I signed up for a summer course this year and thought that it would be cool to not be stuck in a class at the U of C campus. So I opted for a graduate class in the field regarding Entomology (The Study of insects). Though my major is not in this direction I still thought that it would be a great experience. The class started on the 6th of August out at the U of C Biogeoscience Station out by Barrier Lake (Formerly known as the Barrier Lake Field Station) and ends on the 15th.
Initially I really didn't think about the course load and just thought that it would be great experience having a class outside of Calgary that was hands-on learning and finished in 10 days, without a final test to boot! Well I was partially right in my expectations...except for the course load. Being outside is great, and having little day hikes to catch insects is cool too. But waking up at 7AM-> eating at 8AM->having a lecture at 9AM-> then going on a Day Hike until 3-4PM (for the past 2 days)-> having super at 5:30PM -> Another lecture at 7PM -> then from 8:30PM and onwards you are in the basement lab sorting/classifying/pinning insects for your collection (worth 45%) that you have caught (which is probably 12-1AM). On top of that you are either studying for a quiz or writing a paper (I have had a quiz and a paper due in the last 2 of 3 days). But in the end I suppose it is a cool experience, definitely not a "vacation" class though.
Today's hike was pretty cool though, we covered aquatic insects, so we went to a beaver damn, a creek, a lake and a few still ponds. My favourite catch today was a Dragonfly nymph (~1.5-2 inches) and a huge Dragonfly Adult. The only crap thing was being in the 29 degree weather, gross.
7 more days, 4 more days until my collection is due...ack!
P.S. The inset picture is that of a Dragonfly Nymph
I also thought this picture was kind of funny...for an Entomologist.
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