📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
On the banks of a peaceful river lies an old sawmill waiting to be restored!
The town of Cormaranche-en-Bugey is happy to welcome you for its first international voluntary workcamp. Located in the forested area, the village has a long tradition in the field of woodworking. Today the forestry industry is still highly developed. In order to preserve the remains of this industrial activity, the town wants to preserve the ruins of the old sawmill in order to enhance it for the many walkers passing by. We need your help to carry out this project that will allow you to discover a village in the heart of Bugey, between mountains and verdure.
💼 What the programme involves
With the help of the technical leader of Concordia you will work on the renovation of the old sawmill. You will restore the stone walls according to ancient masonry techniques (working with limestone). You will also enhance the old wheel that powered the saw mill by removing the vegetation and painting it to reduce the speed of erosion.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will be accommodated in the municipal guesthouse in the center of the village. The house has sanitary facilities, showers, a large living room where you can rest and an equipped kitchen. You will sleep in rooms for 2 to 4 people.
The group will be accompanied by two camp leaders, one group leader and one technical leader. Together you will participate in organizing the collective life (cleaning, activities, etc.) and you will prepare meals in turns using the products bought nearby. We will favour local products and short supply chains. Tastings of local specialties may also be organised with local producers
📍 About the location
Cormaranche-en-Bugey (850 inhabitants) is a town located in the Ain department, on the edge of Jura Mountains on the Hauteville plateau. It is the area of medium-altitude mountains with many natural woodlands, perfect for hiking or mountain biking. Lake Bourget is around 40 kilometers away, Annecy around 70 kilometers away. Many touristic towns and cities are also nearby (less than 100 km away), for example, Bourg-en-Bresse that is famous for its gastronomy, Lyon listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chambery – the capital of Savoie region, and Geneva.
⚠️ Requirements
Remember to bring gloves as well as working clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. If you want, you can also bring your sleeping bag. Also take appropriate clothing in case of rain or for hiking in altitudes (pullovers, polar, raincoats...). Do not forget sun protection as well (hat, sunglasses and sunscreen) and a swimming suit. The common living activities will be programmed together with your camp leaders and according to your suggestions! If you would like to share a bit of your culture (cooking recipes, traditional stories), do not hesitate to bring a piece of your country in your backpack!
Foreigners belonging to the European Union must bring with them a personal EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), and everybody must, in any case, bring their insurance certificate. If health issues happen on the project, volunteers will have to pay for it, and will then be reimbursed once back in their home country.
