FACING THE OCEAN

CODE: CONCF- 3318

Description of the partner organizing/hosting the project: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 various sites you will be working on are protected natural areas. 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.

Description of work:Come and take part in the project to upgrade the footpaths in the Oloron Sainte Marie valley, in the middle of Béarn! The programme includes guided tours with specialist site managers, to discover the local flora and fauna and carry out a variety of tasks: cleaning up, building, renovating and developing the footpaths, and promoting the heritage. You'll have the chance to work on different sites in the middle of nature!

Description of accommodation and food:You will have accommodation in individual tents, with sanitary facilities, a kitchen and a communal living room in the municipal campsite in the village of Oloron Sainte Marie, with a view 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 produce, while respecting participants' diets and discovering local cuisine together.

Description of location and leisure:Oloron Sainte Marie is situated in the middle of the Béarn region, at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains. This workcamp will be an opportunity to discover this village, its inhabitants, its gastronomic specialities and the nearby hiking trails. It's a project that requires you to want to spend time outdoors. When you're not working on the site, you'll be able to discover the heritage of the Béarn region, its villages, its cultural and gastronomic traditions and its magnificent landscapes!

Meeting Point and Time: The meeting point is at OLORON SAINTE MARIE SNCF station on 13/08 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.

Documents the applicants have to provide before the camp: Media consent,  Medical information,  Parental Agreement

Short remarks for the project: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.