Placement Stories

Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC)

I had the opportunity to do a placement course at the OTCC. Their mission is to protect and conserve Ontario’s native turtle species. The centre takes in injured turtles, treats them, gives them time to rehabilitate and then they are released to the area from where they were taken. The centre will also x-ray every mature female turtle that comes to the centre. If they have eggs they are induced and the eggs are incubated; once they hatch and are ready they are released to the area the mother was found. Once a week I would go to the centre and care for the turtles. I got to work with the education ambassador turtles, which are turtles that are not allowed to be released for certain reasons and live in the centre. I have always loved reptiles, so getting to work with them hands-on was a dream come true. One of my favourite parts was feeding the turtles because you were able to see their personalities and just watching them eat up close was something I had never seen before. While working at the centre was amazing it was difficult to see some of the injured turtles since the injuries can be very severe. However, seeing the work being done and how much everyone who works there cares for the turtles made it a lot easier. I admire the passion of everyone who works there and since they are all so kind, it is clear the turtles are in the best care possible. - Kate Brown

Otonabee Region Conservation Authority (ORCA)

I had the pleasure of doing a placement working with ORCA. Everyday I was doing something different that mainly included working outside and doing fieldwork. If you are lacking fieldwork or want a placement that gets you outside of the classroom and interacting with community members, then I would highly recommend working with ORCA. This placement allowed me to gain critical skills, including working alongside the Watershed Biologist to understand how watersheds are managed and the various operations, such as watershed health monitoring. Key hard skills I learned, such as how to sample water for a provincial government initiative through the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) as well as using various instruments such as a YSI probe. I also learned how to manage various groups and educate them in environmental conservation while simultaneously teaching them how to correctly plant native trees and shrubs. A lot of my work included environmental stewardship, environmental education and community engagement with a large variety of community members from the city of Peterborough and surrounding municipalities and various age groups. If you want to take the environmental skills you have from your studies and apply them in a work setting with great people, I highly recommend doing a placement with ORCA! - Lindsay Fisher

Forest Gene Conservation Association (FGCA)

I had the opportunity to intern with the FGCA, a nonprofit organization whose primary focus is ensuring that genetic diversity is recognized and protected as the foundation of a resilient forested landscape. I knew I wanted a career related to forestry and beginning with advocacy for the importance of forest genetics seemed like the perfect way to really understand the basis of our Canadian forests. A large part of my time was spent working on and delivering their Certified Seed Collector Workshop, and speaking with like-minded people about species diversity to help ensure the supply and use of high-quality, locally adapted woody plant seeds to new certified seed collectors. I also had the chance to assist with their Butternut Recovery Program by traveling to their Butternut orchards all across Ontario providing maintenance to ensure the success of the overall health and growth of these important tree species. One of the most rewarding moments of my work with the FGCA this fall was being able to fine-tune my presentation of education and outreach to the public about the importance of forest genetics and proper seed collection and also experiencing and appreciating the hard work put in the field and communication amongst stakeholders to implement the conservation of certain species. Not only had this internship exposed me to the interaction between public outreach and education of species diversity, but it has also taught me the toughness, hard work, and passion needed to help the environment. I am incredibly grateful that the FGCA has made me part of their team. - Kaylen Foley

Photo credit: Forest Gene Conservation Association