SPOTLIGHT

Familienfest: Family Fun Weekend at Waldsee

Wir freuen uns auf das Familienfest!!  This year families will soon arrive in beautiful Bemidji to take part in the annual Waldsee family program.  Join in as we investigate die Natur with families, who are interested in German language and culture – just like you and your family.  Load up the van or jump on a plane - bring the whole family as we enjoy Winter in der Natur!  This year’s Familienfest will be held from February 16 -19.  Download a registration form here.
 

WALDSEE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS

NEU! Four Week German Immersion for Middle Schoolers!

"Can I stay longer – Darf ich noch bleiben!?" Two weeks at Waldsee just fly by – we’ve had so many requests for a four week immersion program, wir sind bereit – immer bereit! Starting this summer, Waldsee is offering a four-week immersion language program for kids in grades 6-8. The same fun and excitement of Waldsee’s core program awaits, but with more depth of experience and important preparation for high school German. Kids can hone their language skills, deepen their friendships with pals from across the country and around the world, and simply enjoy the Spass und Abenteuer of life in Waldsee. Click here for more details on our new middle school four-week immersion program – Sei da oder sei viereckig!

WALDSEE ABROAD

$2500 Scholarships available for Waldsee Credit Abroad!

The Max Kade Foundation is generously sponsoring several $2500 scholarships for students to help defray the costs.  Waldsee Abroad is an excellent opportunity for students who would like to go to Germany this summer, but whose school district does not offer such a program.  Waldsee Abroad is the capstone experience for many Waldsee Villagers before graduating and either heading off to college or even becoming a member of the Waldsee staff.  In order to be eligible for the scholarships, students must apply by March 15, 2007. In order to be eligible to participate, students must be between the ages of 15 and 18, have had a minimum of two years of German, have an interest in traveling, studying, and living with a host family in our sister city Bad Waldsee. Click here for further information and here for scholarship application materials. 

WALDSEE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS

High School Credit Programs

Märchenwald Credit: Live the legend and lore of the Middle Ages in the one-of-a-kind adventure that is the Märchenwald high school credit program.  All manner of engaging pursuits await participants in this fantastical medley of medieval Kultur and Theater, where students transcend traditional classroom boundries by investing newly acquired knowledge and skills.  Enveloped in this rich environment, students assume the role of Ritter (knights) in training and work as a team to understand the dynamic medieval culture of centuries past.  Whether producing Kettenhemd (chain mail) and Wappenkunst (heraldry), sharpening theatrical instincts, or engaging in simulations and stimulating discussion, participants gain self confidence and German credit in equal measure.  Join the fun and adventure this summer!

Grüne Welle Credit: Come ride the "Green Wave" and learn about the environment, the natural surroundings at Waldsee, conservation, earth science, and camping skills - all in German! Waldsee's Grüne Welle program has been in operation for over 15 years as a two-week adventure program. Now, you can extend this adventure to four weeks and earn high school credit in the process.  Grüne Welle Credit is more than a cultural experience and more than a wilderness experience. While you improve your language skills, you will learn basic survival methods. One reinforces the other. Grüne Welle Credit will also make use of our newest building on site, das Waldsee BioHaus, which is not only an ultra-low energy Passive Haus, but also a hands-on environmental learning center. Come join us for a wonderful environmental adventure!
 

SUMMER YOUTH: TWO WEEK ADVENTURE PROGRAMS

Das Märchenwald

Märchenwald is one of several Waldsee Adventure Programs geared toward intermediate and advanced German students and is especially well suited for returning villagers who are eager for new challenges and experiences.  In Märchenwald you will spend time at our secret medieval site and learn period crafts such as Kunstschrift (calligraphy) and Heraldik (heraldry).  At our own hidden stage in the woods we create a Theaterstück (theater piece) based on a medieval German legend. The time we spend performing, hiking, and exploring the woods offers fantastic opportunities for adventure and creativity. Other adventure programs offered this summer are: das Stadttheater, die Grüne Welle, Waldsee Radio, Helvetia, and Kollegstufe. Please see the summer schedule for dates when each adventure program is offered.

YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS

Visit Waldsee with your class! Join in a Waldseewochenende!

Waldsee's Village Weekend program is a great way to bridge the time between your summers at Waldsee! Winter activities provide a new twist to the Waldsee experience. Have you played Volleyball in the snow? Or how about Schneefußball? We also have a nice warm Sauna and a wide variety of German board games that you can try out with your friends. Waldseewochenende offer a unique opportunity to experience Waldsee with a group of students from your own school.  All reservations need to go through your German teacher, so please pass along this information to him or her if you're interested. For more information click here.  Komm mit nach Waldsee, auch im Winter!
 

KUNST

Worpswede in Waldsee

Waldsee villagers have many opportunities to be creative.  Basteln is a popular activity that offers a broad range of arts and crafts activities ranging from the first-day tradition of painting your Namensschild to establish your new Waldsee identity and to proclaim your new style- to more complex art projects such as Bauernmalerei, Keramik, Bundglasarbeit, Holzschnitt  or Scherenschnitt. In Worpswede, Waldsee’s artist colony, villagers put their work into a Kunstaustellung allowing villagers to present their work in meaningful ways; they learn the skills to make art projects and have the opportunity to discuss their work with other villages, staff and visitors using the language skills acquired during the making of the project.  Villagers learn about the cultural relevance of the type of work they are doing and have the opportunity to compare their projects to the examples from German cultural traditions.