Classes

Switch

Here is some information about the Switch program at Hallingdal folkehøgskole. My name is Petter, and I am a teacher in the SWITCH program.

Our school is located in the heart of the winter wonderland of Hallingdal, and SWITCH is the class that experiences the most days on snow out of all of the classes at the school. The school has a prime location for park skiing for both snowboarders and skiers in Norway, and we can’t wait to welcome you here! We are on the snow from October/November to May, and if you include weekends, class days and evenings, we quickly reach up to 100 days or more during your year at the school.

We shred the park and freeride together, girls and boys, beginners and advanced, on boards and on skis in some of the country's best parks. The ski towns of Hemsedal, Geilo, Ål, Sudndalen and Nesbyen are close to the school. In addition, we have a great park just 200 meters from the school - so just a short stroll away. The school has a good relationship with the ski resort at Gol, and we can have the opportunity to provide input on what we want in the park. Our location offers access to great snow condition, and this gives both beginners and experts the best opportunities to develop has a rider.

The school also has its own rail park in the yard with its own snowmaking equipment, so their is always a chance to get outside on your skis or board.

You will also get an opportunity to meet great local riders such as Øystein Braaten and Robert Ruud, or some of the other good snowboarders in Hemsedal. On good powder days, you can also choose off-piste riding, and during the year you will receive safety training related to this topic. The off-piste skiing/snowboarding is optional, so you have the choice to only ride park if that's what you want. It's just a matter of choosing what you are most excited about!

Other activities in the autumn are:

Cycling, surfing at Stad, slack line, skating (we have our own indoor mini-ramp and concrete park/asphalt pump track down in Gol), strength training, trampoline, and other basic training. We also have a fantastic gymnastic room in Gol, which we use a lot.

It is important to us that you feel comfortable during your time at the school. We have a teaching style that is probably quite different from what you are used to from a regular school. Here it is not just the teacher who teaches. We often learn just as much from each other, and our style of teaching and learning is very collaborative and interactive. The goal is not just to improve your knowledge and skills of snow sports, but also that the lessons you learn this year can be useful to you for the rest of your life.

The school tuition covers all lift tickets and transport, and we have avalanche equipment available for your use. You will receive a season pass for different resorts in the area. You can also use this in your spare time, on weekends and holidays.

The class weeks (4 weeks during the year when there are ONLY class subjects):

• 1 week of surfing at Stad (Autumn semester)
• 1 week on snow in the valley (Autumn semester)
• 1 week to Austria (Spring semester)
• 1 week school trip together with the rest of the students

Trip abroad:

In February we travel to Austria and the Zillertal. The choice of Zillertal is not accidental. It is a powder paradise and has some of Europe's and the world's best parks. The Zillertal is relatively snow-sure at this time of year. Hochfugen is one of several options here. On this trip we also always have a skilled guide with us who is enabled to ride in smaller groups. As we are going to spend close to two weeks down there, we are pretty sure that we will get some great powder to ride.

The parks in Zilletal:

Vans Penken Park

Betterpark Kaltebach

Equipment list (you MUST have this with you):

• Helmet
• Back brace
• Skis/boards
• Warm clothes for autumn/winter
• Gloves/mittens
• Small backpack for avalanche equipment (around 20-25 l)
• Training clothes for exercise
• Sleeping mat
• Sleeping bag
• Sneakers
• Passport

Hallingdal Folkehøgskole:

A year at Hallingdal Folkehøgskole contains so much more than the class you apply for. At our school, community is the most important thing. Living with people who may become your best friends for life.

Playing in the gymnasium, read a good book in the library, sing in the school choir, participate in fun electives on both Friday and Monday.

 You can also be inspired by great speakers at our Saturday seminars, express yourself creatively through program evenings, cook together in our school kitchen, or relax after an active day in the school´s cozy common room. However, you use your free time, Hallingdal´s community will be there!

How much does it cost?

A year at Switch costs NOK 152 000,-. In this price food, living expenses, study activities and travel are included. There are only a few trips where you need to cover lunch yourself.

If you want special diets or single rooms, there will be an additional charge to the price.

You can read more about the class and the school on our website www.hallingdalfhs.no. Facebook and @hallingdalfhs on Instagram. The class also has its own Instagram account that you can follow @oppdragnorge. Please feel free to contact us if there is anything you are wondering about.

If you have any question, please contact me at petter@hallingdalfhs.no. I`m looking forward meeting you!

Best regards

 

Petter Jacobsen

Friluftsliv Norge

There are still many months until the Fall and the start of the 2025/2026 school year here at the Folkehøgskulen, but we are already working hard with preparations and are looking forward to your arrival.

My name is Arne, and I am the teacher at Friluftsliv - Norge. I probably have a little “above average” interest in nature and outdoor life, and I have a special love for life in the mountains. I hope and believe that through an active outdoor lifestyle together, you will gain experiences that provide you with positive lasting impressions, and that will inspire you to explore nature further yourself, long after you leave the Hallingdal Folkehøyskule.

This class is called Friluftsliv Norge, and you can expect to take a lot of great trips around this beautiful and diverse country spending time outdoors. The weekly schedule is designed so that we can go on a trip on Tuesday and come back on Thursday during the regular school weeks. Some weeks we will just do multiple day trips. In addition, there are 4-5 class weeks where we are out all week, from Monday to Saturday.

Examples of typical week-long trips:

- Hike in Lofoten in September

- Sailing trip on the west coast in October

- Skiing/boarding where the snow has arrived in November

- Ski trip in Jotunheimen in February

- Ski trip in Sunnmøre in March

- Wilderness trip with skis and pulk to Svalbard in April/May

We end up with around 50 overnight stays in total, many in tents and cabins, but some under the open sky, in snow caves/igloos, and in hammocks. You will have plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures!

There will be hiking trips in the forest and in the lowlands, as well as up in the mountains. We go on climbing trips, glacier tours and snow cave trips, canoe trips and we go sailing on the ocean. We will also do climbing trips in the mountains. The snow usually comes in November and lasts until April. The Hemsedal mountains are close to us and are very well suited for trips both with skis and boards. In addition, it is not far up to Hardangervidda or to Jotunheimen National Park.The school also has many snowkites in different sizes. We will start practicing with these after the Christmas holidays, so that we are prepared to take a slightly longer trip when March comes. Also, we include many other outdoor activities when it is appropriate. It could be dog sledding, ice climbing or night navigation, for example.

So, what is the point of all this time spent out in nature?We believe that everything you are exposed to, and everything you participate in, helps to shape how you think and act in your life. The forest and the mountains can teach us so much, both about the outer and the inner landscape.

Through spending a lot of time out in nature, one can perhaps learn to appreciate aspects of who we are that our daily life doesn't really manage to capture. Time in nature allows us to explore alternative views of life and provides us with perspective on what is most important to us.

Wellbeing is a key word in this context - feeling healthy in the body, mind, and spirit. One of the prerequisites for achieving wellbeing in the mountains is, of course, having equipment that is high quality, appropriate and functional.

Here is a list of equipment you will need on Friluftsliv - Norge:

Clothes:

• Warm long underwear, preferably wool (plus extra set)
• Shirt/sweater
• Thick wool sweaters, fleece etc.
• Wind and waterproof jacket and pants
• A Down jacket
• Mittens, beanie and scarf/buff

Footwear:

• Mountain boots - sturdy shoes that you can use for both hiking, ice climbing and climbing

Ski equipment:

• Skis for downhill mountain use. This can be touring ski/telemark. Slightly wider skis provide stability and skiing pleasure.
• Ski boots for telemark/randonèe bindings. The ski boots must be suitable for both walking and skiing.
• Skins that fit your skis.
• Powerful poles with a large basket

 

 

Balanse

We’re Ellen and Nina and we are your Balanse class teachers. We hereby welcome you to an exciting and fun year at Hallingdal Folkehøgskule! We look forward to getting to know you and your interest in this particular class.

At Balanse, we look at the whole of being human. We focus on how physical activity, diet, thoughts, and emotions are important for living a good life. Our driving question is: how can we create balance in the body and balance in life? We are an active line, and throughout the year we will try many things that you can take with you through life!

We regularly practice yoga, meditation and pilates. This creates a calm, welcoming, and focused environment. At the same time, you get to know yourself well.

Through positive psychology, we explore the good life. We look at human strengths, resources, and talents. What creates joy, good health, and personal growth for you? We look forward to many exciting conversations with you on these topics.

Diet, body care, play, and physical activity are also an important part of our curriculum. We offer new and exciting activities such as surfing, trampoline, climbing park, SUP, ice bathing, climbing, martial arts and many days on the slopes on skis and snowboards. Maybe you need to get out of your comfort zone or love trying new things? This is the perfect line to explore new experiences in a supportive environment.

We look forward to taking you to Hallingdal's beautiful nature. We enjoy many days out in nature and go on canoe trips, beautiful mountain trips, berry picking trips and bonfire trips. Throughout the winter we are skiing/snowboarding on the slopes every week (Hemsedal, Geilo, Gol etc. - all in the immediate vicinity!). We focus on play and joy in everything we do and together we create mastery, togetherness, and new experiences.

During the year, we have four class trips:

1) Nøsen Yoga and Mountain hotel: A week of yoga, vegetarian food and nature in beautiful surroundings

2) Tenerife: A week of yoga, sun, heat, wave surfing, swimming, and snorkeling

3) Ski & Spa at Geilo: A week on the slopes and spa at Vestlia Resort

4) School trip with all the students

You do need some equipment. See the list below.

 

• Yoga mat
• Skis/snowboard
• Ski helmet
• Cross country skis
• Bicycle (if you have)
• A backpack for hiking
• Yoga/exercise clothes
• Running shoes
• Sleeping bag (warm enough for fall/spring
• Sleeping pad
• Water bottle
• Thermos
• Hiking shoes

 

Some of this you can buy/get after the school year starts.

Remember to have a passport that is valid for a year.

Hallingdal Folkehøgskole:

A year at Hallingdal Folkehøgskole contains so much more than the class you apply for. At our school, community is the most important thing. Living with people who may become your best friends for life.

Playing in the gymnasium, reading a good book in the library, singing in the school choir, participate in fun electives on both Friday and Monday.

 You can also be inspired by great speakers at our Saturday seminars, express yourself creatively through program evenings, cook together in our school kitchen, or relax after an active day in the school´s cozy common room. However, you use your free time, Hallingdal´s community will be there!

How much does it cost?

A year at Balanse costs NOK 143,000. Food, living expenses, study activities and travel are included. There are only a few trips where you need to cover lunch yourself.

If you want special diets or single rooms, there will be an additional charge to the price.

 You can read more about the class and the school on our website www.hallingdalfhs.no. , Facebook and @hallingdalfhs on Instagram. The class also has its own Instagram account that you can follow; @balanselinjen. Please feel free to contact us if there is anything you are wondering about.

We are looking forward to getting to know you!