Eric Jaeger

Reflecting on my journey of developing my personal stance as a nature interpreter, I realize my ethos is deeply rooted in storytelling. While I would absolutely consider myself smart and capable of any challenge thrown my way, I wouldn't claim to be the one to ask for a perfectly articulated summary of a concept, or a history (or stats oh gosh...)) But! I am your girl if you want to talk about animals or nature with the same excitement and perception shifts you had as a kid; when learning about something like dinosaurs or other planets for the very first time and feeling like your mind was blown, or maybe even that the person was just making stuff up because of how wild it seemed.

At it’s core, my passion sings when having the chance to discuss niche topics with open-minds that delve into things like evolution, coming from the perspective that there are so many mysteries out there that could be unraveled if you only cared to look.

Just this week, some of these topics for me and some peers have included trying to understand bird tetrachromacy (how and why they can see in UV), mammals returning to the water like whales and dolphins, or how?? Literally how??? lemurs got to Madagascar.

To me, it's not just about sharing information, but having fun in the process and getting to share what you learn about the animals and their exploits in ways that would rival the wildest fantasy stories.

[Saw-whet owl wing under UV💡 ]

[OG whale💪🏻 ]

I've been playfully dubbed the "zookeeper of knowledge" by a friend in this context, after spending far too many hours working on a project because we kept getting side-tracked and discussing things not necessarily needed, but so incredibly interesting. (And it’s probably a title I'd gladly claim if it weren't so corny to be honest.) Regardless, it summarizes my commitment to becoming a curator of the captivating craziness that the animal kingdom has to offer. With a bias but passionate zoological perspective, I strive to share my spark of curiosity. ✨

Beyond my zoology lens, I strive for a focus on eco-consciousness in the work that I do, hoping to bridge the gap between science and the public and to foster stronger connection with Mother Nature.

As for translating these passions to children, I’m a firm believer in both transparency and honesty. While it’s almost guaranteed they won’t enjoy their first climate change lesson, I think forming traits of environmental stewardship and the understanding that actions have environmental consequences in children is critical if we want our passion for nature to be held by future generations. I remember my first lonely polar bear on a drifting ice berg video, and yes I was sad….but it left a vivid mark on my consciousness, shaping my understanding of the environmental challenges we face and it very likely brought me to where I am today.

Speaking of inspiring children, I cannot hold myself back as I have to show you guys what I found last week!

[Zoologist Barbie!!!!!!!!💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗]

I'm not even that much of a Barbie fan but I think now I have to be! I would have exploded with joy if I had this as I kid! I mean, if Barbie is doing it, I can't even imagine how many little girls will now be exposed to the possibility of studying zoology or similar topics and I won't lie...I could cry 🥹 (not to mention how close the koala is to a lemur and my personal goals regarding that....interesting......verrry interesting 🔮)

Though I still think going outside with curiosity in mind is the number one way to develop a relationship with nature, I’d consider things and representations like this even more important in places like cities, where natural spaces are becoming less and less accessible due to never-ending infrastructure and the digital domination of screens and virtual experiences.

The allure of video games and online platforms often out-win outdoor activities at least in my own anecdotal experience, raising concerns about the disconnect between the younger generation and the natural world. I think environmental educators are becoming more and more important in schools, and I believe they play a pivotal role in counteracting this trend, as they offer opportunities for a child to focus on wonders within the natural world. I had a hard time myself trying to sound reasonable to many of my friends and family as a kid when saying I wanted to study animals and nature since technology was progressing so quickly and I was viewed as looking backwards.

and so I think this doll (or things similar) can reinspire or hold that flame when kids aren't yet to sure if they'll find a nice outdoor spot to explore, an educator excited to answer questions, or a community like Guelph that embraces natural sciences so much.

In my opinion, harsh climate crisis truths can surely be sugar-coated for young minds to an extent, but to completely wait until their old enough to ‘actually understand’ is just providing the perfect opportunity for a child to become a distracted or oblivious teenager or adult. Again, this is my opinion but at this point in time, in a current climate crisis with almost no signs of slowing down, being an adult in a country like Canada and purposely ignoring it is NOT cool!!

Now, we don’t have to live every moment with the weight of the world on our shoulders, and I don’t wish that on anyone! But I believe the absolute bare minimum is to consider our actions in relation to nature and provide the next generation the building blocks and exposure they'll need to make environmentally conscious choices. Concepts like reusable water bottles over disposable plastic ones, not littering, and realizing our planet belongs to others too aren’t scary things and if anything, promote cultures of care and community. These seemingly simple ideas start to lay the foundation for responsible and conscious individuals to gladly carry the torch of environmental awareness into the future!

Anyways, that's what's up with me, and so I hope you've found at least one thing on my blog that made you think about, reconsider, or learn something, and maybe even want to go hug a tree 💝🐛

Works cited

Johnson, N. A., Lahti, D. C., & Blumstein, D. T. (2012). Combating the Assumption of Evolutionary Progress: Lessons from the Decay and Loss of Traits. Evolution Education & Outreach, 5(1), 128–138. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12052-011-0381-y

Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?

The world can be intimidating and scary. Navigating through personal issues, paired with what is going on in the outside world, can be overwhelming and bring negative thoughts. News articles about the environmental catastrophes around the world, ranging from floods to droughts to uncontrollable wildfires. People are being evacuated from their homes, and people are dying due to the lack of availability of resources. Social media posts are being rapidly shared about war and violence, paired with updates about the rapid global warming of the environment driven by anthropogenic climate change. Sometimes, it's all too much to wrap your head around. Sometimes, our bubbles burst here in North America when we read or hear about what is going on globally. We all know that life isn't always butterflies and rainbows; negative things will happen. However, it is essential to view these situations, whether firsthand or from a distance, and think of a solution or solutions to fix the problem. Humans are equipped with solid morals naturally, and ultimately want to see peace and harmony in the world, even though the news articles about the negatives often cloud this. This week's blog prompt calls us to reflect on our personal ethics. Ethics are linked to morals, which determine people's actions. We all have beliefs on how we want to live our lives and see our world, and for this reason, the environment governs many of my morals and, therefore, my way of life.

Currently, I am a student in the environmental science program at the University of Guelph. I care for the environment, want to learn more about its processes and resources, and I am driven to make changes to repair the anthropogenic, destructive actions that have harmed our environment. These are my ethics. For issues such as climate change, I am driven to think of future generations and how unfair their situation will be, as they will be left repairing the mistakes and damages we have caused in our generation. They will likely face resource shortages as humans have overexploited or polluted essential resources, such as water, we have stripped our soils of nutrients, we have amplified the abilities of pests and pathogens, we have exhausted our food crops, we've cleared forests, and we've left our waste to accumulate in landfills. I can recognize that humans have caused irreversible damage to our environment and ecosystems. However, I am not discouraged that there is hope for future generations. Through nature interpretation and education, young generations can learn about the state of the environment and the consequences of climate change and pollution, and be motivated to make changes. Teaching children the actual state of the environment, the issues humans have experienced related to land use management, and proper ways to make sustainable choices in our daily lives can lead a whole generation to reverse and mitigate the damage prior generations have caused. I am responsible for acting as an "environmental mentor" and educating the youth and our elders about the state of our environment and suggesting ways to live greener. This could be by sharing in person or even on social media, giving suggestions on how to lower our greenhouse gas emissions, such as carpooling, using public transit, reducing our meat intake, avoiding unnecessary air travel, choosing more sustainable vehicles, or even limiting our energy usage in our homes or preserving our water sources. These suggestions can encourage people to take action to leave lower carbon footprints and use less energy. Proposing ideas about how our daily lives can be powered by renewable energy sources rather than fossil fuels, or avoiding the consumption of fish products that are unsustainably harvested can also positively impact our future and future generations that are soon to come. Highlighting that little actions are just as successful and meaningful as big actions is also important when thinking about sustainability, as often, it can feel as if our decisions do not make an impact. I often read comments on social media about how some countries are stuck with paper straws to reduce our environmental impact, yet music stars contribute to high carbon emissions due to frequent air travel. There is no doubt that the constant air travel by celebrities contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions, but it does not undermine the impact that the reduction of plastics has had on the environment. Sea creatures are now safer due to reduced single-use plastic use, and inputs into landfills of plastic products are reduced, proving that using paper straws ultimately has an impact. Obtaining a mindset that change is possible, no matter how daunting or negative things may seem, ensures that hope in reversing our climate crisis remains.

So far, I've learned that guided nature interpretation walks or videos, social media posts, podcasts, radio shows, or readings can be powerful vessels for spreading environmental education. In diverse ways, ecological knowledge can be shared through the arts, such as music and theatre, or through history by highlighting how nature was in the past. My responsibility, especially after taking this course, is to share this information with friends, family, and followers. I have always believed that the sharing of information can help educate and dictate people's actions, especially as it is likely that people are unaware of things related to the environment, including the impacts of climate change and the depletion of earth’s resources. Nature interpretation is a beautiful way to connect to a vast array of audiences in various ways that support the different learning styles we've learned about through this course. Nature interpretation is accessible, can be light-hearted and fun, can include real, deep information about negative issues, and creates many opportunities to communicate environmental information and allows audiences to find the beauty and awe in nature.

Ultimately, I believe that we all have roles as humans to educate ourselves on the environment and the resources it provides for us, as it will allow everyone to find an appreciation for nature. Taking time to think about your ethics also allows for a deep connection between yourself and the environment to be formed. I aim to create a bright future with an abundance of natural resources for generations to come. For this reason, I will ensure that I spread thoughtful information about the environment to my peers, young and old, and play my part in trying to reduce my emissions, whether it is by cutting out meat products more frequently, walking or biking rather than driving, reducing my consumption of unnecessary items, especially plastics, and appreciating the nature that I see around me daily, whether it's the diversity I see in my front yard to a lush forest in the country. Enjoying nature can highlight your ethics and ultimately shape your life choices. I am curious to know about your ethics and whether the environment impacts how you live your daily lives!

As we near the end of the semester in this course, I can say with certainty that I am a Nature interpreter, and that interpretation is all around us. It works to enrich our daily lives and serves as a motivator when we may least expect it. In our textbook reading for this week, one story struck me. A father and his son were visiting Gunnison National Park, but the boy was eager to leave the trail. One man noticed the pair and offered to take them to a spot where they could see a bighorn ram. The son was in awe, and now he was refusing to leave the trail as he was memorized by the animal. Honestly, if I saw one in real life too, I would also be memorized. This moment in the boy’s life was probably a stepping stool in his future with nature. It shows that unexpected experiences can change one’s life.

For this week's blog, we were asked to write about the most amazing thing we know about nature. Recently I started watching this documentary on Netflix called “Life on Our Planet”. I haven't watched a Nature series in a while, but I thought why not? This series is like no other I’ve ever watched, and I highly recommend anyone who has Netflix to check it out! It recounts the evolution of our planet and all the stages of life and hostility on Earth.

Before the age of the dinosaurs, our planet was completely desolate and inhospitable. According to the documentary, it almost resembled the moon, covered in dead volcanoes and craters. I know for me it's hard to imagine our world like that, but it's also immensely fascinating that it used to be like that. However, even before this, life underwater had thrived for more than a billion years. From this emerged lichen, a curious life-form that is neither a plant nor an animal. Almost like fungi, and they are a combination of fungi and algae. Lichen spread rapidly over our planet and worked to break apart and infiltrate rocks that covered the land. Producing soil, and I’m sure we’re all familiar with the life-bearing properties of this medium.

From this first development of soil, came moss; which ruled and carpeted the planet for 40 million years!! This brought forth the evolution of plants that had lignin, which strengthens the cell walls of plants, allowing them to grow upwards. Trees and all different types of plants start shooting up, growing closer to the sky to get the best access to sunlight. Trees are the tallest living organisms on our planet, and this green evolution made the land hospitable to animals, insects, and all different types of creatures.

It’s honestly crazy to think that lichen and moss gave rise to all the greenery we see on our planet. Now when we look at plants, we know that their beginning was simple yet so profound that it changed the face of the Earth. I find that simply amazing, and I stumbled upon this finding because I wanted to watch a new documentary on Netflix. There’s beauty in the small things in life, quite literally.

Lanfear, S. (Writer & Director), Hamlin, J. (Director), Salisbury, E (Director). (2023, October 25). Invaders of the Land (Chapter 3) [TV Series episode]. In S. Spielberg, D. Frank, J. Falvey, K. Scholey, A. Fothergill (Executive producers). Life on Our Planet. Amblin Television & Silver Back.

I have learned a few things about plant evolution from the plant courses I have taken. Lignin was huge for the structural support of large and tall plants but plants would not have been able to grow so tall without vascular tissue. This tissue is known as the xylem and phloem which transports water and nutrients throughout the plant. Mosses lack vascular tissue which limits them to a moist environment as well as limits their size

One of the many beautiful, intriguing things about nature is that it interacts with not one, but all senses. You see, feel, smell, and often taste the world around you but my personal favourite? The sounds!!

You can’t walk through the forest without hearing the leaves under your feet, go camping in the summer and avoid the crickets or cicadas calling away, or be within even a few hundred meters of a water body without the comforting crash of waves patting you on the back. There's a symphony of music in nature everywhere and it only takes a moment and a deep breath most times to notice.

Speaking of music in nature, I thought I'd try out a little vlog moment to share with you a hack I've recently learned on how to ID natures most notorious singers! This week’s prompt was timed well for me, as I’ve spent most mornings walking to school working on my bird ID by sound, a great opportunity to shout out the worlds' natural musicians. (let's give it up for birds!)

(so sorry there weren't any birds out guys....guess you'll just have to try the app yourself 🤷🏻‍♀️, you can download it here!)

As for nature in music, I’ve added some of my favourite examples of music I truly can’t separate from nature, where when they play I unavoidably imagine I’m just a bug, or the wind, or something like that (and I’d really love if you shared some with me too!)

Ambi Nature Radio station - a live stream of the sounds of a forest in Switzerland! On the Radio Garden site, you can access any radio station in the world, with many others nature themed like this! (I use this for study background music a lot)

Mother Nature's B****  by Okay Kaya - if you give the title a chance, the song’s a reminder to not take everything so serious, because in the end, it’s Mother Nature that’s in control. It’s only a few words but it’s groovy and happy and well….I agree with her.

Wriggle (instrumental) by Cosmo Sheldrake – Hear me out……when this song plays I can almost hear a whole mini movie: a rabbit minding it’s little business, who starts getting chased by a wolf and then they’re running and dodging each other through the forest, passing other plants and animals who chime in too.  It reminds me of the urgently late white hare from Alice in Wonderland and I think it displays through audio a good example of how chaotic (but beautiful) an ecosystem can be.

The clips of music you provided were also very unique. In my blog post, I just talked about lyrics based around nature but you have found songs made from living organisms which is really neat. If people have found a way to make mushrooms “sing” I wonder what other life forms can do for music. 

Hey! This week we were asked to write whatever was on our minds (presumably still related to nature interpretation).

This semester I’m in the process of completing an independent research project on aquatic plants, so needless to say they’ve been on my mind quite a bit recently. I thought my some of my experiences with the project and things I’ve learned so far fit in well with this class. There are two topics I wanted to write about today, the first being aquatic ecosystems in general, and the second being science communication and some thoughts on the readings for this week. The project I’m working on focuses on freshwater macrophytes. Macrophytes are aquatic plants that function as carbon sinks and important sources of oxygen, in addition to providing food and habitats to a variety of species (Bornette & Puijalon, 2011). I’m looking at their physiology, and determining how abiotic environmental parameters contribute to their survival and success. Specifically, my project focuses on pH (how acidic or basic the water is), and how aquatic plants respond to changes in water pH. The pH of freshwater systems is affected by climate change, in ways that are less predictable than marine systems (Hasler et al. 2016). If the pH of a lake changes to a level that its macrophytes can’t handle as well, they are at much greater risk of being outcompeted by photosynthetic algae (Sayer et al. 2010). This contributes to algal blooms, an issue that’s become quite prevalent recently. So, having a greater understanding of aquatic plants can assist with preventing algal blooms, as well as restoring damaged freshwater ecosystems. Reviews have found that most research on aquatic plants focuses on marine ecosystems, and very little research is done on freshwater ecosystems (Hasler et al. 2016). In my own (very non-qualitative) analysis from watching nature documentaries, it definitely seems like there’s a much greater focus on marine environments. While there is certainly more water in oceans than anywhere else, I think it’s important not to forget about freshwater ecosystems. So many of us, especially in Canada, get to enjoy being surrounded by so many beautiful lakes and rivers. It can definitely be easy to take them for granted. The readings for this week focused on interpreting nature through science, which is something I’ve been learning a lot about while working on my project. Currently, I’m in the process of learning how to communicate something I care about in a way that’s accessible to a variety of audiences. Part of the course is writing papers on the topic, as well as giving presentations. It’s made me realize how easy it can be in the sciences to get excited about a relatively niche topic (ex: freshwater botany) and essentially start speaking in a language that few people are going to understand. And if someone can’t understand a topic, they’re probably a lot less likely to care about it. So, it’s made me think about how important communicating science is when it comes to nature interpretation, as well as conservation.

References: Bornette, G. & Puijalon, S. (2011). Response of aquatic plants to abiotic factors: a review. Aquat Sci, 73, 1–14.

Hasler, C.T., Butman, D., Jeffrey, J.D. & Suski, C.D. (2016). Freshwater biota and rising pCO 2 ? Ecol Lett, 19, 98–108.

I decided to take advantage of this open blog prompt to switch up the conversation from nature interpretation to something else that makes up a big part of who I am, which is going to the gym.

Throughout highschool I had an on and off relationship (definitely more off than on) with the gym. Every summer I would work up a ball of motivation and sign up for the free summer student membership at Goodlife. In the beginning, I would go to the gym a few times a week and then by the time August rolled around would lose all motivation and give up. This same pattern happened the few times I bought myself a real membership in highschool. I remember the last time I started a “gym phase” it was cut short by the first Covid lockdown and between March of 2020 and January of 2023, I stepped foot in a gym 3 times.

Fast forward to January of 2023, I finally decided that I wanted to give the gym another try, but not just for a few weeks this time. So, I signed up for a membership at the campus gym and gathered up a few of my friends that worked out often to show me how to do everything right. I started going to the gym 3-4 times a week, and always had a friend with me to ensure my form was proper (and to keep me entertained). I immediately started to notice how good I felt walking out of the gym after a good workout. This feeling is what motivated me to keep showing up, sort of like a positive feedback loop. After a few months, motivation lost most of its impact (but not in the way you think). Going to the gym became such a normal part of my routine that it felt wrong to not show up. It is so crazy to think that just last year working out was so unimportant to me, and now I can't imagine spending a few days out of the gym.

This summer my best friend and I decided that we were ready for a new challenge. So, we agreed that once we got back to Guelph in the fall, we would do 75 Hard together. This fitness challenge consists of 5 main rules; pick a diet and stick to it (no cheats, no alcohol), 2 45-minute workouts a day (one must be outside), 3.8 L of water a day, 10 pages of a non-fiction book a day, and take a daily progress pic. We started the challenge on September 11, and after 32 days, I quit.

I say that I “quit” rather than “failed” because I did not see it as a failure. This challenge allowed me to form new habits such as reading daily (I think the last book I read front to back was in grade 10 English), drinking more water, going on daily outdoor walks, and reaching for healthier food options. You might be wondering, if I liked those aspects of the challenge why did I quit?

I quit 75 hard because I felt like it was destroying my relationship with the gym. I started to feel like the gym was a chore, rather than a choice. Each day I would start my timer as I entered the gym, and the moment I hit 45 minutes I had no more motivation to workout. My goal for the day was complete, and thus I was too. Before this challenge I had no problem spending 90 minutes in the gym, so when I noticed that I was struggling to continue my workouts beyond the 45-minute mark, I started to reassess my fitness goals. After 4-5 days of thinking about it, I decided to quit.

I don’t regret my decision to start or end the challenge one bit. I think that I learned a lot about myself and my goals this past month and plan to use the next few weeks to repair my relationship with the gym, in hopes that I can get it back to what it used to be, while still holding onto the good habits I have formed.

If you made it this far thank you for reading :)

Prompt: What role does “privilege” play in nature interpretation? Please include your working definition of privilege.

Privilege can be defined as a “a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.” While this definition is correct, my personal definition adds a bit more towards this: an important note is that privilege in its roots is a systemic issue based against minorities that can include race, social class, ability, gender, or orientation. Many systems that we have in place in western cultures really wish to see people the same as livestock and crops - a singular monoculture of workers. The reality is that people are incredibly diverse and our differences are something to be celebrated, not shamed for. Everyone deserves equal opportunities, although I know in reality many don’t get the opportunities to do so.

What’s so important to note about privilege is that most have it in one way or another. It is not necessarily a bad thing to have, as it means you have had access to certain things in your life, which is beneficial and good. Some people just do not have the environment to be able to have these same privileges. It is not shameful or bad to have privileges, but the most important part is that people who do have it can recognise it. Being able to recognize privilege can create a space for conversation and being able to brainstorm ideas on how to provide the opportunities to others that they may not have previously had.

It can range from something as simple as access to green spaces, where people who live in cities, especially lower income areas, tend to have less green spaces. Growing up in Toronto, I lived beside a lot of low-income areas, although I never was in one myself. Even growing up in that vicinity, I rarely had any greenspaces that were more than just a park the size of my bedroom that was always an hour walk away. It can sometimes make it incredibly hard for many to be able to get into nature interpretation and nature in general because of this.

Promot: Describe your ideal role of environmental interpreter. What might it entail? Where might it be? What skills might you need?

When I think about what a role as an environmental interpreter looks like I think back to when I was a high school student, I recall going on field excursions to parks dedicated to environmental protection and witnessing the incredible work the staff members performed in teaching the public about the environment. Typically, the field trips would involve adventuring through parks with a tour guide. The tour guide would tell us stories about the nearby wildlife and species of plants they are aiming to conserve in the park. This sparked my curiosity in a job that would allow me to spend time in the outdoors and with nature. It would be far healthier to spend time working outdoors in the natural environment and doing so would be an amazing way to do your job. In a role that enables me to participate in courses and excursions that inform guests about the environment, I would feel accomplished. 

The ability to advocate for conservation and sustainability through teaching future and current generations is also an exciting aspect of this role. Having the ability to educate on endangered species, climate change, and sustainable living would be a very rewarding aspect of a career. Rainforests, islands, national parks, savannahs, and the Arctic are just a few amazing locations where it is possible to learn about the environment and serve as an educator. Even though there are so many amazing areas to work in the environment, coral reefs and marine conservation are my favourites. As an environmental interpreter, working on a coral reef or marine conservation area like the Great Barrier Reef would be ideal. It would be a fantastic opportunity to broaden my knowledge and experiences to deal with various creatures in various climes. Protecting the coral reefs is a topic I am very passionate about, Coral reefs are important to buffer waves from the shoreline, otherwise, the waves can do damage to nearby communities. Our coral reefs are in danger as they face threats from fishing practices, boat anchors and coastal developments. Being able to encourage others to also be passionate about coral reefs and inspire them to also fall in love with their beauty would be a rewarding role.