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Les Voyageurs

French Language Village
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About Les Voyageurs

Les Voyageurs takes place at our own poste on Turtle River Lake near Bemidji, Minn. There, you will take time to develop the skills needed to become a voyageur. You will find the life of a voyageur to be a busy and challenging one. Throughout the stay, you will concentrate on four main tasks of equal importance: speaking French, living in nature, building a community and studying the history of the voyageurs. While at camp, you will practice canoeing skills and learn essential camping skills, including cooking over a fire.

This summer, you can choose to attend a four-week high school credit program, or a two- or four-week enrichment session. All options provide immersion in French, learning about the historic culture of the French Voyageurs and building your outdoor and leadership skills.

Prefer to stay in a cozy cabin? French Lac du Bois is your choice!

Typical Day

Get ready for the rendezvous (gathering) at French Les Voyageurs! You become a voyageur as you canoe with your tent partners, learn to pitch a tent, split logs, cook over an open fire, paddle, tip and rescue a canoe, sing songs, learn jokes in French, prepare roubabou (traditional split pea stew), identify plants and carve a spoon or make moccasins. You may also build a fire, knead bannock (quick bread), danse la Bastringue (folk dance), meet fur traders, listen to the loons, watch the sunset with your friends by fire and fall asleep on the shore of lakes carved in the Canadian shield.

The daily schedule will also include arts and crafts, recreational swimming, working on projects, singing, campfires under the stars, gathering wood, cleaning the dishes and pumping potable water.

Because an experience with Les Voyageurs is different than staying in a village we have a special packing list. Click the link to find out what to bring and not to bring for your adventure.

Les Voyageurs
Friendships That Last a Lifetime
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Natural Splendor
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Following the Voyageurs' Path
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Jumping into the Lake!
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Our Amazing Staff!
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Packing for the Grand Voyage
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Canoeing on our Trek
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Rest Time
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Capturing the Views
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Sunset Lake Time
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Prepping Our Canoes
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Lakeside Dining
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Explore the Great Outdoors

After five days at base camp, you and your brigade is ready for the "grand voyage" in Voyageurs National Park. You’ll pack up your sac étanche (waterproof bag), sac de couchage (sleeping bag) and chamallows (marshmallows) and set out along the historical route of the fur trade, traversing the southern lakes of Voyageurs.

As you engage in a one-week adventure, you’ll build and strengthen your skills in the French language while making new friends and paddling with (or against) the wind. One afternoon you’ll find yourself on the edge of two countries looking at a U.S.-Canada border marker, and the next morning you’ll be on the edge of history looking at pictographs left by early native dwellers of the land.

On the layover day you’ll be the sole guests of a parcel of forest. Later around the fire, the brigade will debrief one-another about their experiences. After two weeks as voyageurs, the castor (beaver) and aigle à tête blanche (bald eagle) will have become your friends. Back at basecamp, the last day is filled with stories, voyageurs-style competitions and a closing ceremony around the campfire.

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Practicing Fire Building
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Art in the North Woods
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Campsite Cooking
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Fun & Games
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Pumping Potable Water
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Paddle Racing!
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Campsite Music
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Tent Setup
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Tip and Rescue Simulation
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Chopping Wood for the Campfire
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Dishwashing on the Go
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Experience

Les Voyageurs

A Lifetime of Learning

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!

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Youth Overnight

Season: Summer

Duration: 1 Week | 2 Weeks | 4 Weeks

Our flagship Language Village camps where language comes to life. A fully immersive cultural experience.

More Info
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High School Credit

Season: Year-round

Duration: 4 Weeks | 24 Weeks

Earn a year’s worth of language credit in just four weeks (24 weeks for Virtual fall/spring option). Accredited by Cognia.

More Info
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Family Weeks & Weekends

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.

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Upcoming French Voyageurs Camps & Programs

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Voyageurs Youth One Week
Youth Overnight
|
Les Voyageurs
Dates:
Jun 16
-
Jun 21
2025
Location:
Bemidji
Ages 10 - 14
Cost: $
1395
Minimum registration fee $150
Registration closes
May 19, 2025
Male openings:
14
|
Female openings:
14
Register NowJoin Waitlist
Session Full
Registration Closed
Limited Availibility
Registration opens on
September 4, 2024
Voyageurs High School Credit
Youth Overnight
|
Les Voyageurs
Dates:
Jun 23
-
Jul 19
2025
Location:
Bemidji
Ages 13 - 18
Cost: $
5710
Minimum deposit $575
Registration closes
Jun 3, 2025
Male openings:
2
|
Female openings:
4
Register NowJoin Waitlist
Session Full
Registration Closed
Limited Availibility
Registration opens on
September 4, 2024
Voyageurs Youth Four Week
Youth Overnight
|
Les Voyageurs
Dates:
Jun 23
-
Jul 19
2025
Location:
Bemidji
Ages 14 - 18
Cost: $
5400
Minimum registration fee $550
Registration closes
May 26, 2025
Male openings:
2
|
Female openings:
2
Register NowJoin Waitlist
Session Full
Registration Closed
Limited Availibility
Registration opens on
September 4, 2024
Voyageurs Youth Two Week
Youth Overnight
|
Les Voyageurs
Dates:
Jun 23
-
Jul 5
2025
Location:
Bemidji
Ages 14 - 18
Cost: $
2695
Minimum registration fee $275 The Advanced Voyageur Experience Get ready for a challenging adventure that will push your skills to the limit! In this two-week session, you’ll embark on a canoe trip that mirrors the intensity and endurance of the original voyageurs. Paddling longer distances, you’ll navigate more difficult routes and gain deeper experience in wilderness survival. This session is ideal for older campers who are ready to challenge themselves physically and mentally, all while speaking French and living the voyageur lifestyle. Prepare for an unforgettable journey that tests your strength, resilience, and teamwork!
Registration closes
May 26, 2025
Male openings:
14
|
Female openings:
13
Register NowJoin Waitlist
Session Full
Registration Closed
Limited Availibility
Registration opens on
September 4, 2024
Voyageurs Youth Two Week
Youth Overnight
|
Les Voyageurs
Dates:
Jul 7
-
Jul 19
2025
Location:
Bemidji
Ages 12 - 18
Cost: $
2695
Minimum registration fee $275 For those seeking a taste of the voyageur life without the higher intensity, this two-week session offers a rewarding adventure with fewer miles but just as much excitement. Perfect for younger or less experienced campers, you’ll still hone your canoeing and camping skills while studying the history and traditions of the voyageurs. This session emphasizes community building, immersion in nature, and the joy of paddling through beautiful landscapes, all while speaking French. It’s an ideal introduction to the voyageur experience with a manageable physical challenge!
Registration closes
Jun 9, 2025
Male openings:
13
|
Female openings:
13
Register NowJoin Waitlist
Session Full
Registration Closed
Limited Availibility
Registration opens on
September 4, 2024
Les Voyageurs Family Week
Family Overnight
|
Les Voyageurs
Dates:
Jul 21
-
Jul 26
2025
Location:
Bemidji
N/A
Cost: $
910
Family programs are designed for family units that include at least one adult (age 19 or older) and one child (age 18 or younger). Individual adults should register for our Adult Programs instead. Adult programs provide more and more intensive opportunities for language learning geared specifically towards adult learners. Individual adults not attending with minor children may request an exception to this policy, please contact clvregister@cord.edu to start this process. All attendees, regardless of age, need to register individually for the Family Programs. Tuition is as follows: Adult participants: $910 each Youth participants: $740 each Participants ages 3 and under: Free All paying participants must pay a $100 registration fee to save a spot.
Registration closes
Jun 23, 2025
Male openings:
23
|
Female openings:
23
Register NowJoin Waitlist
Session Full
Registration Closed
Limited Availibility
Registration opens on
September 4, 2024
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meet

OUR

team

Read more about our professional staff at Les Voyageurs, our French Voyageurs Language Village.

David Dahveed Benson

Dean

David Dahveed Benson is the French Les Voyageurs dean. Dahveed has been on staff since 1989, serving as dean since 1994, and was a villager at Lac du Bois for seven years. Dahveed is fluent in French and has studied Hausa, Swahili, Fulfulde, Yemba, Malgassy and Pidgin. Dahveed graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in French and history. He earned his master’s degree in African history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dahveed currently lives in Bemidji, Minn., where he teaches World Geography at Bemidji Middle School, and coaches Model United Nations and Knowledge Bowl.

Our Site:

Les Voyageurs

Turtle River Lake

The Les Voyageurs permanent base campsite is located on Turtle River Lake, just a short distance from the French Language Village, Lac du Bois. Check-in for Les Voyageurs programs is at the Lac du Bois site.

Up to four villagers share a tent and staff share tents nearby. Canoes are used for tripping and transportation of food and supplies, as well as mail. All meals are prepared by villagers and staff over an open campfire. Groups portage their tents and supplies on five- to nine-day camping excursions.

Minnesota is typical of a continental climate. The North Woods of Minnesota experiences the widest variety of weather in the United States. Although summers are generally hot and humid, it is normal to experience rain showers, thunderstorms and cool nights. Summer temperatures average 85 F but can get down to 55 F. This program lives outdoors, regardless of the weather, so come packed and prepared to handle a wide variety of temperatures and dry or wet weather.

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LEARN ABOUT

scholarship

OPPORTUNITIES

Need-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.

Find Additional Information Here
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Work at Concordia Language Villages

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.