Course Objectives

The aim of the course is to introduce the student to outdoor life in the mountains, forests and waterways. The student will acquire basic competence and skills in outdoor activities in the various environments. Students will develop the necessary basic skills within the field of outdoor life. They will learn to make demands concerning their own competence and work independently developing this competence.

Course Description

The course is divided into two parts: mountains/forests and waterways.

- Mountains/forests I, Skills and Knowledge:

• The importance of having enough energy in store when setting off on trips, choosing routes and destinations in keeping with one’s competence, choosing trip area according to ability, safety and goals
• Taking responsibility for one’s own learning
• Outings in the wild: laws and regulations; the importance of leaving no traces behind
• Planning trips; going on expeditions in groups; safety and guidelines for outings
• Clothes and equipment
• Shelter and making camp: choosing a campsite and making camp, constructing gapahuks (lean-to shelters), tents
• Orientation and route choice, maps and compasses, choice of destinations
• Food, building campfires and cooking utensils
• Harvesting and preparing berries and mushrooms
• Hygiene and first-aid in the forests and mountains
• Weather and weather signs
• People in the mountains: use of the mountains in a cultural-historical perspective
• Didactics: trip guidelines, procedures, organisation, working methods, management and
  leadership, learning from one another

- Waterways I, Skills and Knowledge:

• The importance of having enough energy in store when setting off on trips in the wilderness, planning trips in accordance with one’s ability, choosing trip area according to ability, safety and objectives
• Taking responsibility for one’s own learning
• Outings in the wild: laws and regulations; the importance of leaving no traces
• Planning trips, paddling expeditions in groups, safety and trip guidelines
• Paddling canoes on calm water and in rapids, basic paddling techniques
• Inspection of rivers
• Wading in rivers
• Lifesaving: saving oneself and others in calm water and rapids
• Shelter and making camp: choice of campsite and making camp, canoe bivouac
• Orientation on route choice, reading maps, deciding on destinations
• Food, campfire and cooking utensils
• Hygiene and first-aid along waterways
• Weather and weather signs
• People along the waterways: use of the waterways in a cultural-historical perspective, the river as a symbol, and the history of the canoe, its use and development
• Didactics: trip guidelines, procedures, organisation, working methods, management and leadership, problem solving

Learning Methods

Instruction is given during the autumn semester. The course includes lectures, group work, and practical / problem-oriented guidance in connection with the trips in the various nature environments. The trips are obligatory and consist of 9 days with a guide and 10 days on an individual trip.
NB! All introductions to trips and group work concerning planning are obligatory.

Assessment Methods

Portfolio assessment and final oral assessment. The students will compile a portfolio for each part of their outdoor practice period. When the periods of outdoor practice in the practical courses are completed one of the portfolios is considered for assessment, and allocated a grade, which counts for 40% of the final mark. When the portfolio assessment has been completed, students are given a final oral assessment, which is graded, and counts for 60% of the final mark. To qualify for oral assessment, students must first have submitted all their portfolios, participated on obligatory group and individual trips, and participated in other obligatory teaching.

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