6 weeks volunteering in Auckland, NZ

This 6 week long volunteer experience was one of the most rewarding adventures of my life. I met some incredible people and took part in exciting projects that made a serious impact on the environment. During my time in New Zealand, I worked with a local charity called Sustainable Coastlines. They engage the community by hosting tree-planting events and beach cleanups in an effort to conserve the land they love. I was able to help during these events and see the change happening first hand. Another part of the volunteer program involved working at a plant nursery run by a local iwi tribe. I learned so much about native plants and animals while working in the nursery and was able to assist in running the nursery smoothly. The knowledge I've gained through both parts of this volunteer placement has been invaluable and I hope to visit the people I've met in New Zealand sometime in the future. I was also able to travel around New Zealand over the weekends. I had the opportunity to see Hobbiton, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, Raglan, Waiheke Island, Queenstown, and the Coromandel Peninsula. One of my favorite memories seeing the Prime Minister speak at an event by Sustainable Coastlines where she praised the organization for its impact on the country. I am so grateful that I've had the opportunity to experience a new country while working towards a more sustainable future.