Heal the Earth: Environmental Training and Awareness

"You see that pale, blue dot? That's us. Everything that has ever happened in all of human history has happened on that pixel. All the triumphs and all the tragedies, all the wars all the famines, all the major advances... it's our only home. And that is what is at stake, our ability to live on planet Earth, to have a future as a civilization. I believe this is a moral issue, it is your time to cease this issue, it is our time to rise again to secure our future." - Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth.

Now the world has finally accepted that climate change is happening right now, what do we do? Most importantly we need to drastically cut our reliance and use of fossil fuels and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we emit. In reality it will not be possible to lead a carbon free lifestyle: we are always going to leave an unavoidable carbon footprint. However, through education and most importantly, action, we can minimise their impact on the global climate, and on the health of our world.

"What we take for granted might not be here for our children." - Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth

The Program

Volunteers will work in the Wellington office alongside our ecology specialists Jim Kirkham and Toby Malcolm. They will help to give you an insight into the issues that not only affect the native New Zealand ecosystem, but the whole world. You will have the chance to develop your own ideas to educate and raise awareness of climate change and environmental issues and promote ways people can reduce their carbon footprint as well as preserve native flora and fauna.

Please note that the activities you undertake during your volunteer period are not limited to those mentioned here. Once you arrive in NZ we will discuss your specific interests and to a certain degree we can tailor your volunteer time around these.

As well as your work in the office, you will spend several days a week working alongside volunteers within the New Zealand Nature Program (www.volunteer.org.nz/newzealand). On these days you will have the opportunity to aid local organisations in their work: getting first hand, on-the-ground experience in New Zealand's own conservation and environmental restoration efforts.

Examples of projects you may expect to work on:

• Replanting native forests
• Educational visits to Kapiti island - a key offshore sanctuary for New Zealand wildlife (weather permitting)
• Restoring degraded dune ecosystems
• Removing pest plants from several native ecosystems (e.g. dunes, forests)
• Monitoring and control of introduced predators for the protection of native wildlife
• New Zealand Fur Seal monitoring at several sites in the lower North Island
• Trash and weed removal from harbour islands.

Program Location

New Zealand's capital city, Wellington, is perched on the shores of a deep natural harbour surrounded by wooded hills. The Wellington region encompasses diverse landforms, indigenous plants and wildlife, and an extensive and varied coastline. Wellington is a centre for threatened species management and has a number of captive breeding facilities working with some of our most rare bird, reptile, and insect species.

Program Staff

Toby Malcolm: Toby is the Team Leader of the New Zealand Nature Program. His education includes a Bachelor of Resource Management (ecology major) from Lincoln University (N.Z.). He has a passion for nature conservation and environmental action, and for this reason has previously volunteered much of his own time from a young age. He has run environmental clubs, has been a representative with the Greenpeace NZ 'Green Team' and has led campaigns on issues such as whaling and battery hen farming.

Jim Kirkham: Jim Kirkham is the Environment Programs Coordinator. He has a passion for the geo-political impacts of globalization and a drive to help protect New Zealand’s uniquely vulnerable ecosystems. Jim has a background in International development and activism. He works closely with volunteers on projects such as Carbon Offsets, Local Campaigns, Field Work, Research and Article writing.

Program Requirements

As a volunteer on the Heal The Earth Project you must:

• be 18 years old or over
• be from NZ, Australia, North or South America, UK, Europe, Japan, China, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, or South Africa. (Please note: if you're not from one of those countries, please submit the application form after you've confirmed you can obtain a NZ entry visa independently and mention this on the application form)
• have no major health problems
• be moderately fit (e.g. can hike for several hours over uneven/steep ground)
• be proficient in English
• possess initiative and an enthusiasm for the environment
• be willing to work, rain or shine

Program Schedule

You can join the program for as little as 2 weeks, up to 6 months. All accommodation and meals will be provided for on the program. Volunteers will live in co-operative housing with the New Zealand Nature Program volunteers: sharing cooking and cleaning duties. No program is offered on public holidays. Please note it is not possible to guarantee that you will participate in a specific project during your time on the program - many projects are seasonal and weather dependent, and can also change due to demands of our project partners. However, you can contact the volunteer coordinator for further information on projects you are likely to participate in during the time you intend to volunteer.

Program Cost

A US$350 application fee (fully refundable if you decide not to go) will secure your place on the program, with your program fee due for payment eight weeks before you begin your placement. You only pay your application fee once and then you can access any of GVN's volunteer programs over the next 5 years.

Your application fee includes the following benefits:

• Personal Staff Support
• Your GVN Heal the Earth Program Guide
• Your Fundraising Guide and Software
• Access to Your Own Online Journal
• Online Video - Preparing For Your Trip
• Opportunities for Discounts on Airfares

Once your application fee is paid the remainder of the cost for your time in the GVN Heal the Earth program is:

• Cost for 2 weeks - US $697
• Cost for 1 month - US $1297
• Cost for 6 weeks - US $1897
• Cost for 2 months - US $2497
• Cost for 10 weeks - US $3097
• Cost for 3 months - US $3697
• Longer placements also available up to 6 months.

To see the cost in your local currency, we recommend you .

The in-country fee covers placement arrangement, accommodation, food, project costs, supervision, an airport pickup, and all transportation to and from the field projects.

The other costs you will need to meet are return travel to Wellington, New Zealand, travel insurance and all applicable departure taxes (US$15.00), and Visa (if required).

Your program fee includes the following benefits:

• Your In-Country Fee
• In-Country Support
• 24hr Emergency Line
• Membership To The Change Makers Club
• International Travel Advice
• Letter Of Completion

Apply for the GVN Heal the Earth Program

Your application process is free and seamless and if you are successful we will provide you with a choice of application fee payment options that include a secure online service. We also are one of the few organizations that offer a full money back guarantee on your application fee if you decide not to go.
Click here to apply for the GVN Heal the Earth program.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have put together the following comprehensive page to answer any further questions that you might have. Please click here.

Volunteer Journals

If you would like to read about the experiences of some of our volunteers who are currently on placement, you can do so here. This journal service is provided free to all our volunteers.
Click here

Application Process

All applicants will be notified by email as to whether their application has been successful.

(1) Complete the Application Form: Fill out the application form below. Upon receipt of the form we will assess your suitability for the program within two working days.

(2) Contact You: If you are successful we will then email you a letter of acceptance.

(3) Decision Point: Once you have read through the letter of acceptance and we have answered any questions or concerns that you might have, it is time to pay your US $350 application fee to secure your place on the program. Please note that we will fully refund your application fee if you decide not to go.

(4) Confirmation: Once the application fee is paid, our volunteer partner will contact you to ensure everything is organized. We will also send you the link to our program guide which covers topics such as country information, travel links, visa application process, fundraising ideas and much more!

(5) Communication & Support: Throughout the application process, we are committed to working with you to answer any of your questions or concerns. During your placement we are also available as a form of support to you as a volunteer and will email you while in country to discuss how the program is going.

To apply for this program, click here