Skogfjorden is a

Norwegian language Norwegian ( no, norsk, links=no ) is a North Germanic language spoken mainly in Norway, where it is an official language. Along with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a dialect continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regio ...

village and campsite affiliated with the

Concordia Language Villages Concordia Language Villages (CLV), previously the International Language Villages, is a world-language and culture education program. Since beginning in 1961, it has grown to offer summer camp in 15 modern languages and school-year weekend progr ...

. It is located at the Concordia site at Turtle River Lake near

Bemidji, Minnesota Bemidji ( ) is a city and the county seat of Beltrami County, in northern Minnesota, United States. The population was 14,574 at the 2020 census. According to 2021 census estimates, the city is estimated to have a population of 15,279, making i ...

, United States. Skogfjorden is a village for language immersion where American villagers come to live and experience Norwegian language and culture.

Skogfjorden promise

The staff of Skogfjorden make this promise to the villagers and to one another. It is the foundation of the entire program.

I am responsible and accountable for establishing and maintaining our vibrant Skogfjorden community, where: *Everyone is and feels safe; *Everyone belongs; *Norwegian is at the heart of everything we do; *Connections to Norway are affirmed, refreshed, and expanded; and *Teamwork is built upon individual contributions.

International recognition

The Ambassador of Norway,

Knut Vollebæk Knut Vollebæk (born 11 February 1946 in Oslo) is a former Norwegian diplomat to the United States, (2001–2007, and centrist politician ( Norwegian Christian Democratic Party). He is currently a member of the International Commission on Missi ...

, visited the village in 2003. His Majesty King

Harald V of Norway Harald V ( no, Harald den femte, ; born 21 February 1937) is King of Norway. He acceded to the throne on 17 January 1991. Harald was the third child and only son of King Olav V of Norway and Princess Märtha of Sweden. He was second in the li ...

has granted royal patronage to Skogfjorden. Patronage is an affirmation from the Royal Family of Norway of the quality educational programming of Concordia Language Villages. In 2009, Tove I. Dahl, the dean of Skogfjorden, was named a Knight of the First Class of the

Royal Norwegian Order of Merit The Royal Norwegian Order of Merit (Norwegian: ''Den Kongelige Norske Fortjenstorden'' (Bokmål) or ''Den Kongelege Norske Fortenesteordenen'' (Nynorsk)) was instituted by King Olav V in 1985. It is awarded to foreigners, Norwegian citizens livi ...

, by His Majesty

King Harald V Harald V ( no, Harald den femte, ; born 21 February 1937) is King of Norway. He acceded to the throne on 17 January 1991. Harald was the third child and only son of King Olav V of Norway and Princess Märtha of Sweden. He was second in the lin ...

of Norway, for the advancement of Norwegian language and culture in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. Dahl is a professor of educational psychology at the

University of Tromsø The University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway (Norwegian: ''Universitetet i Tromsø – Norges arktiske universitet''; Northern Sami: ''Romssa universitehta – Norgga árktalaš universitehta'') is a state university in Norway an ...

and is married to Curt Rice.

History

began offering Norwegian programs in 1963 and opened an architecturally-authentic, year-round Norwegian Language Village on Turtle River Lake near

in 1971.

References

External links

Concordia Language Villages

Village Pages:Skogfjorden

Skogfjorden Flickr

Skogfjorden Youtube
{{Coord, 47, 33, 6, N, 94, 43, 50, W, display=title Concordia Language Villages Norwegian language