Coastline cleanup on the island of Videy
Viðey 2 projects in May and August
Volunteer project: The volunteers will have the opportunity to work on the historical island of Viðey for the 19th year in a row with our host, the city of Reykjavík. Viðey is a popular destination during the summer among Icelandic and foreign visitors.
Volunteers will beautify the surroundings by cleaning up the area, especially along the coastline, for instance by hand-picking garbage or collecting trash blown by the wind or brought by the sea to the shores and the surroundings. Volunteers may carry out some gardening activities as well and possibly make and maintain walking paths. Well maintained paths enable people to visit the island without damaging it and this important work also helps improve visitors' safety. Depending on the advance of the project and weather conditions, volunteers may have other possible tasks such as checking up and repairing garden furniture.
The working day normally runs from 9:00am to 5:00pm with breaks for lunch and coffee; however, please be prepared for some flexibility due to the nature of Iceland's changeable weather.
The project in May takes place around the summer solstice, when the sun hardly sets and the nights are almost as bright as the days. The bright nights are magical and staying awake and enjoying the beautiful surroundings is a unique experience. During the time of the project, participants will have the opportunity to experience the midnight sun as there are 24 hours of light even if the sun does set for short periods of time.
Language: English
Leisure time: The volunteers will have rides on the ferry to the city of Reykjavík during their free time. Other excursions (Golden Circle, South Shore, Hot River or Reykjanes Peninsula) can be arranged at discount fares for the group.
Accommodation: Volunteers will be lodged in a local house on Viðey island, in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag. The facilities are equipped with a kitchen, shower, and a washing machine. Please note, the food provided is vegetarian.
Location: Viðey or “Wood Island” is the largest (1,7 km²) island in the Kollafjord Bay, just outside Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. The island is covered by many species of plants and at least 30 species of breeding birds have been counted here. Viðey was inhabited from soon after the settlement of Iceland in the 10th century. In the beginning of the 20th century around 100 people lived there. Today the island is uninhabited.
There is a regular ferry connection between the island and the harbour of Reykjavík. The island is only a few hundred meters away from the city and the trip takes a few minutes. This makes Viðey so special: it is a peaceful place, very close to the busy city life of the capital. There are hiking and cycling paths around the island and there is no motor traffic allowed. It also features intriguing sculptural artwork, amongst them all nine pairs of basalt pillars that comprise Richard’s Serra’s work "Áfangar" and Yoko Ono’s “Imagine Peace” column, a tower of light, which is supported by the widow of John Lennon. Other places of interest on Viðey are related to archaeological research. At the eastern end of the island is the site of an abandoned fishing village and Viðeyjarnaust, at the southwest of the island, is a memorial to the twenty men who lost their lives when the cutter Ingvar sank off Viðey in 1906. Dramatic formations of columnar basalt may be seen on the shore.
Terminal: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).
Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 400 Euro for the project in May; 425 Euro for the project in August;
The fee includes the transportation from the meeting point to the project site (on the first day) and a whale watching trip.
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:
May 13 - May 22, 2025
August 19 - August 28, 2025
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.
Photography, environment and Aurora hunting in Iceland
Reykjavik 11 projects of 2 wks from January to April
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, making videos 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 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; 450 Euro for the Easter project (April 16-25, 2025);
The fee includes transportation from the meeting point to the project site on the first day and the Night photography workshop.
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:
January 6 - January 15, 2025
January 16 - January 25, 2025
January 26 - February 4, 2025
February 5 - February 14, 2025
February 15 - February 24, 2025
February 25 - March 6, 2025
March 7 - March 16, 2025
March 17 - March 26, 2025
March 27 - April 5, 2025
April 6 - April 15, 2025
April 16 - April 25, 2025