Outdoor, sea and animal camps in Oslo

Høyerholmen, Oslofjorden

A classic overnight summer camp on the island of Høyerholmen in the Oslofjord, run since 1960. Children and teens aged 9 to 15 fill their days with sailing, motorboating, water skiing, wakeboarding and other water activities, and their evenings with camp life as it has been for generations. The camp is so popular that weeks can fill up in under two minutes when registration opens.

Killingen, Frognerkilen (Bygdøy)

The Royal Norwegian Yacht Club's summer programme on the island of Killingen in Frognerkilen, running through the entire summer holidays (weeks 27-32) and open to everyone. Children try different dinghies and windsurf boards, sail Optimists, paddle SUPs and fill their days with play and fun on and by the water. A whole week on a little island of their own in the middle of the city, with the sea as their playground.

Lille Herbern, Bygdøy

Oslo Sailing Club's summer camp for children aged 7 to 12 on idyllic Lille Herbern off Bygdøy. The week is about the joy of sailing in the truest sense: mastery in a boat, swimming, play and island life in a safe setting, with no prior experience required. A lovely first encounter with sailing for children who love the sea.

Oksnøen i Vansjø, Råde (ca. 1 time sør for Oslo)

A large overnight camp on a lush 300-acre island in lake Vansjø, 80 km south of Oslo, hosting 150 children and youth aged 6 to 15 per session. The range of activities is enormous: horse riding, climbing and abseiling, sailing, water skiing, canoeing and kayaking, football, archery, fishing and a zip line between two islands. A full week of camp life where boredom is impossible.

Nærsnestangen, Asker

An overnight summer camp at Nærsnestangen by the fjord in Asker, for children aged 8 to 14. Week-long camp stays in July with swimming, activities and camp life at the water's edge, run by a non-profit with a limited number of places - so be quick with registration. A short trip from Oslo, but with a proper camp feel.

Ekebergveien 99, 1181 Oslo

EKT riding school and petting farm on Ekebergsletta runs day courses for children in several of the school holidays, alongside extra riding sessions. Full days among horses, cows, goats and rabbits, ten minutes from the city centre, where children both ride and learn to care for and handle the animals.

Alna

Day camps for children in the school holidays at Alna Ridesenter - including at Easter, one of the few holiday offerings in the city that week. Days are filled with riding, grooming and hands-on learning with the horses, and the centre also runs courses for the youngest from around age three alongside regular riding school courses. Sibling discounts and week packages make it easier to fill a whole holiday week.

Hudøy, Tønsbergfjorden (vest for Tjøme)

Oslo's classic holiday colony with over a hundred years of history, today run by the Hudøy Foundation (a partnership between the Church City Mission and the City of Oslo). Every summer around 1,370 children in grades 2-7 of Oslo schools get a camp week on the island in the Tønsberg fjord, with swimming, camp life and new friends. Places are allocated by lottery, the price is income-adjusted, and everything is included - even transport from Oslo.

Flere steder i Oslo og omegn

The Norwegian Trekking Association's holiday programmes for children and youth in the school breaks, with the widest range in summer: outdoor schools and holiday camps for children, and the Basecamp summer camp for teens aged 13-19 with climbing, sea kayaking, summit hikes and tent life. Programmes run at several locations in and around Oslo, including DNT's own Sæteren farm in Bærumsmarka with an activity tower, zip line and archery. Outdoor life, mastery and new friends - no gear or experience required.

Rendalen, Østerdalen (egen buss fra Oslo)

A tradition-rich summer camp in Rendalen in Østerdalen, run since 1946, with junior camps for ages 7-14 and a dedicated youth camp for ages 13-17 in several holiday weeks. Although the camp is a couple of hours north of Oslo, the journey is part of the experience: a dedicated bus from Oslo bus terminal with a camp travel leader all the way, check-in at departure and pick-up points along the E6/Rv3. A full week of camp life, activities and mountain air - no parental driving required.

Fossumveien 81, 0985 Oslo

A summer camp at Øvre Fossum farm (Stovner Ridesenter), where each child takes responsibility for their own horse through the week - grooming, daily riding lessons and instruction in both jumping and dressage. The centre has ponies in all sizes suited to the youngest and experienced riding instructors, and the camp runs at the start of the summer holidays. A rare, all-round equestrian offering in the north-east of the city.

Lambertseter bad

Lambertseter Swimming Club's popular activity week in and around Lambertseter bad, with swimming technique, pool play and outdoor activities on site. The camp runs in weeks of the summer holidays and suits water-loving children from age 7 - participants must be confident in deep water, able to swim at least 50 metres and comfortable underwater without goggles. A full week where the pool is the main arena.

Sollerudstranda, Lysaker

The Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue's summer day programme for children aged 9-13, at Sollerudstranda by Lysaker. Monday to Friday 9am-4pm the children learn water safety through play, practical learning and boat life - a full week of confidence and mastery on and by the sea, led by people who know the sea better than most. Runs in several holiday weeks (typically weeks 27, 32 and 33), and places fill fast via the RS Sjøliv course portal.

Børsholmen, Asker

Asker Sailing Club's tradition-rich day camp on the islet of Børsholmen, a short walk from the club's facilities in Asker. Children aged 7 to 13 who can swim fill their days with sailing Optimists, Fevas and boards, paddling, rowing, crabbing, knots and safe conduct at sea, in small groups of around six children per instructor. The camp runs in several holiday weeks (typically weeks 26, 27, 32 and 33), Monday to Friday 9am-4pm.

Bygdø Kongsgård, Bygdøy

A riding camp at the King's own farm on Bygdøy, run by the Norwegian Folk Museum, in several weeks of the summer holidays. Through the week the children take part in everything horse life involves: feeding, mucking out, grooming and saddling, and they ride dressage, jumping, relay, vaulting and trail. A full camp week on a living organic farm ten minutes from the city centre, surrounded by animals, nature and farm life all day.

Melnes gård, ca. 45 min øst for Oslo

Oslo Dog School's camp at Melnes farm, forty-five minutes east of Oslo, where children and teens spend a full week living with dogs - a children's camp for ages 8-12 and a youth camp for ages 13-18. Participants learn agility, fun tricks, dog body language and care, and you can bring your own dog or borrow one of the farm's. The camp runs in several summer weeks and in the autumn break, with accommodation, food and activities included for both child and dog.

Gamle Oslo (og Husbergøya i Oslofjorden)

FRIGO, the outdoor activity centre in Gamle Oslo, is the district's own free holiday programme for children and youth: a summer club with day trips, swimming, canoeing and football in several summer weeks, stays with overnighting at FRIGO's own colony site on the island of Husbergøya in the Oslofjord, and activities in both the autumn and winter breaks. Everything is free, and the centre also lends out skis, skates, bikes and canoes all year round. The programme is primarily for children living in Gamle Oslo.

Semsvannet, Asker

NaKuHel by lake Semsvannet in Asker runs a summer camp for children in grades 1-4 and a dedicated Basecamp for grades 4-7, with morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up at the greenhouse. Days are filled with outdoor life around Semsvannet: dog sledding, riding and pony contact, cooking with a chef, swimming, treasure hunts and basic first aid, in small groups with plenty of adults. Nature joy and mastery in a safe setting, half an hour from Oslo.

Elveli hestesportsenter, Sørkedalen, Oslo

A small riding school in Sørkedalen running day riding camps for horse-mad children aged 8 to 16, with only 10 places per week. Riders are grouped by level and get two sessions with a horse each day, which may be dressage, pole work, jumping, trail riding, gymkhana or vaulting. The day runs from 09:00 to 15:30. Fifteen minutes by car from Røa, or bus 41 from Røa metro to Sørkedalen skole.

Bydel Grorud

Bydel Grorud's own holiday club for children and young people from year 5 to age 18, with trips to water parks, an amusement park, a climbing park and paintball, plus a music workshop and overnight stays at the district's own holiday house Kinsbakken near Stavern. Everything is free, and if you can't afford the transit ticket to get there, the district says to get in touch and they will sort it out. The programme is reserved for children who live or go to school in the district, and the registration deadline falls long before the holiday: mid-May for summer, mid-September for the autumn break.

Hovseterveien 74

Bydel Vestre Aker's youth house stays open through the school holidays for everyone from year 4 to the final year of upper secondary, and the outings are as free as the house itself: an amusement park, a trampoline park and a climbing park with nothing to pay along the way. Open house needs no registration, while the trips fill up and have their own deadlines. Sign-up goes through Spond or email, and the house is a few minutes from Hovseter metro station.

Økern, Nordtvet, Holmlia, Bøler og Lambertseter bad

A five-day swimming course paid for by the City of Oslo, spread across five pools around the city and split into groups for ages 6 to 9, 10 to 13 and 14 to 19. The swimming clubs provide the instruction, and there is one course per child so the places stretch further. Registration opens in late May at tryggivann.no and fills quickly, so this is one of those deadlines worth having in the calendar in advance.

Langbølgen 2A

Bydel Nordstrand's youth clubs run free trips through the summer, meeting at Lambertseter youth club and taking a bus onward to a summer park, mini golf, a climbing park, paintball or an amusement park. The district covers both the entry ticket and the travel; children bring a packed lunch or pocket money. The programme is for children who live or go to school in the district, places are few, and registration is binding with deadlines in June and July.

Hele Oslo

The Red Cross holiday programme for the whole family, with accommodation, food and activities covered, run in several of the school holidays. This is not something you sign up for yourself: the family must be referred by NAV, the school health service or child welfare services, and the scheme is intended for families who have had a weak financial situation over time. If that is your situation, it is worth asking the school nurse or class teacher about a referral well before the holiday.