Volunteer Programs in Blue Mountains, Australia

I haven’t even made it home yet and I already have friends asking me what program I am on! I would recommend this program to anyone possible as it’s a great step to take towards independent travel and adulthood!! Leaving this program with wonderful friendships and connections.

This Australia College Summer Program with Pacific Discovery was a blast. It was an adventure of a lifetime and’s filled with magical moments. I made so many amazing connections with the other students and locals!

Taking a gap year was one of the best decisions I have made. Initially excited and, as my first time out of the country, a bit nervous, my worries quickly faded away as my group and I explored Sydney together. Still in contact with almost every member of the group, we all became very close during our time together. This was also helped by the fact that we had an amazing program leader. All of my expectations were surpassed. The conservation projects were engaging, interesting, and the people we worked with were knowledgeable and passionate. From planting trees for koalas to working with school kids to walking trap lines for invasive species, exploring Australia and New Zealand off the beaten path was spectacular. Though the projects were incredible, my favorite memories of ones in with the group were enjoying some free time together. We explored cities and countrysides, learning about the culture and histories of the places we visited. A few highlights included a canoeing trip, white water rafting, abseiling, sleeping next to a glowworm infested waterfall, and seeing all of the different wildlife (which are crazy cool). I highly recommend this trip to any and all!

At the start of the trip, I was most excited about the traveling in a new and different place. The culture and land were so amazing to learn about and see. Getting to do things like help restore animal habitats, maintenance for a youth camp, rock climb, and do a multi-day trek was fun and rewarding. The unplanned outings are also high lights, like a spur of the moment Wallaby v. All-Blacks rugby game, or going paint-balling. What I ended up enjoying the most though, and learning just as much from, was the connections I made with the people I traveled with and met along the way. Things I value, like how to work and communicate effectively with different people, letting go of an issue or how to resolve it. We lucked out with Kim Kenyon as our guide, who was instrumental in facilitating our personal and group growth. Coming out of high school, these were the learning experiences I needed to grow as a person. I highly recommend Pacific Discovery, the volunteer projects are engaging with the community, the adventures are fun and challenging, and the people and experiences are unforgettable.

This trip meant the world to me and was the best break from the high stress environment I face during university life. I really appreciated this program's care for the environment, personal development, and focus on adventure! I was unsure of how I would react to structured travel program after having traveled a lot on my own. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed not having to worry about the details or organizing accommodation, transportation, and main activities. I already knew we were in the best places doing the best things! On top of that we were given plenty of free time and independence. I recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys adventure, pushing their own limits, is interested in learning more about the environment, or just wants to check out Australia.