More Than Just a Summer Job: The Shell Conservation Internship Program 2010
Carrie Drake and Molly Simon are a dynamic duo when it comes to conservation. They both have a strong connection to the land and the smarts to make an impact. Drake and Simon started with the Shell Conservation Internship Program (SCIP) in early May 2010 and have been going non-stop ever since. “The first two property baseline surveys we did took two days to complete and they were both 14-hour days,” Simon said. “They were epic.”
Molly Simon and Carrie Drake examine a butterfly (Photo by NCC)
For the two budding scientists, the Shell Conservation Internship Program has given them the opportunity to practice their academic skills in the field and learn some new things along the way. Taking soil samples, identifying plants and other wildlife species, filing baseline reports, traveling across Nova Scotia to various Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) properties; it’s a demanding job, but they love it.
“I’ve really been working on my plant ID skills,” Drake said. “We’ve also been practicing our birdsong skills and birding by ear, which has been really fun.”
What is the Shell Conservation Internship Program?
The Shell Conservation Internship Program is an essential part of NCC’s stewardship work. Throughout the summer, Shell interns will be busy visiting NCC’s properties to undertake field work to help ensure that these important areas remain in their natural state. These interns need to have a scientist’s mindset and the heart of a conservationist.
This summer, NCC has hired 31 university and college students through the Shell Conservation Internship Program to work in some of Canada’s most ecologically significant landscapes across the country. Through their stewardship efforts on some of NCC properties, these students are contributing to the long-term protection of Canada's natural areas and wildlife.
The Shell Conservation Internship Program is funded by Shell Canada Limited and will be celebrating its 10-year milestone in 2011.
Video: Training the conservation leaders of tomorrow (click to enlarge)
Why do they do it?
For Drake, this internship has been an opportunity to reconnect with her home province since studying for her Bachelor of Science degree at Lakehead University in Ontario. “I haven’t been back here for a long time,” Drake said. “So it’s a really neat way to explore Nova Scotia inside and out.”
Simon, a St. Mary's University Bachelor of Science grad, says working with NCC so far this summer has given her a different perspective on conservation science. “You see the property on paper, you look at the aerial photographs, but all aerial photographs kind of look the same,” she observes. “It’s green and blue and brown, but when you actually get on the ground and walk around the property, you become really familiar with it. I really like that.”
Drake and Simon both say they are extremely proud of the work they are doing for NCC, and look forward to the rest of their work term, which ends in late August.
“I’ve worked for a few organizations and NCC is by far the coolest,” enthuses Simon. “They get the most done in terms of work on the ground.”
Drake agrees: “Lots of doing rather than talking.”
