Suomen Latu
The Outdoors Association of Finland
Suomen Latu – the Outdoors Association of Finland – is a promoter of outdoor activities, an expert in hiking and an organisation which is open to all. There are already more than 75 000 members – children, teenagers, single people, families, adults, seniors – who are active in more than 200 member associations.
The main objective of Suomen Latu has always been to increase Finnish people’s interest in exercise as well as developing possibilities for outdoor, conditioning and recreational exercise. Nowadays guarding everyman’s right has become more and more important.
Other subject matters that are addressed include preserving everyman’s right; promoting outdoor and health beneficial exercise in the society; making outdoor activities and exercise more accessible in municipalities; the quantity and quality of hiking routes and walkways; providing opportunities for children and teenagers for healthy recreational activities; organizing possibilities for exercise for the whole family; Increasing well-being in the society.
Suomen Latu and its member associations have a vision that Suomen Latu is known as an established expert in outdoor activities and hiking, and as an open-to-all citizens’ organization advocating the cause of all outdoor enthusiasts. In 2015 the Finnish people will use more time on outdoor activities which are more versatile than today.
In the future, According to Mr. Eki Karlsson, the executive director of Suomen Latu, the organization will concentrate even more on children, teenagers and families – not forgetting the seniors. Also engaging young adults in the organizations operations and activities is vital. “We will continue promoting regular, year-round exercise and outdoor activities for people of all ages”, Mr. Karlsson says.
Although Suomen Latu mainly works in Finland, since 1997 steps towards becoming an INGO has been taken. During 1997-2001 Suomen Latu carried out a development cooperation project in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania. Since 2006 Suomen Latu has worked with Nepalese NGO, NETIF, to start an outdoor activities related development cooperation program in the Kathmandu Valley. You can learn more about the project from here.
News
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10.4. Kiilopään perheviikoilla vietät lomasi mukavasti tunturissa! |
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3.8.2012 Suomen Latu has received Ministry of Education and Culture funding for a 2012-2013 benchmarking project. The aim is to map internationally already existing best practices in outdoor sports to encourage more Finnish adults to be increasingly active in the great outdoors.
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2.12.2011 Nepal is often regarded as the jewel set in the majestic Himalayan mountain range, NETIF and Suomen Latu are working side by side to bring sustainable development to tourism in Nepal. |
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5.9.2010 Suomen Latu's partner NETIF has taken a leading role in waste management along the Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trail. |
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1.9.2010 Suomen Latu's Nepalese partner NETIF has carried out all the construction activities of development co-operation project "Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trail". |
72-Year Old NGO
The meeting to found Suomen Latu was held in Helsinki at The Old Student House 28th January 1938. The first president of the organization was Mr Toivo Aro and the vice-president Mr Lauri “Tahko” Pihkala – a famous Finnish sports man.
As Mr Pihkala proposed the new and independent organization was named Suomen Latu, in which Latu (Latu is track in English) stands for promotion of cross country skiing activities and paving the way for all national sports without the aspect of competition. In the organization’s rules competing in sports was only allowed if the goal was to promote the organization and its activities.
