East Iceland - Taking care of nature | WF134 | 2023-09-20 - 2023-10-04 | ENVI,EDU,CULT | Age: 18 - 99

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: This camp has a variety of activities. One activity is Forestry and helping to fight lupines! It is an invasive plant that can crowd native species out of their preferred habitats. Additionally, we will work as well helping with the reforestation of the areas nearby. We will also focus on Beach Cleaning. This program takes a bottom-up approach, focusing on how an individual can change their perception of plastic, understand responsibility, create motivation to contribute to combatting the crisis, and, ultimately, ideally change their plastic behaviors. Working closely with the local associations our tasks will depend on the needs of the local community and the season. We will upcycle garbage into art! While creating bookshelves out of driftwood or designing a chair with old tires and nets, your imagination is the limit! Some days, when the weather conditions are not suitable, we will focus on renovation work; painting or fixing things around and inside the house. 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 in Stöðvarfjörður. The house is approximately 500 m² and has 6 quadruple rooms, two fully equipped kitchens, several bathrooms, common areas, and workshop rooms. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bags, but beds and sheets are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge. 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, dairy products, vegetarian/vegan options.

Location: Stoðvarfjorður

Location and Leisure: Stöðvarfjörður is known for having breath-taking hiking paths. There is a free entrance to the local swimming pool from the middle of June until the middle of September. 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, 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. WF Iceland will organize reasonably-priced weekend 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, or even icebergs. This workcamp 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. The area around the house is also great for hiking. Plan ahead, share your travel plans, stay on the trail, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, and do not approach or feed wildlife. Don t go for high and steep mountains without a professional guide.

Airport: KEF

Train/Bus station: BSI Bus Station

Requirements: Volunteers should bring appropriate clothes for outdoor work (waterproof)

09:00:00 a. m. Reykjavik City Hall, Tjarnargata 11 (Main entrance)

Language: eng

Extra Fee: 500 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 workcamp in the morning and arrive again at the Meeting point / BSI station in Reykjavik in the evening on the last day of the workcamp. Keep in mind that you need to arrange for your stay in Iceland before and after the workcamp. The journey to the east is about 9 hours, plus stops. You will travel along the Ring Road, which is a national road in Iceland that circles the entire country. If weather permitting, the minibus will take the north route and come back on the south route.