This project gives SEEDS volunteers again the opportunity to live and work in beautifulsurroundings in Úlfljótsvatn in cooperation with our host, the Icelandic Girls and Boys Scouts Association. The project offers diverse tasks and various experiences for SEEDS volunteers. Volunteers will beautify the surroundings by cleaning up the area, carry out some planting and gardening activities as well. Depending on the advance of the project, volunteers might do other possible tasks, like checking up and repairing old fences and light maintenance work in the huts. The work can be physically demanding and volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors and to be flexible to do the diverse tasks connected with the project.
ACCOMMODATION:
Volunteers will be lodged in a local hut, in a sleeping bag accommodation sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag. The area has a well equipped kitchen. Volunteers will receive food supplies and be in charge of cooking and cleaning. Please do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.
LOCATION:
The Úlfljótsvatn Scout Center is about 50 km to the east from the capital, Reykjavík. The land is originally a farmland and a property of the city of Reykjavik. The scouts in Iceland have rented a piece of the land for over 60 years. Úlfljótsvatn has been for decades the centre for outdoor activities, leader training and summer camp for scouts and guides in Iceland. Thousands of trees have been planted near the centre in the last 15 years. There is a climbing and abseiling tower in the area. Fishing is good in the lake and there are canoes, kayaks, rowing boats at the centre. Today’s most popular boats are 4 persons pedal boats. At the centre there is a 10m high outdoor climbing wall. It is used both for practice and fun in abseiling and climbing. The camp is located about 26 km from Þingvellir, which literally means "Parliament Plains". At Þingvellir the Alþing general assembly was established around 930 and continued to convene there until 1798. Major events in the history of Iceland have taken place at Þingvellir and therefore the place is held in high esteem by all Icelanders. Today Þingvellir is a protected national shrine.
LANGUAGE:
English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.
TERMINAL:
Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ). SEEDS organises a “minibus option”, a special shared transport from Reykjavík to the camp which includes the Golden circle excursion. This excursion will be organised on the first day of the camp and it is included in the fee of the project. Departure time will be at 9:00 in the morning.
EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS:
Participation fee EUR 250 (Euros). This fee is paid to SEEDS on arrival in Euros or Icelandic krónas and it includes the transportation from Reykjavík to Úlfljótsvatn and back (on the first and last day of the camp) and the Golden Circle excursion.
The camp is located in a place of beautiful surroundings with countless walking and hiking opportunities. Volunteers can also use the kayaks in the lake. Other excursions (eg. South Shore, Snæfellsnes or Blue Lagoon or) can be organised at discount fares for SEEDS volunteers. The work can be physically demanding and volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors in all kinds of weather. Volunteers should be prepared for cold or rainy weather since the work takes place outdoors. Volunteers have to bring good shoes and clothes, including hats and gloves.
The main tasks will be planting and cutting trees, cleaning and beautifying the area, tearing down old fences and possibly putting up some new ones. The work schedule will be flexible and it will depend on the needs of our hosts as well as the weather conditions. The tasks are going to be physical and may be demanding.Weather conditions in Iceland are unpredictable, so be prepared to experience all kinds of weather and be sure to bring warm clothing since most of the work will take place outdoors. Even if it is May, it can be cold, windy and/or rainy.
Accomodation & food:
SEEDS volunteers will be hosted in a local summer house. Volunteers will either sleep on mattresses or in beds. Please bring your own sleeping bag.The house is equipped with a kitchen. Volunteers will receive food ingredients and be in charge of cooking and cleaning. Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.
Location & leisure:
The closest town to Hamarsfjorour is Djupivogur, which is a charming village with a long history of trading located in Djupavogshreppur. It is the southernmost fjord of the east fjords of Iceland. Near the coast of Djupivogur there is an island called Papey. The island was inhabited since the settlement of Iceland until the year 1966. There is still a lighthouse, a dwelling house, a church and a weather station on the island, the latter has been automatised since 1998. There are also large colonies of Atlantic puffins on the island. Papey is the largest island off the east coast of Iceland, about 2 km in area, and can be visited by a boat from Djupivogur.The East Fjords cover a 120 km stretch of eastern Iceland s twisted coastline between Borgarfjorour Eystri in the north and southern Berufjorour, with small villages mostly given over to fishing, spread along many of the fjords i none of which are particularly large. The area of this project is very diverse and beautiful. The nature has many things to offer and there are plenty of opportunities to go hiking. The view is spectacular and there is the biggest national park in Europe with the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajokull, not far away.
Requirements:
Participation fee is EUR 150 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic kronas and do not include the transportation to the project and back.Volunteers have to bring good working shoes and clothes, even though summer is coming, it might still be cold and hats and gloves might be necessary. Weather is unpredictable and it can be cold or rainy. Our host will organise some free time activities for SEEDS volunteers, like a day trip, excursions in the area and a barbeque.Please bring your own sleeping bag.LANGUAGE: English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.
This project gives SEEDS volunteers again the opportunity to live and work in beautifulsurroundings in Ulfljotsvatn in cooperation with our host, the Icelandic Girls and Boys Scouts Association. The project offers diverse tasks and various experiences for SEEDS volunteers. Volunteers will beautify the surroundings by cleaning up the area, carry out some planting and gardening activities as well.Depending on the advance of the project, volunteers might do other possible tasks, like checking up and repairing old fences and light maintenance work in the huts. The work can be physically demanding and volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors and to be flexible to do the diverse tasks connected with the project.
Accomodation & food:
Volunteers will be lodged in a local hut, in a sleeping bag accommodation sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag. The area has a well equipped kitchen. Volunteers will receive food supplies and be in charge of cooking and cleaning. Please do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.
Location & leisure:
The Ulfljotsvatn Scout Center is about 50 km to the east from the capital, Reykjavik. The land is originally a farmland and a property of the city of Reykjavik. The scouts in Iceland have rented a piece of the land for over 60 years. Ulfljotsvatn has been for decades the centre for outdoor activities, leader training and summer camp for scouts and guides in Iceland.Thousands of trees have been planted near the centre in the last 15 years. There is a climbing and abseiling tower in the area. Fishing is good in the lake and there are canoes, kayaks, rowing boats at the centre. Today s most popular boats are 4 persons pedal boats. At the centre there is a 10m high outdoor climbing wall. It is used both for practice and fun in abseiling and climbing.The camp is located about 26 km from Singvellir, which literally means Parliament Plains . At Singvellir the Alsing general assembly was established around 930 and continued to convene there until 1798. Major events in the history of Iceland have taken place at Singvellir and therefore the place is held in high esteem by all Icelanders. Today Singvellir is a protected national shrine.SEEDS organises a minibus option , a special shared transport from Reykjavik to the camp which includes the Golden circle excursion. This excursion will be organised on the first day of the camp and it is included in the fee of the project. Departure time will be at 9:00 in the morning.
Requirements:
Participation fee EUR 250 (Euros). This fee is paid to SEEDS on arrival in Euros or Icelandic kronas and it includes the transportation from Reykjavik to Ulfljotsvatn and back (on the first and last day of the camp) and the Golden Circle excursion.The camp is located in a place of beautiful surroundings with countless walking and hiking opportunities. Volunteers can also use the kayaks in the lake. Other excursions (eg. South Shore, Snaefellsnes or Blue Lagoon or) can be organised at discount fares for SEEDS volunteers.The work can be physically demanding and volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors in all kinds of weather. Volunteers should be prepared for cold or rainy weather since the work takes place outdoors. Volunteers have to bring good shoes and clothes, including hats and gloves.
SEEDS Volunteers will be working on various small projects in Djupavik, a small village in the Icelandic Westfjords.At present the village only consists of seven houses, a hotel and the ruins of a herring factory. SEEDS has been volunteering there since 2008.Our hosts are a family that are trying to develop new opportunities for work in the remote area. They live and work there, running diverse facilities and offering services for visitors. The main tasks will include the building and maintaining of hiking trails and walking paths in the area, to put up sticks and signs if needed. Other tasks will be cleaning the coastline, collecting driftwood and general gardening work.Volunteers will also assist in the maintenance of the old herring factory, like with the help of the cleaning and possibly painting the roof. The building is used by artists and for cultural events.
Accomodation & food:
Volunteers will be hosted in a local summer house, sleeping in shared rooms on bunk beds. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Food ingredients will be provided and a kitchen is available for use. Volunteers will share the duties of preparing and helping host to cook meals.Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.
Location & leisure:
Participation fee EUR 200 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic kronas.Our hosting partner will organise some free time activities for SEEDS volunteers, for instance a day trip and excursions in the area.Djupavik is located at the head of Reykjarfjorour on the Strandir coast in the Westfjords region. The area is one of Iceland s most remote. It is a sheltered bay largely untouched by modern developments, where silence reigns and nature continues to shape a rugged, mountainous landscape. The distance from the capital is about 360 km and the nearest village, Holmavik, is about 70 km away.The bay of Djupavik 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 a perfect place to really experience Iceland s wilderness.The story of Djupavik really began in 1915, when EliasStefansson started a herring salting station. He went bankrupt in 1919 but in 1934 entrepreneurs of Djupavik built a huge herring factory that ran for two decades, giving people in the area a chance to earn a living. In 1954 the herring adventure (as Icelanders call it) in this part of Iceland was over and the factory went bankrupt.Today Djupavik 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 Suourland. The tremendous costs involved in demolishing the factory building i once the largest concrete structure in Europe i is too much for the village so its huge shell remains, reminiscent of a Hollywood set. A few years ago, the famous Icelandic band SigurRos held a concert in the old herring factory.
Requirements:
English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are necessary.
SEEDS volunteers will have the opportunity again to contribute to this special art and culture project in the western part of Iceland. The aim of the project this year is to support the making of an outdoor art exhibition, a geo-park, an art-residence and a chapel for all types of religions. Our hosts are building a Geo-park and SEEDS volunteers will help with marking and registering locations and other related tasks. If time and weather allows, the group will also help building a chapel which is aimed to be for all religions and beliefs. Volunteers will help with various outdoors tasks such as building a stone wall in a garden with sculptures and outdoor artwork. The participants will be supervised by a professional stonewall maker and a nature scientist. Furthermore the group will build a walking path from the sculpture garden towards a small canyon where some outdoor artwork can be found and will also help with setting up and moving the artwork, take down old fences and generally beautifying the area and surroundings.The working plan will depend on the needs of our local host and weather conditions. Volunteers need motivation to work mainly outdoors on physical demanding jobs, under changeable weather conditions. Weather in Iceland is unpredictable, so be prepared for all kinds of weather and be sure to bring warm/winter clothing since the work will take place outdoors and it can get cold.
Accomodation & food:
SEEDS volunteers will stay in a local house; sleeping in shared rooms on mattresses in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Volunteers receive food supplies and are mostly in charge of the cooking and cleaning activities. Do not forget some traditional/typical food or drinks from your home country for an international evening.
Location & leisure:
The project takes place in the western part of Iceland, in a unique natural pearl with breath taking landscape, between glaciers and lava fields. The place is like an oasis in the desert, as the weather is often better than in the surroundings.Among the natural wonders nearby are the Hraunfossar waterfalls; where water comes out from a lava field over a length of 1 km. Additionally, the Hallmundarhraun lava field is among the best known and deepest in Iceland. Langjokull (Long Glacier), the second largest glacier in Iceland, it is 950 km2 and its highest point is 1355 m above sea level. Langjokull is surrounded by other small glaciers, Eiriksjokull, Sorisjokull, Hrutafell and the disappearing glacier Ok. Dense forests, lava, water springs and torrential glacier rivers, mixed with a diverse fauna and flora makes this area a delightful place to stay.The surroundings nearby are ideal for hikers as walking paths and trails spread in all directions. According to some of the oldest Icelandic sagas, this area is said to be inhabited since the very early settlement of the island.
Requirements:
Participation fee EUR 250 (Euros). This fee is paid to SEEDS on arrival in Euros or Icelandic kronas and it includes the transportation from Reykjavik to the camp location and back (on the first and last day of the camp) .Departure time will be at 13:00 (1:00 pm) in the afternoon of June 1 from the meeting point in Reykjavik.Our hosts will organise some free time activities in the area. Other excursions (eg. Golden circle or Snaefellsnes Peninsula) can be organised at discount fares for SEEDS volunteers. Volunteers have to bring good working shoes and clothes, even though it is summer, it might still be cold or rainy and hats and gloves might be necessary. Candidates applying for this project should have a motivation for working outdoors and do physical work.
Volunteers will also help with repairing an old turf building, restoring it to its previous form and making it look similar to the several other turf buildings in the surroundings. Additional work will be turfing, fixing and maintaining walking paths and making a new trail.Please note that the work in this camp can be very physically demanding (such as turfing) and volunteers need to be in good shape and ready to work hard. The weather in Iceland is unpredictable so be prepared to all kinds of weather and bring warm clothing. Bring comfortable clothes to work in, good overcoats and outdoor wear as well as good shoes or boots.
Accomodation & food:
Volunteers will be lodged in a house at one of the farms, sleeping in shared rooms with beds, please bring your own sleeping bag. Volunteers will receive food ingredients and be in charge of cooking and cleaning activities. Equipped kitchen and washing machine are available. Do not forget to bring some traditional/typical food or drinks from your country for the international evening at the camp.
Location & leisure:
The camp is located in the highlands of Iceland, in the highest inhabited place in the country at 469 meters above sea level. The location is in the North-Eastern part of the country and in the vicinity of the largest national park in Europe - Vatnajokull National Park.Mount Heroubreio, the queen of Icelandic mountains is located in the area. It is situated in the east side of the Odaoahraun desert and close to Askja volcano. The desert is a large lava field originating from eruptions of volcanoes in the area. The Vatnajokull Park is unique; one can find glaciers, volcanic activity, glacier bursts, eruptions and geothermal heat plus an extremely rare landscape. The area is around 12.000 Km2 and is expected to be expanded in the next years. Under the ice-cap, the glacier hides seven volcanoes and most of them are active. Vatnajokull covers about 8 of the country, and is about 1000 m wide at its thickest point.
Requirements:
The participation fee is EUR 250 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic kronas.This work camp takes place in a very remote place, located in a natural area of extreme beauty. Outdoor free time activities, for instance hikes or walks in the surroundings, will be arranged for SEEDS volunteers.Volunteers should be motivated to experience life in a very isolated part of Iceland. Participants should bring good walking sturdy shoes and working clothes. Weather in Iceland is unpredictable and it can be cold or rainy, bring warm winter clothes, overcoats, scarves, gloves and hats as the project takes place outside. Please bring your sleeping bag.SEEDS organises the minibus option , a shared transport from Reykjavik to the camps and vice-versa, which apart from being cheaper and more convenient, allows volunteers to meet fellow campers and have a relaxed trip while stopping on the way for interesting and tourist sites. The minibus to this camp will cost around EUR 75 (Euros) one way or EUR 150 (Euros) both ways. This is about 30-40 cheaper than public transportation services.
In this project SEEDS volunteers will be mostly doing environmental construction and repair work in hiking trails and walking paths in the southernmost municipality of Iceland, based in Vik i Mirdal. The main tasks will be to mark and repair hiking trails or walking paths around the town and in the mountains in the surrounding areas. SEEDS volunteers will help prepare different locations for the summer ahead. Well maintained paths enable people to visit these amazing areas without damaging them and this important work also helps to improve safety for visitors. No previous experience of this work is necessary. The working day normally runs from 09:00 - 17:00 with breaks for lunch and coffee; however, please be prepared for some flexibility due to the nature of Iceland s changeable weather.Additional tasks may be cleaning and beautifying the area, like hand-picking garbage or collecting trash that has been blown by the wind or brought by the sea to the shores and surrounding areas.
Accomodation & food:
SEEDS volunteers will be hosted in a local house in the town of Vik. Volunteers will sleep on mattresses on the floor sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.The house is equipped with a kitchen. Volunteers will share the duties of preparing food, cooking meals and cleaning. There is no shower in the house, but we will have free access to showers in the local swimming pool.Do not forget some traditional/typical food or drinks from your home country for the international evening.
Location & leisure:
The project takes place in the south of Iceland in a beautiful area surrounded by mountains and glaciers to the north and facing the Atlantic Ocean to the south. Vik is Iceland s most southerly village. Mirdalur is bordered by the glacial river Jokulsa to the west and the river Blautakvisl to the east. Its northern border is the Mirdalsjokull glacier, which caps the volcanic Mt. Katla, while its southern limits are the black sand beaches and the rolling Atlantic waves. 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 Vik is a beautiful beach which has its very own charm with the black sand and a dramatic coastline. A short hike within the close vicinity is sure to satisfy serious nature lovers and bird watchers. Vik and its surroundings is one of the main bird life areas in Iceland.The participation fee includes a glacier walk tour on Solheimajokull glacier and a ride on a zip-line in Vik, worth around EUR 200 with regular tour operators. We have access to the local swimming pool, sauna and hot tubs.
Requirements:
Participation fee EUR 80 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic kronas.English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.Volunteers need to be prepared for working and walking in a wild landscape and sometimes cold weather. Be prepared to experience all kinds of weather and bring warm winter clothes as the tasks take place outside and it can get cold. Bring warm under-layers, waterproofs, walking shoes/boots, a good sleeping bag and gloves. Volunteers might be asked to do other related tasks and some flexibility is required depending on the advance of the different tasks, weather conditions and current needs.
In this project SEEDS volunteers will do various outdoor tasks such as marking and maintaining walking paths, putting up information signs, setting up fences, collecting and chopping driftwood, placing nets for salmon and trout, planting vegetables and bushes, and other possible tasks related to maintaining and beautifying the area, as well as farming and working with horses.
Accomodation & food:
SEEDS volunteers will be staying in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation with access to a kitchen and a bathroom. Other guests or visitors might be in the house at the same time as it is run as a guest house. Please bring your own sleeping bag. The group will be responsible for cooking and cleaning activities and please do not forget some traditional food and/or drinks from your home country for the international evening at the camp.
Location & leisure:
The work camp will take place in the area of Borgarfjorour Eystri, in the far East fjords. This area is by called by some as a hiking haven, with a good number of marked trails. Mountains in the area are very beautiful with peaks such as Dyrfjoll, Staoarfjall, Geitfell and Svartfell. The project is located off the beaten tourist track in a very isolated location, 60 Km north of Egilsstaoir between the two glacial rivers, Jokulsa a Bru and the Lagarfljot. The area offers endless opportunities for excursions to discover Iceland s untouched nature with 30 different species of birds and lush vegetation. Large numbers of seals travel quite some distance inland where they rest on the riverbanks and sandbanks. In springtime and autumn wild reindeers come close to the farm. The location gives an opportunity to enjoy almost complete peace and quiet to absorb land and nature.
Requirements:
The participation fee is EUR 250 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic kronas.SEEDS volunteers will have the opportunity to try horseback riding, and also possibly fishing in the river and visiting a puffin colony, depending on weather conditions and availability of the host. This work camp takes place in a very remote place, located in a natural area of extreme beauty. Volunteers should be motivated to experience life in a very isolated part of Iceland. Please bring warm clothes -overcoats, scarves, gloves and hats- as the project takes place outside, the weather can be unpredictable and it may be chilly and/or rainy even during the summer.
« I can say that the best things about the workcamp and this whole experience were the chance of making a real difference to the lives of very needy children. This is an extremely valuable project where volunteers can have a massive impact. Also the possibility of learning a huge amount about a country so different from our own. I learnt ten times as much by carrying out a workcamp than I would ever do backpacking. »
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