Outdoor life, orienteering and fishing for kids in Oslo

Østensjøvannet bålplass, Østensjø

Nature groups by Østensjøvannet where children investigate whatever they find, together with adults who have both a natural science and a teaching background. Sessions follow the children's own urge to explore rather than a fixed programme, and the leaders put words to the species and phenomena the children meet along the way. Small groups with a high adult to child ratio, and no equipment is needed. Sessions run on Mondays through the term, with ages 4 to 5 at 17:00 and ages 6 to 10 at 18:00. The price is 1600 kroner per term, which is six sessions. Undring say they are flexible about age and can mix the groups. Meet at the campfire site; sign up by email or phone.

ages 4-10

Turer og kurs i Oslo og Akershus, Sentrum

The Norwegian Botanical Association's own youth programme, Ung Botaniker, with trips and courses for young people who want to learn to recognise plants and understand the nature around them. The association arranges hundreds of trips a year and has a dedicated branch for Oslo and Akershus. A calm, knowledge-rich niche for children who would rather investigate than compete.

ages 10-18

Høybråten, Stovner

A local chapter of the Norwegian Hunters' and Anglers' Association with its own programme for children and youth in the north-east of the city. Children get to try fishing in the forest under expert guidance, and in summer the chapter takes part in the national 'Fiskesommer' - free fishing days where children learn the tricks from experienced anglers, no registration needed (bring a life vest). A rare doorway into calm outdoor life in the middle of the city.

ages 6-18

Slemdal, Vestre Aker

The orienteering group in the large multi-sport club Heming gives children and youth maps, compasses and forest fun right by the woods at Slemdal. Orienteering trains both head and legs: you find the way yourself, at your own pace. A nice niche for children who like nature and problem-solving.

ages 6-18

Kjelsås, Sognsvann og Maridalen, Nordre Aker

The orienteering section of Nydalens Skiklub takes children and youth in two groups: Løp & Lek for ages eight to twelve and Ungdomsgruppa for thirteen to sixteen. The youngest train on Wednesdays from 6pm to 7.15pm, and a session starts with games and orienteering technique before a course you walk or run in a group or on your own. There is no hall or fixed ground: the group meets at changing spots in the Kjelsås, Sognsvann and Maridalen area, and the meeting point is posted in Spond. The training fee covers maps, the training programme and race entry fees.

ages 8-16

Romsås, Grorud

Free outdoor group for children at Romsås, every Tuesday from 17:00 to 19:00. Barnas Røde Kors (BARK) is the Red Cross' activity programme for primary school children, with play, mastery and outdoor life in the neighbourhood together with safe adult volunteers. No membership fee and no equipment requirements. You get the local meeting point when you sign up via the link.

ages 6-13

Sagene, Sagene

Free outdoor group for children at Sagene, every Wednesday from 17:00 to 19:00. Barnas Røde Kors (BARK) is the Red Cross' activity programme for primary school children, with outdoor play and mastery in the neighbourhood together with safe adult volunteers. No membership fee. You get the local meeting point when you sign up via the link.

ages 6-13

Gamlebyen, Gamle Oslo

Free outdoor group for children in Gamlebyen, every Tuesday from 17:00 to 18:00. Barnas Røde Kors (BARK) is the Red Cross' activity programme for primary school children, with outdoor play, ball games and mastery in the neighbourhood together with safe adult volunteers. No membership fee. You get the local meeting point when you sign up via the link.

ages 6-13

Høybråten, Stovner

A multicultural outdoor organisation based at Høybråten which for nearly twenty years has recruited young people to outdoor life, hunting and fishing. They run fishing trips, mountain hikes, canoeing, cabin trips and first aid courses, and offer a free hunting licence course. The programme is free and aimed particularly at young people without an outdoor tradition at home.

ages 12-18

Ormsundveien 16, Nordstrand

First aid, search and rescue and outdoor life for teenagers from age 13, based at Ormsund. In the youth rescue corps you learn to give proper first aid, look after yourself and others outdoors, and how searches for missing people and evacuations from terrain are done. Activities on weekday evenings and weekends, and the annual fee is 100 kroner.

ages 13-18

Mariboes gate 8, St. Hanshaugen

Children's own environmental organisation, with more than 10,000 members and around sixty local groups across the country. The Oslo groups usually meet a couple of times a month for litter picking, forest trips, swap markets, bike workshops and Christmas workshops - activities where caring about the environment becomes something concrete you do together, not just something you hear about. Miljøagentene is the children's arm of Naturvernforbundet, and a family membership in Naturvernforbundet i Oslo og Akershus includes membership for the children. From around age fourteen the path continues to Natur og Ungdom.

ages 6-13

Trasop, Oppsal, Bøler og Skullerud, Østensjø

The orienteering group for children aged eight to twelve, known as Råtassene. Training every Tuesday from 6 to 7.30pm, April to October. There is no single venue: the group meets around Trasop, Oppsal, Bøler and Skullerud, and the club gives the meeting point in advance.

ages 8-12

Turer i marka og på fjellet, Sentrum

The Norwegian Trekking Association's own programme for families with children, with hikes, play and activities for children aged 0 to 12. Barnas Turlag Oslo arranges everything from short local walks in the forest to mountain trips and camps, both for the whole family and for children on their own. Membership costs around 150 kroner a year - among the most affordable organised children's offerings in the city.

ages 0-12

Sletteløkka, Bjerke

Free outdoor group for children at Sletteløkka, every Thursday from 17:00 to 19:00. Barnas Røde Kors (BARK) is the Red Cross' activity programme for primary school children, with outdoor play and mastery in the neighbourhood together with safe adult volunteers. No membership fee. You get the local meeting point when you sign up via the link.

ages 6-13

Bekkelaget, Nordstrand

The orienteering group at Bækkelagets Sportsklub takes children and youth into the forest on the east side, with maps and controls in the terrain around Ekeberg and Østmarka. From easy beginner courses for the youngest to training for those who want to compete - a calm outdoor niche with a sense of mastery at every control.

ages 6-18

Sinsen, Grünerløkka

Free outdoor group for children at Sinsen, every Wednesday from 17:00 to 18:00. Barnas Røde Kors (BARK) is the Red Cross' activity programme for primary school children, with outdoor play, ball games and mastery in the neighbourhood together with safe adult volunteers. No membership fee. You get the local meeting point when you sign up via the link.

ages 6-13

Friluftshuset på Sørenga, Sørengkaia 124, Gamle Oslo

DNT's youth programme in Oslo, for everyone between 13 and 25 who joins. Regular, free activities all year round: bouldering in the bouldering room at Friluftshuset on Sørenga every Thursday, and climbing at Oslo Klatresenter in Skullerud every other Tuesday. On top of that come group hikes, winter trips and courses. Where Barnas Turlag takes the youngest up to age twelve, DNT ung is where teenagers carry on - with trips they largely plan and lead themselves.

ages 13-18

Lill-o-stua, Grorud

One of Norway's largest orienteering clubs, with Lillomarka as its home ground. The recruit group is for children aged five to twelve and trains from April to October, with courses in the forest at several levels, so both complete beginners and those who want to run fast have something to do. Map reading is taught through play rather than theory.

ages 5-12

Kollbanen, Nordberg, Nordre Aker

The orienteering section of IL Koll welcomes children in O-gøy for ages 5 to 12, with play based map skills, and runs a youth group for 13 to 16. With the Nordmarka forest right behind the clubhouse at Kollbanen, the terrain where children learn to read maps is the same one their families hike in. The club also organises the Nordmarkstraver'n trail race.

ages 5-16

Ensjøveien 20, Gamle Oslo

The district's own outdoor centre since 1995, lending out skis, skates, bikes, canoes, tents and sleeping bags free of charge to all children and young people in Gamle Oslo. FRIGO runs weekly activity groups - Turgruppa, Kampen Villmarksgruppe, Gamlebyen Friluftsgruppe and Vahl Aktivitetsgruppe - and staffs open meeting points at Rudolf Nilsens plass by Vahl school and in the Jordal skate park, where equipment is lent out on the spot. Everything is free, and for many families this is the way into outdoor life without equipment becoming a cost.

ages 6-18