Culture & Midnight sun in the East fjords

WORK/PROJECT: This is the second time SEEDS organises projects of this type, even though we have been working with the municipality of Seyðisfjarðarkaupstaður in the past. This project is different from many others because it is based on a cultural experience and voluntary service exchange, giving participants the opportunity to experience a real Icelandic community in the East fjords.

The volunteers will assist a local artist prepare a course for children in drawing and painting. They will help the artist prepare material used in the course and set up the classroom to be used. Volunteers help with moving furniture, assist and help the community school to settle in the school building. Participants will help out with moving household items and equipment between houses and taking stuff to the recycling centre.

Some part of this project can be physically demanding but it is has varied tasks for everyone.

The volunteers will be invited to dinner by families in town, will have access to the swimming pool and the gym, as to the centre for visual arts located in town. Our hosts will also organise some guided walks in the nature surrounding the town, a bonfire with locals and a concert in the neighbouring fjord.

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 surroundings is a unique experience.

ACCOMMODATION: SEEDS volunteers will stay in the school house, in a sleeping bag accommodation, with shower facilities and kitchen. Lunch will be provided by the host on weekdays.

Volunteers will be sleeping on mattresses on the floor in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Food ingredients will be provided and volunteers will share the duties of cooking and cleaning. Please do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for an international evening.

LOCATION: The long, calm, deep fjord of Seydisfjordur twists and turns 17 kilometres from its mouth to the head of the fjord, where the town of the same name stands. Seydisfjordur is regarded by many as one of Iceland’s most picturesque towns, not only due to its impressive environment, but also because nowhere in Iceland has a community of old wooden buildings been preserved so well as there.

Seyðisfjörður is a beautiful town in the north of the east coast, a welcoming town booming with creativity and rich in history. Inhabited by about 650 people the town acts as one big family, and a friendly one. Everybody is welcome to this little paradise and locals want to share the goodness with everyone.

The community, like so many others in Iceland, owes its origins to foreign merchants, mainly Danes, who started trading in the fjord in the mid-19th century. But the crucial factor in the evolution of the town was the establishment of the Icelandic herring fishery by Norwegians in 1870 -1900.

What makes Seydisfjordur unique is the location. Rammed in between two high and steep mountains, Strandartindur and Bjólfur. Climbing one you not only get the view of a lifetime but could also be lucky enough to wander upon a group of reindeer.

LANGUAGE: English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.

TERMINAL & TRANSPORT: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

SEEDS organises a “minibus option”, a shared transport from Reykjavík & back. Apart from being cheaper and convenient, it allows participants to meet and have a relaxed trip, while stopping on the way for interesting sites.  

The SEEDS minibus will travel one way along the Northern part of the country and the other way it will go along the South. In this way we will have the opportunity to travel the whole ring road and stop at some magnificent natural sights, like waterfalls, glaciers, volcano craters, hot springs, iceberg lagoons, etc.

Departure is at 7:00 am of June 15 from SEEDS office.  We will return to Reykjavík in the late evening of June 29.

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 75 each way. If you take SEEDS minibus option to and from the camp location, you will be able to go all around Iceland, as we drive different ways (either North or South) to and from the camp.