Project Location City: Hessen; 7km from Marburg, 90km from Frankfurt
Description of the partner organizing/hosting the project:
The ijgd has been organising volunteer service programmes since 1949. We are an independent, non-profit association for international youth work, a recognised independent youth welfare organisation, and one of the largest and oldest workcamp organisations in Germany. Each year, we assist around 5,000 young people into volunteer work in Germany and abroad. We give them the opportunity to be creative, act in solidarity, take responsibility for themselves, and discover their own true potential and strengths. Our principles: Ecological learning, voluntary contribution, self-organisation, social development, intercultural learning, gender equality, anti-racism/anti-discrimination and political education.
Description of work:
Are you interested in archaeology and historical crafts? Then this camp is the right place for you. You can take part in the construction of the "Zeiteninsel" open-air archaeological museum. Numerous settlements remain from almost all prehistoric cultural periods have been discovered in the Lahntal valley near Niederweimar and Argenstein. The extensive archaeological evidence proves that the region has been permanently inhabited for thousands of years. The first open-air archaeological museum on settlement history in Hessen is being created here to vividly convey the rich findings of archaeology. Five-time stations are being built on the site, in which different cultural eras are shown with buildings, farmland and natural vegetation. You will be involved in the completion of various buildings from the Middle Iron Age (around 500 BC). These houses served and still serve different purposes in the museum - from housing to storage and animal husbandry. Under expert guidance, you will learn how to build the walls of the houses from wattle and daub. You may also have the opportunity to try out ancient techniques such as grinding grain, lighting fires (without a lighter) and archery. https://www.zeiteninsel.de/
Remarks (other information): The work involved could sometimes be physically demanding. This camp is designed for participants who are interested in archaeology and historical craftsmanship. Please note: There is a special Teenage Fee of 150€ for international volunteers who applied under 18 in this camp.
Description of accommodation and food:
You cook together. Money for the food shopping is provided to you. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please indicate any allergies when registering.
You will stay in a group house in Wolfshausen
Description of location and leisure:
You will be staying in Wolfhausen, a district of Weimar (Lahn). It is very rural, but there is a train station in Niederweimar from which you can reach the university town of Marburg, with its numerous attractions, in just 7 minutes. Besides this, major cities such as Frankfurt and Kassel are also very easily reachable by train. If you haven't had your fill of archaeology after working, you could also visit the “Römerkastell Saalburg” archaeological open-air museum near to Frankfurt.
Highlights: brilliant work project, very good accommodation, proximity to the metropolis of Frankfurt and the university city of Marburg
Nearest International airport: Frankfurt international
Nearest terminal (train or bus station): Niederweimar (Lahn)
Meeting point and time: You will be picked up from Niederweimar/Lahn train station at 13:00, 15:00 and 18:00.
Directions to Meeting Point
From the airport: From Frankfurt International Airport you should take a train to HBF Frankfurt (central train station). There you should take the RB41 regional train in the direction of “Marburg” or “Stadtallendorf”. You should get off the RB41 train at the “Niederweimar/Lahn” station, where somebody will be waiting to pick you up at 13:00, 15:00 and 18:00. Further train and bus information can be found under www.bahn.de in German and English
We would like to invite you to travel as environmentally friendly as possible. If you have the option to go by train, bus or caresharing, that can be a great first step for you to become a climate steward.