Multiple Groups, One Dynamic Classroom: A Remarkable Week at GeoCamp Iceland

Last week was one of those moments where GeoCamp Iceland truly felt like a crossroads of ideas, curiosity, and field-based learning.

At one point, we were simultaneously hosting four very different educational groups from across the United States, each bringing their own academic focus, questions, and perspectives into Iceland’s ever-changing landscapes.

University of Maine joined us for the second year in a row, for an intensive earth systems and climate-focused field program, travelling deep into Iceland’s volcanic and glacial environments. Their itinerary explored everything from tectonic activity and geothermal systems to glacier dynamics, carbon capture, and the legacy of Iceland's numerous eruptions. The group also met leading Icelandic scientists, researchers, and writers, including Páll Einarsson and Andri Snær Magnason, connecting scientific understanding with the human stories behind climate change and environmental transformation.

At the same time, students from Central College Iowa travelled around Iceland examining the relationship between landscape, sustainability, communication, and culture. Their program combined geology and climate science with Icelandic history, renewable energy, saga heritage, and community resilience, from Westman Islands and Þórsmörk to geothermal power plants and Reykjavík’s cultural life.

Coginchaug Regional High School focused strongly on outdoor education, earth systems, and sustainability, exploring Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark and the South Coast through hands-on learning and field excursions, discussing volcanic hazards, renewable energy, glacier retreat, and environmental responsibility. The program reflected an important part of what we believe at GeoCamp Iceland, that meaningful education happens when students connect directly with the world around them.

Meanwhile, the University of New England approached Iceland through the lens of arctic tourism, sustainability, and destination development. Their students met with tourism organisations, local businesses, and regional stakeholders while exploring how Iceland has adapted to volcanic eruptions, climate challenges, and rapid tourism growth. From Reykjanes and South Iceland to Reykjavík and top tourist spots, the group examined how tourism, nature, and community intersect in a country shaped by constant natural change.

Hosting four groups simultaneously is always a challenge, but also a reminder of how powerful educational travel can be when learning moves beyond the classroom and into the field.

And for us at GeoCamp Iceland, it is also a reminder of just how rewarding it is to experience our own country through the eyes of visitors. Every group notices something different. Every conversation brings new perspectives. In many ways, every program becomes a learning experience for us as well.

And the semester rush is far from over.

This week, we are also welcoming new groups from Marist College, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, SUNY Oneonta, and Mercersburg Academy, as the end-of-semester season continues to bring students and educators from across the United States to Iceland.