Volunteer experiences

Volunteers from the 2007 workcamp season share their experiences

Sheetrocking in the Big Easy

Campleader’s workcamp experience

This workcamp was an attempt to meld two ideas into one camp and give the opportunity for folk with special needs to join a workcamp in Lousianna.  The camp began at Innisfree Village, an intentional community in Virginia for folks with disabilities.  This part of the camp had three extra volunteers, Sameera from Sri Lanka, his girlfriend Pat from Hong Kong and Gus, a guy with special needs that Sameera works with in Boston.  They joined the other campers, Ruben from Belgium and Laura from England to make a strong work team.  The volunteers painted in many houses, cleaned, cooked…more...

The Road to Gyeum

Vanessa’s Ireland Workcamp experience

“You’re going to Europe to do a work camp?!”  No matter how I tried to explain the concept to family or friends, for most the idea of going on holiday to volunteer was unheard of.  I only first discovered work camps a year and a half ago.  I’ve always kept my eyes and ears open for opportunities to see the world and explore its many curiosities.  An interesting article about international volunteering caught my attention.  Work camps seemed like a nice alternative to tourism, providing participants the opportunity to do something meaningful abroad, meet people from all over the world,…more...

Alpine Farming

Emily’s Austria workcamp experience

Setup:  This camp lasted 2 weeks and took place in the Austrian alps.  It was composed of approximately 20-30  volunteers, half of them Austrian.  The age range was 15 to about 40, but most were in their 20's.  Mountain experience was suggested as necessary for this camp; however, I don't believe that mountain experience is as important as being in shape, having the right equipment, and being willing to learn.  Accommodation: We spent the first week in a hostel that was rented out solely to our camp.  Here we were spread out 4 to a room with bunk beds.  Hot…more...