Outdoor Studies (friluftsliv) One Year

Outdoor life is an integral part of Norwegian culture. From a very early age, children are taught to respect and enjoy the outdoors. The Norwegian word “friluftsliv” can be translated directly as “free air life” and covers many aspects of outdoor life, including:

• taking in fresh air,
• engaging in outdoor activities, for movement and enjoyment, or in competition,
• learning to understand and respect the natural world,
• discovering the world around us by research or as informal exploration.

The one-year programme in Outdoor Studies is for people who want to develop better knowledge and skills in outdoor life and outdoor activities such as:

• Glaciers
• Kayaking and canoeing
• Climbing
• Winter outdoor activities

The programme of study also provides an introduction to educational and social science perspectives on outdoor life. Together with the practical learning, this will help enable students to plan, implement and assess outdoor activities for relevant target groups, and view the phenomenon of outdoor life in a larger societal context.

Outdoor studies is a full-time programme with weekly teaching - either at the study location (campus), or on group and individual trips.

The study places great emphasis on risk and safety work, and topics such as trip planning, consequence thinking, risk-reducing measures, and good trip routines are closely linked to all practical activities.