SEEDS has been working with the municipality of Strandabyggð since 2009 with very good results for the volunteers, the locals and SEEDS. 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 SEEDS 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.
ACCOMMODATION:
SEEDS volunteers will be hosted in a local school and will have shower facilities in the local swimming pool. Volunteers will be sleeping on mattresses on the floor in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Food ingredients will be provided and a kitchen will be available; volunteers will share the different duties of cooking and cleaning. Please do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.
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.
LANGUAGE:
English will be the official language in the camp, high proficiency is not required.
TERMINAL:
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.
EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS:
Participation fee EUR 180 (Euros). 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. Bring warm clothes, hats and gloves as the project takes place outside. SEEDS volunteers will have access free of charge to the local swimming pool.
We will be working at the archaeological site Skriouklaustur (e. The monastery at Skrioa), the project started in 2002 and its aim is to investigate, through an archaeological excavation, the monastery that operated on the farmstead Skrioa in Fljotsdalur Valley, East Iceland, during the period from 1493 to the Reformation in 1550. Our tasks in this project will mainly be connected with taking care of the land around the monastery and include renovation and restoration of its ruins. We will be beautifying the area, constructing stone walls and laying sod. Other tasks might include making and fixing walking paths, gardening works nearby the monastery and the place where we will be accommodated.The working plan will be very flexible and it will depend on the needs of our local hosts and of course on the weather conditions.
Accomodation & food:
We will be lodged in a building located approximately 5 km from our working site (monastery excavations), equipped with kitchen and living room. A sleeping bag is needed.We will have breakfast and dinner at the accommodation; while lunch will be served at the cafe in Skriouklaustur on working days. The kitchen will be available for us to cater ourselves on weekends. Food ingredients will be provided; we will share the duties of preparing and cooking meals. Please do not forget some traditional food from your home country for the international evening.
Location & leisure:
We will work in Skriouklaustur at Fljotsdalur, located 40 km from the biggest town in the East of Iceland, Egilsstaoir (pop. 2,300) and about 650 km from Reykjavik. It is part of Fljotsdalsherao, (pop. of 3.700) at 8.884 km is the largest Icelandic municipality. The monastery at Skrioa, named Skriouklaustur, was the youngest of the seven monasteries and two nunneries in operation in Iceland during the medieval period, but within a short time, it became one of the richest. It is thought that this increase in material wealth was due to Skriouklaustur having been the only monastery in East Iceland. Nowadays, Skriouklaustur has a local centre of culture and history. The house was built in 1939 and is one of Iceland s most important buildings. There is a museum about the writer Gunnar Gunnarsson in the house. It is also a residence for artists, writers and scholars, both Icelandic and foreign. At Skriouklaustur there are as well exhibitions available for visitors and many events organised concerning local culture and the nature of East Iceland. The ruins of the 16th century monastery with archaeological excavation are located nearby.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. The biggest forest in Iceland and also wild reindeers are found in Fljotsdalur.
Requirements:
SPECIAL REMARKS / EXTRAS: Participation fee EUR 200 (Euros).SEEDS and the local host will organise several free-time activities to explore and discover the area as: excursions, horse-back riding or fishing for trout or a highland trip/mountain hike.LANGUAGE: English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.
SEEDS 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 habited from the time of the settlement of the Vikings in Iceland in circa 850AD.
ACCOMMODATION:
SEEDS volunteers will be hosted in a local housing in sleeping bags. Food will be provided and a kitchen will be available; volunteers will share the duties of helping in the kitchen and cleaning. Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.
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.
LANGUAGE:
English will be the official language in the camp, high proficiency is not required.
TERMINAL:
Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Domestic airport is Akureyri (AEY). 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.
EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS:
Participation fee EUR 200. (Euros) The camp is located in a place of extreme beauty and isolation; natural surroundings. Additional free time activities will be organized for SEEDS 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. Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors and staying in a very remote place.
SEEDS volunteers will participate for the second year in a row in a unique project with the Icelandic Forestry Association. The work camp will take place in two different locations: First week will be located 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 and creating and maintaining walking paths. Volunteers will also fix a natural pool in the area and continue the project started by SEEDS volunteers last year, building and renovating a house made of timber and natural materials. During the second week volunteers will be renovating an old farm, cleaning up the surroundings and beautifying the area of Úlfljótsvatn, about 70 Kilometres from Reykjavík.
ACCOMMODATION:
In this camp volunteers will challenge themselves with rather primitive facilities. The first week 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. The second week volunteers will stay in the farmhouse being renovated and have access to a kitchen, toilet and shower facilities. 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.
LOCATION:
The valley of Brynjudal, where the work camp of the first week 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 second week will take place in the area of Úlfljótsvatn a 70 km drive from Reykjavík. The area is popular among scouts and nature lovers and it is popular for recreational fishing.
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 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.
EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS:
Participation fee EUR 200 (Euros). Volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors and be willing to take part in all the diverse projects connected with the project. Work is very physical and demanding. SEEDS and/or our hosting partner will organise free time activities in the area for the volunteers. Extreme beautiful natural surroundings with countless opportunities to hike & discover by foot.
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.
Accomodation & food:
We will be hosted in a local mountain house; sleeping on mattresses on the floor; please bring your own sleeping bag. We will receive food ingredients and be in charge of the different cooking and cleaning activities. Please do not forget some traditional food from your home country for the international evening.
Location & leisure:
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 un-bridged 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 Hvitarvatn on the Kjolur highland road glints icy-blue at the foot of the Langjokull 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 travellers. Travellers between north and south sometimes had to cross the highlands: for instance for the assembly of Alsingi (parliament) each summer, delegates had to ride from every corner of the country to Singvellir 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 Kjolur and Sprengisandur, which are only open in summer, after the snow has thawed in spring. We will be staying close to the glacier Hofsjokull and near to the rivers Hvita and Sjorsa. The mountains in the area that reach up to 1500m 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.
EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS:
Participation fee EUR 200 (Euros). Remote and very isolated site located in natural areas of extreme beauty. Volunteers need to be prepared for physical work, free time activities are mostly outdoors, like hikes in the area. Countless opportunities to discover the area by foot or to hike in the surroundings: Stunning mountain landscape, mighty glaciers and geothermal activity.
LANGUAGE:
English will be the language of the camp; high proficiency is not required.
For the third year in a row SEEDS volunteers will be working at a farm in the South of Iceland, on 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.
ACCOMMODATION:
In this camp volunteers will be hosted in a farmhouse, sleeping on mattresses on the floor. 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. 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.
LOCATION:
The work camp 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.
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 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.
EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS:
Participation fee EUR 180 (Euros). Volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors and be willing to take part in all the diverse projects connected with the project. The work is physical and can be demanding. Place of extreme beautiful natural surroundings with countless opportunities to hike and discover it by foot.
The work 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 the 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, as you will 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.
Accomodation & food:
SEEDS volunteers will be hosted in a local housing; sleeping in beds; bringing a sleeping bag is not necessary for the period of the camp. Food will be provided and a kitchen will be available; volunteers will share the duties of helping in the kitchen and cleaning. Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.
Location & leisure:
The workcamp will take place 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. The region is bounded by Breioafjorour in the south, with Gilsfjorour cutting into the land from the west and Bitrufjorour from the east, the two almost severing the ragged peninsula from the main mass of Iceland. The West Fjords are made up of safjaroar-, Baroastrandar-, 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. On the shore, 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 workcamp will take place in a valley covered with birch bushes in Mjoifjorour in safjaroardjup. The distances to the next town and villages are 130 km to safjorour and 90 km to Holmavik. Hiking in this beautiful area is very impressive and an inspection of the coastline by 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.
EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS:
Participation fee EUR 180 (Euros). The camp is located in a place of extreme beauty and isolation; natural surroundings with hot springs, free access to enjoy the hot tub and the local pool. Additional free time activities will be organized for SEEDS volunteers, like horseback riding and kayaking around a seal colony.
LANGUAGE:
English will be the official language in the camp, high proficiency is not required.
The work 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 the 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, as you will 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.
Accomodation & food:
SEEDS volunteers will be hosted in a local housing; sleeping in beds; bringing a sleeping bag is not necessary for the period of the camp. Food will be provided and a kitchen will be available; volunteers will share the duties of helping in the kitchen and cleaning. Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.
Location & leisure:
The workcamp will take place 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.The region is bounded by Breioafjorour in the south, with Gilsfjorour cutting into the land from the west and Bitrufjorour from the east, the two almost severing the ragged peninsula from the main mass of Iceland. The West Fjords are made up of safjaroar-, Baroastrandar-, 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. On the shore, 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 workcamp will take place in a valley covered with birch bushes in Mjoifjorour in safjaroardjup. The distances to the next town and villages are 130 km to safjorour and 90 km to Holmavik. Hiking in this beautiful area is very impressive and an inspection of the coastline by 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.
EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS:
Participation fee EUR 180 (Euros). The camp is located in a place of extreme beauty and isolation; natural surroundings with hot springs, free access to enjoy the hot tub and the local pool. Additional free time activities will be organized for SEEDS volunteers, like horseback riding and kayaking around a seal colony.
LANGUAGE:
English will be the official language in the camp, high proficiency is not required.
« The outside world did not interfere, because it seemed so distant, and so we spent our spare time getting to know each other and learning about each other countries', languages and cultures. Everyone was completely relaxed. This simply would not have been possible on any other type of holiday. VAP enabled me to have a truly memorable experience. »
