Faith / Service / Purpose

Iceland Summer Mission

Looking for an unforgettable way to serve? Step into an adventure that’s all about growth, purpose, and connection with God. Join us in Iceland for an experience that’s way more than just a mission trip—it’s a journey into who you’re meant to be. Set against Iceland’s incredible landscapes, you’ll help run a summer camp for local kids and families, including those who’ve journeyed from around the world. It’s a week to build confidence, deepen your faith, and see the world from a whole new perspective.

This trip is from Saturday, August 2 to Sunday, August 10, 2025. It is open to any young adult with priority given to those from the Boston area.

Why Iceland?

Iceland is more than breathtaking landscapes—it’s a community with real, often unexpected needs. Our projects with local partners reveal the deeper side of Iceland, beyond the tourism, where needs and challenges are just as real as those we face back home. This experience isn’t about just checking off tasks; it’s about building connections, sharing stories, and discovering purpose in places—and ways—you might not expect.

What to Expect

At the heart of our trip is the chance to make a real impact by running a summer camp for local kids, in partnership with the local church leaders. Each day, you’ll work alongside your team to create a fun, safe environment for kids to learn, play, and grow. From leading activities to sharing stories, you’ll be part of creating memories for the children and building bridges between the church and local community.

Growing Together

This trip is about inner growth and deep connections, with each day offering a chance to reflect, learn, and support one another. Expect to step away from technology and spend time in reflection and small group debriefs. Iceland’s stunning landscapes are more than a backdrop—they set the stage for building a community that’s genuine and life-giving, showing us what it means to connect in ways that truly last.

More Than Missions

This experience is about transformation, both in you and through you. While we’re going to Iceland to serve, we’re also seeking to grow, explore, and deepen our faith. In Iceland, you’ll do more than complete service projects—you’ll discover new strengths, build lasting friendships, and find clarity on the path God has for you.

SCHEDULE

Travel dates are always final when plane tickets are purchased, but schedule of events while in-country is tentative, and exact events are subject to change. Further details will be provided in pre-trip trainings.

Each day begins with Compass Time, a morning reflection and grounding session to focus on purpose and intention for the day ahead. Evenings wrap up with Table Talk, where the group comes together to share stories, insights, and reflections from the day’s experiences. These moments bookend each day, creating space for growth, connection, and meaningful conversation.

Please note: Iceland is an incredible country and a beautiful tourist destination, but we remind all of our participants that our primary intention is service and learning. We have ensured that this trip includes set times for sightseeing and souvenirs, but it is important for participants to enter the trip with the expectation of respecting the parameters we have in regard to tourism and shopping so as to not detract from the primary aim of our time in Iceland.

MORE DETAILS

The cost for this trip is $1,400 per person which includes everything except your flight and any additional spending money you choose to bring. Participants have the option to fundraise for their Compass experiences or pay the balance themselves.

This cost includes food, lodging, bus tickets, travel insurance, and all in-country expedition and service expenses. It does not cover airfare to and from Iceland or any passport/visa fees if required. Participants will arrange their own flights from their home destinations, with nonstop options available from Washington D.C., Chicago, Boston, and Seattle. We encourage participants to reserve early, as flights are typically most affordable a few months in advance. The program begins in Iceland with airport pickup at Keflavik International Airport on Sunday, August 3 and ends with drop-off at the same location for departure on Sunday, August 10. Compass will help participants find flight itineraries that align with the schedule.

We suggest you bring spending money in case you’d like to buy souvenirs of any kind. The average participant spends anywhere from $50-$300 on souvenirs.

Your spot on the trip will be secured once you have filled out your registration form, completed an interview, and paid a non-refundable $250 deposit. This deposit counts toward the total amount.

Frábært (Great)! Let’s do this!

Once you register for the trip, Compass and will connect with you to schedule a 20-minute informational interview.

Questions? Email info@compasspath.org.

About Compass’s Work in Iceland

Compass has been working in Iceland since 2016, partnering with local churches and nonprofits across the country to serve hundreds of people from diverse backgrounds. While we contribute to this important Gospel work, it’s the Icelanders and local communities who carry it forward long after we leave. We often find that we receive just as much from them as we give, learning from their resilience, faith, and commitment to making a lasting impact.

Our service in Iceland isn't just about doing; it's about being. We practice intentional presence and living our personal values during all portions of the trip. Many meaningful moments will come from relationships rather than tasks.

Compass empowers individuals to pursue purpose through community, exploration, and service. We believe purpose lies at the juncture of our passions and the world's needs. During your time in Iceland, you'll acquire invaluable skills for nurturing a sense of purpose in all areas of life as you serve others.

 

FAQ’s

  • Our group will be spending a couple of nights at church buildings. There is one large room where we will all be staying. Compass will provide inflatable sleeping mats for all participants.

    However, most of our nights will be spent in 7-person apartments with 2-3 people per bedroom.

    Due to having a shared living space, we will ask everyone to respect group living guidelines.

  • Most of our meals will be eaten at the Salvation Army, some will be prepared by our own team, while the Salvation Army staff will prepare some lunches.

    On our medical form, we will ask about dietary restrictions and will use that information to plan meals accordingly.

    On a couple of occasions, we will go out to eat or order from local restaurants. On travel days (airport travel and tourism day) we will do bagged lunches.

  • Compass is well-equipped to navigate various dietary restrictions/food allergies. We have had at least one person with some kind of dietary restriction on every trip we’ve taken.

    Compass is committed to making trips as accessible as possible, and we will make as many accommodations as possible to support our participants. We will ask all participants to fill out a medical form, and it is very important that you list any and all medical conditions you have so that we can best support you.

    While there are local medical facilities nearby (including a hospital less then 10 minutes away) Compass does not have any trained medical professionals on hand. If you are concerned about your health on your trip, please consult a doctor.

    There will be access to a refrigerator for anyone who needs it for medical purposes.

  • Compass will provide all participants with a personalized fundraising page that will allow them to collect donations. Compass will provide various supports and resources as well to help with the fundraising process.

    Additional financial aid is available on a basis of need and is first-come, first-served. Email info@compasspath.org to for the form to request aid.

  • The CDC doesn’t currently require travelers from the US to Iceland to get any vaccinations beyond what is recommended for the general public. Compass highly recommends that all participants get the COVID-19 vaccination and stay up to date on booster shots due to the nature of the program, but it is not a requirement.

    As for documents, all participants must have a passport valid for at least six months after our travel dates (so it must be valid through at least January 2026). If you are a US passport holder, no additional documentation is necessary. If you are a citizen of another country and don’t hold a US passport, you may need a visa in order to enter Iceland. Additionally, if you are in the US on a visa, you would need to double check that the visa will allow you to exit and re-enter the US. For more details on how to apply for or renew a US passport, as well as details on obtaining a visa for non-US citizens, please review the information here and reach out to Compass with any questions. Applying for visas and passports can take several months, so if you need either a visa or a passport, you must apply for one immediately to ensure you will be able to travel.

  • Included in the price of the program is traveler’s insurance that Compass will purchase. You should still bring a copy of your health insurance card with you on the program.