Nature Interpretation with McKenzie

When this course began, I was in the dark about the whole concept of nature interpretation. Unsurprisingly, I assumed it would mainly entail developing increased awareness and mindfulness when spending time outdoors. I figured this course would help me learn to share those experiences with audiences from all kinds of unique backgrounds. My role as an interpreter before ENVS*3000 focused on topics surrounding my studies as a science student. Being in university has a way of making school the primary lens through which you perceive the world; at least, that has been my experience. As a result, when I look at the world around me, it is easy to recognize the ecosystems at play and the unique interactions happening within them that are essential no matter how small. As a science student in my final year of study, the natural world’s complexity is evident, and for me, this is one of the most humbling thoughts to entertain. It is crucial as an interpreter to be mindful of the natural world’s sheer magnitude, something often overlooked by the anthropocentric society we are immersed in. 

In nearly any situation, humanity has a way of commanding attention, but learning how the complex systems at work in nature genuinely are, makes it clear that it really is a delicate balance. It can also be an eye-opener for many to realize humans are not as pivotal to Earth’s well-being and function as we are conditioned to believe. Humans have less control over the world than we would like to admit. Although the environment is plagued by the seemingly infinite number of challenges resulting from human activity, the wilderness will and always should stay out of our control. As interpreters, it should be our role to help others recognize the power and knowledge found within nature and the positivity it can bring to our lives when we do our part to care for it and maintain its integrity. When we care for the Earth, it cares for us by healing our psyche and fostering our physical well-being.

Photo by Lukasz Szmigiel on Unsplash  

My development as a nature interpreter is heavily influenced by my personal morals and the belief that good interpreters should share the knowledge and power nature offers. The things most important to me that define my personal ethics as an individual and as an interpreter are respect, integrity, and the value knowledge holds. As interpreters, our primary role is to share the knowledge we have with others so that they may achieve the same benefits we do as a result of forming a meaningful connection with nature. Additionally, I think it is our job to teach others how we know to be respectful of the environment in sustainable ways to maintain the integrity of our natural surroundings. When discussing my development as an interpreter, my mind automatically jumps to my future role as a science teacher. I am starting my Bachelor of Education this upcoming fall to teach high school science, a clear showcase of my priority to share the invaluable knowledge that exists in the field of science with others. 

I have always loved sharing what I have learned with people around me, even if it’s just a remarkable fact I learned in class that week with a friend or even my mom. The key here is how significant knowledge and learning is to me, and I think this goes hand in hand with honesty, integrity, and respect, morals by which I try to live my life. While these factors are those by which I guide the actions and decisions I make in my life, they are also the ones I focus on when interacting with the natural world around me. Being respectful is one of the most important things to keep in mind when getting out and experiencing nature, especially to maintain the integrity of the ecosystems and the organisms that rely on them. Connecting back to my future as an interpreter through the role of science teacher, I can share these ethics with the students who enter my classroom and show them the importance of the environment and how they can personally maintain nature’s integrity. 

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash  

Continuing my role as an interpreter through teaching science introduces a variety of responsibilities. First and foremost, teaching youth to respect the environment and do what they can to improve nature’s conditions whenever possible. Environmental stewardship offers benefits to the domain directly, but it also provides an outlet for individuals to connect and spend time outdoors. I believe nature holds so much power, be it in terms of psychological relief from stress or anxiety or a physical escape from the hustle-bustle we are affronted by in modern society. I believe it is a gift to be shared, and that is our responsibility as teachers and as interpreters of the natural world. As mentioned in Rodenburg’s article (2019), today’s youth simply are not getting outside to experience nature the way many of us did as kids, even though that really was not so long ago. In a world that has been rapidly developing new technologies for even more convenience, people are beginning to forget to slow down and appreciate what is around them, and children are not exempt from this. It is so important to foster the connection between humanity and the environment to avoid “nature deficit disorder,” a term coined by Richard Louv in the textbook (Beck et al. 2019) to describe the detachment between humanity and nature. 

Throughout history, nature and humanity have always been intertwined; one can never exist without the other, so nature deficit disorder can introduce various challenges. Perpetuated by modern society, nature deficit disorder can manifest in countless ways that exemplify the physical, social, and cognitive deficits that result from the disconnect with nature (Beck et al., 2019). Teachers have so much power to initiate reform by educating and inspiring their students who will grow up to be the policy-makers, business owners, scientists, teachers ultimately, the future caretakers of the world. The impact teachers can have on their students is undeniable, which is a primary aspect of effective interpreters, which is a significant reason I decided to pursue a career in teaching to make a difference.

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash  

Everyone will have a unique perception of the broad privileges granted by the environment that expresses the individuality between people. As an interpreter, it is vital to focus on the various things that catch different individuals’ attention, providing insight into the unique personal relationship held with nature and their relationships with others and even within themselves. There is a valuable connection between humans and the environment from the deep evolutionary history that forever links the two. Creating a strong relationship with nature and helping others to do so will aid mental wellness by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, elevating mood and reestablishing attention to the physical health benefits that include promoting cardiovascular health and reducing obesity by staying active. There are many benefits to support the power of getting involved in the environment and building a personal relationship with nature. I believe that to be one of the responsibilities of a nature interpreter and a science teacher.

Photo by Steve Halama on Unsplash  

This course provided invaluable knowledge about how to reach a variety of audiences, but more importantly, it allowed me to gain insight into my personal relationship with nature. While learning techniques to improve the way I can share my own interpretations with others has been amazing to prepare me for my time in teachers’ college. The enhanced relationship with the natural world has provided me with much needed benefits and escape from symptoms of nature deficit disorder and many other aspects of nature I had never recognized before this course. I always knew the importance of the environment when it comes to science, of course, and in art based on the numerous art pieces or musical creations inspired by nature. This course expanded my appreciation for the incredible impact nature has had on humanity throughout history, but it is even more important in society today. 

Thanks for a great semester everyone!!

Sierra 🌼

References:

Rodenburg, J. (2019). Why Environmental Educators Shouldn’t Give Up Hope | CLEARING: A Nonprofit Magazine for Environmental Education in the Pacific Northwest. clearingmagazine.org. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

Thank you for sharing what your journey has been like going through this course and how you grew as an interpreter. I think what you shared about being a science student, that being your primary experience of being a nature interpreter is very common among science students taking this course (myself included). The environment around us is composed of many complicated systems, which is why there is a need for people to interpret this for others who do not possess the same knowledge and understanding. You explain it very well that we cannot control the environment (no matter how much we want to and try) and we need to respect this, and help others understand the importance it holds. It is a very complex system, and I personally believe we as humans will never in be able to fully grasp how complex it truly is, or a full understanding on how these systems work.

I think that the ethics you hold as an interpreter are fantastic and will be so crucial in your career as a science teacher (congrats!). Kids these days don't have much respect for the environment, and I believe it is due to a lack of understanding of how their actions can really affect the environment. I am so excited that you will be able to use your skills as an interpreter to pass on this knowledge to them to hopefully educate them in this way. Related to respect, I think sharing the value of this knowledge is also very important. If people don't understand something is valuable, why should they care? It is the responsibility of the upcoming "nature educators" to pass on this knowledge we have learned in the past about the importance of our environment, and how we must change our ways and views in order to protect it. You outlined a great number of responsibilities you believe an interpreter has, and I am fully confident that these will be core responsibilities in your teaching to change the lives of the kids that are in your class!

Thank you again for your post and sharing what you have taken away from this course and explaining how you will use these skills in your future career of being a science teacher. I do believe you will be the change in many kids lives, helping them to avoid nature deficit disorder, and help them to value and love nature to the same degree you do. Best of luck with everything!

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

I really enjoyed reading your post this week and hearing what your ethics and qualities you deem important for your personal interpretations. I am on the same page with you that this has been a nice way of still connecting with people of similar interest even in the midst of being separated and apart. Being on Tumblr for sure was a nice change from regular course link discussion posts, sometimes it felt like I wasn’t necessarily doing school.

I share the exact same ethics as the ones you listed, and also include in my everyday life as well. To go off on a few, I think empathy is so important because it is through empathy that we can really connect with our audience and gain their trust, which I believe is one of the most important things with interpretation. If people can’t trust what you’re saying, is there a point? Integrity fits well with this one, as we have to be integral with what we say and make sure it holds some type of merit.

I totally agree with you that we need to know who we are as a person and leader first before we start looking to do interpretation. Figuring this out first will help set a foundation and allow yourself to outline things that are important to you, as well as have a better idea as to how you will present information. It’s like the old saying goes, “You can’t set the cart before the horse.” You also make a very good point though that in order to be a good interpreter you should be able to adjust this leader style depending on the audience or the situation. I have lost count of the number of times where I needed to change my approach to solving something. A general personal example would be while working at a camp the last few summers, I was on the leadership team and had to work alongside many other leadership styles. Being the staff member with a bit more seniority, I often had to change my approach to match the one of one of the younger staff when tackling tasks.

Thank you for sharing your guide to ethics with real life applications. Again like I mentioned before, I share these same ethics and morals and reading these applications brought a smile to my face knowing that someone else holds these of great importance as well. I find so many people say they follow these, but there is really no action behind it. Thank you so much for sharing, and being vulnerable with your personal thoughts and ethics.

Best of luck for the rest of the semester and for the summer as well!

     Hey guys! I hope you’ve been keeping well. For this week’s blog, since we can discuss amazing things in nature, I thought it would be fun to talk to you guys about one of my favourite animals - the Koala Bear. Did you guys know that the Koala Bear (Phascolarctos cinereus) is more closely related to the kangaroo species than the bear species?! In fact, the Koala Bear is a marsupial (National Geographic, 2021). Which defines “a mammal with a pouch for the development of offspring.”

     Fun Fact → Koalas often look like fuzzy little animals, but their hair is actually relatively coarse, such as sheep’s wool! They have two opposing thumbs on their hands and two toes fused on their feet to comb their fur (National Geographic, 2021).

(GIF of Koala Bear: COPYRIGHT OF TUMBLR)

     The Koala Bear can sleep anywhere from 18 up to 22 hours at a time, much like me sometimes, haha, just joking! Their fatigue is due to the lack of energy received throughout their diet, much like when I only give myself caffeine for the day, haha. Koala Bears live in the eucalyptus forests of southeastern and eastern Australia (National Geographic, 2021). Therefore, their diet relies on the eucalyptus tree for both food and habitat. This type of tree is toxic, yet Koala Bears can eat up to a pound of leaves a day. Due to their diet, their digestive systems must work extra hard to digest these toxic leaves. Therefore, when the toxins break down, they only extract a limited amount of nutrients, thereby creating a lack of energy for the species - making them constantly tired (National Geographic, 2021). So, basically, in other words, when a Koala Bear is not sleeping, it is usually eating, also much like myself, haha! I think I might even like them so much because of their relevant lifestyle compared to mine as a young adult - anyone else relate?!

(Reference: (Dingle, 2020))

     I chose to discuss an animal in nature with you guys because animals are an integral heart of nature. Beck et al. (2018) stated that “Interpretation helps people develop an ethical sense of our place in the world and a respect for the plants and animals that share our planet.” Therefore, in terms of respect for our animals, specifically Koala Bears, I was hoping to shed some light on their decreasing population. This species faces severe threats in times of extreme habitat loss, including land clearing, logging, and bushfires, especially in the past years of 2019 to 2020. Koala Bears are currently listed as “vulnerable” under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Due to Australia’s woodlands continuously decreasing woodlands, Koala Bears have needed extra assistance from humanitarian organizations in order to rehabilitate (National Geographic, 2021).

(GIF of Koala Bear: COPYRIGHT OF TUMBLR)

     In fact, this is when you guys come into play! The best way to understand the decreasing population of Koala Bears is through education. Through research, one can learn many things, such as koala genetics, health, and their relationships/mating choices (National Geographic, 2021). Understanding and utilizing their information can help spread awareness about the species. It can also help develop better plans for the future to protect Koala Bears!

     I have posted some link’s below to a couple of articles regarding Koala Bears that I thought you guys might enjoy :)

ARTICLES:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/koala (National Geographic, 2021)

https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.21428 (Caldwell & Henry, 2020)

MY QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS:

     Have you guys ever personally helped spread awareness of an animal in need? (i.e. endangered and/or vulnerable) Whether that is marching for a campaign holding a sign or sharing your educated opinion on an online-post? Whatever you have done or could do to help spread awareness for any species, what is it?! I can’t wait to hear from you guys :)

Have a great week!

Sanchi.

References:

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

Caldwell, M., & Henry, P.C. (2020). How cultural branding, story‐telling, and personification can save the iconic Australian koala. Psychology & Marketing, 37(12), 1781–1789. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.21428

Dingle, T. (2020) [Picture of Koala Bear sleeping in a Eucalyptus tree] [Photograph]. National Geographic Your Shot. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/koala

That is so cool that they are more closely related to Kangaroos, I honestly never would have guessed that and didn't know they had pouches either (I guess I have some research to do). That is interesting though about how their diet affects their energy levels, but makes sense. I know if my diet only consisted of eucalyptus leaves I would not be moving very fast, and really I don't know if I'd be able to function.

Thank you for the articles about the Koalas, I will for sure check them out. I'm curious, what got you so interested in Koala Bears?

I unfortunately have never personally helped to spread awareness of an animal in need. I have done more advocation for the planet in general, but never an individual species. I think that would be something really cool though to get involved in, especially for a local species of Ontario. I've always loved learning about threatened and vulnerable species we have right here around us, especially learning at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington.

What types of advocation are you involved in with the Koalas? I'd love to check it out!

Originally posted by Ontario Parks.

“Earth has music for those who listen”- George Santayana. This quote by poet and naturalist George Santayana reminds me that nature, we are all surrounded by, holds many beautiful sounds that appreciate the earth’s music. It can be the calming sound of waves, leaves rustling in the wind, rain dripping down on your roof or the bird’s chirping. In one way or another, this music helps me relax my body and mind. Try it sometime, take a break outside and listen to nature – trust me, it has a lot to say. When you surround yourself with the natural environment, whether it’s a walk in a trail, reading a book in the middle of the woods, or paddleboarding on a lake, your ears focus on the sounds around you and relax your minds. Nature is surrounded by music everywhere. From our course notes, we understand that music has the power to influence how people see, think, communicate, and feel (Hooykaas, 2021). I enjoy studying or doing schoolwork, listening to the sounds of waves or light rain. I tend to stay focused and get more work done this way. Does anyone else do this? Research has shown that nature sounds can also help people sleep better by reducing stress (ScienceDaily, 2017). Listen to these sounds from Sleeping Giant Provincial Park.

If anyone is interested in listening to nature sounds at home, you can check out these websites.

https://www.calmsound.com/

https://8tracks.com/explore/nature_sounds

https://listen.tidal.com/artist/3998908

When thinking about the role of nature in music, it is pretty uncommon. Although, there are some impressive works done by artists inspired to make music with the sound of birds and animals. Check out the David Rothenberg- ‘Bird, Whale, Bug’ concert. 

I couldn’t think of a lot of music about nature. The one song that came to my mind is 'What a wonderful world’ by Louis Armstrong. It’s an old classic. I remember this because my friend’s grandpa used to sing this all the time. Nowadays, the context of most music is relationships, money, and otherworldly materials. I think musicians and artists should consider addressing issues that shed light on social problems such as climate change. As our course notes mentioned, music can help inform our audience on social matters such as climate change, pollution, and global warming.

The one song that takes me back to a natural landscape is 'Truth to Power’ by OneRepublic. If anyone would like to listen, check out the video.

It talks about climate change and inspires one to get involved and do something for our planet. Does anyone remember this song? This music reminds me of a presentation that my friends and I did on earth day in high school. We played this song at the end of our presentation. A song can carry us back in time and draw forgotten memories from deep inside ourselves. Why does music have such a hold on us, able to change our mood and bring us together?

Thanks for reading. Let me know your thoughts!

Kristy

References

 A quote by George Santayana. (n.d.). Retrieved March 4, 2021, from https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1334069-the-earth-has-music-for-those-who-listen  

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 07: Nature Interpretation through Music [Course website]. University of Guelph CourseLink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca

Thank you so much for your thoughtful post. As I was reading through it, I was brought back in time to many memories where I would be still in nature just listening to the natural music play around me. I love the opening quote you used by George Santayana because it is so true. There is music all around us but only if we choose to listen. Our culture has become so disconnected from our natural environment, always looking at a screen and having ear buds in (and I am included in this), choosing not to listen to Earth's music.

Thank you for the video from the Sleeping Giant park. After listening to it, I was brought back to the times my mom and I would camp near Elora Gorge right by a river. There was one night where it just down-poured and the next morning the river was just rushing, and it actually put me back to sleep when I woke up. I think that may be one of my favourite things about nature, lying in my tent just listening to the sounds and music nature plays.

I believe music has the ability to do great and influential things and would be a huge influence in addressing environmental issues. Big name artists have such a following, so if they were to address an environmental issue it would for sure be heard. The song by OneRepublic you shared is a great example of this.

I think music has such a hold on us because it allows us to escape the world we are in for a period of time and be somewhere else. Music is shared between people and essentially around the world for many to hear, which is why I believe it to be a great tool in nature interpretation to raise awareness of environmental issues.

How does music have a hold on you?

To tell you the truth, I am not someone who has ever enjoyed history or connected with it very well. I appreciate the value and importance that history has on individuals, society and places, but it is not something that I am passionate about. So, digesting this week’s content and tackling the meaning of this quote (written below) has been tough for me. To put a geographical lense on things, it makes sense for me to connect the people to the place and think about how they influence each other, it’s just that adding the temporal component throws me off somehow.

“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 through 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

What is merit?

A praiseworthy quality (Merriam-Webster dictionary)

What is integrity?

Firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values

Does this mean that it is through morality and art that we are able to place meaning to “ancient things”?

I believe so and interpretation is a way of doing so, it “breathes life and meaning into past events, architecture, and artifacts” (Beck, Cable & Knudson, 2018). What this course has taught us time and time again is that interpretation is for a purpose, it must have meaning or else there is no point. Particularly, in Chapter 15 of our text, Interpreting History, authenticity and accuracy are essential to the integrity of the place and its history. This is reflected in the quote as well, that without a moral and artistic code, there is nothing praiseworthy in any artifact of the past that we may find.  

An example of where we can see this taking place if from the interview with Robert Sutton, the now retired Chief Historian of the National Park Service. In an interview he explains how they need to look back on the designated historical sites and tell all of the stories of history that took place there. Sometimes there is a different story or more stories than what has been thought. Robert Sutton’s example is of the Pea Ridge Civil War Battlefield in Arkansaw. This site was created because it was a battlefield in the civil war era and the site has been used to tell the military story of the site. Recently they learned and began teaching of much more that took place on the land. During the civil war, members of the Cherokee Nation were fighting with the confederacy which is a part of the story that had been left out. A more intriguing story to me is that the site is also along the route of the Trail of Tears, when the Cherokee people were forced from their ancestral lands and let to the Indian Reserves created by government. It is important that this different story is told and shared on the land. This shows the integrity that the National Park Service has taken in telling a larger story of the site.

image: a photo called “Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas” taken from the website Legends of America (legendsofamerica.com). The image is of an illustration of the battle that took place during the civil war on Pea Ridge. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ar-pearidge/

image: a photo called “Pea Ridge Battlefield Overlook” taken from the website Legends of America (legendsofamerica.com). The image is a photo depicting how the battlefield now looks, farmers field and a forest in the background. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ar-pearidge/ 

To reference the second half of the quote, things do not only exist while we are there. In North America it was this case for a long time. We “discovered” Canada and told the story that no one was here before us. It is a big part of our colonial history to ignore that there were people here before us and that they had their own history and stories. Only recently are we starting to let Indigenous people tell those stories. The example from the National Park Service makes me feel happy that they are putting in a real effort to acknowledge the lense that they have been telling history through, they are thinking about the places that our train has trudged past, before and after we were there.

History is a tough concept for me, until I hear the stories of the people and have an image of what it might have been like for them.

-Jasmine

Resources

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

C-SPAN, (2012). National Park Service Chief Historian Robert Sutton on Historical Interpretation in Parks. Youtube.com. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ9DM-MoTXA

I enjoyed reading your post this week, and really liked the example you used from history to explain the importance of integrity in our past. I like you am not someone who is too keen on history, but maybe that's because I never really understood the worth of it and how important it is. This weeks lesson has kinda changed my perspective on the importance of history, as it is not something that we should forget about. It's important to remember and reflect on the past events, and to learn from them.

I liked what you said about how interpretation has the role of breathing life and meaning into past events. Again, maybe this is why I never really got into learning about history. I would just read about it in textbooks and listen to my high school teacher talk on about the subject. I never experienced a "good interpretation" that brought it to life which probably would have changed my opinion.

I really liked your example from the Pea Ridge Civil War. This is a genuine example (one of many) where there is no integrity given to past events in how they're taught and passed on. It is missing the side of the story from the Cherokee Nation who played a very large role in the event. I'm so glad that people are realizing this fact now and are trying to get a First Nations side of the story, as these people play a huge role in history.

Do you think that historians now are doing a good job at giving First Nations people a voice? Or do you have ideas of how they can do this better?

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!

Thanks so much for your post. I found it to be super relatable and encouraging while living during the current pandemic. I really enjoyed reading about the different things you and your roommates have been doing to keep busy, while setting the screens aside. Your different adventures and outings reminded me of the start of the pandemic when some friends and I decided to spontaneously pack up and go camping in Algonquin for the weekend. It was the start of all the restrictions, and we wanted to just escape from the city and all the craziness happening. We've always been the kind of group that could spontaneously get together and pull off a weekend trip, which has allowed me to be a part of many adventures outdoors. I've always had a huge appreciation and respect for nature, as it has been an outlet for me my entire life, but after this trip I think it showed me a different type of appreciation. It helped me to see that while the world seems to be falling in on itself and everyone is in a huge panic, you can truly get a clear head and almost "re-set" from it all. I came back with a new perspective on things that this really wasn't the end of the world and it was possible to still enjoy life amidst the crazy.

I also noticed during this time how much of a blessing this mild winter has been for us. I was so excited for the snow to go skiing, but like many things, that was not possible with the lack of snow and increasing lock downs. The warm weather instead allowed for an extension of "warm weather activities" to take place. I have never in my life seen so many people walk past my house, even in the warm summer weather. This was so encouraging to see, that people were taking the time to be active outside and enjoy the outdoors instead of spending time on a screen. I really did end up enjoying the warmer weather, focusing on some fitness goals I had for an upcoming fitness test. It was much easier to train outside than in my basement.

There have been many negative outcomes with this pandemic, but I truly believe there to be more positives, nature playing a huge part in it all. Again, thank you so much for your post, as it has helped me to reflect on fun times in the past, and now encouraging me to plan a fun trip soon!

Over the years I have been very conflicted when I am out in nature whether to just purely enjoy the moment or to take photos that I will be able to reflect upon another time. These photo that I take will be at angles or locations that I have interpreted within the moment but once I post that photo to social media, everyone that views it may interpret it another way. This is the beauty of how art influences our interpretation of the environment surrounding us and the feelings that are brought to us in those moments.

(Photo taken by Walter Mason, retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/meandermind/14980090749/)

The relationship between art and nature can be expressed in many different forms based on how the artist interpreted the scenery and how they wish to express this interpretation. One artist that truly appreciated nature and depicted their interpretation is Vincent Van Gogh. He clearly loved the art of nature and wanted to paint it so he was able to remember how he interpreted and appreciated it in the moment. In one of his letters to his brother he wrote “Always continue walking a lot and loving nature, for that’s the real way to learn to understand art better and better. Painters understand nature and love it, and teach us to see.” (Gogh, 1874). The beauty is also that the art work from one artist may change due to changes in their interpretation which is fascinating.

(Wheat Field with Cypresses at the Haute Galline Near Eygaliers, by Vincent Van Gogh in July 1889, https://www.thoughtco.com/greatest-paintings-by-van-gogh-4154730)

With such a large variety of art domains that will allow for the viewer to have a different interpretation and feelings based on the art form. Who am I to interpret nature through art? Well art has not been a major aspect or hobby within my life although I have had the opportunity to interpret the various photographs that my mother has taken and to appreciate the perspective at which she viewed the scenery as when taking the photo. This has allowed me to try to understand the story behind the photo without being told the exact story. I believe this has helped me to interpret the various forms of art that may be illustrating nature and the interpretation of the artist.

(Photo taken by my mom on Lake Nipissing, ON)

When I think about “the gift of beauty” I interpret this as appreciating the art itself and how the artist viewed nature within their eyes. We are able to understand that every individual interprets their environments in a different way which is the most beautiful aspect of nature. It allows each individual to feel a different way which is shown within the art piece bringing out it’s beauty. The world is not black and white which is what is amazing with art and nature in itself. It brings back hope to many individuals of a time where pollution was not a problem to our environment changing the nature and beauty. There are many great feelings that come from interpreting nature in the various art forms but to some there may be feelings of sorrow as they may interpret the beautiful nature art as something of the past due to the increase in anthropogenic pollution.

(Poster designed by Surachai Puthikulangkura, retrieved from https://littlethings.com/lifestyle/surachai-puthikulangkura-eco-posters)

Reference:

Thanks for sharing your post on your thoughts about art influencing interpretation. I too like you sometimes debate whether I should pull out the camera to capture the moment for later review or if I should just enjoy it as it it. I'll be honest though, most of the time I totally forget about taking photos as I am distracted with the things around me. Thankfully, the people I usually go out with are the photographer type so I always know I can look at what they were able to capture.

What you mentioned about how art is different for each individual who looks at it is so true. I think that's one of the best things about art, whatever the medium is. The artist has a reasoning behind creating it, but others can find other meanings that resonate with them. If we think this way, honeslty the possibilities of interpretation are endless. This is especially true, seeing that you do this with your mom's photographs. She saw something through her lens she thought worth capturing. She chose the angle, the zoom, the frame, exaclty how she saw the scene. You as the viewer get to take advantage of the already taken photo, and see it through your own eyes and your own lens in a sense. There's almost like a magic to it all, one photo can have so many different meanings to all who view it. I think that's a really cool opportunity you get to share with your mom.

I appreciated your inclusion of the last picture, a photo that represents a cause. Again, this cause will touch people in different areas, but will still have the same purpose of raising awareness of forest destruction. This photo means a lot to me, as I (like most in this course) have a passion and love for the environment, and it breaks my heart to see how destructive we are.

Thanks again for sharing, I look forward to your future posts.

Art is a fantastic tool to use when trying to share and engage with an audience who may not initially have a passion for what you are sharing, especially for the environment. It allows for you to provide a connection to people in a form they are passionate about, making sharing your message much easier as you are reaching people in a way they connect best with.

I have found this to be true and effective in my personal experiences. I have a great love for the arts, including music, poetry/spoken word, photography, and drawings. I have a huge appreciation for those who are professionals and talented in these areas of art because I don’t have much talent in creating these sorts of things (although I try my best). These forms of art are not only great for entertainment purposes, but also for sharing stories, educating, and sharing culture. It is pretty much an easy way to engage an audience and use it for a greater purpose.

Who am I to interpret through art? I would have to say I am one to use my own photographs I take during my adventures, as well as personal sketches I do to share my passion with others. Throughout my blog posts, I have tried to as much as possible and when appropriate to use my personal photographs to help portray my interpretations and blogs. Interpretation can get quite personal, especially in these blogs when we draw upon personal perspectives and experiences. This is why I think it’s important to also share my own photographs, which usually will help the reader visualize what I am sharing, as well as give myself some accountability on what I’m saying. 

A calm evening on Lake Ontario. Photo taken by myself

An example where this would be effective is if I were writing about a time I felt truly at peace. I would share of the time I was down at Spencer Smith park one evening and experienced this unbelievable scene. The lake was the calmest as I’ve ever seen with extraordinary pastel colours that blended into the sky. It was almost as if the water and sky were one. This was such a relaxing experience and truly peaceful. To help others share this same experience since they probably were not there, I would share this photo I took to allow them to share the feeling.

One specific piece of art that stands out in my mind while we are discussing art for the use of interpretation is the piece called “Not Forgotten” created by a Canadian First Nations woman, Maxine Noel. Maxine’s piece, like all First Nations artwork, is created in order to share a story with meaning. Not Forgotten was created to raise awareness of the missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls, honouring their spirits and memory. I would not be aware of this issue if it were not for Maxine’s art displayed in many local shops in the towns in Northern Ontario. She connected with me, with my love of art, to share something so much greater than colours on a piece of canvas and I will forever be changed because of it.

Not Forgotten Painting by Maxine Noel (Noel Maxine n.d.)

This is where “The Gift of Beauty” comes in. I interpret this phrase as the ability of people to take anything and find beauty in it. No matter what they are seeing, hearing, or doing, they want to find a sense of beauty in it and are able to share that view with others. As humans, we don’t all appreciate things the same, or view them the same. The gift of beauty allows us to pick out the beauty in things we see and are passionate about, and share that view with others, possibly changing the way they see things and their personal perspective. Artists of all people usually like people to have their own interpretations of their pieces, finding individual connections with the art and finding their own “beauty” within it.

What are some forms of art that have had an impact on your life?

How have you used a form of art to share something with someone else?

-McKenzie 

References:

Great post!

To further elaborate, often times, the use of art in the interpretation of nature can take a variety of forms (Hooykaas, 2021). As a matter of fact, it is this variety that I believe elicits “the gift of beauty” (Beck et al., 2018, p. 85).

As you mentioned, because each individual possesses a different set of views, “the gift of beauty” allows each individual to stimulate their own “gift”. I believe that this is especially true within the context of cultural and environmental issues (such as climate change) (Boeckel, 2015, p. 801).

To answer your first question, I’d say that photography is the art form that has had the biggest impact on my life. Similar to you, within the context of my weekly blog posts, I aim to include a variety of artistic mediums, especially personal photographs, that guide my interpretation of nature. To answer your second question, I’d say that the form of art that I use to share “something” with others would again be photography. I have found visual mediums of art, such as photography, to be quite effective in conveying information and effecting change!

I have linked a great study below that delves into the intent, preparatory process and challenges faced by nature photographers (Ohara et al., 2019, pp. 1-16). Have a read and let me know what you think!

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333905261_Understanding_Nature_through_Photography_An_Empirical_Analysis_of_the_Intents_of_Nature_Photographers_and_the_Preparatory_Process

I’d like to end off by asking you:

What does photography mean to you when interpreting nature?

For me, because I possess minimal artistic abilities, photography is the artistic medium that has given me the opportunity to interpret nature and develop “a sense of place”.

Regards,

Agam.

References

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

Boeckel, J. V. (2015). At the heart of art and earth: An exploration of practices in arts-based environmental education. Environmental Education Research, 21(5), 801–802. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13504622.2014.959474?journalCode=ceer20

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 04: Nature interpretation through art and planning for “All” scenarios [Course website]. University of Guelph CourseLink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca

Thanks so much for checking out my post. I think photography is an amazing thing to get into and a great tool for interpretation. I love that the person behind the camera is the one in control of what your lens captures, the specific angle, lighting, frame size, etc. based on what they see as the most important for portraying in the moment. It is not a skill I have practice in (I'm more of a "phone photographer") but I think it may be something I look more into in the future. Thank you for the study you shared. I love the fact that we are able to connect science (facts, numbers, data) with photography. The crossing of two completely different disciplines, but total compliments of one another.

I look forward to seeing more of your photography work in your future posts.

Art is great way to bridge a connection between life’s intricacies and human emotion. I grew up fairly immersed in the artistic community, although not by choice, per se. My dad is an abstract landscape artist, so I have been exposed to his artwork at home every day, have attended his art shows, have visited art festivals and art galleries as a family, and have spent time in his art studio since I was a young child. My dad uses nature as his inspiration and his paintings as a means to share his appreciation of nature with others. While he is not a nature interpreter by profession, those that see my dad’s artwork are encouraged to envision themselves in the natural world and the joy that it brings. Unfortunately, I did not inherit my dad’s artistic abilities or passion; however, I see the value in art as being a phenomenal medium to engage with others.

Photo of my dad’s artwork, taken by himself (Aaron Robbins). Find some of his artwork on: https://www.saatchiart.com/aaronrobbins

When I ask myself “who am I to interpret nature through art?” the answer I arrive at is that I am a human being. Art is a natural inclination, whether it’s theater, storytelling, poetry, visual art, music, dance, or some other medium of expression. Art is a part of what connects us together, since our distinct and sometimes seemingly disparate cultural backgrounds are told through similar artistic means (Beck, et al., 2018, p. 227). Likewise, art can be a useful tool in present day to guide us through complex ideas in nature interpretation and connect us to the earth. As a nature interpreter your key responsibility is to help people perceive the world around them differently, but, “beauty is the hard-to-perceive order of the universe,” because the structure of earth’s processes is often hidden (Beck, et al., 2018, p. 90). To be an effective nature interpreter that shares the underappreciated beauty of nature, ‘Mill’s Formula’ is a tool that focuses on appealing to human emotion. Mill’s formula includes, “giv[ing] flesh and bone to cold facts,” and “mak[ing] stories to breathe life into inanimate objects,” which denotes a need for abstract conception and imaginative thinking (Beck, et al., 2018, p. 83). Tangible elements like trees, rocks, and wildlife become connected to intangible meanings through artistic interpretive techniques, which stress universal truths (Beck, et al., 2018, p. 88).  

I think the artistic mediums I would apply most often in nature interpretation are storytelling and visual art. Storytelling is something that strays from typical ‘lecture-style’ presentation, meaning it has greater potential to inspire curiosity in visitors. Inspiring curiosity is key because the bulk of learning occurs on an individual basis after the interpretive experience has ended (Beck, et al., 2018, p. 92). If someone walks away motivated to learn more, they are likely to engage with nature in the future. Visual arts are also an inspiring activity that can be accomplished as a group and it is often within the comfort zone of visitors. While activities such as dance and theater are great for certain groups of people, visual art is something more universal. It is important to understand your demographic and recognize the subtle reactions of the group you are with to make them feel comfortable (Beck, et al., 2018, p. 129).

Photo of my dad’s artwork, taken by himself (Aaron Robbins).  Find some of his artwork on: https://www.saatchiart.com/aaronrobbins

If you find yourself asking “who am I to appreciate nature through art?” the answer is you are a person fully capable and qualified to enjoy nature through the world of art, even though it can be intimidating. Society has constructed the idea of art as being on a pedestal, to be appreciated by the elites, but in no way does that accurately represent art as being innately human (Beck, et al., 2018, p. 228). Art does not need to mean gallery openings and staring into a painting like an abyss, instead it can be very informal and fun. My childhood may have exposed me to the ‘art world’, but I believe anyone can be a part of it, regardless of their experiences.

Have you ever been intimidated by art? If so, why do you think you felt this way? Does rethinking the meaning of art as a way to interpret nature change your perspective?

Works Cited

Thank you so much for sharing your Dad's art with us and your personal views on how art can be a great tool for nature interpretation. I'm quite similiar to you as I really do value art as a tool for engagement with others, whatever the art form it is. I love the fact that anyone, regarding your artistic abilities and talent, has the ability to create. It's a way of expression, and essentially telling a story. It's so cool when a piece also has multiple meanings and different people interpret different things based on what speaks to them. I've never heart of Mills Formula before until this course, but it is so true. You have the ability to take something that may not have that much life to it, and really bring it to life. When I read this, I thought of a a play. Beforehand, a play is just a bunch of text on a paper but when you have people acting it out in full costume, backdrops, emotion and colour in the voices, it brings those words on the paper life.

I agree with your words how art sometimes is put on a high pedestal and it is very intimidating. I think it not only intimidates other artists (worrying that they can never create something as extravagant) but also for the viewers, almost thinking they are not worthy in a sense to be viewing such pieces. I think social media has a huge part in this because it is endless the amount of things that are out there, including amazing pieces of art, which is very intimidating. However, it can also act as a huge inspiration for those who are not easily intimidated or have gotten over that fact. To answer your question, in the past I have felt intimidated by art, I think because I do enjoy drawing sketches (as a hobby) and will compare myself to others who are professionals at it. I have learned though that this is not something healthy to do and have a changed mindset that the things I create are for myself and not something I need to compare with others.

From your Dad's art, which types of paintings or scenes do you enjoy the most? What types of art do you connect with the most?