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Botanist and nature photographer Alyson Prokop is a native of central Ontario's rural Oro-Medonte Township, where she grew up canoeing, camping, and hiking in the steep forested hills. Early on she developed a love of nature, carrying a 35mm camera during her explorations of the surrounding woods and streams, and across the ocean to Europe. In Switzerland she experienced the perils and excitement of mountaineering, while traversing the Apennine and Swiss mountains.With a degree in Botany from the University of Guelph (Honours), she undertook a career in plant pathology as a full time research scientist and has worked for the the Ontario Potato Board, and several nurseries and garden centers in Ontario. In 2008, Alyson left her research position for other pursuits, including photography and travel. Several seasons working as a canoe/kayak tripper and instructor, initiated her to the wonders of outdoor education, where she has since elected to persue as a career.Alyson has shot with both 35mm and 4x5-inch film cameras, but now shoots exclusively digital. A long-time darkroom nut, these days she is most interested in the "digital darkroom", working on her photographs in the daylight of her home. Her main interests are macro photography, continually developing her multimedia and writing skills, especially as they might be applied to environmental education and teaching, and classifying botany while white water rafting and canoeing. 'I have, over the years, shaped my love of the natural world with various experiences working as a botanist. But none is more wonderful than taking photos and teaching from the stern of a canoe. My renewed enthusiasm and appreciation for nature photography has led me to such eccentricities as setting up a darkroom in the bathroom of my house. Where to no avail of my housemate, I began experimenting with traditional black and white printing and with alternative, and somewhat archaic, printing methods and materials.'Most recently, Alyson has worked as a nature interpreter and program planner at the Royal Botanical Gardens, while on full scholarship at Algonquin College in the Outdoor Adventure Naturalist programme. Currently she is spending her time hiking, camping and canoeing her way through bonnie Scotland and enjoying all that the rainy weather has to offer - including some most excellent botanical gardens at Edinburgh, Glasgow and in London at Kew.
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MarionAlysonProkop curriculum vitae
Born in Toronto, 19822002-2006 BSc (Honours) Plant Biology with distinctionUniversity of Guelph, Guelph ON2009-2010 Diploma (Honours) Outdoor Adventure Naturalist and Business AdministrationAlgonquin College, Pembroke ON2007 Certificate Floral DesignCanadian Institute of Floral Design, Toronto ONWith expertise in research and botanical interpretation, I am able to incorporate a variety of tangible and non-tangible resources to accommodate students via visual, auditory or kinesthetic learning styles. I integrate situational leadership styles in order to relate and encourage interaction. Being able to plan lessons for a wide variety of audiences ensures that each learner is able to comprehend and retain the concepts and language in unique ways. My goal is to foster and maintain a safe, secure and supportive learning environment whether it is in a classroom or running class III rapids in a canoe. Areas of ExpertiseCurriculum DevelopmentProgram PlanningNature InterpretationResearch and Scientific Writing Botanical and Horticultural KnowledgeExpedition PlanningRisk AssessmentCanoe InstructionLeadership Development RELATED WORK EXPERIENCEInterpretive Program Planner and Garden Interpreter, Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, ON. May December 2010•Planned and led guided tours of the gardens and grounds appealing to various demographics; delivery and evaluation of public programs, educational sessions for children and adults, and roving interpretation on rotating garden/natural history themes•Developed non-personal outdoor educational programs including full materials and budget acquisition for garden interpreters•Created training manual for new staff on effective interpretive presentation skills suitable to the environment and clientele at the RBG•Designed new interpretive signage, brochures and leaflets using Adobe CS4 and MS Office applicationsTutor, Canoe Instructor, Independent, Pembroke and Burlington ON. September 2009 December 2010•Independent course tutor for students enrolled in Flora for Naturalists, Algonquin College•Introduced classification and taxonomy and the study of plant diseases including the relationship to crop production, the environment and humans •Prepared lecture material, hikes and laboratory exercises•Lesson planning and facilitation of indoor and outdoor canoe lessons incorporating the abovementioned material•Recruitment of customers and instructors; facility and gear rental, fundraising, payments and budget management, insurance acquisition, certificationWilderness Site Co-ordinator, Camp Wyoka, Clifford ON. Summer 2009•Lesson planning and facilitation of canoe and kayak lessons for girls aged 6-16•Trip leader and supervision of site staff (up to 6) for overnight self-directed canoe and kayak leadership development programs including all trip and pre-trip orientation•Developed and led guided hikes and nature based programs for in-camp participantsTeaching Assistant, Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph ON. Autumn 2006-7•Led lectures, seminars and conducted demonstrations to emphasize disease identification on horticultural, ornamental and agronomic crops of Ontario •Assisted with laboratory exercises in undergraduate course of 50+ students and explained new projects and assignments •Introduced the study of plant diseases including the relationship to crop production, the environment and humans Associate Vice President - Fundraising and Public Relations [April 2005 6]Assistant Supervisor CBS Exam Bank [April 2002 June 2006] College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph ON.April 2002-6•Served as a group leader under the supervision of the Dean of the College of Biological Science, University of Guelph by organizing and promoting college services, activities and fundraisers to over 2500 students including creating and maintaining monthly newsletters and website updates •Responsible for monitoring exam bank, performance of office worker, budget and merchandising sales of $15 000 by establishing relationships with stakeholders, providing training, day-to-day information/instruction on detailed university policies and procedures as pertaining to the operation of the college both orally and in writing to college council members, club presidents, representatives and the office assistantRELATED TRAINING & CERTIFICATIONSCertificate, Heritage Interpreter Level ICanadian Tourism Human Resource Council / Emerit, 2009Equity and Bias Awareness TrainingGirl Guides of Canada, Toronto ON, 2009TrainerLeave No Trace Canada, 2009Wilderness First Responder with CPR C (80 hrs)Canadian Wilderness Medical Associates, 2010TECHNOLOGICAL PROFICIENCIESWindows OS Internet NavigationMicrosoft Office 2007-10 including: Word Powerpoint - Excel - Access - Outlook - Publisher Adobe Photoshop CS4 (5.1)Various POS systemsMEMBERSHIP AND ASSOCIATIONSThe Royal Horticultural Society (UK), Interpretation Canada, Girl Guides of Canada, Paddle Canada, ORCKA, Scottish Canoe Association, Rescue Canada, Royal Society for the Preservation of Birds (RSPB UK), Heritage Scotland, Heritage EnglandPERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTSImplementation of interpretive training manual for new staff at the Royal Botanical Gardens, CanadaFull scholarship for 1.5 year diploma program at Algonquin College and graduation faculty award for highest GPA and community involvementPart of a team of students who spearheaded the inauguration of a new Kiwanis Circle K Club, at Algonquin College, Pembroke OntarioPoster Presentation at CSPP Quebec City 2007 for work on Anthracnose of BeansEvent planning and leadership with the Plant Biology Club, University of Guelph, lead to a three year and grand-champion winning title for College Royal educational displaysUniversity of Guelph travel and research award to fund a 14-day agricultural farm tour of Costa Rica
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Portfolio
Nature
Plants and Wildlife
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Plants and Wildlife
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Travel and Interest
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MarionAlysonProkop contact
360 Mariners Way
Collingwood ON L9Y 5C7
Canada
Phone: +1 705 835 5740
Email: alyson.prokop_gmail.com
MarionAlysonProkop
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