YMCA/YWCA Iceland is a non-profit and non-governmental (NGO) youth organization based on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. It was founded in 1899 by a young theologian and later pastor, Friðrik Friðriksson. The goal of YMCA/YWCA Iceland is to enable children, youth and young adults to develop and nurture their social, physical and spiritual well-being.
YMCA/YWCA runs five summer camps in Iceland, offers around 40 weekly children, youth and young adult meetings in various locations in the winter time and offers extensive youth leadership training. It also has regular adult meetings, has a men’s choir, and offers weekly praise and prayer services. YMCA/YWCA operates a preschool, Vinagarður, in Laugardalur in Reykjavik.
YMCA/YWCA organizes the project Christmas in a Shoebox (Jól í skókassa) in cooperation with YMCA in Ukraine and is active in promoting and organizing various youth and social projects every year.
Vatnaskogur is the largest summer camp in Iceland, located an hour drive north of Reykjavik. Vatnaskogur offers week long overnight camps for 9-14 year old boys in June and July. It also has offers week long overnight camps for teenage boys and girls in August.
Vindáshlíð is a girl camp about 45 minutes from Reykjavik. Vindashlid has a six days overnight camps for girls from 9-16 years old in June, July and August.
Kaldársel is for both boys and girls from 7-14 years old depending on the week. It is only 15 minutes drive from Hafnarfjörður and it offers overnight camps in June and July and one week long day camp in July.
Ölver is located between Akranes and Borgarnes, 50 minutes drive from Reykjavik. It is a girl camp offering week long overnight experience for 7-14 years old girls. It also has a three days long overnight camp for 6-9 year old boys in beginning of June.
Hólavatn is for both boys and girls from 7-14 years old depending on the week. It is around 40 minutes drive from Akureyri in the northern part of Iceland. It offers overnight camps in June and July.
YMCA/YWCA Summer Day Camps for 6-9 year old are offered in Reykjavik, in Kópavogur and in Reykjanesbær. (Summer Day Camps in Icelandic)
Hólavatn, Vatnaskógur, Ölver and Vindáshlíð also offer various family camps, Sometimes for the whole family and from time to time for mother-daughter(s), father-son(s), father-daugther(s), or mother-son(s).
YMCA/YWCA has weekly meetings from September-April called YD for 9-12 year olds. YD KFUM is for boys only, YD KFUK is for girls only, and YD or YD KFUM og KFUK is for both boys and girls.
YMCA/YWCA has weekly meetings from September-April called UD for 13-16 year olds. All UD meetings are open to both boys and girls.
YMCA/YWCA works closely with the Christian Student Movement which offers regular meetings for 15-20 year olds, called Kristileg skólasamtök (KSS) and for 20-30 year olds called Kristilegt stúdentafélag (KSF).
If you are interested in learning more about YMCA/YWCA Iceland or if you have questions regarding the organization please don’t hesitate to call (+354) 588 88 99 or e-mail to [email protected].
The office is open Mondays till Fridays from 9-17 (GMT).
KFUM og KFUK er kristileg æskulýðshreyfing sem hefur það að markmiði að stuðla að heilbrigði einstaklingsins til líkama sálar og anda.
Holtavegi 28
104 Reykjavík
Ísland
Kt: 690169-0889
