Environment & Photography - Music & Children's Festivals

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, the best photographs from each participant are selected for an online exhibition on SEEDS social media. 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.
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.

During your stay, also a Children’s and Youth Culture festival will take place (April 21-26). a week-long arts and culture festival dedicated to children and youth; there will be activities including theatre workshops, circus, visual arts, storytelling, music, film, puppetry and dance. For more information https://barnamenningarhatid.is/

The music festival Sónar is likely to take place April 25 - 27. Sónar is an experiment in how music can reach those who truly seek it by those performing it and seeing that it is not the largest stage or the biggest crowd that matters but also about the relationship that forms and the memories for all.  Please note that SEEDS does not provide tickets for the festivals but some of the events are free of charge.

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/dormitory 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 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 by 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 300 (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 April 20 at SEEDS Office in Reykjavik. The weather can be cold or rainy, we recommend to bring good walking shoes/boots, warm and/or waterproof clothes (underlayers, overcoats, scarves, gloves and hats) as some of the tasks and activities take place outside.
Other excursions (eg. South shore, Snaefellsnes or Reykjanes Peninsula) may be arranged at discount fares, in case there is additional free time after the workshops and camp’s sessions.