How do I know which French
Village to sign my child up for?
What is the Camp Holiday site like?
How’s the weather up there?
What is “language and cultural immersion”?
What will my child learn in French?
My child is a picky eater/ doesn’t like
well water.
Is the credit program appropriate for my child?
How do I know
which French Village to sign my child up for?
There are two Lac du Bois sites, one outside of Hackensack which is
a summer
only (leased) site, and one at the Concordia Language Villages own
permanent site outside of Bemdji. Lac du Bois Hackensack is known
for its' magnificent outdoor setting and "camp" atmosphere
(see site description in the next section). Lac du Bois Bemidji is
on Turtle River Lake offers facilities that represent various French
provinces and parts of the francophone world. While located in a wooded
area, Lac du Bois Bemidji has landscaped areas, lighting and gardens,
and feels more like a “village” or “city”.
Programming at both is similar (sports, arts and crafts, canoeing,
etc.), although specialty programs are available at each site. The
Aventure Nature and Afrique! programs are offered
at Lac du Bois Hackensack. Lac du Bois Bemidji has Helvetia (Swiss)
program, Fencing& Savate (French kick boxing), and Afrique!
specialty programs.
Additionally, the French Voyageur program offers French language
instruction combined with French-Canadian history, camping, and canoeing
skills. This program starts out with base camp at the Turtle River
site
outside Bemidji, and continues with a 4-5 day canoe trip for a 2 week
Voyageur session. A four week Voyageur session is also offered, and
additionally includes a week long canoe trip in Voyageurs National
Park.
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What is the Camp Holiday site
like? Site description
The Camp Holiday site has been leased by Concordia Language Villages
since 1976. The property has been owned and maintained by the Fraser
family since 1920. Many generations of this family have helped provide
camp programming to young people since Camp Holiday began operating
as a private girls' camp in 1922. Most of the buildings still in use
on the site were built during the late 20's and 30's, except for 6
cabins replaced in the 60's, and the bathroom/shower facilities.
The
buildings and grounds have been well maintained and upgraded over
the years to cherish the “camp” atmosphere and also accommodate
modern needs. Altogether, there are more than 40 buildings that have
sheltered a good many villagers and staff over the years.
As you enter the site, you'll see that the Village is nestled between
two lakes: Mann Lake and Baby Lake. The one-lane road with a little
wooden bridge passes over the channel. The road continues past several
buildings and goes up a hill. At the top, you'll see the kitchen and
the back of the dining hall, as well as the
health center, and the office.
Continuing on the road, you'll pass through “the narrows”
with its picturesque views to each side. The big rock is a favorite
place to look at the lake, and the other side offers a great view
of the sunset. Continuing straight on, you'll see one of the gathering
places of the Village, including the beach/café/boutique/arts
and crafts area. The large swimming area, sandy beach, and terraced
slope are the center of the Village. Continuing just a little further,
one reaches the grassy playing field surrounded by the north woods.
At the far end, you'll find our lakeside wood-burning
sauna. To the east and west of this axis are the two residential
areas of the Village, each on a hill overlooking one of the lakes.
The hills are named “La France”
and “La Francophonie”
(French-speaking countries). Each residential area has 8 cabins, bathroom
facilities, and a cozy, wooden, meeting lodge with stone fireplace.
The Chicago Tribune described Camp Holiday:
What we found at the end of the road was the quintessential rustic
summer camp of our own youth, nestled between Baby Lake and Mann Lake;
rough-hewn log cabins (no electricity) with sturdy bunk beds and lodges
shaded by tall pines, well-trod sandy paths to the common bathrooms,
a lovely little beach with canoes sheltered nearby. Loons calling
to each other complete the scene. ("Camp Francophile",
March 4, 2001)
Please note that our site has several main activity areas (dining
hall/health center/business office, beach/stores/café/arts
and crafts, soccer field/sauna, and two different residential areas)
and requires walking between areas. Fabulous views are everywhere
as we are walking from place to place and paths range from sandy roads
to terraced railroad-tie steps to twisty hillside paths!
A few words to participants - The Camp Holiday site is a beautiful
site that we dearly love. It will be very different from your home.
At night, we hear loon calls, and see the bright stars overhead. Communal
areas of the Village—such as meeting lodges, dining room, small
group meeting spaces, stores, arts and craft areas and bathrooms—are
well lit by electric lights. Living facilities do not have electricity,
but are very simple and cozy, offering bunk beds and space to hang
out with the friends you'll make among your cabin- mates. Bathrooms
are centrally located in the Village—just a short walk from
your cabin. Footpaths around the Village can become rugged and muddy
in rainy weather, so sturdy footwear or boots are in order. Showers
are available, but many villagers enjoy throwing on swimsuits and
bathing with biodegradable soaps and shampoos in our beautiful lake.
The lakeside wood-burning sauna is lit everyday.
Lac du Bois Hackensack has had a great impact on the Concordia Language
Village French programs as the longest standing French Language Village
site. In addition, the site itself evokes an attachment to the past
in its pristine natural beauty, traditional architecture, and emphasis
on simple, communal living in harmony with nature.
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How’s the weather
up there?
We can never be sure what kind of weather we will have. Villagers
should come with some chilly weather clothing, some rainy weather
gear, and some hot weather apparel! Typically, June can sometimes
be rainy, along with being host to “tick season”, although
we can have ticks at any time of summer, and it can rain at any time
as well! Please make sure your villager has rain gear, sturdy footwear
and/or rain boots, and at least one wool or fleece sweater to get
them through any chillier weather we may have. The hottest weather
is generally in July and August, although all villagers should have
hot weather wear. At the end of August, nights can be getting cool,
and sometimes a few leaves start falling the last week of summer.
Some years are worse than others for mosquitoes, so be prepared with
bug spray!
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What is “language
and cultural immersion”?
The phrase “language and cultural immersion” is a way
of describing the village environment that is so rich in language
experiences and input for the learner, as well as being infused with
cultural learning and enrichment experiences. Language and cultural
learning are so interwoven that it is impossible to pull out just
one or the other from the Language Villages experience.
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What will my child learn in
French?
A beginning language villager will become quite conversant in structured
language patterns that correspond with their needs at the village:
Comment t’appelles-tu? Je m’appelle ______________.
Où vas-tu ? Je vais à la plage.
Qu’est-ce que tu aimes faire ? J’aime chanter. J’aime
manger !
Combien ça coute ? Ça coute 5 Euros.
Où habites- tu J’habite Marseilles.
Passe-moi le lait, s’il te plaît.
They will also leave with an amazing repertoire of songs and village
rituals involving language patterns :
Qu’est-ce qu’il y a à manger? La salade, la salade,
hé, hé, hé, la salade – verte !
Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, baguette....
Qui a gagné La Tornade Blanche ?
Qui était le mono mysterieux ?
Qu’est-ce qui se passe ?
Qu’est-ce qu’elle fait, Camille ? --- Elle joue, joue,
joue au foot !
« C’est la poste du Lac du Bois »
They will also know approximately 12 or more songs in French that
may or may not be related to village customs and routines.
For villagers who are not beginners in French, much of how much they
learn in French is related to their own effort and motivation. For
instance, villagers have the option every morning of taking an extra
nametag “Super Français” which means they will
attempt to speak only French until bedtime. Other than voluntary participation
in “Super Français” villagers do not take a “French
only oath” and are not punished for use of English, but they
can only get what they want by trying to speak French (for instance,
in the dining hall and at the stores). For the language learning groups,
villagers are placed by linguistic ability so daily lessons will allow
them to expand their current skills. In addition, intermediate and
advanced speakers can opt for a specialty programs which offers more
in-depth content learning about nature and French-speaking West Africa.
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My child is a picky
eater/ doesn’t like well water.
Meals are carefully planned by our head cook to be attractive, authentic,
and nutritious. Villagers are expected to at least taste everything
(unless they are allergic, vegetarian, etc!). Between the various
courses (hors d’oeuvre, main dish, vegetable, salad, cheeses
sometimes, bread, and desert) villagers will find that most dishes
and most ingredients are recognizeable to them, although they may
be in combinations that they have not seen at home! Of course, your
villager may pine away for fast food and junk food, but in fact the
cuisine at the village is very nutritious with lots of fresh fruits
and vegetables. The kitchen staff creates menus that go along with
the cultural theme of the day, so villagers are exposed to new dishes
and tastes. An open mind and a positive attitude will go a long way!
The drinking water at Lac du Bois Holiday comes from various wells
on site. It is not “egg water”, but it is well water.
Villagers may bring their own bottled water or buy bottled water at
the “Confi” here on site if they wish.
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Is the credit program appropriate
for my child?
The credit program is an intensive 4 week language experience for
villagers ages 14-18. This program incorporates the four language
modalities: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Upon successful
completion of the credit program, a villager is eligible for the equivalent
of 1 year of high school language credit. Different schools treat
this credit differently, and you should check with your school to
find out about their specific policy. Grades in the credit program
are based on: class grades, participation in village life (cabin,
conversation, and activity grades), individual project grades, and
opportunities for reflection about aspects of their Lac du Bois experience.
While the credit villagers (“fonceurs”) take
part in the overall village, they also are completing rigorous academic
French language content, with daily homework, studying, and academic
style learning within the total village environment. Typically, a
credit villager may return to their school and find that while they
may not have “covered” as many grammar points, their speaking
and listening skills are way above their peers at school. In turn,
the villagers’ motivation for learning French is high, and they
can easily pick up any grammar points necessary. Some credit villagers
choose credit simply because they are looking for a more intense French
language instruction, others specifically would like the High School
credit.
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