Landing two co-op work terms at the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory has been a unique opportunity for Ella Barton to spread her wings.

As an entomology helper at the Butterfly Conservatory, the fourth-year Brock University Biotechnology student gained hands-on scientific experience and explored potential future career pathways.

Although raising butterflies is a unique role, Barton said the work terms helped her develop skills that apply across scientific careers — from following established procedures and collecting scientific data to collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and maintaining accurate records.

“It wasn’t just about caring for butterflies,” Barton said. “It was about learning how a scientific workplace operates and gaining experience that will help me build a career in biotechnology.”

Barton gained a behind-the-scenes insight into the precise care required to manage healthy butterfly populations while helping to maintain butterfly habitats, clean emergence displays and prepare food.

“What would surprise people is the cleanliness standards and containment,” she said. “Because butterflies are living beings, they can get sick like us.”

She also helped to gather and care for native monarch butterfly eggs for annual tag-and-release efforts, an experience that strengthened her understanding of conservation and the importance of climate and habitats to butterfly survival.

Beyond learning butterfly biology, the co-op introduced her to the scientific standards that underpin professional workplaces, including biosecurity, accurate record keeping and regulatory compliance.

Barton collected scientific data each day and monitored butterfly health and development, communicating her observations with colleagues. The experience reinforced how important precision and collaboration are when working in scientific environments.

“Teamwork and communications skills are very important,” she said. “You have to communicate with your team about what’s happening while also connecting with the horticultural team and management.”

She also gained experience following Canadian Food Inspection Agency biosecurity protocols. Because many butterfly species originate outside Canada, careful monitoring and containment are essential to meeting regulatory requirements. Barton supported these efforts by inspecting pupae shipments from South American countries for parasites, viruses and insects.

“Rearing butterflies is a mixture of art and science,” said Michael Ravensdale, Supervisor at Niagara Parks Commission. “Ella’s solid work ethic, artistic and intellectual talents, combined with a strong foundation in scientific training at Brock, enabled her to quickly learn and improve our procedures.”

Barton discovered the Butterfly Conservatory opportunity through CareerZone, Brock’s Co-op, Career and Experiential Education (CCEE) job board.

“Co-op work terms like Ella’s empower students to discover new interests, build confidence in their skills, and gain practical experience in professional settings,” said Alesia Dane, Associate Director, Co-op and Workplace Partnerships. “By applying their learning in real-world environments, students not only strengthen their career readiness but also begin to see the meaningful impact they can make in their chosen fields.”