Lodging for Adult Programs

The permanent Villages, all located north of Bemidji, Minn. on Turtle River Lake, are designed to reflect the architectural styles of the countries they represent. Each Village contains a dining hall, additional smaller breakout meeting rooms and workspace.

Overnight accommodations are in winterized cabins which range from imported Finnish log cabins to two-story Norwegian cabins. All of the cabins are set in a quiet forest surrounded by pines and birch. We typically house 6-8 participants within a cabin or residential facility. Bunk beds are used in all Villages, although only lower bunks are utilized for adult groups. At our adult week programs, bedding and towels are provided. Rooming requests can be made at the time of registration. If you have special housing needs, please contact us. 

Hiking trails abound on the site, and cross-country ski trails are groomed for our programs during the winter months on the south end of Turtle River Lake.

El Lago del Bosque (Spanish Language Village) There are 13 houses available for sleeping, each with individual shower and bathroom facilities and a meeting room. Each house will accommodate a maximum of 12-16 people in bunk beds. Between every two bunk beds are a dividing wall and privacy curtains over the doorway. There is a 40-by-60-foot activities building available with a separate smaller meeting room.

Lac du Bois (French Language Village) Housing is in what we call cabanes. There are four independent cabins close to the dining hall.  In the sleeping quarters, you will find each cabin is one large room.  Curtains divide the cabin into separate areas, each with two bunk beds.

Lesnoe Ozero (Russian Language Village) There are 12 independent log cabins located around the north shoreline of Turtle River Lake. Each cabin houses up to 14 people in bunk beds. In the sleeping quarters, you will find each room has single-sized bunk beds, closets and shared bathrooms with enclosed shower facilities. Each cabin has a cozy living area. 

Salolampi (Finnish Language Village) All five authentic Finnish cabins have their own bathroom/shower facilities, which accommodate a maximum of 16 people in bunk beds. Between every two bunk beds are a diving wall and privacy curtains over the doorway. There are four of these cubicles in each cabin. 

Sjölunden (Swedish Language Village) cabins are beautiful, cozy and comfortable and house 12-16 people. All cabins have their own restroom and shower facilities and will give you that feeling of visiting a Swedish summer house. 

Skogfjorden (Norwegian Language Village) Housing is in nine, three-bedroom cabins. Each cabin has a capacity of 16 people in bunk beds and has its own shared bathroom and cozy living area. Several cabins are two stories with staircases and bathrooms on the first floor. 

Waldsee (German Language Village) facilities include housing for 152 in bunk beds in three large buildings: Max Kade Haus, Erich Markel Haus and Schwarzwald Haus. Each of the buildings has sleeping areas, a common living area, and common bathrooms on the main level. Included at Waldsee is the energy-efficient BioHaus that features innovative designs and ideas to maintain self-sufficiency. The BioHaus has six rooms and can sleep up to six people per room.