Internship Dispatch: Alex Hancock
This summer, I am working with Kingsburg Coastal Conservancy (KCC) as a Stewardship Assistant. This position is serving as the internship component of my ongoing Master’s of Marine Management, and will help to inform my graduate project. My role with KCC is largely focused on the completion of a series of site monitoring surveys; over the course of the summer, I will be visiting almost 100 KCC-stewarded sites in the Kingsburg area and collecting a range of data relating to those sites.
Looking out at the LaHave Islands, as seen from West Ironbound Island.
It has been a busy summer so far, with KCC participating in a number of stewardship-related events, including a beach clean-up and Gaff Point trail maintenance day. These events have been great opportunities to meet with both community members and other NGOs involved in the conservation and stewardship space. It has been so inspiring connect with, and learn from, all of these individuals, and I hope that my work is able to facilitate their stewardship of the Kingsburg area.
Hiking in (forest photo) and out (beach photo) from Gaff Point trail maintenance day.
A highlight of the summer so far has been spending time in the beautiful and highly varied environs of Kingsburg, Nova Scotia. My position has given me the opportunity to visit a range of locales in the area, from the scenic Gaff Point trail to the rugged and unearthly West Ironbound Island. In all of these areas, I have been struck by how alive the land feels – there has never been a moment that feels quiet or still. Birdsong overlaps with itself at all hours of the day, insects whiz through the air, and the rapid plant growth of early summer means that there is always something new to look at. On one survey, I accumulated a group of seven red-winged blackbirds, supervising me closely as I trekked through their wetland. On another, I was enchanted to discover a field of amazingly vibrant blue flag irises waving placidly in the midday sun. I feel unbelievably lucky for the opportunity to have these experiences with nature, and look forward to getting to know Kingsburg more and more over the summer.
From top to bottom: a sailboat traversing past West Ironbound Island, a family of ducks swimming in Dry Spitz pond, and an elderly apple tree haloed by a sun dog
I owe a huge thank-you to Annabel Westell, my supervisor at KCC, as well as to Dr. Patricia Manuel and Dr. Hannah Harrison, my academic supervisors. My internship would not be possible without the support of the Clean Foundation, especially Angela Gaul, my manager at Clean. I would also like to thank the community of Kingsburg, Nova Scotia for sharing their beautiful pocket of the world with me.