Learning outcome

After successfully completing the course, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge

The candidate has knowledge of:

• Planning trips in winter according to ability

• Guidelines for outings
• Knowledge of orientation and safe routes
• Clothing, equipment and their proper use
• Weather, wind and snow with relevance for planning and execution of trips in the winter mountains
• Shelter and camping, food, campfires and cooking equipment
• Snow, avalanches, rescuing others and first aid
• Nature and cultural topics with relevance for the winter outdoors
• Culture, laws and regulations, and the importance of leaving no traces behind

Skills

The candidate can:

• Orient themselves and take safe routes in the forests and mountains
• Carry out and participate in rescuing members of the group with shovels, probes and transmitters/receivers
• Ski with a heavy backpack in the forests and mountains whilst maintaining energy levels
• Demonstrate and explain how to build a shelter and camp in the winter woods, including a lean-to, improvised bivouac, winter fire, nying (type of fire)
• Build and live in a shelter made of snow, choose a campsite and set up camp (tents, snow holes, bivouacs and igloos)
• Demonstrate and explain how to use a primus and campfire in winter in a safe and appropriate manner
• Demonstrate physical and mental resilience during long winter trips under varied weather conditions

General competence

The candidate:

• Can select a trip in accordance with his/her ability, has high stamina, can choose areas, and carry out safety, responsibility and consequence analysis
• Can maintain their own safety and that of the group on overnight trips in the winter woods and mountains
• Has knowledge of didactics and methodology related to the training of beginners in the winter outdoors
• Has the ability to create safe and well-functioning learning spaces
• Has the competence to communicate safe trip guidelines, procedures, organization and working methods to beginners
• Has the ability to communicate nature and cultural topics in the winter woods and mountains

Course Description

• Execution of long trips in the winter woods and mountains
• Trip planning and guidelines for winter trips
• Orientation exercises and training on safe routes
• Knowledge of snow and avalanche theory
• Rescue from avalanches
• Training skiing skills
• Shelter and camping in winter woods: lean-to, improvised bivouac, winter fires, nying (type of fire)

• Shelter and camping in the winter mountains: building and living in a shelter made of snow, choosing a campsite and making camp, and how to construct tents, snow holes, snow caves, bivouacs and igloos
• Hygiene and first aid in the winter
• Food and cooking equipment for winter use
• Weather and weather signs
• Nature and cultural topics related to snow and winter
• Guiding theory: trip guidelines, procedures, organization, working methods and management related to winter outdoors

Teaching and Learning Methods

• 6 lectures
• 14 days with guide
• 8 days individual trips

Assessment Methods

100 % compulsory participation in practical activities is required, as is a written home examination. An assignment related to the winter woods, of 2 days duration, counts for 40% of the course grade. A 3-day assignment related to the winter mountains counts for 60% of the course grade. The course grade is awarded on a descending scale using alphabetic grades from A to E for passes and F for fail.

Assessment methods are chosen to assess the candidate's knowledge, skills and competence in relation to communicating the subject; please refer to the learning outcomes above.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean