Postcards from the Field: Mike Petryk

Shell Conservation Intern Mike Petryk

I knew I wanted to be involved in conservation since the age of 12 when a fish biologist at Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba explained to me the role of minnows in the ecosystem. I’ve travelled far since then, but I’ve never forgotten the joy I felt knee deep in that stream!

At Trent University, I pursued the political and legal aspect of the environment but realized soon after graduation that I didn’t feel that connection to the environment that I’d longed for.  So I next completed a diploma in Ecosystem Management Technology at Fleming College. Through my SCIP internship, I’m now applying what I learned along both education paths. 

Elbow Lake, Frontenac Arch Natural Area

Here in Eastern Ontario we are blessed with a diverse landscape.  Properties ranging from complex wetlands near Kingston, to deep conifer forests in the Algonquin Highlands offer numerous challenges for protection.  It is extremely fulfilling to apply my education on such important ecosystems – to be able to take data collected in the field and create plans of action that will provide the best possible stewardship of the land.  But what has truly made this a memorable summer is the connection I’ve felt with the people I work with on each and every property. All of the volunteers, landowners, and neighbours have told me stories of the lands they steward, and provided unparalleled knowledge of the species that inhabit them. 

As the summer passes by, and my field experience grows, I‘m now challenged with deciding my future plans for graduate school – Environmental Law or Field Ecology?  Whatever path I follow, I know my experiences with NCC will not soon be forgotten.

Mike Petryk