Introducing the 2026 BC Summer Staff (Part 1)
Get to know our crew!
By Madi Headley, Communications & Storytelling Assistant
July 3, 2026
It’s officially summer at the BC Environmental Centre! Beets and turnips are ripe for harvesting in the fields, the hummingbirds are happily hovering over the pollinator garden, and our summer workers are settling in for the new season. We will welcome 25 summer workers over the course of the summer through the Canadian Summer Jobs (CSJ) program. They will gain all kinds of experience across many areas at the BC Environmental Centre—from making meals at the guesthouse, to picking veggies for our Community Shared Agriculture program, to conservation work and documentation, to capturing and communicating the stories of this place.
Here are the beautiful humans who make up our first wave of summer workers:
Abby Martin
Guest House & Hospitality Assistant
Guildford, Surrey, BC
An animal you relate to: My animal would be a moose, because I am emotionally independent and observant.
Current favourite plant: The purple wisteria tree—it’s so vibrant and beautiful.
What are you excited to learn at A Rocha: Learning to make a plethora of different sauces and dressings.
What’s something you’re looking forward to this summer: I’m excited to spend time with my family and volunteering in my church.
Andraya Stuart
Conservation Science Assistant
Surrey, BC
An animal you relate to: I most resonate with the Columbia black-tailed deer! There have been so many sweet fawns born over the last few months where I have been living, in Victoria. I often think about Psalm 42: “as the deer longs for the water, so my soul longs for you.” I am utterly dependent on God, my Creator, and seeing deer reminds me of my need for Him.
Current favourite plant: Common woolly sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum) or lace lip fern (Myriopteris gracillima).
What are you excited to learn at A Rocha: I am looking forward to learning about all sorts of marine species and nailing down my fish ID.
What’s something you’re looking forward to this summer: A trip to the East Coast of Canada with my family.
Derya Whaley-Kalaora
Conservation Science Assistant
Vancouver, BC
An animal you relate to: Zebras—I’ve always loved their bold stripes!
Current favourite plant: Always willow trees.
What are you excited to learn at A Rocha: I am excited to learn more about restoration techniques, bats, turtle monitoring, toad crossings, and all the other projects A Rocha participates in!
What’s something you’re looking forward to this summer: Getting to work on all the various diverse upcoming projects that the Con Sci team has and continue spending time in nature.
Elly Hamm
Farm Store Sales Assistant
Surrey, BC
An animal you relate to: Deer, because I like observing people.
Your current favourite plant: Pansies, because they’re so resilient.
What are you excited to learn at A Rocha: The ins and outs of running a farm and offering people fresh food! Not letting food go to waste is an art I’d like to perfect.
What’s something you’re looking forward to this summer: Spending time outside and working with veggies & people who love veggies.
Genieva Hoff
Farm to Families Assistant
Langley, BC
An animal you relate to: I relate to otters because they’re curious and love to explore!
Current favourite plant: Freesia (They smell so good!)
What are you excited to learn at A Rocha: I’m excited to learn all sorts of fun recipes and creative ways to use our veggies.
What’s something you’re looking forward to this summer: I’m looking forward to weekend hiking trips and adventures with friends.
Gilbert Klauke
Conservation Science Assistant
Vancouver, BC
An animal you relate to: I relate to black bears, because I find myself holed up all winter and then travelling far and wide during the rest of the year. And because I also love salmon.
Current favourite plant: Arbutus.
What are you excited to learn at A Rocha: I’m excited to hopefully get to learn a little about eDNA looking for the Salish sucker.
What’s something you’re looking forward to this summer: I’m excited to get out on the water more!
Hannah Rogers
Communications and Storytelling Assistant
South Surrey, BC
Animal you relate to: A robin—I’m a morning person and love being outside in the forest.
Current favourite plant: Snap pea plants (the tendrils are so cute!)
What are you excited to learn at A Rocha: The different ecosystems and biodiversity of this area.
What’s something you’re looking forward to this summer: Spending time reading and creating art for personal enjoyment.
Harlan Schulze
Young Agrarians Farm Apprentice
Victoria, BC (originally Whitehorse, YT)
An animal you relate to: Salmon! Not sure where I’m going, or how I know I’m going the right way; but I’m determined to get there and leave the ecosystem better off as a result.
Current favourite plant: Fireweed! Beautiful, edible, and reminds me of home.
What are you excited to learn at A Rocha: Learning how to set up and run a successful regenerative farm.
What’s something you’re looking forward to this summer: Getting outside, getting dirty, and meeting new people!
Jaina Kang
Farm Assistant
Langley, BC
An animal you relate to: Penguins—not sure how I relate to them, but they’re really adorable.
Current favourite plant: I currently really like hostas.
What are you excited to learn at A Rocha: I’m really excited to harvest!!!
What’s something you’re looking forward to this summer: Eating watermelon.
Lukka Mast
Maintenance Assistant
Fort Langley, BC
An animal you relate to: I have no idea, maybe like, a big cat or something. Calm, collected, but always ready for something.
Current favourite plant: I like the apple tree!
What are you excited to learn at A Rocha: I’ve been learning what the Lord has for me, and I’m excited to continue hearing from Him over the summer.
What’s something you’re looking forward to this summer: I’m looking forward to the boring work because it affords me time to think.
Madi Headley
Communications & Storytelling Assistant
Abbotsford, BC
An animal you relate to: Raccoons, because I, too, love scavenging for treasures (though, unlike raccoons, mostly at thrift stores).
Current favourite plant: Irises! They’re all over my neighbourhood.
What are you excited to learn at A Rocha: I’m excited to experience more ways that creation reflects the wildness, beauty, and mystery of God’s story of love for the world, as well as how we can better live out his kingdom through small, everyday actions.
What’s something you’re looking forward to this summer: Reading books outside & drinking iced coffees.
Ophelia Cheung
Farm Store Sales Assistant
Toronto, ON (originally Hong Kong)
An animal you relate to: Otters, because no matter how busy life gets, I always have time to just play and slide around.
Current favourite plant: Hydrangea.
What are you excited to learn at A Rocha: I’m excited to learn more about different native plants.
What’s something you’re looking forward to this summer: Spending more time in nature.
Zoë Faw
Environmental Education Assistant
South Surrey, BC
An animal you relate to: An animal I relate to is the bumble bee because I, like them, am semi-social. They live in small colonies and I also enjoy having a couple people I’m very close to, instead of lots of people I’m simply acquaintances with.
Current favourite plant: My current favourite kind of plant is moss because it’s super old, resilient, and relatively biologically simple.
What are you excited to learn at A Rocha: Learning about various native plants and their Indigenous uses when creating Plant ID cards.
What’s something you’re looking forward to this summer: Getting to know the staff, specifically the education team.
Photos by Madi Headley & Hannah Rogers
A Rocha Canada’s BC Environmental Centre is grateful for funding from the Canadian Summer Jobs program. Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) is a program under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS). It helps youth aged 15 to 30 gain paid summer work experience and develop skills for the job market.
