Drum course in ancient Jänissaari 6-7 September 2025

Drum course in Jänissaari 6.-7.9.2025

Location: Möhkö, Ilomantsi and Nuorajärvi Jänissaari.

Group size: 6-8 people.

In collaboration with: Mantan Majatalo, Mantan Nature Services and Louhen polku

The ancient hongas tell their stories as the wind plays in their branches.

The sky is dotted with burning stars. The campfire creates light in the fading evening.

It's quiet, you only hear nature.

We offer you the opportunity to make your dream of a homemade drum come true. So come along on this unique drum-making trip to the ancient Jänissaari in Nuorajärvi. The trip begins with a riverboat trip, during which you can let go of the hustle and bustle of everyday life and feel how the breeze on your face clears your mind of everything unnecessary. During the course, we will enjoy the beauty of the beginning of autumn, from which you can also find inspiration for the color of your drum head if you wish. The drums are made at the Manta Nature Services nature camp in Jänissaari, which has been inhabited since the Stone Age.

We gather in a hut by the campfire to begin the drum making journey, during which everyone can descend into the magic of drum making and the peace of nature. We dip the drum skins in the waves of Lake Nuorajärvi, letting the water wash away everything unnecessary, creating space for the new and the colors of life. We make the drum in the shade of magnificent old pine trees and in the hut with a fire dancing in the middle of our circle. On Saturday evening, we get to wrap ourselves in the velvety black cloak of the September night to listen to the eternal sound of the drum, while we felt the drumsticks for the drums by the evening campfire.

We make the heads of the drums created during the course from reindeer hide. If you wish, you can dye the drum skin with batik dye, leave it natural or paint the pattern you want on the drum skin later when the drum has dried. The drum frame is made of birch and we make the bindings from leather. You can make a small travel drum or a larger drum, both have a wonderful rubbery sound and each drum has its own story to tell.

Accommodation takes place in the Jänissaari camp in the countryside in tent accommodation, which is equipped with a yurt tent, a spacious hut and a puucee. Mantan Nature Services will provide all the necessary equipment for accommodation. All you need to bring is your personal equipment. The people of Mantan Nature Services will also take care of the food, offering delicious wild dishes, which are prepared in the hut by the fire. Meals are flexible and take place during the rest of the program, as a natural part of the whole.

We start Sunday morning with a common circle and meditation, after which we continue making the drums. At the end of the day, everyone will have a wonderful, unique handmade drum to take home and a rested mind. On Sunday, early in the evening, we will return to Möhkö by riverboat, where we will gather for departure coffees in the Lanssi hall of Mantan Majatalo, before the journey home.

On Saturday morning, we will start well in advance at 9:00, and on Sunday, the day will certainly stretch until the afternoon, so if the course participants want to stay before the course starts or stay overnight after the course ends, this is possible with a separate agreement in the comfortable apartments of Mantan Majatalo. However, remember to mention this when making a reservation, so we can keep the apartments reserved for the course participants.

The drum mother of the course is Jaana Louhelainen, Louhen Akka, who is a North Karelian natural and energy healer, drum maker and drumming teacher. Drums are much more than just musical instruments for her – they are ancient sounds that resonate deep in the heart and lead to a path where the wisdom of the heart and the senses go hand in hand.

Jaana's first drum was born in 2013 in Valtimo, in the heartbeat of the artery of Mother Earth. It was not just a drum – it was a deep vibration that awakened memories of past times in her and opened a gateway to connection with nature and spiritual beings. Drums are for her paths that lead to the heart and take us deeper into ourselves and the secrets of the world.

The Path of the Quarry began in 2016, but its roots reach deep into Jaana's life. Her journey with the drum has been like a path through the forest, revealing new vistas and secrets. On this path, where work, hobby and life merge into one, Jaana wants to share the wisdom and strength she has gained with others.

For Jaana, making with her hands is a mystical spell that takes us to ancient times, far beyond the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Making and playing a drum is like magic, where hands weave together the forces of nature and ancient secrets. When we shape a drum or let its sound rise, we create a connection between the earth and the sky, we call forth spiritual beings and protectors who walk with us. In this way, the heart hears, the soul rests and the mind wanders in a timeless space where there is no rush, no boundaries – only a sacred connection to the rhythms of the universe.

Photos of the drums made by Jaana and her course participants can be found on Louhen polu’s Facebook page or on Instagram @louhelainenjaana.

The hostess of Mantan Inn and Mantan Nature Services, Tuija Lauronen, welcomes the guests

“We want our guests to feel at home and can focus on enjoying the creation of the drums and other course offerings without a trace of worry, we take care of everything else. It’s wonderful that we found Jaana from Louhen polu as our partner and that we can still be involved in implementing these great courses. We warmly welcome the course participants!

Jänissaari camp offers a great setting for this course and I hope that each participant will take with them a touch of the magical peace of the island that surrounds me every time I get to go to the island."

Course price €525.00 (incl. VAT 14-25.5%)

The Louhen polun share is €280.00, including a large or small drum hoop, reindeer skin from which we make the drum head and bindings, the colors we use in making the drum, teaching and guidance, and VAT 25.5%.

The Mantan Majatalo share is €245.00, including riverboat transportation, guide services, accommodation and equipment needed for field accommodation, towels, meals included in the program, space rentals, and VAT 14-25.5%.

More information and registration

Registrations by 15.8.2025by Tuija by email mohkonmanta@luukku.com or by phone 040 8616 373. Tuija can provide you with additional information about Jänissaari, accommodation, equipment, meals or other practical matters related to the course. You will receive a response within a few days, letting you know that your registration has been received.

After the registration period has ended, course participants will receive a course letter by email. The course will take place if there are at least 6 participants.

If you have any questions about the course content or how to make a drum, you can reach Jaana by email at jaana.louhelainen@gmail.com or by phone at 050 3573373.

Other things to note: Before registering, please read our reservation and cancellation terms. Our operators have valid liability insurance, but we have not insured course participants against accidents. So please make sure you have the insurance coverage you consider sufficient.

At other times, you can inquire about a similar course for your group.