While the summer tourism season is still in a quieter phase, one major event is preparing for what may be its biggest effort of the year. Each year, NUTS Karhunkierros brings around 3,500 runners to the starting line in Kuusamo, and delivering the event smoothly requires an enormous amount of work. Fortunately, valuable help is provided by local clubs, for whom the event also offers an important fundraising opportunity.
Over 1,500 Hours of Work from Local Clubs Enable the NUTS Karhunkierros Event in Kuusamo
The start of the summer season in Kuusamo is unmistakably marked by the arrival of trail runners!
Published May 12, 2026
The economic impact of events on the region has been widely studied in recent years, and the impact of NUTS is being assessed again this year. One of the most significant contributions comes from the work purchased from local clubs. Without their involvement, organizing an event of this scale would be virtually impossible. Participating clubs in NUTS Karhunkierros include, among others, Kuusamon Erä-Veikot (KEV) and Kuusamon Pallo-Karhut.
For clubs, events are an essential way to generate income to cover operational costs.
– We aim to take advantage of cooperation opportunities whenever they arise. As a volleyball parent myself, I’ve done a lot of volunteer work over the years, and it’s refreshing to do something other than baking brownies from time to time. At the moment, there is no specific process for coordinating volunteer work, so clubs and associations are welcome to contact us if they are interested in participating in event operations. We then connect event producers and local actors, says Niina Kukka, Event Manager at Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Association.
– I have brought together various events and clubs to collaborate, and cooperation with educational institutions has also proved extremely valuable. This past winter, we connected the tourism program at KAO (local vocational school) with the NUTS event. The initiative came from the school, and it’s wonderful to see the collaboration materialize in practice, Kukka adds.
Nuts Karhunkierros
– The contribution of local clubs and associations is absolutely invaluable in a major event like Karhunkierros. Continuous development is the cornerstone of our cooperation – each year has taught us something new and helped streamline our shared practices. According to our estimates, local clubs and associations will contribute over 1,500 hours of work this year along the route, at aid stations and in the event center. It is a matter of pride for us to provide local actors with a meaningful fundraising opportunity while ensuring world-class conditions for runners on the Karhunkierros trails, says Eero Lumme, CEO of NUTS Oy.
Volunteering is often highly rewarding, and many participants return year after year.
– NUTS is a professionally organized event, and it’s a joy to be part of the volunteer team year after year, as well as to participate in trail running myself. The event is marked well in advance in my calendar as a highlight of the spring. Volunteer work at NUTS is an important fundraising channel for both us orienteers at KEV and the people at KAO. Not to mention the valuable learning experience event organization provides for both students and teachers at KAO. This year, KAO students are not only completing their vocational assessments at the event but also raising funds in their own time for an international study trip, summarizes Viivi Sirkeinen, a KEV orienteer and teacher at KAO.
NUTS Karhunkierros will take place in Kuusamo on May 22–23, 2026. More information:
More information:
Niina Kukka, Event Manager, Ruka-Kuusamo Tourist Association, tel. +358 40 772 8213, niina.kukka@rukakuusamo.fi
Eero Lumme, CEO, NUTS Oy, tel. +358 40 579 8526, eppu@nuts.fi
Awarded the Scandinavian Outdoor Award as Destination of the Year, Ruka-Kuusamo invites you to experience some of Finland’s most stunning landscapes and a world-class ski resort. Three national parks – Oulanka, Riisitunturi and Hossa – offer unforgettable excursions into ancient forests, fell landscapes and roaring rapids. The region’s event calendar pulses year-round with skiing, sports and cultural experiences. Discover reindeer herding traditions, the northern lights, the warmth of the sauna and local wild food – and take home a memory that will stay with you.
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