mlenvs3000f24

[mlenvs3000f24]

Hi,

I really like how you explain your ethics as a nature interpreter. I think it is important that everyone be themselves and show kindness and caring no matter what their beliefs or backgrounds. At the end of the day, we are all people, and we all want to be treated fairly. Stories are such an important part of that. Sharing culture through sharing experiences as we are all different people having gone through different challenges and experiences in life. Being curious and open to learning what else is past the known, a thirst for new knowledge leads too many more doors being opened in the sense of learning new things. I also find that being kind and caring is key.  

I agree that there are many responsibilities when it comes to being a nature interpreter. I agree with what you've said and how that safety is a main priority. Learning in a safe controlled environments where people can still explore and be curious while not be anxious about getting hurt or anything. Also being conscious about the health of the environment we are exploring is important. Making sure that facts are correct as to avoid spread of misinformation is important. Especially with technology and social media now, it is so easy for people to fabricate information and pass it off as knowledge with no proof. It becomes dangerous as some may believe the incorrect information that is being passed on without knowing how to verify the validity of that statement.

Another thing I liked reading about in your post was your plan on how you would approach nature interpretation. I really turning learning into games. It adds a bit of a creative element, as well as an interactive aspect for people to use. I think that maintaining that interactive aspect allows for better learning as it works to emulate experiences one cannot get from reading or watching a video on a similar topic.

Overall, I think that your post was great, and you have some great ideas on how you would implement your ideas of nature interpretation.

10: Interpretation ethics

As an ex-Catholic, I spent a good amount of time in my teens thinking about how my personal ethics and rules on morality both differ from and sometimes agree with Catholicism. However, I haven’t really taken the time since  then to extend my personal ethics past post-Catholic discourse and relate it to my environmental values. I think it’s very valuable to be aware of your own ethical stances in terms of interpretation. Our ethics are the filter that shapes how we interpret nature, whether or not we acknowledge it. And that interpretation is then past on to our audience.

The first belief I bring to nature interpretation is kindness. Showing kindness to the nature around us means walking lightly and respectfully as we explore. Showing kindness to each other means creating a space where everyone feels able to ask questions and learn. I believe that kindness is one of the key elements that goes into creating a welcoming environment. And welcoming environments set up the possibility for growth and learning.

I also believe that curiosity and discovery lead to caring. It’s very difficult to care about something that you don’t know much about. But by encouraging questions, sharing facts/stories, and pointing out the beauty all around us, a nature interpreter can create connections between their audience and nature. In tandem with curiosity and discovery, is the power of awe. I want to get people excited about that cliff, that leaf, that creek. Wonder is a very powerful tool.

Spent a very long time staring at this view awestruck when I visited Vancouver last summer

Interpretation also comes with many responsibilities. When you act as a nature interpreter, people are putting their trust in you to act responsibly in your role. The basis of this trust is safety. Like we learned from the Timiskaming Tragedy, a lot of things can go wrong in outdoor education spaces. Physical safety means being prepared for hazards, natural disasters and changing weather. But emotional safety also play an important role. Words have power. And that power can be used to harm others if wielded carelessly or irresponsibly. Sensitive topics have to be addressed with care and nuance. Your audience should feel welcome and included in the space you create, through the language used and interpretation employed.

I also think that nature interpreters have a responsibility to convey accuracy whenever possible. This is especially important when interpreting for children, who may not have the skills to properly fact-check your claims. Adult audiences also deserve access to well researched and meaningful information. Working as a nature interpreter means positioning yourself as an expert, and your audience is placing their trust in you to know what you are talking about. I believe in putting in the time and effort to research a topic fully before you share it with others.

There are several interpretation approaches that work best for me as an individual. And those approaches vary greatly by age group. For kids, who often have short attention spans, I think that exploration and games work best. Exploration allows kids to experience nature on their own terms and form a more personal relationship with the world around them. It also allows for the reintroduction of unstructured play that is missing from many kids lives. Giving kids a magnifying glass and a simple objective (eg. “Find as many colour as you can!”) gives them the opportunity to look closer at their surroundings and discover something new.

Games are also a powerful tool for interpretation. Minds often wander during lengthy explanation, but games keep kids focused and their attention on the task at hand. They can also help simplify complex topics and break them down into bite sized pieces. As an example, at my summer job last year, I ran a workshop for 10–12 year-olds who were planting a pollinator garden at their school. I wanted to convey the importance of building new pollinator habitat and introduce them to the concept of habitat fragmentation. So, I created a game that was kind of a mashup of musical chairs and shrinking islands. I placed picnic blankets (“habitats”) on the floor and told the children to pretend to be their favorite pollinator. As the music played, they could fly around, and when it stopped, they needed to find a habitat to stand on. As the game progressed, the habitats kept getting smaller and smaller as I folded down the picnic blankets to represent habitat destruction. Near the end of the game, we added another picnic blanket to represent the new habitat the students were creating. The game showed the students the importance of their garden, while also engaging them with the power of fun.

For adults, I think the best approaches for me to use are storytelling and writing. Stories have staying power, and also allow people to come to their own conclusions in a very fluid way. If I tell you about how I tried (and failed) to stop a park tree from being cut down when I was in the second grade, the take home message can be very different depending on how I spin the story and your own personal beliefs. You might walk away thinking about the importance of urban trees, the emotional bonds kids form with nature, or how privilege impacts how people engage with activism.

Article from The Stoney Creek News

From a personal standpoint, I think that writing is an approach that I am very drawn to. I enjoy the act of writing and like that I can fine-tune my words until I am satisfied. Evocative language can really come alive on the page, and writing allows lots of space for larger ideas to be explored. And, as a creative writing and ecology student, writing about nature in an interpretive way seems like the natural way to blend my two areas of study.

I know that my personal ethic will continue to develop and change as I grow as an interpreter. I’m looking forward to adding more nuance and challenging my own perspective.

[mlenvs3000f24]

Blog Post 10

I think what I have learnt about being a nature interpreter through this course is the importance of reflecting back on your experiences, what it taught you and what lessons you take away from it. Even when I feel like I am learning so much at once, the process of reflection allows me another chance to experience it again and pick up things I was not paying attention to the first time. Being able to take the lessons from reflecting into my future experiences will let me build upon my overall skill as an interpreter.  

I want to be able to bring my experiences to other people in a way that is meaningful for them. Through conveying what I felt and what I learnt I want to be able to pass that on to others for them to have and to learn from. I think that it is important for people to share their experiences as everyone is different and therefore has different stories to tell. Everyone loves a good story; it is a powerful form of communication which can be represented in many ways from film to text, images and in person experiences. I think that sharing is important to also help inspire each other. Learning from so many diverse people and their stories opens so many different streams of knowledge and curiosity that can inspire so much in a person. 

Also being able to recognize certain privileges I have as an interpreter. I have talked a lot about my travels in these posts, something I would not have been able to do if it were not for my privilege. Acknowledging it as I talk about my experiences but using it in a way to bring some of the other places to others to introduce them to the nature of a new place. I think that gratefulness is part of my ethic as a nature interpreter. Being grateful for the places and things I have experienced, being able to physically get to certain places where I can fully appreciate the beauty, and grateful for nature and the earth.  

My beliefs when it comes to nature interpretation look to that of taking care of the environment and the natural world that surrounds us. We cannot survive without all the plants and animals in their natural ecosystems, which is why I feel it important to make sure we take steps to do our best to protect it. That does not mean we have to change our entire way of life but just being more conscious of the environment and how our actions affect it. Maybe that could be carpooling or taking public transit to work or school, but at the very least not doing anything to do harm to the environment such as littering.  

Another belief is understanding and communicating the benefits of nature for one’s mental wellbeing. Talks about taking care of yourself and your mental health have been becoming more regular where in the past they were not. Utilizing this moment to openly talk about ways that you can better your mental health. For a long time, there has been a stigma attached to mental health that is only now being broken down, but people still struggle to ask for help. Not that you should be discouraged from seeking help, but being able to communicate the benefits of being outdoors and experiencing nature on a person’s wellbeing could help them. 

It works into another part of my ethic, not just as a nature interpreter, but also as a person which is able to help people. Showing everyone, kindness and caring is something I try to integrate into my nature interpretation as I care deeply about the environment around me, as well as the people around me. Feeling this sense of purpose that what I do can help someone in any little way is something I prioritize for myself in my future. I want to feel as if I am doing something that matters and what matters to me is helping people and doing that through nature. I feel it is also a responsibility to others. Something that I can do to help others feel good, or something that I can do to help, if I can, why shouldn’t I.  

Other responsibilities that I feel fall on me as a nature interpreter would go to a call for action. Even if it is small and just talking to friends and family about certain things they can do to help it is important. Developing conversation with people about issues and how they can get involved is key in being able to make changes to problem solve big problems.  

An approach that I feel would be fitting would be mixing my interest in art and using that to convey a story through text. Other forms of media like film and videos are exciting but would be a place where I feel too awkward. I like the idea of incorporating art and text together to tell a story because the text is enough to give detail but too much of it can seem overwhelming or a bit boring. However, with images that gives the audience a visual, something to see and picture as they read the story. It gives a certain context while also the text working to keep the detail and description informative. Some photos do not every require a lot of text, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. I would try utilizing that point, as well as letting it up to the viewer allows for more interpretation on the viewer's part. It puts important on the message while also allowing for creativity to be included. 

Overall, my aim as an interpreter would be to share my stories and experiences with other people. Focusing on the impact of these experiences, how they helped me and how other people can find a similar way to help themselves through nature. I want to be able to help people use nature and the environment to help themselves and in return participate in activities to help the plants and animals that live around us.  

[mlenvs3000f24]

Hi!

I really like how you broke down the cycle of the forest feeding itself. I find it so interesting and forget sometimes about the natural processes that go on. Even when we are not always watching, it is part of nature and the natural way of things. I think it would be interesting to investigate how human intervention has affected this cycle. For example, deforestation and how taking away these trees that are a necessary part of the cycle affect the rest of the chain reaction that happens. Is it something that will correct itself or do humans have a responsibility to take care of it as they are the cause of the issue. It is hard to ignore the impact that humans have on the environment and the following problems that affect other species. As you pointed out, a lot of nature's interactions are linked to one another and if there is a disturbance in one place that would then go on to affect another species which would go on to affect another, so on and so forth. Overall, I really liked how you described the forest cycle, forest feeding the forest.

Unit 09: The Forest Feeds the Forest

What does a sugar maple, a mouse, an owl, and an earthworm have in common? It would seem like very little! A sugar maple is huge, towering many meters above the forest floor, whereas an earthworm is minuscule, and finds its home underground. Despite their differences, however, each of these organisms has a very important role to play in each other’s lives.

The sugar maple is an iconic Canadian species. It is found on the flag, is the source of the maple syrup, and explains the breathtaking autumn vistas of rolling hills covered in the reds, oranges, and yellows of changing leaves. But the sugar maple is not only important to Canadian identity—it is also an integral part of forest ecosystems.

Like any other organism in the forest, the sugar maple has one goal: reproduce. To maximize the likelihood of one of its offspring surviving to maturity, the sugar maple puts out many seeds—each individual tree can produce hundreds of thousands! This is very much like buying a lottery ticket—surely one must be a winner!

If you have ever walked into a sugar maple forest, you will know that at any given point, you will be surrounded by hundreds—if not thousands—of trees. If each one of these trees produces hundreds of thousands of seeds…you do the math! This is a good outcome for the sugar maple, but it is also beneficial to the mouse. Mice, in preparation for the winter ahead, must store food. This winter caching corresponds to the timing of the production of maple seeds, which makes these seeds a key part of the mouse’s diet.

These seeds are of such importance that their availability is a key determinant of the mouse’s population! Like many fruiting plants, the seed crops of sugar maples go through “booms” and “busts”—some years have exceptional seed production, whereas other years have poor seed production. In the good years, the millions of seeds produced by the sugar maples in the forest mean that mice can survive and reproduce without issue. “Boom” years for the sugar maple correspond with “boom” years for the mouse.

The mouse “boom” benefits predators of mice—such as the owl. The owl, which does not need to struggle to find food, is able to raise more offspring. The owl experiences a “boom” itself, which will lead to a reversal of the mouse “boom”—an intricate cycle which continues in perpetuity.

As the season draws to a close the days get shorter, the nights get colder, and slowly those reds, oranges, and yellows begin to emerge. The leaves eventually fall to the forest floor—a shared fate with millions of others. As the days turn into months and the months into years, the earthworm comes along and begins feeding on the decaying plant matter. The earthworm in turn increases the nutrients in the soil. This, of course, is good for the sugar maple, which is good for the mouse, which is good for the owl...

[mlenvs3000f24]

Blog Post 8

One of the most amazing things I have been fortunate enough to see is all the different things that nature has to offer in different countries and different places in the world. Travelling is a privilege that I am grateful to be able to afford, and with it all the beautiful places I have been able to visit. One thing you can say about nature everywhere is that it is never the same no matter where you are, even if it is the same place and you are visiting again, no trip will be like the last, and no one place is alike. A big part of this can be attributed to culture and the cultural practices in place. 

Take for example, the differences between deer in the wild here compared to ones they have in Japan. I am no hunter, nor do I go out into the forests looking for deer and other large wildlife, but I have seen the rogue deer on golf courses and just around in more remote areas. Compare that to Japan, specifically the city Nara where they have a park where there are many deer roaming around freely. These deer in the park are special as here you can feed them with crackers bought for them. I think that it is very interesting how domesticated the deer seem with all the tourists around. As someone coming from a place where the deer are flight-ish to seeing so many being comfortable around humans was a bit of a shock. Guaranteed they only showed interest as they knew you have food; they also showed some interesting behaviour. They would bow their heads to you if you had food.  

(deer mid-bow)

These differences in deer behaviour are just one way in which we see culture affecting nature. I found the trust that the deer had around all the other people in the park to be interesting, leading me to wonder how they became that way. Was it someone that conditioned them or is it just that people came with food and the deer learnt that it was safe. I think it is interesting to learn how the environment and culture work together to affect the things around it.  

Overall, I think like humans, it is a question of nature versus nurture. What we do to nurture the nature around us will shape how it grows in the future.  

[mlenvs3000f24]

Hi!

I really liked your comparison of the way Edward describes integrity to that of a jigsaw puzzle. Where in the quote he talks about all pieces needing to be present to make the whole as you need all pieces of a jigsaw to complete the photo is clever. I think a partial reason for why things seem so different today is the fact that people are more centered around themselves as individuals rather than a collective whole. Some people don't care about what happened in the past, they tell its history so why it is important for me to learn now. I think that there is a big problem with that thinking because were everyone to think like that we would regress as we never learnt from our mistakes.  

I think that while this quote puts an emphasis on preserving the history behind the object, it is not totally disregarding the whole of history, whether it be an event or place the remains of it is still important. Having sites, buildings, and environments protected and preserved aims to keep it so they will be there forever for people to visit keeping history of that place living for generations. 

Overall, I think that our job as interpreters is to maintain the integrity of the environment that surrounds us. Keeping it protected so that future generations can enjoy and learn about the past as we did.

Unit 6 Blog

“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).

After learning about historical interpretation in this unit, I have gained a much stronger understanding of the meaning behind this quote by Edward Hyams. This quote acknowledges the importance of honouring our past and using it to guide the present and future. While ancient artifacts, locations and buildings still remain, their age isn’t the reason why we collect, preserve and place value in them. In other words, they hold no “merit” unless we give them an educational meaning. It is the job of the interpreter to connect visitors with the memories and experiences associated with these remnants, while presenting a ‘so what?’ factor that connects the past with the present. In this case, “merit in integrity” relates to our ability, as both historians and interpreters, to show respect for what came before us by constructing a morally accurate and authentic interpretation of past events.

The quote also mentions how "integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole". Reconstructing pieces from the past to broaden our historical knowledge can help give meaning to why we’re here today. To visualize this, think of a jigsaw puzzle. It’s impossible to assign meaning to each individual piece until you can bring them all together to form a full image. Integrity involves the understanding that each piece of that puzzle is important; otherwise, the image wouldn’t exist in its true form. Interpreters need to account for the moral takeaway of an interpretive experience. Why are things so different today? What has the past taught us about right and wrong? According to our readings, a popular way to guide visitors through the experiences of historical figures is through first-person or third-person living history.

As the quote implies, what’s in the past isn’t just in the past – it also shapes the morals, privileges, and actions of the present and future. The quote uses the metaphor of a railway station to explain this. We can’t forget that the station ever existed as soon as we pass through it, because if it wasn’t there at all, our train wouldn’t be in the same place it is now. We needed the railway station, an artifact of the past, to guide our train on its track.

When we think of historical interpretation, we need to be mindful of where we are today, and the deep connection we have with our past. Interpreters can help visitors explore that connection, which will help them navigate through present challenges and contribute to a healthier and more responsible modern society.

[mlenvs3000f24]

Blog Post 6

The first thing that caught my attention when reading through this quote was its introduction as it feels like a bold thing to say when this week's topic was focused on nature interpretation through history. In this I found that he was more so talking about the physical body of said ancient thing. His quote goes on to describe how importance lies within integrity, which is the degree to which all parts of a piece are held together. If all the pieces and parts are not within the same time of each other integrity, then it turns to be the maintenance of them. Maintenance is where we take part, using our knowledge and memory of history we are responsible for maintaining integrity in the site. To ensure that this is done we take pictures, paint, sculpt and memorialize certain significant events and or sights to be remembered. The first half of this quote speaks to the importance of writing history down for it to be remembered and passed down.  

The second half of the quote describes what it would look like should we lose our history likening it to us only believing what’s in front of us. That if we didn’t see it, it wasn’t real. Again, this highlights his emphasis on the importance of maintaining integrity, what I think of as maintaining historical events. I agree with the fact that our past is important and there is a responsibility to us to make sure that things aren’t forgotten.  

An example where I can see that the integrity of an event was kept was when I went to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Japan. Walking into the grounds of the museum it was filled with a certain heaviness that conveyed that of the event it was memorializing. Thanks to grade 10 history I was familiar with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki but never properly understood the impact that the event had on the country and its civilians. Coming out of it I have a better understanding, but truthfully, I wouldn’t say I understand it all. I found the Peace Park and grounds of the museum incredible, somber, and beautiful, the actual museum that held the exhibit was intense. There were journal entries from people that were affected by the bomb, clothing and toys all charred and burnt, along with detailed descriptions of what followed directly after the atomic bomb hit. While I don’t have any photos from inside the museum, I took a photo of the Peace Flame which was displayed in front of the A-Bomb Dome. 

Overall, I think the quote puts focus on us as interpreters to make sure we hold up the integrity of these historical events and or places, so they are not forgotten in history.  

[mlenvs3000f24]

Hi Farhiya

I think what you said about fall is true and resonates with a lot of other people. Like myself for example, I think the transition in seasons is truly one of the prettiest things we see throughout the year. It's the only time we get to see those warm tones throughout each year. I agree that it signals a change, not just in the season and weather but for me also as a time where I am reminded to look back and reflect back on the year past.

Something I also like about the colours is that I've somehow been conditioned to think of thanksgiving and spooky season when it comes to the warm tones. Holidays which I love in a season which I find so pretty being marked by colours. Having it be relatable to memories can make this time of season one of reminiscing. The warm tones red, orange, and yellow also make me think fire, which connects to ideas of warmth and comfort.

Overall, I think the fall is a very comforting time that makes me reminisce about the year past and looking forward to the end of it. It is a pretty setting before turning to another pretty season, winter, while the weather is not as harsh.

Blog Post 5

Lately, I have been soaking in the change of seasons, especially as fall starts making its entrance. The colors are just so pretty: reds, oranges, and yellows gradually taking over from green. It's as if nature is trying to put on one last show before winter comes around. As the crispness starts to settle into the air and the leaves crunch at my feet, I'm reminded how peaceful everything feels but alive. With each passing season, I am struck by the change that occurs within my relationship with nature. Perhaps more than others, fall brings to my attention the dynamic features of the natural world and how my own relationship with it ebbs and flows with time.

This somewhat relates to some of the ideas about nature interpretation that I have been considering lately. There's something really powerful with using different lenses through which to look at the environment. I have come to realize that while science is a good tool to understand nature, it's but one way of doing so. Personally, it's more about helping others connect with nature in ways which resonate with them. Making nature relatable and meaningful can be through a story, an experience, or some simple observation.

This has been on my mind lately in light of the work that we have been doing with our podcasts: just so much potential to share in a way that's really engaging, no matter what one's age might be. Interpretation is like the seasons: it's always evolving, offering new ways in which this people-to-nature connection might be made. I am excited, just as fall would encourage us all to embrace change, as I do not know what this journey will take me on.

[mlenvs3000f24]

Blog Post 5

With this blog being a free write, I want to take this time to write about a trip I took with my family a year ago to Iceland. Firstly, saying how grateful I am for having been able to go to such a magnificent place. It was my first time experiencing a place like that, which was one that held so much natural beauty. It may sound dramatic when I say it was unlike anything I had ever seen but it all felt so untouched by anyone but mother nature.

As someone who grew up in Toronto and went to school in the city, I never really felt a strong connection to the nature that surrounded me. I appreciated its beauty and enjoyed it in all the seasons, but I did not have the feeling of being tied to it, more so just saw it as something that already exists in the world. This view started to change as I moved to Guelph and met new people who held different values of nature. That was one of the first things to impact my point of view on the environment. Just hearing what the environment means to them and how they connect with it and try to preserve it made me reflect on my connection and efforts of preservation. At the end of my second year at Guelph my family and I went on a trip to Iceland.

Going to Iceland was an incredible experience because it was very different to the other places I had visited before. Not saying that it was my first-time seeing nature and wildlife out on a trip but it kind of felt like on very long glamping trip. Other places that I’ve been to like Banff and Hawaii also have amazing nature scenes, however I also associate them with some sort of city life. I think that’s where Iceland differed for me. I flew into Reykjavik which is a city but as I moved throughout the country and moved towards more remote locations it felt more intimate connection with nature. Everything I saw there felt very untouched by man, the hiking trails and pathways, the waterfalls and hot springs seemed so far away from other people.

Here is a photo of Gullfoss, a waterfall in the southwest of Iceland that I went to see. It is in the middle of a canyon that you were able to walk down and around. I found it amazing and so serene, adding to the fact that the mist from the falls and sun let me capture a photo of it and a rainbow was so cool.

This photo was taken from an excursion we took to see the glaciers. There was a raft kind of boat that took us out to see the glaciers. Something I that we could’ve done was get off the boat at the glacier but that day there were reports of a polar bear on the glaciers. I didn’t get to see the polar bear but due to the dangers that inhibited us from getting off.

Overall, I think that experience plays a big part in how I see the environment, whether that’s the people I surround myself with or the places I go to I attribute both to my changing views.

[mlenvs3000f24]

Blog Post 4

When I think about how I interpret nature in art I don’t think of myself as someone who regularly does that. Up until recently I haven’t engaged in depth on the art behind nature. I would simply appreciate it for what I saw it as, but now I have been able to more deeply understand and appreciate art. Going into art and nature interpretation with curiosity leads me to connect more to pieces.  

I think the gift of beauty is interpreted differently by everyone. It is shaped by your experiences, the people you are surrounded by and the environment you live in. Ethos, pathos and logos are three different ways in which we can perceive information to interpret it. Ethos being the who, the person of authority or the person who is responsible for creating the artwork. Pathos is the emotional part of it. How it makes you feel, what emotions it invokes when you are viewing the piece. Lastly, logos which is the why, the logic of it.  

Out of all of them I would say the part of interpretation plays the most with pathos, the emotional aspect. Art and nature interpretation is not always logical nor about who is responsible for why it is there. I think the emotion it evokes is what makes it special to everyone. Take for example, a quote from Robert Burns “my love is a red, red rose” it paints a picture in your mind, the literal meaning behind the words are not what he is trying to convey. Another example is when someone talks about the sun rising and setting. The sun is not actually rising and setting over the earth, rather the earth is rotating around sun, yet we still understand what is trying to be said in that. Logic and emotion do not always add up and that is because emotions do not follow logic but what they feel. 

[mlenvs3000f24]

Blog Post 3

The way I define privilege is as someone who has an advantage given to them or simply held by them that other individuals do not have access to. Things like their socioeconomic status and education are just a couple examples of things that can be affected by privilege. I would say it is typically inherited at birth but can also be given later in life.

For how privilege affects nature interpretation, I think it has a significant impact on people’s experience interpreting nature. Things like mode of transportation, what destinations you can afford to travel to, and one’s education are all things affected by privilege which then turn to affect nature interpretation. I really liked the metaphor of privilege being like an invisible backpack as I do think it is something that is not often talked about. Not to say that everyone is oblivious to their privilege, but it is a bit of a taboo topic where you silently acknowledge that it is present. Everyone has different things in their invisible backpack – that is different levels of privilege that allow for different experience in nature interpretation.

Experiences like travelling to different countries and exploring new cities, knowing how to swim and being comfortable in water allowing one to snorkel or scuba dive are both privileges I am lucky to have. I constantly can experience new things mainly due to my economic privilege which is not an opportunity that everyone gets. Even if it is not a large vacation across country activities like going out on camping trips or going to hike in national parks all cost something. Where you live can factor into if you are able to go for a walk around your neighborhood. When interpreting your surroundings, depending on where you are, I would think that the economic cost it took to get you to said place wouldn’t be one of the things you are initially considering. I think that when we go out to interpret new things we are focused on the new information and turn a blind eye to the cost (and privilege) that it took to get you there.

Your level of education is something else I think has an impact on ability to interpret. As an individual going through university, I am lucky to have been given the opportunity to take courses that inform me on the things I’m interested in. Based on prior knowledge and experience I can say that I have a solid foundation in the biological sciences that aids my ability as a nature interpreter. Catering to your audience, and therefor knowing your audience is something that the textbook touched on and understanding the prior knowledge your guests have is key to that.

Overall, I think privilege plays a significant role in nature interpretation. Even if it might not always be talked about or acknowledged publicly, we walk around with it as we go around interpreting nature. Whether it is travelling to new places, staying and camping or even exploring the ocean they all come with a price of privilege.

[mlenvs3000f24]

Hi Alyssia

I really enjoyed reading your post. I find it admirable that you know what you are passionate about and that you know what you want to strive to be in the future. Being an environmental educator/interpreter sounds cool, and based off the experience you had mentioned having at the Ontario Provincial Park I think that roles like that can teach a lot. Teaching through activities such as your fun with fungi is a great way of including all the different learning styles. Parts of kinesthetic learning from modeling the mushroom, the posterboard that includes many images feeds into visual learning, and for auditory learning that could have been you talking about the fungi or them asking questions.

I also liked how you mentioned the importance of being passionate in the field you are working in. If you have passion in what you put out, those that view it will feel that and reciprocate that energy back to you. Like the textbook said, you should love what you are interpret and those that end up loving it as well. The emotional aspect of this connection is important. Showing that you care will let others know why they should too. Learning never stops no matter what age, having and sharing the love of something can spark interest for anyone at any age, and I think we sometimes overlook that fact. As someone who is still kind of figuring out where her ambitions and passion lies, I think it’s cool when people know with such clarity what it is they are interested in doing.

Unit 2 Blog Post!

Describe your ideal role of environmental interpreter. What might it entail? Where might it be? What skills might you need?

The role of an environmental interpreter or environmental educator is one role I aspire to fill one day. When I picture myself in a career that brings me happiness and drives the passion inside me, this is what I see. I have so much love and passion for nature and the environment and I constantly want to share my knowledge with those around me. I thrive on learning about the natural world, and being able to continue that journey of learning while passing down knowledge to diverse groups is exactly what I hope to do in my future career.

My ideal role as an environmental interpreter would consist of leading outdoor educational programs tailored to people of all ages. I love to be able to reach individuals of all ages. My hopes are to move somewhere more environmentally vast one day, such as out West in B.C. or Alberta and be able to learn about the beautiful natural world out on that side of Canada and contribute to passing this knowledge down to individuals all around. I would also love to live somewhere down south such as Costa Rica for sometime, being able to immerse myself in such a beautiful environment, with so many new species and landscapes. From there I would love the opportunity to be able to interpret such a vast and wild natural space to people. Promoting the conservation and preservation of these lands, helping to inspire others to protect these vital natural spaces.

With these roles, many skills are needed. Though I have experience in nature interpretation, I still have so much to learn. This is part of why I have taken ENVS*3000, to increase my knowledge of nature interpretation in my academic career. So far, the readings have provided a lot of valuable insight into this role. Chapter five was especially interesting to me. I really enjoyed reading about the progression of interpretive principles through different individuals' teachings. I believe much of the content in this chapter equips us with the skills needed to be successful interpreters. One of the main skills required for a role like this is a genuine love and passion for both the place and the people (visitors). If you love what you are doing and have a deep passion for it, you will succeed in fulfilling the mission behind your work. This idea stems from the work of Freeman Tilden, as explained in our textbook, and reading this really resonated with me. I believe that if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. Work doesn’t feel like work when you care about what you’re doing. If your goal is to reach the hearts of visitors and promote action in conservation and care for environmental spaces, you must love the spaces you teach about and the art of expressing that passion to others. Only then can you truly emotionally connect with people and promote the change you hope to see and be part of.

I actually have had the opportunity to be a nature interpreter. Two summers ago I worked as a summer discovery student at an Ontario provincial park. This is where I discovered my passion for this line of work. I absolutely adored this job and had so much fun in everything I did, I have never felt so passionate about a job before. I got the opportunity to be part of, lead and develop many natural and historical interpretive programs and activities for visitors of all ages. As much as I was teaching others, I was also learning so much at the same time. From watching my higher ups conduct programs, to conducting research in the development of my own programs, I learned more than I thought I would have in just one summer. I got to help my supervisors present programs such as guided evening hikes based on creatures of the night and insect hunts. I got to lead an educational and immersive pond study, where park visitors engaged with aquatic ecosystems hands on.  I also got to develop two game based programs; a trophic level jenga game and a Fungi program where we taught visitors about the importance of fungi in nature and children got to make their own mushroom out of fast drying clay.  These are just some examples of the programs I had the opportunity to be part of. These experiences gave me practical knowledge in program development, but the most rewarding part was seeing people engage with nature in new and meaningful ways. One of my favorite things about this job was getting to learn and be immersed in the world of interpretation through Ontario Parks. It sparked a passion in me. My supervisor, with over 25 years of interpretive existence, shared so much knowledge and experience with us summer students. I am so grateful to have gotten the experiences to be exposed to nature interpretation and the opportunity to work in this field. It definitely left me with a passion and drive, wanting to continue in this field of work when the summer was over.    

This is the Fungi program I co created with my co-workers. We interpreted the Fungi and were able to connect the information to younger ages by having them making their own mushrooms, which we had examples, out of fast drying clay.

Me and my Co-worker investigating a super cool fungi find one day a work. These are called, Eastern American Jack-O-Lantern fungi and their scientific name is Omphalotus illudens. One of the inspirations to our later created Fungi program.

I have a very strong drive for learning and teaching, and nature is one of the things I love most, so being able to blend those two things feels like a gift. I would definitely say I have a passion for Nature Interpretation and I hope to be able to build a career around something I love and care so much for:)

[mlenvs3000f24]

Blog Post 2

I think my ideal role of environmental interpreter would be something like a science communicator. This role includes many things from environmental journalist to a job in the entertainment business consulting on movies or shows. In a job like this I would be taking a complex topic surrounding the environment and breaking it down into a piece of writing that can be easily understood by an audience who may not have a background in science.

I feel like science to someone who doesn’t have an extensive background can be somewhat overwhelming making it harder for those to maintain a continued interest in it. The job of the communicator would be to bridge the gap between the science and audience by introducing the important context into whatever it is you are talking about. This can be done in multiple different forms such as written articles, a book, art, and film. Even the architecture of a building tells you something if you stop to interpret it. Take for example the OVC (Ontario Veterinary College)

This is a building that many people walk by but looking closer you can see that it is symmetrical. One can interpret the symmetry of the building as a sign of perfection, order, and trust of the institution. The material of a building can also indicates something of status or reminiscent of the time it was built depending on the value of what was used. Interpretation is everywhere and we can utilize that to tell stories.

Being a science communicator can be done anywhere as there are so many topics that can be taken from all over the place. Interpreting in this manner can be done in many different areas. Focusing on the habitat of a specific species, the environmental impacts of pesticides, or going for a broad topic like climate change. The beauty is that it is up to you on what and how you want to communicate your interpretation of the environment.

Some key skills needed would include good communication like writing, in depth analysis, and an understanding of rhetorical strategy. Knowing how to write well is important to clearly communicate information to your audience. Whether that is through written communication, audio, or visual being able to use appropriate language that is engaging and informative makes for a great communicator. The ability to deeply analyze a subject allows for deeper interpretation and things to be seen. Interpreting not only what is visible, but also the meaning behind of how it was done or why it was done that way can show us a deeper meaning for why we are learning about said topic. Finally, an understanding of rhetorical strategy sums up all three pieces. Knowing who’s speaking – the author’s voice (ethos), the logic behind what’s being told (logos), and how it relates to the audience’s emotions (pathos).

Though the job science communicator doesn’t exist outright, I think it is something that everyone does. All jobs from those in education to researchers in the field count as science communicators. I simply am unsure which path I want to stick to, and therefor am wanting to work on my overall ability in being a science communicator.

[mlenvs3000f24]

I think that it's really cool how your background growing up living off the land has deepened your connection to nature. We are in a time where not many people see what goes on from growing food and getting it to their table, for most people it is out of sight, out of mind, me included. However, as I have expanded my social circle and gotten a chance to talk to more people and their perspectives it has made me question it more. I still don't like to really think about the nature of where our food comes from commercially (though I should), but I see that it is something that is getting talked about more. We should be aware of where our food comes from, and I think that it is really cool that you and your family know the whole process as the ones doing it.  

I also agree with the fact that just acknowledging and appreciating the nature around us is not enough but learning how we can work to protect it and the knowledge that it holds. I think a big impact on how we think about nature when we are small is the people around us, specifically family. When I was young, I was never made aware of where the food I was eating came from. In my eyes it would be cooked by my grandmother, and we would eat. That’s not to say that we didn’t take it all for granted, I was told the importance of not wasting, and finishing, but never how we got the food I ate. It just goes to show what an impact family has on how you perceive certain things like nature and where things come from. 

My Relationship with Nature: A Lifelong Journey

Nature has always played a large role in my life. I have lived on a farm since I could remember, where the seasons of the year shaped my everyday experiences. The wide-open fields, the rustling of the trees, and the constant presence of animals made me deeply aware of my connection to the natural world from a young age. My summers spent at camp, far up North, were an extension of this. I would sleep in a small cabin, spending all hours of the day outside, immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells of pure nature. These experiences provided me with a profound sense of place, where nature became more than just a backdrop, it became a sanctuary.

Over time, this relationship has evolved. In adolescence, I realized that nature offered me a safe space to regulate my emotions and gather my thoughts. Being in nature provided a kind of therapy that I couldn’t find elsewhere. The sounds of birds, the rustling leaves, and the fresh, earthy smells allowed me to escape from the chaos of daily life and tune into something bigger than myself. As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to understand this feeling more deeply, recognizing it as part of the broader concept of “a sense of place” as described in our textbook.

My family’s lifestyle has also reinforced this connection. We live off the land in many ways, growing vegetables in our very large garden, harvesting fruits from our trees, including grapes from our vineyard, and preserving our bounty for the winter months. We can our fruits and store them in the cellar, ensuring we have a healthy, non-processed diet throughout the year. We raise animals for meat and collect fresh eggs from our chickens, which provides us with everything we need to live off the farm. This way of life has kept me grounded in nature, reinforcing the idea that we are not separate from the environment but deeply intertwined with it.

This "sense of place" is not just a geographical location but an emotional and psychological connection to the environment. For me, this sense of place was first nurtured by my family, particularly my parents, who taught me to appreciate the land we lived on. Whether it was helping in the garden or going for long walks in the woods, they instilled in me a deep respect for nature. But it was also the camp counselors and fellow campers who helped shape my understanding. They encouraged me to explore, to ask questions, and to observe the world around me closely. Their guidance helped me see the environment not just as something to enjoy, but as something to protect and cherish.

As I reflect on how this relationship with nature has grown, I realize that it’s more than just personal; it has taken on a larger significance through my education as a biological science student here at Guelph University. Learning about the role of environmental interpretation in conservation and sustainability has deepened my appreciation. I now understand that the feelings of calm and reflection I experience in nature are not just random, they are part of a larger interpretive experience that connects us as humans to the land, its history, and its future.

I’m beginning to see that environmental interpretation is essential for conservation efforts. It’s not enough to simply enjoy nature; we must actively work to understand and protect it. This realization is empowering, as it aligns with the deep emotional connection I’ve always felt towards the natural world. My sense of place has evolved from being purely personal to being something that fuels my desire to contribute to the sustainability of the planet. My relationship with nature has been a constant throughout my life, but its meaning has deepened over time. What started as a personal refuge has now become a source of motivation for environmental stewardship.

[mlenvs3000f24]

Blog Post One:

Hi, my name is Meghan, and I am a fourth-year student at the University of Guelph doing a Bachelor of Arts and Science minoring in Psychology and Biology. Welcome to my blog for Environmental Science Nature Interpretation. 

My current relationship with nature is one of appreciation. Before university my appreciation for nature was not very prominent. But now, being able to walk everywhere while in Guelph is something I really appreciate. It's a time where I can just walk through and admire my surroundings. Even when the weather is less than ideal, it’s cold or hot, there is something to appreciate outdoors. There are small things I find that help me connect with nature, things like seeing the colour of the leaves change in the fall, freshly fallen snow in the winter, and all the flowers that pop up in the spring. Each hold their own beauty that I look forward to seeing each year.

I think my appreciation for nature has developed a lot and understanding of its importance. Partially from friends, and partly from being in university. Friends because it is something we hold in common and something we can observe and appreciate together. University has provided me with learning about its role not just in terms of science, but also how it positively affects mental health. Having plants as pretty decoration, or taking a walk outside is one of my outlets for when I’m stressed and doing it with a friend is a bonus. Each new place I travel to I get to experience what their nature and landscape looks like.  

Something else that has shown me to value nature more is all the trips I’ve been on. I have done a lot of travelling in my life which I am so thankful for and on the list of places I’ve been to, the two most recent are the Bahamas, and Japan. Both were absolutely stunning and provided different scenes of nature. In the Bahamas everything was very tropical, and where I was staying was built to protect and showcase the natural beauty of the island. All the landscaping may not have been all natural, but it was well maintained and had a lot more than just palm trees. For example, this photo of I don’t know what plant.  

Each new place I travel to I get to experience what their nature and landscape looks like

In Japan, specifically places like Tokyo and Kyoto, they are very built up and city like but still have areas that showcase nature very well. The cities are very densely populated, so they utilize the space they have in creative ways, one of my favourites being their rooftop patios of many of their buildings.

I found this display such an imaginative way of using the space they had to feature nature and plants. Japan is such a clean city and the ways in which they use art is truly a sight, for them nature is a part of art and something to be protected. 

I would say that thanks to my parents there are many places that I have been to where I can call them a sense of place. First would be the ocean, places like Hawaii and the Bahamas. I love swimming in the ocean, being on the beach is so peaceful and calming. I find myself being a very “go with the flow” type of person and I take that mentality from the ocean. Just letting things be the way they are and not fighting against what you cannot control is what floating in the ocean feels like to me.  

picture of the beach in the Bahamas.

I think one more sense of place I recall is the playground behind my house. Though it has now gone under major renovation it is still the same place where I dug holes in the sand, flew kites in the field beside the playground, and watched fireworks. It brings back memories from my childhood and where I grew up. Sadly, I do not have a photo of the playground.

[mlenvs3000f24]

Disclaimer

This blog was created for ENVS 3000, University of Guelph. 

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of the University of Guelph. 

The University of Guelph is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by this blog