Vatnajökull National Park & Kirkjubæjarklaustur (2)

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers in this project will have the unique opportunity to work at the largest National Park in Europe, the Vatnajökull National Park and in the community of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Half of the time will be spent in the National park and half of the time working in the vicinity of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, in the South of Iceland.

SEEDS Iceland will continue building the partnership with the Environmental agency of Iceland (Umhverfisstofnun) and the main tasks of volunteers will be trail management and conservation work in the hiking areas, including trail maintenance work and path marking. Volunteers will work together with the leaders and trail teams of Umhverfisstofnun. Work will be physically demanding and may involve long hikes to reach the working sites.

Well maintained paths enable people to visit these amazing areas without damaging them and this important work also helps to improve safety for visitors. No previous experience of this work is necessary as training will be provided by experienced leaders. The working day normally runs from 09:00 - 17:00 with breaks for lunch and coffee. However, please be prepared for some flexibility due to the nature of Iceland's changeable weather.

The work with the community at Kirkjubæjarklaustur supports the creation of alternatives ways of income through tourism in the area. Volunteers will be working on few different projects in the rural area of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, few kilometres outside of town. The main task will be renovating and reconstructing a wall from the Viking area, Bjarnagarður, which was originally constructed around the year 1100 to keep livestock intact. Originally the wall was 10km long, but the volunteers will only be working on a small part to preserve it. The remains of this wall are very visible but worn down.

ACCOMMODATION: Volunteers will have two different types of accommodation. In Kirkjubæjarklaustur volunteers will be hosted in a local house; sleeping on mattresses on the floor; therefore bringing a warm sleeping bag is highly recommended. In the National park volunteers will sleep on bunk beds in shared dorms within the National Park. If volunteers want, they can also bring their own tents and camp. Food ingredients will be provided and a kitchen will be available, volunteers will share the duties of preparing and cooking meals.

LOCATION: SEEDS volunteers will work in 2 of the most beautiful places in Iceland!! Part of the project will take place at the largest National Park in Europe, Vatnajökull N.P., stretching from the south coast to the north coast of the island; it is the largest protected wilderness in Europe. It covers around 15.000 km2 (15% of the surface of Iceland), including all of Vatnajökull glacier, the former Skaftafell N.P., Jokulsargljufur N.P. and surrounding area. Due to the size of Vatnajökull National Park it is established and operated under special law, it is an autonomous government agency that requires cooperation between nine municipalities. The other part of the project will take place in Kirkjubæjarklaustur, in the south of Iceland. The scenery is truly spectacular, with the glacier Myrdalsjökull to the west and Europe´s largest glacier Vatnajökull, containing Iceland´s highest peak, to the east. The area is welcoming with mountains that stretch proudly towards the sky and to the south there is the infinite beauty stretching out from the sky to the sea.

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

STUDY THEME: Environmental messenger in the project. S/he will be in charge of delivering ecological and global education messages to International volunteers and local hosts.

TERMINAL: As last years, SEEDS will organise the "minibus option", a shared transport from Reykjavík to the workcamps and vice versa, which apart from being cheaper and more convenient, allows volunteers to meet fellow campers and have a relaxed trip to the project site, while stopping on the way for interesting and tourist sites. Closest international Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF.

EXTRAS: Participation fee EUR 160,- (Euros). Remote, isolated places of extreme beauty! Transport between the 2 places in included. Hikes and free time activities in the area will be arranged for the volunteers.