Filip Malinski Brings You Nature Interpretation

To me, this course and it’s timing has been pretty significant. It has been a sort of coming home to me to get back into the outdoor world and teaching after being on the backburner while I have thought of pursuing different careers. The two main moments in this course that struck a chord are the differentiation between a job and work, and what climate activism can look like.

image: a photo of a quote written inside the canoe hut at Camp Edgewood. “Look for the little miracles”. Photo taken by me.

I’m not sure that everyone has experienced what “work” feels like compared to a “job”, but I was lucky enough that one of my first jobs was working as a camp counsellor, among other things, at Camp Edgewood in Eden Mills. I worked there for two summers before, devastatingly, the camp had to shut down because of a lack of funding to replace our sewage system. Can you believe it? Working there meant giving up you whole summer, besides Saturdays to work 24 hours around the clock, anyone who works at camp knows this, but to me it never felt like a job and I remember saying this at the time. This place was so special, no matter someone’s background, it gave them a chance to connect with others and the nature around them. When you’re disconnected from the rest of the world, the news, and social media, social norms kind of go out the wind and you’re allowed to be as goofy and weird as you want because people are accepting. I remember a camper saying to me that the one week a year that they got to spend at camp weas the only time that they felt like they belonged and that they weren’t the outsider or the “weird one”. This setting and this community’s commitment to fostering these relationships is something that I seek for my work in the future. Lately, I’ve kind of thrown away the idea of “career” and I am committed to focusing on “work”. So, what makes it work for me? Making a difference.    

image: graphics of a melting earth with blue rings around it. Image taken from https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/strategy/impact-and-opportunities-of-climate-change-on-business.html. 

This year I have really struggled with learning about climate change. It is so essential, yet draining, and leaves me without hope. In chapter 5 of Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage, a huge wave of relief washed over me when they explain how fostering relationships with nature is a way to help with climate change. This idea made me realize what my approach to solving climate change must be, to educate and excite people about the world that we live in. I know that as someone who knows about climate change, I need to lead a life that makes a difference, but the idea of having to think about and face this complex challenge every day in a job has been weighing on me and I hadn’t even started this mystery job! During this semester I have decided to apply to the Queen’s Outdoor and Experiential Education Teaching Program after I graduate from my Undergrad. This is the outlet that I can use to encourage stewardship for other people and do my part to help tackle the climate change challenge. Here is a link to an interview with one of my high school teachers talking about the OEE program: Queen’s University Outdoor & Experiential Education Program.

Throughout my BA in Geography I have been learning about the complex relationships between people and places and the details about those people and those places. What I have learned in taking this course is that part of my work needs to be on the frontlines of those relationships between people and spaces, particularly in the outdoors. I would like to teach in some sort of an outdoor setting. I hope that in doing this I can include different aspects of interpretation from science, art, history, education, and sustainability. Personally, I have always been a generalist, meaning that there are a lot of things that I am okay at, but there’s no one thing that I am an expert at. In this field, I can use this to my advantage because it required a lot of skills to interpret/teach.  

image: a photo of me at my cottage in Temagami, crouching under the old growth forest, picking blueberries. Photo taken by my sister

A direct application to what I have learned in this course will be the job that I landed this summer. I put myself out there and sent an email to the rental cottages around the area of my cottage asking if I could teach swimming lessons at their sites. I was answered right away and will be teaching swimming lessons, fishing skills, canoeing skills, and leading hikes just a short canoe ride from my cottage. I am so excited to learn more about the area so that I can teach it. Mostly, I am excited that I can be outside all day and help other people enjoy the outdoors. This type of job is something that I have been dreaming of since working at camp, but had deemed it as not a “career” job and had assumed that I would not make enough money at a job like this. I was wrong, no both fronts. Like I said before, I’m not worried about a job that looks good on a resume because it matches my degree, a so called “adult job”. I sought out the job that I know will make me happy and that at the end of the day I will be able to say that I did a good day’s “work”.  

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading along with my realizations, hopes, and dreams. What do you want to be when you grow up (not your adult job, your real job)?  

Goodbye for now.

Jasmine

In regards to my dream job I am still juggling some ideas, however I do know I want to make a difference either through educating the next generation of nature lovers or somehow contributing to research that can make a difference to protect our planet. Included in the research avenue I am interested at looking into ways to reduce or offset air pollutants which would aid to slow climate change. Outside of research though I am considering something in the education field in which I could educate the next generation of nature lovers to so that beautiful nature landscapes can be preserved for future generations (Beck et al., 2018). Now I believe I am actually ready for this career in nature education since I understand that individuals at different ages should be taught varying things so that they may develop a love of nature and protect it. For instance individuals under 11 should be taught to love and explore nature and that only once they are older than 11 should they engage in solving real world problems (Beck et al., 2018).

 Now I understand you have a general framework of what you want to do for work so my question for you is what do you not want to do and why?

References:

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

 Now I will dive into some of your questions, one place that reminds me of my childhood is 16 mile creek forest. This is a forest near my home which I often explored as a child and while doing as such built an emotional connection to (Beck et al., 2018). If I was to travel back in time and decipher how I could use my childhood to help other children feel closer to nature I would advertise the act of exploration. I acknowledge the fact that people learn more effectively at different ages however personally I’ve always felt that exploration was the most effective learning tool for me (Beck et al., 2018). This is since I have always had an innate sense of exploration and have always been curious as to what I am going to find under a fallen log, around a corner at the bottom of a river bed and what not (Beck et al., 2018).

Photo of 16 mile creek forest captured January, 2021 by author.

 Now my question for you Haleigh is how do you recommend we help kids feel more connected to nature?

Reference:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

References

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

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

 I must say this is the first time I am learning about fractals and from the information you have provided they are actually really interesting. Even though I have witnessed them in nature and also learnt about them in the classroom it is awesome to finally put a name to a principle that I have witnessed many times without even being aware of it. I have seen fractals by observing fossils and also by observing meandering rivers, now even though these objects are vastly different in size they both show fractals since they shows patterns that repeat themselves at varying levels of magnification. For instance let’s take fossils like the one seen below at all levels of magnification the swirling pattern may be seen.

A photo of a fossil captured by myself on March 19th, 2021.

Due to advances in technology fractals have been discovered in the human body and the meanings of them have been brought to the light (Beck et al., 2018). Now, you mentioned they may be seen in our circulatory system however they may also be seen elsewhere in the body as well such as in the nervous system or also in the respiratory system. In these two system their branching pattern may be seen on whatever scale you analyze them on which acts to fill empty space effectively adding a dimension.

 My question for you now is: in nature what is the most beautiful fractal you have seen?

 References:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS:

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

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

References:

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

To answer your question, none of things you listed actually help me with anything however I am familiar with the principle that different stimuli can alter our mood. For instance disorder in the form of rain beating on a window may make some people relaxed while for others it may make them on edge. The reason for this is different people react differently to stimuli, one person may be relaxed by a certain stimuli where another may be agitated by it. The reason for this is certain stimuli similar to music can not only communicate a message but can also remind people of good and bad experiences which they tie emotional reactions to (Mallarach et al. 2011). Speaking personally whenever I snowboard I feel happy since I feel the adrenaline rushing through my veins the wind howling in my ear which makes me feel free and thus happy since I am reminded of all the times I truly felt free on a snowboard. Whereas being with certain people will make me angry or miserable since I am reminded of all the negative experiences we shared. I can’t speak for everyone but for me these individuals are often people of power who abuse it, do not listen and do not stick to their word.

Now I’ve listed a couple of things that can alter my mood either for the better or for the worse, I am curious what are some stimuli that alter your mood and why do they alter it?

 Reference:

I saw someone else’s post about how nature affected their life during this pandemic and it got me thinking about how it affected my life this past year. It is crazy to think how things change so drastically in 1 year and I never thought I would be living in a pandemic and several lockdowns. Starting the pandemic, I was still living in Guelph with a few roommates while we completed our winter semester. As the weather began to be nicer, we started spending more time outside, especially going for walks with my dog boo. It was great having the opportunity to spend more time outdoors, enjoying what nature has left for us to appreciate.

(Photo taken by myself during one of many walks in Guelph with my dog boo and roommates. We throught this tree looked very different from the rest. It started a lovely conversation about how nature is so amazing in the sense that it does crazy things like this)

Once the semester was over, I moved back home to North Bay to try and save some money while everything was still closed. We are fortunate up here to have many places that are not overly populated with the public which allowed me and my family to go on much different nature walks with our 4 dogs. With all of the hikes also came many drives to our waterfront where we could watch the lovely sunset on the lake. It dawned on me at this point, how I needed to appreciate the little things within nature that I noticed even when times are tough (and in this case living during a pandemic).

(A video I took of our dogs playing with some other dogs we met on the trail. Spending some fresh air and viewing new places while making some new friends is what I love most of being outdoors)

I would find something beautiful in every moment spent within nature, even when I would be hyperventilating while hiking up a hill. I would start to notice all of the different birds chirping and how happy my dogs were to be going for a walk, or swimming at the beach. I was able to take in all that was around me during the summer and explore more within our province.

(Photo my mom took of me and my dog boo after hiking to the Firetower in Restoule,ON. One of the many hikes that boo and I went one during the summer)

Once the fall came around and the new semester began, fewer exploration adventures were happening and more local admiration occurring. I was fortunate enough to have a lab where I could go to a stream within my region and collect a water sample using leaf packs. From here I would pick through all of the leaves and identify the macroinvertebrates found. It was such a fun time and education in understanding what lives in the water within your area. This opened a new fascination of mine to understand more of the things living within my area. It was great getting to share this experiment with my family as I showed them all of the different macroinvertebrates living just around the corner from our house. I have always wanted to go to the ocean (and really, I still do), but learning and sampling the lakes and streams here opened a new world to interpret and understand.

(Photo of myself taken by my mom while I was writing the information of the stream chemistry when placing my leaf pack. This was for my Limnology and Natural Pollutions class)

This pandemic ultimately changed my perspective on the natural world around me and I love being able to share my knowledge and desire for it with others. I hope that even when this pandemic is over that I continue to interpret, appreciate and share my knowledge with those around me.

My question for you is:

What is something you noticed changed with your interpretation of nature during this pandemic?

Your blog post was similar in nature to mine so I have decided to respond to it. To answer your question we must first identify what nature interpretation is, the textbook states interpretation helps people connect with places, stimulates interest and observations and ultimately helps them understand what’s around them (Beck et al, 2018), therefore nature interpretation is this, but just applied to nature. Over this pandemic I was bored so to relieve this boredom I explored nature around me and in doing so my connection with nature grew. Specifically walking outdoors near the forest located down the street from my home made me curious as to what’s around me that I have yet to explore, so during my walks through the forest I would often leave the beaten path and try to discover something new, either some kind of landform or creature. It is this same curiosity which made me want to explore new landmarks such as beaches, gorges and untouched forests in Ontario this summer. After doing this I gained a deeper connection with the natural world around me by experiencing new landmarks/geological features that I had never experienced before. For instance over this summer me and my friends went on a camping trip through crown land and during this trip I experienced beautiful sunrises, the brightest stars I’ve ever seen and also at night I was shocked to see the lake near us as still as a glass of water.

To sign off I leave you with this question, how would your perspective of the natural world be different if this pandemic didn’t happen?

A photo my sister took of me will we where exploring a gorge just outside of Guelph in the summer of 2020. 

As humans, we all possess the ability to be impacted emotionally. It is through this that art can make the largest impact.

Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash

Near Brodick, Isle Of Arran, Scotland, 1849-1851 by William Andrews Nesfield

Art definition: the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.

Interpreting nature through art takes effort, understanding of your surroundings, and passion. I think anybody who wishes to pursue this has the agency to do so and because we are all unique in our own ways each person would have special attributes that allow for distinction in style and approach.  

Photo by Stephen Leonardi on Unsplash

Art can inflict emotion upon its viewer which can create various feelings toward the piece(s) or in a more internal way that causes personal belief or ideas to be shaped, re-shaped, or morphed. Art has the ability to create interest in something that could have been rather boring to some people. If you consider something such as a simple painting depicting a natural scenery. People will likely be able to connect to the art if they are able to relate in some sort of way.

Photo by Edanur Ağaç on Unsplash

When interpreting art, it is important to appeal to the imagination and reason. To do so we must appropriately use the information we know about the art and creatively inspire others to buy in so to say. This can be done through things such as relating to the artist’s style, representation of something, or how the art visually reads. This can be touchy if you overextend your position because there is a fine line between talking to the piece and talking about the piece. An interpreter seeks to make connections between the audience and the art which give expression to the myths, symbols, and rituals of our world. To breathe life into inanimate objects such as paintings or sculptures is important in how the audience perceives the art. By giving biographies rather than classifications it allows the audience to make the connection more easily for themselves which in turn can lead to a spark of discovery and promote further interest. Judicious silence is needed at times as some scenes or art pieces need no words and “reporting” may actually hinder the beauty in ways that discourage the audience’s connection. Art speaks what words can’t explain. Visual pieces have the ability to convey messages more easily that depict sceneries, problems, or beauties to people and allow for consideration in various perspectives.

Photo by Jp Valery on Unsplash

The goal is to provoke rather than instruct, so as someone who interprets nature through art the largest contributing factor is the emotion the piece inflicts upon us. As an interpreter, you must use how the piece emotionally makes you and those around you feel as you look upon it and it gazes back at you.

What kind of emotions arise?

Is the piece depicting something larger at play?

What is it implying about nature?

Art has the power and transforming qualities to move people in extraordinary ways (Beck, et al., 2018, pg 230).

Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash

The Sheep Drive, 1863. Artist: John Linnell

The gift of beauty is truly unique to everyone because each and every one of us has varying beliefs, morals, and codes that we live by, and these guide our interests. Although many people’s ideas of what makes something beautiful may align in a similar manner it is important to consider that the connection people make to art is often personal or intrinsic in ways that they can’t always explain. This is why when discussing the gift of beauty on a specific piece, it’s important to encompass the audience with valuable ideas that provoke the connection in various ways to encourage people to make their own connection. The gift of beauty can not be proclaimed and is created by desire’s form within.

Questions I have for the reader:

How does art affect your mood? Your Thoughts? Or your perception of something?

Can participating in arts-based environmental education activities enhance the connection of participants to the world around them?

Can you encourage a direct experience/ connection to someone through discussing a work of art? 

Thanks for reading, 

Justin

References

The first thoughts that come to mind when hearing the word “privilege” are special advantages or rights that are granted to individuals depending on their race, gender, ethnicity, education, gender identity, religion, sexuality, ability (mental and physical), socio-economic status and many more (Media Smarts, 2014). As mentioned in our textbook, these groups of people that are separated by “some demographic characteristic” are labeled as “underserved populations or audiences”. Privilege allows certain individuals to believe they are more entitled to specific opportunities and experiences due to special pre-existing conditions that have been determined by society. 

The term “privilege” holds a different meaning for each person because everyone has experienced or witnessed different kinds of privilege throughout their lives. I am a half Trinidadian and half Chinese woman who grew up in Canada. I was raised in a home with two, full-time, successful working parents that love and support myself and my older brother. They have always provided us with everything we have ever needed, including clean water, clothes, food, a well-rounded education, a roof over our head and other luxuries including electronics, vacations, etc. All of the things that have been provided to me by my family have always seemed to be a basic right because it is all I have ever known and been exposed to; however, this is not the case for many people. I recognize the privilege that I do have because of the family I was born into and the status they hold in society. However, I am also able to recognize the opportunities and experiences I have lost or were not considered for because of the privilege I do not have due to the fact that I am a mixed woman of colour. 

This is a picture of my two parents, my brother and I in Mexico in 2008. This picture was taken by my grandma.

To be completely honest, I never considered the term privilege in the sense of nature or nature interpretation before reading the prompt for this blog post. However, I came to realize that privilege plays a major role in one’s interpretation of nature because the opportunities we were fortunate enough to experience in our life influences the way we think and interpret the world around us. The places I was able to visit and the beauty of nature that I was able to experience in those places were made available to me because of the privilege provided to me by my family. Although one does not need to partake in extravagant trips in order to experience the beauty that nature has to offer, I think that these experiences do influence the way in which we interpret nature. I believe that every experience or opportunity we have encountered in our lives will change the way we interpret interactions, objects, challenges, opportunities and more. I think that without the privilege I do have, my interpretation of nature would be extremely different. 

My questions to you are: 

- How old were you when you realized how privileged you were? Was there a specific moment, interaction or experience that opened your eyes? 

- How have you changed the way you lived your life or the way you look at your life once you realized your privilege? 

Thanks for reading and I am looking forward to any comments! 

- Victoria 

Like you Victoria, I felt everything I had been gifted was a human right, this was up until my mid-teens where I realized what I had been granted is a luxury to some. I.e clean water, a roof over my head, etc.  This realization happened when I went off the resort in Cuba with my friends/family 5 years ago and spent time with some locals and realized just how fortunate I was to live in a first world country instead of a second world country. We spent some time with a couple Cuban families in an area that was less well off financially and I realized how fortunate I was to have all the luxuries I have such as a cellphone. After experiencing how these individuals lived I felt extremely fortunate to live in such a wonderful country and I stopped taking advantage of the things such as A.C, heating and access to national parks since I realized just because I have access to something does not mean other do.

What is environmental interpretation, you might ask? I was asking the same question only about a week ago, until reading further into the course textbook:

“The interpreter transforms bare facts into stories and experiences that stimulate understanding and wisdom. Interpreters serve as storytellers who transmit the essence and meaning of culture and nature to members of society.” (Beck et al., 2018).

A memory from the summer of 2009 popped up into my mind when trying to better understand the environmental interpretation. That summer, a very memorable character came to deliver a presentation on the knicks and knacks and fun facts about the camp’s environmental surroundings. Driving home after camp that summer, my parents recall me going on about all the new fun facts I learned about rattlesnakes and mushrooms (both of which covered the camp). I believe that this interpretive experience played a major role in transitioning my outlook of the environment to one that sparked an inquiring mind!

Now, 12 years later, I am reflecting on how I myself can provide such an experience. When imagining my goals as an environmental interpreter, I want to be able to pass on environmental knowledge in a way that transcribes a feeling of connection, to the natural world. I would aim to provoke a sense of belonging and kinship to ones’ environmental surroundings. After all, we do live in a time when this – a feeling of connectedness to nature –  is needed more than ever. I would strive for an inclusive educational experience that incorporates all learning styles to account for each learners learning strengths and weaknesses. For example, as well as learning about auditory (i.e. learning through listening) vs visual (i.e. using visual aids that represent ideas) vs tactile (learning via experience) learning styles–it would also be helpful to reflect upon introverted personas, which may require more quiet reflection (i.e. reflective learners), versus extroverted personas, which may require further discussion and application (i.e. active learners). I, myself, am more of an auditory and reflective learner!

Environmental interpretation can be for anyone and everyone. In my opinion, only two “skills” are really needed for environmental interpretation – a love for the outdoors (which we innately carry, really), and effective communication with others. Environmental interpretation can happen anywhere at any time; be it during my morning dog walk with my mom through the park at the end of the street, or during a camping trip in the Rockies. If I could choose where I could perform environmental interpretation, it would be in the islands of Georgian Bay–where I spent a lot of my childhood exploring the outdoors.

Enjoying a book on a summer evening in Georgian Bay, ON - 2017 - Photo by Emilia G.

I leave you with one question: what do you want to either learn more about, or share knowledge about, in the environmental world? (Mine is whales, then mushrooms!)

References

I agree that a sense of connection know is needed more than ever, especially amongst those who spend more time in front of a screen than in the outdoor world, which is becoming the reality for more and more people especially during covid.

 Gif by welovewaves

I also agree that interpreters/educators should strive to meet there audiences learning style, since this would allow for the message they are delivering to effectively reach the audience. Since everyone learns differently, this would mean incorporating various mediums to deliver your underlying message, such as the use of lectures for the auditory learners, pictures for the visual learners and hands on experiences for tactile learners. I think it’s crucial to use multiple medium since this will not only allow for the delivery of your message to diverse learners but will also hopefully provoke independent thinking and discovery within your audience.

 Building upon the facts that you would like to incorporate various teaching styles as an interpreter I would also recommend using multiple platforms such as social media, YouTube or guided tours. This is since even though you ideally would like to deliver nature interpretation at Georgian Bay not everyone can access this area so using various platforms allows you to increase and diversify your audience size. If done effectively this will allow you to deliver your message and provoke meaningful thoughts in a larger more diverse audience than just those who can access Georgian Bay.

I found a “sense of place” when I was standing at one of the lookout points on the Centennial Ridges Trail in Algonquin Park in late September. I took a photo of the view (seen above the title of my blog) to capture the fall colours, the expansive scenery, and as a memory of a fun hike with my mum. I didn’t know it at the time, but in the moment I realized that this view was more than just a good spot to have a sandwich, I was experiencing a “sense of place”.

It was a profound moment. Standing at the edge of a rocky ridge, hundreds of meters above the ground below, I was struck by how I had never seen a landscape that looked so untouched by human activity. I was glad to see nothing but trees, rocks, sky, and lakes. I turned to my mum and said, “I suppose most of Ontario would have looked like this at one point”. I flipped to the page in the trail guide that discussed the view I was seeing and the historical figures that had been influential in the Park’s history. As I read about how the Park had changed over the years, I began to feel a connection to this view; that my standing there was a result of the hard work and goals of people over the past 100 or more years, and that I was part of something much bigger than myself.

A view from one of the other lookout points on the Centennial Ridges Trail in Algonquin Park - photo taken by me. 

I would hike 4 more Algonquin Park trails in late September and early October, all with my family. My relationship with nature is deeply connected to my relationship with my family. My family’s favourite way to spend time together is be in nature together. We enjoy bigger activities like hiking, camping, and canoeing, but we also love walking around our neighbourhood, tending our red pepper plants on our balcony, and barbeque dinners together.

A snowy scene from my neighbourhood, taken during a walk with my family - photo taken by me. 

My family and I moved from a house into an apartment in early May and my relationship with nature shifted significantly after we moved. Living in a house, we could see very few trees and almost never saw a nice sunset. Moving to our apartment, our balcony is level with the treetops so we can watch the trees change with the seasons in ways we never saw in our old house. Being level with the trees meant we could observe the birds, too. I had always thought bird watching was a bit dull, but since moving to our apartment, we have often got out the binoculars to watch blue jays, cardinals, and American Goldfinches flying between the trees and the rooftops. I didn’t even know we had these birds in the city, nor did I know the difference between male and female cardinals, but I do now that we moved. We also see fantastic sunsets from our apartment. Below is a photo I took of a sunset back in early December, a sunset that I doubt I would have seen from my old house.

 Similar to you my backpacking/hiking trip with my loved ones has given me “sense of place” since it has not only instilled in me a sense of appreciation but also a sense of joy, tranquility and excitement which I feel are emotions bigger then me. On my backpacking trip through McCrae lake we decided to camp on top of a 120ft cliff. Similar to you I was shocked by just how untouched the landscape looked, I witnessed some of the brightest stars I have ever seen and was amazed by the fact that the cliff faces/ vegetation can make a massive lake as still as a glass of water at night. Like you I experienced “a sense of place” since I was experiencing something that took millions of years to develop. This appreciation I felt for this beautiful landscape was exponentially improved since I was able to share it with some of my closest friends, which is what truly made me feel a “sense of place” and I am sure you felt the same way with your mother with you.

Photo of myself enjoying a morning cup of coffee on top of a 120ft cliff at McCrae lake. Picture captured by myself.

Throughout reading your post it seems as though you have only experienced a “sense of place” through exploring Canadian Landscapes. So what I would recommend you do to further develop your “sense of place” in nature is to travel with friends/family and experience other natural landscapes you cannot find in Canada such as in the tropics. The reason I recommend you go with friends/family is that having someone with you that you care about and appreciates beautiful landscapes makes you appreciate them more.