The summer program at the Concordia Swedish Language Village (CLV) is filled with major holidays regardless of the time of year. And besides the celebrating, of course there are two language lessons each day, simulations, games and Swedish meals. International Day (I-day) also occurs with other villages that are in session at the same time.
ByValorie Arrowsmith For more info, see www.concordialanguagevillages.org
Song lyrics are easy to read during the daily Allsång. Cabin groups, language classes and staff all take turns to teach new songs. Here, Gunnar and Britta teach the difference between att gå and att åka (to walk and to travel). Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
Language lessons included reading, writing, speaking and listening activities. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
During Jul, the tomte from the vävstuga received risgrynsgröt to help appease her, in the hopes that all the warp threads would do their jobs properly on the looms. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith
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The newest Sjölunden T-shirt celebrates the camp’s 40th year. Here participants and staff wait to get their face painted at I-day. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith. ENLARGE IMAGE »
Swedish teenagers are getting more future oriented and thus less rowdy, according to new statistics. High school students walk in pairs through the woods on their way to Studenten. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
I-day includes a plethora of activities and in this one there is a song exchange with the Spanish and Arabic villages. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
Amanda learned to weave while at camp, and made herself a blue and white pillow case. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
Moa Sverker exhibited her fine dry felting creation at the I-day art show. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
Younger learners wait with posters of high schoolers who will graduate from their four-week accredited language program. A traditional graduation meal, or gask, was next on the program. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
The dining hall was full to overflowing at the celebration of the library dedication. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
A very long train of Midsommar dancers make their way over and under and over and under to reach the pole, then they raise it before dancing around it. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
Guests and former staff returned for a Midsummer celebration that was also the day to dedicate the new library. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
There are lots of song games as part of the raising of Midsommar pole festivities. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
Gabriella ties off her weaving before she sews it into a purse. She took weaving class for a week and learned to make this. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
Mat Presentation occurs at lunch and dinner each day. A costumed improvisation helps learners know what kind of food is on the menu. Here Elin and Daniel found some sort of solution to their problem with “Vatten.” Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
While Gösta and Håkon were not so excited about sweeping the stairs, Olof and Hanna found a way to work together to get the job done quickly. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
High school students get one free weekend during their four-week study. At this time they go into Bemidji, wash clothes at the laundromat, then eat in town and find some other fun activities to do. Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox are part of the tradition. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
Villagers can elect to speak nothing but Swedish the whole day, from breakfast until supper, and when they are successful, the camp honors them with a song. Vicktor was successful and got his congratulations from Karl-Anders. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
Community building happens when the group takes down the Swedish flag. If the goal was to get close to others in this exercise, then one can say this was accomplished very well. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
The bastu is open daily at the beach. The lake temperature is a little on the cool side, so warming up in between swims feels good. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
Daily städning is part of life at camp. Day-campers Gösta and Håkon may have felt they were working rather hard on their job of sweeping the stairs. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
Day campers have a time of reflection at the conclusion of each day as they fill out a day journal called, “Idag på Sjölunden.” Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
Even cleaning off the tables after meals can be fun if you get to drum on the bottom side of the plastic tubs and sing a song about it. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
Pokeman was the theme for one evening program. Here participants played a game something like rock, paper, scissors. If the total number of fingers was an even number the counselor won; if an odd number, the campers won. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
Participants learn a song about donuts, and get the language reinforced through a worksheet where they can draw in several munkar. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith
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Midsommar is often celebrated fast on the heels of other major Swedish holidays. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith ENLARGE IMAGE »
The costume room is a resource that helps staff create the scene for Jul. Sölve, from Sölvesborg, Sweden, works at the camp each summer. Photo by V. S. Arrowsmith
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Day campers get a taste of Swedish camp from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Families from beyond the Bemidji area often choose to take a vacation, rent a cabin, and drive their children to camp each day. Sigrid is the day camp teacher. Photo by L. Wallenberg ENLARGE IMAGE »
