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Environmental Sciences: Learning in Action

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HomePrograms and CoursesEnvironmental SciencesLearning in Action

Lakeland College's field labs are what separates us from other environmental programs.

Starting in September, you'll be learning applied skills such as how to use a GPS and identify native plants. Check out the applied skills tab on each program page to see what you'll learn.

Field Week

Every third week of September is Field Week. Second-year and applied degree students don't have regular classes. Instead you'll travel throughout the province to take part in unique learning opportunities. Your travel may be as close as college lands and the Vermilion Provincial Park, or west to the Rockies and south and east to Prairie grasslands.

But Field Week isn't the only time you'll be in an outdoor classroom.

Here are some of the places you'll go and things you'll learn.

3 students electro fishing in a stream

Electrofishing

Electrofishing is a basic skill for

  • assessing threatened trout
  • evaluating sportfish communities
  • implanting tracking tags
  • rescuing and salvaging at construction sites
  • removing invasive species

You’ll learn how to keep electrofishing safe for the fish, your crew members and the public in our Worksafe BC accredited course.

Then you’ll grab your waders, strap on the backpack and sample fish. As you work, you’ll see first-hand how fish react to, and recover from, electricity in the water. You’ll also build your identification, handling and processing skills.

Program: Wildlife and fisheries conversation (WFC) major

students inside a piece of mining equipment

Coal mine reclamation tour

TransAlta Highvale coal mine has some of the largest equipment in the world, and is also undergoing a large scale reclamation and restoration.

Decommissioned in 2020, future land uses are driving the project located west of Edmonton.

Students were able to talk onsite with operators, planners and engineering about the challenges, opportunities and new developments in reclamation and restoration.

Programs:

  • conservation and reclamation (ECR) major
  • land stewardship and conservation (LSC) major
  • general environmental sciences (GES) major
  • Applied Bachelor of Science: Environmental Management

2 students identifying upland and wetland plants

Wetland classification

In this field lab, students delineate a wetland to determine the ecological boundary of a water body.

There are 3 elements of their assessment:

  • identifying upland and hydric plant species in a sample area
  • a soil pit study of soil characteristics and soil classification
  • the presence or lack of water.

Boundaries are indicated by the different species and soil types. Once established, boundaries help the students classify the wetlands using the Alberta Wetlands Classification system.

Programs: 

  • conservation and reclamation (ECR) major
  • land stewardship and conservation (LSC) major
  • general environmental cciences (GES) major

students doing soil classiciation

Soil classification

Lakeland College is one of few schools in Canada that teach soil classification in the field using soil pits across eastern Alberta.

Students use a soil probe or auger to take a sample. Students test the soil with various chemicals and a Munsell colour chart to identify the soil type.

Soils are classified using the Canadian System of Soil Classification. Alberta has 9 soil groups. The most common in the area around our campuses are Black Chemozinics.

Soils are grouped and named by similar chemical, physical and biological properties.

Soil classifications are important to know when planning a remediation or reclamation project.

Programs:

  • conservation and reclamation major (ECR)
  • land stewardship and conservation (LSC)
  • general environmental sciences (GES)
  • Applied Bachelor of Science: Environmental Management

student holding chickadee

Bird Banding

Practicing birding skills was part of a Field Week visit to the Beaverhill Bird Observatory.

2nd year wildlife and fisheries conservation (WFC) major students participated in the observatory’s fall songbird banding.

Their next stop was at the Strathcona Raptor Shelter to discuss the challenges and rewards of rehabilitating and releasing health raptors. They also got to safely handle and release large birds of prey.

Program: wildlife and fisheries conservation (WFC) major

students on windfarm tour

Wind power project tour

The Grizzly Bear Creek Wind Power Project was a short trip to enormous wind turbines. The project is located just 25 km south and east of our Vermilion campus.

Touring the project is a chance for students to explore soil reclamation and environmental conservation methods used during the project.

As well, it’s a glimpse into how energy generation is transitioning from convention to renewable energy.

Programs:

  • conservation and reclamation major (ECR)
  • land stewardship and conservation (LSC) major
  • general environmental sciences (GES) major
  • Applied Bachelor of Science: Environmental Management.
 

students plant grass in fescue restoration

Fescue grass restoration

Our Land Stewardship major students worked with an environmental consulting group to restore fescue on a previously disturbed site.

Fescue is notoriously difficult to grow from seed, so fescue plugs (small plants + roots) are planted to improve its survival rate.

Each transplanted plug was marked, so it can be measured over time to determine survival rates.

Fescue grasses are the climax grass species of a healthy native prairie. Unfortunately, native fescue has largely disappeared from overgrazing and conversion to cropland.

Program: land stewardship and conservation (LSC) major

2 students identifying and recording a live trapped vole

Live trapping and handling small mammals

Second-year wildlife and fisheries conservation (WFC) students carefully handle a southern red-backed vole (Myodes gapperi) they live-trapped using a Longworth trap.

They confirm the species using the iNaturalist app on a smartphone, while also measuring and recording morphometric characteristics of the animal.

Data recorded includes: sex, age, evidence of lactation, weight, total length, tail length, hind foot length, ear length, and whether or not the animal has been marked previously, indicating a recapture.

In less than a few minutes, the handling and data collection process is complete and the vole is carefully released back into its natural environment.

Program: wildlife and fisheries conservation (WFC) major

students studying a waterway near Jasper National Park

Watercourse crossings

Part of a 4-day trip to Hinton, near Jasper National Park, is learning how to assess a watercourse crossing.

Applied degree students are guided by a local environmental scientist.

Poor bridges and culverts cause environmental problems such as water contamination, isolating fish populations and preventing spawning.

There’s lots of remediation ahead as the provincial environmental department estimates there are over 1 million watercourse crossings in Alberta that need assessment.

Program: Applied Bachelor of Science: Environmental Management

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