Tips and Instructions

The fantastic first summer of park treasures officially ends on August 1st, 2018! Update: Some treasures can still be found in August, see the detailed list below.

However, it is possible that at least some of the park treasures could be searchable in August as well, as many have hoped. This is currently being clarified with the treasure maintainers. Any August park treasures will be updated to the Tips and Instructions page as soon as possible. A feedback and development survey for the treasures will also be opened in the coming days. There may also be a closing event for the treasures at the Night of the Arts (uncertain still).

Thank you at this stage for the wonderful adventure!

Park treasures searchable in August 2018 (list will be updated):

  • Design Museum and Architecture Museum summer courtyard (Ullanlinnankatu 2-4)
    • Park treasure in place until August 31st, 2018.
    • My home is in the museums' courtyard. Adventure around the yard and peek into the middle planting box. Strawberries and pumpkins grow around me.
  • Korkeasaari Zoo
    • Park treasure in place until August 31st, 2018.
    • NOTE! Finding this park treasure requires a zoo entrance fee.
    • Treasure location in Korkeasaari: Your first task is to find a shipwrecked ship on the island, from near which you can dig up the treasure.
    • Tip for finding the treasure: Near the Pirate's Booth you will find a black and large chest, inside which there is treasure for you.
  • Playground Herttoniemi
    • Park treasure in place until August 31st, 2018.
    • In the summer when the sun warms, the pool water will cool you down, there are two doors beside it, when you stretch your gaze you get a "squirrel-like" flax.
  • Playground Myllynsiipi
    • Park treasure in place until August 31st, 2018.
    • Big steps lead to the upper terrace, hopefully you won't meet any giants there. Walk on the sandy path, don't close your eyes. When you look up from very low, something red will also flicker there.
  • Playground Nurkka
    • Park treasure is in place until August 24th, 2018.
    • It's hidden in the forest, inside an old stump.
  • Playground Piika
    • Park treasure is in place until August 8th, 2018.
    • Fly, fly ladybug to the roots of a big stone.
  • Playground Seppä
    • Park treasure in place until August 31st, 2018.
    • In winter my leaves left, but in summer I turn green. Squirrels love me, because they get pinecones from my branches.
  • Playground Taivallahti
    • Park treasure is in place until August 8th, 2018.
    • This has already been removed from its original use. If it got a hole or burst, it would need to be replaced or patched.
  • Playground Tractor
    • Park treasure is in place until August 31st, 2018.
    • Look, in the spruce's shelter under the branches, there's a small nest for a squirrel. Its young ones play there and eat seeds on top of the park treasure.
  • Mustapuro playground (park treasure maintained by a volunteer parent)
    • Park treasure is in place until August 31st, 2018.
    • These four brothers don't roll - they have a steady style. You'll find the brothers behind the Sahara.
    • Behind Sahara four brothers stand. They stand still only - nowhere do they go.
  • Tori Quarters Central Park (Katariinankatu 2/ Sofiankatu 1/ Aleksanterinkatu 22)
    • Park treasure is in place until August 31st, 2018.
    • Pull the lion by its tail!
  • ESPOO: Children's Cultural Center Pikku-Aurora/ Träskändan Park (Träskändänristi 4, 02940 Espoo)
    • Park treasure is in place until August 31st, 2018.
    • Pikku-Aurora is participating in Park Treasure hunting, but the cultural center's own yard is reserved for excavator buzzing this summer. Espoo's first park treasure can be found next door in Träskändan Park.
    • Tip to the treasure: Step down from the terrace of Träskändan's old manor to the formal garden. Walk past the garden smelling the flowers. Cross the lawn to the right towards the river and bridge, but don't cross the path, stop by the big giants. Peek deep into the back of the one-legged giant's lap.
 

But what exactly is a Park Treasure? A park treasure is a kind of children’s geocache, treasure hidden in a pre-announced area. A park treasure differs from a geocache in that you don’t need a phone or coordinates to find it, just sharp eyes: you can only find the treasure using verbal clues. In the summer of 2018, park treasures can be found in several Helsinki city playgrounds and a few other places in downtown Helsinki. The first clues to Park Treasures were published on Helsinki Day, June 12th, 2018 at 8 am. Treasures can be searched until early August, unless otherwise stated. More information about Park Treasures and the ideas behind the adventure can be found here and in Helsinki city news.

If you wish, you can share experiences and photos, tell about your adventures and give feedback on the project, for example on social media using the following hashtags: #puistopiilo #pientenhelsinki #leikkipuistot. An event invitation has also been created on Facebook and the Small Helsinki Facebook page follows the project closely throughout.

Questions, feedback and for example reporting a broken or missing treasure can also be sent by email to [email protected].

Guide to Finding a Park Treasure:

  1. Read the clue carefully before searching: Park treasure clues can be found on the notice boards of the associated playgrounds and at www.pientenhelsinki.fi/puistopiilo. Off you go searching!
  2. Park treasures are located in playground areas outdoors, in natural places – not, for example, in play equipment or buildings.
  3. When faced with challenges, it's always a good idea to ask for help from, for example, playground staff (weekdays 9 am-4 pm) or join another search group.
  4. When you find the Park Treasure, you can jump with joy, but remember to do it secretly because someone else might still be searching for the same treasure ;)
  5. You should find a notebook and pencil in the treasure box, where we hope you'll leave your own greeting; it can be your name, a poem, a story or even a drawing – anything! It's nice if you also remember to add the date.
  6. When you're done, please close the treasure box carefully and hide the box again in the same place where you found it, because other adventurers want to find this Park Treasure too.
  7. Wonderful, you are now Park Treasure finders, awesome people! It's nice that you're adventuring in Helsinki! More treasures and new clues can be found on the Small Helsinki Park Treasures page at www.pientenhelsinki.fi/puistopiilo.
  8. Now you can sneak quietly away from the park treasure and go explore all the fun things this playground has to offer!
 

www.pientenhelsinki.fi/puistopiilo

[caption id="attachment_4658" align="aligncenter" width="339"]Park Treasure is a collaboration project between Small Helsinki and Helsinki city's playground activities. Park Treasure is a collaboration project between Small Helsinki and Helsinki city's playground activities.[/caption]

Park treasure locations and clues in summer 2018 (27 park treasures)

Park treasure locations on map

  • Design Museum and Architecture Museum summer courtyard (Ullanlinnankatu 2-4)
    • My home is in the museums' courtyard. Adventure around the yard and peek into the middle planting box. Strawberries and pumpkins grow around me.
  • Korkeasaari Zoo (NOTE! Finding this park treasure requires a zoo entrance fee)
    • Treasure location in Korkeasaari: Your first task is to find a shipwrecked ship on the island, from near which you can dig up the treasure.
    • Tip for finding the treasure: Near the Pirate's Booth you will find a black and large chest, inside which there is treasure for you.
  • Playground Arabia
    • At Christmas there would be gifts there, now there's some other surprise.
  • Playground Filpus PARK TREASURE MISSING
    • It is slow on land, fast and smooth in water. It prefers to be near water.
  • Playground Herttoniemi
    • In the summer when the sun warms, the pool water will cool you down, there are two doors beside it, when you stretch your gaze you get a "squirrel-like" flax.
  • Playground Hilleri
    • A colorful cat peeks at what the rabbit next to it is doing. The rabbit hides the park treasure in its den. (Additional tip: look for a cat on the grounds and peek from the cat's eye at which direction it is looking NEXT TO IT. The rabbit's den can be found from there.)
  • Playground Intia
    • Climb the hill to look out over the forest. Below the big roots awaits your treasure.
  • Playground Iso-Antti
    • From the info board 173 degrees south, 52 steps. Watch out for spikes!
  • Playground Jakomäki
    • 1) Start from the info board and gaze away from the building towards the coniferous forest 2) Adventure through the forest in the same direction until you reach the edges of the park 3) Examine the undergrowth and bushes looking for a red treasure box hidden among the leaves
  • Playground Kesanto
    • Where there's a celebration "Anna" tree growing and a flag flying. In the depths of the lilac bush in a quiet place hidden by a stone wall. From there the park treasure will be revealed.
  • Playground Kurranummi
    • Summer Thursdays the songs ring out there, search and look, do you feel the magic of the Park Treasure.
  • Playground Linnunrata
    • Next to the gate, under the barn, is a gnome's burrow and a white rope.
  • Playground Maunula Note! The Maunula park treasure can only be found during playground opening hours!
    • Glide on a tile to Rospuutto. Look for the flying squirrel's nest box!
  • Playground Mellunmäki
    • From the info board go to the two bears 28 adult steps. Go to the red elephant 29 adult steps. Go to the bench next to the sandbox 9 adult steps. Turn towards the forest.
  • Mustapuro playground (park treasure maintained by a volunteer parent)
    • These four brothers don't roll - they have a steady style. You'll find the brothers behind the Sahara.
    • Behind Sahara four brothers stand. They stand still only - nowhere do they go.
  • Playground Myllynsiipi
    • Big steps lead to the upper terrace, hopefully you won't meet any giants there. Walk on the sandy path, don't close your eyes. When you look up from very low, something red will also flicker there.
  • Playground Mäkitorppa
    • From a small sailboat's deck, you can peer with a telescope. When you look in the direction of the tree, you notice that among the leaves a bird house lurks. There's treasure hidden in the bird house!
  • Playground Nurkka
    • It's hidden in the forest, inside an old stump.
  • Playground Piika
    • Fly, fly ladybug to the roots of a big stone.
  • Playground Ruoholahti
    • In the shadows of the bush glimmers a gleam of metal. If you lift your head a little you might see it. But where might the bush be? It's a playground for little ones, small feet running about.
  • Playground Sanna PARK TREASURE MISSING
    • Climb the rock and look for two trees hugging each other. They will definitely show you the treasure.
  • Playground Seppä
    • In winter my leaves left, but in summer I turn green. Squirrels love me, because they get pinecones from my branches.
  • Playground Taivallahti
    • This has already been removed from its original use. If it got a hole or burst, it would need to be replaced or patched.
  • Playground Tractor
    • Look, in the spruce's shelter under the branches, there's a small nest for a squirrel. Its young ones play there and eat seeds on top of the park treasure.
  • Playground Tullinpuomi (park treasure maintained by a volunteer parent)
    • Does hay tickle the fur of a mink-like animal? No, it definitely protects something!
  • Playground Viiri (park treasure maintained by a volunteer parent)
    • When you find something that also blooms in winter in the playground, peek behind it secretly and hug the park treasure.
  • Playground Vähätupa
    • 1) Go to the cuckoo clock pole: Take 6.5 adult steps behind the cuckoo's home to the top of the hill, towards the walking bridge. Memorize where you ended up. 2) Go to the nearest lamp post, take 11.5 adult steps from the lamp post towards the big birch tree. You've ended up near the previous spot. Don't go into the forest. 3) Take another 19.5 adult steps from the spider web's center pole towards the big old birch tree. Don't go into the forest. DID YOU END UP AT THE SAME SPOT? Now dig from there!
  • Tori Quarters Central Park (Katariinankatu 2/ Sofiankatu 1/ Aleksanterinkatu 22
    • Pull the lion by its tail!
ESPOO:
  • Children's Cultural Center Pikku-Aurora/ Träskändan Park (Träskändänristi 4, 02940 Espoo)
    • Pikku-Aurora is participating in Park Treasure hunting, but the cultural center's own yard is reserved for excavator buzzing this summer. Espoo's first park treasure can be found next door in Träskändan Park.
    • Tip to the treasure: Step down from the terrace of Träskändan's old manor to the formal garden. Walk past the garden smelling the flowers. Cross the lawn to the right towards the river and bridge, but don't cross the path, stop by the big giants. Peek deep into the back of the one-legged giant's lap.