isenvs3000-19-blog

[isenvs3000-19-blog]

Hello!

I agree, the quote you included is a really nice conclusion to the course. It also ties in the human perspectives and how nature is one for a peaceful message. When you talked about the line “she hoists no flag of hatred”, it really stuck out to me that flags and hatred are anthropogenic and it is interesting to demonstrate the wholeness of nature by pointing out that it does not have these divisive factors. It is compelling that you tie this in to an approach on interpretation, how it is a reminder to create a space for everyone to enjoy and belong.

It really is fun to have groups of friends who are also so shamelessly excited about things like nature! You reminded me that on a Wildlife Club trip to Bruce Peninsula this fall, on a hiking trail, our club had a ton of people and cameras pointed at this gigantic, beautiful caterpillar we found. When other hikers were walking by, we overheard “why are these people getting so excited over a bug?”. It was a funny moment! I think that if I was alone and stopped traffic on a hiking trail to take a bunch of photos of a bug, I might be less comfortable, unless I suppose I knew more about bugs and wasn’t only admiring cool nature things. A group of people sharing your interests is exciting, educational, and fun! (Wildlife Club is an awesome group like this).

Wildlife Club members getting really excited and taking photos of a cool caterpillar. Photo by me. 

The Finale

Nature is universal. She hoists no flag of hatred. The supreme triumph of parks is humanity. …Sometime it may be that an immortal pine will be the flag of a united and peaceful world. -Enos Mills.

I feel that this quote from The Gifts of Interpretation ties into this week’s blog prompt nicely. This blog being the last one of the semester, brings a feeling of finality which I also feel in this quote. “Nature is universal.” As I develop as an interpreter, I would want that idea to be a primary factor when people think of interpretive programs. Just like we learned that the Nature is for everyone even if a person doesn’t consider themselves the ‘out-doorsy’ type. What makes a good interpretive experience in my opinion is making sure the audience can enjoy the time they spend learning something new about nature. So, when the audience will be people who would like to know more about nature but without the swarms of bugs or mud, then planning a walk through a well maintained park or city green space would be more appealing and likely bring more enjoyment to the audience. Through the lectures and lab sections of this course I was able to determine that part of my personal ethic is making sure that audience is comfortable with the type of nature that they will be in. It’s easy to mentally check out during an activity if the whole thing is planned around something that brings you discomfort.

A photo I took while walking through the Arboretum.

“She hoists no flag of hatred.” Nature is a space where you can feel at peace and unjudged. I believe that it would be my responsibility as an interpreter to offer that place where people can enjoy nature in their own way without feeling out of place. This course in particular felt like we were able to be the nature nerds that we all are and express how we see the world through these blogs. From the responses to other posts it is clear that everyone in the class accepts the other students and wants to actively engage in discussions about topics that they are excited about. I think it is really important for people to know that there is a place where other nerds can get together and discuses their interests and learn new things that other people are excited to tell you about. Part of my personal ethics would be to encourage that idea of acceptance and foster an environment where everyone feels unjudged and can enthusiastically talk about their passion without worrying that others might find their interests in nature weird.

Another photo from the Arboretum.

“Sometime it may be that an immortal pine will be the flag of a united and peaceful world.” My personal ethics and what beliefs I bring forward as an interpreter is that no matter the differences between people, everyone can be brought together through the nature. There are so many aspects of nature to enjoy that there will always be something for everyone, even if they don’t exactly like the dirtier side of nature. It can be a place to bring people together and it has already shown to be doing that. Wit people becoming more environmentally conscious there are more environmental clean ups happening or tree planting endeavors. These events bring like minded people together and also reaches out members of the public who might want to be involved but don’t yet know how.

Inclusivity, unjudging, community, hard working, inviting. As an interpreter, these are some of the ethics and beliefs that I would bring forward. These are things that I would want to experience as someone who is interested in getting more involved in interpretive walks, tours, or learning about nature in general. It is difficult to put yourself out there and gain new experiences in something you don’t know, so for an interpreter to put forward a sense of inclusivity and acceptance regardless of prior knowledge in the field, it would make becoming involved easier. These approaches are what would draw me to any sort of program, so that is the kind of atmosphere that I would want to make for others so that can feel the same sense of ease and peace when starting something new.

The trails behind my home town in the winter.

As this semester comes to an end and I realize this is my last ever semester as an undergraduate student I get to think about all of the experiences that have led me here. Every lecture, lab, and project, I feel that I have gotten important information about science and the environment and I’ve become more and more invested in the topic. And because I am so excited about science, I tend to want to tell anyone who will listen about it. Since taking this class I feel that I have gained so much knowledge about how to do that without overwhelming someone with the technical side of it. Through the readings of the fifteen gifts of interpretation I am more aware of how to get someone engaged with new information and to offer the same spark that I have to someone else. I’m happy that this class was one of the courses I decided to take in my last semester as it has given me knowledge and experiences that I can use as I move forward in life and in my career.

[isenvs3000-19-blog]

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Don’t worry prof – your blog prompt isn’t all that ignited an existential crisis this week; it feels like every semester around this time, just as all the classes have their final due dates, and exams are starting sooner than I can handle, that I start to question: what am I doing in University? Am I involved where I should be? What do I aim for?

Welp. I think over the semester, I’ve learned that I really do want to educate and inspire through interpretation and if possible, entwine my interests of wildlife, environmental conservation and art. I feel the passion, but I have fears of missing opportunities or not being as talented as others. It really is stressful – I feel like I’m not getting the most out of regular classes with the lecture-midterm-exam style. It’s like the knowledge I cram is fleeting and I don’t have time for many experiences, like volunteering with the CFRU radio (that I’ve been wanting to be a part of for a while). Despite that, this class has been a great break from other class styles, and it has allowed me to explore the very exciting journey of communication and interpretation.

A squirrel in the University of Guelph arboretum, where I go for a break from school stress. Photo by Brenda Doherty from the arboretum’s page on flickr.com

The root of my interest

            I see so many ways that society in general is mislead in habits and systems that are leading to environmental demise. It is my personal ethic to include perspectives that support the environment through importance of protection and how to do it into any topic of interpretation that I might do. I also strongly believe that being shown the beautiful intricacies of nature creates a personal relationship and this is extremely beneficial on a personal level and for the environment, in terms of developing environmental ethics.

The roots of my interest will continue to grow to become strong and solid. Photo from Colourbox

Responsibilities as an interpreter

I think that an extremely important role of an interpreter is to provide an environment that everyone can feel included in; the spark should be given to everyone. I think there can be a tendency to show most educational support to those who are openly adventurous or friendly, but we must pay attention to those who are shy or nervous to make sure that the interpretation is available to them as well. This is especially important for children and teenagers because they are undergoing a significant journey in figuring out feelings and comforts.

Another responsibility that I prioritize is the importance of accuracy. When communicating facts and stories to a group of people, it is possible to forget or confuse memories with other things, especially as a beginner to interpretation or to a subject. In my minimal experience in wildlife interpretation at a reptile conservation centre, this responsibility was held highest, and this had an impression on me. Facts about an animal and its lasting impression are very important to know and to communicate correctly. Visitors of any age will have a very wide range of knowledge to a subject and it is crucial to keep scientific validity when representing the organization. In terms of how to do this and remain an effective interpreter, Beck and Cable describe that it’s not necessary to communicate everything about a topic, but to teach “a few great things well” to be most effective.  

Thirdly, the most important responsibility as an interpreter, as was taught in the Nature Interpretation classroom: a good perception and concern for safety is a crucial trait and responsibility of an interpreter.

A very cool rusty crayfish that is blue! Photo by myself at Reptile Camp. 

As a novice interpreter, my personal approach is to speak and act with bright enthusiasm whether it is towards something specific or all of nature.  This captures the audience’s attention and creates curiosity into what I am sensing, and an interest to share that excitement. I feel like this approach is not effective for every age group and interest, but if the audience is young or already has the spark (as Beck and Cable describe as the first gift), then it would be very effective. I would make sure to explain as much as the audience needs so that they can grabs the fullest understanding and experience, while keeping their attention and interest. For example, I enjoyed teaching camp children (aged 6-12) about what crayfish are, what they like to do, different species in the area, what native and invasive species are, and why I am not afraid to hold one. The children would get very excited by this and would be able to catch and name the common species of crayfish we would find (the rusty crayfish).

Although I really enjoyed working as a camp counsellor with children, I would like to explore more interpretation opportunities in the future! I dream of working at a museum, wildlife education centre or conservation authority. I would like to illustrate wildlife and nature to use educationally. After taking this class, there is a lot more that I now understand about conducting an interpretation that will be so beneficial. I will keep the textbook and consider these for any sort of presentation I do.

Despite learning a lot about the theory, I don’t think I would be a very effective interpreter yet; I believe that experience another very important part. The textbook mentions about talented interpreters being able to act and communicate on the spot in the face of various challenges. As I am now, I still feel like a weak presenter but that some practice in the field will be quick to teach. For now, I will try to keep up with school while getting involved with as many experiences as I can!

 Reference:

“The Gifts of Interpretation” by Larry Beck and Ted T. Cable. 3rd Edition, Copyright 2011.

[isenvs3000-19-blog]

Hello,

I also was not sure what to expect, I had never had an outdoor tour of a city, but I was pleasantly surprised. I think it wasn’t the structure of the tour, but the tour guide’s info and way of presenting that gave us all such a lasting impression. I have the same feelings of recommending this tour to anyone.

I also wrote about this interpretation lab and also identified the gift of story. I like that you pointed out the connection between the textbook chapter and the use of photographs in pamphlets during the walk. As a visual and tactile learner, I found this very effective and felt that it helped me grasp the stories and convert it to memories, more than if the walk had been solely auditory. As another gift, I also wrote about the clear inclusion of personalizing the past.

The 3rd gift you chose was the gift of hope which is not one that I had included or considered. My 3rd one was the gift of targeted programs. I like that you made a deeper connection of comparing how learning lessons of the past give us hope for the future. I think I would like to be conscious of including this in future interpretations that I might do because I find this to be a valuable and inspiring takeaway that would ass to the interpretations lasting impression.

Every Place has a History

Ever wonder where the term “hat trick” came from? Or how about where John McCrae, the author of the famous poem In Flanders Fields, was born? Have you ever been to the Albion hotel? Well, apparently so has Al Capone! This is all stuff that I learnt while touring downtown Guelph with Ken Irvine, the education organizer for the Guelph Civic Museum. All of these pieces of knowledge have stayed with me and will forever be in my memory.

Going into the tour I had very low expectations. I thought it was going to be boring, as I am not much of a museum person and when I found out that we would be walking around outside on that wet and cold day, it’s safe to say I was even more unimpressed. BUT I am happy to say that I had a great experience on this historical tour and would recommend it to anyone.

“Story is the umbilical cord that connects us to the past, present, and future.” (Beck and Cable, 2011)

The first “gift” that I can identify from this lab activity is the gift of a story. Ken spent that afternoon sharing the stories he knows about most of the buildings still standing and those that are no longer standing. Now, instead of mindlessly walking around our city, I think of the incredible things that have happened here in the past that have gotten us to where we are today. Beck and Cable (2011) suggest that you “use concrete illustrations to assist the audience to understand and relate to the message.” This method was used on our tour, as we were given a pamphlet with pictures to help us compare how everything looks now to how it did in the past.

Guelph’s City Hall in 1951. This building is still standing today and has been named one of the five National Historic Sites in Wellington County. Image taken from the Guelph Mercury website.

“To be effective, interpreters of history must personalize the past and relate it to the present with an eye towards the future.” (Beck and Cable, 2011)

The second “gift” we received from the history lab is the gift of personalizing the past. Ken did a tremendous job of presenting historical events in ways that would appeal to a group of university students. He often referred to alcohol, which I am sure relates to most people our age. Also knowing that we are in a nature interpretation class, Ken knew that sharing his story of the snake being eaten by a bird during one of his tours would catch all of our attention. Although that story had nothing to do with history, it was a personal story that stuck with many of us. Beck and Cable (2011) say “interpreters play an essential role in keeping that memory alive and in making those memories speak to the issues of today, which is the gift personalizing the past.”

“Historical interpretation allows humanity to celebrate our astounding achievements as well as remember our errant ways. For reasons of both celebration and introspection, we must not forget our past.” (Beck and Cable, 2011)

The final “gift” that I received from the tour was the gift of hope. Learning about the past allows us to reflect what humans have done in the past, both good and bad. From this we can apply what we learnt to better the future. We can continue the good things and hope we correct the mistakes we have made. This is the one gift that I think could have been developed more. To do this, our interpreter could have really emphasized the mistakes made in the past and explained how we have or could improve for the future generations to come.

References 

Beck, L., & Cable, T. T. (2011). The Gifts of Interpretation: Fifteen Guiding Principles for Interpreting Nature and Culture. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing.

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Making the Past Lasting

I found it interesting that this guided tour stood out to me so much despite it not being related to my personal interests as much as other labs in my nature interpretation class. Earlier this fall, we went on a guided tour of downtown Guelph.

Our walk, guided by Ken, started at the Guelph Civic Museum and made a loop of the area, describing the history of how the city was created, significant buildings and their former purposes, and very prominent aspects of the lives of people that walked down the same streets that I do now.

Stories that were shared sparked wonder, sadness, humour and all resonated as quite interesting. Many questions that I had about the unique city’s layout and architecture were answered, but also far more than I could have imagined were revealed.

As I walk down the same streets now, I pay far more attention to the features around me. If I am with a friend, I eagerly reveal the cool facts that I have picked up.

This is a photo of the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate, Guelph. I had always wondered about the history of this stunning church, and I was lucky to learn this. For example, this is the 3rd time this church has been rebuilt. Photo from catholicregister.org.

But it was not simply the facts of the city’s past that made the guided tour so impressionable. The tour guide and his methods were notable. There are some gifts of interpretation from Beck and Cable’s book that I identified with this activity:

1.      The gift of targeted programs

It’s clear that there was effort and success in tailoring the walk to our group as an audience of young adults in University. Many points of conversation included the history of the local bars and fun facts of celebrities that occurred in our city’s past.

2.      The gift of story

It is clear that there was a great deal of research, thought, organization and care within this interpretation, which are gifts to the audience.

Ken certainly included many valuable strategies that brought forth imagination through his story telling; we experienced emotions being put into the shoes of those from Guelph’s past. And now the stories are carried with us.

3.      Of course, personalizing the past.

This tour brought life to the past. We learned the happenings in ways that we could relate to our current lives and even learn from.

A statue of the founder of Guelph, John Galt. Photo by guelphtoday.com.

Although I do not think this is necessary, it could be beneficial to further develop the gift of illumination through technology.

Having the path that we took electronically mapped out would be very cool, as well as helpful to visualize the development of the city through roads over time since establishment. During the walk, Ken mentioned a few times about how the founder, John Galt, designed the city, and how the center seemed to sprawl out like fingers from a hand. Seeing this map could add new significance.  

While reflecting on the readings of the textbook in the context of this interpretation, I realized that I couldn’t decide if the gift of wholeness was represented well or if it would have been beneficial to further develop this. If you attended this interpretation, do you think the gift of a wholeness was represented?

 *

Reference:

“The Gifts of Interpretation” by Larry Beck and Ted T. Cable. 3rd Edition, Copyright 2011.

[isenvs3000-19-blog]

What a Wild Life

I am not sure exactly when I had decided that I wanted to pursue wildlife biology (I believe it was quite young) and I’m not sure that I have a specific hero, but many have inspired me greatly and still do.

Growing up, my mum had a poster of Jane Goodall in our entrance way.

This is the image on the poster that I had growing up. What a dream! Photo by the Jane Goodall Institute Nepal.

Jane Goodall influenced me from a young age as a badass woman scientist role model. Learning about her may have been my first glance at wildlife science.

Her aspiring characteristics begin with her dedication. She did very adventurous research at a young age, going into the (now) Tanzania jungle where she discovered many things, including that chimpanzees eat meat and use tools. She talks about the immense patience needed to sit for hours and just observe.

She is also very passionate in using her fame to help the environment. She has opened institutions and programs based around conservation, education, sustainability and activism. She currently travels most of the year to share her experiences and perspectives.

 "What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." - Dr. Jane Goodall

 These are desired traits as a scientist and educator because she demonstrates the importance of wildlife conservation through the lens of the chimp, and of moving towards sustainability through her past and what she has learned. Her characteristics ignite adventure and passion.

I am intrigued by her fame! She has made discoveries that shaped this science field but it is very impressive how large her institutions are, as very few scientists reach this fame. It gives her a very good outlet for the great education she shares.

Do you think that someone’s fame contributes to how inspirational they are?

I’ve realized in myself and many of the posts by classmates that our minds and answers are mostly famous people!

I don’t think that I will ever reach this fame, but I’ve realized that in my future, I want to emulate her passion and adventure. I feel like the present is difficult to do this as the coming years are very uncertain. I have strong interests, but not a direction to follow with wild passion, and potentially the resources to, nor the spontaneity.

I have always been very drawn to the tropics, and there are always organizations for research and travel, but I haven’t yet taken a leap and traveled anywhere. This frustrates me often, but it’s difficult to find time and money to go and explore presently. Someday!

I’ll continue to work hard in the direction of my interests and values, and maybe I can contribute to positive change.

References:

“About Jane Goodall.” The Jane Goodall Institute Nepal, The Jane Goodall Institute Nepal, 2013, https://www.jginepal.org/about/about-jgi.php.

“All About Jane.” The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, https://janegoodall.ca/who-we-are/all-about-jane/. 

[isenvs3000-19-blog]

Hey Kayla!

I like how you structured your post; you wrote a great breakdown of effective and desirable traits in science communicators- ones that I also aspire to emulate moving forward! 😊

I love this podcast. It really is super entertaining and a fantastic way to quickly go from knowing nothing about a topic to more than the average person. I find in every single episode, there is one specific fact that blows me away, and that I will share with whichever pal I see next. Because of this, and all the ways you’ve mentioned, Alie is a fantastic science communicator.

I haven’t listened to as many episodes as I want yet (all of them), but my favourites so far are Primatology and Chiropterology. Which are yours?

In response to one of your questions, I absolutely think that getting excited and enthusiastic about science is a good thing in communication, even if decreases professional manner. As Alie demonstrates, getting enthusiastic is very effective and it draws attention to facts so much that it can even create interest in a topic when there wasn’t any before.

While preserving some professional aspects like being polite, I think stepping outside of the box could be very effective in communication to both academics and the public. There is a trend of scientific writing being very dense and using big words; if communication were more enthusiastic (while preserving scientific merit of course), I think it would be great for inclusion and comprehension.

Also, I absolutely LOVE your cephalopod comic! That rocks!

#8: Sharing science through humour

I’ll admit, I can’t say I have a science hero. No single person in science has had that strong of an influence on my interest in nature. However, I can’t do a 35-word blog post, so I’ll introduce you to Alie Ward, an inspiring science communicator. Alie Ward is the creator of the science and comedy podcast Ologies (link here), in which Alie interviews different experts (‘ologists’). She’s talked to people who are experts on sleep, toads, and even pumpkins! Although Alie is not a researcher, she is a science communicator who helps explain complex topics in a relatable way. I’ll outline my top 3 ways that Alie influences me.

Alie Ward is the creator of Ologies, an engaging and hilarious science podcast. Photo from Twitter (https://twitter.com/alieward?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)

1.       Be passionate and genuine

Alie is delightful and her passion for science shines in every episode. As we’ve learned in class, this is so important for effective communication. “Be passionate” is even the 15th principle of nature interpretation (Beck and Cable 2011)! Often you will hear Alie gasp in shock or laugh in response to something she learns while interviewing an ‘ologist’. As we learned in class, being enthusiastic and genuine helps your audience connect to you and be more comfortable. I want to have the same sense of wonder and enthusiasm when I present, although it may seem less professional. Do you think it’s okay to get excited, even if it seems less professional?

Alie Ward (left) works on a show. Photo from Twitter (https://twitter.com/alieward?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)

2.       Using humour to connect to the audience

Something that’s come up both in class and in the textbook is the importance of relating to your audience and keeping them engaged. Alie accomplishes this through humour. For example, Alie did an episode on cephalopods (e.g. squid and octopus), which she gleefully called a “cephaolopodcast”. She often compares complex science topics to everyday life (example below). Episodes of Ologies often feature sound clips from songs/movies and funny sound effects. In class we learned how these help keep the listener engaged. My group hopes to use funny anecdotes and sound effects in our podcasts, but do you think humour should be avoided in some situations?

Alie Ward on cephalopod camouflage: “Are we ever going to develop technology [as good as camoflauge] to give us invisibility cloaks in case we see someone we don’t want to see at Costco or something?” Images from Colourbox, combined and modified by me.

3.       Encourage questions and dispel misconceptions

The tagline of Ologies is “ask smart people stupid questions.” In fact, Alie lets listeners submit questions for her to ask to the ‘ologist’. This really stuck with me. Do you ever avoid asking a question because it seems simple or embarrassing? I do! But now I challenge myself to ask these questions because I know that asking that question is how I’m going to learn! Alie inspires me to ask questions even in a bug lecture hall! As a nature interpreter, I want my audience to learn and will encourage them to ask questions. Alie also asks the ‘ologists’ to dispel misconceptions, which she hilariously calls flim flam. In class we learned the importance of communicating accurate information. Dispelling flim flam is a great way to learn from misconceptions and a tool I hope to use for nature interpretation.

So many smart people to learn from! Just ask your questions and they’ll be happy to help you learn! Photo from Ologies website (https://www.alieward.com/ologies)

References:

Beck, L., & Cable, T. T. (2011). The Gifts of Interpretation: Fifteen Guiding Principles for Interpreting Nature and Culture. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing.

[isenvs3000-19-blog]

Turtles! Look closer, they’re weird as shell

Turtles. Wow! They’re one of the first creatures you learn about. They are hugely represented in the media and in stories. Every 4-year-old that you could find to ask would know what a turtle is.

But beyond the look of them and some species names, most people don’t know much else about turtles. We have 8 species of turtles here in Ontario. There are so many facts and so little time (word count) so I will only mention details on a few. I hope you find their weird facts fascinating and get excited about turtles!

1.       Painted Turtle

In Ontario, we have the Midland and the Western Painted Turtle. If you’ve seen any around here, it’s the Midland (as in the photo). The Western lives up above Lake Superior.

The males of these species are smaller than the females and grow long claws that they use to seduce the females by tickling their face. It’s actually the cutest dance move EVER.

2.       Snapping Turtle

Snapping turtles are often misunderstood because they look like they came straight out of the Triassic Period… and because they like to SNAP. They evolved this mechanism to protect themselves because their plastron (the bottom part of their shell) is very small and looks kind of like a bikini. With so many squishy parts exposed, it would be dangerous if a predator flipped them over, so they chomp.

Kind of ironically, the common snapping turtle cannot bite downwards over its tummy, though it can reach 2/3 of the way over its back shell (carapace)!

Also, their eggs are perfect spheres like tiny ping pong balls. Weird.

3.       Stink-Pot

These are more formally known as Musk Turtles. They’re tiny and they love to hide. They also bite and can bit downwards unlike snapping turtles. They’re not the only turtle that releases a musk, but they’re the only one that got named after it.

4.       Spotted Turtle

Spotted turtles are so precious because they have tiny yellow polka dots. When they are young, they have a single yellow polka dot on each skute (lines on the shells), and as they grow older, they grow more spots!

They have been poached extensively for the pet trade. Along with people building things on wetlands, this has caused them to be an endangered species. 

5.       Blanding’s Turtle

Blanding’s turtles have very high up domed shells and a yellow bottom chin and tummy. Their carapaces (top shells) look like army helmets. The males have a black stripe over their upper lip, which look exactly like a fancy mustache.

Other 3: Wood Turtle, Map Turtle, Spiny Softshell.

Before I go, things you must know:

a.       Turtles breathe through their butts… When they hibernate at the bottom of a water bodies, their body systems slow down. They need minimal oxygen, and so these molecules are taken in through their anus.

b.       They have their shoulder blades inside their rib cage… Weird! There are many theories about how and when this evolved. And where exactly did turtles evolve from? That’s the question.

**All photos are my own.

References: I made sure to just use prior knowledge so I didn’t have to write a reference list 😉

[isenvs3000-19-blog]

Hello!

The more I slowly learn to identify different species of creatures and organisms in nature, the more interested I get! This summer I have really taken an interest in mushrooms which is why your post especially caught my attention. I know very little, but I’ve got my eye out and enjoy looking at the small details. I find mushroom identification quite harder than other plants and animals so far.

The term saprophytic that you explained in your post is new to me! The course that you mentioned sounds really cool and I will try to take it next fall, I feel like it will be very helpful to learn about mushrooms that way as learning identification from people who are experienced fast forwards the learning process significantly. This is potentially why I’m so interested in interpretation and learning to be an interpreter.

Another thing I learned from your interpretive post is that late October and early November is a good time to look for mushrooms. I figured that they would fruit in the summer and fall. I have been very bogged down with school responsibilities and haven’t managed to get out have a nice nature walk in a while, but maybe I can bundle up and make time this week. A spontaneous walk to feel curiosity and adventure in nature would do my tired and stressed brain a lot of good.

Nice post and great photos!

Post #7: Fungi and Fun Times

Think back to when you last felt like a child. Could it be encapsulated by a feeling of curiosity and exploring? Or a feeling of freedom mixed with a rush of adrenaline? For me, its a combination of the two. I didn’t know where to begin with this blog post, but yesterday I went on a spontaneous nature walk and found myself lost in a forest and thought it would be a good place to start. There isn’t anything in specific I feel that is the most amazing thing I know about nature so i thought I would share some little things that amaze me. 

This semester I am taking a plant pathology course and we have to collect a total of fifteen diseased plant samples for our final project. As a result, I am forced to constantly inspect plants and probably end up looking like a crazy plant lady in hopes that what I randomly picked up is a diseased plant. However, doing so has allowed me to notice things I usually would not pick up on and has helped me improve my eye for detail. I’ll share some yesterday with you guys too. They were all mushrooms, which as you all probably know are under the Fungi Kingdom. Other forms of fungi are moulds and yeasts. Fungi were long thought to be considered plants, but their cell walls contain chitin which differs from plant cell walls containing cellulose. Late October to early November is a popular time for mushrooms to grow in Ontario because cool weather combined with rainfall allows underground fungal mycelia to spurt fruiting bodies. These fruiting bodies are the mushrooms themselves and indicate good soil health. There are two in particular that I found which I was somewhat able to identify.

The first ones I came across were growing out of decaying log on the side of the trail and are known as Turkey Tail. Since they were growing on the dead log they are most likely saprophytic, meaning they require dead or decaying organisms to get their nutrients. They also help break down these organic materials for other organisms to take up. 

Photo of Turkey Tail taken by me (Saturday, November 2, 2019)

Photo of Turkey Tail taken from https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluemarla/261153536/in/photostream/

The second mushrooms I saw were also probably Saprophytic but were growing on decaying bark that was more decomposed as it was mixed in with the soil. After some narrowing down, I am fairly sure it’s under the genus Psilocybe and might be Psiclocybe azurescens, but there’s still some uncertainty. If they are part of the genus Psilocybe they would be considered psychoactive mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms.”

Photo taken by me (Saturday, November 2, 2019)

Photo of Psilocybe azurescens taken from https://entheonation.com/blog/psilocybin-mushrooms-identification/

The next part of my walk is to do with the feeling of freedom and adrenaline. During my walks i always end up back at this rope swing that my roommates and I found a few weeks ago. Its right by our house which makes it very tempting every walk home from the bus stop. Its exactly as it sounds, it;s a long rope attached to a tree, but its on a hill making it a little more thrilling than your average swing. When I first pushed of there’s not much else that can top the feeling I get. It’s like if a roller coaster were slowed down but still gave you the same feeling in your stomach. It reminds me of the scene in “Bridge to Terabithia:” when they find a rope swing. The way they portray them swinging is exactly what it feels like. 

References:

ENVS 3210 Plant Pathology notes - University of Guelph

Rope swing scene from Bridge to Terabithia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8jE9NJvqAg

[isenvs3000-19-blog]

Hello!

Nice post on the interconnections between nature and music. I really liked how you described the way that sounds from nature can trigger your memories and bring you back to where and when you heard those sounds. That created a vivid visual for me, and along with your question, I pictured the simple sound of crickets. This immediately brought my mind to re-experience looking at the milky way while laying on a massive strip of the Canadian shield and listening to crickets as I’ve done throughout my childhood at my grandmother’s old farm.

Your video of the white bellbird is very cool. The noise certainly wasn’t what I was expecting, and I was impressed. I have so many questions to ask that bird.

I found it interesting how you described the quiet muting of winter that the snow provides, and I definitely agree and can picture it. Picturing winter reminded me of how much I am dreading it. I wish to move somewhere that is always warm.

And finally, nice literal take on music in nature, where musical instruments are made from wood. I had done a lot of brainstorming on this prompt and my mind hadn’t went there at all! Your blog post is very creative, nice job!

-I

Mother Nature’s Orchestra

While it is not the first thing that comes to mind regarding the word nature, music is extremely intertwined within the natural world. When you go for a walk in a more secluded area from civilizations, the white noise of cars passing, and the beeps of construction are lifted away to reveal the stillness and natural rhythms of the environment to allow for full immersion. For myself, I am able to recall memories of being outdoors through the combination of organic sounds in the same way I can recall memories of travel or being with friends through a song that was playing at the time. For many non-human animals, music is hardwired within their animalistic instincts to be perceived and created in different ways, such as reproduction.

Video of a white bellbird, the loudest bird call in the world. Legitimately sounds like a siren. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvK-DujvpSY

Birds and insects are two types of animals that utilize rhythms and different combinations of sounds to provide a distinguishable song within their own species to attract a mate. For example, katydids have a file and scrapper on their wings that when rubbed together at a certain speed and amount of times creates a precise chirping that travels to their mates. While the tune is recognized differently between us humans and the potential mate of the song, it is a melodic hypnotizing product of a natural instrument. This is just one instrument in use within Mother Nature’s symphony. Other instruments involved are created for several different reasons including, aggression, calling for help, and finding food (echolocation). There is a plethora of songs played on top of one another that are drowned out during the spring and summer months within Ontario.

Slow mo I took of a male katydid calling, click the link. https://rwenvs3000-19.tumblr.com/post/188644007705

Abiotic factors additionally have an influence on this orchestra. Rain and wind produce a steady hissing and whooshing that we are oh so familiar during the fall months. In my opinion, this is a contrast within the winter months because the snow creates a lack of music, due to it being such a great insulator of sound.

One thing that stood out during the music seminar with James Gordon was when he said it was likely that singing may have come before languages as a form of communication, ringing truer to the statement of music within nature. This is because communication was in its fetal stages of progress and resembled what a bird call would have been compared to communication is for us now as a human race. Contrasting that with how we remembered the songbird calls during the exercise on the walk with Chris Earley displayed the use of everyday words or phrases into a rhythmic set of aesthetically pleasing sounds, showed that there is nature in music. To flip the question asking, where nature is in music, I look no further than the instruments created by humans. Whether it is a reed used in a clarinet, wood to make a guitars body or horse hairs used in a violin bow, the intertwining of the two topics goes both ways. Additionally, nature is found in the lyrics of music, which can have endless topics as we have seen within this past seminar with James Gordon.

Violin with its horse hair bow.

My questions this week for you all are: Is there a certain combination of natural sounds that when heard elicit a memory of the outdoors for you? 

What animal species astounds you with either the way they create their song or the sound they produce?

[isenvs3000-19-blog]

Nature Calls

I had difficulty writing this blog post, as the connections between music and nature are far less obvious to me than with visual arts. I am very into music and nature (of course), but how are they combined? Are they at all?

First, I explored some definitions of music. Of course, we know what music is, but descriptive words can help to compare. Lexico.com tells that music is beauty, harmony, and expression of emotion; Merriam-Webster.com (2019) describes “the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession… having unity and continuity”. I can make many connections between the two though they are shallow.

Music within nature is easy to hear, as ecosystems and individual creatures have melodies and harmonies. What creatures come to your mind? Songbirds (I’ve always wondered how they produce such intricate sounds!) and whales come to mine.

This music is a form of communication and a form of play, like with humans.

Though they lack bass, I say that the sounds of nature are ‘music’ because of their intricacy, harmonies and unity. Most of all, they entice emotion through auditory beauty.

A funny candid photo by colourbox.com, an example of the connection of feeling peace through listening to music and peace from nature

Nature within music is present because (just like how I am inspired to create art because of natures beauty) some people find the tranquil and lovely sounds of nature to inspire their creativity in music making.

Being in nature creates feelings of peace, happiness, and calmness, and listening to it’s sounds creates these feelings even if they are listened to in settings far from nature and peace, like on a subway train. The sounds of rain, crashing waves, and birds are all commonly sampled in calming music, and the titles of ‘nature music’ describe harmony and peace that one feels.

Since I haven’t felt inspiration to create music with nature, I was interested in finding those who have. One person that really stood out to me is Ben Mirin, who performs as DJ Ecotone. He samples bird songs, frogs and lemurs (which is what caught my attention) and beatboxes along to them. His performances are targeted to children and he does a very good job as an interpreter in this way. He uses his unique talent to create interest in wildlife and music, and teach children about endangered species by being very cool with animal sounds and a sound mixer.

DJ Ecotone mixing lemur sounds that he collected in an exciting interpretation of nature and music for kids.

To conclude, I didn’t find a personal connection between nature and music, but there are certainly ties between the two, and inspiration for many. Do you connect nature and music through sounds or lyrics? If so, what is your inspiration?

 References:

Definition of MUSIC. (2019). Retrieved from Merriam-webster.com website: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/music

GrrlScientist. (2016, September 22). Music As A Gateway To Nature. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/2016/09/21/music-as-a-gateway-to-nature/#4a13de63549e

Music | Definition of Music by Lexico. (2019). Retrieved October 29, 2019, from Lexico Dictionaries | English website: http://lexico.com/en/definition/music

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The Intricacy of Beauty

Our current educational practices appear to run on information, technology, and development, any focus on beauty and the arts is not nearly as strongly represented.

In our urban lives, which are more than ever separated from the outdoors, this is not surprising. It seems to come naturally to those who have had the privilege of exposure and interest growing up, but others must be taught to slow down and notice details like fine colours and patterns that are around us. We don’t have to travel long distances to the grand canyon or make it to a west-facing beach at sunset to feel the positive effects that nature’s beauty can have. The beauty of nature can be found locally, in our own backyard.

This is a crop from the cover of Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, which I’d like to recommend. This book reveals beautiful perspectives on nature occurrences and their interconnections, entwining science and indigenous knowledge.

A part of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book that really stood out to me was her question of why goldenrods and purple asters grow together, and why they look so beautiful together. She reflects that her questions were shut down by botany professors for being ‘unscientific’.

In art theory, purple and yellow are complementary colours; they’re opposite on the colour wheel, which means they make each other stand out visually.

As you may know, the goal of plants and flowers is to reproduce, mainly through pollination. It’s possible that these flowers have evolved to grow next to each other. Their complementary palette allows them to stand out against the background, becoming more attractive to pollinators, drawing their attention, and therefore making the plant duo more successful. 

Bumblebees have the photoreceptor capacity to see colours from orange to ultraviolet light, so they would be able to perceive yellow and purple and their beauty! (Interestingly, bees apparently can not see red!).

This is my photo of goldenrods and asters in the University of Guelph Arboretum. :)

Since reading that chapter of Braiding Sweetgrass, I have become much more attentive to the colours in nature, and have noticed that berries are very commonly red. This makes sense because red’s complementary colour is green, which causes these berries to stand out next to all the green leaves.

This author did a fantastic job as an interpreter. Even only through text, she provides imagery, science, whole meanings  and interpretations with lasting importance. 

For future interpretation, I think it is important to combine perspectives of beauty within the minute details, even if it is outside of the stated interpretation theme.

I don’t think beauty and science are as separate as they seem, and the collaboration of both perspectives can enhance our understanding of both. 

As Beck and Cable communicate, this combination will foster happiness, interest, appreciation, wonder and inspiration.

Do you recall an interpretation that enlightened a new perspective of beauty in nature for you?

References:

Beck, L., & Cable, T. T. (2011). The Gifts of Interpretation: Fifteen Guiding Principles for Interpreting Nature and Culture. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing

Riddle, Sharla. “How Bees See and Why It Matters.” Bee Culture - The Magazine of American Bee Keeping, 20 May 2016, www.beeculture.com/bees-see-matters/. Accessed 20 Oct. 2019.

‌Wall Kimmerer, Robin. Braiding Sweetgrass : Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants. Minneapolis, Minnesota, Milkweed Editions, 11 Aug. 2014.

[isenvs3000-19-blog]

Hi  Ceci!

I love your illustration! Do you have an Instagram or a collection?

I am an artist too and often create images of people and of nature, but I realized while reading your post and seeing your illustration that I don’t think I’ve ever mixed them before! I really like that you pointed out the connection, and when I have more time, I might try intertwining them. 

I’m  inspired by your take on environmentally friendly mediums. While trying to incorporate sustainability into every other aspect of my life, I’ve never considered this in the mediums of painting and illustration. The examples you have are very cool and I’d like to check them out! This past summer I explored textiles and have heard dying wool or fabric with boiled avocados and onions to make a soft pink and orange, which I’d also like to try when I’m not engulfed by the school semester. 

In regards to your question, I think I interpret nature through art by mimicking shapes and lines of nature, then incorporating new colours and patterns. I like to experiment with painting and illustration, and take a very perfectionist approach to embroidery.

If I were to approach nature through art as an interpreter, I would use the approach you mentioned about taking hikes slowly to closely inspect plants, organisms and patterns creates at tiny scales that you don’t see while walking. This can also incorporate teaching and sharing facts about the nature and ecosystem while also admiring it artistically. As I have in the past, I’d certainly encourage making art from nature such as creating boats or rafts, and playing with clay.

- Isabelle

Now I walk in beauty

I am an artist myself, so I personally interpret nature through art almost every day. My drawings and paintings center around my interpretation of people and their connection with nature. I aim to express my feelings about nature and people through my art.

I also work to create art with mediums that are more environmentally friendly, including handmade watercolour paints (by a lovely Indigenous woman in Manitoulin Island), and black walnut ink that I made myself. I know there are many other natural dyes and inks you can make from plants, but with the winter quickly approaching, that will be a project for next summer. I think it is important to realise that most art mediums come from some natural form at its root and learning how to create these mediums ourselves allows us to have a deeper appreciation of the art we are creating.

A piece of art I made the other day, using my tablet.

I personally believe that we are all nature in itself, and we are deeply connected to the rhythms of the earth. Many other animals are known to be in tune with fluctuating rhythms of the planet, so I personally think it makes sense that we are too. The reason I make these connections (relating wonder and connection to nature), is because we intricately are nature and it is important to interpret and express that to others.

Nature also has patterns that can be extremely beautiful and complex, seen in geometric patterns of plants.

I believe it takes a certain eye to see nature as beautiful and as art. As nature interpreters I believe it is our job to bring that beauty to light to the people we are interacting with. I think the best way to do so is to bring a sense of wonder and imagination when we are out on walks, hikes, or showing nature to anyone else. Also, taking hikes slowly and pausing along the way to really appreciate a view creates that sense of wonder too. Doing creative activities either in nature and about nature connects people more deeply to this sense of wonder. Creating with natural materials, painting a landscape, making art on the ground through a sculpture of rocks you found, etc. There are so many different ways of creating.

I deeply agree with this quote “Interpreters can carry out the profound act of interpreting beauty only if they first perceive it themselves and know strategies to bring it to the attention of others” (Beck and Cable, 2011). Having a sense of wonder and imagination shows others how there is beauty in simple things, in everything that is around us – nature. This can inspire us to create more, as we can create beautiful things.

Art can express nearly anything and everything we want it to, if we just put our heart and soul into it.  Creating connects us with our bodies, our hands, our mind, and our heart. It connects us with our “interior landscape”, also known as our self, our thoughts and moods, as well as the “exterior landscape” of the world around us. Creation invokes feelings inside of us, just as beauty does. Having creativity as our skill allows us to look at the world with a new perspective.

My question to you is: how do you interpret nature through art, and what are your favourite ways of doing so?

-       CJ

References

Beck, L., & Cable, T. T. (2011). The Gifts of Interpretation: Fifteen Guiding Principles for Interpreting Nature and Culture. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing.

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The gift of inspiration

The level of detail and intricacy of nature is incredible. Nature is the strongest source of inspiration to create for many, including myself. Beauty entices emotion, and this can create an interest to replicate it or it’s essence.

There are specific visual features and interactions in nature that blow me away; from the patterns and colours of microscopic occurrences to landscapes from a human’s eye perspective to the earth from space come together forming such incredible beauty. Some specific and significant things I’ve noticed are how some occurrences look like others, though they are at a completely different scale, material, or location.

What does this look like to you? My own photo.

While flying south I rose above the clouds. Beneath us, they were white and full of texture. I was ecstatic to realize that it looked exactly like snow!

Other similarities like this that I have found are the way that roots spread outwards like fractals in a way that resembles the pattern that water runs down a shallow slope.

*

I really enjoy exploring the creations of others. Different styles are beautiful and can reveal new perspectives.

Lake Nipissing from Heirloom Island. www.heirloomisland.com

Heirloom Island is Julieanne Steedman from Sudbury, Ontario. The lake series stands out to me because of my great interest in maps, and she does an incredible job. This one is of the lake from my hometown, North Bay.

Another favourite nature artist of mine is Kate Dolamore from Florida. She paints incredible watercolours of animals with accurate fine detail. I wish that I could do this!

Owl Illustrations by Kate Dolamore. shop.katedolamore.com

I am interested in incorporating nature interpretation into whichever career path I end up following, and within it, I wish to incorporate arts. In my limited experience of interpretation, working as a Reptile Camp leader at Scales, I made sure to incorporate a creative arts and crafts session into every week. In the same way as with the reptiles, I loved showing excitement about art and seeing it reflect in the children. It was rewarding to share with them open-ended ways to feel inspiration and create. Much like the importance of being exposed to the outdoors as a child is crucial, I believe exposure to creative exploration is so important. At least in my experience, the elementary school system fails to provide this. While some with early talent receive positive feedback, others lose interest by being allowed to think “I don’t have a creative bone in my body”. This ‘talent’ is mostly from practicing.

I believe art enhances nature interpretation and it could be used in ways like photography or illustrations to catch interest and add significance through beauty. For example, throughout The Gifts of Interpretation by Larry Beck and Ted Cable, there are beautiful tree illustrations by Tsuyoshi Matsumoto and Helen Kagan. As well, it allows for a different medium for communication, and simply because its nice.

Do you have a specific type of art that you really enjoy viewing or creating that is inspired by nature? Or a type that you’ve always wanted to practice? I would love to compare our experiences! :)

[isenvs3000-19-blog]

Hi CJ :)

Nice post! You’ve had some nice experiences and insight towards the different age groups that you’ve worked with. This summer, what kind of setting did you work in with the children? Was it a summer camp?

I really liked when you said that “even the quiet children come out of their shell when you pair them with the right people”, because this isn’t something I had ever thought of as an interpreter, and being conscious of this would certainly be beneficial!

I have worked with children in a nature interpretation setting before; I was a co-lead of a Reptile Camp for children aged 7-12. We spent a lot of time outside playing games, exploring nature and finding creatures, and interacting with the reptiles and amphibians at the nature park. The majority of the children were 7-9 year-olds. At this age they are full of energy and interested in exploring. It felt like getting very enthusiastic as an interpreter was rewarding; getting interested in nature helped direct their attention and show things that they normally may overlook.

We also respond with interest to things that seem frightful and uncomfortable, as you mention. For example, fear of leeches is common, and children would freak out when they got one in the crayfish pond. When having a mentor respond by calmly removing it, explaining how “even though kind of scary, they’re really cool”, and tell them facts, the children would continue to explore the pond.

Overall, we found excitement and energy in the leaders translates into the children.

I have never worked with teens, adults or seniors, but I also thing it would be interesting!

Isabelle

The Gift of Targeted Programs

There may be a lot of kids that aren’t bonding with nature, but if they are given the right tools, I believe it is possible to rediscover the sense of wonder that nature can bring. If they have the right people in their life, or have an initial experience that rekindles the spark for nature, this can make their relationship with nature much more positive. Even if it’s having an adult/friendly figure take them on a quick walk in their neighbourhood, someone teaching them about plants or birds around them, or having a sense of discovery in a local park, I believe their relationship can spark and begin to blossom.

Although nature can be viewed as something that is frightful and uncomfortable for people, this is because of past experiences shaping their interpretation around nature. I think beginning to instil the world of nature interpretation into children’s lives can be extremely beneficial, as they can experience the wonder and fascination of nature. An organisation I worked for in the summer starts working with children as young as 0 years old! To learn more about the creatures and plants that surround us, can bring us a greater sense of connection. In the Gifts of Interpretation (Beck and Cable, 2011), it is stated that babies benefit from hearing words and enthusiasm in a nature setting. Nature has so many different aspects to engage with, especially in regard to the senses. There are so many different plants to touch and smell and sounds in the forest to hear.

Attention spans can be short for kids, so keeping them engaged relies on keeping things changing according to how they are enjoying an activity. I worked with 4-year-olds this summer, and I believe the key is to keep their basic needs in check (eating, drinking water, going to the washroom), playing lots of games and engaging with their imagination. This keeps them on their feet, and once their basic needs are met, they are able to become immersed in the activities.

For older kids to teenagers, skill development is quite useful. Giving them a task to work on that will take time, and they will receive satisfaction from with their end result keeps them engaged. For example, using different fire methods, and working together with their friends to build a fire using a bow-drill (a method of friction fire), or using flint and steel, allows them to build skills like teamwork and patience.

Getting to know the people you work with is imperative to engaging them throughout your time together. Usually, I was working with a group of kids for a span of a week, and some individuals for two weeks or more. Having this length of time together allows for a group dynamic to develop, and you can use different people’s personalities to make things more enjoyable for everyone. I find that even the quiet children come out of their shell when you pair them with the right people during a game, or a skill development activity. There is also diversity within groups that is important to consider, as everyone has their own “invisible knapsack”.

I have yet to be trained or to engage with seniors on a nature interpretation level, but I think that could be really interesting; they would have a lot of previous knowledge so they would view things a lot differently than any other age group.

My question to you: If you have (or not!) worked with different age groups in different nature interpretation settings, what do you think the pros and cons would be to working with different age groups? Do you have any tips or tricks for engaging these different groups?

-       CJ

References

Beck, L., & Cable, T. T. (2011). The Gifts of Interpretation: Fifteen Guiding Principles for Interpreting Nature and Culture. Urbana, IL: Sagamore Publishing.

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Illuminating history leaves lasting light

The value of learning history is not present at the first glance. The changes from long ago in society’s views, people’s rights, people’s lives, and in our cities and landscapes don’t seem to have relevance in our daily lives. Upon learning about history (especially with a skilled interpreter), the significance is evident, and I would say, it does directly affect out lives and our choices.

How can this be?

Beck and Cable’s perspective in the 7th chapter of The Gifts of Interpretation (1) outlines reasoning behind the value of learning and teaching history as a whole.

A quote describes this importance:

“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

Hyams articulates that the significance behind ancient things is created through learning the whole story of them. Keeping this entirety creates knowledge, memory, emotional significance, and magic to the things around us.

Things might be valuable in the sense that a chalice is made of gold, and that gold is worth money, but with the knowledge that this chalice belonged to an emperor or king hundreds of years ago, this item becomes priceless. Especially if the history of the item relates to your culture or ancestry.

This is Locomotive 6167, a historical landmark in Guelph, Ontario. The railroad brought booming businesses to Guelph such as piano manufacturing. This locomotive was in service from 1940 - 1960. Photo from GuelphMuseums.ca (2). 

I moved to Guelph three years ago and have spent some time exploring the beautiful buildings and landscaping of downtown. This week, I was privileged to attend an interpretive walk of the history there and the value of the information is incredible. With insight into the past of buildings and historical occurrences, there is now much more reverence and reflection in the time I spend there.

The integrity of preserving and communicating this history passes on the knowledge and memory to me.

I now share things that I’ve learned with peers when we’re in the area.

Our interpreter Ken did a great job of communicating to our audience. The stories were articulated with connections to our present lives and to the interests of a group of students (a lot of talk about alcohol).

*

This is why teaching and learning about history is so relevant: learning about efforts and struggles of people before us, horrible and unjust decisions and brave activism gives us insight to our civic responsibilities of today. We can see astounding achievements and as well as the grave errors and are guided to not repeat historic mistakes from being able to see lasting trauma and suffering.

Hyams’ metaphor about the train is simple and direct, allowing understanding of this topic that requires reflection. It is ridiculous to ignore the existence of material things that we don’t experience in the moment, and this is related to the importance and continued presence of history.

References:

(1) “The Gift of Personalizing the Past.” The Gifts of Interpretation: Fifteen Guiding Principles for Interpreting Nature and Culture, by Larry Beck and Ted T. Cable, 3rd ed., Sagamore Publishing, 2011.

(2) “Locomotive 6167.” Guelph Museums, Guelph Museums, guelphmuseums.ca/venue/locomotive-6167/.

[isenvs3000-19-blog]

Hi Grace!

How you divided the quote into two parts was helpful for comprehension. Like you mentioned, I also felt a little confused by the big words when I had first come across it.

It’s true that learning the history behind things that surround us or visit does change the relationship to the artifacts and the location. It adds magic and emotional depth to picture people’s lives, the cool things they could experience, and the struggles they had. It captures emotions and becomes a memorable place and experience. Learning the history of the women in Blarney Castle must have been so interesting! What forms of interpretation did they use? Where there any connections to specific historical figures or acts of living history?

Recognizing connections between people’s past struggles and the freedoms in the present can bring us greater reverence. It puts into perspective the negative and positive outcomes that have come to pass from people’s decisions and activism, and it inspires action today through associating past occurrences to our current lives and reminding us that unjust power can be overcome.

In the second part of the quote, your continued metaphor of the train was very nice. The original quote used the train as a quick metaphor for things passing, but you intertwined further reasoning of the importance of learning from our history, like examining “why that train went through that station on that particular day” to learning from the past to prevent horrible occurrences from repeating.

The Importance of History

“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 going to be the focus of this week’s blog post. Honestly when I first read this quote I was slightly confused. I did not totally understand the meaning of the quote but after reading chapter 7 in the Gifts of Interpretation novel, I began to comprehend it a little more. I am going to break the quote down into two sections.

Photo of myself at the Blarney Castle, in Ireland. Photo taken by Charlotte Tenszen (sister).

“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” – (Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation).

This first section of the quote I broke down as old artifacts are just old items without knowing the history of them. For example an old castle is just an old building without knowing the facts and past of it. As interpreters it is important to fully understand the history of the material that is being presented. It is also crucial that as interpreters we try to relate this history to the audience, no one will connect with old information that has nothing to do with their present. A great example of this was a history walk through Guelph that I went on (thanks to the Guelph Civic Museum). Our interpreter Ken was talking about a building called the Albion (a restaurant/bar) and instead of just stating the history, he kept it relevant by referring back to the present. Another example of having history relate to the present was when I went to see the Blarney Castle (pictured above) I learned all about the people who had lived there hundreds of years ago. I connected to the lives of the women who lived at that castle and it made me realize how grateful I am for all the obstacles women have overcome to get to this point in their history. 

Photo of myself and Logan Barnes (friend) at the Kensington Palace. Photo taken by Charlotte Tenszen (sister).

“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 second section of the quote I have unpacked as just because the history is in the past doesn’t mean it has no relevance to the future. I believe it is extremely important as humans to learn from our past. Humans have made a ton of mistakes and it is essential we do not repeat them. For example, the World Wars (one and two) like the train have passed through the station, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t leave an impact that is effecting many people today. We should not just forget about the station just because the train is gone, we should learn from the train and strive to be better. We should also try to examine why that train went through that station on that particular day essentially learn from our mistakes. John Golda stated “Ultimately, the role of history is to provide the opportunity to examine ourselves and how we have become what we are today”. I think this quote is extremely relevant to the train station example. Which is why as an interpreter it is important to not only relate the history to the audience and their present but also to explain why this particular history is crucial to know. 

References:

“The Gifts of Interpretation” by Larry Beck and Ted T. Cable. 3rd Edition, Copyright 2011

[isenvs3000-19-blog]

Hey! 

This is the ant video by kurzgesagt that Aaron briefly mentioned in class today. 

I’ve seen it before and it rocks, you guys should check it out!