Meaning and Values of Nordic Friluftsliv

After experiencing a wide range of different activities in nature, I got a chance to take a closer look at Friluftsliv itself.

The reason why a closer look is necessary lays in the thing itself. While the motives of being outdoors are diverse; They range from physical exercise to personal health, being in the nature or relieving stress (Skår, Odden & Vistad 2008). They all have the similarity of us being in the nature while relying on it. This is why placing “man’s relationship with nature at the centre of [your] thinking” is essential (Hofmann et al. 2018, S. 30). So, on one hand one should enjoy being outdoors while “striving for a life with greater satisfaction and awareness” (Hofmann et al. 2018, S. 30) and on the other hand also having an eye on preserving and sustaining nature.

 

Staying outdoors for just being there

When you follow the values of Friluftsliv there is no doubt nature is the most important thing to take care of while being there. Especially during our 3-day trip with Norwegian students I experienced the “good” and important values of Friluftsliv. We went to a place in the forest and built a camp by using natures resources. While being out there, having a great and comfortable time, we always thought about nature itself, meaning we did not want to destroy or harm anything. This is why at the end of our trip we managed to leave nature as we found it, meaning leaving no trace we have been there.

So, what I was asking myself is: Why are those values ignored by people?

Violation of the values…

… by other cultures!

First to mention is that there are people from other cultures trying to implement the Nordic Friluftsliv while they are in Norway. The problems which may arise are misinterpretation or not having the same values as the people living here. While participating in those activities just from their personal standpoint, not looking at the bigger picture, people are not caring enough oabout other cultures or values. This might lead to ‘not taking care of nature’ or even destroying it (Andkjær 2012). Here the values and meaning of Friluftsliv and the globalized culture collide. As an example for me personally I was not aware about what Friluftsliv was before and the reasons are closely related to where I come from. In Germany the term of Friluftsliv does not exists and we have a totally different connection to nature through cultural background.

From my personal experience what arises as a solution for me, is the fact that people need to be educated in what Friluftsliv is all about before or while they are doing activities related to that.

…by Norwegians!

Closely connected to the cultural difference is the second thought I had about this topic. While being outdoors we talked about staying away from civilization and cabins on the mountains. While staying there is considered living the way of Friluftsliv the people who run those cabins seem to burn all their trash because of the long ways to bring it down from the mountains again. For them this might still be in the values of preserving nature and this might arise from the different cultural backgrounds, but for me this is one of the worst things to do, since it is in no means good for nature to burn plastic! Like the people from other cultures or countries coming to Norway and “using” nature, those people also seem to have a narrowed picture of taking care of nature. The difference is inly that they construct a different meaning of being outdoors and interacting with nature (Riese & Vorkinn 2002).

Those two sides show the problem we have while trying to preserve and save nature!

What to take?

What I want people to consider: While interacting with nature everyone should see the whole picture and taking everything in consideration to preserve and leave nature as it was before they came. Because this is something I learned while being here!

... but don't forget to enjoy and have fun ...

References:

Adkjær, S. (2012). A cultural and comparative perspective on outdoor education in New Zealand and friluftsliv in Denmark. Journal of Adventure
Education and Outdoor Learning, 12:2, 121-136.
Hofmann, A.R., Gade Rolland, C., Rafoss, Kolbjørn & Zoglowek, H. (2008). Norwegian Friluftsliv - A way of living and learning in nature. Waxmann.
Riese, H. & Vorkinn, M. (2002). The production of meaning in outdoor recreation: A study of Norwegian practice. Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift - Norwegian Journal of Geography, 56:3, 199-206.
Skier, M., Odden, A. & Vistad, O.I. (2008). Motivation for mountain biking in Norway: Change and stability in late-modern outdoor recreation. Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift - Norwegian Journal of Geography, 62:1, 36-45.