Lac du Bois at Camp Holiday near Hackensack has had a great impact on the Concordia Language Village French programs as the longest standing French village site. This summer, we celebrate our 32nd summer at the beautiful Camp Holiday location. The site sets the scene for an amazing camp experience in its pristine natural beauty, traditional architecture, and emphasis on simple, communal living in harmony with nature. We feel very privileged to continue the long tradition of camp programming at this site.
The Fraser family began Camp Holiday as a private girl’s camp in 1922, and they have continued their careful maintenance through several generations. The buildings and grounds have been well maintained and upgraded over the years to cherish the “camp” atmosphere and also accommodate modern needs.
Life at Lac du Bois Hackensack is probably very different from life at home for everyone on the site. The village is nestled in between two lakes which are part of the heart and soul of Lac du Bois Hackensack and is forested with cedar, oak, elm, maple, basswood and majestic pines. Animals seen include ducks, loons, fish, herons, deer, turtles, porcupines, bats, chipmunks, as well as a great assortment of insects. You can count on gorgeous sunsets, a sky full of stars at night, and seeing the sun rising over the lake in the morning while at the lakeside sauna.
Our programming takes advantage of our magnificent setting to emphasize the building of community through 1) the hands-on learning of French and Francophone cultures and 2) life in the out-of-doors. Key ingredients in the village atmosphere are the shared experiences of the people living, creating, and interacting at Lac du Bois Hackensack.
In addition to the natural environment, the linguistic environment plays an essential role in the language and cultural learning that takes place at the village. By surrounding each villager with the French language used in real living situations and jokes, skits, songs, and activities, villagers are pulled into using French in order to be an active participant in the excitement! By using French to communicate their wants and needs, their ideas and opinions, French becomes a “living” language. Credit villagers have the opportunity to participate in a 4 week program that incorporates skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in a more structured and demanding format. (See FAQ’s: Is the credit program appropriate for my child?)
You can contact us by phone:
Lac du Bois Hackensack
Business Office: phone: 218 682-2570
Business Office: fax : 218 682- 2565
Health Center: phone: 218 682-3068
Or by US mail:
Lac du Bois Hackensack
Camp Holiday
4395 14th Ave. NW
Hackensack, MN 56452