SCHOOL CAMPS

Could Living Springs become an eco-sanctuary? Following the evidence, Part 1  For years, restoration work has been changing the landscape at Living Springs. Former farmland is regenerating and native vegetation is returning. Predator control has expanded beyond Living Springs itself into the surrounding landscape. Thousands of native plants have gone into the ground and volunteers,…

Our October Kids Camp was a blast! Here Bex Crosbie, Camp Director, tells us how each camp has its special moments and one of them, this time, was the monorail… Kids Camp at Living Springs is four nights and five days full of fun, friendship, adventure and plenty of memories! It’s great because, as Director,…

It all started with a dream: how amazing would it be to create a space where children and adults could come and experience the native Boulder Copper and Winter Copper butterflies? Bianca, our butterfly guru, joined us early on to help turn this idea into reality. She met with us at Living Springs to select…

Continuing a Shared Legacy at Living Springs For more than eighty years, the Youth Hostels Association (YHA) has been part of New Zealand’s story, a place where young travellers and families could find affordable, safe, and welcoming accommodation. But YHA was never just about a bed for the night. It was about opening doors to…

We are excited to be part of the Farm Biodiversity whānau with the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust (BPCT), marking another step forward in our ongoing commitment to conservation. As a 420ha working farm and outdoor education centre, we have spent over a decade restoring native habitat, managing predator control, and fostering environmental education. Thousands of students, volunteers,…

Have a look at a camp kōrero (conversation) where you’ll meet the team. In this video, three of our volunteers share their experiences at Living Springs and in Aotearoa. They discuss what attracts  them to Living Springs, the friendships they’ve made, and the personal growth they’ve achieved. “Camp Kōrero” provides an honest look at the…

We are thrilled to share some exciting news. Yesterday, Living Springs was featured on the front page of The Press, and today we had the honour of being interviewed by TVNZ’s Breakfast. The TVNZ team visited us to speak with our head ranger, Grant, about the remarkable work our volunteers are doing in conservation. This…

Open for business!   Living Springs without campers is just not the same, no laughter, no music, no fun.  This is about to change! The staff are back sprucing up and preparing for the return of our guests and it looks like this is going to happen sooner than later.  Today we are officially announcing…