New partnership will create experiential learning opportunities for students

Mount Allison University and Parks Canada are teaming up to create new experiential learning opportunities for students within Canada’s National Parks and National Historic Sites in southern New Brunswick.

The University and the federal agency recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will open the way for students to conduct research and participate in other hands-on learning within the parks and sites.

“This collaboration has much potential to benefit both our students and Parks Canada,” says Dr. Jeff Ollerhead, Mount Allison’s provost and vice-president, academic and research. “It gives students a chance to step outside the classroom or studio and apply what they are learning in a real-world setting. The results of their work may well assist the park — whether that is due to improved scientific understanding of its natural resources or perhaps art that inspires others to visit our National Parks and Historic Sites. We thank the Parks Canada team for their innovative approach and look forward to working with them to create new opportunities for learning in the future.”

Building on a relationship that has seen students travel to Fundy National Park for classes in the past, initial course offerings include an environmental science research methods field camp for students to study everything from tree rings to climate change first hand. Another field camp is a three-day trip geared toward fine arts photography students, who use important features of the park such as the dark skies initiative, trails, and rivers as a framework for their work, while communicating their own unique perspectives of the park.

“Parks Canada manages one of the finest and most extensive systems of protected natural and cultural heritage areas in the world,” said Beverly Boyd, Acting Parks Canada Field Unit Superintendent in Southern New Brunswick. “Through relationships, such as the one we have with Mount Allison University, we are working to connect young adults in new and innovative ways to Canada’s natural and cultural heritage.”

Mount Allison and Parks Canada will be evaluating the outcomes under this agreement with a vision of exploring and creating other potential opportunities for students to work and study in New Brunswick’s National Parks and National Historic Sites over the coming years.