The Voss Ski Venture
Educational opportunities
The Voss Venture provides pupils and staff with the opportunity to gain first hand
knowledge of the history, culture and lifestyle of Norway. In the Voss Hostel
youngsters sometimes experience living with Norwegian school groups on what the Norweigans call "leirskule", which translates to "camp school", a week out of their schools together with their teachers.
Skiing in Voss
Norwegians and tourists from all around the world. It provides instruction for
everyone, from absolute beginners learning the basics, through to advanced skiers
wanting to improve their technique. It is small and friendly with a relaxed yet
professional approach. The school has worked with school groups from the North
East since the very first Ski Venture in 1971. Ski equipment is proveded to all groups. All equipment is expertly maintained in a well equipped workshop at the Ski School.Instruction is available in both alpine and nordic skiing. Ski instructors are all
professionally qualified and all speak good English. Group ratios are 1 instructor to
10 students. The ski school aims to teach youngsters to ski or to help develop skiing skills already possessed, in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere whilst still maintaining the highest standards.
All children, if they wish, have the opportunity to have their ski skills assessed during the week and to receive awards at the end of the course.
The ski slopes at Voss employ a modern patrol system during the daytime to ensure that good practice exists on pistes and lift systems. Ski patrols will also handle any accidents or emergencies.
Voss is mainly an alpine skiing area with runs ranging from “the very easy” to runs of World Cup standard. It is an area with a good snow record, the ski season being from December through to April. The majority of the slopes are south facing and enjoy any available sunshine. It has 40 km of pisted runs and lots of areas for off piste skiing. If there is a shortage of snow, snow cannons can operate on the more advanced runs. A very comprehensive lift system supports the skiing with an uplift for about 8000 people per hour consisting of 4 draglifts, 4 chairlift, and a, new in 2019 - cable car system.
Snowboarding option
The Venture now offers children the opportunity to participate in this exciting and popular sport! Expert tuition in groups of 8 using top class equipment is available. This is not included in the package price and an extra supplement will need to be added.
Voss Hostel
The Hostel is lies in a beautiful area on the shores of Vangsvatnet, the lake at Voss, half a mile from the town center and cable car station. The Hostel is both modern and purpose built with 40 bedrooms (each with en suite facilities), capable of accommodating up to 180 guests. A dining room overlooking the lake uses a cafeteria system to provide an excellent breakfast buffet with organic products and organic spelt bread from which the students also make lunch packages. In the evening a 2-course dinner is served. The shop in the reception area is open morning and evening for the sale of postcards, stamps, confectionary, hot and cold drinks. Additional facilities provided by the Hostel include a drying room, ski storage room, a conference room with table tennis that can be used for lectures or movie nights and a fire place room with pool table. The hostel also arranges bonfires on the beach.
Booking
Details of the Venture are made available by Easter each year and schools are invited to make provisional bookings with the tour operator Dawson & Sanderson Ltd before confirming the bookings with first deposits.
Your school can also contact Voss hostel for information about booking.
Travel Arrangements
The complete journey from Newcastle to Voss now takes approximately 4 hours
using plane and coach companies who provide excellent service. Groups assemble at Newcastle Airport and are met by a representative of the tour company who assists and supervises the check-in procedures. The flight to Bergen takes approximately 2 hours. The transfers from airport to the coach and vice versa are easily accomplished and the pleasant coach journey to Voss takes the group to the Voss Hostel. Depending on flight times it may be possible to stop and explore the fascinating city of Bergen on the return journey.
For travelling from other areas of the UK or other countries, please contact the hostel for advise on operators that can be of assistance.
Party Leader
A leader is appointed to be responsible for the smooth running of each party going to Voss, and is prepared to handle any emergencies that may arise. Party leaders,
along with other teachers on the visit, give the Venture total supervision and help
maintain its high standards.
Accidents/Illness
The UK and Norway have a reciprocal health agreement so any medical treatment
required is free. The doctor, dentist and hospital are all easily accessible in Voss.
Accompanying staff are fully briefed and aware of procedures to be carried out in the event of either illness or accident.
Einar Raa Nilsen, the Chief ski instructor, has clear ideas about what the aims of the Ski School should be:
All children have potential – it is our job to help them fulfil it. We make winter sports fun for the children, and at the same time we try to make sure that we help them to develop their skills fully. At the end of the week here I want the children to love their skiing and snowboarding, to love Norway, and to want to return to Voss next year!
For further information and preliminary bookings, please contact:
Dawson & Sanderson LTD
17 Park View
Whitley Bay
Tyne and Wear
NE26 2TP
Phone: (0191) 251 4717
Or contact Voss hostel for more information.
Package includes
Flight – Newcastle to Bergen and return
Coach – Bergen to Voss and return
Accomodation – 7 days half board at the Voss Hostel
Ski instruction – 6 days skiing with 4 hours
instruction per day by English speaking qualified instructors to a maximum of 10 children.
Equipment – Good quality skis, sticks and boots.
Lift Pass – Unlimited use of ski lifts, tows and cable car.
Cultural visits – In the Voss – Bergen area.
