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.
Skogfjorden
Norwegian Language Village
About the Village
From innovative technology to a history of exploration, learning Norwegian gives you an edge in the world. Whether you are interested in your heritage or your future, this unique language will guide you down a path towards success. Tens of thousands of people have chosen to learn Norwegian at Skogfjorden, and you can, too! Experience unique cultural activities like folkdans (folk dance) and innebandy (indoor floor hockey). Enjoy traditional foods like Kjøttkaker (meatballs) and lefse (griddle cakes). The authenticity of this Language Village will inspire your imagination and immerse you in the sights, sounds and language of the land of the midnight sun.
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Photos
Group Song Time
Culturally Appropriate Cuisine
Learning Through Song & Dance
Fun on the Beach
Friendships for a Lifetime
Traditional Desserts
Community Building
Learning Through Performance
Custom Wood-burned Nametags
Reading Time
North Woods Learning
Village Currency
Experience Skogfjorden
Summer 2027 Schedule
Session descriptions coming soon. Registration opens Oct. 15.
| Language | Session Type | Session Category | Ages | Start Date | End Date |
| Norwegian | Youth | One Week | Ages 7-12 | 6/14/2027 | 6/19/2027 |
| Norwegian | Youth | Two Week | Ages 8-13 | 6/14/2027 | 6/26/2027 |
| Norwegian | Day Camp | One Week | Ages 6-11 | 6/21/2027 | 6/25/2027 |
| Norwegian | Youth | One Week | Ages 7-12 | 6/21/2027 | 6/26/2027 |
| Norwegian | Youth Credit | Two Week | Grades 9-12 | 6/28/2027 | 7/10/2027 |
| Norwegian | Youth Credit | Four Week | Grades 9-12 | 6/28/2027 | 7/24/2027 |
| Norwegian | Youth | Two Week | Ages 14-18 | 6/28/2027 | 7/10/2027 |
| Norwegian | Youth | Four Week | Ages 14-18 | 6/28/2027 | 7/24/2027 |
| Norwegian | Day Camp | One Week | Ages 6-11 | 7/12/2027 | 7/16/2027 |
| Norwegian | Youth | Two Week | Ages 11-16 | 7/12/2027 | 7/24/2027 |
Upcoming Norwegian Camps & Programs
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.
Registration closes June 28, 2027
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 14, 2027
Learn About Scholarship Opportunities
Need-based scholarships are available for Norwegian 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: Skogfjorden
Turtle River Lake
Our first architecturally authentic Language Village, Skogfjorden was built in 1968 on the shores of Turtle River Lake, and has been updated over the years. Skogfjorden magically transports visitors to a small lakeside village in Norway, amongst the beauty and nature of the North Woods. Villagers live in dormitory-style cabins with double bunks. Each beautiful cabin is built for year-round use with carpeting, electricity and indoor plumbing. Cabins house up to 16 villagers and staff. Gimle, the large dining hall, features beautiful rosemaled ceilings and traditional woodwork. Utgard, the activity building, offers gymnasium facilities, which also serve as a meeting area for larger groups.
Meet Our Team
Read more about our professional staff at Skogfjorden, our Norwegian Language Village.
Tove Tove Dahl
Dean
Tove Dahl is Dean of Skogfjorden, the Norwegian Language Village. She has been on staff since 1979 and was a villager for four years. Tove is fluent in Norwegian and has also studied Russian, French, Spanish and Dutch. She was named a Knight of the First Class of the Norwegian Order of Merit by King Harald V of Norway in 2008 for the advancement of Norwegian language and culture in the United States. Tove earned her bachelor’s degree in English at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn. She completed her doctorate in educational psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a professor in educational psychology at the University of Tromsø, Norway.
Erik Brakstad
Program Leader
With a lifelong passion for Norwegian language and culture, Erik has been involved at Skogfjorden as a staff member (and later as a parent) since it rocked his world when he came for the first time as a counselor during college. Now serving as Program Leader for Skogfjorden‘s adult residential programs, Erik relishes how Skogfjorden brings together people of different backgrounds and experiences. Erik attended Follo Folkehøyskole in Norway before graduating from Reed College. When not teaching at the Villages, he works as a general contractor in Portland, Ore.
Steve Sverre Asper
Program Leader
Steve Sverre Asper has 30 years of experience teaching Norwegian and French at Concordia Language Villages. He spent multiple years in Norway on exchange programs in Tønsberg and Oslo. He taught third grade at L’Etoile du Nord French Immersion School and serves as the Chief Information Officer for Kozefò, a small nonprofit organization that serves A New Arrival Center Primary School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. His passion for Education, Technology, Children, Languages and Service, cultivated at Concordia Language Villages intersect to drive him in his role of Director of Technology and Innovation for White Bear Lake Area Schools and his work in Haiti.
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.