Christmas time in Reykjavík - Photography & Environment

PROJECT: During this camp participants can share their love for (and learn more about) photography, as well as global & local environmental issues. If you love taking photographs or want to learn / develop your photography skills and are also interested in topics such as: climate change, waste management, animal protection, sustainable solutions (& other environmental topics), then this project is for you!

 

While developing your artistic and technical photography skills, you will also be focusing on different current environmental and sustainability issues through a selection of workshops, discussions, and visits facilitated by SEEDS coordinators.. One of our aims is to help create more environmentally aware consumers & travellers!

 

You will also have time to put the theory into practice, and walk around and visually explore the city.  At the end of the camp, a selection of the best photographs from the camp is made for an informal group exhibition at a local available public venue in the city. Participants should bring their own digital cameras, lenses, tripods and laptops if possible. Participants should be ready to walk around the city for different activities and visits.

 

We may also get the chance to visit local projects focused on environment and conservation, which can include hands-on volunteering activities or guided visits. Some examples include coastal and outdoors cleaning actions, a visit to a recycling centre, a geothermal power plant, a museum or exhibition  or a community dinner at a local NGO. These, however, are dependent on the availability of our partners and the weather conditions at the time. 

 

Note this project is a learning/sharing camp and not a standard workcamp. Everybody is expected to contribute their own knowledge and experience. Participants should also take advantage of the opportunity to share about their own culture or country, such as food, music, games or films with the international group.

SEEDS programme combines learning, sharing, getting to know Iceland, its culture, having fun, as exploring the capital city and some stunning nature attractions in the Golden Circle excursion or other visits part of the camp.

 

In this project SEEDS will organize a night photography and Aurora hunting (Northern lights) workshop to the countryside in the close vicinity of Reykjavík. This will take place during late evening and possibly into the night. We cannot guarantee you will see northern lights as solar activity is irregular and it depends on weather and meteorological conditions but we will in any case organise the night photography workshop.

 

Volunteers will join the festive atmosphere during some days by handing out hot chocolate in the city centre as a way of fundraising for non-for-profit projects of the Icelandic Red Cross. We will help in the preparation by putting up the chocolate stations, decorating the tables, making the chocolate and taking it to the different stations around the city. At the end, we will assist in taking down the stations and leaving the areas clean.

 

ACCOMMODATION:  SEEDS participants will stay in a house in Reykjavík. The facilities are basic with showers, kitchen, washing machine  and everyone is expected to show consideration for their companions. Participants will sleep in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

 

We will receive food supplies and the group will be in charge of the cooking and cleaning. Do not forget some traditional/typical food, drinks, music games or recipes from your home country for the international evening.

 

LOCATION: Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources. The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic on almost all sides. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene surrounded with beautiful nature.

 

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).

 

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 350 (Euros) which can be transferred in advance or paid for on arrival.  The fee includes transportation from the meeting point to the camp, the Golden Circle excursion with a visit to a Geothermal Power plant, as the Night photography & Aurora hunting (Northern lights) workshop.

 

Meeting time will be 18:00 (6:00 pm) on December 9 at SEEDS Office in Reykjavik. Participants that cannot arrive on time (later or delayed flights) will be sent information on how to reach the camp on their own.

 

Other excursions (eg. South shore or Reykjanes Peninsula) may be arranged at discount fares, in case there is additional free time after the workshops and camp’s sessions.