Summer is an exciting season for A Rocha in Manitoba. Warmer weather means we can get outside and do the work we’ve been preparing for all winter: prepping new monitoring plots at the Boreal Ecology Centre, planting delicious vegetables, and exploring creation with kids, to name a few. All this good work also means we get to hire a brand new batch of bright young people, eager to help us achieve our mission of caring for creation and equipping others to do likewise.

Whether they realize it at the beginning or not, the summer experience with A Rocha in Manitoba is not simply about doing a job, and going home at the end of the day. It is about discipleship, and helping these young people answer the question of “what kind of person do I want to become?”

We often say at A Rocha that “integration” is our secret sauce. It’s what makes us unique. But what does “integration” mean? It is the process by which we understand creation care as relevant to all aspects of our lives. It means that our faith and our work in conservation are connected, and in fact, inseparable. Integration is the way our values are embodied through our behaviours.

Not only do we hope these young folks get valuable job experience this summer, but we hope they also feel like we have invested in them as people and leaders. No matter what their work looks like in the future, we hope they all will be equipped to be conservationists in whatever they do.

So without further ado, here are this year’s batch of summer staff in Manitoba.

Juniper Giesbrecht

Role: Conservation Science Assistant

Favourite Place in Nature: One of my favorite places in nature is Beaudry provincial park because I grew up going on hikes there all the time. Being able to explore the outdoors so frequently really sparked my love of and interest in nature which I have carried with me to this day.

One thing I’m looking forward to this summer is having volunteers come out to help with biodiversity surveying at the Boreal Ecology Center.

Hillary Jorgenson

Role: Urban Agriculture Coordinator

Favourite Place in Nature: My favourite place in nature is the little forest behind my childhood home, because we have a little bonfire area that’s great for spending time with family or hosting friends, and during the day it’s a great space for a walk and/or some birding 🙂

Claudia Konefal

Role: Environmental Education Coordinator

Favourite Place in Nature: The beach! Because I love swimming in the cool water on hot days.

One thing I’m looking forward to this summer is collaborating with a great new team of people who care about environmental stewardship as much as I do!

Wynonna Mendoza

Mariel Roehr

Role: Urban Agriculture Coordinator

Favourite Place in Nature: The Whiteshell, specifically high lake and lake of the woods.

I am looking forward to all the events we are planning. Teasers… learning about soil health and hopefully testing soil, and sharing food from our gardens.