Our international confirmation camps are all about new experiences, learning, reflection and personal growth, but also free time, music, and a wide range of other activities. On the last day, we have a confirmation ceremony where all family and friends are welcome.
Come and join us at the International Confirmation Camp!
The international confirmation camps organized by LNK – The Finnish Association for Children and Youth and Felm – Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission consist of a ten-day camp, written assignments, and a parish contact period. The camp is music-oriented and includes its own music teacher. The written assignments and parish contact period begin six months before the camp.
Our international confirmation camps are similar to those provided by local Finnish parishes, and we follow the confirmation plan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. Given that our confirmation camps are attended by people from all over the world, we provide teaching and communication in both Finnish and English.
We will stay in touch with families throughout the whole confirmation process via email. Unfortunately, we do not have a visiting day for families during the camp.
Parish contact period & getting to know your home parish
For confirmands residing in Finland, the parish contact period includes participation in the activities of their own parish. For confirmands residing abroad, the initial period is spent getting to know the local (Lutheran) parish. We will send instructions to our participants via email by the end of November.
Written assignments
The participants will be required to complete the written assignments set for them before the camp begins. The assignments will be sent in February.
The camp
The camp is held at the Päiväkumpu Camp Center in Orivesi, Finland. For more information about the location, please see our frequently asked questions. Our camps take place one after the other from early June to early August.
Accommodation, meals, and arrival
The confirmation camp is held at the Päiväkumpu Camp Center in Orivesi. Päiväkumpu offers excellent facilities for organizing camps and events, with modern accommodation renovated in the spring of 2020. The accommodation is located in the Africa and Asia buildings. Rooms are shared, with 3, 4 or 6 people per room. Meals will be served five times a day.
Participants are responsible for their own transportation arrangements to Päiväkumpu camp center. Päiväkumpu is located in the town of Orivesi, which has a population of approximately 9,000 in the Pirkanmaa region of Finland. Orivesi lies 43 kilometers (27 miles) northeast of the regional capital Tampere and approximately 2.5 hours’ drive from the Helsinki Metropolitan area. You can get to Orivesi by train or bus. The distance between Orivesi and Päiväkumpu camp center is approximately 15 kilometers (9.3 miles). We recommend taking a taxi from the train station.
You can find more information about the Päiväkumpu Course Center on this website.
Confirmation Mass
The Confirmation Mass is held at Päiväkumpu yard in a big marquee tent at 12 pm on the last day of our camp. At the beginning of the Mass, the confirmands will enter the tent in a procession and sit on their reserved seats at the front. We will provide more detailed instructions before the start of the Mass. The Mass is scheduled to last from an hour and a half to two hours. It will be conducted in both Finnish and English. We would like to kindly request your understanding and cooperation in ensuring that photos are only taken from your own seats.
At the Confirmation Mass, young people will be blessed and godparents will be in attendance. Should the godparents be unable to be present, the blessing may be conducted by a family member, friend or their own ”biggie”. After the Mass, the confirmands will leave in a procession.
Camp fee
The price for our international confirmation camp is 790 €. The fees cover the expenses of the confirmation camp and preparation, including accommodation, meals, staff, program and materials. We offer the possibility to pay the camp fee in instalments, if that is more convenient for you.
Staff and organizers
The international confirmation camps organised by LNK – The Finnish Association for Children and Youth and Felm (Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission) are staffed by a dedicated team of professionals. At least one staff member is a pastor, and one is a music teacher. There are two assistant teachers, who are at least 18 years old and who have been working as confirmed volunteers, ”biggies”, for a few times before.
We are honored to serve as a platform for global connections that transcend borders and create lifelong friendships. The international confirmation camps of LNK – The Finnish Association for Children and Youth have a long history of uniting the youth from every corner of the world since 1988. We are delighted to have partnered with Felm (Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission) since 2023. Felm is a pioneer in organizing confirmation camps rooted in missionary themes and music in the scenic Päiväkumpu since 1957, and we believe that our joint efforts create an unparalleled experience. For more information about Felm, please visit their website.