Environmental education activities and maintenance of natural areas in Masino Valley

  Italy

• All Other Areas in Italy: 
Sondrio

Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Dates: please inquire

Description: "Houses in the forest" is a project born after a long term collaboration with ERSAF (Regional Authority for Agricultural and Forestry Services). Its aim is to enhance the houses located in the forests. This project involves 4 houses which will be restored taking into account the peculiarities of the territory, the local identities and the sustainable fruition of the environment.

Masino Valley, located in the Valtellina area, is entirely surrounded by woods and is a famous location for the "Bagni" thermal water spring. Not far from here, we can discover the Val di Mello Regional Reserve, where some habitats conservation and biodiversity protection projects are carried out. These projects are promoted within the "Foreste da vivere" (Living the forest) project, which aims to develop educational and informative activities, turned to the local community and the numerous hikers visiting the surrounding valleys.

After a training period, which will take place in the Permanent Centre for Volunteers and Environmental Education in Campsirago, the volunteers will take care of the Visitors Centre in Bagni di Masino, organising environmental awareness activities for tourists and visitors and educational activities for kids and schools. Moreover, maintenance works will be carried out. During the project period, a teenage camp, a 4 weeks environmental holiday for kids (8-13 yo) and a family camp will be hosted in the same accommodation.
The volunteers and other guests will collaborate in the same activities, working on path maintenance, helping to set up exhibitions and supporting group leaders as entertainers.

The project is based in Bagni di Masino, Sondrio district, Lombardia region, North of Italy.

Qualifications: A good knowledge of Italian is required. Motivation letter required.

Cost in US$: USD 470

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Motivated to work voluntarily within an international team, tolerant, open-minded and cooperative person with adventurous spirit.

Age Range: 18 and over

This Program is open to American and Canadian Participants.

Participants Travel to Italy Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

CADIP - Canadian Alliance for Development Initiatives and Projects's Mission Statement: CADIP promotes peace, cooperation, tolerance and understanding in international, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural surroundings. The organization also promotes patterns and examples of civil activities focused on serving others, on building social ties and strengthening communities, on supporting civil society development. Aims and general objectives: * To promote volunteering as an expression of civic contribution * To strengthen the international contacts among young people * To build tolerance and understanding in multicultural and multi-ethnic surroundings *To promote multiunderstanding among youth all over the world * To facilitate the individual growth of the volunteers through the acquisition of work, life and learning skills * To work for the recognition and promotion of non-formal learning * To support the community initiatives and assist in community development.