Winter Lake

“My friends can’t believe I go camping in winter. They think it’s crazy.” But 13-year-old Emika loves it. It’s just as beautiful as in summertime. “You just need a good tent and sleeping bag, and warm clothes.” Every school vacation she and her cousin Antti, who is kind of like a big brother to Emika, go to the vast Saimaa Lake, an amazing nature reserve in Finland with thousands of islands.

You only have to see the magical frozen lake, the woodpecker in the snowy woods, the fish beneath the ice, the starry sky, and the Northern Lights to understand why Emika and Antti keep coming back here. They romp in the snow, roast self-caught fish in front of the tent, get tingles in their fingers from the cold, chat about a secretive seal and life on distant planets, and inspect the messages on Emika’s phone. Told from her own perspective, Winter Lake allows us to really share her experiences and connection with nature.