Providing opportunities for hands-on learning through Rice Lake Plains Joint Initiative
Alderville, ON (Dec. 9, 2015) — Students in Fleming College’s School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences will have access to an array of experiential learning opportunities through a new partnership with the Rice Lake Plains Joint Initiative (RLPJI).
Fleming today signed a memorandum of understanding with the RLPJI at the Alderville Black Oak Savanna, southeast of Peterborough. The agreement outlines a commitment to work toward the creation of field placements, internships, and projects for students. It also pledges to provide opportunities for RLPJI volunteers and staff to deliver guest lectures in Fleming classrooms.
“For a number of years students and staff from the Frost Campus have been working with some of the RLPJI partners on program based projects. Fleming College’s membership on the RLPJI will put us ‘at the table’ with key representatives of the existing partners that will lead to additional applied learning opportunities for our students,” said Linda Skilton, Dean of Fleming College’s School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences.
Through the agreement, the college will also promote employment opportunities, assist with outreach and educational events related to the RLPJI, and support restoration, communications, and conservation science activities in the Rice Lake Plains.
The Rice Lake Plains of Northumberland County is Canada’s easternmost prairie landscape, known for its historical prairie and oak savannah habitats. Located at the eastern edge of the Oak Ridges Moraine, it is a globally rare ecosystem that covers 40,469 hectares. Under the lead of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, a number of stakeholders joined together in 2002 to create the RLPJI.
“Globally, these habitats are rare, and Rice Lake Plains’s oak savannas are considered among the most endangered ecological communities in North America,” says Mark Stabb, Central Ontario Program Director for the Nature Conservancy of Canada. “The Nature Conservancy of Canada is excited to introduce and work with students in this habitat, and to partner with the RLPJI to help conserve this gem for years to come.”
A number of programs will benefit from this agreement, such as Ecological Restoration, Earth Resources Technician, and Environmental Technician/Technology.
About Rice Lake Plains Joint Initiative
The ecologically rare Rice Lake Plains have long been under threat from invasive species, conifer plantations and fire suppression. In 2002, the Nature Conservancy of Canada forged a multi-partner agreement to help save and restore the Rice Lake Plains ecosystem. These partners include Alderville Black Oak Savanna, Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, Lone Pine Marsh Sanctuary Inc., Lower Trent Conservation, the NCC, Northumberland County, Northumberland Land Trust, Ontario Parks, Tallgrass Ontario, and Willow Beach Field Naturalists. For more information about RLPJI and its activities, visit ricelakeplains.ca/about.htm
About Nature Conservancy of Canada
The Nature Conservancy of Canada is the nation’s leading land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962 NCC and its partners have helped to protect more than 1.1 million hectares (2.7 million acres) coast to coast. The Nature Conservancy of Canada has conserved over 74,000 hectares (184,000 acres) in Ontario. For more information visit: www.natureconservancy.ca/on.
About Fleming College
Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Science, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 5,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 68,000 alumni.
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Media, for more information please contact:
Laura Copeland
Communications Officer
Fleming College
laura.copeland@flemingcollege.ca
705.749.5530 x1370
Jacqueline Segal
Communications Manager
Ontario Region – Nature Conservancy of Canada
Jacqueline.segal@natureconservancy.ca
1.800.465.0029 x2215
