It’s incredible how an activity as simple as hiking can satisfy so many of the pillars that the Red Cross Nordic United World College is based upon.
Every Friday at 2:15 a group of diverse young minds come together to discover the nature surrounding the school. Whether it’s beautiful and sunny – as this week, or pouring rain – as last week, the outdoor discovery group shows up with smiles on their faces and venture outside the campus to hike and explore the incredible Norwegian mountains.
On October 30, 2009, the Red Cross Nordic United World College (UWC) will be helping to organize a Ungdoms Gulating (Youth Parliament) on the Environment as part of the International Week in Bergen. The event is sponsored by the UN Association of Norway – West.
The participants will consist of 200 students from schools in Bergen and 200 UWC students from over 80 countries. The students will gather together, attend workshops, participate in discussions and work to produce a joint statement to be submitted to the Bergen City Council.
Theme: Climate Change and Biodiversity
Preliminary Program:
9:00 Opening Ceremony
9:15 Guest Speaker
9:45 Question and Answer Session
10:00 Workshop 1
11:00 Lunch
11:30 Workshop 2
13:45 Closing Ceremony
14:00 Parade
15:00 Participants depart
Workshop Topics:
Over three days 7 students and two staff have participated in the Kayak Leader Course enabling those who qualified to go kayaking without a member of the staff.
First session where spent doing basic techniques like getting in and out of the kayak, lifting a kayak and the most important stroke, the forward stroke. We learned to handle the kayak and make it go where we wanted it to while paddling out the Flekke fjord to where it meets the Dalsfjord. We also talked at length about how to dress and equip for different conditions.
The second session where primarily focused on buddy rescue which meant Continue reading »
A group of six students and two staff enjoyed two intense days of canoe training one weekend in the beginning of September, with Ragnhild as their instructor. With varied skills and backgrounds we spent the first day learning the most basic strokes and techniques. Many experienced that the simple action of getting a canoe to do what you want it to, isn’t so simple after all. Having to perform the correct strokes at the right time, while at the same time communicating with your partner to make sure you are thinking the same thing in the same language, can be challenging at times. However, after some exercises and games the canoes seemed to cooperate a lot better with their crew.
After a good night of sleep, the group, surprisingly on time and awake so early in the morning, met up to start a new day on the fjord. This one came with blue skies and sunshine – it’s amazing how lucky one can be!
We set of for Raudbua, stopping off to learn more techniques and speak about things to be aware of when canoeing. At Raudbua we had a little rest and a look at the lavvo. Back at the college the students had a little test to see if they could maneuver the canoe well enough.
With such a lovely group we managed to cover all the techniques and subjects and then some in the two days. The group was very concentrated and willing to practice, a lovely group to work with!
