Children’s Camp in Ahtela, 9–19 June 2025
A short account from the children’s camp organized by the Ursuline Sisters for the children of the diocese. The children were 6–12 years old, and there were nearly fifty of them. The number varied slightly, since some stayed only a few days while others took part in the entire camp. Most of the children came from the capital region, but there were also participants from Pori and Kouvola. The camp was held at the city of Turku’s camp center in Ahtela, in the municipality of Sauvo.
Sister Barbara had carefully prepared the program, and the theme of the entire camp was: “We are pilgrims of hope.” Each day, awakening different senses, the children were invited to understand how greatly God loves them and how he has given us the angels as well as Saint Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary to help us.
Preparations also included drawing up food and shopping lists, for which Sister Renata and Sister Eugenia were responsible. Eight young adults were invited to serve as group leaders: Speci, Gloire, Lisa, Piia, Petra, Tomàs, Sonia, and Claudia. Halina and Wieslawa prepared meals five times a day – every day. Seminarians Mateusz, Javier, and Antonio helped by transporting a van full of food supplies. Once the van was unloaded, they drove to the K-market in Sauvo to fetch another load full of fresh produce: milk, yogurts, cheeses, sausages, and more. In addition, they delighted the children with guitar playing, taught songs, organized games, plays, and the Olympics together with the group leaders, supported religious instruction, prayed, and supervised the boys’ evening routines.
There was plenty of hauling: food boxes, handicraft materials, outdoor play and song equipment – and of course liturgical items: vestments, everything needed for Mass and adoration, monstrance, candles, altar cloths, and much more. It is hard to put into words what an operation it was to plan, pack, and carry all of this.
When the supplies had been carried inside – despite the rain – we began preparations for the arrival of the children. They had started their day in Helsinki with the sisters and set out for Sauvo in the afternoon in several cars. I myself traveled from Turku to Sauvo by bus, and Sisters Małgorzata and Wieslawa picked me up along the way.
We had at our disposal four ten-person cottages, the seminarians’ house, the cooks’ house, and a cottage which the seminarians and group leaders transformed into a chapel by moving furniture, building an altar and a lectern. For such a large group, the place was much more functional than Tippsund, where the confirmation camp had been held the previous year.
After the first night the real camp life began, and every day started with flag raising and morning prayer. For many children it was a completely new experience to raise the Finnish flag – and it was a great honor. Morning prayer outdoors in the midst of nature made an impression: one really can pray anywhere.
The daily program always included religious instruction, play, handicrafts, physical activity, and various devotions that taught the children how to pray. At the center of the camp was Holy Mass, which Father Marco Pasinato celebrated with us every day. On Sunday 15 June, when he could not come, Mass was celebrated by Father Peter Gebara SCJ from Turku. Father Marco taught the children the Word of God and also prepared them for adoration, which was held one evening.
For the rosary, a pattern of candles was placed on the floor. Each child who began the Hail Mary prayer lit the candle before him or her. The custom was that the prayer began in the child’s own mother tongue and was then continued in Finnish. At the camp one could hear Finnish, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Italian… and more would have been heard if all had dared.
After two rainy days the sun began to shine generously, even though the weather remained cold. The children played, ran, and went swimming with great enthusiasm. From time to time quarrels broke out that had to be resolved, but it was beautiful to see how the older children gradually began to take care of the younger ones. It was also impressive how eagerly and skillfully the children sang with the seminarians’ guitar accompaniment. Two songs dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary stood out especially – they remained ringing in my ears for weeks after the camp. The children also ate an incredible amount, and as a specialist I admired Halina’s and Wieslawa’s skill in estimating the right quantities.
There was an abundance of handicrafts. Sister Ewa had prepared a whole studio: colored pencils, beads, paper, special glass pens for making lanterns, wire – everything needed for crafting. A whole workshop for ten days.
The children played outside and on the beach, ran races, and took part in a sandcastle competition. The seminarians and group leaders organized the Olympics and a treasure hunt. All the games served an educational purpose: to learn to work together, to trust others, to appreciate others’ strengths, and to help one another.
At times we quieted down: we read, prayed in silence. Sister Barbara read a story, and the atmosphere was peaceful. One evening was spent grilling – a little festive moment in the midst of the camp.
On the eve of Midsummer’s Eve the camp ended, and the hauling began again. There were logistical challenges aplenty: how to get all the children safely home and all the supplies back to Helsinki?
I myself went to Turku – and I was amused by the thought that at nearly 70 years old I was able, thanks to the Ursuline Sisters, to experience such a lively June. I am still pondering how professional the sisters are: how skilled they are in organizing, in caring for a large group of children, in reconciling quarrels, in meeting each child individually, and in making sure that all participants felt well.
I was deeply impressed by how smoothly they resolved challenging situations. I myself slept in a cottage with ten boys – and it was not easy to get them to quiet down in the evenings. On two evenings Sister Barbara came to help, and she succeeded in quieting even the most restless boys. I also admired how Sister Ewa and Sister Małgorzata were able to notice with precision and sensitivity the needs and strengths of the children. It was wonderful to get to know the sisters, the group leaders, and the seminarians in an entirely new way.
At Midsummer, as I tried to rest, cheerful and silly thoughts and fantasies came to me: what if we won 50 million in the lottery? Or if some really wealthy parishioner had grown tired of the fluctuations of his shares, the renovation costs of his mansions and rental apartments, the poor yield of his forests, and the worry for the safety of his collections – and realized that there are no pockets in the shroud. That he would give the money to the bishop, and we could build our own camp and retreat center, with a proper chapel, good meeting rooms, a handicraft room, playground, accommodations, and a fine kitchen. I even went online to look at restaurant-grade ovens, stoves, freezers… But perhaps such daydreams are permitted for someone of my age.
Thanks to everyone who made this camp possible. Finally one more moment that stayed in my heart: when a father came to pick up his children, a small, peppery girl ran toward him and shouted: “Daddy, Daddy, do you know that God loves you so much!”
The children evangelized their parents.
Florence Schmitt, Turku