Tim's Biome Blog

This has been an interesting and intriguing semester for me. I have always been a fan of writing, so being able to do so for this class, especially on topics that are so interesting to me, has been a great experience. It has also been a great way to interact with my peers during a time of distance education, and I enjoy seeing how everyone has a different approach to things even when we are all writing about the same topic. I feel as if this has expanded my horizons because in some cases I approached a particular topic a certain way and was able to read someone else’s interpretation and reflect upon my own ideals (and sometimes even change them). Because of this, I wanted to thank everyone for an amazing class this semester and for making these blogs so much more enjoyable.

When I think about the term “ethics”, I think about what is important to me and what I believe in. While not exactly the same as morality, the two are very closely connected. Morals are typically what drives a person’s ethics; to me, morals are what you believe in, and ethics is how you act upon those beliefs. I, personally, like to consider myself a very morally driven person – I have a very strong internal sense of right and wrong, and I am not afraid to voice this if need be. I feel as if this may affect my role as a nature interpreter in a number of ways.

As a nature interpreter, I believe that I have a responsibility to remain inclusive and respectful to anyone I meet while working in the field. Inclusivity must be met in a number of ways, all the way from different learning styles to our inherited privilege (Beck et al. 2018). Going back towards the beginning of the semester and the importance of “unpacking your invisible backpack”, as someone who is privileged, there are some things that I don’t understand when it comes to the struggles of others because I have never had to deal with it myself (Gallavan, 2005). It is my responsibility to work on myself, to rid myself of any unconscious discrimination or bias that I may have learned due to the systemic nature of many of these issues. This is something I am all too familiar with – some of these ideals get internalized from a young age, and it is our responsibility to make the effort to unlearn them. I may not be perfect, and there are still things that I need to learn and mental roadblocks that I need to overcome, but I consciously make an effort to make myself a better person so that I can be respectful and inclusive to all, and I feel as if that is very important if I am considering a career in nature interpretation.  

Another way in which my personal morals and ethics may influence my role as a nature interpreter is what motivates me to do this work in the first place. As mentioned in the course content, there are so many issues impacting the natural world that we need to be worried about. These are ongoing issues that have been changing and shaping our world since before I was even born and will continue to do so after I die. Many of these issues can feel very discouraging and may lead to feelings of helplessness. I will never forget when my mother said to me: “Don’t have kids. Don’t bring children into this world, because it is going to sh*t.” She meant it, and I can see where she’s coming from; sometimes it feels like we are taking a step forward, other times it feels like we are taking two steps back. Every day, we watch human greed trump morality, and I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t discouraged at times as well.  

What’s happening in the world isn’t pretty. Photo retrieved here.

However, kids are the future. We as students are constantly told that we are the future, and this is true – it is our responsibility to try and change the things that have been implemented before us, even if it seems impossible. As mentioned in the course content, we need to pass down hope, hope that future generations will go past sustainability and into regeneration (Hooykaas, 2021). If we pass down the message that this is the way things are and that things will never change, no effort will be made to make that change. This is why I want to become a nature interpreter – I want to pass down that message of hope and the feelings of wonder when it comes to the natural world, just as those before me have done for me, because if it isn’t, nothing is going to change.

Of course, I worry when I think of the future. I even worry about things that will happen long after I am no longer alive and therefore have no personal effect on me. But I would rather pass down feelings of hope, hope that the next generation will be better than we are, take bigger steps and achieve bigger things. Because if they don’t, there may not ever be people that will.

Great job on our final blog post! I think we started this course in two very different places. You mentioned that you were excited to express yourself in writing, I was quite the opposite. I have never been a fan of writing as a way of expression and I am constantly editing myself to find better ways of saying things long after I’ve hit the post button. I think that is sort of how I view myself ethically as well. In a constant state of self reflection, trying to make sure the next “post” is better than the last. Does that always work? Absolutely not. But I want to keep trying. Like you mentioned, we all have mental roadblocks and personal bias that we need to overcome. I agree that in order to be the best nature interpreter we can, we must be on a constant journey of self discovery and improvement.

I think you touched on a lot of great points about the ethics involved with interpretation. Specifically, the conundrum with kids. I too have heard the argument “why would anyone want to bring a kid into this messed up world,” and in my darkest moments, I kind of see their point of view. But I’m with you, kids very much are the future. I don’t have kids, but I have a niece and nephew I am very close with. When I’m with them I see the wonder and excitement they exude in their daily lives. More importantly, I see the curiosity that drives them to make new discoveries and learn new things about the world and themselves.

Like you, I hope to “pass down that message of hope and the feelings of wonder when it comes to the natural world.” I think kids have that innate sense of wonder hardwired into to them. I think it is our role as interpreters to foster that feeling and allow them to find their own unique way to express it (Rodenburg, 2019). We live in a time where we are presented with what feels like insurmountable challenges. I would be lying if I said I didn’t occasionally buckle to that pressure. But I think as interpreters, it’s not our job to fix every problem, rather to do our part to use our moral and ethical beliefs to guide us, and to help foster others to find the strength within themselves. Kids are the future, and I hope that with our encouragement they can grow to be their own unique initiators of change.

To quote a great philosopher…

Just saying...Yoda had some gems.(Pintrest, n.d)

Great job again on your post! I wish you all the best in your future as an interpreter!

Cheers,

Tim

Pinterest (n.d) We are what they grow beyond [Image] Retrieved March 27, 2021 from https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/707205947713011809/

           Writing this final post has actually made me quite sad. I enjoyed drafting these posts as they provided me with an opportunity to express my views and share my thoughts and opinions with my classmates. The response process with everyone also provided a much-needed social interaction that was lost due to the pandemic. Yet I will not dwell upon what is coming to an end. Instead, I will reflect upon what I have learned about my development as a nature interpreter. In particular, how is my personal ethic evolving, what beliefs are influencing me, what do I view as my responsibilities, and what approaches are most suitable for me as a nature interpreter? The highly divergent views expressed by my classmates in their blogs has illustrated how important individual life experiences and circumstances are in forming their opinions, thoughts and views. Sharing our individual experiences has helped us collectively expand our horizons. So how has this influenced me?

          Everyone has an ethic that influences the way in which they approach a task or respond to an issue. Ethics are referred to by the Government of Canada (2015) as “a way of living” that people use to justify their actions based upon what they deem right and wrong and just and unjust. The moral judgments that individuals make are not something that can be taught but is something that they need to cultivate. An individual’s ethics can continue to develop and change as people grow and learn valuable lessons over their lives. The beliefs that I have, the responsibilities that I feel, and how I go about addressing situations are all rooted back to my individual moral ethics.

My parents are two of the most important people in my life. A lot of the moral ethics that I have now are because of them. They have instilled values in me that shape every action I do. Photo taken by Brooke Murphy (my sister)       

       I believe that humans tend to take things for granted and we tend to not understand how truly valuable people, moments or objects are. I think that nature is one of those things humans undervalue. 

Quickly take a second and reflect on how vital nature is for your survival.

 Humans require nature for food, places to exercise, to find inspiration, and improve their mental health. That is why I believe nature interpretation is so vital. It helps enhance one’s appreciation for the natural world. Personally, the pandemic took a toll upon my mental health. One of the ways that I have been able to recover is through interpreting nature. Nature brings me this sense of calm, making all the anxieties, which tend to overtake my life some days, disappear. The significance nature plays in my mental health recovery is why I believe that nature is so vital as the benefits it has tend to go unnoticed by most.

I started really understanding how important walking through nature was for my mental health in 2017 when I started to develop severe anxiety. This photo is around the time my anxiety was becoming extremely bad and I was going on frequent walks just to try to feel calm and I found nature was able to help me find this calm.

         Given how positively impactful nature has been on my life, I feel responsible to serve as an interpreter for nature. I do not necessarily want to be a formal nature interpreter, but I would still like to be a nature interpreter through my day-to-day actions. The natural world has helped me immeasurably and improved my mental health. That is why I feel responsible for helping to improve nature’s physical health by discussing endangered species, climate change, and other pressing environmental issues. When I graduate, I plan to pursue a career in teaching and use the concepts that I learned in this course in my career. I learned that effective communication is essential! To educate an audience about nature, I need to be able to effectively communicate to an audience in both an engaging and inclusive manner in order to appeal to their moral ethic to act as stewards of the earth! 

Freeman Tilden says…..

 “we must not tell one what they can do, but what they should do and not what they must be, but what they can be”. 

I believe that in order to do this I will need to tailor to my audience how I present a topic. In the course and textbook, the notion is discussed that how people interpret and connect with a presentation will be influenced by presentation style. Understanding and customizing each presentation to address each audience’s different learning styles is critical and my responsibility.

           I feel responsible for being an effective nature interpreter, not just for nature, but also for the individuals that I am presenting to. I believe and feel everyone has a right to be included and that no one should be made to feel as if they are not welcome - speaking from experience. As a nature interpreter, it is my responsibility to ensure that everyone can engage comfortably with an issue or concept that I am discussing. As a person who suffers from social anxiety, I can relate to the difficulty of group engagement. I know that as soon as my anxiety begins, I start to zone out and cannot remember anything. To ensure that this does not happen to others, I would give consideration to making people feel physically, mentally and socially safe. Doing this will help to ensure that everyone is given the same opportunity despite what they have and lack in their “invisible knapsack”.

I remember I was super anxious this day and was very quite during this tour/experience. The tour guide picked up on it and in front of the whole group made me come and kiss a stingray for 7 years of good luck. This gesture made me feel so included and special that I stopped feeling as anxious and began engaging more. Highlighting how important it is to make sure everyone feels included and has the same opportunity to learn. 

          I find that humour is one of the best ways to present a concept as it makes people more engaged and relaxed. Adding humour to my presentation, while effectively articulating my point, makes an experience more engaging and memorable while creating a sense of joy and calm. I use humour often in my everyday life. Humour helps to lighten the mood and make experiences more enjoyable, I also find it helps reduce my anxiety, which is an added bonus.

          This course taught me that there are many ways to be a nature interpreter, present a topic or write a blog. The diverse means of completing different tasks allows us to add our own values and beliefs to everything. Therefore, when someone wants to use different approaches, teaching styles, and so on, that is 100% okay! The ways that individuals choose to work in the future will be effective regardless of the style, as long as they stay true to their morals, beliefs and values.

As long as you stay true to you the impacts you can have and the lessons you can teach will be unmeasurable! 

References 

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

This semester has really flown by hasn’t it? Cliché as it sounds, it did only feel like yesterday I felt a swell of panic at the thought of having to write a series of blog posts. While I love nature, expressing that love in words has never been something I felt overly confident in doing. But here we are!

Great job on your final post, I think you described your relationship with Nature Interpretation thoroughly. I also wanted to thank you for sharing your experience with panic attacks. As someone who experiences anxiety, it is always refreshing to hear someone speak so openly about it. I am a big believer that discussing mental health is the best way to help eliminate the stigma behind it. I also feel like you are totally correct about inclusiveness. I feel like many people (myself included) miss out on the opportunities to experience nature because of things like social anxiety. I believe to be an effective interpreter, we are responsible for creating an environment where people can feel safe to learn, in whichever manner best suits their needs.

(Tumblr, 2018)

On a personal note, whenever I feel overwhelmed, I also sort of escape into nature to try and find a sense of calm. There’s a creek that’s about a 10 minute drive from my house, and I will sometimes head out there just to hear some of the sounds of nature (Gray et al, 2001).

Rodenburg (2019) states “It is the art of an educator to know what to say and what to refrain from saying,” and I think you echo this sentiment perfectly. I have always found the best teachers were those who weren’t about checking off certain boxes in the curriculum, but rather creating the kind of environment conducive to real learning. I remember a teacher in grade 8 wanted us to do a book report. But rather than simply talking about the book, she gave us the option to express how the book made us feel. Some students made songs; others acted out scenes. I think I ended up drawing something because that’s how I found I best communicated my ideas. I think that’s how I view the role of an interpreter. As someone whose there to guide and help, but not to box people in or force a certain structure upon them, as you said, “a nature interpreter through my day-to-day actions.”

This year has really shown that we need human connection more than we had previously thought. When normalcy returns (if there even is such a thing) I think the world is going to need interpreters more than ever. People who want to connect individuals to each other and to the world around them. I think if you bring your ethics and beliefs to whatever you end up doing, you’ll make an excellent interpreter.

Cheers,

Tim

Gray, P., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The music of nature and the nature of music. Retrieved March 27, 2021, from https://science.sciencemag.org/content/291/5501/52.full

Rodenburg, J. (2019, July 17). Why environmental educators shouldn't give up hope. Retrieved March 27, 2021, from https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

Throughout this blog I have shared quite a few of my interests, one of them clearly being insects. I find that insects have some of the most elaborate and hard-core life histories in the animal kingdom. There are so many insane modes of defense, mating rituals or life cycles. One that I have always felt was insane in the life history of fig wasps.

Have you ever had a fig? I bet when eating a fig you never stopped to think about where that fruit you just bit into came from. I don’t mean came from as in where in the world, but as in how it was grown and able to become the tasty treat you may like to enjoy. Before you read further just know… you may never want a fig again.

Figs maintain the same purpose as other fruits and flowers, to pollinate and reproduce. How ever, they present a challenge because of their unique anatomy. Figs can be thought of as an inverted flower, with its reproductive parts (such as pollen) on the inside. This may seem like a smart evolutionary move for the plant, as animals eating their reproductive parts becomes less of an issue, but then how do you think they get pollinated?

This is where the fig wasps come in, they have a symbiotic relationship with the figs. Figs and fig wasps have been evolving together for millions of years and are now completely dependent on each other. A female fig wasp will find an unfertilized fig and burrow her way to the inside (where the reproductive parts are). From the start the process is hard-core, because as the mother burrows her way through the narrow passage that leads to the center of the fig she is crushed and loses her wings and antennae. The loss of these parts won’t have an affect on our mother wasp, because she will die inside the fig she just fought so hard to enter. After entering the fig the female will lay her eggs. After hatching there are now both male and female wasps within the fig, and it is with each other and within the fig that they will mate. Males will dig tunnels and die within the fig, whereas females will exit through those tunnels and spread pollen to new figs are continue the cycle. Pretty metal right?

Here you can see a female fig wasp entering a fig (Photo retrieved from BBC)

This is a fig under a microscope, you can see some eggs as well as fully developed wasps (photo retrieved from the blog “Howtowrangleapig”)

My goal for this post is not to make my readers disturbed by insects, but rather to show how necessary and intriguing they are. Without insects we would have nothing, and without fig wasps we wouldn’t have figs.

I really enjoyed reading your post. As someone who is starting a very new passion for insects, as soon as I read “fig wasp” I was already onboard. Metal is the perfect description of it! Insects in general are so crazy and diverse, and they fill so many niche roles in our world. I think something that we as a species tend to do is overlook insects. I mean they’re so much smaller and can often be annoying or downright scary (depending on your viewpoint). But I am with you, they are such an amazing part of our planet, and they vastly outnumber humans.

Who's really running the show?? (Youtube, 2015)

There is still such a stigma with insects, and that makes them a particularly difficult topic for interpretation. I mean look at the mascots for conservation: pandas, gorillas, whales. All equally important species, but you rarely see insects up there. Bees have become a recent champion for conservation, but even with them there is only a surface level appreciation. Cheerios has a Save the Honeybee initiative, but if you check out their website there isn’t any mention of native bees, just non-native honeybees. I mean I might be hold a cereal conglomerate to an unrealistic standard, but they very well could be kids introduction to subjects like this!

I think insects are a worthy inclusion in interpretation, not only for the vital role they play in nature, but for eliminating stigma and to allow or audience a richer understanding of the amazing diversity and complexity in our world.

Sorry I went on a bit of a rant there! Great job on your post, keep on interpreting species like these! The more we talk about them, the more people will come to learn and hopefully love our insect neighbours!

Just because I thought you might be interested; this is a wasp I took a phot of last year in my pollinator garden. It’s called the Great Golden Sand Digger Wasp, and they are HUGE. They also are totally harmless to humans. They borrow in the ground and prey on other insects, keeping populations in check.

Cheers, Tim

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

As William Shakespeare once said, “The earth has music for those who listen”. My key takeaway from this unit is that nature and music are intimately connected. Music is found in the natural world and the natural world is found in music (Hooykaas, 2021). For example, the undersea songs of humpback whales are similar in structure to bird and human songs and prove that these marine mammals are inveterate composers (Gray et al., 2001). Something incredible to think about is that humpback whale songs are constructed according to laws that are strikingly similar to those adopted by human composers (Gray et al., 2001). I think this demonstrates how deeply music is embedded in nature…

Humpback Whale Singing Hervey Bay 2014

Music serves as a powerful cue to recall emotional memories back into awareness. Furthermore, music can elicit new emotions and connect listeners with other emotional sources. Maria (2012) allowed me to imagine myself in a forest; a place that offers radical experiences of spirituality and sacredness for a modern individual. This got me thinking: if music can not only trigger emotions, but also elicit new emotions, could the integration of forest sounds into music foster a sense of spirituality?  

Can you hear the creek?

Just like how nature interpretation through art can elicit emotions and allow audiences to notice something they may have never expected to see, nature interpretation through music can spark a very similar reaction. To examine this further, I focused on my ideal environmental interpretation position, specializing in curriculum design and knowledge translation. Social media, the internet, and open science (sometimes referred to as open access) provide interpreters with powerful tools for reaching enormous numbers of people, including people who do not ever visit natural and cultural heritage sites (Beck et al., 2018). I think music should be incorporated more often into online learning resources. Animations, interactive content, videos, etc… are becoming more and more popular, however, music is often overlooked. For instance, complementing content with a podcast containing music, or an introductory audio clip could enhance the learning experience for musical/auditory learners as well as make the experience more engaging and enjoyable for everyone.  

“Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable” - Leonard Bernstein 

I believe it is fair to say that for most people on earth, including myself, music is an integral part of everyday life. Our memories are often tied to certain songs or genres associated with the paths of our emotional lives. A song can carry us back in time and draw forgotten emotions from deep inside ourselves. For me, the song “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison takes me immediately back to the natural landscape of Georgian Bay. This is a bit of a strange camp tradition, but mid-campfire (which took place each Saturday), councillors would dress up in yellow raincoats (and were called ‘shmangees’) and hide behind the jumping tower on the water. When “Brown Eyed Girl” was sung, around mid-song, the ‘shmangees’ would emerge on the jumping tower and the camp directors would take turns shooting them into the water. The shooting instructor would be behind the stage shooting blanks. Of course, as an 8-year-old, I actually through the directors were shooting these strange creatures into the water! Our camp version sounded a little different, but I think the repetition really ingrained the song into my head. As a result, whenever I hear it, I picture Georgian Bay and the many ‘shmangees’ being shot off the camp jumping tower.

The ‘Shmangee’ Song

This unit has taught me that music can strengthen our relationship with nature, and vice versa. What are your feelings, opinions, and thoughts on this?

Jacob

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References:

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

Gray, P., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001, January 05). The music of nature and the nature of music. Retrieved March 01, 2021, from https://science.sciencemag.org/content/291/5501/52.full

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Nature Interpretation through Music. Retrieved March 01, 2021, from https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/666945/viewContent/2593375/View

Great job on your post this week!

I think you’re really onto something with your description of natures music and spirituality. I mean I’m a big practitioner of having ambient music or sounds while I work. I am a big fan of rain sound videos, which really helps me relax or even focus when I need to get out of my own head space. I don’t think I’m alone in that either. If you look at any video with sounds of nature (babbling brooks, forest noises, etc) you will find the view counts in the millions. That’s not something that can be dismissed out of hand, there’s something about that kind of natural audio that appeals to us on some level. I mean I’m not going to pick up the hosts phone and a party and start jamming out to “Relaxing sounds of nature, soothing waterfall edition,” yet in my own private space that might be something I would really enjoy (like responding to this blog!). Perhaps it is because we all have a unique and personal relationship with the music of nature, and because of this it brings us to a place that is all our own.

Video from Jonnielawson, (2017)

I think you have an interesting idea about music being incorporated into more teaching and learning opportunities. I think (like all things) it needs to be incorporated in a way that’s accessible to everyone. Music can be a very personal subject, and what works for some people, may not work for others. I know personally I cringe when someone sings things at me (musicals are torture for me haha). However, I totally see the merit in including musical stings or even background to engage the listener to a subject matter. Possibly having them associate certain chords or sounds with information you’re trying to convey. I think the process of education is always changing and evolving, and inclusion of music to enhance that could be a powerful tool.

Great job again!

Cheers,

Tim

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

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

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

Taken by Jacob Kannel from Unsplash. 

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

Engaging with the Past

“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.”

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

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

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

(Winston Churchill)

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

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

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

I have to say, your rock-stick-leaf activity made me to do a bit of an existential deep dive…Not an unwelcome one though! I think that is an excellent activity to do with kids because it engages them in something that we often forget (even as adults): Our place in time. We are in the moment, but we also have a past and a future. I agree that we can often get stuck in the past a bit, constantly analyzing what got us to where we are. But I also believe it is vitally important to help us better prepare for moving forward..

With that, nature is a bit of a tricky topic to discuss. It can often overwhelm with jargon and complex topics that lose the audience (Beck et al, 2018). We also sort of remove ourselves from the narrative because the scale of the topics seem too grand. I think it’s very similar with nature and history: “these things happened so long ago, how do they affect us? It’s the past, there’s nothing we can do!”

But I think as interpreters, it is our responsibility to express that we can investigate our past and be critical of it, as long as we move forward having learned from it. I often think about when we as a species do something like environmental restoration. We aren’t erasing history per se, but we are trying to remediate and enhance our future…

Pinery Provincial Park Oak Trees. Photo by (MacKenzie, 2020)

Take the pinery for instance! It was historically an oak savanna habitat (something very rare in Ontario) but because dense forests were considered more aesthetically pleasing (amongst other reasons), that habitat was replaced by pine plantations. Recently however, work has been going on to re-establish the original habitat and bring back the species that were extirpated from the area (Pinery Park, 2021). I feel like that is a similar concept to the video you shared about the coral reef projects. I think if we as interpreters express our connection to nature and history, while not tethering our audience to the weight of past errors, we can inspire people to make great strives for the future.

Great job again!

Cheers,

Tim

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

Mackenzie, A. (2020) Forever protected: why Pinery belongs. Accessed 28 Feb 2021 from https://www.ontarioparks.com/parksblog/forever-protected-pinery/

“They used to be better…” I mutter grumpily under my breath as we saunter out of the dinosaur wing of the ROM.

“What do you mean better? They’re dinosaurs!” My partner responds, confused by my admittedly childish tone. 

“No no, the dinosaurs are fine. It’s the displays, they used to be better!” I respond, gesturing vaguely to the room we just exited.

(This was an actual conversation my partner and I had on one of our first dates…I’m very lucky she enjoys my nerdiness). 

Now for those of you who don’t know what I’m going on about, I’ll give a little context. Before the ROMs contemporary remodel, it was a classic museum. I mean if someone said “museum,” it is exactly what you would picture. An early 1900s building in the downtown core that stood defiantly amongst the modern condos popping up all around it. I used to go all the time for school and for fun. While all the exhibits were good, my favourite by far was the dinosaurs. Many people may not remember, but the dinosaur exhibit used to very different then it is now. I have vivid memories of going to see it:

First was the ancient seas exhibit… It was dimly lit, but there were dark blue flood lights pointed at the walls, making it feel like you were deep in the ocean. Giant reptile skeletons hung from the ceiling, appearing as if they were swimming right past you. I even have a memory of making my brother walk in with me because I was so concerned about these ancient beasts coming to life (This was pre night at the museum, so I’ll see you in court Ben Stiller).

Anyone else hear the John Williams music playing? Image by Schengili-Roberts, 2007

Then there was the Dinosaurs… They stood triumphantly in lifelike scenes from bygone eras. Often displayed with painted backgrounds and various ferns and trees adorning their surroundings to set the mood. The poses were dynamic too, I remember some of the predators were locked in life or death struggles with the armoured herbivores. It-was-awesome. In the eyes of a 10-year-old, I was transported to a world that I’d only ever seen in books and movies. It wasn’t just reading about history, it was living history (Beck et al, 2018)

But then the remodel came. The ROM underwent a contemporary makeover, and many of the displays changed with it. The creatures I once saw roaming their ancient habitats now resided in a large, well lit white room. It felt cold and emotionless, as if I was no longer walking into the past, but merely reading a book report. I mean the information was still there, I just didn’t feel an overwhelming desire to absorb it. 

The white aesthetic makes me feel like the t rex is going to ask me if i’m interested in AppleCare. (Photo by me)

Now I know how I might be sounding right about now:

 I mean even using a simpsons reference makes me feel old! (2002, knowyourmeme.com)

But hear me out…

The change in exhibit meant more than just a loss of atmosphere to me. It represented a disconnection from the audience. It was a fundamental misunderstanding of what attracts people to a story: The narrative. Kids (and adults frankly) don’t want to just see something; they want to experience it. By removing the narrative from something on display, you are alienating the audience. You are putting up barriers and disconnecting them from our link to it. I’ve seen in recent years attempts at recapturing this feeling, through interactive VR and iPad apps. But it’s not the same, the feeling of living it is absent. To quote John Luzader “Look beyond the entertainment value, quality living history will provide entertainment on its own.” (Beck et al, 2018, p. 332) Natural history is our history and an integral part of our journey a species. But to ensure we learn and grow from our history; we need to feel like a part of it.

- Tim (Professional dinosaur enthusiast)

References

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

Schengili- Robert’s, K (2007) ROM-Dinos last room panorama. Wikimedia Commons. Accessed 27 Feb 2021  https:commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ROM-Dinos_LastRoom_panorama.png

In explaining the importance of “living history” you described the old exhibit so well that I feel like I have been there. The story that you told about the old exhibit creates a better image in my mind and the feeling of being there more than the photo that you show of the new exhibit. Just in describing the place you did an amazing job of interpreting. Have you ever thought of being a museum curator and designing these types of exhibits?

I wanted to do a little bit of research on why they might have changed the exhibit if the first one was so good at communicating. On the ROM’s website under the “Our History” tab I could not find when they did the renovation, let alone why. The most recent change that it talks about is in 2007 when they opened the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal “a distinctive new symbol of Toronto for the 21st century”. 

image: photo of the Michale Lee-Chin Crystal extension built on the ROM in 2007. Photo taken from the ROM website https://www.rom.on.ca/en/about-us/rom. 

So I went to the library (virtually) in search of articles about science communication in museum exhibits and I came across a very interesting article. The article is a study out of Norway that looks at the influences throughout history of the public, under 4 categories, and communication to those groups. It says that in recent years, exhibits are designed by science communicators to increase visibility in the media with low cost and low participant engagement (Hetland, 2019). I didn’t read the entire article and this was a study done in Norway. To connect this to the ROM in Toronto however, I would assume that the update in the museum was done to match the modern aesthetic in Toronto, why you thought the T-Rex might ask you about AppleCare. In my own opinion and related to what the article was saying, is I think that the ROM is trying to get people in the door and taking pictures to share on social media (can you take pictures in the ROM?) and the dark, immersive experience is not a good setting for being on your phone. It seems to me that the ROM is trying to stay relevant in exchange for authenticity and true science communication.

-Jasmine

Hetland, P., (2019). Constructing publics in museums’ science communication. Public Understanding of Science (Bristol, England), 28(8), 958–972. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963662519870692  

Thank you so much for such a thoughtful response, I really appreciate you doing such a deep dive into my topic. 

So you actually reminded me of something that I had completely forgotten about. The AGO did a remodel around the same time as the ROM, and though it was by a different designer (Frank Gehry did the AGO in 2008) (AGO, n.d), you can totally see the aesthetic similarities and modern update. So I wonder if it was a conscious choice by the city of Toronto to update these landmarks to remain more “culturally relevant” on the global scene.

The AGO remodel by Frank Gehry opened one year after the Michael Lee-Chin redesign of the ROM. (Photo from: Wikipedia, 2009)

I totally agree with what you mentioned about the ROM trying to get people in the door. I actually hadn’t considered what you mentioned about the photographic aspect of it. I think that was definitely a choice by them because I’m 99% sure you are allowed (If not I might be in trouble!). I truly do understand the need to change and update things. Hopefully I managed to express that it wasn’t the act of change that I was commenting on, rather the loss of the wonder. They have a couple exhibits that still have a bit of the original atmosphere that I mentioned, the North American Mammals area still has a mock forest and honestly, it’s the part my nephew is the most interested in whenever I bring him. 

I think when communicating history (natural or otherwise), there’s nothing wrong with updating some methodology, as long as it’s done authentically (as you mentioned!). Times change, and our understanding of our own history is always being updated and reframed. But I think my initial point stands true; that if your audience doesn’t feel that personal connection to the material, it’s sort of like putting up a barrier for them to actually access the information. 

Thank you for such a thought provoking response!

Cheers,

Tim

AGO,(n.d.). Transformation AGO: Project Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://ago.ca/transformation-ago-project-fact-sheet

The ROM, (n.d.). Our history. rom.on.ca. Retrieved from: https://www.rom.on.ca/en/about-us/rom/our-history

The photo was taken by me of an elephant, an endangered species in South Africa 

Many species are on the brink of extinction, and we are losing the world’s biodiversity at an unprecedented rate, do any of these statements sound familiar? The global biodiversity crisis is not a new topic, and it is one many of you are most likely aware of. For those who may not know much about this topic, it is helpful to understand what is causing it. There is no single action causing the rapid loss of species worldwide; instead, it’s a combination of anthropogenic activities inflicting the damage. The main drivers of biodiversity loss are climate change, habitat loss, and invasive species.

Illustration by danilotsouzart taken from https://www.momes.net/actualites/actualites-culturelles/les-emouvantes-illustrations-en-hommage-a-laustralie-ravagee-par-les-incendies-846577

While climate change in and of itself is a global crisis, it is also one of the main drivers contributing to the decline. Climate largely controls the types of ecosystems present and, in turn, the distribution of species. However, climate change places extreme pressures upon a landscape, and as a result, forces species to respond to these pressures. Species unable to cope, adapt or migrate from climatic stressors are at risk. Habitat loss directly stemming from deforestation is disintegrating millions of species’ homes, reducing the range in which they can survive. The introduction of non-natives species into an environment threatens endemic species by adding an element of competition into an environment. Endemic species are now reliant upon the same resources as the non-native species, and often non-native species can outcompete for resources.

Illustration by Matthew Flinders taken from https://conservationbytes.com/2016/10/20/cartoon-guide-to-biodiversity-loss-xxxix/

How a country can mitigate the loss of biodiversity is through the creation and implementation of effective policies. There are overarching national commitments that guide a countries policy regarding biodiversity. The primary commitment is with the Convention of Biological Diversity, a summit that sets international targets for protecting terrestrial and marine landscapes. The international policy sets the mandate, and countries can figure out how to meet global domestic policy targets. A combination of protected areas and government policy can be an effective method in reducing the acceleration of biodiversity loss. However, on countless occasions, we have seen countries fail to implement effective policies to deal with species decline. A primary example would be the lack of stand-alone species at risk legislation in British Columbia. While British Columbia has met the requirement of total protected areas, biodiversity is still threatened without a species at risk act.

Illustration by the UNEP taken from https://www.cbd.int/ibd/2008/youth/cbd/As an interpreter, it is your role to express the beauty of nature to others around you. A large part of what makes the natural world remarkable to interpret is its diversity amongst various landscapes. While interpreting the environment, it is essential to touch on difficult topics. A critical skill from my perspective to have as a nature interpreter is to remain optimistic, well addressing issues that others may perceive in a pessimistic way. While there is a crisis on biodiversity, an interpreter should emphasize a sense of reality that illustrates the situation’s truth while remaining hopeful for the future.

Great job on this weeks post, I know this was an open topic week and I think you chose an incredibly important subject to discuss. It’s always astounding to me how complex a subject like biodiversity is, and you make some great points about it. To kind of jump in with what you’re discussing, last year I did a project on the boreal forest and really got into the many risks global climate change would have on it (both environmentally and socially). It was a real wake up call to how complex the topic is. For example, the boreal has forest fires naturally, but because of a number of factors (climate change effecting precipitation, invasive/introduced species compromising forest health) it was making the conditions drier so the wildfires would burn longer and hotter, destroying more than what it normally would. This in turn makes the forests even more susceptible to invasive species and habitat loss. Like you mentioned about BC, what really stuck out to me was how complex this situation was, but how little that was addressed. I mean this is our own backyard! Canada always likes to boast about being a natural resource country, but we’re not doing enough to actually manage it, just capitalize on it.

I totally agree that as interpreters it is important for us to remain optimistic. But to answer your question, from my perspective we also need to be champions of the cause. Advocating and showing people the good and the bad side of our relationship with nature. These are tough topics, but I feel as though change will only come by not shying away from them.

Great job again, this was very thought provoking!

Here is a link to a 2014 report done by the international panel of climate change about North America, if you are interested. 

 Cheers, 

Tim

References

Beauty is often something we attribute with nature. I mean if you ask someone to name something beautiful without thinking they probably would say flowers, or the ocean, or maybe a sunrise. Nature has an innate beauty that we all seem to organically appreciate. To me that’s the “gift of beauty,” it’s the unspoiled natural state of the world in which we feel. It’ the inherent emotions that the natural world can make us experience in it’s raw state. I think that’s why nature and art go so well together. I mean you can look at a painting of a winter forest and your body can feel the cold or hear the crunching of snow. Art is an incredible tool that an interpreter can use to entice an emotional response, and the best part of art is that it’s subjective…

Personally sunrises always make me stop to reflect. There’s a sort of stillness that they always express for me. (Photo by me)

Now I’ve been pretty excited to talk about this subject. I love art…well that’s a bit vague, what I love is drawing. I think since I could hold a pencil I was sketching. In school I would often tune out of class in order to doodle something on my worksheets (much to the chagrin of my teacher who was just trying to teach me what a noun was). What I eventually learned was that I had found an outlet. I would express myself though pencil and paper whenever I could, and more often than not, I found my expression was of the wild world I loved so much. Through my own passion, and how people would react to them, I personally found the importance of visual story telling.

With that in mind, I took some time to reflect to when we were asked what we thought our roles as interpreters could be. I gave some thought about to my passion, and if that was the real way in which I wanted to express myself as an interpreter. The answer was complicated to say the least. I mean I really do love expressing nature through art. However, to me there is also something very personal about art. When you express art you make yourself vulnerable, you open yourself up to criticism. You may look at something proudly, and then begin to see the “cracks” in your art, you may be afraid that people will judge you based off what you produced.  Like most fear, most of it is irrationally self inflicted…But then again, what if it isn’t? That’s a scary thought. I mean if you put everything you had into a piece of artistic expression, and then someone tears it down what does that say about you? Is your message weak? Are you not good enough? That’s where my apprehension comes for saying I want to be an interpreter who uses art to express a message Am I willing to risk ridicule? But then there’s the flip side, what if the risk pays off? What if I show that nature is something, we can experience any number of ways? Isn’t that what being an interpreter is all about? I don’t have easy answers for any of these questions. Perhaps that’s the journey I need to take as an interpreter, to discover what expression I can make to reach others, and what I am willing to risk in doing so.

One of my art pieces I made a few years ago. I always have an apprehension sharing personal creations, but perhaps the best way to inspire others is to share what inspires you

PS. I think a great example of visual story telling is something National Geographic created called the “Photo Ark.” It is a catalogue of animals shot very basically, but they have a bit of information about the animal. These photos express both common and endangered species. It is a great way to show the diversity of life on our planet and inspires people to look more into them. Check it out here

As a fellow person who likes to draw (although probably not as well as you can!), I’ve also had to struggle with my dislike for criticism. I currently have many drawings hidden away that will probably never be shown to anyone else other than me, as I feel like they could have looked better.

However, I keep telling myself that one day, I’ll be able to show them to someone once I’ve significantly improved. I really enjoy scrolling through artists’ Instagram or DeviantArt accounts to see the progress they’ve made since they first posted. It’s like I’m following a storyline or something, and someday, people might be able to see mine! In the meantime, though, I’d much rather spare myself from any criticism when I can already see the major flaws in my drawings. Showing these would only add salt to the wound!

It’s easy to think that people ought to be thoughtful or respectful when commenting on someone’s art, but the reality of things is that they have the right to think and say whatever they want. This only discourages me from putting myself out there. One day, I hope to have enough confidence to laugh at past drawings, or acknowledge them as stepping stones to the improvement of my skills. 

However, here’s one thing I’m actually proud of, in response to the awesome rhino you drew.

Let me start off by just saying, your Ibex piece is Amazing! Its taken me a while to actually write this because I keep stopping to stare at it. I totally understand that feeling of wanting to hide away your work, and I definitely understand the feeling of self deprecation when looking at ones own art. I often tell my partner that I know I’m done a drawing when I start hating it LOL! So I still have a long way to go in regards to being completely open about sharing my art. One thing that I’ve found (that I hope encourages you) is that other artists are usually super supportive of each other. Like you said, scrolling through peoples art and seeing how it changes is always awesome. I’ve often reached out to artists with big followings to ask technical questions, and they have gotten back and responded pretty graciously. 

I hope you feel comfortable sharing more of your art. It is truly beautiful and thought provoking. I’m sure our peers would feel the same way too! But it’s all at your own pace.

Keep on creating!

Beauty is often something we attribute with nature. I mean if you ask someone to name something beautiful without thinking they probably would say flowers, or the ocean, or maybe a sunrise. Nature has an innate beauty that we all seem to organically appreciate. To me that’s the “gift of beauty,” it’s the unspoiled natural state of the world in which we feel. It’ the inherent emotions that the natural world can make us experience in it’s raw state. I think that’s why nature and art go so well together. I mean you can look at a painting of a winter forest and your body can feel the cold or hear the crunching of snow. Art is an incredible tool that an interpreter can use to entice an emotional response, and the best part of art is that it’s subjective…

Personally sunrises always make me stop to reflect. There’s a sort of stillness that they always express for me. (Photo by me)

Now I’ve been pretty excited to talk about this subject. I love art…well that’s a bit vague, what I love is drawing. I think since I could hold a pencil I was sketching. In school I would often tune out of class in order to doodle something on my worksheets (much to the chagrin of my teacher who was just trying to teach me what a noun was). What I eventually learned was that I had found an outlet. I would express myself though pencil and paper whenever I could, and more often than not, I found my expression was of the wild world I loved so much. Through my own passion, and how people would react to them, I personally found the importance of visual story telling.

With that in mind, I took some time to reflect to when we were asked what we thought our roles as interpreters could be. I gave some thought about to my passion, and if that was the real way in which I wanted to express myself as an interpreter. The answer was complicated to say the least. I mean I really do love expressing nature through art. However, to me there is also something very personal about art. When you express art you make yourself vulnerable, you open yourself up to criticism. You may look at something proudly, and then begin to see the “cracks” in your art, you may be afraid that people will judge you based off what you produced.  Like most fear, most of it is irrationally self inflicted…But then again, what if it isn’t? That’s a scary thought. I mean if you put everything you had into a piece of artistic expression, and then someone tears it down what does that say about you? Is your message weak? Are you not good enough? That’s where my apprehension comes for saying I want to be an interpreter who uses art to express a message Am I willing to risk ridicule? But then there’s the flip side, what if the risk pays off? What if I show that nature is something, we can experience any number of ways? Isn’t that what being an interpreter is all about? I don’t have easy answers for any of these questions. Perhaps that’s the journey I need to take as an interpreter, to discover what expression I can make to reach others, and what I am willing to risk in doing so.

One of my art pieces I made a few years ago. I always have an apprehension sharing personal creations, but perhaps the best way to inspire others is to share what inspires you

PS. I think a great example of visual story telling is something National Geographic created called the “Photo Ark.” It is a catalogue of animals shot very basically, but they have a bit of information about the animal. These photos express both common and endangered species. It is a great way to show the diversity of life on our planet and inspires people to look more into them. Check it out here

This was a great post! And I love your art! It is gorgeous. For some reason it serves to remind me what we will be losing if we don’t protect the environment. 

I also appreciate how you mentioned vulnerability and risk associated with art! That doubt, what if no one likes it? I think it takes a lot of courage to admit it out loud. I used to love writing short stories or quotes. But never had enough courage to share them, fearing how people react to it. At some point, I just wrote it out and posted it as a caption with a pic. Most people did not comment on the caption and no one laughed about it. So, I guess that’s a win! Now, after 6 years, I feel like it was a lame quote and just want to delete it. But I don’t because it remind me of growth and taking a risk, which did not go too badly. 

Thank you for the thoughtful response. Actually you nailed my initial message with that picture! I made it when the last northern white rhino Sudan died. The image isn’t of Sudan per se, I just wanted to make a stoic image of a species at risk. I can totally relate to your short story anecdote, I have totally looked back on things I’ve made/written and cringed. I think our generation growing up with social media has been both a blessing and a curse. We can really look back in time and see our change in life, but we are also reminded of our previous beliefs and “failings.” I think you’re totally right in not deleting it! I think you make a great point, whether we meant to or not, we took a risk in the past, and what resulted from it brought us to where we are now.

I’m touched that my post made you feel that way. I hope you feel comfortable sharing some art and short stories on your blog, I’d love to see your style and message :)

Cheers,

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/ 

I loved reading your post! It actually initially caught my eye because you posted about one of my favorite artists: Andy Goldworthy! I actually took art in high school and one of the projects we were tasked with was to create something inspired by Goldsworthy. I did something very similar to the one you posted around the base of the tree (though obviously not as good as his lol). So it was great to see his art getting some love!

I totally agree with your sentiment about there being no correct way to interpret art or nature. Furthermore I agree with what you said about it being a risk to express art. Its actually very similar to what I expressed in my blog. Art is very much about putting yourself out there, and that is a very risky thing. There's the risk the message you put out might miss its mark, or that it may face harsh criticisms. I think as we get older our cynicism can kind of get the best of us when it comes to expressing art. We go into it with a lot of fear of risks, such as what we perceive as “failure.” But there is no such thing as failure in art. Art doesn’t have an inherent right or wrongness. Art is simply a conduit for our own opinions and feelings, and like you said “what is beautiful and special to one person may not be to another.”

Thanks for posting such an insightful and thoughtful blog. With saying you share your connection with nature, do you think as an interpreter you would incorporate art through your storytelling? And if so, do you know what medium you would work in?

Great job again,

To me privilege is a certain advantage or prestige held by a group in power or the majority that develops from the oppression of a minority group. The advantages of people with privilege often don’t think about it because they have never had to experience the oppressive side. One must understand it takes active effort and research to have empathy for the underprivileged. Although you cannot get rid of your privilege, you can acknowledge it, for me I am a young white educated female who was able to work, take out loans and get financial support from my parents to afford school.

Retrieved from: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-white-privilege-5070460

I didn’t think much about my privilege until I got to university and started making more diverse friends and hearing their experiences that made me question a lot. For example, my friend who was born in India would tell me stories about how people judged her from such a young age by the colour of her skin and all the lost opportunities she missed out on because if this. She would get ridiculed by classmates for having “ethnic smelling food” and she lost a lot of her confidence because of this. As a society we need to do a better job raising more tolerant children and change the future for the better because no child should feel like that. As outlined in our readings “prevention is wiser and less costly than repairing damage” this means that if we implement tolerance from the start problems like oppression and racism will be less substantial. I am extremely grateful my parents raised me to not judge someone by the colour of their skin, religion, sex etc. but some people were not raise with that privilege.

Retried from: https://quotefancy.com/quote/995646/Chimamanda-Ngozi-Adichie-Privilege-blinds-because-it-s-in-its-nature-to-blind-Don-t-let

When considering nature interpretation things like fresh air, the outdoors, animals or weather may come to mind. However, have you ever stopped to consider the role of privilege in nature interpretation? Environmental privilege is a concept referring to how privileged groups keep environmental amenities for themselves. A key factor that influences privilege is social class, people who are able to afford activities like sailing, camping, canoeing, swimming, kayaking have a different sense of place to nature than someone who has never experience that. There is a lot of gatekeeping in the hiking community for instance, if you don’t have the newest backpack, shoes or water bottle you are made to feel bad about yourself. The first step to changing this is recognizing out privilege then coming up with a plan that promotes equality.

What are some ways that would promote environmental equality for all in future? What lessons should we teach our children relating to privilege, do you think teaching kids young will solve the problem of prejudice?

First off, great job on your post discussing privilege. I totally agree with your definition on privilege, specifically on how those who are experiencing it often aren’t even aware of it because they’ve never experienced what it is like to be without it. I thought your example of the hiking community was an incredible example of how we monetize nature, and through classism exclude those who don’t have our “standards.” I know it’s a similar mindset in some of the camping communities. You’re only considered a pro camper if you have the best equipment and supplies (I’m looking at you MEC). Hiking and camping can be the corner stones of exposure to nature, yet we make it so you feel as though you have to have surplus disposable income to enjoy them.

In regards to your question regarding environmental equality, I don’t know if there’s an easy answer. Environmentalism in itself is a bit of an exclusionary concept. I discussed in my post that often when we think about how we can help the environment, it is because we can literally afford to. So I think maybe the way to promote environmental equality is to remove the taboo nature of environmentalism. Perhaps by reaching out to community leaders and learning from them the best way to approach environmental communication. As you said, privilege is not being aware of others perspectives, so perhaps the best way to act as stewards for the earth is to ensure a collaborative environment where we ourselves can be educated and informed how to deliver material from a place more accessible to everyone.  

I would love to hear your take on that subject, and what ideas you have to promote equality.

Again great job on your post!