Lesnoe Ozero Russian Language Village

04/14/2026

Last chance to register!

College Week at Лесное озеро Lesnoe Ozero is your chance to step into Russian language and cultures where Russian is widely spoken, and experience a completely different way of learning.

Spend a week in the North Woods building your Russian skills through real conversations, shared meals, and hands-on experiences — all while earning college credit.

• Dates: May 18-23
• Register by: April 18

No prerequisites or language experience required. Join us!

Register here: https://loom.ly/LRDb-Xk

04/01/2026

As winter begins to give way to spring, it’s a time of celebration, reflection, and looking ahead to the months to come. Around the world, this season is filled with meaningful traditions — from honoring the voices and contributions of women to gathering with family, sharing meals, and welcoming new beginnings.

In this issue, we’re exploring International Women’s Day, highlighting a fresh seasonal recipe, and looking ahead to another unforgettable summer at Лесное Озеро Lesnoe Ozero.

📖 Read the March newsletter here: https://loom.ly/HQgcLnM

💌 Want future stories delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter here: https://loom.ly/RVjE9rA

From music and culture to summer plans and something refreshing to try at home, there’s a lot to explore in this month’s Mar e Floresta newsletter.

03/30/2026

At Concordia Language Villages, language isn’t just something you study — it’s something you live. From shared meals to daily traditions, everything is designed to create immersive, cultural experiences that help young people grow into courageous global citizens.

We’re hiring year-round team members who make that mission possible. If you’re looking for a collaborative, purpose-driven role (or know someone who is), we’d love to connect. Please apply or share this post.

Open positions:

✨ Health Services Coordinator: https://loom.ly/qxHuUd4
✨ Associate Program Director: https://loom.ly/TkK__kg
✨ Sous-Chef: https://loom.ly/KR0euTc
✨ HR and Operations Assistant: https://loom.ly/XIBus6Y
✨ Housekeeping: https://loom.ly/HR5OpqM

03/12/2026

proof that chess has always been cool at Lesnoe Ozero ♟️✨

03/03/2026

"When I first started at Skogfjorden Norwegian Language Village, I chose the name Laura — my best friend’s name. When it was already taken in my third year, I discovered it was kind of fun to try on something new. Year after year, I tried on new names, new identities. Until my first year as a credit villager, when I arrived a day late due to an overbooked flight, and Olivia stuck out of convenience. By the end of that month-long session, Olivia wasn’t just a part-time identity, but a deeply integrated piece of my whole self.

There were times I considered switching to a ‘more Norwegian’ name, but the global appeal ended up working in my favor when I started working full-time with year-round Village programming in Bemidji. The name was easy for staff from around the world to use or modify in their own language and has stayed with me through sessions on SSO (Summer Staff Orientation) staff and El Lago del Bosque Spanish Language Village, and even transformed into Олеся for a weekend as a villager at Lesnoe Ozero. In the years since, it has become a public second name both personally and professionally. Olivia is embroidered on my jackets, stamped in my books, and present at the top of my resume.

It’s been two decades since I chose my sixth village name and I’ve been Olivia more years than not. I now work with high school students from abroad and many of them come to us with their own chosen names. Every time they ask how I got mine, I get to tell them all about CLV and how it’s impacted every step of my journey to get to where I am today."

✍️ We’re collecting stories about CLV names and what they’ve meant over time in the lead up to Nametag Day.

Have one to share? We’d love to hear it! Comment, DM us, or share via this form: https://loom.ly/sJlYF_U

03/01/2026

Why Learn Russian? 🌍

Learning Russian is about curiosity, perspective, and connection.

Russian is spoken across many countries and connects you to a wide range of cultures, histories, and communities across Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. It’s a language that opens doors to understanding complexity, nuance, and global perspectives.

At Lesnoe Ozero, Russian is learned through exploration and conversation. You engage with the language through art, dance, discussion, and shared traditions from across the Russian-speaking world.

Whether you’re interested in global history, cultural exchange, or learning a language that stretches how you think, Russian offers a powerful way to connect with the world.

02/27/2026

"I was at Lesnoe Ozero with a group of villagers in 1996, three of whom became very dear friends. Two of these people chose the names Anya and Dmitri. We had a few reunions of the four of us, and eventually these two got married a decade after camp! They've now been married 20 years, and we're all still great friends. And, they ended up naming their parakeets... Anya and Dmitri." —Deana

✍️ We’re collecting stories about CLV names and what they’ve meant over time in the lead up to Nametag Day.

Have one to share? We’d love to hear it! Comment, DM us, or share via this form: https://loom.ly/sJlYF_U

02/26/2026

Even in the heart of winter, we begin to look for signs of light returning. Across the many cultures where Russian is widely spoken, Maslenitsa marks that turning point — a week of warmth, music, shared meals, and community before the quiet of Lent begins.

In this month’s newsletter, we’re sharing how Maslenitsa is celebrated, inviting you to join an upcoming virtual info meeting, collecting village name stories ahead of Nametag Day, celebrating Minnesota Day, and bringing a little sunshine to your kitchen with our recipe of the month.

📖 Read the February newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/cord/january-2026-newsletter-russian-4883422?e=b608019394

💌 Want future Lesnoe Ozero newsletters delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here: https://concordialanguagevillages.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=ad93af8d214c1b519f329ba44&id=3635ddd81e

Even in the heart of winter, we begin to look for signs of light returning. Across the many cultures where Russian is widely spoken, Maslenitsa marks that turning point — a week of warmth, music, shared meals, and community before the quiet of Lent begins.

02/26/2026

Big dreams start young. 🌍

Global Ambassadors (Aug. 3–15 | ages 11–15) is where curiosity turns into confidence — and global awareness becomes something you live, not just learn about.

Through hands-on cultural exploration, team leadership challenges, and daily Russian language woven into songs, games, and community life, villagers build real-world skills that matter:

✔️ Communication
✔️ Collaboration
✔️ Global awareness
✔️ Cross-cultural understanding

This program is designed for younger villagers who are ready to think bigger, connect deeper, and see themselves as part of a global community.

Leadership doesn’t start in high school. It starts here.

➡️ Register now and begin the journey to becoming a Global Ambassador: https://loom.ly/UtE51b0

02/11/2026

One of the first things every villager does at Lesnoe Ozero is choose a village name.

For some, that name becomes a constant — something they return to year after year. For others, it’s a chance to try something new and explore who they want to be at camp.

As Nametag Day approaches, we’re collecting stories about village names and what they’ve meant over time.

Alumni, staff, and current villagers: we’d love to hear yours.

New to Lesnoe Ozero? This is one of the first traditions every villager experiences.

✨ Share your village name with us — in the comments, a DM, or via this form: https://loom.ly/T-6GDgs

02/09/2026

🌍 Ready to see the world differently?

This 2-week Global Leadership + Social Studies Credit program blends culture, history, and big-picture global thinking — no Russian experience required.

✨ Earn a semester of social studies credit
✨ Explore political, cultural, and economic forces shaping the Russian-speaking world
✨ Learn through hands-on workshops, immersive community life, and real discussion
✨ Take part in a Model UN–style summit focused on collaboration and problem-solving
✨ Get daily exposure to Russian language for added cultural depth

Perfect for globally curious learners who want to think critically, engage deeply, and connect the dots across the world.

🔗 Register today and take your global perspective further: https://loom.ly/2u7dk5I