Summer Corridor Student

Title: Corridor Student
Reports To: Corridor Project Ecologist
Location: Eastern Georgian Bay (Go Home Bay, Pointe au Baril, Parry Sound, or Sans Souci)
Duration: approximately 15 weeks (35 - 40 hours/week)
Overview:
The Georgian Bay Land Trust (GBLT) Corridor Students provide support for one of GBLT’s land acquisition projects focusing on creating a corridor of protected areas along the eastern coast of Georgian Bay. This corridor consists of a network of protected areas that encompass many different ecosystem types and species at risk. This position will assist the Corridor Project Ecologist with monitoring and management of these lands and will include activities including species surveys, disturbance mapping, general inventory, ecosystem classification, and other tasks as required. Access to accommodation and a boat on Georgian Bay is preferred. Responsibilities will include:

- Assist in species surveys for species of conservation concern on a wide range of different ecosystem types
- Hiking long distances to reach survey locations
- Ground-truthing of previously mapped disturbances
- Assist in the safe operations of drones to collect aerial imagery
- Assisting with other GBLT research and programs as necessary
- Managing, tracking, and reporting species and species and ELC data

These positions will require knowledge of the Georgian Bay environment and will include training regarding the inventory work and survey protocols. They will require technical expertise, attention to detail, and the ability to work in small teams in remote locations.

Key Responsibilities:
1. Corridor Monitoring
- Assist with monitoring of lands for species of conservation concern and significant ecosystem types
- Complete vegetation surveys and species inventories in priority ecosystem types within target lands
- Assist in wetland and invertebrate research
- Assist with compiling, analyzing, and reporting on data collected in the field

2. Other Conservation activities
- Assist with field monitoring of GBLT properties when time permits, including data collection, breeding bird surveys, reptile monitoring, etc.
- Provide support for research projects when time permits, including priority bird surveys, coastal wetland monitoring, etc.
- Attend training with other GBLT staff on species identification, ecosystem classification, and other related activities.

Skills & Aptitudes:

- Applicants must have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card or be willing to acquire one
- Applicants must have a Class 5 Drivers License
- Be familiar with and share the mission and objectives of the Georgian Bay Land Trust
- Interest in the conservation of eastern Georgian Bay
- Familiar with environmental science and natural heritage
- Interest in and comfort around wildlife
- Experience, interest and/or abilities in field inventories, vegetation community classification, and field identification of birds and vascular plants
- Familiarity with the ecosystem of Georgian Bay, as well as species assemblages
- Must be able to hike long distances off-trail through uneven terrain, including steep hills, wetlands, rock barrens, and forests while carrying field packs
- Able to work well in small groups to accomplish specific goals and tasks quickly and efficiently
- Comfortable working work long hours in the outdoors, in challenging weather conditions
- Interest in outdoor recreation and familiarity with reading maps and working with GPS
- Experience with GIS software (ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, and/or QGIS) is an asset
- Must be comfortable with daily boat travel, both canoe and motorboat, in a variety of weather
- Having access to a seaworthy boat on a daily basis, and be experienced boating on Georgian Bay is an asset (boat gas and expenses will be covered)
- Having access to accommodations in Go Home Bay, Pointe au Baril, Parry Sound, or Sans Souci areas is an asset
- Must be available in eastern Georgian Bay from late May to late August
- Must be prepared to work flexible hours, including some weekends

Anticipated start date: Tuesday May 20, 2025

Anticipated end date: Friday August 29, 2025

**Salary**: $21/hr

Applicants must be age 30 or under.

Preference will be given to students, particularly those enrolled in a biology, ecology, environmental science, or an equivalent related program in college or university, and those who are based for the summer in close proximity to Go Home Bay, Pointe au Baril, Parry Sound, or Sans Souci with a personal seaworthy boat.

We thank all applicants, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.