AROUND THE BASQUE MOUNTAINS

CODE: CONCF- 3314

Project and work :

Come and take part in the project to protect several natural sites in the Basque Country! The programme includes guided tours with specialists from the Department and the Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels to discover the flora and fauna on site, as well as a range of different tasks: cutting down and removing invasive exotic species on wet moorland, repairing and installing fences in the mountains, creating sunbathing stations for the European pond terrapin (tortoise)... You'll have the opportunity to work on different sites in the middle of nature!

Accommodation and meals:

You will be accommodated in individual tents, with sanitary facilities, kitchen and communal living area in the small village of Itxassou at the foot of the mountains. You will share the various collective tasks and prepare meals together. A budget will be allocated to the leaders, and you will help with the shopping and meal preparation, giving priority to healthy, local produce.

Together, you'll help organise community life (cleaning, activities, etc.) and take turns preparing meals using locally sourced produce. Our aim is to encourage vegetarian eating using local, seasonal products, while respecting participants' diets and discovering local cuisine together.

No wifi & hand wash for clothes.

Partner :

The Basque mountains are characterised by the presence of small wetlands on the slopes, known as peat bogs, in the middle of pastures and moors. There are also other wetlands along the banks of the River Adour, known as barthes. These areas are subject to various pressures, including invasive alien species, pastoralism and tourism. The various sites you will be working on, the Mondarrain and Sare peat bogs and the Mouguerre and Lahonce barthes, are protected natural areas managed by the Pyrénées Atlantiques department and the Conservatoire des espaces naturels. A whole host of actions are necessary throughout the year to preserve these fragile environments, so you'll be taking part in this work and supporting the teams on site. Numerous awareness-raising missions are also carried out throughout the year with schoolchildren and local residents to raise awareness of the remarkable animal and plant species. The workcamp will not only be an opportunity to help preserve these unique places, but also to discover all their secrets thanks to the many specialists who will be on hand to show you around the site.

Geographical location and leisure activities :

Itxassou lies at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains. Set between mountains and sheep and cow pastures, this workcamp in the middle of nature will be an opportunity to discover this village, its inhabitants, its gastronomic specialities and the nearby footpaths. The various work sites are in the middle of nowhere, so you may have to walk a little to reach them. So it's a site that requires a certain level of physical fitness and a desire to spend time outdoors. When you're not on site, you can discover the Basque heritage, its villages, its cultural and gastronomic traditions and its magnificent landscapes between the ocean and the mountains!

Special requirements and remarks:

Don't forget to bring work clothes and shoes that won't get dirty.

In the mountains, despite the sunshine, the weather is surprising and can change rapidly.

For leisure activities, you'll need to pack clothes suited to the climate (warm fleece or jumper, shorts and hiking trousers, windbreaker, down jacket, warm socks, etc.). For hiking, high-top, notched shoes are recommended. Don't forget sun protection (a hat or cap is essential, sunglasses with a high protection factor because of the intense reflection, sun cream with a high protection factor IP 30-50, etc.) and a swimming costume for swimming or white-water activities.

For accommodation, remember to bring a warm sleeping bag and a towel. You should also bring a rucksack (in addition to your luggage), comfortable trainers and a pair of flip-flops. You'll also need to pack these essential accessories: a mobile phone charger, hiking poles (not compulsory, but recommended), a water bottle, a set of bandages and a headlamp or torch.

Social events will be organised in collaboration with our leaders and according to your wishes. In particular, we'll be organising themed evenings in each country. If you'd like to share a little of your culture (recipes, traditional stories, unusual objects, music, etc.), don't hesitate to take it with you.

Languages :

English, French

Meeting point:

The meeting point is at BIARRITZ SNCF station on 11/06 in the late afternoon.

The exact meeting time will be communicated with the route map, sent out no later than 4 weeks before the start of the project.

There are several direct trains from Paris Gare Montparnasse. The journey takes approximately 5 hours.

Train reservations can be made approximately 4 months before departure on the SNCF website, link below:

https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/