Seal-themed weekends on a Saimaa island

In this winter with little snow, join in in helping the endangered Saimaa ringed seal. Learn new things about nature conservation and life in the northern Saimaa archipelago by booking a weekend at our family-run holiday cottage!
With the permission and advice from the Finnish forest enterprise Metsähallitus, Karelia Cottages offers you the opportunity to participate in the protection of the Saimaa ringed seal. In addition to helping the seals, you will be contributing to developing a unique innovative tourism programme, which is a result of the cooperation of Metsähallitus, the internationally acclaimed tourism research unit of the University of Eastern Finland, our award-winning nature tourism company and the residents of the Northern Saimaa archipelago.
Weekend price: From Friday to Monday 845 euros / participant
In winters with little snow and due to the rapid changes in weather conditions, Saimaa ringed seal have difficulty in finding natural accumulations of snow suitable for nesting. The snow drifts created by volunteers on Saimaa lakes have proved to be really valuable as part of the success story of Finnish nature conservation. In winters with little snow, half of the man-made snow banks have been used by seals, and more than 80% of the pups have been born in them, in some years, up to 97%. In the future, there will also be floating artificial nests.
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. During a volunteering weekend or week, you will gain plenty of information and food for thought, while helping to protect an ancient, endangered species.
Volunteering weekends for 4
Four days, three nights with full board and daily activities in Villa Raita, an award-winning wellness villa on an island in Saimaa Lakeland. The aim is to spend at least one day making snow drifts.
24.1. - 27.1.2025
31.1. - 3.2.
7.2. - 10.2. (Please note: The last date of seal volunteering is 10.2.)
At least one day
At least one day of your stay will be volunteering on the lake. A 100% success cannot be guaranteed; the weather and conditions on the lake determine each day’s programme. It will, in any case, include plenty of outdoor activities.
If work for seal conservation is not possible (due to extremely cold weather or wind or lack of snow), the alternative is a specially designed workshop combining science and art of regenerative nature tourism. 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.
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.
Daylight from about 9-15:00
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.
Friday - welcome to Saimaa Island!
Arrival at Villa Raita, welcome coffee or tea, light meal
Getting to know Villa Raita, learning how to heat a wood-burner.
Weather forecast and the weekend’s programme (choosing the activities)
Instructions for safety on the frozen lake
Making/Maintaining a hole in the ice
Sauna, followed by a soup meal
(If necessary, transportation from Joensuu can be arranged. The trip takes about an hour. The ferry crossing through the ice between Liperi and Villa Raita will be an experience you will not forget. What is the largest inland ferry in Finland operates 24 hours a day
Saturday, Sunday, Monday
programmes depending on your choice and weather conditions
For example
8 am. Breakfast and packed lunch in self-service from Villa Raita
Working on the lake and other outdoor activities are possible from 9am to 3pm.
Introduction to creating snow drifts and the equipment.
xxx
Creating snow banks on the lake
Or a (snowshoe) hike to a nature reserve with snack and coffee/tea by the campfire
Or kicksled tour, perhaps participating in an event at Village Hall
Presentation of cooperation in the Northern Saimaa archipelago
Option for making blueberry pies or brooms from forest materials
Snack with coffee/tea
Starting a fire in the wood-burner at Villa Raita
If necessary, make a hole in the lake’s ice cover
Dip into the frozen lake, get a feel of the Saimaa seal’s world!
Sauna
Cover the hole until the next use
Evening meal with soup delivered to Villa Raita
The programme ends on Monday at 3pm.
The program is guided and the participants act independently according to guidelines and maps:
There is always a supervisor present when working on the lake.
Saimaa Seal Weekends include:
• 4 days, 3 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 with Visit Finland’s Authentic FinRelax Experience award. It sleeps six and is accessible for wheelchair users and provides WiFi.
• 2 persons/room. Main floor with 1 double room, 1 twin room Standing-height mezzanine with twin beds and a desk. x
• Sauna and the opportunity to dip into the frozen lake daily.
• Programme, part guided and part independently with maps and written instructions.
• Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch in self-service from the cottage, coffee/tea and cake; hot evening meal delivered.
• Rucksack, thermos flask, headlamp and maps are provided by Villa Raita with no extra charge. Kicksledges and snowshoes available.
• Volunteers take care of clearing snow around the cottage, as required. The cottage has underfloor heating. xxxx Heating by wood-burner daily saves electricity.
• Doing the dishes (dishwasher) and other household tasks.
• Karelia Cottages has taken out LähiTapiola liability insurance and accident insurance for the participants.
Not included:
• Transfers to Villa Raita and away from Villa Raida (taxi price from Joensuu is approximately 194-201 euros.
• Participants should wear layers of warm, wind-proof 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 lake.
Optional programme
• Possibility to join a local fisherman checking his nets under the ice
Darkness and silence
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 good.
According to studies, proximity to water strengthens the wellbeing gain from nature.
PLEASE NOTE:
Inquiries and reservations, individuals and groups
info@kareliacottages.fi
Get in touch and choose your volunteering week info@kareliacottages.fi . As soon as four participants have registered for the week or weekend, we will send you additional information to the email address you have provided.
The reservation made by the customer becomes binding as soon as the reservation confirmation has been sent to the e-mail address indicated by the customer. Cancelled and unused bookings notified after the cancellation period has expired (so-called no show situation) will be charged to the customer in full.
Important notice: Bad weather, illness of the customer or a family member or change in the 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/
The taxi fare from Joensuu is about 194 to 201 euros.
For ride-sharing options, check
https://reissukyyti.fi/en-GB
Address:
Karelia Cottages/Villa Raita
Suursaarentie 95
82310 Oravisalo
Seal-themed weeks and weekends pilotit
Seal-themed weeks and weekends are sealfriendly tourism pilots.
Read morehttps://www.metsa.fi/en/project/our-saimaa-seal-life/
Metsähallituksen hanke mahdollisti perheyritys Karelia Cottagesille "Norppaviikot ja norppaviikonloput Saimaan saarella" -ekologisen matkailun ohjelmapalvelujen luomisen ja kokeilun tänä talvikautena.
Ne ovat myös osa pohjoismaista uudistavan matkailun hanketta. Regerenative Nature Tourism. Siitä kertoo Itä-Suomen yliopisto uutisessaan 22.1.2025
Read more
https://www.uef.fi/fi/artikkeli/pohjoismaisessa-hankkeessa-kehitetaan-uusia-luonnon-monimuotoisuutta-tukevia-matkailutuotteita
Regenerative Nature Tourism
https://www.luke.fi/en/projects/reggae