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Conservation Volunteer Experience in California
By Colin Jackson, Chief Executive
Conservation Volunteers Australia

If you are a resident of Australia, aged 18 – 25 (or know someone in this age group looking for a great opportunity), how about a trip to California with Conservation Volunteers Australia? At only A$1000 plus airfare for a fully inclusive 4-week program, this is a fabulous chance to spend time with the California Conservation Corps - the oldest, largest and longest-running conservation corps in America.

Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) was founded in 1982, and enables volunteers to join well-managed and effective conservation projects. Each year, over 12,000 volunteers join a range of projects, including activities such as tree planting, track construction, endangered species surveys, and weed control. Projects take place in locations as distant, diverse and unique as the Australian continent itself – from hand removal of weeds at Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock) in the Northern Territory, to turtle monitoring projects in Broome, Western Australia or urban regeneration projects in inner cities.

In 2000, CVA was admitted to the United Nations Environment Programme Global 500. CVA has also been recognised with 6 Banksia Awards, and a number of other awards and prizes, including the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence, Community Business Partnerships (2002). In 2006, CVA expanded operations to start Conservation Volunteers New Zealand.

In 1988, CVA started an international exchange program with California, providing a unique opportunity for young people and staff members from each organisation to experience the excitement of travel, and the chance to live and volunteer in another country. This exchange has become an annual highlight for both organisations, and there’s no doubt about the strong and lasting friendships forged through this kind of exchange program.

The California Conservation Corps (CCC) is the oldest and largest conservation corps in the nation. Modeled after the original federal Civilian Conservation Corps created in 1933 by President Franklin Roosevelt, today's California program was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in 1976.  Governor Brown envisioned the program as "a combination Jesuit seminary, Israeli kibbutz and Marine Corps boot camp." From a small beginning the CCC has grown to its current size with residential and nonresidential sites throughout the state.

The CCC's mission is to engage young men and women in meaningful work, public service and educational activities that assist them in becoming more responsible citizens, while protecting and enhancing California's environment, human resources and communities. Young people join the CCC for many reasons - to work outdoors, live away from home, earn their own income, advance their education, gain experience and basic skills, explore careers, do something for the environment, meet new people and go new places. Along with their day-to-day work projects, corpsmembers work to advance their education. Several hundred participants (corpsmembers) earn their high school diplomas (or equivalent) in the CCC each year.

Corpsmembers take on a variety of outdoor work, including landscaping, trail building, tree planting, brush clearance, minor construction work, wildlife habitat improvement, flood prevention and more. The CCC responds to natural disasters and other emergencies so corpsmembers may find themselves sandbagging against floods, fighting fires, assisting with oil spill cleanup or helping with earthquake recovery. Television footage of natural disasters in California (such as wildfires) often features corpsmembers in their distinctive hardhats and uniforms, familiar to many Australians from the exchange program.

The Australia Exchange is designated a Special Programs for corpsmembers with good work records, along with other programs such as the Backcountry Trails Program and the Salmon Restoration Program. In return, volunteers joining the program to go to California have been lucky enough to experience both the Salmon Restoration and Backcountry Trails programs, with great feedback on both.

This program is an ideal opportunity to gain international volunteer experience, especially for anyone aiming for a career in conservation or youth-based programs.

This program is generously sponsored by Rotary eClub One as its contribution to the Rotary ‘Preserve Planet Earth’ initiative, and managed by Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA).

Current Club President Angus M Robinson, who is an Australian, has said, “Rotary eClub One has a longstanding commitment to supporting vocational development for young professionals working in human health. Encouraging young people to provide ‘service above self’ for Planet Earth represents another worthy endeavour, particularly for those located in Australia and the USA, two countries which are home to over 60% of the Club’s membership”.

Programs start on the 18^th September and 16^th October 2009 – places are limited and are expected to fill quickly, so please visit the Conservation Volunteers Australia website at  www.conservationvolunteers.com.au/volunteer/California.htm

or freecall 1800 032 501 (Australia only) for an information pack, or contact Mrs Sarah Donohue, Volunteer Programs Manager, by email at email sdonohue@cva.org.au