ACC Ottawa Section: A practicum placement story
by Samuel Hem and Bill Barrett, ACC Ottawa Section
Bill Barrett:
I was not 100% sure what to expect when I showed up at the pub in early January to meet with Samuel Hem, who had asked if the ACC Ottawa Section would take him on as a student in a practicum course that was part of his Geography degree at Carleton University. We are a small organization, completely volunteer based; what might it mean to have a student doing work with us that counted towards his university graduation requirements? In my role as Chair with an ACC section I often find myself torn, between the long list of things that could be done and the amount of time one has to do them. I am retired so I do have more time to devote to club work than those who are working, but still, sometimes the work gets in the way of just getting outside and playing.
My concerns disappeared almost right away upon meeting up with Sam. His huge smile was symbolic of the joy he felt towards his experience with the ACC and what he brings to outdoor pursuits. He had lots of ideas and great enthusiasm for the project as he described to me what might be possible. I thought to myself that, if nothing else, I would benefit just from being around this positive ball of fire! It would be fun whatever the outcome was. We laid out a tentative plan for his work and figured how I would monitor it. As the work began it became obvious that Sam was good at taking initiative, not waiting around for me to tell him what to do. Perfect: we all love a self-starter! I’ll let Sam take over to describe the what, why and how behind his practicum project with the ACC Ottawa Section.
Samuel Hem:
Spending time in nature is something I have been doing for many years. I always loved hiking, camping, biking and paddling and this love for the outdoors is the reason why I joined the ACC in the spring of 2022. I wanted to do more outdoor activities and connect with other nature lovers. The Ottawa Section has plenty of outdoor enthusiasts, people I have connected with easily. I am fairly new to rock climbing; mainly climbing indoors and bouldering outdoors, starting in the fall of 2021. Outdoor rock climbing was pretty intimidating to me but the ACC took that feeling away. Since joining I have gone on club trips, attended Rockfest, got into top roping and met some amazing people. I recently attended the section’s climbing trip leader’s course and learned a lot. The people I have met have shared their knowledge regarding rock climbing with me and I have appreciated their patience and mentorship. I really appreciated my time with the ACC and wanted to give back.
That is where the idea of the practicum placement came up. I am currently in my final year at Carleton University, studying physical geography. When choosing my placement, I wanted to work with an organization that related to my interests and that was meaningful to me. ACC met my personal criteria. Bill was my sponsor during the practicum. He was a great person to work with and had a lot of experience that he shared with me. His passion for the outdoors and the overall community has been an inspiration for me.
Sam’s climbing etiquette infographic. Click to enlarge.
During my practicum I worked on a variety of projects. These connected my love for the outdoors, education and the club together. I have created infographics, one on snow hydrology and another on climbing etiquette. Growing up in Ottawa, I have experienced some intense winters and have grown to love the season. Creating an infographic helped me to learn more about the connection between snow and ice and the activities that people do in them, and it was fun! The climbing etiquette infographic was a great learning experience.
I learned about different approaches to minimize ecological damage in relation to outdoor recreation. I also did research on building a trail for recreational use, while minimizing the environmental impact. This was applied to trail building and maintenance for the access trail to a crag under development in Calabogie, one of our local climbing areas. Some work has been done on the trail which will be beneficial for conservation purposes. Raising awareness about access will also encourage others to consider how to minimize their environmental impact when they climb.
I did research on the geologic history of some of the Ottawa climbing areas as well. This can provide more meaning to places that we climb at locally.
I also got involved with the section’s social media, particularly Instagram. I enjoy creating content in relation to the section’s activities. I get to apply my interest in photography and writing.
I feel the work that I did during my practicum will be useful for other members of the section. It provides information that members can benefit from and will raise awareness of the conservation aspect of our outdoor pursuits.
Bill:
As chair of the Ottawa Section, I am always looking to build on the good things that our members are doing and considering new things we can add. Taking on Sam added a little more work to my plate but the benefits have been worth it. His enthusiasm is infectious and I always come away from time with him more pumped than ever to get outside and do stuff! His spirit is helping to keep this “old man in motion.” We are working together now on ways to share the work he has done with others knowing that this will enhance their outdoor experience.
I would encourage other sections to consider projects like this to support the great work your section is doing. I know that we all benefit when we take advantage of the new opportunities, like Sam’s placement, that come our way. Thanks, Sam, for your contribution to ACC-Ottawa!
Get involved with your local ACC Section!
Membership in a regional section enables you to participate in numerous summer and winter mountaineering, rock climbing, and skiing activities, coordinated by experienced amateur leaders in their local area. The majority of activities offered by sections are either free or are offered on a break-even basis to their members. Through section trips you’ll learn all the basics you need to travel safely in the mountains, while meeting new friends to enjoy your experiences with.