The Snorri Program is a unique summer program in Iceland for Canadians and Americans of Icelandic descent between the ages of 20 and 30. Participants learn, grow, build relationships, and have unforgettable experiences over the course of five weeks, including:
2 weeks of cultural and language education in Reykjavík
2 weeks homestay with family and volunteer placement
1 week adventure tour seeing the best Iceland has to offer
2 weeks of cultural and language education in Reykjavík
2 weeks homestay with family and volunteer placement
1 week adventure tour seeing the best Iceland has to offer
Organized by the Snorri Foundation in partnership with the Icelandic National League of Iceland (Þjóðræknisfélag) and the Nordic Association. Other partners include the Icelandic National League of North America and the Icelandic National League of the United States.
Deadline to apply: January 11, 2021
What is included?
Keep reading below for more details about each segment of the program. Click here to see an outline of the 2021 itinerary. |
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Culture and LanguageDuring your first two weeks in Reykjavík you will take part in a cultural education program, which includes an intensive course in modern Icelandic along with lectures on topics like Icelandic history, culture, and nature. Participants are expected to attend all activities, complete assignments, and actively participate in discussions. Snorri participants will also get to meet the Snorri West participants.
**All Snorri participants are required to finish the free Icelandic Online language course before arrival. |
Homestays and FamilyDuring your first week in Reykjavík, you will receive a family tree depicting your past and present relatives in Iceland. You will also be able to see how you are connected to some of Iceland's first settlers, a few famous Icelanders, as well as your fellow Snorris. A lecture will be given by a genealogist who will also be able to answer any questions you may have.
Genealogy information is provided by Icelandic Roots and Íslendingabók (The Book of Icelanders). When you apply it is important to send in detailed information about your Icelandic ancestors that emigrated. Your family tree enables us to connect with your living Icelandic relatives and find you a host family before your arrival. It will also enable us to help you contact more of your relatives in Iceland if you wish. Accurate information will make the application process faster. After the first two weeks in Reykjavík, you will stay with an Icelandic family for two weeks. Efforts will be made to place you with relatives who live in the geographical area where your ancestors once lived. This is not always possible, though over 95% of previous participants have stayed with their relatives for the so-called “family and volunteer period”. During this time, you will participate in everyday family life and take on a volunteer summer job equivalent to the jobs young Icelanders usually have during the summer months. |
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Icelandic Horses
Swimming Pool in Hofsós, Iceland (Drangey Island in the distance)
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Volunteer PlacementsThe Snorri Program will take care of finding you a host family and arranging your volunteer placement. If you have specific requests, you are welcome to let us know in advance and we will try our best to accommodate your wishes; however, we cannot make any guarantees.
Previous Volunteer Positions have included:
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We will try our best to accommodate special needs and/or wishes. Please keep in mind that due to language limitations (i.e. insufficient knowledge of Icelandic) and the fact that the time period is not very long, it could be difficult to get a position related to your specific interests and/or education.
No changes will be made on the volunteer or family placements after they have been confirmed unless there is a special reason to do so. No matter what kind of volunteer placement you have, you will have the experience of a lifetime!
No changes will be made on the volunteer or family placements after they have been confirmed unless there is a special reason to do so. No matter what kind of volunteer placement you have, you will have the experience of a lifetime!
Adventure TourDuring the last week of the program, you will embark on an epic adventure tour around Iceland. The itinerary varies from year to year, but past trips have included:
All groups visit Hofsós, Iceland and tour of the Icelandic Emigration Center (Vesturfarasetrið). Weather permitting, most groups also go on a boat tour to and hike up Drangey Island where Grettir the Strong (from Grettir's Saga) lived as an outlaw. |
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Have more questions? Find answers to many FAQs here.
What is the cost?
The finalized 2021 costs are pending due to effects of Covid-19
*The 2020 cost was USD $5,230
(Did You Know? - Thanks to the generosity of the Snorri Foundation participants only pay about half the actual cost of the program: $10,000 or $13,00 CAD)
Click here for full information on payment deadlines and to read our Refund and Cancellation Policy.
*The 2020 cost was USD $5,230
(Did You Know? - Thanks to the generosity of the Snorri Foundation participants only pay about half the actual cost of the program: $10,000 or $13,00 CAD)
Click here for full information on payment deadlines and to read our Refund and Cancellation Policy.
*Additional grants and scholarships are available. For more information, click here.
