Our teams include volunteers who join the programme for 2-week or 6-week placements. We also have an ‘Operations team’ which includes our volunteer team leaders and is responsible for project support, logistics and the day to day running of the programme.
6-week placement dates
- Group 1: 03/06 – 14/07
- Group 2: 22/07 – 01/09
No previous experience of trail construction work is necessary as practical training will be provided. We are looking for participants who have some experience of camping and hill walking, enjoy wilderness landscapes and are ready for a challenge. Iceland’s notoriously changeable weather means that our teams have to be well prepared with warm clothing, good waterproofs and sturdy tents. Due to the strenuous nature of our work, participants must be physically fit and as many of our work sites are in remote locations; we do a lot of hiking to get to them!
Our international volunteer teams include volunteers from all over the world and the working language on the programme in English. Participants must be 20+ years of age. Participants organise and pay their own travel to and from the meeting point in Thórsmörk. Once volunteers have joined the programme, food and campsites are provided throughout the duration of the placements (including weekends). There is no participation fee.
The work we do can be divided into two main parts; trail maintenance and erosion control. The trail maintenance work involves a huge variety of practical tasks including improving drainage, building steps with timber or stone, resurfacing trails with gravel and installing signs. Hand tools including rock bars and stone carriers are used for much of the work but machinery is brought in to support the teams were access allows. Our volunteers work alongside Forest Service staff who cut timber for the trail construction tasks. Trail marking is an important part of our work as it helps to prevent damage to fragile areas and improve safety for visitors. Way-markers for the trails are made on site from locally sourced timber.
