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2018
Codefreeze
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Sat Jan 11th - Sat 18th 2025
Kiilopää, Finland
Codefreeze is an unconference with very little structure. Actually, it’s not a conference at all. Codefreeze is a time and place for software craftspeople to meet.

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Codefreeze is an unconference with very little structure. Actually, it’s not a conference at all. Codefreeze is a time and place for software craftspeople to meet. We would like to have likeminded people to gather in one place and have long conversations about our craft over a drink. And to practice our coding skills.

While most sessions happen from Monday to Friday, participants typically spend a full week in Kiilopää to enjoy the amazing winter nature and activities.

Did we mention that this place is above the arctic circle? Which is pretty cool. Or freezingly cold actually.

Suomen Latu Kiilopää Image credit: Suomen Latu Kiiloää

When
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Where
In the beautiful scenes of Kiilopää, Inari,, Finland.

What
A family-friendly 7-day unconference that feels like a vacation.

Suomen Latu Kiilopää Image credit: Suomen Latu Kiiloää

Registration

Participants

Below are some of our participants this year.

Fill out our registration form to add yourself as a participant.

Past Events

Since 2015, Codefreeze has happened every year around January. In 2019 we had about 35 participants plus their family and friends, 40 in 2020, 50 participants in 2023 and around 80 in 2024.

Sessions

To get an idea of what happens at Codefreeze, you can find the conference schedules on Wekan (2025) and Trello (until 2024). Most Codefreeze topics (green) have additional information in links in the cards.

The Trello board is also used for coordinating travel arrangements and planning the next Codefreeze, so it's good to check it out in advance.

Photos

Videos

Blog Posts

Why?

Winter? Really?

Have you ever been coding under the northern lights? Or in a Lapp daylight? Early-mid February is one of the best times to see northern lights in action. It turn out that during our stay in 2024, we have a new moon - which means that if we get lucky with the auroras, there is less other light sources (moon) and the auroras can be seen as more intensive. That also means that the evenings will be way darker than during full moon (like 2023)

We know it might be rather cold. Temperatures down to -25°C are normal at the time of the year. For some clothing tips, see the FAQ.

Smoke sauna?

Being in Lapland in the winter, and one of the most important things is to have a decent sauna. And we do. There's a big enough smoke sauna to have probably up to 25 programmers. And possibility for winter swimming on a relaxing little stream.

Want to relax a bit while coding?

Luckily, nature is at the core of Kiilopää. And not only that, Kiilopää provides daily trips to nearby fells guided by experienced nature guides. For example, there's a snow shoe trip on Wednesday morning.

Accommodation

How to make the reservation?

Book your stay in Kiilopää yourself by email to [email protected] and mention “Codefreeze” for the discount and to get a room/cabin from the reserved slots.

And what does it cost?

The prices include stay

And meals

  • Full board package (breakfast, lunch, dinner) for 365 € / person / week

About the cabins

All cabins are non-smoking; pets are allowed.

Wilderness cabin

Our small but cosy (30 square meters) log cabins are well suited for 2-4 persons. Each cabin has one large room with two bunk beds and a tv-set, kitchen area (fridge, electric stove, microwave oven, coffee maker, set of dishes), sauna/shower, bathroom and a drying cabinet for clothes.

Log cabin

The log cabins are a bit bigger than the wilderness cabins (44 square meters each). A log cabin accommodates max. 2+2 persons. Each cabin has a bedroom (2 x 80 cm beds), living room (with a sofa bed for two - comfortable maybe for 1, fireplace, tv-set) and an open kitchen area (with coffee maker, electric stove, microwave oven, fridge), electric sauna/shower and a bathroom. The dining table seats four. There is also a drying cabinet for clothes and small outdoor storage in the cabin.

About Food

Folks have 2 good options: either

  • book full board that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, or
  • prepare own meals at the cottages.

Please contact the hotel and tell your preferences about vegan / vegetarian / allergies.

What to bring with you:

  • swimming suit / trunk (for the smoke sauna). And if you prefer the german/swiss way to be in Sauna, own towel might be handy
  • a nice and handy backpack, 20-40l (this is very handy for day treks organised by Kiilopää)
  • a bottle of 1l - a thermos would be nice if you have one. Again, for the day treks. For the warm juice to drink.
  • warm clothes, spare gloves, etc.
  • a camera might be good, if we have a chance to see the auroras (Tripod, extra batteries, etc.)
  • cash: not so much - you can use credit card basically for everything in Finland.

For more detailed information on clothes see the FAQ.

Kiilopää: a magical place in Lapland

Kiilopää Fell Center in Lapland is an ideal place to get in touch with the Nordic wilderness. At Kiilopää you can conquer a fell, dip into an ice-cold lake, and ski under the Northern Lights. Or you can just sit back and enjoy the surrounding natural beauty, sense the arctic peace and quiet, and listen to exotic Lapland stories by the fireplace.

Kiilopää is owned by Suomen Latu, the Outdoor Association of Finland. Suomen Latu is a promoter of outdoor activities, an expert in hiking and an organisation which is open to all. The main objective of Suomen Latu has always been to increase Finnish people’s interest in exercise as well as developing possibilities for outdoor, conditioning and recreational exercise. Nowadays guarding everyman’s right has become more and more important.

For more information see the official Kiilopää web site.

How to get here

By plane

The nearest airport is in Ivalo (IVL). Both Finnair and Norwegian flies from Helsinki to Ivalo, if not daily, then almost. There are also some direct flights to Frankfurt, London and other places. Find out about the flight schedule.

For every single flight arriving at Ivalo, there is a bus connection from the Ivalo airport to Kiilopää.

By train

Take the earlier night train from southern Finland to Rovaniemi. From Rovaniemi there is a bus connection from the Rovaniemi railway station to Kiilopää.

Winter Swimming

Winter swimming
Care to try swimming in -1 ºC (water) / -25 ºC (air)

New moon
On Tuesday, there is 'Moon and Stars' snow shoe trek in the night.

Full Moon

Activities

Have you done The Dip?

The Sauna World of Kiilopää is called Kuurakaltio. There are two electric saunas with dressing rooms and showers, as well as a traditional Finnish smoke sauna. There are separate sauna facilities for men and women.

Have you ever been winter swimming? It is an experience when the air temperature is around -20 ºC while the water is -1 ºC. You might want to dip into the refreshing waters of Kiilopuro fell brook. And if feeling really crazy, why not to take a fresh start in the morning?

During Codefreeze, the smoke sauna is heated on some weekdays (check from Kiilopää), and on Monday we have a private sauna for the evening.

More information about the smoke sauna in Kiilopää.

Spending some time at Kiilopää?

As folks found out on Codefreeze 2015, the scenery is beautiful and there are a lot of interesting things to do, outside the realms of talking software. Suomen Latu Kiilopää organizes amazing safaris for all guests, for example

Searching for Northern Lights

a guided trip with snow shoes to nearby fells in the late evening to see the fantastic Aurora Borealis.

On a Reindeer Trek

A reindeer caravan has been harnessed for you in the reindeer yard ready for your journey into the silent wilderness. Guided by an original Sámi reindeer herder, you will drive your own reindeer along the journey. The reindeer will take you across the enchanting snowy white scenery. The frost glistens like diamonds on the shoulders of the pine trees. You sit warmly and comfortably on reindeer skins in a sleigh. Reindeer bells gently ring as their hooves crunch through the snow. When the reindeer caravan returns to the yard, the experience of a warm “kota” awaits you. Enjoy some hot drink while a reindeer herder gladly tells you stories of his life in the wilds of Lapland. Transfer to and from reindeer farm.

Searching for Northern Lights on a Reindeer Trek

Reindeer caravan will take you in to the woods. Moon and stars will guide your way and the silence of wilderness will around you. Hot drinks and stories about reindeer in the kota after the sleigh ride. Transfer to and from reindeer farm.

And More

  • Husky Safaris
  • Snowmobile Safari to Wilderness
  • Aurora Borealis Safari by Snowmobiles
  • Fishing Experience by Snowmobile
  • Snowmobile Safari to Reindeer Farm

For more information about the safaris, including prices, see the brochure here or visit the official website.

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Credits

These values are inspired by SoCraTes Germany https://socrates-conference.de/values.

Further Questions?

Feel invited to contact us via our details listed below

Signed, The volunteers

Follow @[email protected] on Mastodon.