Viking Festival & Fire in Húnaþing

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will have again the unique opportunity to take part in two different cultural festivals in the North of Iceland; a youth arts festival called “Eldur í Húnaþingi” and a Viking festival “Grettistak” devoted to one of the heroes of the Icelandic sagas, Grettir the strong!

We will be involved in preparing, participating and then taking down the festivals. The area will be prepared to fit the “Grettistak”, Viking tents will be set up and a wooden playground for kids will be built. Areas for bow shooting and tests of strength will be arranged. We will also help around with games for the children, competitions and courses related to the Viking culture. After the festival we will help to deconstruct the Viking tents and get the area in its former shape.

Eldur í Húnaþingi is a Youth arts festival organised since 2003 that became a venue for Youth to let their light shine. It is organized by local youngsters with the help of many people in the county and Iceland. We will be helping in the preparations for an outdoor concert, doing light cleaning and maintenance work. We assist on the family-day – i.e. face painting and other fun activities.

Volunteers with any kind of artistic skills are more than welcome and the organizers of the festival will try to involve them in the programme of its activities.

Apart from taking part in both festivals, we will get to know the place and the history of the area.

SEEDS volunteers will among other things be given the opportunity to get to know the activities of The Seal Center, located in the area, by helping out on their annual seal counting day.

ACCOMMODATION: SEEDS volunteers will stay in a local school, sleeping on mattresses on the floor, with access to kitchen and bathrooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Volunteers will be provided with food and be in charge of the cooking themselves. Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.

LOCATION: The project is located about 260 Km from Reykjavík, in the North West of the country, on the foot of the Western Fjords peninsula, where one of the most famous Icelandic sagas took place. This area is rich in history, here the Viking battled for power and justice. Today it is a more peaceful place, with few farms, small towns and villages, rich on beautiful basalt cliffs and hot springs. Hvammstangi is the largest town in the area; its main economic activities are fisheries, a variety of services for the surrounding area while tourism is blooming.

From Hvammstangi is only a short travel to Vatnsnes with a wealth of varied historical sites, beautiful scenery, great views of the mountains at Strandir and last but not least a seal habitat within easy walking distance.

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 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 210 (Euros). Please note these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in Icelandic krónur or Euros

SEEDS and/or our local hosts will organise leisure activities for the group of volunteers. SEEDS volunteers will have free access to the local geothermal pool in Hvammstangi.

This project is a unique opportunity to get in touch with one of the greatest Icelandic sagas, Grettissaga, through work and play.

Weather conditions in Iceland are unpredictable, so be prepared to experience all kinds of weather and be sure to bring warm clothing since most of the work will take place outdoors.

AGE: 18+