Educational Travel Fam Trip and Workshop 3.-8.9.2023

Welcome to Finland

Equal opportunities and continuous learning throughout life are among the guiding principles of the Finnish society. Finland differs from many other high-ranking PISA countries by having comparatively short school days, little focus on homework and exams and preference of experimental learning out in the nature. This is reflected on the satisfaction of the Finnish pupils – they stand out from their peers in terms of how happy they feel with their own lives. No wonder Finland has been selected as the happiest nation in the world already 5 times in a row!

Finland is one of the pioneers of sustainability development and the theme is also a key content in the national curriculum. In 2015, the member countries of the UN agreed upon a programme for sustainability development, and 17 detailed Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Finland has been one of the first countries to implement the programme, with local focus themes “Carbon-neutral and resource-wise Finland”, and “a non-discriminating, equal and highly skilled Finland”.

One of the main goals for the Finnish travel industry is to develop products and service structures within sustainable tourism, raise sustainability issues in tourism promotion, and to steer tourists to follow the sustainability principles when arriving to Finland. These targets are the basis for the development of Sustainable Travel Finland –programme and Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) label.

During the trip, you will see how sustainability is an everyday topic made up of small, individual tasks of recycling, saving water and energy, bringing back your own garbage from the forest, respecting the learning of the local school community, and so forth. And maybe you will also discover why Finland is the happiest nation in the world?

Preliminary Program 

Sunday, September 3

08:50 Flight HO1607 from Shanghai
13:30 Arrival at Helsinki Airport
Meet your driver at the arrivals hall with a sign "EDUC 2023 China"
Transfer by bus to Porvoo, Emäsalo
Check-in at STF certified Kokouspoukama
17:00 Dinner
18:00 Meet Mr Juha Huttunen from Learn and Educate Finland for company presentation and presentation of educational services in Porvoo.
Site inspection of Kokouspoukama.
20:00 Sauna and swimming pool with evening snack 

Monday, September 4

Breakfast at the hotel
Check-out
08:30 Transfer from Poukama to Jokilaakso primary school in Kerkkoo
09:00 Presentation of Jokilaakso primary school, site inspection and examples of lectures.
Getting to know local plants in nearby forest together with the pupils
12:00 Transfer to Porvoo
12:30 Lunch
13:30 Guided walking tour in Porvoo with English speaking guide
15:30 Transfer from Porvoo to Lahti Region
17:00 Arrival in Vierumäki resort
Check-in at Hotel Fennada
Vierumäki site inspection
Dinner and sauna by Lake Valkjärvi 

Tuesday, September 5

Breakfast at the hotel
Check-out
09:30 Nature experience – Nature escape
As you might guess from the name Nature Escape is an escape game in the nature, in a beautiful Finnish forest. The goal is to solve many different problem-solving tasks during the game as a team.
11:00 Lunch
12:00 Departure to Lahti
12:30 Visit to the Lahti Sport Center and the Ski Museum. Winter sports experience in the simulators
14:00 Visit to Yli-Marola City Farm. Introduction and Cook like a Finn! Blueberry pie workshop
16:30 Departure to Pajulahti Resort
17:00 Site inspection in Pajulahti
Dinner
Free time 

Wednesday, September 6

Breakfast
09:00 Sustainability – recycling program. Learn how to recycle with an entertaining memory game. After the game we will visit a modern Recycling Centre and see how the waste is collected and recycled.
Short hiking in the Linnaistensuo mire, one of the most beautiful nature sites of the Salpausselkä UNESCO Global Geopark
12:00 Lunch and departure to Lohja
15:00 Arrival at Kisakallio Sports Institute
16:00 Kisakallio presentation, Kisakallio education products for Asian market and Kisakallio area tour
19:00 Dinner 

Thursday, September 7

08:00 Breakfast
Check-out, please leave your luggage in the hotel reception
09:30 Visit to Lohja City - Tytyri Mine Experience
Lunch in Lohja
14:00 Departure to Kisakallio Sports Institute
16:00 Transfer to Helsinki by bus
Meet your driver in front of Kisakallio Sports Institute
17:00 Check-in to Hotel Kämp
17:45 Meet your Visit Finland host in the hotel lobby
18:00 Dinner in Chinese restaurant 

Friday, September 8

Breakfast at the hotel
Check-out, please leave your luggage at the hotel luggage room

Educational travel workshop
Hotel Kämp, Paavo Nurmi 1-2, Helsinki
In this workshop, you will get to meet with Finnish educational travel suppliers from several regions.
08:30 Registration
09:00-09:15 Welcome to Visit Finland Educational Workshop
09:15-11:30 Workshop (1-2-1 meetings with Finnish suppliers)
11:30-12:30 Networking lunch
12:30-14:00 Workshop (1-2-1 meetings with Finnish suppliers)
Pick up the luggage
14:15 Transfer to Helsinki Airport
Meet your driver in front of Hotel Kämp
15:00 Arrival at Helsinki Airport
16:55 Flight HO1608 from Helsinki to Shanghai

Thank you for visiting Finland!