Postcards from the Field: Kerry Mui

Shell Conservation Intern Kerry Mui

Greetings from eastern Ontario!

After only a few months as a Shell Conservation Intern I can’t believe how much I have learned and seen while travelling across the province. My recent graduation from the University of Western Ontario as a kinesiology major with a biology minor has not been the most conventional route to a career in conservation ecology. However, this summer experience has reinvigorated my passion for nature by bringing back childhood memories of my time spent in the beautiful landscapes and lakes of northern Ontario.

Elbow Lake, Frontenac Arch, Eastern Ontario

The aspects I enjoy most about this internship are the diverse challenges I face on a daily basis: identifying new plants, improving my navigation skills or even crossing a 40-metre-long beaver dam! As a result, I am always learning, since the position requires me to be so adaptable. Much of the work I have completed is related to monitoring Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) properties for disturbances: unauthorized dumping, motorized vehicle use, invasive species. In addition to this work, I have been assigned to complete a property management plan to evaluate the integrity of the ecological systems and wildlife and recommend a stewardship plan for the property. While the size of the report and the required attention to detail can appear intimidating, I am appreciative of the opportunity to play such an integral role in NCC’s work.

I can think of no better way to spend a summer than hiking the hills of the Kaladar Ridges or surveying for the nationally endangered Spotted Turtle. The experiences gained and the people I have met through this internship are truly unmatched.

Have a great summer!

Cheers,

Kerry Mui