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
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: Exploring magical Iceland, Snow cave expedition, Cabin hike in the valley of Pasvik, Solo night in the woods, Skiing expedition across the Finnmarksvidda, Canoe trip in Øvre Pasvik National Park, Mountain hike to Rastigaisa
Study tour for the school: Finnmarksløpet: Europe's longest dog-sled race, Autumn-trip, The Varanger Fjord, Nord-kalottur i mørketida
Learn, master, become stronger and travel through the last wilderness of Northern Europe.
Do you walk with a little Lars Monsen or Jens Kvernmo in your belly? This is the line for those who have experience with outdoor life and want to take the step towards longer and tougher trips. You learn everything you need to cope with long trips alone and you get to experience Northern Europe's last wilderness . During the year, you get the opportunity to try different ways of being on a trip, such as skiing, packrafting and canoeing.
You can take part in this:
Long trip over Finnmarksvidda
Packraft through Vätsäri, "Finland's most secluded wasteland" according to Lars Monsen
Winter trip through Sarek National Park in northern Sweden
Trip to Øvre Pasvik National Park
Inspirational meetings with experienced hikers and expeditioners
Drilling the necessary skills to undertake longer wilderness adventures
Introduction to dog sledding
Ski training and pack rafting
In Pasvik you live in the middle of the wilderness . From the door you have direct access to deep forests, to the border river Pasvik, countless ski slopes and hiking opportunities in both forest and mountain terrain.
Throughout the year, you will develop everything required for longer trips . On the line, we build up experience with packing and safety, and we focus on physical and mental training with the aim that you will be able to cope with long trips alone in the wilderness.
Exploring magical Iceland
Mandatory: Yes
Price: Included in course price
Duration: 8-10 dager
The highlight of the year is a trip to Iceland, where you'll explore glaciers, ice caves and magical landscapes.
We'll visit the famous Golden Circle, a 300 km trip to the three most popular natural attractions in Iceland: the Geysir Geothermal Area, Gullfoss Waterfall and Pingvellir National Park. You will also get the chance to visit Sólheimajökull glacier, where a professional guide will teach you the use of basic glacier equipment and take you on a hike into the glacier. Before flying back we'll go an iconic horseback ride with majestic Icelandic horses.
Snow cave expedition
Mandatory: Yes
Price: Included in course price
In February and March the conditions are great for skiing and the sun is back after dark. We explore the mountain areas near the school and practice for the big trip around Easter. We'll sleep in tents and snow caves, which are warmer and cozier than tents when it's very cold in winter. On this trip, there will also be a focus on snow profiles and some simple avalanche training. Pasvik and the surrounding areas have no avalanche-prone areas, but we think it's important to know the basics anyways.
Cabin hike in the valley of Pasvik
Mandatory: Yes
Price: Included in course price
Around the middle of October we go back into the woods of Pasvik. The temperature just dropped below 0 and there's often frost covering the marsh and a thin layer of ice on the edges of the lakes.
There are several cabins in Pasvik and we can choose whether we go on a hike from cabin to cabin or have a base for a couple of days. In addition, we also take tarps and tents, as the cabins might not be able to accommodate all of us. We'll make campfires and if lucky get to see the northern lights.
Solo night in the woods
Mandatory: Yes
Price: Included in course price
In the transition between autumn and winter, you'll get the chance to spend a night alone in the woods. You'll build your own shelter and make your own campfire. If you're lucky, you might be rewarded with northern lights.
Skiing expedition across the Finnmarksvidda
Mandatory: Yes
Price: Included in course price
Around Easter we will go on a skiing trip with tents and Primus. We decide the length of the trip together, but normally we go about 80 kilometers by ski in 8 days. We have time to ice fish, go skiing or just be in nature for a few days.
Canoe trip in Øvre Pasvik National Park
Mandatory: Yes
Price: Included in course price
We go canoeing into the heart of the Øvre Pasvik National Park and get to explore Pasvik the first week at school. By canoe we come close to nature, and have every opportunity to get around the large lakes south of the national park. We sleep in the shelters and get to know each other around the fire in the evenings. A great start to a great school year!
Mountain hike to Rastigaisa
Mandatory: Yes
Price: Included in course price
At the end of September, we head to Rastigaisa, eastern Finnmarks highest mountain with phenomenal views. Here we really get to see what is possible as a group. We live in tents and take day trips out of the basecamp. One day the trip goes to the top of Rastigaisa, and from here we see "the whole world".
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.
Autumn-trip
Mandatory: Yes
Price: Included in course price
This trip is for the whole school. You can choose from three alternatives:
Canooing: We padle down the pasvik river. Good chance for fishing big trout and pike. We sleep in lavvu or under open sky.
From cabin to cabin: We hike throug the pasvik wood, staying at the open cabins. In the evenings we gather around the camp fire. Perhaps we can meet one of the pasvik bears?
The Schools hut by the sea: We go hiking, visit a fish farm, look at remains from ww2, and fish in the ocean. In the evenings we gather in the living room, playing cards and telling stories.
The Varanger Fjord
Mandatory: Yes
Price: Included in course price
At the end of the school year, the whole school travels around the Varanger Fjord. We join Hurtigruta to Vardø, and travel from there with bus. Finnmark and Varanger has a lot to offer, both nature and culture. The birds are coming back this time of year, and there is a good chance for exciting bird watching. Together we enjoy the spring in Varanger!
Nord-kalottur i mørketida
Mandatory: Yes
Price: Included in course price
I november ved inngangen til mørketid drar hele skolen på en rundreise hvor vi er innom ulike destinasjoner på Nord-kalotten. Ved Enaresjøen i Nord-Finland besøker vi Siida, et museum om samisk kultur. I Kautokeino får du sjansen til å gå innom den fantastiske sølvsmia Juhls, hvor både selve bygget og smykkene er verdt en titt. Vi besøker også Sametinget i Karasjok.
I Alta får du to dager hvor du kan bruke fritiden til å gjøre ting du har savnet etter en høst i villmarka. Her kan du bade, shoppe og gå på kafé med mer. Vi besøker Alta museum-verdensarvsenteret for bergkunst og den omdiskuterte Nordlyskatedralen.
Foreign students
Pasvik Folkehøgskole has a program for foreigners who want to explore life in Norway and learn Norwegian. You follow one of our main subjects and study Norwegian for 8 hours a week. We currently have students from the Netherlands, the U.S., Germany, the U.K. and Scandinavia.
The school
Our school has a climbing wall, a gym, a swimming pool, football fields, ski tracks and three saunas. We have a big dining hall, where students share their meals and a common area with a piano. We have several dorms, which have been renovated recently with single and double rooms. Outside the school there's plenty of opportunities for outdoor life, hunting and fishing. The school also has its own dog kennel with around 30 Alaskan huskies. In summer, we go canoeing and hiking, whereas in winter we go skiing, kiting, and ice fishing. One of the school's three saunas is located right next to the Pasvik river, so you get to watch the northern lights in winter during sauna and get to take ice baths.
Our values
We emphasize tolerance, human dignity and equality. We are concerned with respect for cultural backgrounds, different sexual orientations, identities, political views and views on life. We are proud that our students get involved in everything from the PRIDE parade to solidarity work. Our core values are diversity, human development, community and joy of nature. With us, you get to be exactly who you are.
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.
