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Year-round course (two semesters)
Rainforest Amazon
We will work on preserving the rainforest and try to understand the lives of those who live there. On the Rainforest Line at Sund We travel into the Amazon, where we meet people with strong stories, explore new tastes and smells, and get to know the amazing life in the rainforest. The entire journey takes place in a warm and safe classroom environment where community is at the center.
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 the language and culture, and are challenged socially and personally. Conversation is the most important way to learn, and both fellow students and people we meet on the study trip are unique sources. After the study trip, we work on communicating what we have experienced and learned on the trip.
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 about three weeks we live with families in villages in the Amazon rainforest 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 about the topics we, and they, are concerned with.
All students choose a fieldwork project to work on during the trip. There are many exciting and important topics to address. In previous years, oil companies' pollution of drinking water and fishing has been a topic that has concerned many of the students. Other fieldwork has dealt with 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.
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.
School life at Sund
At school before and after the study trip, socializing with other students and staff is very important. Academic topics, but also your contributions in kitchen service and washing up are important. Boarding life offers a lot of fun, well-being and security. You will be socially trained and will experience inclusion. At this the course everyone can participate.
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 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.
Eirin Høiseth is a political scientist and activist with an interest in human rights, nature conservation and peace work. Eirin has worked particularly with Latin America and Palestine and enjoys human encounters, solidarity and milk chocolate.
Eirin has been a student at both Sund and worked as a teacher. Now she would like to contribute as a guest teacher.
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
RainforestStudents' annual plan Sund folk high school
The first day of school for the 2026–2027 school year is Saturday 22 August 2026
Sund folk high school , annual plan for the school year 2026-2027
Sund Folk High School, Annual plan – school year 2026-27
Year-round line 2026–27
NOK 151,000,-
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).
For the 2026–2027 school year, you as a student will receive a total of NOK 154,880 in grants and loans from the Norwegian National Loan Fund. Of this, 40%, i.e. NOK 61,952, will be converted into a grant once you have completed the school year and have 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.
Do you have any questions? Feel free to contact us ›