Trees, shrubs, grass, what, really?

A few weeks ago, I went for a walk in the woods, but it wasn't just a fun walk.   It was fun but, I was there to do a project.   I take an online class, Intro to Environmental Stewardship, and my assignment was to pick a site and go out and do field work to do an environmental inventory.  Truth be told I had no idea what I was doing, I had no experience with this and no real education/knowledge.   I chose an Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) by my house called Meadowliliy Woods/Nature Preserve in London, ON.

The majority of the assignment was based on tree and plant identification, which was ironic the only tool I had was a mini pocket guide on trees.  Tree identification in the field was harder than I thought.
This is an introductory class, with self directed study, no notes on plants, nothing in our books, if I could suggest anything to an instructor it would be that there be some sort of identification section in the course manuals or textbooks, or some additional online notes, videos, audio lectures.  If this was an actual class there could have been a field trip or leaves brought into the class.   There was no previous experience or class required on plants.  However, I did enjoy learning this process myself, but I feel like if I had prior or proper knowledge and experience that I wouldn't have spent so much time working on my ID.    
I mean I could tell maples and oaks by the leaves but that was about it, but not even the right species.  I  lot of my identification was later by the use of pictures I took and samples of leaves, as well as my own memory, and research of what was in the study area.   This literally took me days to identify trees and plants, at first look I may have thought one species, but looking forward I realized it was something else.  You have to use leaf shape, number of leaves, ridges, veins, arrangement of leaves and so much more . There were so many trees, shrubs, vines, wild weeds, and flowers, I could never have ided them all.    As exhausting as this was, I actually really enjoyed it, when I finally figured out what I thought each plant was.  
An environmental inventory and plant ID are to things I can now add to my toolbelt and for that I am thankful, I can even add this assignment to my portfolio.   Who would have thought a class project could be so useful?  Here are a few pictures of my findings.  For more you can see my facebook album: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.989493431279.2477159.120811080&type=3

I haven't blogged in a while, seems I've been busy

I meant to do a blog about my canvassing experience, but never did.  It was not an easy task, going door to door trying to educate people on the clean energy act, and to consider energy when voting.  It seemed easy enough, hand out a pamphlet and ask 2 questions.  A lot of people were "not interested" when I wasn't selling or asking for money, only handing out a pamphlet and asking them if they knew about energy and would consider when voting.  I just found it frustrating that people were uninterested before they even let me talk, I did not go to homes with no soliciting or junk mail signs.   However, when I found someone who was interested and truely cared it was rather exciting and encouraging, it made me feel like people actually cared or wanted to know more.  You could tell when people were interested in the issue.  Those that weren't and were very negative, seemed to have misconceptions and even trying to clear them up, they were unwilling to listen or be informed of the facts.   There was also the misconception that I was working for a party, an I had to keep insisting I was not and for them to look up their party's green energy tactics.  On the last day we actually ran into the NDP candidate, they thought we were conservative, very awkward. 
It was a great experience over all talking to people, going door to door.  There were major hassles, being short flyers, and delivery postponing our work, but we made up for it in the end.  I also made a good friend, Kyla I hope we stay in touch.  
The only thing I would have to say is that the delivery method for the campaign, the flyers were not very informative to the average person, should have defined FEED IN TARRIF (FIT), and other things so voters actually understand.  We should have also been provided with more information to give to voters to clear up misconceptions,  I had so many people who had the facts wrong and had a hard time trying to explain it to them. 

Thanksgiving, giving thanks for my strength

Now, I have been through a lot in the past few months.  And then I would have thought I really don't have much to be thankful for I lost my grandpa, a best friend, and a chance at a dream  job, all at once.   It was hard and they were not typical losses.   Instead of complaining about how much that sucked, I take it all as a learning experience.   What I am most thankful for is my strength.  I never knew how strong I was until I had no other choice.  Strength is a powerful thing, the only thing that can bring you up when your down, that can help move you forward.   It also takes strength to cry, its not weak, its weak to hide your emotions, it takes a strong person to cry and show their true feelings in my opinion.  My strength is whats gotten me through all of this and continues to get me through each day, some are worse than others.
I am also very thankful for my friends and family, and all of their support through it  all.  They have all been great, even just checking on me or little things, talking, whatever I need.  I appreciate it and would do the same for any one of them.     

September, moving forward, new opportunities

I'll admit it.  I was slightly disappointed that I am not going back to school full time this year.  After a year out of the loop I miss it.   However September looks like a month of new beginnings and opportunities.  I am taking another online class this semester through Distance Education from the University of Guelph to put toward a certificate in Environmental Conservation, I want to stay up to date and add more knowledge while I job search and possible upgrades for grad school.  The class is Environmental Stewardship, and it seems interesting with assignments that will include my own field work by picking a site and doing an inventory and maps, another one on community involvement and personal reflections and readings.   I am pretty excited about all of it. I think it will give me great experience with my course work and stuff to add to my portfolio.  Also the community stuff could lead to volunteering or other networking options. 

There is another thing I hope to accomplish this month, but I don't wanna jinx it.  It has taken me a while.  I've been practicing and am going to keep trying, I'll let you know once I get it.  

I am also going to be an Environmental Educator for the Ontario Citizens’ Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy.  They are a non-profit group who are concerned with Ontario's Clean Energy, and how this issue will be addressed in the upcoming election.  It's not with a party, but an organization that wants voters to be aware of this issue and where their candidate stands on Clean Energy.  I will be canvassing around London, not selling, but educating.  I am excited to be doing something green, it will look good on my resume, and could lead to more.   


Thats all for now, Over and Out

Interviews

I don't know about you but I find interviews intimidating.  You get all dressed up practice before hand do your research, but still manage to be caught off guard.   Last month I went for 2 interviews, I won't name who with.   The first interview was rather lengthy, it was in the middle of nowhere an hour away, which is expected in the environmental field.  It was a wildlife reserve on crown land and managed by a non profit who I was interviewing with.  The interview was in the "office" which was an open room but it was fine.  The job was wildlife technician, I studied marine biology, and zoology, but my main focus was on the marine/aquatic environment, so my expertise are fish and invertebrates.  This was a hunting reserve, based on birds, however the job description was very vague, but they had my resume and knew my background.  I was asked questions for about an hour, the first ones being about my ability to drive ATVs, use tools, operate large equipment, among other physical tasks.  I was also asked how to do a tree planting project, expected to id a variety of trees and wildlife with no field guides or anything.  I am not complaining it just amazed me of all the qualifications that they wanted for someone to be working at minimum wage, plus did I mention you would be risking your life as it is a hunting range.   At the end of my intensive interview, I was asked to make a map in ARC (which I know how to do but on the spot, is difficult).  After that I had to complete an ID test based on slides, other than knowing snake, owl, duck, I was pretty much lost, after about 40 slides.......like if you want someone to be interested in the job don't make them feel like they are back at school again, there was a sound id section, I couldn't do it at all it was awful.   So after an hour and a half, I pretty much knew I didn't get the job, but after all that I don't think I could have done it all anyways.  This was an entry position yet they wanted a lot of experience and qualifications, which brings me back to my pet peeve the breaking the employment experience cycle.

On the other hand my second interview, was for a Program Education Staff at a local zoo where families and school groups visit.   This job sounded perfect for me, I was so excited for it.  I was asked to prepare a lesson plan for preschooler's based on a book or story for literacy skills.  I was ok with this and selected a book and found worksheets to go with it.  I was prepared for my interview.  I was early, I had to wait for a while for my interviewers.  When they came to get me we went to sit at a picnic table I was asked about myself and experience with children, again they knew my resume I have experience as a camp counselor and have a background in Biology.  They then explained they were starting a story time group for preschoolers and their parents and that would be my role.  I showed them my story and lesson plan.  And that was the whole interview.  I was asked nothing, other than is there anything else we should know.  I wanted to say yes, this is a zoo am I not supposed to educate people on the animals, program activities, give tours, etc.  That's what I had planned for when I applied. A zoo educational role, when what they wanted seemed to be an ECE, again they did not state this in their job ad, I didn't imply that I had any experience with preschoolers.  Instead I felt confused and couldnt figure out what I did wrong to blow the interview in less than 10 minutes, I felt like I wasn't even given a chance.

My question is what is the appropriate length/time of an interview?  How many questions should be asked?  How many should I ask.  If you are asked is there anything more we should know? What should you answer, do you go into details about yourself that showcase your skills whether they are relevant to the job or not.

Frog Friends

So summer really seemed to fly by eh.  I can't believe its already September.  I haven't had much to blog about lately my course is done, I haven't been doing anything very exciting.   I really liked looking at these mini aquariums with little frogs in them, and after a whole summer of looking I decided why not just buy them, thanks to my cousin Megan who was like omg Kar just buy them.   They are African Dwarf Frogs, 2 of them, very low maintenance, only need to be fed twice a week and the water changed every 3 months.   I just really like the idea of having frogs as pets so cool, yeah I am a dork but I don't care.   They are fun and small and very active most of the time.  I was having a hard time thinking of names, they're both boys and I wanted like names that went together famous duos if you will.    Then I thought of everything.   I have decided on Wayne and Garth for now, Party on Frogs!   Mainly they just swim around or chill under the rock.  I came home today to find them both really cornered in the rock and me being the worried frog mama started panicking and flicking the glass and tried to move the rock.  They seem to be ok now.  Party on Wayne! Party on Garth! I'll keep 

poking the glass I'm sure.   Here are a few pics i took on my phone.   

My rant for the day

I am studying for my online class: Environment and Resources aka Canada's Mistakes.   Here is my summary of what I learned:
A resource that has been here for 1000s of years that the natives have used sustainably. We can make money from this, cool, lets harvest it to the point of no return. Oh guess its not renewable after all, my bad oh well we can still make money off it so lets keep doing it. Sorry Natives, too bad for you, I know you had it first but we wrecked it so we get to keep harvesting and you can only use it for "native" purposes.
Why is this frustrating? Because the natives lose their land, jobs, livelihood, and their resources.   The resources are sold by the commercial industries and exported to other countries, while the natives don't have enough for their own supplies, or to support their families economically.   First Nations need to be put as a top priority when it comes to resources.  Whether its fishing, mining, logging, agriculture, energy, all of it requires a basic resource that the natives used to life off the land.   We really need to look to First Nations for the impacts that we have made or will make when harvesting a resource.  We also need to look to them for their Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) this would really help improve research for resource knowledge and help to fill in gaps that we are missing.   Resource harvesting has negative impacts on the environment, the land, and First Nations. 
I really think that First Nations should be involved in all aspects of Natural Resources, we need to help them and they can help us understand the relationships of the land, its resources and it's people.  It is their country as much as ours we need to work together to protect it.