GeoCamp Iceland

For the third time, GeoCamp Iceland had the pleasure of welcoming students and faculty from Marist University to Iceland for their field-based programme exploring social-ecological systems and environmental issues.

Over the course of their journey, students examined how people, landscapes, energy systems, natural hazards, and communities are interconnected in a country shaped by both powerful natural forces and a strong commitment to sustainability.

From volcanic landscapes and geothermal energy to climate change, community resilience, and sustainable development, the group experienced first-hand how environmental challenges and opportunities unfold in the real world.

Field-based learning creates opportunities that simply cannot be replicated in a classroom. By engaging directly with landscapes, communities, and local experts, students gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between people and the environment.

It was a pleasure to share Iceland with this year’s Marist group and to be part of their learning journey. We look forward to seeing where their experiences in Iceland take them next.

🌱 GeoCamp Iceland recently joined partners from across Europe at the kick-off meeting of the new Erasmus+ project EU FoodPact in Reus, Spain.

The project brings together organisations working in sustainability, education, business development, and innovation to help small and medium-sized enterprises in the agri-food sector navigate the green and digital transition. Over the next three years, partners will develop practical tools, training opportunities, and collaborative learning networks that support more sustainable and resilient food systems.

In Iceland, the project is coordinated by SSS – Federation of Municipalities in Suðurnes, with the Icelandic College of Fisheries and GeoCamp Iceland contributing as associated partners. Together, we will support the development of a Community Food Education Hub in Reykjanes, connecting education, fisheries, food production, sustainability, and local innovation.

We are excited to be part of this European collaboration and look forward to contributing our experience in sustainability education, systems thinking, and place-based learning.

When one journey ends, another begins.

After a week exploring Iceland’s landscapes, sustainability, culture, and society, Central College Iowa received one final surprise before boarding their flight home. A chance encounter with legendary IceGuys boy band (slash mockumentary men band) at Keflavík Airport.

Not every memorable exerience in Iceland happens on a glacier or beside a volcano. Sometimes it happens while waiting for your flight back home.

Thanks for a fantastic week of learning, conversations, laughter, and exploration across Iceland. Safe travels, and we hope to welcome you back again someday. 🇮🇸 ✈️

Nature thrives through diversity — and so do we.

At GeoCamp Iceland, we celebrate diversity, inclusion, and the many perspectives that help us better understand our world. Just as every landscape is shaped by different forces, our communities are strengthened by the uniqueness of every individual.

This Pride Month, we celebrate the diversity of people, identities, experiences, and voices that enrich our communities, classrooms, and shared journeys. Through education, exploration, and international exchange, we believe everyone deserves to feel welcome, respected, and valued.

Happy Pride Month from Iceland’s ultimate classroom.

🌋 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!

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.

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

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

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 👇

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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 👏

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.