ΙΣΛΑΝΔΙΑ

WF 02 Su?avik 03/06-17/06 ENVI 16
The community of Su?avik is situated in the Westfjords, the most Northwestern area of Iceland. In the Westfjords each and every fjord has its own distinctive character and every mountain is an individual work of nature’s art. Hikers and nature lovers can choose between various hiking paths, bird watching, going to explore the shore, seeing the seals or going fishing in some of the rivers or lakes.
The residents of Su?avik have been busy building new houses for those which were destroyed in the avalanche in 1995 and took the lives of their beloved ones. The people there live mostly by fishing although there are some farmers, too.
Work: Work in a new camping area to get it ready for summer, marking a walking area, garden work and some other outdoor work.
Accommodation: In 2 summerhouses with kitchen and bathroom. Participants are asked to bring their sleeping bags.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Participation fee: € 50

WF 03 Solheimar 09/06-23/06 ENVI/AGRI 15
Solheimar Eco-village, founded in 1930, is the first community of its kind in the world where so-called able and disabled people live and work together. Inspired by the theories of Rudolf Steiner, Solheimar has focused on cultivating the individual and the environmental and is the first community in Scandinavia to practice organic cultivation. Today, Solheimar is a charming village of about 100 inhabitants, renowned for its international, artistic and ecological atmosphere, which prides itself on its varied cultural, social and sporting activities.
Work: The volunteers will be working mostly in Olur forestry centre (the only organic reforestation centre in Iceland) and Sunna organic cultivation centre but might be working as well for environmental affairs. The work in Olur and environmental affairs consists in planting trees in the South Iceland Farm forest and making paths. In Sunna participants will be planting vegetables, digging the weeds and other kind of gardening works.
Accommodation: In the sport centre, on mattresses on the floor. Participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Useful Info: Access to the swimming pool and gym. The volunteers are also encouraged to take part in social happenings in Solheimar like in sports, music, the theatre group, etc.
Solheimar Arts Summer arts festival will last all summer in Solheimar, until the beginning of August. The programme is varied with all sorts of arts exhibitions, an out door market, and theatre and cabaret performances at 4 o’clock every Saturday and every Sunday in the theatre and cafe Gr?na Kannan. Volunteers are welcome to participate in the singing groups and cabarets.
Participation fee: € 120

WF 04 Oxarfjor?ur 14/06-28/06 ENVI 15
Oxarfjor?ur is a fjord on the North East coast of Iceland where the glacial river Jokulsa devides into several branches and runs into the sea. Jokulsa a Fjollum flows from Vatnajokull glacier north to Oxarfjor?ur bay. North of the Vatnajokull glacier, the river Jokulsa flows through a gently sloping plateau, dotted with hyaloclastite mountains and rugged lava fields. At the edge of the plateau, the land falls away, the current speeds up, and the river plunges in huge waterfalls into the canyon that bears its name.
Kopasker is a small village, which is situated on the eastern side of the Oxarfjor?ur Bay. Its existence is based on services rendered to the agricultural surroundings, food production, fishing, fish processing and tourism. It has a guesthouse and a youth hostel and quite a few interesting places to visit. In 1976 plate tectonics (earthquakes) caused extensive damages to constructions in the village.
Nearby is the beautiful National Park Jokulsargljufur, which is one of the largest canyons in Iceland, some 25 km long, about 1/2 km wide and over 100 m deep in many places. The upper canyon- from Dettifoss to Sy?ra ?orunnarfjall - is the deepest (up to 120 m) and the most rugged part. The most prominent plant communities in the canyon area are brushwood and heath. The largest woodlands are those of Asbyrgi, Ashof?i and the Land farms, though stands of trees are also found in sheltered places in the river gorge.
Work: Construction and marking of walking paths, cleaning the beaches at the coastline, building bird watchers' cabins.
Accommodation: In a boarding school. Participants are asked to bring their sleeping bags.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Participation fee: € 170

WF 05 Solheimar 23/06-07/07 ENVI/AGRI 15
Solheimar Eco-village, founded in 1930, is the first community of its kind in the world where so-called able and disabled people live and work together. Inspired by the theories of Rudolf Steiner, Solheimar has focused on cultivating the individual and the environmental and is the first community in Scandinavia to practice organic cultivation. Today, Solheimar is a charming village of about 100 inhabitants, renowned for its international, artistic and ecological atmosphere, which prides itself on its varied cultural, social and sporting activities.
Work: The volunteers will mostly work on environmental affairs and Olur forestry centre (the only organic reforestation centre in Iceland); means planting trees in the South Iceland Farm forest and making paths. They might also be working for Sunna organic cultivation centre if needed where they would be planting vegetables, digging the weeds and other kind of gardening works.
Accommodation: In the sport centre on mattresses on the floor. Participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Useful Info: Access to the swimming pool and gym. The volunteers are also encouraged to take part in social happenings in Solheimar like in sports, music, the theatre group, etc.
Solheimar Arts Summer arts festival will last all summer in Solheimar, until the beginning of August. The programme is varied with all sorts of arts exhibitions, an out door market, and theatre and cabaret performances at 4 o’clock every Saturday and every Sunday in the theatre and cafe Gr?na Kannan. Volunteers are welcome to participate in the singing groups and cabarets.
Participation fee: € 120

WF 06 Borgarfjor?ur 30/06-14/07 ENVI 15
The volunteers will be working in the surroundings of Deildartunguhver thermal spring. It is the largest thermal spring in Iceland. It provides 180 l/sec of 100°C hot water. Some of the water is harnessed for heating utilities in Akranes (64 km) and Borgarnes (34 km), and for farms along the way. A variety of hard fern (blechnun spicant) can be seen near the thermal spring, which does not grow anywhere else in Iceland. The thermal spring is protected. Greenhouse farming is extensive in Deildartunga as well as in other places in the neighbourhood.
Work: Construction of walking paths. Help to embellish the surroundings of a new parking site by planting trees, working with stones, etc.
Accommodation: On mattresses in a community centre. Participants should bring their sleeping bags.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Useful Info: There is a swimming pool nearby.
Participation fee: € 170

WF 07 Siglufjor?ur 05/07-19/07 ENVI 14
Siglufjor?ur, located in the North of Iceland, enjoys a dramatic setting beside a small fjord at the northern tip of Trollaskagi. The historic architecture, the colourful rooftops of upper town and the harbour may call to mind an idyllic fishing village. There are a number of hiking trails nearby and there is a 15km mountain-pass to Siglufjor?ur, which is 630m above sea level.
Siglufjor?ur was one of the world’s leading herring centers from 1900 until the Norwegian-Icelandic herring stock disappeared in 1970. In good herring seasons the town normal population of 3.000 increased to over 10.000 and hundreds of fishing vessels from many nations often crowded its harbour.
Work: Construction of hiking paths, working on an avalanche protection for the village, embellish the surroundings of the village.
Accommodation: On mattresses in a community centre. Participants should bring their sleeping bags.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Participation fee: € 170

WF 08 Mosfellsb?r 06/07-20/07 ENVI 20
Mosfellsb?r lays just 17km north of Reykjavik. Often called "the green town", this town enjoys thermal activity and quite a few greenhouses have been built here. Since 1933 it has supplied the capital area with natural hot water for house heating, swimming pools etc. The mountainous area around the town is ideal for walks and hikes, skiing and fishing for trout and char in the small lakes. The Nobel Prize laureate for literature in 1955, Halldor Laxness (1902-1998), was the honorary citizen of the town. He lived there all his life and based some of his novels on his experiences and impressions of his surroundings.
Work: The work consists in planting trees, fertilize the soil (grass), clean the riverside and the construction of walking paths.
Accommodation: In house on mattresses. The volunteers are asked to bring their sleeping bag.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Useful Info: There is a swimming pool nearby.
Participation fee: € 170

WF 09 Hella 14/07-28/07 ENVI 20
Hella is situated in the district Rangarvallasysla in South Iceland in some of the finest sceneries; surrounded by glaciers and on clear days with a view to the southern seashore. Mt. Hekla is undoubtedly the best-known landmark on the grassy west of Rangarvallasysla lowlands. This very active volcano had is last eruption in spring 2000. Two of Iceland's most popular camping and hiking spots are found in the region; ?orsmork Park is a combination of dark rugged mountains and rich vegetation, set among powerful glacial rivers. Farther inland, Landmannalaugar is a spectacular highland paradise with mountains of all colours, the result of intense geothermal activity. Hella itself is a village in a pleasant, open position on the eastern bank of Ranga River. Besides its dominant sheep and cattle farming, Rangarvallasysla is also one of the major horse breeding areas of Iceland.
Work: Construction of walking paths by the riverside in Hella, forestry work.
Accommodation: In a house on mattresses on the floor. Participants should bring their sleeping bag.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Useful Info: Participants will be able to access the swimming pool and sports-centre for free.
Participation fee: € 170

WF 10 Galtal?kur 23/07-06/08 CULT 20
Galtal?kur is a small forest and a campsite. The area is very family-friendly with a big playground and a small Tivoli. Within the campsite it is forbidden to consume alcohol. In the long weekend 29th of July to 2nd of August there are national festivals in many places around the country, including Galtal?kur. Only located 5 km away from Galtal?kur is one of the most famous volcanoes in Europe, Hekla. On a good day there is a nice walk to the mountain, and from there are great views of the whole area.
Work: The volunteers will help with the preparation of the festival, take part in it and afterwards help to clean the area. They will also construct walking paths.
Accommodation: During the festival the participants will stay in tents (4 nights) but before and after they will stay in summerhouses and the community center of Galtal?kur. Participants are asked to bring their sleeping bags.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Useful Info: During the festival it is not possible to take a shower.
Participation fee: € 170

WF 11 Hvolsvollur 27/07-10/08 ENVI 20
Hvollsvollur is situated 100 kilometres south-east of Reykjavik in the district Rangarvallasysla. It enjoys some of the finest sceneries; surrounded by glaciers and on clear days with a view to the southern seashore. Mt. Hekla is undoubtedly the best-known landmark on the grassy west of Rangarvallasysla lowlands. This very active volcano still erupts frequently and had its last eruption in spring 2000.
The most famous of the Icelandic Sagas; Njals-Saga, has its background in Hvolsvollur and the fate of the people in this thousand year old Saga still causes heated discussions among the few hundred local inhabitants.
Work: Construction of walking path in the region of Hvolsvollur, forestry work.
Accommodation: In a house on mattresses on the floor. Participants should bring their sleeping bag.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Useful Info: Participants will be able to access the swimming pool and sports-centre for free.
Participation fee: € 170

WF 12 Westman Islands 28/07-11/08 CULT 15
The Westman Islands consist in a group of fifteen islands, which are situated at a short distance off the south coast of Iceland. They are so named because the Nordic settlers in the country called the Irish after which the islands are named after "westmen" (=the men from the west). All the islands have been created in submarine volcanic eruptions during comparatively recent geological time. The colourful town, the beautiful bird-cliffs, the new lava and volcano and the landscape in general give the islands a scenic interest as varied in character as any in the country. Heimaey is the largest and only inhabited island in the group and is Iceland/s longest off shore island with an area of 13,4 sq. km. Fishing and fish processing and subsidiary trades are the main source of income. Heimaey is sheltered to the north by low mountains and the imposing bird-life Heimaklettur, which protects the narrow cove at the end of which the harbour lies.
The festival: On the first weekend of August, Icelanders celebrate the 1874 grant of Icelandic sovereignty with a huge festival in the town on Heimaey. The population moves into a tent city in the Herjolfsdalur, a short distance west of town, for an extended weekend of bonfires, dance, and song.
Work: The volunteers will help with the preparation of the festival, take part in it and afterwards help to clean the area. They will also construct walking paths.
Accommodation: During the festival the participants will stay in tents (4 nights) but before and after they will stay in summerhouses and the community center of Heimaey. Participants are asked to bring their sleeping bags.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Participation fee: € 170

WF 13 Reykjavik 14/08-29/08 ENVI 15
Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, is the country's largest city and the world's northernmost capital. The capital area includes seven municipalities in addition to Reykjavik itself, with a total population of about 180.000, of which about 115.000 live in Reykjavik. Reykjavik has both: the qualities of a modern, forward-looking society complemented by a close connection to the beautiful and unspoilt nature in the city’s vicinity. It is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja, which keeps a watchful eye on the city, and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay. On a sunny day, the mystical Sn?fellsjokull glacier appears crystal-like on the western horizon. Reykjavik is spread across a peninsula with the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides. 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.
Work: Construction of walking paths.
Accommodation: In a house on mattresses on the floor. Participants are asked to bring their sleeping bag.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be in English.
Participation fee: € 170

WF 14 Siglufjor?ur 19/08-02/09 ENVI 14
Siglufjor?ur, located in the North of Iceland, enjoys a dramatic setting beside a small fjord at the northern tip of Trollaskagi. The historic architecture, the colourful rooftops of upper town and the harbour may call to mind an idyllic fishing village. There are a number of hiking trails nearby and there is a 15km mountain-pass to Siglufjor?ur, which is 630m above sea level.
Siglufjor?ur was one of the world’s leading herring centers from 1900 until the Norwegian-Icelandic herring stock disappeared in 1970. In good herring seasons the town normal population of 3.000 increased to over 10.000 and hundreds of fishing vessels from many nations often crowded its harbour.
Work: Construction of hiking paths, working on an avalanche protection for the village, embellish the surroundings of the village.
Accommodation: On mattresses in a community centre. Participants should bring their sleeping bags.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Participation fee: € 170

WF 15 Solheimar 01/09-16/09 ENVI/AGRI 15
Solheimar Eco-village, founded in 1930, is the first community of its kind in the world where so-called able and disabled people live and work together. Inspired by the theories of Rudolf Steiner, Solheimar has focused on cultivating the individual and the environmental and is the first community in Scandinavia to practice organic cultivation. Today, Solheimar is a charming village of about 100 inhabitants, renowned for its international, artistic and ecological atmosphere, which prides itself on its varied cultural, social and sporting activities.
Work: The volunteers will be working mainly for Sunna organic cultivation centre and Olur forestry centre (the only organic reforestation centre in Iceland). In Sunna they will be planting vegetables, digging the weeds and do other kind of gardening works, in Olur they will be planting trees in the South Iceland Farm forest and making paths. The participants might also be performing some tasks concerning environmental affairs if needed.
Accommodation: In the sport centre on mattresses on the floor. Participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Useful Info: Access to the swimming pool and gym. The volunteers are also encouraged to take part in social happenings in Solheimar like in sports, music, the theatre group, etc.
Solheimar Arts Summer arts festival will last all summer in Solheimar, until the beginning of August. The programme is varied with all sorts of arts exhibitions, an out door market, and theatre and cabaret performances at 4 o’clock every Saturday and every Sunday in the theatre and cafe Gr?na Kannan. Volunteers are welcome to participate in the singing groups and cabarets.
Participation fee: € 120

WF 16 Vik 16/09-30/09 ENVI 20
Vik is the southernmost district of Iceland, bordered by the glacial river Jokulsa to the west and the river Blautakvisl to the east. Its northern border is the Myrdalsjokull glacier, which caps the volcanic Mt. Katla, while its southern limits are black sands and the rolling Atlantic waves. The district lives mainly by agriculture and has a population of 600 people, more than half of who live in the coastal village Vik. Vik and its surroundings is one of the main bird life areas in Iceland.
Work: Construction of walking path in the region of Vik and cleaning the beaches at the coastline.
Accommodation: In a house on mattresses on the floor. Participants should bring their sleeping bag.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Participation fee: € 170