Sjunkhatten national park – the children’s national park

Carine Romness, VHSC

A project group is now working towards the goal of naming “Sjunkhatten national park” for “Sjunkhatten – the children’s national park”. So far the response of the proposal is very positive. They are also working with the plans for how and where to adapt the area, in order to make it accessible for all children - both with and without disabilities. The past few years there has been a lot of focus on availability in nature for people with disabilities, in order to increase their use of Friluftsliv.

Friluftsliv is based on personal understanding; it is about meeting and experiencing nature and each and every one of us will perceive it differently.  Some people prefer it alone, while others feel the importance of sharing the atmosphere and experience with others. Friluftsliv has a great value of its own, and it has to do with one’s well-being (Goksøyr, 1992; Repp, 2002; St.meld. nr. 39, 2000-2001). In that way one can say that Friluftsliv also has a great social consequence. It can be considered as a pleasure for everyone who would like to practice Friluftsliv. In ”Fra bruker til borger” (NOU, 2001:22) they refer to an inquiry which shows that 80% of the Norwegian population has walks/hikes as their Friluftsliv. People with disabilities are expected to have the same preferences as the rest of the population. This means we can assume that more than 600.000 Norwegians with disabilities would like to participate in Friluftsliv if areas were adapted (St.meld. nr .39, 2000-2001).

Adaptation of nature in national parks has so far been very strict in Norway. Hardly any manmade alteration has been allowed – except for marking the trails and equivalent measures. In national parks it is essential that nature shall be conserved. The landscape including plants, animal life and nature- and cultural monuments shall be protected against building, construction, pollution and other encroachments. Hunting and fishing is allowed through certain regulations in a national park. It is unacceptable to disturb the animal life unnecessary (The nature conservation law, § 3, 4).

The past few years the Government has been very clear that Friluftsliv is an area of commitment. Especially they would like to increase the number of immigrants and people with disabilities who participate in Friluftsliv (DN, 1995-11; DN, 2003-4, St.meld. nr. 39, 2000-2001; St.meld. nr 40, 2002-2003). If you look at the quality of nature, the existing infrastructure, availability and competent institutions nearby “Sjunkhatten national park”, there is now an unique possibility to follow up one of the recommendations in the Directorate for Nature Management’s report 2003-4, “Friluftsliv for disabled”; “A pilot study which aims at increasing the accessibility for people with disabilities in a chosen national park or another large protected area should be completed.”
(Freely translated)

Valnesfjord HealthSportsCenter

Valnesfjord HealthSportsCenter is a national rehabilitation institution within the specialized health service. The institution has 72 beds and the patients come from all over Norway.

A stay at Valnesfjord HealthSportsCenter aims at making the patient able to affect his/her own health; physically, mentally and socially. The method that is used for reaching the goal is based on the cognition that adapted physical activity in stimulating surroundings can help increase the quality of life. One of the high priority areas for the next coming years at Valnesfjord HealthSportsCenter is children and youth. Because of this Valnesfjord HealthSportsCenter is aiming on becoming a national competence center for children and youth with disabilities. The governmental health- and care committee is very positive towards this objective (Budsjettinnstilling til stortingsmelding nr.11, 2007-2008).

Friluftsliv is one of the main agents at the institution, and the importance of conveying Friluftsliv as something everyone can participate in is of high priority. Valnesfjord HealthSportsCenter is very active in providing good accessibility and good Friluftsliv-experiences for everyone. The area where the center is located gives great opportunities to use Friluftsliv and outdoor activities in the rehabilitation and habilitation programs. One of the reasons for choosing to be focused on Friluftsliv is because of all the benefits one gets in addition to the strictly physical. The physical benefits can be achieved in the gym, in the swimming pool or on the fitness bikes. The mental benefits like peace and quiet, the sounds and the smells, the feeling of presence and just being – there’s nowhere else than in nature you get those feelings. Just think about what a moment sitting around the fire does to a person – children and adults alike can stare into the flames for ages. All the different kinds of experiences one can get outdoors makes it worthwhile to adapt the nature close by making it accessible for everyone who wants to use it.

Valnesfjord HealthSportsCenter is interested in the boundary between Friluftsliv and nature conservation. In conservation issues, Valnesfjord HealthSportsCenter has their basis in the nature conservation law § 1, 2: “Nature conservation is to manage the resources in the nature in consideration to the close relation between people and nature and that nature should be conserved for the future”.
(Freely translated)

The health perspective in the Friluftsliv-policy is essential and Valnesfjord HealthSportsCenter is engaged in achieving Governmental goals, thereby increasing the number of children and youth with disabilities taking part in Friluftsliv.

Sjunkhatten national park

The suggestion about the Children’s national park was very well received from all the parts involved. The Directorate for Nature Management supports the idea of the national park being well located with a special focus towards children and youth.

National parks are often associated with high activity performance, and difficult accessibility. The Children’s national park could be a symbol and an example of a national park with low threshold for activity and experiences. And last but not least – it could get more people to expand their use of nature. Valnesfjord HealthSportsCenter  believe that through physical adaptation of some specific areas and designing good methodical plans for children and youth with disabilities, it will make the same areas more desirable and attractive for all children, adults with disabilities, elderly and families with children. If that can be achieved by minor adaptations in easily approachable areas, it can give great rewards in order to get people more active in Friluftsliv.

In 2005 there was made a report (MU, 2005:7) who gave information about the biological topics in the area where Sjunkhatten national park will be located. It was found that there was no need to make area preservation even though there were some essential areas and some vital species of wildlife and birds. The report is important information to use in the further plans for the national park, but there is no reason for not continuing using the area for rehabilitation and recreation.

The area where the national park will be located is now an ordinary recreation area. Earlier, parts of the area that is discussed for being included in the national park were used for pasture. Today it is used for rehabilitation, recreation, hunting and fishing throughout the four seasons. Valnesfjord HealthSportsCenter is located in what will be one of the entrances to the park. That is also why the idea about making the national park into the children’s national park first begun. Since the center is so close by where the national park will be, it would be a great opportunity to face Friluftsliv in rehabilitation and how to make Friluftsliv activities possible for everyone. The HealthSportsCenter has years of experience with adapting the area near by its location in order for everyone to have the possibility to use the outdoor arena. Valnesfjord HealthSportsCenter is now involved in the further plan group of the national park. They will contribute with their own practical experience in adapting the surroundings, and also with their professional expertise in Adapted Physical Activity. An example of adaptation that could be current is a trail made out of boards which is no steeper than 1:20 inclination (Nordland Fylkeskommune, 1995). That is because of the ability to get around in a wheelchair. If the path is too steep a person in a manual wheelchair would not be able to get around on his/her own. It is essential for many people to have the freedom to go out and practice Friluftsliv on their own, and not always having to have someone along. Another example of adaptation can be a platform near a river/lake so it will be possible to come close enough to the water to be able to fish. At the same time it is important to mention how essential it is to make the adaptations as little visible as possible. The experience of being in nature will be less valuable if the surroundings are destroyed while making the adaptations. After all – it is because of the nature and the experiences one can get while being in it, the adaptations are done. Therefore it is very important to keep the nature as close up to “normal” as possible.

The children’s national park – also for children and youth with disabilities.

An inquiry made in 2001 (NOU 2001:22), shows that people with different kinds of disabilities, are less active than the average population. In order to achieve the goal of increased participation for persons with disabilities, motivation and accessibility to leisure activities is very important. Children and youth with disabilities have to be given a fair opportunity to gain the best possible body function, independency and society involvement.

Valnesfjord HealthSportsCenter believe “Sjunkhatten National park” will be well located to become a national park where children and youth with disabilities can be inspired and conveyed into experience and activity in nature. It is also a ground-breaking idea, and it is about time to get some action when it comes to the opportunities disabled people have to use nature and national parks.

Valnesfjord HealthSportsCenter does not see it as a goal that everyone is supposed to reach all the different areas inside the national park, but the work towards lowering the threshold for experiences and activity in easily approachable areas will be continued. The main goal will be to show that also national parks can be adapted in a way that will not leave big scars in nature, and at the same time adapt areas so they can give challenges, pleasures and great experiences for people with disabilities as well as others. 

References:

Det kongelige miljøverndepartement (2000-2001): Stortingsmelding 39, Friluftsliv, ein veg til høgare livskvalitet, Oslo

Det kongelige sosialdepartement (2002-2003): Stortingsmelding 40, Nedbygging av funksjonshemmede barrierer, Oslo

Direktoratet for Naturforvaltning (Directorate for Nature Management)
 (1995): Friluftsliv for alle, Bergen, 3-5 mai 1995, notat 1995-11

Direktoratet for Naturforvaltning (Directorate for Nature Management)
 (2003): Friluftsliv for Funksjonshemmede, Trondheim, Utredning 2003-4

Goksøyr M. (1992): Nasjonal identitetsbygging gjennom idrett og Friluftsliv, Nytt Norsk Tidsskift nr. 2, ss.182-193

Helse- og omsorgskomiteen (2007-2008): Budsjettinnstilling til stortingsmelding nr.11, Kap. under Helse- og omsorgsdepartementet (rammeområde 15), Oslo

Miljøfaglig Utredning (MU) (2005): Kartlegging av naturtyper og vilt I utredningsområdet for vern i Sjunkan-Misten, Nordland, Rapport 2005:7

Naturvernloven (the nature conservation law), § 1, 2, 3, 4:  http://www.lovdata.no/all/tl-19700619-063-001.html#1 (lesedato: 26.08.2008)

Nordland Fylkeskommune Fylkesrådet for funksjonshemmede, utbyggingsavdelingen (1995): Tilrettelegging for funksjonshemmede i friluftsområder, ideer og veiledning, Bodø

Norges offentlige utredninger (NOU) (2001:22): Fra bruker til borger, Statens Forvaltningstjeneste, Informasjonsavdelingen, Oslo

Repp G. (2002): Friluftsliv som pedagogisk vei, Kap. 10 I: Verdiar og ideal for dagens Friluftsliv. Nansen som foredøme?, Doktoravhandling Oslo; Norges Idrettshøgskole, ss. 286-308