What will it take a student traveler to volunteer in the wilds of Iceland? A whole lotta dedication and determination to have fun while working hard to preserve a precious ecological resource.

Following courtesy of WorkingAbroad.com.

Types of Volunteers Needed

• "You should be between 20 to 40 years old, fit, healthy and capable of carrying out work in all conditions in a cold and wet climate. In addition, you need to be prepared to hike to get around, and to be comfortable living in rustic conditions and camping in a tent for two weeks. The area of Skaftafell is pristine wilderness, so it is important that you have already had some exposure to this type of terrain. This is not a programme for you if you find it difficult to be out in remote areas, or have no previous wilderness and camping experience. No specific skills are needed, but those with previous experience of manual conservation work, trail work, botany, terrestrial monitoring etc. would be particularly useful, as well as those who are self-motivated, as you will get more out of the project if you are. The project will especially appeal to those with an interest in conservation, restoration, wilderness and low impact camping. Anyone with additional skills are especially welcome!"

Weather

• "The gulf stream and the south-westerly winds from the Atlantic give Iceland a mild temperature. However, the unfortunate side is that this warm air creates condensation which in turn brings lots of rain! Summers in Iceland can be very erratic - be prepared for mostly rainy, damp conditions, with occasional sunny spells. In July, one fine day is the norm! But the next day can be worse with very strong wind driven rain and thick fog! Temperatures in the summer average about 10 degrees celsius, but remember that it will be mostly light whilst you are there due to the midnight sun phenomenon. If the sun does come out, the beauty is breathtaking!"

Costs

• "The cost for the two week programme is (about $750 USD), which covers all project costs, including all food for two weeks, camping in the National Park, equipment provided for the project (not personal), comprehensive insurance cover, one organised day-off activity (hot pools) including transport, lightweight cooking facilities, all training and supervision by project manager and volunteers, WorkingAbroad Projects backup and placement support, and so on."

The Bottom Line

Working Abroad's unique volunteer networking service is a volunteer's dream come true. Find a perfect fit for for volunteering, whether it be very social (caring for orphans or teaching English as a second language) or isolated and physically strenuous (as demonstrated by the Icelandic trip). The thousands of grassroots and professional volunteer organizations in over 150 countries affiliated with WorkingAbroad ensure by sheer volume that you'll find your volunteer vacation, and you'll come home after a couple of weeks or years knowing that you've made a difference while getting the experience of a lifetime. Have a great time doing good worldwide.

"The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway."
--Henry Boye