Join us for an immersive experience where you’ll dive into rural living, inclusive community vibes, international traditions, amazing food, dances, natural building, and hands-on permaculture learning. Come connect with nature and people, acquire new skills, and have some fun!

Here is a glimpse of last year’s volunteer camp in Kerkakutas which is our biggest inspiration. 

Why Habitat HUB?

Our goal is to create an eco-community HUB rooted in permaculture and regenerative living - a space for those who aspire to an alternative lifestyle connected to nature, friends, homegrown food, and creativity.

Here at the Habitat HUB, everyone’s contribution matters. Whether it’s your hands in the soil, your ideas, or your energy, we invite you to leave your unique mark on this awesome initiative. 

Join us, get your hands dirty, and be part of the creation of a vibrant, community-driven project shaping a more sustainable way of life.

Our Venue

We want to welcome you to Kerkakutas, a charming rural town nestled in the gorgeous Őrség region. This will be your home during the Habitat HUB camp!

The campsite is surrounded by a peaceful lake, and a nearby stream, birds and deer as your neighbors, a sky full of stars as your blanket, and a lush forest to get a little lost in. If you’re craving to disconnect from the noise and reconnect with nature, this is the right spot for you. As good news to our adventurous volunteers, the Hungarian border is very close by, so Slovenia, Croatia, and Austria are just a short trip away to visit on your free days!

What You'll Be Doing

Each day will be a mix of theory and hands-on practice, so you’ll not just learn about permaculture, sustainable building, and regenerative living, but you’ll actually experience it!

 

Here’s what we’re planning to be working on together:

• Building a hot compost to heat water
• Creating a garden pond with edible plants
• Setting up a worm compost for rich soil
• Building a pea-teepee for a hideaway under climbing plants
• Expanding the food forest to boost diversity
• Renovating the barn & social area to improve our space
• Getting creative with upcycled materials
• Caring for animals and learning about their role in permaculture
• Exploring the art of fermentation for delicious, probiotic-rich foods
• Forest bathing, team building games, sharing traditions, and more…

 

For Whom

We're searching for our team for this summer: 15 individuals who are between 18 and 30 years old and are legal residents of the European Union.

 

If you're someone with a curiosity and enthusiasm to learn about permaculture, eco-construction, and regenerative living, willing to get your hands dirty, work ambitiously and enjoy being surrounded by nature, this volunteer camp is for you. 

 

Appreciated qualities are openness, creativity, practical skills, enthusiasm, proactivity, and kindness. Everyone is welcome who is excited to contribute to the project and the team in a meaningful way – can’t wait to explore how you will add your personal touch!

 

Let’s Talk Logistics

Accommodation

Prepare to go a bit nomad!:) You can set up a tent or hammock for the full outdoor camping experience, but in case you prefer to sleep under a roof, do let us know so we can prepare a space for you.

 

Water, bathroom, toilet:

You’ll find warm outdoor showers and private compost toilets for general hygiene. 

There is a washing machine free to use to refresh your clothes. 

Tap water in Hungary is safe to drink. 

 

Weather

Summer in Hungary can be quite hot, but rainy days are also possible from time to time. Prepare your clothing for warm temperatures ranging between 25-30 degrees, but don’t forget your rain jacket either. Do bring a sleeping bag, as temperatures may go down during the nighttime. 

 

Food

On working days food will be provided for you, and we will prepare everything vegetarian. Your hosts have the magic touch to make every veggie meal filling, and nutrient-rich!

 

Ingredients will be sourced from the local market or shops, but you are free to forage some snacks around the campsite as well. Non-vegetarian food can be purchased individually if you need it. 

 

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner preparation will be assigned to those willing as a group-task during the working days. The fully equipped outdoor kitchen is always free to use.

Arrival and departure

The camp starts on the 19th of June and ends on the 9th of July, so please make sure to adjust your trip accordingly. We can welcome you to the venue on the 18th already, and we will be able to host you until the 10th. 

 

If you require, after your arrival to Hungary we can help you with finding your way to the campsite by train and bus by sending the group the recommended itinerary. We will pick you up from the local train or bus station with a car and take you in the last chunk of your trip. 

 

Travel reimbursement

The travel reimbursement will be arranged individually and reimbursed by the Szatyor Association after all original tickets are submitted and the project report is completed. This means that even though you will have to pre-fund the trip, you will be compensated afterward. 

 

To keep the journey as sustainable as possible, we encourage you to arrive by green travel options such as bus, train, or shared car. These travel costs will be reimbursed up to 307 EUR if you travel by plane, or 417 EUR if you’re traveling green (including the options mentioned earlier.).

 

You have to have a European bank account (or Revolut) with an IBAN so we can transfer the reimbursement.

 

Insurance

Volunteers are insured through the ESC’s Henner insurance scheme. 

Please make sure to have your valid, blue EU Health Insurance card with you. 

We recommend you to have travel insurance.

Hungarian volunteers should have their own TB insurance.

 

Pocket Money

You will receive 7 EUR/day pocket money.

To be able to receive this too, you need to have a European bank account (or Revolut) with an IBAN number.

 

YouthPass

After the completion of the volunteer experience, you are entitled to receive a YouthPass certificate.

 

Currency and banking

The Hungarian currency is Forint (HUF). Currently, 1 EUR is about 400 HUF.

There are possibilities to change money in bigger cities, but you can pay with credit/debit cards in most shops. 

 

What to bring

• Comfortable and light clothes and shoes, which you don’t mind if they get dirty in the garden while working or adventuring,
• Tent or hammock and sleeping bag,
• Hat, sunscreen,
• Water bottle,
• Rain jacket,
• Mosquito and tick-repellent,
• Towels,
• Headlamps,
• EU Blue social security card and other documents.