ENVS*Final Prompt
Hello all!
This final blog post was such an amazing way of reflecting on how this course has change the way I view nature interpretation, and how I approach the communication of information in general. I am definitely someone who learns best by doing, I like to touch things, or see them in action! I learned this during one of our first units, when discussing how to teach to the different learning types and the difference between tangible and intangible elements (Beck et al., 2018). The reason I am bringing this up again is one component of the prompt we were given: Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. The answer to this is deeply entwined with the rest of the prompt, but Iāll return to that later. The biggest ethic I believe in when it comes to nature interpretation is that everyone deserves the opportunity to understand the nature that they are surrounded by. This does not mean that that we should all have access to the same free online resources, though it does help, but instead that we are all given the chance to learn in a way that aligns with our needs.
Ā *Photo taken by me of my two friends crossing a frozen lake in Garibaldi Park, BC*
I started a program at UoG in 2014, graduated with a general Science, and went to Fleming college for Arboriculture, before returning to UoG to upgrade my degree. I learned that all of the book-reading in the world wonāt help me retain knowledge the way that listening to a respected instructor, or physically applying my knowledge does. If I had been taught this at a younger age, I might have approached my education differently. This is why I deeply believe that we need to expand public resources surrounding environmental education so that it is not only given to those who can afford a college education, or courses from a private institution. Physical learners need to be given attention just as their counterparts are: starting in early childhood and throughout their developmental years. We need to break down the stigma that those who donāt retain well from intangible learning arenāt smart. Ā
Ā *Photo taken by me during a mushroom hunt and information share with my coworker in Coquitlam, BC*
So many of the people that I know who are in outdoor or environmentally central trades/professions stumbled into it later in life, usually due to the many physical faucets that this field has. They are some of the most well-educated people I have ever met, without spending much time at all in a classroom! My beliefs within nature interpretation are that by focusing on diversifying teaching methods we are able to connect more people to our cause. Opening up learning to everyone, despite their location, background, financial position, abilities, or personal beliefs would create a wonderfully inclusive culture around one thing that every human being shares: a reliance on the environment.
*Photo taken by me of a coworker pruning trees in White Rock, BC*
Our responsibilities as nature interpreters are to make this inclusivity possible, to be open to conversing with people, showing them what we know, whether or not they hold the same views as us. We should not argue with anyone, or try to change their minds, because everyone comes to love this earth in their own way, from their own place, as discussed between David Suzuki and Richard Louv in the video we were provided (Suzuki and Louv, 2012). All we have to do is open the door, and hope that they walk through on their own. Ā
Ā *Photo taken by me of a coworker pruning a tree in Langley, BC*
I am an arborist by trade, which means that I climb trees in order to identify diseases or hazards within them, prune for aesthetics and/or safety, and am often involved in tree removal. I entered this trade from a place of environmental consciousness, believing I was going to become a ātree doctorā, who identified issues and fixed them, only removing living trees if it was absolutely necessary. This is not the reality of my profession. I have seen many more trees cut down for urban development or due to unwise planting decisions than I had anticipated when I first began my career. I realized early on that people donāt see the benefit in their trees, such as reduced energy bills due to shading their houses on hot days, the way that they act as a sound barrier for roadways, the decreased likelihood of lawn flooding due to their roots up-taking water, and so much more. All they see are extra leaves to rake off their lawns. My coworkers often donāt see trees, especially big ones, as living beings, but instead as a fun challenge to kill that you can brag about later.
*Photo taken by me of a coworker removing a tree in Surrey, BC*Ā
Through this course Iāve learned that we are all interpreters for each other, weāve all seen and learned things that others havenāt. Sometimes by listening to other peopleās experiences we learn about things weāve never encountered, and sometimes our own piece of knowledge can help otherās connect the dots on how something works. At my job most of the people I work with donāt understand tree biology but have many more years of practical experience than I do. So when they remark on how a growth on a tree, that I probably never would have noticed, is āweirdā or ācoolā, I get the opportunity to explain the probably cause of it, and why the tree responds to certain stimuli the way it does. I hope that eventually this mutual enlightenment leads to a deeper appreciation for trees in both of us.
Ā *photo taken my me, of a cool tree graft found in Victoria, BC*
In conclusion, this course hasnāt changed the way I see nature, instead it has shown me different ways to communicate my own view with others, and the value of listening to their response. There is no āone size fits allā when it comes to learning or interpreting, and, since we are all both interpreters and students, we need to have patience with each other, and try to see through the eyes of others. Only through connection to each other can we communicate our passions.
*Photo of my dog and I frolicking in Tofino, BC*
My questions for you are: have you realized through this course that someone in your life was a nature interpreter for you, and you never noticed? How have you been an interpreter for others before this course, and will your methods change now that itās over?
Thank you to all of my classmates and our instructors, youāve all taught me so much this semester!
Katie the Treehugger
*Photo of my dog and I looking forward to our next adventure!*
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing.
David Suzuki and Richard Louv @ AGO [Video file]. (2012, July 20). Retrieved March 27, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5DI1Ffdl6Y
Hi Katie,Ā
On of the main pieces of feedback we got from Professor Hookyas this semester was that our blog post are a little dry, and we often spend too much time trying to jam is as much information as possible rather than sharing our unique voices. You did the opposite in this post! I really heard your voice and I feel like I know you more after reading this. It was your ability to be raw and express yourself that compelled me to reply to your post. One thing that really stuck me though was when you saidĀ āthis course hasnāt changed the way I see nature, instead it has shown me different ways to communicate my own view with others, and the value of listening to their response.ā I was having trouble finding the words to explain how this class has impacted me - but you summarize it here perfectly.Ā
My boyfriend is also an arborist and he shares a lot of the same views you do and so we have conversations about trees a lot. For some background context, he does a lot of work pruning and cutting down trees that are growing and interfering with powerlines, and he likes to sayĀ āto a hydro worker a tree is an inconvenience, but to an arborist a tree is a lifeā. I think this simple idea represents some key underlying messages in this class about perspective. Your perspective on things is controlled by what you know. An arborist knows everything about trees, and they often personify them in a way because they understand that each tree is a unique living individual. A powerline worker on the other hand knows everything there is to know about energy, but may not know anything about trees. To them, maybe they see all trees as the same and when one is growing in the way of powerlines they cut it down becauseĀ āits just a treeā and there are thousands of other trees. This does not make them evil tree killers. We canāt assume that everyone has the same background or degree of knowledge that we do, and maybe theyĀ just donāt have the same perspective on something that you do.Ā
As nature interpreters, we have the power to shift peopleās perspectives. A persons perspective is controlled by their beliefs and their understanding. Although we do not have the power to change someoneās beliefs, we do have the ability to advance their understanding. We can be interpreters in our everyday lives, and we shouldnāt only use our skills if we become professional interpreterās. We can use our new skills to make our conversations about nature effective and impactful. I think we can be nature interpreters no matter who we are talking to, just like how you said you have conversations at work about diseased trees. This class has taught us to gauge our audience, and change the way we communicate to be most effective for the listener. I know that I have a certain learning style, and I used to talk to people as if I was trying to teach myself. But now I know now that teaching techniques that make concepts understandable for me may not work for others. Also, someone may not have the same emotional connection with some facet of nature like I do. So, I have also learned that I need to establish some form of connection with the thing Iām talking about if I expect the person Iām talking with to actually care about what Iām saying. And so just like you said, how I see nature and the things I know about it havenāt changed because of this course, but I now know how to express my love for it and pass on my knowledge to others in a meaningful and impactful way - so that they can see and love nature the way I do.Ā
Iām curious to know the answer to your own question: have you realized through this course that someone in your life was a nature interpreter for you, and you never noticed? Mine is probably John Bello. I only know who he is through YouTube, I watched a video about how him and his wife have lived off-grid for 50 years. They bought over 200 acres of a lumber company after it was clear cut to regrow the land and manage it properly this time. If you watch the video youāll notice recurring themes of sense of place and I think he has taught me more about sustainable forest management than any other class or person every has - I think you would enjoy it (he LOVES trees). You can watch it here:Ā https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qcsWajivnIĀ - I would start at 18:00 minutes if you just want to watch the parts about trees and forest management.Ā
Thanks again for the post:) - Claire
Hi Claire!
Thanks you so much for your wonderful response, I felt so happy reading it! I love knowing that there are other people with the same passion for trees out there, and the way you described utility/powerline workers compared to professional arborists was so eloquent and thought out! Itās hard to communicate with people who have polar opposite passions and lenses from Ā which they view the object of your passion (trees in Ā my case). I feel like we could have had some great discussions if we were actually in a classroom :PĀ
I watched the video you sent and did really enjoy it! Living off grid or in a way that is almost completely self-sustained is a dream of mine, and I love watching videos like these to get an idea of how others have managed it. Since you watched and remembered this video I was wondering if you hope to live off grid one day?
I learned through this course that a lot of the people in my home town were nature interpreters, although I never acknowledged them as such. I grew up in a small town in Nova Scotia, and there was a big culture around fishing, hunting, and forestry. I never really interacted with this culture, as I was a studious little nerd/hippy who hated the idea of hunting and mostly engaged with nature on hikes or by walking the beach. Looking back now I wish that I could have picked their brains, as they had so much practical experience interacting with forests and wildlife, there was so much knowledge that I never tapped into!
Anyway, thanks again for your post, it made my day!
Katie the Treehugger
Hi Katie,
I definitely want to live more sustainably! Whether that means building a home completely off-grid, or just doing my part to be more conscious about how my actions impact the environment. But, what I love about off-grid living is that it showcases how there are totally feasible alternatives to the way most people live. Many off-grid homes use cold cellars to store food rather than fridges than run off electricity, or earthships which are homes designed to control temperature naturally so indoor heating and cooling isnāt needed. I think society has a lot to learn from people who live off-grid in terms of lifestyle choices and being aware of the environmental footprint you have as an individual on this earth.Ā
I was also the studious nerd/hippy who hated the idea of hunting and I believed the only way to love nature was to leave it alone. But that perception I had shifted, and itās because I actually listened to people who hunt and fish and asked why they did it. And most of the time, their answer is because hunting and fishing is a way more sustainable way to get food compared to going to the grocery store, and it allows them to feel connected to nature and ancestral ways of living. And so I feel the same way! I was so focused on my perception that killing for sport was evil, that I didnāt realize hunter and fisherman often have the strongest connection and love for the environment. So I also agree that regular people in my life who hunt and fish have acted as nature interpreters and have had a major impact in my life.Ā
Also, coincidentally I moved to Nova Scotia this past summer and I very much enjoy talking to locals whenever I can and learning about the local environment. Small world I suppose, we have traded places!
Hey Katie, great job on your final post!Ā
A particular passage in your post really resonated with me, āwe are all interpreters for each other, weāve all seen and learned things that others havenāt. Sometimes by listening to other peopleās experiences we learn about things weāve never encountered, and sometimes our own piece of knowledge can help others connect the dots on how something worksā. I love that you brought attention to this concept! When the semester began, I had fairly low expectations for what I would really take away from the material covered in this course, and I definitely wasnāt expecting to consider myself an interpreter! But as we moved through the course, I think we all came to realize how easily we can become interpreters in so many different ways, and like you said, we often act as interpreters for the people around us and I think there is great power in that fact. I personally discovered my own identity as an interpreter and despite my expectations at the start of the semester, I can honestly say that the techniques this course taught me will get put to use far more than I ever imagined. Since I am going into teachersā college in the fall to become a high school science teacher, I feel that I am pursuing a career in interpretation. One of the main roles of teachers is to aid in understanding the world and as a science teacher in particular, inspiring people to engage with the environment and become even more curious about the world! To answer your question, I actually did come to notice that I had been an interpreter on many occasions throughout my life, far before taking this course! I have always been passionate about the environment and for as long as I can remember, I have always been an advocate for nature and often did this by sharing the things I learned in school. With my friends, my family, and especially through the children I have been tutoring over the last year, I realized that by sharing my knowledge and opinions with different people in my life, I have been acting as an interpreter indirectly. My only hope is that I can continue to be an interpreter for my future students, and that I can inspire them the way my science teachers inspired me!
Thanks for a good read!
-Sierra



























