Jonni on the spot!

Jonni Price, 22, spent last summer as Conwy nature reserve’s first Learning Intern, a volunteer role leading groups of schoolchildren on their curriculum-focused visits. Now, he’s joined the staff team at Conwy, though continues to help with school groups on days off when he can. We grabbed him during a quick lunch break to ask him about his volunteering for RSPB Cymru.

Tell us a little about what you’ve been doing as a volunteer with RSPB Cymru?

Being a volunteer with the Learning team is all about bringing the wonders of nature to over 2000 schoolchildren during the summer term. I have always been a big wildlife enthusiast but had never taught, or led activities for groups of up to 30 children. Too few kids have the opportunity to discover nature, so we spend some of our time showing how they can give nature a home in their gardens too.

Why did you apply for the internship in the first place?

I only saw the advert the day before applications closed, but I’d been stuck in a bit of a rut with a job since I left University. I wasn’t using my degree and wanted to follow my passion, as well as learn things that would stand me in good stead as my career develops. The training element of the internship was important to me, as I wanted to learn from those with more experience who already worked in conservation.

What are the best three things about volunteering for the RSPB?

1. The opportunity to be outside, seeing wildlife – that’s really special.
2. The people I’ve met. I’ve learned from the experiences of the wide range of volunteers and staff (there are 80 volunteers at Conwy) and I’ve made some good friends. People have been really keen to help me.
3. The response and feedback from children makes everything worthwhile. I remember a girl with Motor Neurone Disease who could communicate only by eye movement. I showed her a tadpole in a jar and got a great response, and her Mum came back later that day to thank me as she could tell how animated her daughter was by the experience. That is a real reward.

What was the biggest surprise about volunteering?

Probably the confidence that it gave me. I expected to learn stuff, and gain experience, but I hadn’t really thought about how it would change me. Conwy has a very busy schools programme so I had to learn quickly, and within four weeks of starting I was leading groups, not just shadowing or helping. I could never have imagined doing that so quickly.

You joined the staff team in April as Conwy’s Visitor Experience Assistant; how do you think your volunteering helped you get the job?

I now work alongside a different team of volunteers in the Visitor Centre, and I’d like to think that my experience through the last year gives me credibility in their eyes, even though I’m younger than many of them.I have lots of friends from Uni who are struggling to get jobs in nature conservation; it’s tough. I really don’t think I’d have got my first paid employment if I hadn’t volunteered first. As well as the experience, it meant that I knew the reserve well, and that’s great for my new role that encourages all our visitors to explore the site – and hopefully support the RSPB’s work. My volunteering also got me noticed by people who would make decisions about staff recruitment! 

Yes, hands down, being a volunteer was invaluable in me being able to take my first step on a career helping nature.