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Hveragerði - Health & Environment

Hveragerði, Iceland

Notes

The first day of the camp is Arrival Day and the last day of the camp is Departure Day. The minibus will be at the meeting point in Reykjavik on the first day of the workcamp in the morning and arrive again at the Meeting point / BSI station in Reykjavik in the evening on the last day of the workcamp. Remember that you must arrange for your stay in Iceland before and after the work camp.

In partnership with

Worldwide Friends (WF) is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 with the mission to promote nature conservation, intercultural understanding, and peace through volunteer activities in Iceland.

In 2026, our focus will be on climate action, community resilience, and sustainable lifestyles — empowering participants to take meaningful action in their daily lives and local communities.
WF organizes a variety of programs, including international workcamps, seminars, local community projects, and exchange programs, open to both young people and adults who wish to make a positive impact while experiencing Iceland’s unique culture and natural beauty.


Description of the Work

We focus on natural healing, wellness, and preventive health care. At the clinic we integrate a holistic approach by making plants and food essential components of each patient’s treatment process.
Participants support the clinic’s sustainability and wellness goals through activities in the greenhouses and herbal gardens. The main tasks include planting, harvesting, and maintaining crops, as well as controlling pests and ensuring plant health.

A special aspect of this placement is contributing to the production of the clinic’s signature herbal tea — assisting in every stage of the process: growing, drying, and packaging the herbs. This tea is later used in the clinic’s meals and treatments, supporting the therapeutic nutrition provided to patients.
This experience offers a meaningful way to understand the connection between sustainable agriculture, health, and natural rehabilitation.


Accommodation & Food

Volunteers will stay in a house operated by The Natural Health Association in Hveragerði.
Located within the medical compound, the house features 9 single rooms, a fully equipped
kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and a shared common area for relaxation and group activities.

Total capacity: 9 people (including Camp Leaders)
Washing machine available on site
Access to the local swimming pool, restricted time (please review Icelandic pool regulations
before use)

Food is included for the entire duration of the work camp; however, everyone is expected to do
their fair share of cooking and cleaning. Since it’s always fun to try new and different dishes,
Volunteers are encouraged to bring their favorite recipes from home!
We also invite everyone to try vegetarian food during their stay with us.
We provide a well-balanced and healthy variety of ingredients, including whole grains, seasonal
fruits and vegetables, pantry staples, dairy products, and vegetarian/vegan options. To help reduce
our carbon footprint, we limit meat consumption and promote sustainable, plant-based meals.
We do not provide soft drinks or candies, but we do offer plenty of ingredients for baking
delicious snacks. As we bake our own bread, feel free to bring your favorite golden-crust recipe
from home!

Please inform us in advance if you have any food allergies or special dietary needs, so we can accommodate you properly.


Location & Leisure

There’s plenty to enjoy in Hveragerði, a charming town known as the hot spring capital of Iceland. Surrounded by geothermal activity and stunning landscapes, it’s a perfect place for both outdoor adventures and relaxation. You’ll find scenic hiking trails, greenhouses warmed by natural hot springs, a geothermal park, a swimming pool, cozy cafés, and local art galleries.

WF Iceland organizes affordable weekend and one-day excursions to Iceland’s most stunning natural sites — including waterfalls, glaciers, volcanic and geothermal areas, lava fields, hot springs, and more.

Explore available trips at: wf.is/excursions
(A minimum number of participants is required to run excursions.)
Golden Circle is included in the camp fee!

Nature is always within reach here — go hiking, play golf, try ocean swimming, or even skiing. Remember to plan your hikes safely, respect nature, stay on marked trails, and never climb steep mountains without a professional guide.
The Northern Lights can be seen from September to April, when the skies are dark and clear.


Requirements

Volunteers should bring clothes appropriate for outdoor work, but also clothes for working inside the warm greenhouses!


Appointment

9:00:00 a. m.
Reykjavik City Hall, Tjarnargata 11 (Bus stop #1 Ráðhúsið)
Main Entrance
Look out for our Logo!


Host Organization

WF was founded in 2001 as a non-governmental, non-profit organization promoting nature and peace orientated activities for people interested in spending some time in Iceland as volunteers. WF also sends Icelanders abroad who wish to have similar experiences as volunteers. The main activities offered are work camps, exchange programs and educational seminars. All our activities are suitable for anybody over the age of 18. In our present time the endeavour of attaining world peace has become a tangible reality, and the development and strengthening of bonds of cooperation and friendship through contact with people from other countries and cultures has proven to be one of the most fruitful means to achieve understanding and unity among nations. Veraldarvinirs main aim is to increase intercultural understanding through offering foreign volunteers the opportunity to take part in nature and peace oriented activities. For volunteers coming to Iceland, such projects will give them a unique opportunity to not only explore and directly interact with Iceland’s unique culture and landscape, but also to work with other international volunteers as well as with local inhabitants in demanding and unfamiliar contexts. The direct interaction with unspoiled nature and with people from different backgrounds sharing common interests generates challenging situations and provides the participants with invaluable opportunities to learn more about themselves as individuals, their international fellowmen, their respective cultures, and the human and natural richness of Mother Earth. These are all unique possibilities for harnessing world union and understanding in an integrated manner.