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Hey Shelby!

I agree with your thoughts on privilege in nature interpretation. Namely, how some communities cannot access nature. When many people approach nature interpretation it’s easy to suggest to audiences to get outside, but that excludes audiences who are unable to have outdoors experiences with the environment and are not given any other resource. For example, where I grew up there were many neighbourhoods where it was impossible to access natural spaces without owning a car to be able to drive to them. It was possible for my family to access nature because we could drive, but people who don’t own a car would be barred from entering the same spaces. If interpretative programs only focus on the people who have the capability of getting out into nature, they’re harshly excluding the people who cannot and who would therefore benefit the most from them. 

Looking at your ideas on providing guided walks or tours, maybe these activities could be made more accessible by providing virtual options. For example, you could record a video of yourself walking through a nature trail and post it online for people who are unable to come out and join you in person, or you could make videos about animals and plants that many people can find in their own yards without having to go far from home. There’s many ways to go about creating accessible interpretative content, but that was one idea I thought of! 

Overall, I loved hearing about your approach to nature interpretation and the clear strengths that you have as an interpreter. Your goals are very inspiring, and I wish you luck as you begin creating experiences! 

My Last Post

The time has come for our final blog post. This is the perfect opportunity to reflect and connect on the concepts we have learned. Throughout this course, we have learned that nature interpretation is a diverse and dynamic practice that can happen across various venues, using both personal an non-personal communication strategies to engage different audiences. The work of a nature interpreter involves direct storytelling, field interpretation, and technological tools to translate cultural and natural heritage into meaningful experiences. Interpreters are vital to helping people connect and appreciate museums, historical sites, arboretums, and natural landscapes such as national parks and forests. Whether leading visitors through a historical landmark or enhancing a hike with inside insights interprets educate and entertain. Overall, elevating experiences with a deeper understanding and personal fulfilment.  

As I develop my sense of self as a nature interpreter, I recognize that this position holds more than sharing my passion for nature with visitors. My ethical responsibilities and personal beliefs will serve as a foundation for how I interact with audiences and the environment around me. We have learned that nature interpretation is more than stating scientific facts, it is about creating deep and personal connections between people and the environment. In the content, we now understand the different learning styles and how we communicate as nature interpreters can follow the ideals of interpretation. My personal ethic is rooted in inclusivity in communication to commit to teaching others how to respect nature. Throughout this reflection, I will explore the beliefs I will bring to this role, and the responsibilities I will sustain. 

My experiences with my grandparents remind me of one scene in The Hunger Games, when Katniss is hunting in District 13 and a deer is not afraid of her and her weapon. Gale goes on to say “It’s because they have never been hunted before. It’s almost not fair.” It goes to show how nature also exists independently. When I am alone walking through trials, almost all of the animals run or move out of the way the moment they see me. This has made me want to try harder to form connections with nature, not just for myself, but for others. This goes hand-in-hand with the promotion of ethical nature behaviour. I would have to model and support this by educating visitors on how their actions can impact the environment. 

A major concept of privilege in nature interpretation we learned during this course has stuck with me. Recall Peggy McIntosh’s article, she explains the concept of the Invisible Knapsack. Nature interpretation holds privileges too, such as who can engage in nature interpretation, who is included, and who isn’t. I believe that interpreters must be inclusive and everyone is deserving to have access to nature and the knowledge we bring to help them connect with it. I would make an effort to use engaging language, be accommodating to all learning styles, and respect cultural perspectives of nature. I think an important aspect of this issue is the poor recognition of how some communities cannot access nature. This could be due to historical rejection, socioeconomic barriers, or geographic location. As a nature interpreter, it is my ethical responsibility to spread this awareness and create a space where everyone feels safe. To do this, I would reach out to diverse communities and listen and learn from their stories and insights. I hope this will foster an inclusive and empowering for all audiences. 

For me, I have always found that a hands-on approach with interactive learning is the most effective for engagement and comprehension. As a nature interpreter, I would provide guided walks or tours, in-person examples, and find ways for the visitors to actively participate to improve their learning. I think this would best reinforce information while also creating memorable personal experiences, that hopefully resonate with each individual. To utilize my in-person examples, I would incorporate storytelling to help further explain important concepts. This would include stories of history, my personal experiences, and local reports. I believe a well-told story can help remove the divide of scientific knowledge and emotion, by making facts into an experience. 

Circling back to privilege in nature interpretation, I would be adaptive to each visitor's needs and encourage curiosity. It is important to make sure different interests and levels of expertise are acknowledged and implicated through my interpretations. I think one of my strengths is the ability to adapt approaches for children especially. I have been a nanny for 3 years for 3 kids ranging from infants to elementary school children. For the children, I would incorporate play into learning to make my work more engaging. For adults, I would encourage open discussions to help deepen understanding and touch on different areas of interest. Similarly, I would present myself as a guide rather than a figure of authority to further inspire curiosity. 

This class has allowed me to develop my personal values and navigate the different responsibilities of a nature interpreter. When engaging with visitors, my ethical beliefs of the value of nature, awareness of privilege and the importance of inclusivity, I will be able to create enjoyable experiences for all. As an interpreter, I have responsibilities to provide correct information, create a sense of place, and inspire stewardship of the environment. Overall, my goal is to create experiences that are meaningful, and accessible, and foster deeper connections to nature.

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing, Sagamore Venture. 

Gallavan, Nancy P. "Helping teachers unpack their 'invisible knapsacks'." Multicultural Education, vol. 13, no. 1, fall 2005, p. 36. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9fe2f151. 

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Playtime for young kea birds! There’s a benefit to this apparently carefree behavior. It helps establish long-lasting relationships between the youngsters and even diffuses tension. David Attenborough | BBC Earth

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Hi Gil,

Thank you for your beautiful post on cultivating awe!

As you mentioned, awe is an incredibly powerful experience. When I think back to all of the experiences I’ve had with nature, whether it’s going on a walk through a trail or visiting the zoo for the first time as a young child, the emotion that sticks out the strongest in my memories is awe. I remember seeing certain sights that made me stop and realize that the world was so much bigger than I first thought.

Whenever I feel stressed or overwhelmed, I love going for walks through nature not only to clear my head but to remind myself that there is so much more to life than doing well on an exam or acing a job interview. To me, nature has always felt like something that makes me feel grounded and connected to the joys of living, and as a result of that perspective I recognize the importance of ensuring that the environment remains protected so that future generations can have the same experience with it that I have.

To that point, an effective approach to interpretation could simply be allowing people access to these awe-inspiring experiences. It could be something as simple as organizing a nature walk for your community, recommending an interesting documentary or planning a trip with your loved ones. If you create a space where people can feel awe and wonder, you can begin to guide them towards building a personal connection with nature.

Unit 10: Cultivating Awe & Stewardship

The very first blog I wrote for this course began with a reflection on "the sublime"—that overwhelming feeling of witnessing something far greater than yourself. As a child, I remember moments in nature that felt profound, where towering mountains, endless forests, or the hush of snowfall seemed to elicit a feeling that is beyond words. Those experiences stayed with me, shaping how I see the world. Now, as I develop as a nature interpreter, I want to help others—children and adults alike—find those moments for themselves. Whether it's standing beneath a vast sky or hearing the quiet rhythm of a forest, I believe those encounters with the sublime can change us in powerful ways.

Beliefs: The Power of Awe and Connection

I believe that awe is a powerful catalyst for positive change. As Keltner and Haidt (2003) observed, awe can "change the course of a life in profound and permanent ways." Encountering something vast and unexpected—a breathtaking landscape, a moving piece of art, or a remarkable feat—can expand our focus outward, reducing self-centeredness and inspiring kindness, cooperation, and generosity (Abrahamson, 2014). Experiences of awe can even promote physical and mental well-being, reducing stress and improving mood (Green & Keltner, 2017). This understanding reinforces my belief that awe must be central to my work as a nature interpreter.

I also believe that interpretation should spark curiosity and encourage thoughtful reflection. As Amanda Giracca (2016) stated, nature study is not just about memorizing facts but about "the opportunity to question and grow, to be moved, to be momentarily stunned—or flummoxed—by something you couldn't have anticipated." This belief drives my commitment to creating experiences that invite wonder, surprise, and deep thinking rather than just delivering information.

Picture I took atop Whistler Blackcomb Mountain, a view that left me stunned.

Finally, I believe in the power of community and shared responsibility. Awe, as Keltner (2016) noted, strengthens our sense of connection to others and encourages cooperation. By fostering this sense of interconnectedness, interpreters can inspire individuals to become stewards of both their environment and their cultural heritage.

Responsibilities: Inspiring Stewardship and Lifelong Learning

As a nature interpreter, I recognize my responsibility to inspire stewardship in others. Bixler and Joy (2016) emphasized the importance of "mentoring children and youth such that later, as young adults, they desire to participate in nature-dependent recreation on their own or even seek careers working in wild settings." Understanding this has strengthened my sense of responsibility to engage young people in meaningful outdoor experiences that plant the seeds for future stewardship.

Equally important is my responsibility to create interpretive experiences that invite all visitors to develop their own relationships with the natural world. Some moments of connection happen effortlessly—like watching the sunset illuminate the rock formations on the beach—while others may require guidance and encouragement. Whether through direct engagement or simply by providing space for reflection, I believe my role is to help visitors feel part of something larger than themselves.

Picture I took during sunset in Northern Bruce Peninsula (Tobermory, ON)

Additionally, I see it as my responsibility to continue learning and refining my craft. As Barry Lopez (2002) described, contemporary naturalists must be "scientifically grounded, politically attuned, field experienced, [and] library enriched." This holistic approach requires me to stay informed not only about ecological and cultural knowledge but also about the evolving social and political landscapes that shape our world. This responsibility is essential because, as Lopez noted, those who control firsthand knowledge shape societal narratives. As an interpreter, I have a responsibility to be a reliable and honest source of information, empowering visitors to think critically and make informed decisions about their relationship with the planet.

Approaches: Creating Meaningful Experiences

To uphold these beliefs and fulfill these responsibilities, I approach interpretation as both an art and a science. First, I strive to create opportunities for awe by inviting visitors to engage deeply with their surroundings. Sometimes this means using silence—allowing people to pause and absorb the sights, sounds, and sensations of a place without distraction. Other times, it may involve storytelling that brings a landscape or cultural site to life.

I also emphasize inquiry-based learning, encouraging visitors to ask questions, form hypotheses, and draw their own conclusions. This approach aligns with Giracca's (2016) view that nature study should encourage curiosity and wonder. Rather than presenting myself as an all-knowing expert, I aim to act as a guide, prompting reflection and dialogue that allows visitors to make personal connections with the places they explore.

Furthermore, I prioritize accessibility and inclusion in my interpretive work. Since awe and connection are deeply personal experiences, I strive to create programs that invite people of all backgrounds and abilities to engage with the natural world. This may involve adapting programs to meet the needs of different age groups, learning styles, or cultural perspectives. Lastly, I embrace a proactive and compassionate form of leadership as described in chapter 21 of the textbook. Interpretation must "exercise vigorous, proactive, and sensible leadership" that encourages individuals, communities, and nations to "consider their impact on the earth" while promoting solutions that foster thoughtful living. By inspiring both reflection and action, interpreters can guide society toward a more harmonious relationship with the planet.

Conclusion

My personal ethic as a nature interpreter centres on fostering awe, encouraging curiosity, and inspiring stewardship. By grounding my work in these values and drawing on the insights of experienced interpreters, psychologists, and environmental educators, I hope to create meaningful experiences that strengthen people's connections to the natural world. In doing so, I strive to promote a future where individuals, communities, and entire nations embrace thoughtful living, environmental responsibility, and respect for diverse cultural traditions. By guiding others to see their place within the broader web of life, I believe interpreters can help build a society rooted in generosity, cooperation, and deep reverence for the world we share.

(Sobel, 2019)

References

Larry Beck, Ted T. Cable, Douglas M. Knudson (2019, April 25): Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2025, from https://sagamore.vitalsource.com/reader/books/9781571678669/pageid/184

Sobel, D. T. (2019, December 13). A Return to Nature-Based Education. YES! Magazine. https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2019/12/13/nature-based-education

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Final Thoughts

To start off, I honestly can’t believe this is the last week of blog posts! It’s been so incredible to share my thoughts with everyone and read all of the different perspectives you guys have to offer. When I started this course, I thought being a nature interpreter was all about relaying facts, and I’m happy to say that this semester has completely changed my mind about what it means to interpret. I learned so many amazing ways to help people develop a meaningful connection with the environment, and I think a perfect finale for my blog would be to reflect a bit on my personal ethic and how I’d like to move forward with the knowledge I’ve gained these past few months.

For me, nature interpretation is all about passion and interest. When you’re interpreting something to an audience, you should make sure that you’re talking about something you genuinely care about so that way your audience can feel like they have a reason to care too. I personally wouldn’t learn about something I have no prior interest in if the person teaching it to me doesn’t seem like they care either. If you’ve been keeping up with my blog posts and reblogs this semester, it’s pretty obvious that my own personal interest lies in the animal kingdom. As a Zoology major I’ve always loved and been fascinated by animals, but we live in a world where hundreds of species are losing their habitat, losing resources to stay alive and going extinct under society’s watch. The natural world is under the greatest threat it’s ever faced and I want to make people care about the living things we share our planet with so they feel emboldened to take action to help protect them. As a nature interpreter, there are countless strategies I can employ to achieve this, but there are a few that I think most fit my beliefs, personalities and interests. 

Infographic on the decline of wildlife populations by Statista.

While nature interpretation is a lot more than just relaying facts, I firmly believe that the root of interpretation should be scientific evidence. When you’re in a science major and surrounded by people with similar backgrounds and interests, it’s easy to believe that certain facts, concepts and terminology are “common knowledge”, however there’s actually a significant difference between what your audience actually knows and what you as an interpreter think your audience knows.

As an interpreter it’s my responsibility to present scientific information accurately, and that means making sure my messages aren’t oversimplified but also aren’t overcomplicated. It’s easy to use complicated terminology and gloss over facts out of the belief that anyone must know what you intend to say, however being a nature interpreter means being able to take the extra effort to interpret information in a way that’s accessible to multiple different audiences. Interpretation isn’t just for those with scientific backgrounds and an interpreter should always keep in mind that not everyone comes from the same background as them.

For example, if I try to talk to people about invasive mussels in freshwater ecosystems, it may seem obvious to me why they would be an issue as I’ve learned about the specific impacts they can have. However, to someone without this background, they may be confused why something that can’t even move would be a threat and wouldn’t see any reason to think about it as a major problem especially in comparison to all of the other environmental issues they’ve heard about. Being a nature interpreter means using science to give your audience reasons as to why they should begin to care. 

However, my personal interests don’t start and stop with science. I’m also passionate about art and I believe that there’s a large amount of value in incorporating art into interpretation. When I was in elementary school, I was a huge fan of fictional book series that focused on animals and being able to read those stories only further developed my love for them. As I began practicing art, I found endless inspiration in the natural world and developed a connection to it that went beyond just being interested in the facts.

In my opinion, artistic expression is a powerful tool for an interpreter to use. Many people don’t think about the trees they pass outside or the birds they spot in their backyard, but seeing a landscape painting or reading a fun story can inspire them to begin to pay closer attention to the world outside. Nature interpretation doesn’t just have to take the form of a person lecturing in front of an audience. Even if I’m not directly teaching something, I can be a nature interpreter by writing and creating art to share with the people around me. Seeing the natural world in an artistic medium can make people feel a connection to it or recognize things about it they never did, and art can also open the door to sharing facts and information. If I make a painting of an animal someone has never seen before, they could get curious about the species and begin to wonder about it. As I touched on before, being an interpreter is all about giving people a reason to care, and art can be a wonderful way of accomplishing that.

Dozing Lynx – Acrylic on Masonite by Robert Bateman

Of course, as simple as it is to think up methods for interpretation, the real challenge lies in making these methods effective in our ever-changing world. When you look on social media or on the news, you see countless people who refuse to care about scientific evidence and facts no matter how they’re presented to them. Art has always been a way to portray ideas and feelings, but with generative AI on the rise there are countless people who see art as nothing more than a product and refuse to engage with it any deeper than the most basic appearance. As I go out into the world as a nature interpreter, will my approaches be effective or will I simply be shouting out to an audience that won’t hear me? 

It’s easy to become discouraged or pessimistic with thoughts like that, but ultimately in this course I’ve learned that nature interpretation doesn’t have to be about making huge societal changes. I won’t be able to reach every single audience, so my primary goal as a nature interpreter should be to consider how I can best impact the audience that I have in front of me, as small as they may be. I can change the way my family members and friends think about nature or I can help a group of children develop a love for the outdoors. I may not be able to change the world, but just getting a single person to look at the environment with wonder in their eyes is enough reason for me to work hard as a nature interpreter. 

With that, I end my final post! If there’s one message I would want someone to take away from my blog, it would be to always remain in love with nature. There’s so many interesting things to learn and see, and the first step to getting other people to appreciate the environment is to fully appreciate it yourself.

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ヒクイナ（Ruddy crake）

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Devil’s Flower Mantis

Found in the lush jungles of Madagascar.

📷: Igor Siwanowicz

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esox lucius, northern pike

photo by michel loup at michelloup.com

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Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), LEUCISTIC, family Cardinalidae, order Passeriformes, TN, USA

photograph by Scott Davis

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Hey Calli! I loved the sentiments you shared in your post. 

It’s true that we all interpret nature in our own way. I agree with your point that the way we interpret nature doesn’t stay the same our entire lives, and I’d love to add some additional thoughts.

I remember the first time I ever went hiking was with a group of my friends a few years ago. I’m definitely more of an indoors person and was much more indoorsy back then along with my other friends, so the thought of trekking in the woods was completely unappealing to us and we only went because one of my friends insisted that we give it a try. For most of the walk we were pretty unhappy since we were exhausted, the weather was sweltering hot and after the first 5 minutes all trees and dirt began to look exactly the same. But then, as we got to the end of the hike, we went off the trail a bit and discovered the shoreline of a river. It felt like we were completely isolated from the rest of the world, and all we could hear were the sounds of water, birds chirping and trees rustling in the distance. I was so in awe, all of the tiredness disappeared from my body and I realized that hiking was a lot more than just a tiring walk. It was a way to connect yourself to the natural world and find beauty in nature that you can’t notice anywhere else. Although I still hate the idea of the exhaustion of a difficult hike, I currently appreciate being in nature a lot and I love going for peaceful walks whenever the weather is nice. 

It goes to show, all it takes is one meaningful experience to completely change the way you interpret nature. We all have our own ways of interpreting nature and I think the most important thing to do is be open-minded and explore other perspectives. By doing this, you can notice new things about nature and improve on your relationship with it.

Unit 9: Sense-Making of Nature Interpretation

Nature is more than just the towering trees, the cascading waterfalls, and the vibrant birds. It’s about the way nature makes me feel, you feel, and how those experiences are so vastly different. So, to me the most amazing thing about nature is that we all interpret nature in our own way. While we may all see the same landscape or hear the same sound, we all interpret it in a different way. 

For some, nature is quiet and peaceful. It’s the sound of water trickling down the mountain side, the rays shining through the canopy giving the Pink Lady Slipper an elegant glow. For others, nature is loud, an explosion of life if you will. It’s the rush you feel when you’re 3000 meters up in the mountains, the stillness of the lynx that is in your path, or the blooming cherry blossoms showing their pink and red hues. 

For scientists, they might see nature as a network of fungal connections. Every step they take, they might feel the pulse from the mycelium below. They look at the wilted shrubs and wonder what is causing this disruption. For an artist, they might see the movement of the branches, or hear the noises harmonizing with one another to produce a soft melody. 

I would like to use this past weekend as an example. My friends and I were invited to go out ice climbing, something that was new to each of us. For the friends of mine that enjoy that adrenaline rush, they looked at the towering frozen falls and were eager to get started. They began climbing and climbing, they did not let their exhaustion reach them until they made it to the very top. Whereas others were a bit lenient to try, they were more so focused on admiring the falls itself, and looking at the patterns the ice has created. Those that were highly skilled in this area kept looking for other ways to challenge themselves. This is a perfect example of how everyone interprets nature differently. What may look like beautiful scenery to one, may be a challenge for another. Each and everyone of us has a different perspective on life and nature itself. 

Now, this interpretation is not always the same for the rest of our lives. As we grow like the rhizomes and rhizoids below, we create new connections. The trail in my hometown that was once the forest playground, is now a means of releasing stress and feeling peace. The lake that was once full of mermaids and sea creatures is now a place to take my dog for a swim, allowing her to get some low impact exercise. Interpretation is dependent on our experiences and cultures (Knudson, 2018). While a wolf may be spirit to one, it could be a predator to another. 

The most beautiful part of this prompt is that there is no wrong answer. There are so many beautiful ways to interpret nature; no matter your interpretation, your thoughts are valid. As you venture through nature, reflect on how you feel in that very moment. If you are with a friend, discuss the differences between your interpretations. 

Here are a few pictures of us ice climbing this past weekend. I hope you get out and explore the amazing world we have! 

Knudson, L.B.T.T.C.D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Publishing LLC.

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Chefs of the Animal Kingdom

One of my biggest hobbies is cooking and trying new dishes. Whenever we think about behaviours that clearly set humans apart from animals, one example you may think of is food preparation. The control of fire and the ability to cook our food was an incredibly important event in the evolutionary history of humans, and it hasn’t been seen in any other species. Lions or wolves don’t cook their meat before they eat it, and we seem to be the only species on earth that feels the need to mix, season and process our food, so food preparation seems to be one of many human-exclusive behaviours… but this isn't an entirely accurate statement. While no animal species cooks food in the same way that humans do, there are actually examples of some food preparation strategies in the animal kingdom. In this blog, I want to show you some amazing animal chefs that you might not have known about!

Firstly, we have Japanese Macaques. There are populations of these monkeys who wash their food in water before they eat it to remove dirt. When these populations have a source of saltwater, many of the monkeys switch to washing their potatoes in their saltwater because they presumably prefer the taste. Studies have found a significant increase in the number of potatoes eaten by monkeys who prepare them before eating and monkeys who don’t. Most interestingly, in populations of monkeys who never learned how to prepare their food, a small number of them will reinvent the strategy (Fiore et al., 2020).

Next, we have Shrikes, also known as butcher birds. They’re called this because of the way they impale their prey on sharp objects to make it easier for them to consume them, exactly like a kabob. They eat mice, frogs, other birds, and most notably species like monarch butterflies and narrow-mouthed toads that are too toxic for most predators. Shrikes avoid getting sick by either leaving their prey impaled until the toxins break down or carefully removing the skin where the toxins are concentrated. Not only that, but shrikes learn from prior experience or from their parents how to distinguish between varying levels of toxicity in their prey species and can determine the safest way to consume them (Yosef & McPherson, 2016). 

A shrike with a lizard (Image by Arthur Morris/Corbis)

Lastly, there are Bearded Vultures.

Stock image of a bearded vulture

These birds almost exclusively eat bones, however they face the problem of accessing nutritious bone marrow from the carcass. It’s time and energetically-costly to remove the flesh and break open the bones with their beak or feet, so vultures have bone-breaking sites which are rocky surfaces they use to repeatedly drop the carcass until it’s smashed enough for them to consume the bones (Margalida, 2008). This process personally reminds me of the way we smash coconuts or crack open nuts. 

The animal world is incredible, and the lives of wild animals aren’t as distant to the lives of humans as one may think. Nature interpretation can be done almost anywhere and targeted to anyone, so maybe it could even be brought into your own kitchen! The next time you’re peeling vegetables or reaching for a utensil, try to think about the reason why you prepare food that way and if there are any animal species you know who seem to have the same idea!

Fiore, A. M., Cronin, K. A., Ross, S. R., & Hopper, L. M. (2020). Food cleaning by Japanese macaques: innate, innovative or cultural? Folia Primatologica, 91(4), 433–444. https://doi.org/10.1159/000506127

Margalida, A. (2008). Bearded vultures (Gypaetus barbatus) prefer fatty bones. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 63(2), 187–193. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-008-0649-6 Yosef, R., & McPherson, L. E. (2016). Taxon-specific prey handling by the loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus). Acta Ethologica, 19(2), 147–150. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10211-016-0234-3

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Hi Anna!

While reading through everyone’s posts this week, I loved being able to see what my classmates liked listening to. There’s a pretty diverse range of music tastes in our class, and it stood out to me that no matter what types of music we enjoy, we can all appreciate songs that seem to mimic the feelings nature gives us through its rhythm or lyrics. 

With that said, I absolutely agree with your point that music is a great tool to enhance people’s experience with nature. While being physically present in nature and listening to the sounds of it in person is wonderful, it’s also wonderful to be able to connect with nature even when we’re unable to actively participate in it. I also love listening to rain when I have trouble falling asleep, birds singing when I want to feel more energized or the sounds of trees in the wind when I just want to relax. It’s impossible to physically be in a forest in the middle of the night when I need to sleep, but listening to nature sounds lets me experience the beauty of being outdoors when I close my eyes. 

I learned recently that in countries like Finland with northern winter climates, it’s a common practice for mothers to put their babies to sleep outside. One of the reasons given to explain this practice is that the sounds of nature are ideal for a baby compared to the sounds of urban life (Tourula et al., 2013). Looking at this, it’s clear that even across cultures the importance of natural sounds are promoted and recognized. 

I fully agree with you that music and sound tools are important for interpreters. Although I’ve never considered this before, musicians and those who create nature soundtracks are also nature interpreters in their own method, and we can learn from them as we discover our way of nature interpretation.

Tourula, M., Pölkki, T., & Isola, A. (2013). The cultural meaning of children sleeping outdoors in Finnish Winter. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 24(2), 171–179. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043659612472200

Blog # 7: The Harmonious Connection

Music and nature are intertwined, both offer harmonies that can awaken emotions and bring us back to memories. One of nature's melodies is the sound of birds singing at sunrise. Recently as the weather warmed up and the sun began to shine, I was woken up to the sound of birds singing in my backyard. I got up, opened my window, and just sat in the sun and listened to the chorus of the birds singing to what felt like my soul. The rhythms and melodies nature has to offer have inspired many artists, from the gentle flow of a river to the ripples on the water and the wind rustling through the trees. Music can mimic nature's ability in fostering deep connections, whether it's from songs written in response to nature. The line between nature and music fades, offering a rhythmic relationship to connect earth and art. 

As interpreters, music is a great tool to enhance people's experience of natural landscapes. Additionally, media platforms, such as the radio or TV can have a big influence on how the audience connects with the world (Knudson., et al 2018). These media platforms allow interpreters to use sounds to help set moods to fully immerse the audience into the atmosphere of the environment. Some of these sounds can include rushing of water, calls of wildlife, or instrumental music inspired by nature; these tools can bring the outdoors indoors. For example, I often listen to the sound of raindrops when I have trouble falling asleep before bed, bringing me a sense of peace. By using these audio elements interpreters can offer a better experience that goes beyond what is visible, creating more of a meaningful view of nature. 

For me, the song “Take It Easy” by The Eagles instantly reminds me of my boyfriend's cottage, where I have spent the past four summers. The carefree feeling I get when listening to the song mimics the feeling of freedom I experience when by Redstone lake. My summer weekends consist of late night swims, fishing off the dock, sunbathing in the boat and laughing around the campfire. The rhythm of the song matches the rhythm of nature, and I can feel the wind and sun on my face with the windows rolled down, eagerly waiting for the moment I arrive and dive into the lake. The song will forever enovoke these memories for me for the rest of my life, moments I will never forget. 

In conclusion, music and nature will forever be connected, offering us a unique way to engage  with nature surrounding us. As interpreters, music and sound tools will further enhance the experience of nature to the audience beyond visuals. From personal experience the sense of sound can trigger memories, therefore when the audience can hear these audios such as wildlife or radio songs can cause an immediate envision of the memories that corresponds to the sound for them. Overall this highlights how sound and music can amplify the message of the environmental interpretation (Knudson, et al., 2018). 

Knudson, L.B.T.T.C.D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World. Sagamore Publishing LLC. https://sagamore.vitalsource.com/books/9781571678669

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Music, Nature and The Link In Between

There are countless examples of music in the natural world. Whenever I think about music and nature, my mind always goes to birds singing outside. Whether it’s hearing it outside on an early morning or hearing it in a cartoon, I think many people’s first experience with animal music comes from the singing of birds. This week, I learned about the parallels between bird song and human music. Birds often use the same rhythmic variations, pitch relationships, permutations, and combinations of notes as human composers, and bird song contains every elementary rhythmic effect found in human music such as interval inversions and simple harmonic relations. Additionally, some birds pitch their songs to the same scale as Western music (Gray et al., 2001). In learning about this, it makes sense why the singing of birds has always sounded so appealing to humans and why there are so many examples of human music that was inspired by birds.

Although I don’t have enough of a musical background to think about our experiences with music from a musician's perspective, I’ve always wondered what drives humans to create and listen to music. We learn that birds sing in order to attract mates and whales make noise to communicate with each other, but there’s no simple explanation for humans. In fact, it’s a common mystery why music exists as a behaviour when it doesn’t seem to serve any clear purpose. Some hypothesize that music accidentally evolved along traits that serve another function, others hypothesize that the effect music has on us has something to do with its similarity to speech or animal vocalizations, and there are many more hypotheses about the biological functions music could serve such as sexual selection, social cohesion, language or infant care (McDermott, 2008). These functions make sense when you think about folk music and the many purposes it has in cultures such as transferring knowledge (Sahi, 2010), however the mystery remains unsolved. 

In all of the research that has been done on human biology and music, an evident link is the way music affects our emotions and thoughts. Though the reason behind this has yet to be solved, nature interpreters can take advantage of this mysterious phenomenon in order to use music as a tool for interpretation. When we create links between songs and the natural world, we can associate the positive feelings we get from those songs to nature itself. 

One song that takes me back to a positive experience with nature is California Love. 

My elementary school had a ravine right beside it, and since one of my friends had to take a long walk through the ravine to get to his house we would sometimes walk with him when we had nothing better to do. On those walks, we would take turns playing songs from our phones while chatting about the day we had or whatever topic was big at the time. I'm a fan of hip-hop/rap, so songs like this were usually what I'd play when it was my turn to pick something.

While nature is commonly associated with quiet and relaxation, this memory reminds me that it isn’t just limited to that. Nature can also be present in the high energy laughter-filled moments of our lives like when we're hanging out with friends or family members. Whether it's happiness, sadness or something else, music can help shape what we feel when we're out in nature and help us discover that there can be endless emotions connected to the natural world.

Gray, P. M., Krause, B., Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C., & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science, 291(5501), 52. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69270354/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=fb9366a8

McDermott, J. (2008). The evolution of Music. Nature, 453(7193), 287–288. https://doi.org/10.1038/453287a 

Sahi, V. (2010). Using folk traditional music to communicate the sacredness of nature in Finland. https://ares.lib.uoguelph.ca/ares/ares.dll?Action=10&Type=10&Value=354143

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North American river otters

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Hi!

I really enjoyed reading your own analysis of Edward Hyam’s quote. I found that this quote was a bit hard to make sense of when reading it at first, so I appreciated how you broke it down and explained each part while also making a helpful connection to our textbook readings.

To answer your question, I do agree with Hyams’ perspective on historical integrity. When you consider conflicts and issues going on in the present day, it’s impossible to fully understand them without having an understanding of how past events shaped what’s happening now. To reference your point that integrity is centered on a cohesion of values and ideas over a period of time — everything is influenced and affected by what came before it. For example, many of your habits or behaviours might be influenced by your parents, and your parents were influenced by your grandparents, and so on. The things that happened before you were born weren’t just passing events that don’t involve you. Instead, the world you live in and the values/ideas you hold are a result of the past.

When I think about the past shaping the present I think about many of the events going on in the world. There are so many issues going on worldwide, whenever I read the news I can’t help but wonder to myself just how things ended up this way. It’s easy to forget that many things have decades of history behind them and we’re only becoming more aware as situations worsen. On that note, I think Hyams’ perspective on historical integrity is even more relevant now.

"Keeping History Whole: Edward Hyams on Memory, Integrity, and the Relevance of the Past"

In Edward Hyams The Gifts of Interpretation, the argument posed relates to the significance of historical memory where he suggests that despite antiquity possessing itself no sense of special integrity, in seeking to keep things whole, an awareness of the past is required. Hyams utilizes a railway station as a metaphor in an effort to offer a critique on the ideology that history is no longer relevant after it has passed.

Photo of Edward Hyams Himself

Hyams reveals that integrity is more than simply about ideas of morality and honesty and instead are centered on a cohesion of values and ideas over a period of time. Where history becomes forgotten or fragmented, individuals are no longer capable of maintaining a coherent understanding of both the present and the future. Thus history memory is in essence separate from nostalgia for things of the past but rather centers on ensuring a sense of continuity in frameworks established along an ethical, intellectual and cultural landscape. 

The analogy of the railway station provided by Hyams emphasizes the notion that simply because a person leaves a station does not mean it no longer exists, as the presence of the station remains a tactile part of the journey. Similarly, one’s past both personally and collectively does not vaporize once they move along and in essence it offers a shaping factor to the path whether it is chosen to be acknowledged or not. Ignoring history, Hyams argues, is to pretend that it at no point had an impact on where the individual or group stands today. 

The Railway Station I Envision, however, this one was actually located in Oakville, ON.

Hyam’s perspective reiterates arguments posed in Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World by Beck, Cable, and Knudson. In chapter 14 of this text. an exploration into how the written word provides a vital service in the preservation of historical integrity is offered. These authors highlight that written interpretation is less a task of sharing facts and more so about creating narratives which allow audiences to connect with the past on levels of both emotion and intellect. These narratives are pivotal and without them historical memory can succumb to ineffectiveness in molding and shaping our collective understanding.

Chapter 15 of Interpreting History reiterates Hyam's belief that history is an evolving interplay rather than a set of solidified records. This chapter focuses on the necessity of contextualizing historical events in an effort to allow their relevance to remain intact. This is allied with in Hyam’s writing which illuminates the concern of observing history as an act that is over with which ultimately leads to broken perceptions of reality. The authors reveal that holding an effective interpretation actively engages the audience and pushes them to seek purposeful reflection whereby they can learn lessons that can be applied to modern issues. 

Both Hyams and the authors of Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World highlight the need for our responsibility is to remember and learn from history rather than worship its moments of glory and that in doing so we maintain the integrity of our knowledge collectively. Interpretation of history by means of literature, museums and public conversation facilitates maintaining sight of the past’s influence on both the present and the future.

I decided to do a Google Search for the term "nature history", and stumbled across this photo taken at the Royal BC Museum. I found it interesting how this focuses solely on animals, rather than plants as well or other natural artifacts.

What do you think? Do you agree with Hyams’ perspective on historical integrity? How do you see the past shaping our present?

Share your thoughts in the comments!

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Importance of The Past

“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 describes how rather than just being distant events, history is an important part of the present. The past, present and future are all parts of one whole and without considering one of them it’s impossible to fully consider any of them. Without being aware and knowledgeable about what came before us, we can’t have any understanding of our current or future situation. It’s a common saying that those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and this quote is another way of conveying the same idea. His metaphor of a railway station also illustrates this point by showing that the world and everything in it existed long before our own time and the past is never truly done with because anything that happened before is part of the reason why things are a certain way now.

Chapter 15 of our textbook clearly demonstrates what Edward Hyams means in this quote. One of the reasons why we interpret history is so we can remember, and it’s important to not only remember the positive events in history but also the tragic ones (Beck et al., 2018). For example, the land we’re on was stolen from Indigenous communities and as interpreters it’s important for us to always remember that. Areas like national parks may be nothing more than scenic sites to many people, but they carry with them a deep history and countless stories of oppression and loss. There have been many pushes throughout history (and currently through a lack of indigenous education and perspectives in our curriculum) for this past to be completely erased, and by choosing to forget or understate history you’re choosing to be complicit in this erasure. Reflecting on stories, positive or not, is critical for bringing action and change. We cannot move forward while ignoring the past, because regardless of what we think of it, the past is what shaped our current circumstances.

This is especially relevant as we discuss climate change. For years, climate change has always been ignored and brushed under the rug because many believe that the extreme effects of it will be beyond their lifetime and therefore aren’t their concern. When I was very young in elementary school and learning about climate change for the first time, I didn’t take it that seriously because it seemed to be a slow process and I couldn’t imagine anything severe happening anytime soon. As I got older however, I began to grow more aware of the climate crisis. In the past climate change was a seemingly distant issue, but today the effects of it are unignorable, and yet people still deny its effects and refuse to take action against it even though that approach did nothing but worsen the crisis years before. 

I always think — we’re living through history right now, and one day what we think of as the present will just be memories and stories that we tell to future generations. Just like how we would want people in the future to remember what we’ve gone through, we should make an effort to reflect on what the generations before us have gone through. 

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

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Scientists Caught Blind Cave Salamanders Sneaking to Earth’s Surface

New research reveals the rare and surprising behavior of blind olms venturing from darkness into aboveground springs.

March 2024

Cave-dwelling creatures often bear the characteristics of animals unaccustomed to light. Their skin, or scales, are blanched, and their eyes range from “of little use” to purely ornamental. But that doesn’t stop the serpentine cave salamanders of southeastern Europe from sneaking up to the surface now and again. The odd-looking animal is an Olm (Proteus anguinus), or proteus, an obscure salamander once thought to be the offspring of dragons. In research published last month in Ecology, a team of researchers described a surprising behavior of the amphibians: they sometimes leave the relative safety of their underwater caverns for the surface...

Read more: Scientists Caught Blind Cave Salamanders Sneaking to Earth’s Surface

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Hi Mackenzie!

I thought this was an extremely insightful post that is so relevant to our lives today.

I absolutely agree that it’s easy to fall into a trance for hours scrolling on TikTok. Ever since I downloaded the app years ago, I’ve found that whenever I’m taking a study break or relaxing after a long day or waiting for something, my brain immediately jumps to hopping on TikTok to pass the time. It feels like we can’t just sit alone with our thoughts and be in the moment anymore, we always have to be consuming some form of content before we get “bored”. 

This definitely wasn’t the case when I was younger. I could sit at the doctor’s office without a phone and find ways to entertain myself by just being thoughtful about my surroundings. I used to spend nights before bed reading books from the library and whenever I had a break in my day I would use it to draw and practice other hobbies I love. 

Even though TikTok can be used responsibly, I personally find it difficult to keep myself away from it when I have people in my life that use it constantly. When all of my friends are sending TikToks and having conversations about things they just watched, I begin to wonder if I'll be left out and out of the loop without the app. Yet on the other hand, it’s too easy for checking what someone sent you to turn into a whole hour wasted scrolling.

To answer your question, I don’t believe the joy of using TikTok outweighs the possible negative impacts it has on your life. It may be a source of happiness, social connection and learning for a lot of people, but the way it’s designed makes it almost impossible for anyone to use it without facing at least one consequence of it. Even though I don’t think I’ll go so far as to uninstall the app anytime soon, I stay away from TikTok most days and try to stay as aware as I can of how much time I spend on it.

I Think it is Time for me to Delete TikTok.

Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Something that has taken over my mind recently is the effects TikTok has on all aspects of my life. 

                  As most people know, TikTok is an app that provides short-form content perfectly tailored to every user’s individual niche interests. It is extremely easy to fall into a trance for hours doom scrolling on TikTok, and I am left to think, what are the impacts of consuming this volume of short form content? 

                  I have been on TikTok on and off for about 5 years, and I have noticed a distinct difference in my ability to pay attention. Sometimes I catch myself scrolling during movies due to boredom. I find it more and more difficult to sit peacefully with my thoughts, I almost always have the urge to pick up my phone and scroll social media. Due to this deficit in attention, I find it harder to be mindful in the moment, I think that my brain is so used to constant stimulation that now it takes active effort to pause and be present with my thoughts. 

TikTok has also cut into time that could be dedicated towards hobbies that I love to do such as painting or reading books. I find that now I am so used to the instant gratification of picking up my phone, that the idea of setting up my space to paint seems like a huge daunting task. Why would I spend the time and effort painting when I can just scroll on TikTok and experience the same spikes in dopamine? I realize that this thought process is bad for my overall well-being, but TikTok addiction has rewired my brain.  I am sure TikTok has also impacted my performance when it comes to academics, lots of time that could be dedicated towards my studies sometimes gets allocated to TikTok scrolling. 

Although TikTok can be harmful to some people (such as myself) if used responsibly, and in moderation, it can have some benefits. Some of the benefits I have acquired thanks to TikTok is a bunch of random facts and information about topics I am interested in. It has also connected me to influencers and comedians that produce content on other formats such as YouTube and podcasts. TikTok also provides many people with a sense of community, this is especially relevant to those who have uncommon interests, it can connect you with like-minded individuals. 

Overall, I think it is time I part ways with TikTok. TikTok has provided me with endless laughs and useless tidbits of information, and I will miss it. Some individuals can use it responsibly, but I don’t think I am one of those people. 

Question for the reader: Do you think the joy of using TikTok outweighs the possible negative impacts it has on your life?