Environmental Technology students embark on annual fall field camp
Written by Jason Carpenter
Environmental Technology students tour of the Government of Nunavut’s new fisheries research vessel, the Nuliajuk, as part of their marine biology camp.
Environmental Tech Program
Nunavut Arctic College’s Environmental Technology Program students were once again on the land, from September 21 – 28, for their fall field camps. This year’s camps were also once again located on the beach at Peterhead Inlet, a popular local camping area with an incredible tidal flat and interesting geological and historical sites.
Two separate camps were held. The 14 first-year students completed their Introductory Fall Field Camp. The main focus of the camp was to get the first year students certified in wilderness first aid (WFA). This year’s WFA course was delivered by Qikiqtaaluk Medical instructor Nicolas Létourneau. The course was a huge success and the students really enjoyed the real life scenarios and special effects makeup. The first year students also participated in a community based berry monitoring project for the third year in a row, visited a local archeological site, and had lectures pertaining to cold water safety, boat safety, and plant adaptations to name a few.
The 14 second-year students completed their Marine Biology Field Camp. During the camp students learned basic marine science techniques, how to conduct an intertidal survey, various deep water column sampling methods, how to identify major categories of marine organisms, and the physical properties of local and global marine ecosystems.
The students once again used the Nunavut Research Institute’s hydrolab to analyze local marine water chemistry. The hydro lab has a probe that is lowered through the water column to the bottom of the bay. As the probe is lowered it records information regarding the bay’s water chemistry (i.e. temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, etc.). This information is then used to help the students better understand the bay’s ecology and to confirm concepts learned in lectures regarding the relationships between water chemistry, temperature, and depth.
A highlight of the Marine Biology camp was a tour of the Government of Nunavut’s new fisheries research vessel, the Nuliajuk. The students were shown the various pieces of equipment on board the vessel and participated in a sampling of jelly fish organisms found in the bay.
Both camps were a great success. The weather cooperated as well as one can reasonably expect in late September in Iqaluit. The equipment functioned as needed, learning objectives were all met and the students performed exceptionally well…BUT most importantly we had a great time and got to know one another better.
I’d like to personally thank Michelle McEwan (ETP Instructor) and Aaron Spares (PhD student and ETP contract instructor) for leading the Marine Biology Camp. They are both well learned and experienced professionals/educators, who effectively transferred their knowledge of Marine Biology to the second year students.
I’d also like to thank Nicolas Létourneau for an excellent job delivering the Wilderness First Aid course and for his assistance in many other camp matters. I was very fortunate to have worked with such professional, hard working and good spirited camp mates!
To learn more about the Environmental Technology Program or how you can become a student, contact the Nunavut Arctic College registrar's office toll-free at 1-866-979-7222 or call Jason Carpenter at 979-7285.
