Worth knowing & frequently asked

A week in the Bergwaldprojekt is not a vacation job for late risers.

Projects for adults start on Sunday afternoon with an introduction and round of introductions. From Monday to Friday, the day starts at 6:30 am with a hearty breakfast, followed by work in the forest until around 5 pm. Snack and lunch are taken in the forest. A half-day forestry excursion is also part of the program. In addition to working in the forest, the volunteers also take on household tasks. On Saturday morning, the tools are cleaned and maintained and the accommodation is tidied up before the return journey.

Projects for school classes and youth groups begin on Monday with the arrival, an introductory round, followed by lunch and the first work assignment in the forest. From Tuesday to Thursday, the day starts at 7:00 am, breakfast is served at 7:15 am. From 8:00 am, the young people work in the forest, supervised and catered for by the Bergwaldprojekt, until at least 5:00 pm. A half-day excursion on forestry topics is also part of the program. On Friday, the final work in the forest and the cleaning of tools and accommodation are on the agenda. This is followed by a final round before the journey home begins.

In principle, participation is possible for everyone. Forestry knowledge is not required, but a good physical condition and sure-footedness are important. Some accommodation can only be reached on foot (one to two-hour climb with luggage); appropriate fitness is required. If this is the case, it will be noted in the respective project description.

The work in the mountain forest is varied and depends on the current forestry needs and the weather conditions on site. All work is carried out under the guidance of experienced project and group leaders.

Work includes:

• (Young) forest maintenance: promotion of stable tree structures through targeted interventions; removal of competing vegetation to ensure the protective effect.
• Planting: Where natural regeneration is not sufficient, young trees are planted and cared for over the years, protected from browsing by game and cleared.
• Construction and maintenance of footpaths: Footpaths are created in rough terrain to transport tools and materials safely and to facilitate access for maintenance work.
• Wildlife protection measures: To protect young trees, fences or individual protections are erected and regularly maintained.
• Construction of tripods: These wooden structures reduce snow pressure and secure young growth above the tree line.
• Clearing: Clearing small sites favorable for regeneration and forming branch piles.
• Cultural landscape management: Keeping meadows and pastures open to preserve biodiversity in regions where traditional use is declining.
• Combating invasive neophytes: Removing alien plant species that threaten native ecosystems.

The type of accommodation varies depending on the project - from simple, remote alpine and forest huts without electricity and hot water to comfortable group accommodation. In some cases, an overnight stay in a tent is also desired.

Young people in school classes and youth groups spend the night in simple group accommodation with electricity and water.

Details on the respective accommodation are listed in the corresponding project description under "Organizational matters". It also states whether overnight accommodation in a tent is possible.