Packing List
Your employment at Concordia Language Villages will be easier if you have the things needed to live and work effectively while at the Villages. As you pack, keep in mind that northern Minnesota's summer can be both quite warm as well as rather cold. As a result, bring clothes and bedding which can be layered. In addition, the program happens outdoors so clothing and shoes need to be suitable to that environment.
Additional tips:
• Bring enough clothing to last a minimum of two weeks. Your Village does not have laundry facilities
• Mark your clothing with your name. Our lost-and-found department returns things with names in/on them.
• Leave your clock radio, hair dryer and other appliances at home. Most sleeping areas do not have electricity.
• Bring one set of dress clothes (dress shirt, dress pants, dress) for special occasions.
• Bring rain gear—Village life continues even in the rain.
• Keep your environmental impact to a minimum. Soaps and shampoos must be biodegradable or have a low phosphate level. Appropriate soaps are natural soaps that contain no phosphorous or ammonium lauryl sulfate. Examples: Camp Suds, Dr. Bonner's Pure Castile Soap or Kirk's Coconut Castile Soap. Herbal Essences is a biodegradable shampoo.
A Word about Orientation…Most of you will participate in an orientation that is held somewhere other than your Village site. Consider bringing a smaller suitcase with enough things to last during orientation's four or five days. It may save you re-packing time and energy. Remember that you will need to bring bedding for orientation.
Bring enough of these to last two weeks:
_______ socks
_______ underwear
_______ pajamas
_______ T-shirts
_______ pants, shorts
Have these to use as needed:
_______ sweatshirt or light jacket
_______ warm jacket
_______ hat with sun-protecting brim
_______ bathing suit
_______ walking or other closed-toe shoes (at least one pair)
_______ summer sandals
_______ one set of dress clothes
_______ rain gear
_______ towels and washcloth(s)
_______ bag in which to store dirty clothing
Personal supplies:
_______ sunscreen (at least SPF 30)
_______ insect repellent (at least 30% DEET)
_______ toothbrush and toothpaste
_______ drinking cup
_______ shampoo supplies
_______ bar soap
_______ personal toiletries
_______ flashlight with extra batteries
_______ stationery, stamps, pen, pencil, address book
_______ backpack (something in which to carry items while at the village)
_______ camera and film (optional)
_______ travel alarm clock
Bedding:
_______ 3 blankets (bunk-bed size) or open sleeping bag and two sheets
_______ pillow and pillowcases
_______ sleeping bag for those going on overnight excursions
Village realia:
_______ books in the target language or about the target culture
_______ posters/photos about the target culture
_______ games/crafts about the target culture
_______ tapes/CDs of cultural music
_______ cultural clothing
Medication:
• Your Village’s health center stocks common over-the-counter medications, so you don’t need to pack any. However, you do need to pack enough daily medication to last your entire stay.
• Make sure you bring medication in original containers (medication labeled in other languages should be translated to English before arrival)
Call: (218) 586-8771 if you have questions.
Optional items that may come in handy:
_______ books to read during down-time
_______ clipboard
_______ whistle on lanyard or clip
_______ beach shoes
_______ lip balm and hand lotion
_______ extra paper, notebook
_______ compass
_______ hiking boots
_______ fanny pack
PRINT the staff packing list (PDF).
