Elama
Camp Elama is a program and partner of MIR. MIR helps coordinate camps, retreats, cookouts, work projects and short-term teams at this privately owned camp.
Mission Statement
Camp Elama provides free camping facilities for qualified groups.
The program especially targets children at risk and faith communities in Russia who would not otherwise be able to afford such an experience.
The goal is to provide a place conducive to healthy character and spiritual development.
History
Elämä (the actual Finnish spelling) is located in an area of Russia that was part of Finland until the Winter War and the War of Continuation, during WWII.
The larger area containing Elama was known as Rantamaki (’shore-hill’ in Finnish). It was a Finnish estate and later a Finnish health asylum. The original gates to the Finnish estate are still visible as you drive toward Elama.
After the war, it became a Pioneer Youth Camp. The camp was abandoned many years ago.
Elama is now privately owned. The owners are building their family estate on the main part of the camp and have given us use of a section of the old camp.
Elämä is the Finnish word for Life.
We want Elama to be a place where people experience abundant life.
Click here to visit the main Elama website.
Cost
There is no fee for use of the facilities for qualified groups. We have been given freely, so we freely give.
Qualifying groups must provide their own programming, food, service, insurance coverage, and staff for the supervision of their camp activities.
In addition to providing facilities fee of charge to groups, Elama runs its own camps with its own programming and counselors.
Click here if you’d like to support the camp.