Gently Hold Your Toads

Beginning this course, my outlook on nature interpretation was purely scientific, because that’s largely what interested me… or so I thought.  One tends to perform/do as they are taught.  Growing up watching countless nature documentaries, I thought what spoke to me was the science behind it all; Attenborough explaining how toads survived in the Australian outback and why caribou migrated every year.  While that was certainly a large part of it, I failed to see the other aspects of nature interpretation that were going on. The narratives created for each animal, the excellent and artistic cinematography, even the accompanying music, all played a role in nature interpretation, teaching me, and eventually how I would teach others.  Throughout this course, I’ve learnt the importance of all these aspects of nature interpretation, but I’ve also identified what responsibilities I have as an interpreter, and what beliefs I hold regarding it.

I don’t think my ethics as a nature interpreter have changed from what they were prior to the course but I have had the opportunity to elaborate upon them.  We maintain a moral obligation to safeguard the natural world.  Sir David Attenborough once said “It seems to me that an understanding of the natural world is crucial for all of us – after all we depend upon it for our food, for the air we breathe and, some would say, for our very sanity” (Attenborough 2009). We must protect the environment out of necessity for its instrumental value to us, as stated by Attenborough, but also for its intrinsic value.  For me, there is a spiritual/religious aspect to nature’s intrinsic value.  We have been tied to Creation, the environment, the physical universe since our genesis.  

Faith and nature interpretation could be a post of its own, so I’ll try to keep this brief. I’ve received some criticism in the past for incorporating my faith into these posts and my work.  I don’t think I need to reason why I am talking on this subject matter when the point of these posts is to express our own views, opinions, and experiences in the courses.  As a person of faith with natural intelligence, my faith and experiences in this course, and nature in general, will be inevitably interact.  The same is true for my ethic.  In Pope Francis’ Laudato Si, he stated that  “The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, His boundless affection for us.  Soil, water, mountains – everything as it were a caress from God” (Pope Francis 2016). Creation is a gift.  Not only is Creation a gift and demonstration of God’s affection, it is humanity’s common inheritance.  As a common inheritance it belongs to all and is meant for all; our duty is to ensure this by preserving it.  This dogma forms a large part of what motivates my ethic.  

(If you are interested in nature interpretation through a Christian lens I recommend you look into Laudato si; Image source)

How to execute this?  Sir David Attenborough explains how “No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced” (Attenborough 2009). Attenborough is alluding to the transformative value of nature and touches upon a key threat to it.  Experiencing nature can lead to a lifelong compassion for it, however, “If people lose knowledge, sympathy and understanding of the natural world, they’re going to mistreat it and will not ask their politicians to care for it” (Attenborough 2009).  It’s clear that education is crucial to securing the future of nature.  As I’ve developed during the course of this class I’ve added to this ethic, realizing the importance of diverse accessibility to information and incorporation of indigenous knowledge.

Knowing the different facets of nature interpretation are useful when trying to make your interpretation accessible to different audiences and learners.  I am a visual learner and so it makes sense that I’ve been drawn to nature documentaries, while an experiential learner might rather be fully immersed on a nature walk.  Beyond different learning styles, it’s also important to keep in mind how accessible the service you’re providing is to different groups.  If our goal is to spread awareness of environmental issues and increase society’s appreciation for nature as it is, we should strive to spread this to as many people as possible. Asking questions like if a trail/tour is accessible to those with mobility disabilities or affordable to average families is key in spreading our message and fulfilling our goal.  As I highlighted in my discussion post about privilege, environmental racism runs rampant across urban ethnic communities within Canada and the US.  But this issue isn’t restricted to a national scale; even globally, the minority “developed” countries extract resources from the majority “developing” countries without regard for human or environmental well-being, while they profit form it without experiencing nor witnessing any of the detrimental outcomes. As a part of my personal ethic, I want to reach as many people as possible. Someone who can’t afford to attend an interpretive program at a park might be able to watch a YouTube video on the same topic, receiving nature education this way. Chapter eight of the textbook discussed how to interpret to the masses and reach a wider audience via radio, social media and other outlets online (Beck et al. 2018).  All this to say, it’s important to keep in mind how you are interpreting and how to share it best according to your strengths and how to get it to your target audience (through music, art, literature, social media).  

(A TedTalk on the connectedness of indigenous Amazonians with nature and spirituality; source)

As I mentioned above, Western dominance over other countries has led to the exacerbation of environmental racism.  Alongside this has been the suppression and marginalization of indigenous forms of interpretation.  As a part of my ethic, while I might not always be able to perform traditional interpretation, I want to educate others on these indigenous forms of interpretation because each has value in it’s own right, for their traditional practitioners  but also for foreign audiences who might experience some sort of transformative value. If anyone is interested, in a previous post titled Week 7: A Yoik in Nature, I delve deeper into the musical tradition of the Joik for the Sami people.  Incorporating traditional knowledge presents us with a new was of knowing and relating to the land (Hooykaas 2021).

(Filming of a nature doc; source)

Moving forward, I intend to continue this mission of preserving the planet by trying to connect as many people as I can to it.  Continuing on my nature interpretation journey, I’ve been accepted to start the Environmental Visual Communication program at the ROM.  I’m grateful for the solid base in nature interpretation that this course has given me and I look forward to continue sharing my passion for nature with others and helping others make their own connections.

Questions:

*     How does your ethic affect your nature interpretation? Have you added to it during the course?

*     How do you think you’ll continue to interpret beyond this course?

Best,

- Diego

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Chapter 8: Interpreting to the masses. Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. (pp.165-182). Sagamore Venture.

Catholic Church., & McDonagh, S. (2016). On care for our common home: The encyclical of Pope Francis on the environment, Laudato Si’.

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 7: Nature Interpretation through Music [Course Website]. University of Guelph Courselink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/666945/viewContent/ 2590559/View.

Congrats! Its amazing that you’ll be working with the ROM, I’m sure it will be a great experience. You’re absolutely right that it’s our job as nature interpreters to make sure that our programs are accessible to everybody, and that we tell the full story behind the things we interpret by including indigenous voices. As a guide, it is our job to inspire our audience to care about the topics we teach about just as much as we do! This is impossible to do if we are marginalizing or neglecting the needs of our audience.

When first starting this course, I knew that whatever form of nature interpretation I participated in, I wanted it to be something that inspired in people the same feelings of passion and love for nature that I have. It is through taking this course that I have learned just how important it is to design these programs for people of all backgrounds, so that no one is excluded from having the experience with nature that I want to give them.

Beyond this course, it is my hope that I will be able to continue interpreting through offering my services at a nature institution. Whether this be volunteer work or otherwise, I find a lot of joy in teaching people about the creatures and places I love. I also found writing this blog a lot of fun! It’s made me consider doing something similar as a personal project in the future. Even if I’m the only one who reads it, there’s something interesting in trying to put into words how I feel about these topics and why. 

How do you think you will bring you ethic with you to the ROM, and apply it there?

I believe that nature is an integral part of our lives, and that day by day it is being taken away from us. I wonder if the generations to come will see and experience the same things in nature that we have had the chance to.

Looking back to my very first blog in this course, I really had no clue where we were going with it, but I loved writing it. It was much different from anything I’ve had to write for any other class I’ve been in! I was able to freely think about what I wanted to write about, and what made me really happy as a kid. It was creative and imaginative writing. I had to let my thoughts sit and marinate to really put myself back in my shoes as a child. It is definitely interesting trying to remember how I used to think and feel when I was first beginning to immerse myself in and understand nature, especially forests. For me, there has always been something that has drawn me to forests. I find them to be magical.

This is a Ted Talk on the importance of nature, and why children need it when they are growing up.

After digesting the information from this course, I have come to the conclusion that my childhood experiences in nature greatly impacted the person I have become today. Even though I do not wish to pursue a career in the environmental field (I wish to pursue the medical field instead), I deeply care about nature. In my spare time the only documentaries I watch are about nature. I love watching Planet Earth because it puts me in different animals’ shoes and helps me to see life how they see it. We see their fear, their emotions, and how they survive. We also get to feel like we are in the middle of the rainforest, or floating over coral reefs, all while sitting on our living room couch. My favourite nature films of all time are all about human-nature interactions, where humans spend enough time outside that they actually develop loving relationships with wild animals. It is an eye opener that we are not all that different. Animals are very intelligent and they feel emotions just as we do. They evoke feelings of empathy and compassion, and remind us that it is our responsibility to protect these animals and their habitats.

here is a small clip about Jane Goodall. An inspiring story of a woman integrating herself into the families of chimpanzees.

Throughout this course I've learned about what makes a nature interpreter a good one, and I mean, it is a lot of things. But one thing that really stood out to me when reading about how to make a difference in the environment now, is the importance of actually telling people how they can actively make a difference (Wals, 2014). I have a personal and very recent experience that validates this idea!

I learned some information in another class about Gypsy Moths. It was great to learn about them because they are invasive all around Ontario. I learned that they lay egg masses on trees over the winter and they hatch when the trees begin to bloom, but if you scrape the egg masses off of the trees and soak them in a bucket of water and soap for a few days, you can prevent the eggs from ever hatching and thus prevent the severe damage to the trees which may have eventually killed them. I learned this a few weeks ago and ever since, every time I take my dog for a walk in my yard or forest, I am constantly looking for egg masses and scraping them off the trees. I love doing it because I know that I am actively making a difference. Every single egg mass that I scrape off, counts, and may contribute to saving a tree!

This is a photo of a few Gypsy Moth egg masses. Photo taken by me.

“Now, my tree-climbing days long behind me, I often think about the lasting value of those early, deliciously idle days. I have come to appreciate the long view afforded by those treetops. The woods were my Ritalin. Nature calmed me, focused me, and yet excited my senses.” (Last Child in the Woods). I think that this quote is very important because it highlights how much people inherently cherish nature. It brings us back to think of a magical place we once were. I remember going back into the forest, and truly thinking of it like it was how the kids in “a bridge to terabithia” imagined their forest. Now, my imagination does not run so wild this day in age, but it once did. My memories of my imagination contribute to my desire to want to preserve nature.

here is the bridge to Terabithia trailer.

I have lived in my house for many years now. We have a luscious forest in the back, and along the side leading up to the forest there are many trees which have branches that are vine-like. I remember playing back there and making forts. I was truly so happy and amazed by the natural beauty of the forest. In the next 5 years or so, that will all be gone. Sadly the field next to my house will be completely urbanized, and many trees will be chopped down I am sure. It breaks my heart, it feels as though a person in my life is going to be taken away from me. My feelings on this are so strong, that I believe if other people had these same magical experiences as kids, they too would not dare to cut down a perfectly healthy tree or urbanize beautiful land. So that is why we need to continue to immerse kids in nature. Nature interpretation is so important!

Here is a photo of what is left of one of my childhood forts. Photo taken by me.

Many studies have been done that show how important nature is for our mental health. According to our assigned video, 30% of boys in the US rely on stimulants to focus. Nature is greatly important for our attention, academic performance, and relaxation. Biodiversity has even been shown to positively influence our immune systems. Healthy ecosystems means healthy people.

Here is a video on how to save our planet.

In the future, we can create communities that are rich in nature which can provide kids with a deep love for the systems we are immersed in and eventually these children can go on to sustain and regenerate things (A. Hooykaas, lecture notes, ENVS3000 Nature Interpretation, March 26, 2021). According to our assigned video, we can introduce kids to a place where they feel in touch with nature and let them find that connection with nature themselves. We really just need to focus on helping kids find their magic places (Rodenburg, 2019). One great idea that was mentioned in our assigned video, was that a great way to make kids feel like they’re helping to make a positive change in nature is by getting a community to plant a diversity of native plants. This could help feed a lot of different organisms and increase the presence of biodiversity in the community. This is a great way to show kids that they indeed can make a positive impact on the environment and ecosystems around them, and hopefully that idea is one that they can actively apply throughout the rest of their lives.

Questions:

What is one way you think we can each help improve the environment?

What is one way to help kids feel connected to nature?

What do you think is the most important thing about nature and its preservation?

Are there any natural places that remind you of your childhood?

References

Hooykaas, A. (2021). ENVS*3000 Nature Interpretation Course notes. Retrieved March 26, 2021, from https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/666945/viewContent/2593375/View

Rodenburg, J. (2019). Why environmental educators shouldn’t give up hope. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

I loved the mention of the Bridge to Terrebithia, it’s a great movie that, if I’m honest, made me cry a bit the first time I saw it lol. Are there any movies you watched as a kid that inspired you to care about nature? I think that, just likeis shown in the Bridge to Terrebithia, one way to help kids connect with nature is to encourage them to play in natural environments!  I personally grew up surrounded by nature, and I attribute a lot of my love for nature as an adult to this. As much as nature education is a wonderful and important resource, I don’t think there’s any real substitute for the feeling of being outdoors, and discovering the parts of nature that you find most interesting.

Finding interesting critters and new environments to explore I think would do a lot to inspire a sense of curiosity about nature in kids. And through this, we may also be able to settle some of the instinctual fears that children pick up when they don’t get the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience with lovely creatures like frogs and snakes. I find that being in rocky streams always reminds me of my childhood. I loved to go looking for salamanders, and I could spend hours turning over rocks to see what was hiding underneath. By playing and creating positive experiences in a natural environment, I think that would help kids to feel a greater sense of connection to nature.

        Over one thousand meters below the surface, where light cannot be found, and strange creatures lurk, lives an organism that does not eat, grows up to two metres in length, and has red blood flowing through its body…

Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash

        The year was 1977, and near the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean, scientists had set out into the deep sea to find hydrothermal vents (Young, 2018). These vents form on the ocean floor at mid-ocean ridges, also known as spreading-ridges (National Geographic, 2013). Mid-ocean ridges form when tectonic plates spread apart, allowing magma to rise and cool as it touches the cold ocean water. Near these ridges, water may travel through cracks in the ocean floor. It is then super-heated by the magma below the earth’s surface, eventually reemerging from the surface as a vent (National Geographic, 2013). These vents release water that is over 320°C, hot enough to melt lead. As the ultra-hot hydrothermal fluid escapes from the vent, it interacts with the cold, oxygenated ocean water. This results in minerals from the hydrothermal fluid, such as sulfur, coming out of solution, and solidifying to produce metal-rich chimneys. These vents may take on different forms based on the minerals, temperatures, and flow rate of the fluid (National Geographic, 2013).

A deeper look at how hydrothermal vents are formed - Video by WORLD BOOK on YouTube

        The scientists found what they were looking for; they discovered the hydrothermal vents deep in the ocean that had never been seen. However, they found something else too. They discovered the wealth of life that existed in this hostile environment, and among it, colonies of Giant Tubeworms (Young, 2018). These tubeworms are only found near hydrothermal vents, in fact, they need them to survive (Fulton-Bennett & Dalit, 2017). When a hydrothermal vent stops flowing, as it sometimes does due to changes below the seafloor, an entire colony of giant tubeworms may die out. But not to worry, the larvae can colonize new hydrothermal vents that emerge hundreds of miles away (Fulton-Bennett & Dalit, 2017).

        So what are these strange creatures? Giant tubeworms, Riftia pachyptila, are marine invertebrates found on the Pacific Ocean floor (Young, 2018). They belong to the Siboglinidae family. These invertebrates grow up to two metres in length and are characterized by a white tube anchored to rocks, and a red plume-like structure at the top (Fulton-Bennett & Dalit, 2017). The red colour of the plume-like structure comes from the blood flowing through the worm that is transporting oxygen and minerals through the body (Young, 2018). However, what really makes this creature so strange is that it doesn’t eat. It has no mouth, or a gut, or a way to excrete its waste (Young, 2018).

A look at these strange creatures, Giant Tubeworms - Video by Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) on YouTube

        So how does the giant tubeworm live if it has no way of obtaining nutrients through food? Well, it gets its nutrients in a different way. By a process known as chemiosmosis which, unlike photosynthesis that converts sunlight into energy, converts chemicals into energy (Young, 2018). But the tubeworms themselves do not do this. Instead, they have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria that live in a part of their body known as the trophosome. The bacteria within the trophosome use hydrogen sulphide as an energy source. This hydrogen sulphide comes from the thermal vents, and passes through the red plume-like structure that acts as a lung to breathe it into the trophosome (Young, 2018). From there, the bacteria feed on the hydrogen sulphide, excreting sulfur and organic compounds that the giant tubeworm can use as energy. To protect its red plume-like structure, the tubeworm can quickly retract it when it senses a nearby creature (check out the video above to see this!) (Young, 2018).

Image by Natlaya Zahn on I Contain Multitudes

        Of course, this is only one of the many strange creatures that live among the ocean floor; others such as the Bobbit worm (Eunice aphroditois) or Wobbegongs (Orectolobidae) exist. Have you heard of any of these amazing creatures?

References Fulton-Bennett, K., & Dalit, M. (2017). Giant tubeworm. Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. https://www.mbari.org/products/creature-feature/giant-tubeworms-landing-page/.

National Geographic. (2013). Deep sea hydrothermal vents. National Geographic Education. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/deep-sea-hydrothermal-vents/.

This relationship between Giant tube worms and the bacteria living in them reminds me of the mutualistic relationship between coral and the photosynthetic algae that live inside them, called zooxanthellae. These algae provide the coral with essential nutrients, such as glucose, glycerol, and amino acids.  Without the algae, coral would be unable to produce the necessary amount of these nutrients to sustain life. This is why these corals occur in areas with plenty of sunlight, as the nutrients provided by the algae are a product of photosynthesis. In return, the coral give the zooxanthellae a safe place to grow, and provide them with ample amounts of carbon dioxide, a product of cellular respiration which the algae uses in photosynthesis.

The ocean really is full of amazing creatures! I am familiar with the Bobbit worm and Wobblegong, though I think I had nightmares of the Wobblegong when I was a kid lol. If you’re interested in Bobbit worms, I think this video is where I first heard about them:

 Great post!

-Sarah

References: 

Richards, T., & McCutcheon, J. (2019). Coral symbiosis is a three-player game. Nature (London), 568(7750), 41–42. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-00949-6

Image retrieved from: http://oceanpax.blogspot.com/2009_11_08_archive.html

When I began to brainstorm for my blog this week, this quote from the movie August Rush (2007) popped into my head. Although I hadn’t thought of this movie in a long time, there are some very important messages in it relating to music. I think there is a lot of truth behind this quote because the rhythmic tones of music are everywhere around us in nature. This concept was supported in the paper “The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music” by Gray et al. 2001. From the sounds of a babbling brook to the croaking of frogs on a damp evening to the singsong of birds in the morning - music will forever be embedded into the nature around us.

This is a video I recorded April 1st, 2020. It captures the sound of the frogs talking to each other on that evening. Video taken by J. Droog.

Growing up in a very musical family, I was introduced to music at a young age. I learnt the importance of storytelling through music. Whether it is accompanied by lyrics, or simply instrumental, music always has a story to tell. Through my life experiences, I have had the opportunity to form a strong relationship with both nature and music separately, as well as together. For me, going outdoors and exercising by myself, whether I am running, walking or rollerblading is when I feel most at ease. I think this has a lot to do with the fact that when I am out by myself, I am truly absorbing all the harmonious sounds around me. Being able to connect with the sounds and music of nature is what truly makes my heart sing!

However, a lot of the time when I am going out for a walk, I find myself leaning more towards listening to music off my device. This is not because I want to drown out the noise around me, but because I find myself wanting to listen to music while I’m enjoying the nature around me. I find that there is an interchangeability between the energy I get from being in nature and simultaneously listening to music that lifts me up.

In the Ares reading for Unit 7 this week, Gray et al. (2001) stated that “The ambient sound of an environment mimics a modern-day orchestra: the voice of each creature has its own frequency, amplitude, timbre, and duration, and occupies a unique niche among the other musicians”. This direct quote relates to both nature in music and music in nature as it shows the reciprocating relationship between the occurrence and the production of the music.

One song that will always take me back to a natural landscape is John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads”. This song holds a special meaning to me as it has become a family favourite over the years. Whether we are on a long road-trip or sitting around a fire in the backyard, this song always seems to weasel its way onto our playlist. One memory in particular that I recall of my family singing this song in nature was back in 2014 when our friends from the Netherlands visited us in Canada. We sang and laughed for hours in our backyard and enjoyed the music and nature around us.

This is a photo of my sister and I, singing along to John Denver with our friend Manny in our backyard. Photo taken by my dad in 2014.

Thank you for reading along with my blog this week! I can’t wait to hear about how you all interpret music in nature!

Janieka :)

References:

Gray, P. M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., and Baptista, L. (2001). The music of nature and the nature of music. Science. 291(5501).

It’s wonderful how many people in the class have fond memories associated with John Denver songs, he seems to have had a good influence on us. Take Me Home Country Roads is a great song, I have some really fond memories of it too! My parents are both huge John Denver fans, and that song was played a lot in my household growing up. I remember dancing to it with my brother when I was small, and more recently listening to it while relaxing with my family. Its funny how a single song can have so many memories attached to it. 

You mentioned that you find yourself listening to the music on your device when in nature, and I find that interesting because I’m just the opposite! I listen to music almost all day, except for when I’m out in nature. Then I feel like listening to the ambient sounds around me gives me helps me to stay in the moment, and feel more calm while walking in nature. So, it’s really interesting to me that you use music to lift you up while in nature! I see so many other people doing the same, and I’ve always wondered why, so I really enjoyed reading your response.

Are there specific genres of music that you’re drawn to when in nature? Does it differ based on your mood or the surroundings?

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)

 When reading this week’s quote, I start to think about the various artifacts and buildings that we as humans have preserved over the years. There are the tombs from ancient Egypt, the Colosseum, the old temple of Athena, etc. which have survived over thousands of years and we continue to preserve these buildings and artifacts in order to keep the history that comes with it. We can think the same way with nature and understanding the history within the world around us.

          (Photo of the Colosseum, taken from https://www.romeapartments.com/city-guide-pages/the-colosseum-rome-the-most-famous-building-of-the-roman-empire/)                                                           

 I think this quote relates perfectly to the theory of evolution and how the past is never completely gone. I particularly enjoy thinking about evolution and how fossils are such a great example of nature preserving itself for scientists to interpret and understand. It’s remarkable to me that nature alone is able to accomplish this sort of historic preservation for us to find and learn about. Thinking about how the fossil record has informed us of so many extinct species and the various reasons they are gone extinct. There is so much information that is hidden within the fossil records that are just waiting to be unpacked.

(Photo of fossilized trilobites, taken from https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00117-1)

  We can also see this sort of preservation of nature within the trees, as they keep a record of how old they are in a very unique way. With every year that passes they add another ring to their trunk, telling an interesting story of the various climatic conditions it was survived. Scientists have decoded the history of the climate and life of the tree by understanding the differences in the rings found on the trunk (NASA climate kids, 2021). This natural phenomenon is another way that scientists have had to interpret the history and story that the tree is trying to tell us about its past. These natural phenomena are happening all around us and as nature interpreters, we have to tell their story to others.

(Image explaining tree rings, taken from https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2540/tree-rings-provide-snapshots-of-earths-past-climate/)

 This quote really got me thinking about how nature itself has so much history and information that we are still learning about to this day. Nature is complicated but yet so fascinating in how it is able to preserve such historic evidence. My question for all of you:

 Do you have any other examples of ways that nature has been able to preserve its natural history for us to uncover?

 Thank you for reading this week’s post,

Emily

 Reference:

(Image: Gordo the brontosaurus in the ROM, from the James and Louise Temerty Gallery)

With the information gained from ice cores taken from glaciers, we can learn a lot about what the earth was like back when these creatures existed! Ice cores are samples of ice taken from deep within the ice of a glacier. They reveal the contents of the atmosphere throughout a significant amount of earth’s history, through the miniscule air bubbles that became trapped when the ice froze, and thus preserve samples of an ancient atmosphere. In analyzing these samples, we can learn crucial information about historic greenhouse gas concentrations. Without this information, we would not be aware of just how dire the climate crisis is, as we would not have a comparison for the current changes in our climate.

(Image: ice core sample being taken, by  Lonnie Thompson)

How do you think our ability to learn about the history of the earth through fossils and other natural evidence has influenced how we see nature?

  References: Bethan Davies (2020) Ice Core Basics http://www.antarcticglaciers.org/glaciers-and-climate/ice-cores/ice-core-basics/

Lonnie Thompson “ Ice core sample taken from drill” (2017) Photo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_core#/media/File:Icecore_4.jpg

In Ontario we only have a few months a year of warm weather. I like to take advantage of it in every way possible, whether it be relaxing by the beach or pool, going for hikes or growing my own vegetable garden. This summer my Dad and I took on the task of trying to grow our own garden; we grew tomatos, zucchini, onions, peppers, squash, beans, radishes, broccoli and more. Luckily in Southern Ontario has a deep soil profile left behind from the pervious glacial period. Until recently, the surface was scattered with Carolinian forest, which turned cycles of organic nutrients to the topsoil.

Image: beets, tomatos and a squash from our garden; Summer 2020.

If you have the space and opportunity I would highly recommend growing your own food. Not only does it taste better but it also helps to reduce food waste creating a more sustainable future. Growing your own food also helps save money in the long run; you can simply harvest seeds from fruits and vegetables you already have plant them. Instead of buying produce from the grocery store where the fruits and vegetables are imported you know your home grown food is fresh and local. Also, I find home grown food actually taste better and is fresher, you know where your food is coming from.

Image: our garden from summer 2021 in our backyard

Growing your own food benefits the environment as well. Trucks, planes or boats are used to import fruit and vegetables which are powered by fossil fuels which creates air pollution having a negative impact on the environment. In fact, according to the national zero waste council research on household food waste in Canada, almost 2.2 million tonnes of edible food is wasted each year costing Canadians $17 billion dollars (City of Toronto, 2021). Also, 58% of all food produced in Canada is wasted (City of Toronto, 2021). Growing your own food allows you to only take what you need at that time. Also, growing your own food allows one to preserve excess produce. My Dad and I created a ton of tomato sauce out of the extra tomato’s we had and gave them to friends and family.

Image: Our seeds growing before we planted them in the garden.

Also, gardening your own food allows you to get physical activity and bonding time with a friend or family member. Also, being out in the sunshine allows you to work on your tan and get much needed vitamin D after Canada’s long winters. I believe that the way we as a society are going now we are going to have to grow our own food, so mine as well learn now. As COVID has increased the price of fresh produce it is a good idea to start preparing your own food.

Image: my brothers and I digging up the grass to make room for the garden.

A few questions for you…

Have you ever grown your own food? If so what did you grow and what was your experience?

We also have a few apple trees that my grandparents planted. Gardening may be my Dad’s specialty, but apples are definitely mine. Every fall I can as much of our apples as I can in as many ways as I can think of. Apple sauce, apple butter, and apple pie filling are our favorites. If nothing else, I thought that at least the pandemic would give me plenty of time this fall to pick apples. Then I realized there was a canning jar shortage! We were still able to make quite a bit in the end, though. 

(Image: apples and pears picked from our trees! By Sarah Morton)

During the holidays we got my Dad a small hydroponic planter as a gift since he always gets bored during the winter months, but it’s been unused so far. This last week I’ve been thinking about stealing it, I want to try growing some strawberries! I have no idea how hydroponics work, but the appeal of fresh strawberries is almost enough to get me to learn. Have you ever tried to use hydroponics? 

I feel very fortunate to be able to grow my own food. I feel like its really important to have a connection with the food you eat, and to know where it comes from. It’s an entirely different experience to pick up a bag of shiny apples at the store than it is to climb up and pick one from the tree. Having a closer connection to the food I eat makes me appreciate it more, because I know the effort and care that went into growing it.

One way I love interpreting nature through art is by watching documentaries. There are many aspects of wildlife documentaries that can be compelling and really suck you in. Documentaries are amazing in regards to nature interpretation for many reasons, one being that they are widely available to people around the world. This means that the information is more accessible and thus more people can engage with it. The more people that experience interpretation through educational, recreational, and inspirational experiences the better. These experiences make people care about the particular topic at hand or nature in general, and bring people together to protect it. There will always be a few people who will gladly destroy our heritage in return for a large profit. People that are connected to their heritage will fight back and protect, thus the more people that are informed and feel connected to their heritage, the better. A few of my favourite documentaries are “My Octopus Teacher” and “Nature: Touching the Wild: Living with the Mule Deer of Deadman Gulch”. Both stories revolved around a man that was intrigued by and in love with wildlife. They each follow an animal in hopes of gaining its trust. These types of documentaries tell a story, one that is very intriguing because it is not every day that you hear a man forms an emotional relationship with an octopus or a herd of deer. They start off slow where it is very difficult to see how there could possibly be any relationship between humans and wild animals, as wild animals are often skittish when they see humans. Both documentaries showed that after time, the animals began to build trust for the human that was following them, and eventually the human became fully integrated into these animals' lives. In particular “My Octopus Teacher” showed the complete timeline of the octopus and man’s relationship, including the hardships that the octopus encountered while the human watched (for example getting its tentacle eaten by a shark and almost getting killed). There does come a time where the octopus’ life has come to an end, she gives birth and she slowly passes away. Watching this relationship form specifically showed me how incredibly intellectual and emotional octopus can be. It showed to me that these little creatures have souls, and initiated something inside me where I felt they must be protected at all costs. The documentary did what it was supposed to do, with the visuals and music, it had me so emotionally invested in the story that I was crying while watching. It is one that I will never forget, and I will forever view octopus in a different light than I would have if I hadn’t have watched this documentary. Music is also always integrated into documentaries. It is used to manipulate or enhance what the viewer is feeling, so if the story itself is not enough to elicit an emotional response, the music will most likely seal the deal.

Video: taken by me. It is a snippet about a man's interaction with an octopus. With the music and connection between human and animal interaction made, it is easy to become emotionally invested.

Documentaries can be used to show these touching stories of human interactions with wildlife, and end with a final message of why these animals or natural areas must be protected. They effectively show people how important that the natural world is, and what benefits they can bring to humans. Interactions with nature contribute to the overall mental and physical well being of humans, and this art can elicit sympathy and empathy which will lead to a kinder society that will hopefully protect nature. It is important to remember that a strong emotional response to these documentaries can not be guaranteed, as the beauty of nature is within the eye of the beholder. The best these documentaries can do is tell a compelling story and hope that people will want these natural areas or mystical creatures to live on enough to help protect them.

Questions:

What type of art do you think is the most effective in regards to nature interpretation? Why do you feel this way?

I’ve always thought that the ocean documentaries were particularly interesting. I personally don’t have much first-hand experience with the ocean, as I grew up very much inland, so I feel like I always learn a lot while watching ocean documentaries. One that sticks out in my mind (though I can’t remember the name anymore) had to do with kelp forests. At the time I really didn’t know anything about kelp forests, and honestly didn’t care as much about them as say the coral reefs. But the documentary introduced me to all the cool organisms living there, and explained the complexities of the ecosystem, and I found it as beautiful as it was fascinating. Despite watching it years ago, I can still clearly remember a shot in the film where a great white shark emerges from the depths of the kelp forest in search of the seals hiding within; it was so cool!

Nature interpretation through the lens of artistic expression can be incredibly powerful and impactful on the viewer. To me, documentaries are an especially important type of nature interpretation, both for their storytelling capabilities and their accessibility. You don’t need to go to the forest or and art gallery to enjoy a documentary. Just snuggle up on your couch with a bowl of buttery popcorn, and settle in for an hour of learning about fish!

The first thoughts that come to mind when hearing the word “privilege” are special advantages or rights that are granted to individuals depending on their race, gender, ethnicity, education, gender identity, religion, sexuality, ability (mental and physical), socio-economic status and many more (Media Smarts, 2014). As mentioned in our textbook, these groups of people that are separated by “some demographic characteristic” are labeled as “underserved populations or audiences”. Privilege allows certain individuals to believe they are more entitled to specific opportunities and experiences due to special pre-existing conditions that have been determined by society. 

The term “privilege” holds a different meaning for each person because everyone has experienced or witnessed different kinds of privilege throughout their lives. I am a half Trinidadian and half Chinese woman who grew up in Canada. I was raised in a home with two, full-time, successful working parents that love and support myself and my older brother. They have always provided us with everything we have ever needed, including clean water, clothes, food, a well-rounded education, a roof over our head and other luxuries including electronics, vacations, etc. All of the things that have been provided to me by my family have always seemed to be a basic right because it is all I have ever known and been exposed to; however, this is not the case for many people. I recognize the privilege that I do have because of the family I was born into and the status they hold in society. However, I am also able to recognize the opportunities and experiences I have lost or were not considered for because of the privilege I do not have due to the fact that I am a mixed woman of colour. 

This is a picture of my two parents, my brother and I in Mexico in 2008. This picture was taken by my grandma.

To be completely honest, I never considered the term privilege in the sense of nature or nature interpretation before reading the prompt for this blog post. However, I came to realize that privilege plays a major role in one’s interpretation of nature because the opportunities we were fortunate enough to experience in our life influences the way we think and interpret the world around us. The places I was able to visit and the beauty of nature that I was able to experience in those places were made available to me because of the privilege provided to me by my family. Although one does not need to partake in extravagant trips in order to experience the beauty that nature has to offer, I think that these experiences do influence the way in which we interpret nature. I believe that every experience or opportunity we have encountered in our lives will change the way we interpret interactions, objects, challenges, opportunities and more. I think that without the privilege I do have, my interpretation of nature would be extremely different. 

My questions to you are: 

- How old were you when you realized how privileged you were? Was there a specific moment, interaction or experience that opened your eyes? 

- How have you changed the way you lived your life or the way you look at your life once you realized your privilege? 

Thanks for reading and I am looking forward to any comments! 

- Victoria 

I had never considered privilege in the context of nature interpretation before this week either. As someone who has almost always had access nature, it didn’t occur to me to think about how this privilege has impacted my experience with nature.

I grew up in a very rural area, so I understood quite early in life that I was privileged to be middle classed. The area experienced high poverty rates, and even the local grocery store closed down eventually, so my privilege in that respect was obvious to me. However, it wasn’t until I went to high school in a more urban area that I became fully aware of how my race and lack of disability were also privileges. One of my friends there has a physical disability that requires she use a walker, and I remember helping her struggle to fit it through narrow isles between desks or up stairs without a ramp, and being furious that the school wasn’t more accommodating. Before having these experiences, it  wouldn’t have occurred to me that by leaving your backpack in the isle, someone could have trouble even getting to their desk at all. 

I think about her a lot when I’m walking on a trail, because I realize that the rocks and roots I step over easily would make the walk into a nightmare for her. My experience with nature is likely completely different than hers. I try to recognize the privileges I have, and through this become a more considerate person and better friend.

Interpretation is a relatively new profession. However, its origins date back thousands of years. Storytellers can be viewed as interpreters, as their goal was to pass down knowledge and to connect people with resources (Lewis,1991). There are numerous roles that interpreters can fill. My ideal role as an environmental interpreter would be a wildlife guide at a nature reserve. When I was younger, I would often go to the nature programs at provincial parks hosted by the NHE (natural heritage education) team. I loved these programs because they provided you with information on the history of the park and the environment through fun activities. While working at Algonquin, I volunteered in some of these programs which made me realize that it would be an ideal career path. The role of an interpreter is very important. Interpretation enhances the experiences that tourists have, increases tourist awareness, and can influence tourist attitude and behaviours (Beck & Cable, 2011; Ham & Weiler, 2007). Additionally, interpretive programs can strengthen conservation efforts at both natural and cultural heritage tourism sites (Black, 2008). 

Canoe Lake, Algonquin Park. Photo taken by me.

Personally, I would love to work at a nature reserve somewhere in the Caribbean. I travelled to St. Lucia in 2016, and this experience had a major influence on how I view nature. Travelling has exposed me to different types of ecosystems and unfamiliar species, which I find very exciting. Through travelling, I have had the opportunity to go snorkeling, visit mountainous volcanic regions, and hike through the rainforest. These are all activities that have minimal environmental impact while providing tourists with a greater appreciation for their surroundings. While I was in St. Lucia, I noticed that many tourists do not take the consequences of their actions into consideration. It was almost rare to encounter a stretch of beach or a trail that did not have any litter. These observations motivated me to get involved in educating the public on how their actions can have major environmental impacts. 

A photo of me holding a snake in St. Lucia. Photo taken by my aunt. 

The Soufrière Hills. A stratovolcano in St. Lucia. Photo taken by me.

As an interpreter I would offer various programs, such as: rainforest hikes, wildlife education, and marine biodiversity programs. Through each of these programs I would aim to promote conservation and provide the tourists with education on the local ecosystems. Due to the amount of false information that is spread on climate change, I think education on this topic is important. When considering the Caribbean, this is a region that is projected to be greatly impacted by climate change. According to the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) there are six major climate risks associated with climate change. These include: increased hurricane intensity and frequency, sea level rise, salt water intrusion into freshwater aquifers, temperature changes, altered precipitation patterns, and coral reef bleaching and mortality (CTO, 2008). Therefore as climate change progresses, this area is particularly vulnerable. Thus, it is essential to have environmental outreach programs that demonstrate the role that tourism plays in environmental degradation. This will allow the issues of climate change to be communicated to tourists through educational activities. 

A sign on the beach in Cayo Coco, Cuba. Photo taken by me. 

The west coast of St. Lucia. Photo taken by me.

Many skills are required to be a wildlife guide. To fill this role, one would need to possess a vast understanding of the species in the area. As a marine and freshwater biology major, I have taken many zoology courses throughout my undergrad. These classes have provided me with a strong background in species identification and understanding how species interact. Another skill needed for this position would be adaptability. Programs are likely to be different each time you present them. Due to this, a guide needs to be prepared to  accommodate a variety of situations. An environmental interpreter must also have great communication skills and presentation skills. This will ensure that through the program, their audience receives the information that they are intended to. 

A photo of me holding a tarantula in a zoology lab. Photo taken by my friend.

References 

Beck, L., & Cable, T. (2011). The gifts of interpretation : fifteen guiding principles for interpreting nature and culture (Third edition). Sagamore Publishing.

Black, R. (2018). Improving engagement between tourists and staff at natural and cultural heritage tourism sites: exploring the concept of interpretive conversations. Tourism Recreation Research, 43(1), 82–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2017.1382981

Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). (2008). Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework. Retrieved from https://caricom.org/documents/10910-cbbnsustainabletourismpolicyframework.pdf.

Ham, S. H., & Weiler, B. (2007). Isolating the role of interpretation of on-site interpretation in a satisfying experience. Journal of Interpretation Research, 12(2), 5–24.