📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Dean Castle Country Park covers over 200 acres, and is nestled in the heart of Kilmarnock. The Country Park boasts beautiful woodland walks, an adventure playground, urban farm, visitor centre, tearoom, shop and a fantastic 14th century castle housing world class collections including historic weapons, armour and musical instruments. You can explore the park using scenic paths and trails - each season brings with it ever changing plants and wildlife that you might spy along the way. With over 80 hectares of countryside within a very urban area, the park is a great place to get away from the stresses of everyday life and see some fantastic wildlife. Volunteers will take part in environmental and conservation activities throughout the park, depending on the needs of the park at that time.
💼 What the programme involves
Camp leaders will be responsible for the coordination of the group during work and free time, communication between volunteers, the host and Xchange Scotland, team building, co-ordinating domestic arrangements and managing the group dynamics of the volunteer group.
Volunteers will be working in the Lagoons area of the country park on the Bat Bothy project creating a safe place for bats to hibernate over the winter. This will involve digging, woodwork and other habitat management tasks. We’ll also get muddy clearing out a pond to improve for wildlife and provide an even better foraging habitat for the bats in spring and summer.
🏠 Accommodation on site
The volunteers will be housed at a community centre near the country park. There is a kitchen with cooking equipment available for the volunteers to use at the centre as well as a recreational space.
Volunteers will sleep on the floor; air mattresses will be provided, but volunteers need to bring sleeping bags.
📍 About the location
Dean Castle Country Park is in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire. There are places to visit within a short distances, Troon is easily accessible by train (15 mins) with beach and views to Arran and Glasgow is 40 mins away by train.
⚠️ Requirements
We are looking for camp leaders, who have at least participated in a camp leader's training.
Camp leading experience - preferred.
ℹ️ Additional information
-Bring wellies, warm waterproof clothes