Preserving the natural environment and historic heritage in the old herring village Djupavik
       Djúpavík          August 17 - August 31, 2008

Volunteer project: The main tasks to be developed are maintenance of hiking trails and walking paths in the area, as well as putting up sticks and signs to mark them, cleaning up actions in the old buildings of the herring factory, helping during the set up of a historical exhibit of the area, building a stone wall for one of the old houses, cleaning the coastline between Djúpavíkurkleif and Stekkjarness and perhaps some gardening works.

Study theme: Environmental messenger in the project. S/he will be in charge of delivering ecological and global education messages to international volunteers and local hosts.

Language: English

Leisure time: Excursions are planned for the volunteers, kayak trips in the fjord and a visit to the area and pool in Krossnes, among other recreation activities.

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a local summer house, sleeping on bunk beds; bringing a sleeping bag is needed.

Location: Djúpavík is a small village in the North-West of Iceland. It is located at the head of Reykjarfjörður on the Strandir coast in the Westfjords region (Vestfirðir), in the municipality of Árneshreppur. Perhaps one of Iceland's most remote areas, it is a sheltered bay in a remote region, largely untouched by modern developments where silence reigns and nature continues to shape a rugged, mountainous landscape. The distance from the capital is around 360 km.

You can hardly get further away from the bustle of the towns to enjoy life in the beautiful and peaceful landscapes of this remote area. The bay Djúpavík is among the most remote and least frequented parts of the country. The roads up there are only open during the few months of the short summer; it is one of the remotest corners of Europe, where towering rock buttresses plunge precipitously into the icy sea and the coastline is strewn with vast expanses of driftwood that originated on the other side of the Arctic Ocean, in Russian Siberia; the region is stunningly beautiful and somewhere to really experience Iceland’s rawness close-up.

There has been small farming communities in the district for hundreds of years, but the story of Djúpavík really began in 1917, when Elías Stefánsson started a herring salting station. Fish processing changed the lives of the people for a few years until the last big catches were landed in 1944.

Djúpavík is dominated by the huge carcass of its old herring factory and the rusting hull of the 100-year-old former passenger and cargo ship Suðurland. When the herring industry was at its height in the mid-1940s, hundreds lived in this remote outpost, women salting the fish, men turning the remains into animal meal and oil. The factory went bankrupt in 1954 following a disastrous collapse in fish catches, but the huge costs involved in demolishing the building –once the largest concrete structure in Europe– means that its hulking hollow shell remains, reminiscent of a Hollywood set.

The factory is a grand reminder of past ambitions and great expectations when the Norwegian-Icelandic herring stock passed every year just North of Iceland and was fished in great quantities in Húnaflói. The phenomenon was called the "Herring Adventure". It started in the mid-thirties when the enormous factory was built, and ended in the fifties when there was no more herring. The beautiful village of Djúpavík, constructed around the factory, is now deserted apart from the visiting women worker's house, now converted into an all-year hotel and restaurant. Nobel author Halldór Laxness set his novel Guðsgjafaþula in the area following the fortunes of the herring entrepreneurs and their employees.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Closest bus terminal in Hólmavík.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: EUR 150,-
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.
 

 

Environmental and coastline cleanup activities on Reykjanes peninsula
   Grindavík, Garður & Sandgerði          August 19 - September 2, 2008
                 Keflavík, Njarðvík & Hafnir          September  3 - September 17, 2008
                 Reykjanesbær & Southwest of Iceland  September 18 - October 2, 2008

Volunteer project: The town of Reykjanesbær and the communities surrounding it will receive international volunteers again this year. There we will be performing different tasks related to the environment and the outdoor public areas in the towns and also within the premises of the former NATO base located in the Reykjanes peninsula, which was closed on September 8, 2006. The former military base is being turned into a dynamic knowledge and academic community.

We will work in different sites all around the area and our tasks will be varied including cleaning up the public spaces within the former base, collecting and hand-picking sea-waste at the shores and coastline outside, helping with gardening tasks, maintaining tree-beds; clearing up former barbwire fences and the area around the fences and in general works making the area a more friendly one.

Some of the working sites are located in different towns (Garður, Grindavík, Hafnir, Keflavík, Njarðvík & Sandgerði) and communities in the area as this project is part of a bigger scale program run in cooperation with several parties in the region; therefore the jobs performed and the sites will mostly depend on the advance of the work at the different locations.

Study theme:  Environmental messenger in the project. S/he will be in charge of delivering ecological and global education messages to the international volunteers and local hosts.

Language: English

Leisure time: Visits to geothermal active areas and power plants in the area, hikes and excursion will be organised for the volunteers during their free time.

Accommodation: We will stay in two equipped apartments within the former base, in shared rooms, sleeping on mattresses; therefore bringing a sleeping bag is needed.

Location: Reykjanes, peninsula at the south–western end of Iceland is located near the capital and most travelers to Iceland land in the area: 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 the Krýsuvík geothermal area where hot springs spewing water and mud dominate the landscape. The Peninsula is envied for its long & short hiking trails that zigzag through the region where colorful landscapes and their contrasts delight the visitor. Amazing ocean cliffs (up to 70 m high) are nested by numerous bird species, often a wonderful spot for bird and whale watching.

There is also a geothermal power station at Svartsengi, where a swimming pool has been installed using the hot and mineralized water coming down from the station; it is known as the "Blue Lagoon" (Bláa Lónið). The Leif the Lucky Bridge or Miðlína bridge spans the Álfagjá rift valley (60 feet wide and 20 feet deep) near Grindavík that marks the boundary of the Eurasian and North American continental tectonic plates, named after Icelandic explorer Leif Eriksson who travelled from Europe to America 500 years before Columbus. The peninsula is also known for its buzzing cultural life. Musical talent is abundant and Keflavík is known as the birthplace of rock and roll in the country.

Reykjanes has a long history of seafaring, and some of the oldest lighthouses in Iceland dot the coastline to guide sailors home. Some fishing towns, such as Grindavík, where the Salt fish Museum of Iceland is located (telling the story of its production and importance to the Icelandic economy) and Njarðvík are situated on the peninsula as well as the town Keflavík, the site of the International Airport, the Leifur Eriksson Air Terminal and the former military base, which hosts now Keilir (Atlantic Centre of Excellence), Innovation Center Iceland (NMI), the University of Iceland (UI), the Keflavík Airport Development Corporation (KADECO) and the Eldey Entrepreneurial and Energy Centre.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: EUR 140,- Pick-up from the Keflavík (Reykjavík) International Airport for those landing on the first day of the project and transport from the apartments to the airport on departure is included.
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.
 

 

Like in the old days !
       Suðureyri í Tálknafirði          August 19 - September 2, 2008

Volunteer project: International volunteers will once again join a project in the community of Tálknafjörður and its surrounding area. Volunteers will specifically be working at the old whaling station in Suðureyri. Volunteers’ work will mainly be focused on renovation and reconstruction works in the old buildings and former facilities of the whaling station, and continue the work started last year by another group of international volunteers.
After being abandoned for more than half a century, some of the buildings have collapsed and the ruins are spread all around in the area. The main aim of the project in the long term is to rebuild the facilities and have an art gallery and historic exhibit about the whaling station, whaling in Iceland, its history and the different developments throughout the last 2 centuries on the topic as its impact in the local socio-economical circumstances.

The group will be divided in different teams and tasks will be rotated. One of the sub-groups will be in charge of catching the fish, collecting berries and gathering the ingredients as Icelanders used to cater themselves some decades ago when the country and this region in particular were very isolated and transport of “foreign” goods and products was almost non-existent. Fishing gear, boat, as well as needed equipment and training will be provided by our local hosts. In case of unsuccessful journeys to “catch our food”, we will have at our disposal a boat to sail to the nearest convenience store, on the other side of the fjord in the town of Tálknafjörður.

Study theme: Environmental messenger in the project. S/he will be in charge of delivering ecological and global education messages to both international volunteers and local hosts; organising few activities on topics related to environment, nature protection and sustainability.

Language: English

Leisure time: Excursions in the area will be arranged for volunteers by our local host. Please expect plenty of Icelandic cod and haddock in the menu and loads of fun sailing and catching your own food!

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a local house at Suðureyri, will sleep on bunk beds in shared rooms and are asked to bring their own sleeping bags. Electricity will be available for short periods of time a day (with a diesel generator), but a fully equipped kitchen running on gas is at disposal. Geothermal hot pots are easy to be reached by boat on the opposite side of the fjord, as well as the swimming pool, convenience store and additional facilities in the town of Tálknafjörður.

Location: Suðureyri is located in the district of Tálknafjarðarhreppur in the Icelandic Western Fjords. Tálknafjörður is the main and only “considerable-sized” town in the district with around 300 inhabitants. Suðureyri, on the opposite –western- side of the fjord was the location of an old whaling station built at the end of the 19th century by Norwegian whale hunters, which was on and off operation for around 50 years until the year 1939 and is now deserted. During its busiest times around 110 people lived and worked at the station. Today the great buildings are grand monuments of times past. Nearby is the valley of Suðureyri, Suðureyrardalur, the biggest valley on the south-west side of Tálknafjörður.

The town of Tálknafjörður, sometimes referred to as Sveinseyri, lies near the head of the Tálknafjörður, the fjord, and the main sources of income are fishing and farming. It differs from the other so-called Western Fjörds in the fact that there is geothermal activity and the water is used for heating and in the swimming pool. Tálknafjörður is located around 400 km from the Icelandic capital Reykjavík and around 160 km from Ísafjörður, the biggest town in the Western Fjords.

Terminal: Closest International Airports: Keflavík – Reykjavík (KEF), and closest bus stop is in the town of Tálknafjörður.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: EUR 120,-
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.
 

 

Environmental messengers in Reykjavik
       Reykjavik          August 25 - September 8, 2008

Volunteer project: In Reykjavik you can easily experience 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. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, space, clean air, nature, culture - and Reykjavik has them in spades. It has the features of a modern, forward-looking society which are complemented by a close connection to beautiful nature.
The population of the Reykjavik Capital Area is about 200,000. Reykjavik is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides. 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.
The world’s northernmost capital is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja, which keeps a watchful eye on the city, and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay. On a sunny day, the mystical Snaefellsjokull glacier appears crystal-like on the western horizon, while mountainous moonscapes spread to the southeast.

The volunteers will be hosted by the City of Reykjavik and the tasks are the following:
In Reykjavik we have a lot of youngsters who are tagging the houses in the center of the city. We will help the local authorities to clean up those signs and than we will help the youngsters to make their tags or graffiti in places were they are allowed to make their art.
Every year, volunteers are visiting schools in Reykjavik to teach the children about the importance of taking care of the nature and to be environmentally friendly. One of the tasks of this project is to prepare games and materials for those visits; we will than go to several schools and involve the kids in our programme.

Language: English

Leisure time: Free access to the swimming pools, excursions will be provided by our hosts.

Accommodation: The group will stay in a fully equipped apartment in the centre of Reykjavik. Mattresses will be provided.

Location: Reykjavik

Terminal: Reykjavík – Keflavík Int. airport.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: EUR 140,-
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.
 

 

Pure energy on top of the world
       Reykjavik          August 25 - September 8, 2008

Volunteer project: The City of Reykjavík will be our host for the third year in a row. This time, the group of volunteers will be performing different tasks related to the environment and the outdoor public areas of the city. We will be working with the Public areas department of the city, in charge of environmental affairs and green areas; working hand-in-hand with the local teams of Icelandic youngsters in charge of the public spaces in the city, its surroundings and responsible for the environmental affairs, green public and municipal areas.
The work with the teams of local youngsters will give to the international participants a great opportunity to mingle with Icelanders and to enjoy its capital from the locals’ point of view.

Study theme: Renewable Energy resources. Environmental messenger in the project. S/he will be in charge of delivering ecological and global education messages to volunteers and local hosts.
Energy has been a human concern ever since early humans learned to use fire and exploit the energy of animals. Energy utilization in the modern sense, however, only began with the industrial revolution as in so many other areas; Icelanders were latecomers to the scene. During the past century, Iceland was transformed from poverty to plenty. The harnessing of energy resources and availability of energy for industrial and public consumption played a major role in this development, and was in fact a precondition for it. Use of energy in Iceland differs from other countries, with the higher per capita use than in any other country in the world and the ratio of sustainable energy sources is also higher. Geothermal energy and hydropower play an important role in the energy supply and the country is very rich in renewable energy resources; its hydro and geothermal power could provide electricity for a nation of six million. More than 50% of the primary energy consumption in Iceland is derived from geothermal sources. Iceland’s renewable energy resources are used in a sustainable way and in harmony with the environment.

Language: English

Leisure time: Volunteers will get passes to access free of charge the city’s seven geothermal swimming pools and beach, bus passes to ride on the transport network (including Hydrogen powered buses) of the city and surroundings. Visits to geothermal active areas and power plants utilising this and hydraulic renewable resources will be organised for the volunteers during their free time.

Accommodation: Volunteers will be staying in a modern sports centre in the city in shared rooms and will have access to the facilities of the centre; a sleeping bag is needed.

Location: Reykjavík, the Icelandic capital, has been called Europe’s hottest capital. Slick advertising campaigns have championed the city’s famed nightlife. But there is more to Reykjavik than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík held the prestigious title European City of Culture in the year 2000; a welcome recognition of the energetic and colourful cultural life of the capital.
The population of the city is about 120,000 (40% of Iceland’s population) in the metropolitan area and about 200,000 (60% of Iceland’s inhabitants) including its suburbs. It is growing steadily and 45% is younger than 30 years old; 83,1% of men and women aged 16-74 are active on the labour market. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources, geothermal power and glacial rivers. It is an International city with a lively Cosmopolitan cultural scene.

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.

The name Reykjavík means “smoky bay”: Given by the first settlers that arrived to the area due to the high geothermal activity and the constant rise of steam out of the hot springs around.

Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: EUR 150,-
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.
 

 

Preparing the Night of the Lights Festival and building a Home for the Trolls in Reykjanes
       Reykjanes          August 25 - September 8, 2008

Volunteer project: This project will take place in Reykjanesbær which is a major center of fishing and fish processing, although in recent years tourism has played an increasingly important role in the local economy. Reykjanes has something for everyone. Steeped in a rich vein of history, folklore and tradition, the region is also home to some of the world's greatest geological wonders, including the Reykjanes Ridge, meeting place of the Eurasian and American continental plates. Teeming with a wealth of bird and marine life whose habitats lie amid some of Iceland's most spectacular coastal scenery, Reykjanes is the natural choice for all lovers of the outdoors.
In this town, the authorities are very open for new ideas, for example here you can find the former NATO base which is now becoming a University village and a centre of art and film making.

The Night of the Lights Festival is one of the biggest festivals in Iceland. The festival will take place from the 4th to the 7th of September. This is a cultural festival with a lot of happenings. Many artists are performing and the fireworks in the last night of the festival are amazing.

The authorities are now planning to build “a home for Trolls” near to the port of the town, close to the center. Like elves, trolls are also part of the ancient heritage of the Scandinavian mythology. Although they are human-like in form, they are still inhumanly strong, huge and ugly. They are very often thought to be fearsome and cruel creatures. But, like elves, trolls often treat people as they are treated and they return favors for favors, exerting vengeance if harmed. Trolls live in mountains, caves and cliffs, especially bird cliffs. Like humans, they live together socially. They fish, cultivate land and keep animals. They are also very good at handicrafts and hold feasts.

There are two kinds of tasks that the volunteers will have during those two weeks:
1/ There is a very well known art group here in Iceland called Nordan Bál that has been doing all kind of art and performances in Iceland. This group will do the construction of the Cave (home) of the Trolls and also make the furniture and other things that they need for their daily life. Everything will be oversized so it will fit the big creatures. The international volunteers will help the art group to build the home and will also do some environmental work in the area around the place. Please notice that we will work with heavy things so the work can be physically demanding.
2/ The volunteers will help with the preparation of the Night of the Lights Festival, and also with some practical things during the festival.

Language: English

Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool. Excursions will be organized by the locals.

Accommodation: In a house owned by the local community, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.

Location: Reykjanesbær on the Reykjanes peninsula

Terminal: Reykjavík – Keflavík Int. Airport is only 10 minutes away from the town.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: EUR 120,-
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.
 

 

Renovation and maintenance of the University Centre of the West Fjords
       Dyrafjordur          August 25 - September 7, 2008

Volunteer project: The “Westfjords” are situated in the Northwest part of Iceland, reaching out almost to Greenland – therefore the most westerly part of Europe. The landscape here is majestic, with fjord after fjord, towering above shore and sea, each and every fjord has its own distinctive character and tiny fishing villages nestle at their foot. It is an ideal place for hikers and all nature lovers, in summer and winter alike. Seals bask on the rocks, huge colonies of seabirds are seen and the king of the skies, the white-tailed eagle, may be watching over.

The project will take place in Nupur, which used to be a boarding school in the past but now it is a hotel and a University. The cozy school buildings are surrounded by beautiful mountains with a view over the Alps of Westfjords and the blue seas of Dyrafjordur. The area around Nupur is ideal to get to know the Icelandic nature. You can take a walk to Skrudur, the oldest botanic gardens in Iceland or hike in the mountains. The area has a great variety of birds and footpaths for those who are interested in Icelandic wild life.

In this project, we will be cooperating with The University Centre of the West Fjords which is a non-profit organisation established in March 2005. It has 40 founding members, including all of the country‘s institutions of higher education. The University Centre acts as a contact between West Fjords residents and institutions of higher education. The Centre also assists university students and teachers from outside the area in establishing contacts in the West Fjords. The Centre provides information on the region as an interesting option and area for research and assists students and scholars in their work on research projects in the West Fjords.

Þingeyri, which is the village nearby, is one of the oldest trading posts in the West Fjords. The peninsula between Dyrafjordur and Arnarfjordur offers unlimited possibilities for hiking in beautiful landscape. This great expanse of mountains is unlike all other mountains in the Westfjords because the tops are not as level, they are usually higher and their shape is reminiscent of the Alps. That is why the name “the Westfjords Alps” has been used more and more about this region. Kaldbakur (998m), the Westfjords’ tallest mountain, is the centre of this region, overlooking all its surroundings. From the top of Kaldbakur, there is a great view to all directions. Reaching Kaldbakur by foot from our accommodation place will take roughly 4 hours.

The international volunteers will be helping with the maintenance of the oldest building in Núpur, cleaning the coastline and beautifying the area around the center.

Language: English

Leisure time: Excursions and a boat trip will be organized by the hosting partner and guided hikes as well. Free access to the swimming pool in Þingeyri.

Accommodation: We will be staying in the dormitories in Núpur in a good accommodation, everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag.

Location: Núpur in Dýrafjörður, West Fjords

Terminal: Reykjavík - Keflavík. Ísafjörður airport is close to the project.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: EUR 90,-
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.
 

 

Do you want to be a ghost in Iceland?
       Stokkseyri          August 27 - September 17, 2008
       Stokkseyri          September 17 - October 8, 2008

Volunteer project: If you ever wanted to be a ghost in Iceland, than this is the opportunity that you have been waiting for.
Stokkseyri is a coastal South Icelandic town in the fertile farming district region of Flói. It is known for its black sandy beach which becomes quite crowded with tourists during summer. The beach is wide and full of driftwood. A long sea wall was erected in the late 18th century to prevent encroachment by the sea and as a shield against Ölfusá river's flooding and high waves. The entire coastal area is open lowland and very windswept with shallow shores.

The village has a rich art and cultural life. Paintings and glass galleries, Ghost Centre and the Center of Ethnomusicology, which are all situated in the Hólmaröst cultural centre. An interesting museum, "Þuríðar cottage" is in Stokkseyri, built in memory of Lady Þuríður Einarsdóttir, captain of a fishing boat in the late 18th and early 19th century, a time when it was considered a unique profession for a woman. The Ghost Centre in Stokkseyri is a Ghost Museum with all of the most famous ghosts in Iceland located in a building by the harbour. Guests walk through the ghost-maze, where they will experience the stories in the environment where they happened. The stories can be listened to in English, German and Icelandic.

Here is a nice description of Stokkseyri in the Icelandic newspaper Grapewine:
“It is a community where one native has a polar bear in the living room, some have horses in their backyard, and almost everyone knows the Foo Fighters on a first name basis, Stokkseyri is located on the south coast only 45 minutes from Reykjavík. This small village of about 500 people is renowned for its natural beauty, but more impressive are the creative inhabitants living there, inspired by the shore and wildlife in the surrounding area.
Stokkseyri wasn’t much of a draw for tourists a decade ago. Natives almost entirely depended on the fishing industry, and the 26-metre-high lighthouse Knarrarósviti was really the only attraction for travelers. Times have changed, the fish processing moved to nearby town Þorlákshöfn and with companies like Kajakferðir, Töfragarðurinn, restaurant Við fjöruborðið and all kinds of museums the village is becoming a popular spot for both locals and foreigners arriving by thousands every year to take part in various activities.”

The volunteers will be acting as ghosts in the Ghost museum and also, they will be working closely with the staff of the museum helping them with all other necessary tasks. They will also give a helping hand in a family park, taking care of the animals and the visiting guests. This project is perfect for people with artistic skills, especially theatre. Five volunteers will be participating in each group.

Language: English

Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, excursions will be organized by the hosting partner for example to the Golden circle and other places. It is also possible to go kayaking along the coastline.

Accommodation: In an apartment, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.

Location: The village of Stokkseyri is 40 minutes away from the capital Reykjavik.

Terminal: Reykjavík - Keflavík.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: EUR 130,-
The extra fee is intended to support the organization of the project and is payable to the local host upon arrival.
 

 

Art and environment in Reykjavik
       Reykjavik          September 8 - September 22, 2008

Volunteer project: In Reykjavik you can 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. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, space, clean air, nature, culture - and Reykjavik has them in spades. It has the features of a modern, forward-looking society which are complemented by a close connection to beautiful nature.
The population of the Reykjavik Capital Area is about 200,000. Reykjavik is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides. 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.
The world’s northernmost capital is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja, which keeps a watchful eye on the city, and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay. On a sunny day, the mystical Snaefellsjokull glacier appears crystal-like on the western horizon, while mountainous moonscapes spread to the southeast.

The volunteers will be hosted by the City of Reykjavik and their tasks are the following:
Every year volunteers are visiting schools in Reykjavik to teach the children about the importance of taking care of the nature and to be environmentally friendly. One of the tasks of the volunteers is to prepare games and materials for those visits; we will than go to several schools during the project and involve the kids in our programme.
We will help the kids to make sculptures out of garbage that they find in the coastline of Reykjavik. In the third weekend of September, we will have an exhibition with all the artwork, we will also have a photo exhibition from the workcamp season in the same place. Last year we had more than 350 sculptures in this exhibition and more than 300 photos from our participants.
We will also help the environmental department of Reykjavik with their work in the green areas in Reykjavik.

Study theme: The volunteers will have a workshop about photography.

Language: English

Leisure time: Free access to all the swimming pools in Reykjavik, excursion to the Golden circle will be provided by our hosts.

Accommodation: The group will stay in a fully equipped apartment in the centre of 101 Reykjavik. Mattresses will be provided.

Location: Reykjavik

Terminal: Reykjavík – Keflavík Int. airport.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: EUR 140,-
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.
 

 

Construction of hiking trails and maintenance of mountain huts in the natural reserve of Thorsmork
       Nature reserve of Þórsmörk          September 10 - September 20, 2008

Volunteer project: A team of international volunteers will work this year again in the natural protected area of Þórsmörk. Volunteers’ tasks will be mainly focused on construction, maintenance and marking of walking paths and hiking trails, as well as maintenance of the mountain huts in the area, painting and renovation works on the cabins, along with forestry works.

Study theme: Environmental messenger in the project. S/he will be in charge of delivering ecological and global education messages to both international volunteers and local hosts through organised activities as workshops, presentations, simulations, discussions, games on topics related to environment, nature protection and sustainability as use of resources, globalisation, millennium development goals, global warming, fair trade, recycling, consumption, etc. We intend to raise awareness and to encourage the participants to undertake simple but easy-to-implement actions which will affect the way we deal with the environment and the world we live in.

Language: English

Leisure time: Remote places located in natural reserved areas of extreme beauty. Guided hikes and free time activities in the area will be arranged for the volunteers.

Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in the huts and will sleep either on bunk beds or mattresses. A warm sleeping bag is strongly recommended.

Location: The Þórsmörk natural reserve is one of the most beautiful places in Iceland, surrounded by natural boundaries like mountains, ice caps and Glacier Rivers & lagoons. The Thorsmörk area is bounded by Krossá River to the south, Markarfljót River to the west, Ljósá River to the north and the ice cap Mýrdalsjökull to the east. Thorsmörk is an idyllic place of exceptional meteorological conditions hidden in the embrace of glaciers and mountains and was actually a fjord from the ocean about 12.000 years ago. The weather here is also often known to be better and less windy than in the immediate surrounding areas - making it a great destination to go to when the weather is lousy elsewhere. The glacier lagoon here is very popular to visit as well.

Þórsmörk is a place of breathtaking landscapes and a fauna of great variety. It is the home of 170 seminiferous plants as well as a variety of trees, moss and fern. The main reason for the variety of plants and trees is probably attributed to the fact that the area has been exempt from sheep and horse grazing for over 100 years - sheltering them from their apparent negative impact on the flora.

Þórsmörk is one of Iceland’s brightest pearls in the string of beautiful areas of the country, surrounded by rugged and beautiful mountains, glaciers and glacial rivers, decorated with small birch woods and silver lined with humming brooks. Icelanders appreciate Þórsmörk (The Forest of Þór) very much and visit it frequently the whole year round. Quite a few brooks and rivers have to be forded to get there.

Þórsmörk is famous for spectacular nature and is very popular to visit and go hiking. There are many hiking trails in Þórsmörk, one can hike inside the area or hike over the unique trail “Laugavegur” to Landmannalaugar. During summer many people come to Þórsmörk to begin the journey/trail/hiking or to relax after the 2-3 days journey/trail/hiking from Landmannalaugar. There is also a special trail from Skógar to Þórsmörk “Fimmvörðuháls” so it is a perfect place for nature lovers and those who enjoy being outdoors.

Þórsmörk is situated in the south of Iceland, about 160 km from Reykjavík, between 3 glaciers in a place of surreal beauty. For years, the only access to this wondrous place was by a powerful or altered jeep to cross the treacherous rivers, but that is no longer the case.

Terminal: Closest International Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Closest bus stop is Hvolsvöllur.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: EUR 130,-
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.
 

 

Beautifying towns and coastline areas in the Eastfjords of Iceland
       Eskifjörður          September 11 - September 25, 2008

Volunteer project: Eskifjörður is a major fishing town (population: 972) and an export harbour with direct sailing to Europe, which is located at the northern shore of the fjord Eskifjörður. It is built on a small sand spit and up the slopes of the mountain which rises above the town. Its main industries are fishing and small-scale farming. Eskifjörður became an authorized trade port in 1786 and has been a commercial center since 1798. One of the several shops in Eskifjörður, Gamlabúð, built in 1816, houses the Maritime Museum Of East Iceland. Eskifjörður town faces the mountain Hólmatindur, from the top of which you can view some of the tallest mountains in the Icelandic interior. One of the favored sights in the area is the Helgustaðanáman mine, which is one of the world’s best-known sources of Icelandic spar. The area, which is just a ten-minute drive from the town, is a nature reserve and open to all, free of charge. A swimming pool with hot pots (geothermal pools) and a sauna are located in Eskifjörður, as well as a gallery and a crafts shop.

“Fjarðabyggð” is an association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that make Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the project.

Most of the work will be cleaning and beautifying the towns and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline, plant some trees and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather conditions and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully.

Language: English

Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, guided hikes with locals. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.

Accommodation: We will be staying in a nice community center. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.

Location: Eskifjörður in Fjarðabyggð.

Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Egilsstaðir airport is 40 km away from the project.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: EUR 90,-
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.
 

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