Aurora Hunting (Photography) & Renovation | WF103 | 2024-03-26 - 2024-04-09 | ENVI,CULT,EDU | 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: During this workcamp, volunteers will deal with different tasks related to Renovation and Maintenance. Being in the Renovation Team you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside skilled foremen to support building houses and new structures for community use, renovating existing community buildings, and improving local infrastructure. You will have the opportunity to witness the impact of your handiwork, you’ll be continuing the construction work of previous volunteers. Our first priority in establishing this program is that it should always stem from the organization s and the local community s needs. For this reason, our activities may change depending on the local need at any given time. The work will depend on the skills and knowledge of each volunteer but focus mainly on tasks such as painting, cleaning, fixing small things, and acquiring basic knowledge of carpentry and construction. In addition to the work, winter in Iceland also means AURORA HUNTING! If you like photography, having an amazing time with friends from all over the world and the Northern lights, this camp will suit you perfectly. We will be on the lookout for Aurora Borealis at night throughout the whole camp, so you will have the opportunity to take photos of this amazing and unique phenomenon. It is very important to bring your camera with you (only cameras that work in long exposure will catch those lights), so don’t forget your tripod and camera.

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 25. 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, and dairy products.

Location: Krysuvik220Hafnarfjorður

Location and Leisure: Krýsuvík is a geothermal and volcanic area in the southwest of Iceland. It is situated on the Reykjanes peninsula, about 35 km from Reykjavik. The name Krýsuvík means "bay of Krýsa," a folk tale figure from the area. Krýsuvík is part of the Reykjanes Geopark https://reykjanesgeopark.is/ . UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, recognized Reykjanes as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2015. UNESCO Global Geoparks are areas where sites and landscapes that are of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education, and sustainable development. The landscapes surrounding are astonishing. Walking around the park is a very special experience. There are boiling hot springs, mud bubbles, and hissing steam forced out of the earth from geothermal vents. The rich and various colors fade into each other which gives the area a magical impression. You can also find fresh lava where you can feel the warmth of the Earth. 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 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.

Airport: KEF

Train/Bus station: BSI Bus Station

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

Reykjavik City Hall, Tjarnargata 11 (Main entrance) 16:00 hrs.

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 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.