Botanic Garden in Reykjavík (10:10)

WORK/PROJECT: For the fifth year in a row SEEDS offers projects in the Botanic Garden in Reykjavík. The Botanic Garden is an outdoor collection of living plants, founded in 1961 and celebrated its 50^th anniversary in 2011. The garden’s main role is to conserve plants for education, research and delight. It conserves some 5000 plant species in eight plant collections. The collections give an idea of the enormous diversity of vegetation in the northern temperate zone. In summer there is a variety of events in the Botanic Garden and group receptions are available throughout the year.

SEEDS volunteers will be doing general garden work, attending the flowers, trees and other plants. Volunteers will assist in organising and carrying out special events that might be planned with a short notice but they will all be related to the general aim and work of the garden. The work may be repetitive as general gardening tasks tend to be. The project starts early every week day, working hours are from 8:00 - 15:30, so volunteers have to be motivated to work early in the morning.

ACCOMMODATION:  SEEDS volunteers will stay in a well equipped house, in a beautiful setting inside the Botanical Gardens of the city of Reykjavík, which are located about 4 kilometres from the centre of the city. Volunteers will be sleeping in shared rooms/dorms in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Please note that volunteer from other projects will also be staying in the house.

Volunteers will receive food supplies and be in charge of the cooking and cleaning activities. Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.

LOCATION: The population of Reykjavik is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland’s inhabitants live here. It is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.

The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides.

Reykjavik is 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 surrounded with beautiful nature.

Visitors to Reykjavík experience easily the pure energy at the heart of Iceland's capital city - whether from the boiling thermal energy underground, the natural green energy within the city and around it, or the lively culture and fun-filled nightlife. In the summer, you can sit by the harbour at midnight and watch the sun dip slightly below the horizon before it makes its way up again.

In the area closer than 100 km from Reykjavík, there are several spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline and the well-known geothermal Blue Lagoon spa to visit.

LANGUAGE: English will be the official language in the camp; high proficiency is not a requirement.

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

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 200,- (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

Volunteers have to bring good working shoes and clothes, even though it is summer, it might still be cold and hats and gloves might be necessary.

Excursions (Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, South shore, etc.) can be arranged for SEEDS at discount fares.

Age: 20+