St. George's Youthnet C@P Site!

Jess and Melissa, c@p Interns!

St. George's Youthnet c@p Site

The past two weeks have been the Youthnet Camp for the kids who are out of school right now. This week has been a culturally themed week where each day has a new country's theme. The kids have been great in c@p site, we worked on basic html web design, uploading photos to the computer, creating a blog for the kids at Youthnet and photo editing in photoshop. All the kids have been so fantastic and receptive to all that we have been teaching them about. We're looking forward to working with all of the kids in the c@p site over the next month!

Below is a link to the blog that we've been working on with the kids. They've been having the opportunity to pick a photo of their choice and then upload it to the blog with their own caption.

c@p Kids at St.George's Youthnet!

Keshen Goodman Library

Hi Everyone,

My name is Lyndsay and I've been hired as the C@P Intern at the Keshen Goodman Library in Clayton Park. I'm really excited to be working here.

The Keshen Goodman Library is beautiful. We are equiped with 9 computers and have printing available as well. The libray holds regular computer classes which I will be assisting. On Friday I assisted Ron in a Computer Baiscs Class. It consisted of 7 seniors with a wide range of computer skills. We mostly focused on mouse and keyboarding skills as most needed practice with that.

We offer other programs such as Beyond the Basics, Word processing Basics, Email Basics, Advanced Email, How to navigate the Internet, and Internet Searching Made Easy. These classes are taught by full time staff, but I will be assisting when possible.

Along with assisting computer classes I will offer basic One on One Computer help. Sessions will run an hour and patrons can book a time with me at the Reference Desk. I have also been assigned to develop and create an e-book information session starting in March. It will cover the basics of e-books and give descriptions of e-readers.

Here are some pictures of the C@P Site:

Hi, C@P folks!

Isn't this exciting?! What a fabulous opportunity it is to be a part of such a wonderful organization. It's great to be able to help connect people with their local community and global world through the use of computers. There's just so much out there to learn and explore!! Looking forward to this new and interesting experience.

Here's the snapshot view of my bio:
My name is Julie McEachern and I grew up in Waverley Nova Scotia. In 2005 I marched off to Saint Mary's University, happily dabbling in a bit of everything from Historiography to Astronomy...they had so many fascinating courses to choose from. After a few years passed, I headed to South America where I backpacked around and across the continent, working a bit along the way. Upon my return home, I attended the Nova Scotia Agricultural College for a year. Missing Halifax, I moved back into the "big" town and breathed in some slightly more city-like air.
Today I am a student once again at SMU, completing a psyc degree with a side of astronomy in there too. I'm working towards an Industrial and Organizational Psychology degree but who knows what doors will open and years will bring.
I'll be working at the Aspotogan Heritage Trust Centre in Hubbards. Lovely group of people out there!
Looking forward to meeting and working with you all!

Julie

Hello Blogosphere!

My name is Jessie Bach, and I am the new C@P intern at Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management.

I have a degree in History from the University of Saskatchewan, and I am currently a student at Dalhousie University, working towards my Master of Library and Information Studies. I love history and libraries, so working at the provincial archives is pretty much my dream job!

I moved to Nova Scotia from southern Alberta about a year and a half ago. It's taken a bit of adjusting, but I think I'm really starting to love it here. There are a few things, however, that I think I may never get used to. For example, it rains here. A lot. And the ocean! It's so big, and scary. For the most part though, I think I'm fitting in quite nicely.

Outside of C@Pping, archiving and schooling, my hobbies include reading, knitting, traveling, social media, hanging out with my cat, and taking long walks around the city. I also like to get home to Alberta as often as I can. I'm looking forward to my winter at the archives, and sharing some of my experiences with all of you!

Introducing...

Hi! My name is Shona Bracken and I am the new Youth Intern for the C@P Site at the Spencer House Seniors Centre in Halifax. You can check out our website here: www.spencerhousehalifax.blogspot.com

I just finished a degree in Sociology at York University and I'm now in a Communications program at Athabasca University (That's an online program) ... Yep, seems everything is online these days! It's great though - I study on my laptop and can go anywhere. I can Skype my tutor almost anytime and bombard them with questions about the course.

Speaking of going anywhere, I love to travel. I have been to all sorts of places in Latin America. Most recently, I did an internship at San Salvador, El Salvador, which is a beautiful, tiny country. I worked on a website for an NGO there. I have also been to Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Honduras. I also had the chance to tour the free internet cafes that they are introducing in Venezuela! This was very exciting for me.

I have a black belt in taekwondo, and consequently prefer ninjas over pirates. I also love dogs and am afraid of cats, but occasionally admire them from afar. My best friend is a black lab-greyhound. I like to ride my bike and I don't think I will ever get a driver's license because I am very loyal to my bike and I have never had to buy gas or insurance for it.

I am originally from Toronto, but consider myself an adopted Haligonian. Here is a picture of me waving to you from my mac photo booth!

P.S. I will be at the C@P Atlantic Digital Citizenship Conference next week in Cape Breton, so hopefully I will see some of you folks there!

I'm not dead yet...

Hi there to all those who are reading. If you don't already know me (perhaps my local celebrity status is not as widespread as I had previously thought...?), my name is Matt Chamberlain, and I am the Winter Intern at the Cole Harbour C@P Site. As we are having a few issues with the network here at our C@P Site, I feel this is an opportune time to talk about myself.

It was a chilly day in Autumn, the leaves stopped falling, the wind in Ottawa calmed, and certain urban legends claim that Brian Mulroney himself shed a single tear, knowing what this would mean for his poor country.

Matt Chamberlain fun fact: he sent a letter to the Prime Minister (Jean Chretien) when he was a child to tell him personally about his plan for a system of tubes to connect to the smoke stacks in Dartmouth to some sort of (albeit poorly conceived) energy-harnesser.

Fun fact #2 (you will be quizzed later): he once had a nature club (free membership which was quite a deal for the members, though no events/administration/point made it destined to fail in the long run), to which he invited several people, including family friends, employees, and the Admiral of the Navy (cool kid).

Delaney :)

Hi everyone,
I'm Delaney from Sheet Harbour. I am new to C@P this year. So far this has been a great experience and I have already learned a lot of new things and this is only my first week! Over the next few months I hope to expand my knowledge of computers even more. This summer I am teaching a movie maker course to children, which I am really looking forward too.
I graduated this June and will be attending SMU in September. I've lived in Sheet Harbour area all my life and really enjoy it. It's a very small community, that honestly does not offer a lot as far as amusement goes. But that's why I like it so much, It's very nice and relaxing!
I look forward to spending my summer with C@P and I hope everyone has a great weekend!:)

- Delaney K.

Ashley Thomas, Resource Opportunities Centre, Terence Bay C@P Site

Hi everybody, I’ve also never written a blog or really even paid much attention to them before this and I’m not really a fan of writing “About me” columns so this might not be very good. My name is Ashley Thomas, this is my second summer working at the Resource Opportunities Centre (Terence Bay CAP Site) and I’m glad to be back home and working in the community this summer.


In September, I will be entering into my second year as an arts student at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton Campus. My first year of university was very bumpy for the most part; I started out as a Kinesiology student but applied for an internal transfer for the winter semester. I changed programs because I didn’t agree with the required courses and really didn’t end up liking Kin very much. I decided to transfer to the Bachelor of Arts program because in my first semester I became very interested in psychology and by the end of this upcoming year I’m hoping to be in the honors psychology program.


My interests include: swimming, camping, photoshop, fitness, Muay Thai, psychology and more.

This summer at the Resource Opportunities Centre, I’m hoping to put my enthusiasm for Photoshop to work to make flyers to promote community events and programs. I’d also like to put on a basic computer skills class for seniors along with some other tutorials for using Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop.

Matt Chamberlain - Cole Harbour C@P Site

Hello there all, my name is Matt Chamberlain, and I'm the intern for the Cole Harbour C@P Site. I'll try to keep this fairly brief.

My main interest is computers and technology, so the C@P Site is a great fit for me. I was here last summer as well, and so it is not too huge of a learning curve this time around. I will be at Dalhousie next year studying Computer Science.

I am going to be doing the day camps here at Cole Harbour Place, which will be in Lego Robotics, Claymation and Computers and Technology. I will also be doing a few other projects, such as getting the website up to snuff (my work so far is at http://www.coleharbourcap.ca, with the structural redo complete). I've also been doing one-on-one classes, once or twice a day.

As far as hobbies go, people are sometimes surprised to learn that I am quite interested in plants. It seemingly isn't often that technology and plants are two interests. My favourite types of plant are carnivorous plants and cacti. I have about 25 plants in total, as well as 10 cactus (Melocactus zehntneri) seedlings, with more seeds on the way. With respect to cacti, I am quite interested in their slow growing habits, and the fact that they take so much time and patience to raise them from seed to mature cactus, generally on the order of years.

I hope this gave you all a taste of me, without having to take a bite. We'll be seeing you.

Brian Berry, Resource Opportunities Centre, Terence Bay C@P site

Hi everyone,

my name is Brian Berry, and I am one of the summer youth interns at the Resource Opportunities Centre (a.k.a. the Terence Bay C@P site), located in the fairly remote and typically very foggy coastal community of Terence Bay, Nova Scotia... It's usually just a 20 minute drive from Halifax. However if you get lost trying to find the place, it will take longer.

I was first exposed to C@P in late spring of 2008 when I applied for a summer position at the Resource Opportunities Centre. This is now my third summer here at the R.O.C. In between summers I have been studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree at Crandall University.

Aside from School and work, I actually do have other interests

They include, but are not limited to:
• Playing Guitar (acoustic or electric)
• Playing Bass ...the instrument, not the fish
• Music in general
• Hanging out with good friends
• Gaming
• Canoeing
• Biking

I’m done with the bulleted list now....

I should also mention that this is my first time ever using Blogger or blogging in general so hopefully this has been a positive experience for you all and I have not bored you out of your skulls.
---Brian

Brittney Hartling, Sheet Harbour

Hey,
My name is Brittney Hartling from Sheet Harbour Nova Scotia. This is my third year working at the Sheet Harbour C@P Site. I spent my whole life in just outside of Sheet Harbour and went to school at the Sheet Harbour High School (Duncan MacMillan High School). I just finished my fourth year at Memorial University of Newfoundland but I still need some credits to finish my BA so I will be returning to MUN in the fall. I'm majoring in History and am hoping to eventually get a degree in teaching.
For those that do not know where Sheet Harbour is, a small village is located about an hour and a half to two hours away from Dartmouth. It is pretty much in the middle of no wheres but I love it here! Nothing much ever happens here but I will try to fill my blogs with some of the most interesting things that happen here without lying. I have never done a blog before so I'm unsure about how this works but I will try best.
I do not know what else to put so,
Have fun today!
~Brittney

Sarah Haworth, Waverley C@P Sites

Hi everyone!! I have never done any sort of blogging before but I will do my best this summer. My name is Sarah Haworth and I am working at the three Waverley CAP sites this summer. I'm excited to be working close to home and in the community where I grew up.

I'm a business student going into my third year at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario and am back at home for the summer. I have attended classes at both WLU and the University of Waterloo and really enjoy the city of Waterloo but am happy to be home. The program I'm in is Honours Business Administrations and my plan is either to go into investment banking and get my CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) or head to law school after I have completed my undergrad. Its hard to believe I'm already half way done school and will have to decide what I really want to do soon.

Other then school I have always enjoyed being involved with sports. Growing up I ran cross country and played hockey, ringette, and soccer. I'm no longer on any team sports but enjoy playing squash and running. I am also one of the few senior female soccer referees in the province (this is my sixth season!) so I still spend most evenings on the field.

I'm hoping the mix of my marketing and computer knowledge will help me bring in and help out lots of people this summer. Waverley is not a very big place but there are always people that need more assistance when it comes to effective and efficient computer usage. My goal is to help people of all experience levels feel comfortable on a computer.

Brook Townsend, Lake Echo C@P

My name is Brook Townsend, I was born on May 2nd 1989 making me 21 years old. I live in Porters Lake Nova Scotia, Canada with my parents :S and I am currently working at the Lake Echo CAP as an Intern.

I graduated from Eastern Shore District High School in 2007 and began a B.Sc at Dalhousie University the following fall. I chose Science because I was not sure what I wanted to do but felt like I would be falling behind if I took a year off. I took the chance and unfortunately I was wrong, so I then decided to take the year off and hopefully afterwards I would have an idea of what I wanted to do.

Halfway through the summer of 2008 I decided I wanted to travel after talking to a coworker about his 8 months teaching English in China. I ended up deciding to spend 6 months in Vietnam, I also wanted to go somewhere hot so naturally I chose Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon).

After returning from the eye opening trip I applied for the Bachelor of Informatics program back at Dal. I was accepted and began in the fall of 2009. This time around I knew almost immediately that INFX was right for me.

Biking

---

As most kids, I loved riding my bike. I have many fond memories riding aroun kejimkujik National Park on my Toys-R-Us bikes when I was younger. I never became focused on mountain biking until I aged out of minor hockey a few years ago. I needed to fill the gap with another sport and naturally I went with Biking. This was when I built my first bike, I bought most of the parts used from a website with a large buy/sell section geared towards bikes. After I had all my parts I assembled the bike myself; I learned a lot during this time since i wasn't 100% sure how everything went to gether at first.

The folowing fall I went to Wentworth ski hill to try Down Hill riding for the first time, after that one weekend I was hooked. Hockey never came close to touching the adrenaline rush that I had everytime I went through those trails. I decided that I was going to get more serious and start competeing at race events

The next spring I invested in a new frame that was much more suited for Down-Hill racing, along with several new parts (replacments for the things I broke during my first year) I was ready to race for the first time in my life! The results of my first race were not so good, I crashed on both timed runs I did and ended up in the bottom half out of 20 or so people. This was the same story for two other races I had that year, but I wasn't giving up!

This year I did some major upgrades to my bike (this is not a cheap sport... I had to choose between my bike or a car and i went with the bike hahaha) aming to give me an edge in the races. I only raced once this year but I came in the top ten so I was pretty happy with that, although this was not the highlight of my 2009 season.

Late in the summer me and a few of my good friends took our bikes up to Sugarloaf, Newbruniswick; it is the closest Downhill bike park and it was the best two days of biking I have ever had.

Downhill mountain biking has taken me to quite a few places in Nova Scotia and Newbrunswick

• Wentworth, NS
• Keppoch (Antigonish), NS
• Sugarloaf, NB
• Crabbe, NB

Finally I want to talk about my trip to Vietnam!

---

I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on January 3rd after leaving Halifax on the 1st. Halifax, Toronto, Hong Kong, HCMC, was the order of my flight which totaled a grueling 33 hours in Airports and on planes. After the 14 hour flight from Toronto to HK it hit me that everything was real. Sure, I knew where I was going but it didn't seem as real as it did when I stepped into Asia.

I was lucky enough to have a cousin vacationing in HCMC during that time so he got me setup with a place to live and showed me the basic ropes of living in HCMC. My plan was to Teach English so I went for a few interviews at various English schools; I was only able to teach a few classes before everything shut down for Tet, (lunar New Year, Chinese New Year, etc). The actually date of Tet was the 26th of January but schools shut down two weeks before and are out until a week after. This gave me a great chance to check things out while my cousin was still around.

We went to Vũng Tàu (pronounced: Vumn Taow) , a beach town about 1h30min boat ride down the Saigon river which makes it a very popular weekend getaway from the city. It's located on a peninsula at the delta; the population is around 1,000,000 people. The beach stretches the entire length of the east side of the city and the water is much warmer than that of the Caribbean. The bars are another highlight of Vung Tau.

After my cousin left I came down with a slight case of culture shock, I was scared to go out of my room, I didn't know the language and I had no idea about how anything worked. For about a week I didn't do much other than watch T.V. in my room and eat Oreos. After I got over it, I made good friends with the manager of the Hotel I was staying at, and started to teach much more. My next big step was learning how to ride a motorbike in HCMC. If you're familiar with motorbikes or dirtbikes you know that there's not much to driving them but in HCMC when there’s 12,000,000 on little scooters mixed in with big trucks things can get a little dicey. It helps that most bikes down there are in the 100-125cc range... don't laugh, these thing as sweet down in Asia! I ended up renting an awesome Yamaha Nouvo which I added ground FX to :D.

Having the bike and knowing how to drive it was key to enjoying my stay. It allowed me to join in on "going around" (instead of drinking, people my age drive around the city in large groups) It also allowed me to go on dates with some of my students (HEY! they asked me okay. and they're my age or older!!! and it's socially acceptable there!).

This is only a small part of my huge adventure! I wish I had the time to write down all my thoughts but it would take forever. One thing you should know is that I’m going back after school for an extended stay, so in other words, it was awesome.. and beer was $0.15 so.. yeah haha.

Okay, it feels like I've written a book! and sorry for the life story ll, I just got into it.

Ciao,

Brook

Rob Young, Dartmouth North CAP

Hey everyone,

My name is Rob Young. I am Currently entering my 4th year of computer science studies at Dalhousie University. For the summer I am located at the Dartmouth North Community Center C@P site. In addition to C@P I work at the Halifax Forum 3-5 nights per week.

My Interests include: Sports (big ufc fan), hiking, camping, or anything outdoors.

This is a picture of me at Cape Split. Did the hike a few weeks ago ! Spectacular panoramic view !

This is also my first time using blogger so I'm still figuring out how things work. I have no idea if this post will end up on the home page or the about me page.

Feel free to add me to facebook.

Have a nice summer.