Ready to get started?
You don’t have to wait to learn more about Earth Science. Consider what you already like to do – you already have skills, knowledge, and interests that can be useful in an Earth Science career. These are essential tools to pack for your journey forward, and then you can build on those skills, get curious and connected, and play to your strengths. There are all kinds of resources available so you can plan ahead and figure out what you need to start on your career path.
What do you already have? / PACK YOUR BAG
Like any journey worth making, you need to be prepared. Do an inventory check to see what skills, knowledge, and interests you already have that lend themselves well to a career in Earth Science. Here are some things you might already have in your virtual backpack as you set out on this exciting path.
- Hiking and exploring outside
- Observing and gathering evidence to solve problems
- Working with your hands/tools/equipment
- Using computers and technology
- Playing games
- Reading
- Protecting the environment
- Discovering how things work through research
- Working with numbers
- Working with other people
- Playing team sports
- Sharing knowledge with others
What can you do next? / PLAN AHEAD
Love to be outdoors?
Exploring your own environment and discovering new places is a huge part of Earth Science. You start to notice how our natural world works and can observe and collect interesting things. Sign up for more adventures, like hiking, canoeing, camping, orienteering trips, and build up your wilderness, observation, mapping, and survival skills.
Love to game?
Gaming and computer programming skills translate really well to the advanced technologies being used in Earth Science. Find and join a Tech Club to learn more about how to code, discover robotics, create electronics, and more.
Love to be creative?
Being able to draw and record what you are seeing is very helpful in Earth Science. Music can help you understand things like soundwaves and frequencies, like in earthquakes! Join art, photography, or music clubs or afterschool programs that can develop your sketching skills, build your powers of observation, and expand your artistic horizons.
Love to experiment?
Look for in-school and online science competitions. By participating you’ll have fun and meet like-minded people, and also get to share your unique ideas that may pave the way for many more discoveries.
Play to your Strengths
Love to read?
Reading and research are essential learning and communication tools. School and public libraries offer all kinds of books and magazines (hard copy and digital) about our planet and environment. New ones are coming out all the time, including ones written by young authors.
Love to play & solve?
Earth Scientists often have to tackle our planet’s biggest puzzles. Problem-solving, imagination, and teamwork are all tools that will serve you well in geoscience. Being able to visualize your goals, strategize, and think outside the box through a range of games and puzzles are conceptual skills that can set you up for success in science.
Love to help?
You may have already taken a babysitter’s course, but you can also take First Aid, Lifeguarding, Orienteering Courses, and more. These will give you an edge as they show you can be responsible for yourself as well as the well-being of others, which is a skill employers look for, especially with fieldwork.
Love to connect?
Earth Scientists not only need to understand big world concepts, but also be able to communicate them to others. Developing your communication skills allows you to be your best with others and explain things more clearly. If you are on a sports team or in a youth group, you know that teamwork & collaboration are so important.
Get Curious & Connected
Check out CBC Kids for relevant headlines – more appear each week as our country and the world experience natural disasters, severe weather events, new technologies and discoveries.
Search YouTube for Earth Scientists posting videos from their workplaces, sharing new discoveries and experiments, even from space.
Listen to cool podcasts about our planet, like CBC’s What On Earth that tackles topics like the climate crisis, finding inspiration in unexpected places and solutions from everyday superheroes.
Watch documentaries – there are many fantastic shows and series hosted by a range of experts and actors, taking you all across our planet from the comfort of your couch.
Visit local science centers and museums to see what Earth Science-related activities they have, with special exhibits or visiting experts that interest you.
Find and join a local rock, mineral, and gem club – there are many across Canada. They meet regularly to collect rocks and fossils and learn about the Earth Sciences.
Volunteer for Earth Science events in your community, and help with exhibit setups and displays, hands-on demonstrations, and info booths.
Sign up for newsletters and email feeds that can keep you current on who’s doing what out in the working world and make connections with groups you didn’t even know were out there.
Who Can Help? / CHART YOUR COURSE
Talk to your guidance counselor and ask what they can suggest for exploring an Earth Science career path. They can help you research school program requirements to ensure you have the right courses, and can suggest extracurricular activities that will help you stay well-rounded. They can help you find summer internships, co-op programs, scholarships or bursaries you can apply for.
Look up Canadian Earth Science organizations – there are many across our country, including Geoscientists Canada. They can show you the pathway to becoming a professional geoscientist someday. Visit the Earth Sciences Canada hub to find out more: Homepage – Earth Sciences Canada
Do your homework! Dig deeper on the Where Can I Learn page to see what schools across Canada offer. Reach out to colleges and universities who offer student resources for prospective students. Many host career days for high school students.
If you or a friend knows an Earth Scientist, ask them for advice or how they found their career path. You could shadow them at work for a day and ask for guidance about your future. It’s a great idea to connect with real people in the workforce to find out what they do and imagine yourself doing
Still have questions?
You can reach out to the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences who can put you in touch with relevant and helpful contacts. Get in touch with the secretary directly at: cfes.earthsciences@gmail.com