Hiking Trails and Glaciers

  Iceland

• Other Cities in Iceland: 
Skaftafell

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Dates: 4 x 12 day placements, June - August 2010

Description: Living and working in the heart of Iceland's stunning Vatnajkull National Park you'll amaze yourself with your own achievements. BTCV's holidays in Iceland are the ultimate adventurous conservation experience!

Who we're working with

Iceland Conservation Holidays are run in partnership with the Icelandic Environment Agency, Umhverfisstofnun (UST). The Agency established the Iceland Conservation Volunteer (ICV) program to assist with all aspects practical nature conservation. Iceland Conservation Holidays are managed by ICVs own team of local staff and international volunteer leaders.

For 30 years, BTCV volunteers have played an important role in this work. Volunteer teams work closely with local staff on a variety of practical management tasks, focusing on trail building and wilderness management projects. We stay in tents and live and work in these amazing areas throughout the summer months. The country's harsh natural environment and unpredictable weather make BTCV's projects in Iceland both an adventure and a challenge.

Where we're working

Skaftafell Vatnajkull National Park in southeast Iceland has been described as a green oasis surrounded by a landscape of snow-capped mountains, glaciers and vast black sand plains. This amazing scenery makes it one of the most beautiful and most visited places in the country. Skaftafell is part of the recently established Vatnajkull National Park, which is the largest National Park in Europe.

What we'll be doing

This summer we will be working a variety of hiking trail construction and maintenance projects throughout the Skaftafell area. Our work may include building stone drains, resurfacing paths with gravel and the construction of timber bridges and boardwalks. We'll be focusing on repair work to a popular woodland trail overlooking the Skaftafell Glacier. No previous experience of this work is necessary as training will be provided by experienced leaders.

The working day normally runs from 09:00 - 17:00 with breaks for lunch and coffee. However, please be prepared for some flexibility due to the nature of Iceland's changeable weather.

Benefits of our work

Now one of the coolest holiday destinations in Europe, Iceland is receiving ever increasing numbers of visitors. As tourism grow, the pressure on Iceland's fragile natural ecology increases. The challenge is to protect both vegetation and geological formations from damage and this is done through the construction and maintenance of hiking trail networks. Well maintained paths enable people to visit these amazing areas without damaging them and this important work also helps to improve safety for visitors.

Where we'll be staying

In Skaftafell, we will be staying at the volunteer base-camp alongside other ICV volunteers working in the park. At the base-camp we have a fully equipped hut where we prepare meals and relax in the evenings. The campsite has hot showers, laundry facilities and a small gift shop.

Highlights: Throughout the project there will be plenty of opportunities to explore Skaftafell and the surrounding areas. There will be an opportunity to visit Jkulsarln, a glacial lagoon full of icebergs and Inglshfi, an island known for its variety of bird life. It is also possible to take part in organized glacial walks!

Don't take it from us...Hannah was in Iceland in 2008:

"Iceland is a beautiful country, best due to all the natural phenomena there, so working to help maintain the landscape was always going to be a rewarding task.

The network of volunteers there is amazing though, we got to meet up with long term volunteers as well as working on our own projects, which taught us loads about the whole country.

The work was tough, and my first day with a spade was a challenge but we soon got the hang of it, and our leader really helped us out. The sense of achievement when we finished our first project and people walked along our path was amazing. We were always surrounded with beautiful scenery and so our tea and biscuit breaks were even more welcome.

The campsite had brilliant facilities as well, and it was great to be able to get a nice hot shower after getting covered in earth all day. The evenings were great too, the group really bonded and we had great food, don't worry about having to bring a stash unless you have anything specific you cant live without. On our days out our leader took us to a whole range of places and acted as a brilliant tour guide, and much cheaper than any of the excursions you can arrange with companies.

Overall it was a brilliant trip and I'd really recommend Iceland not only because it's a beautiful place but because of the volunteer organization of UST, which really helped throughout. I'd also really recommend using BTCV, who answered all my questions in the run up to the holiday, and made sure that everything was to an excellent standard."

Cost in US$: 375 GBP (please check current exchange rates for price in USD)

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18-80

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Iceland Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Other

BTCV's Mission Statement: BTCV is the UK's largest practical conservation organization. The charity was set up in 1959, and has a successful history of environmental conservation volunteering throughout the UK and around the world. Working with and supporting BTCV can be a rewarding experience for corporate partners, the Government, Big Lottery Fund, local authorities, government agencies such as English Nature and individual donors. Will you support BTCV? As a charity, BTCV relies heavily on voluntary donations. The work we do is only made possible by people like you - people who want to make a difference to their community and environment. Vision, Mission & ValuesVision: A better environment where people are valued, included and involved Mission: To create a more sustainable future by inspiring people and improving places Values: BTCV's values are integral to all our work. They have been developed through four decades of a 'hands-on' approach to conservation activities. During this time we have adapted to meet the changing needs of communities, we care about people, the communities in which they live and the quality of their environment Our key values: **Sustained environmental improvement: A healthy environment and improved biodiversity is at the heart of all BTCV's activities **Inclusiveness, accessibility and choice: BTCV is sensitive to people's needs, their environmental awareness, personal values and beliefs, and is striving to be accessible to all **Appropriate support: BTCV understands that individuals and local communities require different types of support **Individual and community empowerment: BTCV inspires people to fulfil their potential **Corporate responsibility: BTCV provides a safe, healthy working environment for our staff and volunteers, with development opportunities to meet their personal aspirations

Year Founded: 1959