Viirapolla's Forest Invitation
A Family Adventure in North Karelia
A flying squirrel needs help, a willow tit is searching for a home
—can your family lend a hand?
Hidden beside a small forest pond and watched over by an traditional log cabin perched on a rock, this unique family adventure takes place in a peaceful corner of North Karelia where nature sets the rhythm. Here, the Ural owl is your closest neighbour, and every tree, bird song, and tiny detail can become part of the story.
Guided by the caring pine cone collector Viirapolla, your family is invited to step into a forest tale where cooperation, curiosity, and imagination help move the story forward. A flying squirrel is searching for help, while a willow tit is looking for a place to call home. Together, you will follow clues, explore the forest through your senses, and take on playful challenges.
Along the way, you may find yourselves listening more closely, observing more carefully, and finding new ways of connecting with both nature and one another. The adventure encourages teamwork rather than competition and offers children and adults alike the chance to share
a meaningful experience together.
Beginning around the campfire with a homemade lunch and traditional Karelian pies, the story gradually unfolds in the surrounding forest. Later, Viirapolla invites you back to the fire to prepare pancakes together, topped with ingredients gathered along the way.
Viirapolla values personal connection and a relaxed atmosphere. For this reason, the adventure is offered to only one family at a time. Lasting about three hours, it allows time for encounters and individual moments.
Viirapolla's Forest Invitation brings together nature, imagination, and shared experiences. Here, every family member can take part in their own way and discover what becomes possible when each person brings their own strengths.
Who Is This Adventure For?
This experience is perfect for families with children aged 4 to 12, though younger and older siblings may enjoy it as well.
Grandparents, godparents, and other relatives and friends are warmly welcome to join. Everyone has a special place in this adventure.
Please note that all activities are held in the forest environment with uneven ground, narrow woodland paths, and some steep rocks. We encourage you to consider whether these conditions are comfortable for everyone in your family.
Surrounding and infrastructure
Our adventure takes place in the middle of a quiet forest, on a rock overlooking a mystical pond. You'll spend the entire programme outdoors, though if it rains, meals are served in a traditional Finnish kota with a campfire in the middle. From the parking lot, it’s just an 80-meter walk on a small forest path —no cars in sight, just you and the forest.
Please note that the path is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
There is a compost toilet on site, offering a simple, eco-friendly facility.
Your host
Viirapolla, the pine cone collector and rock dweller, will be your guide as you discover the forest’s quiet marvels. She loves sharing moments around a large pot of bubbling soup, as well as small wonders like the madame's cup lichen growing on the rock by her cabin.
Each morning, she greets the birds, singing with them in English, German, and Finnish, and invites families to join her in listening to nature’s whispers.
Campfire Meal and Pancakes
Viirapolla’s campfire meal is vegetarian and prepared using seasonal ingredients. A nourishing vegetable stew with potatoes is served alongside traditional Karelian pies. For dessert, we bake sweet pancakes over the fire, with coffee, tea, or juice for the children.
If your family has any food allergies, dietary requirements, or other food-related needs, please let Viirapolla know when making your reservation.
What to Bring
In any weather, please wear long-sleeved clothing, a hat and closed shoes—sneakers, hiking shoes, or even rubber boots. That way, you stay comfortable in the woods, keeping you at ease with plants and insects. Waterproof clothing is a good idea if it rains.
Dates
July, 25.-31.2026
August, 8.-11.2026
August, 20.-24.2026
August, 29.-30.2026
September, 5.-7.2026
Sessions are offered from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The experience usually lasts around three hours. For larger families, we recommend setting aside about three and a half hours.
If none of the dates listed above work for you, just reach out —we’ll see what we can do!
LOCATION and arrival
The adventure takes place on the edge of the village of Kelvä, in the Lieksa region of North Karelia, approximately 70 km from Joensuu and 36 km from Lieksa.
Families receive the exact address and detailed directions upon registration.
Please note: If you are planning to arrive with more than one car or with a camper van, please let Viirapolla know in advance so that suitable parking instructions can be provided.
PRICE
Your family has the adventure entirely to yourselves, allowing the experience to be both more personal and shaped around your family's needs.
Family rate (up to 2 adults and 2 children): €160
Additional participants:
-Extra adult (grandparent, relative, friend): + €16
-Extra child: + €12
Children under 4 years of age participate free of charge.
The price includes the full adventure, campfire meal, pancakes, coffee/tea/juice and all materials.
Up to 8 participants can join each adventure.
Booking
Please contact Viirapolla personally to reserve your slot.
Before you make your reservation, please take a moment to read our booking and cancellation conditions.
If your family has any special arrangements, requirements, or questions, please get in touch before booking.
extras
Kuva:: Pielisen museo
korven saga petting farm
Located just 4 kilometres away, Korven Saga offers a great opportunity to extend your family’s day in the Lieksa region. Viirapolla's Forest Invitation can easily be combined with a visit to the animals before or after your adventure.
For more information about Korven Saga’s services, please visit: https://korvensaga.fi/
For information about their services in English, please contact them directly.
pAATERI
For families interested in art and culture, Paateri in Vuonislahti, about 17 kilometres from Viirapolla, makes a wonderful addition to the day. Showcasing the life’s work of Finnish artist Eeva Ryynänen, Paateri is known for its impressive wooden sculptures and its extraordinary church, the heart of this remarkable destination.
After exploring the exhibitions, we recommend relaxing in the charming café, where delicious homemade pastries are served.
For more information about Paateri, please visit: https://pielisenmuseo.fi/paateri/
Photography Elina Joensuu
customer experience
''The Nature Adventures for Families that I and my two kids participated in Kelvä was amazing. We were warmly welcomed and started off by making up nature names for all three of us and also for our team, my family. There were 4-5 different parts to the afternoon, all well planned and done. It was all made special with a story to go with everything we were doing. We felt safe the whole time and we also had lots of fun and laughed a lot!
Evelyn really knows how to show how to connect to nature and she has excellent people skills and knowledge of nature. She was able to adjust just to our family to make us feel listened, noticed and appreciated.
It felt like there was no rush on any of the activities but still there were interesting and also relaxing things to do all the time. I especially liked the game with the pinecones, how food (delicious campfire food!!!) was included and being in nature through an organized adventure. But the best part of this nature adventure was how Evelyn made my family, us three, work as a team, to help each other and realize that none of it would work without each other.
The spot Evelyn has picked is amazingly beautiful even for a local finn with the untouched lake and endless pine forest. I recommend this to all families who are up to an unforgettable adventure, who want to experience nature in a different way than just having a walk in it and to those who connect to their family and nature at the same time. ''
Marja