Welfare services at Alpakkagaarden - Østre Kjærnes
Alpakkagaarden is located in the wild and beautiful town of Våler in Østfold. Rural, sheltered and idyllic, with shoreline to Lake Vansjø from east to west. We have been providing welfare services and green care on the farm since 2015. We became part of "Inn på tunet" in 2017, i.e. approved by Norsk Mat AS as a provider of welfare services in health and care, education and child welfare. We are a sheltered farm in the municipality of Våler in Østfold, and we are also a farm close to the city of Moss. Moss city center is a 15-20 minute drive from the farm.
"Inn på tunet" are adapted and quality-assured welfare services on active farms. The services are designed to provide mastery, development and well-being. The activities are linked to the farm, life and work there.
We organize the days individually for each participant in collaboration with public authorities, schools and guardians. Our operation is approved by Norsk Mat, which means that we comply with all laws and regulations and have the necessary insurance to run welfare services on our farm. An auditor from Norsk Mat inspects the farm every other year. The farm has a self-audit every year. We are certified to offer a training arena, respite care during the day on weekdays, day care for the disabled and young people with a dementia diagnosis.
We have ongoing service offerings such as:
- Alternative training arena for Moss and Våler municipality
- Day care for people with mental and physical disabilities for Våler municipality
- Respite care and visiting farm for children and young people for Moss municipality.
We have capacity for more participants in 2024. Contact us to hear about the possibilities at Alpakkagaarden Østre Kjærnes.
At Alpakkagaarden - Østre Kjærnes we can offer:
The farm offers many possibilities, and can accommodate both those who need peace and quiet around them, as well as those who appreciate interaction in community. We facilitate on an individual level.
We have good facilities for day care and overnight stays. HC toilet and wheelchair access in the yard.
Our aim is to create motivation and a sense of achievement over time.
Activities can be, for example:
At the farm, we believe in the value of facilitating the environment. A safe place to be, a good place to learn.
In our experience, well-being comes with opportunities to develop self-confidence and self-esteem.
We believe the key is recognition, care and relationship.
Social skills and life mastery come as a result of the relational health-promoting work that takes place over time here on the farm. The individualized relationship work takes place through various activities, often in interaction with the animals - in combination with the broad expertise that we who work here collectively have as a team. We strive to ensure that students experience life skills in practice.
Alternative training arena
We know that many children and young people face social challenges at primary school. We believe that by offering an alternative educational arena for students who have challenges at primary school here at Østre kjærnes, we will contribute to a better school life at home and later in life. We also believe that this will help prevent dropout from upper secondary school. We want to help prevent dropout in school and in working life. We want to help ensure that each student is included, thrives, enjoys learning, achieves good health, social skills and a practical approach to school.
Our target group at Gårdskolen:
Children and young people aged 12-16 (18) who attend school or who are unable to attend class. It can be individual pupils or small groups of pupils who need an alternative and practical school day.
We believe that mental health promotion occurs in the encounter between humans and animals.
Who are we who work here:
Erik and Linda have lived on the farm since 2003 and started Inn på tunet in 2017. They have a great interest in people, animals, nature, hunting and outdoor life. They have extensive experience from environmental therapy, animal-assisted interventions, care work, family homes and visiting homes. Linda is the manager of the farm's Inn på tunet program. Linda works daily as an environmental worker in the day program and alternative training arena.
Monette is a child welfare educator (from 2012) with further education in mental health work aimed at children and young people, with, among other things, environmental therapy experience from schools, kindergartens and institutions. Monette is the professional manager of the alternative training arena.
Ingrid is an environmental assistant and an authorized health professional. She has worked for 20 years in care homes, day centers and has been a visiting home for child welfare services. Ingrid has extensive experience with animals and farm work, and has a great interest in growing flowers and vegetables, picking berries and mushrooms, and cooking.
Øystein is the farm's mechanic and has a degree from the Armed Forces and worked for a number of years in the Air Force. Retired aircraft technician on F16 and helicopter. Øystein is also a very popular assistant for the farm's students. Øystein enjoys being active outdoors and can often be seen skiing, skating or running with his dog. Øystein is also the farm's outdoor manager!
Our vision is to create fertile ground with good growing conditions - so that each individual can experience their own flourishing.
We are committed to mental health promotion and believe that change and development need time. We want everyone who visits us to reap the benefits of their own mastery and development - not only in the present, but also far into the future.
If you want to know more and/or want to visit us, please contact
Linda Tegneby tel 932 04 001 or Monette Gustavsen tel 404 76 164
Download the government's guidance for school grounds
We have ongoing service offerings such as:
Get in touch to hear about the possibilities at Alpakkagaarden Østre Kjærnes.
At Alpakkagaarden - Østre Kjærnes we can offer:
The farm offers many possibilities, and can accommodate both those who need peace and quiet around them, as well as those who appreciate interaction in community. With us, there is room for everyone.
We have good facilities for day care and overnight stays. HC toilet and wheelchair access in the yard.
Our aim is to create motivation and a sense of achievement over time.
Activities can be, for example:
At the farm, we believe in the value of facilitating the environment. A safe place to be, a good place to learn.
In our experience, well-being comes with opportunities to develop self-confidence and self-esteem.
We believe the key is recognition, care and relationship. Social competence and life skills come as a result of the relational health promotion work that goes on over time here on the farm. The individualized relationship work takes place through various activities, often in interaction with the animals - in combination with the broad competence we who work here collectively have as a team.
Quote from parent: "You must know what a huge impact you have had on my son's life and I believe this will forever be the foundation for the choices he makes in life. You have left a mark on the lives of the whole family and we are eternally grateful. The future for many is with you."
Alternative training arena
We know that there are many children and young people who have social challenges at primary school. We believe that an alternative school arena for students who have challenges in primary school here at Alpakkagaarden - Østre Kjærnes will contribute to a better school life at home school. Furthermore, we believe that this will prevent dropout from upper secondary school. We want to help prevent dropout in school and in working life. We want to contribute to the individual student being included, thriving, finding joy in learning, achieving good health, social skills and a practical approach to school.
Our target group in the Farm School:
Children and young people from 10-16 (18) years old who are in school or who have dropped out of school. It can be individual pupils or groups of pupils who need an alternative and practical school day.
Who are we who work here:
Erik and Linda have lived on the farm since 2003 and started Inn på tunet in 2017. They have a great interest in people, animals, nature, hunting and outdoor life. They have extensive experience from care work, family homes and visiting homes. In addition to the Inn på tunet operation, the farm is also a well-organized place for the adventure and tourism industry. The farm offers accommodation, canoe rental and alpaca experiences. The farm has accommodation capacity for visiting guests. Linda and Erik have a good knowledge of alpaca farming. Cameldynamic (appropriate handling of alpaca) is used to a large extent in the facilitation of the Inn på tunet offer.
Lise Beate is an animal-assisted therapist (from 2010) with broad experience from assignments associated with shelters, nursing homes and municipalities. She is also a health secretary at BUPP Moss.
Monette is a child welfare educator (from 2012) with further education in mental health work aimed at children and adolescents, with, among other things, environmental therapy experience from school, kindergarten and institution. Monette has a great interest and good knowledge of horses. Monette is the professional leader of the farm's offer of alternative school arena.
Ingrid is an environmental assistant and a certified health professional. Ingrid has worked 20 years in residential care. Many years at a day center and has been a visiting home for the child welfare service. Ingrid has extensive experience with animals and farm work and takes great pleasure in teaching her great interest in growing flowers and vegetables, picking berries and mushrooms, as well as cooking.
Bengt is an environmental therapist and the farm's educator in practical tasks (carpentry and tinkering). Trained as a social worker and carpenter, and has leadership experience from the military. Bengt has worked in the special health service in psychiatry, refugee work for minors and adults, and has given a number of lectures on mental health under the auspices of Mental Health. Bengt likes to motivate us all to an active outdoor life and has a great interest in music where he plays in a brass band.
Our vision is to create fertile ground with good growing conditions - so that each individual can experience their own flourishing.
We are committed to mental health promotion and believe that change and development need time. We want everyone who comes to us to reap the benefits of their own mastery and development - not only in the present, but also far into the future.
If you want to know more and/or want to visit us, please contact
Linda Tegneby, tel: 932 04 001
Download the government's guidance for school grounds
