Since 1962, villagers at Lac du Bois have experienced the “grand simulation” of living in another language and participating in cultural activities from a variety of French-speaking countries. From le batik (fabric art with wax and dye) to chanson et danse (songs and dance), villagers at Lac du Bois have an abundance of choices for les activités. Whether just learning bonjour or reciting Baudelaire, villagers progress through skills and vocabulary at their level and pace through a blend of listening, speaking, reading, writing and conversational activities. Find chez toi (your place) at Lac du Bois, or check out our French adventure canoeing excursion, Les Voyageurs!
From our flagship summer youth camps to family programs and adults-only sessions, Concordia Language Villages provides a lifetime of language learning and cultural adventure. Find the program that’s right for you!
Season: Summer
Duration: 1 Week | 2 Weeks | 4 Weeks
Our flagship Language Village camps where language comes to life. A fully immersive cultural experience.
Season: Summer
Duration: 1 Week
Daytime programming for young villagers ready to explore the Village experience without overnight stays.
Season: Year-round
Duration: Varies
Keep your Language Village experience going all year long with our Virtual Clubs, Classes and High School Credit programs.
Season: Year-round
Duration: 2 Days | 3 Days | 1 Week
Fun and learning for the whole family (and friends)! Enjoy culturally immersive activities, meals and tailored learning.
Season: Year-round
Duration: 3 Days | 1 Week
Learn a new language or advance your skills in a fully immersive environment. Choose from Workshops, Weekends or Week-long programs.
Season: Year-round
Duration: Varies
Special programming for school groups and language educators. Introduce your students to cultural immersion or advance your own education!
Season: Year-round
Duration: Varies
Training for military, healthcare and corporate clients, with customizable programming designed to bridge cultures and break language barriers.
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.
More InformationNeed-based scholarships are available for French 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.
The Lac du Bois site on Turtle River Lake was built to make you feel as though you’ve magically happened upon a French village. Every detail of this Village—from the mailboxes to the street signs to the menus—are authentic to francophone countries. This comfortable, modernized site was built in 1993. The cabins and central buildings are inspired by the architecture of the francophone world.
We have three distinct groups of cabins at Lac du Bois: Le Centre Ville (downtown), La Campagne (the countryside) and Les Montagnes (the mountains). Each cabin sleeps 16, including at least two counselors, and all cabins have electricity, bunk beds and a small amount of space to store personal belongings. The centrally located bathroom and shower facilities are shared among cabins.
Our central building, Paris, serves as our dining hall and gathering place, particularly if it’s chilly or rainy. In nice weather, we’d rather sing songs in our amphitheater in the woods or at our fire ring at la plage, our beach on Turtle River Lake.
The site includes other features inspired by France and the francophone world — we have a gravel court to play the traditional sport of pétanque (lawn bowling), a boukarou (traditional round hut from Cameroon), fountain, giant chess set and even our very own Eiffel Tower!
Read more about our professional staff at Lac du Bois, our French Language Village.
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.
