FAQ Workcamps
What is a workcamp?
How old do I have to be? Are there any upper age limitations?
Do I need any special skills or language skills?
Do I need health insurance?
How much is it going to cost?
Why does the same SCI camp cost more from other organizations?
Who makes travel arrangements?
How about travel before and after the camp?
Can I participate in more than one camp?
Can I go with my friend (spouse, children)?
How do I become a member or make a donation?
How can I create a workcamp in the US or Canada with SCI IVS USA?
Q: What is a workcamp?
A: A workcamp is a place anywhere in the world where people of all backgrounds, ideologies, and nationalities live and volunteer together for two to four weeks on a grassroots project organized by a local sponsor for non-commercial causes. Most workcamps occur during the Summer months and have between 5 and 20 international participants. You volunteer, you socialize, you cook and you work (usually no more than 6 hours during weekdays) together as an international group with local people. You are a multicultural, voluntary workforce promoting tolerance and understanding through your activism. That is a workcamp - and it works!
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Q: How old do I have to be. Are there any upper age limitations?
A: You have to be at least 16 to participate in a US/Canada workcamp, 18 to participate in a foreign developed country and 21 for a third world country. There is no upper age limit except where a workcamp states specific age requirements.
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Q: Do I need any special skills or language skills?
A: Workcamps are designed mostly for generalist volunteers. You do need to be aware of your physical limitations for certain types of labor intensive projects. Most camps are multi-national and English is usually the common language. If there is a language requirement it will be stated in the camp description. You are expected to participate with other volunteers in a group atmosphere; cooking together, planning activities together, working out differences together, etc.
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Q: Do I need health insurance?
A: You are responsible for knowing your insurance coverage, your health condition and your specific needs to have travel, health or medical evacuation insurance. Although SCI projects are usually covered by a secondary reimbursement policy, THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE your primary insurance coverage since there are many restrictions for illness and prior condition exclusions. You are responsible for your travel expenses (including entry visa if needed) to and from the workcamp and you must seriously consider having travel insurance to accommodate your specific needs.
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Q: How much is it going to cost?
A: All overseas camps are $235. All US camps are $100. Note that $35 is non-refundable to cover costs and goes towards a one-year SCI USA membership. Applying for more than one camp $125. Payments (via check or PayPal or credit card) must be submitted with the application in order to be processed. Workcamps include shared simple housing and group self-cooked meals without additional costs unless otherwise stated in the camp description.
Of the $235, $35 goes toward membership and general structure of SCI-IVS USA, $50 goes toward insurance and our international structure, leaving $100 for running our placement office. As of Jan 1, 2003, we have added a $25 camp development fee and a $25 "solidarity" fee. No money goes overseas because in the SCI network projects are funded (food and housing) locally by the workcamp host in that country, that means each national branch or contact offers their projects for "free" within the network with the understanding that applicant fee should be collected to help the sending organization.
This method of financing is very decentralized, it helps to encourage the grassroots growth of the workcamps all over the world, and it also characterizes the enormous voluntary contributions of communities worldwide to make this exchange in 50 countries happen without a centralized budget.
We do make exceptions for some projects, especially in Asia, Latin America, Africa and some US workcamps where extra money is need at the project level for a good cause. This is call a "participation fee" and is paid directly to the local workcamp host, not to SCI-IVS USA nor to the branch or contact overseas. Participation fees are clearly stated in the specific camp description if applicable.
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Q: Why is the same SCI camp posted with other organizations?
A: The US region is also served by Volunteers for Peace. VFP is an exchange partner of the SCI network and VFP has partnership with other volunteer exchange networks, therefore VFP is able to place volunteers into SCI camps and into other network's projects overseas. Please be aware that VFP operates under a different cost structure than SCI-IVS USA. If you apply for SCI network camps through VFP you must pay the VFP fee.
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Q: Who makes travel arrangements?
A: Volunteers must arrange and pay for transportation to and from the workcamp. Please do not consider arriving late or leaving early as this is very disruptive to your host and to other volunteers. For some camps (especially for those in remote locations), a convenient pick-up point may be specified and if you miss this you may not have another way to get to the camp. Please plan your travels with care, know the stability and geography of your destination, and understand that you are ultimately responsible for all travel costs including cancel or change fees imposed by transportation companies.
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Q: How about travel before and after the camp?
A: Many of our volunteers combine traveling with volunteering. In fact it is often possible to travel with newfound friends after the camp.
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Q: Can I participate in more than one camp?
A: Yes, infact we encourage it! You may sign up for up to three camps per season. Be sure you leave yourself enough time to get from one to another. Arriving on time and staying for the whole camp is crucial and required for camp participation.
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Q: Can I go with my friend (spouse, children)?
A: In most camps no more than two people from any one country are accepted to preserve the multi-national composition of the group. If you want to go with a friend or as a couple, be sure you sign up early and chose a camp with a larger amount of volunteers. Some camps are specifically designed for family participation.
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Q: How do I become a member or make a donation?
A: Membership donation is $35.00 per year for which you will receive our newsletter and open access to our offices for help in applying to workcamps and LTV positions. If you would like to become a member or to make a donation to help support our grassroots efforts, please send your name, address and the amount to our Crozet address. Note that some states do have restrictions on "solicitation of charitable contributions" so please acknowledge that SCI IVS USA does not claim a legal status beyond being a 501(c)(3) non-profit, registered in the State of Virginia. You may also send your donation securely online.
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Q: How can I create a workcamp in the US or Canada with SCI-IVS USA?
A: Contact our Virginia Office if your idea for a workcamp can satisfy these five basic requirements:
1) Projects must be service oriented and for non-commercial causes in which volunteers are not used to replace paid labor.
2) Projects are required to have an educational component so that volunteers understand the meaning of their service to themselves and to the host community or organization.
3) Projects must be open to receiving at a minimum 5 to 6 volunteers from the diverse background and cultures of SCI Branches and Partner organizations worldwide (anywhere from 0 to 2 volunteers usually come from North America).
4) Projects must provide group living area for volunteers, provide food and cooking area, and provide a local coordinator to help facilitate the workcamp.
5) Projects should occur around July or August which is historically the peak Summer season for workcamp volunteers. Also, this means planning and coordination with SCI-IVS USA should be finalized by February or March at the latest.
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