August 21, 2007

Schools that have WAY cooler orientation programs than mine...

This is just awesome:

Students undergo weapons training SVALBARD, Norway, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Students in Svalbard, Norway, are taught how to use a shotgun and ammunition to fend off polar bears at the beginning of every school year.

Since polar bears can outrun a human in a matter of seconds, every student at the University Center undergoes weapons and arctic survival training, Aftenposten reported Monday.

“It's absolutely necessary,” said UNIS director Gunnar Sand.

The school loans weapons, ammunition, tents, sleeping bags, survival suits, snow scooters and other equipment out as well.

Polar bears are not the only thing that student have to worry about either.

"Polar bears are one thing," Sand noted. "Even more dangerous is the extreme cold, and the winds. There also are dangerous glaciers, steep cliffs, and it's a long way between settlements."

The University Center in Svalbard is also the world’s northernmost higher education institution, offering courses in Arctic Biology, Arctic Geology, Arctic Geophysics and Arctic Technology.

Posted by Steve-O at August 21, 2007 02:40 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Seekrit message: drinks at IHS next week? Email me ...

Posted by: Professor Chaos at August 21, 2007 02:48 PM

When I was in high school - 1972 to 1976 - we did 50' indoor four-position (Standing, kneeling, sitting, and prone) marksmanship training with .22's as JROTC enrolees. Back then, precision drill was a varsity sport, which I lettered in (Oh yeah, I wore a sharpshooter medallion on my uniform too).

They tore that old school of mine down and rebuilt it into what looks to all the world like a supermax prison, except for the JROTC building, but the old shooting range is now a classroom and precision drill is no longer a varsity sport.

To hell in a handbasket, says I.

Posted by: Hucbald at August 21, 2007 03:59 PM

A college friend of mine spent some time in Alaska on various archaeological digs and once sent me a picture of the "outhouse", which was a chemical toilet sitting out in the open, complete with a stand for one's mandatory rifle. 'Twasn't polar bears there, but grizzlies. My friend carried a .338 Win Mag as bear deterrent.

Posted by: Captain Ned at August 21, 2007 08:10 PM

Chaos---Which address? Yes, let's get together. Is Rusty going to be there?

Posted by: steve the LLamabutcher at August 22, 2007 06:40 AM