Two out of three. Samson Forslund and Elina Selin are in their second year of studying nature-based tourism in Burträsk. Lee Edström is also in the same class.
The temperature hovers around zero degrees in Klutmark. Though the sun remains stubbornly hidden, a hint of spring whispers in the air.
Around fifteen figures huddle near the frozen lake.
Welcoming us are three second-year students from Naturbruksgymnasiet's nature-based tourism program: Samson Forslund, Elina Selin, and Lee Edström.
A chorus of laughter erupts as they announce:
– It's just the three of us!
The aspiring nature guides had organized this activity previously for other students, but today their English skills were being put to the test.
– A welcome challenge, Samson said.
In addition to the opportunity for students to lead activities in English, the day aimed to promote integration with new Skellefteå residents working at Northvolt.
Camilla Ingvarsson from Medborgarskolan applauded their efforts.
– It's fantastic that you're able to organize this activity, and you do it so well, she beamed to Samson.
Camilla Ingvarsson from Medborgarskolan. "Great that so many people have turned up", she says.
She explained that publicity for the event started slow, but eventually, the word spread at Northvolt and a queue formed.
– We didn't know it was that popular to jump in icy water, Camilla admitted.
Muhammad Shah Zaib, Shahrokh Mehmood and Nafeez Ahmed are ready for an ice bath. The first one to go in is Samson Forslund.
As it turned out, many people wanted to test their limits in the ice bath.
Valeria, originally from Mexico, and Lisa, from Ukraine, bonded over their shared reason for coming to Skellefteå (love) and enjoyed the ice bath.
– I often find it too cold to swim in summer, but when the air is this cold, the water temperature doesn't matter, Valeria said.
Lisa Zakharevyeh from Ukraine enjoys a dip in the icy water. She has gone winter swimming several times previously. "The ice is beautiful", she says.
After a refreshing dip and a sauna session, they declared feeling "great" and eagerly hopped onto the snowmobile with teacher Per "Pelle" Söderberg. Many people tried both the snowmobile and ice bath for the first time that day.
– There's a real sense of positive energy among the participants, said teacher Emma Wahlberg.
The snowmobile ride is popular among the participants. The teacher Per "Pelle" Söderberg runs through the basics.
In addition to the ice bath and snowmobile rides, participants learned fire-starting techniques using a fire striker, and the students treated everyone to lunch cooked over an open fire.
How did the participants find the experience?
– A lovely day, one participant said.
– It's fun to do something different than just work.
Lee Edström wearing a cap, from the tourism programme and teacher Emma Wahlberg wearing a white hat offers food cooked over the open fire.
Camilla Ingvarsson expressed her delight that new Skellefteå residents were starting to discover the programs offered by Medborgarskolan.
– It hasn't been easy to reach them, but we've kept going, and it's great that they've found us now. We're planning more of these kinds of activities in the future, she said.
