The Kuopio Naturalists’ Society (KLYY) was established in December 1896. It is one of the oldest scientific societies in Finland and a local representative of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (Suomen luonnonsuojeluliitto, SLL). The object of the Society is to promote conservation of nature and to support scientific research in wide sense. Several excursions to the surrounding nature are organised yearly. KLYY also grants scholarships from its funds. Regular meetings of the society and its different sections take place at the Kuopio Museum which is under renovation until 2021. The Natural History Department of the Museum was founded by the society. Certain activities of the society are organised through different sections that are devoted to fields such as ornithology, mycology, astronomy and mathematics.