Explore nature from fjord to mountain! Learn outdoor skills, ecology, and sustainable living through hiking, kayaking, and travel — and discover that you’re not just in nature, you’re part of it.
Outdoor Life and Ecology
At Outdoor Life and Ecology you’ll experience nature not just as a place you visit, but as a part of who you are. This course combines outdoor activities, ecology, and sustainable living — from fjords to mountains and beyond.
You’ll learn how to travel safely and responsibly in nature, paddle a kayak along the coast, hike the spectacular mountains around Bergen, and explore life by the fjord right outside the school. Fana Folk High School has its own boathouse with canoes, and we work closely with BUA Hjellestad, which offers free access to equipment like skis, tents, wetsuits, SUP boards, and more.
The school cooperates with The Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT), giving you access to outdoor courses, local trips, and national networks. You’ll also learn from experts at the Arboretum and Botanical Gardens (University of Bergen) — just next door — where we study plants, ecosystems, and how everything in nature is connected.
Together with Matskogen and the Bærekraftige Liv (Sustainable Living) network, you’ll gain hands-on experience in foraging, permaculture, and growing food sustainably.
During the year, you’ll go on many shorter trips in Western Norway and take part in a longer train journey through Europe, visiting ecological communities in Germany, nature-based folk high schools in Denmark, or exploring France by bike or on foot.
This is a year filled with learning, nature, and reflection — where you’ll grow in knowledge, confidence, and balance.