Nature Interpretation with Victoria

To be quite honest, I was very hesitant about taking this course because of my lack of nature experience and non-existent relationship with nature while growing up. However, I am so grateful that I did because this course changed the way I look at nature in many ways by introducing me to new things that I never would have discovered I had a passion for. Although the majority of the people enrolled in this course probably had a relationship with nature previously, this was never the case for me because of my upbringing in the city of Toronto with an indoor-loving family. For this reason, the greatest gift this course gave me is the encouragement to discover my love for nature and realize the positive impact it has played in my life. I always enjoyed nature and my limited time outdoors while growing up; however, I never truly found my “sense of place” in nature or developed a relationship with nature before this course (Beck et al. 2018, p. 10). 

A picture of my father during our trip to Kelowna, British Columbia. This was one of the first trips that we spent the majority of the time outdoors by going hiking, swimming and canoeing. Photo credits: Myself :)

Through writing these weekly blog posts, I was able to sit down and take the time to really think about all of the good thing’s nature has to offer and I was able to find my “sense of place” in nature. Nature has become my escape and is one of the main parts of my life that makes me excited because it always has something new to offer, which is especially important during the times that we are currently living in. Throughout this pandemic, nature truly helped me maintain my emotional and physical health as it was the only driving factor that would get me out of the house on most days. After taking the time to truly reflect on the role nature has played in my life (especially within the past year), I learned that nature isn’t important for humans, it is essential. It’s essential to sustain the species of this Earth including ourselves, it’s essential for our physical well-being, it’s essential for our mental well-being and it essential for our overall quality of life because nature is everywhere, and it is a part of everything. 

This is a picture of my two roommates and I on our first spring hike the other day in The Elora Gorge. This trip was very necessary for our mental and physical well-beings, as we used it to de-stress from a hectic midterm season. Photo credits: Us :)

As we have learned in this course, nature interpretation plays a role in many aspects of life including music, art, history, science, technology, environmental sustainability, etc. As mentioned in our course notes, although it can be discouraging to teach and learn about the environment due to the abundance of issues occurring in this world such as climate change, food scarcity, malnutrition, biodiversity loss, etc., the meaningful experiences and impact that nature can have on people makes it all worth it (Wals, Brody, Dillon, & Stevenson, 2014) (Hooykaas, 2021). 

Before this course, becoming a nature interpreter was never a career path I ever considered because I wasn’t knowledgeable enough about the topic and I never took the time to learn about it. I suppose this was the case because I never truly discovered my relationship with nature until enrolling in this course; however, I am so glad that I did because I found a new passion that I never would have discovered without the guidance and encouragement from this course. 

As a nature interpreter, I believe my responsibilities include being an advocate for nature, building a trusting connection with my audience through authenticity and doing my best to ensure I have the correct knowledge that I will eventually be sharing with others. Whether I am interpreting the role nature plays in music, science or other important aspects of my life, it is my duty to deliver and translate this knowledge in a way that is effective for my audience and demonstrates my true passion for these topics. I know it is my responsibility to be authentic and enthusiastic with my audience, no matter who it is, to ensure that I leave them with a fond, meaningful and long-lasting memory. It is my responsibility to give my audience the information and support they need to make their own personal interpretations that will help them make positive connections within their own lives. 

This is a picture of my brother, my 2 cousins and myself during one of our first interpretive adventures at The Ontario Science Centre that i still remember to this day. Photo credits: My dad :)

I believe that, as an interpreter, it’s extremely important to consider the different cultural backgrounds/ethnicities, socioeconomic status, education levels, age groups, sexual orientations genders, people with physical disabilities, people with learning disabilities and religious beliefs of our audiences. As a mixed woman of colour, it is extremely important to me that everyone is mindful and respectful of the diverse social identity groups that exist in our world. Being aware of the diversity that is present in the audience will allow everyone to feel included and have an enjoyable experience. As mentioned in our textbook, one of the recommendations for inclusive interpretation is to hire more minority and bilingual interpreters (Beck et al. 2018, p. 135). It is important to have staff with diverse backgrounds and bilingual staff because it will allow visitors of all backgrounds to feel more wanted, included, welcomed and encouraged to partake in interpretative activities (Beck et al. 2018, p. 135). 

An approach that is important to me as an interpreter is to present my knowledge in a way that accommodates for all learning styles and types of intelligences. Personally, I am a visual learner who has strong intrapersonal, musical and spatial intelligences (Beck et al. 2018, p. 110, 111). After attending university, I realized that everyone learns in different ways because no two brains are alike. I’m a science student that doesn’t learn just by being told information or physically touching/doing; however, there are many people that can learn through these methods and that’s perfectly fine. There is no “right” way to learn because everyone is different, which is why it is the role of the interpreter to ensure that their audience feels included and accommodated for to the best of their abilities. 

I’ve learned so much about myself and my abilities throughout the duration of this course. I’m grateful for all of the lessons I’ve learned, and I will continue to use them throughout my journey in nature! 

What’s the greatest lesson that this course has taught you? 

Thank you, for the last time, 

Victoria :) 

References: 

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

- Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 10: Nature Interpretation’s Role in Environmental Sustainability [Course website]. University of Guelph CourseLink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca 

I was actually quite surprised to learn that both of us were hesitant about taking ENVS*3000. However, similar to you, I have come out feeling more hopeful and empowered as a nature interpreter (Rodenburg, 2019).

To answer your question, the greatest lesson that I learned from this course was the importance of recognizing privilege. When thinking about nature interpretation, you would never think to consider the role of privilege. Reflecting on my own life “unpacking my invisible backpack” allowed me to recognize my privilege (Gallavan, 2005). Furthermore, reflecting on my personal ethic as a nature interpreter allowed me to understand the luminosity that nature can bring to the lives of those who explore it; thereby revealing the importance of recognizing privilege in nature interpretation.

In contrast to you, the beliefs that I have as a nature interpreter stem from the knowledge I acquired through my university education, particularly through coursework in both ENVS*3000 and ENVS*3010. Having taken these courses allowed me to educate myself and realize the importance of environmental stewardship. Moreover, I was able to learn about how I can work towards uncovering solutions for many issues we face today (i.e., climate change, habitat destruction, endangered species, etc.) (Hooykaas, 2021).

It’s great to see that you were so appreciative of your ability to shape your audience as nature interpreters. Thus, I have linked a great video below which talks about how you can tell great stories as a nature interpreter (Be a Better Guide - Free Tour Guide Training, 2015, 0:00-5:38). Have a watch and share your thoughts!

I look forward to your response.

Regards,

Agam.

References

Be a Better Guide - Free Tour Guide Training. (2015, July 8). How to tell great stories on tour? Story telling advice for guides! [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jaJjcOesU0

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their “invisible knapsacks”. Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=AONE&xid=9fe2f151

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 10: Nature interpretation’s role in environmental sustainability [Course website]. University of Guelph CourseLink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca

Thanks for your comment! I completely agree that, before this course, I never considered the existence of privilege in nature interpretation since these are two topics that you wouldn’t generally think about together. However, I am so glad that this course opened my eyes to the existence of privilege in nature interpretation, but also many other areas of life that I never would have considered. 

Thank you for linking the story telling tips video! I really enjoyed the point about showing your audience (through descriptive words) rather than just telling. I think this is a really great tip, especially for someone like me, who is a visual learner. It is very helpful for my learning style to be able to close my eyes and envision the setting of the story to make the experience even better!

Awesome post, I love to see people visiting the Elora Gorge because it’s really close to my house in my hometown of Elora! I appreciate the lessons you’ve learned in this course, and definitely agree that nature is essential for humans.

The biggest lesson I learned may sound strange…its that “its okay if your ethics change and evolve as you gain more knowledge and experience over time”. This course has allowed me to reflect on my experience as an environmental science student. The lessons I’ve learned over time have sculpted my ethics into what I would consider a more evolved view of nature, which alter who I am as an interpreter. The first class I took in my first year of university I remember learning about the wolf problem at Yellowstone National Park. We were asked if it seemed fair to cull wolves in order to protect caribou populations. I quickly shot my hand up in favour of that, because I sympathized for the charismatic megafauna that is a hallmark Canadian creature- or perhaps it would be more realistic to say I was extremely uneducated on the topic and didn’t know or care much about wolves.

A lone wolf in Yellowstone National Park. Source: National Geographic 

In class we further discussed the topic and I learned how the wolves played a vital role in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem in the park. Removing them as a predator caused a devastating trophic cascade that negatively affected the biological and physical components of the park (Fortin et al, 2005). Upon reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone, many changes were noted such as increased tree growth (height and density), increased abundance of shrubs, beavers, fish, and a more stabilized river bank (Fortin et al, 2005). I’m sure many people have heard of this story, but the video below is a really powerful representation that talks more in-depth about the positive impacts of the wolf reintroduction. My opinion on the matter has drastically changed over my four years of learning at Guelph and I can’t believe I used to call myself an environmentalist before.

The impact of wolves at Yellowstone National Park. Source: Sustainable Human 

If I had been an interpreter at Yellowstone national park at the time, I would have been sharing extremely biased information based on my personal opinions. I believe as interpreters we have a responsibility to present the least biased information in a way that we see as the most entertaining and interesting. It’s only possible to do this by staying educated on the topics we are interested in as information changes over time. Staying concrete in the same ideas is ignorant, and will impede your ability to be an unbiased, knowledgable interpreter.

Prompt: Do you have any particular environmental cases that shaped how you view nature? Do you have any opinions on human management of wildlife populations?

Thanks, Megan

References:

Thanks so much for reading and commenting on my post! I loved reading about how you realized your growth over these past four years at the University of Guelph. It’s definitely important to be able to change your views and opinions on a topic once new information is presented to you. I completely agree that, as an interpreter, it is important to remain unbiased and provide our audience with ALL of the information so that they can come to their own conclusions and form their own opinions on any matter. Thank you for sharing the case about the wolves at the Yellowstone National Park. I recall reading something about this case; however, I don’t remember too much as I believe it was during my first year.

P.S. my trip to Elora Gorge was amazing and I will definitely be going back. Perhaps we will run into each other one day in the future!

Good luck with the rest of your semester!

To be quite honest, I was very hesitant about taking this course because of my lack of nature experience and non-existent relationship with nature while growing up. However, I am so grateful that I did because this course changed the way I look at nature in many ways by introducing me to new things that I never would have discovered I had a passion for. Although the majority of the people enrolled in this course probably had a relationship with nature previously, this was never the case for me because of my upbringing in the city of Toronto with an indoor-loving family. For this reason, the greatest gift this course gave me is the encouragement to discover my love for nature and realize the positive impact it has played in my life. I always enjoyed nature and my limited time outdoors while growing up; however, I never truly found my “sense of place” in nature or developed a relationship with nature before this course (Beck et al. 2018, p. 10). 

A picture of my father during our trip to Kelowna, British Columbia. This was one of the first trips that we spent the majority of the time outdoors by going hiking, swimming and canoeing. Photo credits: Myself :)

Through writing these weekly blog posts, I was able to sit down and take the time to really think about all of the good thing’s nature has to offer and I was able to find my “sense of place” in nature. Nature has become my escape and is one of the main parts of my life that makes me excited because it always has something new to offer, which is especially important during the times that we are currently living in. Throughout this pandemic, nature truly helped me maintain my emotional and physical health as it was the only driving factor that would get me out of the house on most days. After taking the time to truly reflect on the role nature has played in my life (especially within the past year), I learned that nature isn’t important for humans, it is essential. It’s essential to sustain the species of this Earth including ourselves, it’s essential for our physical well-being, it’s essential for our mental well-being and it essential for our overall quality of life because nature is everywhere, and it is a part of everything. 

This is a picture of my two roommates and I on our first spring hike the other day in The Elora Gorge. This trip was very necessary for our mental and physical well-beings, as we used it to de-stress from a hectic midterm season. Photo credits: Us :)

As we have learned in this course, nature interpretation plays a role in many aspects of life including music, art, history, science, technology, environmental sustainability, etc. As mentioned in our course notes, although it can be discouraging to teach and learn about the environment due to the abundance of issues occurring in this world such as climate change, food scarcity, malnutrition, biodiversity loss, etc., the meaningful experiences and impact that nature can have on people makes it all worth it (Wals, Brody, Dillon, & Stevenson, 2014) (Hooykaas, 2021). 

Before this course, becoming a nature interpreter was never a career path I ever considered because I wasn’t knowledgeable enough about the topic and I never took the time to learn about it. I suppose this was the case because I never truly discovered my relationship with nature until enrolling in this course; however, I am so glad that I did because I found a new passion that I never would have discovered without the guidance and encouragement from this course. 

As a nature interpreter, I believe my responsibilities include being an advocate for nature, building a trusting connection with my audience through authenticity and doing my best to ensure I have the correct knowledge that I will eventually be sharing with others. Whether I am interpreting the role nature plays in music, science or other important aspects of my life, it is my duty to deliver and translate this knowledge in a way that is effective for my audience and demonstrates my true passion for these topics. I know it is my responsibility to be authentic and enthusiastic with my audience, no matter who it is, to ensure that I leave them with a fond, meaningful and long-lasting memory. It is my responsibility to give my audience the information and support they need to make their own personal interpretations that will help them make positive connections within their own lives. 

This is a picture of my brother, my 2 cousins and myself during one of our first interpretive adventures at The Ontario Science Centre that i still remember to this day. Photo credits: My dad :)

I believe that, as an interpreter, it’s extremely important to consider the different cultural backgrounds/ethnicities, socioeconomic status, education levels, age groups, sexual orientations genders, people with physical disabilities, people with learning disabilities and religious beliefs of our audiences. As a mixed woman of colour, it is extremely important to me that everyone is mindful and respectful of the diverse social identity groups that exist in our world. Being aware of the diversity that is present in the audience will allow everyone to feel included and have an enjoyable experience. As mentioned in our textbook, one of the recommendations for inclusive interpretation is to hire more minority and bilingual interpreters (Beck et al. 2018, p. 135). It is important to have staff with diverse backgrounds and bilingual staff because it will allow visitors of all backgrounds to feel more wanted, included, welcomed and encouraged to partake in interpretative activities (Beck et al. 2018, p. 135). 

An approach that is important to me as an interpreter is to present my knowledge in a way that accommodates for all learning styles and types of intelligences. Personally, I am a visual learner who has strong intrapersonal, musical and spatial intelligences (Beck et al. 2018, p. 110, 111). After attending university, I realized that everyone learns in different ways because no two brains are alike. I’m a science student that doesn’t learn just by being told information or physically touching/doing; however, there are many people that can learn through these methods and that’s perfectly fine. There is no “right” way to learn because everyone is different, which is why it is the role of the interpreter to ensure that their audience feels included and accommodated for to the best of their abilities. 

I’ve learned so much about myself and my abilities throughout the duration of this course. I’m grateful for all of the lessons I’ve learned, and I will continue to use them throughout my journey in nature! 

What’s the greatest lesson that this course has taught you? 

Thank you, for the last time, 

Victoria :) 

References: 

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

- Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 10: Nature Interpretation’s Role in Environmental Sustainability [Course website]. University of Guelph CourseLink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca 

It is so nice to see someone who had been skeptical of this course find value in it! It’s always so amazing to hear about someone falling in love with nature. Nature really does provide an escape for so many people, I know it certainly does for me. I think the benefits of nature on mental health are often overlooked, but a few minutes outside can make a big difference. I completely agree that nature is essential, not only for the reasons you listed but also for the goods and services they provide! Your passion growing for nature is a perfect example of what the role of a nature interpreter is, as one gains knowledge they also allow their passion to grow! I’m curious if you have been practicing your new interpretation skills on your family? I see that they were similar to you in their comfort indoors, and I think it would be amazing if you could “convert” them to be nature lovers like the us! I am so excited for this class to move on and teach others about all aspects of nature.

Best of luck in your future!

Thanks so much for your comment! I definitely have been trying to help my family find their “sense of place” in nature and build their own relationship with nature, especially as the weather is getting warmer! My parents have really tried to get outside more with me by going on walks or bike rides around the neighbourhood (some things are tough to do right now because of the COVID-19 restrictions) but other more strenuous activities such as hiking is taking more convincing! As long as they are slowly starting to get outside more and experience more nature, I am happy! 

I agree, I cannot wait for other students who were in the same position as myself (more of an indoor person) to find their relationship with nature and use it as their escape! It truly made a big difference in my life and I am so grateful for others to experience this! 

Thanks again and good luck with your future endeavours,

(Photo taken from https://www.greenbiz.com/article/economic-inclusion-becomes-sustainability-imperative)

To further the discussion about being inclusive with anyone we may encounter, I believe that the role of an interpreter is to focus more on the conservation and education of nature rather than the details of the audience (race, religion, income, etc.) while still being inclusive. The purpose of being a nature interpreter is to share what you know and the enthusiasm you have for nature with others. We must try to show the audience just how important the earth, nature and its conservation are through our excitement. One way of sharing our excitement is by sharing stories of the earth’s history and how different groups around the globe were so in touch with their environment through their culture (Hooykaas, 2021). This may spark an interest in someone who will want to further their knowledge on the subject related to nature which is the best feeling ever. This means you started to get the audience thinking about the various aspects that are interrelated with nature, which at the end of the day is the overall goal of being a nature interpreter.

(photo taken from https://e360.yale.edu/features/native-knowledge-what-ecologists-are-learning-from-indigenous-people)

I think that the beliefs that the interpreter holds dear to their heart can be shown to the audience making this a very important aspect to consider. What beliefs will I bring as a nature interpreter? Although I have expressed some of my ethics which may be considered as my beliefs, they are the strongest morals I hold when I think about myself as a nature interpreter. One belief that I have always hold on to is that I must show respect to everyone around me, no matter the age, sex, race, etc. and this is something I would implicate into my nature interpretation. Everyone around you is wanting to learn more about nature and the environment around you, therefore we must respect any questions and comments that arise as they are all valid.

I also want to bring the belief of leading by example. It is great to say all of these incredible things about how we want to act in this world towards others but I think it is also important to put those words into action. It is great to be explaining the various ways that one may be able to help protect this earth but it is another to put those ideas into action within your own life. I try very hard to help conserve the earth by doing lots of reduction, reuse and recycle as much as possible by limiting the amount of single-use plastic and increase the use of reusable bags and containers. I think we as interpreters must demonstrate by example and not simply by words, because who are we to be telling others how to help this earth if we aren’t even trying to do the same. This can kind of tie in with the responsibilities that we have as interpreters of nature, as it is kind of our job to educate the world and lead by example.

(Photo taken from https://www.naturalhomebrands.com/blogs/news/the-importance-of-the-three-r-s)

As this world is showing many signs of climate change and overall anthropogenic changes for the worst, we must try to stay optimistic for a better world to come. There are many technological tools out in the world now that are readily available at our fingertips (through our phones and tablets) (Hooykaas, 2021). These tools may provide information for example on the native plants that one may put in their gardens to help the honeybee crisis. One website such as Pollinator Victory Garden describes the various types of plants that are native to the honeybees for the different seasons which is something anyone can access and use (Eierman, 2021). Providing these tools to your audience shows that you are optimistic that there can be change even at an individual level, and if you can have done these yourself the personal experiences may entice your audience to try it for themselves.

As a nature interpreter, I believe that the main responsibility that we have is to educate everyone on the natural world around us with the information and knowledge that we have. It is important in my eyes for the entire population to get an understanding of what is happening in the world around. To link this with the most suitable approach for myself is through social media at the moment. Being a student makes it difficult to gain lots of resources to be in the field and gaining data, but nothing is stopping me from sharing the fact through the various media platforms. Anything to remind the population of the various natural events that are of concern can help spark an interest within them and want to help. Help can be as small or large as the individual is willing to do and I think it is important to support whatever we can do, no one knows their story.

(Photo taken from https://www.commbox.io/the-role-of-social-media-in-customer-service-a-social-media-guide/)

I understand that this is a more intense topic this week but what is one media platform that you believe is best to share your knowledge and information about the natural world with the general population?

Emily

References

Eierman, K. (2021, March 10). Reliable lists of native plants for bees. Retrieved March 24, 2021, from https://www.ecobeneficial.com/great_resources/reliable-lists-native-plants-bees/

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 3: Risk Versus Reward in Interpretation [Course Website]. University of Guelph Courselink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/666945/viewContent/2590559/View

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 07: Nature Interpretation through Music [Course website]. The University of Guelph CourseLink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca

Great Post! I completely agree with your point about staying true to the knowledge that we are sharing while still being aware of the diverse social identity groups that exist in our world. It’s important for a nature interpreter to be authentic and raw in their storytelling, with the hopes that it will inspire the audience and leave them with a long-lasting memory. As a nature interpreter, we must understand that the individuals who attend interpretative nature programs are there to receive the same treatment and be as included as any other individual, regardless of their race, age, socioeconomic status, etc. (Beck et al. 2018, p. 129).

It’s amazing to hear that, despite the hectic life of a university student, you’re still able to do your part and share important information about the natural world while remaining safely social distanced during this pandemic. Although social media can be a toxic and unwelcoming place at times, one of the main benefits it provides is being able to share information from anywhere in the world to anyone in the world.

To answer your question, I think the best social media platforms to share raw and essential information regarding important topics such as the natural world and the environment are Tumblr and Youtube. These platforms allow any type of information to be presented in an appealing manner, which makes this information fun and entertaining to learn about. Both of these platforms can be used to create an easily accessible, inviting, nature-rich community where children can go to learn about the natural world and the living systems within it (Hooykaas, 2021).

Thank you for your post and a great semester Emily!

Victoria

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

References:

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

To be quite honest, I was very hesitant about taking this course because of my lack of nature experience and non-existent relationship with nature while growing up. However, I am so grateful that I did because this course changed the way I look at nature in many ways by introducing me to new things that I never would have discovered I had a passion for. Although the majority of the people enrolled in this course probably had a relationship with nature previously, this was never the case for me because of my upbringing in the city of Toronto with an indoor-loving family. For this reason, the greatest gift this course gave me is the encouragement to discover my love for nature and realize the positive impact it has played in my life. I always enjoyed nature and my limited time outdoors while growing up; however, I never truly found my “sense of place” in nature or developed a relationship with nature before this course (Beck et al. 2018, p. 10). 

A picture of my father during our trip to Kelowna, British Columbia. This was one of the first trips that we spent the majority of the time outdoors by going hiking, swimming and canoeing. Photo credits: Myself :)

Through writing these weekly blog posts, I was able to sit down and take the time to really think about all of the good thing’s nature has to offer and I was able to find my “sense of place” in nature. Nature has become my escape and is one of the main parts of my life that makes me excited because it always has something new to offer, which is especially important during the times that we are currently living in. Throughout this pandemic, nature truly helped me maintain my emotional and physical health as it was the only driving factor that would get me out of the house on most days. After taking the time to truly reflect on the role nature has played in my life (especially within the past year), I learned that nature isn’t important for humans, it is essential. It’s essential to sustain the species of this Earth including ourselves, it’s essential for our physical well-being, it’s essential for our mental well-being and it essential for our overall quality of life because nature is everywhere, and it is a part of everything. 

This is a picture of my two roommates and I on our first spring hike the other day in The Elora Gorge. This trip was very necessary for our mental and physical well-beings, as we used it to de-stress from a hectic midterm season. Photo credits: Us :)

As we have learned in this course, nature interpretation plays a role in many aspects of life including music, art, history, science, technology, environmental sustainability, etc. As mentioned in our course notes, although it can be discouraging to teach and learn about the environment due to the abundance of issues occurring in this world such as climate change, food scarcity, malnutrition, biodiversity loss, etc., the meaningful experiences and impact that nature can have on people makes it all worth it (Wals, Brody, Dillon, & Stevenson, 2014) (Hooykaas, 2021). 

Before this course, becoming a nature interpreter was never a career path I ever considered because I wasn’t knowledgeable enough about the topic and I never took the time to learn about it. I suppose this was the case because I never truly discovered my relationship with nature until enrolling in this course; however, I am so glad that I did because I found a new passion that I never would have discovered without the guidance and encouragement from this course. 

As a nature interpreter, I believe my responsibilities include being an advocate for nature, building a trusting connection with my audience through authenticity and doing my best to ensure I have the correct knowledge that I will eventually be sharing with others. Whether I am interpreting the role nature plays in music, science or other important aspects of my life, it is my duty to deliver and translate this knowledge in a way that is effective for my audience and demonstrates my true passion for these topics. I know it is my responsibility to be authentic and enthusiastic with my audience, no matter who it is, to ensure that I leave them with a fond, meaningful and long-lasting memory. It is my responsibility to give my audience the information and support they need to make their own personal interpretations that will help them make positive connections within their own lives. 

This is a picture of my brother, my 2 cousins and myself during one of our first interpretive adventures at The Ontario Science Centre that i still remember to this day. Photo credits: My dad :)

I believe that, as an interpreter, it’s extremely important to consider the different cultural backgrounds/ethnicities, socioeconomic status, education levels, age groups, sexual orientations genders, people with physical disabilities, people with learning disabilities and religious beliefs of our audiences. As a mixed woman of colour, it is extremely important to me that everyone is mindful and respectful of the diverse social identity groups that exist in our world. Being aware of the diversity that is present in the audience will allow everyone to feel included and have an enjoyable experience. As mentioned in our textbook, one of the recommendations for inclusive interpretation is to hire more minority and bilingual interpreters (Beck et al. 2018, p. 135). It is important to have staff with diverse backgrounds and bilingual staff because it will allow visitors of all backgrounds to feel more wanted, included, welcomed and encouraged to partake in interpretative activities (Beck et al. 2018, p. 135). 

An approach that is important to me as an interpreter is to present my knowledge in a way that accommodates for all learning styles and types of intelligences. Personally, I am a visual learner who has strong intrapersonal, musical and spatial intelligences (Beck et al. 2018, p. 110, 111). After attending university, I realized that everyone learns in different ways because no two brains are alike. I’m a science student that doesn’t learn just by being told information or physically touching/doing; however, there are many people that can learn through these methods and that’s perfectly fine. There is no “right” way to learn because everyone is different, which is why it is the role of the interpreter to ensure that their audience feels included and accommodated for to the best of their abilities. 

I’ve learned so much about myself and my abilities throughout the duration of this course. I’m grateful for all of the lessons I’ve learned, and I will continue to use them throughout my journey in nature! 

What’s the greatest lesson that this course has taught you? 

Thank you, for the last time, 

Victoria :) 

References: 

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

- Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 10: Nature Interpretation’s Role in Environmental Sustainability [Course website]. University of Guelph CourseLink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca 

I was actually quite surprised to learn that both of us were hesitant about taking ENVS*3000. However, similar to you, I have come out feeling more hopeful and empowered as a nature interpreter (Rodenburg, 2019).

To answer your question, the greatest lesson that I learned from this course was the importance of recognizing privilege. When thinking about nature interpretation, you would never think to consider the role of privilege. Reflecting on my own life “unpacking my invisible backpack” allowed me to recognize my privilege (Gallavan, 2005). Furthermore, reflecting on my personal ethic as a nature interpreter allowed me to understand the luminosity that nature can bring to the lives of those who explore it; thereby revealing the importance of recognizing privilege in nature interpretation.

In contrast to you, the beliefs that I have as a nature interpreter stem from the knowledge I acquired through my university education, particularly through coursework in both ENVS*3000 and ENVS*3010. Having taken these courses allowed me to educate myself and realize the importance of environmental stewardship. Moreover, I was able to learn about how I can work towards uncovering solutions for many issues we face today (i.e., climate change, habitat destruction, endangered species, etc.) (Hooykaas, 2021).

It’s great to see that you were so appreciative of your ability to shape your audience as nature interpreters. Thus, I have linked a great video below which talks about how you can tell great stories as a nature interpreter (Be a Better Guide - Free Tour Guide Training, 2015, 0:00-5:38). Have a watch and share your thoughts!

I look forward to your response.

Regards,

Agam.

References

Be a Better Guide - Free Tour Guide Training. (2015, July 8). How to tell great stories on tour? Story telling advice for guides! [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jaJjcOesU0

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their “invisible knapsacks”. Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=AONE&xid=9fe2f151

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 10: Nature interpretation’s role in environmental sustainability [Course website]. University of Guelph CourseLink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca

Thanks for your comment! I completely agree that, before this course, I never considered the existence of privilege in nature interpretation since these are two topics that you wouldn’t generally think about together. However, I am so glad that this course opened my eyes to the existence of privilege in nature interpretation, but also many other areas of life that I never would have considered. 

Thank you for linking the story telling tips video! I really enjoyed the point about showing your audience (through descriptive words) rather than just telling. I think this is a really great tip, especially for someone like me, who is a visual learner. It is very helpful for my learning style to be able to close my eyes and envision the setting of the story to make the experience even better!

To me, this course and it’s timing has been pretty significant. It has been a sort of coming home to me to get back into the outdoor world and teaching after being on the backburner while I have thought of pursuing different careers. The two main moments in this course that struck a chord are the differentiation between a job and work, and what climate activism can look like.

image: a photo of a quote written inside the canoe hut at Camp Edgewood. “Look for the little miracles”. Photo taken by me.

I’m not sure that everyone has experienced what “work” feels like compared to a “job”, but I was lucky enough that one of my first jobs was working as a camp counsellor, among other things, at Camp Edgewood in Eden Mills. I worked there for two summers before, devastatingly, the camp had to shut down because of a lack of funding to replace our sewage system. Can you believe it? Working there meant giving up you whole summer, besides Saturdays to work 24 hours around the clock, anyone who works at camp knows this, but to me it never felt like a job and I remember saying this at the time. This place was so special, no matter someone’s background, it gave them a chance to connect with others and the nature around them. When you’re disconnected from the rest of the world, the news, and social media, social norms kind of go out the wind and you’re allowed to be as goofy and weird as you want because people are accepting. I remember a camper saying to me that the one week a year that they got to spend at camp weas the only time that they felt like they belonged and that they weren’t the outsider or the “weird one”. This setting and this community’s commitment to fostering these relationships is something that I seek for my work in the future. Lately, I’ve kind of thrown away the idea of “career” and I am committed to focusing on “work”. So, what makes it work for me? Making a difference.    

image: graphics of a melting earth with blue rings around it. Image taken from https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/strategy/impact-and-opportunities-of-climate-change-on-business.html. 

This year I have really struggled with learning about climate change. It is so essential, yet draining, and leaves me without hope. In chapter 5 of Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage, a huge wave of relief washed over me when they explain how fostering relationships with nature is a way to help with climate change. This idea made me realize what my approach to solving climate change must be, to educate and excite people about the world that we live in. I know that as someone who knows about climate change, I need to lead a life that makes a difference, but the idea of having to think about and face this complex challenge every day in a job has been weighing on me and I hadn’t even started this mystery job! During this semester I have decided to apply to the Queen’s Outdoor and Experiential Education Teaching Program after I graduate from my Undergrad. This is the outlet that I can use to encourage stewardship for other people and do my part to help tackle the climate change challenge. Here is a link to an interview with one of my high school teachers talking about the OEE program: Queen’s University Outdoor & Experiential Education Program.

Throughout my BA in Geography I have been learning about the complex relationships between people and places and the details about those people and those places. What I have learned in taking this course is that part of my work needs to be on the frontlines of those relationships between people and spaces, particularly in the outdoors. I would like to teach in some sort of an outdoor setting. I hope that in doing this I can include different aspects of interpretation from science, art, history, education, and sustainability. Personally, I have always been a generalist, meaning that there are a lot of things that I am okay at, but there’s no one thing that I am an expert at. In this field, I can use this to my advantage because it required a lot of skills to interpret/teach.  

image: a photo of me at my cottage in Temagami, crouching under the old growth forest, picking blueberries. Photo taken by my sister

A direct application to what I have learned in this course will be the job that I landed this summer. I put myself out there and sent an email to the rental cottages around the area of my cottage asking if I could teach swimming lessons at their sites. I was answered right away and will be teaching swimming lessons, fishing skills, canoeing skills, and leading hikes just a short canoe ride from my cottage. I am so excited to learn more about the area so that I can teach it. Mostly, I am excited that I can be outside all day and help other people enjoy the outdoors. This type of job is something that I have been dreaming of since working at camp, but had deemed it as not a “career” job and had assumed that I would not make enough money at a job like this. I was wrong, no both fronts. Like I said before, I’m not worried about a job that looks good on a resume because it matches my degree, a so called “adult job”. I sought out the job that I know will make me happy and that at the end of the day I will be able to say that I did a good day’s “work”.  

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading along with my realizations, hopes, and dreams. What do you want to be when you grow up (not your adult job, your real job)?  

Goodbye for now.

Jasmine

I’m so sorry to hear about the closing of your camp in Eden Mills and can relate to the amazing times you experienced as a camp counsellor since I worked as one for two summers at Camp Wahanowin. I really enjoyed the impact I was able to have on the children I worked with by providing them with tools to help them develop their decision-making skills (Hooykaas, 2021). However, I was so glad to read that you stepped out of your comfort zone and found a new job that you’ve been dreaming of! It’s amazing to see the many ways that this course has shifted our lives and minds in a more positive direction.

To answer your question, my current plan is to pursue a nursing career after I complete my undergraduate degree. Fortunately, I believe that my adult job would also be my real job because I would enjoy the work I am doing, and it would be extremely rewarding to be able to help people during their worst moments. Despite the fact that a career as a registered nurse would be an extremely high pressure and stressful job, it would not feel like work because I would be doing something that makes a difference in the lives of many.

Do you have any idea what career you would like to pursue in the future? I would love to hear about your adult job and your real job :)

P.S. your custom jeaote bags look amazing!

Thank you for your amazing post and a great semester,

Victoria

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Reference:

As I’ve mentioned in many of my previous blog posts, the relationship I have with nature did not come naturally to me and I never found a “sense of place” in nature while growing up, as it began to develop during my time at the University of Guelph. That being said, I believe that this course plays a major role in the constant development of my relationship with nature and the way in which I interpret it by encouraging me to learn about topics I never would have taken the time to learn about on my own. After working on our podcasts this week, I learned a lot of new and fascinating information about my species from all of my research, which was the Mottled Duskywing Butterfly. Today, I have decided to share some of this interesting information about butterflies with all of you!

This is a picture of the endangered Mottled Duskywing Butterfly (Erynnis martialis). Photo credits: https://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly/species/121-mottled-duskywing

I decided to discuss the butterfly species as I slowly begin my nature interpretation journey to love the creatures that live in nature. The naturalistic type of intelligence, as mentioned in our textbook, explains that nature interpretation includes having the ability to identify and make distinctions in nature and the creatures that are a part of it (Beck et al. 2018, p. 112). It’s important for individuals to understand multiple intelligences because it will make them a better and more well-rounded interpreter (Beck et al. 2018, p. 112). I think it’s essential for an interpreter to understand multiple intelligences because it will allow them to apply their knowledge to many aspects of the world and share that knowledge with others. Now, let’s get right into those fun facts!

The most interesting knowledge that I learned from my research about butterflies is the unique way in which they consume food and liquids due to the structure of their mouths (North American Butterfly Association, 2017). They have tongues that function very similarly to a straw that they will often drink nectar from flowers with (North American Butterfly Association, 2017).

This is an image of a butterfly tongue (that acts in a similar manner to a straw). Photo credits: https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/392939136215150520/

Another fact that I learned is that a butterfly’s lifespan is dependent on several factors including the size, species, location/habitat, and the time of year that this butterfly becomes an adult (Wetherbee, 2012). The average butterfly species will live approximately two weeks as an adult (Wetherbee, 2012).

Finally, the life cycle of a butterfly consists of four life stages, which includes the egg, caterpillar/larvae, pupa/chrysalis and adult butterfly stage. Butterflies use pheromones, which are specific scents that belong to each gender of butterflies (male and female), that are used to attract each other (Mottled duskywing, 2021). Once they attract each other, the female will lay her egg on her host plant of choice and the reproduction process begins there!

Some other interesting facts that I was previously unaware of is:

1. They have four wings, rather than just two (Rothery, 2021).

2. Butterflies are very antisocial creatures. They are very solitary, and it is very rare for them to socialize (Rothery, 2021).

3. Butterflies need heat to be able to fly or move, which is why they lay in the sun to warm up their wings before taking flight (Rothery, 2021).

Have you ever heard any of these facts before reading my blog post? Which fact was the most interesting to you and why?

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References:

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

2. Kris Wetherbee | For The Oregonian/OregonLive. (2012, June 23). 7 fascinating facts about butterflies (plus a quick quiz). Retrieved from https://www.oregonlive.com/hg/2012/06/7_fascinating_facts_about_butt.html

3. Mottled duskywing (Erynnis martialis). (2021). Retrieved from https://wildlifepreservation.ca/mottled-duskywing/

4. North American Butterfly Association. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.naba.org/qanda.html#:~:text=What%20do%20butterflies%20eat%3F,matter%2C%20and%20other%20organic%20material.

5. Rothery, B. (2021, February 04). Sensational butterflies: 12 amazing Butterfly facts for kids. Retrieved from https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/children/2019/jan/amazing-butterfly-facts-for-kids.html-butterfly-facts-for-kids.html

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Thank you so much for reading!

I love how you acknowledged that this course is shaping your relationship with nature. I feel the same way; this course has made me appreciate nature a lot more because I am now noticing many more things that I can write about in this week’s blog.

Thank you for sharing so much interesting knowledge about the Mottled Duskywing Butterfly! Reading about the lifecycle of these butterflies reminded me of raising Monarch Butterflies and Painted Lady Butterflies in elementary school. Did you raise these butterflies in school, too?

Monarch butterfly hatched in a school classroom - photo by Jill Lang (Shutterstock), from Nemo, 2020. 

As for the three facts you shared at the end of your blog, I had never heard of any those facts. The fact that was the most surprising to me was the fact that butterflies are very solitary, and do not social very often. I had assumed that butterflies were relatively social from photos of the Monarch Butterfly migrations. In such photos, the butterflies are often grouped together on the same plant and large groups fly together so I assumed the butterflies were social.

Monarch butterflies resting on a tree in Mexico - photo by Joel Sartore in Bittel, 2017. 

You mentioned the importance of different types of intelligences in your post; do you think naturalistic intelligence is the most important type of intelligence for an interpreter? I agree that understanding multiple intelligences is important because many people have different learning styles (Beck et al., 2018, pp. 110-112), but I am curious to know if you think that certain intelligences may be more useful to interpreters than others? Great post!

References: Beck, L., Cable, T.T., Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC.

Bittel, J. (2017, October 17). Monarch Butterflies Migrate 3,000 Miles—Here's How. National Geographic. Retrieved March 20, 2021, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/monarch-butterfly-migration. 

That’s amazing to hear that you had the opportunity to raise Monarch and Painted Lady Butterflies. My school never did that but that sounds like an amazing experience that I would love to hear more about if you are willing to share :)  

I was also under the impression that butterflies were social creatures; however, this doesn’t seem to be the case. I believe that some butterfly species will migrate in large groups but they are solitary creatures for the most part. 

I definitely think that all types of intelligences play different roles and allow you to thrive in different settings, but this is all dependent on the person. Naturalistic intelligence is definitely an important type of intelligence for interpreters, but this intelligence only aids in certain aspects of interpretation. For example, the interpersonal type of intelligence would be as useful as the naturalistic intelligence type for an interpreter because it involves group work, discussing topics, sharing ideas, etc. These are all important aspects of being a nature interpreter because you have to be able to work in groups and effectively communicate. 

Thanks for your comment,

As I’ve mentioned in many of my previous blog posts, the relationship I have with nature did not come naturally to me and I never found a “sense of place” in nature while growing up, as it began to develop during my time at the University of Guelph. That being said, I believe that this course plays a major role in the constant development of my relationship with nature and the way in which I interpret it by encouraging me to learn about topics I never would have taken the time to learn about on my own. After working on our podcasts this week, I learned a lot of new and fascinating information about my species from all of my research, which was the Mottled Duskywing Butterfly. Today, I have decided to share some of this interesting information about butterflies with all of you!

This is a picture of the endangered Mottled Duskywing Butterfly (Erynnis martialis). Photo credits: https://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly/species/121-mottled-duskywing

I decided to discuss the butterfly species as I slowly begin my nature interpretation journey to love the creatures that live in nature. The naturalistic type of intelligence, as mentioned in our textbook, explains that nature interpretation includes having the ability to identify and make distinctions in nature and the creatures that are a part of it (Beck et al. 2018, p. 112). It’s important for individuals to understand multiple intelligences because it will make them a better and more well-rounded interpreter (Beck et al. 2018, p. 112). I think it’s essential for an interpreter to understand multiple intelligences because it will allow them to apply their knowledge to many aspects of the world and share that knowledge with others. Now, let’s get right into those fun facts!

The most interesting knowledge that I learned from my research about butterflies is the unique way in which they consume food and liquids due to the structure of their mouths (North American Butterfly Association, 2017). They have tongues that function very similarly to a straw that they will often drink nectar from flowers with (North American Butterfly Association, 2017).

This is an image of a butterfly tongue (that acts in a similar manner to a straw). Photo credits: https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/392939136215150520/

Another fact that I learned is that a butterfly’s lifespan is dependent on several factors including the size, species, location/habitat, and the time of year that this butterfly becomes an adult (Wetherbee, 2012). The average butterfly species will live approximately two weeks as an adult (Wetherbee, 2012).

Finally, the life cycle of a butterfly consists of four life stages, which includes the egg, caterpillar/larvae, pupa/chrysalis and adult butterfly stage. Butterflies use pheromones, which are specific scents that belong to each gender of butterflies (male and female), that are used to attract each other (Mottled duskywing, 2021). Once they attract each other, the female will lay her egg on her host plant of choice and the reproduction process begins there!

Some other interesting facts that I was previously unaware of is:

1. They have four wings, rather than just two (Rothery, 2021).

2. Butterflies are very antisocial creatures. They are very solitary, and it is very rare for them to socialize (Rothery, 2021).

3. Butterflies need heat to be able to fly or move, which is why they lay in the sun to warm up their wings before taking flight (Rothery, 2021).

Have you ever heard any of these facts before reading my blog post? Which fact was the most interesting to you and why?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

References:

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

2. Kris Wetherbee | For The Oregonian/OregonLive. (2012, June 23). 7 fascinating facts about butterflies (plus a quick quiz). Retrieved from https://www.oregonlive.com/hg/2012/06/7_fascinating_facts_about_butt.html

3. Mottled duskywing (Erynnis martialis). (2021). Retrieved from https://wildlifepreservation.ca/mottled-duskywing/

4. North American Butterfly Association. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.naba.org/qanda.html#:~:text=What%20do%20butterflies%20eat%3F,matter%2C%20and%20other%20organic%20material.

5. Rothery, B. (2021, February 04). Sensational butterflies: 12 amazing Butterfly facts for kids. Retrieved from https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/children/2019/jan/amazing-butterfly-facts-for-kids.html-butterfly-facts-for-kids.html

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Thank you so much for reading!

Butterflies really are amazing, and I’d like to share some of what I know and what I found today on my walk.  I  First some background on myself, I’m a biodiversity student and I LOVE taxonomy and phylogenetics. So, as one does, I took an insect identification course last year where I learnt quite a bit about butterflies, so here’s a brief list of facts (you may have already come across these in your research but just in case I thought I’d share).

Your chosen butterfly, the mottled duskywing, isn’t actually a ‘true butterfly’ per se but a skipper.  Similar in appearance to other butterflies, skippers are often smaller and have wings which don’t completely fold together.  Note that the phylogenetic status of skippers is debated and might be placed within the ‘true butterfly’ clade, making them ‘true butterflies’ as well.

I thought it was pretty cool to learn that butterflies (Papilionoidea) render moths paraphyletic.  So the ancestor to all butterflies was a moth and even after butterflies had evolved, that common ancestor split off into butterflies and more moths.  In simpler terms, butterflies divide the moth family tree into two groups and butterflies are just colourful day-time moths.

Last fact, some butterflies over-winter!  Adults find tree crevices or sheltered areas to hibernate.  Below is an image of a mourning cloak butterfly I found on my walk today.  They emerge once it starts to warm enough, sometimes while there’s even still snow out!  They then lay their eggs in june-july.

I hope you enjoyed these facts!

Thank you for all of these fun facts! After doing all of my research for my chosen butterfly, The Mottled Duskywing, I have been interested in all things butterflies. I was aware that The Mottled Duskywing is a part of the Skipper family from all of my research; however, I was unaware that it is not considered a “true butterfly”. Do you know why that is? I would love to know more! 

The pictures you provided from your walk the other day are amazing to see since it has been too cold for butterflies to be out, so thank you for sharing them!

Thanks for your comment,

As I’ve mentioned in many of my previous blog posts, the relationship I have with nature did not come naturally to me and I never found a “sense of place” in nature while growing up, as it began to develop during my time at the University of Guelph. That being said, I believe that this course plays a major role in the constant development of my relationship with nature and the way in which I interpret it by encouraging me to learn about topics I never would have taken the time to learn about on my own. After working on our podcasts this week, I learned a lot of new and fascinating information about my species from all of my research, which was the Mottled Duskywing Butterfly. Today, I have decided to share some of this interesting information about butterflies with all of you!

This is a picture of the endangered Mottled Duskywing Butterfly (Erynnis martialis). Photo credits: https://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly/species/121-mottled-duskywing

I decided to discuss the butterfly species as I slowly begin my nature interpretation journey to love the creatures that live in nature. The naturalistic type of intelligence, as mentioned in our textbook, explains that nature interpretation includes having the ability to identify and make distinctions in nature and the creatures that are a part of it (Beck et al. 2018, p. 112). It’s important for individuals to understand multiple intelligences because it will make them a better and more well-rounded interpreter (Beck et al. 2018, p. 112). I think it’s essential for an interpreter to understand multiple intelligences because it will allow them to apply their knowledge to many aspects of the world and share that knowledge with others. Now, let’s get right into those fun facts!

The most interesting knowledge that I learned from my research about butterflies is the unique way in which they consume food and liquids due to the structure of their mouths (North American Butterfly Association, 2017). They have tongues that function very similarly to a straw that they will often drink nectar from flowers with (North American Butterfly Association, 2017).

This is an image of a butterfly tongue (that acts in a similar manner to a straw). Photo credits: https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/392939136215150520/

Another fact that I learned is that a butterfly’s lifespan is dependent on several factors including the size, species, location/habitat, and the time of year that this butterfly becomes an adult (Wetherbee, 2012). The average butterfly species will live approximately two weeks as an adult (Wetherbee, 2012).

Finally, the life cycle of a butterfly consists of four life stages, which includes the egg, caterpillar/larvae, pupa/chrysalis and adult butterfly stage. Butterflies use pheromones, which are specific scents that belong to each gender of butterflies (male and female), that are used to attract each other (Mottled duskywing, 2021). Once they attract each other, the female will lay her egg on her host plant of choice and the reproduction process begins there!

Some other interesting facts that I was previously unaware of is:

1. They have four wings, rather than just two (Rothery, 2021).

2. Butterflies are very antisocial creatures. They are very solitary, and it is very rare for them to socialize (Rothery, 2021).

3. Butterflies need heat to be able to fly or move, which is why they lay in the sun to warm up their wings before taking flight (Rothery, 2021).

Have you ever heard any of these facts before reading my blog post? Which fact was the most interesting to you and why?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

References:

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

2. Kris Wetherbee | For The Oregonian/OregonLive. (2012, June 23). 7 fascinating facts about butterflies (plus a quick quiz). Retrieved from https://www.oregonlive.com/hg/2012/06/7_fascinating_facts_about_butt.html

3. Mottled duskywing (Erynnis martialis). (2021). Retrieved from https://wildlifepreservation.ca/mottled-duskywing/

4. North American Butterfly Association. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.naba.org/qanda.html#:~:text=What%20do%20butterflies%20eat%3F,matter%2C%20and%20other%20organic%20material.

5. Rothery, B. (2021, February 04). Sensational butterflies: 12 amazing Butterfly facts for kids. Retrieved from https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/children/2019/jan/amazing-butterfly-facts-for-kids.html-butterfly-facts-for-kids.html

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Thank you so much for reading!

I was very excited to see a post about an insect this week! I think that they are often overlooked but have amazing life histories. Butterflies have a large range in their behavior and life cycles. For example, you wouldn’t think a butterfly could be a parasite would you? Even pretty things can have a dark side. The Maculinea alcon butterfly has a parasitic relationship with ants. When the butterflies are in their larval state (a caterpillar) they will drop to the ground and release a hormone that mimics that of the larvae of ants. The ants then take the caterpillar to their nest where they will feed it until it is time for it too pupate and emerge as a butterfly. The reason this is considered parasitic behaviour is because the ants tend to neglect their own true offspring to feed the growing caterpillar.

Here you can see a Maculinea larvae being carried by an ant, as well as an adult version of the butterfly. (Retrieved from NewScientist.com)

I also saw how one of your interesting facts was about how butterflies need warmer temperature to fly, which reminds me of another cool fact I know. Most butterflies will over winter as caterpillars burrowed under ground or will overwinter in their pupae stage, but some will as adults. Mouring cloaks, Question marks and Commas all overwinter as adults (that being said, they are in diapause, similar to hibernating). Do you know how these butterflies manage to survive the below freezing temperatures? Their blood contains chemical substances similar to antifreeze, them being sorbital and glycerol.

Goes to show there’s more than meets the eye!

Mary

“Antifreeze | Butterfly Zone.” https://www.butterflyzone.org/antifreeze/ (March 21, 2021). Brahic, Catherine.

Thank you for educating me on many more butterfly facts that I did not know! I never knew about the parasitic relationship between the Maculinea alcon butterfly and ants, so thank you for sharing that! I actually was aware that caterpillars will burrow underground or find other shelter to survive the freezing cold winter temperatures. I learned, from my research, that the Mottled Duskywing butterfly creates a silk-leaf nest from the leaf litter of their host plants to overwinter in. They mature during this time from a caterpillar to the pupa life stage. Did you know this? Or was this new information to you? 

Thanks for your comment!

Close your eyes and try to imagine the most beautiful natural phenomena you can. When I close my eyes, I begin to see brilliant colours of vibrant greens and pinks dancing against a dark sky. I can visualize myself standing near the Arctic Circle experiencing the magnificent wonders of the Aurora Borealis. 

Ever since I can remember I have always had a huge fascination for the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights, also referred to “Aurora Borealis”, is a natural optical phenomenon that occurs in the northern hemisphere, typically in the Arctic region. In the southern hemisphere it is referred to as “Aurora Australis”. This phenomenon is caused when charged particles leave the sun’s surface and enter the Earth’s atmosphere near the northern and southern magnetic poles, colliding with the gaseous particles of the atmosphere, and causing the spectacular lighting of the sky (NASA, 2021).

This diagram shows the collision of the sun’s particles with Earth’s atmosphere. Retrieved from NASA, 2021.

The colours of auroras vary between greens, yellows, pinks and reds. Just as the neon particles in a neon light get excited by electricity flowing through and release a coloured light, these charged solar particles excite gases in the outer atmosphere to create the stunning hues of the aurora (NASA, 2021). Fully red auroras are produced by high-altitude oxygen, but are quite rare, while blue or purplish-red auroras are created by nitrogen gas (Northern Lights Centre). 

This is a photo taken by my friend Hannah who lives in Webequie, Ontario which is approx. 540km north of Thunder Bay. Photo taken by H. Currie (2021). 

As discussed in Beck et al. (2018), the use of art has been very effective in natural interpretation and attracting the attention of individuals. This is evident for the interpretation of the Northern Lights as the aurora has captured the attention and imaginations of humans for centuries. They rendered their interpretation of the phenomena as art in cave illustrations as far back as 30,000 years (Space.com, 2017). Many poets, authors, musicians and painters have all interpreted the Northern Lights through their own lens. By sharing their interpretation with others, the phenomena have stirred a sense of awe, wonder and appreciation in those who have not yet experienced the aurora in person.

The Northern Lights can be seen in many locations along the “Aurora Zone”, including areas in Canada, USA, Iceland, Greenland, Norway and Sweden (Northern Lights Centre). Since the best areas to view the Northern Lights in Canada and these other countries are in remote northern locations, the average person cannot readily experience them in person. Now I know what you might be thinking, what if I want to experience the Northern Lights but cannot get to these locations? There are actually organizations that have set up live cameras to record and broadcast footage of the Northern Lights for people to view from the comfort of their own homes! 

This link takes you to a live cam that is broadcasting from Churchill, Manitoba, Canada!

Although I have never been fortunate enough to experience this phenomena in person, I have always been drawn to the beautiful colours depicted through photos and hope to experience them someday!

Have any of you had the opportunity to experience the Northern Lights in person?? I would LOVE to hear about your experience!!

Thanks for reading along, 

Janieka :)

References

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

NASA. (2021, March 12). NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. https://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/polar/telecons/archive/PR_E-PO/Aurora_flyer/aurora-flyer_p2.doc.pdf

“Northern Lights Centre.” Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis Explained, www.northernlightscentre.ca/northernlights.html  

Northern lights live cam - watch the aurora borealis. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2021, from https://explore.org/livecams/zen-den/northern-lights-cam

Great post, I enjoyed reading about your ideas on the topic. I have often wondered and dreamed about seeing the Northern Lights. It is definitely an interesting phenomenon that provokes interest and based on photos I’ve seen is an amazing sight in nature! The aurora borealis is a wickedly cool phenomenon that definitely drives interest for me to go experience it! I think the best part would be watching it move and dance around in the sky!

Photo by Nelly Volkovich on Unsplash

I can just imagine the sky being lit up by the beautiful colours thinking about it. I think something that would be vividly impressionable would be who you are with during the experience and what you’re surrounded by. Both of these things will change heavily how one may experience the phenomenon and how they feel about it.  

Photo by Benjamin Suter on Unsplash

The ideal situation for many I assume would be surrounded by friends and potentially an interpreter who is discussing what is being displayed by the phenomenon. Enjoying the experience around a campfire would be one to remember! Experiencing the night sky on a clear night in a place with relatively low light pollution can be amazing in itself. When you add the clear and vivid skylines of the north it can be very magical in how we share this experience with others. Interpreting it would be hard to discuss such a phenomenon with someone with disabilities such as a vision problem. How do you think you could help someone in that situation truly experience the sight of the northern lights? Articulating the wonderful colours and lights?

Photo by Vincent Guth on Unsplash

The fascination for this phenomenon is something that many people can bond over! This experience in nature is powerful and interpretation of it could be heavily influenced by how it is talked about by the people around you. I think to remain a strong nature interpreter it would be important to remind everyone to experience the sight for what they can see and share ideas about what they think supported by knowledge around the topic. 

Great post, 

Have a great day!

Thank you so much for interacting with my post! It makes me so happy to hear that the Northern Lights also sparks interest in my peers! 

I definitely agree with you that our interpretation of aurora borealis would be heavily influenced by the nature and environment around us, as well as who we are sharing the experience with. I think an interpreter would be a great person to bring along to experience the Northern Lights, as they would be able to provide you with more information for you to learn while you are physically viewing the lights in person. 

Here is another photo taken by my friend H. Currie (2021). It exhibits a strip of pink mixed in with the green hues.

I read a blog called “10 Things No One Ever Tells You About the Northern Lights” which made me view this experience in a different light (no pun intended!). The author Jennifer Dombrowski is an avid Northern Lights chaser every winter season. She has had the opportunity to view them in multiple regions along the aurora zone. One of the things that stood out to me was “Don’t go for the Northern Lights; go for the destination”. Although I truly want to see the Northern Lights, I also want to experience the beautiful landscape and nature of these different countries in the aurora zone, and I think it is important to keep in mind that this phenomena is not always active for us to see! 

Excellent question regarding how I would help those with visual disabilities interpret the Northern Lights. I think the approach I would take in this scenario would be to describe the lights using a different sense. One sense that I would try to use to help others interpret would be “touch”. This could be accomplished using different textures, such as a silk cloth to run through their hands to feel the “dancing” of the aurora borealis. I would also use music to try and help the interpretation by combining the use of touch and sound together to express the flowing movements of the lights. 

Would you suggest other techniques that I could use to help those with vision problems interpret the Northern Lights?

Thank you again for interacting with my blog this week!

Your post really spoke to me because, since I was a young girl, I have always wanted to experience The Northern Lights in person after hearing the many stories my parents told me about their time in Iceland. I really enjoyed way you described The Northern Lights as “brilliant colours of vibrant greens and pinks dancing against a dark sky” because I was able to close my eyes and visualize myself (hopefully) experiencing the lights one day, which brought me some sense of hope for the future. 

It was very interesting for me to read about the science behind The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, because I realized that I have always been fascinated with the idea of the lights; however, I never knew how or why this phenomenon occurs. I was very fascinated with your point about the difference in colours of the Aurora depending on what type of gas is used such as the fully red Auroras being created by high-altitude oxygen. 

As mentioned in our textbook, interpretation has the ability to change or alter the way in which people “understand and perceive the world around them from art to nature” (Beck et al. 2018, Preface p. xiii). The Northern Lights is the perfect example of a natural world phenomena that involves the beauty of art. This combination of nature and art attracts many people around the world and intrigues the rest of the world that have not yet had the privilege of experiencing The Northern Lights in person. 

Thank you very much for posting the link to the live camera from Manitoba! I never knew these existed, but I will definitely be utilizing it. I am looking forward to your response! 

Victoria 

References: 

Nature provides a sense of freedom that allows you to express yourself. Music is an art form that allows you to express the inexpressible. The combination of the two provides the listener with the freedom to feel any of their feelings and express any of their emotions in their own personal way, which describes the true beauty of nature within music. Music is one of the art forms that I have had a strong and consistent relationship with since I was a very young girl. Personally, music acts as an escape and a medium to reflect/develop my feelings, imagination, thoughts, inspiration and ideas (Hooykaas, 2021). One of the most valued parts of music is that it can be shared with others, or it can be a personal escape. As mentioned in our course material, music has the power to influence the way in which people see, think, communicate and feel (Hooykaas, 2021). The purpose of music is to not only entertain, but to provide a creative medium that allows you to emotionally express yourself, while feeling safe and encouraged (Hooykaas, 2021). 

This is a picture of myself, my classmates and our high school music teacher before playing our instruments for Meagan’s Walk. Photo credits: My dad.

This is a picture of my classmates and I volunteering at a retirement home by playing our instruments to entertain the residents. Photo credits - my teacher. 

Nature is reflected in many parts of music because it helps us express and fulfill our deeply rooted emotional connection with it. Nature and music innately work hand in hand since the music of the natural world has been present throughout the entire process of human evolution. The music of the natural world includes the sounds of birds chirping, ocean waves, rain hitting the ground, water flowing in a river, wind, etc. These sounds allow us to escape the reality of life, de-stress and feel free by deepening our connection with the natural world (Beck et al., 2018, p. 120). 

Animals, such as humpback whales and birds, have been composing music, similar to ours although our evolutionary paths have not crossed for over 60 million years (Gray et al., 2001). This proves that music is most likely an ancient creation that is innately present in the lives of many living creatures, which explains our deep emotional connection to nature in music and the combination of the two (Gray et al., 2001). 

A song that immediately takes me back to a natural landscape is the song “Blackbird” by The Beatles (one of my favourite bands). I listen to this song every time I need to feel carefree or light because I envision myself running through a field of tall grass with my best friends, in the wind, barefoot, wearing a flowy summer dress, with birds chirping on a hot sunny summer day. This song allows me to feel free and it allows me to escape the reality of today (especially through COVID during the winter months while taking a full course load). This has been my favourite song for many years now because it makes me feel hopeful that there is light at the end of the tunnel, which is described in the “blackbird fly into the light of a dark black night” lyric. The abundance of natural world sounds allows me to take a step back and escape from this busy world we live in to feel safe & relaxed for a moment. What natural sounds are your favourite to hear in music? Why? How do these sounds make you feel? 

Thank you for reading my post and I am looking forward to your comments! Victoria 

References: 

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

Gray, P. M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science, 291(5501), 52. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69270354/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=AONE&xid=fb9366a8 

I liked the way that you describe your connection to music. I guess it’s a bit telling of our generation, but when I think of a music lover I automatically think of them as someone who has different Spotify playlists for every mood and not someone who plays a classical instrument. So thank you for reworking my brain and reminding me that creating music is also something that music lovers do. I want to also thank you for sharing the feeling of listening to “Blackbird”, I listened to the song and thought of your imagery. It helps that it’s such a bright sunny day today in Guelph.

To answer your question, I love hearing bird calls and the sound of distant water running. Hearing bird calls calms me to hear the beautiful sounds but it also intrigues me because I like trying to figure out what kind of a call they are making and why. When they sing, birds give us a little peek into their lives and how their days are going. I like to think that hearing the distant sound of water running and feeling joy is a primal feeling. Water is essential to life and hearing that sound would give such hope and peace to know that a fresh gulp is not far away.

Thanks for the post,

Thanks for your comment! It was so interesting for me to hear that the first thing you thought of when a music lover came to your mind was someone who enjoyed listening to music on spotify rather than someone who plays an instrument. This was interesting to me because I have played at least one instrument for my entire life. starting with the piano at the age of 3 and a half. Although I do love my multiple playlists on spotify, my true passion for music comes from playing the many instruments that I love. 

I’m glad that you enjoyed my recommendation for the song “Blackbird”, as it is one of my top favourite songs to bring me out of a bad mood and help me realize that there is hope and a light to look forward to during hard moments. 

I really enjoyed reading about your perspective on bird calls and the hope you feel when hearing the sounds of water nearby!

Thanks again,

Every day we are surrounded by music. Think about it, when we get into our car the radio begins playing or when we walk into a store or restaurant there is always faint music in the background, even on busy city streets there is someone playing their guitar or singing. Thus can we truly say we have never gone a day without being exposed to music? Even if you can say yes I would challenge you on your answer, as I doubt you can say you never experienced a day where you didn’t hear birds chirping or the wind blowing through the trees. 

A stream in BC where the rapid rushing of the water made this beautiful melody which formed this sense of calm and peace in me.

I strongly believe that leaves rustling in the wind or the chirping of birds are all forms of music found within nature. I like to think that all biotic and abiotic things can act as an instrument-making beautiful melodies both day and night. I tend to view walking through a forest as attending a talent show that nature is putting on put on - with all the biotic/abiotic elements competing for their sound to be heard! Oxford Dictionary says that music are sounds combined together producing a beautiful harmony and expression of emotions, which is what we hear when we hear the chirping of a bird or the water crashing along a shore! That is why I think music in nature is something we can find quite easily.

However, nature in music is the real challenge. How many songs today are about nature? We have more than enough songs about love, friends, drugs and money but unfortunately, we lack songs about the natural world. The course material emphasizes how songs can be used for so much more than dancing! Music can be used as a form of teaching (think about how we learn the ABC), which is why it is quite a shame that all the music we have is teaching or informing an audience about drugs, violence, and other unnecessary topics when it can be utilized to discuss matters like climate change or habitat loss.

Beck et al. (2018) discuss how music draws and focuses an audience’s attention into a particular message and has actually been found to help individuals remember key points from a presentation! Which is why this form of art needs to be used to its full potential. Writing this post I was stuck trying to even think of one song that discusses nature, but I manage to think of one. The song from Bambi ll “There is Life”, uses elements of nature to expresses the various changes we face in our lives. For instance, one line goes “the colder the winter the warmer the spring”, highlighting how tough times in our lives can make us appreciate the good so much more; all while making one feel closer to nature. I think this displays why nature in music is relevant, especially for nature interpretation, as it can help one remember key messages and strengthen their relationship with nature. All you need is to find the right message, the right words, and instruments and you have not only developed something that people will talk about but can sing about. Let’s be real, once you learn a catchy song it is nearly impossible to forget it!

This is a photo of one of my favourite places to go in the summer to help me relax. I will go and set up a blanket and just sit with my sketch pad listening to all the animals in the forest. To me all the elements of nature compose the most calming music possible!

References

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

Friedman, D. (2006). There is Life. [Song Recorded by Alison Krauss]. On Bambi II. Walt Disney Studios.

Hooykaas, A. (2021) Unit 07: Nature interpretation through Music. Retrieved from courselink.uoguelph.ca. Website: https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/666945/viewContent/2593375/View

Love the photos in your blog!

I like how you took a strong stance in your post this week. I also agree that leaves rustling, or birds chirping is a form of music. You provided evidence for your argument by stating the Oxford Dictionary definition for music: “sounds combined together producing a beautiful harmony and expression of emotions”. I think this is a really great way to look at music and be open-minded about where music can come from and how it can elicit an emotional response. For instance, an upbeat pop song makes me feel happy and energized, whereas the sound of an outdoor fire makes me feel calm and reflective.

Using the power of music to teach lessons and sway bias can be incredible. And I agree that music is under-utilized in this domain. Music definitely has the potential to discuss global issues such as climate change and habitat loss. To build off of your point, I think music should also be incorporated more often into online learning resources. Not only can musical and auditory learners benefit from this, but it would also make learning experiences more enjoyable and engaging. Art forms can be used to effect positive change, and the potential music has to do so should be taken advantage of (Hooykaas, 2021)!

Gray et al., (2001) discussed the universality of music. I think its universal appeal makes it an effective tool for conveying important messages. To relate this back to your post, global issues such as climate change should be discussed through music. You mentioned in your post that you had trouble coming across music that discussed nature. I did some looking around and I actually came across a country song about climate change. Let me know what you think!

Best, 

Jacob

——————————————————————–

References:

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

First of all, I wanted to let you know that I loved the title of your blog and thought it was very creative! Second, I really enjoyed reading your descriptive post and thought it was beautifully written. I thought you made an interesting point when you described how we are constantly surrounded by music without even realizing it, which proves the major impact music can have on people’s moods and feelings without even knowing it. Music has the ability to influence our minds through our “emotions and non-lingual concepts” by the feelings we experience when listening to a song, which is then followed by a flood of thoughts and emotions (Mallarach, J.M., 2011, p. 129). Regardless if it is music of the natural world (such as the sound of ocean waves or birds chirping), sounds of daily life (such as the sound of a clock ticking or the honking horn of a car/bus) or pop music playing in a restaurant, we are constantly hearing music and sounds. 

I would definitely agree that music today lacks songs about the natural world and contains very few natural world sounds. As mentioned in our course material, many people use music to express their creative sides; however, we are only truly able to express ourselves when we feel safe and encouraged to do so (Hooykaas, 2021). I think these sounds play a major role in helping the listener of these songs feel at peace and feel safe to truly express themselves because they are hearing sounds that we associate with freedom. 

I have never heard the song “There is Life” from Bambi II; however, I will definitely have to give it a listen! 

By the way, the song I suggested in my blog post is “Blackbird” by The Beatles because I love the use of natural sounds and the message of hope that it suggests. If you wanted to give it a listen, here’s the video: 

Thanks again,

Victoria

References:

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 07: Nature Interpretation through Music [Course website]. University of Guelph CourseLink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca

Every day we are surrounded by music. Think about it, when we get into our car the radio begins playing or when we walk into a store or restaurant there is always faint music in the background, even on busy city streets there is someone playing their guitar or singing. Thus can we truly say we have never gone a day without being exposed to music? Even if you can say yes I would challenge you on your answer, as I doubt you can say you never experienced a day where you didn’t hear birds chirping or the wind blowing through the trees. 

A stream in BC where the rapid rushing of the water made this beautiful melody which formed this sense of calm and peace in me.

I strongly believe that leaves rustling in the wind or the chirping of birds are all forms of music found within nature. I like to think that all biotic and abiotic things can act as an instrument-making beautiful melodies both day and night. I tend to view walking through a forest as attending a talent show that nature is putting on put on - with all the biotic/abiotic elements competing for their sound to be heard! Oxford Dictionary says that music are sounds combined together producing a beautiful harmony and expression of emotions, which is what we hear when we hear the chirping of a bird or the water crashing along a shore! That is why I think music in nature is something we can find quite easily.

However, nature in music is the real challenge. How many songs today are about nature? We have more than enough songs about love, friends, drugs and money but unfortunately, we lack songs about the natural world. The course material emphasizes how songs can be used for so much more than dancing! Music can be used as a form of teaching (think about how we learn the ABC), which is why it is quite a shame that all the music we have is teaching or informing an audience about drugs, violence, and other unnecessary topics when it can be utilized to discuss matters like climate change or habitat loss.

Beck et al. (2018) discuss how music draws and focuses an audience’s attention into a particular message and has actually been found to help individuals remember key points from a presentation! Which is why this form of art needs to be used to its full potential. Writing this post I was stuck trying to even think of one song that discusses nature, but I manage to think of one. The song from Bambi ll “There is Life”, uses elements of nature to expresses the various changes we face in our lives. For instance, one line goes “the colder the winter the warmer the spring”, highlighting how tough times in our lives can make us appreciate the good so much more; all while making one feel closer to nature. I think this displays why nature in music is relevant, especially for nature interpretation, as it can help one remember key messages and strengthen their relationship with nature. All you need is to find the right message, the right words, and instruments and you have not only developed something that people will talk about but can sing about. Let’s be real, once you learn a catchy song it is nearly impossible to forget it!

This is a photo of one of my favourite places to go in the summer to help me relax. I will go and set up a blanket and just sit with my sketch pad listening to all the animals in the forest. To me all the elements of nature compose the most calming music possible!

References

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

Friedman, D. (2006). There is Life. [Song Recorded by Alison Krauss]. On Bambi II. Walt Disney Studios.

Hooykaas, A. (2021) Unit 07: Nature interpretation through Music. Retrieved from courselink.uoguelph.ca. Website: https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/666945/viewContent/2593375/View

First of all, I wanted to let you know that I loved the title of your blog and thought it was very creative! Second, I really enjoyed reading your descriptive post and thought it was beautifully written. I thought you made an interesting point when you described how we are constantly surrounded by music without even realizing it, which proves the major impact music can have on people’s moods and feelings without even knowing it. Music has the ability to influence our minds through our “emotions and non-lingual concepts” by the feelings we experience when listening to a song, which is then followed by a flood of thoughts and emotions (Mallarach, J.M., 2011, p. 129). Regardless if it is music of the natural world (such as the sound of ocean waves or birds chirping), sounds of daily life (such as the sound of a clock ticking or the honking horn of a car/bus) or pop music playing in a restaurant, we are constantly hearing music and sounds.

I would definitely agree that music today lacks songs about the natural world and contains very few natural world sounds. As mentioned in our course material, many people use music to express their creative sides; however, we are only truly able to express ourselves when we feel safe and encouraged to do so (Hooykaas, 2021). I think these sounds play a major role in helping the listener of these songs feel at peace and feel safe to truly express themselves because they are hearing sounds that we associate with freedom.

I have never heard the song “There is Life” from Bambi II; however, I will definitely have to give it a listen!

Thanks again,

Victoria

References:

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Unit 07: Nature Interpretation through Music [Course website]. University of Guelph CourseLink. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca

“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) 

This quote is incredibly profound, and it’s extremely relevant to the times that we are living in today. Nowadays, it seems that people have an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality, which allows for the mistakes that have been made in the past to repeat themselves today. This quote forces us to think about the decisions made in the past and the way in which those results influenced the future. It is important for all parts of the past to be told in order for us to be able to learn, grow, adapt and overcome from that knowledge. Although it is difficult, the sad, gory & heartbreaking details need to be told and passed on through generations because it will motivate us to never make those mistakes again, with the fear of causing the same pain and suffering. It is important to see what the past was truly like, so we can admire how far we have come and how much progress we have made. 

As mentioned in our textbook, integrity is one of the many universals that play a major role in interpretation, which are concepts or ideas that have different significant meanings to every individual. To me, integrity is the ability of an individual to be true to themselves, especially when there is no one watching them or holding them accountable for their words/actions. I believe that integrity truly shows the respect one has for themselves, for others, for the past and for the truth. 

As noted by Beck and Cable (2011), the final gift/tool of the interpreter includes “the beauty of human integrity commemorated in events of the past and the beauty of the intricacies of nature give rise to hope”. 

This quote discussed in chapter 5 of our textbook truly explains how, through human integrity, the stories told from the past have given us hope for a better future. 

Without the integrity of the interpreter/storyteller, the truth behind the stories of the past would be lost. It’s the duty of the historical interpreter to educate themselves on ancient history and bring the “past alive to make the present more enjoyable and the future more meaningful” through the gift of personalizing the past (Beck et al., 2018, p. 84). It’s essential for events in the past to be told in great detail to allow us to have all the information necessary to make a better future for ourselves without repeating past mistakes. Once we truly put in the effort to learn from a mistake, it is no longer considered a mistake but rather a learning lesson. What are some lessons you have learned from past mistakes that have stuck with you until today?

References: 

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

Thanks for reading! 

I really enjoyed reading your post and love the images! I couldn’t agree more about no matter how hard or sad it is to hear the past we need to know to improve the future and learn from our mistakes. Also mentioned in our textbook Enos Mills who is a writer had mentioned a formula when discussing historical topics (Beck et al., 2018). One point was “ Make stories to breath life into inanimate objects”, this stuck to me because as you mentioned as interpreters its our job to bring the past alive. We can look at tree rings and just say those are tree rings that don’t talk or we can put life back into the tree rings. We can  discuss how old they are and what they have been through rather its a major historical event or dramatic climate period. This allows people to live in the tree’s moment and experience it if that makes sense . 

To answer your question, one mistake that I forever have gained a lesson from was taken my parents for granted. When I was young I couldn’t really see how much they do for me until I was wise enough to realize and appreciate everything they have done for me! In a way, that makes me a interpreter because nature interpreters seek to add the essentials elements of heightened appreciation, deeper understanding and new ways of seeing the world (Beck et al., 2018). By seeing what they do for me, I have a new way of looking at my life and having a deeper understanding of it. What mistake have you turned into a lesson for yourself? 

Dana 

Reference: 

Thanks for reading my post! I agree that as an interpreter, it is our job to “bring the past back to life” and shift the perspectives of our audience. It is true that we can look at tree rings and only see the physical aspect of it, or we can change our perspective to see the history and growth behind them. It is all about perspective and looking further than surface level. The tree rings tell us a lot about nature during that time and the conditions of the area that either allowed the tree to grow great amounts of none at all. 

A mistake I have turned into a lesson for myself was about not taking my family for granted and being grateful for everything I have because my parents worked hard to give me everything that I have. I learned this lesson after getting upset with my father for not buying me a specific stuffed animal that I really wanted for Christmas when I was around 6 years old. Instead of getting that stuffed animal, he gave me several books and essential things for Christmas. What I didn’t understand was that my father worked two jobs during Christmas time just to be able to get my brother and I any gifts for Christmas. He decided to get gifts that were educational and essential. After learning this information, I have been grateful for everything I have ever received because I know that I would not have anything without the hard work of my parents. 

Thanks again for your comment!