PROJECT: Legambiente has been collaborating with the natural park Campo dei fiori for many years, with volunteers programs and environmental education. The Park is a beautiful woods area really important for all the region as a source of biodiversity.The project's aim is the preservation and the improvement of an area, called "villaggio Cagnola", important to promote "green" tourism in the park. LEGAMBIENTE LOCAL GROUP: Legambiente Varese Onlus, besides giving contributions to main Legambiente national campaigns, cares about the environment of the district of Varese since the eighties. Legambiente Varese coordinates 14 local groups of Legambiente volunteers and is the connection between local, regional and national offices of the association. It carries out several activities such as the management of natural areas, the organization of workcamps, environmental education addressed to youngest generations and promotion of environmentally friendly lifestyles. LOCATION AND LEISURE: The natural Park "Campo Dei Fiori" overlooks the hills of the Province of Varese and the Po Plain. In the area there are several interesting natural and historical sites. http://www.parcocampodeifiori.it The particular geographical location and the geological features favored the presence of a various vegetation, with chestnut tree and beech tree woods, typical fora of the rocky areas, marshy and peaty zones rich in wildlife. Brinzio is a little village (about 880 inhabitants) in the center of the Park. WORK: Volunteers will work mainly in "Villaggio Cagnola", that is a place of great historical and natural importance used by the Park to create a centre for environmental education and nature's preservation. The work will be: footpaths cleaning and maintenance, removing weeds from grassland at the top of the mountains. We'll use bicycles for moving between camp and working place. We'll work with local volunteers and citizens on Saturday and Sundays. STUDY PART: Part of the time will be dedicated to study the natural characteristic of the Park specially focused on biodiversity and on the protection of water springs.We'll study the conseguences upon woods of a fire occurred last november. ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD: Volunteers will be hosted in a common room with camp-beds and they'll use a camp-kitchen. There will be an environmental friendly diet with local products and little meat TERMINAL: Milano Malpensa, Varese train station SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS: Volunteers need good skills in bicycle riding LANGUAGE: English. Italian speakers are welcome.
Work:
WORK: Volunteers will work mainly in "Villaggio Cagnola"'s area that is a place of great historical and natural importance used by the Park to create a centre for environmental education and nature's preservation. The work will be: footpaths cleaning and maintenance, removing weeds from grassland at the top of the mountains etc
STUDY PART:
Part of the time will be dedicated to study the natural characteristic of the Park specially focused on biodiversity and on the protection of water springs.We'll study the conseguences upon woods of a fire occurred last november.
Accomodation & food:
Volunteers will be hosted in a common room with camp-beds and they'll use a camp-kitchen Environmental friendly diet with local products and little meat.
Location & leisure:
LOCATION AND LEISURE: The natural Park "Campo Dei Fiori" overlooks the hills of the Province of Varese and the Po Plain. In the area there are several interesting natural and historical sites. (www.parcocampodeifiori.it)The particular geographical location and the geological features favored the presence of a various vegetation, with chestnut tree and beech tree woods, typical fora of the rocky areas, marshy and peaty zones rich in wildlife. Brinzio is a little village (about 880 inhabitants). TERMINAL: Milano Malpensa, Varese train station
Requirements:
We'll use bicycles for moving between camp and working place.Volunteers need good skills in bicycle riding
PROJECT: Pian di Spagna is a rural area in which there is a problem with garbage brought up by the river. It is a reservation in which some garbage tends to be brought up by the wind and it is often problematic to reach all the waste by foot. Therefore, volunteers will be given the task of retrieving all the waste stuck in that area, by boat and also partly by foot. Since it is a very important area also environmentally speaking, the more people are willing to help us take care of it, the better. Anyone represent a precious help for this magnificent natural area in the North of Italy. LEGAMBIENTE LOCAL GROUP: Our Legambiente local group is made up of young and dinamic people, mostly under 30. The president himself is under 30 as well. The main activity of this Legambiente group is the management of an hostel; moreover, it has campaigned against food waste and for the correct waste management. Take a look at https://it-it.facebook.com/legambiente.lecco for details. We also have a new English website. LOCATION AND LEISURE: This is a very important oasis located where Valchiavenna meets Valtellina, creating the basin of Lake Como. Here arises a large flat wetland, in a majestic and spectacular natural theater of crucial ornithological value, under the first spurs of the Alps Lepontine and Retiche. The Pian di Spagna is located exactly on a trajectory of migrating birds which find shelter and food there, among the thick marsh vegetation, just before and after the strenuous crossing of the Alps. In addition to birds WORK: Volunteers will retrieve garbage stuck in that area of the lake on a small boat, and also beside the road that goes through the park. Beside that, they will have to paint the benches and signs, and mow in the area of pathways.These tasks will be fundamental to obtain a cleaner and even more beautiful natural habitat, which is what we expect from these interventions. STUDY PART: At the beginning of the camp there will be a meeting in order to show the volunteers the details regarding their work in the park. ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD: The volunteers will be hosted in a house owned by the park. The dormitory will be used by both men and women, without gender separation. In the house, they will find a kitchen, bathrooms, a big shared TERMINAL: nearest airports: Orio al serio, Milano Malpensanearest train station: Colico train station SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS: Adaptability and the will to work in group is mandatory. The ability to ride a bicycle is also required since volunteers may be asked to bike through the park. LANGUAGE: English
Work:
WORK: Volunteers will retrieve garbage stuck in that area of the lake on a small boat, and also beside the road that goes through the park. Beside that, they will have to paint the benches and signs, and mow in the area of pathways.These tasks will be fundamental to obtain a cleaner and even more beautiful natural habitat, which is what we expect from these interventions.
STUDY PART:
At the beginning of the camp there will be a meeting in order to show the volunteers the details regarding their work in the park.
Accomodation & food:
The volunteers will be hosted in a house owned by the park. The dormitory will be used by both men and women, without gender separation. In the house, they will find a kitchen, bathrooms, a big shared
Location & leisure:
LOCATION AND LEISURE: This is a very important oasis located where Valchiavenna meets Valtellina, creating the basin of Lake Como. Here arises a large flat wetland, in a majestic and spectacular natural theater of crucial ornithological value, under the first spurs of the Alps Lepontine and Retiche. The Pian di Spagna is located exactly on a trajectory of migrating birds which find shelter and food there, among the thick marsh vegetation, just before and after the strenuous crossing of the Alps. In addition to birds TERMINAL: nearest airports: Orio al serio, Milano Malpensanearest train station: Colico train station
Requirements:
Adaptability and the will to work in group is mandatory. The ability to ride a bicycle is also required since volunteers may be asked to bike through the park.
Volunteers will be engaged in projects aimed at preserving and restoring the natural environment of one of the most important wetlands in the Tyrrhenian Sea, the San Rossore estate, part of the MSRM Regional Park. Get ready to ride the bike!
Legambiente local group:
Legambiente Pisa is an association that has been fighting since 1995 for a healthier relationship between people and the environment, to convey the importance of conscious choices, for social equity through the lens of scientific environmentalism. The activities are possible thanks to the commitment of the volunteers who organize together local and national awareness campaigns, training activities inside and outside the schools, collaborations with public and private bodies aimed at the ecological transition.
LOCATION AND LEISURE:
The San Rossore estate, in the MSRM regional park, after having been used as a hunting lodge for monarchs and presidents, has since 1989 been the central nucleus of a large coastal park that is a real gem in terms of both fauna and plant species, including several relicts and endemic species, which have found an environment here in which to survive and develop. The estate is within cycling distance of the cities of Pisa, and Lucca, two centres that need no description; from the camp it is also easy to reach other centres of interest, such as Livorno, Calci, Massaciuccoli and the Apuan Alps.
WORK:
The volunteers will use simple tools such as shears, axes and saws to remove invasive vegetation, record data to compare the present situation and check the effectiveness of the action. At the request of the Park, interventions will be possible for easy maintenance operations in areas of naturalistic interest further inland. Restoration of the paths in the naturalistic areas of the estate and biomonitoring activities within the park will also be carried out. All movements will be made by bicycles, which the volunteers will also maintain, with the help of the local bicycle workshop.
STUDY PART:
Training activity on the park with the forest manager Francesca Logli, training on Caretta Caretta with the volunteer Yuri Galletti. The training will involve the use of a drone for monitoring. Bike maintenance workshop with the FIAB association, naturalistic training with the partner Andrea Somma in the LIPU reserve of Massaciuccoli.
ACCOMODATION AND FOOD:
Flat in a farmhouse on the San Rossore Estate. We will prepare all meals in the apartment. The shopping will be done in local zero kilometre and organic shops.
TERMINAL:
International airport of Pisa Central Station or Pisa S. Rossore Station.
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:
Knowing how to ride a bike (you ride a few kilometres a day).
« I would recommend participating in a workcamp, especially with VAP, who ensured that I found a project to suit me and provided essential training for me in preparation for my trip. Being part of a workcamp really is a life-changing experience, oh, and it looks great on your CV! »
