We’re very excited and honoured to announce the start of our very first placements this July! Direct Action has partnered to create three service learning experiences for youth in marine and aquatic conservation. Check out the Placement Map to see where each is based!
Howe Sound/Atl’ka7tsem Research & Conservation aims to build regional capacity to protect, restore, and be stewards of human and natural values associated with the Sound’s aquatic environments. Amy Kikuchi brings a diverse skillset in environmental science, forest conservation and Indigenous knowledge, along with passion for reconciliation, biodiversity, conservation and environmental justice. From her home in Toronto, Amy is working with researchers Fiona Beaty and Laura Borden to build a community map, create education resources and collect stories, articles and photos highlighting unique elements of Howe Sound’s marine ecosystems and culture, weaving knowledge systems to understand long-term change. With her creativity, we have no doubt that Amy will do amazing work with the Howe Sound team.
Parks Canada National Office Marine Conservation Unit, with a focus on the Southern Strait of Georgia led by Pippa Shepherd and Chantal Vis, has several projects that tie into Direct Action experience, including developing best management and practices associated with sustainable recreational fishing activities in National Marine Conservation Areas and National Parks. As a former member of the Fish Ecology & Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Caleigh Delle Palme is perfect for this role, extending her background in environmental science and biology to learn about BC’s Strait of Georgia from her home in Ottawa with support from Parks Canada’s national team. Everything is connected, even science and policy, and Caleigh is certainly the one to bring them together!
EcoSuperior & Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior (CLLS) have partnered to host two Direct Action youth, Simon Boudreault and Kelsey Herglotz, on the remote Porphyry Island in Lake Superior. This placement is truly immersive, embracing themes of connection to place, stewardship of living landscape and aquatic conservation. Both Kelsey and Simon have spent a lot of time traveling, but now find themselves focusing on conservation closer to home in Ontario. Simon’s start in business administration has turned sharply toward a career in environmentalism; combined with Kelsey’s experience in international development and geography we know there will be some exciting learning on Porphyry!
Check in for news on more exciting Direct Action placements in August and September! You can also follow OceanWiseYouth on Instagram for more and to learn about some of Ocean Bridge's inspiring work across Canada.
We're currently in the process of reviewing your applications and lining up placements with marine stewardship organizations.
Due to the changing circumstances around COVID-19, we will match accepted applicants to Direct Action placements on a case-by-case basis,as placements become available and fieldwork opportunities open up nationally. Many rural and remote communities, where we expect to host most of our placements, are still working with physical distancing and restricted access to visitors. We will take all necessary precautions and work with host partners to minimize risk and ensure the safety of participants and host communities in the process of organizing direct action placements.
If you submitted an application, you will receive confirmation from us that we have received and reviewed your application, and we will contact you for an interview. After the interview round, we will do our best to notify you at least a month before the start of a placement.
If you are not selected for a summer placement by July 1st, we will check back in with you at the end July about your availability for fall and winter placements. Please update us on your availability when we contact you for future placements.
There is a two-stage process for program entry for candidates.
1) Interview with staff and addition to an approved candidate list.
2) Match with a suitable placement between July 2020 - March 2021, based on your availability.
These two stages will occur within a flexible timeline in the coming months, as we work with our partner organizations to establish placements in marine conservation across Canada.
Thank you for your patience as we work within these unprecedented times to organize these impactful experiences around the country!
