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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This workcamp focuses on preserving the habitats of endangered species:
You will be directly helping bats, wild bees and wolves, and at the end of each day you will see what you have achieved for nature with your own hands.
Your work will be as varied as nature itself: a particular highlight is the restoration of an old coal bunker in Friedeholz, which we are converting into a safe winter home for bats. You will become a helper for the smallest creatures when we create flowering beds for wild bees and build new insect hotels. At the same time, you will search for clues like a real researcher: you will map the impressive nests of the large forest ant in Hülsenberg and record giant trees over 200 years old that serve as important cavity trees. You will maintain valuable biotopes such as hedges, ponds, an orchard meadow and the unique Syker Wolfsschlucht gorge. Your area of operation is nature itself – from the forests in Friedeholz to Westermark and Hachetal.
You will also get involved in manual work, building natural seating from wood to guide visitors through nature in an environmentally friendly way.
With every step you take, you actively contribute to preserving biodiversity and help to conserve this unique landscape for future generations.
You will be guided by staff from the local forestry office and volunteer members of NABU Syke und Umland e.V. In addition to the practical work, you will learn the secrets of sustainable forestry on exciting excursions and find out a lot about the local flora and fauna and the protection of nature, the environment and endangered habitats.
Are you in? If you feel like getting involved in nature conservation, making friends for life and having an unforgettable time, then don't hesitate to sign up! Places are limited.

You will be staying at the Wöpse seminar house, a self-catering house with 4-bed rooms, on the edge of a landscape conservation area. The house has a kitchen, two bathrooms with showers and toilets, and two common rooms for eating and group activities. There is also a large outdoor area with a lawn where you can play volleyball, football and other games.
You will cook together. Money for food will be provided. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please state any intolerances during registration.

Your spacious accommodation with large outdoor grounds offers plenty of space for group activities such as sportl or board games. The varied landscape around your accommodation is also ideal for hiking.
At the weekend, you can take trips to the 1,200-year-old Hanseatic city of Bremen, the North Sea coast (e.g. Bremerhaven or Cuxhaven) or Hamburg.

Fitness for physically demanding work. Please note: Teenager (volunteers under 18) who apply for this camp have to pay additionally 150€ teenage fee to ijgd for this camp.

Meeting point and time: at accommodation until 7:30pm on 10/10/2026
Directions to Meeting Point:
From Hamburg airport (travel time to workcamp 3,5h)
From Hamburg main station (travel time to workcamp 3h)
From Bremen Airport (travel time to workcamp 2h)
From Bremen Hauptbahnhof (main train station 1,5h)
In Syke please catch the bus 150 in the dirction of “Hoya” and leave the bus after 38mins at the stop “Gehlbergen, Bruchhausen-Vilsen”.
From bus station “Gehlbergen, Bruchhausen-Vilsen” to the camp
At the bus stop "Gehlbergen, Bruchhausen-Vilsen" turn right immediately onto Gehlbergen street and follow it as it curves slightly to the left. After 800m turn slightly left on the street Bornbusch. After 200m you will reach your accommodation “Jugendlandheim Wöpse” on the right side.
More Information about train and bus connections: www.bahn.com or https://www.vbn.de/en/