Project 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, which provides heat for hundreds of greenhouses where fruit, flowers and vegetables are produced throughout the year. Even bananas grow in these greenhouses! The name Hveragerði means ‘hot springs garden.’ Geothermal energy is Hveragerði’s lifeblood, and you probably won’t find such a natural wonder in the middle of a populated area anywhere else in the world. Nearby you will find an even more geothermally active site: Gufudalur, the lovely ‘Steam Valley’ behind the town. This whole valley is full of hot springs, geysers, mud pots, fumaroles and steaming vents.
The Flower festival in Hveragerði is a mixture of art and culture with a taste of the flower power from the area.
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. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to enjoy the festival.
Leisure: Worldwide Friends volunteers have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pools. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms. Hveragerði is known for having great areas for hiking, including a river heated by hot springs.
WF Iceland will also organise reasonably-priced weekend excursions to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysirs, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.
Accommodation and Food: Worldwide Friends volunteers stay in a local school. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag, but mattresses are provided. Free wireless internet is available during evening hours, but volunteers need to bring their own laptops if they would like to connect to it.
Food will be provided for the duration of the workcamp and everyone is expected to do his/her fair share of the cooking/cleaning. It would be nice to try new and different dishes, so please remember to bring along recipes from your own countries.
Language: A basic knowledge of English is required for this workcamp.
Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik, Iceland. WF Iceland will offer a minibus trip from Reykjavik to Hveragerdi for 45 EURO which includes the amazing Golden circle excursion.
Additional Information: There is an extra participation fee of 200,- Euros for this workcamp.