Ísafjarðarbær - 66 degrees North

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will be doing mainly environmental work in this work camp, based in a country-side farm close to the village of Flateyri, in the Icelandic West fjords. The work is mostly outdoors and volunteers will have to be willing to work outdoors.

The main tasks will be to make walking paths and work in the area of the forest. Volunteers will also help with cleaning out an old barn and an old sheepcote.

Other tasks will be to beautify and clean the area. Volunteers might be asked to assist with some construction work and to do some painting jobs.

ACCOMMODATION: SEEDS volunteers will stay in a local farm house with shared facilities. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Volunteers will receive food and will cook together with the host. Volunteers will share the different duties of cooking and cleaning.

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

LOCATION: The workcamp will take place in the municipality Ísafjarðarbær, in the Westfjords at the north-western part of Iceland. The region accounts for 10% of the country’s surface but only about 7200 people live there, so it is one of the least populated areas of Europe. The Westfjords are very mountainous; the coastline is made by dozens of fjords surrounded by steep hills.

Districts on the West Fjords have been merging recently in order to strengthen their administrative capabilities. The largest and most populous is Ísafjarðarbær with a population of 3800 in total.

In the Westfjords you will be able to explore the whole range of Icelandic flora from the shore and meadows, through birch to mossy moors. On the shore, one can see birds and seals and then an occasional arctic fox around the sheep.

Fishing is traditionally the main industry in the region but tourism started to be more and more important as local and foreign visitors are discovering this region in rising numbers.

The farm-house/base of the project is very close to Flateyri which is a small and friendly fishing village by Önundarfjörður, located about 500 Km away from Reykjavík and with 260 inhabitants.

Flateyri has been a trading post for over two centuries and a whaling station operated there until it burned down in 1901. In the old days Flateyri was the local harbour for shark fishermen but today fish processing and fishing is the main trade. During the last years; due to the introduction of the quota system in the Icelandic fishing sector, the town lost part of its share in the fishing amounts to be caught, which strongly hit the economy and living situation in the area. In the past years the emphasis on alternative industries has been more visible similar to other fishing villages in Iceland.

Flateyri is surrounded by spectacular mountains and above the village is Eyrarfjall which caused a devastating avalanche in 1995; defensive walls were then constructed, which tower over the town.

In Flateyri there is a swimming pool, kayak rental and a beautiful sandy beach that hosts a sandcastle building competition each summer.  Many small boats are equipped and run from Flateyri, characterising the village, especially during the summer.

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).

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 200 (Euros). Please note these fee is to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in Euros or Icelandic Krónur.

Our local host will organise leisure time activities for SEEDS volunteers, for instance hikes and access to the swimming pool in Flateyri.  Place of extreme beautiful natural surroundings with countless opportunities to hike and discover it by foot. 

Age: 22+