Alaska Soles • Entered by Kathy O’Reilly-Doyle on October 11, 2024
Finland Outreach trip
September 5, 2024 – September 22, 2024
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 5 |
| Post Admin hours | 1 |
| Activity Hours | 10 |
| Participants | 3 |
| Total Hours | 36 |
Key Issue: Multiple apply
Activity Type: Education & Outreach (tabling, films & lectures, regional B-walks/works)
Short Description of Activity
As part of a trip to the Sampi area of Finland (Lapland), with members from the Methow Broads and the Alaska Soles Broadband, we added a bit of outreach to our adventure. Hiking between 5-15 miles a day and making a point of sampling as much of the local food as possible, we also made the effort to make connections with the people we met. We also visited Sami Cultural Centers (Indigenous people of Sampi) and learned much about their history, culture and connections to reindeer herding in Alaska.
Reflection/Evaluation
We made efforts to connect with the “Finnish Grannies” during our trip, but were unsuccessful. They were probably out on the landscape hiking, as it was beautiful fall weather. We did however meet and talk with many along the way and discussed climate change, our work with Great Old Broads for Wilderness and other issues. Several of the new connections now have invitations to visit and stay with us when they come to Alaska and Washington.
We did observe that the primary color for women’s hiking apparel in Finland is hot pink, tops and bottoms. When we tried to get a reason for the choice of colors, they just smiled and said of course we wear pink. We experimented with the Finnish sauna and were humbled and inspired by the women’s ability to heat up and plunge into ice cold lakes, repeatedly. We realize another trip is required, as we still have a long way to go to become proficient in their technique.
We reflected on the success of the trip and our lesson of how important it was to have a plan and then be ready to adapt it as new opportunities presented themselves.
Photos/Uploads
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Photo Captions
! – Methow Broads and Alaska Soles combine effort for outreach adventure
2. Pink – predominant color of women’s hiking wear in Finland
3. Methow Broads and Alaska Soles combine effort for outreach adventure