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!
9 Items
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 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.