Meet Lapinlahti people: Ilona Rautiainen

My name is Ilona Rautiainen, and I have found the answer to the question “What should I do with my life”.

It happened for the first time when I was attending a concert at Lapinlahti to see a friend a couple years ago. I got the spark to come here again. Consequently, during the Corona pandemic in school I saw an interview, in which the leader of City Nature Centre, Taina Laaksoharju told about the free nature programs in Lapinlahti. I decided to visit after that, and then I was able to come here as an intern for a couple of months in early spring last year.

After that everything took its own course, and I got a job here. Now I am the one directing interns in the City Nature Centre. I have also progressed to be an environment specialist, and my project at the moment is to get the recycling in Lapinlahti to work in an easy way and to draft instructions for all the facets that are in the house.

The other part of my passion has always been music. I have practised singing at the Conservatory of Music for seven years, as well as performed in concerts organised by the conservatory, and private events.

I got the opportunity to sing in the pre-Christmas party of Lapinlahti, and ideas sprouted from there. Now me and some other musicians gathered a band, and in February 2022 our band, Rytmiraketti, played publicly for the first time at the Lapinlahti Venetsia carnival. At the end of April we performed at Tavastia in a concert for supporting the Lapinlahti foundation, and the atmosphere was amazing!

We are a cover band, but because I also make songs inspired by the Lapinlahti spirit, we are already practising new material. Welcome to get familiar with us and our material at the Samba theme week at Esplanadi park 6th of June at 5 p.m.!

I warmly welcome everyone to the Lapinlahden Lähde City Nature Centre events. During the summer and autumn we are going to have events were you can get to know wild herbs, cook, make natural cosmetic, take trips together in the nature, and a lot of other nice things.

We also gladly accept suggestions about nature-related events. You can find the events at Lähde web page and the Nature Centre’s Facebook.

Original text: Katariina Hillo