Arctic Experiences

  • Pasvik Folkehøgskole – Svanvik
  • Telephone: 78 96 41 00
  • E-mail: pasvik@ffk.no
  • Course length: All year
  • Start-up date: 23.08.2027
  • Price: from NOK 159 000,-
  • Foundation:
    Liberal?
    The liberal folk high schools are built on values that are not based on one particular belief. They encourage students with different interests and beliefs to apply.
  • Food: Vegetarian, vegan?
    Most schools will accommodate food allergies and other dietary needs. If you have questions, please contact the school directly.
  • Environmental certification:
    Miljøfyrtårn
  • Location: Pasvik
  • Study tour for the course: Arctic Studio, Hurtigruten og Lofoten, Snowhotel Kirkenes, Svalbard
  • Study tour for the school: Finnmarksløpet: Europe's longest dog-sled race, Northern Lights Festival, Varangerfjord Round Trip
Send applicationPasvik Folkehøgskole

    På Arctic Experiences får du oppleve mye av det nordområdene er kjent for. Du møter hundekjøring, kongekrabbe, nordlys, Snowhotel, kyst, villmark og vinter på nært hold.

    Samtidig lærer du hvordan gode opplevelser blir til. Du møter mennesker som jobber med reiseliv og får innblikk i hvordan de planlegger, guider, tar imot gjester og forteller historier om stedet de bor på.

    Gjennom Arctic Studio lærer vi kamera, drone, foto, film, redigering og innholdsproduksjon. Vi bruker skolens fotostudio, kameraer og gode redigeringsmaskiner, og lager innhold fra turer, eventer og oppdrag gjennom hele året. Du trenger ikke kunne noe fra før. Målet er at du skal lære nok til å kunne fortelle en god historie med bilder og film, enten du står foran kamera, bak kamera eller planlegger det som skal lages.

    Årets største prosjekt er Nordlysfestivalen. Dere er med på planlegging, innhold, markedsføring, aktiviteter, vertskap og gjennomføring av et arrangement for publikum.

    I Øvre Pasvik nasjonalpark, Norges første internasjonalt godkjente Dark Sky Park, utforsker vi hvordan mørket, stjernehimmelen og nordlyset kan bli en opplevelse i seg selv.

    Arctic Studio

    Mandatory: Yes

    Price: Included in course price

    Første linjeuke blir en intensiv creator camp der du blir kjent med kamera, foto, film, redigering og innholdsproduksjon. Vi bruker skolens fotostudio, kameraer og gode redigeringsmaskiner og tester oss fram med både korte filmer, bilder og innhold til sosiale medier.
    Samtidig bygger klassen identiteten til Arctic Studio. Vi fordeler roller, utvikler uttrykk og gjør oss klare til årets første oppdrag.
    Du trenger ingen erfaring fra før. Målet er å lære nok til at vi kan begynne å produsere på ordentlig allerede fra starten av skoleåret.

    Hurtigruten og Lofoten

    Mandatory: Yes

    Price: Included in course price

    Vi går om bord i Kirkenes og følger norskekysten sørover til Svolvær. Underveis får vi oppleve Hurtigruten som gjest og se hvordan selve reisen blir en del av destinasjonen. I Lofoten utforsker vi fiskevær, natur og noen av opplevelsene området er kjent for, samtidig som vi møter folk som lever av å ta imot besøkende.

    Snowhotel Kirkenes

    Mandatory: Yes

    Price: Included in course price

    Snowhotel ligger rett i nærheten av skolen og tar imot gjester fra hele verden. Vi får oppleve stedet slik turistene gjør, møte menneskene som jobber der og se hvordan snø, is, hunder, mat og arktisk natur blir satt sammen til en helhetlig opplevelse. Et perfekt sted å lære hvordan reiselivet rundt oss faktisk fungerer.

    Svalbard

    Mandatory: Yes

    Price: Included in course price

    På Svalbard får vi oppleve en av verdens mest særegne arktiske destinasjoner. Vi prøver aktiviteter, utforsker Longyearbyen og møter mennesker som jobber med turisme i et samfunn der natur, vær og sikkerhet setter premissene. Her får vi både være turist selv og se hvordan opplevelsene skapes for gjester fra hele verden.

    Vi ønsker med våre fellesturer å styrke skolens felleskap, gjennom å dele fine natur- og reiseopplevelser. Et viktig poeng er også å bli kjent i våre nærområder slik at du lærer litt om hvordan det er å leve i Finnmark og i Barentsregionen, nære naturen og i en region hvor ulike kulturer smelter sammen. 

    Finnmarksløpet: Europe's longest dog-sled race

    Mandatory: Yes

    Price: Included in course price

    As a student at Pasvik Folkehøgskole, you play a central role in Europe's longest and tougthest sled dog race, the Finnmarksløpet. The whole school participates in this event. We operate the checkpoints in Neiden and Øvre Pasvik, where the mushers come to rest with their dogs. You'll get to work with many of the world's best dog handlers and experience the endurance of the Alaskan huskies.

    VideoSpill video

    Northern Lights Festival

    Mandatory: Yes

    Price: Included in course price

    As the dark season approaches Christmas, we invite you to our very own Northern Lights Festival—right in the middle of the wilderness. Here we combine nature, culture, and community in a truly special pre-Christmas atmosphere.

    We build an outdoor cinema with a wall of snow, bundle up in warm clothes, and watch a film under the starry sky. At the same time, you’ll learn how to take amazing photos of the Northern Lights.

    The festival also becomes a meeting place where we invite both locals and visitors from outside the area. We set the mood with music, campfires, warm drinks, and good stories, while the Northern Lights dance above us.

    The Northern Lights Festival in Pasvik is a highlight of the dark season—a magical blend of culture, togetherness, and nature’s own light show.

    Varangerfjord Round Trip

    Mandatory: Yes

    Price: Included in course price

    You’ll take the Hurtigruten coastal ferry from Kirkenes to Vardø and experience both wild nature and fascinating culture. At Vardøhus Fortress, you’ll hear stories from a local guide and visit the witchcraft memorial. The trip continues to Hamningberg, a truly unique volcanic landscape 🌋, where we finish by doing a beach clean-up together.

    Dog mushing

    Here you learn the basics of caring for and working with polar dogs. A lighter version of the Dog Sledding and Wilderness course.

    Photo & Film

    Here you can explore photography and video production together with others.

    Knife making

    Make your own utility knife. We build the knife almost from scratch. We buy the blade, while you make the handle yourself and sew the sheath.

    Climbing

    Learn sport climbing and how to climb independently. You can earn the Brattkort, which gives you access to indoor climbing walls throughout Norway.

    Music

    For anyone who wants to play music with others, whether you already play an instrument or want to learn. We use the school’s music room, led by our own music teacher.

    Hunting License

    Take the hunter’s exam early in the year and get the right to hunt on your own. The course covers shooting, weapon handling, wildlife knowledge, laws and wildlife management.

    Code to Russia

    The Code to Russia gives you a practical intro to Russian language and culture, teaching useful phrases, customs and insights that make the country easier to understand.

    Fjellbelte

    Fjellbelte is the elective where you learn to make a traditional Sámi mountain belt from scratch, using patterns, colors and techniques that are central to Sámi culture.

    Hells Kitchen

    Cooking with local ingredients and wild foods from Finnmark. You’ll learn to make delicious dishes with fish and game, prepared either in the school kitchen or over the fire in the big lavvu.

    Lindy hop

    Do you love to dance or want to learn? Lindy hop is the original swing dance from 1930–40s Harlem, fun, energetic and easy to learn.

    Canicross

    Canicross is the elective where you train running with a dog, learn good technique and build strong teamwork. Active, fun and perfect if you love speed and four-legged friends.

    Ski and basic training

    Ski and basic training give you better technique, strength and endurance through varied workouts both outdoors and indoors. Perfect if you want to feel stronger and more confident on skis.

    Finnish

    Intro course in Finnish with practical language exercises and a bit of Finnish culture. Pasvik borders Finland and has a rich Finnish heritage.

    Luhkka

    Here you learn Sámi handicraft. You’ll get help to sew your own Luhkka, a traditional Sámi cape you can use both on trips and as a beautiful garment.

    Sporty Indoors/Outdoors

    We use both the outdoor areas and indoor facilities at the school and train together! Anything from rugby on the field, orienteering, road runs, high-pulse hikes, or group workouts in the gym.

    Ball games

    In the school gym you can enjoy volleyball, football, floorball, basketball, table tennis — and anything else you’d like to play.

    Wilderness philosophy

    We draw inspiration from past thinkers and from nature itself, letting silence, wind and fire open space for conversations about life, nature and our place in it all.

    Pool / Swimming

    In the school pool you can get instruction in the most common swimming techniques if you want and there’s plenty of play too. The pool is also open in your free time all year.

    Theater Sports

    Theater Sports is the elective where you dive into play, improvisation and quick ideas. Low threshold, lots of laughter and great practice in daring more together.

    Language and Culture in the North

    Language and Culture in the North gives you insight into the heritage, stories and expressions of the northern regions with a focus on language, identity and life in the North.

    Outdoor Cooking

    Outdoor Cooking is the elective where you learn to make simple, tasty and creative food outside from campfire classics to new favorites that make any trip better.

    Woodcraft

    In Woodcraft you get to create your own projects from real wood and learn craftsmanship that actually lasts for years. It’s a creative, chill and practical subject where you work with your hands and watch something real take shape.

    Janitor

    Join the janitor for a morning and learn practical handyman skills. Perfect if you want to get more “handy” and explore what a craftsman or maintenance job is like.

    The wilderness and the silence of Pasvik create community and time, free from the stress of grades and performance pressure. Without being measured or judged, you become a better version of yourself.

    Pasvik is like living inside a Christmas card for six months of the year. Here you arrive at one of the country’s best destinations for northern lights, outdoor life, dog sledding, hunting and fishing. You’ll also experience exciting encounters with people and culture here in the North. Adventure waits right outside your door. 

    Why choose Pasvik?

    • Wilderness: The school is located at the edge of the Taiga, the world’s largest forest, in the heart of the Arctic wilderness.
    • High standard: The school has newly renovated dorms, a modern gym, swimming pool, sports hall, woodworking workshop, climbing wall, well-equipped music room, and saunas both at the school and by the school’s own riverside bathing spot at the Pasvik River.
    • No extra costs: All our electives are included in the school fee.
    • Tolerance and openness: With us, you are welcome exactly as you are. You can be yourself and grow on your own terms.
    • A safe and friendly learning environment: The teachers are dedicated, professionally competent, and have time for you.
    • Group trips: We offer three great shared trips: an autumn week in Pasvik, a northern lights journey across the Arctic region, and a spring trip to Vardø.
    • Borrow equipment: As a student with us, you can borrow outdoor equipment in your free time, such as tents, pulks, kayaks and canoes, fishing gear, and much more.

     

    Folktales

    A documentary about our school, created by Oscar-nominated filmmakers. A year of wilderness, silence, and community. An honest story of humanity far in the North.

    Watch the official trailer here:

    Courses at the school

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