Organised activities for 13-year-olds in Oslo

Thirteen is the biggest shift since starting school, and it runs the other way. Team sports fall away markedly: many of the activities that took twelve-year-olds have their upper limit there, and what remains is more often the competitive track. At the same time, the youth clubs become the second largest group in the catalogue.

What arrives is a new genre: organisations for civic engagement, from nature and outdoor organisations to political youth groups. They are the clearest new thing at this age, and they are something other than an activity you are signed up for, because here the young person chooses what to spend time on.

Worth knowing at age 13

If a teenager quits a sport now, the problem is usually not the sport but that the recreational group disappeared. Clubs that still run a group without matches and selection are worth looking for, and they exist in more disciplines than people think.

The youth clubs require neither sign-up nor a fee, and most are open several evenings a week. For a thirteen-year-old who has just changed school and lost a team, that is often the place that catches them.

All the activities that welcome 13-year-olds

Want every age in one list? See the full overview of organised activities

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391 activities

Oppsal IF Håndball

Håndball

Oppsal Arena, Østensjø

The handball section of Oppsal IF, playing out of Oppsal Arena in Vetlandsveien. The handball school is the way in for children in years 1 and 2, and the club says it has teams for almost every age and year group above that, for both girls and boys. For younger children the club runs kindergarten handball at Oppsal Arena every other weekend, free and with no sign-up, where you simply turn up. New players can ask for a trial session before joining.

ages 6-18

Kjelsås IL Langrenn

Langrenn

Grefsen stadion, Nordre Aker

The cross-country skiing group at Kjelsås IL gives children and youth the joy of skiing with Lillomarka and Grefsenkollen as the nearest training grounds. From ski play for the youngest to training for those who want to compete, with floodlit trails right outside. A winter niche in a district a short step from the forest.

ages 6-18

Sagene skoles musikkorps

Korps

Sagene skole, Sagene

The school band at Sagene school, open to pupils from the lower grades and up. Children borrow an instrument and learn to play it from scratch, while playing together with others from the very start. School bands are among the most affordable music options for children, since the instrument and tuition come with membership.

ages 7-18

Lær Kidsa Koding: kodeklubber på Deichman

Koding

Deichman-filialer i hele Oslo, Sentrum

Free coding clubs at the Deichman libraries, run by volunteers in the nationwide Lær Kidsa Koding movement. Children code in Scratch, program micro:bit boards and try 3D printing, with instructors on hand. Some clubs take children from six, others from fourth grade, and they run at several branches around the city - among them Oppsal, Nordtvet and Lambertseter. Check the library's event listing for where and when.

ages 6-18

Bestum sjøspeidergruppe

Speider

Lilleaker, Ullern

A sea-scout group in Lilleaker under Oslospeiderne (the Norwegian Scout Association). Outdoor life on and by the water, boating, hikes, campfires and teamwork, with groups from beavers (1st grade) to rovers.

ages 6-18

Oslo kulturskole, Grønland kulturstasjon

Kulturskole

Tøyenbekken 5, Gamle Oslo

The main site of Oslo's municipal school of the arts, the city's resource centre for arts education since 1980. Teaching covers music, dance, theatre, visual art and gaming, with dedicated groups for children and teenagers. The school has around 9,000 pupils across nearly 90 teaching locations in the city, and admission goes through the municipality's shared application portal.

ages 6-18

Ryen Kampsport

Kampsport

Ryen, Nordstrand

Dedicated children's classes in taekwondo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and kickboxing, a five-minute walk from the metro. One monthly fee covers every discipline the club runs, and newcomers can book a free trial week before deciding.

ages 6-16

AUF

Politikk og samfunn

Youngstorget 2A, Sentrum

The Labour Party's youth organisation, headquartered at Youngstorget with local branches across Oslo. Members meet for political meetings, debates, courses and social activities, and AUF is the only youth party with no lower age limit (written parental consent required under 15). An arena for young people who want to influence society, learn to debate and meet engaged peers.

ages 13-18

BUSH Holmlia

Fritidsklubb

Åsbråten, Holmlia, Søndre Nordstrand

The children's and youth centre at Åsbråten in Holmlia, a youth club with many different activities for children and young people up to age twenty. Founded in 1984, owned by six housing cooperatives, USBL and OBOS, and supported by the borough.

ages 10-18

Nordstrand IF Parasport (Allsport)

Paraidrett

Niels Juels gate 33B, Nordstrand

Oslo's largest para-sports club, with nine sports adapted for children and young people with disabilities: basic training, football, handball, floorball, volleyball, martial arts, bowling, climbing and wheelchair handball. The club has offered sport for people with disabilities since 2003. Historically aimed at developmental disabilities, it added wheelchair handball for people with mobility impairments in 2023, and a dedicated training group for children on the autism spectrum in 2024.

ages 6-18

Torsdagsklubben på Låven

Fritidsklubb

Berglyveien 2 C, Søndre Nordstrand

The Thursday Club is based at Låven in Berglyveien in Prinsdal, and as the name says it is a weekly rather than a daily offering. That lowers the threshold for children who find a club open every day too much - you know exactly when it happens and who will be there. For children and young people from ten to eighteen, free.

ages 10-18

Grorud skoles musikkorps

Korps

Grorud skole, Grorud

The school band at Grorud school, one of few bands in the Groruddalen valley and an important cultural offering in a district with fewer organised activities. Aspirants are admitted from the lower grades, instruments are borrowed from the band, and tuition happens within the band itself. Follow the Facebook page for rehearsal times and admission.

ages 7-18

Schakklubben av 1911 Ungdom

Sjakk

Oslo, Sentrum

The youth section of Schakklubben av 1911, one of the city's established chess clubs, with a dedicated programme for children and youth and financial support from the City of Oslo. The club cooperates with the other Oslo clubs on joint training sessions and tournaments, so members meet peers from across the city over the board.

ages 6-18

Glasshuset

Fritidsklubb

Sognsveien 210, Nordre Aker

A youth club in Sognsveien in Nordre Aker, for children and young people from ten to eighteen. The district has many organised activities - choirs, brass bands and string orchestras in quick succession - but few places you can come to without being signed up for something. Glasshuset is one of them. Free, with no registration in advance.

ages 10-18

Vinderenkoret

Kor

Vinderen skole, Vestre Aker

Vinderen children's choir was set up as a school choir in 1977 by the couple Else-Marit and Joar Rørmark, who led it until the late 1990s. In 2008 the choir was restarted with a new profile and the name Vinderenkoret. A school choir closing and reappearing thirty years later is unusual, and says something about how strong the choral tradition is in this part of the city. A member of Ung i Kor Oslo.

ages 6-13

Teglverket Skolekor

Kor

Teglverket skole, Grünerløkka

The school choir at Teglverket school, which sits on the old brickworks site by Hasle station in Grünerløkka. The school is one of the city's newest and runs from year 1 to year 10, so the choir recruits from a wider age span than the pure primary schools. A member of Ung i Kor Oslo.

ages 6-13

Romsås IL Fotball

Fotball

Romsås, Grorud

The football section of Romsås sports club, with teams in the children's and youth classes and a base at Romsås. The club was founded in 1972, has over 650 members and is known for keeping the barrier low - several of its offerings are free. Football in one of the city's most diverse neighbourhoods.

ages 5-18

Nordstrand speidergruppe (1)

Speider

Sæter, Nordstrand

A scout group at Sæter in Nordstrand, part of Oslospeiderne. The group carries the number 1 in its name, meaning it is among the oldest registered in the city - numbering in the Norwegian Scout Association follows the order of founding within the district. Scouting is outdoor life put into a system: hikes, campfires, cooking outdoors, map and compass and first aid, with separate sections by age: a pack for ages 8-10 and a troop for ages 10-16, both on Thursdays.

ages 8-16

Sportsklubben Njård Håndball

Håndball

Njårdhallen, Vestre Aker

Njård is based at Njårdhallen by Makrellbekken and has a solid handball programme for children and youth on the west side. From the youngest ball-play groups to competitive teams - a club where many start early and stay for years.

ages 6-18

Klemetsrud IL E-sport

E-sport

Klubbhuset, Klemetsrud idrettspark, Søndre Nordstrand

Organised e-sports (FIFA) in the clubhouse at Klemetsrud IL - gaming in a club setting, with a coach present, fixed training times and a team feeling, instead of alone in a bedroom. For young people who already play a lot, this is a way to make it social and structured, in a club that otherwise covers everything from football to disc golf.

ages 10-18

Ammerudklubben

Fritidsklubb

Ammerudhellinga 47, Grorud

A youth club in Ammerudhellinga, open across the full span from ten to eighteen. Ammerud is one of the areas in Groruddalen with the densest blocks of flats and least indoor room at home, so the club is where many children can actually meet friends without standing outdoors in all weathers. Free and drop-in.

ages 10-18

Oslo Modellbilklubb

Motorsport

Hvervenbukta, Søndre Nordstrand

Radio-controlled car racing at Hvervenbukta, with three tracks that between them cover the most common classes - one of the largest and best-developed facilities of its kind. The club brings together RC enthusiasts of all ages and has members from six to sixty, with car classes ranging from models the youngest can handle to high-performance machines for the experienced. Beginners are helped to get started, and the club has hosted both the Norwegian and the Nordic championships. The site is shared with Osloungdommens Motorsenter.

ages 6-18

Dans for barn (Oslo kulturskole)

Dans

Kulturstasjoner i hele Oslo, Sentrum

Oslo municipal arts school's own dance groups for children, taught at culture stations around the city. As a municipal offering the price sits well below the private dance schools, and children and young people up to 18 living in Oslo are prioritised in admissions. Applications go through the municipality's shared portal, and you can apply year-round.

ages 6-18

Oslo Golfklubb

Diskgolf og golf

Bogstad golfbane, Vestre Aker

Oslo Golfklubb at Bogstad has dedicated training groups for children and youth from age six, adapted to age and ambition. For the youngest (6-10) there's 'Golfgøy', focused on play and mastery, and over time children can earn a club handicap. Golf is a sport of precision and patience in beautiful surroundings by the forest.

ages 6-18

Grefsen skolekorps

Korps

Grefsen og Disen skole, Nordre Aker

The school band for pupils at both Grefsen and Disen schools, founded in October 1928 - two schools sharing one band, which gives a larger and more robust line-up than either school manages alone. Aspirants are admitted from the lower grades, with instruments on loan and a dedicated instructor. The 17 May parade is the highlight of the season.

ages 7-18

IL Heming Alpint

Alpint

Slemdal, Vestre Aker

Heming is one of the country's largest alpine skiing communities for children and youth, with ski school and training groups from around age five. The club is based at Slemdal with a short trip to the slopes in Oslo's winter park, welcoming both those who want winter fun and those who want to commit. Alpine skiing brings speed, mastery and plenty of fresh air.

ages 5-18

Nordpolen Skole Barnekor

Kor

Nordpolen skole, Sagene

The children's choir at Nordpolen school in Sagene, a member of Ung i Kor Oslo. The choir sings at school events and walks in the 17 May parade with the other Sagene schools. Nordpolen is one of four schools in the district with its own choir, and the threshold is the same everywhere: no audition, no sheet music you must be able to read in advance.

ages 6-13

Steinerskolens jentekor

Kor

Rudolf Steinerskolen, Vestre Aker

A girls' choir with singers from Rudolf Steiner school at Hovseter, a member of Ung i Kor Oslo. Groups ranging from beginners to the youth choir.

ages 8-18

Longship, 41. Oslo Ullevål speidergr.

Speider

Blindern, Nordre Aker

41. Oslo Ullevål was founded on 19 November 1928, and its first scout house at Vestgrensa - an old German barracks - was inaugurated in 1948. When the boys' and girls' troops at Ullevål merged in 1984 they took the name Longship Group. The group has a canoe tradition going back ninety years, with trips through Nordmarka, making it one of the city's scout groups with the longest unbroken identity of its own.

ages 6-18

Grorud Idrettslag

Fotball

Grorudveien 7, Grorud

The district's large sports club, founded in 1918, with sections for football, skiing, gymnastics and tennis. Football is the biggest, with teams in all children's and youth classes and a home ground at Grorud sports facility. A classic neighbourhood club that has been a gathering point in the Groruddalen valley for over a hundred years.

ages 5-18

Furuset Ishockey

Ishockey

Furuset Forum, Alna

A large ice-hockey club in the Groruddalen valley with its home rink at Furuset Forum. The skating and hockey school welcomes the youngest from age four with no experience needed, and the club has teams up through the age groups from U7. A broad, active hockey scene in a part of the city with long ice traditions.

ages 4-18

Stovner KFUK-KFUM-speidere

Speider

Fossum kirke, Stovner senter 12, Stovner

KFUK-KFUM scouts meeting at Fossum church in Stovner. Stovner is among the districts with fewest affordable activities for children, and the scout groups are some of the few requiring neither equipment nor a season fee at sports-club level. Children start as oppdagere in year 1, move on to stifinnere in year 3 and become vandrere from year 5 - a structure that follows school, so you are always with your own age.

ages 6-18

Oslo Bryteklubb

Bryting

Kalbakken, Grorud

A wrestling club with its own premises at Kalbakken and members in the children's, youth and junior classes, both girls and boys. Wrestling is one of the most all-round foundational sports: strength, balance, agility and technique in close interplay with a partner - and it is easy to start, since the equipment is essentially just training clothes.

ages 6-18

Sinsen kulturhus

Fritidsklubb

Lørenveien 2, Grünerløkka

A culture house for young people at Sinsen, one of the largest of its kind in Oslo, with stages, rehearsal rooms and workshops. The house is run with and for young people: those who use it also help decide what happens there. That is a meaningful difference from a programme planned by adults, and one reason such houses keep young people longer. The programme is split into a junior offering for years 4-7 and a youth offering from year 8 up, covering ages 9 to 25 in all. Free.

ages 9-18

Bygdøy fritidsklubb

Fritidsklubb

Huk aveny 45, Frogner

A youth club in the basement of Bygdøhus in Huk aveny, for pupils in years 5 to 7 in the Frogner district. Bygdøy has very few offerings for children this age - the peninsula is large, thinly built and poorly served by public transport - so the club is in practice the only place children here can meet indoors after school without travelling into town. Free and drop-in.

ages 10-13

Sagene IF Innebandy

Innebandy

Bjølsenhallen, Sagene

Floorball for children and youth in Bjølsenhallen, with separate teams for girls and boys and a free floorball school for the youngest (1st-2nd grade). It's a fast, fun indoor game with stick and ball that's easy to get started with, and a good alternative to the usual ball sports in winter.

ages 6-18

Dancespace

Dans

Oluf Onsums vei 9B, Nordstrand

A dance studio at Ryen with a clear progression through childhood. Children's dance is for four- and five-year-olds, preparatory ballet and jazz for six- and seven-year-olds, and from age eight you start ballet and jazz level 1 and work up through the levels. Hip-hop and break start at six and follow the same ladder, with modern, commercial and musical theatre further up.

ages 4-16

Subsdans

Dans

Grünerløkka, Grünerløkka

A dance school in Schous Kulturbryggeri at Grünerløkka, with courses from age four and up in styles such as hip hop, breakdance and dancehall. They emphasise personal development and building each pupil's self-confidence.

ages 4-18

Lindeberg fritidsklubb

Fritidsklubb

Lindebergåsen 10, Alna

A youth club in Lindebergåsen, with a junior club for grades 4 to 7 and a youth club from grade 8 up to eighteen. Alna is the most populous district in Oslo, and the clubs here each cover large neighbourhoods - Lindeberg is one of them. Everyone can use the club free of charge, and you turn up without having signed up for anything.

ages 9-18

Oslo Bueskyttere

Bueskyting

Olaf Helsets vei 5, Østensjø

Norway's oldest archery club (from 1930), with a modern indoor hall at Skullerud and an outdoor season in Husebyskogen. The two-hour beginner course takes children, teenagers and adults together - the club has no separate children's group. The minimum age is 12 indoors and 10 outdoors, and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult who is also enrolled. A calm precision niche that trains focus and breathing.

ages 10-18

Bygdø Tennisklubb

Tennis

Bygdøy, Frogner

A tennis club on Bygdøy with offerings for children from as young as four, including tennis for kindergarten children and at the after-school programme in the afternoon. The tennis school has a long tradition in the local area and takes everyone from first-graders to upper secondary pupils, in groups or private lessons. One of the city's most child-friendly tennis options.

ages 4-18

Sjakklubben Stjernen (Stjernen SKU)

Sjakk

Grünerløkka, Grünerløkka

A chess club at Grünerløkka with its own children's chess programme, where play, inclusion and progress come first. The children meet on Thursdays, and the club also runs rapid chess every Thursday and blitz on Saturdays. An active community in the middle of the city, with a low threshold for new players.

ages 6-16

Rødtvet Skoles Sangkor

Kor

Rødtvet skole, Grorud

The singing choir at Rødtvet school in Grorud, a member of Ung i Kor Oslo. Grorud is the Oslo district with fewest organised leisure activities for children in our dataset, and this is its only school choir. Choral singing costs almost nothing to run and almost nothing to take part in, and is therefore often the last offering left standing when others disappear.

ages 6-13

Furuset Håndball

Håndball

Furuset Forum, Alna

The handball group at Furuset IF, with children's and youth handball for girls and boys and a home venue at Furuset Forum. Part of one of the Groruddalen valley's large multi-sport clubs.

ages 6-18

Tøyen Barne- og ungdomskor

Kor

K1, Kolstadgata 1, Gamle Oslo

A children's and youth choir rehearsing at K1 in Tøyen, open to all local children. Singing and the joy of choir regardless of background or experience.

ages 6-15

IL Heming Orientering

Orientering

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

Nordstrand barne- og ungdomskor

Kor

Nordstrand kirke, Nordstrand

A children's and youth choir rehearsing in Nordstrand church, a member of Ung i Kor Oslo. Singing and voice development for children and youth from first grade.

ages 6-18

UngMetro

Fritidsklubb

Bjølsengata 12, Sagene

A youth club in Bjølsengata at Sagene, for children and young people from ten to eighteen. Sagene is the most densely populated district in Norway, with little room either outdoors or in, and UngMetro is one of few places where young people can be indoors without paying for it. Free and drop-in.

ages 10-18

Oslo Stupeklubb

Stuping

Manglerud Bad og Tøyenbadet, Østensjø

The city's diving club, founded in autumn 1993 and affiliated with the Norwegian Swimming Federation, with training at both Manglerud Bad and Tøyenbadet. The club has around 120 members, most of them active divers, and welcomes children who can swim and want to learn to dive properly - from the springboard and the lowest edges upwards. A genuine niche sport with Olympic ancestry.

ages 8-18

Grindbakken skolekor

Kor

Grindbakken skole, Vestre Aker

The school choir at Grindbakken, a member of Ung i Kor Oslo, rehearsing at the school through the school year. Vestre Aker is the district with most school choirs in the city - six of its schools have their own - so a child who moves within the district can usually carry on singing at the new school. The choir performs at school events and in the local community.

ages 6-13

Oslo Klatreklubb

Klatring

Oslo Klatresenter, Skullerud, Østensjø

The city's own climbing club, with training and competition groups for children from seven and up. The groups overlap somewhat by capacity and experience rather than being strictly age-divided. The club trains at several of the city's climbing centres, among them Oslo Klatresenter in Skullerud, Vulkan and Klatreverket, but is something other than the centres: here you are a member of a club community with regular training and the option to compete, not just a course participant. Check which centre a given group trains at.

ages 7-18

Haugenstua skatehall

Fritidsklubb

Haavard Martinsens vei 1, Stovner

A municipal indoor skate hall for young people in Rommen, with ramps and obstacles under a roof. The point of an indoor hall is mundane but decisive in Oslo: you can skate right through the winter, when the outdoor parks lie under snow and ice for half the year. It is free and needs no registration - you just turn up. Stovner has few indoor meeting places for young people, so the hall fills a real gap in the district.

ages 10-18

X-RAY Ungdomskulturhus

Fritidsklubb

Maridalsveien 3, Grünerløkka

A youth culture house at Grünerløkka with concerts, rehearsal rooms, workshops and a stage young people get to use themselves. X-RAY has been a fixture in Oslo's youth culture for decades, and is among the houses where the step from audience to performer is shortest. Free and drop-in.

ages 6-18

Røa KFUK-KFUM-speidere

Speider

Røa kirke, Vestre Aker

KFUK-KFUM scouts meeting at Røa church. Vestre Aker has more scout groups than most districts, from both the Norwegian Scout Association and KFUK-KFUM, so families here can actually choose between two scouting organisations. The youngest are called oppdagere and spend their time on play and discovery trips locally; from year 3 they become stifinnere, and from year 5 vandrere, where cooperation and eventually leadership training take up more room.

ages 6-18

Mortensrud Sirkusskole

Sirkus

Mortensrud, Søndre Nordstrand

A volunteer-run contemporary circus school for children and youth at Mortensrud, started in 2022 in partnership with Cirkus Xanti. Children learn aerial acrobatics, juggling, acrobatics and unicycling - a rare, creative niche that builds body control and confidence. It's free and for children aged 5-18 who live in the Søndre Nordstrand district.

ages 5-18

Studio Step Up

Dans

Nordstrand, Oppsal og Lambertseter, Nordstrand

An award-winning dance studio with branches in several districts in the south and east of the city. The range is unusually broad: children's ballet, children's dance, musical dance, jazz, hip hop, cheer dance, acrobatics/gymnastics, freestyle disco, modern and competition dance - so children can switch styles without switching school. Welcomes children from kindergarten age.

ages 3-18

POPrommet: Popkids, Popsingers og Vokalkompaniet

Kor

Ekebergveien 243, Nordstrand

A pop choir at Nordstrand, split into Popkids for children aged five to nine, Popsingers for teenagers and Vokalkompaniet for those who want to go further. They sing pop, new and old, rather than the classical repertoire most children's choirs stick to - an alternative for children who would rather sing what they actually listen to. POPrommet is a private music school that also teaches singing, instruments and songwriting, so singers can add individual lessons alongside the choir.

ages 5-18

Holmlia KFUK-KFUM-speidere

Speider

Holmlia kirke, Ravnåsveien 28., Søndre Nordstrand

KFUK-KFUM scouts meeting at Holmlia church. The church houses several children's activities, including choirs, so the scout group is part of a larger children's community in the same building. Holmlia has many children and relatively few regular activities, so free or affordable options count for extra here. From year 1 you are an oppdager, from year 3 a stifinner and from year 5 a vandrer, right through to year 10. The vandrere take on gradually more responsibility, and at lower-secondary level leadership training is central.

ages 6-18

Kodeklubben Landbrukskvartalet

Koding

Nabolagshuset i Landbrukskvartalet, Gamle Oslo

A free coding club at the Neighbourhood House in Landbrukskvartalet at Tøyen, on Wednesdays. The club takes children from years 1 to 7 and is run by volunteers from Lær Kidsa Koding, using Scratch, micro:bit and the children's own game projects. Landbrukskvartalet is a neighbourhood project with workshops and shared spaces, so the coding club sits inside a bigger community of activities in the building.

ages 6-13

Høybråten skolekor

Kor

Høybråten skole, Stovner

A school choir founded in 1994, organised as an independent association affiliated with Ung i Kor Oslo - not as part of the school's teaching. Its purpose is to awaken an interest in choral singing and contribute to a good environment, and every boy and girl at the school can take part. The choir passed thirty years in 2024 and is based in Bergtunveien at Høybråten.

ages 6-13