Robby's Nature Adventure

Wow, the last blog post, this course has definitely been a fun journey where I did learn a lot not only about nature itself but how we see it. A lot has definitely changed since the beginning of the semester. To be given the opportunity to self-reflect on so many aspects that otherwise I wouldn’t have thought about is definitely something I’m thankful for. I’m also glad to have shared this experience with all of you, reading what everyone has had to say over the last 12 weeks was really fun and I felt like I’ve built a connection with everyone here. I’m really excited to read everyone’s last post for the semester, maybe ill even keep this blog around so I can catch up with everyone on occasions. Regardless once again thank you to everyone for giving us the opportunity to learn and make connections along the way.

What beliefs do you bring?

In general, I think the beliefs I bring are extremely important to grow the world around us, that we always need to think about things outside of ourselves and our own personal experiences. I believe in topics like the importance of climate change. Where obviously the world is being threatened by its own people. We’re constantly losing plants and animals to extinction, there’s too much CO2 in the atmosphere, our oceans are polluted with plastics. If we don’t recognize these things as happening we will lose our chance to save the planet. I also believe in the importance of diversity. That we’re gifted privileges over other people; or as we discussed in the course we all carry “invisible backpacks” and no two “backpacks” are the same. Some are heavier than others, and some may not have any weight in their backpack at all. Once again as people we need to recognize these things about life.

What responsibilities do you have?

The first responsibility is something I briefly mentioned when taking about my beliefs, and thats recognizing. For nature interpretation or any type of interpretation, we need need to understand and recognize whats happening in the world around us. A good interpreter needs to pass on their knowledge onto the next person; and that can’t be done if you yourself doesn't properly understand what is happening in the world around you. Going to my first major belief about climate change. There’s a lot a nature interpreter can to do help climate change. The research on climate change is already done, all we need to do is advocate for a change. We need to teach people about why need to protect our environment. Theres a lot of ways this can be done: telling them face-to-face, taking them along trails, showing them the negative impacts, teaching people how to live a sustainable life style. If we don’t proprly advocate and make a change soon, the beautiful nature we see around us won’t exist for the next generation to see. When it comes to teaching someone something new; it’s important to keep your options open so you can make an impact. This is also true for my second belief in creating a diverse world in nature interpretation. People with a heavier “invisible backpack” do need our help, and the best way to help is listen and uplift their voices. First listening gives the opportunity to learn about a culture or lifestyle you may not know about otherwise, it can even change a world view or how you see nature. If you can then properly apply that knowledge to your work as a nature interpreter, then you can aiding to uplift the voices of the less privileged. Its also our responsibly to create a safe space where the less privileged are welcome and make an impact themselves.

What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?

For me personally, I rather not be simply speaking in front of a group of people lecturing them. I don’t think I can properly teach anyone that way, and I especially don’t want what i’m saying to fall on deaf ears. I much rather be out in a field, on a trail and showing people what the world has to offer. I really want to be able to connect things together for people. Teach them about nature through things they alreadly know about in their everyday lives. I feel the approach of connection works the best for me, and really grateful I can use those connections to teach people about nature and the living world.

I really enjoyed reading your post. A lot of your points connected to things I strive to portray as well. I especially enjoyed reading your thoughts on what approaches you find most suitable as an individual in nature interpretation. 

--I rather not be simply speaking in front of a group of people lecturing them. I don’t think I can properly teach anyone that way... I much rather be out in a field, on a trail and showing people what the world has to offer.

Over the past few months I have learned a lot about the importance of nature interpretation theory and my responsibilities as an interpreter. I wanted to start by mentioning a formula for nature guiding, written by Enos Mills in 1920. Mills was one of the first individuals to use the term “interpret” when talking about the duties of a “nature guide” and he laid the groundwork for others like Freeman Tilden (1950s) to create the principles of interpretation that continue to guide interpreters to this day (Beck et al., 2018, pp 8, 83). Mills’ formula for good “nature guiding” was as follows:

• Appeal to the imagination and the reason. • Give flesh and blood to cold facts. • Make stories to breathe life into inanimate objects. • Deal with principles rather than isolated information. • Give biographies rather than classifications.

-(Beck et al. 2018, pp. 83)

I love these simple statements because they hold such relevance even to this day. I agree that for interpretation to be real, important, and moving, it should be imaginative, creative, and use stories and real-life examples to make programs interesting and engaging. Many of my motivations for being an interpreter come from my own learning styles and this type of work is very fulfilling for me. I personally am a visual learner and learn the best from hands on demonstrations and illustrations. I also learn much better from hearing someone explain topics instead of reading them in a textbook. As an interpreter, I will strive to make programs interesting and engaging through many different hands-on examples, stories, pictures, and easy to digest information. I will still accommodate other learning styles like making sure I have written options for those who learn better from the written word. I will try to get to know my groups if I can to present information in the most engaging way possible.

The rest of this post contains my core beliefs and motivations as an environmental interpreter, I am interested in hearing what motivates some of you to pursue nature interpretation.

1. Share information in an inclusive way.

(Photo by Emma Lippert)

I have had the privilege to explore many different natural spaces over the years and have been able to further my environmental education in university, but I have come to dislike some things about traditional post-secondary education. Many people I interact with are incredibly smart, but they struggle to share their knowledge with others in an inclusive way, so there is often a “gatekeeping” of information simply because these individuals can’t communicate their knowledge in an easy to digest format. I vow to share my knowledge with others in an inclusive way and not withhold information simply because I think I cannot explain it properly. The whole purpose of interpretation is to share the beauty of the world with others and help them gain a better understanding of how the world around them works.

2. Dispel fear of the outdoors.

(Photo by Emma Lippert)

I mentioned in my very first blog post that I started out with a tentative relationship with nature as many of the unknowns scared me. Weird insects, spiky plants, vast forests that you could get lost in, they all frightened me and because I hadn’t perfectly “mastered the outdoors” I was constantly discouraged from trying to enjoy it. Having role models like teachers and employers who have encouraged and pushed me to explore more of nature, I have grown to really appreciate all that it has to offer. I noticed that once I learned some facts about certain creatures or plants, I could better appreciate them and their role in life on earth and I know that I will continue to use my knowledge to help others be less afraid of nature and embrace it for all its complex beauty.

3. Fight for access to natural spaces and removal of systemic and structural barriers.

(Photo by Emma Lippert)

I believe that everyone should have access to nature interpretation activities and natural spaces. Much of this fear of nature can come from inadequate environmental education or barriers to accessing natural spaces. I think it is very disappointing to know that there are people who live so close to parks and natural spaces, but can’t access them due to financial, language, transportation, or accessibility barriers. If we can start to bring people to nature or nature to people more often, we could see more people becoming empowered by the environment and respecting it. Through increased affordable transportation options to parks, lower entrance fees, well maintained and accessible trails, multilingual signage, a diverse range of interpreters, and more events that include various marginalized communities, some of these barriers can be minimized (Beck et al., 2018, pp 134-137).

4. Creating community gardens and other environmental initiatives in urban settings

(photo of Ron Finley from https://worldwarzero.com/magazine/2020/06/eco-hero-ron-finley/)

In the future I hope to work with other non-profit organizations to help make natural spaces more accessible and approachable to a wider range of demographics, especially those who cannot afford to visit natural spaces. I believe there is great importance in community engagement and I think local initiatives such as community gardens or refurbishing local parks are really important in bringing nature to urban spaces and providing an educational opportunity.

Here is a link to an article and a short video about a group in Guelph who came together to improve a community garden’s compost system. https://guelph.ca/living/recreation/parks/community-and-pollinator-gardens/

I also highly suggest you watch this TED talk by Ron Finley on his work in South Central Los Angeles and how he is transforming urban food deserts into places where communities can come together, learn, and grow their own food. These are the kinds of initiatives that make me excited to work with the environment. https://www.ted.com/talks/ron_finley_a_guerrilla_gardener_in_south_central_la/transcript?language=en#t-2942 

5. Highlight Indigenous cultures and their importance.

(Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site. (Parks Canada) https://www.haidagwaiiobserver.com/news/reopening-of-gwaii-haanas-delayed-until-2021/)

Finally, I believe that for Canada to have any success in the future, we must make amends with Indigenous communities and work collaboratively with them to help interpret and protect our ecosystems and land. I have always admired Indigenous belief systems and how connected they are to the earth. If we could all just understand our connection to life on this planet, I think this world would be a much better place, but urbanization and colonization have separated us from this relationship. In future interpretation roles I will make sure to integrate Indigenous knowledge holders and their stories into talks to remind everyone of this important link between peoples.

Thank you for reading this far! It has been a pleasure getting to learn with you all and I wish you all the best in your future endeavours!

References

Thank you so much for sharing this post! I found myself connecting to a lot of your thoughts and reflected on how these skills that we have learned as a class will have a positive impact on the environment and on people around us when we use them in public the next time. 

--”I mentioned in my very first blog post that I started out with a tentative relationship with nature as many of the unknowns scared me. Weird insects, spiky plants, vast forests...”

This point that you touched resonated with me the most as I was in a similar situation. As I mentioned in my first blog post, when I was younger, I strongly disliked playing outside willingly, hated being in the sun, did not enjoy visiting new parks and most of all ... hated bugs. As I started to grow up, I began to develop a stronger understanding and appreciation of the outdoors and all that lived within. Although I am still not a huge fan of bugs, I now have an advanced understanding and appreciation for nature and all within. With the new skills we have learned this semester, we can further our interpretation of nature and educate and inspire others like us, to do the same. 

Another one of your points that I felt strongly connected to was your discussion on community gardens.

--’Creating community gardens and other environmental initiatives in urban settings”

In my hometown, we unfortunately have a large population of homeless people. With the little to no shelters/soup kitchens for this population to go to, at times, it can be hard for them to obtain food to eat. In the summer, there was a large community sized garden that volunteers maintain over these months to provide fresh produce for local shelters to produce food for the homeless population. With food drives like this every weekend, the homeless community does not have to struggle to obtain food as much in the summer. 

After reading your final post this week, I thought that you would be happy to hear this story in hopes that it inspires you as it did me. I hope that one day, every city can do something like this even if they do not have a large homeless community. Every little bit helps. 

Hey everyone,

This week, I found it difficult to relate our weekly reading to our blog post prompt. However, while reading this week’s chapter, the section on advocacy in action interested me and got me thinking. I wanted to come on here and share some of my thoughts with you guys.

Interpretation provides people with knowledge in ways that encourage and inspire. We have learned that nature interpretation is a great tool that can be used to educate the public on environmental issues. Some issues include climate change, deforestation, water quality, invasive species, endangered species, etc. The list is endless. Advocacy is present in many interpretive programs. Advocacy means taking public action on important issues (Beck et al., 2018). Public advocacy can often be risky to organizations and have consequences (Beck et al., 2018). However, if done right, there can be great rewards. This includes establishing a deeper connection with clientele and making a difference in the world (Beck et al., 2018).

The textbook talks about a marine advocacy organization called Aquarium, whose mission is “to inspire conservation of the ocean” (Beck et al., 2018).

“Overfishing, pollution, and climate change have put the ocean in a precarious position, endangering not just marine life but all life on Earth. But, together, we can turn the tide if we act now (Beck et al., 2018, pp. 470)."

This got me thinking about a marine wildlife advocacy group, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, that I watched on Animal Planet. They are an international organization whose mission is the protection of marine life. They partner with governments in different countries to identify and capture criminal groups engaging in illegal fishing activity. They are very well known for their fight again whaling in Japan. However, their tactics are sometimes very extreme. They often try to destroy fishing gear and fishing vessels in the water. Many people debate if this is good or bad for the conservation movement. Would you consider this reckless advocacy? Check them out for yourself visit https://seashepherd.org or check out the video below (0:46).

I see their extreme measures as being very dangerous and unnecessary at times. However, their methods have helped them reach a fair amount of success. I wonder if they would be as successful without using these extreme measures sometimes though desperate times call for desperate measures.

Have you ever heard of this group? If so, I’d be interested to see people weigh in on the debate.

Keep in mind there is no right or wrong answer. This is a safe space for everyone to share their ideas.

Until next time,

Karissa

References

This is an excellent post. I too, had trouble with the blog prompt this week because there are so many amazing and significant things about nature, that it is difficult to choose one. However, after learning about the roles of nature interpreters through this course, I have come to realize the importance of choosing an area of science and nature and becoming very knowledgeable and passion about it to share it with others. Although you say you had trouble with the prompt this week, I can assure you that you did a great job in talking about an issue that you feel passionate about, it resonated with me!

I have heard of the documentary Seaspiracy and have been wanting to watch it for quite some time, but school and work has just been too busy. Unit your post, I have never heard of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, but through reading your blog, I can appreciate their mission. However, you mention that their actions can be rather harsh, causing controversy around their organization. Upon doing my own research, I have found more negative impacts than positive as a result of this organization’s actions. Although not from a credible source, there is a video of them ramming into a Japanese whaling ship, which makes a good point, but puts humans and wildlife at risk of danger. They apparently destroy scientific resources set out for further exploration, which although they are doing for the good of ocean wildlife, actually causes further harm and pollution.

Thanks for bringing this topic to everyone’s attention, I was actually going to talk about this exact topic until I saw your post, nevertheless, I am glad that one of us brought it up! I’ve actually been following this group on social media for some time now even before their boost by Netflix’s documentary, Seaspiracy. The first time I watched this movie, I was absolutely enraged. I have always been conscious on the rare occasion that I have purchased seafood and to find out, in the documentary, that the “Dolphin Seal” that is created to protect these animals, is a lie, is absolutely infuriating. Dolphins and other harmless creatures are being massacred in large groups for no reason other than they are trying to eat. I’m not sure if you have seen this film, but I would definitely add it to your watch list as it will change the way you look at marine animals. 

I am so glad that an advocate group like Sea Sheperd exists because there are so many marine animals that are being slaughtered every day that we are not aware of, and that governments are covering up because they are benefitting from it. Although some of this group’s methods may be extreme, I think that they are necessary and acceptable as their best interest is in survival of these animals. If Sea Sheperd does not fight for the survival of these animals, who will?

While I went into this week’s topic thinking little of the applicability of music to nature, I was surprised to find the connections ran much deeper than I had thought! Have you ever heard of the question, “Did humans discover or invent math?” I used to think of music as being something that also fit the topic of a question like this – something elementary that humans just seemed to have mastered. But I now see that such a comparison is not applicable - beautiful to think that music and music theory is something that pre-dates us and is shared by all kinds of complex life! I was particularly shocked to find out how complex whale songs really are! It was interesting that they use repeating, ‘rhyming’ refrains (Gray et al, 2001). I knew there was a great deal of math within the harmonic scale but learning about how it is used by other complex life was genuinely shocking. There is much more to music within nature than I had imagined before learning more.

I was also very drawn to the ramifications of the idea that ambient sound is a central component of natural habitats (Gray et al, 2001). I get really strong feelings of nostalgia while listening to music or hearing sounds, and one of the things that stands out to me is how I feel like these sounds and the feelings they give me relate to seasons. Music makes us feel first and think second according to Sahi (2012), and I think that the setting of our scenario plays into those initial feelings strongly.

What season do you think of when you hear this sound?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD47Mhzm-CU

How about this one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pODTgPZx3o

—–

While nature songs in music are interesting, I think that the connection of nature to music is a much more intrinsic feature, in a nostalgic sense. Music affects our minds through emotion and tension, and the melody creates an atmosphere for the lyrics to specify what its about (Sahi, 2012). Sahi (2012) goes into detail about how folk traditions are passed on through the musical sounds of the region. In particular, the significance of nature within the culture is something passed through Finnish folk music. This can easily be seen among Indigenous peoples of Canada and their enduring connection to the land. I would even go so far as to say that while it may not be rooted in deep tradition, songs like Bobcaygeon by The Tragically Hip for myself and other South Ontarians with the privilege of memories of the Muskokas and the shield.

Personally, a song that brings me back very vivid memories of the environment around where I grew up is Pink & White by Frank Ocean. I grew up in a small city and so songs about suburbia bring about a lot of nostalgia, just as those about forests and nature do. Despite the song’s very clear connection to the artist (being in New Orleans during hurricane Katrina), it depicts a carefree energy in melody and lyricism that I connected with during the freedom of summer growing up. I worked closing shifts as a buggy boy in a parking lot – probably why the imagery here stuck with me so strongly.

“That’s the way every day goes

Every time we’ve no control

If the sky is pink and white

If the ground is black and yellow”

—— 

Do you have any needlessly specific songs that remind you of summer? 

Gray, P. Krause, B. Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C. & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science. 291. 52-54.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post this week! To start, just as you found, I also was not aware that whales use repeating “rhyming refrains” (Gray et. al., 2001) in their songs. As someone who has grown up learning and practicing music as well as studying science, I found this fact very fascinating!

--What season do you think of when you hear this sound?--

Closing my eyes and listening to this sound, reminds me of the cold and frigid days at the top of the ski hill I grew up riding. This man made ‘mountain’ was in a very open spot of the park, so on the days where the weather conditions were extreme, here, all you hear was the wind blowing snow and reflecting off of your winter coat. I appreciate you adding this question and sound to your post as it reminds me of the pre-pandemic times, where I could go skiing all winter without the hassle of COVID restrictions. 

--How about this one?--

There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.

This quote shares a very important message as it emphasizes the historical impact the world has on us today and without it, we wouldn’t where we are. Personally, history is not something I dwell on, however I understand that it is crucial to keep record of our past. Whatever we learned in our past whether it is success or failure, we can apply those lessons learned to our day-to-day life. Fully acknowledging our past will allow us to move forward in inspiring and creating more amazing things! A great example of this, is all the beautiful historical architecture downtown Toronto. Unfortunately a lot of them have been demolished to restore new more modern looking buildings. However those that are still standing, provide a lot of character for our city and reminds us of all the hard work and infrastructure that went into building these monuments. Without these buildings, one can see that a lot of the historical influence is gone and it we can be forgetful on how influential these buildings were at one time. Having these buildings still in place provide a memory and knowledge of ancient things. I do appreciate how a lot of the new architecture is still keeping some of the old character and building around it.

I appreciated your post, I definitely relate to some points you made. 

“Personally, history is not something I dwell on, however I understand that it is crucial to keep record of our past.”

I specifically connected with this point on a personal level. All through public school/high school, growing up, I was never the biggest fan of history. At a young age, I did not really understand the importance of learning this subject. What use did I have for this information? It was not until around grade 8 when we had our year end trip to Quebec that I realized the significance of what we had learned. Growing up at a french immersion school, we learned about events that happened in Quebec, for example, La Citadelle. When we visited Quebec, we visited La Citadelle, and it was in this moment that I had a strong understanding of the history of this place and why we had to study it in class. 

I wanted to use this free write opportunity to address the ever consuming midterm stress we must all be going through right now. Personally, I find it very difficult to find the energy or time to do the things I love once school picks up. It becomes increasingly difficult to go on walks, leave the house, hang out with friends, or watch a good show. This year, I have been trying to work on this issue, and reserve more time for myself so that I can wind down and reduce my stress levels.

One of the ways I have been doing this, is taking my notes and reading them outside. This is a great way for me to still enjoy nature, get some fresh air and relax, while not feeling anxious about wasting precious study time. When I am trapped inside all day, I end up feeling very burnt out and I start to feel guilty that I have not been going out and enjoying my favorite season!

Sadly, midterm season falls right around the time when the autumn is at its peak and all the trees are showing off their beautiful color changes. As frustrating as this is, I think it is important to find the balance between our school work and natural interpretation. Since we are all taking this course, I think it is safe to assume that we all appreciate nature and value our time outside. Thus, I think it is important to acknowledge the problem of finding time for both.

Instead of watching some Netflix or YouTube in my spare time, I have been opting for a short walk around my neighborhood or park to fill the time. This is a great way for me to rest my eyes from the computer screen and shut down my overthinking for a little while. These breaks also allow me to continue appreciating nature and they allow me to stay connected to the changing environment around me. Most importantly, it helps me calm down my nerves about school and it keeps me from feeling utterly overwhelmed with my upcoming deadlines.

Apart from studying outside and going on walks, I do not really have any other solutions for enjoying nature during midterm season. I am pretty new to prioritizing myself above school, so I would love if you could drop any suggestions on this topic! I have been looking for more ways to continue practicing natural interpretation through busy times, but it has not been easy.

Thank you for reading, and I look forwards to reading your comments!

-Georgi A.

Thank you for sharing! I think that you and I have a lot of similar work strategies. As someone who commutes to Guelph for school, I find that between working part time as well as doing school work, it is sometimes hard to make time for yourself. Especially now, during midterm season, I often find it hard to make time for myself to do anything other than school work I often find myself going to gym to workout in the early morning or even going outside to do work. Even just going outside to do some yoga are something is a great way to destress while also enjoying the beautiful scenes are sounds that surround us. As you mentioned in your post, I completely agree about taking a short walk instead of use an electronic device. We would all have so much more free time if we were not constantly picking up a cellphone or turning on the next episode of Squid Game. Overall, I really enjoyed reading your post as I fell that I could connect to a lot of your ideas.

Interpreting nature through art is something I love to do and some art pieces depicting nature can almost be very surreal to observe and admire. Growing up, I would paint a lot with my mom and we would draw a lot of landscapes that we saw after hiking through the ravine near my house. Specifically, I enjoy paintings that have a lot birch trees because they are rare to find as they’re usually found near lakes and rivers. They require well-drained soil, enough moisture and direct sunlight for proper growth. The graceful shapes, small stature, white trunks and distinctive bark are why I love birch trees so much. 

Interpreting nature through art allows me to connect with nature on a different level and express my imagination. It also has a lot of healing powers as interpreting nature through art can be somewhat therapeutic and soothing. Nature can be interpreted as art as it represents recreating the natural world and also creating new ways to see nature in a new light. In other words, art can mimic nature by seeking to visually replicate certain objects as they would appear in real life.

I also interpret nature through photography which is a form of art. When I would go glamping with my friends, I love to take photos of the landscape, plants and animals. In addition, I love enhancing the photos to bring out the colors that are in the trees and the sky. I think that is a key tool for myself in interpreting nature and forming a certain narrative of the photo that I captured. Art galleries and museums allowed me to interpret the gift of beauty and the history behind a lot of the issues that we face in the our day to day life within the environment that we live in. We touched on this briefly in our textbook and I believe whatever we are exposed to in our adolescents will ultimately be the result of how we interpret certain things today. Everyone interprets “the gift of beauty” and “nature” in a different way and we all cherish certain memories from our past that relate to how we have interpreted nature. Which reminds me, I used to love interpreting nature through animated movies such as Ice age. It sounds silly, but these movies opened my eyes to what nature looks like in different parts of the world. It allowed me to construct my imagination on what nature looks like in places like Antarctica. Also, the human tribes featured in the movie are somewhat powerless in the face of a dangerous natural world. That gave me a better sense of how us humans are even impacted by nature. 

I too, often find myself photographing when I’m out in nature settings or even places with neat architecture or wall murals. No matter how many times I hike in the same forest, on the exact same path, I always find myself taking a photograph of something whether it be a picture of a water stream or even just the top of the trees from the point of view on the Earth floor. I attached some photos below for you to look at if you're interested. 

In addition, I love your point about interpreting nature through childhood films! Although I am also a huge Ice Age fan, I personally think that the most creative and adventurous childhood movie that it has incredible wonder, is Nemo. I've always been fascinated with the ocean, I think that it is a beautiful place with so much life and wonder that is still so unknown. I think that in a way, the ocean is a form of art on its own. I remember painting so many pictures of the sea and underwater life, growing up. Also, to comment on your point about birch trees, I totally agree. Funny enough, my parents just put up a birch tree themed wall paper our living room! 

If you love art and photography, I would highly recommend travelling to France one day and visiting the Louvre. There are so many pieces of art in that building that it would take approximately 2 weeks to appreciate each one individually. The entire building as well as the art that is hosted inside is a masterpiece of its own. 

In summary, I really enjoyed reading your thoughts about interpreting nature through art.

To be completely honest, writing about privilege in a university discussion board for my peers, professor and TA to read is quite an uncomfortable task to complete. I fear that I may say the wrong thing, or offend someone, especially because I come from a place of privilege and will never be able to feel the oppression that too many humans feel daily. However, I have learned that it is extremely important to become comfortable with talking about uncomfortable topics.

To me, privilege is about facing less barriers, having access to more resources, and having an unfair advantage over others because of (but not limited to) their skin colour, gender, social status, and abilities. It is a privilege to not have to fear for your life when going into a store at night with a hoodie on, it is a privilege to be able to be able to go to work after having children, it is a privilege to be able to afford clean drinking water, and it is even a privilege to be able to get out of bed in the morning by yourself. 

Upon much reflection, I have realized that privilege is prevalent in all aspects of life, even in unexpected places such as in nature interpretation. For example, when you have the opportunity to attend programs that educate you on nature, it proves that you have access to outdoor space, money to pay for the program, and access to education. I heard a story from one of my professors recently that I think fits perfectly into the topic of nature and privilege. The story includes how Indigenous children would run through the land on their reserves, spreading the seeds of the vegetation, making it a beautiful and bountiful ecosystem. When the children were taken away to residential schools, the ecological communities on reserves also suffered because there was no mechanism of seed dispersal anymore. This story can be tied back to privilege because the Indigenous children were not privileged to live how they wanted to, and no longer had access to the natural environment. Instead, more barriers were put up for them, and they had a disadvantage compared to other children just because of their identity. It is for this reason that nature interpreters must recognize that it is their privilege to be able to use their time outside, and to pass on their knowledge to educate others. 

I think that it is a great idea that at the beginning of each nature interpretation program, interpreters acknowledge the privilege of themselves and their group so that they can all feel a sense of gratitude for being where they are. Interpreters must recognize that their audiences all come from different places of privilege, and to be inclusive of all races, economic statuses, and genders to lead a successful program. 

While this week’s blogpost was a heavy topic, I am grateful to have the opportunity to use my voice and speak about it, as I am sure my peers are too.

First, I felt that you did a really good job interpreting this weeks question. I am in complete agreement with you. I feel that this is definitely a heavy topic that most people are probably not comfortable talking about as they do not want to sound insensitive. But, I think that the more we talk about privilege in the world and reflect on our own privilege and other’s around us, this will help break stigmas related to this topic which will better everyone because it will allow people to have a better appreciation of what they have. 

In addition, I really enjoyed reading your story about the Indigenous children. This is an awful event that took place for so long and should never be forgotten and I agree that as privileged nature interpreters, we have the duty of passing on out knowledge to those who are unaware/uneducated on this subject. In this specific example, I think that we must reflect on the events that occurred, and we must share the history of the land that it took place on and its environmental history. 

Me as an Environmental Interpreter

Describe your ideal role as an environmental interpreter. What might it entail?

Unfortunately, I’ve had no previous experience working as a nature interpreter or working in nature at all for that fact. However, I’ve always wanted to work in an outdoor setting closely with nature. It’s definitely a career path that I consider and appeals to me because I would love to learn to take deeper meaning in things around me while growing my appreciation for the natural world. My ideal role as an environmental interpreter would be to work in a more physically demanding position such as guided hiking tours. Growing up I have always loved being active so I think I could really thrive being a guide through an extensive hike. This way I’d be able to share my love and passion for nature and its profound ecosystem while getting exercise and staying fit doing it.

Through guiding group hiking tours, I’d wish to encourage my visitors to interact with one another and boost motivation. That way, we can be inspired as a group and build an even deeper connection with the nature surrounding us. Overall, working together as a team would enrich the experience for everyone. Also, I would prefer to work with a smaller group of people so that I could focus on each one of them and provide full assistance to whoever needs it. If I had to guide a large group on my own, I could see myself being overwhelmed, possibly losing the attention of the visitors.

Where might it be?

It would be a dream to be able to work as an environmental interpreter at a park or a hiking trail in the mountains of South Korea. Every year I go back to my home country to visit my family and friends. And when I do visit, I make sure to go hiking with my dad. It’s sort of becoming our tradition now. The picture that I added to this post is actually a picture that I took on one of our hikes. The picture simply did not capture the beauty that lay in front of my eyes. The Korean mountains hold a special place in my heart. Not only does it bring me joy hiking through one but it truly brings me a sense of peace being there. Seoul is a fast-paced and highly-populated city. So to be looking over a huge city like that from a mountain peak that is simply untamed and tranquil is a surreal feeling. You guys have to try it for yourselves. It allows you to gain a greater appreciation for life and the beauty that nature has to offer.

What skills might you need?

The skills necessary for a position of a hiking tour guide would be effective communication, extensive knowledge of the natural world, strategic leadership, high physical endurance level, and finally a general knowledge of health and safety training to avoid any possible injuries during the hike. I think that all of these qualities together would build an exceptional tour guide. Obviously, in order for me to work up to that, I have a long way to go. But the truth is, anyone can take up environmental interpretation, as long as you keep an open mind and are willing to search for deeper meaning in the world around us.

First, I would just like to say that I really enjoyed reading your post. I found that even though you have never had a direct opportunity to work as an environmental interpreter, I feel that you have already have a deep appreciation and passion for the environment which is exactly what is needed in the world today. When you discussed leading guided tours, the part where you said “I would prefer to work with a smaller group of people so that I could focus on each one of them and provide full assistance to whoever needs it” really resonated with me as I feel that this is a very important point especially when it comes to education. In my blog post, I discussed educating people on the land I volunteered on and its history. In my own experience, I find it much more effective for every person that I am teaching, if it is a small group of people because I am able to talk directly to each person instead of talking loudly at a large wall of people. As nature interpreters, I think that this is an important setting for us to be in to really provide everyone with a rich and engaging presentation.