STAVANGER, Norway (AP) — In the land of mountains and fjords, outdoor life starts early. This week in Norway, her 11,000 preschoolers started their day by hiking a route around their kindergarten.
Dressed in the outdoor one-piece jumpsuits typical of young children in this country, children from around 400 nurseries planned a mini-route through Norway’s wildlife.
“We hope to inspire children to become outdoor children,” said Kristin Oftedal of the Norwegian Trekking Association, a volunteer group that aims to promote outdoor activities. “We believe that children who spend time outdoors are happier children.”
Nordic mini-adventurers grow up in a society where outdoor life is semi-religious. According to the latest official data, 97% of Norwegians took part in some outdoor activity in 2021. By comparison, only 54% of Americans do, according to the Outdoor Foundation, a U.S. outdoor industry group.
That’s not surprising. In this Scandinavian country of 5.3 million people, leisure time often revolves around trips to mountain cabins. Thousands of Norwegians use mountain huts and coastal huts as a retreat from everyday life.
In addition to the 440,000 family-run cabins, there are approximately 550 sites run by volunteers from the Norwegian Trekking Association.
The same volunteers also maintain 27,000 kilometers (16,800 miles) of hiking and ski trails. The small red T painted on rocks and pillars marking the route is also well known to Norwegians across the country. Chancellor Jonas Gahr Store described them as “nature’s little lighthouses” and “fellow hikers” and reported that in 2021, 82% of adults went hiking at some point during the year.
But Oftedal cautions against complacency. Her organization came up with the idea of a “turbo truck” for young children as one way to stop the sedentary instinct creeping into Norwegian society. “For young people, spending time outdoors is very important both physically and mentally,” Oftedal told The Associated Press.
“They will learn skills and attitudes that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.” She said the diplomas handed out to hip-sized hikers are the first step in the muddy journey to become the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts. I hope it will be a step forward.