Welcome to Vaskivesi Primary School!

And what a welcome it was! I joined Andy, a teacher from Birmingham, George (Yr7) and his family, both who had won a competition on Kidzone. We were met at the school gates by the Head teacher Antti Leppanen and his staff plus 36 flag waving pupils (the whole school). We were treated to music and song by the children, then we all had a delicious lunch together, nothing like the school dinners I had as a child.
Now it was time to go to the forest! The school was left 27 hectares by an ex-teacher in their will, any profit made from the forest is used to buy computers or musical instruments. It's probably the only school in Finland that has its own forest. After we had settled into our tents we went and planted spruce tree seedlings, not as easy as it sounds believe me, everyone worked hard. I was then introduced to 'Everyman's Rights' and the pupils also demonstrated their first aid skills, including stretcher making and CPR. Time for tea ........pupils were shown how to use trangias to cook pasta bolognaise, yummy. Once we had all cooked and eaten it was off to the lake for games, sauna, swimming if you were brave enough, (no I wasn't) and pancakes. Once back in the forest time for bed in my heated tent, still light, it just doesn't get dark.
Next morning was very busy too, we visited some forestry association workers who explained how the forests are managed, then back to camp, where we embarked in trust games, identifying forest plants, accuracy with an axe and making a bird house from a log with the given tools (wire, nails, hammer, two squares of wood, saw and a small axe).
Sadly it was then time to say goodbye and head for Nokia.
I have had a brilliant time, learnt loads and made new friends. An excellent start to my travels. Vaskivesi school and forest are very special places. Big thank you! Finland is a beautiful country and I hope to return soon.

Photos will follow tomorrow, when I've unpacked the camera.