Short-term (2 to 4 weeks) "construction" projects in Denmark

The work camp is arranged in cooperation with Vingsted Historical Workplace/workshop.
Since 1976 Vingsted has built up a large Iron Age environment with farms and houses and the possibility of many historical activities. The purpose of Vingsted Historical Workshop is to create, operate and develop practical work, educational and cultural activities where users can have a direct experience with various natural and historical contexts.

During the last 7 years Vingsted has been in the process of (re)constructing a chieftain's house from the Iron Age in Denmark (the time around the year 0). The task of the work camp-volunteers will be to help build the fence which will encircle the entire chieftain farm. Work at the camp will consist primarily of cleavage, shaping and setting the oak logs to the fence. The entire fence is approx. 100 meters long.

Volunteers are supposed to work and live as in the Iron Age. Accommodation facilities and work will give the volunteers an insight into and understanding of human interaction with nature. During the camp focus will be on food procurement and food preparation, use of raw materials, energy sources and energy consumption, waste and recycling, household and agricultural technologies. The work will focus on the provision and use of natural resources, different materials and their uses, craft technology and work processes.

Volunteers should have an interest in history and different ways of living in different cultures at different times. Participants must be prepared to live as people did in Denmark during the Iron Age.

Vingsted Historical Workshop is located in Vejle Valley - approx. 10 km west of the city of Vejle in Jutland. The area around Vejle River Valley is known for many archaeological findings from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Viking age. Some of the area's historical sites and attractions can be visited during the camp.

Participants will stay and live in two reconstructed Iron Age houses in the area. Participants will have access to modern bathing facilities. Meals will be prepared by participants – sometimes over an open fire.

(Train) Vejle

Billund, from here it is possible to go by bus to Vejle. It is also possible to fly to Copenhagen and then go by train to Vejle.

Participants must be willing to undertake work tasks that can be physically demanding and require good cooperation. WORK PERMIT IS REQUIRED FOR NON-EUROPEAN CITIZENS!

The camp is hosted by Brenderup Folk High School. Brenderup Folk High School is working as a boarding school with an international approach and accept both Danish and foreign students. You can read more about the school here: http://www.brenderuphojskole.dk/filer/english.htm

For the last years, Brenderup have hosted work camps that have supported the building process of Brenderup's environmental friendly straw bale house and the ellipse-shaped "lotus house". This year Brenderup wants to develop the idea of sustainability further into different ways of constructing. The volunteers will in cooperation with the constructors of Brenderup build various small buildings and activity equipment in the school garden, by using environmental friendly materials – also considering a nice aesthetic look. One of the bigger constructions will be to make a boulder wall for climbing, which also should be used as a roofed corridor between some buildings. The wall will be made in natural sustainable materials, with an artistic shape, challenging the other buildings in the garden. Everything will happen according to sustainable principles and sustainable materials. During the work camp participants will take part in workshops facilitated by the staff and students of Brenderup, where the idea of sustainability will be challenged and debated and also other workshops about recycling design, music, art and gym are planned.

The work camp will be an integral part of the daily life at Brenderup Folk High School. The international volunteers will each day eat together with the rest of the school's students, and common social activities will be arranged. The school has many international students and their integration with the camp contributes to cultural exchange and understanding, which is one of the school's basic values.

People, who are used to work with their hands in combination with artistic skills, will be preferred to the work camp and volunteers are expected to be ready to share their culture with the other participants and students at the school. All volunteers should prepare a presentation for the work camp entitled "How do youth in my culture think about sustainability, and what do they do towards securing a sustainable world?" The volunteer presentation will form the basis for debate on how young people can help to promote sustainable development around the world.

Brenderup is located on the island Funen (Fyn) in Denmark. The village Brenderup (2000 inhabitants) is close to the beach, forests and idyllic countryside.

Volunteers will be accommodated in a tent camp in the middle of Brenderup's huge garden and will have access to showers and toilets in the school buildings. Food is prepared by the schools kitchen staff and served 3 times a day. Volunteers should expect to assist doing dishes and preparing meals. The school is making ''green food'' from sustainable products and also serve vegetarian food - volunteers just need to sign up for this upon arrival. There is wireless internet at the school and bicycles can be rented for the whole stay.

(Train): Odense (36 km.) or Middelfart (16 km.) – from there by bus to Brenderup.

Billund or Copenhagen – from here it possible to go by train or bus to Odense and from there to Brenderup.

English at a conversational level is also required. The school is a folk high school and will have students and course participants (50 people) during the work camp. They have their own program but there will a lot of opportunities for volunteers to interact with the students, especially during dinner and through different social activities during the evenings. Volunteers are expected to follow the rules at the school. Please read about the school at http://www.brenderuphojskole.dk/filer/english.htm

WORK PERMIT IS REQUIRED FOR NON-EUROPEAN CITIZENS!