EXCURSIONS Wednesday 19 August

One excursion is included in the registration fee, you choose which one on the registration form. Each excursion will have a given number of maximum participants. Registrations are handeled on a "first-come-first-serve" basis.

Excursion 1
Mobilities and Stabilities in Rural Space – a Multicultural
Rural Welfare State?
Bus trip

This excursion goes to southern Ostrobothnia and the Närpes region, a ‘deep rural’ region 100 km south of Vaasa. The area is known as ‘the vegetable cradle’ on the west coast of Finland as well as having the highest share of immigrant rural workers in Ostrobothnia. Local guides will introduce us to the regional migration situation. There will also be a visit to the municipal old people’s home and a meeting with the director of social welfare in Närpes for an opportunity to hear more about challenges facing a municipality with an elderly population and - in the Finnish rural context - a considerable immigration. Before enjoying a locally produced dinner at Lind’s Greenhouse Restaurant we will also visit a greenhouse production unit.

This excursion goes to the spectacular 560 million years old meteorite impact crater, just outside of Vaasa, Söderfjärden. The bike ride of approximately 20 km to Söderfjärden will be enjoyed at a comfortable speed with breaks along the way. The Meteorian Centre includes both a scientific approach on the social and geological development of the area, a bio-energy station, an astronomical institution and an ornithology site. We will learn about all of these aspects during our visit. Before the return to Vaasa we will we will visit the Stundars open air museum and enjoy a dinner at Restaurant Hemmersgården in Stundars.

Excursion 3
The Rural Bites Back – “Big Bang”
Bus trip

This excursion goes to the spectacular 560 million years old meteorite impact crater, just outside of Vaasa, Söderfjärden. The Meteorian Centre includes both a scientific approach on the social and geological development of the area, a bio-energy station, an astronomical institution and an ornithology site. We will learn about to all of these aspects during our visit. After Meteorian the excursion continues to the Stundars open air museum. At Stundars participants will take part in a “time-journey” in the tradition of early 1900s way of talko (neighbourly work). This once common phenomenon of working and helping each other in rural areas is sadly disappearing. After participants have ‘worked’ for the food, a soup and sandwich dinner will be served at the museum before the return to Vaasa.

This trip goes to the northern region of costal Ostrobothnia and the town of Nykarleby and its surroundings. Here, as in many other parts of Ostrobothnia, we can find many examples of manufacturing entrepreneurship. This is also a fur-producing region. We will learn about new farming techniques and get a broader picture of the local economy by visiting an animal food factory that has been transformed into production of biodiesel from animal remnants. In Kaitsor we will get another example of manufacturing entrepreneurship as we will visit a small-home construction industry, Heikius Hus. Dinner will be enjoyed at Restaurant Norrvalla.

Excursion 5
Hot Spots in Rural Finland
Bus trip (2-3 buses)

This excursion points interesting and important success story in rural Ostrobothnia. We explore the basic question: "How to create world class entrepreneurship in rural areas?" We do that by visiting PowerPark, the "wild west" multi-activity park in southern Ostrobothia and by analysing the story behind the park. It is a remarkable story of one man´s visions and how he was able to realize them. Dinner at PowerPark.

Excursion 6
Sustainable Ruralities? Nature Tourism and the
Wilderness
Bus + Hiking trip

The tour includes a hike at the Levanneva, a natural protected area 40 km south of Vaasa. The hike constitutes of a 3,5 km traditional ‘swamp walking’ hike on wooden trails and a visit to a bird watching facility. After the hike, participants will enjoy an ecological, locally produced meal at Mäntylä Estate, where we also will learn about rural on farm tourism activities. On the way back to urban surroundings we will visit the 2008 Finnish Housing Fair area of and get a presentation of their unique energy supply station. The area is situated on the outskirts of urban Vaasa and has an emphasis on ecological/natural living combined with an urban touch. Participants have the option of a 4 km seaside walk back to the city or the bus transportation provided.

This trip takes us north of Vaasa to the Nykarleby area. The regional LEADER-group will present successful rural and cultural activity projects together with representatives of local entrepreneurs, e.g. the open-air fair of Juthbacka and the city of Nykarleby. On our way back to Vaasa we will visit the site of one of the biggest regional LEADER-projects so far: the historical landscape where the 1808-09 war between Sweden and Russia took place. There will be a guided tour of the battle fields and an outdoors dinner at the Fänrik Stål Centre in Oravais.

Please also note the optional excursions on Friday 21 August, see pre and post events for more information