Resources
Environmental Technology
Program Resources
As a multi-disciplinary program, Environmental Technology has access to the wide-ranging capital resources of its constituent departments. This includes modern biology and chemistry lab facilities, computer labs, surveying equipment, map and air photo collections, greenhouse facilities, meteorological instruments and rock and mineral collections. In addition, through limited College budgets and off-campus sponsorships, the program is accumulating its own capital resources.
Program Centre Fisher 228
One of the busiest places on campus - and one of the most congested - is the Program Centre, Fisher 228. This is the program hub, a place to meet and to mentor, to find out what is going on, to collaborate on assignments, to use its resources, to socialize and to recharge. It is open from 8:30 a.m. until late evening, as well as weekends through arrangement with the Instructional Assistant.
The Centre includes a wide range of resources, with an emphasis on B.C. government and 'fugitive' publications on the main natural resource sectors, particularly forestry, wildlife, fisheries, energy, mining, parks, air and water pollution and solid waste management. These can be borrowed through the Instructional Assistant. These resources are continually being update and the program welcomes donations.
The Centre also includes four computers and a printer, a telephone, selected field equipment, notice boards, white board, work tables and chairs.
Major Equipment
The program has a wide range of equipment to support field exercises. A complete inventory list is available. Some of this gear includes:
- 24 Passenger Bus;
- 15 feet Avon hard bottom inflatable boat and trailer and a 14 feet boat plus motors, pfds and related safety gear;
- Group camping equipment, including tents, air matresses, coolers, propane stoves and lanterns;
- four map grade Global Positioning Systems with RTDC capability
- GIS systems using ArcInfo/ArcView;
- Variety of field equipment for sampling, monitoring and inventorying, particularly related to forest and aquatic environments;
- digital camera; video camera
- Canoes
Borrowing Equipment
- All equipment must be signed out through the Instructional Assistant;
- Arrangements for borrowing equipment should be made with as much lead-time as possible to increase the possibility of it being available;
- Scheduled classes will have priority over individual gear requests
Native Plant Garden
In the last few years, a native plant garden has been established on the east side of the General Purpose Building. Cross-fenced, with a growing diversity of native plants, chip trails and a pond, it provides opportunities for on-site field work - and therapy! Much of the work has been done by volunteer faculty-student work parties and grant-funded students. If you would like to become involved, then see the Program Chair or the Instructional Assistant.
We are developing an "Adopt a Plot" program, so students can take ownership of a small part of the Garden.
Metchosin Property
An exciting addition to program resources is the recent donation to the College of 65 hectares (160 acres) in Metchosin, about a 45 minute drive from the Lansdowne Campus. This was a gift from the late owner, Dirk van der Meer, a long-time conservationist, and was acquired through the efforts of Mike Corry (past Program Chair) and the support and commitment of the College Administration. A conservation covenant on the land was established by the owner and the Canadian Nature Conservancy prior to the donation. This deeds that the land remain in its natural state, except for four hectares (10 acres) set aside for intensive use and which currently include the caretaker's home.
The land is essentially second growth forest, with a pond, lake (2 ha./5 acres), several creeks and a diversity of wildlife and vegetation. It offers varied opportunities for fieldwork and has already been the site for four sustainability projects (ENVR 208) and the teaching of field techniques.
If you like to read more about the Environmental Technology program please read the ENVR TECH Program Manual.
