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Workout with a purpose! Repairing a hiking trail through the mystical moor

Schlemmin, Germany

Notes

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

In partnership with

Landesforsten Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – Forstamt Schlemmin
(State Forestry of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania – Foresty office Schlemmin)
The forestry offices of Landesforsten Mecklenburg-Vorpommern perform the tasks of a unified forestry administration: in addition to their forestry work in the state-owned forest and their service offers, this also includes their work as a lower forestry authority - advising and promoting private forest ownership. They also inform all forest visitors about the importance of the forest and the tasks of forestry.

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
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Description of the Work

Forget the gym – we offer a real workout with a purpose! In the middle of one of Mecklenburg's most beautiful nature reserves, on the highest lake in the region, the Black Lake, there is an old wooden path that needs your help.
Imagine: a mystical moor, surrounded by ancient beech forests and rare plants and animals. Right there, a hiking trail leads through it, slowly falling into disrepair.
Your mission: 1. Get stuck in, because we'll be hauling, building and repairing the wooden boardwalk together. Every aching muscle is proof that you've achieved something! 2. Teamwork: You're not alone! We'll rock the project together, pave the way ourselves and see exactly what we've created. 3. Adventure: You'll be working in a place that others only visit for hiking. Pure nature, fresh air and a challenge you won't soon forget.
At the end of the day, you will not only have a safe hiking trail with a new handrail, but also YOUR own work. You will have made a unique place accessible to everyone again.
And you will also have learned a lot, because during the practical work, the foresters will tell you a lot about nature conservation and environmental protection in general, as well as the forest and its protection in particular. You will learn a lot about the local flora and fauna, its relevance to the ecosystem and the various measures taken to protect it.
Are you ready to leave your mark (and not just in the mud)? Sign up and become part of the team!

If you're still not convinced, here's some more factual information about your wonderful place of work:
The Black Lake west of Schlemmin (Bernitt municipality) is located near Bützow in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It is part of the Hohe Burg and Black Lake nature reserve. The 110-hectare nature reserve is located in the glacial terminal moraine landscape. The lake is one to two metres deep, covers an area of 2.5 hectares and, at 108 metres above sea level, is the highest lake in Mecklenburg. The lake is completely surrounded by beech forests. The lake's 15-hectare silted-up moor is home to rare and endangered plant species such as round-leaved sundew and snake club moss. The area also provides a habitat for moor frogs, grass snakes, forest lizards, black woodpeckers, treecreepers, red-breasted flycatchers, badgers and numerous other species.
Now convinced? Then join us and register now!


Accommodation & Food

you will be staying in a self-catering house with 2- and 4-bed rooms in Glambeck (near Bützow), 7 km away from your place of work. The house has a kitchen, two bathrooms with showers and toilets, and two common rooms for eating and group activities. There is a huge green outdoor area with a barbecue and campfire site and access to a lake.
You cater for yourselves and cook together. Money for shopping will be provided. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please indicate any intolerances when registering.


Location & Leisure

In your free time, you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings and your peaceful accommodation, engage in sporting activities in the huge garden of your accommodation, or spend evenings together by the lake or around the campfire.
On the long weekend off (Friday to Sunday), it's worth taking a trip to Rostock, Hamburg or the beautiful sandy beaches of the Baltic Sea.


Requirements

Fitness for physically strenuous work; It is essential to bring work clothes and (water)resistant footwear and/or work shoes


Appointment

Hamburg-Hauptbahnhof (RE or ICE) – Bützow (duration of arrival: 2h07min or 1h25min)
Berlin-Hauptbahnhof (RE) – (Neustrelitz -) Güstrow – Bützow (duration of arrival: 2h32min)

Meeting point and time: On Saturday, 27 June, at 4:40 p.m., 5:40 p.m., 6:40 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. at Bützow railway station. You will be picked up from there.

More Information about train and bus connections: www.bahn.com.


Host Organization

Ijgd is an independent non-profit organisation active in the field of international youth work. It is one of the largest and oldest workcamp organisations in Germany. After Worldwar II pupils from Hanover organised the first workcamps aiming to promote reconstruction, to reduce negative stereotypes through international encounters and to envisage new democratic forms of living together. In addition to workcamps, other activities have become part of the work over time. These are organised by six offices of ijgd and additional project offices. Young people can take part in mid-term and long-term voluntary services in Germany and abroad. The fields of activity include social and ecological service as well as heritage protection. The work of ijgd is funded by state and federal subsidies as well as from other public institutions. Encouraging intercultural understanding has remained one of the main focuses. Ijgd enables people to actively create community life while giving them the opportunity to broaden their horizons. Ijgd invites all interested people to join projects working for the communal good! Self-Organization is spelt with a capital S at ijgd! It purposely foregoes a camp day that is organized by its participants in lieu of a completely pre-organized one. A readiness for active participation in the group is expected from all participants. The group organizes everything about the camp, this includes grocery shopping, cooking, deciding what to do with free time, as well as all other activities of the camp.