Following graduation, we’ll embark on our Icelandic adventure. Our journey will begin in the capital city, Reykjavik. Here we’ll get to know Iceland’s largest city. We’ll be introduced to the country and its natural wonders through the portal of the museums and cultural opportunities that abound here.
We’ll spend the next two and a half weeks circumnavigating the perimeter of Iceland on the major road that makes its way around the country. We’ll primarily stay on farms, in small cottages, in cabins, or in apartments. We’ll take learning “on the road” while we grow in intercultural competence, as global citizens, and as flexible learners. This journey will include visits to traditional turf houses, historical churches, Viking battle grounds, waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes, farms, wild bird cliffs, national parks, and natural hot springs.
We’ll wrap up our circular journey back in Reykjavik where we’ll spend a few days working on our final leadership projects and presentations. At this point we’ll also have what we need to synthesize our learning, reflect on our journey, and consider our next steps.
Date |
Location |
Activity |
5/21 |
Reykjavík |
Arrive in Iceland. Explore Reykjavík, group meeting |
5/22 |
Reykjavík |
MET, National Museum, Settlement Museum, explore city, class, church, performance/comedy at Harpa Opera House: “How to Become Icelandic in 60 Minutes” |
5/23 |
Hraunmörk |
MET, Lava Museum, Skógar Museum, waterfall hike, debrief, journaling |
5/24 |
Hraunmörk |
MET, Golden Circle, Gullfoss Galls/Geysir, greenhouse tour, Icelandic Horse Experience, Farm-to-Table tour, Cave People tour, Thingvellir National Park, guest speaker on “Outdoor Education in Iceland,” cook dinner together, debrief, journaling |
5/25 |
Hraunmörk |
MET, Hjálparfoss Waterfall, turf house, class, “Secret Lagoon,” cook dinner together, debrief, journaling |
5/26 |
Vestmannaeyjar |
Westman Islands, Puffin/Volcano Tour, Eldheimar Museum, student-led church, debrief, journaling, evening hike (optional) |
5/27 |
Vík |
MET, Seljalandsfoss waterfall, class, hike, Seljavallalaug hot spring, Reyinsfjara black-sand beach and columnar basalt caves, Vík black-sand beach, shopping (groceries/gear), debrief, journaling |
5/28 |
Svínafelli |
MET, Zipline tour, grocery shopping, Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon hike, class, cook dinner together, debrief, journaling |
5/29 |
Svínafelli |
MET, Ice climbing/glacier hike, Vatnajökull National Park hike, Svartifoss waterfall hike, church, debrief, journaling |
5/30 |
Seyðisfjörður |
MET, driving w/stops at Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach, Hornstrandir nature reserve/Stokksnes, waterfalls, grocery shopping, cook dinner together, debrief, journaling |
5/31 |
Seyðisfjörður |
MET, class, orientation to area, waterfall solo hikes, cook dinner together, partner presentation, debrief, journaling |
6/1 |
Seyðisfjörður |
MET, class, waterfall/fjord hike, town visit, partner presentations, cook dinner together, debrief, journaling |
6/2 |
Akureyri |
Church, drive w/stops at Mývatn, various waterfalls, Krafla Crater and boiling mud pots, wool shop, visitor center, Goðafoss Waterfall, debrief, journaling |
6/3 |
Akureyri |
MET, Cook breakfast, laundry, journaling, partner presentation, whale-watching tour, explore town, debrief, journaling |
6/4 |
Hvammstangi |
MET, Viking rafting trip, drive, cook dinner together, partner presentation, debrief, journaling |
6/5 |
Grundarfjörðer |
MET, “mini farm-zoo,” horseback riding, Stykkisholmur visit, tour fishing village, grocery shopping, cook dinner together, church, debrief, journaling |
6/6 |
Grundarfjörðer |
MET, partner presentation, half of group goes sea kayaking, half of group has free time (groups rotate kayaking/free time in afternoon), Icelandic theme BBQ beach dinner, debrief, journaling, evening hike (optional) |
6/7 |
Grundarfjörðer |
MET, Snæfellsness Peninsula – Djúpalónssandur & Dritvik, class, Hellnar & Arnarstapi cliff walk, Búðir tour, debrief, journaling |
6/8 |
Fossatún |
MET at Gerðuberg Cliffs, Eldborg Volcano hike, Borgarnes Settlement Center, partner presentation, solo at Fossatún river, debrief, journaling |
6/9 |
Reykjavík |
MET, cave tour, Barnfossar & Hraunfossar waterfalls, Goat farm, tunnel, partner presentations, church, debrief, journaling |
6/10 |
Reykjavík |
MET, group presentations, explore Reykjavík, Love Seats, debrief, journaling |
6/11 |
Reykjavík |
MET, Hveragerði hike, group presentations, Love Seats, debrief, journaling |
6/12 |
Reykjavík |
MET, group presentations, shopping, journaling, farewell dinner, Love Seats, Blue Lagoon |
6/13 |
Reykjavík |
MET, final wrap-up, pack vans, brunch, depart for individual destinations. |
*Itinerary Subject to Change
Key:
MET (Metaphysical time): Each day, a student will prepare metaphysical inspiration and lead a brief morning sharing. Students will also be expected to maintain their individual metaphysical practice on their own.
Church: There are not any Christian Science churches in Iceland, so all church services will be led by pairs of student volunteers.
Partner Presentations: Each student will be part of a team that will teach a 45 minute experiential lesson based on content from our textbook.
Love Seats: This is a closing activity where we take the time to shower each individual with all of the good that we noticed about them during the course of the program. We end up spending 20-40 minutes on each person as they take turns sitting in the Love Seat. Sometimes this activity is called “Hot Seat,” but I like to call it “Love Seat.”