nature//nice

Throughout this course I have learned a significant amount about nature interpretation. One thing I have noticed throughout the semester is that my personal ethics have evolved. The root of my ethics I feel is associated with my “sense of place” (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 1). Coming into this course my sense of place in nature was strong. I was introduced to nature at a young age thanks to my grandparents. This helped me build a relationship with nature as a child. Furthermore, in high school I had an amazing teacher who helped to further my relationship with nature and encouraged me to pursue a career in the environment. Without my family and my high school teacher, I would not have such a strong relationship with the environment. I am very fortunate for this! Thanks to this I feel that I have strong environmental ethics. Over the semester I have solidified my belief that nature interpretation and a “sense of place” go hand and hand together. To this day I feel that interpretation can help an individual find their “sense of place”.

A photo of the Catskill Mountains from Kingston, NY. Photo taken by me on December 30th, 2016.

As a nature interpreter one of my responsibilities is to bring awareness to the environment and promote environmental preservation. Nature is a beautiful gift that is often taken for granted by many. It is important to educate others about its importance. It is also key to promote environmental sustainability. So, moving forward as a nature interpreter I am going to ensure I develop my teachings to incorporate all of these components. In doing so I will successfully teach other’s what natures worth is and how it can be protected. These aspects would be incorporated into my nature walks and information sessions; which is my ideal role as an environmental interpreter. One day, I hope to lead my nature interpretation activities at North-South Lake State Park in New York. As a nature interpreter it is important that I think about the audience that is participating in my activities (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 4). My first approach as a nature interpreter is being adaptable. Depending on the type of audience I have, I will need to make modifications and changes as I go to ensure that my nature interpretation is speaking to all audiences (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 4). This means how I lead my nature interpretations for adults will be completely different from how I lead interpretations for kids.

For instance, with kids it would be like a teaching experience and I would incorporate fun activities to keep the kids interested. This would also help to solidify what they learn! Adults I would take a completely different approach such as more in-depth detail. However, one similarity I would have between the two potential audiences is that I would also incorporate personal experiences and stories to help draw in both audiences. I believe this is one of the key characteristics of nature interpretation! This is because a nature interpreter needs to be able to incorporate their own life experiences (with nature) into their teachings to help intrigue the audience more (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 6). Storytelling is a critical way to get messages across to an audience (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 10).

Unfortunately, some groups are more privileged than others in respect to their access to nature. This can limit how often an individual has access to nature (if they have access to nature at all). One of my beliefs is that everyone should have the same opportunities to access nature! The audience that does not have access to nature can be classified as being “underserved” (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 21). This means that they are not able to fully participate in nature interpretation and are limited in their achievements. Those who have constant access are privileged since they have an advantage in participating more (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 21). A key factor influencing this is economics. Economic barriers such as the inability to afford services, transportation, and lodging play a significant role since those who cannot afford these are less likely to participate in nature interpretation (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 21). My second approach is accessibility. I want to ensure everybody has access to nature interpretation! This is what will one day set me apart from other interpreters. I plan to offer FREE access to those who cannot afford it, including children, teens, adults, and seniors. I also want to run free workshops for at-risk youth! Transportation and lodging would also be provided to those who could not afford it. This way everyone has the same access to these resources!

Another belief that I bring to my nature interpretation is that nature is a form of art. From my personal experiences and what I’ve learned this semester; nature offers so many different forms of art! A couple of forms of art present in nature are paintings, photography, and music (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 10). Photographs and physical surroundings in nature are like natural paintings. The “gift of beauty” is when an individual has the capability of assessing surroundings through interpretations (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 10). Everyone has the capability of interpreting the “gift of beauty”, however, I feel this is most successful with storytelling. In addition to this, nature offers its own music to us everyday. Sounds like a river flowing and leaves blowing in the wind are all forms of music. These types of sounds are classified as ambient sounds. These sounds are actually similar to an orchestra (Grey et al., 2001). These forms of art in nature are aspects I plan to highlight in my interpretations!

Another responsibility is to be a peacemaker (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 20). A peacemaker is an individual who promotes peace with others. Not only do others need to respect each other, they also have to respect nature. One of my responsibilities will be ensuring that others are respecting nature as they would another person. Nature and history are aspects that go together. There is history in nature and in historical places there is nature (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 4). So, another responsibility is to teach others about the history associated with nature. It will also be my responsibility to understand the stories I am telling to intrigue the learner more (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 21). Finally, my last responsibility is to prepare ahead of time. A good interpreter prepares their material ahead of time to ensure everything is structured so the learners can understand everything.

A photo of me and my Fiancé. Photo taken by my Fiancé on December 30th, 2016.

Good luck on your final assignments and exams everyone!

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 1: What is Interpretation? In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world (pp. 3-16). Urbana, Illinois; Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 4: Values of Interpretation for Management. In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world (pp. 127-161). Urbana, Illinois; Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 6: How People Learn. In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world (pp. 3-16). Urbana, Illinois; Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 10: Arts in Interpretation. In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world (pp. 127-161). Urbana, Illinois; Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 20: Global Interpretation. In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world (pp. 457-478). Urbana, Illinois; Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 21: The Bright Future of Interpretation. In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world (pp. 457-478). Urbana, Illinois; Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

I’m so glad that you feel a sense of place in nature, reading these posts it seems like some people have struggled with that. You mentioned some really important qualities to have as a nature interpreter, like being a peacemaker and adaptable to new situations. However, I think one of the most important qualities is being honest/well informed. While we all may have our own personal beliefs and agendas, it is essential that the information we provide to others is accurate and up to date. There is so much inaccurate information being spread through social media and the news on a daily basis, especially regarding issues surrounding nature. We are not only interpreters, but educators, and that is a role that has to be taken seriously, especially when we are educating future environmental stewards. While we are doing this, we need to check our privilege. As you mentioned, we need to be aware that not everyone has had access to environmental resources that we have, whether it be for economic reasons or something else. Regardless, the experiences and stories we share with others should be honest and accurate, with everyone's needs in mind. As interpreters, we hold a great responsibility to understand the stories that we tell, and to represent all people, backgrounds, and perspectives fairly (Beck et al, 2018). It’s a tough job to keep all these factors in mind, but it is rewarding nonetheless. 

As a follow up question to this post, why in particular do you want to be a nature interpreter in New York? Do you have a personal connection with that place, or is it somewhere you just want to go? 

Thanks again! 

- Meghan ✿

Literature cited: 

This week’s blog post is very important, as it requires us to reflect on what we have learned in this course and consider how this has shaped our beliefs as a nature interpreter. Writing this final blog post is a bittersweet task. I have thoroughly enjoyed this course because these blog posts have given us the opportunity to communicate our personal opinions on course themes, and they have allowed us to interact with each other and share our views on nature interpretation. Whether you are leading an interpretive hike or discussing ancient artifacts, this course has given us many tools that will be useful in the broad field of nature interpretation.

Brandywine Falls Provincial Park, British Columbia. Photo taken by me.

Ethics are defined as “moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour or the conducting of an activity” (Oxford Dictionary, n.d.). Each individual has a set of ethics that influence the decisions that they make in life. One’s ethics can change as they mature and encounter different experiences. It is important that nature interpreters acknowledge their personal ethics, and consider how their ethics may influence the delivery of their programs. Personally, I think it is important that my programs are inclusive and accessible to everybody who is interested in them, regardless of what their “invisible backpack” may hold. According to Peggy McIntosh, privilege is an “invisible knapsack of unearned assets” (McIntosh in Noel, 2000, p. 116). In unit three we learned about the role of privilege in achieving environmental education and how interpretative programs aren’t always accessible to everyone (Hooykaas, 2021). In the setting of nature interpretation, privilege can govern the experiences you have access to, the destinations you can travel to, and your level of comfort while participating. Thus, it is important to me that everyone who is in my interpretive program has access to the same experiences, regardless of their privilege. The role of a nature interpreter is to share their knowledge of the natural world with their audience, and this experience should not be affected by an individual’s age, race, gender, class, education, etc. 

Photo Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2021/03/implementing-inclusive-policies-across-a-global-organization

One way to make nature interpretation more accessible to a wider audience is by using different methods of delivery. For example, someone who does not have the resources to attend an interpretive program at a provincial park may be able to watch a youtube video on the same topic and receive nature education this way. Chapter eight of the textbook discussed how to interpret to the masses and reach a wider audience via radio, social media and other outlets online (Beck et al., 2018). Additionally, the current pandemic has forced interpreters to come up with new ways to reach their audience, which has made the online delivery of nature interpretation more prominent. Thus, alternative methods of delivery (such as social media, podcasts and online videos) have the benefit of being accessible to a bigger audience and being accessed remotely. 

Different methods of delivery are also advantageous because they can cater to different learning styles. In unit two, we learned about the diversity of learning styles and how to cater to audiences with different learning styles (Hooykaas, 2021). Personally, I am an auditory and tactile learner and I benefit from listening to someone explain a concept or idea. However, I think one of the major responsibilities of a nature interpreter is to acknowledge your audience’s learning style and adapt your programs to fit their needs (Hooykaas, 2021). In order to achieve this, it is helpful to use multiple learning theories in your programs to make your program suitable to a large diversity of learners (Beck et al., 2018). Approaches that I would include in my programs are items and artifacts that the audience can interact with, visual aids (such as diagrams) , auditory aids (such as a discussion) and activities that the audience can participate in. These approaches cater to auditory, visual and tactile learners (Hooykaas, 2021). According to Beck et al. (2018), multisensory learning is beneficial because it engages more senses which enhances learning. I think it is important to consider these things while developing interpretive programs in order to ensure that all participants can synthesize the information you are presenting. 

My friend and I on a hike in Algonquin Park. Photo taken by me. 

There are many responsibilities that come with being a nature interpreter. Primarily, I think it is important that you have all the first aid and safety qualifications required for your programs. For example, if you are leading a canoe trip it is critical that you have wilderness first aid training, ORCKA training, bear safety training, etc. As the trip leader and guide, you are responsible for the health and safety of your participants and need to be prepared for any situation. It is important that you can act well under pressure and know how to adapt to various dangers that may be encountered. Another major responsibility that interpreters have is to share accurate information with their audience. There is a lot of false information that circulates in the media, online platforms and social media. Thus, it is important that interpreters ensure that their audience is receiving correct information. When collecting information for my programs, I would use primary literature, and peer reviewed journals and have colleagues review my work to prevent the spread of false information. 

A photo of me collecting water samples in Algonquin Park. We are always required to wear PFDs while working near water and we receive extensive training before starting field work (WHMIS, Bear safety training, Workplace health and safety training). Photo taken by my co-worker. 

One of the elements of nature interpretation that I find particularly important is education on environmental conservation. It has been made evident that climate change is progressing, and this involves the simultaneous enhancement of environmental degradation. Therefore, it is critical that we, as interpreters, communicate accurate information regarding climate change to the largest audience possible, regardless of their “invisible backpack”. I have strong beliefs about how anthropogenic activities accelerate climate change, and environmental conservation is a topic that I am passionate about. Due to my beliefs, I will try to incorporate environmental education into my nature interpretation. As climate change proceeds, it becomes progressively important that environmental education and science education are synergistic (Wals et al., 2014). As a marine and freshwater biology student, it is my goal to spread awareness on climate change and how it impacts the health of aquatic ecosystems. This course has taught me how to use social media as an outlet to communicate my knowledge on climate change, and encourage my peers to get involved in making a difference.

My friend and I collecting zooplankton samples from the Woolwich Dam. This was used for our research project on the impact of dams (anthropogenic disturbances) on zooplankton alpha diversity in riverine systems. Photo taken by my group member.

Thank you for reading my post! 

Cassie

References 

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Chapter 6: How people learn. Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. (pp.105-111). Sagamore Venture.

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Chapter 8: Interpreting to the masses. Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. (pp.165-182). Sagamore Venture.

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 3: Risk Versus Reward in Interpretation [Course Website]. University of Guelph Courselink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/666945/viewContent/2590559/View

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 2: Teaching Learners [Course Website]. University of Guelph Courselink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/666945/viewContent/2583079/View

McIntosh, P. (2000). White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack. In J. Noel’s (Ed.). Notable selections in multicultural education (pp. 115-120). Guilford, CT. Dushkin/ McGraw-Hill.

Oxford Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2021, from https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/

I’m glad we share the same opinion that education regarding environmental conservation is a vital component to nature interpretation. While taking a stroll through nature is relaxing, without educating the next generation about how to preserve the environment, we will continue to diminish the spaces we have to enjoy. It’s also important to recognize that not every space on this earth has to serve a purpose to humans. Of course I enjoy hiking and canoeing in the wilderness, I feel like the mentality that every place must be explored and possibly exploited is the same selfish mentality that puts us in environmental crises. 

(PERSONAL PHOTO// Me in the Arboretum, September 26th 2020).

I am a wildlife biology and conservation student, and it is so important that I keep up to date on the latest, and more accurate information. As you said, there is so much misinformation that circulates the media, that sometimes it's hard to decipher what's true, but that is a part of our responsibility as nature interpreters. For example, I want to be a conservation officer, and there is a lot of confusion and controversy surrounding the presence of grizzly bears in Canada. Grizzly bears play an important role in forest ecosystems as seed dispersers and nutrient providers, and directly regulate prey populations and help prevent ungulate overgrazing (Western Wildlife Outreach, 2015). In some provinces, it is okay to hunt them during their respective season and with the right tags. However, in British Columbia, it is completely banned (unless you are First Nations) (Lazaruk, 2020). Yet, there have been over a dozen bears illegally killed, for poaching and “self-defence” reasons (Lazaruk, 2020). There is a lot of stigma about bears in general, like that they are aggressive and unruly. However, it is our job to understand their behaviour, and act in a way that is in accordance with the law and in a way that promotes a healthy environment. Thanks again for your insight on environmental issues! 

- Meghan ✿

Literature cited: 

Lazaruk, S. (2020, January 14). Thirteen grizzlies illegally killed in the past two years despite B.C.’s ban on hunting the bears. Vancouversun. https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/thirteen-grizzlies-killed-in-the-past-two-years-despite-b-c-s-ban-on-hunting-the-bears

Hopefully, you have had the opportunity to experience the sounds and feelings of the ocean. The sand between your toes and that very distinctive aromatic sea air smell. The sound of the waves crashing and rushing over the sand. The feelings of relaxation and calm as you soak up the sun and take that breath of fresh air.

In addition to the recreational aspects of the ocean, it also provides other many benefits that I believe are often overlooked but are just as, if not more, important.

Ever wondered why the ocean has that very distinct smell that I mentioned earlier? The smell comes from gas produced by ocean dwelling bacteria. This odorous gas is necessary in cloud formation over the ocean and helps some animals find food.

The air near the ocean may feel ‘fresher’ due to negative ions in sea air that accelerate your ability to absorb oxygen. Additionally, the ocean produces oxygen. In fact, the ocean produces over half of the worlds oxygen and absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere.

My favourite ocean creature is the beautiful shark. These creatures are just as intriguing as the ocean itself. Sharks first appeared in the ocean around 455 million years ago. These old guys don’t have any bones and use their gills to filter oxygen from the water. They are known as elasmobranchs since they are made of cartilaginous tissues. Other ocean animal that fall into this category include rays, sawfish, and skates.

What is your favourite ocean animal? How would you describe the sites and feelings of the ocean?

References

Thompson, Andrea. “Key Found to the Smell of the Sea.” LiveScience, Purch, 1 Feb. 2007, www.livescience.com/4313-key-smell-sea.html#:~:text=A trip to the beach, that delightful and distinctive smell? &text=The smell comes from a, researchers in ocean-dwelling bacteria.  

I have a lot of favourite ocean animals, it is hard to pick just one because there is so much variety. However, dolphins are definitely up there on my list (especially the pink ones). A part from being absolutely adorable, they are also extremely intelligent mammals. Over thousands of generations, dolphins have developed large brains, as well as big complex social groups. Their brains weigh about 1600 grams, making them second to humans in terms of the brain-to-body ratio! In their temporal lobes, they are able to process language information, which is something primates can't even do. Furthermore, their social abilities come from their well-defined paralimbic systems, which is how complex emotions are processed, even in humans (Vallarta Adventures, 2021). 

Knowing that they are one of the most intelligent and emotional animals in the world makes it even sadder when I see them cooped up in places like SeaWorld and Marineland. Especially since COVID-19 hit, I think we can all understand that social interaction plays a key role in well-being, so it’s unfortunate that these beautiful animals are being isolated from the vastness of the ocean - their natural habitat. Hopefully, in the future these businesses will reconsider their decisions to keep them in captivity, and find other ways to make profit. 

(National Geographic, 2015)

However, if you want to learn more about how intelligent dolphins are, i've included a video above! Thanks for the post!

- Meghan ✿

Literature cited: 

National Geographic. (2015, April 28). Here’s What We Know About Dolphin Intelligence | National Geographic. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bnur3gHJ0s

I'm going to paint a picture for you all, and I would like you to try to immerse yourself in the following scenario. It is a stormy evening; rain trickles down on your window as you hear the cracking and roaring sounds of thunder in the distance. Our world is filled with countless natural sounds that we blissfully listen to in our daily lives. We are always surrounded by the music of nature, whether we realize it or not. It may not always be as intricate as the scenario I made you all envision; it can be something as simple as the birds chirping in the morning. Often when interpreting the environment, we can get caught up in the visual components of our surroundings while neglecting to take a minute and listen to the beautiful orchestra of sounds nature makes.

The physical sounds of nature can change our minds and bodily perception of an environment. Often listening to natural sounds can entice certain forms of emotions from an individual. Listening to the rolling waves crash onto a shoreline may lead an individual to relax and feel at ease. Interpreting the environment through the sounds we encounter may also allow us to see our surroundings differently. If you hear a bird call in the distance, it may leave you feeling intrigued and curious. Natural sounds will enable us to connect with all aspects of a landscape.

A photo of Lake Ontario taken by me. Can you imagine the sound of the water rolling onto the shore?

Finding nature in music is often challenging. Music can capture people's attention and increases their receptivity to information (Beck & Knudson, 2018). Unfortunately, there are very limited songs that use and discuss the natural world in an educational context. I believe music can be an excellent tool for an interpreter, especially for those who are more auditory learners.

An illustration by Aleksandra Podobnaia taken from https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/44332377572124080/

Although, there are other ways to integrate the natural world into music. There is a growing movement of music that incorporates sounds created in nature in the composition of a song, similar to example presented in this weeks unit. I also believe we can find nature in music through our experiences. Have you ever listened to a song that reminds you of a particular place or experience? Whether it be a road trip or a hiking trip, the music we listen to while on this journey can create emotional ties with the environment you are in.

An illustration by Jane Luxford with a famous quote of William Shakespeare taken from https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/185492078393101665/

One song in particular that I listen to immediately takes me back to one of the best trips I have ever had. The song is called San Francisco by The Mowglis. I downloaded this song on my trip to San Francisco as, for some unapparent reason, I thought it would be fun to listen to a song with the title of a place I was going to. Every time I play this song, I am reminded of the fantastic time I had walking along the pier or walking through the golden gate park.

Can you think of any songs that utilize music as a platform for environmental change?

References

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

(PERSONAL PHOTO// A peaceful Lake Huron view, August 17th, 2016). 

As you stated, it is sometimes hard to find sounds direct from nature in present-day music. However, there are many songs inspired by nature. One that stands out to me that sends a message for positive environmental change is “Earth”, by lil dicky. Not a lot of rappers talk about climate change, or really the earth at all, so i think that lil dicky did something new in creating a modern day rap song about climate change. Also, using humour in combination with other popular artists was an effective way to reach many people with something so simple. While some parts are crude, the last few lines are “global warming is a real thing, you know? We gotta save this planet, we are being stupid” - and if that doesn’t prove that nature and music go hand in hand, I don't know what does. 

Hopefully, music in nature, and music about nature inspires future generations to be environmental stewards, and hopefully we can continue to inspire others as well. If you’ve never heard of it before, here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvuN_WvF1to 

- Meghan ✿

Reference: 

   Hey guys!

     I hope you have all been having a great week! I can’t even begin to explain how hectic mine has been between school, commuting, and full-time nurse at home to my sick boyfriend. Wow, 2021 has already been such a crazy year!

     For this week’s discussion, we were assigned to unravel this hefty quote. In my opinion, this quote can unravel in numerous ways, mostly depending on each person’s perspectives, values, and beliefs. In my eyes, the voice behind this quote intends to explain how life is one big building block. I will explain this quote in sections, so it is easier for you to follow my thoughts!. First, I want to start by explaining the second section; “to think 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.” Every invention/creation that has ever been made or discovered has helped to the continuous creation of life’s beauty. For example, the idea of evolution. The idea that life was created through the invention of science. The notion that humanity began with a monkey is apart of the theory of evolution.  This theory has panned out for hundreds of thousands of years, and it was an escalated build-up. I’ve attached a small article below from National Geographic regarding the Theory of Evolution, in case anyone wanted to get a better idea of what I was discussing in my example! I also included a picture below that shows the development of evolution over time and the growth behind each stage in humankind’s progression. 

ARTICLE LINK → https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/theory-evolution/  (National Geographic, 2021) 

PICTURE REFERENCE: (Alen, 2015)  

     Many people say the past can be erased; however, I believe the past is something to be learned from, so you should never forget your past. Every day that goes by, it is normal for humans to make mistakes. However, most people do not understand the difference between leaving a mistake (memory) behind and learning from that same mistake. It is normal to feel resentment over past mistakes, but you cannot re-wire your thoughts to believe those mistakes never happened. One must face the past, whether the reality is harsh or not, and move past it healthily. Life is purely made up of moments, moments of which are a creation of life. Some of the world’s best discoveries occurred naturally, such as gravity. My overall point is that, through the build-up of moments, they create what we have today. 

     Now working my way back to the first section 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..” I am not one to say there is definitive meaning in everything old or vintage, but there is value in things beyond our capacity or our handling. The particular knowledge we find upon ancient items such as (referencing science again), dinosaur fossils can lead us to educate ourselves about things that we once did not know existed. The discovery of fossils opened up numerous doors to evolutionary science, and now that part of science is spread to students and educators all over the world, such as myself. 

     Overall, I believe this quote holds such deep meaning to it. It can be interpreted from so many different perspectives, and I chose to go with the creation of life and its moments. I cannot wait to read and hear what everyone else has to say. It is always so lovely to get assignments like this once in a while, so you can read everyone placing their creative energy into their work! It makes it for a more exciting week of blogs :)

QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS:

My question for you guys is, what examples did you guys find useful in explaining this quote? Did you use any examples at all? I would love to understand your thoughts and how you guys described this quote specific to other comparisons.

Reference(s):

Alen, S. (2015). Theories about the origin and evolution of Humans. Short History. URL: https://www.shorthistory.org/prehistory/the-origin-and-evolution-of-man/

(PERSONAL PHOTO// Kettle Point, March 7th, 2016).

In my post, I used a similar analogy, except it was about keeping evidence of extreme weather events throughout history. This is because we would not be able to draw links to the pressing issue of climate change without it. Understanding the correlation between the frequency of past climatic events compared to their frequency today is a key piece of evidence to support the fact that the climate is changing globally. Since historical records confirmed that we’ve been heading in a dangerous direction in terms of our carbon footprint, we’ve been able to react appropriately in the last decade. Innovations such as solar panels, wind turbines, and tree planting have been some ways that we are mending the damage done to the ozone layer - innovations that may have never been created if not for our past knowledge of the environment (Brooke et al, 2019). In addition to this, I used an analogy for why maintaining integrity is essential. The analogy I used was that it is important we preserve academic integrity in school because as adults, we would end up not retaining any of the knowledge we were supposed to learn in school, since we cheated. As a result, when you go into the workforce, you may not have the skills you need to do your job successfully - skills that you were meant to have learned before. Therefore, it is essential to maintain integrity in how we document, and refer to history. Mainly, so history doesn't repeat itself, as you stated.

 I hope these helped deepen your understanding of the quote a bit more!

While we could write about anything this week, I thought I’d ask the question, what’s up with all the aliens around us? 

Alien drinking coffee. Gif by siri-syrup. 

No, not those aliens. If you don’t know what I mean, I’m talking about invasive species! An invasive species is a species not from a region, that is harmful to the environment, these are normally species that either intentionally or unintentionally are transported to the new environment through some kind of human intervention, whether it be through boating, importing materials, or purposefully bringing in a species for many reasons. Before you continue reading, I’d like you to take a minute here to think of as many invasive species as you can, remember these and This not only applies to animals, but also plants, fungi, and even viruses. That’s right, SARS-CoV-2 is an invasive species that originated in a host species in a particular region, and has since spread to humans around the globe. Now that we’ve discussed what an invasive species is, I’d love to introduce you to my “least” favorite one, the European green crab! While these crabs were native to Europe, they have since spread to the coastal waters of many continents including both coasts of North America. The video below shows some truly intimidating scenes of green crabs and discusses ideas for management efforts. 

I personally encountered these aggressive little guys in New Brunswick, where park rangers at Kouchibouguac National Park taught me how green crabs have been steadily destroying eelgrass and other aquatics plants within the park’s estuaries. Staff at the Huntsman Marine Science Center also showed me how green crabs outcompete native crabs for food, like when our hour long beach comb resulted in finding one rock crab and 106 green crabs!

Two green crabs on the shores by Huntsman Marine Science Center in New Brunswick. Photo taken by me. 

Managing green crabs has become an increasing problem in recent years in part due to warming ocean temperatures caused by climate change. So not only did human’s bring green crabs to North American waters, we also allow them to continue to move northward and infest new areas. Scientists use many tools to try to control their populations but as you can see in the video above, even trapping and monitoring populations may not be enough to control their populations, let alone remove them completely. Every invasive species presents new challenges on how to limit it’s spread, potential damage, and overall population. This is part of the reason I find invasive species to be so fascinating, as negative as some species can be, all the organism is trying to do is survive, sometimes doing too good a job, and human’s must deal with the challenges presented by the consequences of having a more connected world.

While this is one example of an invasive species that has obviously detrimental impacts on the environment, there are many others closer to home, maybe even in your own backyard, that you may not have even realized are actually invasive. Some ladybugs, the North American honeybee, and earthworms are just some examples that I didn’t know were invasive, one even has North American in its name, but they all in fact arrived or were brought over from other countries. It is important that native species are protected from the risks of invasive species to preserve our local wildlife and biodiversity, so that future generations can experience ALL the species that we have gotten to enjoy. 

Human’s impact the environment in many ways but bringing invasive species into an area can be especially hard to control or reverse once they have been introduced. Awareness for what invasive species are, how to identify those species near you, and how to report or record sightings to the appropriate group are very important in dealing with these species. So it turns out, the aliens are here because we brought them!

My questions for you are:

 Did you know about all the invasive species I talked about? 

Where did you learn about them if you did? 

Have you ever seen an invasive species near where you live or somewhere you’ve gone? 

If so, how did you know it was invasive and what did you do? 

If you’d like to learn more about how Covid-19 relates to invasive species, check out this blog: https://blog.invasive-species.org/2020/10/05/coronavirus-and-invasive-species/

To learn more about green crabs, check out the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada website: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/profiles-profils/europeangreencrab-crabevert-eng.html

To answer your questions, I've never heard of the invasive green crabs before! Which is surprising to me, because in high school I was in an environmental program that almost focussed solely on invasive species. There, I learned about species such as zebra mussels, emerald ash borer, phragmites, etc. Zebra mussels are something I've seen a lot of, especially since I used to live near the Thames River and I used to go boating/canoeing. They often encrust the underside of boats, disrupt food chains and cut the feet of beach-goers in the Great Lakes (MAISRC, 2018). Therefore, the mussels are an issue both economically and ecologically.  Unfortunately, there’s not much we can currently “do” about them. Recently though, there have been treatments of Niclosamide used to eradicate them, and it has proven effective (MAISRC, 2018). On a personal level, if they encrust your boat, the most you can do is scrape or spray them off. 

If you’ve never seen them before, I've linked a video at the bottom of this post so you can become more familiar with them. 

Video --->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVL72VjHK1I

References: 

KVUE. (2019, February 12). Is there any stopping zebra mussels? YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVL72VjHK1I

“The key job of the interpreter boils down to one of helping people to perceive more accurately the world around them” (Beck et al., 2018).

I’ve always loved stories and art. As a kid I loved to read and paint and would jump at the chance for a bed story or arts and crafts.

When I got older and developed a love for nature and travel, my passions began to overlap. Photographs helped me see the beauty in life and in nature, while stories allowed me to experience it.

So, throughout this blog I’ve added some of my favorite pictures I’ve taken and included a brief description of their story. I encourage you to read them and maybe you’ll the beauty of nature I saw in them.

A picture I took of the Caves of Matala in Crete, Greece. The side of the cliff is comprised of hundreds of man-made caves carved out of the rock from thousands of years ago. No one knows their true purpose but they’re believed to be Roman or Early Christian tombs. 

Whenever I travel I find myself talking to locals or tour guides, asking them their story or a favorite one they’ve heard. Hearing stories from people who are knowledgeable and passionate about a place of nature allows me to learn more about it while creating a stronger connection towards it.

A picture I took of the Holy Trinity Monastery at Meteora in Central Greece. During times of war and famine many choose a life of religion in which they were free from violence and could enjoy the peace and beauty of nature. One of the nuns at the monastery spoke of how her isolation in nature freed her from her personal traumas she experienced as a child.  

Being in university takes a toll on one financially though, and I can never travel as much as I would like to. So, when I can’t travel I often spend time looking at photographs of places of nature and wildlife. It allows me to see the beauty of nature without having to be there. 

“Thailand Sea Water” by Caro Sodar licensed under (”Pixabay License”)

Photographs of nature are often done by people who have such a strong love and passion for it and their pictures allow me to see nature from their perspective, see the beauty they see. For me seeing a something from another’s perspective is what enriches your own. Like Beck et al. (2018) wrote “The images of stories are vivid in the minds of listeners, and help them grow in mind and spirit”.

A picture I took of Reece the baboon in South Africa when she was 4 months old. Reece is an orphaned baboon that’s mother was killed be a farmer for stealing food from his crops. This was her first time out of her rehabilitation enclosure since she was rescued. She was so excited to play with the sand on the river bank and was fascinated by the hippos at the end of the river.  

I have no qualifications that justify my ability to interpret nature through art besides this course. While this may prevent me from being an official nature interpreter, I don’t think anything can stop someone from interpreting nature from art. We are human, we seek meaning whether its given to us or not. If it isn’t given to us, we create our own.

For me, nature interpreters help me grasp the true meaning (or at least the one they believe to be true) of art. Whether it’s the tourist I’m talking to about the land, or the article describing the picture I’m looking at, they help give sense to our questions while showing us their own view of nature’s beauty. In an ironic sense it’s the interpreters that help me interpret nature from art. 

Did you interpret nature from these pictures? Let me know!

References: 

(PERSONAL PHOTO// Pelee Island Bird Observatory, May 3rd 2016)

It’s from the Pelee Island Bird Observatory, the environment was beautiful and it was my first interaction with banding a huge variety of bird species (that were also very beautiful). After reading the post I have a few questions for you:

Do you still find time to do art during quarantine? If so, are there any forms of art that you prefer to create, or that you prefer to observe? I have been painting a lot in my spare time, and have recently been wanting to expand my painting to more nature-related landscapes. Here’s a video that might give you some painting inspiration (if that’s what you're into): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLWEXRAnQd0

Also, do any of these places that you've visited stand out in your mind in terms of beauty? If so, why do they stand out? It could be because of a beautiful landscape, or maybe somewhere you visited served a beautiful purpose - such as the baboon orphanage. 

I look forward to hearing what you have to say! 

I don’t know if this ever happened to anyone else but whenever I was sick I always thought “man I took for granted that my lungs were healthy and that my nose wasn’t stuffy and that I could drink or eat things that weren’t just liquid.” I always said to myself that when I got better I would be so much more grateful that I was healthy. But then when I got healthy again, I never thought about how I took something as simple as breathing easy for granted, until the next time I was sick. 

Privilege to me, is kinda like that, except more. Because at least eventually, I know I’ll  get healthy again. Privilege is a bias that is unconsciously granted to someone because of a certain trait or ability they possess that allows them to be advantageous in life without them actively enacting on this benefit. Life isn’t fair and those who don’t possess certain privileges have the odds stacked against them for reasons that are sometimes societally or culturally implemented. Even me knowing that I’ll get better again is a privilege, because this isn’t true for everyone. I, consciously, don’t have a lot of say in whether I’ll get better. But, if I take the right medicine or get enough sleep then I’m helping this process along. How did I get this medicine? Do I have someone in my life that provides for me? Am I able to afford taking the $10 away from my bill payments to get medicine? Can I afford a day off work to rest? Something as simple as this is an example of privilege. 

Have you ever heard of the expression “ignorance is bliss”?  I used to think how could someone want to live in their own bubble of understanding and not want to expand their perspective. Sadly that’s true for a lot of people. But again, that means they have the privilege to be ignorant. Have you ever heard of the expression “you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone?” That’s the same idea. I rarely thank my legs when I go on a walk for getting me where I need to go because, to me, that’s their job. I am blissfully ignorant in fact that all roads are accessible to me, all trails, all inclines, before all challenges my body can overcome. I am so thankful for the fact that it does that, but I need to actively think about it before I realize how privileged I am in that ‘right’. 

Personal Photo: My dog Koda and I enjoying a trail hike at Rockwood Conservation Park in June 2020. Taken by my boyfriend. 

My invisible backpack holds a lot of things  but what I’m more concerned with is how to best use these subconscious privileges to my advantage in order to better a system that oppresses people who have very little in their own backpack.  Just because something seems common to me, doesn’t mean it is to someone else. Just because this trail seems accessible to me, doesn’t mean that it is to someone else. It is easy to get frustrated, it is easy to lose control of your emotions; that’s part of being human. But our humanity is also our outlet for compassion. I hope that I can extend my knowledge and my privilege to someone else. I want to be more aware of my actions and how they might harm someone else just because their backpack doesn’t have something I have. 

My ideal role as a nature interpreter would probably be that of some sort of forest tour guide. I would hang out in the forest and when people come along and would like to learn about the wonders that they see before them, I can take them into the belly of the beast and give them a first-hand experience. I’ve always loved exploring new places and trying to understand different kinds of wilderness, from giant underwater ecosystems to deserts that look completely barren. But for some reason, the huge mountains and forests that Canada is known for have always been my favourite.

Moraine Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta. Photo by @john_artifexfilms from Unsplash.

A lot of forests look the same on the surface. But once you start exploring them, you can find so many hidden gems that are completely unique to that single plot of land. A hidden creek where squirrels and tiny fish come to hang out together or maybe a crevice with all kinds of hidden secrets inside. For legal reasons, I’m not condoning climbing into random crevices since it’s usually a pretty stupid and reckless idea (if you haven’t seen 127 Hours, you should. It’ll give you a good idea of what I’m talking about. Fair warning, it is very unnerving and gets a bit gory). But if you find one, it might be worth looking around.

Antelope Canyon, Arizona, USA. Photo by @josephgardnerphotography from Unsplash.

Places like these represent a perfect example of how a forest, and all other kinds of wilderness in fact, can be so much more than just the random trees and animals that people might see on the surface. It’s kind of obvious and cliché to say that to a group of science students but it seems like a lot of people don’t spend as much time thinking about these things as we do. The quarantine has definitely encouraged the general public to get outside and explore the natural areas that exist around them more, but I guess it’s our job as nature interpreters to point out all the cool things that other folks might miss or overlook. When I envision this job, I imagine an old growth forest with sunlight peaking through the tops of trees that are hundreds of feet tall. The kind that make you question the nature of your reality when you stand beside them.

Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California, USA. Photo by @mischievous_penguins from Unsplash.

The fact that organisms like these can even exist is absolutely mind blowing to me and sharing this kind of amazement with other people is one of my favourite parts of being outside. Seeing the redwoods of California is high on my bucket list so I suppose that would be a great place for a job like this. Unfortunately, the most exotic place I’ve seen outside of Canada is Daytona Beach, Florida so I guess I have to explore the world a little bit more before I can decide. It’s daunting to see all of my classmates’ posts about all the amazing places that they’ve visited, but it’s inspiring at the same time and it saves me the trouble of thinking of cool places to visit 😉. My next step, after finishing school of course, is to get my pilots license so that I can go see all of these amazing places with my own eyes.

Aerial view of Costa Rica. Photo by @sammgrdichian from Unsplash.

Along with my degree, learning to fly tops the list of skills that I might need to become the ultimate nature interpreter. I figure I should learn about what I’m looking at first and then find my own ways to go out and see them. Flying over the forests of South America or the savannas of Africa would be pretty amazing. In addition, it would probably be helpful to learn a few new languages so that I can explore and learn with people from all over the world. I hope to see every crazy and magnificent place that the world has to offer, provided we can keep the Earth healthy long enough for me to see this through. Regardless, the world is extremely large and even more confusing in a lot of areas but I hope to be able to interpret it all one day!

I guess I’ll end this with a few questions to get your perspective on this:

What’s your favourite type of ecosystem to have an adventure in?

When you’re out exploring, do you like to listen to music or do you prefer the sounds of nature? And if you do like music, what kinds of music do you like to listen to?

What kind of interpreter do you hope to be?

(PERSONAL PHOTO// Temagami ON, June 11, 2016) 

To answer your second question, if I am taking a walk in nature to clear my head (which is usually the case), I do not like to listen to music. I spend practically all day listening to music, in the car, at the gym, when i'm doing school work etc. So, if i'm trying to submerge myself in nature, it would only make sense for me to take in the calming sounds that come with it. Plus, 80’s rock doesn't always compliment a peaceful surrounding. Thanks again!

(PERSONAL PHOTO// Grand Bend sunrise, May 3, 2016)