Amber, a Year 12 student at Sacred Heart Girls’ College in New Plymouth, has always had a deep love for the outdoors. Growing up in Taranaki, she spent her childhood exploring the mountain and swimming at the beach. Her connection with nature deepened when she joined the Rotokare Youth Ambassador programme in Year 6, where she began to translate her love of the environment into tangible conservation efforts. However, it was her participation in the BLAKE Inspire programme in April 2023 that truly ignited her passion for environmental conservation and set her on a path toward making a tangible difference in this world.
The BLAKE Inspire programme, held in Waikato and Tāmaki Makaurau, is designed to empower young New Zealanders with the knowledge and skills to take action on environmental issues. For Amber, the programme was a transformative experience. “It wasn’t just about learning,” she recalls, “it was about having fun while doing it.” The five-day programme was packed with activities that combined adventure with education, allowing participants to immerse themselves in environmental issues while forging strong connections with like-minded peers.
One of the highlights for Amber was meeting other students her age who shared her passion for the environment. “Seeing other people who had such a similar interest and learning from them was incredible,” she says. This sense of community and shared purpose was a powerful motivator for Amber, reinforcing her belief that she was not alone in her desire to protect the natural world.
From the very first day, Amber was thrown into the action. The programme kicked off with a mini-adventure race that set the tone for the week ahead. “We got straight into it,” Amber recalls, “the kayaking, orienteering and fun problem-solving challenges beside our taiao was a great way to start”. The programme’s interactive approach made learning about complex environmental issues like climate change engaging and accessible. Whether it was a policy simulation with the Ministry for the Environment or participating in hands-on activities like zip-lining through Rotorua, Amber found herself constantly inspired and excited about the possibilities for the future.
The BLAKE Inspire programme also provided Amber with the opportunity to develop her leadership skills. For her action plan, Amber chose to focus on a polluted river that ran through her school. Despite facing challenges in getting her peers involved, Amber successfully led the initiative, organizing water testing and coordinating efforts with local environmental groups “It definitely posed some challenges,” she admits, “but it was also incredibly rewarding”.
Reflecting on her BLAKE Inspire experience, Amber is grateful for the sense of purpose it has given her. “I came back from BLAKE Inspire feeling excited—not just about what I could do in the future, but about what I had already done” she says. The programme has not only deepened her commitment to environmental conservation but has also equipped her with the confidence and skills to take action in her own community.
