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Hi there,

Thank you for your thoughtful and informative post. I admire your stance on vegetarianism. There are so many amazing benefits of vegetarianism for the environment and the impact it could make is massive if it was more widespread. I admire your bravery and am saddened by the reactions of others that caused insecurity about your choices. In my post I discuss how learning about different cultures and their relationship with their land is an important feature of interpretation for me. In many cultures that are very connected to the land, eating meat is part of their appreciation of the earth. With western ideals and culture, as well as what we know through science, this seems counterintuitive. But with so many unique and special cultures around the world, come so many different ways of thanking the land, and this is one of them. This is why interpretation is so powerful, because the way we interpret is so different around the world.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I admire how you have courage in your convictions, it is so important. All the best!

Olivia

Nature Interpretation's Role in Environmental Sustainability

As a nature interpreter, I do feel that I have to be careful about how I conduct myself. Ultimately, the intent is to guide people towards understanding why they may relate to nature more than they thought they would, but also to allow people to realize on their own that they should go out into nature to develop this opinion for themselves. Perhaps my own interests are rooted in the well-being of my surroundings, in the sense that I am interested in nature and everything it encompasses, but not everyone necessarily relates to that. So, I consider this rooting to ultimately be of my own interest, that way I can express this belief in a way that presents it as an interest like any other person would have. I simply think nature should be allowed to exist, for it brings me great joy in many ways simply by existing in its unmanaged state, but if I were to express in an objective manner that my audience also allow nature to exist in its unmanaged state, then it might be hard for me to keep said audience. 

One of the beliefs I have that I still struggle to get across in a way that people can get behind is vegetarianism. I’ve been avoiding animal products for over six years now, because after informing myself of how they are obtained and what the costs of doing so are, it made sense to me that it was not something worth being a part of. So, without much hesitation, I simply decided that I was going to stop being a part of animal product consumption. At the time, I had no idea how people would react to how I was now going to conduct myself, though I was in for a bumpy ride. As a pretty typical white male tenth-grader in a suburb of Boston, I hadn’t really had much in the way of insecurities, and I’d just opened myself up to a wave of criticism from people who come from a plethora of backgrounds. To make that long story short, I was often questioned about my choice to become vegetarian, in ways that made me less open about it. I felt people wanted to talk civilly about things they were able to relate to, but once the topic became something they already had in their mind as something so preposterous, they became more defensive and uncivil in conversation, and it started to become a bit of an insecurity. However, despite all the insecurity I felt around doing what I believed was right, I never let up, and I think it’s helped me to express myself in general more confidently.

Something I learned here at the University of Guelph from keynote speaker Payton Head, a queer black man with a history of strong leadership, on the topic of interdisciplinary inclusivity, is that everyone grew up with their own set of environmental conditions, and are only able to shape their thoughts and beliefs. While we may see another person’s views as ignorant, we can still only empathize with a person if we want to discuss their thoughts and beliefs in a way that we may see as benefiting from change, regardless of how different these thoughts and beliefs may be.  I only see the need to dismiss one’s self from an interaction if there is a lack of common respect coming from one or more of the individuals interacting. So, with all that in mind, I feel my best approach for perhaps being influential as a vegetarian is to simply lead by example. People tend to look up to others who have shown they can conduct themselves in a calm and collected manner, and do well by themselves, even if not necessarily doing so at all times. I think that as long as I can continue to conduct myself in such a manner, while still doing things the way I see as right and respectful towards other people, then I may be able to keep myself approachable to someone intrigued by it, and possibly influence how they choose to conduct themselves.

If we are to take a more collaborative approach to it though, I think the best change should start with children. As Jacob Rodenburg put it in this week’s reading, children are disconnected from their natural surroundings, and not by their own choice (2019). Young children, for the most part, are restricted by their parents/guardians as to where they can be throughout most of their early life. If we want to allow people to make their own choices as to how they want to conduct themselves, starting in their younger years, I believe we owe it to them to show them what exists, including nature, how we operate society and its food supply, and so on. Nature is full of different plants and animals which we have learned to appreciate throughout the course of life. When one takes their kid to a farm, they often want to pet the farm animals, as they perceive the world as being friendly; uncorrupted. Hunters often say that if most people had to kill their own meat, then people would eat far less meat–not for the effort it takes to track down an animal, take its life, then prepare it so that it is both edible and palatable, but simply because they become aware of what takes place when they eat meat. I think the same would absolutely be true with children. If Children, who often learn to love and adore animals, saw how they needed to be treated in order for them to eat, they might resist eating them in the first place. In one case, a farmer even decided he would resist such after having lost his cattle to bovine tuberculosis, by going vegetarian himself (Bearne, 2022). Considering the environmental impact that agriculture has on our planet, I ultimately feel responsible to make it a part of our knowledge pool.

Literature Cited:

Jacob Rodenburg (2019). Why Environmental Educators Shouldn’t Give Up Hope. Journal of Environmental Education in the Cascadian Bioregion. https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

Suzanne Bearne (2022). The meat and dairy farmers who are going vegan. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61565233

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Hi Fatima,

Wonderful post! I really enjoyed reading about your journey with nature interpretation, your values, and your family. I too was never one to love the outdoors as a child. I felt safer indoors, however, I always loved the beach. I remember I was afraid of the waves in the water, but I went in with my mom and every time a wave would come, my mom would lift me up over it. This is one of my core memories with nature, and it shows that family can always make you feel safe, and safety is crucial when interpreting nature. For this reason, I can personally relate to how you felt as a kid and how your family was always pushing you to explore the earth in a way that was comfortable for you.

You said that getting people together in order to interpret is one of your values, and this is yet again something else I relate to. I think togetherness is an important factor and can help immensely with appreciate nature. I am not one for camping, but there is nothing like sitting around a campfire with people you love, singing songs and laughing, and talking about all the amazing things you did in nature that day.

Thank you for sharing your perspective, as this is how we grow as interpreters. All the best!

Olivia

Unit 10 :) 🦋☘️🐢

The past semester along with the blog posts have taught me alot about being an interpreter in nature, specifically. The blog post prompts in particular have made me unlock the level in my brain regarding how I view nature, and how it has impacted me in my life. I have learned a lot about myself, but as an interpreter, I would say that I believe in respecting nature and what it has given us as people. Now, I know that may sound so generic that anyone can say it easily because we all love nature ( hopefully), but as mentioned in my earlier blog posts, it's not about liking it or not, but appreciating the actual beauty and this gift we have that a lot of people look down upon. The past blog prompts have made me delve even deeper into the idea of being a nature interpreter, because this can be done in so many ways, from music to art, and more.

I personally have never had a great connection with nature growing up, because I enjoyed the comfort of staying in, away from the scalding heat or extreme cold temperatures. I would see people outside going for walks in any temperature, and it would shock me why people would put themselves out like that. I would be in awe, but growing up my perspectives about nature kept changing, and eventually led me to my current program. My parents are one strong pillar behind my enthusiasm and role in the nature interpretation part of my life, because they would always encourage us to go out in nature, and appreciate and love what god has given us. From a small walk, to a far away trip to a beautiful ocean, any of this made my parents make it a teaching experience because they would tell us about the small things within what we saw outside. The plants that we would see would make my parents teach us about them, like herbal remedies, and how some plants could be used medically. I slowly have begun since then to appreciate what we have in the outside world, even though it is being damaged. By damage, I mean climate change, and this is something that has been on the radar for so long because it is getting worse by the moment.

My favourite place to visit in the summer with my parents is the beach. It has opened so many learning opportunities for me, because it grew my love for nature even more! (NatGeo)

I see my role as an interpreter is to appreciate nature and love it, and to take care of it as if it were our own home. I believe that every leaf, blade of grass, rock, is to be appreciated, and respected because it is what builds the earth, and makes it a home for other animals that we also need to respect and care for when the opportunity comes. I see it my responsibility to get other people to love and respect the outside world. It is not something to run away from or pass and not care about, but something to respect.  There are a variety of ways to help encourage oneself and others on how to love and appreciate nature, and make it feel like your own home rather than something boring. This has been showcased through the blog post prompts we have had, like through art and music. My favorite one was music, because nature being incorporated in sounds and rhythm is something very interesting to me. It can make one appreciate the naturalistic sounds more when you hear it in famous singers' songs. It can make one realize that nature can be that beautiful that is being used in some famous songs with millions and millions of views. This is one way nature can be loved and appreciated more in my opinion. What's great about these prompts we have had over the semester is that it can open more doors in one's mind and knowledge about the deeper side of things, like nature in this situation. It is so much more than what we see, it's delving more deeply, and understanding it from an artistic or creative lens almost.

The approaches that are the most suitable for me as an individual when it comes to nature interpretation is getting people together to appreciate what we have in the outside world and the environment, and to make them appreciate nature as much as I do or other people that share their love for nature. I obviously am not referring to a forceful way, but in a nice way where someone can learn something. This can be like joining community center programs like helping clean up a certain place in your neighborhood. Another example is a program to plant plants around your city, and this can be something for all ages. Having youth based programs or getting togethers are a great way to appreciate and love nature, and in a fun way because that's how it's supposed to be. Overall, there are just so many ways one can imagine in order to connect, appreciate, respect, nature and make it as their own. I have learned so much in this course, especially the blog prompts allowed me to do, and I never thought there was so much more to nature and outside world in a critically thinking manner.

Good luck everyone with your future endeavours :) 🦋🌊

Beach. Education. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/beach/ 

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Unit 10

My ethic as a nature interpreter has evolved over my life, and evolved through taking this course and engaging in meaningful discussion with my peers. Through this course, I have articulated how I interpret nature through art, music, and history all while taking my privilege into account. I gained valuable perspective on my own interpretation by reading about my peer’s personal journey with nature. Going forward, as I continue to develop as an interpreter, I will do so with lots of gratitude. I believe that obtaining knowledge, being mindful, and being grateful, are the most important things we as interpreters can do, and in a nutshell, this is my personal ethic. 

Obtaining knowledge is so powerful. This can be done by reading, watching TV programs such as Blue Planet, by traveling and speaking to people from different backgrounds. The more knowledge we have about nature and its meaning both ecologically and culturally, the more aware we can be as interpreters. I have been lucky enough to travel to incredible destinations, where nature and people are connected in a way that I had never witnessed myself in Canada. Being inspired by the relationships between people and nature that I witnessed in places such as Costa Rica, Bali, Mexico and Hawaii, I decided to educate myself on Indigenous connections with nature. I looked further into Mohawk and Anishinaabe rituals and values regarding nature. As a result, I understand the nature that surrounds me in a way that I had never before. For these reasons, obtaining knowledge is central to my ethics in nature interpretation. 

Next, being mindful is a simple value I hold in many aspects of my life, but only recently have I begun being truly mindful of nature. Growing up, I was not very “outdoorsy”. I never cared for camping or spending long amounts of time outdoors and I was not very mindful of the fragility of our earth. As I have matured and come to build a love for the outdoors, I have learned that our nature is vital to our health, and we must be mindful of the health of the planet. Our society has taken steps to eliminate single use plastics and I can appreciate the importance of that as I have become more mindful of nature. I have made mindful changes in my lifestyle to do my part in preserving our environment, such as walking where I could drive, buying reusable straws, taking the time to learn how to properly recycle and compost. These all sound like miniscule and insignificant changes, but they are my contribution with the limited resources I have as a student. When I spend time outdoors I actually think about how this land is home to so many species and acknowledge the importance of it. These realizations come with maturing and growing up, and being able to understand how I have evolved into somebody who pays attention to the little things is an accomplishment that I, as an interpreter, am proud of. 

Something that naturally comes with being mindful is being grateful. I practice gratitude in my life every single day. I firmly believe that this is so important in leading a happy, healthy life. We must understand our privilege, do the most with what we have, and at the end of the day, be grateful for those around us. When interpreting nature, it is important to be grateful for the beauty and the benefits it brings. From nature, we get food, beauty, medicine, and so much more. More importantly, on the most fundamental level, without nature we would cease to exist. We must explore our world with that gratitude in mind in order to fully interpret it. Looking at the course discussions, we can be grateful for the music and art that was inspired by nature. I am someone who cannot live without music, and many of my favorite songs were inspired by nature. This is such a simple thing but it is important to express gratitude for it. 

Given my ethics, my personal responsibilities as an interpreter are to speak to my peers and people I meet in my travels. I think that talking to people is extremely important. This class, for example, has pushed me as an interpreter just through online discussion. Even though I have never met most of the people I have spoken with in this class, I have learned so much from their experiences in nature. Therefore, I believe my responsibility is to speak to and learn from people.

The approach most suitable for me is traveling. My parents have taught me the importance of learning from other cultures through travel. I am lucky enough to have the resources to travel and experience the world first hand. Through travel, I learn about nature through experience, culture, music and art. The world is so vast and there is so much to see and I hope to be able to immerse myself in it as much as I can. Through traveling, I also can learn so much about history. The discussion that most impacted me is the interpretation through history unit. I looked at my family history and how nature impacted it, and learned about my classmates history and relationships with nature through that lens. I think this is a very important approach to take.

Overall, as I grow as an interpreter, I hope to do so by learning, being mindful, and being grateful. I will do this through traveling and connecting with different landscapes and speaking with different people.                                                                                                                                                                              

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Great post this week! I loved reading about the reasons you love Orca whales and the incredible facts that I did not know prior. I think it is so wonderful how your love for an animal affects your interpretation of nature, the world, and your own values. When thinking about the factors that endanger these creatures, it becomes so clear that we as humans can do so much more than we are now. I have heard so many people adopt the mentality that because they are just one person, there is nothing they can do to make a difference on a large scale. This is the type of thinking that interpretation can eradicate. If every single person took time to interpret nature, the results would be incredible.

Creatures like orcas highlight the biological diversity we see amongst the animals. Echolocations is an incredible skill that Orcas have and is fascinating to study. Orcas contribute to the beautiful diversity on our planet and must be protected.

Although a small gesture, you can donate to WWF's efforts to protect Orcas. There are so many organizations like this that work tirelessly to preserve the beautiful biodiversity that we all love. I will leave the link below to WWF's page.

Thank you for your great post!

Making Sense of Nature Interpretation

Choosing one topic to discuss for this week's Blog post was a little challenging, especially since I have learned so many different intriguing facts over the duration of my studies in biology at the University of Guelph. Choosing one amazing fact about nature did not come easily to me, since nature is full of interesting aspects.

To me, I find every aspect of nature to be breathtaking. Whether it is plants, animals, landscape, etc. Although, I will say I particularly love learning about every area of nature, I especially love learning about animals.

As many of you may have already heard the tragic story of the MarineLand orca Kiska, who recently passed away in captivity. Kiska swam alone in a tank at the theme park for over a decade.

This situation has been on my mind and has encouraged me to think about the effects of animals in captivity versus in their natural habitats, especially on large marine mammals.

Unfortunately, the orca population has been rapidly declining, in which the Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) have been declared as an endangered species. As of October 2021, there are only 72 living SRKWs (University of British Columbia, 2021).

I want to use this opportunity to discuss this beautiful species and shed light on their amazing qualities, bringing focus to the importance of healthy environmental conditions and resource availability for this species to thrive in.

So, let’s share some cool facts about these remarkable creatures!

Orcinus orcas (more commonly known as the killer whale) are marine mammals that can swim as fast as 50 km per hour! S P E E D. They often travel with their pods and matriarch lineages, averaging to approximately 120 kilometres each day (Whale Trail, 2018). Each orca has specific markings referred to as “saddle patches” which are located behind their dorsal fins, making them identifiable from others – kind of like fingerprints for humans (Whale Trail, 2018).

Also, orcas have the second largest brain weighing in at roughly 17 pounds!! (Whale Trail, 2018). No wonder they are so smart ;)

To put it into perspective, the average human brain weighs around 3 pounds (Winston Medical Center, 2023).

Female adult orcas average 5.4 – 6.1 meters in length, weighing between 6,000-8,000 pounds. Whereas males are typically 6.7 - 7.3 meters and between 8,000-10,000 pounds. The life expectancy for this large marine mammal can be anywhere between 30 to 100 years (Whale Trail, 2018).

One fact that is exceptionally interesting is that orcas can use echolocation to help detect their prey! Killer whales can use echolocation to detect fish in areas where they cannot visually see, up to distances as far as 500 ft (NOAA Fisheries, 2015).

These wonderful organisms and their surrounding environment must be preserved. More effort needs to be put towards protecting this species. We need to think of ways to provide organisms with the resource availability to allow them to live safely in their natural habitats.

Everyone can do their part in being conscientious when it comes to:

Recycling / disposing waste

Using plastic materials / hazardous materials - 78% of marine mammals are at risk of choking on plastic (Fleshman, 2021).

Refraining from over-fishing / resource availability

Boycotting captivity (ie SeaWorld, Marineland etc)

References

Fleshman, R. (2021, September 7). Environmental Fun Facts. KPWB. Retrieved March 18th, 2023, from https://kpwb.org/environmental-fun-facts-2/

NOAA Fisheries (2020, June 15). Sound Strategy: Hunting with the Southern Residents, Part 2. NOAA. Retrieved March 18th, 2023, from https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/sound-strategy-hunting-southern-residents-part-2#:~:text=Echolocation%20allows%20killer%20whales%20to,see%20in%20the%20dark%20water

The Whale Trail (2018). Southern Resident Killer Whale. TheWhaleTrail.org. Retrieved March 18th, 2023, from https://thewhaletrail.org/wt-species/southern- residentkillerwhale/

University of British Columbia. (2021). No apparent shortage of prey for southern resident killer whales in Canadian waters during summer. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 17th, 2023, from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211012112222.htm

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Unit 9

My time in Bali, Indonesia opened my eyes to a world of nature that I had no idea existed. I felt immediately connected to nature and the way that the locals use their land. The respect that the people of Bali have for the animals and the nature they live with is inspiring. This trip taught me so much about how the people and the animals interact in so many new ways. 

One of the most interesting and shocking things I discovered on this trip was Kopi Luwak. This is a coffee made from partly digested coffee cherries. An animal called the Asian Palm Civet eats the coffee cherries and as they pass through the intestines, they are fermented and then defecated. My family and I visited a Kopi Luwak shop and were given a tour of the sanctuary where the Civet cats are kept. They explained to us the process of obtaining the coffee but also the cultural significance of the drink to the people of Bali. They explained how many of the Kopi Luwak coffee shops keep their Civet cats in terrible conditions where they are forced into cages, but this specific family was operating a sanctuary where the Civet cats are treated humanely. Learning about humane animal practices in popular tourist destinations was also an eye opening experience for me. 

Producing coffee in this way was discovered by the local people during times of colonization by the Dutch, as local farmers were not permitted to harvest their coffee beans (Muzaifa et al., 2019). To work around this, the farmers realized that as a part of the Civet’s diet, they consume coffee cherries and do not digest them (Muzaifa et al., 2019). They were able to collect them from the feces and clean them properly (Muzaifa et al., 2019). The beans are collected from the feces of the Civet, washed, dried, and the skin on the outer portion of the bean is removed. At this point, the beans are either stored away or roasted (Pierce-Feldmyer, n.d.). I remember drinking the coffee and wondering why it almost had a slight lemon scent, and the farmers explained it was a byproduct of the fermentation and these beans have a higher level of citric acid than regular beans. 

This type of coffee is some of the most expensive in the world, with 100g averaging $80 in the United States (Pierce-Feldmyer, n.d.). The reason for this is due to the amount of work that goes into producing this coffee (Pierce-Feldmyer, n.d.). This includes caring for the Civets, collecting their fecal matter, and doing the intensive cleaning process. The demand for this coffee led to discovery of more efficient harvesting methods, which is where the mistreatment of the animals came into play (Pierce-Feldmyer, n.d.). This allowed me to realize how delicate the line between mass consumption and cultural significance is when it comes to nature. What once was an important cultural staple that represented balinese history has become a worldwide delicacy and the Indonesian relationship with the land has changed. This is an example of bring nature interpretation into my everyday life (Beck et al., 2018). 

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

Muzaifa, M., Hasni, D., & Rahmi, F. (2019, October). What is kopi luwak? A literature review on production, quality and problems. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 365, No. 1, p. 012041). IOP Publishing.

Pierce-feldmyer, A. What is Kopi Luwak and why is it so expensive?. https://sciencemeetsfood.org/kopi-luwak/

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Thank you for the great post!

In my post, i referenced songs that made me directly think of nature and feel connected to it, such as Don Mclean's Vincent (which I see you also enjoy). However, I really liked that you brought up music that does not have nature in its lyrics per se, but still can make you feel connected to nature. I did not think this way when writing my post. For me, a song that does this is Open Season by High Heights. This is a song I like to listen to on walks or drives, and it makes me think of the outdoors. Admittedly, I do not know any of the lyrics or what this song is even about, but the melody and vibe of the song bring me so much peace, that it is my go road trip tune! This proves that interpretation is so personal. Even though this song could be about anything, I associate it with the outdoors.

Music plays a role in film as well, as it pertains to nature. We all know and love the ominous Jaws tune, and associate that rhythm with the dangers of great white sharks. I wonder if you can think of any other songs that have been undoubtedly connected to nature by way of film?

Thank you for your great post!

Nature Interpretation Through Music

Using music as a means of interpretation is no new concept. The protest songs of the 60s and 70s provide a clear example of people using music as a hugely successful means of mass interpretation. This music reached a vast audience of change-thirsty youth, mobilizing them against the time's social, political, and environmental issues (Covach & Flory, 2018). The power of music as an interpretive force is undeniable, but how does this apply to our discussion of nature?

Well, if you consider music to be a combination of vocal or instrumental sounds combined in a way that produces beautiful form, harmony, and emotion, then wouldn’t nature be the purest and longest-playing symphony? Music is everywhere in nature. It’s in the rustling leaves, the whistling wind, the chatter of animals, the pattering rain, the billowing thunder, the trickling water, the crashing waves, and the sounds of footsteps.

Additionally, nature is everywhere in music. It’s in the sounds of instruments, the rhythm/ tempo, and the topic of lyrics. Nature inspires music. Take “The Four Seasons” by Antonio Vivaldi, for example. Each concerto in the series represents one of the four seasons. If you listen to these concertos, you will hear representations of flowing creeks, singing birds, barking dogs, buzzing flies, storms, winter fires, and frozen landscapes, to name a few. “The Four Seasons” may be one of classical music's most obvious direct expressions of nature. Still, many others work off a similar premise, such as Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,” which translates to “Moonlight” in English. Such representations of nature are also not limited to classical music. “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong is a great example from late 1960s R&B, and “Summer Breeze” by Seals and Crofts is an example from 1970s folk rock. Lyrically, many songs have nature-related themes and inspirations. There is “Sundown” by Gordon Lightfoot, “Bobcaygeon” by the Tragically Hip, “Where do the Children Play” by Cat Stevens, “California Dreaming” by The Mammas and The Pappas, and the list goes on.

Music doesn’t have to have nature in its theme, lyrics, or instrumentation to inspire thoughts of natural landscapes in its audience. Music triggers a part of our brain that helps us to remember (Baumgartner, 1992). I’m sure you all have specific songs that trigger memories of natural landscapes from your past. Likewise, I can recall many songs that transport me to places in nature. Despite growing up in the age of iPods and Apple Music, I listened to most of my music through CD players. Thus, many of my transportive tunes were, instead, transportive albums. Most notably, every song in the “Cheap Thrills” album by Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin swiftly transports me back to the summer of 2016. I would lie in the back of my truck in the middle of the hay field or bomb around on my dirtbikes, all while repeatedly listening to the album.

I compiled a Spotify playlist of some of my favourite nature-related music. Have a listen. Who knows? Maybe you'll find your new favourite tune!

References:

Baumgartner, H. (1992). Remembrance of Things Past: Music, Autobiographical Memory, and Emotion. Advances in Consumer Research. 19. 613-620.

Beck, L., Cable, & T. T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and

Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore Venture.

Covach, J., & Flory, A. (2018). What’s that Sound?: An Introduction to Rock and its History. W.W. Norton & Company. 

Gray, P. Krause, B. Atema, J., Payne, R., Krumhansl, C. & Baptista, L. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science. 291. 52-54.

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Nature in Music

Music is an art form that can inspire, energize, and comfort its listeners. I turn to music for comfort often, and choose music that enhances my mood or makes me feel less alone in difficult times. Much like nature, music is a medium that is open to interpretation. A song can mean one thing to one person and hold a completely different meaning for another. Similar to nature, we each find our own preference in music. 

In nature, music is all around. Whether it be the song of a bird, the rustling of autumn leaves, a crashing wave, or a gust of wind. Just as you can find music in nature, we often see representations of nature in music, often to evoke a certain mood. For example, in heavy metal or rock music, lighting bolts are often represented and rain is used to create imagery. In more relaxed and calm music, the sound of water may be used. Two examples that come to mind right away are extremely different from each other, but exemplify the imagery that I am describing. Rock You Like A Hurricane by Scorpions is a song that uses an analogy of a hurricane to create an aggressive vibe. In a song like Malibu by Miley Cyrus, which discusses her pursuit of finding peace in a new place, she uses verbal and auditory imagery of nature and the calm of a beach. 

Personally, the song Vincent by Don Mclean is one that makes me feel very connected to nature. It makes me think of long drives with my dad to our family friend’s cottage. I associate it with some of the most relaxed moments of my life. The lyricism in that song is so artistic and vivid, it is impossible not to visualize what you're hearing. An ode to Vincent Van Gogh, the song Vincent beautifully details the famous works of the artist while making you feel like you were present in the landscapes that Van Gogh famously painted. The soft guitar paired with the words “​​Starry, starry night, Paint your palette blue and gray. Look out on a summer's day, With eyes that know the darkness in my soul. Shadows on the hills, Sketch the trees and the daffodils. Catch the breeze and the winter chills, In colours on the snowy, linen land” take me to a place of calm unique from any other feeling. 

In the current chapter by Beck et al. (2018), they highlighted how in order to navigate the chaos of the world, we must capture the attention of the people. Once that is done, it is important to connect people on a deeper, emotional level. Music is an excellent way to do this. Music connects and speaks to people, and even controversial songs or new sounds can capture the world and provide a common ground. It can spark new conversations and bring a sense of unity into a world where we often feel divided. It works in similar ways as nature does, but also pairs perfectly with nature. Music can also advocate for nature and open the world's eyes to the issues facing nature. An example of this being Michael Jackson's Earth Song.

Nature and Music are both open to interpretation, and work together to unite and bring calm in a world of chaos and trouble.

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

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Hi there,

Great post this week! I think it's interesting that you disagreed with part of Hyams's quote as I interpreted in differently. I think when he said that ancient things don't have merit themselves, he meant that the event itself means little unless people discuss it and learn from it. Your example of the car is a good one. If the first person to build a car did not share his invention with anyone and nobody spoke about, built upon it, and improved it, what did his invention do for the world? This is simply how I took his words, there is no right or wrong. I think the start of his quote goes hand in hand with the end. If a big historical event occurs, good or bad, and nobody takes photos of it, documents it, talks about it or writes about it, it will be forgotten and the event itself, the "ancient thing" has little merit. If merit comes from the lessons that arise from events, then the events alone hold little weight.

You make excellent connections to the text. The conflict with heritage is an important one to observe. I believe that when heritage or history holds negatives, we shouldn't destroy it but teach it. I believe that we need to to teach it throughly, whole-heartedly and completely. Failure to do so will not protect anyone from the past, but allow future generations to forget it.

I really enjoyed hearing your interpretation!

Unit 6: Interpretation Through His/Her Story

“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, Beck at al. 2018, pp. 342)

This quote begins, “there is no peculiar merit in ancient things”, which is the

only part of the quote I disagree with. Firstly, what is the reference to says “things”?  Are they material objects, or can they be facts of a history. Either way, both have merit. The first car ever built is an ancient thing, but to be able to view it now, evokes a story of persistence and tells a truth about how far the world has come. As another example, it is a fact that Punjab (a state in India where my parents were born), was once controlled by Afghan rulers. As a fact on its own, it’s still powerful, as it begs a curiosity.

With the rest of the quote, I fully concur, the past helped form the present and tomorrow, today, will be the past. Each day brings lessons, it etches a way forward and losing those lessons or paths, ignoring the past, has and will continue to lead to missteps. So much of what has happened, will happen again. Just take bell-bottoms as an example. As David Uzzell says, “We are deceiving ourselves if we think that when we stand in front of a case of medals, or guns, or photographs …., we are looking at the past. We are looking also at the present and the future. ….” (Beck et al, 2018, p. 342).

In our readings, there was a discussion regarding “place of memory”. In nature interpretation, to ignore the historical facts or relevance, is at best foregoing an opportunity to evoke more from the visitor, and at worse, it disrespects what came before. In the ICOMOS definition, I found this point most important: ”… What differentiates a place of memory from other categories of heritage is the relation between the material and non-material components of the site. In “places of memory”, the non-material component is of far greater importance than the material one.” (Beck et al, 2018, pg. 327). I believe this captures the importance of story and bringing life to a material place.

One last point, I would like to speak to is the controversary around Heritage. Hyams speaks to the merit in integrity. The discussion around heritage and Saxes definition, “heritage is an active phenomenon with two stages: … and (2) our decision to do something about it (options include: to ignore,  reject,  or  destroy  it  and/or  to  embrace,  restore,  and  preserve  it  for  others)…” (Saxe, 2009, cited in Beck et al, 2018, pg. 341), seem to be at odds. To have integrity, we cannot ignore, or reject. To preserve integrity, all important facts must be set forth, so the visitor or viewer can interpret their own truth. This is, I think, a very difficult task, and one that will never be perfect. All stories, have interpreters, and all facts are passed on with some level of opinion.  

Beck, L, Cable, Ted T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Natural & Cultural Heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing. 2018

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Nature Interpretation Through History

Unpacking this quote is not an easy task. Hyams packs a lot meaning between words and uses metaphors that may be interpreted differently depending on your background. In a way, this alone encompasses the true meaning of interpretation. My understanding of this quote is likely very different to that of someone with very different life experiences to me.

Hyams defines integrity by keeping together the parts of whole, and by the effort to do so when the parts are not blatantly obvious or accessible. This often relates to “ancient things” or stories of history. The only way to learn and adjust our interpretation of today’s world is by learning from the ancient things. My mind immediately goes to an environmental disaster that occurred in Ukraine in 1986, known as the Chernobyl Disaster. At the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat, Ukraine, a nuclear reactor malfunctioned, causing explosions that took the lives of at least 4,000 people in the Soviet Union, including my Great Aunt. There is no merit in this event. It is a disaster whose effects are still being felt by people and the environment today. There is merit, however, in the mercy that the world showed Ukraine during the immediate aftermath of the event. There is merit in the relief efforts and there is beauty in the way that nature can fight toxic events like Chernobyl. To combat the radiation in the soil and ponds that were killing all life forms, sunflowers were planted due to their ecological ability to remove the harmful elements.

This event affected my interpretation of nature and of life. I think the sunflowers represent finding light in the darkest times. I also cannot help but think about my family. This disaster occurred in 1986, and my parents immigrated to Israel in the late 1970’s, after years of trying. If this had just taken them a few more years, they would have had endure the radiation poisoning that affected their entire town. It adds perspective to my life and makes this quote even more meaningful to me. I think Hyams would classify the teachings of Chernobyl as brave acts to maintain integrity.

The second part of this Hyams’s quote struck a chord in me. Perhaps it was the subject of the metaphor being a railway, but I can’t help but think of another ancient thing that effected my family and millions of others, the Holocaust. “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.”. This is so incredibly powerful. If we collectively leave the past in the past, we will have no idea where we are going in the future. Furthermore, we leave nothing for the next generation to learn from. If the railway stops existing when our train gets off it, what about the incoming trains? What will guide their path? This reminds me of a quote by George Santayana which states “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”. this is a quote that has been spoken by figures throughout history such as Winston Churchill and author and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. We must acknowledge to past as we move forward to help us navigate this world. We cannot maintain integrity without holding onto the parts of the whole.

What does this mean for nature interpretation? Our generation is living through a climate crisis. The time to act on it is now, and we must look to the past to guide us but think about the future in doing so. We must represent nature through literature, music and art so that the parts of the present can be preserved for the future.

Beck, L, Cable, Ted T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Natural & Cultural Heritage. Sagamore-Venture Publishing. 2018

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Hi Salima,

Reading your post made me so happy. Your positive outlook and strength are extremely inspiring. I was touched when you talked about your experience taking care of your grandmother's plants. There is something so special about caring for someone or something else. Sometimes that alone can bring us out of difficult times, or at the very least, ease our minds. The added layer of your grandma not being able to tend to them makes it all the more special. I am curious as to other ways you may find gratitude in nature? This is a really interesting topic for me because recently I have began focusing more on gratitude. In my post I discuss how I am going through a big life and career transition right now, which can feel overwhelming and scary. My mom suggested that when I wake up and when I go to bed I should right down one thing I am grateful for. I have found that this has helped me stay grounded and remember what's important in life. I loved how you found that feeling in nature. I would love to explore this more. It is not something I really thought about until I read your post! This goes to show how hearing other people's interpretation of nature can help you develop your own.

Thank you for your personal and thoughtful post!

Unit 5: The Healing Powers of Nature

I have always loved the outdoors, even as a little child. With my friends, I would spend the most of my time outdoors simply exploring and playing with animals. In parks, we would have wild adventures, play hide-and-seek, and go a tonne of bike rides. My affinity for outdoors began when I was a little child, however growing up seemed to have dimmed my love just a bit.I recall that anytime I was feeling bad as a child, I would take a stroll with friends or sit beneath one of my favourite trees with them and talk forever. But as you become older, you can no longer afford that luxury.

Although I had a healthy upbringing, some experiences that I faced as a teenager/young adult greatly affected me. I struggled with my health a lot which also impacted my mental health. Going outdoors was harder than ever as it took a lot out of me to step outside, both physically and mentally. Living in Toronto does not help as well as I am surrounded by buildings more than I am with nature. I noticed that I truly did lose touch with my love of nature which was something that I loved about myself when I was younger. As my health worsned, I was couped up inside majority of the time reading. In our previous blog post, I mentioned how books were my favourite form of art in which nature could be interpertated. This was because books allowed me to envison and live through those pretty descriptive words of nature. They provided a scenery of the natural world in which I could paint in my head and find some sort of relief. I often find myslef escaping into the scenes that these book provide with their descriptive words and it sort of became a coping mechanism for me. Although that may sound depressing, it was not as sad as it seems. Sometimes life throws many unexpected things your way, but you got to keep on moving!

I vividly remember staying at grandma's house when I was at my worst, both physically and mentally. She had many plants that she would take care of and a garden of flowers to tend to. She would often teach me how to care for the plants and the differences in how you would water each plant and the amount of sunlight it would require. The way she would handle the plants was so delicate that it would often make me cry. When my grandma fell ill, she only trusted me to care for her plants, as I was the only one who knew her routine. At first, I was skeptical but as I started to tend to them, I noticed a change in my mood. I realized that caring for plants was extremely healing and it felt nice to be able to take care of something too. My grandma was an amazing person and she is one of the people who helped me through my tough times. I still take care of many plants to this day. It is super healing to tend to them and it truly did reawaken my love for nature. I soon came to the realization that appreciating nature is not only about spending time outdoors but also caring for the things that make the natural world so pretty, such as plants.

Although books and tending to plants may seem unorthodox, these are what made me find my love and appreciation for nature once again. Part of the reason I am taking this course is that I want to learn more about nature and how to care for it too! Although my experiences were tough, I am grateful for them because they helped me be more gentle with myself and the world!

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What's On My Mind?

I have recently been in a very transitional period in my life. I was just accepted to law school at both U of T and UBC, which is extremely exciting. In deciding where I want to be for the next three years and beyond, nature is playing a much bigger role than I had ever anticipated.

If you have read my previous posts you would probably know that I grew up in a city and through travelling I have discovered my love for nature. When visiting Vancouver last winter, I feel in love with the gorgeous, mountainous landscapes. This was the first time I have ever felt at home somewhere other than Toronto, where I grew up.

I am now at a point in my life where I am making a decision for my career and taking nature into serious consideration. I am constantly back and forth in my mind about whether I want to stay at home where comfort is, or move out of my comfort zone and explore the connection I felt with Vancouver's natural beauty. I am left thinking about the mental health benefits of being surrounded by stunning nature and immersing myself in it, reaping its benefits. I wonder how being in an environment like that will affect my career goals as a lawyer.

As I mentioned, I never thought nature would play such a big role in this decision. However, this course has opened my eyes to new ways of interpreting nature and how people are inspired by it. I think being in a place where I am surrounded by nature would broaden my horizons. I have never thought about practicing environmental law, but perhaps I would discover a love for it while living in Vancouver. I am thinking about the people I would meet, people with diverse interests and different interpretations of the nature around them. It seems like more than a chance for me to move somewhere new, but also a chance to discover something new about myself. In my previous post I discussed how art has affected my relationship with nature, and how photography holds a special importance to me. Beyond just my career goals, I am considering the incredible opportunities for me to explore my love of photography and drawing.

I would love to explore this opportunity but worry about surrendering the familiarity and comfort I have in my home city. These are some thoughts that have been heavy on my mind and the open prompt this week was the perfect opportunity to express them.

I wonder if anyone in this class have ever moved far away from home? if so, what did you learn? Did you discover new passions and goals, and was nature a part of this journey if so?

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Hi there,

I really loved your post this week. You took an approach far different to the one I took in my response. I took an introspective approach, looking at how art shaped my interpretation and mine alone. However, you've acknowledged two different interpretations of the same scene, and I think that is a very important way of looking at it. Nature interpretation is so personal and no two interpretations are exactly alike. To me, this adds to its beauty.

This makes me think of abstract art. One person could be looking at a painting and see a river, while another person looking at the same abstract piece could see something entirely different. The interpretations of the abstract piece are based one ones personal experiences and perception of colour, light, and shape. Although interpretation of real nature is not abstract, one still takes into account their experiences while interpreting.

You touch on the idea of being labelled an outcast or as you put it, "freak" because of certain interpretations of nature. You mention that it can be polarizing and radical. I would love to hear more about this. Can you provide another example of when artistic interpretation of nature has bordered radical? In my experience I have only noticed representations of nature through art forms to be inclusive, a way of bringing people together and inspiring ideas. Because of this, I would love to hear more about your views on it being divisive.

Great post this week! Again, I loved your point on multiple interpretations of the same thing. It highlights individuality and uniqueness, an important aspect of interpretation.

Nature Interpretation Through Art - Reaching Audiences, Naturally

Art is something with the capability of evoking many interpretations. A musician I greatly respect, Ian MacKaye, put it in a way that I think well-summarizes it: Two people standing side-by-side will be taking a picture of some scenery. However, when you look at the photos that each of them had taken, they will be completely different. The scene itself is present in some objective state, but the two photographers interpreted it differently from one another. Such is art.

Part of why I admire Ian's art in particular relates to the two views of risk, based on how he presents himself as an artist. He dresses very plainly and uses very plain language, but his message is what made him a “freak” when comparing him to other musicians. At the time, around 1980, many teens his age were using drugs and drinking alcohol as an act of rebelliousness, whereas he found that to be the antithesis of rebelliousness since these “rebellious” teens were just destroying themselves. He always made certain that it was clear that he was not trying to start a movement, but rather that he was just trying to tell people there was really nothing freakish about his sober lifestyle. This, combined with his plain and inoffensive image, minimized his loss of status quo while he interpreted his message which he perceived to be engagement in risk for growth. Whether this is objectively the best approach to art is not of concern to me, but I think it helps to capture a wider audience, and touches on privilege as discussed in the previous unit of the course–he didn’t flaunt it.

I intend, as perhaps an artist interpreting nature, to take a similar approach. My experience of nature is no better than anyone else’s experience, but possibly unique in that it may inspire someone who hadn’t looked at it in the same way. After all, art is a sharing of ideas, communicated through a broad range of different mediums, and communication will flow best if everyone involved in this transfer keeps a relatively similar level of open mindedness. In terms of the risks involved with interpreting nature through art, I think there have been many people throughout history who have overestimated their potential with risk of gain, having only further polarized broad audiences, while those underestimating remain non-noteworthy. The former would be considered “crazy” to most, having radical ideas and an interpretation which is hard to get behind. As noted though, radical ideas can be gotten behind if properly interpreted, in ways that one admiring a work of art can relate to. I definitely consider myself an idealist in a natural sense–ideally, everyone has such an eye-opening experience with nature as I have. But who am I to interpret nature?

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Unit 04: The Gift of Beauty

“The gift of beauty”, as it relates to nature interpretation, is the capability for one to acknowledge and appreciate the beauty around them, be affected by natural beauty and develop a desire to protect the resources in their environment (Beck et al., 2018). When art is incorporated into nature interpretation programs, it can have very meaningful results. Art can entertain and ignite a passion for nature in individuals (Beck et al., 2018). It can lead those who previously hadn't made meaningful connections with nature to explore a passion they never knew they had. 

Capturing the beauty of nature through art has been instrumental in my own relationship with nature. I interpret “the gift of beauty” through visual art and photographs. I love to draw, and I remember some of the first things I began enjoying drawing were landscapes. My grandmother was a talented painter, and she would love to paint nature. I remember when I was young, she took my sister and I to a beautiful park in Montreal and took photos of us so she could paint them later. I remember that day like it was yesterday, and I remember the joy I felt in the park and after I saw the portrait she painted. She passed away two years ago, and that portrait hangs in my room. It is a constant reminder of her, the happiness we felt in nature, and the magic of being able to capture that feeling through art. This is an example of the emotional response that the gift of beauty can evoke in an  individual. Below is a photo of part of her studio, you can see her many paintings in the back. In the front is the painting she did of my sister and I about 14 years ago. 

 Even now, my favourite artist is Claude Monet, who painted gorgeous nature scenes, his most famous being the Water Lilies. I remember looking at photos of his Water Lily Pond painting and thinking about how much I would love to sit on the edge of that little bridge and watch the lilies. During covid, I went for a walk in the evergreen brickworks and passed by the pond in front of the trails. I stopped and watched the pond and the lily pads and felt as though I had finally found the place in the painting. Whenever I need a moment for myself, I visit that pond. Below is a photo of the painting by Claude Monet.

Another way I interpret the beauty of nature through art is via photography. I took a trip to Costa Rica in 2019 with my dad, who is passionate about photography. We walked through a rainforest and looked out for as many animals as possible. While walking through, I heard many animals and saw them from a distance, which was very special. I felt as though I was visiting them in their home and they were welcoming us in. My dad took many photos that day and it was only when I got home and looked at his photos did I fully appreciate where I just was. The colours and patterns that he was able to capture were ones that I wasn't aware of when I was walking by. Both experiences were special, being in their habitat and hearing them, and then going home and fully understanding what it was that I just saw. Below are some of the photos that my dad took that day.

Art is an incredibly helpful tool in interpreting nature in many ways, and I hope to continue developing my relationship with nature through personal art pieces.

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., Knudson, D.M (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore Publishing

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Hi there,

I enjoyed reading this post! Your definition of privilege encompasses its true meaning and is very applicable to many situations. I believe that being able to assess one's own privilege is extremely important as that ability can alter the way one interprets the world, and more specifically, nature. Being able-bodied is an immense privilege that I overlook in my day-to-day life. Having the privilege of simply going for a walk whenever I am in the mood to is not something I think about everyday, but when reflecting on it, I cannot imagine the difficulties that many people face when that task is not so simple.

Your connection to the film Parasite was spot-on. That movie left a lasting impact on me when I watched it years ago. The stark contrast between the two families highlights how different life is when you have access to resources. It shows you how relative issues are. For the wealthy family, their issue was being caught in a storm outside and having to journey home through it. Although inconvenient, maybe, it pales in comparison to the issues that the other family had to endure through that exact same storm. Although this is just a movie, it is very applicable to real life. Staying with the camping example, for some people camping is a relaxing activity to connect with nature. For others, it can bring up past traumas. This is something that greatly affects interpretation of nature.

Thank you for your post and you amazing connections!

Unit 3 Discussion: Privilege and Nature Interpretation

I would define privilege as a concept of opportunity; the ability to be born with a set of opportunities that are not shared equally by everyone else. It is a concept that is important to acknowledge and discuss. Something I feel very privileged to have received in my own life is my experience traveling the world. I am fortunate to have seen and explored many different landscapes throughout my childhood, and I am aware of how lucky I am to have encountered these experiences. They were learning opportunities that brought me new ideas, perspectives, and overall enjoyment. I am also aware of my privilege regarding the ability to move freely through nature to perform activities like hiking, running, or swimming, as these activities can be difficult and inaccessible for those who experience physical disabilities (Beck et al. 2018). While interpreting nature, I believe it is important to consider what actions one could take so that more opportunities can be shared and accessible for everyone.

As I considered the relationship between nature and privilege, I found myself thinking of the movie Parasite, which I saw back in 2019. While it has been a long time since I saw this film, I can’t help but remember a scene depicting class dichotomy with the use of a rainstorm: when the storm began, the wealthy family had been away on a camping trip, and were all able to return home as it worsened. Meanwhile, the family dealing with poverty had to face the consequences of the storm directly, as their house had been flooded and destroyed. It struck me what a privilege it is to be able to go out and enjoy nature when you feel like it, and then return to a warm, safe environment at the end of the day. There are so many people who are forced to endure every painful and dangerous element that our environment has to offer, and it is lucky to be able to choose which aspects of nature to enjoy and which to avoid. For example, when I say I love the snow, the cold, and the ice, I am lucky to have this positive outlook, as I have never had to experience the act of genuinely trying to survive through the winter like so many people who don’t have access to housing. It is important to consider these ideas of equality and privilege as we examine our own relationships with nature, as it can help us improve our social structures and create a world with less disparity. Just as we would hope for humans to establish harmony in nature, we should also aspire for humans to establish harmony with each other.

Work Cited

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

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Unit 3: Recognizing Privilege

What role does “privilege” play in nature interpretation? Please include your working definition of privilege.

When considering diverse populations, such as the one in Ontario, we see families and people who come from many different backgrounds and whose privileges manifest in different ways. We often think about a financial situation regarding privilege, but when thinking about exposure and interpretation of nature, privilege can play many roles. To me, privilege is the ability and freedom to engage in activities that bring joy and add to one’s quality of life.

Firstly, financial privilege can alter one’s relationship with nature. Many exciting outdoor activities require a certain amount of money and time. Consider a double paycheck household in Ontario, for example. The parents both earn a comfortable living and can invest in things like camping trips or outdoor sports for their kids. Furthermore, they have the time to be involved because they are not working multiple jobs to provide for their family. This is an example of a family that (if willing to) can expose their children to nature in exciting ways, therefore shaping their children’s interpretation of nature. Beyond this, varying degrees of financial freedom affect things like travel. When I reflect on my experiences in nature, I have been privileged and fortunate enough to make memories in exquisite settings like Bali, Zermatt, and Vancouver. I recognize that leaving one’s home to explore different landscapes affects one’s exposure to nature. Although one can form an incredible relationship with nature at home, being able to explore the world is an extreme privilege.

Another aspect of privilege is parental involvement and willingness. To put this point into perspective, picture a wealthy family whose parents are always working, and the children spend all their free time indoors playing on iPads. These children, although incredibly fortunate, do not have a role model to expose them to nature and build a love for it within them. So, therefore my definition of privilege goes beyond just the financial and into simply the level of exposure to nature. This can impact a person’s interpretation and relationship with nature severely.

The other aspect of privilege, and I think this is one that is often overlooked, is the privilege of being able-bodied, mentally healthy, and physically fit. Health plays a huge role in exposure to nature. Imagine an able-bodied individual who wants to go swimming. With proper access to a beach, all this person must do is get their swimsuit on. Now imagine someone who used to greatly enjoy swimming but was in an accident and lost the use of their legs. This can greatly change one’s interpretation and relationship with nature. The same goes for physical and mental health. We often overlook the difficulties that someone with depression has regarding simply going outside for a walk. Having our health, both mental and physical, is an extreme form of privilege that cannot be overlooked when discussing nature interpretation.

Lastly, personal experiences can greatly affect nature interpretation. If a family or individual experienced homelessness and spend many winters sleeping outside in the cold, it is not unusual that if they improve their situation camping may be an activity that brings on trauma and pain (Beck et al., 2018).

Overall, privilege plays a massive role in nature interpretation. It is so important to understand this and be able to assess one’s own privileges.

Refrences

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

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Hi Hailey!

I really enjoyed reading your post. You seem like someone who is very passionate about nature and really wants to inspire others to connect with nature as you do. Based off your post, I wonder if you ever considered a career working outdoors, perhaps a conservation officer? Your passion, experience, and ideal role as an interpreter put you in a great position for a job like that!

I love that you would want to share your love for a place that you spent so much time in, such as Algonquin Park. Once, when I was visiting Algonquin, I was joined by a friend who performed a moose call and we ended up seeing two moose! She was so knowledgeable about the land and the animal and her passion for it was contagious. She was able to share her love for the land with our friends and even took them on a four-hour hike in Algonquin. Your post and experience reminded me of her and made me realize just how much a passion for nature can inspire others to partake.

I was wondering what you would say to someone from a big city who may not have been lucky enough to have similar experiences in nature. I ask this as I am someone who relates to this and have had limited interactions with nature within Ontario. With your experiences in Algonquin and western Canada, where would you say is the best place to go to fall in love with nature?

Thank you again for your great insight!

Blog Post 2: My ideal role as an environmental interpreter

When I think of my ideal role of an environmental interpreter, I think of a role that is educating others of the natural landscape. This role would include a leadership status in an outdoor setting. I would hope to spread knowledge of the land as well as the ecological interactions that take place there. While spreading knowledge, I would also like to share all the benefits of spending time outdoors and advertise the benefits of enjoying nature. I feel like spending time outdoors is very underrated and I would make it my main goal to spread awareness of the perks that our associated with nature. The audience I hope to reach would include a variety of anyone who is interested in strengthening their knowledge of the environment or anyone that is interested in spending time outside. This would include people of all ages and conditions, being accessible to everyone. After reviewing our class collaborative word cloud, I see a lot of people learn best with visuals, examples, and explanations. I feel like these are skills that would be needed for anyone who hopes to be an environmental interpreter. Personally, I learn best through experience so I would attempt to use this tactic when acting as an interpreter.

This role would entail allowing everyone to feel excepted and stress free in nature. Personally, I think being outside is a great way to relive stress and I would hope to spread this idea to others. The main goal of an environmental interpreter role would be to ensure others can find their sense of place. There are several activities that can be done to achieve this goal, including nature lessons, outdoor led hikes, or even an outdoor meditation.  

A variety of skills would be needed for this role. For example, patience would be a main skill as you will be leading and teaching others of all mental capacities. Next, you must have a lot of interest in the environment as you will be spreading your joy for nature with others. Lastly, knowledge of several environmental species would be necessary to teach others of ecological interactions that exist in the given landscape. According to the course text, “an interpreter must use creative imagination to help others understand and enjoy their cultural and natural environments (Beck et al. 2018)” this is another skill that is extremely important in the role of an interpreter.

The specific location I would pick to do this in is Northern Ontario. I have spent a great deal of time in Northern Ontario, mainly Algonquin Park and have always had a great time exploring this area. My ideal location would be Algonquin Park, as it is a location that holds a variety of species and there is so much nature that could be interpreted. In addition to this location, I would also consider Western Canada as I have always enjoyed the incredible landscape in British Columbia and Alberta. I feel like there is a great deal of knowledge associated with the mountains and ocean and many people have an interest in Western Canada.

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

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Unit 02: My Role as an Interpreter

To be an interpreter means many different things. There is a wide range of individuals who study different topics who are all classified as interpreters. As someone who does not have as much exposure to nature as many others, being from a big city, I think my role as an interpreter is based on curiosity. I am just now starting to explore and delve into nature more, and with that comes alot of learning. A big thing for me has been learning about the interactions that occur in nature. This includes the interactions between different plant species, between animals and plants and of course, between humans and plants. As I mentioned in my first post, my trips to Hawaii taught me a great deal about human - land interactions. My role as an interpreter in this setting was that of a tactile learner. I immersed myself in nature and took in information about the people and the land. 

My ideal role as an interpreter entails learning. My goal is to learn as much as I can by immersing myself into unique environments. I want to learn all that I can about the interactions of nature and its inhabitants. I hope to learn about cultural rituals of different people and their land. By learning about the interactions that exist in the environment I can gain an understanding of not only who I am as an interpreter, but also how others interpret the same environment. 

This past summer I visited a cottage in the Laurentian mountains in Quebec. Other than the beauty of nature, I got to know many of the families who have had cottages on the lake for years. By talking with them and listening to their cottage stories, I gained an appreciation for how nature brings people together. Through listening to their interpretations, I interpreted the land in a new way. This was a gathering space for these families to meet up with each other a few times out of the year and reconnect. It meant so much to so many people and hearing their stories opened my eyes to different interpretations. 

Given that I see my role as an interpreter as a learner, patience and listening skills are very important to me. Having patience to take time in nature and learn about its history and its future are crucial. Being a good listener is another important skill to have. I want to hear the stories of people who have connections to different environments, and not just hearing them but listening to what their words mean and finding the deeper connections is extremely important.

By learning, I hope one day I will share my knowledge with my loved ones and even my own kids and that they can find their role as an interpreter as well. As stated by Beck et al. (2018), an interpreter should motivate and spark passion in the audience. This is my ultimate goal. I hope to use knowledge acquired by immersing myself in nature to get others excited and passionate about nature as well.

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