CONSERVATION VOLUNTEER CASE STUDIES

MEGAN JOHNSON

I heard of the phrase “travel with a purpose” before going to New Zealand, but I had never fully understood this saying until I traveled with ISV and worked with Kuaka (then Action Stations) in 2003. 

 I will never forget the memories I made while volunteering for two weeks with Kuaka and ISV.  I learned more in two weeks about the environment and culture in the Bay of Plenty, than I had ever learned about the surrounding area where I grew up!  Not only was I learning more, but I was also helping chip in to sustain this environment.  I will never forget planting native plants in the wetlands near a river in the pouring rain.  Instead of whining and going back inside, everyone made the best of it, and we all had so much fun!!  Amazing things happen when a group of people comes together for something good. 

Another very unforgettable moment was when we planted bush and trees on the Maori land near their Marae.  It was so amazing to be able to work with the native people of this beautiful country, and actually learn about their culture. 

This experience has impacted my life in so many ways.  I went back to New Zealand and worked for ISV, where I was able to build on the wonderful memories I had had from the previous year.  I was also able to go back and see all the work we had done take form, as the trees had all grown and the path we had worked on had been extended as other student groups with ISV had built on the work we had done.  The feeling of fulfillment this gave me was indescribable.  Also, being a leader this time around, I was able to see the difference this program was making in other students as well. 

When I came back to school to finish my degree, I started an ISV campus club where we volunteered around our community.  One project we worked on was during the Tsunami Relief week at WSU.  We helped raise ten thousand dollars towards the relief work that was being done to those who had been affected by the Tsunami in South East Asia in late 2004, early 2005. 

I learned the true meaning of travel with a purpose and can never go back to the way I was previous to this trip.  I have learned that one person can make a difference, and decided that I am going to try to be one of those people.  I have also gained important skills that have helped me look at different cultural perspectives, where I may not have otherwise.  I would recommend this program to anyone, and do!!  It has changed so many peoples lives, as well as my own.

Megan at Milford Sound, Mew Zealand, 2003


Ice cave at Franz Josef, 2003


Milford Sound, New Zealand


Megan and her husband Jeff in the US

ERIN DEAN

Experiencing New Zealand with ISV and volunteering to renew native vegetation with what is now Kuaka was probably the beginning of a more aware, changed life for me. I was a student in Mt. Maunganui in 2003, working with lovely Doug and Marian. I remember most fondly planting native bushes near a local Maori community or Marae, and learning their alphabet song before sleeping in their meeting house, the Tutereinga. That next morning, one of the leaders of the Marae woke us up by singing us a song we'd heard the night before. It was the first time I'd woken up smiling even before opening my eyes! We became a part of the land and the people. This connection has stuck with me so strongly that I went back to visit Kuaka this past summer and I saw that those small plants we'd planted at the Marae had become large bushes.

 My two-week volunteer experience with Kuaka was the force that pushed me to become an ISV project leader in Australia for the past two summers. It also awoke in me my passion for the environment so much that I'm now on Maui working on an organic farm. I also plan on going back to school next fall to get another degree, this time in Environmental Science in order to become a teacher in the field.

 I mention this program to any student I meet who is interested in nature and making a change in the environment. The discussions enlightened me, the work deepened my love for nature and the staff and people on my project allowed all the positive things I was learning to stick with me. I recommend ISV and Kuaka with every bit of myself.

 Erin at Milford Sound on her return to New Zealand in 2006


Travelling in New Zealand in 2006


The trees Erin planted in 2003 three years later

Our group participated with the local communities by discussing their environmental concerns and finding solutions. We were able to meet one of the Maori communities of the area and see how their way of life and beliefs intertwined with our conservation efforts. They taught us that they live in a balance with nature if they take from the land they must also give back.

Hopefully in a few years I can legally aid in maintaining that balance.

I took my knowledge and experiences from New Zealand and put it in perspective to what I wanted to do with my life and what I wanted to give back to the world. So after college I took what some call a gap year. That year I finally decided that law was my calling and applied to various schools that offered an environmental law program. Once I finished my application process I packed my backpack and went off to South America for several months. I visited Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador and combined my travels with some volunteer work as ISV does. I find that combining your travel experiences with volunteer work is very rewarding. The first time I experienced that was with ISV and I took it into account as I planned my trip to South America.

My trip to New Zealand was the first time I had ever traveled truly on my own to a foreign country. It was nice to meet everyone involved and be in a different and new environment. On a more personal basis I have to say that my experience in New Zealand took me out of my usual day to day life and put me on the spot. In my opinion, and as some people say, it helps build character. I also made new friends who I still keep in touch with, kiwis included.

If you are reading this it means you have somewhat of an interest to experience what I experienced and I hope your Kuaka program will have the impact it had on me.

Suerte, Blas

Blas in New Zealand, 2002, participating in an estuarine monitoring exercise


Blas in Patagonia in 2006


Blas at Iguazu, South America


Blas in Patagonia 2006