10,000 kids and teens to head out on nature adventures across Finland with joint foundation support
This year, 197 nature trips will be brought to life through the joint efforts of several foundations. With over 800 applications received, funding totaling 159,000 euros was granted to groups across Finland to ensure more young people can experience the outdoors. Over the past three years, the collaborating foundations have invested nearly 430,000 euros to provide children with the opportunity to explore, learn, and build a lasting connection with nature.
In February, TAH Foundation, RELEX Foundation the Alli Paasikivi Foundation, The Foundation Brita Maria Renlunds minne, Urlus Foundation, and Eileen Starckjohann and Thelma Starckjohann-Bruun Foundation opened a joint grant call for nature trips for early childhood education, primary, and secondary education groups. This spring marked the third time the grant call was organized through this foundation collaboration. The Guides and Scouts of Finland was responsible for the practical implementation of the application process.
Thanks to the grant, nearly 10 000 children, young people, and adults facilitating the trips will experience an unforgettable day outdoors. This year, grants totalling approximately 159 000 euros were awarded. In 2025, the awarded sum was approximately 141 000 euros. The increase in funding has enabled more trips to be carried out in different parts of Finland. Nature trips have been made possible through the combined efforts of several foundations since 2024. In 2026, the Eileen Starckjohann and Thelma Starckjohann-Bruun Foundation joined the collaboration as a new foundation partner.
The RELEX Foundation has been participating since the beginning. “Through the joint efforts of these foundations, we have been able to provide nature trip opportunities for a total of 30,000 participants across Finland over the last three years. That is more than any of us could have achieved alone. We believe that to want to take good care of something, you first need to know and appreciate it. Thinking about the vast number of children and young people out in the woods, on the fells, and by the sea – exploring little wonders of nature, learning new skills, and simply spending time together – makes our contribution feel truly worthwhile,” says Outi Kuittinen, CEO of the RELEX Foundation.
Trips to local forests, nature trails, and archipelago destinations
The trips organized with the help of the support are directed to various natural sites around Finland: children and young people will visit, for example, local forests, nature trails, wetlands, and archipelago destinations.
The trips also integrate content from various school subjects. In nature, children and youth explore topics related to biology, geography, physical education, history, and native language studies. Activities range from observation exercises to writing nature-themed poems based on their experiences. Teachers independently decide on the specific content and activities for each trip.
For the youngest participants, simply being in nature can be a profound experience. Nature lets the imagination run wild, serves as inspiration for new games, and can help with emotional regulation.
According to a recent study by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), spending time in nature can support the mental well-being of young people. Research shows it is linked to better mood, stronger self-esteem, and lower stress levels. For a restless or stressed child, a forest trip can offer a place to calm down and express themselves in new ways.
"For many children, the forest provides a space to be quiet and process their own emotions. Nature trips create an understanding of how human activity affects the environment. At the same time, it can strengthen the experience that one's own choices matter," says Tiina Herlin, Vice Chair of the Board of the TAH Foundation, which initiated the collaboration.
One of the goals of the nature trips is also to encourage participants to reflect – in an age-appropriate way – on the impact of human activity on nature and to recognise these impacts in their own daily lives.
For more information: www.partio.fi/luontoretkiavustus
Outi Kuittinen, CEO, RELEX Foundation, outi.kuittinen@relexfoundation.org, tel. +358 50 326 55 82
Simo Pynnönen, Finance and Administration Manager, Guides and Scouts of Finland, simo.pynnonen@partio.fi, tel. +358 50 304 4044 (specifically for information regarding awarded grants and their municipal allocation)
Photo by Pyhäjoki high school
