ENVS*Final Prompt
Hello all!
This final blog post was such an amazing way of reflecting on how this course has change the way I view nature interpretation, and how I approach the communication of information in general. I am definitely someone who learns best by doing, I like to touch things, or see them in action! I learned this during one of our first units, when discussing how to teach to the different learning types and the difference between tangible and intangible elements (Beck et al., 2018). The reason I am bringing this up again is one component of the prompt we were given: Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. The answer to this is deeply entwined with the rest of the prompt, but Iâll return to that later. The biggest ethic I believe in when it comes to nature interpretation is that everyone deserves the opportunity to understand the nature that they are surrounded by. This does not mean that that we should all have access to the same free online resources, though it does help, but instead that we are all given the chance to learn in a way that aligns with our needs.
 *Photo taken by me of my two friends crossing a frozen lake in Garibaldi Park, BC*
I started a program at UoG in 2014, graduated with a general Science, and went to Fleming college for Arboriculture, before returning to UoG to upgrade my degree. I learned that all of the book-reading in the world wonât help me retain knowledge the way that listening to a respected instructor, or physically applying my knowledge does. If I had been taught this at a younger age, I might have approached my education differently. This is why I deeply believe that we need to expand public resources surrounding environmental education so that it is not only given to those who can afford a college education, or courses from a private institution. Physical learners need to be given attention just as their counterparts are: starting in early childhood and throughout their developmental years. We need to break down the stigma that those who donât retain well from intangible learning arenât smart. Â
 *Photo taken by me during a mushroom hunt and information share with my coworker in Coquitlam, BC*
So many of the people that I know who are in outdoor or environmentally central trades/professions stumbled into it later in life, usually due to the many physical faucets that this field has. They are some of the most well-educated people I have ever met, without spending much time at all in a classroom! My beliefs within nature interpretation are that by focusing on diversifying teaching methods we are able to connect more people to our cause. Opening up learning to everyone, despite their location, background, financial position, abilities, or personal beliefs would create a wonderfully inclusive culture around one thing that every human being shares: a reliance on the environment.
*Photo taken by me of a coworker pruning trees in White Rock, BC*
Our responsibilities as nature interpreters are to make this inclusivity possible, to be open to conversing with people, showing them what we know, whether or not they hold the same views as us. We should not argue with anyone, or try to change their minds, because everyone comes to love this earth in their own way, from their own place, as discussed between David Suzuki and Richard Louv in the video we were provided (Suzuki and Louv, 2012). All we have to do is open the door, and hope that they walk through on their own. Â
 *Photo taken by me of a coworker pruning a tree in Langley, BC*
I am an arborist by trade, which means that I climb trees in order to identify diseases or hazards within them, prune for aesthetics and/or safety, and am often involved in tree removal. I entered this trade from a place of environmental consciousness, believing I was going to become a âtree doctorâ, who identified issues and fixed them, only removing living trees if it was absolutely necessary. This is not the reality of my profession. I have seen many more trees cut down for urban development or due to unwise planting decisions than I had anticipated when I first began my career. I realized early on that people donât see the benefit in their trees, such as reduced energy bills due to shading their houses on hot days, the way that they act as a sound barrier for roadways, the decreased likelihood of lawn flooding due to their roots up-taking water, and so much more. All they see are extra leaves to rake off their lawns. My coworkers often donât see trees, especially big ones, as living beings, but instead as a fun challenge to kill that you can brag about later.
*Photo taken by me of a coworker removing a tree in Surrey, BC*Â
Through this course Iâve learned that we are all interpreters for each other, weâve all seen and learned things that others havenât. Sometimes by listening to other peopleâs experiences we learn about things weâve never encountered, and sometimes our own piece of knowledge can help otherâs connect the dots on how something works. At my job most of the people I work with donât understand tree biology but have many more years of practical experience than I do. So when they remark on how a growth on a tree, that I probably never would have noticed, is âweirdâ or âcoolâ, I get the opportunity to explain the probably cause of it, and why the tree responds to certain stimuli the way it does. I hope that eventually this mutual enlightenment leads to a deeper appreciation for trees in both of us.
 *photo taken my me, of a cool tree graft found in Victoria, BC*
In conclusion, this course hasnât changed the way I see nature, instead it has shown me different ways to communicate my own view with others, and the value of listening to their response. There is no âone size fits allâ when it comes to learning or interpreting, and, since we are all both interpreters and students, we need to have patience with each other, and try to see through the eyes of others. Only through connection to each other can we communicate our passions.
*Photo of my dog and I frolicking in Tofino, BC*
My questions for you are: have you realized through this course that someone in your life was a nature interpreter for you, and you never noticed? How have you been an interpreter for others before this course, and will your methods change now that itâs over?
Thank you to all of my classmates and our instructors, youâve all taught me so much this semester!
Katie the Treehugger
*Photo of my dog and I looking forward to our next adventure!*
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing.
David Suzuki and Richard Louv @ AGO [Video file]. (2012, July 20). Retrieved March 27, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5DI1Ffdl6Y
Hi there!
I really appreciate the approach you took with this post. We approached our final posts in different ways, but it just goes to show how nature interpretation canât be put into one box!
This brings me to my next point, how thereâs no âone size fits allâ for nature interpretation - you put it wonderfully! Because there are so many different people in the world (some interested in nature and others not), thereâs a variety of ways us as nature interpreters can approach engaging an audience. Do you have a favourite audience? In other words, one that you maybe find easy to engage or enjoy engaging the most? For myself, it would have to be children. They are always incredibly curious and I find it easy to relate to them!
Ou, I love your questions! Come to think of it, my mother has been a huge nature interpreter for me throughout my life. For as long as I can remember, weâve gardened flowers and vegetables together. These were some of my first encounters with nature in my own backyard. I felt very connected to the earth growing and harvesting my own food, and my mother is who made that possible for me. She provided me a space where my imagination could run free, all while being grounded to the nature around me. Iâve been an interpreter for my friends - without even realizing it! Whenever we go for walks, Iâm always pointing out edible weeds or flowers...and maybe Iâve taught them a thing or two, haha!
Thanks for an awesome read, enjoy the rest of your semester!
-Nicole





















