Wild About Nature

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 I’ll 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.

 *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 won’t 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 don’t retain well from intangible learning aren’t smart.  

 *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.  

 *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 “tree doctor”, 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 don’t 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 don’t 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* 

Through this course I’ve learned that we are all interpreters for each other, we’ve all seen and learned things that others haven’t. Sometimes by listening to other people’s experiences we learn about things we’ve never encountered, and sometimes our own piece of knowledge can help other’s connect the dots on how something works. At my job most of the people I work with don’t 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 “weird” or “cool”, 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.

 *photo taken my me, of a cool tree graft found in Victoria, BC*

In conclusion, this course hasn’t 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 “one size fits all” 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 it’s over?

Thank you to all of my classmates and our instructors, you’ve 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.

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 said “this course hasn’t 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.” I was having trouble finding the words to explain how this class has impacted me - but you summarize it here perfectly. 

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 say “to a hydro worker a tree is an inconvenience, but to an arborist a tree is a life”. 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 because ‘its just a tree’ and there are thousands of other trees. This does not make them evil tree killers. We can’t assume that everyone has the same background or degree of knowledge that we do, and maybe they just don’t have the same perspective on something that you do. 

As nature interpreters, we have the power to shift people’s perspectives. A persons perspective is controlled by their beliefs and their understanding. Although we do not have the power to change someone’s beliefs, we do have the ability to advance their understanding. We can be interpreters in our everyday lives, and we shouldn’t only use our skills if we become professional interpreter’s. 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 I’m talking about if I expect the person I’m talking with to actually care about what I’m saying. And so just like you said, how I see nature and the things I know about it haven’t 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. 

I’m 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 you’ll 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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qcsWajivnI - I would start at 18:00 minutes if you just want to watch the parts about trees and forest management. 

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! It’s hard to communicate with people who have polar opposite passions and lenses from  which they view the object of your passion (trees in  my case). I feel like we could have had some great discussions if we were actually in a classroom :P 

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!

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 isn’t 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. 

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 it’s 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 didn’t 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. 

A particular passage in your post really resonated with me, “we are all interpreters for each other, we’ve all seen and learned things that others haven’t. Sometimes by listening to other people’s experiences we learn about things we’ve never encountered, and sometimes our own piece of knowledge can help others connect the dots on how something works”. 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 wasn’t 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 teachers’ 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!

Although this class may be coming to an end, our journey as nature interpreters is just beginning. As we reach the end of the semester, I wanted to revisit the three main questions we’ve been asked throughout the semester: (1) who am I as an interpreter, (2) who is my audience, and (3) how can I make this experience meaningful (Beck et al., 2018).

First, who am I as an interpreter? Just because I don’t have a job as a nature interpreter, doesn’t mean I can act as a nature interpreter for the people I interact with in my life. I have two main identities as a nature interpreter: (1) a citizen and (2) a scientist. How I interpret nature in these two roles may differ, but I still feel a moral obligation to spread awareness about nature, conservation, and sustainability everyday.

This class hasn’t necessarily taught me anything new about nature, I know just as much about the environment as I did in January. But the key thing I have learned is how to share this knowledge. As a citizen, I have learned how I can converse with those around me in a way that I can spark an interest in nature and inspire them to live sustainably on their own terms. Nobody likes to be forced or pushed to live a certain way, but effective nature interpretation can inspire people to change all on their own. This is tied to my personal ethical belief that nature interpreters must have autonomy. Autonomy means that individuals have a right to self-determination, that is, to make decisions about their lives without interference from others. This essentially means that we can teach people and try and inspire them to continue their personal journey and relationship with the environment, but at the end of the day we can’t force them or judge them for not being more proactive about conservation. I have also learned new ways to interpret my research findings better as a scientist. I have learned that writing about new findings isn’t enough, and for any type of presentation to be meaningful you must explain why it is important in a broader environmental context. The most important lesson I have learned is that role of interpretation is to make intellectual connections between what the audience already knows and new information I am trying to provide, and make emotional connections so they can learn why something is important and why they should care about it.

Another key aspect about who I am as an interpreter relates to who I am as a person. My privileges, personal learning style, ethics, and beliefs all impact who I am as a person. And while these facets of my identify can sometimes help me connect with my audience, they can also hinder my connection with them as well. For example, my learning styles are spatial and interpersonal. I learn best with mind-maps or charts connecting ideas and bouncing ideas of others and actively discussing topics. It’s quite funny because me and my roommate discovered we have completely opposite learning styles as hers are intrapersonal and logical-mathematical. She often found when we studied together, my talking and disusing would distract her and hinder her from thinking about topics and understanding them – but I couldn’t understand them without talking about aloud with someone else. I used to always approach teaching as if I was trying to teach myself, but I have learned that everyone learns differently so this teaching style isn’t always effective. I have learned that I must manipulate how I present in a way that anyone could understand and learn from my presentation.

A picture I took using self-timer in Killarney, ON with my roommate Sarah - the one with a completely different learning style than me. 

Second, who is my audience? Like I said previously, sometimes I’m may be interpreting to my friends and family, and sometimes I may be interpreting in a professional setting to strangers. As an individual, there are certain approaches I can take to spark an interest in nature while I have their attention (Beck et al., 2018). First, you have to approach conversations with a good-natured demeanor, because a brash or confrontation demeanor can cause the listener to feel attacked or not want to listen to what you have to say. This is especially important when talking about touchy subjects or controversial topics like religion, politics, or using live animals for education. I’ve also learned to emirate confidence. I can get nervous especially in front of groups or strangers, so this is easier when I’m talking with close friends and family. But I’ve notice when listening to others speak that confidence promotes engagement and active listening, and really helps the audience believe in the credibility of the facts and be inspired by the information – especially when the presenter is visibly enthralled and excited about the topic. And lastly, I’ve learned that enthusiasm and passion is contagious. The energy you surround yourself with is the energy you bring into your life. I have such a deep love for the environment, but not everyone seems to always think its as cool as I do. But when you speak and are truly excited about what your talking about, you create an atmosphere of inspiration. I pressure my mom not to rake up the leaves this past fall because I learned that leaves can provide over-winter habitat for bees, and provide lots of nutrients for the soil in the spring. She thought I was crazy and hated the idea because “leaves are messy”, but my passion and visible enthusiasm about doing this is what ultimately convinced her that this must be important because of how excited I was about it.

A picture I took of my tree plant crew. I hired this amazing group of people to work on my crew this past summer, and they have listened to many of my passionate talks about nature - teaching them about the importance of replanting forests, and how the results of their work will quite literally live on for 70+ years. 

As a scientist, the internet and social media are really some of the only platforms to promote research papers and make new research findings available to the public. Working with professors and academics I have learned that social platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and personal websites/blogs are great ways to spread research. Some professors even become guests on podcasts to talk about their research. The mantra in Richard Louv’s book The Natue Principle is that the more high tech our lives become, the more nature we need (Hooykaas, 2021). And while I agree with this belief, this course has also taught me that technology can be a steppingstone to developing a relationship with nature. May people these days live in urban cities where it is difficult to find a place nearby where they can escape and experience nature, and this can be especially impactful for children. But, as we have learned, the internet and virtual teaching approaches can actually be very effective for nature interpretation. Technology can provide a doorway to teach children about nature and provoke their curiosity. Interpreting nature consists of helping people to fall in love with nature and accepting that protecting and conserving something requires us to love it first, and to do so we need to know it. Technology is one of the most effective tools we have to spread environmental messages, and introduce the public to new topics, and hopefully we can inspire them enough to keep wanting to learn and do more.

A screen capture from the website for the lab I work in at Dalhousie University. We use this website, along with twitter and LinkedIn accounts to promote new research papers written by members of the lab. https://www.seafloormapping.ca/

Finally, how can I make this experience meaningful? I’ve touched on this a couple times in the paragraphs above, but I truly believe that the way to make a presentation special is about shifting your audience’s perception. Interpretation is about opening people’s minds to wonder and new ways of perceiving the world, beyond normal every day thinking (Beck et al., 2018). It’s very similar to seeing the world through the eyes of a child, romanticizing the mundane, and learning to love nature in its raw and chaotic forms. In summary, it’s not about making your presentation special, its about showing your audience that nature is special – and as a result your presentation will become inspiring and meaningful. There are certain approaches to do this effectively depending on your audience, but the key role of interpretation is the same no matter who you are or who you are presenting to.

I have two questions for you to think about after reading this post:

(1)  In what role(s) do you see yourself applying what we have learned in this class. It could be as a park guide, a parent, a mentor, a researcher, or a friend. (Remember, anyone can be an interpreter)

(2) Looking back, who as been an unexpected/unofficial nature interpreter in your own life. Maybe it’s a family member who first introduced you to nature, or a teacher who took you on a field trip. 

Thanks for reading:) - Claire

Sources: 

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

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 10: Nature Interpretation’s Role in Environmental Sustainability [Course Website]. University of Guelph Courselink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/666945/viewContent/2597605/View

The first line that really resonated with me was when you said not being a professional nature interpreter doesn't mean we can’t fill the role of nature interpreter for the people we engage with in our lives. I really love that you brought this up because going into the class at the beginning of this semester, I was not expecting to be so impacted by the material we learned, and I definitely did not consider myself an interpreter in any sense! However, as the semester progressed, we all learned more and more about how we can become interpreters in so many different ways, and I know personally, I learned that I actually have been an interpreter before I even truly understood what that meant. Now, at the end of the course, I can honestly say that I will make great use of the techniques I learned here, and I found out that my career end goal is essentially a type of interpreter! I am going into teachers’ college in the fall to become a high school science teacher, a role I can use to help others understand the natural world around them, and inspire people to engage with nature even more! Like you, being a scientist has long been part of my identity, and this course has helped me realize that does not have to come to an end when my bachelor’s degree does, I can continue to practice as a scientist just like I can as an interpreter, just so long as I make the effort to connect with the world around me and the people within it in the right way. 

To answer your second question, throughout this course I actually came to realize I had been an interpreter on many occasions throughout my life! I have always had a passion for the environment and since I can remember, have been sharing the things I learned in school, or through my own experiences, to take better care of the environment. With my friends, my family, and especially through the children I have been tutoring over the last year, I realized that through sharing my knowledge and ideas with those people, I have been acting as an indirect interpreter.

Thanks for a good read!

I think that the most amazing thing I know about nature is its vast healing abilities. Nature and its products can positively influence people's mental health, physical health, and it always seems to find a way to heal itself. Nature serves so many purposes!

We as humans are spiritual beings. We can walk into a forest and look around and magically feel at ease. The songs that birds chirp and the sound of leaves ruffling evoke feelings of serenity and peace. Not only does nature positively influence our emotions, it can also heal us. Due to our spiritual nature, I believe that connecting with nature is something that we need daily to feel good. When I am having a really bad day I often have an intense urge to go outside. When I am outside I walk, sit, run, or write. It does not matter what I am doing though, as long as I am outside, simply being there makes me feel at peace. Many people can resonate with this because as a species, we have a tendency to be closely associated or interact with other forms of life in nature. This tendency is called biophilia! Recently it seems as though we have begun to integrate nature in different mental and physical healing treatments. Some examples include naturopathic medicine, therapeutic horticulture, restorative environments, therapeutic landscapes, and healing gardens. Although nature has always been an integral part of many cultural healing techniques, it seems as though it is becoming more popular now!

Here is a video I found of a walk through a forest with the sound of rain. As you can see it is very relaxing to watch, and there are hundreds of videos just like this!

I believe that my generation in particular is seeing a big shift in our lives. Most of us went from living a very fun childhood, spending most of our time outside playing in the sun, in the forest, or at a cottage by the water, and now we spend a large portion of our life inside with a cell phone glued to our hands. We now use nature to escape the lives that we are living, and I think we can all agree that the older we get the more we realize the importance of nature and what effect it actually has on our mental health. There is actually evidence to support the role of nature experiences in an increased psychological wellbeing (Bratman et al., 2019). Not only does technology pull us away from nature, different living situations can as well. Often people are encouraged to move to urbanized areas due to different opportunities such as a higher education or a well paying job in the area. These opportunities themselves may promote mental health, but the necessary contact with nature in urbanized areas is often lost or at least greatly reduced.

Here is a photo I took of my dog when we were on a walk in a forest!

Not only does nature positively influence our mental wellbeing, it is also very important in our physical health. In nature and healthy ecosystems, healthy plants are grown. Plants are very important sources of food and medicine! One example of a medicine that can be found in nature is Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) This plant is actually considered a weed! It has a long stem (about 20-30 cm) with white flowers at the end. When the flowers of this plant are dried, they are consumed as a herbal tea (chamomile tea) (McKay & Blumberg, 2006). According to McKay and Blumberg (2006), in vitro studies, chamomile has been found to have antimicrobial activity against some species of bacteria, fungi, and viruses and has shown to be particularly effective against molds and yeasts. Antioxidant activity and antiplatelet activity have also been found in vitro studies of chamomile (McKay & Blumberg, 2006). In animal model studies anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenesis, antigenotoxic, hypocholesterolemic, positive cardiac and gastrointestinal effects have been found. Chamomile has also been found to have positive effects on the liver and central nervous system (McKay & Blumberg, 2006). According to (McKay & Blumberg, 2006), chamomile in oil form has been found to have positive effects on the gastrointestinal tract in combination with other components. Chamomile oil has also been found to reduce pain of women giving birth and positively influence mood. One of chamomile's most well known effects is its mediation of anxiety and insomnia, as chamomile acts as relaxant.

Here is a photo I took of Chamomile tea!

Not only can nature heal us, it seems as though nature always finds a way to heal itself! A great example of this is invasive plant species. Oftentimes when invasive plant species come in, they have the potential to take over an entire ecosystem. Despite this, every species has a natural enemy. A great example of this is the gypsy moth, which is an invasive species to North America. Gypsy moths eat foliage on trees, and they can do so very quickly. Even though they are rapidly spreading and causing a lot of damage to trees, they have many natural enemies which can help to keep their population numbers in check. These predators include wasps, flies, beetles, ants, spiders, birds, chipmunks, squirrels, and racoons (City of London, 2021).

Here is a photo I took of some gypsy moth webs in some trees in my backyard.

In conclusion, I find it very fascinating that nature has the ability to heal so many things and people. Even when things get out of check, nature seems to find a way to bring things back to equilibrium. As long as we protect nature, nature will protect us. We live in a symbiotic relationship with nature and that is why it is so important that we protect it!

QUESTIONS:

Have you ever treated an illness or wound (or any other medical problem) with something from nature?

How do biocontrol methods relate to natures ability to heal itself? How can we take advantage of this?

References

Bratman, G. N., Anderson, C. B., Berman, M. G., Cochran, B. Vries, S. D., Flanders, J., Folke, C., Frumkin, H., Gross, J. J., Hartig, T., Kahn Jr. P. H., Kuo, M., Lawler, J. J., Levin, P. S., Lindahl, T., Meyer-Lindberg, A., Mithcell, R., Ouyang, Z., Roe, J… Daily, G. C. (2006).  Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective. ScienceAdvances, 6. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax0903

City of London. (2021). Gypsy moth. City of London. https://london.ca/living-london/water-environment/trees/invasive-species/gypsy-moth

I enjoyed reading your blog post, and you chose a fascinating topic that may not be apparent to every individual. I can relate to you in the sense that when you feel an overwhelming sense of emotions, it helps to go outside to seek relief. The understanding that nature provides cultural services has been around for decades now (Moola, 2021). The foundational argument is often made to justify the creation of parks or preserve a piece of landscape (Moola, 2021). The creator of New York’s Central Park in 1857 convinced the city to designate what was previously grey infrastructure as a park under the basis that natural landscapes can improve public health (Moola, 2021).

Photo by Groppo taken from https://society6.com/product/central-park-new-york2134731_mini-art-print?c_kid=s6-11136971p113a263v866a264v869&sku=s6-11136971p113a263v866a264v869&utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2331

To answer your question, I’m a big fan of naturopathic remedies to alleviate illnesses and improve general well-being. I have experimented with a wide array of medicinal plants. My favorite being aloe vera, which I use nightly as it has anti-inflammatory properties beneficial to maintaining the youthful look of our skin. However, that is not to neglect all the other outstanding naturopathic elements I have encountered, such as dim-evail, fenugreek, and evening primrose. As an interpreter, it is essential to have an understanding of all components of our landscape. While educating others on a natural landscape, one could incorporate the medicinal usage of plants in their surroundings into the interpretation. It would be useful to explain common naturopathic remedies from species that many are well aware of to better connect with their environment. Introducing this visual aspect into interpretation would be an interesting tool to keep the attention of an audience.

Have you ever tried using aloe vera?

I really related to your point about our generation experiencing a major shift, we grew up during a time when technology was still developing and the new devices barely had screens, I remember when the iPod nano was all the rage! But now, we live in a world that is fully absorbed by technology, and spending time behind a screen is almost unavoidable, especially since the start of COVID-19. While the pandemic has had so many negative impacts around the world and for everyone individually, I also feel that it has had an impact on my relationship with nature. Getting outside, going for hikes, even just a walk around my neighbourhood is one of the only things left to do for fun in the world while staying safely away from crowds of people! I have begun relying on spending time outdoors to take breaks from school work which as I’m sure everyone can relate, can be so overwhelming at times! Just like you mentioned, I always seem to feel more relaxed and at ease when I immerse myself in nature, and of course it helps to keep up my physical health too!

In terms of natural remedies, I love using essential oils mainly to keep headaches at bay, to ease anxiety flare ups, and to stay alert and focused! I have a couple mixtures that I particularly enjoy that I apply to my pulse points on my wrists and temples whenever I feel something coming on. During exams, my lavender oil is never far out of reach, it is a common remedy for anxiety as it has natural calming effects so it's also great in a diffuser before bed! Another favourite of mine is a peppermint oil blend that is great to clear up headaches before they fully manifest! If you haven't tried these before I highly recommend you do!!

I once remembered the entire periodic table of elements because of the “Periodic Table Song” song on YouTube posted by asapScience… if you know you know. In grade 11 my chemistry teacher (Mr. Blackmore) had an end-of the year competition where the student who could remember the most elements from the periodic table won a box of Timbits… safe to say I memorized the song and I won. Mr. Blackmore and Mrs. Hargrove were my two science teachers in high school and they are probably the two most influential teachers I have ever had, especially in respect to my academic path in life. Mrs. Hargrove wrote her own songs to help us remember the Kreb’s cycle – which is quite literally awful to learn about and memorize. I have always used acronyms, mnemonics, and acoustics to help me remember information. Both these teachers used these tools to help teach lessons. But of course, not everyone learns the same so maybe I have more aural learning style. Musical learning style, also known as the aural (auditory-musical-rhythmic), is one of Howard Gardner's eight types of intelligence defined in his theory of Multiple Intelligences. Songs are a great way to make words and facts stick in people’s brains. Songs can be extremely catchy, and I’m sure you’ve asked yourself how you can remember every word to the That’s So Raven theme song (or whatever your favourite TV show was as a kid), but you can’t remember half the details we learned about in first year physics even though we were tested on them. Songs can be catchy and make us remember the lyrics long after the performance is over.  

Capture from the visuals used in asapScience’s Periodic Table Song, available here on YouTube. 

Tilden’s 4th principle of interpretation states that “the chief aim of interpretation is not instruction, but provocation”. It can be difficult to spread a message about a boring topic, or something the majority of society seems not to care about.  More, maybe the content itself isn’t uninteresting, but you just really want to get a key point across. Provocation is an approach use to invoke certain emotions or reactions, and can capture your audience’s attention. Music plays a larger role in nature interpretation other than just providing a catchy sequence of words for us to remember. It promotes a response because it – on some basic human level – connects to our emotions. We can’t touch or hear sounds like we can a tree or a rock – but we can feel it. The emotions tied to music are what make it a powerful tool. Don’t believe me? The whales basically saved themselves by singing.

In the mid-20th century, whalers were causing whale populations to dwindle – killing more than 50,000 a year. But in the 1960’s, underwater equipment recorded a sound that had never been heard before – whale songs. These songs changed and had distinguishable themes and emotions that changed over time. Robert Payne, one of the early scientists who helped share this discovery said; “These sounds are, with no exception that I can think of, the most evocative, most beautiful sounds made by any animal on Earth,”. Any repeating sound is technically part of a composed song. Crickets and birds use songs, but the songs sung by whales are arguably the most complex and emotional songs sung by any animal on earth.  

“Do you make cat food out of composer-poets? I think that’s a crime.” - Robert Payne, biologist/cetologist

Robert Payne gave one of the whale recordings to Judy Collins. I know her best from the famously North American song “This Land is Your Land” (which in and of itself is a perfect example of how music can capture the essence and history of a place and era all at once – but that’s a blog post for another time. This song takes me right back to bonfire at my cottage and nights at summer camp). “It was very emotional,” she says. “Angst for being a human being on a planet where they also live. Guilt for doing what we do to them. And that they’re so smart and they have been here so long, and they certainly might have some insights about what we could do to live a better way.” In the following decade, she included a song called "Farewell to Tarwathie” on her 1970 album Whales and Nightingales. This song is an adaptation of a traditional whale song and it actually features whales singing throughout the song! The record was a hit and introduced millions of people to the songs sung by humpback whales. In the same year she released her album, Capitol Records released Payne’s recording of humpback whale songs, which is still the best-selling natural sounds album to date. Songs like Judy Collins’ “Farewell to Tarwathie”, and the songs sung by the whales themselves, show that there is both music in nature and nature in music. And the best part – the campaign using the whale songs worked so well that only 5 countries still hunt whales today.

“It certainly was a huge factor in convincing us that the whales were an intelligent species here on planet Earth and actually made music, made art, created an aesthetic.” - Former Greenpeace director Rex Weyler

Sources:

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

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 7: Nature Interpretation Through Music. In Lecture Notes. University of Guelph. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/666945/viewContent/2593375/View

Music is a learning tool that I think is often overlooked, and this applies to the learning about the world and appreciating the environment as well! I think you hit the nail on the head with that when discussing the quotes from Judy Collins: when referring to whales she said “they're so smart and they have been here so long, and they certainly might have some insights about what we could do to live a better way.” It is without a doubt that there is so much we can learn from the animals that inhabit this earth and I think it is also important to recognize the value that they hold in terms of what practices we can learn from them. This reminds me of something that I mentioned in my own post this week in relation to music and interpreting nature which is the appreciation and value of indigenous cultures. The indigenous people were the ones who initially inhabited this area and they lived successfully for many years learning from the creatures that were living alongside them. Additionally, central to many indigenous cultures is the holistic approach to interacting and perceiving the natural world. I think everyone can benefit from taking a page from the indigenous peoples’ books to change the way we think and interact with the world around us. There is so much we can learn from the living things all around us, we just need to take the time and realize it!

For the past couple of summers, I’ve been fortunate to work for Sciensational Sssnakes!!, an educational outreach organization that uses reptiles and amphibians to teach people about the importance of conserving the environment. Often, if I ask someone if they like animals I’ll get a blanket “yes, of course” answer. If I press a bit harder and ask that person if their love of animals extends to what people often describe as less charismatic animals, like snakes, they’ll say “ew, I hate snakes”. That dislike of snakes is what drives Sciensational Sssnakes!!, the company’s mission statement is “conservation through education” because so many people lack real knowledge of snakes.

Pumpkin, the Massasauga Rattlesnake is an animal ambassador for Sciensational Sssnakes!!

I know from experience that from a young age we’re taught frightful facts about snakes. Yes, snakes eat their prey whole, and yes, they have a ton of teeth. At the same time, growing up snakes play villains in many stories we hear and read about. Naturally adults find themselves with a baseless fear of snakes. Sadly, that fear has literally driven snakes out of Ontario. The Timber Rattle snake is an extirpated species that was eradicated from Ontario by people (1).

Interpreting nature through the lens of science is incredibly important as it helps break down myth and misconceptions. You’d be surprised at how wrong TV shows, movies, and books are at showcasing nature. How scared would you be if I told you that while snakes have multiple rows of teeth their teeth are actually the size of a needle? I’ve been bit by snakes and I kid you not it’s a very similar experience to be poked by many needles. I wouldn’t say snake bites are enjoyable, but they truly are not the horrific experience movies make it out to be. Would you also be terrified of snakes if I told you that snakes are deaf and have very limited vision, they physically cannot hunt you down.

A Ribbon snake, another animal ambassador for Sciensational Sssnakes!!

Snakes are actually a very safe animal to encounter in the wild. Like any wild animal if you keep you distance then both the snake and you can happily go about your day. Think about encountering a bear in the summer, you actually have to worry about not appearing threatening to a mother bear. If for whatever reason you do come off as a threat to a female bear’s cubs, you could be in serious danger. You’d never have to worry about a snake chasing you down, they simply do not care about people unless you get into their immediate space, and even then, snakes would probably try to get away from you.

I love teaching people about snakes and helping them get over their fears. Snakes are awesome animals that don’t deserve all the bad press they’ve gotten. People carry so many misconceptions about snakes and when they learn more about them, they are able to appreciate snakes. Snakes are valuable parts of our native ecosystems and encouraging a love of nature includes encouraging a love of any and all unpopular animals.

Do any of you have a fear of snakes? I’d love to try to convince you all that snakes aren’t scary, though I have a feeling that in this class many people are probably just as interested in snakes as I am.

Cheers,

Michelle 

Work cited

First off, to answer your question, I personally do not have a fear of snakes, even as a small child I always found them to be such interesting animals. I love that you chose snakes as a topic for this week! I personally have always found snakes to be such fascinating creatures, what other terrestrial being can get around so efficiently without any limbs or appendages?! Unfortunately, I agree with you that snakes are underrated creatures with an undeserved bad reputation. I enjoyed reading the info you provided about snakes and how non-threatening most of them really are, and I love the idea of an organzation like Sciensational Sssnakes and I think more like it should exist to give snakes and other less charismatic animals as you put it, a more accurate representation in the minds of the general public. There are so many critters that are viewed in such a negative light if their characteristics include anything aside from fluffy or furry, (except in the case of tarantulas perhaps) but most of these creatures are nothing to fear, and more awareness should surround this topic. Great job on your post this week and I love that you are involved in such a fun organization with such a great mission!

“The key job of the interpreter boils down to one of helping people to perceive more accurately the world around them” (Beck et al., 2018).

I’ve always loved stories and art. As a kid I loved to read and paint and would jump at the chance for a bed story or arts and crafts.

When I got older and developed a love for nature and travel, my passions began to overlap. Photographs helped me see the beauty in life and in nature, while stories allowed me to experience it.

So, throughout this blog I’ve added some of my favorite pictures I’ve taken and included a brief description of their story. I encourage you to read them and maybe you’ll the beauty of nature I saw in them.

A picture I took of the Caves of Matala in Crete, Greece. The side of the cliff is comprised of hundreds of man-made caves carved out of the rock from thousands of years ago. No one knows their true purpose but they’re believed to be Roman or Early Christian tombs. 

Whenever I travel I find myself talking to locals or tour guides, asking them their story or a favorite one they’ve heard. Hearing stories from people who are knowledgeable and passionate about a place of nature allows me to learn more about it while creating a stronger connection towards it.

A picture I took of the Holy Trinity Monastery at Meteora in Central Greece. During times of war and famine many choose a life of religion in which they were free from violence and could enjoy the peace and beauty of nature. One of the nuns at the monastery spoke of how her isolation in nature freed her from her personal traumas she experienced as a child.  

Being in university takes a toll on one financially though, and I can never travel as much as I would like to. So, when I can’t travel I often spend time looking at photographs of places of nature and wildlife. It allows me to see the beauty of nature without having to be there. 

“Thailand Sea Water” by Caro Sodar licensed under (”Pixabay License”)

Photographs of nature are often done by people who have such a strong love and passion for it and their pictures allow me to see nature from their perspective, see the beauty they see. For me seeing a something from another’s perspective is what enriches your own. Like Beck et al. (2018) wrote “The images of stories are vivid in the minds of listeners, and help them grow in mind and spirit”.

A picture I took of Reece the baboon in South Africa when she was 4 months old. Reece is an orphaned baboon that’s mother was killed be a farmer for stealing food from his crops. This was her first time out of her rehabilitation enclosure since she was rescued. She was so excited to play with the sand on the river bank and was fascinated by the hippos at the end of the river.  

I have no qualifications that justify my ability to interpret nature through art besides this course. While this may prevent me from being an official nature interpreter, I don’t think anything can stop someone from interpreting nature from art. We are human, we seek meaning whether its given to us or not. If it isn’t given to us, we create our own.

For me, nature interpreters help me grasp the true meaning (or at least the one they believe to be true) of art. Whether it’s the tourist I’m talking to about the land, or the article describing the picture I’m looking at, they help give sense to our questions while showing us their own view of nature’s beauty. In an ironic sense it’s the interpreters that help me interpret nature from art. 

Did you interpret nature from these pictures? Let me know!

References: 

(PERSONAL PHOTO// Pelee Island Bird Observatory, May 3rd 2016)

It’s from the Pelee Island Bird Observatory, the environment was beautiful and it was my first interaction with banding a huge variety of bird species (that were also very beautiful). After reading the post I have a few questions for you:

Do you still find time to do art during quarantine? If so, are there any forms of art that you prefer to create, or that you prefer to observe? I have been painting a lot in my spare time, and have recently been wanting to expand my painting to more nature-related landscapes. Here’s a video that might give you some painting inspiration (if that’s what you’re into): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLWEXRAnQd0

Also, do any of these places that you’ve visited stand out in your mind in terms of beauty? If so, why do they stand out? It could be because of a beautiful landscape, or maybe somewhere you visited served a beautiful purpose - such as the baboon orphanage. 

I look forward to hearing what you have to say! 

I think photography is a fantastic way to interpret nature especially from the role of an interpreter since it is such an accessible medium to reach diverse audiences. People of all walks of life can experience the same places and landscapes from behind a screen and that is the beauty of interpretation in modern times. I know personally, I follow quite a few nature themed accounts on instagram because it's a great way to break up my feed with interesting material that I would never see during the current circumstances. Between school and work responsibilities, as well as the financial constraints that come with being a student in university, travel is a distant memory but can be lived through the interpretation of what others share who are living those experiences and kind enough to share them with the world. 

Photography is an art form I am less familiar with personally, but have been practicing throughout this semester, mainly as an unexpected bonus to this class. I find photography to be a great way to capture and document my experiences and it feels more authentic to me at times than my interpretations in more familiar forms of art such as painting. Additionally, I think using nature as a theme is a great technique to get into creative means of interpretation or even self-expression. Nature is so vast and there is an overwhelming amount of variation and uniqueness within it, that even the most inexperienced artists have that fact for reassurance. Getting involved in creative mediums for interpreting nature is also powerful in itself because an interpretation is unique to the interpreter, while it should be presented in a way that can be accessible for people of diverse backgrounds. Ultimately, it is a personal reflection of a personal experience and what better way to express individuality than through art?

Art can be created through endless mediums, whether that be through a painting, dance, song, a story, or even nature. Regardless of what materials and methods you use to create a work of art, all art shares the opportunity to evoke various emotions and engage the viewers. Jay Griffiths states that “Art elicits sympathy, conjures empathy, and these emotions are requisites for a kind, kinned sense of society… For the greatest artists do not make their best works of art in clay or paint or sound or words; they make them right inside us, within the heart of the reader or audience” (Beck et al, 2018). This quote resonates with me as art is not simply on a canvas or stage but rather surrounds us every single day and its deeper meanings remain with us. Art is a powerful tool that can transform and move people in remarkable ways. This tool grants artists the ability to shed light on worldly issues as their piece can resonate in the mind of the viewers and in turn inspire and motivate change. 

In 2017, artist Alexander Cershunov and curator Tatiana Sizonenko teamed up to tackle a project that would address the topic of climate change. Together they created an art exhibit: Weather on Steroids: The Art of Climate Change Science.The project required the collaboration of local artists and scientists to convey the seriousness of climate change in a beautiful, visual way that left the viewers with a new understanding and knowledge of this environmental issue (“Art | Weather Extremes and Climate Impacts Analytics,” 2017). 

Some of the art pieces created for the art exhibit (“Art | Weather Extremes and Climate Impacts Analytics,” 2017)

There has always been a natural connection between the interpretation of art and nature. There is no right or wrong way to interpret a piece of artwork or a landscape. Both art and nature can be uniquely deciphered however the viewer chooses to. In turn, artists take a risk when revealing their masterpiece to society as the original message they wish to convey may not be the way that everyone sees and digest the piece.

 I believe that I gravitate to art as it comes in so many different forms and therefore it truly is attainable by everyone. Maybe you are a novice at painting, maybe you are learning to dance, but perhaps you are an amazing story teller. No matter which way you wish to express your connection to nature, art is always a medium that is accessible to everyone. We as artists and interpreters have such a unique tool that allows us to communicate through the universal language of art. 

Artwork created by Andy Goldsworthy 

If you click the link above you’ll find some videos of Andy explaining the inspiration and process of creating some of this art pieces. 

Who am I to interpret nature through art?

If you’ve read some of my other posts you may already know that one way I share my connection to nature is through art. I am definitely no Picasso, but I do enjoy creating artwork and always find myself drawn to incorporating nature into a piece. I think that creating perfect images of faces or objects can be very intimidating for many people, and painting something in nature can be less daunting because no two leaves or trees or blades of grass are the same. The imperfections in a piece are what make it unique and special.  

 To me the ‘gift of beauty’ is the ability and desire to see the beauty in everything that surrounds us. The ‘gift of beauty’ is different across every country, city, culture and every person. What is beautiful and special to one person may not be to another. As interpreters, each of us see beauty differently which enables us to create and share art so that others may see a new perspective of beauty. 

Art | Weather Extremes and Climate Impacts Analytics. (2017). Retrieved February 7, 2021, from Ucsd.edu website: https://weclima.ucsd.edu/art/ 

Art can be extremely impactful, “a picture speaks a thousand words” is a popular phrase for a reason! While you noted here the impact artists can have on society, I find the most impactful role art plays in my life is the escape from the chaos of the world. Like nature, art provides an outlet to process the internalized chaos from the hectic society we are so immersed in. It is so easy to get swept up in the hectic world around us, especially when balancing school with work and all the other aspects of life that just make things busier. With the busy schedules, and endless deadlines to meet, it feels we are always short on time, but that only means we need to make a conscious effort to take a step back from all of that. 

I think art is the perfect way for people to accomplish this, even those with no experience in the arts, there are so many different media platforms like you mentioned, that makes art an accessible platform for all. I agree that using the theme of nature can allow people of all experience levels to delve into the creative side of things with minimal pressure to achieve perfection. Like you I also paint and enjoy using art in its many forms as a way to express myself and it really can be intimidating to paint things with accuracy. However, in nature there are endless idiosyncrasies that mean anything can be accurate. This can be a freeing feeling especially when it comes to interpretation from such a creative and original perspective when it is expressed through art.

There is no doubt to me that I have privilege. From the moment I was born I had an advantage, as I was born healthy and white. At times I get uncomfortable talking about my privilege, and I think it stems from the embarrassment of having something I did not “earn” (earn is being used here for lack of a better word, I do not think privilege is earnable, as it is unjust). I know that more doors open for me than people of colour or people with disabilities, and it is embarrassing to me that I feel like I was given something undeserved. I think that rather than being closed off from this “guilt” it should be used as motivation for using my position to make the world a better place.

Without pushing through the uncomfortable discussions, how will we learn to respectfully represent someone other than ourselves? I think that this is seen immensely with indigenous communities and our education system. The Canadian government has committed major injustice to indigenous communities, and yet we do not discuss them within our schools. If I hadn’t been exposed to the people that influenced me into wanting a better world, I may have never known of the struggles indigenous people. My memories of learning about their past are stories where they are the side character, the non-english speaking minor roles. This is not correct, indigenous communities have extremely complex pasts and interactions, not to mention their broad knowledge on land and nature. There is so much we could learn from these other cultures, but because we don’t want to admit what we did, we don’t learn.

https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/8-key-issues-for-indigenous-peoples-in-canada

This is a link to a blog that focuses on teaching the struggles of indigenous people both in the past and the present, as well as how to be respectful.

This mentality is linked to environmentalists commonly used “precautionary principle”, which states that prevention is wiser than repairing damage. While in some senses that’s a great philosophy, why destroy an ecosystem when you don’t need to? However, this mentality also restricts topics that some may think will make others uncomfortable, topics that may be necessary to allow for growth and new mindsets or inputs.

The “precautionary principle” is created in relation to the goal to minimize risk. Risk is such a broad and interesting concept. Risk for one, may be significantly different for another. An interesting example of this is when comparing me to my partner. I grew up going on yearly camping excursions, canoe portage trips, climbing trees and running away into the woods. My partner grew up playing video games, going to[MR1]  his time-share cottage, playing competitive volleyball and socializing with his neighbors. These don’t seem like large differences, but we notice how these experiences shaped us every once and a while. For example, when walking in the woods close to nightfall, I am happy to continue down the path, where as my partner wants to turn back. To me, the risk of continuing does not seem great, I know at worst there are coyotes in the woods and that those are not a major risk, but to him the woods are full of the unknown and even with me nagging him to come further into the woods he knows that it is not a risk HE is willing to make and I have to respect that.

This is a photo of me and my partner at University of Guelphs “Yule Ball”

Risk is also linked to privilege, and I am constantly reminded of this in my relationship. My partner has hemophilia, a rare blood disorder that makes things like stepping too hard on his foot cause internal bleeding. His condition is still something I continue to learn the limits of and that only he (and his healthcare team) knows when to challenge. I am reminded of my privilege when I am with him because of how he must hold himself back in situations I dive headfirst into. You don’t always realize that privilege is more than just skin colour, but also being in a healthy body.

Privilege is a spectrum and is not as easy to compare as one might originally think. At first glance my partner has a higher advantage then majority of the population, a well-off white male. While he has those privileges, his disorder sets him back, and you cannot compare his struggles to another. One person’s struggles do not discredit your own, but rather point out that we all need assistance and to use our advantages to help someone you are in a position to help.

I am grateful every day for the life I was given. Given being the right word, because I did nothing to deserve it, and now all I can do is make it worth something.

These are the women that made me want a different world. This is us before a weekend trip. My friend Adrianna is seen in the red shirt, the most impactful friend I’ve ever had. 

I was wondering if there are people you credit to your growth, I am grateful every day to my friend Adrianna for being vocal our entire lives and for showing me you need to speak up.

Being aware of the advantages afforded to us based on factors beyond our control, gives us tools to help balance the playing field to allow access to everyone regardless of their background. Another key part in recognizing the privilege that exists in our lives is to be receptive to the challenges experienced by others who have experienced life through different paths. We are so often blind to our own privilege because it is an advantage we did not have to work to attain, it was given to us by the constructs put in over centuries in society. Becoming aware of the challenges others face and the privileges in our own lives opens the door to make changes and enhance accessibility toward individuals from all backgrounds.

Privilege plays a role in nature interpretation, like it does in most things. Privilege, meaning traits that are valued by society and provide a person with benefits solely for having those traits, affect people’s access to nature, and therefore, the people that become nature interpreters.

I was reflecting on this when making a recent job application. The job was related to nature, and so on my resume I talked about my work as a nature camp counselor at a family camp. I felt lucky that I was able to put this relevant experience on my resume and improve my chances of getting a nature related job, thus continuing the cycle of access to nature: since I had positive experiences with nature working at a camp, I was putting myself out there to continue having positive experiences with nature.

A view from the window of the building I worked in at the family camp - photo taken by me. 

However, my first experiences with nature as a young child were as a result of not having certain privileges. To give you an idea, I counted 8 statements in the “Privilege/Class/Social Inequalities Explained in a $100 Race” video (https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/4K5fbQ1-zps) and as a young child I would have had to stay at the starting line for 6 of them. Fortunately, an opportunity was presented to my family to spend time with other members of a social group we were a part of at a family camp during the summer, the same family camp that I later worked at. This opportunity removed some of the economic barriers we would others have faced, and helped to dismantle some of the “fear” and “lack of knowledge” barriers described on pages 133-134 of our textbook (Beck et al, 2018).

That being said, I definitely have privileges: I speak English, I am White, I am educated, I am healthy and able-bodied, I live in a city in a safe neighbourhood with good schools, and I now have a Canadian passport. I recognize that these traits help me greatly in enjoying nature and gaining skills and knowledge that I can share with others as a nature interpreter, and I also know from personal experience that not everyone accessing nature has these privileges.

A photo of the ice on the lake taken during a walk near my home - photo taken by my sister. 

On that note, if I had to give advice to someone who was about to start a nature interpretation role, I would tell them the following points to help them use their privilege for good:

Stay open-minded: remind yourself throughout your role that since everyone has different backgrounds, skills that come easily to you or knowledge that you take for granted will be completely new to some people. There is no such thing as a dumb question.  

Keep it accessible: Take breaks to rest, speak slowly and clearly, and chat to as many people as possible. Be approachable and adaptable.

Feel lucky: remember how lucky you are to be the one who helps people enjoy the world around them. Remember to be grateful for the opportunities you’ve had that have brought you to where you are now, this will help you stay humble and learn from the people you interact with.

Be empathetic and compassionate: While the activities you run may not be a big deal to you, they will be big to others. When I worked at the family camp, I had a family join me for a campfire and marshmallow roast. As we walked through the forest to the firepit, one of the children got a mosquito bite and began to cry. I showed him the mosquito bites on my arms and explained that the bites will be a bit itchy and reassured him that the bites will go away in a few days. He cheered up (especially when we had marshmallows) and I am glad I could acknowledge my own privilege and help remove some of the fear he was experiencing.

A photo of the rock seating area at the firepit mentioned above (bonus point if you can spot the groundhog amongst the rocks!) - photo taken by me. 

My favourite part was when you mentioned gratitude as part of utilizing innate privilege. It is so easy to get caught up in all the negativities in the world, especially with so much more time spent at home with the news and social media acting as the closest thing possible to social interactions it can be mentally draining. With the world’s negativity always getting the spotlight, it is easy to develop negative thinking. This week’s exercise was a great way to reconnect with the good things in our lives and the privileges we all have. Being aware of the advantages we were born into is a great way to acknowledge our privilege and find ways to even the playing field for individuals that are not privy to the same advantages.

I think that being open-minded is another fantastic point you outlined because it is so important to hear the experiences of people who do not have the opportunities we may have due to our privilege. We are often blind to our own benefits because we are born with these advantages and have never been challenged to overcome them. Listening to experiences from others who have to continuously overcome obstacles to accessing the same experiences that others freely take advantage of helps us to realize the areas of our privileged lives and find ways to use our benefits to break down those barriers.

As nature interpreters, it is essential to be aware of our own privilege because it can help ensure the products or services we deliver are attainable or relatable to audiences of diverse backgrounds. Being appreciative of the advantages afforded to us by default and staying receptive to the struggles experienced by others who have gone through different paths are two things that are valuable above much else when it comes to privilege and fostering equity.

Photo courtesy of: artnet.com. Artwork by Frederick Sproston Challener 

Overall, I believe that an environmental interpreter can effectively relate and convey nature related lessons to audiences, students, children, etc. 

As described in Beck et al. (2018),

“Environmental educators generally have a captive audience with learning responsibilities and preparation plus follow-up time with teachers. Many field interpreters have a volunteer audience for only a few minutes to a few hours. Thus the techniques used with children in structured situations permit different methodologies than with drop-in visitors. Yet often the interpreter hosts school and camp classes and becomes by necessity and environmental educator.”

Thus, I believe the ideal role of an environmental interpreter is an individual that can combine both the methodologies outlined above: (1) They are efficient at captivating their audience with follow-up responsibilities and (2) they are able to act as an interpreter to an audience in a brief period of time. 

By combining both, the interpreter can have an individual learn and succeed in either “structured situations” and as “drop-in visitors”. 

I believe both can be accomplished by being a teacher.

Photo courtesy of: David DeMatthews & Joshua Childs, UT News. 

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher; specifically in a high school setting. Teachers have the ability to shape the minds of hundred of students over the course of their career. I can’t think of a more rewarding career, and hope to one day become a high school environmental science, biology, or chemistry teacher. 

Teachers are the ultimate interpreters. As stated in Beck et al. (2018), “Interpreters seek to add the essential elements of heightened appreciation, deeper understanding, and new ways of seeing the world.” Teachers are able to fulfill all these characteristics: they can passionately deliver lessons that can engage students in new, interesting concepts, implore students to learn beyond their current capabilities, and have them perceive the natural world through a science based lens. 

I believe that a true environmental interpreter is an environmental science teacher. 

Image of Nonquon Wildlife Area in Ontario, Canada, where my environmental science teacher would frequently take my class on field trips. Photo courtesy of: toronto.com 

At my high school, my environmental science teacher would take our class on many field trips, one of which included Nonquon Wildlife Area. Not only were we able to learn concepts about the natural world in a “structured setting” from my teacher in a class room, we were able to apply the knowledge in the real world as “drop-in visitors” at the field trips with his guidance. Thus, an environmental science teacher can more than successfully accomplish both methodologies that were previously mentioned, posing as the ideal role of an environmental interpreter. 

Personally, I would love the opportunity to take classes on field trips and have them apply the lessons to real world examples. To quote Jeffrey Pfeffer, I believe that “knowledge is only useful if you do something with it.” 

Photo courtesy of learningliftoff.com. 

However, to act as a successful environmental interpreter in the form of a teacher, I believe that a certain set of skills is required. Student have different ways of learning and perceiving knowledge. For example, as discussed in the course content, many individuals can either be auditory, visual, or tactile/kinesthetic learners. By taking the survey offered in class, I myself am mostly an auditory learner.

Teachers must approach their lessons in a manner that suits everyone’s needs; what may work for some students may not help the rest of the class. 

However, by applying real world examples, such as taking classes on field trips to actually experience the natural world that is taught in class, the teacher can broaden their abilities and incorporate all three learning styles!  

Therefore by incorporating a wide variety of methodologies and learning styles, I believe that a teacher is the most ideal environmental interpreter and can possess the skills to be a successful one.

Did anyone else immediately think of teachers when they started this week’s prompt? I’m curious to hear everyone else’s experiences of field trips and the role of their teacher as their environmental interpreter.

Lastly…does anyone else in the class have any plans on pursuing teaching? I would love to discuss the future career with people. 

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world. CHAMPAIGN: SAGAMORE Publishing.

Challener, F. (n.d.). Teaching in the forest by Frederick SprostonChallener. Retrieved January 20, 2021, from http://www.artnet.com/artists/frederick-sproston-challener/teaching-in-the-forest-YEgZ12pXbeJ07kHCX4flSQ2

David DeMatthews & Joshua Childs. (2019, October 17). What The Next Department of Education Secretary Must Do. Retrieved January 20, 2021, from https://news.utexas.edu/2019/10/17/what-the-next-department-of-education-secretary-must-do/

Learning-Liftoff-Staff. (2018, May 30). Top 3 Causes of Teacher Stress and How It Affects Students. Retrieved January 20, 2021, from https://www.learningliftoff.com/how-teacher-stress-affects-students/

Thanks for your post and personal thoughts on being an interpreter, I found myself connecting with many of the points and experiences you had in your environmental science class. I think teachers have such an incredible job and opportunity to positively impact the lives of their students, and I can see by what you’ve written about a previous teacher of yours, they did just that. 

A main goal of interpreters is to make the audience feel as though they are somewhere they are not, and see and experience things they wouldn’t on their own. I can’t think of a better way of doing this than actually bringing the people into the atmosphere of the place you are interpreting. Like you mentioned going to that wildlife area for class, you were able to really apply the knowledge you gained in the classroom to a real world setting. I can testify that experiencing a high school class similar to yours where we spend afternoons in an arboretum, I was much more involved and interested in what we were learning and was able to absorb so much more being able to actually live in what I was learning. I agree with you that being successful in this type of teaching you must obtain certain skills in order to deliver to the different learning styles. Like you said, by using real world examples and actually being there will benefit students of all learning abilities. I’m curious as I am a visual learner and am not a good audible learner, what are strategies you use when taking notes and studying for exams?

I can absolutely agree with you that teachers do have an incredible job and can positively impact students. To me, I cannot think of a more rewarding career and will continue working towards becoming one. 

That’s very cool that your class would spend time in the arboretum. I believe that every environmental science class, or any science class for that matter, should regularly partake in field trips. How else is one supposed to accurately learn about the natural world without applying the knowledge directly in the environment? 

Involvement is key, and the fact that you were able to enjoy learning about the curriculum in the form of a field trip proves that. Moreover, like you have agreed with me, field trips can allow students of all learning abilities to have a chance at learning. I feel as though some teachers only direct their energy towards specific types of learning styles, perhaps the one they learn best in. That sort of bias manner will negatively impact the class and only help a narrow set of students. 

To answer your question, as an audible learner, I benefit greatly by re-listening to lectures. Online learning has actually helped me greatly, as most of my professors record their Zoom lectures and upload them. Therefore, I can listen to the lecture multiple times. Specifically though, I enjoy listening to lectures while walking in a nature environment. Walks through the forest, arboretum, or even on campus allows me to get out of the house and destress, while at the same time lets me calmly absorb the lectures without feeling overwhelmed. Walks that involve nature always seem to benefit my mental health and stress levels. 

Hope that helps!

Nature deficit disorder describes the disconnect between humanity and the environment which sullies a vital bond for holistic wellness in people. Nature and humanity have always been intertwined, there is never one without the other. In society today, there is so much emphasis on consumer culture that is so detrimental to the state of the environment, hence the climate crisis that shows no signs of improvement. I think that teachers have the most power to spearhead change through educating and inspiring their students that will grow up to be the policy makers, business owners, scientists, and teachers of the future. It is undeniable the impact teachers can have on their students, and this is a primary aspect of effective interpreters. 

This is part of my reason for pursuing a career in teaching, also in a high school setting like yourself! I think high school teachers are so impactful, I still think back to conversations with my biology teacher in high school and how much her encouragement and feedback impacted my education and my career path. I am so passionate about the environment, and I think major change is required, but I think one of the best ways to really manifest this change is through educating the kids that are going to be the leaders of the future (cheesy as that sounds, it’s true!). It is no secret that every generation has unique opinions on sustainability, and the vitality of it, so instilling this in younger generations sets the future up for environmentally conscious leaders.