Junior Forest Ranger Leader at Government of Alberta in Fort McMurray, AB
This summer I am lucky to be employed with the Government of Alberta as a Junior Forest Ranger Leader in Fort McMurray. I work within the Wildfire Management branch, and therefore work closely with wildland firefighters and their office supervisors. My co-leader and I supervise a group of six high school students in completing diverse work projects relating to wildfire, forestry, and other environmental fields. In this position I fulfill many roles such as educator, planner, supervisor, counsellor, documenter, and more. As such, I have improved a wide range of skills including communication, leadership, wilderness survival, professionalism, tool use and maintenance, conflict resolution, cultural awareness, and working with youth. The skills and experience I have gained in this position will, without a doubt, help me immensely in future job searches. I have learned so much about myself this summer and I feel much more confident and capable in my field than I ever have. I would not have had this experience if I weren’t in co-op, and I feel lucky to be able to add this much to my resume so early in my career. I would highly recommend joining co-op to improve upon skills, meet great people, and aid in valuable self-discovery that will help guide you in your future career.
