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Hi Emma!

Wow, what a great blog post you have created here, I love your use of pictures and bolded titles! I enjoy how you mentioned Mills’ formula for nature guiding as I am sure many of us can use these points to lead the way when thinking about what kind of interpreter we aspire to be. I especially like the point about “giving flesh and blood to cold facts” because to be honest, I think that sometimes scientific facts can be dry and unentertaining to many people. However, when we learn to share the excitement of nature with others so that they can feel the same way we do, we can agree that we are doing well as interpreters.

I also really appreciate how you mentioned that one of your beliefs is to share your knowledge with others in an inclusive way. I was just thinking yesterday how one of the challenging parts about university is that you are around so many smart and knowledgeable people everyday, but at times you cannot even understand them because the information that is presented to you is beyond your scope of understanding at that instant. Like you mentioned, if we all put in effort to communicate with others so that everyone can digest the information being put forth to them, we would all benefit. As a nature interpreter, it’s crucial to be compassionate and to educate others so that our love for the natural world can transpire to them!

Good luck in the future and I hope your passion for nature only grows!

- Katarina

What are my values as an interpreter?

Over the past few months I have learned a lot about the importance of nature interpretation theory and my responsibilities as an interpreter. I wanted to start by mentioning a formula for nature guiding, written by Enos Mills in 1920. Mills was one of the first individuals to use the term “interpret” when talking about the duties of a “nature guide” and he laid the groundwork for others like Freeman Tilden (1950s) to create the principles of interpretation that continue to guide interpreters to this day (Beck et al., 2018, pp 8, 83). Mills’ formula for good “nature guiding” was as follows:

• Appeal to the imagination and the reason. • Give flesh and blood to cold facts. • Make stories to breathe life into inanimate objects. • Deal with principles rather than isolated information. • Give biographies rather than classifications.

-(Beck et al. 2018, pp. 83)

I love these simple statements because they hold such relevance even to this day. I agree that for interpretation to be real, important, and moving, it should be imaginative, creative, and use stories and real-life examples to make programs interesting and engaging. Many of my motivations for being an interpreter come from my own learning styles and this type of work is very fulfilling for me. I personally am a visual learner and learn the best from hands on demonstrations and illustrations. I also learn much better from hearing someone explain topics instead of reading them in a textbook. As an interpreter, I will strive to make programs interesting and engaging through many different hands-on examples, stories, pictures, and easy to digest information. I will still accommodate other learning styles like making sure I have written options for those who learn better from the written word. I will try to get to know my groups if I can to present information in the most engaging way possible.

The rest of this post contains my core beliefs and motivations as an environmental interpreter, I am interested in hearing what motivates some of you to pursue nature interpretation.

1. Share information in an inclusive way.

(Photo by Emma Lippert)

I have had the privilege to explore many different natural spaces over the years and have been able to further my environmental education in university, but I have come to dislike some things about traditional post-secondary education. Many people I interact with are incredibly smart, but they struggle to share their knowledge with others in an inclusive way, so there is often a “gatekeeping” of information simply because these individuals can’t communicate their knowledge in an easy to digest format. I vow to share my knowledge with others in an inclusive way and not withhold information simply because I think I cannot explain it properly. The whole purpose of interpretation is to share the beauty of the world with others and help them gain a better understanding of how the world around them works.

2. Dispel fear of the outdoors.

(Photo by Emma Lippert)

I mentioned in my very first blog post that I started out with a tentative relationship with nature as many of the unknowns scared me. Weird insects, spiky plants, vast forests that you could get lost in, they all frightened me and because I hadn’t perfectly “mastered the outdoors” I was constantly discouraged from trying to enjoy it. Having role models like teachers and employers who have encouraged and pushed me to explore more of nature, I have grown to really appreciate all that it has to offer. I noticed that once I learned some facts about certain creatures or plants, I could better appreciate them and their role in life on earth and I know that I will continue to use my knowledge to help others be less afraid of nature and embrace it for all its complex beauty.

3. Fight for access to natural spaces and removal of systemic and structural barriers.

(Photo by Emma Lippert)

I believe that everyone should have access to nature interpretation activities and natural spaces. Much of this fear of nature can come from inadequate environmental education or barriers to accessing natural spaces. I think it is very disappointing to know that there are people who live so close to parks and natural spaces, but can’t access them due to financial, language, transportation, or accessibility barriers. If we can start to bring people to nature or nature to people more often, we could see more people becoming empowered by the environment and respecting it. Through increased affordable transportation options to parks, lower entrance fees, well maintained and accessible trails, multilingual signage, a diverse range of interpreters, and more events that include various marginalized communities, some of these barriers can be minimized (Beck et al., 2018, pp 134-137).

4. Creating community gardens and other environmental initiatives in urban settings

(photo of Ron Finley from https://worldwarzero.com/magazine/2020/06/eco-hero-ron-finley/)

In the future I hope to work with other non-profit organizations to help make natural spaces more accessible and approachable to a wider range of demographics, especially those who cannot afford to visit natural spaces. I believe there is great importance in community engagement and I think local initiatives such as community gardens or refurbishing local parks are really important in bringing nature to urban spaces and providing an educational opportunity.

Here is a link to an article and a short video about a group in Guelph who came together to improve a community garden’s compost system. https://guelph.ca/living/recreation/parks/community-and-pollinator-gardens/

I also highly suggest you watch this TED talk by Ron Finley on his work in South Central Los Angeles and how he is transforming urban food deserts into places where communities can come together, learn, and grow their own food. These are the kinds of initiatives that make me excited to work with the environment. https://www.ted.com/talks/ron_finley_a_guerrilla_gardener_in_south_central_la/transcript?language=en#t-2942 

5. Highlight Indigenous cultures and their importance.

(Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site. (Parks Canada) https://www.haidagwaiiobserver.com/news/reopening-of-gwaii-haanas-delayed-until-2021/)

Finally, I believe that for Canada to have any success in the future, we must make amends with Indigenous communities and work collaboratively with them to help interpret and protect our ecosystems and land. I have always admired Indigenous belief systems and how connected they are to the earth. If we could all just understand our connection to life on this planet, I think this world would be a much better place, but urbanization and colonization have separated us from this relationship. In future interpretation roles I will make sure to integrate Indigenous knowledge holders and their stories into talks to remind everyone of this important link between peoples.

Thank you for reading this far! It has been a pleasure getting to learn with you all and I wish you all the best in your future endeavours!

References

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

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Hi Siobhan,

I loved reading your blog post! I would like to tell you that I think you are undermining your skills as nature interpreter! From reading even just this one blogpost of yours, you have taught me new information about nature so that very much makes you a nature interpreter, whether you know it or not. I understand what you mean when you say you hesitate to call yourself an environmentalist because you feel that even though you have implemented small changes, they never feel like they are enough. I feel this way too sometimes, but then I remember that small changes by many people make BIG differences, so we have to continue doing them. It’s important for anyone to not feel guilty if they used a plastic straw or plastic bag one too many times in their life. What is important, however, is that we have learned to do better and we are putting these good habits into effect. When we teach and encourage others to do the same, we are acting as nature interpreters.

I find it amazing that through this course you were not only able to further grow your strong skills as a communicator, you were also able to unveil where you need to improve as well. At the end of the day, I believe that is all you can ask of yourself and you must be proud that you know how and where to improve in the future. Ultimately, that is how we grow as humans. I think that wherever life takes you after this course, if you share your joy of nature with others and make small changes to protect the environment, you are on the right path.

I wish you the best luck in your future endeavours and hope you continue to grow a passion for nature interpretation.

- Katarina

My Personal Ethic

This was a very daunting post to write. 

I feel as though the question of my “personal ethic” as a nature interpreter is something that’s always in the back of my mind. Upon reflection, I realized that I have some conflicted feelings about referring to myself as a nature interpreter and that I don’t feel entirely comfortable thinking of myself as one. I think that the term “Nature Interpreter” alludes to a certain amount of expertise and authority, and there’s a part of me that doesn’t feel like I’ve developed enough skills or done enough work to claim that authority and I think this ties back to one of my bigger issues: My reluctance to call myself an environmentalist.

On one hand, the natural world is very important to me. Nature is something that’s always brought me a lot of joy and wonder, and I feel very strongly about how it’s worth protecting. That being said, I always hesitate to call myself an environmentalist because no matter what I do, I never quite feel like I’ve earned that title because I always feel like I could have done more. This could be down to a sort of impostor syndrome that makes me feel as though my values will forever be undermined by all the plastic straws I’ve used over the course of my life.

However, reading some of the blog posts and reflections here has made me question some of the self-doubt I’ve been carrying. I’ve picked up on a love, reverence, and passion you all have for the natural world, and I don’t think I would hesitate to call any of you nature interpreters or environmentalists, regardless of whether you used a plastic grocery bag or ordered something from Amazon in the past week. Going forward, I’m going to extend the same grace towards myself, especially now that I understand how valuable that grace can be.  

During one of our podcast episodes, my team and I spoke about the importance of learning and speaking about environmental issues, and how changing hearts and minds can make a positive impact. Looking back, it feels as though making that claim while doubting whether I can call myself an environmentalist is a little hypocritical. I think that something as simple as calling yourself an environmentalist can be a powerful act of nature interpretation. It’s a simple act, but by using that label, you’re telling people that nature has a great deal of value to you, and that can help spread awareness. That being said, I don’t think it’s enough to adopt the label. I think that calling yourself an environmentalist or a nature interpreter comes with responsibilities, and I think those responsibilities vary based on your skills or your passions.

I think that developing my skills and my approach to nature interpretation has value beyond what I can personally do to help the environment. I was struck by how much I enjoyed the podcast assignment. In fact, after my team and I finished recording our second podcast, I was reminded of unit nine where we were asked to reflect on what gets us fired up.

I found that writing the script, and especially writing some of the more interpretive aspects of our podcasts, was challenging in a way that was really engaging to me. I was reminded that making inaccessible content make sense to more people is something that gives me a real sense of purpose and that there were moments during the podcast assignment where I genuinely did feel “fired up.”        

My team chose urban forestry as our podcast topic, and I was doing research on and working on the scripts, I was reminded of how fascinating and important urban forests can be. (It also reminded me of how fascinating urban planning can be, but I imagine that’s not as universal of an experience.) On top of that, recording the podcast gave me a chance to have a conversation about something I care about with people who feel the same way and even though it was a scripted conversation, I think it did a lot to lift my mood. Altogether, the podcast assignment got me feeling animated and excited in a way that’s been harder and harder to come by.  

I think it’s been difficult for a lot of us to get “fired up” over the past two years. I think that as we become more connected as a society, we become more exposed to and aware of threats to climate, economic and social justice. While I believe that this is ultimately a positive impact, I think that it also makes us more vulnerable to mental and emotional burnout and the added impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic As difficult as it may be, I think these threats and drains on our mental health make it more important than ever to find sources of passion, and I think that nature might be one of the most important sources of passion that I have.

I know that when I started this class, I thought that most of my value as a nature interpreter would be rooted in my skills as a communicator. I think that my work here has confirmed that I do have those skills and that they’re valuable skills to have. However, I think that I also uncovered some of my blind spots, and a lot of skills I need to develop as I move forward in this field.

For instance, I was discussing some of my coursework with my partner earlier in the semester and he pointed out that there are probably a lot of people who are interested in nature, but who don’t feel inspired to pursue their interest. I think that engaging with that audience and inspiring them to act could make a positive impact on the world. While I know that I’m good at putting complicated concepts into simple, concise terms and I think that makes sense given my background in news writing. However, working on blog posts and podcasts made me realize that if I’m going to seriously pursue the field of Nature Interpretation, I need to learn how to inspire as well as communicate and I think that’s going to be one of the biggest things I work on as I move forward.

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This is not the end

As we near the end of this course, I cannot help but feel a sense of gratitude for all that I have learned over the past 12 short weeks. Not only was I able to write about my love for nature frequently through our weekly blog posts, but I was taught that through nature interpretation, I can share my passion and knowledge of it with others as well. Along the way, I was able to meet classmates through our podcast groups who share the same desire to further our education with our environment at the centre of it. This course truly reminded me of the power that nature has to offer, with everything from the mental health benefits to physical benefits. Oftentimes I found myself participating in meaningful conversation with others who are not enrolled in this class about how we enjoy spending our time in nature, almost as if we were acting as nature interpreters without knowing it. Once you find yourself speaking about a course outside of the classroom, I think we can all agree that you know that you really enjoy learning about the topic!

As someone who is passionate about the environment, my personal ethic as a nature interpreter is to educate others on the importance of taking care of our planet and how climate change has been, and will continue to be detrimental for our world. If we fail to preserve nature, there won't be much longer before it’s destroyed. As I develop as a nature interpreter, it is my hope to inform my audience about ways to reduce our carbon footprint, and to show them that spending time in nature is fun, and to provide ways in which it can be protected in easy ways! 

It was mentioned in our course material that kids must be taught in an empowering way about the challenges that are posed in the environment today. It stated that one day, it is with great hope that children will take it upon themselves to sustain and restore planet Earth. I am here to say that I believe that we, my classmates and I, are these children. We are the children that can make the difference. We have the ability to make a powerful change to reduce and stop climate change, and it all starts with all of us doing our part each day. Although this may seem hard at times when there is an immense amount of negative news that is constantly being spoken about in terms of climate change, especially because it primarily hasn’t been caused by our generation, we must not lose hope. It is our duty to make little changes that will make BIG differences. We have a responsibility to do better. I have a responsibility to do better. To learn more. To help others. And to use my voice for things such as the environment that do not have a voice of their own. For this reason, I will dedicate my skills as a nature interpreter to help others achieve the collective goal to care for the Earth.

After much consideration about my approach to being a nature interpreter, I have come to the conclusion that it is to educate others to mitigate climate change instead of adapting to it. Adapting to the changing environment is only a bandaid fix. An example of adapting to the changing environment would be to buy a fan because it is getting increasingly hot over the years in the summer. Mitigation actually works to reduce climate change, and is effective both in the short and long term. An example of this could be to plant more trees to decrease the albedo effect, thus decreasing global temperatures. In order to put my approach into action, it entails putting my privilege to use! Privilege can arise in all aspects in life, even in places like nature interpretation. It was truly a privilege to have been taught growing up that the natural world can bring so much joy into our lives, and to now attend university and to be taught all about nature, I am very fortunate because of it. When we use our privilege wisely, we can reach people who are not as privileged as us, and hopefully educate them and share the happiness that nature provides to us as interpreters.

To conclude this course, my “so what” thoughts are that nature interpretation can be anywhere where we choose to find it, whether that be in music, art, or in quotations, just to name a few. It is important in life to not always look at the grand scheme of things. Sometimes we must zoom into the little things in life to find joy that we didn’t know existed, like simply hearing the sound of water in a ravine on our morning walks. Beck et al. 2018 describes 15 gifts that interpretation can provide for us. The first gift that is listed is, “The Gift of a Spark” which is defined as, “To spark an interest, interpreters must relate the subject to the lives of the people in the audience.” If there is one thing that is for certain that I have learned from this course, it is that I feel that I have been given the “Gift of a Spark” as an interpreter. After weeks of thinking about the content in this course, and delving deeper to find the true meaning behind simple words, I have found a passion in nature interpretation. I have discovered that I love being educated on the strong forces that nature is revealing to us each day, and it has given me a desire to help others feel this way too. So while this may be my last blog post for this course, this is not a farewell - rather a hear from you soon and I look forward to reading about your curiosities again one day. This is not the end of our journey, in fact, only the beginning. 

Thank you all!

Katarina

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

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Hi Georgi!

Thank you for your beautiful story at the beginning of your post! From the moment you said, “Picture this...” I was truly able to imagine the scenario you were writing, and I felt like it was real life! As interpreters, I think that the skill of story telling is an important one to become familiar with as we are able to captivate the attention of our audiences and cause them to think of new ideas that they wouldn’t have thought of before. Great job for having this skill and using it so amazingly!

I also think one of the most amazing things about nature is that there is life everywhere! In this week’s blog post, I wrote about how impressive it is that every aspect in an ecosystem works together, and as soon as you remove or add one component, it can all be disturbed. I completely agree with you when you say that we must preserve the Earth to maintain its beauty. In our textbook, it states how nature interpreters have to teach their audience about the importance of this preservation and how to mitigate climate change so that future generations can enjoy nature too.

You and I agree that the interconnectedness of nature is what is so great about it. I think what we can all learn from it is to try the best we can to maintain the balance within our world, and to live in unison with one another.

Awesome job on your post Georgi, I really enjoyed reading it!

Katarina

Life in Nature

Picture this, you’re on a walk through a forest and you’ve reached the top of a steep hill. Out of breath, you take a short pause and look around to see where you are. To your left is the cliff edge and beyond that you can see the far stretch of trees hugging a narrow river that appears to end in a large lake. From your point of view, you can see a couple of turkey vultures swooping through the sky in lazy circles above a small clearing in the forest below.

To the right, there is the dense forest and you hear the sound of birds talking up a storm from within the cover of leaves. Out of the corner of your eye you see a small chipmunk dart across the ground and disappear within a hollow log. At your feet, you see an organized line of ants marching in unison towards a dead insect on the ground not to far away. Most incredibly, in front of you is a small family of white tail deer eyeing you suspiciously.

The Takeaway from this story is that everywhere you look in nature, there is life. In my opinion this is the most beautiful part of nature because it puts things into perspective that there’s a whole other world besides our own. In this case, our world simply involved hiking a trail and taking in the views, but there is so much more to it than just that. Think of all the many ecosystems that surround us anytime we are out in nature. If we really stop to look, we’ll find how truly amazing and interconnected all of nature is.

Beyond the animals, there is also the life of plants, fungi and even the organisms we can’t see like bacteria! Everything has a home in nature and as major influencers of habitats, it is our job to preserve this. Similar to our unit on history, it is important for us to remember the importance of nature and put forth conservation strategies to save as much as we can. As we all know, nature is incredibly sensitive and it is truly a shame that we continue to lose it as a result of our human footprint.

If we continue this way, there will be no more wild turkey vultures flying the sky, no chipmunks scurrying across the forest floors, no long stretches of forest and no sounds of birds singing in the trees. Personally, there’s a lot of nature I take for granted because I have constant access to it, but I can’t imagine a world without being surrounded by nature.

I would love to hear about any experiences you have had with nature that truly showed you the vibrancy of life within it.

Thanks so much for reading!

-  Georgi

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Glacier lilies growing in Banff National Park behind the melting snowbanks. There is balance in all things natural with every component relying on one another.

Photo taken from: banffmoments.com

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All About Balance

I have always admired the balance that is maintained in nature. There is a beautiful ebb and flow to it that truly inspires me to channel my highest state of inner peace. It’s amazing to me how everything in an ecosystem is dependent on one another. If you remove or alter one biotic or abiotic factor, the entire habitat can immediately change. This is what I know to be the most amazing thing about nature - numerous building blocks working together and relying on one another to live and survive the best that they can.

Let’s take a trip to Banff National Park in the uppermost alpine ecoregion of the park, where the only vegetation that can withstand the cold temperatures and snow are located in meadows. In the early spring, the first perennial you can see emerge following the snowmelt is the glacier lily. Standing around 30 cm in height, this beautiful yellow flower is the first food source for many animals as they come out of hibernation following the winter. You can also see bumble bees buzzing around the glacier lilies, transferring its pollen to procreate this unique plant species. However, this year, warm temperatures have decided to come early due to climate change and the snow has started melting earlier than usual. The grizzly bears that forage on this plant did not react the same to warmer temperatures as the lily and stayed in hibernation until their typical time range each year. Now, when the bears do emerge from hiding, they have missed the short timeframe in which the glacier lilies are alive and must scavenge for a new food, if there is any. There is a possibility that now the bears will not obtain enough energy for the season, or they could eat the food of another hungry animal. Something as small as an earlier snowmelt date suddenly has the ability to significantly disturb the balance of the ecosystem, affecting every component involved in it.

Beck et al. (2018) states that interpreters act as a bridge between future climate change projections and educating the public about these facts. Interpreters must teach others about the magnitude of their actions, and how society can increase quality of life for all the species we share the Earth with (Beck et al., 2018). Many of the elements that offset the balance of an ecosystem are because of the actions of humans. The reason the snow has started melting earlier in the year in our hypothetical story is a result of humans emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that warm our planet, just to name one example. In this instance, not only will the glacier lilies and animals suffer, but the park could begin looking completely different with less and less snow each year. It is extremely important for humans to take action in order to preserve the equilibrium that must be maintained in our ecosystems. Nature interpreters must educate participants on climate change to make it clear that if they want to continue exploring nature’s beauty and learning from its magnificent balance, then it must be taken care of.

- Katarina

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

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Hi Sydney!

Awesome job on your blogpost this week! I think it is great that you use nature as a method to cope with your anxiety. Moreover, it is amazing that even when you do not have access to the sounds of the outdoors, you know to play music to put yourself at ease. I believe that nature has a special energy associated with it - it can bring you feelings of peace, calmness, and it can reduce stress. These feelings are all because our body releases endorphins that make us feel happier, similar to when we eat chocolate or exercise!

I love how you mentioned that one of the reasons you like that particular Pocahontas song is because it pays respect to nature. I think this respect is especially important due to the fact that the song is made for a younger audience. There is a lot of value in teaching children from a young age to take care of the Earth and preserve all things natural because they can disappear! Your song has acted as a nature interpreter for you and I’m sure many other children as it has provoked positive feelings towards nature.

One last thought for you - how do you think you have been able to interpret nature through music as I know it plays a large role in life? What are other ways in which you witness the importance of nature through songs and their creativity?

Once again, great job writing this week’s post and I look forward to reading more from you.

- Katarina

Nature and Music

When I think about music and nature, they are very similar to me. When I am out in nature, I believe the sounds of the leaves, grass, creatures and everything around me makes beautiful music. Therefore when I think about where music is in nature and vice versa, I believe that they can be the same thing. As talked about in my previous blog posts, I have a special connection with nature as it helps me with my anxiety when I can feel nature and listen to its sounds. I have a similar connection with nature and with music, because just as the sounds and feelings of nature can help clear my head, music gives me a similar feeling. Therefore if I don’t have the opportunity or time to go out into nature and experience it, I try to listen to music to experience the same calmness. Although music doesn’t give me the exact same feeling as nature as I can’t physically see it or feel it as I can when I am outside in nature. I am still grateful to be able to make a connection with music when I don’t have nature available.

My favourite song connection to nature is from my favourite Disney movie Pocahontas. The song “Colors of the Wind” immediately brings me back to this pathway formed between these huge pine trees near my old house. The line in the song “come run the hidden pine trails of the forest” brings me visually back to this very spot and the happiness I feel when I am there. I used to spend hours there just listening to trees and wind around me and I would find such peace being there. It may sound cliche but I truly loved just listening to this song because of its important reminders of nature. I also love this song for the respect it gives to nature. The lines such as “you think you own whatever land you land on, the earth is just a dead thing you can claim” and “the rainstorm and the rivers are my brothers, the heron and the otter are my friends” are very powerful reminders. They remind us that everything in nature has a life too and we should respect it as much as we respect each other. I also think it has an important message of getting out and feeling nature and “rolling in the riches all around you” as we have such a beautiful world, that we should be enjoying and exploring and not destroying.

Let me know if you know any other songs that give respect to nature. Another one of my favourites that I have a special connection with to nature is “The Circle of Life” from the Lion King. “There's more to see than can ever be seen” (The Lion King, Disney) so let's get outside and feel our connection to nature.

- Sydney

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Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada, with my family in 2009. ‘American Pie’ is what I hear when I look back at this picture.

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Choosing to Listen

The sound of waves crashing on shores, animals rustling through leaves, or even humans singing around a campfire. These are just a few of the many possibilities of music in nature. In fact, music is everywhere in nature for those who choose to hear it! 

Music in nature can also be found in social media posts, and can provoke a feeling in viewers without even having visited the destination in real life. It can be used as an effective tool to ignite a certain feeling in people who learn best from visuals (Beck et al., 2018). For instance, there are several videos on Instagram and Tiktok that are simply showing a waterfall with a rugged landscape in the background. There are no other sounds over the video but the music of the nature - like the sound of the water hitting the rocks or birds chirping in the distance. The beautiful sounds that these viewers are hearing can bring them a sense of peace and calmness, giving them the desire to witness and listen to this landscape first hand.

According to Beck et al. (2018), interpretation is a creative experience. Interpreters need to be efficient in communicating and forming relationships, however, they also benefit from being artistic. Music is a way in which interpretation can bridge the two. Some music artists act as nature interpreters without even being aware of it. Sometimes they sing about the natural beauty of this earth, advertise to preserve it, and evoke special feelings and ideas about it. Artists use music as a way of uniting humans and prove to us that one thing everyone has in common is that we live on this natural planet called Earth. Louis Armstrong’s song, “What a Wonderful World”, mentions blue skies and clouds and babies, all things that relate to the natural world. While he references all these things, the greater message in this song was to try to help put an end to America’s racial and political conflicts in the 1960s (American Song Writer 2020). So, nature is referenced in music quite often, and a great part of this is that they portray a bigger picture than what we hear, while allowing artists to act as nature interpreters as well.

I am immediately taken back to 2009 when my parents, sister, brother, and I were driving through Alberta in our rental car belting out the lyrics to American Pie. I remember these humongous mountains and beautiful trees surrounding us as we sang and laughed as family, making it one of my favourite childhood memories. We had a little TomTom GPS that was teaching us all about the landscapes of the province, virtually acting as our nature interpreter. Music has this amazing way of connecting experiences in humans with the specific place we were at the time of listening to the song, and we are all so fortunate to have this method as a way to remember the nature we were surrounded by too.

- Katarina

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

https://americansongwriter.com/what-a-wonderful-world-louis-armstrong-behind-the-song/

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Hi Marlene!

To begin, I have to compliment you on your writing. I could ‘hear’ your voice through your thoughtful words, and was able to evoke feelings in me to prove that you are grasping the interpretive skills that you have learned thus far in real life situations - great job!

I agree with you when you said that teaching stories and historical events encourages visitors to conserve the land for future generations. I find that when we are aware of the past events that occurred in a certain place, and the happy or trying times that people were faced with, it makes it feel special and worthy of being preserved. For instance, when I was in Rome, it is amazing to see that these massive natural marble structures made thousands of years ago were built by man power alone. In a way it makes you feel more inclined to respect it because you respect the effort that went into making it and want everyone to be able to witness the beauty of it.

I appreciate you sharing the picture and story of Indigenous people and their history at Dreamer’s Rock. As audience members, you taught us the past event that occurred, and its significance and meaning to the Anishnaabek people. Relating to Edward Hyams’ quote, I believe that First Nations people exemplify the train metaphor utilized by teaching generations to live in harmony with nature, and to be grateful for all that it has and will provide for its people. 

If you are interested in Indigenous people and nature, here is a great article I read that describes how they view their relationships with the natural world - https://www.fws.gov/nativeamerican/pdf/tek-salmon-2000.pdf

- Katarina

History is the past, present and future

Do ancient things have no unique merit?

The following quote suggests, or should I say states, this as true.

“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 agree with this statement. Without the stories that make the ancient things have meaning, the object is merely an object. History makes the place breathe with human presence representing those from the past, those in the present, and those in the future. In Beck et al., significant historical place is referred to as “place of memory”. This statement personifies the essence of a history. Memories can have a great impact on the feelings invoked at a certain place. These memories could describe a place of joy and celebration, a place of sadness and grief, or a place with great importance to the ecosystem.

Sharing information, stories and historical events can inspire visitors to conserve that place for future generations.

Let's consider Dreamer’s Rock on Whitefish River First Nation Reserve as an example as to how this applies in the real world. Take a look at the image below…

Photo Credit: https://continuouswave.com/saillogs/nc2008/images/3.5_DreamersRock.jpg

What do you see?

It looks like a beautiful place.

It looks like a place with a thriving ecosystem.

It looks like a place with recreation opportunities.

What this picture doesn’t share is the importance of this place to the Anishnaabek people of Whitefish River First Nation. This place has been a place of spiritual importance for many generations. Youth were sent to Dreamer's Rock to fast and receive their name. Dreamer’s Rock has seen many generations of Anishnaabek youth find purpose, find themselves, and strengthen their connection with nature. Dreamer's Rock is a place where human beings connect with nature and defines our place in this world. To learn more about Dreamer’s Rock, visit: The Legend Of Dreamer's Rock: Anishinaabe Chi Manitouwabi Wajiwan (HD) - YouTube

What did you take away from this experience?

Perhaps at first glance you thought “I might want to visit this place for the scenery and nature”. Knowing the history of this place, you might now approach this place with reverence and respect for what this place means for so many generations of Anishnaabek people. You might be moved by the ancient things at this site. You might grant them more merit than if they merely existed without the stories that bring Dreamer’s Rock to life. History and storytelling allows these memories to be passed through generations so that future people can appreciate the beauty and strength of this place.

My title of this blog post: history is the past, present and future was intended to invoke feelings of being present with all generations. We often think of history as the past, those events that have occurred. In reality we are a part of history every day. These occurrences today will define the future. In this way history is indeed a living thing. In nature interpretation this connection to history can help the observer appreciate lessons we can apply today and how that might impact the future generations.

Source:

Beck L., Cable, T.T. and D.M. Knudson. 2018. Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Venture Publishing. United States

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Indigenous people living in harmony with the land. Historic events and love for the earth is passed along the generations through nature interpretation.

Photo taken from Toronto Art Therapy Institute.

https://tati.on.ca/about/land-acknowledgement/

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Past, Present, Future

Hello my fellow classmates, I hope you are making it through midterm season, and can utilize your blog post writings as a source of fulfillment in these harder times!

“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

To begin our journey of unpacking this dense quote, let’s define a few key words. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2021), peculiar is defined as “Different from the usual or normal”, merit is “A praiseworthy quality”, and integrity is “The quality of being honest and fair”. Keeping this knowledge in mind, we can interpret this quote by saying there is nothing out of the ordinary about the supposed praiseworthy quality in ancient things, but there is praisable quality in being honest. This praisable quality has the special capability of remembering the past. When we pay tribute to history and keep past memories alive, we respect their value and can learn and grow from them. The train metaphor is used as an example to describe the above. The train station was not only of value when the train was physically at the station. There are various little details and events that take place behind the scenes to successfully get the train to and from the station, and is arguable that these small events are of greatest importance. Similarly, major historic events have several micro-details involved that must be studied and passed on to get the full picture and true meaning of the situation. Interpretation shines light on previous events, architecture, and artifacts. It boosts wisdom to lead a way living in the present. Historic interpretation unites communities to remember their shared memories and traditions, and makes them a more special place to live (Beck, Cable, & Knudson, 2018). Relating back to the quotation, there must be maintenance of historic memories in order to preserve the wisdom enclosed in them.

It is important for history and nature interpretation to be presented at the same place. All natural sites hold a unique history, and all historic sites have natural assets (Beck, Cable, & Knudson, 2018). When I think of how history plays a role in natural interpretation, I immediately think of First Nation communities’ reserves. Indigenous people pass on the stories of their early ancestors from generation to generation. They are taught to respect and praise their land, care for it, and to live in harmony with the natural world. The elders on First Nation reserves act as the interpreters to the younger citizens so that their community history is kept alive, and still retains its relevance today, just like the quotation states.

There does not always have to be an interpreter present for an audience to be guided and informed on historic topics. Beck, Cable, & Knudson (2018) state that high quality interpretive writing encourages the reader to think deeply about the writing. When a piece of writing has the ability to spark an inspiration among the reader, they are able to gain an understanding and grow. It is for this reason that interpretation should always be used to examine past events so that not only are we aware that the train has arrived, but we know where it has come from and where it is going.

- Katarina

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

Merriam-Webster.com (2021). Merriam Webster.

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Hi Sophia!

Great job on your blog post! You captured me with your post’s photo, and then I couldn’t stop reading until the end. I find it very funny how it seems like every family who has visited Cuba or down south takes similar family photos on the beach! I feel like I have a few of the same pictures with my siblings and I posing in front of our giant sandcastles too!

While I have only stayed on the resorts when visiting Cuba, I can imagine how the Cuban people appreciate the beautiful environment around them. From my own observations in similar experiences, I find it amazing how typically the countries with much less economic success seem to live more fulfilling lives. They do not worry about the material goods that they have, or how much money is in their bank account, rather they absorb the little things in life, like nature. I think that that is something we can all learn from these people - that happiness does not come from wealth or status.

I find it amazing how as you got older and more independent, you were able to learn new methods of interpretation. The fact that you tried new things shows that you are growing and finding your own identity, in nature interpretation in this case. Your funny experience with the fish give you further reason to find fulfillment in trying new things!

Great job on your post, I enjoyed reading about how nature interpretation was tied into your Cuban adventures!

- Katarina

This course and the prompts each week have allowed me to reflect on a lot of positive memories in my life that have to do with nature. Regarding this week's open-ended prompt, I was able to give consideration to many substantial moments in nature that I have experienced. Specifically, I would like to share about my childhood memories travelling to Cuba!

With Cuba being a go-to tourist destination, it is always an adventure. I used to go every summer for one or two weeks with my entire extended family. More recently, I have gone many times with my closest friends. When I was younger, going outside of the resort to embrace the locals and their traditions was always my favourite. We would go to the busiest parts of Havana to see beautiful families full of different generations making the most out of life. Cuba is a country with a lot of problems economically and politically, however they all make the most of their beautiful environment and the nature around them to enjoy life to the fullest. Whether it's the children outside playing sports or the adults gardening and farming, they have learned a unique and very special way of nature interpretation that we may never understand. The simplicity that they live in keeps them distracted from materialism and consumerism. Though there is a lot of improvement to be done in the country, the conversations I have had with locals tells me that they are very happy to be embraced by nature.

When I have gone more recently, I have been able to try my own ways of nature interpretation with friends. Swimming in some of the clearest, most beautiful ocean water I have ever seen, hiking for hours on end through the blistering yet amazing heat, or looking for shells and learning about new animals are just some of the most beautiful parts of nature interpretation I like to experience when I am there. One of my favourite memories of my Cuba trips with friends is when we partook on an extremely long walk down the ocean line. At one point, walking through the water was our only option and we suddenly became swarmed by flying fish! There were hundreds, maybe thousands of these fish surrounding us as we walked through. I was annoyed at first, however it is such a surreal experience to look back on! When I came back home, I did my own proper research on these fish and learned so much. This small, funny experience allowed for me to interpret nature in a way I could not have done without the privilege of travelling to such a beautiful country.

Let me know if you have ever been to Cuba or had any similar experience! I would love to know how others have seen the world. Thank you guys for listening to my post.

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The last time I visited my Croatian village in 2019.

Gorski Kotar, Croatia

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My Croatian Village

Located in the mountainous region of Gorski Kotar, Croatia, a quaint little forested paradise resides with so much beautiful nature around it. This paradise is also my grandparents’ village, where they were born and raised, and it is like no other place on Earth to me. When walking around the one way streets, you will see the clay roofs on houses that are the most beautiful shade of red, chickens in the locals’ backyard, and huge flower and vegetable gardens. You are also guaranteed to see an old civilian having coffee on their front porch, waving at you as you pass by. 

The amazing thing about my grandparents’ little village is that all the people in it are not focused on how they look, or how fast their internet speed is. They put their energy into growing their food, taking care of their families, and being grateful to the Earth for being able to provide for them. It really is amazing to see how nature brings families together there! One time when visiting, all the family members of my grandmother’s sister came back to the village from the city to harvest the potatoes at the end of the summer. My cousins, both younger and older than me, got to work with no complaints at all. It is interesting how in Western society, a parent can ask their children to do the simplest task, one that is usually not even physically straining, and they will create a fuss about it. In the village, they do as they are told, and know that, “If these potatoes aren’t picked today, we won’t have any for the entire winter!” This example shows how in Canada, we can take for granted the gifts of nature, such as fruit and vegetables. We do not realize how fortunate we are to be able to go to the grocery store and be able to buy out-of-season food for a relatively affordable price. 

When I am in the village, my eyes are always opened to see how life can be so much more simple if we look for the little things in life. What brings the Croatian villagers happiness are the small details in nature, such as how many eggs their hen laid that day, or the plump grapes that are growing on the vines. I read in our textbook that villages are used as an interpretation of the past. I agree with this idea because it is proven to me everytime I visit my grandparents’ village. Each trip, I learn so much about what not living in a modern society looks like - and to be quite honest, it can be a very nice life! I gain an understanding of how the Earth has so much to offer to us, making it extremely important to preserve it and have a positive relationship with it. True joy does not come from material goods, rather it comes from enjoying nature and providing for your family with it. I hope that we can be grateful for the gifts of nature like the Croatian villagers  are.

- Katarina

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Hi Robby! 

To start, great job on your blog post! I am happy to hear that you were inspired about this week’s topic, it was excellently translated through your passionate words. I really enjoyed how you mentioned that music is a form of art - I completely agree with you. I love how music can bring your back to a single moment in time, and it can remind you and make you feel happy, sad, proud, and excited, just to name a few. Musicians are very talented in what they do, and I think we should all give them a lot of credit for being able to listen and feel the rhythm to make great songs.

I think that we are all very fortunate that we live in a time where taking photos is quick and easy because it helps us remember the beauty that we saw in nature. Not only are we able to enjoy these photos, but we are also able to share them with the world on social media so that they can see the beauty as well.

Another great thing that you mentioned was how Mother Nature has quite literally created a work of art for us. All of the human senses are evoked when we step into nature, making for amazing experiences that add lots of value to our lives! We have so much to be grateful for on Earth, and nature is certainly one of the highest ones! One of the most fulfilling and uplifting forms of art can be just outside our windows.

Once again, excellent job on your blog post! I look forward to reading more from you!

- Katarina

Interpreting Nature through Art

As an individual who has always been passionate about the arts, I find this week’s question very inspiring. Naturally, I have always been drawn to the arts, specifically the visual and performing arts. I find that being able to portray a message or a story through pieces of work such as paintings, sculptures, or pictures is a very unique talent. Visual art pieces can come in so many different ways and can be interpreted differently by each person. I think that visual art interpretation is a very special area of interest for people because the story/message that the artist is trying to demonstrate can be understood in different way by each person admiring said art piece. 

In addition to visual art, works of performing art are also a very large part of almost everyone’s lives. I think that a lot of people do not realize that music is a form of art. I think that a large majority of people use music to help them get through a traumatic, or to brighten their mood. I don’t know a single person who doesn’t use music in their life frequently. I personally do not think that I could live without music as it has always been a big part of my life. Typically, artists write songs to portray emotions or experiences that they may be going through or have happened to them in the past. I believe that music can be interpreted different ways by each listener but overall it has always been a strong form to portray a message or story.

In relation to Nature, I think that both visual and performing works of art are very  popular here as well. As a person who loves the outdoors and the arts, I often find myself photographing clips of scenery I see on hikes. The environment is a very common theme that people tend to capture in a physical work of art, many marvellous paintings have been created from scenes outdoors. As well, there are many sounds in the outdoors which serve as another form of art. My interpretation of art is focussed around the beauty of the outdoors. Let’s be real, no part of the environment is non-photogenic. From piles of leaves on the ground, to clouds above trees on a mountain side, everywhere you look, there are stories all around that can be captured. Perhaps there is a family of insects that once lived under that pile of leaves. Maybe you are out for a walk in the mountain side and see a family of bear cubs. Obviously, this might be a frightening experience at first but I think that this is a really neat experience to have as you get to see and interpret the different stories in the nature around you. Mother Nature has created a physical work of art for us, Earth, as well as a form of performing art, such as the sound of birds and insects in the forest, or even wolves howling at the moon. In summary, I feel that the ‘gift of beauty,’ Earth, is a marvellous work of art that can be appreciated and interpreted through many different lens. 

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Some of the beautiful flowers of grandmothers’ gardens from summer 2021!