Category Archives: Action

Residential Volunteering with RSPB – UK and Europe

Posted on by
Reply

Residential volunteering is your chance to have a break, try something new or get some experience for your CV.

There are over 40 different places to stay and hundreds of things to do. You can spend a week or more on a reserve, and you can do it alone or bring a friend.

We’ll provide you with accommodation, new skills and some great memories.

Browse through the opportunities further down the page to see what takes your fancy. If you’d prefer a Highland adventure to a long stay in Suffolk, you can filter the opportunities using the location button.

If you’d like a taster of what it’s like to be a residential volunteer, you can watch this short video:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/volunteering/residential.aspx

EnviroTrek Clean Up Series 2012 – Respect the mountain

Posted on by
Reply

Envirotrek Series 2012

Respect the Mountains organizes in cooperation with main sponsor KEEN Footwear the third edition of the EnviroTrek Clean Up Series. These will take place at six fantastic locations in Europe.

What is an Envirotrek? An Envirotrek is an adventure outdoor event where, aside from an the opportunity to try an outdoor activity, the participant will give back to the environment. Both locals and tourists alike can join in the fun!

The day will take a  format similar to the following.

Maximum participants: 80
09.30: Gathering and start Clean-Up;
12.30: BBQ Lunch;
13.30: Outdoor activities: Either rock climbing, raft building or mountain biking;
16.00: Goodbye + Goodie bag

Envirotrek All-Inclusive Costs
Adults – 10 Euros
Youth under 12 – Free * Minimum Age – 6 years

Envirotrek 2012 Events Dates and Locations are various and to be confirmed. Last years events were at the following locations:
Naturpark St. Pietersberg, The Netherlands
Mayrhofen, Austria
Naturpark Southern Schwarzwald, Germany
Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany
Samoens, France
Einruhr-Sinmerath, Eifel, Germany

SIGN UP VIA Envirotrek website

WWF volunteers help wolves by helping shepherds !

Posted on by
1

The main aim is to improve acceptance of predators such as wolves, bears and lynx in the alpine range. This will be done by helping alpine farmers reduce predation damage through herd protection measures. An extra goal is to increase the understanding of these species in both city and mountain-dwellers.

Successful herd protection is essential

The re-colonization of Switzerland by lynx, bears and wolves can cause problems for the local population. The implementation of specific herd protection measures can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of attacks by the large carnivores. Furthermore the maintenance of traditional shepherding can benefit the ecological quality of high mountain pastures and forests. Protection measures however, are often frowned upon by herd owners because they require additional work and expenditure.

Herd protection measures need help!

WWF volunteers will attend an introduction course. They will then be allocated to a farm for a period of time. During this period they will implement protection measures in accordance with a scheme developed in France called “PastoraLoup”. The volunteer’s role is to actively participate in the daily work routine: they will spend the night outdoors with the guarding dogs to stand watch over the herd; they will inform tourists on the role of guarding dogs and will explain which behaviours to adopt when encountering one. Volunteers will also help raise protective fencing in specific areas. An unforgettable experience. Nights spent out in the open, long walks following the herd in beautiful mountain ranges: volunteers will experience both the joys and hardships of a shepherd’s life. Participating in the ‘Help the shepherd’ programme is a concrete action you can take. You will help the environment, by promoting sustainable farming, and you will facilitate the wolves’ return to the Alps. It is also an extraordinary adventure!

If you are interested in particiapting in this incredible opportunity: http://www.wwf.ch/fr/cequevouspouvezfaire/soyezactifs/devenezbenevole/aideauxbergers/ or if you interested in the French equivalent http://www.ferus.fr/benevolat/pastoraloup.

Volunteering with RSPB outside the UK

Posted on by
Reply

If you want to take part in a conservation project and experience life in another country, these are the roles for you.

From bird monitoring in Asia to installing artificial nests in Bulgaria or training birdwatchers in Africa, you’re sure to have an adventure unlike any other.

To do any of these placements you must speak English and be over 18. You can browse our opportunities below.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/volunteering/international.aspx

Geneva Association for Social Integration

Posted on by
Reply

There are several volunteer opportunities to earn service hours volunteering for the Geneva Association of Social Integration (AGIS) – these are people of all ages who would like to spend some of their spare time with handicapped people.
You don’t need any particular skills, just the willingness to share a little bit of your free time, once a week, once a month, or whenever you can.

If you have the time to offer and would like to know more please contact.
info@agis-ge.ch tél: 022 308 98 10 (French Speaking), have a look at some of the offers available at the moment.

Red Cross Food Collection

Posted on by
Reply

In Pays de Gex the yearly food collection in supermarkets by the French Banque Alimentaire is going to take place on Friday November 25 and Saturday November 26. Spoken French is fine, but not a necessity, if at least someone in each group of students speaks French. (There are many English speaking customers.
The Croix Rouge (Red Cross) is coordinating the event and volunteers are needed in:

  • Carrefour La Poterie (the big Carrefour in Ferney-Voltaire)
  • Migros in the shopping center Val Thoiry

It is suggested that students from College du Leman participate after school on Friday afternoon until the shops are closing,

Friday

  • 4.30 – 9.00 PM (or until the shops close)

Saturday

  • 8.30 AM – 9.00 PM or 
  • 8.30 – 10.00 AM
  • 4.30 – closing.

It is necessary to fill in and sign a form at Croix Rouge beforehand and show a passport and leave a copy of the passport. For those below 18 years of age, the parent has to sign.

Minors need written permission from their parents, and an adult (min 18 years) needs to be in the group of four at any time.

The students need to fill in their REACH forms and take them to the supermarkets, so they can be evaluated and signed or handed in to the Red Cross on the same day.

If you are are interested you can get in touch with the Red Cross:

Please get in touch with:

Catherine Bollard, Tel. +33  474 51 87 84 or  +33 623 84 42 14 e-mail: cathy.bollard@orange.fr. for further information. Mme Bollard speaks French and very little English.
Fiona Roynette Tel:  +33 450 40 60 23  The Red Cross in Prevessin and responsible for the food collection at Leclerc speaks English and French.

Croix-Rouge Française
Délégation Pays de Gex
453, Route du Nant
F-01280 Prévessin-Moëns
France

ZOA Trip 2012

Posted on by
Reply

Activity name: ZOA Trip 2012

Activity duration:  Meetings every Tuesday MB211 at 4pm

Date of offer: 30th June to 19th July 2012 in Zambia

Outline of activity with a description:   The group flies to Lusaka and then travels by chartered coach to Serenje, Northern Zambia. They stay in a local secure Guesthouse and work for 10 days at the orphanage known as the ‘Serenje Orphans Childrens Home’ (SOCH). Information about the orphanage and some of the activities carried out by past groups, can be seen here: www.zoaonline.org

Qualifications: No prior qualifications needed but a commitment to the ZOA charity has to be made and a willingness to take part in activities throughout the year to raise money for the orphanage and awareness of the situation of millions of orphans throughout Africa.

Target age group: 15 to 18 years old

Costs: A maximum cost of CHF 4000 – depending on costs of flights.

For further information please contact: Kevin Gilbert (Kevin.gilbert@cdl.ch) or Ryan Blyth (ryan.blyth@cdl.ch).

Project AWARE – Aquatic World Awareness, Responsibility and Education

Posted on by
1

Activity name: Project AWARE – Aquatic World Awareness, Responsibility and Education

Activity duration: 5hrs of self study and 4hrs of class time.

Date of offer: Courses take place from 16h to 20h – dates to be confirmed.

Outline of activity with a description:  This course covers information about aquatic ecosystem degradation alongwith conservation measures to protect aquatic resources.

A. The purpose of the Project AWARE Specialty is to familiarize divers and nondivers with the plight of worldwide aquatic ecosystems and to describe what individuals can do to help protect them. You are encouraged to elaborate beyond the detail in this outline to accommodate the needs and interests of your students.

B. This program is designed for classroom presentation only; no dives are required. It is highly recommended that this program be conducted in conjunction with other specialties such as Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Naturalist, AWARE — Fish Identification and other programs such as Discover Snorkeling, Skin Diver course, etc.

C. Because the Project AWARE Specialty program does not have any dive or skill requirements, participants do not receive a specialty diving certification card. However, participants may receive a PADI completion (nondiving) card and/or a Project AWARE Certificate of Recognition.

 Qualifications: Open to students of all ages.

Costs: 110CHF per student.

If you would like further information please contact Vladimir Stosic (vladimir.stosic@cdl.ch).