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Are you ready for adventure?
New students at the University of Helsinki get to embark on the greatest adventure of their autumn and learn about the operation of HYY, student organisations, the University and other parties that make student life easier through diverse checkpoints. The competition is team-based. Get ready to experience one of the most memorable events you will take part in during your studies!
The next Fresher Adventure will be held on Thursday 17 September 2026.
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For adventurers
Team registration
Participation in the Fresher Adventure is team-based, and team size is 5–12 people. Teams must consist of new students of the University of Helsinki and may also include tutors. Participation in the adventure is free for everyone.
Information needed for the sign-up form for teams includes the following:
- Team name
- Team members’ faculty
- Team size
- Team language
- Team captain and their contact details
- Adventurers’ names
Team registration is open 1–14 September!
Individual registration
Would you like to join the Fresher Adventure but do not have a team of your own yet? No worries!
You can sign up for the Fresher Adventure even without a team. We will form a team consisting of people who have signed up individually if there are enough individual registrations to fill up at least one team. Do not miss out on the adventure even if you do not have your own team ready to go!
Individual registration is open 1–10 September!
For checkpoint hosts
Sign up as checkpoint host!
What makes your organisation unique? Now is the time to show everyone! By hosting a checkpoint, you will get to introduce new students to your organisation’s activities in an easy, fun and memorable way.
Registration for checkpoint hosts ends at 11.59 pm on 16 August 2026
Information needed for the sign-up form includes the following:
- Contact person for the checkpoint
- Number of potential spots for completing the task
- Short description of the checkpoint (160 characters including spaces) for the Fresher Adventure app
Checklist for organisations planning a checkpoint
All checkpoints must fulfil certain requirements to make the Fresher Adventure as safe, fair, smoothly functioning and fun as possible:
- The checkpoint task does not include alcohol or forcing or humiliating the participants.
- Instructions for the checkpoint task can be given and the task completed in around 10 minutes.
- The checkpoint has at least two spots for completing the task so that two teams can complete the task at the same time.
- The checkpoint must be open from 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm.
- The checkpoint can also be completed in English.
- Checkpoint hosts are able to tally the teams’ points electronically (in other words, they have an internet connection and a smartphone, tablet or computer at their disposal).
Teams tour a lot of checkpoints, which means that an interesting checkpoint description and fun activities will attract visitors. You should keep the following in mind when planning your checkpoint:
- The checkpoint provides activities and allows the entire team (5–12 people) to participate in the checkpoint task.
- If your checkpoint features mölkky, Alias or tandem skis, try to come up with some kind of a surprise twist for it. These games are all often-used checkpoint ideas!
- We encourage you to also invest in signs near the checkpoint and activities for the people queuing for the checkpoint!
If planning a checkpoint feels difficult, you can ask for tips from fuksiseikkailu[at]hyy.fi.
For volunteers
Become a volunteer!
Would you like to help us welcome new students to the University community while also gaining valuable experience in one of the largest student events in Finland? Become a volunteer in the Fresher Adventure!
To ensure the adventurers get to experience as successful a Fresher Adventure as possible, we are looking for volunteers to help us with the following duties:
- Help with registration for adventurers at the start area at the Kansalaistori square
- Support for adventurers
- Checkpoint area managers to tour the checkpoint areas
- Help with the activities at our dazzling afterparty
The application period for volunteers is open 3 August–6 September!
What do I get for serving as a volunteer?
The volunteers will get free entry to the Fresher Adventure afterparty as well as a meal and a special Fresher Adventure overall badge. Any volunteer who wants a volunteering certificate will also get one.
Shifts during the day last a maximum of around 5 hours, and no-one will have to work past midnight. The volunteer duties also include one orientation session that lasts a few hours.
The Fresher Adventure Afterparty
The Fresher Adventure culminates in the best party of the autumn!
The most cross-disciplinary dance floor of the autumn will ensure that the atmosphere heats up as soon as the doors open at Apollo.
The distinguished winners of the Fresher Adventure will be announced and the prizes awarded on stage at 11 pm. At midnight, Jaakko Kulta will take the stage.
You can also participate in the ‘afterparty master’ contest, with a gorgeous, unique overall badge as the prize.
Tickets to the afterparty will be sold on Kide.app starting from 2 pm on 4 September.
Schedule and instructions
Schedule of the Fresher Adventure
Schedule of the Fresher Adventure on 17 September 2026
- 2.00–5.00 pm: Team registration open at the Kansalaistori square
- 2.00–5.00 pm: Best team costume contest photo wall open at the Kansalaistori square
- 4.00–8.00 pm: Checkpoints open all around the city
- 10.00 pm: Afterparty at Apollo
- 11.00 pm: Award ceremony for the winners at Apollo
- 12.00 midnight: Surprise artist performs live at Apollo
The costume contest ends at 3.00 pm on 18 September!
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The Fresher Adventure will have a web app in use, collecting all the information adventurers need into one place. The app features all the checkpoints and checkpoint descriptions of the adventure by area as well as a map, the schedule and the rules of the Fresher Adventure.
We recommend that you plan which checkpoints to visit in advance. You can also use the app to mark checkpoints as favourites on each checkpoint’s own page.
The updated app will be published in September. The app is available in Finnish and English.
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- Teams may not split up into several groups to complete checkpoints simultaneously.
- Teams must complete a minimum of five checkpoints.
- Teams have been given an obligatory starting checkpoint, which will be revealed to them at the start.
- Teams must complete checkpoints in a minimum of three different checkpoint areas.
- Some of the checkpoint areas provide teams with additional points. The additional points are only awarded once for each area.
- We will publish one photo of each team participating in the costume contest. HYY reserves the right not to publish photos that are not in good taste, constitute marketing or contain content produced by third parties.
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If you encounter a problem situation during the adventure (3–9 pm), you can always call this number: TBA
Persons in charge of event safety at the Fresher Adventure:
- TBA
First aid at the start area:
- TBA
General safety at the start area:
- TBA
Persons in charge of event safety at the Fresher Adventure Afterparty:
- TBA
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The three teams with the highest scores will be rewarded with giftcards to UniSport!
Captains of the winning teams will be contacted after 8 pm – please keep an eye on your phones! The winners will be awarded their prizes at the Fresher Adventure afterparty.
We also advise you to invest in your costumes, as the best team costume will be rewarded!
Participate in the costume contest by having your team’s photo taken at the photo wall at the Kansalaistori square between 2 and 5 pm on the day of the event. The photos will be published on a separate website, with a link to it sent to team captains after the checkpoints close. The team to receive the most likes by 3 pm on 18 September will win the public vote.
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Video- and photographers will be present at the event. You can identify the event’s official photographers by their dark blue vests.
The photos and videos will be used in HYY’s communication and marketing. If you do not want to be seen in the photos, please inform the photographer directly and avoid posing for the camera if possible. You can also contact us by email at some[at]hyy.fi.
Photos from the event will be published on HYY’s Flickr account after the event. If you have any questions about the photos, please contact us by email at some[at]hyy.fi.
Team photos will be published in the Fresher Adventure app.
Please note that the event may also be photographed by other parties than the organisers, such as passers-by, the media or other parties.
Event safety
How do we ensure that the adventure is as safe as possible?
We want to ensure that the Fresher Adventure is a fun, memorable event for all participants. That is why we pay attention to safety at the event in many different ways.
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Principles of safer space
HYY’s principles of safer space are in effect at the Fresher Adventure.
At HYY’s events, you can participate in discussions and activities without fear of inappropriate treatment or harassment. Safe space is created in the interaction between people, and each one of us is responsible for this.
Check out HYY’s principles of safer space
- Treat other people in a civil, respectful manner and appreciate their work contributions.
- When giving feedback, focus on giving constructive feedback.
- Try to identify the assumptions you make and to take the diversity of people into account.
- There is no room for violence, harassment, racism or discriminatory behaviour or language in HYY.
- Respect the bodily and mental integrity of other people as well as the boundaries they have set for themselves.
- In discussions, ensure that everyone gets heard and is able to participate.
- Deal with delicate subjects respectfully.
- Recognise your own privileges.
- If you violate the principles of safer space or if someone points out that you have done so, apologise.
- Take action against any discrimination you witness or offer your support to the people who encounter discrimination.
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Persons in charge of event safety
If you observe any shortcomings related to safety or encounter inappropriate behaviour at the event, you can contact the persons in charge of event safety appointed for the event.
You can reach the persons in charge of event safety throughout the event.
Persons in charge of event safety at the Fresher Adventure:
- TBA
First aid at the start area:
- TBA
General safety at the start area:
- TBA
Persons in charge of event safety at the Fresher Adventure Afterparty:
- TBA
You can also report any problems or misconduct you encounter later using HYY’s general form for reporting problems and misconduct. Your report will be processed confidentially by a team consisting of members of HYY’s personnel. The team provides advice on themes related to legal protection, equality, discrimination and harassment, for instance. We will respond to your report within five working days.
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Videos and photography
Video- and photographers will be present at the event. You can identify the event’s official photographers by their dark blue vests.
The photos and videos will be used in HYY’s communication and marketing. If you do not want to be seen in the photos, please inform the photographer directly and avoid posing for the camera if possible. You can also contact us by email at some[at]hyy.fi.
Photos from the event will be published on HYY’s Flickr account after the event. If you have any questions about the photos, please contact us by email at some[at]hyy.fi.
Team photos will be published in the Fresher Adventure app.
Please note that the event may also be photographed by other parties than the organisers, such as passers-by, the media or other parties.
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Accessibility
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We are updating the event’s accessibility information
Please note that the information below is not yet up to date for the 2026 Fresher Adventure. The accessibility description will be updated in August 2026.
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Accessibility at the event
Further information on the accessibility of the event area will be provided by request. You can contact us by sending email to fuksiseikkailu@hyy.fi.
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Participating in the event
The event requires participants to sign up separately using a Lyyti form. The event does not have an entrance fee.
Assistants and interpreters can join the event for free. The event organiser does not provide interpretation for the event. Please inform the event organiser about a possible assistant or interpreter before the event to help us ensure as smooth participation in the event as possible.
You can bring an assistance or guide dog to the event.
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Principles of safer space
At HYY’s events, you can participate in discussions and activities without fear of inappropriate treatment or harassment. Safe space is created in the interaction between people, and each one of us is responsible for this.
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Language of the event
The official instructions and speeches at the event are issued in Finnish, Swedish and English. The event app is available in Finnish and English. You can participate in the event in Finnish, Swedish and English, but some checkpoints might not be able to offer participation in more than one of the aforementioned official languages of the event.
The event organiser does not provide interpretation for the event. Assistants and interpreters can join the event for free. Please inform the event organiser about a possible assistant or interpreter before the event to help us ensure as smooth participation in the event as possible.
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Arriving at the event
The event’s start area is located at the Kansalaistori square (at Alvar Aallon katu, 00100 Helsinki). We recommend arriving at the start area by foot, bike or public transport if possible.
The location has good public transport connections from the Helsinki central railway station, for instance, where you can arrive by commuter train, bus, metro or tram. Read more about the accessibility of public transport on HSL’s website.
Car access to the area is through Eero Erkon katu. The drop-off area is located near the entrance to Oodi (at Töölönlahdenkatu 4, 00100 Helsinki).
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Physical restrictions at the event area
The event is organised in several different outdoor areas and in several different buildings. The exact locations of the checkpoints are listed in the official app for the event. The checkpoint hosts provide an assessment of the level of accessibility at their checkpoints. If you have any questions about the accessibility of checkpoints, you can contact the event organiser.
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Further information on accessibility at the event
By email at fuksiseikkailu@hyy.fi or
Aleksi von Hintze, producer
aleksi.vonhintze@hyy.fi, 050 477 1782
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FAQ – Frequently asked questions
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Do you have a question you have not found an answer for?
No worries! We have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions and the answers to them below.
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It is possible to participate in the Fresher Adventure without having your own team. Through individual registration, individidual adventurers will be sorted into teams before the event. Please note that by signing up as an individual adventurer, you accept that your contact details can be shared with other people who sign up for the event to make it possible for the teams to function.
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Eating and drinking your own refreshments is permitted while moving from one checkpoint to another.
However, eating or drinking your own refreshments is not desirable while completing tasks. Checkpoint performances are completely alcohol-free. If a team violates this rule, the organisers have the right to remove the team from the event. This also applies to the checkpoint hosts.
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Fresher Adventure overall badges will be distributed to all participants of the event. The badges are inside the envelope given to you at the start area.
If you lose your overall badge or did not get one for some reason, you can inquire about a badge from HYY’s Services Office after the event. However, please note that extra overall badges might not be available.
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Information on rushes is distributed in real time through the news and the ‘checkpoints’ page of the Fresher Adventure app. Keep an eye on the app to avoid the queues!
There are as many as 3,000 students participating in the event, which means that queues may form both in registration and at checkpoints. Please arrive at the registration early and be patient!
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During the Adventure, teams tour the checkpoints of student organisations, the University and our cooperation partners all around Helsinki. The checkpoints are open from 4 to 8 pm. The descriptions and addresses of the checkpoints can be found in the Fresher Adventure app along with a map of all checkpoint areas.
At each checkpoint, the teams are awarded points for their performance. Teams should first state their team number to the checkpoint hosts at the checkpoints. The checkpoint hosts award the points electronically, which means that teams do not have to mark down their own scores. Each checkpoint is scored on a scale from 1 to 5. Scoring is influenced by team spirit and completing the tasks as a group.
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Do you still have questions?
If you did not find an answer to your question, please contact the organisers of the Fresher Adventure! You can reach our entire team by email at fuksiseikkailu[at]hyy.fi.
In urgent matters, you can contact the people in charge of organising the event. Their contact details are listed below.
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