Outdoor Academy of Scandinavia
Welcome to our lab
Photo OAS/VisitSweden
Join us in our R&D facility for the best staff training program in the outdoor industry. OAS offers a two level program, EXPLORE and EXPERIENCE. Since several member companies cooperate at every OAS, the program is time and cost efficient for participating retailers. In addition to acquiring a deep knowledge and experience in our products, participants develop their general outdoor and navigation skills.
OAS EXPLORE
… is – as the name implies – a program exploring the Swedish wilderness doing various outdoor activities. The program is done in cooperation with VisitSweden. Minimum two nights are spent in the wilderness. In addition to outdoor retail staff, journalists and tour operators are also invited.
OAS EXPERIENCE
… is focused on providing a deeper outdoor experience for the participants. We spend 4-6 days in the Scandinavian wilderness doing a longer trek by foot (summer) or by snow shoes or Nordic touring skis (winter). Participants learn by doing in everything involved with a longer outdoor trip from planning food to packing, carrying, cooking and navigating in the Scandinavian mountains, sometimes in challenging weather conditions.
Outdoor Academy Program 2011
During 2011 S.O.G. offers the following outdoor academy programs. A detailed programme, packing lists and equipment information will be send to all participants before the event!
OAS EXPERIENCE WINTER
Snowshoeing and skiing
When: March 14-21
Location: Jämtland, Sweden
Watch also another great movie on 4 Seasons.TV from OAS in Jämtland.
OAS EXPLORE WINTER
Skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledging, ice-skating and more
When: March 25-29
Location: Östersund/Åre, Sweden
Organizers: Cooperation between Visit Sweden and S.O.G. companies
Find the preliminary program on VisitSweden.
OAS EXPLORE TREKKING
Trekking, climbing, mountain biking, kayaking and deep sea fishing
When: June 16-21
Location: Fjord Norway / Aalesund, Norway
Program:
Thursday, June 16th:
- Arrival Ålesund Airport Vigra
- Hand out of equipment
- Trek to the camp site, where we stay the night in tents.
Friday, June 17th
- Trekking in groups
- Training Program
- Basecamp next to the Patchell hut
Saturday, June 18th
- Optional activities
- Glacier trekking
- Workshops
Sunday, June 19th
- Ferry trip from Hellesylt to Geiranger
- Hike to the waterfall Storsæterfossen
- Ferry Eidsdal to Linge
Monday, June 20th
- Optional activities at Basecamp Valldal: Mountain biking, Hiking / trekking, Juving / climbing, rafting
- Heading for Basecamp Ålesund via the Troll Paths Route (Trollstigen)
Tuesday, June 21st
- Optional activities: Kayaking, Guided tour on foot
- Arrival Ålesund airport Vigra, Individual travel arrangements.
OAS EXPERIENCE AUTUMN
Trekking
When: September 5-12
Location: Jämtland, Sweden
After introduction and clinics, this will be a five day trekking tour in the Jämtland mountains. We will start out in the forest and then move up above the
tree line. We will travel on some paths, but mostly we’ll be off-trail. We will walk 8-15 km everyday, we will not be in a rush. There will be plenty of time
to enjoy nature, to adjust your equipment, to really test the gear provided by the hosting companies, take care of sore feet and talk to your new made
touring friends. You will have to carry all your gear, approx. 20 kg. You will sleep in Hilleberg tents every night of the tour, but you’ll get to try a different
tent each night. Navigation will be old style (no gps…) and we will provide you with map and compass and also give you instructions on how to use them.
September weather in the Jämtland mountains can vary widely. If you are lucky, it can be sunny and 20+ degrees. If you are even luckier, it can be -5
degrees and snowing – then you can really test out the gear! Weather reports are not always reliable and we will set you up so you are prepared for most
conditions.
This tour is an ”Experience” level for OAS courses, and so is physically demanding. You will have to be in good shape, and fit enough to handle
carrying a heavy pack some distance. You will also need some outdoor experience.
While you will be in the excellent hands of the experienced and reliable tour leaders from the participating companies, we do expect you and
everyone else on the tour to be responsible. You will learn a lot from the others, and you’ll find that the others will also learn quite a bit from you.
Day 1
Arrival at the airport (pick up 16.00) or train station (pick up 15.00) in Östersund, and transfer by bus to Storulvån Mountain Lodge. The evening
includes a nice dinner, introduction, presentation of instructors and participants and equipment handout.
Day 2
Clinics and product information from the five companies. In the late afternoon we’ll set off a short distance to camp the first night. From here on you are your own chef and will have to cook all meals.
Day 3-7
The long trekking tour begins and every day will be filled with both product and outdoor training and discussion sessions.
Day 7
Return to Storulvån Mountain Lodge in the afternoon. It will be time to relax and have a sauna, as well as to return equipment, and go through evaluations and a debriefing. We will be served a delicious dinner and we will have great fun the last evening. You will also get your final examination…
Day 8
Breakfast, check out, transfer and departure. You will be at the airport by 11.45 (or at the train station 11.45).
S.O.G. Project Manager OAS:
OAS Project Management: Martin Kössler
Last update: 2011-06-13
