Ibg germany – Workcamps 2016 ibg 2016 Workcamps in Germany

WORK: You are going to help building this innovative kindergarten! It is supposed to be rather a part of the surrounding nature instead of a disturbing element. Therefore, you are going to build a huge yurt (some kind of a wooden hut) for the kids! Further, you will create paths and playground equipment (from natural material), set up fences and a campfire place, build a composting humus toilet, and plant bushes and trees: Basically, everything that needs to be done for the kindergarten! You will be instructed by professionals.

ACCOMMODATION: You are going to stay in the local kindergarten in Ruppertshofen. Toilets, a kitchen, and a garden with a campfire place are provided.

LOCATION: Ruppertshofen has almost 2000 inhabitants. It is located in a very nice area that offers the possibility to go hiking or biking. The next big town (Schwaebisch Gmuend) is easily reachable by bus, and you can go to Stuttgart, capital of Baden-Wurttemberg, within 1,5 hours by public transportation as well.

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Schwaebisch Gmuend

NEXT AIRPORT: Stuttgart

Renew the local playground and meet local youth – these are the two main goals of the international workcamp in Bernburg.
IBG 35 Bernburg (Saxony-Anhalt) 07.08. – 20.08.2016 RENO 10 vols

PROJECT: The municipality of Bernburg invites an international workcamp for the 17th time! In cooperation with a local youth club all former camps have been running very successfully - due to experienced and motivated people, lots of leisure activities and good contact to locals.

WORK: Volunteers will help to renew local playgrounds: old playground equipment needs to get removed; new tools need to get set up. This might include different tasks such as digging, placing of concrete and also the painting of the new tools.

ACCOMMODATION: The accommodation will be on the first floor of a youth club, with all facilities needed, such as: kitchen, a shower and a bathroom. Participants will sleep on sport mats. The volunteers will interact regularly with the local youth who visit the club often.

LOCATION: Bernburg is a town with a history of more than 1000 years and is situated in the eastern part of Germany. Overlooking the valley formed by the Saale River, there is a medieval castle. There are plenty of possibilities for leisure activities, such as visiting the town, having a drink in a local pub, taking an excursion to cities like Leipzig or Magdeburg, canoeing on the river, hiking, or simply making conversation with the locals.

NEXT AIRPORT: Leipzig or Berlin

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Bernburg

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Volunteers need to be able to ride a bike!

This workcamp in Leipzig will improve the “magic garden”, a safe place for city children to play outside and to learn and experience about nature. Activities with local pupils will complete the programme.
IBG 36 Leipzig (Saxony) 08.08.- 28.08.2016 CONS/ENVI 12 vols AGE: 18-21

AGE: 18-21 years old to not have a big gap between the volunteers and the local pupils.

PROJECT: The local project is called “magic garden”. This former school garden of around three hectares in the city of Leipzig has been disused. In 2007 a local initiative started to revive it and create a place for children of all ages to enjoy nature and play and learn outdoors, be creative and have fun. Individual children from the neighborhood, whole families, groups from kindergartens or primary schools use this offer to run projects, celebrate birthday parties or other events. Today you find there a safe space for city children to play outdoors and to experience and learn about nature. They built a bread oven, a treehouse, wooden huts and areas to stay and have a rest or make a campfire. You can hear the buzzing of bees, enjoy the beauty of flowers and butterflies and smell herbs.

WORK: You will support the local team building an Indian village with several tepees. This will be the new attraction of the garden. You will first prepare the material, then construct the tepees and other elements and finally set up the village. Other tasks to maintain the magic garden will be added. Please be aware that work can be physically hard in parts and that you will work outside even if it is rainy. In case of longer periods of rain some tasks may be realised in a former circus tent which is part of the magic garden. Please make sure to bring adequate clothes and shoes.

On several days you will run activities together with local pupils aged 14-18. So please be also prepared for this exchange and to present your country.

ACCOMMODATION: The accommodation is basic in tents in one part of the garden. Tents with camping beds will be provided. A small kitchen (and a campfire) is provided for cooking, there are toilets but only outdoor solar showers (!).

LOCATION: Even though the place looks rural and you are doing camping, you will be in the city of Leipzig; the tram stops just in front of the magic garden and you have many opportunities. Leipzig has 560.000 inhabitants and was the centre of the peaceful revolution in Eastern Germany in 1989. Today it is called the “boomtown of the East”, university and industry are growing, many artists live here and you can find plenty of clubs, social initiatives…. At the same time Leipzig is surrounded by small lakes where you can swim, most of them leftovers from open-cast coal mining.

NEXT AIRPORT: Leipzig (LEJ), Berlin

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Leipzig

This village in the South of the Black Forest has two tasks waiting for you: Building a stone labyrinth and maintain hiking trails.
IBG 37 Todtmoos (Baden-Wurttemberg) 13.08.-27.08.2016 ENVI/CONS 10 vols

PROJECT: Todtmoos is happy to invite its second international workcamp this year! The town is situated in the very south of the Black Forest, in a rural area of forests and mountains. Here, you will have two projects: Taking care of the local hiking trails as well as building a stone labyrinth. The second task will be instructed by a local association that is concerned about the Celtic & Druidic culture and traditions. Labyrinths were an important part in spiritual rituals of the Celts and they are still used by alternative practitioners in their therapeutic work. The members of the association will be happy to show you how they use it and how you can use its energy for yourself.

WORK: To build the labyrinth, you will collect suitable stones out of the local river, and then set them up in the right order in the park of Todtmoos: The labyrinth is supposed to have a diameter of twelve meters! Your second task will be the maintenance of local hiking trails. Bushes need to be cut, weed needs to be removed. Eventually, further (similar) tasks might be added – be prepared to lend a helping hand where it is needed!

ACCOMODATION: The group will stay in the local school where you will find a gorgeous kitchen, toilets and plenty of living-space. Showers are available in the local gym which is only 200m away.

LOCATION: Todtmoos is a small and cosy spa town in the Black Forest. Due to its location about 820m above sea level, it is a tourist attraction in the winter, offering the possibility to go skiing or attend the annual dog-sled race. In the summer months, this beautiful, mountainous area provides many opportunities to go hiking, biking or to try out the high ropes course. The Feldberg (1493m), the highest German mountain excluding the Alpes, is not far and offers a breath-taking view of the area.

NEXT AIRPORT: Zurich (ZRH, Switzerland), Stuttgart (STR)

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Bad Saeckingen, Kirchzarten

The inhabitants of Berglen in the area of Stuttgart are happily awaiting your support to renew the local playground.
IBG 38 Berglen (Baden-Wurttemberg) 13.08.-28.08.2016 RENO 12 vols

PROJECT: This summer, the community of Berglen welcomes its fourth group of international volunteers. In the hills of south-western Germany, the team will work to improve the playgrounds in and around Berglen, where the local children spend their afternoons.

WORK: The main task is to renovate and renew a local playground. You will mainly be working on the maintenance and construction of new equipment. Other playgrounds in the area of Berglen may also need the team’s creativity and handy-work.

ACCOMODATION: You will be staying at the local youth club. In the club’s house you will have access to a kitchen and all necessary sanitary facilities. Please bring your own sleeping bag!

LOCATION: Berglen is a small village with around 5,900 inhabitants and is located 30 km away from Stuttgart, the state capital of Baden-Wuerttemberg. Surrounded by orchards, forests, fields and meadows, the community of Berglen consists of many small villages and farms. The idyllic countryside and location have become a popular recreation area.

NEXT AIRPORT: Stuttgart (STR)

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Winnenden

You want to dive into rural German lifestyle? Come to Schwanfeld and work together with locals, get to know their local heritage, improve the village infrastructure and share daily life and many party evening.
IBG 39 Schwanfeld (Bavaria) 14.08.-26.08.2016 RENO/ENVI 12 vols

PROJECT: The community of Schwanfeld is the oldest village in Germany. Some years back, proof was found of a former Bandkeramik (Linear Pottery Culture) settlement outside of the present village from presumably 5500 B.C. Schwanfeld is happy to show their treasures of the golden days to international volunteers and invites the group to get to know more about the south of Germany. This is the 8th time a workcamp will take place in Schwanfeld – and all citizens will be very welcoming and excited to meet the new volunteers after the success of previous years. Invitations by local associations and the village youngsters have led to many cordial encounters and friendships in the past.

WORK: A variety of tasks awaits you! Depending on the weather, you will help out in the local museums (cleaning and restoration). If applicable, you will also help to renovate hiking trails, possibly set up signs for a nature trail, clean out a stream, or do similar renovation and landscape work to support the Municipal Maintenance Department. Also during your stay, you will help out with the annual fair that will be taking place. You will work with locals to prepare the festival, provide a helping hand in the stalls during the fair, and assist in dismantling afterwards. This will give you the chance to get in touch with the people of the Schwanfeld community and learn more about local traditions!

ACCOMMODATION: The group will live in the local gym hall next to the school where they will have access to toilets and showers. The nearby community centre will provide a kitchen for you to use.

LOCATION: Schwanfeld is situated in the north-western part of Bavaria, in between the cities of Schweinfurt and Wuerzburg. Only about 2,000 people live in this small community. The very motivated and active major of the village is looking forward to accompanying the volunteers, showing them around and educating them about the historical and regional specialties of Schwanfeld. Aside from the village’s own sights and events (museum, church, local annual fair which was the highlight of last year’s workcamp) there is the ambient nature and nearby, larger cities like Wuerzburg to discover.

NEXT AIRPORT: Nuremberg

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Waigolshausen

The monastery of Maulbronn is a World cultural heritage; this includes also the branched ditch system. This workcamp will maintain the historic system from the middle age. This workcamp is only open for volunteers from Catalonia, Italy, France and Germany.
IBG 4M Maulbronn (Baden-Wurttemberg) 14.08. - 28.08.2016 ENVI/HERI 16 vols

For volunteers from Catalonia, Lombardy, Rhône-Alpes and Baden-Wuerttemberg!

PROJECT: Following the success of last years’ projects, the region of Baden-Wurttemberg again invites young people from Rhone-Alpes, Lombardy, Catalonia and Baden-Wurttemberg for another exciting workcamp. The fundamental aim is to allow young people to meet and exchange cultures and ideas that will contribute to strengthening the Four Motors partnership. Due to close contact with the local population, the idea of the Four Motors is passed on to the population of the town hosting the project. Maulbronn is looking for the help of international volunteers in the maintenance of the area near the famous town’s monastery. The branched ditch system around this building has been a UNESCO - World cultural heritage site since 1993. The system was built in the middle age to ensure good water for drinking, for gardening and for fish-farming all over the year. The goal of the workcamp is to protect, renew and improve these historical ditches. This project is part of UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers 2016.

WORK: A variety of interesting tasks await you at this famed site. One task will be to work on the ditches to remove vegetation cover and other things which stop the drainage, as well as renewal of a few small ditches. You will document all your tending strategies and record where the highest danger of erosion on the ditches is. The team will also help to raise awareness of this intricate system, for example by using an information board or other materials. Attention: In case the weather is rainy there might be water in the ditches, so please bring sturdy working boots and rubber boots as well.

ACCOMMODATION: You will be hosted in the “nature school Stromberg”, an environmental educational centre offering activities and trainings for young people. Therefore they have perfect conditions to host groups: beds, several showers, a big kitchen and different rooms to stay. Outside you find different animals (horses, goats…) and places to enjoy the nature. The centre is quite isolated and surrounded by pure nature. The centre was newly build in 2007 and sustainability is very important in the centre, cooking and heating is done with wood and solar energy, electricity is made by a hydroelectric and solar power stations. But please be aware that the centre is 3km from the next village and 6km from Maulbronn. The transfer between project site in Maulbronn and accommodation will be organised but for excursions it might be necessary to walk the 3km to OEtisheim, the nearest village with public transport.

LOCATION: Maulbronn is a town in the district of Karlsruhe, in Baden-Wurttemberg. The town is very famous for its monastery, of which you can take a guided tour. The territory of Maulbronn is very rural, providing many hiking or biking trails. Different local initiatives are involved in the project and so for sure there will be opportunities for contacts, shared activities and parties. Maulbronn is conveniently situated near many towns like: Pforzheim, Bruchsal, Ludwigsburg, Stuttgart and Karlsruhe.

NEXT AIRPORT: Stuttgart, Karlsruhe

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Oetisheim

EXTRA INFO: Only for volunteers from Italy, France and Catalonia. Please organise your travel in a way that you arrive before 6 p.m. on Aug 14th (or arrive the evening before). Please bring sturdy working boots, rubber boots and indoor slippers.

Do you like theatre? In this workcamp you can support a local open-air theatre to improve the venue by storing costumes, furniture and other stuff before the place is renovated.
IBG 40 Heidenheim a. d. Brenz (Baden-Wurttemberg) 20.08.-03.09.2016 MANU 10 vols

PROJECT: Your host is the Open-Air Theatre Heidenheim, the 2nd largest one of its kind in Southern Germany. It is situated on the “castle hill” of the town, surrounded by forests, and can accommodate 1100 spectators. The Open-Air Theatre is run by an association and they are very happy about your help!

The theatre season will last till the end of August. So during your first week there will still be performances and you will be able to get a taste of the theatre!

WORK: One part of the building of the Open-Air Theatre will be torn down and rebuild, so it is necessary to clean it out in advance: Right now, the costumes are stored in there. Your main job will be to bring all the costumes and furniture etc. to another temporary storage, where everything needs to be well-assorted. Additionally, there might be further tasks to prepare the part of the building for demolition.

ACCOMMODATION: You will be accommodated directly on the project side: Next to the stage, there is huge building for administration, a storage, a workshop, a café … here you will have two rooms for yourselves, showers, a kitchen and a common room. Please don’t forget to bring a sleeping bag!

LOCATION: Heidenheim an der Brenz is a town with about 46.000 inhabitants. The area is rather rural with a beautiful countryside: since it is at the end of the Swabian Albs, there are many hills and forests. There is a castle and a wildlife park in Heidenheim, very close to your project. If you would like to visit a larger town, you may go to Ulm which is only 30km away. But also Stuttgart and Munich are just about 2 hours by train!

NEXT AIRPORTS: Stuttgart, Memmingen, Munich

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Heidenheim a. d. Brenz

The Dirt Bike Contest of Eislingen is waiting for you! The contest is an initiative of local youngsters waiting for your help to prepare the trail, run the contest and to spend time with them.
IBG 41 Eislingen/Fils (Baden-Wurttemberg) 20.08.-04.09.2016 RENO/FEST 12 vols

PROJECT: Every year, the youth centre in Eislingen organizes a Dirt Bike Contest with participants from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. For the second time now, they will get the help of an international workcamp in the preparations and also the realization of this event. During the project you will be in close contact with local youngsters. We ask you to come with an open mind and bring some ideas how to spend the time together with them.

WORK: You will help to prepare everything for the Dirt Bike Contest which is taking place on 3rd of September. Concrete tasks will be the reconstruction and renovation of the trail as well as the removal of greens. On the day of the event you will set up the stalls, sell drinks etc. During the two weeks you will also help out with the renovation work in the local youth centre. Apart from these main tasks there will be a lot of time which you will spend together with the youth. Please bring some ideas for activities with you! Keep in mind that these young people are teens who haven't had many possibilities to travel and meet new people from abroad yet. Communication might be difficult sometimes. However, they are looking forward to meeting you and making new friends around the world!

ACCOMMODATION: Volunteers will be accommodated in a school, directly in the centre of the town. The building provides a kitchen, a shower and lots of space (in the school itself as well as on the schoolyard).

LOCATION: Eislingen is a town in the German region Baden-Wurttemberg around 50km southeast of Stuttgart. It is located on the river Fils in beautiful nature. The region with its diverse landscape invites for hiking trips or other outdoor activities. There are good train connections to bigger cities nearby, e.g. Stuttgart or Ulm.

NEXT AIRPORT: Stuttgart

NEXT TRAIN STATION: Eislingen (Fils)

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Volunteers should be able to ride a bike!

Let the children play! This German-speaking workcamp in Southern Germany supports two different local playschemes for children aged 7-13 years old. Creative volunteers with own ideas and with experience with children and youngsters are especially welcome!
IBG 42 Wangen (Baden-Wurttemberg) 27.08.-10.09.2016 KIDS 12 vols

SPRACHE: Deutsch

ALTER: 18-30 Jahre

PROJEKT: Nun bereits zum achten Mal laedt die Stadt Wangen zu einem Workcamp ein, das bei den lokalen Ferienspielen und –aktivitaeten fuer Kinder unterstuetzen soll.
Waehrend der ersten Woche findet die Spielstadt „Mini-Wangen“ statt: Hier sind Kinder im Alter von 7 bis 13 Jahren eingeladen, die eine Woche lang verschiedene Berufe ausprobieren werden: z. B: Buergermeister, Zeitungsreporter, … Sie koennen ihre eigene Stadt aufbauen, gestalten und den Alltag in dieser leben. Neben dem Bauhof, der Schmueckerei, der Kueche und der Stadtverwaltung koennen die Kinder neue Bereiche, wie etwa einen Friseursalon, eine Poststelle oder was sie in ihrer Stadt sonst noch haben moechten, eroeffnen.

In der zweiten Woche findet mit dem gleichen Prinzip eine mittelalterliche Spielestadt fuer Kinder der gleichen Altersgruppe auf einer alten Burgruine in der Naehe statt.

ARBEIT: Die TeilnehmerInnen des Work-camps unterstuetzen die Kinder bei verschiedenen Aktivitaeten in der Spielstadt – in den Bereichen Sport, Spiel und Handwerk. Die Freiwilligen arbeiten gemeinsam mit lokalen Betreuern zusammen, um das Programm innerhalb und im Außenbereich des Jugendhauses und in der Stadt zu beaufsichtigen. Es werden neue Bereiche eroeffnet und begleitet und Auffuehrungen fuer das große Stadtfest am Donnerstag geprobt. Die Ideen kommen von den Kindern, aber auch die Freiwilligen duerfen und sollen ihre eigenen Erfahrungen, Hobbies und Vorschlaege einbringen. Ungefaehr 120 Kinder werden an „Mini-Wangen“ teilnehmen!

Der Tag beginnt fuer die Helfer um 7.30 Uhr. In einer kurzen Morgenrunde werden anstehende Aufgaben besprochen. Um 8.00 Uhr treffen die Kinder ein und der Tag in Mini- Wangen startet. Um 14 Uhr endet fuer die Kinder der Tag in Mini- Wangen. Danach werden noch Aufraeumarbeiten durchgefuehrt. Mit einer kurzen Reflektionsrunde der ehrenamtlichen Mitarbeiter endet auch fuer diese der Tag um ca. 14:30 Uhr. In der zweiten Woche helfen die Freiwilligen bei dem mittelalterlichen Ferienprogramm auf der Burg mit.

UNTERKUNFT: Ihr wohnt in dem gut ausgestatteten Jugendwohnheim (Kueche und Sanitaeranlagen sind vorhanden) auf dem Grundstueck des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes nahe dem Stadtzentrum. Betten sowie alle saniteren Anlagen gibt es in der Unterkunft. Bitte bring deinen eigenen Schlafsack mit.

UMGEBUNG: Wangen ist eine sehr schoene alte Stadt in der Region „Allgaeu“. Sie liegt in der Naehe der Alpen und der Laender Schweiz und Oesterreich. Die Umgebung ist vielseitig und laedt dazu ein, den Bodensee und die Alpen zu entdecken. Doch auch die Stadt Wangen selbst hat mit seinen Fachwerkhaeusern und der langen Geschichte, die bis ins Jahr 815 zurueckreicht, viel an Kultur und Sehenswuerdigkeiten zu bieten.

NAECHSTER FLUGHAFEN: Stuttgart, Memmingen, Muenchen

NAECHSTER BAHNHOF: Wangen (Allgaeu)

ANMERKUNGEN: Bitte bewirb dich mit einem Motivationsschreiben!
Just for internal information!

IBG 42 Wangen (Baden-Wurttemberg) 27.08.-10.09.2016 KIDS 12 vols

LANGUAGE: German

AGE: 18-30 years

PROJECT: It is the seventh time that the municipality of Wangen invites a workcamp to help out at the local summer festivals and activities for children. During the first week a play scheme called “Mini-Wangen” will run and children at the age of 7-10 years are invited to participate in this “mini-town” where the kids may give various professions a try: Being a major, a journalist ... During the second week a medieval play scheme will take place on a castle.