Forestry in the East & Houses in the Capital

WORK & STUDY/PROJECT: SEEDS Volunteers will have the unique opportunity to work in two different locations in Iceland, in the far east of the country and in Reykjavík, the capital in the South-west. We will spend the first week in the east of Iceland, doing forestry work around a horse farm, cutting, planting and rearranging trees.

We will also take down old fences and put up some new ones. Other projects might involve working on the fields as well as helping in various projects that need to be done around the farm.

The work in Reykjavík will be varied, combining different tasks ensuring diversity in experiences. The idea and tasks of the project is to keep Reykjavík and its public areas lively, attractive, interesting and charming for both the locals and guests of the city. Our work will be focused on improvements and development of surroundings and environment all around Reykjavík. Tasks may involve house painting to cover graffiti tags, tiding up public spaces and face-lifting the city.

There may be one more challenging and exciting assignment: We might be assisting in the SEEDS’ volunteer base and if needed working in the surrounding woodland and the vegetable garden.

ACCOMMODATION: We will have similar types of accommodation in both places, fully equipped houses; sleeping in shared rooms. We need to bring our own sleeping bags.

We will receive food and be in charge of the different cooking and cleaning activities. Equipped kitchen and washing machine are available.

LOCATION: We will have the unique opportunity to be in two opposite sides of Iceland, in the Far East and in the South west of Iceland.

The first week we will stay in the East fjords of Iceland, in the municipality of Fjarðabyggð. In the eastern fjords visitors enjoy remarkable mountain scenery with mountains in almost every direction, majestic peaks, mysterious ravines and deep valleys. Most of them are formed by layers of lava that have piled up through the millenniums.

It is said that a visit to the east is a mountain therapy; some believe that they are good for body and soul, can be inspiring and give unexplained energy. Hikers will find challenges that suit them and enjoy the wonderful scenery and the mountains are the oldest part of Iceland. The geology is unique and very interesting to explore.

The second part of the project will take place in the city of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, often called “the nightlife capital of the north”. But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicates new global trends. It is an International city with a lively Cosmopolitan cultural scene. The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.

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

TERMINAL: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Domestic airport is Egilsstaðir (EGS). SEEDS organises the “minibus option”, a shared transport from Reykjavík to the camp and vice-versa, which apart from being cheaper and more convenient, allows volunteers to meet and have a relaxed trip, while stopping on the way for interesting and tourist sites.

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

Free time activities will be organized for SEEDS volunteers, in the East we will get the chance to go horseback riding and do some hikes. In Reykjavík we will have passes to access free of charge the city’s seven geothermal swimming pools and thermal-water beach. We will have the chance to discover and explore the island by car when travelling between project sites.

AGE: 18 +