AHTELA CENTRE

Ahtela is the name of a centre for youth camps and courses, owned by the local authorities in Turku. It is administrated by Turku City Youth Department, for the use of various youth organisations and groups. The surroundings of Ahtela cover an area of 44 hectares, including one kilometre of beaches and shores at the Baltic Sea.

We would like to invite you and your group for a visit to the youth centre Ahtela, which is situated in the beautiful surroundings of the Finnish archipelago. The centre caters for groups of all sizes and ages, and can accommodate 120 person in 7 different buildings. If we make use of the whole Ahtela area, we can host as many as 3,000 people. At Ahtela you can find grounds for various ball games, an exciting adventure trail, a varied orienteering course, and an outdoor stage for shows and performances of different kinds. You can combine water sports with experiencing the Turku archipelago (often said to be the most beautiful in the world), enjoying the sea and the fabulous beach.

New winds blowing at Ahtela

As a result of contacts between the Ministries of Education in Finland and Estonia, we have a solid basis for cooperation with Estonia. A fresh breeze is sweeping in as the Turku Centre for Youth Affairs and the Estonian Youth Work Centre are planning a new sea route between their two youth camp centres. The objective is to sail from Ahtela to Klooga in Estonia and back, spending a few days in both countries. About 15-20 young people from each country will take part. Crossing the Gulf of Finland in this way is something entirely new, and adventure is in store for the young crew. We will see what other forms of cooperation will follow: perhaps it will be a hot air balloon flight next…

For the summer of 2001, we have other common activities planned, as we are going to carry out voluntary maintenance work at both the youth camp centres for the second year in a row. Young people from the Turku workshops for unemployed youth, as well as their instructors, will visit Klooga in June, and in the autumn a group of young Estonians will arrive at Ahtela for some sweaty work, sanding and painting benches, but also for having fun.

We also have a camp exchange programme. The LIIKU camp in June will receive Estonian guests, and the handicraft camp in Klooga in July will, in turn, have participants from Finland. The participants at the handicraft camp will, among other things, make felt hats and work with clay.

Looking forward to seeing you at Ahtela!