Nature excursions

Pollinator Day and Kuopio250 Anniversary Meadow sowing

Sat 24.5.2025 at 10-13 (FI, EN)

Welcome to the whole family’s Pollinator Day in Väinölänniemi on Saturday 24.5. between 10am and 1pm. In the event we will sow a flower meadow in celebration of the Kuopio 250 Anniversary Year and for the good of pollinators. In the Pollinator Day we will build insect hotels ja explore the nature. Guided nature tours will start at 11 am and 12 pm where we will get to know the nature and biodiversity in Väinölänniemi area. The guided tours will last approximately 40 minutes. The tours are guided in Finnish, and in English if needed. There will also be activities for children related to the local nature. In the event you can get tips on how to sow your own meadow and how to take pollinators into consideration in your own yard. You can get near the event site by Vilkku bus.

Come join us at the Pollinator Day with your whole family! The Pollinator Day is part of the Kuopio 250 Anniversary Year’s events.

The event is organized by Kuopio City, Regional environmental protection services and Green and recreation area planning, and co-organised with Savo Consortium for Education Sakky, The Kuopio Naturalists’ Society (KLYY) and Mestar Kuopio.

The location of the event and the starting point of the guided tours is near the Hannes Kolehmainen statue in Väinölänniemi.

https://kartta.kuopio.fi/link/2jPCQS

For more information on the event, please contact: 044 718 2143.

Lichen trip to Jynkänniemi

Wed 11.6.2025 at 18–20 (FI, EN)

On the trip, we will explore a relatively unknown group of organisms: lichens! It’s a good idea to bring a magnifying glass if you have one. The tour is guided in Finnish, and in English if needed. You can get close to the starting point of the tour by Vilkku bus.

The tour starts at the parking lot south of pond Vaivinen, north of Leirikyläntie street.

https://kartta.kuopio.fi/link/2jRAU8

For more information, please contact the tour leader: 044 718 2658.

Wildflower Day Tour

Sun 15.6.2025 at 12-15 (FI, EN)

On this tour we will get to know the theme species of the Finnish Wildflower Day, the spreading bellflower (Campanula patula), and other plants in the Antikkala hill area. We will focus especially on meadow and cultural species, also alien species, which by that time of year have developed enough to be identified. The tour is guided in Finnish, and in English if needed. You can get close to the starting point of the tour by Vilkku bus. The tour is co-organised with Kuopion Luonnon Ystäväin Yhdistys (KLYY) – The Kuopio Naturalists’ Society.

The tour starts at the parking lot of Ala-Antikkala, on the crossroads of Kallantie street and Ruutikellarinkatu street.

https://kartta.kuopio.fi/link/2jS7Do

For more information, please contact the tour leader: 044 718 2145.

Volunteer Lupine weeding

Mon 16.6.2025 at 17-19 (FI, EN)

Let’s safeguard Finland’s biodiversity together by eradicating an invasive alien species, large-leaved lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus). You can join us for as long as you like. Please be prepared with your own water bottle, gloves and rubber boots. If you also want to participate in the wool yarn dyeing workshop (only in Finnish), you will get priority in the workshop by participating in this Lupine weeding tour. The tour is guided in Finnish, and in English if needed. You can get close to the starting point of the tour by Vilkku bus.

The tour starts at Puijo ski stadium, near the ski jumps and the Puijo stairs.

https://kartta.kuopio.fi/link/2ke5rc

For more information, please contact the tour leader: 044 718 1543.

Volunteering to combat invasive alien species in the Halmejoki grove

Wed 25.6.2025 at 15­-19 (FI, EN)

Let’s safeguard Finland’s biodiversity together by eradicating an invasive alien species, Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera). You can join us for as long as you like. Please be prepared with your own water bottle, gloves and rubber boots. The tour is guided in Finnish, and in English if needed.

The tour starts at the parking lot at Halmejoentie 67. There will be a guide to the work sites from the parking lot every hour, but if you arrive at another time call the tour leader p. 044 718 2143.

https://kartta.kuopio.fi/link/2jTEiJ

For more information, please contact the tour leader: 044 718 2143.

Volunteering to combat invasive alien species in the Halmejoki grove

Tue 8.7.2025 at 10-13 (FI, EN)

Let’s safeguard Finland’s biodiversity together by eradicating an invasive alien species, Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera). You can join us for as long as you like. Please be prepared with your own water bottle, gloves and rubber boots. The tour is guided in Finnish, and in English if needed.

The tour starts at the parking lot at Halmejoentie 67. There will be a guide to the work sites from the parking lot every hour, but if you arrive at another time call the tour leader p. 044 718 2143.

https://kartta.kuopio.fi/link/2jTEiJ

For more information, please contact the tour leader: 044 718 2143.

Volunteering to combat invasive alien species in Lillukkapuisto

Tue 15.7.2025 at 10-13 (FI, EN)

Let’s safeguard Finland’s biodiversity together by eradicating an invasive alien species, Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera). You can join us for as long as you like. Please be prepared with your own water bottle, gloves and rubber boots. The tour is guided in Finnish, and in English if needed. You can get close to the starting point of the tour by Vilkku bus.

The tour starts at the parking lot of the Länsi-Puijo community centre, Rypysuontie 68.

https://kartta.kuopio.fi/link/2jUb26

For more information, please contact the tour leader: 044 718 2145.

Volunteering to combat invasive alien species in Päiväranta

Thu 17.7. at 17-19 (FI, EN)

Let’s safeguard Finland’s biodiversity together by eradicating an invasive alien species, Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera). You can join us for as long as you like. Please be prepared with your own water bottle, gloves and rubber boots. The tour is guided in Finnish, and in English if needed. You can get close to the starting point of the tour by Vilkku bus.

The tour starts at the parking lot of the carpet washing place at the end of Petäjätie.

https://kartta.kuopio.fi/link/2jUAT2

For more information, please contact the tour leader: 044 718 2145.

Bat Excursion at Puijo

Thu 21.8.2025 at 20:30-23:00 (spare day Thu 28.8.2025) (FI, EN)

We will get acquainted with the hidden life of bats on an excursion to Puijo forests and the meadows of Konttila. The excursion is co-organised with Kuopion Luonnon Ystäväin Yhdistys (KLYY) – The Kuopio Naturalists’ Society. The excursion is guided in Finnish, and in English if needed. You can get close to the starting point of the excursion by Vilkku bus. In case of a bad weather the spare day of the excursion is Thursday 28.8.2025.

The excursion starts at Ylä-Antikkala lean-to, Antikkalantie 71.

https://kartta.kuopio.fi/link/2jXFdi

For more information, please contact the tour leader: 044 718 2143.

Finnish Nature Day Cruise

Sat 30.8.2025 at 10-16 (FI, EN)

We will cruise in South Kallavesi in the scenery of the National Urban Park with Jässi ship. We will stop by at Luhastensalo. Please bring your own snacks and a water bottle. The tour is guided in Finnish, and in English if needed. The tour is co-organised with Kuopion Luonnon Ystäväin Yhdistys (KLYY) – The Kuopio Naturalists’ Society. You can get close to the starting point of the tour by Vilkku bus.

Pre-registration starts on Monday 11.8.2025 at 10am at www.kuntapalvelut.fi/kuopio. Choose: ryhmät, retket ja työpajat, luontoretket ja työpajat. The first 50 registered will be able to come. Children arriving with an adult can be indicated in the additional information field. There is a fee of 10 € for adults paid in cash.

The tour starts at Passenger harbour, Makasiininkatu 1.

https://kartta.kuopio.fi/link/2k2n4H

For more information, please contact the tour leader: 044 718 2143.

Mushroom trip to Siilinjärvi  by bus

Sat 6.9.2025 at 10-15 (FI, EN)

Bring a mushroom knife, a basket, clothes suitable for the weather and your own snacks and a water bottle.  The trip is carried out in cooperation with Savon Sieniseura (Savo Mushroom Society) and the Siilinjärvi Association of The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation. The trip is guided in Finnish, and in English if needed. You can get close to the starting point of the trip by Vilkku bus.

Pre-registration starts on Monday 11.8.2025 at 10am at www.kuntapalvelut.fi/kuopio. Choose: ryhmät, retket ja työpajat, luontoretket ja työpajat. The first 50 registered will be able to come. The fee for the bus ride is 10 € for adults paid on site in cash.

The meeting point is on Maljalahdenkatu charter bus platform, behind the City Hall.

https://kartta.kuopio.fi/link/2jZegC

For more information, please contact the tour leader: 044 718 1543.