Twenty University of Minnesota students recently tackled
wilding pines on Queenstown Hill as part of a three-week
study programme on New Zealand environmental issues.
Queenstown was the last stop on the trip and largely focused
on the ecological aspects of native and evolving habitats,
and wildlife.
As part of their learning experience, students were required
to take part in a community service project related to the
conservation of natural resources or the environment.
Queenstown Lakes District Council district forester Brianna
Pringle gave the students a rundown on the wilding pine
issue, before Adventure Tourism Management lecturer John
Cushen took over.
Taking the group on an interpretive tour of Queenstown Hill,
he explained the history of the area before getting the group
stuck in to the wilding pines.
QRC business development manager Sarah Cairns, Queenstown
host of the American study groups, said the students did not
let rain "place a damper on their experience".
Professor Stephen C. Carlson, of the university's department
of forestry, said it was a great experience to be "fighting
back against the invasion of plants that actually came from
our country".
The students also found time to visit Milford Sound and fit
in some bungy jumping, skydiving, Ziptrek and canyon swings.
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