Cultural Exploration

Connecting to place through service and community

As Putney Student Travel celebrates 75 years, we’re also recognizing the partnerships that make even short moments meaningful. On Hawai‘i Island, Putney students spend time with Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund, an organization dedicated to conservation, education, and community stewardship.

For Megan Lamson, president and program director, the goal is simple: help students connect to Hawai’i in a real and lasting way.

“We enjoy working with visiting youth groups and young adults,” she shares, “and trying to connect them to place through our service learning activities.”

Even in a single day, that connection begins to take shape.

Whether hiking along the coastline to remove plastic pollution or helping restore wetland habitats, each task is part of ongoing efforts led by local organizations and community members.

“It’s work that needs to be done,” Megan explains, “and it supports the groups that are caretaking these places.”

That sense of purpose is key.

“We want to make sure that the work we’re doing is intentional and meaningful,” Megan says.

Another important part of the experience is the community itself. Through organized service days, students often work alongside local residents, people of different ages and backgrounds who share a connection to the land and a commitment to its care.

Together, they contribute to efforts that protect coastal ecosystems, support native wildlife, and preserve spaces that are deeply important to the island’s culture and identity.

Even in a short time, these shared experiences leave an impression, offering students a glimpse into what it means to care for a place, and to be part of a community working to sustain it.

>> Click here to explore Putney’s Service Hawai’i programs