Ecological projects

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. They also maintain wetlands. The workcamp takes place on one of those pieces of land and in the wetlands 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: This year, volunteers will work in two different localities – in the forestlands and in the wetlands. Firstly, you will be helping to restore the woodland and allow the growth of a mixed forest which should resemble to the natural state of a forest. The main part of your work will take place in the tree nurseries and will include preparation and weeding of beds, planting of seedlings, building of small fences, setting up of individual protection elements. Secondly, you will help with the maintenance of the wetlands (cutting of grass, cutting of reed followed by raking; removing of reed and other plants from water pools; cutting out of wood). The work will be manual and physically demanding. Be prepared to work outdoors, in wet areas, under all types of weather (rain, wind…). Waterproof clothes (with long sleeves and long trousers), a raincoat and rubber 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.). You will also prepare activities with/for the local community such as international breakfast on a Sunday morning. 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 during part of the project, offers many possibilities to enjoy culture or do different kinds of sport. Trips to nearby towns and other interesting sites are possible.

Accommodation/Food: Volunteers will stay in two different places depending on where they will work. During the work in the forest, you will be in a dormitory at the outskirts of Liberec. For the work in the wetlands you will move to a smaller town (probably Jablonne v Podjestedi) where you will be in a hostel. Both accommodations will have a bathroom with showers, a kitchen and a dining room. Bring a sleeping bag as you will sleep on beds without linen! You will prepare your meals on your own. You are invited to prepare traditional meals from your country. Bring some special ingredients that might be hard to get abroad.

Location: Liberec and other areas of 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.

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 „Centre of Ecological Education“.

Work: Volunteers will work at different places of the Nature Protection Area Palava, mostly in those parts, which are particularly protected as nature reserves and which have the character of steppe. 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 some public areas (such as weeding and collection of garbage). Furthermore, 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 mainly of raking and liquidation of plants and collecting of stones.

Study part: Several excursions and lectures on environmental protection and a presentation about the former Jewish community in Mikulov are planned. Besides, you can take part in handicraft 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 an intercultural 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 intercultural evening. Part of the project will be a one-day trip to Bratislava (Slovakia) and a trip to the UNESCO site of Lednice-Valtice Area.

Accommodation/Food: In the accommodation facilities of the local primary school in Mikulov. There will be a kitchen for volunteers to prepare meals. The meals will be prepared by the volunteers themselves, so it would be great to bring your local recipes. During the working days on the Jewish cemetery, the group will have lunches provided by the partner organization.

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.

Project: The workcamp 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 perform different tasks of practical nature protection or other related tasks. You will either work in a nature reserve about 4 km from the camping place or in other nearby nature. The main work can consist of cutting grass on protected meadows, raking grass, collecting biomass and building of a protective fence. You will also work directly on the site where you will be lodged. The maintenance works on the camping place can include preparing wood, cleaning the surrounding area, liquidating invasive plants, packaging of a camp and similar manual work. As the meadows can be very wet, bring waterproof working shoes (or rubber boots) and rain-gear.

Study part: Evening discussions about ecological topics. A visit of nature reservations in the neighbourhood is planned. 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. Trips to Czech towns in the neighbourhood and 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, have indian sauna, try out artistic work with wood and archery.

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. The consumption of alcohol is not allowed at the campside. The nights in the forest are very cold even frosty, 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 cold water which flows through the camp.

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

Note: The camp is suitable for volunteers who are not afraid of living and working in harder conditions in close contact with nature. If you are ready for this, it can be an amazing experience. Be aware of the fact that consumption of meat and alcohol in the camp is forbidden.

Project: The project is organized by the NGO Hnutí Brontosaurus Jeseníky which is active in a remote and unprivileged region of Jesenicko. Their main goal is to motivate young people from the whole country and local inhabitants to take up active role in the community and thus create a stronger bond of the people to the region. Brontosaurus is focused on the environment and sustainability; they maintain abandoned sights with respect to traditional methods and materials. One of the main projects is the transformation of the vast former military area MUNA (in the forest) recently stopped being used by the army where Brontosaurus in co-operation with other NGOs has been creating a space for environmental education, experiential programs, cultural events, etc.

Work: Volunteers will work in the former military area of MUNA, a forest area full of tiny alleyways, old buildings and newly installed exhibition of landscape art. There will be different tasks ranging from renovation, construction and cleaning. Firstly, you will help to renovate an educational path and to rebuild one of the historical military storage houses using natural architecture techniques (materials such as straw, clay and wood). The house should serve for the organization of different public events for the youth and public. Secondly, you will help with different “less attractive but important” maintenance and cleaning tasks such as cleaning of the campsite, reparations of tools, moving and storing of material, etc. The area is mountainous and the forest can be very cold and wet so please bring good water-proof shoes and warm clothes, also clothes that can get dirty.

Study part: Learn more about the history since WWII and the current situation in the region and the MUNA: Brontosaurus plans to organize a seminar about MUNA and an excursion around the region including a visit of a former village which was abolished by the authorities in the 1960s and is now in the process of revitalization by Brontosaurus. There will be also a workshop on natural architecture so you can learn new techniques. You will also help with preparations of an international campfire which will be an occasion to meet local people and other NGOs. Please bring some national recipes.

Leisure time: Field sportive and experiential games prepared by Brontosaurus and sports in the MUNA, swimming pool in Jesenik, etc. Besides, the region offers many interesting natural and cultural sights (the town of Jesenik, museums, natural beauties of the Jeseniky Mountains, etc.). For some of the activities, local people will be also invited to join.

Accommodation/Food: In a wooden building in the middle of the MUNA area. The conditions are very basic – the building is partly open so volunteers will stay in a military tent put under the roof (there is a heater). There will be mattresses but you need your own warm sleeping bag. There will be dry toilets in the proximity; showers will be situated in a building at the outskirts of the MUNA or will be outdoors. Volunteers will cook for themselves. Running water is not available, it will be brought every day in barrels.

Location: MUNA Mikulovice, near Jesenik. The MUNA is vast; you will be able to use bicycles to move around. The surrounding countryside is mountainous and has beautiful nature.

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

During the stay in the forest, the access to electricity will be limited. Non-smokers or disciplined smokers are preferred. Consumption of alcohol is not allowed in the campsite. We especially welcome hard-working people interested in natural architecture and nature protection. If you are also interested in recent history of the Czech Republic, it is an ideal workcamp for you.

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