In June 2010, Mélanie and Katherine from Quebec, Canada joined Earthwise Valley to help with conservation projects.

Over past years ELFNZ has hosted many volunteers from countries like Canada, Australia, UK & the USA. But this time the situation was a little different as these gals were in NZ for 4 weeks solely to stay at Earthwise Valley. “Dr Mél” and “Kitty-cat” came to New Zealand with the single focus of planting trees and making a difference – to make a gift to the New Zealand environment. Their time off from school in Canada was brief and they wanted to make the most of it, both doing as much good as they could and seeing a good amount of New Zealand too.

During June we planted over 1000 trees Рmany of these New Zealand natives, but also fast growing acacias from Australia, as nursery plants for future plantings of native trees and fruit trees. M̩l & Cat also helped construct 2 volunteer cabins, for future accommodation.

It was a busy month! As well as a lot of productive project work, we took time off to share some classic kiwi recreation with all the June volunteers. We went seakayaking, rockclimbing, forest hiking, some caving, horse-trekking, soaking in hotpools in Rotorua, visiting the Kauri trees in Northland, and we even spent a day at the Waikato Fielddays!

Both girls are back in their schools in Canada, probably dreaming of feijoas and golden kiwifruit…