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Pembrokeshire Youth Centre’s Iceland Adventure

Last updated: Mar 17th, 2026

International travel can play a powerful role in youth development, creating opportunities for young people to step outside their everyday environment, build confidence, and experience the world in new ways. When Pembrokeshire Youth Centre partnered with Rayburn Tours to organise an international youth trip, the goal was to provide exactly that.

Led by Senior Youth Worker, Tristy McDermott, the group travelled to Iceland for a week-long experience combining adventure, wellbeing and cultural discovery. The tour also represented an important milestone for Rayburn, marking the company’s first trip designed specifically for a youth centre rather than a school group.

An Unforgettable Excursion Highlight

During the trip, the group experienced some of Iceland’s most iconic sights and landscapes. One moment, in particular, stood out for Tristy and perfectly captured the impact these experiences can have on young people.

For the youth workers supporting the group, it showed the value of shared experiences outside of the usual youth centre environment.

Standing together at The Old Harbour, the group watched the Northern Lights move across the night sky.

 

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It was a rare, peaceful moment where young people stepped away from the pressures of everyday life and simply absorbed the beauty around them. Youth workers could see them relax, connect with each other and experience something truly awe-inspiring.

Tristy McDermott, Senior Youth Worker

Seamless Planning for Youth Workers

Delivering an international experience for young people requires careful planning, but the support from Rayburn Tours ensured the trip ran smoothly throughout.

The itinerary balanced exciting excursions with calmer, wellbeing-focused activities, helping ensure the experience remained engaging without becoming overwhelming. This thoughtful approach meant youth workers could fully immerse themselves in the experience alongside the young people, observing their confidence grow throughout the week.

 

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Everything ran smoothly, allowing youth workers to focus on supporting the young people rather than worrying about logistics.

Tristy McDermott, Senior Youth Worker

A Fantastic End to the Trip

One of the group’s favourite excursions came at the end of the tour with a visit to FlyOver Iceland, an immersive flying theatre experience that takes visitors on a journey across Iceland’s landscapes.

Participants described it as the perfect way to finish the trip!

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The best experience. You have to do this when visiting Iceland. It finished our trip off on a big high and even brought tears to some people’s eyes.

Tristy McDermott, Senior Youth Worker

Why Does Iceland Work for Youth Groups?

With its dramatic landscapes and distinctive natural attractions, Iceland proved to be an inspiring destination for the group. Highlights such as witnessing the Northern Lights and visiting the geothermal waters of the Secret Lagoon created memorable moments, whilst travelling in an unfamiliar environment encouraged young people to develop independence and confidence.

For the youth workers accompanying the group, the experience offered professional value as well as memorable moments. Observing how young people responded to new surroundings provided insight and inspiration they could bring back to their work in the UK, helping them continue to support and engage young people in their community.

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Discover Geography Trips for Schools and Youth Groups

From Iceland to Sicily, we create tailor-made adventures for your students! View fiery volcanoes, see glaciation happen in real-time, and explore vibrant urban cities; a classroom cannot compare to an in-person experience. Inspire your budding geographers, and get in touch with our specialist team today to start planning!

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