Student from Lucan works as Jr. Conservationist
Post-secondary student from Lucan learns about many facets of conservation as Junior Conservationist
Column by Graeme Irwin, 2024 Junior Conservationist, Ausable Bayfield Conservation
My name is Graeme Irwin. I’m a biology student at Western University (formerly University of Western Ontario). I have been fortunate enough to serve as Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority’s Junior Conservationist for the past eight weeks. This two-month job experience program, funded by Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation, gives young people a chance to experience many aspects of work in conservation.
Growing up in the Lucan area I have always had a familiarity with Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) and especially Morrison Dam Conservation Area (MDCA). I attended the Wonder, Investigate, Learn and Discover (WILD) summer nature day camp as a young person. I hiked at MDCA during the summer, and tobogganed in the spillway during the winter. So, when I saw the opportunity to work here at Ausable Bayfield Conservation, I had to apply.
When working as ABCA’s Junior Conservationist I had the opportunity to help with many projects in the watershed. Whether it was beach sampling, planting native species of plants in a wetland, or helping with monitoring of flora and fauna (plants and animals) in the watershed, I was always outside and always learning. The team here at ABCA includes some of the most passionate and knowledgeable people with whom I have ever been able to work. Even with living in the area my whole life, I was still learning new things about it every single day.
I was also fortunate enough to help with ABCA’s conservation education efforts. As I mentioned, I attended WILD nature day camp when I was younger. That was a key moment in fostering my appreciation of nature. I believe promoting young people’s respect for nature is a crucial step in protecting our environment in the long term.
Spending time with campers and encouraging their curiosity was one of the most fulfilling things I will take away from my time here.
When trying to think about my favourite moment, or day, in this job, I find it hard to pick one, but I recently had an amazing time going electro-fishing with our aquatic biologist Kari Jean. She has what I think is the coolest job here. I’m always so excited when I get to work with her. Kari asked me to head out with her, and our Water Resources Technician, Christie Brown, to help them in a presence and absence monitoring survey for Brook Trout.
Brook Trout thrives in cold water so they are only found a few places in our watershed. We spent the whole day electro-fishing and we were happy to find several Brook Trout (the largest one is shown, with me, in the photo). We were only expecting to find juveniles, so finding an adult Brook Trout, about 26 centimetres in size, was incredible!
Before arriving at ABCA I felt as though I was at a crossroads when it came to my future career decisions. I had always been passionate for field biology, but I wasn’t sure if it was something I could see myself doing in the long term. Thanks to this experience I can honestly say this is a field in which I can see myself working.
This position has allowed me to work with, and learn from, some of the most passionate and hard-working people I have ever met. I am so grateful for my time here at ABCA. I would like to thank Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation, and all of those who donate, and support their fundraisers, in order to make this experience possible.
– Graeme Irwin is entering his third year of Biology studies at Western University in London. He is from Lucan.
PHOTO CUTLINE/CAPTION:
Graeme Irwin is the 2024 Junior Conservationist. This is a two-month summer job experience position funded by Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation. Here in photo, Graeme holds an adult Brook Trout in a fish viewer. Brook Trout are not common to find, in this watershed, because of their need for coldwater locales. The water in the viewer is drawn from the same stream where the fish was found. Staff promptly returned the fish to the water after measuring it.
Graeme's position started in July and ends near the end of August.