Responsible nature experiences

Natura Viva was born out of a desire to be in nature

For decades, the founders of the family business, Martti and Ilkka, have spent much of their leisure time hiking in the wilderness of Lapland and paddling along the coasts and rapids. These experiences gave them the idea to offer nature experiences to others.

Doing more together, we can achieve more than alone

At Natura Viva, we know that together we can create unforgettable experiences and experiences of nature. The starting point for cooperation is that all parties benefit and that the work is transparent. We work continuously with cities, municipalities, companies and tour operators to design and produce products. We also support local entrepreneurs by purchasing equipment for use and products for sale. For example, firewood and café accessories are purchased from local entrepreneurs.

Natura Viva employs 30 people in different positions during the season

Natura Viva is an equal workplace, free of bullying and discrimination. As an employer, we support progression in skills and provide professional development training in addition to formal qualifications. For example, all our kayak guides have at least a kayak instructor qualification. We also offer all our staff access to equipment for the duration of their employment.

Economically sustainable operations allow for the employment of new people and the long-term development of the company. Business growth is planned in a sustainable way, without compromising current operations, quality of service or responsibilities.

We are committed to providing safe and secure services

All our products are designed with safety in mind. Many of our customers come to try kayaking for the first time in their lives. Before setting out on the water, we explain safety, weather conditions, route choices, instruct on paddling techniques and answer any questions you may have. It's important to us that everyone who goes out on the water feels safe and happy to leave the shore. If there is an accident, we will work through it together and improve our operations.

We will let you know in advance if there are any pre-requisites for participation. For example, for an instructor course or skills test, you must have sufficient knowledge and skills in paddling to make participation meaningful and appropriate. If weather conditions are unsafe at the start of the tour or rental period, we will try to find a new date for the event.

We do our best to make our services accessible to as many people as possible

Although water sports, cycling and accommodation in the woods have certain physical requirements, we encourage participants with special needs to contact us in advance. We do not currently have specific equipment or aids for people with reduced mobility or visual impairments, for example, but we are happy to share any information about the sports and can often find suitable alternatives for participation. Our aim is to make the sports and accommodation accessible to as many people as possible.

The Baltic Sea is one of the most degraded seas in the world

It is important for us that we do not create extra pressure when we move around the sea. We do not leave litter behind and we sort it properly. We expect the same from our customers, which is why we instruct them to follow the trash free etiquette at all our destinations.

A major benefit for nature is that the use of equipment and accommodation is shared between several people. For example, kayaks designed for season-ticket enthusiasts serve hundreds of people, reducing the need for people to buy equipment for personal use only. When replacing equipment, we sell usable equipment for private use and extend the life of the equipment.

We are an active part of the culture of the Helsinki area and three national parks

It is important for us to share information about the areas where we work. We tell people about culture, attractions, operators and events on our website, in our locations and when we meet our customers. We organise and participate in events. We provide low-threshold services where we also train experts. We communicate about protected areas and their restrictions, weather conditions such as forest fire warnings, hiking etiquette and hiking trails. We inform about safety and how to respect other users of the areas. We also collect feedback from all our customers so that we can continue to improve in the future.

We design all products with the environment in mind

All Natura Viva services are health and well-being promoting. We do not sell products that are harmful to health or completely unnecessary fluff. All equipment rented is muscle powered, i.e. our equipment does not include motorised equipment. This choice also helps us to meet the UKK health promotion physical activity recommendation of 2.5 hours of vigorous exercise per week for thousands of people every year.

We do not organise noisy events or create noise or light pollution in our activities. Services are provided nearby and displacements are moderate. We have also reduced the need to transport our customers by a fair margin. We do not deplete nature by creating new paths, but make use of what already exists and favour solutions that have been thought through in cooperation with local stakeholders. For example, cooperation with Metsähallitus has resulted in a mountain biking route for Teijo National Park and, through this, customer service communication for visitors to the national park. In designing products, we take into account not only the area and nature, but also other users, operators, safety and accessibility.

We do not waste water

The taps at the paddling centre have motion sensors to regulate consumption, so water is not wasted. We also check all taps and toilets for possible leaks on a monthly basis. Not all rented cottages have water from the tap. You have to carry the water yourself or take it from the lake. We use only biodegradable products for washing equipment and indoor facilities. The lighting is mainly LED lamps and the rest of the lamps we upgrade to LED technology as they reach the end of their life. We actively monitor consumption in terms of sorting, waste and energy consumption.

In the cafeterias, we monitor consumption and design food products to minimise food waste. We make all products for sale on request. We minimise plastic consumption in wrapping paper, recycle waste and also inform customers of the nearest recycling points to our branches. All our products respect the principles of zero litter.

The wilderness cabins we rent are true to their name - wilderness cabins. There are no extra gadgets in the cabins, just the necessary ones. The load is as small as possible and respectful of nature. For comfort, we offer electric cabins in Teijo and Fiskars, and non-electric options in Nuuksio. For the maintenance of the cottages, we buy firewood and chimney services from local entrepreneurs.