FAQ

Whether you have questions about registration, visas, accommodations or meals, you can find the answers here to frequently asked questions about the summer camps.

Registration

• Who can participate?
  Anybody 18 years or older from Germany or abroad. One-two summer camps each year are offered for participants, who are 16 years old.  Two summer camps are offered each year specifically for volunteers in the age groups 40 and older. They may, of course, also participate in all of the other projects.

• Can I register for two summer camps?
  Yes, you can register for as many as you like.  However, we are unfortunately unable to give out discounts for this.

• Can I register someone else for the summer camp?
  We are thrilled if you tell friends, family and acquaintances about our summer camps.  However, registering for a summer camp is a personal decision.  For this reason, we only take individual registrations and we do not accept group applications.

• What happens if there are no longer any places available in my desired project?
  In this case, it is possible to be placed on a waitlist for the project.  If a place becomes available, we will inform you immediately.  Alternatively, you can select another summer camp. 

• Is there a deadline to register for the summer camps?
  Registration begins when the complete program is published and continues as long as there are still free spaces.  However, this does not apply when a visa is needed.  In this case, ASF must issue a letter of invitation and the visa application process can take several days. 

• What happens if I have to cancel my participation?
  In this case, please refer to the "Costs" section. 

What should I bring with me?

• Language ability: In most of the summer camps English is the lingua franca. Some projects require that the participants have a command of the German language as well. Summer camps are work and encounter projects! We ask that you take careful note of the language listed in the announcement and that you fill out your application in one of the camp languages.

• Work equipment: ARSP covers most of the expenses at the site. However participants are expected to provide their own work clothes, work gloves, sturdy shoes, water-resistant clothes, any necessary medicine, personal care products and sunscreen. You can also speak to a team leader about bringing your own tools for the practical work in the summer camp.

• Things that you want to share with others: Things to bring along in addition to dictionaries, recipes, musical instruments, songs, books and games can be discussed with the team leaders.

Practical and contextual work

• What work will be done in the summer camps?
  The daily working hours in the summer camps are usually five to six hours in each project. In addition to the practical work, the groups deal with topics that have a special relation to the country and the guest project. All participants are invited to contribute their own content to the contextual work on request.

Team

• Who are my contacts on site?
  Summer camps are supervised by dedicated volunteers. The management teams, also called team leaders, take care of agreements with the project partners on site, keep in touch with the registered participants of the summer camps and the ARSP office in Berlin and develop the program for you respective projects.

• How can I get in contact with the team leaders of the summer camps?
  ARSP will tell you the contact details of the summer camp team leaders after your entry fee has been received.

• How many people take part in each summer camp?
  In most summer camps, 12 – 15 people are involved. Information on the expected number of participants can be found in the respective project invitation.

Accommodation

• Where will the group stay?
  Summer camp groups stay in simple accommodations that differ depending on the location and country of the project. Previous summer camp participants have stayed in hostels, student accommodation, monastery and rarely in hotels. Also fans of camping holidays will also get their money’s worth in some places. Sometimes a separate sleeping bag and a mattress is needed.
• The participant must pay for his or her own travel costs to the project site and expenses for acquiring a visa.

Meals

• What’s on the menu?
  First and foremost: home-cooked food as in most of the summer camps, the group takes care of themselves. The participants will plan the course of the program and together distribute necessary tasks such as shopping, washing up, tidying up and cooking.

Information on Covid 19

• Vaccination against Covid 19 is recommended. The current infection protection and hygiene rules of the states which host the summer camps apply.

• Entry regulations and rules in the camp can change. The camp leaders will inform the participants about the respective entry regulations and hygiene rules in the summer camp one month before the start of the summer camp.

Insurance

• Which insurance does ARSP chose?
  You  can find out more information under the ‘costs’ section

Visas

• How does ARSP help me with acquiring a visa?
  
  

  If you need a visa for the participation in the summer camps in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic, we kindly ask you that you send us your passport information together with the application. We need this in order to compile an invitation. ARSP sends the invitation to the home address stated on the registration form. The invitation is proof of travel health insurance (applies to non-German applicants only). The invitation takes 1-4 weeks, depending on the destination. Unfortunately due to the missing organisation structure in Hungary, Lithuania and Latvia we cannot support you in obtaining visa for these countries.

• What happens to the invitation?
  Please address the invitation to the embassy of the country hosting the summer camp. We recommend that you arrange an appointment for the visa application at the embassy as soon as possible. The appointment should take place around four weeks before the beginning of the summer camp

• Who pays for the costs of the visa and trips to the embassy?
  ARSP asks for a free visa in the invitations. Unfortunately, if the embassy of the respective country does not comply with this request, ARSP cannot accept any costs incurred for issuing the visa. The same applies to expenses for trips to the embassy or consulate, which must be payed for by the participants themselves.