By Laura Standel
School’s out and summer is here! For many kids, that also means summer camps. Personally, I loved going to summer camp when I was younger, but it wasn’t until I was much older that I learned of the Concordia Language Villages. Deep in the North Woods of Minnesota, over 867 acres, Concordia College puts on outdoor summer camps for kids, adults, and families, all about learning languages.
The camps are set up as villages full of cultural activities and lessons. A camper can be a complete beginner in the language or already have some skills. The camps offer 14 different languages to choose from, including: Arabic, Chinese, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish.
Activities put on by the multicultural staff include archery, woodworking, water activities in various lakes, and many other cultural-based arts, music, and crafts. The camp is conducted entirely in the target language, from conversations at meals to evening campfire songs and everything in between. Their mission is “to create a place that is both culturally authentic and uniquely our own. In the Language Villages, everything from the music played to the dishes used in the dining hall reflects the culture each was designed to represent. Immerse yourself in the world of a native speaker, where you can truly learn to live a language, not just speak it.”
These camps are not just limited to kids, but there are times for just adults and families too! This way you can continue to go to summer camp while growing your language skills! Prices depend on which session you choose, but scholarships are available. Some of the sessions start in the spring while others stretch late into the fall, so be sure to check the times for whichever you are interested in to be sure you don’t miss the deadline.
The organization’s website states, “We build a positive, supportive community of learners where anyone – regardless of proficiency – can benefit from our language and cultural immersion experience. No other educational institution in the United States provides the level of cultural context the Concordia Language Villages offers our participants. Our programs are rigorous, fun, intentional and time-tested. The CLV way of immersion brings our mission of inspiring courageous global citizens to life.”
Sources
Concordia Language Villages. https://www.concordialanguagevillages.org/. Accessed 27 July 2024.
“Concordia Language Villages – Bemidji, MN.” Yelp, https://www.yelp.com/biz/concordia-language-villages-bemidji. Accessed 27 July 2024.