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At the camp school Bjøntegaard in
Hanestad, days are filled with all kinds of
exciting activities – some that take a bit of
courage and others that more than anything
lead to laughter with friends, old and new.
Generations of children have memories
of summers spent at Bjøntegaard. Today,
the school is run by Lars Erik Bjøntegaard
and his wife Ingun Øynes Bjøntegaard. But
it was Lars Erik’s grandfather, Jens, who
started the summer camps already back
in 1946. In 1995, the idea grew to include
different types of camps and activities for
children and young teens, mainly in the
spring, summer and autumn months.
TOday, YEAR 7
from Berger school is here.
The teens have been divided into groups and
get to try a range of activities. Ingun gives
archery instructions, most of them have
never tried it before. At first the arrows end
up everywhere but on the target where you
can score points. But after a few attempts
and better focus a few of them score ten
points.
When everyone has had a go, they
move on to shooting with air rifles. It does
not seem to matter where the bullet hits –
everyone is having a good time regardless.
They all cheer each other on and are
impressed when a girl suddenly hits the
bull’s eye.
– Great job, Ingun exclaims. Do it again.
Load another bullet.
There are a total
of 90 beds split between
the rows of houses that enclose the yard,
the large main building and a smaller
härbre (a log cabin raised from the ground).
Bjøntegaard is a place for children and
teens aged 7 to 14. The summer camps
last seven weeks. Some of them are open
for individual applications, other weeks
are open to different associations and
organisations that organise camps for their
members, for example epilepsy associations,
cancer associations, music associations and
municipalities offering holiday camps.
–We offer full board, says Lars Erik. All
meals, lodging and activities are included.
The number of activities you can choose
from depends on the needs of the group.
Some associations also bring their own
leaders.
Bjøntegaard has a well-established motto
which characterises the entire business –
nature, learning and growth.
– We want to offer children and teens
a great holiday experience. Everything we
get up to has a positive feel and most of the
kids get the chance to try something they’ve
never done before.
A lot of the activities take place
outside of the camp. In the surrounding area
there are beautiful lakes where you can go
swimming and try other activities like water
skiing, canoeing, kayaking and fishing.
Cycling in the terrain, hiking, sleeping
outdoors and horse riding also appear on
the program from time to time. Only a short
drive away you will find Jutulhogget, one
of the largest and most dramatic ravines in
Northern Europe. It is 2.4 kilometres long
and was formed during the last ice age.
There are pets at the camp as well. The
cat, Ingrid observes what is going on from
a distance while the Muscovy ducks waddle
around. But the pot-bellied pig Sylte (brawn
in English) is still the most popular one. It is
difficult to decide whether he is ugly or cute.
There is a lot
of activity going on by the
climbing-wall. Lars Erik secures everything
on the ground and one by one the teens get
to have a go at climbing the twelve metres
straight up into the sky. They are, of course,
wearing helmets and are securely fastened
to harnesses and ropes.
– Have you got me? Annbjør asks as she
gets closer to the top.
A few more steps and she is up. Down on
the ground her friends clap their hands and
she breathes a sigh of relief.
Bjøntegaard
Camp School,
Hanestad
Bjøntegaard Camp
School: Based at a
former shooting range
in Hanestad where the
Bjøntegaard family has
been organising summer
camps, camp schools
and other activity weeks
since 1946. Accom-
modation for up to 90
participants. Heated
outdoor pool. Pets. Lots
of activities on the farm
and in the surrounding
area. E.g. hiking and
biking tours, sleeping
outdoors, archery,
air rifle, climbing-wall,
fishing, canoeing, ball
games, horse riding,
disco, skate ramps,
water skiing.
Bjøntegaard Camp School
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