Bridges to nature

08/07 – 28/07
ENVI
Vols: 14 + 2 team leaders
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 and allow the growth of a mixed forest which should resemble to the natural state of a forest. The work will be manual and will take 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: During several evenings on the weekdays, lectures, presentations and workshops on ecological topics including an excursion to protected forest lands will take place. The local NGO will suggest the topics of those activities in advance to the team-leaders and volunteers (i.e. forest-management in the past and today, the idea behind the “New forest” project etc). On one afternoon you can prepare activities with/for the local community such as a community day. The project includes a trip to the city Ceska Lipa as well.

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.

11/08 – 31/08
ENVI
Vols: 12 + 2 team leaders
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 collection of garbage. Furthermore the volunteers will help several days with the maintenance of a local historical Jewish cemetery (one of the most-interesting and oldest in the country), this work will consist of raking and liquidation of plants, collecting of stones and other manual maintenance work.

Study part: The workcamp will have a rich study part: Several excursions and lectures on environmental protection and a presentation about the former Jewish community in Mikulov are planned. You can meet with representatives of other regional organizations active in the field of environmental issues and 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 nearby. 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 be used during the multicultural evening. Part of the project will be a one day trip to Bratislava (Slovakia) and a bike tour to the beautiful border-region Flakensteinsko.

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.

27/08 – 14/09
ENVI
Vols: 12 + 2 team leaders
Age: 18+

Project: The project is organized in co-operation with the Czech national section of EUROSOLAR. This organisation is dealing with the promotion of renewable energies and direct ecological education in the nature. It takes place in an abandoned but exceptionally beautiful, hilly area of Cesky les (The Bohemain 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). This project is recommended to volunteers that are fond of trying out a basic life within nature and do not mind longer walks.

Work: The volunteers will work in a nature reserve about 4 km from the camping place, as well as directly on the site where they will be lodged. The main work will consist of cutting grass on protected meadows, raking grass, collecting biomass and maintenance works on the camping place such as preparing wood, cleaning the surrounding area, constructing a fence for a tree garden and similar manual work. As the meadows can be very wet, bring waterproof working shoes (or rubber boots) and rain-gear.

Study part: A lecture and seminar about the environmental conditions in the formerly closed boarder area (Iron Curtain area), where the camp is located. If conditions allow we can try out beaver-watching and observation of other wild animal directly in nature. As you are living in close contact with the nature you will improve your camping skills as well.

Leisure time: Hiking in the surrounding nature, excursions to an old military watch tower, nearby villages and small towns. As the project is situated directly at the boarder to Germany, a trip to Germany can be included as well. In the free afternoons, you can play games and try our artistic work with wood. If you have an 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. You will cook for yourself from provided resources at freestanding cooking places inside and outside the tee-pees. The food is ONLY vegetarian and vegan, bring a bowl/plate for eating, cutlery and a cup. The consumption of alcohol is not allowed at the campside. The nights in the forest are cold, so bring a very warm sleeping bag, a sleeping mat and an extra blanket or a cover for a hey-mattress. You will wash yourself in a small stream with quite a cold water which flows through the camp. The consumption of alcohol and drugs is forbidden!

Location: Stoupa, an isolated part of the village of Lesna in the Czech forest. The nearest town is Tachov.

02/09 – 14/09
RENO/YOGA
Vols: 10 + 2 team leaders
Age 18+

Project: The workcamp will take place in the Sri Devpuriji Ashram. The ashram serves as a place for yoga, meditation and other techniques. It is situated in Zdarec u Skutce, a small village at the foot of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands (Ceskomoravska vrchovina) in the central part of the Czech Republic.

Work: The volunteers will help to build an ecological house from straw and clay (the main task will be to apply clay plaster to the walls from straw), and to construct a stone floor. Additional tasks will be to prepare firewood, gardening and cutting grass. The work will be demanding – we are looking for volunteers with a good physical condition.

Study part: If you are interested in yoga, you can take part in daily lectures on yoga-practices (e.g. morning lectures, afternoon relaxation).

Leisure time: You can swim in the little stream, which flows right through the area of the centre or in the stone quarries close-by. Take trips to the surrounding countryside, have a campfire, play music or visit sites of interest in the surroundings.

Accommodation/Food: You will sleep in the common room of the Ashram on foam mattresses. Please take your sleeping bag! There will be ONLY vegetarian food.

Location: Yoga centre Zdarec u Skutce (1km from the town Skutec with 3000 inhabitants)

Note: The yoga centre is a place where no alcohol, drugs or meat are consumed. You can smoke only in a certain area of the centre. Bring good working clothes, working boots and raingear! After the end of the project, you will have the possibility to stay at the centre for some more days for a fee of 150 Czech crowns per day.

3 months during 01/04 – 30/10   
AGRI /YOGA   
Vols: 1- 2    
Age: 18+

Project: The project is focused on organic gardening, as our farm is a certified farm following the principles of organic gardening, partly also biodynamic gardening and permaculture. Organic farming means, that we use environment friendly practices, support biodiversity and protect the landscape. We do not use synthetic fertilisers to enhance our production and chemical substances to protect our crop from diseases and pests. Instead we use natural principles to increase the yields and resistance to pests and diseases as well. Fruits and vegetables produced in our garden are mostly used in our ashram kitchen. The volunteers will have opportunity to see the production from the field to the table. The goal of the project is enabling young people learn about healthier and sustainable way of farming (and living), give them opportunity to live in the countryside and perhaps motivate them for living a rural/more natural life. It offers the possibility of inter-cultural exchange and participation in organic movement. In addition our project gives the chance to spend some time in the spiritual environment of our ashram.

Work: Our farm has 2-3 employees. The volunteers will help mainly in the vegetable garden, in the orchard and in the park. The volunteers will work 7 hours per day. The weekends will be free. Be prepared for sometimes demanding work outside (weather changes, sun, …).

Leisure time: After work and on weekends the volunteers will have the opportunity to go for walks, visit sights or take trips to the surrounding countryside. In the Chriby hills it is possible to see ruins of the old Strilky castle and ruins of Cimburk castle (near Korycany), where some cultural events take place. The town Kromeriz with historical monuments on the UNESCO list is 25 km far away.

Accommodation/ Food: In a room (usually multiple-bed room) in the castle or in a building opposite the castle. The meals are provided in the castle. The food is vegetarian only (often Indian type). 

Location: The farm is located in the Mahaprabhudeep ashram – a spiritual centre of the organization “Yoga in Daily Life” with around 15 permanent inhabitants. It is situated in the small peaceful Moravian village Strilky, in the compound of an old village castle with a large park, an orchard, a vegetable and herbal garden. The ashram organizes various seminars about yoga and healthy lifestyle and camps for children. The village is located at the foot of the hills of Chriby, 25 km south-west from the town Kromeriz and is surrounded by forests. The nearest town Korycany (3 000 inhabitants) is 6 km from Strilky.

Note: There are rules that need to be followed: no drugs, alcohol and smoking, no meat and eggs consumption in the ashram area.
Participation is possible for minimum 3 months between 01/04 – 30/10/2012.

Requirements:
1.    Flexibility, responsibility, sociability, patience and maturity
2.    Interest in working in the garden, desire to gain experience; experience with gardening is an advantage
3.    Good physical condition
4.    Letter of motivation
5.    Medical form
6.    Good knowledge of English
7.    Acceptance of our spiritual environment and vegetarian lifestyle (see the Note)
8.    Interest in yoga is an advantage

Language: English
Pocket money: 50 EURO/month