Protect Endangered Species in the Black Forest - Allerheiligen

CODE: IBG 07

PROJECT: IBG Workcamps, founded in 1965, engages increasingly in climate protection through forest and peatland projects. Through our trainings, seminars, and Workcamps we strive to encourage young people from all over the world to become active in climate- and nature protection themselves. This camp is organized by IBG in cooperation with the Forestry Baden-Wurttemberg. This camp supports the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development by the United Nations and highlights our contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals defined for Climate Action (13) and Life on Land (15).

WORK: Join rangers in the Black Forest and protect endangered Capercaillie who are losing their habitat to the wild boars. Part of the work is creating safe tunnels through bushes and woodland for the birds to travel and to create open spaces for them to mate and raise their kids. Help with forest maintenance is also needed as well as the careful care of the pine trees and the cleaning of meadows to make them better hosts for biodiverse plants and animals.

Beware: You are going to be outside during all working hours and the work may be physically hard. You will also get wet and muddy for sure! Please bring hiking boots, extra socks to change during the day, a waterproof jacket, and comfy working clothes.

ACCOMMODATION: You stay on the first floor of a small rural house, the “Kriesenhof”, in the Allerheiligen forest district. The accommodation is basic yet includes necessary amenities like a kitchen, shower, bathroom, WIFI, and a washing machine. You sleep together on mattresses in a rather small shared room, so bring a sleeping bag, bed sheet (and pillow if desired). The entire group does grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning together. Food will be bought with the camp budget. To minimize our carbon footprint on the planet, we encourage volunteers to reduce meat and try more environmentally friendly meals.

LOCATION: The Allerheiligen forest district is located in south-west Germany approx. 30 km from the French border as the crow flies. You live and work in the middle of nature in the direct neighborhood of the Black Forest National Park. There are many hiking opportunities, some of which start directly from the accommodation (Karlsruher Grat) — worth hiking to waterfalls like Edelfrauengrab or Allerheiligen).
FURTHER INFO: Please be aware that ticks can be an issue after spending a lot of time outdoors. In our General Info Sheet you will find suggestions on how you can protect yourself against them. Consider to check whether a vaccination against the tick-borne disease TBE makes sense and is possible in your home country.
TRAVEL INFORMATION:
Please inform your camp leader about your arrival time so they can pick you up!
MEETING POINT: Train station Bahnhof Ottenhöfen im Schwarzwald (D-77883) (Coordinates: 48.56671451209031, 8.150627345447274)
NEXT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Strasbourg (SXB), Basel (BSL), Stuttgart (STR)
NEXT INTERNATIONAL BUS STOP: Baden Baden, Karlsruhe, all the airports Check for connections from anywhere to Achern and from there take train RS3 to Ottenhöfen (check connection on Deutsche Bahn).