Overview

The Iceland Forest Service (Skógræktin) coordinates trail maintenance, land restoration and wilderness management projects with international volunteers in Thórsmörk, Goðaland and beyond.

6-week volunteer placements

Operations Team placements

The ‘Operations team’ includes the volunteer team leaders and in addition to doing practical work, the team is responsible for project support, logistics and the day to day running of the programme.

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 is English. Participants must be 20+ years of age. Participants organise and pay their own travel to and from the meeting point in Thórsmörk and are also responsible for organising their own travel insurance. Once volunteers have joined the programme, food and campsites are provided throughout the placements (including weekends). There is no participation fee.

Returning volunteers – For information about additional placements for volunteers who are returning to the programme, please get in touch; Thorsmork@trailteam.is.

All volunteers are recruited through online applications and interviews (using WhatsApp or Skype). Selection and placement allocations begin at the start of January and applications close on January 31st.