Backpacking and extreme sports
Pack your bags for a year of amazing travels, exciting people and lots of adrenaline. You will challenge yourself on water, snow, mountains and in the forest, with professional instructors and a group that will push your limits!
"You should feel that you are alive"
At Backpacker/Ekstremsport you get the best of both worlds. Backpacking is social and educational, and you get to experience a lot in a short time. In Elverum we are close to a large selection of extreme sports activities, and there are new adrenaline rushes every week.
In step with the seasons
We play with the seasons, and start the year with lots of water sports. When the snow comes, we move on to snowboards and skis. You will be trained in equipment, technique and safety by the school's teachers and hired professional instructors. We always start from your level, and work from there.
Autumn/Spring
- Surfing
- Rafting
- Canyoning, rappelling and cliff jumping
- Wakeboard
- Skate
- Climbing
- Plunge
- All Mountain
Winter
- Skiing and snowboarding – park and freestyle
- Kite
- Randonee
Backpacking
Backpacking is the perfect form of travel for young people who want to experience as much as possible in a short time – and Europe is the perfect “playground”. It’s a short distance between fantastic big cities and small gems. You get close encounters with people, culture and history, in addition to visiting world-class ski and surf spots.
We plan trips together and in small groups, and you help decide the activities. We have a strong focus on traveling both safely and economically.
Season pass and rail park
You get season tickets in Trysilfjellet - Norway's largest ski resort – which can be used freely outside of class. The school has its own rail park for boards and skis in the garden, and we produce snow as soon as the temperatures drop below freezing. We also have a skate ramp on the school grounds. Five minutes from the school there is a large concrete park, and Elverum has fantastic cycling opportunities.
You have access to wetsuits throughout the school year. At the school we have kite equipment, bodyboards and slack lines. We also have a lot of film equipment.
Learning for life
The curriculum is important, but Elverum Folk High School is much more than just the curriculum. You also have electives in the afternoons and evenings, study trips with overnight stays, Saturday classes, and there is a lot of social happening – both planned and spontaneous.
All of these moments, encounters, and experiences provide valuable learning that will build and develop your skills, personality, and competencies for the rest of your life.
No matter what you're going to do after folk high school, it'll be better when you have a little more experience. Know yourself a little better. Have a slightly larger network and have challenged yourself.
Study trips with the backpacking and extreme sports line
Backpacking and surfing in Spain/Portugal
In the transition from April to May, we travel to Spain or Portugal for a surf camp, before returning home and ending the school year.
Backpacking with skis and boards in Europe
We backpack through Europe and ski and snowboard in hidden gems of ski destinations. We plan trips both together and in small groups. Here we discuss the itinerary, accommodation and content of the trips.
Marius Bergan
Marius Bergan
Surf trip to Hoddevik
Fantastic Hoddevik at Stadt is one of Norway's hottest surfing destinations. Here you will be introduced to surfing from experienced instructors, and you can surf several sessions every day.
Snow kite camp
In February we are going on a kite camp! We will set up the kites, practice kite control and work our way up to freeriding and speeding across the vast snow-covered plain with mountains on all sides – a very special feeling. After long days on the ice it is good to come into warm log cabins with wood heating.
Rafting in Sjoa
Sjoa offers wonderful rafting experiences. You will receive thorough instruction in basic paddling and belaying skills, before we tackle classic parts such as the "Golf Stream", "Canyon" and "Kinahole". The river does its best to throw you out of the raft if you're not on guard, or working as a team with your team.
Camp Trysil
Ski in and ski out in Norway's largest ski resort, with access to a hot tub, sports hall, billiards, squash and table tennis. We spend the days on the snow with skis and boards, and visit FlowRider for an indoor surfing session.
What you need…
- Snowboard/ski equipment
- Helmet (back pain is also a good idea)
- Backpack (60 liters or more)
- Daypack
- sleeping pad
- Sleeping bag
- Power Bank
- Valid passport for the school year + six months
- European Health Insurance Card and travel insurance
It is an advantage to have a laptop with you for trip planning.
🚀 It only takes a minute to apply…
Gallery
I have experienced so much cool things on the Backpacker/Extremsport line. All the trips and activities we have done this half year have exceeded all my expectations - especially the people. I have made good friends from many different countries 🌍
Elfride Hageman
I have always been social and enjoyed being with people. At the folk high school I have found an environment where I can share my interests and joy with other like-minded people, and I have met people I have grown to really like.
Eirik Sæten
At Elverum Folkehøgskole there are dedicated teachers and lifelong friends. If I had been allowed, I would have stayed at school for the rest of my life and learned new, exciting things every single day!
Synnøve Bysveen
Have had a fantastic year, thanks to all staff and students!
Maria Nikoline Klette
