Waldsee

German Language Village

About the Village

At Waldsee, our German Language Village, we do Deutsch. On the lake. At the beach. On the Fußball field. At the Café. In the Gasthof (dining hall). In the cabin. Have fun learning everyday German you can really use with friends and in games, arts, sports, cooking, baking, environmental, historical and cultural activities. The authentic architecture of Waldsee will transport you to another world, where the immersive experience makes the language come alive. From the cabins to the Gasthof, to the innovative BioHaus, Waldsee inspires villagers to live the language and culture of Germany.

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Life at Waldsee

Biking Around Our Site

Culturally Appropriate Cuisine

Archery | Giant Chess

Giant Chess

Woodfired Pizza

Ordering at Cafe Einbeck

Starting Our Day with Yoga

STEM at BioHaus

Canoeing on Turtle River Lake

Village Store

Fencing

BioHaus Rooftop Biology

Experience Waldsee

 

Upcoming German Camps & Programs

German Adventure Day Camp

  • Dates: August 16 - August 20, 2027
  • Location: Bemidji
  • Ages: Ages 7 - 11
  • Cost: $420.00
Register Now

Minimum registration fee: $100 Our Adventure Day Camp programs are perfect for younger villagers who want to experience new languages and cultures in a fun and supportive learning environment but are not quite ready for an overnight experience yet. Day camps provide an opportunity to explore the language of the Village through games, arts & crafts, singing, sports, and more. Lunch is provided each day, and day campers will have opportunities to participate in some activities alongside overnight campers. Program runs Monday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm. This session runs concurrently with a Family Week program, so villagers may take part in whole-Village fun and activities!

Registration closes August 02, 2027

Learn About Scholarship Opportunities

Need-based scholarships are available for German 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.

Find Additional Information Here
 

Our Location: Waldsee

Turtle River Lake

When you see Waldsee for the first time, you might be surprised to find yourself transported to a small German village. Every detail from the Bahnhof (train station) to the Gasthof (dining hall) immerses you in German life and culture. Even the modern-day Passivhaus standard of “green” building is reflected in our Waldsee BioHaus, the first building of its kind in North America. Cabins at Waldsee are comfortable, safe, beautiful reflections of German architecture. Most program participants are housed in five winterized cabins (restroom and shower facilities are located within the buildings) with sleeping rooms housing 12-16 each on bunk beds. Waldsee also has a sauna building with private showers and bathroom facilities. Birch, oak and pine forests offer shade on hot summer days. This site is known for spectacular sunsets, a cozy feel and the sound of loons.

9550 Ruppstrasse Rd NE, Bemidji, MN 56601
 
 
 

Jon Berndt Olsen

Dean
Berndt is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he teaches courses in German, European and Public History. He has held numerous fellowships, including from the Fulbright Commission, the Robert Bosch Foundation and the Social Science Research Council. He is currently writing a book on the history of East German travel culture. In his free time, Berndt is an avid woodworker and baker.
 

Angela Johanna Schneider

Dean

Johanna has worked in many roles at Concordia Language Villages since 2007. She has a degree in Education and has spent time studying and working in Magedeburg, Bonn, Minden and Linz, Austria. The Waldsee people and community are what keeps her coming back to play in the woods and on the lake.

 

Maddie Thusnelda Flom-Staab

Program Leader

Thusnelda is a lifetime Concordia Language Villages villager and counselor at Waldsee and Lac du Bois. She has led the Family Program at Waldsee since 2021 and loves it! Thusnelda is a German teacher at a middle school in St. Paul, Minn., and always looks forward to her time at the Villages.

 

David (Heiko) Lund

Program Leader

David Heiko Lund leads the German Adult Weeks in the spring and fall where he leads with a flexible teaching style, piano and song leading skills and a cheerful and inclusive spirit.

Fluent in both German and Norwegian, Heiko holds a degree in German and Psychology from St. Olaf and was a Fulbright/DAAD Recipient in Germany for two years. Since 2018, he has taught German in the Seattle Area German Academy of the German Language School of Seattle. Previously, Heiko was an Air Force chaplain at the NATO Headquarters for Northern Europe in Stavanger, Norway for 5 years and prior to that, served as a Vicar for the American Church in Berlin.

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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.

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