Between Glaciers & Lava (1:2)
Between Glaciers & Lava (1:2)
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
Language: English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.
Extras: Participation fee EUR 350. The participation fee does not include the transportation from Reykjavík to the camp and back.
From 02.07.2019 to 13.07.2019
Participation fee: 350 Euro
Number of volunteers: 8
Types: Arts / Construction / Cultural
Region: West Fjords
Age: 18+
WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will have the opportunity to contribute to this special arts and culture project in the western part of Iceland. Since 2000, our hosts have been creating and developing an art residency camp, outdoors and indoors art exhibitions and a chapel for all types of religions which are open to the public. The residency grew around an old abandoned farm which has been in the process of transformation for the last 19 years. The residency supports various art and culture activities, especially young artists, as well as scientific research. Since the start of the project there have been thousands of visitors and the plans exist to expand the residency with several more houses that will be built using Stone, turf and driftwood of the area.
The art residency is a home to the artworks of Páll Guðmundsson, famous local artist known for his use of stone as art medium. Páll’s art comes in forms of stone statues, paintings on stone surface and even a stone made musical instrument. His inspiration comes from Icelandic nature and traditional culture.
SEEDS volunteers will help with various outdoors tasks such as turfing and maintenance work on a stone wall in the sculpture and outdoor artwork garden. The group will also be working in the areas around the chapel. The group will be supervised by a professional stonewall maker and a natural scientist. Depending on the hosts needs the group may also help in maintaining a walking path from the sculpture garden towards a small canyon where some outdoor artwork can be found and help with setting up and moving the artwork, taking down old fences, hand-picking trash and generally beautifying the surroundings.
The working day normally runs from 09:00 - 17:00 with breaks for lunch and coffee. No previous experience is necessary but the work is demanding and might require a good physical condition; it can at times be repetitive but always rewarding. 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. The working plan 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 to be motivated to work outdoors on physical jobs and under changeable weather. Bring warm winter clothes, under-layers, waterproofs, walking shoes/boots, a good sleeping bag, hat, scarves and gloves.
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 expands over 950 km2 and its highest point is 1355 m above sea level. In addition to natural wonders this area is also famous for being one of the first settled locations in Iceland and featured in some of the oldest Icelandic sagas.
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 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.
Departure at 12:00 noon/midday of July 2 from SEEDS office. Return to Reykjavík in the evening of July 13.
EXTRAS/SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 350 (Euros). Please note that the fee can either be transferred in advance via bank transfer, or paid for on arrival. The participation fee does not include the transportation from Reykjavík to the camp and back but we estimate the costs about EUR 30 each way.
This work camp takes place in a remote place, in a natural area of extreme beauty. Our hosts will organise some free time activities in the area for instance hikes or visits to the beautiful surroundings. Other excursions (eg. Golden circle or Snæfellsnes Peninsula) can be organised at discount fares for SEEDS volunteers.