Organic gardening and forestry activities in Solheimar Eco-village
Sólheimar November 25 - December 9, 2024
Volunteer project: Sólheimar, Iceland‘s first and only eco-village, is located in southwest Iceland, 80 kilometres (50 miles) east of Reykjavík. The heart of the Sólheimar ideology is to give all individuals a fair chance and to maximize their potential. By focusing on individuals' abilities instead of their limitations, Sólheimar aims to create the space for each resident to take every opportunity that arises for each person to grow and develop. Versatility is the strength of Sólheimar so people with special needs that reside here will always be the center of the community. This works through the idea of reverse integration: those without special needs adapt to the abilities of those who do, they can work together to make their community an equal and sustainable one. The foundation of the ideology of Sólheimar derives from the visions and lifework of Sesselja herself.
The main work in this project will be in forestry called Ölur and also in the greenhouses which are called Sunna. Volunteers will be working in the greenhouses planting and harvesting vegetables, doing weed control and sometimes you will also be gardening. The work might involve work around the property, painting or fixing things. During the winter, volunteers will also have to help remove snow and keep the walk paths clear for the residents.
Working hours are from 9 am to 4 pm with a one-hour lunch break and some coffee breaks as well. The work will depend on weather conditions, which is why we must be flexible.
It is a community where people with or without special needs live and work together. Sólheimar is a pioneer in practicing organic farming. In Sólheimar, there is an organically certified greenhouse, forestry, and arboretum. Other environmentally-friendly projects in Sólheimar include geothermal energy and recycling.
Special requirements: Participants are required to provide a clear criminal record check.
Language: English
Leisure time: The area around the house is great for hiking.
Reasonably priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysers, lava forests, hot springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam vents, or even icebergs. The Golden Circle excursion is included in the camp fee.
Accommodation: Volunteers will be staying in a house in Sólheimar. The house is across the village and has 4 double rooms with a private bathroom each, a fully equipped kitchen, and common areas. The common areas are shared with some of the local workers. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bags, but beds and sheets are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge.
We provide a well-balanced and healthy variety of food products including a wide variety of whole grains, seasonal fruits and vegetables, pantry staples and dairy products. We try to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet by cutting down our meat intake and we usually encourage volunteers to try more sustainable foods.
Location: Sólheimar, 80 km east of Reykjavík
Terminal: Keflavik International Airport (KEF), Reykjavik; BSI Bus Station
Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 400 Euro
The fee includes a minibus trip from the meeting point to the project site and back, as well as the Golden Circle excursion.
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project. It can either be transferred in advance via bank transfer, or paid in cash on arrival.
Forestry and gardening in the Rehabilitation and Health Clinic in Hveragerdi
Hveragerði November 25 - December 9, 2024
Volunteer project: Hveragerði is a small town of about 1,700 inhabitants that lies 45 km east of Reykjavík. This friendly little community sits on top of a highly active geothermal field, which provides heat for hundreds of greenhouses where fruit, flowers and vegetables are produced throughout the year. Even bananas grow in these greenhouses! The name Hveragerði means "hot springs garden". Geothermal energy is Hveragerði’s lifeblood, and chances are you won’t find such a natural wonder in the middle of a populated area anywhere else in the world. Nearby you will find an even more geothermally active site: Gufudalur, the lovely "Steam Valley" behind the town. This whole valley is full of hot springs, geysers, mud pots, fumaroles and steaming vents.
Our host is the Rehabilitation and Health Clinic, which is part of the Natural Health Association of Iceland. Every year, approximately 2,000 patients and other guests enjoy their diverse rehabilitation programs, which are focused on an approach that builds self-confidence and personal responsibility for the patients’ own health. The Clinic has earned a solid reputation, both in Iceland and internationally, since its foundation in 1955 for the personal and effective care for patients. It is one of the two most important rehabilitation clinics in Iceland.
The Natural Health Association has a horticultural and environmental department, including forestry, gardening, and greenhouses, which is where the international volunteers work most of the time. The volunteers will help with growing tomatoes, cucumbers and making tea from Icelandic herbs. They will also do some environmental work around the property. The nature of the work depends largely on weather conditions, which can change quickly. Working hours are usually from 9am to 3pm with a one-hour lunch break.
Language: English
Leisure time: Hveragerði is known for having great areas for hiking, including the hot river in Reykjadalur.
Reasonably priced weekend excursions will be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysers, lava forests, hot springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam vents, or even icebergs. The Golden Circle excursion is included in the camp fee.
Accommodation: Volunteers will be staying in the volunteer house in Hveragerði. The house is within the medical compound and has 6 double rooms, a fully equipped kitchen, several bathrooms, common areas and workshop rooms. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bags, but beds and sheets are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge.
Location: Hveragerði, 45 km east of Reykjavík
Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik.
Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 400 Euro
The fee includes a minibus trip from the meeting point to Hveragerdi and back, as well as the Golden Circle South Iceland excursion.
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project. It can either be transferred in advance via bank transfer, or paid in cash on arrival.
Photography, environment and Aurora hunting in Iceland
Reykjavik 3 projects of 2 wks in November and December
Volunteer project: In this project, participants can learn about and share their love for photography and global and local environmental issues. If you are interested in topics such as climate change, waste management, animal protection and sustainability, and you also love taking photographs or want to develop your photography skills, then this project is for you!
While developing artistic and technical photography skills, you will be focusing on environmental and sustainability issues through non-formal activities such as workshops, discussions, presentations and visits facilitated by the project coordinators. One of our aims is to help create more environmentally aware consumers and travellers!
You will visit local projects focused on the environment and conservation. These may include hands-on activities or guided visits. Some examples include outdoor cleanup tasks, a geothermal power plant, a local fauna and/or flora exhibition or an outdoor Icelandic culture museum. Some of these activities are dependent on conditions such as weather, as well as availability or restrictions of our partners.
You will also have time to put the theory about photography into practice, walking around and exploring the city. At the end of the project, the best photographs from each participant are selected for an online exhibition. Participants should bring their own digital cameras, lenses, tripods and laptops if possible.
The program combines learning, sharing, hands-on activities, getting to know Iceland, its culture, having fun, exploring the city and its attractions, as well as some stunning natural sites in possible excursions. Participants should prepare to share environmental issues from their countries and should be ready to spend time outdoors walking medium distances during activities and sightseeing.
Please note that this project is a learning/sharing camp and not a standard workcamp. This project has a smaller volunteer work part and puts a bigger emphasis on the personal learning process than on the community impact.
In this project, we will organize a Night photography and Aurora hunting (Northern lights) workshop in the city or in the vicinity of Reykjavík. This will take place during late evening and possibly into the night. The Northern lights are a natural phenomenon depending on solar activity and meteorological conditions; we cannot guarantee you will see the Northern lights, but the night photography workshop will be organised anyway.
Language: English
Leisure time: Some excursions (e.g. to the Golden Circle, Hot River hike and/or South Shore) can be arranged at discount fares.
Accommodation: The group will stay in a house in Reykjavík. The facilities are basic with a kitchen, showers and a washing machine. Everyone is expected to show consideration for their companions. Participants will sleep in shared rooms or dormitories. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Please note, the food provided is vegetarian.
Location: Reykjavik is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with 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. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene surrounded by beautiful nature.
Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).
Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 400 Euro
The fee includes transportation from the meeting point to the project site on the first day, the visits available and the Night photography workshop and Aurora hunting outing.
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project. It can either be transferred in advance via bank transfer, or paid in cash on arrival.
All available dates for this project:
November 27 - December 5, 2024
December 6 - December 14, 2024
December 15 - December 23, 2024
New Year's photography, environment and Aurora hunting workshop
Reykjavik December 27, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Volunteer project: Celebrate the New Year in a vibrant city with new friends from around the world! Watch the large fireworks display illuminate the sky, celebrate around a bonfire and party into the night!
In this project, participants can learn about and share their love for photography and global and local environmental issues. If you are interested in topics such as climate change, waste management, animal protection and sustainability, and you also love taking photographs or want to develop your photography skills, then this project is for you!
While developing artistic and technical photography skills, you will be focusing on environmental and sustainability issues through non-formal activities such as workshops, discussions, presentations and visits facilitated by the project coordinators. One of our aims is to help create more environmentally aware consumers and travellers!
You will visit local projects focused on the environment and conservation. These may include hands-on activities or guided visits. Some examples include outdoor cleanup tasks, a geothermal power plant, a local fauna and/or flora exhibition or an outdoor Icelandic culture museum. Some of these activities are dependent on conditions such as weather, as well as availability or restrictions of our partners.
You will also have time to put the theory about photography into practice, walking around and exploring the city. At the end of the project, the best photographs from each participant are selected for an online exhibition. Participants should bring their own digital cameras, lenses, tripods and laptops if possible.
The program combines learning, sharing, hands-on activities, getting to know Iceland, its culture, having fun, exploring the city and its attractions, as well as some stunning natural sites in possible excursions. Participants should prepare to share environmental issues from their countries and should be ready to spend time outdoors walking medium distances during activities and sightseeing.
Please note that this project is a learning/sharing camp and not a standard workcamp. This project has a smaller volunteer work part and puts a bigger emphasis on the personal learning process than on the community impact.
In this project, we will organize a Night photography and Aurora hunting (Northern lights) workshop in the city or in the vicinity of Reykjavík. This will take place during late evening and possibly into the night. The Northern lights are a natural phenomenon depending on solar activity and meteorological conditions; we cannot guarantee you will see the Northern lights, but the night photography workshop will be organised anyway.
Language: English
Leisure time: Some excursions (e.g. to the Golden Circle, Hot River hike and/or South Shore) can be arranged at discount fares.
Accommodation: The group will stay in a house in Reykjavík. The facilities are basic with a kitchen, showers and a washing machine. Everyone is expected to show consideration for their companions. Participants will sleep in shared rooms or dormitories. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Please note, the food provided is vegetarian.
Location: Reykjavik is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with 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. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene surrounded by beautiful nature.
Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).
Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 450 Euro
The fee includes transportation from the meeting point to the project site on the first day, the visits available and the Night photography workshop and Aurora hunting outing.
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project. It can either be transferred in advance via bank transfer, or paid in cash on arrival.