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[mhenvs3000-20]

Final thoughts

[Bonus post]

As we begin the final week of classes, I had some thoughts in my head about this course and the field of nature interpretation that I wanted to get off my chest.

I’ll be honest. When I first started this course, I didn’t understand the importance of this field. However, I do now.

Photo of a group interpretive hike. At the beginning of the semester, I naively thought this was all nature interpretation was. Therefore, I didn’t understand the point of an entire course on such a simple subject. However, this course enlightened my ignorance. Retrieved from here.

Throughout the semester, Dr. Amanda constantly said things in her lectures like, “Sure, you might know the scientific name of a species. But does that really matter?” or “Who cares?” and I think I finally understand what she’s trying to say.

The field of science, engineering, or any field for that matter doesn’t really matter unless there are people on the receiving end of the knowledge generated. For example, who cares if you found out a certain piece of knowledge unless it has practical application? Nature interpretation is that bridge that can have a massive impact on the future of nature. People always talk about climate change and protecting the planet, but we can clearly witness that the general public is not responding the way academics want them to.

Is it their fault? I really don’t think so. The general public does not understand science as well as scholars in academia do (and rightfully so). Everyone is a master of their own field, so the general public cannot be blamed for not understanding the intricacies of details outside their field.

Instead, there needs to be a shift in how information is presented. This is where the field of nature interpretation plays a vital role. Nature interpretation is just as vital as the scientific disciplines because it complements them and creates the access. They are two sides of the same coin. Without one, the other is useless.

Dr. Amanda’s consistent reminders helped me realize that the attention span of people is short. We must have a clear message and takeaway for our interpretive efforts, otherwise, our message will not be received. This is an important takeaway that I will sincerely take with me in my future because it will help in any discipline.

Thanks to Dr. Amanda, Liane, and all of you for a great semester. I enjoyed reading different perspectives from all of you through these blogs and this course was a breath of fresh air that made me reevaluate what’s important and what’s not.

Best of luck to you reading this in the upcoming exam season,

Mo

[mhenvs3000-20]

Hello,

Great post! I enjoyed reading your reflections about nature and your focus on the future generations. What struck me is the quotation you shared from Dr. Amanda about kids eventually engaging in acts of regeneration after they are genuinely introduced to nature.

I whole heartedly agree with this because I have witnessed it in my own life. It doesn’t even have to be in regards to nature. When anyone is sincerely introduced to a world that was unknown to them in an engaging and fulfilling way, there is a probability that they will become involved in it. I’m seeing it now with the new Netflix show, The Queen’s Gambit. It’s a dramatic show revolving around chess, and people that watch it end up wanting to play a game of chess!

A photo of a scene for The Queen’s Gambit, a new Netflix series revolving around chess. Retrieved from here.

My hunch is backed up by data too because global sales of chess sets and chess strategy books surged after release according to the chart and source below.

A photo of a figure showing hours watched of the show as well as the amount of related merchandise sold. There seems to be a correlation (even though it isn’t conclusive data, it certainly is something). Retrieved from here.

I believe the same phenomenon can be applied to nature interpretation in an even more convincing fashion, because nature is generally more relatable to people than something like chess. By investing in the future generation through things like nature-rich communities, we are really investing in the future of nature. I think you would be in agreement, since you mentioned that your responsibility is sustaining nature for future generations. Therefore, we really should take educating the youth through nature interpretation programs seriously. Practically speaking, we can use this information to lobby for funding to create insightful interpretive programs for youth.

Thanks for a great post and thanks for sharing that great quotation!

All the best,

Mo

My Role in Nature Interpretation

This course has taught me many things about myself, nature and the endless possibility that is nature interpretation. Nature interpretation has given me a little bit more hope and acknowledged that the field we are in is a difficult path to take. It pushed me to think more creatively and from different perspectives in order to include all audiences. I think that is one thing we do not always think about: inclusion. Nature is ideally the most universal thing in the world as it does not matter who one is, they are still able to enjoy, learn and grow from it. I found this week’s blogpost quite difficult because it forced me to think deeply not about one thing, but about the commonality of everything I do as a whole and its relation to the way I interpret nature and how I want to share it with others. My personal ethic as I develop as a nature interpreter is drawn from the belief that nature can be construed in an infinite number of ways by an infinite number of people. For this post, I will focus mostly on the comparison between children’s views on nature versus an adult’s. “That environmentalists need the goodwill of children would seem self-evident- but more often than not, children are viewed as props or extraneous to the serious adult work of saving the world.” – Richard Louv When I read this quote in Week 11, it made me almost sad. It is true, children are often dismissed or devalued when it comes to environmentalism. For example, Greta Thunberg, who has dedicated her young life to making a change in the planet, has been repeatedly belittled by certain adults. In her case, I believe it is because she is seen as more of a threat by them, but for other children, it is because they are thought to have invalid thoughts. 

Greta Thunberg taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greta_Thunberg.    I was once given a speech by a man whose career focused on nature interpretation, and “play.” He said, “Kids aren’t stupid, they just know less,” and that has stuck with me. While a child’s brain is not yet fully developed, they are not stupid; this would insinuate that they lack intelligence or common sense, when instead, they have simply not been taught it yet. The “play” aspect of his work was also so interesting to me. He told us that the older we get, the less we play. He then had us do an activity where he brought out a box full of nature: sticks, leaves, straw baskets, animal toys, and he told us he would be giving us no instruction. We, all being in our twenties, just sat there for a second; we honestly didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t even remember the last time that I did something like that, something without purpose simply for the enjoyment of it. Within ten minutes everyone was doing something. He said that this is how children are, they need no instruction because they have not grown up yet in a world that requires instruction for everything. This outlook on life should be something that is valued, not diminished. 

Children playing in nature taken from https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/jul2017/outdoor-play-child-development

“We can create nature-rich communities where kids feel a deep and abiding love for the living systems that we all are immersed in. Eventually, children will learn even to go beyond sustaining and to engage in acts of regeneration. That is where true hope resides.Eventually, children will learn even to go beyond sustaining and to engage in acts of regeneration” (Hooykaas, 2020). Such a large focus in our world right now is sustainability, and while sustaining is good, regeneration might be better. This ensures new life and growth within our planet. I believe it is my responsibility to allow people think with a more child-like mindset during nature interpretation but also to make nature accessible to everyone. Accessibility means to acknowledge that people learn and experience life differently, so by incorporating different art styles, digital media, social media, etc. (Beck et al., 2019).

My responsibilities in nature interpretation are largely to be able to sustain it for future generations, and hopefully to better it. By spreading knowledge and getting people to care about nature we are creating an emotional tie and awareness. When one cares about something one is more inclined to take care of it.

There is not a single approach that I would say is “most suitable” to me as a nature interpreter. I would argue that most people do not learn in only one way. I think connecting on multiple levels is what makes nature interpretation so special. Sometimes playing music while being outdoors is when I feel connected, and sometimes it is when someone is telling me a story. 

Some of my most memorable connections with nature were made on interpretive walks. These were when someone who was incredibly knowledgeable about the area took us around and pointed out things that we would probably have never noticed on our own. When I was in Ecuador, we were taken on a night walk. This is one of my most amazing memories. As soon as we were silent, we could hear all of the creatures that normally do not come out in the daytime. We even saw multiple blue poison dart frogs and a baby corn snake hanging down from a tree. When someone has a connection to nature in a different way than you, such as living in that environment versus visiting it, it can be so eye-opening to listen to what they have to say.

Baby corn snake taken from https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/384143043208130686/. 

Blue poison dart frog taken from https://moonlightelder.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/food-tree-frogs-eat-bugs-like-crickets-or/. 

Overall, I would say that the work of a nature interpreter is never over. There will always be more to discover, teach and learn. The ways that these messages are conveyed, however, may change with the times; even nature will continue changing with the times.

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world. Urbana: Sagamore Publishing.

Hooykaas, A. (2020). ENVS*3000 Nature Interpretation Week 11 course notes. University of Guelph.

[mhenvs3000-20]

Hello,

Great insightful post. Like you, I found myself enjoying this semester even though I thought I wouldn’t. I do find myself missing the social aspect of university though. Studying as a group in the library and going to lectures with friends are things I appreciated. But, I found that the convenience of attending lectures at home saves a lot of time travelling to and from class. So overall, it balanced out and I ended up enjoying it.

I think it’s really valuable to have a focus when it comes to making a difference in nature interpretation, and you seem to have that focus. Throughout the semester, I picked up on a clear sense of direction from your blog posts. For example, your first post of the semester also pictured a macaw (a military macaw) and your last one now pictures a blue-throated macaw! I find it a clear testament to your love for birds that your first and last original posts of the semester both feature a macaw.

A photo of your first Tumblr post in September showing a military macaw. Retrieved from here.

In my opinion, making a difference is hard. Since it’s hard, it requires someone to focus on one particular aspect that they’d like to change, such as reversing the decline of blue-throated macaws. 

I also watched your video and enjoyed it. You have a great camera presence and I’m sure that took a lot of effort since you had to write an entire script and film two different characters talking. It felt really smooth between shots which I know is harder than it looks. Perhaps your camera presence can aide you in your future nature interpretation endeavours.

All in all, it’s inspiring to know someone majoring in zoology is genuinely passionate about their discipline. I wish you the best of luck in your future and I too wish to see the blue-throated macaws thrive!

Best,

Mo

Nature Interpretation and Me

As this semester comes to an end, it’s hard not to look back and reflect on everything I’ve learned both academically, and personally.  I doubt I’m alone when I say that has easily been one of my most interesting semesters to date.  Interestingly enough, it has been one of my favourites.

Throughout this course, I feel as though I’ve come to understand what my definition of nature interpretation is, and where I see myself fitting into the field once I graduate.  By using the knowledge I’ve attained from completing my degree in zoology, and the communication skills I’ve gained in respect to nature interpretation, I hope to be able to aid in the conservation of our earths species in any way I can.  

Even as a child, my parents instilled in me that one of the best things for conservation, is education.  They taught me that if people are unaware that there is a problem at hand, there is very little they can do to rectify the situation.  Unfortunately, there are countless species which are on the brink of extinction and the sad truth is, if a majority of them disappeared, many wouldn’t even notice this disappearance.  In my opinion, a major issue is that the media tends to focus on the species which are the most charismatic.  Pretty much everyone knows that polar bears and rhinos are facing extinction, yet I’m sure only a very limited few know that the blue-throated macaw is on the brink of extinction.  With a population estimated at less than 200, they are the most endangered parrot in the wild.  This is a great shame as blue-throats are such personable birds and in my opinion, they should be getting as much attention as for example, polar bears.   

Pictured above is Olivia, one of the blue-throated macaws I’ve had the pleasure of working with.  Although she wasn’t the biggest fan of me, her mate Neuton grew fairly attached to me as I was one of the few people who didn’t scare him haha.                        

Due to this lack of knowledge, my goal as a nature interpreter is to educate the public and raise awareness that many known and unknown species are facing extinction and that we should be taking the initiative to save them. I say this because most of the species are going extinct due to our actions.  All species are important in some and we should be attempting to save as many as we can and not just the ones that we think are cute.       

One belief that I feel I bring to the table is that much of science is extremely unaccessible to those who do not have a background in science.  What I mean by this, is that almost every scientific paper I’ve had to read has required at the very least, 3 read throughs in order to fully digest it.  I believe that this is largely due to the at times, excessive use of scientific jargon.  In my opinion, scientific articles are seen as the be all end all when it comes to communicating research.  I feel that this is very outdated as there are plenty of methods of communicating information that could appeal to a much broader audience.  The methods I speak of include but are not limited to; infographics, videos, podcasts or even comics!  By using more accessible types of media, is able to be understood by more people which in my eyes, makes them much more valid methods for scientific communication.         

Another course I was in this semester which I felt did an excellent job of instilling this message was ZOO*4910 or, integrative vertebrate biology.  For our final project, we were tasked with presenting one of the scientific papers we studied in class in an untraditional format, which I thought was an incredibly cool assignment.  For my project I decided to present Stoddard et al.’s study, “Wild hummingbirds discriminate nonspectral colors” as a video sketch, which I had a lot of fun making!  I chose to do a video as I felt that using things like, music, pop culture references and comedy would make the material much more interesting and engaging.  To ensure that the information presented was easy to understand, I sent the video to a few of my friends who don’t study one of the sciences.  Thankfully the consensus was that the concepts presented we extremely clear and easily understandable which told me that I had done job well.  If I’m being honest, this was probably the most fun I’ve doing a project in university and it is hand down the one I am most proud of.    

A screenshot from the video capturing the eye sore that was my hummingbird costume.  For anyone interested, the video itself is available at this link!    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adcbJtaqw_M   

Having played live music for a decent amount of time, performing is something that I not only enjoy doing, but I also think I am somewhat good at (could be delusion though).  Because of this, I feel that this sort of performance based education is something I would like to get better at as I feel as though it is the method of interpreting nature that works for me.    

As a zoology major, I feel as though it is my responsibility to use the knowledge I have gained to aid in the conservation of the species that we share our planet with.  This extends to ensuring that the next generation will be able to see and experience the same biological diversity that I had the pleasure of experiencing.  It may be one thing to view nature through the glass of an exhibit at a zoo or on a screen, but it is a completely different thing seeing it first hand in the wild.  For me, I will never forget seeing killer whales in the wild, it honestly felt like I was seeing some sort of mythical creature that was thought not to exist.    

A picture I took of the pod of killer whales I was lucky enough to see out in B.C.

Nature truly is a remarkable thing and it would be such a shame if we lost one of the most incredible things this planet has to offer.

[mhenvs3000-20]

Hi Gurrasna,

Thanks for your reply. Exactly. A mutualistic relationship that benefits multiple parties can be a great strategy that can also help the cause. Despite this, I still think what you outlined in your original post is an excellent motivation that can be the trigger for going through the trouble of facilitating these partnerships.

So, what I said was just meant as an addition to what you said since usually it’s difficult to lobby for something staying open when it isn’t bringing in profits. Ultimately, I think your points were more important because financial gains/losses are less important (in my opinion) than things like pushing away future generations from nature. Thanks for a great conversation!

Best,

Mo

Letter to the board of directors

Dear board of directors, 

I am writing to you today on behalf of the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF). I am writing in light of the current financial situation that threatens the organization. This federation and it’s cause is extremely important to society and our planet, so it’s crucial we keep ????

 Since it was founded in 1961, the CWF has been devoted to teaching the world the value in nature, ensuring people develop an appreciation and love for it that will translate into conservation of our natural environments. The CWF informs and educates Canadians on wildlife and natural habitats, promotes responsible human actions and conservation and represents wildlife on conservation issues. The CWF offers several education programs like the Wild Education program, a Summer Institute for educators, Hinterland Who’s Who, Wild about Sports and more recently the Wild Outside Program and the Canadian Conservation Crop. The Wild Educations and Summer Institute are designed for educators. The first one helps teachers develop their own programming to use for their students, and the Summer Institute is designed to teach teachers the importance of wildlife conservation so they can teach their kids. The Hinterland Who’s Who is a 60 second service announcement that has informed Canadian about issues in Wildlife for the last 50 years. Ultimately, each program is designed to bring people closer to wildlife, whether it be through an infomercial or a wildlife sports day. This is why the CWF is so important because it helps bring the public closer to wildlife.

Beck et al. 2018 explains that by forming personal connections with nature, then people will feel obligated to protect them as well. The CWF through all of our educational programs, it offers the Canadian public means of getting closer to nature. The closer people get with the wildlife, the more emotionally invested they’ll be and that will encourage them to fight for the protection of wildlife. With the current climate surrounding issues regarding our planet, I think it’s more than crucial that we begin to tie our future generations closer to nature. Only if they feel connected to nature, will they feel any kind of sympathy and pain in watching it wither away. The older generations don’t care about this planet the way our kids do. The older generations know they won’t live long enough to experience some of the worst that climate change and global warming have to offer, but we can’t let their lack of empathy impact our children’s future. We need to root our kids with nature, so they recognize the importance of it. This is why we can’t afford to lose the Canadian Wildlife Federation. 

Thanks for taking time to read this letter, and I truly hope you understand that this isn’t just about losing an environmental education organization, but it’s about losing means to connect people to the Earth that birthed them. Please take that into consideration before making your decision.

Sincerely, 

Gurrasna

References: 

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

Educational Units. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/for-educators/educational-units/?src=menu

Why is Outdoor and Environmental Learning Important? (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://eeanm.org/about/why-ee/

WILD Education. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://cwf-fcf.org/en/explore/wild-education/?src=site-map

[mhenvs3000-20]

Hello,

Thanks for your great reply. I wasn’t even aware of ecotherapy so thanks for introducing that. It’s great to see you highlighting all the current research showing the positive effects that nature can have on certain conditions.

It was really funny to me because as I was going through your references, I went to where you got your cool picture from. It was from an article that seems to disagree heavily with what we are discussing. These type of authors are exactly who I am referring to in my original post. He claims that natural medicine is often code for ‘pseudoscience’ and says it can be dangerous (Summers, 2014). He makes a claim and supports it by one scientific experiment, thinking that the debate is over as a result of this reference.

While I agree pseudoscience is not real science and it has major flaws, pseudoscience may result in real scientific experiments that can formulate new conclusions. For example, Ignaz Semmelweis in the 19th century was the doctor who popularized the idea of sterilization in the medical surgical community (Leighton, 2020). At the time, people thought he was superstitious. But his insistence on surgeons washing their hands with chloride solutions led to the scientific discoveries of sterilization and sanitation. It did not help Semmelweis’s credibility to eventually pass away in a Viennese insane asylum (Leighton, 2020). But regardless of the man’s conditions, what he was doing with sterilization was scientifically correct. The scientific community was just behind in the research.

Anyways, thanks for a great post and introducing me to this new emerging field!

Best,

Mo

References

Leighton, L. S. (2020). Ignaz Semmelweis, the doctor who discovered the disease-fighting power of hand-washing in 1847. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/ignaz-semmelweis-the-doctor-who-discovered-the-disease-fighting-power-of-hand-washing-in-1847-135528#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20it%20was%2019th,prevent%20the%20spread%20of%20germs

Summers, D. (2014). Warning: ‘Natural Medicine’ Is Often Code for 'Pseudoscience’. Daily Beast. https://www.thedailybeast.com/warning-natural-medicine-is-often-code-for-pseudoscience

Not feeling well? Here, have a dose of nature.

Nature is a cure. A cure for what exactly? Well, that’s hard to say. Not because I have trouble finding an answer for what nature might be a cure for. Instead, it’s hard to say because I have trouble not saying “everything”.

Photo of an artistic representation of nature as a cure. The plants are cleverly placed in a standardized pharmaceutical pill container. Retrieved from here.

My personal guiding ethic as a nature interpreter is that nature is a cure. Richard Louv, based on our readings during the course, seems to agree. He invented the term “nature-deficit disorder” because of research he has performed that spans over a decade. He’s studied how there are physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and environmental consequences from having a “nature-deficit disorder” (Beck et al., 2018, p. 50). Louv’s work includes effects on children (2005), adults (2011), and entire communities (2016).

My beliefs are in line with Louv’s because I have witnessed the healing power of nature through my own experiences. Spending time in nature and learning about the details consistently reignites me and makes me feel at peace. The stresses of modern life melt away when I am engulfed in nature. It’s the best medicine I have, but I’m aware that’s my own subjective experience.

Photo of Hamilton Pool, USA. Seeing this in person blew me away and it was the moment that I began to see nature as magical. Being here for a brief moment healed me from poisonous psychological mind states that are an inevitable result of modern society. Retrieved from here.

In my opinion, experiencing things for yourself is much more valuable than scientific data proving something. This is because science is always behind. It takes years to perform a flawless experiment that has conclusive evidence. Additionally, science can only study a few variables at a time by definition, since scientific experiments rely on altering one variable at a time for the purpose of establishing cause and effect relationships. In real life, there are infinite variables. Therefore, science is powerful, but I always make the argument that our own experience is far more valuable because we can reach conclusions faster.

So, my opinion that nature is a cure is not founded on scientific principles. Of course, there are some scientific experiments that can demonstrate why nature helps with certain illnesses such as the ones Louv carried out (Beck et al., 2018, p. 50). But, when I say nature is a cure, I mean it is a cure that exceeds beyond what science can definitively confirm in the foreseeable future. 

This is why I feel responsible for sharing nature with the world. I think our current society has a twisted perversion with science. Science is the modern God. As a scientist myself who has been studying biology for the last half decade, the problems with science are clear to me. I feel a personal responsibility to stop this perversion and make people realize that science should not be our primary guiding principle.

It’s a nuanced idea that I want to share with the world. That nuanced idea is not meant to take away from the power of science and its incredible utility, but to help differentiate the power of science versus the longevity of conclusive data. To put it simply, a real scientific finding that has practical application to our lives and is irrefutably correct usually takes a long time. A really long time.

Through nature interpretation, I can bring this idea to people. For example, I can show people the amazing scientific discoveries related to bees such as how they communicate through sophisticated dances that are similar in precision to a modern GPS. I can outline how honey is made, what constitutes it, and how honey can be synthetically made through chemistry. I can share discoveries related to global bee species decline as a result of several factors such as neonicotinoid pesticide usage and climate change. But, I can also be honest about the limitations of science. I can say that we don’t really know what the answer to bee decline is. I can even say we don’t know if we need an answer. Perhaps, the bees can decline and nature will smoothly go on because other species will take its place. Perhaps, some plants that heavily rely on pollination may go extinct and be replaced with other ones. Is every “problem” worth solving? Dinosaurs, mammoths, and countless other species have gone extinct, but Earth remains. Nature always has a way of balancing everything in a beautiful and harmonious way that humans have historically never managed to do properly. They stopped forest fires in British Columbia, only to now purposely have controlled fires because they realized the positive biodiversity effects of forest fires (British Columbia Wildfire Service, 2010).

Nature interpretation is a way for me to tie all these complex ideas together into presentations that can bring genuine peace to people. People can leave an interpretative session with me realizing the power of nature and its harmonious ways.

I’d place emphasis on explaining connection. How everything connects together in a seamless fashion that is infinitely perfect. How the tree produces a seed and wraps it up with a fruit. How an animal will enjoy the nutrition of that fruit, but how that indirectly helps the tree reproduce by dispersing that seed as a result of eating the fruit. How that seed will eventually thrive as its own tree and continue the cycle. The cycle of never ending perfection.

All we can do is relax and enjoy this perfection, if only for a brief moment. We can breathe in the oxygenated air and feel grateful for nature. We can bask in its power and energy just like we love to bask in the sun. Then we can get back to our busy lives of obligations and responsibilities, but recharged with a potent kind of energy that is capable of worldly success.

As Robert Frost wrote originally almost 100 years ago (2000),

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep. But I have promises to keep. And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

[References for entire post included by clicking below]

Keep reading

[mhenvs3000-20]

Not feeling well? Here, have a dose of nature.

Nature is a cure. A cure for what exactly? Well, that’s hard to say. Not because I have trouble finding an answer for what nature might be a cure for. Instead, it’s hard to say because I have trouble not saying “everything”.

Photo of an artistic representation of nature as a cure. The plants are cleverly placed in a standardized pharmaceutical pill container. Retrieved from here.

My personal guiding ethic as a nature interpreter is that nature is a cure. Richard Louv, based on our readings during the course, seems to agree. He invented the term “nature-deficit disorder” because of research he has performed that spans over a decade. He’s studied how there are physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and environmental consequences from having a “nature-deficit disorder” (Beck et al., 2018, p. 50). Louv’s work includes effects on children (2005), adults (2011), and entire communities (2016).

My beliefs are in line with Louv’s because I have witnessed the healing power of nature through my own experiences. Spending time in nature and learning about the details consistently reignites me and makes me feel at peace. The stresses of modern life melt away when I am engulfed in nature. It’s the best medicine I have, but I’m aware that’s my own subjective experience.

Photo of Hamilton Pool, USA. Seeing this in person blew me away and it was the moment that I began to see nature as magical. Being here for a brief moment healed me from poisonous psychological mind states that are an inevitable result of modern society. Retrieved from here.

In my opinion, experiencing things for yourself is much more valuable than scientific data proving something. This is because science is always behind. It takes years to perform a flawless experiment that has conclusive evidence. Additionally, science can only study a few variables at a time by definition, since scientific experiments rely on altering one variable at a time for the purpose of establishing cause and effect relationships. In real life, there are infinite variables. Therefore, science is powerful, but I always make the argument that our own experience is far more valuable because we can reach conclusions faster.

So, my opinion that nature is a cure is not founded on scientific principles. Of course, there are some scientific experiments that can demonstrate why nature helps with certain illnesses such as the ones Louv carried out (Beck et al., 2018, p. 50). But, when I say nature is a cure, I mean it is a cure that exceeds beyond what science can definitively confirm in the foreseeable future. 

This is why I feel responsible for sharing nature with the world. I think our current society has a twisted perversion with science. Science is the modern God. As a scientist myself who has been studying biology for the last half decade, the problems with science are clear to me. I feel a personal responsibility to stop this perversion and make people realize that science should not be our primary guiding principle.

It’s a nuanced idea that I want to share with the world. That nuanced idea is not meant to take away from the power of science and its incredible utility, but to help differentiate the power of science versus the longevity of conclusive data. To put it simply, a real scientific finding that has practical application to our lives and is irrefutably correct usually takes a long time. A really long time.

Through nature interpretation, I can bring this idea to people. For example, I can show people the amazing scientific discoveries related to bees such as how they communicate through sophisticated dances that are similar in precision to a modern GPS. I can outline how honey is made, what constitutes it, and how honey can be synthetically made through chemistry. I can share discoveries related to global bee species decline as a result of several factors such as neonicotinoid pesticide usage and climate change. But, I can also be honest about the limitations of science. I can say that we don’t really know what the answer to bee decline is. I can even say we don’t know if we need an answer. Perhaps, the bees can decline and nature will smoothly go on because other species will take its place. Perhaps, some plants that heavily rely on pollination may go extinct and be replaced with other ones. Is every “problem” worth solving? Dinosaurs, mammoths, and countless other species have gone extinct, but Earth remains. Nature always has a way of balancing everything in a beautiful and harmonious way that humans have historically never managed to do properly. They stopped forest fires in British Columbia, only to now purposely have controlled fires because they realized the positive biodiversity effects of forest fires (British Columbia Wildfire Service, 2010).

Nature interpretation is a way for me to tie all these complex ideas together into presentations that can bring genuine peace to people. People can leave an interpretative session with me realizing the power of nature and its harmonious ways.

I’d place emphasis on explaining connection. How everything connects together in a seamless fashion that is infinitely perfect. How the tree produces a seed and wraps it up with a fruit. How an animal will enjoy the nutrition of that fruit, but how that indirectly helps the tree reproduce by dispersing that seed as a result of eating the fruit. How that seed will eventually thrive as its own tree and continue the cycle. The cycle of never ending perfection.

All we can do is relax and enjoy this perfection, if only for a brief moment. We can breathe in the oxygenated air and feel grateful for nature. We can bask in its power and energy just like we love to bask in the sun. Then we can get back to our busy lives of obligations and responsibilities, but recharged with a potent kind of energy that is capable of worldly success.

As Robert Frost wrote originally almost 100 years ago (2000),

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep. But I have promises to keep. And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

[References for entire post included by clicking below]

References

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

British Columbia Wildfire Service. (2010). British Columbia Wildland Fire Management Strategy. Retrieved from https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/wildfire-status/governance/bcws_wildland_fire_mngmt_strategy.pdf

Frost, R. (2000). Stopping by woods on a snowy evening: For SATB choir and keyboard. London, Ont: Jaymar Music.

Louv, R. (2005). Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. Chapel Hill, NC: Alqonquin Books of Chapel Hill.

Louv, R. (2011). The nature principle: Human restoration and the end of nature-deficit disorder. Chapel Hill, NC: Alqonquin Books of Chapel Hill.

Louv, R. (2016). Vitamin N: The essential guide to a nature-rich life. Chapel Hill, NC: Alqonquin Books of Chapel Hill.

[mhenvs3000-20]

Hi Gurrasna,

Great post!

I enjoyed how you used climate change as the basis for reconsidering the decision to shut down the CWF as it’s becoming more and more of an issue. I agree with your rationale that programs like the CWF may ultimately result in the younger generation caring more about our environment.

I’d like to add that keeping the CWF may also strengthen the municipality’s future efforts towards programs aimed at improving the climate change dilemma (Beck et al., 2018). I mention this because many cities in recent years have been incentivizing “green” strategies as a way to mitigate climate change. Therefore, keeping the CWF may result in the municipality seeing more support for future rulings related to climate change. Instead of spending more money in the future convincing residents to care about climate change and garnering support, these programs are a way to indirectly have the same result (and perhaps at a cheaper cost).

Keeping programs like the CWF may also make the area more desirable to future residents because people appreciate having access to nature near their residence (Beck et al., 2018). This may ultimately result in the municipality making additional income indirectly through collecting property taxes as a result of funding the CWF.

All in all, in addition to the reasons you mentioned, I believe programs like the CWF may be kept purely for financial reasons as well as their role in helping climate change. What do you think about what I said in regards to the financial benefits?

Mo

References

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

Letter to the board of directors

Dear board of directors, 

I am writing to you today on behalf of the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF). I am writing in light of the current financial situation that threatens the organization. This federation and it’s cause is extremely important to society and our planet, so it’s crucial we keep ????

 Since it was founded in 1961, the CWF has been devoted to teaching the world the value in nature, ensuring people develop an appreciation and love for it that will translate into conservation of our natural environments. The CWF informs and educates Canadians on wildlife and natural habitats, promotes responsible human actions and conservation and represents wildlife on conservation issues. The CWF offers several education programs like the Wild Education program, a Summer Institute for educators, Hinterland Who’s Who, Wild about Sports and more recently the Wild Outside Program and the Canadian Conservation Crop. The Wild Educations and Summer Institute are designed for educators. The first one helps teachers develop their own programming to use for their students, and the Summer Institute is designed to teach teachers the importance of wildlife conservation so they can teach their kids. The Hinterland Who’s Who is a 60 second service announcement that has informed Canadian about issues in Wildlife for the last 50 years. Ultimately, each program is designed to bring people closer to wildlife, whether it be through an infomercial or a wildlife sports day. This is why the CWF is so important because it helps bring the public closer to wildlife.

Beck et al. 2018 explains that by forming personal connections with nature, then people will feel obligated to protect them as well. The CWF through all of our educational programs, it offers the Canadian public means of getting closer to nature. The closer people get with the wildlife, the more emotionally invested they’ll be and that will encourage them to fight for the protection of wildlife. With the current climate surrounding issues regarding our planet, I think it’s more than crucial that we begin to tie our future generations closer to nature. Only if they feel connected to nature, will they feel any kind of sympathy and pain in watching it wither away. The older generations don’t care about this planet the way our kids do. The older generations know they won’t live long enough to experience some of the worst that climate change and global warming have to offer, but we can’t let their lack of empathy impact our children’s future. We need to root our kids with nature, so they recognize the importance of it. This is why we can’t afford to lose the Canadian Wildlife Federation. 

Thanks for taking time to read this letter, and I truly hope you understand that this isn’t just about losing an environmental education organization, but it’s about losing means to connect people to the Earth that birthed them. Please take that into consideration before making your decision.

Sincerely, 

Gurrasna

References: 

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

Educational Units. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/for-educators/educational-units/?src=menu

Why is Outdoor and Environmental Learning Important? (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://eeanm.org/about/why-ee/

WILD Education. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://cwf-fcf.org/en/explore/wild-education/?src=site-map

[mhenvs3000-20]

Letter regarding NOEC funding

Dear board of directors,

I am reaching out in regards to the NOEC (Nonquon Outdoor Education Centre) in Port Perry, Ontario being shut down due to insufficient funding. Since you are likely aware of the benefits to children that programs like the NOEC brings, I will not be trying to highlight the amazing benefits these programs have towards improving self-esteem, reducing anxiety, and more (Beck et al., 2018).

Insufficient funding is a reasonable cause for closure for any organization if there is not enough return on investment. However, we must be nuanced and understand that just because something is not directly measured, it does not mean it is not providing a return on investment. I’m here to argue today that the NOEC is more than providing enough financial benefit towards the entire Durham region.

The first way is through reducing clean up costs of municipalities in the region. In a study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, interpretive brochures reduced littering during camping by 50% (Cantrell, 1987). Wagstaff and Wilson (1988) also documented that verbal appeals and role modeling resulted in less litter from river recreationists. We cannot possibly measure the direct impact that the NOEC is having on reducing litter impacts, but that doesn’t mean it’s not having a massive impact. The difference in clean up costs by cities vary wildly and it’s because different cities have different priorities. For example, the City of Vancouver is actually increasing their funding for anti-littering education programs according to their recent budget plan (City of Vancouver, 2018). By maintaining funding to the NOEC and similar programs, municipalities in the Durham region can actually save on their budget by spending less of their budgets on maintenance. Let’s not get to the point of a city like San Francisco who spent around $60 million in 2019 on street cleanup before realizing this (Bendix, 2018).

The other way the NOEC is providing enough return on investment is through its role in tourism. Many visitors to Port Perry come primarily for the outdoor programs that are offered because these programs are not available in nearby urban areas. Therefore, we must not look at the immediate direct monetary income from the programs themselves, but also be mindful that these visitors spend multiple days as tourists in Port Perry. These visitors bring income to all the businesses that Port Perry has to offer including hotels, restaurants, liquor, parking, and more. This fact is well documented in interpretive fields (Beck et al., 2018). By closing down the NOEC and similar programs, many businesses in the area will suffer. This will ultimately make Port Perry less of a business hotspot, making the municipality less income through tax collection.

I strongly urge you to reconsider the impacts that shutting down the NOEC will have on Port Perry and the entire Durham region. The financial upside to the NOEC may not be directly obvious, but it is there. Perhaps an alternative route to take is to formulate a strategy to track the income that the NOEC brings to Port Perry indirectly before making the decision to cut funding. As of right now, funding for the NOEC needs to stay, otherwise there may be much greater financial penalties to pay. 

With warm regards,

Mo

References

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

Bendix, A. (2018). San Francisco spent $54 million this year on street cleanup — here's why it's shelling out way more than other cities. Business Insider. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/san-francisco-spent-54-million-street-cleanup-2018-9

Cantrell, J. C. (1987). Interpretation helps solve problems at DeGray. In RecNotes, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Vicksburg, MS. Vol. R-87-2.

City of Vancouver. (2018). 2018 budget and five-year financial plan. Retrieved from https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/vancouver-2018-budget.pdf

Wagstaff, M. C. and Wilson, B. E. (1988). The evaluation of litter behaviour modification in a river environment. Journal of Environmental Education, 20(1), 39-44.

[mhenvs3000-20]

Hey Victoria,

Thanks for your reply. Wow, I’ve never seen that design in New York City before. I actually went to New York City once and was fascinated by the design of Central Park. I thought it was very intelligent for the city to protect that area, especially since they did so during 1963 before it was as urbanized as now.

I love the design and idea behind the High Line. It reminds me of what I learned in a previous course about green roofs and living walls. I suppose the High Line is an example of a green roof with a purposeful design since it is also a trail. Designs that integrate nature into the architecture are definitely the future in my eyes and it’s exciting to see someone with your train of thought getting into design!

Mo

Unpacking Nature Interpretation

After studying interpretation throughout the course, I know for certain that nature interpretation can truly enhance an individual’s experience in nature. Interpreters are able to take on the role of story tellers and help people understand and enjoy beautiful spaces. By provoking the audiences and forging personal connections with things, places, people and concepts, the audience will be more inclined to protect and advocate for their protection (Beck et al., 2019). In order to enhance the experience of participants, interpreters can help people gain a sense of place and understand the cultural significance, and history. The interpreter is able to help visitors associate meaning with a place while identifying special characteristics and the big story that the place represents (Beck et al., 2019). When we watched the Ted Talk by Nirupa Rao, it was evident that as an interpreter and botanical artist, she uses her talents to enhance an individual’s experience of nature. She aims to reignite our emotion connection to nature and the environment while emphasizing their fascination and importance through her artwork. Therefore, through all forms of nature interpretation, interpreters can positively influence the experience of an individual. This experience is so important and creates a bond between people and nature. 

Interpretation can be used in many disciplines, what I still wonder is how I can best apply my nature interpretation knowledge to my field of study. In Landscape Architecture we are constantly designing with and for the environment. Nature is always at the forefront of my designs and I strive to conserve and protect the beauty and importance of natural spaces to the best of my ability. There are so many ways that I can incorporate interpretation through my designs like the inclusion of signage to explain the meaning/significance of the site, or memorials to acknowledge history and cultural significances. What I still wonder is what is the best and most effective option? I guess the answer to this question is a little bit of trial and error to see what kind of interpretive opportunities I can create, and which have the biggest impact. I am looking forward to using my nature interpretation knowledge and skills in my future design concepts.

I find inspiration when I am completely immersed in nature. My favourite place to be, as mentioned in previous blog posts is up at my boat in Georgian Bay. This is where I feel most connected and appreciative of my natural surroundings. If anything has motivated me to conserve and protect nature, it is the beautiful scenery that surrounds me in Georgian Bay. Sitting by the water and listening to the waves crash on the shoreline is when I feel most relaxed and at home. Nature has the capability of influencing our emotions, and this is evident when I am up north. I am my happiest and calmest when I am surrounded by luscious trees and a body of water. This is where I find inspiration; the enthusiasm to continually protect, conserve and love the natural world that surrounds us.

The beautiful Georgian Bay landscape.

Lastly, what ignites me is being able to share my love for nature with my family and friends. I love nothing more than to introduce my friends and family to a beautiful hiking trail, beach, lake, or landscape. Seeing them enjoy and get excited about nature ignites me. It warms my heart to be able to share my passions and favourite places with my family and friends. Nature is what makes this world so special; it has the ability to heal the soul and I am thankful that I can share nature experiences with the people I love.

Around the corner from my student house is a beautiful river. I brought my roommate down to experience the beautiful scenery while we still have some nice weather!

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world. Urbana: Sagamore Publishing

Rao, N. (2020) An Illustrated kingdom or real, fantastical plants [Video File]. Retrieved November 11, 2020 from https://www.ted.com/talks/nirupa_rao_an_illustrated_kingdom_of_real_fantastical_plants?fbclid=IwAR0wePCPsoB7W6fgEjKTvhLWaGit_9QSPdoJSWDWHM7iBTExFR9P0cxnNNY&utm_campaign=social&utm_content=2020-10-05&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com 

[mhenvs3000-20]

Hello,

Best post I’ve read this semester. I appreciated your sincere reflection. Contradicting yourself (about technology) the way you did (and knowing you did it) is the ultimate sign of wisdom in my eyes because it shows you are not practicing confirmation bias.

This is going to be a long answer because I genuinely love the question you asked, so forgive me.

My personal solution to your question is to turn off my phone. I do it not just when I’m out in nature, but I even have a personal rule of not bringing my phone into my bedroom. This has worked extremely well for me because it eliminates the night/morning phone usage that I found myself a slave to. Doing this made me appreciate the peace of not having access to a phone and, therefore, it made it easy to turn it off at any time (including when out in nature).

To me, modern day phone usage is our generation’s version of cigarette usage. The negative effects on our mental health in my estimation stems primarily from phone usage. These tech companies hire scientists, psychologists, and experts to keep users addicted. That’s why it’s so hard to get off of YouTube when you’re on a binge or why it’s so addicting to scroll on pointless apps. I don’t think they’re bad people. They’re just trying to make money, as anyone would in their shoes.

Photo of an old cigarette advertisement. At this point in time, the negative effects of smoking were not mainstream. Retrieved from here.

I’m sure scientific research will soon bridge the gap between my estimation and real concrete data. But just like when cigarettes were mainstream, the research takes time. If we listen only to science, we’ll always be behind. Intuition is sometimes just as, if not more, important than science. That’s why I appreciated reading about your reflective thought process about phone usage because it was based on intuition.

To link things back to nature and nature interpretation, I think it’s exactly as you put it. You can’t live in the moment and be genuinely present if you’re checking your notifications constantly. The “flow” state that was in this week’s lecture content (linked here) is a perfect example of this. The phone will break the “flow” with every notification chime.

My suggestion?

Take a hammer and smash your phone.

But, sanity will most likely prevail. The saner thing to do is just to turn that thing off to practice being present. Then, we can sincerely be present in the moment and enjoy nature.

Mo

A Moment of Unpacking: Nature Interpretation Style

Learning about nature interpretation through this course has overall, been very wonderful. I had many eye-opening moments going through all the course content and learning different ways in which nature can be interpreted and what it really means.

What I know for certain is that nature interpretation plays a huge role in how an individual view the natural world around them. People who know how to interpret nature are able to form special connections with the beautiful spaces around them while also taking initiative to help others connect with these spaces as well. Beck et al. 2019 stated that by provoking the audiences and forging personal connections with things, places, people and concepts, the audience will be more inclined to protect and advocate for their protection. This is something that I know for certain as I have seen it first-hand. For example, I have friends that are vegan and have formed personal connections with this belief who advocate for it every chance they get. This goes back to my original point about interpreters forming special connections with the natural world and by doing so, inspire others to learn more about nature as well. This is something that Nirupa Rao does through her artwork and passion for nature.

What I still wonder in regard to nature interpretation is how I can go about applying all the concepts I learned about nature interpretation in this course in my daily life. As you know, technology plays a huge role in our day to day lifestyles and sometimes when I’m walking around outside, I notice that I am not focusing on any of my natural surroundings but rather consumed with all the endless notifications I am getting from my phone. I often find myself looking down on my phone while being outdoors and this is something that bothers me, yet I can’t stop doing. I notice this in the people around me as well and its saddening to see. Yes, technology can be very helpful in nature interpretation as it aids in different interpretation styles, but I also can’t help but wonder if the cons of technology outweigh the pros; especially in my day to day life. This is something that I struggle in understanding.

Not to contradict my last point, but I personally find much of my inspiration online through social media, more particularly through photography. I will often be scrolling through Instagram or Facebook and come across a photo of a place with beautiful scenery and can’t help but add that place to my “to explore” bucket list. This is how I have found various beautiful hike trails and walkways. This is something that helps me stay connected to the natural world around me. Do I take photos when I explore these places you may ask? Definitely. I find my inspiration through photography and attempt to release it back out into the world through photography as well by sharing various photos I’ve taken of nature at different locations.

Here is a photo of me enjoying my short hike at Edwards Garden in Toronto, ON. Walking down this path was so mesmerizing as there was so much to see and indulge in when it came to nature! I would definitely recommend.

Lastly, what ignites me is being able to explore and learn new things with my close friends and family. I enjoy teaching others of interesting places I want to explore and cool things I’ve learned. I love being in the presence of my friends and family, and to me there’s no better way of doing so than to go outside and explore. Nature is so special to me and to be able to share this special thing with the people I love most truly excites me!

My question for you today is do you often find yourself engaging with the notifications on your phone, rather than living in the moment and enjoying what’s present around you at the time?

Thanks for reading! Cheers.

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world. Urbana: Sagamore Publishing

[mhenvs3000-20]

Great post!

I loved what you said about what ignites you because I share a similar opinion. Whenever I find a new spot or enjoy a new experience, I always end up thinking that I have to bring my siblings here. Seeing them excited ignites me because it’s almost as if I get to experience the initial joy I had all over again through watching their reaction.

When I saw one of your beautiful pictures at Georgian Bay, it made me want to respond to your post. Just a few months ago when it was sunny and warm, I took my younger siblings to a secret spot in Owen Sound pictured below along Georgian Bay.

Photo of Georgian Bay near Owen Sound, Ontario taken by me.

It’s a nice little spot because it’s available to the public, but it’s just as private as owning a spot along the bay. My siblings loved it and I got to experience the novelty of being mesmerized by this spot all over again through witnessing them. Win-win!

We’re obviously in agreement about our love for Georgian Bay. During the summer, I would drive hours with a few friends just to experience a little fishing, serenity of the water, and the beautiful scenery.

It also intrigued me to see that you are studying landscape architecture. I think that’s a field that will become increasingly important as the world rapidly becomes more and more urbanized. My most recent favourite architectural design is the new Apple headquarters shown below.

Photo of the newly built Apple campus, which was completed in 2018. It costed over $5B and it is home to 12,000 employees. Retrieved from here.

I just love the way nature is integrated into the design. It celebrates nature by artistically surrounding it, rather than having nature surround the building. This dynamic makes the emphasis on nature, rather than the building. I thought this was relevant to share since you are into landscape architecture. Are there other designs you’ve seen or been a part of that celebrate nature and maybe incorporate nature interpretation?

Mo

Unpacking Nature Interpretation

After studying interpretation throughout the course, I know for certain that nature interpretation can truly enhance an individual’s experience in nature. Interpreters are able to take on the role of story tellers and help people understand and enjoy beautiful spaces. By provoking the audiences and forging personal connections with things, places, people and concepts, the audience will be more inclined to protect and advocate for their protection (Beck et al., 2019). In order to enhance the experience of participants, interpreters can help people gain a sense of place and understand the cultural significance, and history. The interpreter is able to help visitors associate meaning with a place while identifying special characteristics and the big story that the place represents (Beck et al., 2019). When we watched the Ted Talk by Nirupa Rao, it was evident that as an interpreter and botanical artist, she uses her talents to enhance an individual’s experience of nature. She aims to reignite our emotion connection to nature and the environment while emphasizing their fascination and importance through her artwork. Therefore, through all forms of nature interpretation, interpreters can positively influence the experience of an individual. This experience is so important and creates a bond between people and nature. 

Interpretation can be used in many disciplines, what I still wonder is how I can best apply my nature interpretation knowledge to my field of study. In Landscape Architecture we are constantly designing with and for the environment. Nature is always at the forefront of my designs and I strive to conserve and protect the beauty and importance of natural spaces to the best of my ability. There are so many ways that I can incorporate interpretation through my designs like the inclusion of signage to explain the meaning/significance of the site, or memorials to acknowledge history and cultural significances. What I still wonder is what is the best and most effective option? I guess the answer to this question is a little bit of trial and error to see what kind of interpretive opportunities I can create, and which have the biggest impact. I am looking forward to using my nature interpretation knowledge and skills in my future design concepts.

I find inspiration when I am completely immersed in nature. My favourite place to be, as mentioned in previous blog posts is up at my boat in Georgian Bay. This is where I feel most connected and appreciative of my natural surroundings. If anything has motivated me to conserve and protect nature, it is the beautiful scenery that surrounds me in Georgian Bay. Sitting by the water and listening to the waves crash on the shoreline is when I feel most relaxed and at home. Nature has the capability of influencing our emotions, and this is evident when I am up north. I am my happiest and calmest when I am surrounded by luscious trees and a body of water. This is where I find inspiration; the enthusiasm to continually protect, conserve and love the natural world that surrounds us.

The beautiful Georgian Bay landscape.

Lastly, what ignites me is being able to share my love for nature with my family and friends. I love nothing more than to introduce my friends and family to a beautiful hiking trail, beach, lake, or landscape. Seeing them enjoy and get excited about nature ignites me. It warms my heart to be able to share my passions and favourite places with my family and friends. Nature is what makes this world so special; it has the ability to heal the soul and I am thankful that I can share nature experiences with the people I love.

Around the corner from my student house is a beautiful river. I brought my roommate down to experience the beautiful scenery while we still have some nice weather!

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world. Urbana: Sagamore Publishing

Rao, N. (2020) An Illustrated kingdom or real, fantastical plants [Video File]. Retrieved November 11, 2020 from https://www.ted.com/talks/nirupa_rao_an_illustrated_kingdom_of_real_fantastical_plants?fbclid=IwAR0wePCPsoB7W6fgEjKTvhLWaGit_9QSPdoJSWDWHM7iBTExFR9P0cxnNNY&utm_campaign=social&utm_content=2020-10-05&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com 

[mhenvs3000-20]

The Zone

[Bonus post]

I wanted to write more about the assigned TED talk this week by Dr. Amanda but my previous blog post was getting too long. During the talk, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi talks about the importance of the flow state.

I used to play competitive basketball at the highest level and I learned from Kobe Bryant at every opportunity I could get. Bryant used to describe exactly what Csikszentmihalyi talked about during the TED talk. For example, this video shows Bryant talking about the same flow state with an extremely similar description that Csikszentmihalyi shared.

Photo of Kobe Bryant checking out of the game on January 22, 2006. He scored 81 points in a win against the Toronto Raptors, which is the 2nd highest amount of points in a game since 1962. He undoubtedly was in the flow state during this game that Csikszentmihalyi described. Retrieved from here.

The reason Csikszentmihalyi intrigued me with his talk is when he stated that the flow state can be achieved in a multitude of different areas (such as the basketball example mentioned above). He even said the flow state could be achieved while watching television if the program is immersive enough.

As nature interpreters, we can use the knowledge of the flow state for two distinct purposes.

1) We can enter the flow state as we are interpreting by being immersed in what we are doing. This allows for spontaneity because the flow state cannot be rehearsed. In my eyes, this results in more impactful interpreting because the audience will be able to feel the presence and focus from the interpreter. This will engage the audience on a deeper level and allow interpretive efforts the greatest chance to serve their purpose.

2) We can attempt to immerse the audience into the flow state. Similar to how Csikszentmihalyi said that watching television can bring someone into the flow state, we too can bring the audience into the flow state. The key is to make sure the information being presented is not too simple and not too difficult for our audience. We can look for cues from the audience to gauge if the content being shared to them is at the right level by looking for signs of distress (if too difficult) or boredom (if too simple). Then, we can adjust our content in an attempt to find the perfect level for that audience.

These two purposes are purely based on my intuition and opinion. Do you think that the flow state can be utilized for the two purposes I outlined with respect to nature interpretation? I would love to hear what you think about Csikszentmihalyi’s talk in general or about my post.

Mo

[mhenvs3000-20]

Certainty. Wonder. Inspiration. Ignition.

The title sounds like the slogan for a new tech company based out of Silicon Valley. Alas, it is not.

I loved this week’s course content particularly because of the assigned TED talk Dr. Amanda assigned, which I will dive into later during this post. Learning about nature interpretation this semester has been a breath of fresh air because I had no prior exposure to this field. Thus, it serves me well to reflect on my experience since reflection allows for greater growth.

I know for certain that nature interpretation can serve a purpose to all age groups. That purpose may be different for different demographics and different scenarios, but it can serve a purpose nonetheless. For example, interpretive messages delivered to youth groups resulted in less littering along trails of Shiloh National Military Park (Vander Stoep and Gramann, 1987). On a completely unrelated note, interpretation has successfully been used for safety by protecting people from bees, bears, bison, and everything in between (Beck et al., 2018). 

Photo of hikers reading interpretive messages on a trail. Nature interpretation can be in various forms (such as this visual sign) and can be used for various purposes. Retrieved from here.

What I still wonder is how technology will impact interpretive industries in the future. I don’t just mean directly, either. Technology has impacted our entire lives in ways that could not have been imagined just 10 years ago. Surely, it will impact everyone involved with nature interpretation, but in what way? We’ve already seen apps that can identify plants, apps that teach you about the different species in the area you’re visiting, and more. What’s next?

Photo of an interpretive phone application that can be used to enhance experiences in nature without a traditional interpreter. Retrieved from here.

I find inspiration whenever I am in the flow state that Dr. Amanda talked about this week in lecture. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi described the flow state as being in a state of ecstasy, where you forget your problems and existence. Csikszentmihalyi put into words what I have always felt, but never intellectually explored. I enter the flow state often during my athletic pursuits and university courses. Everything melts away when I’m flying through a downhill trail on my mountain bike while being completely immersed in nature. This brings me inspiration because it demonstrates to me I am capable of much more than I consciously think I am capable of. In terms of nature interpretation, it means I have to be genuine with what I know, what I want to know, and where I’m at. This will help bring me inspiration when I am taking on tasks related to nature interpretation.

I can ignite by setting up my environment to make the flow state a possibility in almost everything I do. Csikszentmihalyi stated that if something is too difficult, it’ll result in anxiety. If something is too easy, it’ll result in boredom. The middle ground is where the magic occurs. I can ignite by doing what’s in my power to achieve that middle ground. In university, this means picking courses I am passionate about at a difficulty level relevant to my skill level. In nature interpretation, this means undertaking a project that is relevant to my skill level. I can follow the rule of “relevant to my skill level” in all my pursuits by being honest with myself about where I currently stand. This will take me to the next level by allowing myself to be engaged on a sincere level.

I’m curious what you think about Csikszentmihalyi’s TED talk on flow that was assigned this week. It certainly had left a lasting impression on me for the reasons stated above. Let me know what you think.

Mo

References

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

Vander Stoep, G. A., and Gramann, J. H. (1987). The effect of verbal appeals and incentives on depreciative behaviour among youthful park visitors. Journal of Leisure Research, 9(2), 69-83.

[mhenvs3000-20]

Hello,

Great debrief. I haven’t listened to this podcast myself, but your debrief had me interested in giving it a lesson. In addition to a few lessons you mentioned, I’ve found that road salt accelerates vehicle breakdown substantially. In particular, it causes premature rust, which is a lesson I unfortunately learned the hard way. My previous car was destroyed by rust. For my new car, I make sure to always take care of it in the winter months so it doesn’t share a similar fate in a few years.

Despite the negative impacts of road salt that you mentioned, road salt obviously has its uses to protect ourselves from harsh winters. You might agree with me because you mentioned that there should be less emphasis on the “doom and gloom” of road salt, albeit for a different reason.

Therefore, I was wondering if you or the podcast you listened to had any alternative suggestions to road salt. Is there something different we can use or do?

Mo

Salty Situations: A Debriefing

As someone who has weathered 20 Canadian winters, I have had my fair share of slips and falls on icy sidewalks. Most of the time these falls result in a couple bruises and a few laughs, but they could lead to more serious injuries from awkward falls, or in the case of road ice, the sliding and crashing of cars. The podcast I will be reviewing this week, titled ‘Salty Situations’, dives into the topic of road salt as a counteractive measure to winter ice, the negative environmental impacts associated with it.

Photo: Colourbox.com / Oleksii Arseniuk 

The first thirty seconds of the podcast included a groovy introduction of the title with background music, and the speakers greeting the listeners and outlining the topic of salt. They do this with enthusiasm and humour, which set the tone for the podcast and gave me the impression that the speakers were excited about the topic of choice, making me eager to listen further.

Throughout the podcast, the narrators teach many lessons, including the negative impacts of road salt on aquatic animals’ food. The interviewee did this by giving a storytime through a freshwater fish’s perspective on the impacts of salt in lake habitats and how it sinks fish food to the lake bottom. This was effective for giving kids wildlife perspective and eliciting empathy for fish being affected, which overall helps to develop a connection between kids and nature (Beck et al., 2018).

Another lesson presented was how sand is an environmentally friendly substitute for road salt. This was taught by a conversation between two narrators, where one was unaware of this application and the other was quite knowledgeable. I think this was awesome because it felt as if the listener was learning along with the unknowing speaker and the questions being asked and answered were an stimulating way to deliver information, rather than a large blurb about sand.

The last lesson I took away from the podcast was the actions people can take to reduce road salt usage. The speakers suggest kids can tell parents about its harmful impacts and encourage them to stop using road salt. They did this by emphasizing the problem of road salt throughout the podcast and then task kids to tell one person at home what they’ve learned about its impacts. This activity was effective because it promotes parental environmental stewardship, since kids can influence the sustainability of parents purchasing (Beck et al., 2018). One suggestion I’d make is to reduce the emphasis on the ‘doom and gloom’ of road salt, so kids from this age group don’t feel overwhelmed with the responsibility of social action (Beck et al. 2018).

Overall, I found this podcast to have many engaging aspects that made it informational and intriguing to listen to. One aspect that especially stuck out to me was the effortless conversational flow between the narrators. I hope to incorporate that in my next podcast because it was a more natural way to deliver information that made it more exciting to learn about, rather than lecturing the content. My experience through the perspective of a participant was that the narrators dialogue and information presented made the podcast captivating all throughout and kept me wanting to learn more than the 15 minutes they recorded.

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T., & Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Urbana, IL: Sagamore – Venture Publishing LLC.

[mhenvs3000-20]

Microplastics In Water - Debrief

This debrief is for the podcast titled “Podcast.m4a” which was about microplastics in water. Let me start off by saying I loved it and I learned a lot! Any criticism I make will be simply nitpicking what could have been improved because this will benefit the group more than me just complimenting it endlessly (despite it being very deserving of me just complimenting it!).

My first impression of the podcast during the first 30 seconds was a little confusion because the music was too loud. This is an easy fix and did not detract from the actual podcast because the music only lasted during the introductions. There was also an echo that made the audio hard to hear at times, but it was gone at other times. 

With that technical stuff out of the way, the introduction to the actual content was fantastic. The audio was crisp and there were no filler words used such as “Um” and “Uh” which sounded like a professional podcast.

3 lessons I learned from this podcast are:

1) Using plastics is problematic because they do not degrade when disposed of.

2) Majority of what we put in the blue recycling bin is not actually recycled. Only about 10% is.

3) Guelph’s water is more safe than others because majority of our city water comes from groundwater, which is not exposed to thermoplastics.

I think these lessons were effective through the lens of a child because unnecessary jargon was avoided. The speaker you guys chose did a great job (probably because you told him to keep it simple) by simplifying the details. Great job on that!

Photo of figure showing global plastic waste by disposal. We can see that the overwhelming majority of plastic waste is discarded and not recycled. This confirms the third lesson mentioned above. Retrieved from here.

One technique I learned from this podcast that I may integrate in my future podcast is including multiple speakers. Our podcast only had a total of two speakers, which may have been less engaging than including more speakers like you guys did.

Overall, I had a pleasant experience listening to your podcast and I actually learned about thermoplastics which I didn’t know about before. Out of everything I mentioned, the only real suggestion for improvement is the audio, and specifically, the echo. Taking care of that will make your podcast nearly perfect for the future submission. I hope this helps!

[mhenvs3000-20]

Thanks for your great reply!

In regards to how you ended your post, I wouldn’t mind that all! Thanks so much for these helpful suggestions. Like you said, I like to keep these blog posts short so they’re easily readable instead of writing a booklet. So, your reply is a perfect follow-up to my 2 posts about bees.

I agree with your thought process about the most successful form of nature interpretation. I’d also like to add a major part to this complicated equation.

Neonicotinoids (a type of insecticide) are a major contributor. It’s a really tough battle because farmers love using them for their convenience, yet their detrimental effects to pollinators (especially bees) are alarming. Health Canada actually recently reached this conclusion in 2019 after being made aware of it in 2012 which I’ll link here. They introduced new restrictions for neonicotinoids in Canada, but it may not be enough. The problem is that it takes time to do research and time results in damage. This damage is sometimes irreversible such as when I introduced the rapid decline of the rusty patched bumble bee in one of my previous posts.

The 5 suggestions you outlined are definitely some actionable steps that we can all take right now that may immediately help pollinator decline. What I propose is a change in how pesticides are regulated in Canada. This is mostly done by an organization called the PMRA. I’m not sure about how we should exactly approach this and what policy needs to be overhauled (as of this second). All I’m sure about is the fact that we have a major problem with pesticide regulation that needs a solution.

Mo

Like food? Then care about bees!

[Bonus post]

My previous post about the most amazing thing I know about nature was regarding the wonderful little black and yellow buzzers.

Bees!

I had a lot more to say, but didn’t want to write an entire booklet for just one blog post.

Remember how I said 30% of the world’s food supply relies on bees? I wasn’t kidding. They’re vitally important to the future of mankind. Since bees provide essential pollination services to various plants, imagine what would happen if populations of bees start declining and how that may affect our food supply.

Oh, wait.

You don’t really need to imagine, because that’s exactly what’s happening. Pollinators as a whole are declining and bees are getting hit hard. For example, the rusty patched bumble bee population has declined by 87% in the last 20 years according to this. Other species of bees, as well as pollinators in general, are also declining rapidly. Researchers don’t even know for certain the consequences that this may have in the future.

The quotation shared by Dr. Amanda in week 8′s lecture stood out to me as I pondered about bees. In 2005 Louv said, “What could our lives and our children’s lives be like if our days and nights were as immersed in nature as they are in technology?”

The reason this is relevant to what I discussed is because this lack of prioritization towards nature leads to problems such as pollinator decline. For example, research shows that pesticide usage is contributing to pollinator decline. I believe if we were more immersed in nature as we are in technology, nature would be at the top of all of our priority lists and, therefore, we’d be a lot more careful about global pesticide usage. Pollinators are not just important for conserving plants and biodiversity. We literally depend on them for our food.

This fight is also not just for ourselves. It’s for the future of humanity.

Mo

[mhenvs3000-20]

Like food? Then care about bees!

[Bonus post]

My previous post about the most amazing thing I know about nature was regarding the wonderful little black and yellow buzzers.

Bees!

I had a lot more to say, but didn’t want to write an entire booklet for just one blog post.

Remember how I said 30% of the world’s food supply relies on bees? I wasn’t kidding. They’re vitally important to the future of mankind. Since bees provide essential pollination services to various plants, imagine what would happen if populations of bees start declining and how that may affect our food supply.

Oh, wait.

You don’t really need to imagine, because that’s exactly what’s happening. Pollinators as a whole are declining and bees are getting hit hard. For example, the rusty patched bumble bee population has declined by 87% in the last 20 years according to this. Other species of bees, as well as pollinators in general, are also declining rapidly. Researchers don’t even know for certain the consequences that this may have in the future.

The quotation shared by Dr. Amanda in week 8′s lecture stood out to me as I pondered about bees. In 2005 Louv said, “What could our lives and our children’s lives be like if our days and nights were as immersed in nature as they are in technology?”

The reason this is relevant to what I discussed is because this lack of prioritization towards nature leads to problems such as pollinator decline. For example, research shows that pesticide usage is contributing to pollinator decline. I believe if we were more immersed in nature as we are in technology, nature would be at the top of all of our priority lists and, therefore, we’d be a lot more careful about global pesticide usage. Pollinators are not just important for conserving plants and biodiversity. We literally depend on them for our food.

This fight is also not just for ourselves. It’s for the future of humanity.

Mo