NYU London is committed to community service and to the environment and thus each term NYU London students have the opportunity to do some environmental volunteering. Every semester, the students alternate between going to Snowdonia (Spring) and Brecon Beacons (Fall), the two major National Parks in Wales. The tasks are usually similar but sometimes vary depending on the location. This semester, on October 19-20th, the NYU London students volunteered at the top of Pen-y-Crug and helped cut down gorse bushes that are taking over the landscape and making it difficult for native plants to survive. Some students helped cut and pull out the gorse while another team were tasked with burning them in one bonfire spot as they went along. Both trips are also great for students because they have an opportunity get to visit Welsh historic and cultural sites along the way. On the Brecon Beacons trip the students visit Chepstow Castle and on the Snowdonia trip they visit Conwy Castle. Students find it a gratifying experience to help the environment in this beautiful part of the country while also having the chance to learn about Welsh history and culture.

NYU London student Laura Zhang had this to say about the experience: Growing up in a suburban area and then going to school in NYC, I never really experienced the countryside. And when I signed up for the volunteer trip, I had little knowledge of Wales itself and pictured the national park to be similar to what I had seen before back home. (Which was probably Central Park/Letchworth State Park if we wanna up the stakes a little) So on the first afternoon in Wales when we all hiked up this massive mountain with steep hills and muddy paths, I was dying. But everything was so worth it when we got to the top and the view was amazing. It was a completely different world up there and I think the best way to sum up the whole trip is that crazy feeling of seeing and knowing you’re on this hill, in Wales, in the UK, a million miles from home but still not believing it. And of course the purpose of the trip was the volunteer experience as well, which was incredibly rewarding and definitely character-building; I don’t think many people can say they’ve taken down massive gorse bushes in Wales. Overall, I personally felt that this trip was and is a defining part of my study abroad experience in London.