The Adventures of Mkay

I want to start off by saying thank you guys for the great semester!  This course has been one of my favourites I have taken in my undergrad.  I am so grateful to be able to have these discussions with my peers to help make the time through Covid not feel so alone.

I remember being thrilled when I first found out we were making a Tumblr instead of just posts on a discussion board.  Probably because in 2014 I was on Tumblr all the time so it took me back to looking at my old posts I used to make on my personal account.  I was also excited that this course was going to let me be able to take all my passions and put them together. I get the scientific aspect that most of my courses are but I also get to take my passion for writing, poetry, photography, and the arts in general.  This balance let me continue to learn about myself and grow as a student.  It also allowed me to look into future career paths including not only nature interpretation but potentially scientific writing.

For this week’s prompt when it comes to personal ethics and nature interpretation, I wanted to first look at some of my own ethics in general.  That includes the following traits:

Loyalty

Empathy

Respect

Honesty

Equality

Humility

Selflessness

Integrity

These qualities I use in everyday decisions including the actions I make.  These are extremely important to look at because they help shape your leadership role whether that is through school, work, or a simple interaction. Through these qualities, my leadership type would be a mix of the Visionary leadership style as well as the Servant leadership style (Indeed, 2021).  This means when looking at the Visionary leadership style my qualities of optimism, innovativeness, being magnetic, risk-taking, and being strategic can help bring change by inspiring others and earning a deep-rooted trust (Indeed, 2021).  

On the other hand, when looking at the Servant leadership type my qualities of personally caring about others, excellent communication skills, and empathy can help those around me feel personally fulfilled and raise morale (Indeed, 2021).  Being aware of your leadership style is crucial.  It allows me to be self-aware of my strengths when working with others and to be mindful of my weaknesses that come with them. For example, when looking at the Visionary leadership style I know I think “big picture.”  I now know to be careful to not skim over small details that I could potentially miss and balance not only my future-orientated goals but my current ones (Indeed, 2021).  Also, when looking at my Servant leadership style I now know to now burn myself out with others’ emotional needs and am also learning to be more authoritative (Indeed, 2021).

What is your leadership style? Watch this YouTube video to figure it out!

So you might be wondering, what does this have to do with nature interpretation? 

As I mentioned before, figuring out who you are as a person is important when looking at nature interpretation (Hooykaas, 2021).  Your strengths, weakness, and problem-solving skills make you the person you are today.  It essentially helps you figure out the question, “Who Am I As an Interpreter (Hooykaas, 2021)?” It not only helps with that question but also how to lead depending on your audience (Hooykaas, 2021).  Even though I know my “go-to” leadership style when it comes to different situations, I should be able to adjust it depending on what the problem is.  By also being aware, I can understand others’ leadership styles to be able to make a more cohesive team experience.

Have you ever had a time where you needed to change your approach to a situation because of someone else’s problem-solving approach?

So let’s take my personal ethics and apply them to nature interpretation and working in the field.

Cait’s Guide to Ethics and Applying Them to Real Life:

Loyalty: I will take pride in my work.  I will work as hard as I can and work to the overall success of my place of work.  I will always put my best work forward.

Empathy: I will take others’ concerns and thoughts into consideration.  I will actively listen and ask questions about others’ problems.  I will not make presumptions about others.

Respect: I will treat others with kindness.  I will encourage others to express their opinions and viewpoints.  I will listen to what others have to say before expressing my own viewpoint.  

Honesty: I will keep my word and deliver on my promises.  I will keep to my commitments.  I will take responsibility for my actions. 

Equality: I will include everyone.  I will identify and prevent any unconscious biases.  I will be aware of any indirect discrimination.

Humility: I will apologize when I am in the wrong.  I will acknowledge other’s limitations and strengths.  I will appreciate other’s contributions.

Selflessness: I will learn to let go.  I will practice giving things I want for myself to others.  I will get out of my own head.  

Integrity: I will be respectful during conflict.  I will be a positive example.  I will practice accountability.  

This code of personal ethics allows me to bring my own set of guidelines to the nature interpretation field.  By doing this I have a certain amount of responsibility to uphold.  If I did not uphold these guidelines it would ruin my self-esteem, self-worth, and self-image.  Not upholding your personal ethics, in general, makes you question your morals and who you are as a person.  It is important under all circumstances to remind yourself who you really are and do what is best for your own being.

Have you ever had to go against your own morals?  Why did you have to? How did it make you feel?

All the best with the rest of the semester,

Cait :)

Here’s one last picture of me at Lake Laurentian Conservation Area!

References:

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 10: Nature Interpretation’s Role in Environmental Sustainability [Course Website]. University of Guelph Courselink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/666945/viewContent/2597605/View

Great job on your final post! I found it interesting and informative that you created a comprehensive list describing your ethical beliefs. I too share many of the same values as you, including respect, integrity, and equality. As an interpreter, I think establishing equality is crucial to ensure that everyone feels comfortable sharing their diverse thoughts and opinions. You stated that as an interpreter you will include everyone and strive to identify and prevent any unconscious biases. I agree that it is imperative to be aware of any indirect discrimination to create a safe learning environment. My question for you is, how will you implement the strategies and lessons we have learned from this course to establish equality and create a safe space for all to learn?

Retrieved from LINK

The article Helping teachers unpack their “invisible knapsacks,” emphasizes the importance of inclusion and authenticity. The author explicitly reveals that, “all people, especially teachers, need to learn about and respect themselves, one another, and all other people in honor of their many diverse cultural characteristics” (Gallavan, 2005). Specifically, this work highlights the importance of recognizing one’s intersectional privilege and how it may influence the ways in which people think and behave. I believe that speaking openly about diverse privilege and personal differences is an important first step in establishing a solid foundation of mutual understanding. From this foundation, we can begin to open our minds and learn from each other’s perspectives. Each person has their own unique relationship and connection to nature. It is my job as a leader in nature interpretation to construct a safe learning environment and foster respectful conversation where all can feel comfortable to share their own understandings of nature.

Awesome job! Marissa🌿

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Freeman Tilden says…..

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

References 

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

Great post! I truly appreciated learning about how this course allowed you to grow in your journey of nature interpretation. I also cannot believe that this chapter is ending, however, I know that we will take this unique learning of our natural world with us.

In your post, you specifically stated that you need to effectively communicate to an audience in an engaging manner. You state that it is imperative to captivate an audience while sharing our unique interpretations. My question to you is, in what ways do you plan to do this? Are there particular strategies that you have learned from this course that will help you engage others as you share in your interpretation of the world around you?

For me in particular, I often use the art of storytelling to captivate learners and spark creative discussion. I used this in our podcast assignment and fully intend to employ this skill beyond this course. For me, this strategy is effective because, “linguistic storytelling uses allegory and metaphor to broaden the scope and deepen the message of a theme. Storytelling can powerfully convey information about cultural and natural history” (Beck et al., 2018). As Beck reveals, this narrative-based approach allows interpreters to relate their speech to engaging aspects of both history and culture. Additionally, storytelling appeals to a variety of multiple intelligences including linguistic and interpersonal. As you ponder this question I have posed, I encourage you to reflect on what multiple intelligences you are servicing in your approach.

In all, I thoroughly enjoyed your post and hope you continue to think deeper about how you plan to approach your journey of nature interpretation.

All the best,

To me, the most amazing thing about nature is how much we truly don’t know about the universe, and even just our planet alone. There is so much that cannot be explored and/or studied due to human limitations. We continue to discover more and more previously undocumented species every year, and there is still much more to be discovered. As well as species being discovered, there are also hundreds of species going extinct each year due to human activity. The current rate of extinction is over a thousand times faster than the estimated natural rate of extinction (Lees, 2015). This number also doesn’t account for undiscovered species, and it is likely that many species have gone extinct before they can even be discovered by humans.

Of course, the first thing that may come to mind when you think about the unknown is space. There is nothing more mesmerizing to me than looking up at the stars and thinking about all of the planets, stars, and even entire galaxies that exist outside of our reach. I often think about what’s out there, how everything came to be, and of course, the age-old question: is there life out there? In my opinion, the universe is far too large for us to be the only life there is, but that’s a whole other question for another time (and thinking about it too long gives me an existential crisis).

It’s estimated that there are billions of galaxies in the cosmos. Photo retrieved here. 

Deep-sea life is another example of how much that we don’t know about the natural world of our planet. There have been many technological advances made to allow us to explore further into this territory, but there are still many limitations that we face when it comes to the study of deep-sea marine life due to the fact that it is so expensive and difficult. Even though the ocean covers over 70 percent of the planet’s surface, 80 percent of it is still unmapped, unobserved, and unexplored (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2021)! You can’t tell me that that’s not intriguing!

There is a lot that we don’t know about deep-sea fish and animals, and much of it cannot be uncovered without conducting behavioural experiments, such as whether or not they can even see colour (de Busserolles et al. 2020). However, these experiments are nearly impossible to conduct due to the high pressure at the bottom of the ocean – the fish cannot be brought to the surface without causing rapid tissue damage and eventually death (without expensive equipment such as pressure containers), and humans cannot withstand the pressure at the bottom of the ocean without being crushed.  I’m sure you have all seen the pictures of the “world’s ugliest fish” the blobfish pulled out of water, but here’s the thing: the fish doesn’t actually look like that. It’s actually the rapid change in pressure causing them to bloat and essentially fall apart (Hale, 2019). Trust me, you’ll never look at a picture of that poor fish the same again.

These poor fish get a bad rep from the pictures spread of them on the internet. I bet you wouldn’t look too hot if your tissues exploded, either! Photo obtained here. 

Overall, there are so many fascinating things about the natural world, but it never ceases to amaze me just how insignificant we are in the scope of the universe. Do you think we’ll ever have the technology to actually explore the unknown, or are some things never meant to be discovered?

References 

I was immediately intrigued by your title and knew that I had to continue reading. I definitely found it difficult to choose the single most amazing thing about nature as there are so many wonderful aspects to choose from. However, after reading your post I have come to the realization that maybe we as humans have not even encountered the most amazing thing about nature but rather it is still hidden among the stars and seafloors. 

As interpreters, we strive to learn and interact with the nature to further our knowledge and understanding about the natural world. Interpreters are tasked with the important job of helping to educate and inspire others to interpret the world around them from various lenses (Beck et al., 2018). Whether that be through art, music, storytelling, blogs, podcasts (Beck et al. 2018) or some many other outlet, interpretation of nature can be done in so many unique ways.

Do you think that naturalistic intelligence is the most important intelligence to have as an interpreter?

It is very unfortunate to say that at the rate we are going at, many of the species interpreters studied back then and today will no longer be around for future generations of interpreters. It is not the job of one, or many, but all, to make a difference in the life of our planet and everything that depends on it. After studying more about learning styles and multiple intelligence from the textbook (Beck et al., 2018), I truly believe that learning about our natural surroundings is an obtainable goal for all as we can learn and appreciate nature from so many different perspectives. Whether that be studying the stars or researching to improve or discover new deep-sea equipment to learn more about animals such as the blobfish, there is a spot for all of us.

Mkay🌿

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS:

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

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

References:

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

I believe that it is imperative to recognize the benefits both music and nature provide to society. As you mentioned, music and nature can create a soundscape of serenity that allows us to calm our minds. For example you questioned how the calming sounds of thunderstorms can help us sleep better or how the smell of lavender allows us to relax. These questions can be related to studies revealing the advantages both nature and music have on improving and supporting one’s mental health. Specifically, music is a powerful tool that can trigger a chemical release of beneficial hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin, throughout the body (“How Music Helps with Mental Health”, 2018). In doing so, these hormones work to prevent the mind from focusing on negative thoughts and helps to boost one's overall mood. Furthermore, scientists have found a similar link between positive mental health and nature. Exposure to natural surroundings presents many benefits to mental health as well as physical well being, including reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension and the production of stress hormones (“How Does Nature Impact Our Wellbeing?”, 2011). In fact, in a study conducted in 2015, researchers compared brain activity of people who had spent 90 minutes in a natural setting in contrast to those in an urban one (Harvard Health Publishing, 2021). These findings revealed that those who had spent time in nature had lower activity in their prefrontal cortex; a region of the brain that focuses on repetitive negative thoughts and emotions (Harvard Health Publishing, 2021). It is clearly evident that music and nature target similar regions of the brain to promote well being. I truly believe that music and nature are just what the doctor ordered! :) 

I am curious as to whether you think both nature and music are a beneficial influence in improving and supporting one’s mental health?  

- Marissa🌿

Retrieved from Link 

How Music Helps with Mental Health – Mind Boosting Benefits of Music Therapy - Community Partnerships of Idaho, Inc. (2018, August 7). Retrieved March 6, 2021, from Community Partnerships of Idaho, Inc. website: https://www.mycpid.com/how-music-helps-with-mental-health-mind-boosting-benefits-of-music-therapy/#:~:text=The%20music%20works%20by%20triggering,a%20little%20better%20in%20yourself.

Harvard Health Publishing. (2021). Sour mood getting you down? Get back to nature - Harvard Health. Retrieved March 6, 2021, from Harvard Health website: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/sour-mood-getting-you-down-get-back-to-nature

“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) 

This quote is incredibly profound, and it’s extremely relevant to the times that we are living in today. Nowadays, it seems that people have an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality, which allows for the mistakes that have been made in the past to repeat themselves today. This quote forces us to think about the decisions made in the past and the way in which those results influenced the future. It is important for all parts of the past to be told in order for us to be able to learn, grow, adapt and overcome from that knowledge. Although it is difficult, the sad, gory & heartbreaking details need to be told and passed on through generations because it will motivate us to never make those mistakes again, with the fear of causing the same pain and suffering. It is important to see what the past was truly like, so we can admire how far we have come and how much progress we have made. 

As mentioned in our textbook, integrity is one of the many universals that play a major role in interpretation, which are concepts or ideas that have different significant meanings to every individual. To me, integrity is the ability of an individual to be true to themselves, especially when there is no one watching them or holding them accountable for their words/actions. I believe that integrity truly shows the respect one has for themselves, for others, for the past and for the truth. 

As noted by Beck and Cable (2011), the final gift/tool of the interpreter includes “the beauty of human integrity commemorated in events of the past and the beauty of the intricacies of nature give rise to hope”. 

This quote discussed in chapter 5 of our textbook truly explains how, through human integrity, the stories told from the past have given us hope for a better future. 

Without the integrity of the interpreter/storyteller, the truth behind the stories of the past would be lost. It’s the duty of the historical interpreter to educate themselves on ancient history and bring the “past alive to make the present more enjoyable and the future more meaningful” through the gift of personalizing the past (Beck et al., 2018, p. 84). It’s essential for events in the past to be told in great detail to allow us to have all the information necessary to make a better future for ourselves without repeating past mistakes. Once we truly put in the effort to learn from a mistake, it is no longer considered a mistake but rather a learning lesson. What are some lessons you have learned from past mistakes that have stuck with you until today?

References: 

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

Thanks for reading! 

Your post this week stood out to me as I believe we interpreted the quote by Edward Hyams in a similar manner. From my understanding, the quote reveals the significance behind remembering and learning from all parts of our past, good or bad. The author wants us to look at history as a whole in order to maintain its integrity. If we choose to only look at the past from one perspective, we would be disregarding many of the other scattered pieces. I believe that taking time to fully comprehend and value each piece, motivates us to learn and grow. 

A video by Matt Bekker discussing the history of tree rings. 

To look at it from a new perspective, I believe that some of these parts of history are revealed through nature. As we know interpretation breathes life and meaning into past events, architecture, and artifacts (Hooykaas, 2021). I imagine this is true when studying nature. For example, in the video I have linked above, Matt Bekker, a BYU geography professor, discusses how the width of the tree rings, which date back hundreds of years, provide records of the trees’ life and experiences. To me, each tree’s past is unique, just like each individual person has their own journey filled with challenges and achievements. Everyone has a story to share, even nature, artifacts and architecture reveal narratives of past lives and events.

Each tree is unique as no two have the same rings. Retrieved from Line Upon Line

As mentioned in the textbook, one of the most compelling and beneficial components of interpreting history are the educational benefits (Beck et al., 2018). Through interpreting nature we can learn how the land has evolved over the years. Whether there was a drought during a specific year or whether there was lots of rainfall. Studying history can provide us with new information to understand more about our surroundings and how nature is affected over the years. 

Do you think that interpreting nature reveals the truth about our history? 

- Marissa :)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My question to you is: 

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

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

I really enjoyed reading your post this week! Finding fun and interesting activities to do during these tough times can be a difficult task, however, I too find an escape in nature. My family has spent countless hours walking around our neighbourhood or any new trails we can find. We typically enjoy taking our two dogs for a walk, Bella and Maia. It has gotten more difficult now in the colder months as my little dogs aren’t big fans of being in the snow for more than 5 minutes. 

A photo taken by me of my dogs Bella (on the left) and Maia (on the right)

In addition to our endless walks, my family has also taken on many new board games. We are all very competitive so it usually results in an intense game ending with a lot of “sore losers.” Despite not winning often, I always have a good time. 

Bella always wants to join when we play board games!

Another hobby that I have taken up during the pandemic is painting. I always enjoyed painting before but found myself too busy to ever sit down and paint. Being stuck at home as terrible of a circumstance as it is, has given me the opportunity to take the time to paint. I too find myself drawn to painting anything to do with nature as it is very calming. In a previous post I mentioned how painting nature really helped me let go of my perfectionist side as no two leaves or trees are the exact same. I am curious if maybe that is why you find peace in painting nature as well!

I really like painting with water colour as you can add layers to create so much texture. I’m not sure if you like to use water colour, but if so I added a link to one of the youtube channels I think to follow along with!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzzCo7lZGJ-sTCgpI7BJKEg

Some homemade cards I have painted during the pandemic. 

Recently I started working on this project with a group of folks in Guelph, called F*ck Perfect. It works with you on a journey of self discovery and finding growth, or achieving whatever you want. They also break pre-existing notions set by society around art and perfectionism. We grow up feeling and learning that to do art, we need to be perfect, or the end goal is something perfect. It works towards breaking these notions and starting on a journey of creative risks.

Art Not Shame, Guelph- Fuck Perfect Workshops.

Ever since I started working on this workshop, I realized how many times when we are expected to do something, we try to be the best or feel like we failed. During lockdown (all the versions of it :D), I started working on a new type of art. I have done water-colour, acrylic, soft pastels, repairing jewellery, journalling, crochet, embroidery, craft, drawing, and what not! And every time I did something new, I would be too focussed on the end product- to make it beautiful and perfect. I never reflected on how the process made me feel, why was I doing it. By journalling for this workshop and later processing things, I realized that it was during the times that I was painting, I was processing my feelings with COVID-19, being isolated, struggling with work, and being burnt out. While I was stressing about making that piece perfect, I forgot about the fact that the process of making that piece of art (moving the brush on the canvas, needle on the cloth) was actually very therapeutic and was actually the best stress buster. 

The painting that I made through the university’s art stress buster series, December 2020- photo taken by me. 

Why am I talking about this when talking about nature interpretation? Something that I noticed while reading through multiple posts was folks fixation on “good art” by “great artists” can create feelings/connection with nature. I don’t think that is true. I think every small piece of art, made by anyone, can play a role in nature interpretation. While my favourite poem is by Oscar Wilde, I do enjoy the random rhymes that slip into conversations, and honestly its these rhymes and not poems by great poets that I remember with a smile on my face. I think every small piece of art- grainy/unfocused pictures, undeveloped music, a kid’s stick figure drawing, journal entry- literally anything that speaks to you, can be a great interpreter. You just have to allow yourself to appreciate it. 

As a way to incorporate this in my life, I took a little advice from my friend, and I no longer throw away art that does not look like what I wanted it to be. I used to call it mistakes, but now I just call them creative opportunities! I will paint over them or try to draw something with a black marker on them and integrate it together. Or, I just leave them as is, just cause they still remind me of the sunset I saw! Others might not see they same sunset as me, but I know what it means to me and what it remind me of. Hopefully, to others, it reminds them of something else they saw! In my small ways, I am fighting the urge to be perfect and embracing my imperfections. 

It is a privilege that you are able to read this blog. Yes–being able to read is a privilege in itself, and there are many other aspects and abilities involved in your life that you may or may not have identified as a privilege as well. I used to think that “privilege” only referred to a monetary sense, however, I have slowly been coming to learn that it means much more than that. I now define privilege as anything that you are capable of doing, that another may not have the opportune circumstances of also doing. Below I share a video that briefly illustrates the powerful presence of privilege:

Privilege is a bit of an uncomfortable topic to reflect on, but an extremely important one nonetheless. Does privilege play a role in nature interpretation? Yes, and in many ways. Off the top of my head, I can think of multiple variables of privilege when considering the luxury of environmental interpretation. Factors of privilege in environmental interpretation can include, but are not limited to: finances, time, and accessibility.

1. Finances

Financial resources are an enabling factor for some, and a limiting factor for others. When it comes to nature interpretation, many programs offered come with a price tag. From recreational guided tours in a national park, to looking for a place to pitch your tent at a camping site, access to the environment can require a certain level of financial privilege. I acknowledge that, as a child, I carried an immense level of privilege in being able to attend summer camp and spend my days in the outdoors, as a result of my parent’s income. It sits uncomfortably, but is important to reflect upon, regardless.

2. Time

Environmental interpretation requires time spent, and yes, this in itself is also a privilege. When it comes down to it, “free time” is a luxury that indicates an ability to spend time for recreational purposes, over other activities (e.g. working). Environmental interpretation requires a portion of time from individuals. Some people may have the time available for this, others - not as much. From a 20 minute interpretive walk through a park, to a 4-day camping trip - it is still considered time being spent. To some, this may be time unavailable.

3. Accessibility

The ability to access. If you are able to travel by car to a National Park across the country - that is a privilege. If you are able to walk a few steps away to your backyard to enjoy the company of plants birds - that is also a privilege. Environmental interpretation requires that you are able to access the location of interpretation itself. Whether it be across the country, or down the street at your local park, effortless mobility is a privilege.

This blog touched a more sensitive, but very critical topic. Understanding and acknowledging my own level of privilege is a journey that has been unfolding throughout my life. It is an intra- and interpersonal learning experience. 

I wanted to start off by sincerely thanking you for being so open about how you have experienced privilege throughout your life. I too believe that this is a sensitive topic for many of us to talk about. It was a great idea to include the video as it was an excellent visual representation of how everyone has a unique experience with privilege. Often, a verbal discussion or a written blog post can be difficult for people to comprehend or digest. Although privilege comes in many forms, I feel that structuring your post into three core concepts kept your ideas clear and well organized. When I think about privilege, finance and accessibility quickly come to mind. Growing up in a household where I was always able to go outside into my backyard whenever I wished to explore, is a privilege. Being able to go to the park that was right behind my house is a privilege. These privileges were granted to me because of finance and accessibility. My parents have the luxury of living and working in Canada, thus being able to afford a wonderful home for my brother and I to grow up in. Without this financial stability, I may not have had such easy access to the natural world. 

Now when it comes to the privilege of time, I will admit, this did not come to mind until I had read your post. Something such as simple as time can be easily taken for granted as I definitely overlook this privilege. I am fortunate enough that I am able to spend time outside in a safe space. My parents both have jobs where they are able to take time off work to travel, go camping, go to the cottage in the summer or even just to sit outside with me in the backyard. Although I may overlook the privilege of time, I am definitely grateful to be able to spend time outdoors with my family. After reflecting on your blog and many others blog posts, I have come to the realization that I have access to countless privileges. I am grateful that you shared your experiences as it has truly opened my eyes to the many privileges that I experience that I may disregard or was simply not even aware of, so thank you.

A photo taken of a friend and I when we went camping at Tobermory. 

“It is beyond a doubt that all our knowledge begins with experience” - Immanuel Kant

As a nature enthusiast with a passion for curriculum design and knowledge translation and transfer, my ideal role as an environmental interpreter would be to design and develop learning resources for students and people of all ages. Such a role might entail; creating physical textbooks, eBooks, online activities, program plans, environmental curriculum, etc…

Photo by Perfecto Capucine on Unsplash

Environmental interpretation is a complicated task that requires a certain skillset. Generally, people learn best when they care about the subject matter. In terms of knowledge transfer, sometimes the worst place you can be is in your own head. As knowledge brokers, our jobs are to relay information in an understandable and engaging fashion. Audiences highly benefit from a personal connection to the material, whether that’s through engaging them emotionally or connecting the new information with previously acquired knowledge. Thus, as an environmental interpreter specializing in curriculum design and knowledge translation, it is crucial to utilize relevancy and relatability to produce more comprehensible and engaging content.

“Knowledge that is not put into practice is like food that is not digested” - Sathya Sai Baba

Communication is the essence of interpretation. Interpreters should strive to accommodate different learning styles and abilities in order to create an accessible learning environment. When information is only presented in one way it lacks diversity. Furthermore, everybody has a preferred learning style. Whether it be visual, textual, auditory, hands-on, or a combination of multiple. As a content developer and program planner, it is extremely important to keep this in mind. Curriculum and content should cater to all styles of learning in order to provide an equal opportunity for all participants.

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid” – Albert Einstein

As can be seen, many skills are needed to be an effective environmental interpreter. A few other important skills include storytelling, picking a central theme, and adjusting to different audiences. Firstly, good stories do more than create a sense of connection. They build familiarity and trust and allow the listener to enter the story where they are, making them more open to learning. Additionally, stories are more engaging than a dry recitation of data points. Secondly, a central theme must be relevant not just to the interpreter but also to the audience; this provokes thought and elicits enjoyment. Lastly, it is important to know your audience and adjust accordingly. Creating content/programs for a group of adults would look much different than for a group of children.  

Photo from a guided tour of the Guelph Arboretum. Storytelling was used as a knowledge transfer tool to convey information in an engaging fashion. Photo taken by me. 

The overriding principal of interpretation, according to “Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World” is to love the place and to love the visitors. In terms of delivering programs and following through on environmental curriculum, it is important to recognize that some scenes need no words as reporting the beauty of a scene might reduce the opportunity for inspiration. Moreover, it is crucial to utilize a multi-sensory learning approach, total programming (to extend major messages to all citizens), and strategic framing (to address controversial issues).

Banff, Alberta. Scene needed no words. Photo taken by me.

Nature interpretation should be more inspirational than informational. The information is important, but without inspiration, it is meaningless. As an environmental interpreter specializing in curriculum design and knowledge translation, I would have the opportunity to bring information to life in an accessible and relatable way. The beauty of life is that everything is an interpretation. Your thoughts. Your perception. Your reality.

Some questions for you:

How do you take your “Vitamin N”?

Have you ever been in a class where the teaching style did not fit your learning style? How did you cope with this?

What is your preferred learning style? How can relatability and relevancy in knowledge transfer augment your learning experience through your preferred style of learning?

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world. Urbana: Sagamore Publishing.

Liyanage, C., Elhag, T., Ballal, T., & Li, Q. (2009). Knowledge communication and translation – a knowledge transfer model. Journal of Knowledge Management, 13(3), 118-131. doi:10.1108/13673270910962914

Thank you for taking the time to read my post! I’m looking forward to reading yours. All comments welcome!

I really enjoyed reading your post this week. I agree that communication is a major component when it comes to an ideal interpreter. When presenting information, it is essential that an interpreter is aware that each individual has a unique learning style. People may favour one or even have a combination of both, therefore I agree that it is necessary for information to be presented in a diverse way. 

Personally, my learning style is a combination of visual, tactical, and even auditory in certain circumstances. When sitting in a lecture, I find it difficult to understand and retain the information at hand when there are no visual explanations or diagrams. I am a very spatial person, so when a professor includes videos or even a 3D model of a process or pathway, it is always helpful. On the other hand, when it comes to studying, you would think that I would prefer a visual aid, so writing or drawing something, however, I find that writing down information isn’t as helpful. Instead I’d rather have a conversation about the material and repeat the information out loud. Being someone who has a combination of learning and studying styles, I think that communication between interpreter and perceiver and diverse presentation of the information is critical.