Integrative Biology and One Health students join weeklong FREED field course at Algonquin Provincial Park

This past August, 15 Indigenous, Black and Racialized students from the University of Guelph and McMaster University spent a full week in Algonquin Provincial Park as part of the Field Research in Ecology and Evolution Diversified (FREED).

Led by experts from both universities, as well as Birds Canada, Wildlife Preservation Canada, and the Ministry of Natural Resources, the students, including from Integrative Biology and the Bachelor of One Health, tracked turtles using telemetry, caught birds with mist nets, and trapped small mammals. They took workshops on bats and moths and guided hikes to learn about geology, the history of Algonquin and land conservation, with a focus on Indigenous sovereignty. They learned how to paddle a canoe, pitch a tent and start a fire with a ferro rod. All the while, they spotted a wide variety of wildlife, including bears, moose, turtles, snakes, salamanders and bumblebees.

Besides all the learning, there were lots of arts and crafts, games, reflection, exploration and s’mores.

The FREED program is dedicated to increasing access to field work, research experiences and skills for students who are underrepresented in the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology. The program is completely free for students and transportation, equipment and a childcare subsidy are available.

“Field work and field work experiences are actually quite a privilege,” says co-organizer and PhD in Integrative Biology student Alannah Grant. “Typically, these experiences are offered in the summer. If you don't have access to a car, for instance, you can't get out to a field site. A lot of these positions are also volunteer-based, so if you can't afford to not work during the summer, you can’t take these opportunities.

“For this event, we really wanted to make sure that students are just showing up to learn and they don’t have to worry about anything else.”

This was the second year the program was offered to University of Guelph students. Last year, students from Integrative Biology and Environmental Sciences spent a weekend at the Toronto Zoo Bush Camp.

This incredible experience is funded entirely by the generous support of individuals, corporations, and foundations. If you would like to help make this unique experience available to more, deserving Indigenous, Black and Racialized students from U of G, you can donate through this webpage. If you’d like to learn more about the program or the impact you can have, please reach out to our Alumni Advancement Manager, Jill Randall, at jillrand@uoguelph.ca.