Swiss: Helvetia
Grüezi! Salut! Buongiorno!Come SWISS with us this summer!
Live the languages and culture of Switzerland this summer during Helvetia Swiss Week, our new immersion adventure. Located at Waldsee on our beautiful Turtle River Lake site near Bemidji, Minnesota, Helvetia Swiss Week offers a great experience in Switzerland’s three major languages – German, French, and Italian – together with exciting discoveries in Swiss culture and cuisine.
Active Learning
Hands-on adventures are the keys to learning and Spass – fun! – during Swiss Week. Whether it is joining the Züricher Streetparade, Basler Fasnacht, Fêtes de Genève, or the Ticino Sagra dell'uva, climbing our own Matterhorn ropes course, trying your hand at boules, the Swiss folk art of Scherenschnitte, the crazy Swiss game of Hornussen, or playing the Swiss chocolate game, Helvetia is a whole new world in immersion learning.
Of course, there is always Schwimmen und canotage (swimming and canoeing) at the beach – or klettern (climbing) und rutschen (sliding) on our own floating giant Eisberg in the middle of the lake.
Familiar favorites include Fussball (soccer), Radfahren (bicycling) or le volley (volleyball), but some come with a twist – how about giant chess? Modern European music rocks the Haus, and traditional songs are a fun way to learn more about Swiss culture and its languages.
Modern Swiss Living
Learn about modern living in our Waldsee BioHaus, a modern European Passive House that won the Minnesota Environmental Initiative Award in 2007 for its ultra-comfortable, super energy-efficient ambience. In the BioHaus you live and learn with all of your senses — it’s unvergesslich – unforgettable!
Join the Fun!
Kids 8-18 can come on their own, or bring the entire family – bring Oma Elisabeth, nonno Marianno, bébé Jacques, or the whole entourage! We offer both a Swiss family adventure and a Swiss immersion program for young people from across the continent and around the world.
Fantastic Food
Try fabulous food such as Raclette and Fondue, sip an espresso, sample Rivella, or try our homemade gelato at the Café. We prepare all of our foods and bake all of our breads and pastries from scratch. You’ll love our culinary tour of Switzerland, whether it be Birchermüesli or pan au chocolat for breakfast, minestrone ticinese or crêpes à la valaisanne for lunch, or Berner Röschti, poteé fribourgeoise, and torta di pane for dinner.
