Medieval Iceland Festival

WORK / PROJECT: Volunteers will be working in the north of Iceland in a place full of historical heritage for the nation, with a lot of archaeological findings from the middle ages. Every year there is a medieval festival and SEEDS volunteers will have the opportunity to be a part of the festival. We will be working on various different things, both in the surroundings and for the festival itself.

The projects around are to take down old fences that are no longer serving their purpose and might be a danger hazard. We will also be building a medieval wall, which is made of turf, drift wood and big-whale bones. Our project will not only be to build the wall, but also to collect material for it, we will be going to the shore of Hauganes to collect mainly big-whale bones, that have been lying there for around 20 years.

Preparation for the festival will include building two campsites and general preparations around the area. Participation in the festival will be very diverse; we will be selling tickets, cleaning in the area and assisting various crafts men that are showing some old traditional Icelandic crafts. Other projects during the festival might include participation in re-enactment of old Viking games. We will also be cooking and helping for some big grill-parties in the festival, and participating and enjoying the festival in other ways. After the festival is over, we will be helping in cleaning the area and leaving it in a good shape for the activities of the project.

ACCOMMODATION: Accommodation will be in a local school house, please bring your own sleeping bag. Volunteers will receive ingredients and share together the cooking and cleaning.

LOCATION: The workcamp will take place in the north of Iceland, close to the biggest community there, Akureyri on the shore of Eyjafjörður, which is the longest fjords in the country and is surrounded by mountains reaching up to1500 m. The Arctic Circle in only 60 km north of Akureyri but still the climate is mild, with summer temperatures up to 25°C and winter temperatures in average around 0?C.

North Iceland is an expansive, enchanting region, where you can find all of Iceland's attractive aspects, culture and a flourishing society, endless opportunities for entertainment and outdoor recreation, picturesque nature in all directions, and more natural sights than almost anywhere else.

The place of the workcamp is unique: You will not find another place in Iceland with so many antiquities from a trading post from the middle ages. This was one the main trading post in northern Iceland and is mentioned many times in Old Icelandic Sagas from the 13th and 14th centuries. Archaeological digging in the area during the last six years has shown that it was a trading post up to the 16th century, possibly until trading started in Akureyri.

LANGUAGE: English will be the language of the camp; high proficiency is not required.

STUDY THEME: This workcamp has an educational/awareness-rising approach, promoting outdoors, sports activities and healthy lifestyles. Apart from the leader, we will have an environmental messenger, a person dedicated to organising and developing fun, interactive and educational activities within the project.

TERMINAL: Closest International Airports: Akureyri (AEY) & Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). SEEDS organises the “minibus option”, a shared transport from Reykjavík to the camps and back again, which apart from being cheaper and more convenient, allows volunteers to meet fellow campers and have a relaxed trip, while stopping on the way for interesting and tourist sites.

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 160,- (Euros).

We will have the opportunity to go back to the late Middle Ages and learn about the occupations and culture of that time. Hikes in the area are planned to the main historical sites in the neighbourhood.


AGE: 18+