Year-round course (two semesters)

Rainforest Amazon

We will work with the conservation of the rainforest and increase the understanding of the lives of those who live in it. The rainforest line at Sund folk high school works at the intersection of ecology, anthropology, history and politics. Six-week study trip with fieldwork in the Peruvian Amazon.

See it with your own eyes

The diversity of species in the rainforests is what makes them unique in a global context. At the same time, the environment is being destroyed by logging, plantations and oil extraction. On the rainforest line, we meet the indigenous people and see the environmental problems with our own eyes by gaining unique insight into the daily lives of those who live in the rainforest.

We prepare well before we travel, learn about language and culture, and are challenged socially and personally. After the study trip, we work on communicating what we have experienced and learned on the trip.

In brief:

  • Environmental issues
  • Climate change
  • Involvement
  • Spanish language
  • 6-week study tour with fieldwork in the Peruvian Amazon

Social media for the course Rainforest and activism

More about the course

Classroom environment and academic preparation

The period before the trip is a preparation time. We concentrate our work on establishing a good classroom environment, studying ecology, forestry and agriculture.

We work with current issues related to the rainforest while learning about the language and culture of the region we are visiting.

During the fall, we practice field life and social skills through overnight trips, scenario exercises and mini-fieldwork in Norway.

Study trip to the Amazon for six weeks

The journey goes to the Peruvian Amazon. We travel to Lima in Peru and from there we spend a short week traveling into the Amazon.  

While we're still in the mountains, we'll take a week-long language course to be able to communicate when we continue into the upper reaches of the Amazon. While we're studying Spanish, we're staying with families to get a feel for how people here live and think. The personal friendship and familiarity commits and engages us. 

Fieldwork on the study trip

The fieldwork is a very important part of the study trip. For around three weeks, we live with families in villages in the Amazonian cloud forests and work on topics that we are particularly passionate about. Through observation, documentation and conversations with the people we meet and live with, we gain unique and first-hand knowledge of the topics we, and they, are concerned about. 

All students choose fieldwork that they work on during the trip. There are many exciting and important topics to tackle. In previous years, the oil companies' pollution of drinking water and fishing has been a topic that has occupied many of the students. Other fieldwork has focused on agriculture, cooking or crafts such as basket weaving and canoe making. 

When you spend a long time in the Amazon and meet the people who live there, it's almost inevitable that you'll get caught up in the battles people are fighting.Right now there are three major battles being fought in the Amazon, and for many students it's powerful to meet people whose livelihoods are being destroyed: 

  • Oil operations with leaks that damage drinking water and fishing 
  • Forest destruction to plant monocultures such as oil palms and cocoa 
  • Mining and quarrying 
  • Illegal gold panning in the rivers, with equipment such as heavy metals polluting the water. 

Visas

Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your return date from Peru. A visa to Peru is not required for stays of less than 90 days.

Vaccination

In order to travel to Peru, you must take a number of vaccines. We recommend that you take the vaccines recommended by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and your local health center. Some vaccines should be taken over several weeks, so it's a good idea to start early.

Communication and activism

When we return to Norway after the study trip, we'll share the experiences and knowledge we've gained from meeting the locals and understanding their everyday lives.

First, we prepare and carry out a lecture tour of one to two weeks. Then we use the time to delve deeper into topics that we want to learn more about, actionism or other things that can help improve the situation for the indigenous population, the rainforest or the climate and environment in general. We use our commitment for something positive and act where we think it's important.

Blog posts from the rainforest line

Former students have written blog posts about their experiences and fieldwork on the study trip:

You can also read a blog post from line teacher Anders Hals about deforestation of the rainforest:

Anders Hals
Teacher

Anders has a wealth of knowledge and a strong commitment to the environment. He has broad international experience from traveling and living in Latin America. It's never difficult to know what Anders thinks about things, and he's happy to share his thoughts on everything that's important to do something about in the world.

+47 455 02 353E-mail address

The unique thing about folk high school is that you can learn about what you like - because you want to! We organized the teaching according to what we wanted to learn about. In the breaks, the discussion was loose. What is justice? Who has the power? It was incredibly inspiring!

Aurora Førland

Rainforest

"The Rainforest Program offers great insight and wisdom about the world's best and worst contexts. This year was just as formative as five years at university, and I would never have done without it! It warms my heart to think back to the Sund days!

Sunniva Beitnes

Rainforest

Students' annual plan Sund folk high school 2024-2025

The last day of school for the 2024–25 school year is Thursday, May 15, 2025.

Year program: Fall 2025–Spring 2026

NOK 149 000,-

School fees include:

  • Accommodation in a double room at Sund fhs
  • All food at Sund fhs (four meals per day) - we don't charge extra for special diets, vegetarian or vegan food
  • The study trip - academic program, accommodation, food and transportation are included
  • Joint school trips and excursions
  • Wireless internet, copying and printing for teaching
  • Use of gym, training room, rehearsal room, photo studio, darkroom
  • Use of washing machines and dryers
  • Expenses for the vast majority of electives
  • Transport in connection with training
  • Administration fee at NOK 2 500,-

All lessons are free of charge.

School fees are not included:

Most of the materials we use in teaching are included. However, if you want to make something different/more/larger than what the teacher has planned, you must expect to pay for the extra equipment yourself.

  • Deposit for key and use of equipment at NOK 1 300,-
  • Single room supplement at NOK. 5 850,- (650 per month for 9 months)
  • Pocket money for personal consumption

Loans and grants from Lånekassen

As a student on year-round programs at Sund folk high school , you are entitled to study support from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (if you are a Norwegian citizen).

In the school year 2024-2025, students will receive a total of NOK 137,900 in grants and loans from Statens Lånekasse. Of this, 40%, i.e. NOK 55,160, will be converted into a grant once you have completed the school year and had it approved. If you are a student on a half-year course, you will receive half the loan amount. 

Read more about loans and grants atwww.lanekassen.no.
As soon as you have a place at Sund folk high school , you can apply for grants and loans atwww.lanekassen.no.

We do not have an application deadline and you can apply throughout the year. We start admitting students from November 15, and accept students as long as there is room at the course.

Admission criteria:

  • Age limit 18 years, exceptionally 18 years before the study trip
  • We accept students as long as there is room on the course you apply
  • We focus on motivation and interests

Application:

  • Send an online application
  • We'll get back to you as soon as we can
  • Write a little about yourself and why you want to join Sund
  • It's a good idea to apply early, even if we don't start admissions until November 15.

Rainforest Amazon
No results!

What former students say

Before Sund , I'd had a year off and was about to start a study program I was halfway motivated for. Luckily, I took the time for a year at Regnskoglinja, the time to find out what I care about and what I really want. I'm very happy about that.
Sofie Bergset Janols
Rainforest