Amanda Sanchez, North Carolina State University’s Sustainability in New Zealand student blogger, writes:

In the short amount of time that we have been in New Zealand, we have seen astounding landscapes, from snowy Southern Alps to magnificent coastal cliffs. Along the way we have been fortunate to experience the best of what New Zealand has to offer, especially the pristine national parks. Thanks to the work of the Department of Conservation (DOC), these incomparable places remain stunning for tourists and citizens.

During our trip, we had the opportunity to thank DOC for their conservation efforts as part of a service learning project. We grabbed our windbreakers, hiking boots and shovels and made our way through Christchurch to Godley Head, where we helped to improve a trail across a beautiful bluff on the Pacific coast. Our work to widen and clear the trail was appreciated given the aftermath of the 2011 6.3 magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks that has left a large mark on Christchurch. Even five years later, the disaster is still evident in the streets.

Our work in Christchurch was a special opportunity to give back and help a city searching for normalcy. I hope that this project will serve as an example to other tourists; that they have the capacity to leave a positive impact on the places they visit. It is one thing to see the beauty of a place, but another to contribute to its maintaining its brilliance! This way of traveling and serving offers a unique opportunity to experience nature and culture more intimately.