📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Schulbiologiezentrum in Hildesheim, Germany is one of five stakeholders in the EU nature conservation project LIFE BOVAR. Since 2018, this project has aimed for protection of amphibians and its habitats.Schulbiologiezentrum is responsible for local conservation areas and it manages the breeding of Yellow-bellied toads and environmental education as well.In a two-week workcamp you will get insight into a real conservation program and be part of a work-intensive and very important summer season.Therefore, you will work in various places, together with the EU-LIFE BOVAR staff, employees from the local nature conservation authority and other volunteers.For more information about the project, please visit life-bovar.com.Apart from work, you will have plenty of spare time and many joint free time activities are going to be organized.
💼 What the programme involves
You are welcome to help with practical nature conservation for amphibians in the conservation areas. Together you will structure small ponds and re-establish ideal living conditions for amphibians. The monitoring of the target species is also a task this summer. This means volunteers will search for amphibians in the natural habitat and do the scientific documentation of the real occurrence of these animals.Within the territory of Schulbiologiezentrum you will help out to take care of the Yellow-bellied toads used for breeding and do minor maintenance work. Volunteers will see all states of the development of these species and we hope you will experience the moment when they are adult and when YOU release them into the wild.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will live at the windmill Marienrode, an old windmill, which has been reburbished into a hostel with four-bed rooms, shared bathrooms, a large common room and an inviting terrace.We will cook in a rather professional kitchen. The windmill itself is located outside of Hildesheim. The next supermarket is 3 km away. The city center it is about 7 km. We will provide bicycles and it is mandatory that you have some experience riding them. There is a bus station 1 km away and there will be tickets for all volunteers.
📍 About the location
Hildesheim is a university town of about 100.000 inhabitants and is located at the margin of the low- and the uplands in Northern Germany. Parts of its city is an UNESCO World Heritage Site due to famous churches. At the same time, it also has beautiful natural landscapes to discover.In the city center, you will find bars, restaurants, a museum along many others facilities. On the outskirts of the city there is a lake where it is possible to swim.Besides the practical work, there will be several recreational events like a can-tour on the Innerste River, a visit to Lower Saxonys capital Hannover, shared dinning, a guided city tour in Hildesheim, etc.
ℹ️ Additional information
Volunteers will need a sleeping bag, a towel and swimming apparel and they should be able to ride a bike.For work, please bring sturdy shs and working clothes. Wellies will be very helpful. Sun protection is mandatory.As the region is rural, it is possible to make cycling trips.At the windmill, there will be plenty of time in the evening to sing, dance, play basketball or do a campfire. Therefore, it would be great if you could bring some musical instruments or board games.There is no public transport to the windmill; pick-up from main station Hildesheim will be arranged. The nearest railway stations is Hildesheim. You will get the contact details of the camp leader a few weeks before the workcamp starts.