Launch of Campus YOUNG

The first cohort has now completed Campus UNG (Campus YOUNG), Guttas Campus’ new intensive learning programme for both boys and girls in lower secondary school. Project manager Tone Gunn Solsvik and her team are deeply impressed by the students from various lower secondary schools in Askøy, a municipality just outside Bergen.

“They impress us adults, and we’ve really enjoyed our time with them,” says Solsvik.

Campus UNG is a new, intensive learning programme for lower secondary students, based on Guttas Campus’ well-established programme for boys who want to strengthen their academic and social skills before entering upper secondary school.

With surplus funds from the Kavli Group, including Kavli and Q-Meieriene in Norway, Kavli Trust is supporting the pilot project with NOK 500,000 in 2024.

Askøy first

The very first “UNG camp” has now been successfully conducted at Hetlevik School in Askøy, in collaboration with Askøy Municipality.

Campus UNG is based on the methodology and learning theories of Guttas Campus, focusing on reading, writing, arithmetic, and the development of seven character strengths.

Unlike Guttas Campus, Campus UNG is open to both boys and girls in lower secondary school. Participants do not stay overnight at the learning site but are transported to and from the venue each day.

Eleven boys and fourteen girls from different schools in the municipality participate each day from 08:30 to 18:00, Monday to Friday, for three weeks.

“This means the learning sessions are shorter and more intensive, but the aim remains the same: to strengthen students academically, build strong communities, and work on character strengths such as self-control, willpower, and social competence,” explains Omar Mekki.

“It has been incredibly exciting to be involved in the development of Guttas Campus from the very beginning. They have achieved excellent results from previous learning camps and the mentoring scheme across all three regions, and the vast majority of boys who have participated are still in school and motivated to continue,” says Ingrid Paasche, CEO of Kavli Trust.

“It is gratifying that Kavli Trust can support a project that opens up new opportunities for students who find school challenging,” she continues.

Healthy shared meals, physical activity, and mobile-free learning are also an important part of the camp.

The Campus UNG staff consists of experienced Guttas Campus instructors as well as several teachers and social educators from Askøy Municipality.

Project manager Tone Gunn Solsvik reports a very successful start in Askøy:

Healthy shared meals, physical activity, and mobile-free learning are also an important part of the camp.

The Campus UNG staff consists of experienced Guttas Campus instructors as well as several teachers and social educators from Askøy Municipality.

Project manager Tone Gunn Solsvik reports a very successful start in Askøy:

“Camp has been a great success! The students have shown real dedication to their learning, working enthusiastically on reading, writing, and arithmetic. Even with days longer than normal school hours, they’ve stayed focused right through to six o’clock,” says Solsvik.

From day camp to classroom

The main goal is to support the students’ academic and social development and strengthen their ability to succeed in life and complete upper secondary school.

Another aim of the pilot project is to develop a programme for implementing Guttas Campus’ methodology in the classroom.

“As the local staff in the municipality gain insight and experience with the concept, our involvement will gradually decrease. The idea is that we follow the project for three years, after which the municipality will continue independently with its own staff,” explains Omar Mekki.

Kavli Trust has supported Guttas Campus’ learning camps and mentoring scheme since 2018. Following excellent results from learning camps in Oslo in 2018 and 2019, Guttas Campus expanded to several municipalities in Vestland in 2020 and then to Northern Norway in 2022.

Initially, 25 students from Askøy Municipality participate in Campus UNG, but it is already clear that the pilot project will expand to several lower secondary schools in Bergen, thanks to support from the Grieg Foundation.

Kavli Trust has supported the establishment and development of Guttas Campus since 2019 with a total of NOK 9.8 million.

In addition to supporting Campus UNG, the foundation also funds the main programme for boys in Northern Norway. Kavli Trust’s support is part of its initiative for children and young people’s mental health.

Summary

• Guttas Campus is an intensive learning programme for boys entering Year 9 who wish to improve their reading, writing, and arithmetic before upper secondary school.
• The programme includes a thirteen-day intensive learning camp and close follow-up at the mentoring centre for one year.
• Personal and social development is also part of the camp, with a focus on seven character strengths.
• The aim is to give the boys an academic boost before Year 10 and upper secondary school.
• Campus UNG is a pilot project based on the same methodology and learning theories as Guttas Campus. Both girls and boys in lower secondary school are eligible, and the learning camp runs over three weeks during the day.
• Askøy Municipality participates in the pilot project with several teachers and social educators, in collaboration with Guttas Campus instructors. In the long term, the aim is for the methodology from the learning camp to be transferred to classroom teaching.
• Kavli Trust supports the rollout of the pilot project with NOK 500,000.
• Campus UNG is already set to expand to more lower secondary schools with support from the Grieg Foundation.