17.06.2008
Ecological Travel Center invites volunteers to participate in the project “Green net of Russia”.
The program includes distance work on Russian-to-English texts about Russian protected areas translation and outdoor experience in Smolenskoe Poozerie National Park.
Participating in the project you will have a chance to learn about Russian nature, its unique places and rare species, and see some of them in Smolenskoe Poozerie national park.
The participants will be given an introductory lection on the Russian system of nature protection, quite particular and with its own history, on current difficulties and development opportunities.
Long-term objective: promotion of Russian protected areas tourism opportunities.
We have already prepared all our reserves and national parks tourist descriptions in Russian. This information is available at www.ecotravel.ru in Russian regions Section (Russian part of the site) but later a brand new portal www.ecorussia.org with protected areas ecoproduct will be launched.
There is almost no information in the internet on ecotourism opportunities in Russia in English (or any other widely spoken language), foreign tourists don’t know where they can go and what activities they can choose. And all that in spite of Russia being the largest country in the world and its protected areas spread from subtropical Caucasus mountains to Arctic deserts!
The idea is to create an English version of www.ecorussia.org so that foreign nature lovers would have an opportunity to get acquainted with Russian reserves, find a destination for an adventure trip or investigation project.
Project tasks:
1st stage: Russian-to-English translation of national parks’ and reserves’ descriptions. There are 101 reserves and 37 national parks, each text is about 4000 symbols (one A4 page).
2nd stage: Construction of trails and camp-sites (cleaning the area, forest and streams, laying down the decks, etc.). You will also have interesting excursions and wonderful relaxation time.
Project dates:
1st stage (distance work): June – August 2008, two months
2nd stage(field work): 7 days at the end of August – beginning of September 2008
Project location, 2nd stage: Przhevalskoe, Smolensk region, Russia
Conditions:
1st stage: Volunteers will be provided texts to translate and additional information on protected areas, if needed. There are about 15 – 20 pages per person to translate.
2nd stage: Volunteers will be provided free accommodation in the park. The participants have to pay their travel to the park, meals and insurance.
Meals and Accommodations, 2nd stage: Volunteers will live in a stationary tent camp or cabins. The volunteers will share cooking (over campfire) and cleaning duties during the project.
Getting there, 2nd stage: The group will be met in Moscow. From Moscow to Smolensk we go by train (about 4 – 5 hours at night), from Smolensk to Przhevalskoe – by regular bus.
Requirements:
- above 18 years old;
- native English speaker;
- good command of Russian (you have to understand the texts you’ll be translating);
- interest in nature.
Why do volunteers have to pay if they work for the project?
Volunteers are very important for non-profit and non-governmental organizations, as they make it possible for these organizations to achieve their social and ecological goals.
Some international volunteer organizations offer their volunteers free accommodation, food supply and even are able to pay some travel expenses. This is possible because such organization have important financial support from governmental institutions or private businesses.
Unfortunately, non-profit and non-governmental organizations in Russia rarely enjoy such favorable conditions. Ecological Travel Center does not receive grants or financial support to cover expenses for volunteers’ accommodation, catering and administration so we have designed “distance work” 1st stage. Accommodation during the 2nd stage will be provided by the park.
Ecological Travel Center NGO
was created ten years ago with the support of the State Committee on the Environmental Protection of the Russian Federation. You can find information on some of our accomplished projects at http://www.ecotravel.ru/eng/projects and on our researches at http://www.ecotravel.ru/eng/conferences
Currently the Center is dedicated to ecotourism development, we organize excursion and tours in reserves and national parks of Russia, participate in conferences and seminars on ecotourism.
Green Net of Russia is a brand new project destined to promotion of Russian protected areas tourism opportunities.
After finishing the project we might invite you to work as a guide with our English-speaking groups.
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