Graduate Certificate in Environmental Land Management – Canadian Context

at Fleming College - Frost Campus (Lindsay) Canada

The Sustainable Agriculture program is designed for new farmers seeking an intensive, applied learning experience in sustainable, ecological or natural farming methods.

Program Highlight
Throughout the Sustainable Agriculture program you will:

• Learn from experienced farmers and practitioners in class, on farm field days, and during panel discussions.
• Develop your own business case and farm plan.
• Focus on the principles and practices of sustainable agriculture and small farm operations and viability.
• Enjoy a highly interactive learning environment.

Co-op Experience
The 16-week, on-farm, co-op experience over the summer creates opportunities for specialization. Previous co-ops have included national and international farm locations as well as work with urban food advocacy groups and farmers.

Conservation and Environmental Law Enforcement is a career that appeals to people who enjoy outdoor pursuits, and who have a balanced approach to consumption and conservation.

In this program, our mandate is to prepare field ready, entry-level conservation and environmental law enforcement officers. You can really make a difference. This is a challenging program with a heavy workload that is intended for serious students entering a competitive field.

Conservation and Environmental Law Enforcement is about regulating the use of natural resources, and accountability for activities that have an adverse effect on the environment. Examples of regulated activities include fishing, hunting, logging, aggregate extraction, alteration of fish habitat, the use of public land, and the discharge of pollutants.

This one-year, two-semester post-graduate program will prepare you for a variety of positions in the field, with a well-rounded selection of courses offering a good blend of practice and theory. You will be trained in such areas of study as procedural law, fish and wildlife enforcement, lands and environmental law, investigation techniques, forensics, and conflict management and avoidance. In your first semester, your learning will be enhanced through a fall camp, situated in a wilderness setting.

This program focuses on the "non-climbing" aspects of urban forestry and landscape care. You can help make our cities a better place to be after completing the Urban Forestry Certificate.

Program Highlights
Trees clean the air and provide much needed "green" relief from the concrete jungle.
You will learn how to care for urban trees and tree canopies, and gain a basic understanding of the landscape industry. As an Urban Forestry graduate, you'll be able to work maintaining and preserving trees and shrubs in the urban landscape and green spaces of our communities.

• You'll have the theoretical and practical knowledge to work on all aspects of urban tree care.
• While this program emphasizes the non-climbing aspects of tree and landscape care, you'll be able to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot chainsaws, wood chippers, stumpers, and other relevant mechanical equipment.
• You will be able to identify approximately 140 species of trees and shrubs in both summer and winter conditions.
• In order to better protect trees and shrubbery, you will be able to diagnose and remedy major pests, disease, and tree disorders - using the latest techniques and treatments to promote plant health.

Why Choose Fleming
Simply put, students choose Fleming College because of our reputation in the industry. Employers look to our Urban Forestry and Arboriculture programs to find well-trained graduates. The School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences has a 40-year plus reputation among professional organizations and employers working in the field.

Work Experience
From start to finish, the Urban Forestry program is hands-on. You'll be spending a lot of time working with trees and shrubs outside in addition to your time in the classroom. In the first semester, you will do a field placement, and be able to put your learning and practice to work.

Are you motivated to contribute to a more sustainable future? Add a valuable skill set in planning to your degree or advanced diploma. Environmental planning focuses on sustainability in development projects for urban and regional land use.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Land use, environmental planning, and integrated resource management are fields that are becoming increasingly complex, as population growth and urban and rural development threaten the natural environment and natural heritage systems. New provincial and municipal environmental protection legislation and guidelines to control this development require public input at all phases of the planning process, as well as knowledge of and adherence to these acts and policies.

With your background in environmental sciences, environmental studies, engineering, or a related science degree in biology, ecology, geography or sustainability, you can add this Ontario College Graduate Certificate in Applied Planning - Environmental. Gain a competitive advantage with this high demand, marketable skill set.

Throughout this intense, two-semester program you will obtain:

• Planning theory, practice, methods and ethics, with hands-on planning experience on real-world projects
• The ability to understand the implications of planning, relative to environmental sustainability, while balancing social and economic issues
• GIS applications skills and 3D computer applications for planning
• Planning skills for natural heritage, with a focus on Indigenous communities and perspectives
• Communications skills using planning language and concepts to participate in public meetings and presentations
• Knowledge of provincial environmental land use policies, acts, and associated municipal planning regulations and processes

Case studies will introduce you to the challenges found in this field, while practical projects enable you to apply your new skills and explore solutions.

Our School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences is highly respected for applied training in the environmental sector, GIS expertise and training, experience with natural heritage projects, and strong partnerships, including work with Indigenous communities. The Applied Planning - Environmental program will benefit from these synergies. As a student, you will benefit too from our network of contacts and strong reputation, both during the program, and upon graduation when it comes to your job search.

The Forestry Technician career path will appeal to you if you are passionate about the outdoors, and concerned for the responsible management of forest resources.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
As a Forestry Technician, you can be a part of a close-knit community of men and women across the country who are making a difference in our environment. Fleming College's Forestry program is the largest in Canada. In this two-year program, you'll acquire the skills to work effectively in natural resources management - learning traditional forestry skills such as compassing and tree identification, plus how to work with ArcMap, GPS and other high tech software.

In an ideal combination of theory and technical hands-on experiences, your studies in the classroom will be complemented by numerous field excursions.
You'll participate in the Forestry program's unique field camp experience in Mattawa, at Samuel de Champlain Park.
In addition, you can increase your credentials (and career readiness and versatility) by taking certification courses such as forest fire fighting, first aid and CPR, tree marking and cutter certification (at a modest extra cost).

You will learn the fundamental skills you need in semesters one and two. In semester three, three of the courses are designed to mimic typical forestry career skills. You will achieve skills that include navigating large forest tracts, evaluating current stand conditions, and mapping routes. As your skills grow, you will start taking charge of your own learning. Your forestry courses will become more intensive and specialized.

You will work in teams to develop a Woodlot Conference for over 100 high school students. It's a chance to practice coaching, public speaking, planning and teamwork while teaching these students basic forestry skills. You will also work with the local woodlot group to deliver their annual conference and attend the largest forestry conference in Ontario.

Optional Co-op
Students entering the program in September may apply to participate in an optional paid co-op. The deadline to apply is at the end of November, where students must submit an Application Form (including a resume) to the Co-op Office. Students must achieve a 70% (2.5 GPA) average, and pass all courses in Semester 1 in order to be enrolled in the Co-op Option. Students who are accepted will participate in a Career Preparation course, and will do their co-op between semesters 2 and 3. The Co-op Option provides the opportunity to:

• Integrate classroom learning with work-based learning
• Explore the variety of careers available in the field
• Network for future job opportunities

The Co-op Option is not available for students who begin the program in January, as they attend classes over the summer.

Ecological Restoration is an emerging discipline that focuses on assisting the recovery of degraded, damaged or destroyed ecosystems.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Become a leader in the Science of Hope. Make your stand in the green revolution by helping to restore our natural environment for present and future generations.

• The collaborative Ecological Restoration program developed by Trent University and Fleming College provides a bold and innovative solution to this challenge. The program:
  • Is interdisciplinary with a foundation of science-based curriculum.
  • Is broad-based so that you will develop an understanding of the big picture - and comprehend ecological principles that can be transferred to any ecosystem and adapted to any project.
  • Was designed to improve traditional college students' access to a university degree.
  • Is integrated to combine applied learning, field skills and experience with theoretical and scientific knowledge and principles from day one.
  • Provides opportunities for field camps, field courses and a capstone course.
  • Encourages and supports students who seek out internships and international opportunities.
  • Offers a unique combination of college and university cultures - the best of both worlds.

ADVANTAGES OF THE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION JOINT DIPLOMA/DEGREE
Through the collaboration between Trent and Fleming, faculty, teaching, field study courses, applied projects and resources are shared over the four years of the program.

• This integrated introduction to both academic cultures will prepare you for the transition from Fleming to Trent.
• The program is carefully designed so that you will truly understand the connections, relevance and fit between courses in the program of study.
• Both institutions are renowned for their environmental focus and commitment to providing support for students to achieve success.

You will begin this adventure by spending two years at Fleming College’s School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences in Lindsay. This School has a 40-year history of preparing graduates for employment in the environmental sector. Here, you will build on your science, math and communications skills while also practicing ecological restoration through field courses and project work. Please note, the Restoration Ecology overnight field camp takes place two weeks prior to start up of semester 3 and provides students with the opportunity to further develop hands-on skills in ecosystem restoration.

Your next two years will be at Trent University in Peterborough, home to one of the first environmental programs to be established in Canada. At Trent, you can choose to either build towards a specialization, or continue to balance theory and practice in a more broad-based degree program.

Since this is an innovative diploma/degree model that infuses elements of both the college and university experience throughout the four-year years, you will not obtain your college diploma at the completion of your two years at Fleming College. Instead, you will graduate at the end of four years with both your Ecological Restoration Technician college diploma and university degree in Ecological Restoration. (The distance between Fleming College's campus in Lindsay and Trent University in Peterborough is 45 kilometres, or about a 45-minute drive.)

The Geographic Information Systems Application Specialist is the "wizard" who provides technical expertise to produce effective and useful plans and project reports through the applied use of technology.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
GIS Application Specialists help various agencies and government do effective planning to manage all aspects of the environment and community life. For example, you might work on natural resources, agriculture, or community health projects. You'll be collecting information, and then distilling it to be put into a form that specialists and technicians can use.

• In this post-graduate, intensive GIS program you will use current, high-end technology tools to collect, store, manipulate, analyze, interpret, and communicate geographic information within a variety of disciplines.
• Fleming's leadership in this field has been recognized by industry, government and business through their support in establishing the Geomatics Institute at Fleming.
• These outstanding partnerships offer students access to the latest computer hardware, software, data resources and field technology used in the industry today, as well as unprecedented learning and employment opportunities.
• You will have plenty of opportunities to practice your skills in a work-like setting, with a student to computer ratio of one-to-one.

Graduates of our Earth Resources Technician program are often the employees of choice for major companies in the growing and wide-ranging earth resources and geotechnical sector.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Are you interested in being paid to travel? Or working in your community? Are you seeking a hands-on career? Then geoscience is for you. Fleming College is the only college that offers a BLEND OF GEOLOGY, MINERAL EXPLORATION, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES IN ONE PROGRAM. It is this unique mix of integrated courses in minerals, geophysics, geotechnical and environmental assessment that gives you a well-rounded and comprehensive skill set valued by employers.

As an Earth Resources Technician, you can expect to be in demand. Graduates of the ERT program pursue a variety of careers in applied geology and have one of the highest post-graduation employment rates in their field of study of any Fleming College program. Career opportunities include soil and rock analysis, land use management, groundwater assessment, mineral exploration, cleaning up contaminated sites, and other site investigations. You will learn how to win co-op work opportunities and will complete a six-month paid Co-op work term in an applied geology role. Our co-op students gain confidence in their abilities during their work term, and often secure full-time employment with their co-op employers. You will also study computing, sampling and safety planning, and communications - essentials for any earth resources professional and very important for the future developments in your career. Should you choose to continue your studies after graduation, we have several options. For more information please see the University Transfer Agreements at the end of this document.

WHY CHOOSE FLEMING

• Fleming College has been offering geology programs for over 30 years and has acquired a well-established reputation
• If you wish to continue studies at University there are two fast track options that can lead to Professional Geoscientist Status; Acadia University, Nova Scotia in Geology, and Trent University, Ontario, in Environmental Geoscience, both of which offer the opportunity to complete your B.Sc. degree with a further two years of study
• This program is extremely well supported by alumni - who donate equipment, samples, AND help new grads find meaningful work in the field - or hire them
• Many of your faculty have worked as geologists or in a related field - and share their experience and expertise enthusiastically with their students
• You have the opportunity to do significant experiential learning right here on campus - including soil, water and core testing

The Advanced Water Systems Operation and Management program will prepare graduates to work in water treatment, water distribution, and wastewater treatment, related work in industry, as well as inspection or enforcement.

Program Highlights
The operation and management of water and wastewater treatment systems to safeguard against water-borne diseases, and ensure a healthy environment in an efficient and sustainable manner are paramount in both public and private sector industries. The provision of potable water and the effective treatment of the municipal and industrial wastewater streams are growing fields in the environmental sector. The Ontario government has passed into law rigorous training requirements for water and wastewater treatment operators, in response to recommendations made in the Walkerton Commission of Inquiry reports. Under the Safe Water Drinking Act, operators require training and certification to run these systems safely. This one-year Graduate Certificate program in Advanced Water Systems Operations and Management will provide you with:

• The opportunity to do real, hands-on manipulation of equipment and data collection, learning about water systems operation in our labs and wet-work facilities.
• Faculty expertise to guide you in understanding government regulations on the treatment of water and wastewater in this highly regulated and changing industry.
• The knowledge needed to pass the Ministry of Environment Licensing and Certification exams for Water and Wastewater Operators.
• Project management skills, essential to your success in this field.
• Critical thinking and troubleshooting skills required to respond to emergency or non-routine situations as an operator or supervisor in this challenging field.
• Health and Safety knowledge and awareness training to assist graduates in a safe working career and progression into management roles.
• The knowledge and practical expertise to assist and lead organizations and government agencies in the provision of drinking water and the treatment of wastewater.

Are you passionate about the environment, with a strong belief in sustainable practices? In this unique, post-graduate program you will learn to develop and implement innovative waste management plans and strategies based on new and emerging technologies and concepts.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Waste is one of the leading problems of our time – increasing waste volumes, increasing severity of impact and costs of waste management and the challenge of managing waste in developing countries and emerging markets are causing a dramatic shift in waste management practices within Ontario and world-wide. Countries around the globe are moving towards a circular economy and waste has to be dealt with in new, innovative ways rather than simply sending it to landfill. The new Waste-Free Ontario Act makes producers responsible for their waste management. Failure to take action in managing waste has economic, environmental, social as well as health and safety implications, including toxic discharge leading to pollution, increased greenhouse gas emissions, increased frequency of illnesses, and the loss of valuable resources.

The Sustainable Waste Management program is being offered exclusively at the School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences - it is the only college program in Ontario that is focused on building advanced knowledge and skills in sustainable waste management.

• The training will lead graduates to meaningful careers. You will be well-versed in the relevant legislation and existing as well as emerging technologies, with the skills to effect changes in how business and industry manage their waste and how to move them beyond the three R’s of waste management.
• The program focusses on solid waste management, but does include courses that address hazardous waste management.