Last week a group of 10 pupils were lucky enough to journey to Finland for 6 days of wildness adventuring. Boys flew to Helsinki first before flying up country to Kuusamo. We were located in Kylmaluoma National Park where we all stayed in beautiful log cabins surrounded by frozen lakes and snow.
Over the 6 days the boys were able to immerse themselves in the traditional Finnish culture which included trying local cuisine, typical winter activities and learning about their way of life.
The first activity was cross country skiing.
The boys enjoyed it so much that they wanted to do it again the next day, and the conditions were perfect.They also had the opportunity to go ice fishing. This included learning how to drill their own hole and prepare the ice hole ready for a catch. We had a few bites but sadly, no fish to cook on the fire! However, we did find a local fisherman who was happy to show us his catch of the day.
We also practiced our fire lighting skills in such cold and extreme conditions. In Finland you can have a fire almost anywhere. We also tried a new technique of using just the bark of a birch tree and a flint and steel.
It is also tradition in Finland to cook around a fire although not so traditional to have s'mores!
Every night for those that were brave enough, had the opportunity to go for an ice dip in the lake followed by a sauna. This is a massive Finish tradition and Finland has over 3.3 million saunas.
For those that could not quite face the cold water did a snow roll instead.
Not everyone was keen at first but the group grew in size over the week. Very proud of you all.
After our evening sauna and dip we always checked to see if the skies were clear and if the Northern Lights had graced us with their presence. We were super lucky not only to see them once but twice! We also spent some time studying the stars and planets, both Mars and Jupiter were visible with the naked eye. Finland has some very beautiful night skies.
After two days of action packed activities, the day started off at a bit of a slower pace as we jumped on a mini bus and headed off towards a reindeer farm.
The boys spent time feeding the reindeer before learning a few facts. This was a traditional Finnish reindeer farm and our tour guide even had to translate for us, this business is usually passed down through generations. The farmer was very welcoming and even named a reindeer after our school! Every year the reindeers get let out in the summer before being herded together again for the winter months. Unfortunately over 80% of new calves are lost to bears and wolverines each summer. Next stop, the huskies.
They boys spent some time meeting the huskies before they jumped aboard their sledges.
Staff were in charge of the sledges to start with, then half way through the boys had the option to give driving or 'mushing' a go. Well done Tyler, Tarkan and Dominik for giving this a try. These dogs love to run and even now still compete in competitions.
Our final full day was reserved for snow shoeing. We made our own tracks as we moved up an down steep hills exploring the woodlands and lakes, keeping an eye out for wildlife on our way.
We took a break and had lunch in a teepee in the middle of the forest.
We might not have spotted any animals but there was plenty of evidence that they had been around.
For our last meal Tapani (our in country guide) had prepared for us to have a special dinner together in a wooden teepee located by the lakes. Thanks go out to Tyler and Wyatt who lit the fire and prepared the room, making it look magical. This was our last night to try traditional Finnish food which was a casserole with a mix of beef, pork, vegetables and boiled potatoes served with cabbage, cow berries and pickles. Over the week I was very proud of the boys for trying new foods, including moose!
No trip to a snowy country could be without sledging and snowball fights. What a lovely way to end a perfect trip. Thank you to all the boys for behaving so well and making it so memorable.
Our final treat.
Travelling to the airport we were lucky enough to see the rare polar stratospheric clouds, also known as nacreous clouds because of their iridescence. The pictures do not do it justice.
