Old paths and camp in the Siarb Valley 2 | CAT14FAM | 2023-08-21 - 2023-08-27 | CULT,CONS,CULT | Age: 10 - 99

The organization in charge of the work camp is Balmes Blancs, a non-profit association created in 2010 with the aim of offering unique activities in nature with the aim of presenting new places, new people and deepen, thus, the knowledge of the Catalan territory. Since its inception, it has organized various activities such as snowshoe outings with animal footprints, astronomical discoveries, kayak outings to discover marine fauna, rafting drops, hiking in the mountains or levelling and safety workshops, among others. In 2013 the association began working in the Siarb Valley. From that moment on, Balmes Blancs began to focus its activities around this valley and, among other things, guided visits to the "Despoblat de Santa Creu" of "Llagunes", visits to the trenches on the "Pallars" front and to the bunkers of Vilamur, discoveries of geology, activities of flora and fauna in the environment. At the same time, the refuge promotes hiking with the creation of signposted routes around "Llagunes", as well as a series of actions aimed at recovering the heritage of the Siarb Valley to discover life rural in "Pallars Sobirà", and by extension, in the rest of the Pyrenees.

Work: The purpose of this work camp is to participate into the recovery the old paths and the history of the Pyrenees in the "Vall de Siarb". The families will learn about culture, nature, and participate in different activities of preservation and conservation of the area. The technical work that will be carried out in the field of work consists in general, in different tasks related to the recovery of the old roads of the valley. There is the chance to split kids/teens from parents and do different tasks some days of the week. The followings are the main ones: - Road clearing: mowing grass, bushes, etc., which grow in the spring to leave the roads comfortably passable on foot. - Remove stones from the road: pick up stones that have fallen on the road and set them aside in an orderly manner at the edges to make the passage passable. - Rebuild the simplest sections of dry stone wall: rebuild those walls that have fallen and are easily rebuild able. - Improved signage with paint: review the tracking marks of the paths with paint according to the instructions given to us by the "Alt Pirineu" Natural Park. - Improved paved sections: some trails have cobbled sections that have worn out. At the same time, there will be also ambient activities about the flora and fauna of the area.

Accomodation and food: The accommodation is in a rural field near the village of Vilamur, in the heart of The Pyrenees. So you should definitely be eager to have a (somehow) wild experience with your people! Your family will spend a week in a campsite and you’ll be camping and sleeping in a tent (one each family) provided by the hosting organization (but feel free to bring yours). You must bring your own mattress and sleeping bag (it’s highly recommended a good one as in the Pyrenees it can be cold at nights even in summertime). The toilet is a latrine, and the shower is the hose with cold water. We strongly recommend bringing Eco and biodegradable shower gel or shampoo. The families are in charge to cook and to keep the area clean and safe: you will self-organized and split into different small groups, that will cook for the rest of the families, taking daily turns. The organization will create the menus, will provide the food, the camping gas and cutlery necessary, for cooking. There’s no Wi-Fi at the campsite. However, there s a mobile phone signal in the area so you should be able to connect to 3G or 4G almost everywhere. No heating available. IMPORTANT: there is no electricity in the camp, but in the village (5 minutes by foot) there is a fridge and electricity point.

Location: ThelocationisaterraininVilamurvillage10kmawayfromSort

Location and Leisure: The work camp is done in a calm and peaceful area of the Catalan Pyrenees called “Vall de Siarb”. This place is located inside one of the natural Park in Catalonia (Parc Natural de l’Alt Pirineu) and the village belongs to Soriguera municipality. For more information about this part of the Pyrenees you can visit the web site: http://parcsnaturals.gencat.cat/en/alt-pirineu/index.html There are different possibilities of leisure activities the families can do in the area: cultural excursions, circuit of Geocaching and visits to the nearby villages. Other options of activities in the area are the following examples: - Visit to a medieval town. - Visit to bunkers and trenches from Spanish Civil War. - Rafting activity (40€/pax) - Hiking/trekking routes.

Airport: BCN

Train/Bus station: Bus station in Barcelona: - "Estació del Nord" - "Estació de Sants" Trainstation in Barcelona: - Estació de Sants"

Requirements: Please note that family camps require an extra fee: - 150 euros per adults - 70 euros per minors (10 to 17 years old)

The meeting point will be on August 21st at 18.30h in the FGC train station of La Pobla de Segur. From there, the hosting organization will take you to Vilamur by private bus (which will cost 5 euros per person, so please bring some cash with you). Public transportation By train: . From Barcelona’s Airport, you have to go to the train station in Barcelona called "Estació de Sants": You can go by train (go to Terminal 2 and take the RENFE train R2) or by metro (from terminal 1 or 2 take metro L9 to Collblanc, and there tranbord to L5 and stop in "Estació de Sants"). . From “Estació de Sants” you have to go to Lleida by RENFE train R14. . Once in Lleida, walk to FGC train station and take the FGC train to La Pobla de Segur. IMPORTANT: make sure you get in Lleida on time! The last train to La Pobla de Segur is at 17.05h, and is the only choice to geton time in the meeting point. . Once you arrive in La Pobla de Segur, the hosting organization will pick you up and bring to the work camp terrain by private bus (make sure to bring By bus: . From Barcelona’s Airport, you have to go to the bus station in Barcelona called “Estació del Nord”. You can go by train (go toTerminal 2 and take the RENFE train R2) or by metro (from terminal 1 or 2 take metro L9 to "Torrassa", and there transbord to L1 and stop in "Arc de Triomf". From metro exit "Arc de Triomf" walk 200m to the bus station. . From "Estació del Nord" to La Pobla de Segur, you should get the ALSA (name of bus agency) bus. Private transportation: The meeting point will be directly in Vilamur at 7pm, and a person from "Museu de Camins"/Balmes Blancs picking you up and showing how to get to the camping area.

Language: eng

Extra Fee: 150 EUR