FAQs
- What is a workcamp?
- How long does a workcamp last for?
- Where are the workcamps located?
- What kind of workcamps does SEEDS offer?
- How do I find a SEEDS workcamp?
- How do I join a SEEDS workcamp?
- How does SEEDS select the volunteers to a workcamp?
- When do I know if I was accepted?
- How old do I have to be to go on a workcamp?
- What should I bring with me to workcamps?
- What should I do after being accepted?
- Do I get more information about the workcamp?
- Does SEEDS offer something special in its workcamps?
- Why does SEEDS charge participation fees for workcamps?
- What about transportation? How do we get to the working place?
- How are the participation costs and transportation contributions collected?
- Do we work for the whole two weeks?
- Who leads the workcamps?
- Do I need any special skills to join a workcamp?
- Are there some last minute workcamps available?
- Can I participate in more than one workcamp?
- Are all the costs covered during the workcamp?
- Are food and accommodation provided?
- What type of accommodation will be provided?
- Where are SEEDS volunteers coming from?
- Do I need insurance?
- Are there any language requirements?
- How do the campers spend their free time?
- What happens if I get lost or have some problems to get to the workcamp?
- How can I get to Iceland?
- How can I reduce my carbon footprint while flying to Iceland?
- How do I travel from the Keflavík international airport to Reykjavík?
- How are the prices in Iceland? Is Iceland an expensive country?
- Where can I find more information on Iceland?
What is a workcamp?
Workcamps are the most common form of short-term volunteering. They are projects where a group of 'unskilled' volunteers work and live together on either a project that has been identified by a local community or a project working with that community.
International workcamps bring together volunteers from different nationalities and backgrounds with the aim of building up international understanding and to encourage peace while working for an identified need of the local community. They are a multicultural, voluntary-workforce. Group sizes vary between 6 and 20 participants.
How long does a workcamp last for?
The length of workcamps varies, but generally they last for 2 weeks.
Where are the workcamps located?
SEEDS mainly organises workcamps in Iceland. SEEDS also sends Icelanders and residents of Iceland to volunteer in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. SEEDS has volunteering projects and opportunities for cooperation in more than 100 countries all over the globe. Please email seeds(at)seedsiceland.org for more information or browse the database for available projects at http://www.workcamps.info/icamps/en/?branch=is-see
What kind of workcamps does SEEDS offer?
The types of projects developed by SEEDS are mainly focused on nature and the environment. This includes:
ecological research; building walking paths or hiking trails; work in an organic farm; removing invasive growth (i.e. lupin); cleaning the coastline; reforestation and erosion control work; construction or renovation of a community building, monument or community centre
There are social, cultural, academic, agricultural, archaeological or maintenance projects, and others depending on the identified need of the local community. For more information on current SEEDS projects please download our up-to-date programee at http://www.seedsiceland.org/2010-seeds-iceland-workcamps.pdf
How do I find a SEEDS workcamp?
To find a workcamp description please use the drop-dowm menu "Workcamps in", situated on the left side of our website and click on "in Iceland", then you can browse the workcamps you are interested in!
You can also click on this link: http://www.seedsiceland.org/volunteer-workcamps-2010-iceland-en-p0.html
If you want to check our past projects you can also find them at http://www.seedsiceland.org/volunteer-workcamps-en.html
How do I join a SEEDS workcamp?
Send us an email with your data, including your home country, so that we can see whether we have a partner sending organisation there.
How does SEEDS select the volunteers to a workcamp?
Placements are made on a first-come, first-serve basis (exceptions can be made if there are too many applicants from one single country or in order to keep the gender as balanced as possible within the group).
When do I know if I was accepted?
Usually within five working days after receiving the application form.
How old do I have to be to go on a workcamp?
We usually accept volunteers aged 18 or over; in most of our project we do not have any upper age limit. The age range (lower and/or upper limits) are available in the workcamps descriptions.
We occasionally accept volunteers younger than 18 with special permission from their parent/guardian. In this case, you must contact us in advance so that we can send all the necessary details.
What should I bring with me to workcamps?
Apart from enthusiasm and motivation, you will need to bring suitable working clothes (specific description will be sent in the infosheet, before the workcamp starts). Weather conditions in Iceland can change rapidly, even in the course of a few minutes. It is strongly recommended that you are prepared for both warm, sunny days and cold, rainy and windy ones. Iceland has a combination of all weathers you can imagine (which you might experience all in the same day!).
We also recommend to bring: a towel and swim suit, food or drinks from your country, games, music instruments, or anything else that you would like to share with the other volunteers.
