A journey into nature through art

CODE: ANEC15

Location: Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines, Ile-de-France, France

Context

Discover the Elsa Triolet-Aragon House in Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines, a place of life and creation where literature, art and history meet. For over 10 years, we have been organising volunteering workcamps to preserve this unique setting. At the gateway to the Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Natural Park, explore the surrounding forests and remarkable heritage sites such as the castles of Dourdan and Rambouillet. A trip to Paris will complete this stay! Classified as a "House of Illustrious People," the Elsa Triolet House is a haven of peace that immerses us in the world of poets while honoring many contemporary artists. Their works are exhibited both in the museum and throughout the park. Each year, this place welcomes a large number of visitors. Thanks to the commitment of volunteers, new exhibition spaces have been created, as well as facilities designed to improve public reception.

Mission

This bucolic garden is crossed by a small river that brings calm and freshness. Most of the time, it flows peacefully... but during heavy rains, it sometimes overflows! To protect the house from flooding, flood barriers have been installed. Today, we need you to help preserve the harmony of this haven of peace. Your mission will be to cover these barriers with wooden casings, which you will build with the support of a technical supervisor. They will introduce you to the basics of carpentry and guide you step by step through the process. In addition, you will take part in creating a flower bed to make the garden of the Maison des Illustres even more welcoming. This project will evolve according to the needs of the association and everyone's ideas. A wonderful opportunity to get hands-on in an inspiring and friendly setting!

Group life

Beyond working hours, volunteers come together to organise daily life on the camp. Often divided into teams, they plan menus, help with the shopping, prepare meals, and ensure the cleanliness of shared spaces. Fully involved in shaping your experience, you will also take part in decision-making regarding group activities and daily organisation! In order to reduce the environmental impact of our projects, we prioritise vegetarian menus, which meet all the nutrional needs of participants. There will be French volunteers on the workcamp. Some of them might not speak English. This can be an opportunity for everyone to develop new language skills and innovatove ways of communicating!

Accomodation

Volunteers will camp in the park, in individual tents. Nearby, a wooden structure called the "Bal Parquet" will serve as a gathering place to complement the campsite. Finally, an apartment with a living room, a kitchen, toilets, and two bathrooms will be available.

What you will find on site:
Individual tents
Fallback solutionin case of bad weather: Bal Parquet
Permanent toilets
Two hot showers
A washing machine Indoor and outdoor kitchen
Dining/living area, relaxation area:a
An apartment usually dedicated to artist residencies
Wi-Fi

A day on the workcamp
The day's schedule may vary depending on the camp leaders, the group, and the weather. Volunteers play an active role in their workcamp and can adjust the schedule, in coordination with the team. Keep in mind that every workcamp is different, and each experience is unique. Stay flexible and proactive! In general, volunteers spend around 20 hours per week working, and have two days off dedicated to cultural outings, on-site activities, and free time. Here's what a typical day on a worksite might look like:

8am-12h30pm: Work
10:30am-12:30pm: Meal preparation
12:30pm-1:30pm: Lunch
1:30pm-2pm: Clean up
2pm-3:30pm: On-site activities
3:30pm-6pm: Free time
6pm-7:30pm: Free time
6pm-7:30pm: Meal preparation
9pm-9:30pm: Dinner
9:30pm-10:30pm: Evening activities