Here Comes The Sun

Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?

Growing up in a rural area surrounded by woods instilled in me a deep love for nature, and a fierce desire to protect it. I hope this is something which you, the reader, have been able to feel through reading my writing. There is nothing more I could ask than for these short forays into interpretive writing to have given you a spark of curiosity, or some sense of awe about the world around you. After all, these feelings are what inspire people to protect the places I love (Beck et.al. 2018, pp 11, 21, 471-2).

I still remember the first time I saw the Rocky Mountains in Banff, Alberta. My brother had recently moved out there to pursue a career in mountain guiding, and we flew out to visit him. It’s such a strange experience, approaching the park. The land around Calgary is completely flat, with nothing but grass and farmer’s fields spanning from one horizon to another, and it was hard to imagine how just an hour’s drive from the airport could take us to some of the most massive mountains in Canada. But sure enough, as we drove, I could just see the smallest bumps appear on the horizon. 

(Image: Driving on the highway, the Rocky Mountains in the distance. By Sarah Morton)

In ten more minutes they grew. And in another ten they grew. And by the time we reached the park itself I was contorting myself around our luggage so I could take messy photos out the car window, because all thoughts in my head had been simplified to: Oh. BIG. It’s almost embarrassing the number of pictures I took on that trip, at one point I ran out of space on my phone, but it just goes to show what an impression that environment made on me. If there is anything I can do to share those amazing experiences I had with others, and to protect awe-inspiring places like this, then I want to do everything I can.

(Image: Driving through Banff National Park. Pictures can’t really convey the sense of size of these mountains. By Sarah Morton)

It is this love of nature which is the soul of nature interpretation. We have all learned from many teachers in our life; think back on which ones were your favourites. Which ones were the worst? I’m willing to bet that among those you found the least helpful there were many whose greatest failing was a lack of passion. Indeed, passion is often a large part of what determines the quality of a teacher. After all, if the teacher doesn’t care about the topic - if they’re bored, uninterested, just saying the lesson because it’s their job - why should you care either? But if a teacher is passionate about what they teach, if they genuinely want to show you what they find fascinating about the subject, then they can make anything interesting. I’ve had teachers who made learning statistics interesting, and I’ve never liked math! Regardless of the topic, if an audience has come to learn, then there are ways to present the information so that it remains interesting. For instance, this particular statistics teacher treated the class as more of an improv comedy act, and even if the topic was bland the class never was! It’s this same passion and enthusiasm that I strive to bring when teaching people about nature. This is part of why it is one of the founding principles of interpretation (Beck et.al. 2018, pp 85). Like many others, I consider nature interpretation more of a passion than just an occupation, and I want my work to reflect that (Beck et.al. 2018, pp 42).

In the act of interpreting nature to others, on a basic level I take on the responsibility of giving accurate, relevant information. But beyond that, I have to convey this information in a way meant to teach. By this, I mean that it would be easy to talk your ear off about how much I find animal behaviour interesting, but unless I convey that information in a way that is meaningful to you, you most likely will find withholding any of that information difficult. It is the responsibility of the interpreter to present well-designed interpretation programs to their audience, created with different learning styles in mind, and suited for the audience (Beck et.al. 2018, pp 110-3, 450-1). Additionally, it is the responsibility of the interpreter to seek to improve their presentation of the material through self-evaluation, evaluation from peers, and evaluation from managers (Beck et.al. 2018, pp 424). Although this kind of critique can be uncomfortable to receive, it is essential in achieving the goal of delivering the best presentation possible. And how can you really seek to improve if you’re unaware of what needs improvement in the first place? This is one of those cases where it’s better to “rip off the band-aid” for the sake of progress.

As this final entry comes to a close, I would like to thank you for reading this far. If you have read all of my other posts, thank you even more! Writing these posts has been an interesting experience, and I think a method of self-evaluation on some levels. Nature has always been such a huge part of my life, I never stopped to consider why I cared about it, or what made me care in the first place. But, these questions are important to ask when you’re in the business of trying to start others on the same path of acting as environmental stewards. Becoming more informed about the ways in which past nature interpreters have inspired and motivated people has given me the tools by which I can craft nature interpretation programs that suit the audience I’m interacting with, and give them the opportunity to form meaningful connections with the world around them. In the future, I hope for more opportunities to stretch my nature-interpreting muscles! Until then, I’m staying safe at home and waiting for spring to fully arrive.

Where do you see nature interpretation playing a part in your future? If not in a career, do you think you will pursue it as a personal interest?

-Sarah

References:

I really enjoyed your post and though I’ve never met you, I felt like I could hear your voice talking to me about your experiences. I guess that makes you a good interpreter! Being able to reach your audience through the screen with mostly just your words is important as being out in the field with them. 

I didn’t grow up in a rural area like you did but my dad owns a landscaping company just 5 minutes outside the city. My siblings and I would go out and help my dad but it’s also where I first learned the importance of caring for something other than me. To tend and care for a small plant and watch it grow under my guidance showed me to be gentle and to appreciate processes that I could influence. 

Personal Photo: My brother and I at my dad’s tree farm with our German Shepherd Toffee. Looking back, it’s crazy to see how small the trees are, and how small we are! But this place is part of my origin story of why I care about nature and I always want to try to remember the small things. 

You said that you had  never stopped to consider why you cared about nature, or what made you care in the first place. And to be honest, I never really did either. I just know that I do. For as long as I can remember, I was the kid who would pick up the worms when no one wanted to, or ask each neighbour to pet their dog when we walked to school. I would stay out til dark and sometimes even a little after the street lights came on. I never questioned why I was like this but I just thought ‘hey, that’s who I am.’ Like you said, these blog posts have given me time to reflect about why who I am influences what I do and how I experience and share nature with other people. I believe that I am a makeup of a lot of experiences, and people and memories that I think along the way have shaped me to continue to care about the earth. So when I think about nature interpretation in the future, I think about sharing positive memories, making engaging experiences, and being a positive role model for other people. To lead by example. You might have to share the place where your brother became a mountain guider though, because that seems amazing! 

I am so grateful for this journey that I have had over these last few months. This blog has allowed me to share the aspects of nature that I love, and to spread my knowledge on those passions. There are so many important roles that nature interpreters must fill, they are teachers, entertainers, and advocates for a better world.  I feel I have developed a better understanding of the nature interpreter that I want to be, however I am always looking to grow and learn. It is important for an interpreter to have their own personal ethics, to maintain their core beliefs and passions as they develop as a nature interpreter. A personal ethic is the moral principles that an individual believes in, to me it is similar to a mission statement or a goal. I want to be able to hold my moral compass close as I continue to grow and learn, I want to remember why I started this journey. My personal ethic is to create a learning environment that is inclusive, diverse, and educational. These traits what lays down the groundwork for my responsibilities as an interpreter because it is my responsibility to not lose sight of my ethics.

To maintain inclusivity, I would need to ensure that I consider my personal lifestyle and realize I have privileges that others do not have. To ensure that I do not become a restricted resource I want to share my knowledge as volunteer work or for non-profit organizations. Learning about the world we live in should not be a restricted resource, and to me, paying money to learn about the fundamentals of life is unethical. I believe that if more people, both children and adults, had knowledge on the environment or nature, then changes can be made. People want to protect what they know, so we need more people to know about nature! My hope is that I can help people see the value in creepy crawlies, bogs, native plants and so much more! Therefore, diversity is included in my personal ethics, there are so many topics of importance. By surrounding myself with diverse people and landscapes I hope to become more knowledgeable on different cultures, races, indigenous peoples, plants, birds, everything! I have noticed the importance of surrounding people with different focuses this year through my roommate. I have never lived with people in a program even remotely like mine, but after living with someone who studies birds, my knowledge on them has grown immensely! It is so refreshing to show her my interest in insects and have it returned with her interest in birds. I also think diversity is important because there are going to be times when I cannot do a topic justice. I cannot confidently describe the lives of indigenous communities or land; I want to help create a platform where people can speak for themselves about themselves. I believe that through nature interpretation we can help conserve our land and ecosystems. By allowing people to find their sense of place and meaning in nature, we are providing a bond and emotional attachment to wildlife that is needed to encourage conservation. As interpreters we have a responsibility to guide people in understanding their cultural and natural heritage.

To accomplish my goals as a nature interpreter I think I would like to begin in a career inspired by the military in Yellowstone and Yosemite. The military was used to protect Yellowstone and Yosemite, and with time their knowledge of botany and geology grew, and they were interpreting nature for the public. I hope to begin my career as a park ranger, so I can protect the environment while being surrounded by nature and continuing to observe and learn. Park rangers are also often asked questions and must have good interpersonal skills, allowing me to become more confident in my role as an interpreter.  

This gif accurately represents how I will look patrolling national parks.  

I encourage readers to gain as much knowledge as they can about their surrounding environment and landscape, and with time your knowledge can grow and spread as you expand and share what you know. Here is a video demonstrating the beauty in my home province of Ontario: 

Take a moment to explore your backyard or a park near you. Look in places you do not usually look, between blades of grass, under logs, in the holes of trees… everywhere! See what you find, and if you do not know what it is you found, do research! Learn! Expand your knowledge! There is nature everywhere, and through art, music, technology, and passion you can about how to protect and care for it.

This is a guide book on the nature found in my home province of Ontario, I encourage you to find one for your region and explore the nature that surrounds you!

Thank you for being such a remarkable audience.

Mary

I also appreciate that you took this time to reflect on your experiences throughout this course and remember why you started. If your journey began from making sandcastles by your cottage or by enrolling in this class, the earth has so much to teach us and our journey to appreciate and share its wonders is always evolving.

I also really liked how you said you felt that it was your responsibility to not lose sight of your ethics. When I thought about my responsibilities, I mostly thought about my responsibility to be a service to the people around me and my responsibility to the world to keep advocating for it. But I didn’t really take the time to think about what I’m responsible for in myself. I need to adopt this mentality that I am responsible for the way I think and the values I have, because those values will inevitably reflect how I present myself and what I want to share with others.

I’m glad that these weekly blogs have helped you find your sense of place, and in doing so, you hoped to help other people find their own sense of place and develop a real bond with nature. I agree that this is especially important for conservation management. I would love to discuss your plans to be a park ranger as I’ve considered that for myself and would love to know more! Seems to me that we have some similar values when it comes to protecting the environment and observing it too.

If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll probably know that I’m one of the unlucky few who wasn’t born with the itch to interpret nature. Although I suppose, the itch for nature interpretation doesn’t have to be something your born with, it can be something you develop over your life. That said, a part of nature that I have always been fascinated by has been bears.

So, how did this fascination with bears begin? Looking back many years, I think my first exposure to bears was through the TV show The Bernstein Bears (2003 – 2004). I can vividly recall watching reruns of The Bernstein Bears every day after school when I was in kindergarten. Needless to say, if I remember something from so long ago, I think it’s safe to assume that it’s something that deserves to be explored! Looking ahead many years, this fascination with bears was only further exacerbated upon the release of the movie Ted (2012). What stood out to me the most in both these media representations of bears was their interpretation of bears as human-like beings.

A great example of this is the video linked below in which the family of bears in The Bernstein Bears go to the movies. I encourage you to have a watch and share your thoughts (iVideoXD, 2010, 0:00-5:28)!

What are bears? Bears (of the family Ursidae) are stocky, bob-tailed mammals with 5 clawed toes on each paw (The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2012). The three species of bears that inhabit Canada are (The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2012):

The polar bear (Ursus maritimus).

The grizzly bear (U. arctos).

The black bear (U. americanus).

More information about bears can be found here (National Geographic, 2021).

This photo was taken the first time I went exploring in nature. I remember thinking how lucky I was to see a dear in person (as can be seen in the photo), almost immediately after I put away my phone, I saw a bear! Caledon, ON – Photo taken by Agam Verma.

How does one interpret bears? It is important to note that the interpretation of bears, and by extension nature as a whole, is contingent on the expertise of a number of disciplines (Hooykaas, 2021). As a matter of fact, in the past, humans have been able to interpret bears via zoos, wildlife parks, camps, etc. (Beck et al., 2018, p. 32-33). All of which, have allowed each individual to foster a more harmonious relationship with bears, and by extension nature!

A polar bear and two cubs photographed on a melting ice cap (NOAA, 2019).

Let’s look beyond the traditional methods in which bears can be interpreted. Currently, the concept most applicable to the interpretation of bears would be climate change. Climate change looms as a threat to communities and safety on many fronts (Beck et al., 2018, p. 459). Within the context of bears, it is quite evident that climate change has endangered a number of bear species. As a matter of fact, the IUCN lists six of the eight bear species as vulnerable or endangered (Bear Conservation, 2017).

So, what can we do to help mitigate the effects of climate change on bears? The answer is simple, keep track of your impact on the planet! This will not only aid in mitigating the challenges we face with climate change, but also allow for bears to not go extinct. Thereby, enriching the history, cultural heritage, experiences, diversity, etc. of those who choose to be interpreters.

More information about how you can help save bears, in this case polar bears, can be found here (Three Ways You Can Help Save the Polar Bears, 2020). Have a read and share your thoughts!

References

Bear Conservation. (2017, August 20). The IUCN. http://www.bearconservation.org.uk/the-iucn/

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

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 09: Sense-making of nature interpretation [Course website]. University of Guelph CourseLink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca

iVideoXD. (2010, April 13). The berenstain bears -go to the movies (1-2) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dz6djl2NaY

National Geographic. (2021). Bears. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/bears-grizzly-polar-panda

NOAA. (2019, June 27). Polar bear and two cubs on ice floe [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/EvIesJmuDHs

The Canadian Encyclopedia. (2012, March 5). Bear (animal). https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/bear-animal

First off, I love the way you broke up your blog with headings. It made your post so easy to follow along and it was like I was working through your thought process with you. I think this kind of breakdown is a great way to interpret nature, to reveal the puzzle, piece by piece. I liked how you interpreted bears through a traditional lens and a personal one. I think an interpreter’s own personality is as important as the content. Your own experience with The Bernstein Bears to your encounter, allowed me to develop a sense of wonder based on an experience that is now my own. It’s important for interpreters to grab their audience’s attention and I think you did an excellent job of that!

Now onto the actual topic: bears! I took BIOL*3670 which is an introductory course to wildlife rehabilitation and we spent a whole unit on bears. I like to think that I love all animals, but that unit really helped me understand bears better. Like sharks, bears have a reputation that precedes then. People think of them as dangerous and vicious but bears have great qualities. I think I also really learnt this lesson from Brother Bear, the Disney movie. Have you watched it? It’s one of my family’s favourites. I even named my German shepherd puppy after Koda, one of the bears in the film! That film taught me that a reputation can be wrong and harmful. The natives' relationship with bears was built on fear and anger. They saw them as creatures that ‘don’t think, don’t feel, they… steal!’ But when Kenai gets transformed into a bear and has to learn how to love, he realizes that bears were just misunderstood.

A heartbreaking video from National Geographic that films a starving polar bear. As temperatures rise and ice melts, it becomes harder for polar bears to have access to their main source of food: seals. Polar bears wait on the ice for seals to come up to the ice for a breather. But with less ice, comes less opportunity for food. 

           Imagine waking up to the sun pouring into your room. It’s a beautiful crisp summer morning, but you don’t hear the sounds of birds chirping. Imagine going camping with a group of close friends. You sit around the campfire but beyond the sound of the fire crackling, there is silence, no crickets chirping, and no guitar song going around. Now imagine going on that road trip you’ve been planning. Driving down the highway with no songs on the radio for you to listen to or create memories.

Photo by Jan Meeus on Unsplash

            Fortunately, we live in a world where music is everywhere. Historic flutes dating back to 53,000 years ago indicate that music has been part of our world for a very long time (Gray et al., 2001). In fact, all human cultures that are known to exist have their own form of music, using it to tell stories and teach lessons (Gray et al., 2001). However, music doesn’t just exist in the human world. Comparisons of whale and bird sound to human forms of music show that these animals produce their own rhythms and rhymes similarly to human music (Gray et al., 2001). So, what does this mean? I think it goes without saying that music plays a vital role in nature and that the surrounding nature can be found in music.

 Photo by Matthew Spiteri on Unsplash

            For music to have survived over 53,000 years, to be found in all animals and ways of life, it shows its significance in all of our lives. As interpreters, we can learn to incorporate such a meaningful part of life into our work. Using it to reach a wider audience and bring important concepts to everyone. Use folk songs for example. Folk songs are passed from generation to generation through word of mouth (Sahi, 2012). Folk songs, such as those done by the Finnish through poetry, have been used by our ancestors to transfer knowledge among communities and generations. These songs are not like the ones we hear on the radio today, but instead allow us to stay connected with our roots and tie nature into our lives (Sahi, 2012). And who better to learn from than our ancestors who once lived so at peace with the land. They knew best that music has a way of reaching people through their emotions and sometimes without the use of words.

           For myself, it is just that. No song takes me back to nature. When I am enjoying the outdoors, I prefer to listen to the sounds that nature has to provide. And this might sound odd to some, or a little cliché. Some people might have a specific song they associate with camping trips or backpacking; however, I think that is the beauty of it. Everyone has their own musical tie to nature, and for me, it is the sound of nature itself.

References Gray, P. M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The music of nature and the nature of music. Science, 291(5501), 52–54. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.10.1126/science.1056960

I love how you started off with a story, a picture you painted with words. I've always expressed how storytelling is such a great way to share information. But so is music!

Like you said, music has been part of human history for a very long time. I think music is a beautiful part of culture and identity. In indigenous cultures, music is a way of passing on knowledge that can't be written down, it can only be shared or expressed verbally. Music and oral culture is often part of daily life. I had the opportunity to take a "Native Studies' course in my final year of high school and got to learn about the variability of cultures of indigenous people. One of my favourite experiences was being able to listen to the music produced by indigenous people. Their music isn't like modern pop music that expresses heartache or drugs or money. This music comes from within, because it comes from being passed on from generation to generation. Below, I tagged a link to a pair of Inuit singers throat-singing at a Native Heritage event.

Throat-singing is part of some indigenous cultures, as a way of carrying tradition shared by their elders. The short clip explains how the sounds produced imitate the sounds that they hear around them in nature.

This is how I order these by importance. If we are too occupied by the past or future, we ignore what is happening now and miss the opportunity to interact and enjoy the things happening now. Setting goals, being mindful of the outcome you want, planning; all of these acts as guides to helps us in the present and are only worthwhile as such, as focusing too much on the future can create anxiety. Using history, our mistakes, our regrets, our “what-if” to change and inform our decisions about our present and future are of course important but if we become to focused on these we become stuck and/or hopeless. That being said, none of these exist or should exist without the others because each have value to helping us grow and live meaningful self-aware lives. Does you order of importance differ?

Stick, rock, leaf: An exercise for reflecting on time

Taken by Jacob Kannel from Unsplash. 

When you want to help your audience reflect on their experience (especially a younger audience) this was a helpful tool I discovered. Ask them to collect a stick, a rock, and a leaf and have them say one thing that will “stick” with them (future), something that “rock-ed” (present), and what they want to “leaf” behind (past). This helps them to engage with their experience in the context of time.

Engaging with the Past

“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.”

(Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)

In this quote, Hyams is stating that while old things aren’t inherently more valuable, there is value in what they tell us.

“Those who fail to learn their history are doomed to repeat it.”

(Winston Churchill)

I am reminded of the over-quoted warning of not learning from history and as someone who is really interested in conservation, this is something I often think about when it comes to analysing conservation and management strategies. While our history is often sad, we have lost so many species due to humans impacts (overharvest, climate change, pollution, etc.), it is important to explain this to your audience with a message of hope. As I said earlier, past without present and future leaves us stuck, making it crucial to share our history to show our progress and encourage further growth.

“Yes our coral reefs are in danger but we are doing amazing things to combat this like using 3D printers to make artificial substrates to regrow coral!”(1,2). 

1.Perry, C. T., Alvarez-Filip, L., Graham, N. A., Mumby, P. J., Wilson, S. K., Kench, P. S., … & Macdonald, C. (2018). Loss of coral reef growth capacity to track future increases in sea level. Nature, 558(7710), 396-400.

I loved reading this post, especially the exercise you provided. 

I really liked how you said that the warning of not learning from history sticks with you. I’ve been reading a lot of books and watching science fiction films lately, and even thought it isn’t explicitly stated, sometimes it seems as though we are being warned of what the future might look like if we continue to ignore the lessons from the past. One common trend is ‘history repeats itself’. And I have to argue this is true. There are certain aspects of human history that you tend to see over the course of our existence, like the rise and fall of great civilizations. You can also draw parallels between present trends and the events of the past in order to ‘predict the future.’ This is called ‘historic recurrence’ or the repetition of events throughout history.  A lot of great thinkers throughout time have commented on this phenomenon. 

I never really thought that I was a nature interpreter before I started this course.  Well, that is probably because I didn’t know the full extent of it.  I’ve realized that nature interpretation not only started when I was younger, but actually followed me to my current job.  As I mentioned in my first blog post I’ve been working for the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) for the past four years.  If you are ever looking for a summer student job I highly recommend!  Working at Pinehurst Lake, I never realized how often I would explain nature through “a scientific lens” to the public (Hooykaas, 2020).  For example, many visitors would ask where the lake flows in and out of, with many guessing that it was spring fed.  I would then explain to them that this lake is actually a kettle lake meaning it was created by retreating glaciers.  The only way for it to gain water is through precipitation unlike other lakes that predominantly have a natural outflow such as a river or stream.  

One of the boating docs at Pinehurst overlooking the kettle lake. - Taken by me

Another question where I was able to use my nature interpretation skills was when it came to fishers.  I would be asked what types of fish are found in the lake and what are the “best spots” to catch them.  I could explain to them that yes, there are pan fry species such as Sunfish or Pumpkinseed but as you reach the deepest parts of the lake there are Smallmouth Bass.  Then, as you reach the area of the lake with stumps and rocks you’ll be able to find Largemouth Bass especially if you stick close to the weeds. 

This is the spot in the lake for bigger fish! - Taken by me

I was even able to interpret nature just by waiting outside with my coworkers to clean the bathrooms.  Many kids always thought we were Park Rangers, even with our bright orange construction shirts and would ask us what type of insect was on the wall or what type of animal tracks were on the trail close to us.  You start becoming very intuned with your surroundings and by this past summer, I could definitely say I was able to answer each question confidently.

Maintenance Team to the rescue to get this Snapper covered in duckweeds out of the road! -Taken by me

It’s amazing to think about how many visitors and campers I’ve had the chance to interpret nature to.  Whether that was a senior wanting to know everything I could tell them about the kettle lake or a kid being confused between a frog and a toad.  It feels good knowing that within their day I could teach them a small amount of nature and they can pass it onto the next person who might ask them.

There’s not only fishing at Pinehurst Lake but canoes and kayaks can be rented as well to use! - Taken by me

I’m hoping after this course I will return to my job and use these skills I’ve been gaining throughout the course.

A question I have for you guys is has there been a time when you have been a nature interpreter and not realized it?  What was it?  How can you take what we have learned so far in the course and apply it to your next encounter?

Cait

If you want to learn more about GRCA and Pinehurst Lake visit: 

https://www.grandriver.ca/en/index.aspx

I had to put one more photo of Jack, Bryce, me and Cass.  They’ve become some of my best friends over the years working there! -Taken by our boss on our last shift this summer

References:

I think one of my low-key moments as a ‘nature interpreter’ would be when I go on a hike and get to explain with the people I’m with what is happening around us. I never really noticed it until my roommate brought it up one time that he likes when we go on walks together because she feels like learns something. It made me think about how we as people exchange information. It was never my intention to educate my roommate, but I wanted to share something I found interesting with her, and she took the time to appreciate it. For example, one of my summer jobs was working as a tour guide at African Lion Safari, and I learned why Canadian geese fly in a V shape. It seemed so simple because we see Canadian geese all the time so we never question why they do these. Part of the reason is because it accounts for every individual, but it also helps reduce the wind resistance by flying in this formation. Fighter jets also use the same tactic.

I guess part of that is because of my actual experience working under a nature interpreter as I also worked for the GRCA! I started there for a co-op position, under the guidance of a nature interpreter, I got a summer job as a camp counsellor at one of their nature centres for the next 3 summers. I also got the opportunity to work as a park program assistant for the delivery of environmental education-based programming. I got to help lead water studies, bug ‘hunt’s, animal shows and even did some programming at Elora Gorge about geology.

Personal Photo: Taken in the summer of 2018 when we performed a monarch release at the Laurel Creek Nature Centre. This monarch just exited her chrysalis and is waiting for her wings to dry before she flies.

From this job, I also learned a lot more about the natural world around me that I apply to my critical thinking. I learn why planting milkweed is so important to monarch butterflies because that’s the only plant where they can lay their eggs. I also got a better sense of direction from going on so many hikes, which definitely comes in handy when my roommates still get lost going around Guelph. I like being able to share information about things that may seem simple to us or unworthy of our attention because it’s so common. But I think part of an interpreter’s job is to show people how important and how exciting a simple, common thing can be. Maybe getting someone else’s simplified explanation is all it takes to see its value.

I don’t work here anymore, so I’m not advocating on behalf of the GRCA and I’m not sure how their hiring process is working because of COVID-19, but I encourage anyone who might be interested to check out the GRCA website for potential listings: https://www.grandriver.ca/en/who-we-are/Student-jobs.aspx 

Who am I to interpret _____? This is often a question asked in the art world, “who are you to judge what is good or bad art?” and the answer is infuriatingly simple. I am someone with an opinion. Art and nature are subjective, what is beautiful to one person may seem utterly worthless to another. But some opinions do matter more than other. If an art student walked through an exhibit and were to look at a piece, with all the education and understanding about the historical and cultural context, the intentions behind the piece, well their opinion matters more than the passive viewer who knows nothing and thinks it’s something a child could do. Both may pass judgement on the piece, both may like it or hate it but knowledge and understanding about it will change the way you see it.

Photo by Ibrahim Rifath on Unsplash

As a nature interpreter, we want to change the way people look at nature. For good or bad, we want to engage people, help them  form meaningful opinions, and recognize things they may not have seen or understood on their own. The modern trend of society seems to pull us farther away from nature. This is dangerous in a world that is deteriorating due to climate change, when the people in charge of policies, companies, and corporations have no opinion or connection to the environment they are effecting. If we as nature interpreters can bring a sense of understanding, connection, and knowledge, we can help people make more meaningful and better choices. this doesn’t always mean they will make good choices for the environment, merely that they truly understand the weight of their action. 

Photo by Sutirta Budiman on Unsplash

In the same way we cannot get everyone to love the same hobbies and things we love, we will not be able to convince everyone to love nature as we do. But through engaging people on a personal level, we can try to evoke emotional, spiritual, physical responses to the thing we love and at least leave people understanding why we feel the way we do even if they do not.  

Nature is beautiful. It is chaotic. Raw. Intense. Painful. It is also gentle. Empathetic. Nurturing. Orderly. By showing people all aspects, the good and the bad, we generate respect and awe for the wonderful world we live in. 

You had an insightful post. I especially liked how you discussed how we can’t just focus on the good as this is unrealistic. There will always be negative components and it is important that they are also addressed. Two sides to every coin if you will.

I also really liked how you said that art and nature are subjective. Yes, a professor who’s spent decades on his research has an opinion that is more valuable (in terms of knowledge and understanding) over the opinion of an undergrad student who may be just learning the topic. But individuality is also important. Our own mosaic of knowledge, experiences and relationships makes our perspective unique to someone else. It would be wrong to say that person’s opinion isn’t important. Everyone is important. But that doesn’t mean everyone’s opinion has as much value as someone with more knowledge. 

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I think a hard lesson to learn is that you have to take the good with the bad. That kind of relates to risk. There isn’t a way to prepare for all the possible scenarios that can happen in the field. I think part of that again is individuality of your audience and your program, but also circumstance. Some things we can’t just can’t control. But being prepared for or having the policies and training in place to address those issues allows us to address those issues. What kind of strategies can we implement to help prepare for these types of scenarios. I think that kind of connects to how you were saying that we nature interpretation can’t exclusively be about the good, because the bad is inevitable. Yes, we hope to inspire, encourage and foster a relationship between our audience and nature, but presenting all the facts (as ugly as they can be) allows for this connection to be real. Think of it as any kind of relationship. You would be naive to only want to know the good parts about your partner. It could be risky not to know the negative parts. But at the end of the day, you get to make a decision whether you want to pursue that relationship. And your decision might be easier if you’re presented with all the facts. 

I know this wasn’t the direction of the prompt you provided. But I thought I could expand on your ideas! 

To many of us, the conversation of discussing what privilege looks like can be a daunting challenge, as everyone experiences and views privilege in a unique way. To me, privilege is having the opportunities and access to certain rights and resources that not everyone is afforded in life. Whether this privilege is built through hard work or simply granted at birth, it is important to realize that we are all unique individuals with our own interaction of privilege. I think that many times privilege is viewed as having lots of money or getting to travel or having a big house. Although all these things are a privilege, I believe that a lot of the privileges many of us experience are overlooked in our day to day lives. The privilege of having a family that loves us unconditionally. The privilege of living in a country that allows us the freedom of speech and expression. The privilege that our healthy bodies allow us to live each day. I will be the first to say, there are many things that I am privileged to have that I take for granted, however, I believe that awareness of this is a step in the right direction. 

Something that many of us take for granted is the nature that surrounds us. Having the opportunity to escape to nature from the intrinsic and extrinsic factors we endure. Nature helps me to calm my mind. As someone who suffers with anxiety, connecting with nature has always helped me gain a sense of peace and serenity. I recognize this privilege now more than ever, as many people in the world don’t have a safe or obtainable place in nature they can go to during the pandemic. People are sacrificing their own comfort to protect the lives of others whether that be working on the front lines or doing their part by social distancing. 

A photo I took in the summer while visiting a sunflower field

I am very privileged that I have had the opportunity to see many sides of nature. I am very grateful to live in such an amazing country that allows me to experience nature in all four seasons. From the flowers blooming in the spring, to the birds chirping in the summer, to the leaves turning yellow and orange in the fall, to the snowflakes falling in the winter, I truly am in awe. Additionally, my parents have worked extremely hard for their success and I am very thankful for all that they have done for me and my brother. As a family, we have traveled to different places around the world and have had the most amazing interactions with nature. Connecting with nature has opened my eyes to not only see, but feel all the amazing things nature has to offer.

In grade 11, I had the opportunity to go to the Dominican Republic on an educational retreat and live with a host family for a week. They were extremely inviting and loving to welcome a stranger into their home. Over the week, I learned so much and saw what nature can provide from a completely new perspective.

I believe that we are all privileged to have the opportunity and resources to attend the University of Guelph. We are very lucky to have the Arboretum, the Dairy Bush, and a beautiful campus surrounded by nature at our fingertips. If you have not had the chance to walk through the forests of Guelph, I highly recommend it. I am very grateful that I am able to take a course that teaches us about the values and roles of nature interpretation. In all, viewing nature from these various perspectives has taught me a lot and enabled me to appreciate nature in new ways.

Picture from: Arbnet

Some questions for you:

What is your definition of privilege? 

First off, I love that sunflower photo you took! Do you remember where that was? It looks beautiful. 

I really appreciate how you recognized that privilege doesn’t always have to be a systemic implication like race, but there are small privileges we take for granted unknowingly.  I never really thought about how easy it is for me to go on a walk near my house. This simple ‘ordinary’ act of life may not be true for someone else. I am a woman in Canada, which automatically gives me an advantage; a kind of safety that isn’t applicable to all woman around the world. I have two functioning legs that can carry me wherever I want to go, which isn’t true for all people. I am young and healthy and I am in control of what food nourishes me so I can walk, again no true for everyone. I live in a safe neighbourhood where I don’t need to worry leaving my home alone. I am fortunate enough that I can walk 10 minutes and enter a conservation area, a place that is intentionally left untouched and clean. A place that may have been turned into a housing unit if I lived somewhere else. So just by deciding I wanted some fresh air, I have unknowingly engaged my privilege. 

Personal photo: I picture I took of the dying sunset and this empty tree on one of my quarantine walks around my neighbourhood. Taken January 2021. 

My new years resolution this year was to go on a walk everyday. This sometimes meant just around the block when I needed to let my dog out, or sometimes an hour long trek through the forest. I didn’t realize how much peace this simple activity brought me. I’m so happy you find comfort in nature as well. When I feel overwhelmed or stressed out, or need a break from my screen, nature reminds me of how simple and beautiful this life can be without all the busy distractions. I encourage you to do the same! Take even 10 minutes out of your life and see what nature can provide for you. It’s hard to explain the feeling, but it’s helped me so much. Being in charge of only my two feet gives me a sense of accomplishment that nourishes me. After this unit, and engaging in conversation with people like you, I am even more thankful for the nature that provides and cares for me. And I will use this appreciation to share with and encourage other people. I like to think of myself as a mosaic; pieces of different people and experiences and perspectives that I’ve adopted in life. Thank you, for contributing to my mosaic. 

My ideal role of environmental interpreter would be leading guided walks throughout forests! I find I sometimes drive whoever I’m with a little batty stopping to point out interesting plants, rock formations or facts about where we are. It would be ideal to be actually paid to do this!

My first memorable interactions with nature interpreters that really stuck with me were at Royal Botanical Gardens nature camps during the summers growing up. Looking back now, I can see a lot of qualities in the camp counselors that I would want to employ if I were to find myself in a nature interpreter role.  These qualities are as follows; Adaptability:

I feel that being adaptable is an important quality of a good nature interpreter, because whether or not you know your audience in advance, it is still important to be able to change things up on the fly. For example, if you were taking a group on a guided tour of a trail around a lake, it would be important to be able to account for a fallen tree, or an interesting uncommon animal sighting!

Patience:

This one is huge! Especially when working with children or people with little scientific background, having patience to answer questions, no matter how silly they may seem, is a very important trait. When I look back to my time at camp, if the counsellors had lost their patience with us or become annoyed with our endless questions, I could have ended up with a lot less of an appreciation for the natural world

Personable:

Being someone people want to talk or listen to is an important skill because it enables you to communicate and leave a lasting impression on whoever you are interpreting to! Without the people skills, a talk might fall flat or leave the listeners bored!

Your post was personal and relatable. I think it’s great that you share little tidbits with the people you’re around. I always used to be worried this was a quality that people found annoying, but I have learned since it’s something people find endearing because often we these little tidbits are snippets of something we’re passionate about.

As a former camp counsellor at a nature camp, I completely agree that teaching requires patience. It wasn’t always easy and sometimes kids are so annoying, and I have no problem admitting that LOL. But you’re right, I knew it was my job to help these kids appreciate nature a little more than they did when they got to me. This doesn’t just apply to kids, but adults too. I’ve found that it’s almost easier to get kids to care because they have such a great sense of wonder and curiosity. But adults seem to be more sceptical or disinterested or ignorant that it’s harder to get them to care about a topic enough to really listen. What would be some skills you could think of to address this? 

I like that you added adaptability, as this was a skill I stressed in my own post and something I strive for at any job. When I was a tour guide at a Safari, I couldn’t predict what the animal was going to do, but I had to be ready to explain what they were doing and sometimes why or how! It made the job fun and didn’t make it seem like I was giving the same tour 5 or 6 times a day.