Volunteer opportunities

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

Applications for 2024 are now closed. Applications for volunteer placements are open from December 15th to February 11th.

• 3-week placements
• 6-week placements
• Long-term volunteer placements (7-8 weeks)
• Returning volunteers

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!

Participants live together at our volunteer camps where domestic tasks including cooking and cleaning are shared. Group living and shared responsibilities are an important part of the Trailteam programme. 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.

Map of the Thórsmörk and Goðaland area.

Applications are open between December 15th and February 11th. Placement allocation begins at the start of January.