Nature conservation in the city

CODE: ijgd 15007

Work:

Nature conservation in the city? You might think that there is no room for nature in the city between concrete and tarmac. But if you take a closer look, you are often amazed at what lives there. Where people work, dwell and live, small nature conservation gems are hidden. Come with us to a sand dune in Gifhorn. It is slowly becoming overgrown with shrubs that need to be removed to preserve the habitat of species such as silver grass and sand sedge, which love dry and nutrient-poor conditions. The route then continues into a residential area where there is a wetland biotope. This is a refuge for peat mosses and dragonflies, but ducks also breed here from time to time. It was fenced off to protect it from trespassers. The fence is now very fragile and will be dismantled with your help so that a new fence can be erected. The rivers in the urban area are also special habitats that connect different biotopes. Unfortunately, due to high water and careless people, rubbish often ends up in the waters, which can also be dangerous for other nature reserves. So get in the boats! From the river, rubbish must be removed from the water and from the embankments. The staff of the Environment Department will guide and support you in this work. Your programme will also include an information day on wildlife in natural waters.

Accomodation and food

Seminar house in the city centre. Multi-bed rooms, group room, well-equipped kitchen. Right next door, the neighbouring youth centre ‘Die Grille’ offers leisure activities such as an internet café and table football, cosy seating areas and a beautiful outdoor area for relaxing. Shopping facilities are just a few minutes’ walk away.
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

A playground and a football pitch are available directly on site. The surrounding area invites you to go hiking, cycling and canoeing. You can meet young people at the youth centre and spend time there at events and concerts in the evenings. Other leisure activities are swimming, bowling or canoeing. The mill museum and the castle museum are well worth a visit. On Fridays there are sports activities such as football and climbing in the neighbouring sports hall. ‘Gifhorn International’ a cultural festival with various stands (food and information from all over the world) will take place in the town centre on 13 September. Trip to Hannover, Wolfsburg or Braunschweig at the weekend.

Project hosted by

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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Project hosts are the Department of Environment and Department of youth work of the District Gifhorn

Directions to meeting point

Meeting point and time: at the train station in Gifhorn. A minibus will be waiting there at 16:30 and 18:30 to take you to the accommodation

Additional comments

Please note: INTERNATIONAL volunteers under 18 who apply for this camp have to pay a special teenage fee of 150€ to ijgd (more information after your regsitration)