Hi Everyone! My name is Katherine and I’m super excited to be joining the Green Venture team as the Outreach and Restoration Intern this Fall season while I’m completing my post graduate studies at Niagara College in Environmental Management and Assessment.
Starting off my education, I received my Bachelors of Science at Queen’s University focusing on studies in Biology and Math. It was during this time that I quickly fell in love with the environmental field and was eager to just get out there, explore the world, and gain new experiences. So after graduating, I set out to Costa Rica where I started my career in outdoor environmental education. As an intern at a butterfly gardens in the cloud forest of Monteverde, I led groups through the gardens and taught them all about the fascinating world of insects! It was here that I first experienced the power of interactive, outdoor education, and I have been hooked ever since!
Soon after completing my first internship, I continued on to Peru where I conducted research in the rainforest. As a team of biologists, interns and volunteers, we conducted surveys to monitor species abundance and populations to evaluate how the forest is able to regenerate after human impact. It was such a unique experience and environment, I just couldn’t leave! So I stayed on for 1.5 years in the remote parts of Manu,Peru educating volunteers, building biogardens for the local community, and managing the butterfly research project. Since returning back to Canada, I’ve carried on working in outdoor education within the urban forests of Downsview Park.
Now that I’m here at Green Venture I’m excited to take on developing some restoration plans for the Ecohouse property! A big part of this will involve battling against invasive species that tend to take resources and space away from our native plants. These invasive species are found all over Hamilton, and take quite a bit of effort to control.
