Volunteer opportunities in ICELAND

Art workshops and renovation activities in Reykjavik
Reykjavik          January 24 - February 5, 2012
Reykjavik          February 7 - February 19, 2012
Reykjavik          February 21 - March 4, 2012
Reykjavik          March 6 - March 18, 2012
Reykjavik          April 17 - April 29, 2012

Volunteer project: The Art and Renovation project in Reykjavik has two major activities. The volunteers will help renovating houses in downtown Reykjavik so that they can be used to host intercultural workshops. During the project, the volunteers will paint, move furniture, and work on the renovation of the houses. The volunteers will also participate in art, music or visual art workshops. If you are interested in art or renovation, you will have a very good time in this volunteer project.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools in Reykjavik. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
On weekends, the central location of the accommodations is ideal for enjoying Reykjavik‘s amazing nightlife, which is world-renowned for its wide array of bars, clubs, and concerts.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysers, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

About Reykjavik   Reykjavik is a city full of energy, just waiting for you to experience it. Powered by heat from the earth below, with ever-changing weather sweeping across the landscape, its natural features are matched by the energy of its residents. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, culture, nature, clean air - and Reykjavik has them in spades. All the advantages of a modern, forward-looking society are complemented by the beautiful natural setting. In a country of only just over 300,000 people, the Reykjavik Capital Area has a population of about 200,000. However, since it’s the only major city in the country, Reykjavik has a lot of the amenities that you would only expect to find in a much larger center elsewhere in the world.

Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and is centered on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Come at the right time of year, and in favorable conditions you will see the city’s skyline silhouetted against the glowing, shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Reykjavik is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay to the north, while rugged lava-fields spread to the southeast. On a clear sunny day, the Snaefellsjokull glacier glitters on the western horizon like a crystal.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in one of several shared houses offering basic sleeping and cooking facilities in the heart of historical downtown Reykjavik. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag and towels, but mattresses and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge, and volunteers also have free access to shared desktop computers in communal areas. The accommodation is located within short walking distance of many urban amenities, including: banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, libraries, theaters, shops, museums, and bus stations.

Location: Reykjavik

Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik, Iceland.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Forestry and gardening activities in the Rehabilitation and Health Clinic in Hveragerdi
Hveragerði          January 30 - February 13, 2012
Hveragerði          February 13 - March 27, 2012
Hveragerði          February 27 - March 12, 2012
Hveragerði          March 12 - March 26, 2012
Hveragerði          March 26 - April 9, 2012
Hveragerði          April 9 - April 23, 2012
Hveragerði          April 23 - May 7, 2012
Hveragerði          May 7 - May 21, 2012
Hveragerði          May 21 - June 4, 2012
Hveragerði          June 4 - June 18, 2012

Volunteer project: Hveragerði is a small town of about 1,700 inhabitants that lies some 45 km east of Reykjavík. This friendly little community sits on top of a highly active geothermal field which provides heat for hundreds of greenhouses where fruit, flowers and vegetables are produced throughout the year. Even bananas grow in these greenhouses! The name Hveragerði means ‘hot springs garden’. Geothermal energy is Hveragerði’s lifeblood, and you probably won’t find such a natural wonder in the middle of a populated area anywhere else in the world. Nearby you will find an even more geothermally active site: Gufudalur, the lovely ‘Steam Valley’ behind the town. This whole valley is full of hot springs, geysers, mud pots, fumaroles and steaming vents.

Our host is the Rehabilitation and Health Clinic which is a part of the Nature Health Association of Iceland. Every year approximately 2,000 patients and other guests enjoy their diverse rehabilitation programs, which are focused on an approach that builds self-confidence and personal responsibility for the patients’ own health. The Clinic has earned a solid reputation, both in Iceland and internationally, since its foundation in 1955 for personal and effective care of patients. It is the oldest and one of the two most important rehabilitation clinics in Iceland.

The Natural Health Association has a horticultural and environmental department, including forestry, gardening, and greenhouses, which is where the international volunteers will work most of the time. The nature of the work depends largely on weather conditions, which can change quickly.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms. Hveragerði is known for having great areas for hiking, including a river heated by hot springs.

Accommodation: The volunteers stay in a fully equipped bungalow consisting of several double rooms. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag, but mattresses are provided. Free wireless internet is available, but volunteers need to bring their own laptops if they would like to connect to it.
All meals are provided and cooked by our hosts, the Rehabilitation and Health Clinic. The menu for the project is primarily vegetarian, but two times a week it includes locally-caught fish. The food at the Rehabilitation and Health Clinic is known throughout Iceland for its high quality.

Location: Hveragerði, 45 km east of Reykjavík

Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik, Iceland.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 120 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

The power of the runes
Reykjavik          February 7 - February 19, 2012
Reykjavik          March 6 - March 18, 2012
Reykjavik          May 1 - May 13, 2012

Volunteer project: The aim of this project is to give volunteers the opportunity to learn about the myths and legends of runes and the old Viking religion. Volunteers create runes out of Icelandic volcanic magic stones, producing enough for the participant to take one set home and to leave others in the cultural centre in Reykjavik.

During the project, volunteers will collect volcanic stones from specific places in the west part of Iceland where nature has shaped and made really beautiful magic stones. Afterwards they will convert the stones into runes in the workshop in Reykjavik. The volunteers will learn about the history of the places where the stones come from, as well as the importance of the healing energy of the stones. The workcamp will include a visit to Snæfellsnes, the location of the glacier Snæfellsjökull, which is famous for the power and energy that many spiritually-minded people sense. It is said to be one of the seven greatest energy centres of the earth.

The workshop is divided into two parts:

Workshop 1º:
1. Travel to collect the stones
2. Define different designs to be carved into the stones
3. Carve the stones and transform them into runes
4. Paint over the design carved into each rune
5. Cut leather and make bags for each set of runes
6. Print and create the legend for each bag

Workshop 2º:
1. Define different drawings and designs for necklaces and bracelets
2. Carve the stones with different designs
3. Paint over the design carved into each rune
4. Finalize necklaces and bracelets

The handicrafts made during this project will be used to raise money for materials needed for volunteer workcamps organized in Tierra Bomba, which is a very poor island in the Caribbean Ocean near the coast of Colombia.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools in Reykjavik. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
On weekends, the central location of the accommodations is ideal for enjoying Reykjavik‘s amazing nightlife, which is world-renowned for its wide array of bars, clubs, and concerts.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysers, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

About Reykjavik   Reykjavik is a city full of energy, just waiting for you to experience it. Powered by heat from the earth below, with ever-changing weather sweeping across the landscape, its natural features are matched by the energy of its residents. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, culture, nature, clean air - and Reykjavik has them in spades. All the advantages of a modern, forward-looking society are complemented by the beautiful natural setting. In a country of only just over 300,000 people, the Reykjavik Capital Area has a population of about 200,000. However, since it’s the only major city in the country, Reykjavik has a lot of the amenities that you would only expect to find in a much larger center elsewhere in the world.

Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and is centered on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Come at the right time of year, and in favorable conditions you will see the city’s skyline silhouetted against the glowing, shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Reykjavik is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay to the north, while rugged lava-fields spread to the southeast. On a clear sunny day, the Snaefellsjokull glacier glitters on the western horizon like a crystal.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in one of several shared houses offering basic sleeping and cooking facilities in the heart of historical downtown Reykjavik. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag and towels, but mattresses and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge, and volunteers also have free access to shared desktop computers in communal areas. The accommodation is located within short walking distance of many urban amenities, including: banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, libraries, theaters, shops, museums, and bus stations.

Location: Reykjavík

Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik, Iceland.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

 

 

Introducing different cultures to kindergarten children
Reykjavik          February 21 - March 4, 2012

Volunteer project: The international volunteers will prepare games, songs, and materials to present to kindergarten students to introduce the kids to different cultures. Volunteers are asked to bring cultural materials from home that can be used in these presentations. The volunteers may also participate in other related activities in central Reykjavik.

The volunteers will collect volcanic stones from specific places in the west part of Iceland where nature has shaped and made really beautiful magic stones. Afterwards they will convert the stones into runes in the workshop in Reykjavik. The volunteers will learn about the history of the places where the stones come from, as well as the importance of the healing energy of the stones. The workcamp will include a visit to Snæfellsnes, the location of the glacier Snæfellsjökull, which is famous for the power and energy that many spiritually-minded people sense. It is said to be one of the seven greatest energy centres of the earth.

The workshop is divided into two parts:

Workshop 1º:
1. Travel to collect the stones
2. Define different designs to be carved into the stones
3. Carve the stones and transform them into runes
4. Paint over the design carved into each rune
5. Cut leather and make bags for each set of runes
6. Print and create the legend for each bag

Workshop 2º:
1. Define different drawings and designs for necklaces and bracelets
2. Carve the stones with different designs
3. Paint over the design carved into each rune
4. Finalize necklaces and bracelets

The handicrafts made during this project will be used to raise money for materials needed for volunteer workcamps organized in Tierra Bomba, which is a very poor island in the Caribbean Ocean near the coast of Colombia.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools in Reykjavik. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
On weekends, the central location of the accommodations is ideal for enjoying Reykjavik‘s amazing nightlife, which is world-renowned for its wide array of bars, clubs, and concerts.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysers, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

About Reykjavik   Reykjavik is a city full of energy, just waiting for you to experience it. Powered by heat from the earth below, with ever-changing weather sweeping across the landscape, its natural features are matched by the energy of its residents. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, culture, nature, clean air - and Reykjavik has them in spades. All the advantages of a modern, forward-looking society are complemented by the beautiful natural setting. In a country of only just over 300,000 people, the Reykjavik Capital Area has a population of about 200,000. However, since it’s the only major city in the country, Reykjavik has a lot of the amenities that you would only expect to find in a much larger center elsewhere in the world.

Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and is centered on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Come at the right time of year, and in favorable conditions you will see the city’s skyline silhouetted against the glowing, shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Reykjavik is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay to the north, while rugged lava-fields spread to the southeast. On a clear sunny day, the Snaefellsjokull glacier glitters on the western horizon like a crystal.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in one of several shared houses offering basic sleeping and cooking facilities in the heart of historical downtown Reykjavik. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag and towels, but mattresses and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge, and volunteers also have free access to shared desktop computers in communal areas. The accommodation is located within short walking distance of many urban amenities, including: banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, libraries, theaters, shops, museums, and bus stations.

Location: Reykjavik

Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik, Iceland.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

 

International photo marathon in Iceland
Reykjavik          March 5 - March 16, 2012
Reykjavik          March 19 - March 30, 2012
Reykjavik          April 2 - April 13, 2012
Reykjavik          April 16 - April 28, 2012

Volunteer project: This is the fifth year that series of International Photo marathons are organized! Last years’ were very successful and we want to continue organising this project! Our main objective is to deliver messages and draw the attention of the local population through pictures and photos made during the project.
The coordinators will prepare different topics on which the participants will base their entries. The topics will be mostly related to Environment and Intercultural understanding.

Participants need to bring their own digital cameras. The main work will involve taking photographs on the given issues. The best pictures will be selected for a final exhibit. The last part of the project will be putting up the exhibition.
Volunteers shall be prepared for walking/cycling, flexible time schedule (early morning photo sessions, night photographing).

Volunteers’ additional work will be at a new volunteer base located in the outskirts of Reykjavík. We will be assisting and contributing to the future development of the base and its volunteer activities. We will help with setting up the centre for the summer and, if weather allows, preparing the garden in the volunteer centre and painting the house where needed.

Volunteers may work with the city of Reykjavík; trying to keep the city and its public areas lively. Tasks may involve painting to cover graffiti tags, tiding up public spaces and face-lifting the city.

Language: English

Leisure time: Tours and excursions (Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon or South Shore) will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in two different accommodations, both fully equipped houses; sleeping in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The project will take place in the city centre and also in the outskirts of Reykjavík. Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicate new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.

March is the last month when you can see, with a piece of good luck, the Northern lights (Aurora Borealis) in Iceland. In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

Part of the time the group will stay in the hills of Úlfarsfell, or the Mountain of Wolves. The location is far enough from the city to be able to enjoy the quality of the country life, pure air, nature and tranquility, yet close enough to the capital.

Terminal: International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 16 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Support the organisation of Iceland’s most important design event
Reykjavik          March 15 - March 28, 2012

Volunteer project: This particular project will combine different tasks within Reykjavík city with different partners, which ensures diverse daily tasks and various experiences at once for the international volunteers.

The main task of the project is to give support to DesignMarch 2012, which takes place on the weekend of March 22nd -25th, where volunteers will assist in various tasks connected to the artistic events and supporting the organisers.
Possible tasks may include handing out invitation letters, sorting out information in the office, receiving guests at the airport, driving them and running errands for the festival. In some instances volunteers might get the chance to help artists to put up their exhibitions.

DesignMarch is a four day feast for designers, artists, those with an interest in design, the public and tourists alike. The first three DesignMarch programmes 2009-2011, were splendid and diverse, with events reflecting a wide range of design.

Other tasks during the workcamp may include work on the house where we will stay, which is run as a volunteer base and most of the maintenance and renovation is in the hands of volunteers.
We might also assist in the city to keep the public areas lively, attractive, interesting and charming for both the locals and the guests of the city, and participate in local events and happenings.

Language: English

Leisure time: Tours and excursions (Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon or South Shore) will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house in Reykjavík; sleeping in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Equipped kitchen and washing machine are available.

Location: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicate new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides.

Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.
March is the last month when you can see, with a piece of good luck, the Northern lights (Aurora Borealis) in Iceland. In the area within 100 km of Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 120 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

 

Photography workshop in Reykjavik
Reykjavik          March 20 - April 1, 2012

Volunteer project: The purpose of this project is to involve international volunteers in a group experience where they can improve their communication and visual arts skills by capturing some memories in an unforgettable way using photographs and videos. Volunteers will put into action ideas about photography from capture to finished image. In this project, the volunteers will learn together from each other how to better express their vision and how to digitally edit images to highlight the same qualities that drew them to the scene to begin with. Volunteers will work on different themes, such as landscape, fishermen’s life, light and colour, local lifestyle etc. In the evenings the volunteers will gather together to share photos and the project will culminate in a photo exhibition.

This project is a way to enjoy an amazing time in Iceland with other international volunteers and to have an incredible experience where participants share their knowledge on photography with each other while they are exploring creativity, environmental issues and intercultural learning. So don’t worry if you’re not an experienced photographer, because the project doesn’t require advanced knowledge and it isn’t a competition. Please note that volunteers need to bring their own cameras. The volunteers should also keep in mind that the leaders are not professional photographers.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools in Reykjavik. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
On weekends, the central location of the accommodation is ideal for enjoying Reykjavik‘s amazing nightlife, which is world-renowned for its wide array of bars, clubs, and concerts.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysers, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

About Reykjavik   In Reykjavik you can easily feel the pure energy at the heart of Iceland‘s capital city - whether it springs from the underground boiling thermal energy or radiates from the green scenery surrounding the city. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, space, clean air, nature, culture - and Reykjavik has them in spades. Reykjavik offers both the features of a modern and innovative society and the marvellous traits of a unique natural landscape. The population of the Reykjavik Area is about 200,000. Reykjavik is spread across a peninsula offering a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean from nearly every part of the city. In the summer, you can sit by the harbour at midnight and watch the sun dip slightly below the horizon before it makes its way up again. The world’s northernmost capital is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja, which keeps a watchful eye on the city, and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay. On a sunny day, the mystical Snaefellsjokull glacier towers over the western horizon, while mountainous moonscapes spread to the southeast.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in one of several shared houses offering basic sleeping and cooking facilities in the heart of historical downtown Reykjavik. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag and towels, but mattresses and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge, and volunteers also have free access to shared desktop computers in communal areas. The accommodation is located within short walking distance of many urban amenities, including: banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, libraries, theaters, shops, museums, and bus stations.

Location: Reykjavik

Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik, Iceland.

Age range: 18 - 40 years old

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

 

Reforestation activities in Solheimar Eco-village
Sólheimar          April 4 - April 15, 2012
Sólheimar          May 6 - May 19, 2012

Volunteer project: Solheimar is a sustainable community where about 100 people live and work together. It was founded in 1930 by Sesselja Hreindís Sigmundsdóttir (1902-1974). Solheimar community emphasizes on the growth and development of man and nature. The social emphasis is that different individuals are offered variable opportunities to work, live and socialize.
The activity in Solheimar is versatile. In the village, there are organic greenhouses, both for vegetable cultivation and the only organic forestry in Iceland. There is also a shop/gallery in Solheimar, a café, a bakery, guesthouses and many art venues throughout the year. There are six workshops in the village: a candle workshop, ceramics, weaving, carpentry, fine art atelier and an herbal workshop that makes soaps, creams, paper, etc.

In Solheimar you will find a church, a sculpture garden, an arboretum, sports hall, gym and a swimming pool, a music garden, an art gallery and during the summer and for Advent a cultural festival with different venues; music, fine art, theater etc. The Eco-center Sesseljuhus was opened in 2002 where most conferences, meetings and other gatherings are held both for the village and visitors.
Today, Sólheimar (the home of the sun) is a charming village renowned for its international, artistic and ecological atmosphere, which prides itself on its varied cultural, social and sporting activities. The village is only a one-hour drive from Reykjavik. The volunteers have free access to the swimming pool and the gym.

The volunteers will be working in the Ölur Forestry Centre (the only organic reforestation centre in Iceland). We will help the workers to take care and transplant trees and to do some actual reforestation work in the surroundings. Other tasks may arise depending on the needs of the community.

Language: English

Leisure time: Free access to the swimming pool and the fitness center.

Accommodation: In a nice house with double bedrooms, each with a private bathroom. The house is fully equipped and has a big living room. Participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.

Location: Sólheimar Eco-village

Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (KEF), Reykjavík.

Age range: 20 - 45 years old

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

 

Cadip volunteer project review:

"The project was an amazing experience for me. Everyone I worked with in Solheimar was great, volunteers and locals alike. The guy that led everything, Valgeir, was great to get to know and everything was incredibly organized. He showed us around on our first day there and gave us a detailed tour of the village. The first four days, I worked outside with Urn and did landscaping (painting, laying down turf, etc), the rest of the time I worked in the forestry area or in the organic cultivation area. The people in those 'departments' were also great and I learned so much. During my stay there the group was invited for coffee and tea at one of the lady's house, which was nice to see an Icelander's house. I think doing this workcamp was one of the best experiences of my life....getting to know people from all over Europe as well as learning about Icelandic culture while working cannot be beat. We also had the chance to do excursions on our free time which was organized by Valgeir as well as some that were organized by the group itself (the group of volunteers). I will definitely do a workcamp again in the future."

Fatemeh B.,
Cadip volunteer 2007

 

Water, nature and sustainable energy
Fjarðabyggð          April 5 - April 17, 2012
Fjarðabyggð          April 19 - May 1, 2012

Volunteer project: Iceland is a country extremely rich in water resources. Frequent rainfall, snow, and ice melt feed lakes, cold-water springs, and rivers all over the island, some of which is used to generate electricity in hydro-power plants. The country is situated on the mid-Atlantic ridge, and there is constant volcanic activity beneath the surface of many parts of the island. As a result, many natural underground water reservoirs are heated geothermally, and where this water comes to the surface it forms hotsprings and geysers. Heat from these geothermal water reservoirs is used for making electricity and to heat buildings. Iceland is the only western country that meets all of its electricity needs from emission-free and sustainable natural resources in the form of geothermal and hydro power.

The volunteer project will start in Reykjavik and we will spend the first day in the capital. The major part of the project will take place in the Eastern fjords of Iceland. On the second day we will travel through the South all the way to Eskifjörður. During day three and four we will visit several places in the East related to the topic of the workcamp. On the last day, we will travel through the North all the way to Reykjavik. The project will therefore include extensive travel around Iceland to the south, east, and north to visit a variety of different sites. This will involve driving for over 2000 km over five days to travel all around the island in order to effectively carry out the study/visit program of the workcamp.

Fjarðabyggð is an association of different communities in the eastern fjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður, all tiny fishing villages with steep mountains towering just behind the houses. This area showcases some of features that make Iceland a unique place in the world: spectacular fjords with rich sea life, a great variety of birdlife, and countless breathtaking hiking paths.

In Eskifjörður, the activities are divided between the morning and the afternoon. In the morning, the volunteers perform outdoor work, which may include planting trees, fixing hiking paths, painting or weeding. In the afternoon, volunteers will work together on the study theme, “Water, Nature, and Sustainable Energy”. This will include workshops, discussions, and also occasional site visits to relevant natural features, plants, infrastructure, and industries. Examples of potential site visit destinations include geothermal and hydropower plants, geothermal hot springs, geysers, waterfalls, and companies that make major use of water and electricity, such as aluminum smelters.

Study theme: Water, nature and sustainable energy

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools in Reykjavik. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.

About Reykjavik   Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and is centered on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Come at the right time of year, and in favorable conditions you will see the city’s skyline silhouetted against the glowing, shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Reykjavik is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay to the north, while rugged lava-fields spread to the southeast. On a clear sunny day, the Snaefellsjokull glacier glitters on the western horizon like a crystal.

Accommodation: In the capital, the volunteers will stay in one of several shared houses offering basic sleeping and cooking facilities in the heart of historical downtown Reykjavik. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag and towels, but mattresses and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge, and volunteers also have free access to shared desktop computers in communal areas. The accommodation is located within short walking distance of many urban amenities, including: banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, libraries, theaters, shops, museums, and bus stations.

In Eskifjörður, the volunteers will stay in a community building. Volunteers should bring their own warm sleeping bags. Mattresses are provided. During the travel we will also have a chance to visit some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Some of these are unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysers, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

Location: Reykjavik & Fjarðabyggð

Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik, Iceland

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 250 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Support the work of the Reykjavik Botanical Garden
Reykjavik          April 29 - May 12, 2012
Reykjavik          May 13 - May 26, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteer program with the Botanic Garden in Reykjavík is organized for the second year in a row. The Botanic Garden is an outdoor collection of living plants, founded in 1961 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011. The garden's main role is to conserve plants for education, research and delight. It conserves some 5000 plant species in eight plant collections. The collections give an idea of the enormous diversity of vegetation in the northern temperate zone. In summer there is a variety of events in the Botanic Garden and group receptions are available throughout the year.

The volunteers will be doing general gardening work in the garden, tending the flowers, trees and other plants. Volunteers will also assist in organising and carrying out special events that might be planned on short notice but they will all be related to the general aim and work of the garden. The work starts early every week day; working hours are from 7:30 - 15:05, so volunteers have to be motivated to work early in the morning.

Language: English

Leisure time: Tours and excursions will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house in Reykjavík; sleeping in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicate new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.

Visitors to Reykjavík experience easily the pure energy at the heart of Iceland's capital city - whether from the boiling thermal energy underground, the natural green energy within the city and around it, or the lively culture and fun-filled nightlife.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.
Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides. In the summer, you can sit by the harbour at midnight and watch the sun dip slightly below the horizon before it makes its way up again.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Age range: 22 and over

Extra fee: 140 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Environmental and renovation activities in the beautiful Heydalur valley
Ísafjarðardjúp          May 4 - May 18, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will continue working on this project, after the excellent results of last years' groups. International volunteers will be working in Ísafjarðardjúp for the 3^rd year in a row. We will be involved in various projects in this remote location in the Icelandic Western fjords. In general, we will be preparing the area before the summer season, when most tourists and hikers visit the district.

The works may involve cleaning, painting and construction work inside and in the surroundings of the camping area, but also planting vegetables or helping in horse stables. The working plan will be very flexible and it will depend on the needs of our local hosts and advance of the diverse projects in the area surrounding the valley.

In the evenings and during the free days, there will be enough time to explore the surroundings, trekking and walking. You will also be able to rest in the natural hot tubs, bathe in the local swimming pool and discover many other surprises of this beautiful place including horseback riding on the unique Icelandic horses and possibly kayaking in the fjords.

Language: English

Leisure time: The project is based in a place of extreme beauty and isolation; natural surroundings with hot springs, free access to enjoy the hot tub and the local swimming pool. Additional free time activities will be organized for the volunteers like horseback riding and kayaking around a seal colony.

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a local house; sleeping in beds; sleeping bag is not necessary for the period of the project.

Location: The project will take place in the Westfjords in the north-western part of Iceland. The region accounts for 10% of the country’s surface but only about 7200 people live there, so it is one of the least populated areas of Europe. The Westfjords are very mountainous; the coastline is made by dozens of fjords surrounded by steep hills.
The region is bounded by Breiðafjörður in the south, with Gilsfjörður cutting into the land from the west and Bitrufjörður from the east, the two almost severing the ragged peninsula from the main mass of Iceland. The West Fjords are made up of Ísafjarðar-, Barðastrandar-, and Strandir Counties.
In the Westfjords you will be able to explore the whole range of Icelandic flora from the shore and meadows, through birch to mossy moors. One can see birds, seals, whales, and then an occasional arctic fox around the sheep.
Fishing is traditionally the main industry in the region but tourism started to be more and more important as local and foreign visitors are discovering this region in rising numbers.

The project will take place in a valley covered with birch bushes in Mjóifjörður in Ísafjarðardjúp. The distances to the next town and villages are 130 km to Isafjörður and 90 km to Hólmavík. Hiking in this beautiful area is very impressive and observing the coastline walking or kayaking is an inspiring option. Landline phone connection is available, and the place provides a full variety of opportunities for volunteers and visitors.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. The closest domestic airport is Ísafjörður (IFJ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 140 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Experience farm life in the South of Iceland
South Iceland          May 12 - May 26, 2012

Volunteer project: For the third year in a row we offer this unique project that gives international volunteers the opportunity to work on very diverse tasks: assisting in a local Icelandic farm, doing construction, renovation, environmental work and helping with traditional farming. The project takes place in an agricultural area in the South of Iceland which is rich in both culture and history.

The environmental work will consist of collecting drift wood on the beach, cleaning the coastline and the road sides, marking hiking paths, taking care of popular spots which need to be tended before the busy summer season, when most of the travelers visit the area. Volunteers have to be motivated for easy to medium difficult hikes.

We will work on maintaining an old stone sheep gathering corral and assist the reconstruction of turf houses, a potato storage hut and a shelter used to smoke meat and fish. We will have the chance to build, construct houses & other facilities in the way it was done in Iceland for centuries.

The farm work will offer us the opportunity to get to know the Icelandic farm life by milking the cows, working in the stables and assisting with the busy household tasks. We will be part of a family and work hand in hand with them. This is also a busy time in rural Iceland with assisting the sheep giving birth.
We will participate in the birth-process during the day and will be offered to take turns in night-shifts watching over the sheep. The bright nights are magical with almost 24 hours of sunlight and staying awake with the sheep is a unique experience.

Special requirements: Volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors and be willing to get to know the ways of living in rural areas in Iceland.

Language: English

Leisure time: Countless opportunities to discover the area by foot or to hike the surroundings; area surrounded by stunning waterfalls, mighty glaciers and black sand beaches.

Accommodation: We will stay in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation with access to kitchen and bathroom. Other guests or travelers might be in the house at the same time as it is a guesthouse accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The south of Iceland is one of the most popular destinations for travelers as the landscape offers diverse and breathtaking nature. Rivers and waterfalls, mountains, glaciers and long beaches form a contrast and offer a wide range of experiences. The project takes place in an active Icelandic farm in south Iceland with 35 cattle, 8 milking cows, 330 sheep, hens, a cat and a puppy, so it gives us a good example of rural living in Iceland.

Apart from traditional farming, the inhabitants are building up a museum, which will weave together history, culture and nature. The farm is on a flat area between Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Vík í Mýrdal and has amazing view to sands, mountains and glaciers in the west and north and to the Atlantic Ocean in the south.
Mýrdalssandur is a sandy area, about 700 km² large, and its mythical appearance has been an inspiration both in traditional folklore and in modern lyrics and stories.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 140 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Preserving the Eldfell Volcano and fighting soil erosion on the island of Heimaey
Heimaey, Westman Islands          May 13 - May 26, 2012
Heimaey, Westman Islands          May 26 - June 9, 2012
Heimaey, Westman Islands          June 9 - June 23, 2012
Heimaey, Westman Islands          June 23 - July 7, 2012

Volunteer project: The Westman Islands, or Vestmannaeyjar, are without doubt among the most beautiful places in Iceland. They consist of a group of fifteen amazing islands which are situated at a short distance off the south coast of Iceland. The islands were given this name by the nordic residents of Iceland after the Irish slaves that the norse captured that were settled there.
All of the islands are the result of submarine volcanic eruptions during comparatively recent geological time. Heimaey is the largest and only inhabited island in the group, and is Iceland´s largest offshore island, with an area of 13,4 sq. km. Fishing, fish processing, and subsidiary trades are the main source of income. Heimaey is sheltered to the north by low mountains. Between the colorful town, the beautiful cliffs full of birdlife, and the fresh lava and volcano, the landscape gives the islands a scenic interest as varied in character as any in the country.

Eldfell is a composite volcanic cone just over 200 metres high. It was formed in a huge volcanic eruption - the name means Mountain of Fire in Icelandic. This volcanic eruption is considered the largest natural disaster in Iceland in recent history. The eruption began on January 23rd, 1973 on the island of Heimaey, forcing the evacuation of the inhabitants for the five months that the eruption continued. At the time, there was uncertainty as to whether or not the island could ever be repopulated. The eruption caused the destruction of a third of the town, and the massive changes to the landscape of this tiny island made world news. Afterwards, the island became a destination for tourists and scientists alike from all over the world. Now, more than 30 years have passed, and the memories and signs of the spectacular eruption are fading, but lava and ash still cover almost 400 homes and buildings.

International volunteers will assist the local residents in preserving the volcano cone. They will fight erosion by adding soil to the slope and building fences to shelter the soil from the wind. Please note that this is hard physical work.
The group will also help the locals to clean and beautify the village and surrounding area.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms. In addition, an excursion or a boat trip can be organized by the hosting partner.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in an indoor community facility. Mattresses are provided, however volunteers should bring their own warm sleeping bags.

Location: Heimaey, Westman Islands

Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik, Iceland.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euros

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

 

Environmental and renovation activities in the beautiful Heydalur valley
Ísafjarðardjúp          May 17 - May 31, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will continue working on this project, after the excellent results of last years' groups. International volunteers will be working in Ísafjarðardjúp for the 3^rd year in a row. We will be involved in various projects in this remote location in the Icelandic Western fjords. In general, we will be preparing the area before the summer season, when most tourists and hikers visit the district.

The works may involve cleaning, painting and construction work inside and in the surroundings of the camping area, but also planting vegetables or helping in horse stables. The working plan will be very flexible and it will depend on the needs of our local hosts and advance of the diverse projects in the area surrounding the valley.

In the evenings and during the free days, there will be enough time to explore the surroundings, trekking and walking. You will also be able to rest in the natural hot tubs, bathe in the local swimming pool and discover many other surprises of this beautiful place including horseback riding on the unique Icelandic horses and possibly kayaking in the fjords.

Language: English

Leisure time: The project is based in a place of extreme beauty and isolation; natural surroundings with hot springs, free access to enjoy the hot tub and the local swimming pool. Additional free time activities will be organized for the volunteers like horseback riding and kayaking around a seal colony.

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a local house; sleeping in beds; sleeping bag is not necessary for the period of the project.

Location: The project will take place in the Westfjords in the north-western part of Iceland. The region accounts for 10% of the country’s surface but only about 7200 people live there, so it is one of the least populated areas of Europe. The Westfjords are very mountainous; the coastline is made by dozens of fjords surrounded by steep hills.
The region is bounded by Breiðafjörður in the south, with Gilsfjörður cutting into the land from the west and Bitrufjörður from the east, the two almost severing the ragged peninsula from the main mass of Iceland. The West Fjords are made up of Ísafjarðar-, Barðastrandar-, and Strandir Counties.
In the Westfjords you will be able to explore the whole range of Icelandic flora from the shore and meadows, through birch to mossy moors. One can see birds, seals, whales, and then an occasional arctic fox around the sheep.
Fishing is traditionally the main industry in the region but tourism started to be more and more important as local and foreign visitors are discovering this region in rising numbers.

The project will take place in a valley covered with birch bushes in Mjóifjörður in Ísafjarðardjúp. The distances to the next town and villages are 130 km to Isafjörður and 90 km to Hólmavík. Hiking in this beautiful area is very impressive and observing the coastline walking or kayaking is an inspiring option. Landline phone connection is available, and the place provides a full variety of opportunities for volunteers and visitors.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. The closest domestic airport is Ísafjörður (IFJ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 160 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Preserving the environment and support for local farms in the valley of Haukadalur
Haukadalur          May 19 - June 1, 2012

Volunteer project: The international volunteers will be working on various environmental and construction tasks based in two local farms in the West of Iceland. The tasks are indoors and outdoors and will give volunteers a chance to experience how life in Icelandic farms works.
Volunteers will be beautifying the area by clearing old fences of the land, fixing fences and cleaning up the land.
There will be an opportunity to do regular farm work such as milking cows, helping the sheep deliver their lambs or observe if preferred, and herding the animals on the farm.
Other projects will be painting if weather permits and planting trees and garden works in the area.

Language: English

Leisure time: Leisure activities will be organised for the group of volunteers which will include hiking and local excursions.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house in the farm; volunteers will be provided with bed linens and sheets at the farm. It is a shared accommodation. Even if the volunteers are provided with bed linens at the farm, we kindly ask the volunteers to bring their own sleeping bags. Equipped kitchen and washing machine are available.

Location: The project is located in the valley of Haukadalur, which is the home valley of Eric the Red, discoverer and settler of Greenland. Eiríksstaðir is the birthplace of his son Leif Eriksson (Leif the Lucky), who became the first European to set foot in North America. He named the country Vínland or Wineland in the year 1000.
The valley and the farm is located in Dalabyggð, a municipality formed in 1994 when 8 municipalities were merged into one. In 2012 the population of Dalabyggð is 686 and it has been experiencing slight population decline over the past five years. Therefore the area which is 2.421 km² only has 0.2% of the population of Iceland.
The municipality is known for the country’s most fertile and best rivers for salmon and trout fishing, as well as plenty of fresh water lakes for fishing freshwater trout.
The serenity and extraordinary beauty of the area which is located in the western part of Iceland attracts many visitors who come to enjoy nature in calm and quiet area. Dalabyggð is popular with hikers who can choose from many different paths and routes ranging from easy to very challenging and difficult.
Dalabyggð is not only famous for fishing and hiking, it has been mentioned in many of the Sagas and was the setting in two of the very famous Viking sagas from the 850 to 1300. Two of Iceland’s most famous poets also lived in Dalabyggð, therefore the place is ideal for history savvy volunteers.
The project location is about 150 kilometre drive from Reykjavík through the “whale tunnel”.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Closest bus station: Central Reykjavík bus station (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 100 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Nature protection and renovation in the Icelandic countryside
South Iceland          May 20 - May 30, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will perform diverse outdoors work consisting of:
- Setting up fences to withhold cattle in the field and painting windows of the houses and stalls.
- Garden work which might include planting trees in order to make a sheltered area and helping around with the spring tasks in the garden and on the land.
- Painting houses or facilities that need maintenance.
- Possibly making, marking and maintaining walking paths close to Fláajökull glacier tongue.
- Helping with cooking and cleaning activities.
All these projects aim to benefit the local society and the nature of this beautiful area.

Special requirements: Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors and getting to know the ways of living in rural areas of Iceland.

Language: English

Leisure time: Spare time activities will be organized for the volunteers by the local hosts.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation with access to kitchen and bathroom. Other guests or travelers might be in the house at the same time as it is a guesthouse accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The project takes place in an active Icelandic farm in south Iceland placed between the town Höfn in Hornarfjörður and the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón where big icebergs float. Tourism has been a growing field in the area and the locals are meeting the new demands. By working under an environmental framework they get a yearly certificate from Green Globe.
They focus is on keeping the area clean and attractive; reduce waste of resources and pollution by recycling, saving energy and using environmentally friendly products. It is important that the nature and cultural heritage is protected and respected but at the same time accessible and interesting for visitors. The project aims at using local products and services as long as it fulfils quality standards. The volunteers are encouraged to bring in their own ideas on how to develop the environmental guidelines even further.

The south of Iceland is one of the most popular destinations for travelers as the landscape offers diverse and breathtaking nature. Rivers and waterfalls, mountains, glaciers and long beaches form a contrast and offer a wide range of experiences.
The view is spectacular and the biggest national park in Europe with the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull, is only few kilometres away. The unique beauty of the nature, unpredictable weather and local culture have shaped the character of the area.

The Vatnajökull N.P., stretching from the south coast to the north coast of the island, is the largest protected wilderness in Europe. It covers around 15.000 km² (15% of the surface of Iceland), including all of Vatnajökull glacier, the former Skaftafell N.P., Jokulsargljufur N.P. and surrounding area.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 160 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

 

Environmental cleaning and tree planting in the Westfjords
Ísafjarðarbær          May 20 - June 2, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will be doing mainly environmental work in this work camp. The work is mostly outdoors and volunteers will have to be willing to work outdoors. The projects are clearing up old fences in the country side, collecting old steel and iron in the land that will either be removed or cleaned for other purposes. Volunteers will also help in cleaning out an old barn that will be bulldozed after it has been stripped of all its valuables.
Other possible projects during the work camp will be planting trees and beautifying the area.

Language: English

Leisure time:  Our local hosts will organise leisure time activities for the volunteers, these may include hikes, access to the swimming pool in Flateyri, kayaks and boat fishing.
Place of extreme beautiful natural surroundings with countless opportunities to hike and discover it by foot.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a farm house with 5 bedrooms in shared accommodations. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The workcamp will take place in the municipality Ísafjarðarbær, in the Westfjords at the north-western part of Iceland. The region accounts for 10% of the country’s surface but only about 7200 people live there, so it is one of the least populated areas of Europe. The Westfjords are very mountainous; the coastline is made by dozens of fjords surrounded by steep hills.
Districts on the West Fjords have been merging recently in order to strengthen their administrative capabilities. The largest and most populous is Ísafjarðarbær with a population of 3800 in total.
In the Westfjords you will be able to explore the whole range of Icelandic flora from the shore and meadows, through birch to mossy moors. On the shore, one can see birds and seals and then an occasional arctic fox around the sheep.
Fishing is traditionally the main industry in the region but tourism started to be more and more important as local and foreign visitors are discovering this region in rising numbers.
The farm-house/base of the project is very close to Flateyri which is a small and friendly fishing village by Önundarfjörður, located about 500 Km away from Reykjavík and with 260 inhabitants.
Flateyri has been a trading post for over two centuries and a whaling station operated there until it burned down in 1901. In the old days Flateyri was the local harbour for shark fishermen but today fish processing and fishing is the main trade. During the last years; due to the introduction of the quota system in the Icelandic fishing sector, the town lost part of its share in the fishing amounts to be caught, which strongly hit the economy and living situation in the area. In the past years the emphasis on alternative industries has been more visible similar to other fishing villages in Iceland.
Flateyri is surrounded by spectacular mountains and above the village is Eyrarfjall which caused a devastating avalanche in 1995; defensive walls were then constructed, which tower over the town.
In Flateyri there is a swimming pool, kayak rental and a beautiful sandy beach that hosts a sandcastle building competition each summer. Many small boats are equipped and run from Flateyri, characterising the village, especially during the summer.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 24 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Heritage and nature conservation in the far East
East Iceland          May 21 - June 4, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will be working in the east at a Nature & Heritage centre, doing different tasks, helping the centre become as sustainable as possible.

Volunteer groups have been assisting this project for some years now and our main tasks will be reforestation & soil erosion prevention. We will assist in preparing vegetable gardens, care for pigs, hens, ducks, a cow and a horse – all being a part of the area's sustainability. These projects may also include traditional food and drink preparation, like smoking, curing, cheese making and even ale brewing.
A new task for us will be collecting down from the eider ducks and making bird habitats. Our host is planning to build a barn and we will assist them with that. We might also build a shelter and fences for the animals and clean the coastline.

Language: English

Leisure time: Free time activities will include making cheese and ale, as well as enjoying the many things the exquisite nature offers. Remote places located in natural reserve areas of extreme beauty. The group will have the opportunity to learn about the environment and culture of Iceland while working on the reserve.

Accommodation: We will stay within the reserve and will sleep in bunk beds in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bags. Equipped kitchen and washing machine are available.

Location: The heritage and nature conservation centre and its reserve are located in a very isolated area in the East of Iceland, far from any urban centre. We have to be aware of the location remoteness and its extreme natural beauty and wildlife. There are no public transportation services to the closest town and entertainment alternatives are in connection with the gorgeous nature; walking and hiking journeys during the free time and the creativity of the group.
This project is adequate for volunteers enjoying isolated places with splendid nature and looking for peaceful surroundings as the quietness of the area. The sea and High Mountains, reaching up to 600 meters in height, border the area. You can also discover waterfalls, snowfields and reindeer – all within walking distance of the house.

The reserve is managed as a conservation site for environmental education and sustainable tourism, hosting a number of environmentally important flora and fauna including one of Iceland’s largest colonies of Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea), 600m sea cliffs hosting numbers of nesting sea birds (incl. Puffin, Kittiwake and Fulmar), herds of reindeer and it is home to the elusive arctic fox.
Some other bird species include Black-tailed Godwit, Red-necked Phalarope, Golden Plover, Merlin and you may even be lucky enough to observe Europe’s largest falcon -  the Gyr Falcon.

The heritage site is very popular and over the last summer the visitors included university students, environmental volunteers, professionals in nature, heritage, academia, food production and arts, hundreds of tourists and a pagan priest to mention a few.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Domestic airport is Egilsstadir (EGS).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 140 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Preserving the natural environment and historic heritage in the old herring village Djupavik
Djúpavík          May 22 - June 3, 2012

Volunteer project: Volunteers will be working on various projects in and around Djúpavík, which is a tiny little village in the Icelandic Western fjords.
Among the main tasks will be to build and maintain hiking trails and walking paths in the area, as well as putting up sticks and signs alongside them. Other tasks will include cleaning the coastline between Djúpavíkurkleif and Stekkjarnes, collecting driftwood and general gardening work.

In Djúpavík there is an old abandoned herring factory and we will be assisting in some maintenance and renovation works inside it. The building is used now by artists and to host diverse cultural events.

Language: English

Leisure time: Excursions for the volunteers include kayak trips in the fjord with a seal colony, a visit to the area and isolated pool in Krossnes, among other recreation activities.

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a local summer house, sleeping on bunk beds. Please bring a sleeping bag.

Location: Djúpavík is located at the head of Reykjarfjörður on the Strandir coast in the Westfjords region (Vestfirðir), in the municipality of Árneshreppur. Perhaps one of Iceland's most remote areas, it is a sheltered bay in a remote region, largely untouched by modern developments where silence reigns and nature continues to shape a rugged, mountainous landscape. The distance from the capital is around 360 km.

You can hardly get further away from the bustle of the towns to enjoy life in the beautiful and peaceful landscapes of this remote area. The bay Djúpavík is among the least frequented parts of the country. The roads up there are only open during the few months of the short summer. It is one of the remotest corners of Europe, where the coastline is covered with vast expanses of driftwood that originated on the other side of the Arctic Ocean, in Russian Siberia. The region is stunningly beautiful and somewhere to really experience Iceland’s wildness.

There has been small farming communities in the district for hundreds of years, but the story of Djúpavík really began in 1915, when Elías Stefánsson started a herring salting station that worked until 1919 when he went bankrupt. Then a herring factory built in 1934 changed the lives of the people for a few years until the last big catches were landed about 20 years later.

Djúpavík is dominated by the huge ruins of its old herring factory and the rusting shipwreck of the 100-year-old former passenger and cargo ship Suðurland. When the herring industry was at its height in the mid-1940s, hundreds lived in this remote location, women salting the fish, men turning the remains into animal meal and oil. The factory went bankrupt in 1954 following a disastrous collapse in fish catches, but the huge costs involved in demolishing the building – once the largest concrete structure in Europe – means that its huge shell remains, reminiscent of a Hollywood set.

Few years ago, the world-famous Icelandic band Sigur Rós held a small number of concerts in Iceland. The venues were specially chosen, and the old herring factory in Djúpavík was one of them.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

 

Environmental and nature protection work in the East of Iceland
Sandfell - Fljótsdalshérað          May 25 - June 7, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will be working for the second year on environmental and nature oriented tasks in this project in the East of the country. Our tasks will mainly be focused on improving the environment in and around the whole area; planting trees and doing some paint work. We will be based in a local Icelandic farm, so volunteers will have the chance also to experience how locals live and work on a daily basis.
The host keeps horses, dogs and cats. The volunteers will have access to the animals and will be given guidance in taking care of and riding horses.
The working plan will be flexible and it will depend on the needs of our local host, the advance of the diverse projects in the area surrounding the valley and of course on the weather conditions.
Last but not least we will explore the surrounding of the location and enjoy free time activities arranged in cooperation with the local host, such as horseback riding.
Volunteers should have a motivation for working with outdoors and getting to know ways of living in rural areas in Iceland.

Language: English

Leisure time: Our hosts will organize free time activities and introduce us to the local community. Volunteers will be offered to take horse-back riding and an introduction to how to treat and hold horses.

Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation with access to kitchen and bathroom. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The farm is located in beautiful landscape with mountains and walleyes. It is close to Hallormsstaðaskógur, the largest wooded area of the country that spreads over 30 ha. of land. The reforestation of the forest has been going on ever since a law for the protection was passed in 1899. The tree collection keeps an extensive variety of foreign trees and is renowned among professionals and travellers. The oldest part of the woodland is accessible with good hiking trails and explanation signs.
The area offers great variety of walking paths, such as to the deepest walleye of the country and up to Sandfell where the view is quite magnificent. Riding tours up to the mountains or in the woodland is also a nice experience. Small stream runs through the land where children and adults can cool down in warm summer days.
The project is located in the municipality of Fljótsdalshérað, Iceland's easternmost populous municipality; 17 km from the largest town in the Eastern Iceland – Egilsstaðir (population 2600). It is a young town, but which has become the largest town of east Iceland and offers a swimming pool, shops and museums among other main services.
The East Fjords is a region of a special landscape, dominated by long, narrow fjords and steep mountains and the wild reindeers of Iceland are found here, the herd counts between three and four thousand animals.

Terminal: International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF); domestic airport and bus stop is Egilsstaðir.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 120 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Preserving the Icelandic heritage
Vopnafjörður          May 27 - June 10, 2012

Volunteer project: The work of the volunteers will be related to a beautiful Icelandic set of old turf houses that has been transformed into a museum; which is one of the best kept farmhouses from this era in the country. We have the chance to learn and adopt new skills as this project offers very diverse tasks and opportunities since maintaining a turf house requires special techniques and knowledge as the material is “alive” and always changing.

The museum emphasizes on a realistic set up of its collection, as if the inhabitants just went out for a moment. Additionally they work on transmitting the old ways of working through events, workshops and courses. The museum is unique in the way it shows clearly how the way of living has changed drastically from around 1770 until the last inhabitants lived in the farm in the 1960’s.
Many tasks will be related to the museum itself, such as cleaning and polishing the collective items, but the museum includes i.e. textile, wooden household things and other items used in Iceland in the olden days. We will be cleaning the area, maintaining the houses and preparing for the busy season ahead. The museum opens in June every year and we will assist the locals with the arrangements for the opening event which the volunteers will be invited to take part in.
Other tasks may be checking, correcting and even translating information for the museum as many guests from different countries visit the museum every year. Additional work may include marking walking trails and painting fences, depending on weather conditions.

Language: English

Leisure time:  The local hosts will organise free time activities and sightseeing to some of the interesting attraction spots in the area. Remote and isolated site located in natural areas of extreme beauty. Countless opportunities to discover the area by foot or to hike in the surroundings.

Accommodation: Volunteers will be lodged in a local house, sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The project takes place in the north east part of Iceland in a mountainous bay (fjord) called Vopnafjörður, the Fjord of the Weapons. A name that comes from one of the Viking settlers, Eyvindur Vopni. The fjord is renowned for its natural beauty and good weather with salmon rivers and large areas of untouched landscape.
Just about 20 km away from the project is the town Vopnafjörður which is one of the warmest places in the country and warmer than most places at a similar latitude. The reason is the warm waters of the Gulf Stream that moderates the winters and makes the island habitable. The main industries of Vopnafjörður are fish processing, agriculture, and tourism and other services. Inhabitants of the fjord are 683 there of 540 who are living in the village.
The county is divided into three valleys, Hofsdalur, Vesturárdalur and Selárdalur and in those valleys are some of the most popular fishing rivers in the country. Selárdalur has natural hot springs, and next to them is a swimming pool with a hot Jacuzzi. In Iceland you may find many unique pools all over the country but the one in Selárdalur is one of the most special. The area has various lakes, some of them popular for fishing, but others have gotten smaller due to soil erosion.

Terminal: Closest International Airports: Keflavík /Reykjavík (KEF) and Akureyri (AEY); nearest domestic airport is Þórshöfn (THO), while the closest bus stop is in town.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 160 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Support the work of the Reykjavik Botanical Garden
Reykjavik          May 28 - June 9, 2012
Reykjavik          June 10 - June 23, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteer program with the Botanic Garden in Reykjavík is organized for the second year in a row. The Botanic Garden is an outdoor collection of living plants, founded in 1961 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011. The garden's main role is to conserve plants for education, research and delight. It conserves some 5000 plant species in eight plant collections. The collections give an idea of the enormous diversity of vegetation in the northern temperate zone. In summer there is a variety of events in the Botanic Garden and group receptions are available throughout the year.

The volunteers will be doing general gardening work in the garden, tending the flowers, trees and other plants. Volunteers will also assist in organising and carrying out special events that might be planned on short notice but they will all be related to the general aim and work of the garden. The work starts early every week day; working hours are from 7:30 - 15:05, so volunteers have to be motivated to work early in the morning.

Language: English

Leisure time: Tours and excursions will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house in Reykjavík; sleeping in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicate new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.

Visitors to Reykjavík experience easily the pure energy at the heart of Iceland's capital city - whether from the boiling thermal energy underground, the natural green energy within the city and around it, or the lively culture and fun-filled nightlife.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.
Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides. In the summer, you can sit by the harbour at midnight and watch the sun dip slightly below the horizon before it makes its way up again.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Age range: 22 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Preservation of Thingvellir world heritage site
Thingvellir          May 28 - June 9, 2012

Volunteer project: International volunteer groups have been working in the National Parks since 2007 on a number of projects including environmental workcamps, trail management and research on invasive species.
This year, for the first time volunteers will have the unique opportunity to participate in a new project working at the only UNESCO world heritage site in Iceland that is open to visitors: The national park of Þingvellir - literally "Parliament Plains".

Volunteers will be working in the woodlands of Þingvellir, cleaning up dead branches, thinning where needed, digging up some non-native species, painting around Lögberg (the Law Rock) and possibly doing other projects that are required in the national park and heritage site.

Language: English

Leisure time: Excursions (Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, South shore, etc) will be arranged for the group at discount fares. The project is located in a place of extremely beautiful surroundings with countless opportunities to discover them by foot or hiking.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house in Reykjavík and go back and forth each day to Þingvellir. It is a sleeping bag accommodation sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The UNESCO world heritage site of Þingvellir is a national park and was the location of Iceland’s parliament from 930 to 1798. Many of Icelands biggest moments in history happened in Þingvellir, such as the adoption of Christianity around 1000 AD and the foundation of the modern Republic in 1944, therefore it is and it is an important place for many Icelanders.
History is not the only reason attracting Icelanders and tourists to Þingvellir it can also boast of extraordinary beauty and a complex ecological system. The area of Þingvellir was established as a national park in 1930 and the area is part of a fissure zone running through Iceland, being situated on the tectonic plate boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The faults and fissures of the area make evident the rifting of the earths’ crust.
In the last few decades, research has made it clear that Þingvellir is a natural wonder on a international scale, with the geologic history and the biosystem of Lake Þingvallavatn forming a unique entity, a magnificent showcase. Being able to witness the evolution and formation of new species in a place like Lake Þingvallavatn is of immense value.
In 2004 Þingvellir was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, which includes about 800 important cultural and natural heritage sites around the world.

Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicates new global trends. It is an International city with a lively Cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 100 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

World Words on Stage
Reykjavik          May 29 - June 10, 2012

Volunteer project: World Words on Stage is an international workcamp for volunteers who will work on preparing and presenting a show in Reykjavik during the final days of the workcamp. Volunteers will get in touch with the local art and society and through the comparison with their own culture, they will write a play about their impressions and thoughts. The natural orientation of the group will determine which kind of play will be the best for creating a strong message for the local community.

In the first part of the first week, there will be some visits to local museums and art activities in Reykjavík. The activities will be based on the natural orientation of the group (ie: if volunteers are fascinated by the Icelandic choirs, they will arrange a meeting with a local choir to attend a lesson or just to watch rehearsals). Every afternoon we will discuss what we saw and learned during the day about Icelandic culture, making comparison and studies. In the second part of the week, we will decide and write down what to present on stage.

In the second week, there will be rehearsals and workshops for every part of the project. Volunteers will choose different tasks and divide the work amongst themelves. Tasks can be divided like this:
Acting - Volunteers will be the main characters and will take care of the direction of the show
Music - Volunteers will be responsible of the music part of the show
Staging - Volunteers will be responsible for dresses, objects and scenery that will be used for the show
Organization - Volunteers will secure a venue for the show and create advertising and promotional material

In the last days of the second week, the show will take place.

Impact on volunteers: The volunteers will have the chance to learn about the main cultural and social features of Iceland and Icelanders through a real involvement in the local community. We will use theatre and metaphors to explore our impressions gained through our brief exposure to Icelandic culture. Through the play, volunteers will get the chance to show their own personal view of Iceland and receive local community's feedback.
Volunteers will also leave Iceland with a brief but intensive experience of how to stay on stage, how to play drums, vocals or an instrument and all the artistic issues that can fit in a play.

Impact on the local community: Icelanders will have the possibility to rediscover their culture through the completely different filter of a foreign eye and, at the same time, they'll learn something more about other cultures or social themes that usually are not well developed in Iceland.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools in Reykjavik. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
On weekends, the central location of the accommodation is ideal for enjoying Reykjavik‘s amazing nightlife, which is world-renowned for its wide array of bars, clubs, and concerts.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysirs, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

Accommodation: The volunteers stay in one of several shared houses offering basic sleeping and cooking facilities in the heart of historical downtown Reykjavik. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag and towels, but mattresses and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge, and volunteers also have free access to shared desktop computers in communal areas. The accommodation in Reykjavik is located within short walking distance of many urban amenities, including: banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, libraries, theaters, shops, museums, and bus stations.

Location: Reykjavik is a city full of energy, just waiting for you to experience it. Powered by heat from the earth below, with ever-changing weather sweeping across the landscape, its natural features are matched by the energy of its residents. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, culture, nature, clean air - and Reykjavik has them in spades. All the advantages of a modern, forward-looking society are complemented by the beautiful natural setting. In a country of only just over 300,000 people, the Reykjavik Capital Area has a population of about 200,000. However, since it’s the only major city in the country, Reykjavik has a lot of the amenities that you would only expect to find in a much larger center elsewhere in the world.

Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and is centred on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Come at the right time of year, and in favourable conditions you will see the city’s skyline silhouetted against the glowing, shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Reykjavik is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay to the north, while rugged lava-fields spread to the southeast. On a clear sunny day, the Snaefellsjokull glacier glitters on the western horizon like a crystal.

Terminal: International Airport Reykjavík - Keflavík (KEF)

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Environmental projects in the remote West Fjords
West Fjords          May 30 - June 13, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will take part in environmental projects in the Icelandic Western fjords. We are working with our local hosts in diverse projects including cleaning the coastline and collecting driftwood.

We will also be going out to a small and beautiful island in the fjord where there is an eider nesting ground. We and the local inhabitants will be collecting the eider down, which is the most valuable and best filling for unique eider-down duvets.
Those who wish can assist the sheep and locals during the lambing season, which is both fun and very rewarding being a part of bringing new life to the world. In addition, we will also be assisting our hosts with putting up fences, clearing old ones and some paint jobs. 

Special requirements: Volunteers applying for this project should be motivated for working outdoors and getting to know the ways of living in rural areas of Iceland

Language: English

Leisure time: Spare time activities will be organized for the volunteers by the local hosts. This may include sightseeing, hiking, swimming pool visit, boat rides, fishing, etc. Place of extremely beautiful natural surroundings with countless opportunities to hike and discover it by foot.

Accommodation: We will be hosted in a local Icelandic family house, sleeping in shared rooms with mattresses. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Kitchen will be available, as well as a washing machine.

Location: The West Fjords is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places in Iceland, with its high mountains of extreme beauty and dramatic fjords cutting deep into the landscape.

The area has a mythological aura and the landscape draws people into the world of elves, trolls and other supernatural creatures. The driftwood has always been one of the main valuables for the people and it has been used for building houses, boats and heating up accommodations. The numerous hiking ways in the area attract many visitors during the summertime to enjoy the beautiful landscape.

Perhaps one of Iceland's most remote areas, it is a sheltered bay in a remote region, largely untouched by modern developments where silence reigns and nature continues to shape a rugged, mountainous landscape. You can hardly get further away from the bustle of the towns to enjoy life in the beautiful and peaceful landscapes of this remote area. This is among the least frequented parts of the country.
The roads up there are only open during the few months of the short summer. It is one of the remotest corners of Europe, where the coastline is covered with vast expanses of driftwood that originated on the other side of the Arctic Ocean, in Russian Siberia. The region is stunningly beautiful and somewhere to really experience Iceland’s wildness.

Terminal: International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Closest Domestic Airport: Ísafjörður (IFJ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 160 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Experience farm life in the South of Iceland
South Iceland          June 1 - June 15, 2012

Volunteer project: The international volunteers will be working on environmental and nature oriented tasks in this project, based on an Icelandic farm in the South of Iceland. Our tasks will mainly be focused on improving the environment in and around the whole area.

We will assist in garden work, fix a roof that got damaged, work on removing fences and fix other. We will help with painting walls and maintaining houses and facilities for the animals.

We will have the opportunity to live and work with an Icelandic family and also participate in the diverse tasks that they are involved in, in their daily lives. This is a unique opportunity to get to know and to experience firsthand how a family in the countryside lives. The farm is big, with sheep, cows and horses, have their own produce and we will have the opportunity to learn about all that.

The working plan will be flexible and it will depend on the needs of our hosts, the advance of the diverse projects in the area and of course on the weather conditions.
We will help to preserve the local environment and explore the surroundings enjoying our free time.

Special requirements: Volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors and be willing to take part in all the diverse projects connected with the workcamp.

Language: English

Leisure time: The extremely beautiful natural surroundings offer countless opportunities to hike and discover it by foot. Free time activities in the area will be organised for the volunteers. This might include horse-back riding, sight-seeing, hiking, etc.

Accommodation: We will be hosted in a farmhouse, sleeping on mattresses. Please bring your own sleeping bag. The house is a fully equipped home, with access to a kitchen, bathroom and a washing machine.

Location: The project is based in the beautiful south lowlands of Iceland. We will be able to explore and enjoy the south Icelandic lowland, which is made out of sand and rock sediments delivered by the river Þjórsá during the last centuries. The land is covered mostly by green grass and the closeness of the ocean can be felt in the air. The Southern district is known by its geothermal activity which helped to develop important greenhouse agriculture.

The south of Iceland is one of the most popular destinations for travelers as the landscape offers diverse and breathtaking nature. Rivers and waterfalls, mountains, glaciers and long stretches of beach form a contrast and offer a wide range of experiences. The project takes place in an active Icelandic farm in south Iceland.

In this area you will find some of Iceland’s most beautiful places, like Þórsmörk, Tindfjöll, Eyjafjallajökull, Skógarfoss, Seljalandsfoss (a waterfall you can walk behind) and Paradísarhellir (Paradise Cave) in addition to finding unique natural and geological heritage sites and relics of a centuries-old forest.

Terminal: International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Support the operation and mission of the Salvation Army Guesthouse and Shelter in Reykjavik
Reykjavik          June 1 - June 15, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will take part in a volunteer project with the Salvation Army in Iceland.
The Salvation Army runs since 1898 a popular guesthouse in the centre of Reykjavík. The profit from its operation goes to the charity and social work of the Salvation Army in Iceland. By staying there, guests (mainly international travellers) are helping their projects that support people in need.

Volunteers will have 3 main tasks during their stay at the guesthouse in Reykjavík:
- Helping the team of the guesthouse to clean the rooms and common areas,
- Preparing breakfast for the guests and lunch for the team and volunteers, and
- Taking care of the laundry.
The work will be mainly in the mornings and volunteers will have plenty of time in the afternoon to explore and discover the city of Reykjavík.
Volunteers are also welcome to bring in ideas to improve the guesthouse as to take on projects like creating a new welcome book for the guests with travel information, history of the guesthouse, links to learn more about Iceland, etc. Volunteers could also create a welcome poster about the guesthouse which will be framed and placed at its main entrance.

Additional to the main tasks, volunteers may provide support at the day shelter, which welcomes people every day, preparing food and taking care of the facilities to allow the visitors of the shelter to rest, talk, take showers and relax while watching television or playing games.

The Salvation Army is an international Church movement that currently works in over 120 countries and is known for its thrift stores and charity work. In Iceland their social work is directed to support people in need or in difficult situation, mainly individuals dealing with drug or alcohol abuse, homeless, aid to refugees and to the elderly.

Language: English

Leisure time: Volunteers will have plenty of free time to visit Reykjavík and the vicinity during the project.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay at the Salvation Army Guesthouse or in a flat, 100 meters from the guesthouse with access to kitchen, washing machine and Wi-Fi at the guesthouse.

Location: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicates new global trends. It is an International city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 100 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Help create a sustainable tourist base in the North of Iceland
Dalvíkurbyggð         June 2 - June 16, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will have the chance to help build the surroundings of a brand new sustainable tourist association/cooperative and community based project with about 50 locals involved. The project is being built in and around an old boarding school that needs to be altered to fit the new purposes.
Volunteers will be changing the rooms in the boarding school, creating bedrooms, changing the indoor surroundings, building and maintaining walking paths, building a camping place in the area, preparing the camp site for the summer, building an outdoor education place for children to have camp fires and outdoor cooking facilities.
The project will host several groups of volunteers this year and depending on the advance of the tasks, the groups will focus more on the projects that are being run at the moment.

Language: English

Leisure time:  The camp is located in a place of extreme beautiful surroundings with countless opportunities to discover them by foot or hiking; area surrounded by stunning mountains, glaciers and rivers.

Accommodation: The volunteers will be lodged in the boarding school, sleeping on a mattress on the floor. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: Volunteers will stay in the North of Iceland in the municipality of Dalvíkurbyggð (population around 2000) and at the shores of Eyjafjörður, which is the longest fjord in Iceland. The fjord is long and narrow, it measures 60 km from mouth to bottom and its greatest width is 25 km at the fjord's mouth but for the greater part of its length it is usually 6 -10 km wide.
The fjord is surrounded by mountains on both sides, in the outer part of the fjord there are no lowlands along the coast as the steep hills roll directly into the sea. Further south in the fjord there are strips of lowland along both coasts; these are wider on the west side. The ferry Sæfari sails from Dalvík to the island of Grímsey, Iceland’s northernmost community, which lies on the Arctic Circle.
The area where volunteers will be working and sleeping is an old boarding school located about 30 Kilometres from Dalvík, located in a large and densely populated valley (Svarfaðadalur) that lies between tall and sharp mountains. The majestic mountains that surround the area hold several small glaciers and a river runs through the valley from the mountains to the sea.
In the valley, there is a Nature reserve that volunteers will have the chance to visit and enjoy. This environment provides an excellent habitat for many species of birds. In April the migratory birds start to arrive for the summer breeding season. From the project base, there are footpaths that can be easily followed through part of the reserve, we advise to wear rubber boots as part is wetland.
The mountains offer great hiking options and the mountains of Tröllaskagi peninsula are by many viewed as the most spectacular outdoor activity in all Iceland.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 120 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Recreating the world of the Vikings
Reykjavik          June 3 - June 16, 2012

Volunteer project: For the third year in a row, volunteers will get an introduction and a chance to try to work like the Vikings used to! We will, among other things, be building old style turf- and stonewalls using ancient tools and methods. The project’s objective is to reconstruct and keep in good shape old Viking traditional turf farmhouses.
The tasks are done using ancient tools and elements keeping the work with the same style and final details as the turf houses were originally constructed. The tools are reconstructed like the actual tools the Vikings used for similar work, since their methods still proof to be the best for this work. We will get guidance from professionals and experts, will be taught the techniques and the methods used in the old times. The concept uses Icelandic, natural local materials for the turf walls and roofs, as in the interior of the houses, using turf, soil, rocks and wood.
There is a strong aspect of learning during the working process and on the social importance of the work. We will receive practical lessons in turf cutting, turf-walling and in stone construction; which are the traditional Icelandic crafts, then to produce turf material and use these skills for the work on the turf, stone walls and other constructions.
There will be more and challenging tasks in the camp. We will help construct a sustainable henhouse and prepare an exhibition of old tools.
The work is very interesting and fun but also physically demanding.

Study theme: This project has an educational approach to building with ancient tools and techniques. We will also receive information on the historical relevance of the project and its present usefulness.

Language: English

Leisure time:  This project is ideal for those interested in green architecture, eco-culture, design and artistic work. We will have the opportunity to spend the weekend in the city of Reykjavík.

Accommodation: We will be lodged in a house, sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Please bring your own sleeping bag. There will be an opportunity to sleep for at least some nights in the traditional Icelandic turf houses.

Location: We will stay in the south of Iceland, around 60 km from Reykjavík. The place consists of few typical traditional farmhouses in the South-Icelandic style. Very few similar farmhouses remain in the country and these ones we will be staying and working in, are the last in the district. A dedicated effort has been made to develop and conserve the place as the farmhouse tradition embodies an important element of Icelandic history and the Icelandic way of life over centuries.
The largest town in the district is Selfoss (pop. 6000). The workcamp site is located about 15 km from Selfoss. We will be able to explore and enjoy the south Icelandic lowland, which is made out of sand and rock sediments delivered by the river Þjórsá during the last centuries. The land is covered mostly by green grass and the closeness of the ocean can be felt in the air.

Terminal: Closest International Airports: Keflavík /Reykjavík (KEF), the closest bus stop is in Selfoss.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 120 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Expanding and improving the trail network in the East fjords
Borgarfjörður Eystri          June 3 - June 17, 2012

Volunteer project: Volunteers will be part of a collective project to create a walkers/hikers paradise in the local environment of Borgarfjörður Eystri, a remote community in the Eastern fjords of Iceland. Creating the hikers paradise idea of the place is the main purpose of the project, when visitors come they feel that this place is ideal for hiking both in the town and in the surrounding area.
We will be based at a local guesthouse, which is visited by many travellers in the summer. The work will be creating the environment this area. Volunteers will be building walking paths, cleaning up the area, creating walls from stone and turf and other projects in the environment.
Volunteers will be given a chance to share some of their ideas for the area and developing them further if they wish.
Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors and getting to know ways of living in rural areas in Iceland.

Language: English

Leisure time: Leisure time activities for the volunteers include hikes, looking at newborn lambs with the local farmers, bird watching, and playing soccer and other sports in a sporting venue close by.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a hotel/guesthouse, in shared rooms with a bathroom in each room. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: According to locals this is the most beautiful place on earth. The work camp will take place in a hidden treasure called Borgarfjörður Eystri, in the East fjords, 70 km northeast of Egilsstaðir, in a small community of 130 people. It is a charming location overlooking a wide fjord and backed by mountains. Inland from the fjord lays a beautiful grown valley, reaching about 10 km into the Eastern Mountains. Along it runs Fjarðará, a beautiful river with quite a few waterfalls.
Not only does the area boast a spectacular landscape, a dream for every outdoor enthusiast, but the area is also the capital of puffins, elves and hiking. Borgarfjörður is by some called a hiking haven, with a good number of marked trails in an area of extreme beauty. Every summer about 10.000 pairs of puffins nest in Borgarfjörður, between 20th of April to mid August. The area is also home to an extensive population of elves – judging by the 172 local folk tales involving elves.
In Borgarfjörður Eystri the beautiful mountain scenery stops your breath, mountains such as Dyrfjöll, Staðarfjall, Geitfell and Svartfell to name a few.
The area is located in beautiful landscape with mountains and valleys. It is close to Hallormsstaðaskógur, the largest wooded area of the country that spreads over 30 ha. The tree collection keeps an extensive variety of foreign trees and is renowned among professionals and travellers. The oldest part of the woodland is accessible with good hiking trails and signs.
One of Iceland’s most beloved artists grew up there, Jóhannes Kjarval. In Kjarvalsstofa in community house Fjarðarborg you can see a show on Kjarval. The artist spent most of his summers in the East painting the colourful landscape of Borgarfjörður and the cove. He also painted the altar piece in the church, which is a must see for all visitors.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Domestic airport Egilsstaðir (EGS).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Biofuel production and soap recycling initiative
around Iceland          June 3 - June 15, 2012
around Iceland          July 7 - July 19, 2012
around Iceland          August 7 - August 19, 2012
around Iceland          September 15 - September 27, 2012

Volunteer project: An opportunity to travel around Iceland and at the same time participate in a very important environmental project!
Cooking oil and soaps are among the most harmful liquids polluting our rivers, lakes and seas. Due to the lack of information and education available, these waste products are often disposed of improperly - resulting in contamination of waterways. Even if disposed of in sewage systems, these products can damage treatment facilities and pipes. We need to educate users and adopt proper recycling strategies to prevent environmental damage.

The Biofuel project: Rudolph Diesel, a German engineer, introduced the diesel engine over a century ago (Nitske and Wilson, 1965). A great deal of research and development has taken place, not only in perfecting the design but also in finding an appropriate fuel. Until the oil crisis of the 1970’s, the availability of inexpensive middle-distillate petroleum fuels provided little incentive for experimenting with alternative, renewable fuels for diesel engines. However, since the crisis, research has expanded in the area of alternative fuels. Of all the current alternative fuels, only ethanol and vegetable oils are non-fossil fuels.

Due to the high contents of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids (fats or oils) in oilseeds, one of the main end products are edible vegetable oils for human consumption and food processing. Currently much of the used cooking oil is poured into the sewer system. There are at least two reasons to work to encourage proper disposal. Oils and grease may clog pipes because they stick to the inner walls and reduce the effective diameter of the sewer pipes, in some cases this may cause sewage spills. Even if oil reaches the wastewater treatment plants, it disrupts normal operations and increases both maintenance costs and the cost to purify the water.

A simple alternative is collecting the used oil in a plastic bottle (for example, a big soda bottle) and placing it with other waste for recycling. The bottles will be collected and properly disposed of. In the past this waste was mainly used to make animal food. However, as there is some evidence that waste oils may have carcinogenic properties, animal food from used cooking oil is being prohibited by governments. Biodiesel manufacturing may be an alternative option for reusing waste cooking oil. Biodiesels from both used and unused vegetable oils have very similar properties and potential in reducing pollutant emission from the engine because both are composed of methyl esters of fatty acids. In most cases a simple pre-treatment (removal by filtration of solid particles, etherification process to reduce the content of free fatty acids) is enough to prepare waste oil for use in diesel engines.

The Soap project: Have you ever wondered what happens to all those little bars of soap in hotels? You use them once or twice during a stay and then they're discarded the next day. In the USA alone around 1 million bars of soap a day are thrown away.
Because of the fatty acids, soaps are really bad for the environment and should be recycled. During the Biofuel and Soap tour, the volunteers will collect used soaps from hotels to be recycled and reused afterwards.

Bar soap can reduce deaths of children from pneumonia and diarrheal disease… which kill around 9,000 kids a day.
The recycled soap from the 2012 projects will be sent to Tierra Bomba, Colombia and distributed to the most needy families. Tierra Bomba is a place with a lot of misery and lack of basic needs. Recycled soap could play an important role in the daily life of the Tierra Bomba population and especially for the children.

The international volunteer project aims to take action on this environmental issue by  collecting waste oil and soap from hotels, restaurants and petrol stations all around the country. Iceland is still a clean and unpolluted area and proactive education and awareness programs will protect this environment.

During the first week of the project, volunteers together with team leaders will travel around Iceland collecting soaps and cooking oil. We will use a GMC truck to collect the materials and a Ford Econoline for the group of volunteers. Both cars are using cooking oil as fuel. Please note that we will drive more than 1,700 km around Iceland on Route #1 – the ring road. During the trip, we will have the opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful places in Iceland - waterfalls, glaciers, hot water springs and black beaches.
During the second week of the project, the volunteers will learn how to process waisted soaps and cooking oil and will start the first step of transforming it into renewable fuel and soaps. During this second week, the volunteers will also take part in some more environmental activities such as planting trees, making paths or cleaning rivers.

Special requirements: Volunteers with interest in scientific work and/or protection of nature are very much welcome to this project. Volunteers who like outdoor work are also encouraged to apply.

Language: English

Leisure time: We will do some hikes in different areas in Iceland. In some places we will have a free entrance to the swimming pools. This project is “On the move”, so you will travel a lot and see beautiful places.

Accommodation: During the travel around Iceland, the group will stay in tents or in community centres. During the second week, the group will be located in a very nice place called Laugarás in the south of Iceland.

Location: Iceland

Terminal: International Airport Reykjavík - Keflavík (KEF)

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 250 Euro – travel around Iceland included.

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Help save the whales
Reykjavik          June 4 - June 17, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will take part in a whale-awareness and protection project run in cooperation with IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare). This mainly consists of distributing information, conducting a survey, having people fill out postcards that will be taken to the government at the end of the project, talking to people and having fun in Reykjavík!

The group will take turns wearing a whale costume and walking around downtown Reykjavík. One part of our project is also to let pedestrians try on the costume and take pictures. This project is fun loving, friendly and peaceful. We encourage each volunteer to come prepared with some ideas of awareness rising for this project, to discuss with the group and implement.

The purpose of this project is to raise awareness among tourists (and locals) that by tasting whale meat in Icelandic restaurants they encourage whaling. The truth is that most Icelanders have never tasted whale meat and do not intend to do so. In a survey made by Gallup in 2007, 86% of those asked had not purchased whale meat in the last 12 months; however 67% were in favour of commercial whaling. This seems obscure, but explanations can be found in the nation’s heritage.
In Iceland there's a saying ‘Hvalreki’ or ‘Beached-Whale’ meaning ‘Jack-pot’. When a whale beached, the whole community had food for a long time, and had indeed hit the jack-pot. Later Icelanders started whaling for the oil, that at one time was used for lighting street-lamps in cities such as Paris. This created work and foreign currency and improved life in the country at that time.
Iceland was also one of the first countries in the world to ban commercial whaling. We can help Iceland to make a positive decision again, by educating the growing number of people who eat up to 40% of the whale meat consumed in the country, but at the same time say they are against whaling.

Language: English

Leisure time: Volunteers will be provided with passes to go on free whale watching trips. Excursions (Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, South shore, etc) will be arranged at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house with shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicate new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

 

Beautifying towns and coastline areas in the Eastfjords of Iceland
Fjarðabyggð          June 5 - June 18, 2012
Fjarðabyggð          June 17 - June 30, 2012
Fjarðabyggð          June 29 - July 12, 2012
Fjarðabyggð          July 24 - August 5, 2012
Fjarðabyggð          August 4 - August 17, 2012
Fjarðabyggð          August 16 - August 29, 2012
Fjarðabyggð          August 28 - September 10, 2012
Fjarðabyggð          September 9 - September 22, 2012
Fjarðabyggð          September 21 - October 4, 2012
Fjarðabyggð          October 3 - October 16, 2012

Volunteer project: Scoured by Ice Age glaciers, the dramatic east coast boasts long, narrow fjords with steep sides and jagged peaks which contrast with inland fertile farmlands. Natural harbours mean picture-postcard fishing villages and seemingly never-ending roads cross the region, providing beautiful sweeping views.

“Fjarðabyggð" is an association of villages in the Eastern fjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður, all tiny fishing villages with steep mountains towering just behind the houses. In this area you will see some of the features that make Iceland a unique place in the world: spectacular fjords with a rich sea life, a great variety of birdlife, and countless breathtaking hiking paths. You will explore the area during your stay in the east.

Most of the work will consist of cleaning and beautifying the towns and the surrounding area. We will also do some other environmental tasks, for example clean the coastline, plant trees or build hiking paths.
Our work will also depend on weather conditions and that’s why we have to be flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though, hopefully, it will be nice most of the time. This is a perfect project for people who like outdoor work and physical challenges. 

Language: English

Leisure time: Volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pool in Eskifjörður. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges or steam-vents.

Accommodation: In a community centre called Knellan which is located in Eskifjordur. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have access to showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.

Location: Fjarðabyggð, Eastfjords

Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (KEF), Reykjavík. The closest national airport is Egilsstaðir airport which is 40 km away from the project site.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

New life for an old farm
Hvalfjörður          June 5 - June 17, 2012
Hvalfjörður          June 19 - July 1, 2012
Hvalfjörður          July 3 - July 15, 2012
Hvalfjörður          July 17 - July 29, 2012
Hvalfjörður          July 31 - August 12, 2012
Hvalfjörður          August 14 - August 26, 2012
Hvalfjörður          August 28 - September 9, 2012
Hvalfjörður          September 11 - September 23, 2012

Volunteer project: Hvalfjörður (Icelandic: Whale-fjord) is situated in the west of Iceland between Mosfellsbær and Akranes. The fjord is approximately 30 km long and 5 km wide. It is only 30 km away from the centre of Reykjavik.
The name Hvalfjörður is derived from the large number of whales which could be found and caught there. Until the 1980s, one of the biggest whaling stations in Iceland was located in this fjord. In the past, the fjord also contained a large number of herring fisheries. A hiking trail to the highest waterfall in Iceland, Glymur, has its origin at the innermost end of the fjord.

This fjord is one of the most beautiful fjords in Iceland and there are many farms located in the area. It will be a unique experience for our volunteers to live in a farm but still so near to the capital city.

This project is an opportunity to renovate and work at an old Icelandic farm. The idea of renovating old spaces in the countryside of Iceland and especially in areas where there isn’t much population has a lot of merit. On the one hand, we have the opportunity of giving life to an empty and old space, on the other hand, we are bringing life back to the area with the spirit and the ideas of international volunteers which will be very much welcomed by the local community.
The first part of this project will consist of renovating and putting the farm in good shape. There are two buildings that we have to renovate. The first one is the main house where volunteers will live in the near future. The second house is the storage and workshops where volunteers will keep the paint and other materials.
We will also take care of the property, plant trees, grow vegetables and even fruits if it is possible.

There are a lot farms in the area, so the volunteers will have the chance to visit other farms around and learn about Icelandic farming methods. 

Language: English

Leisure time: We will explore the whole Whale fjord and the surrounding area, including a hike to the highest waterfall in Iceland.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will also be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysirs, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

Accommodation: We will be staying in the farm. Participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.

Location: Hvalfjörður (the Whale fjord)

Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (KEF), Reykjavík.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

 

Help restore the natural and historical heritage of the Highlands north of Vatnajokull glacier
Highlands of Iceland          June 6 - June 20, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will work in the midland, East of the beautiful Mývatn lake and North of the Vatnajökull glacier. Our project base is situated in the highlands - 469 meters above the sea level.
This area has been inhabited since the early times of the settlement and some of the highest farms in the country are in this area. As small-scale farming has turned more difficult in recent times, some of the locals have decided to combine the work with new tourist services and push forward alternative ways of income generation for the region. The extreme beauty of the area draws more and more visitors every year; especially after the Vatnajökull national park was enlarged in 2008.

Past farming work has taken its toll in the pristine landscape. The international volunteers will support local farms in removing elements and machinery used in the past (e.g. old tires, old corrugated iron, fences, etc.) that have been left unattended and need to be removed in order to restore the natural and historical heritage of the region.
Volunteers will also work repairing an old turf building, restoring it to its previous „form“, so it looks similar to the several other turf buildings in the surroundings.
Additional work for the volunteers will be turfing, fixing and maintaining walking paths and making a new trail.

Language: English

Leisure time: Remote places located in natural areas of extreme beauty to be visited. Outdoor activities like hikes in the area will be arranged for the volunteers and it's possible to go horseback riding during the project.

Accommodation: Volunteers will be lodged in a house at one of the farms, sleeping on mattresses. Please bring a sleeping bag. Equipped kitchen and washing machine are available.

Location: Located in the North-eastern part of the country and in the vicinity of the largest National park in Europe, the Vatnajökull National park, which is now around 12.000 square kilometers. It is expected that the national park will be enlarged even further within the next few years. The region of the park is unique: one can find glaciers, volcanic activities, glacier bursts, eruptions and geothermal heat plus extremely rare landscapes and untouched vastness.

With the establishment of Vatnajökull national park, Icelanders wade into the largest nature conservation project ever in Iceland. It is one of the largest developments the authorities have undertaken in this region and has created many jobs. The land within the park is mostly owned by the government, but a few privately owned districts are also part of the national park.
The farms in the area are surrounded by untamed nature of supreme beauty; most of the area is unspoiled and undisturbed. Some farms have been inhabited already since the early settlement.

Under the ice-cap glacier hide seven volcanoes and most of them are active. Underneath there is an ice cavern system several km long. Vatnajökull covers about 8% of the country, and is about 1000 m thick at its thickest point. Mount Herðubreið, the queen of Icelandic mountains and one of the most famous in Iceland is located in the area.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Explore sustainability, recycling and energy conservation in Iceland
Laugarás          June 6 - June 18, 2012
Laugarás          June 20 - July 2, 2012
Laugarás          July 18 - July 30, 2012
Laugarás          August 15 - August 27, 2012
Laugarás          August 29 - September 10, 2012

Volunteer project: This project will take place in Laugarás which is in the south of Iceland, located near to most of the natural wonders in the south. Glaciers - Geysirs - Highlands - Volcanoes - Mountains - Waterfalls – can be found in the neighbourhood.
The South of Iceland is unique and that part of the country which by far the greatest numbers of foreign visitors come to. There everything that makes Iceland interesting to visit can be found the year around. Here history follows you at every footstep, both ancient and recent. There is creative art, culture and flourishing trade and endless possibilities to enjoy the outdoor life in all seasons. Above all there is the awesome and rugged nature from the mountains to the sea.

In Laugarás, the volunteers will organize all kind of activities related to sustainability, recycling, energy saving and other issues related to the circle of life. The volunteers will also help with renovation and environmental work in the area and they will have the opportunity to work in greenhouses – growing vegetables and even fruits. 

Language: English

Leisure time: We will visit several places in the area and enjoy the nature while travelling. Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysirs, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

Accommodation: We will stay in a hostel in Laugarás which is one hour away from Reykjavik. Beds will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag.

Location: Laugarás in the South of Iceland

Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik, Iceland

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Environmental and farming activities in the scenic East fjords
Borgarfjörður Eystri          June 9 - June 19, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will take part in environmental projects and perform diverse outdoors work consisting of:
- Marking and maintaining walking paths, putting up signs with information and images
- Setting up fences
- Collecting driftwood and chopping driftwood
- Laying fishing nets for salmon and trout
- Setting up fences to withhold cattle in the field and paint windows of the houses and stalls
- Painting houses or facilities that need maintenance
- Planting vegetables
- Other projects around the area such as farming, working with horses etc.
All the projects undertaken will be for the benefits of the local community and the nature of the area.

Special requirements: Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors and getting to know the ways of living in rural areas of Iceland. This is an opportunity to get to know the Icelandic horse and the Icelandic farm life.

Language: English

Leisure time: We will have horseback riding as a spare time activity, fishing in the river is also possible. Other free time opportunities will be organized by the local hosts. 

Accommodation: The group will stay in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation with access to kitchen and bathroom. Other guests or travelers might be in the house at the same time as it is a guesthouse accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The workcamp will take place in the area of Borgarfjörður Eystri, in the East fjords with beautiful mountain and valley scenery, with peaks such as Dyrfjöll, Staðarfjall, Geitfell and Svartfell to name a few. This area is called by some a hiking haven, with a good number of marked trails in an area of extreme beauty.

The project base is in a farm off the beaten tourist track, 60 km north of Egilsstaðir in north-east Iceland, between the two glacial rivers Jökulsá á Brú and the Lagarfljót. The farm offers endless opportunities for excursions to discover Iceland’s untouched nature.

The area is a paradise for nature lovers with 30 different species of birds, lush vegetation and seals that can be seen in their natural habitat. It gives an opportunity to enjoy almost complete peace and quietness to absorb the land and nature during the day or the light summer nights.
Ever wanted to spot seals in their nature habitat, have a close encounter with a red-throated diver, and get attacked by the great Skua? If so, this is the project for you!

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Domestic airport Egilsstaðir (EGS).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Maintenance of hiking trails in the Icelandic highlands
Highlands of Iceland, Kjölur road          June 10 - June 24, 2012
Highlands of Iceland, Kjölur road          July 3 - July 17, 2012

Volunteer project: Volunteers will be working on few different projects for the general preparation of the area before summer. The main focus will be to clear old fences from the area that no longer serve their purpose. Those fences are old and are now weathered down and can easily be a danger hazard for hikers and travelers in the area.
We will also be working on hiking paths, building new ones and maintaining those already in place. We will put up signs, markings and descriptive information charts around them. We will be cleaning up litter, doing maintenance and construction work on the houses and the area for summer. The work is physically demanding and the landscape is raw, but also quite rewarding.

Language: English

Leisure time: Remote and isolated site located in a natural area of extreme beauty. Free time activities are mostly outdoors. Countless opportunities to discover the area on foot or to hike in the surroundings: stunning mountain landscapes, mighty glaciers and geothermal activity.

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a local mountain house; sleeping on mattresses. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The Icelandic highlands or “the interior” are a true pearl to all nature lovers and outdoor people. It is accessible on 4WD cars and most routes involve crossing unbridged rivers.
If you really want to get away from it all, the interior of Iceland is like nothing you have ever experienced. The mountainous centre of the island, with its rocky deserts, craggy mountain peaks, ice caps, volcanoes, hidden valleys and hot springs, is an awesome and untouched wilderness. Lake Hvítárvatn on the Kjölur highland road glints icy-blue at the foot of the Langjökull glacier, and in the black sands of Sprengisandur - the arctic river.

The interior was long all but inaccessible. Outlaws hid out for years at a time in the highlands, rustling sheep and keeping away from law-abiding citizens, while folklore tells of both natural and supernatural beings who lay in wait for unwary highland travelers.

Travelers between north and south sometimes had to cross the highlands: for instance for the assembly of Alþingi (parliament) each summer, delegates had to ride from every corner of the country to Þingvellir in the southwest. Journeys across the interior were never undertaken lightly; such travel was risky and lives were often lost. Today the interior is crossed by two mountain roads, via Kjölur and Sprengisandur, which are only open in summer, after the snow has thawed in spring.

Volunteers will be staying close to the glacier Hofsjökull and near to the rivers Hvítá and Þjórsá. The mountains in the area that reach up to 1500 m, were formed during a volcanic eruption in the later part of the ice age. The area is still dynamic and great geothermal activity takes place in the surroundings. The environment is very diverse, both in shape and colour. The mountains are very weathered and have very little continuous growth, as the forces of nature, like glaciers, water flow, ice bursts etc. have been fast working in these mountain highlands.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Erosion control and reviving the natural vegetation in the south of Iceland
Reykjavik          June 11 - June 25, 2012

Volunteer project: The project is organised since 2007 in cooperation with several local NGOs devoted to the re-vegetation of eroded soils in the south-west part of Iceland. The aim of the project is to halt the downward spiral of erosion and to strengthen the ecosystem by enhancing its natural vegetation.

By using organic waste materials for fertilizing, we aim for a double dividend. The soils, poor in plant nutrients, are enriched while the amount of materials in need of waste treatment is substantially decreased. The south west is part of the volcanic belt of Iceland envisaged by vast lava fields and easily erodible volcanic soils. On top of that, the area has suffered from overgrazing of sheep for a long time. Consequently, the ecological condition is rather poor and some areas are stripped entirely of top soil.

Close to 70% of the total population lives in this part of Iceland with the capital Reykjavík and neighbouring municipalities making up the bulk of the population. Different kinds of organic waste materials are being generated in and from the urban environment, substantial quantities every year. In the long run, stuff like horse manure, garden waste and the likes are the best revegetation means available. We work to make way for these materials as a revegetation medium.

In this project, we combine professionalism with idealism. The results so far can already be seen at a number of sites in the area.
In 2012, the volunteers will perform three different types of work: a) Revegetation and erosion control; b) Monitoring the survival and growth of tree plantations of former years; c) Tree planting. Volunteers will likely be working hand-in-hand with Icelanders.

Language: English

Leisure time: Excursions to the Blue Lagoon, South of Iceland and a weekend stay away from the project (e.g. in the largest National Park in Europe: Skaftafell/ Vatnajökull National Park) will be organised.

Accommodation: Volunteers will be accommodated in a house with basic facilities in one of Reykjavik’s neighbouring towns, Hafnarfjörður; sleeping on mattresses. Please, bring a sleeping bag.

Location: The work will take place in the vicinity of Reykjavík, and the group will touch upon more than one project in more than just one place. The main emphasis will be on erosion control on the banks of Kleifarvatn, the big lake of the Reykjanes peninsula; Vatnsskarð, Bolalda, Sandskeið and Bláfjöll.

The Reykjanes peninsula at the south–western end of Iceland is located near the capital and most travelers to Iceland land in the area. As the Reykjanes coastline draws closer and the plane prepares to land at Keflavík Airport, the peninsula is marked by active volcanism under its surface, and large lava fields allow little vegetation. There are numerous hot springs and sulphur springs in the southern half of the peninsula, around the Kleifarvatn Lake and the Krýsuvík geothermal area. The Peninsula is envied for its long and short hiking trails that zigzag through the region with colourful landscapes. Amazing ocean cliffs (up to 70 m high) are nested by numerous bird species, often a wonderful spot for bird and whale watching.

There is also a geothermal power station at Svartsengi, where a pool has been installed using the hot and mineralized water coming down from the station. It is known as the "Blue Lagoon". The Leif the Lucky Bridge spans the Álfagjá rift valley (60 feet wide and 20 feet deep) near Grindavík that marks the boundary of the Eurasian and North American continental tectonic plates. The bridge is named after the Icelandic explorer Leif Eriksson who travelled from Europe to America 500 years before Columbus.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Age range: 16 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

International photo marathon in Iceland
Reykjavik          June 12 - June 22, 2012

Volunteer project: This is the fifth year that series of International Photo marathons are organized! Last years’ were very successful and we want to continue organising this project! Our main objective is to deliver messages and draw the attention of the local population through pictures and photos made during the project.
The coordinators will prepare different topics on which the participants will base their entries. The topics will be mostly related to Environment and Intercultural understanding.

Participants need to bring their own digital cameras. The main work will involve taking photographs on the given issues. The best pictures will be selected for a final exhibit. The last part of the project will be putting up the exhibition.
Volunteers shall be prepared for walking/cycling, flexible time schedule (early morning photo sessions, night photographing).

Volunteers’ additional work will be at a new volunteer base located in the outskirts of Reykjavík. We will be assisting and contributing to the future development of the base and its volunteer activities. We will help with setting up the centre, working in the garden, cleaning and painting the house where needed.

Volunteers may work with the city of Reykjavík; trying to keep the city and its public areas lively. Tasks may involve painting to cover graffiti tags, tiding up public spaces and face-lifting the city.

Language: English

Leisure time: Tours and excursions (Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon or South Shore) will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

The volunteers will join during the day the celebrations of Iceland Independence Day (June 17). It is also a great opportunity to experience the midnight sun as there are 24 hours of light and the longest day of the year (June 21) is a very special one in Iceland.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house at Úlfarsfell in the outskirts of Reykjavík; in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The project will take place in the outskirts of Reykjavík, in the hills of Mountain of Wolves (Úlfarsfell). The location is far enough from the city to be able to enjoy the quality of the country life, pure air, nature and tranquillity, but close enough to be able to visit the capital during the project.

Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicates new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit. The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here.

Terminal: International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 16 and over

Extra fee: 250 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Photography workshop in Reykjavik and the south of Iceland
Reykjavik and South Iceland          June 12 - June 24, 2012
Reykjavik and South Iceland          October 11 - October 24, 2012
Reykjavik and South Iceland          November 10 - November 23, 2012
Reykjavik and South Iceland          November 29 - December 11, 2012

Volunteer project: The purpose of this project is to involve international volunteers in a group experience where they can improve their communication and visual arts skills by capturing some memories in an unforgettable way using photographs and videos. Volunteers will put into action ideas about photography from capture to finished image. In this project, volunteers learn together from each other how to better express their vision and how to digitally edit images to highlight the same qualities that drew them to the scene to begin with. Volunteers will work on different themes, such as landscape, fishermen’s life, light and colour, local lifestyle, etc. In the evenings, the volunteers will gather together to share photos and the workcamp will culminate in a photo exhibition.

This project is a way to enjoy an amazing time in Iceland with other international volunteers and to have an incredible experience where participants share their knowledge on photography with each other while they are exploring creativity, environmental issues and intercultural learning. So don’t worry if you’re not an experienced photographer, because the project doesn’t require advanced knowledge and it isn’t a competition.

Please note that volunteers need to bring their own cameras. The volunteers should also keep in mind that the leaders are not professional photographers.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools in Reykjavik. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
On weekends, the central location of the accommodation is ideal for enjoying Reykjavik‘s amazing nightlife, which is world-renowned for its wide array of bars, clubs, and concerts.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysers, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in one of several shared houses offering basic sleeping and cooking facilities in the heart of historical downtown Reykjavik. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag and towels, but mattresses and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge, and volunteers also have free access to shared desktop computers in communal areas. The accommodation is located within short walking distance of many urban amenities, including: banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, libraries, theaters, shops, museums, and bus stations.

In the south of Iceland, the group will stay in Laugarás which is a very nice little village near to the river Hvitá and in the area of Gullfoss and Geysir.

Location: Reykjavik and the south of Iceland

About Reykjavik   In Reykjavik you can easily feel the pure energy at the heart of Iceland‘s capital city - whether it springs from the underground boiling thermal energy or radiates from the green scenery surrounding the city. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, space, clean air, nature, culture - and Reykjavik has them in spades. Reykjavik offers both the features of a modern and innovative society and the marvellous traits of a unique natural landscape.
The population of the Reykjavik Area is about 200,000. Reykjavik is spread across a peninsula offering a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean from nearly every part of the city. In the summer, you can sit by the harbour at midnight and watch the sun dip slightly below the horizon before it makes its way up again.
The world’s northernmost capital is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja, which keeps a watchful eye on the city, and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay. On a sunny day, the mystical Snaefellsjokull glacier towers over the western horizon, while mountainous moonscapes spread to the southeast.

South Iceland   contains many of Iceland’s foremost natural treasures. Many of the nation’s best-known historical sites are in South Iceland, such as Þingvellir and Skálholt. In the area you can find strong rivers, hot springs, Geysir, glaciers and waterfalls.
Iceland is a country extremely rich in water resources. Strong rivers and big lakes with fresh water can be found all around the island and under the surface there are huge cold water springs fed from high in the mountains by gradual filter of rainfall, snow and ice melt.
Situated on the mid-Atlantic ridge, there is constant volcanic activity beneath the surface in various parts of the island. As a result, there are huge amounts of hot water reservoirs in the ground. This geothermal water is used for electricity and heating. There is also a lot of cold water coming from the mountains and glaciers, that water is used to create energy in hydropower plants.

Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik, Iceland.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euros

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Support the operation and mission of the Salvation Army Guesthouse and Shelter in Reykjavik
Reykjavik          June 15 - June 29, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will take part in a volunteer project with the Salvation Army in Iceland.
The Salvation Army runs since 1898 a popular guesthouse in the centre of Reykjavík. The profit from its operation goes to the charity and social work of the Salvation Army in Iceland. By staying there, guests (mainly international travellers) are helping their projects that support people in need.

Volunteers will have 3 main tasks during their stay at the guesthouse in Reykjavík:
- Helping the team of the guesthouse to clean the rooms and common areas,
- Preparing breakfast for the guests and lunch for the team and volunteers, and
- Taking care of the laundry.
The work will be mainly in the mornings and volunteers will have plenty of time in the afternoon to explore and discover the city of Reykjavík.
Volunteers are also welcome to bring in ideas to improve the guesthouse as to take on projects like creating a new welcome book for the guests with travel information, history of the guesthouse, links to learn more about Iceland, etc. Volunteers could also create a welcome poster about the guesthouse which will be framed and placed at its main entrance.

Additional to the main tasks, volunteers may provide support at the day shelter, which welcomes people every day, preparing food and taking care of the facilities to allow the visitors of the shelter to rest, talk, take showers and relax while watching television or playing games.

The Salvation Army is an international Church movement that currently works in over 120 countries and is known for its thrift stores and charity work. In Iceland their social work is directed to support people in need or in difficult situation, mainly individuals dealing with drug or alcohol abuse, homeless, aid to refugees and to the elderly.

Language: English

Leisure time: Volunteers will have plenty of free time to visit Reykjavík and the vicinity during the project.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay at the Salvation Army Guesthouse or in a flat, 100 meters from the guesthouse with access to kitchen, washing machine and Wi-Fi at the guesthouse.

Location: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicates new global trends. It is an International city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 120 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Organising and running the annual music festival in the West Fjords
West fjords & Reykjavik          June 17 - June 28, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will be part of the annual music festival “Við Djúpið”. The festival is held in the ‘capital’ of the West Fjords, Ísafjörður, around summer solstice every year. The event offers series of concerts and master classes, which are held in close cooperation with the Iceland Academy of Arts. During the last 8 years the festival has offered master classes and concerts with nation- and worldwide known artists. We will share all types of tasks related to the festival and the group will be split according to the needs to give everyone the chance to try out different assignments. The input of volunteers will make a big difference in making the festival an impressive cultural event.

The tasks include receiving guests at the airport, driving them, selling entrance tickets, controlling at the entrances in the venues, helping during the classes and concerts, guiding and assisting participants and audience, setting up the venues before and after the concerts and a wide variety of many different duties. We are an integral part of creating a special festival atmosphere in Ísafjörður and shall be prepared for flexible time schedule (like for evenings & weekends).

The last couple of days in this project will take place in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. We will explore the world’s northernmost capital and get a glimpse of this dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources.

Special requirements: Volunteers need to be motivated to work at the music festival and be willing to take part in all the diverse tasks connected with the project.

Language: English

Leisure time: Excursions from Reykjavík to places such as the Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, South shore, etc. will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: Volunteers will stay at a local house/school; volunteers will sleep on mattresses and need to bring a warm sleeping bag.

Location: Ísafjörður is surrounded by mountains that offer endless opportunities to enjoy nature and wilderness during all seasons. Despite its small population, the town has a rather urban, or one could say international, atmosphere. It is known throughout the country for its rich cultural life, with music and visual arts having long tradition and firm roots in the town’s history.
In the West fjords one travels through the whole range of Icelandic flora from the shore and meadows, through birch and willow, to mossy moors. On a stroll amidst the driftwood on the shore one can see birds and seals and then an occasional arctic fox around the deserted farmsteads.
In the month of June, when the camp takes place, the sun never fully sets at this degree of latitude and the nights are as bright as the days. The bright nights are magical with almost 24 hours of sunlight and staying awake enjoying the beautiful surroundings is a unique experience.
Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicates new global trends.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 20 - 35 years old

Extra fee: 140 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Help save the whales
Reykjavik          June 18 - July 1, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will take part in a whale-awareness and protection project run in cooperation with IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare). This mainly consists of distributing information, conducting a survey, having people fill out postcards that will be taken to the government at the end of the project, talking to people and having fun in Reykjavík!

The group will take turns wearing a whale costume and walking around downtown Reykjavík. One part of our project is also to let pedestrians try on the costume and take pictures. This project is fun loving, friendly and peaceful. We encourage each volunteer to come prepared with some ideas of awareness rising for this project, to discuss with the group and implement.

The purpose of this project is to raise awareness among tourists (and locals) that by tasting whale meat in Icelandic restaurants they encourage whaling. The truth is that most Icelanders have never tasted whale meat and do not intend to do so. In a survey made by Gallup in 2007, 86% of those asked had not purchased whale meat in the last 12 months; however 67% were in favour of commercial whaling. This seems obscure, but explanations can be found in the nation’s heritage.
In Iceland there's a saying ‘Hvalreki’ or ‘Beached-Whale’ meaning ‘Jack-pot’. When a whale beached, the whole community had food for a long time, and had indeed hit the jack-pot. Later Icelanders started whaling for the oil, that at one time was used for lighting street-lamps in cities such as Paris. This created work and foreign currency and improved life in the country at that time.
Iceland was also one of the first countries in the world to ban commercial whaling. We can help Iceland to make a positive decision again, by educating the growing number of people who eat up to 40% of the whale meat consumed in the country, but at the same time say they are against whaling.

Language: English

Leisure time: Volunteers will be provided with passes to go on free whale watching trips. Excursions (Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, South shore, etc) will be arranged at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house with shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicate new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 160 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Forestry and gardening activities in the Rehabilitation and Health Clinic in Hveragerdi
Hveragerði          June 18 - July 2, 2012
Hveragerði          July 2 - July 16, 2012
Hveragerði          July 16 - July 30, 2012
Hveragerði          July 30 - August 13, 2012
Hveragerði          August 13 - August 27, 2012
Hveragerði          August 27 - September 10, 2012
Hveragerði          September 10 - September 24, 2012
Hveragerði          September 24 - October 8, 2012
Hveragerði          October 8 - October 22, 2012
Hveragerði          October 22 - November 5, 2012
Hveragerði          November 5 - November 19, 2012
Hveragerði          November 19 - December 3, 2012

Volunteer project: Hveragerði is a small town of about 1,700 inhabitants that lies some 45 km east of Reykjavík. This friendly little community sits on top of a highly active geothermal field which provides heat for hundreds of greenhouses where fruit, flowers and vegetables are produced throughout the year. Even bananas grow in these greenhouses! The name Hveragerði means ‘hot springs garden’. Geothermal energy is Hveragerði’s lifeblood, and you probably won’t find such a natural wonder in the middle of a populated area anywhere else in the world. Nearby you will find an even more geothermally active site: Gufudalur, the lovely ‘Steam Valley’ behind the town. This whole valley is full of hot springs, geysers, mud pots, fumaroles and steaming vents.

Our host is the Rehabilitation and Health Clinic which is a part of the Nature Health Association of Iceland. Every year approximately 2,000 patients and other guests enjoy their diverse rehabilitation programs, which are focused on an approach that builds self-confidence and personal responsibility for the patients’ own health. The Clinic has earned a solid reputation, both in Iceland and internationally, since its foundation in 1955 for personal and effective care of patients. It is the oldest and one of the two most important rehabilitation clinics in Iceland.

The Natural Health Association has a horticultural and environmental department, including forestry, gardening, and greenhouses, which is where the international volunteers will work most of the time. The nature of the work depends largely on weather conditions, which can change quickly.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms. Hveragerði is known for having great areas for hiking, including a river heated by hot springs.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysers, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

Accommodation: The volunteers stay in a fully equipped bungalow consisting of several double and private rooms. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag, but mattresses are provided. Free wireless internet is available during evening hours, but volunteers need to bring their own laptops if they would like to connect to it.
All meals are provided and cooked by our hosts, the Rehabilitation and Health Clinic. The menu for the project is primarily vegetarian, but two times a week it includes locally-caught fish. The food at the Rehabilitation and Health Clinic is known throughout Iceland for its high quality.

Location: Hveragerði, 45 km east of Reykjavík

Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik, Iceland.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Help on a horse farm and learn horseback riding in the East fjords
Fjarðabyggð          June 19 - June 26, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will have the opportunity to work in the far East of the country doing various tasks around a horse farm in the East fjords.
Tasks will include forestry work around the horse farm, cutting, planting and rearranging trees. Other tasks will be cleaning up old fences from the land and replacing them.
We will also assist with gardening in the surrounding area. While we help to beautify the area and the facilities, we will explore the surroundings and enjoy free time activities such as horseback riding, swimming and hiking.

There will be horseback riding available to us. Great experience is not required, only good physical state and a sense of adventure. The Icelandic horse is a rather small breed and it is the only one in the world which is able to trot. The Icelandic horse is strong and quite easy to train, and has been very popular in other European countries.

Special requirements: Volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors and to take part in all the diverse activities.

Language: English

Leisure time: Free time activities will be organised for the volunteers such as horse-back riding, swimming pool, finding trails and some hikes in the beautiful mountain scenery in the East fjords.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house; in a sleeping bag accommodation sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: Volunteers will stay in the East fjords of Iceland, in the municipality of Fjarðabyggð. In 2011 the population of Fjarðabyggð was around 4600 inhabitants making it the 10th most populous municipality in Iceland.
In the Eastern fjords, volunteers can enjoy the remarkable mountain scenery with mountains in almost every direction you look, majestic peaks, mysterious ravines and deep valleys. Most of them are formed by layers of lava that have piled up through the millenniums. The edges of the land have risen creating the appearance that the mountains are stepping up from the ocean.
It is said that a visit to the east is a mountain therapy; some believe that they are good for body and soul, can be inspiring and give unexplained energy. Locals do not go without warning visitors of trolls and elves that live in cliffs, rocks and caves in the mountains. If you look carefully in the landscape you can see trolls that got caught by the sunlight and turned into rocks, and many of the mountains bear names of trolls.
Hikers will find challenges that suit them and enjoy the wonderful scenery and the mountains in Fjardabyggð are the oldest part of Iceland.
The geology is unique and very interesting to explore. The mountain Sandfell in Fáskrúðsfjörður is a quite unique geological phenomenon similar to the Sugar Loaf in Rio de Janeiro.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Domestic airport is Egilsstaðir (EGS).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Artistic and environmental projects at the Arctic Circle
Raufarhöfn          June 21 - July 7, 2012
Raufarhöfn          July 5 - July 17, 2012
Raufarhöfn          July 15 - July 27, 2012
Raufarhöfn          July 25 - August 7, 2012
Raufarhöfn          August 5 - August 17, 2012
Raufarhöfn          August 15 - August 28, 2012
Raufarhöfn          August 26 - September 7, 2012
Raufarhöfn          September 5 - September 17, 2012

Volunteer project: The village of Raufarhöfn is the community that lies farthest north in Iceland. It is located in the eastern part of Melrakkasletta close to the Arctic Circle. The population of Raufarhöfn is about 200 and most of the people there earn their living from fishing and fish processing. The harbor is very beautiful and partly shaped by nature itself. A wide and untouched open area surrounds the village with a lot of birds and varied vegetation. In summer one will observe wild migratory birds within the village being a part of the village life with the villagers most often waking up in the morning to the songs of birds. The coastline with its inlets and creeks is filled with driftwood and reaches out into the Arctic Sea. Away and on the surface of the sea various sea-birds will be spotted and an occasional seal. On the beach waders strut and inland on the grassy moorlands there are dozens of lakes filled with trout. In the vicinity many species of ducks, waders and species that favor heaths and moorlands may be observed.

The local host is currently taking care of a historical house in Raufarhöfn. During the last years, we have been fixing and making the place better with the aim to bring light into the village with the participation of international volunteers. The idea is to do outdoor and indoor painting in the South African style from the tribe Ndebele. The painting consists of mixing all kind of bright colours separated by black lines.

The purpose of this project is to involve international volunteers in a group experience where they can improve their communication and visual arts skills by capturing some memories in an unforgettable way using photographs and videos. Volunteers will put into action ideas about photography from capture to finished image. In this project, volunteers will learn together from each other how to better express their vision and how to digitally edit images to highlight the same qualities that drew them to the scene to begin with. Volunteers will work on different themes, such as landscape, fishermen’s life, wildlife, light and color, local lifestyle, etc. In the evenings, the volunteers will gather together to share photos and the workcamp will culminate in a photo exhibition.

In this project, the volunteers will also have the opportunity to share and learn through some artistic activities such as:
• Participating in a percussion workshop with homemade recycled instruments.
• Learning and sharing knowledge about how to make jewellery and handicrafts.
• Creating a Viking Totem out of drifted wood which we will collect from the coastline.

Volunteers will also directly contribute to the environment and community of Raufarhofn. This could include picking up litter along the coastline, planting trees, weeding or helping the local environmental department with whatever needs to be done.

This workcamp is a way to enjoy an amazing time in Iceland with other international volunteers and to have an incredible experience where participants share their knowledge with each other while they are exploring creativity, environmental issues and intercultural learning.
The project will be also open for new ideas of the volunteers on how to improve the house, make it nicer, as well as how to improve future projects with the local community.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers have free access to the local swimming pool. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in an indoor community facility offering basic facilities. Beds are provided, however volunteers should bring their own warm sleeping bags.

Location: Raufarhöfn

Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik, Iceland.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euros

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Support the work of the Reykjavik Botanical Garden
Reykjavik          June 24 - July 7, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteer program with the Botanic Garden in Reykjavík is organized for the second year in a row. The Botanic Garden is an outdoor collection of living plants, founded in 1961 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011. The garden's main role is to conserve plants for education, research and delight. It conserves some 5000 plant species in eight plant collections. The collections give an idea of the enormous diversity of vegetation in the northern temperate zone. In summer there is a variety of events in the Botanic Garden and group receptions are available throughout the year.

The volunteers will be doing general gardening work in the garden, tending the flowers, trees and other plants. Volunteers will also assist in organising and carrying out special events that might be planned on short notice but they will all be related to the general aim and work of the garden. The work starts early every week day; working hours are from 7:30 - 15:05, so volunteers have to be motivated to work early in the morning.

Language: English

Leisure time: Tours and excursions will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house in Reykjavík; sleeping in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicate new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.

Visitors to Reykjavík experience easily the pure energy at the heart of Iceland's capital city - whether from the boiling thermal energy underground, the natural green energy within the city and around it, or the lively culture and fun-filled nightlife.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.
Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides. In the summer, you can sit by the harbour at midnight and watch the sun dip slightly below the horizon before it makes its way up again.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Age range: 22 and over

Extra fee: 160 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Renovation and maintenance of ski slopes in Skalafell and The Blue Mountains
Skálafell & Blue Mountains          June 24 - July 6, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will be working again with the City of Reykjavík in the two main Skiing areas in the capital region of Iceland, in Skálafell and Bláfjöll.
During the first week we will be working in Skálafell, where the ski slopes are turned into a Bike park during summertime. Here mountain bike fans can nourish their passion. The main tasks in Skálafell will be renovation and maintenance work on the bike trails, mainly raking and scraping them up. Some paint job awaits the volunteers as well and general cleaning of the area.
The second week will be spent in the area of Bláfjöll (The Blue Mountains). There we will be maintaining the ski slopes and prepare them for the next ski season. The city and few sports associations run lodges there and they might also need some renovation job, such as painting and/or cleaning.

Language: English

Leisure time: In Bláfjöll, volunteers will be given an extraordinary opportunity to explore a hidden world beneath ours in an amazing trip to the underworld! Beneath the lava field in the area the volcanic eruptions have left behind caves with magical rock formations. Exploring the dark and hidden lava tubes is a great addition to your volunteer adventure and a perfect way to see how Iceland was created.
Tours and excursions will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in fully equipped houses; in a sleeping bag accommodation sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: During the first week, while working in Skálafell, the volunteers will be quartered in the outskirts of Reykjavík, in approximately 30 km distance from the projects location and we will be transported every day to the working sites.
Reykjavík is often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicates new global trends.
It is an International city with a lively Cosmopolitan cultural scene. In the area closer than 100 Km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.
The latter week of the project will take place in the Blue Mountain Range area. The Bláfjöll volcanic mountain range is located about 30 minutes drive from Reykjavík. The highest mountain reaches 600m and therefore since 1968 the region became a very popular skiing area among Icelanders and the favourite for skiers in the Capital area.
The district demonstrates some of the best natural country sides in Iceland. Outdoor activities taking place in the area include hiking, mountain biking and alpine and cross country skiing.
Iceland is chilly, even in summer. Expect nights to dip down to 10 Celsius and days to warm up to the mid-high teens Celsius and warmer. In mountains, weather can change quickly and drastically. Participants need to be prepared for a wide range of weather.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Erosion control and reviving the natural vegetation in the south of Iceland
Reykjavik          June 25 - July 9, 2012

Volunteer project: The project is organised since 2007 in cooperation with several local NGOs devoted to the re-vegetation of eroded soils in the south-west part of Iceland. The aim of the project is to halt the downward spiral of erosion and to strengthen the ecosystem by enhancing its natural vegetation.

By using organic waste materials for fertilizing, we aim for a double dividend. The soils, poor in plant nutrients, are enriched while the amount of materials in need of waste treatment is substantially decreased. The south west is part of the volcanic belt of Iceland envisaged by vast lava fields and easily erodible volcanic soils. On top of that, the area has suffered from overgrazing of sheep for a long time. Consequently, the ecological condition is rather poor and some areas are stripped entirely of top soil.

Close to 70% of the total population lives in this part of Iceland with the capital Reykjavík and neighbouring municipalities making up the bulk of the population. Different kinds of organic waste materials are being generated in and from the urban environment, substantial quantities every year. In the long run, stuff like horse manure, garden waste and the likes are the best revegetation means available. We work to make way for these materials as a revegetation medium.

In this project, we combine professionalism with idealism. The results so far can already be seen at a number of sites in the area.
In 2012, the volunteers will perform three different types of work: a) Revegetation and erosion control; b) Monitoring the survival and growth of tree plantations of former years; c) Tree planting. Volunteers will likely be working hand-in-hand with Icelanders.

Language: English

Leisure time: Excursions to the Blue Lagoon, South of Iceland and a weekend stay away from the project (e.g. in the largest National Park in Europe: Skaftafell/ Vatnajökull National Park) will be organised.

Accommodation: Volunteers will be accommodated in a house with basic facilities in one of Reykjavik’s neighbouring towns, Hafnarfjörður; sleeping on mattresses. Please, bring a sleeping bag.

Location: The work will take place in the vicinity of Reykjavík, and the group will touch upon more than one project in more than just one place. The main emphasis will be on erosion control on the banks of Kleifarvatn, the big lake of the Reykjanes peninsula; Vatnsskarð, Bolalda, Sandskeið and Bláfjöll.

The Reykjanes peninsula at the south–western end of Iceland is located near the capital and most travelers to Iceland land in the area. As the Reykjanes coastline draws closer and the plane prepares to land at Keflavík Airport, the peninsula is marked by active volcanism under its surface, and large lava fields allow little vegetation. There are numerous hot springs and sulphur springs in the southern half of the peninsula, around the Kleifarvatn Lake and the Krýsuvík geothermal area. The Peninsula is envied for its long and short hiking trails that zigzag through the region with colourful landscapes. Amazing ocean cliffs (up to 70 m high) are nested by numerous bird species, often a wonderful spot for bird and whale watching.

There is also a geothermal power station at Svartsengi, where a pool has been installed using the hot and mineralized water coming down from the station. It is known as the "Blue Lagoon". The Leif the Lucky Bridge spans the Álfagjá rift valley (60 feet wide and 20 feet deep) near Grindavík that marks the boundary of the Eurasian and North American continental tectonic plates. The bridge is named after the Icelandic explorer Leif Eriksson who travelled from Europe to America 500 years before Columbus.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Age range: 16 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

African days in Reykjavik
Reykjavik          June 26 - July 8, 2012

Volunteer project: One of the most important aims of this volunteer project is to promote intercultural understanding. Iceland is getting more and more intercultural and nowadays you can find people from all over the world in Reykjavik. We would like to involve foreign nationals living in Iceland to give them an opportunity to promote the culture of their origin in the local society.
We will help with the preparation and running of cultural activities together with African people living in Iceland. We will also have some workshops and debates related to art and culture.

During the project, the volunteers and the work will be focused on Africa by having workshops of West African percussion instruments and dances. We will also involve Africans living in Reykjavik in order to provide the participants the opportunity to learn about African cuisine, get to know them and make video forums with movies that reflect the situation in the continent today in order to create debates concerning different issues. At the end of the project, we will organize a little "African festival" in downtown Reykjavik, where we will show the outcomes of the workshops, a performance of dances and percussion as well food, photos, and reflections about the situation in Africa today and how young people should act in order to improve the current situation.
The volunteers will also have the opportunity to make graffiti in the “heart square” which is in the centre of Reykjavik.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools in Reykjavik. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
On weekends, the central location of the accommodation is ideal for enjoying Reykjavik‘s amazing nightlife, which is world-renowned for its wide array of bars, clubs, and concerts.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysirs, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in one of several shared houses offering basic sleeping and cooking facilities in the heart of historical downtown Reykjavik. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag and towels, but mattresses and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge, and volunteers also have free access to shared desktop computers in communal areas. The accommodation is located within short walking distance of many urban amenities, including: banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, libraries, theaters, shops, museums, and bus stations.

Location: Reykjavik is a city full of energy, just waiting for you to experience it. Powered by heat from the earth below, with ever-changing weather sweeping across the landscape, its natural features are matched by the energy of its residents. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, culture, nature, clean air - and Reykjavik has them in spades. All the advantages of a modern, forward-looking society are complemented by the beautiful natural setting. In a country of only just over 300,000 people, the Reykjavik Capital Area has a population of about 200,000. However, since it’s the only major city in the country, Reykjavik has a lot of the amenities that you would only expect to find in a much larger center elsewhere in the world.

Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and is centered on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Come at the right time of year, and in favorable conditions you will see the city’s skyline silhouetted against the glowing, shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Reykjavik is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay to the north, while rugged lava-fields spread to the southeast. On a clear sunny day, the Snaefellsjokull glacier glitters on the western horizon like a crystal.

Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (KEF), Reykjavík

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euros

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Support the operation and mission of the Salvation Army Guesthouse and Shelter in Reykjavik
Reykjavik          June 29 - July 13, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will take part in a volunteer project with the Salvation Army in Iceland.
The Salvation Army runs since 1898 a popular guesthouse in the centre of Reykjavík. The profit from its operation goes to the charity and social work of the Salvation Army in Iceland. By staying there, guests (mainly international travellers) are helping their projects that support people in need.

Volunteers will have 3 main tasks during their stay at the guesthouse in Reykjavík:
- Helping the team of the guesthouse to clean the rooms and common areas,
- Preparing breakfast for the guests and lunch for the team and volunteers, and
- Taking care of the laundry.
The work will be mainly in the mornings and volunteers will have plenty of time in the afternoon to explore and discover the city of Reykjavík.
Volunteers are also welcome to bring in ideas to improve the guesthouse as to take on projects like creating a new welcome book for the guests with travel information, history of the guesthouse, links to learn more about Iceland, etc. Volunteers could also create a welcome poster about the guesthouse which will be framed and placed at its main entrance.

Additional to the main tasks, volunteers may provide support at the day shelter, which welcomes people every day, preparing food and taking care of the facilities to allow the visitors of the shelter to rest, talk, take showers and relax while watching television or playing games.

The Salvation Army is an international Church movement that currently works in over 120 countries and is known for its thrift stores and charity work. In Iceland their social work is directed to support people in need or in difficult situation, mainly individuals dealing with drug or alcohol abuse, homeless, aid to refugees and to the elderly.

Language: English

Leisure time: Volunteers will have plenty of free time to visit Reykjavík and the vicinity during the project.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay at the Salvation Army Guesthouse or in a flat, 100 meters from the guesthouse with access to kitchen, washing machine and Wi-Fi at the guesthouse.

Location: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicates new global trends. It is an International city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 140 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Restoring the artworks of Samuel Jonsson
Selárdalur          July 1 - July 15, 2012

Volunteer project: International volunteers will be working for the fourth year on this particular project at the artworks of Samúel Jónsson, an Icelandic artist, who lived at Selárdalur. We will be working on restoring an old church made by the artist himself. We will be working hand in hand with a well known sculpture artist, who has dedicated several years to this project. The restoration work will include carpentry work, concrete wall building and some light maintenance work inside the church, like oiling the wood, etc.

Volunteers will continue supporting the project, as the buildings have been rapidly decaying after the artist’s death.

 

Language: English

Leisure time: Place of extreme beautiful natural surroundings with countless opportunities to hike and discover it by foot. Some free time activities will be organised for the volunteers including sightseeing, hiking, swimming in natural hot pots, etc.

Accommodation: We will be hosted in a local house, sleeping bag accommodation with mattresses. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: This project is on the west side of Arnarfjörður, located in the Icelandic Western Fjords, which are too often missed by visitors due to its distance (real and perceived) from Route 1, the circle road, and from other population centers. The West Fjords are a mass of fjords, mountains and isolated villages on spits of lands surrounded by water and mountains. The area includes its own glacier, the magnificent, remote Hornstrandir and Europe's westernmost point at Látrabjarg, where millions of birds nest, a must for bird watchers.

The artist who lived there was not able to really practice his art until he retired from his job and then he began building palaces and sculptures. He started adding to his home and then he built a museum for all his artwork, sculptures as well as paintings with carved frames which he made during the winter. Samúel built a grotesque but charming resemblance to the lion’s fountain in the Alhambra-palace in Granada, Spain, and many sculptures showing seals and other animals as well as figures from Icelandic history like Leif the lucky who found America.

Iceland's most famous hermit Gísli Gíslason lived in this area. He lived alone on a farm named Uppsalir, almost without any communication with other people. He was famous for living in total harmony with nature, not having to use any money or modern facilities such as electricity, machines or vehicles. Now there are plans to make a museum out of his former home.

The distance from Reykjavik is about 500 km (7-8 hours drive) by the Whale Bay tunnel; it is perhaps one of Iceland's most remote areas and a very peaceful and beautiful place to enjoy.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Building a walking path and improving green areas in Patreksfjordur
Patreksfjörður          July 1 - July 15, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will be working this year again with the local community in Patreksfjörður to build a new walking path above the town. Volunteers have been working in the municipality for the last 6 years in different projects.
Volunteers will also assist in beautifying the town of Patreksfjörður and surroundings by maintaining walking paths, planting trees and taking care of green areas.
We will do some painting jobs, and few other tasks that need to be done around town.

Language: English

Leisure time:  The volunteers will have access to the town’s geothermal swimming pool and to the hot tubs. Several hiking options are within easy distance and many beautiful surroundings in the area.

Accommodation: The volunteers will be hosted in a local school in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: Patreksfjörður is located in the Icelandic Western Fjords, which are too often missed by visitors due to its distance (real and perceived) from Route 1, the circle road, and from other population centers.
Patreksfjörður is a small fishing town, which bears the name of the fjord and one of the communities of Vesturbyggð. In Vesturbyggð the main trades are/were fishing and fish processing. In Patreksfjörður a coastal laggon has been dredged and opened to the sea to provide a sheltered harbour. The town stands on slender sandpits and stretches two kilometres along the narrow northern shore of the fjord. It began as a fishing port, like most of the villages and towns in this region. Nearness of rich fishing banks, and a sheltered harbour, made the town one of the main fishing ports in the region, dating back to the 16th century.
The West Fjords are a mass of fjords, mountains and isolated villages on spits of lands surrounded by water and mountains. The area includes its own glacier (Drangjökull), the magnificient and remote Hornstrandir and Europe’s westernmost point of land at Látrabjarg, about two hours drive. Látrabjarg is a gigantic sheer cliff facing the North Atlantic Ocean, in the cliffs millions of birds have created their home, such as puffin, arctic tern, guillemots and other types of birds making Látrabjarg a must for bird watchers.
The town is located on the shores in the south of the Western Fjords and is surrounded by mountains that offer endless opportunities to enjoy nature and wilderness during all seasons.
The vicinity offers a variety of interesting places to explore; hiking and mountain climbing are popular. The sheer beauty of the region attracts many people and tourism has started to play an increasing role recently. The distance from Reykjavik is 7-8 hours drive by the Whale Bay tunnel.
This is one of Iceland's most remote areas; with the whole range of Icelandic flora from the shore and meadows, through birch and willow, to mossy moors. On a stroll amidst the driftwood on the shore one can see birds and seals and then an occasional arctic fox around.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Help save the whales
Reykjavik          July 2 - July 15, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will take part in a whale-awareness and protection project run in cooperation with IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare). This mainly consists of distributing information, conducting a survey, having people fill out postcards that will be taken to the government at the end of the project, talking to people and having fun in Reykjavík!

The group will take turns wearing a whale costume and walking around downtown Reykjavík. One part of our project is also to let pedestrians try on the costume and take pictures. This project is fun loving, friendly and peaceful. We encourage each volunteer to come prepared with some ideas of awareness rising for this project, to discuss with the group and implement.

The purpose of this project is to raise awareness among tourists (and locals) that by tasting whale meat in Icelandic restaurants they encourage whaling. The truth is that most Icelanders have never tasted whale meat and do not intend to do so. In a survey made by Gallup in 2007, 86% of those asked had not purchased whale meat in the last 12 months; however 67% were in favour of commercial whaling. This seems obscure, but explanations can be found in the nation’s heritage.
In Iceland there's a saying ‘Hvalreki’ or ‘Beached-Whale’ meaning ‘Jack-pot’. When a whale beached, the whole community had food for a long time, and had indeed hit the jack-pot. Later Icelanders started whaling for the oil, that at one time was used for lighting street-lamps in cities such as Paris. This created work and foreign currency and improved life in the country at that time.
Iceland was also one of the first countries in the world to ban commercial whaling. We can help Iceland to make a positive decision again, by educating the growing number of people who eat up to 40% of the whale meat consumed in the country, but at the same time say they are against whaling.

Language: English

Leisure time: Volunteers will be provided with passes to go on free whale watching trips. Excursions (Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, South shore, etc) will be arranged at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house with shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicate new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

International photo marathon in Iceland
Reykjavik          July 3 - July 13, 2012
Reykjavik          July 17 - July 28, 2012
Reykjavik          July 31 - August 10, 2012

Volunteer project: This is the fifth year that series of International Photo marathons are organized! Last years’ were very successful and we want to continue organising this project! Our main objective is to deliver messages and draw the attention of the local population through pictures and photos made during the project.
The coordinators will prepare different topics on which the participants will base their entries. The topics will be mostly related to Environment and Intercultural understanding.

Participants need to bring their own digital cameras. The main work will involve taking photographs on the given issues. The best pictures will be selected for a final exhibit. The last part of the project will be putting up the exhibition.
Volunteers shall be prepared for walking/cycling, flexible time schedule (early morning photo sessions, night photographing).

Volunteers’ additional work will be at a new volunteer base located in the outskirts of Reykjavík. We will be assisting and contributing to the future development of the base and its volunteer activities. We will help with setting up the centre, working in the garden, cleaning and painting the house where needed.

Volunteers may work with the city of Reykjavík; trying to keep the city and its public areas lively. Tasks may involve painting to cover graffiti tags, tiding up public spaces and face-lifting the city.

Language: English

Leisure time: Tours and excursions (Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon or South Shore) will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.
It is a great opportunity to experience the midnight sun as there are 24 hours of light even if the sun sets for short periods of time.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house at Úlfarsfell in the outskirts of Reykjavík; in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The project will take place in the outskirts of Reykjavík, in the hills of Mountain of Wolves (Úlfarsfell). The location is far enough from the city to be able to enjoy the quality of the country life, pure air, nature and tranquillity, but close enough to be able to visit the capital during the project.

Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicates new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit. The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here.

Terminal: International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 16 and over

Extra fee: 250 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Improving access to an archaeological site close to the Arctic
Akureyri          July 4 - July 15, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will have the unique opportunity to work in a unique place of great heritage and historical value to Iceland. We have been working with the municipality since 2010, we will be working in the north of Iceland in a place full of historical heritage for the nation, with a lot of archaeological findings from the middle ages.
The main work for volunteers will be the construction and maintenance of trails around the archaeological site. Well maintained paths enable people to visit these amazing areas without damaging them and this important work also helps to improve their safety.
Work will be physically demanding and involves having a good condition.
Tasks will be diverse, therefore flexibility and open-mind is expected. The work is to be planned with the person in site, on charge of the area and the group coordinator depending on the needs and weather conditions; we may work on shifts.
There may be some additional projects around, as to take down old fences that are no longer serving their purpose and might be a danger hazard.

Volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors in physically demanding jobs and be willing to take part in all the diverse tasks in the project.

Language: English

Leisure time: The project is located in a place of extreme beautiful surroundings with countless opportunities to discover them by foot or hiking; area surrounded by stunning mountains, fjords and rivers.

Accommodation: The volunteers will be lodged in the boarding school, sleeping on a mattress. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The workcamp will take place in the north of Iceland, close to the biggest community there, Akureyri on the shore of Eyjafjörður, which is the longest fjords in the country and is surrounded by mountains reaching up to1500 m. The Arctic Circle in only 60 km north of Akureyri but still the climate is mild, with summer temperatures up to 25°C and winter temperatures in average around 0˚C.
North Iceland is an expansive, enchanting region, where you can find all of Iceland's attractive aspects, culture and a flourishing society, endless opportunities for entertainment and outdoor recreation, picturesque nature in all directions, and more natural sights than almost anywhere else.
The place of the workcamp is unique: You will not find another place in Iceland with so many antiquities from a trading post from the middle ages. This was one the main trading post in northern Iceland and is mentioned many times in Old Icelandic Sagas from the 13th and 14th centuries. Archaeological digging in the area during the last six years has shown that it was a trading post up to the 16th century, possibly until trading started in Akureyri.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

 

Trail building in the fjord of the Whales
Hvalfjörður          July 5 - July 19, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will be working in this project in the area of Hvalfjörður (the fjord of the Whales) in the South-west of Iceland.
We will be working on building a new walking path along the road through a valley. The path itself will be made with machines but the volunteers will have to level the path, sow grass along the path, move some trees that might be in the way and probably put a topcoat on the path.
Well maintained paths enable people to visit these amazing areas without damaging them and this important work also helps to improve their safety.
Tasks will be diverse, therefore flexibility and open-mind is expected. The work is to be planned with the person in site, on charge of the area and the group coordinator depending on the needs and weather conditions; we may work on shifts.
There may be some additional projects around, as to take down old fences that are no longer serving their purpose and might be a danger hazard.
Work will be physically demanding and involves having a good condition.

Volunteers need to be ready to work in physically demanding jobs and be willing to take part in the diverse tasks.

Language: English

Leisure time: The camp is located in a place of extreme beautiful surroundings with countless opportunities to discover them by foot or hiking; area surrounded by stunning mountains, fjords and rivers.
Excursions (Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon or South Shore) will be organised at discount fares for the volunteers.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house; in sleeping bag accommodation, sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The work camp takes place about 80 Kilometres from the capital; deep inside Hvalfjörður. The valley is extremely beautiful, with many plants and trees. There are many small canyons, streams and waterfalls and it is a popular place for hikers to visit.
Hvalfjörður lies north of Reykjavík and Mosfellslbær and is the longest fjord in the south-west of Iceland, cutting 30kms deep into the land along a north-east/south-west axis and curling to the east at its head. Before the Hvalfjarðargöng tunnel was opened in 1998 and the main ring-road rerouted underneath the fjord, all traffic heading north or west to and from Reykjavík had to follow the fjord all the way around -a drive of an hour or two.
The volume of traffic on the road now -which at times is cut into the steep edges of the mountain-sides rising straight out of the fjord - must be a tiny fraction of what it was, and the fjord as a whole now has a quiet but powerful feel.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Support the work of the Reykjavik Botanical Garden
Reykjavik          July 8 - July 21, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteer program with the Botanic Garden in Reykjavík is organized for the second year in a row. The Botanic Garden is an outdoor collection of living plants, founded in 1961 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011. The garden's main role is to conserve plants for education, research and delight. It conserves some 5000 plant species in eight plant collections. The collections give an idea of the enormous diversity of vegetation in the northern temperate zone. In summer there is a variety of events in the Botanic Garden and group receptions are available throughout the year.

The volunteers will be doing general gardening work in the garden, tending the flowers, trees and other plants. Volunteers will also assist in organising and carrying out special events that might be planned on short notice but they will all be related to the general aim and work of the garden. The work starts early every week day; working hours are from 7:30 - 15:05, so volunteers have to be motivated to work early in the morning.

Language: English

Leisure time: Tours and excursions will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house in Reykjavík; sleeping in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicate new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.

Visitors to Reykjavík experience easily the pure energy at the heart of Iceland's capital city - whether from the boiling thermal energy underground, the natural green energy within the city and around it, or the lively culture and fun-filled nightlife.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.
Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides. In the summer, you can sit by the harbour at midnight and watch the sun dip slightly below the horizon before it makes its way up again.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Age range: 22 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Renovation and maintenance of ski slopes in Skalafell and The Blue Mountains
Skálafell & Blue Mountains          July 8 - July 20, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will be working again with the City of Reykjavík in the two main Skiing areas in the capital region of Iceland, in Skálafell and Bláfjöll.
During the first week we will be working in Skálafell, where the ski slopes are turned into a Bike park during summertime. Here mountain bike fans can nourish their passion. The main tasks in Skálafell will be renovation and maintenance work on the bike trails, mainly raking and scraping them up. Some paint job awaits the volunteers as well and general cleaning of the area.
The second week will be spent in the area of Bláfjöll (The Blue Mountains). There we will be maintaining the ski slopes and prepare them for the next ski season. The city and few sports associations run lodges there and they might also need some renovation job, such as painting and/or cleaning.

Language: English

Leisure time: In Bláfjöll, volunteers will be given an extraordinary opportunity to explore a hidden world beneath ours in an amazing trip to the underworld! Beneath the lava field in the area the volcanic eruptions have left behind caves with magical rock formations. Exploring the dark and hidden lava tubes is a great addition to your volunteer adventure and a perfect way to see how Iceland was created.
Tours and excursions will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in fully equipped houses; in a sleeping bag accommodation sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: During the first week, while working in Skálafell, the volunteers will be quartered in the outskirts of Reykjavík, in approximately 30 km distance from the projects location and we will be transported every day to the working sites.
Reykjavík is often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicates new global trends.
It is an International city with a lively Cosmopolitan cultural scene. In the area closer than 100 Km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.
The latter week of the project will take place in the Blue Mountain Range area. The Bláfjöll volcanic mountain range is located about 30 minutes drive from Reykjavík. The highest mountain reaches 600m and therefore since 1968 the region became a very popular skiing area among Icelanders and the favourite for skiers in the Capital area.
The district demonstrates some of the best natural country sides in Iceland. Outdoor activities taking place in the area include hiking, mountain biking and alpine and cross country skiing.
Iceland is chilly, even in summer. Expect nights to dip down to 10 Celsius and days to warm up to the mid-high teens Celsius and warmer. In mountains, weather can change quickly and drastically. Participants need to be prepared for a wide range of weather.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

 

Like in the old days
Brynjudal          July 9 - July 20, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will participate for the second year in a row in a unique project with the Icelandic Forestry Association. The workcamp will take place in a valley deep into Hvalfjörður, the whale-fjord, located in the south-west of Iceland. Volunteers will be performing different tasks such as:
• Cleaning up in the forest
• Collecting wood
• Creating new and maintaining old walking paths.
Volunteers will also fix a natural pool in the area and continue the project started by international volunteers last year, building and renovating a house made of timber and natural materials.

Special requirements: Volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors and be willing to take part in all the diverse activities during the project.

Language: English

Leisure time: Free time activities will be organized in the area for the volunteers. Extremely beautiful natural surroundings with countless opportunities to hike & discover by foot.

Accommodation: In this workcamp, volunteers will challenge themselves with rather basic facilities. We will sleep in a big “Indian” tent on the location of the project. Volunteers have to bring their own warm sleeping bag.
The food provided will be traditional Icelandic food, Icelandic lamb, fish and root vegetables, among other more modern products which we will cook on an open fire. Food will be kept cold in the river and we will wash ourselves with cloths and water either straight from the river or with water heated on the fire. A travel-toilet will be set up in a private location.
During one of the weekends, we will stay at a volunteer base in Reykjavík, at Úlfarsfell.

Location: The valley of Brynjudal, where the project takes place, is about 80 kilometres from the capital; deep inside Hvalfjörður. It is surrounded by mountains, to the north of the valley is a mountain called Múlafjall, south of the Valley are Bolafell and Suðurfjall and to the west Þrándarstaðafjall. The valley is extremely beautiful, with many plants and trees.
There are many small canyons, streams and waterfalls and it is a popular place for hikers to visit. Along the valley runs the river Brynjudalsá which starts in Sandvatn.
Hvalfjörður lies north of Reykjavík and Mosfellslbær and is the longest fjord in the south-west of Iceland, cutting 30kms deep into the land along a north-east/south-west axis and curling to the east at its head. Before the Hvalfjarðargöng tunnel was opened in 1998 and the main ring-road rerouted underneath the fjord, all traffic heading north or west to and from Reykjavík had to follow the fjord all the way around -a drive of an hour or two.
The volume of traffic on the road now -which at times is cut into the steep edges of the mountain-sides rising straight out of the fjord - must be a tiny fraction of what it was, and the fjord as a whole now has a quiet but powerful feel.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euros

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Crawling Valley & "Flying balls" Rock festival
Eastern Iceland          July 10 - July 23, 2012

Volunteer project: In this project the volunteers will have the opportunity to work in two different locations in Eastern Iceland.
During the first part of the camp, we will work in the annual Icelandic metal music festival: Eistnaflug (e. Flying Testicles), held in Neskaupsstaður. We will be working on different tasks around the Metal festival Eistnaflug; preparing the area, working on the festival and cleaning the area afterwards. The main task will be guarding the area of the festival, both during the concerts and in the camping area. The festival itself is held for three days, but both before and after the festival we will be in the area to manage the logistics of the events.
The second week volunteers will be working on environmental and nature oriented tasks based on an Icelandic farm. Our tasks will be mainly focused on improving the environment in and around the whole area; cleaning out old barns and clearing fences from the land.
While volunteers help to preserve the local environment they will explore the surroundings of the location and discover the beautiful scenery.
Volunteers need to be motivated for physically demanding work outdoors.

Language: English

Accommodation: During the first week the volunteers will stay in an elementary school on mattresses. During the second week volunteers will be lodged in a farmhouse, in shared room(s), sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: Eistnaflug is a music festival held annually for the last six years in the Eastern fjords and it has become a celebration for musicians from Iceland and abroad. In 2011 there were over 40 bands playing, the music spans from easy rock to heavy metal. The festival has been a peaceful one without any hazards, the motto is: Rock festival held in brotherhood and friendship.
In the eastern fjords visitors enjoy remarkable mountain scenery with mountains in almost every direction, majestic peaks, mysterious ravines and deep valleys. It is said that a visit is a mountain therapy because, some believe that they are good for body and soul, can be inspiring and give unexplained energy. Hikers will find challenges that suite them and enjoy the wonderful scenery and the mountains are the oldest part of Iceland. The geology is unique and very interesting to explore. Most of them are formed by layers of lava that have piled up through the millenniums.
The farm is located in the municipality of Fljótsdalshérað; 20 km from the largest town in Eastern Iceland - Egilsstaðir (population 2300). It is a young town which has become the largest in the east and offers a swimming pool, shops and museums among other main services. Egilsstaðir is home to the Lagarfljót Serpent which is believed to be Iceland’s equivalent of the Loch Ness Monster.
The farm is located in a beautiful valley with mountains close to Hallormsstaðaskógur, the largest wooded area of the country that spreads over 30 ha. The tree collection keeps an extensive variety of foreign trees and is renowned among professionals and travellers.

Terminal: International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ). Domestic airport: Egilsstaðir Airport.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Latin American days in Reykjavik
Reykjavik          July 10 - July 22, 2012

Volunteer project: One of the most important aims of this volunteer project is to promote intercultural understanding. Iceland is getting more and more intercultural and nowadays you can find people from all over the world in Reykjavik. We would like to involve foreign nationals living in Iceland to give them an opportunity to promote the culture of their origin in the local society.
We will help with the preparation and running of cultural activities together with Latin American people living in Iceland. We will also have some workshops and debates related to art and culture.

During the project, the volunteers and the work will be focused on Latin America by having workshops of Latin American music and dances. We will also involve Latin- American people living in Reykjavik in order to provide the participants the opportunity to learn about Latin American cuisine, get to know their culture and make video forums with movies that reflect the situation in Latin America today in order to create debates concerning different issues. At the end of the project, we will have a little "Latin American festival" in downtown Reykjavik, where we will show the outcome of the workshops, a performance of dances and music as well food, photos, and reflections about the situation in Latin America today and how young people should act in order to improve the current situation.
The volunteers will also have the opportunity to make graffiti in the “heart square” which is in the centre of Reykjavik.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools in Reykjavik. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
On weekends, the central location of the accommodation is ideal for enjoying Reykjavik‘s amazing nightlife, which is world-renowned for its wide array of bars, clubs, and concerts.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysirs, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in one of several shared houses offering basic sleeping and cooking facilities in the heart of historical downtown Reykjavik. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag and towels, but mattresses and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge, and volunteers also have free access to shared desktop computers in communal areas. The accommodation is located within short walking distance of many urban amenities, including: banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, libraries, theaters, shops, museums, and bus stations.

Location: Reykjavik is a city full of energy, just waiting for you to experience it. Powered by heat from the earth below, with ever-changing weather sweeping across the landscape, its natural features are matched by the energy of its residents. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, culture, nature, clean air - and Reykjavik has them in spades. All the advantages of a modern, forward-looking society are complemented by the beautiful natural setting. In a country of only just over 300,000 people, the Reykjavik Capital Area has a population of about 200,000. However, since it’s the only major city in the country, Reykjavik has a lot of the amenities that you would only expect to find in a much larger center elsewhere in the world.

Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and is centered on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Come at the right time of year, and in favorable conditions you will see the city’s skyline silhouetted against the glowing, shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Reykjavik is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay to the north, while rugged lava-fields spread to the southeast. On a clear sunny day, the Snaefellsjokull glacier glitters on the western horizon like a crystal.

Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (KEF), Reykjavík

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euros

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Help organizing the Eistnaflug Hard Rock Festival
Neskaupsstaður          July 11 - July 25, 2012

Volunteer project: Neskaupsstaður is a medium size town by Icelandic standards. With its 1.420 inhabitants, it has the largest population in the East Fjords. The town has been growing and prospering since the early 1900s and is almost completely self sufficient thanks to the fishing industry. Sitting in the middle of nowhere, away from other villages and communities, the town is equipped with all the necessary facilities and stores: a bakery, a local dairy, supermarkets, banks, a post office, a school, a sports hall, a swimming pool, a church, a hospital, a harbor, an airstrip, a hotel, a jazz club, a rescue centre, etc. As a matter of fact, it has all the services and professionals you would expect in a larger town, with the exception of an optician! On the east side of the town, there's a wildlife reserve and a large recreational area facing the ocean. In the lower section of the reserve, called Hagi, lies the famous Páskahellir (Easter Cave), a rock vault over the shore. Holes left by thick, 10 to 12-million-year-old tree trunks can be seen inside the vault and, in true Icelandic spirit, various folk tales are associated with the cave. Neskaupstaður can be reached only driving through a one-way tunnel over the highest year round pass in Iceland.

Eistnaflug is a Hard Rock Festival which this year will present its 8th edition. More than 40 bands will perform for an expected audience of about one thousand visitors. It will take place July 12-14.

We will help the organizers of the festival to carry out different tasks. For example, we will take care of the venues before and after the concerts, control the access to the festival area and prepare the camping site. We will assist the local organization in keeping the area clean during the festival. We will also do some environmental work in cooperation with the local community before and after the festival.

Language: English

Leisure time: Volunteers have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pool in Eskifjörður. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges or steam-vents..
Volunteers will also have free access to the concerts during the festival.

Accommodation: In a house owned by the local community in Neskaupstaður / Eskifjordur offering basic facilities. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will take showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre near by the house. It is possible that we will also stay in tents for one or two nights during the festival just to get the right spirit.

Location: Neskaupsstaður, East Iceland

Terminal: International Airport: Keflavík (KEF), Reykjavík. Egilsstaðir airport is 40 km from the project site.

Age range: 18 - 30 years old

Extra fee: 180 Euros

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Lunga youth arts festival
Seyðisfjörður          July 11 - July 25, 2012

Volunteer project: The long, calm, deep fjord of Seyðisfjörður twists and turns for 17 kilometres from its mouth to the end of the fjord, where the town by the same name finds shelter under Mt. Strandartindur and Mt. Bjólfur. In the valley above, the river Fjarðará falls from the edge of the heath above in innumerable beautiful waterfalls, down to Lón (the lagoon) at the end of the fjord. A road starts at the fjord and runs along the river until the Hérað district, 26 kilometres away, across the Fjarðarheiði heath. Once a hazardous place to travel, today the heath can be crossed in just half-hour on a pleasant and scenic road. The route (Stafirnir) that goes down into Seyðisfjörður by the Fjarðará river, is one of Iceland's most spectacular roads.

Lunga is an art-festival for young people. With unique artistic ambition and thanks to the participation of domestic and foreign artists, it offers an eclectic program which draws much attention to the town. Visual arts, music, circus and outdoor events create a lively event that appeals to the large crowd of locals and foreign visitors.
Lunga is first and foremost a festival created to involve people and foster their creativity while also promoting knowledge of art and culture. Lunga is a terrific venue for art lovers and art teachers and students.

We will help the local people with the preparation of the festival and with many activities during the hectic time of the festival; in some stage of the project we will work on shifts. The volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in and help with the workshops. During the festival we will setup the venues before and after the concerts, and control the entrances if needed. There are many other chores awaiting us and we should be flexible and willing to give a hand whenever necessary. 

Language: English

Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool.

Accommodation: We will be staying in the local community center offering basic facilities. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag.

Location: Seyðisfjörður

Terminal: International Airport: Reykjavík - Keflavík (KEF). The closest national airport is located in Egilsstadir.

Age range: 23 - 30 years old

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Restoring and maintaining hiking trails in Strandir
Strandir          July 12 - July 19, 2012

Volunteer project: We have been working with the municipality of Strandabyggð since 2009 with very good results for the volunteers and the locals.
Strandir (the coasts), located on the north-eastern part of the western fjords of Iceland are a hiker’s paradise. Some of the most popular walking paths have not been maintained in a proper way for some time. Therefore volunteers will be working on restoring and maintaining those hiking trails. To maintain these pathways is very important to encourage people in the area to enjoy the beautiful environment they live in a way that does not spoil the nature around.
Well maintained paths enable people to visit these amazing areas without damaging them and this important work also helps to improve their safety.
Work will be physically demanding and involves having a good condition. There may be some additional projects, as to take down old fences that are no longer serving their purpose and might be a dangerous hazard.
Tasks will be diverse, therefore flexibility and open-mind is expected. The day normally runs from 9:00 - 17:00 with breaks for lunch and coffee. Be prepared for some flexibility due to the weather.

Volunteers need to be ready to work in physically demanding jobs and be willing to take part in all the diverse tasks in the project.

Language: English

Leisure time: Volunteers will have access free of charge to the local swimming pool.

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a local school and will have shower facilities in the local swimming pool. Volunteers will be sleeping on mattresses in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The work camp will take place in the West fjords at the north-western part of Iceland. The region accounts for 10% of the country’s surface but only about 7200 people live there, so it is one of the least populated areas of Europe. The West fjords are very mountainous; the coastline is made by dozens of fjords surrounded by steep hills.
The region of Strandir was for centuries one of the most remote areas in Iceland, known for the inhabitants' knowledge of magic and as a refuge for criminals and outlaws. The landscape of Strandir is far from uniform, the low hills of Hrútafjörður in the south gradually change to 700 m high mountains rising straight from the coast in the northern part.
The population in the Strandir region is under 800. The towns of Hólmavík and Drangsnes are the most populated; around 400 people in Hólmavík and 100 in Drangsnes. The people of Strandir live almost entirely on traditional fishing and farming and are increasingly aware of their heritage and will proudly tell tales of their ancestors' dealings with ghosts and other supernatural beings.
It has often been said that the people of Strandir know a bit more about witchcraft and sorcery than others, and to underscore that claim The Museum of Sorcery & Witchcraft, which takes one on a magical tour into the mystical world of the supernatural, is to be found in the area.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Arts festival in the Eastern fjords
Seyðisfjörður          July 13 - July 25, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will be helping the local people and organisers of LungA, an arts festival for young people in Seyðisjförður, at the Icelandic eastern fjords.
We will help with the preparation of the festival and with many activities during the busy time of the events. During the festival we will be helping with the set up of the venues and help to clean up the venue after the events; we will also have the chance to attend events and participate in some of the workshops.
We will watch the entrances and be part of the security during the festival. Many other projects could arise during the festival and volunteers should be prepared to help with what is needed and be ready to have some flexibility as we may be working on shifts also during the evenings.
During the festival there are workshops, exhibitions, fashion shows, concerts, performances, joy, happiness and loads of other stuff that appeal to the large crowd of locals and foreign visitors. LungA is first and foremost a festival created to involve young people, foster creativity and at the same time promote knowledge of art and culture.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have access to the local swimming pool. The beautiful scenery of Seyðisfjörður offers countless opportunities to be discovered by foot or hiking in the stunning mountain landscape.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a local community centre; in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The project is located in Seyðisjförður, a town and municipality in the East fjords. The town has around 700 inhabitants and the settlement of the town traces back to the early period of settlement in Iceland. Seyðisfjörður is surrounded by beautiful mountains on all sides with the most prominent Mt. Bjólfur to the west and Strandartindur to the East. The fjord itself is accessible on each side from the town, by following the main road that leads through the town. Further out the fjord is fairly remote but rich with natural interest including puffin colonies.
The town is well known for its old wooden buildings and has remnants of urban street configurations within its urban fabric. There are several waterfalls in the town and popular hiking paths. Skálanes nature and heritage centre is 17 km east of the town. The reserve is home to a diverse range of wildlife, as well as catering for visitors and anyone wanting to explore the south side of the fjord.
LungA art festival was started at the initiative of a group of young people who were unhappy with the lack of activity in their town and wanted a change. The change involved establishing a festival for young people. One of the main goals of the group was to increase public interest in arts and culture and erase the prejudice that seemed to rule among young people. It took time for the festival to be introduced and now it is very popular and has been sold out year after year.

Terminal: Closest International Airports: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF); nearest domestic airport and bus stop is Egilsstaðir (EGS). The docking port for the Norröna ferry connecting Iceland with the Faroe Islands, Denmark and Europe is located in the town of Seyðisfjörður, 30 km from Egilsstaðir.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Support the operation and mission of the Salvation Army Guesthouse and Shelter in Reykjavik
Reykjavik          July 13 - July 27, 2012
Reykjavik          July 27 - August 10, 2012
Reykjavik          August 10 - August 24, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will take part in a volunteer project with the Salvation Army in Iceland.
The Salvation Army runs since 1898 a popular guesthouse in the centre of Reykjavík. The profit from its operation goes to the charity and social work of the Salvation Army in Iceland. By staying there, guests (mainly international travellers) are helping their projects that support people in need.

Volunteers will have 3 main tasks during their stay at txhe guesthouse in Reykjavík:
- Helping the team of the guesthouse to clean the rooms and common areas,
- Preparing breakfast for the guests and lunch for the team and volunteers, and
- Taking care of the laundry.
The work will be mainly in the mornings and volunteers will have plenty of time in the afternoon to explore and discover the city of Reykjavík.
Volunteers are also welcome to bring in ideas to improve the guesthouse as to take on projects like creating a new welcome book for the guests with travel information, history of the guesthouse, links to learn more about Iceland, etc. Volunteers could also create a welcome poster about the guesthouse which will be framed and placed at its main entrance.

Additional to the main tasks, volunteers may provide support at the day shelter, which welcomes people every day, preparing food and taking care of the facilities to allow the visitors of the shelter to rest, talk, take showers and relax while watching television or playing games.

The Salvation Army is an international Church movement that currently works in over 120 countries and is known for its thrift stores and charity work. In Iceland their social work is directed to support people in need or in difficult situation, mainly individuals dealing with drug or alcohol abuse, homeless, aid to refugees and to the elderly.

Language: English

Leisure time: Volunteers will have plenty of free time to visit Reykjavík and the vicinity during the project.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay at the Salvation Army Guesthouse or in a flat, 100 meters from the guesthouse with access to kitchen, washing machine and Wi-Fi at the guesthouse.

Location: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicates new global trends. It is an International city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 160 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Medieval Festival in Iceland
Akureyri          July 15 - July 27, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will be working in the north of Iceland in a place full of historical heritage for the nation, with a lot of archaeological findings from the middle ages. Every year there is a medieval festival and volunteers will have the opportunity to be a part of the festival. We will be working on various different things, both in the surroundings and for the festival itself.
Preparation for the festival will include building two campsites and general preparations around the area. The tasks during the festival will be very diverse; we will be selling tickets, cleaning in the area and assisting various crafts men that are showing some old traditional Icelandic crafts.
Other projects during the festival might include participation in re-enactment of old Viking games. We will also be cooking and helping for some big grill-parties in the festival, and participating and enjoying the festival in other ways. After the festival is over, we will be helping in cleaning the area and leaving it in a good shape after the festivities have ended.
Work will be physically demanding and involves having a good condition; working in shifts, part of the group in the mornings and afternoons, and the rest in the afternoons and evenings.
Tasks will be diverse, therefore flexibility and open-mind is expected. Volunteers need to be ready to work outdoors in physical jobs and be willing to take part in all the diverse tasks in the project.

Language: English

Leisure time: The camp is located in a place of extreme beautiful surroundings with countless opportunities to discover them by foot or hiking; area surrounded by stunning mountains, fjords and rivers.

Accommodation: The volunteers will be lodged in the boarding school, sleeping on a mattress. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: In the north of Iceland, close to Akureyri on the shore of Eyjafjörður, the longest fjords in the country surrounded by mountains reaching up to1500 m. The Arctic Circle in only 60 km north of Akureyri but still the climate is mild, with summer temperatures up to 25°C and winter temperatures in average around 0˚C.
North Iceland is an expansive, enchanting region, where you can find all of Iceland's attractive aspects, culture and a flourishing society, endless opportunities for entertainment and outdoor recreation, picturesque nature in all directions, and more natural sights than almost anywhere else.
The place of the workcamp is unique: You will not find another place in Iceland with so many antiquities from a trading post from the middle ages. This was one the main trading post in northern Iceland and is mentioned many times in Old Icelandic Sagas from the 13th and 14th centuries. Archaeological digging in the area during the last six years has shown that it was a trading post up to the 16th century, possibly until trading started in Akureyri.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Viking festival and youth arts in the North of Iceland
Hvammstangi          July 16 - July 30, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will have the unique opportunity to take part in two different cultural festivals in the North of Iceland: a youth arts festival called Eldur í Húnaþingi and a Viking festival devoted to one of the heroes of the Icelandic sagas, Grettir the strong!
We will be involved in preparing, participating and then taking down the festivals. The area will be prepared to fit the festival, Viking tents will be set up and a wooden playground for kids built. Areas for bow shooting and tests of strength will be arranged. We will also help around with games for the children, competitions and courses related to the Viking culture. After the festival, we will help to deconstruct the Viking tents and get the area in its former shape.

Eldur í Húnaþingi is a Youth arts festival organised since 2003 that became a venue for Youth to let their light shine. It is organized by local youngsters with the help of many people in the county and Iceland. We will be helping in the preparations for an outdoor concert, doing light cleaning and maintenance work. We will assist on the family-day, i.e. face painting and other fun activities.
Volunteers with any kind of artistic skills are more than welcome and the organizers of the festival will try to involve them in the programme of its activities.

Apart from taking part in both festivals, we will get to know the place and the history of the area and we can participate in the various courses and seminars held by the hosts during our free time.
The volunteers will, among other things, be given the opportunity to get to know the activities of The Seal Center, located in the area, by helping out on their annual seal counting day.

This project is a unique opportunity to get in touch with one of the greatest Icelandic sagas, Grettissaga, through work and play.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermal pool in Hvammstangi. Other leisure activities will also be organised for the group of volunteers and will include hiking and local excursions such as seal spotting.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a local school with mattresses, with access to living room area, kitchen and bathrooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The project is located about 260 km from Reykjavík, in the North West of the country, on the foot of the Western Fjords peninsula, where one of the most famous Icelandic sagas took place. This area is rich in history, here the Viking battled for power and justice. Today it is a more peaceful place, with few farms, small towns and villages, rich on beautiful basalt cliffs and hot springs. Hvammstangi is the largest town in the area; its main economic activities are fisheries, a variety of services for the surrounding area while tourism is blooming.
From Hvammstangi is only a short travel to Vatnsnes with a wealth of varied historical sites, beautiful scenery, great views of the mountains at Strandir and last but not least a seal habitat within easy walking distance.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Help save the whales
Reykjavik          July 16 - July 29, 2012
Reykjavik          July 30 - August 12, 2012
Reykjavik          August 13 - August 26, 2012
Reykjavik          August 28 - September 10, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will take part in a whale-awareness and protection project run in cooperation with IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare). This mainly consists of distributing information, conducting a survey, preparing the local communities for port visits from the research boat, having people fill out postcards that will be taken to the government at the end of the project, talking to people and having fun in Reykjavík!

The group will take turns wearing a whale costume and walking around downtown Reykjavík. One part of our project is also to let pedestrians try on the costume and take pictures. This project is fun loving, friendly and peaceful. We encourage each volunteer to come prepared with some ideas of awareness rising for this project, to discuss with the group and implement.

The purpose of this project is to raise awareness among tourists (and locals) that by tasting whale meat in Icelandic restaurants they encourage whaling. The truth is that most Icelanders have never tasted whale meat and do not intend to do so. In a survey made by Gallup in 2007, 86% of those asked had not purchased whale meat in the last 12 months; however 67% were in favour of commercial whaling. This seems obscure, but explanations can be found in the nation’s heritage.
In Iceland there's a saying ‘Hvalreki’ or ‘Beached-Whale’ meaning ‘Jack-pot’. When a whale beached, the whole community had food for a long time, and had indeed hit the jack-pot. Later Icelanders started whaling for the oil, that at one time was used for lighting street-lamps in cities such as Paris. This created work and foreign currency and improved life in the country at that time.
Iceland was also one of the first countries in the world to ban commercial whaling. We can help Iceland to make a positive decision again, by educating the growing number of people who eat up to 40% of the whale meat consumed in the country, but at the same time say they are against whaling.

Language: English

Leisure time: Volunteers will be provided with passes to go on free whale watching trips. Excursions (Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, South shore, etc) will be arranged at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house with shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicate new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

History and Culture of the West Fjords
Reykhólahreppur          July 18 - July 31, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will have an opportunity to work in the West Fjords of the country doing various tasks preparing for a village fair and helping during the fair itself. The festival wants to promote the local History and Culture, so this project is very good for volunteers interested in these aspects in a remote isolated area of the country.
Tasks will include helping with the village festivities by preparing for evening shows and entertainment during the festival, beautifying the area before the fair as well as cleaning up after the festival itself.

Language: English

Leisure time:  Free time activities will be organized for the volunteers by the host. The volunteers will get the chance to participate in the town fair, have a guided visit to the boat exhibition, go swimming, entrance to the “Gifts of Nature” museum and other leisure activities during their stay.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a dorm, sharing rooms. Volunteers will be sleeping in beds but are asked to bring their own sleeping bag.

Location: Volunteers will stay in the West fjords of Iceland, in the municipality of Reykhólahreppur, which is located about 250 kilometres from Reykjavík. The municipality is located south in the West fjords. In 2012 the population of Reykhólahreppur was around 271 inhabitants, this is not a typo, making it the 60th most populous municipality in Iceland.
The area boasts of beautiful landscape which catches the eye of everyone who travels through. It is a great place to stop and enjoy nature, go for hikes and for bird watching. The village gives a unique and beautiful view of the Breiðafjörður Bay. Geothermal heat can be found in the area, one of the few areas in the West fjords which have geothermal heat, and in the olden days it was used to grow corn. The only Algae factory in Iceland is located in Reykhólahreppur and it is environmentally friendly, algae growth at the inshore of Breiðafjörður is harvested and then the geothermal heat is used to dry the algae.
Economically, the town is quite different from many other of the Westfjord communities. It is not a fishing village, due in large to the shallow waters of the eastern end of Breiðafjörður. Historically, however, it has made its way over the years through the harvest of natural resources. In the past this has included the harvesting of seals and birds, the history of which is documented in the Gifts of Nature Museum located adjacent to the tourist information center.
This is quite a historic place which is mentioned in many Viking Sagas especially the one of Grettir the strong or Grettissaga. The local swimming pool is named after him and is called Grettislaug.
The distance is around 240 kilometres from Ísafjörður and 350 from Akureyri.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus, Central Bus Station (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Explore traditional farming practices in South Iceland
Mýrdalshreppur          July 18 - July 31, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers in this project will have the unique opportunity to get to know and explore the traditional Icelandic dairy and vegetable/carrots farming. Our host cultivates carrots, has cows and runs a tourist accommodation.

Our main tasks in this project will consist in harvesting the carrots. We will be involved in preparing for the harvest, collecting plastic covers from the garden beds, harvesting the carrots, cleaning and wrapping them up and getting everything ready for the market. Some work might as well be awaiting us in the stalls, such as milking the cows or tending to them in general.

Special requirements: Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors.

Language: English

Leisure time: Free time activities in the area will be organised for the volunteers. This might include sight-seeing, hiking etc. The workcamp is located in a place of extreme beautiful surroundings with countless opportunities to discover them by foot or hiking; area surrounded by stunning mountains, glaciers and rivers.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house; in a sleeping bag accommodation sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The farm is located in the South of Iceland, a beautiful area surrounded by mountains and glaciers to the north and facing the Atlantic Ocean to the south.
The inhabitants here live in constant threat of volcanic eruptions and the area was hit during the recent eruptions in Eyjafjallajökull 2010 and Vatnajökull 2011. It got all covered by ashes, but the natives here are strong minded and ‘folded up their sleeves’ as the Icelanders express it and proved the common belief that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Vík, the closest town, is Iceland's most southerly village. Mýrdalur is bordered by the glacial river Jökulsá to the west and the river Blautakvísl to the east. Its northern border is the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which caps the volcanic Mt. Katla, while its southern limits are black sands and the rolling Atlantic waves. The district lives mainly by agriculture. Although this community of 600 inhabitants faces the open Atlantic, Vík is the only seaside settlement in Iceland left without a harbour due to natural circumstances. Among the many aspects of Vík that make it attractive are the sea-and-land trips and trips on the Mýrdalsjökull glacier to list a few.

The natural beauty of the area is spectacular. Just east of the village's outskirts lies one of Europe's biggest arctic tern breeding grounds. South of Vík is a beautiful beach, which the international magazines named one of the world's ten best island beaches in 1991. A short hike within the close vicinity of Vík is sure to satisfy all serious nature lovers and bird watchers. Vík and its surroundings is one of the main bird life areas in Iceland.

This workcamp takes place in mid July when the nights are still bright in Iceland. The bright nights are magical with almost 24 hours of sunlight and staying awake enjoying the peaceful and beautiful surroundings is a unique experience.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Help organise an International Football Festival for kids
Reykjavik          July 19 - August 1, 2012

Volunteer project: Volunteers will be part of the team organising Rey Cup, an International football festival for kids in 4th and 5th grade. The festival is 5 days long and will be organised in Reykjavík, between July 25 and 29. The festival has been growing every year since it was first held in 2001 and this year it will include international teams from Finland, Canada and Faroe Islands and referees from Germany, Denmark and Switzerland.

Rey Cup is a great adventure in the eyes of the young people taking part; participants and volunteers take home precious memories about the days and nights they spent in Laugardalur and the neighbourhood. We will team up with local Icelandic volunteers, interested in outdoor activities and sport, the parents of the participants and others. This festival is run mainly by volunteers and the support we are giving to the event is well appreciated.

We will share all types of tasks related to the festival and the group will be split according to the needs and to give everyone the chance to try out different assignments. We might be working during the weekends, but free days will be given accordingly to the working days. Volunteers are an integral part of creating an international atmosphere in Reykjavík. The input of the volunteers will make a big difference in making the festival an impressive multicultural event.

Before starting the festival, we may help preparing the area for the festival, cleaning, painting and doing light maintenance work. During the festival, we will keep the football fields clean, help closing the fields in the evenings, help preparing breakfast for the teams. We will also help with the clearance of the area after the tournament. There's a wide variety of duties before, during and after the festival. We will have the great opportunity to mix with the locals and get to know Icelandic culture.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free passes to the biggest geothermal outdoor pool in Reykjavík during the project. The group will be invited to the final barbeque party in the Reykjavík Zoo. Excursions (Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, South shore, etc) will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: We will be lodged in a local house or school in Reykjavík. We will sleep on mattresses, so please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicate new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides.

July is the month of white nights, when the sunsets are late, sunrises are early and darkness is never complete. In the area within 100 km of Reykjavik, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.
The population of the city is over 200.000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Support the work of the Reykjavik Botanical Garden
Reykjavik          July 22 - August 4, 2012
Reykjavik          August 6 - August 18, 2012
Reykjavik          August 19 - September 1, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteer program with the Botanic Garden in Reykjavík is organized for the second year in a row. The Botanic Garden is an outdoor collection of living plants, founded in 1961 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011. The garden's main role is to conserve plants for education, research and delight. It conserves some 5000 plant species in eight plant collections. The collections give an idea of the enormous diversity of vegetation in the northern temperate zone. In summer there is a variety of events in the Botanic Garden and group receptions are available throughout the year.

The volunteers will be doing general gardening work in the garden, tending the flowers, trees and other plants. Volunteers will also assist in organising and carrying out special events that might be planned on short notice but they will all be related to the general aim and work of the garden. The work starts early every week day; working hours are from 7:30 - 15:05, so volunteers have to be motivated to work early in the morning.

Language: English

Leisure time: Tours and excursions will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house in Reykjavík; sleeping in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicate new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.

Visitors to Reykjavík experience easily the pure energy at the heart of Iceland's capital city - whether from the boiling thermal energy underground, the natural green energy within the city and around it, or the lively culture and fun-filled nightlife.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.
Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides. In the summer, you can sit by the harbour at midnight and watch the sun dip slightly below the horizon before it makes its way up again.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Age range: 22 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Monitoring and removal of invasive plant species in Vatnajökull National park
Vatnajökull National park          July 22 - August 4, 2012
Vatnajökull National park          August 3 - August 17, 2012

Volunteer project: This project takes place in Skaftafell, which is a part of Vatnajökull National park. Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Europe, and covers approximately 8% of Iceland; about 2/3 of the glacier is inside the park boundaries. The National Park is divided into three different areas: Skaftafell and sandur, Lakagígar, and the Vatnajökull ice sheet itself. The Skaftafell area is an oasis surrounded by sandur and glaciers. The climate is favourable as Skaftafell is sheltered by Vatnajökull and Öræfajökull glaciers. Volcanic eruptions, glaciers, glacial rivers and jokulhlaup have formed the landscape specific to the park. Approximately 250 species of higher plants can be found in Skaftafell, and over 30 species of birds nest there. Skeiðará gives name to two geological terms: “jökulhlaup” and “sandur”. Skeiðarársandur is the largest sandur in the world and the most important breeding area of the Great skua (Stercorarius skua) in the North Atlantic. There are also interesting historical sites in the National Park, for instance the old farm Sel, and the home power station below Magnúsarfoss waterfall. The National Museum of Iceland is responsible for the preservation of the old buildings in the park. Many hiking trails, fit for all hikers, have been marked, and a brochure with descriptions of the trails is available at the visitor centre. An interesting trail takes you to Svartifoss waterfall, which is famous for the basalt columns which surround it. The Skaftafellsstofa Visitor Centre hosts an exhibit about the culture, history and nature of the area.

In the National park, volunteers will be cooperating and working with the Environment agency of Iceland. The main focus of the work is on surveying, GPS mapping, data collection and the removal of invasive plant species. Although Lupin now grows throughout Iceland, efforts are being made to control its spread within national parks and nature protection areas. Alongside the actual plant removal itself, the volunteers will collect data to help monitor the extent of the problem and the success of the removal operations. This project is being developed and managed in partnership with staff from the University of Iceland.

Language: English

Leisure time: In the area you will find great places for hiking. Also, some reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysers, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

Accommodation: In Skaftafell, the volunteers will stay in tents or in a hut. They should bring a warm sleeping bag and a sleeping mat.

Location: Vatnajökull National park

Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik, Iceland.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Environmental work in the Land of Trolls
Reykjavik          August 7 - August 21, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will join a project in a beautiful and peaceful area in the north of Iceland. Volunteers will be tearing down old fence posts around the area, planting trees and other plants, building stone walls and cleaning around a construction site in the area.
In the evenings and during the free days there will be enough time to explore the surroundings, trekking and walking. There is also the possibility to participate in activities such as yoga, meditation and a guided hiking tour around the area.
The Lodge, where we will stay, is an ancient sheep farm that's been continually inhabited from the time of the settlement of the Vikings in Iceland in circa 850AD.
Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors and staying in a very remote place.

Language: English

Leisure time: The camp is located in a place of extreme beauty and isolation; natural surroundings.
Additional free time activities will be organized for the volunteers, like yoga and a guided hiking tour using environmental interpretation for a deeper understanding of the value of nature and the importance of nature protection.

Accommodation: The volunteers will be hosted in a local housing in sleeping bags.

Location: The workcamp will take place in a valley at the north of Iceland in a peaceful area surrounded by mountains. Located in the heart of Tröllaskagi (“Trolls’ Headland” - between Eyjafjörður and Skagafjörður), a mountainous peninsula, where most of the mountains rise above 1000 meters and the highest one is over 1500 meters. It is the part of Iceland with the highest elevation outside the central highlands.
The area is not a continuous highland, but has deep valleys which glaciers have dug with their enormous power in the last Ice Age. The area is renowned as one of Iceland’s most spectacular areas for outdoor activity. Hikers can find suitable walking routes at any time of year, while mountaineers can scale peaks of all shapes and sizes
The local environment has many options for exploration of the flora and fauna, hiking and enjoying solitude in a beautiful surrounding. In the valley where the workcamp takes place there is hidden mountain springs, beautiful waterfalls, hanging valleys and glaciers as small canyons.
The distance to the next town and village is about 60 km to Akureyri and 30 km to Dalvík. Akureyri is often referred to as the capital of the north and it is by far the largest town outside of the Reykjavik capital area with a population of about 17.200. Akureyri is the centre of culture, education and leisure activities in north Iceland.
Dalvik is a small community with around 2000 inhabitants. The local community is based upon the fisheries and fish processing. From Dalvik the ferry Sæfari serves the island of Grímsey, Iceland’s northernmost community, which lies on the Arctic Circle. Sæfari also serves Hrísey which is out in the middle of Eyjafjörður and is often referred to as the pearl of Eyjafjörður.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Domestic airport is Akureyri (AEY).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Environmental work and exploring traditional farming practices in South Iceland
Mýrdalshreppur          August 8 - August 22, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers in this project will have the unique opportunity to get to know and explore the traditional Icelandic dairy and vegetable/carrots farming. Our host cultivates carrots, has cows and runs a tourist accommodation.

The project will combine different tasks and ensure diverse daily activities and various experiences at once for the volunteers. Among other things, we will be harvesting the carrots, cleaning, wrapping and preparing them for the market.
Some work might as well be awaiting us in the stalls, such as milking the cows or tending to them in general. There will also be some environmental and outdoors tasks such as cleaning up and tidying in the area and the grass of a windbreak-wall might need mowing/cutting.

Special requirements: Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors.

Language: English

Leisure time: Free time activities in the area will be organised for the volunteers. This might include sight-seeing, hiking etc. The workcamp is located in a place of extreme beautiful surroundings with countless opportunities to discover them by foot or hiking; area surrounded by stunning mountains, glaciers and rivers.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house; in a sleeping bag accommodation sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The farm is located in the South of Iceland, a beautiful area surrounded by mountains and glaciers to the north and facing the Atlantic Ocean to the south.
The inhabitants here live in constant threat of volcanic eruptions and the area was hit during the recent eruptions in Eyjafjallajökull 2010 and Vatnajökull 2011. It got all covered by ashes, but the natives here are strong minded and ‘folded up their sleeves’ as the Icelanders express it and proved the common belief that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Vík, the closest town, is Iceland's most southerly village. Mýrdalur is bordered by the glacial river Jökulsá to the west and the river Blautakvísl to the east. Its northern border is the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which caps the volcanic Mt. Katla, while its southern limits are black sands and the rolling Atlantic waves. The district lives mainly by agriculture. Although this community of 600 inhabitants faces the open Atlantic, Vík is the only seaside settlement in Iceland left without a harbour due to natural circumstances. Among the many aspects of Vík that make it attractive are the sea-and-land trips and trips on the Mýrdalsjökull glacier to list a few.

The natural beauty of the area is spectacular. Just east of the village's outskirts lies one of Europe's biggest arctic tern breeding grounds. South of Vík is a beautiful beach, which the international magazines named one of the world's ten best island beaches in 1991. A short hike within the close vicinity of Vík is sure to satisfy all serious nature lovers and bird watchers. Vík and its surroundings is one of the main bird life areas in Iceland.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Reforestation activities in Solheimar Eco-village
Sólheimar          August 12 - August 25, 2012

Volunteer project: Solheimar is a sustainable community where about 100 people live and work together. It was founded in 1930 by Sesselja Hreindís Sigmundsdóttir (1902-1974). Solheimar community emphasizes on the growth and development of man and nature. The social emphasis is that different individuals are offered variable opportunities to work, live and socialize.
The activity in Solheimar is versatile. In the village, there are organic greenhouses, both for vegetable cultivation and the only organic forestry in Iceland. There is also a shop/gallery in Solheimar, a café, a bakery, guesthouses and many art venues throughout the year. There are six workshops in the village: a candle workshop, ceramics, weaving, carpentry, fine art atelier and an herbal workshop that makes soaps, creams, paper, etc.

In Solheimar you will find a church, a sculpture garden, an arboretum, sports hall, gym and a swimming pool, a music garden, an art gallery and during the summer and for Advent a cultural festival with different venues; music, fine art, theater etc. The Eco-center Sesseljuhus was opened in 2002 where most conferences, meetings and other gatherings are held both for the village and visitors.
Today, Sólheimar (the home of the sun) is a charming village renowned for its international, artistic and ecological atmosphere, which prides itself on its varied cultural, social and sporting activities. The village is only a one-hour drive from Reykjavik. The volunteers have free access to the swimming pool and the gym.

The volunteers will be working in the Ölur Forestry Centre (the only organic reforestation centre in Iceland). We will help the workers to take care and transplant trees and to do some actual reforestation work in the surroundings. Other tasks may arise depending on the needs of the community.

Language: English

Leisure time: Free access to the swimming pool and the fitness center.

Accommodation: In a nice house with double bedrooms, each with a private bathroom. The house is fully equipped and has a big living room. Participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.

Location: Sólheimar Eco-village

Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (KEF), Reykjavík.

Age range: 20 - 45 years old

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Night of the Lights festival
Reykjanesbær          August 20 - September 3, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will be working with the Ljósanótt festival or night of the lights festival. Ljósa means lights and nótt means night.
The main projects for the volunteers will be setting up for the festival and cleaning after the festival. Volunteers will assist during the festival as needed and should be flexible and willing to assist with various projects.
Volunteers will also be given the option of preparing an act or something artistic during the night of the lights festival. We encourage people who are interested in arts and culture to apply, as volunteers with skills and ready to perform outdoors or prepare their own artwork.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will be given a chance to participate in the festivities by creating their own act or exhibition. An excursion will be organised to the blue lagoon and the surroundings.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house; in a sleeping bag accommodation sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The workcamp will take place in Reykjanesbær which is a mere five minute drive from Keflavik airport. The distance between Reykjanesbær and Reykjavik the capital is 50 Km or a 40 minute drive.
The Reykjanes, peninsula at the south–western end of Iceland is located near the capital and most travellers to Iceland land in the area: As the Reykjanes coastline draws closer and the plane prepares to land at Keflavík Airport, the peninsula is marked by active volcanism under its surface, and large lava fields allow little vegetation.
There are numerous hot springs and sulphur springs in the southern half of the peninsula, around the Kleifarvatn Lake and the Krýsuvík geothermal area where hot springs spewing water and mud dominate the landscape. The Peninsula is envied for its long & short hiking trails that zigzag through the region where colourful landscapes and their contrasts delight the visitor. Amazing ocean cliffs, (up to 70 m high) are nested by numerous bird species, often a wonderful spot for bird and whale watching.
There is also a geothermal power station at Svartsengi, where a pool has been installed using the hot and mineralized water coming down from the station; it is known as the "Blue Lagoon". The Blue Lagoon Spa is the only spa in the world on the 25 wonders of the world list. The Leif the Lucky Bridge spans the Álfagjá rift valley (60 feet wide and 20 feet deep) near Grindavík that marks the boundary of the Eurasian and North American continental tectonic plates, named after Icelandic explorer Leif Eriksson who travelled from Europe to America 500 years before Columbus.
The night of the lights festival, Ljósanótt, is held yearly in Reykjanesbær the first weekend of September. It starts on a Thursday and ends on a Sunday. This cultural festival has various shows, concerts and gatherings and people from all over come to participate in the festivities.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Trail maintenance in the glacier wilderness of Vatnajokull
Ásbyrgi          August 25 - September 2, 2012
Ásbyrgi          September 1 - September 8, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will have the unique opportunity to work in the largest National Park in Europe, the Vatnajökull National Park. The group will take part in a project with the Environmental agency of Iceland (Umhverfisstofnun). We have been working with the agency since 2007 on diverse projects in the national parks and protected areas of the country.

Work will include cleaning up the camping grounds after the summer season and preparing it for the fall; clearing trees from walking paths; clearing trees from riding paths; placing gravel in paths. Volunteers should be prepared for all kinds of weather.
The work is physically demanding and volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors.

Language: English

Leisure time: The project takes place in a remote natural area of extreme beauty. Countless opportunities to discover the area by foot or to hike in the surroundings. Free time activities are mostly outdoors, like hikes in the area.

Accommodation: The volunteers will be staying in tents. Shower facilities are at the camping grounds. Volunteers will have to bring their own warm sleeping bag.

Location: Volunteers will get an extraordinary chance to stay at Ásbyrgi located in Vatnajökull national park, the largest in Europe. The national park, which was established in 2008, stretches around the Vantajökull ice cap from the south coast to the north coast of the island and it is the largest protected wilderness in Europe. It covers around 15.000 square kilometres, which is roughly around 13% of the surface of Iceland.
Vatnajökull is Europe’s largest glacier with the surface of 8100 square kilometres. The glacial ice conceals a number of mountains, valleys and plateaus. It even hides some active central volcanoes. The icecap rises at its highest to over 2000 metres above sea level making it the highest peak in Iceland.
Due to the size of the park, it is established and operated under a special law. It is an autonomous government agency that requires cooperation between all the municipalities involved.

The workcamp is located in Ásbyrgi, which is one of the wonders of nature - a wide, horseshoe-shaped canyon with sheer cliff faces up to 100m high. It is 3.5 kilometres long and over 1 km wide. At the innermost ends lies Botnstjörn, a small pond surrounded by luxuriant vegetation. A distinctive rock formation rises up from the centre of Ásbyrgi, up to 250 m wide, known as Eyjan.
The Vatnajökull national park boasts of extreme beauty with rough landscaping and unique nature. The uniqueness of the park is primarily because of the great variety of landscape features, created by the combined forces of rivers, glacial ice, and volcanic and geothermal activity.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Maintenance of hiking trails in the Icelandic highlands
Highlands of Iceland, Kjölur road          August 26 - September 9, 2012

Volunteer project: Volunteers will be working on few different projects for the general preparation of the area before winter. The main focus will be to clear old fences from the area that no longer serve their purpose. Those fences are old and are now weathered down and can easily be a danger hazard for hikers and travelers in the area.
We will also be working on hiking paths, building new ones and maintaining those already in place. We will put up signs, markings and descriptive information charts around them. We will be cleaning up litter, doing maintenance and construction work on the houses and the area for winter. The work is physically demanding and the landscape is raw, but also quite rewarding.

Language: English

Leisure time: Remote and isolated site located in a natural area of extreme beauty. Free time activities are mostly outdoors. Countless opportunities to discover the area on foot or to hike in the surroundings: stunning mountain landscapes, mighty glaciers and geothermal activity.

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a local mountain house; sleeping on mattresses. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The Icelandic highlands or “the interior” are a true pearl to all nature lovers and outdoor people. It is accessible on 4WD cars and most routes involve crossing unbridged rivers.
If you really want to get away from it all, the interior of Iceland is like nothing you have ever experienced. The mountainous centre of the island, with its rocky deserts, craggy mountain peaks, ice caps, volcanoes, hidden valleys and hot springs, is an awesome and untouched wilderness. Lake Hvítárvatn on the Kjölur highland road glints icy-blue at the foot of the Langjökull glacier, and in the black sands of Sprengisandur - the arctic river.

The interior was long all but inaccessible. Outlaws hid out for years at a time in the highlands, rustling sheep and keeping away from law-abiding citizens, while folklore tells of both natural and supernatural beings who lay in wait for unwary highland travelers.

Travelers between north and south sometimes had to cross the highlands: for instance for the assembly of Alþingi (parliament) each summer, delegates had to ride from every corner of the country to Þingvellir in the southwest. Journeys across the interior were never undertaken lightly; such travel was risky and lives were often lost. Today the interior is crossed by two mountain roads, via Kjölur and Sprengisandur, which are only open in summer, after the snow has thawed in spring.

Volunteers will be staying close to the glacier Hofsjökull and near to the rivers Hvítá and Þjórsá. The mountains in the area that reach up to 1500 m, were formed during a volcanic eruption in the later part of the ice age. The area is still dynamic and great geothermal activity takes place in the surroundings. The environment is very diverse, both in shape and colour. The mountains are very weathered and have very little continuous growth, as the forces of nature, like glaciers, water flow, ice bursts etc. have been fast working in these mountain highlands.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Organic farming in Eastern Iceland
Fljótsdalshérað          August 26 - September 9, 2012
Fljótsdalshérað          September 8 - September 22, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will be working at one of the few organic farms in Iceland, located in the East of the country. Our main tasks will be to harvest (by hand) vegetables, mainly potatoes, beats, beetroots and lettuce. Volunteers will also pick berries from the surrounding area. Alongside the harvesting tasks, volunteers will clean the vegetables and make them ready for consumers in the Icelandic market, as the farm sells its products at different stores and organic shops around the country.
Around the farm, there is a young forest that can be maintained and cleaned if the harvesting jobs are done.

Volunteers need motivation to work mainly outdoors doing physical labour and under ever changing weather conditions. Volunteers will be provided with good waterproof overalls and gloves for the work.

Language: English

Leisure time: Free time activities will be organized for the volunteers such as day trips and excursions in the area.

Accommodation: We will be hosted in a local house; sleeping on beds or mattresses in several rooms, shared by 2-4 volunteers each. Please bring your own sleeping bag. The house is equipped with a shower, washing machine and a kitchen.
Please, keep in mind that during this project, only vegetarian food will be provided, which also means that we will be mainly eating local, organic food from the farm.

Location: The farm, one of the few and large organic farms in Iceland is run with the support of volunteers, who have been helping in the project of organic locally grown crops for the last years. About 20% of the farm is used for cultivation of different crops and the rest of the land is grassland. There is a forest of about one million trees planted there since starting the farm in the 1970s. The two major crops grown are barley and potatoes, and others include parsley, kale, beetroot, lettuce, kohlrabi, carrots and cabbage.

The farm is located in the municipality of Fljótsdalshérað, Iceland's easternmost populous municipality; 16 km from the largest town in the Eastern Iceland - Egilsstaðir (population 2268). Total population is about 3.408 (01.01.2012) and it is the largest municipality (in area) in the country.

The wild reindeers of Iceland are found in Fljótsdalshérað, they are about ten thousand and also the biggest forest in Iceland, Hallormstaðarskógur is located within the district. The farm is located very close to Lagarfljót, the home of the mythical creature of the Lagarfljót Serpent (Lagarfljótsormur), which was believed to be spotted early 2012 by a local farmer. If you are lucky you might get a glimpse of it and maybe even be able to get a picture of the much sought after serpent.
The East Fjords is a region of a special landscape, dominated by long, narrow fjords and steep mountains. This is one of the oldest regions of Iceland shaped by glaciers in the Ice Age.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). The closest bus stop and local airport is located in Egilsstaðir (EGS). The harbour for ferries coming from Faroe Islands and Denmark is in Seyðisfjörður, 27 km from Egilsstaðir.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Heritage and nature conservation in the far East
East Iceland          August 27 - September 10, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will be working in the east at a Nature & Heritage centre, doing different tasks, helping the centre become as sustainable as possible.

Volunteer groups have been assisting this project for some years now and our main tasks will be reforestation & soil erosion prevention. We will assist in preparing vegetable gardens, care for pigs, hens, ducks, a cow and a horse – all being a part of the area's sustainability. These projects may also include traditional food and drink preparation, like smoking, curing, cheese making and even ale brewing.
A new task for us will be collecting down from the eider ducks and making bird habitats. Our host is planning to build a barn and we will assist them with that. We might also build a shelter and fences for the animals and clean the coastline.

Language: English

Leisure time: Free time activities will include making cheese and ale, as well as enjoying the many things the exquisite nature offers. Remote places located in natural reserve areas of extreme beauty. The group will have the opportunity to learn about the environment and culture of Iceland while working on the reserve.

Accommodation: We will stay within the reserve and will sleep in bunk beds in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bags. Equipped kitchen and washing machine are available.

Location: The heritage and nature conservation centre and its reserve are located in a very isolated area in the East of Iceland, far from any urban centre. We have to be aware of the location remoteness and its extreme natural beauty and wildlife. There are no public transportation services to the closest town and entertainment alternatives are in connection with the gorgeous nature; walking and hiking journeys during the free time and the creativity of the group.
This project is adequate for volunteers enjoying isolated places with splendid nature and looking for peaceful surroundings as the quietness of the area. The sea and High Mountains, reaching up to 600 meters in height, border the area. You can also discover waterfalls, snowfields and reindeer – all within walking distance of the house.

The reserve is managed as a conservation site for environmental education and sustainable tourism, hosting a number of environmentally important flora and fauna including one of Iceland’s largest colonies of Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea), 600m sea cliffs hosting numbers of nesting sea birds (incl. Puffin, Kittiwake and Fulmar), herds of reindeer and it is home to the elusive arctic fox.
Some other bird species include Black-tailed Godwit, Red-necked Phalarope, Golden Plover, Merlin and you may even be lucky enough to observe Europe’s largest falcon -  the Gyr Falcon.

The heritage site is very popular and over the last summer the visitors included university students, environmental volunteers, professionals in nature, heritage, academia, food production and arts, hundreds of tourists and a pagan priest to mention a few.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Domestic airport is Egilsstadir (EGS).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Asian days in Reykjavik
Reykjavik          August 30 - September 10, 2012

Volunteer project: One of the most important aims of this volunteer project is to promote intercultural understanding. Iceland is getting more and more intercultural and nowadays you can find people from all over the world in Reykjavik. We would like to involve foreign nationals living in Iceland to give them an opportunity to promote the culture of their origin in the local society.
We will help with the preparation and running of cultural activities together with Asian people living in Iceland. We will also have some workshops and debates related to art and culture.

During the project, the volunteers and the work will be focused on Asia by having workshops on Asian music and dances. We will also involve Asian people living in Reykjavik in order to provide the participants the opportunity to learn about Asian cuisine, get to know them and make video forums with movies that reflect the situation in the continent today in order to create debates concerning different issues. At the end of the project, we will organize a little "Asian festival" in downtown Reykjavik where we will show the outcomes of the workshops, a performance of dances and music as well food, photos, and reflections about the situation in Asia today and how young people should act in order to improve the current situation.
The volunteers will also have the opportunity to make graffiti in the “heart square” which is in the centre of Reykjavik.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools in Reykjavik. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
On weekends, the central location of the accommodation is ideal for enjoying Reykjavik‘s amazing nightlife, which is world-renowned for its wide array of bars, clubs, and concerts.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysirs, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in one of several shared houses offering basic sleeping and cooking facilities in the heart of historical downtown Reykjavik. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag and towels, but mattresses and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge, and volunteers also have free access to shared desktop computers in communal areas. The accommodation is located within short walking distance of many urban amenities, including: banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, libraries, theaters, shops, museums, and bus stations.

Location: Reykjavik is a city full of energy, just waiting for you to experience it. Powered by heat from the earth below, with ever-changing weather sweeping across the landscape, its natural features are matched by the energy of its residents. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, culture, nature, clean air - and Reykjavik has them in spades. All the advantages of a modern, forward-looking society are complemented by the beautiful natural setting. In a country of only just over 300,000 people, the Reykjavik Capital Area has a population of about 200,000. However, since it’s the only major city in the country, Reykjavik has a lot of the amenities that you would only expect to find in a much larger center elsewhere in the world.

Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and is centered on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Come at the right time of year, and in favorable conditions you will see the city’s skyline silhouetted against the glowing, shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Reykjavik is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay to the north, while rugged lava-fields spread to the southeast. On a clear sunny day, the Snaefellsjokull glacier glitters on the western horizon like a crystal.

Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (KEF), Reykjavík

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euros

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Farming in the shadow of Eyjafjallajokull
Eyjafjallajökull          September 1 - September 16, 2012

Volunteer project: For the third year in a row international volunteers will be working at a farm in the South of Iceland, at the feet of the mighty and famous Eyjafjallajökull, which last erupted in 2010. Our tasks will mainly be focused on improving the environment in and preparing the place for the winter.
We will assist in cleaning up the area, clearnig old fences and replacing them, painting and preparing the farm for winter in various ways. Volunteers will be able to assist in regular farm work such as milking, riding and collecting hay.

We will have the opportunity to live and work with an Icelandic family, participating in the diverse tasks that they are involved in, in their daily lives. This is a unique opportunity to get to know and to experience first-hand how a family in the countryside lives. The farm is big, with sheep, cows and horses, have their own produce and we will have the opportunity to work and learn about that.
The working plan will be flexible and it will depend on the needs of our hosts, the advance of the diverse projects in the area and of course on the weather conditions.
Volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors and be willing to take part in all the diverse projects. The work is physical and can be demanding.

Language: English

Leisure time: Place of extremely beautiful natural surroundings with countless opportunities to hike and discover it by foot.

Accommodation: In this workcamp, the volunteers will be hosted in a farmhouse, sleeping on mattresses. Volunteers will have to bring their own sleeping bag. The house is a fully equipped home, with access to a kitchen, bathroom and washing machine.

Location: The workcamp is in the beautiful south lowlands of Iceland in an active Icelandic farm in south Iceland. We will be able to explore and enjoy the south Icelandic lowland, which is made out of sand and rock sediments delivered by the river Þjórsá during the last centuries. The land is covered mostly by green grass and the closeness of the ocean can be felt in the air. The Southern district is known by its geothermal activity which helped to develop important greenhouse agriculture important in the area. Small earthquakes that can rarely be felt are very common in the area since the mid-Atlantic ridge goes across Iceland and the southern lowlands is situated between the two largest tectonic plates in the world, the Eurasian and North American plate.

The south of Iceland is one of the most popular destinations for travellers as the landscape offers diverse and breathtaking nature. Rivers and waterfalls, mountains, glaciers and long beaches form a contrast and offer a wide range of experiences.
In this area you will find some of Iceland's most beautiful places, like Þórsmörk, Tindfjöll, Eyjafjallajökull, Skógarfoss, Seljalandsfoss (a waterfall you can walk behind)and Paradísarhellir (Paradise Cave) in addition to finding unique natural and geological heritage sites and relics of a centuries-old forest.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Environmental work and traditional harvesting on the island of Videy
Island of Viðey          September 2 - September 14, 2012

Volunteer project: The city of Reykjavík will be our host again in this project and the volunteers will have the opportunity to work in the historical island of Viðey for the 6th year in a row!
In Viðey we will work on environmental and nature related issues, such as harvesting of vegetables and crops grown in the island. During last years, volunteers have put up a vegetable market and some of the produce is being sold during the weekends.
Depending on the advance of the project, we may have other possible tasks as maintenance and marking of hiking paths or bicycle trails, work on common and green recreational areas, gardening and painting works, cleaning of the coastline, etc.
We will also help with preparing the island for the autumn/winter season by taking care of bicycles, tools and furniture and store them inside.

Language: English

Leisure time: A whale watching boat trip and some other spare time activities in the area will be organised free of charge for the volunteers. Volunteers will have free rides in the boat/ferry to the city of Reykjavík during their free time. Excursions (Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon or South Shore) will be organised at discount fares for the volunteers.

Accommodation: The volunteers will be lodged in a local house at Viðey island, with a fully equipped kitchen. sleeping on mattresses. Bringing a sleeping bag is needed.

Location: Viðey or “Wood Island” is the largest (1,7 km²) island in the Kollafjord Bay, just outside Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. The island is covered by many species of plants and at least 30 species of breeding birds have been counted here.
Viðey was inhabited from soon after the settlement of Iceland already in the 10th century and at the beginning of the 20th century around 100 people lived there. But it’s uninhabited nowadays.
There is a regular boat connection between the island and the harbour of Reykjavík. The trip takes just about 10 minutes and is only a few hundred metres away from the city. This makes Viðey so special, it is a peaceful place, very close to the busy city life of the capital.
There are hiking and cycling paths around the island and there is no motor traffic allowed. It also inhabits intriguing sculptural art work, amongst them all nine pairs of basalt pillars that comprise Richard’s Serra’s work Áfangar and Yoko Ono’s “Imagine peace” column, a tower of light, which is supported by the widow of John Lennon.
Other places of interest on Viðey are related to archaeological research, the village. At the eastern end of the island is the site of the abandoned fishing village and Viðeyjarnaust, at the southwest of the island, it is a memorial to the twenty men who lost their lives when the cutter Ingvar sank off Viðey in 1906. Dramatic formations of columnar basalt may be seen on the shore.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Environmental work and exploring traditional farming practices in South Iceland
Mýrdalshreppur          September 5 - September 19, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers in this project will have the unique opportunity to get to know and explore the traditional Icelandic dairy and vegetable/carrots farming. Our host cultivates carrots, has cows and runs a tourist accommodation.

The project will combine different tasks and ensure diverse daily activities and various experiences at once for the volunteers. Among other things, we will be harvesting the carrots (if the season allows), cleaning, wrapping and preparing them for the market.
Some work might as well be awaiting us in the stalls, such as milking the cows or tending to them in general. There will also be some environmental and outdoors tasks such as cleaning up and tidying in the area and the grass of a windbreak-wall might need mowing/cutting.

Special requirements: Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors.

Language: English

Leisure time: Free time activities in the area will be organised for the volunteers. This might include sight-seeing, hiking etc. The workcamp is located in a place of extreme beautiful surroundings with countless opportunities to discover them by foot or hiking; area surrounded by stunning mountains, glaciers and rivers.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house; in a sleeping bag accommodation sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The farm is located in the South of Iceland, a beautiful area surrounded by mountains and glaciers to the north and facing the Atlantic Ocean to the south.
The inhabitants here live in constant threat of volcanic eruptions and the area was hit during the recent eruptions in Eyjafjallajökull 2010 and Vatnajökull 2011. It got all covered by ashes, but the natives here are strong minded and ‘folded up their sleeves’ as the Icelanders express it and proved the common belief that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Vík, the closest town, is Iceland's most southerly village. Mýrdalur is bordered by the glacial river Jökulsá to the west and the river Blautakvísl to the east. Its northern border is the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which caps the volcanic Mt. Katla, while its southern limits are black sands and the rolling Atlantic waves. The district lives mainly by agriculture. Although this community of 600 inhabitants faces the open Atlantic, Vík is the only seaside settlement in Iceland left without a harbour due to natural circumstances. Among the many aspects of Vík that make it attractive are the sea-and-land trips and trips on the Mýrdalsjökull glacier to list a few.

The natural beauty of the area is spectacular. Just east of the village's outskirts lies one of Europe's biggest arctic tern breeding grounds. South of Vík is a beautiful beach, which the international magazines named one of the world's ten best island beaches in 1991. A short hike within the close vicinity of Vík is sure to satisfy all serious nature lovers and bird watchers. Vík and its surroundings is one of the main bird life areas in Iceland.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Nature protection, renovation and traditional farming in the vicinity of Vatnajokull
South Iceland          September 5 - September 19, 2012

Volunteer project: This is a new project that gives the volunteers the opportunity to work in very diverse tasks. It takes place in a traditional Icelandic sheep farm where the farmers run as well a guesthouse and a restaurant.
The volunteers will be working on some renovation tasks such as painting jobs and light construction work. They will as well be doing various environmental works; removing old fences, cleaning up in the area and gardening. At last but not least the volunteers will get a glimpse of traditional farming and among other things get the unique opportunity to experience and take part in the annual rounding up of the sheep.
We will have the chance to participate in “Réttir” (the annual sheep round-up in the area). Réttir is one of the most beautiful Icelandic traditions. The annual round-up of sheep and horses is very popular and people come from the city and to take part in the activities. Réttir is a tradition which goes back a thousand years to the Viking settlement.
While we help to preserve the local environment, we will explore the surroundings of the location and enjoy free time activities arranged in cooperation with the local host, such as hiking and discovering some breathtaking natural phenomenon.

Special requirements: Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors and getting to know the ways of living in rural Iceland.

Language: English

Leisure time: Hikes and free time activities in the area will be arranged for the volunteers.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in small cottages, three sharing each, in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The farm is located in an environment of striking natural beauty and extreme contrasts, with spectacular views all around. It is surrounded by glaciers, lava fields, sandy deserts and green hills and meadows. There are many places of interest (popular tourist attractions) in the immediate neighbourhood and many remarkable geological features.
Natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions and sudden floods from beneath the glaciers have through the centuries shaped the nature and society of the region. The population here has often been reminded of the merciless forces of nature and been confronted with dramatic consequences of volcanic eruptions. Most recently in May 2011 when the whole area was covered in ashes from an eruption in the Vatnajökull glacier.
The local economy here is based on agriculture and animal husbandry, but tourism is a rapidly growing sector. More and more farmers press their luck in the sector making it possible for travellers from all over the world to enjoy the countless attractions in the area.
Just a stone’s throw away from the farm there is a centre of commerce, where you’ll find a superb new geothermal swimming pool and good sporting facilities

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Environmental and renovation activities in the beautiful Heydalur valley
Ísafjarðardjúp          September 6 - September 20, 2012
Ísafjarðardjúp          September 19 - October 3, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will continue working on this project, after the excellent results of last years' groups. International volunteers will be working in Ísafjarðardjúp for the 3^rd year in a row. We will be involved in various projects in this remote location in the Icelandic Western fjords. In general, we will be helping with the maintenance of the area after the summer season, when most tourists and hikers visit the district.

The works may involve cleaning, painting and construction work inside and in the surroundings of the camping area, but also planting vegetables or helping in horse stables. The working plan will be very flexible and it will depend on the needs of our local hosts and advance of the diverse projects in the area surrounding the valley.

In the evenings and during the free days, there will be enough time to explore the surroundings, trekking and walking. You will also be able to rest in the natural hot tubs, bathe in the local swimming pool and discover many other surprises of this beautiful place including horseback riding on the unique Icelandic horses and possibly kayaking in the fjords.

Language: English

Leisure time: The project is based in a place of extreme beauty and isolation; natural surroundings with hot springs, free access to enjoy the hot tub and the local swimming pool. Additional free time activities will be organized for the volunteers like horseback riding and kayaking around a seal colony.

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a local house; sleeping in beds; sleeping bag is not necessary for the period of the project.

Location: The project will take place in the Westfjords in the north-western part of Iceland. The region accounts for 10% of the country’s surface but only about 7200 people live there, so it is one of the least populated areas of Europe. The Westfjords are very mountainous; the coastline is made by dozens of fjords surrounded by steep hills.
The region is bounded by Breiðafjörður in the south, with Gilsfjörður cutting into the land from the west and Bitrufjörður from the east, the two almost severing the ragged peninsula from the main mass of Iceland. The West Fjords are made up of Ísafjarðar-, Barðastrandar-, and Strandir Counties.
In the Westfjords you will be able to explore the whole range of Icelandic flora from the shore and meadows, through birch to mossy moors. One can see birds, seals, whales, and then an occasional arctic fox around the sheep.
Fishing is traditionally the main industry in the region but tourism started to be more and more important as local and foreign visitors are discovering this region in rising numbers.

The project will take place in a valley covered with birch bushes in Mjóifjörður in Ísafjarðardjúp. The distances to the next town and villages are 130 km to Isafjörður and 90 km to Hólmavík. Hiking in this beautiful area is very impressive and observing the coastline walking or kayaking is an inspiring option. Landline phone connection is available, and the place provides a full variety of opportunities for volunteers and visitors.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. The closest domestic airport is Ísafjörður (IFJ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Recreating the world of the Vikings
Reykjavik          September 9 - September 22, 2012

Volunteer project: For the third year in a row, volunteers will get an introduction and a chance to try to work like the Vikings used to! We will, among other things, be building old style turf- and stonewalls using ancient tools and methods. The project’s objective is to reconstruct and keep in good shape old Viking traditional turf farmhouses.
The tasks are done using ancient tools and elements keeping the work with the same style and final details as the turf houses were originally constructed. The tools are reconstructed like the actual tools the Vikings used for similar work, since their methods still proof to be the best for this work. We will get guidance from professionals and experts, will be taught the techniques and the methods used in the old times. The concept uses Icelandic, natural local materials for the turf walls and roofs, as in the interior of the houses, using turf, soil, rocks and wood.
There is a strong aspect of learning during the working process and on the social importance of the work. We will receive practical lessons in turf cutting, turf-walling and in stone construction; which are the traditional Icelandic crafts, then to produce turf material and use these skills for the work on the turf, stone walls and other constructions.
There will be more and challenging tasks in the camp. We will help construct a sustainable henhouse and prepare an exhibition of old tools.
The work is very interesting and fun but also physically demanding.

Study theme: This project has an educational approach to building with ancient tools and techniques. We will also receive information on the historical relevance of the project and its present usefulness.

Language: English

Leisure time:  This project is ideal for those interested in green architecture, eco-culture, design and artistic work. We will have the opportunity to spend the weekend in the city of Reykjavík.

Accommodation: We will be lodged in a house, sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Please bring your own sleeping bag. There will be an opportunity to sleep for at least some nights in the traditional Icelandic turf houses.

Location: We will stay in the south of Iceland, around 60 km from Reykjavík. The place consists of few typical traditional farmhouses in the South-Icelandic style. Very few similar farmhouses remain in the country and these ones we will be staying and working in, are the last in the district. A dedicated effort has been made to develop and conserve the place as the farmhouse tradition embodies an important element of Icelandic history and the Icelandic way of life over centuries.
The largest town in the district is Selfoss (pop. 6000). The workcamp site is located about 15 km from Selfoss. We will be able to explore and enjoy the south Icelandic lowland, which is made out of sand and rock sediments delivered by the river Þjórsá during the last centuries. The land is covered mostly by green grass and the closeness of the ocean can be felt in the air.

Terminal: Closest International Airports: Keflavík /Reykjavík (KEF), the closest bus stop is in Selfoss.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 160 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

 

Experience farm life in the South of Iceland
South Iceland          September 10 - September 24, 2012

Volunteer project: For the third year in a row we offer this unique project that gives international volunteers the opportunity to work on very diverse tasks: assisting in a local Icelandic farm, doing construction, renovation, environmental work and helping with traditional farming. The project takes place in an agricultural area in the South of Iceland which is rich in both culture and history.

The environmental work will consist of collecting drift wood on the beach, cleaning the coastline and the road sides, marking hiking paths, taking care of popular spots which need maintenance. Volunteers have to be motivated for easy to medium difficult hikes.

We will work on maintaining an old stone sheep gathering corral and assist the reconstruction of turf houses, a potato storage hut and a shelter used to smoke meat and fish. We will have the chance to build, construct houses & other facilities in the way it was done in Iceland for centuries.

The farm work will offer us the opportunity to get to know the Icelandic farm life by milking the cows, working in the stables and assisting with the busy household tasks. We will be part of a family and work hand in hand with them.

We will also have the chance to participate in “Réttir” (the annual sheep round-up in the area). Réttir is one of the most beautiful Icelandic traditions. The annual round-up of sheep and horses is very popular and people come from the city to take part in the activities. Réttir is a tradition which goes back a thousand years to the Viking settlement.

Special requirements: Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors and living in a rural area of Iceland.

Language: English

Leisure time: Countless opportunities to discover the area by foot or to hike in the surroundings: stunning waterfalls, mighty glaciers and black sand beaches. Good chances to see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) if the sky is clear and conditions right.

Accommodation: We will stay in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation with access to kitchen and bathroom. Other guests or travelers might be in the house at the same time as it is a guesthouse accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The south of Iceland is one of the most popular destinations for travelers as the landscape offers diverse and breathtaking nature. Rivers and waterfalls, mountains, glaciers and long beaches form a contrast and offer a wide range of experiences. The project takes place in an active Icelandic farm in south Iceland with 35 cattle, 8 milking cows, 330 sheep, hens, a cat and a puppy, so it gives us a good example of rural living in Iceland.

Apart from traditional farming, the inhabitants are building up a museum, which will weave together history, culture and nature. The farm is on a flat area between Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Vík í Mýrdal and has amazing view to sands, mountains and glaciers in the west and north and to the Atlantic Ocean in the south.
Mýrdalssandur is a sandy area, about 700 km² large, and its mythical appearance has been an inspiration both in traditional folklore and in modern lyrics and stories.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Agricultural work project in the East of Iceland
Fljótsdalshérað          September 10 - September 24, 2012

Volunteer project: The volunteers will take part in a project at a family-run farm located in the East of Iceland. Work will mainly be around the potato cultivation at the farm. That means picking potatoes by hand or by using machines, and washing potatoes.
Other projects at the farm could be helping out with the sheep and attending to the surrounding nature, trees and plants.
The work is physically demanding and the volunteers shall be motivated to be part of the regular work and different activities in a family-run Icelandic farm.

Language: English

Leisure time: Volunteers will be given free time to explore the area as well as take short excursions with the host to the surrounding sights.

Accommodation: The volunteers will be staying at the farm, sleeping on mattresses in shared rooms. Volunteers will have to bring their own sleeping bag.

Location: The workcamp is located in the municipality of Fljótsdalshérað at the east of Iceland. The land area of the municipality stretches from Biskupsháls in the west and Héraðsflói bay in the north to the mountain ranges surrounding the central eastern fjords in the east and to Vatnajökull and Öxi in the south. The massive land area is among the greatest in Iceland. However the municipality only has about 3,500 residents with most of them living in the villages Egilsstaðir and Fellabær, together forming the largest urban centre in East Iceland.

The wild reindeers of Iceland are found in Fljótsdalshérað, they are about ten thousand and also the biggest forest in Iceland, Hallormstaðarskógur is located within the district.
The lagoon Lagarfljót is situated in the area, it is the home of the mythical creature the Lagarfljót Serpent (Lagarfljótsormur), the Loch Ness monster of Iceland, which was believed to be spotted early 2012 by a local farmer. If you get lucky you might get a glimpse of it and maybe even be able to get a picture of the much sought after serpent.

The East is one of the oldest regions in the country and it has been shaped by glaciers from the Ice age. It is a region of a unique nature and special landscape. Volunteers can experience the vast wilderness, the contrasting beauty of nature and the sense of solitude in the vicinity of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier. The nature is fascinating from the glaciers to the sea; broad barren sands, valleys with woodland and colourful vegetation all in one glimpse.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). The closest bus stop and local airport is located in Egilsstaðir (EGS). The harbour for ferries from Faroe Islands & Denmark is in Seyðisfjörður, 27 km from Egilsstaðir.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Reykjavik International Film Festival
Reykjavik          September 24 - October 8, 2012

Volunteer project: The international volunteers will help the organizers of the Reykjavík International Film Festival with different tasks before and during the festival. Our group will work closely with the team of Icelandic volunteers who are in most cases students of the Universities in Reykjavik.

We will put up posters and hand out leaflets and brochures around the city before the festival starts; some of the volunteers might be asked to pick up international guests at the airport. During the festival we will sell entrance tickets and festival passes, setup the venues before and after the movies and control the entrance if needed. There might be other tasks to be done and we will have to be flexible and willing to give a helping hand whenever necessary.

The festival is one of the most important cultural events in Reykjavik and the work of the volunteers is a crucial contribution to the event. Through participation in this international project, the volunteers have the opportunity to experience the amazing atmosphere of the festival.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools in Reykjavik. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
On weekends, the central location of the accommodation is ideal for enjoying Reykjavik‘s amazing nightlife, which is world-renowned for its wide array of bars, clubs, and concerts.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysirs, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in one of several shared houses offering basic sleeping and cooking facilities in the heart of historical downtown Reykjavik. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag and towels, but mattresses and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge, and volunteers also have free access to shared desktop computers in communal areas. The accommodation is located within short walking distance of many urban amenities, including: banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, libraries, theaters, shops, museums, and bus stations.

Location: Reykjavik is a city full of energy, just waiting for you to experience it. Powered by heat from the earth below, with ever-changing weather sweeping across the landscape, its natural features are matched by the energy of its residents. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, culture, nature, clean air - and Reykjavik has them in spades. All the advantages of a modern, forward-looking society are complemented by the beautiful natural setting. In a country of only just over 300,000 people, the Reykjavik Capital Area has a population of about 200,000. However, since it’s the only major city in the country, Reykjavik has a lot of the amenities that you would only expect to find in a much larger center elsewhere in the world.

Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and is centered on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Come at the right time of year, and in favorable conditions you will see the city’s skyline silhouetted against the glowing, shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Reykjavik is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay to the north, while rugged lava-fields spread to the southeast. On a clear sunny day, the Snaefellsjokull glacier glitters on the western horizon like a crystal.

Terminal: International airport Keflavik (KEF), Reykjavík

Age range: 18 - 35 years old

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

 

Water, nature and sustainable energy
Laugarás          September 29 - October 12, 2012
Laugarás          October 14 - October 28, 2012

Volunteer project: South Iceland contains many of Iceland’s foremost natural treasures. Many of the nation’s best-known historical sites are in South Iceland, such as Þingvellir and Skálholt. In the area you can find strong rivers, hot springs, Geysir, glaciers and waterfalls.

Iceland is a country extremely rich in water resources. Strong rivers and big lakes with fresh water can be found all around the island and under the surface there are huge cold water springs fed from high in the mountains by gradual filter of rainfall, snow and ice melt.
Situated on the mid-Atlantic ridge, there is constant, volcanic activity beneath the surface in various parts of the island. As a result, there are huge amounts of hot water reservoirs in the ground. This geothermal water is used for heating and electricity. There is also a lot of cold water coming from the mountains and glaciers, that water is used to create energy in hydropower plants.

Iceland is the only western country that produces all its electricity from emission-free and sustainable natural resources in the form of geothermal and hydro power. Iceland’s electricity production is an environmentally friendly product from the country’s natural resources. In most parts of the world, increased needs for electricity are met by burning greater quantities of polluting fossil fuels. In Iceland this is done with geothermal steam and hydropower

We will go for several visits to different places related to the study theme of the project and of course to enjoy the nature.

The activities are divided between the morning and the afternoon. In the morning, the volunteers perform outdoor work, which may include planting trees, fixing hiking paths, painting or weeding. In the afternoon, volunteers will work together on the study theme, “Water, Nature, and Sustainable Energy”. This will include workshops, discussions, and also occasional site visits to relevant natural features, plants, infrastructure, and industries. Examples of potential site visit destinations include geothermal and hydropower plants, geothermal hot springs, geysirs, waterfalls, and companies that make major use of water and electricity, such as aluminum smelters.

Study theme: Water, nature and sustainable energy

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers have free access to the local geothermally-heated hot pot in Laugarás. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.

Accommodation: We will be staying in a nice place called Laugarás located in the south of Iceland. Beds will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag.

Location: Laugarás in the South of Iceland

Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik, Iceland

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 250 Euro - This fee covers also the transportation and extra accommodation costs of several trips and visits in the south of Iceland, a total driving distance of nearly 1.500km over several days. This travel is required in order to effectively carry out the study/visit program of the project.

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Peace Conference in Iceland
Reykjavik          October 5 - October 15, 2012

Volunteer project: This project gives volunteers the opportunity to assist at the Reykjavík PeaceÞing (Peace Conference) hosted by the Icelandic Girl and Boy Scout Association.

The Þing will take place in Reykjavík‘s new music hall Harpa between October 12th and 14th, 2012. Before the PeaceÞing there will be an international PeaceCamp with participants from all over Europe. During the first week, volunteers will assist in preparing and running the PeaceCamp. They will help set up workshops for peace projects that will be introduced at the PeaceÞing later on. Some volunteers will be trained to supervise workshops alongside teachers. Volunteers will also assist the Scouts preparing food for the participants.
During the PeaceÞing in Harpa, volunteers will set up and take down booths as well as prepare for lectures. Furthermore they will receive guests and guard entrances.
Volunteers will be given the chance to attend some of the lectures at the PeaceÞing. They will also take part in free time activities organized by the Scouts.

The Reykjavík PeaceÞing is a conference held in Reykjavík 12th-14th of October 2012, where pacifists of all kinds and ages gather. The Þing will be held in the name of the Icelandic Boy and Girl Scout Association in collaboration with other humanitarian organizations. The goal of the PeaceÞing is to encourage individuals to actively participate in creating peace. There will be 25 lectures offering focus on the idea of peace in its most diverse forms.

Language: English

Leisure time: Tours and excursions to the Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon or South Shore will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a youth center, sleeping on mattresses in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag. There are no showers at the location, but volunteers will receive a pass to the neighbourhood thermal swimming pool which has excellent facilities and is a 10 minute walk away.

Location: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicate new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Renovation and art activities in Reykjavik and the countryside
Reykjavik          October 11 - October 24, 2012
Reykjavik          October 26 - November 5, 2012

Volunteer project: The Art and Renovation project in Reykjavik has two major activities. The volunteers will help renovating houses for volunteers in downtown Reykjavik. The group will also help renovating an old Icelandic farm in the Fjords of Whales, 30 km away from the capital city. The idea of renovating old spaces in the countryside of Iceland and especially in areas where there isn’t much population has a lot of merit. On the one hand, we have the opportunity to give life to an empty and old space, on the other hand, we are bringing life back to the area with the spirit and the ideas of international volunteers which will be very much welcomed by the local community.

The international volunteers will help with various renovation activities in Reykjavik and at the farm. The specific tasks depend on the skills of each volunteer.
Volunteers will also participate in workshops related to visual arts and/or music.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools in Reykjavik. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
On weekends, the central location of the accommodation is ideal for enjoying Reykjavik‘s amazing nightlife, which is world-renowned for its wide array of bars, clubs, and concerts.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysirs, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in one of several shared houses offering basic sleeping and cooking facilities in the heart of historical downtown Reykjavik. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag and towels, but mattresses and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge, and volunteers also have free access to shared desktop computers in communal areas. The accommodation is located within short walking distance of many urban amenities, including: banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, libraries, theaters, shops, museums, and bus stations.

Location: Reykjavik is a city full of energy, just waiting for you to experience it. Powered by heat from the earth below, with ever-changing weather sweeping across the landscape, its natural features are matched by the energy of its residents. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, culture, nature, clean air - and Reykjavik has them in spades. All the advantages of a modern, forward-looking society are complemented by the beautiful natural setting. In a country of only just over 300,000 people, the Reykjavik Capital Area has a population of about 200,000. However, since it’s the only major city in the country, Reykjavik has a lot of the amenities that you would only expect to find in a much larger center elsewhere in the world.
Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and is centered on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Come at the right time of year, and in favorable conditions you will see the city’s skyline silhouetted against the glowing, shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Reykjavik is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay to the north, while rugged lava-fields spread to the southeast. On a clear sunny day, the Snaefellsjokull glacier glitters on the western horizon like a crystal.

Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Environmental awareness workshop
Reykjavik          October 15 - October 26, 2012
Reykjavik          October 29 - November 9, 2012
Reykjavik          November 12 - November 23, 2012

Volunteer project: How aware are we of our environment? What are our priorities in life? Do we value our possessions or our relationships? Why? How has the humanity reached a state of no return? Why didn't we prevent it? Is it possible to do something now? Sorry, no more petrol: how do we live now? These and many more questions will be the focus of the project training sessions.
The volunteers will have the opportunity to meet people really concerned about these issues and to learn in a collective way while enjoying the incredible environment of Iceland.

First we will learn more about the facts. Different aspects of environmental issues will be considered. The daily schedule will include trainings/sessions on sustainable development, the environment in a political context (environmental politics), rethinking architecture and our way of living, carbon emissions calculation, green and ISO certificates, organic farming, global warming (climate change), the 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), the (hidden) costs of transport, renewable energy sources (focus on Iceland's hydroelectric and geothermal energy)...
Then we will discuss the facts and tailor them to the specific needs of the group. During this process, we will organize visits with environmental interest such as going to the recycle centres of Reykjavik (SORPA) or a power plant. We will also have some activities that will solidify our knowledge and will help us to see all these topics in a practical and funny way.
Finally we will discuss about possible solutions and how we can be actively aware.

Special requirements: Volunteers should have a motivation for learning and sharing on environmental and global issues.

Language: English

Leisure time: Tours and excursions (Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon or South Shore) will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house; in a sleeping bag accommodation sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag. We may stay part of the project in the city centre and possibly part of it in the outskirts of Reykjavík. Please note that the food will be mainly (and if possible) local Icelandic.

Location: The project will take place in Reykjavík, possibly in the city centre and in the outskirts.
Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicate new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. It is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.

If possible, part of the time the group will stay in the hills of Úlfarsfell, or the Mountain of Wolves. The location is far enough from the city to be able to enjoy the quality of the country life, pure air, nature and tranquility but close enough to the capital.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Iceland airwaves music festival
Reykjavik          October 27 - November 7, 2012

Volunteer project: Iceland Airwaves is an annual music event that started out in 1999 as a talent show for foreign record executives. Since then, Airwaves has grown and blossomed and is now an integral part of the cultural life in Reykjavík. The fruits of the festival's labour have been ripening and today many Icelandic artists such as Quarashi, Minus, Sigur Ros, Apparat Organ Quartet, Trabant, Leaves and others have made their way to the International music scene.
Airwaves festival attracts approximately 2.000 people annually from abroad (more than half from the music industry). Visitors come to sample the fresh sounds, or in search of new talents, others seeking inspiration or simply on a quest for adventure on the Arctic Circle.

We will help the organizers of the festival to carry out many tasks, such as preparing the venues before and after the concerts, helping with festival security etc. Before and after the festival we will help Reykjavik environmental department maintaining the green areas in Reykjavik.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools in Reykjavik. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
On weekends, the central location of the accommodation is ideal for enjoying Reykjavik‘s amazing nightlife, which is world-renowned for its wide array of bars, clubs, and concerts.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysirs, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

Accommodation: The volunteers stay in one of several shared houses offering basic sleeping and cooking facilities in the heart of historical downtown Reykjavik. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag and towels, but mattresses and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge, and volunteers also have free access to shared desktop computers in communal areas. The accommodation in Reykjavik is located within short walking distance of many urban amenities, including: banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, libraries, theaters, shops, museums, and bus stations.

Location: Reykjavik is a city full of energy, just waiting for you to experience it. Powered by heat from the earth below, with ever-changing weather sweeping across the landscape, its natural features are matched by the energy of its residents. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, culture, nature, clean air - and Reykjavik has them in spades. All the advantages of a modern, forward-looking society are complemented by the beautiful natural setting. In a country of only just over 300,000 people, the Reykjavik Capital Area has a population of about 200,000. However, since it’s the only major city in the country, Reykjavik has a lot of the amenities that you would only expect to find in a much larger center elsewhere in the world.

Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and is centered on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Come at the right time of year, and in favorable conditions you will see the city’s skyline silhouetted against the glowing, shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Reykjavik is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay to the north, while rugged lava-fields spread to the southeast. On a clear sunny day, the Snaefellsjokull glacier glitters on the western horizon like a crystal.

Terminal: International airport Keflavik (KEF), Reykjavík

Age range: 18 - 35 years old

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Couch Fest Films in Iceland
Reykjavik          November 1 - November 12, 2012

Volunteer project: Celebrating its fifth annual year in 2012, Couch Fest Films is a cosy short film fest hosted in people’s houses all over the world all on one day. During Couch Fest Films, lovers of film can sit shoulder to shoulder watching short films while stuffing their faces with the snacks they thought they had to sneak in. Each year the fest presents films from such festivals as Sundance, SXSW, CFC Worldwide Shorts, Seattle Int. Film Festival, and the New Horizons Film Festival to name a few. Couch Fest Films is neither an online event nor a broadcast event. It is a film festival that replaces traditional theater venues with cosy residential venues and alternative locations. So, on Saturday, November 10th, 2012, each host house and alternative location participating in Couch Fest Films around the world will present a unique program of short films that play on the hour. Festival-goers are welcome to visit as many of the homes as they like. A short intermission in the middle of each program will allow viewers to discuss the films and socialize. Participants will have the opportunity to interact, share and discover new films and fellow lovers of film.

The volunteers will help the organizers of Couch Fest Films with important and fun tasks before and during the festival. Our group of international volunteers will work behind the scenes with the festival coordinators to help deliver this unique and worldwide community-building film festival. We will help select international films, count votes, design programs, take pictures, create videos, or assist with the website. We will also help put up posters and hand out flyers around the city before the festival starts. During the festival, we will help at the venues and assist at the entrance if needed. We will work at interesting locations from the beautiful Harpa building to helping with the films on an Icelandic boat. There might be other tasks to be done but we will be flexible and willing to give a helping hand whenever necessary.

While the headquarters are in Iceland, Couch Fest Films is the largest single-day shorts film festival in the world. From Poland to Portland, Seattle to Slovakia, and Port-au-Prince to Peru, Couch Fest Films is a unique shorts film fest hosted in people’s houses and alternative locations all over the world. As the mission is to bring people together with mind-blowing films, each year CFF has an unhealthy obsession with presenting over 65 of the very best of unreleased short films to a huge audience of cinephiles in Iceland and worldwide. It would be almost impossible to deliver this community film event without the dedicate contributions from talented volunteers. Volunteers will be able to experience a truly international event while gaining critical experience working behind the scenes for this unique event. The event is on Saturday, November 10th, 2012.

Special requirements: Interested in films.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools in Reykjavik. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
On weekends, the central location of the accommodation is ideal for enjoying Reykjavik‘s amazing nightlife, which is world-renowned for its wide array of bars, clubs, and concerts.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysirs, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

Accommodation: The volunteers stay in one of several shared houses offering basic sleeping and cooking facilities in the heart of historical downtown Reykjavik. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag and towels, but mattresses and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge, and volunteers also have free access to shared desktop computers in communal areas. The accommodation in Reykjavik is located within short walking distance of many urban amenities, including: banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, libraries, theaters, shops, museums, and bus stations.

Location: Reykjavik is a city full of energy, just waiting for you to experience it. Powered by heat from the earth below, with ever-changing weather sweeping across the landscape, its natural features are matched by the energy of its residents. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, culture, nature, clean air - and Reykjavik has them in spades. All the advantages of a modern, forward-looking society are complemented by the beautiful natural setting. In a country of only just over 300,000 people, the Reykjavik Capital Area has a population of about 200,000. However, since it’s the only major city in the country, Reykjavik has a lot of the amenities that you would only expect to find in a much larger center elsewhere in the world. Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and is centered on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Come at the right time of year, and in favorable conditions you will see the city’s skyline silhouetted against the glowing, shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Reykjavik is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay to the north, while rugged lava-fields spread to the southeast. On a clear sunny day, the Snaefellsjokull glacier glitters on the western horizon like a crystal.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Age range: 18 - 35 years old

Extra fee: 180 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Winter photo marathon in Reykjavik
Reykjavik          November 27 - December 9, 2012

Volunteer project: This is the fifth year that series of International Photo marathons are organized! Last years’ were very successful and we want to continue organising this project! Our main objective is to deliver messages and draw the attention of the local population through pictures and photos made during the project.
The coordinators will prepare different topics on which the participants will base their entries. The topics will be mostly related to intercultural understanding, peace & environment.

Participants need to bring their own digital cameras. The main work will involve taking photographs on the given issues. The best pictures will be selected for a final exhibit. The last part of the project will be putting up the exhibition.
Volunteers shall be prepared for walking/cycling, flexible time schedule (early morning photo sessions, night photographing).

Apart from working on the photo marathon, volunteers will join the festive atmosphere during some days by handing out hot chocolate in the city centre as a way of fundraising for non-for-profit projects of the Icelandic Red Cross. We will help in the preparation by putting up the chocolate stations, decorating the tables, making the chocolate and taking it to the different stations around the city. At the end, we will assist in taking down the stations and leaving the areas clean. Volunteers will also work with the Salvation Army helping them with fundraising.

Volunteers with artistic skills, such as singing, juggling, playing music are encouraged to apply for this project as they will have the chance to perform during the chocolate hand-out and help to create a nice and friendly atmosphere.

Language: English

Leisure time: Excursions (Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon or South Shore) will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a house in downtown Reykjavík. Volunteers will be sleeping in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The population of Iceland’s capital Reykjavik is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavik is often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicates new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene surrounded with beautiful nature.

In November & December you can see the Northern lights (Aurora Borealis) in Iceland. In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euros

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Winter photo marathon in Iceland
Reykjavik          November 27 - December 9, 2012

Volunteer project: This is the fifth year that series of International Photo marathons are organized! Last years’ were very successful and we want to continue organising this project! Our main objective is to deliver messages and draw the attention of the local population through pictures and photos made during the project.
The coordinators will prepare different topics on which the participants will base their entries. The topics will be mostly related to intercultural understanding, peace & environment.

Participants need to bring their own digital cameras. The main work will involve taking photographs on the given issues. The best pictures will be selected for a final exhibit. The last part of the project will be putting up the exhibition.
Volunteers shall be prepared for walking/cycling, flexible time schedule (early morning photo sessions, night photographing).

Apart from working on the photo marathon, volunteers will join the festive atmosphere during some days by handing out hot chocolate in the city centre as a way of fundraising for non-for-profit projects of the Icelandic Red Cross. We will help in the preparation by putting up the chocolate stations, decorating the tables, making the chocolate and taking it to the different stations around the city. At the end, we will assist in taking down the stations and leaving the areas clean. Volunteers will also work with the Salvation Army helping them with fundraising.

Volunteers with artistic skills, such as singing, juggling, playing music are encouraged to apply for this project as they will have the chance to perform during the chocolate hand-out and help to create a nice and friendly atmosphere.

Language: English

Leisure time: Excursions (Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon or South Shore) will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a house in the outskirts of Reykjavík, where the sparkling city confronts nature. Volunteers will be sleeping in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The project will take place in the outskirts of Reykjavík, in the hills of Mountain of Wolfs (Úlfarsfell). The location is far enough from the city to be able to enjoy the quality of the country life, pure air, nature and tranquility, but close enough to be able to visit the capital during the project.

Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicates new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene.
In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 150 Euros

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Christmas photo marathon in Iceland
Reykjavik          December 11 - December 23, 2012

Volunteer project: This is the fifth year that series of International Photo marathons are organized! Last years’ were very successful and we want to continue organising this project! Our main objective is to deliver messages and draw the attention of the local population through pictures and photos made during the project.
The coordinators will prepare different topics on which the participants will base their entries. The topics will be mostly related to intercultural understanding, peace & environment.

Participants need to bring their own digital cameras. The main work will involve taking photographs on the given issues. The best pictures will be selected for a final exhibit. The last part of the project will be putting up the exhibition.
Volunteers shall be prepared for walking/cycling, flexible time schedule (early morning photo sessions, night photographing).

Apart from working on the photo marathon, volunteers will join the festive atmosphere during some days by handing out hot chocolate in the city centre as a way of fundraising for non-for-profit projects of the Icelandic Red Cross. We will help in the preparation by putting up the chocolate stations, decorating the tables, making the chocolate and taking it to the different stations around the city. At the end, we will assist in taking down the stations and leaving the areas clean. Volunteers will also work with the Salvation Army helping them with fundraising.

Volunteers with artistic skills, such as singing, juggling, playing music are encouraged to apply for this project as they will have the chance to perform during the chocolate hand-out and help to create a nice and friendly atmosphere.

Language: English

Leisure time: Excursions (Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon or South Shore) will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a house in downtown Reykjavík or in the beautiful setting inside the Botanical Gardens of the city. Volunteers will be sleeping in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The population of Iceland’s capital Reykjavik is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavik is often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicates new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene surrounded with beautiful nature.

In December you can see the Northern lights (Aurora Borealis) in Iceland. In the area within 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 180 Euros

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

Christmas and New Year at a volunteer center in Reykjavik
Reykjavik         December 19, 2012 - January 1, 2013

Volunteer project: We will live together and create a cosy atmosphere in the area of the volunteer and cultural centre in Reykjavik by putting up lights and Christmas decorations. The main idea of this project is to celebrate Christmas together and to promote peace and friendship among the group through intercultural learning and exchange. We will learn Christmas songs from all over the world from each other and weather permitting will sing in the streets of Reykjavik and other public places in town as a sign of peace and multiculturalism. For New Year’s Eve we will organize a little party for the volunteers and we will enjoy Reykjavik´s spectacular fireworks in front of the cathedral. We will also arrange a visit to the ‘Imagine Peace Tower’ which was designed by Yoko Ono in memory of John Lennon. The tower is made-up of 15 large searchlights surrounded by a number of prisms that act like mirrors, reflecting the light vertically into the sky, usually reaching an altitude of at least 4000 meters. Over half a million written wishes that people from all over the world have sent to Yoko Ono as part of her ‘Wish Trees’ project are buried underneath the tower.

Language: English

Leisure time: The volunteers will have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools in Reykjavik. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
On weekends, the central location of the accommodation is ideal for enjoying Reykjavik‘s amazing nightlife, which is world-renowned for its wide array of bars, clubs, and concerts.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysirs, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.

Accommodation: The volunteers stay in one of several shared houses offering basic sleeping and cooking facilities in the heart of historical downtown Reykjavik. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag and towels, but mattresses and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge, and volunteers also have free access to shared desktop computers in communal areas. The accommodation in Reykjavik is located within short walking distance of many urban amenities, including: banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, libraries, theaters, shops, museums, and bus stations.

Location: Reykjavik is a city full of energy, just waiting for you to experience it. Powered by heat from the earth below, with ever-changing weather sweeping across the landscape, its natural features are matched by the energy of its residents. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, culture, nature, clean air - and Reykjavik has them in spades. All the advantages of a modern, forward-looking society are complemented by the beautiful natural setting. In a country of only just over 300,000 people, the Reykjavik Capital Area has a population of about 200,000. However, since it’s the only major city in the country, Reykjavik has a lot of the amenities that you would only expect to find in a much larger center elsewhere in the world.

Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and is centered on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Come at the right time of year, and in favorable conditions you will see the city’s skyline silhouetted against the glowing, shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Reykjavik is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay to the north, while rugged lava-fields spread to the southeast. On a clear sunny day, the Snaefellsjokull glacier glitters on the western horizon like a crystal.

In this time of the year when conditions are favorable you can see the Northern lights (Aurora borealis) glowing curtain of greenish yellow lights, dancing in the distance to a spectacular, multicolored fusion stretching across the sky.

Terminal: Reykjavík - Keflavík.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euro

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

New Year's photo marathon in Iceland
Reykjavik          December 26, 2012 - January 5, 2013

Volunteer project: This is the fifth year that series of International Photo marathons are organized! Last years’ were very successful and we want to continue organising this project! Our main objective is to deliver messages and draw the attention of the local population through pictures and photos made during the project.
The coordinators will prepare different topics on which the participants will base their entries. The topics will be mostly related to intercultural understanding, peace & environment.

Participants need to bring their own digital cameras. The main work will involve taking photographs on the given issues. The best pictures will be selected for a final exhibit. The last part of the project will be putting up the exhibition.
Volunteers shall be prepared for walking and working flexible time schedule.

Volunteers with artistic skills, such as singing, juggling, playing music are encouraged to apply for this project as they will have the chance to help create a nice and friendly atmosphere.

Language: English

Leisure time: Excursions (Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon or South Shore) will be arranged for the volunteers at discount fares.

Accommodation: The volunteers will stay in a house in downtown Reykjavík or in the beautiful setting inside the Botanical Gardens of the city. Volunteers will be sleeping in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Location: The population of Iceland’s capital Reykjavik is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. It is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.
The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides.
Reykjavik is often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicates new global trends. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene surrounded with beautiful nature.
Visitors to Reykjavík experience easily the pure energy at the heart of Iceland's capital city - whether from the boiling thermal energy underground, the natural green energy within the city and around it, or the lively culture and fun-filled nightlife.

In December & January you can see the Northern lights (Aurora Borealis) in Iceland. In the area closer than 100 Km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 200 Euros

The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

 

 

 

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  © 2012 Canadian Alliance for Development Initiatives and Projects