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Hey thanks for your post!

I completely agree with your idea of everyone being encourages to learn through nature interpretation. In terms of entitlement to learn through nature interpretation I believe this is close to impossible. Although it would be amazing, I think it is a privilege to be able to live in a society where nature is everyone and so accessible. COVID-19, in my opinion was a perfect example of privileges being displayed. Urban residents who have excellent living conditions compared to those who do not were observed (Cole et al., 2021). Poor conditions included lack of space (caused a larger spread of the virus) and poor plumbing in some areas (Ahmad et al., 2020).  I would love to hear your opinion on how it would be possible for everyone to be entitled to learning through nature interpretation. In terms of responsibilities, I think it is important that an interpreter is focused to ensure successful translation. The idea of blogs being a form of interpretation was refreshing to read as we often overlook the forms of communications we are using presently. I assume the untraditional approaches to nature interpretation will be seen more frequently in the future as the advancement in technology and society as a whole will result in some dramatic changes. Do you think urbanization has a role in nature interpretation? To conclude, the “so what” approach definitely makes an individual dive deeper into their thoughts and idea to create something like these blogs!

References

Ahmad, K., Erqou, S., Shah, N., Nazir, U., Morrison, A. R., Choudhary, G., & Wu, W. C. (2020). Association of poor housing conditions with COVID-19 incidence and mortality across US counties. PloS one, 15(11), e0241327.

Cole, H. V., Anguelovski, I., Baró, F., García-Lamarca, M., Kotsila, P., Pérez del Pulgar, C., ... & Triguero-Mas, M. (2021). The COVID-19 pandemic: power and privilege, gentrification, and urban environmental justice in the global north. Cities & health, 5(sup1), S71-S75.

Unit 10: Personal Ethics as an Interpreter

As this course comes to an end, I’ve found that with all of the concepts and material we have explored, I have developed my own personal ethics, beliefs, responsibilities, and approaches as I develop as a nature interpreter.

One strong belief that I bring to interpretation is that everyone should be entitled and encouraged to learn through nature interpretation. We as humans all share the same home, and to understand and appreciate our surroundings and the species we share it with, should be woven into human nature. I believe that through nature interpretation, we can strive to achieve this mindset. In order to do this, however, we as interpreters must consider the accessibility of our service. An important concept that was presented early in the course was the process of unpacking our invisible knapsacks. This involves recognizing the privileges you have by identifying what unearned assets or advantages you may have that others may not (Gallavan, 2005). Only once you have actively acknowledged these privileges as an interpreter, you may begin to understand how you can structure your program or service in a way that is accessible to all. Creating an inclusive and accessible program for all revolves around tackling barriers. Many individuals may find that socioeconomic barriers prevent them from experiencing interpretive programs. To truly be accessible, it is important to ensure that the service is free, or low in cost, in an area where many can access it if it is possible, or provide transportation to those wanting to attend (Beck et al., 2018). Another factor to consider is ethnicity and cultural barriers. Many of these issues arise from a general feeling of exclusion, whether it is a language barrier or lack of representation (Beck et al., 2018). It is crucial that interpreters reach out to minority groups to express a welcoming environment, as well as increase the diversity of staff.

As a nature interpreter, it is important to understand what your responsibilities are, so that you may be successful in translating your knowledge and passions to your audience. One key responsibility I identified with is to focus on enriching the experiences of your audience. This is one of the most important goals of interpretation and it can be met by using the myriad of techniques that we have explored throughout this course. It is important that interpreters strive to do this so that we can incite a sense of place in our audience by helping them to recognize the special characteristics of a place, potentially by providing historical and cultural significance (Beck et al., 2018).

As an environmental science major, I also find that it is my responsibility to improve the methods of communication from individuals with a science background to the general public. In the midst of climate change and issues of land and habitat degradation, it is now more important than ever to bridge the gap between what is known and what is done in the environmental science community. Nature interpretation involving environmental education and citizen science initiatives can aid in bridging this knowledge gap by improving community understanding and evoking compassion on these pressing issues (Merenlender et al., 2016).

There are many approaches and forms that nature interpretation can take. Within this class, we’ve experienced blog posting and podcasting and we learned about so many more. As an individual, the most suitable approaches are likely more hands-on than what we were able to experience in a distance education format. Providing hands-on experiences to an audience such as hikes or tours are especially appealing to me because it allows you to utilize the 5 senses to elicit an enriching experience for guests. In addition to this, you can enhance the experience and reach as many people as possible by using a media-driven approach. In fact, it is very often that interpreters will reach out beyond the first-hand experience via social media, blogs, newsletters etc., in order to reach even more people than the original experience involved (Beck et al., 2018). Though this may not be a traditional approach in the sense of nature interpretation, it is the way of the world now and if anything, opens even more doors for nature interpretation. Using social media not only allows you to reach a larger audience, but it can also incite a connection to those demographics that are often overlooked, including young adults or teens (Beck et al., 2018). By utilizing different media to gain interest and attention, rather than steering away from it we can broaden our audience demographic (Beck et al., 2018).

Throughout this course, I found that the “so what?” prompt helped me to connect what I had learned about nature interpretation and how this work can be so important when it is applied in the real world. In a world where there are seemingly overwhelming environmental concerns, it feels impossible at times to be able to voice these issues and translate knowledge and understanding to as many people as we can. I have learned throughout this course that nature interpretation in its many forms is a way to not only build awareness but appreciation through connecting with your audience. Interpretation is effective in connecting and providing benefits to an audience including education, recreation, and ultimately inspiration (Beck et al., 2018). Ultimately, I think the overarching answer to “so what?” lies within ourselves and the communities we make up. We have discovered within this course that traditional peoples and indigenous communities have found ways to connect to their lands and weave this mindset into their ways of life, whether it is through traditional folk music that reflects the sounds of nature (Gray et al., 2001), art or traditions. I believe that we can all learn something from this, and find our own ways to connect to nature. I believe after taking this course and discovering what nature interpretation has to offer, we all have the opportunity to become closer to our environment as humans and develop an appreciation and passion for conservation. Through interpretation, we may all be inspired to find our sense of place on earth and become motivated to make it a better place (Beck et al., 2018).

References 

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

Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their “invisible knapsacks.” Multicultural Education, 13(1). Ares.

Gray, P. M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). Music of nature and the nature of music. Science, 291(5501). Ares.

Merenlender, A. M., Crall, A. W., Drill, S., Prysby, M., & Ballard, H. (2016). Evaluating environmental education, citizen science, and stewardship through naturalist programs. Conservation Biology, 30(6), 1255–1265. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12737

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Hey,

Thank you for your post! First let me just say you were right to address the elephant in the room first! This semester is just weeks away from ending, it really just flew by. I can completely agree that I began this class not knowing what a nature interpreter was and took this class in the hopes of more assignment-based work as well. Your beliefs were great to read about as well. In terms of passion, I think this is an important one and it is so versatile because someone who may not like to be in nature may like to listen to nature noises and music so they are still able to connect to nature, just in a different way. I think honesty is a really big factor in today’s day and age because there really is so much misinformation out there as we all saw during the pandemic! I think a lot of this has to do with the idea of personal experiences. Going back to the idea of “Invisible backpacks”, we are all able to interpret nature differently based on what we have in our “backpacks” (Beck et al., 2018). Whether this be positive memories associated with nature, or negative. You discuss how you intend to remove all obstacles and provide several learning possibilities; I would love to hear more about how you would attempt to do that

References

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

Unit 10: Who I Am!

Before I explain my personal ethic as a nature interpreter, I think it is time to address the elephant in the room…How on earth is this semester coming to an end already!! I hope I am not the only one utterly shocked that we have made it to Unit 10. This semester has flown by, and I have enjoyed sharing my opinions and stories with you each week. It has been so delightful getting to learn so much about everyone! It's funny because this is a Distance Education course, yet I feel I have learned more about my peers than in an in-person class! Taking the time to write these posts has never felt laborious to me, as I enjoyed sitting down and connecting what we learned in the readings to what I value and believe.

That being said, I will disclose that when I first enrolled in this class, I had yet to learn what nature interpretation and being a nature interpreter meant. I was heavily surprised when the core assignments for this course revolved around the blog and podcasts. I'm not too fond of tests and quizzes and much more prefer assignments, so this was a breath of fresh air for me! I also found that these types of assignments were very refreshing and enlightening, and kept me engaged.

Some of my favourite new photos from my camera roll. United States Botanic Gardens in Washington (left), Moss growing along the stone in Pennsylvania (right)

As we approach the end, I feel as though I have grasped the vital messages to be understood from this course and I have developed my personal ethics regarding nature interpretation. The first belief I will be sure to include is my passion. Being passionate about the topic you are explaining to your audience is key. I believe this is one of the most influential topics of being a successful interpreter. It is never ideal to be listening to someone who evidently does not enjoy what they are talking about. This will not only not engage the audience but can dampen the joy of someone excited to learn. A positive deliberation, however, will cause the audience to feel more comfortable and as Beck et al (2018) state, it is more probable that they will listen. I want to be able to transfer my passion to others to spark their interest. Therefore, my priority will be to speak passionately and/or excitingly express the topics to be a successful interpreter.

Secondly, integrity and honesty are two significant factors that I will bring to nature interpretation. I wish others to know I am trustworthy as integrity is a big factor. As someone who has grown up with technology and social media so accessible, I believe it has caused two opposing outcomes; 1. People who believe everything they see online is accurate or 2. People who think everything is fake. With such a grave difference, it is essential to be skeptical of what we see because it is easy for anyone to display a fake persona with untrue facts. With this in mind, I hope to build the trust of my audience so that even if they did question what I was saying, they would find no fabrication, and they would know I value honesty. As an interpreter, honesty and integrity are fundamental, and along with passion, these beliefs best describe my personal ethic as a nature interpreter.

Along with that, a major responsibility that I would hold myself accountable for is inclusivity. I want to build an environment where no one is left out, and everyone has the same opportunity to enjoy and learn. When we discussed “barriers” in the textbook readings and shared our privilege, this was the most eye-opening aspect of the semester. I truly grasped the extent of it once I was able to take a step back to understand my privilege. Barriers, as we have learned, are present for many and they can be disability-based, economics etc. (Beck et al., 2018). Understanding this aspect of nature interpretation inspired me to ensure I will do my best to eliminate all types of barriers and have options for each learning style. This means I must be cognizant of all possibilities, for instance if there are visual aids, different hearing options, accessibility of sites, prices etc. Including aspects that cause these elements to vanish will help me to encourage inclusivity. I wish everyone to experience nature interpretation and see what it offers. Increasing the number of people in your audience increases the chance of stimulating individuals and creating new passions. In the environmental/conservation sector, bridging the gap and involving more people helps for great advancements (Merenlender et al., 2016). This study area is complex and costly, so having a larger team of individuals fighting for the same beliefs can lead to great things. As someone who has gotten to experience nature in many different areas, this has been how my passion has grown. Being immersed in the environment helps people to build a connection which is vital for an interpreter to accomplish. I also believe that it benefits everyone to experience nature interpretation as a community. As we all occupy the same planet, it is advantageous to grow fond of it and understand how to preserve it. Therefore, if these barriers are non-existent and everyone can be included, the connections made with the audience would be vast, and the number of conservationists will likely increase!

Overall, this course has helped me to discover who I am as an interpreter and what I stand for. Key aspects that I had not thought about prior to this course have helped me understand my beliefs. I have learned that to become a successful interpreter, I will make sure I am passionate about the information I deliver. I will be trustworthy and ensure inclusivity throughout this process.

Thank you all for a great semester! I have had such a great time learning about you all and sharing my stories. This has only increased my interest in nature, and I hope it has done the same for you!

Good luck with your future endeavours!

I started these posts talking about sunsets, so it only feels fitting to add one more picture for the final post :)

Literature Cited

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

Merenlender, A. M., Crall, A. W., Drill, S., Prysby, M., & Ballard, H. (2016). Evaluating Environmental Education, citizen science, and stewardship through naturalist programs. Conservation Biology, 30(6), 1255–1265. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12737

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The Last Blog

I want to begin this post by saying thank you to everyone for taking the time to read and respond to these posts! I loved reading about everyone’s personal experiences on concepts this class has presented us with. I probably would not discuss these topics without this class.

We started off the blogs by discussing our relationships with nature. I found my childhood has a lot to do with the way I interpret nature and my family and friends play a large role in these experiences. The idea of” invisible backpacks” and how we all carry our knowledge and experiences with us when interpreting any situation, was a crucial part of the blogs in the starting weeks. In unit 2 we had the opportunity to discuss the role of environmental interpreters and how the roles may vary depending on where you are in the world. We then discussed our own ideal roles as interpreters, and I specifically chose to look at plastics and wastes. The following week the role of “privilege” was discussed, later in this post I will discuss why I think it is crucial to acknowledge how privileged we really are. Then we looked at different interpretation of nature such as art and music, followed by the role of history. The reason for this really brief wrap up is because all of these posts lead into this weeks prompt. Putting all these ideas together, we are able to answer the question of how we would describe our person ethic as a nature interpreter.  

In terms of my personal ethic as a nature interpreter I think the biggest belief I bring is that everyone is free to and should interpret nature in their own way. In other words, there is no right or wrong way to interpret nature. I also believe it is important that we do not take the opportunities we have for granted. We are living in a time where everyone is constantly on the go, and I think practicing gratitude is often overlooked. Getting caught up in day-to-day life, especially those who work in a closed office 9-5, get stuck in their routine and having been there before, I found myself really missing my afternoon hikes and adventures I went on during the pandemic. I began to appreciate the smaller things like sunsets while coming back from work or the beautiful clear sky on my way to work. Here is one of the beautiful pictures I got to take right outside my workplace!

A lot of my beliefs stem from my childhood and how I was brought up. My parents always emphasized the importance of gratitude, whether that be the food on your table, the trips you are able to take or the heat in your house. It is important to note that privilege is also interpreted in different ways by every individual, so what I see as a privilege may not be seen as one for someone else.

The idea of “invisible backpacks” comes back to me when thinking about the beliefs I bring as a nature interpreter. The “baggage” we all carry with us allows our interpretations to different (Beck et al., 2018). I mentioned in one of my first blogs that this can be something as simple as looking in the sky and seeing a cloud shaped as a bunny, whereas someone else might see the same cloud as a cat.

As I was looking through some articles, I found a lot of them come back to teachers and school settings. Teachers’ beliefs about the nature of knowledge and learning have an impact on curriculum selection, teaching tactics and assessment procedures. Teachers’ beliefs influence their learning objectives and plans (Li, 2018). The research in this study is relatable to a nature interpretation perspective as it allows you as an interpreter to use your thoughts and experiences to guide your peers, friends and family. Something as simple as going on a walk on a summer night where you look up at the stars can be influences by an interest in an astronomy. Findings in this case study, specifically of students and teachers’ perspectives on the education of translators and interpreters, show factors not related to schooling may have an effect on how effectively teachers instruct their students (Li, 2018). When I think back to my days in grade school, I realize my favourite teachers were those who I was able to relate to and had similar interests and traits as me. I vividly remember my gym teacher being my favourite because he shared an interest in the same sports as me.

In terms of responsibilities, I believe sharing and showcasing the beauty of nature is something I am responsible for. As I mentioned in an older blog, I love taking pictures, so sharing these with family and friends on social media or in person is something I feel responsible for. Having a section of my personal social media to display my passion for photography is a way for me to express myself, which I am so grateful for. Stories, dances, and songs serve a range of functions in various cultures from amusement to instruction, as was discussed in the course notes (Hooykaas, 2020). We are able to see a wide variety of talent presentation in different ways because we live in such a multicultural society (Hooykaas, 2020). Personally, photography, listening to different genres of music, and being a dancer having done hip-hop and bhangra (Folk dance that originated in Punjab) are some of the few opportunities I have had to explore different cultures and practices. I am sure I am not the only one, so I’d love to hear from you guys!

Here's another picture I had the opportunity to capture at the Arboretum here in Guelph!

I have loved writing these blogs and reading everyone’s in return! Being able to connect with everyone has been a great opportunity. Have a great rest of the semester!

References

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

Hooykaas, A. (2020). ENVS 3000 Unit 10: Nature Interpretation's Role in Environmental Sustainability [Courselink Content] https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/791355/viewContent/3306935/View

Li, X. (2018). Teaching beliefs and learning beliefs in translator and interpreter education: An exploratory case study. The Interpreter and Translator Trainer, 12(2), 132-151.

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I loved reading about the night sky! I definitely learned a lot from your post and in terms of what I find fascinating in nature, I chose to write about flowers and sunlight’s effect on your mood. Personally, the night sky is something I genuinely enjoy looking at. In one of my previous posts, I wrote about my experience camping at Algonquin Provincial Park with my family and how the night sky was one of my favourite parts of the trip. I have had the opportunity to visit the park every summer and there really is no way writing or taking pictures can do the view any justice.

Its truly amazing how everyone has a different perspective on the same sky. Shooting stars have always been something of interest to me. Other than what they are, I really had no idea that some meteors can be brighter than Venus!

In one of my classes in high school, I had to research The Great Nebula in Orion (Denning, 1894). Today when I was reading up on it again, I found that it is very difficult to get an accurate drawing of the structure (Denning, 1894). The article I was reading was quite old so I was wondering, is this still the case? Because there has been so much advancement in technology since 1894, I am curious to know if you had any idea about that!

References

Denning, W. F. (1894). motion of fireballs and shooting stars relatively to the Earth. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 54, 538.

Unit 09

Since we don’t have a specific prompt this week, I will write about something I find amazing in nature which is the night sky. As a reminder, I have spent four years working seasonally in Algonquin Provincial Park and am looking forward to going back for my fifth year. Something I love to do in the summer is walk down to the staff docks at night and stare up at the night sky. I remember one night vividly when my friend and I were down at the docks and saw many shooting stars very clearly, the most I had ever seen. Throughout this post, I have included some pictures of the night sky that I took last summer on Canoe Lake. So now, let’s talk about shooting stars!

Shooting stars can be defined as “a piece of rock or metal that burns very brightly when it enters the Earth’s atmosphere from space, and is seen from Earth as a bright star travelling very fast across the sky” (Shooting start definition and meaning, n.d.). Shooting stars may also be termed meteors. Generally, meteors become visible when they are approximately 97 kilometres away, and some large meteors can be heard and be brighter than the planet Venus; these are referred to as fireballs (Dobrijevic, 2022). ‘Normal’ meteors travel through the atmosphere at a speed of 48,280 kilometres per hour and reach extreme temperatures of 1648°C (Dobrijevic, 2022). Meteors are common with approximately two to seven meteors being visible to observers every hour of the night (Reddy, n.d.). Additionally, it is possible to have dozens to hundreds of meteors in the sky and when this occurs, it is termed a meteor shower (Dobrijevic, 2022). Meteor showers are more common at specific times of the year and can be predicted. Furthermore, meteor showers are given names based on where they appear to be originating from; specifically, which constellation (Dobrijevic, 2022). For example, meteor showers that originate from the Orion constellations are named Orionids (Dobrijevic, 2022). For viewing purposes, it is recommended to look out for them during pre-dawn hours from a location facing the direction of Earth’s orbit (Dobrijevic, 2022). As well, hopefully, the shower occurs on nights when the moon is less bright as this makes the meteor shower more noticeable (Dobrijevic, 2022).

In historical times, meteors and anything else seen in the night sky created superstitions and were most commonly associated with gods and religion (Dobrijevic, 2022).  For example, shooting stars were thought to be sent down by angels as a gift to Earth (Dobrijevic, 2022).  However, others believed shooting stars was how gods displayed their anger (Dobrijevic, 2022). These superstitions lasted for a long time in Earth’s history because most scientists simply did not think that stones could just fall from the sky. Oftentimes, scientists simply ignored accounts of this happening (Dobrijevic, 2022).

I hope you learned something new from this post and would love to know what you find fascinating in nature!

References

Dobrijevic, D. (2022, August 11). Meteor showers and shooting stars: Formation and history. Space.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.space.com/meteor-showers-shooting-stars.html.

HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. (n.d.). Shooting star definition and meaning: Collins english dictionary. Shooting star definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/shooting-star.

Reddy, F. (n.d.). Meteors and Meteor Showers. Astronomy.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://astronomy.com/observing/observe-the-solar-system/2010/04/meteors-and-meteor-showers#:~:text=Under%20a%20dark%20sky%2C%20any,of%20the%20inner%20solar%20system.

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Unit 9: Sunlight and Flowers

As I complete my biological science degree here at Guelph, I often catch myself looking for the human impact on any given topic. In the case of nature, I quickly was able to put the thought of sunny days and flowers and associate it with happy memories, so the question here Is why? The most amazing thing about nature to me is how it can make you feel. Waking up to the sun shining bright and the birds chirping outside your window is the best feeling (As I am writing this, I am sitting on my couch in the sun, summer is almost here!).

If the sun is out, my mood instantly improves. The science behind hormones in the case of flowers and sunlight is something I find fascinating. Studies have found that the amount of time that strong sunlight is present and how quickly it is produced affects the rate at which the brain produces serotonin (Lambert et al. 2002). I see serotonin as the messenger that helps the body decide its mood, overall bowel and appetite health and how much a person sleeps. Overall, the takeaway point here is that the more sunlight, the happier people seem to be (Lambert et al., 2002). From my personal experience, I believe that the number of people suffering from seasonal depression has increased since the pandemic. Having a lower mood in the winters and in situations like COVID-19 where you are trapped in one environment (something as simple as getting your daily coffee from your favourite coffee spot became impossible at the height of the pandemic) that you do not feel your best at, is unfortunately becoming “normal”.

The picture above is one I took of my orchids last week and my favourite part is the little sparkles in the petals!

In terms of flowers, you can experience satisfaction, joy, and motivation thanks to dopamine. A group of 147 women were given a “gift” which ended up being flowers (Haviland-Jones, 2018). The immediate reactions to receiving flowers as their gifts were polite, true and excited smiles (Haviland-Jones, 2018). Just the slightest glance at nature can make a person happier! We use flowers in our lives as a symbol at occasions from birth to death. This can be anything from attending a wedding, to visiting a sick loved one in a hospital. I never really thought about how flowers are so versatile. Now that I am thinking about it, I do buy flowers for others very often, how about you?

This was just a little bit of my opinion and some studies I found on flowers and sunlight. There is so much more that can be discovered on nature. I would love to hear what the most amazing thing you know about nature is!

References

Haviland-Jones, J. (2018). Rutgers: Flowers Improve Emotional Health. About Flowers: Society of American Florists. https://safnow.org/aboutflowers/quick-links/health-benefits-research/emotional-impact-of-flowers-study/

Lambert, G. W., Reid, C., Kaye, D. M., Jennings, G. L., & Esler, M. D. (2002). Effect of sunlight and season on serotonin turnover in the brain. The Lancet, 360(9348), 1840-1842.

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I love how you refer to the sounds of nature as the “song of mother nature”. From the rustling of leaves on trees to birds chirping, I love to listen to sounds outdoors. I find a lot of people that do not like being outdoors, do not actually find the noises of nature soothing (although those people are probably not taking a nature interpretation class either) or are unable to hear the noises as an admirer of nature would. I am personally one of the people who enjoy the sounds of nature for the story and the calmness energy felt. I feel that it is easy to let go of my worries and enjoy the natural beauties of the place/activity I am so thankful to be able to visit. I completely agree that music has changes a lot from the past and we are now at a point where classical music is less seen and hip-hop and artificial beats produced are more frequent. As I mentioned my own blog this week, I found that that there really are talented people out there that are able to use any and every sound they hear and produce a modern day beat. A great example is Charlie Puth, if you get a chance take a look at a video of him creating music out of any noise.

To answer your questions, I do think that instruments made from nature are a form of nature interpretation through music because the instrument is what allows the music to be produces. A guitarist could not make music without their guitar, so I feel as though the wood that it is made of is important to the person playing the instrument as well. Quality of wood plays an importance in quality of music as well. The sounds of nature do play a role in music, but I do think it really depends on the genre. For example, I do not think EDM is influenced by nature in any way, whereas R&B is.

Nature and Music

Today I’m going to analyze two questions, Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music?

I believe that music and nature are forever intertwined. To answer the first question, I want to respond with another question, “Where is music not in nature?” Every mating call, stream, breeze, and bird song can be viewed as music, and when combined I like to refer to them as the song of Mother Nature. This song can be viewed as an interpretation of nature, it allows those who are bearing witness to it to explore nature through sound and listen to the story nature is telling. As we have discussed before a big part of interpretation is storytelling, and without a word, nature is able to tell a story through song and sound. As people focus on individual sounds they learn about different smaller stories going on in the environment around them, like a male bird singing his mating call or the stream flowing, giving life to everything around it. Some people also enjoy the sounds of nature not for the story but for the calmness and grounding energy the sounds emit. I would also like to acknowledge that music is subjective, some people can more easily find music in nature than others, which is important to note because some don’t recognize music in nature, and that is okay. Personally, I very much enjoy spending time in nature, allowing the sounds of nature to calm me, and listening to the world around me. Nature is where all sounds come from and through the centuries people have learned from and imitated its sounds. 

Now, moving on to the second question. This one is a bit more difficult, especially when comparing to today’s music which has so many different genres. In the past, prior to modern music, lots of music was inspired by nature. By specific animals, places, sentiments, seasons, and more. One of the most famous musical pieces inspired by nature is Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. These pieces are known around the world and are a direct interpretation of each season and the emotions associated with them. However, I believe that most of today’s music does not draw influence from nature, but don't worry cause there are still many that do. A big factor is the genre of music because this can influence where music draws influence from. Today I feel like nature can be found in music in many ways, directly using sounds from nature, imitating sounds found in nature, drawing inspiration from the feelings of nature, or directly about nature themes. Regardless, all music influenced by nature is interpreted, those about the themes and stories of nature are most obvious while those that use nature sounds are less obvious.

To reiterate, I strongly believe that nature and music are closely intertwined, there were still many things that I wanted to talk about on this topic but instead will leave questions to spark more conversation.

Do you think that instruments made from nature or that are decorated by nature are a form of nature interpretation through music?

Do you think that sounds of nature in some way play a role in all music?

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Nature Interpretation in Music

Music can be found in nature everywhere, from the rustling of leaves to the animals in nature. Music is a way of expression seen to some as an “agreeable sound” (Turner and Freedman, 2004). As a music lover, I listen to many different genres and can say that I listen to it everyday.

Music exists in the sound of the leaves brushing against each other on a windy day, the droplets of rain on the ground, thunder roaring in the sky, the waves crashing on shore, waking up to the birds chirping outside your window, and so much more. Something I find so interesting is the ability for some people to make music out of anything is astonishing. I have recently seen videos of Charlie Puth (an American singer-songwriter and producer) take any noise and create an amazing song.

Whether you are indoor or outdoors you are able to hear the sounds of music in nature. The video below shows the ripples of water at a beach I had the opportunity to visit in West Hawk Winnipeg.

I have always found the fact that animals like birds are able to make so many different noises as a way to communicate, interesting as well. Although they use this as a way of communicating, it is also a type of music. People commonly use white noise machines to help them fall asleep as well, sometimes this is whale noises or even sounds of water. We find peace in these noises, personally the sound of leaves rustling in the wind is one of my favourites.

As discussed in the course notes, stories, dances and songs serve a variety of purposes in different cultures, ranging from entertainment to instructions (Hooykaas, 2020). In Canada, we are a multicultural society, so we are able to see a lot of different showcases of talents in these ways as well.

A song that takes me back to nature, specifically the last summer is Heat Waves by Glass Animals. This song is associated to late night walks/drives with my sister as well as a cottage trip with my close family. The song was played well over 20 times in our 2 day stay but now, when I think about the song or hear it, I think of the smell of summer nights and bonfires where we created memories with loved ones.

“Sometimes, all I think about is you

Late nights in the middle of June

Heat Waves been fakin’ me out

Can’t make you happier now”

These are the lyrics to the chorus of the song and even writing them down, I was able to remember the exact late night stroll with my family at the cottage along with the conversation we were having.  

I would love to hear the songs that remind you all of any nature landscapes if there are any! Do you find songs are often associated with good or bad memories?

References

Hooykaas, A. (2020). ENVS 3000 Unit 07: Nature Interpretation through Music [Courselink Content] https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/791355/viewContent/3306932/View.

Turner, K., & Freedman, B. (2004). Music and Environmental Studies. The Journal of Environmental Education, 36(1), 45.

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I completely agree that every person has their own way of interpreting this quote based on their own experiences. When discussing the first sentence, you are talking about telling the whole story. As I mentioned in my own blog, I think this can be seen in our everyday lives, when we attend lectures and are presented with knowledge. I find that academic misconduct is stressed for students so much, whether that be strict enforcement regarding fabricating data, plagiarism, or breaking the law (Kwang et al. 2017). I find that this is not reciprocated when it comes to professors. Although I have not had any experiences where a professor uses someone else’s information and forgets to source it, I have heard of this from a peer. Professors are usually amazing at sourcing and giving credit where due however, these honest mistakes can happen, and for the professor there are no marks to be deducted. I find lecturers can be a controversial topic. Often, a lecturer will speak about their opinion and beliefs. They will disregard some minor information that can have you sway your opinion. If anyone else has had this experience please let me know as I would love to hear more about it!  

In terms of media writing their stories on what the public wants to see, this is extremely true. Media is able to spread fake news like the flu! I think we all saw how noncredible sources can take narrative when they have something the public will be interested in with the COVID-19 propaganda. Lastly is the railway analogy, I agree that we are constantly reminded that the past does have a direct impact on our future (Beck et al. 2018). I think a great way of thinking about this is how far we’ve come in terms of knowledge about climate change. Although there are people who do not believe climate change out there, we are away that this is impacting our everyday lives. We have been able to figure out way to lessen our negative impact by using what we have learned in the past. Do you think this is beneficial though?

References

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

Kwong, T., Wong, E., & Yue, K. (2017). Bringing abstract academic integrity and ethical concepts into real-life situations. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 22, 353-368.

Lessons In Our History

There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it. (Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)

First, I think that it is important to acknowledge that not everyone is going to interpret this quote in the same was as we all have different pasts, privileges (invisible backpacks), and knowledge bases that are our toolkits of how we all will interpret this quote. Interpreters also will perhaps use this quote to get people thinking and talking about what this means to their audience and might reveal a theme message for the audience.

Starting with the first sentence, merit means to have the quality of being good or worthy. There is good/worth in integrity (keeping together parts of any whole)-telling the whole story without leaving parts out. I feel that a lot of people take parts of history, little snippets, and use them to achieve a goal. It is important for interpreters to not do this but to share the whole story.

This reminds me of a photo I’ve seen before where from up close you think you know what is happening but then it zooms out and something else is happening. Therefore, looking at the whole picture can teach us a lot more about the past than a snippet does.

Photo Found at: https://thecircular.org/media-depiction-of-major-events-in-society/

I feel as though the media writes stories that viewers want to see, but also snips findings into pieces that often skew the story in an untrue direction. For example, the headline “scientists remain puzzled by mass of dead birds along West Coast”, they imply that humans are doing something wrong while, in reality, scientists concluded that natural overpopulation was the most probable explanation which is a natural response (Hays, 2015). Conservation can be difficult with inexact media twisting science so one way that interpreters can help is by sharing the whole story!

The analogy to think, feel, or act as though the past is done with to the train in the train station tells us that we should not ignore the past but instead be influenced by and learn from the past. There are so many lessons in history, from discrimination, atrocities, and ethnic conflicts (326). These lessons we can learn from the past can promote better understanding of present challenges that can help people navigate these challenges (343), and help people learn and comprehend the factors that make an atrocity possible so people can prevent it from being repeated in the future, and to cultivate peace (327). Interpreters can help people see how history relates to their own lives by teaching them in exciting educational stories (326).

How does history relate to nature interpretation. This is a question I wondered as well… The textbook said that nature often occurs in nature and vice versa. One can have learning about history draw them to nature or have nature draw them to learn about the surrounding history through interpreters. It also was suggested taking about nature through history to see that changes we have made. Conservation efforts and interpreters with a conservation goal /theme could reveal how much humans have changed the landscape and contrast the past and present as we see declines in biodiversity. This could be due to some species’ inability to move at these high rates of change and thus may gradually die out as climatic conditions become increasingly unsuitable (Malcom & Pitelka, 2001).

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World (1st ed). Sagamore Venture

Hays, B. (2015). Scientists remain puzzled by mass of dead birds along West Coast. UPI. https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2015/01/07/Scientists-remain-puzzled-by-mass-of-dead-birds-along-West-Coast/6531420656581/

Malcolm, J.R., & Pitelka, L.F. (2001). Ecosystems and global change. Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. https://www.c2es.org/document/ecosystems-and-global-climate-change/

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Unit 6: Nature Interpretation Through History

“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it.”

(Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation)

This quote can be interpreted by every individual differently. The “backpack” I mentioned in a previous blog that we all carry, is a personalized and unique kind of “baggage” that we all carry with us everyday. Just like when we look into the sky, different people see different shapes of clouds! Let me start off by really briefly defining merit. I see merit as a trait of being good and deserving.

Unpacking this quote, lets start with the first sentence. When listening to a story your friend is telling you, you expect them to tell you every detail and assume it is the truth. The same goes for merit in integrity. Telling the full background is crucial. This can be seen in academics on a regular basis. Attending a lecture, you expect to be presented with facts, and although the professor may have their own beliefs, you are not pressured to agree with them. You are being told the whole story when the facts are presented. Another example is academic integrity in tertiary schools. Most, if not all schools follow standard procedures to uphold student’s academic integrity and ethics in the classroom, including classes, tutorials, and learning activities that aid students in understanding the significance of acting morally and honourably (Kwang et al. 2017). However, despite all of these measures, including the enforcement of students’ disclosures and harsh sanction for wrongdoings, instances of plagiarism, disregarding intellectual property, fabricating data, and breaking the law to continue to occur with an alarming frequency (Kwang et al. 2017). Think back to the last time you heard of someone committing academic fraud, whether that be a professor putting out a statement on your course website or a friend googling an answer for an assignment. Do you think the enforcements attempts are working?

Through some research, I was able to find a study that demonstrates the advantages and disadvantages of several definitions of ecosystem integrity because each one considers various elements of ecosystem structure and functioning and reflects the diverse perspectives of people on the importance, value and function of biological diversity (De Leo and Levin 1997). The relevance of the definition of “merit in integrity” was questioned to be varying depending on the investigators point of view and how the ecosystem function, aesthetic values and other considerations work together and balance each other (De Leo and Levin 1997). They concluded that both integrity concepts, and/or their combination, have merit.

In terms of the railway station and thinking something is done with is a concept we all apply in our life when we say, “what’s done is done”. Personally, I believe there is nothing you can do that will change the past so there is no point (also not worth it) in dwelling on something and ruining your mental health over it. This quote however, illustrates the importance of not ignoring the past and instead, allows it to impact your present life whether this be learning from a huge mistake or something else (Beck et al. 2018). This concept is tricky to interpret as you can take it positively or negatively. You can choose to learn from your mistakes and take every step going forward cautiously, or you can choose to have the YOLO attitude (Very common in this generation) and take everyday as a new experience Personally I think it is important to find a balance between the two that will allow you to make good decisions while also taking risks. How do you see this concept? Are you more of a “what’s done is done” type person or do you like to take steps very cautiously? I would love to hear any experiences with this (I think relationships are the best example)!

References

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

De Leo, G. A., & Levin, S. (1997). The multifaceted aspects of ecosystem integrity. Conservation ecology, 1(1).

Kwong, T., Wong, E., & Yue, K. (2017). Bringing abstract academic integrity and ethical concepts into real-life situations. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 22, 353-368.

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Blog 5 - Social Disease

This blog will focus on Unit 4, specifically the interpretive planning and social disease section. Dr. Kurt Hahn’s concern about the modern youth and “social diseases” was discussed through 6 steps. Although these “plagues” were developed in the 1930’s, I believe they are still prevalent in society today.  

The first is a loss in fitness brought on by changing movement patterns. A great example of this is UberEATS and Skip the Dishes services. The convenience of just ordering a burger to your front doorstep makes going to a restaurant the extra effort.

Secondly, decrease in initiative and enterprise brought on by the prevalent “disease” known as spectatoritis. Social skills in my opinion are definitely something that the modern generation lacks. COVID-19 contributed greatly to this “disease”. Personally, I am a very introverted person and often find myself shying away from very social events. Although I will still attend such events, I would rather spectate.

Third is the decline of memory and imagination as a result of modern life’s confusing restlessness. The constant need to be on the go and actively keeping yourself occupied can be seen as a negative factor. Especially when it comes to mental health, I believe this can lead to exhaustion and burnout. From personal experience, I can vouch that although a jam-packed schedule can make your bank account grow, it is not necessarily helping you grow physically or mentally.

Fourth is the weakening of the tradition of workmanship, which is causing skill and care to decline. As mentioned previously, the fast-paced lives we are all living right now can take a toll on mental health. Not only are we not caring for ourselves but those who are burnt out or close to exhaustion are not performing at their full capacity. A perfect example is those who work in customer service. Being tired can lead to irritation, so in a situation where a customer requires patience and delicacy, the employee may lose their temper or treat the situation indifferently.

Fifth on the list is the decline in self-control brought on by the constant accessibility of tranquilizers and stimulants. This can be seen in many different perspectives. I will focus on the abuse of alcohol and drugs. As medications and technology has advanced so far, the constant need and requirements for the general public has also increased, whether this be supplements or nutraceuticals.

Lastly is the unseemly speed with which modern life is lived has caused compassion to decline. The fast-paced lives that we are all living has caused compassion in our lives to decrease and this is something you can see everyday. The friendly neighborhood help in winters when your car gets stuck or helping an elderly person with their groceries is something I really hope to see more of.

I would love to hear your thoughts on how/if these “social diseases” are still seen in society today!

References

Hooykaas, A. (2023). Unit 4: Nature Interpretation through Art and Planning for “All” Scenarios. [Courselink Content]. University of Guelph. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/791355/viewContent/3306929/View.

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I never really thought about digital sales receipts not having a universally accepted form. When it comes to buying products, technology has advanced so far, that we are able to pull out our phones and pay for almost anything, however the payment proof that we need to use to show in taxes and etc. are nowhere close to as advanced. People like myself have multiple different emails so even when I do get my receipt sent to my email, I do not know which one it was sent to and even if I do, I ignore it. Do you think there is a better way of keeping a consistent system, where we can store all our receipts?

In terms of plastic bags in grocery/retail stores, I live in Brampton, and we no longer use these bags as well. Something that I noticed is that plastic bags (some are recyclable) at some stores were completely removed, however, last week I noticed some places have brought them back. Although the plastic bags are recyclable, I found this to be interesting. Going back to the receipt issue I had no idea some receipts contain plastic.

You do mention the use of a receipt card. In today’s day and age where everything is about convenience, do you think people will use a receipt card? Even if this card can be attached to the wallet on your phone, in certain situations I do not think it will be as useful as we would want it to be. In cases like Tim Hortons drive thrus, we know they are trying to move very quickly. When I scan my point on the app, it does take me a minute to use face ID for my method of payment, having to pull up my receipt card on my phone would take me even longer and I am sure you know people are running out of patience now days so this can be seen as an inconvenience for the workers and the Tim Horton Corporation.

Overall, I loved reading about this as it is not something we would talk about in this course!

Free Write - Digital Sales Receipts

Something that recently popped into my head was how there is no universally-accepted form of digital sales receipts.

Think about it–we can buy things online, we can use a microchip embedded in a conveniently sized plastic rectangle to pay for those things, and you can even pay for things in-store using your smartphone if you prefer. However, the one thing that gets in the way of transactions being returned smoothly is the possession of your proof of purchase. You either threw it away, deleted the email, or simply weren’t handed one by the cashier. However, if there was one database that contained all of a country’s purchases, we would be able to refer to this database whenever the need for a proof of purchase arises. 

Particularly in Guelph, we no longer have single-use plastic bags for retail settings. The thermal paper used for receipts also contains plastic, yet has seen significantly less change over time, throughout the world, in retail than has the material of our carrying devices (bags). Yet, in most cases, the bag gets more use than the receipt–a “single-use” plastic grocery bag can be used as a trash bag in a household washroom trash can, it can be used to separate clean clothes from dirty clothes when traveling, among other things. The receipt, on the other hand, often gets thrown in the trash once the purchaser gets home, assuming they took the receipt in the first place. Considering we believe we have a solution to plastic bags, and we want to go paperless in most cases when possible, I think it’s time we definitely moved onto receipts.

I think the best way to implement them would be to start using them in the self-checkout lanes. Self-checkout lanes are often cash-free anyway, so implementing them here would get around the lack of a tie to digital databases that cash would have. In terms of tracking your purchases, this is no greater an issue than using a credit/debit card, which tracks your purchases to exist in the first place. Perhaps even create a receipt card, similar to a credit card, but scanned after payment to digitally retain your receipt. That way, it wouldn’t matter whether you paid cash or credit/debit since the receipt card would be its own scanned thing. For how many purchases the average person makes in just a month alone, I think the amount of plastic (or paper, if viable) the card would be composed of would be offset by the amount that is used in printed receipts. The challenge would be making sure there’s no sort of fraud existing within the card system, but most cards tend to have reasonably good fraud protection.

This was maybe a bit random, but if it piqued your interest at all, then I’m glad to have written it.

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Unit 4: Art Interpretation

There are a lot of different ways to interpret nature, but let’s focus on art. Just looking through my phone, I am able to look at pictures of sunsets/sunrises I have taken, and I am able to associate the pale tint of orange with a beautiful moment (Hooykaas 2023).

This is one of the many sunrise pictures I have taken. After appreciating the moment, I remember sharing this photograph to my social media so I could extend the appreciation to others (Hooykaas 2023).  In a society that is connected to nature, the ability for people to interpret art in ways that allow them to express themselves, whether that be their thoughts or feelings is very important (Beck et al. 2018). We often hear the phrase “art is a way to express yourself”, this is where it is seen. Being used as a form of therapy or a way to showcase emotion, art is seen as a great way to express nature. The textbook also discusses Maslow’s concept of self-actualization (Beck et al. 2018). These are moments best described as the points in a person’s life that makes them the happiest. This concept can be captured in different types of arts. Using photographs as an example again, although a person may not be comfortable taking a picture of themselves smiling in front of an amazing view after a hike, they can take capture this momentous occasion by taking a picture of the view.

In a previous post, I discussed my opportunity to take a late-night hike in Algonquin Provincial Park. This hike consisted of multiple stations where there were designated people (characters full of enthusiasm and knowledge) at every stop. They used interesting topics and methods to help us stay engaged. This included stopping and showing a jar of fireflies, calls for specific fishes, howls to hear back from wolves and so much more. This is similar to the use of actors to portray important topics as discussed in the textbook (Beck at al. 2018). The whole group hike was a great way to express knowledge while also letting us know there are issues such as less wolves, or the milky way is not seen as clearly as you would have seen it a year ago.

“The gift of beauty “can be seen in different ways by different individuals. I personally see flowers, sunrises, and high peak views as gifts from nature and as it is something I am interested in, I can find these areas everywhere I go. Growing up art, drama and music were subjects I lacked in and realized as I grew up, that I took those classes for granted. As an adult, I have really grown to appreciate these outlets. Currently, I love photography, which allows me to look for those amazing sunsets or the gorgeous, rare flowers.

I would love to hear your personally experiences with how you have interpreted nature through art. What form of art have you used?

References

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

Hooykaas, A. (2023). Unit 4: Nature Interpretation through Art and Planning for “All” Scenarios [Courselink Content]. University of Guelph. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/791355/viewContent/3306929/View.

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I definitely agree that this unit really expanded my perception of nature interpretation as well. Much like you, I never considered myself an art loving person however after reflection on myself in this unit, I realized I really am! Our jobs play a very important role in this situation. You dressed up as an early settler which is exactly what the textbook is referring to. The use of actors and theater plays a huge role in how topics are portrayed to the public (Beck at al. 2018). Personally, I am a dance instructor (I teach a Punjabi folk dance called Bhangra) and I have the opportunity of working with people of all ages. This means working with children starting at the age of 5 all the way to adults 50+. Although it is not right on the mark like yours, I think it allows me to help encourage expression. The textbook discusses the  how some cultures have use oral tradition to help pass their beliefs and knowledge on to the next generation (Beck at al. 2018). As the dance instructor, I use dance as my form of communication, when teaching I am able to help the students relate a certain movement to a word or action.  

In terms of visual arts, I think I can agree that I also never got “it”. I too have always appreciated photography and I think that helps me connect to nature a lot more. That is an amazing picture, thanks for sharing.

References

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

Maneet P

Nature Interpretation Through Art

This week’s topic of interpretation through art really expanded my perception of nature interpretation, and the ways in which the methods and strategies for interpreting both subjects mirror one another. Prior to this week, I wouldn’t have typically considered myself an arts person. I tend to power through art galleries, was always frustrated with my lack of drawing skills growing up, and never really got “it” when looking at fine art. And although these examples are specific to the traditional fine arts such as painting, sketching and sculpting, my brain is guilty of defaulting to imagining those mediums first when thinking of the word "art". But after engaging with this week’s reading material, I’m left thinking maybe I am an arts person after all. 

A line from the text that really started to initiate a reflection on the ways in which my roles so far as a nature interpreter have intersected with art interpretation was: "Many interpreters who are not professional actors don costumes to get across their messages " (Beck et. al, 2018, p.219). I realized that I had literally done this exact thing while working during the maple syrup season at a conservation authority. I dressed in early settler clothing to teach about one of the methods used in the past to make maple syrup, walking around my sap filled cauldrons heating up over individual campfires. And although this is a seemingly obvious and direct example of using the arts in nature interpretation, I realized that most of the general production overview list in Box 10.2 (Beck et. al, 2018, p.219) from the text were planning strategies that could essentially be applied to all of the nature interpretation programs I’ve designed or facilitated. Some of the more directly relevant ones being: audience needs and expectations, program outline, facilities and equipment, and evaluation. Additionally, I’ve also included similar elements to visual art within programming, having students engage with their senses to find patterns in texture, sound, and smell. 

Pictured below is some fun looking patterned moss I observed while on a coastal trail on Vancouver Island.

My goal of nature interpretation: to facilitate a connection and care for the natural world in order to spark environmental stewardship, is achieved by creating programs that audiences can connect with both physically, emotionally and socially. And essentially that’s exactly what art is trying to achieve, an emotional connection and response (Boeckel, 2014). People aren’t going to care about something that they don’t understand, and I’ve always found that to be a major gap in achieving positive strides towards meaningful environmental change. If a majority of the population doesn’t understand the significance of why certain aspects of nature need to be protected, then we will continue the dance of 2 steps forward 2 steps back, depending on which political party is in power. This is where I believe the role of environmental education and nature interpretation is critical for the upcoming generations. 

After all this, my point is that maybe I just never got “it” when it came to the traditional visual arts because no one ever taught me how to interpret them. I don’t recall experiencing a program where a passionate individual intentionally created an art experience for an audience to engage with in a meaningful way. The same strategies that are applied to creating meaningful environmental education programs, where learners can hopefully leave with a greater sense of understanding and appreciation for something, are used across all subjects, but seemingly especially for art. "Though perhaps unintentionally, art became an exclusive thing—if one lacked the “proper background” to appreciate art, then one need not expect answers to uncouth questions" (Beck et. al, 2018, p.228). I want my learners to question the decisions being made regarding their present environment, and their relationship with the environment of the future, and in order to do that, the foundation of a "proper background" must be developed.

Although I’ve never (yet!) connected with traditional visual arts, I’ve always loved and appreciated nature photography. A cool reflective shot I took of Tlakwa Mountain at dawn, during a camping trip on Vancouver Island. I enjoy flipping the photo upside down to really appreciate and remember the glassy stillness of the water that morning.

Citations:

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

Boeckel, J. (2014). At the heart of art and earth: An exploration of practices in arts-based Environmental Education. Environmental Education Research, 21(5), 801–802. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2014.959474

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Hello,

Thank you for your post, I loved reading it! I want to start off my saying I completely agree with you definition of privilege. I do think a lot of people who live a very privileged life do forget their advantages and do not recognize them enough. A perfect example of this would be social media influencers, or any celebrity.

In terms of privileges, I think COVID-19 was a great example of urban residents who have great living conditions versus those who live in poor conditions (Cole et al. 2021). Poor conditions include overcrowding, bad plumbing etc. (Ahmad et al. 2020). This is also a privilege that was overlooked until the pandemic took place. In terms of your point about socioeconomic status, I found this to be an interesting perspective.

Personally speaking, I have also had the privilege to be in a family that loves nature. The trips that my family decides to go on are always ones to remember. Although I never had an experience like yours in grade 10, I think this is a privilege I often overlook as a student. Those trips in elementary school to places like the parliament, or the trips to plant trees seemed like a chore at the time, but as I got older, I began to realize, these trips were really a privilege. Not only did we get to spend time away from school, but it was always a learning experience. The trip where I planted trees was years ago, and I still remember it. Memories like those are what helped me enjoy more time outdoors.

I would love to hear what you or anyone else can add about socioeconomic status and the impact of wealth on COVID-19!  

References

Ahmad, K., Erqou, S., Shah, N., Nazir, U., Morrison, A. R., Choudhary, G., & Wu, W. C. (2020). Association of poor housing conditions with COVID-19 incidence and mortality across US counties. PloS one, 15(11), e0241327.

Cole, H. V., Anguelovski, I., Baró, F., García-Lamarca, M., Kotsila, P., Pérez del Pulgar, C., ... & Triguero-Mas, M. (2021). The COVID-19 pandemic: power and privilege, gentrification, and urban environmental justice in the global north. Cities & health, 5(sup1), S71-S75.

Unit 03: Risk and Reward

My working definition of privilege involves the unearned reception of certain advantages to a group of people, or individual. These privileges are often passed down through generations and typically revolves around identities such as race, ability, socioeconomic status, sexuality, and level of education (Mcintosh in Noel, 2000 p. 115). While many people who live a privileged life are afraid to recognize it, it is an important topic to discuss in order to fully understand the power imbalances that result from it.

Privilege is just as important of a concept within nature interpretation as it is in everyday life. One of the ways I recognize that I am privileged in terms of my relationship with nature, is through having parents that placed values on our natural environment. Not everyone has the same opportunity to grow up in a family that has an appreciation for nature as I did. I am able to recognize this as a privilege as it is not something that everybody grows up with, and not something I ever worked to earn. I was simply born into a family that happened to share the same love of nature as I did, and this ultimately shaped the course of my life. One way this privilege unfolded as I grew up was through travelling. I have been fortunate enough to have parents that understand the value that comes with travelling and can set aside enough money for our family to go on trips. This has benefitted by relationship with nature greatly as it has allowed me to learn firsthand about different environmental topics such as ecology and conservation in other countries. This has bettered my ability as a nature interpreter as I’m able to spread the knowledge I’ve learned on trips with the people around me.

This privilege has benefitted me throughout the course of my time as a student, which even furthered my privilege. A specific example I can remember of travelling benefitting my performance in school was in grade 10. In my biology class we were learning about different interactions within nature, specifically symbiotic relationships. During the Christmas break of that year, my family travelled to the Amazon for an adventure. We were on a hike with a guide who was informing us of the natural history and interactions that occur within the rainforest. One topic he mentioned was the relationship between capybaras and cleaner bird species. He explained how certain birds will land on capybaras and eat ticks and parasites off of them and how this benefits both animals. It was a perfect example of a type of symbiotic relationship, specifically a mutualistic one, and I was able to reinforce what I had previously learned in class with a real-life example. When I returned to school, the information I had learned over the break stuck with me and ended up benefitting me in class. I was able to recognize that this was a unique experience that I was able to participate in and that it was a privilege resulting from my parents.

Privilege is an important topic to discuss, within the field of nature interpretation but also in everyday life. Continuing the conversation is one way to recognize your privileges and understand the power imbalances it creates.

Gallavan, N.P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their ‘invisible knapsacks.’ Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36.

Noel, J. (2000). Notable selections in multicultural education. Guilford, CT: Dushkin/McGraw-Hill.

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Unit 3: The role of “privilege” in nature interpretation

Privilege is a word that is often brought up when talking about controversial topics such as race, politics, religious freedom, climate change, animal rights, vaccines and so much more. A unique benefit, immunity or rights that is given to or accessible solely to a specific person or population is privilege. It can commonly be used.

I want to start with introducing myself again, I am a South Asian female, who speaks English, and Punjabi fluently. I am a second generation Canadian and am currently writing this blog in my heated house while sipping on a coffee I made myself.

I consider myself privileged to be living the life I currently am. My parents left their homes and moved across the world to a place where they had no family and only the basic skillset of language to allow their children better lives. Because of this I have always considered myself extremely privileged and grateful. When reflecting with myself, I find it is important to recognize what I take for granted everyday. This can be something as simple as a coffee trip, the ability to speak English (and more than one language), being educated, accessibility to food and healthcare services etc. The textbook outlines that the universal privilege around the world is wealth, and I am sure most of us can agree that is true (Beck et al. 2018)! The assets you receive from being privileged are overlooked due to society norms and nowadays social media influences.

Travelling plays a large role in privilege and because of my Canadian passport I can travel without the hassle of paperwork that others must acquire (visas etc.). Travelling is a privilege that I am fortunate enough to be able to do. Buying plane tickets, hotels, new food places, all are privileges. In terms of nature interpretation and privilege, I believe this is the most overlooked privilege there is. Having access to hikes, aquariums, pools, and other natural environments are often ignored as privileges. Accessibility plays a large role in privileges as well. An example is an individual who lives downtown Toronto versus an individual living in an area such as Rockwood. The person living in Toronto does not have the luxury of being near conserved areas where they can hike or see sunsets like someone in Rockwood would. Living in urban areas has its privileges however, rural areas have an advantage just because they live in the countryside.

Living in Canada comes with its privileges as well. Living in the Greater Toronto Area, I can live a privileged life where I can leave the city life for a couple days and go spend a weekend near the beach or travel a couple days to mountains and lakes like Banff. Last summer I had the opportunity to drive down to see some family in Winnipeg as you can see in the pictures below! I would love to hear of all your experiences with nature in Canada. Do you think these are privileges you overlook often?

References

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

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Hey, thanks for your post! I think the ultimate goals as an environmental interpreter would be to change a persons perception or help them expand their knowledge on a specific topic. I really like how you chose to have an emphasis on recycling as it is something you do all the time. In terms of a program being introduced to help limit the trash collected, how would this be different than what is already seen today? In my own experience, from middle school to high school, there has always been system where the recycling and garbage is separated in every class, then on a specific day of the week, all the recycling and trash is taken to a room where it is sorted once again by volunteers. I am not sure if every school did this but that was my experience.

I completely agree with recycling bin contamination being an issue. Not properly washing or cleaning a product before recycling it was something that I had seen done in my family and friends houses growing up. Although it is slowly getting better, I do not think enough people are aware that you need to properly clean the products first. In my opinion, the hardest part of designing programs is keeping people involved and interested. Finding a way to make recycling less of a chore would definitely increase the quality. I hope you are able to find a way to inspire people to help protect the environment!

Thanks,

Maneet P

Describe your idea role of environmental interpreter.

An environmental interpreter can be described as someone who helps other humans understand the natural world (Youngentob & Hostetler, 2003). This can be through positivity and the use of examples in nature. Environmental interpreters must combat the skills and ability of establishing strong connections with the audience and the object of interpretation. Essentially, I would hope that as an environmental interpreter, I can help change the way people think and behave in consideration to the earth.

My ideal role as an environmental interpreter would be to promote the importance of recycling programs in communities. Growing up, I have learned much about the importance of recycling and about the prompt “reduce, reuse, recycle”. I have practiced recycling at my home and at school and believe that community recycling programs are essential. It can allow for sustainability in one’s immediate environment. If a community can invest in a recycling infrastructure, recycling will be more common rather than garbage being put in a landfill. Unfortunately, landfills are a primary contributor to greenhouse gasses in Canada. When garbage decomposes it creates methane which then traps heat in the earth’s atmosphere impacting global warming (Smith, 2022).

A community recycling program would entail individuals taking action to help limit the buildup of trash in landfills. A program should be easy for communities to navigate that way they will be more likely to use it. Another common issue is recycling bin contamination. This occurs when materials are sorted into the wrong recycling bins or when materials are not properly cleaned. Recycling then becomes nearly impossible. It can also cause a devaluation in the products being recycled and can create unsafe work environments for those sorting the products (Rachelson, 2017). This is a large problem and reduces the positive effects of recycling. Furthermore, a recycling program would include the promotion of recyclable products such as reusable water bottles, reusable bags, and reusable containers. I would hope that as an environmental interpreter that people would consider using these reusable products rather than plastic which continues to contribute to waste. Overall, community recycling programs must include envious amounts of information and awareness on the topic. Therefore, community members understand why recycling is so important, rather than just feeling forced to recycle.

As someone who is so interested in protecting the environment, I believe that recycling is an essential step everyone should take. Yet, I struggle to consider how I could inspire everyone. Hopefully one day I will be able to be a part of something or a large organization that greatly considers recycling and promotes it to communities. This would be ideal for me in the future.  

Citations

Rachelson, D. (December 4, 2017). What is recycling contamination and why does it matter? Rubicon. Retrieved January 14, 2023, https://www.rubicon.com/blog/recycling-contamination/

Smith, M. (2022). How can recycling impact a community? How Stuff Works. Retrieved January 12, 2023, https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/recycling-impact-community.htm

Youngentob, K., & Hostetler, M. (2003). Environmental interpretation: how to communicate persuasively. University of Florida. Retrieved January 12, 2023, https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/uw182#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20main%20goals%20of%20environmental%20interpretation,Interpretive%20programs%20can%20be%20targeted%20at%20any%20audience.

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Unit 2: Environmental Interpreter

In todays day and age, I believe that anyone who decides they want to do something for the environment, can choose something they are passionate about and can get involved. Especially with the media impact on the general public, it is important that everyone is aware of environmental events around the world.

An ideal job for me as an environmental interpreter would be focussed on plastics. I know a lot of people grew up using plastic bottles and although a lot of lifestyle changes have occurred all over the world where people have moved towards reusable bottles and more sustainable products, there are still a lot of misconceptions out there. The picture below is one I found of Tim Hortons old packaging! In a course (I cannot remember the name), we had the opportunity to look into plastics to see how much damage products with BPA caused to the environment. And although we were unable to dive deep into the details, it has always been something interesting to me. I have also noticed it is prevalent in most classes (turtles life spans are shorter due to plastics in the ocean).  Looking specifically at oxo-degradable plastics (seen as biodegradable), a lot of people fail to acknowledge that these plastics still take a very long time to degrade completely because they are mode up of microplastic fragments (Kubowicz and Booth 2017). This is just one example of false information the general public may believe due to lack of research.

A tactile/kinesthetic and auditory program in which everyday products are shown to teens along with the effects on the environment and humans would be beneficial. In terms of spreading awareness, everyone does seem to know that plastics are bad for the environment, however, the connection to humans where our community lacks. In my experience, working with children ranging 5-18 everyday, I find that teens often have the “if it doesn’t effect me, I don’t care” attitude, so showing them that the plastic they are using will end up affecting them is crucial. Something as simple as a guest speaker can be effective. Personally, I took an Indigenous studies course in high school with a guest speaker component. I got to leave class, so I was automatically interested. That class was one that I still remember to this day, the interactive components and information really stuck with me. If a guest speaker can have that effect on even one individual, I feel they have made an impact. Multiple different skillsets can be used for this program, a team of researchers, presenters, etc. Having individuals like myself who have the skillset of working with kids everyday, would help keep the information interesting.

Going back to the environmental interpreters’ roles, I think the value of the role varies by the place you are in. In places like Greece, there is no professional training for environmental interpreters (Skanavis and Giannoulis 2009). It is interesting to see the approaches vary in developed versus less-developed countries (Skanavis and Giannoulis 2009). A lot of the time, in less developed countries, the main focus is providing food and work for the people living there so the environmental interpreters are seen as a not so important component. What do you think? Should there be more of an emphasis on the training programs for environmental educators?

References

Kubowicz, S., & Booth, A. M. (2017). Biodegradability of plastics: challenges and misconceptions.

Skanavis, C., & Giannoulis, C. (2009). A training model for environmental educators and interpreters employed in Greek protected areas and ecotourism settings. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 16(3), 164-176.