📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The workcamp 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. They transform environmentally damaged and abandoned areas into locations that are attractive for both people and nature. In one area of the Jizera Mountains, they create a New Virgin Forest - a location where unnatural spruce tree monoculture is being replaced by seedlings of original trees. In another area, they maintain wetlands. The aim of this workcamp is to help at a summer camp for children that focuses on practical nature protection in several different locations that Cmelak takes care of (both forests and wetlands). Volunteers will learn about the local region and its flora and will spread the idea of volunteering among locals. Cmelak has organized 18 workcamps so far.
In this workcamp, you are actively working for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Life on Land (UN SDG15).
💼 What the programme involves
You will take part in organizing a day camp for children. Children stay at the camp during the day but they sleep at home. You will actively participate in all the camp activities and you will help create the program and the activities during the week. You have the opportunity to discover different places of the Liberec region, working in the valuable areas the hosting organization takes care of.  Be ready to work outdoors, in wet areas, under all types of weather (rain, wind). Waterproof clothes with long sleeves, long trousers, and a raincoat are necessary. These clothes will protect you against insects and plants. Study part: There are some interactive field excursions planned for volunteers to get to know the locations where they are going to work, to understand why their work is needed and beneficial.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will stay at the organization’s headquarters in Liberec. You will share a common sleeping room with all the volunteers. There are 2 kitchens, a bathroom, 3 toilets and a common room. Bring your own sleeping bag. You will prepare your meals together with children during the camp and you will bring them to the workplace. You will prepare dinner together as a group. Bring a lunchbox with you.
📍 About the location
Liberec and its surrounding areas; organization’s locations- Jablonne, Novy Bor and Padouchov - areas of the Jizera Mountains in the north of Bohemia. The area is known for its surrounding mountains that are easily accessible. Leisure time: You can go hiking in the beautiful surrounding landscape, visit nearby castles and climb the Jested Mountain - the highest peak in the region. The city of Liberec offers many possibilities to enjoy culture, visit the local zoo, botanical garden go-carts, etc. Trips outside Liberec will also be organized, volunteers can visit for example Sloup rock castle, Lemberk castle, go canoeing or hiking in the Jizera Mountains.
⚠️ Requirements
Due to current travel restrictions we only accept volunteers from Europe. Participation fee: Due to limited outgoing resources of INEX-SDA, we kindly ask participants to contribute 25 EUR towards the costs of general incoming administration of our workcamps. The fee will be collected upon arrival. Please note that this fee does not directly contribute to the workcamp budgets. During the workcamp, you will spend a lot of time with children. This is why we require a certificate of good conduct and a medical form. We are looking for volunteers who like working with children, nature, being outside and are eager to learn new things about nature protection.
ℹ️ Additional information
You will spend a lot of time outdoors so you can get into contact with different kinds of plants, herbs, pollen, and insects. Please bring a sleeping bag, lunchbox, waterproof clothes, and shoes.
