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Nature Ambassadors IV

Espinhosela, Parque Nacional de Montesinho, Portugal

In partnership with

Nature Ambassador Workcamp’s main goals consist in the promotion of non-formal education among participants and respect for different cultures in an intergenerational environment. We expect this immersive experience to shape participant’s beliefs and to improve their tolerance, respect and appreciation for different cultures.
This Workcamp also aims to have a positive impact in the local communities, which will benefit with the close contact with young participants.
The last goal is to promote Parque Natural de Montesinho and its natural heritage, by improving orientation signs in 3 walking routes and by applying techniques which improve coexistence between rural activities and Park’s wildlife.


Description of the Work

Voluntary work is divided in 3 categories:
- Montesinho Natural Park nature routes improvement – installing and placing orientation and information signs along 3 routes, in order to promote sustainable ecotourism; Realization of Tables and information boards in brown wood
- Coexistence between rural activities and wildlife – installation of electric fences to protect beehives from bear and badger damages, and to protect chestnut orchards from wild boars, red and roe deer damages.
- Community work – local community will make a list of their necessities which the workcamp will contribute to.


Accommodation & Food

The accommodation will be in a renovated children school, which no longer serves its purpose. It has bathrooms, hot water, an equipped kitchen. There is minimum mobile internet connection. important note: The accommodation facility does not provide separate sleeping areas for males and females. The showers are mixed, while the toilets are separated for men and women.
Meals will be prepared by all the volunteers, taking turns, yet always accompanied by a cook. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, dinner, and night snacks will be provided.


Location & Leisure

The Workcamp will be based in Espinhosela, a village located in the heart of Montesinho natural park, Bragança district, in the Northeastern part of Portugal, near the border with Spain (41.896854, -6.842691). Montesinho Natural Park is one of the best protected areas of Portugal, where it is possible to find red deer, roe deer, wild boar and healthy population of wolves. Its landscape consists of patches of oak tree forests, with forests and orchards of chestnut trees, which constitute one of the main economic incomes of the local community.
Even though Espinhosela is very rural, it is only 17 km away from Bragança city centre. Most of the population is quite aged, but due to the 4 nature routes that cross the village, there is an influx of tourists in the village. The village has a souvenir shop with local products.


Appointment

Bus: you can pick up the bus directly from the airport to the meeting point (Bragança). This will be a 3:15 trip. You can check Flixbus (www.flixbus).

Metro: there is only one line at the airport, which is “Linha E – Violeta – Aeroporto – Estádio do Dragão – Aeroporto”. You stop at “Campanhã”, where you will find the bus station “Terminal Intermodal da Campanhã”.

Bus: the best bus option is to catch a shuttle, which will take you directly from the airport to the bus station “Terminal Intermodal da Campanhã”. You can check schedules here https://www.getbus.eu/pt/

Associartecine’s monitors will pick up volunteers from “Central de Camionagem de Bragança” to the workcamp location.


Host Organization

IPDJ or Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude is a governmental organization that has the task to implement in the whole national territory and at international level the youth policy. The PORTUGUESE SPORTS AND YOUTH INSTITUTE (IPDJ), results of the fusion in 2012, and succeeds in all the powers and obligations, of public bodies in the area of sport and youth, in particular the Portuguese Sport Institute, the Portuguese Youth Institute, the Foundation for the Dissemination of Information Technologies and MoviJovem (Youth Hostels and Youth Card). IPDJ is widespread in the whole continental territory, with presence in the 5 regions (North, Center, Lisbon, Alentejo and Algarve) and their 18 district capitals. We have 8 areas of intervention as we develop several national programs about it – support youth organizations, citizenship and participation; health and healthy lifestyles, studies on youth; Non-formal education, social inclusion and gender quality and innovation and entrepreneurship and employment. At International level we have several youth actions. We are a member of CCIVS and we have been an active partner on International Workcamps (especially through SCI) more than 30 years till now (as ex-IPJ). https://programasjuventude.ipdj.gov.pt/