My Internship with ACAP Saint John

Photo of Megan during field work

I heard about ACAP through a Co-op posting from my school; I study Chemical Technology at NBCC. However, at the time, I could have never imagined how my placement with them would shape out. ACAP creates an incredibly warm and welcoming environment; when you join their team, you also join their family. As a Co-op student, I knew I would be in for lots of learning, but learning is an understatement. When working with ACAP, you aren't just constantly learning; you're also experiencing everything. From water quality monitoring, port site sampling, stream assessments, cleanups, and fish rescues to algae logger launches, working with ACAP has felt like a new adventure each and every day.

Since starting my placement in May, I have been working on ACAP's ETF- Thinking Water Project. This project entails bi-weekly sampling and analyzing 32 bodies of water across Saint John and its surrounding areas. This project aims to assess and form a long-term database of the water quality within Saint John. We measure live parameters at each site, such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, salinity, and pH, using a YSI Pro Plus Multimeter. Additionally, we collected a sample to take back to the lab for ammonia, phosphate, total coliform, and E. coli testing. These tests and data collection allowed us to see what was happening within the water environments we monitored while adding to an extensive database. This work has shown me that although we’ve come a long way in bettering our waterways, we still have a long stride ahead of us to go.

          Although my work pertains to my academic studies, it was also my first time putting my knowledge to the test by applying the theory I've learned outside of a classroom environment, and that has come with its own challenges. As Chemical Technology students, we learned many laboratory procedures and data reporting, but none of our experience prepared us for the challenge of the on-foot and physical work I was in for at ACAP. From overgrown trails and steep inclines to swampy sinking mud, each site adventure came with its own challenge. However, for me, it felt like a challenge easily overcome, as someone who enjoys uncharacteristic adventures. Additionally, by taking the trail less travelled, I got to see and appreciate the city's beauty from a different and less-seen perspective.

From early mornings inside Courtney Bay, or sunny visits at Mispec Beach, to blistering hot port sample days and foggy walks on Bayshore Beach, and every rainy sample day under a blanket of trees, all my adventures with ACAP have filled me with feelings of joy and overwhelming purpose. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to have worked with ACAP over the summer, and although I am excited to continue my studies, I am also saddened to see my time with the team end. However, I am sure this won't be my last ACAP experience, and I look forward to possible future adventures.