📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Travel through the ages thanks to the geological sites of the Essonne County! Get involved in the protection of the geological sites of a national nature reserve in the heart of the Ile-de-France region.
Listed and protected since 1989, the nature reserve of the geological sites extends to more than 27 hectares, reaching to 10 communes. The reserve is one of the two national nature reserves in Ile-de-France region and the only geological reserve. A 20 m² greenhouse was built in 2002 in order to preserve the site and to showcase the 30 million year-old geological layers shaped as steps. At least 180 mollusk and vertebrate fossils were identified there! This workcamp gives you a way to contribute to the preservation the biodiversity and to save the geological heritage of this nature reserve. Furthermore, you will participate to the creation of tourist pathways for the nature reserve and in animations focusing on eco-friendly tips.
💼 What the programme involves
Along with a technical leader, you will participate to the restoration of an authentic Roman times mine from located in Villeneuve-sur-Auvers. You will lead workshops with the locals about the memory of the place and its history. You will also take part in the valorization and maintenance of the glass-casing protecting the fossils in Auvers-Saint-Georges. Alongside this action, you will initiate an educational pathway through a part of the nature reserve, while proposing games and animations focusing on eco-friendly tips and the protection of biodiversity.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will be hosted in shared room 5 minutes of walk away from the first site at Villeuneuve-sur-Auvers, and 40 minutes of walk away from the second site at Auvers-Saint-Georges. Both walks follow a pleasant forest path. The group will be sharing the cleaning chores and preparing meals together. The budget will be allocated to the group leader and you will participate to the preparation of dishes with healthy produce from the market and local producers.
📍 About the location
Located 1h30 from the center of Paris, you will be immersed in the heart of the nature reserve of ESSONNE. The reserve is surrounded by 10 charming communes, and especially Auvers-Saint-Georges and Villeneuve-sur-Auvers where you will work with the inhabitants.
You will be 15 minutes away from the ancient fortified city of Etampes, renowned for its historical heritage, and a few minutes away from the stud farms operating in the region.
Your accommodation will also be located 1h15 away from Disneyland Paris Park.
⚠️ Requirements
Please bring gardening gloves, good shoes and working clothes. As the nights can be quite cold, remember also to bring warm clothes and a good sleeping bag. 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 then be reimbursed once back in their home country.
ℹ️ Additional information
Meeting point:
Étréchy RER (sub-urban train, line C) train station
Closest airport:
Paris