📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Taevaskoja Youth Camp is adventurous hiking camp that has been active for over 30 years. The aim of Taevaskoja camp is to support children s development through non-formal education. During the youth camp kids participate in different workshops about health, safety, culture and enjoy climbing and hiking activities. Taevaskoja is located in South-Estonia, about 220 km from Tallinn. The camp site is very close to the one of the most popular natural touristic place - Suur Taevaskoda (The Large Heaven s Hall), surrounded by beautiful forest and close to the one of the longest rivers in Estonia. Such location brings children closer to unspoiled nature and gives them an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with Estonian national heritage richly presented in the area. The camp aims also to develop children s knowledges about different cultures and support the growth of tolerance. To do that Taevaskoja Youth Camp invites international volunteers to join the camp as animators. Children come to Taevaskoja camp from all over Estonia. Most of them have basic knowledge of English and are very happy to have a chance to practice it. More information on www.taevaskoja.ee/taevaskoja-noortelaager/ Camp has several periods with different age groups of kids. NB It is possible to join for several camp shifts in a row in July.
💼 What the programme involves
Each day of the camp will have a program completed by local coordinators and the volunteers will be helping to realize it. The main activities will be intercultural learning through finding differences and similarities between Estonia and countries, where volunteers come from (history, traditions, language, singing, dancing). It will be done through games, drama, sport, discussions. We expect that volunteers would lead a workshop connected with their culture (traditional dances, songs, games, everyday life, food specialities, etc.) It can be an educational one or as a game to play. Therefore, we look for active volunteers with good knowledge of history and culture of their country and ability to present it. Volunteer will work in partnership with professional local educators and youth workers i 9 staff members. The age of children is from 8 to 18 depending on shift.
🏠 Accommodation on site
In the same house with kids, separate room for volunteers and staff members (2-3 people in the same room). Volunteers will eat together with children and staff in the canteen. Showers, toilets and Wi-Fi are available.
📍 About the location
LocationTaevaskoja is a tiny village in South-Estonia with 90 habitants. Distance from Tallinn is 220 km. But in summer it becomes one of the most visited natural sights. http://www.taevaskoja.ee/taevaskoja-loodus https://www.visitestonia.com/en/suur-ja-vaike-taevaskoda-sandstone-outcrops TerminalAirport, harbour, bus station in Tallinn. Alternatively you can arrive to Riga, capital of Latvia. From these cities it is easy to travel to Tartu by bus. From Tartu you can come to Taevaskoja by regular bus or train. Arrival is on the first day of the camp in the evening, around 18-19. Departure is on the last day of the camp in the morning.Leisure timePlenty of possibilities: hiking, swimming, sunbathing, sports, games, excursions to the places of interest in the area.
⚠️ Requirements
Special requirementsYou have to love kids and be really motivated to work with them. The work demands serious commitment and it can be hard sometimes. Experience in work with children is an advantage. We expect active volunteers with good knowledge of history and culture of their country and ability to present it. All exciting ideas of activities for kids, games etc. are welcome. Good ability to communicate in English is needed, knowledge of Russian may be useful. Please note: this is a national camp for local kids, therefore Estonian language is mostly used by participants and staff members. However, staff and many kids speak English i just be outgoing and brave to ask and talk to them The age of participants is 20-35.Participation feeWe ask participants to contribute 50 Euro towards the costs of general administration. In case of participation in more than one shift the total fee is 80 Euro. This fee has to be paid by bank transfer before the beginning of the camp.
