What is a workcamp?
Workcamps in Provence
Terms of participation and registrations
I - Participation requirements
The APARE proposes workcamps for adults (reserved for over 18s), and workcamps for young people aged 16 to 17 years*.
Ten to twelve international participants make up the group. During the workcamps, communication usually takes place in French and sometimes in English.
The technical advisor, a construction professional, is in charge of the results of the workcamp. He supervises the participants in the process of learning traditional techniques in order to accomplish high quality work. The educational group leader looks after the everyday running of the group. He is in charge of the daily group budget as well as the preparation and organization of leisure activities. On young people’s work camps*, a state certified educational group director completes the leadership team.
The APARE looks after lodging for volunteers as well as food, leisure and travel costs during the work camp. Lodging conditions vary according to work camps but are often basic (village school, community building, stadium changing rooms, campsites…).
With the support of the leadership team, volunteers are responsible for daily chores (shopping, preparing meals, cleaning the accommodation).
The weekly work programme is approximately 32 hours per week for adults and 25 hours for young people. Work hours are generally in the morning and start early due to summer temperatures (between 6h30 and 7h30). Work stops around 13h or 14h on adult camps and around 11h30 or 12h30 on young people’s camps (including breaks).
Free time is given over to relaxation and the discovery of local sites of interest (walks, hikes, swimming, visits to heritage sites, village events, festivals, concerts…). For travel purposes, the leaders can make use of a 9-seater minibus as well as their personal vehicles or rental vehicles.
Each participant must be in good physical health and capable of following all the activities of the camp. It is advisable to update vaccinations. Work camps follow security conditions as laid out in law and each participant must respect and observe all security requirements.
APARE has insurance for volunteers, covering civil responsibility, physical injury, and repatriation assistance for the duration of each camp. However, individual medical costs (illness) are not covered by APARE. Overseas participants should seek information from the social protection bodies in their home countries to know how to ensure appropriate cover. Volunteers from the European Community should request their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which allows them to be reimbursed for any medical expenses incurred.
Financial participation will be requested from each participant for expenses linked to their stay.
By registering for a work camp, participants agree to respect conditions for participation as laid out in this chapter. The organisation reserves the right to send home, without prior warning, any volunteer who does not respect these rules.
Some information in the brochure may be modified at the last minute.
For your work camp stay please bring :
• For work, solid shoes like safety shoes or mountain shoes—these are obligatory. The association provides helmets, glasses and gloves.
• Warm sleeping bag (obligatory). (Depending on the location of the work camp, nights can be very cold.)
• Clothing dedicated to work (old clothes…).
• Personal clothing including jumpers and waterproofs.
• Social security card and health insurance papers (EHIC for European Union residents)
• Small pillow (inflatable or other!) for sleeping comfort.
• Wash bag, towel and serviette for meals. (think “sustainable development”!).
• Sun protection cream, hat and swimwear.
• Pocket torch, water bottle and small rucksack.
• Anti-mosquito cream.
*Young people’s work camps are fully registered with the French government authority ‘Direction Départementale de la Jeunesse et des Sports’ according to current legislation. All lodging also complies with legislation concerning holiday and leisure centres.
See the Frequently Asked Questions
II - Registration procedure and registration fees
Participation costs:
These include: administration costs, membership of the association (30€), food, lodging, leisure, insurance covering civil responsibility and repatriation costs.
These do not cover : travel to and from camp, personal health expenses, personal insurance against theft.
Young people’s workcamps (16-17 years)
• 1 workcamp of 2 weeks 240 €
• 1 workcamp of 3 weeks 340 €
• The "French/English" language themed: + 450 €
Workcamps for adults
• 1 workcamp of 2 weeks 110 €
• 1 workcamp of 3 weeks 150 €
• The"French" language themed: + 450 €
NB : Please consult us if you would like to take part in two camps.
Registration process
• Registration
To register, you must fill out the registration form, which can be sent to APARE by post or e-mail.
- By post: complete the registration form and return it to APARE with payment by cheque. You will be reimbursed if we are unable to find a place for you on the workcamps you have chosen.
- On-line: complete the registration form. Once your application has been submitted with all required information, you will automatically receive an e-mail confirming reception of your application.
Please wait for a reply from APARE (confirmation of pre-registration) before sending your payment. Once you receive pre-registration confirmation, you must send your payment within10 days in order to finalise your registration. Please note that your pre-registration confirmation can be automatically cancelled if your payment (or proof of payment) is not received before this deadline.
Payment must be in euros (including for overseas participants), made at the time of registration by international money order, cheque or bank transfer (account details will be sent on request).
WE CAN NOT ACCEPT PAYMENT BY CARD.
For young people’s camps, a deposit of 170€ is required on registration, with full payment made two weeks before the start of the camp. French income-support CAF vouchers are accepted and the amount can be deducted from the cost of registration. ‘Cheques vacances’ holiday vouchers are also accepted.
Registration is only final once payment has been received and confirmation has been given by the association.
Two or three months before the start of the work camp, you will receive a letter containing all the necessary information regarding your arrival on location and the smooth running of the camp (what to bring, address of lodgings, meeting place for arrivals, local public transports, names of leaders…).
• Cancellation
On our part :
Another work camp will be proposed. Otherwise you will be reimbursed for all money advanced.
On your part :
Within 30 days of the start of the camp, no money will be repaid (post-mark or date of e-mail as proof).
In all other cases, 30 € will be retained from the registration fee for administrative costs.
DETAILS FOR WORKCAMPS ABROAD
The local organisation may differ slightly to that for workcamps in Provence (daily programme, accommodation, etc.). The co-ordinators supervising these workcamps are based in the host countries. Additional material will be provided in an information pack for each participant two months before the workcamp begins.
Practicalities for registering are the same as for workcamps in France. Nevertheless, due to the high number of requests, we take into account motivation to select volunteers. Shortlisting for the two foreign workcamps will take place at the end of April 2013.
There is no registration deadline for workcamps in Provence and abroad. Registrations can be made right up to the last minute (due to withdrawals).
Some information published on the website may be modified at the last minute (accommodation, slight changes to the nature of work, etc.). As far as possible, APARE will keep you informed of these changes. In registering to take part in a workcamp, participants commit themselves to respecting the conditions of participation referred to in this section. The association reserved the right to summarily dismiss any volunteer that does not respect these conditions.
No deadline for registrations on the workcamps.
