Reykjanesbær in the Southwest of Iceland

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will be helping the municipality of Reykjanesbær, with different tasks related to the environment and the outdoors public areas. The project will mainly take place at Ásbrú. Ásbrú is a premises of the former NATO base located in the Reykjanes peninsula, which was closed on 8 September 2006; the former military base has being turned into a dynamic knowledge and academic community.

Volunteers will help beautify the township, as well as the surrounding areas. We will take actions in different sites all around the municipality and our tasks will be varied including cleaning up the public spaces within the former base, taking care of green areas, clearing up former barbwire, fences, the area around the fences and in general works making the space a more friendly one.

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

ACCOMMODATION: We will stay at equipped apartments within Ásbrú, in shared rooms, sleeping on mattresses on the floor; therefore bringing a sleeping bag is necessary. Food ingredients will be provided and volunteers will share the duties of preparing and cooking meals for breakfast and dinner, lunch will be provided by the host.

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

LOCATION: The work camp will take place in Ásbrú, a suburban area of Reykjanesbær municipality. Ásbrú is the largest university campus in Iceland, as one of the largest business incubators in the country. When the U.S. Military left the area after being there for 60 years, a new enterprise, Kadeco, was founded with the goal of putting the defence area and its facilities to civilian use. Today Ásbrú has about 2000 inhabitants.

Reykjanesbær is only a five minute drive from Keflavik International Airport and only a 40 minute drive to the capital city of Reykjavík. Reykjanesbær is the fifth most popular municipality in Iceland with 14.000 inhabitants.

The Reykjanes peninsula is marked by active volcanism under its surface, and large lava fields allow for little vegetation. There are numerous hot springs and sulphur springs in the southern half of the peninsula, around Kleifarvatn Lake and the Krýsuvík geothermal area where hot springs which spew water and mud dominate the landscape. The peninsula is famous for its hiking trails that zigzag through the region, where the contrasting colours of the landscape delight visitors.

Amazing ocean cliffs up to 70 metres high are inhabited by numerous bird species, often a wonderful spot for bird and whale watching. There is also a geothermal power station at Svartsengi from which the hot, mineralized water of the famous Blue Lagoon originates. The Blue Lagoon Spa is the only spa in the world which is ranked as one of the 25 wonders of the world.

Reykjanes has eleven spectacularly sited lighthouses along its wild coast. Iceland's oldest lighthouse, Reykjanesviti, dates back to 1878, and Iceland's highest one is located at Garðsskagi.

LANGUAGE: English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.

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

SEEDS organises the “minibus option”, a shared transport from Reykjavík to the camp site and vice versa. Apart from being cheaper and more convenient, it allows volunteers to meet fellow campers and have a relaxed trip.

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 140 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

SEEDS and our hosts will organise some free time activities in the area, which might include sight-seeing, hiking and an excursion to the Blue Lagoon.  

AGE: 18+