European Wilderness Volunteer Diary

The Diary of the European Wilderness Society Volunteers

Wilderness Diary

CEA WILDLIFE TRACKING-309378 _ 30977.jpg - © European Wilderness Society CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Following the wolves in Slovenia

A few weeks ago, we organised a wildlife tracking in Slovenia together with a society Dinaricum. Almost 30 volunteers gathered together on a lovely Saturday morning in Bled, where we first had several presentations about the two societies and how to track wildlife. Our main aim of the day was to gather non-invasive genetic samples from wolf. This includes hair, scats....

Discovering nature and myself in Austria

As I wrap up my time as a volunteer with the European Wilderness Society in Tamsweg, Austria, I find myself reflecting on a journey that has been far more than just months of volunteering. It has been a period of discovery—of landscapes, ideas, cultures, and above all, myself. What started as a new chapter in an unfamiliar country quickly blossomed into one of the....

The mid-term meeting in Schlierbach marked a significant step forward in our projects

The Mid-Term Meeting has already passed, and what an unforgettable experience it was! It was completely different from my On-Arrival Training, and in many ways, even more rewarding. While I got to reconnect with a few familiar faces from the training, I also had the chance to meet some amazing young people from different parts of Europe. Everyone brought something....

One Year in Austria: A Volunteering Journey to Remember

It’s hard to believe that 12 months have flown by! My time living in Austria has come to an end, which also means the conclusion of my volunteering experience. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be part of it—meeting incredible people, traveling, and learning so much along the way.   Volunteering with the European Wilderness Society gave me the chance....

On-Arrival training: A spring awakening in Grünau im Almtal

This post is written by Yaryna Misyk. As the first days of spring gently unfolded in the picturesque village of Grünau im Almtal in Upper Austria, a unique and enriching experience began for 19 international volunteers. The On-Arrival Training, which commenced on March 3 and spanned four days, proved to be a vibrant mix of learning, cultural exchange, and exploration....

Festive lights and environmental insights: A December of volunteering and learning

This post is written by Yaryna Misyk. As the crisp chill of November faded and the festive spirit of December settled in, I found myself immersed in the hustle and bustle of pre-holiday preparations, with one important distinction: I was volunteering. It was a month brimming with challenges and rewards, particularly as I became involved in an incredibly engaging....

Embracing New Experiences: My On-Arrival Training with the European Solidarity Corps

Introduction Starting a volunteering journey with the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) was both exciting and a bit daunting. To kick off this experience, I joined an on-arrival training that brought together 20 volunteers from across Austria—Salzburg, Linz, Vorarlberg, Vienna, and Styria. Over four days, we bonded over shared experiences, explored our projects....

Arriving in Tamsweg: My First Weeks with the European Wilderness Society

Moving to Tamsweg from Germany has been an adjustment. The town is quiet and secluded. Without a car, I walk everywhere, which gives me plenty of time to explore. I’ve found a cozy spot by the river. It’s become one of my favorite places, though I usually save my visits for the weekends when I can relax more. Volunteering at the European Wilderness Society has been....

Mid-term training experience

Believe it or not, I’ve already completed six months of volunteering, which means I’m halfway through my project. It has been an incredibly interesting and memorable experience so far, and I’m hopeful that the next six months will be just as fulfilling. At the halfway point of an ESC volunteering project, volunteers participate in a mid-term training session. This....