News Archives · Friends of the Finland Community

The Finland Food Chain Project 2019

Participants at the Finland Food Chain Community Conversation

Hopefully you’ve already heard about it, but 2019 marks the launch of the Finland Food Chain project, a 3 year project funded by Bush Foundation Community Innovation funds, with a mission to create an equitable and interrelated local food system that increases access to healthy foods and builds local wealth in Finland Minnesota and the surrounding area. So far we have had two large community meetings to gather input for projects, and a lot of behind-the-scenes work to get things organized and up and running. Many great ideas for projects to build our local food system are in the works and will get off the ground in the near future.

Many of these first-phase projects involve information gathering as a first step. The Food Chain recently conducted a community-wide survey to gather information on local folks food buying habits, needs and wants.

Projects so far include work on a feasibility study for local wild rice processing, creation of a directory of local food producers, research into a community garden, a planned assessment of local institutional purchasing, classes on farming and gardening, enhancing the Finland Farmers Market, grantwriting to help the Finland Co-op update infrastructure, creating a local seed savers group, and much more.

We are currently in the process of hiring coordinators to work on Infrastructure, Purchasing, Producers and Education for the project.

The Finland Food Chain welcomes participation and input for this ongoing work. There will be many opportunities to participate in the future. For more info, please visit: www.finlandfoodchain.org or www.facebook.com/finlandfoodchain and/or contact Project Coordinator Honor Schauland at 218-353-0300.

Thank You, Amy Gardner!

Friends of Finland would like to thank Amy Gardner for her many years of service as the Coordinator of the Finland Community Youth Program. Amy is moving on, and we want to recognize her dedication and hard work with and on behalf of our community’s kids.

Under Amy’s direction, the Youth Program has grown beyond our wildest dreams and now includes not only Thursday Night Youth Night/Open Gym, but Camp Finland (a week-long summer camp experience in June) as well as various outings and other activities for youth and community members.

We expect all of these great activities to continue uninterrupted, because Amy has built a very capable group of people as staff who will continue to provide quality opportunities for our youth.

Nevertheless, Amy is leaving big shoes to fill. We will likely be hiring to fill the gaps in the Youth Program in the near future.

Thanks Amy! You will be missed!

2019 Featured Volunteers!

Marc Smith

You’ve heard the expression Behind Every Great Man Is A Great Woman? It’s dated and sexist, right?

But how about this one? Behind Every Great Clair Nelson Center Staffperson Is A Great Partner. A partner that “volunteers” their time to help with the Booya dishes, runs the kids’ booth at St Urho’s, helps with bingo, prepares the meal for a special event, fixes the heater, the ice machine and the….. You get the idea!

Gary Olson

This year’s Volunteer Thank you goes out to our staffpeople’s partners for the hours you have all put in helping us make the Clair Nelson Center the community jewel it is.

Jeffrey Mitchell Jr

Thank you many times over to Marc Smith (Amy Gardner), Gary Olson (Nancy Anselment-Olson), Jeffrey Mitchell (Honor Schauland), Pamela Melby (Kaare Melby) and Kurt Mead (Betsey Mead).

We appreciate you! And so does our community!

Kurt Mead

Pamela Melby

Spanish Camp at the Clair Nelson Center

Due to unexpected staffing issues, we have made the hard decision to cancel Spanish Camp this year. We will plan to do it next summer.

Friends of Finland is excited to announce our second ever Spanish Camp, which will be held at the Clair Nelson Center in mid-August of 2019. Spanish Camp is being planned as a day camp for children ages 5-13, with an emphasis on language, cultures and food in the many Spanish-speaking countries around the world. Spanish Camp will be Aug 12th, 13th and 14th. This year the camp will be focused on exploring the migrations of animals and people across the world. We will have assistance from local folks with firsthand experience in many Spanish speaking countries.

The food especially is going to be really fun. Many of the foods we take for granted, like corn and potatoes, and things like tacos have their origins in the indigenous cultures of the (now) Spanish-speaking countries of North and South America. Food is also a great starting point for learning a new vocabulary when it comes to learning a language like Spanish.

There will also be fun games and music, as well as cultural stories and legends from the various Spanish-speaking countries. Wednesday the 14th will wrap up with a skit performance from 2-3pm that is open to the public. Please come have a snack and hear what the group has learned from the 3-day experience.

Anyone interested in participating in Spanish Camp should fill out a Spanish Camp Finland 2019 Registration form and contact Honor Schauland at 218-353-0300 in order to sign up! Please sign up ASAP as there is limited space available. Cost for the camp is $25 per child, but there are hardship scholarships available.

Download the Spanish Camp Finland 2019 registration form here.

This new addition to our programming has been made possible by a grant from the Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation’s Global Awareness Fund and North Shore Age to Age.

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Teen Camp Finland is Almost Here!

June 11, 2019

Dear TEEN Camp Finland Parents/Guardians and TEENS,

Teen Camp Finland is almost here! We’re so glad your teen(s) can attend! The following is important information regarding Teen Camp:

THINGS YOU MUST BRING WITH YOU TO CAMP:

1 Large Backpack
1 Smaller Daypack

All Items must fit into these two bags:

1 Sleeping bag and/or blankets
1 Air mattress or closed cell pad
1 pair of real hiking boots
1 pair of shoes that can be worn in water ie: crocs, old tennis shoes etc.
5 pairs of socks and undies
1 Sun hat and sunscreen
1 Working flashlight and/or headlamp with extra batteries
Weather appropriate outdoor clothing – Think mosquitoes and getting dirty
1 pillow
1 swimsuit
1 towel
1 water bottle with child’s name on it;
Toothbrush and paste
Mosquito repellent

Optional but recommended:

Musical instruments for playing around the campfire will be kept dry and safe.
Any personal toiletries. Non-toxic Dr. Bronner’s soap will be provided.

All food will be provided – No food or snacks from home please. We have a day camper w/ a severe peanut and shellfish allergy.

Also please leave your phones at home. If parents need to contact teens at camp they can call us at anytime @ 218-220-7215.

MONDAY, June 17th: First day of camp! Camp starts at 8:30 am sharp. Parents/Guardians must drop teens off. Look for signs on the road in front of the community center – teens are to be dropped off with all of their gear in the parking lot on the far side of the ball field.

FRIDAY, June 21st: Last day of camp. Family Members are invited to an ICE CREAM SOCIAL @ 3:00 to 4pm. Pick up for your teens will be after the social (4:15 pm), again, in the parking lot on the far side of the ball field.

For more info or questions before or during TEEN Camp call Andrew Norcross anytime @ (218) 220-7215 or the Clair Nelson Community Center @ (218) 353-0300

Teen Camp Counselors: Andrew Norcross, Kelsie Carlson, Honor Schauland and Margaret Sager

Guest Day Counselors: Steven George, Kurt Mead and Kaare Melby

Finland Community Youth Program Director: Amy Gardner (218)353-7536

Camp Finland is Almost Here!

June 4, 2019

Dear Camp Finland Parents/Guardians,

Camp Finland will be here before we know it! We’re so glad your child(ren) can attend!

Following is important information regarding camp:

Light breakfast and hearty lunch provided every day, as well as dinner and snacks for the overnight.

What to Bring every day: backpack with a water bottle; sandals or flip flops and closed-toe shoes; weather-appropriate outdoor clothing;; sun hat; sunscreen; change of clothing. NOTE: We will provide insect repellant and be responsible for helping children put it on. IMPORTANT! One of our campers has a severe peanut and shellfish allergy! PLEASE, NO SNACKS FROM HOME! We will have plenty of snacks on hand.

MONDAY, June 17th: First day of camp! Our Camp day starts at 9 am and ends at 4 pm.

Arrowhead Transit Bus will be picking up Silver Bay kids at 8:30 am Mary MacDonald Center, Dilly Dally Door. The bus will be stopping at the intersection of Hwy 61 and MN 1 (by Whispering Pines Motel) at 8:40 and Finland Co-op at 8:55 am for Finland Kids who want to ride the bus.

On the way home the bus will drop kids at Finland Co-op at 4:05 pm, Whispering Pines at 4:15 pm, and Mary Mac at 4:30 pm. ** Please note these times are approximate.

TUESDAY, June 18th: same bus schedule

WEDNESDAY, June 19th: same bus schedule

THURSDAY, June 20th Field Trip to Flathorn Lake, Isabella AND Overnight Camp-out at Clair Nelson Center!!! Kids will have the same morning pick-up but there will be no afternoon bus service. Spending the night is optional. What to Bring for Field Trip and Overnight: same as every day plus: Swimsuit and towel, WARM sleeping bag and/or blankets; Air mattress or closed cell pad; pillow; toiletries. NOTE: We will be providing headlamps for kids to use and, once again, we will provide insect repellant. Kids who aren’t spending the night need to be picked up no later than 9 pm and brought back to the center 9 am the following morning.

FRIDAY, June 21st: No am bus service. Same pm bus service. Family Members are invited to Talent Show/Award Ceremony 3:00 to 4 pm. Children may take the bus home or go home with a family member(s) after the program.

Looking forward to a fun and rewarding Camp Finland 2019!

Camp Finland Director/Coordinators: Amy Gardner 218-353-7536 and Cindy Hanson Clair Nelson Community Center 218-353-0300

Lead Counselors: Kenny Albrecht and Rebecca Larson.

Counselors-In-Training: Alexa Harrison, MacKenzie Krech, Marlee Lehtinen, and Madison Sundvick

Special Needs Counselor: Katherine Nelson

Spring Runoff Fundraiser 2019 – Dinner and Variety Show

Come one, come all to the Spring Runoff Pasta Dinner and Variety Show! The main event will take place on May 18th from 7-9pm on the Finland Community Center Stage. This is a fundraiser. It’s $5 at the door. We are not pre-selling tickets to the show.

The pasta dinner will take place from 6-7pm before the show. A limited number of tickets are available, so get them ASAP! Tickets for the dinner are $15 and that includes the price of the show afterwards. Please call 218-353-0300 or stop by the Clair Nelson Center for tickets.

This event is sponsored by North Shore AGE to age. AGE to age sponsors a wide array of intergenerational programs in the communities of the North Shore, many of which take place in Finland, MN. Learn more here.

What’s New at the Finland Farmers Market for 2019?

Get Ready for the Finland Farmers Market 2019!
Summer 2019 at the Clair Nelson Center
Starting June 13th and continuing through October 3rd!
Every Thursday evening from 5-6:30 pm
Under the Pavilion at the Clair Nelson Center
6866 Cramer Road
Finland, MN 55603

Vendors: 1st week is free! – $5 per week or $50 for the season
More info or to register call 218-353-0300

We are able to accept credit cards, EBT and Snap Benefits! We have a system in place for this where folks needing to use any of these options can approach Stefan Meyer, our Farmers Market Coordinator, who can swipe a card and give the customer Farmers Bucks to spend with any vendor at the Market. Vendors are reimbursed for Farmers Market Bucks at the end of each market session. We are excited to have the opportunity to help folks of all different economic situations patronize our Market and have access to healthy food.

Something new this year is the Power of Produce (PoP) Club for kids ages 3-15! A PoP Club is an incentive program that empowers children to make healthy food choices. Each week, participating children receive a $2 token to spend on fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods. Parents and kids who want to participate may sign up at the weekly Market with Stefan Meyer, the Market Coordinator. Signing up is as simple as filling out a simple form. Donate to support this program here!

The Finland Farmers Market was started in 2014 as part of an effort to focus on local food in the Finland MN Area as an economic development strategy. The idea is to make space for local producers to sell their goods in their own community. The Clair Nelson Center also has a commercial kitchen space that is MDA certified and available for those taking that next step and creating a food product for retail sale. The Finland Farmers Market is a vital link in the Finland Food Chain. Learn more here: https://friendsoffinland.org/finland-food-chain/

Market sponsors include: the Organic Consumers Association and North Shore Age to Age. Thanks so much to our sponsors! We couldn’t do it without your support!

Next Steps in the Finland Community Food Conversation

We’ve met twice now, first on April 6th and then again on April 28th to talk about local food in our community – what we are calling the Finland Food Chain. Each time was great – lots of people attended and contributed ideas and inspiration. The first event on April 6th was just to get the conversation going. We talked about what the needs are surrounding food in our community.

The priorities or values identified on April 6th were:

We want the ability to eat healthy local food year round.
We need more food, farming and gardening related education.
We need it to be easy for consumers to source food that is healthy and local.
We need many local growers and producers who are able to make an equitable living and have access to required infrastructure.
We need infrastructure to enable processing locally grown, harvested, raised, and gathered foods in our own community rather than transporting them far away.
We need government policies that encourage “our kind of farming.

Many worthy projects were identified at the April 6th meeting. The ones we are starting with are the ones that have people who are willing to put time and energy into figuring out what it would take to make them happen. At the April 28th meeting, we identified working groups, workplans and budgets for a good number of these projects.

The projects we have preliminary workplans for are:

Finland Food Chain documents created at the April 28th meeting

Wild rice processing/grain storage
Creating a local producer cooperative
Community root cellar
Local producer directory
Assessing the food volume used by local institutions
Food hub exploration
Food curriculum in schools
Community seed bank

These groups will be working in the next few weeks to finalize their work plans, which will then be assessed at the next Food Chain Brain meeting, which will be on May 22nd at 6pm. Stay tuned for more details.

This is only the first round of projects! We anticipate many more of these smaller pieces that will make up the larger Finland Food Chain happening now and into the future. Learn more about how this is all going to work here.

Information about Camp Finland 2019

Here at the Clair Nelson Community Center, we’re starting to get excited about Camp Finland 2019! Many thanks to the Northland Foundation and DSCAF Silver Bay Charitable Fund for their ongoing support, as well as to the many community members who share their time and talents. Camp Finland is a day camp for children, ages 5 to 11. We strive to provide children with a high quality summer camp experience, fostering a lifelong love of nature, discovery, friendship, learning and leadership. First and foremost, Camp Finland is FUN! New this year, is the addition of a “Teen Camp” for ages 12 to 18. This will be an overnight camp running at the same time as kids camp. If you have older kids, look for that mailing! This year’s dates are Monday through Friday, June 17 to 21, 9am to 4pm (Note: start time is one hour earlier than previous years) with one overnight on Thursday (optional). Transportation will be provided by Arrowhead Transit. We will be providing breakfast, lunch, snacks – dinner and campfire treats for the overnight.

We will be taking 30 kids this year. The deadline is May 1st to mail in your child(ren)’s application, fee of $50, or fee waiver in to us! Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so please do it soon! Staff this year (some old, some new) will be as follows:

Administrator/Directors: Amy Gardner and Cindy Hanson

Lead Counselors: Kenny Albrecht and Rebecca Larson

Counselors-in-Training (CITs): to be announced

Lead Cook and Kitchen staff: Nancy Olson, Gretchen Gilbertson, Mary Kingston

Special Needs Assistant: Kathy Nelson

Please Note: We will not accommodate partial week attendance. Your child(ren) need to be able to attend all 5 days of Camp in order to secure a spot which could otherwise be made available to another child. This is also important in order to promote the continuity and cohesiveness of our “Camp Family.”

These slots will be filled on a first-come-first-serve basis. Your child will be assured a spot once we have received both their completed registration form and $50 fee. Fee waivers are available – just ask. The past couple years we’ve had waiting lists, so please return your form and fee ASAP! We sincerely hope your child can join us!

Amy Gardner and Cindy Hanson

Camp Finland Administrator/Directors

For more info call Amy at 353-7536 or the Clair Nelson Center at 353-0300

Download: Camp Finland Registration Form 2019 PDF