In partnership with

This Workcamp is a cooperation between IBG and the Nature Park Schwäbisch-Fränkischer Wald, including the local forestry administration.

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Description of the Work

This camp is next to a big meadow orchard where most of the work tasks are to be done. Here, you help to improve the health and lifespan of old fruit trees and thereby contribute to protecting a biodiverse habitat for small animals and birds. Under supervision you relieve the trees from heavy or rotten branches and collect as many apples, pears, and other fruit as you can for the local market and the fruit wine factory. Additional tasks await you in the forest where you will discover fall forestry duties with a ranger, and in the arboretum on the site — a beautiful botanical collection composed exclusively of trees and shrubs of a variety of species.

This project is for adventurers and those who enjoy spending time outdoors, especially during fall. If you're interested in sustaining biodiversity, have a heart for trees, and like to go camping – this project is for you! You will be outdoors almost all day, have camp fires, improvised cooking, hikes, and other special occasions in this rural area.

Please be prepared of the weather conditions:
October can be warm and sunny but also quite fresh and rainy. You will very likely need warm clothes, extra socks, and weatherproof shoes & jacket.

Average weather in October here is: ca. 13 °C during the day, 3 °C during the night; rain is very likely, 3–7 sun hours per day.

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Accommodation & Food

You sleep on a youth campsite next to the orchard. Please bring a warm sleeping bag! In the farmhouse on the premises you’ll find showers, toilets, and an extra heated room should you want to dry your clothes. Outside is a large ‘bad weather shack’ that serves as lounge, kitchen or alternative sleeping place. Campfire spots are also available. The entire group does grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning together. Food will be bought with the camp budget. To minimize our carbon footprint on the planet, we encourage volunteers to reduce meat and try more environmentally friendly meals.

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Location & Leisure

You are just 10km west of the beautiful old town of Schwäbisch Hall with a few farmers as your neighbors. The landscape in this area is very beautiful, it is dominated by forests and green hills — a perfect place for easy hiking. A swimming lake (if it's still warm enough) can be reached by foot. Trips to the nearby brewery or the old town of Schwäbisch Hall with its museums, shops, and some traditional German historical buildings is also worth the time.

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Requirements

Bring a warm sleeping bag and weatherproof clothes.

This project is a Volunteering Team within the European Solidarity Corps program. Volunteers have to have legal residency in an EU country; there is a strict age limit of 18 to 30 years. The participation to the ESC Volunteering Teams is subject to several principles and conditions, presented on the ESC webpage: https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity/mission_en.

1) Volunteers do not have to pay any fee (not sending, nor participation fee) to attend the project and will receive a financial support for their travel, according to a maximum amount established in accordance with their travel distance and upon the presentation of original tickets;

2) Volunteers need to enroll in the PASS, the ESC Portal; then IBG will organize their matching, on the online system, with the volunteering project;

3) Volunteers will receive pocket money, calculated on basis of 7€/day, once they arrive on the project;

4) Volunteers will have to complete a participation report, submitted online through the portal.

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Appointment

Check for connections to Schwäbisch Hall from anywhere on www.bahn.de/en.
Please inform your camp leader about your arrival time so they can pick you up!

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Host Organization