Living and working in the middle of the North German forest

CODE: ijgd 16042

(FULL for Teens)

Work
TENNAGE Places in this camp are full! Only 18+ volunteers can apply. Sorry!
Nature conservation and forest maintenance in beautiful surroundings, plus relaxation on the North Sea beach!
You can experience both at this camp in northern Germany. You will work alongside volunteers from all over the world in the forests and nature reserves surrounding the youth forest hostel where you will be staying.
Your tasks will include creating path boundaries and repairing erosion damage, cutting and removing grass and unwanted plants in open land biotopes and reforested windthrow areas, removing invasive late-flowering black cherry trees from forest areas, clearing hiking trails and clearing ditches.
Some of the work can be very strenuous and monotonous. (Note: The actual work to be carried out may differ from that described here.)
During your work, you will also learn a lot about the protection of forests and rare habitats, such as inland dunes, in theory and practice. You will also learn how nature reserves and landscape conservation areas can be developed in a way that is gentle on the environment, so that people can enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings in a better and more informative way.
Information (unfortunately only in German) about the Hartenholm Youth Forest Centre can be found here: https://www.forst-sh.de/abenteuer/jugendwaldheim-hartenholm/?L=0

Accomodation and food
You will stay in rooms with 2-4 beds in a youth forest hostel. Your accommodation is located in the heart of the forest and is surrounded by large outdoor grounds. There are plenty of bathrooms, leisure and dining rooms, a large kitchen, a barbecue hut and large outdoor grounds at your disposal.
You will cook together. Money for food will be provided. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please state any intolerances during registration.

Location and leisure
The forest youth hostel Suederluegum is in the middle of the forest and surrounded by beautiful landscape. The outside area has a volleyball field, a soccer field, a slackline, a resting place under the open sky, a pond area with raft and boats, a barbecue hut and a campfire site. In the hostel there is a large recreation room with a table tennis table and table football.
You will have bikes at your disposal, so you can explore the surrounding area. On the weekends, you can take trips to the North Sea islands and their beautiful beaches close by (Sylt, Föhr, Amrum).

Project hosted by:
Jugendwaldheim Süderlügum der Landesforsten Schleswig-Holstein (Forest Youth Hostel of Suederluegum of the Schleswig-Holstein State Forests)
The Jugendwaldheim Süderlügum of the Landesforsten Schleswig-Holstein (Forest Youth Hostel of Suederluegum of the Schleswig-Holstein State Forests) offers a one or two-week nature and adventure education programme (with overnight stay) for school classes from year 7. In the mornings, the pupils work together with pedagogically trained foresters in the forest and learn how the sustainable management of forests brings ecological, economic and social benefits for the environment and people. In the afternoons, survival courses, team workshops and exciting educational tours through the forest are offered.

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.
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Directions to meeting point
Meeting point and time: on Saturday 25/07/2026 at 3:16 pm, 5:16 pm or 7:16 pm at the latest at train station Suederluegum

Directions to Meeting Point:
From Hamburg Airport (travel time to the camp 4h)
From Hamburg Airport take the local train (S-Bahn) S 1 heading in the direction of Wedel or Hamburg-Blankenese and get off at Hamburg Hbf (main train station) (travel time 25min). The S1 runs every 10min.

From Hamburger Hauptbahnhof (main train station) (travel time to the camp 3,5h)
A) Regional trains (can be used with Deutschlandticket)
From Hamburger Hauptbahnhof you should take the regional train (RB71) in the direction of “Wrist” and travel until the station “Elmshorn” (travel time 34min).
In Elmshorn chance to the regional express RE6 in the direction of “Westerland (Sylt)” and travel until the station “Niebüll” (travel time 2h2min).
B) Intercity express (ICE):
From Hamburger Hauptbahnhof you should take the ICE in the direction of “Westerland (Sylt)” and travel until the station “Niebüll” (travel time 2h33min to 2h38min).

From Bahnhof Niebüll (train station Niebüll)
From Bahnhof Niebüll (train station Niebüll) take the regional train RB66 in the direction of “Tonder st” and leave the train after 9min at the station “Süderlügum”.

More Information about train and bus connections: www.bahn.com

Additional comments
Please note: There is a special Teenage Fee of 150€ for international volunteers who apply under 18 in this camp.
You should have a good level of fitness as some of the work could be physically demanding. You should also be able to ride a bike and be weatherproofed.

Requirements
You should have a good level of fitness as some of the work could be physically demanding. You should also be able to ride a bike and be weatherproofed.