The volunteers arrived in groups of approximately 12-15 at staggered intervals over the summer, with all groups working for 11 weeks. Once the initial training was complete, each group would then be split again into 2 subgroups. Every weekend each subgroup would be moved to its next assignment. Subgroups would generally meet up at weekends while moving to their next week's destination and would often alternate, subgroup A moving to where subgroup B had just been and vice versa.

The volunteers themselves ranged from conservation students to ex-Google employees to people simply looking to travel. It was tough going at times - camping, weather, and constant proximity to the same people could wear anyone down - but our groups fared far better than I'd thought we would. Over the course of the summer, one volunteer lost a grandparent, another gained a niece, and we all grew together as friends.

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