When I hung up my stabsjakke for the last time in 1988, I fully expected to someday drive up Thorsenveien with a minivan full of kids bound for Skofjorden.  I never imagined that I would park that minivan and spend two weeks here WITH my kids.  But here I am, wearing a navnskilt, living with the girls in Tromsø, and sharing the Skogfjorden experience with my 10 and 8 year old sons.

There have been some changes in the 22 years since I was last on staff.  The first thing I noticed was how much taller the trees are in front of Utgard.  The circular staircases  are gone, as are the woodburning, metal mid-century modern fireplaces in the hytter.  There are new places - Fagertun, LÃ¥ven, Mine’s Brønn - as well as some new names for old places.  There are new hand movements for songs I once knew and a whole lot of new songs.  The schedule has changed a bit with the biggest change being kretser (.  Sometimes I feel like a villager myself, “What happens next?  Where am I supposed to be now?”

As a parent, I can say that I feel that Skogfjorden is even better than when I was a villager or on staff.  It’s a safer place, both in terms of physical plant and safety policies, and staff members receive better and more comprehensive training. I see every day how hard the lederer here work, with patience and good humor, to give our kids the best possible experience.  More than ever, this is a place that supports and encourages all levels of learning and abilities. Staff are as creative and energetic as they were in my day, but they do a better job of making this a total Norwegian immersion experience.

One thing that has not changed is that Skogfjorden is a place where kids learn and grow and have fun.  Lot’s of fun.  It’s a joy to watch my kids singing their hearts out at allsang and to eat middag with them and hear about what they did during kretser (an activity that one was new for me, too).

One of the new songs that I learned this week captures my feelings about this session exactly.  The refrain of the song is, “Ã… sÃ¥ heldig jeg er, som kan være her med deg.”  “Oh, so lucky I am to be here with you.”  Å sÃ¥ heldig we parents are to be able to give our children the Skogfjorden experience.

Beste hilsen,

Jenni