How would it feel to spend a weekend immersed in the natural world, free from the rush of everyday life?
To gather in the wild with others, sharing laughter, learning, and simple moments of connection. To explore your inner and outer landscapes, finding both adventure and stillness.
This is what our Nature Weekends offer – a journey of six weekends of exploration, aliveness and connection, where you’ll deepen your relationship with the natural world, yourself, and the group while learning essential outdoor skills.
Remembering how to move with the rhythms of the seasons, how to find joy in simple things, and how deeply we belong to the natural world.
The course is build on experiential learning. There will be lectures and theory that we will put into practice and reflect upon around the evening fire.
Additionally, there will be time and exercises for deepening your connection to the natural world and being present and aware in this very moment.
■ TIMELESS ■ OFFLINE ■ COMMUNAL ■ NATURE RESPECTING ■ AUTHENTIC ■ PERSONAL LEADERSHIP
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★★★★★
“Manuel has the ability to teach all his knowledge in a very humble way , this creates an excellent atmosphere to learn.”
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The Practicalities & Details
Overview over the Topics of the Weekends:
Weekend 1: Wilderness Basics
For the first time we will gather around the campfire, listening to each other and getting acquainted with the surroundings. We will learn fundamental skills for living in nature and lay a base in our group culture. At the end of the weekend you will have crafted a wooden tool, that you will carry along to all our meetings.
Topics
- building camp
- clothing and gear
- rope and knots
- knife & axe safety
- woodcarving
- sit spot
Weekend 2: Wild foods & Fire cooking
How do we nourish ourselves (in nature)? What is there to eat and how do we find it? Can we be thankful for what nature provides and implement more sufficiency into our lives? What can we give in return? Together we will explore what edible plants and mushrooms there are on the land around us and fish for trout in a mountain stream. We will look at different ways of preparing food with fire and ember, from frying and baking in a dutch oven to longtime cooking in a cooking pit. We will introduce the practice of gratitude and find our own way in living up to the gifts that the earth gives us.
Topics
- tripod
- cooking hook
- cooking pit
- fishing, trout
- edible plants
- trail food
- thankfulness practice
Weekend 3: Fire Crafts
This weekend is all about fire. Humans and fire are almost not to be seen separated. Although, the fire often it is masked nowadays, hidden and contained. We need it for warmth and food, and also for our company. We will learn on how to start a fire in different ways, build our own bow drill to make fire by friction. What types of wood to choose? How do I make fire in rain and snow? We will invite fire as a symbol of renewal, purification and transformation into our circle and lives.
Topics
- types of wood
- fire making
- bow drill
- fire steel
- axe skills
- different types of fire
- log fire, fire symbolism
Weekend 4: Winter Camping & Snow shoes
Being out in the cold and beautiful snow landscapes will test the skills we learned so far and will bring our group closer together. Winter camp building needs us all actively involved and the group functioning as one organism. On snow shoes we will go explore the winter wonderland. How do we find out path when everything looks „the same“?
Topics
- winter camp building
- snow shoeing, orientation
- map & compass
- safety, ice, avalanches, temperatures
Weekend 5: Snow Shelters & Wooden Skies
Depending on the snow conditions there are many ways to build oneself a shelter with snow. We will learn about different types of winter accommodation and see which one(s) will fit the given conditions. You are invited to sleep in your self build snow shelter if you like. We will use wooden skies to the spot where we will build our shelters.
Topics
- wooden ski techniques
- building with snow
- medical winter topics: hypothermia, frostbites, snow blindness
Weekend 6: Solo Time in Nature
The final gathering, we will prepare for a 24h Solo time of contemplation in nature. This ancient tool has served humans in times of transition, to honor the initiation into a next phase of life. Nature can provide you with answers and guidance. You can take this experience to acknowledge what you have learned throughout the course. This Solo time will be held with as little „distractions“ as possible, no food, no phone, no digital time, no book, nothing to write and no words. This quiet calms us down, relaxes us and refreshens our minds. We understand this skill of emptying oneself and listening inwardly as a crucial skill for teaching and for building relation to others and the natural world in general. We will prepare you thoroughly to take on this challenge in a safe and respectful way.
Topics
- nature connection
- solo time and fasting
- sewing a leather pouch
What is included:
Pre-Course
✓ Detailed packing & gear lists, tips & tricks
✓ Document on arrival
✓ Availability for questions (on gear & arrival)
During the Course
✓ Full board: breakfast, lunch, dinner
✓ Local & organic food where possible
✓ Tarp & sleeping mat for each participant
✓ Group gear; tarps, axes, cooking gear, etc
✓ Licenses and permits, e.g. wood & fishing
✓ Two experienced nature mentors/ leaders
✓ Preparation calls for weekend 4,5 & 6
After the Course
✓ We send you the pictures/ videos we took
What is not included/ extra:
✗ Travel to and from Vågåmo, Norway
✗ Individual gear, e.g. sleeping bag
✗ Special rental options, e.g. reindeer hide
Questions and Answers on the Details:
What are the exact Dates of all the Weekends?
The course will start in July 2025 and the last weekend will be in May 2026.
The exact dates will follow soon.
Course Prerequisites and Requirements
If you’re interested in this course, be prepared to spend 6 weekends in all weather immersed in wild nature.
You’ll need to carry your own backpack and some group gear to our campsites. No previous outdoor experience or special skills are required, and you don’t need to be super fit to join—just bring a willingness to engage and explore!
How you will sleep
You will sleep under a tarp, which we will provide. We can also provide you with a simple sleeping mat.
You can rent or buy a reindeer hide from us to sleep on, if you want to try that. We will set up a big tarp for the whole group, where we will gather, cook, and stay dry and comfortable around the fire in case of wind & rain.
Two weekends we will sleep in the snow. One Weekend 5 you will hopefully get the experience to sleep in your self-made shelter, such as an igloo or quinzee. We might try as well to sleep in natural shelters such as under a spruce tree.
Travel & how to get to the meeting point
- The meeting point is in Vågåmo 2680 (Vågå municipality), Norway at the rutebilstasjon bus stop
- Vågå/ Vågåmo is located half way between Oslo and Trondheim. It takes about 4 hours from Oslo or Trondheim to get to the meeting point. Check Entur or Vy for timetables.
Price, Registration, Payment, Cancellation
- Pricing
The total price for the course is 19 050 nok or 3175 nok per weekend.
All prices stated include the MVA tax where applicable (VAT/ BTW/ MvSt).
Included is full board, shuttle, guiding and more: See the full list above.
Not included is travel to and from, personal equipment and optional stuff, see full list above. - Course Registration
You register for our courses by filling out the booking form.
Once we received your registration, we will send you a confirmation, if a place is available.
We will also send you more information (Documents on Arrival, Travel, Gear/ Equipment) and the Invoice, along with our General terms and conditions as well as a Liability waiver that we will ask you to sign.
Further, we will ask you for additional information in a questionnaire on health/ food preferences/ emergency contact/ allergies/ rental options and contact sharing consent for travel coordination. - Payment
Currently we only take payments by bank transfer to our Norwegian bank account. You will find all the details on the invoice. - Cancellation and Course Confirmation
The course will be confirmed when at least 4 participants are signed up or latest 6 weeks before the course starts. Should we cancel the course due to a lack of participants, you will get a full refund. For the detailed cancellation terms (what happens if you cancel your participation), see our general terms and conditions. We recommend you to take out a cancellation/ travel insurance.
On the food, Diets and Menu
- Menu & Meals & Cooking
We provide ingredients and recipes for the all meals during the course. The cooking/ preparing is with a few exceptions done by participants with our instructions upfront. (Everyone gets to cook, and never alone.)
A typical menu day could look like:
Breakfast: Oats with nuts, seeds and fruit toppings
Lunch: Home-baked sourdough bread with spreads, cheese, local salami, pickles, peanut butter
Dinner: Vegetable stew with dear or moose meat (or tofu) with rice - Food preferences and dietary requirements
Some meals we provide contain fish and meat. However, it is possible to eat vegetarian or even vegan (or/ and gluten free), please let us know well in advance and we make sure you are well taken care of.
In a questionnaire we send you upfront, we will also ask you about requirements and preferences around food. Please tell us any food allergies there too. - Local, Organic and Wild Foods
Where possible we buy local, organic ingredients. We will also collect wild foods during the course to supplement our meals and fish for trout. The meat we bring is from local hunters, usually deer, moose or reindeer. - First and Last Meal & Snacks
The first meal is Dinner on Friday and the last one is Lunch on Sunday.
We ask everyone to bring their own snacks for in between.
Due to the nature of our courses, meals might be at different times every day although we try to keep a routine in eating times. It’s good to always have some snacks on you, especially on (day)-trips.
What to Bring & Packing List
- We will send you a detailed packing list with tips and ideas after you register. The most important items are a good 3-season sleeping bag (it can be cold during the night in the mountains), hiking boots and a rain/wind jacket or anorak.
Group Living & Phone Free Time
- In this course, we will all pitch in together, whether it’s cooking, transporting equipment, keeping watch over the fire or collecting wood. We work together as a team.
Of course, there will also be time to rest and enjoy the enchanting landscape. - You should be willing to actively contribute to daily tasks in the camp. You should also be ready to face challenges together with your group and support each other.
- We invite you to a media- and clock-free time. We want to do without phones during these days together, even though they will be with us in our luggage for safety reasons. Course leaders carry phones and satellite emergency transmitter, and take care of photography.
- On the first day everyone will be invited to seal their phones and watches turned off in seal bags.
Language & Group Size
The course will be held in english and norwegian, depending on the needs of the participants.
There will be 6-12 participants.
Time until the next course starts:
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★★★★★
“Great mentoring! You listened, built confidence, and motivated us to surpass our own perceived limits. We learned a lot from you, especially when you sensed our eagerness to learn and showed us new things. I believe I could have learned even more, but even with the 14-day period, time still felt too short.”
★★★★★
“Manu allowed us to learn by ourselves through trial and error, encouraging us not to be afraid of making mistakes and fostering self-confidence while connecting with nature. He also assisted us in uncovering our creativity.”
Meet the Main Course Leaders
Marie Eckart
Guide in Natural Outdoor Life, Crafts & Leadership
Marie has a degree in Natural outdoor living, craft and leadership and has additional training in primitive survival skills all year round. Additionally she is further a NOLS Wilderness First Responder. Marie has been hosting winter courses in Scandinavia since 2019.
She loves to create things herself such as wooden skis, canoes, her winter sleeping bags and winter tent. She also has been working for a traditional leather tannery sewing high end outdoor clothing from reindeer leather.
She lives in Norway in a small log cabin and is also a mother of a child.
Marie speaks German, English, Swedish, Norwegian and Spanish.
Manuel Sturm
Guide in Natural Outdoor Life, Crafts & Leadership
Manuel has a degree in Natural Outdoor Living, Crafts and Leadership and has done additional courses in primitive outdoor living. He is also a NOLS Wilderness First Responder.
During his studies, Manuel has been living outside for two years, one year in a Tipi tent on an island in a lake, and the other year in a treehouse.
Manuel has been hosting winter courses and been guiding groups in winter since 2019 in Scandinavia. He is the founder of wildernessvision.no and lives in Norway in a small log cabin with his family.
Manuel speaks German, English, Dutch, Swedish and Norwegian.
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