Ibg germany – Workcamps 2016 ibg 2016 Workcamps in Germany

PROJECT: For the fourth year, a workcamp will take place at the castle Grimburg. Built by the Trier archbishops around 1190, the castle has been destroyed and reconstructed several times. Awakened from its centuries-long sleep in 1978, a local group of volunteers started to reconstruct the castle again, including work on the very impressive castle keep. However, most parts are still a ruin and in the past years, efforts have been made to increase the castle’s accessibility and attractiveness of this unique site. Today, it has become a popular destination for hikers, as well as a site used for weddings, youth activities, historic markets and knights’ festivals. There will be a small castle’s festival on May 5th, where you are invited to join and support the local team.

WORK: The tasks will be to support the maintenance of the castle and do various works on the castles’ ground (cut bushes and grass, protect the masonry). Concrete tasks will be: to improve the steep path leading from one of the towers to the castle’s green, to maintain the historic herb garden and to do some cleaning work in the castle’s and witches museum. The work will depend on the weather conditions. Please be aware that the work can be challenging at times and that you will work outside even in bad weather conditions!

ACCOMMODATION: The group will stay in one of the small towers of the castle – you will feel a bit like you are living as former inhabitants of the castle did. The conditions are very basic; you will use the first floor for sleeping and the ground floor for cooking and eating. There is electricity but no heating (but a campfire right in front of the tower). Toilets and a shower are within 100m. Of course, there is also no internet available. Please bring a sleeping bag and a flashlight.

LOCATION: The castle Grimburg is overlooking the forests and valleys of the region called “Hochwald” (“high forest”). The castle is quite isolated; the next village (the name is also Grimburg) is in a 2km distance, the next shops are in Hermeskeil (10km). The castle is surrounded by nature and you will have the chance to enjoy it (just go for a walk...). Nevertheless you will also meet local people and share time with them or take an excursion to Trier, the oldest German city with 100, 000 inhabitants. Here you can find many historical sights (from the Roman period), many clubs and events (as it is a university town) and all other facilities.

Attention: This project is only for volunteers who like simple life and enjoy the nature!

NEXT AIRPORT: Frankfurt-Hahn (HHN), Luxembourg (LUX) Frankfurt (FRA)

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Trier or Tuerkismuehle

MEETING POINT: Hermeskeil bus stop

The children’s village in Waldenburg needs your support to organize the KidoCup 2016 – a sports event for teams from different children’s villages all over Germany.
IBG 04 Waldenburg (Baden-Wurttemberg) 06.05. - 20.05.2016 FEST/KIDS 10 vols

PROJECT: The Albert-Schweitzer-Children’s Village in Waldenburg was found in 1957. The Children’s Village exists of several houses where the kids live like in a small family together, because they don’t have the opportunity to live with their parents. The goals of this association are to respect the personality and feelings of every child, to bring forward individual skills and creativity as well as to make a good physical and mental development possible. This summer in May, they will be hosting the KidoCup with over 300 kids for one weekend. It is a big sports event for children and teenagers from Children’s Villages all over Germany. The organizers are very happy to get the help of an international workcamp to realize the KidoCup 2015 and they are looking forward to organise various leisure activities like city sightseeing, camp fire evenings or canoeing for you.

WORK: You will help the organizers of the KidoCup in all phases of the event. Before the event starts, you will set up everything in the Children’s Village. You will prepare the accommodation for the guests, set up the sport venue and take over many logistical tasks. The weekend during the KidoCup you will supply the guests with food and drinks. This is a great opportunity to get in contact with the children and teenagers, who are participating in the event. Afterwards you will help to clean up the area.

ACCOMMODATION: The volunteers will be accommodated in the guest house which is located directly in the Children’s Village. You will stay in double rooms (or with three beds) and have a well equipped kitchen and a nice living room.

LOCATION: Waldenburg is a hilltop town in southcentral Germany, famous for its castle and some hilltop churches. You can enjoy amazing views over the forests and neighbouring villages as well as a good climate. The nature reserve with its special plants offers many walking and hiking trails. In only 20min by train you can reach Schwaebisch Hall with its picturesque old town.

NEXT AIRPORT: Stuttgart, Nuernberg, Frankfurt

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Waldenburg (Wuertt)

Hoetensleben, a village at the former German-German border, celebrates his millennium! Help preparing the festivity, and learn more about its history during the time of the Iron Curtain.
IBG 05 Hoetensleben (Saxony-Anhalt) 20.05. – 12.06.2016 FEST/CONS 12 vols

PROJECT: The village of Hoetensleben was situated directly on the eastern side of the German-German border when Germany was divided during the period of the cold war. An association called “Grenzdenkmalverein” was founded after the fall of the Iron Curtain, which maintained four hundred meters of the former frontier protections system as a kind of open-air-museum. Visitors can still experience the different walls and electric fences, the watchtowers and iron barriers and get an impression of the violence that took place here.

WORK: This year there will be the 1000-year-anniversary in Hoetensleben. During one week there are different events and activities. Before the event starts you will help to set everything up and also during the event you will help to prepare the different locations and activities. Of course there will be time for you to join the party as well. Another task will include maintenance and repair work at the historical memorial itself. Also note that the workcamp includes several study-parts on this period of the German history with several excursions and activities together with local people. The highlight of these might be your excursion to Berlin where you will visit the Bundestag (German Parliament)!

ACCOMMODATION: You are staying in the former village hall that is renovated now. There are different sleeping rooms with beds provided and a good equipped kitchen as well.

LOCATION: Hoetensleben is a little village with approx. 2,500 inhabitants. International workcamps have been invited for some 14 years, so local inhabitants are looking forward to welcoming the volunteers. Many activities will be done together with local associations e.g. the voluntary fire brigade of Hoetensleben. Volunteers should be interested in German history because there will some trips to historical places and other activities in relation to the German history. Therefore, volunteers should add a short motivation letter describing their interest in this special project.

NEXT AIRPORT: Hannover, Berlin

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Helmstedt

REQUIREMENTS: Please include a motivation letter with your application.

The environmental station of Waldsassen invites you to support the project “Intercultural Gardening”: Local inhabitants, refugees and you are going to work together!
IBG 06 Waldsassen (Bavaria) 21.05. – 04.06.2016 SOCI/ENVI 8 vols

PROJECT: Your host is the Umweltstation (”environmental station”) of Waldsassen. It is an institution that aims to educate people of all ages, in a non-formal way, about environmental issues. The garden is divided into various areas to creatively teach about topics such as water, herbs, forest and nature protection. It also offers guided tours, seminars and workshops. The “Umweltstation” is going to host its third workcamp now and is very much looking forward to continuing the great experiences from last year.

WORK: This year the “Umweltstation” will start a new project called “Intercultural Gardening”: The refugees in the town of Waldsassen as well as the locals are invited to come together, plant fruits, vegetables and herbs from all over the world and get to know each other. The first day of the project will be on May 31^st and this action day will be prepared and carried out with the help of the international workcamp! You are welcome to enrich this day also with typical food from your country.

Apart from this task, there will be various other jobs for you: planting, weeding, cutting, and maybe also some renovation work. In short: Support the garden wherever helpful hands are needed.

ACCOMMODATION: You will be accommodated in a small flat, where you will have a shower and a kitchenette. The environmental garden will also offer you the possibility to cook, so don’t worry that there won’t be enough space!

LOCATION: Waldsassen is situated in the northeast of Bavaria; the border to the Czech Republic is close-by. About 7000 people live in this picturesque town, which is known for the beautiful old basilica and its convent. The area around Waldsassen is quite rural and offers the possibility to go hiking and enjoy the landscape. Nearby cities to visit are Nuremberg or Hof.

NEXT AIRPORT: Nuremberg

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Wiesau

Come to Oberscheinfeld and support local youth and volunteers to celebrate its 1200years of existence with a beer festival.
IBG 07 Oberscheinfeld (Bavaria) 25.06. – 09.07. FEST/MANU 12 vols

PROJECT: As a part of the celebrations for the 1.200 years anniversary of Oberscheinfeld, a traditional “Bierfest” (beer festival) will take place 1.-3. July in Oberscheinfeld. The local youth is already looking forward to welcoming the first international workcamp, to help them with the preparations and running of the festival.

WORK: You will help the local volunteers and youths with the preparation for the “Bierfest”, which means building up the whole infrastructure, like the big tent, BBQ area, kitchen etc. During the Bierfest you will be working in shifts in the different areas, like organisation, bar, catering etc. Afterwards you will be helping with the dismantling, too. In addition there will be some smaller renovation projects waiting around the village for you.

ACCOMMODATION: tba

LOCATION: Oberscheinfeld is a little village in the region Middle Franconia and it celebrates its 1.200 anniversary in 2016. It’s located in the low mountain range called Steigerwald, which is also a nature reserve. The Franconian cities Wuerzburg, Bamberg and Nuremberg are between 50 and 70 km from here.

NEXT AIRPORT: Nuremberg, Frankfurt

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Markt Bibart

The environmental educational centre of Kell is waiting for you to maintain the outdoor facilities. Add the visit of the Trier, the oldest German city, an overnight hiking trip to the Grimburg castle, and an evening with the local fire brigade to your personal experience.
IBG 08 Kell am See (Rhineland-Palatinate) 27.06. – 11.07.2016 ENVI/MANU 12 vols

PROJECT: Kell am See is a touristic village not far from Trier, the oldest German city. The regional youth department runs an educational centre in this village, which offers different environmental educational activities for youth groups and school classes. Also school classes or youth associations can come here for several days and run own seminars or trainings. The centre was just renovated and different new outdoor and training facilities were installed.

WORK: You mainly work in green areas around the centre. Concrete tasks will be constructing and setting up new wooden benches, improving the paths, some gardening work and maybe maintenance work of the sports field. Depending on the weather conditions there might be some indoor renovation work as well.

ACCOMMODATION: You will stay in several wooden tepees for five persons each. Mats are provided. In the centre you will have your own kitchen and living room and sanitary facilities. For the free time you will find perfect conditions: an indoor climbing wall, billiard, plenty of outdoor facilities (basketball, football, volleyball…). The public swimming pool is just nearby.

LOCATION: Kell am See is a village 30 km from Trier in a beautiful landscape. The area is well known for cycling, walking and other ways of outdoor activities. The local holiday resort offers more than 200 holiday bungalows next to a lake (close to the educational centre). But also people from the area come here for cycling (there is a 45 km cycling path on a former railway roadbed) or to spend a nice day outside. The region also offers plenty of historic sites (castles, museums….) and you will do a hiking trip to the Grimburg Castle where you can spend the night. You will also get the opportunity to come in contact with local associations as e.g. the local voluntary fire brigade. But public transport is poor during the weekend, so the number of excursions will be limited. But for sure Trier with the famous Roman sites, with the cathedral and birth place of Karl-Marx can be visited.

NEXT AIRPORT: Frankfurt Hahn (HHN), Luxembourg (LUX), Frankfurt (FRA)

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Trier, you have to arrive before 7 p.m. in Trier to catch the last bus to the campsite!

This one-week workcamp in the Northern Black Forest will support a German NGO in running a non-profit holiday center.
IBG 09 Bad Herrenalb (Baden-Wurttemberg) 01.07. – 08.07.2016 RENO 12 vols

PROJECT: The non-profit holiday centre “Aschenhuette” run by a German NGO just outside of the community of Bad Herrenalb in south western Germany welcomes its first workcamp this year! For one week, volunteers will help with various tasks around the centre. The centre offers cheap opportunities for families, school classes or youth groups to enjoy a short holiday, to discover the black forest and its nature or to run a seminar.

WORK: You will be working on different renovation and maintenance tasks around the holiday centre “Aschenhuette”. Concrete tasks will be defined according to the weather conditions and might include the maintenance of paths, gardening, improvement of the barbecue place and the sports field and different indoor renovation work.

ACCOMMODATION: The group will be staying at the “Aschenhuette in bedrooms of four. Of course, the house is equipped with all necessary facilities. Full board is included in this workcamp, so you won’t even have to bother with cooking yourself.

LOCATION: Bad Herrenalb is situated in the northern Black Forest, 15km east of Baden-Baden, and 22km southwest of Pforzheim. In 1841, a cold water sanatorium was established here which was later transformed into a water therapy institute for nervous disorders. Since 1954 Herrenalb is officially known as a “health resort”. The surroundings of Bad Herrenalb are perfect for hiking trips and discovering nature.

NEXT AIRPORT: Stuttgart (STR)

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Bad Herrenalb

The workcamp in Winterlingen will improve the communal infrastructure (kindergarten, sports hall, graveyard, paths, green areas) by painting, paving and gardening.
IBG 10 Winterlingen (Baden-Wurttemberg) 02.07. – 23.07.2016 RENO/ENVI 15 vols

PROJECT: For the second time, a workcamp will take place in Winterlingen, a community in the German region Baden-Wurttemberg. Winterlingen is situated in the Swabian Alb, between Stuttgart and Lake Constance. The community has around 6400 inhabitants, the next town Albstadt is only 10km away. The project consists of many different tasks in Winterlingen and the nearby nature reserve. Workers of the local building yard will instruct and support the work.

WORK: You will do painting works at different places, like the graveyard wall in Winterlingen, in the sports hall and in local Kindergartens. Another task will be the paving of the so called “Winkele-Wege”, small paths connecting the main roads. Besides you will do different works in the nature and green areas in and around Winterlingen.

ACCOMMODATION: You will be accommodated in the newly renovated “Kaplaneihaus”. The house has four shared rooms (max.6 people) and three double rooms. Each room has its own bathroom. A big common room and a well-equipped kitchen are also provided. Every morning a bus shuttle will take you to your working place.

LOCATION: Winterlingen is situated in the nature reserve “Obere Donau”, offering beautiful hiking trails and various castles to visit. The community has a good infrastructure with shopping possibilities, sports facilities and the biggest natural outdoor pool of Baden-Wurttemberg. On the weekends you can visit the university town Tubingen, Stuttgart or spend a day near Lake Constance.

NEXT AIRPORT: Stuttgart, Friedrichshafen

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Albstadt (10km)

Do you enjoy music? Are you prepared for unusual working hours? Come and support the local team of volunteers to run the free of charge music festival Waldstock.
IBG 11 Pegnitz U&D (Bavaria) 04.07. - 11.07.2016 FEST 10 vols AGE: 18-26

Basic conditions!!!

AGE: 18-26 years old

PROJECT: The local association Waldstock e.V. (http://waldstock.de/ ) promotes local youth activities in the small town of Pegnitz. The members of this association are very motivated and with a lot of personal involvement they organize projects like concerts, film festivals or soccer cups. For more than 20 years, they have been organizing the “Waldstock” festival, a so called “Umsonst und Draussen” - festival (“outside & free of charge”), which has become an important part of the cultural life in the town of Pegnitz and the region. Since 2013 the festival is very successfully supported by international workcamps.

WORK: You will help the organisers in all phases of the festival: The main tasks will be, on the first days, setting up the stage and the campground on the site of the festival, as well as the disassembly of the whole structure and surroundings on the last day. While the festival is running, the volunteers should be available to the organisation and will be ask to assist in different areas: bar, stage, organisation, catering etc. You will work closely with the local people from the association! There is a fixed plan for the build-up of the festival, nevertheless the schedule will be adapted to the logistics of the event and you are expected to be patient and work autonomously within this plan. Volunteers should be flexible enough to work long and unusual hours – and enjoy music! Speaking or understanding basic German will be a plus!

ACCOMMODATION: You will stay at the local brewery! It is a small and very basic accommodation not far from the festival site. The final ceremony afterwards for all the helpers of the festival will also take place there. During the festival food will be provided by the food stands throughout the day.

LOCATION: Pegnitz is a small town in Franconia, Bavaria, near Nuremberg. You can find medieval and historic buildings and churches in the centre of the city. The city is known for its beers: it has a long tradition in brewery and the locals are very proud of it. The Bavarian region, in which Pegnitz is located, is called “Little Switzerland” due to its beautiful surrounding that invites extended adventures and hiking trips in the region. There are all kinds of trails and possibilities to experience the unique nature.

NEXT AIRPORT: Nuremberg, Munich, Frankfurt

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Pegnitz

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: We ask for a motivation letter to be sent with the application!

Street Art Festival, Open-Air cinema and local playgrounds: These are the three different tasks waiting for you and your support in the workcamp of Blumberg.
IBG 12 Blumberg (Baden-Wurttemberg) 04.07.-24.07.2016 FEST/RENO/CULT 17 vols

PROJECT: It will be the 5^th time that the International Street-Art-Festival takes place in Blumberg and the first time that it will be supported by an international workcamp. It is now one of the three big Festivals for Street or Pavement painters in Germany. In the last years artists from Italy, Spain, Hungary, Argentina, Venezuela, Belgium, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Russia, Ukraine and Croatia performed on the streets of Blumberg. This unique event is a nice mixture of charismatic artworks by professionals as well as amateurs, and a framework program that accompanies this family friendly festival. The festival itself will be on the 9^th & 10^th of July. Website of the festival: http://www.street-art-festival.de/index.php/media.html. Another part of the project will be open-air cinema nights (16^th & 17^th) in the newly re-opened public swimming pool. In addition to these events, the workcamp will support the community with renovating playgrounds.

WORK: You will help the organizers in all phases of the festival: building up the infrastructure beforehand, taking care of the artists during the event, helping at the entrance and help with the disassembly at the end.

You will also help running the open-air cinema event that is part of the celebrations for the newly re-opened swimming pool, called “Panoramabad”

In addition to working at these events, you will help the community with renovation tasks on the local playgrounds.

ACCOMMODATION: You will live in the community building „Gemeinschaftshaus Zollhaus“, which is located in a small part of Blumberg around 3 km from the center. Toilets, a kitchen and a nice outdoor area are available. You will have free access to the „Panoramabad“, where you can use the showers. Please bring your own sleeping bags!

LOCATION: Blumberg is located in the southern part of the Black Forrest close to Switzerland. Around 10.000 inhabitants are spread over 9 parts and villages, which all belong to Blumberg. Blumberg is famous for hikers, because it is close to the “Wutachschlucht”, a spectacular gorge and nature reserve. Another Highlight is the historic, steam powered Railway called „Sauschwaenzlebahn“. Several other touristic places are quite close, like the Rhine waterfalls in Switzerland or the Island Mainau in the lake “Bodensee”.

NEXT AIRPORT: Stuttgart, Zuerich (Switzerland)

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Blumberg-Zollhaus

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: The community tries to arrange bicycles for the workcamp, so you should be able to ride a bike. Ability to swim is highly recommended.

The town of Weisendorf invites an international workcamp to Bavaria this year to help renovate and redesign the local youth club.
IBG 13 Weisendorf (Bavaria) 09.07.-23.07.16 RENO 12 vols