Better Than Any Vacation You Will Have!

Participating in an ISV program was, and probably will still be, one of the best experiences of my life! The volunteer portion of the program really integrates you into the country and teaches you about the culture and environment you are working in. I traveled to Australia and we got to stay in A-frame tents in the mountains of the rain forest! The scenery was spectacular and we saw more wildlife on our site than we would if we took a tourist vacation, including wild koalas bears, wallabies, parrots and a python! Our daily schedule wasn't too strenuous, yet we worked hard to make a positive impact on the environment. Some days were tiresome like when we weeded out large, tree-like weeds, but the social aspect of being around your fellow volunteers made times fun and entertaining. During our free time, we took hikes to a waterfall, had fires at night, and even were taught how to knit beanies and make hand made jewelry. Our host organization and leaders were great! They were all friendly, fun to be around, and our cook made amazing food with our help!
The second part of the ISV program is the adventure tour, which is the most fun and adrenaline pumping two weeks you will have in your entire life! Everyday had some kind of amazing activity like white water rafting, snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, visiting an Aboriginal park, and free days where you can relax, explore, or participate in offered activities in the area. At times the schedule can wear you out because you are having action packed days and late nights out on the town. The free days give you time to relax and take it easy if you want, or if you’re me, go bungee jumping and keep taking in all the excitement! We took a large coach bus from town to town and sometimes they were overnight rides. These were for further destinations so we weren’t wasting time driving much during the day. Accommodations for the trip were all pretty nice. I didn't know what to expect staying in hostels, but some were really nice and exceeded my expectations! Overall, this trip is worth every penny and you will have the experience of a lifetime! I think if someone were to plan a trip like this for themselves, they would end up paying even more and not do as many amazing things and see the culture and environment like we did! The volunteer portion allows you to see the wildlife and scenery better than any tourist ever would, and the adventure tour takes you more places and offers you more activities than you could ever imagine! I will remember this trip for the rest of my life and suggest it to anyone interested in traveling and making a difference overseas!