Lorry Mackay (Forest Operations)
Logistics Summer Student at Mosaic Forest Management in Nanaimo, BC
My second summer with Mosaic has been unreal! Recently, I’ve been writing a report on beaver berms. In this photo I’m standing on a ‘beaver buster’, an innovative way Mosaic works with beavers in the area to ensure habitat is maintained as well as road safety and quality. The regulator on the end ensures that no matter how strong of a dam the beaver builds, the integrity of the neighboring road will not waver due to an overflowing pond. When the water reaches a certain level, the buster diverts it safely through a culvert to the downside of the road.
Aaron Justin Wee (Forest Sciences)
Jr. Resource Technologist at Ministry of Forests in Fort St. John, BC
For my second work term, I am working in Northeast BC as part of the Crown Land Authorizations team of the BC Ministry of Forests. Much of the northeast region is associated with Treaty 8, which was signed in 1899 as a means to establish peace between the federal government and various First Nations. This job gives me the opportunities to understand land negotiations and reconcilliation efforts between the Treaty 8 First Nations and the Provincial Government.
My job typically revolves around looking into land tenure applications and writing land-use reports on them. Most information on parcels of land (including history) are accessible through the Tantalis internal database, or through physical files/digital folders. Land use-reports allow me to make recommendations to a decision maker based on the public interest, first nations concerns, economic, social and environmental factors, and conflicts with pre-existing land uses, among many other considerations. When I’m not working on those, I often help other departments with field work.
Forestry co-op has given me the chance to make personal relationships with the local First Nations and learn more about their culture. I’ve also gotten a better grasp of the processes behind applications and crown land sales or allocation. These are valuable opportunities I would not have gotten if not for the co-op program.
Erica Lee (Natural Resources Conservation)
Marine Conservation Technician at Galiano Conservancy Association in Galiano Island, BC
For my third co-op term, I have been working at the Galiano Conservancy Association on Galiano Island, BC, as their Marine Conservation Technician. As part of the ongoing Rockfish Conservation Project, I conduct monitoring for Rockfish Conservation Areas using shoreline trail cameras, conduct interviews with recreational fishers, and lead community education and engagement initiatives. In addition to rockfish conservation, I collect and manage marine invertebrate data from the Hakai Institue’s Sentinels of Change project, monitoring Dungeness crab populations. Come August, I will be leading and coordinating volunteers for a seaweed mapping project by sea kayak.
Like past co-op positions, I have been able to connect my studies to my work. This position has been extremely rewarding, as it has greatly connected to my coursework in Fisheries Conservation and Management at UBC Forestry. I have been able to build on skills including project management, organization, and communication, as well as gain new technical skills in both field and office settings. Co-op is amazing for expanding and diversifying work experience, all while connecting and enhancing your studies.
Olivia Sasson (Natural Resources Conservation)
Trees and Shrubs Sales Associate at Sky Nursery in Shoreline, Washington
During this co-op term, I worked at Sky Nursery in Shoreline, Washington, in the Trees and Shrubs Department. My responsibilities as a staff member in the Trees and Shrubs department of Sky Nursery involve receiving, processing, maintaining, and answering any questions regarding all the plant inventory within the department. This includes processing plants as they are delivered, pricing, planting, pruning, watering, and organizing the plant material. Which can be upwards of 7,000 plants in the department at a time. In addition to these tasks, I answer customer questions, recommend plants, and care tips, and aid with the identification of plants and various plant problems. I answer customer questions both in person and over the phone. These questions could relate to anything from ideal plant-soil conditions, to plant diseases/treatments, to landscaping advice. I also write articles for Sky Nursery’s website and blog. The aim of these articles is to present useful horticulture information to the public in an accessible way. Sky Nursery prides itself not only on its garden supply but also on the knowledge of its employees. People often come to the nursery not just to purchase plants but also for advice on subjects such as plant care, identification, and disease. As an employee, it is expected of me to absorb and be able to educate on as much information regarding trees and shrubs as possible. This makes my employment the perfect opportunity to keep the knowledge I have gained in my forestry classes fresh and expand upon it. By handling plants, listening to my co-workers share their decades of experience, or, on rainy days reading from the nursery library, I feel like I am always learning. It’s very rewarding to implement the knowledge I have gained in my education while helping people make their plants and gardens thrive.
2nd Annual Wreck Beach Cold Plunge with Forestry and LFS
Join your Forestry and Land and Food Systems friends for a cold plunge at Wreck Beach as part of the 2023 Minutes Outside Challenge! Meet at 10:30am at the Tim Hortons in the Forest Sciences Centre to walk to the beach together, or meet at the Wreck Beach stairs at 11:00am.
Donuts will be provided for all plungers!
