Short-term (2 to 4 weeks) "environmental" projects in Iceland

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? These and many more questions will be the focus of the project training sessions.
The daily schedule may include trainings/sessions on sustainable development, carbon emissions calculation, 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).

Different visits with, such as to the recycle centres of Reykjavik (SORPA) or a geothermal power plant will be organized. Part of the project will also consist of restoring our volunteer centre in the outskirts of Reykjavik and turning it into a base camp for our environmental activities.

Volunteers also will have the opportunity to work two days with the city of Reykjavík in the cemeteries. Volunteers will help with raking leaves, beautifying graves that are not well kept, work on the recycling system among other tasks.

Additional work will be assisting in an International Orienteering competition that is to be held in green areas in and around Reykjavík between June 28th and 30th. Volunteers will help prepare for the run each day, guide the runners and put up the main tent as well as taking it down at the end of each day. We will also distribute event information packets to participants and help selling food. We will assist preparing for the final dinner and enjoy the dinner with all the participants. Volunteers can also participate in the orienteering run at least one day if they are interested.

For one part of the project SEEDS volunteers will stay in a house in the outskirts of Reykjavík, where the sparkling city confronts nature. The facilities are basic and volunteers might for instance have to show patience when showering since the water pressure in the area is low at certain hours of the day and there are more houses using the same water supply; at certain points of the day the water flow may stop but start again after a while.

In the other part of the project we will stay in an equipped house, in a beautiful setting inside the Botanical Gardens of Reykjavík, which are located about 4 Kilometres from the centre of the city.

Volunteers will stay in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Volunteers will receive food supplies and be in charge of the cooking and cleaning. Do not forget some traditional food from your country for the international evening.

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. 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 closer than 100 Km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.

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

Participation fee EUR 200 (Euros). Volunteers should have a motivation to learning and sharing on environmental and global issues.

Tours and excursions (Golden Circle, South Shore) can be arranged for SEEDS volunteers at discount fares.

This particular project will combine different tasks such as light renovation of a farm house and improving the environments around. Furthermore we will start an ambitious project of planting in the valley, mostly using Vaccinium myrtillus (European blueberry).
The working plan will be flexible and it will depend on weather conditions in the north of Iceland. We will assist in cleaning up the area, clearnig old fences and replacing them, we will work about 8 hours per day, from Monday to Friday. SEEDS volunteers will be expected to horse-back ride often as the neighbour farmer would like his horses moved.
SEEDS volunteers participating in this project will have the unique opportunity to live and work in one of the most beautiful, but isolated valleys in Iceland. 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.

Volunteers will have a house for themselves; some of the volunteers will sleep on mattresses on the floor, but most will sleep on beds. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag.
Volunteers will receive food supplies and be in charge of the cooking and cleaning activities. Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for an international evening.

The land, Bakki and Karlsstadir is situated in the fjord Ólafsfjörður on the peninsula in northern Iceland called Tröllaskagi. The peninsula is mountainous with several peaks reaching over 1000 meters above sea level; the tallest is Kerling (1538 m). It is the part of Iceland with the highest elevation outside the central highlands.
The peninsula is cut by several deep valleys that were carved by glaciers during the glacial periods of the last Ice age and later by the rivers that now flow down those valleys. A few permanent glacier ice caps still exist in central Tröllaskagi but they are all rather small.
Human settlement is only extant in the relatively flat lowlands along the coast and in the valleys; these lowlands nevertheless are densely populated by Icelandic standards with important agricultural regions and a few towns and villages that mostly base their livelihood on fisheries. The town closest to our work camp, eleven kilometres away, is Ólafsfjörður named after the fjord and the valley that hosts the town.
The waters of Ólafsfjörður Lake, itself has a long-lived reputation for mystery, not least because both fresh-water and salt –water fish are caught in it.

English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.

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

SEEDS organises the “minibus option”, a shared transport from Reykjavík 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.

Participation fee EUR 200 (Euros).

Please note that the fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic crowns.
Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors, and need to be flexible and motivated to work in all the diverse tasks connected with the project.
SEEDS volunteers will be expected to horse-back ride often as the neighbour farmer would like his horses moved.
Free time activities in the area will be arranged for SEEDS volunteers.

18 +

Since 2007, SEEDS has been working with a few other NGOs devoted to the re-vegetation of eroded soils in the south-west 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.

a) Revegetation and erosion control, b) Monitoring the survival and growth of tree plantations of former years. c) Tree planting. Volunteers might be working hand-in-hand with Icelanders of similar age.

By using organic waste materials for fertilizing we aim for a double gain. The soils, poor in plant nutrients, are enriched while the amount of materials in need for a waste treatment is substantially decreased. The south-west is part of the volcanic belt of Iceland, with vast lava fields and erodible volcanic soils. Additionally, the area has suffered from overgrazing of sheep for long. 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. Different kinds of organic waste materials are being generated in and from the urban environment, substantial quantities every year. In the long run materials 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 and since 2007 with great contribution from SEEDS volunteers.

Volunteers will be lodged in a school with basic facilities in one of Reykjavik’s neighbouring towns, Hafnarfjörður. We will sleep on mattresses, please bring a sleeping bag.
Food ingredients will be provided and the group will be responsible for cooking and cleaning. Please do not forget some traditional food from your home country for the international evening.

The work will take place in the vicinity of Reykjavík, and the groups will touch upon more than one project in different places. The main emphasis will be on erosion control on the banks of Kleifarvatn (big lake in Reykjanes peninsula), Vatnsskarð, Bolalda, Sandskeið and Bláfjöll.

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 in the Krýsuvík geothermal area. The Peninsula is envied for its 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. Another great asset of the peninsula is the 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 is named after the Icelandic explorer Leifur Eriksson who travelled from Europe to America 500 years before Columbus. It spans the Álfagjá rift valley (60 feet wide and 20 deep) that marks the boundary of the Eurasian and North American continental tectonic plates.

English will be the official language in the camp; high proficiency is not a requirement.

Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Participation fee EUR 200 (Euros) to be paid upon arrival.

Excursions (Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle or South shore) can be arranged for SEEDS volunteers at discount fares, 30 – 50% lower than regular tour operators.
Please bring warm clothes and outdoor wear as the weather in Iceland can be quite unpredictable, even during the summer months. Our host will organize a two-day trip to the countryside at minimum cost for the volunteers.

SEEDS volunteers will be working this year once again with the local municipality in Patreksfjorour, in the West Fjords. SEEDS has been working in the municipality for the last 7 years in different projects.Volunteers will be beautifying the town of Patreksfjorour and surroundings by maintaining walking paths, planting trees and taking care of green areas. We will probably do some painting jobs as well and various other tasks that need to be done around town. The working plan will be flexible and it will depend on the needs of our local host and the advance of the diverse projects in the area as well as weather conditions.The weather conditions in Iceland can be unpredictable, be prepared to experience different kinds of weather and bring warm clothing since most of the work takes place outdoors.

SEEDS volunteers will be hosted in a local house in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Food supplies will be provided and a kitchen will be available. Volunteers will share the duties of cooking and cleaning. Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for an international evening.

The West Fjords are among the most breathtakingly beautiful places in Iceland, with its high mountains and dramatic fjords cutting deep into the landscape. The Lonely Planet travel guide actually put the area on its top 10 list of regions in the world to visit in 2011. Although the locals here are great, it is the nature that attracts visitors. For understandable reasons as well: it is untouched and almost uninhabited. The cliffs and valleys are packed with birds, the uninhabited fjords offer a moment of silence and tranquillity, and the Arctic fox proudly roams the mountains and inlets. The waterfalls are high and the streams pure. The distances are long and the fjords are deep. And then there are places where there are no roads at all.Patreksfjorour is a typical fishing village with a population of about 800. It is the biggest town in the southern part of the West Fjords. Patreksfjorour got its name from its first settler, whose spiritual guide was St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Somewhat fittingly it was in this fjord that the first potatoes were cultivated in Iceland in the 18th century.The town is located on the shores in the south of the West Fjords and is surrounded by mountains that offer endless opportunities to enjoy nature and wilderness during all seasons. There will be countless opportunities to discover the area by foot or to hike the surroundings; the location is surrounded by stunning nature.

Participation fee EUR 200,- (Euros) to be paid to SEEDS. Please note that the fees are to be paid on arrival in Euros or Kronur and they include full board and lodging (food and accommodation) for the whole duration of the project.LANGUAGE: English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors and be prepared to experience different kinds of weather in a very isolated region of the country.

18-80

-

English

KEF: Keflavik Nas (Keflavik, Iceland)

Reykjavik

€200.00 (Euros)

SEEDS volunteers will once again be working with the City of Reykjavik in one of the main Skiing areas in the capital region of Iceland.We will be working in Skalafell, where the ski slopes are turned into a Bike park during summertime and mountain bike enthusiasts can nourish their passion. The main tasks will include renovation and maintenance work on the bike trails; mainly raking and scraping them up. Some paint job awaits the SEEDS volunteers as well and general cleaning of the area.The camp starts a week after summer solstice, when the sun never fully sets at this 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.

SEEDS volunteers will stay in a house in the outskirts of Reykjavik, where the sparkling city confronts nature. The facilities are basic and volunteers might for instance have to show patience when showering since the water pressure in the area is low at certain hours of the day and there are more houses using the same water supplies; at certain points of the day the water flow may stop but start again after a while.Volunteers will be sleeping in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Volunteers will receive food supplies and be partly in charge of the cooking and cleaning activities. During week days lunch will be served at the working site. Do not forget some traditional food from your country for an international evening.

The house in the outskirts of Reykjavik where SEEDS volunteers will be quartered during the project, is in approximately 30 km distance from the location of the working site and we will be transported there every day.There are 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. Reykjavik, Europe s most northern capital is a friendly, vibrant city that manages to combine the intimacy of a small-town atmosphere with all the qualities of a modern, trendy city. Here you can leisurely stroll around the lovely little streets of the town centre with its many renovated old houses and there s no hustle and bustle, no noisy traffic to contend with.The visitor to Reykjavik is simply spoiled when it comes to things to do. There is the National Gallery and a range of other small avant-garde galleries for the art lover. The newly reopened National Museum provides an exciting insight into Iceland s history and heritage, as does the Arbaer Folk Museum.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.

Participation fee EUR 200,- (Euros) to be paid to SEEDS. Please note that the fees are to be paid on arrival in Euros or Kronur and they include full board and lodging (food and accommodation) for the whole duration of the project.LANGUAGE: English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.Volunteers have to bring good working shoes and clothes, even though it is summer, it might still be cold and hats and gloves might be necessary.

18-80

-

English

KEF: Keflavik Nas (Keflavik, Iceland)

Reykjavik

€200.00 (Euros)

SEEDS 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 work camp, talking to people and having fun in Reykjavík!

The aim of the project is to raise awareness in a friendly, peace- and joyful manner. Volunteers will be given the opportunity to prepare and carry out acts or actions to grab attention and entertain passers by. We encourage people with artistic skills and talents to apply: this is your change to give vent to your joy of creation and performance.

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

Our goal 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% where in favour of commercial whaling. This seems obscure, but explanations can be found in the nation’s heritage.

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.

SEEDS volunteers will stay in a well equipped house in down town Reykjavík. The facilities are basic with only one shower and volunteers are expected to show consideration for their companions. Volunteers will be sleeping in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Volunteers will receive food supplies and be in charge of the cooking and cleaning activities.

Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.

Europe's most northern capital is a friendly, vibrant city that manages to combine the intimacy of a small-town atmosphere with all the qualities of a modern, trendy city. Here you can leisurely stroll around the lovely little streets of the town centre with its many renovated old houses and there's no hustle and bustle, no noisy traffic to contend with.

The visitor to Reykjavik is simply spoiled when it comes to things to do. There is the National Gallery and a range of other small avant-garde galleries for the art lover. The newly reopened National Museum provides an exciting insight into Iceland's history and heritage, as does the Arbaer Folk Museum.

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.

English will be the language in the camp; good conversational skills are needed.

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

Participation fee EUR 200 (Euros).

SEEDS will provide volunteers with passes to go on free whale watching trips.

Tours and excursions (eg. Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, Snaefellsnes or South Shore) can be arranged for SEEDS volunteers at discount fares.

18+

SEEDS volunteers will participate for the third year in a row in a unique project with the Icelandic Forestry Association. The work camp will take place in Skógar (e. forests) a small Icelandic village with a population of roughly 25 people.

Volunteers will be working on the surrounding land, thinning forest, making and maintaining walking paths and tracks, cleaning up and beautifying the area and building wood structures. Volunteers might have the chance to a run wood chipping machine under safe condition and supervision.

Six to seven hours of efficient work are expected on week days. After workday, one hour will be devoted to education. During this relaxed interactive time volunteers will have the opportunity to learn and discuss about environmental matters and forestry, practice numerous tools, go hiking, visit places of interest in the surrounding locations such as Vík and Seljavallalaug, Skógar museum, go to the local swimming-pool and take part in local cultural events.

Volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors and be willing to take part in all the diverse tasks connected with the project. Work is physical and demanding.

SEEDS volunteers will be hosted in a basically equipped house in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag.
Food supplies will be provided and a kitchen will be available. Volunteers will share the duties of cooking and cleaning. Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for an international evening.

The camp will take place in the area of Skógar wich is located at the south of the Eyjafjallajökull glacier, in the municipality of Rangárþing eystra.

The area is known for its waterfall, Skógafoss, one of the biggest waterfalls in the country, on the Skógá river, which springs from 60 metres at the top of an eroded cliff. The waterfall is situated in the south of Iceland at the cliffs of the former coastline. The coastline has receded seaward and is now at a distance of about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) from Skógar.

Due to the amount of spray the waterfall consistently produces, a single or double rainbow is normally visible on sunny days. According to legend, the first Viking settler in the area, Þrasi Þórólfsson, buried a treasure in a cave behind the waterfall. The legend continues that locals found the chest years later, but were only able to grasp the ring on the side of the chest before it disappeared again. The ring was allegedly given to the local church. The old church door ring is now in a museum, but whether it gives any credence to the folklore is debatable.

At Skógar is a folk museum, Skógasafn which the volunteers will have the chance to visit.

English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.

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

SEEDS organises the “minibus option”, a shared transport from Reykjavík to the camp site and vice versa. Apart from being cheaper and more convenient, it allows volunteers to meet fellow campers and have a relaxed trip, while stopping on the way for interesting and tourist sites.

Participation fee EUR 200 (Euros). To be paid to SEEDS on arrival.

Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors and be prepared to experience all kinds of weather.
This camp includes environmental education and weekends will be devoted to leisure activities organised in cooperation with SEEDS and our hosting partner.
We will enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the camp by hiking in the area, go sight-seeing, etc.

For the third year in a row SEEDS offers projects in the Botanic Garden in Reykjavik. The Botanic Garden is an outdoor collection of living plants, founded in 1961 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011. The gardens 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. SEEDS volunteers will be doing general garden work in the garden, attending the flowers, trees and other plants. Volunteers will assist in organising and carrying out special events that might be planned with a short notice but they will all be related to the general aim and work of the garden. The project starts early every week day, working hours are from 8:00 - 15:30, so volunteers have to be motivated to work early in the morning.

SEEDS volunteers will stay in a well equipped house, in a beautiful setting inside the Botanical Gardens of the city of Reykjavik, which are located about 4 Kilometres from the centre of the city. Volunteers will be sleeping in shared rooms/dorms in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag.Volunteers will receive food supplies and be in charge of the cooking and cleaning activities.Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.

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. Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik than pubs and clubs. Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik 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 closer than 100 Km from Reykjavik, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit. 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.Excursions (Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, South shore, etc.) arranged for SEEDS at discount fares.

Participation fee EUR 200,- (Euros) to be paid to SEEDS. Please note that the fees are to be paid on arrival in Euros or Kronur and they include full board and lodging (food and accommodation) for the whole duration of the project.LANGUAGE: English will be the official language in the camp; high proficiency is not a requirement.Volunteers have to bring good working shoes and clothes, even though it is summer, it might still be cold and hats and gloves might be necessary.

20-80

-

English

KEF: Keflavik Nas (Keflavik, Iceland)

Reykjavik

€200.00 (Euros)