Mosty k přírodě

10/07 – 30/07
ENVI
Vols: 13+2
Age: 18-26

Project: The project is organized in cooperation with the local NGO Cmelak - Friends of Nature Society, whose activities are focused on the support of a sustainable way of life, practical nature protection and environmental education. The goal of their projects is to restore the natural woods on specific pieces of land and to save endangered tree species. The workcamp takes place on one of those pieces of land in a mountainous area at the foot of the Jizerske Mountains, which are situated in the North of Bohemia, close to the Polish border.

Work: The volunteers will work on the forestlands, helping Cmelak to restore the woodland so that a mixed forest can grow, that closely resembles the natural state of a forest. The work will be manual and takes place where currently the most support is needed (planting of seedlings, building of small fences, setting up of individual protection elements, work in the tree nurseries including preparation and weeding of beds). The main part of your work will take place in the tree nurseries. Be prepared to work in all types of weather. Waterproof clothes and boots, are necessary.

Study part: Ecological discussions with Czech pupils, lectures, workshops, projections of films, study visits and excursions on ecological topics are planned.

Leisure time: You can go hiking in the beautiful surrounding landscape, visit castles and climb the Jested - the highest peak in the region. The city of Liberec, where you will be accommodated, offers many possibilities to enjoy culture or do different kinds of sport. Trips to nearby towns and other interesting sites are possible.

Accommodation/Food: In a dormitory at the outskirts of Liberec. The accommodation has a bathroom with showers, a kitchen and a dining room. You will prepare your meals on your own. Bring a sleeping bag and a sleeping mat with you!

Location: Liberec, near the Jizerske Mountains in the north of Bohemia. You will use mini-buses to get to the place of work in the surrounding forests.

Note: This project is realized with the support of Johnson Controls.

31/07 – 13/08
ENVI
Vols: 9+2
Age: 18 – 26

Project: This project is organized by the Czech Association of Nature Protection in Vlasim, which takes care of more than 50ha of protected meadows with endangered species. The aim of the voluntary project is the practical management of some of those meadows.

Work: The work takes place on different meadows in the Nature Protection Areas of Podblanicka and Blanik. The group will rake grass and transport it to a central place from where it will be collected. If you are interested you can learn how to work with traditional tools like scythes. (Scything is one of the traditional ways, how to maintain the Central European landscape and which helps to preserve its great biodiversity.) The work will be manual! Be prepared to work in all kinds of weather, even when it is raining. Bring waterproof boots and raingear with you! You will travel to the place of work in cars.

Study part: Lecture on a geological park, which is being developed in the region, get to know the activities of the ecocentre and visit their new rescue centre for animals which is being built at the moment, lecture on traditional forms of landscape management.

Leisure time: We suggest to go hiking, make trips by foot to some sites of interest in the surroundings like historical castles. Furthermore the town of Vlasim offer many possibilities to spend your free time, e.g. a swimming pool and an observatory.

Accommodation/Food: In the ecological centre Podblanicke. Bring a sleeping bag and a sleeping mat. The group will cook together at the place of accommodation.

Location: Vlasim just opposite the castle (which you are also going to visit)

13/08 – 31/08
ENVI
Vols:12+2
Age: 18-26

Project: The workcamp takes place in the Nature Protection Area of Palava in Southern Moravia close to the Austrian border. The project is dedicated to the preservation of the unique landscape of Palava and will run in close cooperation with the local „Center of Ecological Education“.

Work: The volunteers will work at different places of the Nature Protection Area Palava, mostly in those parts, which are particularly protected as nature reserves. The aim is to maintain and clean the area thus contributing to practical nature protection. The work will be manual: raking and removing invasive plants, maintenance of an alley and of a nature trail, collection of garbage in the four most-visited nature reserves in the nature protection area.

Study part: The workcamp will have a rich study part: Several excursions and lectures on environmental protection are planned. You can meet with representatives of other regional organizations active in the field of environmental issues. Furthermore a one day-trip to the Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape listed by the UNESCO Word is planned. You will also visit local ecological organizations and small companies, which are active in the field of sustainable production of goods. Besides, you can take part in handcraft workshops.

Leisure time: The region is ideal for hiking and you can visit numerous sites of interest in the surroundings. It is possible to have a guided tour through the historical centre of Mikulov and visit castles and caves close by. You can prepare a multicultural evening for the locals, giving them an insight into your cultures and talk about ecological issues, which are discussed at your homes. Bring some games, pictures, recipes and songs, which are typical for your cultures, to use for the multicultural evening.

Accommodation/Food: In a pension, situated directly in the historical centre of Mikulov. The meals will be prepared by the volunteers themselves, so it would be great to bring your local recipes.

Location: Mikulov, Southern Moravia. The region is known as one of the most beautiful protected areas in the Czech Republic.

Note: This project is realized with the support of Johnson Controls.

21/08 – 09/09
ENVI
Vols: 13+2
Age: 18+

Project: The project is organized in co-operation with the environmental organization “Nova zeme” (= New Land). It takes place in an abandoned but exceptionally beautiful, hilly area of Cesky les (The Czech Forest), near the western border of the Czech Republic. The campsite is totally isolated from civilization (the nearest Czech village is about 11 km away).

Work: You will work in a natural reservation. The work will be manual: mowing meadows, raking grass, collecting biomass, preparing wood, preparing beds, building fences and walls and some maintenance work on the project site. Bring waterproof working shoes and rain-gear.

Study part: Excursion to nature reservations, ecological discussions on the evenings, visit a beaver reservation.

Leisure time: Excursions to the forest, nearby villages and small towns. Games, archery, artistic work with wood, land-art. If you have a EU-driving license, bring it with you as well.

Accommodation/Food: In tee-pees (Indian tents with a fire place in the middle) on wooden pads. The nights in the forest are cold, so bring a very warm sleeping bag, a sleeping mat and an extra blanket. You will wash yourself in a small stream with quite cold water, which flows through the camp. The food is ONLY vegetarian and the volunteers will prepare it themselves. Bring a bowl/plate for eating, cutlery and a cup. The consumption of alcohol and drugs is forbidden!

Location: Isolated part of the village of Lesna in the Czech forest. The nearest town is Tachov.

04/09 – 17/09
ENVI
Vols: 14+2
AGE: 18+

Project: The project is organized in cooperation with the local NGO Cmelak - Friends of Nature Society, whose activities are focused on the support of a sustainable way of life, practical nature protection and environmental education. The goal of their projects is to restore the natural woods on specific pieces of land and to save endangered tree species. The workcamp takes place on one of those pieces of land in a mountainous area at the foot of the Jizerske Mountains, which are situated in the North of Bohemia, close to the Polish border.

Work: The main aim of the project is to support the NGO Cmelak with its manual work outdoors in the mountainous area. The volunteers will plant seedlings of trees and clean branches after cutting down trees in the area, so that a new and mixed forest can grow, which closely resembles the natural state of a forest. According to the currant needs this work could be replaced by similar tasks (help with growing the seedlings) in a tree nursery. This project is designed for people who are willing and able to do hard manual work and who are prepared to work outdoors in all types of weather (in the mountains it will be cold, rainy and windy). Water-proof clothes and very good working boots are necessary.

Leisure time: You can go hiking in the beautiful surrounding landscape and take trips to Liberec (a town that offers many cultural event).

Study part: Discussions with pupils from a high-school in Liberec, visit the headquarters of the NGO Cmelak, excursions to the forests owned by the organization.

Accommodation/Food: The volunteers will sleep in beds in a basic accommodation at the outskirts of Liberec. A shower with hot water and toilets will be provided. The group will prepare the meals on their own. Bring a sleeping bag, a sleeping mat and slippers with you!

Location: Outskirts of Liberec, near the Jizerske mountains in the north of Bohemia.