Lauren's Nature Blog

Hey everyone!!

This blog post was hard for me to write. I had to sit down and really question what my personal ethics were when it came to nature interpretation. But, looking back at what I have learned in the course and through the readings, I can see how my core values have been strengthened and developed over three short months. 

I have always been a firm believer in knowledge sharing. I think one of the most important things one person can do is share what they know with other people. This is what I believe is my biggest core value is and the main moral principle I strive to follow in my life. The act of knowledge sharing helps people to connect to what they know and brings to light situations people do not know about. 

Knowledge sharing also raises awareness. The more people know about something, the more they are aware of what is happening and are therefore more inclined to do something about it. Especially in nature, it’s important to be aware of what is happening to the ecosystems around us. With climate change being such a hot debate in our world, I think it’s important as an environmental student that I do everything  I can to bring awareness to what is happening to our planet because of climate change. 

I have learned how to do this better through this course, as I have learned the tools for effective interpretation. 

BUT, my biggest fear is not being heard, and people disregarding what I am trying to tell them. I think a really good quote from our textbook that explains how I feel is when the author states: “no matter how much confidence we may have in our science and our professional procedures, no matter how enthusiastic and polished our presentations, the audience ultimately decides if the resource has value. The audience determines if they will care enough about the resource to support the care for the resource” (Beck et al, 2018, p.130). I would like to say I’m pretty smart, but I always worry about how people will perceive me, and if they will believe what I am saying. 

I don’t want my knowledge to go to waste.

What I have to constantly remind myself is that every action I do matters, and it is my responsibility to share what I know. There are people in the world that have no idea what is happening to our planet, or what they can do to help it, and although I do not have a huge social media presence, there are other ways I can share what I know. 

One of my favourite things to do is talk. I find it very easy to start conversations with guests that come into my work, and with new people, I have just met in public (maybe it’s because I’m so eager for social interaction after lockdown).  I find that I have been able to share simple facts about climate change in random conversations and surprise people with what I know. 

When sharing knowledge to people, “being relevant means ‘taking action-publicly on the issues that matter’ the most to the organization. Of course, public advocacy can be risky, and not always possible everywhere, but for the right organizations there can be enormous opportunities to more deeply connect with their clientele and make a difference in the world” (Beck et. al., 2018, p. 469). I think this quote really helps to explain why I interpret the way I do. I know that not everyone that listens cares, or wants to know what I am saying, but I know that some people do. I am aiming to reach that part of the population that will actually listen and want to do something about what I have told him. For me, this is the easiest way to interpret nature, by verbally sharing what I know. It is a lot easier than making videos or doing podcasts, as it makes it more personal for me. I like having that connection with the people that I talk to and try to start a connection between the people I talk to and nature. 

Relating this to my life, when my boyfriend and I go on hikes, I share with him facts that I have learned in my forest biodiversity and ecology classes so that he can connect what he is seeing to the facts I am telling him. It makes our walks more interesting, and he walks away with new knowledge of the natural world around him. 

Or, for example at work, I collect all of our old coffee grounds and bag them to give out to customers. I made a small sign that explains the benefits of using old coffee grounds as fertilizer and actually helped to raise a lot of awareness of using recycled materials when compared to synthetic ones. 

These simple acts I perform are ways I enact my personal ethic of knowledge sharing in small ways that I think are the most effective way of interpreting nature. 

Now, after finishing this course, I know that my way of knowledge sharing is a form of interpretation. As described in the textbook, “… we have the privilege to shape and inspire the interest of these future generations” (Beck et al., 2018, p. 144). The facts and tools I provide people about caring for nature and its inhabitants is a simple way that I help start people’s interest in doing the same. I hope that everyone I talk to shares what I told them so that it can be passed onto the next person. 

As a happy sign-off for my blog, I want to know one cool fact about anything nature-related that you know and want to share with everyone who reads this post. 

I’ll start… did you know that sloths only poop once a week? 

Have a great last week everyone! 

Hannah 

Reference: 

First of all, I did not know that sloths only poop once a week, so thank you for that fun fact lol!

I really enjoyed your post this week, I think that the way you communicate is awesome! Being able to verbally communicate your ideas and educate people is such an amazing tool to have.

When you said

BUT, my biggest fear is not being heard, and people disregarding what I am trying to tell them.

I really resonate with that. It’s hard when you’re so passionate about something and people simply do not care. I think it might be one of the most difficult aspects of interpretation. There are always going to be people who disagree fully with what you are interpreting to them and there are always going to be people who just don’t want to hear what you have to say. The hard part is continuing after being discouraged by those people. As interpreters, we have to acknowledge that there are going to be those people and that that’s okay. We can’t change the minds of everyone, educating the people that we can is more than enough!  

It is really awesome that you have incorporated interpretation into your current job. It just goes to show that you don’t have to have a job in interpretation in order to provide interpretation to people. You can interpret whenever and wherever!

Thanks so much for sharing your post, to end I’ll give a little cool fun fact that I know :)

Galápagos tortoises can go without food or water for up to a whole YEAR. They can store food and water in their body which allows them to go so long without any.

Good luck with exam season!

Isn’t it crazy to think that it has been almost 4 months since we started this course? After reading the course outline, I was intrigued by its description, “…plan an interpretive walk…” Initially, I thought to myself, this can’t be correct, how are we going to plan a walk…? Even if this course was offered in person, I didn’t understand how this activity could be used as a method of teaching. In addition to my love of nature, the environment, and making the planet greener, I have always been a curious person. I knew that I had to take this course to solve the mystery that I had created in my head. Fast forward 3 months later, I am thrilled to have taken this course as it has really opened my eyes to look deeper and further interpret and appreciate the nature around me. After almost 3 months of interpreting, I have gone from zero knowledge of nature interpretation to a wide toolbox of interpreting skills that will be used every time in the future whilst I am surrounded by nature.

Throughout the journey of this course, I have further developed several personal ethics. A good, costumed interpreter (whether in first or third person) has to combine the skills of a host, a storyteller, an entertainer, an expert, a psychologist, a guardian (of the site and its artifacts), a tour guide, a stand-up comedian (when and if appropriates), a therapist and a counsellor (Beck et. al., 2018, p.330). I have learned that to be a strong and influential interpreter, you must have an open mind and be knowledgeable of your surroundings. By keeping an open and unbiased mind, nature interpretation can be indulged through different lenses leading to new findings and stories that no one has heard before. Being knowledgeable of the land that I am interpreting and its history, is dire. After years of history stories being told, the truth tends to become less and less accurate. Any interpretation must be presented with the utmost attention to personal and professional integrity to assure that the recipients (clients and customer) of the interpretive effort are presented with the truth (Beck et. al., 2018, p.336). When interpreting a piece of land, and speaking about its history, it is crucial that we have ensured that every fact we are conveying is accurate. The meanings associated with past events change both with time as values change, and with geography as local cultures interpret the same events differently from people in other locations (Beck et. al., 2018, p.336). As mentioned in our textbook, history can be told different from person to person as it can be interpreted differently by people, generation after generation. Therefore, I think that it is our responsibility as interpreters, to consider the history of the land we are interpreting and take that into account before sharing this information that we have observed and interpreted, with others.

After completing many oral presentations growing up, I have always found that the smaller the group of people is, the more the group learns, which allows me to feel like I have truly educated everyone in the room. When it comes to interpreting nature, I find that the same approach works here. Good interpretation is fun, but the best interpretation evokes an uplifting emotional response (Beck et. al., 2018, p.44). As I mentioned, I have always found it more effective for everyone to take a more hands on approach to teaching. Through the use of the lenses we have learned about this semester, I have found it easier and more efficient to teach a small group of people in the field as opposed to in a classroom with a large class size. Interpreters can inspire by enhancing people’s ability to sense quality in their surroundings (Beck et. al., 2018, p.45). I believe that if a group is trying to interpret the land they are discussing, what better way to do so than surrounding themselves in the field rather than being contained in a building. Interpreters hold a wonderful position to avail themselves of such exhilarating accessories and to touch the emotions of their audience (Beck et. al., 2018, p.45). This specific example is why I only tutor my students one-on-one instead of in small groups. It is more beneficial to every party included.

As a nature interpreter and environmentalist, I believe that it is important to advocate for the planet and to do whatever I can do to convince people that climate change is a global problem that needs to be addressed on a larger scale. As someone who has been fortunate enough to be educated and aware of what is going on in the world day to day, I still cannot comprehend how some people believe that climate change is a hoax. Climate change looms as a threat to communities, safety, and food production on many fronts. We still need to help the world’s decision-makers understand the vital importance of the effects we have on the Earth’s atmosphere and ocean, and we must continue to help all people understand how individual behavior contributes to both the problems and the solutions (Beck et. al., 2018, p.459). Not only is it my responsibility to be mindful of my carbon-footprint as a nature interpreter, but as a human being too. Public advocacy can be risky, and not always possible everywhere, but for the right organization there can be enormous opportunities to more deeply connect with their clientele and make a difference in the world (Beck et. al., 2018, p.469). Even if two large companies would partner and become more environmentally friendly, I am certain that this would set a good example to other big brands and maybe we could get ahead of the climate problem. I believe that as an interpreter, I must be conscious of topics like these as the future of our planet is in danger.

Thank you for reading, and good luck in your upcoming semester.

You’re so right, it’s actually so crazy how fast this semester has flown by!

I really resonated with all of your interpretation techniques that you have brought up. 

After years of history stories being told, the truth tends to become less and less accurate. Any interpretation must be presented with the utmost attention to personal and professional integrity to assure that the recipients (clients and customer) of the interpretive effort are presented with the truth (Beck et. al., 2018, p.336).

I 100% agree with this! Being able to convey history in an honest and truthful manor is of the utmost importance. Sometimes parts of history are “pushed under the rug”. Even many history textbooks don’t tell the entire story of what had happened in the past which is awful. So when we are interpreting about events of the past, it has to be told truthfully.

I have always found that the smaller the group of people is, the more the group learns, which allows me to feel like I have truly educated everyone in the room.

For me, I want to work with the general public which would likely be in large groups, however I recognize and agree that working in close knit circles can definitely help make a more personable and memorable experience. Interpreting in more intimate settings can definitely help develop that personal connection with nature that interpretation looks to promote.

“I believe that if a group is trying to interpret the land they are discussing, what better way to do so than surrounding themselves in the field rather than being contained in a building.” 

I definitely see where you are coming from with this point as well. Being able to teach something about an area while being fully immersed in it can be a really special experience. However, I do think that there are benefits to interpreting to people while in a building too. For example, some people might be interested in nature and the environment but are not comfortable being in an outdoor setting. Interpreting indoors provides those people who may not be as comfortable with nature a space where they can still get involved. That’s one thing that I really like about museums and aquariums, it may not be out in the field, but it does bring a little bit of the field to people.

Thanks so much for sharing, good luck with your upcoming semester as well!

Picture this, you’re on a walk through a forest and you’ve reached the top of a steep hill. Out of breath, you take a short pause and look around to see where you are. To your left is the cliff edge and beyond that you can see the far stretch of trees hugging a narrow river that appears to end in a large lake. From your point of view, you can see a couple of turkey vultures swooping through the sky in lazy circles above a small clearing in the forest below.

To the right, there is the dense forest and you hear the sound of birds talking up a storm from within the cover of leaves. Out of the corner of your eye you see a small chipmunk dart across the ground and disappear within a hollow log. At your feet, you see an organized line of ants marching in unison towards a dead insect on the ground not to far away. Most incredibly, in front of you is a small family of white tail deer eyeing you suspiciously.

The Takeaway from this story is that everywhere you look in nature, there is life. In my opinion this is the most beautiful part of nature because it puts things into perspective that there’s a whole other world besides our own. In this case, our world simply involved hiking a trail and taking in the views, but there is so much more to it than just that. Think of all the many ecosystems that surround us anytime we are out in nature. If we really stop to look, we’ll find how truly amazing and interconnected all of nature is.

Beyond the animals, there is also the life of plants, fungi and even the organisms we can’t see like bacteria! Everything has a home in nature and as major influencers of habitats, it is our job to preserve this. Similar to our unit on history, it is important for us to remember the importance of nature and put forth conservation strategies to save as much as we can. As we all know, nature is incredibly sensitive and it is truly a shame that we continue to lose it as a result of our human footprint.

If we continue this way, there will be no more wild turkey vultures flying the sky, no chipmunks scurrying across the forest floors, no long stretches of forest and no sounds of birds singing in the trees. Personally, there’s a lot of nature I take for granted because I have constant access to it, but I can’t imagine a world without being surrounded by nature.

I would love to hear about any experiences you have had with nature that truly showed you the vibrancy of life within it.

Thanks so much for reading!

Thanks so much for sharing your post! I could really picture the scene that you painted which was awesome. I absolutely agree with you that life in nature is one of the most incredible things. Like you, I often take many things in nature for granted. I think that I can sometimes forget just how much life there is around us so thanks for this reminder. I think one of the coolest parts of nature is the interconnectedness of it all. Like how under the soil there is Mycorrhizae that have a symbiotic relationship with plants. The Mycorrhizae becomes integrated into the roots and provides plants with nutrients and minerals in exchange for sugar from the plants. It’s the small things like that that remind me just how cool nature is! 

You brought up just how sensitive nature is and I couldn’t agree more. In my post this week I talked about the wonders of the ocean. The ocean is an ecosystem that I feel doesn’t get as much conservation efforts as other ecosystems such as forests. I think because the ocean is just so large, people don’t think that it is as sensitive as other regions however that is not the case at all. The little things that we continue to do to harm the ocean are adding up, just look at the great pacific garbage patch! People may think that throwing one thing into the ocean isn’t a big deal, but the great pacific garbage patch is estimated to be over a million square kilometres big and is growing! It just goes to show that small actions add up so we need to do a lot better.

Thanks so much for your post this week, it really got me thinking!

Thank so much for sharing! I had very similar thoughts and ideas about many of the things that you talked about. I think its awesome that when you hear those camp songs you are reminded of your connection with nature. It's so cool that music has that ability, in my opinion. There are so many songs that I listen to that send me right back to sitting around a campfire too.

You are absolutely right about spa music being full of nature sounds. I find that when I put on yoga music or spa music, I feel really connected to nature. I think that people often forget that nature has so many benefits to human health, and using nature sounds in spa and yoga music is just one of these benefits. Stress is a leading cause for many issues to human health and nature has an incredible ability of helping people de-stress. So it makes sense that spa music and yoga music would incorporate nature in order to help people de-stress. I often put on nature sounds playlists or rain playlists when I can't fall asleep because I find that the sounds of nature are extremely relaxing!

Again, thanks for sharing. And Happy Halloween!

Hey guys, GrassLover here. Big promt today, let’s get into it. So we were giving the quote…

“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.”

-Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation

Pretty interesting quote, can’t wait to see what everyone else has to say about it, but for now, here is how I interpret this quote

To me, this quote is talking about knowledge of the past, and how that knowledge is transferred through time. Many ancient things bring with them information of the time that they were created. The Rosetta Stone, Pompeii, Dead Sea Scrolls, Tiktaalik, among many others are major historical discoveries. Each of them provide valuable information about the past, both our human past, and even earlier than that. These discoveries are all unique in their own way, but are unified in the fact that they give us access to knowledge of the past. 

Through the lens of Edward Hyams’ quote, these ancient things have value, not inherently, not because they are ancient, but because they encode with them historical information. Without the historical significance they provide, the Rosetta Stone is just a tablet made of rock, and Tiktaalik is just bones. It is the information they carry with them, details from the past, that make them significant.

The second part of the quote “To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.” is also relevant to these items. Our past shapes our present in many ways, some which are difficult to determine. With ancient artifacts such as these, we get the whole picture, and it informs us as well as helps us understand our ways of life today. This widened world view, allowing us to see the whole instead of just fracture pieces, is what gives these ancient things value.

Now personally I think ancient things are inherently cool, outside of their knowledge value. I like interacting with things from older eras, not just to learn from them, but to enjoy ideas, artistic styles, and structures that are not currently found in our modern time. But regardless that’s what I think Edward was trying to say in this quote. 

Thanks for sharing your interpretation of Edward Hyams quote. I definitely agree with you saying that “Our past shapes our present in many ways”. Our past can define who we are and shape us into the people that we become. To build off of that, I think that Edward Hyams analogy of the railway station demonstrates that just because our past is behind us, it doesn’t mean that it is not there defining who we are. This emphasizes the importance of history, because history will always be there whether we see it or not. 

History often puts things into perspective for us and provides context. Like you said, without historical significance, to us the Rosetta Stone would just be a tablet made of rock with markings on it but because of its history we know that it was so much more than that. This is similar with nature interpretation. It is important that we incorporate context and historical significance into what we are interpreting so that we provide people with the whole picture.

I’m curious about your thoughts on history and nature. What do you think about history in the context of nature interpretation?

Again, thanks for sharing! I look forward to seeing your future posts!

Located in the mountainous region of Gorski Kotar, Croatia, a quaint little forested paradise resides with so much beautiful nature around it. This paradise is also my grandparents’ village, where they were born and raised, and it is like no other place on Earth to me. When walking around the one way streets, you will see the clay roofs on houses that are the most beautiful shade of red, chickens in the locals’ backyard, and huge flower and vegetable gardens. You are also guaranteed to see an old civilian having coffee on their front porch, waving at you as you pass by. 

The amazing thing about my grandparents’ little village is that all the people in it are not focused on how they look, or how fast their internet speed is. They put their energy into growing their food, taking care of their families, and being grateful to the Earth for being able to provide for them. It really is amazing to see how nature brings families together there! One time when visiting, all the family members of my grandmother’s sister came back to the village from the city to harvest the potatoes at the end of the summer. My cousins, both younger and older than me, got to work with no complaints at all. It is interesting how in Western society, a parent can ask their children to do the simplest task, one that is usually not even physically straining, and they will create a fuss about it. In the village, they do as they are told, and know that, “If these potatoes aren’t picked today, we won’t have any for the entire winter!” This example shows how in Canada, we can take for granted the gifts of nature, such as fruit and vegetables. We do not realize how fortunate we are to be able to go to the grocery store and be able to buy out-of-season food for a relatively affordable price. 

When I am in the village, my eyes are always opened to see how life can be so much more simple if we look for the little things in life. What brings the Croatian villagers happiness are the small details in nature, such as how many eggs their hen laid that day, or the plump grapes that are growing on the vines. I read in our textbook that villages are used as an interpretation of the past. I agree with this idea because it is proven to me everytime I visit my grandparents’ village. Each trip, I learn so much about what not living in a modern society looks like - and to be quite honest, it can be a very nice life! I gain an understanding of how the Earth has so much to offer to us, making it extremely important to preserve it and have a positive relationship with it. True joy does not come from material goods, rather it comes from enjoying nature and providing for your family with it. I hope that we can be grateful for the gifts of nature like the Croatian villagers  are.

I think you’re absolutely  correct in saying “we can take for granted the gifts of nature”. I think that in our society it is really easy to take the gifts the earth gives us for granted. For me, especially with Covid, I could go a whole day or two without getting outside to enjoy the natural environment. I can get distracted by school or work and won’t take the time to be grateful for what nature provides us. I am trying now to be more and more aware of my disconnect with nature and take time to reconnect whenever I can.

It is so awesome that in the village, nature is prioritized. I think that if Western society could also prioritize nature it would benefit everyone by helping to mitigate climate change. When people are taught to appreciate what nature gives us and prioritizes it over everything, then they are more likely to want to protect and sustain it. Because, similar to what you said about the potatoes, there is an understanding that if you don’t take care of the earth then there will be nothing left for us.

By the way you describe this village, it sounds like an amazing place. Thank you so much for sharing your village with all of us. :)

The majority of art comes from what we see in the world around us and how we interpret it. Nature inspires art in many different forms of media. When I think of art, the first idea that comes to mind is a landscape painting of nature scenery. Capturing the feeling and experience of being in nature is a powerful way to share the environment. The beauty of nature is why people are attracted to the outdoors and express it in their artwork.

The question "who are you to interpret nature through art?" brought me to the realization that everyone can interpret the environment through art. We all experience different emotions and experiences when in nature that can be portrayed in many different art forms. Two people could be looking at the same sunset and create two completely different forms of art based on their interpretation. I personally am an artistic person, and I find a lot of joy in creating, whether it's through painting, sewing, drawing or photography. Taking time to stop and appreciate nature around us is the first step to interpreting nature into art forms. I put a few paintings I've done below :)

Before reading the textbooks definition of the "gift of beauty", I wanted to interpret my meaning. I believe the "gift of beauty" is referring to the gift nature is giving to everyone as a place to experience true beauty. Our natural world is a place where humans can escape and enjoy becoming secluded from themselves. The book Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage For a Better World explained that having "the gift of beauty" means you can present nature in a way that allows others to see the beauty you experienced. Inspiring others with the artwork you made to capture the environment around you. I have always found it easy to find the beauty in nature. Always try to travel places with new landscapes that I've never seen before to experience the beauty. I also try and appreciate the nature around me and how even something that happens every day, like a sunset, can be so beautiful. I find reading poetry or listening to music are some of my favourite ways to experience other expressions of nature. Music and poetry, I feel bring emotion and room for visualization. Listening to a song and picturing a place and feeling in time helps me feel connected to nature. Poetry is something I have recently started reading, writing can be a powerful way to express emotions and experiences.

One of my favourite activities I ran as a nature interpreter at camp was bringing a group of children to a lookout spot in Algonquin Park to spend the hour painting what they saw and interpreted from the area. At the end of the session, it was amazing to see how everyone's paintings looked unique when they were all painting the same image. This activity allowed the children to take a minute and absorb the beauty surrounding them and capture it in a painting.

First of all, I love your artwork! Your paintings are really really good, and I really like your butterfly one!!

The way you interpreted the gift of beauty really resonated with me. Saying that the gift of beauty is the gift that nature gives us is such an amazing way to think about it. The gift of beauty is one of the many things that nature provides us. Along with beauty, other services that nature provides us include food, water, natural resources, reduction of stress and anger, and so much more! Nature gives us so much that we often overlook, beauty being one of the most overlooked in my opinion. Sometimes when we are so busy or distracted, we miss what nature can provide us. Like you said, some things that happen everyday like sunsets are so incredibly beautiful but, I can sometimes fail to appreciate them. 

I agree with you 100% that beauty can be so different for everyone. The saying “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” is precisely how I feel. What one person doesn’t see could be the most beautiful thing to the next person. I would love to go with a group to a natural environment to paint or create art inspired by the natural environment and see what everyone comes up with. Seeing the differences in the perspective that everyone would take is something that would be very eye opening. It’s so awesome that you got to experience that yourself. 

Thanks so much for sharing your art!

Hope you have a great weekend,

My personal definition of privilege is an inherent right or advantage that someone has based on their standing in a particular group. Privilege is often linked to race or socioeconomic standing, for example middle/upper class white people have far more opportunities in life than people of colour or people from lower economic classes.

Outdoor privilege can manifest in so many ways, nature experiences can be expensive when considering travel costs, buying gear, taking time off of work if needed etc. I’ll admit that my standing as an upper-middle class white woman has provided me with MANY privileges and opportunities to experience the outdoors

- My passion for the outdoors was ignited at overnight summer camp, which was not exactly cheap. Each summer I’d spend the month of July living in cabins, going sailing, canoe tripping and swimming. It wasn’t hard to notice that the main demographic of this camp was- just like me, mostly able-bodied white people whose parents had enough money to ship them off each summer.

- When I turned 18, I was able to get a job at my summer camp, although it did not pay very well, it provided me with integral skills and experiences that I have since used as references for more professional outdoor jobs.

- My family has a property in Muskoka which allowed me to continually foster my love for nature.

- My personal fitness has always been an important part or my life. From a young age my parents enrolled me in dance lessons and sports teams that helped me develop the fitness level needed for these activities.

- I live without physical disabilities or limitations.

These privileges awarded to me at birth have massively impacted my relationship with nature. That being said, there are some remaining barriers that prevent me from fully experiencing nature the way I want to. As a woman, I don’t feel safe or comfortable enough to explore nature on my own. I’ve heard beautiful stories about people’s life-changing solo trips through the back country, or weekends where people dropped everything and went for a hike deep in the forest. I so badly wish I was able experiences nature like this, pure solitude in nature would be so reflective and deeply healing. But to me the risks are too high, being a young woman alone in the forest makes me the easiest target. This fear hasn’t massively stood in the way of me experiencing nature, I just make sure I’m always with at least one buddy and that we have means to protect ourselves (mace isn’t just for bears (; ).

Another overlooked privilege is an able body. Have you ever seen an advertisement of someone in a wheelchair or crutches in a nature interpretation session? When most people think of outdoor activities, they think of climbing mountains, portaging a canoe, and other physically demanding tasks. Many environmental programs are inaccessible to people with physical disabilities, and environmental interpreters do not consider diversity of learners when planning sessions. Some activities that are accessible to physically disabled are; paddling, walking on accessible paths, and nature baths/meditations.

I just want to start by saying that I really enjoyed reading your post, it was very well written!

I agree with you 100% that  no one should be faced with barriers in order to experience and connect with nature. Like you mentioned, one of the barriers that need to be broken down is inaccessibility. I don’t think that there are nearly enough accessible programs made available. I also agree that more should be done to make people feel more safe to have natural journeys on their own. Like you, I unfortunately do not feel safe enough to go out on my own I’ve heard too many horror stories. I would love to have the life changing experience of being out in the woods completely on my own surrounded by nature. I’m not sure what more should be done to make people feel more safe, especially women. Maybe having more programs on safe camping specifically for women camping on their own would get us one step closer. Hopefully one day we will get to the point where we will be able to get that experience. 

Thanks so much for sharing! I look forward to hearing more of your stories and seeing more of your posts.

What is my ideal role of environmental interpreter? Well, I have been fortunate enough to actually be an environmental interpreter and have been able to test a few different techniques out to see what works and what doesn’t work for me. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, I worked as a discovery guide for Ontario Parks for 2 summers. The park that I work at is pretty small making attendance to discovery programs very limited. Although this may come across as disappointing, it’s actually quite the opposite as it allows me to make more personal and meaningful connections with campers!

Every Friday to Sunday during the summer I would offer 2 drop-in activities per day, each with their own topic. ‘Feathered Friends’ for example focused on birds and ‘Terrific Trees’ focused on…well…trees. By breaking up the programs into specific topics we were able to focus in on one thing instead of trying to jam in a whole bunch of knowledge during the very short 2 hour sessions. Each session offered different types of activities that kids could pick and choose from. They could use bug nets and jars to collect things, read through identification books to ID animals and plants, listen to videos set up on the tablet at my table, chat with me and ask questions, etc. As you may have already pieced together, the different activities were designed to cater to a variety of learning styles allowing all of the kids to participate and learn something.

If there was one thing that I was able to take away from this job it was this: it is okay to admit you do not know the answer to someone’s question. Instead of making something up, tell them you simply do not know. After the program is done, take some time to try and find the answer so you will know for next time. Even though my degree is in Environmental Biology, I am so far from being an expert on the environment. I have a decent background and was able to answer a lot of camper’s questions, but I definitely had to do some research to find answers for those questions I did not know. Lucky for me I was able to go to their campsite later that day and tell them the results of my findings and chat further.  

I loved my job as an environmental interpreter but would like to move on from parks once I am done school. I recently applied to teacher’s college and plan on teaching geography and environmental science/biology. I would still be a nature interpreter for kids but have an indoor classroom instead of an outside one. I would like to bring the ideas that we are learning from this class as well as my experiences from parks into that job. Instead of having tests and written assignments, I want to cater to all learning styles with more hands-on activities, presentations, mixed-media projects, etc.

Looking forward to reading about everyone’s ideal role of environmental interpreter!

This past summer I was lucky enough to work with Ontario Parks as well! I worked in the maintenance department on the sanitation crew, sanitizing all of the parks buildings because of Covid. So, I was able to get to know everyone from all of the departments! I was always so excited to go to the information office where the discovery team worked because they were usually getting ready for their various programs and I would get to learn about what they were interpreting to the campers. Because of my interest with the environment and interpretation, I was lucky enough to be chosen to participate in a BioBlitz with the discovery team and a few others from different departments. It was such an amazing learning experience to go into the nature reserve with people who knew so much about identification. I definitely think that working in the discovery department is something that I would really enjoy and could see myself pursuing. The park that I worked at is a pretty busy park so I don’t think that the discovery team is able to build as strong individual relationships with each camper like you have, but they do have the opportunity to meet so many people.

I think the way you want to teach children in a way that caters to every learning style is really awesome! I think more teachers should start to incorporate a variety of evaluation methods like you plan on doing.

So awesome to hear from a fellow parks employee, thanks for sharing!