La Rochelle teens in Ånderdalen National Park. The teaser is out!

Film director David Bottin has just released the teaser for his upcoming documentary. Delve into what turned out to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these 12 teens from La Rochelle.

The first blog article highlighted their journey, the second focused on their achievements. This one is all about playtime!

They are 14 and 15 years old, from middle school Fénelon Notre Dame, in La Rochelle, France. They could have traveled to Northern Norway by plane. But they had a different plan: Committed to reducing their carbon footprint, they traveled the 8,000 km round trip by train and bus, avoiding over 15 tons of CO₂ emissions. For one week, they mapped biodiversity and repaired hiking trails. But that programme left them plenty of time to play, chill and experience nature in various and memorable ways.

Power napping

With the Earth as your mattress and the sky as your blanket, your whole body unwinds. There’s something truly magical about finding a patch of ground that fits your body's curves and letting everything go. Whether you’re a seasoned napper or someone who has never slept a minute in daylight, this is an opportunity most of us embraced almost on a daily basis, with closed eyes and a deep sigh.

Clémence, Marion, Victor and Myrtille power napping hard by the Ånderelva river.

Swimming

Hygiene matters when you spend a full week being active in the wilderness, especially when you’re sharing a tent! Luckily, Åndervatnet (the lake) and Ånderelva (the river), fed by snowmelt from the mountain slopes, were always nearby. After a long day of hiking and sweating, the lure of an icy plunge proved irresistible for many. Later in the week, we built a shower in the forest with a jerrycan filled with hot water. That warm shower among the trees felt incredible: a little moment of luxury in the Norwegian wilderness.

Ice bath in Åndervelva after a long hike on day 1.

Wildlife watching

Late May and early June turned out to be perfect for birdwatching. At this time of year, nature is alive with songs and calls, and with the sun never setting, the concert hardly ever pauses. We identified 36 species, including two that are listed as Endangered (EN) and two as Near Threatened (NT) on Norway's Red List (the list is in this previous article).

We also found footprints of an European badger, a species that had never been documented on Senja, and rarely observed in Northern Norway (the badger story is here).

David Bottin with a capercaillie.

Wood carving

With no phone signal in the mountains, some discovered the simple joy of wood carving. The risk of injury is higher than scrolling on a screen, but everyone ended the week with the same number of fingers they started with. A few true masterpieces emerged, like Kalina’s fish, which even looked like a fish.

Kalina, Clovis and Victor mastering the art of carving wood.

Painting and drawing

Marion, Clémence and Myrtille were the leading brushes and pencils here. We dedicated an article to Myrtille's sketches in this interview.

Marion in action with oil pastel.

Hiking

There’s no better way to experience Ånderdalen National Park than on foot. After a 4,000-kilometer journey by train and bus, and a first night in tents at the park entrance, our opening day was all about getting familiar with this new landscape. We hiked the 6 kilometers to Åndervatnet through birch and pine forests, peatlands, tundra, and even crossed a few rivers along the way. And from then on, hiking became a part of our everyday life.

The 12 fantastic: Alban, Charlotte, Clarisse, Clémence, Clovis, Gabin, Kalina, Marion, Morgan, Myrtille, Nicolas and Victor (with grownups Jean-Patrick, Pierre, David and Delphin)

Watch David Bottin's teaser if you haven't yet!