Nancy’s Retiring!

Nancy Anselment-Olson has been with Friends of Finland for a long time. She started as one of the original board members when the organization was formed back in 2007, and was hired as the Building Manager (which became the Operations Lead position) a few years later, after the Clair Nelson Center was built. She has…

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Camp Finland is looking for Coordinators for 2023

Teen Camp Finland is a week-long overnight camp in Mid June for local teens based out of the  Community Center in Finland, MN. We focus on love of nature, discovery, friendship, self worth and leadership. We’re looking for 2 self motivated people to help coordinate Teen Camp in 2023 and moving forward into the future.…

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Looking Back at 2022 and Looking Forward to 2023

2022 has felt like a “normal” year, or at least, “more normal” than 2020 and 2021. The Clair Nelson Center was used for regular weekly activities throughout this year with only occasional modifications or cancellations due to COVID concerns.  Most importantly, we were able to have Youth Night almost every Thursday this year, and we…

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Thank You to All Who Helped Put on Camp Finland 2022!

Camp Finland 2022 would not have been possible without the generous support of: The Duluth Superior Community Area Foundation – Silver Bay Charitable Fund, Northland Foundation, North Shore Collaborative, Cliffs Foundation, Tracy Family Foundation, Beaver Bay and Crystal Bay townships, Trestle Inn, and many other individual donors. Many thanks our amazing staff: Lucy Carlson, Amber…

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Support Camp Finland 2022!

Dear Finland Community, Camp Finland is back June 20th-24th for another week of local arts, exploration and adventure for kids 5-17! Kids Camp serves the 5-11 year-olds as a day camp with one overnight. The theme for Kids Camp this year is “Northern Explorations” as we will be heading north to explore the Grand Portage and Grand…

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Light in the Dark

2020 has been a lot of hard work to adapt to ever changing circumstances. I have struggled personally. I have watched all of the staff struggle individually. We have struggled together. We have watched our community struggle while we all feel cut off from each other in so many ways. It feels like it took…

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Camp Finland 2020 Was Great Despite the Challenges

Despite the work it took to comply with all of the COVID-19 safety guidelines, Camp Finland did happen! It was in July instead of June, there were definitely fewer kids than usual, and staff wore themselves out somewhat with all the planning, but we did it! All in all, it was really fun! It felt…

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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.

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Camp Finland 2019 Was a Huge Success!

This year, we put on the biggest and best Camp Finland we have ever had from June 17th through 21st! We hosted 29 kids ages 5-11 for the Day Camp and 23 teens ages 12-19 for the Teen Camp, so 52 youth total! This was the most elaborate Camp we have ever put on. Teen…

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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…

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