Outdoor Life EASY
The course for those who:
- Want to spend more time in nature, have plenty of time and less stress
- Want a year filled with laughter and good friends
- Are keen to enjoy yourself and have a social time on the go
- Want to do outdoor activities, but are not as active as you would like
- Want to learn as much as possible about outdoor activities
Hear from former students
Herman Lyseng
At Toppen I learned to appreciate being out in nature even more. Getting to experience it with those who became my best friends, and with safe, clever and fun teachers, it was amazing! It's incredible how happy you get from a quarter of sunlight in December, or when a friend in class manages to get up on the surfboard for the first time!
Toppen is an investment in living life! The feeling of having lived 100% for an entire year is amazing and I think about it every single day!
Anna Skjelde Brunborg
The year at Toppen is definitely the best trip of my life so far. A year filled with joy, learning, laughter, northern lights that take your breath away, personal development and a lot, lot more!
Folk high school forms people, makes you safe, but not at least gives lifelong friendships.
Clara
Course Activities
As a student, you help shape the content of the course yourself. While the content varies from year to year, some elements remain consistent.
Felles
Common
Autumn
Spring
On some trips, it is the comfort and coziness that is in the center. Easy hikes in the woods and fields, where we pick mushrooms and berries and enjoy ourselves around the fire. Maybe with the Northern Lights dancing in the sky. We cook gourmet food on tour, leg of lamb in cooking pit, chocolate cake in orange and much more! Fresh air, silence and less stress. Lying under the open sky in a self-made lean-to. Paddle canoe on fresh mountain lakes while fishing. Go mountain skiing and see where the nature leads us. In winter there will be igloos, snow caves and much more. The outdoor adventure awaits you.
The school is located by the fjord and we have our own kayaks. That means you can paddle as much as you want this year. In addition, we go island hopping at the Helgeland coast. Here we have Norway's finest archipelago to paddle in, with its 30,000 islets and islands.
In spring and autumn we go hiking on foot, for example on the mountains The Seven Sisters. The Helgeland coast is an eldorado for short and slightly longer summit hikes. The goal is for everyone to make it, and we walk at a leisurely pace so that together we can enjoy the view. In winter, we strap on our mountain skis and choose trips that provide an experience of a lifetime. We focus on safe choices and nice descents with skis in perfect snow. You will learn how to make good and safe decisions in the winter mountains.
You will get a course in securing with a rope brake and the opportunity to get a Steep Pass. We climb indoors, out at the local climbing field and on our study trip. Climbing makes you forget about time and place. Getting to the top of a climbing route gives you a great feeling — a sense of mastery.
Helgeland is full of caves. Here are several options for those who want exciting underground experiences. Caving is for many an unfamiliar world and a new experience.
Mosjøen Via Ferrata is Northern Norway's first!
Join us for a steep, breezy and exciting experience! We guarantee you goosebumps, tingling in your stomach and an amazing sense of mastery on top!!
Alternatively, take the zipline straight down into the garden of northern Norway's oldest hotel, Fru Haugans.
It varies whether this is carried out in autumn or spring.
Høst
Common
We start the year with rafting. This will be a wet experience that you will soon forget. Mariann Sæter (the world's best paddler), takes us on an experience down the river. There is no need to be tough or strong, but you have to be ready for a challenge!
Vår
Common
Hemavan — one of Sweden's best winter destinations. On this trip we go together with the hole outdoor section at school. We live in well-equipped apartments with a sauna. There are many activities you can attend during the days and we have a lot of socializing in the evenings. You will be offered courses in Snowboard, Telemark and Alpine Skiing.
The school's outdoor living courses have kite gear, paddling clothing, kayaks, lavvos, tents, sleds, cooking kits and burners that students can use after training.
We also have berry pickers, fishing rods, and access to canoes, cabins and fishing grounds. Students who hunt may be allowed to store weapons in gun lockers by appointment.
We also have equipment for glacier walking, ice climbing, caving, canyoning, and outdoor climbing. Please note that equipment will not be lent to anyone who lacks sufficient competence or experience.
For certain activities in the course, we can accommodate some physical challenges if they are compatible with the course content. Contact us to discuss how we can meet your needs. We can also find alternative solutions if certain activities are too demanding, for example by joining other courses when a specific activity is not feasible.
We don't have many criteria for applicants, but you must be18 years oldold or become so during the first semester. You can apply from October 1 for next year's courses, and we admit students on an ongoing basis startingNovember 15.You will then receive an email from us with a response to your application. We continue to admit students until the school is full. In some cases, the composition of the class will determine whether you are a good fit or need to be placed on a waiting list. For example, the mix of instruments may be a factor. If there are more applicants for a course than there is room for, your application number will determine whether you receive an offer. In some cases, gender balance will also have an impact.
Program teachers usually contact those who apply. This allows you to get to know each other a little better and determine if you have found the course that suits you best. Perhaps you have questions, feel uncertain, or have something you would like to share about yourself.
The course trip goes to...
LOFOTEN
We go on a bus trip to Lofoten. With its majestic scenery and boundless hiking possibilities, it is one perfect destination that many have on their bucket list. On the way to Lofoten we have an overnight stay in Bodø and use the opportunity to climb inside Northern Norway's best climbing facility.
Lofoten consists of three main islands that are linked together by tunnels and bridges. In the east is Austvågøy, there we stop by Svolvær, Henningsvær and naturally do activities in the area. In the middle of Lofoten's island range lies Vestvågøy with Leknes as the largest settlement. At Vestvågøy it is a little less steep, and one can do activities such as horseback riding along beautiful turquoise beaches, visit a Viking village and go some less demanding mountain hikes. Moskenes is the outermost of the three islands, and has the most dramatic scenery. Here lies Reinebringen, Å, Bunes stranda, Kvalvika, and many other dramatic natural areas. If there is no storm, maybe we can take a beginner surfing course at Unstad or Flakstad, which are two well-known surf beaches.
In addition to the line trip, we also have the opportunity to island hop on the Helgeland coast during the school year. Look forward to an exciting year in the North.
Course teacher
Jonas Løv
Teaching Activity-based outdoor life and Preparing for First-Time Military Service
Jonas graduated with a bachelor's degree in outdoor activities and a master's degree in sports science from Høgskolen på Vestlandet. He has worked as a river and sea paddling instructor for several years, and has previously also worked in child welfare and in primary schools. In his spare time, he is active in snowboarding, mountain hiking and trail biking. Has a strong professional interest in outdoor life guidance and pedagogy.
Asbjorn Daniel Davis
Teacher Outdoor Life EASY and Outdoor Activities and Travel
Asbjørn has worked for many years with outdoor life teaching, and he is at least as enthusiastic as the students if not more. He is a trained outdoor life teacher, but has also studied geography and sports subjects. Asbjørn has been climbing for many years, and is Climbing Instructor Sport NF, Climbing Leader Inne NKF, and Trainer 1 NKF. When it is too wet to climb, it is kayaking that is applicable. With the second highest level in Norway (Turleder HAV NPF) and in the UK (BCU 4 * Leader tr.), he is a competent paddling instructor, with experience from short and long paddling trips at home and abroad. In winter, he enjoys ice climbing, going on easy summit hikes, snow kiting, skiing and sledding inland in the mountains, or taking a short hike in the surrounding area to fire winter fires.
