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Hey Georgi, GrassLover here.

Gotta say I am very much enjoying everyone’s self reflections so far. I’d definitely say the being able to communicate and share thoughts between peers through these blogs have definitely been one of the most interesting an engaging aspects of this class overall. 

But that is enough reminiscing, lets focus on this weeks blog prompt “Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?”. 

Looking over your outlines for personal ethics I can see that we have some similar ideas as to the ethics of a nature interpreter. I liked your points on flexibility and being open to new ideas. I definitely think that being open and able to learn new things yourself is a very important part of nature interpretation. Our knowledge of the natural world is constantly changing, and in order to provide updated and accurate information about nature through interpretation, it is important to stay educated ourselves.

I also very much agree with your points about equality and equity in the field of nature interpretation. Acknowledging that different individuals come from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, and will therefore have difference experiences in nature based on these backgrounds, is crucial to providing an engaging, equal, and appropriate interpretation experience.

Nature Ethics

Originally, I was not quite sure how to approach this question because it is not a topic often discussed. Upon further reflection, I came to the conclusion that my nature ethics are based upon respecting and preserving the nature we have left. The longer I thought about it, the more my mind kept gravitating towards the idea of climate change and how we are both the ones to blame and the only ones who can alleviate it.

Currently, I am taking a course on climate change and I did not expect for it to affect me on such a personal level. Every class we discuss seemingly simple topics that hold such a heavy and long-lasting impression on us because the theory we learn is our own reality. I have to admit, sometimes I get really sad because I feel that our individual efforts to stop climate change is becoming more and more hopeless. Learning about the future projections of climate change and its affect on our nature is incredibly disheartening and I can’t believe that there are people that still do not believe in this.

It is awfully concerning to me that everyone is so focused on human centric ethics that they overlook the bigger picture, which is our climate and the nature around us. As David Suzuki mentioned in his talk with Richard Louv, we are so quick to rush to the cities and become more urbanized that we lose our connection to nature (Suzuki & Louv, 2012). I believe that strictly embracing urbanism has resulted in nature losing its significance to us. Consequently, we betray nature by removing it from our lives and replacing it with technology and harmful industrialization.

This state of mind goes against all of my nature ethics and I hope to never fall into that mindset. Over the duration of this course, I feel that I have increased my connection to nature through interpretation. I believe that I have a better understanding of how to apply my ethics to nature in a way that benefits the world and increases awareness to climate change. As David and Richard discussed, it is important to find ways to reconnect with nature so that it is not lost to future generations. David specifically explained that urban areas need to be inclusive of nature in order to encourage the conservational efforts of preserving and celebrating nature (Suzuki & Louv, 2012). By doing so, people who have lost their connection to nature can rediscover it and form their own nature ethics.

As I have said in previous blog posts, nature to me is a very personal and precious part of my life that I love to share with other. As Beck mentions, the ‘gift of nature’ evokes emotion and sparks an instinct within the perceivers to protect that which they have (Beck et al., 2018). For me, nature has always been a gift that I have been inclined to protect from being destroyed by myself or others. My responsibility as an interpreter is to express my thoughts and encourage those around me to interpret and experience nature together.

This involves initiating conversations about nature, exploring conservational methods, donating to nature fundraisers and teaching anyone who will listen. In fact, this reminds me of a conversation I recently had with a woman at the park. I was sitting on a bench and looking at the ducks when a lady approached me and began to engage in small talk. She innocently proclaimed that she wish she had some bread to feed to the ducks and asked if I had any. As someone who studies zoology, I know that bread is actually really bad for ducks but because of the common stereotype, a lot of people still feed them bread. So, I told her about this and explained that she too should tell other people not to feed the ducks bread but instead go for more nutritional options the ducks can digest.

This encounter is the way I prefer practicing my nature ethics because I do not want to use hostility to prove my point. Technically, I could have gotten mad at the lady for feeding the duck and I could have yelled at her for potentially causing a lot of health problems for them. Instead, I took this as a great opportunity to share my knowledge and spread awareness so that nature can persevere.

Ideally, I would like to focus my efforts on children because they are the future and they determine how nature will be treated in the future. As Rodenburg wrote in his article, we need to create nature-rich communities that allow kids to feel a deep and abiding love for living systems so that they can move beyond sustainability and focus on acts of regeneration (Rodeburg, 2019). Evidently, the future generations are our only hope at improving climate change and instilling nature ethics within the majority of the human population.

I would love to hear about ways you think we help spread nature appreciation to current and future generations.

Thank you so much for reading!

-Georgi :) 

References:

Link to article: Why Environmental Educators Shouldn’t Give Up Hope | CLEARING: A Nonprofit Magazine for Environmental Education in the Pacific Northwest (clearingmagazine.org)

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

Link to youtube video: David Suzuki and Richard Louv @AGO - YouTube

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Hey Steven, GrassLover here.

Gotta say I am very much enjoying everyone’s self reflections so far. I’d definitely say the being able to communicate and share thoughts between peers through these blogs have definitely been one of the most interesting an engaging aspects of this class overall. 

But that is enough reminiscing, lets focus on this weeks blog prompt “Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?”. 

Looking over your outlines for personal ethics I can see that we have some similar ideas as to the ethics of a nature interpreter. I liked your points on flexibility and being open to new ideas. I definitely think that being open and able to learn new things yourself is a very important part of nature interpretation. Our knowledge of the natural world is constantly changing, and in order to provide updated and accurate information about nature through interpretation, it is important to stay educated ourselves.

I also very much agree with your points about equality and equity in the field of nature interpretation. Acknowledging that different individuals come from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, and will therefore have difference experiences in nature based on these backgrounds, is crucial to providing an engaging, equal, and appropriate interpretation experience.

Keep up the good work, until next time, this is GrassLover signing off.

My Journey as a Nature Interpreter

I began this course ignorant of what being a nature interpreter consisted of. My early assumption was that the role of a nature interpreter was to just explain and guide people to their environment. In a sense yes this is what they do, but there is a whole different level of complexity and skill needed to be considered a proper nature interpreter that I never thought of.

Throughout this course, I have learnt a lot about myself and who I want to be. I have taken something from each unit and created my own code of ethics (Steven’s Code of Ethics as a Nature Interpreter):

1. Be knowledgeable. Understand who you really are as an interpreter, understand your audience, and constantly think of ways to make your audience’s experiences more meaningful. Learning about nature is important and all but remember that meaningful connections last longer than random facts.

2. Be flexible. Realize that everyone is different and learns differently. Utilize different skills to help people learn more efficiently.

3. Treat everyone with equity. It is important to include everyone, but it is also important to realize that people come from different privileges. Making a program to ensure that everyone can have the same experience should be the goal.

4. Be open to new ideas. Constantly explore with different lens as there are many perspectives when viewing a topic. Welcome other ideas and go along with it. See where it takes you.

5. Honesty and Integrity. Be reliable and responsible for your actions. Keep your word and be respectful of the people and nature around you.

These are just some code of ethics that I thought were important. Was there anything that I was missing from your list that you think I should incorporate?

From creating Steven’s Code of Ethics, I realize that these traits are transferable to the profession that I currently am in. I work as a physiotherapist assistant and constantly must work on my knowledge of the field. Although in my field being knowledgeable about the topic is considered more important, there is still a huge emphasis on understanding the patient. I find that being able to connect to the person and fully understanding them, optimizes the entire healing process. 

Being flexible is important for building strength and stability, allowing for greater range of motion. Oh, sorry for the wrong context of flexibility (a bad health joke, although it is important to remember to stretch your body), what I meant to say is that every patient is different and will need different programs and techniques to treat. 

As I live in Toronto, Ontario, I have met people from different races, varying in age and gender and have treated them all to the best of my ability. Regardless of what it might be, I always ensure to work to the best of my best abilities. 

As for the fourth code of ethics, I am constantly learning from other professionals that I work with, such as the chiropractor, the head physiotherapist, the athletic trainers, the message therapists, and even the patients themselves. It is important to remember that as human beings, we are not able to know everything. We must constantly communicate with each other and be open with the different perspectives that the other professions might look at the situation. 

And for the last code of ethics, it is important to constantly build trust with the patients as well as your peers. Knowing your limits and asking for help may seem scary, but the main goal is to always improve the condition of the patient. By not being truthful, the patient may not see any results or even worse, their injury might worsen.  

Although my field is not related to nature, I have always had a love for nature. This course has further my appreciation for nature and made me realize the importance of being able to interpret nature for others. Especially for those who have been less fortunate and unable to grasp the beauty of nature. Whether that be due to being non-privileged such as the story of the Boys & Girls Club of Mar Vista gardens with the low-income housing projects (Beck et al., 2018, p. 127), or the barriers that come with being a minority (Beck et al., 2018, p. 135-147), I want to be able to open their eyes to the beauty that nature has to offer.

Artist: Angus Maguire

However, I understand that this is easier said than done. Beck et al. (2018) states that due to economic, cultural, communication, lock of knowledge, and fear are possibilities to why minorities are discouraged to participate in interpretative programs. Hopefully by seeing more minorities get closer to nature, other minorities will see that exploring nature isn’t all that scary or hard, breaking down some of the barriers that Beck et al. (2018) has previously mentioned.

I am aware that this is a hard task, as most older generation minorities are stuck in their ways, but we are lucky to be living in a time where technology is thriving. The first step to getting people to explore and interpret nature is first by getting their interest. Before my grandparent’s past, they loved staying home and watching the Price Is Right. They didn’t like going outside as they were scared that they would not be able to communicate with others and be judged by the people around them. But if I had the knowledge and internet content back when I was younger, I could have shown them the beauty of nature through nature walks on YouTube.

I would have been able to let them listen to the sounds of what hiking through a forest would sound like. I could have got them intrigued with nature and possibly got them to explore it with me.

This course has been amazing and eye opening. I will use everything that I have learnt from this course to help encourage more people who have not been able to experience and appreciate nature the way that I have been able to! I look forward to reading all your blogs and for those who I won’t be able to reply to, have a great winter break!

-Steven

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

Maguire, A. (2020). The difference between the terms equality, equity, and liberation [illustrated]. Research Gate. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-difference-between-the-terms-equality-equity-and-liberation-illustrated-C_fig1_340777978

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Final Thoughts on Nature Interpretation

Hey guys, GrassLover here, coming at ya for the final blog post. Let me just say that it has been a wild ride, in the best of ways. Coming into this class, I didn’t really know what to expect. With the recent transitions to a  distance  education format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was unsure how the content of this course would translate from physical interactions in the University of Guelph Arboretum to an online learning environment. I never took ENVS 3000 prior to the pandemic, so I have no point of reference to compare how the course materials were handled then compared to how they were handled now, but speaking from the experience of taking this course in the current year, I can confidently say that they did the best job they could with the materials provided to them. Blogging is something that is completely new to me, I have never really encountered anything like it throughout my academic career, except maybe in brief discussion posts that have occasionally popped up in previous classes, and even then they were never a focus of the course. Blogging in this class being brought to the forefront of the curriculum, forced me to engage with not only the course material, but also myself in a way that I have not experienced before in an academic setting. Each week was a new and exciting experience for me, as I had the opportunity to do some serious introspective thinking on different aspects of nature interpretation, and then had the ability to share my thoughts with the class in a concise and effective manner. I also very much enjoyed the opportunity to comment and receive feedback between my peers, seeing other people's insights on certain topics only served to further my overall understanding. On the more technical side, the whole process of using Tumblr and actually writing a blog was a learning experience for me. I never really considered blogging as a method of expressing yourself, but I am seriously considering continuing my blogging after this class. In addition to the blogs, I found the podcast to also be a new and challenging experience. Similarly to blogging, I had zero experience discussing and presenting ideas in the podcast medium, but I’m glad I got the chance to in this course. I feel that in this time where face to face interactions are limited, podcasting is a great and personal way to share information and discuss with a larger audience than would be possible in a more traditional environment. In addition, the technical aspects of podcast creation forced me way out of my usual comfort zone, and I definitely feel like I gained a lot of valuable technical skills in regards to podcast creation and general audio management/mastering. Would I recommend this course to someone else, absolutely not!

Ok, enough reminiscing, let's get down to the final blog prompt “Describe your personal ethic as you develop as a nature interpreter. What beliefs do you bring? What responsibilities do you have? What approaches are most suitable for you as an individual?”

What a great prompt to wrap up a semester's worth of self reflection. As nature interpreters, I believe that it is a very good idea to be confident and have a complete understanding of yourself as an interpreter before you go out into the world and begin to share your knowledge of the natural world with others through nature interpretation. So after going through the entirety of this class, and doing some serious self-reflection, here’s what I’ve come up with for myself in the role of nature interpretation.

To start off, “what beliefs do you bring”. I believe that everyone should have equal opportunity to experience the natural world. Regardless of background, ability, education level, socioeconomic status ect. As a nature interpreter, it is my job to treat everyone equally and give them an equal experience through my interpretation. This goes outside of catering my interpretation based on my audience, factors such as their previous experience in nature, and level of education. In order to make nature interpretation truly accessible to everyone, there are external factors that need to be accounted for. Things such as arranging transportation to and from natural sites for those who are unable to travel easily, covering entrance fees for parks and conservation areas for those who struggle financially, including communication options for those with hearing/visual impairments or simply those who speak other languages, ensuring that interpretation sites are accessible to all ability levels, the list goes on. I also believe that in our current time, education on the preservation of nature is essential to our continued survival on this planet. I believe through nature interpretation, people should not only be educated on topics of natural history, but also informed on the broader geo-political ramifications that constantly impact the natural world, and vice versa. 

To expand upon this, “what responsibilities do you have”. As previously mentioned, I believe that ensuring that steps are taken, both by the individual interpreter and the community that they are a part of, to ensure that the natural world is accessible to all, should be the cornerstone of the nature interpretation mindset. In addition, it is the responsibility of nature interpreters to educate on not only topics of the natural world, but also how we as a species interact with it, the impacts that we have on it, and the importance as well as how to conserve/protect it.

For me personally, I believe that interpretation through art would be an effective strategy for nature interpretation. As someone who partakes in both visual and musical arts, I am confident that I can use these art forms to further my nature interpretation, and get people invested in the natural world.

So those are my final thoughts on me as a nature interpreter. I am very excited to see what everyone else has to say about nature interpretation. 

Now, for the final time, this is GrassLover, signing off.

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Hey Loren, GrassLover here.

Overall I gotta say great blog post, I love all of you points on this weeks blog prompt “What is the most amazing thing you know about nature?” First of all, lets talk about that cool fact “there are 12 times more trees on earth than stars in the Milky Way”. Personally, I think that is super cool and super wild. I honestly had no idea. Looking up at the stars, they seem to go on forever and ever, definitely much farther than I would care to count, I always thought that their quantity in the vastness of space was way greater than anything here on earth. But then I thought about it a little more and I was like “could I count all the trees”, I’d also say probably not. I couldn’t even count all the trees i see from my backyard, let alone all the trees in a forest, and for that matter, I definitely could not count all the trees in the world. So I guess it makes sense that there are more trees on earth than stars in our galaxy. Even still, 12 times more is a pretty crazy large number, and on top of that, having over 1 trillion trees on earth as a number way to large for me to comprehend. I guess the main difference between trees and starts (aside from the fact that they are not alike at all and in no way comparable) is that you can see a lot of stars at the same time from one place, so it’s not too surprising when you hear that there are a couple hundred billion. But for trees, you don’t really see them as clearly and consistently as you do with stars.

 Keep up the good work, until then, this is Grasslover signing off.

The most amazing thing I know about nature

This is a really fun blog post to talk about! I am not exactly sure where to start because there are so many amazing things I know about nature just through experience and being surrounded by it. I wanted to do some research on this topic and the first thing that came up was that there are 12 times more trees on earth than stars in the Milky Way! This is pretty amazing if you ask me! Scientists estimate 200-400 billion stars within the galaxy while there is an estimated 1 trillion trees on earth. A paper that was published September 2015 discussed that there are approximately 3.4 trillion trees on earth. Of these trees, approximately 1.30 trillion exist in tropical and subtropical forests, with 0.74 trillion in boreal regions and 0.66 trillion in temperate regions. This was definitely an interesting read! 

The most amazing thing I personally know about nature and something that always fascinated me about nature are underground natural springs. They are also known as underwater caves. It almost looks like a sink hole which are known as cenotes. If any of you have swam in one of these, feel free to share your story! Would love to hear about your experience. Its caused by a collapse of bedrock or limestone and it creates this cave like hole where you can swim. You can find a lot of these within Mexico and they’re basically all nature pits filled with water and nature surrounding it. I always feared swimming in a cenote because a lot of them are really deep and I always feared what could be swimming beneath my feet. Although, it is definitely something that it is on my bucket list! 

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Hey Georgi, GrassLover here.

Overall I gotta say great blog post, I love all of you points on this weeks blog prompt “Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music?”. To begin with, I feel like we have very similar views about music in nature. I had also mentioned that the singing of birds, to me at least, is something that I find very musical in a natural setting. Personally I really enjoyed your point about tree branches moving in the wind as a form of natural music, and I also very much enjoy the visual you created, relating the movement of the trees to an “Orchestra”, very cool stuff. Also rain is a super good one that I completely forgot to mention in my blog, as far as rhythmic sounds in the natural world, the steady beet of rain is definitely up there. 

Love the info about Ben Mirin, a very interesting artist. Overall I think his work is an excellent example of the stuff I had mentioned in my blog, about nature being present in music through the process of sampling and implementing natural sounds into traditional music. I also liked what you said about using nature in music to raise awareness of some of the more overlooked parts of the natural world, as well as share elements of natural and musical culture.

Also big fan of the song you mentioned, ‘Send Me on My Way’. Definitely can see the natural inspirations in this song, and I love the visuals that you used to describe it.

 Keep up the good work, until then, this is Grasslover signing off.

The Relationship Between Music and Nature

Hello everyone!

For this week, we were encouraged to think about the various ways music can be found in nature and how nature can be found in music. Personally, I hear music in the sounds that nature intentionally or unintentionally makes on a day-to-day basis. When I am out on a walk with my dog, I can hear the sweet sounds of birds singing, and the bugs buzzing. On windy days, I hear the orchestra of tree branches swaying in the wind and the whistles of currents moving alongside narrow buildings. When I am by a body of water, I can hear the hush of water as it breaks around obstacles or the shoreline. Lastly, my favorite natural music to hear is the calming pitter patter of rain hitting the ground as the clouds above grumble with thunder. To me, all of these sounds are a form of music that often overlap and make what I would call, a nature song.

In this week’s readings, I particularly enjoyed learning about the Musician Ben Mirin, nicknamed Wildlife DJ for his beatboxing mix of birdsong recordings and other natural sounds. It was quite interesting to hear how he was able to successfully combine his passion towards birds and making music into a work of art. Moreover, it was nice to see that he was able to gain quite a following that either shares or appreciates the sounds of nature being incorporated into mainstream music.

In an article published by Forbes (linked below), it was mentioned that Ben uses his music to recapture his relationship with birds and connect people with endangered species they have never seen nor heard. Additionally, his work is meant to be used to celebrate natural heritage and shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked natural sounds of the world. In this week’s content, we learnt about how important it is to maintain a culture in nature and not lose our connection to the Earth. I think inserting nature in music is a beautiful way to instill this mindset because everyone has an appreciation for music in one form or another.

A song that instantly reminds me of a natural landscape is ‘Send Me on My Way’ by the Rusted Root. This song will forever bring me back to a couple of summers ago when I went on a two-week camping trip with my friends. Prior to this trip, everyone had forgotten to download some playlists that we could listen to offline. One of the only playlists I had downloaded, included this song and over the course of the camping trip we ended up memorizing every part of it. From then on, every time I hear this song I think of the crackling bonfire, the tall surrounding conifers, the smell of bug spray and the loose dirt that ended up getting everywhere.

Thanks for reading, and I would love to hear about what song(s) remind you of nature!

-Georgi

Link to article: Music As A Gateway To Nature (forbes.com) 

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Music in Nature

Hey guys, GrassLover here. As someone who loves music, I can’t wait to get into this week's question, “Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music?”.

First off, let's start out with “music in nature”. The first thing that pops into my head when asked this question is definitely birds. Like c’mon, that’s their whole THING. There are so many freaking birds out there and each of them has their own unique song, sometimes more than one. Whenever you go out into nature, you may not see birds, but you sure as heck will hear them. I could sit here all day and talk about all my favorite birds and their songs, but I’ll give you a short list of my favourites that I think are really musical: winter wren, eastern whip-poor-will, wood thrush, white throated sparrow, and american woodcock (that one is just kinda goofy). I can definitely see these songs being influential in some styles of music. Outside of the obvious birds, there are many other animals that can produce melodys. Things like frogs or cicadas may not be as melodic as birds, but the loud droning noises they create can definitely constitute as some sort of music, it is all about personal preference. The ambiance of the outdoors also contains many songs, the rhythmic swaying of trees in the wind or of a rushing waterfall are other things that come to mind when thinking of music in nature.

When it comes to nature in music, I believe that there are multiple ways this can be interpreted. Let us start with the more literal way nature can be found in music. Many sounds of the natural world can be “sampled” and included in musical compositions. Sampling is when an artist records a particular sound, and incorporates it or at least a select part of it in their music. Examples of sounds from nature that could be sampled by an artist include more melodic things like bird songs, to more rhythmic sounds like rocks hitting water or the footsteps of deer. Regardless of what specifically is sampled, nature can be brought directly into and become a part of music. 

In a less literal fashion, nature can be found in music similarly to the way it can be found in visual arts, via its impact on the artist. A few units ago we talked about how individuals can express the way they interpret nature through their art, and music is no exception. Experiences in nature can inspire an artist to create a piece of music just the same as they can inspire an artist to create a painting. In music it may be more difficult to determine exactly where that inspiration came from (it is far more evident in visual arts, where the subject of the piece is displayed clearly to be viewed), but the inspiration is still there if you listen closely (or just ask the artist haha). 

So that’s all I have to say on nature interpretation and music. Interested to see what songs you guys pick that remind you of nature!. Until then this is GrassLover signing off.

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The Most Amazing Thing I Know About Nature: The Standard Winged Nightjar

Hey guys, GrassLover here. Very excited about this week’s prompt, “Interpret (through this blog) the most amazing thing you know about nature – get us excited”.

Well I’m already very excited about this one, finally some real nature interpretation stuff! I’ve been waiting a while to talk about this one so here it is… 

Caprimulgus longipennis, the Standard-Winged Nightjar!

As I am sure you can tell by this image, there is nothing standard about this weird looking guy.

Let’s start with some natural history shall we. The standard-winged nightjar is a resident of Africa, more specifically from Senegal east to Ethiopia. So definitely not something we would see in our backyard feeder here in Guelph. When it comes to habitat they can be found in dry scrubby savannah. Like all nightjars,they are nocturnal. They feed primarily on flighted insects such as the moths and beetles that are native to the area, catching them in flight with their WILD looking mouths.

It’s a pretty large mouth for such a small bird, standard-winged nightjars average about twenty to twenty-three centimeters in length.

They “nest” on the ground, and by “nest” I mean they pick a spot on the ground and lay two eggs there. 

I really wasn’t exaggerating when I said they just put them on the ground.

And of course, the babies are super cute.

Just look at these little guys!

But all this is pretty standard for nightjars (very funny I know), what makes the standard winged nightjar stand out are its not-so-standard wings. These wild wings are used by males in the breeding season to attract mates. The two long feathers you see in the photo (those are the so called “standards”) are an extension of the bird’s ninth primary feather, the primary feathers are the large feathers that birds rely on for flight. During the mating season, these standards can grow up to thirty-eight centimeters in length, that’s longer than the actual bird! Males will fly around with these at night to attract mates. Not sure why the female nightjars are into it but to each their own I guess, sexual selection sure does make for some interesting animals. 

When the breeding season is over these extra long feathers just kinda fall off, and the standard-winged nightjar goes back to looking like a standard nightjar. It’s kind of like how pelicans grow a little notch on their bills during mating season and then it just, falls off?!!?

Still cute in my opinion. 

Fun fact: This family of birds got the name “nightjar” because they make “jarring noises” at “night”, no joke! They are also sometimes called “goatsuckers”

Well thank you for coming to my TED talk, I hope you had as much fun learning about the standard-winged nightjar as I did. Until next time, this is GrassLover signing off.

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History Interpretation

Hey guys, GrassLover here. Big promt today, let's get into it. So we were giving the quote…

“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

Pretty interesting quote, can’t wait to see what everyone else has to say about it, but for now, here is how I interpret this quote

To me, this quote is talking about knowledge of the past, and how that knowledge is transferred through time. Many ancient things bring with them information of the time that they were created. The Rosetta Stone, Pompeii, Dead Sea Scrolls, Tiktaalik, among many others are major historical discoveries. Each of them provide valuable information about the past, both our human past, and even earlier than that. These discoveries are all unique in their own way, but are unified in the fact that they give us access to knowledge of the past. 

Through the lens of Edward Hyams’ quote, these ancient things have value, not inherently, not because they are ancient, but because they encode with them historical information. Without the historical significance they provide, the Rosetta Stone is just a tablet made of rock, and Tiktaalik is just bones. It is the information they carry with them, details from the past, that make them significant.

The second part of the quote “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.” is also relevant to these items. Our past shapes our present in many ways, some which are difficult to determine. With ancient artifacts such as these, we get the whole picture, and it informs us as well as helps us understand our ways of life today. This widened world view, allowing us to see the whole instead of just fracture pieces, is what gives these ancient things value.

Now personally I think ancient things are inherently cool, outside of their knowledge value. I like interacting with things from older eras, not just to learn from them, but to enjoy ideas, artistic styles, and structures that are not currently found in our modern time. But regardless that’s what I think Edward was trying to say in this quote. 

So that’s me “unpacking this quote”, can’t wait to see what other people think! Until then, this is GrassLover signing off.

[ajpenvs3000f21]

Hey Sydney, GrassLover here. First of all, I agree with you, “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.” is a lot to unpack!

However I do completely agree with your interpretation of the quote, regarding the value of knowledge of old things. I especially liked how you compared the value of “older items” to “newer items”, which is something that I did not even think of while writing my blog post. 

I also like your point about retaining information and lessons from the past, people often say “those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it”.

In addition, I thought your point about historical objects as landmarks that we can look back on and see how far we have come is really powerful, and something I had not thought of while writing my blog post.

Also love the photo, not only is it relevant to what we were talking about, but it is also very pretty.

 Keep up the good work, until then, this is Grasslover signing off.

Holding onto history

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

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

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

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

- Sydney

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Week 5 Blog Post

Don’t really have anything to talk about, here’s a drawing I made

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Hey Georgiana, GrassLover here. Totally agree with what you were saying about individual nature interpretation through art. Being able to experience the natural world through someone else’s point of view is truly a unique experience.

First of all your photography is amazing, really beautiful stuff, for real. It is also a perfect example of what we have been talking about in regards to art and nature interpretation. Looking at these photographs I am obliviously able to appreciate the natural aesthetic of the landscape, the same way I would if I was looking at it myself. However, through your photography not only do I get the base aesthetic value, but I also am able to experience the landscape in your own unique point of view. Intentional or not, when you make based on nature, the way you yourself interpret the natural world comes through. It is this individual touch on an piece of art that allows an individuals interpretation to be shared.

Also like your point on the “gift of beauty”. That the natural world is not only something to be admired and appreciated for its natural beauty, but also, importantly, something to be preserved and protected. I believe that as a nature interpreter it is important to get both of these points across to your audience. 

 Keep up the good work, until then, this is Grasslover signing off.

Interpreting Nature Through Art and “the Gift of Beauty”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Hey guys, GrassLover here. Pretty excited about this week, I am a big fan of art! Enough dilly dallying, let's get into the question of the week, “Who are you to interpret nature through art? How do you interpret “the gift of beauty”?”.

This question kinda sounds accusatory haha, like, WHO are YOU to interpret nature through art!? Anyways, I think most of my inspiration for my art comes from nature. I do a lot of embroidery, and most of the time my pieces are based around things from the natural world, mostly plants because I think they’re easier to do, but sometimes I’ll do mammals/ birds/ insects if I’m feeling up to the challenge. On top of that, I mainly focus on plants/ animals that I have actually seen in the world, as I find it allows me to make a deeper connection with my art. For me, my art is a way of expressing how I interpret the natural world, not only to others but also to myself. I am not directly transferring how the subjects look in reality (definitely not talented enough to do the LOL), what I make is more of how I perceive them in a more personal artistic way. When you look at one of my pieces, you’re not just seeing the physical subject, but also how I perceive that subject in my own creative vision, and how it makes me feel.

The natural world is beautiful, I don’t think anyone can argue with that. I can always recall moments of natural beauty in my mind. Finding a raging waterfall in the middle of the forest, listening to the calls of loons as the sun sets on a calm lake, seeing rays of sun burst through the openings in a dense canopy. Everyone can appreciate the traditional beauty of these things, but everyone also interprets them in their own way. The way something beautiful in nature makes me feel is different from how it makes someone else feel, and no two experiences are exactly the same. That is why I think that nature interpretation through art is so valuable. Sure you can go out and experience nature with other people, but at the end of the day you are experiencing it through your own lens, and they with theirs. With art, you have an opportunity to experience the natural world through someone else's point of view, which is something you wouldn’t normally get to do. So not only do you get to enjoy the gift of beauty from the natural world, but you get to enjoy it again through the art of your peers.

So that’s how I feel about art in nature interpretation, can’t wait to see what other people think! Until then, this is GrassLover signing off.

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Hey Kendra, GrassLover here. First of all, love what you did the “invisible backpack” picture, very funny!! I completely agree with what you were saying about privilege. Being privileged, it is very easy to ignore or be ignorant of the effects of privilege, and it is our responsibility as people who do benefit the greatest from our current socioeconomic system to acknowledge these factors and implement them in our understanding of the world and our place in it. I especially like you points on physical ability as a form of privilege. Many people with disabilities face many roadblocks in their day to day life. Nature is not always very wheelchair accessible, and I am privileged to never have had to take that into consideration when I go out.  

Living in a National Park is pretty wild, and I can definitely understand there being a disconnect between you and non-regular park goers in terms of natural knowledge. I do think that is something very important to consider when you are doing nature interpretation, not everyone will be as experienced or knowledgeable about nature as you are, and you need to cater you interpretation to enable people of all experience and privilege levels to enjoy nature in their own unique way. 

Overall Kendra that was a great post, and definitely something everyone should keep in mind going forward in their careers of nature interpretation. Also those mountains in the photo are awesome, looks like it took a quite a hike to get there haha.

 Keep up the good work, until then, this is Grasslover signing off.

Privilege and Nature Interpretation

Privilege can be a tricky subject to grasp, as I believe there are certain privileges that affect our lives in ways we often overlook. What I mean by privilege is something that gives you an advantage over others, whether you’re aware of it or not. I am aware I am very privileged, but it’s probable that I am even more so than I realize. There are many factors regarding my privilege that I may not even consider and therefore don’t fully realize just how lucky I really am. I’m aware of my privilege in the sense that I am a caucasian, English-speaking, Canadian citizen, who’s parents have assisted in paying for my post-secondary education twice (both college and university). Growing up middle-class in southern Ontario, these are all things I ignorantly assumed were the norm for everyone else around me (for the most part). Of course, I was aware of differences between people, but not until I was older did I considered how many more differences there truly were, and how these differences could be a disadvantage for others. Not being aware of certain disadvantages is in itself a privilege. I did not learn about them until I happened to come upon them or decided I wanted to learn more. Some people do not get the luxury of ignoring certain socioeconomic issues, but I had the privilege to ignore certain issues simply because I had not personally experienced them myself. 

The more I learn, the more I realize how complex privilege really is with a greater awareness of intersectionality. With this in mind, how might privilege play a role in nature interpretation? Well, I am further privileged by the opportunity to live in a National Park within Canada. When I first moved here, I assumed most people visiting the park were aware of information I considered “common sense”. Only after interacting with more people did I start to realize how even more privileged I was. Some visitors had never seen mountains, or wildlife, or rushing rivers. Knowing that fast flowing water and approaching wildlife is dangerous, is something I assumed everyone else was aware of, but that’s not true. Some people plan their whole lives to come and visit the park, some people have older relatives that never had the opportunity to visit when they were able, and will never get the chance to travel here. That further lead me to realize that not only am I privileged to be here, I am even more privileged to be knowledgeable of the local environment, and to be physically able to experience certain things or perform activities others cannot. For instance, I am physically fit to go on a long and steep hike, while someone who uses a wheelchair would not be able to go. Although there are trails here that are accessible, they are of course limited. 

Understanding the privileges I have in my “invisible backpack” and how they provide me an advantage is essential in interpreting information to others. My invisible backpack is “filled” with things such as being physically able, financial stable etc. and these “items” allow me to potentially have an advantage over others. When interpreting knowledge about wildlife for example, I need to understand that some people may have zero knowledge on the subject, as well as consider the physical abilities of those I teach if we go out into the park to explore. In addition, perhaps my audience will be accessing my nature content online. It’s vital to make sure the information I’m presenting is done with inclusivity in mind. I’ve noticed the advertised “lifestyle” for living in places such as the National Park I live in, is one that’s focused on people who are “fit” by society’s standards, mostly caucasian, young, able-bodied etc. Even the retail stores within my town are filled with advertisements that target one demographic, and outdoor equipment that is far from inexpensive. There is little representation, for example, for visible minorities, individuals with differing body sizes or abilities, or people of colour. I am fully aware I fit into this target demographic, and most things advertised and presented to me are made for people like me. I am intending to keep all of this in mind when sharing content and interpreting, as I believe it’s important everyone feels they have a place in nature and in the things that they’re passionate about. Relating back to my first blog post, I am hoping to help provide others with a “sense of place” within nature and all it has to offer, regardless of the differences we may have. Keeping in mind that not everyone is going to have the same experience even if we’re doing the same things. 

My invisible and literal backpack and I, privileged enough to experience this hike, fitting into the target demographic mentioned above

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Privilege in Nature Interpretation

Hey guys, GrassLover here. This week had some pretty serious stuff. Enough dilly dallying, let's get into the question of the week, “What role does “privilege” play in nature interpretation? Please include your working definition of privilege”.

As someone who has lived their entire life as a white, middle class individual in Canada, I can confidently say that I have had a great deal of privilege. I think a lot of people get confused about things like “white privilege” when they think in terms of pure finance. “I’m white but nobody GAVE me anything” and “I’m white but I didn’t come from money” are common counter arguments to the existence of white privilege. White privilege isn’t just how much money you and your family have, but it does impact that directly. To me, to have white privilege is to be free of the many socioeconomic barriers that people of colour face on a daily basis. As someone who is white, I have never been discriminated against based on the colour of my skin, I have never been passed up on a job because of racist employer, I have never been the target of a hate crime, I have never been forcibly removed from my home. I have white privilege because I am free from these barriers. Economically, the effects of this privilege are obvious. In Canada, a larger percentage of the BIPOC population live in poverty relative to the white population. This is due to an institution of racism which is built with barriers to keep these groups disadvantaged. 

In nature interpretation, privilege impacts who can and cannot access nature. Not everyone can take time off to go camping, not everyone has a car to go drive to BC, not everyone can afford expensive hiking gear and backpacks. That is why if you're on a hiking trail in Canada, the people who you will run into are predominantly white. There is always a financial cost when it comes to experiencing nature, and without any of the barriers that BIPOC face, it is a lot easier to shoulder those costs.

That’s pretty much all I have to say on the matter, can’t wait to see what other people think! Until then, this is GrassLover signing off.

PS 

In regards to the “Risk Management” section of this unit, it is highly irresponsible of you to refer to the actions of St.John’s school as “pointed in the right direction”. A group of young boys being sent on expedition clearly beyond their level of experience is not a ‘challenge’, it’s reckless disregard for human life. Furthermore, in regards to your point about “society sanitizing the world of risk”, children can achieve ‘self awareness’ as you call it, without being put in life-threatening danger. As a nature interpreter I believe that it is vitally important to recognize that. 

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Hey Karissa, GrassLover here. First of all I love the illustration that you started out with, I think it is always important to incorporate different styles of learning in interpretation, and visuals are of course a big one. I think I might have to steal that idea and make some visual aids for myself for next week’s blog prompt.

I like your point about environmental interpreters being found in a variety of settings, I think a lot of people just automatically think of a guided hike through a conservation area when they think of nature interpretation, but in reality it can happen anywhere. I also think your idea of doing nature interpretation with a humane society is really cool and also very important.

I completely agree with what you were saying in regards to “the role of an interpreter”. I think it is very important for a nature interpreter to provide an opportunity for individuals to experience and discover nature in their own specific way, rather than directly projecting your own knowledge and opinions on to them. I can definitely remember times where I have gone out with interpreters who were focused on making sure that everyone was experiencing nature in the exact same way that they were, which I feel is not at all the point of interpreting nature with others. Everyone has their own unique perspective and it is important to keep that in mind when introducing someone to the natural world.

 Keep up the good work, until then, this is Grasslover signing off.

The Role of an Environmental Interpreter

The photo I added was my thought process in answering this week's discussion prompt. Did any one else have any similar thoughts and ideas on the responsibilities of an environmental interpreter?

To understand the role of an environmental interpreter it is important to first know what interpretation requires. Interpretation is to mediate or communicate knowledge to others in ways that stimulate one to complete independent interpretative quests. Usually, the forms of communication used by environmental interpreters are unique in that they do not simply just communicate factual information. Rather they teach and provide meaning through a variety of techniques including the use of original objects, storytelling, first-hand experience, and illustrative media. This means an environmental interpreter has one major role which is to relay information to visitors in a manner that helps them learn about the environment around them and stimulates them to find out more. Thereby, encouraging them to complete their own interpretive quests in the future.

Environmental interpreters can be found in all sorts of places such as forests, zoos, parks, wildlife rescues, commercial attractions, aquariums, camps, ships, trains, or even resorts. They may also work for the government or larger private sector businesses. Fortunately, there are many diverse opportunities available for environmental interpreters. However, not all environmental interpreter roles have to be a career position. Instead, it could be something someone volunteers to do. Personally, environmental interpretation is not something I plan to pursue as a career specifically. However, I think it is a valuable asset that you can apply to variety of other career paths or just every day life. My ideal environmental interpretation position would be a volunteer position at a wildlife rehabilitation centre, Ontario SPCA or local humane society. I have a passion for helping animals which is why I think I would be most successful in these interpretive roles. The Ontario SPCA is a registered charity that has been around since 1873. Its aim is to use its network to inform the general public about issues pertaining to animals with the hope to bring attention to animal cruelty and promote animal well-being. They offer a variety of services including community animal sheltering, animal well-being education, high volume spay/neuter services, animal rights advocacy, animal rescue and rehabilitation.

In this case, the role of these interpreters is to interact with the public, and encourage people to think differently thus, helping them reveal deeper meanings of interpretation regarding animal well-being and protection. Interpreters in this role would allow visitors to develop a deeper connection to the animals in these shelters to encourage stewardship in visitors and the general public. This is made possible by creating an environment where visitors are able to associate non-tangible feelings such as sadness and anger with an animal presented. They will make interpretation fun by using the animals to facilitate an enjoyable and unique experience. Their role is to make environmental interpretation a fun experience as it should be. It is the responsibility of environmental interpreters to use all possible mechanisms of communication to educate and inspire a broader audience. In recent times, the Ontario SPCA has increased exposure through the use of brochures, computer resources, their website, social media, blogs, and more. These informational tools will provide visitors with self-guided and open ended opportunities to further promote interest and allow people to become passionate about preventing animal cruelty. Environmental interpreters such as members of the Ontario SPCA help people better understand the environmental complexities of these animals. In doing so, they are able to persuade people to care about these animals and take on active roles in preventing future animal cruelty.

For interpretation to be successful according to Tilden, six principles must be followed. Interpretation must relate what is being presented to something within. Interpreters must understand that information is not equivalent to interpretation. Instead, interpretation is essentially a revelation that stems from information. Interpreters must understand that interpretation is a teachable skill. As well, the chief aim of interpretation is to provoke inspiration in others. Interpretation must provide the whole picture rather than just a part and information should not be diluted when presented to children. Instead, one must present the same information using a different approach.

How do you feel about Tilden’s six principles of interpretation? Do you think any more principles should be added? If so what do you think a seventh or eighth principle should be? Personally, I think there should be a principle that mentions that in nature interpretation information should be provided in a way that is stimulating and fun for visitors. I think that is worth mentioning because it is part of what makes interpretation different from education or standard information relay. For example, if I would be advocating for animal rights. Bringing a cute dog or cat with me could help keep people interested in what I have to say.

The roles and responsibilities of an environmental interpreter are largely centered around the visitor’s experience. To provide individuals with a good experience even at places like the Ontario SPCA, interpreters should be skilled in all aspects of the TORE method provided by Sam Ham. Environmental interpreters should be skilled at providing information using a thematic approach and maintaining focus on the main message. They should be skilled in organization to be able to provide structure and meaning to their interpretation. Interpreters must be skilled at tailoring their interpretive approach to their audience. This may be in regards to age, learning styles, moral development, or even intelligence level. As well, they should be skilled at creating an enjoyable experience for their audience.

Are there any skills you think should be added to Ham’s cornerstone model of the interpretive approach to communication? Why or why not? I think the ability to be personable is worth mentioning. I find people with those types of personalities are often better at making connections and relating to other people. This can help them be more successful at encouraging people to care and take on an active role to complete their own interpretational quests. If someone was advocating for animal rights, I would be more likely to listen or talk to them if they seem warm, inviting and encourage interaction.

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The Role of the Enterpreter

Hey guys, GrassLover here. Hope everyone has enjoyed their first week of classes. Enough dilly dallying, let's get into the question of the week, “Describe your ideal role of environmental interpreter. What might it entail? Where might it be? What skills might you need?”. Now this is a question I can really sink my teeth into, as I have actually done some nature interpretation in the past. I spent a good deal of my last post waxing lyrically about my time frolicking in the Dundas Valley Conservation Area, but neglected to mention that I actually worked there for a time. In the summer I worked at an old train station owned by the conservation authority, it was located right in the heart of the conservation area (it’s been a long time since any trains passed through there haha). 

During that time I gave guided walks on the local trails, primarily to groups of children around five to eight. Now I’ll be the first to admit, at the time my scientific knowledge of the natural world was quite limited. I could identify some trees, maybe some bird calls too, and I had a loose (and I mean VERY loose) idea of how glaciers formed the valley that the conservation area was nestled in. But that didn’t really seem to matter to kids, to be honest I’m not sure if they really took in much of anything that I said. At the end of the day, they were just excited to be outside, and to be able to explore. A squirrel, a deer, a big tree, a rare warbler, a mossy rock, all these things were equally exciting all the time. This I could appreciate, not being concerned with the more intricate details of their surroundings, and just enjoying the experience of being in nature. One thing is for sure, it definitely made my job a whole lot easier.

As for my ideal role as a nature interpreter, I think I’d like to go back to the Dundas Valley Conservation Area to do nature interpretation for an older audience. Not that I don’t think there is value in nature interpretation for younger ages, I just think I would really value the opportunity to explore nature with people who experience it similarly to the way I do now. When it comes to skills required, I think that a strong background understanding of your area and its natural history is super important. Even if your audience is not super scientifically literate, having a solid base of understanding would allow you to “dumb it down” in way that is still informative and accurate. It’s like music, you gotta learn your scales before you start to improvise. I also think that personality is a BIG part of being a nature interpreter. You gotta be excited about nature if you want to get other people excited about nature.

That’s pretty much all I have to say on the matter, can’t wait to see what other people think! Until then, this is GrassLover signing off.

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Hey Kobi, Grasslover here. What a coincidence, my friends dog has the EXACT same name as you! Super inspired by your story of the outdoors. As someone who was privileged enough to experience the outdoors at a young age, I can totally relate to your early experiences in nature. Although I am a little jealous of all the canoeing you got to do, my parents were always a little scared of the water. But now that I’m more independent I find myself cruising down rivers and across lakes all the time. Though I have to say, I do not think that I have done any paddling as intense as what you did this summer in Algonquin park, which I think is pretty freaking cool by the way. 

When it comes to finding your place in nature, I think that I am exact same way. Nature is always a safe place for me, whenever I feel stressed out and overwhelmed. 

I am also a huge lover of Algonquin Provincial park, and I can often be found hiking the trails and camping whenever I get a chance (or whenever there’s a spot open haha). I have never been kayaking in the park, but I did go canoeing in the winter one time, definitely didn’t go very fast haha. Gotta say your summer job sounds pretty neat! Introducing people to the wonders of the outdoors is a really awesome opportunity. Keep up the good work, until then, this is Grasslover signing off.

My Relationship With Nature