Seal-themed weeks and weekedns on a Saimaa island - On the Frozen Lake

Seal-themed weeks and weekends on a Saimaa island

OUR UPDATED PRODUCT - On the frozen Lake *

Help protect the Saimaa ringed seal: Join in to create artificial nests for the endangered species as our guest and learn something new!

 - Seal-themed weeks on a Saimaa island 11.1.-14.2. In winter 2025 only


For 2,008 euros per participant/4 participants per week. Participants of the trial pay a reduced price of 1,670 euros.

For 1,324 euros per participant/4 participants per week. Participants of the trial pay a reduced price of 845 euros.

In winters with little snow and due to the rapid changes in weather conditions, Saimaa ringed seal has had difficulty finding natural accumulations of snow suitable for nesting. The snow banks created by volunteers on Saimaa lakes have proved to be really valuable as part of the success story of Finnish nature conservation. More than half of seal pups are now born in man-made nests.
Man-made nests for the future.
The mere shovelling of snow for seals to build their nests in is only part of the story and may not be enough to guarantee the future. Enrich your life with information, learning and food for thought for personal reflection during the Seal Weeks.
With the permission and advice from Metsähallitus, Karelia Cottages offers its guests the opportunity to participate in the protection of the Saimaa ringed seal.

Help protect the Saimaa ringed seal: Join in to create artificial nests for the endangered species as our guest and learn something new! On the Frozen Lake

Seal Weekends

24.1. - 27.1.2025
31.1. - 3.2.
7.2. - 10.2.

Weekend  programme 4 days 3 nights at Villa Raita Friday-Monday.

Arrival day 1

- go through the weekend's programme, getting to know the place and people, learn how to start a fire in the wood burner
- studying the Saimaa ringed seal in the light of science
- learn how to make a hole in the ice on the lake and to protect it from freezing over
Dipping into ice-cold water gives you a feel of the life of a seal!

Days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (some activities of Shedule week programme)

Programme depending on your choices and (weather) conditions

Seal Weeks - Schedule

Week programme 7 days, 6 nights at Villa Raita

Weekly programmes are available for five weeks from January to February. Daylight is still scarce, but there is enough light for six hours. An absolute precondition for going on the lake is a sufficiently strong ice cover.
Each week is for a group of four participants.

At least one day in the week’s programme is creating snow banks for seals. *** If this is not possible due e.g. to heavy frost and wind, the alternative will be a specially designed regenerative tourism workshop combining science and art. It is a further development of Karelia Cottages’ “Creating Art Surrounded by Nature”, an innovation for international tourism, which won Visit Finland’s “Authentic Culture Experience” award.

Trial weeks
11.1. - 17.1.
18.1. - 24.1.
25.1. - 31.1.
1.2. - 7.2.
8.2. - 14.2. Please note: The last date of seal volunteering is 10.2.

We have detailed instructions and up-to-date information from State Forest Enterprise. That in itself will give plenty food for thought for the volunteers.
Each volunteer must sign a non-disclosure agreement concerning the volunteering locations. For all electronic devices, the positioning capability must be disabled.

In the winter weeks daylight will be from around 9 a.m. to around 3 p.m.
The week’s schedule will depend on the weather and conditions on the lake. It will, in any case, include plenty of outdoor activities.
Independent and guided activities, getting acquainted with the islands of northern Saimaa, its nature, way of life and people, and especially the Saimaa ringed seal.
Tours with snowshoes and kicksleds, diverse workshops at the Village Hall and Villa Raita.

At least one day each week, we go out to create snow banks for the seal. We can, however, give no guarantee of a 100 % success. If the seal protection operation cannot take place, an alternative activity will be offered.***

Arrival day 1

- go through the week's programme, getting to know the place and people, learn how to start a fire in the wood burner
- studying the Saimaa ringed seal in the light of science
- learn how to make a hole in the ice on the lake and to protect it from freezing over
Dipping into ice-cold water gives you a feel of the life of a seal!

Days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Programme depending on your choices and (weather) conditions
- Making a hole in the ice or maintaining one already made.
Dipping into ice-cold water gives you a feel of the life of a seal. (if not day1)

- At least one day of making snow banks under guidance
(observing weather forecasts)
- Apajalahti nature trail in a private conservation area (marking with reflecting signs) and forest shelter +
campfire picnic and sausages. The bedrock of ancient Saimaa. Man-made nests for birds of prey.
- Explore the nests of waterfowl along the way, the Water Nature Trail and seal information board
- Kicksled tour to a wetland vantage point. Wetland project covering 470 hectares.
Environmental art works, information boards (in Finnish and English).  Composting toilet with wheelchair access
- A road without name leads on through a farm courtyard to the Village Hall or  
- return to Villa Raita via a footpath or carry on to Village Hall.

Programme at the Village Hall, former elementary school (3,8 km)

- On several days programme and activities available, afternoon coffee or indoor picnic
- Local resident (Sari Hirvonen) describes what has been achieved through cooperation (www.pohjoisensaimaansaaristo)
For instance, funding for wetland restoration from seal protection funds (a representative of the fisheries district)
- A day of the seal: fish trap workshop and learning about the seal (Marjaana Kovanen, Finnish Association for Nature Conservation)
- Making traditional brooms to replace plastic ones under guidance of traditional craftsman (Einari Laasonen)
- Optionally building insect hotels
- Baking traditional blueberry pasties under guidance of Vaida Laasonen
Coffee and pasties for the participants
** Revenues from brooms and other products made at the village house go to the protection of seals or other forms of nature conservation.

Programme at Villa Raita

- Kantele workshop with instruments from a local factory, instruction by Mammu Koskelo, a versatile folk music professional.
- Karelian pasty workshop

In Oravisalo (20 km from Villa Raita) Opportunity to visit the studio of the renowned silk artist Auli Partio

Workshop duration: approximately 2 hours

Period Saimaa seals weeks : January-February
guided fullboard tours

Group size: 4 persons
Price: 2008 euro / person / a week for 4 persons interested in helping Saimaa seal. Now trial weeks 1670 euro.EUR

Saimaa Seal Weeks include:
•    7 days, 6 nights accommodation with full board, volunteering for seal protection and other activities on a private island in Saimaa lakeland. Villa Raita is one of the few wellness villas awarded by Visit Finland’s Authentic FinRelax Experience. It sleeps six and is accessible for wheelchair users.
•    Main floor with 1 double room, 1 twin room
•    Standing-height mezzanine with twin beds and a desk for remote work.
•    Sauna and opportunity to dip into the frozen lake daily.
•    Programme, part guided and part independently with maps and written instructions.
•    Meals: Self-service breakfast and packed lunch from the cottage, coffee/tea and cake, hot evening meal delivered.
•    Rucksack, thermos flask, headlamp and maps provided. Kicksledges and snowshoes available.
•    Volunteers take care of clearing snow around the cottage, as required. The cottage has underfloor heating. Heating by wood-burner daily saves electricity.
•    Doing the dishes (dishwasher) and other household tasks by participants.
•    The participants will contribute to the Finnish Forest Enterprise’s seal protection trial and the development of what is known as Regenerative Nature Tourism. The Seal Weeks’ research partner is the University of Eastern Finland.  
•    Karelia Cottages has taken out LähiTapiola liability insurance and accident insurance for all participants.
•    Broadband internet at Villa Raita and the Village Hall (3.6 km from the cottage).
Not included:
•    Transport to and from Villa Raita (taxi Joensuu - Villa Raita 1-4 person 194-201 £)
•    Participants should wear layers of warm, windproof clothing. Waterproof boots may be useful, depending on weather.
•    Participants are urged to take out their own leisure-time insurance.
•    For slippery conditions, anti-skid shoe spikes are recommended.
•    Neoprene shoes and gloves for the dipping into the ice-cold lake.
 
Instructions:
•    Shovelling snow for seal nests under guidance.
•    Instructions and guidance for lighting a fire in the wood-burner
Optional programme
•    Possibility to join a local fisherman checking his under-ice nets
Remote work facilities, darkness and silence
Remote working is possible both at Villa Raita.
Darkness, starry skies and the silence of winter nature may surprise a city dweller. The exercise of outdoor activities and helping the Saimaa ringed seal makes you feel great.
According to studies, proximity to water strengthens the wellbeing gain from nature.

PLEASE NOTE:
Inquiries and reservations
info@kareliacottages.fi
Contact us and choose your volunteering week at info@kareliacottages.fi. When four preliminary bookings have been made for a week, the participants will be sent their booking details by e-mail
Payment by invoice: The invoice must be paid by the due date indicated on the invoice.
By paying in advance you confirm your participation and secure your place as a Seal volunteer.
Cancellations:
If the booking is cancelled by the customer
•   cancellations 30 days or more before the start date, a handling fee of 150 euros will be charged.
•    cancellations less than 30 days before the start, the full price will be charged.

Important notice: Bad weather, illness of the customer or a family member or change of travel plans of the customer or a person belonging to the customer’s party do not justify a last-minute change or cancellation of the booking. The customer should make sure that they have adequate insurance cover for any changes of travel plans.
How to get there
https://www.visitkarelia.fi/en/getting-here/

 

Costs: 
Please inquire