We are at the peak of the 11 year solar maximum. The northern lights are predicted to cover the sky on a regular basis the next couple years, allowing the best chance to see them. Rob Nelson and fellow science communicator, Jonas Stenstrom, will embark on an unforgettable trip in the far north of Sweden. For 5 days, you’ll be challenged by the elements and awed by the beauty of the northern sky. You’ll also make lifelong friends with the other 8 humans who will be doing this with you.

Together, we’ll master the skills of winter survival, honing techniques that today’s adventurers rarely use. Alongside your like-minded scientists and explores, we’ll tackle team building challenges in the snow. This journey is about more than survival. It’s about discovering a deeper connection with the wild and to the others on the trip.

While we’ll start with some of the snow survival basics, this does go beyond that. It’s considered an intermediate trip because of the sheer remoteness of Sweden’s far north, a land not easily reached until airplanes started to fly there. But, Sweden’s airports are friendly, its people welcoming, and its language familiar. Plus, everyone speaks both English and Swedish!

Your adventure begins the moment you set foot off the airplane in this icy wilderness and start learning about when and where to see the aurora.

WHAT WILL WE DO?

The goal of the activities is to give you a glimpse into arctic life and give you an array of incredibly useful survival skills that aren’t taught in school. By the time you leave, you’ll have the confidence to embark on more journeys or maybe team up with the others you meet on the trip.

The schedule changes a bit based on who is there and availability of other guides in the area day to day, but we’ll do the following main things: 

Day 1: Your journey begins as you arrive in the rugged frontier town of Kiruna. You’ll meet your fellow explorers. After a quick stop at a Swedish food dispensary, where you can grab a few extra provisions for the days ahead, we set our sights on the world-famous Ice Hotel, a breathtaking palace of frozen artistry rising from the snow, east of town.

As the daylight fades, we’ll travel deeper into the wilderness near the Abisko research facility, where the untouched beauty of the north awaits us. Here, we’ll share a hearty dinner, a feast to fuel the days to come. Then we will settle into our Swedish cabin.

Day 2: We set out snowshoeing through the pristine dwarf birch forest, heading to a secluded spot where we’ll learn the essentials of winter survival. We’ll start mastering winter dress, handling knives, fire-building, and winter shelter construction. We’ll also cover basic knots and ropes, key tools for survival.

As night falls, we’ll ascend a nearby mountain to learn all the tricks of taking stunning Northern Lights photos as we hopefully witness the breathtaking Aurora, a shimmering display across the Arctic sky!

Day 3: At the edge of Lake Torneträsk, where the mountains embrace the crystal-clear waters, the true spirit of the area awakens. Our 20-minute hike to the remote sauna leads us through another wild area.

As the steam rises, we’ll delve into the lore of the birch, uncovering its secrets, and explore the mysterious fungi of the far north, including the legendary Amanita muscaria. Later, with knife in hand, you will have the opportunity to carve a traditional Swedish woodcraft and connect with skills passed down through the ages.

Day 4: Snow Shoeing and Reindeer Excursion: Stomp through the snow and walk the same trails of the Sami people. Experience their deep bond with the majestic reindeer, creatures that have roamed these lands for centuries.

As darkness falls, we return to the research station, where the Northern Lights will once again (if we’re lucky) set the sky ablaze and by the end we’ll all have some epic shots of the aurora to bring home. Bucket list, checked.

Day 5: We gather for a final morning debrief, warming our hands with traditional winter teas and reflecting on the natural history of the land. Before we part, you’ll collect your own winter survival kit. This is a testament to the skills you’ve mastered and will include fire-starting materials, a knife, a handmade rope and a carved utensil, and handmade rope crafted with your own hands.

We then journey back to Kiruna, carrying with us both the skills we learned but also the conversations and relationships formed.

When is the trip?

We have two incredible trips this year. The first trip is open to all adventurers, welcoming anyone eager to experience the wilderness. The second is for science communicators and designed specifically for those in the sciences and focused on team building and forging deeper connections in this space.

• Trip 1 : Feb 3-7 2026
• Trip 2 : Feb 8-12 2026

Why This Year?

The sun goes through cycles of activity every 11 years. Right now we are in a solar maximum which translates into the best and brightest auroras you’ll be able to see. If you want to see the northern lights in all their glory, this is the time to go!

IS THIS TRIP FOR ME? 

This is the kind of journey most only dream about. Is it a luxury trip with every need catered to? Not exactly. Is it an adventure where you’ll experience nature in its most spectacular form? Without question.

There are two core missions for this journey: to teach you how to travel, thrive, and endure in the harsh beauty of winter landscapes, and to offer you an escape from the modern world with a select few who share your adventurous spirit. Together, we’ll master bushcraft skills and lay the foundation for a lifetime of wilderness knowledge. Yet, the most valuable thing you may take home won’t just be the skills you’ve learned. It will be the profound connection with the others on the trip. It happens every year, so I can promise you that.

Our Commitment: Value Over Profit

Professional retreats offering this level of focused peer exchange and strategic collaboration typically cost upwards of $3,500.

Our mission, however, is to dismantle barriers that keep science communicators isolated. That’s why Jonas and I have worked hard to offer the Scicomm ThinkTank as a financially accessible, high-value experience.

The Cost: $2,000 per person

This cost is solely for covering the expenses required to run the camp. We are not taking a profit on this. Right now, this is our commitment to meeting you, building our network, and ensuring this essential gathering happens. As we grow, we hope to secure institute funding to reduce the cost even further, but for this year, this price ensures a focused, powerful, and sustainable experience for everyone involved.

Can I Join the Group?

We’d love to connect to see if you’re a good fit!

Step 1:

Fill out this simple application form so we can chat about your goals and find the trip best for you. This lets us know you’re interested. It’s not a commitment.

Step 2:

If we asses this is a good fit, we’ll send info on logistics, our release forms and preparing a packing list to come.

• We require a 1/3 trip deposit as soon as we accept you to cover your spot as we’re booking accommodation for the crew early. Another 1/3 deposit is due by Dec 15th and the final 1/3 a week before we leave.

What Others Have said!

Don’t just take our word for it from our past trips in the US. Alex summarized her experience like this:

“This was truly an incredible experience. I came home rested, refreshed, and immediately planning my next outdoor adventure. I feel more confident in my ability to not just survive but also thrive in outdoor experiences. I also came back with some new friends 🙂 Please, please keep doing these, and if you expand to new levels or other locations, you can bet I’ll be at every one!” – Alex Dainis, PhD

Want a few quick trip primers?

The trip is about connecting to nature, a community and finding awe. It’s also the theme of almost all the videos we make. Both of the following two videos were shot at Snowcamps in the past, and provide a bit of a primer for things you’ll see and do there.

• You’ll also have free access to our 3 Online Courses which are primers in outdoor survival, knots, and how to create outdoor media (an added 250 dollar bonus).