04 Sep Autumn has arrived in Ranum – despite the rain, the experiences continue
The weeks are flying by, and autumn is now well and truly upon us here in Ranum. The weather has certainly borne this out, with a whole week of nothing but rain, rain and more rain.
However, this hasn’t stopped our brilliant pupils, who, despite the wet weather, have been active both on the water and on land. Among other things, there has been a water sports weekend on the Limfjord, a trip to the Youth People’s Meeting in Copenhagen and Diversity Night at Aalborg Zoo.
You can also read more about this week’s talk on nicotine addiction and meet Patty and Ploy, who returned to Ranum Efterskole College five years after they themselves attended the college. It turned out to be a lovely reunion with the college and their former AFS family.
Happy reading!
Water sports weekend
In many ways, it turned out to be a wet water sports weekend – with plenty of water sports activities and rain to boot. As the photos suggest, however, spirits remained high, and the pupils were thrown into a bit of everything. There was plenty of surfing in Klitmøller, sailing on the Limfjord, windsurfing in Trend, as well as wakeboarding, kayaking, canoeing and other water sports activities on Lake Vilsted.
This coming weekend, we’ll be heading outdoors, where the pupils will have the chance to spend the night in a shelter, cook over a campfire and go on a mountain bike ride in the great outdoors, amongst other things.
We’re looking forward to another lovely weekend and would also like to send a friendly reminder of just how important weekends are for our community – especially at this early stage, when the pupils are still finding their feet and getting to know one another. That said, we do, of course, realise that a weekend at home every now and then can be just what’s needed.
Record levels of support for yoga and Pilates
We are absolutely overwhelmed by the huge support for this year’s yoga and Pilates classes! With a total of 33 girls in the group, we’ve broken a record, and the level of engagement has never been higher. Whether you’re sitting at the front or the back, there’s plenty of participation and enthusiasm – and it’s truly wonderful to witness. The classes are a combination of meditative exercises and physical training, with a focus on strength and flexibility. We work on both body and mind and focus on creating a space where students can find peace, challenge themselves and become aware of their bodies.
Frederik’s story of nicotine abuse
On Tuesday evening, the pupils attended a compulsory evening class, with a visit from Frederik, who gave a talk on nicotine and the consequences it can have for both the body and everyday life.
Frederik has experienced first-hand what nicotine in various forms can do, and, in particular, how difficult it can be to say no when friends ask if you want to give it a go. That is why the talk was very much tailored to the pupils’ level – in terms of language, visuals and humour.
The pupils were involved throughout the session through various questions and by raising their hands, and it was clear that several of them had either tried nicotine products themselves or knew someone who had. Nicotine is now a major part of youth culture, even though it is not always something you notice from the outside.
As a school, we believe it is important to have the courage to highlight this issue. For some pupils, a year in the efterskole programme – with new social circles, new habits and a new environment – may well be an opportunity to give up nicotine products. That was certainly the case for Frederik, who had a serious nicotine addiction during primary school. In Year efterskolen, he managed to break the habit, but unfortunately he relapsed when he started secondary school, where his addiction flared up again.
We hope that the talk gave the pupils food for thought, and that they not only learnt more about the effects of nicotine but were also able to take Frederik’s personal experiences and sound advice away with them.
Diversity Night at Aalborg Zoo
Ranum is a school that embraces diversity, and we celebrated this this week with a trip to Aalborg Zoo, where International House North Denmark and the Aalborg Integration Council hosted a Diversity Night.
It was an evening where diversity was the unifying theme, and where international residents, local families with an international background and Danish families were able to come together across cultural boundaries.
We took part, of course, to show our support for the event, but also to give our pupils the chance to expand their networks and strengthen their sense of belonging in Denmark. All Ranum pupils were able to sign up, but had to do so together with another pupil. In this way, they were encouraged to reach out and invite a friend to join the community.
Many students, both Danish and international, took part, and despite the rain, it turned out to be a really lovely evening filled with laughter and a sense of togetherness across cultures.
Dance routines for competition teams
As something completely new this year, we are trying to set up a competition team for our dance-loving pupils who would like to take their dancing to the next level. Here, they will have the opportunity to meet dancers from other efterskoler schools, challenge themselves and try their hand at competitive dancing.
That is why we held auditions this week for the upcoming competition team. Anyone who wanted to take part was welcome to come along; they first learnt a short routine and then had to perform it in front of our talented dance instructors, Malou and Mille. Over 35 talented girls turned up for the auditions, and 25 of them have secured a place on the new competition team.
Among other things, the team will be competing in the Danish Championships in Efterskole dance, where the pupils will have the opportunity to represent the school, compete against other efterskole classes and, not least, become part of a wider dance community spanning all the efterskole classes.
The Youth People’s Meeting – politics, debate and new perspectives
Over the past two days, a group of our socially-minded pupils have been in Valby to take part in the Youth People’s Meeting.
The days were filled with exciting debates, topical social issues and plenty of opportunities to get involved and help set the agenda. Among other things, the pupils were set the task of walking around the square and interviewing other young people about their views and perspectives on society.
It turned out to be two enlightening days filled with good discussions, great commitment and new perspectives on some of the issues that concern young people today.
Ranum and UNESCO
Our headteacher, Olav Storm, attended UNESCO’s annual meeting in Copenhagen this week. As a UNESCO school, Ranum is part of an international network that works to promote peace, culture, sustainability and global citizenship through education and cross-border collaboration.
We collaborate, amongst other things, with UNESCO schools in Turkey, which a group of pupils from Ranum visited last school year. In addition, we focus specifically on UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals, which form an integral part of our cultural study trips in particular.
We are also proud that Rally, from the 24/25 cohort, has now become a UNESCO Youth Ambassador. Rally attends Aarhus Statsgymnasium. Find out more about Rally’s work with UNESCO in the video below. We are proud that former Ranum pupils are choosing to get involved, take responsibility and help to highlight the importance of learning and education – both here at home and around the world.
The annual meeting took place in the Folketing Chamber – an ideal venue for reflecting on the importance of democracy and the dialogue that helps shape our shared future.
Patty found a family for life in Denmark
Five years ago, we had the pleasure of welcoming two students to Ranum: Patty and Ploy. Patty, who can be seen on the left in the photos below, came from Thailand as an exchange pupil through AFS, whilst Ploy, who can be seen on the right, has Thai parents but came to Denmark at the age of 10 and attended Ranum as a regular pupil.
This week, they were both back at efterskolen to experience life at efterskole once again and catch up with several of the teachers who were part of their daily lives back then. The reunion also provided an opportunity to hear Patty talk about what her year in Ranum – and, not least, her Danish host family – has meant to her.
Patty came to Denmark during the coronavirus pandemic, keen to meet new people, step out of her comfort zone and experience something completely different. In Ranum, she threw herself into experiences she would never have sought out herself back home in Thailand – including diving in Egypt, camping in the Swedish wilderness and skiing in Norway.
But for Patty, her host family became at least as important a part of her stay. She became part of a family on a farm on Zealand, where she experienced Danish family life at first hand. There was cosy time together, board games, cooking, outings and her first Danish Christmas with a Christmas tree and risalamande. The host family welcomed her as one of their own, and five years on, the bond remains strong. They have since visited Patty in Thailand, and the host family’s parents are now her Danish ”Grandma and Grandad”.
Ploy also became an important part of Patty’s Danish network and, in many ways, acted as a sort of second host family. She often invited Patty and other international friends round at weekends, when they had the chance to experience Danish family life and simply be part of everyday life.
Five years on, Patty and Ploy are still close friends, and Patty’s story is a wonderful example of how a year at Ranum can forge relationships that extend far beyond the school year itself. For international pupils, staying with a host family isn’t just about having somewhere to stay at the weekend – it’s about finding a home, becoming part of a family and experiencing Denmark in a completely different way.
Patty is currently studying International Business in Bangkok and dreams of working abroad – perhaps one day in Denmark or Germany. She has also given something back by telling prospective AFS students in Thailand about life at Ranum and about Danish traditions.
BECOME A HOST FAMILY
To be specific, we are currently short of 15 host families for our 15 lovely Thai pupils. We hope you’d like to become part of the Ranum community and help create a safe and supportive environment for a fantastic efterskole year for one or more of our international pupils.
As a host family, you’ll have the opportunity to welcome a student into your daily life and show them some of the Danish traditions and culture that we might take for granted ourselves. And as Patty’s story shows, this can develop into relationships that last well beyond the efterskole year.
Would you like to become a host family? If so, please write to bp@ranumefterskole.dk – you’re also very welcome to get in touch if you’re simply curious and would like to find out more about what it involves.
You decide for yourselves how much you’d like to do and what you’re able to do. You can host a family for a single weekend during the school year, or for several weekends if you feel up to it.
The first weekend when we’ll need more host families is as early as 18–20 September, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Day of the Afterschools
On 27 September, from 10.00 to 17.00, we’ll be opening the doors to Ranum Efterskole College as part of Efterskole Day.
Our pupils are ready to show you around, tell you about their everyday lives and give you an honest insight into what it’s like to be a pupil at Ranum.
With more than 50 subjects on offer, there are plenty of opportunities to put together a timetable that suits each pupil’s interests and curiosity. On the day, you can try your hand at crafts, sailing, design and dance, amongst other things, and get a taste of some of the many subjects and activities that form part of life at Ranum.
Of course, there will also be an opportunity to enjoy the delicious food, the cosy atmosphere and, not least, that special efterskole sense of community.
Registration for Efterskolernes Day
We look forward to seeing you!
We’re running for Nepal
On Saturday 12 September, we’ll be running for a good cause at the Vilsted Sø Run – a charity run. If you haven’t already signed up for the family day, please do so now. You can also show your support by making a donation on behalf of your child. All the money raised goes directly to the overseas projects and partner schools we have around the world – including in Nepal, Malaysia and Namibia.
Nepal has been particularly hard hit following the severe natural disaster that struck the country in August. The disaster has also affected several of the areas we usually travel to, as well as some of our friends and partners in the country.
The charity run is also a competition between the family groups. We’re eagerly watching to see which group raises the most money and can therefore call itself the winner of this year’s charity run.
Support the race from 50 kr here
We’re looking forward to a lovely day of exercise with you all!
Headmaster's column
Being a teenager is increasingly a turbulent experience, and at efterskolelivet in Ranum we address both the challenges and the opportunities. This applies in particular to the challenges young people face in relation to, for example, “the forbidden or unhealthy”. This week, the pupils attended a peer-to-peer talk on snus and learnt about the harm it can cause. Damage that can change one’s life and future prospects forever. This will not necessarily deter pupils from experimenting, as teenagers are bound to do, but it puts the decision to continue into perspective.
On a broader scale, young people are also drawn into the big questions about the state of the world, and in particular the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. This week, I attended the UNESCO ASP annual meeting in Copenhagen. The theme here was “Hope and Resilience”. For many young people – and adults – the Sustainable Development Goals and their ideals seem desperately far away and almost out of sight. But at the annual meeting, we met with UNESCO’s youth ambassadors, including Rally from Ranum Efterskole College, year 24/25. The young people’s ability to focus on hope and a sense of community in the face of these challenges has provided a fresh burst of energy, and the ambassadors will be involved in the cultural subjects’ focus on sustainability. Peer-to-peer dialogue and a community-focused approach across borders are a perfect fit for our school.
Please remember to make a donation to the pupils’ Vilsted Sø Charity Run next Saturday.
The pupils are now looking forward to a weekend of outdoor activities. Have a lovely weekend, everyone.
Yours sincerely
Olav Storm
Principal
It happens:
Calendar
- Outdoor Weekend 5 September 2026
- Lecture by Mikkel Storm Jensen 7 September 2026
- Concert by Niels Lan Doky 7 September 26
- At the form tutor’s home 10 September 26
- Family Day at Vilsted Lake Charity Run 12 September 26
- EMI WIDE Concert 22 September 26
- Efterskolernes, 27 September 26
- Specialist Study Trips 03/10/26
- Autumn half-term 12 October 26
- Alumni Day for former pupils 24 October 26
- Performance weekend 31 October 26
Follow us on social media
Facebook – Instagram – TikTok – YouTube