Steven's Nature Blog

Nature has been an enchanting wonderland that I love exploring and learning about. But it wasn't always like this. I discovered my love of nature through watching countless documentaries and docuseries' on Animal Planet. Out of all the shows I watched back then, my favourites were always where humans saved domestic and non-domestic animals. However, it was usually humans that put these animals in these situations in the first place. At this moment, I realized that it was humans that were the cause of most of the environmental issues plaguing society today.

Pollution, humans do it every day - from oil spills in the ocean to our morning commute, humans are the sole contributors to most if not all pollution in the world. Humans are causing global warming and the melting of our ice caps. Humans are poaching endangered species to the point of extinction. Honestly, the list goes on and on. I wonder how ethically, we as humans, continue to participate in these harmful practices without thinking about the consequences.

Are we insane? After all, as Albert Einstein said, "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.Don't get me wrong; I'm guilty of this, too, at times. Most people are often unaware of how their actions may be negatively impacting the world around us. For many, ignorance is bliss. This is why I believe that our responsibility as this generation's nature interpreters is to educate and inspire people regarding issues that matter. After all, "people must care about before they care for" (Beck et al., 2018, p. 60). What is one way you are environmentally conscious in your everyday life?

This summer, I worked as a scale operator at my community recycling centre. Sounds glamourous, right? I promise it really isn't – "community recycling centre" is just a fancy way of saying community dump. I was surprised to learn just how little I knew and how little the general public knew about sorting waste through my work there. Countless times, residents would argue with me because they believed something that was considered garbage to be recyclable. As an environmental issue, I know this seems like something very minute. Still, I believe it is an excellent representation of the lack of knowledge people have regarding ecological issues as a whole. Since working there, I have taken on the responsibility of educating friends and family members on the dos and don'ts of recycling.

Did you know that although books are primarily recyclable, hardcovers are not? When you recycle a book, you need to remove the hardcover and put it into the garbage. Then the rest can go into the recycling!

I don't know about you guys but, I am an animal lover through and through. I believe that all animals, from dogs to snails, deserve respect. Here is a photo of some of the cute furry friends that I have in my life to prove this to you. Of course, I'd love to see some pictures of yours too if you'd like to share!

I believe that wild animals should remain wild. I have watched many shows where people bought and sold wild animals such as lion cubs as house pets. Once these animals grew up, people often discarded them as trash which is extremely disheartening. There is usually a misconception that if a wild animal is hand raised, they are no longer a danger to humans. When handlers learn this isn't the case many times, it is too late. Just because wild animals are not living in the wild does not mean that you've taken the "wild" out of them.

I also believe that animals should not be kept in zoos or marine aquariums; it is unethical. When necessary, I understand that wildlife rehabilitation centres can be great for educational purposes because they allow interpreters to emphasize environmental stewardship—allowing visitors to see these animals can facilitate discussion on important topics of wildlife management and conservation (Beck et al., 2018, p. 95-96). Although I know it's the best place for animals that cannot be wholly rehabilitated, I believe that no animal should have to live out the entirety of its life in a small enclosure. These enclosures often have substantial negative impacts on animals. A great example that comes to mind for me of the adverse effects of captivity on animals is that of Tilikum, the captive killer whale in the documentary Blackfish. If you haven't watched the film, I strongly suggest you do!

This video does a great job of summarizing why captivity is unethical and mentions some other unsettling cases. If you have time, have a watch and let me know some of your thoughts. Do you agree or disagree?

"Our most important audiences might be our smallest and youngest ones" (Beck et al., 2018, p. 144).

I believe it is imperative that we educate children of all ages - children are our last hope for the future (Beck et al., 2018, p. 144). This is an approach I'd love to take. I love teaching kids new things about nature, especially since I have only younger cousins and have been unintentionally doing this all my life. Children are developing their morals, values, and belief systems at young ages and, therefore, are the most impressionable (Beck et al., 2018, p.144). As interpreters, we have the privilege to shape and inspire the interest of these future generations (Beck et al., 2018, p. 144). To do so successfully, our responsibility as environmental interpreters is to provide age-appropriate environmental education (Rodenburg, 2019). It's essential to remember that children learn best through stories, experiences and discovery (Rodenburg, 2019). We must not forget that "interpreters impact the future by interpreting to children today" (Beck et al., 2018, p. 144).

There are not enough words in this post to help me describe to the full extent all the beliefs I bring to being a nature interpreter. But I can tell you that they mostly revolve around having respect for the natural world. While developing all these beliefs, I learned the importance of advocating for what is right. We learned that advocacy is defined as taking public action regarding important issues (Beck et al., 2018, p. 469). Since the environment can't advocate for itself, I believe it is my responsibility to advocate on its behalf. This can be a bit overwhelming because it seems impossible that one 22-year-old girl living in rural Caledon could make an impact. But, regardless of this, it's worth a shot! This is why I believe the conservationist approach to nature interpretation is well suited for me.

This is Karissa signing off :)

References

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

I also love watching animal documentaries. Especially the ones available on YouTube, I could spend hours watching them! Here is a video from BBC Earth. It’s about a talking gorilla named Koko!!!

Animals are truly wonderful and offer so much to this world, but it is a shame that many of the issues that they must deal with are caused by humans. I watched the Blackfish documentary on Netflix a few years back and it broke my heart! Animals kept in captivity have always struck me as a horrible practice, but especially one at that scale and size. 

As you said, ignorance is bliss and it’s easy to do things for our own conveniences without thinking about the repercussions. For example, a lot of the time I prefer driving since it’s faster and I don’t waste energy walking everywhere. I don’t think of how the usage of my car is affecting the environment, yet I get mad at people for not taking care of the environment. I try to remind others not to litter and recycle anything that I can. Regardless, everyone has their own ecological footprint and it’s crucial to be aware of it with our daily practices. 

It’s hard to believe that we can make significant change, but it’s definitely possible if we can reach even one person! The domino effect only needs one domino to move to cause a chain reaction, and this can work especially when educating others. I respect the work that you have done and appreciate your love for the natural world. It makes me want to actively be more environmentally conscious in my everyday life!

We have all come a long way from the beginning of this course, which was only two and a half months ago. I took this class out of pure curiosity but leave it with a new appreciation and understanding of the crucial necessity for nature interpreters. Nature interpreters are more important now than ever before, especially with environmental issues like climate change. Without interpreters who fully understand scientific elements and can break them down for the public to understand, societal habits will not change, thus there will be no improvement for our environment. With the number of people who lack trust in science, we need people who are passionate for science and the environment, and who are natural leaders and communicators who can teach the public effectively.

There are many skills I had never considered for this profession. One of the most important ones I learned over this semester is being able to convey information to people of all ages, backgrounds and learning styles. When I think back to the most impactful lectures I attended through university, or even the lessons that remain with me from elementary school, they have something in common, and that is engagement. I remember the lessons where professors asked for volunteers to help test a hypothesis, or the teachers who incorporated a game into their lesson for better understanding and hands-on experiences. It is important to keep learners active and engaged to make an impactful lesson. “No matter how much confidence we may have in our science and our professional procedures, no matter how enthusiastic and polished our presentations, the audience ultimately decides if the resource has value. The audience determines if they will care enough about the resource in order to support the care for the resource” (Beck et al, 2018, p.130).

I also discovered over this semester, the power in reducing homogeneity. Prior to this course, I would have formulated a public work that was very general, something that regardless of culture, ethnicity, age or gender, an individual could relate to. I now know that this is unrealistic and an inefficient way of drawing in an audience. Rather, a good interpreter does the opposite. An interpreter should make it a priority to get to know their audience on a personal level, understand their motives for being present and listening, and learn how to properly welcome them, eliminating any barriers that could inhibit public interest. As Pease (2015) found, economic barriers, cultural barriers, lack of knowledge, and fear are the most common factors leading to reduced groups of minorities participating in interpretive programs (Beck et al, 2018, p.133). Rather than staying broad in topic, learn your audience and find specific ways of assisting them such as by providing transportation to the site, personally inviting groups of minority, incorporating media and additional languages, and increasing staff diversity (Beck et al, 2018).

Through making two podcasts, one for children and one for adults, I understand the power of language. Listening to a podcast can be hard, especially when the presenters sound unenthusiastic, therefore it is important to rehearse, recognize how you sound and even receive feedback from outsiders since we all learn differently. We must also consider everyone’s invisible backpack, how their past experiences influence their thoughts and ability to connect with different symbols leading to their sovereignty. As Freeman Tilden stated: “The visitor ultimately is seeing things through his own eyes” (Beck et al, 2018, p.131). It is important to think outside the box, if you haven’t convinced someone through one method, keep trying because your ideology will likely resonate with them in some other way.

In terms of my personal ethic, I have been described as punctual, literal, a good communicator and hard worker. While these traits have helped me in many ways, such as by staying on task, finishing assignments with plenty of time to spare and following instruction, my work ethic has been my own demise in other ways. I have more trouble writing a blog than I do an essay, as blog posts require self-reflection and less formality. It took a while for me to find the balance between being too textbook-ish, and too informal.

However, my personal ethic can help me in other ways to be a good interpreter! First, I am very punctual. I have never taken an extension on any assignment and strive to never take one. This is necessary for certain interpreters such as podcast hosts. If the host of a podcast promises their listeners to have new content every Sunday at 2pm, it is essential that the timeline is met to keep their listeners trust and loyalty. Or for instance in my position as a host for Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, there is an audience of classrooms waiting at exactly the stated time, therefore it is important to log in early to meet the scientist, ensure there are no technical issues and go live on time. Although I am just another face within the organization, it is important to remember that each staff member and volunteer represents the organization as a whole.

With the new knowledge I have acquired, I am going to work on enhancing my oral and written communication skills but also listening skills. It is easy to assume everyone will share the same feelings toward something as you do, but we all have different interests and experiences leading us to our destinations. While I love coyotes and the peace my seasonal job at my local cemetery brings me, many people fear both of those things! However, someone may share my feeling if I explain that for eight hours a day, I get to enjoy being surrounded by nature, tending the earth, spotting deer, and watching coyote families play in the distance like puppies, of course in addition to strenuous physical labour! I am going to work on incorporating art into my storytelling, through photography and music. I cannot wait to continue this journey of nature interpretation, and I am excited to see the adventures that all of you will go on!

Reference

I completely agree that although this class has only been a few months, I feel that I have a greater understanding of myself and have developed an appreciation for nature interpreters. I find it odd that nowadays people love to believe what they read online or hear from a friend, but when a professional speaks on the topic, there is always a conspiracy. In becoming better interpreters, we can convince more people about the truth through proven clinical studies and communicate in ways that can gain an audience’s trust. 

In the beginning, I too thought that being able to formulate the most well written and researched presentation would be ideal to reach a larger range of population. However, it is so easy to forget that everyone is different and needs their own way of receiving information. By realizing and acknowledging different barriers, we can better work to personalize our presentations into different forms for those different groups of people. 

I really liked the skills that you are continuing to work on. I feel that listening skills are very underrated, but essential to obtain a rich knowledge of what an audience wants to hear and how they want to hear it. Here is a video that I watched a few years back that still sticks with me to this day:

From your enthusiasm, I can tell that you are already a great nature interpreter and will continue to get better. Thank you for that amazing read!

Hello friends, I am going to share the COOLEST NATURE FACT I have learned in one of my favourite university classes. In order to do this, I am going to need you to use your imagination here. It’s a hot and sunny mid summers day and you decide to take a road trip to visit the conservation area just outside of town. You pull into the parking lot, grab your backpack, and set off on a hike. About 1km in you come across a beautiful meadow full of wildflowers. They are in full bloom showing off their tones of pink, blue, purple, and yellow. You decide to take a break here to admire the sheer beauty. Looking closer at the sea of flowers, you notice honeybees flying around and visiting the flowers. Moving a bit closer, you notice individuals visiting the exact same flower species and avoiding the others. Why is that?

Maybe they prefer that flowers colours. Maybe they like how the plant species has a lot of flowers. Maybe they smell the sweetest. All three are correct but, how do these things benefit the bees and how do they all know to visit that particular species?

Honeybees are a eusocial species. This means that adults live in groups, everyone takes care of the young, jobs are divided among individuals based on reproductive organs and age, and generations overlap (Plowes, 2010).

There are 3 castes or specialized groups within a colony: the queen, drones (males), and workers (nonreproductive females). The workers carry out the day to day hive tasks including foraging for water, propolis (plant resin), nectar and pollen. They are optimal foragers who want to collect as much pollen and nectar as possible in the shortest amount of time so they can make it back to the safety of the hive. When a forager finds a flower that produces a lot of high quality nectar and pollen, it goes back to the hive to share the information. If the flower is less than 80 meters away, it will perform the Round Dance. If the flower is over 80 meters away, it will perform the Waggle Dance. Check out this fun video that explains the two dances!

These dances are magical and impressive leaving me in awe (Beck & Cable, 2018, p472). I told my parents about the bees dancing, I told my boyfriend and his whole family, I told a few friends, and here I am telling all of you.

So, we have answered the question of how and why the bees exhibit flower fidelity or consistency, but how do flower colours, amount, and smell come into play? Most flowers rely on pollinating insects, like honeybees, to perform pollination. Different colours and smells attract bees while foraging. If the flowers secrete a lot of sweet nectar, they will look for those colours and smells and return to that particular species. Some flowers also have UV coloured lines that guide foragers inside the flower to the nectar. Plants that grow a lot of high quality flowers are also attractive to bees as they make their foraging trips more efficient.

If you want to learn more about the plant strategies to attract pollinators, visit this website and click on the visual cues and scent tabs.

Next time you visit a conservation area, park with gardens or wildflowers, or a nearby apiary take a few minutes to watch the honeybees foraging and see if they all visit the same flower species. If you live somewhere with a yard, you can plant bee-friendly plant species and watch them forage right in front of you!

Guzman, E. (2020). Honey Bee Types, Nest, Colony Cycle. Personal Collection of E. Guzman, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON.

I really like your use of imagery to start off the blog! It was immersive, calming, and a great way to start talking about your topic. I hadn’t thought about what kinds of flowers bees would prefer over others, but I did initially figure it was just because of the sweetness and vibrant colours.  

I am pleasantly surprised to read about how worker bees have different dances to show the location of flowers! Before watching the video, I was imagining something like this: 

To read about the intricacies of how some species function is both exciting and bewildering. I didn’t think bees had a way to communicate locations of flowers, or even had to. I believed that bees would go off on their own to look for flowers and come back with whatever they can find. When they use the dance system, however, it is much more effective and less time consuming. This way, they can gather great quality and quantity together for the hive! It reiterates life lessons often taught to us, like how teamwork, community and communication is important to function and thrive in many different circumstances! 

The fact that flowers need pollinating insects to be pollinated also reminds me that this world was created in such a specific way, like gears in a machine that wouldn’t work without even the smallest piece. If I were ever to have a garden, I’d be sure to check out the best types to attract pollinators! Thanks for the intriguing read Kate, it’s always nice to be reminded of the natural wonders of the world!

Where is music in nature?

After reading the content for this week, I came to the realization that music is quite popular in nature. It just may not be what we typically consider music. The songs of birds, the sound of the wind and rain, the crickets we hear at night. These are all quite beautiful and pleasing things to hear (at least in my opinion), and all of which I would consider to be music. In case you are in the mood to listen to the soothing sound of rain falling… Here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8plwv25NYRo&t=1s

Where is nature in music?

As we have learned from the content this week, music can be viewed as a gateway to nature. For example, raising awareness about and connecting to endangered species can be done through incorporating their sounds, calls, and songs into modern music. This seems to be a great way to get people thinking about these species and possibly even learning about them if there are educational aspects included within the created music. Although this is an explanation for where nature can be in music, I cannot help but wonder how this could become popular. I know there are some songs that do incorporate natural elements, but this does not seem to be widely utilized. For example, a quick Google search for revealed very few of these modern songs. Here is one of them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-HfMiue7-k&t=2s

This was one of the few songs that came up which was targeted towards young/mature adults, with many of the songs on the Google search being tailored towards young children:

This made me wonder… what are some effective ways to utilize the noises, sounds, and songs or animals/nature in modern music while educating an older audience? If anyone has some ideas, I would love to hear them.

One idea… We have learned in our readings from this week how Digital Media, like websites, are important for keeping people up to date on interpretive opportunities and how it is important to capture people’s attention on these platforms. I think one of the ways this can be done is by using music with natural sounds as a background on the website. This would allow the audience to possibly think of the things they are learning the next time they hear the song. Or, maybe have the song stick in their head further engaging them with the material throughout the day. Of course, having the option to turn the music down or off would be important in case someone isn’t in the mood or appropriate location to be listening to music. What do you all think of this idea?

A song that takes me back to nature:

I completely understand that this may not be a song everyone enjoys, but that is a lot of music and this song happens to be the one I thought of instantly after considering what music brought me back to nature. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs2wZ7i8dmQ

I agree that specific sounds of nature can create beautiful sounds that resemble music. It is no wonder that the sounds of rain or birds chirping are added to songs to create the ambience of being in the natural world. I personally listen to lo-fi (short for low fidelity), and this type of music/sound, in my opinion, always sound better when ambient nature sounds are included. As can be heard in this example:

Personally, it increases the calming and chill aspect of the music and reminds me of nature’s healing effects for the spirit and soul. It also immediately boosts my mood, and large part due to the natural sounds. It is interesting though those songs specifically about nature, with lyrics about nature, are made mostly for children for educational purposes. For older audiences, nature is usually used as symbols or analogies in songs to equate to how someone might feel. As can be heard here, Michael Bublé is saying he feels good without having to actually say it by using phrases like “birds flying high”, “sun in the sky” and “fish in the sea”

The following quote is filled with a lot to unpack. “There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.”(Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation) I interpret this quote to say there is nothing more special in an old item than a new item, however there is a unique memory with old items as they carry the knowledge of the past with them. If we do not acknowledge the past then we can’t fully understand the present. 

I truly enjoy this quote as I feel as though it shares a very important message. This message being that if we did not experience everything the world has in the past we would be nowhere close to where we are today. It is so important to keep records of the past and learn about the past to keep the lessons and failures in our minds so that we can use what we have learned in the future. This is why we have different historical landmarks, buildings and equipment on display in different areas of the world where they are found. It is important to recognize our history to see how far we have come. If we didn’t understand our history then we would not be shocked and excited when a new development is made. History is needed to allow humans to self reflect and to be grateful for what they have and how far we have come. 

Unpacking this quote in relation to nature interpretation, I believe, is a completely new question. This is because I feel as though our natural world history wasn’t fully kept. I am grateful that old buildings and artifacts that show our ancestors’ history were kept for everyone to learn from but I am curious about what was their first. Around the world we have some beautiful landmarks that I truly enjoy visiting and feeling the natural energy they exude but think of all the other landscapes that existed before everything man made was built. Is it possible that the most breathtaking natural wonder of the world was built on or destroyed? Is it possible that that history is lost? Rainforests and meadows are destroyed everyday for human needs. I sometimes wish that natural history was admired as much as man made history. 

One of my favourite protected landmarks that is natural but also man-made is the Cheltenham Badlands in Caledon, Ontario. If you have never seen them I highly suggest you take a trip to enjoy the beauty. The reason I am mentioning the badlands in coordination with this quote is that 100 years ago the badlands were a productive farmland, however it was poorly maintained so it was overgrazed and then eroded to create these red rolling hills. I believe this is an example that unpacks the quote because 100 years ago the badlands did not look like this, however the history of how the Cheltenham Badlands came to be is very important for understanding their beauty and significance. 

I enjoyed your reflection on the excerpt prompt as it was eloquently relayed. The past is, as you mentioned, important in so many ways and it’s impossible to dismiss it without losing a vital piece of what living is. I agree that without acknowledging where we came from, we couldn’t possibly be excited or astonished by anything we do today! Gratitude for what we have lost or gained is essential to staying humble and appreciative. You make a good point that we do not value the natural world’s history in the way we do with human history. There must have been so many wondrous views and landmarks that have been destroyed and unkept, left to be forgotten and undiscovered. Although this is true, it is also much harder to preserve natural things that are out of our control. If there are natural disasters that happen and destroy these places, we may only attempt to revive it to its original state. Man-made pieces in museums, on the other hand, are easier to maintain as they are smaller in scale and manageable since all variables of possible damage are accounted for. I really like the picture you included of the badlands! It’s a great example and reminder of how constant care and appreciation is needed to preserve a natural landmark. Albeit still being a man-made natural landmark, the image still shows remnants of the past that cannot be ignored. The history of the land is ingrained in the soil itself and is made beautiful because of its history. 

Recently I have been enrolled in a variety of courses that have fieldwork in nature. I’ve been looking forward to participating in studies that we more hands-on since I started university. I have always enjoyed spending my spare time hiking, exploring and teaching about the environment. As I have been spending more time outside for school work, I have found myself less inclined to spend my spare time outside. Experiencing nature with no agenda allows me to focus all my attention on the beautiful world around me and truly enjoy nature. Completing work in the field feels more like a task sometimes than a fun activity. This feeling is similar to when I use to love reading as a child and would read all the time but, when I was assigned readings in elementary school, I began to dread reading. This idea made me think if nature interpreters ever resent spending time in nature when they do it every day for work. I’ve started to realize that it is important to find a balance between the time I spend studying in nature and the free time I spend there. My goal is to take time once a week to explore and spend time in the natural world. Has anyone ever felt this way about activities or the outdoors?

It is necessary to have fun and enjoyable experiences frequently to help with mental health and personal growth. Dedicating time to do activities that bring you joy can help maintain a high quality of life (Beck et al, 2018). During stressful situations allowing yourself to have free time for leisure or hobbies is a good way to relax. I enjoy going for walks or drives to take a break from school because it is an activity where I can not get distracted by my phone.

I come from a very scientific central field (generally taking courses in human anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, etc.) and have also recently enrolled myself in a variety of environmental education courses. This has been a new experience for me as I have been more accustomed to memorizing the material, studying for exams, and writing reports. Before this semester, I generally loved spending time outside. Whenever I had the chance, I would go for walks around the neighborhood, or have my late-night drives, but with all my workload this semester, I feel like I don’t have the time for these activities anymore. But I know what you mean by being less inclined to do something when being told to do so. One of my biggest pet peeves is when I am already washing the dishes and my mom would tell me to go do the dishes. I don’t know why but it makes me infuriated! Am I crazy, or does this happen to you too?

Similar to the field course that you took this summer, this course has allowed me the freedom to be able to express myself in a new way. Through these blogs, I can verbalize the feelings I possess about nature, just as you have done with your journals. Since I am more accustomed to a scientific education and approach, I have not been exposed to alternative perspectives of looking at things. My way of thinking consisted more of theories and how things should function. I like that courses like these allow us to be more open minded and able to create and reflect on more subjective content.

Nature is the gift that keeps giving. Every little detail that we experience while interpreting nature can be perceived through creative eyes and expressed artistically. Some of the greatest pieces of art are based on scenic nature scenes or animal encounters. Photography, music, painting and so many other artistic talents embrace what nature provides us and shapes it into our own visions. Art gives individuals the ability to interpret what they see, feel, and appreciate from nature and put these aspects into one arrangement. 

The greatest form of nature interpretation through art for me is photography. Photography is an art that allows us to capture moments of distress and/or peace. The most horrid storms or the best sunsets can be captured in a million different ways through a lens and allows us as observers to interpret. I live in a place that sees the odd thunderstorm or snowstorm, however, through photography I am able to interpret other environments such as how dangerous tornadoes are or how hot the desert is, all from photos. 

“Interpretation should instil in people the ability, and the desire, to sense beauty in their surroundings- to provide spiritual uplift and to encourage resource preservation” (Beck et. al, 2018)

The “gift of beauty” is embraced by all who appreciate the artistic aspects of nature. I have seen this quote a few times this week, between readings and blog posts. I think it sets a certain tone for how we use art to interpret nature. It is important for us to appreciate the beauty that nature surrounds us with and to feel privileged to have it. However, it is also essential to preserve and respect our environment. I interpret the “gift of beauty” as a sense of gratefulness for nature’s artistry and its ability to ‘spiritually uplift’.

I attached some of my favourite photos that I believe interpret nature. For me, these photos each create a different feeling and tell so much without saying a word. I hope you have the same experience!     

These photos were both taken in Northern Ontario. The summer photo is of Lake Timiskaming.. The same lake as the tragic disaster that took place in 1978 as we learned this week… 

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

I agree that creativity thrives in a world full of nature. As you said, so many artistic interpretations of the natural world have provided us with timeless pieces that enthral us to this day. It is always interesting to me to witness the various ways people can interpret how they see and experience nature.

Photography is indeed one of the best ways to capture nature in the moment. You said it well that photography can capture nature at its calming and beautiful times, but also at its chaotic and frighteningly powerful moments. Through the photographer’s eye, they compose the image and shoot it in the way they interpret. It is amazing that we can show people what we have witnessed of nature’s wonder through a simple lens. 

It is understated just how much nature has the power to “spiritually uplift”. I know that when I’ve had a rough day, just seeing something like the sunset helps me remind me of how little my troubles really are. 

As for your photos, I think they are truly amazing! I really like the first one as the depth and composition sits well and captures the end of day beautifully. The foreground with the tree also frames the image nicely, giving a wonderful silhouette of the cliff. The second one gives me such a fresh and cool feeling! Both are well composed and greatly shot photos! Is there any dream location that you would want to photograph after this pandemic? 

Hello everyone!

My current and ever changing definition of privilege is an advantage or benefit given to someone based on specific traits. An example of what I mean is white privilege, people are born white and it is something out of their control, but they have an automatic advantage in the society that we live in. In this week’s lesson we learned about how we each have an invisible backpack that we carry. I am fortunate enough that my invisible backpack has provided me with the privilege of being able to experience and fall in love with nature. I am a middle-class white woman that grew up in a stable home, has received a great education, and lives in Ontario. I recognize that these traits have given me an advantage in the world we live in without me having to earn them. 

Because of these traits I have had opportunities to connect with nature and develop a passion for the environment. My parents could afford to put me in competitive hockey and soccer growing up which kickstarted my interest in physical activity and personal wellbeing. This resulted in my love for hiking and being outdoors for both the physical and emotional benefits to personal wellbeing. Many people do not get these sort of opportunities because of things that they cannot control, such as home income or access to such programs. This is where we need to change things in the nature interpretation community, and in society as a whole. Providing equal opportunity for everyone to connect to and find a love for nature is what we should all be striving for. Nature should be something that if you want to connect with and experience fully you can, no matter what race, class, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. However, we simply are not even close to having that today.

The nature interpretation community has a lot of work to do to make it more inclusive. We need to make environmental education programs accessible in low income areas. We need to make nature interpretation programs more accessible for people with disabilities. We need to make spaces where women can feel comfortable being in nature alone. We need to listen to and collaborate with Indigenous communities. These are just a few of many things that need to change in order to make nature interpretation more inclusive. 

A diverse and inclusive community is beneficial to all. More people bring new and exciting ideas on how to make things better. Nature interpretation should not be limited to one way of thinking and by making a more inclusive environment we invite new and improved ways of thinking. Also as more people have an opportunity to love nature, the more people are likely to want to protect it. Our environment is at risk and if people are given the opportunity to care, change will happen.

We all live on this beautiful planet, and we should all have the same opportunity to appreciate it.

It’s interesting to think about how the role of being “privileged” affects how one enjoys nature and outdoor activities. As you said, being born in a stable home gave you the freedom to pursue and experiment outdoor sports and activities other people may not have been able to. In my experience, school was always a priority in my home and so extracurricular activities weren’t as prioritized. However, the little free time that I had, I would spend this time hanging out with friends playing basketball or going for walks in the parks. As you have mentioned though, my outdoor activities didn’t require extra funds to maintain, so I can see what you mean by how privilege can play a role in molding one’s relationship with nature. 

I like the idea of making nature interpretation more inclusive, as I believe overall this could create more empathy for nature, and thereby allowing people to be more eco-conscious. It is important to highlight what nature has done for us in order for us to appreciate it more, but many people who do not have the privilege to do so due to their financial issues or lack of knowledge in what it may provide, may not be able to see the beauty of nature. Thank you Lauren for your view on the topic. I agree that it would be great if everybody could have the same opportunity to appreciate this beautiful planet!