The project
The west coast of Schleswig-Holstein features the Wadden Sea, nearby marshlands with dykes, and tidal flats. These lands were reclaimed from the sea and are now fertile farmland and grassland, heavily drained for agricultural use. Since 1935, many of these areas have been designated as nature conservation areas, flora and fauna habitats (FFH), and EU bird sanctuaries.
The Integrated Station West Coast focuses on protecting these areas, including the Eider estuary and the Eiderstedt EU bird sanctuary. They manage wet meadows with high water levels and extensive mowing or grazing, which are crucial for meadow birds and wild geese.
As a volunteer, you will help create and maintain habitats for endangered birds like lapwings, skylarks, ruffs, redshanks, black-tailed godwits, little ringed plovers, and little terns. Your tasks will include clearing grassland, cutting willows, removing shrubs, maintaining nature trails, and caring for breeding islands. These efforts help preserve biodiversity and support rare animal and plant species.
In addition to hands-on volunteering, you'll learn about nature and environmental protection from the staff, gaining insights into local flora and fauna and conservation methods.
Accommodation & food
You'll stay in a charming North Frisian house with a thatched roof. The house has 4 triple and 5 double rooms, a large lounge, a fully equipped kitchen, several bathrooms, a washing machine, and an 800-square-meter outdoor area with a sun terrace, garden furniture, table tennis, table football, and a barbecue.
You will cook and cater for yourselves, with money for shopping provided. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions when you register.
Location & leisure
After the volunteering, you can relax and play games in the large outdoor area or gather around the campfire. On weekends, you can visit Hamburg, Sankt-Peter-Ording, or the North Frisian islands and Halligen, such as Sylt, Amrum, and Hallig Hooge, which offer sandy beaches and the Wadden Sea.
Project host
Schleswig-Holstein State Office for Environment (LfU)
The State Office for Environment is a higher state authority under the Ministry for Energy Transition, Agriculture, Environment, Nature, and Digitalization of Schleswig-Holstein. Six Integrated Stations implement nature conservation goals in significant natural areas of the state. They combine nature conservation, agriculture, regional development, and "soft tourism," collaborating with various local stakeholders. In 2024, the ijgd is running a volunteering project with the Integrated Station West Coast.
The ijgd has been organizing volunteer programmes since 1949. We are an independent, non-profit association for international youth work and one of Germany's largest and oldest volunteering organisations. Each year, we support around 5,000 young people in volunteering in Germany and abroad. Our programmes encourage creativity, solidarity, self-responsibility, and personal growth. Our principles include ecological learning, voluntary contribution, self-organisation, social development, intercultural learning, gender equality, anti-racism/anti-discrimination, and political education.
Interested?
Enquire below and we'll connect you with one of our volunteering team to help you apply or answer any questions. We can help guide you through the process for a hassle free journey to your next project.