TWO SIDES OF THE MOUNTAINS
France
Environment
Environment
Fixed dates
About the project
TWO SIDES OF THE MOUNTAINS
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The city of Chambéry is developing a dynamic youth policy, particularly promoting international mobility. It aims to be a welcoming place in order to present all the richness of its territory, while allowing young people from Chambéry to experience mobility projects, especially European ones, to learn from other cultures. The city works in partnership with the Bauges Regional Nature Park which is developing several environmental and sustainable development actions in the educational field for a wide audience. The origin of this project comes from the common desire to mobilise young people in order to make them fully understand the different ways of living in the mountain environment and to the interactions between different environments.
💼 What the programme involves
Discover the French Alps by participating in an itinerant workcamp between two sites presenting the mountain on the city side and on the nature side.
In partnership with the town of Chambéry and the Regional Natural Parc of the Bauges (Parc Naturel Régional du Massif des Bauges), you will be involved in a project allowing you to discover the Savoy region thanks to two exceptional sites, different but complementary, to get a global vision of Savoy\'s heritage as well as a cultural and environmental point of view. During the first stage of the project, you will be welcomed by the town of Chambéry which will let you participate in the enhancement of the Church of Saint Pierre de Lémenc and its crypt, one of the oldest and most beautiful religious relics of Savoy. You will work on landscaping in the park next to it (pruning of trees, refurbishment of bench, etc.), making it more suitable for walking. After a transfer by minibus, you will discover the beauty of the Arclusaz valley, one of the most beautiful sites to discover in the Bauges massif. You will face an important challenge by working on a typical wall of the region, a standing stone wall, at the heart of a century-old history written by the monks of the Bellevaux monastery.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Depending on the sites, you will be accommodated in very different conditions. In Chambéry, in an urban environment, you will be accommodated in a permanent accommodation in an establishment with all the conveniences. In the Arclusaz valley, you will be lodged in tents in the heart of the mountain pasture, close to a shelter where you will be able to prepare meals together. Whatever the location, we will try our best to take local and seasonal products as supplies for the meals’ preparation. You will be accompanied by a team of campleaders who will support the collective decision-making process so that everyone can interact in the project.
📍 About the location
Chambéry, nicknamed the City of the Dukes, is the most populous city in Savoy. It is the capital of the department. Its history is closely linked to Italy, to which it is close and from which it has retained its influences. As a student city, Chambéry is a dynamic territory bordered by the lake of Bourget which will allow you to enjoy a very lively swimming area, especially during summer. The visits are numerous and varied, learn more about the Savoyard heritage (cheese and gastronomy, cutlery ...) and to discover certain local features such as the Fountain of the Elephants (also nicknamed the Fontaine des Quatre sans Culs).
The access to the Arclusaz Valley is from the commune of Ecole. It takes a good hour of walking on a hiking trail to get to the workcamp. It is imperative to bring hiking boots and a backpack to carry your belongings. Your luggage will be transported by 4x4 to facilitate the climb. Once on site, you will be in a protected natural area, with no surrounding houses and buildings. It will be possible to supply food in particular. From the site, you will have access to many hikes allowing you to discover the Massif of Bauges. Mountain farmers will visit you to present their profession and living conditions. It will be a total immersion experience in the mountain pastures.
⚠️ Requirements
This project is supported by the program European Solidarity Corps for young people between 18 and 30 years. It is open to all volunteers that fit the ESC criteria.
The participation to the ESC volunteering teams is subjects to several principles and conditions, presented on the ESC webpage: https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity/mission_en
• volunteers do not have to pay any fee (not sending, nor participation fee) to attend the project;
• volunteers need to enrol in the PASS, the European Solidarity Corps Portal; Concordia France will organize their matching, on the online system, with the volunteering project;
• volunteers will receive pocket money, calculated on basis of 6€/day, once they arrive on the project in France.
ℹ️ Additional information
Remember to bring gloves, clothes and shoes for working. About the leisure, it is imperative to provide hiking boots and clothing suitable for the mountain (fleece, hiking shorts and pants, etc.). About the accommodation, remember to take a warm sleeping bag as the nights can be (very) cold. Do not forget sun protection (hat, glasses, cream ...) and a swimsuit. Leisure times will be scheduled together with our campleaders and according to your wishes. If you want to share a bit of your culture (cooking recipes, traditional stories, unusual objects, music ...), don't hesitate to bring a piece of your country in your backpack.
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 will then be reimbursed once back in their home country.
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📷 Project photos
TWO SIDES OF THE MOUNTAINS
TWO SIDES OF THE MOUNTAINS
TWO SIDES OF THE MOUNTAINS
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📅 Available sessions
CONCF-274-ESC
16/07/2021 → 30/07/2021
Volunteers registered
0 / 16
♂ 0/8
♀ 0/8
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–30 years old
Solidarity donation
0.00
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
Av. Denis Therme, 73630 Le Chatelard, France
France
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Euro Member Countries (EUR / €)
Timezone
Central European Standard Time
Local time: 21:26 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🏠 Accommodation
Collective
🗣️ Languages spoken
English
French