GeoCamp Iceland

This June, GeoCamp Iceland had the pleasure of welcoming students and faculty from Boston University Academy for their first program with GeoCamp Iceland.

As part of "Powering Possibility: Climate and Sustainability", students explored the connections between climate, energy, geology, and sustainability across some of Iceland’s most dynamic landscapes. They traveled from the volcanic landscapes of Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark to the glaciers, waterfalls, and black sand beaches of South Iceland, examining how natural systems, renewable energy, and communities interact in a rapidly changing world.

The journey combined field-based learning with meaningful discussions about environmental stewardship, resilience, and the future of sustainable societies. Students walked between tectonic plates, explored recent lava flows, visited geothermal areas and power plants, studied glaciers and glacial lagoons, learned about the 1973 eruption in the Westman Islands, and examined how Iceland continues to adapt to both volcanic activity and climate change. Along the way, they met local people, heard community stories, and experienced firsthand how science and society intersect.

For us ... what stood out most was the curiosity and engagement the students brought to every experience. Whether discussing geothermal innovation, natural hazards, glacier retreat, renewable energy, or community resilience, they approached each day with thoughtful questions, open minds, and a genuine desire to learn.

At GeoCamp Iceland, we believe some of the most meaningful learning happens beyond the classroom. By standing next to a retreating glacier, walking across a year old lava field, visiting communities shaped by natural hazards, and seeing renewable energy systems up close, students gain perspectives that simply cannot be replicated in a textbook.

We are grateful to the faculty, Lizzy, Rose, and Dave, as well as everyone at Boston University Academy, for choosing GeoCamp Iceland for this new partnership. And thank you to the students for being such curious, engaged, and responsible travelers throughout the journey.

It was a pleasure to explore Iceland together, and we look forward to seeing where this partnership leads in the years ahead.

Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of welcoming students and teachers from Mercersburg Academy on their first trip to GeoCamp Iceland. Together, we explored glaciers, volcanoes, renewable energy, sustainability, history, culture, and geopolitics, all guided by the curiosity, questions, and interests of the students themselves.

From glaciers and witnessing the impacts of climate change firsthand, discussing resilience and natural hazards, to learning how Iceland harnesses geothermal energy, every day offered new opportunities for discovery and reflection.

What stood out most was not just where we traveled, but how students engaged with the experience. They asked thoughtful questions, connected ideas across disciplines, challenged assumptions, and embraced Iceland as a living classroom.

For us at GeoCamp Iceland, every group brings fresh perspectives. As the Icelandic proverb says "glöggt er gests augað", the eye of the visitor often sees more clearly than the eye of the host. Through our guests, we continue to discover new stories and new ways of understanding our own country.

Thank you, Mercersburg Academy, for choosing GeoCamp Iceland for your inaugural Iceland program. We look forward to seeing how future Mercersburg students make this journey their own.

👉 Read the full story:
www.geocamp.is/news/from-glaciers-to-geopolitics-mercersburg-academys-first-journey-to-geocamp-iceland

All images from Kristen Pixler at Mercersburg Academy

Iceland can be emotional 🇮🇸❤️

Field-based learning is about more than science and discovery. It is about connections. Travel is about more than simply visiting new places. It is about building friendships and creating lasting memories. Between people and places. Between ideas and experiences. It is about stepping outside your comfort zone, sharing challenges, asking questions, and growing together along the way.

For us at GeoCamp Iceland, the landscapes are the classroom, but the relationships built during each journey are often what stay with us the longest.

As the Icelandic proverb says "glöggt er gests augað", the guest often sees things more clearly. So we become part of their learning journey as well. Through every student, teacher, and visitor who travels with us, we are reminded of our own place in this country through fresh eyes and new perspectives.

Every group leaves its mark, and every journey teaches us something new. That is one of the greatest privileges of what we do.

Thank you, Mercersburg Academy, for your curiosity, enthusiasm, and trust. We are proud to welcome you into the GeoCamp family and look forward to crossing paths again someday.

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.