Skógræktin | Thórsmörk Trail Volunteers

Feb 19

Preparing for summer…

After two busy months of planning, applications and interviews, our summer teams are now almost ready.

Once again, this season we have received a huge amount of interest in the placements and there have been some difficult decisions when making the selection. It is always very exciting to meet our new volunteers and discuss the summer plans and we are delighted to welcome back so many old friends to the team. In response to this season’s large number of strong applications, we have stretched the teams to include as many of them as possible.

Although places for our short-term teams in Thórsmörk have now been allocated, applications for our new long-term volunteer placements will remain open until March 31st. As well as projects in Thórsmörk and Goðaland, this new team of long-term volunteers will work alongside our colleagues and help maintain forest trails on other sites in South Iceland. These additional placements have been created to help increase our capacity for undertaking trail maintenance tasks in new project areas.

We will now begin to prepare the work tasks, equipment and materials for the season. We plan to escape from the office and return to Thórsmörk for preparations and trail surveys in April (when conditions allow) and our first volunteers will join us there and begin the practical work in May. We are very much looking forward to the summer ahead.

Jan 26

Final call for volunteers for our 2023 Trailteams!

Applications for our Thórsmörk Trailteams will close next week as we are nearing the end of our search for international volunteers who will join us this summer. If you are still considering a 3 or 6-week volunteer placement this season, please do get in contact before January 31st.

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 team is chosen from applicants and there is no participation fee.

Full details about the placements including dates and application forms can be found on our website…
https://trailteam.is/opportunities/

Our Thórsmörk Trailteam applications close on Tuesday, January 31st and the remaining placements will be confirmed by February 15th.
Applications for our new long-term volunteer placements will remain open.

Jan 20

Our adventures on the Laugavegur Trail

Since we began our work with Trailteams in Thórsmörk ten years ago, the ‘hiking week’ has been a very important part of our 6-week placements. As well as providing a welcome break from the trail work, it allows our volunteers time to explore the area and enjoy the trails.

Last summer, good weather conditions meant that both teams were able to complete the famous 54km Laugavegur Trail. Although most hikers begin in Landmannalaugar, our teams set out from their home at the volunteer camp in Básar (close to the southern end of the trail). Hiking from the south means that they are able to enjoy Landmannalaugar’s geothermal pool at the end of their hike.

We would like to thank all the Ferðafélag Íslands Hut Wardens who we met on the trail, for their kindness and support and for helping our teams along the way.

Our volunteers shared pictures from the hike in August last year…

Applications for our 2023 summer placements will remain open until January 31st.
Full details including project outlines, dates and application forms can be found on our website.

Volunteer opportunities

Jan 13

Thórsmörk in 2023

After another busy week of interviews, the volunteer teams are filling up quickly, but it is not too late to join us this summer…

Details about our summer placements including project outlines, dates and application forms can be found on our website. Applications will remain open until January 31st.

Volunteer opportunities

Jan 7

Trailteam volunteering in 2023

Our first days back at work this week have been busy with volunteer applications and interviews for the summer Trailteams and we are delighted to receive so much interest in our programme.

It has been very exciting to start putting together the teams and meet some of our new volunteers as well as catch up with old friends who will be joining us again in Thórsmörk this season. Interviews and placement allocations are now well underway and we are looking forward to another Trailteam summer.

The teams are already starting to fill up so if you are considering joining us, please do get in touch. Full details about our summer placements including dates and application forms can be found on our website. Applications will remain open until January 31st.