Nature Interpretation

One of my earliest memories of interacting with nature is helping animals. Living in the city, one of the biggest issues in my area was birds being injured. We would frequently have requests to take care of these injured birds and aid them in their healing. I remember having a big cardboard box with newspaper setup next to the door. When a bird got injured, we would place it in there with a bowl of water, and give it time to get used to all the noises in the house. Later at night, my dad or granddad would use gloves and just look at the wings to ensure it was nothing serious, occasionally wrapping it. They would feed the bird some grains or sometimes milk formula through a cotton bud, if it seemed to be tired, dehydrated or weak. And eventually, after the bird would heal, they would release the bird in the park, or leave our backyard door open, allowing the bird to make that decision. This is what made me passionate about Nature. I wanted to help animals, but also understand them.

Lip Kee Yap, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/House_Sparrow_%28Passer_domesticus_indicus%29.jpg

When I think about what ethics I want to bring as a nature interpreter, it is to always remember to help. While that was one of the first reasons why I was motivated to pursue nature interpretation, there are other values that are now an important part of me. These are - being honest, which means stating things as they are without exaggeration. Many times, I have come across climate change articles which exaggerate the current urgency of controlling climate change, but when these articles are proven factually and statistically wrong, public seems to think that climate change is no longer an issue or a priority. Another important value for me is sustainability.

Teodoraturovic, CC BY-SA 4.0-https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons-https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Morals-and-ethics.jpg

My responsibilities as a nature interpreter are a result of my beliefs and motivations. It is my responsibility to raise awareness of social and environmental issues while also making sure that I share correct information. In order to do that, I want to keep learning, keep doing better, keep researching and updating. My responsibility is not only towards nature but people who are getting information through me. And it is important for me that I do not misuse that faith or power I have.

Samurai Gandhi, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Tree-of-Knowledge_art.jpg

As a result of these personal values, the most suitable approach for me, as a nature interpreter, is through consideration, understanding, appreciation, validation, and reflection. It is important to be considerate and understanding towards others and yourself. Be kind and appreciate all things around you and about you. Validate feelings and move forward while reflecting on these. This will ensure that my ethics and motivations are fulfilled and I give my best. By reflection I also mean to reflect on how to best get your message across, and to ensure it is inclusive and accessible.

I loved reading your post. I would have to agree with you regarding the sensationalism that often occurs in the media. You bring up a very real and important moral obligation of interpreters to not fall into this trap. As to avoid potential distrust in the information that is being shared.

How do you think you might go about accomplishing this in future when interpreting?

Sometimes this may not be very easy. It’s easy to get caught up in something that one is passionate about and exaggerate its importance since one holds it to a great importance themselves. Or to make something more interesting and impactful one may try to make it sound more stimulating to the audience.

I know I`m at fault for occasionally falling into this trap. I`m very passionate about environmental conservation and climate action. Sometimes when discussing with others who may not share the same opinions regarding climate action I may distort some talking points to get my message across. However, like you mentioned, it is best to not fall into this trap since it can appear to falsify the message in which you are trying to share.

Over my university career, I have learned many things about the environment but the most amazing and surprising thing I learned was about sharks and the influence they have on ecosystems. Did you know that sharks evolved before trees and despite a few exceptions like the hammer head sharks, have remained relatively unchanged for millions of years (Davis, n.d.)? I first became interested in them when I took a vertebrate biology course and dissected a dogfish. Learning about the sensory modalities that these ancient animals have evolved blew my mind and is what initially interested me about sharks. The ampullae di Lorenzini are tiny electroreceptor pores found along the nose and face of elasmobranch species and allows them to detect electromagnetic fields that are generated by the muscles and movements of every living thing.

A schematic diagram of how sharks use the ampullae di Lorenzini to detect their prey. Credit: Sharkbanz

This incredible sense of elasmobranch species allows sharks to roll their eyes to the back of their head when feeding and rely on their electromagnetic sense to tell them where to bite. These amazing pores are also the reason why you should not listen to the common advice to punch a shark in the nose if you ever come face to face with a curious shark. Hitting the underside of a shark’s nose will cause them to reflexively open their mouth which is likely the last thing you want! Instead, as demonstrated in the video below, a better method to deter an inquisitive shark is to place your hand on the top of the head and direct them away from your body. Also, remember, only prey swims away!

Here is a video by One Ocean Diving, a shark eco-tourism group in Hawaii, in which Ocean Ramsey shows us how to physically deter a shark. Credit: One Ocean Diving

Other cool ways of deterring sharks using their electroreceptors are active shark deterrents like sharkbanz which use magnetic technology to interrupt the sharks reception using their ampullae di lorenzini to deter their approach.

There is a quick video explaining how sharkbanz work. Credit: SharkBanz

Learning about sharks in that lab dissection really highlighted to me how little we know about these creatures most of society would only describe as a monster. Since they aren’t as charismatic as other marine life, sharks receive a significantly less attention in turns of conservation and research (Cisneros-Montemayor et al. 2013). Our media focuses on the rare aggressive behaviour and influences like the movies JAWS has painted sharks to be blood thirsty, mindless killing machines when they are actually extremely intelligent and deserve our respect. For example, the common phrase “shark infested waters” really highlights our societies relationship this these apex predators. Since the waters are the shark’s home, technically humans are the ones who are infesting our waters with the amount of coastal development and the crowds at public beaches. I think Ocean Ramsey did an amazing job in her TEDtalk, explaining her relationship to sharks and their importance to our world so I highly recommend you check it out below!

Ocean Ramsey of One Ocean Diving describes her relationship with Bella the great white and their importance in ecosystems. 

Davis, J. Shark evolution: a 450 million year timeline. Retrieved 20 March 2021, from https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/shark-evolution-a-450-million-year-timeline.html

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. I first became interested in sharks after watching the movie Shark Water. Rob Stewart, the director travels to the Galapagos Islands and feeds sharks to demonstrate their nonviolent nature. The film discusses the misrepresentation of the aggressive nature of sharks portrayed in the media.

This misrepresentation of sharks is something that you mentioned in your blog post. I would have to agree with you. When I was younger, I remember being afraid to swim in the ocean for fear of an impending shark attack. It was only after watching documentaries such as Shark Water, did I start to dispel this fear.

Do you think there is way we can alleviate some of this fear? I personally I believe that education is a potential way to solve this. But would love to hear what you think.

Kind Regards

I think that music is as integral to the universe as mathematics is. That is to say, I view music as a tool that can be used to interpret the universe and the nature of our world into a way more tangible and usable by the majority population.

Music has been amongst human civilization for as long as humans have existed, and much, much further beyond that. What about the birds that sing in old forests, or the wind that whistles through mountainous canyons? Those are just as much music to me as a modern day band of brass instruments is. To me, music is anything you want it to be.

Just as humans have acted as the interpretors for the universe, creating languages and axiums in order to explain its secrets and communicate with them, I think music acts much in the same way. Music requires an interpreter for it to be valid - could a bird listening to its mate’s call consider that song music? Or perhaps a wolf pack hearing a lone howl? What about the way rain falls around a plant after a long drought? I think those are all valid forms of music to each of those individuals.

To look at this another way, if humans are a part of nature, having been born from it, a product of evolution and the universe, would our musical creations not be considered nature intrinsically? I think so. Whether its hardcore rap, or soft folk country, or a traditional song sung by the indigenous passed down through generations, I think every note, every composition crafted is a product of nature.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post you bring up some very thought-provoking ideas regarding music and the natural world. The whole universe is vibration and music/sound are vibration. So, it makes sense that music is as integral to the universe as mathematic is (as you so eloquently put it).

Do you think that nature has inspired the music that many musicians create today?

For me personally I think that nature has inspired various musicians to write and create music. One of my favourite musicians Sting has discussed how a barley field influenced his song “fields of gold”. Sting wrote the song after he bought a house near a barley field. The sunsets and the colours of the field helped inspire the lyrics.

Definitely give the song a listen too if you get the chance!

Kind Regards

It’s that time in the semester again: midterm season! Scary, I know, but don’t let that be an excuse to fall into bad self-care habits. Trust me, I am the first person to put off a 30min workout or 15 min break with my roommates “in the name of studying!”, but I have tried to make a conscious effort this year to give myself breaks and to make my studying as effective as possible. I thought I would share some of these tips, the science behind taking study breaks, and where nature comes into play.

Why take a break at all?

As counterintuitive as it sounds, taking breaks is the most efficient way to study and work. Studies have shown that taking breaks throughout the work- day lowers a person’s need for recovery (NFR) by the end of the day. In short, resting throughout the day allows you to be productive for longer and you won’t be in need of a major recovery by the end of the day.

Taking a study break is like a breather for your brain; it has been firing on all cylinders for hours, and breaking your study session allows it to absorb what you have learned and prepare itself for more information. As well, humans are not designed to be concentrating for 8+ hours a day without stopping, not only does this lead to a diminishing focus and mental fatigue, the increase in reliance on the internet for school can cause eye damage! (read this page for more info)

Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash

What types of breaks should I be taking, and how long should they be?

A study by Felsten highlights this importance finding that university students, specifically, experience the most effective breaks when out in nature and that even looking at nature out your window is more ‘restorative’ than looking at an urban setting! Think about how you feel taking a step outside after having spent hours at a desk. There’s nothing better than getting fresh air and feeling the sunlight on you to brighten your mood and clear your head.

Photo by Kaylee Eden on Unsplash

While outdoor spaces are a promoted way of taking a mental break, there are other types of breaks that you can take throughout the day including: lunch breaks, social breaks, washroom breaks (yes this can count!), yoga/meditation breaks, etc.

The science behind the length of breaks, and the work intervals between these breaks, is mixed. It mostly comes back to what works for you. For me, I have found that taking short breaks (5-15min) every hour and a longer break (30min+) every 2-4 hours is most effective!

Retrieved from: https://www.developinghumanbrain.org/read-learn-better-faster/

Plan, Plan, Plan

Often times, during midterm and exam season, I study all day long. Despite knowing the importance of breaks, it can be hard to pry yourself away from your work, especially when you feel like you’re running out of time. Planning set breaks at set time intervals keeps you on task for the time that you are studying and controls how long you are going to spend taking a break. To ensure that you stick to this schedule consider: setting a phone alarm, planning your breaks with a friend and helping each other stay on track, and plan what you will do during break time ahead of time – this gives you something to look forward to and you then know ahead of time what your day will look like – no last-minute surprises!

Photo by Renáta-Adrienn on Unsplash

So, stop what you are working on, grab a friend and go on a walk around the neighbourhood, or find a park to eat you lunch, or just simply stretch. Whatever you do, make sure that it is relaxing and provides a change of pace from your studies. Most importantly: be kind to yourself, university is hard, take a break and do the best you can!

I loved reading your post! Midterm season is a stressful time for everyone, and you provided some awesome tips to help students manage study breaks and really stressed the importance of mental breaks. I remember in my first year of university feeling really overwhelmed with midterms. I didn’t really want to take any breaks since, like you mentioned in your post, I thought I was “running out of time” and felt that I needed to fit as much studying as possible into one day in order to do well.

It wasn’t until one of my professors brought up in class one day that studies show that taking study breaks helps you retain more information. After hearing this I reconsidered my current study strategy and began to implement breaks into my studying. I noticed that this helped increase my attention span while studying and really helped improve my overall mental wellbeing.

Thanks again for sharing! Have a great reading week.

My love for nature has always walked hand in hand with my love for art. While I am not an amazing artist, I do put effort into my work and I find peace while I do it. As I spent time outdoors the beauty inspired me constantly, as the world has endless wonders to look at. My imagination always surpasses my skills, but I love to imagine humans intertwined with nature. This has made me see the how intricate and detailed the nature can be, from the scales of a butterfly to the veins in a leaf.

I think that my love for insects has also improved my capabilities when it comes to interpreting nature through art. I say this because I think that insects are greatly overlooked, and if you take the time to examine them, you see how gorgeous they can be. I have only been collecting insects for a few years now, and still people are amazed at what I show them. There are so many amazing and complex insects out there, and people do not even know they exist. They can be neon green or neon pink, they can have spots or stripes, be large or small, intricate, or simple. I have found that people are often surprised or amazed at what insects I show them because they are something they have never stopped to look at before. I love that I have a crew of older men working in a cemetery looking out for cool insects or interesting thing outside to show me. I work with a team of older men as groundskeepers at a large cemetery, and after annoying them with bug facts and bringing bugs into the breakroom, they fell under the influence of seeing what nature has to offer.

I loved reading about your passion for insects. I would agree with you being that the beauty in insects is often overlooked. There are so many interesting and unique types of insects out there! Each with their own unique and sometimes subtle differences. This was recently discussed in one of my courses this semester. We were discussing the challenges associated with visual identification of insects since the differences between insect species can often be very subtle.

Photo by Ando et al. 2018 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06116-1

For example, this picture includes various species of lady beetles each with there own unique phenotypic trait. Thanks for sharing!

       The role of privilege in nature is one that is becoming more noticed over time. To me, privilege is an attribute of a person that makes them more well off, not because of their personality or actions, but in terms of where they came from. Privilege is like having backstage access at a concert, it gives you extra perks. It is something that gives a person better opportunity, allowing them to get ahead in life, compared to those who do not have the same privilege. It is a topic that is often not spoken of, as people generally don’t realize how they might be. Other times, it might be hard for a person to admit that they are, and even further, acceptance of this brings extra responsibility by making the person accountable.

Photo by Tim Toomey from Unsplash

       So what does privilege have to do with nature interpretation? Although nature can be found all around us, having access to it and knowledge of it is still linked to privilege. There are those who as children did not have the luxury of being able to go outside and play in the grass, surrounded by trees and the sound of birds chirping. And even still those that might have had the chance to do so, but might not have been able to experience the beauty that a national park has to offer. It is in ways such as this that interpretation is related to privilege; it is not accessible to everyone.

       This is why as nature interpreters it is our responsibility to acknowledge our privilege, and also acknowledge that others may not have the same. In considering this, there are many ways we can provide others the same access to nature that we have experienced and take the huge role of privilege out of nature interpretation. As an interpreter, it is important to interpret in a way that can reach your entire audience that is made up of people that may vary demographically and culturally. One way to do this is by getting to know the individuals in your audience, allowing you to understand their reasons for attending. Those who fall into the category of underserved are those who interpreters tend to not reach with their interpretation for varying reasons including economic barriers, communication barriers, and discrimination. It is important to understand the ways in which people are underserved, and that while these may not be issues for everyone, they should be a consideration for everyone. As an interpreter making people feel welcome, respected, and safe is important especially for underserved audiences, and taking the time to better understand individuals one-on-one is a good place to start. Further than this, making use of universal concepts and all of the senses is a good way to ensure you make interpretation accessible to everyone in your audience, from those who might have visual impairments to those who have just started to learn English. 

       The important thing, regardless of being an interpreter, is to understand where people come from and that not everyone has had the same benefits. Privilege doesn’t just reside in nature interpretation, but it can be found everywhere, from those who were able to get driven to school versus those who had to walk or take the bus, to being able to buy something in a store without being asked for ID. Privilege is a dividing factor and more people must become aware of this to create social equality.

Photo by Markus Spiske from Unsplash

I really enjoyed reading your post! I thought your analogy of privilege as a backstage pass was insightful and really did a great job of describing what privilege is in a real-world sense. I personally possess a lot of privilege. Being that I am a white woman have had the opportunity to persue higher education among other things. So, I often possess the backstage pass that you referred to in your post.

Describe your ideal role of environmental interpreter. What might it entail? Where might it be? What skills might you need? (Keep these all-in mind as you begin to work on your assignments – tailor these to that ideal job!

When I think about the ideal role of an environmental interpreter, I think about certain qualities that are essential. To be an interpreter, you have to be able to transform your interest and understanding of nature into an experience that can capture the interest of people and educate them on the topic you’re passionate about. It would require wisdom, intelligence, and skills such as perception and curiosity. An interpreter needs to be able to effectively communicate information to various learning styles such as auditory, visual and hands on learners, and teach in a way that is understandable and engaging for any audience.

A photo I took in Kenya of a hyrax, the closest living relative to the elephant!

Reflecting on personal experiences, I’ve met people throughout my life that have been able to turn experiences in nature into something educative and wonderful, leaving me with a new understanding of the place I’m visiting, and provide new insight into the ecology and biodiversity of the area. When I was younger my family and I went on a safari in Kenya where we spent a couple weeks in tents on a park reserve. We had guides who were able to take us to various landmarks and show us how animals and the environment interact. Overall it was a great experience that was turned into something special with the help of the guides. Their ability to communicate their understanding and experiences changed my perspective of Kenya and provided me of a rich understanding of the geography and culture.

A photo I took of a rock in hells gate national park in Kenya! The directors for the lion king visited the park before beginning production of the movie.

Years later, reflecting on what the role of a nature interpreter is, I’m glad I had those experiences and was able to see strong examples of what makes a good nature interpreter. For my personal ideal role, it would be as a nature interpreter for the Dundas escarpment and Bruce trail. Moving from America I grew up in the small town of Dundas in Ontario. As a kid my friends and I really enjoyed what the nature of the town had to offer. There’s the Dundas peak, which you can walk to by taking a path from the Bruce trail that provides a view of the entire town. This view is very sentimental to me because I always reflect and try to see what has changed, and can also see various landmarks such as the elementary and high schools I attended, my house and many others.

A photo I took at the Dundas peak, what a view!

Thanks for your post! I loved reading about your personal experiences and memories that you have from your childhood that have influenced what you are passionate about. I share a similar idea as to what qualities an environmental interpreter should have. One of which is being passionate about what they are educating the audience on.

Let me take you to the place where I first fell in love with nature. It’s not a far walk at all, we’ll just have to take a few steps through the latched gate and into my backyard. If you listen closely, you’ll be able to hear the birds chirping in the tall evergreens, the soothing water trickling downstream into the koi pond and if we’re really lucky, we might even be able to hear the frogs croak right before they jump back into the water. I’d like to welcome you to my happy place!

A picture I took of my backyard in the summer of 2017. 

I am very fortunate that my parents created our own little oasis to escape to. From a young age, I always enjoyed spending time in our backyard, whether  playing an intense game of soccer with my brother or rapidly chasing my dogs around the yard (they never really got the hang of fetch). However, as I grew older, my backyard transformed from an area where I would go to let out all my bottled up energy, to a peaceful place to refocus and reflect. It truly is my own sanctuary - especially now during these challenging times! During the warm days of summer, I like to slide a chair out into the sunshine, sit there, and just breathe. On the chilling winter nights, I’ll sit in the kitchen and watch the snow fall, creating a fluffy white blanket covering the landscape. I am very grateful to live in Canada where I am able to experience the beautiful changes my oasis encounters throughout the seasons. 

This photo was taken by me in my backyard. My mom and I planted hydrangeas because they are our favourite flower. 

My ‘sense of place’ was (and still is) fostered by my lovely parents. Since I was young, they always encouraged me to step outside and explore the beauty of nature. From going on long walks with my dogs at the family cottage to jumping in the lake afterwards, my family aspires to spend as much time as we can outdoors. As I grow older, I have begun traveling to new places to see nature from a different perspective and take my exploration beyond the limits of my own backyard.

This is my favourite photo I have ever taken of my dog Maia. She is getting ready to soak up the sun at our family cottage!

In high school, I was part of the OutDoors club where we traveled to Tobermory, Ontario, and spent 3 days hiking through lush forests, up the sides of cliffs, and waking up to the most breathtaking views. To this day, one view that still has me completely stunned was when my family traveled 10,000 ft up the side of the Haleakala volcano to see the most spectacular sunrise. Being up amongst the clouds gave me a feeling I will never forget. 

This photo was taken of me by a friend of mine when we visited Tobermory, Ontario in 2015.

This photo was taken by me at the top of the Haleakala volcano in 2015.

In all, being surrounded by nature gives me a true sense of tranquility and serenity that I am very grateful for, as I have learned to use my deep connection with nature to escape both the internal and external pressures of life. Mental health has been something that I have always struggled with and I never truly recognized how big of an impact nature has had on my wellbeing until recently. My adventure with nature has just begun and I can’t wait to see what nature has in store. 

My question for you is; where is your happy place?

Let me start off by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post! You did an amazing job of painting a picture of your ‘sense of place’ by describing the sounds and feelings you get when being in your happy place. I enjoyed hearing your story about your relationship with nature and how this has developed over the years.

You mentioned that nature gives you a sense of tranquility and you use it to escape various pressures. I also have had a very similar experience. Growing up I truly felt a connection to nature and would often use it to de-stress (or sometimes get away from my older brother). This is something that has followed me till this day. I remember being in my first year of University and exploring the Dairy Bush and the Arboretum to de-stress from some of the pressures of first year. This has also been a major aspect of my day to day life currently. Being in lockdown has brought its own set of pressures and stresses and I find that taking the time to get some fresh air and explore some of the natural areas around my neighbourhood has really helped me de-stress and clear my head.