So You Want to Hike for School Credit?

Hello kind krafters! I hope you’re all doing well, and for those of you who are students, enjoying the post University exam season! For me finishing exams means a number of things. The start of a four month summer and a nice break from spending my weekdays in classrooms is a particular favorite. The end of exam season for me also means the start of full time working hours at a retail and wholesale industry shop here in Halifax, called Murphy Gear. For the past four summers this has been how I’ve spent my time; work most of the week, play in the outdoors on my off time, and volunteer whenever I can.
            This year I decided to change it up a bit, and added in an Internship, completed as an elective through the College of Sustainability at Dalhousie. I’m not one to enjoy spending my summer days inside a classroom, so I knew my internship would have to involve some outdoor work and lots of playtime in the natural world. Enjoying physical activity, being an avid hiker, and wanting to find a way to promote greater accessibility and community awareness of outdoor recreation opportunities in Halifax, a hiking related project was my natural choice. 

In my happy place, hiking in Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia.
Photo by John Flewelling 

​            Nova Scotia is a beautiful province, and the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) (where I live) has an incredible amount of natural beauty for its inhabitants to experience and enjoy. In the HRM alone there are over 70 hiking, walking, biking, and multi-purpose trails. But, we lack a comprehensive database and resource for accessing information about these trails. This creates a big problem of accessibility, because without accurate and clear information, community members who are inexperienced or new to outdoor recreation such as hiking, do not have adequate support for engaging with the natural world. A lack of up to date information also results in safety risks, as it does not provide visitors, new or highly experienced, the tools to enjoy the outdoors safely. If you’re not sure how long a trail is, it’s difficult to know how much water and food to pack. If you’re not sure of parking locations near the trail, you may be deterred by the unknown risk of having your vehicle towed while you’re in the woods. And if you’re new to hiking and want to spend more time outdoors, inaccurate and unclear information can lead to unpleasant or dangerous experiences, and sadly deter away from future adventures. This is a problem, and an issue I passionately want to tackle. 

Views from Gibraltar Rock Trail and South Granite Ridge Trail , the first two trails completed for my Internship. 

​I decided that the most accessible way to get accurate and clear trail information to interested community members was an app; easy, simple, accessible, and likely to connect a wide variety of people. At first I wanted to collect all the data and make my own app with the help of informatics students at Dalhousie. But then I was introduced by a friend to the AllTrails app and their global trail database. AllTrails was easy, clear, and as its descriptions and maps were linked and followed by users, it was mostly accurate. But, despite many merits, the app was global, meaning some trails here in the HRM were missing, and some needed updating. Descriptions which clearly identified wheelchair accessibility, length, rating, and parking information were also needed for greater accessibility and success.
            So, I emailed AllTrails, and before I knew it I was signed up with the College of Sustainability for a summer internship with AllTrails as their HRM Trail Auditor and Advisor. That’s a fancy title that pretty much means I get to spend my free time hiking all the trails in the HRM, taking relevant notes, and mapping my route. After that I take my data and format it into a coherent and clear description and accurate map, and upload it to the AllTrails database. Part of my work also looks at checking each trail already in the database for the HRM, and making sure the information and maps are up to date. So, in other words, I’m hiking for school credit. 

Atop a mini-mountain, wearing a kind krystal necklace!
Photo by Nicole Pelletier 

​So far I’ve uploaded my data for the Musquodoboit Trail System near Halifax, which consists of one long railway trail and 5 backcountry trails. I have to tell you it feels pretty amazing to have my trail descriptions up on a globally viewed and accessed database. Even better, I’m doing something I absolutely love, getting to spend my time meaningfully working in the natural world, and pursuing a passion of connecting my community here in the HRM with nature and outdoor recreation. In short, I’m following my dreams.
            I challenge you all to never forget that following your dreams is a possibility. If you can think it, you can do it. I encourage you to take one step, no matter how big or how small, to achieving something you have always wanted, whether that be a project, a job, an activity, a goal, or a pursuit for the world’s greatest chocolate chip cookie.
AND reach out to me on social media, or comment on here and let me know what you’re doing, what you’re passionate about, what your dreams are, and how I can help support you to make them a reality!
And if you’re pursuing that chocolate chip cookie goal, I volunteer my services as lead taste tester. 

Stand on mountains, follow your passions, and chase your dreams!
Photo by Nicole Pelletier 

​Stay Kind <3
Niki