Thanks to a generous $10,000 grant from Rudy North, a summer student intern program was launched by the BCIT Rivers Institute for the summer of 2013.
Rudy’s idea was to provide a meaningful summer work experience for students following completion of their first year of BCIT’s Ecological Restoration Degree Program, so the student would gain valuable experience before heading back to complete their second year term in September.
In this inaugural year, three student intern positions were created, thanks to wonderful collaboration and cost sharing between various NGOs and local governments:
- Intern 1, Christina Perkin, is working with the City of North Vancouver’s Environmental Technician,Angela Negenman (a BCIT FWR graduate) with Engineering, Parks and Environment, developing community education and outreach programs for invasive plant species in the City of North Vancouver;
- Intern 2, Josh Retallick, is working with Edith Tobe, Executive Director of the Squamish Watershed Society, monitoring a variety of estuary, stream channel and wetland restoration projects around Squamish BC;
- Intern 3, Taylor Hunt, is working with Dan Buffet, Head of Conservation – BC Coast, Ducks Unlimited Canada, developing wetland and estuary restoration plans for the recently acquired Grauer Proprety, in Richmond BC.
Thanks to all our great project co-sponsors, and we’re looking forward to hearing some great stories form from our students when they return to BCIT in September.