Embrace your spirit of adventure and join us for a summer filled with fun, laughter and learning. For more than 50 years, villagers at the Lesnoe Ozero have experienced living in another language and participating in cultural activities from a variety of Russian-speaking countries, while still enjoying the best aspects of summer camp. Villagers learn language, culture and global perspectives through their counselors who hail from all corners of the globe. There are endless opportunities throughout the day for small group and one-on-one learning and for villagers’ individuality to shine.
At the Russian Language Village, you’ll learn Russian in a traditional summer camp setting. Language classes are tailored to learners of all ages and stages, from absolute beginners to our heritage students, who grew up speaking Russian. Whether you’re looking for an early introduction or an intensive language program, we’ll meet your level of language and help you to advance during your time at Lesnoe Ozero.
Need-based scholarships are available for Russian 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. Additional information is available here.
Language Specific Scholarship Opportunity:
Enhance your language skills with active learning! Play shakhmati with our life-size chess set or grab a snack and find a comfortable spot on the beach to enjoy some Russian literature. On the soccer field, score a point and hear your friends shout GOOOOLL! In our artists’ workshop, design a Russian matroshka doll, make a Moldovan martenitsa, craft a miniature Kyrgyz yurt from felt, or try Ukrainian-style embroidery.
We all do our very best to make Lesnoe Ozero the ideal place to prepare ourselves for responsible global citizenship through living the Concordia Language Villages mission and creating a safe, inclusive space where everyone is free to belong and be understood. Our culturally authentic site is situated on the beautiful shores of the Turtle River Lake. Our talented culinary staff serves delicious meals from all over the Russian-speaking world served family style to encourage language development.
To read our updates and view photos from our summer sessions, please visit our blog!
Spend quality vacation time relaxing and laughing in another language with your family at a Family Week.
Our staff members are dedicated to helping you learn Russian. The dean is the on-site director of the Language Village. Lara Lara Ravitch is dean of Lesnoe Ozero, the Russian Language Village. She has been on staff for more than 11 years and was a villager at Lesnoe Ozero for two years. She has worked in the kitchen and as program staff at both the Russian and the French Language Villages. Lara lived in Moscow for three years. She is fluent in Russian and French and has studied Spanish and Czech.
Learning Russian connects you to 153 million people who list Russian as their mother tongue and another 61 million who speak it fluently as a second language.
Listen to an interview with former villager, Nadia Spock, who shared her experiences at Lesnoe Ozero on Public Radio International’s “The World.”
Located in the beautiful North Woods of Minnesota, the main residential area of Lesnoe Ozero sits on a small peninsula with excellent views of the lake. Our site features culturally authentic architecture as well as clean, comfortable cabins. Learn more about our Village site.
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Interested in working with us this summer? Click here for more information.