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Switzerland:
NATURE PARC ELA - PRESERVING TRADITIONAL CULTIVATE
Project date
Project properties
- Solidarity donation: 0 EUR (To be confirmed)
- 18 years and older
- English
- Vaccine informations
- Visa informations
Location informations
- Savognin, 7460 Surses, Switzerland
- Local currency : Switzerland franc (CHF / Fr.)
-
Currency exchange rate
(2026-06-06 07:20:02)
- 1 Fr. = 1.09 EUR
- 1 EUR = 0.92 Fr.
- Timezone : Central european summer time
- Local time : 06-06-2026 18:40:06
Closest airport(s) and plane ticket average price
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St Gallen Altenrhein Airport
(98.74 km) - Switzerland -
Il Caravaggio International Airport
(103.02 km) - Italy -
Friedrichshafen Airport
(119.59 km) - Germany -
Z?rich Airport
(124.93 km) - Switzerland
Mix Train-Bus-Avion
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Itinéraire
depuis Ashburn vers Savognin
⚠️ Ces itinéraires sont calculés automatiquement à partir de données géographiques approximatives. Ne pas acheter de billet sans avoir lu attentivement votre feuille de route.
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Callbacks are only available for the following countries: france, belgium, luxembourg, switzerland, and canada. if you're from another country, please leave us a Message.
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Presentation of the program
Together with professionals from Parc Ela, you will reconstruct historic dry stone walls during the first week. Dry stone walls are built only with stones. Although no concrete or cement is used to build walls, it can last for centuries. You will learn a handcraft that is known for generations. You will help to preserve this cultural heritage which provides biotopes to highly adapted plants and animals. Please be aware that the work is physically demanding as you are lifting stones In case you are suffering from back issues, this volunteer camp is not recommended. Be aware that the reconstruction of dry stone walls progresses slowly as each stone needs to be placed individually to fit well in the stone wall and this takes time to arrange ( so it is normal, that this type of work progresses slowly.During the second week you will promote the maintenance, care and protection of the alpine biodiversity by supporting organic farmers maintaining their alpine grazing lands. The work in a breathtaking alpine landscape can include tasks such as, removing trees and bushes from the grazing lands, trail maintenance to ensure access for the animals to the grazing lands, or renewing traditional wood fences. Working days will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Because of the hard work you will get an additional free day on Wednesday. Working days start at 8:00 am until 5:00 pm (including transport to the working site, multiple breaks per day and study time).
About the accommodation
AccommodationAll volunteers will stay in a spacious underground accommodation (sleeping rooms are in a civil protection shelter - there are no windows in the sleeping rooms, but the accommodation is still comfortable). Mattresses, woolen blankets, and mattress covers will be provided. If possible, bring your own warm sleeping bag and slippers as it can be a bit cold during the evening and night. The accommodation is fully equipped with multiple toilets and showers and a washing room to do hand washing of your laundry (no washing machine available, therefore take enough clothes to change with you). There will be WiFi at the accommodation. There is also Free Wi-Fi in the village at the tourist office accessible 24/7 (you need to walk there).Be aware that you will be sharing the spaces together with the other volunteers, please be therefore mindful in the use of the spaces and decide as a group, how you would like to use the spaces (night time, cleanliness, etc.) and how you plan to split-up the chores. The camp coordinator will assist the group with organising themselves.FoodVolunteers cook food that can be bought at the local grocery store (and therefore mostly from regional and sustainable resources). We recommend you to limit your meat consumption, so as to contribute to the camps principle of sustainability.
Requirements
Please be aware that the work is physically demanding as you are lifting stones In case you are suffering from back issues, this volunteer camp is not recommended.Camp language is English. Local languages are Romansh (regularly spoken by only 60 000 people) and Swiss German. Spoken languages at the camp site are English, Romansh or German.
Extra information
For volunteers applying via Partner Organisations AKHamp; Contacts of SCI, an additional fee of 50 EUR, also referred to as the incoming fee, is due and needs to be given in cash to the camp coordinator during the camp :I https://scich.org/en/incoming-fee/