Christmas time in Reykjavík - Environment & Photography

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

While developing artistic and technical photography skills, you will also be focusing on a few environmental and sustainability issues through non-formal activities such as workshops, discussions, presentations and visits facilitated by SEEDS. One of our aims is to help create more environmentally aware consumers & travellers!

We will also visit local projects on environment and conservation, these may include hands-on activities or guided visits. Some examples include coastal and outdoors cleaning actions, a waste collection centre, a visit to a geothermal power plant, a museum or exhibition or a community dinner. Some activities are dependent on conditions such as weather, human resources available, as well as availability from our partner organisations.

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. 

SEEDS programme combines learning, sharing, hands-on activities, getting to know Iceland, its culture, having fun, exploring the capital city and some stunning nature attractions in the Golden Circle excursion or other visits. Participants should prepare and share about environmental issues from their countries and should be ready to spend time outdoors walking medium distances during activities and sightseeing. 

Note this project is a learning/sharing camp and not a standard workcamp. This project has a smaller work part and puts a bigger emphasis on the personal learning process than on the community impact.

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. 

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, washing machine, kitchen 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.

Volunteers will receive food supplies and will be in charge of the cooking and cleaning. Please note the food SEEDS provides will be vegetarian. Do not forget some traditional/typical food, drinks, recipes, music, games or movies from your country for the international evening, please be aware some items or ingredients may be expensive in Iceland and you will need to buy them yourselves or bring them from your country. 

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; intermediate conversational skills are needed.

TERMINAL: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 300 (Euros). Please note that the fee can either be transferred in advance via bank transfer, or paid for on arrival. The fee includes transportation from the meeting point to the camp (on the first day), the visits available, 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 14 at the SEEDS Office (Address: Grettisgata 3a, 101 Reykjavik).

Other excursions (eg. South shore, Reykjanes and/or Snæfellsnes) can be arranged at discount fares if there is free time after the camp workshops or sessions. It may be very cold and/or rainy, so we recommend bringing warm/winter and waterproof clothes, good walking shoes/boots, as some of the activities take place outdoors.