Concordia Language Villages staff may speak a Village language, creatively teach culture, work and play hard. They also develop skills and qualities that will make them excellent employees in any field.
Salolampi
Finnish Language Village
About the Village
What do Angry Birds, Nokia phones, Santa Claus and saunas have in common? They all originate from the great country of Finland! From the moment you arrive at our Finnish Language Village, Salolampi, Finnish will be incorporated into every daily activity—from summer camp favorites to culturally authentic activities like mölkky (classic throwing game) or pesäpallo (Finnish style baseball). Personalized, hands-on learning activities give you fun opportunities to learn and practice new vocabulary as native and expert speakers introduce you to modern Finland. Your time at Salolampi's beautiful, wooded lakefront site will give you the chance to live like the Finns!
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Life at Salolampi
Culturally Appropriate Cuisine
Swimming in Turtle River Lake
Weaving Loom
Fishing from the Dock
Traditional Finnish Sauna
Campfire Community Time
Homemade Bread
Wood Whittling
Visiting the Village Bank
Experience Salolampi
Upcoming Finnish Camps & Programs
Minimum registration fee $300 Our two-week programs are our most popular, providing an opportunity to become truly immersed in Village life! Villagers build and enhance their language skills through small and large group learning activities, and by hearing and using the language - with the encouragement of our supportive staff - throughout their daily activities. By engaging in a variety of music, arts, sports and classic summer camp activities like campfires, singing songs, and more, villagers can increase their confidence, improve their language ability, and grow to become courageous global citizens. These programs welcome language learners of all levels.
Registration closes May 24, 2027
Minimum registration fee $600 Want to gain an entire year’s worth of high school language credit in just four weeks? Our High School Credit programs are for you! In addition to classes with formal language instruction, credit villagers can choose from a variety of elective activities, as well as classic summer camp favorites like campfires, singing songs, and more - all in the language of the Village. Each four-week session is divided by an interim weekend, during which villagers have the opportunity to call home, do their laundry, and take a break from the intensive activity of Village life. These programs welcome language learners of all levels. Fully accredited by Cognia, credit programs include standardized curriculums, assessments, and transcripts to meet your local school system’s requirements. Please check with your school district in advance to ensure that credit from Cognia will be accepted if you wish to have the credit reflected on your villager’s high school transcript. High school credit sessions are designed for villagers entering grades 9 and up in Fall 2027.
Registration closes May 24, 2027
Minimum registration fee $575 Our four-week programs provide an opportunity for those ready to dive deeper into the immersive Language Village experience with a longer stay. Villagers build and enhance their language skills through small and large group learning activities, and by hearing and using the language - with the encouragement of our supportive staff - throughout their daily activities. By engaging in a variety of music, arts, sports and classic summer camp activities like campfires, singing songs, and more, villagers can increase their confidence, improve their language ability, and grow to become courageous global citizens. These programs welcome language learners of all levels. Each four-week session is divided by an interim weekend, during which villagers have the opportunity to call home, do their laundry, and take a break from the activity of Village life.
Registration closes May 24, 2027
Minimum registration fee $400 The Language Apprenticeship Program is an opportunity for experienced language learners to take on a leadership role while continuing to develop their language skills through meaningful, hands-on work. Apprentices become an important part of the village community, working alongside staff and experts in a specific area while participating in daily language learning. Apprentices spend part of their day developing a community skill and part of their day continuing formal language study. They live alongside village participants in the classic programs, take part in village activities, and use their target language throughout the day. Through their work, apprentices build confidence, responsibility, leadership skills, and practical experience; all while deepening their language proficiency. The Language Apprenticeship Program is designed for returning villagers who have a strong foundation in the target language. Applicants should demonstrate the maturity, responsibility, and independence needed to serve as a role model within the village community. Participation is subject to program leadership approval. Program requirements: Ages 16–18 with approximately two years or more of study in the target language, or equivalent language experience. Specific requirements may vary by language program. Apprentices receive: Reduced tuition, continued language instruction, hands-on work experience, leadership opportunities, and a certificate documenting their apprenticeship and hours worked.
Registration closes May 24, 2027
Minimum registration fee $200 Our one-week programs are perfect for villagers who are ready to experience an overnight camp but can't fit a longer program into busy summer schedules, or aren't quite ready for a longer time away from home. These programs provide an opportunity to explore the language through small and large group learning activities and immersive daily experiences. Plus, you'll get to do all the fun arts, crafts, games and cultural exploration of the Language Village camp experience, along with traditional summer camp activities like campfires, singing songs, and making new friends. These programs welcome language learners of all levels.
Registration closes June 07, 2027
Learn About Scholarship Opportunities
Need-based scholarships are available for Finnish summer youth immersion sessions through the Passport Fund. Scholarships are based on a family’s adjusted gross income, number of dependents and the length of the session.
Additionally, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education offers a $1,000 stipend for Minnesota students who qualify for free or reduced lunch at school.
Our Location: Salolampi
Turtle River Lake
Meet Our Team
Read more about our professional staff at Salolampi, our Finnish Language Village.
Jen Jenna Pulju Porter
Dean
Jen Jenna Pulju Porter is a Finnish to English literary translator, specializing in children’s and young adult fiction. She enjoys playing a part in bringing great Finnish literature to English-speaking audiences. Jenna holds a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Washington and continues to study Finnish, Estonian and Literary Translation at Indiana University-Bloomington. She currently resides in Colorado with her family and enjoys spending her free time skiing, cooking and knitting.
Tiina Watts
Program Leader
Tiina Watts has been teaching Finnish at Salolampi adult weeks since 2003, and her seven children and husband, Ed, have all attended many Salolampi programs. In addition, Tiina teaches Finnish at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, as well as online in a variety of Zoom classes. She holds a master’s degree in Second Language Teaching and enjoys using what she has learned to improve the speaking, listening, writing and reading skills of her students.
Jessica Dina Korynta
Program Leader
Jessica Dina Korynta is part of the leadership team of Skogfjorden, the Norwegian Language Village. Dina has been a villager, credit villager, counselor, volunteer, business manager and staff counselor as well as now leading the Nordic Holiday Weekend. Dina earned her B.A. in Linguistics with a minor in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.
Government & Corporate Programs
A global outlook is important for success in the domestic and international arena. Concordia Language Villages offers customized corporate, government and military training programs to meet the specific needs of our clients.