Dale Oen Academy

Children & youth

May 12

Written By Annikken Grieg Sæthre

Who: Dale Oen Experience

What: Dale Oen Academy

Where: Bergen, Vestland

Project period: 2025-2026

About the project

Dale Oen Academy is designed for young people who, for various reasons, have fallen outside traditional education or employment paths. Running from October to June, the Academy offers participants meaningful experiences of learning and mastery, helping them rediscover motivation and direction toward further education or work. The program is developed by experienced educators and school leaders and is based on a research-informed framework that draws on leadership and learning psychology. Central to the Academy is the systematic development of character-building skills, with a strong focus on social competence and adaptability for the challenges of the 21st century.These are essential life skills that support personal growth and prepare students for adult life - both socially and professionally.

The Academy strength lies in its clear educational philosophy, tested teaching methods, and a structured approach tailored to youth who need a different learning environment to thrive. The Academy’s overarching goal is to help young people build self-belief and discover their unique value through mastery and positive experiences. Students explore their strengths and talents and learn how to apply them for their own benefit and to contribute meaningfully to society. By the end of the year, they gain valuable insight into goal setting, leadership and self-leadership. Students are supported in developing GRIT—the resilience to face challenges without giving up.

The Academy fosters strong, confident youth who understand their own strengths and use them constructively. Learning is anchored in the Dale Oen Foundation’s 11 character- building skills, which shape the Academy’s core learning outcomes. These skills encourage reflection, dialogue, and growth—through openness, courage, compassion, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.

At DOA, the youth (the Explorer) will:

Discover their own resources and build self-confidence
Discover opportunities in society
Discover an educational path and begin a meaningful journey
Discover joy through nature and physical activity

Throughout the year, students grow individually and together—learning to support each other in reaching new goals. Many fear failure or not being enough. At DOA, we celebrate failure! It's not about being the fastest or the smartest - it’s about trying, being honest, staying motivated, and helping others. That’s what truly matters.

About the organization

The foundation is a non-profit organization that, through outdoor activities, research, and technology, provides children and young people with experiences of mastery, meaning, and joy. Since its inception in 2012, the foundation has helped more than 100,000 children and youth push their limits and discover their strengths through new experiences. When world champion Alexander Dale Oen passed away in 2012, his brother Robin decided to realize the dream they shared — to create a space where children and young people could experience mastery and discover their inner strengths. Equal conditions do not mean equal opportunities — all children and youth excel at something, but not everyone is a school expert. By giving them the chance to succeed in new arenas, the Dale Oen Foundation helps build mastery, joy of life, and self-confidence. Today, the foundation runs three academies located in Øygarden, Oslo, and Ålesund. In addition, we organize activity days and camps for children and youth.

The foundation has also hosted major research conferences for young people: #YouExplore in Bergen and Tromsø, and Dale Oen Inspire in Ålesund. All our work is guided by our vision — that children and young people should experience the impossible as possible.