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

SEEDS volunteers will participate for the fourth year in a row in a unique project with the Icelandic Forestry Association. The work camp will take place in a valley deep in 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 and do some maintenance work and renovation work on a timber house.
Eight working hours are expected on week days. After the workday, some time 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, realize craftwork, go hiking, visit places of interest in the surroundings, 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.

In this camp volunteers will challenge themselves with rather primitive facilities. We will sleep in a big “Indian” tent on the location of the project. Volunteers have to bring their own warm sleeping bag and a camping mattress.
Food will be provided and will be cooked either on camping gas or 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.
We will share the different duties of cooking and cleaning. Do not forget to bring some traditional or typical food from your home country for the international evening.

The valley of Brynjudalur, where the work camp 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.

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). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors and be prepared to experience all kinds of weather. Please bring warm winter clothes as the project takes place outside and the weather can be cold.
This camp includes environmental education and weekends will be devoted to leisure activities organised in cooperation with SEEDS and our hosting partner.

SEEDS has been working with the municipality of Strandabyggð since 2009 with very good results for the volunteers, the locals and SEEDS. Strandir (e. 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 SEEDS volunteers will be working on restoring and maintaining those hiking trails. Maintaining these pathways is very important to encourage people in the area to enjoy the beautiful environment in a way that does not spoil the nature around. The ground is sometimes rocky and volunteers have to work together to find the most suitable place for the path.
Volunteers will also assist with preparing for the town festival, by for example putting up stages, taking them down; decorate the town and beautifying the area afterwards. Interested volunteers will also have the opportunity to participate in the town festival and put up their own acts (show art work, do an act on stage, introduce their culture, etc.) if they like.
Work can be physically demanding and volunteers should be in a good physical condition. Be prepared for some flexibility due to the weather.

SEEDS volunteers will be hosted in a local house and have access to shower facilities. Volunteers will be sleeping on mattresses on the floor in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.
Food ingredients will be provided and volunteers will have access to a kitchen. Volunteers will share the different duties of cooking and cleaning. Please do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for an international evening.

The work camp takes 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.

English will be the official language in the camp, high proficiency is not required.

Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).
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 160 (Euros). Please note that the fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic crowns.

Bring warm clothes with you as the project takes place outdoors.
Our hosting partner will organise some free time activities in the surroundings of the project.

20+

For the fourth year in a row SEEDS offers projects in the Botanic Garden in Reykjavík. 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.

SEEDS volunteers will be doing general garden work, 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 work may be repetitive as general gardening tasks tend to be. 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 Reykjavík, 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. Please note that volunteer from other projects will also be staying in the house.
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 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 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.
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 official language in the camp; high proficiency is not a requirement.

Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

Participation fee EUR 200,- (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

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.
Excursions (Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, South shore, etc.) arranged for SEEDS at discount fares.

SEEDS volunteers will once again be working with the City of Reykjavík in one of the main Skiing areas in the capital region of Iceland.
We will be working in Skálafell, 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 only a couple of days 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 an equipped house in Reykjavík. The facilities are basic 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 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 where SEEDS volunteers will be quartered during the project is located in Reykjavík, approximately 30 km away from the location of the working site. Volunteers will be transported there every working day.
Some of the best natural country sides in Iceland are located where this workcamp takes place. Hiking, mountain biking, alpine and cross country skiing are a few outdoor activities people can enjoy in the area.
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.
The population of 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. 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 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.

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 150 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic kronas.

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. Volunteers need to be prepared for a wide range of weather.
Our hosting partner will organise free time activities in the area and tours and excursions can be arranged for SEEDS volunteers at discount fares as well (for example Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, South Shore, etc.)

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 various sites on the Reykjanes peninsula.

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). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

Our hosting partner will take the group on a two day trip, where participants are asked to pay 25 euros for staying overnight in a rented house.
Please bring warm clothes and outdoor wear as the weather in Iceland can be quite unpredictable, even during the summer months.

SEEDS volunteers will be working this year once again with the local municipality in Patreksfjörður, in the West Fjords. SEEDS has been working in the municipality for the last 8 years in different projects.
In this project volunteers will partly be working in Rauðisandur (Red Sand). Volunteers will be working with a music festival which will take place during this workcamp. Volunteers will prepare the area for the festival, put up decorations, put up a bonfire and clean up the area before, during and after the festival. The festival takes place between July 3 and 6. More information can be found at www.raudasandurfestival.is
Other tasks might include beautifying the area around Patreksfjörður.
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 are unpredictable, be prepared to experience all kinds of weather and be sure of bringing warm clothing since most of the work will take place outdoors.

SEEDS volunteers will sleep in tents during the time in Rauðisandur and there will be access to a big grill to cook on. Please bring your own sleeping bag.
Food supplies will be provided by the host. 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.
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.
Patreksfjörður is a typical fishing village with a population of about 800. 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.
In this area is the beautiful Red Sand, which is a 10km long beach with red sand. The beach is the biggest pearl in a string of coves with sand ranging in colours from white through yellow through red to black, and in coarseness from very fine to sole-hurting chips of seashells.

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 180 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors and be prepared to experience different kinds of weather. Volunteers will also get to participate in the festival events.
There are countless opportunities to discover the area by foot or to hike the surroundings. Our hosting partner will organise free time activities in the area; for instance visiting the local swimming pool in Patreksfjörður.

SEEDS volunteers will be taking part in various outdoors tasks such as building a stone wall in a garden with sculptures and outdoor artwork. The volunteers will be supervised by a professional stonewall maker and a nature scientist. Furthermore volunteers will make a walking path from the sculpture garden towards a small canyon where some outdoor artwork can be found. Volunteers will also help with setting up and moving the artwork.
Our host is taking the first steps towards making a Geo-park and volunteers will help with marking and registering locations and other related tasks.
If time and weather allows, volunteers will help building a chapel which is aimed to be for all religions and beliefs. We may take down old fences and generally beautify the area.
The working plan will depend on the needs of our local host and the volunteers need motivation to work mainly outdoors on physical jobs and under changeable weather conditions.

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 mostly are in charge of the cooking and cleaning activities. Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for an international evening.

The project takes place in the Western part of Iceland, in a unique natural pearl with breathtaking 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.
The place is a dream for hikers, walking paths and trails spread around in all directions, beautiful waterfalls and one of the best known caves in Iceland is nearby. Every weekend there is a bon-fire in the nearby camping area where visitors meet, sing, play games and enjoy the company.
Among the natural wonders around are the Hraunfossar waterfalls, where water comes out from a lava field over a length of 1 km, placed in a setting of birch-wood and Surtshellir (Surt's Cave) is in the Hallmundarhraun lava field, which is among the best known and deepest in Iceland.
According to some of the oldest Icelandic sagas, this area is said to be inhabited since the very early settlement of the island. In the old days, farmers were expected to offer travellers something to eat and a place to stay if needed and as the location was in a busy trail, the locals had many guests they had to take care of: In that way it can be said that tourism started few hundred years ago in this beautiful location. Dense forests, lava, water springs and torrential glacier rivers, mixed with a diverse fauna and flora makes this area a delightful place to stay at.
There are small local services, a convenience store, swimming pool with Jacuzzis, a pit-stop joint with a gas station and a small restaurant.
The project is next to Langjökull (Long Glacier), the second largest glacier in Iceland, it is 950 km2 and its highest point is 1355 m above sea level. Agencies organize snow mobile trips and snow truck trips. Langjökull is surrounded by other small glaciers, Eiríksjökull, Þórisjökull, Hrútafell and Ok.

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). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

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.
Volunteers applying for this project should have a motivation for working outdoors and do physical work. Our hosting partner will organise some free time activities in the area.

This is the fourth year that 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! SEEDS is looking for enthusiastic and open people for this workcamp!
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. 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.
Iceland was 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). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

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.