Outdoor activities and travel - Northern Norway and New Zealand
The line for those who:
- Love to be outside and join new things
- Are adventurous and want to experience unique outdoor activities
- Will experience two continents in one school year
- Are looking for new friends and a solid network for the future
Hear from former students
Emily Skavlid-Haavengen
I like that there is so much different to do on the line, we paddle kayaks, go on mountain hikes and much more. And then it's nice to travel together to a whole new place (New Zealand).
Sunniva Sorheim
Good memories are typical of the powder snow days in Hemavan, the surf waves in Lofoten or the climbing in New Zealand, but what I note as the best, are all the quiet moments around the fire or in front of the fireplace in the cabin. In these times, we often have what we call “weather-report. Then you can share your inner thoughts, good as well as bad, without anyone judging you. It is liberating and creates a safety environment. These moments have given me: the strength to reach out a hand; the courage to lean on others when I need to; the confidence to share my heart.
Activities on the line
We pick activities and experiences from the top shelf, and together we create the best year of outdoor recreation in two continents.
Felles
Common
Autumn
Spring
The students on the course receive beginner training in sea kayaking on the fjord near the school, and then we go on an overnight kayak trip on the Helgaland coast to the wonderful island of Rødøy. Once there we set up camp on a chalky white beach under the mountain Rødøyløva, which offers a wild view of the island kingdom. If the weather is good, we can see all the way to Lofoten.
We have local dog sledders in the area who we visit in their dog yard, to get to know the dogs we are training in dog sledding together with. You get to choose for yourself whether you want to sit on the dog sled or practice managing it yourself. Of course, with the training of an experienced dog handler.
When we return home from New Zealand we change from shorts to hiking clothes and are greeted by the winter landscape of Nordland. We will practice mountain skiing with and without traps and enable us to go hiking with amazing views. It will be a good mix of campfire trips, easy peak trips suitable for mountain skiing and ski trips where we spend the night in tents or DNT (The Norwegian Tourist Association) cabins.
The ski season ends with an epic spring ski trip to DNT Gråfjellhytta which is located at the foot of Oksttindbreen, and has views directly towards the sunset from 1000 meters above sea level.
We pack dry suits for sea paddling, climbing gear and book surfing. We spend the night at Lofoten Beachcamp on Flakstadøya, and have access to a surfecafe, showers, saunas and barbecues. We go hiking, paddling, climbing, surfing and enjoying life on a lovely roadtrip.
This is a tour together with the entire outdoor section at the school. We rent apartments right next to the ski slope, offering everything from freeriding to training on skis and boards. There is something for the experienced and for the beginner. You live with other students, cook in smaller groups in the evenings and enjoy the evening in the sauna. With communal barbecues on the ski slopes, fine alpine hiking to Hemavan and Tärnaby is ideal.
Depending on the season and weather, we seek out nice natural experiences in our local area. We are surrounded by fjords, mountains and fresh water. Sometimes we paddle a canoe, other times we bring hammocks, or light big bonfires. We emphasize variety and you get training whether to rappel or walk via ferrata, for example.
We work closely with our local ski resort in Kjemsåsen. Those who want can join the ski patrol in a shift at evenings/weekends. As a thank you for this, we get a number of annual passes that all students at the school can use for free. In season, the resort is known for having a lot of snow and good conditions for off-piste.
In autumn/spring we can climb outdoors, and in winter we have access to very modern climbing facilities with training walls, long routes for experienced and very good boulders.
Students are trained by an instructor, and if you love climbing, students can also apply to elective courses to maximize this.
We travel several times to islands on the coast, such as Lovund, Træna, Tomma and Rødøy. There we'll watch magical sunsets, take spectacular walks, swim and also do beach cleanup. Either we sleep in tents if the weather is with us, or we stay in Rorbuer (cabins) and floating sea houses on our adventures in the island kingdom.
The school stands for specialist equipment, such as tents, burners, dry suits, crampons, ice axes and the like. You have to account for sack, mountain shoes, skis, and clothing. Full list of equipment you need can see here.
Certain activities we do on the line we can facilitate some physical challenges if it is compatible with the content of the line. Contact us to discuss what we can do to accommodate your needs. We can also find alternative solutions if the activities are too extensive, for example by hospitalization on other lines when the activity is not feasible.
Registration fee: NOK 2,700, -
Living costs: NOK 95.922, - Covers food and living expensesfor the full school year.
Common costs: NOK 10.300, - Includes communityexcursions/cinema/performances/concerts, laundry, internet and administrationcosts. In the price you also get a school jacket, a yearbook and various tripslocally.
Line costs cover all costs on the individual line, includingmaterial and study trip. The price varies somewhat between the courses.
Total cost:
Full-year course NOK 152.891, - *
* Including line trip and possible participation intournaments. Subject to changes.
Miscellaneous additions:
- Those who choose to live in the newer boarding houses pay NOK 5000, - more
- Special diet
- Equipment insurance
- Some electives and voluntery trips
If you have Norwegian citizenship, Lånekassen has excellent scholarship schemes and loan opportunities. If you quit school during the school year, you must pay tuition for 6 weeks from the end date. This also applies if you were to be expelled for violating school rules.
We don't have too many criteria for who can apply, but youhave to be 18 years old or become so during the first semester. You can apply from October 1 to next year's courses and we are admitting students on an ongoing basis from November 15. Then you will receive an email from uswith a response to the application. We will continue to admit students until the school are filled. In some cases, the composition of the line will determine whether you can fit or have to be put on a waiting list. For example,the composition of instruments may be of importance. If there are more applicants for a line than there is room for, your applicant number will determine whether or not you get an offer. In some cases, gender balance will have an impact.
Line teachers usually contact those who apply. Then you can get to know each other a little better and find out if you have found the course that suits you best. Maybe you have some questions, are unsecure or have something you want to tell us about yourself.
The line trip goes to...
NEW ZEALAND
Etter jul drar vi på en tre uker lang studiereise til New Zealand. Vi utforsker hvordan vi kan bruke sport og friluftsliv for å bli kjent med et land, menneskene som bor der og kulturen deres.
Vi flyr til Auckland og reiser videre med bil. New Zealand er kjent for en variert natur, med aktive vulkaner, store klatrefelt, surfestrender og elver. Som stillehavsøy er det også et rikt dyreliv her.
- Fleredagers tur med havkajakk
- Sykkeltur
- Klatring i store klatrefelt
- Fleredagers gåtur inn i fjellene
- Rafting eller canyoning
- Byvandring
- Surfing
- Matlaging i telt
- Fridykking
- Topptur
- Kulturopplevelser
I tillegg vil det bli noen fridager hvor dere selv får planlegge innhold. Dra på strikkhopp, slapp av på stranda eller ta en tur til byen.
Apply to Vefsn Folkehøgskole
Line teacher
Asbjorn Daniel Davis
Teacher Outdoor Activities LIGHT 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.