Lava and beaches in Reykjanes

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will be working with the municipality of Grindavík, a beautiful Icelandic fishing town on the south coast of the Reykjanes peninsula.

The main task of the project is to clean and maintain a walking path in Húshólmi and also to put up information signs in Húshólmi and Selatangar.

Volunteers will also help to clean the coastline if there is time.

ACCOMMODATION: Volunteers will stay in two local houses. One house is equipped with mattresses on the floor, fridge, microwave, sofas and tables. The other house is 100 metres away and has a kitchen, dining room and sofas. Volunteers will sleep on mattresses, please bring a sleeping bag.

Food ingredients will be provided and the group will be responsible for cooking and cleaning.

Please do not forget some traditional food from your home country for the international evening.

LOCATION: The workcamp is located on the southern part of the Reykjanes peninsula, with most of the work taking place in the national park Reykjanesfólkvangur. The closest town is Grindavík, a fishing town with a population of about 2900 people.

Life in Grindavík has to a large extent evolved around fishing since the time of its settlement in the year 934. Most people in Grindavík still base their livelihood on fishing or fish related industry but the town has grown significantly as a tourist destination.

The Reykjanes peninsula is located near the capital and most travellers coming to Iceland land in the area. The peninsula is marked by active volcanism under its surface, and large lava fields allow little vegetation. There are numerous hot springs and sulphur springs in the southern half of the peninsula, around the Kleifarvatn Lake and in the Krýsuvík geothermal area.

There are many lava caves on Reykjanes, but most are not readily accessible, not well-advertised.  This is in part to protect the often fragile formations inside the caves.

Reykjanes has eleven spectacularly sited lighthouses along its wild coast, including Iceland's oldest Reykjanesviti dating from 1878 and Iceland's highest at Garðsskagi.

The Peninsula is famous for its hiking trails that zigzag through the region with colourful landscapes. Amazing ocean cliffs, (up to 70 m high) are nested by numerous bird species, often a wonderful spot for bird and whale watching. Another great asset of the peninsula is the geothermal power station at Svartsengi, where a pool has been installed using the hot and mineralized water coming down from the station. It is known as the "Blue Lagoon".

The Húshólmi area is a so called "clearing" over which the lava Ögmundarhraun didn´t flow during an eruption in the year 1151. According to archaeologists, in the western part of the clearing are ruins of the ancient Krýsuvík farm, dated back since before the year 900. Among the ruins are presumably parts of a home, a church and a cemetery.

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

TERMINAL: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 120 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

The host will organise some free-time activities, including a trip around the area on ATVs, access to the swimming pool and a barbeque with locals. Volunteers will have access to computers in the local library.

Please bring warm clothes and outdoor wear as the weather in Iceland can be quite unpredictable, even during the summer months.

Age: 18+