Sign in or 
Share this
Worldwide Friends Iceland
Introduction to Veraldarvinir – Worldwide Friends Iceland
Worldwide Friends (WF) was founded in 2001 as a non-profit, non governmental organization promoting peace, friendship and international understanding.
We host short-term voluntary workcamps, long-term voluntary projects (3-7 months), seminars (suitable both for young people and adults), Youth Exchanges, educational programmes and campaigns in Iceland. We also send Icelandic volunteers intending to have similar experiences abroad.
Veraldarvinir/WF works with three main aims:
To promote inter-cultural learning, exchange and awareness
to care for Icelandic nature and raise awareness of environmental issues
to promote voluntary work and a culture of volunteering
Our main office is located in the following address:
Veraldarvinir
Einarsnes 56
101 Reykjavík
Iceland
Website: www.wf.is
e-mail: workcamps@wf.is
T. phone and fax + 354 5525214
This year we will have representatives in each region in Iceland to secure the quality of the workcamps and to provide the local communities and our volunteers a better programme. Our representatives will be located in the following villages:
In the North of Iceland: Siglufjörður
In the West of Iceland : Flateyri
In the East of Iceland : Stöðvarfjörður
In the South of Iceland: Keflavík
We will send out information about addresses and phone numbers in the next weeks.
Sources of income
Our incomes are mainly coming from the following sources:
Age limit: In general our volunteers should be 18 years and in most of the camps there are no maximum limits.
The work: In most cases the workcamps are for two weeks. The working hours are usually about 30 - 35 hours a week (for example six/seven hours a day about five days a week). Exceptions are mentioned in the descriptions.
Accommodation: Usually we are staying in local community centers, schools, youth centers or sometimes in family houses. The conditions are in general really good and with all facilities like kitchen and toilets. In some cases we will have to take a shower in the local swimming pool.
Food: Food will be provided and the volunteers are expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning.
Camp language: English is the language in our camps. The volunteers only need to have a basic knowledge in the language. If the camp language is not English, it will be mentioned in the description. This year we are hosting one camp with French as a language (WF21)
Campleaders: There are always one to two leaders in each camp. They are the link between the host and the group of volunteers. They are coordinating the work, organizing free time activities, excursions, shopping and cooking. Apart from these responsibilities they are equal to the other volunteers
Most of our camp leaders are foreigners and we are very open minded in hosting international leaders from other organizations.
Extra participation fee: There is an extra fee in many of our camps this year. We are still looking for support for many of the camps so it is still possible that in some cases the fee will be lower than written. We will update you about those changes if luckily that will happen.
The fee has to be paid by volunteers upon arrival to the camp.
Insurance: Veraldarvinir provides a basic insurance for the volunteers during the duration of the camp. We strongly recommend the volunteers who plan to travel beyond these dates to take out their own insurance.
European volunteers have to bring the European Health Card (former E111).
Some practical matters
We highly recommend the volunteers to bring sleeping bag, work clothes, hiking shoes and swimming suit, but also warm clothes and waterproof clothes. Volunteers are also asked to bring information about their country, photos, music, songbooks, games, musical instruments, etc.
Volunteers with special needs: Our camps are open to everyone. If you have volunteers with special needs or with fewer opportunities than please contact us. We will do our very best to find a way to host them.
Information sheet
We will send out detailed information sheet with practical information and camp details the latest four weeks before the camp starts.
Getting to the campsite:
Public transportation is not really good in Iceland and rather expensive. We will organize a minibus ride from Reykjavik to the camps which are far away from Reykjavik. The participants can choose by themselves if they want to join the minibus option. The fees for the minibus will be published in the infosheets. However, they will be cheaper than public transportation in all of the cases. This is a good change for the campers to get to know each other before the camp start and to discover some of the unknown and non-touristical places on the way to the camp.
Every participant that takes the minibus has to let us know before the workcamp starts.
Study Theme
In all our camps we will have discussions about the environment and how important it is to take care of it on a daily basis. It is necessary to take action on a local level to help address this very global issue. Although climate change seem like a complex issue there is a wide variety of simple actions that every individual and community can take to make a difference. Energy conservation, educational programs, planting trees, walk to work and waste reduction. Those actions are just few of the possible options that we can choose from in our daily life.
In some of our camps we will also have a study theme related to the history of Iceland and the mystical beings or the ancient heritage of the Scandinavian mythology.
Emergency contact
+ 354 552 5214 – Veraldarvinir central office.
+ 354 849 2860 – The main emergency phone number of the organization
+ 354 868 2324 – Tóti Ivarsson director of Veraldarvinir
Veraldarvinir /WF Iceland international workcamps 2008
WF 01 Viking festival Hafnarfjörður 27/05 – 23/06 CULT / FEST 8 vols
WF 05 Viking festival Hafnarfjörður 09/06 – 23/06 CULT FEST 8 vols
Project and location Hafnarfjörður is a town with the populations of 23.500 people. It is located 10 km away from the capital, Reykjavík. Hafnarfjörður takes its name (meaning Harbour-fjord) from the area's excellent natural harbour. The town is first named in the medieval "Book of Settlements," and the earliest reports of voyages to Hafnarfjörður date from the end of the 14th century. Today, Hafnarfjörður is one of the nation's largest fishing centres and the site of Iceland's first fish wholesalers' auction market.
Hafnarfjördur is famous for having one of Iceland’s largest settlements of elves, dwarves and other mystical beings, which are usually called ‘Hidden Folk.’ Centuries-old folklore has it that whole clans of such beings reside in the rocks that make up part of the town’s centre. We do not doubt this at all. Though elves are visible only to those with second sight, a great many Icelanders believe in their existence. Indeed, there is much evidence to support this belief, as stories abound of instances where new roads or housing developments were under construction and strange happenings took place. Hidden Folk enjoy a certain regard, and nowhere more so than in Hafnarfjördur. There is even a Hidden Worlds tour that takes you to their home sites, stopping at places like Hellisgerdi Park and the base of the cliff Hamarinn, which is said to be home to the Royal Family of the Hidden Folk. Along the way, the guide relates ancient folk tales of the magical hidden worlds and describes how the town grew and developed in harmony with the Hidden Folk. More info http://www.hafnarfjordur.is/english/
The Vikings settled Iceland around 874 AD and the Icelanders are very proud of those brave people who had the courage to start a life here in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. In Hafnarfjörður there is a small Viking village were the workcamp will take place. During the annual Viking Festival modern-day Icelanders and Vikings from abroad celebrate their heritage with appropriate style. The Vikings' wild and adventurous spirit lives on today, in the people of this unique country. The event is a lot of fun; there are displays of ancient arts and crafts, and large gruff men in full Viking attire demonstrate their ancient battle skills to anyone brave enough to challenge them. More info http://www.fjorukrain.is/fjorukrain/en/
Work: The volunteers will help with the preparation of the festival, the festival itself and after it has finished. During the festival all volunteers will receive Viking costumes to wear and perform different tasks. Different types of tasks will be performed as control at the venues, assistance to visitors, and help the other Viking volunteers in the kitchen or serving the meals.
The festival will start on June 13th and last until June 17th. Apart from our WF Vikings there will be around 120 more Viking volunteers coming from all around the world! A big collection of artists will be at the Festival: warriors, bowmen, wrestlers, woodcarvers, stonemasons, blacksmiths, storytellers and enchantresses, musicians and magicians. The working hours are not completely fixed and they will be flexible according to the busy and relaxed hours of the festival.
Leisure time: Excursions and free time activities will be arranged for volunteers. The volunteers will have a free access to the local swimming pool.
Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in a local community center with the other Vikings, sleeping on mattresses on the floor. After the festival the volunteers will be hosted in a house near to the area.
Don’t forget to bring a warm sleeping bag
Food: The volunteers will have all the meals provided and cooked by our hosts in the Viking community.
Language: English is the language in the camp, but high level is not required.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. – distance from the airport 35 km.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 120,-
WF 02 Neskaupstaður 01/06 – 15/06 ENVI / MANU 8 vols
WF 09 Neskaupstaður 25/06 – 09/07 ENVI / MANU 12 vols
Project and location: Neskaupstaður is a medium sized town by Icelandic standards, has the largest population (1.420 inh.) of any of the towns in the East Fjords, is almost completely self-sufficient and has grown and prospered since the early 1900's, thanks to the fishing industry. Its remoteness has led to a necessary self-sufficiency, including the town having its own bakery, dairy, supermarkets, banks, post office, school, sports hall, swimming pool, church, hospital, harbour, airstrip, hotel, jazz club, rescue centre, etc. In fact, it seems to have all the services you would expect in a larger town except an optician! To the east of the town, facing the ocean, there is a nature reserve and recreational area. The lower section of it, called Hagi, is the location of the renowned Páskahellir (Easter Cave), which is essentially a rock vault over the shore. Holes left by thick, 10-12-million-year-old tree trunks may be seen inside the vault and, as is typical in Iceland, there are various folk tales associated with the cave. Neskaupstaður is only reachable after driving through a one-way tunnel.
“Fjarðabyggð is a association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that makes Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the camp.
Work: Most of the work will be cleaning and beautifying the towns and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline, plant some trees and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, great places for hiking. Excursion or a boat trip will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: In a community center. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the camp will be English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport is 40 km away from the project
WF 03 The village of the hot springs Hveragerði 05/06 – 19/06 ENVI 8 vols
Project and location: Hveragerði is a small town of about 1,700 inhabitants that lies some 45 km east of Reykjavík. This friendly little community sits on top of a highly active geothermal field, providing heat of hundreds of greenhouses where fruit, flowers and vegetables are produced throughout the year, you can even find bananas growing in thise houses. The name Hveragerði means ‘hot springs garden’. Geothermal energy is Hveragerði’s lifeblood, and it would be difficult to find such a natural wonder in the middle of a populated area anywhere else in the world. Very interesting is Gufudalur, the lovely ‘Steam Valley’ behind the town. The whole valley explodes with hot springs, geysers, mud pots, fumaroles and steaming vents.
More info http://www.hveragerdi.is/
Work: Fixing walking paths, cleaning and beautifying the hot spring area in the middle of the village. Planting trees.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool. Guided hikes with locals.
Accommodation: In the local theatre on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Distance from the airport 80 km.
WF 04 Vík í Mýrdal 05/06 – 19/06 ENVI 10 vols
Project and location: Vík in Mýrdalur is Iceland's most southerly village, bordered by the glacial river Jökulsá to the west and the river Blautakvísl to the east. It’s northern border is the Mýrdalsjökull 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. Although this community of 600 inhabitants faces the open Atlantic, Vík is the only seaside settlement in Iceland left without a harbour due to natural circumstances. The natural beauty of the area is spectacular. Just east of the village's outskirts lies one of Europe's biggest arctic tern breeding grounds. South of Vík is a beautiful beach, which an international Magazine named one of the world's ten best island beaches in 1991. A short hike within the close vicinity of Vík is sure to satisfy all serious nature lovers and bird watchers. Vík and its surroundings is one of the main bird life areas in Iceland.
More info http://www.southiceland.com/
Work: construct walking and hiking paths, clean the coastline, take down old fences in the surroundings of the town.
The study theme of the camp is “The hidden people, alfs and trolls”
Accommodation: in a house owned by the local community on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, good places for hiking. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: the language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Distance from the airport 200 km.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 60,-
WF 06 The longest day of the year Eskifjörður 13/06 – 27/06 ENVI /MANU 10 vols
Project and location: Eskifjörður is a major fishing town (population: 972) and an export harbour with direct sailing to Europe, which is located at the northern shore of the fjord Eskifjörður. Itis built on a small sand spit and up the slopes of the mountain which rises above the town.Its main industries are fishing and small-scale farming. Eskifjörður became an authorized trade port in 1786 and has been a commercial center since 1798. One of the several shops in Eskifjörður, Gamlabúð, built in 1816, houses the Maritime Museum Of East Iceland. Eskifjörður town faces the mountain Hólmatindur, from the top of which you can view some of the tallest mountains in the Icelandic interior. One of the favored sights in the area is the Helgustaðanáman mine, which is one of the world’s best-known sources of Icelandic spar. The area, which is just a ten-minute drive from the town, is a nature reserve and open to all, free of charge. A swimming pool with hot pots (geothermal pools) and a sauna is located in Eskifjörður, as well as a gallery and crafts shop.
“Fjarðabyggð is a association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that makes Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the camp.
In this time of the year there is almost no night in Iceland, be ready for the daylight all around the clock.
Work: Most of the work will be cleaning and beautifying the towns and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline, plant some trees and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, guided hikes with locals. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: We will be staying in a nice community center. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the camp will be English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport is 40 km away from the project
WF 07 Skessuhellir – the cave of the trolls 22/06 – 06/07 ART / CONS 8 vols
WF 12 Skessuhellir – the cave of the trolls 08/07 – 22/07 ART / CONS 8 vols
WF 22 Skessuhellir – the cave of the trolls 24/07 – 07/08 ART / CONS 8 vols
WF 33 Skessuhellir – the cave of the trolls 10/08 – 24/08 ART / CONS 8 vols
Project and location:This workcamp will take place in Reykjanesbær which is a major center of fishing and fish processing, although in recent years tourism has played an increasingly important role in the local economy. Reykjanes has something for everyone. Steeped in a rich vein of history, folklore and tradition, the region is also home to some of the world's greatest geological wonders, including the Reykjanes Ridge, meeting place of the Eurasian and American continental plates. Teeming with a wealth of bird and marine life whose habitats lie amid some of Icelands most spectacular coastal scenery, Reykjanes is the natural choice for all lovers of the outdoors.
In this town the authorities are very open for new ideas, for example here you can find the former NATO base which is now becoming a University village and a centre of art and film making.
More info http://www.reykjanes.is/english/
The authorities are now planning to build “a home for Trolls” near to the port of the town, close to the center. Like elves, trolls are also part of the ancient heritage of the Scandinavian mythology. Although they are human-like in form, they are still inhumanly strong, huge and ugly. They are very often thought to be fearsome and cruel creatures. But, like elves, trolls often treat people as they are treated and they return favors for favors, exerting vengeance if harmed. Trolls live in mountains, caves and cliffs, especially bird cliffs. Like humans, they live together socially. They fish, cultivate land and keep animals. They are also very good at handicrafts and hold feasts.
Work: There is an very well known art group here in Iceland called Nordan Bál that have been doing all kind of art and performances in Iceland. This group will do the construction of the Cave (home) of the Trolls and also make the furniture and other things that they need for their daily life. Everything will be oversized so it will fit the big creatures. We will help the art group to build the home and we will also do some environmental work in the area around the place. Please notice that we will work with heavy things so the work can be physically hard
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool. Excursions will be organized by the locals.
Accommodation: in a house owned by the local community, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: the language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Reykjavík – Keflavík Int. Airport is only 10 minutes away from the town.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 80,-
WF 08 Viking life Hafnarfjörður 24/06 – 08/07 CULT / ART 8 vols
WF 17 Viking life Hafnarfjörður 09/07 – 23/07 CULT / ART 8 vols
WF 23 Viking life Hafnarfjörður 24/07 – 07/08 CULT / ART 8 vols
Project and location:Hafnarfjörður is a town with the populations of 23.500 people. It is located 10 km away from the capital, Reykjavík. Hafnarfjörður takes its name (meaning Harbour-fjord) from the area's excellent natural harbour. The town is first named in the medieval "Book of Settlements," and the earliest reports of voyages to Hafnarfjörður date from the end of the 14th century. Today, Hafnarfjörður is one of the nation's largest fishing centres and the site of Iceland's first fish wholesalers' auction market.
Hafnarfjördur is famous for having one of Iceland’s largest settlements of elves, dwarves and other mystical beings, which are usually called ‘Hidden Folk.’ Centuries-old folklore has it that whole clans of such beings reside in the rocks that make up part of the town’s centre. We do not doubt this at all. Though elves are visible only to those with second sight, a great many Icelanders believe in their existence. Indeed, there is much evidence to support this belief, as stories abound of instances where new roads or housing developments were under construction and strange happenings took place. Hidden Folk enjoy a certain regard, and nowhere more so than in Hafnarfjördur. There is even a Hidden Worlds tour that takes you to their home sites, stopping at places like Hellisgerdi Park and the base of the cliff Hamarinn, which is said to be home to the Royal Family of the Hidden Folk. Along the way, the guide relates ancient folk tales of the magical hidden worlds and describes how the town grew and developed in harmony with the Hidden Folk. More info http://www.hafnarfjordur.is/english/
The Vikings settled Iceland around 874 AD and the Icelanders are very proud of those brave people who had the courage to start a life here in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. In Hafnarfjörður there is a small Viking village were the workcamp will take place. Icelanders and Vikings from abroad celebrate their heritage with appropriate style. The Vikings' wild and adventurous spirit lives on today, in the people of this unique country. In the village there is a lot of fun; there are displays of ancient arts and crafts, and large gruff men in full Viking attire demonstrate their ancient battle skills to anyone brave enough to challenge them. More info http://www.fjorukrain.is/fjorukrain/en/
Work: The volunteers will work in the Viking village most of the time but they will also help the local community with some environmental tasks. While working in the Viking village the volunteers will receive Viking costumes to wear and perform different tasks. They will give assistance to visitors, and help the other Viking volunteers in the kitchen, serving meals or cleaning the area. They will also have the opportunity to make paintings, sculptures or other peaces of art and sell them in the shopping street in the village. This camp is really perfect for people with art skills.
Leisure time: Excursions and free time activities will be arranged for volunteers. The volunteers will have a free access to the local swimming pool.
Accommodation: In a house near to the center of Hafnarfjörður, sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Don’t forget to bring a warm sleeping bag
Food: The volunteers will have all the meals provided and cooked by our hosts in the Viking community.
Language: English is the language in the camp, but high level is not required.
Study: The Saga of the Vikings
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Distance from the airport 35 km.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 120,-
xx Euro
WF 10 Fáskrúðsfjörður / Stöðvarfjörður 30/06 – 14/07 ENVI 12 vols
Project and location:Fáskrúðsfjörður was the main port for French fishermen in the 1900s in East Iceland both prior to and well after the turn of the century. At Fáskrúðsfjörður there was a French consul, a French hospital and a French chapel. The street names are still in Icelandic and in French. The mountain slopes in Fáskrúðsfjörður are partially grown with bushes, including wild aspens on the north coast. Sandfell mountain very near to Fáskrúdsfjörður is a cone-shaped, rhyolite mountain on the south side of the fjord, rising to a height of 743 meters. When molten rhyolite lifts older layers of lava, so-called laccolith is formed. Sandfell, about 600 m thick, is a famous example of this and is in fact one of the best visible examples of the Tertiary period in the northern hemisphere. A hike to the top of Sandfell is extremely enjoyable and takes 2-3 hours. Skrúður is a grassy but rockbound island east of Fáskrúðsfjörður. It has an abundance of bird life, including puffins, kittiwakes, various black birds from the Alcidae family, gannets, storm petrels and Leach’s petrels. Skrúðshellir cave at Skrúður is the largest "puffin cave" in the world.
“Fjarðabyggð is a association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that makes Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the camp.
Work: Most of the work will be cleaning and beautifying the towns and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline, plant some trees and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, guided hikes with locals. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: We will be staying in the local school. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the camp will be English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport is 60 km away from the project
WF 11 Siglufjörður 01/07 – 15/07 Int. folksong festival ENVI / CULT 12 vols
Project and location:Siglufjördur is the northernmost town in Iceland, located at the foot of towering mountains on the shore of a small fjord bearing the same name. Fishing and the processing of marine products provide the principal source of employment for the town's 1,600 residents, as the settlement has developed around one of the country's best natural harbours. The historic architecture, the colourful rooftops of the upper town, the harbour and inspiring backdrop are all postcard material on a fine day. There is plenty of variety in the life of the town, which includes many sorts of social and cultural activities. Both the church and music school are centres for musical activities, and sports are very popular. Furthermore, the splendour of the mountains and natural beauty are practically an invitation to everyone. More info www.siglo.is
Work: Planting trees, cleaning the coastline, making hiking paths. Give a helping hand with the preparation and the running of the International folksong Festival, held between July 4th and 8th.
Accommodation: In a house owned by the local community on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, guided hikes with locals.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 13 Hveragerði 04/07 – 18/07 ENVI 10 vols
Project and location: Hveragerði is a small town of about 1,700 inhabitants that lies some 45 km east of Reykjavík. This friendly little community sits on top of a highly active geothermal field, providing heat of hundreds of greenhouses where fruit, flowers and vegetables are produced throughout the year. The name Hveragerði means ‘hot springs garden’. Geothermal energy is Hveragerði’s lifeblood, and it would be difficult to find such a natural wonder in the middle of a populated area anywhere else in the world. Very interesting is Gufudalur, the lovely ‘Steam Valley’ behind the town. The whole valley explodes with hot springs, geysers, mud pots, fumaroles and steaming vents. More info www.hveragerdi.is
Work: Fixing walking paths, working in the forestry.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, guided hikes with locals. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: In the local theatre. Sleeping on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: the language of the work camp is English
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Distance from the airport 80 km.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
IS - WF 6 - 14 Mosfellsbær 06/07 – 19/07 ENVI 12 vols
Project and location: Mosfellsbær (population: 7.200) lies just 17km north of Reykjavík. 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, Halldór 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. Mosfellsbær is also known as the hometown of avant-garde-rockband “Sigur Rós”. They still have their studio in Mosfellsbær. The natural landscape of Mosfellsbær is rugged, and 80% of the district lies more than 100 metres above sea level. Hills such as Mosfell, Grímannsfell, Helgafell and Úlfarsfell, all 200-300 metres high, dominate the landscape. Under much of Mosfellsbær lies a layer of basaltic lava, which can be seen here and there in hills and rocky outcrops.
More info http://www.mosfellsbaer.is/default.asp?Sid_Id=1118&tId=1
Work: Plant trees, rake, seed and fertilize the earth (to enhance grass growth), clean the riverside and create walking paths, some work might be done in the horse stables.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner. Reykjavík is only ten minutes away so a City trip is a good option.
Accommodation: In a community building in Mosfellsbær on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag. Free access to the local swimming pool. Excursions will be organized by the local partner.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Distance from the airport 50 km.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF15 Þórshöfn in Langanes 07/07 – 21/07 ENVI 10 vols
Project and location: To truly sense the remote beauty of the north-east, then the charming little fishing village of Þórshöfn on the north-east coast is the place to go. The town of Þórshöfn lies on the head of the Langanes peninsula and has 388 inhabitants. There's a variety of outdoor activity on offer from hiking to salmon and trout fishing and horse trekking in some of Iceland's most spectacular scenery. The Langanes Peninsula is also one of the best areas in which to enjoy Iceland's rich and varied birdlife. Þórshöfn is within driving distance of some Iceland's most prized natural pearls, such as Myvatn, with its geothermal activity, and the waterfall Dettifoss, one of Europe's most powerful and spectacular waterfalls. This village has a good, natural harbour and the inhabitants base their livelihood on fishing, fish processing and commerce.
More info http://www.langanesbyggd.is/category.php?catID=17
Work: Wewe will be working on environmental related matters. One of the biggest pollution issues in the area is the litter brought to the shore due to sea currents that even bring timber as far as from Siberia. Volunteers will be working on cleaning up the shores and beaches in the area. Additional work will be undertaken as reforestation tasks, planting trees and taking care of those already planted.
Leisure time: Free access to the gym and the local swimming pool with sauna, guided hikes with locals. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Depending on the advance of the mentioned tasks volunteers might be marking some walking paths and hiking trails.Accommodation: We will be staying in the local school, sleeping on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
F: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport and Akureyri airport are more near to the project.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 16 Eskifjörður 07/07 – 21/07 ENVI / MANU 10 vols
WF 28 Eskifjörður 03/08 – 17/08 ENVI / MANU 10 vols
Project and location: Eskifjörður is a major fishing town (population: 972) and an export harbour with direct sailing to Europe, which is located at the northern shore of the fjord Eskifjörður. Itis built on a small sand spit and up the slopes of the mountain which rises above the town.Its main industries are fishing and small-scale farming. Eskifjörður became an authorized trade port in 1786 and has been a commercial center since 1798. One of the several shops in Eskifjörður, Gamlabúð, built in 1816, houses the Maritime Museum Of East Iceland. Eskifjörður town faces the mountain Hólmatindur, from the top of which you can view some of the tallest mountains in the Icelandic interior. One of the favored sights in the area is the Helgustaðanáman mine, which is one of the world’s best-known sources of Icelandic spar. The area, which is just a ten-minute drive from the town, is a nature reserve and open to all, free of charge. A swimming pool with hot pots (geothermal pools) and a sauna is located in Eskifjörður, as well as a gallery and crafts shop.
“Fjarðabyggð is a association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that makes Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the camp.
Work: Most of the work will be cleaning and beautifying the towns and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline, plant some trees and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, guided hikes with locals. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: We will be staying in a nice community center. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the camp will be English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport is 40 km away from the project
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
Participation fee: € XX
WF 18 Sólheimar - Eco village 11/07 – 25/07 ENVI / AGRI 10 vols
WF 31 Sólheimar - Eco village 07/08 – 21/08 ENVI / AGRI 10 vols
Project and location: Sólheimar 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, Sólheimar has focused on cultivating the individual and the environmental and is the first community in Scandinavia to practice organic cultivation. Today, Sólheimar (The home of the sun) 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, the village is only one hour drive from Reykjavik.
The volunteers have free access to the swimming pool and gym. Volunteers are also encouraged to take part in social happenings in Sólheimar like in sports, music, the theatre group, etc. Sólheimar Arts Summer festival will last until the beginning of August. The program is varied with all sorts of arts exhibitions, an outdoor market, and theatre and cabaret performances at 4 o’clock every Saturday and every Sunday in the theatre and café Græna Kannan. Volunteers are welcome to participate in the singing groups and cabarets. More info www.solheimar.is
Work: In Ölur forestry centre, the only organic reforestation centre in Iceland: plant trees, construct paths + in Sunna organic cultivation centre: plant vegetables, dig the weeds and other kind of gardening work. Other tasks will be decided according to the need of the community.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool and to the fitness centre. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: In the sport centre on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Food: Our host in Solheimar is offering a prepared lunch every working day but all other food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning for other meals. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF Distance from the airport 140 km.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
IS WF 6 - 19 Reyðarfjörður 13/07 – 27/07 ENVI / MANU 12 vols
IS WF 6 - 32 Reyðarfjörður 08/08 – 22/08 ENVI MANU 12 vols
Project and location: Reyðarfjörður fjord is long, wide and curving, and is the largest of the eastern fjords. At the end of it rests the village known variously as Reyðarfjörður or Búðareyri. On one side there are magnificent rocky peaks, on the other gentle green hills, something which should bring hours of enjoyment to both the experienced hiker and novice walker. In the past, Reyðarfjörður was the commercial centre for farmers in nearby Fljótsdalshérað district. There is a large duck pond in the village called Andapollurinn, into which Salmon is released on a regular basis. The Icelandic World War II museum in Reyðarfjörður offers an opportunity to travel back to the days of the occupation, while a somewhat different attraction is the burial site of the ancient seer, Völva, who on her deathbed vowed to protect Reyðarfjörður as long as her bones remained in their resting-place on Hólmaháls. Also worth seeing are the summer market and the geological collection.
“Fjarðabyggð is a association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that makes Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the camp.
Work: Most of the work will be cleaning and beautifying the towns and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline, plant some trees and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, good places for hikes. Excursions or boattrips will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: We will be staying in the local school. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the camp will be English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport is 40 km away from the project
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 20 Fjallabyggð 14/07 – 28/07 ENVI 12 vols
Project and location: Fjallabyggð is the northernmost community in Iceland, located at the foot of towering mountains on the shore of a small fjords. Fishing and the processing of marine products provide the principal source of employment for the town's 1,600 residents, as the settlement has developed around one of the country's best natural harbours. The historic architecture, the colourful rooftops of the upper town, the harbour and inspiring backdrop are all postcard material on a fine day. There is plenty of variety in the life of the town, which includes many sorts of social and cultural activities. Both the church and music school are centres for musical activities, and sports are very popular. Furthermore, the splendour of the mountains and natural beauty are practically an invitation to all outdoorsmen. More info www.siglo.is
Work: Planting trees, cleaning the coastline, making and marking hiking paths.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool.
Accommodation: in a house owned by the local community on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Langauge: the language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF T: Reykjavík - Keflavík. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the camp site for a fair prize.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
xx Euro
WF 21 French days in Fáskrúðsfjörður 19/07 – 05/08 FEST/ ENVI 12 vols
Project and location: Fáskrúðsfjörður was the main port for French fishermen in the 1900s in East Iceland both prior to and well after the turn of the century. At Fáskrúðsfjörður there was a French consul, a French hospital and a French chapel. The street names are still in Icelandic and in French. The mountain slopes in Fáskrúðsfjörður are partially grown with bushes, including wild aspens on the north coast. Sandfell mountain very near to Fáskrúdsfjörður is a cone-shaped, rhyolite mountain on the south side of the fjord, rising to a height of 743 meters. When molten rhyolite lifts older layers of lava, so-called laccolith is formed. Sandfell, about 600 m thick, is a famous example of this and is in fact one of the best visible examples of the Tertiary period in the northern hemisphere. A hike to the top of Sandfell is extremely enjoyable and takes 2-3 hours. Skrúður is a grassy but rockbound island east of Fáskrúðsfjörður. It has an abundance of bird life, including puffins, kittiwakes, various black birds from the Alcidae family, gannets, storm petrels and Leach’s petrels. Skrúðshellir cave at Skrúður is the largest "puffin cave" in the world.
“Fjarðabyggð is a association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that makes Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the camp.
Work: We will help the locals to prepare the french days which will be from the 24th to the 27th of July and than we will of course participate in the activites during the weekend. Other tasks will be cleaning and beautifying the town and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, guided hikes with locals. Excursions or boattrip will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: We will be staying in the local school. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the camp will be French.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport is 40 km away from the project
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 24 Vestmannaeyjar festival 25/07 – 07/08 ENVI / FEST 15 vols
Project and location: This is the fifth time that we host this project and it has been one of the highlights each year.
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. This festival is the most popular one in Iceland.
Work: The volunteers will help with the preparation of the festival, helping to run it and of course taking part in it and afterwards help to clean the area. We will also do some environmental work and help with the project “Pompei of the North” to excavate 7-10 houses that were covered by ash after the eruption in Eldfell 1973. More info http://www.vestmannaeyjar.is/
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool. Excursion or a boat trip will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: In the community and Sport center of Heimaey. Participants are asked to bring their sleeping bags.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Terminal: Reykjavík - Keflavík. WF Iceland will organize a bus and boattrip from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 140,-
WF 25 Neskaupstaður 26/07 – 09/08 ENVI / MANU 10 vols
Project and location: Neskaupstaður is a medium sized town by Icelandic standards, has the largest population (1.420 inh.) of any of the towns in the East Fjords, is almost completely self-sufficient and has grown and prospered since the early 1900's, thanks to the fishing industry. Its remoteness has led to a necessary self-sufficiency, including the town having its own bakery, dairy, supermarkets, banks, post office, school, sports hall, swimming pool, church, hospital, harbour, airstrip, hotel, jazz club, rescue centre, etc. In fact, it seems to have all the services you would expect in a larger town except an optician! To the east of the town, facing the ocean, there is a nature reserve and recreational area. The lower section of it, called Hagi, is the location of the renowned Páskahellir (Easter Cave), which is essentially a rock vault over the shore. Holes left by thick, 10-12-million-year-old tree trunks may be seen inside the vault and, as is typical in Iceland, there are various folk tales associated with the cave. Neskaupstaður is only reachable after driving through a one-way tunnel.
“Fjarðabyggð is a association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that makes Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the camp.
Work: Most of the work will be cleaning and beautifying the towns and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline, plant some trees and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully. There is a festival in the village during the weekend 29/7 – 01/08 called Neistaflug, we will at least enjoy the festival and it is also possible that we will help with the preparation.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, great places for hiking. Excursion or a boat trip will be organized by the hosting partner.
Acconmmodation: In a community center. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the camp will be English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport is 40 km away from the project
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 26 Herring festival Siglufjörður 27/07 – 11/08 ENVI / FEST / KIDS 12 vols
Project and location: Siglufjördur is the northernmost town in Iceland, located at the foot of towering mountains on the shore of a small fjord bearing the same name. Fishing and the processing of marine products provide the principal source of employment for the town's 1,600 residents, as the settlement has developed around one of the country's best natural harbours. The historic architecture, the colourful rooftops of the upper town, the harbour and inspiring backdrop are all postcard material on a fine day. There is plenty of variety in the life of the town, which includes many sorts of social and cultural activities. Both the church and music school are centres for musical activities, and sports are very popular. Furthermore, the splendour of the mountains and natural beauty are practically an invitation to all outdoorsmen.
More info www.siglo.is
Work: Giving a helping hand with the preparation of the Herring festval which will take place in the first weekend of August, we will also help around during the festival. The environmental tasks can be planting trees, cleaning the coastline, making hiking paths. We will also help the locals with the preparation and running of a football tournament for young girls which will take place in the second weekend of August.
Please notice that we will have days of in the middle of the week but not during the weekends.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, guided hikes with locals.
Accommodation: in a house owned by the local community on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Languagethe language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Reykjavík - Keflavík. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the camp site for a fair prize.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 29 Week of love Bolungarvík 05/08 – 19/08 ENVI / FEST 12 vols
Project and location: Bolungarvík is a village in the North-West of Iceland, located at the Vestfirðir peninsula, approximately 13 kilometers from the village of Ísafjörður and 473 km from the capital city Reykjavík. It has 957 inhabitants. Bolungarvík has a long and interesting history, being one of the oldest fishing towns in Iceland, and one of the few mentioned in the Sagas. For centuries it was the greatest fishery town in the West Fjords and at the turn of the last century, the greatest in Iceland. The quiet countryside attracts some tourists, mainly in summer. There is a indoor swimming pool, a museum for natural history and an open air fishing museum. The surroundings of Bolungarvík are quite popular destinations for hiking, horse riding and birdwatching. Bolungarvik was the shooting location for Nói Albínói, a movie by Dagur Kári about a teenager living in a remote Icelandic village.
The yearly Week of Love in Bolungarvík will take place on August 10-16th. The program during the Week of Love is one of variety and entertainment.
The goal of the Week of Love is to support the increase of newborns in Bolungarvík and by doing so increasing the number of residents and to encourage people to love one another.
Among the highlights of the Week of Love are a hugging course and an art show by children with the headline “It is good to love”. Poets from the Westfjords will read from their work of love poetry. The program also contains concerts, adventure yacht trips and last but not least the “Laughing Healthy Gala Evening”.
The residents of the town of Bolungarvík are encouraged to place red lights in their homes’ windows, buy a bouquet of roses for their loved ones, love themselves, love their spouse, love their friends, love their children, and love the entire world and life itself.
Work: Helping with the preparion and during the festival. Working in the forestry, making hiking paths. Beautifying the area around the village, cleaning the coastline
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: We will be staying in the local community center. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Terminal: Reykjavík - Keflavík. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the camp site for a fair prize. Ísafjörður airport is close to the project.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 120,-
WF 30 Flower festival Hveragerði 07/08 – 21/08 ENVI / FEST 12 vols
Project and location: The Flower festival in Hveragerði is a mixture of art and culture with a taste of the flower power in the area. Hveragerði is a small town of about 1,700 inhabitants that lies some 45 km east of Reykjavík. This friendly little community sits on top of a highly active geothermal field, providing heat of hundreds of greenhouses where fruit, flowers and vegetables are produced throughout the year, you can even find bananas growing in thise houses. The name Hveragerði means ‘hot springs garden’. Geothermal energy is Hveragerði’s lifeblood, and it would be difficult to find such a natural wonder in the middle of a populated area anywhere else in the world. Very interesting is Gufudalur, the lovely ‘Steam Valley’ behind the town. The whole valley explodes with hot springs, geysers, mud pots, fumaroles and steaming vents.
More info www.hveragerdi.is
Work: Helping with the preparion and during the festival. Working in the forestry, making hiking paths. Beautifying the area around the village Fixing walking paths, cleaning and beautifying the hot spring area in the middle of the village. Planting trees.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool.
Accommodation: In the local theatre on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Distance from the project 80 km.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 36 Fjarðabyggð 16/08 – 30/08 ENVI / MANU 12 vols
WF 40 Fjarðabyggð 29/08 – 12/09 ENVI / MANU 12 vols
Project and location: “Fjarðabyggð is a association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that makes Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the camp.
Work: Most of the work will be cleaning and beautifying the towns and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline, plant some trees and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, great places for hiking. Excursion or a boat trip will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: In a community center. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the camp will be English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport is 40 km away from the project
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 37 Hvolsvöllur 18/08 – 31/08 ENVI 12 vols
Project and location: Hvolsvöllur is a small town in the south of Iceland about 106 km to the east of Reykjavik. It is a young community whose development began in 1930 when a large cooperative store was opened there. The town is located in a fertile region amid pleasant surroundings with the snow-capped Mt. Hekla rearing above the horizon. The inhabitants base their livelihood mainly on services rendered to the agricultural surroundings, the manufacture of meat products, for the domestic market and tourism. The town is situated in one of the most important Saga regions of the country, with some of the main stages of the renowned Njal's-Saga. Those who are interested in the Icelandic Sagas should not miss visiting the Njala Centre in town. Salmon and trout fishing in the nearby rivers is very rewarding.
W: We will clean and help the locals to rebuild old beautiful caves in the area. We will also plant trees, maintain old trails, mark footways and help the locals to beautify the surrounding of Hvolsvöllur. We will also do a little bit of work around the great waterfalls “Seljalandsfoss” and “Skógafoss”.
More info www.south.is
The study theme of the camp is “The Icelandic Saga ”
Leisure time: Free access to the swimming pool in Hvolsvöllur, guided hikes with locals. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: We will stay in a community center called “Goðaland“, which is about 10 minutes drive from the town.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Distance from the project 150 km
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 39 Lights of the nights festival Reykjanes 25/08 – 08/09 ART / ENVI 12 vols
Project and location:This workcamp will take place in Reykjanesbær which is a major center of fishing and fish processing, although in recent years tourism has played an increasingly important role in the local economy. Reykjanes has something for everyone. Steeped in a rich vein of history, folklore and tradition, the region is also home to some of the world's greatest geological wonders, including the Reykjanes Ridge, meeting place of the Eurasian and American continental plates. Teeming with a wealth of bird and marine life whose habitats lie amid some of Iceland most spectacular coastal scenery, Reykjanes is the natural choice for all lovers of the outdoors.
In this town the authorities are very open for new ideas, for example here you can find the former NATO base which is now becoming a University village and a centre of art and film making.
The festival will take place from the 4th to the 7th of September. This is a cultural festival with a lot of happenings.
Take a look at the programme from last year. http://www.ljosanott.is/english/Program/Program_2007/
Here you can also see photos from the last camp that we had there: http://www.wf.is/artediem/
The authorities are now planning to build “a home for Trolls” near to the port of the town, close to the center. Like elves, trolls are also part of the ancient heritage of the Scandinavian mythology. Although they are human-like in form, they are still inhumanly strong, huge and ugly. They are very often thought to be fearsome and cruel creatures. But, like elves, trolls often treat people as they are treated and they return favors for favors, exerting vengeance if harmed. Trolls live in mountains, caves and cliffs, especially bird cliffs. Like humans, they live together socially. They fish, cultivate land and keep animals. They are also very good at handicrafts and hold feasts.
Work: There are two kinds of tasks that we will have during those two weeks.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool. Excursions will be organized by the locals.
Accommocation: in a house owned by the local community, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: the language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Reykjavík – Keflavík Int. Airport is only 10 minutes away from the town.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 120,-
Worldwide Friends (WF) was founded in 2001 as a non-profit, non governmental organization promoting peace, friendship and international understanding.
We host short-term voluntary workcamps, long-term voluntary projects (3-7 months), seminars (suitable both for young people and adults), Youth Exchanges, educational programmes and campaigns in Iceland. We also send Icelandic volunteers intending to have similar experiences abroad.
Veraldarvinir/WF works with three main aims:
To promote inter-cultural learning, exchange and awareness
to care for Icelandic nature and raise awareness of environmental issues
to promote voluntary work and a culture of volunteering
Our main office is located in the following address:
Veraldarvinir
Einarsnes 56
101 Reykjavík
Iceland
Website: www.wf.is
e-mail: workcamps@wf.is
T. phone and fax + 354 5525214
This year we will have representatives in each region in Iceland to secure the quality of the workcamps and to provide the local communities and our volunteers a better programme. Our representatives will be located in the following villages:
In the North of Iceland: Siglufjörður
In the West of Iceland : Flateyri
In the East of Iceland : Stöðvarfjörður
In the South of Iceland: Keflavík
We will send out information about addresses and phone numbers in the next weeks.
Sources of income
Our incomes are mainly coming from the following sources:
- The Youth in action programme
- Local communities all around Iceland
- Icelandic Foundations and funds
- Fees from the participants in our workcamps in Iceland.
Age limit: In general our volunteers should be 18 years and in most of the camps there are no maximum limits.
The work: In most cases the workcamps are for two weeks. The working hours are usually about 30 - 35 hours a week (for example six/seven hours a day about five days a week). Exceptions are mentioned in the descriptions.
Accommodation: Usually we are staying in local community centers, schools, youth centers or sometimes in family houses. The conditions are in general really good and with all facilities like kitchen and toilets. In some cases we will have to take a shower in the local swimming pool.
Food: Food will be provided and the volunteers are expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning.
Camp language: English is the language in our camps. The volunteers only need to have a basic knowledge in the language. If the camp language is not English, it will be mentioned in the description. This year we are hosting one camp with French as a language (WF21)
Campleaders: There are always one to two leaders in each camp. They are the link between the host and the group of volunteers. They are coordinating the work, organizing free time activities, excursions, shopping and cooking. Apart from these responsibilities they are equal to the other volunteers
Most of our camp leaders are foreigners and we are very open minded in hosting international leaders from other organizations.
Extra participation fee: There is an extra fee in many of our camps this year. We are still looking for support for many of the camps so it is still possible that in some cases the fee will be lower than written. We will update you about those changes if luckily that will happen.
The fee has to be paid by volunteers upon arrival to the camp.
Insurance: Veraldarvinir provides a basic insurance for the volunteers during the duration of the camp. We strongly recommend the volunteers who plan to travel beyond these dates to take out their own insurance.
European volunteers have to bring the European Health Card (former E111).
Some practical matters
We highly recommend the volunteers to bring sleeping bag, work clothes, hiking shoes and swimming suit, but also warm clothes and waterproof clothes. Volunteers are also asked to bring information about their country, photos, music, songbooks, games, musical instruments, etc.
Volunteers with special needs: Our camps are open to everyone. If you have volunteers with special needs or with fewer opportunities than please contact us. We will do our very best to find a way to host them.
Information sheet
We will send out detailed information sheet with practical information and camp details the latest four weeks before the camp starts.
Getting to the campsite:
Public transportation is not really good in Iceland and rather expensive. We will organize a minibus ride from Reykjavik to the camps which are far away from Reykjavik. The participants can choose by themselves if they want to join the minibus option. The fees for the minibus will be published in the infosheets. However, they will be cheaper than public transportation in all of the cases. This is a good change for the campers to get to know each other before the camp start and to discover some of the unknown and non-touristical places on the way to the camp.
Every participant that takes the minibus has to let us know before the workcamp starts.
Study Theme
In all our camps we will have discussions about the environment and how important it is to take care of it on a daily basis. It is necessary to take action on a local level to help address this very global issue. Although climate change seem like a complex issue there is a wide variety of simple actions that every individual and community can take to make a difference. Energy conservation, educational programs, planting trees, walk to work and waste reduction. Those actions are just few of the possible options that we can choose from in our daily life.
In some of our camps we will also have a study theme related to the history of Iceland and the mystical beings or the ancient heritage of the Scandinavian mythology.
Emergency contact
+ 354 552 5214 – Veraldarvinir central office.
+ 354 849 2860 – The main emergency phone number of the organization
+ 354 868 2324 – Tóti Ivarsson director of Veraldarvinir
Veraldarvinir /WF Iceland international workcamps 2008
| CODE | NAME AND LOCATION | DATES | TYPE | VOLS | EXTRA FEE |
| WF 1 | Viking festival in Hafnarfjörður | 27/05 - 23/06 | CULT/ FEST | 8 | 120 |
| WF 2 | Neskaupstaður | 01/06 - 15/06 | ENVI/MANU | 8 | 0 |
| WF 3 | The village of the hot springs - Hveragerði | 05/06 - 19/06 | ENVI | 10 | 0 |
| WF 4 | Vík í Mýrdal | 05/06 - 19/06 | ENVI | 10 | 60 |
| WF 5 | Viking festival in Hafnarfjörður | 09/06 - 23/06 | CULT/ FEST | 8 | 120 |
| WF 6 | Longest day of the year - Eskifjörður | 13/06 - 27/06 | ENVI/MANU | 8 | 0 |
| WF 7 | Skessuhellir - the cave of the trolls Reykjanes | 22/06 - 06/07 | ART / CONS | 8 | 80 |
| WF 8 | Viking life in Hafnarfjörður | 24/06 - 08/07 | CULT / ART | 8 | 90 |
| WF 9 | Neskaupstaður | 25/06 - 09/07 | ENVI/MANU | 12 | 0 |
| WF 10 | Fáskrúðsfjörður/Stöðvarfjörður | 30/06 - 14/07 | ENVI/MANU | 10 | 0 |
| WF 11 | International folksong festival in Siglufjörður | 01/07 - 15/07 | ENVI / CULT | 10 | 90 |
| WF 12 | Skessuhellir - the cave of the trolls Reykjanes | 08/07 - 22/07 | ART / CONS | 8 | 80 |
| WF 13 | Hveragerði | 04/07 - 18/07 | ENVI | 10 | 90 |
| WF 14 | Mosfellsbær | 06/07 - 19/07 | ENVI | 10 | 90 |
| WF 15 | Þórshöfn in Langanes | 07/07 - 21/07 | ENVI | 10 | 90 |
| WF 16 | Eskifjörður | 07/07 - 21/07 | ENVI/MANU | 10 | 90 |
| WF 17 | Viking life in Hafnarfjörður | 09/07 - 23/07 | CULT/ART | 8 | 120 |
| WF 18 | Home of the sun - Sólheimar Eco village | 11/07 - 25/07 | ENVI / AGRI | 10 | 90 |
| WF 19 | Reyðarfjörður | 13/07 - 27/07 | ENVI/ MAN | 10 | 90 |
| WF 20 | Fjallabyggð | 14/07 - 28/07 | ENVI | 10 | 90 |
| WF 21 | French days in Fáskrúðsfjörður | 19/07 - 05/08 | ENVI / CULT | 10 | 90 |
| WF 22 | Skessuhellir - the cave of the trolls Reykjanes | 24/07 - 07/08 | ART / CONS | 8 | 80 |
| WF 23 | Viking life in Hafnarfjörður | 24/07 - 07/08 | CULT / ART | 8 | 120 |
| WF 24 | Festival in Vestmannaeyjar | 25/07 - 07/08 | ENVI / CULT | 15 | 140 |
| WF 25 | Neskaupstaður | 26/07 - 09/08 | ENVI/MANU | 10 | 90 |
| WF 26 | Herring festival in Siglufjörður | 27/07 - 11/08 | ENVI / CULT | 10 | 90 |
| WF 28 | Eskifjörður | 03/08 - 17/08 | ENVI | 10 | 90 |
| WF 29 | "The week of love" Bolungarvík | 05/08 - 19/08 | ENVI / CULT | 10 | 120 |
| WF 30 | Flower festival in Hveragerði | 07/08 - 21/08 | ENVI / CULT | 10 | 90 |
| WF 31 | Home of the sun - Sólheimar Eco village | 07/08 - 21/08 | ENVI / AGRI | 10 | 90 |
| WF 32 | Reyðarfjörður | 08/08 - 22/08 | ENVI/MANU | 10 | 90 |
| WF 33 | Skessuhellir - the cave of the trolls Reykjanes | 10/08 - 24/08 | ART / CONS | 8 | 80 |
| WF 36 | Fjarðabyggð | 16/08 - 30/08 | ENVI/MANU | 10 | 90 |
| WF 37 | Hvolsvöllur | 18/08 - 31/08 | ENVI/ | 12 | 90 |
| WF 39 | The Night of the lights festival in Reykjanes | 25/08 - 08/09 | ENVI/ART | 12 | 120 |
| WF 40 | Fjarðabyggð | 29/08 - 12/09 | ENVI/MANU | 10 | 90 |
WF 01 Viking festival Hafnarfjörður 27/05 – 23/06 CULT / FEST 8 vols
WF 05 Viking festival Hafnarfjörður 09/06 – 23/06 CULT FEST 8 vols
Project and location Hafnarfjörður is a town with the populations of 23.500 people. It is located 10 km away from the capital, Reykjavík. Hafnarfjörður takes its name (meaning Harbour-fjord) from the area's excellent natural harbour. The town is first named in the medieval "Book of Settlements," and the earliest reports of voyages to Hafnarfjörður date from the end of the 14th century. Today, Hafnarfjörður is one of the nation's largest fishing centres and the site of Iceland's first fish wholesalers' auction market.
Hafnarfjördur is famous for having one of Iceland’s largest settlements of elves, dwarves and other mystical beings, which are usually called ‘Hidden Folk.’ Centuries-old folklore has it that whole clans of such beings reside in the rocks that make up part of the town’s centre. We do not doubt this at all. Though elves are visible only to those with second sight, a great many Icelanders believe in their existence. Indeed, there is much evidence to support this belief, as stories abound of instances where new roads or housing developments were under construction and strange happenings took place. Hidden Folk enjoy a certain regard, and nowhere more so than in Hafnarfjördur. There is even a Hidden Worlds tour that takes you to their home sites, stopping at places like Hellisgerdi Park and the base of the cliff Hamarinn, which is said to be home to the Royal Family of the Hidden Folk. Along the way, the guide relates ancient folk tales of the magical hidden worlds and describes how the town grew and developed in harmony with the Hidden Folk. More info http://www.hafnarfjordur.is/english/
The Vikings settled Iceland around 874 AD and the Icelanders are very proud of those brave people who had the courage to start a life here in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. In Hafnarfjörður there is a small Viking village were the workcamp will take place. During the annual Viking Festival modern-day Icelanders and Vikings from abroad celebrate their heritage with appropriate style. The Vikings' wild and adventurous spirit lives on today, in the people of this unique country. The event is a lot of fun; there are displays of ancient arts and crafts, and large gruff men in full Viking attire demonstrate their ancient battle skills to anyone brave enough to challenge them. More info http://www.fjorukrain.is/fjorukrain/en/
Work: The volunteers will help with the preparation of the festival, the festival itself and after it has finished. During the festival all volunteers will receive Viking costumes to wear and perform different tasks. Different types of tasks will be performed as control at the venues, assistance to visitors, and help the other Viking volunteers in the kitchen or serving the meals.
The festival will start on June 13th and last until June 17th. Apart from our WF Vikings there will be around 120 more Viking volunteers coming from all around the world! A big collection of artists will be at the Festival: warriors, bowmen, wrestlers, woodcarvers, stonemasons, blacksmiths, storytellers and enchantresses, musicians and magicians. The working hours are not completely fixed and they will be flexible according to the busy and relaxed hours of the festival.
Leisure time: Excursions and free time activities will be arranged for volunteers. The volunteers will have a free access to the local swimming pool.
Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in a local community center with the other Vikings, sleeping on mattresses on the floor. After the festival the volunteers will be hosted in a house near to the area.
Don’t forget to bring a warm sleeping bag
Food: The volunteers will have all the meals provided and cooked by our hosts in the Viking community.
Language: English is the language in the camp, but high level is not required.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. – distance from the airport 35 km.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 120,-
WF 02 Neskaupstaður 01/06 – 15/06 ENVI / MANU 8 vols
WF 09 Neskaupstaður 25/06 – 09/07 ENVI / MANU 12 vols
Project and location: Neskaupstaður is a medium sized town by Icelandic standards, has the largest population (1.420 inh.) of any of the towns in the East Fjords, is almost completely self-sufficient and has grown and prospered since the early 1900's, thanks to the fishing industry. Its remoteness has led to a necessary self-sufficiency, including the town having its own bakery, dairy, supermarkets, banks, post office, school, sports hall, swimming pool, church, hospital, harbour, airstrip, hotel, jazz club, rescue centre, etc. In fact, it seems to have all the services you would expect in a larger town except an optician! To the east of the town, facing the ocean, there is a nature reserve and recreational area. The lower section of it, called Hagi, is the location of the renowned Páskahellir (Easter Cave), which is essentially a rock vault over the shore. Holes left by thick, 10-12-million-year-old tree trunks may be seen inside the vault and, as is typical in Iceland, there are various folk tales associated with the cave. Neskaupstaður is only reachable after driving through a one-way tunnel.
“Fjarðabyggð is a association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that makes Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the camp.
Work: Most of the work will be cleaning and beautifying the towns and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline, plant some trees and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, great places for hiking. Excursion or a boat trip will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: In a community center. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the camp will be English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport is 40 km away from the project
WF 03 The village of the hot springs Hveragerði 05/06 – 19/06 ENVI 8 vols
Project and location: Hveragerði is a small town of about 1,700 inhabitants that lies some 45 km east of Reykjavík. This friendly little community sits on top of a highly active geothermal field, providing heat of hundreds of greenhouses where fruit, flowers and vegetables are produced throughout the year, you can even find bananas growing in thise houses. The name Hveragerði means ‘hot springs garden’. Geothermal energy is Hveragerði’s lifeblood, and it would be difficult to find such a natural wonder in the middle of a populated area anywhere else in the world. Very interesting is Gufudalur, the lovely ‘Steam Valley’ behind the town. The whole valley explodes with hot springs, geysers, mud pots, fumaroles and steaming vents.
More info http://www.hveragerdi.is/
Work: Fixing walking paths, cleaning and beautifying the hot spring area in the middle of the village. Planting trees.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool. Guided hikes with locals.
Accommodation: In the local theatre on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Distance from the airport 80 km.
WF 04 Vík í Mýrdal 05/06 – 19/06 ENVI 10 vols
Project and location: Vík in Mýrdalur is Iceland's most southerly village, bordered by the glacial river Jökulsá to the west and the river Blautakvísl to the east. It’s northern border is the Mýrdalsjökull 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. Although this community of 600 inhabitants faces the open Atlantic, Vík is the only seaside settlement in Iceland left without a harbour due to natural circumstances. The natural beauty of the area is spectacular. Just east of the village's outskirts lies one of Europe's biggest arctic tern breeding grounds. South of Vík is a beautiful beach, which an international Magazine named one of the world's ten best island beaches in 1991. A short hike within the close vicinity of Vík is sure to satisfy all serious nature lovers and bird watchers. Vík and its surroundings is one of the main bird life areas in Iceland.
More info http://www.southiceland.com/
Work: construct walking and hiking paths, clean the coastline, take down old fences in the surroundings of the town.
The study theme of the camp is “The hidden people, alfs and trolls”
Accommodation: in a house owned by the local community on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, good places for hiking. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: the language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Distance from the airport 200 km.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 60,-
WF 06 The longest day of the year Eskifjörður 13/06 – 27/06 ENVI /MANU 10 vols
Project and location: Eskifjörður is a major fishing town (population: 972) and an export harbour with direct sailing to Europe, which is located at the northern shore of the fjord Eskifjörður. Itis built on a small sand spit and up the slopes of the mountain which rises above the town.Its main industries are fishing and small-scale farming. Eskifjörður became an authorized trade port in 1786 and has been a commercial center since 1798. One of the several shops in Eskifjörður, Gamlabúð, built in 1816, houses the Maritime Museum Of East Iceland. Eskifjörður town faces the mountain Hólmatindur, from the top of which you can view some of the tallest mountains in the Icelandic interior. One of the favored sights in the area is the Helgustaðanáman mine, which is one of the world’s best-known sources of Icelandic spar. The area, which is just a ten-minute drive from the town, is a nature reserve and open to all, free of charge. A swimming pool with hot pots (geothermal pools) and a sauna is located in Eskifjörður, as well as a gallery and crafts shop.
“Fjarðabyggð is a association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that makes Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the camp.
In this time of the year there is almost no night in Iceland, be ready for the daylight all around the clock.
Work: Most of the work will be cleaning and beautifying the towns and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline, plant some trees and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, guided hikes with locals. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: We will be staying in a nice community center. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the camp will be English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport is 40 km away from the project
WF 07 Skessuhellir – the cave of the trolls 22/06 – 06/07 ART / CONS 8 vols
WF 12 Skessuhellir – the cave of the trolls 08/07 – 22/07 ART / CONS 8 vols
WF 22 Skessuhellir – the cave of the trolls 24/07 – 07/08 ART / CONS 8 vols
WF 33 Skessuhellir – the cave of the trolls 10/08 – 24/08 ART / CONS 8 vols
Project and location:This workcamp will take place in Reykjanesbær which is a major center of fishing and fish processing, although in recent years tourism has played an increasingly important role in the local economy. Reykjanes has something for everyone. Steeped in a rich vein of history, folklore and tradition, the region is also home to some of the world's greatest geological wonders, including the Reykjanes Ridge, meeting place of the Eurasian and American continental plates. Teeming with a wealth of bird and marine life whose habitats lie amid some of Icelands most spectacular coastal scenery, Reykjanes is the natural choice for all lovers of the outdoors.
In this town the authorities are very open for new ideas, for example here you can find the former NATO base which is now becoming a University village and a centre of art and film making.
More info http://www.reykjanes.is/english/
The authorities are now planning to build “a home for Trolls” near to the port of the town, close to the center. Like elves, trolls are also part of the ancient heritage of the Scandinavian mythology. Although they are human-like in form, they are still inhumanly strong, huge and ugly. They are very often thought to be fearsome and cruel creatures. But, like elves, trolls often treat people as they are treated and they return favors for favors, exerting vengeance if harmed. Trolls live in mountains, caves and cliffs, especially bird cliffs. Like humans, they live together socially. They fish, cultivate land and keep animals. They are also very good at handicrafts and hold feasts.
Work: There is an very well known art group here in Iceland called Nordan Bál that have been doing all kind of art and performances in Iceland. This group will do the construction of the Cave (home) of the Trolls and also make the furniture and other things that they need for their daily life. Everything will be oversized so it will fit the big creatures. We will help the art group to build the home and we will also do some environmental work in the area around the place. Please notice that we will work with heavy things so the work can be physically hard
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool. Excursions will be organized by the locals.
Accommodation: in a house owned by the local community, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: the language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Reykjavík – Keflavík Int. Airport is only 10 minutes away from the town.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 80,-
WF 08 Viking life Hafnarfjörður 24/06 – 08/07 CULT / ART 8 vols
WF 17 Viking life Hafnarfjörður 09/07 – 23/07 CULT / ART 8 vols
WF 23 Viking life Hafnarfjörður 24/07 – 07/08 CULT / ART 8 vols
Project and location:Hafnarfjörður is a town with the populations of 23.500 people. It is located 10 km away from the capital, Reykjavík. Hafnarfjörður takes its name (meaning Harbour-fjord) from the area's excellent natural harbour. The town is first named in the medieval "Book of Settlements," and the earliest reports of voyages to Hafnarfjörður date from the end of the 14th century. Today, Hafnarfjörður is one of the nation's largest fishing centres and the site of Iceland's first fish wholesalers' auction market.
Hafnarfjördur is famous for having one of Iceland’s largest settlements of elves, dwarves and other mystical beings, which are usually called ‘Hidden Folk.’ Centuries-old folklore has it that whole clans of such beings reside in the rocks that make up part of the town’s centre. We do not doubt this at all. Though elves are visible only to those with second sight, a great many Icelanders believe in their existence. Indeed, there is much evidence to support this belief, as stories abound of instances where new roads or housing developments were under construction and strange happenings took place. Hidden Folk enjoy a certain regard, and nowhere more so than in Hafnarfjördur. There is even a Hidden Worlds tour that takes you to their home sites, stopping at places like Hellisgerdi Park and the base of the cliff Hamarinn, which is said to be home to the Royal Family of the Hidden Folk. Along the way, the guide relates ancient folk tales of the magical hidden worlds and describes how the town grew and developed in harmony with the Hidden Folk. More info http://www.hafnarfjordur.is/english/
The Vikings settled Iceland around 874 AD and the Icelanders are very proud of those brave people who had the courage to start a life here in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. In Hafnarfjörður there is a small Viking village were the workcamp will take place. Icelanders and Vikings from abroad celebrate their heritage with appropriate style. The Vikings' wild and adventurous spirit lives on today, in the people of this unique country. In the village there is a lot of fun; there are displays of ancient arts and crafts, and large gruff men in full Viking attire demonstrate their ancient battle skills to anyone brave enough to challenge them. More info http://www.fjorukrain.is/fjorukrain/en/
Work: The volunteers will work in the Viking village most of the time but they will also help the local community with some environmental tasks. While working in the Viking village the volunteers will receive Viking costumes to wear and perform different tasks. They will give assistance to visitors, and help the other Viking volunteers in the kitchen, serving meals or cleaning the area. They will also have the opportunity to make paintings, sculptures or other peaces of art and sell them in the shopping street in the village. This camp is really perfect for people with art skills.
Leisure time: Excursions and free time activities will be arranged for volunteers. The volunteers will have a free access to the local swimming pool.
Accommodation: In a house near to the center of Hafnarfjörður, sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Don’t forget to bring a warm sleeping bag
Food: The volunteers will have all the meals provided and cooked by our hosts in the Viking community.
Language: English is the language in the camp, but high level is not required.
Study: The Saga of the Vikings
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Distance from the airport 35 km.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 120,-
xx Euro
WF 10 Fáskrúðsfjörður / Stöðvarfjörður 30/06 – 14/07 ENVI 12 vols
Project and location:Fáskrúðsfjörður was the main port for French fishermen in the 1900s in East Iceland both prior to and well after the turn of the century. At Fáskrúðsfjörður there was a French consul, a French hospital and a French chapel. The street names are still in Icelandic and in French. The mountain slopes in Fáskrúðsfjörður are partially grown with bushes, including wild aspens on the north coast. Sandfell mountain very near to Fáskrúdsfjörður is a cone-shaped, rhyolite mountain on the south side of the fjord, rising to a height of 743 meters. When molten rhyolite lifts older layers of lava, so-called laccolith is formed. Sandfell, about 600 m thick, is a famous example of this and is in fact one of the best visible examples of the Tertiary period in the northern hemisphere. A hike to the top of Sandfell is extremely enjoyable and takes 2-3 hours. Skrúður is a grassy but rockbound island east of Fáskrúðsfjörður. It has an abundance of bird life, including puffins, kittiwakes, various black birds from the Alcidae family, gannets, storm petrels and Leach’s petrels. Skrúðshellir cave at Skrúður is the largest "puffin cave" in the world.
“Fjarðabyggð is a association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that makes Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the camp.
Work: Most of the work will be cleaning and beautifying the towns and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline, plant some trees and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, guided hikes with locals. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: We will be staying in the local school. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the camp will be English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport is 60 km away from the project
WF 11 Siglufjörður 01/07 – 15/07 Int. folksong festival ENVI / CULT 12 vols
Project and location:Siglufjördur is the northernmost town in Iceland, located at the foot of towering mountains on the shore of a small fjord bearing the same name. Fishing and the processing of marine products provide the principal source of employment for the town's 1,600 residents, as the settlement has developed around one of the country's best natural harbours. The historic architecture, the colourful rooftops of the upper town, the harbour and inspiring backdrop are all postcard material on a fine day. There is plenty of variety in the life of the town, which includes many sorts of social and cultural activities. Both the church and music school are centres for musical activities, and sports are very popular. Furthermore, the splendour of the mountains and natural beauty are practically an invitation to everyone. More info www.siglo.is
Work: Planting trees, cleaning the coastline, making hiking paths. Give a helping hand with the preparation and the running of the International folksong Festival, held between July 4th and 8th.
Accommodation: In a house owned by the local community on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, guided hikes with locals.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 13 Hveragerði 04/07 – 18/07 ENVI 10 vols
Project and location: Hveragerði is a small town of about 1,700 inhabitants that lies some 45 km east of Reykjavík. This friendly little community sits on top of a highly active geothermal field, providing heat of hundreds of greenhouses where fruit, flowers and vegetables are produced throughout the year. The name Hveragerði means ‘hot springs garden’. Geothermal energy is Hveragerði’s lifeblood, and it would be difficult to find such a natural wonder in the middle of a populated area anywhere else in the world. Very interesting is Gufudalur, the lovely ‘Steam Valley’ behind the town. The whole valley explodes with hot springs, geysers, mud pots, fumaroles and steaming vents. More info www.hveragerdi.is
Work: Fixing walking paths, working in the forestry.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, guided hikes with locals. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: In the local theatre. Sleeping on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: the language of the work camp is English
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Distance from the airport 80 km.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
IS - WF 6 - 14 Mosfellsbær 06/07 – 19/07 ENVI 12 vols
Project and location: Mosfellsbær (population: 7.200) lies just 17km north of Reykjavík. 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, Halldór 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. Mosfellsbær is also known as the hometown of avant-garde-rockband “Sigur Rós”. They still have their studio in Mosfellsbær. The natural landscape of Mosfellsbær is rugged, and 80% of the district lies more than 100 metres above sea level. Hills such as Mosfell, Grímannsfell, Helgafell and Úlfarsfell, all 200-300 metres high, dominate the landscape. Under much of Mosfellsbær lies a layer of basaltic lava, which can be seen here and there in hills and rocky outcrops.
More info http://www.mosfellsbaer.is/default.asp?Sid_Id=1118&tId=1
Work: Plant trees, rake, seed and fertilize the earth (to enhance grass growth), clean the riverside and create walking paths, some work might be done in the horse stables.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner. Reykjavík is only ten minutes away so a City trip is a good option.
Accommodation: In a community building in Mosfellsbær on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag. Free access to the local swimming pool. Excursions will be organized by the local partner.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Distance from the airport 50 km.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF15 Þórshöfn in Langanes 07/07 – 21/07 ENVI 10 vols
Project and location: To truly sense the remote beauty of the north-east, then the charming little fishing village of Þórshöfn on the north-east coast is the place to go. The town of Þórshöfn lies on the head of the Langanes peninsula and has 388 inhabitants. There's a variety of outdoor activity on offer from hiking to salmon and trout fishing and horse trekking in some of Iceland's most spectacular scenery. The Langanes Peninsula is also one of the best areas in which to enjoy Iceland's rich and varied birdlife. Þórshöfn is within driving distance of some Iceland's most prized natural pearls, such as Myvatn, with its geothermal activity, and the waterfall Dettifoss, one of Europe's most powerful and spectacular waterfalls. This village has a good, natural harbour and the inhabitants base their livelihood on fishing, fish processing and commerce.
More info http://www.langanesbyggd.is/category.php?catID=17
Work: Wewe will be working on environmental related matters. One of the biggest pollution issues in the area is the litter brought to the shore due to sea currents that even bring timber as far as from Siberia. Volunteers will be working on cleaning up the shores and beaches in the area. Additional work will be undertaken as reforestation tasks, planting trees and taking care of those already planted.
Leisure time: Free access to the gym and the local swimming pool with sauna, guided hikes with locals. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Depending on the advance of the mentioned tasks volunteers might be marking some walking paths and hiking trails.Accommodation: We will be staying in the local school, sleeping on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
F: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport and Akureyri airport are more near to the project.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 16 Eskifjörður 07/07 – 21/07 ENVI / MANU 10 vols
WF 28 Eskifjörður 03/08 – 17/08 ENVI / MANU 10 vols
Project and location: Eskifjörður is a major fishing town (population: 972) and an export harbour with direct sailing to Europe, which is located at the northern shore of the fjord Eskifjörður. Itis built on a small sand spit and up the slopes of the mountain which rises above the town.Its main industries are fishing and small-scale farming. Eskifjörður became an authorized trade port in 1786 and has been a commercial center since 1798. One of the several shops in Eskifjörður, Gamlabúð, built in 1816, houses the Maritime Museum Of East Iceland. Eskifjörður town faces the mountain Hólmatindur, from the top of which you can view some of the tallest mountains in the Icelandic interior. One of the favored sights in the area is the Helgustaðanáman mine, which is one of the world’s best-known sources of Icelandic spar. The area, which is just a ten-minute drive from the town, is a nature reserve and open to all, free of charge. A swimming pool with hot pots (geothermal pools) and a sauna is located in Eskifjörður, as well as a gallery and crafts shop.
“Fjarðabyggð is a association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that makes Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the camp.
Work: Most of the work will be cleaning and beautifying the towns and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline, plant some trees and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, guided hikes with locals. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: We will be staying in a nice community center. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the camp will be English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport is 40 km away from the project
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
Participation fee: € XX
WF 18 Sólheimar - Eco village 11/07 – 25/07 ENVI / AGRI 10 vols
WF 31 Sólheimar - Eco village 07/08 – 21/08 ENVI / AGRI 10 vols
Project and location: Sólheimar 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, Sólheimar has focused on cultivating the individual and the environmental and is the first community in Scandinavia to practice organic cultivation. Today, Sólheimar (The home of the sun) 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, the village is only one hour drive from Reykjavik.
The volunteers have free access to the swimming pool and gym. Volunteers are also encouraged to take part in social happenings in Sólheimar like in sports, music, the theatre group, etc. Sólheimar Arts Summer festival will last until the beginning of August. The program is varied with all sorts of arts exhibitions, an outdoor market, and theatre and cabaret performances at 4 o’clock every Saturday and every Sunday in the theatre and café Græna Kannan. Volunteers are welcome to participate in the singing groups and cabarets. More info www.solheimar.is
Work: In Ölur forestry centre, the only organic reforestation centre in Iceland: plant trees, construct paths + in Sunna organic cultivation centre: plant vegetables, dig the weeds and other kind of gardening work. Other tasks will be decided according to the need of the community.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool and to the fitness centre. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: In the sport centre on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Food: Our host in Solheimar is offering a prepared lunch every working day but all other food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning for other meals. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF Distance from the airport 140 km.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
IS WF 6 - 19 Reyðarfjörður 13/07 – 27/07 ENVI / MANU 12 vols
IS WF 6 - 32 Reyðarfjörður 08/08 – 22/08 ENVI MANU 12 vols
Project and location: Reyðarfjörður fjord is long, wide and curving, and is the largest of the eastern fjords. At the end of it rests the village known variously as Reyðarfjörður or Búðareyri. On one side there are magnificent rocky peaks, on the other gentle green hills, something which should bring hours of enjoyment to both the experienced hiker and novice walker. In the past, Reyðarfjörður was the commercial centre for farmers in nearby Fljótsdalshérað district. There is a large duck pond in the village called Andapollurinn, into which Salmon is released on a regular basis. The Icelandic World War II museum in Reyðarfjörður offers an opportunity to travel back to the days of the occupation, while a somewhat different attraction is the burial site of the ancient seer, Völva, who on her deathbed vowed to protect Reyðarfjörður as long as her bones remained in their resting-place on Hólmaháls. Also worth seeing are the summer market and the geological collection.
“Fjarðabyggð is a association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that makes Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the camp.
Work: Most of the work will be cleaning and beautifying the towns and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline, plant some trees and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, good places for hikes. Excursions or boattrips will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: We will be staying in the local school. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the camp will be English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport is 40 km away from the project
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 20 Fjallabyggð 14/07 – 28/07 ENVI 12 vols
Project and location: Fjallabyggð is the northernmost community in Iceland, located at the foot of towering mountains on the shore of a small fjords. Fishing and the processing of marine products provide the principal source of employment for the town's 1,600 residents, as the settlement has developed around one of the country's best natural harbours. The historic architecture, the colourful rooftops of the upper town, the harbour and inspiring backdrop are all postcard material on a fine day. There is plenty of variety in the life of the town, which includes many sorts of social and cultural activities. Both the church and music school are centres for musical activities, and sports are very popular. Furthermore, the splendour of the mountains and natural beauty are practically an invitation to all outdoorsmen. More info www.siglo.is
Work: Planting trees, cleaning the coastline, making and marking hiking paths.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool.
Accommodation: in a house owned by the local community on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Langauge: the language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF T: Reykjavík - Keflavík. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the camp site for a fair prize.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
xx Euro
WF 21 French days in Fáskrúðsfjörður 19/07 – 05/08 FEST/ ENVI 12 vols
Project and location: Fáskrúðsfjörður was the main port for French fishermen in the 1900s in East Iceland both prior to and well after the turn of the century. At Fáskrúðsfjörður there was a French consul, a French hospital and a French chapel. The street names are still in Icelandic and in French. The mountain slopes in Fáskrúðsfjörður are partially grown with bushes, including wild aspens on the north coast. Sandfell mountain very near to Fáskrúdsfjörður is a cone-shaped, rhyolite mountain on the south side of the fjord, rising to a height of 743 meters. When molten rhyolite lifts older layers of lava, so-called laccolith is formed. Sandfell, about 600 m thick, is a famous example of this and is in fact one of the best visible examples of the Tertiary period in the northern hemisphere. A hike to the top of Sandfell is extremely enjoyable and takes 2-3 hours. Skrúður is a grassy but rockbound island east of Fáskrúðsfjörður. It has an abundance of bird life, including puffins, kittiwakes, various black birds from the Alcidae family, gannets, storm petrels and Leach’s petrels. Skrúðshellir cave at Skrúður is the largest "puffin cave" in the world.
“Fjarðabyggð is a association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that makes Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the camp.
Work: We will help the locals to prepare the french days which will be from the 24th to the 27th of July and than we will of course participate in the activites during the weekend. Other tasks will be cleaning and beautifying the town and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, guided hikes with locals. Excursions or boattrip will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: We will be staying in the local school. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the camp will be French.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport is 40 km away from the project
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 24 Vestmannaeyjar festival 25/07 – 07/08 ENVI / FEST 15 vols
Project and location: This is the fifth time that we host this project and it has been one of the highlights each year.
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. This festival is the most popular one in Iceland.
Work: The volunteers will help with the preparation of the festival, helping to run it and of course taking part in it and afterwards help to clean the area. We will also do some environmental work and help with the project “Pompei of the North” to excavate 7-10 houses that were covered by ash after the eruption in Eldfell 1973. More info http://www.vestmannaeyjar.is/
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool. Excursion or a boat trip will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: In the community and Sport center of Heimaey. Participants are asked to bring their sleeping bags.
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Terminal: Reykjavík - Keflavík. WF Iceland will organize a bus and boattrip from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 140,-
WF 25 Neskaupstaður 26/07 – 09/08 ENVI / MANU 10 vols
Project and location: Neskaupstaður is a medium sized town by Icelandic standards, has the largest population (1.420 inh.) of any of the towns in the East Fjords, is almost completely self-sufficient and has grown and prospered since the early 1900's, thanks to the fishing industry. Its remoteness has led to a necessary self-sufficiency, including the town having its own bakery, dairy, supermarkets, banks, post office, school, sports hall, swimming pool, church, hospital, harbour, airstrip, hotel, jazz club, rescue centre, etc. In fact, it seems to have all the services you would expect in a larger town except an optician! To the east of the town, facing the ocean, there is a nature reserve and recreational area. The lower section of it, called Hagi, is the location of the renowned Páskahellir (Easter Cave), which is essentially a rock vault over the shore. Holes left by thick, 10-12-million-year-old tree trunks may be seen inside the vault and, as is typical in Iceland, there are various folk tales associated with the cave. Neskaupstaður is only reachable after driving through a one-way tunnel.
“Fjarðabyggð is a association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that makes Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the camp.
Work: Most of the work will be cleaning and beautifying the towns and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline, plant some trees and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully. There is a festival in the village during the weekend 29/7 – 01/08 called Neistaflug, we will at least enjoy the festival and it is also possible that we will help with the preparation.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, great places for hiking. Excursion or a boat trip will be organized by the hosting partner.
Acconmmodation: In a community center. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the camp will be English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport is 40 km away from the project
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 26 Herring festival Siglufjörður 27/07 – 11/08 ENVI / FEST / KIDS 12 vols
Project and location: Siglufjördur is the northernmost town in Iceland, located at the foot of towering mountains on the shore of a small fjord bearing the same name. Fishing and the processing of marine products provide the principal source of employment for the town's 1,600 residents, as the settlement has developed around one of the country's best natural harbours. The historic architecture, the colourful rooftops of the upper town, the harbour and inspiring backdrop are all postcard material on a fine day. There is plenty of variety in the life of the town, which includes many sorts of social and cultural activities. Both the church and music school are centres for musical activities, and sports are very popular. Furthermore, the splendour of the mountains and natural beauty are practically an invitation to all outdoorsmen.
More info www.siglo.is
Work: Giving a helping hand with the preparation of the Herring festval which will take place in the first weekend of August, we will also help around during the festival. The environmental tasks can be planting trees, cleaning the coastline, making hiking paths. We will also help the locals with the preparation and running of a football tournament for young girls which will take place in the second weekend of August.
Please notice that we will have days of in the middle of the week but not during the weekends.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, guided hikes with locals.
Accommodation: in a house owned by the local community on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Languagethe language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Reykjavík - Keflavík. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the camp site for a fair prize.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 29 Week of love Bolungarvík 05/08 – 19/08 ENVI / FEST 12 vols
Project and location: Bolungarvík is a village in the North-West of Iceland, located at the Vestfirðir peninsula, approximately 13 kilometers from the village of Ísafjörður and 473 km from the capital city Reykjavík. It has 957 inhabitants. Bolungarvík has a long and interesting history, being one of the oldest fishing towns in Iceland, and one of the few mentioned in the Sagas. For centuries it was the greatest fishery town in the West Fjords and at the turn of the last century, the greatest in Iceland. The quiet countryside attracts some tourists, mainly in summer. There is a indoor swimming pool, a museum for natural history and an open air fishing museum. The surroundings of Bolungarvík are quite popular destinations for hiking, horse riding and birdwatching. Bolungarvik was the shooting location for Nói Albínói, a movie by Dagur Kári about a teenager living in a remote Icelandic village.
The yearly Week of Love in Bolungarvík will take place on August 10-16th. The program during the Week of Love is one of variety and entertainment.
The goal of the Week of Love is to support the increase of newborns in Bolungarvík and by doing so increasing the number of residents and to encourage people to love one another.
Among the highlights of the Week of Love are a hugging course and an art show by children with the headline “It is good to love”. Poets from the Westfjords will read from their work of love poetry. The program also contains concerts, adventure yacht trips and last but not least the “Laughing Healthy Gala Evening”.
The residents of the town of Bolungarvík are encouraged to place red lights in their homes’ windows, buy a bouquet of roses for their loved ones, love themselves, love their spouse, love their friends, love their children, and love the entire world and life itself.
Work: Helping with the preparion and during the festival. Working in the forestry, making hiking paths. Beautifying the area around the village, cleaning the coastline
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: We will be staying in the local community center. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the workcamp will be English.
Terminal: Reykjavík - Keflavík. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the camp site for a fair prize. Ísafjörður airport is close to the project.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 120,-
WF 30 Flower festival Hveragerði 07/08 – 21/08 ENVI / FEST 12 vols
Project and location: The Flower festival in Hveragerði is a mixture of art and culture with a taste of the flower power in the area. Hveragerði is a small town of about 1,700 inhabitants that lies some 45 km east of Reykjavík. This friendly little community sits on top of a highly active geothermal field, providing heat of hundreds of greenhouses where fruit, flowers and vegetables are produced throughout the year, you can even find bananas growing in thise houses. The name Hveragerði means ‘hot springs garden’. Geothermal energy is Hveragerði’s lifeblood, and it would be difficult to find such a natural wonder in the middle of a populated area anywhere else in the world. Very interesting is Gufudalur, the lovely ‘Steam Valley’ behind the town. The whole valley explodes with hot springs, geysers, mud pots, fumaroles and steaming vents.
More info www.hveragerdi.is
Work: Helping with the preparion and during the festival. Working in the forestry, making hiking paths. Beautifying the area around the village Fixing walking paths, cleaning and beautifying the hot spring area in the middle of the village. Planting trees.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool.
Accommodation: In the local theatre on mattresses on the floor, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Distance from the project 80 km.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 36 Fjarðabyggð 16/08 – 30/08 ENVI / MANU 12 vols
WF 40 Fjarðabyggð 29/08 – 12/09 ENVI / MANU 12 vols
Project and location: “Fjarðabyggð is a association of different communities in the Eastfjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður. The towns have a lot of things in common: They are all small fishing villages with steep mountains just behind the houses. In this area you will find most of the things that makes Iceland a unique place on a global scale. The fjords are magnificent and the sea is full of life, the birdlife is very rich and you can find a great variety of hiking paths. You will get to know the area during your stay in the east and it depends on the tasks and the situation in Fjarðabyggð where you will be working during the camp.
Work: Most of the work will be cleaning and beautifying the towns and the surrounding area. We will also clean the coastline, plant some trees and even make hiking paths. The work available will depend on the weather condition and that’s why we have to be a bit flexible. Please keep in mind that the work might be physically hard and you should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though it will be nice most of the time, hopefully.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, great places for hiking. Excursion or a boat trip will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: In a community center. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the camp will be English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the workcamp site for a fair prize. Egilsstaðir airport is 40 km away from the project
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 37 Hvolsvöllur 18/08 – 31/08 ENVI 12 vols
Project and location: Hvolsvöllur is a small town in the south of Iceland about 106 km to the east of Reykjavik. It is a young community whose development began in 1930 when a large cooperative store was opened there. The town is located in a fertile region amid pleasant surroundings with the snow-capped Mt. Hekla rearing above the horizon. The inhabitants base their livelihood mainly on services rendered to the agricultural surroundings, the manufacture of meat products, for the domestic market and tourism. The town is situated in one of the most important Saga regions of the country, with some of the main stages of the renowned Njal's-Saga. Those who are interested in the Icelandic Sagas should not miss visiting the Njala Centre in town. Salmon and trout fishing in the nearby rivers is very rewarding.
W: We will clean and help the locals to rebuild old beautiful caves in the area. We will also plant trees, maintain old trails, mark footways and help the locals to beautify the surrounding of Hvolsvöllur. We will also do a little bit of work around the great waterfalls “Seljalandsfoss” and “Skógafoss”.
More info www.south.is
The study theme of the camp is “The Icelandic Saga ”
Leisure time: Free access to the swimming pool in Hvolsvöllur, guided hikes with locals. Excursions will be organized by the hosting partner.
Accommodation: We will stay in a community center called “Goðaland“, which is about 10 minutes drive from the town.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: The language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Distance from the project 150 km
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 90,-
WF 39 Lights of the nights festival Reykjanes 25/08 – 08/09 ART / ENVI 12 vols
Project and location:This workcamp will take place in Reykjanesbær which is a major center of fishing and fish processing, although in recent years tourism has played an increasingly important role in the local economy. Reykjanes has something for everyone. Steeped in a rich vein of history, folklore and tradition, the region is also home to some of the world's greatest geological wonders, including the Reykjanes Ridge, meeting place of the Eurasian and American continental plates. Teeming with a wealth of bird and marine life whose habitats lie amid some of Iceland most spectacular coastal scenery, Reykjanes is the natural choice for all lovers of the outdoors.
In this town the authorities are very open for new ideas, for example here you can find the former NATO base which is now becoming a University village and a centre of art and film making.
The festival will take place from the 4th to the 7th of September. This is a cultural festival with a lot of happenings.
Take a look at the programme from last year. http://www.ljosanott.is/english/Program/Program_2007/
Here you can also see photos from the last camp that we had there: http://www.wf.is/artediem/
The authorities are now planning to build “a home for Trolls” near to the port of the town, close to the center. Like elves, trolls are also part of the ancient heritage of the Scandinavian mythology. Although they are human-like in form, they are still inhumanly strong, huge and ugly. They are very often thought to be fearsome and cruel creatures. But, like elves, trolls often treat people as they are treated and they return favors for favors, exerting vengeance if harmed. Trolls live in mountains, caves and cliffs, especially bird cliffs. Like humans, they live together socially. They fish, cultivate land and keep animals. They are also very good at handicrafts and hold feasts.
Work: There are two kinds of tasks that we will have during those two weeks.
- There is an very well known art group here in Iceland called Nordan Bál that have been doing all kind of art and performan Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 120,- ces in Iceland. This group will do the construction of the Cave (home) of the Trolls and also make the furniture and other things that they need for their daily life. Everything will be oversized so it will fit the big creatures. We will help the art group to build the home and we will also do some environmental work in the area around the place. Please notice that we will work with heavy things so the work can be physically hard.
- We will help with the preparation of the festival and also with some practical things during the festival.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool. Excursions will be organized by the locals.
Accommocation: in a house owned by the local community, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
Food: The food will be provided for the duration of the work camp and everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to share new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries
Language: the language of the work camp is English.
Terminal: Reykjavík – Keflavík Int. Airport is only 10 minutes away from the town.
Extra: Xtra participation fee EUR 120,-
benhurjun |
Latest page update: made by benhurjun
, Mar 28 2008, 3:13 PM EDT
(about this update
About This Update
Edited by benhurjun
8 words added 1 word deleted view changes - complete history) |
|
Keyword tags:
None
More Info: links to this page
|
There are no threads for this page.
Be the first to start a new thread.
