Orbis In English
Thank you for our joint adventure! Go back to memories in the photo bank
Tervetuloa – that is “welcome” in Finnish!
We are thrilled that you are interested in coming to our regional scout camp Orbis2025!
About the camp
- The camp will be held in July 2025, from 10th to 16th (Thursday to Wednesday)
- There will be possibilities to showcase your country and culture to the camp participants
- The organizer is Pohjanmaan Partiolaiset ry, the regional scout body in Bothnia (mid-Northern Finland).
- The expected number of participants is 2000
Experience Orbis the Finnish way!
- There will be varied daily program in the forest, on big lake Oulujärvi etc
- Your group will be integrated with 1 or more local Finnish troops.
- Everyone speaks reasonable English.
- Everyone pitches in! All rovers and adults are assigned a volunteer position, either as group leaders or in the camp organization.
- Explorers will split their time between their programmed activities and a volunteer position.
About daily life at Orbis2025
- You will live 6 nights in a tent with other scouts.
- You will be eating out of a camp kitchen with your own plates etc. Camp kitchen can cater for most dietary restrictions if properly informed beforehand.
- There will be showers and saunas available
- There will be portable toilets that get cleaned daily
Pictures: Mari Lehtisalo, Eeva Helle and Veera Melvasalo / Suomen Partiolaiset, Juha Vainio / Lounais-Suomen Partiopiiri
Packing list
Orbis cheer and camp song
The official Orbis scout cheer has been published! The camp song is almost ready to be published, too.
At Orbis, the cheer goes:
Semper paratus,
Partion ajatus,
Aina ole valmis,
Tule, koe Orbis!
The same in English:
Semper paratus,
shared Scouting values
Be prepared always –
come on feel Orbis!
Did you know that ”partiohuuto” is a loud, rhytmic group chant with scouting-related content? Finnish Scouts often use specific cheers and chants as a way to build team spirit at patrol meetings, at camp fires to thank the performers, during parades etc.
Camp Rules at Orbis 2025
The purpose of the rules is to ensure every camper has an enjoyable, smooth and safe experience. Orbis2025 is a scout camp where conducting oneself according to the Scout values is expected and enforced. The rules apply to everyone regardless of their age and assignment. All campers must commit to the rules and to telling the Scout leaders if they see them broken.
- Wear your scout neckerchief and the identifier bracelet at all times.
- Show respect to the thoughts, opinions and religious or other beliefs. Orbis is a safe space.
- Don’t bully! Orbis management has zero tolerance towards bullying, discrimination and harassment. This includes any and all social media behaviour, too.
- Swimming is only allowed by permission of the primary adult leader of the group. Swimming may only take place in the beach marked in the camp map, at designated times and a swimming partner.
- Take care of the environment! Do not litter and do not harm the nature.
- No open fire is allowed without explicit permission by the camp’s security manager.
- Silent hour from 23 to 07. Each camp unit is responsible for their area during the silent hours.
- Respect the individual and shared ownership. Do not use anything without the owner’s permission or break things.
- Use the designated paths – some of the camp area is vulnerable terrain and should not be stamped on.
- You may only leave the area with a permission from the camp office.
- It is not permitted to possess or use any alcohol or other intoxicating substances at Orbis. Any violation will result in removing the camper from the area on his/her own expense.
- Smoking or otherwise using nicotine products is discouraged and only permitted to persons over 18 years of age at a designated smoking area.
- No bullying, harassment or discrimination will go unhandled. Let your primary leader know if you experience anything such. If needed, also outside stakeholder such as parents/guardians, police and child services) will be contacted.
A participant may be removed from the camp if he does not follow the rules or poses danger or serious damage to him/herself, other participants or the environment. Removal will happen at the camper’s expense. In case of a minor, the parent/guardian is responsible to pick up the minor. In such cases, registration fee will not be returned.
Health and safety
- Each camp unit (home base for 60 to 120 scouts) will have a comprehensive first aid kit and a designated adult volunteer for first aid
- The camp will have a central ”hospital” with trained nurses in attendance
- There will be teams supporting the wellbeing (including mental health) of both the participants and volunteers
- Only participants and invited guests will have access to the campsite. This will be monitored by designated volunteers
- The camp has zero tolerance for intoxicants such as alcohol or drugs. Smoking is discouraged and only permitted to adults.
How to get there?
Exact location is Säräisniemi in Vaala, Finland (latitude 64.45, longitude 26.7833 ). It is ca. 100 km from Oulu, a major Finnish city with airport, railway station, university etc
We will not actually help in travel arrangements, but will of course support as best we can AND are happy to organize low-cost transportation from Oulu and Haparanda on the Swedish side. (Unfortunately railway and bus connections from Sweden to Finland are still under development)
There will not be a home hospitality program, but we are happy to help you get in touch with Finnish scouts so that you can maybe plan shared activities before or after the camp.
Participants
Everyone at least 13 years of age is welcome!
Minors (trackers and explorers) must be escorted by adult scout leaders.
Participation fee
The pricing of the camp was published on November 9th in the general assembly of Pohjanmaan Partiolaiset (Ostrobothnia Scout Association).
- The full camp from July 10th to 16th (Thursday to Wednesday) costs 235 euros
- The shorter camp from July 10th to 13th (Thursday to Sunday), costs 150 euros
- To attend a single day/days costs 48 euros each
The early bird fees above are valid in December and January. If there is capacity open in February 2025, prices go up to 260 euros (full camp) and 175 euros (short camp)
By default, the payment is made as you enroll via an electronic payment service. You need to pay with a debit card; no credit payment options are available. For larger groups invoicing is an option.
Read about terms of registration, attendance and cancellation
Information on international participant registration
We opened the individual registration form in 3 languages (Finnish, Swedish, English) as planned, but are still working to get the international group registration open. The individual registration is primarily for members of the Finnish national scouting organization (Suomen partiolaiset). There is also difference with payment of the participation fee: the individual registration the camp fee needs to be paid online straight away, whereas the group registration invoice will be sent to the national scouting organization (NSO).
We hope to open the international group registration by December 20th. The group leader will register the group first, then register him/herself, and finally distribute the link to the group member registration plus the group identifier code to the group members.
General facts about Finland
- The temperature in July in Finland is usually between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius, with both sunshine and rain.
- The worst mosquito season will be over but ecological insect prepellants are still in order
- The currency in Finland is euro
- Citizens of some countries require a visa to enter Finland (more info from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland https://um.fi/visa-requirement-and-travel-documents-accepted-by-finland)
- The Finnish rules and regulations for arrival and import of goods can be found at the Custom site, https://arkisto.tulli.fi/en/private-persons/travelling/arriving-in-finland
For more info: info@orbis2025.fi