Leadership Workshop
Norwegian Ridge Language & Culture Camp for Adults
The Giants of the Earth Heritage Center in Spring Grove, MN is offering a weekend camp for adults.
Norwegian Ridge Language and Culture Camp for Adults on October 17-19, 2024.
Sign up by October 1, 2024 to receive a discount price of $275 for the 3-day workshop.
After October 1 the fee is $300.
Tuition includes class offerings for three days, 2 meals per day (lunch, dinner), coffee and snacks.
Camp begins at noon, Thursday, October 17, with a lunch and a meet and greet
Will conclude after a delightful meal on Saturday, October 19 .
Over the three days, there will be large group and breakout sessions to choose from
Registration form and information
Norwegian Ridge Language and Culture Camp for Adults on October 17-19, 2024.
Sign up by October 1, 2024 to receive a discount price of $275 for the 3-day workshop.
After October 1 the fee is $300.
Tuition includes class offerings for three days, 2 meals per day (lunch, dinner), coffee and snacks.
Camp begins at noon, Thursday, October 17, with a lunch and a meet and greet
Will conclude after a delightful meal on Saturday, October 19 .
Over the three days, there will be large group and breakout sessions to choose from
Registration form and information
Attention District 5 Sons of Norway members:
Here is a great opportunity to learn many things about Norway, Norwegian crafts and food!
Giants of the Earth Heritage Center in Spring Grove, MN is the location of a fun weekend to absorb many Norwegian cultural ideas, crafts, music, Norwegian baking, genealogy, and much more. Spring Grove is the first Norwegian settlement in Minnesota (130 years ago).
As Cultural Director of District 5, Sons of Norway, I highly recommend taking advantage of this weekend Norwegian event. You will enjoy this Norwegian town, the friendly staff at Giants of the Earth Heritage Center, and meeting people interested in their Norwegian heritage.
​Lucy Ghastin - Cultural Director, District 5
Here is a great opportunity to learn many things about Norway, Norwegian crafts and food!
Giants of the Earth Heritage Center in Spring Grove, MN is the location of a fun weekend to absorb many Norwegian cultural ideas, crafts, music, Norwegian baking, genealogy, and much more. Spring Grove is the first Norwegian settlement in Minnesota (130 years ago).
As Cultural Director of District 5, Sons of Norway, I highly recommend taking advantage of this weekend Norwegian event. You will enjoy this Norwegian town, the friendly staff at Giants of the Earth Heritage Center, and meeting people interested in their Norwegian heritage.
​Lucy Ghastin - Cultural Director, District 5
Destination Stoughton- SN District 5 Adult Camp a Success!
Sons of Norway District 5 welcomed 21 members from Wisconsin and Illinois to greater Dane County on October 27-29, 2023. The camp allowed our members to experience a weekend of learning, fun, and networking!
Friday’s activities included a tour by Craig Bluschke of the historic Hauge Church in rural Mt. Horeb, touring the HIstorium in Mt. Horeb, a presentation about the Norway Building by Brian Bigler, and then venturing to Stoughton. Participants could visit the Norwegian American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library in Madison that day to see their facility and learn about the resources. In Stoughton, Livsreise was open as well as many shops downtown. Sons of Norway-Mandt Lodge offered a meatball meal and the group watched “Kaskeland” about the Koshkonong Prairie. We ended the night with presentations Director Wendy Furseth and six of the Stoughton High School Norwegian Dancers on their trip to Norway followed by the Authors and Illustrators, Gary Nauman and Nathan Peterson, of Vidar and Hans, will share their story of starting an independent comic book right when the pandemic hit. The Vidar and Hans Series is about a Viking and a Troll hanging out in Stoughton, hiding their secret identities, and aspiring to be superheroes.
A busy Saturday allowed the participants free time in the morning to go to the Wisconsin State Rosemalers Sale, visit Livsreise and the Stoughton Historical Museum, do some shopping, and take in the stamping class the District is offering. Connie Aiello showed the group how to make a card using the District stamps and explained the various sets in our collection. In the afternoon, Howard Kietzke gave a presentation on the Hauge Log Church, Roxy Engelstad gave a presentation about St Paul’s Liberty Church near Deerfield, and International Board members, Duane Kittleson and Robin Fossum, gave updates and took questions. District Board members Darlene Arneson, Cheryl Wille-Schlesser, Connie Kross, Connie Aiello, and Judy Ghastin gave updates on the bylaw proposal, 2024 Convention, recent board meeting, fundraisers, and took questions. The group took a break to go watch the Dancers perform and then enjoyed a fish chowder meal will be at the lodge. That evening they had chocolate presentation by Yahara Chocolate owner Brook Johnson and we ended the evening with a fun presentation by Bill Amundson on Stoughton's Norwegian Culture: An Outsider's Guide.
On Sunday, some attended church at East Koshkonong Church and enjoyed many treats and coffee afterwards. Bonnie Ehrke and Marilyn Gunderson gave the historic upper church and of the cemetery. We were the first group to see the rock marker showing where the first service was held. Then then group moved to St. Paul’s Liberty Church where Pastor Holly and Roxy Engelstad gave a tour of the church and cemetery.
Ten lodges were represented during the weekend with members coming from Wisconsin and Illinois. Thank you for Fosselyngen Lodge for their financial support through the Sons of Norway District 5 Nordic Legacy Foundation to off-set the expenses of Adult Camp.
Photos can be found on Facebook- Sons of Norway District 5 and will be uploaded to the District website in the near future. The hashtag for the weekend was #SND5AdultCamp2023.
Friday’s activities included a tour by Craig Bluschke of the historic Hauge Church in rural Mt. Horeb, touring the HIstorium in Mt. Horeb, a presentation about the Norway Building by Brian Bigler, and then venturing to Stoughton. Participants could visit the Norwegian American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library in Madison that day to see their facility and learn about the resources. In Stoughton, Livsreise was open as well as many shops downtown. Sons of Norway-Mandt Lodge offered a meatball meal and the group watched “Kaskeland” about the Koshkonong Prairie. We ended the night with presentations Director Wendy Furseth and six of the Stoughton High School Norwegian Dancers on their trip to Norway followed by the Authors and Illustrators, Gary Nauman and Nathan Peterson, of Vidar and Hans, will share their story of starting an independent comic book right when the pandemic hit. The Vidar and Hans Series is about a Viking and a Troll hanging out in Stoughton, hiding their secret identities, and aspiring to be superheroes.
A busy Saturday allowed the participants free time in the morning to go to the Wisconsin State Rosemalers Sale, visit Livsreise and the Stoughton Historical Museum, do some shopping, and take in the stamping class the District is offering. Connie Aiello showed the group how to make a card using the District stamps and explained the various sets in our collection. In the afternoon, Howard Kietzke gave a presentation on the Hauge Log Church, Roxy Engelstad gave a presentation about St Paul’s Liberty Church near Deerfield, and International Board members, Duane Kittleson and Robin Fossum, gave updates and took questions. District Board members Darlene Arneson, Cheryl Wille-Schlesser, Connie Kross, Connie Aiello, and Judy Ghastin gave updates on the bylaw proposal, 2024 Convention, recent board meeting, fundraisers, and took questions. The group took a break to go watch the Dancers perform and then enjoyed a fish chowder meal will be at the lodge. That evening they had chocolate presentation by Yahara Chocolate owner Brook Johnson and we ended the evening with a fun presentation by Bill Amundson on Stoughton's Norwegian Culture: An Outsider's Guide.
On Sunday, some attended church at East Koshkonong Church and enjoyed many treats and coffee afterwards. Bonnie Ehrke and Marilyn Gunderson gave the historic upper church and of the cemetery. We were the first group to see the rock marker showing where the first service was held. Then then group moved to St. Paul’s Liberty Church where Pastor Holly and Roxy Engelstad gave a tour of the church and cemetery.
Ten lodges were represented during the weekend with members coming from Wisconsin and Illinois. Thank you for Fosselyngen Lodge for their financial support through the Sons of Norway District 5 Nordic Legacy Foundation to off-set the expenses of Adult Camp.
| First | Last | Lodge | City | State |
| Dawn | Gunderson | Cleng Peerson | Leland | IL |
| Connie | Kross | Cleng Peerson | Sandwich | IL |
| Robert | Fossum | Dovre | Chetek | WI |
| Robin | Fossum | Dovre | Chetek | WI |
| Susan | Van Lith | Fosselyngen | Brookfield | WI |
| Carol | Brunner | Gronnvik | Green Bay | WI |
| Lucy | Ghastin | Idun | Middleton | WI |
| James | Eliason | Idun | Madison | WI |
| Dee | Grimsrud | Idun | Madison | WI |
| Vicky | Goplen | Mandt | Edgerton | WI |
| Bruce | Goplen | Mandt | Edgerton | WI |
| Darlene | Arneson | Mandt | Stoughton | WI |
| John | Arneson | Mandt | Stoughton | WI |
| Patricia | Boelsing | Mandt | Stoughton | WI |
| Judy | Ghastin | Norse Valley | Appleton | WI |
| Corlene | Bartels | Norsemen of the Lakes | Lyons | WI |
| Barb | Johnson | Polar Star | Yorkville | IL |
| Nancy | Andersen | Polar Star | St. Charles | IL |
| Arthur | Andersen | Polar Star | St. Charles | IL |
| Duane | Kittleson | Vennelag | Madison | WI |
| Cheryl | Wille-Schlesser | Vennelag | Mt. Horeb | WI |
Photos can be found on Facebook- Sons of Norway District 5 and will be uploaded to the District website in the near future. The hashtag for the weekend was #SND5AdultCamp2023.
