Through Their Eyes: Moorestown Friends School in Iceland

Moorestown Friends School joined GeoCamp Iceland in March as part of their Intensive Learning program, bringing a group of curious and reflective students to explore Iceland through the lens of climate, sustainability, and community. Rooted in Quaker values such as stewardship, equality, and service, the program encourages students to engage deeply. With place, with people, and with each other.

Throughout their time in Iceland, students documented their journey in a series of blog posts. What follows brings together their reflections, capturing not just where they went, but how they experienced it.

Arrival: Expectations Meet Reality

“Our Iceland trip was nearly canceled.” From delayed flights to strong winds on arrival, the group’s first lesson came quickly: Iceland doesn’t adapt to your plans—you adapt to it. What began with uncertainty soon turned into curiosity, as students stepped into the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark and experienced the raw conditions that define the island. Read the full student blog

Reykjanes: A Living Landscape

“Iceland, we experienced, was ever-dynamic.” On the Reykjanes Peninsula, students explored lava fields, coastal cliffs, and volcanic formations shaped by ongoing geological activity. Walking through lava tunnels and along rugged shorelines, they began to understand Iceland not as a static destination—but as a landscape in motion. Read the full student blog.

Grindavík: Stories Behind the Landscape

“It was interesting to see just how many similarities our lives had.” A visit to Grindavík brought a human dimension to the experience. Meeting a local family who had lived through recent eruptions gave students direct insight into how natural hazards affect communities—and how resilience and rebuilding take shape in real time. Read the full student blog.

The Golden Circle: Connecting Systems

“One of the key lessons we learned… was about the equality of women in Iceland.” Travelling the Golden Circle, students visited Þingvellir, Geysir, and surrounding sites, connecting geological processes with Icelandic history and society. From tectonic boundaries to erupting geysers, the day offered a deeper understanding of how natural systems shape both land and life. Read the full student blog.

Sustainability in Practice: Friðheimar

“Geothermal energy… is about stewardship and community.” At Friðheimar tomato farm, a simple meal became a lesson in sustainability. Students explored how geothermal energy supports agriculture in Iceland, reflecting on the balance between resource use and environmental responsibility. Read the full student blog.

Water and Ice: Scale and Perspective

“A broad river… could drop so suddenly… doubling the intensity of its roar.” From the power of Gullfoss waterfall to the stillness beneath Langjökull glacier, this part of the journey brought scale into focus. Travelling into the highlands and exploring an ice cave, students encountered both the force and fragility of Iceland’s natural systems. Read the full student blog.

Adaptability: Learning the Icelandic Way

“In many places, plans define the experience. Here, the ability to change them does.” When weather disrupted plans, the group adapted—visiting museums, exploring local spaces, and finding meaning in the unexpected. The Icelandic mindset of Þetta reddast became more than a phrase; it became part of the experience. Read the full student blog.

Final Reflections

Across all their writing, one thing stands out: This was not just a trip, but a process of learning through experience.

Through changing weather, powerful landscapes, and meaningful encounters, students connected science with real-world context ... and with their own values.

At GeoCamp Iceland, we also recognise that every visit is a two-way exchange. We relish the opportunity to experience our own country through the eyes of our visitors (glöggt er gests augað). Each group brings new questions, new perspectives, and new reflections that deepen our own understanding of the landscapes we work in every day.

In that sense, every student trip is a learning experience for us as well. We are grateful to the students and faculty of Moorestown Friends School for their curiosity, openness, and thoughtful reflections. For allowing us to be part of their journey and their story.

This is what field-based learning looks like in practice.