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.

Our planet is fragile, and over time we have taken it for granted. We are standing on the edge of a precipice: a point at which we have to make a decision to change course before it is too late. Climate change, conservation, resource depletion: we are stripping our planet bare and we need to band together to make a change. Every nation and every individual needs to be involved in creating a global shift of consciousness and a move towards sustainability. Through education and action we can heal the earth and help make it a better place for future generations. After all, it is our only home.

It begins with you.

"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 environmental team leaders Toby Malcolm and Rachel Dickinson. They will help to give you an insight into the issues that not only affect the native New Zealand environment, but the whole world. You will educate, debate and take action by expressing your views. Work is tailored to the individual and may involve article writing, public lectures, discussions, presentations, research and involvement in local environmental groups. This is an opportunity to develop your own ideas and to educate and raise awareness of environmental issues as well as seeing efforts within the local community.

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 organizations 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
• Restoring degraded dune ecosystems
• Removing pest plants from several native ecosystems (e.g. dunes, forests)
• Stream Monitoring
• Beach Cleanups

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

Rachel Dickinson: Rachel (Ray to her friends) is the Heal the Earth Program Coordinator. Ray first became involved in volunteering on an expedition to India whilst at school. After this she trained to be a game ranger in South Africa and eventually ended up on the New Zealand Nature Program as a volunteer. The impact of this program led to her moving to New Zealand where she now works as a team leader alongside Toby. Working on the Heal the Earth program offers Ray the opportunity to share her passion for the environment as well as raising awareness as part of a global effort to make our world a better place.

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.

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 two weeks, up to three 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

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.

New Zealand Volunteer Naturecast

Listen to previous New Zealand volunteers talk about their experience on the program:

• RSS: http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/22974/
• ITunes store: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=314859635

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, we 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