Challenge Explore
Briefly about the line:
- Travel and trip planning
- Outdoor life
- Backpacking
- Cultural understanding
- Aid and global challenges
- Ski
- Surfing
- Climbing
- Zip line
- Canoe/SUP
- … and much more
Travels:
- Backpacking in Australia and Asia (4 weeks)
- Surf camp in Hoddevik
- Joint trip to Spain and Gibraltar
Travel, country, people and culture
Challenge Explore is the line for you who want to explore and challenge yourself within the professional areas of travel, cultural understanding, aid and outdoor life.
In the subject Outdoor activities, we learn to cook on a fire, gather food in nature, sleep in a hammock, navigate with a map/compass, and plan a trip to the national park. We test out activities such as canyoning, cave walking, cross-country skiing, climbing, snow cave building, SUP/canoeing and surfing.
In the field of tourism, we explore and plan schemes locally and globally. We can, for example, visit an alpaca farm, spend the night at a lighthouse, visit a Sami cultural center or go on an overnight bicycle tour. In Australia/Asia, we can sleep outside under the open sky and watch the sunset over Uluru, learn about Aboriginal cultures, snorkel, swim at Bondi beach, go to the market in Thailand, visit villages and experience exciting cultural encounters. You will help shape this journey!
Cultural understanding and assistance are important parts of the preparations for the study tour. We visit the Baan Chivit Mai orphanage in Thailand for which we also collect money. We are volunteers in organizations in Verdal and organize fundraising campaigns at the school. We familiarize ourselves with the countries we travel to, so that we have some knowledge with us in our luggage before we go out into the big world.
Subject areas
Outdoor life
- Basic outdoor life
- Safety
- Briefing
- Trip planning
Travel and backpacking
- Travel planning
- Travel budget
- Cultural understanding
- Australia/Thailand
- Language and history
- Organization visit
- Assistance/solidarity
Activities and team building
- Team building
- Peak trip
- Tours and bonfires
- Sleep in a hammock
- Cave walk
- Ravine
- Surfing
- Climbing/rappelling
- Zip line
- SUP/canoe
- Bathing
- Yoga, exercise and play
…and much more! You help shape the year!
Outdoor life and activities
Using nature and the surrounding area is also a large part of the experience this year. Through the scheme, you will get a basic introduction to outdoor life, so that you are equipped to plan and carry out your own trips in the future.
Through many of the activities we do, you will be able to learn more about both yourself and your fellow students. The year at Challenge Explore gives you unique, big, small, funny, strenuous, challenging, educational and good experiences together with others.
Tourism, country, people and culture
Throughout the year, we work with small and large trip plans, which gives an opportunity to gain an insight into the tourism industry. Keywords here will be itinerary, orders/bookings, budget, travel content, etc.
The greatest experience in this subject will of course be the work around and the completion of the line's study tour to Australia and Asia. Through preparatory work, the journey and post-work, you have the opportunity to gain insight and knowledge in a great way!
Cooking food from the countries we visit is a fun and tasty experience. When we get to see and learn about the culture and people we will meet on our travels, it gives us a better and deeper understanding of the world, but also about ourselves.
Within this subject, we also look at cultural understanding in a more general context. There are global challenges that we should know about, and which should perhaps create commitment among us.
During the big study trip in the spring, we will also try to plan a visit to the Baan Civit Mai orphanage in Chiang Rai, Thailand. This is one of the aid projects the school supports.
Who is the line suitable for?
The line is suitable for you who want to develop yourself, want to stretch personal boundaries and have the will to stand your ground. You don't need any basic knowledge, just a positive attitude to try new challenges.
Travel - Australia and Asia
We are embarking on a four-week trip to Australia and Asia, where you will also be able to help shape the travel plans.
In Australia checking out Sydney, watching the sunrise over Uluru, surfing at Bondi Beach, exploring the west coast, snorkelling in clear water, learning about Aboriginal culture and relaxing 'Down Under'. There will also be an opportunity to try skydiving for those who wish!
Asia is about colorful markets, local organizations, temples and holy places and introductions to new cultures, plus the food and warmth we all love. Thailand and Vietnam have often been on the programme, where a visit to the Baan Chivit Mai orphanage in northern Thailand is an extra heart-warming highlight.
Teachers on the line
Johanne Ottilie Espe
Johanne is a big supporter of the folk college as a learning platform. Here, the students' interests are given room to play, and they get the opportunity to explore different subjects without the pressure of exams and grades.
With a background as a lecturer, a master's degree in cultural encounters and study experience from Bolivia, India and Germany, Johanne brings a broad educational experience to the table. The commitment also extends to voluntary work and an active relationship with community development. Johanne spends a lot of time outside in both summer and winter, and is looking forward to sharing her joy of hiking and community engagement with you.
Equipment list
You must provide this equipment yourself
- Bag: 75 litres
- Daypack
- Sleeping bag that can withstand the cold!
- Sleeping pad
- Turn knife
- Cutlery (cup, plate, fork, spoon)
- Warm clothes (super underwear/wool underwear, wool socks, mittens, hat, neck)
- Shell jacket
- Hiking pants that can withstand a little rain
- Hiking shoes
- Flashlight/headlight
- Bicycle
- Skiing (cross-country or mountain skiing)
Schedule
In addition to the main subjects, you also have joint subjects, elective subjects and project subjects. The common subjects is worth its weight in gold for building community and preparing you for life after school. We offer many exciting electives, such as golf, horse riding, photography, the hunting test, the boat driving test and much more. IN project subject you get the opportunity to, among other things, take up subjects, or explore different career paths.
No two weeks are the same, but a typical week might look like this:
Shared every day: Good breakfast + morning meeting (a word for the day, today's news, marking birthdays and other important information).
- Monday: Room cleaning, Boarding subjects, Housing collection, lunch and line subjects
- Tuesday: Electives throughout the day
- Wednesday: Common subjects, lunch and line subjects
- Thursday: Main courses all day
- Friday: Line subjects. Boarding laundry the hour before dinner
- Saturday: Seminar/activity/trip, student evening, Saturday dinner with hot meal
Price
From NOK 138,350
Including:
- Instruction
- All meals
- Shared room at the school
- Joint trip with the whole school to Spain and Gibraltar (incl. 3 meals per day)
- Study trip to Australia and Asia (incl. 3 meals per day)
- All activities
- Tour in the local area
- Songbook
- Accident insurance
- Free use of student kitchens and special rooms
- Internet
- Washing machine
The price includes a double room with a bathroom in the hallway.
Read more about our prices and room types here
Loans and Scholarships
For the 2024/2025 school year, you can be paid up to NOK 137,907 from the Lånekassen. 60 per cent of this sum is a loan, 40 per cent is a loan that can be converted into a scholarship when you are approved for your year at folkehøgskole.
Contact
Do you have questions about the bus or the school?
School administration: 74 04 91 00 / adm@bakketun.fhs.no
I have learned to know myself and my own limits better. The highlight was probably the long trip, but also all the fun and educational things we did in everyday life!
- Marie Ludviksen
The year at Bakketun was the best year of my life. We in the class formed bonds through various challenges and wonderful experiences.
- Mathias Bleymann
News from the line
Get to know the scholarship recipients for next year
Otilia and Sanita will be scholarship holders (2nd year students) at Challenge Explore from the autumn.
This is how you live at Bakketun
Are you wondering what it's like to live at Folkehøgskole? At Bakketun we have three cozy boarding houses, which are again divided into smaller housing units.