Forestry in the North of Iceland

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will be working on a project in the beautiful forest Vaglaskógur in the North of Iceland, doing nature and environmental oriented tasks. SEEDS has been cooperating with the Icelandic forest service and our groups of volunteers have been helping out for few years in other forests around Iceland with very good results. The participants and the Icelandic nature conservation have been very happy with the projects and the reforestation efforts.

The main tasks will be to maintain hiking paths, build stairs, make and put up signs. The volunteers will also collect pine cones that are used to plant again. Other tasks will be to trim branches and beautify groves that are located near hiking paths. Well maintained paths enable people to visit these amazing areas without damaging the area and this important work also helps to improve safety for visitors.

The work can be demanding and might require a good physical condition. No previous experience is needed. As it is outdoors work, volunteers shall be ready to adapt and be flexible with the working and free-time schedule, as depending on the -changeable- weather, we may not be able to perform some of the tasks or activities planned. The working plan will be flexible and it will depend on the needs of our local host, the advance of the diverse projects in the area surrounding the forest and of course on the weather conditions.

Volunteers should be prepared for all kinds of weather and bring warm winter clothes as the tasks take place outside and it can get very cold at this time of the year. Bring warm under-layers, waterproofs, walking shoes/boots, a good sleeping bag, hat, scarves  and gloves. Last but not least volunteers can explore the surroundings of the location and enjoy free time activities arranged in cooperation with our local project host.

ACCOMMODATION: SEEDS volunteers will sleep in beds in a house belonging to the Icelandic forest service. The house is fully equipped. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Volunteers will receive food supplies and be in charge of the cooking and cleaning activities. Do not forget some traditional/typical food or drinks from your home country for an international evening.

LOCATION: Vaglaskógur is a 300-hectare forest in North of Iceland and is located about 35 km from the beautiful town of Akureyri. It is the second largest forest area in the country.

The forest is located in Fnjóskadalur, a green and fertile valley with the Fnjónská River running through. It is a narrow valley, thus sheltered from most wind directions. In the area you will find a stone arched bridge. Built in 1908, it was the first of its kind in Iceland and it was the longest stone arch bridge in Scandinavia at the time.  

In the summer Vaglaskógur is filled with tourists and locals enjoying the forest, as it offers great variety of walking paths and small streams run through the land where children and adults can cool down in warm days.  The North of Iceland is spectacular with high mountain ranges, a variety of outdoor activities and long fjords.

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.

Departure from Reykjavík will be at 7:00 in the morning of September 4 from SEEDS office. After the camp, we will arrive back to Reykjavík in the late evening of September 17.

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 250 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas. The participation fee does not include the transportation from Reykjavík to the camp and back but we estimate the costs about EUR 65 each way.

As autumn is coming volunteers have to bring good working shoes/walking boots, warm winter clothes as a good sleeping bag, scarves, hats and gloves. The project takes place outside and it can get very cold. Please bring warm under-layers, waterproofs.  

Free time activities will be organised depending on weather, like swimming, hiking, sightseeing or a barbeque.