By Mallory Bowen

While visiting Regent College in Vancouver last summer with my mother we found ourselves on a chance visit to A Rocha’s Brooksdale Environmental Centre. I don’t know if it was the mild BC weather or the thought of a spending a summer living in a charming Tudor-style coach house, but after an hour on site I was ready to apply for a summer internship. Soon after my visit I was accepted as an intern for summer 2016. I spent the year trying to minimize my expectations because all I was anticipating seemed far too idyllic. It feels unfair to say that my time at A Rocha has exceeded my expectations because it hasn’t been anything like what I expected. A Rocha is not what I dreamt because what I have found here is unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced.

What I consider to be A Rocha’s distinguishing factor is its integrity. From my garden supervisors to the families who live on site there is a permeating sense of conviction being lived out. I have seen a commitment to creation care that is met with everyday action rather than a fearful blind eye. Whether it’s washing and drying old plastic cheese wrappers for recycling, or putting together Community Shared Agriculture bins on harvest days, every task is done with “why” in mind. I am have been delighted to spend a summer in such a beautiful place, learning from people who demonstrate a deep consistency between what they preach and what they practice.

A Rocha Canada’s Internship Program at the Brooksdale Environmental Centre in Surrey, BC is an apprenticeship-style program designed for anyone 18 years or older. Internships run in three “terms” – fall, winter/spring, and summer. Visit our Internships page to learn how to integrate environmental stewardship into your everyday life.