March 27, 2025
Country: Ireland
Date: Group 1: 13th – 26th July 2025. Group 2: 17th – 30th August 2025
Number of Volunteers: 10 per camp
Age: 18-99
Project Code: Group 1: IE-VSI 10.1 Group 2: IE-VSI 10.2
About the Project: Killarney National Park in Co. Kerry, Ireland, spans over 10,000 hectares of mountains, lakes, and woodlands. The park is threatened by the invasive rhododendron tree, which disrupts local biodiversity. Volunteers will help control the rhododendron spread and protect native species. Additionally, volunteers will plant native trees and assist with other conservation tasks.
Type of Work: Volunteers will control rhododendron growth, remove seedlings, plant native trees, and build dead hedges with rhododendron branches.
Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in a dormitory-style hostel within the park.
Volunteer Requirements: A moderate level of physical fitness is required due to the remote and mountainous terrain, making the work physically demanding.
No application deadline, open until all spaces are filled.
More info and how to apply
This project is part of VSI’s International Volunteer Projects (IVP) programme, a unique form of values-based volunteering that brings together people from around the world to work on short-term projects with local communities. More info on the programme here.
1. Apply online on the SCI international website
Please note: When you click on the links below you will leave the VSI website and go to the website of Service Civil International (SCI) VSI is the Irish branch of SCI.
Application is through our international online placement system. You need to register on the website to apply: How to Apply
View this project on our international database here: Group 1: Conserve Ireland’s native woods in Killarney National Park
Group 2: Conserve Ireland’s native woods in Killarney National Park
View other available projects on the: SCI database
The projects listed on the database are managed by SCI branches and partners across Europe, the project titles and descriptions are generally written by non-native English speakers, so please excuse us if some of them are hard-to-understand or use unusual language! The database serves over 130 organisations in more than 90 countries worldwide!
2. Pay the project fee - return to this page and follow the links below
VSI is a small charity and we charge a fee (€55 - €155) to volunteer on our projects, this includes food, accommodation, basic insurance whilst on the project and VSI annual membership. Volunteers pay for their own travel to the country and internal travel to/from the projects and any visa fees.
Fees
Applying from within Ireland:
Project Waged €85
Project Unwaged €55
Click here to pay the project fee
Please note, some of the descriptions mention an additional fee (of €50.00) when applying through non-SCI organisations, VSI is an SCI branch and this additional fee does not apply.
No fundraising is needed to volunteer on our projects.
If you have any questions or would like more info on a project, please contact us at info@vsi.ie