Hitting the slopes - Blue Mountains

Accommodation: SEEDS volunteers will stay in one of the ski lodges in the mountains and sleep in a sleeping bag accommodation, sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Volunteers will receive food supplies and be in charge of the cooking and cleaning activiti

Language: English will be the official language in the camp; high proficiency is not a requirement.

Extras: Participation fee EUR 220 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas. The fee includes the domestic transportation from Reykjavík to the campsite and back (on the first and last day of the camp) and the Golden Circle excursion. Departure time will be 13:00 on June 20 from the meeting point at SEEDS office in the city of Reykjavik. After the camp we will return to Reykjavík in the afternoon of June 27. The location of the camp is remote and isolated, even though still close to the city. Free time activities in the surrounding area are mostly hiking and trekking. Volunteers shall be prepared for physical outdoors work & should bring good working shoes and clothes, even though it is summer, it can still be cold and hats and gloves might be necessary. Volunteers need to be prepared for all kinds of weather. In the mountains, the weather can change quickly and drastically. Excursions can be arranged in the free days or after working hours for SEEDS volunteers at discount fares (for example South Shore, Reykjanes or Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Hot River hike, etc.).

From 20.06.2018 to 27.06.2018

Participation fee: 220 Euro

Number of volunteers: 6

Types: Construction / Environmental / Renovation

Region: Capital Region

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will be working with the City of Reykjavík in the main skiing area in the capital region of Iceland, Bláfjöll or in English called the Blue Mountains.

The main tasks in this camp will be maintaining the slopes and preparing them for the next season. The city and a few sports associations run lodges and mountain huts there and they might also need some renovation jobs, such as painting and/or cleaning.

The working plan is flexible and it will depend on the needs of our local hosts. Volunteers need to be motivated to work mainly outdoors on physical jobs and under changeable weather conditions. As the landscape is raw, the work is physically very demanding but also rewarding. Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors and to experience an isolated area close to the capital.

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 weather, we may not be able to perform some of the tasks or activities planned.

Weather in Iceland is unpredictable, so be prepared for all kinds of weather and be sure to bring warm winter clothing since most of the work will take place outdoors and it can get cold in the mountains. The camp happens 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 enjoying the beautiful surroundings is a unique experience.

ACCOMMODATION: SEEDS volunteers will stay in one of the ski lodges in the mountains and sleep in a sleeping bag accommodation, sharing rooms. 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 food and/or drinks from your country for an international evening.

LOCATION: The project takes place in the Blue Mountain Range area, which is about a 30 minute drive from Reykjavík. Bláfjöll is south-west of the city and has great ski slopes for downhill skiing and snowboarding, with 16 lifts, as well as tracks for cross-country skiing.

The range stretches to the west from the mountain Vifilsfell near the main road (#1) from the capital area to the South-western lowlands. The highest mountain in the range reaches 600 m and in 1968 the district became a very popular skiing resort among Icelanders and the favourite for skiers in the capital region.

This area is excellent for recreation, not only for alpine and cross country skiing, but outdoor activities as well such as hiking and mountain biking. Nature lovers are certain to find something they like there, but it’s important to be careful crossing the rugged lava fields because of the numerous caves underneath.

The Blue Mountain Range is a place of extreme beauty within the natural surroundings, there are countless opportunities to hike and discover the area by foot.

LANGUAGE: English will be the official language of the camp; high proficiency is not required.

TERMINAL: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 220 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

The fee includes the domestic transportation from Reykjavík to the campsite and back (on the first and last day of the camp) and the Golden Circle excursion. Departure time will be 13:00 on June 20 from the meeting point at SEEDS office in the city of Reykjavik. After the camp we will return to Reykjavík in the afternoon of June 27.

The location of the camp is remote and isolated, even though still close to the city. Free time activities in the surrounding area are mostly hiking and trekking.

Volunteers shall be prepared for physical outdoors work & should bring good working shoes and clothes, even though it is summer, it can still be cold and hats and gloves might be necessary. Volunteers need to be prepared for all kinds of weather. In the mountains, the weather can change quickly and drastically.

Excursions can be arranged in the free days or after working hours for SEEDS volunteers at discount fares (for example South Shore, Reykjanes or Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Hot River hike, etc.).