Talia: 8 Questions with the TRACKS Team! Get To Know Us!

1. How many years have you worked/volunteered with TRACKS? 

This is my first year working with TRACKS as an instructor, but I actually did a leather mitten making workshop with TRACKS during their online covid workshops 3 years ago! It was a week-long process through online video-calls and I still have my beautiful handmade mittens today :)

2. What is your favourite part about working at TRACKS? 

My favourite part about working at TRACKS is being able to see what we’re teaching connect in kids' heads. It's a really fulfilling experience to see children absorb information and come back excited the next day to hear more.

3. What workshop is your favourite to run and why.

I think my favourite workshop to run is ecosystem manhunt. Each of the kids get assigned an animal and they wear a card showing it, and they get popsicle sticks to represent their lives. There are typically 1 fungus, 2 hawks, 5 snakes and 7 squirrels.  Usually as instructors we have to prompt the conversations around what we learned, but I feel with this game the kids are quick to comment on what’s happening. They start up conversations about what they noticed, and I think it's awesome because  conversations that they initiate are really valuable for them to feel confident in their learning.

4. What is a fun nature fact or joke you have, share what it is!

A fun fact about bees is that they can communicate with each other! They do a dance in a certain way to help show which direction a food source or flower patch is!

5. What is your favourite activity to do outside of work?

My favourite activity to do outside of work is drawing! Specifically drawing realism in the form of portraits with mechanical pencils. Growing up I was always pretty insecure about drawing and felt embarrassed of my art, until I took an open art class in grade 11. I actually tried to drop the class my first week cause i felt so nervous, but I ended up with the loveliest teacher who helped show me the skills I had and was nothing but supportive. I discovered with some discipline on my skills I was actually a wonderful artist, and I've been filling up sketchbooks with my art ever since.

6. What is the most important thing you learned while working at TRACKS?

I think the most important thing I've learned at TRACKS is how important everyone's role in a team is. Sometimes it can be hard to see what everyones doing, but when someone is gone I can really feel it. Not even just in terms of work, but everyone brings something unique to the table, and they all have their own personalities and quirks that help make this team what it is. I hadn’t had this many coworkers before, or worked in an office, so I didn't really know what to expect. However now that this summer is coming to an end I feel such a deep appreciation for each of my coworkers in a way I didn't expect to have when I came into this.

7. What is your favourite place on earth to go to (in nature)?

 My favourite places to go in nature are lakes and rivers. I feel like it's the perfect place to relax. I can just breathe and enjoy being alive. The sound of water, ducks, trees, wind, and just everything that comes with being at a lake I absolutely adore. 

8. What inspired you to work here or get into outdoor/INSTEM education?

I felt inspired to work here because my partner would tell me about the work he did here as a trailblazer in the past, and I thought it sounded really interesting. I looked further into different positions being offered and I really resonated with the instructor position. I’m not the loudest or the funniest instructor, but I have a passion for the work being done here and a patient heart ready to help nudge campers in the right direction. I happen to be the youngest on my team, but I don't feel the age gap often because I feel like I belong here :)