Krýsuvík-Geopark | WF916 | 2023-11-28 - 2023-12-12 | AGRI,ENVI,CULT | Age: 18 - 33

Worldwide Friends (WF), was founded in 2001 as a non-profit organization promoting nature and peace-oriented activities for volunteers wanting to spend some time in Iceland. Our main theme for this year is to give education about the 17 Sustainable Goals of the United Nations and to clean the whole coastline of Iceland. The main activities that we offer are workcamps, seminars, local events, and exchange programs suitable both for young people and adults.

Work: The aim of the project is to develop Local, Organic, and Sustainable Agriculture. The main work of this camp will be to take care of the land, in various ways. The main work of the project is fighting erosion and revegetation of the land. Veraldarvinir takes care of a large area on this site where the project is to fight erosion in the area by planting trees. It’s 300 hectares and part of the geopark in the area. The first step is to nourish and revegetate the land with organic waste. Fighting erosion by using organic materials and planting trees. We will also monitor the growth of tree plantations from former years. By the house are 5 large greenhouses. At first, the project will be focused on renovating these greenhouses in order to use them to plant and grow a large variety of vegetables and fruits for the volunteers of the organization. Agriculture will take place both inside and outside of the greenhouses. Another task will be to clean the area around the house and the greenhouses as the land was left unused for several years and is not set for agriculture yet. The plan is also to welcome animals such as chickens and goats as part of the sustainable development of the camp. The Geopark is protected and is crossed by several hiking paths. We can also work with the municipality to help them maintain the hiking path and protected areas nearby. It can be tempting to get closer to touch the hot springs but make sure to stay away from them and on the marked path as the heat is 80-100 degrees Celsius. Our work will depend on weather conditions, which is why we must be flexible. Working hours are about 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. You should be prepared for unfriendly weather, as they say: if you don’t like the Icelandic weather, just wait 5 minutes it might change.

Accomodation and food: Volunteers will be staying in the house of Worldwide Friends. The house is approximately 600 m² and has 10 rooms for 3 to 4 people each. A fully equipped kitchen, several bathrooms, and common areas. House capacity 30. Note: This house has a capacity of 30 people including Camp Leaders. However, we may not have full capacity during the programs, as it depends on many factors (season, covid restrictions, etc,.) The minimum number of participants to run the program is 5 Vols., +Camp Leaders. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bags, but beds and sheets are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge at the accommodation. Food is included for the duration of the work camp; however, everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking and cleaning. We provide a well-balanced and healthy variety of food products that includes a wide variety of whole grains, seasonal fruits & vegetables, pantry staples, and dairy products.

Location: Krýsuvik

Location and Leisure: There are opportunities for fun all over Krýsuvík. From adventurous activities to well-known tourist attractions, this delightful area packs a punch. From great hiking trails among various landscapes (geothermal area, lake, beach, mountain), to bird watching or cultural visits in Reykjavik, you have many activities to choose from. The closeness to nature is always within reach! You should not go for high or steep mountains without a professional guide. Keep in mind this is a highly active geothermal area. Don t step off the mark trails! Don’t touch the hot springs! WF Iceland will organize reasonably-priced weekend or one-day excursions to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights, such as waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, lava forests, hot springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam vents and even icebergs; *Golden Circle *South Coast *Snæfellsnes Peninsula The best time to see aurora borealis in Iceland is between September and April. It’s when the nights are dark enough to see the Aurora. Iceland only gets 2-4 hours of daylight in midwinter, providing endless opportunities to hunt for aurora borealis. We will also concentrate on intercultural learning and exchange. Every evening, volunteers from different countries will be in charge of presenting their country of origin and culture in an informal way. It can be a presentation, a game, or a theatre – the form of introduction is up to you! Therefore, we encourage you to bring along some food, photos, or anything interesting related to your country for a fun and informative evening amongst other volunteers. This work camp gives you the opportunity to spend an amazing time in Iceland with other international volunteers and to have an incredible experience where participants share their knowledge with each other while exploring creativity, environmental issues, and intercultural learning.

Airport: KEF

Train/Bus station: BSI Bus Station

Requirements: Please make sure to bring warm outdoor work clothes Waterproof gear Hiking Boots

2 Options, On the first day of the Project *Reykjavik City Hall, Tjarnargata 11 (Bus stop #1 Ráðhúsið) 16:00 pm *Keflavik International Airport (Arrivals Entrance) 17:00 pm Please confirm your pick-up place!

Language: eng

Extra Fee: 400 EUR

The first day of the camp is Arrival Day and the last day of the camp is Departure Day. The minibus will be at the meeting point in Reykjavik on the first day of the project in the morning and arrive again at BSI Bus Station in Reykjavik in the evening on the last day of the project. Keep in mind that you need to arrange for your stay in Iceland before and after the project.