GeoCamp Iceland

01/06/2026

🌋 Which volcanic site on Reykjanes is your favourite?

Today is Volcano Day, and together with our friends at Reykjanes Unesco Global Geopark, we’re celebrating the remarkable volcanic landscapes that make our region one of the most fascinating outdoor classrooms on Earth.

From steaming geothermal fields and crater rows to fresh lava fields and dramatic coastal cliffs shaped by fire and ocean forces, Reykjanes offers countless places where geology comes alive.

Now we want to hear from you.

🗳️ Vote for your favourite volcanic geoheritage site on Reykjanes and explore photos and stories from some of the peninsula’s most iconic locations:

👉 https://reykjanesgeopark.is/dagur-eldfjalla-kjostu-thinn-uppahalds-eldfjalla-jardminjastad

Whether you’ve joined us on a field course, hiked across a lava field, stood beside an active geothermal area, or witnessed the aftermath of recent eruptions, this is your chance to celebrate the landscapes that continue to shape Iceland today.

We’ll be curious to see which site comes out on top!

28/05/2026

Last week was one of those weeks where GeoCamp Iceland truly felt like a living and bustling classroom, as we were simultaneously hosting four very different educational groups from across the United States. Each bringing their own focus, questions, and perspectives into Iceland’s dynamic landscapes.

University of Maine returned for the second year in a row, exploring Iceland through the lens of earth systems, glaciers, volcanism, geothermal energy, and climate change.

Central College Iowa travelled across Iceland examining sustainability, communication, culture, renewable energy, and community resilience, from Reykjanes and Þórsmörk to Westman Islands and Reykjavík.

Coginchaug Regional High School focused on outdoor education and hands-on field learning in Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark and South Coast of Iceland, connecting volcanic landscapes, renewable energy, glacier retreat, and environmental responsibility.

University of New England explored Iceland through arctic tourism and destination development, meeting local stakeholders and examining how communities adapt to volcanic activity, climate challenges, and rapid tourism growth.

Hosting four groups simultaneously is always a challenge, but also a reminder of how powerful educational travel can be when learning moves beyond the classroom and into the field.

And for us at GeoCamp Iceland, it is also a reminder of just how rewarding it is to experience our own country through the eyes of visitors. Every group notices something different. Every conversation brings new perspectives. In many ways, every program becomes a learning experience for us as well.

27/05/2026

Creative teaching. Inclusive classrooms. European collaboration.

GeoCamp Iceland is pleased to invite educators, teachers, and practitioners to the upcoming Acaδimia Online Practitioners’ Conference on 3 June 2026.

The conference will bring together educators from across Europe to share real classroom experiences and innovative approaches to inclusive learning — from Creative STEAM and gamification to maker education and drama-based teaching.

At GeoCamp Iceland, we believe some of the best learning happens when creativity, curiosity, and active participation come together. That is why we are proud to be part of the ACADIMIA project and this growing European network of educators working to shape the future of diverse classrooms.

📅 3 June 2026
🕔 17:00–19:00 CET
💻 Online
🗣️ Free participation | English language

👉 Register here: https://forms.gle/Lpmg6KDWSwBiRkK8A
👉 Full Invitation: https://european-acadimia.eu/acadimia-online-practitioners-conference

19/05/2026

Ever wanted to stand between two tectonic plates? 🌍👇

At the Bridge Between Continents on the Reykjanes Peninsula, you can literally walk across the boundary between North America and Eurasia. The bridge spans a fissure formed by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the tectonic plates slowly drift apart year by year — shaping Iceland’s dramatic volcanic landscape in real time.

Located only 15 minutes from Keflavík International Airport, this site is one of the most accessible places in the world to experience plate tectonics up close and understand the powerful geological forces that continue to create Iceland.

For our student groups and visitors, it’s more than just a photo stop. It’s an outdoor classroom where geology comes alive through storytelling, science, and exploration.

Discover Iceland through the lens of geology, sustainability, and outdoor learning with GeoCamp Iceland 🌋

Original post by Visit Reykjanes

13/05/2026

Sandgerðisskóli hefur bæst í hóp UNESCO-skóla innan Reykjanes Unesco Global Geopark.

Skólinn hefur þegar sýnt mikinn metnað í verkefnum tengdum UNESCO og vakti meðal annars athygli fyrir glæsilega uppsetningu þar sem Dýrabær var fléttaður saman við Heimsmarkmið Sameinuðu þjóðanna.

Það er virkilega ánægjulegt að sjá UNESCO-skólanetið halda áfram að vaxa á Reykjanesi og styrkja tengsl skóla, sjálfbærni og samfélags.

Sigrún Svafa Ólafsdóttir, verkefnastjóri fræðslumála hjá GeoCamp Iceland, hefur leitt UNESCO-skólaverkefnið í samstarfi jarðvangsins, Samband sveitarfélaga á Suðurnesjum og Suðurnesjavettvangs og unnið að því að efla samstarf skóla á svæðinu með áherslu á útinám, sjálfbærni og alþjóðlega sýn.

Við óskum Sandgerðisskóla innilega til hamingju með þessa mikilvægu viðurkenningu 👏

Sandgerðisskóli hefur bæst í hóp UNESCO-skóla innan Reykjanes UNESCO jarðvangs!

Skólinn hefur þegar sýnt mikinn metnað í UNESCO-tengdum verkefnum og meðal annars sett upp glæsilegt leikrit þar sem Dýrabær var fléttað saman við heimsmarkmið Sameinuðu þjóðanna 🌍

Það er virkilega ánægjulegt að sjá UNESCO-skólanetið halda áfram að vaxa á Reykjanesi og styrkja tengsl skóla, sjálfbærni og samfélags 💚

Við óskum Sandgerðisskóla innilega til hamingju með viðurkenninguna 👏

Nánar í frétt 👇

//

Sandgerðisskóli has officially joined the growing network of UNESCO Schools within Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark!

The school has already shown great ambition in its UNESCO-related projects, including a creative school play connecting George Orwell’s Animal Farm with the UN Sustainable Development Goals 🌍

It is inspiring to see the UNESCO school network continue to grow across Reykjanes, strengthening connections between education, sustainability and community 💚

Congratulations to Sandgerðisskóli on this important recognition 👏

09/05/2026

Last month, GeoCamp Iceland had the pleasure of contributing to the Acaδimia training conference in Heraklion, Crete, where educators from 22 schools came together to explore creative and inclusive approaches to teaching.

During the event, we shared experiences from working with teachers in Reykjanes Unesco Global Geopark and highlighted how professional development through Acaδimia is helping teachers strengthen outdoor learning, STEAM education, and innovative teaching practices connected to real-world environments. The exchange between educators from different countries and disciplines once again showed the value of international collaboration in education.

For GeoCamp Iceland, Acaδimia has been an important platform for empowering well over one-hundred local teachers through hands-on learning, field-based methodologies, and meaningful dialogue around the future of education. Bringing these ideas into the landscapes of Reykjanes has created new opportunities for both local and international educators to connect science, sustainability, creativity, and community.

A big thank you to Action Synergy, the Directorate of Secondary Education of Heraklion, the trainers, schools, and all participating educators for the warm welcome and inspiring discussions.

08/05/2026

Happy 100th birthday, Sir David Attenborough 🌍

For generations, Sir David has inspired people around the world to look closer at our planet. Not only to witness its beauty, but also to understand its fragility. Through storytelling, science communication, and an unwavering voice for nature, he has helped millions connect with the Earth in a deeper and more meaningful way.

“If we take care of nature, nature will take care of us.”

These words, shared during the UN Climate Conference COP24 in 2018, remain as relevant as ever.

At GeoCamp Iceland, we believe that real understanding begins outdoors. In lava fields, beside glaciers, along coastlines, and in conversations about the future of our planet. Education, curiosity, and shared experiences in nature are powerful tools for change.

Climate action does not always begin with grand gestures. Small everyday choices, such as reducing waste, travelling responsibly, consuming thoughtfully, eating locally and protecting natural environments, collectively make a real difference.

Thank you, Sir David Attenborough, for a lifetime spent helping the world see, understand, and care for our Earth. Here’s to 100 years of inspiring generations to protect the planet we all share.

Happy 100th birthday, Sir David Attenborough! And thank you for your lifelong, unwavering commitment to climate action.

“If we take care of nature, nature will take care of us," said the natural historian and broadcaster during the UN Climate Conference COP24 in Poland in 2018.

You too can join him in protecting our planet. Small everyday actions — like recycling, driving less and reducing food waste — can make a big difference.

06/05/2026

We are pleased to share an update from the Erasmus+ GreenSTEAM project following the recent Learning, Teaching, and Training Activity (LTTA) in Sitia, Crete.

GeoCamp Iceland and Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark were strongly represented at the meeting, with the Icelandic participants contributing to the programme, field activities, and project development. This level of involvement reflects both our commitment to the project and the relevance of its themes for our region.

The Green STEAM project focuses on strengthening interdisciplinary education through the integration of environmental awareness, outdoor learning, and scientific and creative approaches. The work carried out in Sitia marks an important step as partners move into the implementation phase, developing and testing lesson plans across Europe.

For Reykjanes and Iceland more broadly, this work is highly relevant. The project supports ongoing efforts to connect education with local environments, increase environmental literacy, and engage young people with the natural systems that shape their communities.

We look forward to continuing this work in Iceland in the coming months.

04/05/2026

In March, we travelled to Tallinn with teachers from Stapaskóli, Myllubakkaskóli, and Háaleitisskóli in Reykjanes as part of the Nordplus project "Ripples of Knowledge".

What stood out from our teachers was clear: Simple activities can create deep learning. Outdoor lessons don’t need complex preparation. And when students are active participants, learning sticks.

Together with partners from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, we spent the week sharing methods, testing ideas, and learning from each other. The biggest takeaway? You don’t need to go far from the traditional classroom to create meaningful outdoor learning.

Back home in Reykjanes, this is already shaping how we work, strengthening collaboration between schools in Reykjanes Unesco Global Geopark and bringing new energy into outdoor and sustainability education across the geopark.

This is how it starts. Small changes in how we teach. And then the ripples begin. 🌍

Read more about our project and the impact:
👉

In March, GeoCamp Iceland travelled - with three Icelandic educators from Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark - to Tallinn, Estonia, as part of the Nordplus Junior project Ripples of Knowledge:...

01/05/2026

In April we hosted a group of students from Tri-County Technical Center, led by Erin Towns, an experienced educator and field-based learning specialist who brings together climate science, polar stem subjects, and hands-on exploration in her teaching.

Tri-County Technical Center is a career and technical education school in Dexter, Maine that prepares students with hands-on skills, industry-based learning, and real-world experience across a wide range of fields. And that’s exactly what this week was about.

In Iceland, the classroom shifts outdoors. Students engaged in field-based learning at its core. Working with real landscapes, real data, and real environmental systems. From geothermal areas to glaciers, the group was documenting, analyzing, and interpreting dynamic natural processes in real time.

This is where technical education meets the natural world. Where data collection, photography, drone work, and observation become tools for understanding complex systems like volcanic activity, glacial change, and climate impact.

Throughout the program, students strengthened skills that matter far beyond the classroom. Critical thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, and the ability to read and respond to the environment around them.

It’s hands-on, immersive, and sometimes a bit unpredictable — just like the careers they’re preparing for. That’s the power of outdoor learning. We thank Erin and Tri-County for showing us this in real life.