📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The workcamp is organized by the NGO Hnuti Brontosaurus Jeseniky which is active in a remote and unprivileged region of Jeseniky and Rychleby Mountains. Brontosaurus is focused on the environment and sustainability; they maintain abandoned sights with respect to traditional methods and materials. One of the main projects is the vanished village of Zastavka (Stillstand) in Rychleby Mountains where they cultivate old species of fruit trees and they experiment with the natural architecture. The aim of the workcamp is to help with the renovation of the village and the creation of a simple farm with respect to traditional methods and natural lifestyle.This project is realized with the support of Johnson Controls.
💼 What the programme involves
Volunteers will do mainly manual work that will be quite physically demanding. The tasks can include building wooden fence for sheep, creating shelters for visitors and tourists, collecting wood, gardening, maintenance of the campsite. One of the tasks can include renovation of the natural house (with natural techniques using materials such as clay, bits of straw and sand). You will also help to prepare the culture event Folkloric Scything . It will involve local community in scything together the meadows. Please bring a white plain shirt, trousers/long skirt and a hat for the event.
🏠 Accommodation on site
In tents and in a house made of clay and straw (for 6-7 people, the rest in tents.) Bring a warm sleeping bag Access to electricity is limited; water is delivered in barrels. Toilets are dry (outhouse). There is no indoor shower (there s a stream or improvised natural shower i water is heated by the sun). You will cook your own meals in improvised field kitchen, taking turns.
📍 About the location
Vanished village of Zastavka (Stillstand), part of Uhelna in Rychleby Mountains, around 29 km from the town of Jesenik. The village is situated at the hilltop and is quite isolated (the last settlers left 70 years ago after WWII). The nearest village Uhelna is reachable on foot at the distance of 2 km. The surrounding countryside is mountainous and has a charming nature.Study part: Excursion around the vanished village of Zastavka (history and current development); presentation of the organization Brontosaurus; practical technical and crafts skills (work with natural clay plaster, carpentry) by a specialized lecturer.Leisure time: Discovering the beautiful mountainous countryside; visiting a local spa; protected area of Rejviz; towns of Mikulovice, Zlate Hory and Jesenik, etc.
⚠️ Requirements
We are especially looking for volunteers who are interested natural architecture, who are not afraid of manual work and of basic living conditions. It is not allowed to smoke and drink alcohol at the campsite.