Workcamp Details

Project and location: The area of Strandir is a paradise for nature enthusiasts as for those who simply want to enjoy the pleasure of experiencing a place of complete silence. There you will find seabirds on rugged cliffs, arctic foxes in their lairs, and little fishing villages huddled against sheer mountains where for centuries people have battled with the forces of nature to harvest the ocean’s riches. This is the most remote area of Iceland and one of the most exiting! It is known for the inhabitants' knowledge of magic and witchcraft. The village Drangsnes is a small hamlet at the head of the Steingrimsfjordur bay. Drangsnes has a population of barely 100 people. the settlement of Drangsnes started populating after 1920´s. a tall rocky outcrop on the shore is called the old woman, or the hag, which is said to be one of the ogresses who turned to stone when the sun came up while the trolls were trying to separate the western fiords from the mainland by a large ditch. The people of Drangsnes live almost entirely on traditional fishing and farming and are increasingly aware of their heritage and will proudly tell tales of their ancestors' dealings with ghosts and other supernatural beings like trolls, dwarves and elves. Hornstrandir nature reserve on the region’s northern edge is both breathtakingly raw and astonishingly rich in vegetation, on the rim of the inhabitable world. Relics from life in other once-thriving outposts can be seen in places such as the now abandoned herring centre of Djupavik.

The local festival “Bryggjudagar” will take place 17th to the 19th of July. The locals will organize different activities for example traditional music, photo exhibition, singing contest, barbecue, Bonfire and of course a big party. This is also a great opportunity to taste the fresh delicates from the sea, some specialties that you will not find any were else in the World.

Work: We will maintain hiking paths and do other envornmental work in and around the village of Drangsnes. We will also help the locals to prepare the festival and trun it. 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 modern local swimming pool, excursions and/or boat trip will be organized by the hosting partner. The locals are very much looking forward to host the group and they will offer different free time activities to us.

Accommodation: In the local school, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.

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: Basic English is required.

Terminal/Region: Reykjavík - Keflavík. WF Iceland will organize a bus from Reykjavik to the camp site for 60 euros per person. We will stop in nice places to enjoy the beautiful nature.

Extra: There is an extra participation fee EUR 150 –