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Iceland - 2023, Session 2

GoBeyond - Inspiring Iceland 2023

Location: GXG Office

Welcome to the GoBeyond Inspiring Iceland trip logs!

We are ready to explore Iceland…the land of fire and ice, the land of elves, and the land of Bjork (and other amazing musicians)! Twelve adventurous students will get a good glimpse into Icelandic life, the natural beauty of this unique country, and local environmental issues. Our service learning will focus on invasive plant species and sustainable farm-to-table practices.

A little bit about the staff leading Inspiring Iceland:

Kimmi Phillips - Kimmi grew up on the east coast of Florida, where her love for the ocean and experiential learning began. She brings her knowledge and experience of the higher education sector both from the University of South Florida and her work abroad, to the GXG Team in the office. Kimmi has explored six continents and also lived in Belgium and China for six years. Her other passions include the arts, paddle boarding, hiking, and cooking.

Robbie McKeller - Robbie was raised in a small town in New Hampshire and spent his summers sailing in Buzzard’s Bay, Massachusetts. He joined ActionQuest as a student in 2018 and spent November 2020-February 2021 aboard S/Y Vela on the Indian Ocean voyage and South Africa to Antigua delivery. When Robbie isn’t sailing, you’ll find him playing guitar, snowboarding, biking, climbing, or skateboarding. He is studying Parks and Tourism Recreation Management at the University of Montana.

Below is the anticipated itinerary of activities and service learning. The group will have limited access to their phones and the internet. While we understand families are eager for news, we ask for patience as our staff’s energy is focused on the students and the program.

Primary accommodations:

- Dalur Hostel (Reykjavik), Hlid Hostel (Lake Myvatn - Northern Iceland), and Solheimar Eco-Village (Southwest Iceland)

Day 1 (July 7) - New York to Reykjavik: Students depart on an overnight flight via JFK

Day 2 (July 8) - Students arrive in Reykjavik for orientation and botanical garden visit

Day 3 (July 9) - City exploration and art museum visit

Day 4 (July 10) - Departure for Lake Myvatn (Northern Iceland) with a scenic drive

Day 5 and 6 (July 11-12) - Service learning with Umhverfisstofnun (Environment Agency of Iceland)

Day 7 (July 13) - Whale Watching excursion out of Husavik, waterfalls, and geothermal spa experience

Day 8 (July 14) - Return to southwest Iceland with a scenic drive and activities

Day 9 (July 15) - Downtime and Icelandic Horseback Riding Tour

Day 10 and 11 (July 16-17) Service learning at Solheimar Eco-Village and community workshops

Day 12 (July 18) - South Falls visit and Glacier Walk excursion with a return to Reykjavik

Day 13 (July 19) - Golden Circle with Silurian Snorkeling adventure

Day 14 (July 20) - Relax at the local pool as the locals do, city exploration with closing program activities and final dinner

Day 15 (July 21) - Student fly day from Reykjavik back home