Fifteen students participate in fitness break at Salpausselkä School in Lahti, Finland

Fifteen middle school students are currently at the Salpausselkä School gym for a half-hour fitness break aimed at introducing them to various activities. This time serves as an entry point for students to explore different interests, with organized hobby groups meeting before or after school hours. According to activity coordinator Laura Pulkkinen, this approach helps students become familiar with the instructor and the facilities, making participation easier.

Pulkkinen oversees several extracurricular activities at Salpausselkä School, including cooking classes, casual sports, and craft groups. The activities are part of Finland’s model for promoting extracurricular engagement, which aims to offer every first to ninth grader a free hobby of their choosing tied to the school day. This initiative is a regulation in youth law and is funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

In Lahti, extracurricular opportunities for elementary school students are primarily provided by sports clubs and organizations, while dedicated instructors lead activities in middle schools. Pulkkinen notes that many new students lack hobbies and emphasizes the need to cater to their interests during this transitional phase. Research shows that participation in physical activities often declines during puberty, influenced by the professionalization and rising costs of extracurricular options.

The Lahti model addresses these challenges by ensuring that middle school students have easy access to activities, fostering a social atmosphere without strict commitments. Coordinators respond quickly to student interests, striving to engage all young participants effectively. In the last year, about one thousand students took part in groups across Lahti, highlighting the importance of removing barriers to participation.