Nature protection in the Harz Mountains | ijgd 16015 | 2026-07-20 - 2026-08-01 | ENVI,MANU | Age: 16 - 26

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. Follow us on Instagram ijgd_workcamps Facebook @ijgd.workcamps external project partner: Forestry Office Seesen

Work: For more than 30 years, our work camp groups have been supporting the Lautenthal forestry district in maintenance measures and ecological tasks in the forest areas in the Upper Harz. As large, contiguous forest areas, they are important for climate protection. You will help with nature conservation and environmental protection work and, through your efforts, contribute to preserving habitats for (rare) plants and animals and to restoring the balance in nature. The care of young deciduous trees, the nature-oriented design of waters, the repair of benches, shelters and hiking signs, but also the construction of hunting facilities, are among the tasks of your group. You will work in changing small groups and get an insight into the ecological, economic and social tasks of a forestry office.

Accomodation and food: Wanderheim Wildemann, youth hostel with shared rooms, kitchen, common room. Outdoor area with various games (basketball, football, volleyball and table tennis) in the courtyard. Nature trail and campfire site. You cook together. Money for the food shopping is provided to you. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please indicate any allergies when registering. Since there is only a small store in Wildemann itself, you have the possibility to have groceries delivered. The forester will gladly take your shopping list. Deliveries are made twice a week.

Location: WildemannWhereLowerSaxony100kmfromHanover

Location and Leisure: the Harz Mountains, with their caves, mining museums and forests, are a popular destination for excursions and recreation. Wildemann itself is a small mountain town with just under 1,000 inhabitants. The town has an outdoor swimming pool and a glow golf course. Wildemann is surrounded by a multitude of hiking trails and you can visit the disused mine, the ‘19-Lachter-Stollen’. At the weekend, it is worth taking a trip to the historic old town and the Rammelsberg visitor mine in Goslar, as well as visiting the Bocksberg adventure park with attractions such as a summer toboggan run and the Bocksbergcarts.

Airport: HAJ

Train/Bus station: Hamburg or Hannover, Next Train station: Goslar. 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.

Requirements: Please note: There is a special Teenage Fee of 150€ for international volunteers who apply under 18 in this camp.

At 4 + 6 pm at the train station in Goslar. A member of the forestry will drive you to the accommodation in Wildemann. Directions to Meeting Point From Hanover airport you should take the S5 S-Bahn train until you reach Hanover Hauptbahnhof (main train station). From Hanover Hauptbahnhof you should take the erx RE10 regional express train in the direction of Bad Harzburg until you reach Goslar.

Language: eng

Extra Fee: 0 EUR

The arrival day is Monday. Please arrange your journey so that you can be in Goslar by 4 p.m. on Monday afternoon. Tuesday is reserved for getting to know the other participants and the surrounding area. Work takes place from Wednesday to Friday in the first week and from Monday to Thursday in the second week, with each day lasting 7.5 hours. Friday in the second week is free. You need to be physically fit for strenuous work. Knowledge of German is helpful for communicating with the work supervisors.