Specialist Features and
Articles
All in
ten's… A field guide's reflection
10 years ago…I thought I knew everything
about people and the environment and conducting a guided experience for guests
would be easy
Then someone asked me
10 things about the area I guide
in and 10 interesting bits of information
10 things about trees and 10
trees that grow in my area
10 things about flowers and 10 flowers that grow
in my area
10 things about grasses and 10 grasses that grow in my area
10 things about soils and 10 minerals that occur in my area
10 things
about birds and 10 birds that live in my area
10 things about mammals and
10 mammals that live in my area
10 things about insects and 10 insects that
live in my area
10 things about reptiles and 10 reptiles that live in my
area
10 things about mollusks and 10 mollusks that occur in my area
10
things about frogs and 10 frogs that live in my area
10 things about
scorpions and 10 scorpions that live in my area
10 things about our
universe and 10 constellations in the sky above me
10 things about geology
in my area and 10 rocks and minerals
10 things about interaction between
animals and 10 examples of symbioses
10 things about danger and 10
potentially dangerous situations I've been in
10 things about evolution and
10 examples of adaptation I've seen
10 things about conservation and 10
examples of what I believe in
10 things about what I like about being a
guide and 10 about myself
10 things about my beliefs and 10 of my
principals
10 things about footprints, and 10 examples of them
10
things about signs in the wild and 10 examples of them
10 things about
climate and 10 examples of weather in my area
10 things about my rifle, and
10 reasons why it's safe for me to have it
10 things about 1st aid and what
I'll do in 10 different medical emergency situations
10 life lessons and 10
examples of what I do in the wilderness
10 philosophies and 10 practical
experiences
10 years on…
I try and ask myself at least 10
things a day I don't have any answers for yet!
10
seconds
It takes just 10 seconds for a nature guide to:
Transfer inaccurate information to guests through lack of knowledge and
experience.
Seriously endanger or injure someone because of a lack of
interpretation, knowledge or training.
Damage or harm sensitive soils,
plants or animals through irresponsible or ignorant behaviour.
Respond
or act in manner that is unthinking, uncaring and unethical.
10
minutes a day
It takes 10 minutes a day for a nature guide to:
Reference accurate information for guests
Review areas of learning
and record today's lessons
Learn something new about a plant, process or
animal in the field
Listen rather than talk.
10 days a
month
It takes 10 days a month for a nature guide to:
Spend
time in the field with reference books
Spend time in the field with mentors
and specialists
Think about personal skills and interpretations
Write
down areas that require more learning or practical experience
Learn from
practical experience
10 months a year
It takes about
ten months a year for a nature guide to:
Gain invaluable experience
with guests, animal encounters and insights into field lessons.
10 years (I'm a slow learner)
It taken me about ten
years to:
Reflect on my current contribution to conservation, guest
education and experience, and to toast a new day of learning and living in this
wonderful world of nature.
Written by Neil,
a professional safari guide in South Africa
Click
to view all Neil's itineraries
|
