In August 2025, GeoCamp Iceland had the pleasure of welcoming a dynamic group of science faculty from Phillips Exeter Academy for a six-day educational journey across southwest Iceland. With backgrounds in physics, chemistry, and biology, the eight educators immersed themselves in the living classroom of Iceland’s volcanic landscapes, renewable energy systems, and unique approaches to sustainability.

Their program began with an exploration of the Reykjanes Peninsula, diving straight into Iceland’s tectonic identity and geothermal innovations. A visit to a local school highlighted how STEAM-based outdoor education is shaping young minds in Iceland. The group also met with renowned author and climate activist Andri Snær Magnason to discuss the power of storytelling in communicating climate science.

In the days that followed, the group journeyed from Reykjavík to Þingvellir, Gullfoss, and the black sands of Reynisfjara, retracing parts of the path taken by Exeter students earlier this summer. Along the way, they explored Iceland’s sagas, energy history, and extraordinary natural landscapes. A glacier hike on Sólheimajökull offered a stark encounter with the realities of climate change, while a final visit to the CarbFix carbon capture project at Hellisheiði highlighted cutting-edge solutions for a more sustainable future.

​This visit was not just a study tour—it was a meaningful exchange between educators and landscapes, ideas and experiences. We’re grateful for the partnership with Phillips Exeter Academy and look forward to welcoming more faculty and students from their community in the years to come.

When students stand on the edge of a glacier in southern Iceland, they’re not just looking at ice—they’re witnessing change in real time. The cracks in the ice echo through the valley, the meltwater pools where there was once solid ground, and suddenly, climate change becomes more than a statistic. It becomes personal.

“That kind of direct observation is powerful,” says Arnbjörn Ólafsson, Managing Director of GeoCamp Iceland. “It transforms the climate crisis from something abstract into something immediate and deeply human. We’ve seen students pause, visibly moved by what they’re seeing—and that’s a moment they carry with them.”

One student told us: ‘I didn’t truly understand the effects of climate change until I stood next to a glacier, heard the cracks as it melted, and found myself tearing up.’ That’s a moment you don’t forget."

GeoCamp Iceland has been creating those moments for nearly two decades. What began as a small initiative to promote Earth science has evolved into a full-time organisation dedicated to immersive, field-based learning. From its home base in the geologically active Reykjanes Peninsula, GeoCamp now welcomes educational groups from around the world to explore Iceland’s dynamic landscapes through guided, curriculum-aligned experiences.

While the organisation officially became a full-time operation in 2021, its educational mission has been long in the making. Early work focused on Scandinavian high schools, but in recent years, GeoCamp has shifted toward hosting international universities and secondary schools, with almost 600 participants from over 20 student and faculty groups taking part in tailored study programmes in 2025.

What sets GeoCamp apart is its intentional scale and hands-on approach. “We’re not a volume-based operation,” says Arnbjörn. “We work with a limited number of groups each year so we can stay personally involved in every programme. That’s how we ensure academic alignment, safety, and a meaningful experience for every participant.”

Each trip is designed in close collaboration with educators and faculty. Fieldwork is carefully matched to learning goals, whether it’s investigating geothermal systems, exploring coastal ecosystems, examining glacial retreat, or studying energy transitions. Iceland’s ever-changing environment provides a unique living laboratory—and GeoCamp’s team makes sure students are not just observers, but active participants.

The Reykjanes Peninsula, in particular, offers a front-row seat to geological change. Since 2021, a series of eruptions has marked the beginning of a new volcanic cycle in the region—an event geologists had long predicted. “We’ve been telling our groups for years that Reykjanes was waking up,” Arnbjörn explains. “Now it’s happening, and we’re integrating these developments directly into our fieldwork.”

Students might find themselves walking on newly cooled lava fields, visiting protective berms built around geothermal plants, or even gaining access to emergency zones to study heat vents using thermal drones. These aren’t just excursions—they’re active case studies in natural hazard management, resilience, and sustainability.

But the programme goes beyond Earth science. “To truly engage with these topics, we believe science needs to be paired with storytelling, empathy, and reflection,” says Arnbjörn. That’s why GeoCamp also partners with writers, artists, and environmental advocates—helping students think not only as researchers, but as citizens and storytellers.

Among the most moving moments in any trip is a visit to one of Iceland’s rapidly retreating glaciers. One in particular is losing around 35–40 metres of ice per year, and students often return year after year to find dramatic changes. “It’s impossible to ignore,” Arnbjörn says. “And for many, it’s the first time the reality of climate change hits home.”

These experiences are framed through both scientific context and emotional literacy. Students learn about Earth systems, energy balance, and the carbon cycle—but they also explore the ethics of climate responsibility, intergenerational thinking, and what it means to care for a changing planet.

GeoCamp’s small, interdisciplinary team includes scientists, educators, and local experts—all deeply committed to place-based education. While summer remains the most popular time for visits, an increasing number of groups are choosing spring and autumn for their fieldwork. These off-season trips offer added opportunities: interaction with local schools, less crowded natural sites, and sometimes, a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

No two groups are the same, and that’s part of the point. Whether it’s eight students from a rural high school or a research delegation from a large university, every programme is designed to foster discovery, dialogue, and deeper understanding. “We always learn something new about our own country,” Arnbjörn reflects. “Through the questions visitors ask, the perspectives they bring—we see Iceland with fresh eyes.”

There’s an old Icelandic saying: “Glöggt er gests augað”—“The eye of the visitor is keen.” At GeoCamp Iceland, that principle guides everything. It reminds us that learning is reciprocal. The landscape teaches us, and so do the people who come to explore it.

The following reflections come directly from students who took part in this summer’s UW–Madison Field Study in Iceland. Over two weeks, they combined classroom preparation with hands-on exploration across Iceland’s volcanic landscapes, glaciers, and coastal ecosystems. Their words capture not only what they learned, but how the experience changed them. For many, the journey began as a leap into the unknown. 

GeoCamp Iceland partners the Erasmus+ project On the Move: Enhancing Employability and VET Mobility through Real-World Learning (Project No: 2021-1-IT01-KA220-VET-000034780), an ambitious and timely initiative that aims to strengthen vocational education and training (VET) through experiential learning and international mobility.

Funded by the Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships in Vocational Education and Training, the project brings together institutions and organisations from Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Spain, and Greece. Together, we are working to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace by designing innovative tools and methods that make VET more dynamic, inclusive, and future-ready.

What is “On the Move” about?

The core idea of the project is simple yet powerful: to make vocational learning more mobile, practical, and connectedto the real world. Through partnerships between schools, employers, training centres, and educational innovators like GeoCamp Iceland, the project seeks to promote mobility as a core value in VET. This includes not only physical mobility through exchanges and internships abroad, but also the development of mobility mindsets—encouraging flexibility, adaptability, and resilience in young learners.

Key themes include:

• Enhancing the employability of vocational learners through real-world and place-based learning
• ​Supporting inclusive and sustainable mobility schemes in VET;
• Providing educators with tools and training to deliver experiential learning and guide international placements effectively;
• And creating a shared European framework that promotes meaningful learning in both local and cross-border contexts.

GeoCamp Iceland’s Role

At GeoCamp Iceland, we believe learning comes alive when it steps outside the classroom. That’s why this project is a perfect fit for us. Our contribution focuses on making mobility meaningful through place-based learning, community engagement, and sustainability education in the dramatic landscape of Iceland.

As part of the project’s Dissemination and Sustainability work package (WP6), GeoCamp Iceland leads the communication efforts, ensuring the project’s tools, methods, and results reach a wider audience of educators, VET providers, and learners across Europe. We’re also deeply involved in co-creating mobility models that connect VET learners to real-world challenges—from sustainable tourism and environmental stewardship to green energy and digital skills.

Ólafur Jón Arnbjörnsson will serve as coordinator for GeoCamp Iceland's participation in the project. A leading figure in Icelandic vocational education and training, Ólafur brings over fifty years of experience to the table. As the former Director of the Icelandic College of Fisheries and principal at several upper secondary schools, he has helped shape national VET policy and curriculum development—most notably by designing the certified training programme for fish technicians.

​With a Mag. Art degree in Education and Pedagogy from the University of Copenhagen, and decades of experience leading Nordic and EU projects, his insight into real-world learning, curriculum design, and labour market relevance has been instrumental in aligning the On the Move project with both Icelandic priorities and broader European goals.

Project Outcomes

The outcomes of the On the Move project reflect a strong commitment to transforming vocational education by grounding it in real-world experience and mobility. One of the central results is a comprehensive research report that maps current practices across partner countries, offering a critical understanding of how real-world learning and international mobility are already being implemented within VET systems. This report lays the foundation for future development and cross-country comparison.

Building on this foundation, the project delivers a set of training modules designed specifically for VET teachers and mobility facilitators. These modules provide practical guidance and pedagogical tools to help educators implement experiential learning and manage mobility opportunities in inclusive and meaningful ways. Alongside the training, a digital toolkit for real-world learning is being developed. This open-access resource will include adaptable methodologies, templates, and planning tools to support institutions in integrating mobility into their curricula.
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To illustrate and contextualise these tools, the project also gathers case studies and mobility models from across Europe. These serve as replicable examples, demonstrating how vocational learners can benefit from immersive, hands-on experiences both at home and abroad. Finally, the project will culminate in a major conference hosted in Italy, where educators, policy makers, and stakeholders will come together to explore the project’s findings and to foster a broader community of practice dedicated to modern, inclusive, and responsive vocational education.

Why It Matters

In an increasingly uncertain world, vocational learners need more than technical skills—they need confidence, curiosity, and a sense of purpose. Projects like On the Move show how education can foster those qualities through international collaboration, mobility, and real-world experience.

We’re honoured to be working alongside dedicated partners to make this vision a reality—and to ensure that every learner, no matter where they come from, has the opportunity to move, grow, and thrive.

To learn more about the project, visit https://vet-onthemove.eu

From March through August 2025, GeoCamp Iceland welcomed over 400 participants (students, faculty, and educational leaders from around the world) making this our busiest first half of the year ever, and nearly double the number we hosted during the same period in 2024.

The majority of our groups come from US-based high schools, colleges, and universities, including returning partners such as Marist College, the University of Southern Maine, the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Northwood School, as well as Beijing Normal University who joined us for the first time since before Covid. These institutions have returned year after year to bring their students into the field with us, deepening their engagement with Iceland’s dynamic natural and cultural landscape.

This year also marked the arrival of several new partner institutions, including University of Maine, Phillips Exeter Academy, Taylor University, Georgian Court University, and Auburn School. We’re thrilled to welcome these schools into the GeoCamp Iceland network and look forward to supporting their continued commitment to field-based learning and sustainability education.

Why partner with GeoCamp Iceland?

Each program is designed in close collaboration with faculty and tailored to the academic focus of each group. Themes range from glacier science, geothermal energy, and climate change to coastal biodiversity, STEAM education, and cultural geography. Our approach bridges disciplines, encourages critical thinking, and connects learners directly with the environments they study.

In addition to student programmes, we hosted faculty development trips and scouting visits from schools preparing for their first GeoCamp journeys in 2026, a sign of the growing interest in place-based, experiential learning across disciplines and age groups.

As we look ahead to 2026, we’re proud to see more institutions joining our growing community, bringing new ideas, new energy, and a shared mission to make education more active, relevant, and globally connected.

To all the educators, students, and partners who joined us this year: Thank you for making Iceland your living classroom and for contributing to deeper awareness of the challenges (and opportunities) our planet faces today.