Submitted by Grace Jaklitsch, Bayside Program Manager 2024
When I visited the Bayside Astronomy program in Lion’s Head last summer, I thought to myself “that sounds like an amazing summer job”. As it turns out, I was right, and this summer working as a program manager alongside Dante Hunter and led by Mike Warkentin has been a truly incredible experience. I have gained invaluable public speaking skills, extensive astronomy knowledge, and especially, irreplaceable connections with the fantastic people of the Bruce Peninsula. I wanted to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all who visited the program, and those who helped to operate it, while also sharing the value of my time here.
I have been visiting the Peninsula for over a decade, and I have grown to love its clear water, rocky shores, and incredible trails. Most of all, I love the deep connection to nature that I feel here, and the simplicity of my family’s little cottage. Although Bayside Astronomy was founded in 2012, my family first learned of the program last year. When I arrived at the POD (the Peninsula Observation Deck, at the Marina) for a Friday night session and looked through the program’s telescopes, I was astonished. The most memorable object that we viewed was, by far, Saturn. To think that I could see its rings, even a moon – it took my breath away. Later that night, I listened to Paula Cunningham’s constellation tour and asked Doug Cunningham what books I should read on Astronomy, and I decided that next summer I would apply.
Lo and behold, I got the job, and my experience here has surpassed my wildest dreams. Traveling all over the Peninsula to run the program five nights a week, I got to interact with people of all ages, nationalities, and levels of knowledge. One of my favourite experiences was having a very young child (with impeccable manners) blow me away with her astonishing knowledge of the various obscure dwarf planets and asteroids in our solar system. I think that I learned just as much from our visitors as they learned from me! I also learned much from the volunteers of Bayside Astronomy, as well as those from the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association. These volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization, dedicating their time to help preserve the beautiful wetlands, forests, and dark skies of the Peninsula. Their expertise and patient instruction over the summer helped guide me to grow within the position and improve myself day after day.
During our sessions I was introduced to the many incredible experiences that astronomers are exposed to. I saw bright meteors (called fireballs) streak through the sky, Jupiter and the four Galilean moons, and on the very last night of the program, the Northern lights for the first time. Most remarkably, I became aware of how the sky changes over each night, the positions of each star and feature slowly moving with the change of the seasons. Seeing the Perseid star cluster rise over the horizon was bitter sweet – it was beautiful, but it also meant that fall was on its way.
As can be expected, running a program centered around clear skies led to many cancellations due to cloud cover. Thankfully, we were able to work on another area of the Biosphere’s mission, specifically a wetland system under restoration. With Dante, another student hire Sarah Flanagan, volunteer Dr. Jim Hamilton, and Biosphere board member Dr. Katherine McLeod, I planted trees, cleaned up garbage, and cleared blocked waterways. These have become some very fond memories, and I am very proud of the progress we made. Other challenges this summer included telescope malfunctions, sudden fog banks, and poor signal, but the incredible support that I received in my position allowed me to conquer them all.
Thank you to the great people from our various locations: The staff at Miller’s Family Camp, Summer House Park, the Lion’s Head Harbourmaster, and the Parks Canada staff from Singing Sands. Thank you to Doug and Paula Cunningham for founding this program, and to our volunteers who make the program possible. Thanks to the other Biosphere board members, especially Elizabeth Thorn, Victoria Lant (those strawberry tarts were delicious), Katherine McLeod, and many others. Special thanks to Mike Warkentin for leading Bayside Astronomy through an incredible season— your friendly demeanor and wealth of knowledge were instrumental in our success this year. Much gratitude also goes to my peers Dante and Sarah – I think that trudging through a swamp and working to the wee hours of the night together bonds people in unique ways.
Most importantly, thank you to the public! From the residents of the Peninsula to tourists from far away, those who visited our program are the reason we do what we do, and your enthusiasm and participation have made this an unforgettably wonderful summer. I hope to see you next year!
