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Location: Airport
Welcome to the GoBeyond Inspiring Iceland trip logs!
We are ready to explore Iceland…the land of volcanoes and glaciers, the land of elves, one of the lands in the Game of Thrones, and the land of Bjork (and other amazing musicians)!
Twelve adventurous students will get a good glimpse into Icelandic life, the natural beauty of this unique country, farm to table practices, environmental protection, and about geothermal power. Our service learning will focus on sustainable farm-to-table practices and renewable energy, like geothermal power.
A little bit about the staff leading Inspiring Iceland: Kimmi Phillips – Kimmi grew up on the east coast of Florida, where her love for nature and experiential learning began. She brings her knowledge and experience of the higher education sector both from the University of South Florida and her work abroad, to the GXG Team in the office. Kimmi has explored six continents and also lived in Belgium and China for six years. Her other passions include the arts, paddle boarding, hiking, and cooking.
Lindsey Allen – Lindsey grew up in the Chicago suburbs but always wanted to escape the big city. She was fortunate enough to be a Lifeworks (the precursor to GoBeyond) student, which influenced her decision to live by the ocean. Lindsey started her studies at the College of Charleston in Public Health and Spanish. That experience set her on a path of appreciation for our planet and all its inhabitants. After college, she became a Peace Corps Volunteer in Vanuatu (just west of Fiji). Wanting to pursue higher education after her time in the Peace Corps, Lindsey attended Emory University for three years, where she completed a Master’s in Public Health and Nursing Professional. While Lindsey is busy preparing for this summer at GoBeyond, she is also excited to start as an emergency nurse resident in September. Likes include: traveling, animals, plant-based diets, and running. Dislikes include: when houseplants die, allergies, and disorganization.
Below is the anticipated itinerary of activities and service learning. The group will have very limited access to their phones and the internet. While we understand families are eager for news, we ask for patience as our staff’s energy is focused on the students and the program.
Primary accommodations:– Dalur Hostel (Reykjavik – the capital), Solheimar Eco-Village (Southwest Iceland), Hlid Hostel (Lake Myvatn – Northern Iceland)
Day 1 (July 9) – New York to Reykjavik: Students depart on an overnight flight via JFK Day 2 (July 10) – Students arrive in Reykjavik for orientation and botanical garden visit Day 3 (July 11) – City walking tour and local pool visit Day 4 (July 12) – Explore the Golden Circle with snorkeling at Silfra Day 5 (July 13) – See Iceland’s south coast waterfalls and hike Solheimajokull (glacier!). Finish the day arriving at Sólheimar. Day 6 (July 14) – Community garden service at Sólheimar and hike Day 7 (July 15) – Icelandic horse riding through the countryside and green house service Day 8 (July 16) – Farm to table learning and service Day 9 (July 17) – Scenic drive to Lake Myvatn in the north Day 10 (July 18) – Husavik whale watching, waterfalls, and geothermal bath experience Day 11 (July 19) – Krafla power plant visit with hiking at Hverir and Dimmuborgir Day 12 (July 20) – Geothermal activity, Asbyrgi Canyon visit and waterfalls Day 13 (July 21) – Drive back to Reykjavik Day 14 (July 22) – City exploration with closing program activities and final dinner Day 15 (July 23) – Student fly day from Reykjavik back home