The school is operated and maintained by Dave Jolly, Senior Instructor. All courses were developed/designed and tested by Mr. Jolly on over 400 field biologists/ecologists. Additionally, Mr. Jolly has taught field biology, primatology, ornithology, botany and ethnobotany/medicinal plants since 1991. Mr. Jolly teaches his courses mainly online, but is available on weekend dates for field sessions/practicums.
The General FAT Program of the Biological Field School is recognized by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities as a private vocational professional skills development training institute which is exempt from registration. To view the letter of exemption from the Ministry please consult: Letter of exemption page 1 (264 kb)
The EARTHQUEST Biological Field School is set up as Canada's first and only biological field school dedicated to helping people who are experiencing difficulties finding and maintaining employment in the environmental industry. Established in 2004 we have helped over 400 people find successful careers with federal and provincial government, non-government and private sector (environmental consulting) jobs. We have a greater than 90% hiring rate for jobs mainly in terrestrial and aquatic ecology/field biology that pay on average between $30 000 - $50 000/yr. If you require certifications needed to get these jobs we are one of the only institutions in Canada and North America where you can obtain them. Obtaining these certifications improves your chances of finding and maintaining employment and your pay range.
Due to the announcement by the Minister of Education on Wed. Sept. 5th, 2007 about our school students are strongly recommended to apply to courses and/or programs of their choice at least 1 year in advance. Students who submit their completed applications along with their $680.00 CAD registration fee and payment for their first course (ie. $800.00 or $1440.00 CAD) = $1480.00 or $2120.00 CAD will be given first priority for courses and/or full time paid internships. To avoid disappointment please apply now rather than later! Canada's first and only Biological Field School will provide a wide diversity of academic programs for people interested in field biology, ornithology, botany, ethnobotany,
and primatology. The major component of the program will closely follow the curriculum and format of the General FAT Program, but you may also apply for other FAT Program courses, for example in field primatology. This is the best way to learn theoretical and practical concepts to prepare students for employment in the environmental field. You may also pick and choose from our list of special interest courses to match your interests, needs to customize your FAT Program. To find a list of courses for the 2012/13 calender year please refer to our Program/Course catalogue at the following link;
2013/14 Program/Course catalogue (1.7 MB PDF file)
The tuition fee varies with the length of your program. For 3 month semester programs the fee (effective August 15, 2009) is $4000.00 Cdn. For the 6 month program the fee is $9000.00 Cdn. For the 9 month program the fee is $11 000.00 Cdn and for the 12 month program it is $15 000.00 Cdn. For the 2 year program it is $27 500.00 Cdn. The 1 and 2 year programs are the best choice for people who want a career in the environmental industry since we will attach a guaranteed enviro job position to their General FAT Program; conditional that the student is in good standing with our school and successfully passing their program. Students who are offered internships or job opportunities, but turn them down are not guaranteed an enviro job position. Successful graduates of the 1 and 2 year programs generally may find full time employment within 3 - 9 months of acceptance, making $35, 000 - $40, 000 Cdn/yr., to start if they successfully implement their certification courses. Please make an appointment with us to discuss details by emailing earthquestcanada@yahoo.com.
To learn more about the 3 month international FBT Program please go to;
3 month FBT Program
To learn more about the 6 month international FBT Program please go to;
For 9 month semester programs the following items are included;
i. Assistance with restructuring your resume/cover letter to make them more powerful and presentable
For 2 year programs the following items are included;
i. Assistance with restructuring your resume/cover letter to make them more powerful and presentable
The following 10 certification courses are included with the first year of the 2 year International FBT Program;
i. Level 1 terrestrial FBT plants - families Cost: $27 500.00 CAD + books ($270.00 CAD) = $27 770.00 CAD total (does not incl. accommodations)
During the second year you may choose from the following specialty courses;
i. Level 3 Ferns of Ontario - species
For 12 month semester programs the following items are included;
i. Assistance with restructuring your resume/cover letter to make them more powerful and presentable
The following 10 certification courses are included with the 12 month Internationa FBT Program;
i. Level 1 terrestrial FBT plants - families Cost: $15, 000.00 CAD + books ($270.00 CAD) = $15 270.00 CAD total (does not incl. accommodations)
The following 6 certification courses are included with the 9 month International FBT Program;
i. Level 1 terrestrial FBT plants - families Cost: $11, 000.00 CAD + books ($245.00 CAD) = $11, 245.00 CAD total (does not incl. accommodations)
For the 2007/08 calendar year students had the following internships/job opportunities to choose from;
a. Biological Inventory Intern with EARTHQUEST (Canada) on the Bruce Trail Project. Students were immersed into the regime of collecting data on the flora and fauna of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve between Tobermory and Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada
For the 2008/09 calendar year students had the following internships/job opportunities to choose from;
a. Teaching Assistant with EARTHQUEST (Canada). Graduates of courses were selected based on good standing and maintaining a 75% average in all courses to assist with teaching components of field courses to other students
For the 2009/10 calendar year students had the following internships/job opportunities to choose from;
a. Field Technician with the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (AMBI). Trained several students, graduates and ABMI staff and upgraded their skills in wildflower, grass, sedge, rush field identification techniques
For the 2010/11 calendar year students had the following internships/job opportunities to choose from;
a. Field Technician with the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (AMBI). Trained several students, graduates and ABMI staff and upgraded their skills in wildflower, grass, sedge, rush field identification techniques
Semesters run every 3 months throughout the year; winter/spring/fall and summer. Currently, we are in the fall semester. The winter semester begins January 7, 2013, with registration due no later than 12 Noon on December 15th, 2012. To register simply send the $680.00 CAD registration fee + 1st certification course fee (= $800.00 - $1550.00 CAD) along with a completed application form, three reference forms, a copy of your transcript & degree/dilpoma from college or university and resume. The spring semester begins on April 1, 2013, with registration due by 12 Noon on March 15th, 2013. Spring/summer courses tend to focus on flora and fauna species available for observation during those months, whereby fall/winter courses focus on winter species. The spring semester is among the most popular, since all the best field jobs are awarded or announced during this semester. Early enrollment at least 1 year ahead is highly recommended. In other words, students considering taking their courses during the winter semester, which begins in January, 2013 should enroll now, rather than on or before the registration deadline of December 15th, 2012. Students who wait until the registration deadline to apply are often disappointed to learn that ALL spots have been filled. All FBT Programs lead to a recognized certificate of completion which may qualify graduates to perform work in ecological/biological inventory work, classification of natural areas, field identification of flora and fauna, behavioural observations of fauna, managing field crews and teams, and leading projects/tours. For more information on the structure of the International FBT Program and the units presented please refer to the following webpage link;
A detailed comparison of the benefits and rewards of enrolling in our FBT Programs is outlined below;
Since 1996, EARTHQUEST has been running educational programs
in Canada, North America, Central America and South America as well
as southeast Asia.
EARTHQUEST is affiliated with numerous non-profit
environmental organizations worldwide such as
The Jane Goodall Institute-Canada, Volunteers for Peace,
and the United Nations International Year for the Volunteer programs. Graduates of our programs have found work locally with the provincial and federal
government, Bird Studies Canada, the Long Point Bird Observatory, consulting firms and
Conservation Authorities.
Still, here at home,
you may receive
practical field experience
and training in;
EARTHQUEST (Canada) is dedicated to raising awareness and financial support
for environmental initiatives in conservation, protection, and restoration
of endangered, threatened, or vulnerable species and their habitats. In the past we have helped foster research and conservation efforts on the following species;
Pananian tamarin monkey (Saguinus geoffroyi) - endangered and restricted to a range between southern Costa Rica and northern Columbia
Bald eagle (Halieatus leucocephalus) - southern Ontario population - endangered
Eastern spiny softshell turtle (Apolone spiniferus spiniferus) - one of five subspecies of the Spiny softshell turtle which is threatened in Ontario, Canada and restricted to the Sydenham and Thames River systems
Wood poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum - endangered in Canada and restricted to 3 sites in southwestern Ontario
For more information on prices, dates, or any of our projects, courses, and programs, please contact our Senior Instructor - Dave Jolly.
EARTHQUEST Staff
Dave Jolly, B.Sc.
EARTHQUEST Biological Field School
Students accepted into our new Biological Field School since it opened have found employment before graduation with Parks Canada, environmental consulting firms, non-government research and conservation organizations, conservation authorities as well as the provincial/federal government. Students who enroll in the winter semester (which starts Jan. 7th, 2013) may be eligible to be awarded 3 - 4 month internship opportunities, if they successfully pass all phases of the international FBT program. Please note, if you are accepted into the Biological Field School you may have 24 to 48 hours to pay your non-refundable deposit to secure placement. This ensures placement for 1 year from your acceptance date. If you decide not to enroll then your application will be placed on file for 4 months. After that you will be required to re-apply with no guarantee of gaining acceptance again. This is due to limited enrollment as we only accept a maximum of 5-10 students per semester. Please do not apply unless you are serious about enrollment.
Apply now by filling out the attached PDF file of an application form and submit to EARTHQUEST along with your $600.00 Cdn non-refundable deposit (effective August 15, 2009) and $80.00 Cdn registration fee, three (3) reference forms, a copy of your college/university transcript, and a current resume.
By downloading the registration package for this course you agree, acknowledge and accept that the General FAT Program is exempt from registration by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. EARTHQUEST (Canada) for the Environment, the EARTHQUEST Biological Field School, it's agents and staff cannot be held liable for the manner in which courses are taught, given, provided or instructed. EARTHQUEST cannot be held responsible, liable or acussed of anything resulting in your disatisfaction with the Program, courses, our staff, affiliates, agents, partners or representatives. You acknowledge that you agree to waive and release all claims, demands or causes of action against EARTHQUEST and it's agents and agree to indemify them with regard to any financial obligations or liabilities that you may incur personally or any damage resulting from participation in the Program. All courses are 100% non-refundable. There is a 15% cancellation fee should you choose to cancel, drop out, forfeit, delay, quit or be dismissed from the courses, or program. If you delay your courses, or program you may take it at a later date and you will have 1 year from the time you are accepted to complete it.
Dave Jolly's Biological Field School
Upgrade your skills in Field Biology and improve your chances of finding jobs!
Now available:
EARTHQUEST (Canada) for the Environment presents;
Canada's first international Biological Field School dedicated to helping people find and maintain employment in the environmental industry!
Letter of exemption page 2 (163 kb)
ii. Assistance with preparing for enviro job interviews; government vs. non-government
iii. Job posting service; renewable for $30.00 CAD/year
iv. Field trips to natural areas to enhance the flora and fauna portfolio of the student. Students also have the opportunity to personally meet employers in their places of employment (eg. Point Pelee National Park)
v. Receive practical hands on 1-1 field training from a highly qualified instructor/mentor at project sites, whereby students learn how to apply the skills necessary to become employed in a learn by doing environment
vi. One full or part time internship or enviro job opportunity will be directly attached to your program - this increases your chances of finding an enviro job within 3 - 9 months by 100% (guaranteed), provided you are in good standing with our school and successfully pass the program.
vii. You will be matched with a highly successful practioner in the environmental industry to job shadow and learn the "tricks of the trade" to catapult you into a florishing career path. This, combined with your certification courses makes you qualified to apply to jobs in the $45,000 to $55,000.00/yr pay range.
ii. Assistance with preparing for enviro job interviews; government vs. non-government
iii. Job posting service; renewable for $30.00 CAD/year
iv. Field trips to natural areas to enhance the flora and fauna portfolio of the student. Students also have the opportunity to personally meet employers in their places of employment (eg. Point Pelee National Park)
v. Receive practical hands on 1-1 field training from a highly qualified instructor/mentor at project sites, whereby students learn how to apply the skills necessary to become employed in a learn by doing environment
vi. Up to two (3) full or part time internship or enviro job opportunity will be directly attached to your program - this increases your chances of finding an enviro job within 3 - 9 months by 100% (guaranteed), provided you are in good standing with our school and successfully pass the program.
vii. You will be placed on an active and ongoing field project which may turn into an "earn while you learn" opportunity and ultimately a full time paid position with EARTHQUEST or partner organizations.
viii. Opportunities to teach other students and help them obtain their certifications (may lead to full time teaching or instructor position with EARTHQUEST)
ix. You will be matched with a highly successful practioner in the environmental industry to job shadow and learn the "tricks of the trade" to catapult you into a florishing career path. This, combined with your certification courses makes you qualified to apply to jobs in the $55,000 to $65,000.00/yr pay range.
x. In your second year you will specialize - ie. in plants, birds, insects, or computers
ii. Level 2 terrestrial FBT plants - genera
iii. Level 1 FBT birds - families
iv. Level 2 FBT birds - genera
v. Principles and concepts of ELC
vi. Principles and concepts of Wetland studies (incl. a wetland evaluation component)
vii. Level 1 aquatic/wetland FBT plants - families
viii. Level 2 aquatic/wetland FBT plants - genera
ix. ACCESS
x. GIS for the Biologist/Ecologist (Technician level)
ii. Level 3 Sedges, grasses, rushes of Ontario - species
iii. Level 3 Goldenrods and Asters of Ontario - species, sub-species and hybrids
iv. Level 3 FBT terrestrial plants - species, sub-species and hybrid differentiation
v. Level 3 Warblers of Ontario - species
vi. Level 3 Ducks, geese and swans of Ontario - species
vii. Level 3 Shorebirds of Ontario - species
viii.Level 3 FBT birds - species
ix. Corel draw; applications for field biologists
x. HTML; website design
xi. Level 3 Terrestrial and Aquatic/wetland insects of Ontario - species
xii. Level 3 Dragonflies of Ontario - species
xiii.Level 3 Butterflies and moths of Ontario - species
xiv. Level 3 Fungi of Ontario - species
ii. Assistance with preparing for enviro job interviews; government vs. non-government
iii. Job posting service; renewable for $30.00 CAD/year
iv. Field trips to natural areas to enhance the flora and fauna portfolio of the student. Students also have the opportunity to personally meet employers in their places of employment (eg. Point Pelee National Park)
v. Receive practical hands on 1-1 field training from a highly qualified instructor/mentor at project sites, whereby students learn how to apply the skills necessary to become employed in a learn by doing environment
vi. Up to two (2) full or part time internship or enviro job opportunity will be directly attached to your program - this increases your chances of finding an enviro job within 3 - 9 months by 100% (guaranteed), provided you are in good standing with our school and successfully pass the program.
vii. You will be placed on an active and ongoing field project which may turn into an "earn while you learn" opportunity and ultimately a full time paid position with EARTHQUEST or partner organizations.
viii. Opportunities to teach other students and help them obtain their certifications (may lead to full time teaching or instructor position with EARTHQUEST)
ix. You will be matched with a highly successful practioner in the environmental industry to job shadow and learn the "tricks of the trade" to catapult you into a florishing career path. This, combined with your certification courses makes you qualified to apply to jobs in the $55,000 to $65,000.00/yr pay range.
ii. Level 2 terrestrial FBT plants - genera
iii. Level 1 FBT birds - families
iv. Level 2 FBT birds - genera
v. Principles and concepts of ELC
vi. Principles and concepts of Wetland studies (incl. wetland evaluation component)
vii. Level 1 aquatic/wetland FBT plants - families
viii. Level 2 aquatic/wetland FBT - genera
ix. ACCESS
x. GIS for Biologists/Ecologists (Technician level)
ii. Level 2 terrestrial FBT plants - genera
iii. Principles and concepts of ELC
iv. Principles and concepts of Wetland studies (incl. wetland evaluation component)
v. ACCESS
vi. GIS for Biologists/Ecologists (Technician level)
b. Ecobiologist Species at Risk (SAR) intern with EARTHQUEST (Canada) in conjuction with Human Resources Skills Development Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, the Grand River Conservation Authority and Agriculture Canada. Students will work on our Medicinal Plant Project investigating a medicinal plant crop product which may supplement the declining tobacco industry
c. Bird Surveyer with Avalon Consulting. Students conducted bird surveys at approximately 10 wind farm projects across Ontario
d. Aviculturalist with Wildlife Preservation Trust Canada. Students will assist with an animal husbandry and captive breeding program on the endangered Eastern loggerhead shrike population in the Bruce peninsula of Ontario.
b. Project Manager with EARTHQUEST (Canada). A former student was hired for a 1 year contract to help secure contracts within the renewable energy sector.
c. Ecobiologist Species at Risk (SAR) intern with EARTHQUEST (Canada) in conjuction with Human Resources Skills Development Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, the Grand River Conservation Authority and Agriculture Canada. Students will work on our Medicinal Plant Project investigating a medicinal plant crop product which may supplement the declining tobacco industry
d. Wetland monitoring intern with EARTHQUEST (Canada) in conjuction with Lower Trent Conservation. Students assisted with monitoring 4 focal wetlands in eastern Ontario while performing Marsh Monitoring Program protocol for Bird Studies Canada
e. Plant inventory intern with EARTHQUEST (Canada) in conjuction with Sandbanks Provincial Park. Students were selected to perform vascular plant inventories to update the offical park species list.
b. Nursery Assistant with Acorus Restoration. A former student was hired for a 1 year contract to assist with landscaping and habitat restoration ecology projects.
c. Conservation Stewardship Officer with Bruce Trail Conservancy. A graduate obtained this position after enrollment in our 12 month FBT program
d. Terrestrial Monitoring Assistant with Credit Valley Conservation Authority. A graduated obtained this position after enrollment in our 12 month FBT program
b. Renewable Energy Biologist with M.K. Ince and Associates. A former student was hired full time for renewable energy projects.
International FBT Program
Primate international FBT Program
Bird international FBT Program
Ethnobotany international FBT Program
Management/leadership Program
Certification
International FBT Certificate
Primate international FBT Certificate
Bird international FBT Certificate
Ethnobotany international FBT Certificate
Management/leadership Certificate
Courses
General bird and plant field ID in all seasons, census/survey techniques, scientific report writing, data collection, analysis and interpretation, Ecological Land Classification, GIS and ACCESS techniques, Wetland evaluation, environmental monitoring and assessment
Behavioural observation sampling techniques, primate census/survey techniques, evolution, behaviour and distribution of New and Old World primates, scientific report writing, data collection, analysis and interpretation as they relate to field study of primates
Advanced bird field ID, behavioural observational sampling, construct and design of field projects as they relate to field study of birds
Advanced plant field ID, ethnobotany and medicinal plants, survey/sampling techniques related to Ecological Land Classification for southwestern region of Ontario
Management/leadership techniques as they relate to operating field projects, managing crews and teams, effective communication techniques
Length of Program
12 weeks to 2 years
10 - 12 weeks
8 - 12 weeks
10 - 12 weeks
4 weeks
Internships
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Jobs secured by program graduates
Environmental consulting, Field Assistant, Field Survey technician, Ecologist, Terrestrial Biologist, Species At Risk Biologist
Field Assistant in primatology, Teaching Assistant
Field Survey technician, Field Assistant
Field Assistant, Ecological Land Classifier
Ecologist, Biologist
Data collection techniques, analysis and interpretation.
Field identification techniques and methodology.
Scientific report writing techniques and submission requirements for environmental impact studies, natural heritage assessments, etc.
field investigations & GIS techniques
Senior Instructor
171 Lakeshore Rd., RR #2
Port Burwell, Ontario, CANADA
N0J 1T0
email: earthquestcanada@yahoo.com
Phone: Please email for an appointment
Website: www.earthquestcanada.ca
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Reference forms Payment plans FBT Program information  Download Adobe Reader
$27.50 CAD + shipping and handling 
Photo: Dave Jolly for more information please click on;
D. Jolly, B.Sc.
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