Between Glaciers & Lava

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will have the opportunity again to contribute to this special art and culture project in the western part  of Iceland. Our hosts are creating an art residency camp and plan to open it to public in 2019. The aim of the project this year is to support the making of an outdoor art exhibition and creating the area around a chapel for all types of religions and beliefs, the group of volunteers will be turfing the area.

Volunteers will help with various outdoors tasks such as building a stone wall in a garden with sculptures and outdoor artwork. The participants will be supervised by a professional stonewall maker and a nature scientist.

Furthermore the group will build a walking path from the sculpture garden towards a small canyon where some outdoor artwork can be found and will also help with setting up and moving the artwork, take down old fences and generally beautifying the area and surroundings.

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 and of course on the weather conditions.

Volunteers need motivation to work mainly outdoors on physical jobs, under changeable weather conditions,  be prepared for all kinds of weather and bring warm clothes as the tasks take place outside and it can get cold.

ACCOMMODATION: SEEDS volunteers will stay in a local house; sleeping in shared rooms on mattresses in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Volunteers receive food supplies and are mostly 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: The project takes place in the western part of Iceland, in a unique natural pearl with breathtaking landscape, between glaciers and lava fields. The place is like an oasis in the desert, as the weather is often better than in the surroundings.

Among the natural wonders nearby are the Hraunfossar waterfalls; where water comes out from a lava field over a length of 1 km. Additionally, the Hallmundarhraun lava field is among the best known and deepest in Iceland. Langjökull (Long Glacier), the second largest glacier in Iceland, it is 950 km2 and its highest point is 1355 m above sea level. Langjökull is surrounded by other small glaciers, Eiríksjökull, Þórisjökull, Hrútafell and the disappearing glacier Ok. Dense forests, lava, water springs and torrential glacier rivers, mixed with a diverse fauna and flora makes this area a delightful place to stay.

The surroundings nearby are ideal for hikers as walking paths and trails spread in all directions. According to some of the oldest Icelandic sagas, this area is said to be inhabited since the very early settlement of the island.

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 project and vice versa. Apart from being cheaper and more convenient, it 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 1:00 pm (13:00) June 30 from SEEDS office in Reykjavík. After the camp, we will arrive back to Reykjavík in the evening of July 10.

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 200 (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 25 each way.

Our hosts will organise some free time activities in the area. Other excursions (eg. Golden circle or Snæfellsnes Peninsula) can be organised at discount fares for SEEDS volunteers.

Volunteers have to bring good shoes and clothes, it might be cold or rainy and hats and gloves might be necessary.  Candidates applying should have a motivation for working outdoors and do physical work.