A Landmark Beginning: Exeter Students Embark on First Iceland Study Tour with GeoCamp Iceland

This summer marked an exciting milestone for both Phillips Exeter Academy and GeoCamp Iceland: the inaugural student trip of a new partnership bringing learning beyond the classroom into Iceland’s extraordinary landscapes. Over nine days of immersive exploration, 15 students and three faculty members journeyed across glaciers, volcanoes, lava fields, coastal cliffs, and vibrant cultural sites — guided every step of the way by GeoCamp Iceland’s educators.

Through Exeter’s Global Initiatives experiential learning program, students delved into Iceland’s dynamic geology and stark beauty while confronting the realities of climate change, renewable energy innovation, and the country’s deep cultural history. This first trip in the collaboration was designed around a rich curriculum that combined hands-on fieldwork, reflective discussions, and meetings with local experts.

Students investigated topics such as living on an active plate boundary, the ethics of tourism in volcanic zones, Iceland’s renewable energy transition, and the resilience of communities like the Westman Islands after natural disasters. They witnessed the rapid retreat of glaciers like Sólheimajökull, learned about the global impact of historic eruptions like Laki, and examined efforts like the CarbFix project to capture carbon and store it as stone. Each student prepared research on a unique topic before departure, enriching group discussions and deepening learning in the field.

The program also included cultural and literary encounters, such as a meeting with Icelandic author Rán Flygenring, and reflections on Iceland’s sagas as ancient narratives offering insights into modern resilience and sustainability. Activities balanced academic exploration with moments of wonder. Sailing on glacier lagoons, hiking mossy cliffs with puffins, relaxing in geothermal pools, and sharing stories during evening meals.

“[It] was my first time outside of America, and the journey affected me more than I thought it would,” Levi ’28 said. “The awe-inspiring landscape, the rich and layered culture, the close-knit community and the delicious food all added up to an exquisite trip. But what I enjoyed most was exploring a beautiful foreign land with a group of new friends. In particular, I remember a steep hike on the Westman Islands that rewarded us with gorgeous vistas of mossy cliffs — and puffins! My largest takeaway from that hike was not the beautiful views though but the importance of determination and grit that kept us together from start to end.”

Exeter Principal Bill Rawson, who joined the trip as a chaperone, summed up the experience: “It was a very special experience exploring a new country with 15 curious Exonians. We were all learners every step of the way. And for me, it was quite special observing firsthand the impact our global studies programs have on our students.”

For GeoCamp Iceland, this first collaboration with Phillips Exeter Academy represents not just a successful trip, but the beginning of a meaningful partnership rooted in field-based education, global awareness, and inspiring the next generation of leaders to understand our changing planet.