Whether or not you choose to participate in our Neighbourwoods Tree Inventory, you’ll probably see these summer interns in their green T-shirts.
Meet Nicole Bitter
I am very excited to be back working for the Long Branch Neighbourhood Association and taking part in the LBNA tree programs. Last year our team visited many of the properties in Long Branch and I had the pleasure of meeting the residents and getting to know the area.
I live on the west end of Long Branch where my grandparents bought a condo in the 70s and I remember many visits to Marie Curtis Park and taking the GO train downtown.
I am a graduate student from Fleming College and the University of Guelph where I took Environmental Science programs and developed my love for nature and trees.
I really enjoyed my summer last year learning about urban trees and the importance of preserving forest ecosystems in city areas. I love working outside and also within small communities to try and spread awareness and understanding for the living world.
From my many years at school, I have studied the relationship between humans and nature and why it is so important to maintain a healthy balance in any landscape. Growing up in the GTA, I have a keen interest in helping the urban environment achieve a more symbiotic relationship with nature than it has in the past. I believe that by following and applying what we know of ecology and biology we can grow to become a more sustainable community and world.
Meet Lucas Udvarnoky
I’m a jazz music student at the University of Toronto, entering my 4th year. I started playing guitar when I was 8 years old, and I play the trumpet at U of T. I enjoy listening to and playing all kinds of music!
I’ve lived in Long Branch since 1999 and this is my second year on the Long Branch tree inventory team.
I have a love for nature (especially trees) and am excited to be working around trees again this summer. I’m eager to see all of the beautiful and interesting species that are planted, as well as the old and wise. I’ve always been an avid tree watcher and am always on the lookout for noteworthy trees!
I care a lot about the environment and am happy to be a part of an effort to help our urban forest. It is awesome to both live and work in Long Branch!
Meet Savannah Bein
I am a fourth year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, majoring in environmental studies with minors in French and German. Because I have lived my whole life in Long Branch, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with nature in my own neighbourhood.
During my undergrad, we studied the sustainable development goals. Particularly, the goal of “building sustainable cities” caught my interest, which I focused my research in. I am really interested in the combination of dense urban cities meeting the balance of nature. I look forward to preserving the green canopy and preserving the character of Long Branch as the neighbourhood continues to grow.
Meet Evan Udvarnoky
I am a passionate science student studying biology at the University of Waterloo and I am excited to begin my second year of studying in September.
I have been a resident of Long Branch my whole life and have enjoyed all 19 years of living in this beautiful neighbourhood. I enjoy the outdoors and my hobbies include mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, and camping.
This position interests me as I will get to spend my summer outdoors and in my neighbourhood. As a biology student, I’m also looking forward to expanding my knowledge of trees and the ecosystems around me. I’m ready to apply my learning from school.