(April 28, 2009 —Vermilion, Alta.) Timing is everything.When Lakeland student Kayla Balderson volunteered to help organize the Alberta Chapter of the Wildlife Society Conference held at Edmonton last month, little did she know that her involvement would lead to a first-time achievement for a group of Canadian students at a prestigious wildlife conclave competition in the United States.
Conclaves are regional gatherings of young wildlife professionals from colleges and universities and are an important tradition south of the border.
Kayla, along with other second-year students in Lakeland College’s wildlife and fisheries conservation program, attended the provincial conference held in March. As a conference volunteer, she teamed up with students from the University of Alberta – including Lakeland alumnus Michel Lavalle who transferred to the university’s bachelor of science program to major in conservation biology – to provide audiovisual support for the plenary and technical sessions.
Through this association and because of her initiative and strong knowledge base of wildlife, Balderson was invited by the U of A students to join their team to compete in a Wildlife Society Student Conclave competition that was being held at Michigan State University in April 3 to 5.
Thanks to support from Lakeland College’s Students’ Association, the School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the wildlife and fisheries conservation program to help cover travel costs, Balderson was able to compete in the event.
After three days of knowledge tests and skills challenges, she and her team mates finished in third place over all – a significant accomplishment considering that this is the first time a group of Canadian students have placed in an event of this type in the U.S.
“It was a bit intimidating competing against university students,” says Balderson, “but the knowledge gained at Lakeland proved to be a huge asset. I learned a lot during the competition’s quiz bowl which covered topics on bird, fish and skull identification, famous ecologists and theories, limnology and forest practices. The field activities were equally valuable.”
Workshops during the competition were facilitated by Ph.D. students and professors from Michigan State University. In addition to the knowledge quizzes, competitors were asked to set up mist nets, and band and perform measurements on birds. They also practiced radiotelemetry and perform diet analyses on fish.
“I felt very fortunate to be part of the U of A team to go to a conclave,” says Balderson. “The experience also makes me that much more excited to want to continue my studies at the U of A next year and to continue to be part of the Wildlife Society. It would be great if Lakeland and the U of A can again represent Canada at the conclaves.”
Balderson worked with U of A students Jenna Donald, Kyle Nysh, Michel Lavelle and Carmen Von Conrad. The group of students won third place as they competed against teams from Purdue University of Illinois, Michigan State University, Central Michigan University, Michigan Tech, University of Indiana, University of Wisconsin, Central Ohio University and Iowa Tech.
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For more information, contact:
Chris Olsen
Program head, Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation
Lakeland College
Telephone: 780 853 8590