Vatnajökull National Park - Skaftafell (1:2)

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will have the unique opportunity to work at the largest National Park in Europe, the Vatnajökull National Park. Volunteers will take part in a project with the Environmental agency of Iceland (Umhverfisstofnun).

SEEDS Iceland has been working with the Environmental agency of Iceland (Umhverfisstofnun) since 2007 in diverse projects in the national parks and protected areas of the country.

The work will include cleaning up the camping grounds after the summer season and preparing it for the fall; clearing trees from walking paths; and clearing trees from riding paths. Volunteers should be prepared for all kinds of weather.

The work is physically demanding and volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors.

ACCOMMODATION: SEEDS volunteers will be staying in tents at the camping ground and will be provided with a tent for cooking and eating. Shower facilities are at the camping grounds. Volunteers will receive food and be in charge of the cooking and cleaning activities.

Volunteers will have to bring their own warm sleeping bag.

Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.

LOCATION: Volunteers will get an extraordinary chance to stay at Skaftafell located in Vatnajökull national park, the largest national park in Europe. The national park, which was established in 2008, stretches around the Vantajökull ice cap from the south coast to the north coast of the island and it is the largest protected wilderness in Europe. It covers around 15.000 square kilometres, which is roughly around 13% of the surface of Iceland.

Vatnajökull is Europe’s largest glacier with the surface are of 8100 square kilometres. The glacial ice hides conceals a number of mountains, valleys and plateaus. It even hides some active central volcanoes. The icecap rises at its highest to over 2000 metres above sea level making it the highest peak in Iceland.

Due to the size of the park it is established and operated under special law, it is an autonomous government agency that requires cooperation between all the municipalities involved.

The work camp is located at the visitor centre at Skaftafell, in South-East Iceland. At the visitor centre volunteers will be able to view an exhibition on the story of fire and ice. How volcanoes and glaciers have struggled to form the surrounding region and the effects of eruptions and glacial outburst floods on daily lives of people. 

The Vatnajökull national park boasts of extreme beauty with rough landscaping and unique nature. The uniqueness of the park is primarily because of the great variety of landscape features, created by the combined forces of rivers, glacial ice, and volcanic and geothermal activity. 

LANGUAGE: English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.

TERMINAL: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

SEEDS organises the 'minibus option', a shared transport from Reykjavík to the camps and vice-versa, 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 180 (Euros).

In the area there are several hiking trails leading up to the glacier and around the area which volunteers will be able to explore in their free time.

AGE: 18 +