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Germany Germany: Roll Up Your Sleeves (near Koblenz in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley) (DE-SCI 10.99)

Dates

07/04/2024   -   19/04/2024

Feedback from 14 volunteers

Tags

Environmental
Manual Work
2
Place(s)
left

Fee

USD 400
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Details on the project

Age
18 - 99
Max number of volunteers
12
Still room for
2
Languages
English
Nearest airport
 
Nearest bus/train station
 

Work

together we will preserve the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley:
we will work in gardens and vineyards, on old hiking trails and forests, on dry stone walls and in orchards. The exact work program is still being developed and will show several aspects for the preservation of the cultural landscape, with a focus on landscape conservation, garden culture and nature conservation!

Accomodation and food

You will stay in the beautiful youth hostel in Kaub at the river Rhein. All meals - optionally vegetarian or vegan - will be prepared for you.

Location and leisure

Upper Middle Rhine Valley, different spots

Project hosted by

The international work camp takes place in the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley in the surroundings of the legendary Loreley and is organized by the Zweckverband Welterbe Oberes Mittelrheintal. Preservation and conservation of the unique cultural landscape are the focus of the work camp. Together with winegrowers, biotope caretakers as well as landscape conservationists, biotope and landscape maintenance work such as mowing and brush removal will be carried out in the steep Rhine slopes and side valleys.
During leisure time, the unique cultural landscape with winegrowing, castles and palaces

Additional comments

INCOMING FEE of 50 € for volunteers applying via partner organisations and contacts of SCI: https://sci-d.de/incomingfee

Requirements

It is essential to bring high work shoes with profile or hiking boots (work on slopes) and sturdy work clothes!

Sustainable Development Goals

Peace and Justice Strong Institutions Partnerships to achieve the Goal
Germany Germany: Berlin Renovation Camp (VJF24 3.2)

Dates

15/04/2024   -   25/04/2024

Feedback from 118 volunteers

Tags

Renovation
Construction

Already accepted volunteers from

Italy Ukraine Turkey France Spain Belgium

Fee

USD 400
Close

Details on the project

Age
18 - 26
Max number of volunteers
12
Still room for
5
Languages
English
Vegetarian food
Yes
Nearest airport
Berlin (BER)
Nearest bus/train station
Tram 68: “Adlergestell / Vetschauer Allee”
Map

Work

During this camp we need to prepare our project centre for the next workcamp season.
Our main goal for the first week will be all about woodworking to prepare our project center for the upcoming workcamp season. This means we'll be busy building DIY furniture specifically designed for our outdoor areas. To make sure everyone learns the woodworking skills well, we've arranged for a skilled instructor to guide us through hands-on training sessions. Alongside woodworking, we'll also take care of other renovation tasks, like painting walls and fixing up small things indoors and outdoors. Since a lot of our work will be outside, it's essential for everyone to come prepared with waterproof clothing to handle any bad weather that comes our way.The centre needs some new colors on the walls, as well as some renovation work needs to be done. You will need waterproof clothes in case of bad weather, as you will be mainly working outside. Other small tasks during the camp may include maintenance or renovation works inside and outside.

Accomodation and food

Accomodation:
You will live at the training center in heated bungalows. Bed linen will be provided, so you don´t have to necessarily bring a sleeping bag with you. There is no washing machine and only limited internet access in the training center.
Food:
You will have the chance to prepare your own meals in a kitchen at the training center. Please bring recipes or even ingredients from your home country, so you can prepare some traditional meals and have a international cook out together.

Location and leisure

Location:
You will live at the "Projekt- und Begegnungsstätte" of the association of Young Volunteers (VJF). The small bungalow village is located directly on the banks at the lake "Langer See" in Berlin-Grünau. It's a quiet place, one hour away from the center of Berlin, but with great infrastructure. Leisure time:
The free time activities are determined by the participants at the beginning of the camp. Please research in advance what you would like to see in Berlin and make with your suggestions a contribution to the group activities.

Project hosted by

"Projekt- und Begegnungsstätte" of the Association of Young Volunteers
(Vereinigung Junger Freiwilliger e.V. (VJF))

Directions to meeting point

Projekt- und Begegnungsstätte der VJF Krimnitzer Weg 25 12527 Berlin Arrival time: Arrival day from 10am until 4pm. If your arrival time deviates, please let us know.

Additional comments

  • Pleae book refundable flight tickets in case the workcamp needs to be cancelled, due to lack of
    participants

    In addition please add to your packing list the following items:
    - a flashlight
    - warm clothes
    - towels and personal items
    - entertainment (music, games, instruments,...)
    - International Student Identity Card (ISIC)

Requirements

Please book refundable tickets

Also, dont forget to bring the following items:

  • a flashlight
  • warm clothes
  • towels and personal items
  • entertainment (music, games, instruments,...)
  • International Student Identity Card (ISIC)
Germany Germany: Solar-Power (Lellwangen near Lake Constance) (DE-SCI 10.90)

Dates

15/04/2024   -   25/04/2024

Feedback from 14 volunteers

Tags

Construction
Environmental
Renovation

Fee

USD 400
Close

Details on the project

Age
18 - 99
Max number of volunteers
17
Still room for
9 Male + 9 Female
Languages
English
Nearest airport
 
Nearest bus/train station
 

Work

In this workcamp we are constructing a self-sufficient solar power energy system with
energy storage facilities. This system is a possible way of creating resilient energy supply in a
decentralized manner keeping private energy supply in a more personal responsibility
compared to a centralized energy network run by big company. Additionally, natural
gardening tasks will contribute to a varied working experience with many fields of learning.

Accomodation and food

In your own tent (please bring your own sleeping mat and sleeping bag). Depending on your
needs, indoor sleeping options are also possible. Outdoor kitchen, toilets, shower. The
volunteers will take turns in cooking for the whole group. So be prepared to cook for the

Location and leisure

Our camp is located near the northwest part of Lake Constance, 40 km of the city of
Constance. The workcamp is just outside the village of Lellwangen, Deggenhausertal. From
there, we can enjoy a great view to the lake and the Alps.

Project hosted by

The aim of our association Zukunftsweise e.V. is to build a non-profit learning centre in
which alternative ways of life and economy are researched and practiced and a constructive
coexistence is to be learned and lived. The focus now, is on construction & the effect of
energy-self-sufficient micro-solar networks, which are necessary for a sustainable energy
industry at the moment. This method represents an innovative approach - as an alternative
to fossil or nuclear electricity from the public grid. Each unit has its own energy storage &
inverter.

Additional comments

INCOMING FEE of 50€ for volunteers applying via partner organisations and contacts of SCI https://sci-d.de/incomingfee

Requirements

please bring your own sleeping mat and sleeping bag, working clothes and shoes, if you like, your musical instrument

Sustainable Development Goals

Peace and Justice Strong Institutions Partnerships to achieve the Goal
Germany Germany: Peatland protection Kell (IBG 02)

Dates

21/04/2024   -   04/05/2024

Feedback from 224 volunteers

Tags

Environmental
2
Place(s)
left

Already accepted volunteers from

Finland Germany Serbia Belgium Poland Denmark Colombia

Fee

USD 400
Close

Details on the project

Age
18 - 99
Max number of volunteers
10
Still room for
2
Languages
English
Vegetarian food
Yes
Nearest airport
Luxembourg (LUX)
Nearest bus/train station
train station: Trier Bahnhof; international bus stops: Trier, Saarbrucken and Luxembourg
Map

Work

Active for climate protection and biodiversity – save the peatlands in the Hunsrück area!

You will actively contribute to protecting a special peatland called “Weyrichsbruch”. This area was drained more than 150 years ago for forestry use. Peatlands are a valuable and natural Co2 storage as well as an ecological habitat with a high and very specialized biodiversity. For these reasons, in the 1980s it was decided to revitalize a small part of the Weyrichsbruch. Now the regional authorities for nature protection want to revitalise a much bigger part and this is where you can help! Under the supervision of two experienced Park Rangers you will improve the water balance in this peatland in order to renature the bog, and help it to cope better with the consequences of climate change. Some of your tasks will be to undo the drainage of the area by blocking or filling ditches, or by building small wooden barriers. While working, you will be able to discover many rare species which have already returned. The park Rangers will be happy to explain to you the ecological background and the consequences of climate change and they will guide you to discover this special habitat and its species.
The Weyrichsbruch is bordering a well-known hiking trail. On that trail, it is possible to take a look inside the bog from a wooden plank path. In addition, various information boards have been placed around the area to convey the ecological background of the Weyrichsbruch and thus contribute to environmental education.
Attention: The work might be physically hard, the wheelbarrow becomes your daily companion and you will get wet and muddy for sure! Please bring hiking boots, rubber boots and suitable working clothes.

Accomodation and food

You will stay in the Educational Centre in Kell am See, which is an important place for youth work in the whole area around the city of Trier. This public and non-profit centre offers the opportunity for youth groups, associations and schools to spend some days or weeks here running a seminar or other projects.
You will stay in five wooden tepees for max. five persons each. Staying here, among pure nature and with the campfire in the middle of the tepees’ circle is a wonderful experience. You will sleep on mattresses inside the tepees. Close to the tepees, you will have access to your own kitchen including a dish-washer, to a living room and sanitary facilities, all inside the Educational Centre. In your free time you can use the different outdoor facilities of the centre like the campfire and the basketball, football and volleyball fields. Close to the centre, there is also a lake and hiking trails. Please be aware that the tepees have electricity but no heating, so it might be cold at night. The facilities in the centre (kitchen, living room and sanitary facilities) can be heated though.
Your group of volunteers will be responsible for grocery shopping and cooking together. The food will be bought with the camp budget and everybody will take turns for cooking, washing the dishes and cleaning. In order to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet, we encourage volunteers to reduce meat and try more sustainable dishes.

Location and leisure

The workcamp will take place in Kell am See, a village 30 km from Trier, not far from the border with Luxemburg. The landscape in this area is very beautiful! It is dominated by huge forests, steep hills, small brooks and ponds, rocks and marshes. Only small hamlets interrupt the nature, which makes it a perfect region for plenty of different species but also for hiking. You will really feel different here!
The area is well known for cycling, walking and other kinds of outdoor activities. There is a local holiday resort nearby the Education Centre, which offers more than 200 holiday bungalows next to a lake and locals love to come here for cycling (there is a 45 km cycling path on a former railway roadbed) or to spend a nice day outside. The region also offers plenty of historic sites (castles, museums….). In addition, you will have the opportunity to come in contact with local associations, e.g. the local voluntary fire brigade. Since there aren’t many public transportation means available around Kell am See, the number of excursions will be limited. However, you will have the chance to visit the city of Trier with its famous Roman sites, the cathedral and birth place of Karl-Marx

Project hosted by

This workcamp is based on the cooperation between IBG and the regional “Foundation for Nature and environment”. We have been working together since 2016, organising one or two international Workcamps per year in the field of nature protection

Directions to meeting point

You will be picked up from the bus stop in Kell am See. Please inform your campleader about your arrival time on Apr 21st . You can check for connections from anywhere to Kell am See on: www.bahn.com .

Additional comments

This is a special project for nature lovers and people interested in nature protection work. You will get wet and dirty. Please be prepared that April in the Hunsrück area can either be warm and sunny or quite fresh and rainy.

Requirements

Please be aware that ticks can be an issue when you spend a lot of time outdoors in natural areas in Germany - like in this camp. In our General Infosheet you will find suggestions on how you can protect yourself against them. You are also welcome to check whether a vaccination against the tick-borne disease TBE makes sense and is possible in your home country.

Sustainable Development Goals

Climate Action Life on Land
Germany Germany: Lights, Curtain, Action! Open-air Theater Heidenheim (IBG 03)

Dates

22/04/2024   -   06/05/2024

Feedback from 224 volunteers

Tags

Construction
Cultural
Manual Work

Already accepted volunteers from

Armenia Italy Germany Poland Greece

Fee

USD 400
Close

Details on the project

Age
18 - 99
Max number of volunteers
12
Still room for
2 Male + 2 Female
Languages
English
Vegetarian food
Yes
Nearest airport
Stuttgart (STR)
Nearest bus/train station
Heidenheim an der Brenz (train station)
Map

Work

Lights, Curtain, Action! Are you ready to take part in the building of a theater set?

In this camp, you will help with the set construction for the Open-Air Theatre Heidenheim. During 2024, 2 plays will be performed here: 'Annie' – a red-haired orphan finds a new home with a wealthy businessman, under the care of his assistant, in her search to reunite with her biological parents - and 'Der Räuber Hotzenplotz' – the tale of Kasperl and Seppel, striving to capture the cunning robber Hotzenplotz to retrieve Grandma's stolen coffee grinder. The stage and set needs to be renewed accordingly: In the end, the scenery is supposed to look like New York and a small german village at the same time – a very interesting and challenging task! You will screw, nail, and paint. Smaller props will need to be built, too.

Apart from that, your work will also entail:
• Installing a wooden floor in the prop garage.
• Renewing the cover of the small wooden shelf storage.
• Restoring the seats in the “Klausen” garden.
• Cleaning stones around the cold storage with a pressure washer, possibly renewing or filling with gravel.
• Painting walls and repair cracks in the pavilion.

...and some other tasks as needed! Be prepared to always lend a helping hand.

There will be a professional stage builder who helps you with all tasks. For sure it is helpful though, if you have a bit of experience in manual/constructional work and have used tools like cordless screwdrivers before.

Accomodation and food

You will be accommodated directly on the project side: Next to the stage, there is building for administration, a workshop, a café …

Here you will have one big room for yourselves, showers, and a kitchen. Be aware that there is only one big room for sleeping available to all volunteers – no separation possible!

Your group of volunteers will be responsible for grocery shopping and cooking together. The food will be bought with the camp budget and everybody will take turns for cooking, washing the dishes and cleaning the accommodation. In order to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet, we encourage all volunteers to reduce meat and try more sustainable dishes.

Location and leisure

Heidenheim an der Brenz is a town with a bit less than 50,000 inhabitants in the southern region of Baden-Württemberg. The area is rather rural with a beautiful countryside: since it is at the end of the Swabian Albs – a mountain range of about 220km - there are many hills and forests.

Also in the town you will find the Hellenstein Castle, first built on the 12th century, and wildlife park with around 100 animals, very close to your project. If you would like to visit a larger town, you may go to Ulm which is only 30km away. Stuttgart and Munich are about 2 hours by train.

Project hosted by

Your host is the Open-Air Theatre Heidenheim, the 2nd largest one of its kind in Southern Germany. It is situated on the “castle hill” of the town of Heidenheim an der Brenz, surrounded by forests, and can accommodate up to 1,100 spectators.

The Open-Air Theatre is run by a non-profit association and they are very excited about hosting again a group of international volunteers. This project is perfect for everyone who is interested in theatres and wants to have a look behind the scenes! Have a look at the theatre here: www.naturtheater.de

The association was first founded by Gustav Müller over 100 years ago, after the first World War, in his quest of dedicating his life to something that would unite people: art. In 1919 not only did Müller materialize this idea, but also managed to host several productions at the concert stage.

Nowadays, with over 500 members of all ages, the 'Naturtheater Heidenheim' association is one of the most popular organizations in the city of Heidenheim and its surrounding area.

Directions to meeting point

The meeting point will be directly at the accommodation. The path between the accommodation and the train station is about 2km long, so it should take you about 20 mins to get there by walking.

Additional comments

Please be aware that ticks can be an issue when you spend a lot of time outdoors in natural areas in Germany - like in this camp. In our General Infosheet you will find suggestions on how you can protect yourself against them. You are also welcome to check whether a vaccination against the tick-borne disease TBE makes sense and is possible in your home country.

Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Cities and Communities
Germany Germany: Music Festival (Moers near Duisburg) (DE-SCI 12.4)

Dates

13/05/2024   -   22/05/2024

Feedback from 14 volunteers

Tags

Art
Festival
Social

Already accepted volunteers from

Colombia United States + more

Fee

USD 400
Close

Details on the project

Age
18 - 99
Max number of volunteers
12
Still room for
2 Male + 2 Female
Languages
English
Nearest airport
 
Nearest bus/train station
 

Work

Before the festival starts, we have to build the stages, finish and install the decoration, hang
up signs and posters, prepare the festival site. After the festival everything has to be
dismantled and the festival site has to be tidied.
During the festival the participants are going to help controlling the entrances, assist
preparing the backstage areas, help with catering and support the artists, do errands and
patrols, play minor roles in videos and the stream and sell merchandise.The tasks vary and might change during the days. Some work is physical, some is interactive, sometimes work alone, sometimes in a team.
Please note: You also work on weekends and not always together with other Workcamp members, but of course you get enough (group) time for free time in total.

Accomodation and food

In the facilities of the SCI:Moers, camp beds available, please bring a sleeping bag and a
pillow. Shower, toilet, large kitchen and common room are available.The participants get to
eat on the festival site. During the construction and dismantling phase they are going to eat with the crew and during the actual festival they are going to have access to the artist and crew catering (a starter, main dish, dessert + drinks, snacks and bread rolls will be served).

Location and leisure

The festival site is located close to the Schlosspark Moers and consists out of three main
stages, a festival market, a camp ground and several small and constantly changing stages.
There are also concerts and happenings taking place in the city center and in different shops

Project hosted by

Moers festival is a music festival which exists for 53 years and represents all kinds of music
that aren´t mainstream. Besides concerts on different stages, you can find panels and
discussions about political and cultural topics and there are happenings everywhere around
the city of Moers. A festival market where jewelery, clothes, food and drinks are sold can be
found in the parc and you can also camp on the festival site.
Every year hundreds of artists from all around the world play at moers festival and thousands of visitors are happily watching the concerts and happenings in the whole city.

Additional comments

As the festival takes place on a weekend (17 - 20 May 2024), the participants (unlike at other
work camps) do not have this weekend off, but work during the week as on the other days.
INCOMING FEE of 50€ for volunteers applying via partner organisations and contacts of SCI https://sci-d.de/incomingfee

Requirements

Interested in festivals and culture, willing to do physical work, openness and motivation for
new tasks

Sustainable Development Goals

Peace and Justice Strong Institutions Partnerships to achieve the Goal
Germany Germany: German-Swiss sculpture trail Hohentengen (IBG 04)

Dates

19/05/2024   -   01/06/2024

Feedback from 224 volunteers

Tags

Renovation
Art

Already accepted volunteers from

Thailand Hong Kong Spain

Fee

USD 400
Close

Details on the project

Age
18 - 40
Max number of volunteers
12
Still room for
5 Male + 1 Female
Languages
English
Vegetarian food
Yes
Access with disability
Yes
Nearest airport
Zurich (ZRH)
Nearest bus/train station
Waldshut
Map

Work

Over water - over land: this is the name of Europe's first cross-border sculpture trail. You will take care of several sculptures on the German-Swiss sculpture trail and restore them to their original state. Weather and people have left their mark: The stone of the sculptures needs to be brushed to remove moss and lichen, and some sculptures are also sprayed with graffiti. For others, the subsurface needs to be renewed or maintained. The explanatory plates for the objects will also be replaced. In addition, you will completely renew the barbecue area, which is part of the 9km long trail. This area is intended to invite people to combine arts, nature and community.

Accomodation and food

You will be accommodated in the local multipurpose hall in the centre of the village which is otherwise used for sports and events. This offers plenty of space, a small kitchen and enough sanitary facilities for everyone. Camp beds are provided. Please bring your own sleeping bag and pillow (if required).

Your group of volunteers will be responsible for grocery shopping and cooking together. The food will be bought with the camp budget and everybody will take turns for cooking, washing the dishes and cleaning. In order to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet, we encourage volunteers to reduce meat and try more sustainable dishes.

Location and leisure

Hohentengen am Hochrhein lies in the south of Germany, in a kind of bubble surrounded on three sides by Switzerland. Only the Rhine separates the village from Switzerland. The village offers unspoilt nature, numerous sports and leisure facilities (beach volleyball, swimming pools, water sports ...).

Mountain ranges on the northern edge of the municipality, the Rhine Valley opens up to the south, the Rhine glistens in the plain and the Alps in Switzerland greet you on the horizon when visibility is good. With its 3,600 inhabitants, Hohentengen offers the entire infrastructure you could wish for: supermarkets, shops, pubs and much more.

Project hosted by

In 2000, 12 internationally renowned artists realised ideas and thoughts on the theme of borders - dividing and uniting - in sculptures. Embedded in the marvellous landscape of the High Rhine, this path is a cultural symbol of friendship and connects the places on both sides of the river and the German-Swiss border. https://skulpturenweg.de/

Now, almost 25 years after its construction, the sculpture trail needs some maintenance. The citizens of Hohentengen would be delighted if this is done with the help of international volunteers completely in the spirit of the path's artistic message.

Directions to meeting point

First you have to travel to Waldshut. Please check www.bahn.com for a connection from anywhere in Germany or Switzerland. In Waldshut, you will find bus #7340 to Hohentengen. There is a bus every two hours on Sundays. The last bus leaves Waldshut on Sundays at 7.30 pm, so please arrange your travel in a way to be on time for this connection at the latest. Get off at the bus stop "Kath. Pfarramt, Hohentengen".

Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Cities and Communities Good Health and Well-being
Germany Germany: Working in the castle forest directly at the beautiful Baltic Sea beach (ijgd 14023)

Dates

25/05/2024   -   08/06/2024

Feedback from 351 volunteers

Tags

Environmental

Already accepted volunteers from

Vietnam France Colombia

Fee

USD 400
Close

Details on the project

Age
16 - 26
Max number of volunteers
10
Still room for
3 Male + 4 Female
Languages
English
Vegetarian food
Yes
Nearest airport
Hamburg (HAM)
Nearest bus/train station
Hamburg-Hauptbahnhof – Kiel Hbf – Eckernförde Bhf. We would like to invite you to travel as environmentally friendly as possible. If you have the option to go by train, bus, carshare or bicycle that can be a great first step for you to become a climate steward.
Map

Work

You can experience forestry work and relaxation in idyllic surroundings at this workcamp. You will live with 11 other young people from all over the world on the beautiful Noer youth campsite, which is located directly at the Baltic Sea. You will work at the Noer Castle, which is 1 km away, and will make the huge forest around the castle safe for traffic again by removing branches and undergrowth. You will also spend one day a week carrying out other small gardening and manual tasks.

Accomodation and food

You will stay in a very simple and sparse utility house on the Noer youth campsite directly on the beautiful Baltic Sea beach.
In the utility house, where the huge campsite kitchen for self-catering is located, you sleep in the small dining room and the former small kitchen on field/air beds and use the large kitchen for cooking, eating and for meetings. You cook together. Money for shopping will be provided. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please indicate any intolerances when registering.There are also two showers and two toilets in the house.
The campsite has a football pitch, a volleyball court and a table tennis table. You can also lie on the beach or swim in the Baltic Sea, which is still very cold at the time.
https://freizeit-am-meer.de/reiseziele/noer/zeltplatz

Location and leisure

The Noer youth campsite is located directly on the beautiful, unspoilt Baltic Sea beach and has a football pitch, a volleyball court and a table tennis table. You can also lie on the beach or swim in the Baltic Sea, which is still very cold at this time of year.
On the grounds of Noer Castle you can also play disc golf or use the barbecue hut.
Trips to Hamburg and Kiel are worthwhile at the weekend.

Project hosted by

The Society for Youth Facilities (Gesellschaft für Jugendeinrichtungen e.V.) has been running youth guesthouses on the North Sea and Baltic Sea since 1959. Under the brand "Leisure and Education by the Sea" (Freizeit und Bildung am Meer) the non-profit association pursues its educational mission in a very special way - because with the individually tailored programmes, young people and anyone else interested learn about the nature, culture and history of Schleswig-Holstein. The Noer youth campsite is located directly on the Baltic Sea beach and is mainly used by youth groups and for school trips. The Schloss Noer youth guesthouse is mainly used by choirs and orchestras, but also by families and youth groups.

The ijgd has been organising volunteer service programmes since 1949. We are an independent, non-profit association for international youth work, a recognised independent youth welfare organisation, and one of the largest and oldest workcamp organisations in Germany. Each year, we assist around 5,000 young people into volunteer work in Germany and abroad. We give them the opportunity to be creative, act in solidarity, take responsibility for themselves, and discover their own true potential and strengths. Our principles: Ecological learning, voluntary contribution, self-organisation, social development, intercultural learning, gender equality, anti-racism/anti-discrimination and political education.
Follow us on
Instagram ijgd_workcamps
Facebook @ijgd.workcamps

Directions to meeting point

Meeting point and time: at the accommodation; on Saturday 25/05/2024 by 7:30pm at the latest Attention: The described connections runs only at 1:22 and 4:43 pm from Hamburg. There are also other (more difficult) connections, but not described here.
From Hamburg airport take S-Bahn S1 (direction Wedel or Hamburg-Blankenese) to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof (Hamburg main train station, about 24 min travel time). The S1 is running every 10min.
At Hamburg Hauptbahnhof (Hamburg main train station) take the train RE 7 in direction Kiel Hbf. and get off at the last station Kiel Hbf. after 74mins.
At Kiel Hbf change to train NBE in direction “Eckernförde” or “Rieseby Schleibrücke Süd” and get off at the station Gettorf after 16-21 mins.
From Bahnhof Gettorf take the bus 747 in the direction “Surendorf” and leave the bus after 15mins at station Schloss Noer.
At the Schloss Noer bus stop, cross the road towards the houses and take the street "Zum Hegenwohld". Follow this road for approx. 400 metres and then turn slightly right into the street "Haffkamp". Follow this road to the end (approx. 700m) on the ground of the youth campsite. Your accommodation is on the right-hand side.
More Information about train and bus connections: www.bahn.com

Requirements

Please note: Teenage volunteers (u18) have to pay an additional teenage fee of 150€ to ijgd when they register for this camp

Sustainable Development Goals

Climate Action Life on Land
Germany Germany: Solar-Power (Lellwangen near Lake Constance) (DE-SCI 10.91)

Dates

27/05/2024   -   06/06/2024

Feedback from 14 volunteers

Tags

Construction
Environmental
Renovation

Fee

USD 400
Close

Details on the project

Age
18 - 99
Max number of volunteers
17
Still room for
8 Male + 8 Female
Languages
English
Nearest airport
 
Nearest bus/train station
 

Work

In this workcamp we are constructing a self-sufficient solar power energy system with
energy storage facilities. This system is a possible way of creating resilient energy supply in a
decentralized manner keeping private energy supply in a more personal responsibility
compared to a centralized energy network run by big company. Additionally, natural
gardening tasks will contribute to a varied working experience with many fields of learning.

Accomodation and food

In your own tent (please bring your own sleeping mat and sleeping bag). Depending on your
needs, indoor sleeping options are also possible. Outdoor kitchen, toilets, shower. The
volunteers will take turns in cooking for the whole group. So be prepared to cook for the

Location and leisure

Our camp is located near the northwest part of Lake Constance, 40 km of the city of
Constance. The workcamp is just outside the village of Lellwangen, Deggenhausertal. From
there, we can enjoy a great view to the lake and the Alps.

Project hosted by

The aim of our association Zukunftsweise e.V. is to build a non-profit learning centre in
which alternative ways of life and economy are researched and practiced and a constructive
coexistence is to be learned and lived. The focus now, is on construction & the effect of
energy-self-sufficient micro-solar networks, which are necessary for a sustainable energy
industry at the moment. This method represents an innovative approach - as an alternative
to fossil or nuclear electricity from the public grid. Each unit has its own energy storage &
inverter.

Additional comments

INCOMING FEE of 50€ for volunteers applying via partner organisations and contacts of SCI https://sci-d.de/incomingfee

Requirements

please bring your own sleeping mat and sleeping bag, working clothes and shoes, if you like, your musical instrument

Sustainable Development Goals

Peace and Justice Strong Institutions Partnerships to achieve the Goal
Germany Germany: OH-W01 Lohra Castle (OH-W01)

Dates

09/06/2024   -   22/06/2024

Feedback from 58 volunteers

Tags

Renovation
Environmental
Construction

Already accepted volunteers from

Colombia Spain + more

Fee

USD 400
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Details on the project

Age
18 - 28
Max number of volunteers
14
Still room for
7 Male + 7 Female
Languages
English
Vegetarian food
Yes
Nearest airport
Berlin (BER)
Nearest bus/train station
Großlohra, Friedrichslohra/Wartehalle
Map

Work

The projects of Open Houses are based on sustainable principles. Therefore, the activities at Lohra Castle combine aspects of cultural heritage preservation and aspects of natural heritage preservation. The castle is surrounded by a vast green area and the volunteers will help in the maintenance of it. Near the youth accommodation houses that are part of the Lohra Castle complex there is a camping site which can be used by youth groups, for this reason the area should be made accessible from overgrown grass. The tasks will be mowing and collecting the grass. Additionally, the participants of the project will support the work on renovations on the Castle grounds.

The hilly massive around Lohra Castle is listed as National Nature Reserve. Open Houses supports the Reserve since several years with volunteering activities. In a forest near the Castle the participants will remove trees and bushes which are not corresponding with the protection aims in order to clean the paths and make them enjoyable again. They will also will collect the wood remaining after maintenance works, load it on a truck, unload it at the castle and split and stack it for wintertime or for the fireplace. Besides that, the volunteers will continue the maintenance of the green area at the castle. In addition, in the later part of the summer, they will support the recollection, assortment, splitting and storage of wood to prepare the castle for the harsh winter months.

The volunteers work six hours per day five days a week. The afternoons and evenings can be used for nearby cultural attractions, games, group activities, campfires and other similar things. On the weekends the volunteers have the opportunity to visit nearby places.

Accomodation and food

ACCOMMODATION
In most of Open Houses' camps the volunteers will live at the same places they also work on, what means that they live more or less on a building site. In most of the Heritage Volunteers Projects the accommodation is located in a certain distance to the working site. The accommodation is usually very simple; there are shared rooms with simple beds or mattresses at most of the places. Shower, toilet and kitchen are at the place, but sometimes not in the same building. The equipment is simple but fair. After work, when everybody wants to take a shower, there can be a limit of hot water.

FOOD
The meals will be prepared together as they are part of the community life, what means that every participant will be responsible for the meal at least once during its stay. So it would be very nice if the participants could bring typical recipes from home in order to introduce each other to the preparation of food from all over the world.

FINANCES
All costs linked to the project are covered, including food, accommodation, insurance and transportation during the stay at the project. Travel costs to and from the camp place are not covered. Participants should organise their journey to and from the project place by themselves and on their own expenses. Furthermore, participants should bring their own pocket money.

Location and leisure

Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in Northern Thuringia. The castle, which is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape, is located on the edge of a natural reserve area. Being one of the largest castles in Thuringia, the history of castle Lohra begins in the Middle Ages. It
s architectural styles which have been preserved in the structures of the ensemble attest to a prolonged period of occupation and historical evolution up until today.

The castle is more than thousand years old, and it is a relic of German medieval past that is still standing at the heart of a region through which the story of the German nation has been written. Today, it includes twenty buildings from different time periods, showcasing this historical evolution to the enchantment of visitors and heritage enthusiasts: medieval fortifications, remnants of a tower from the 11th century, a Romanesque double-floored chapel, a manor house from the Renaissance period as well as stables and granaries from the 19th and the early 20th centuries. The ensemble is situated in the centre of a beautiful forest.

For years Lohra Castle was vacant. In the 1990s a civil society association which became today’s Open Houses, began to rescue the castle and to revitalise it through cultural activities. The process of rehabilitation of cultural heritage not only brought new life and use to an otherwise forgotten monument, but it also provided with a new space where young people could reconnect with tangible heritage while valorising the relevance of preserving a historical monument. Since then, a large number of international workcamps, heritage volunteering projects, heritage training courses, seminars, exhibitions, concerts and other activities with international participants have been taking place every year in the castle.

Project hosted by

Open Houses are more than just empty buildings. They're places steeped in history, both obvious and hidden. These are places that have been around for centuries, shaped by those who lived there long ago and those who left recently. They're spaces where dreams and ideas thrive, where people from different backgrounds, cultures, and ages can come together to share and connect.
The history of Open Houses Network began in the mid-1980s when a group of young people in East Germany decided to restore village churches as volunteers to prevent them from falling into disrepair. Their efforts breathed new life into these spaces, hosting exhibitions, concerts, and gatherings that went beyond mere restoration work.
Today, while there's less need for places free from political pressure, it's still hard to find spots where people can meet without commercial agendas or bureaucratic hurdles. The balance between public engagement and private life is tricky to navigate, requiring constant effort to cut through red tape and financial constraints.
The idea of shared public spaces is fading, with fewer places available for collective work. The Open Houses Network aims to change that. We're not just doers; we're visionaries who want to create and protect spaces where people can come together, collaborate, and make a difference. Our projects and events are invitations for everyone to get involved, to make space for commitment, change, and connection.

Directions to meeting point

Information sheet will be sent four weeks before the beginning of the workcamp. However travel arrangements can be done with the already provided information about the nearest airport and bus stop.

Germany Germany: Peenemuende I (NIG01)

Dates

17/06/2024   -   28/06/2024

Feedback from 27 volunteers

Tags

Archeology

Already accepted volunteers from

Turkey Colombia

Fee

USD 400
Close

Details on the project

Age
18 - 26
Max number of volunteers
8
Still room for
3 Male + 3 Female
Languages
English
Vegetarian food
Yes
Nearest airport
Berlin (BER)
Nearest bus/train station
Peenemünde
Map

Work

Peenemünde is mainly known for its significant role in the times of the Nazi regime. Whereas Peenemünde first was only a place where the Nazis' army was positioned for developing different military tactics, it later became a labour camp in 1943. Prisoners had to help assemble the V-2 rockets and other military objects.

In this camp the volunteers will maintain the remains of the former labour camp “Karlshagen I”. Barracks, a bunker and two towers will be made visible for the public. This includes trimming the plants and keeping the wooden stakes that stabilize the construct in good shape.

Accomodation and food

The volunteers will stay in in multiple rooms at a youth hostel. There will be bikes provided to get to the working location and to travel around the island.
Food is included (also vegetarian). There will be someone cooking for the participants. Dinner will be warm; lunch and breakfast will be sandwiches.

Location and leisure

The town Peenemünde is located in the northern part of the island Usedom which is located in the very north-eastern part of Germany. Usedom is the island with the most hours of sunshine in Germany and a popular travel destination. While Peenemünde was occupied by the German army during the time of the Nazi-Regime, the nature could grow and bloom freely and many salt and orchid meadows sprouted.

Project hosted by

This project is organized by NiG e.V., a german non-profit and non-government organization. In this project we work together with the historic technical museum of Peenemünde. The Peenemünde Historical Technical Museum is working on the history of the creation and use of weapons during World War II. The exhibitions documents who worked in Peenemünde, how people lived and why the enormously elaborate weapon projects were carried out. They give the camp a free guide throuh the musuem and explain the archiological part before and while working.

Directions to meeting point

Infosheet will be sent 3 weeks before the workcamp starts.

Requirements

Please bring a sleeping bag, work clothing (gloves), a mattres pad and motivation

Sustainable Development Goals

Peace and Justice Strong Institutions Quality Education
Germany Germany: Peenemuende II (NIG02)

Dates

17/06/2024   -   28/06/2024

Feedback from 27 volunteers

Tags

Environmental

Already accepted volunteers from

Colombia

Fee

USD 400
Close

Details on the project

Age
18 - 26
Max number of volunteers
8
Still room for
7
Languages
English
Vegetarian food
Yes
Nearest airport
Berlin (BER)
Nearest bus/train station
Peenemünde
Map

Work

This workcamp is for nature lovers since the work will be mainly outdoors. The volunteers will work in a nature park on the island “Usedom” located in the Baltic Sea. There is a lot of work around the natural reserve. Since it’s not possible to use common agriculture techniques, volunteers have to do everything manually. Moreover, every meadow around must be cut and the grass has to be put aside. The aim of this project is to help to protect this unique reserve through your contribution.

Accomodation and food

The volunteers will stay in a youth hostel. Full board is included (also vegetarian). There will be someone cooking for the participants. Dinner will be warm; lunch and breakfast will be sandwiches.

Location and leisure

Peenemünde is located in the northern part of the island Usedom which is located in the very north-eastern part of Germany. Usedom is the island with the most hours of sunshine in Germany and a popular travel destination. While Peenemünde was occupied by the German army during the time of the Nazi-Regime, the nature could grow and bloom freely and many salt and orchid meadows sprouted.
But Peenemünde is mainly known for its significant role in the times of the Nazi regime. Whereas Peenemünde first was a place where the Nazis' army was positioned for developing different military tactics, it later became a labour camp in 1943. The prisoners had to help assemble the V-2 rockets and other military objects.

Leisure time: Excursions can be planned together, short trips to nearby towns, swimming. There will be bikes provided to get to the working location.

Project hosted by

This project is organized by NiG e.V., a german non-profit and non-government organization. In this project we work together with the historic technical museum of Peenemünde. The Peenemünde Historical Technical Museum is working on the history of the creation and use of weapons during World War II. The exhibitions document who worked in Peenemünde, how people lived and why the enormously elaborate weapon projects were carried out.

Directions to meeting point

Will be send to the volunteers with the travel information.

Requirements

Please bring a sleeping bag, a mattress pad, working clothes and motivation.

Germany Germany: Lohmen (NIG03)

Dates

17/06/2024   -   30/06/2024

Feedback from 27 volunteers

Tags

Renovation
Environmental

Already accepted volunteers from

Vietnam

Fee

USD 400
Close

Details on the project

Age
18 - 27
Max number of volunteers
8
Still room for
7
Languages
English
Vegetarian food
Yes
Nearest airport
(SXF)
Nearest bus/train station
Güstrow
Map

Work

Engage in community work in Lohmen: Volunteers will spearhead the creation of an international herb garden project and assist with various village initiatives. The focus will be on establishing the herb garden, which will serve as a cultural exchange point, showcasing herbs from around the world. Additionally, volunteers will contribute to the maintenance of public parks and the village orchard, enriching the local environment for all residents

Accomodation and food

This camp is for nature lovers. The volunteers will stay in the building of a former kindergarten in a beautiful nature space. Expect a very basic accomodation. You will find one room for sleeping, one main room, kitchen and bathroom. Food (also vegetarian/vegan) is included, but meals have to be prepared by the volunteers. The group has to organize itself, so we are looking for responsible and independent volunteers. There is no washing machine and no wifi.

Location and leisure

Lohmen is a village in the middle of the region "Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania". It is located within a few nature parks with many lakes and forests. It has about 850 inhabitants but also many possibilities for outdoor activities like hiking, doing excursions in the nature or doing campfire and barbeque. Lohmen has to offer many historical sites that educate about the local history. Even though the village Lohmen itself has been founded approximately in the 12th century, the area around Lohmen has been inhabited for at least 5000 years.

Excursions can be planned within the group, swimming, short trips to nearby towns.

Project hosted by

This project is organized by NiG e.V., a german non-profit and non-government organization. It will be organized together with the local community, namely with the cultural association Kulturverein Lohmen "Herz Mecklenburg" e.V.

Directions to meeting point

Will be sent to the volunteers together with the detailed travel information.

Additional comments

BE CAREFUL! There are two different villages called "Lohmen" in Germany. The workcamp will be in that Lohmen between Guestrow and Goldberg in the region Mecklenburg Western Pomerania.

Requirements

Please bring a sleeping bag, working clothes (gloves), a mattress pad and motivation.

Germany Germany: "The Dream Bird" - Discovering the world with children's theatre (ijgd 14009)

Dates

22/06/2024   -   06/07/2024

Feedback from 351 volunteers

Tags

Social
Cultural
Art

Already accepted volunteers from

Mexico Spain Italy Turkey

Fee

USD 400
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Details on the project

Age
16 - 26
Max number of volunteers
13
Still room for
2 Male + 6 Female
Languages
English
Vegetarian food
Yes
Nearest airport
Hannover (HAJ)
Nearest bus/train station
Hanover, Nearest train or bus station: Ochtmersleben
Map

Work

The municipality of Hohe Börde, with 14 different districts, is located in a rural region 15 kilometres from Magdeburg. The work camp is designed to give young people the opportunity to make new international friends, practise their English and enjoy working creatively. Together with 15 young people from the community, you will spend the first week rehearsing the children's play "The Dream Bird", in which a little hedgehog meets a beautiful colourful bird, which he later can't find again and searches for all over the world. This story also introduces younger children to the cultural diversity of the world and the English language in a playful way. Your tasks are acting, making costumes and painting stage sets. The focus is on creativity, fun and socialising with others. In the second week, the play will be performed several times for pre-school children and the public. At the end of the project, a joint international closing party is organised.

Accomodation and food

The accommodation will be in the Kindergarden in Eichenbarlen. In a part of the building with its own entrance, you have a large, well-equipped kitchen and the assembly hall as a common room. Shared dormitory in the sports hall. There are shared showers and toilets separated by gender. You will sleep on air beds. Outdoor area with sports facilities and barbecue area.
A shared hot meal is provided at lunchtime. You prepare breakfast and dinner yourself and will be provided with money for shopping. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please indicate any intolerances when registering.

Location and leisure

Project Location City: Hohe Boerde, Saxony-Anhalt; Magdeburg 20 km, Göttingen 65 km, Hannover 80 km, Potsdam 130 km, Berlin 160 km
You can barbecue on the outdoor area and there is a football pitch. Footballs, volleyballs, badminton, darts and other items for leisure activities are provided. The supermarket is just around the corner and the Eichenbarleben castle park is just a few minutes' walk away. The surrounding area with its many fields, farms and nature is easy to explore on foot or by bike. Outdoor pool in Niederndodeleben, shopping centre with shopping facilities and restaurants in Hermsdorf. Bus and train connections to Magdeburg. A trip to Leipzig, Potsdam or Berlin is worthwhile at the weekend.

Project hosted by

The ijgd has been organising volunteer service programmes since 1949. We are an independent, non-profit association for international youth work, a recognised independent youth welfare organisation, and one of the largest and oldest workcamp organisations in Germany. Each year, we assist around 5,000 young people into volunteer work in Germany and abroad. We give them the opportunity to be creative, act in solidarity, take responsibility for themselves, and discover their own true potential and strengths. Our principles Ecological learning, voluntary contribution, self-organisation, social development, intercultural learning, gender equality, anti-racism/anti-discrimination and political education.
Follow us on
Instagram ijgd_workcamps
Facebook @ijgd.workcamps

Directions to meeting point

Meeting point and time: transfer from the railway station in Ochtmersleben to the accommodation at 16:15 and 18:15.

Additional comments

Please note: There is a special Teenage Fee of 150€ for international volunteers who applied under 18 in this camp.

Requirements

German and English language skills for childcare. You must be able to ride a bike.

Sustainable Development Goals

Quality Education
Germany Germany: Adventure Land Lauchringen (IBG 05)

Dates

22/06/2024   -   06/07/2024

Feedback from 224 volunteers

Tags

Construction
Manual Work

Already accepted volunteers from

Turkey Mexico Colombia

Fee

USD 400
Close

Details on the project

Age
18 - 99
Max number of volunteers
8
Still room for
3 Male + 1 Female
Languages
English
Vegetarian food
Yes
Nearest airport
Basel (BSL)
Nearest bus/train station
Lauchringen West (train station)
Map

Work

The Family Center and, more generally, the community of Lauchringen, are counting on your help to continue the work of previous Workcamp groups. You will work on improving the outdoor infrastructure of the "Adventure Land", an inclusive place for children and school groups. In addition, you will improve, maintain and beautify some of the town's public spaces.

In the Adventure Land, you will:
• Design a new stage set up for the natural stage in the Adventure Land’s garden. Your tasks will be also to build up raised garden beds, to take care of the vegetable garden, to weed and plant flowers.
• Build up some wooden huts, which will be used for the children’s holiday programme in the Adventure land.
• Do other building works, depending on the team’s plan. These will involve working with wood, nailing screwing, sanding down and painting.

In other parts of Lauchringen you will:
• Build a bench in the ‘’Generations Park’’ behind the Family Center. This bench will be there to promote social interaction while hiding the front of the underground parking lot, which is considered not very pretty by the residents of Lauchringen.
• Do other creative and supporting works, depending on the construction yard team’s needs.

The work will be led by a professional instructor, so no previous experience is needed. You will work around 30 hours per week, somewhere between 8am to 4pm from Monday to Friday with a lunchbreak.

Accomodation and food

You will live inside the building on the “Adventure Land”: There are two big rooms with sleeping mats, a kitchen, and sanitary facilities. Please, bring a sleeping bag!

There is also a big common room that you can use for your activities. On most days, groups of children will come to the Adventure Land in the afternoon, and you will need to share the common room and the sanitary facilities with them. The two rooms for sleeping, however, are private and reserved only for your group.

In the Adventure Land, there is a washing machine, which can be used in agreement with the local workers, and there is Wifi. Your group of volunteers will be responsible for grocery shopping and cooking together. During the week, you will have a rapid cold lunch during your break. In the evening and at the weekend, you will have more time to cook warm meals from different countries.

Food will be bought with the camp budget and everybody will take turns for cooking and cleaning. In order to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet, we encourage volunteers to reduce meat and try more sustainable dishes.

Location and leisure

Lauchringen is small and pretty town in the very south of Germany. It is located inside the Black Forest, which means you will be surrounded by beautiful nature. In your free time, you can go on hikes and explore the Black Forest.

Lauchringen is very close to Swiss border and not far from places like Constance Lake, Rhein Falls or the university town of Freiburg. In Lauchringen itself, you can find everything you need for your everyday life: supermarkets, bakeries, cafés, etc...

Project hosted by

The community of Lauchringen is going to host an international Workcamp for the sixth time. The project will take place in cooperation with the “Familienzentrum” (Family Centre). The Centre offers various programs for people of all ages to meet, exchange and educate themselves. In 2018, they built the “Adventure Land”: A big house with sleeping facilities, a kitchen, sanitary facilities, a workshop space, and a big common room.

The place offers an afternoon program for children and youngsters and hosts groups during school holidays. The Adventure Land is a very special and inclusive place, from which everyone has something to learn!

Directions to meeting point

The meeting point will be directly at the accomodation. The path between the accommodation and the train staion is about 2km long, so it should take you about 20 min walking to get there.

Additional comments

Please be aware that ticks can be an issue when you spend a lot of time outdooors in natural areas in Germany - like in this camp. In ou General Infosheet you will find a suggestion on how you can protect yourself against them. You are also welcome to check wheter a vaccination against the tick-borne disease TBE makes sense and is possible in your home country.

Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Cities and Communities Quality Education