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Volunteer at an off-grid, clothing optional, eco campsite in Herceg Novi, Montenegro

  • Favourited 729 times
  • Last activity: 28 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We operate an off-grid, clothing optional, campsite and eco-project in Montenegro. We open the site to visitors from May - September and alongside our happy campers, we run educational workshops for school groups, run informal eco tours and host community events with local NGOs. We welcome volunteers to help us develop the site & host our guests.

    So who are we? We are Steve & Denise (& Daisy Marmite, the dog) and we emigrated from the UK to Montenegro in 2006 and realised our dream of opening an off-grid, clothing optional campsite and eco project in 2009.

    Off grid means that we have no mains electricity, sewage or water. We use solar power and a small generator to provide our electricity needs. We have state of the art dry toilets, our water is pumped or collected by hand from local springs, and our waste "grey" water is used to irrigate the vegetable and flower gardens. We are passionate but pragmatic about reducing our impact on the environment and reduce, re-use & recycle at every opportunity.

    Clothing optional means that guests and volunteers are free to choose when and how much clothing to wear on site. You can remain clothed, be completely naked, or anything in between 24x7. There is absolutely no pressure either way. Depending on the weather and time of day/year it is likely there will always be those who choose not to wear clothes, so you will need to be comfortable in this environment irrespective of your personal choice. This freedom of choice means that we are a popular destination for those wanting to ease into their first experience of living and working clothes free whenever it feels right.

    Our main building has a fully equipped summer kitchen, with gas cookers & fridges and unisex shower/WC and washroom area. We have a barbeque area and fire pit (use of this may be restricted during prolonged dry spells). There are covered and open air eating spaces, shaded outdoor lounge areas and an indoor library and games store.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Although originally from the UK we have now lived longer in Montenegro than any other place in the UK and are knowledgeable about the history & the culture. We'll happily share our insight.

    We have a proven record in educating & inspiring people - we love to help others acquire new practical skills and explore the possibilities of reducing, reusing & recycling. We hope you will benefit from learning about our eco-journey, particularly how adversity can lead you down new roads. We were not eco warriors when our camp began to evolve. We faced practical problems for which environmentally friendly approaches provided pragmatic solutions. As part of your induction into our team we will give you a detailed tour of our facilities so you understand why we chose these solutions and how they all work. We hope that many of the ideas and systems will make an impression and perhaps be relevant in your own life at some point in the future.

    We're often told by guests and volunteers that they enjoy the community atmosphere on-site. We're not entirely sure how this happens but community seems to form when people work together, eat together, share & have fun together. The clothes optional element may be a factor, as we tend to attract open-minded people and we create the right environment for people to relax & be themselves.

  • Help

    Help

    Come & join us on our journey of transformation as we improve our accomodation offer, manage woodland terraces and develop our organic garden. Major projects could include: building wooden sleeping cabins; re-designing our shared kitchen, extending the grey water recycling sub-irrigation system in our raised veg beds; woodland management & tree surgery; constructing a roof over our water tank for rain collection and building a compost toilet in our wild camping area. That said if we manage to complete just few of these goals we'll be pleased. And there's always cooking, cleaning, painting, decorating & gardening to be done...

    We are an English-speaking site, so a reasonable command of English is important. Nudity is not mandatory for guests or volunteers, but our clothing optional policy means you will need to be comfortable living and working around others who may choose to be clothes free. Other than that – everyone is welcome, solo travellers, groups of friends, mixed or same gender couples.

    We ask you to volunteer for 5 hours per day but in practice this may involve a few hours help in the morning before it's too hot, time off after lunch and then help again towards the end of the day when the dog needs to be walked & gardens watered. Some of the work can be quite physically demanding at times, especially in the brutal Montenegrin sun.

    If we're lucky enough to have guests, you can help us create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We strive to create a sense of community on site but respect the space and privacy of our visitors.

    Minimum stay is 7 days - maximum stay... well, that depends on the timing of your stay & the particular skills we need and how well we get along but we really hope to attract volunteers for longer periods in 2021, so we can sustain an informal 'core community'.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Serbo-Croatian: Beginner

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We can provide a tent and comfortable bed or a place in our caravan. You'll get three meals a day that you'll share with us (and any guests who want to join us). If we get some wooden cabins built, they may be available too. Non-alcoholic drinks are available as and when you want them - including an unlimited supply of fresh water from the nearby spring. Our offer to guests does include the rental of our tents if they need them, so if you can bring your own tent & sleeping bag that would be helpful but not essential. We'll ask that you be part of the on-site team for 5 days a week but we can be flexible about when you get days off. We actively encourage you to go out and explore Montenegro on your days off. It is a beautiful country. There are no real set hours. The day typically starts around 8:00 with breakfast and a team meeting and finishes when you want to go to bed in the evening. At the height of summer the day time temperatures can soar and work slows or stops so you will get opportunities to relax in the shade (or the sun) for periods in the middle of the day.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    If you think you would enjoy spending time with us as a volunteer please do not hesitate to contact us. Please do not just turn up. We have a volunteer information pack and guides we can send you detailing how to find us, the transportation options open to you and what you need to bring.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    We often host workawayers travelling in smaller camper vans and have a suitable parking space on land opposite the campsite but it has no utility connections. That said, you wouldn't really need them as it's likely you'd spend most of your time on the campsite using your van as a place to sleep and have some private space and time.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    Your pet will have to co-exist with our dog, Daisy, a key member of the Camp team! She'll share space with other dogs but cats are a no-no.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    5hrs/5days with 2 days off

Host ref number: 421371333333

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