FAQS

Workcamps and learning camps are the most common form of short-term opportunities that we offer, where a group of volunteers or participants live together and work on a specific project. Group sizes vary between 6 and 30 participants.

SEEDS organises camps in Iceland throughout the country. In 2022 we organised around 70 projects located across Iceland, hosted about 700 international volunteers from 42 different countries and performed over 70,000 hours of valuable volunteer work. Since 2005 SEEDS has hosted more than 13,600 local and international volunteers in over 1420 projects in Iceland.

The length of SEEDS’ camps varies but generally they last between 9 and 16 days.

SEEDS organises camps in Iceland. Our projects are located all around the country and we work with partners from different locations covering the West and East Fjords, North and South, the Highlands, and the capital area of Iceland.

The projects we develop at SEEDS tend to focus on one or more of the following goals:

• Education and awareness of current environmental issues
• Nature preservation and reforestation
• Cultural and intercultural exchange and education
• Education and development of artistic skills (such as basic photography skills)

The summer projects mainly consist of outdoor camps that take place in Reykjavík or around the country in partnership with local organisations or municipalities. The work carried out in these camps encompasses outdoor volunteer work such as:

• Building and restoring hiking trails or walking paths for public use
• Planting trees, reforestation and erosion control
• Carrying out urban, coastal and beach clean-ups
• Helping with maintenance of the Botanical Garden in Reykjavík
• Ecological research
• Removing invasive growth in the nature protected areas

The winter camps called “Environment and Photography” mostly take place in the capital city. During these camps our short and long-term volunteers carry out non-formal educational activities to raise awareness of environmental, cultural and artistic topics of their interest. 

They can carry out DIY workshops, beach and downtown cleanups in cooperation with the Icelandic Ministry for the Environment, the Blue Army and other local environmental groups. Participants carry out night photography and northern lights workshops amongst other activities.

For more information on SEEDS' projects, please download our latest programme and camp descriptions:
https://seeds.is/files/2023/SEEDS_Iceland_Descriptions_2023.pdf

To find a camp, please click on Join a camp in the navigation menu. You can then browse the camps and hopefully find something that interests you.

Send us an email with your request. Please include your home country so we can check whether we have a Sending Organisation (SO) there.

SEEDS has an extensive network of partner SOs around the world. In case you do not know one or want to know more about the application conditions and procedures, please let us know and we will give you further advice as well as their contact details.

Placements are made on a first come, first served basis. Exceptions can be made if there are too many applicants from one single country.

If you are interested in joining one of our projects, please apply as soon as possible. Some of the camps are very popular and certain periods of the year can be very busy with lots of volunteers coming. The sooner you apply, the more likely you will be accepted and the cheaper your travel will be.

Once receiving the application form, SEEDS tries to answer all requests within two working days and will respond directly to the Sending Organisation. Candidates will know soon after applying if they have been accepted. If an application is rejected we will usually offer an alternative project.

We usually accept volunteers aged 18 and over and in most of our projects we do not have an upper age limit. We have some projects that are open for specific age groups, such as teenage participants (16-20) or young adults (25-35). However, we try our best to place all applicants in our projects. The age range is specified in each camp description.

Volunteers younger than 18 are accepted with special permission/authorisation from their parents/guardians. In this case, you must contact us in advance so that we can send all the necessary documents and details.

We consider age not to be an issue if you are motivated to volunteer with SEEDS in Iceland.

Apart from enthusiasm and motivation, you will need to bring suitable clothes and equipment.
Weather conditions in Iceland can change rapidly, even in the course of a few minutes. It is strongly recommended that you are prepared for warm, sunny days as well as cold, rain and wind. We also recommend you bring the following:
 

• Towel and swimsuit so you can enjoy the many hot pots and heated swimming pools in Iceland
• Food or drinks from your country
• Games and musical instruments
• Clothes that you do not mind getting dirty 
• Waterproof jacket and trousers that you do not mind getting dirty 
• Good, strong shoes
• Sleeping bag 
• Sandals or flip flops, to use indoors in the accommodation 
• Warm clothes, hats, gloves & scarves as some activities take place outdoors.
• Anything else you would like to share with your fellow volunteers

More specific information will be sent in advance.

Once you have been notified of your acceptance into a SEEDS camp, you may go ahead and make your travel arrangements to get to Iceland.

For camps outside Reykjavík: Volunteers participating in our projects taking place outside Reykjavík should arrive to Iceland the latest one day before the camp starts, as travel to the project, if arranged by SEEDS, will leave Reykjavík on the first day of the camp in the morning. 

If volunteers choose to travel by different means, they might need more than one day to reach the destination by public transportation services. In the same way, volunteers shall not book their return journey the day the camp ends, but the earliest one day after the camp finishes. In this way volunteers ensure they will be able to join the camp for its full length.

For camps in Reykjavík: Participants in our camps in Reykjavík do not need to arrive one day earlier to Iceland as they can reach the accommodation the same day of their arrival. The same applies for the departure day, they can book their tickets on the very same day the camp ends.

Looking at our previous experience with volunteers, you could consider staying longer in Iceland; either before and/or after the project. Volunteers may group together and decide to travel the country and visit different areas to those of the project itself.

SEEDS will send you an specific information sheet (infosheet) about your camp which includes detailed information about the project, directions to Reykjavík and to the camp location, the meeting point and accommodation details, etc.

Apart from the specific camp information sheet, SEEDS also has a general information sheet for all our projects with details on:

• The organisation
• Participation fees and where your monetary contribution goes
• SEEDS’ camps – team, work, food and accommodation, free time, transportation to/from the sites, etc.
• What to bring with you
• Insurance - EEA and non EEA
• Travel to Iceland and to Reykjavík
• Arrival and departure dates
• Accommodation (in Reykjavík) for stays before and/or after the camps
• Other practical information
• Emergency procedure and contact details, etc.

Yes, we do. We believe through our activities at SEEDS, we manage to contribute positively to a change of views and beliefs of the local community as well as the hundreds of short and long-term volunteers we host yearly. These changes can range from adopting more environmentally friendly habits in our daily lives to being empowered to making a permanent move to live in a foreign country. 

Participating in our projects provides volunteers with an opportunity to travel abroad and be immersed in a new culture as well as be a vital part of the intercultural hub that is SEEDS. 

Furthermore, in all our camps you will have the opportunity to learn from and share with highly motivated and dedicated SEEDS volunteers, such as our long-term volunteers in the roles of Environment Camp Leader and/or Photography Camp Leader. 

Environment Camp Leaders are responsible for planning, implementing and participating in SEEDS’ camps in Iceland. They take part in local projects that raise awareness about intercultural cooperation and understanding as well as environmental awareness activities. They are up to date with current global topics such as:

• Environmental education, conservation and preservation
• Sustainable consumption behaviours
• Sustainable tourism and fashion
• Climate change and pollution
• Population growth, food production, the management of water and other resources 

They will also create opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and share the actions you are already taking in your home country. 

Photography Camp Leaders are responsible for planning and executing photography projects within our ‘Environment and Photography’ learning camps in Reykjavík. They organise photography workshops, lessons and exhibitions as well as help and teach about the art of photography amongst other tasks. They have knowledge of photography and will help improve your own skills so you can learn to take beautiful photos of Icelandic nature and city life.

Participation/contribution fees are required in order to take part in our camps as these help to support the ongoing work of SEEDS. Please note the entirety of your fee may not go towards your particular camp. The fees collected by SEEDS are mainly used to:

• Cover administrative costs of the organisation, including salaries, rent, office bills (energy, phone, electricity, insurance, heating), personnel, external representation, mail, website, postage, equipment, supplies, banking costs, legal formalities, etc.
• Assist or develop some of our other activities
• Pay for food or accommodation during some of the projects where the hosts do not provide it
• Co-funding for our long-term voluntary service projects
• Development of particular sessions during the camps

SEEDS is a non-profit organisation and all funds go back into improving the service we provide to volunteers and hosts. Most European organisations similar to SEEDS raise funds by sending volunteers abroad and charge outgoing volunteers a registration fee.

In Iceland we face a particular challenge for two reasons, voluntary service is not very popular among Icelanders and the Icelandic population is very small. This means the number of volunteers sent overseas by SEEDS does not represent sufficient income to run our association. 

Furthermore, SEEDS does not receive any regular government funding, or financial support from our local, regional or national authorities or government. Thanks to the fees contributed by our participants we are able to run the association and to offer the program of varied projects all year round. 

The amount of the fees will be stated in each camp’s description. The fees we charge are different depending on the season of the year and the demand for particular projects; during the summer they are higher as we have a greater demand for this short period and it is the time when SEEDS raises most of its income to sustain the association for the whole year.

The participation fees can be paid either via bank transfer, or in cash upon arrival at the SEEDS office (only in Euros or Icelandic Krónas).

Camps in Reykjavík: 

The most convenient way is to use the Flybus return ticket (back and forth, as the price is cheaper than buying 2 singles); we recommend to use the Flybus ticket as it includes the shuttle service from BSÍ bus station to different drop-off stations, hostels, hotels or guesthouses around the city.

If you are coming directly from the airport to the SEEDS office, the most convenient stop is "Bus stop 8 - Hallgrímskirkja" which is located next to Reykjavík's tallest building and the church landmark of the city. SEEDS office is located a short walk down the hill from there.  

 

Camps outside Reykjavík: 

Volunteers participating in our projects taking place outside Reykjavík should arrive to Iceland the latest one day before the camp starts. 

It is up to you which mode of transport you choose to get to the camp. You can use Icelandic public transport or any kind. The costs for transportation in Iceland may be high and it is not always easy to reach the camp locations. We therefore recommend volunteers use transportation provided by SEEDS, which will be a minibus. The cost varies according to the location of the camp but we always aim to provide an option cheaper than other means of transport in Iceland.

The fees can be paid to SEEDS at the meeting point; it can be paid in Euros or Icelandic Krona. If you prefer to transfer the fee, please let us know in advance and we can send you our bank account details and information needed. Keep in mind we do not accept payments with credit or debit cards.

SEEDS has trained leaders for all our camps. They are also volunteers and their role is to connect the local host, short-term volunteers and SEEDS. 

In every camp you will have the opportunity to learn from and share experiences with our highly motivated and dedicated long-term volunteers at SEEDS whose roles are Environment Camp Leader and/or Photography Camp Leader. 

Environment Camp Leaders are responsible for planning, implementing, and coordinating SEEDS’ camps in Iceland. 

Photography Camp Leaders are responsible for planning and executing photography projects and activities in our learning camps. They organise photography workshops, lessons and exhibitions as well as help and teach about the art of photography amongst other tasks. They have knowledge of photography and will help improve your own skills so you can learn to take better photos and videos.

The leaders / coordinators have the extra responsibility of running the projects and communicating with everyone involved. In every camp they will also partake in the work, cooking and cleaning duties. They are not fully responsible for organising your free time but encourage ideas sharing and contributions from all.

No, you do not need any special skills to join a SEEDS’ camp. However, some of the camps are physically demanding, so you will need to be aware of your own limitations in those specific cases. You will be expected to participate not only in the work with the other volunteers but also in building a positive group atmosphere, cooking, cleaning and undertaking group activities together.

We recommend applying for a camp in good time. If you decide to participate at the last minute, contact us or your Sending Organisation. We will try to find a camp that suits your expectations and travel dates for you to participate in.

Some camps fill up months in advance and some may have free places even a few days before the camp starts, for example if a volunteer cancels their place for an unforeseen reason.

Yes, of course! In fact, we encourage it. If you have enough time available, we would be delighted to welcome you in more than one of our projects.

Some volunteers like to participate in more than one camp which is why we decided to offer a discount. If you participate in more than one of SEEDS' camps, you will get a 10% discount on the participation fee of the second (third or fourth) project.

All basic food and accommodation are covered by SEEDS or the local host from the evening of the first day of the camp until the morning of the last day. Some leisure time activities are also covered by SEEDS and/or our local hosts. Sometimes you will be asked to cover some costs, such as entrance to a swimming pool, bus excursion, etc. Of course, these activities are not compulsory so you can decide whether to take part or not.

Yes, both food and accommodation will be provided by either the local host or SEEDS during all camps. In most of the camps, volunteers will share the duties of preparing and cooking meals using the ingredients and equipment provided. However, if you would like some luxury food items, ingredients or sweets, you will need to buy them yourself, probably before the departure to the camp as supplies can be limited in small towns. If you do not have any special requests, it is unlikely you will need any money to buy food during the camp. If you have special requirements, allergies, intolerance to certain foods or you are a vegetarian/vegan, please let us know so we can cater for your needs.

Accommodation varies from camp to camp but we always ensure the conditions provided by the host meet quality standards so all our volunteers enjoy a comfortable and safe place to live.

The accommodation provided in the countryside usually consists of municipality or community houses, sport centres, guest houses or forest lodges where volunteers sleep in shared rooms with showers and cooking facilities available. Access to the internet and washing machine are dependent on the project, thus not always guaranteed.

If the camp takes place in Reykjavík, you will be hosted in one of our houses. The accommodation is shared and has showers, cooking facilities, and washing machines. Each room accommodate 2 - 6 people.Please note volunteers usually need to bring their own sleeping bags.

In the past couple of years we have hosted volunteers from more than 50 countries all over the globe. SEEDS tries to organise camps that include a wide variety of volunteers from different countries. This brings different cultural influences and perspectives together and avoids single cultures being overrepresented.

Yes, you do. Volunteers MUST obtain health and accident insurance for the duration of their travel before arriving in Iceland. You must bring all necessary documents and insurance contact information with you. SEEDS does not provide any type of insurance for international volunteers, therefore, volunteers without insurance will not be allowed to participate in our projects. Depending on where you are from, please read the relevant section below on obtaining insurance for your project.

Residents of the EEA (European Economic Area) and Switzerland

Iceland is part of the EEA, so volunteers residing in the European Union or any EEA country and Switzerland benefit here from the use of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), having access to the Icelandic healthcare system as in any European country in the same conditions as Icelandic citizens and will be treated on the same basis as a resident of Iceland. For information on the European Health Insurance Card, please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=509&langId=en

Non-EEA Residents (rest of the world)

If you are travelling from outside the EEA, you must seek private medical/travel insurance for the duration of your stay. It is strongly advised you obtain this before leaving your country of residence as the cost of insurance in Iceland will be much higher. Your insurance must cover you for all medical eventualities and it is advisable to also include any private medical healthcare.

English is the official language of SEEDS’ camps. Do not worry if you don’t speak it perfectly, many of our volunteers use this opportunity to improve their English language skills. You do not need any knowledge of the Icelandic language as most Icelanders speak English very well. However, please keep in mind that locals very much appreciate when foreigners try to learn and speak some words or phrases of their native language.

No, you do not need to have the highest level of English, but you should definitely know how to express yourself, your needs and opinions. We want to give opportunities to everyone to improve their language skills with us. For environmental & photography learning camps we require an intermediate level of English. For camps outside of Reykjavík the level of English can be lower.

It depends on the camp and which kind of activities can be organised with the locals and with the group. There can be field trips, visits to museums, galleries or places of interest, walks/hikes around the area, going to the swimming pool or activities prepared within the group, such as games, singing, talking about topics of common interest or international dinners.

If you get lost or miss the transport connection to the camp, call the contact person on your information sheet.

We suggest our volunteers research travel options with different airlines or alternative means of transport.There are two main airlines flying to Keflavík (Reykjavík) International Airport:

1. Icelandair www.icelandair.com
2. PLAY flyplay.com

Apart from Iceland’s own airlines, there are also others offering flights to Iceland. You can find them at https://www.isavia.is/en/keflavik-airport/flight-information/airlines

Volunteers might find good deals and help with connecting flights and general trip planning at:

www.google.com/travel/flights 

www.skyscanner.net   

www.edreams.com 

www.ebookers.com  

www.kiwi.com 

www.kayak.com

Last, if volunteers have time, the Smyril Line operates a ferry service to the east of Iceland. This is a four to seven day sea adventure for travellers and stops off at the Faroe Isles on the way. (www.smyrilline.com)

Flights have a significantly negative impact on environment and increase our "carbon footprint" (more information: www.carbonfootprint.com).

Most of the airlines provide you a chance to pay an extra fee in order to offset your carbon footprint through projects. For example, in Iceland this money supports reforestration projects.

If you have plenty of time to spare, the Smyril Line operates a ferry service from Denmark (Scotland and Norway) to the east of Iceland. This is a four to seven day sea adventure for travellers and stops off at the Faroe Isles on the way (www.smyril-line.com).

There are buses leaving the airport approximately 40 minutes after each flight ( during the day and nighttime), so you do not have to be afraid of getting stuck at the airport even when your plane lands at night or is delayed.

It is likely you will spend little money during the camps. If your camp is located in Reykjavík and you enjoy the nightlife, it is a good idea to bring some extra money with you.

Iceland may be more expensive than you are used to. Prices of many basic products and services are similar to those in other western countries. Some things may even be cheaper, for example, entrance to swimming pools and phone calls. Other services are more expensive, such as public transport, guided tours, medical care, etc.

To reduce your costs you can choose Duty Free shops on the airplane or on arrival at Keflavík airport. If you want to buy personal items you can also try the local budget supermarkets – Bónus and Krónan.

Yes, our partner organisations charge application fees to the outgoing volunteers. The amount depends on which organisation you apply through.

We recommend using this link http://www.seeds.is/links, where you can find lots of useful information on many topics about Iceland.