Finland: a country where, in summer, the sun never truly sets. This incredible phenomenon was witnessed by 15 Exeter School pupils, two teachers, and three guides over the course of an eight-day adventure.
It was a very early start for the group. Our journey to London was not the traditional one for a school trip, instead of a school minibus or a hired coach, we took a National Express bus. The whole experience was a brilliant one for the group. Other school trips have felt choreographed, like it was a school trip. But the start of our journey to Finland made us feel more independent, more grown up.
It was a relatively smooth journey from the South West to London Heathrow. Our journey continued with a flight to Helsinki, followed by a connection to Rovaniemi. After getting off the plane at Rovaniemi Airport (the official airport of Santa Claus), we met Heidi, our tour guide. Heidi drove us two hours in a minibus from the airport to the base. There we met Steve and Eetu, as well as Andy the Ape (the official mascot of the camp).
Our first half day at camp was a relaxed one. After almost a whole day of travelling, it was time to unwind before the big day ahead.
The next morning, we woke up bright and early. After breakfast, we prepped our kit. It was a long process, all of our things were decanted into a large, waterproof barrel. We divided the group kit between our canoes, and we got ready to leave. Interestingly, the lakes that we were canoeing through were so untouched by society, pollution, and civilisation that the water was drinkable without the need for a filter bottle. However, we still needed lots of water and food for the trip.
We launched at about 2 o’clock in the afternoon. The sun shone brightly as we set off, while a gentle breeze both helped and hindered us as we paddled across long straights and navigated tight bends. After two or three hours of paddling, we reached our destination - a small island in the heart of the lakes. We jumped off the canoes and pulled them ashore.
For about twenty minutes we unloaded our things from the canoes, pulled them up a small hill and began to set up camp. The camp we stayed at was essentially a fire pit, with wooden benches around it and a covered area for firewood. The outhouse was about twenty metres from the fire.
We had a couple of hours to pitch out tents. It was difficult finding the perfect spot, and the group spread out across the island. For our own safety, our tents had to be visible from the fire. We enjoyed a delicious stew for dinner – we went straight to bed afterwards to rest up for a long day of paddling the next day.
We awoke to rain, not too heavy (yet), so we had to be quick. A swift but big breakfast was followed by collapsing out tents and packing everything back into our canoes. We then set off. It was not easy, the breeze was not in our favour like it was the day before, and the rain was making our journey uncomfortable.
It was a great test of our resilience and resolve, we worked hard to carry on until we reached a small beach where we rested before carrying on. Despite the mist starting to set in, the end was in sight. With our finish in view, the group knuckled down and paddled hard against the weather, which seemed to be conspiring against us.
By the time we finally arrived, the rain was pouring. We quickly put up our tents, and saw a big, green canvas tent. We sat down in the larger tent, where a big stove was heating up our wet clothes.
Once the rain eventually subsided, and we began to explore out new environment. We stayed there the next day, and we made a short trip to a nearby reindeer farm. It was fascinating to see how the animals live, and how they are looked after. We walked around the farm and got to see the reindeers up close. We then had some delicious home-cooked food before practicing our lassoing of mounted Reindeer antlers!
The next day it rained, lightly at first and then hard. It was cold, and despite some singing to keep the morale up, everyone was tired and needed a rest from paddling against the elements. We found a small hut and pulled up alongside it. The fireplace was roaring, and we were able to eat and rest. We were later told by Heidi that there are places like this all over the country.
The next morning, we set off in strong winds—so strong that Steve decided to pull us off the water, returning us to our starting point. After discussing the conditions, the group agreed to set up camp there.
Later that day, it was time for our hike. We spent the entire afternoon walking around one of Finland’s most stunning lakes, surrounded by breathtaking scenery. After the hike, it was sauna time. For an hour, we rotated between five minutes in the sauna and two minutes in the lake, embracing the contrast of heat and cold.
The journey home was smooth, with two easy flights. Most of the group slept, while others became refamiliarized with our phones, which we had not been able to take with us on the journey!
Overall, the Finland Expedition was one of the best trips I have ever been on. It pushed us to our limits, helped build on pre-existing relationships and forged friendships that will last a lifetime.