Forestry in the land of fire and ice (5:5)

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will participate for the third year in a row in a unique project with the Icelandic Forestry Association. The work camp will take place in a valley deep into Hvalfjörður, the whale-fjord, located in the South west of Iceland. Volunteers will be performing different tasks such as:

·         Cleaning up in the forest

·         Collecting wood

·         Creating new and maintaining old walking paths.

Volunteers will also fix a natural pool in the area and continue the project started by SEEDS volunteers have been working at, and renovating a house made of timber and natural materials.

ACCOMMODATION: In this camp volunteers will challenge themselves with rather primitive facilities. We will sleep in a big “Indian” tent on the location of the project. Volunteers have to bring their own warm sleeping bag.

The food provided will be traditional Icelandic food, Icelandic lamb, fish and root vegetables, among other more modern products which we will cook on an open fire. Food will be kept cold in the river and we will wash ourselves with cloths and water either straight from the river or with water heated on the fire. A travel-toilet will be set up in a private location.

We will share the different duties of cooking and cleaning. Do not forget to bring some traditional or typical food from your home country for the international evening.

LOCATION: The valley of Brynjudal, where the work camp takes place is about 80 Kilometres from the capital; deep inside Hvalfjörður. It is surrounded by mountains, to the north of the valley is a mountain called Múlafjall, south of the Valley are Bolafell and Suðurfjall and to the west Þrándarstaðafjall.  The valley is extremely beautiful, with many plants and trees. 

There are many small canyons, streams and waterfalls and it is a popular place for hikers to visit. Along the valley runs the river Brynjudalsá which starts in Sandvatn.

Hvalfjörður lies north of Reykjavík and Mosfellslbær and is the longest fjord in the south-west of Iceland, cutting 30kms deep into the land along a north-east/south-west axis and curling to the east at its head. Before the Hvalfjarðargöng tunnel was opened in 1998 and the main ring-road rerouted underneath the fjord, all traffic heading north or west to and from Reykjavík had to follow the fjord all the way around -a drive of an hour or two.

The volume of traffic on the road now -which at times is cut into the steep edges of the mountain-sides rising straight out of the fjord - must be a tiny fraction of what it was, and the fjord as a whole now has a quiet but powerful feel.  .

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).

SEEDS organises the “minibus option”, a shared transport from Reykjavík to the camp site and vice versa. Apart from being cheaper and more convenient, it 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 200 (Euros). To be paid to SEEDS on arrival.

Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors and be prepared to experience all kinds of weather.  Please bring warm winter clothes, overcoats, scarves, gloves and hats as the project takes place outside and the weather can be cold.

This camp includes environmental education and weekends will be devoted to leisure activities organised in cooperation with SEEDS and our hosting partner. 

Age: 18+