Earthquest (Canada) for the Environment

Sales Wolves

Earthquest (Canada) for the Environment was founded by Dave Jolly in 1988 as a nonprofit organization. From 1997 to 2010, we operated as a registered Canadian nonprofit charity dedicated to the conservation, protection, restoration, and enhancement of endangered, threatened, or vulnerable species at their habitats. We ran international research and conservation expeditions to Central and South America, as well as Southeast Asia from 1991 to 2001. In 2004, we opened the first and only biological field school in Canada for those seeking to upgrade their skills in order to qualify for jobs in the environment sector. Our programs, projects, and courses are designed to provide participants with practical hands-on experience with birds and bats, and plants and other fauna.

Earthquest (Canada) for the Environment was founded by Dave Jolly in 1988 as a nonprofit organization. From 1997 to 2010, we operated as a registered Canadian nonprofit charity dedicated to the conservation, protection, restoration, and enhancement of endangered, threatened, or vulnerable species at their habitats. We ran international research and conservation expeditions to Central and South Ame...

Earthquest (Canada) for the Environment's plant field identification courses go beyond any college or university-level courses and meet or surpass the expectations of employers in the environmental industry. 

Some North American colleges and universities offer curricula that lack what employers need. We've had numerous graduates from these institutions who take courses after graduating, and all agree that they learn how to field identify vascular plants by family, genus, and species much quicker and more accurately than they did from any college or university course. As a result, employers are sending their staff to Earthquest field botany courses to gain intensive hands-on practical field skills for a short time.

Earthquest integrates the rare plant survey methodology into all plant courses in such a way that students learn where to look for rare plants, how to look based on visual characteristics exhibited by the plants, and when to look based on seasonality, habitat, eco-site, soils, hydrology, geology, and distribution. Earthquest courses focus more on what college and university courses miss—herbaceous plants found in the herb and ground layers.

Study Abroad Field Botany Courses 

Exceeded all my expectations

Ethnobotany - Level 1

Level 3 asters and golden rods

Canada

Nicaragua

Intern Abroad

Adventure Travel

Study Abroad

Wasn't sure what to expect from this experience but exceeded all my hopes. Dave is a kind and generous instructor who made me feel very welcome in Canada and introduced me to his family and friends so that I felt integrated into a community. On top of this he is extremely knowledgeable and I felt I came away with more practical knowledge of plants than ever taught in my biology courses at university. Hopefully I can continue this going forward.  The lodge where you stay is comfortable and right next to the beach and Dave charges extremely reasonable prices for rent and fuel etc so you can budget accordingly. With Dave I got to explore so many field sites in Ontario as well as manitoulin island and Pelee island, and I feel in love with the area and the kindness of the people. I will definitely be back, thanks again Dave ! Ellie

This course, held locally in Ontario, exceeded my expectations. Dave is incredibly knowledgeable, an enthusiastic and generous instructor. I have built the foundation I wanted and learned so much more.

Bat course

Excellent course. There was lots of hands on experience with the field work portion of the course and lots of open discussion opportunities. Limited class size allows for a greater transfer of knowledge from the very knowledgable instructor Dave.

Dave was very knowledgeable and patient.  I learned so much and I loved how the practical meshed with the theory.  I'm a hands on learner so his approach of the classroom being in the field worked perfectly for me.

Field botany mentorship program

Field Botany Mentorship Program - an excellent opportunity to increase your skills in field botany and surveying practices. I particularly enjoyed the work with species at risk and applying ELC throughout each trip.

Earthquest mentorship

The time I spent working alongside Dave was valuable in increasing my knowledge on plant families, genera, and general surveying methods. I learned a lot about the environmental industry, whether it was consulting itself, or the process of restoring at-risk species, and it was very useful to interact with someone who as experience in these fields as well. It was quite helpful for guiding my goals, and for knowing the next steps in bettering my skills and becoming more qualified for a job in the environmental industry. It felt nice to re-immerse myself into field ecology and conducting botanical surveys, and I am happy to have taken the time throughout the summer to learn more about the plants in our backyards and see some of the rare plant populations that exist in southern Ontario.

Worth the 8 hour drive

I graduated in 2015 with a BS in Biology and a BS in Environmental Science with the hopes of getting into Environmental/Ecological Consulting or ecological Research but that hasn't happened. I have field experience from my undergraduate course work but that wasn't enough. This course not only provides valuable Bat Identification and survey information but it also helps navigate the policy and law side of consulting as well as provides unique field practice I've not found anywhere else.

We didn't have our software operational and had issues with the software the course uses - the trial version changed so the 1st day was overcoming the issue....the 2nd day was 4 students sharing 1 laptop. This wasn't anyone fault but if the project coordinator wouldve had our software running we wouldnt have had any issue

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Earthquest (Canada) for the Environment

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