FACING THE OCEAN

CODE: CONCF- 3317

Project and work :

Come and take part in the project to preserve and maintain the Basque coastline! The programme includes guided tours accompanied by specialists from the Conservatoire des espaces naturels to discover the local fauna and flora, as well as the heritage and various tasks: cleaning creeks, combating invasive species and promoting heritage. You'll have the chance to work on different sites in the middle of nature!

Accommodation and food:

You will be accommodated in individual tents, with sanitary facilities, a kitchen and a communal living room. 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 produce, while respecting participants' diets and discovering local cuisine together.

Partners :

The project is being carried out in partnership with the Léo Lagrange association in Bayonne, which will be responsible for on-site logistics and the organization of activities. Léo Lagrange is an association that promotes education and sports for tolerance and democracy, against racism, xenophobia and extremism, and for access to rights and equal rights. It offers sporting and cultural activities throughout the year in the region.

The Corniche Basque is a magnificent natural environment, between the ocean and the mountains, rich in natural species and historical heritage. These areas are subject to various pressures, such as invasive alien species, pastoralism, tourism, etc. The various sites you will be working on are protected natural areas managed by 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 :

The commune of Hendaye, on the Atlantic coast and the Spanish border, is rich in heritage and magnificent landscapes. This site, right in the middle of nature, will be an opportunity to discover this village, its inhabitants, its gastronomic specialities and the nearby footpaths. The various worksites are in the middle of nature. Outside the worksite, you can discover the Basque heritage, its villages, its cultural and gastronomic traditions and its magnificent landscapes between the ocean and the mountains!

Good to know:

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.

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 arise on the project, volunteers will have to pay for them, and will then be reimbursed once back in their home country.

Language :

English, French

Time and direction to reach the meeting point:

The meeting point is at HENDAYE SNCF station on 07/07 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/

If possible, please consider using low-carbon transportation (train and bus rather than airplane) for a sustainable international workcamp.