With the experience of the leading outdoor education organization in the world today
Staff Symposium
Pre Symposium
Pre Symposium
OBI Pre Symposium Excursion
Viena Karelia, The Russian Federation
Dates 25.-27.9.2009
Group size 15+5
Price 315 € / person
(The participants take care of their own visas)
The program includes transportation (to/from Nurmes), accommodation, evening program at Jyskyjärvi Cultural House, a boat excursion at Kemijoki river to Paanajärvi (6 hrs) and meals according to the program.
Program
Download: Jyskyjarvi-Paanajarvi English.pdf
Fri 25th of September
06.00 Departure from Hyvärilä, Nurmes, Finland
08.00 Border crossing at Vartius
Lunch and shopping break at Kostamus
Excursion continues to Jyskyjärvi
15.00 Arrival to Jyskyjärvi (Russian time)
Accommodation in Karelian families
Dinner and sauna
20.00 Performances by folk artists (about 1 h)
Dance performances
Singing
Sat 26th of September
Breakfast
Preparations for the excursion
River excursion from Jyskyjärvi to Paanajärvi
4 persons per boat
Traditional river boats
Two big whitewater rapids, which are passed by walking
by the river shore
Picnic
Getting to know the Paanajärvi village
Return to Jyskyjärvi by bus
Dinner and sauna
Accommodation in the families
Sun 27th of September
Breakfast
Departure
Lunch and souvenir shopping at Kostamus
Border crossing to Finland
18.00 Accommodation in Hyvärilä, Nurmes, and the program continues according to the Symposium programme
Transportation to Jyskyjärvi is done by minibuses. The travel distance is about 300 km. A stopover in Kostamus is included in the program at both arrival and departure transfers. Kostamus has good opportunity for shopping and souvenirs. The road conditions of the last 90 km to Jyskyjärvi are rough. However, Jyskyjärvi is one of the liveliest of the original Karelian villages of the Viena Karelia region.
The accommodation is arranged in local families, which speak Finnish/Karelian language. The villagers are experienced in accommodating foreign visitors, and are very hospitable. They like to present traditional folk culture program to their visitors, and this program is arranged in the local cultural house during the arrival evening.
The river excursion on Saturday is an overwhelming experience. The boat excursion is 6 hours, and the route follows an old Karelian route towards the Arctic Ocean. The excursion finishes at beautiful village of Paanajärvi, where we will have a walking excursion and will get to know the village.
Jyskyjärvi and Paanajärvi do not have their own homepages, but it is possible to Google articles and photographs of the region in the Internet.
@2008 Outward Bound Finland