Departing from past years, when the Svanøy trip included an academic requirement – fieldwork relating to Biology and Environmental Systems and Societies internal assessments involving most but not all students, the focus this year was for all first, soon to be second year, students to participate, largely to relax and experience a west coast island setting, hosted by our long-standing friend Trygve Solheim at the Norwegian Deer Centre.

Students and staff had a leisurely departure on Sunday at midday – the day after Graduation – travelling between the College and Svanøy by boat, returning the same way for dinner on Monday evening. On the island students had arranged group activities: there was hiking, volleyball, feeding the deer and just relaxing; there was a also a ‘dugnad’ – clearing vegetation into piles, as part of the Deer Centre management to create and sustain parkland areas.

RCN staff managed the barbecues and a large number of students camped in tents in the area surrounding the Deer Centre or slept in the sheltered entrance area – many on mats on the floor. There was a lovely atmosphere during the whole trip and fortunately the weather was kind!

Thanks to all who organised activities, the cooking and the logistics.

You are welcome to ‘like’ Trygve’s facebook page by clicking here!

And here are some other pictures.