Renovation
and landscaping of a Centre for disabled people in Thuringia
Muehlhausen, Thuringia
June 30 - July 19, 2013
Volunteer project: The local host is a charity organisation running workshops and schools for disabled. They have been hosting international volunteer projects for many years now. Former volunteers experienced a very warm welcome – especially successful workcamps benefit from a proper exchange between employees/workers at the workshop and the international group.
A wide range of tasks is waiting for you: You will build fences and do works in the garden and outside the buildings, e.g. plant bushes, cut grass, rearrange a pond and do different works in the school-bible-sound-garden. Then, an outdoor classroom needs to be built. Be ready to work on many different smaller projects! All works will be done together with disabled people. There will be exchanges between international volunteers and the local people who work in or with the charity as well. Bring ideas and be open towards this exchange since it needs your motivation and an open heart!
Language: English
Accommodation: The group will be living in one building of the charity which is very well equipped. Kitchen, sleeping rooms and sanitary facilities are on-site – and much more. There is a big garden around the house with a meadow, trees, a pond and a barbecue grill. Next to the workshop buildings you can also find a soccer field. On the roof of the house there is a balcony from where you have a great view on the landscape around. Muehlhausen provides a lot of shopping possibilities and is easily reachable on foot or by bike.
Location: Muehlhausen is a very old German town with about 50.000 inhabitants. Visiting the city centre and looking at the old half-timbered houses, you can still imagine how Germany must have looked like in former times. Muehlhausen is situated in the beautiful forest of Thuringia in the heart of Germany. Nearby are many interesting places like the city Weimar (home of the poets Schiller and Goethe) or the Wartburg where Martin Luther translated the new testament of the Bible.
Train station: Muehlhausen (Thueringen)
Airport: Leipzig, Berlin
Age range: 18 and over
Cadip volunteer project review:
"Now that the workcamp is over I wanted to thank you again for your incredible help in getting me into the program. It turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. I certainly learned a lot, and would have missed out had it not been for you. Thanks again!"
Katrina L.,
Cadip volunteer
Festival
of Celtic life and history in Nagold
Nagold, Baden-Wurttemberg
July 7 - July 23, 2013
Volunteer
project: The youth centre of Nagold has hosted very successful
workcamps in the past 18 years. Groups of volunteers were invited
to help them with different renovation and cleaning tasks, making a
movie about workcamps and organizing a Celtic festival.
The project participants will be helping out at the “Keltenfest” in Nagold, a festival about Celtic life and history. In the beginning of the project, the work will focus on the preparation of the festival. The participants will get an introduction to Celtic history so that they all know what the festival is about. Throughout the festival, the group will have different working tasks to fulfill. They will build different authentic constructions and produce Celtic costumes. There will also be children's days at the festival, in which the group is going to help out and also take part in the team competition. Besides that, there will be some environmental tasks around Nagold.
Language: English
Accommodation: The group will be staying in the youth centre with basic conditions. Two sleeping rooms with beds are provided. Showers are available at the swimming pool nearby.
Location: Nagold is situated in the beautiful “Black
Forest” and has about 22.000 inhabitants. The youth centre,
located
in the inner city of Nagold, is a meeting point for young people aged
14-20. Besides many other possibilities to spend time in the youth centre,
you will find rooms and equipment to play music, to dance and make
videos and plenty of other things to spend your leisure activities.
Trips to Stuttgart and Tuebingen, hiking in the Black forest, horseback riding, swimming and playing beach volleyball are only some of the
possible activities. All the time local youth will be around so
participants can look forward to getting in touch with them!
Train station: Nagold
Airport: Stuttgart (50 km)
Age range: 18 and over
Removing
invasive vegetation and improving hiking trails in the Black Forest
nature park
Lauterbach, Baden-Wurttemberg
July 7 - July 27, 2013
Volunteer project: Adventurous… technology-free workcamp for nature lovers! This is the fifth time that the community of Lauterbach invites a workcamp. Most of all, the rangers in Lauterbach are very happy to be supported by a team of international volunteers at different environmental and construction tasks in a nature protection area!
Different tasks are waiting for you to help with: First, the international group will work on the maintenance of a hiking trail in the forest. Then, you will work on a hillside which needs to be secured. So-called “neophytes” (invasive non-native vegetation) needs to be removed in the nature protection area. You will cut and clear those plants. Furthermore, cleaning and clearing of vegetation needs to be done in biotopes like ponds and tarns. Probably you will also repair fences and maintain grasslands with fruit trees. The work may be demanding and sometimes in damp and steep areas.
Language: English
Accommodation: Outside of the community, in the middle of the forest, lies a very cozy and basic blockhouse which will be the groups' accommodation for three weeks. There will be a kitchen, living room and two sleeping rooms (sleeping bags and mats have to be brought!). Toilets are at hand and showers can be used at a public swimming pool to which each of the participants gets free entry. You will have to be flexible and like this kind of adventure - living outside the community this way. Due to the position of the house, we remind you that there will not be access to internet and no coverage for cell phones. Just be prepared to spend three wonderful, adventurous weeks away from your busy and usual everyday life!
Location: Lauterbach is situated in the heart of the Black Forest nature park close to the cities of Schramberg and Rottweil, approx. 100 km south of Stuttgart, close to the Swabian Albs (not Alps!!). So there will be a lot of possibilities to hike and experience nature first hand. Just step out of the door and find yourself surrounded by beautiful nature! It will be possible to see some surrounding places of interest and towns/cities you might be curious to get to know. Towns like Rottweil have a long history, astounding architecture and other cultural highlights to discover. Be aware that you'll live idyllically yet isolated in a wooden blockhouse outside the community!
Train station: Lauterbach, Schramberg
Airport: Stuttgart
Age range: 18 and over
Help run a music festival in Bavaria
Pegnitz, Bavaria
July 10 - July 17, 2013
Volunteer project: The project is organised with a local association that promotes local youth activities in the small city of Pegnitz. The members of this association are quite motivated and realize projects with a lot of personal involvement, like a film festival or soccer cups. For almost 20 years, they have been organizing the so called “Umsonst & Draussen” festival (“outside & free of charge”) which has become an important part of the cultural life of the town. Every year, the festival attracts more and more music fans from the region: in the last years, more than 1000 people came to see the bands.
You will help the organisers in all phases of the festival: The main tasks will be setting up the stage and campground on the site of the festival as well as the disassembly at the end. While the festival is running, the volunteers will assist in different areas: bar, stage, organisation, catering, etc. You will work closely with the people from the association. Volunteers should be flexible enough to work long and unusual hours, and enjoy music! Speaking or understanding basic German will be a plus!
Special requirements: A motivation letter is required with the application.
Language: English
Accommodation: You will sleep in a cultural centre which was a former brewery. You will have everything you need: a kitchen, sanitary facilities. It is not far from the festival area. Food will be served in the festival canteen throughout the day.
Location: Pegnitz is a small city in Franconia, Bavaria, near Nuremberg. You can find medieval and historic buildings and churches in the centre of the city. The city is known for its beers: it has a long tradition in brewery. The Bavarian region in which Pegnitz is located is called “Little Switzerland” for a reason: its beautiful surroundings invite to extended adventures and hiking trips in the region. There are all kinds of trails and possibilities to experience the unique nature.
Train station: Pegnitz
Airport: Nuremberg, Munich, Frankfurt
Age range: 18 and over
Music
festival in Karlstadt
Karlstadt, Bavaria
July 13 - July 24, 2013
Volunteer project: During the summer, some communities in Germany host music festivals for young people. One of those festivals – called “Umsonst & Draußen” (free of charge & outdoors) – will take place outside the town of Karlstadt and run for three days from the 19th-21st of July. Young people of the town have been organising festivals for a long time now. This year will be the fifth time to invite an international team to help with the exciting but also demanding tasks of setting up the festival in July. Around 35 bands are invited; 12000-15000 visitors are expected.
The international group will work together with many helpers from Karlstadt. The main tasks will be setting up the stage and campground on the site of the festival as well as the disassembly at the end. While the festival is running, the volunteers will assist in different areas: bar, stage, organisation, catering, etc. Volunteers should be flexible enough to work long and unusual hours, and enjoy music! Speaking or understanding basic German will be a plus.
Special requirements: A motivation letter is required with application.
Language: English
Accommodation: The group will be accommodated in tents on the site of the festival where all helpers will stay as well, basic conditions, sanitary facilities provided. Food will be served in the festival canteen throughout the day.
Location: Karlstadt is situated in the Bavarian region called Franconia. The town has around 7000 inhabitants and has a historical touch to it. If you are interested in architecture, you will find lots of nice sights in the centre of town. Also the region with its vineyards and hills provide an opportunity for some calm and relaxing outdoor activities as an alternative to the hectic life of the festival.
Train station: Karlstadt
Airport: Frankfurt, Nuernberg
Age range: 18 and over
Park improvement and fitness trail maintenance in the idyllic Franken region of
Bavaria
Heilsbronn, Bavaria
July 13 - July 26, 2013
Volunteer project: After the success of the projects in the last five years, the town of Heilsbronn is looking forward to hosting another volunteer project this year. There will be different environmental and construction goals to be achieved by the international group around this beautiful town in Bavaria.
People in the town hall are big fans of the international volunteer projects and have already convinced other neighbour cities by the workcamp idea. As in previous years, they are very happy to have a group of volunteers supporting them in environmental tasks like the maintenance of a fitness trail called Vita Parcours. Also, there are various tasks to be done in the municipal park called "Naturlehrgarten", which has several stations that explain to visitors about environmental issues. Here you will build a wooden bridge, do some garden work, like planting, and set up new information stations. Apart from that, you will help to design the schoolyard of the local primary school.
Language: English
Accommodation: In the local youth club with all necessary facilities. The local youth who normally visit the club will welcome you and are looking forward to get to know the group.
Location: The town of Heilsbronn is located in the idyllic Bavarian region called „Franken“. Typical for the small town with its 9300 inhabitants are the old half-timbered houses. Heilsbronn also has some unique sights to offer, for example the monastery and the cathedral. Nature lovers can find several hiking trails in the beautiful landscape around the city. Remarkable above all is that “the Way to St. James” also known as “Camino de Santiago” leads through Heilsbronn. For this reason, the region is adorned by many old churches and frequently visited by tourists as well as pilgrims.
Train station: Heilsbronn
Airport: Stuttgart, Frankfurt, and Nuremberg
Age range: 18 and over
Playground renovation project in Bernburg
Bernburg, Saxony–Anhalt
July 14 - August 4, 2013
Volunteer project: The municipality of Bernburg invites an international workcamp for the 15th time! In cooperation with a local youth club all former projects have been running very successfully - due to experienced and motivated people, lots of leisure activities and good contact with locals.
The international volunteers involved in this project will help to dismantle an old playground in order to set up a new one in the near future. Work consists mostly of removing fences, playground equipments and clearing the field. Last but not least, there are renovation works on other playgrounds around Bernburg to do. This might include different tasks such as digging, placing of concrete and in the end also the painting of the new equipment.
Special requirements:
Volunteers need to be able to ride a bike!
Language: English
Accommodation: The accommodation will be in the youth club with all facilities needed like kitchen, shower and bathroom. Participants will sleep on sport mats. They will have close contact with the local youth who visit the club regularly.
Location: Bernburg itself is a town with a history of more than 1000 years and is situated in the eastern part of Germany. There is a castle on the top of the valley of the river Saale which can be seen from far away. There are plenty of possibilities for leisure activities such as visiting the town, going to pubs and bars, making excursions to cities like Leipzig or Magdeburg, canoeing on the river, hiking, etc.
Train station: Bernburg
Airport: Leipzig or Berlin
Age range: 18 and over
Support
the organisation of a local festival and renovate a day care centre for
children in
Augsburg
Augsburg, Bavaria
July 17 - July 30, 2013
Volunteer project:
The city of Augsburg has invited several volunteer projects and will
once again welcome an international group! This year the group will help
at the day care centre for children in the quarter of Herrenbach. It is
a multicultural centre where 100 children from 2 -12 years are taken
care of. The gardens and the outdoor facilities around the day care
centre need to be renewed. We ask you to come with an open heart!
The works will be done with the children and their parents. The whole area needs to be re-designed to make it more attractive. This includes digging holes, planting new bushes and a lot of gardening works. You might also create new parts, like a fruit or herb garden or a wellness oasis where people can relax and calm down. Smaller renovation works will probably wait for you in the centre itself.
A second task for you is to help out at the so called “Lechuferfest”, a local festivity at the River Lech on July 19 and 20. It will take place because of the 100th anniversary of one quarter called Lechhausen. You will help with the set-up of stalls; help with the catering and different tasks during the festivity. Be ready to meet and work closely with many locals!
Special requirements: Since you will be in touch with children, you need to have a certificate of good conduct with you! Please send it together with the application and bring the original with you!
Language: English
Accommodation: The youth club “Lehmbau” is located in the outskirts of the city of Augsburg next to a big swimming lake. It is a meeting point for children and youth from the neighbourhood and offers lots of leisure activities such as beach volleyball, climbing, canoeing or taking care of and having fun with the animals (donkey, sheep, goats, rabbits,…). You will be accommodated in one room in the youth centre. Sanitary facilities and kitchen are inside the youth centre.
Location: Ever since its founding by Caesar Augustus - after whom it was named, the city of Augsburg has stood at the intersection of some of the most important trade and travel routes on the continent. Nowadays the population is about 280.000. The youth club can be reached from the inner city by bus in 20 minutes or by bike. In 200m distance to the youth club there is a nice lake in which one can swim.
Train station: Augsburg
Airport: Munich
Age range: 18 and over
Maintenance
of an open-air-museum and memorial of the Iron Curtain
Hoetensleben, Saxony-Anhalt
July 19 - August 10, 2013
Volunteer project: The main project will be to maintain
the site of an open-air-museum and memorial of the Iron Curtain.
The village of Hoetensleben was situated directly on the eastern side of
the German-German border when Germany was divided during the period of
the cold war. A local association was founded after the fall of the Iron
Curtain which maintains four hundred meters of the former frontier
protection system as a kind of open-air-museum. Visitors can still
experience the different walls and electric fences, the watchtowers and
iron barriers and get a feel of the violence of this monument.
The volunteers will work on the upkeep of this monument. The concrete
tasks might include clearing the former path used by border guards to
patrol the border from vegetation, painting the lorry barriers, and
restoring the wall and fences. The project includes several study-parts
on this period of the German history with several excursions and
activities together with local people.
During the project period, there will also be a huge rock festival in the
village - you might be asked to give a hand during the set up and the
disassembly of the stage and the preparation of the festival ground.
Special requirements: Volunteers should add a short
motivation letter describing their interest in this particular project.
Volunteers need to be able to ride a bicycle!
Language: English
Accommodation: In the former village hall, different sleeping rooms. Beds will be provided.
Location: Hoetensleben is a little village with approx. 2.500 inhabitants. International volunteer groups have been invited for some 14 years, so local inhabitants are looking forward to welcoming the volunteers and many activities will be done together with local associations e.g. the voluntary fire brigade of Hoetensleben. Volunteers should be interested in a close contact with the German population and in German history. Therefore, volunteers should add a short motivation letter describing their interest in this special project.
Train station: Helmstedt
Airport: Hanover, Berlin
Age range: 18 and over
Renovation
works in a centre for social, cultural and artistic
activities in Mainz
Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate
July 20 - August 11, 2013
Volunteer project: The „Alte Ziegelei“ is a former
brickyard founded in 1900 to produce bricks in industrial manner with
big ovens and technical machines. More than 30.000 bricks were produced
per day. The factory was closed in 1972 and it provides a good insight
into European Industrial culture.
An association was founded to prevent the area from destruction and to
ensure the maintenance of its character for non profit reasons: now the
former industrial place is under heritage protection and used as a
centre for social, cultural and artistic activities. More than 50
refugees have found home in the former factory buildings and different
programs are well established such as a school for actors, an ecology
group, a kindergarten, a historical museum about the production of
bricks, ateliers for artists and educational institutions. The place can
be used by the general public for festivals, theatres, having barbecues
and celebrating parties.
Volunteers will help with the facade renovation of a building which is used as a bicycle workshop. The work will include pointing of the facade, building new windows in and painting the walls. Professionals will supervise the work activities and will explain the tasks.
Language: English
Accommodation: In a building in the area. Several rooms including all facilities are provided. Lots of other people will be around in the area, so volunteers should be open for contact with local people.
Location: Mainz is the capital of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate with over 2000 years of history. It was an important domicile under the Holy Roman Empire and previously it was a Roman fort city. It is located on the banks of the Rhine River. Mainz is a very beautiful and interesting city with lots of places of interest within its own boundaries as well as in its vicinity.
Train station: Mainz
Airport: Frankfurt International Airport
Age range: 18 and over
Improving recreational facilities and organizing a summer night party in
Dittelbrunn
Dittelbrunn, Bavaria
July 21 - August 10, 2013
Volunteer project: Dittelbrunn is an active and dynamic community whose citizens are quite involved in the life of the community. They are curious to get to know all of you!
Different tasks are waiting for you! The group will build a barbecue
place near the community. This includes preparing the ground, building
the actual barbecue, setting up benches... You will also maintain
benches in the park: They need to be put on a paved ground and maybe
painted. Then, you will construct a field for beach volleyball and
install a protection fence on the soccer field of the community.
Moreover, you will help to organize the “summer night” party for the
local youth. It takes place every year at the beginning of the summer
holidays. This includes setting up the stage, stalls, help selling food
and beverages, working at the entrance, etc. You will have the
opportunity to be a part of a huge party with local youngsters.
Language: English
Accommodation: You will live in a quite big and new gymnasium. You'll have a kitchen and all sanitary facilities at hand. Please bring you sleeping bag and a mat.
Location: Dittelbrunn is a rural community with 8.000 inhabitants in Franconia, Bavaria. It is 5 km away from Schweinfurt. Dittelbrunn is surrounded by beautiful nature. Around Dittelbrunn you can find many mountain bike and hiking trails. So you can go for a walk or hike, enjoy the local outdoor swimming pool and experience traditional rural lifestyle.
Train station: Schweinfurt
Airport: Frankfurt, Nuremberg
Age range: 18 and over
Organizing a youth event and building a garden hut in the medieval city
of Forchtenberg
Forchtenberg, Baden-Wurttemberg
July 21 - August 10, 2013
Volunteer project:
It's the second time the community is going to invite a volunteer
project. After the success of the first one, the mayor decided to
realize several projects with the help of international volunteers!
You will have two quite different tasks: In the first part of the
project, a youth gathering takes place in Forchtenberg. You will help to
organize this event and support the city in all activities, like
preparation and disassembly, reception, catering, etc. You will get in
touch with many local helpers and youngsters.
In the second part, you will build a garden hut. You will cut wood,
build walls, build the roof, etc. This part will be more physical.
Language: English
Accommodation: In a gym, where a kitchen and sanitary facilities are provided. For sleeping you should bring a sleeping bag and a mat!
Location: Forchtenberg is a very beautiful medieval
city in Baden-Wurttemberg with about 5.000 inhabitants. It was the home
town of Sophie and Hans Scholl, who were German students and who were
active within the White Rose non-violent resistance group in Nazi
Germany. They were convicted of high treason after having been found
distributing anti-war leaflets at the University of Munich. As a result,
they were both executed. Since the 1970s, Sophie Scholl has been
celebrated as one of the great German heroes who actively opposed the
Third Reich during World War II.
In your free time you can go swimming in the natural lake or visit
Schwäbisch-Hall, Heilbronn, Stuttgart, etc.
Train station: Moeckmuehl, Oehringen, Schwaebisch-Hall-Hessental
Airport: Stuttgart, Karlsruhe (Baden-Baden), Frankfurt
Age range: 18 and over
Summer
camp for children in Weissach
Weissach, Baden-Wurttemberg
July 24 - August 11, 2013
Volunteer project: Weissach is a small community close to Stuttgart in the south of Germany. Every year during the school holidays the community organises a summer camp for children in the age 6-13. After the success and great cooperation of the last years, they invite a workcamp for the 4th time and plan to have 30 leaders for the summer camp - 15 German professional educators and 15 international volunteers.
In the beginning, the group will get an introduction in the project and also have the chance to experience some major group building activities so that all leaders can smoothly work together and make the stay worthwhile.
Specific working tasks are to attend and look after the kids and
youngsters throughout different activities like excursions, games and
bonfires… - a typical summer camp! In the beginning of the project, all
leaders will help build up the camp site and plan the activities
together. Two leaders (one international, one German) will be in charge
of a group of 15 kids. The centre of the camp will be a big circus tent
which will host different activities. So, if you like spending time with
an international group and children, if you like to be asked a lot of
(German) questions and love to provide an outlet for the curiosity of
children – you are the perfect participant in this project! Welcome to
Weissach!
Working hours will be long but very rewarding and you will
spend your free time mostly together with the kids (going on a trip with
the kids on the weekend for example)! Some knowledge of the German
language would be helpful but isn't obligatory! Your days off will not
be on weekends. The host will organise free time activities!
Special requirements: German skills are helpful but not necessary. We ask for a strong motivation and a written motivation letter with the application.
Language: English
Accommodation: All leaders and kids will stay in tents on the camp site. All facilities will be available.
Location: Weissach is a village with around 7000 inhabitants, very active and committed. It lies close to Stuttgart but also has a lot of nature to experience and enjoy after work or on the weekends. The international group will have the chance to meet local people and exchange cultural aspects.
Train station: Stuttgart, Leonberg
Airport: Stuttgart (30 km)
Age range: 18 and over
Building a shelter for hikers in the scenic countryside of Saarland
Freisen, Saarland
July 28 - August 11, 2013
Volunteer project: Freisen is a community in the German region Saarland. The community consists of 8 different villages with 9.000 inhabitants in total. The territory of Freisen has a rich nature with many opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, walking and cycling.
The project will be to build a forest hut to serve as a shelter for hikers near the village of Oberkirchen. The wooden hut will have dimensions of 4x6 m. Some of the tasks will be to prepare the ground, build up the hut, make the roof, etc. Work will be demanding in parts and volunteers with experience in manual work or work with wood are especially welcome.
Language: English
Accommodation: The group will probably stay in the house of the sports club of Schwarzerden, one of the smaller villages (500 inhabitants) within the community of Freisen. All necessary facilities are provided, but there is no public internet.
Location: Freisen is situated in the north of Saarland, in a rural area. You can find many interesting places in Freisen: a historical railway, cultural and natural sights, a zoo, a spa bath. The local villagers are already looking forward to getting to know you and to welcoming you at one of the many local village festivals. As the public transport system during the weekend is rather poor, the number of excursions will be limited.
Train station: Kusel
Airport: Saarbrücken (SCN), Frankfurt-Hahn (HHN), Frankfurt (FRA)
Age range: 18 and over
Experience history and support the work of an open air village museum
Wackershofen, Baden-Wurttemberg
July 28 - August 17, 2013
Volunteer project: The Hohenloher Freilandsmuseum is a museum village with 70 ancient buildings amidst a beautiful landscape. Visitors can gain an insight into the typical rural life of former days: There's a large farm house with animals (cows, pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits, ducks, ...), an ancient village school as well as the homes of craftsmen and day-labourers. The museum doesn't want visitors to just stare at glass cabinets, but to experience history practically and to become familiar with work, hopes and sorrows of people in former days.
Volunteers will mainly do maintenance work: Improving ways, renovating a wall, doing small repairs wherever needed. There's also a playground to be built and a bare-foot-path that has to be restored. During the summer months, the museum also offers a special holiday program especially for kids where they can make pottery, cook, bake or felt; your help might be need here as well.
Language: English
Accommodation: Volunteer will be accommodated in the museum. Please bring a sleeping bag and mat. You will have a kitchen on your own. For taking a shower you will use the solar showers outside.
Location: The museum is located in Wackershofen, which is a small village belonging to Schwäbisch Hall (about 37 000 inhabitants). Schwäbisch Hall itself has a large historic district and a worth-seeing former convent called Comburg. You will also have the possibility to go swimming as there are lakes close-by or you might visit Heilbronn or Baden-Wurttemberg's capital Stuttgart.
Train station: Wackershofen
Airport: Stuttgart (60 km)
Age range: 18 and over
Music
festival in Stuttgart
Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg
July 29 - August 6, 2013
Volunteer project: During summer, some communities in Germany host music festivals for young people. One of those festivals – called “Umsonst & Draussen” (free of charge & outdoors) – will take place outside the town of Stuttgart and run for three days from August 2 to August 4. This year will be the first time an international group of volunteers is invited to the festival!
The international team will work together with many helpers from Stuttgart. The main tasks will be setting up the stage and campground on the site of the festival as well as the disassembly at the end. While the festival is running, the volunteers will assist in different areas: bar, stage, organisation, catering, etc. Volunteers should be flexible enough to work long and unusual hours, and enjoy music! Speaking or understanding basic German will be a plus.
Special requirements: A motivation letter is required with application.
Language: English
Accommodation: In the first days, the group will be hosted in a cultural centre in Stuttgart, where you have a kitchen, sanitary facilities and a room to sleep in. On the third day, you will move to the site of the festival. There you will sleep in tents. Please bring your own tent! Food will be served in the festival canteen throughout the day. Sanitary facilities are provided. Basic conditions.
Location: Stuttgart
Train station: Stuttgart
Airport: Stuttgart, Frankfurt
Age range: 18 and over
Playground
renovation project in Singen
Singen, Baden-Wurttemberg
August 3 - August 18, 2013
Volunteer project:
There were already several successful workcamps in Singen, so the
municipal council of the town is looking forward to inviting
international volunteers for the 8th time now!
Every year the volunteers are taking care of a playground which needs to become nicer and friendlier and equipped with new swings or slides. The work will include the renovation of a playground, construction of different tools and playground borders. This year you will be supported by professionals with whom you will have the possibility to design the playground with your own creative ideas!
Language: English
Accommodation: The building of the fire brigade will be your accommodation. Volunteers will sleep in a big classroom where new fire fighters are educated. A kitchen and sanitary facilities are available in the same building. The building is located in the city centre and you will have plenty of shopping facilities and leisure time possibilities there.
Location: Singen has about 44.000 inhabitants and is a city in the very south of Baden-Wurttemberg in southern Germany. It lies close to the border to Switzerland and near the Lake Constance, which offers lots of nice excursions and hiking trips.
Train station: Singen
Airport: Zuerich (CH) and Stuttgart
Age range: 18 and over
Restoration of the area of a historic monument in Annaberg
Annaberg-Buchholz, Saxony
August 4 - August 17, 2013
Volunteer project: For the first time the city of
Annaberg-Buchholz invites an international workcamp! The people of the
city are looking forward to meeting you and want to show you around in
the region!
One of the extraordinary personalities of the region was Barbara Uthmann
who lived in the XVI c. She was considered to be one of the greatest
supporters of bobbin lace making and was a successful businesswoman in
the Ore Mountains. Soon there will be the 500th anniversary of the
famous lady, and the city would like to change the part of the park
(former historical graveyard) where her monument can be found.
Plenty of tasks are waiting for you: First you have to clear the vegetation in this part: you will cut bushes and shrubs. Then you have to reconstruct the paths within this area. In the green areas you will sow grass. Moreover, old benches have to be removed and you will construct new ones. A lot of new plants, flowers and bushes have to be planted in the restructured area. Be prepared for manual work.
Language: English
Accommodation: You will stay at the cultural centre in town, where you have a kitchen and sanitary facilities at hand. Please bring a sleeping bag and a mat. As the centre will be open to the public as usual, you will have plenty of occasions to meet young people from Annaberg-Buchholz! The cultural centre is not far from the centre and the work place.
Location: Annaberg-Buchholz is a city of 21.000
inhabitants in the region of Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) in the federal
state of Saxony. It is quite near to the Czech border. The region was
important in the early stages of industrialization as it was the centre
of metallurgy and mining. Within the city and the whole region, you will
find many traces of these former times.
There are many things to do in your free time: You can go hiking in the
Ore Mountains, visit a mine, or you can go on a day trip to Chemnitz or
Dresden, or even to Czech Republic!
Train station: Annaberg-Buchholz
Airport: Leipzig, Dresden, Nuremberg, Frankfurt
Age range: 18 and over
Creating a sensory trail for children in Bavaria
Betzenstein, Bavaria
August 4 - August 17, 2013
Volunteer project:
For the second time, the city of Betzenstein invites an international
volunteer project. In the first one, an adventure playground for
children was set up. Local people are looking forward to show you around
in town and help you to get to know the lifestyle and the beautiful
surroundings.
This year’s workcamp will consist of different projects in the nature: You will maintain hiking trails around Betzenstein. The international group will also build a “path of senses”. It is a path covered with different materials. You will prepare the ground, dig holes in the ground and fill them with different materials (stones, wooden splints…). Children can experience different sensations when walking on it.
Language: English
Accommodation: You will live in a gym hall right next to the construction site of the playground. Mats are provided. Also, a kitchen is to be found in the school building next door. The gym hall is located quite centrally, close to all necessary amenities.
Location: The Bavarian region in which Betzenstein is located is called “Little Switzerland” – for a reason: Its beautiful surroundings invite to extended adventures and hiking trips in the region. There are all kinds of trails and possibilities to experience the unique nature. In the weekends, there will be busses running to cities nearby like Nuernberg (Nuremberg) or Pegnitz. Your hosts are happy to show you around and to get to know you throughout the two weeks! A lot of fun and very interested people await you!
Train station: Pegnitz
Airport: Nuernberg (30 km), Munich (150km), Stuttgart (200km)
Age range: 18 and over
Renovating an adventure trail for children in Odenwald forest
Hassmersheim, Baden-Wurttemberg
August 11 - August 31, 2013
Volunteer project: For the fourth time the municipality of Hassmersheim invites international volunteers. Groups have helped before with setting up of a hiking trail as well as with an adventure trail for children in the forest.
Different tasks have to be done by the volunteers this year. You will install new equipment for children to play and to experience nature. You will also extend a loop road in the forest. The group will maintain the equipment already installed some years ago. So the participants have to use tools - you should be prepared for this. The volunteers will mainly work with materials provided by the forest. The work will be supervised by professionals.
Language: English
Accommodation: The accommodation will be in the community centre in the middle of the town. Sanitary facilities and a kitchen are available. There will be a mixed sleeping room with camping beds provided.
Location: Hassmersheim is a town in the district of Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis in Baden-Wurttemberg. As the name suggests, the district is located in the Odenwald mountains, with the highest elevation of about 600m. Hassmersheim consists of three subdivisions called Hassmersheim, Hochhausen and Neckarmuehlbach and has in total around 5.000 inhabitants. The town lies on the banks of the Neckar River and the ferry needs to be taken to reach the town from the train station. Bigger cities nearby are Heidelberg and Heilbronn.
Train station: Hassmersheim
Airport: Stuttgart
Age range: 18 and over
Various construction projects in the Black Forest
Gernsbach, Baden-Wurttemberg
August 11 - August 24, 2013
Volunteer project: For the first time, the community of Gernsbach invites an international volunteer group! The local people are looking forward to meeting you!
The community needs your help with several tasks: First, you will build new fences in meadows. Then, you will dismantle old wooden huts. This means you will take wooden planks off, take off the roof, etc. It might be possible that you also construct irrigation ditches to drain off water from the fields.
Language: English
Accommodation: You will stay in a building of the community.
Location: Gernsbach is a small city with 14.000 inhabitants, situated in the South West of Germany, near the French border. It has a beautiful historical city centre. The Black Forest, a large nature park, is near, so you can spend free time hiking or taking walks. You can also visit famous and beautiful towns such as Freiburg, Heidelberg or Strasbourg.
Train station: Gernsbach
Airport: Strasbourg, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe Baden-Baden
Age range: 18 and over
Renovating a forest hut and preparing the annual fair in the oldest
village in Germany
Schwanfeld, Bavaria
August 18 - August 31, 2013
Volunteer project: The community of Schwanfeld is the oldest village in Germany. Some years back, a proof of a former settlement outside of the present village from presumably 5500 B.C. was found. Schwanfeld is happy to show their treasures of the olden days to international volunteers and invites a group to get to know more about the south of Germany. This is the fifth time a workcamp will take place in Schwanfeld – and everybody will be very welcoming and excited to meet the new volunteers after the success of last years.
The main project will be the renovation of a hut in the woods near Schwanfeld. You will also help to prepare Schwanfeld’s annual fair where you will get in touch with the inhabitants and local traditions. Your works will be supervised by professional workers.
Language: English
Accommodation: The group will live in the local gym hall, next to the school.
Location: Schwanfeld is situated in Bavaria, close to the city of Wuerzburg. Around 2.000 people live in the community. The very motivated and active mayor of the village is looking forward to show the volunteers around and inform them about the historical and regional specifics of Schwanfeld. Besides from the village’s own sights and events (museum, church, local annual fair which was the highlight of last year's workcamp), there is the surrounding nature and close bigger cities like Wuerzburg and Frankfurt to discover.
Train station: Waigolshausen
Airport: Frankfurt (Main), Nuernberg
Age range: 18 and over
Support
the organizing of summer festivals and a play scheme for children in
Wangen
Wangen, Baden-Wurttemberg
August 24 - September 7, 2013
Volunteer project: It is the
sixth time that the
municipality of Wangen invites international volunteers to help out at
the local summer festivals and activities for children. In the course of
two weeks, summer festivals and a play scheme called “Mini-Wangen” (27.08.-31.08.)
will run, and children at the age of 7-10 years are invited to
participate in the play scheme. Around 120 children are expected to
attend the activities, so there will be all kinds of action and
adventure.
The participants of the project will help to take care of the kids at several different activities at the play scheme. They are generally helping the children to enjoy their summer holidays. The activities of the festivals are running from 8 am until 3 pm each day so the group should be prepared to work long hours – which can be stressful but also fun and very rewarding. The other task will be to help out at the medieval summer festival for children which takes places in a castle! The activities take place from 8 am to 2 pm.
Special requirements: Project language is German. Motivation letter in German is required.
Language: German
Accommodation: You will stay in a well equipped self-catering house belonging to a monastery close to the city centre. All sanitary facilities and kitchen are available – and the monks (neighbours) are very welcoming.
Location: Wangen is a beautiful city situated in the
southern German region called “Allgaeu”, close to the borders with Austria
and Switzerland. The region lies close to the Alps and is therefore
provided with a diverse nature of mountains, meadows, waterfalls and the
like. There is a lot to discover in terms of history and nature: old
castles, mountain trails, the Lake Constance. But also Wangen itself has
much to offer. The history of the city dates back to the year 815. The
charm of Wangen lies within its historical buildings and southern German
architectural style.
Definitely two exciting, adventurous and diverse weeks are waiting for
you!
Train station: Wangen
Airport: Munich, Stuttgart
Age range: 18 and over
Environmental conservation work at a fortification site in
Kehl
Kehl, Baden-Wurttemberg
August 31 - September 21, 2013
Volunteer project: For the past
10 years the municipality of Kehl has asked international volunteer
groups to help with environmental protection in their town. This project
attaches high value to organic, natural and regional food and gives you
the opportunity to think about quality eating and improving it within
your group.
In 2009, Kehl bought the area of the "Auenheimer Fort", a fortification built in the 19th century, which is a preserved area. They need the volunteers' help to make sure that native plant species won't be pushed aside by invasive ones. Therefore, your tasks will be to mow the meadows and displace non-native plants. A part of this you will use as a material for setting up hiding places for various animals, e.g. the sand lizard. So, definitely volunteers will learn a lot about typical vegetation and its ecological richness. Also, you will be supported by local people, which gives you a lot of opportunities to get to know the German culture well.
Language: English
Accommodation: Participants will sleep in the sports hall in the neighbourhood of Kehl called Auenheim. A kitchen and showers are available. Please bring your own sleeping bag.
Location: Auenheim is a village of 2.500 inhabitants,
very close to Kehl (3 km). There's a swimming pool, which you can use
free of charge, as well as there are various lakes
close-by
where you can go swimming. Participants will be provided some bikes,
e.g. to do an excursion within the forest Auwald or to visit Kehl.
However, there are very good bus connections to Kehl as well. Kehl
itself is a medium sized town at the bank of the river Rhine facing the
French-German border. The Alsatian town of Strasbourg is situated on the
other side of the river Rhine. It will be interesting to visit the
beautiful town of Strasbourg, crossing the border to France. The youth
centre is only a five minutes’ walk from the inner city of Kehl. Other
interesting outings can be the Black Forest, Heidelberg, Baden-Baden,
Freiburg and the nature of the southern area in general.
Train station: Kehl
Airport: Strasbourg (10km), Frankfurt (Main) (150km), Badenairport (30km).
Age range: 18 and over
Improving green areas and organizing a folk festival in the beautiful south of
Germany
Willstaett, Baden-Wurttemberg
September 8 - September 21, 2013
Volunteer project: After several successful workcamps in the last years, the municipality of Willstaett invites again an international volunteer group. They are very happy to be supported by a workcamp in their projects and are looking forward to celebrating the local festival together with you!
This year they have planned three main tasks for you. First, you will establish a walking path along the river Kinzig. This path will lead from the local senior house to the centre of the village. Second, there are different environmental tasks waiting for you such as cleaning and improving of the green areas around Willstaett. Furthermore, you will be involved in the preparation of the folk festival called “Willstaetter Jahrmarkt” which will take place from 13th - 15th of September. You will maintain gardens, power distribution and attach lights as well as participate in the festival and enjoy local music, dance and culinary. You will have the chance to meet local people and exchange cultural aspects.
Language: English
Accommodation: In a building of the fire brigade with all sanitary facilities provided. Kitchen and beds are in place as well.
Location: The community of Willstaett contains several villages with all in all around 9000 inhabitants. It is situated in the beautiful southern part of Germany close to the border to France. It is characterised by its beautiful architectural style of carcass houses. There is also a lot to see and discover in the landscape close to the Black forest with its spectacular sights (waterfalls, castles…). Close bigger cities like Freiburg or Strasbourg offer a wide range of cultural events.
Train station: Appenweier, Kehl
Airport: Strasbourg, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe Baden-Baden
Age range: 18 and over
Stream restoration project in Bavaria
Eggenfelden, Bavaria
September 14 - September 29, 2013
Volunteer project: The small town of Eggenfelden in Bavaria would like to welcome international volunteers for the first time! The first aim of the project is the restoration of a stream called Mertseebach. For this task and the hosting of the international volunteer group, the town of Eggenfelden will cooperate with a local fishery club and a local club for landscape preservation. Besides this project, there will be plenty of other tasks related to green areas in the town to which the workcamp group can make a contribution.
The volunteers will help to restore the Mertseebach stream. The work will be supervised by professionals. This work includes fixing the banks with dead wood, placing stones, placing of gravel, mowing nearby areas, fighting weed, bringing out seeds... Other possible work tasks in parks, green areas and on playgrounds of the town of Eggenfelden will for example include: removing leaves, painting benches, painting playground equipment, helping with cutting trees and hedges, mowing, cleaning hiking paths.
Language: English
Accommodation: Accommodation will be provided in a building of the municipality with all necessary facilities.
Location: Eggenfelden is a town with about 13 000 inhabitants, located in Lower Bavaria, the very southeast of Germany’s federal state of Bavaria, close to the border between Germany and Austria. The landscape, part of the foothills of the Alps, is one of hills and green valleys, being a nice area for biking and hiking. Mid-sized towns in Lower Bavaria worth seeing are Landshut (in about 60 km distance from Eggenfelden), Passau (in about 68 km distance) and Regensburg (in about 110 km distance), which has an old town that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most ancient towns in Germany. Also a famous large lake called Chiemsee (and sometimes referred to as the “Bavarian Sea”) is only about 80 km away and is located right in front of the beautiful mountain scenery of the Alps. The hospitable Bavarian people will be happy to be your host!
Train station: Eggenfelden
Age range: 18 and over
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