STF as an Alpine Pioneer

STF was founded in 1885 and one of the association’s first major tasks was to make the mountain region accessible for tourists. As early as 1887, the first mountain trails were blazed and in 1899 STF started planning the upcoming Kungsleden hiking trail between Abisko and Kvikkjokk.

1888 marked the building of the first mountain hut at Vavekälven along the trail between Kvikkjokk and Sulitelma, and even if five more such huts would be built by 1890, alpine tourism was going to require more than mere trails and accommodation facilities. Several boats, initially rowboats, were set out on the large lakes, later to be joined by some of the earliest motorboats. In addition, in order to take advantage of what the winter had to offer tourists, STF arranged skijoring trips out in to the most remote areas of the mountains.

Since then, STF has developed a network of alpine facilities spread along the trails over large portions of the mountain range. The ten mountain stations serve as hubs where, in addition to finding accommodations, you will have a chance to take part in courses and guided tours, dine at a restaurant, shop at a store and make use of other services. The 43 alpine huts offer simpler accommodation and are situated along the trails, spaced about one day’s journey from each other. By means of these alpine facilities, STF keeps the mountain region open both for those looking for a great adventure and those looking more for a somewhat smaller diversion.

STF as a Youth Hostel Movement

1933 saw the founding of STF’s first Swedish youth hostel. These early hostels were situated at a bicycle-ride’s distance from each other, and it was not until the 1950's that the motorcar became the most common way to get to the youth hostel.

This practical concept took root and the number of youth hostels in the STF family quickly grew to the current level of 320 facilities. Certain youth hostels are run by STF in its own right; however most of them are run by independent businessmen sharing common values with STF. This way, STF combines the large association’s network and goals with the drive of many enthusiasts in order to do the best one can with one’s own facility.

There are many more kinds of accommodate today than in the 1930’s and currently there are even fully-featured hotels associated with STF. The basic philosophy is however the same – that STF’s accommodation shall both be affordable and offer memorable experiences. Therefore, STF’s youth hostels consist of everything from lighthouses on the edge of the sea, charcoal burner’s huts out in the forest, alpine youth hostels with fishing streams and northern lights to downtown youth hostels with a big-city pulse.

STF as a Popular Movement

STF was born from the idea that it needed to be easier to discover and experience Sweden. Over its 125-years history, the association has taken that idea further, firstly under the banner of “Get to know your country” and then for the past few years “Discover Sweden”. STF works in many ways in order to reach the goal of making Sweden easily accessible, for example, through the association’s many accommodation facilities, a clear voice in the debate in the community and particular investments in the Tillsammans integration project. Still, the most important thing of all are the association's 300,000 members making STF one of the largest popular movements in Sweden.

The initial years following the 1895 founding of STF were slow with 74 members in the first year and 89 members in the second. 1887 was the year it really took off when the association moved its headquarters from Uppsala to Stockholm and the energetic treasurer, Folke Wancke, was charged with the task of designing the practical operation. The number of members skyrocketed to as many as 25,000 by the turn of the last century. Since then, the number of members has increased to a current level of approximately 300,000.

A means was introduced whereby members could start local district associations by 1888 in order to work with the goals of the association on the home front. Such district associations started up in many locations in the country, but waned and finally disappeared a few years into the 20th century. However, after a revival in 1976 centred in the southern Swedish city of Malmö, district associations quickly spread across the country once more.

Today, there are 84 district associations within STF arranging field trips, hikes and a number of other activities. For now, these district associations are distributed geographically, but the STF district associations of the future may be organised differently. Why not a new generation of STF associations based on involvement in particular activities and issues?

STF in the World

STF’s most important task for the past 125 years has been to help Swedes to discover Sweden. However, this has not prevented the association from developing a strong international involvement. It began as early as STF’s founding since the Norwegian Tourist Association, founded 16 years earlier, served as the model according to which the STF formed its organisation. The Norwegian Tourist Association in turn was a part of a movement of alpine associations which swept over large parts of Europe during the second half of the 19th century. The Alpine Club in London was the very first and was founded as early as 1857.

STF took a bold initiative in 1895 when it gathered every known alpine and tourist club into a common tourist association and then later formed the Ligue Internationale des Associations Touristes in 1898 which later become AIT, Alliance Internationale de Tourisme.

Germany got in on the action in 1909 when its first youth hostel began operations as a residential and meeting place for travelling youth. This helped to inspire others so much that youth hostels where established in many European countries in the years that followed. In 1932, the youth hostel associations from the various countries were merged into one international youth hostel association which today is known as Hostelling International, encompassing more than 4,000 youth hostels in 90 countries. As a member of any of the organisations that are a part of Hostelling International, you get a member discount whenever you visit STF’s facilities in Sweden.

STF and Nature

STF and the environmental movement have developed side by side. Right from the start, our desire to make the alpine world accessible to people was absolutely crucial. A few years later, STF took part in discussions when the first national parks came about in 1909 and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation was founded in the same year. The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation’s former chairman, Louis Améen, was also one of the founders of STF and was in turn its chairman between 1912 and 1926.

When people experience nature for themselves, their enthusiasm for preserving it is reinforced. With that fundamental idea, we guide our guests and members to new nature experiences in national parks and other sensitive nature areas, all with great respect. STD also strives to be a clear voice for certain important environmental issues which would otherwise risk being pushed to the sidelines, among them the right of public access and shoreline protection.

STF is the most prominent organiser of eco-tourism in Sweden and more and more of our activities have received Naturens Bästa eco-tourism distinction. Even our accommodations have become all the more environmentally friendly and, along with our other facilities, they have also been awarded many various distinctions: Svanen, EU-blomman, KRAV and Den Gröna Nyckeln.