Further Information

In 1947 YWCA began a summer camp for girls in 1947 called Vindáshlíð. Every year hundreds of girls attend the camp. Enjoying each other's company and Vindáshlíð surroundings. They receive Bible lessons and enjoy other activities in a secure and good environment.

In the founding days of Vindáshlíð, the girls would stay in tents. But from early on, volunteers and supporters started building the first Vindáshlíð house, with both financial help and with voluntary work. Until now the houses have been heated with electricity.

In 2017, the house received geothermal water from a local resource. Now the summer camp is heated in this fashion. The plan is to put a heating system in all the houses.

This is why we ask for support to finance this project.

About Vindáshlíð

Around 700 girls attend Vindáshlíð every summer. In every camp group, around 80 girls gather for a nearly a week long stay. The camp groups are divided by age, the youngest are 9-11 years old, and the oldest are teenage girls, from the ages of 13-17 years old.

Vindáshlíð is located in Kjós, mere 45 kilometers from Reykjavík city. The facilities, both inside and outside, are good and the surrounding nature offers a diverse and fun ways to enjoy the outdoors. The outdoors play a big part in life at Vindáshlíð, and the girls can enjoy the beautiful nature in various outdoor games and hikes. There is also a sport hall on the grounds, where the girls play a popular type of dodgeball called “brennó”, as well as many other games.

The bedrooms at Vindáshlíð are for 6-8 girls and every room serves as a group for each girl. There is one camp leader/staff for every room and the leader is called “the prayer lady” for that room. The prayer lady meets her group of girls in the evening and listens to what they have done in the daytime, how they are feeling and prays with them before they go to sleep. In that way, all the girls are provided with an adult/staff who specifically looks out for how they are feeling and serves as someone in whom they can confide.

Each day in Vindáshlíð has a certain agenda where there is a teaching from the Bible and about the Christian faith. Prayers are also taught, and Christian songs are sung. Every night there is a gathering where the girls entertain each other with skits and games. During the day the girls have the opportunity to go hiking, play games, do some crafts and participate in different contests such as a hairdressing contest. All girls should be able find something according to their interests and be able to enjoy themselves. In “Adventure Weeks” the daily program is revised, and the girls can expect surprise events every day.

The summer camp in Vindáshlíð has now been run for 71 years where many hundreds of girls spend time there each year. When the girls have spent three nights in Vindáshlíð they can call themselves “Hlíðarmeyjar”. It is clear that there are many “Hlíðarmeyjar” in Icelandic society today.
This fund is not just a request to all the “Hlíðarmeyjar” who once had the privilege to stay in Vindáshlíð. It is a request for them to support the good work that continues there. It is a request for them to strengthen the operating conditions of Vindáshlíð, and to make sure that the “Hlíðarmeyjar” of the future will have the same opportunity to enjoy all the wonderful things Vindáshlíð has to offer.

What difference does this make for Vindáshlíð?

A hot water heating system will vastly improve the conditions at Vindáshlíð and will ensure the following:

1) A much lower electric bill
2) Less fire risks
3) The houses could be used throughout the winter season
4) More possibility for winter work
5) Increased rental options with associated additional income
6) Improved well-being and increased quality of life for those staying in Vindáshlíð

In other words, you could say that Vindáshlíð will be warmer, more open and overall, run more efficiently.

Why fundraising?

From the beginning, Vindáshlíð has always depended on volunteer work. Volunteers have managed the operation of Vindáshlíð. Volunteers have done most of the construction and maintenance to the houses. This has been possible due to the vision of the Vindáshlíð mission, the same vision that has been driving it from the beginning, which is; “That Vindáshlíð should be a place where girls can come and get to know Jesus”.

Because of this vision the admission fees have been kept as low as possible to enable as many girls to come and enjoy everything that Vindáshlíð has to offer.

The Vindáshlíð management believes that the admission fees should not finance all major construction work.

Therefore, now we are starting a fundraiser and Vindáshlíð needs your help. All gifts are appreciated, big or small. Thank you and God bless you!