A Brief History of Concordia Language Villages and Skogfjorden

In 1960, Gerhard Haukebo, Ph.D., a Concordia College faculty member, suggested the college initiate an experimental program using immersion techniques to teach language. The intent of the program was to teach young people about other languages and cultures, while giving Concordia students the opportunity to gain practical teaching experience.

Concordia College sponsored the project in the summer of 1961. The college rented Luther Crest Bible Camp, north of Alexandria, Minn., for the first two-week German session. “Camp Waldsee,” which was limited to 72 campers aged 9-12, was a resounding success.

Concordia Language Villages began offering Norwegian programs in 1963 and opened an architecturally-authentic, year-round Norwegian Language Village on Turtle River Lake near Bemidji, Minnesota in 1971. 

Ambassador of Norway Knut Vollebæk visited the village in 2003.

His Majesty King Harald V of Norway has granted royal patronage to Skogfjorden, the Norwegian Language Village. Patronage is an affirmation from the Royal Family of Norway of the quality educational programming of Concordia Language Villages.

In 2009, Tove Irene Dahl, the dean of Skogfjorden, was named a Knight of the First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit by His Majesty King Harald V of Norway for the advancement of Norwegian language and culture in the United States.

For more information, see our History page on http://www.concordialanguagevillages.org