A matter of the heart
For Finns, nature is a core value. Forests are protected and the cleanliness of water systems is treasured. In the countryside where our youth centres are located, the air quality is excellent. Finland is the world’s cleanest and greenest country, with 70 % of its surface area being composed of forests.
Spending time outdoors is a central part of Finns’ everyday life and Finns feel a strong emotional connection to the land, seeing it as a source of peace and well-being.
Enjoy the nature’s four seasons
Finland takes pride in its four distinct seasons, each bringing its own unique charm to the yearly cycle. Seasonal changes are celebrated and embraced. The winters are cold and snowy, turning the nature into a winter wonderland. The darkness is also broken by the chance to see one of Mother Nature’s masterpieces, the Northern Lights! With spring comes longer daylight and melting snow and ice. The nature awakens as birds return and trees bud.
Summer is pleasantly warm and bright, ideal for outdoor activities by lakes and forests. It is also the time to experience the famous Finnish midnight sun, when the sun barely sets below the horizon. At the end of the year, autumn paints nature in beautiful colours of orange, yellow and red, and the land blesses nature goers with delicacies like mushrooms and berries.
Healing power of nature
Finnish nature has healing qualities. Aesthetic experiences and the relaxing effect of a green environment lift the spirit and aid recovery from stress. Spending time outdoors, simply listening to birdsong and walking among the ancient trees, elevate mood and reduce tension. Even a short period time spend in nature is enough to boost one’s well-being.
This is increasingly important in today’s society, where continuous urbanisation leads many people to seek for peace in nature. Visitors, including educational tourists, appreciate the clean environment and air, vast unbuilt landscapes and the unique quiet of the forests surrounding the centres of the Youth Centre Network.
