, or at the grocery store.

It taught me that “certified sustainable business practices!” could really mean that they just switched their receipt printing to digital instead of printing physical copies, to “reduce” their carbon footprint. Hey, it’s a step! But in the face of climate change, I think most people can agree that a lot more needs to be done before being labelled as “sustainable” – one of the biggest buzzwords of the decade (Arnason, 2013). Part of me does think it’s great that this must then mean that consumers are directed toward purchasing more “sustainable” and “eco-friendly” products or services, however, it doesn’t sit right that a majority of corporations are advertising these products and services within these categories, while no influential action is really taking place. There is a real lack of authenticity across corporations, and a surplus of ambiguity and false labels (Chandler, 2017).

Image by Cogency (2021). Retrieved from https://www.cogencyteam.com/news/2017/11/the-seven-sins-of-greenwashing/

Let me give you a couple examples. One example is the more recent demand for “bioplastics”, like the “compostable straws” sold at the a couple blocks away from me. When I first saw it, I felt a bit better about using that straw. Although research has been able to identify its lesser impact on the environment in comparison to traditional plastic, they still leave a hefty carbon footprint, and still may take up to hundreds of years to degrade (Chung, 2020). But with the added term “bio” in there, the consumer quite easily interprets it as not being harmful toward the environment (I know I did, for a little while). Another example is Tide’s “plant-based” laundry detergent, which was later discovered to include a variety of harmful, toxic ingredients (TINA, 2020). If you’re curious to read about more greenwashing examples, check out link #4 below!

So, I’m not telling you that you must read the fine print and carry out research on each and every label of a product. I just hope that this leaves you with a grain of salt, when eyeing a “sustainable” or “eco-friendly” product or service. It really just might be too good to be true!

During a time when this word is used more than ever – what does the word “sustainable” mean to you?

References

1. Arnason, R. (2013). Sustainability: a big business buzzword. Retrieved from https://www.producer.com/news/sustainability-a-big-business-buzzword/

2. Chandler, D. (2017). Strategic corporate social responsibility. SAGE Publications Inc.

3. Chung, E. (2020). Plant-based? Compostable? What you need to know about bioplastics. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/bioplastics-backgrounder-1.5485009

I really enjoyed your post this week!  Greenwashing is so frustrating to me because even though I’m well aware of it, I’m still more likely to buy (and even spend more money) on a product that boasts being ‘eco-conscious’, even if logically I know that it is identical to alternatives.  

The example that you gave of the straws really resonated with me – I’ve similarly been thrilled at the production of reusable silicone straws, before stepping back and realizing that in the fight for banning plastics, celebrating reusable plastics is questionable at best – silicone is still widely considered plastic, is still causing further plastic production, and will also inevitably end up in a landfill where it will take anywhere from 50 to 500 years to break down (Vrachovska, 2019).  

A particularly infuriating FIJI water advertisement, where they claim that ‘every drop is green’, despite selling millions of single-use plastic water bottles every year.

Thank you for providing additional resources on things to avoid while shopping, and for reminding us all to look past the too-good-to-be-true promises that you see on products all too often.  

Do you think that the increased public awareness of greenwashing will affect companies’ decisions to follow through on the promises that they are already making?  Do you think that there are specific ways to market actual sustainable products that would prevent them from being confused with products that rely on greenwashing?

Have a lovely week,

Annika

References:

FIJI Water. (2016). Every Drop is Green. https://www.fijiwater.com/

Thanks for the response :) Your connection between greenwashing and relatively higher prices of that product or service is a really, really important point on this discussion. It is kind of crazy to think about how corporations could then be profiting off of greenwashing, even more than just getting a consumers attention. Because you are definitely right - most (if not all) “green” products and services are generally higher in price point. And yes, the straws! I finally about a year ago purchased one of those metal straws, and I take it with me everywhere since. But with COVID now, it’s hard to avoid single-use plastics at all… :( 

Really good questions! From what I learned in my Corporate Social Responsibility (MGMT*3020) class last semester, there have been many examples that have gone to show that increased public awareness on environmental issues is further pressuring companies to stand up to their performance in this area (Chandler, 2017). The characteristic of “sustainability” in a company is now growing to become an utmost necessity, when a consumer is deciding whether or not they should purchase a good or service (Chandler, 2017). And to answer your second question - yes, I do definitely think there are ways to do so! One of those ways, which I also learned in this class, is through the interference of a CSR (corporate social responsibility) report or audit, where an independent third party sets objectives and goals (e.g. lower carbon emissions to x%), with ways to measure these goals (Chandler, 2017). A third party also then has lessened biases in regard to company profit, and they would just be there to act on making sure there is sufficient environmental progress taking place. CSR is definitely a topic I became so interested in following this class, and if you have some more credits to complete, I definitely recommend looking into this class!

Photo by Stephen DeAngelis (2017). Retrieved from https://www.enterrasolutions.com/blog/corporate-social-responsibility-21st-century/

Take care :)

Emilia

References

I am quite glad I stumbled upon your blog post this morning! I was truly unaware of what greenwashing was and how common it is! I am quite shocked about how often I fall victim to greenwashing after reading your post. Much to Annika’s frustration I tend to purchase anything that markets their products as “eco-friendly”, “reusable” or “natural”. I think greenwashing highlights how effective communication can be at persuading an audience. This highlights  what Beck et al. (2018) addresses numerous times within the textbook. That effective communication is essential when helping enhance an audience’s understanding and feelings towards a topic. By companies communicating to an audience through tv commercials, billboards, and other forms of advertisement they can make an audience believe what they are claiming. Annika provided an excellent example with Fiji water, as they are emphasizing how environmentally friendly they are by how they donate to rainforest but yet ironically still contribute to our current environmental crisis by using plastic water bottles. By only communicating certain aspects of their product they have given the illusion they are an eco-friendly company driving individuals to want to purchase their products. I have a question for you and whoever else would like to engage in this conversation; can you tell me how this ad is an example of greenwashing?

This product from Tide looks promising but is this ad truly communicating how eco friendly this product really is…..hmmm. 

I love to hear your ideas and I will reveal how this is an example of greenwashing tomorrow!

Best!

Abigail!

——————————————————————————————

References 

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

Thanks for the insight! I’m glad you found what I shared to be useful! I definitely felt the same way when I learned more about this last semester. Greenwashing is definitely a sneaky little tactic that is easy to overlook. How I perceive the Fiji water is kind of like the term “offsetting”, where their harmful production of plastic bottles can be “made up for” with their donations to rainforests. And in my personal opinion (and it seems to me this is where you are coming from as well), plastic water bottles are the source of the issue, and so their production must be handled directly! I really do not believe that climate change can be approached through indirect solutions - they must be direct.

To answer your question, Tide’s “purclean” and “plant-based” laundry detergent demonstrates greenwashing by advertising components that infer an “eco-friendly” product (e.g. 0% dyes, phosphates), but all the while withholding the other, toxic additives (e.g. borax, ethanol) (CPID, 2016). This selective revealing of information, in my opinion, definitely counts as a way to mislead consumers toward interpreting the extent of its environmental benefits. I mean before learning about greenwashing last semester, I would have not even thought twice about what the full ingredient list actually is for that product, since it is explained as “plant-based”. I am honestly quite grateful that I’ve had this change in mindset, and I am pretty cautious about what I choose to purchase now! 

What is your take on Tide’s purclean “plant-based” laundry detergent?

Emilia :)

References

Some things are too good to be true. Sometimes, this can be great, and other times, I would prefer things to as too true to be good. What I’m trying to refer to here, and what this blog will be about, is the current, ever-growing infiltration of “sustainability” into marketing schemes - otherwise known as greenwashing. Defined as “the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service”, greenwashing is a tactic being used by numerous corporations around the globe, in the midst of climate change (Chandler, 2017). I learnt about this concept last year in a class I took in corporate social responsibility. This class taught me a lot of things. But most of all, it taught me to dig a little deeper when plucking something off the shelf in the cosmetics aisle, or at the grocery store.

It taught me that “certified sustainable business practices!” could really mean that they just switched their receipt printing to digital instead of printing physical copies, to “reduce” their carbon footprint. Hey, it’s a step! But in the face of climate change, I think most people can agree that a lot more needs to be done before being labelled as “sustainable” – one of the biggest buzzwords of the decade (Arnason, 2013). Part of me does think it’s great that this must then mean that consumers are directed toward purchasing more “sustainable” and “eco-friendly” products or services, however, it doesn’t sit right that a majority of corporations are advertising these products and services within these categories, while no influential action is really taking place. There is a real lack of authenticity across corporations, and a surplus of ambiguity and false labels (Chandler, 2017).

Image by Cogency (2021). Retrieved from https://www.cogencyteam.com/news/2017/11/the-seven-sins-of-greenwashing/

Let me give you a couple examples. One example is the more recent demand for “bioplastics”, like the “compostable straws” sold at the a couple blocks away from me. When I first saw it, I felt a bit better about using that straw. Although research has been able to identify its lesser impact on the environment in comparison to traditional plastic, they still leave a hefty carbon footprint, and still may take up to hundreds of years to degrade (Chung, 2020). But with the added term “bio” in there, the consumer quite easily interprets it as not being harmful toward the environment (I know I did, for a little while). Another example is Tide’s “plant-based” laundry detergent, which was later discovered to include a variety of harmful, toxic ingredients (TINA, 2020). If you’re curious to read about more greenwashing examples, check out link #4 below!

So, I’m not telling you that you must read the fine print and carry out research on each and every label of a product. I just hope that this leaves you with a grain of salt, when eyeing a “sustainable” or “eco-friendly” product or service. It really just might be too good to be true!

During a time when this word is used more than ever – what does the word “sustainable” mean to you?

References

1. Arnason, R. (2013). Sustainability: a big business buzzword. Retrieved from https://www.producer.com/news/sustainability-a-big-business-buzzword/

2. Chandler, D. (2017). Strategic corporate social responsibility. SAGE Publications Inc.

3. Chung, E. (2020). Plant-based? Compostable? What you need to know about bioplastics. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/bioplastics-backgrounder-1.5485009

I really enjoyed your post this week!  Greenwashing is so frustrating to me because even though I’m well aware of it, I’m still more likely to buy (and even spend more money) on a product that boasts being ‘eco-conscious’, even if logically I know that it is identical to alternatives.  

The example that you gave of the straws really resonated with me – I’ve similarly been thrilled at the production of reusable silicone straws, before stepping back and realizing that in the fight for banning plastics, celebrating reusable plastics is questionable at best – silicone is still widely considered plastic, is still causing further plastic production, and will also inevitably end up in a landfill where it will take anywhere from 50 to 500 years to break down (Vrachovska, 2019).  

A particularly infuriating FIJI water advertisement, where they claim that ‘every drop is green’, despite selling millions of single-use plastic water bottles every year.

Thank you for providing additional resources on things to avoid while shopping, and for reminding us all to look past the too-good-to-be-true promises that you see on products all too often.  

Do you think that the increased public awareness of greenwashing will affect companies’ decisions to follow through on the promises that they are already making?  Do you think that there are specific ways to market actual sustainable products that would prevent them from being confused with products that rely on greenwashing?

Have a lovely week,

Annika

References:

FIJI Water. (2016). Every Drop is Green. https://www.fijiwater.com/

Thanks for the response :) Your connection between greenwashing and relatively higher prices of that product or service is a really, really important point on this discussion. It is kind of crazy to think about how corporations could then be profiting off of greenwashing, even more than just getting a consumers attention. Because you are definitely right - most (if not all) “green” products and services are generally higher in price point. And yes, the straws! I finally about a year ago purchased one of those metal straws, and I take it with me everywhere since. But with COVID now, it’s hard to avoid single-use plastics at all... :( 

Really good questions! From what I learned in my Corporate Social Responsibility (MGMT*3020) class last semester, there have been many examples that have gone to show that increased public awareness on environmental issues is further pressuring companies to stand up to their performance in this area (Chandler, 2017). The characteristic of “sustainability” in a company is now growing to become an utmost necessity, when a consumer is deciding whether or not they should purchase a good or service (Chandler, 2017). And to answer your second question - yes, I do definitely think there are ways to do so! One of those ways, which I also learned in this class, is through the interference of a CSR (corporate social responsibility) report or audit, where an independent third party sets objectives and goals (e.g. lower carbon emissions to x%), with ways to measure these goals (Chandler, 2017). A third party also then has lessened biases in regard to company profit, and they would just be there to act on making sure there is sufficient environmental progress taking place. CSR is definitely a topic I became so interested in following this class, and if you have some more credits to complete, I definitely recommend looking into this class!

Photo by Stephen DeAngelis (2017). Retrieved from https://www.enterrasolutions.com/blog/corporate-social-responsibility-21st-century/

Take care :)

Emilia

References

When you think of risk, art and nature definitely don’t seem to be the first thing that comes to mind, well at least for myself. However, whenever an artist is creating artwork, they face the risk of whether or not their audience is going to truly understand the importance or the significance behind it.

Image retrieved from mx.hola.com

There is so much more to the piece than what you see at first glance. The colours that the artist used can mean one thing, the movement of the brush strokes could mean another thing, perhaps the type of paint they used was intentional etc. We can interpret Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh as an example. The colours he chose (blues, greens and white) created a sense of calm and relaxation while the addition of the bright yellow and orange round the sun and stars creates excitement similar to a firework. The wave-like motion of the sky adds another element of calmness to the piece by recreating features of the ocean. This is known as a post-impressionist painting (Lee, n.d.).

Image retrieved from vangoghgallery.com

But prior to researching the artistic interpretation behind this painting I had just assumed it was a night sky over a village. Unfortunately, we will never be able to truly understand why van Gogh painted this piece this way or why he used those specific colours, further solidifying that risk is present through art. Although artists face this risk when their work is presented, the ability for everyone to have their own opinion of the piece show the variety that interpretations hold within a society.

Nature and art have always had a type of mutualistic relationship, when there is one there is the other. We are surrounded by art in our lives however being able to acknowledge it has been something that is fairly new to me. With that I ask myself who am I to interpret nature through art? I am definitely someone who has struggled with the whole interpretation aspect of art and just liked to look at a piece and move on, not really thinking about the meaning behind it. But as the older I have become, I’d like to think that I have become more appreciative of art and try to incorporate it more into my life. Whether it is through capturing the little things that make me happy by taking a picture or expressing myself through paint nights with my friends. Humans, if they are able, are very visual learners and especially in the fast pace society that we live in, the message that the artist is trying to convey has to be clear and evident or I fear that the significance will be lost.

Image retrieved from creapills.com

To me the ‘gift of beauty’ is someone’s ability to see the beauty in their life. No matter where or what we are doing, there is a sense of appreciation and gratification of your surroundings. People come from so many different backgrounds, cultures, and experience their environments differently, and where one thing may be considered beautiful in one culture may not fit within the societal beauty standards of another culture. Valuing individuality and being able to view the diversity amongst the planet provides, in my perspective, people with passion and a source of inspiration for conserving the uniqueness within ourselves and the earth.

Photo taken by me of Sleeping Giant Island at sunrise in Thunderbay, ON

-Alyssa

reference

Thanks for sharing, I really enjoyed reading this! I loved your opening and how you really successfully managed to link risk with art at the beginning. I definitely think there is a beauty in the risk of art in the sense that, although the artist faces a risk of their “message” or “meaning” not being clearly delivered to their audience, there is also lots of value found in the diversity of interpretations evoked across viewers. Like you, I am not one to go to an art gallery and try to decipher a piece of art's "hidden message". It is something I want to learn how to do. But I do enjoy ogling over the colours and movement and geometry of them, for now!

A viewer doing their own, unique interpretation of a work of art at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Sweden - 2020 - Photo by Emilia G.

Your last paragraph is written very beautifully! I am in full agreement with everything written as well - I think a world without diversity and individuality would be one quite dreadful. Diversity brings beauty, and when connecting art to the environment, nature is a place where an extreme amount of diversity exists (i.e. biodiversity). I hope to travel the world a lot more once I have graduated, and with that I am looking forward to interpreting the wiiiiiiiide array of diversity across cultures, and in the natural world. From deserts to tropical rainforests to tundras to urban cores, there is definitely so much art that can be defined in the world's many spaces.

Privilege. Privilege is something that isn’t earned, but it places individuals in an advantaged position comparative to others. The word, privilege, has been thrown around quite a lot in regards to the various social upheavals that 2020 was characterized by. The concept of privilege may not be at the forefront of peoples minds when discussing environmental interpretation; however, as 2020 has come to show us, privilege is present in all facets of society and it is systemically engrained in the way we approach learning (Gallavan, 2005). Take a moment to consider how you were taught history in elementary school. The curriculum I experienced in Ontario (2004-2013) only focused on the history of white European settlers in Canada from a primarily colonial viewpoint and it did not explore global history in the slightest. Children without European heritage may have felt excluded from the learning experience comparative to their classmates, while indigenous peoples utterly ignored despite their truly fundamental role in the development of Canada. Similarly, nature interpretation can purposefully and unwittingly exclude the experiences of minorities, not only in content, but by design. Those that are from demographics other than the majority make up the generally underserved population. This population experiences various barriers, be it: economic, cultural, communication, knowledge, or fear related (Beck, et al., 2018). Environmental interpreters must take extra steps to make nature accessible, which can be achieved through means such as inviting people to the interpretive experience, arranging transport, using multiple languages, and the including of diverse perspectives in the preparation and delivery of nature interpretation (Beck, et al., 2018).

Google image result for “Canadian History” (Battle of the Plains of Abraham, 2021)

Everyone has privilege in varying aspects and to varying degrees. Unpacking your privilege is a key step to being an inclusive interpreter. In the spirit of this post, I would like to unpack a bit of my privilege. I was born into a white low-middle class family, I never had to worry about being racialized, there being food on the table, acquiring access to internet connection, or having enough clothes to wear. I also had nature as a foundational aspect of my childhood experience, which has allowed me to foster a deep passion for nature throughout my entire life. While getting out into nature may have been a normal part of my childhood, it does not mean that everyone has such an opportunity due to varied constraints. Peoples’ varied lived experiences can have a dramatic effect on how they approach and value nature and as an environmental interpreter this is key to consider when planning to educate and inspire others. Some people may have a complete aversion to the natural world and as an interpreter you must not force your truth on others as they have complete control over their own beliefs; instead, you must craft an atmosphere in which they can forage their own connection (Beck, et al., 2018).

Photo taken by me of the beach that is connected to a cottage, which belongs to my grandparents and great uncles in Tiny, Ontario. I have the privilege of being able to experience this beautiful place for a week every summer.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you begin to unpack your privilege in relation to your connection to the natural world?

Works Cited 

Battle of the Plains of Abraham. (2021, January 11). Retrieved January 29, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Plains_of_Abraham

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

To answer your question, the first thing that comes to mind when I link the two (the environment and privilege) would definitely be the concept of accessibility to green space. I’ve definitely noticed the general trend between “less privileged” areas, and their lack of green space. In Toronto where I live, so many privileged areas have trees and greenery marked all around - a major contrast to other neighbourhoods. If I ever became an urban planner, I think a major priority of mine would be to make green space accessible to all areas. You shouldn’t have to take the subway to be able to experience a park!

Have you ever found yourself captivated by a presentation or speaker? Have you ever been inspired to create change in your life because of an emotional response formed through information communication? This is the goal of environmental interpreters. Professional or not, nature interpreters are essential in helping ordinary people form a strong connection with their natural surroundings. Having good environmental interpreters could mean that someone completely uniformed on a subject could have found a new hobby, become an activist on issues involving the environment, or, like me, pursue a career in nature sciences.

Photo by Toomas Tartes on Unsplash

There are many skills that an environmental interpreter should have if they want to be effective. Having grown up camping in the summertime, I have been able to attend a number of information sessions, run by Provincial Parks, on a variety of subjects surrounding nature and the environment. From my personal experiences, as well as our textbook, Interpreting Culture and Natural Heritage  For a Better World, I have compiled 3 key skills that should act as a baseline for successful environmental interpreters

1.     Knowledge of Subject

If you are to effectively interpret nature to those with a varying experience levels on the subject, you must be knowledgeable. Having knowledge on a wide range of areas surrounding your topic, means that you are more likely to be successful in applying facts to situations and events that your audience may be more familiar with.

Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash

2.     Communication

Communication is one of the most important skills an interpreter must have. Keeping in mind the different learning styles that audience members could have is important when it comes to the way in which something will be communicated. This could mean storytelling for auditory learners, pictures for visual learners and props and hands-on activities around for tactile learners. This is critical in order to apply the knowledge that you have into digestible information that is likely to ‘stick’ with your audience.

Photo by Edwin Andrade on Unsplash

3.     Passion

If you are attending a nature information session, going on a guided hike, or listening to a guest speaker, it is obvious to tell if the interpreter is not passionate about their work. One of the main goals of a nature interpreter is to evoke emotion and motivate less aware people of the importance of preservation and action when it comes to environmental issues. If you, as an interpreter, are not passionate about your cause, you cannot expect to create an emotional response.

Photo by Dino Reichmuth on Unsplash

One of the most important roles that an environmental interpreter plays is in educating youth. Children are important targets to create future positive change. Exposure to environmental information at a young age can help to create awareness that can be carried into adulthood. One of the most effective, and non-bias ways to inform children, is in their classrooms. While environmental interpretation seems most common in parks and nature camps, this has the danger of only targeting children passionate about the outdoors. If Nature interpreters were to present in classrooms, I think it could broaden the demographic that this information could reach. I have memories of attending activity seminars about water and hydro conservation as a child and feeling inspired, even then, to do simple tasks such as taking shorter showers, and shutting off the lights when you leave a room. This made a large impact on me as a child, and I would like to see it incorporated more heavily into schools making children passionate, from a young age, about the environment.

Photo by Carl Jorgensen on Unsplash

Overall, environmental interpreters are necessary middlemen between the scientific community and the general population. One of the main ways to evoke concern about the environment is to have effective interpreters and when the general population shares a common concern, it increases the likelihood that change will be made.

I really enjoyed reading your blog, your passion for the environment and also science communications really shows :) I think a major take home message that sticks out to me from this blog is the need for more effective science communication toward fostering an appreciation for the environment. And I do agree with this completely. Although I do believe that we all have an innate connection to the natural world, it is clear that active environmental interpretation is needed to be experienced to completely engage this connection and appreciation. I find it really interesting how the majority of friends I know that went to some version of a summer camp, for consecutive summers, ended up choosing a post-secondary degree aligned with environmental studies (myself included!). It’s interesting to wonder whether I would be in environmental studies, if it had not been for my continuous exposure to environmental interpretation during my time spent at camp throughout my childhood. 

I also agree strongly with your mention on the need for incorporating all learning styles during a knowledge sharing experience. Right now, it is becoming clearer than ever that individuals thrive in different learning environments, depending on their unique abilities and preferences. It is unfair to assume that, for example, it would be okay to teach an entire lesson in absence of visuals, when some students may only fully understand a concept when presented with such. Especially in environmental interpretation though, I couldn’t imagine a lesson in absence of any learning technique, as it is such an interactive and visual subject matter!

Thanks for the good read :)

All over the world wiggle-butts are doing the dance of joy to that phrase, and mine are no exception. Lily and Oliver offer my husband and myself a new and welcome relationship with nature in Regina, Saskatchewan, and the surrounding area.

Emile, Lily, and Oliver, Qu’Appelle River Bridge, Qu’Appelle SK - October 11, 2020 - Photo by A. Gagnon

My relationship with nature has evolved over the past 4 decades from childlike innocence, to passive observer, to a love of exploring. I have lived in 4 provinces in my life time and have travelled across Canada. I have seen the Atlantic and the Pacific, hiked in the Rocky Mountains, skated on the Rideau canal, and plan to swim in the Arctic Ocean this summer. To me, nature, exploration, and adventure all co-exist with each other and each trip out offers a new and refreshing experience.

Selfie Photograph, Rideau Canal, Ottawa ON - January 25, 2018 - Photo by A. Gagnon

As a child living in Nova Scotia, my mother, step-father, sister, and I lived in a very rural area surrounded by trees. Those trees provided me with daily adventures from playing house (all while marking out the footprint of my “mansion” in the trails between the trees) to learning about the plants, flowers, and animals that lived in those woods. Our mother allowed us to explore “within yelling range” of the house and encouraged my sister and I to be one with nature. She provided me with my sense of place. We were allowed to play, but we were to do no harm. That sense of responsibility to nature has followed me to adulthood.

Amanda and Stephanie with Chickens, East Gore, NS - Summer 1985 - Photo by M. Steeves

Later in life, my family moved to New Brunswick. I was enrolled in university and my relationship with nature turned passive. My life was beginning and I had no time for the exploration of youth as I was too busy studying, making friends, and meeting my future husband. Once engaged, my now husband and I moved to Labrador City, NL and I became immersed in nature once again. My husband has always loved fishing, and together we explored the forests, lakes, and rivers of western Labrador. We braved the cold and snow for 8 years and found joy in snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.

Selfie photograph XC Skiing, Labrador City, NL - January 11, 2014 - Photo by A. Gagnon

Living the remote northern life was fun for a while, however we now find ourselves living in Regina SK so we can take advantage of a more temperate summer. Here we have adopted our loving fur-babies and, with them, we go for walks and drives in search of the perfect trail. We have found a few, and are excited to find more on our trip this summer to Tuktoyaktuk, NT.

Road trippin’ Lily - August 15, 2020 - Photo by A. Gagnon

Road trippin’ Oliver - April 15, 2020 - Photo by A. Gagnon

My husband and I still love to travel and no matter where we go we always find a way to be outdoors. Since starting my Certificate in Environmental Conservation, I have learned that I love the quiet offered by nature; that sense of calm that comes over a forest when you stop and listen. Last summer I bought a kayak and am now able to explore the waterways in the areas where we once only walked the trails. It offers a new perspective of an area and a new, beautiful scene to enjoy.

Wascana Lake, Regina SK, from Kayak - June 22, 2020 - Photo by A. Gagnon

A couple of questions for you:

Where have you travelled in Canada? 

Do you prefer to walk, cycle, kayak, or do you have another preference when exploring?

Do you have any dogs and if so, what breed are they and do you take them on your adventures?

I appreciate your time in reading my blog and look forward to your comments!

I can definitely understand the beauty of the transition from travelling on foot to travelling on water! I worked at a summer camp on the Sunshine Coast in BC for a couple summers, and the latter summer I became a kayaking instructor. Both ways of exploring obviously offer different benefits and experiences, but I definitely think I became a bit more of a fan of kayaking vs hiking for the serene experience it can offer (that is - when I wasn’t trying to keep an eye on 20 kids at a time). I remember how satisfying it also was to me to be able to finally travel across the bay the camp was on to see the views I couldn’t access by foot, so I definitely appreciate how it can broaden your reach.

And about the dog questions! I was immediately drawn toward your blog because of all the dog pictures. I have one dog that my family adopted from Thailand a few years ago. We don’t exactly know what breed she is, but she looks a lot like a Thai Ridgeback. I love taking her on long dog walks throughout the ravines in my neighbourhood. Probably similar to you - my love for nature is shared with my love for dogs!!