My Time as a Co-op Student

When I first signed up for a co-op placement, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. I knew I wanted a hands-on experience in the environmental field, but I didn’t know how much I would learn across multiple different fields during my time with ACAP. Over the past couple months, I had the opportunity to work on water quality testing, learn about green infrastructure projects, and forestry initiatives, and it has been a great experience.

One of my main tasks at ACAP was water quality testing. This meant walking through the woods to get to streams and brooks using the YSI to take tests in the field and collecting samples to send to the lab. At first, it didn’t go very well with the ice conditions with it being too thick in some spots and not thick enough in others. It was also confusing with all the different numbers and results, but over time I got more comfortable using the equipment and understanding the results. This experience showed me the importance of persistence in environmental work and how small actions contribute to larger conservation efforts.

Forestry work was another major part of my co-op experience. I went on forest cruises and was able to use different pieces of equipment such as a basal prism to take the basal area of stands, I used a measuring tape to measure the diameter at breast height and used a clinometer to measure the heights of tress. It was interesting to walk through the woods and see all the different species of trees, and since I learned about what forest stands are I was able to notice the difference between softwood and hardwood stands and when they change while walking through them.

Reflecting on my time at ACAP, I now see how important hands-on experience is in helping you decide future career choices. This placement has given me technical skills and helped me develop my adaptability, and teamwork skills. It has helped me reinforce my interest in environmental work and made me want to learn more about conservation, sustainability, and ecological research.

I still have a lot to learn, but I feel more confident in my ability to make a meaningful impact. Whether through further studies or continued fieldwork, I know that my work in the environment and conservation has just started. My experience at ACAP has set a strong foundation, and I look forward to making changes in the years to come.

I am incredibly grateful for the team at ACAP for helping me have this experience. Their passion for environmental sustainability is very inspiring, and I feel lucky to have been a part of it. Thank you ACAP!