Nursery Forest, Ak-Suu Village
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About the project
Nursery Forest, Ak-Suu Village
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Leadership is a non-profit organisation bringing together young volunteers with the mission of involving young people in civil society through volunteerism, project designing, and cooperation both locally and internationally.
Leadership was founded on November 1, 2005 as a youth volunteer organisation under the auspices of the public association Leader, a centre of civic society initiatives.
💼 What the programme involves
During this 2-week camp, volunteers will take care of young trees (seedlings), water, weed, and trim the area of the nursery.
Your work will range from 6 to 8 hours per day, depending on a mutual agreement and the needs of the host organisation. Normally, volunteers work Monday to Friday, though special events and activities sometimes require their presence during weekends.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Basic cabins and shared rooms with beds. Volunteers should bring their sleeping bags. Volunteers will bathe in bathhouses 2 times per week at a former Soviet resort in Ak-Suu.
🍲 Food
Cooking will be done by volunteers in the kitchen with all necessary utilities provided.
📍 About the location
The camp will be held in Ak-Suu (Teploklyuchenka on Google Maps) ,which is situated 20 minutes from Karakol – the Issyk-Kul Oblast centre. Ak-Suu is one of the region’s oldest districts, full of hot springs for health and leisure. Surrounded completely by mountains, this location is very picturesque.
The Ak-Suu Nursery Forest was founded in 1949 and is situated in Ak-Suu Village, 15 km from Karakol. It is unique because it is the only organisation of its kind in Kyrgyzstan. Ak-Suu Nursery Forest covers 1529 hectares of landscape. Each year they plant trees, take care of young seedlings, and protect the soil. One of the main goals of the nursery is to cultivate non-native crops. There are 120 kinds of bushes and trees, 111 of which are non-native, 33 kinds of birches, and several kinds of pine, acacia and maple in the territory of the nursery. An arboretum was also founded there, where rare and unique plants growing in the territory of Kyrgyzstan and beyond the borders of the country are collected.
All studies and work at the nursery are under observation by the Academy of Sciences of Kyrgyz Republic. Currently, work is underway on the acclimatization of beech, common eastern hemlock, and European hornbeam trees.
🎒 Leisure activities
On the weekend volunteers will have an opportunity to visit Karakol town and do some sightseeing. Another option would be to hike up to the nearby Altyn Arashan health resort where you can enjoy natural hot springs.
⚠️ Requirements
- Language : Although English is the working language of international volunteers, at least basic knowledge of Russian is recommended in order to communicate efficiently with local volunteers and staff members of the organisation. Beginner’s Russian/Kyrgyz language lessons are included in the participation fee. Knowledge of other languages is welcome; this will enable you to give language courses with local volunteers and other youth in Karakol.
- Other skills : In order to participate in the program you are expected to have some experience in volunteering, working as a team, and working with teenagers. For certain projects, it is recommended to bring literature and CDs with language teaching programs.
- Motivation: We also expect you to be motivated and to actively participate in your own program’s implementation and evaluation process.
🤝 Meeting point
Karakol, Office of Leadership, 138 Lenin St. (cross road: Koenkozova St). Travel cost from the airport to the meeting point is not reimbursed. Extra assistance with travel can be provided upon request.
ℹ️ Additional information
Language: English, there will be a camp-leader who will interpret and help in all ways of communication.
Group: Mixed, composed of international volunteers and one camp leader, and local volunteers. Participants will manage the working hours and free time activities with the local camp leaders. Decisions will be made through group discussion.
We welcome all volunteers who are enthusiastic, creative and motivated to work with orphan children. Alcohol and drugs are not permitted during the camp or at the accommodation venues. Smoking is not allowed while volunteers are with children.
Volunteers should come with their own health and accident insurance.
Bring your own medicine, backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, raingear, warm clothes, comfortable shoes for hiking, a swimsuit, sunscreen, insect repellent (much of the time will be spent on the lake shore), a torch/flashlight, your national recipes, music, songs, games, energy and a good mood! A more detailed packing list will be sent after applying.
180 Euro should be paid upon arrival. The participation fee covers accommodation, food, transportation, recreation and organisational costs.
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📅 Available sessions
LS-04
28/07/2017 → 10/08/2017
LS-04 Nursery Forest
28/07/2021 → 10/08/2021
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
17–99 years old
Solidarity donation
180.00 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Kyrgyzstan Som (KGS / лв)
Exchange rate
1 KGS = 0.010239 EUR
Rate as of 31/05/2026
Timezone
Kyrgyzstan Time
Local time: 21:38 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🏠 Accommodation
🗣️ Languages spoken