Renew / Restore / Reconnect
Serve in
ICELAND
Photo by Alexander Grebenkov - Own work CC 3.0
Looking for more than just another trip? Step into the awe-inspiring landscapes of Krýsuvík in southern Iceland, where you’ll work to restore and protect Iceland’s one-of-a-kind environment. Together, we’ll nurture the land and cultivate relationships rooted in trust and shared experiences. This is more than an adventure—it’s an opportunity to grow, reflect, and sharpen the skills needed to navigate life and faith in a place unlike any other.
This trip will be September 7-14, 2025, and is open to any young adult affiliated with Bethany Presbyterian Church.
What to Expect
Our week in Krýsuvík invites us into the heart of Iceland’s raw beauty and environmental challenges. Working alongside the Icelandic organization Veraldarvinir, we’ll focus on reforestation projects, beach cleanups, and restoring the area’s natural landscape. This journey is more than completing tasks—it’s about serving as part of a community, forging meaningful connections, and discovering our greater purpose.
Building Community and Finding Purpose
This trip is about personal growth and authentic relationships, with dedicated time each day for reflection and small group conversations. Leave technology behind and fully immerse yourself in the experience. Iceland’s dramatic landscapes aren’t just a backdrop—they challenge and inspire us to connect deeply with others and embrace a purposeful way of living.
Your Invitation
If you’re ready to experience Iceland’s stunning beauty, contribute to impactful environmental restoration, and grow within a community that supports, challenges, and celebrates you, this journey is for you. Spaces are limited—join us to serve, connect, and discover purpose in Iceland!
More Questions? Continue down for schedule, pricing, and other FAQ’s!
TRIP SCHEDULE
Travel dates are set, 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.
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.
DAILY SCHEDULE
The day-to-day schedule varies somewhat during the trip, but our Service and Exploration days stick to the following routine:
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.
More information about the curriculum and content is in the FAQ section.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The cost for this trip is $1,850 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; nonstop options are available from 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 and ends with drop-off at the same location for departure. Note that while programming begins on September 7, it is an overnight flight so you will depart from Seattle on the evening of September 6, 2025. Compass can 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. We highly encourage the use of a credit card instead of cash.
Your spot on the trip will be secured once you have filled out your registration form, completed an interview, and paid your $250 deposit. We highly recommend you book your flight quickly, too.
Frábært (Great)! Let’s do this!
Once you register for the trip, Compass and will connect with you to schedule a 20-minute interview.
Still have questions?
See our additional FAQ section below or email info@compasspath.org.
About Compass’s Work in Iceland
Since 2016, Compass has partnered with serving communities across Iceland. We’re excited to partner with Veraldarvinir (Worldwide Friends). While we’re there, Icelanders and local partners will guide our work. But the impact of Compass continues long after we return home. Just as we help restore the landscape, we also receive invaluable lessons from our partners who share their vision, hospitality, and dedication to justice with us.
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 on the trips will come from relationships rather than tasks.
FAQ’s
-
We’ve designed our curriculum to foster connection, reflection, and growth, aligning with Compass’s emphasis on purpose and community.
The curriculum incorporates readings from the book of Ruth, drawing on themes of resilience, faith, and navigating life's uncertainties.
Compass Time provides space for personal reflection and Table Talk fosters group discussions that connect these themes to your own lives, encouraging you to explore your values and goals. Table Talks, held daily, are structured around guided questions that help you process their experiences, build connections, and uncover insights about your role in the world.
Additionally, the curriculum integrates opportunities for active reflection through storytelling, journaling, and collaborative discussions, reinforcing the ties between the service work, Iceland’s landscapes, and your personal journey.
-
Our group will be staying in a restored house, renovated by our partner Veraldarvinir.
Accommodations are hostel-style, with each person assigned to a bed in shared rooms housing 4–6 people. The space includes several private showers and bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, and common areas for group gatherings and meetings. On days with very poor weather, some of our work projects may include further renovations to the home. This setup provides an ideal environment for shared living while allowing space for reflection and connection. -
Most of our meals will be prepared and eaten on site in the group home. Everyone will contribute to the meal process, including clean-up.
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.
There will be access to a refrigerator for anyone who needs it for medical purposes.
-
A $250 deposit is due to confirm your spot on the trip. This non-refundable except in the instance of Compass cancelling the trip.
We highly recommend you buy your plane ticket early and you must submit flight confirmation to Compass. Final payment for the trip is not due until a few weeks prior.
Compass will provide all participants with a personalized fundraising page that will allow them to collect donations, if they chose.
-
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 March 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.
-
We recommend flying Icelandair non-stop from Seattle. Compass can help further advise on travel itineraries, but final purchases, arrangements, and accountability is the responsibility of each participant.
Luggage varies from participant to participant. Compass provides a detailed packing list and some individuals can do the trip with just a carry-on and personal item.
-
Yes! For those who choose, you are welcome to plan additional time in Iceland (and we’d gladly pass on travel tips). However, Compass programming begins with airport pickup on September 7 and ends with drop-off on September 14. Compass is not responsible for any costs or events outside of this time frame and the traveler’s insurance policy Compass provides also does not cover beyond it.
More Than Service
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, and develop the skills to a purposeful life. In Iceland, you’ll do more than complete service projects—you’ll discover new strengths, build lasting friendships, and find clarity on the path ahead of you.
A Little On Iceland: Tidbits from Compass’ Favorite Island Country
You’ll learn even more about Iceland during our team meetings, but here are a few fascinating facts that not everyone knows about this unique island:
The Last Frontier of Europe:
Iceland is the last European country to be discovered and the only one without any indigenous peoples.Trailblazing Gender Equality:
In 1980, Iceland became the first country in the world to democratically elect a female president, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir.Progressive Leadership:
Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir made history in 2009 as the world’s first openly gay prime minister, embodying Iceland’s commitment to inclusion and LGBTQ+ rights.Eco-Friendly Energy:
Nearly 100% of Iceland's electricity comes from renewable sources like geothermal and hydropower, making it a global leader in sustainability.Parental Leave Policies:
Iceland’s system provides equal leave time for both parents, championing shared parenting and advancing gender equality.A Unique Language:
Icelandic has remained largely unchanged for over 1,000 years, meaning modern speakers can still read ancient sagas written centuries ago—a rare linguistic time capsule.Rights for All:
Iceland legalized same-sex marriage in 2010, cementing its status as a pioneer in human rights.A Nation of Peace:
Although it is part of NATO, Iceland is one of the few countries without a standing military.There Are No Trains In Iceland
We’re not entirely sure why…there just aren’t.
