Ashley Harricharan Email & Phone Number

Eastern Ontario

Placed with NCC through the Canadian Conservation Corps program, run by the Canadian Wildlife Federation. During this full-time placement, I worked with the Eastern Ontario team around the Frontenac Arch and Ottawa Valley to assist with a variety of conservation activities, including:- Property Management Plan updates: updating vegetation communities listed in PMP, noting any anthropogenic features, identifying potential threats to a property, determining actions needed to mitigate threats- Invasive Species Removal (manual and chemical): dog strangling vine, garlic mustard, creeping jenny, periwinkle, and phragmitesOther conservation activities include baseline inventories, Butternut tree monitoring, trail maintenance, annual inspections, and nocturnal breeding bird survey. In addition, I helped plan, develop, and lead an interpretive hike for a children's day camp.Throughout this position I utilized the Collector app for GIS tracking, navigation, and data input.

Scarborough, Ontario

Led educational interpretive hikes in Rouge National Urban Park for school and community groups, from kindergarten to university level, on a range of topics including outdoor survival, water species, trees and plants, climate change, species at risk, and more.Assisted with organization and coordination of community outreach events such as the Rouge Valley Eco-Exploration, Ride for the Rouge fundraiser, Astronomy Night, Firefly Night, Owl Prowl and many more.Conducted environmental monitoring initiatives such as surveys for salamanders, bats, mussels, and caterpillars, as well as road ecology surveys. Facilitated educational programs such as Wildlife Explorers, for children aged 5-12. Developed and led virtual programs and event days for the public, as well as special environmental education programs for high school classes. Creatively developed self-directed activities for families to participate in during the pandemic, and led workshops for families.Assisted with day to day administrative tasks, liaising with the public and other organizations.

Toronto, Ontario

Resumed a leadership role from the previous summer on the Zoo's pollinator program by:- Delivering informative and interactive presentations as a guest speaker to groups of both children and adults, through events such as a corporate planting, paint night, and movie night- Attracting and engaging with guests to pollinator outreach booth- Developing educational materials such as presentations and information sheets - Tracking and logging visitor data of outreach booth - Training and advising new coworkers Worked on a captive breeding program where I observed and recorded animal behavioral changes, meticulously ensured stable environmental conditions such as light and humidity, and assisted with feeding and enclosure maintainence. Collaborated with the Curator of Birds and Invertebrates to create and analyze a questionnaire for Zoo members.

Toronto, Ontario

Assisted the Curatorial Keeper in caring for the Zoo's various insect and invertebrate collections in the Invertebrate Breeding Centre, including feeding the animals a regimented diet, maintaining enclosures, and practicing husbandry procedures.I also worked closely with the Curator for Birds and Invertebrates to successfully develop and launch the Zoo's Pollinator Program. My contributions included:- Planning for the activation of the interactive pollinator booth on-site- Creating and organizing interpretive materials - Engaging and educating guests on pollinators and native wildflowers- Coordinating support volunteers - Curating content for the Zoo's pollinator website, creating downloadable guides

Oshawa, On

Working in the lab of Dr. Andrea Kirkwood, I assisted on a number of projects over the course of the summer, including:- A Lake Scugog study on invasive macrophytes and water quality- A nutrient study within the tributaries of the Lake Simcoe watershed- A microbial study in urban storm water pondsThrough this position I've developed algal and invertebrate identification skills, and gained experience with field and lab equipment such as a YSI multiparameter sonde, Secchi dip, chloride meter, spectrophotometer, and muffle furnace. I have practice in procedures such as water sampling, periphyton collection, filtration for total suspended solids, turbidity measurement, and chlorophyll A extraction.I also helped perform preliminary research on invasive species Starry Stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa) and Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) distribution in Lake Scugog, the findings of which were presented as a poster at the Student Research Showcase at UOIT.

Scarborough, On

As lead water monitor, I conducted regular site visits to the main Rouge and Little Rouge rivers to monitor their health through data loggers. I was involved in the maintenance of a number of restoration projects around the Rouge Park. I worked with and supervised community volunteers, students, and elementary classes during outreach, stewardship, and educational events.- Collected and interpreted water quality data from HOBOware data loggers and software.- Directed field assistants, including international students from Red Leaf exchange program- Assisted with native tree and wildflower plantings, mulching, and invasive species removal. - Led informational hike around Beare Wetland for student volunteer group- Canvassing activities for Rouge Park expansion

Master Of Environmental Science, Environmental Science

Courses include: Freshwater Ecology and Biomonitoring, Fundamentals of Ecological Monitoring, Environmental Change and Human Health.

Bachelor Of Science And Management (Honours), Biological Science

Obtained a diverse degree: a four-year focus on biological science, with both environmental and human biology courses, and an additional.

Ontario Secondary School Diploma

Ontario Scholar (attained an average of 80% or greater in my six best Grade 12 courses)