Flight Through Fog
When I first arrived in New Zealand, I was a 17-year-old weighed down by pressure. My life had shrunk to just two things: homework and video games. I felt like a machine preparing for exams, with no sense of meaning, no goal, no future.
YES! Camp changed that. Very quickly, I connected with my teammates—we laughed, joked, shared embarrassing stories, and found freedom in nature together. Through sustainability education, I rediscovered my sense of value and set a life goal I am still chasing: to improve the environment, fight poverty, and help more people choose sustainable ways of living. I know one person alone cannot transform the world, but I also believe every effort, every voice, makes the world a little better
For me, life’s purpose is like a migratory bird regaining its flight path, or a lighthouse breaking through the fog to guide ships at sea.
At YES! Camp, I gained both knowledge and joy. We learned the history of Whatipu Lodge and heard ancient Māori legends. We walked through rainforests and listened to the “bird orchestra.” We planted trees, tested water quality with Stacy, experimented with compost, and imagined what sustainable cities could be. Back in China, I carried this energy forward by promoting composting in my community and creating the WeChat public account Sustainable Development Study Society.
YES! Camp gave me more than memories. It gave me friendship, ideals, and passion for life. It gave me the courage to dream—and the belief that I can turn those dreams into action.
And yes—we also ate a lot! From the crisp freshness of L&P to the buttery layers of brioche pies filled with olives, onions, and pickles, every bite felt like traveling through flavors and stories.
Science in Nature: Jacky examines native New Zealand wood ear fungus. This early curiosity about food species and their origins eventually led him to pursue Food Science as his academic major.
候鸟归途，雾中灯塔
YES! CAMP，是一个位于新西兰的，以教导青少年可持续发展理念为核心目标的 CAMP；也是一个让我收获颇多的 CAMP。记得刚刚到达新西兰的时候，我是一个比较压抑，拘束的人。我知道，这两个形容词出现在一个17岁男孩身上是极其不正常的。不过的确如此，由于之前极大的学习压力让我感到我的未来灰暗而迷茫。我仿佛成为了备考的机器，忘记了我自己的目标和我人生的价值。我的日子仿佛就只有两件事：作业和游戏；迷失在这样的真空环境里，感觉自己的青春就这么一点点的逝去，毫无意义。
在 YES! CAMP 中，我与我的队友们很快都打成一片。我们欢笑，我们畅谈，分享自己的糗事，我们一起疯闹；既收获了友情，也感受到了自由。可持续发展的教育，让我找到了我自己的人生价值，也让我树立了我愿穷极一生去追寻的目标——改善环境，消除贫困，让更多的人选择可持续生活方式。我知道这些目标不可能因为我一个人微薄的力量而有所转变，但我相信我所贡献出的每一份力量，每一声呐喊，都会让我们的世界更加的美好。
人生价值于我，就像迷失的候鸟找回迁徙的方向；又如浓雾中的灯塔，引领着船舸前行。
在 YES! CAMP，我也收获了许多欢乐与知识。我们聆听了 Whatipu Lodge 的历史；知晓了古老的毛利传说。前往雨林，享受百鸟音乐会；融入自然，辨认植物。我们体验种树苗的乐趣，与 Stacy 一起检测水质，学习 compost 的做法，展望 sustainable 城市的宏图 注：Jacky 回到中国后，在他所在的社区积极推广堆肥，并建立微信公众号“可持续发展研习社” 。
曾经有一个伟人说：“民以食为天”。在 YES! CAMP，我们也狠狠地肆掠了一番。L&P 柠檬汽水，清新高雅，完全不像sprite那样的庸脂俗粉甜得发腻。Brioche，一种特色的咸派。酸黄瓜的清新杂糅着洋葱丝的香甜，黑橄榄与黄油的碰撞，最后被酥酥的外皮一层又一层的包裹起来。轻咬一口，仿佛来到了法兰西的普罗旺斯，感受薰衣草般浓情的浪漫。等等等，美食如林。酣畅淋漓，无法言表。
在 YES! CAMP，我收获的是未来、理想与信念。当然，还有对于生活满满的热情。
图注
科学视角下的自然：在雨林中，Jacky 发现了曾作为贸易纽带的新西兰木耳。这一发现不仅是自然探索，更是他食品科学之路的萌芽。
